President Obama's Deputy Drug Czar Tom McClellan Comments in USA TODAY

Article; Endorses Non-Smoked Medical Marijuana Delivery Systems Identical to the

First Product Cannabis Science is Developing for FDA Clinical Trials for PTSD

Targeting Our Veterans, Active Duty Troops, and Others Suffering from Disasters

World-Wide

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Mar 10, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Cannabis

Science, Inc. (OTCBB:CBIS), a pioneering US pharmaceutical cannabis company,

notes that comments by President Obama's Deputy Director of the White House

Office of National Drug Control Policy, Tom McClellan, in yesterday's USA TODAY

pinpoints the need for non-smoked medical cannabis products similar to those

currently being developed for FDA clinical trials by Cannabis Science.

Deputy Director McClellan said in the article that Obama administration still

opposes smoking marijuana for its medicinal benefit. As well, he says more

research is needed to deliver the medically useful ingredients in a non-smoked

form. He then went on to say, "We have the safest medications in the world and

it's not a coincidence. We have an enviable process by which we approve

medications, and that's through the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)."

Dr. Robert Melamede, President and CEO of Cannabis Science, "With an open

invitation like this from the Obama Administration, we at Cannabis Science feel

more confident than ever that our efforts to provide our "wounded warriors" with

an alternative to treatments that are not working will be fairly examined, when

we submit our non-smoked cannabis pharmaceutical products to the FDA for

clinical trials. We are doing precisely the sort of scientific research that

Deputy Director McClellan is calling for."

Richard Cowan, Cannabis Science CFO and a former CEO of the National

Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), noted, "It is important

that the Obama Administration is making such an open call that they want more

FDA clinical trial research on the same types of drugs we are creating.

Consequently, we will rapidly proceed with our development of a cannabis-based

medicine for PTSD for FDA clinical trials. We hope they will share our sense of

urgency, because PTSD is killing not only our veterans, but also our active duty

troops. In January alone, more of our active US military troops died of suicide

than were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined."

Both Dr. Melamede and Richard Cowan, are long-term advocates of the full

legalization of marijuana, and support the rights of patients to use the plant

to medicate, including smoking. The article reported that support for full

legalization is growing rapidly (now up to 44% nationally and a majority in some

states).

To view the USA Today article in its entirety, please visit

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-08-marijuana_N.htm to review.

About Cannabis Science, Inc.

Cannabis Science, Inc. is at the forefront of medical marijuana research and

development. The Company works with world authorities on phytocannabinoid

science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to scientific methodologies to

develop, produce, and commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical

products. In sum, we are dedicated to the creation of cannabis-based medicines,

both with and without psychoactive properties, to treat disease and the symptoms

of disease, as well as for general health maintenance.

Forward Looking Statements; This Press Release includes forward-looking

statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and

Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing works such as

"anticipate," "seek," intend," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect,"

"project," "plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements"

within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some

or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements

may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences

include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the

Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of

cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor

does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements.

news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Cannabis Science, Inc.

By Staff

CONTACT Cannabis Science Inc.

Dr. Robert J. Melamede, President & CEO

1-888-889-0888

info@cannabisscience.com

www.cannabisscience.com

Peter Glaser

1-888-889-0888

info@cannabisscience.com

www.cannabisscience.com

LEADING FOOTWEAR MAKER PLANS TAIWAN EXCHANGE LISTING TAIPEI, Mar 31, 2010 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- Fulgent Sun International, the largest Taiwanese company by revenue in Quanzhou, in China's Fujian Province, filed an application to be listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TAIEX) Tuesday, a fund and security source said. The Fulgent Sun shares, to be coded 9802 on the TAIEX and operated by the Taipei-based Polaris Financial Group (TAIEX:2854), are expected to be formally listed in 2011, according to a Polaris official. Fulgent Sun has been manufacturing footwear in China for the past 15 years, and its products are exported to major economies around the world. Maintaining wide production lines in four factories located in China's Fujian and Hubei provinces as well as in Vietnam, Fulgent Sun is an appointed maker for renowned brand names that include Nike and Gore-Tex. An expert in outdoor footwear, leisure shoes and functional shoes, Fulgent Sun has a long list of multinational companies as its customers, including Decathlon, Columbia, Quechua, La Sportiva, Toread and Ozark, according to the Polaris official. The group's current production capacity is 14 million pairs of shoes a year, a capacity that is expected to be increased to 29 million over the next several years. About half of its business turnover in 2010 comes from China's huge domestic market, the Polaris official said. (CNA) ms (C) 2010 Asia Pulse Pte Ltd (DIP) TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTER TALKS TO U.S.

