Summer Reading

Welcome to Summer Reading 2011! At the end of 8 weeks we had 368 people signed up.

This week, 2 new people participated and 37 people read 143 books, which brings the totals for the summer to 166 people and 1175 books.

To sign up for this, or any of our newsletters, check out our Newsletter sign up page.

Electric Barracuda By Dorsey, Tim 2011-01 - William Morrow & Company 9780061876899 Check Our Catalog In the latest laugh-riot thriller from the "New York Times"-bestselling author, Dorsey's hero, Serge Storms, is finally being chased by the authorities. Are his days numbered? …More

Garcia's Heart By Durcan, Liam 2007-11 - Thomas Dunne Books 9780312367084 Check Our Catalog "Like a cross between John le Carre and Ian McEwan, " Garcia's Heart "treads the line between an elegant, elegiac novel of ideas and a sophisticated political thriller." ---Pauls Toutonghi, author of" Red Weather" …More

Domes of Fire By Eddings, David 1993-05 - Del Rey Books 9780345383273 Check Our Catalog "The distant Tamul Empire, endangered by civil unrest exacerbated by paranormal ... incidents, begs help from Sparhawk, destroyer of the Elder God Azash and savior of the Elenes"--Amazon.com …More

South of Reason By Eppes, Cindy 2002-03 - Atria Books 9780743437998 Check Our Catalog Propelled by the intensely felt sorrows, joys, and discoveries of its adolescent heroine, Cindy Eppes's first novel is a soulful and darkly comic coming-of-age story set in 1960s Texas. …More

Fearless Fourteen By Evanovich, Janet 2008-06 - St. Martin's Press 9780312349516 Check Our Catalog The #1 blockbuster bestselling phenomenon continues in the 14th Stephanie Plum adventure. HPL patron: Funny stuff! Janet didn't disappoint with more laughs and exciting story line. …More

Dayworld Breakup By Farmer, Philip Jose 1991-03 - Tor Classics 9780812508895 Check Our Catalog …More

The Monk Downstairs By Farrington, Tim 2002-07 - HarperOne 9780062517852 Check Our Catalog When a spiritual crisis compels monk Michael Christopher to leave the monastery after 20 years, he moves into a San Francisco apartment where he is drawn to his landlady, Rebecca. Michael soon wrestles with his yearning for a life of contemplation and the need for a life of action-in-the-world in this love story with a twist: God as the other woman. …More

Hidden Currents By Feehan, Christine 2009-11 - Thorndike Press 9781410419835 Check Our Catalog In her Drake Sisters novels, #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author Feehan delivers everything her fans have come to expect ("Publishers Weekly"). Now, she exceeds expectations as the fate of all seven sisters depends on the destiny of one. Original. HPL patron: Good summer read. …More

Predatory Game By Feehan, Christine 2008-09 - Thorndike Press 9781410409201 Check Our Catalog The Queen of Paranormal Romance ("USA Today") continues her breathtaking GhostWalkers series. Saber Wynter is running from her past when she meets former Navy SEAL and GhostWalker Jess Calhoun. The riddles of both their pasts are about to collide, shattering the promise of their future with the ultimate betrayal. Original. HPL patron: Strong characters, good read. …More

One of Our Thursdays Is Missing By Fforde, Jasper 2011-03 - Viking Books 9780670022526 Check Our Catalog Fforde's exuberant return to the fantastical BookWorld opens during a time of great unrest. All-out Genre war is rumbling, and the BookWorld desperately needs a heroine like Thursday Next. With the real Thursday apparently retired to the Realworld, the Council of Genres turns to the written Thursday. …More

Devil's Food Cake Murder By Fluke, Joanne 2011-02 - Kensington Publishing Corporation 9780758234919 Check Our Catalog A new minister has come to Lake Eden, Minnesota, to fill in for Reverend Bob Knudson, who's on his honeymoon. But when the replacement is found dead in a plate of devil's food cake with a bullet in his head, Hannah Swensen starts asking questions. …More

