Café Luna hosts an open mic

Julia Hanowell, an acoustic guitar player and singer, will be the featured performer at the monthly Café Luna open mic, which is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. Islander David Ray will host the event, and organizers said all performers and audiences members are welcome.

Island comics show off

A comedy show will feature the talents of local laugh-masters Per-Lars Blomgren, Darryl Caldwell, Katherine Daves, Jim Ferrell, Jeff Hoyt, Troy Kindred and Andy Royer. Funnyman Steffon Moody will emcee the extravaganza, slated for 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Red Bicycle Bistro & Sushi. There is a $5 cover charge for the show, which is for ages 21 and older only.

VAA gets a grant to save Island arts jobs

Vashon Allied Arts has been awarded $7,500 from 4Culture, the cultural development agency serving King County, to preserve salaried and contract jobs.

VAA was one of 40 arts and cultural organzations throughout the region that received such funding from 4Culture.

The funding originated from $50 million in federal stimulus funds distributed to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The NEA, in turn, directed $250,000 of those funds to 4Culture to distribute to regional organizations.

According to a 4Culture spokesperson, other NEA funds have been directed through other agencies to almost 100 organizations statewide, resulting in more than $1.2 million stimulus dollars being used to help preserve jobs at nearly 100 Washington arts and cultural organizations.