SECRETARY OF STATE ON PHONE ANKARA, Mar 29, 2010 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu talked to U.S.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on phone. Burak Ozugergin, spokesman for Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Monday that approval of a resolution about 1915 incidents by the U.S.

House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 4 topped the agenda of the talk between the two foreign ministers. "Davutoglu stressed that not politicians but historians should deal with historical issues.

He added that resolution should not be brought onto agenda of the House of Representatives to remove negative impacts of peace efforts on southern Caucasus and Turkish-American relations.

Clinton, on her part, said that the U.S.

administration was against both the resolution and efforts to bring it onto agenda of the House of Representatives.

Clinton also highlighted importance of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's attendance at the International Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C.

on April 12 and 13," Ozugergin said. Clinton informed Davutoglu on her recent visit to Russia and recent developments in the Minsk process as the co-president of the Minsk Group. Davutoglu and Clinton exchanged views on the Middle East peace process, recent developments in Palestine, the election in Iraq and the other regional issues. (UK-MS) Sissy Brodie is a 'Woman of Distinction' Mar 31, 2010 (Aiken Standard - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Lifelong Aiken resident Sissy Brodie didn't know there was a Pickens-Salley Southern Woman of Distinction Award -- until she won it Monday night. Dr.

Deidre Martin, a vice chancellor at USC Aiken, presented the award to Brodie before the premiere of the documentary "Edgewood: Stage of Southern History." The events were part of the annual Pickens-Salley Symposium on Southern Women in celebration of Women's History Month.

The award, said Martin, goes to a Southern woman who has made a positive impact on the community and state and serves as a role model for others. "And knowing our recipient, I daresay she will be the most surprised person in the room to be honored with this distinction," Martin said.

"She is a woman who goes out of her way to help others and does so without seeking any recognition." Brodie was indeed surprised, as well as humbled and flattered, she said. "There are so many unsung heroes, so many others deserving of this," she said. "I'm just overwhelmed." Martin said Brodie is well-known for her dedicated service to handicapped persons of all ages.

Brodie began a ministry at the First Baptist Church of Aiken more than 30 years ago for mentally challenged children and adults -- a ministry that remains active today. In the late 1970s, Tri-Development was just getting started through its contract with the Aiken County Board of Disabilities.

Brodie got interested in the needs of the young children and their families.

When parents of children with disabilities wanted to attend church, Brodie volunteered to watch them.

After Tri-Development started group homes, the adults were invited to church, too. "It's just something I enjoy doing," she said. Although she is no longer directly involved in the ministry, Brodie still keeps up with several of the adults. Martin cited the support of Brodie and her husband, Wade, for USCA, as well Brodie's work with the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Aiken Hospital Auxiliary, Camp Rainbow and, most recently, the Aiken 175th anniversary committee. Brodie has a small role in "Edgewood," what the filmmakers quickly dubbed the "Tipsy Tea Party Scene." It takes place in the early 1950s, while prominent real estate businesswoman Eulalie Salley is trying to connect the Winter Colony women with the wives of new Savannah River Site staffers.

Things don't go well at first until Salley decides to spike the tea.

The scene lasts just a few seconds but took about two hours to film. "We had so much fun with the party," Brodie said with a laugh.

"Now we were sipping on Coke and doing real acting.

There was no alcohol involved in that scene." Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com. To see more of the Aiken Standard or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.aikenstandard.com/.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. Rob Novit Balcony's final price tag $2.5M Mar 31, 2010 (Aiken Standard - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Beset with speculation, accusations and rumor, the sale of one of Aiken's most famous homes has been completed with a prominent West Virginia family as the buyer. James Hornor Davis IV and Frederica M.

