This Weekend: Award-winning author to speak in Flagler

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Caren Umbarger will be at the BeachHouse Beanery in Flagler Beach 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 28 to talk about her novel, “Coming To: A Midwestern Tale.” In addition to her talk, she will read from the first chapter and sign copies of the book.

This spring, Umbarger was honored for her award-winning novel during a luncheon at the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee, and was a guest speaker at the Florida Library Association Conference in Orlando. This fall, she will be a featured author at the Florida Heritage Book Festival in St. Augustine.

Set on the eve of the Great Depression in Mason City, Iowa, the novel chronicles the burgeoning self-awareness of Lillian Scharf, who steps outside the bounds of a traditional Jewish marriage and is confronted with cataclysmic consequences.

“I wanted to write a story that not only women could relate to, but also anyone who has struggled out of oppression to make a better life for themselves,” Umbarger said.

Umbarger is the artistic director of the Flagler Youth Orchestra, a free, after-school strings program in Palm Coast serving students in grades 3-12.

Also this week:
Artist Talk — 1 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at Hollingsworth Gallery, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suites 209-210. Hosted by the Gargiulo Art Foundation, well-known sculptor Harry Messersmith, former director of the Deland Museum of Art, and painter Jean Banas, associated with Arts on Douglas in New Smyrna Beach, will speak about their art careers, working with museums, galleries, art dealers, exhibitors, jurors, judging art shows and will also cover professionalism. Both artists have entries in the Gargiulo Art Foundation’s current “Bicycle Art & Poetry Show,” at Hollingsworth Gallery. A question-and-answer session will follow.

U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier — 8-9:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30, and Tuesday, Aug. 31, at the Hammock Dunes Creek Course. Entrance is free. Players could advance to the U.S. Amateur Aug. 13-19, at Cherry Hills Country Club, in Colorado.

For a full calendar, click here.