No Girl Needs a Husband Seven Days a Week By Foxx, Nina 2007-11 - Avon A 9780061335273 Check Our Catalog A husband can be good for a number of things: Companionship (when he's home) Household repairs (if he's handy) Good loving (if you're lucky), but . . . no girl needs a husband seven days a week! Marie needs her "stay-at-home husband" to clean the house and babysit the kids, so she can take care of business coast-to-coast . . . and enjoy some harmless flirting on the side. Mai's perfectly content to be the perfect wife to a successful corporate superstar--throwing lavish parties and organizing gala charity fundraisers. But it's funny how quickly everything can change with just a single phone call . . . from prison! And high-powered ad exec Kennedy believes the best husband is no husband at all. Hot encounters with a succession of studs keep her going strong as she climbs to the top of her profession. A spouse is fine as long as he doesn't screw up the rest of your life. Now three lovely ladies who think they have this "husband" thing all worked out are about to learn that, when it comes to love and marriage, "perfection" can always be improved upon. And it's going to be one wild ride! HPL patron: A Girlfriend book...laugh and make you realize you shouldn't take anyone for granted. …More

The Last Princess By Freeman, Cynthia Other Freeman, Cynthia 0001-01 - Jove Books 9780515106824 Check Our Catalog …More

Well-Schooled in Murder By George, Elizabeth A. 1990-06 - Bantam 9780553070002 Check Our Catalog Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner Detective Barbara Havers find themselves deeply involved in the search for a child killer. But the investigation into the boy's death leads them perilously close to their own emotional wounds--and blinds them to the signs of another murder in the making. …More

The Silent Girl By Gerritsen, Tess 2011-07 - Ballantine Books 9780345515506 Check Our Catalog Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli is already at the crime scene when medical examiner Maura Isles arrives on the Chinatown rooftop. A savage killer has left behind a grisly spectacle, and the sick feeling in Rizzoli's gut says they're on the trail of a twisted predator. After a monkey hair is found on the body, other clues point Rizzoli and Isles in the direction of the fable of the Monkey King. HPL patron: Outstanding mystery with great characters. Couldn't put it down. …More

The Discovery By Gibson, Marley 2011-05 - Graphia Books 9780547393087 Check Our Catalog After some time off, Kendall's ready to begin ghost hunting again. But her life is still in flux. She misses Patrick, her new love. She may have discovered who her real father is. And then there's a certain doll that seems to be out to get her and her friends. …More

Good Housekeeping Family Vegetarian Cooking: 225 Recipes Everyone Will Love By Good Housekeeping 2010-06 - Hearst Books 9781588167927 Check Our Catalog A vegetarian cookbook everyone in the family can love!From the most trusted name in America comes an all-purpose vegetarian cookbook for families looking to change their diet, in need of midweek meatless alternatives, or dealing with the demands of one vegetarian in the household. There's hearty fare for breakfast and brunch (so no one will miss the bacon and sausage!); a chapter stuffed with tasty cold-cut-free wraps and sandwiches; and a wealth of dinner choices from soups and stews to chilis, stir-fries, sautes, casseroles and more. A special bonus: The last chapter is especially tailored to families with one vegetarian member in the midst of meat eaters; these recipes yield both meatless and meat-filled portions with little extra fuss.Chock-full of fresh vegetable goodness, these 225 dishes are guaranteed to satisfy vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. …More

Princess Dottie By Gordon, Lucy 2002-08 - Silhouette Books 9780373244874 Check Our Catalog …More

