Saturday, March 22, 2008

Hanford Branch, Kings County Library
Thursday night I gave a talk at the Kings County Library in Hanford.But let me begin with what happened the day before. I received a call from the librarian telling me that a TV station would like to interview me. I was to go to Fresno (an hour and 45 minute drive from where I live) to the TV station and be there by 6 a.m. It would be locked so I was to knock on the side door. The interview would be 6 minutes long. Did I go? No. If I'd gotten up in time to do that--around 3 a.m., by the time the library talk rolled around I'd have been incoherent. Sometimes I'm smart enough to realize my limitations, and this was one of those times.My daughter-in-law agreed to go with me and drive (I hate driving after dark in places I'm not familiar with). We used the Magellan to tell us where the library was, it did--one of the world's modern miracles--then we found a restaurant to eat dinner before my gig. It was a lovely Italian restaurant--but the prices were a bit high so we opted for appetizers. We ordered an antipasto plate (full of deli meats, olives, cheese,and peppers) and friend sweet potatoes. Yummee! We only drank our water and the bill was as large as any full dinner for two with beverages.The Hanford Library is lovely. They set up for my talk in the children's section. Right away I spotted a familiar face, Winnie Furrur from the Visalia Writers Group. Another woman from that group arrived too, making two people that I knew.The group was small, about fourteen. The librarian blamed it on families being gone because of spring break. They may have been small, but oh so attentive. I talked about my inspirations for writing mysteries.I've always loved reading them since I was a kid. It seemed natural to start writing them--and especially after living in a neighborhood filled with cops. We partied with them and I had coffee with the wives. Later on my youngest daughter married a police officer. I loved him dearly. He'd come for coffee after his shift and tell me stories about what he'd been up to all night. I also went on a ride-along with Mike.Sadly, Mike died in the line of duty. It's been a lot of years since then, his three sons are all grown now. Daughter remarried and now has a daughter who is a freshman in highschool.One of the reasons I write mysteries, is because the bad guy always gets it in the end--something that doesn't always happen in real life. The way the world is today, there's plenty of ideas for mysteries.My talk at the library went well. Seven books were purchased--not bad for a crowd that size.Daughter-in-law and I had a good time visiting. That's what I call a successful evening.Marilynhttp://fictionforyou.com
Posted by Marilyn at 2:43 PM 1 comments
Labels: cops, Hanford CA, Kings County Library, Writing Mysteries
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LOCAL AUTHOR PROGRAM

Join us for an enjoyable evening with...

Marilyn Meredith

Award Winning Author, Speaker, Writing Instructor, Workshop Leader

Marilyn will be discussing how she became an author and the inspiration for her books.

When:

Thursday, March 20, 2008

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m

Where:

Hanford Branch Library

401 North Douty Street

Hanford, CA 93230

After the program:

• 
  
  Books available for purchase


• 
  
  Book signing by the author


• 
  
  Refreshments provided by Friends of the Library

Marilyn Meredith is an award winning author of mysteries, psychological and Christian horror. She is a popular speaker and instructor for writing conferences, mystery conventions and festivals, book fairs, and other similar venues, including the Maui Writers Retreat. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Public Safety Writers Association, California Writers Club and Mystery Writers of America.

Marilyn Meredith is the author of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series as well as the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. Visit her website at http://www.fictionforyou.com/

Questions??? Please call Gail Lucas at 582-0261 ext. 104 or e-mail gail.lucas@kingscountylibrary.org

Sponsored by Kings County Library and Friends of the Library

KINGS COUNTY LIBRARY PROGRAMS
SPRING / FALL 2008
HOSTED BY THE HANFORD BRANCH LIBRARY, FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, WEST HILL COLLEGE & HANFORD SENIOR CENTER

• Jerry Pearce, radio talk show host-private investigator/Thursday, March 13, 2008/7:00p.m. to 8:30p.m./West Hills College, Lemoore

• Marilyn Meredith, mystery writer/Thursday, March 20, 2008/6:30p.m. to 8:00p.m./Hanford Branch Library
• Cathy Iseman/drought resistant plants/Saturday, April 5, 2008/10:00a.m. to Noon/Veteran's Building
• Cathy Sobelman/antique appraisals/Saturday, May 10, 2008/10:00a.m. to Noon/Veteran's Building
• Rosemary Nightingale/herbs/Saturday, September ??, 2008/10:00a.m. to Noon/Veteran's Building

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

Jerry Pearce

Jerry Pearce is licensed private investigator specializing in corporate intellegence and criminal investigation.He is an organized crime specialist, special consultant to some of the nation's leading law firms. His law enforcement background includes positions as Uniform Division Commander, Chief of Detectives, Intellegence Division Commander, and Commander Narcotics and Vice Division. Jerry is the host of his own radio show ,the Radio Detective, at KBIF 900 AM on Sunday from Noon-2 P.M. He will be discussing active espionage against American targets, drug trade in the Central Valley, the media's influence on law enforcement, and real life stories from his time as a law enforcement officer and private investigator. You can find his website at:

http://www.jerrypearce.com/index.html

Where: West Hills College in Lemoore

Conference Center

555 College Avenue

Lemoore,CA 93245

When: Thursday, March 13, 2008

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Free Admission

Limited Seating

Refreshments provided by West Hills College

Questions???Please call Sherman Lee at 582-0261 x119 or email

Sherman.Lee@KingsCountylibrary.org

http://hanfordbranchlibraryblog.blogspot.com/

sponsored by Kings County Library & West Hills College Lemoore

LOCAL AUTHOR PROGRAM

Join us for an enjoyable evening with...

ROBIN ROBERTS

(author of "Hanford 1900-2000")

who will talk about the continuing story of Hanford, the small town in the big valley from the beginning of the 20th century to the millennium-its people and their history captured in vintage photographs. Futher information about Mr. Roberts can be found at: http://www.robinroberts.net/resume.html

WHERE: HANFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

401 NORTH DOUTY STREET

HANFORD, CA 93230

WHEN: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008

6:30-8:00 P.M.

AFTER THE PROGRAM...

• BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
• BOOK SIGNING
• REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED BY FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

QUESTIONS??? PLEASE CALL GAIL LUCAS AT 582-0261 x104 OR EMAIL gail.lucas@kingscountylibrary.org

SPONSORED BY KINGS COUNTY LIBRARY AND FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

VITA INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

CALL MARY RITTER BETWEEN 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. (MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY) TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT 584-4275

APPOINTMENTS WILL BE HELD IN THE MEETING ROOM AT THE HANFORD BRANCH LIBRARY.

APPOINTMENT DATES ARE:

• MARCH 29, 2008
• APRIL 12, 2008

Federal and California tax forms and instruction booklets are available online.

Federal tax forms and publications can be downloaded from:
http://www.irs.gov/

California tax forms and publications can be download from:
http://www.ftb.ca.gov/

This display of Aboriginal art and Australia memorabilia is courtesy of J. Kollbaum. For further information, please call 589-9082.

Watch episodes of old television shows on streaming video. At this time, access should be free.
http://www.hulu.com/

Generation Y biggest user of libraries: survey
Sun Dec 30, 4:08 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than half of Americans visited a library in the past year with many of them drawn in by the computers rather than the books, according to a survey released on Sunday.

Of the 53 percent of U.S. adults who said they visited a library in 2007, the biggest users were young adults aged 18 to 30 in the tech-loving group known as Generation Y, the survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project said.

"These findings turn our thinking about libraries upside down," said Leigh Estabrook, a professor emerita at the University of Illinois and co-author of a report on the survey results.

"Internet use seems to create an information hunger and it is information-savvy young people who are most likely to visit libraries," she said.

Internet users were more than twice as likely to patronize libraries as non-Internet users, according to the survey.

More than two-thirds of library visitors in all age groups said they used computers while at the library.

Sixty-five percent of them looked up information on the Internet while 62 percent used computers to check into the library's resources.

Public libraries now offer virtual homework help, special gaming software programs, and some librarians even have created characters in the Second Life virtual world, Estabrook said. Libraries also remain a community hub or gathering place in many neighborhoods, she said.

The survey showed 62 percent of Generation Y respondents said they visited a public library in the past year, with a steady decline in usage according to age. Some 57 percent of adults aged 43 to 52 said they visited a library in 2007, followed by 46 percent of adults aged 53 to 61; 42 percent of adults aged 62 to 71; and just 32 percent of adults over 72.

