January 23, 2008

Gorge Literacy is offering a one-day tutor training Saturday, Feb. 9, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (with an hour break for lunch) to be held at Columbia Gorge Community College in Hood River.

Led by an experienced trainer, trainees will explore the reasons why adult learners enter into literacy programs, how adults differ from child learners, what are some of the cultural differences and learning styles that may affect tutoring, how to assess a learner’s needs and work together to set attainable goals, and techniques for working with native English speakers and English as a Second Language students.

Tutors-in-training will learn how to put all this together to create interesting and effective lesson plans.

Here is what one Gorge Literacy volunteer tutor had to say about his experience:

“Becoming a tutor was actually much easier than I had expected. Our training was brief, but informative, and I still use the excellent reference materials we were given. The truth is I wish the training had been longer because I found the subject material to be immensely fascinating.

“I never fully realized how rewarding it was going to be to help someone read or do math. I have seen the light of knowledge brighten several people who had thought they would never be able to read well or add and subtract numbers.”

To register, please call (541) 506-6043, or e-mail GorgeLiteracy@cgcc.cc.or.us. There is no charge for the training. Registration deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 5, by 2 p.m., but anyone interested is asked to sign up as soon as possible.

Books’n’Brews Book Club starts Feb. 12 at Book Stop, First and Oak streets.

“We think it’s time men gave themselves permission to read books that haven’t been recommended by Oprah, that don’t teach us how to build or repair something, invest in anything, bond with somebody, or get in touch with anyone’s emotions, not even our own.” Book Stop owner Charlie Christensen wrote on the store’s Web site, www.gorgebookstop.com.

The book club is designed for men, and meets for the first time on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. The group will share some pizza and beer, get acquainted, and decide on the first book, said Christensen. Call him at 386-STOP to sign up.

Mildred Lykens of Lyle has published her first novel, “The Tirrell Gang.” The story is a western family saga, based on Lykens’ three paternal grandparents.

“The Tirrell Gang” is available in a few local stores, or as “print on demand” at www.Lulu.com or you can call the author, Mildred Lykens, at (509) 365-0060 for a copy.

Documented facts, family verbal history and logical fiction are braided much the same as these three ancestor’s lives to weave the tale of “The Tirrell Gang.”

It is a “first in a series” novel of Hasten Homer Tirrell, his wife Marry, and her best friend Lillie. Lillie was one source of verbal history. She told of the days when Hasten led a gang of very young outlaws that consisted of his brothers, who had been chased out of three states, finally settling in Texas, and two neighboring families. There in Texas she hid the gang at her ranch, until the posses gave up and it was safe for the boys to return home.

Family circumstances led to an explosive fight, which divulged deception and betrayal, and eventually pitted father against son leading to a confrontation with a shotgun, kidnapping and the gang’s final split. Hasten made a hasty decision that fulfilled Lillie’s hope and dreams that left them on the run from family, the law, and a relentless private detective.

The Oregon State Poetry Association has announced its 2008 Spring Poetry Contest offering $775 in prizes for winners in seven categories and publication in the group’s annual anthology, Verseweavers, it was announced by Sharon Roso, OSPA president.

Two new categories have been added to the spring contest, Poetry of Witness and Prose Poem. Other categories are Poet’s Choice, entries for which can be poems in any form on any subject, Free Verse, Traditional Verse and Members Only.

There is also a New Poets contest for poets who have never won a cash prize for their poetry in any contest.

The Poetry of Witness contest is sponsored in honor of Hannah Wilson by the Eugene-Springfield unit of the association. Wilson, who lived near Eugene, taught high school English and humanities for 20 years and was known for speaking out against injustice. She led protests, marched, phoned and picketed, demanding attention to what she thought was right. Her poetry was imbued with her lifelong commitment to witnessing and speaking out.

Winners will be announced and prize checks and certificates will be awarded at OSPA’s Spring Conference, April 25-26, in Salem. Honorable mentions will be awarded in all categories.

Judges are chosen from among established Oregon poets, poetry publishers and poetry teachers at Oregon colleges and universities.

Entries must be postmarked on or before Feb. 29 to be eligible for the contest. Members pay $1 and nonmembers $4 for each poem entered. The Members Only category is free to OSAP members.

Poets interested in entering poems in one or more of the categories can get a list of rules by writing to M.E. Hope, Contest Chair, 5183 Round Lake Road, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, or on the association’s Web site, www.oregonpoets.org.

OSPA is a not-for-profit association whose mission is to bring together and nurture the widest possible community of Oregon poets; to help Oregon poets young and old develop their talents and skills; to stimulate, at the grass roots level, a statewide appreciation for poetry; and to raise public awareness of Oregon poets, past and present.