The Rhinelander District Library kicks off its popular Author Series Thursday, June 6, at 1 p.m., when PBS-featured Michigan outdoors author and avid paddler Doc Fletcher presents “Paddle Now. Chores Later!” Doc Fletcher has provided an informative and entertaining program the last three years to enthusiastic audiences at the library. He returns for another engaging presentation, sharing his joy of paddling and local history with a photographic journey accompanied by a lively narrative.

Among the rivers featured in this presentation will be Michigan’s Pere Marquette, the subject of Doc’s fifth book, Michigan’s Pere Marquette River: Paddling Through its History to be published in June). He will also focus on the U.P.’s Two Hearted River, a gorgeous stream that flows into Lake Superior, and how it was impacted by, and is recovering from, the 2012 “Duck Lake” fire, the third largest fire in Michigan’s history. There will be a large display of brochures and maps from canoe/kayak liveries in Wisconsin and Michigan available to assist attendees in planning river trips. At the end of the program, a drawing will be held for a gift certificate for a free canoe/ kayak day trip on a Wisconsin or Michigan river. Doc Fletcher is a life-long Michigan resident. He took his first canoe trip in 1978 on the Pere Marquette River and gets back into a canoe as often as possible. He worked for 30 years with Duracell and since then, Doc has written about the special joy of paddling in his five books and enjoys speaking to audiences about “the rivers, the towns, the taverns” that he encounters during his canoeing adventures.

Doc will be available for signing and selling his books, and refreshments will be served. This event is funded by the Northern Arts Council. Call the library at (715) 365-1070 with questions.