Chaplin comedies, Ruth Ozeki readings, brighten the season

Silent films

Guest organist Dennis James hosts the annual Silent Film Series at Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., celebrating the centennial of several 1916 classics. James researches each film to provide period-authentic live music and sound effects on the theater’s Wurlitzer pipe organ.

The first in the three-part series, a “Chaplin Triple Feature,” is at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, with three short comedies, “Behind the Screen,” “The Rink” and “The Pawnshop,” considered some of Chaplin’s best works.

Tickets, $10 to $22, are at 360-734-6080 and mountbakertheatre.com.

Parkinson’s memoir

Bellingham’s Ann Mikkelsen’s latest book, “Love’s Last Measure,” chronicles her 30 years with husband Mike, who had Parkinson’s disease and died in 2013. She will discuss her book at 4 p.m. Feb. 14 at Village Books, 1200 11th St.

Mikkelsen, a hospice volunteer, discovers the most profound lessons in life can be found at death’s door. She is also the author of “Taking Charge of Parkinson’s Disease.” Details: http://annecuttermikkelsen.com.

Valentine’s dance

The Swing Connection, Bellingham’s 20-piece band that performs music from the Big Band Swing Era, joins singers from Whatcom Sound Jazz Singers and from Allegra in a Valentine’s Day concert, 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 13 in The Leopold’s Crystal Ballroom, 1224 Cornwall Ave. Details: 360-656-5037, 360-714-0054, http://swingconnection.org.

Neil Simon comedy

Lynden Performing Arts Guild presents Neil Simon’s classic comedy, “The Odd Couple,” Feb. 18-March 6 at Claire vg Thomas Theatre in Dutch Village Mall, 655 Front St. This time it’s the female version of the story about two unlikely roommates, Florence Unger and Olive Madison.

Tickets, $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $8 children, are at 360-354-4425, Brown Paper Tickets and clairevgtheatre.com.

Whatcom Reads!

Whatcom Reads!, the community program that encourages residents to read and discuss the same book, hosts B.C. author Ruth Ozeki March 3-5, highlighting her award-winning book “A Tale for the Time Being.”

Her 2013 novel is the story of a Nao, 16-year-old girl in Japan, and Ruth, a writer in Canada, who are connected through a diary. Ruth finds Nao’s diary while walking on a remote island beach in Canada. She thinks it’s debris from the 2011 tsunami, and sets out to prove her suspicions.

Whatcom Reads! events are free, and subject to change. Activities include:

▪ March 3, 11 a.m.: Ozeki discusses her novel at Ferndale Library, 2125 Main St.

▪ March 3, 5:30 p.m.: The 1995 film “Halving the Bones,” which Ozeki wrote and directed, is shown and discussed at Pickford Film Center, 1318 Bay St.

▪ March 4, 7 p.m.: Ozeki appears onstage at Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St.

▪ March 5, noon to 2 p.m.: Writing workshop with Ozeki held at Western Washington University’s Wilson Library.

▪ March 5, 7 p.m.: Ozeki interviewed at Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St., Lynden.

Details: whatcomreads.org and Facebook.

This story was originally published January 1, 2016 at 11:30 PM with the headline "Chaplin comedies, Ruth Ozeki readings, brighten the season."