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.

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This week

Zin, Zin, Zin a Violin! will be 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Willoughby Hills Library, 35400 Chardon Road. Children are invited to learn more about music with the Fine Arts Association and meet instrument families through stories, instrument demonstrations and more. The class is limited to 20 children. Registration is required at 440-942-3362.


What is the Western Reserve? will be 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. The illustrated program will take a look at a unique part of Ohio and the nation, as well as the people, politics, war and determination that created it. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Mentor Public Library will host the Twentysomething Readers Book Club at Panera in Mentor at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Join twenty-something readers to discuss books of interest along with librarian Steve Haas. This month’s selection is "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. For details, call 440-255-8811.


During the month of March, Madison Public Library holds an annual Business Fair. Local businesses may hang a poster and include business cards, coupons, pens, etc. on the poster. March 28 will be "Business Day 2011," and business owners may set up a small display and talk with patrons about their business. For more information, please contact the library at 440-428-2189.


An information session and public hearing on the Fairport Harbor Dredging Project will be at 6 p.m. March 1 at the Fairport Harbor Library, 335 Vine St., during an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency public meeting on maintenance dredging of the Fairport Harbor federal navigation channel and its potential impact on Lake Erie water quality. Ohio EPA is holding the meeting to accept comments concerning an application by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge up to 650,000 cubic yards of material from the harbor between July 1 and Sept. 15. The dredged material would be disposed in both open lake and nearshore areas of Lake Erie. Details: 614-644-2001 or http://bit.ly/f0FZF1.


Dynamic Dinosaurs will be at 7 p.m. March 2 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. The event will feature prehistoric stories, activities and crafts. Registration required: 440-943-4151.


Getting Started with Medicare will be at 10 a.m. March 3 at the Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. If you are approaching age 65, or just going on Medicare for the first time, this is your opportunity to gain a basic understanding of how Medicare works. Speaker Laura Mutsko designed the class to make Medicare easy to understand. Registration is required at 440-943-4151. Another session will be offered at 7 p.m. March 31.


Demo classes from Ovation Movement will be at 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. March 3 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Ovation offers a variety of dance and movement classes for all ages. The 10 a.m. session will be for children 18 months to 3 years old, and the 10:45 a.m. session will be for children 3 to 5 years old. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Computer Basics I will be at 6:30 p.m. March 3 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. This program is designed for the person with no computer experience. Participants will learn about hardware and software, and practice using the keyboard and mouse. Limited to 10 participants. Registration required at 440-946-4151.


Read Across America with Dr. Seuss will be at 7 p.m. March 3 at Eastlake Library, 37606 Lake Shore Blvd. The library is teaming up with the Eastlake Women's Club for the event. Registration is required at 440-942-7780.


As part of the John Birch Society's Spring Series, "The Federal Reserve" by G. Edward Griffin will be shown at 7 p.m. March 3 at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. The movie will address inflation and the Federal Reserve. A discussion after the movie will be led by Fred Deming. Details: Jean Smith at 440-352-2405.


The Friends of the Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library will have a book/AV sale at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St., during the following dates and times:

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 4
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 5
• 1 to 5 p.m. March 6
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 7

The Friends will raffle baskets filled with books and gifts. Tickets for the raffle are 50 cents each and can be purchased during library hours beginning March 4. Details: 440-943-4151 or http://www.welibrary.info.


Dr. Seuss, Mother Goose & Everything in Between will be 11 a.m. March 5 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Children will be introduced to the art of theater and performance poetry as they learn and perform dramatic, silly, comic and tongue-twister poems with instructors from the Fine Arts Association. The event is for children ages 4 to 6 and their caregivers. Space is limited, and registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Students in first through sixth grades who love the Eastlake Library are invited to the Student Friends Meeting from 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 5 at the library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. The group meets monthly during the school year to make crafts, enjoy snacks, play games and help with library programs. Registration is required at 440-942-7780.


The Anime/Manga Club will meet from 1 to 4 p.m. March 5 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Attendees will watch, discuss and comment on anime and manga, and refreshments will be provided. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Reading to the Dogs at Perry Library, 3753 Main St., is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. March 5 and April 2. School-age children can read aloud to a friendly, gentle dog who is licensed and trained to be a good listener. The dogs' handlers sit nearby to help ease the interaction. Participants can register for one 15-minute time slot each session; drop-ins are welcome if time slots are available. Each child will receive a souvenir photo and free book to take home. To register, call 440-259-3300.


Puppets with Pizazz will be 2 to 3 p.m. March 5 at Beachwood Library, 25501 Shake Blvd. Families are invited to see Nancy Sander's puppet version of "Rumplestiltskin." Registration is required at 216-831-6868 or http://cuyahogalibrary.org.


Barks for Books will be 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 5 at Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. Children in first through third grade become more confident readers by spending 30 minutes each week reading to trained therapy dogs. Registration is required at 440-942-7780.


Author and Sheffield Lake resident Yvonne Miles will be available to sign copies of her Christian fiction novel "Out from the depths of pain: Love doesn't have to hurt" at 3 p.m. March 5 at Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.

