LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Big Read program month of October came to a close this week with an array of cultural activities tied to a common theme of the stories and poetry of Edgar Allan Poe.

Collaborations with the Redbud Audubon Society, the Tallman Hotel, Lake County schools and After School Program, St. John’s in Lakeport, New Vintage Productions, KPFZ, the Bad Girls Book Club, local poet Bill Godley and local historian Dwain Goforth all provided a diverse experience related to Poe and his impact on American literature, science, and history.

The following are a sample of some of the program highlights from the past two weeks.

The Clear Lake High School drama department, along with local artists David Neft and Richard Smith, presented an encore performance of “The Fall of the House of Usher,” at the historical church of St. Johns in Lakeport. Directed by CLHS drama teacher Pamela Bradley, this troupe of outstanding young actors recorded their reader’s theater program for the radio, to be broadcast locally at later dates.

The Lights on After School Program, coordinated by Cindy Adams of Lake County Office of Education, had a turn out of more than 350 parents and supporters for their special Poe program, featuring stories, poems and artistic creations made by local children in grades 1-6.

The Taylor Observatory hosted a very unique evening on Saturday, Oct. 22, featuring a poetry reading, a presentation on Poe and the Big Bang Theory, a planetarium show and a look at Jupiter and the stars through their high powered telescopes.

Lower Lake High School student Sara Fred read two of Poe’s poems on science, followed by assistant curator of the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, Dwain Goforth, who shared his research on Poe’s scientific side.

The Big Read, a National Endowment for the Arts Program, in cooperation with Arts Midwest and the Lake County Office of Education, is designed to revitalize and restore reading to the center of American culture.

The Lake County Office of Education was awarded a grant to encourage students and residents of all ages to read for pleasure and take part in community activities, reading groups and school events which aim to promote the enjoyment of literature.

For more information, visit the Lake County Big Read on face book or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..