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"I am completely smitten with the Lunch with Books patrons...who welcomed me like a long-lost cousin. It takes two to have a successful reading: an enthusiastic presenter and an engaged audience, and boy did the stars align for us." -Marie Manilla, Still Life with Plums

"Lunch With Books is an outstanding program -- one of the best in the country." -NPR Journalist Matthew Algeo, The President is a Sick Man


"With a new book in hand, I’ve visited a lot of libraries lately, and I think the Ohio County Public Library is my all-time favorite. People are kind and welcoming, and deeply appreciate a visiting writer." -Jaimy Gordon, Lord of Misrule (National Book Award)

“I wanted the book launch to be at Lunch With Books because it is the best library book program in West Virginia and because Wheeling and the Wheeling area was centrally involved in so many of the firsts in West Virginia sports.” –Bob Barnett, Hillside Fields: A History of Sports in West Virginia

This blog is being discontinued.

This blog is being discontinued.
Please visit: www.ohiocountylibrary.org/calendar

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

A History of Sterling Drug

Judge Fred Stamp will be at With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, August 3 at noon to share the story of Sterling Drug, a global pharmaceutical business founded in Wheeling in 1901. Sterling owned several other companies and is best known for its acquisition of the American Bayer Company, (Bayer Aspirin). Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are provided. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 for more information.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

July 27th: A History of Wheeling's Jewish Community

Daniel Lowy, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Shalom, will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday July 27 at noon to share stories and reminiscences of the history of the Jewish community in Wheeling. The first local Jewish congregation was founded in 1849, the same year the Suspension Bridge was built. Since then, members have been prominent in local business, industry, the professions, and community affairs. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are provided. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 for more information.

Also: Here's a program that might be of interest to Lunch with Books patrons.

Temple Shalom, Thursday, July 22 @ 7 pm.

Lior Kaminetsky, Israeli violinist, and photojournalist Joe Shalmoni will showcase Israel's beauty in music and photography.See the real beauty of Israel and hear first hand stories of how Israel's army saved lives in Haiti.

Refreshments served. Free and open to the public.

Monday, July 19, 2010

July 20: THE ART OF ELEANOR STEBER

On Tuesday, July 20 at noon, Mary-Bess Halford will discuss the life and times of Wheeling’s operatic sensation, Eleanor Steber. Born in South Wheeling in 1914, Ms. Steber studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and debuted at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 1940. A soprano known for her vocal versatility, Ms. Steber later taught at the Julliard, and was among the first American-born and trained opera singers to achieve international acclaim. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are provided. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 for more information.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Attendance Record Shattered Again!

A capacity crowd turned out for Saengerfest 2010, shattering the attendance record set just a month ago by Art Rooney Jr. Those in attendance enjoyed an entertaining mix of history from Dr. David Javersak, excellent food prepared by Chef Gene Evans, and delightful choral music provided by the Eintracht German Singing Society and Dayton Liederkranz Turner. Danke Eintracht und danke Wheeling freunde!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Next Saturday: SAENGERFEST!

AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY, SAENGERFEST RETURNS TO WHEELING

In addition to its free weekly Lunch With Books series offered most Tuesdays at noon, the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling is offering a special summer program that will revive and celebrate a fascinating but long lost chapter of Wheeling’s rich history.

On Saturday July 17 at noon, the library, through its partnership with the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation, will host a very special celebration of the 125th anniversary of Wheeling’s 1885 Saengerfest, a large gathering of German singing societies. The destination for numerous German immigrants in the 19th century, Wheeling was once home to 11 such societies and hosted three regional Saengerfests in 1860, 1885, & 1906. The Singing Societies served as fraternal organizations as well as a means by which to celebrate and commemorate German culture. Most disappeared in the face of the anti-German backlash of WWI.

After an introduction by Dr. David Javersak to provide historical context, and a special presentation by Lois Lynch, Secretary of the North American Sangerbund, two dozen members of the Eintracht German Singing Society of Dayton Ohio , will perform.

Free samples of German festival foods prepared by Gene Evans, Chef Instructor at West Virginia Northern Community College , will be served, along with free beverages provided by the library.

Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Because a large response is expected for the program, reservations are requested. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 or email lunchwithbooks@yahoo.com.

(Saengerfest photo credit: Oglebay Institute)

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Thank you!

Special thanks to Richard Morriale, (aka Yodeling Dick) who has been diligently videotaping many of our programs for several years. He has worked hard recently transferring those videos to DVD so that he could donate them to the library. Thanks again to Mr. Morriale.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Andrée Weimer, a French, fulltime artist now living in Ohio, will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, July 13 at noon to discuss her travels in Europe, Africa, and Canada among other places, as well as her work, including painting and photography. Andrée is married to David Weimer who organizes the Meeting of the Minds program at the library. She sells prints of her work on her blog, Andrée L’Artiste…Fine Art at http://www.andreelartiste.wordpress.com/. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are provided. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 for more information.

Top Ten Lunch With Books Programs

Program; Presenter; Attendance; Date

1. SAENGERFEST; Eintracht German Singing Society; 200; 07-17-10

2. A Lucky Child; Auschwitz Survivor Judge Thomas Buergenthal; 198; 03-04-11

3. Fashion Show; Civil War 150; 194; 11-20-11

4. Ruanaidh; Art Rooney, Jr. and Jim O'Brien; 168; 06-15-10

5. Follow the River; James Alexander Thom; 160; 06-05-08

6. Warwood Memories; 157; 12-18-12

7. The Quiet Man Pub Reading; 150; 08-30-12

8. Wheeling Then and Now; Sean Duffy; 146; 09-07-10

9. Bloch Brother Tobacco; Stuart Bloch; 131; 04-27-10

10. Reasons to Believe; Dr. Scott Hahn; 126; 08-21-07

Book Discussion Groups

The Ohio County Public Library facilitates book discussion groups for both young adults and adults. Currently, the OCPL offers two adult groups, which meet on the first Monday and third Thursday of each month.

In addition to its own growing collection, the OCPL has access to the book discussion collection of the West Virginia Library Commission.

To join or form a book discussion group, or for more information, please call 304-232-0244.

Meeting of the Minds Philosophy Group

The Meeting of the Minds Philosophic Inquiry Forum is facilitated by David Weimer. The group meets virtually every Tuesday at 6 PM. Call the library for meeting room locations.

For more information, visit www.firstknowthyself.org/m&mphilosophy.htm or contact group organizer, David Weimer, at 740 526-0985 or by email at dwwweimer@comcast.net..