Night of the Blackbird By Graham, Heather 2005-01 - Mira Books 9780778321347 Check Our Catalog - Heather Graham is one of today's most popular authors of contemporary romantic suspense and historical romance. - Picture Me Dead (Mira Books, MMPB 2/04) reached #16 on the New York Times extended list. - Haunted (Mira Books, 9/03) spent four weeks on the New York Times extended list, reaching #26, and was a USA Today bestseller. - Hurricane Bay (Mira Books, 4/02) spent three weeks on the New York Times extended hardcover bestseller list, reaching # 20, and achieved a 57% NSR. - Night of The Blackbird (Mira Books, 10/01) spent three weeks on the extended New York Times bestseller list, reaching #21, and hit # 14 on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. - These four repackaged titles will be released in conjunction with the MMPB release of Dead On The Dance Floor (hardcover available March 2004). - Heather's next hardcover, Killing Kelly, will be released in March 2005. - As Heather Graham, Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake, she has published more than 90 bestselling novels and short stories. HQN Books recently signed Shannon Drake to a four-book deal to publish her historical romance editorial. - There are more than 20 million copies of her books in print. …More

New Vegetarian Kitchen: Raw/Broil/Fry/Steam/Simmer/Bake By Graimes, Nicola 2011-03 - Duncan Baird 9781844839261 Check Our Catalog Forget the same old beans, pasta, and veggie burgers-this is vegetarian food designed to thrill! Organized by preparation method, the 200 mouthwatering recipes here include Grilled Polenta wrapped in Red Pepper, Beetroot Carpaccio with Goat's Cheese, and Chocolate Truffle Torte with Amaretto Cream. Tips are given for maximizing color, texture, aroma, and flavor, and using familiar ingredients in new ways. …More

Star Bright!: A Christmas Story By Greeley, Andrew M. 2004-12 - Forge 9780765305626 Check Our Catalog Nothing will ever be the same for the Flanigans when Jack brings a young Russian woman home to Chicago for Christmas. "All charm and wit."--"Kirkus Reviews." …More

The Appeal By Grisham, John 2008-01 - Doubleday Books 9780385515047 Check Our Catalog In Grishams first legal thriller since "The Broker," justice is for sale--and only the rich can afford it. HPL patron: Politics at their worst-depressing-fascinates like an approaching snake-couldn't stop reading. …More

The Confession By Grisham, John 2010-10 - Doubleday Books 9780385528047 Check Our Catalog Grisham delivers his most extraordinary legal thriller yet. Filled with his trademark intriguing twists and turns, this newest novel proves that no one keeps readers in suspense like America's favorite storyteller. HPL patron: Realistic story; full of suspense. Sad thing-this plot happens every day and there are not enough people who are brave enough to say "NO!" …More

Upcoming Events at Hackley Public Library

Ulysses Group 10:00 am, Tuesday, September 13 Led by Fran Fisher, this book discussion group meets in the Julia Hackley Room of the Library on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00-11:30 am. For more information call 231-722-7276 x 222.

World War II in Their Own Words 6:00 PM Tuesday, September 13 “Larry Martin's World War II - In Their Own Words”is based on one man's firm dedication to bringing the stories of WWII to as many people as possible. The goal is to share with the world exactly what the heroes who fought for our freedom during the Second World War did, and to pay them tribute while educating everyone on the facts and the significance of this tragic and important event in our nation's history. Mr. Martin will be speaking specifically about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, but will be able to answer questions on other WWII topics as well. His website is http://lmww2.com. Held at the USS LST 393: 560 Mart Street, Muskegon. Free and open to the public. Brought to you through the generosity of the PNC Foundation.

MCGS Board Meeting 6:30 – 9:30 pm, Tuesday, September 13 Muskegon County Genealogical Society Board meeting at the Torrent House.

Tech Wednesday - Job and Career Excelerator 2:30 pm, Wednesday, September 14 Each class runs from 30 – 60 minutes. No registration is required, just show up! All classes will start at 2:30 pm in the Julia Hackley Room. If you have your own laptop feel free to bring it along, otherwise these are watch and learn classes.

MS Support Group 5:30 - 6:30 pm, Wednesday, September 14 Meets at the Torrent House

Wednesday Knitters 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Wednesday, September 14 Open to knitters of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Learn to knit, hone your skills, help other knitters! For more information call 231-722-7276 and ask for Jocelyn.

