Lynn Kaatz Art Exhibition & Discovering Mentor Marsh: A Weekend Planner

1. LYNN KAATZ RETIREMENT ART EXHIBITION

Where/When: Gallery One Art Gallery, Friday and Saturday

Why Go: Lynn Kaatz, one of Ohio’s most famous and recognized wildlife artists, is retiring and a lifetime of his original paintings will be available to collectors during a special exhibit and sale, which opens this weekend at Mentor’s Gallery One.

The Lynn Kaatz collection is composed of wildlife, songbirds, landscapes, seascapes, puppies and adult dogs, sporting scenes and Americana. Many images have been replicated in plates, figurines and fine prints.

The exhibition will open Friday with Kaatz in attendance from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Kaatz will speak informally at 7 p.m. Kaatz will also be present on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Refreshments will be served. Parking and admission are free.

The exhibition will continue through October 27.

Pricing: Free

2. BOOK SIGNING AT GARFIELD NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Where/When: James A. Garfield National Historic Site, 2 p.m. Saturday

Why Go: Jason Emerson, a well-known historian of the Lincoln family and author of several books, will be at James A. Garfield National Historic Site to speak on Saturday.

Emerson’s latest book is Giant in the Shadows: The Life of Robert T. Lincoln. Robert Todd Lincoln was the only child of Abraham and Mary Lincoln to survive to adulthood. The younger Lincoln graduated from Harvard, served as a Union officer during the Civil War; and, in 1881, was named U.S. Secretary of War by President James A. Garfield.

Garfield and Robert Lincoln developed a warm friendship, and Emerson will discuss this relationship during his talk.

Copies of Giant in the Shadows will be available for sale and Emerson will be signing them.

The park, which includes Garfield's Mentor home, will be free and open to visitors Saturday.

Pricing: Free

3. DISCOVER THE MARSH AT MENTOR LAGOONS

Where/When: Mentor Marsh Nature Preserve, 10 a.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday

Why Go: You have a pair of opportunities to tour Mentor Marsh -- the largest coastal wetland in northeast Ohio -- this weekend.

The first is a special Saturday hike with the Burroughs Nature Club at 10 a.m.

The hike is open to the public. However, reservations are requested.

The second is a discovery walk through the marsh's western edge. It will be 2 p.m. Sunday.

Once again, there is no charge and visitors are welcome.

For more information and for program reservations, contact the Nature Center at 440-257-0777 or by email at rdonalds@cmnh.org.

Pricing: Free

4. CHESS CLUB FOR KIDS

Where/When: Mentor Public Library Main Branch, 2 p.m., Saturday

Why Go: Come learn and play chess with other kids! Meet new friends and learn different techniques to win chess. Call the children's department at (440) 255-8811 ext. 221 for more information.

Pricing: Free