A Doughboy's life at FPL

Friendswood resident and WWI historian Kevin Burke provided a highly informative and fascinating account of the life of a WWI soldier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around the Corner at FPL

Wednesday, February 19th at 7pm - WWI Reenactor Kevin Burke will give a presentation on The U.S. Doughboy 1917-1919.  This presentation will include a brief overview of the Great War, the Citizen Soldier, enlistment vs. conscription, training, uniforms and equipment, weapons, mobility, combat experience, daily life and routine, the return and reintegration into civilian life, and the lasting legacy. 

Tuesday, February 25th at 7:00pm - Road Scholar Discussion.  Interested in traveling?  Interested in learning something while you travel?  Sandy McHone, a Friendswood resident will share her experiences with participating in 62 Road Scholar programs.  This world-wide travel resource include a wide range of topics and formats with locations in every state in the U.S. and in more than 150 countries. 

Monday, March 3rd at 7pm - Neal's Community.  Join Friendswood residents Larry and Kathy McClaugherty in celebrating community spirit that arose from caring for their son Neal and Neal’s joyful influence on the community for 27 years.

Monday, March 17th at 7pm - Combat Diary with author and WWII Sergeant Emmett Jackson. Emmett Jackson was a combat engineer who located and disarmed German mines.  He served on the front line during the Battle of the Bulge and crossed the bridge at Remagen while it was still under fire. He was awarded the Bronze Star. Combat Diary is his story told in his own words. Meet Friendswood resident Emmett Jackson and hear his story.

Thursday, March 20th at 7pm - Emmy nominated singer-songwriter ellen cherry performs at the Friendswood Public Library. ellen cherry is a full-time touring and working performer based in Baltimore, MD. In 2012, ellen released a piano-based album produced by Caleb Stine, entitled "Please Don't Sell the Piano". In 2010, she wrote, recorded and performed a song for an Emmy nominated TV campaign and also composed the score for a shadow puppet piece entitled "Alonzo's Lullaby", which has been awarded the prestigious UNIMA Citation of Excellence. ellen tours nationally and internationally, charming audiences from house concerts to festivals!  

Wednesday, March 26th at 6:30pm - 8:00pm - Beneficial Insects and Organic Gardening Methods by former Master Gardener Linda McLean.

Wednesday, April 16th at 7pm - Lighthouses of Texas presented by author Steph McDougal. Lighthouses of Texas chronicles lighthouse history in the state from when Texans won their independence from Mexico in 1836 to modern automated lighthouses of the twentieth century. Images of how lighthouses have changed throughout the decades provide readers with a visual history of the evolution of the structures, especially when many lighthouses today have been abandoned or are privately owned.  MacDougal hopes that this book “will spur lighthouse-related tourism along the Texas Gulf Coast and help to encourage the restoration of the remaining lighthouses, some of which are in deteriorated condition.” Steph McDougal, an Ohio native with ties to New England, now hangs her hat in Houston, Texas. Steph’s first published book is Lighthouses of Texas. She also contributed to Buildings of Texas: Volume 1 and has written journal articles and historical narratives. Steph remains enthralled by her first preservation love, America’s historic ballrooms of the Big Band era. Steph (with McDoux Preservation LLC) consults with nonprofit and government clients to help make their lives easier, and in her spare time, she is trying to get better at growing vegetables, sewing quilts, and playing bass guitar.

spotlight database

Virtually every course of study — from history to science to literature — is ultimately tied to the study of people. Biography in Context delivers outstanding research support with 600,000+ biographical entries — on more 

than 528,000 individuals — spanning history and geography.

You can access Biography in Context through the library website.  Supply your 14 digit Friendswood Public Library card number. 

For more information, contact the library at 281-482-7135.

Andy Upchurch at FPL

A great time was had by all when local author Andy Upchurch came to tell of his adventures outlined in his book The Oleanders of San Leon. We hope to have Andy back later this year.

tonight: author Andy Upchurch

Friendswood Public Library invites you to attend a book talk with the author of The Oleanders of San Leon, Andy Upchurch. Tonight. February 6. 7pm 

Performing with rock and roll legends. Sailing the high seas. Digging for buried treasure.

It’s all just part of the adventure for Andy Upchurch.

The Oleanders of San Leon recounts how Andy, a passionate musician and sailor, decides that building a house would be the perfect next great adventure.

He possesses no construction skills, but that doesn’t deter him. With an enthusiastic nature and an optimistic outlook, he purchases some rough, tangled land on the Texas coastal prairie, rolls up his sleeves, and gets to work.

 

  

4 questions with photographer Ellie Teramoto

Photographer Ellie Teramoto is our featured artist through the month of February.  You can view her work in the library’s Activity Room. Ellie was kind enough to answer some questions about her work below:  

 

MR: Which photographers have influenced your work?  Or which artists from any field have influenced your work?

Ellie: I am not sure if my work is influenced by particular photographers or artists – when I am out in the field to take pictures, I try my best to depict how plants and animals spend their time in their habitats. 

MR: What do you want to say, or relay, with your photographs?

Ellie: I would like people not to forget the beauty of Mother Nature and the importance of nature conservation. 

MR: Among your works, do you have a favorite? Why…or why not?

Ellie: I have my favorites out of my work – They tend to be the ones that involve wildlife, especially the ones in which I spent days and hours observing the animals and captured a moment that best depicts their life. I think I favor those images because I feel closer to those animals.

 

 MR: A photographer stated in an article: my photographs improved when I started looking for light instead of subjects.  Does this relate in any way to your work?

Ellie: Lighting is the first thing I look for whenever I take pictures. The kind of light, the direction of light, and the strength of light. And then I look at my subject and come up with a composition in which light helps me express the subject the best.

“for me, the camera is a tool to express my message”