FOL Book & Author Luncheon On May 11 To Feature Best-Selling Novelist Dani Shapiro

Reserve now for the Friends of the Library’s (FOL) 54th Annual Book & Author Luncheon on Thursday, May 11, at 11 a.m. at The Garden City Hotel. The featured speaker is Dani Shapiro, author of the best-selling memoir Inheritance, who will discuss her acclaimed new novel Signal Fires. She will be interviewed by Port’s own Daniel Paisner, author, ghostwriter and podcaster, and take audience questions.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

For the first time in its history the event will have an honoree: Amy G. Bass, the FOL’s President Emerita.

You may reserve individual tickets and sponsorships online at pwpl.org/fol or you can pick up a reservation brochure in the library. Reservation deadline is May 3.

The Book & Author Luncheon is the

FOL’s sole fundraising event. Individual and business sponsors are sought beginning at $250. Sponsors enjoy special seating, signed books, and recognition at the event and in post-event media. For more information on sponsorships contact FOL Vice President Margaret DeSiervo at margaretdesiervo@ yahoo.com or 516-524-5655. For general questions contact fol@pwpl.org.

—Submitted by the Friends of the Library

Other events in the series include Art and Meditation on May 6, 2023 at 6PM at Gallery North, Getting Zen for children ages 5-11 on May 19 at 5 p.m. at Gallery North, Meditate and Create on May 25 from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at The Art League of Long Island, and Sound Bowl Healing on May 26 at 7 p.m. at Gallery North. Representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Queens/ Nassau will provide information on other mental health services available to those needing additional assistance.

—Submitted by The Art Guild

Helen Keller Services Hosts ‘Helen’s 5K Run/Walk’ Fundraiser On April 23

Helen Keller Services (HKS), a national non-profit working with individuals who are blind, have low vision, DeafBlind and/ or have combined hearing vision loss to live, work and thrive, will host its Annual “Helen’s 5K Run/Walk” event on April 23 with an official start at 9:30am at the Sands Point Preserve in Sands Point, NY. This is a USATF certified course. Funds raised will support HKS’ Health and Wellness Program. This is the first time in three years the event will be held in person, having been conducted virtually in 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants can still choose to get involved virtually from April 15 to 23. All participants can register online at https://tinyurl. com/58ru2tan.

“We are so excited to be back together again, in the spirit of community and support that has always been the hallmark of this event,” said Sue Ruzenski, CEO of HKS. “This is a truly national event, pulling in participants from across the country. Last year’s event included participants from Maine to Hawaii.”

In addition to raising funds for HKS, participants can compete to win an award in the following categories:

• The first physically challenged male and female finishers

• The first place, second place and third place finishers who are DeafBlind

• The first three male and female winners in each age category: 10 and under, 11-15, 1619, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

• Award to the top male and female Veteran or in the Military

All in-person participants on April 23 will receive a Helen’s 5K Run/ Walk T-shirt. Co-Event Sponsors: Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation and Harding Real Estate. About Helen Keller Services

Helen Keller Services’ (HKS) mission is to enable individuals who are blind, visually impaired, DeafBlind and/or have a combined hearing and vision loss to live, work and thrive in their community of choice. HKS offers services and programs through two divisions: Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults and Helen Keller Services for the Blind. For more information, please visit www.helenkeller.org.

—Submitted by Helen Keller Services