"We were surprised by these findings, particularly in relation to Generation Y," said Lee Rainie, co-author of the study and director of the Pew project. In 1996 a survey by the Benton Foundation found young adults saw libraries becoming less relevant in the future.

"Scroll forward 10 years and their younger brothers and sisters are now the most avid library users," Rainie said.

The survey of 2,796 Americans was conducted by telephone from late June through early September and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. It was funded by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, an agency that offers federal support for U.S. libraries and museums.

(Reporting by Julie Vorman; Editing by Bill Trott)

Parents and children watch the trains at the library's Annual Train Show with conductor Jack Lehn. Children's music by Oklin Bloodworth.

LOCAL AUTHOR PROGRAM

Join us for a memorable evening with...

Sunny Frazier

WHEN:

Thursday, December 6, 2007

6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

WHERE:

Hanford Branch Library

401 North Douty Street

Hanford, CA 93230

After the program:

• Books will be available for purchase
• Book signing by the author
• Refreshment provided by Friends of the Library

FOOLS RUSH IN:

On a blazing July day in Central County, California, snitch Johnny Blue is murdered by a lethal heroin injection. Undercover narcotics detective James Wolfe, the operative who handled Blue, goes to the Sheriff's Department substation seeking ex-girlfriend Christy Bristol. In the past he ridiculed her hobby of casting horoscopes. Now he needs her expertise to catch the man he suspects is behind Blue's murder, a drug dealer named Lloyd Parr. ...The reality of what goes on in the fertile land of the San Joaquin Valley is far more disturbing than the Hollywood version of drug lords and a wealthy lifestyle fueled by drug money. In the drug world of the Valley, there are no winners. Only losers.

Visit Sunny Frazier's Web site: http://www.sunnyfrazier.com/

Questions about the program??? Please call Gail Lucas at 582-0261 ext. 104 or e-mail gail.lucas@kingscountylibrary.org

Sponsored by Kings County Library and Friends of the Library

Local Author Program

Join us for a memorable evening with

CHRISTINE DICKMAN

Christine is the mother of Halla Whittier Valentine-DeLeon, illustrator of the internal drawings. She will be giving a book talk about the Soway Sleuth Hounds mysterly novel, and the local history of 18th century Dumfries, Scotland. Her enthusiasm and energy will draw you into the myster and adventure of the time.

WHEN:

Thursday, November 8, 2007
6:30 P.M.-8:00 P.M.

WHERE:

Hanford Branch Library

401 North Douty Street

Hanford, CA 93230

After the Program:
Books will be available for purchase
Refreshments provided by Friends of the Library

Contact: Gail Lucas at 559-582-0261 x104

Avid readers gather outside of the Hanford Library on the morning of October 27, 2007 in anticipation of the Hanford Branch Library's Fall Book Sales.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

William DeNisi

Author of "Trinity" and "Choking Sam"

http://denisi.com/

Over his three decades of police work, Bill did every job from rookie to chief. Along the way he spent time in narcotics, vice and homicide. A veteran of Army intelligence and a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy, he draws from his experience and the life and death issues of our time to weave compelling tales of crime and adventure.

Mr. DeNisi will be happy to talk about the art of fiction writing, his background in law enforcement and the potential for nuclear terrorism in America.

WHERE:

West Hills College in Lemoore

Conference Center

555 College Avenue

Lemoore, CA 93245

WHEN:

Thursday, November 15, 2007

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Books will be available for purchase and signing

Free Admission

Limited Seating

Refreshments provided by West Hills College

Questions??? Please call Sherman Lee at 582-0261 x119 or e-mail sherman.lee@kingscountylibrary.org

Sponsored by Kings County Library & West Hills College Lemoore

Driving Directions
FOR EVERYONE ATTENDING
West on Bush Street (curvy) to College Avenue
Continue west to second block of classrooms


From Fresno – North
Take highway 41 south from Fresno
Exit Bush Street, turn right at stop
Conference CenterFollow curve to stop sign at College Street



From South
Take Highway 41 North
Exit to Bush Street, turn left at stop
Follow curve to stop sign at College Street



From West
Take SR 198 E/B to Lemoore
Exit Highway 41
Turn Left at stop, over the freeway
Exit 41 North to Bush Street
At stop sign, turn Left


From Visalia - East
Take SR 198 to Lemoore
Exit to N/B Star Route 41
Exit to Bush Street
Turn Left at bottom of off-ramp