Peacemaking and Organic Farming

On June 22 at noon, peace activist and author Art Gish will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library to lead a dialogue on nonviolent peacemaking in the Middle East. Mr. Gish has been active in peace and social justice work for the past fifty years, beginning with work as a conscientious objector. He worked in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, and has actively opposed United States involvement in wars since his youth. He has been working with Christian Peacemaker Teams in the Middle East since 1995. Gish is the author of Beyond the Rat Race (1972), Living in Christian Community (1979), and Hebron Journal: Stories of Nonviolent Peacemaking (2001). He also operates Dutch Creek Community, an organic farm in Athens, Ohio. 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.

Art Rooney Rocks the Library (Attendance Record Smashed)

168 people attended our Conversation with Art Rooney Jr. today. It was the highest attendance in the 13 year history of the Lunch With Books program, breaking the record of 160 held by bestselling author James Alexander Thom and his wife Dark Rain. Today's program featured Mr. Rooney, Pittsburgh sportswriter Jim O'Brien, and sports radio host Bill DiFabio. The show was broadcast live on DiFabio's 1600 WKKX radio show. In my humble opinion, it was the best program we've hosted in my four years at the library. The stories were funny, touching, full of information, and very well told. Mr. Rooney was, as advertised, a first class gentleman with time for everyone, just like his father. Many many thanks to all who participated.

Correction

Correction: Today's TGIF in the Wheeling Intelligencer reported that the Saengerfest program will be next Thursday June 17. That is incorrect. It is actually scheduled for Saturday July 17 at noon.

June 15: Ruanaidh!

JUST ANNOUNCED: The following program will be hosted by Bill DiFabio and broadcast live on his WKKX radio program (1600 AM). Listen to Bill's show at 1 PM Thursday June 10 for more details.

Art Rooney, Jr., the second son of Arthur J. Rooney, Sr. “The Chief,” legendary founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, will appear at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, June 15 at noon. Mr. Rooney, who served as the team’s scouting director during the formation of the great Super Bowl teams of the 1970s, will discuss "Ruanaidh," the book he wrote with sportswriter Roy McHugh. Part memoir, part anecdotal history of Pittsburgh's North Side, and part football book, Ruanaidh (Irish Gaelic for Rooney) details the extraordinary story of the Chief, his clan, and his team. The program will feature a conversation between Mr. Rooney and Pittsburgh sportswriter Jim O’Brien, who has also written several books on the Steelers and Pittsburgh sports. Bill DiFabio of WKKX AM 1600 will host, and the conversation will be broadcast live on Bill's show. Copies of Ruanaidh and Mr. O’Brien’s books will be available for purchase in time for Father’s Day gift giving. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are provided. NOTE: RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS PROGRAM. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 for more information.

Tuesday, June 8: Addie's Way with Michael Shaheen

St. Clairsville resident and attorney Michael J. Shaheen, will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, June 8 at noon to discuss his book, Addie’s Way. A cookbook devoted to family, the flavors of Lebanon, and life, Addie’s Way is Michael’s tribute to his mother, Addie Bedway Shaheen. The book inspires both the home cook and the armchair historian, relating delicious tidbits of first-generation Lebanese family life in small-town Ohio alongside sophisticated Middle Eastern recipes. 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.

Tuesday, May 25: Wheeling's Historic Breweries

Albert Doughty Jr., an expert on Wheeling’s old breweries, will be at the Lunch With Books program at the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling on Tuesday May 25 at noon to present an overview of the histories of the numerous breweries, brew-masters, and beers of Wheeling’s past. 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.

A Great Performance!

55 people attended a fantastic performance by the Wheeling Symphony Woodwind Quintet today! Thanks for your support. See you Tuesday.