The public is invited to celebrate "International Mother Language Day" at 3 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Battelle Auditorium, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland.
The event, organized by 3 Rivers Folklife Society, celebrates the diversity of languages in the community. An estimated 17 language groups will be represented.
John Heaney said it was comfortable for him to grow up in the United States and only have to learn a single language.
It wasn't until he traveled that he learned that people in much of the rest of the world can understand numerous tongues.
"What do you call someone who speaks five languages? Multilingual," he told the crowd of about 150 people gathered in Battelle Auditorium. "What do you call a person who speaks one language? American."
Learn about culture and traditions during an International Night celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday at McKenny Elementary School, 3250 Morse-Merryman Road SE, Olympia.
The collection of juried writings and artwork celebrates the literary and artistic abilities of the Boise School District's high school students.
Mid-Columbia Libraries plans a free celebration of reading and books for children of all languages and cultures Saturday at Memorial Park in Pasco.
The family festival called Da stands for El da de los nios/El da de los libros, or Children's Day/Book Day.
The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. next to the Pasco library, 1320 W. Hopkins St.
Yoram Kaniuk, a celebrated Israeli author and harsh critic of his homeland, has died, his relatives said. He was 83.
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