AZ Speaks presents ethnobotanist Carrie Cannon for this expedition into the heart of mescal agave. Used by native peoples for numerous utilitarian items, mescal served as a valuable food source, still being harvested and prepared to this day by many indigenous groups. For millennia people have pit roasted the heart of the plant yielding a nutritious food staple rich in calcium and zinc. This talk includes the life history of mescal, the multitude of tribal uses of this intriguing plant, and a long relationship spanning from centuries ago into the modern era. Carrie Cannon is a member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma and of Oglala Lakota descent, and is currently employed with the Hualapai Department of Cultural Resources. Sponsored by the Santa Cruz Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society.

SHIP Counselor Ramona MacMurtrie of SEAGO returns for her second and last session of the year for free assistance navigating the Medicare system. Appointments are held in 30 minute blocks, so call the library ahead of time to schedule yours.

An intimate evening at a private residence with author and journalist Todd Miller as he shares insights about his most recently published title, Empire of Borders: The Expansion of the U.S. Border Around the World. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. Beer, wine, and hors d'ouevres included in ticket price. Tickets are $50 each and will be available for pre-purchase at the library. Directions will be provided at time of ticket purchase. To reserve tickets and/or receive directions to the event location, contact the library at 520-394-2010.