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

“Ten Steps to Living with Lupus” meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Reservations are required for each step at 440-717-0183 or info@lupuscleveland.org.


Hillcrest Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 28 at Euclid Library, 631 E. 222nd St., Euclid. Visit www.hillcrestconcertband.org.

Coming up

The Willoughby Area Support Group for the Lupus Foundation of America Inc., Greater Cleveland Chapter, meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. July 5 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Details: 440-717-0183.


Reel Talk-Book and movie Discussion Group, meets at 2:45 p.m. the second Monday of every month in Meeting Room B of Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., with the next meeting planned for July 11. Books and DVDs are available at the check-out desk on the main floor. Details: 440-352-3383 or www.morleylibrary.org.

Ongoing events

Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, will host the traveling exhibit "A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs 1910-1965" through July 1. Only 55 libraries across the U.S. were selected to host the exhibit, which is composed of eight colorful double-sided panels filled with text and photographs highlighting the spirit of the musical era. The Bainbridge Library is offering a variety of free programs to enhance the exhibit experience. Larry Sheir, cantor at the Westside Temple Beth Israel, will present the grand finale "From Tin Pan Alley to Broadway" at 7 p.m. June 28. For more information on the event, call 440-543-5611.


The Geauga County Library Foundation is accepting nominations for its 2011 Chapman Award. The yearly recognition is bestowed on a special individual (or group of individuals) whose deeds have promoted the enjoyment of and value of books and reading and whose involvement has directly benefitted the Geauga County community. The Chapman Award is presented at the Foundation’s annual ceremony and social event in October. Deadline for submissions is July 15. Nomination forms are available at all Geauga County Public library branches. More than one nomination form may be submitted per person. Details: 440-286-6811.


An art exhibit featuring an array of work done by hemodialysis patients participating in art therapy and activities at Centers for Dialysis Care in Mentor will take place in July at Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville.


A Nook e-reader will be raffled to kick off the availability of e-books at Henderson Library. Tickets are $5 each and on sale through Aug. 4. A winner will be drawn that day at the summer reading finale party. Tickets are available at the front desk of the library, 54 E. Jefferson St., Jefferson. All money raised will be used to purchase more e-books. Visit ohdbks.lib.overdrive.com to check out e-books.


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

This month's LitSoup question:

Who is your favorite literary character?

Maybe it’s someone featured in several books you have read, or a character that has stayed with you long after you put down the book.

I posed this question to the newsroom, and these are the responses I received:

Tricia Ambrose:

If we’re considering strictly the classics I'd go with Miss Havisham of Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations." I’ve always been obsessed with her obsession. I can’t help but empathize with her need for revenge, her being a prisoner in a trap of her own making (like many of us, hers is just more outwardly manifested!)
If we’re branching out, someone who really hooked me was Alice, the title character in "Still Alice." Lisa Genova’s tale of a 50-year-old professor who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is one you won’t be able to put down. Read my review here.

Mike Butz:

Not sure if I have a "favorite" literary character, but there's definitely a character that has "stayed with me long after I put the book down." (Figuratively and literally.)
I submit to you the Giving Tree from Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree." Her/its selflessness and unconditional love toward the boy is so simple yet so remarkable.
I understand there's debate about each character’s personalities and roles, and that some feel the Giving Tree is an irresponsible enabler. But I've always viewed the Giving Tree as caring, generous and altruistic. To this day, whenever I think about the book or am reminded of it, the Giving Tree's unselfishness weighs heavily on my thoughts.

Jean Bonchak:

Among the literary characters who have stayed with me for many years is Piggy from “Lord of the Flies.” He portrays rationality and morality and is taken advantage of and scorned by his peers because of his outward appearance, vulnerability and insecurities. Thus, all the good that he’s able to offer is cruelly snuffed out.

