Wild plant walk set for Nov. 7

DURHAM -- The Piedmont Wildlife Center is hosting an Autumn Wild Plant Walk at Leigh Farm Park, 364 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, on Nov. 7.

From 10 a.m.-noon participants will learn about the folklore and ethnobotany of the plants and more importantly explore the park and tell stories.

The public is invited but pre-registration is required by Wednesday. Registration will be accepted after Wednesday, but only if there are enough people already signed up to run the program. To register, call (919) 489-0900 and give your name and any other participants' names, payment information and contact e-mail address.

Fees for PWC members are $10 for the first family member and $5 for each additional person. Non-members are $15 and $10, respectively. Duke University employees qualify for the member discounts. For more information, visit www.piedmontwildlifecenter.org online.

Author to speak on Duke campus

DURHAM -- Durham Reads Together 2009 will host Meet the Author: A Conversation with Dr. Paul Austin at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Doris Duke Center in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens on the Duke University campus, 426 Anderson St.

The event is free and open to the public. Parking is also free.

Triangle writer Rah Bickley will host a conversation with Paul Austin, Durham resident and author of "Something for the Pain," the Durham Reads Together 2009 book. Audience questions are welcomed and the discussion will be followed by a book signing.

Books will be available for purchase on-site from The Regulator Bookshop. This is the final event in the Durham Reads Together 2009 series and is co-presented with Sister Cities of Durham, Inc.

For more information, call Marian Fragola at (919) 560-0268.

Durham couple is recognized

DURHAM -- The Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society presented leadership awards to Blanche and Larry Dean of Durham at its 2009 annual meeting Oct. 4. The couple received Medal of Valor in Excellence for Leadership awards for exceptional leadership and service to the chapter.

The Deans were honored for having "set an example as movement ambassadors."

Blanche Dean has multiple sclerosis.

Hallow-Eno set for tonight

DURHAM -- The Parks and Recreation Department will host Hallow-Eno, a trick-or-treating event for children and parents/guardians at West Point on the Eno Park, 5101 N. Roxboro St., from 6:30-9 tonight.

For more information, call (919) 471-1623 and select Option 1.

'Big Fish' author to 'pick' tunes

DURHAM -- UNC Chapel Hill English professor Daniel Wallace, bestselling author of "Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions," and the basis for Tim Burton's film "Big Fish" will perform a short set of songs at John Wesley Harding's 7 p.m. Friday concert benefiting Urban Ministries of Durham.

According to Harding, Wallace "is fingerpickin' good on the banjo."

Harding will be featured in the parish hall of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 403 E. Main St.

Refreshments -- including beer from Triangle Brewing, soft drinks, water and sweet & savory snacks -- will be available.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of show, $8 for children 12 and younger. Child care will be available.

For more information, visit http://stphilipsdurham.org/stringsattached/harding2.htm online or call Rebekah Radisch at (919) 201-1183.

Vigil planned Wed. for victim

DURHAM -- A prayer vigil to honor the life of Jessica George will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Garden at the intersection of Wilkerson and Rome avenues.

Jessica George was stabbed to death on July 21. She was 19.

The vigil will be led by the Rev. Abby Kocher, Duke University Chapel's Minister to the Community. All faiths and ages are welcome. Jessica George's family joins the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham to invite the public to attend.

The purpose of the prayer vigils for homicide victims is to bring people together to honor the lives of the victims, to offer comfort to the families, friends and neighbors, and to pray for peace and healing. The vigils allow those affected an opportunity to have their voices heard and their grief acknowledged and for all who love mercy and justice to publicly state that such violence is unacceptable. As one vigil participant described her experience as, "Show up, know nothing, expect healing."

For more information, call Marcia Owen at (919) 358-1113 or e-mail mowen8@nc.rr.com. For information on the Religious Coalition, visit www.nonviolentdurham.org online.

Documentary features five

CHAPEL HILL -- At 10 p.m. Nov. 9, five people from Durham and Orange counties will be featured in the WUNC TV documentary "North Carolina Giving: Philanthropy Across Cultures & Communities."

Jane Lubischer, Shivani Sud, Anu Sud and Blase Ka'auamo of Durham and Maggie McGlynn of Chapel Hill will be featured on the broadcast.

Theirs and other stories make up the North Carolina Giving documentary project, commissioned by the statewide organization NCGives to recognize and celebrate the diverse giving practices found throughout the state.

Trick-or-treaters are welcomed

DURHAM -- Emerald Pond retirement community, 205 Emerald Pond Lane, will host a "Trick-or-Treat Halloween Safe House" beginning at 4 p.m. today.

Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult are invited to trick-or-treat throughout the facility in a safe indoor environment as they show off their costumes and Halloween spirit to the senior residents.

This event, which is free and open to the public, will offer games, a costume contest and prizes. Attendees are also invited to a complimentary supper prepared from scratch by Emerald Pond's executive chef and culinary staff at 5:30 p.m. if they RSVP.

For more information or to RSVP for supper, call (919) 493-4713.

Contact Mark Donovan at mdonovan@heraldsun.com or (919) 419-6655. E-mail news of interest to our readers to news@heraldsun.com.