Pottery historian to discuss Mount Shepherd stove tiles in Asheboro library talk

The Revolutionary Randolph logo, featuring a representation
of a stove tile made by Moravian  potter Jacob Meyer in his
Mount Shepherd pottery in the 1780s

ASHEBORO – Learn about the history of pottery stove tiles – and the symbolism behind the “Revolutionary Randolph” America 250 logo – with master potter Tara Logue in “The Story Behind a Logo: Tile Stoves and the Mount Shepherd Potter,” 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Randolph County has used clay stove tile designs found at the 1780s Mount Shepherd pottery site of Moravian potter Jacob Meyer for both the 200th and 250th anniversary logos for the county. In 1976, the design was a soldier standing at attention.

In 2026, a representation of a tile featuring a dragoon (cavalry soldier) on horseback is incorporated in the Revolutionary Randolph logo.

Both tiles were discovered during the 1970s, when an archaeological dig found numerous artifacts from the pottery operated by Meyer during the Revolutionary War era. Logue, a former educator and lead potter at Old Salem, will talk about the history of tile stoves, their design and construction, and how Meyer might have used his tile designs to market to new, patriotic buyers.

“What does the concept of patriotism mean to a pacifist Moravian in the North Carolina back country in the aftermath of the Revolution? As the new American Idea began to take form, the impacts reached into every facet of identity,” Logues says.

“Through the pottery excavations at Mount Shepherd, we can get an intimate window into the ways that religious identity, cultural heritage, and craftsmanship were complicated as the local potters defined for themselves what it meant to become an American.”

Through her pottery work reproducing Moravian earthenware, Logue developed a specialty in tile stoves, known as “kachelofen.” She has presented at the international conference of the Masonry Heater Association, been featured on the “Things” podcast of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, and worked alongside master potter Ron Probst to restore a historic tile stove in the Single Brothers’ House at Old Salem.

Logue lives in Kernersville. Her current ceramic work includes both historic reproductions as well as original designs that draw from historical influences.

Coinciding with Logue’s talk is a display of Mount Shepherd pottery artifacts, documents and photographs in the upstairs Asheboro library display case. The display features the soldier-at-attention tile used for Randolph County’s bicentennial in 1976.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For more information, call 336-318-6815.

‘Keep NC Weird’ with author Liz Z Pardue at Asheboro and Archdale libraries

ASHEBORO – Take a journey through the strangest history, most eccentric characters and darkest folklore of the Old North State on Thursday, June 4, at the Archdale and Asheboro libraries.

Join award-winning storyteller, writer and director Liz Z Pardue for “Keep NC Weird,” a lively exploration of the bizarre, macabre and delightfully peculiar stories that make North Carolina unforgettable, 2 p.m. at the Archdale library and 6:30 p.m. at the Asheboro library.

Pardue, founder of Sisterhood of Spirits, LLC, operates ghost tours and spooky historical theatrical productions from her home in Fuquay-Varina, purported to be the most haunted small town in the South.

In the last year, she published her first book, Fuquay-Varina Ghosts, Legends and Lore, and performed at the North Carolina Storytelling Festival, the Bynum Front Porch Series, the Monti, and the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, where she won both the Linda Goodman New Voices and People’s Choice awards. Currently she is touring the state with her “Keep NC Weird” series.

The Asheboro library is located at 201 Worth Street. The Archdale library is located at 10433 S. Main St.

For more information, call 336-318-6803 (Asheboro) or 336-431-3811 (Archdale).

Randolph libraries promise a T-Rexcellent summer of reading activities

Luke Vandergriff

ASHEBORO -- Dig into a DINO-mite Summer Reading experience at your Randolph County Public Libraries with a prehistoric season of stories, discovery and fun! Stomp, chomp and explore your way into a summer packed with performances, puppets, magic, storytimes, hands-on activities and more with reading challenges and rewards that are saurus-ly awesome!

“Unearth a Story” is the dinosaur-focused theme of this year’s Summer Reading initiative, which offers children and teens a no-pressure way to stay engaged with reading and learning while out of school, so they can avoid “summer slide” and be ready to pick up where they left off when school starts in the fall. Adults aren’t extinct from the fun either, with author visits and hands-on experiences. Everyone gets to roar into reading!

Visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summer for a complete schedule of events, or pick up calendars at your local library.

Bright Star Touring Theatre

Appearing at all libraries in June is musical storyteller Luke Vandergriff with DinoHearts. Vandergriff creates an imaginative, interactive, bilingual English/Spanish performance using original songs, handmade instruments and playful audience participation to tell the story of Juanca, a young boy from Bolivia as he navigates big feelings like fear, courage and kindness with the help of his imagination — and a few friendly dinosaurs.

At all libraries in July is Bright Star Touring Theatre’s Dino Academy. Travel back millions of years in time for an action-packed prehistoric adventure with delightfully quirky paleontologist Dr. Sarah Tops as she opens the doors to her top-secret dinosaur facility and invites audiences to step into a world where science, storytelling and imagination collide.

Meanwhile, there’s more to unearth at the various libraries as Sigmon Theatrical returns with The Big Dino Show; Shepherd Shakespeare presents DinoShakes; Steve Somers Digs Into Reading; the NC Zoo, Ellie’s Exotic Road Show and Wild Tails NC visit with animal ambassadors; Matt Sandbank brings back his Shadow Factory Puppet Show; Dana Hill performs Presto Prehistoric Magic… and more!

For more information, call 336-318-6804.

Appearances by Luke Vandergriff and Bright Star Touring Theatre are sponsored by the Friends of the Library. The project receives support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Medal of Honor recipient Col. Joe Marm to speak in Asheboro Sunset Series event

Col. Joe Marm

ASHEBORO – Medal of Honor recipient Col. Joe Marm will tell his story in a Friends of the Library Sunset Signature Series event, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, in downtown Asheboro’s historic Sunset Theatre.

The talk is free and the public is invited.

In 1965, Marm was a 2nd lieutenant leading a platoon of the 7th Cavalry Regiment during the Vietnam War when his unit joined what became the battle of Ia Drang, the first major engagement between the U.S. and North Vietnamese armies. The battle is recounted in the book We Were Soldiers Once… and Young by Hal Moore and Joseph L. Galloway, and in the film We Were Soldiers.

With his platoon under fire from a concealed machine gun, Marm exposed himself to draw fire and locate the enemy position, then made two attempts to destroy it – the second by charging 30 yards under heavy fire to eliminate it despite being severely wounded.

For his actions, he received the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon Johnson on December 19, 1966. The citation states that Marm’s “selfless actions reduced the fire on his platoon, broke the enemy assault, and rallied his unit toward the accomplishment of his mission.”

Marm, a Pennsylvania native and Eagle Scout, earned a business degree from Duquesne University in 1964 before joining the Army. He retired as a colonel in 1995, and resides in eastern North Carolina.

The Sunset Series celebrates art and ideas by bringing world-class speakers and performers to the heart of Asheboro. The series is sponsored by the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, the City of Asheboro and the Friends of the Randolph County Public Libraries.

The final 2026 Sunset Series event will be Our State Editor Elizabeth Hudson, 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 25. The Sunset Theatre is located at 234 Sunset Avenue.

For more information, call the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau at 800-626-2672.

Historian Ricky Allred to talk about county ‘Poor House’ at Asheboro library

Ricky Allred

ASHEBORO – Until the middle of the 20th century, counties were responsible for taking care of their poor and indigent residents. 

Local historian Ricky Allred will discuss Randolph County’s role in caring for its neediest citizens in a talk at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the Asheboro Public Library. The talk is free and the public is invited.

Allred is author of The Least of These: Caring for the Poor in Randolph County, N.C., 1794-1922, published in 2025. The book chronicles the provisions for caring for those who could not take care of themselves, from the parish-based system of colonial times through the post-independence shift to county responsibility and the creation of a county Poor House, to the beginnings of state supervision following the Civil War, and finally to the replacement of the Poor House with a modern County Home in 1922. 

While legal and government structure frame the historical account, stories Allred has uncovered of individuals within the system — both care recipients and caregivers — give color to the statistics and vitality to the narrative.

Allred’s interest in history springs from deep family roots in Randolph County, and has led to research into a variety of local history topics. He is known for his “Walk Through the Past” tours of the Old Asheboro Cemetery.

