Bringing Culture to the Tuscarawas Valley

Times-Reporter Editorial, October 22, 2009

Tuesday night’s appearance by H.G. “Buzz” Bissinger, author of “Friday Night Lights,” reminds us once again of what a treasure the Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University has proven to be for our area.Bissinger spoke to more than 300 people in an event co-sponsored by the campus’ Artist/Lecture Series and the public libraries of Tuscarawas County.This series at the Tuscarawas Campus has brought a diverse array of performers to our area in the past few years – something that is not always available in small town/rural areas like ours.

More...http://www.timesreporter.com/opinion/x914717808/Our-Opinion-Bringing-culture-to-Tuscarawas-Valley

The Man Behind the Lights

By Lee Morrison
The Times-Reporter
Posted Oct 20, 2009 @ 11:50 PM

Capturing the spirit of a town and a football team changed the life of author H.G. “Buzz” Bissinger, and to a degree, of those who listened to him Tuesday during events in Tuscarawas County. “Friday Night Lights 20 Years Later” was the theme of his speech in the Founders Hall auditorium at Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University at New Philadelphia. The event, co-sponsored by the campus’ Artist/Lecture Series and the public libraries of Tuscarawas County, concluded the One Book One Community initiative.

More...http://www.timesreporter.com/local_news/x826020998/The-man-behind-the-Lights

Video Clips from the 1988 Permian Panthers football season

You can view video clips from two Permian football games highlighted in Friday Night Lights here:

Odessa Permian vs. Midland Lee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vi2lPTFh1E

Odessa Permian vs. Dallas Carter in the Texas State Championship http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rBf4aUKDR4

MojoLand: Official Permian Panther Website

The Permian Panthers are currently undefeated in district play with three games to play. For stats, pictures, history, and much more, visit the official site of the Permian Panthers:

http://www.mojoland.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137:091009&catid=45:catstory&Itemid=81

Bissinger: Combination of sports and academics a formidable force

NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH —

When you combine sports and academics, you’ve created a formidable force. That’s the message H.G. Bissinger, author of the best-selling “Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team and a Dream,” hopes to convey during Tuesday’s program at the Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University. “I also want to point out the danger that comes when sports become the be all and the end all of life,” Bissinger said. “I’ve seen this happen first hand.” Bissinger said he loves doing this type of program and is very flattered his book was selected for the One Book, One Community initiative.

Fore more: http://www.timesreporter.com/entertainment/x185901522/Bissinger-Combination-of-sports-and-academics-a-formidable-force

Football Finale: Author Coming To Tuscarawas County on Tuesday

By Rex Huffman
The Times-Reporter
Posted Oct 16, 2009 @ 12:00 AM
NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH —

A trip West with a college friend provided H.G. Bissinger with the inspiration to write “Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team and a Dream,” a book that would become a New York Times best-seller, a motion picture and an NBC television series. Tuesday, Bissinger will discuss his acclaimed book during a program beginning at 7 in Founders Hall auditorium on the Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University at New Philadelphia. The event, co-sponsored by the Kent State Tuscarawas Artist/Lecture Series and the public libraries of Tuscarawas County, concludes the One Book One Community initiative.

“I was in my early 30s and had just competed an academic year at Harvard where I had a Neiman Fellowship (an award given to mid-career journalists),” said Bissinger, during a telephone interview Tuesday. “A friend and I decided to take a trip West before I returned to work at the Philadelphia Inquirer (as a sports writer),” Bissinger continued. “We took a Southern route, and I soon began to notice that nearly every Main St. of the towns we drove through was obliterated. However, as we drove out of these towns, we would see a beautiful high school football stadium. “These stadiums were more like temples to peoples’ hopes and dreams on a Friday night,” said Bissinger. It was through these observations that Bissinger decided to write a book about high school football. Bissinger said he originally considered basing his book on Massillon, O., before finally deciding on the town of Odessa, Texas, and the Permian High Panthers.

For more: http://www.timesreporter.com/entertainment/x1801867695/Football-finale

Football Captains Help out at Library Storytime

The captains from the undefeated New Philadelphia Quakers football team came to the Tuscarawas County Public Library Tuesday evening to help out with the library's toddler storytime. The players read football themed books to the children, sang songs, and assisted with an obstacle course . The players are from left to right: Nick Barrow, Joe Behrendt, Cody Cox, Will McEwan, and Trenton Bird. At least four of the captains were regulars at the library's storytime when they were younger. Ranked #9 in the state of Ohio, the Quakers take on the Cambridge Bobcats this Friday night.