Coming up

Literature Out Loud will be at 4 p.m. March 7 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided as favorite American authors come alive through dramatic readings by a professional actor. Stories featured will include the American frontier, patriotic poems and excerpts from American novels and short stories of adventure, comedy, romance and history. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Mentor Library's Monday Night Book Discussion takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the first Monday of each month from October through June, with the next meeting being March 7 at the library, 8215 Mentor Ave. For this month's selection, contact librarian Barb Hauer at 440-255-8811, ext. 210. The library provides books, and refreshments are courtesy of the Friends of the Library.


Nintendo DS Game Night will be 7 to 8 p.m. March 7 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Bring your Nintendo DS and any linkable games to the library for the opportunity to play with other kids. Attendees must have a DS, but games are not required. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Jump Start Your Job Search will be 9:45 to 11 a.m. March 8 at Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. Learn about the free workshops and job search assistance available through Lake1Stop. This 90-minute session is a prerequisite for attending the workshops, to find out about available training funds, or for receiving one-on-one job search assistance. To register, contact Debra Laurin at 440-350-2493 or 440-918-2493.


Great Estates of Wickliffe will be at 6:30 p.m. March 8 at Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. Noted historian and storyteller Dan Ruminski will tell the tale of the Great Estates owned by such families as the Corrigans, Coulbys, McKinneys and Rockefellers; what they build and enjoyed; and the tragedies that caused it all to collapse. The program is co-sponsored by the Eastlake Historical Society and the Willoughby Historical Society. Space is limited, so registration is required at 440-942-7780.


The annual spring book sale sponsored by the West Geagua Friends of the Library will take place during the following hours:

• 4 to 6:30 p.m. March 9 (members' preview)
• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 9 (public sale begins)
• 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 10
• 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 11
• 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 12 ($3 bag day)

Donations of gently used or new children’s and adult books, collectibles, comics, CDs, DVDs, books on tape or CD, puzzles, board games, sheet music and prints can be dropped off at the Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township, during regular hours until March 1. A tax receipt is available at the circulation desk. Funds raised from the book sale benefit the on-going adult and children’s programs at the Geauga West Library. Details: 440-729-4250.


A LEAF program on scholarships and funding options for students who will be attending college in the fall will be at 6 p.m. March 9 at Willoughby Hills Library, 35400 Chardon Road. Registration is required at 440-942-3362.


E-mail Basics will be at 10 a.m. March 10 at Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd., and 10 a.m. March 19 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. The program will teach how to write and send e-mail. Space is limited, so registration is required: 440-942-7780 for the Eastlake program and 440-943-4151 for the Willowick program.


A program on the anti-inflammatory diet will be at 7 p.m. March 10 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. Find out what the anti-inflammatory diet is and what foods help in controlling inflammation. Attendees will get tips on changing diets and avoiding foods that make them ill. Registration is required at 440-943-4151.


The Friends of the Geneva Library will have a used book sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11 and 12 in the meeting room at the Geneva Library, 860 Sherman St. A selection of hardcover books, paperback books, DVDs, VHS tapes, magazines and more will be available. Hardcover book pricing starts at 30 cents; paperback at 20 cents. Geneva Library book bags will be sold for $2. All money raised through the sale will benefit the library. Details: 440-466-4521.


Recipe for Art will be 1 to 3 p.m. March 12 in the James Garfield Room at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., The workshop for artists and would-be artists will teach the basics of drawing and painting with artist James McNamara, a painter trained at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Cleveland State University who teaches art classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Portraits, landscapes, still life and free form will be presented in the class. Artists are encouraged to bring their own materials, such as pencils, paper, sketchbooks, watercolors, ink, pastels, tempera, paint, mat board, etc. Registration is open to the first 20 applicants. Details: Barbara Hauer at 440-255-8811, ext. 210.


Reel Talk-Book and Movie Discussion Group meets at 2:45 p.m. the second Monday of every month in Morley Library's meeting Room B, with the next meeting taking place March 14. Books and DVDs are available at the check-out desk on the main floor. The library is located at 184 Phelps St. in Painesville. Details: 440-352-3383 or www.morleylibrary.org.


A spaghetti dinner for Madison Library will be 5 to 8 p.m. March 14 at Wagon Wheel Restaurant, 1388 N. Hubbard Road, Madison Township. Tickets are $8 and available at the library or the door. The fundraiser is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library.


Novel Conversations Book Discussion will be at 7 p.m. March 15 at Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. The book discussed will be "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford. Details: 440-942-7780.


Happy Bookers Book Discussion will be at 7 p.m. March 15 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. The book discussed will be "Abraham" by Bruce Feiler. Details: 440-943-4151.

Ongoing events

If you are 60 years old or older and a middle- or low-income taxpayer, you can get free tax assistance with an AARP tax aide volunteers. Call the Mentor Library at 440-255-8811, ext. 215, to make your appointment. Volunteers will be at the Main Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., from noon to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through April 12. Bring your completed tax forms from last year and valid I.D. to your appointment. AARP help is by appointment only.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl