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A good portion of \"Rugby-Playing Man\" focuses on [Jay Atkinson]'s years in Gainesville in the early 1980s, where he split his time between the rugby field and the classroom, working toward an MA in creative writing. Longtime Gainesville residents will recognize gone-but-not-forgotten watering holes such as Friday Night Live and the Winjammer, as well as many other North Florida locales, in Atkinson's reminiscences. \"That kind of revealed itself to me during the writing of the book,\" he says. \"I started to realize, the things I was learning about commitment and sacrifice and being determined, whether people tell you you're too small or too slow or too old, they were a very similar to the ethos I found in writing.\" While at UF, Atkinson was a student of Harry Crews, the famed novelist, writing teacher and all-around wild man who died last month in Gainesville. Atkinson studied eight straight semesters with Crews, and attributes much of his success and philosophy to the man. Crews, Andre Dubus II and several other notable writers figure prominently in Atkinson's life story.

A good portion of \"Rugby-Playing Man\" focuses on [Jay Atkinson]'s years in Gainesville in the early 1980s, where he split his time between the rugby field and the classroom, working toward an MA in creative writing. Longtime Gainesville residents will recognize gone-but-not-forgotten watering holes such as Friday Night Live and the Winjammer, as well as many other North Florida locales, in Atkinson's reminiscences. \"That kind of revealed itself to me during the writing of the book,\" he says. \"I started to realize, the things I was learning about commitment and sacrifice and being determined, whether people tell you you're too small or too slow or too old, they were a very similar to the ethos I found in writing.\" While at UF, Atkinson was a student of Harry Crews, the famed novelist, writing teacher and all-around wild man who died last month in Gainesville. Atkinson studied eight straight semesters with Crews, and attributes much of his success and philosophy to the man. Crews, Andre Dubus II and several other notable writers figure prominently in Atkinson's life story.

A good portion of \"Rugby-Playing Man\" focuses on [Jay Atkinson]'s years in Gainesville in the early 1980s, where he split his time between the rugby field and the classroom, working toward an MA in creative writing. Longtime Gainesville residents will recognize gone-but-not-forgotten watering holes such as Friday Night Live and the Winjammer, as well as many other North Florida locales, in Atkinson's reminiscences. \"That kind of revealed itself to me during the writing of the book,\" he says. \"I started to realize, the things I was learning about commitment and sacrifice and being determined, whether people tell you you're too small or too slow or too old, they were a very similar to the ethos I found in writing.\" While at UF, Atkinson was a student of Harry Crews, the famed novelist, writing teacher and all-around wild man who died last month in Gainesville. Atkinson studied eight straight semesters with Crews, and attributes much of his success and philosophy to the man. Crews, Andre Dubus II and several other notable writers figure prominently in Atkinson's life story.

Pollard Memorial Library -- Ground Floor Meeting Room, 401 Merrimack St., Lowell; The Last Pow-Wow Oak, Sat., June 18, 1 p.m.; Author Jay Atkinson, Thurs., June 23, 7 p.m.; If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle, Thurs., July 14, 6:30 p.m. http://www.pollardml.org www.pollardml.org Tewksbury Public Library -- 300 Chandler St., Tewksbury, 6:30-7:45 p.m. unless otherwise stated; New England Lighthouses, Wed., June 22; True Grit Movie Night, Tues., June 28, 5:45-7:45 p.m.; New England Shipwrecks, Tues., June 29. Pre-register, 978-640-4490, ext. 205.

Engineer Max Hall's triple hybrid vehicle gets 40 miles to the gallon on used cooking oil, biodiesel, vegetable oil, jet fuel or home heating oil. He'll showcase his energy-efficient vehicle Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton, as part of the Meet the TriHy day. Other activities include designing fuel-efficient cars, riding in Hall's TriHy and using Legos to build model fuel-efficient cars. It's part of Progressive Insurance Automotive's national education program to get kids interested in fuel-efficient cars. Free with admission, $10.50, free for members and kids under 1. 978-264-4200.

Undeterred, [Jay Atkinson] decided instead to turn the story into a book. Three years later, \"Ice Time,\" a Publisher's Weekly Notable Book for 2001, has just been released in paperback. Atkinson will be in Falmouth at Books Etc. today at 3 p.m. to read from and sign copies of the book. \"I feel bad that I'll have to go to heaven someday,\" Atkinson quotes his son as saying in one chapter. When Atkinson asks why, his son replies, \"Because I won't live in Methuen anymore.\" Despite writing an elegy of sorts to his hometown, Atkinson says he isn't treated any differently in Methuen these days than he was before \"Ice Time.\" He might get a free pizza once in a while from the local pizza joint, but that's because he's a \"townie,\" he says. He isn't involved with the high school hockey team anymore, but he still coaches high school soccer and youth hockey.

Federal law only allows key locks to be placed on exterior doorknobs, keeping intruders from entering classrooms and giving police time to respond, Atkinson said.

Tewksbury Public Library -- 300 Chandler St., Tewksbury, 6:30-7:45 p.m. unless otherwise stated; The Legends of Winter Hill with Jay Atkinson, Wed., July 20; Boston Law & Order: Boston Prolific Court Cases, Wed., July 27; Screening of Lincoln Lawyer, Tues., July 26, 5:45-7:45 p.m. 978-640-4490, ext. 205