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HBO's "Manhunt" Based on Newsmaker Peter Bergen's Book About Bin Laden

lesherspeakerseries — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:08:34 GMT

HBO has unveiled the documentary Manhunt about the search for Osama bin Laden. It is running all month on the cable network. The film is based on the book by our Newsmakers friend Peter Bergen and features of Bergen's famous interview with the world's foremost terrorist. Read more about the film from the New York Times.

Hacker Leaks Upcoming Book From Newsmaker Candace Bushnell

lesherspeakerseries — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:36:41 GMT

The same hacker who tapped into President Bush's email has reportedly also made a victim of our Newsmakers friend, Candace Bushnell, sharing with the public portions of her upcoming book. Read more from the Los Angeles Times.

Newsmaker Robert Ballard Leads Establishment of National Oceans Endowment

lesherspeakerseries — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:32:33 GMT

Our Newsmakers friend, famed oceanographer Robert Ballard, used his influence to sway the U.S. Senate last week with the establishment of the National Endowment for the Oceans. Read more about the Senate vote and Ballard's role in the New York Daily News.

National Tribute to Newsmaker Sally Ride Next Week

lesherspeakerseries — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:34:14 GMT

NASA will be convening a star-studded lineup (pun intended) in the nation's capitol next week to pay tribute to our Newsmakers friend, the late Dr. Sally Ride. Dr. Ride gave one of the Lesher Speaker Series' most memorable presentations back in 2007 when she shared her shuttle photos and her views on women and science. Read more about the upcoming tribute to America's first woman in space here.

Newsmaker Schieffer Interviews Newsmaker Angelou

lesherspeakerseries — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:37:42 GMT

Two Lesher Speaker Series alumni shared a national stage yesterday as Bob Schieffer interviewed Maya Angelou for a special Mother's Day segment on CBS' Face the Nation. Click here to watch.

Newsmaker Maya Angelou Celebrates Motherhood

lesherspeakerseries — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:07:48 GMT

Our Newsmakers friend Dr. Maya Angelou celebrates motherhood and the role of her mom in her most recent book. Read an interview with her in the Washington Post as part of your Mother's Day.

Newsmaker Lesley Stahl and the Science of Knuckleball

lesherspeakerseries — Sat, 11 May 2013 21:07:33 GMT

Our Newsmakers friend Lesley Stahl did an interesting piece for 60 Minutes earlier this year on Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey and the science behind his famous knuckleball. The pitch that has baffled hitters and physicists alike throughout the years is an interesting thing to us baseball geeks. Dickey's personal journey is equally intriguing. After winning the National League Cy Young Award last year, Dickey was released by the New York Mets and past Lesher speaker series guest, Paul DePodesta. Click here to watch the piece, and enjoy what should be a beautiful Saturday for baseball!

The Twelve Minute Sell-Out

lesherspeakerseries — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:42:56 GMT

Kathleen Odne at the Lesher Foundation office informed me today that the Knight Stage subscriptions for the speaker series sold out in only 12 minutes on Tuesday. Wow! Thanks to all of those who joined us in being part of the Lesher speaker Series family, and all of those who renewed. Also big thanks to everyone who helps put on Newsmakers. The names are too many to mention, but you know who you are. I just hope you know how appreciated you are.

Here's to another great season!

Newsmaker Jeff Corwin Narrating Audio Tour of Boston Zoo

lesherspeakerseries — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:17:16 GMT

Boston's Franklin Zoo has added an interesting interactive experience for those who visit, a narrated audio tour by native New Englander and Newsmakers alum, Jeff Corwin. Read more from NoBo Magazine.

The Rebirth of Newsmaker Newt Gingrich

lesherspeakerseries — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:20:46 GMT

The latest edition of Time Magazine has an interesting feature about former Lesher Speaker Series guest Newt Gingrich and how he used his presidential campaign to re-launch himself in the public eye and the world of policy. Click here to read.

Newsmaker Ken Burns Making Film About Gettysburg Address

lesherspeakerseries — Wed, 08 May 2013 03:43:55 GMT

Our Newsmakers friend Ken Burns is hard at work on another documentary on what is a familiar subject. The film maker, who was made famous for his epic series on the Civil War, will devote his next piece to one the period's seminal moments, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Read more from USA Today.

Walking Tour of Presidential Library With Newsmaker Laura Bush

lesherspeakerseries — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:26:50 GMT

Take a walking tour of the new George W. Bush Presidential Center with our Newsmakers friend, former First Lady Laura Bush. Click here to see the interview and walk through on C-SPAN.

