Reporter

Food Frenzy. Governor Mary Fallin's second annual "Feeding Oklahoma" food drive and fundraising effort kicked off statewide on Nov. 1. The goal this year is to raise 1 million meals to help feed hungry families, children and seniors during the holiday season.

Donations benefit the Regional Food Bank of

Oklahoma, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, and their partner agencies across the state.

Co-chairing the state-wide food drive for Governor Fallin are businesswomen Laure Majors and Laura Watts.

The food drive runs through Nov. 22. Businesses, organizations and individuals who wish to participate, can call 405-604-7109 or 918-585-2800, can e-mail food drive organizers at feedingoklahoma2011@gmail.com or can visit regionalfoodbank.org. Online donations can be made at feedoklahoma.org. For every $1 donated, five meals will be provided to those in need. All donations are tax deductible and will benefit hungry Oklahomans.

Additionally, Oklahomans can drop-off non-perishable food items at the following local locations: all BancFirst locations statewide, Oklahoma Farm Bureau offices statewide; and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

Most needed items include: canned meat, canned vegetables, canned fruits, canned tuna, peanut butter and rice and beans. BancFirst also will accept monetary donations on behalf of the food banks.

Storyteller. Historical espionage author Alan Furst is coming to Tulsa in December to accept the Tulsa Library Trust's 2011 Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award. Tulsa City-County Library is offering several programs about Furst in November to prepare the community for his visit.

Furst come, Furst serve

Primarily set in Eastern Europe between 1933 and 1942 when the Nazi power was on the rise, Furst's novels include "Night Soldiers," "Kingdom of Shadows," "Blood of Victory," "The Foreign Correspondent" and his latest thriller, "Spies of the Balkans."

Learn more about World War II history to help you better understand Furst's works at "World War II: A Day of Living History," Nov. 5, 10am-4:30pm at Helmerich Library, 5131 E. 91st St.

Experts in history, political science and sociology will shine a light on the murky shadows of World War II era Europe, filling in the blanks about the spies, politics and people of the time -- all to help you more fully understand Furst's complex literary world at "Novel Talk: The Secret World of Alan Furst," 7-8:30pm, Nov. 15, Central Library, Aaronson Auditorium, 400 Civic Center.

Ken Lackey, chairman of the Distinguished Author Selection Committee, will introduce Furst's works at "Books Sandwiched In Presents an Alan Furst Sampler," 12:10-12:50pm, Nov. 28 at Central Library, Aaronson Auditorium.

At the public presentation, Furst will speak about his life and works, answer questions from the audience and sign books. For more information about the Helmerich Award, visit helmerichaward.org or call 918-549-7323.