New York Times Bestseller

Motivational speaker, U.S. Army veteran, Dancing With The Stars winner, actor and best-selling author J.R. Martinez will speak at the Wright State University Academy of Medicine annual dinner and distinguished guest lecture on Wednesday, April 23, 2014.

Born to a single mother from El Salvador, he dreamed of becoming a professional football player. But his plans were derailed by a sports injury. So he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was assigned to the 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. In March 2003, he was deployed to Iraq. Less than a month later, the Humvee he was driving in Karbala hit a roadside bomb. The three other soldiers were ejected from the burning vehicle, but Martinez was trapped inside and suffered smoke inhalation and severe burns to 34 percent of his body. He spent the next 34 months in recovery, undergoing 33 different surgeries, including skin grafts and cosmetic surgery.

He is the author of the New York Times best-selling book Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirit, a memoir about how he took his own personal tragedy and turned it into an inspiration for others.

He also is known for winning season 13 on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars in 2011 with dance partner Karina Smirnoff. Martinez has been recognized with many awards and honors, including an Ivy Award, for his work with burn survivors and disabled veterans. He also was the recipient of the 2012 National Disabled American Veteran of the Year Award.

He has been featured on several talk shows, including 60 Minutes, Ellen and The Oprah Winfrey Show among others. He has been written about in numerous newspaper articles and has guest starred on Lifetime’s Army Wives. He also was on the Emmy Award-wining daytime drama All My Children. He stars as Alfonso Rivera, a Los Angeles paramedic/firefighter and a member of the U.S. Air Force Pararescue team, in the nationally syndicated drama series SaF3 (pronounced SAFE), which premiered in September 2013.

Proceeds from the academy’s annual dinner benefit Wright State University medical students. To learn more about the Academy of Medicine dinner, view the website at http://www.med.wright.edu/academy. Space is limited, and advance registration is required. For more information, contact Nicki Crellin at [email protected] or (937) 245-7628.

After taking last year off, the Big Read community reading project is back and it’s wild, literally! Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is the Big Read selection for 2014. This is the ninth year for the project which invites the community to read and talk about the same book. The Big Read runs March 10-April 19 with book discussions and other activities taking place throughout the Dayton area.

Wild is equal parts outdoor adventure tale and personal memoir of grief and healing by author Cheryl Strayed. It has been a New York Times Bestseller, an Oprah’s Book Club selection and is currently being made into a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon.

The Big Read kicks off on Sunday, March 9, at 2:00 p.m. in the Dayton Metro Library Auditorium with “A Hike on the Wild Side.” Local hikers Brent and Amy Anslinger will share a first-hand account of their own hike on the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. They’ll share experiences from their 2,650 mile journey on foot through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The Anslingers will also present their program on Monday, March 10, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark.

“If you enjoy a stroll in nature, a rugged hike in the mountains or just hearing about them from the comfort of a chair, the Anslingers will spark your imagination. Then read Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail and talk about it with your friends and neighbors, ” said Jean Gaffney, Manager of Acquisition and Collection Development for the Dayton Metro Library and co-chair of The Big Read committee.

There will be many opportunities for readers to meet and talk about the book. Discussions are scheduled at public libraries as well as Books and Co., Wright State University, The University of Dayton, Brixx Ice Co., coffee shops and other venues. The outdoor wrap-up event at Hills and Dales MetroPark, “The Big Read Hits the Trail,” is scheduled for April 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Events include outdoor hiking instructions, equipment vendors, food trucks, giveaways and more. Visit BigRead.org for a complete schedule of events, book reviews, author information and more.

“The Big Read is a great opportunity to get people reading and talking together,” said Jean Gaffney. “This particular book gives us a lot to talk about. It appeals equally to outdoor adventurers and people looking for a book about personal reflection and redemption. The fact that it will soon be a feature film is a bonus!”

The Big Read is sponsored by Books and Co. and Friends of the Dayton Metro Library. Partners include: Dayton Metro Library, Franklin-Springboro Public Library, Greene County Public Library, Five Rivers MetroParks, National College, Preble County District Library, Project READ, Sinclair Community College, Tipp City Public Library, Troy-Miami County Public Library, University of Dayton, Washington-Centerville Public Library and Wright Memorial Public Library.

ABOUT DAYTON METRO LIBRARY

The Dayton Metro Library is one of the oldest and largest public library systems in Ohio, consistently ranking among the best in the nation. The DML consists of 20 branch locations in Montgomery County, Outreach Services and the Main Library in downtown Dayton. In order to fulfill its mission to inform, inspire and enrich the community, the DML offers programs, materials and services for all ages and stages of life. It is funded in part by a portion of the state income tax and local levy support.

Specialized services and resources are available for schools, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, literacy providers and job seekers. The library houses a unique collection of local history materials. Computers are available free of charge for public use and computer instruction is available at many library locations.

In November, 2012, Montgomery County voters passed a $187 million bond issue to fund new construction and renovations for the DML. Highlights of the multi-phase, multi-year project include consolidating branches from 20 to 16, establishing an offsite operations center and completely renovating the Main Library. When the project is complete in 2017, library users will enjoy modern, efficient facilities providing superior services and technology for the 21st century. Progress on the project is posted regularly on the DML website at DaytonMetroLibrary.org

J.R. Martinez to be Keynote Speaker at Wright State University Academy of Medicine Annual Dinner

The Big Read is Back and It’s Wild!