Danielle Capriato:

Anne Shirley is by far one of my favorite fictional characters.
Like many young girls who loved to read, the Anne of Green Gables books always enthralled me as a girl. I read them still every year around Christmas because they are so comforting. (Not gonna lie, “Anne of the Island” is a big favorite for the romance—the way she and Gilbert Blythe are so obviously meant to be together and it takes her until the final pages of that book to realize it… It just satisfies my inner silly romantic girl.)
Anne is quirky, resilient, intelligent and ambitious. The way the series portrayers her as a flighty girl with romantic ideals and her head in the clouds who grows up to be an amazing, strong woman with a wonderful head on her shoulders—while still retaining her imagination, of course!—just makes her such an obvious answer to this question.

Jeffrey L. Frischkorn:

“Buck” in Jack London’s “Call of the Wild.” Buck starts out as a ‘city slicker” dog and morphs back into his savage genes toward the end… I the other one are the “Boy and “The Old Man” in Robert Ruark’s “The Old Man and the Boy.”

Robin Palmer:

The characters in The Velveteen Rabbit, especially the wise Skin Horse:
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Tracey Read:

A character that has stayed with me for decades is Great Expectations' Miss Havisham. The image of her still in her wedding dress going mad in the decrepit mansion is so visual.

Cheryl Sadler:

Dolores Price from Wally Lamb's "She's Come Undone". She is depressed and depressing, but for the entire 465 pages I never stopped rooting for her to find something that would make her happy. I think Lamb did an incredible job with her character, creating someone I couldn't let go of, no matter what crazy things she did (stalking her college roommate's boyfriend to the point of moving to his town?????).

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This post is part of a LitSoup, a monthly feature on The Book Club compiled of contributions from the newsroom. Send an e-mail or tweet with your suggestions for future LitSoup topics.

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

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

Playaways now are part of Geauga County Public Library’s lending options. A Playaway is a portable, all-in-one format audio book. It is high-definition audio that does not need a separate player. The orange-boxed devices come pre-loaded and ready to start, making it easy to borrow from a library and use right away. Geauga County Public Library is adding Playaways to the Bainbridge, Chardon, Geauga West and Middlefield libraries. They are already available at Bainbridge Library, and Playaway representatives will be at the other locations to demonstrate the device. A demonstration will be 9 a.m. to noon June 22 at Geauga West Library. Titles include recent best-sellers, young adult and children's books. Individuals also may access the library catalog at www.geaugalibrary.net and search Playaway to check available titles.


Crossroads will hold a Family Story Time from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 22 at its Early Childhood Services Center, 1083 Mentor Ave. in Painesville. The family friendly event will feature books, crafts and a snack. The event is geared for children up to age 8 and their parents or caregivers. The event is free, but registration is required. Those interested should call 440-358-7370. The Crossroads Early Childhood Services Center provides a broad range of behavioral health services to children from birth to age 5. Crossroads is a nonprofit organization providing behavioral health services to children and their families.


President Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by historian John King, will speak at the next meeting of the Willoughby Historical Society to commemorate the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War. Lincoln will discuss aspects of his early life and his role throughout the Civil War up to the fateful evening at Ford Theatre. The event will be 7 pm. June 22 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. The event is free and open to the public.

Coming up

Hillcrest Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 28 at Euclid Library, 631 E. 222nd St., Euclid. Visit www.hillcrestconcertband.org.

Ongoing events

Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, will host the traveling exhibit "A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs 1910-1965" through July 1. Only 55 libraries across the U.S. were selected to host the exhibit, which is composed of eight colorful double-sided panels filled with text and photographs highlighting the spirit of the musical era. The Bainbridge Library is offering a variety of free programs to enhance the exhibit experience. On June 3, Bill Rudman will present the grand opening for the exhibit with "Jewish Songwriters United: Their Impact on the American Musical" as an after-hours special event at 7:30 p.m. Larry Sheir, cantor at the Westside Temple Beth Israel, will present the grand finale "From Tin Pan Alley to Broadway" at 7 p.m. June 28. Also, the library will show movie musicals that showcase the songwriters included in the exhibit at 2 p.m. on Fridays in June. For more information on the event, call 440-543-5611.


