Larry French, a local historical author and Civil War re-enactor, will portray a soldier returning to his Florida home on furlough. French is a novelist, speaker and master naturalist who brings history to life through re-enactments.

His presentation is part of the free Lemonade Lectures series, which is sponsored by the Enterprise Historical Conservancy and Volusia County. Light refreshments and lemonade will be served.

Reservations are not required. For more information, please call Amber Patterson at 386-668-3840.

DeBary Hall Historic Site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned by the State of Florida and managed by the county’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Division. Tours of the 1871 hunting lodge are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission prices are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and younger.     http://debaryhall.com/

“Night Moves” is the 20th novel in the series featuring Doc Ford, a retired NSA agent turned marine biologist living on the Gulf Coast of southern Florida.

White is also the author of the novel, “Gone,” and several works of nonfiction about travel and fishing. Before his career as a novelist, White was a journalist and a light-tackle fishing guide at Tarpon Bay Marina on Sanibel Island.

Books will be available for purchase with some of the proceeds benefiting the Friends of the Library.

Author Enid Shomer will discuss her latest work of fiction, “Twelve Rooms of the Nile,” at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave.

The novel, her first, is about an imagined meeting between Gustave Flaubert and Florence Nightingale in Egypt in 1850. It was selected as one of the six best historical novels of 2012 by National Public Radio.

Shomer has also written four books of poetry and the short story collections “Imaginary Men” and “Tourist Season,” which received the Florida Book Award for general fiction.

Books will be available for purchase. Learn about other upcoming library programs at www.volusialibrary.org.

Saturday, March 16^th, 2013, Noon to 3:00

2641 Enterprise Rd.
Orange City FL 32763               Phone: 386-917-0100  

You won’t even knowing that you are in “class” with these free programs.

The Lyonia Environmental Center will offer a variety of free hikes and educational programs in March. Upcoming programs include:

• · Tiny trekkers – On one flower: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2. Children ages 2 through 5 can read a book about caterpillars and butterflies, take a hike, and make a craft to take home. This free event is sponsored by the Friends of Lyonia Environmental Center.
• · Save space for the gopher tortoise: 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3. Find out what gopher tortoises eat, where they live, and how important their existence is to more than 460 other species.
  Learn how you can manage your property for gopher tortoises and receive incentives.
• · Women’s Day: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Women can learn about yoga, nutrition, business etiquette, balancing budgets and more.
• · Family game day: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Bring the family to the LEC to play Birdopoly, Earthopoly, Bug Bingo and Reptile Bingo. Families can also work on puzzles, investigate specimens under a microscope, and meet the center’s resident hedgehog and albino corn snake.
• · Native wildflower hike: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16. Join the LEC staff on this exploratory hike to see what wildflowers are blooming in Lyonia Preserve.
• · Gear up your garden for spring: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Learn how to beat the bugs, bad soil and seasonal limitations by gardening smarter, not harder. Leah Brooks will demonstrate aeroponic and square foot gardening.
• · Family picnic and hike: 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17. Pack a lunch and bring the family for a picnic in the Lyonia Preserve pavilion. LEC staff will lead the hike to the pavilion and discuss what plants and animals live in scrub habitat.
• · Underwater cave exploration: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 23. Amy Giannotti of the Cambrian Foundation will discuss the biodiversity of life in the submerged caves of Florida, Mexico and Bermuda. She also will give an overview of the foundation’s history and research expeditions.
• · Popcorn and a movie: 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24. Watch a documentary that offers an up-close view of the wildflowers that gave Florida its name, “land of flowers.” Participants will receive a packet of wildflower seeds and be entered into a drawing for a pot of native wildflowers. Popcorn will be provided. Bottled water, chips and candy will be available for purchase.
• · Virtual tour of the St. Johns River: 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30. Join Doug Little of St. Johns River Eco Tours for this indoor digital presentation about the wildlife and scenery that can be spotted between the Wekiva River and Blue Spring State Park.
• · Scrub strolls: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Monday and Friday. Environmental specialists will lead free hikes through Lyonia Preserve. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes, bring water, and be prepared to hike on unpaved sugar-sand trails.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling 386-789-7207, ext. 253.

Lyonia Environmental Center offers a unique insight into Volusia County’s fragile ecosystems through hands-on displays and computer-based learning modules. It’s part of the Deltona Regional Library complex at 2150 Eustace Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

For updates on what’s happening at the LEC, visit www.lyoniapreserve.com.

Deltona Regional Library

ONE WEEK – Sat through Sat (Jan 26 to Feb 2)

$5 per plastic grocery bag (1 fabric recycle bag = 2 plastic bags)

All books and magazines, excludes DVDs, CDs & VHS.

