Community Briefs

Empty Bowls begins May 1

The Shelton Arts Commission hosts the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser starting May 1 at the Shelton Civic Center.

The event is open to all ages and materials will be provided. Create a bowl from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Glaze your bowl from 5 to 7 p.m. May 8. From 5 to 7 p.m. May 15, patrons for a $10 donation can buy a bowl with soup from a local restaurant and help feed local people in need. No one is required to show up on all three dates.

Harstine talk spotlights 1947 UFO sighting

Des Moines author Steve Edmiston will talk about “UFO Northwest: How Washington State Spawned the Men in Black” at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Harstine Island Community Club, 3371 E. Harstine Island Road N.

The “Inquiring Minds” lecture is presented by the Harstine Island Community Club and the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau. The two have partnered for 15 years to offer the lectures.

Wear your pajamas to YMCA kids movie

The Shelton YMCA hosts Kids Night Out Movie Night from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.

The event features popcorn and swimming. Registration is required. For information, call 360-753-6576.

Learn about Duckabush project

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting an open house to provide an update on the Duckabush Estuary Restoration Project from 10 a.m. to noon May 4 at the Brinnon Community Center, 306144 U.S. Highway 101.

The department is joining with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state Department of Transportation and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group on the project. The project will reconnect the Duckabush River to neighboring floodplains and wetlands by modifying local roads, elevating U.S. 101 to an estuary-spanning bridge and reconnecting historical tidal and river channels. The work will benefit fish and wildlife, including Hood Canal summer chum salmon, which are listed on the Endangered Species Act.

Dessert & Gift Auction at Civic Center

United Way of Mason County hosts its annual Spring Dessert & Gift Auction from noon to 2 p.m. May 10 at the Shelton Civic Center, 525 W. Cota St.

For information on tickets and donations, call 360-426-4999 or email [email protected].

Learn how to prepare for wildfires

The Lake Cushman Firehouse hosts a community wildfire preparedness day from 1 to 3 p.m. May 4 at the station at 240 N. Standstill Drive S.

The event includes information on home wildlife preparedness, raffles and the chance to talk to people with local organizations.

Musical ‘Something Rotten!’ in Shelton

Connection Street Theatre stages the musical “Something Rotten!” at 2 and 7 p.m. May 11 and 18, 7 p.m. May 17 and 2 p.m. May 12 and 19 at Faith Lutheran Church, 1212 Connection St., Shelton.

The doors open 30 minutes before show time. Admission is $10 at the door or online at http://www.bit.ly/SRtix.

Set in 1595, “Something Rotten!” follows the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who struggle to find success in the theatrical world as they compete with the wild popularity of their contemporary William Shakespeare. The musical debuted on Broadway and played for 708 performances. It was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including best musical.

Author discusses rejoining Army after Sept. 11, 2001

Author Bob Shano talks about his new book “Never Too Old for War” and signs copies from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Shelton Timberland Library, 710 W. Alder St.

Shano — a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and native of the Bronx — felt compelled by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to return to the ranks as an infantry soldier.

Shano had been in the Army as an infantryman, left the service in 1986 and had been out of the Army for 16 years. When he re-enlisted, he was alongside a new generation of infantry, some of them 30 years younger than him. For information on the event, call Sean Lotz at 360-426-1362.

Shano said that all the profits generated from the sales of his books that day will be donated to the nonprofit Friends of the Shelton Library, the group of volunteers that help to raise donations that support the library’s programs.

Recovery gathering

Gateway Christian Fellowship is hosting a Recovery Open House from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 405 S 7th Street in Shelton.

The event’s stated goal is to bring the Shelton/Mason County recovery community together to inform, communicate and cooperate to better serve the recovery and healing needs of our community.

A dozen Recovery-connected organizations present that will share their contribution to helping and healing people struggling with addiction, mental illness, abuse, homelessness and the legal aspects that come with those challenges.

The speakers will have tables and information to share with those present. Representatives from Shelton courts, treatment programs, mental health, counseling, shelter, housing and more will be present.

The event is open to the public and it’s free. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. All are welcome.

Contact Tom Anderson at [email protected] or 253-927-9456 for more information.