Davis of Charleston, W.Va., purchased the Whiskey Road home known as The Balcony earlier this month, paying $2.5 million for the almost 6-acre property. The property was to be sold at auction in February; however, Jim and Melissa Oremus of Augusta said they were the high bidders for the home and feel they were forced to sign away their offer so another bidder who had been barred could come in. The identity of that bidder is not known, but several individuals present at the auction reported that the sellers were visibly upset by the way the auction was handled. The Oremuses expected to hear from the auction company -- Grand Estates Auction Co.

of Charlotte, N.C.

-- but they now feel a backdoor auction has taken place ending in this sale, and they have sought legal advice. "It's still going through our attorney," Melissa Oremus said Tuesday.

"No one has contacted us from the auction company; we've been left with a really bad taste in our mouth.

Everything we've found out has been from outside sources. They've never come to us again.

They washed their hands of us." James Davis is the president and CEO of Dingess-Rum Properties Inc., a mineral and ore merchant and real estate holding company that was started by his great-grandfather, James Hornor Davis.

His grandfather and father were attorneys who held positions in the West Virginia legislature. The couple is involved in philanthropy, donating to many West Virginia-based causes including the West Virginia Land Trust. The Balcony sale includes the 11,600-square-foot house with five bedrooms, eight full baths and two half-baths, a three-bedroom, two-bath guest house and almost six acres of grounds with pool, tennis court, paddocks, sand riding area, 20-stall barn and a wide range of equestrian amenities. The property was last sold for $2.8 million in 2007, according to documents at the Aiken Tax Assessor's Office, when it was valued at nearly $3.5 million.

A more recent assessment valued the property at $2.77 million. Calls to Grand Estates Auctions' headquarters were not returned Tuesday. Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com. To see more of the Aiken Standard or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.aikenstandard.com/.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. Mike Gellatly Copyright (C) 2010, Aiken Standard, S.C. -0- Hats off to museum Mar 31, 2010 (Connecticut Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- There will be no lack of art, artifacts or history when the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum opens next week for its 44th season. The 62-room mansion, built from 1864 to 1868, once served as a summer home for financier and Norwalk native LeGrand Lockwood, and later, as a full-time residence for New York importer Charles Mathews. More recently, this Norwalk landmark has served as a cultural gathering place, highlighting art, architecture and history. "We want the history and the art of the period and the architecture of the period to become a part of the whole community and to be enjoyed by the whole community," said Susan Gilgore, assistant executive director of the museum. Wednesday's opening of the season will include art exhibits, docent-guided tours, a "visit" by Abraham Lincoln and discounts on admission. Visitors can see Abraham Lincoln make his way through the mansion when he stops by for a 3 p.m.

visit.

The country's 16th president, as portrayed by impersonator Howard Wright, plans to make himself available to guests who want to chat about the life and times of the Civil War president, as well as take some pictures. Docent-led tours will begin at noon, when the museum opens, and focus on the lives and activities of the home's former inhabitants, as well as the building's architecture and its innovations, such as running water, Gilgore said. And, given Lincoln's affinity for stovepipe hats, it seems appropriate one of the opening exhibits is "Top This! History of Top Hats." The exhibit opens at noon Wednesday and continues through June 30.

The loaned hats come from Reginald Borgia, former vice president of the Hat Corp.

of America, which manufactured its wares in Norwalk from 1930 to 1970, according to the exhibit's organizers. Works from the artists of the Connecticut Pastel Society also will be on display.

The exhibit will launch with a free reception for members and guests from 7 to 9 p.m.

on Wednesday.

This 16-year-old group draws artists from across the state, as it fosters the art of pastel painting through events and programs. "Last year, we had about 200 people at the reception," Gilgore said, adding that earlier that day, they suspected several hundred had crossed the threshold.

"We hope this year is going to be the same, or even better." The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is at 295 West Ave., Norwalk.

Wednesday noon-4 p.m.