The Geauga County Library Foundation is accepting nominations for its 2011 Chapman Award. The yearly recognition is bestowed on a special individual (or group of individuals) whose deeds have promoted the enjoyment of and value of books and reading and whose involvement has directly benefited the Geauga County community. The Chapman Award is presented at the Foundation’s annual ceremony and social event in October. Deadline for submissions is July 15. Nomination forms are available at all Geauga County Public library branches. More than one nomination form may be submitted per person. Details: 440-286-6811.


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

Happy Bloomsday! 5 Ways to Celebrate James Joyce's 'Ulysses'

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

Perry Library’s Adult Summer Reading 2011, “Novel Destinations” begins June 13, and anyone age 16 or older is invited to join. There will be weekly prize drawings, as well as grand prizes at the close of the program July 23. Participants simply need to read or listen to a book of their choice and submit the title with their name for the weekly prize drawings. Prizes are on display at the library. To register, call 440-259-3300 or visit at www.perrypubliclibrary.org. The library is at 3753 Main St.


Cartoonist Jenny Campbell will be featured in a program at 11 a.m. June 13 at West Geauga Senior Center, 11414 Caves Road, Chester Township. Campbell is a children’s illustrator and the author of the nationally syndicated cartoon strip "Flo & Friends." She will talk about her career, background and inspiration for the cartoon strip. For reservations, call 440-729-2782.


Reel Talk-Book and Movie Discussion Group meets at 2:45 p.m. the second Monday of every month - with the next meeting slated for June 13 - in Meeting Room B of Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville. Books and DVDs are available at the check-out desk on the main floor. Details: 440-352-3383 or www.morleylibrary.org.


Graphic artist Thom Zahler will demonstrate cartooning techniques at 6 p.m. June 14 at the Willoughby Hills Library, 35400 Chardon Road. Details and registration: 440-942-3362.


Playaways now are part of Geauga County Public Library’s lending options. A Playaway is a portable, all-in-one format audio book. It is high-definition audio that does not need a separate player. The orange-boxed devices come pre-loaded and ready to start, making it easy to borrow from a library and use right away. Geauga County Public Library is adding Playaways to the Bainbridge, Chardon, Geauga West and Middlefield libraries. They are already available at Bainbridge Library, and Playaway representatives will be at the other locations to demonstrate the device. Demonstrations will be from 4 to 8 p.m. June 16 at Middlefield Library, and 9 a.m. to noon June 22 at Geauga West Library. Titles include recent best-sellers, young adult and children's books. Individuals also may access the library catalog at www.geaugalibrary.net and search Playaway to check available titles.


Friends of the Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville, has planned a book sale in the Morley Library Book Cellar. A Friends preview will be 5 to 8 p.m. June 16, and the sale will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 17 and 18. Details: 440-227-6581.


Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd., will host "Sidewheel Treasure and Tragedy" at 7 p.m. June 16. Georgann and Mike Wachter will highlight several of the ships that traveled the Great Lakes and compare them to two floating museum paddle wheel steamers. The program includes a discussion of the G.P. Griffith, which burned and sank off Willowick's shore. To register, call 440-942-7880.


The Northeastern Ohio Rose Society is celebrating Rose Month (June) by having a book display on roses at Ashtabula Library, Topky Library and Madison Library. A rose show will be June 18 and 19 at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, sponsored by the Cleveland Rose Societies. The club meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Madison Library, and the next meeting will be Sept. 26. Details: 440-997-9403.

Coming up

Crossroads will hold a Family Story Time from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 22 at its Early Childhood Services Center, 1083 Mentor Ave. in Painesville. The family friendly event will feature books, crafts and a snack. The event is geared for children up to age 8 and their parents or caregivers. The event is free, but registration is required. Those interested should call 440-358-7370. The Crossroads Early Childhood Services Center provides a broad range of behavioral health services to children from birth to age 5. Crossroads is a nonprofit organization providing behavioral health services to children and their families.


President Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by historian John King, will speak at the next meeting of the Willoughby Historical Society to commemorate the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War. Lincoln will discuss aspects of his early life and his role throughout the Civil War up to the fateful evening at Ford Theatre. The event will be 7 pm. June 22 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. The event is free and open to the public.