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

Film screening, discussion to bring to life ‘The American Constitution’

 

ASHEBORO -- Experience the high-stakes story of the 1787 Constitutional Convention in The American Constitution, a new documentary movie, in a screening at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3, in downtown Asheboro’s historic Sunset Theater.

The event, hosted by Revolutionary Randolph, the county’s official America 250 NC committee, is free and the public is invited. A discussion with filmmaker David Garrigus will follow the one-hour film.

Guided by insights from leading constitutional scholars, The American Constitution unveils the origin story of the American system of government. Set in the sweltering summer of 1787, the film dramatizes the creation of one of the most influential documents in human history.

Non-partisan and non-political, the film is a scrupulously accurate story promoting historical literacy and the greater civic good. The script is drawn entirely from the historical record, using only the Founders' own words.

This commitment to authenticity is brought to life by an impressive cast portraying Framers like George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the ever-witty Benjamin Franklin.

The film is slated to be broadcast on public television in fall 2026. View the film’s trailer at ConstitutionMovie.com. 

Garrigus is an award-winning filmmaker specializing in historical documentaries. His previous work includes the critically-acclaimed PBS film Kitty Hawk: The Wright Brothers’ Journey of Invention. 

The Sunset Theatre is located at 234 Sunset Avenue. For more information, call the Asheboro Public Library at 336-318-6803.

Sigmon Theatrical’s “Mouse Saves Christmas” comes to all Randolph libraries in December

Asheboro – On Christmas Eve, one tiny hero with a big heart sets out to save the day — and the whole holiday season.

That tiny hero will visit all seven Randolph County Public Libraries locations during the week of December 8 as Sigmon Theatrical presents Mouse Saves Christmas, an all-new, interactive stage adventure brought to life with breathtaking puppetry, toe-tapping music and a cast of professional performers that will leave audiences of all ages laughing and cheering, and may even tug on your heartstrings.

The schedule is as follows:

• Archdale, 10433 S. Main St., 10 a.m. Thursday, December 11;
• Asheboro, 201 Worth Street, 6:30 p.m. Monday, December 8;
• Franklinville, 111 Sumner Place, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 10; 
• Liberty, 239 S. Fayetteville St., 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 9;
• Ramseur, 1512 S. Main St., 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 10;
• Randleman, 142 W. Academy St., 4 p.m. Thursday, December 11;
• Seagrove, 530 Old Plank Road, 1 p.m. Thursday, December 11.

The performances are free and are sponsored by the Friends of the Library. It’s a holiday celebration for the entire family, mouse-sized and magic-packed.

For more information call 336-318-6804.

True Grass to play ‘Country Christmas Concert’ at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO – Popular and long-lived local bluegrass/gospel band True Grass will present a “Country Christmas Concert,” 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 2, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The performance, supported by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

The group has played local venues including the Sunset Theatre, the NC Zoo, Randolph Community College, churches, corporate events and others for over 20 years.

Founding members Tim Moon and Gary Callicutt remain with the group.

Moon, a well-known performer and music teacher for over 30 years, plays mandolin and sings lead vocals. Callicutt plays bass and sings tenor vocals.

Matthew Nance plays banjo and sings baritone vocals. William Britt plays guitar and sings most lead vocals. Moon’s son Nolan plays blistering fast solos as well as beautiful waltz styles on fiddle. 

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

Red Feather Rising: Sunset Series to go behind the scenes with actor Derek Hinkey

Derek Hinkey

ASHEBORO -- The Friends of the Library Sunset Signature Series will kick off it’s 2025-2026 season with actor Derek Hinkey, known for his portrayal of Red Feather in the Netflix television series American Primeval, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 7, in downtown Asheboro’s historic Sunset Theatre, 234 Sunset Ave.

Hinkey’s appearance is entitled “Behind the Scenes with Derek Hinkey: Boxer, Firefighter, Actor: Lessons from a Life of Courage and Transformation.” It is free and the public is invited.

Joining Hinkey will be students from the Guilford County Schools American Indian Education Program performing powwow and social dancing.