Yarnspinners 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Wednesday, September 14 Muskegon's own storytelling group. Torrent House

Friends of the Library Board Meeting 4:00 - 5:00 pm, Monday, September 19 Meets at the Torrent House

Evening Storytime 6:45 pm, Monday, September 19 Storytelling, picturebooks, fingerplays, holiday tales, and special fun. Each session ends with a craft project. Signup required. Call 231-722-7276 x 230 to register.

Morning Storytime 11:00 am, Tuesday, September 20 Storytelling, picturebooks, fingerplays, holiday tales, and special fun. Each session ends with a craft project. Signup required. Call 231-722-7276 x 230 to register.

Hackley Public Library Board Meeting 5:30 - 6:30 pm, Tuesday. September 20 Julia Hackley Room, Hackley Public Library. Open to the public.

Herb Society 6:00 - 9:00 pm, Tuesday, September 20 Meets at the Torrent House

Wednesday Knitters 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Wednesday, September 21 Open to knitters of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Learn to knit, hone your skills, help other knitters! For more information call 231-722-7276 and ask for Jocelyn.

Summer Reading

Welcome to Summer Reading 2011! At the end of 8 weeks we had 368 people signed up. This week, 2 new people participated and 37 people read 143 books, which brings the totals for the summer to 166 people and 1175 books.

To sign up for this, or any of our newsletters, check out our Newsletter sign up page.

Ghost Hunter By Castle, Jayne 2006-06 - Jove Books 9780515141405 Check Our Catalog After leaving her too-secretive fianc--ghost hunter Cooper Boone--botanist Elly St. Clair starts over in Cadence City. But when one of her new friends disappears in the eerie catacombs, Cooper turns up just in time to help, and this time he's holding nothing back. Original. …More

The Green Lantern: A Romance of Stalinist Russia By Charyn, Jerome 2004-09 - Thunder's Mouth Press 9781568583129 Check Our Catalog When the large, lumbering prop manager of a Soviet theater troupe is literally thrust into the role of King Lear when the actor falls ill, he becomes the talk of Moscow, and he falls under the direct scrutiny of Joseph Stalin. …More

Mrs. Fytton's Country Life By Cheek, Mavis 2001-11 - St. Martin's Press 9780312283346 Check Our Catalog The bestselling British novel that pokes serious fun at marriage, men and conventions when a divorced woman moves to the country and finds only a slower pace of problems. …More

I'll Walk Alone By Clark, Mary Higgins 2011-04 - Simon & Schuster 9781439180969 Check Our Catalog The #1 bestselling Queen of Suspense Mary Higgins Clark presents her latest captivating thriller. …More

No Place Like Home By Clark, Mary Higgins 2008-03 - Pocket Books 9781416579557 Check Our Catalog In a riveting new thriller from America's Queen of Suspense, a young woman is ensnared into returning to a place she had wanted to leave behind forever -- her childhood home. There, at the age of ten, Liza Barton had shot her mother, trying desperately to protect her from her estranged step-father, Ted Cartwright. Despite his claim that the shooting was a deliberate act, the Juvenile Court ruled the death an accident. Many people, however, agreed with Cartwright, and the tabloids compared her to the infamous murderess Lizzie Borden, pointing even to the similarity of their names. To erase Liza's past, her adoptive parents change her name to Celia. At age twenty-eight, a successful interior designer in Manhattan, she marries a childless sixty-year-old widower, Laurence Foster, and they have a son. Before their marriage, she reveals to him her true identity. Two years later, on his deathbed, he makes her swear never to tell anyone so that their son, Jack, will not carry the stigma of her past. Two years later, Celia is happily remarried. Her peace of mind is shattered when her new husband, Alex Nolan, surprises her with a gift -- the house in Mendham, New Jersey, where she killed her mother. On the day they move in, they find the words little lizzie's place -- beware painted on the lawn, splotches of red paint all over the house, and a skull and crossbones carved into the door. More and more, there are signs that someone in the community knows Celia's true identity. When Georgette Grove, the real estate agent who sold the house to Alex, is brutally murdered and Celia is the first on the crime scene, she becomes a suspect. As Celia fights to prove her innocence, she is not awarethat she and her son, Jack, are now the targets of a killer. …More

