Last weekend while on a Sunday news rotation, I went an Albanian American event at the Westchester County Center where participants were raising money for a new Roman Catholic cathedral under construction in Prishtina, the capital of the newly-independent state of Kosova (the organizers used this spelling rather than Kosovo as Albanian). The church with a sanctuary, school and library will be named after Mother Theresa, whom I learned was of Albanian descent.

One of the event leaders was Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi of Ossining, Balkan Affairs Advisor to the Albanian American Civic League.

In a follow-up conversation, Cloyes DioGuardi gave me a book recommendation:

“The Sovereignty Revolution” by Sen. Alan Cranston with Jane Goodall, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jonathan Granoff, and Jonathan Schell (Stanford University Press, 2004)

(Senator Cranston died a few days after he finished writing this book.)

She says “Cranston explains why our concept of national sovereignty is standing in the way of our addressing the major challenges of the 21st Century-from global warming to terrorism and genocide - which he rightly believes can only be successfully resolved at a global level.

Not light reading, but it sounds very worthwhile. Her husband, former Congressman Joseph DioGuardi, also gave me a copy of “Rescue in Albania” One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from Holocaust” by Harvey Sarner (Brunswick Press, 1997) .

Mark your calendar, this weekend there are two events — a book sale and author fair.

The Warner Library is holding its 2nd Annual Local Author Fair – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 31st featuring readings, conversations, book signings and more for children, teens, and adults. It is co-sponsored by the Hudson Valley Writers’ Center based in Sleepy Hollow.

Here’s the schedule:

•10 am – noon: Stories for children by award-winning authors —Nick Bruel (Bad Kitty, Who is Melvin Bubble), Jerry Pinkney (Aesop’s Fables, Noah’s Ark, The Little red Hen), Colleen Carroll (How Artists See series) and Blair Riley (Red Slider).

•12 to 3 p.m.: Readings and discussions for adults by local authors — Allison Gilbert (Always Too Soon), Susan Breen (The Fiction Class), Jeff Gordinier (X Saves The World), and Allen Richardson & Karen Tack (Hello, Cupcake!).
•1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Teen workshop with Elisabeth Wolfe and Annabel Monaghan, who will talk about and read from their book,“Click, A Girl’s Guide to Knowing What you Want and Making it Happen.”

The library is at 121 North Broadway in Tarrytown. Pleasantville Books will be on hand during the day selling the books of participating authors for signing.

The Putnam Valley Free Library, 30 Oscawana Lake Road is holding its annual book sale Saturday (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 3 p.m). There will be items for the whole family including books, DVDs and audio books. Check it out and fill out some of your own bookselves with these library hand-me-downs and donations.

The Tappan Library is hosting its first ever “adult reading program.”

Yes that’s right, here’s a program to encourage those post-school folks to pick up a book and read. The Think Green reading program is promoting reading on a “green” theme, but will accept any fiction, nonfiction or media selection.

“We didn’t want t leave the adults out,” library director Sara Nugent said when I called to ask about this program, who explained that the goal is to get people involved in the library activities on a many levels.

Participants have to write a short report — nothing comes without a catch and participating adults will a) learn how their kids feel, and/or, b) set a good example for their kids.

I think it is a neat idea and some lucky readers will receive a $100 gift certificate to a local hair salon or lunch for two at ‘76 House, one of my particular favorites.

Online registration begins June 23. The Adult Summer Reading Program begins Monday, July 7th and ends Monday, Aug. 11.

The Hudson Valley Writers’ Center in Sleepy Hollow kicked off its 20th year celebration Thursday with a cocktail party at the Rockefeller’s Playhouse in Pocantico Hills.

The writers’ group started by Margo and Don Steever of Sleepy Hollow has grown from meetings in their living room to readings throughout Westchester and programs that inspire writers from all corners of the world. The group has run outreach sessions — journal-writing sessions for homeless women and children and taught poetry classrooms in many schools. It publishes an annual poetry collection from Slapering Hol Press and is the 2008 Arts Award recipient from the Westchester Arts Council.

The cocktail party with drinks and canapes drew in some local writers: Ben Cheever who wrote “The Plagarist,” ” The Good Nanny” and “Strides: Running Through History With an Unlikely Athlete”; Rob Fleder who puts together those photo-laden Sports Illustrated books that are coffee table essentials; and Marilyn Johnson who wrote “The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries” and is working on a new book.

Also, essay writer Herbert Hadad; novelist and short story writer Sergio Troncoso whose works include “The Last Tortilla and Other Stories”; and David Tucker, managing editor of the Star Ledger newspaper who was the 2004 winner of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference Bakeless Prize for his poetry.

At the center, the renovated stone train station at Philipse Manor, there are readings, open mike sessions and numerous writing classes. Check out this spring’s offerings.

The HVWC will hold a grand gala this fall to really celebrate and unveil plans for the future.

