Teens to 'hoop' it up in Asheboro library dance class

Young people ages 12-18 are invited to join Jacquie Reininger of Santosha Yoga for a free “Hooptastic Dance Class,” 10 a.m. Thursday, July 30, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Participants will use specially-made hoops wrapped with colorful circus tape to twirl not only around the hips, as is traditional with hula hoops, but also overhead, vertically and in progressively harder tricks. In addition to expressing creativity, the “hooper” must practice coordination, balance, flexibility and strength to execute the skills smoothly.

After learning the various skills, the hoopers will put them all together in a short routine. “It’s guaranteed to uplift every spirit in the class,” says Reininger.

The class is part of Express Yourself @ Your Library, the Randolph County Public Library’s Teen Summer Reading Program, and is supported by the Friends of the Library. For further information, contact Teen Services Librarian Amy Keith Barney at 318-6824 or akeith@randolphlibrary.org.

Library kids to spell out “READ” at magical Mark Daniel event

If the purpose of the purpose of the Randolph County Public Library's "Be Creative @ Your Library" Summer Reading Program is not clear, the kids will spell it out – literally – following the appearance of Magical Storyteller Mark Daniel at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, at Asheboro Friends Meeting, 230 E. Kivett St.

Children who attend the program will gather afterwards and stand in prearranged positions to spell the word READ in the church parking lot. Library staff will make photographs from the upper-floor windows of the church and provide them online to participants (in the accompanying photo, they're practicing).

The media also is invited to photograph and/or film the event. In case of rain, the spelling will take place in an auditorium at the church.

Daniel is a veteran storyteller whose performance, “Mission: Creative,” will use magic, puppets and stories to motivate children to read and inspire a love of books. It’s free and the public is invited.

Daniel is appearing at all seven libraries this summer, and will finish up at Liberty, 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 28; Seagrove, 2 p.m. July 28; and Ramseur, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 30 (at the Ramseur Municipal Building).

The Summer Reading Program is supported by the Friends of the Library and by a Grassroots Arts Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council via the Randolph Arts Guild. For more information, contact Myra Long at 318-6804 or go here.

Mike Durham to throw pots in library as artist series concludes

Artist and educator Mike Durham will create pottery at the Asheboro Public Library in the last demonstration for the Summer Artist Series, 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28.

Durham currently works in salt-glazed pottery, found object sculpture and habitat design for nature science centers. A former N.C. Art Educator of the Year, he has taught art, pottery, sculpture and photography in the Guilford and Randolph County schools, and has instructed pottery at Randolph and Montgomery community colleges.

He currently serves as president of the Randolph Arts Guild, and assists in the planning and organization of the N.C. Pottery Conference.

The artist series has brought local performers and artists to the library on Tuesday afternoons to demonstrate their work for the public. The demos are free and the public is invited to observe.

The series is part of the “Express Yourself @ Your Library” Summer Reading Program for teens, and is supported by the Friends of the Library.

Asheboro library to host “End of Summer Reading” bash

A giant slide, a moonwalk, a dunking booth, a fire truck and more will help summer readers wrap up “Be Creative @ Your Library,” The Randolph County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, from 4-8 p.m. Friday, July 31 at the Asheboro Public Library.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the party is free and open to all ages. Rain date will be August 7.

Activities also will include games, sidewalk art and balloons. The Friends of the Library will sell hot dogs, chips and drinks; proceeds will go to support Friends activites.

Everything will take place on the lawn in front of the library. The Cox Street driveway will be blocked for the event; library visitors can use the Main Street entrance to the parking lot or park in the county lot on the corner of Cox and Salisbury streets.

Although some summer activities will continue into the first week of August, the party marks the finale of the Summer Reading Program, which has drawn record numbers of children to libraries across the county. For more information about the party, contact Amy Keith Barney, 318-6824 or Myra Long, 318-6804.

Other Summer Reading events for the week of July 27 include:

• Magical Storyteller Mark Daniel: Liberty library, 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 28; Seagrove library, 2 p.m. July 28; Asheboro library, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29 (at Asheboro Friends Meeting, 230 E. Kivett St.); and Ramseur library, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 30 (at the Ramseur Municipal Building).
• Storytelling program, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 29, Asheboro library.
• Summer Reading Finale with Garrett Traylor of High Point Piano, Archdale Library, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 29.
• Scholastic Book Fair, Randleman library, Monday-Saturday, July 27-August 1.

Weekly storytimes take place at the Asheboro library: school-age storytime, 3:15 p.m. Tuesdays; family storytime, 7 p.m. Tuesdays; toddler storytime, 10:10 a.m. Wednesdays; and all-ages storytimes, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. For more details and complete schedules for all libraries, go here.

The Summer Reading Program is supported by the Friends of the Randolph Public Library and by a North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Grant via the Randolph Arts Guild. In all, the seven libraries are hosting almost 150 Summer Reading Program events for children, teens and adults through early August, and the Extension services department will take another 100 or so out into the community.

Lego building competition draws media attention

Three TV news operations had camera crews at the Lego building competition for teens last week: News14 Carolina; WFMY News 2; and WXII (no coverage posted online, but there was a segment on the 6 p.m. newscast).

Here are our pictures.

Author to hold signing at Archdale library

Local author Dale Crotts will sign copies of his book The Reckoning and discuss the experience of writing his first novel--and his plans for future titles -- at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at the Archdale Public Library.

The Reckoning is a mystery thriller about a Michigan lawyer who returns to Traverse City for his father's funeral and finds himself on trial for murder.

Visit Dale's website for more information.

Asheboro library to screen The Bucket List

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman make The Bucket List, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday for adults, 2 p.m. July 20.

The pair play terminally ill hospital roommates who resolve to check off a list of accomplishments before they each “kick the bucket” – hence, the bucket list. As they jump out of planes, race cars and eat at the best of restaurants, they become true friends.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more at here, or call 318-6824.