Author Talk & Book Signing: Out Here in the Stars. Forty-plus years and over sixty pounds ago, J. L. Homan was a “gypsy,” today he lives in western Massachusetts. He was the first member of either parents’ families to achieve a college degree; enjoyed living twenty-seven years in Manhattan, during which he kicked his legs and sang his songs as a chorus boy in three Broadway musicals as well as traveled North America extensively in several musical tours; received scholarships with two international dance companies; survived the AIDS pandemic while sharing sixteen monogamous, mutually beneficial, loving and HIV-negative years with a dear man who died of a glioblastoma multiformé (before either men turned fifty years of age); and has recently written narrative of that loss entitled Out Here in the Stars … a memoir, while dealing daily with the existential angst and irony that comes with growing older and learning to let go. James will be presenting his book in what is sure to be a lively presentation on Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30 in the Jasper Rand Art Gallery in the Westfield Athenaeum at 6 Elm Street in Westfield. Please call 413-568-7833 ext. 111 with any questions. www.westath.org.

Speaker Series: What’s Hiding in the Woods: Sally Naser of CR Wildlife Cameras explains wildlife cameras. See bear, beaver, bobcat, coyote, deer, fox, moose, muskrat, otter, and owl. Learn how to start camera trapping yourself and see what is going on in your backyard! Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Jasper Rand Art Gallery at the Westfield Athenaeum 6 Elm Street Westfield. Visit us at www.westath.org or call 413-568-7833 ext. 111 with questions.