Civil War spy topic of July 28 museum talk

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation with a fascinating program about Mary Bowser, a Union spy who posed as a slave in the Confederate White House.

Lois Leveen, author of "The Secrets of Mary Bowser," will appear at the African American Museum and Library in Oakland at 2 p.m., July 28. The award-winning author says, "Thanks in large part to the film 'Glory,' the contributions of black soldiers during the Civil War have become well known. Now we can learn about the incredible role one African American woman played in the war -- a role that took her to the very heart of the Confederacy."

For more information about the book, go to www.thesecretsofmarybowser.com or www.youtube.com/secretsofmarybowser.

Fiber and textile event at Splashpad Park

Whether you are part of the "home made,", "return to nature," "urban farmers and pioneers" or the young "sustainable green" generation, there will be something of interest for you from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, at Splashpad Park.

Oakland's third annual Fiber and Textile Festival will be held in the park across from the Grand Lake Theater. The day will be a family friendly, picnic atmosphere, with plenty of hands on

activities in weaving, knitting, felting, crochet, spinning, sewing and quilting. There will be vendors, artists and music throughout the free festival.

For more information and a location map go t: http://www.oaklandfiberfest.com.