Schools to be Named for Newsmakers Geraldine Ferraro and Colin Powell

lesherspeakerseries — Sun, 05 May 2013 16:18:41 GMT

Two past Lesher Speaker Series guests will have schools named after them in New York. The late Geraldine Ferraro will be memorialized in one of the city's public grade schools while Colin Powell will have his name affixed to one of the divisions within City College of NY. Read more on both below from the Wall Street Journal.

Wall Street Journal on school being named for Geraldine Ferraro
http://online.wsj.com/article/APbfe45d589a7a4e2fbfa152cf6afa8c2b.html

Wall Street Journal on City College of New York naming a school after Colin Powell
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP82211e9edbe742a59875c2dd18ffe7f8.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Newsmaker Soledad O'Brien Trades CNN for Harvard, Starts New Production Company

lesherspeakerseries — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:58:21 GMT

Our Newsmakers friend Soledad O'Brien left her long-time post at CNN earlier this year to start a production company that will make documentaries for the cable network. This plays upon what is perhaps her greatest strength as she has become acclaimed for her work on CNN's In America series. She was also recently named a visiting fellow at Harvard. Read more from the Huffington Post.

Newsmakers James Carville and Mary Matalin Writing Joint Memoir

lesherspeakerseries — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:35:41 GMT

Our Newsmakers friends and, America's favorite political odd couple James Carville and Mary Matalin, are working on a joint memoir to be released in 2014. Read more from the Associated Press.

Season 10 Tickets on Sale May 7-- Only Knight Stage Subscriptions Available

lesherspeakerseries — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:48:01 GMT

Following the success of the first nine seasons, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation, Contra Costa Newspapers, KTVU FOX 2, KGO Newstalk AM 810, the Contra Costa Council, and the Diablo Regional Arts Association, are pleased to announce the 10th Anniversary season of NEWSMAKERS: Lesher Speaker Series. The series of community lectures, which has brought to Walnut Creek personalities ranging from Jay Leno to Maya Angelou, will launch its tenth season in September at the Lesher Center for the Arts.

Due to the large renewal rate of our subscribers, subscriptions will only be available for the Knight Stage 3 package and will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. The special Knight Stage 3 seating package will get you a seat in the Knight Stage 3 Theatre inside the Lesher Center, downstairs from the Hofmann Theatre, where the lectures takes place. All six programs will be broadcast live in the Knight Theatre, where subscribers will have dedicated ushers, and the same opportunity to submit questions as the Hofmann audience. Knight Stage 3 subscribers will also have the first opportunity to upgrade for seating in the Hofmann Theatre the following Newsmakers season.

Knight Stage 3 Packages are $180 and include all 7 programs! Subscriptions can be purchased on May 7, 2013 at the Lesher Center for the Arts ticket office located at 1601 Civic Drive. The ticket office opens at 11:00 AM and phone sales begin at noon by calling 925.943.SHOW.

Newsmakers 10th Anniversary Season

Sep. 10, 2013
Steve Young, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Frank Deford

Sep. 30, 2013
Doris Kearns Goodwin

Oct. 15, 2013
Bob Woodward

Nov. 4, 2013
Dan Rather

February 12, 2014
Jean-Michel Cousteau

March 25, 2014
Madeleine Albright

April 15, 2014
Jack Hanna

Newsmaker Vicente Fox on Immigration Reform Post-Boston

lesherspeakerseries — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:05:12 GMT

Our Newsmakers friend, former President of Mexico Vicente Fox, has an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times about immigration reform. Some have been wary of proposed reforms in the wake of the Boston Marathon incident. President Fox feels differently and you can read his column here.

Newsmakers Woodward and Bernstein Featured in New Discovery Channel Documentary

lesherspeakerseries — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:46:24 GMT

Our Newsmakers friends Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are featured in a new documentary on the Discovery Channel which revisits the making of All the President's Men and Watergate. Click here to watch clips and get airtimes of All the President's Men Revisited. Woodward returns to the Lesher Speaker Series this fall as part of our 10th anniversary season.

Newsmaker Schieffer Discusses Syria With Fellow Newsmakers Gergen and Noonan

lesherspeakerseries — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:02:27 GMT

Our Newsmakers friend Bob Schieffer hosted two of his fellow Lesher Speaker Series alumni on Face the Nation yesterday. Click here to watch an interesting discussion on Syria Schieffer had with David Gergen and Peggy Noonan.

Newsmaker George Mitchell Returns to Northern Ireland in BBC Documentary

lesherspeakerseries — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:26:05 GMT

Our Newsmakers friend George Mitchell has made many contributions to public life and international affairs, not the least of which is his brokering of the famous Northern Ireland Peace Accords. A documentary on the BBC chronicles Senator Mitchell's return to the region with his son Andrew to assess what has happened since the famous Good Friday Agreement. Click here to read more and watch clips of Goerge Mitchell, My Journey's End.