A poetry reading and program celebrating and commemorating the birthday of poet William Stafford will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, in Room 137 of the Eastern Oregon Higher Education Center in Hermiston.

The public is invited to attend this free event.

The reading is sponsored by the Friends of William Stafford and hosted by Pamela Steele, an instructor at BMCC. Poet Shaindel Beers, also a BMCC instructor, will read poems by Stafford, as well as some of her own poems written in the spirit of Staffords work. Jared Pennington, a Pendleton musician, will provide music.

After the program, members of the audience will be invited to read one of their favorite Stafford poems. Those who would like to participate are urged to bring copies of their favorite Stafford poems.

William Stafford was born on Jan. 17, 1914. Known for his encouragement of other writers and for his advocacy of free expression in writing and speech, Stafford is the author of more than fifty books and a recipient of the National Book Award. He died in August 1993.