Hinkey is a Paiute-Shoshone actor and former professional boxer from Nevada, and an enrolled member of the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe. In addition to his role as Red Feather, he appeared in season three of Dark Winds, AMC’s adaptation of Tony Hillerman’s Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee novels, as Shorty Bowlegs.

He also has appeared in the TV series Walker: Independence, the film Americana and in Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga.

In his professional boxing career, Hinkey fought in the Super Middleweight division, winning nine times in 12 fights. As an amateur boxer, he was Nevada Champion five years in a row and three-time regional champion.

He also worked as a firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management.

Hinkey will discuss his journey from the boxing ring to Hollywood, and how it reflects his resilience, discipline and commitment to sharing authentic Indigenous stories. His appearance will take the form of a conversation with Archdale Public Library Manager Ashley Rose.

Rose connected with Hinkey via social media when Hinkey reached out to followers for help in finding out about his ancestry. Rose took up the challenge as an opportunity to learn more about the Randolph County Public Libraries’ genealogical resources, and presented Hinkey with his family tree.

The Sunset Series is sponsored by the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, the City of Asheboro and the Friends of the Randolph County Public Library. Its goal is to bring culturally significant speakers and performers to Asheboro.

Also featured the 2025-2026 Sunset Series:

• Temple Grandin, animal behavior researcher and autism activist, “Great Minds are Not All the Same,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026;
• Lt. Col. Walter Joseph Marm, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient, Memorial Day weekend event, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, 2026;
• Elizabeth Hudson, Our State Editor, “Full Circle,” 7:30 p.m.  Friday, September 25, 2026.

 For more information, contact the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, 800-626-2672.

Historian to return with more Titanic stories in Asheboro library talk

Hearses line up on a wharf at Halifax, Nova Scotia,
to carry Titanic victims to funeral parlors

All the people who traveled on the Titanic in April 1912 are now dead.

Many lived decades after the tragedy to tell their stories. Those who died that night did not have that chance.

Through multimedia and memorabilia, Titanic scholar Dr. Melinda Ratchford will tell a few more of those stories in “Titanic: The Halifax Dead Speak,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 16, at the Asheboro Public Library.

After traveling to Halifax, Nova Scotia and visiting the graves of the 336 bodies recovered, Ratchford learned that even after a tragedy of such magnitude, the stories of heroism, cowardice, common sense, faith and hope live on.

Learn about the brave sailors from the ships Mackay Bennett, Minia and Montmagny, who recovered bodies and brought them to Halifax; the newly-devised numbering system for the bodies — sadly needed again in 1917 when two ships collided at Halifax resulting in an explosion that claimed almost 1,800 lives; how to determine whether to bury someone in the Catholic, Protestant or Jewish cemetery; and other intriguing issues that survived the sinking of the Titanic.

Ratchford is an associate professor of education at Belmont Abbey College. Her avocation has been a 60-year interest in the study of the Titanic and its history. She has visited Belfast, where the ship was built; Southampton, from where it sailed; the pier in New York where it would have docked; and Halifax. She also spent a week in the North Atlantic in 1996 at the site of the sinking.

A Kannapolis native, Ratchford worked in the North Carolina public schools for 31 years.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For more information, call 3336-381-6803.

Learn about North Carolina’s first Congresswoman in Asheboro library talk

Jane Pratt

ASHEBORO – Elected by a landslide in 1946, Jane Pratt became the first woman from North Carolina to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Learn about Pratt as author Marion Deerhake talks about her book Jane Pratt: North Carolina’s First Congresswoman,  6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 2, at the  Asheboro Public Library. The talk is hosted by the Randolph Room.

After working as a journalist, Pratt served as secretary to five North Carolina congressmen, the first of which was Randolph County’s William Cicero Hammer. She was working for Rep. William Burgin in 1946, when he died in office. Pratt ran for and won his seat.

She voted to pass the Atomic Energy Act and worked to mitigate a century of flood disasters in western North Carolina. Her decision not to run for reelection, says Deerhake, offers insight into why 46 years passed before North Carolina sent another woman to Congress.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6815

Get the ‘buzz’ on light pollution in Asheboro library talk

 ASHEBORO – Have you ever explored nighttime from the perspective of a firefly, moth, migrating songbird or tree frog? 

