Jim Cooper, and Friends Featuring George Benson play Jazz of the 1920s

February 16, 2012

7:30 p.m.

Jim Cooper and friends will play music from Detroit's Jazz age with saxophone player George Benson. Cooper is a noted vibraphonist, composer and music educator, performing at various Jazz festivals around the Midwest. George Benson has been a fixture on the Detroit music scene since the 1960s, playing on many Motown recordings.

This event is offered in conjunction with the Great Michigan Read of 2011-2012. Arc of Justice, a Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle – won the National Book Award in 2004 for non-fiction.   Copies of the book are available at the Fremont Area District Library.

Dan E Johnson, Mystery Novelist  

March 6, 2012

7:00 pm. 

D. E.  (Dan ) Johnson, a history buff will share his award winning mystery novels The Detroit Electric Scheme, and Motor City Shakedown. Johnson’s novels are set in Detroit’s fledging auto industry during the early years of the last century. The ambition, greed and turmoil of those years make an exciting backdrop for these stories. Johnson comes by his interest in automotive history honestly. His grandfather was the Vice President of Checker Motors, beginning work with Checker in 1924 and continuing until 1980. Johnson lives near Kalamazoo with his family.

Bruce and Bernadette Butgereit  Civil War Nurse reenactment

Saturday, March 24, 2012

 10:30 AM

Bruce and Bernadette Butgereit will present from the Words of the Soldiers: The Story Of Annie Etheridge, Civil War nurse in honor of Women’s History Month. Although famous during the war, Etheridge later slipped into obscurity because she lived a simple quiet life. The story of Etheridge, portrayed by Bernadette Butgereit, is told through the letters of the many soldiers who wrote about her kindness, courage and determination. Etheridge served with Michigan troops from 1861 to 1865.  The Butgerits are members of Department of Michigan, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, where Bruce served as a commander.

Tess Grant Teen Novelist

April 12, 2012

7:00 p.m.

First time novelist, Tess Grant will share her first novel. After nearly ten years as a forensic anthropologist, Theresa  (Tess) Grant moved to rural West Michigan to raise her children and write fiction.  Grant has written for such diverse publications as the Journal of Forensic Sciences and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her first novel, Trajectories, part of an upcoming trilogy of YA suspense novels from Turquoise Morning Press is a supernatural thriller.