Odds and Book Ends features activities and events in the area related to libraries, books and authors. Submit your events at www.News-Herald.com/Calendar, and check back to The Book Club every week for upcoming events and activities at your local library.


The local chapter of the John Birch Society will present a 23-minute video showing of "Obamacare - 101" at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at Morley Public Library, 184 Phelps St. After the video showing, a presentation will be given by Dr. Nicholas Zakov of the Cleveland Retina Association. A question-and-answer period will follow.


Friends of Morley Library will host a Red Cross blood drive 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 26, in the lower level of Morley Library in Painesville. Donors will receive $5 in Morley Money to spend at any Friends Book Sale.


The Northeastern Ohio Rose Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Madison Public Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road, Madison. Come and learn from a master gardener the care of flowers. The program will be "Scented Geraniums-Fabulous Fragrance!" Discover plants that have leaves with fragrances of rose, lemon, mint, nutmeg, and more. Join Meghan Davis, from Ashtabula County Master Gardeners, as she explores the history and lore of scented geraniums and learn how to grow and propagate these alluring plants indoors during the winter.


Family Pumpkin Painting with Miss Amy will take place at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at Mentor Public Library’s Mentor Headlands Branch, 4669 Corduroy Road. Miss Amy will provide the pumpkin and decorations. For details, call 440-257-2000.


The James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor will present “Poe in Person: An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe” Oct. 28 at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, 8095 Mentor Ave. in Mentor. Patrons may choose from actor David Keltz’s 6 p.m. performance of “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Raven,” or an 8 p.m. performance of “The Black Cat” and “The Cask of Amontillado.” Keltz has performed as Poe on stage, television and radio as well as at schools and museums.  He also is the voice of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. Light refreshments and tours of the Garfield home will be available. The event is for patrons ages 16 and older. Cost of a ticket is $15. Advance tickets are available at the site. For more information, call 440-255-8722.


Mystery writers are visiting the South Euclid Lyndhurst Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library (4645 Mayfield Road, South Euclid) at 7 p.m. Oct. 28. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of the Friends of the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library. Register online at www.cuyahogalibrary.org and go to the Events tab, or by calling the South Euclid Lyndhurst Library at 216-382-4880.
About the authors:

• Mary Jane Maffini is a lapsed librarian, a former mystery bookstore owner and a lifelong lover of mysteries. She is a former President of Crime Writers of Canada. In addition to her to her four Charlotte Adams books, she is the author of the six-book Camilla MacPhee series and two Fiona Silk adventures. Maffini has won two Arthur Ellis awards for best mystery short story as well as the Crime Writers of Canada Derrick Murdock award and was nominated for a Barry Award in 2006. Her latest Charlotte Adams book is "Closet Confidential," published in July by Berkley Prime Crime.
• Brenda Chapmanof Ottawa is the author of the Jennifer Bannon mystery series for young adults. She has also written several short stories that were published in an anthology, "When Boomer Go Bad," published by RendezVous Crime. "Winter’s Grip," Brenda’s first adult murder mystery, was released in September.

Friends of Morley Library will host a used book sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30 at the Book Cellar in the lower level, Morley Library in Painesville. A Friends Preview Night will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28. Memberships are available at the door.


The Friends of the Euclid Public Library October Book Sale will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30 and 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 31. Friday evening will be a special members-only evening. Saturday the sale is open to the general public, and Sunday will be buy a bag for $2. The library is at 631 E. 222nd St., Euclid.


The Lake County Council on Aging and the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program will offer several presentations throughout Lake County on the topic of “Understanding Medicare and Reviewing Your Options for Open Enrollment.”
Presentations will be

• 10 a.m. Oct. 26 at the Willowick Senior Center
• 2 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Kirtland Public Library
• 9 a.m. Nov. 2 at the Wickliffe Senior Center
• 12:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Madison Senior Center
• noon Nov. 9 at the Mentor Senior Center
• noon Nov. 12 at the Eastlake Senior Center
• 11 a.m. Nov. 15 at the Painesville Senior Center
• 4 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Madison Public Library
• 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Council on Aging
• 10 a.m. Nov. 18 at the Fairport Senior Center
• 10 a.m. Nov. 30 at the Wickliffe Public Library
• 2 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Mentor Public Library
• 1 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Willoughby/Browning Center

Call the individual locations to register for this free presentation.


All Geauga County Public Libraries welcome voter information and campaign literature for issues and candidates appearing on local ballots. Each library has an election display to help voters become well-informed. Brochures and fliers are acceptable, while items such as bumper stickers are not. Geauga County Public Libraries include Bainbridge, Chardon, Geauga West, Middlefield, the Bookmobile, and the Newbury and Thompson library stations. For locations and phone numbers, visit www.geaugalibrary.net.


The Mentor-on-the-Lake and the Headlands branches of the Mentor Public Library will be drop-off points for holiday greetings to the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Letters and packs of chewing gum will be collected at both branches from Nov. 2 through Nov. 30. The items will be sent and shared by the troops for the holiday season. For details call either branch, at 440-257-2512 or 440-257-2000.


Join in a lively discussion of bestsellers, classics and more with Monday Night Book Discussion at Mentor Public Library's Main Branch. This group meets the first Monday of each month from October through June from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For the month's selection, contact Barb Hauer at 440-255-8811, ext. 210. The library provides books, and refreshments are courtesy of the Friends of the Library.



--Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com