Sit a spell with ‘Road Scholar’ E.J. Stewart at Asheboro library

E.J. Stewart

ASHEBORO – Share memories of North Carolina’s agricultural past with playwright, oral historian and storyteller Ella Joyce (E.J.) Stewart in “Sit-a-Spell,” 6 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Stewart, the daughter of sharecroppers, will share stories from the mid-20th Century, when “Y’all come sit-a-spell” was the call for agricultural workers to take a break from hard work in the fields, or to relax after church on a Sunday afternoon.

Stewart’s appearance is first in a series of visits by “Road Scholars” from the North Carolina Humanities Council’s Many Stories, One People project. It’s free and the public is invited.

Stewart, who lives in Raleigh, uses literary arts as a way to create better communication across age, race, gender and class lines. She has written three produced plays and her stories appear in several publications.

She is a member of the North Carolina Association of Black Storytellers and the National Association of Black Storytellers.

Mark your calendars for the other Road Scholar events at the Asheboro library:

· “In Search of the Real Founder of Christianity: Jesus of Nazareth or Saul of Tarsus,” with Mars Hill College religion professor Dr. Walter Ziffer, 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 19; and

·  “Sarah McGuirk, Orphan Train Rider,” with fiction writer and essayist Tamra Wilson, M.F.A., 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 21.

      

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 is also provided by the Friends of the Library.

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

Womick to debut children’s book in fun-filled library storytime

ASHEBORO – What happens when an elderly woman grows too frail plant her garden as usual, and the balance in the world shifts from beauty to ugliness?

Find out as journalist Chip Womick debuts his first children’s book, Mrs. McGillicutty’s Last Sunflower, beautifully illustrated by Argentinean artist Marina Saummell,  in an event that will feature a reading of the story and spring-related games and crafts, at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at the Asheboro Public Library. Womick also will answer audience questions.

It’s free and all ages are invited.

Womick has been writing mostly for newspapers — and mostly for The Courier-Tribune — for the last 30 years.

After penning Remembering Randolph County: Tales from the Center of the State, and assisting centenarian John Pugh with a memoir, he wanted to see on the printed page some of the children’s stories he has written. He hopes that Mrs. McGillicutty’s Last Sunflower is the first of many from his new publishing company, Peacelight Press (peacelightpress.com).

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

Play some music at Asheboro library jam session for teens

ASHEBORO  -- Bring your guitar or other instrument of choice and join singer-songwriter Gracie Kirkland for the first ever TeenZone Jam Club at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17.

The jam session is free and all teens are invited to make some music.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street.

Get smart about your credit report in Asheboro library program

ASHEBORO  -- Learn how to understand your credit report in “SmartCents: Credit to Be Proud Of” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, it’s free and the public is invited.

Tom Luzon of Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Greensboro will talk about how to read a credit report and understand the report’s terminology.

Participants will learn how to establish credit and dispute inaccurate credit reporting, and find out about their rights.

Attendees also can bring their credit report for personalized assistance from Luzon. Credit reports can be obtained for free at www.AnnualCreditReport.com (authorized by federal law and the only source for free credit reports), or by calling 877-322-8228.

Those bringing a credit report should keep it with them during the program, not let anyone else see it, and black out their social security number.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street.

Health resources fair at Asheboro library offers access to agencies, organizations

ASHEBORO – Having trouble finding health insurance, resources or support?

Visit the Health Resources Fair from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at the Asheboro library. Representatives from 15 community agencies will be present to direct you to the help you need.

Organized by Randolph Family Healthcare at MERCE in conjunction with the library’s Extension Services Department, the fair will feature representatives from Christian United Outreach Center, the Girl Scouts, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity, Hospice of Randolph County, The Incredible Years Programs, Randolph County Partnership for Children, Insurance Navigators for Randolph Hospital, Regional Consolidated Services Home Health Care, The Veteran’s Service Center, Vocational Rehabilitation and the YMCA, who will provide information and answer questions.

This program is free and open to the public. Bring loved ones, neighbors and anyone who might benefit from services provided by these organizations.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6816.

Weekly ‘Music and Movement’ for children returns to Asheboro library

ASHEBORO -- “Music and Movement,” a lively half-hour of songs, rhymes and rhythm for children ages 2-5, resumes at 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, at the Asheboro Public Library, and continues weekly.

Music helps to develop early literacy skills such as memory, patterning, vocabulary and imagination. Group physical activity paired with music can support cognitive, physical and social development.

Each Friday afternoon, children will use instruments such as shakers, rhythm sticks and bells, and movement props such as scarves, flags and bean bags, to keep the beat with a diverse selection of songs, rhymes and fingerplays, including well-known favorites and songs from around the world.

Each session will focus on various characteristics of music and movement (fast, slow, quiet, loud) and invite energetic interpretation of songs and dance.

Children’s Music and Movement is free, and children and their parents/caregivers are invited. For further information, call 318-6804.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO – Join Dr. Seuss’s famous mischievous duo Thing 1 and Thing 2 for fun activities and snacks to celebrate the author’s 112th birthday.

The fun begins at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 at the Asheboro Public Library. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, it’s free; all children and families are invited.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. Call 336-318-6804 for further information.