$5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children 8-18.

Reception 7 to 9 p.m., for members and guests.

Free.

203-838-9799, Ext.

17; info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com. Lecture series begins The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will launch a new monthly lecture series at 11 a.m., April 14.

Lunch and a first-floor tour is included in the price, which is $20 for members; $25 for nonmembers. The first speaker is a talk on "The Man, the Myth, the Legend: P.T.

Barnum Highlights Tour," by Kathleen Maher, executive director/curator at the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport. The next one is 12:30 p.m., May 13.

This talk begins with 12:30 p.m.

lunch, followed an hour later by a lecture by T.J.

Stiles, National Book Award Winner for his book, "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt." Did you know? - Local preservationists were successful in saving the mansion from destruction in 1950s. - The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971. - The Stepping Stones Museum for Children is the mansion's next-door neighbor. To see more of the Connecticut Post, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.connpost.com/.

Phil and The Doctors Cure TV Production Ills by Switching to Polycom Telepresence to Interview Guests Plagued by Unreliable, Low-Quality Video Connections, Two Syndicated Daytime Hits Elevate Viewing Experience and Save $250,000 a Season With an Open, Flexible Polycom Infrastructure LOS ANGELES, CA and PLEASANTON, CA, Mar 30, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- After years spent agonizing over unreliable, low-quality video links with remote guests, producers of the hit TV shows Dr.

Phil and The Doctors have cured their production ills by upgrading to a standards-based visual communication infrastructure from Polycom, Inc.

(NASDAQ: PLCM).

In the process, they're cutting combined production costs for the syndicated daytime shows by up to $250,000 a season. Taped at adjacent soundstages at CBS Paramount Studios, the shows regularly use video conferencing links to cost-effectively interview guests in remote locations.

In 2009, producers began collaborating with Polycom to achieve something that had previously proven elusive: a high-definition (HD) video communication experience that producers could count on all day, every day. From the beginning, Dr.

Phil and its spin-off The Doctors had struggled mightily with video conferencing solutions that added more stress than value.

"It always seemed to work great in rehearsal, and then as soon as we got ready to roll tape, it fell apart," said Rich de Michele, executive in charge of production for both shows.

"It was horrible." With Polycom, all that changed.

"We immediately saw the difference in working with Polycom," said Tom Baird, director of engineering for Dr.

Phil and The Doctors.

"The other providers gave us a spec sheet.

Polycom came in and worked very hard to provide us with just what we needed.

It couldn't have been smoother." In fact, once the Dr.

Phil crew made the necessary network upgrades to integrate Polycom telepresence with its own broadcast environment, producers at The Doctors wanted in.

"We always prefer to interview guests using video," said de Michele.

"It elevates the viewing experience.

But that's only if it works well. And with Polycom, it does." A Shared Polycom Infrastructure Both Dr.

Phil and The Doctors are equipped with their own Polycom HDX(TM) 8000 and 9000 telepresence systems.

In a shared control room, Baird's team relies on a Polycom RMX(R) 1000 conference platform and Polycom Converged Management Application(TM) (CMA(TM)) to manage calls between both shows.

"We sometimes have to make changes quickly while we're taping shows," said Baird.

"With the shared infrastructure, it's easy." To ensure a quality connection at all times, the team set up its own T3 line outside of the internal IT network at CBS Paramount.

At first, production executives arranged for remote guests to be interviewed from Polycom offices throughout North America.

That ensured both Dr.

Phil and The Doctors could display remote guests in HD video and audio -- and in the process, deliver a vast improvement in quality and clarity. But with Polycom CMA Desktop Client software, which turns any broadband-connected computer into a video conferencing station, the two shows could interview guests located virtually anywhere.

Now, both shows ship preconfigured notebooks and digital cameras to guests prior to their scheduled interviews.

The software's intuitive, click-to-dial, instant-messaging-style interface makes set-up a snap for guests, and includes technology that helps ensure consistent, high-quality experience over less-than-perfect networks. "Depending on the bandwidth available to the guest, we can sometimes achieve an HD connection," said Baird. To enable remote connections without impacting the studio's firewall, Baird added the Polycom Video Border Proxy(TM) (VBP(R)) firewall traversal solution. Simple call management is another big plus for a crew that shoots several episodes a day.