Ongoing events

National Candy Month Contest at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., will be May 16 through June 16. June is Candy Month. Check out books from the children's area and receive one chance at guessing how many candies are in the jar. The person with the closest answer wins the jar. One guess per child, per day. The winner will be announced June 17. Details: 440-255-8811.


Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, will host the traveling exhibit "A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs 1910-1965" through July 1. Only 55 libraries across the U.S. were selected to host the exhibit, which is composed of eight colorful double-sided panels filled with text and photographs highlighting the spirit of the musical era. The Bainbridge Library is offering a variety of free programs to enhance the exhibit experience. On June 3, Bill Rudman will present the grand opening for the exhibit with "Jewish Songwriters United: Their Impact on the American Musical" as an after-hours special event at 7:30 p.m. Larry Sheir, cantor at the Westside Temple Beth Israel, will present the grand finale "From Tin Pan Alley to Broadway" at 7 p.m. June 28. Also, the library will show movie musicals that showcase the songwriters included in the exhibit at 2 p.m. on Fridays in June. For more information on the event, call 440-543-5611.


Library card holders now are able to check out and download eBooks anytime, anywhere by visiting the Mentor Library website www.mentorpl.org. Users will be able to browse the library’s website, check out with a valid library card and download to PC, Mac and many other mobile devices. Titles can be enjoyed immediately or transferred to a variety of devices, including iPod and Sony Reader and many others. Users also will need to install free software available on the library website. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, so there are no late fees.


The Geauga County Library Foundation is accepting nominations for its 2011 Chapman Award. The yearly recognition is bestowed on a special individual (or group of individuals) whose deeds have promoted the enjoyment of and value of books and reading and whose involvement has directly benefitted the Geauga County community. The Chapman Award is presented at the Foundation’s annual ceremony and social event in October. Deadline for submissions is July 15. Nomination forms are available at all Geauga County Public library branches. More than one nomination form may be submitted per person. Details: 440-286-6811.



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

I was intrigued by the cover of Lee Martin's "Break the Skin."

I know you shouldn't judge a book by that, but of course we do.

It wasn't so much the jacket itself, it was the recommendation on the back from Stewart O'Nan. I love, love, love his works.If he thought it was a good read, odds are I would too.

My co-worker Mark Meszoros was also intrigued. But he was more taken by the fact that Martin's "The Bright Forever" was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Note to publishers:You just never know which bit of information will appeal to a reader. Those multiple entry points are so important.

O'Nan did not let me down. I'll put my thumb up next to his.

Lee Martin has crafted a couple of truly memorable characters in Miss Baby and Laney.

I wouldn't say I liked them so much as I empathized with them.

The wrong choices that snowballed. The lack of hope for a better future. The serious lack of judgment when hooking up. You just want to shake them.

But in Martin's hands these women are far from sterotypes. They are complicated individuals.

As Miss Baby  says: "That's the thing that  froze me, that uncertainty about what was coming at me from the future. I kept turning it over in my head, the fact that when we make a choice, we create a realm of possible consequences, and another collection of possibilities go zooming past us, and we never know what they were. We never know how things might have turned out differently."

Who hasn't shared that emotion? Certainly it's one Laney can relate to. And how the stories of these two very different women from very different towns become intertwined is the suspenseful backbone of the story.

I'm  curious to see if Mark enjoys  the novel as I did. Stay tuned.

- Tricia Ambrose

Because this is about a sports book, I can get away with using a sports analogy. The new book about ESPN, "These Guys Have All the Fun," is a marathon, not a sprint. It's 745 pages of everything you've ever wanted to know about Bristol, Conn.

If you're picking it up hoping to read about scandal and wild parties, you'll be a little disappointed. It includes some sordid tales, but nothing that hasn't been written about the worldwide leader before or hasn't happened in a corporate office. From a Cleveland perspective, Gary Miller gives his account of what happened when he was accused of urinating out of a window in the Flats during the 1997 baseball playoffs.

It feels like a marathon because the first quarter of the book is a detailed account of the business deals that got the network started. It's thorough and probably interesting if you're in the TV business. For those who just want to read about the names we recognize, plowing through the first 150 pages is like watching the last "Star Wars" movie, when you just want to scream "Turn into Darth Vader, already!"