The Shadow of Your Smile By Clark, Mary Higgins 2010-04 - Simon & Schuster 9781439172261 Check Our Catalog "The Shadow of Your Smile" is the latest thriller from #1 bestselling Queen of Suspense, Mary Higgins Clark. HPL patron: Clark had me confused at a few moments in the story. This book seemed a little tougher to read than her other books. …More

Lord Vishnu's Love Handles: A Spy Novel (Sort Of) By Clarke, Will 2006-06 - Simon & Schuster 9780743271486 Check Our Catalog Psychically-gifted but tragically-shallow Travis Anderson milks his premonitions only to acquire an upper-middle-class lifestyle without having to make an effort. But recent visions threaten his yuppie contentment. …More

Little Bee By Cleave, Chris 2009-02 - Simon & Schuster 9781416589631 Check Our Catalog From the author of the international bestseller "Incendiary" comes a haunting novel about the tenuous friendship that blooms between two disparate strangers--one an illegal Nigerian refugee, the other a recent widow from suburban London. …More

Shavetail By Cobb, Thomas 2008-02 - Scribner Book Company 9781416561194 Check Our Catalog 2009 Spur Award Winner - Best Western Long Novel "Shavetail" traces the brutal coming of age of a boy soldier stationed at a remote U.S. Army outpost in the harsh Arizona desert, and his company's search to save a young woman captured by a band of Apaches. …More

Live Wire By Coben, Harlan 2011-03 - Dutton Books 9780525952060 Check Our Catalog Myron Bolitar's family takes center stage in this new Coben thriller. Former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, are both clients, and now Lex has disappeared and a very pregnant Suzze is in tears. Myron is forced to confront deep secrets in Suzze's past, his family's mortality, and before "Live Wire" is over, his own. …More

Lucky Stiff By Coonts, Deborah 2011-02 - Forge 9780765325440 Check Our Catalog In this follow-up to "Wanna Get Lucky," Lucky O'Toole thinks it's just another night in Las Vegas--until she discovers the body of one of Vegas's oddsmakers in a shark tank. When the police show up at the Babylon, Lucky realizes her previous night was far from routine. …More

Final Justice By Cresswell, Jasmine 2005-11 - Thorndike Press 9780786279708 Check Our Catalog Melody Beecham's would-be assassin could be anyone she's put behind bars. But then the evidence points to someone who has no knowledge of Melody's connection to Unit One. Her partner, Nick Anwar, comes up with a daring plan to trap their elusive quarry. Original. …More

Maybe This Time By Crusie, Jennifer 2010-08 - St. Martin's Press 9780312303785 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title From a beloved "New York Times"-bestselling author comes a novel that gives a new twist to old flames, second chances, and things that go bump in the night. TP: Griffin. HPL patron: Charming with brisk, edgy style and a very romantic comedy. …More

Buffy the Vampire Slayer By Cusick, Richie Tankersley 1997-04 - Simon Spotlight Entertainment 9780671017002 Check Our Catalog Stock up on the original novelization that started it all! Buffy is poised to knock'em dead--so don't miss this exciting opportunity to order the original movie novelization! Now a WB TV series, "Entertainment Weekly" calls "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" "this season's most distinctive and sharply written new show". …More

In the Company of My Sistahs By Daniels, Angie 2006-02 - Kensington Publishing Corporation 9780758207432 Check Our Catalog Exactly how much trouble can four sexy, sassy, and stubborn women get into when they spend a week in Jamaica together? The answer: Plenty! HPL patron: Very good, loved the book club questions. …More

