Comedy juggling team to propel Randolph library summer reading program into July

The Fettucini Brothers -- Alfredo and Alfresco -- will perform at all libraries in July.

ASHEBORO – Comedy juggling duo The Fettucini Brothers will delight audiences across the county as “On Your Mark, Get Set… Read!”, the Randolph County Public Library’s summer reading program for children, continues into July.

The Brothers will bring their intelligent, interactive mix of clean, original comedy for all ages, blended with just the right amount of juggling, to all the libraries during the week of July 11, as follows:

·        Archdale, 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 13;

·        Asheboro, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 12;

·        Franklinville, 1 p.m. Thursday, July 14;

·        Liberty, 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 13;

·        Ramseur, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 14;

·        Randleman, 3 p.m. Thursday, July 14;

·        Seagrove, 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 12.

Based in Charlotte, the Fettucini Brothers have entertained audiences worldwide for over 20 years with acclaimed performances. The have played theaters, comedy clubs, colleges, corporate events and cruise ships, and have toured as far away as Japan and China.

Meanwhile, weekly storytimes, performances, hands-on activities and other special events will take place at each library, including the ever-popular Snakes Alive at the Randleman library, Burns and Company Ventriloquists at Archdale and a performance by Down-to-Earth Aerials at Asheboro.

For a full schedule, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summer or contact your local library.

The Summer Reading Program is sponsored by Friends of the Randolph County Public Library with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. It’s part of a national effort to keep children reading during the break from school; research shows that kids who read during the summer do better in school the next year.

UNCG prof looks at Brazil as ‘country of football’ in Asheboro library talk

ASHEBORO – Football – soccer, to many in the U.S. – is more than a pastime in Brazil; it’s a bond that links people of all backgrounds to their common heritage as Brazilians.

To learn more about the importance of soccer in the host country of the summer Olympics, join Dr. Peter Villella, UNG-Greensboro assistant professor of Latin American History, for “The Country of Football: Sports and the History of Brazil” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Villella says the development of soccer in Brazil illustrates much of what is unique and important in the country’s history: its struggles with inequality and disunity; its distinctive blend of cultural influences; and its ongoing quest to become a modern nation.

Villella’s talk, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited. It’s part of “Exercise Your Mind,” the library’s adult summer reading program.

Find full schedules of the library’s summer activities for children, teens and adults at www.randolphlibrary.org/summer.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For more information, call 336-318-6803.

Writer explores life of ‘Orphan Train’ rider in Asheboro library talk

Tamra Wilson

ASHEBORO – Join history buff and family researcher Tamra Wilson as she talks about her quest to discover how her grandmother wound up in the middle of Illinois with no known relatives in “Sarah McGuirk, Orphan Train Rider,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Wilson’s talk is free and the public is invited. It’s the last in a series of visits to the library by “Road Scholars” from the North Carolina Humanities Council’s Many Stories, One People project.

Orphan Trains resettled some 250,000 children from crowded eastern cities to rural areas of the United States from 1853 to 1929. The program, though well-intentioned, was not without its critics.

Using her ancestor as a case study, Wilson explains how the orphan train program worked and didn't work, and explores the story behind the story: the influx of Irish immigrants from the Great Famine.

Wilson, who lives near Newton, N.C.,  is author of Dining with Robert Redford and Other Stories, short fiction about small town life. She also has published widely in a variety of anthologies, magazines and journals.

The project is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Support also is provided by the Friends of the Library.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. Call 336-318-6803 for further information.

On Your Mark… Get Set… Read! at Randolph libraries this summer

ASHEBORO – “On Your Mark, Get Set… Read!” as the Randolph County Public Library’s 2016 Summer Reading Program gets underway with a focus on sports, fitness and nutrition.

The reading initiative runs thru June and July at the Archdale, Asheboro,  Franklinville, Liberty, Ramseur Randleman and Seagrove libraries, and features over 180 exciting events for children and families, as well as fascinating speakers and activities for teens and adults.

Children can sign up to track and report minutes read in return for reading rewards. Last year, 3,940 local children and teens registered, and reported reading for a total of 1,013,887 minutes.

Teens and adults also can keep track of their summer reading, and teens have a chance to win Kindle Fire HD tablets.

Schedules and complete details can be found at www.randolphlibrary.org/summer and at your local library.

For children and their families, Zelnik the Magician will appear all the libraries in June. The Charlotte-based performer will use magic to coach kids on the importance of fitness, nutrition and reading, and have everyone laughing, clapping and participating in the magic.

Zelnik’s schedule is as follows: 

• Archdale, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 29;
• Asheboro, 10: 30 a.m. Tuesday, June 28;
• Franklinville, 3:30 p.n. Thursday, June 30;
• Liberty, 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 29;
• Ramseur, 1 p.m. Thursday, June 30;
• Randleman, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 30;
• Seagrove, 2  p.m. Tuesday, June 28.

In July, The Fettucini Brothers will engage young readers at all the libraries with a perfect mix of clean, original comedy blended with just the right amount of juggling and variety, and then served up with some intelligent, interactive fun.

In between, all the libraries will offer weekly storytimes and hands-on activities, as well as performers and special guests including Steve Somers (The Amazing Teacher), aerialist Amanda Durnell and the ever-popular “Snakes Alive” with Ron Cromer.

Teens are invited to “Get in the Game – Read” with activities ranging from comic book art classes to LEGO robotics and a blues music workshop, and the return of LEGO Mania.

For  adults, it’s “Exercise Your Mind – READ!” with fitness events, yoga, writing workshops and speakers.

The Summer Reading Program is sponsored by Friends of the Randolph County Public Library with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. It’s part of a national effort to keep children reading during the break from school; research shows that kids who read during the summer do better in school the next year.