It’s nearly time for the Healing Arts Center’s biannual Healing Arts Fair, coming up on the weekend of Nov. 11–12. This fair represents the center’s outreach to the Orcas Island community; all are invited to sample the many offerings of their practitioners, at greatly discounted fees. Among these are several massage therapists, an acupuncturist, an herbalist, and one of their newest additions to the team, Mara Williams, ANP-BC, a nurse practitioner who specializes in helping people get a grip on chronic illnesses, especially ones that are hard to diagnose.

All these individuals will offer one-to-one sessions at the fair. In addition, another of the newer practitioners, Stephanie Brening, will offer a short workshop on “Diet and your Microbiome”, discussing how one’s internal microbial environment can affect mood, behavior, and health.

These fairs help raise funds for needed improvements for the historic Eastsound building that the HAC has maintained for nearly 30 years; all practitioners donate their services to the non-profit. You may sign up in advance for a session or the workshop, at 453 North Beach Road or by phoning 360-376-4002; best times are M–F, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information on practitioners is available at the website www.orcashealingarts.org.