Asheboro library to offer ‘Living Healthy with Diabetes’ course

ASHEBORO – Diabetes affects 12.2 million Americans age 60 and over — or 23 percent of the population.

“Living Healthy with Diabetes,” a six week course from 9:30 a.m.-noon Thursdays beginning January 16 at the Asheboro Public Library, can help you better manage diabetes, improve quality of life, and lower health care costs.

The course is free, but space is limited to 15 participants. Visit the library or call 336-318-6803 to register.

In the highly-interactive classes, mutual support and success will build participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active, fulfilling lives.

Leading the classes will be Dr. Althea Taylor-Jones and Gail Sherred of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council Area Agency on Aging. 

The workshop focuses on problems common to people dealing with Type 2 diabetes: learning to deal with symptoms, managing stress, using medications, and developing healthy eating habits and exercise techniques.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street.

Holly George-Warren to talk about new Janis Joplin bio at Asheboro library

Holly George-Warren

ASHEBORO – Celebrated music journalist and Asheboro native Holly George-Warren will visit the Asheboro library at 7 p.m. Friday, January 17, to talk about her acclaimed, definitive new biography of Janis Joplin.

Published by Simon and Schuster in October to rave reviews, Janis: Her Life and Music establishes the Queen of Rock & Roll as the rule-breaking musical trailblazer and gender-bending rebel that she was. George-Warren had unprecedented access to Joplin’s family, friends, bandmates, archives and long-lost interviews to create the intimate portrait.

George-Warren is a two-time Grammy nominee and the award-winning author of sixteen books, including the New York Times bestseller The Road to Woodstock with Michael Lang, and the biographies A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton and Public Cowboy No. 1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry. She has written for a variety of publications, including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Village Voice, and Entertainment Weekly.

She teaches journalism at the State University of New York in New Paltz.

She is the daughter of the late Martha and Alvis George Jr. Martha was a longtime Asheboro librarian.

Alvis was an architect who designed the award-winning 1964 Asheboro library building and its expansion in 1994, and other iconic local buildings. He also served as project coordinator for the NC Zoo master plan.

Seagrove library invites you on a ‘Blind Date with a Book’

SEAGROVE – Are you ready to find your literary love?

Let the Seagrove Public Library play matchmaker during “Blind Date with a Book.” Drop by the library between January 2 and January 9, and let the staff set you up with your “blind date” book.

You will have one month to read your unknown literary suitor, after which you are invited to a Valentine’s discussion with refreshments at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 12.

The Seagrove library is located at 530 Old Plank Road. For further information, call 336-873-7521.

Randolph library leaders win top state awards

Walker McCrary III, Dr. Frances Jones and Ross Holt display
their N.C. Public Library Directors Association awards
at the association's banquet on December 5 in Winston-Salem

ASHEBORO – The North Carolina Public Library Directors Association (NCPLDA) has recognized three Randolph County library leaders with its top personal awards.

Library Director Ross Holt was named 2018-2019 Library Director of the Year; Dr. Frances Jones was named Library Friend of the Year; and Walker McCrary III received the Benefactor’s Award. The three were recognized at the NCPLDA annual meeting and awards banquet on December 5 in Winston-Salem.

Ross Holt, Director of the Year

Holt was nominated by Jennifer Sackett, director of the Lincoln County Public Library, and Michael Roche, director of the Rockingham Public  Library, “[b]ecause of his commitment to public libraries, commitment to developing future leaders and willingness to serve whenever asked....”

Noting that Holt has served as president of both NCPLDA and the North Carolina Library Association, Roche and Sackett cited his longtime support for NCPLDA legislative advocacy activities; his service on the NC LIVE Resource Advisory Committee, and his work with NCPLDA on a series of continuing education programs entitled “SO! You Want to be a Public Library Director,” designed to prepare librarians for future leadership roles.

Dr. Frances Jones, Library Friend of the Year

Jones, who currently serves as Friends of the Library president, received the Library Friend of the Year Award. The award recognizes the impact a library Friend has had on library service in their community.

Holt, in his nomination of Jones, said that she rightly could be named Friend of the Century — or Friend of the Millennium.

Jones was recognized for pioneering Randolph Books for Babies, which has delivered over 1,500 reading-themed care packages to families of newborns at Randolph Health; carrying out the first Friends charitable giving campaign, which has raised over $32,000 for library programming and Friends activities; and working tirelessly to bring acclaimed  speakers and performers to the community.

Benefactors Award to Walker McCrary III

The Benefactor’s Award went to McCrary for his championing of the Mobile Library project. McCrary is president of the Acme-McCrary and Sapona Foundation Inc., which provided a five-year, $15,000 per year gift to support the new service.

