CNY Reads author Monfredo visits with community and students March 16-17

CNY Reads author Monfredo visits with community and students March 16-17March 07, 2006Sara Millersemortim@syr.edu

CNY Reads, the largest “one book, one community” program in New York state, continues its literacy programming and activity with several appearances by “North Star Conspiracy” (Penguin USA, 1995) author Miriam Grace Monfredo March 16-17.

On March 16, readers can meet Monfredo to hear about the background research involved in writing “North Star Conspiracy” and learn the interesting history of Central New York and its contributions to the women’s rights movement and the Underground Railroad’s local connections.

Monfredo will be available to meet with readers at the following locations:

• Creekside Books in Skaneateles (35 Fennell St.) beginning at noon

• Cazenovia Public Library with Books by the Lake (100 Albany St.) at 2:30 p.m.

• River’s End Books in Oswego (19 West Bridge St.) at 5 p.m.

• Barnes and Noble in Clay (Rt. 31) at 7 p.m.

On the morning of March 17, Monfredo will visit with students at Nottingham and Westhill high schools. Each school won the opportunity to have a visit from Monfredo by having teachers participate in CNY Reads. One Onondaga County city school and one suburban school were selected in a random drawing.

In the afternoon, Monfredo will appear on WCNY-TV’s “Hour CNY.” Highschools throughout Central New York have been invited and encouraged to tune in and call in to ask questions of the author.

Additionally, on March 18, SU will host high school students from across Central New York participating in the Onondaga Historical Association’s “Taking a Stand in History” contest as a part of National History Day celebrations coordinated throughout the country. High school students will be presenting essays and showing exhibitions and other classroom projects, many based on the themes of “North Star Conspiracy” in this daylong juried competition. For more information, contact Elaine Wisowaty at 428-1864.

Led by SU Library Associates and including many Central New York partners, CNY Reads promotes reading, research, discovery and sharing of perspectives among readers across Central New York by encouraging them to read the same book and participate in related programs. SU Library Associates leads the CNY Reads Consortium, which includes representatives from organizations throughout Central New York.

To encourage the largest possible community of readers, CNY Reads has already distributed close to 1,000 copies of “North Star Conspiracy” to local organizations and programs. For more information about all CNY Reads events and contests,visit http://library.syr.edu/cnyreads or contact Gregory J. Griffin at 443-2537.