Wine, Wit, Wisdom registration begins Monday

Registration begins on Monday, February 12, for the Friends of the Rochester Hills Library fifth annual Wine, Wit and Wisdom event, which serves as the non-profit's major fundraising event for the year.

Scheduled for April 14 at the library, the event features informative lectures, a strolling dinner, beverages and a silent auction. The must-attend gathering has emerged as one of the premier events on the Rochester-area social scene. Registration begins on Monday, February 12, with tickets going for $55 each, and $65 after April 2.

Guests will have the opportunity to attend two 45-minute presentations by informative speakers. The topics range from the Mackinac Bridge, pet peeves about the English language, Michigan's legacy of lighthouses, Detroit's role during World War II, the history of motorsports, and beekeeping. The lectures are sandwiched between a strolling dinner with wine, beer and soft drinks, desserts, and a silent auction.

"This event has evolved into a unique opportunity to make over the library into a convivial gathering spot for great food and interesting informational exchanges for a very special evening," said Friends of the Rochester Hills Library President Ron Meegan. "We've seen attendance grow each year, based on the great word-of-mouth reviews of the previous four events."

Because alcohol will be served, attendance is limited to guests age 21 and older.

"Attendees also have the opportunity to bid on wonderful items," event chairperson Theresa Meegan said.

Presentations will include "The Mackinac Bridge — Then and Now" presented by Kim Nowack, chief engineer for the Mackinac Bridge Authority; "Going Grammando: A Linguist's Look at Language Peeves," by English historian Anne Curzan, a frequent guest on National Public Radio; "Michigan Lighthouses," by photograher John Wagner; "Detroit in World War II," by history professor and author Gregory Sumner; "Motorsports: The Thrill of the Track," by longtime Audi executive Marc Trahan; and "The World of Bees and Beekeeping," by Abi Saeed, an entomologist and beekeeper with Michigan State University Extension.

Registration can be done by completing a registration form at the library information desk or by credit card online at evenbrite.com, which will include a transaction fee of about $5 per registration.