This year’s North Street Coffeehouse will take place Feb. 15 and 16 and will come with a few new updates, such as ordering supplies online and recruiting NHS volunteers. In previous years, all supplies were bought in stores. The media specialists are trying something new this year by ordering cups, hot chocolate, napkins and cookies online. Also, students who participate in NHS will been given the opportunity to volunteer and help with set up, clean up and help with other needs.

“We pretty much have everything down to a science, but implementing these things will make it that much easier,” media specialist Angie Davis said.

North Street Coffeehouse is an annual event hosted by the Learning Commons in which students of any grade can perform talents such as singing, writing and art. It has occurred for 12 years. It first arose when one of the former librarians, Sherri Pogue, saw that another school had done something similar and wanted to bring the idea over to FHN.

“I love how much Coffeehouse affects everyone,” Willen said. “You start out the morning with a huge variety of students, some of them don’t know each other at all, and by the end of the day they’re like a little family. It’s so awesome to watch that develop all within the course of one day.”

About 30-50 students sign up to audition each year. Auditions took place on Jan 24. Coffeehouse generally accepts 12 poetry performers and 12 music acts to cover the span of the two days. Students also have the opportunity to display artwork or sign up to show live art.

“I wanted to help and connect with people through my writing,” former Coffeehouse performer Maria Michalski said. “Coffeehouse gave me an opportunity to show people that art and expression can speak wonders.”