Learn what these creatures and others need the night sky to look like so that they can conduct their nocturnal behaviors as safely and thoroughly as possible in “What’s the BUZZ About Light Pollution?” with Kathryn Reis, environmental educator with the Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation District, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 23, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Reis also will discuss simple steps you can take to ensure wild nightlife flourishes for years to come.

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

“Go Take a Hike” in Birkhead Mountains Wilderness with Asheboro library

Ciara Wilder
Massengale

ASHEBORO – Celebrate National Wilderness Month and “Go Take a Hike… with Us!” during a short and easy trek into the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness on Saturday, September 27, hosted by the Asheboro Public Library.

The hike will depart from the Tot Hill Farm Trailhead, 3901 Tot Hill Farm Road, at 10 a.m. Due to limited parking at the trailhead, please call the Asheboro library at 336-318-6803 to sign up or for more information. 

The two-mile round trip offers an easygoing walk guided by Wilder Uwharrie Trail Running founder Ciara Wilder Massengale. At the three-quarter mark, participants can rest and enjoy the natural area or continue hiking onto a short incline.

The outing is best for adults and kids 12 and older. It’s a great opportunity for beginners who are curious to learn more about hiking and ask questions.

Those with limited or no hiking experience are welcomed, but the hike features some mild endurance. Bring plenty of water and snacks as well as items case you need to relieve yourself.  Comfortable tennis shoes are recommended along with long pants; bright vivid colors for visibility also are encouraged.

Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome; please be prepared to clean up after them.

Participants will be asked to sign a liability release.

Massengale is a trail and ultra runner, a Uwharrie National Forest enthusiast, amateur nature photographer, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. She is passionate about building community around trails and encouraging folks of all ages to enjoy and protect the trails.

Learn how to see the world afresh with nature journaling workshop at Asheboro library

 ASHEBORO – Transform the way you see the world and yourself in a nature journaling workshop at the Asheboro Public Library.

Join Brittany Smith, an environmental educator with Flora and Fauna Festivities, LLC, for “Nature’s Narratives: Improving Your Life with Nature Journaling,” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 9.

More than just putting pen to paper, learn to find clarity, creativity and calm simply by slowing down and observing the natural world.

The workshop is perfect for everyone from seasoned journalers to total beginners who want to cultivate a deeper relationship with nature.

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

Go birding with CLAWS Animal Rescue at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO – Feathered friends will return to the Asheboro Public Library for “Birding with CLAWS Animal Rescue” at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, September 18.

CLAWS, which brought animal ambassadors to the library during Summer Reading, will present an educational and fun-filled program about bird watching for children of all ages and their families. Meet some of CLAWS’ birds and learn about their habitats and behaviors in our own backyards and around Randolph County.

CLAWS, located near Chapel Hill, educates the public about wild and exotic animals, and rescues and rehabilitates those in need.

During the event, Randolph Room librarian Joanna Roberts will reintroduce the Asheboro library’s collection of carved birds by Clarence Lewallen, which are being outfitted with QR codes that connect to “All About Birds” at Cornell University’s ornithology lab, and will enable viewers to learn about each bird and listen to its call. 

Discover what birds visit you at home, and impress your friends with your new birdwatching skills!

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

Bio prof to explore bioluminescent insects in NC during Asheboro library talk

ASHEBORO – North Carolina is home to an impressive diversity of glowing insects, including fireflies, glow worms and a really interesting little fly that lives in the mountains.

Learn about this phenomenon in a talk entitled “Synchronous Shows and Foxfire Glows: The Bioluminescent Insects of North Carolina” by Dr. Clyde Sorensen of North Carolina State University, 6:30 p.m. Monday, August 25, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Sorensen will discuss the diversity of the state’s bioluminescent insects, how they make their light, and what they do with it. He also will talk about threats to the glowing insects and what individuals can do to help them.

Sorensen is Alumni Association Distinguished Professor of Entomology at NCSU, where he has served on the faculty for 29 years. His research interests include biology, ecology, and management of insects and other arthropods in agricultural ecosystems.

He also specializes in the ecology of insects, and rare and endangered plants in longleaf pine ecosystems. For the last eight years, Sorensen has intensively studied the occurrence and distribution of fireflies in North Carolina.

