Hiroshima witness McGlohon to inaugurate new WWII collection

ASHEBORO --

John McGlohon in 1942 with his aerial
reconnaissance camera.

Asheboro native John McGlohon’s B-29 reconnaissance aircraft lifted off on August 6, 1945, for what he expected would be a routine flight.

Something big was brewing, but orders to avoid a particular area of Japan did not reach his squadron. The day ended with photographer McGlohon having snapped the only directly-overhead images in the immediate aftermath of the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast.

McGlohon will talk about the events of that historic day at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 11, at the Asheboro library. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, McGlohon’s visit is free and the public is invited.

The event also inaugurates the Robert C. Taylor, Jr., Memorial World War II Collection, which the library received as part of a bequest from the estate of Mr. Taylor’s wife, Randleman native Margaret Cashatt Taylor. Books and DVDS from the collection will be on display and available for checkout during the program.

McGlohon returned home after the war and operated a photography business (many of the company’s photos are included in the library’s online collection). In 1955, he joined the Asheboro Fire Department, and served as Chief from 1961 to 1985. After retiring,  he served on the city council from 1987 to 2005.

Randolph library Friends to host authors Bailey, McGovern and Vance

Authors Jodie Bailey, Hank McGovern and G. Warlock Vance

ASHEBORO – Visit with area authors Jodie Bailey, Hank McGovern and G. Warlock Vance during a Friends of the Library “Author Talk” event at 6  p.m. Thursday, July 21, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The Author Talk is free and the public is invited.

Bailey is author of the award winning romance novel Quilted by Christmas and numerous other works of romantic suspense, including the forthcoming Breach of Trust.

McGovern, a psychologist, recently released  A Suicide Note of Hope, More Than a Memoir, an autobiographical self-help book.

Vance, who teaches literature at Randolph Community College, will talk about his Mafia-themed novel, The Bad Man.

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

Aerialist to swing into last week of Asheboro library summer events

Aerialist Amanda Durnell performs

ASHEBORO – A daring display of trapeze artistry will cap “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read,” the Asheboro Public Library’s fitness-themed summer reading program for children, at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 26, on the lawn outside the library.

Amanda Durnell of Down to Earth Aerials will use special fabrics and an 18-foot freestanding tripod to present an acrobatic show (in case of rain, she will perform indoors with a smaller setup). Afterwards, kids can get a close-up look at her fabrics, and learn about her performances.

The show, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

Based in Raleigh, Durnell received her education in aerial fabric and static trapeze from the New England Center for Circus Arts in Vermont, where her teachers included Cirque du Soleil alumni.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6804.

Get gentle yoga intro at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO – Learn the basics in “A Gentle Introduction to Yoga” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 16, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Certified yoga instructor Albert Meyer will provide instruction on basic yoga poses that can be tailored to the physical needs of participants. He will focus on breathing techniques and bodily awareness, and will answer questions about yogic traditions.

It’s free and the public is invited.

Attendees should wear comfortable clothing; shoes and socks are optional. The session will be held on a carpeted surface but participants are welcome to bring a yoga mat and towel.

The event is part of “Exercise Your Mind: Read!”, the library’s health, nutrition and fitness themed Summer Reading Program for adults. For a schedule of the library’s summer activities for all ages, go to www.randolphlibrary.org/summer or visit your local library.

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

LEGO Mania returns to Asheboro library July 29

ASHEBORO – The Asheboro Public Library’s raucous and immensely popular LEGO Mania competition returns for its eighth year at 2 p.m. Friday, July 29.

Teens and younger kids ages 10-18 are invited to create ingenious Lego structures for fun and prizes. The event is free but registration is required; call 318-6803 to sign up.

Participants will be divided into teams and age-appropriate groups to compete for prizes to be awarded by community judges.

Lego Mania is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and is part of “Get in the Game: Read!”, the library’s health, nutrition and fitness-themed Teen Summer Reading Program. For more information about the library’s Summer Reading programs and a complete schedule of events, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summer.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro.