Friends of the Marathon Library Books and Coffee Series 2008

The Friends of the Marathon Library cordially invite you to attend the Winter 2008 Books and Coffee series. All programs will be held at Kirk of the Keys, 8877 Overseas Highway, Marathon. The programs will be on Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Coffee, tea, ice water and cookies will be served at 1:00 p.m. The speakers will start at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

January 10th
Sloan Bashinsky, denizen of Key West and astute, honest political commentator, writes a fascinating blog, GoodMorningKeyWest.com. A colorful, brilliant man, Sloan will not bore you!

January 17th
Keynoter Editor Larry Kahn will regale us with his take on Keys politics, fishing and life in general. An award winning journalist, Larry is one of Marathon’s luminaries and is sure to entertain.

January 24th
Author Tom Corcoran, the quintessential Key Wester and creator of the Keys-based Alex Rutledge mystery series, will bring us his new photo book, Key West In Black and White, which offers a collection of photographs taken in the 1970s capturing the unique nautical spirit of Key West.

January 31st
Marathon Librarian and poet Mark Giffen along with Key West poet Rosalind Brackenbury will each read a selection of their favorite poems.

February 7th
Henry James scholar, Professor Mary Cross of Key West will tell us about her new biography of Madonna. Formerly a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Professor Cross is an excellent speaker.

February 14th
Key West playwright and screenwriter Ben Harrison will present his film and book about Count Von Cosel and his love for the fair, albeit deceased Elena. Undying Love, The Musical was performed in Key West, directed by Tom Murtha. The film is a campy production that reminds some of a Key West version of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

February 21st
Marathon photographer Larry Benvenuti has traveled to Cuba scores of times and will present his matchless pictures of this beautiful country. This is a unique opportunity to see Cuba though an independent eye.

February 28th
Eighty-nine year old Islamorada historian Irving Eyster, a Keys treasure, will speak on his recent book about his grandfather, Dr. Jeremiah Reade Explores Florida. Born in 1850 in Indiana, Dr. Reade made his way to Florida by offering an Indianapolis newspaper a daily column if it would pay his way.

March 6th
The undisputed dean of Marathon historians, Dan Gallagher will present his latest book, A New Look At Marathon and Its History. Dan’s previously published books on Marathon’s history are: Marathon Matures; Marathon 1906—1960; and Marathon: Heart of the Key West Extension.

March 13th
Nationally recognized historian Gail Swanson will speak about her fourth and fifth books on Keys history, Connecticut Seafarers at Key West and Place Names of the Florida Keys; Our Ancient, Dramatic History Discovered!!!

March 20th
Our beloved Jo Lee Scarborough will fly in from Iowa with "Sweetie" to regale us with her thoughts on Marlo Thomas' best seller, The Right Words At the Right Time. A book for "those in need of hope, a hero, or a healthy dose of inspiration,” this is a heartwarming collection of personal revelations from such luminaries Doris Kearns Goodwin, Steven Spielberg and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

March 27th
Key West writer Michael Haskins will entertain us with his soon to be published Keys-based mystery, Chasin’ The Wind, a mystery novel featuring Mad Mike Murphy. Tom Corcoran calls the book "a genuine winner...Haskins knows that a razor's width separates life and death at the end of the road. No one guards the gate to Key West. No island law exists that isn't, quite simply, a target."

Books and Coffee 2007 : CANCELLATION of March 13th program

Due to unavoidable circumstances, The Friends of the Marathon Library announced that the March 13^th program by Jay Saporita of the Marathon Free Press must be canceled.

2007 Board for the Friends of the Marathon Library (FOML)

As scheduled the Friends of the Marathon Library (FOML) Board met for the 2007 Annual meeting on February 20^th at the Kirk of the Keys Church at 3:00 PM.

At this meeting a new slate of officers was voted into the following positions to serve for one year:

* President : Brad Trout - 289-8234
* Vice President : Fran Showerman - 289-7532
* Secretary : Lore Grob - 743-4984
* Treasurer : Joan Manges - 743-6078

UPDATE : Friends of the Marathon Library Books and Coffee 2007

The Friends of the Marathon Library cordially invite you to attend the Winter 2007 Books and Coffee series. All programs will be held at Kirk of the Keys, 8877 Overseas Highway, Marathon. The programs will be on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Coffee, tea, ice water and cookies will be served at 1:00 p.m. The speakers will start at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

February 13^th
Brilliant, irreverent radio personality and Key West columnist, Bill Hoebee will make us laugh with his trenchant perceptions about life in Key West. Who else do we know who judges bikini contests at the Hog's Breath saloon?

February 20^th
Noted Keys historian, John Viele will talk about his research into the lives of the early Keys pioneer women. He will also sign his many previously published books on the history of the Keys.

February 20^th
Friends of the Marathon Library
Annual Meeting, 3 p. m. at the Kirk of the Keys

February 27^th
Charming, witty poet, writer and editor of L'Attitudes, Jessica Machetta will regale us with her columns and poems.

Rosalind Brackenbury, an English novelist & poet who resides in Key West & is a regular contributor to Solares Hill, will read from her new novel, Windstorm & Flood. “The book attempts to deal with chaos and mess and new beginnings, along with the question of how do you connect with the young person who is yourself.” It is published by John Daniel & Co., with release expected in February for $15.95.

March 6^th
"Gonzo Girl" Sammie Mays, Keynoter columnist and party girl extraordinaire, will make us envy her free spirit and adventurous life, and roll with laughter as she tells stories from her career as a reporter for many publications including The National Enquirer.

March 13^th
Witty, wise and downright smart, Marathon Free Press writer Jay Saporita will give us his incisive, courageous opinions about our wonderful, always lively, and more than a little bit crazy Florida Keys.

March 20^th
Our most-loved performer, the warm, witty, perceptive Jo Lee Scarborough from the great state of Iowa will enthrall us with her review of Marley and Me.

March 27^th
Famed Marathon historian, Dan Gallagher, PhD., will present his soon to be published Marathon Matures, a collection of photographs from the 1950’s and the present day. This exciting collection captures the buildings and businesses of Marathon, “then and now”.

April 3^rd
Songwriter, performer & playwright, Ben Harrison, is also the author of Undying Love, the true & bizarre story of Count von Cosel’s after-death love affair with the lovely Elena Hoyos which took place in Key West during the 1930s. He will read from that work & from the musical comedy he co-authored, “Clouds Over Sunshine Inn,” which will be performed this May by the Marathon Community Theatre.

Friends of the Marathon Library - Books and Coffee Series 2007

Friends of the Marathon Library
Books and Coffee Series 2007

The Friends of the Marathon Library cordially invite you to attend the Winter 2007 Books and Coffee series. All programs will be held at Kirk of the Keys, 8877 Overseas Highway, Marathon. The programs will be on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Coffee, tea, ice water and cookies will be served at 1:00 p.m. The speakers will start at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

January 23^rd
Always entertaining, Solares Hill writer and Key West denizen, Mark Howell, will fascinate us with his detailed knowledge of the many Keys characters involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Bay of Pigs and other attempts to overthrow the Castro regime launched from our very own neighborhoods.

January 30^th
A brilliant, gifted writer, the knowledgeable Solares Hill editor, Nancy Klingener will talk about her adventures in South Florida journalism.

February 6^th
Ever popular and humorous Key West columnist, poet and cabdriver Michael Suib will entertain us with his perceptive observations about life in Key West.

February 13^th
Brilliant, irreverent radio personality and Key West columnist, Bill Hoebee will make us laugh with his trenchant perceptions about life in Key West. Who else do we know who judges bikini contests at the Hog's Breath saloon?

February 20^th
Noted Keys historian, John Viele will talk about his research into the lives of the early Keys pioneer women. He will also sign his many previously published books on the history of the Keys.

February 27^th
Charming, witty poet, writer and editor of L'Attitudes, Jessica Machetta will regale us with her columns and poems.

March 6^th
"Gonzo Girl" Sammie Mays, Keynoter columnist and party girl extraordinaire, will make us envy her free spirit and adventurous life and roll with laughter as she tells stories from her career as a reporter for many publications including The National Enquirer.

March 13^th
Witty, wise and downright smart, Marathon Free Press writer Jay Saporita will give us his incisive, courageous opinions about our wonderful, always lively and more than a little bit crazy Florida Keys.

March 20^th
Our most-loved performer, the warm, witty, perceptive Jo Lee Scarborough from the great state of Iowa will enthrall us with her review of Marley and Me.

March 27^th
Famed Marathon historian, Dan Gallagher, PhD., will present his soon to be published Marathon Matures, a collection of photographs from the 1950’s and the present day. This exciting collection captures the buildings and businesses of Marathon, “then and now”.

April 3^rd
Famous Key West photographer, Rob O'Neal will return by clamorous demand to show us more of his fabulous slides of Cuba.