Sorensen lives in Clayton, N.C.

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

Vote for Asheboro library as ‘Carolina’s Finest’

ASHEBORO – The Asheboro Public Library is one of three finalists for “Best Library” in “Carolina’s Finest,” Carolina Country magazine’s annual reader choice awards. 

The award goes to whoever gets the most votes by August 15. To vote, visit carolinacountry.com/finest. 

The magazine is offering voters a chance to win one of three $100 gift cards.

Voters can choose local in two other categories: the Franklinville Diner is a finalist for “Best Diner,” and Blue Mist Barbecue Sauce is a finalist for “Best Made-In-NC Product.”

Carolina Country is the magazine of North Carolina’s rural electric cooperatives and is distributed to 750,000 subscribers each month, reaching 2.2 million readers.

The Asheboro library is headquarters of the Randolph County Public Libraries system. Find out more at www.randolphlibrary.org or call 336-318-6803.

Sunset Signature Series to celebrate local Civil Rights era heroes

 ASHEBORO, NC — The public is invited to join Girl Scouts from across the region to honor local women whose strength, courage and hope helped shape the community during the Civil Rights movement in A Celebration of Randolph County Civil Rights Era Heroes, a Friends of the Library Sunset Signature Series event at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21, in downtown Asheboro’s historic Sunset Theatre.

The event will feature powerful conversations and reflections from three remarkable women who lived through that era as young girls: Jane Ledwell-Gant, Betty Foust, and Katie Snuggs. Their stories of faith, family, school, and community will be shared with Girl Scouts from the Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont Council, offering a rare opportunity to hear living history from the women who made history.

“This celebration is about lifting up the voices of women whose everyday courage helped move our community forward,” said event organizer Todd Dulaney. “These are stories of quiet strength, deep love, and a determination to make a better world — not just for themselves but also for generations to come.”

In addition to the featured speakers, recipients of the Randolph County Civil Rights Medal of Freedom that is being awarded by the Asheboro/Randolph chapter of the NAACP on Friday, June 20, will be invited to attend and be recognized for their contributions.

The event is hosted by Girl Scout Troop No. 30061. It is a family-friendly program designed to uplift, educate, and inspire the next generation of changemakers.

The Friends of the Library Sunset Signature Series is sponsored by the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, the City of Asheboro and the Friends of the Randolph County Public Libraries. Its goal is to bring culturally significant speakers and performers to Asheboro.

For more information, contact Todd Dulaney at todd.dulaney@gmail.com. The Sunset Theatre is located at 234 Sunset Avenue.

Randolph libraries' Summer Reading initiative will "Color Our World"

Jeghetto (Tarish Pipkins) performs with
one of his sculptural puppets.

ASHEBORO – Get ready for a colorful, creative summer experience at Randolph County’s public libraries with a over 200  interactive performances, hands-on activities, storytimes and more, as this year’s Summer Reading initiative invites the community to “Color Our World.”

Summer Reading offers children and teens a no-pressure way to stay engaged with reading and learning while out of school, so they can avoid “summer slide” in the fall. Adults also can enjoy speakers, book clubs and projects that engage their creativity.

To find out about all the activities, as well as reading rewards, go to www.randolphlibrary.org/summer, or visit your local library.

Kickoff events will take place at Asheboro, Liberty and Randleman in early June. Archdale will host a Summer Reading Kickoff at 4 p.m. Friday, June 6, featuring hands-on activities and chalk art, and at 6 p.m., a performance by folk-country-rock band Corey Hunt and with Wise.

Liberty and Asheboro will hold their inaugural events on Saturday, June 7. Asheboro will offer art for all ages in a Messy Summer Reading Kickoff outside the library from 10-11:30 a.m., with rock painting, chalk designs and more, while Down to Earth Aerials performs. Liberty will team up with the Liberty Arts Guild for outdoor art stations, enabling participants to create art with working artists, from 1-3 p.m. 

Appearing in June at all libraries is Jeghetto’s Workshop. Jeghetto, a.k.a. Tarish Pipkins, is an artist and self-taught master builder and puppeteer whose puppets are one-of-a-kind moving sculptures crafted with passion and precision. Learn how Jeghetto builds and manipulates his puppets in a very interactive show.

