Nancy Drew, the iconic girl detective, will be featured on Jan. 19 at the first of three Sunday Starlite in the Park events in the Nederhouser Community Center at Olander Park. Nancy’s Junior Detectives will be highlighted during a children’s event beginning at 3 pm. In addition to activities and prizes, there will be a showing of “Nancy Drew & The Hidden Staircase.”
The adult program begins at 7 pm. Guests will have the opportunity to view WGTE’s “The Storied Life of Millie Benson” plus watch the movie, “Nancy Drew & The Hidden Staircase.”
There will be snacks and giveaways at both events and a raffle during the evening event.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 12. Tickets are on sale at starlitetheatergroup.org.

Many people are not aware that this prolific author, Millie Benson, was a Toledoan who penned 175 books. She first used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene when she wrote 23 of the original 30 books, creating the personality of the Nancy Drew character.
Drew, who is featured in six films, three TV series, four pilots, 33 video games, and two comic books, still entertains and inspires young sleuths everywhere.
In addition, Benson was a journalist for 58 years and wrote more than 130 books, including the Penny Parker mystery series.
She wrote children’s stories when she was in grade school and won her first writing award at 14.
Benson was the first person to receive a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Iowa in 1927, according to school records. In 1944, she began working at the former Toledo Times and later at The Blade.
She covered city hall, federal and courthouse beats and wrote a weekly column in The Blade from 1990 until she retired.
Despite failing eyesight and diminished hearing, she continued to write “Millie Benson’s Notebook” in retirement until her death in 2002.