Join Marvel artist John Czop for library summer drawing events

ASHEBORO – Teens are invited to draw with Marvel Comics artist John Czop as part of “A Universe of Stories,” the Asheboro Public Library’s Teen Summer Reading initiative.

“John Czop, In and Out of the Library,” invites participants to two drawing events at local parks in the shadow of the library’s new Mobile Library vehicle, which will be open for tours and checkout of books. Then Czop will visit the library to talk about how he got his start as an artist and ended up drawing for Marvel.

The two drop-in drawing events are scheduled for noon-3 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at Bicentennial Park in downtown Asheboro; and noon-3 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at North Asheboro Park, 1939 Canoy Drive.

Czop’s library talk will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 30. The library is located at 201 Worth Street.

Born in Chicago, Czop began drawing for DC Comics while studying at the Joe Kubert School of Graphic Art. After graduating, he began working for Marvel, drawing covers and other art for such characters as the Punisher, Spider-Woman, X-Men and Iron Man. He also has illustrated for Valiant Comics, and has worked extensively in the trading card industry.

He also has created art for Star Trek, Vampirella, Hellboy, Family Guy and more.

The events are free and all teens are invited.

For further information, call 336-318-6803.

Summer at Randolph County libraries offers ‘A Universe of Stories’

ASHEBORO – Explore “A Universe of Stories” as the Randolph County Public Library’s Summer Reading Initiative brings children over 170 performances, storytimes, hands-on activities, STEM projects and more, and fun activities for teens and adults as well.

The initiative runs during June and July (an in some cases into August) at the Archdale, Asheboro, Franklinville, Liberty, Ramseur, Randleman and Seagrove libraries. The library’s Extension Services department also takes Summer Reading activities to children in day cares and other locations, and the new Mobile Library will be out and about.

Kickoff events begin as early as Thursday, June 6, in Randleman, and Friday, June 7, in Liberty.

Red Herring Puppets' "Three Little Pigs"

The Red Herring Puppets will offer an “Adventure in Folklore” at all libraries in June, in which amazingly crafted puppets of all varieties will perform folk tales from around the globe. Performances will take place as follows:

•        Archdale, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 26;
•        Asheboro, 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 26;
•        Franklinville, 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at the Franklinville Elementary School gym, 162 Pine St.;
•        Liberty, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27;
•        Ramseur, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, at the Ramseur Municipal Building, 724 Liberty St.;
•        Randleman, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 27;
•        Seagrove, 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 25.

In July, storyteller Yasu Ishida’s “Story Circus” will visit all the libraries with storytelling through balloon haiku, origami and magic.

In between, find Steve Somer’s Space Trek featuring magic, music and stories at Archdale and Randleman; Bright Star Touring Theatre’s play “Jack’s Adventure in Space” at Asheboro and Randleman; and illusionist Caleb Sigmon’s “LIVE! Library Tour” at Asheboro, Randleman and Liberty. The ever popular “Snakes Alive” with Ron Cromer returns to the Randleman library, and Down to Earth Aerials with aerialist Amanda Finch defies gravity in Liberty.

Other special events include The Amazing Spin Man at Asheboro (see him spin 11 basketballs simultaneously), “Planet Pancake” at the Franklinville Diner in which participants can decorate their pancakes to look like their favorite planet, and two Morehead Planetarium events at the Archdale library. NASA ambassadors will appear at the Asheboro, Franklinville and Seagrove libraries.

A full schedule of events can be found at www.randolphlibrary.org/summer or at your local library. For further information, call 336-318-6804 or contact your local library.

During the summer, children can sign up to track minutes or books read in return for reading rewards. Last year, local children age 0 thru 12^th grade and their families checked out over 50,000 books and reported reading for more than 870,000 minutes.

The Summer Reading Program is sponsored by the 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 nation 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.

Asheboro library to host talk on nexus of poetry and pottery in antebellum South

ASHEBORO -- Join Liberty-area potter and historian Brenda Hornsby Heindl for “Poetry and Pottery: Free and Enslaved Potters Working the South,” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The talk is free and the public is invited.

Hornsby Heindl will discuss the intersection of pottery and poetry as both free and enslaved potters navigated their lives.

Hornsby Heindl operates Liberty Stoneware and also is a staff member at the Liberty library. Her pottery is influenced by studies of historic ceramics, kilns and archaeology.

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

‘Eat Smart, Move More’ at Franklinville library

FRANKLINVILLE – Need encouragement to start moving for better health? 

Join “Eat Smart, Move More” at 10 a.m. Wednesdays, June 5, 12 and 19, at the Franklinville Public Library.

Perfect for beginners or mobility-challenged adults, the program will feature nutrition education followed by a gentle, stretching trail walk at Riverside Park. Class topics include stretching; hydration and exercise; and developing good habits while breaking old ones.

Sponsored by Recipe for Success, it’s free and the public is invited.

The library is located at 111 Sumner Place. For further information, call 336-685-3100.

Kids can read to therapy dog at Franklinville library

FRANKLINVILLE – Children can read to a therapy dog as the Franklinville Public Library hosts a special “Tails to Read” from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19.

Tails to Read, also offered regularly at the Asheboro library, is a research-based program that enables kids to build their reading skills and confidence by reading aloud to a friendly, non-judgmental therapy dog.

Reading times are limited, so call the Franklinville library 336-685-3100 to sign up or for further information. The library is located at 111 Sumner Place.

For more information about Tails to Read at the Asheboro library, call 336-318-6804.

Multi-instrumentalists Hicks and Manring to perform Irish and American folk tunes at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO -- Join Greensboro-based musicians Travis Hicks and Scott Manring for an evening of Irish and American folk music at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 20, at the Asheboro Public Library. 

    

Hicks will perform on Irish bagpipes and tin whistles, and Manring will join in on a variety of stringed instruments. The performance, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

Hicks, whose avocation is music, is an assistant professor in the Interior Architecture Department at UNC-Greensboro and director of the Center for Community-Engaged Design. Manring is a multi-instrumentalist and music teacher in Greensboro.

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

Go stargazing in exclusive observatory event for Randolph library participants

ASHEBORO – “Let’s Go Stargazing” at the Three College Observatory near Graham in an event exclusively for Randolph County Public Library participants.

Space is limited to 30 for the event, which is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 29.  Visit the Asheboro Public Library Reference Desk or call 336-318-6803 to sign up.

Transportation to the observatory, which is located at 5106 Thompson Mill Road, Graham, is on your own.

Observatory staff will guide stargazers through viewing deep sky objects such as the Messier 3 and 11 globular star clusters, and possible galaxies, nebulae and a double star. Jupiter will be visible and possibly Saturn — spectacular when viewed through the observatory’s 32” telescope, one of the largest in the southeastern United States.

The experience also will include outdoor observation of constellations. The entire program lasts about an hour.

The Three College Observatory, in a dark-sky area, is operated jointly by UNC-Greensboro, N.C. A & T State University and Guilford College.

On May 29, participants should call 336-318-6803 by 6 p.m. to verify that the weather is clear enough to hold the event.