Author Daniel Schafer Is Big Draw At UPK

Award-winning author and historian Daniel Schafer spoke about his newest book, Zephaniah Kingsley Jr. and the Atlantic World: Slave Trader, Plantation Owner, Emancipator, at the February 18th meeting of Old Arlington, Inc., a non-profit community group, held at the University Park Branch. Branch Manager Theresa Rooney coordinated with Old Arlington members on pre-event publicity and the event attracted 78 people.  Ms. Rooney said, “I had heard Dr. Schafer speak before so I knew we could bring in a good crowd with some coordinated effort, particularly word-of-mouth advertising. Old Arlington President Steve Matchett made the poster and flyer we used. Kathy Lussier and Olga Bayer were particularly helpful in helping me to get an item about the event posted in the JPL e-newsletter and in putting out a press release on Friday before the event. I had shared with the Old Arlington members that my vision was to fill the room and amazingly, we did, although even I was surprised by the huge turn-out. I had 83 chairs in the Community Room, but in the last few minutes before the event began, my staff and I started rolling in 10 chairs from the Computer Classroom just to make sure we had enough seating. Dr. Schafer’s talk was fascinating and the Arlington Women’s Club supplied awesome refreshments. The leftover refreshments – particularly the best lemon bars I’ve ever tasted – were much appreciated by my staff.”