Trouble Loves Company By Daniels, Angie 2007-09 - Dafina Books 9780758217455 Check Our Catalog The acclaimed author of "In the Company of My Sistahs" presents a sexy, sassy, and moving new novel about three friends whove had their share of lifes ups and downs--with no sign that the roller coaster is going to stop anytime soon. …More

Double Shot By Davidson, Diane Mott 2004-11 - William Morrow & Company 9780060527297 Check Our Catalog A BookPage Notable Title "Today's foremost practitioner of the culinary whodunit" ("Entertainment Weekly") whips up a rich souffl of murder and mischief as her trusty heroine Goldy Schultz gets caught up in a web of secrets and lies that could tear her family apart. HPL patron: Good story, nicely written. …More

Prime Cut By Davidson, Diane Mott 2000-02 - Bantam Books 9780553574678 Check Our Catalog A CATERER'S NIGHTMARE Caterer Goldy Schulz is convinced things couldn't get worse. An unscrupulous rival is driving her out of business. An incompetent contractor has left her precious kitchen in shambles. And she has just agreed to cater a fashion shoot at a nineteenth-century mountain cabin with her mentor and old friend, French chef Andre Hibbard. A DASH OF COLD-BLOODED MURDER Together Goldy and Andre struggle in a hopelessly outdated kitchen to cater to a vacuous crowd of beautiful people whose personal dramas climax when a camera is pitched through a window...into the buffet. Then Goldy's contractor is found hanging in the house of one of her best friends. A second murder follows and Goldy must somehow solve a mystery and prepare for a society soiree that could make -- or break -- her career. A RECIPE FOR DISASTER It's a mystery that involves the dead contractor's unwholesome past, a food saboteur, the theft of four historical cookbooks, and an overzealous D.A. who has suspended Goldy's detective husband, Tom, from the force. What Goldy discovers is the perfect recipe for murder. And she may be dessert! HPL patron: Good story, lots of action …More

Prime Cut By Davidson, Diane Mott 2000-02 - Bantam Books 9780553574678 Check Our Catalog A CATERER'S NIGHTMARE Caterer Goldy Schulz is convinced things couldn't get worse. An unscrupulous rival is driving her out of business. An incompetent contractor has left her precious kitchen in shambles. And she has just agreed to cater a fashion shoot at a nineteenth-century mountain cabin with her mentor and old friend, French chef Andre Hibbard. A DASH OF COLD-BLOODED MURDER Together Goldy and Andre struggle in a hopelessly outdated kitchen to cater to a vacuous crowd of beautiful people whose personal dramas climax when a camera is pitched through a window...into the buffet. Then Goldy's contractor is found hanging in the house of one of her best friends. A second murder follows and Goldy must somehow solve a mystery and prepare for a society soiree that could make -- or break -- her career. A RECIPE FOR DISASTER It's a mystery that involves the dead contractor's unwholesome past, a food saboteur, the theft of four historical cookbooks, and an overzealous D.A. who has suspended Goldy's detective husband, Tom, from the force. What Goldy discovers is the perfect recipe for murder. And she may be dessert! HPL patron: Good story, lots of action …More

Undead and Unworthy By Davidson, MaryJanice 2008-06 - Berkley Sensation 9780425221624 Check Our Catalog Davidson pens the seventh book in the hilarious "New York Times"-bestselling series featuring Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor, who's now sporting a hot new look. HPL patron: I got 2 books by this author, after reading the first book I would not read the second. If you took all the profanity out of the book you'd have half a book-terrible book. …More

The Meltdown By Divine, L. 2011-02 - Dafina Books 9780758231178 Check Our Catalog Stressed out by strange visions and insomnia, Jayd finds herself back at Mama's house. Mama's convinced that something sinister is at play. But can they come up with a plan to get Jayd's swagger back? …More

