On May 10, Mary Anne Owen will make a short presentation on family systems at the Eastsound Fire Hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Orcas Montessori School and free child care is available. To save your seat, and to arrange child care, call 376-5350.

Owen’s presentation is entitled “The Ties the Bind,” which suggests both the good news about families where relationships are close and nurturing and the bad news when those ties bind in hurtful ways. She will explain how family systems get formed, why some go awry, and what families can do to shift their family dynamics towards the wholesome. She will also explore the impact of birth order on the stability of families.