Learnin' Vernon

Vernon grew up in Bar Harbor, later he spent the third Saturday of every month as a reader and performer for the Buck Memorial Library’s Story Hour in Bucksport Maine. As a parent raising his daughter Shanna in Orland he refined his tales at many a scout campfire, birthday party and during holiday events.

As Learnin’ Vernon he has performed since 1988. A Girl Scout leader invited Vernon to Perform at her school and that is how he became a paid professional performer.

Vernon was first called Learnin’ Vernon when he was a Medic in 1976. It had nothing to do with storytelling but everything to do with his willingness to learn and laugh at his failures. That nick name stuck and has been his name and personal mission statement ever since.

Willey Phinedit

Vernon was asked to create a character to teach Tree conservation and sustainability for the Abanaki Girl Scouts. He was also asked to create a character for the Camp Natarswi Alumni reunion. That is when Willey Phinedit first appeared.

Later when Vernon moved to Portland Willey took on a more downeast persona. Vernon grew up on Marshall Dodge and Bob Bryant’s “Bert and I”. Living in and around Bar Harbor, Bucksport, and Howland Vernon was exposed to many true good hearted Mainers. (Yep some were even born heayah)

If you see Willey please remember he is a character working for Maine-ly Storytellers and will not respond to any other name but Willey.

To showcase these two distinct Storytelling Personas Vernon created the Maine-ly Storytellers in 2009

Occasional-ly a News Letter

This new newsletter will come out every month or so and will include news about storytelling events in New England. I may or may not include personal and professional news, and I will always try to include a story which you can share and links to a video you can watch.

June 2009