Once it moves past the network getting off the ground, the book does as well. It covers expansion, "SportsCenter," network personalities, dealings with sports leagues, failed promotions and plenty of internal politics (gender, race and power). The authors got just about everyone involved in ESPN's history to talk on the record - the book is told in an oral history format.

A few things I found interesting:

- A great story in the beginning about a satellite company, its first customer, and where the first customer's transmission was going.

- If ESPN has to bow to any entity, it's the NFL. The account of the last TV rights negotiation gives a fascinating look at the stakes involving multibillion dollar entities.

- Keith Olbermann is a genius - he wrote Mickey Mantle's obituary in 15 minutes. He's also not the easiest colleague to work with. They probably could have gotten an entire book about Olbermann's time at ESPN by itself.

- Jeremy Schaap's perspective on his interviews with Bobby Fischer and Bob Knight.

- Howard Primer

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

The Monday Night Book Discussion meets the first Monday of each month from October through June, with the next meeting slated for 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 6 at Mentor 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.


The Willoughby Area Support Group of the Lupus Foundation of America Inc. Greater Cleveland Chapter meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 7 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Details: 440-717-0183.


The Mentor Multiple Sclerosis Support Group will meet from 10:30 a.m. to noon June 8 at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. The group meets the second Wednesday of each month. Those with MS or affected by MS are welcome to attend.


Mentor Police will offer important safety tips for the summer from 7 to 8 p.m. June 8 at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. The entire family is welcome. Details and registration: 440-255-8811, ext. 215.


One World, Many Stories summer reading program kicks off June 9 at Henderson Memorial Library, 54 E. Jefferson St., Jefferson. Register June 9 at the library and pick up a reading log and complete details for the reading contest, as well as a list of programs to travel with the library to Africa, Mexico, Japan, America, Scotland, Australia and China. The program is open to all children and families. Details: 440-576-3761.


Paranormal University: Ghosts and Hauntings will be 7 to 8 p.m. June 9 at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. Explore all things paranormal with Willoughby "Ghost Lady" Cathi Weber. Identify spirits, types of hauntings, paranormal terms and much more. Details: 440-255-8811, ext. 215, or www.mentorpl.org.


Geauga Park District Executive Director Tom Curtin will discuss Observatory Park at 7 p.m. June 9 at Burton Library, 14588 W. Park St. The new 1,100 acre park is under construction and will be home to the Oberle Observatory. When the park is complete, it will be one of only three dark-sky parks in the United States to receive the designation as a certified International Dark Sky Preserve. Registration: 440-834-4466.


In conjunction with "A Fine Romance" exhibit, the movie "Carousel" will be shown at 2 p.m. June 10 at the Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road. The film features Gordon McRae and Shirley Jones and the Rodgers and Hammerstein songs "If I Loved You" and "June is Bustin' Out All Over." The event is free and open to the public. For reservations, call 440-543-5611.


Perry Library, 3753 Main St., will host a Free Shred Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 10. Xpress Shredding will perform the free collection in the library’s rear parking lot. Patrons and staff can drop off up to five storage boxes of paper, which will be loaded into locked bins on a secure truck. The truck will be attended at all times by Xpress Shredding staff then taken to the company’s secure shredding facility.

Coming up

Cartoonist Jenny Campbell will be featured in a program at 11 a.m. June 13 at West Geauga Senior Center, 11414 Caves Road, Chester Township. Campbell is a children’s illustrator and the author of the nationally syndicated cartoon strip "Flo & Friends." She will talk about her career, background and inspiration for the cartoon strip. For reservations, call 440-729-2782.


Reel Talk-Book and Movie Discussion Group meets at 2:45 p.m. the second Monday of every month - with the next meeting slated for June 13 - in Meeting Room B of Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville. Books and DVDs are available at the check-out desk on the main floor. Details: 440-352-3383 or
www.morleylibrary.org.


Friends of the Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville, has planned a book sale in the Morley Library Book Cellar. A Friends preview will be 5 to 8 p.m. June 16, and the sale will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 17 and 18. Details: 440-227-6581.


Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd., will host "Sidewheel Treasure and Tragedy" at 7 p.m. June 16. Georgann and Mike Wachter will highlight several of the ships that traveled the Great Lakes and compare them to two floating museum paddle wheel steamers. The program includes a discussion of the G.P. Griffith, which burned and sank off Willowick's shore. To register, call 440-942-7880.

Ongoing events

The Geauga County Public Library Board of Trustees is anticipating a vacancy on the board beginning July 1. The volunteer board establishes the policies and budget for the Geauga County Public Library. Responsibilities include attendance at monthly and selected meetings throughout the year. Applicants must be registered voters. To nominate yourself or another individual, complete the application form available at any Geauga County Public Library location or at the library’s administrative center. Deadline for applications is June 11. The board will review applications and make a recommendation to the Common Pleas Court judges, who are the appointing authorities. For more information, call Director Deborah O’Connor at 440-286-6811, ext. 101, or email deborah.oconnor@geaugalibrary.info.



Middle Ridge Gardens, 6559 Middle Ridge Road, Madison, is hosting a Combo Pot Contest as a fundraiser for Madison Library. Participants may design their own planters or purchase a package from Middle Ridge Gardens. Categories for entries for children are ages zero to 6, ages 7 to 9, and ages 10 to 13, with the topic of KIDS Bicentennial. Adult categories will be Edible, Madison Bicentennial, Creative Containers and Corporate. Entry tickets are $5 and available at Madison Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road, or Middle Ridge Gardens. The planters will be judged June 8 at a Combo Pot Potluck dinner, with live music in the main greenhouse at the garden center. The event will be 6 to 8 p.m., and everyone attending is asked to bring a beverage and dish to pass. Winners will receive $50 gift certificates to local businesses. A 50/50 raffle so will be part of the evening. Details: Madison Library at 440-428-2189.


National Candy Month Contest at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., will be May 16 through June 16. June is Candy Month. Check out books from the children's area and receive one chance at guessing how many candies are in the jar. The person with the closest answer wins the jar. One guess per child, per day. The winner will be announced June 17. Details: 440-255-8811.


Tours of the Penfield House, a local home designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, will take place at 3, 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. June 9. Because of the popularity of this fundraiser for the 2011 Summer Reading Program, registration will be done by a random lottery. To be entered into the lottery, call the Willowick Library at 440-943-4151, ext. 3. All entries must be received by 5 p.m. May 21. Be ready to rank in order a preference of tour times. Cost of the tour is $25 per person. Transportation will depart from the Willoughby Hills Library, 35400 Chardon Road in Willoughby Hills.


Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, will host the traveling exhibit "A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs 1910-1965" through July 1. Only 55 libraries across the U.S. were selected to host the exhibit, which is composed of eight colorful double-sided panels filled with text and photographs highlighting the spirit of the musical era. The Bainbridge Library is offering a variety of free programs to enhance the exhibit experience. On June 3, Bill Rudman will present the grand opening for the exhibit with "Jewish Songwriters United: Their Impact on the American Musical" as an after-hours special event at 7:30 p.m. Larry Sheir, cantor at the Westside Temple Beth Israel, will present the grand finale "From Tin Pan Alley to Broadway" at 7 p.m. June 28. Also, the library will show movie musicals that showcase the songwriters included in the exhibit at 2 p.m. on Fridays in June. For more information on the event, call 440-543-5611.


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

Seems everyone is making summer reading lists these days.
For actual beach reading I favor the true escapism. Give me some good chick lit and a beach chair and I'm set.
In fact, when we make our annual summer trek to Half Price Books in preparation for vacation that's what I'll be looking for. A paperback or three whose jacket touts a tale of women who've been friends since college or a woman in transition or a romance set against the backdrop of high fashion. No reality necessary.
But not all summer reading is done at the beach.
My list for our last LitSoup post was a mixed bag.
Now along comes another list to put on my list.
This one is of great business reads for summer.

I'm most intrigued by "Delivering Happiness" by Zappos.com founder Tony Hsieh.
Anything pique your interest?

- Tricia Ambrose