With the foundation shifting its focus to early childhood literacy, McCrary in late 2017 contacted the library to find out if any such initiatives were planned. It was at that time that library staff were formulating the mobile library concept.

The McCrary gift led to support from the Asheboro Public Library Foundation Inc. The two foundations have fully funded the highly successful project.

The Acme-McCrary and Sapona Foundation also supports Randolph Books for Babies.

Drugs Did This: Hear from addiction survivors, officials in Asheboro library forum

ASHEBORO – Two Randolph County residents will share their stories of recovery from years-long struggles with substance abuse at 7 p.m. Thursday, December. 5, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The stories are included in Drugs Did This, a new book by Randolph County writer Chip Womick, a former staff writer for The Courier-Tribune. The book will be available for sale at the forum.

The problems began for Preston Cross when he returned home with PTSD after serving 10 months in Iraq in 2006 and 2007. For years, alcohol was his drug of choice; after he received an honorable discharge from the National Guard, he gravitated to harder drugs.

Preston Cross

“Before I got involved with drugs,” he says, “the idea of using a needle, of shooting up heroin, that was all taboo to me. That was something so far out of reach that I couldn’t believe that anybody could ever do something like that. I certainly thought that I would never do something like that.”

Tonya Waugh and her twin sister, Toni Smith, each battled addiction: Toni saved Tonya when she overdosed in 2013, and Tonya saved Toni from an overdose on Christmas Eve 2014. Toni went to rehab but overdosed again and died 100 days later.

Tonya found her calling during 28 days at a residential treatment program in Virginia. Now she shares her story at Narcotics Anonymous meetings and at treatment centers – and every chance she gets.

Tonya Waugh

“I said from that moment when I went to treatment, this was what I want to do. I’ve got to return this favor and help those that are like me and that are behind me. I need to put my hand down and reach for them and pick them up.”

Womick’s book has two goals. One is to raise money for the Community Hope Alliance, an Asheboro-based harm reduction nonprofit with a multi-pronged mission to provide resources and promote substance use education, awareness, prevention, and safety. The other is to raise awareness of the toll drugs are taking on individuals, their families, and on every person in Randolph County.

Other speakers will include Kelly Link, Susan Hayes, and Donovan Davis. Link co-founded the Community Hope Alliance with Ashley Hedrick, one of her three daughters, and will talk about why they started the organization and about its work.

Hayes, director of Randolph County Public Health, and Davis, director of Randolph County Emergency Services, will share facts and figures about the impact addiction and overdose have had in Randolph County.

In 2018, there were 448 suspected overdoses and 37 overdose deaths. The numbers for 2019 likely will be higher.

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

The Grinch to visit all Randolph libraries in December

Caleb Sigmon as The Grinch

ASHEBORO -- He’s mean, he’s green, and, thanks to the Friends of the Randolph County Public Library, he’s coming to all seven libraries in December to steal Christmas!

Don’t miss your chance to meet the Grinch, Max the dog, and even Cindy Lou Who as they bring Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas to life in their own special, silly way. Make sure to stick around after this fun, family program for photos and more silliness during the Grinch’s exclusive Meet-and-Greet.

Storyteller and illusionist Caleb Sigmon, who’s behind it all, promises that your heart will grow three sizes.

Performance are free and the public is invited:
• Archdale: 3:30 p.m. Thursday, December 12, 10433 S. Main St.;
• Asheboro: 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, and 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 13, 201 Worth Street;
• Franklinville: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 11, 111 Sumner Place;
• Liberty: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 11, 239 S. Fayetteville St.;
• Ramseur: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 12, 1512 S. Main St.;
• Randleman: 3:30 pm. Friday, December 13, 142 W. Academy St.;
• Seagrove: 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, 530 Old Plank Road.

For more information, call 336-318-6804.

Tuneful team of Edwards, Davis return for “Country Bluegrass Christmas” at Asheboro library

Tommy Edwards and LaNelle Davis

ASHEBORO – The bluegrass/old time music team of Tommy Edwards and LaNelle Davis will present a selection of original and seasonal tunes in “A Country Bluegrass Christmas” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 3, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The pair will be joined by a Stan Brown on banjo and Gerald Hampton on mandolin for the performance, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. It’s free and the public is invited.

Edwards is lead singer and guitarist for The Bluegrass Experience, and host of Life 103.1’s “Bluegrass Saturday Night.” A professional performer for over 35 years, Edwards has twice been named World Champion Bluegrass Guitarist. He also served for 30 years in the Randolph and Chatham county schools as a teacher, coach and administrator.

Davis, from eastern North Carolina, initially was drawn to clogging, touring and performing extensively as a dancer and caller. She took up the bass when a friend moved and left one at her house, and since has performed with numerous nationally-known old-time bands and individuals.

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