Local author’s work going to the moon on Lunar Codex
Local author Sara Shaw (pen name) has been chosen from among many contemporary artists, writers, poets, musicians and filmmakers from throughout the world to contribute to The Lunar Codex.
The Codex is a vast multimedia archive telling a story of the Earth’s people through creative arts heading for permanent installation on the Moon aboard a series of unmanned rockets. This anthology will be digitized, etched on a disk, secured to a satellite and launched in February 2025. The New York Times calls the initiative “a time capsule of human creativity stored in the sky.”
The work chosen is from Shaw’s book, “Healing Your Life One Leaf At A Time” – a compilation of intimate interviews of people from all walks of life telling true stories of their darkest days, how they have healed and where they are in their life now. Because she interviews and writes true stories, she uses a pen name to try to protect the identities of some of the people she interviews.
Chapter 16 in the book is the short story she chose to submit to be part of the Lunar Codex. It is about Shaw’s fellow 1969 Lake High School graduate, Ralph “Biff” Hamilton.
Hamilton ran track at Lake his passion for running continued throughout his life. He won many awards and participated in the Boston Marathon. He often told others that he felt like the only thing he was good at in his life was running.
Hamilton struggled for many years with personal tragedies, including losing his true love to cancer, never feeling loved as a child, surviving two bad car accidents and not always making the best choices. He was killed in June 2023 by a hit-and-run driver.
After his untimely death, friends – including Shaw – decided to create a scholarship in his name with the goal of helping students choose and stay on a good path in their lives. The scholarship in Hamilton’s name was in the works prior to the announcement of Shaw’s inclusion in the Lunar Codex.
“I was absolutely surprised and elated when I found out just a few weeks ago that this story in my book was chosen to be part of such a monumental opportunity,” Shaw said.
Fundraiser set
A fundraising event for the Ralph “Biff” Hamilton Scholarship will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, from 5-9 p.m. at the Toledo Executive Airport Hangar located at 28331 Lemoyne Rd., Millbury.
Shaw will be on hand signing books and sharing more stories about “Biff.” Singer Abbigale Rose will provide music.
The fundraiser will also include a dinner of fried chicken, Swiss steak, whipped potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad and rolls. There will also be a cash bar, raffles and an auction. Airport club members will have their planes on display.
The cost is $20. Call 419-276-7705 for reservations. Tickets are also available at Lake High School. For more information about the fundraiser call Lorraine at 419-290-7426 or Rita at 419-276-7705.
Sara Shaw spends summers in Ohio and heads south to Florida for the winter. Chapter 16 of her book was submitted for consideration in the Lunar Codex project through the South Florida Writer’s Association, of which she has been a member for the past six years. She grew up in Walbridge, Ohio and uses the pen name Sara Shaw. She can be contacted at sarashaworg@gmail.com.