"We sometimes need to quickly end one call and start another," said Baird.

"With Polycom, we can reconnect a call in 10 seconds.

Previously, if a call was dropped, we might never get it back.

Polycom gives us a level of stability that's outstanding, even with the laptops." According to de Michele, a reliable, quality experience is essential to both shows.

"It's embarrassing when a guest is trying to explain a very personal, painful situation, and all of a sudden the host can't see them or hear them.

The entire segment is ruined." Saving $250,000 a Season De Michele said interviewing guests over video saves Dr.

Phil about $50,000 per season on travel alone.

"If we didn't interview them over video, we'd have to fly them in, and cover hotel, meals and other costs," he said.

"And the guests may lose up to three days of work just to appear on the show for a few minutes." The new infrastructure also offers flexibility -- and along with it, even greater cost savings.

For instance, when he's not taping episodes of The Doctors, Dr.

Travis Stork is an Emergency Room faculty physician at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

"Now when Dr.

Stork is in Tennessee, we can use Polycom to communicate with him through a laptop or desktop system.

Prior to Polycom, getting a stable connection would have required us to roll a satellite truck at $7,500 to $15,000 a trip," said de Michele, who estimates that last year, the two shows conducted 20 satellite uplinks.

That's roughly $200,000 in costs that neither show will need to shoulder again, thanks to Polycom. Eventually, de Michele and Baird want to enable video calls with multiple guests at once.

"Polycom offers another tool I can give the production crew to craft their show," said Baird. For now, however, the crews behind Dr.

Phil and The Doctors are happy that remotely interviewing guests is no longer a high-wire act.

"The mood in the control room was very tense before Polycom came along," said Baird.

"Now it's routine.

People know it's going to work." An Open Platform Provides Options Because Polycom offers open standards-based solutions, the shows' producers also can interview remote guests who may have access to another provider's videoconferencing system.

Unlike vendors who only offer closed, proprietary, single-vendor solutions, Polycom takes a multivendor approach with interoperable video, telepresence, voice and content sharing offerings for Unified Communications environments.

For Dr.

Phil, The Doctors, and organizations around the world, that provides flexibility and protects investments. Producers also can achieve broadcast-quality video connections more frequently thanks to Polycom's support for H.264 High Profile, a breakthrough, standards-based video compression technology.

The new technology, which comes standard in all new Polycom telepresence systems, reduces bandwidth requirements for HD and standard-definition video conferencing by as much as 50 percent. "Polycom gives us three things we didn't have before: Quality, reliability and flexibility," added Baird.

"And those are the three things we needed most." About Polycom Polycom, Inc.

(NASDAQ: PLCM) is the global leader in telepresence, video, and voice solutions and a visionary in communications that empower people to connect and collaborate everywhere.

POLYCOM(R), the Polycom "Triangles" logo and the names and marks associated with Polycom's products are trademarks and/or service marks of Polycom, Inc.

and are registered and/or common law marks in the United States and various other countries.

All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1210633 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1210628 Contact: Kevin Young Polycom, Inc. +1.

720.596.4772 Email Contact SOURCE: Polycom, Inc. CONTACT: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=F175DE00C4472FC1 Copyright 2010 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved. -0- SUBJECT CODE: Computers and Software:Hardware Computers and Software:Internet Computers and Software:Networking Computers and Software:Peripherals Telecom:Wireless Media and Entertainment:Television Telecom:Networking Telecom:Telecommunication Equipment Telecom:Telecommunication Services Computers and Software:Software Plan a Getaway Just for Two at the Westchester Marriott Tarrytown Tarrytown, NY, Mar 30, 2010 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- After a long hard winter of shovelling snow and being stuck in the house with the kids, couples owe it to themselves to plan a getaway just for two at the Westchester Marriott Tarrytown. The Escape! Massage Package at the Westchester Marriott gives couples some alone time to reconnect and relax and also includes two massages so they can work out all of the kinks brought on by too many days of shovelling snow! The package is one of the best hotel deals in Tarrytown, NY (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-deals/nycwe-westchester-marriott/) and includes: Overnight accommodations Two 60-minute massages for two adults at the Eva of Sweden Tarrytown Day Spa located at the hotel.

