Woman’s Club of Warren held its first socially distanced luncheon on Oct. 5 with Mary Donaldson presenting a program “The Unvarnished Truth about Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.” Donaldson is a retired Warren County School District kindergarten teacher.

She told of the 1930 start of the books created by publisher Edward Stratemeyer about a teenaged sleuth- a female counterpart to his Hardy Boys series. He also produced the Rover Boys, Tom Swift and the Bobbsey Twins series. Carolyn Keene was a pseudonym used by many who authored the 56 Nancy Drew mystery series starting with The Secret of the Old Clock. The 16-year-old girl detective evolved over the years from driving a roadster to an environmentally friendly vehicle and her character changed with the feminist movement. The series was a success with 125 million copies sold in 20 years. Harriet and Edna, Stratemeyer’s daughters, took on the publication of the books in later years. Today copies of these books can still be found on the shelves of the Warren Library.

President Ruth Barnes Shaw expressed her gratitude to Mrs. Donaldson for her informative program about books many of the women in attendance had read in their younger years. Hostesses for the luncheon were Laurie Curren and Susie Spangler with catering by Lynda Slocum.

Upcoming events of the club include the annual Usable Discards sale on Friday, Oct. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ballroom. Entry is free. CDC and PA health department COVID guidelines will be followed. All workers and customers are required to wear a mask and practice social distancing within the ballroom. Number of participants will be monitored to keep them at the levels required by the regulations.

Vendors are continuing to be sought for the What’s New for the Holidays artisan sale on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Woman’s Club Ballroom with a $3 entry at the side door. Tables will be safely distanced apart and customer entry will be monitored to keep the attendees at the required number for social distancing. Masks will be required for all. Interested vendors may contact Karen Davis at 688-5729 for an application and information.

Woman’s Club is currently offering a special membership through March 2021. Call the office 723-5910 for details.

The next luncheon will be Monday, Oct. 19.