The 36 characters, including heroes, heroines, pioneers, and even some
notorious villains are played by a total of six actors: Chelsea
Harrison, Erica Stuck, Donna Corporon, Barry Kite, Ryan McNally, and
Larrie Tiffany. It is designed for traveling with a variety of costumes
and props representing each time period.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 2 pm at the Deltona Library.

The duo will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at the Deltona Amphitheater, 2150 Eustace Ave.; noon Saturday, Feb. 2, at VIA Hall, which is across from the Oak Hill Public Library, at 126 E. Halifax Ave.; and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Dickinson Hall, which is next to the Orange City Public Library, 148 Albertus Way. The events are co-sponsored by Friends of the Library.

Over the past four years, Jeni & Billy have travelled 150,000 miles throughout the USA, Canada and Europe, performing at numerous venues, festivals and fiddlers’ conventions, picking up ribbons in songwriting, traditional folk-singing, guitar-picking, and flatfoot dancing.

Novelist Lee Smith says: “Jeni and Billy’s stunningly original music is as old as the hills, yet brand new at the same time. Jeni is a true poet and a born storyteller, through and through — many of her songs contain whole novels.”

Shore Birding Hike,  Smyrna Dunes Park
2995 N Peninsula Dr.New Smyrna Beach
February 1  9:00-12:00

Observe and learn about the diversity of shorebirds as Southeast
Volusia Audubon birders lead a hike along the shore of Smyrna Dunes Park
inlet and beach shore. They’ll also teach tips for bird
identification. Bring binoculars and bird identification books if you
have them. Wear comfortable clothes that match the weather and water
shoes.  Please register.

Backpacking the Florida Woods at Deep Creek Preserve
964 South St. Rd 415  New Smyrna (Samsula area)
February 2, 2013  9:00-12:00ish

Florida Trail Association members Bill and Linda Taylor will share
their knowledge of hiking, backpacking and camping as we hike with our
packs, set up a demonstration camp and cook lunch on the trail.
Beginning backpackers and those that are thinking of becoming beginning
backpackers are welcome to join us. This is the ideal opportunity to
learn from folks that have been hiking and camping in the woods for
years. All ages are welcome.

Guided Hike of Heart Island Conservation Area   Lake Winona Rd., off Hwy 17
February 13  10:00-12:00

Take a guided hike of a section of Heart Island Conservation Area
co-owned by St. Johns River Water Management District and Volusia
County. Hike trails through this sandhill plant community and learn
about the agricultural history and planting/restoration of this land.

Wear comfortable clothes that match the weather and hiking or walking
shoes and bring water to drink. Please register.

Bike About at Longleaf  Pine Preserve—West Entrance
3736 E. New York Ave., DeLand
February 14  9:00-11:00

Bring your Valentine on a leisurely 6-mile bike ride through Longleaf
Pine Preserve with a few stops to explore. The trail is mostly hard
packed road and grassy road with occasion muddy areas. Off road tires
or tread tires are best. Bring water and snack to eat at the lake.
Helmet required.

Guided Hike of Scrub Restoration Area  (The big curve of McGregor & Fatio Roads)
1495 McGregor Rd  DeLand 32720
February 19  9:00-11:00

Take a guided hike and learn how–what looks like destruction of
habitat is the beginning of successful habitat restoration for scrub
species. Volusia County Land Management biologists will lead a hike
through areas that have been timbered, chopped and burned and introduce
you to the scrub species that are beginning to call the area home.

Wear comfortable clothes that match the weather and hiking or walking
shoes and bring water to drink. Please register.

Lake George Land Management Eco-buggy Tour
998 Nine Mile Point Road, Seville
February 22  9:00-11:00

Take an Eco-buggy tour and learn about land management and forestry
practices of Lake George Wildlife Management Area. Stuart Jones,
Volusia County Land Manager, will discuss land management, forestry and
the flora and fauna of the site.  Space is limited, please register.

Let me know if you’d like to join us.
Bonnie Cary,  Naturalist
Land Management, County of Volusia

(386) 736-5276
cell (386) 804-0437
www.volusia.org/growth/outreach.htm

Try your hand at all three during a fitness smorgasbord at the Deltona
Regional Library Wednesday, Jan. 30.

Fitness experts will offer introductions to three popular forms of
exercise:
Zumba: 10:30 to 11 a.m. Try out some energetic Latin dance moves with
YMCA instructor Lourdes Leon.
Body combat: 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Leon will introduce participants to
this intensive cardio workout inspired by mixed martial arts.
Yoga: 1 to 2 p.m. Certified trainer Christine Kee will demonstrate the
gentle stretches of yoga, which can soothe your soul and tone your
body.

Each class will include a brief history of the discipline, an
explanation of movements, and a demonstration. To participate, please
come dressed for physical activity and bring a mat or beach towel and a
bottle of water.

Reservations are not required. For more information, please call
386-789-7207, ext. 236.