ASTORIA — The Lower Columbia Preservation Society will start a series of monthly presentations and lectures with a program on the Kalevala, the legendary Finnish national epic, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 14 at Pacifick Distilling.

Stories in the Kalevala contain the ancient themes of good and evil, as well as characters who represent the good, the true and the beautiful. These tales had been passed down through oral tradition in Finland for centuries and were finally written and organized into a collection in the early 19th century. The written compilation from almost 200 years ago constitutes the saga as read today.

Greg Jacob, a retired English professor who lives in Hillsboro, is the evening’s presenter. Jacob is an Astoria High School graduate with deep roots in the lower Columbia region.

His mother, Dorothy Luoma, was raised in Knappa and fluent in Finnish. His father, Harold Jacob, worked for Palmberg Construction and Barbey Packing Co., and his brother, Robert “Jake” Jacob, was engaged in many civic and business ventures in Astoria, including the development of the Cannery Pier in Uniontown.

Jacob has maintained many connections to Astoria over the years. He is a member of the Friends of Suomi Hall and is the lead volunteer in maintaining the historic Lindgren Cabin at Cullaby Lake.

He has long been interested in the Kalevala saga and taught a course on the epic at Portland State University in 2017. Greg also authored “Fins, Finns and Astorians” which is available for sale at many venues in Astoria and will be offered for sale at the presentation.

This event is free and open to the public. For more details, visit www.lcpsociety.org.