Thanks to everyone who entered our #nh140 contest for a chance to win Patrick J. O'Connor's book "Meet Me at Ray's: A Celebration of Ray's Place in Kent, Ohio" (Black Squirrel Books).

The winning tweet, from Brittany Nader:

I eat at @RaysPlaceKent weekly, and my favorite thing is always the jerk fries! Om nom nom. #nh140
— Brittany Nader (@bnader1337) December 9, 2013

Hey, Golden Flashes — we've got a contest just for you.

OK, it's not just for Kent State alumni, but it's probably a contest that will interest them most. (Or, it will interest those who are looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the Golden Flashes in their lives.)

We've got a copy of Patrick J. O'Connor's book "Meet Me at Ray's: A Celebration of Ray's Place in Kent, Ohio" (Black Squirrel Books) that we'd like to give away.

If the title doesn't immediately grab your interest, check out the description from the publisher's website:

Meet Me at Ray’s celebrates more than seventy-five successful years (and counting) of Ray’s Place, a restaurant and bar located near the Kent State University campus in Kent, Ohio. Once referred to as the place “where the hustlers meet to hustle the hustlers,” Ray’s Place has survived decades of trends, changes, and events. Hundreds of students have worked there, thousands of customers have dined there, and millions of glasses have been raised there.
In Meet Me at Ray’s, author Patrick O’Connor features the stories, memories, and experiences of the legions of customers and employees who have made Ray’s Place what it’s been since 1937. Rooted in the hearts, minds, and experiences of the people who know it best, it is an “organic” story. Through humorous and poignant personal anecdotes, readers will come to know what makes Ray’s Place special and how important that is to the surrounding community. O’Connor has collected stories dating from 1943 to the present, including one declaring Ray’s Place the first sports bar in the United States. This book features the history of the eatery and its owners, including Charlie Thomas, the owner since 1978.
Through the long history of the restaurant, four different owners have sustained the connections between local residents and Kent State University employees, students, and alumni. For literally thousands, Ray’s Place is synonymous with Kent State University and Kent, Ohio.
A wealth of Ray’s Place trivia, traditions, and fun facts are complemented by photographs and original artwork that help tell the unique story of this Northeast Ohio institution.

To enter the contest:

1. Sign up for a Twitter account
2. Follow @newsheraldinoh
3. Tweet what you love about Ray's Place or your favorite memory of Ray's Place.
4. Include the hashtag #nh140 in your tweet. 
5. If you've got the characters, maybe give @RaysPlaceKent a mention. I'm sure they'd love to hear what you love about them!
6. Don't forget steps 2 and 4, or your tweet won't be eligible. 
7. Do this as many times as you'd like between now and 5 p.m. Dec. 9. That's when we'll pick our favorite memory as the winning tweet.
8. Tell your friends! (optional, but encouraged!)

Note: You must be a U.S. resident to win.

Geauga County Public Library is having a pumpkin-carving contest and looking for book-inspired jack-o'-lanterns:

"Geauga County Public Library is celebrating the fall season with a pumpkin-carving contest. Carve a literary or bookish theme into your pumpkin to be judged by board members of the Geauga Council for Arts and Culture. Email a photo of your carved pumpkin along with the author and title of the book that inspired you by Nov. 1, 2013, to lori.weber@geaugalibrary.info. Photos may be displayed on the library's Facebook page and website. The winner will receive a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble."

Read more in the GCPL pumpkin-carving contest news release.

Congratulations to Angela Wilpula, who won a copy of "Jane Austen's World: The Life and Times of England's Most Popular Author" in our #nh140 contest.

#nh140 Tell us why YOU should have been Mrs. Darcy twitter.com/nhcheryl/statu…
— Cheryl Sadler, MLIS (@nhcheryl) June 3, 2013

What is Lizzie Bennet to me? It's like asking what are men to rocks and mountains! #nh140 #janeausten #pandp #200yrs #I♡Darcy
— Angela Wilpula (@AWilpula) June 6, 2013

Congratulations, @awilpula! You've won our #nh140 contest and will receive "Jane Austen's World"yfrog.com/ocv2zlvj
— Cheryl Sadler, MLIS (@nhcheryl) June 11, 2013

@nhcheryl yay! I'm more excited than Kitty and Lydia at a military ball with filled up dance cards!
— Angela Wilpula (@AWilpula) June 12, 2013

Keep reading News-Herald.com and follow @newsheraldinoh on Twitter to stay informed on our next #nh140 event.

Are you a fan of "Pride and Prejudice"? Should you have been Mrs. Darcy? Then tell us in 140 characters why Lizzie Bennet has nothing on you.

Tweet using the hashtag #nh140 by 5 p.m. June 11, when we'll pick our favorite love note. The winner will receive a copy of "Jane Austen's World: The Life and Times of England's Most Popular Author."

Remember to follow @newsheraldinoh on Twitter.

Dick Goddard's book "Six Inches of Partly Cloudy" is subtitled "Cleveland's Legendary TV Meteorologist Takes on Everything - and More!" And that's entirely fitting.

