We all like to hear from people who have had some wonderful inspiring adventures they have had in their lives and to learn first-hand what motivated them and what they learned. To that end the Sunshine Hall Free Library’s Fall Speakers Series has an exceptional line-up of very interesting local presenters-all of whom are willing to share some of their extraordinary accomplishments they have made in a variety of different cultural and educational settings. 

On Saturday, October 15, I went to hear Thomas Workman who brought hundreds of handmade instruments from all over the world. He played a majority of them and explained the how and why the instruments were made and in what context they were usually used. It was a remarkable presentation. On October 29, two research scientists, physical anthropologist (Nancy Handler) and ecologist (Richard Malenky) of Barryville will give a presentation about the years during 1980-1990’s they worked studying the bonobos. To save you a Google search-a bonobos is one of the world’s most intelligent animals and is commonly referred to as a pygmy chimpanzee that shares about 99% of our human DNA making them our closest living relatives. They are only found in a 190,000 sq. miles evergreen rain forest in the central Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa (formerly known as Zaire.) This rain forest is the second largest on the planet-with only the Amazon Rainforest being larger. Richard and Nancy worked at the N’dele study site (one of two sites) which is part of conservation efforts to save the endangered bonobos from extinction. As part of the Lomako Pygmy Chimpanzee Project Richard and Nancy studied two bonobos communities and collaborated with the people that lived in the forest defending it against poachers, serving as guides worked as the protectors of the research teams-all this within a backdrop of a violent civil war known as Africa’s First World War that broke out in Congo starting in 1996. Yes, Richard and Nancy definitely have had an important adventure and much to tell us and will share their experiences and the results of their field work during their not-to-be-missed presentation at the Sunshine Hall Library’s Fall Speakers Series on Saturday, October 29th starting at 2:00pm. The event is free and open to the public and for more information about the Fall Speakers Series go to sunshinehallfreelibrary.org 

I was so saddened to learn of the passing of Jenny Barnes, Pete Barnes wife. Jenny was a tireless volunteer and was always ready and willing to help out our community. At the time of her passing Jenny was the President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 1363 in Highland and was a lifetime member of the Yulan Rod and Gun Club. My sincere condolences to her husband of fifty-one years Pete, her loving family and her colleagues at the American Legion Post who will miss her dearly. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jennie’s name to the American Legion Post 1363 Ladies Auxiliary, 17 Collins Road, Eldred, 12732.