Cash on Cash: Asheboro’s Sunset Series returns with Johnny Cash in words and music

Robert Burke Warren

Singer-songwriters Robert Burke Warren and Casey Noel will trace the life of Johnny Cash in words and music as the Friends of the Library Sunset Signature Series returns, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 22, at the historic Sunset Theatre in downtown Asheboro.

Their appearance is free and the public is invited.

Warren is author of Cash on Cash: Interviews and Encounters with Johnny Cash, forthcoming in September from the Chicago Review Press. In the book, Warren charts the evolution of Cash and his music through interviews Cash gave from the 1950s through the early 2000s, and provides his own commentary on Cash’s words.

Casey Noel

During the performance, Warren will read from his book and perform some of Cash’s songs with Noel.

Warren is a novelist, educator, and music journalist based in the Catskill Mountains of New York. His music writing has appeared in Vulture, Paste, and Salon, among other publications.

As a performer, he played bass for the Queens, New York, based garage rock band The Fleshtones and has forged a career on his own as a singer-songwriter. He also presents educational rock ‘n’ roll performances for children as “Uncle Rock.”

He is married to Grammy-nominated music journalist, author, Janis Joplin biographer and Asheboro native Holly George-Warren.

Noel is a North Carolina-based singer-songwriter. A single entitled “Page 52” off her 2020 EP Not Just Pretty Words was added to Spotify’s Emerging Americana playlist. She has performed at Floydfest, Byrds Creek Music Festival and Bristol Rhythm and Roots, and has opened for roots musician Molly Tuttle.

Begun in 2018, the Sunset Series brings high-profile speakers and performers to the Sunset Theatre. It is sponsored by the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, the City of Asheboro and the Friends of the Randolph County Public Library. 

The 2023 Sunset Series lineup, which is expected to feature six events, will be announced later this fall.

For further information, call 800-626-2672. The Sunset Theatre is located at 234 Sunset Avenue.

Go to ‘school’ for healthy cooking in workshops at Randolph Cooperative Extension

ASHEBORO – Sign up for the “Cook Smart, Eat Smart Cooking School” hosted by the Asheboro Public Library at Randolph County Cooperative Extension, and learn how to prepare simple, healthy and delicious foods for you and your family.

The four free workshops, taught by Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Jeannie Leonard, will take place from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays, September 22 thru October 13.

Space is limited; call the Asheboro library at 336-318-6803 to sign up. Because each class sets the stage for the next one, participants should attend all four sessions.

“Cook Smart, Eat Smart” keeps it simple — simple, healthy preparation techniques, simple ingredients and simple equipment. Each session contains several basic cooking techniques and other topics related to preparing and eating meals at home, while delivering tips on stretching food dollars while still eating healthily.

Leonard moderates the Facebook page “Jeannie’s Kitchen,” where she shares easy and affordable seasonal recipes.

The workshops are provided by the library’s Margaret C. Taylor Memorial Culinary Arts Fund.

Cooperative Extension is located at 1003 S. Fayetteville Street, Asheboro.

Library technology classes in September to focus on computer basics, email

ASHEBORO – Asheboro library technology classes September will cover learning computer basics and using email.

Become more tech savvy in “Computer Basics for Adults,” offered at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 13, and repeated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 19. This popular class is designed for those who are new to computers or who feel they need to have more instruction.

Participants will leave feeling confident about navigating the desktop; opening, closing and switching between windows; understanding operating systems; and storing information in various ways to keep it safe.

In “Understanding the Power of Email,” offered at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 8 and repeated at 3 p.m. Wednesday, September 21, learn how this popular communications tool works. Make an email account and learn about email account providers, composing and replying to emails, sending attachments, and dealing with spam in your inbox.

All the classes are free and the public is invited; call 336-318-6803 for more information.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street.

Libraries to offer countywide dementia caregiver training, sensory activity kits

Community Navigator Angi Polito displays the contents of sensory activity kits, available from the Randolph County Public Libraries, that caregivers can use with people experiencing dementia.

ASHEBORO – Caregivers for people experiencing dementia are invited to participate in hands-on, multi-disciplinary training workshops presented by the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina at three Randolph County Public Libraries locations on August 30 and 31.

Called “Accepting the Challenge,” the training will be offered at the libraries as follows;

• Archdale Public Library, 3 p.m. Tuesday, August 30;
• Liberty Public Library, 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 30;
• Asheboro Public Library, 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 31.

The sessions, conducted by Melanie Bunn, RN MS GNP, of the Dementia Alliance and hosted by the library’s Community Navigators, are free and open to all caregivers and potential caregivers. No registration is required.