In July, CLAWS Inc., a Chapel Hill-based, volunteer-run animal rescue, will bring animal ambassadors to six libraries. Meet an African Corvid (an intelligent bird in the crow family) and other creatures. Learn about their habits and habitats, and how to safely cohabitate with wildlife.

More animals abound as the NC Zoo visits Archdale, Asheboro, Franklinville, Ramseur and Seagrove with their furry (or slithery!) friends; Wild Tails NC brings more animals to Asheboro, Franklinville, Liberty, Ramseur and Seagrove; and Ellie’s Exotic Road Show reaches Liberty and Randleman. 

The always amazing Sigmon Theatrical returns with two performances, Color Circus at Asheboro, and The Magic School Bus Live! at Randleman. Also coming to Randleman are popular children’s performers Steve Somers and Mark Daniel.

Asheboro will reverberate with the family-friendly rock ’n’ roll of Big Bang Boom! and the energetic poetics of Shepherd Shakespeare. Amazing illusions and spectacular showmanship will appear in Archdale, Asheboro and Liberty in the form of Rockstar Magic, and the Starlab inflatable planetarium blows up in Archdale, Asheboro and Liberty.  

Meanwhile, ongoing storytimes, arts and craft activities, movies and more will take place almost every day.

For more information, visit your local library or contact the Asheboro library Children’s Room at 336-318-6804.

Appearances by Jeghetto’s Workshop and CLAWS, Inc. are sponsored by the Friends of the Library. The project receives support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Comic-Con, Renaissance Fair, to join forces at Archdale library

G-Man series graphic novel author
Chris Gairrusso signs copiesof his books
at last year’s Comic-Con

ARCHDALE – Get ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure as the third annual Randolph County Public Libraries Youth Services Comic-Con moves to the Archdale Public Library, and teams up with a Renaissance Fair for an epic outdoor celebration of creativity, fantasy and fun, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, May 17.

The all-ages, family-friendly event will feature 25 comic book authors, illustrators and other creators who will demonstrate their techniques and display their work, which will be available for purchase.

Booths will include original art, rare comics, toys, books, retro video games and other merchandise. Participants can join in activities such as special effects makeup demos, trivia games, a themed selfie station and a caricature station. 

At the same time, the Middle Ages will come to life at the Renaissance Fair. Booths will feature handmade jewelry, ceramics, resin art, gem trees, and baked goods. Activities will include crafts, juggling demonstrations throughout the day, fantasy-themed costumes with photo-ops galore, and a costume contest. Ruff Love Rescue will be present with adoptable rescue dogs.

The library will be open special hours to coincide with the event. The schedule:

• 1 p.m.: Library and vendor booths open.
• 2 p.m.: Comic trivia with prizes.
• 3 p.m.: Interactive storytime for all ages.
• 4 p.m.: Costume contest with prizes.
• 5 p.m.: Library closes and vendor booths wrap up.

 As of this writing, artists, authors and others participating this year include: Astro Rose, author/artist; Micki Bare, middle-grades author; Beardy Weirdy’s Comics and Toys; Blink on the Street, ceramics; Braids of Yarrow, jewelry; Caricatures by Rodney Bennett; Centfont’s Stuff, jewelry; Clay by Kelly, clay earrings and accessories; K.S. Harvin, author; Healy Crafts, jewelry, gem trees and other items; Heart Shine Studios, art and jewelry; Herndon’s Homestead, sourdough baked goods; J&M Bakehouse, baked goods and pastries; Jamie’s Jewelry and More; A.D. Lombardo, books, bookmarks and journals; LimeLife by Alcone and Jensfk, makeup and face painting; Odyssey Comics, author/artist; Michael Roberti, author; Rocks Unlimited, jewelry and stones; Gene Shanks, comic book author/artist; Snailz Art, art; sparkle-series, handmade jewelry; The Bubbles Boutique, jewelry and 3D printed items; T-Rex Comics, comics and toys.

Rain date for the event is Saturday, May 24, 2-6 pm.

 The Archdale library is located at 10433 S. Main Street. For more information, call 336-431-3811.