Rates for this package range from $289 to $309 and are exclusive of tax.

The package is valid for Friday and Saturday night stays through December 31, 2010.

To book this package including relaxing treatments at the Tarrytown day spa (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/fitness-spa-services/nycwe-westchester-marriott/), call 1-800-228-9290 and mention promotional code SPA or visit us online. Reservations for the massages are required in advance and can be made directly with the Spa at 914-631-6111. ABOUT THE WESTCHESTER MARRIOTT TARRYTOWN The Westchester Marriott Tarrytown offers 439 spacious guest rooms and five luxurious suites equipped with an array of upscale touches along with high-speed Internet access.

With a variety of attractions nearby, including the Rockefeller Estate, Vanderbilt Mansion and Culinary Institute of America, this hotel in Tarrytown is the ideal lodging choice for a vacation in New York.

The hotel's facilities include an indoor swimming pool, two on-site restaurants, the Harvest Grille and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Tarrytown (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/restaurant/nycwe-westchester-marriott/), as well as the Eva of Sweden Day Spa. With 26,000 square feet of meeting and event space, this Tarrytown, NY hotel is the perfect choice for meetings and wedding receptions in Hudson Valley.

Easily accessible from the White Plains, LaGuardia and JFK Airports, the Tarrytown train station and major highways, our convenient location is sure to please business and leisure travelers alike. For more information on the Westchester Marriott at Tarrytown, call 914-631-2000 or 1-800-882-1042.

Reservations can also be made online at Marriott.com. ### Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/hotel_deals/tarrytown_ny/prweb3795414.htm. URL: PRWeb.com Hats off to museum Mar 31, 2010 (Connecticut Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- There will be no lack of art, artifacts or history when the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum opens next week for its 44th season. The 62-room mansion, built from 1864 to 1868, once served as a summer home for financier and Norwalk native LeGrand Lockwood, and later, as a full-time residence for New York importer Charles Mathews. More recently, this Norwalk landmark has served as a cultural gathering place, highlighting art, architecture and history. "We want the history and the art of the period and the architecture of the period to become a part of the whole community and to be enjoyed by the whole community," said Susan Gilgore, assistant executive director of the museum. Wednesday's opening of the season will include art exhibits, docent-guided tours, a "visit" by Abraham Lincoln and discounts on admission. Visitors can see Abraham Lincoln make his way through the mansion when he stops by for a 3 p.m.

visit.

The loaned hats come from Reginald Borgia, former vice president of the Hat Corp.

of America, which manufactured its wares in Norwalk from 1930 to 1970, according to the exhibit's organizers. Works from the artists of the Connecticut Pastel Society also will be on display.

The exhibit will launch with a free reception for members and guests from 7 to 9 p.m.

on Wednesday.

"We hope this year is going to be the same, or even better." The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is at 295 West Ave., Norwalk.

Wednesday noon-4 p.m.

$5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children 8-18.

Reception 7 to 9 p.m., for members and guests.

Free.

203-838-9799, Ext.

17; info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, lockwoodmathewsmansion Lecture series begins The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will launch a new monthly lecture series at 11 a.m., April 14.

Lunch and a first-floor tour is included in the price, which is $20 for members; $25 for nonmembers. The first speaker is a talk on "The Man, the Myth, the Legend: P.T.

Barnum Highlights Tour," by Kathleen Maher, executive director/curator at the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport. The next one is 12:30 p.m., May 13.

This talk begins with 12:30 p.m.

lunch, followed an hour later by a lecture by T.J.

Connecticut Post, Bridgeport Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. Christina Hennessy Copyright (C) 2010, Connecticut Post, Bridgeporthttp://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/blog/2009/11/conversation-tj-stiles-national-book-award-winner-for-nonfiction.html