Mill Creek Park author to give presentation

Staff report

LIBERTY

Rick Shale, author and retired professor, will give a presentation at 10 a.m. Saturday in the meeting room of Kravitz Deli, 3135 Belmont Ave.

His appearance is part of the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society’s Memories of a Lifetime series. Admission is $5.

Shale, of Boardman, is the author of many articles on film and popular culture and has written several books, including “Donald Duck Joins Up: The Walt Disney Studio During World War II,” three books on the Academy Awards, “Idora Park: The Last Ride of Summer” (co-authored with Charles J. Jacques Jr.), and “Historic Mill Creek Park” (co-authored with Carol Potter). He is presently working on a biography of Joseph G. Butler Jr.

Shale serves on the board of directors of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and chairs its Historic Preservation Committee. He is a trustee of the B. F. Wirt Trust and is currently the president of the Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society.

He previously served on the Mill Creek MetroParks board of commissioners, and the national board of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

He is a retired English professor at Youngstown State University, where he was a three-time recipient of the Distinguished Professor Award.

Shale’s program will include a biography of Mill Creek Park founder Volney Rogers, the park’s design by architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the formation of a county wide park district, and the unique facilities that it offers, free of charge, to the public.

Reservations are suggested; call Richard S. Scarsella, event chairman, at 330-726-8277 for reservations or information. Walk-ins will be admitted as space permits.

The event will include entertainment by Delores DePietro and a raffle.

Free-will offerings will be accepted to benefit the society, which also will be selling its video on the late McGuffey.