Friday 9-9: SONGS OF THE IRISH BRIGADE

FRIDAY September 9: The Irish Volunteer!

Equal parts musician and historian, New Yorker David Kincaid will perform Civil War songs of the Irish Brigade at a special Friday edition of the Ohio County Public Library’s Lunch With Books program on September 9^th at noon. The program will be a part of Wheeling’s Civil War 150^th anniversary observance. After founding the roots-rock band the Brandos, Kincaid was inspired to become an Irish Brigade re-enactor by the discovery of an Irish-American great-great grandfather who served in the Union Army. He began researching period Irish music, and in 1997, released the critically acclaimed album “The Irish Volunteer: Songs of the Irish Union Soldier 1861-65.” Great care was taken to give the album an authentic, 19th century feel and sound, from the use of only period style instruments and vocal harmonies, to the enlisting of some of the finest musicians in Irish traditional music. Kincaid has played numerous times at the Dublin Ohio and Pittsburgh Irish festivals as well as at Gettysburg National Military Park. He also served as a consultant and performer for the Civil War film, Gods and Generals. David later released the album, “The Irish American Song,” which includes both Union and Confederate tunes. 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.

Historic Wheeling Mural Project Greeting Cards

Now you can enjoy the beauty of the four paintings that comprise the Historic Wheeling Mural Project at the Ohio County Public Library. Prints of all four (by artists Anne Foreman-Frontier, Liz Neumann-Civil War & Statehood, Patricia Croft-Transportation, and Andree Weimer-Immigration and Industry) are available for a limited time in a pack of greeting cards prepared by artist Anne Foreman. Each pack of cards and envelopes is available for $5.00 from the library. Inquire by calling 304-232-0244 or emailing lunchwithbooks@yahoo.com.

Also, our friends at Wheeling Coffee Shop at 101 Washington Avenue are hosting a book signing from 1-3 pm this Saturday, August 27th for local author Lynn Wiles, who wrote a children's book called Nathaniel's Gift.

Aug 30: Jazz Legend Maxine Knepper

Meet golden age jazz trumpeter Maxine Fields Knepper at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, August 30 at noon. Once a member of the “Sweethearts of Rhythm,” Mrs. Knepper’s career is discussed in the book, Swing Shift: “All-Girl” Bands of the 1940s. She is the widow of internationally renowned jazz trombonist Jimmy Knepper and the mother of Wheeling musician Robin Mahonen (Uncle Eddie and Robin). 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.

August 23 at noon: The Works of AM Smith with David Javersak

Dr. David Javersak (left) will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, August 23 at noon to discuss the works of writer Alexander McCall-Smith, who is also a medical law and bioethics expert. 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.

August 18 at noon: The Making of Doughboy!

On the day of its world premier at Marquee Cinemas at the Highlands, meet the creators of Doughboy—the new feature motion picture filmed in Wheeling. Join Writer Ty DeMartino, Director JW Myers, and Executive Producer Kristin Seibert (and some of the actors) on Thursday, August 18 at noon at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library for a behind the scenes look at the making of the film.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.

Aug 16 at noon: Seeing Drugs with Dr. Dan Weimer and at 7: People's University Class 5

Wheeling Jesuit University history professor Dr. Dan Weimer will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County public Library on Tuesday August 8 at noon to discuss his new book: Seeing Drugs: Modernization, Counterinsurgency, and U.S. Narcotics Control in the Third World, 1969-1976 (New Studies in U.S. Foreign Relations), which explores the U.S. government’s drug policy in the Third World, specifically, the dawn of the modern drug war during the 1970s. 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.

And at 7:00 PM: The People's University, American Literature, The Naturalistic Period (1900-1930)Men without Women": Frost's poems and the works of Hemingway and London, plus biographical anecdotes, with Dr. David Thomas.

August 9: The Final Days of Weirton Steel

Thomas Zielinsky, a former manager at Weirton Steel, will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, August 9 at noon to discuss his new book about the company’s final days. The book is subtitled, “Could the collapse have been prevented?” 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.

Political Little Ones

Dear Friends of Lunch With Books. As you know, the first ever Wheeling Arts Fest will be held on Saturday August 20. The library has a full lineup from 10-4 and other venues include WV Ind Hall and WVNCC. See the web site at www.wheelingartsfest.com for the full schedule.

The kickoff event of the first ever Arts Fest will actually be held at West Virginia Independence Hall on Friday evening, August 19 at 8 pm, the day before the main festival. Wheeling based playwright Jeremy Richter has created an original play called Political Little Ones, based on the Lucy Bagby case (see below for details). As many of you know from a recent Lunch With Books program, Ms. Bagby was probably the last slave returned under the Fugitive Slave Act before the Civil War.

I hope all supporters of Lunch With Books and other library programs will consider attending the play on Friday August 19 to show support for the Arts Festival. Jeremy has worked very hard and I'm sure the play will be first rate.Let's make sure WV Ind Hall is filled to capacity!

POLITICAL LITTLE ONES
Friday August 19 at 8 PM Reception to follow...

On January 25, 1861, the Wheeling Intelligencer reported that "near the town of Lima, Ohio a negro man and a white man, both of whom were armed, were arrested under the suspicion that they meditated a rescue" of Lucy Bagby, a fugitive slave girl belonging to Mr. Wm. Goshorn of Wheeling, Virginia. Jeremy F Richter's new play, Political Little Ones, centers itself on the days prior to the men being disarmed and captured. Three men (and one boy) that stand accused of assisting in Ms. Lucy's escape, have been interviewed by U.S. officials and soon spin a plot that might secure an opportunity for an emancipated life; for individual, for state, for all.