Have a story to tell?

<p>Everyone has a story to tell, and here's your chance to tell it.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>In an effort to spark a Northern California version of the Moth storytelling events gaining popularity in major cities across the country, Petaluma resident and comedian Dave Pokorny is gearing up for the launch of the monthly West Side Stories series on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at Pelican Art Gallery.</p><p>“It's a storytelling event where everyone puts their name in a hat in hopes of getting a chance to be a storyteller for the evening,” said Pokorny. “Ten people will get chosen, but nobody knows who until a couple minutes before they go up.”</p><p>Each chosen storyteller has just five minutes to tell a story, without using notes, on the theme for the evening. The theme for the Nov. 10 event will be “The First Time,” and all stories must relate to it.</p><p>“You could talk about your first car, your first love, your first haircut or any other first,” said Pokorny. “You tell your five-minute story. This isn't a comedy thing or a political speech — it's a story with a beginning, middle and end.”</p><p>As an added bonus, the stories will be judged by audience members, with the best storyteller winning $50.</p><p>The original Moth event was founded in 1997 by the novelist George Dawes Green, who wanted to recreate in New York the feeling of evenings in his native Georgia, when moths were attracted to the light on the porch where he and his friends would gather to tell stories. </p><p>The first New York Moth event was held in Green's home and quickly spread to larger venues. </p><p>West Side Stories is modeled after the Moth, which has spread to cities such as Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. Pokorny hopes the Petaluma West Side Stories will become another branch of the Moth, which has grown to become a nonprofit organization.</p><p>“We are working with Petaluma Community Access to create audio and video podcasts of West Side Stories to send to the Moth,” said Pokorny. “We're hoping to become affiliated with them once we get their approval.”</p><p>Petaluma's West Side Stories will be held the second Wednesday of each month at Pelican Art Gallery, 143 Petaluma Blvd. North. Each event will feature a different theme.</p><p>The evening begins with sign-ups at 7 p.m., followed the storytelling at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $5. </p><p>For more information on West Side Stories, visit www.cinnabartheater.org and check out the West Side Stories link or contact Pokorny at 477-4416.</p><p>(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier.com)</p>