Book Events for July 15

Old Governor’s Mansion to host lecture about ‘Louisiana Love Story’

A book of letters Now and Always: A Louisiana Love Story will be the topic of The Foundation for Historical Louisiana Heritage Lecture Thursday, July 19, at the Old Governor’s Mansion, 501 North Blvd. The book, edited by Christian Garcia, is about his maternal grandparents, Joseph Bradford Lancaster and Amanda Doerr Lancaster, and their life and times in the early 1900s.

Garcia writes and edits non-fiction, specializing in books of biography, history and spirituality. In the book, Joseph and Amanda Lancaster record their love for each other and their children and reveal a picture of life in Louisiana at the turn of the 20th century, particularly life in the Florida Parishes.

Joseph Lancaster was a parish superintendent of education, legislator and judge who kept in close contact with his wife through their correspondence while he traveled throughout Louisiana.

Garcia is also the author of U.S. Economics: 1700-1860 and U.S. Economics: 1861-1941. He also has written leveled readers for elementary school publishers and has edited numerous elementary and middle school textbooks in all subject areas. He lives in Greenville, N.C, but he grew up in Covington.

The lecture is open to the public and is free to Foundation for Historical Louisiana members and $10 for guests. The event begins at 6 p.m. with refreshments hosted by Calandro’s Select Cellars and the lecture begins at 6:30 p.m.

EBR Parish Library

At 2 p.m. Thursday, July 19, staff from the Highland Road Park Observatory return to the Carver branch, 720 Terrace St., to present space displays and science demonstrations for children ages 8-11 to enjoy. Families will also learn about viewing the Sun safely, skygazing for children, “ham” radio and meteors. If you love all things outer space, you’ll have a blast at this program.

For more information, call the individual branch.

Javier Nevarez of the LSU Raptor Rehabilitation Center will present “Birds of Prey” for children ages 4 and up at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 16, at the Scotlandville branch, 7373 Scenic Highway. Children can learn more about these large and powerful hawks and owls. Group registration required. For more information or to register, call [phone] or [phone].

See how animals help police officers when the Baton Rouge Police Force trots out the Mounted Patrol Unit at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 17, at the Scotlandville branch, 7373 Scenic Highway. The handlers and horses will give a demonstration of their day-to-day activities. Families are welcome to come meet the officers and their equestrian partners. Groups must register. For more information or to register, call [phone] or [phone].

Book clubs:

•  Bluebonnet Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at Bluebonnet Regional branch, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd. Members will discuss A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler.
•  Carver Book Club will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at Carver branch, 720 Terrace St.
•  Delmont Gardens Book Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 21, at Delmont Gardens branch, 3351 Lorraine St. Members will discuss Our Man in the Dark by Rashad Harrison.
•  JCR Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at Jones Creek Regional branch, 6222 Jones Creek Road. Members will discuss Rules of Civility by Amor Towles.
•  Teen readers will meet at the Baker branch at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 18. The group will discuss the last books they read, and decide what book to read for the next meeting. Teens can tell everyone what they’re reading, give others tips on some good titles, and let them know which books you didn’t enjoy.
•  Scotlandville Children’s Reading Club will meet at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at Scotlandville branch, 7373 Scenic Highway. For more information or to register, call [phone].
•  Children ages 7-11 are invited to the Greenwell Springs Road Regional branch, 11300 Greenwell Springs Road, to participate in the Children’s Book Club meeting at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19. For more information or to register, call [phone].
•  Children ages 5-11 will share a book together, plant vegetable and flower seeds and care for the plants as they watch them grow throughout the summer at the Carver branch, 720 Terrace St. The group meets at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17. For more information or to register, call [phone].

Livingston Parish Library

Harvey Rabbit & Friends returns to Livingston Parish Library in July. Join Harvey Rabbit & Friends for a rollicking good time in this variety show featuring puppets, magic, and oodles of fun. This show is for ages 2-10. The show will be at these locations:

•  Main branch, 20390 Iowa St. in Livingston at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 17
•  Albany-Springfield branch, 26941 La. 43, Hammond, at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 17
•  Denham Springs-Walker branch, 8101 U.S. 190 in Denham Springs, at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 18
•  Watson Branch, 36581 Outback Road in Denham Springs, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 18
•  South Branch, 23477 La. 444 in Livingston, at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 19

The Denham Springs-Walker branch’s Young Writers Club meets 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at the library, 8101 U.S. 190 in Denham Springs. The groups is open to anyone between the ages of 10 and 17. The goal of the club is to write for both publication and performance. Young writers are encouraged to explore their writing interests and develop their voice and style through collaborative activities. The program also offers free workshops in poetry, short stories and creative nonfiction. For more information about the group, call the library at [phone].