Photography Contest Winners Named

The public libraries of Tuscarawas County and the Tuscarawas County Center for the Arts would like to announce the winners of the 2009 One Book, One Community Photography Contest. Photographers were encouraged to capture on film the magic of Friday night football in the Tuscarawas Valley. “We were very excited to partner with ourcounty’s public libraries on this project,” says Jeanine Kennedy, Director of the Tuscarawas County Center for the Arts. “By extending this year’sOne Book project into the arts, we hope to inspire children, teens, and adults in the community to express themselves through the art of photography.”

Contest winners are: Children: 1st, Luke Gill; 2nd, Luke Gill; 3rd,Hannah Paden. Teens: 1st, Nathan Levengood; 2nd, Nathan Levengood.Adults: 1st, Becca Davis; 2nd, Becky Soehnlen; 3rd, Gerald Wilson. Winning entries will be on display in the gallery at the Tuscarawas County Center for the Arts throughout the month of October.

FREE Movie Night at the Quaker Cinema!

As part of this year’s One Book, One Community project, a free showing of the 2004 Hollywood blockbuster Friday Night Lights will be presented on the big screen at the Quaker Cinema in downtown New Philadelphia on Thursday, October 15th at 7:00 PM. Based on the award-winning non-fiction book by author H.G. Bissinger and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, and Tim McGraw, Friday Night Lights is a powerful drama that tells the true story of a small Texas town obsessed with its high school football team. Directed by Peter Berg, the film is regarded by many as one of the best sports movies of all time. Prior to the showing of the film, members of the public will be given the opportunity to enter a raffle to win an authentic football helmet signed by the cast of the NBC television show, Friday Night Lights. For more information about any upcoming One Book, One Community events, please call Jim Gill at 330-364-4474 or the Quaker Cinema at 330-343-7300.

Tickets Required for Author Event

Because of high demand, tickets will be needed for the H.G. Bissinger author program at KSU Tuscarawas on Tuesday, October 20th. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Tickets are FREE and can be picked up at KSU Tuscarawas starting at 8 AM on October 13th. Please call KSU Tuscarawas at or your local public library for more information.

http://www.timesreporter.com/local_news/x1699621552/-Friday-Night-Lights-author-to-speak-at-Kent-Tusc

Complete Schedule of Events

For a complete listing of 2009 One Book, One Community programs, book discussions, and special events, please click on the following link to download a printable brochure in PDF format.

http://www.tusclibrary.org/one%20book%20091.pdf

One Book, One Community is on Facebook!

Network with other fans of Friday Night Lights on Facebook! Once you are logged into Facebook, search for:

One Book, One Community - Tuscarawas County

or go to: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=111802724614

Friday Night Lights on NBC

Are you a fan of the hit NBC television show, Friday Night Lights? Check out the following link for episode guides, photos, cast interviews, exclusives, and much more!

http://www.nbc.com/Friday_Night_Lights/

Author H.G. Bissinger's Official Website

More information about Friday Night Lights author H.G. Buzz Bissinger can be found on his website:


http://www.buzzbissinger.com/friday-night-lights.html

Friday Night Lights: Coach Returns to Storied Team

ODESSA, Texas — Gary Gaines stands astride the 50-yard line swathed in the warm, sweet glow of the stadium lights —those lights, the most storied high-watt bulbs in all the land.
His eyes glisten as he points to the pines behind the end zones of Ratliff Stadium. "Those trees," he says, "were only fence-high the first time I saw them."
It is always a story when a coach comes back 20 years after walking away, but it is more so here, where a generation ago Gaines was coach of the Permian High School team immortalized in Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger's classic tale about one year and one team in the flatlands of West Texas.

Read More...http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2009-08-06-permian-gaines_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Times Reporter Features One Book Project

Check out the following link for a great profile on this year's One Book, One Community project!

http://www.timesreporter.com/news/x262903833/One-Book-One-Community

Win a Friday Night Lights Football Helmet!