So, So Hood By Divine, L. 2011-06 - Dafina Books 9780758231192 Check Our Catalog With her senior year just beginning, Jayd's drama is going nowhere anytime soon. Although she's graduated to the next level with her powers, she's also going head-to-head with her former best friend, Misty. Jayd's also got to deal with the aftermath of the debutante ball, her boyfriend's cheating, and her ex-boyfriend/best guy friend Rah's continuing baby mama drama. Luckily, when her crew gets to be too much, Jayd can turn to her new crush Keenan, a UCLA first draft football pick, for a time out. Jayd's got to keep a cool head now more than ever because there's a new enemy waiting to pounce if she lets down her guard ... …More

Blackjack-33 By Donahue, James C. 1999-09 - Presidio Press 9780804117647 Check Our Catalog "You have to react instinctively. In this game there's no second place, only the quick and the dead." In Vietnam, Mobile Guerrilla Force was the only American unit that truly carried out guerrilla-style hit-and-run military operations. Armed with silencer-equipped MK-II British Sten guns, M-16s, M-79s, and M-60s, the men of the Mobile Guerilla Force roamed for weeks at a time through steamy triple-canopy jungle in areas owned by NVA and VC, destroying base camps, ambushing enemy forces, and gathering the intelligence Saigon desperately needed. In 1967, James Donahue was a Special Forces medic and an assistant platoon leader for the Mobile Guerrilla Force's fiercely anti-Vietnamese Cambodian mercenaries. On mission Blackjack-33, they were to act as bait and lure VC and NVA regiments into decisive engagements so that they could be targeted and destroyed by the 1st Infantry Division. Well, the MGF did its job, but the 1st Infantry Division refused to show up. . . . Now, with the brutal, unflinching honesty only an eyewitness could possess, Donahue relives the deadly adrenaline rush of firefights conducted on the run and medical operations performed under fire, capturing the savage courage and sacrifice of these proud U.S. and Cambodian warriors. …More

How the Government Helps Small Businesses

How the Government Helps Small Businesses:From the USA.gov Blog:
Whether you’re thinking about opening a new business or you’re trying to strengthen or expand an enterprise you already have, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is there to help.

The SBA is a federal agency that helps small businesses grow and succeed. It provides business counseling and training, and offers a wide range of financing programs such as loans and grants.

Counseling and Training

You can get immediate help from the SBA by taking one of its online training courses on how to start, manage and finance a business. Each subject features a variety of courses about successful business management.

The SBA also works with community centers that provide free or low-cost training and mentoring. For example, SCORE is a nonprofit organization comprised of volunteer counselors with extensive experience in the business world. SCORE provides mentoring and counseling services to new business owners.

Finally, you can always visit local or regional SBA offices for support. These offices are located throughout the country and can counsel you on:

• How to find your local women’s business centers
• How to get technical assistance
• How to get disaster assistance

Access to Capital

A lot of people think the SBA lends money. The truth is that it only guarantees loans made by financial institutions such as banks. SBA-backed loans can be very attractive because they generally have low interest rates and longer repayment terms.

The SBA offers several loan programs, including:

• 7(a) Loan Program: This program is for businesses operating in specific industries such as exports or for businesses located in rural areas or underserved communities. Active duty military personnel and veterans can also benefit from these types of loans.
• Micro-Loan Program: This program is for certain small businesses and nonprofit organizations, including childcare centers. The maximum loan amount is $50,000, which can be used to pay for inventory or purchase equipment. However, money from these loans cannot be used to pay debt or to purchase real estate.
• CDC/504 Loan Program: This is a program for businesses looking for long-term financing. The money can be used to purchase real estate, new facilities and machinery or equipment. The program has several stipulations, including one that requires the funds to be used to encourage economic development in a community.

You can get more information about some of these programs as well as additional local resources by going to SBA Direct.

Other Types of Financing

Besides guaranteeing loans, the SBA can also help entrepreneurs locate other types of financing, such as grants. It’s important to note that the SBA does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business. The agency does provide grants to nonprofits and educational organizations for counseling and training purposes.

Local and state governments do provide grants to small businesses, specifically those involved in childcare, energy efficiency and local tourism. You can learn more about the different types of government grants available by visiting Grants.gov.

