John O' Hurley to sign books, read to area students before hosting National Dog Show

Actor and author John O'Hurley, of "Seinfeld" fame, will be in Collegeville/Oaks next weekend promoting his books and hosting the 2012 National Dog Show in Oaks. 

On Friday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m., Hurley will read from and sign his his two dog-related books, “Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have to Do It: Life Lessons from a Wise Old Dog to a Young Boy” (Hudson Street Press, 2007, 176 pp., $21.95) and the New York Times Best Seller "It’s Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump and Other Life Lessons I Learned from Dogs,” (Plume, 2006, 176 pp. $12) at Towne Book Center, 220 Plaza Drive, Suite B-3, Collegeville, PA 19426, across the parking lot from Wegmans in Providence Town Center shopping center. 

The event is free. For information, call 610-454-0640 or visit www.trappebookcenter.com/event/john-ohurley-towne

The next day, Saturday, Nov. 17, Hurley will lend his signature voice and presence to the 2012 National Dog Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. He has been the host of Purina's annual National Dog Show every Thanksgiving since 2002.

Starting at 11 a.m., O'Hurley will give a special reading to some Spring-Ford Area School District elementary school students who are part of the Dogs Are Readers Too (DART) program as well as some therapy dogs.

Event information provided by the Spring-Ford Area School district doesn't specify what O'Hurley, who is best known for his turn on "Seinfeld" as Elaine's catalog job boss "Mr. Peterman," will be reading. I would venture that his selection will likely come directly from one of his books.

Following O’Hurley’s reading, the Spring-Ford Area Senior High School Honor Guard will open the day’s events at the National Dog Show prior to the national anthem.

WHEN: The reading at the National Dog Show will take place from 11 to 11:15 a.m. The Spring-Ford Area Senior High School Honor Guard will be featured at 12:50 p.m.

WHERE: Hall D of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, located at 100 Station Ave. in Oaks, Pa.

BACKGROUND: D.A.R.T. introduces certified therapy dogs into a classroom setting, where the animals lie down on a blanket with students taking part in the course. From there, students read with the animals for about half an hour. Educators have learned that students struggling with reading avoid the skill because it tends to be difficult, but when they are paired with the therapy animals, reading becomes an enjoyable experience.

The National Dog Show will be broadcasted nationally on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22. 

JOHN O'HURLEY WITH HIS DOGS

About Hurley (from Wikipedia):

A native of Kittery, Maine, John George O'Hurley (born Oct. 9, 1954) is an American actor, voice actor and television personality. He is known for the role of J. Peterman on the NBC sitcom "Seinfeld"  and was the host of the game show "Family Feud"  from 2006 to 2010.

Related link:

Check out this Nov. 6 column, "BOOK BOUND: John O’Hurley’s words of wisdom go to the dogs," by Nicolette Milholin, columnist for The Mercury's sister paper, Montgomery News.