2017 – Page 2 – Mentor Public Library

11 20, 2017

D.M. Pulley returns to talk writing, torso slayings

By admin|2017-11-20T12:23:01-05:00November 20, 2017|

Award-winning writer D.M. Pulley is returning to Mentor Public Library on Thursday, Nov. 30, to help us conclude National Novel Writing Month.

First, Pulley will lead a session where writers can share and discuss their stories that they’ve written this month at 6:30 p.m. at our Main Branch. They can also decompress and share war stories from a month’s worth of writing.

Then, directly following, Pulley will read from and discuss her newest novel, “The Unclaimed Victim,” which was inspired by the Cleveland Torso Slayings.

Afterward, Pulley will sign copies of her book, which will be available for purchase.

Both the writing session and Pulley’s reading are free and open to the public. However, registration is required. You can sign up for either or both programs on our event calendar or by calling us at (440) 255-8811 ext. 216.

10 25, 2017

MPL Talks: Winston Churchill & the Battle of Britain

By admin|2017-10-25T06:00:33-04:00October 25, 2017|

Our Major Leaders of World War II series concludes with a closer look at Winston Churchill.

Our speaker, John Foster—who, in addition to being a librarian, also has a doctorate degree in history—discussed:

Churchill’s acumen as a leader, speaker, soldier, writer, war correspondent, and drinker.
Churchill’s relationship with Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Stalin.

For those who want a deeper dive into Churchill’s life, Foster recommends the William Manchester biographies.

Other historical talks by Foster can be watched on our YouTube page, including:

10 19, 2017

What Will You Make with our 3D Printer: ‘Canterbury Tales’ game pieces

By admin|2017-10-19T06:00:43-04:00October 19, 2017|

How will you use our new 3D printer?

Ben used them to create Canterbury Tales game pieces as part of an English assignment. We think his work his A+.

If you’re looking for resources to spark your creativity, you can visit Thingiverse, Tinkercad, My Mini Factory, Instructables or Shape Do for ideas.

For more information on how to use our 3D printer

09 17, 2017

MPL Talks: Political Cartooning after the Civil War

By admin|2017-09-17T06:00:43-04:00September 17, 2017|

Alan Gephardt, a ranger at James A. Garfield National Historic Site, discussed the role of political cartooning in the latest program of our Civil War series.

He talked about how illustrators like Thomas Nast and Joseph Keppler affected political discourse and changed the lives of post-Civil War politicians like Boss Tweed and Presidents Grant, Hayes, and Garfield.

He also explained:

the origins of the donkey and elephant as totems for Democrats and Republicans, respectively.
how cartoonists of different political affiliations approached the same events.
how the artists used allegory and references to Shakespeare, Fine Art, and more to make their point.

Those who may have missed Gephardt’s talk can watch it in its entirety right now.

Our Civil War series continues with a look at Commodore John Carter, the skipper of the first U.S. iron-hulled boat, at noon on Oct. 11 at our Main Branch. The talk is free and open to all.

Other talks from our Civil War series:

09 15, 2017

7 books about Cleveland Mafia

By admin|2017-09-15T06:00:42-04:00September 15, 2017|

Local historian Dennis Sutcliffe visited earlier this week to talk about the history of the Cleveland Mafia. Here are some reading recommendations for those interested in the topic.

1. The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia: Corn Sugar and Blood by Rick Porrello

Porrello has a unique perspective on the Cleveland Mafia. His grandfather and three uncles were killed in the Corn Sugar Wars during the late 1920s and early 1930s, but he’s also a police chief. His book is well-researched and an excellent primer on organized crime in Cleveland during the Prohibition Era.

11 things we learned about the Cleveland Mob from author Rick Porrello

2. To Kill the Irishman: The War that Crippled the Mafia by Rick Porrello

A sequel to Rise and Fall. This book follows the Mafia’s long and fatal war with Danny Green’s Celtic Club. It was later turned into a film.

3. Mobbed Up by James Neff

Neff tells the story of Jackie Presser, a Teamsters leader who was connected to the Cleveland Mafia. After decades of working with the mob, he became an informant for the FBI.

4. Brancato: Mafia Street Boss by Frank Monastra

Frank Brancato was a mainstay of the Cleveland mafia for almost 50 years. He bridged both the Corn Sugar and Celtic Club eras. (In fact, Brancato’s credited with introducing Greene to the Cleveland underworld.) In his lifetime, Brancato went from gambler to capo to consigliore. The author, Monastra, is Brancato’s grandson

5. The Sly-Fanner Murders by Allan May

May recounts the infamous Sly-Fanner Murders, a payroll robbery turned fatal, committed by Little Italy’s first mob boss, Dominic Benigno.

6. Shocking Stories of the Cleveland Mob by Ted Schwarz

Schwarz traces the wild history of the Cleveland Mob, which includes the origins of everything from Las Vegas to the Cleveland Browns.

7. The Silent Syndicate by Hank Messick

Messick describes—in minute detail—the actions of The Syndicate, a Jewish organized crime unit that was contemporary to the Mafia. While they grabbed fewer headlines than the Mafia, they were arguably more successful by favoring the bribe over the bullet.

Yearly Archives: 2017

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