Edward Livingston Historical Association meets 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at the Main branch, 20390 Iowa St. in Livingston.

Book clubs:

•  Eclectic Book Club meets 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at Denham Springs-Walker branch, 8101 U.S. 190 in Denham Springs. Members will discuss an autobiography or biography of their choice. Guest speaker at the meeting will be Advocate Books Editor Greg Langley.
•  Inspirational Book Club meets 10-11 a.m. Thursday, July 19, at the Watson branch, 36581 Outback Road in Denham Springs. Members will discuss The Centurion’s Wife by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke.

Ascension Parish Library

Founded in 1772, the historic Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church has served as a symbol of faith for local residents for well over 200 years. Donaldsonville branch, 500 Mississippi St., celebrates this majestic structure at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 19, with “A History of Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church.” Longtime church staff member Louis “Boo” LeBlanc leads a magnificent journey covering the church’s rich and storied past, from its beginnings under King Charles III of Spain to the construction of the towering new steeple in 1996 and beyond. Registration is required, so call [phone] to reserve your spot today, as seating is sure to go quickly for this fun and informative event.

Book club:

n Tween Book Club will meet 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at the Dutchtown branch, 13278 La. 73 in Geismar.

WBR Parish Library

Louisiana’s award-winning singer, songwriter, musician and author Johnette Downing performs her original music flavored just right with Louisiana spice in “The Big Dream Concert.” You may sing and dance along at the program for preschool children and lower elementary school students.

Downing will be at Erwinville Community Center, 5110 Rougon Road in Erwinville, 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, July 17, and Port Allen Community Center, 749 N. Jefferson St. in Port Allen, 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, July 18.

A class, How to Write a Haiku Poem, will be offered at the library. Haiku is a three-line poem. The first and third lines contain five syllables, the second seven. There’s no need for rhyme or punctuation. Writing Haiku poetry is excellent practice in close observation, clear thinking, and tight writing — all essential skills for a writer.

The class is for youth 9-12 years old. Times, dates and locations are: 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at Erwinville Community Center, 5110 Rougon Road in Erwinville, and 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at Port Allen Community Center, 749 N. Jefferson St. in Port Allen.

W. Feliciana Parish Library

Advanced Readers’ Club will meet 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at the library, 11865 Ferdinand St. in St. Francisville.

Lafayette Public Library

Lafayette Genealogical Society meets 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at South Regional Library, 6101 Johnston St. in Lafayette. Anyone interested in genealogy may attend.

Book club

•  Sleuths Mystery Book Club will meet 6:30-7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at the South Regional Library, 6101 Johnston St. in Lafayette Members will discuss Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson.

Summer lecture series

The Capitol Park Museum summer lecture series featuring Southern University professors and instructors continues throughout July. The free programs will are held at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at the museum, 660 N. Fourth St. Museum galleries will remain open until the program begins and guests are invited to arrive early to view the exhibits. Refreshments will be provided. On July 19, the lecture topic is “Women among us: Fashioning lives and communities with unapologetic dignity.” Dr. Eva S. Baham explores change of the century values via three African-American women — Valena C. Jones, Fannie C. Williams and Lucile Levy Hutton. For more information, call [phone] or email [e-mail]. The museum is wheelchair accessible.

Signings

Kim Vodicka, author of Aesthesia Balderdash, will sign copies of her book at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at Maple Street Book Shop, at the Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave. in New Orleans.

Moira Crone, author of The Not Yet, will sign copies of her book at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at Barnes & Noble, 2590 CitiPlace Court.

Lou Ilar, author of Believe Me or Your Lying Eyes, will sign copies of his book at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at Barnes & Noble in Perkins Rowe, 7707 Bluebonnet Blvd #100.

Ron Thibodeaux, author of Hell or High Water: How Cajun Fortitude Withstood Hurricanes Rita and Ike, will sign copies of his book at noon Saturday, July 21, at Barnes & Noble, 5705 Johnston St. in Lafayette.

Items for Book Events were provided by The Foundation for Historical Louisiana, East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Livingston Parish Library, Ascension Parish Library, West Baton Rouge Parish Library, West Feliciana Parish Library, Lafayette Public Library and the Capitol Park Museum.