This month, Second Saturday at the library features another hometown news maker, Greg Dawson, currently consumer columnist at the Orlando Sentinel, will be our guest discussing his new book, Hiding in the Spotlight.  www.hidinginthespotlight.com

Hear the sensational true story of how Dawson's Ukrainian mother and aunt survived the Holocaust by posing as piano playing entertainers for the unsuspecting Nazis.  Learn how they fooled the Third Reich and ended up the first Holocaust survivors to study at The Juilliard School of Music.

A book sale and signing will follow the program.

This special event, brought to you by the Friends of the Orange County Library System, is free and everyone is invited.  For more information: www.ocls.info/secondsaturday.

Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m. Orlando Public Library, Albertson Room (third floor).

There are many food and beverage vendors offering a wide variety of beverages, but I found one who offers a cool, refreshing treat that is also healthy. 

Check out the chilled water coconuts at the produce stand before you choose a caffeinated or sweetened processed beverage. Not only is this a great thirst-quencher but it's an example of Nature at her very best.

The image at the left shows Jonathan Morris puncturing a fresh, chilled water coconut.  The amazing water contained in this immature coconut is rich in nutrients and minerals, contains zero cholesterol, less fat than whole milk, a small amount of natural sugars and very little sodium and the liquid has the electrolyte equivalent of our own blood plasma. 

Nature has provided us with perfect foods.  Check out the produce stand for healthy, whole foods, grown by a local farmer.

Friday & Saturday, May 15 & 16, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 17, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Shelves are overflowing with a super selection of children's picture books, juvenile fiction and non-fiction.  Adults will find favorite fiction writers in hard cover and paper back, as well as a vast array of non-fiction from self-help to family matters, hobbies, pets, cookbooks—there's something for everyone on the shelves. 

Not just books, either.  There are DVD's, CD's, books on tape, hard to find LP record albums, magazines and so much more!  Check out our ever increasing selections in large print and foreign languages, too.

A private preview sale for members of the Friends of the Orange County Library System will be held on Thursday, May 14, 6-8 p.m.  New members are welcome to join at the door.  Members receive an additional 10% off all purchases.  Come on down and join the fun finding the best bargains in town.

Downtown street parking has become near impossible in the evening.  I'm not a fan of garage parking, both from the safety aspect and from the financial outlay.  Now that city garage parking rates have doubled, it's even less appealing.   If patrons can't even get access to the garage that services the Library, History Center and Mad Cow Theatre, then the City's supposed efforts to promote the arts in downtown seem pretty shallow.

Orlando Public Library, Library Central

50 YEARS, 50 STATES, 50 SPEECHES

Ocean Doctor, Dr. David E. Guggenheim continues his national speaking expedition.

This Saturday join the Friends of the Library at his stop in Orlando.

See videos and hear about his many adventures, and his enthusiasm for the wonder of the deep blue part of the planet.  Guggenheim set out on this expedition after his 50th birthday as homage to his father who was lost at sea when he was 49 years old.

This event is free and everyone is invited.

Any fool knows new sod has to be watered DAILY for about two weeks after it is put in, particularly when it wasn't all that fresh and green to start with, we haven't had a drop of rain,  and it was  just "dropped" on the ground and not soaked and rolled in. . 

Well, I guess nobody gives a flip, after all, it is just taxpayers' money.

To whomever: Have this unsightly dead insult stripped off, get some FRESH GREEN SOD and WATER IT daily till it has the ability to survive on its on?  Proof once again that one "Aw Shucks" cancels a half dozen "Atta-Boys". No cigar, no brass ring on this job.

Due to current financial circumstancX^es, we may have to again wait to have some other reason to open the road. This is understandable. We only ask that neighbors band together and continue to put pressure on the City to again use any opportunity to restore the natural, original brick surface beneath.  We cannot allow these bricks to be hauled away and used elsewhere or sold.l.

As for those who say bricks are noisy, or rough, I say 'Good". It slows down the race cars, it discourages the "cut throughs" and the truck traffic and acts as a moderator for traffic just as roundabouts do. I love it when I hear a big truck going by "bang, bang, bang" and I know that the driver had to cuss and slow his rig down.  I hope he chooses to find another route the next time. We are a residential neighborhood, not an interstate highway. I don't advocate barriers to keep out traffic from Colonial , etc. as have been used in other neighborhoods as that is extreme.

It's time to celebrate the library's many contributions to the community.  National Library Week runs April 12-18 and our downtown branch, as well as many of the county library branches, have special activities planned to promote this year's theme, "Worlds Connect @ Your Library."  

The library is no longer just a staid reading room, but rather it has taken an active role to bring the community into the 21st century with pertinent programs to enlighten and enrich, computer classes, second language classes and a bevvy of resources to provide on-going support to the community. 

Check out the many programs planned throughout the week.  All Free and everyone is invited.

Don't miss the Books & Beyond Breakfast for business professionals on Wednesday, April 15, 8 a.m. in the Albertson Room and check on the full slate of activities for all age groups throughout the week. 

For more information: www.ocls.info

Once again the Friends of the Orange Country Library System bring an entertaining and enlightening program featuring a local treasure to the Second Saturday Series.  

Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. Orlando Public Library, Library Central

Come and catch a glimpse of the breathtaking sculptures that line the exquisite gardens of the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens located on Lake Osceola in Winter Park.

Join Debbie Komanski, co-author and executive director of the Polasek Museum and Mark Terry, Vice President of the Albin Polasek Foundation, for an event celebrating the life and work of Czech American sculptor Albin Polasek.  Learn about the life of this talented artist and how his foundation continues to add to his legacy.

Komanski is a longtime admirer of Polasek's work and co-author of the beautiful book The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. The book features many colorful images of Polasek's works, as well as descriptions of his creations, his background and his many accolades and recognitions.  Book sale and signing follows the program.

This special event is free and everyone is invited.

Quoting from the library release: "Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths and one of the most curable.  Clear up your colon cancer concerns with healthy advice from CRERI, the Colon & Rectal Educational & Research Institute of Florida and the Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando.

Attend this health fair in observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and learn to protect yourself and educate others about colon cancer.  The fair will include information about the importance of screenings and dieting,methods of prevention and detection, door prizes and giveaways.  Certified physicians will be available to answer any questions."

For more information:  www.ocls.info/secondsaturday

This special event is brought to you by the Friends of the Orange County Library System, and is free and everyone is invited.