GULF SHORES —Educational children’s books publisher Usborne Books has partnered with Gulf Shores Women’s Club to provide $12,000-plus in books to nine schools and libraries in lower Baldwin County.   Usborne seeks to expand the free-book program to Daphne schools and libraries; discussions have begun with Daphne East Elementary school.  

Marianne Hawkins, past president of Gulf Shores Women’s Club said, “The Usborne books were a great way for us to leverage our gift to the local schools as Usborne matched our donation by 50 percent in additional free books. The schools were able to choose from a broad inventory of lavishly illustrated, educational books that make reading fun!”

Usborne consultants, working from their home, can earn extra income while helping to improve literacy in their community. 

“There is a great opportunity in Baldwin County to expand on the success that was started here by the generosity of the Gulf Shores Women’s Club through the Literacy for a Lifetime program,” Amy Goldsberry, one of the publisher’s senior educational consultants, said. “There are several great programs available through Usborne Books that promote the love of reading while earning lots of free books for area schools, pre-schools, and the general public.”

A presentation on the program is set for  Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Thomas B. Norton Library in Gulf Shores and Thursday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Foley Public Library.

—Ron Fowinkle

MOBILE — The University of South Alabama Career Services Center and Spring Hill College will sponsor the Graduate and Professional School Expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10 in the USA Mitchell Center Globe Grand Lobby.

The event is free and features representatives from more than 40 colleges and universities from around the nation who will discuss their graduate and professional school programs in law, business, engineering, health care and other disciplines.

Prior to the expo, Career Services will host a workshop designed to prepare participants for the event. The “Graduate Expo SuccessSeminar” will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1 in Suite 2100, Meisler Hall.

Visit Career Services online at www.southalabama.edu/careerservices for more details and a complete list of participating schools, or call (251) 460-6188.

—Renee Paul

A mini-cheer clinic for kindergartners through fifth-graders — hosted by Spanish Fort High School varsity cheerleaders — will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11 in the SFHS gym.

Cost is $30 per child; teacher’s-children discount is $20. A $10 discount applies per each additional child.

Mini-cheerleaders will learn proper stretching, jumps, motions, a cheer and dance, and they can have fun with spirit games. The students will be placed in age-appropriate groups.

For a registration form, see the SFHS front desk, or download it from the school Web site,  www.spanishforthighschool.com (click on the sports tab, and then see the cheerleading link.)

All mini-cheerleaders will be invited to cheer with the varsity cheerleaders the first quarter of the last SFHS regular season game, Oct. 30.

For more details, call Melissa Brown, varsity cheer coach, at mbrown@bcbe.org, or 621-6629.

—Jane Nall