Don’t say the weather this weekend is going to be toooo beautiful to read. Bring a book outside. And besides, we all need a little down time to re-charge the brain.

This week’s recommendation comes from Jack Murphy. He’s a former editor of the (Peekskill) Evening Star and chairman of the Peekskill St. Patrick’s Committee for the past 12 years. We spoke recently because he has resurrected Irish music, Rising of the Moon, that had been performed monthly at Guinan’s in Garrison for the last 50 years before the beloved store shut down this winter. Murphy is helping to host the next generation of Rising of the Moon at P.J. Kelly’s in Peekskill, and there is a second venue in Cold Spring Depot Restaurant, too.

“As far as recommendations,” he e-mailed this week,—“unless you think it too corny—I would recommend a two-volume historical novel called the Dublin Saga and individually titled “The Princes of Ireland” (Doubleday, 2004; Ballantine 2005) and “The Rebels of Ireland (Random House 2006, Ballantine, 2007),” both by Edward Rutherfurd. It follows the history of Ireland through the eyes and actions of a dozen or so fictional families. As an Irish-American without a great background in Irish history these books brought the ‘real’ history of the country to life for me.”

I don’t think these sound “corny” at all. Makes me long to be back in Dublin walking around that city and checking out the wonderful and colorful doors — and of course the special cider.

The Friends of Kent Library hold its  Spring Book sale this weekend and I’m sure there are treasures and bargains to be found. There will be thousands of books, collectibles, hardcovers, paperbacks, childrens’ books, videos, DVDs, comics, and more!, according to the library folks. There will be raffles and refreshments for sale, too.

Hours are:

•9 am to 5 pm on this Saturday

•11 am to 3 pm on Sunday.

It’s at the Town Hall in the Kent Town Complex on Route 52. The library’s official address is 17 Sybil’s Crossing within the town complex.

Friends members are welcome to come early on Saturday (8:30 to 9:00) to get first pick. Others can join in ($10) onsite to enjoy this benefit.

All year long the library has a sale room, The Book Nook,  at the back of the library for bargains on used books. Regular hours:  10 am to 7 pm  Wednesdays and 10 am to 2:30 pm Saturdays.

At the library’s circulation desk, spiffy tote bags are for sale for $10 each as well. Proceeds benefit the Friends group which help library programs.

Get your calendars out. Here are two programs May 30 and 31 at the Chappaqua Library that sound like fun.

•At 7:30 p.m. May 30, Alan Sklar, a voice actor for radio , commercials and audiobooks, will be reading four stories by  English writer H.H. Munro (pen name SAKI), who is sometimes compared with American authors  O’Henry and Dorothy Parker. Saki, who lived from 1870 to 1916, wrote short stories and a play — and he poked fun at British society.

•At 11 a.m. May 31,  Westchester resident Will Shortz, New York Times Crossword Puzzle editor extraordinare and National Public Radio puzzle master will talk about yes indeed puzzles, and also the docu-film based on a puzzle tournament.

The library is at 195 South Greeley Ave. Programs are free and open to the public.

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE), the bookseller’s voice in the fight against censorship, is coming out a F-READ-OM bookmark that independent bookstores can use to show their support for the freedom to read.

The bookmark features Roger Roth’s image of the typically brassy green Statue of Liberty who for this occasion is reading a book, and it appears to be a thick hardcover. One of her arms is in the air holding a torch. The copy on the bookmark says: “Your independent bookseller supports the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, protecting your right to read.”

Click onto the Web page to preview the bookmark, http://www.abffe.com/freadombookmark.pdf

….and ask for one at your bookseller.

This week’s recommendation is all about Chris Matthews, host of “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” on MSNBC.

He is the featured speaker at my son’s college graduation at Washington University in St. Louis. If the weather gods are with me this morning I’ll be in Missouri sitting in Brookings Quadrangle hearing him talk of politics and trying to figure out where my son is really sitting.

Matthews covered the 2004 president debates at the university and it seems that the university president is quite proud to have speaking today.

Matthews also is the author of four best-selling books, including “Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think” (2001) and “American: Beyond Our Grandest Notions” (2002).

Here is what the university’s Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton had to say about his books:

“Matthews also is the author of four best-selling books, including “Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think” (2001) and “American: Beyond Our Grandest Notions” (2002).

“His first book, “Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told By One Who Knows The Game” (1988), is required reading in many college-level political science courses. “Kennedy & Nixon: The Rivalry That Shaped Postwar America” (1996) was named by Reader’s Digest as “Today’s Best Non-fiction” and served as the basis of a documentary on The History Channel. His latest book, “Life’s a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success,” was released in 2007.

The Croton Free Library at 171 Cleveland Drive is holding its annual book fair and bake sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 18.

EARLY BIRD HOURS: Sunday, 9:00 am to 10:00 am with $10.00 admission.

Treasures to be found, I’m sure. If anyone knows of other book fairs, let me know and I will pass the information along.