PORT TOWNSEND — Maritime art and activities kick off Community Read 2010 on Saturday.
The Hungry Ocean is the choice for the 2010 Community Read, the Port Townsend Library’s annual program in which everyone is encouraged to read and discuss the same book.
The author, Linda Greenlaw, was the last person in radio contact with the Andrea Gail, the ill-fated fishing boat whose last journey was chronicled in The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger.
Greenlaw — who was at the helm of the Hannah Boden, a 100-foot swordfishing boat out of Gloucester when she received the call in the fall of 1991 — survived the storm, and in The Hungry Ocean tells the tale of her crew’s 30-day fishing trip that fall.
She will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at the Port Townsend High School auditorium.
On Saturday, a reception for The Sea: A Juried Show of Maritime Art, is planned at 5:30 p.m. at the Northwind Arts Center, 2409 Jefferson St.
The show will continue through March 29.
Earlier that day, the Jefferson County Historical Museum, 540 Water St., will present activities from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Activities will include “Sailors’ Knots and Splices,” a hands-on demonstration presented by the crew of the Sea Scout ship Falcon.
Storytelling is planned at 1 p.m., and sea shanties will be played throughout the day. Historic fishing lures will be on display in a special exhibit. A hands-on art project will be offered in the historic jail cells.
At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, PT Shorts will present readings from The Hungry Ocean and other books by Greenlaw at the Pope Marine Park Building.
Discussion groups begin Tuesday and continue through March 23.
Here is the schedule for the rest of the month.
Thursday
• Jordan Hartt, a member of the Peninsula College faculty, will discuss The Hungry Ocean from a literary critic’s point of view at the Port Townsend Library, 1220 Lawrence St., at 7 p.m.
March 16
• “Reeling Them In: Fish Boats in the Evolution of PT Marine Trades,” will be presented at the Northwest Marine Center Heritage Building, 431 Water St., at 7 p.m. Kaci Cron-khite of the Wooden Boat Foundation, will moderate a panel of local marine trades and business owners who were involved in the developed of the wooden boat culture in the 1970s.
March 18
• Poet Holly J. Hughes will read selections from her book, Boxing the Compass, at the Port Townsend Library at 7 p.m.
March 21
• The movie, “The Perfect Storm” will be presented at The Rose Theatre, 235 Taylor St., at noon.
March 25
• The Standbys will perform sea songs at the Port Townsend High School auditorium, 1500 Van Ness St., at 6:30 p.m. before Greenlaw speaks at 7 p.m.
Discussion groups
• Tuesday, 7 p.m. — Hilltop Tavern, 2510 W. Sims Way.
• Wednesday, noon — Courtyard Café, 230 Quincy St.
• March 15 at 5 p.m. — Undertown Coffee, 211 Taylor St.
• March 17 at 4 p.m. — Northwest Maritime Center, Chandler Education Building.
• March 17 at 7 p.m. — The Boiler Room, 711 Water St.
• March 23 at 7 p.m. — Port Townsend Library.
Other 2010 Community Read sponsors are The Friends of the Port Townsend Library, the Port Townsend School District and the Port Townsend/Jefferson County Leader.
The Community Read program is funded in part by a grant from Humanities Washington.
Free copies of The Hungry Ocean and a discussion guide are available at the Port Townsend Library, 1220 Lawrence St. Discussion groups start Tuesday and go through March 23.
For more information, phone 360-385-3831 or see www.cityofpt.us/library.
