Your Monthly News & Updates |
|
Doug Tallamy Event Coming Up Soon!
The Lanier Library is proud to partner with the Gardening for Life Project in bringing speaker Doug
Tallamy to Polk County on Saturday, March 4. This free event at Polk County High School is completely
full, and we are excited to know that so many people are interested in creating healthier habitats for the planet in their own yards. We can’t wait to hear about some of the ideas that come from this
|
|
On a dirt trail through the Metcalf Valley, densely wooded on both sides, James Metcalf can point into the tangled foliage and note, “My great, great, great grandfather William
Metcalf, son of a Revolutionary War veteran, lived in a cabin in the holler down there built some time before 1810. This used to be the main road from Greenville County to Saluda. Our family cemetery is ahead to the right, and straight on, lost in the woods, are the sites of the old Metcalf stills.” 66 headstones in the cemetery stand at random angles with varying wear and legibility.
James can tell tales and histories about many of them. For example, “In the Civil War, six
Metcalfs enlisted in the 54th North Carolina Regiment. I know only the fates of four. In
1918, Mary Rhodes, an in-law, walked down the mountain to sell her eggs at Melrose.
She was deaf and didn’t hear a train coming on the Saluda Grade and was struck and
killed. In 1945, Woodrow Metcalf was hunting in the cemetery when he shot off his toe.
Relatives at the time said a ghost must have spooked him. I don’t think that’s likely but it
is strange that his daughter Wilma was born in 1946 with six toes.”
Of more recent times, James remembers playing as a child with cousins on the banks of
Colt Creek, knowing that the water would soon drop over Pearson’s Falls. James has loved history since childhood and is a long-time Chief Docent at the Polk County History Museum and Genealogy Center. He is also a two-time award-winning gospel DJ and a singer/guitarist/songwriter of gospel and bluegrass music with 9 CDs to his credit. One of his compositions was recorded by eight different artists and in the top 20 of the Southern Gospel Music Charts for a year.
|
|
Find Your
Seat of Calm
Follow along with Nancy Nicholson at Lanier Library, Thursday, March 2, at 3 PM. A 25-year teacher of yoga, Nancy will lead you and eleven others, each in a chair, to practice Kripala Yoga. This “meditation in motion” focuses on sensations in your body and breath while seated and also, if you feel able, while standing by your chair.
Women and men of all ages practice yoga for flexibility, improved balance, calmness, focus, and other physical and mental benefits. Nancy’s goal is to help you “feel the union of mind, body, and spirit” through poses and gentle exercises you can repeat easily at home. Dress comfortably. This free workshop is made possible by the generous support of the Kirby Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation.
SAVE THE DATE: The calming waterscape in the photo was created by designer Steve Robbat, owner/operator of Waterspirit LLC. Save Thursday 8/24, 1 PM, for Steve’s program “Art That Flows.”
|
|
A Beautiful Addition to Lanier
In February, the library added something much-needed—a thing of beauty that is also incredibly useful. Fred Herres crafted this gorgeous, one-of-a-kind podium to be used during all Lanier Library programs. Previously, we had been using a dictionary stand that was not the correct height and very heavy to move. This new podium, provided by funding through the Kirby Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation, allows space for a presenter’s computer, is easy to move, and is a true work of art. Be sure to check it out the next time you are at Lanier. Thank you to Fred and to the Polk County Community Foundation for providing this podium that will be a treasured fixture in the library for many years. |
|
Legacy Gift for Lanier
In December of 2021, the library board learned that former Board President Harry Goodheart
had sadly passed away. As part of his estate plan, Mr. Goodheart left the building that housed
Tryon Fine Books and its contents for the benefit of Lanier Library. Over the course of the next
year, library staff and volunteers, guided by Gloria Underwood, sorted and disposed of all of the
contents either through sales or donations. In February, Board President Vicky Jackson signed
off on the sale of the building that will now be offices for Jay Geddings, financial advisor with
Edward Jones. We are excited for the new beginnings for the building, and remain deeply
grateful for the gift the library received as a result of Mr. Goodheart’s thoughtful estate
planning.
|
|
March Board & Staff Profile
|
|
You may know LAURA PEEK as Membership Chair of the Board and from her friendly personal reminders that your membership is up for renewal. Since 2020 she has been responsible for keeping current members happy and adding new. What you may not have known is that she has a Degree in Photography and her black and white photo documentary of a tobacco family is in the Special Collections of UNC in Asheville.
