A flyfishing expo, library storytime and more are on the community events schedule in the coming weeks.

Flycasters invite public to annual show

The Lower Umpqua Flycasters will sponsor the 18th-annual Flyfishing Expo from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday in Reedsport.

The event will be held at Reedsport High School, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and 22nd Street.

The expo will feature lectures and demonstrations by experts in flyfishing, flytying, flycasting and conservation, as well as a silent auction, raffle, door prizes and concessions. Admission is free.

The Lower Umpqua Flycasters is a nonprofit club and a member of the Flyfishing Federation.

For more information, those interested can call Herbert Roche at (541) 662-0723 or visit http://www.lufc.us.

Author to talk and sign books in NB

Janna Nickerson will share from her book “Eyes of War,” the first of the Fifth Battle Trilogy series, at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Books By The Bay, 1875 Sherman Ave., downtown North Bend.  

 For more information about the book signing and lecture, those interested can call 756-1215.

Casino night to benefit senior programs

Coos Elderly Services will hold a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament and Casino Night event from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday at the North Bend Community Center, on Broadway Street.  

Casino admission will cost $25, which includes $20 scrip, entertainment and snacks. Buy-in for the Texas Hold ‘Em tourney will be $50, which includes casino entry, $3,000 in chips and $20 funny money. Additional buy-ins will be available at the event.

For more information and to register early for more funny money, those interested can call 756-1202.  

Coquille firefighters host pancake breakfast

The Coquille Volunteer Fire Department’s 13th-annual pancake breakfast, featuring pancakes, ham, eggs, juice and coffee, will be from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Fire Hall.

The meal will cost $5 for adults and $3 for children under 10. Proceeds will go to Legacy Emanuel Hospital’s children’s burn center in Portland. The department will celebrate its 100th year anniversary throughout 2008.

South Slough annual meeting this weekend

The Friends of South Slough Reserve Inc. Board of Directors will announce recently received grants at the annual members’ meeting, scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the South Slough Interpretative Center on Seven Devils Road.

Meyer Memorial Trust has advised the organization of the pending award of a $9,000 restricted grant to help match a NOAA grant for a land and water trails project. Additionally, three general support grants have been received. Five thousand dollars was received from the Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. Keiser Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, $1,000 from Mrs. Frank P. Pekny and $500 from the Decherd Charitable Trust. All three of these donors have donated to the organization for many years. Their donations are an integral part of the ability of the Friends of South Slough Reserve to support projects and services for the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, a press release said.  

The Friends have plans for a number of activities and projects during the coming months. A list of activities and projects for this calendar year is available at the front desk of the South Slough Reserve Interpretive Center.  

Lakeside library invites youngsters to program

The Lakeside Public Library holds a pre-school story time for children ages newborn to 5 years old on Thursdays.

Story time will run from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Included in the fun will be learning the alphabet, shapes, numbers and colors; listening to music and stories and doing different activities. The library is located at 915 North Lake Road at the east end of the city hall building. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information, those interested can call the library at 759-4432 or stop by.

Life of India featured in library art display

 The culture and everyday life of Southern India will be on display at North Bend Public Library in February through the photos and paintings of local artist Andy Charles and artifacts brought back from his visits to the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The photographs, as well as oil, watercolor and prismacolor paintings, are on display in the conference room of the library, 1800 Sherman Ave.  The artist also will display artifacts such as saris, punjabis, Hindu god figures, waterpots and shoes in the tall display case.

This exhibit is free and open during regular library hours.

CB reading program is targeting adults

Coos Bay Public Library is holding its first-ever adult reading program. This year’s Adult Winter Reading Program — “Keep Warm BETWEEN THE COVERS of a Good Book!” — runs through March 7.

For each title a reader finishes, the person can submit a into a weekly drawing for delicious or entertaining prizes donated by local businesses and groups, the press release said.  

Those readers who wish to share their reading experiences also may fill out a brief review/synopsis form that will be displayed in a notebook for interested readers to peruse. Prize drawings are held on Friday afternoons.  The grand-prize drawing at the conclusion of the program will held on March 7.  Readers who are 18 or older may submit entries for as many titles as they like.  

For more information, those interested can contact the Coos Bay Public Library, 525 Anderson Ave., 269-1101.

Speaker to discuss PTSD and veterans

Dr. Richard Staggenborg of the Bandon VA Clinic will talk about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at 2 p.m. on Sunday in Eden Hall, room 1, at Southwestern Oregon Community College, 1900 Newmark Ave., in Coos Bay.

The discussion, “PTSD: Identifying Signs and Talking to the Returning Service Member,” is geared toward family members, friends and professionals who interact with individuals returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, a press release said.

All veterans and family members of veterans from other conflicts also can benefit from the talk, which is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the problems faced by all veterans with PTSD. A question-and-answer period will follow.