The 2-hour workshop is designed to help caregivers provide the best care possible and in turn offer a quality of life for people with dementia. Topics include background information on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; physical approaches; communication skills; offering assistance; evaluating cognitive levels; “Meaningful Days” (activities); and problem behavior.

The “Accepting the Challenge” training will be available on two DVD sets that can be checked out from the library.

Also available from the library are 11 sensory activity kits for caregivers to use people experiencing dementia. The kits provide simple, hands-on experiences that keep the person’s mind active and offer the comfort of a repetitive action.

All the kits include fidget balls and reusable water paint cards. Kits aimed primarily for women include a companion doll and a lacing activity card, while those aimed for men include a busy-work board and “Plumber Pals” pipes. 

Each bundle also includes three books for caregivers: Put Your Mask on First, a book about self-care; Caregiving 101: Activities for the Family Caregiver; and Caregiving 101: Activity Fun Book. The kits will be available at each library, on the Mobile Library and through the Extension Services Department.

The dementia-care project was developed by Community Navigator Angi Polito and funded through a Bright Ideas Grant awarded by the State Library of North Carolina.

The grant is made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Library and Museum Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-252476-OLS-21).

For further information, call the Community Navigators at 336-318-6825 or email them at navigators@randolphlibrary.org.

Randolph libraries dive into ocean-themed summer reading initiative

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

ASHEBORO – Dive into “Oceans of Possibilities during a deep-blue themed summer reading adventure for children, with over 100 performances, storytimes, hands-on activities and other events in June and July among the libraries in Asheboro, Archdale, Franklinville, Liberty, Ramseur, Randleman and Seagrove.

Teens can join in too, and adults will have opportunities to enhance their reading experiences with speakers, book clubs and more. Most events this summer will be in-person, although some will be virtual.

Alina Celeste and Mi Amigo Hamlet

Visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summer for all the details, or contact your local library.

“Library summer reading initiatives offer children and teens a no-pressure way to stay engaged with learning while out of school so they are less likely to experience a ‘summer slide’ when they return in the fall,” says Library Director Ross Holt.

In addition to all the activities, children and teens can report minutes or numbers of books read to their local library for rewards and prizes, including an Amazon Kindle Fire HD tablet at each library, provided by the Friends of the Library.

The Friends also are sponsoring a virtual performance each month available at all libraries and on library Facebook pages. During the week of June 20-25, Grammy-winning, internationally-touring, purple-tuxedo-wearing family fun phenomenon Secret Agent 23 Skidoo will host a rhyme writing workshop, offering kids a chance to write and perform their own rhymes.

Parents Choice Award-winning duo Alina Celeste and Mi Amigo Hamlet will appear via library Facebook pages during the week of July 11-15, inviting audiences to sing, dance and learn Spanish and English in a joyful blend of cultures, in “Being Bilingual Rocks.”

In-person performers include Caleb Sigmon as Blackbeard the Pirate in Asheboro and family-friendly rock ‘n’ rollers Big Bang Boom at Randleman.

Also appearing at Randleman will be he Amazing Teacher Steve Somers and magical storyteller Mark Daniel. The North Carolina Zoo and Wild Tails NC will bring live animal ambassadors to several libraries.

Asheboro will host the Shepherd Shakespeare Company with a kid-friendly version of The Tempest, and shadow puppeteer Matt Sandbank. All libraries also will offer an array of storytimes, craft activities, STEAM events and more, and the Mobile Library will be on the move around the county.

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

Appearances by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and Alina Celeste & Mi Amigo Hamlet receive 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.

Archdale library to host class on growing bearded irises

Learn all about “Bearded Irises for the Home Landscape” with Master Gardener Heather Haley at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at the Archdale Public Library.

The class will cover properly planting and caring for irises in the home landscape. This perennial plant is typically low maintenance, will re-bloom year after year, and comes in many colors and forms making them a rewarding addition to any landscape.

Attendees will receive an invitation to join the American Iris Society at a reduced rate and can pick up a free iris at the Randolph County Cooperative Extension office located at 1003 S Fayetteville Street, Asheboro.

The Archdale library is located at 10433 S. Main St.

Trio to bring Irish and American folk tunes to Asheboro library

Travis Hicks

ASHEBORO – The traditional trio of Travis and Amelia Hicks and Scott Manring will present an evening of Irish and American folk music on a mix of string and wind instruments at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at the Asheboro Public Library.

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

Hicks, a professor of interior architecture at UNCG, will return for an encore performance on the Irish bagpipes and tin whistles, with daughter Amelia on guitar. They will be joined by Scott Manring, a Triad multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and performer on a variety of string instruments. 

In addition to his academic pursuits, Hicks grew up playing piano and singing in church. Inspired by Irish piper Paddy Moloney of The Chieftans, he took up traditional Irish music.

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