David S. Glasier talked with Goddard about his book. You can read that here.

Glasier summarized Goddard's book well:

With an assist from co-writer Tom Feran, Goddard delves into the track of his long career in television, an abiding interest in weather science, war, patriotism, polarized politics, human behavior, religion and gossip. There also are plenty of stories about people he’s worked with and met in his public and private life.
“I’m eclectic,” Goddard said. “I have interests in so many things.”
Reading this book is similar to a typical conversation with Goddard. You begin in one place and make many a stop on the way to the final destination.

The entire time I was reading Goddard's book, I could hear him talking to me. I felt like I was having a conversation with my grandfather - or, rather, that my grandfather was conversing with me, telling me stories on just about everything. The conversational tone made the book easy to read, and the short sections made it easy to pick up and put down, to read just a bit at a time. The book is filled with photos, memories, quotes, illustrations drawn by Goddard, and, of course, evidence of his love of animals. If you didn't like Goddard already, his book surely will make you. Anyone who grew up watching Goddard should enjoy reading his anecdotes and stories from his life.

Interested in reading "Six Inches of Partly Cloudy"?

You can win it: Sign up this month (as in August, so by the end of today) to receive daily weather forecasts and alerts via text message from The News-Herald. Text WILWEATHER to 22700 to get started.

Check out a sample of the book below:
Ch 1 Sample SIPC

Goddard’s upcoming book signings

Sept. 10, Perry Public Library, 3753 Main St., Perry Township
Oct. 1, Cuyahoga County Public Library, 100 E. Orange St., Chagrin Falls
Oct. 22, Willoughby Public Library, 30 Public Square


-- 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

Getting Started with Gmail will be 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 22, at Perry Library, 3753 Main St. Learn basic email technology, concepts and features. By the end of the class, participants will have a Google mail account. Details and registration: 440-259-3300.


Managing Digital Pictures will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at Perry Library, 3753 Main St. Attendees will learn how to retrieve photos from their digital cameras, and what to do with the photos when they are on the computer. Basic computer skills are required. Bring your digital camera and all necessary equipment with you if possible. Register at 440-259-3300.


James A. Garfield: Passionate Reader will be 7 p.m. Aug. 24 in the James A. Garfield Room of the Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., Mentor. Park Ranger Alan Gephardt from the James A. Garfield Historic Site will present information about James A. Garfield's lifelong love of books. He will discuss what, when and why Garfield read, ultimately revealing the ways in which reading enhanced his life and personal relationships. To register, call 440-255-8811 or visit www.mentorpl.org.


Learn how to search for jobs online at 2 p.m. Aug. 25 at Willoughby Hills Library, 35400 Chardon Road. Register for the free program at 440-942-3362.


Mentor Library's monthly mystery/crime book club meets at 7 p.m. Aug. 25. New members welcome. The true crime book "Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty" by Caroline Alexander will be discussed. Stop by the main branch, 8215 Mentor Ave., for a copy of the book. Details: 440-255-8811.


Author Cheral White will be at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 27 in the Hot Spot on the first floor. White is a local author who has written two new political thrillers, "Capitol Angst" and "Angst to the Nth." Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Mentor Public Library. For details, call 440-255-8811 or visit www.mentorpl.org.

Coming up

The computer class Mousing 101 will be offered 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 29 at Perry Library, 3753 Main St. The class will teach you how to use the computer mouse, as well as other basic components of the computer. For more information or to register, call 440-259-3300.


The Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village is offering six-week themed preschool story time for children ages 5 and younger and their parents. The Rescue Village Little Ambassadors will discover, explore and learn about the pets at Rescue Village through stories, songs, dance, games and crafts. They will learn how to properly care for and interact with pets. Subjects covered include colors, counting, number and letter identification, and patterns. Small and large motor skills will be practiced. The first session runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 13, and the second session runs Oct. 24 through Dec. 8. The fee is $30 per six-week session, and sessions are limited to 10 participants. To register, contact Linda Hernandez at 440-596-1743 or lhernandez.walker@gmail.com.

Ongoing events

Take a picture of someone reading somewhere in Madison and enter the photo in the "Madison Reads" contest. Entry forms are available at Madison Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road, and entries will be accepted between Aug. 24 and 27. Photos will be displayed during the months of September and judged by the library patrons. Winning photos will be featured in Madison Library's "Remembering the Bicentennial Year 2012" calendar. For details, call 440-428-2189, ext. 223, or visit www.madison-library.info.


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

Gale, "a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses," is holding a contest to locate librarian superheroes, and the company wants to hear your nominations for a librarian who has been super for you and other patrons.

Are you or someone you know a librarian superhero? Gale wants to hear about it! Four librarians will be selected from your submissions and turned into cartoon superheros! Winners will be featured on a metal lunch box and unveiled at ALA in New Orleans!

How cool would it be to appear on a lunch box?!?!

You have until Feb. 28 to nominate your superhero librarian. Like the Facebook Page to nominate your librarian superhero. Be sure to let them know the who, where and why. Full rules are posted here.


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com