COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Ex-Evergreen Elementary teacher reads from her novel

Jenn Chapman, a teacher at Evergreen Elementary School in Shelton from 1999 to 2017, reads from her newly released novel, "Dying for a Second Chance" at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Shelton Timberland Library, 710 W. Alder St.

Chapman grew up in Blaine and earned a degree in education at Western Washington University. Her teaching career included several years with

Indigenous populations in Washington, North Dakota and Guatemala. In a news release, Chapman said that led to the creation of the characters in her book, as a way to share her love for the people who adopted her and taught her their ways.

In 2020, while working near Chicago for the National Baha'i Center for the United States, she was visiting her daughter in Georgetown, Kentucky, when the pandemic struck. She stayed, worked remotely and then retired there.

Her novel is set on the Washington coast near Westport. While it is fiction, the book contains many events from Jenn's life, in the character of Becky Farmer.

Former secretary of state candidate speaks

The League of Women Voters of Mason County hosts a discussion and question-and-answer session with Julie Anderson, who was an independent candidate for secretary of state in the 2022 general election. The event is at noon, Nov. 21, at the Olympic College Shelton library, 937 Alpine Way. The event can also be viewed through Zoom.

Anderson, who was Pierce County auditor from 2009 to 2022, will talk about "running a nonpartisan race in a partisan world." For the Zoom link, contact [email protected].

Donate shoeboxes filled with gifts for children

Calvary Fellowship of Shelton at 50 E. Island Lake Road is accepting shoeboxes filled with gifts as part of the annual worldwide Operation Christmas Child collection.

According to the organization Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child since 1993 has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children ages 2-14 in more than 170 countries and territories.

The boxes can be delivered to Calvary Fellowship from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 13, 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 14, 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 15, 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 16, noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 18, 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 19, and 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 20.

Mason General Foundation fundraiser scheduled Friday

The Mason General Hospital Foundation hosts its Business Luncheon and Confections Auction from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Ridge Motorsports Park at 1060 West Eels Hill Road, Shelton.

Tickets are $60, or $525 for a table of 10. The doors open at 11 a.m. and a buffet lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. by local chefs Tom Beben and Monica Carvajal-Beben, followed by an auction of desserts from noon to 1 p.m. The money raised will fund a Steris 4085 general surgical table and a new Stryker LD304 birthing bed.

Film screening benefits children's hospital

The Donnie J O'Neill Guild hosts the film "Trolls Band Together" at 11 a.m. Saturday at Shelton Cinemas.

Admission is $5. All proceeds benefit Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. For more information, call Vickie Gonzalez at 360-229-1442.

'Joys of the Season' concert at Shelton church

Women of Note sing at the "Joys of the Season" concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, 324 W. Cedar St., Shelton,

Elizabeth Berndt is the conductor and April Kuhr the collaborative artist. Donations will be accepted.