How To Safely Drive Near School Buses

How To Safely Drive Near School Buses:From the USA.govBlog:

After a summer of driving without school buses, these tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can help you drive safely near school buses and bus stops.

Stay alert

Watch for children walking in the street and playing near bus stops. Kids may dart into the street if they are late to catch the bus.

Watch the bus for flashing lights or signals

Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop. You should slow down and also prepare to stop.

Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm mean children are getting on or off the bus. Stop and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before you start driving again.

Learn more about how to stay safe around school buses.

“A Great Thing for the Cause”: Black Soldiers in the Civil War

“A Great Thing for the Cause”: Black Soldiers in the Civil War:From the GovBookTalk Blog:
Of the writing and publishing of books about the Civil War, there shall be no end – especially since this year marks the beginning of the sesquicentennial of that most violent and consequential conflict. I’m a bit of a Civil War buff myself and just finished reading Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign, which was fought in Arkansas – one of the forgotten fronts of the war. In discussing the subsequent military career of Union General James G. Blunt, it mentioned his victory at Honey Springs in Indian Territory the following year. Now I’ve learned that Honey Springs “marked the first time in the war that black soldiers in regimental strength had carried out a successful offensive operation against Confederate troops.” I’ve also learned that the 54^th Massachusetts, made famous by its gallant but unsuccessful attack on Confederate Fort Wagner, as depicted in the film Glory, later steadied Union forces at a crucial juncture of the battle of Olustee – the largest Civil War battle fought inFlorida.

How did I learn all of this? By reading a new book that I predict will become a classic – Freedom by the Sword: The U.S. Colored Troops, 1862-1867. I’ve been waiting for this book ever since I learned that the Army’s Center of Military History was working on it. Although the use of black troops by the Union has been studied from many angles, this is the most thorough operational history I’ve seen – in other words, this is a detailed account, by region, of the actual military activities in which these troops engaged. For every heroic charge, these soldiers, like any soldiers in war, spent lots of time patrolling, garrisoning, and guarding. As someone once noted, army life in wartime is made up of long stretches of boredom punctuated by short periods of extreme fear. In addition, poorly managed logistics and spotty (to say the least) medical services created their own special negatives, especially for troops that did not always receive adequate (or any) training. Reading about these gritty details is an excellent corrective to the romantic take on war so prevalent among Civil War soldiers before they “saw the elephant,” a colloquialism of the day for engaging in combat.

Freedom by the Sword also addresses problems unique to black soldiers – the possibility of re-enslavement or massacre if captured. After the notorious slaughter of black soldiers by Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederates at Fort Pillow, which soon was recognized by the South as “a propaganda weapon they had handed their opponents,” retaliatory actions and counteractions were succeeded by a mutual realization that such crimes cut both ways. In these cases, fighting for freedom had a steep price, but one that ex-slaves and free blacks alike were prepared to pay.

Freedom by the Sword is an important scholarly resource based on wide-ranging research, as well as a compelling account of men whose real accomplishment, beyond military victory, was “to assert their right to full citizenship and, by extension, that of all their kin.” Serious students of the Civil War will be using this book for many years to come. You can browse through Freedom by the Sword here, get your own copy in either paperback or hardcover, or page through it at a library.
This is available at Hackley Public Library!

Filed under: Center of Military History, U.S. Army

Upcoming Events

World War II in Their Own Words 6:00 PM Tuesday, September 13 “Larry Martin's World War II - In Their Own Words”is based on one man's firm dedication to bringing the stories of WWII to as many people as possible. The goal is to share with the world exactly what the heroes who fought for our freedom during the Second World War did, and to pay them tribute while educating everyone on the facts and the significance of this tragic and important event in our nation's history. Mr. Martin will be speaking specifically about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, but will be able to answer questions on other WWII topics as well. His website is http://lmww2.com. Held at the USS LST 393: 560 Mart Street, Muskegon. Free and open to the public.