Albany presentation examines burn area

At noon Friday, Bob Ross will present "Beauty in the

B&B Burn" at the Albany Public Library main branch, 1390 Waverly Drive S.E.

The B&B Complex is a 95,000 -acre area of forested land that burned along the crest of the Cascade Mountain Range between Mount Jefferson and Mount Washington during August and September 2003. Since that event, Ross has hiked through the burned forest many times in an effort to learn how plants and animals are adapted to fire and what strategies they employ as they attempt to take over the free space afterward.

He'll blend philosophy, art and science in this photographic presentation.

Stayton readings relocated temporarily

STAYTON - Poets Nita Countryman and David Laing will read from 3 to

5 p.m. March 11 at Stayton's Second Sundays Series of Poetry Readings. "A Reading on the Verge of Spring," features both poets reading from new chapbooks of poetry rooted in the natural environment of the Pacific Northwest. Their chapbooks will be available for purchase, and they will sign copies.

The reading will take place in the studio of artist Paul Toews at 349 Third Ave., Stayton, across from the Star Cinema. Toews' studio will host the series for three months, during remodeling at the Bird & Hat Inn, its current regular venue.

Admission is free; donations are appreciated. Audience members are invited to bring one or two short poems of their own or by others to share during an open portion of the reading.

Countryman is a recent graduate of the master's program at Reed College, and has taught creative writing in the continuing education program at Clark College.

Laing has recently retired from 25 years of working as a counselor for children. Since moving to Oregon in the 1970s, he has been immersed in poetry, serving as a founding co-editor of "Fireweed: Poetry of Western Oregon" and participating in several writing groups.

For more information, contact Eleanor Berry at 503-859-3045 or eberry@wvi.com

Submissions sought

for PCC journal

PORTLAND - The editorial staff of the Portland Community College Cascade Campus is still reviewing submissions for the annual literary journal, "The Pointed Circle."

Submissions may include poetry, short fiction or non-fiction, artwork or photography. The journal will be published by Ash Creek Press. Copies are circulated through university libraries across the country and will be available for purchase. Each contributor will receive two copies of the completed publication.

All writers are asked to submit pieces. To get a submission form, e-mail lgutierr@pcc.edu or ckimball@pcc.edu

Please include a printout of the form with mailed manuscripts/artwork, or as a title page for Internet submissions.

You can also write to Editors, Pointed Circle Magazine, Portland Community College Cascade SC 206 / 705 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217.

Staff reports