Enter to win an authentic Schutt Dillon Panthers football helmet signed by Taylor Kitsch, Kyle Chandler, and other castmembers of the hit NBC television show, Friday Night Lights. Winning entry will be drawn by author H.G. Bissinger at the October 20th event at Kent State Tuscarawas. Raffle tickets are $1 each and are available at all 2009 One Book, One Community Special Events. Proceeds will benefit the 2010 One Book project. For more information, please contact your local library.

Public Libraries In Tuscarawas County

Did you know that you can check out a copy of Friday Night Lights at no cost at any public library in Tuscarawas County? Here are the names and contact information for your public library:

Claymont Public Library
215 E. Third St.
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
(740) 922-3626
http://www.claymontlibrary.org/

Claymont Public Library-Dennison Branch
15 N. Fourth St.
Dennison, OH 44621
(740) 922-5851

Dover Public Library
525 N. Walnut St.
Dover, OH 44622
(330) 343-6123
http://www.doverlibrary.org/

Gnadenhutten Public Library
160 N. Walnut St.
Gnadenhutten, OH 44629
(740) 254-9224
http://www.gnaden.lib.oh.us/

Newcomertown Public Library
123 E. Main St.
Newcomerstown, OH 43832
(740) 498-8228
http://www.newcomerstownlibrary.org/

Tuscarawas County Public Library
121 Fair Ave NW
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
(330) 364-4474
http://www.tusclibrary.org/

TCPL Bolivar Branch
455 W. Water St.
Bolivar, OH 44612
(330) 874-2720

TCPL Strasburg Branch
356 5th St. SW
Strasburg, OH 44680
(330) 878-5711

TCPL Sugarcreek Branch
120 S. Broadway
Sugarcreek, OH 44681
(330) 852-2813

TCPL Tuscarawas Branch
209 S. Main St.
Tuscarawas, OH 44682
(740) 922-2748

H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger Coming to Tuscarawas County!

H.G. Buzz Bissinger will be coming to Tuscarawas County on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 7 :00 PM. As part of the Kent State Tuscarawas fall Artist Lecture Series, Bissinger's presentation will be the culminating event of the 2009 One Book, One Community project. Refreshments and a book signing will follow the event.

H.G. “Buzz” Bissinger is one of the nation’s most honored and distinguished writers. A native of New York City, Bissinger has been the winner of such prestigious awards as the Pulitzer Prize, the Livingston Award, and the American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award. He has also been a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. Bissinger’s most recent book on Lebron James, Shooting Stars, will be released in September. Bissinger lives in Philadelphia with his wife and three children.

Your One Book, One Community Planning Committee

It has been a pleasure to work with every member of the 2009 One Book, One Community planning committee. Made up of representatives from every public library in Tuscarawas County, this group of individuals has worked very hard at coming up with a project and schedule of events that will appeal to the community. In light of the recent library funding budget constraints, this truly has been a remarkable feat. Please know that most of the funding for this project came not from individual library budgets but from donations from civic organizations, Friends of the Library groups, school booster clubs, and local businesses.

The planning commitee for this year's project consists of:

Lorrie Wheeler, Claymont Public Library; Erin Taylor, Gnadenhutten Public Library; Paula Fawcett, Dover Public Library; Linda Hren, Newcomerstown Public Library; Michelle Ramsell, Tuscarawas County Public Library; Jim Gill, TCPL; Teresa Kutcher, Bolivar Branch of TCPL; Brenda West, Strasburg Branch of TCPL; Tami Polen, Sugarcreek Branch of TCPL; Renee Poland, Tuscarawas Branch of TCPL.

Welcome to our One Book, One Community Blog!

Thank you for your interest in Tuscarawas County's One Book, One Communty project featuring "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and A Dream," by H.G. Bissinger. This is a very exciting project for the library because for the first time all of the public libraries in the county will be working together on a project: Gnadenhutten Public Library, Newcomerstown Public Library, Claymont Public Library, Dover Public Library, and the Tuscarawas County Public Library (New Phila, Bolivar, Strasburg, Tuscarawas, and Sugarcreek). It is our hope that we can bring the community together by sharing the experience of reading the same book. Football passion runs wild each autumn in the Tuscarawas Valley so we feel that FNL will be a good fit for this year's project. We will keep you posted as events and programs are developed.