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

Welcome to Medicare will be at 2 p.m. March 21 at Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville. The program will give an overview of Medicare Basics and is geared toward individuals who are new to Medicare or are approaching age 65. Details: 440-352-3383.


State Rep. Ron Young, R-Leroy Township, will be at a meet-and-greet from 6 to 7 p.m. March 21 at Perry Public Library, 3752 Main St.


Wills and Trusts will be at 7 p.m. March 21 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. The program will cover estate documents and planning to ensure your family and financial goals are met after you or a loved one has died. Registration required: 440-942-3200.


The Book and Brush Club will meet at 7 p.m. March 23 at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. Participants will explore the fine arts through literature, and find out how Louis Comfort Tiffany took credit for gifted, unsung artist Clara Driscoll's glass creations in Susan Vreeland's book "Clara and Mr. Tiffany." Click here for more information on Vreeland's book and Clara. Details: 440-255-8811, ext. 810.


Adult Yoga will be at 6 p.m. March 23 at Willoughby Hills Library, 35400 Chardon Road. The event will feature beginning yoga techniques and a better understanding of its benefits. Bring a mat and comfortable clothing. Registration required: 440-942-3362.


DS Night for Teens will be 7 to 8 p.m. March 23 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Bring your Nintendo DS and any linkable games to the library to play with other teens. Attendees must have a DS, but games are not required. Grades six to 12 only. Registration required: 440-942-3200.


Shopping on the Internet will be 6:30 p.m. March 24 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Learn about Internet shopping sites like eBay and Amazon, as well as PayPal. Basic understanding of the Internet, as well as basic mouse and keyboard skills are recommended. Registration required: 440-942-3200.


Your Money Matters: Budgeting will be 7 to 8 p.m. March 24 at Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. Learn some tips and tricks to help reach your financial goals. Refreshments provided. Registration required: 440-942-7880.


Perry Library, 3753 Main St., will celebrate Women's History Month with a program at 7 p.m. March 24. Charlene Connors, a member of the dramatic group, Women in History, will portray the 20th century artist Georgia O'Keefe, whose artistic brilliance revolutionized modern art. The free event is for teens and adults only. Registration is suggested at 440-259-3300 or perrypubliclibrary.org


A "BE SmarT, Be your BEST" seminar for women ages 17 and older will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 26 at Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville. The free seminar will deal with advice on managing finances and looking for a job. Representatives from FirstMerit Bank will discuss budgeting, credit scores, obtaining a loan and more. Afterward, a panel will give tips on what employers look for in a résumé and what they expect at an interview. The seminar is sponsored by members of the Northeast Ohio Branch of the American Association of University Women, whose mission is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. For more information or to register, e-mail northeastohaauw@yahoo.com or call 440-428-6096.


An ACT practice test and ACT review session with The Princeton Review is scheduled for Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. The practice test will begin at noon March 26, and the review session to go over your results will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 7. Registration for both sessions is required: 440-942-7880.


Computer Basics II will be 10 a.m. March 26 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. The program is a continuation of Computer Basics I. Learn more advanced features of Windows and search strategies with Google. Time will be provided for hands-on practice with the keyboard and mouse. Limited to 10 participants. Registration required: 440-943-4151.


A Fancy Nancy party is set for 11 a.m. March 26 at Madison Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road. Young fashionistas are invited to dress up and come with their caregivers for a party complete with glitz, glamour, paparazzis and "Fancy Nancy" books by Jane O'Connor. Register at 440-482-2189 or www.madison-library.info.


A book fair to benefit Lake Catholic High School will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 26 at Barnes & Noble at Great Lakes Mall. Kids ages 3 to 8 are invited to story times with the LC Cougar, scheduled for 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Nook e-readers and other prizes and gift certificates will be raffled throughout the day.


An American Girls Doll tea party is set for 2 p.m. March 26 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. Bring your American Girl Doll or favorite doll to a tea party. Space is limited; register at 440-943-4151.


The Student Friends will meet from 2 to 3:30 p.m. March 26 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. The library is looking for good friends -- grades one through six -- who love the library to meet once a month during the school year to make crafts, enjoy snacks and help with library programs. Registration is required: 4440-942-3200.

Coming up

Eating Your Way to a Healthy Heart will be 1 to 2 p.m. March 28 at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. A representative from Lake Health will speak about how a healthy diet can alleviate the risk factors for heart disease. Attendees will learn about which foods to choose and other guidelines for choosing and preparing food. Details: 440-255-8811, ext. 215, or www.mentorpl.org.


Business Day 2011 will be 6 to 8 p.m. March 28 at Madison Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road. Representatives from banks, realtors, day cares, landscapers, dry cleaners, beauty shops, book stores, balloon decorators, therapists, and many more businesses will be there to talk about their products and services. During Madison Township's 200 years many businesses have come and gone. This is your chance to learn a little more about the area in which you live today and the hard working people that keep today's businesses going.


Lake Health will be hosting a non-fasting diabetes screening from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 30 at the Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. The screening will cover cholesterol, HDL, blood pressure and glucose. Participants must pre-register with Lake Health by calling 440-953-6000.


Saving for College will be at 7 p.m. March 30 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. Learn how to make saving for college easy and affordable as a representative from College Advantage, Ohio's 529 savings plan, will explain the program. Registration required: 440-943-4151.


How to Select a Caregiver will be at 6:30 p.m. March 31 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. This program will help select a caregiver and perhaps keep a loved one at home. Registration required: 440-942-3200.


Introduction to PowerPoint and Excel 2007 will be at 6:30 p.m. March 31 at Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. A two-part program designed on the basics of creating slideshow presentations with PowerPoint, and spreadsheets and data with Excel. Class size limited to seven; registration required: 440-942-7880.


Getting Started with Medicare will be at 7 p.m. March 31 at 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. You will learn what Parts A, B, C, and D cover and what is not covered. You will learn the difference between a Medicare Supplement and a Medicare Advantage Plan. Speaker Laura Mutsko designed this class to make Medicare easy to understand and answer all your questions. Registration required: 440-943-4151; www.welibrary.info.


Meet Rick Porrello, author of "To Kill the Irishman," from 7 to 9 p.m. March 31 in the Eykyn Room at Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township. Porrello will share his experiences writing about organized crime, and the book's long road to Hollywood. There will be a book sale and book signing prior to the event. The event is sponsored by the West Geauga Friends of the Library and is free to the public. Details: 440-338-8023. Find more info about Porrello and the book here.


Friends of the Kirtland Public Library will host the monthly book sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 2 in the Book Cellar at Kirtland Library, 9267 Chillicothe Road. Featured this month along with novels, biographies, self-help and more will be many books on gardening. Recorded books, DVDs, CDs and books on cassette will be available. Donations of gently-used adult and children's items to sell are appreciated and may be made during library hours.


Burton Library will host the annual Edible Book Festival from 11 a.m. to noon April 2. The Edible Book Festival is celebrated worldwide every year on or around April Fool's Day. The object is to make an edible book, document it, then eat it. All ages are welcome to participate in this creative time. Participants should use their imagination and make something edible that somehow represents a book. Participants should make their edible book at home and bring it to the library at 11 a.m. April 2. There will be prizes for funniest, most realistic and most unique edible books. Call the library at 440-834-4466 to register. The library is located at 14588 W. Park St. in the center of Burton Village.


Reading to the Dogs at Perry Library, 3753 Main St., is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. 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.


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 April 4. 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.

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