Author Bruce Bytnar to talk about his book, A Park Ranger's Life

The Friends of the Roanoke County Public Library announced that author Bruce Bytnar will discuss and sign his book, A Park Ranger’s Life, at the HQ/419 Library, 3131 Electric Road, S.W., on Monday evening, May 10 at 7:00 pm. Bytnar will be the featured speaker in the Friends of the Library author series, “Virginia Voices” for the month of May. This event which includes book talk, book signing and reception is open to the public at no cost.

This event, which was originally scheduled in January at the Tanglewood Mall Barnes & Noble Store, was re-scheduled to May due to bad weather. “This time, though, the location of the talk and book signing will be the HQ/419 Library at Cave Spring Corners,” stated Darlene Smithwick, the Reference and Adult Services Coordinator for the library system. “He’s a wonderful speaker with a lot of funny anecdotal stories about his life as a Park Ranger,” continued Smithwick.

Rockbridge County resident and retired National Park Ranger Bruce W. Bytnar has published his first book, A Park Ranger’s Life: Thirty Two Years Protecting Our National Parks, based on his experiences during more than thirty two year career. Twenty three years of his career was spent as a District Ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway including the section through Rockbridge County. According to the publisher, Wheatmark Publishing, the book talks about, among other things, a wild bear who favors Kentucky Fried Chicken, a fugitive wanted in eight states, a dog that saves his owner's life, wildland firefighters battling nature and fire, a ghost haunting a colonial mansion, and hikers who stay lost because they think searchers calling their names are wild animals

Mr. Bytnar started his career in 1975 as a seasonal park ranger at Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, Maryland. He later transferred to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia and then worked in two areas on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Mr. Bytnar and his family moved to Rockbridge County in 1985 when he accepted the position as James River District on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mr. Bytnar retired in January 2008.

Submitted by Michael Meise