etc. - Aug. 26, 2010

Births

Blankenship daughter born

A girl, Cady Gail, was born Aug. 19, 2010, at Whitman Hospital and Medical Center in Colfax, to Amanda and Phil Blankenship. Maternal grandparents are Kathy Bell, Colfax and the late Fred Bell. Paternal grandparents are Scott and Cathy Blankenship, Washtucna. Weighing eight pounds, one ounce at birth, the baby joins siblings Madison and Brady.

On Campus

ART

A Fine Arts Faculty Focus Exhibition featuring works by Ross Coates will be Aug. 26 to Sept. 25 at the WSU Museum of Art with an opening reception Sept. 1, at 6 p.m. followed by an artist walk-through at 7 p.m.

Coates was chair of the fine arts department, teaching from 1976-1987 and serving as interim museum director 2001-02. His art reflects the notion of life as a journey, finding bits and pieces, creating collages, constructions and paintings that mirror his fascination.

EXHIBITS

“Nature Twice,” a special exhibit of poetry about animals and nature, in the Conner Museum of Natural History will be Sept. 9-Nov. 21 on the WSU campus.

The exhibit is free and open to the public 8 to-5 p.m. daily in Abelson Hall on the ground floor. An opening poetry reading and reception will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 in Abelson Hall, room 201

“Nature Twice” explores diverse perspectives of animals and natural history through the work of several well-known poets. The poems provide personal views of animals and the relationships between people and the natural world.

Poets Linda Russo, WSU assistant professor of English, and Ray Hanby, a WSU graduate, will read from their recent work.

For additional information, visit the Conner Museum Web site: http://sbs.wsu.edu/connermuseum

Bookmark

Quilters are in for a rare treat as Margaret Miller kicks off this year’s Meet the Artist series Thursday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in the Colfax Library. The renowned quilter, author and teacher will also lead workshops Sept. 10-11 based on her book Easy Pieces. To register for the workshops, contact the Quilted Moose in Colfax. To learn more about the library event, visit the online calendar at http://www.whitco.lib.wa.us

Whitman County Library is now offering downloadable audiobooks through a partnership with the Washington State Library. Residents now have 24/7 access to collections from Overdrive Digital Media Library and NetLibrary. Visit the library’s Web site and choose the downloadable audio link for more details on how to save books to your computer or portable playing device.

Summer Reading ends for teens and adults on Tuesday, Aug. 31. Read and briefly review three books to collect your finisher’s prize at any Whitman County Library branch.

-Even Money is the latest action packed horseracing book by Dick and Felix Francis.

-Shame by Greg Garrett is the tale of a man whose glory days are far behind him.

-Smash Cut by Sandra Brown tells of family rivalries, incalculable wealth, and a prominent man dying in the arms of his beautiful mistress.

Whitman County Library will close Sept. 4-6 for the Labor Day holiday.

Library card month

September is Library Card Sign-up Month. Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning.

Getting a library card is easy. Most individuals need only provide proof of Whitman County residency and within a few minutes receive a card to use the same day.

Observed since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when the American Library Association and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all.