Laura moved from the Asheville area about 13 years ago. She remembers, “I was walking around Tryon and discovered Lanier by chance. Browsing around the rooms I felt that this was a place that had been loved for generations. I wanted my family to be part of it.”
A book lover since childhood, Laura learned to read at about 4 years old using book/record sets. For example, she listened to Will Rogers on an orange 45rpm record while reading the corresponding text in the book. When the recording beeped on her Crayola Crayons Record Player, she knew to turn the page and continue
reading each word in synch with the voice. Laura wanted to instill this same love of books in her two daughters. “With books in every room of our home,” says Laura, “ Lanier is a literary second home for the family.” Older daughter Meredith’s earliest memory of coming with her mom to Lanier was being amazed at how books went on and on, aisle after aisle. Laura adds, “I came here regularly with Elizabeth while pregnant with her. As a toddler, she liked to visit the little stone girl that’s in front of the fireplace.” Laura concludes, “I like the common room with the new releases, the people and chats. I actually got to chat with one of my favorite authors, Ron Rash, at a program and was star-struck.”
|
|
Membership Renewal Time
Is your membership about to expire? No need to come in to the library, just visit the library website by clicking on:
If you aren’t sure when your membership expires,
please contact the library at 828-859-9535.
|
|
Book of Month Club Winner Announced!
Congratulations to the winner of the Book of the Month Club, Robbie ter Kuile. Robbie received a gift certification to
The Book Shelf in Tryon.
Thank you to all the participants in the challenge. We hope you enjoyed some different books throughout the year.
|
|
A Note from the Board President
|
|
Light & Charming Seaside Hotel
Every so often you run across a show that is just pure pleasure to watch. I have three to recommend to you that fit the bill. One is Danish and the other two are French- all with sub-titles. “Seaside Hotel” is light and charming and runs for nine
seasons. It is available through Amazon Prime Video-PBS Masterpiece. The witty and engaging “Call My Agent” has four seasons and is available on Netflix. “A French Village” is more somber with a compelling storyline. It runs for seven seasons and is on Amazon Prime Video or check out the DVDs through our library. I was sorry when each of these shows ended... I wanted more! So imagine my delight when I recently discovered the ninth season of Seaside Hotel! It was like a gift! Happy viewing!
Until next time, Vicky
|
|
Book Lovers Meets March 4 @ 10 am
|
|
Book Lovers - March 2023
The first Saturday of every month, avid readers meet at Lanier Library to discuss books
they’ve enjoyed (or not)! It’s casual, enlightening, and there are no rules.
|
|
February 2023
FICTION
Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel
All the Broken Places John Boyne
The Marriage Portrait Maggie O ‘Farrell
Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver
A Dangerous Business Jane Smiley
Lucy by the Sea Elizabeth Strout
Something to Hide Elizabeth George
The Magic Kingdom Russell Banks
The Good Brother Chris Offutt
American Wife Curtis Sittenfeld
Hester Laurie Lico Albanese
Stolen Beauty Laurie Lico Albanese
Sometimes People Die Simon Stephenson
Death Comes for the Archbishop Willa Cather
The Long Answer Anna Hogoland
The Man in the Crooked Hat Harry Dolan
The Night Ship Jess Kidd
The Midcoast Adam White
Avalon Nell Zinc
We All Want Impossible Things Catherine Newman
The Red Daughter John Burnham Schwartz
Mum and Dad Joanna Trollope
Abdication Juliet Nicholson
The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted Robert Hillman
Lessons in Chemistry Bonnie Garmus
Treasure State C.J. Box
The Maid Nita Prose
Exiles Jane Harper
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Matt Cain
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen Paul Torday
The Women of Chateau Lafayette Stephanie Dray
Tularosa Michael McGarrity
Mexican Hat Michael McGarrity
Serpent Gate Michael McGarrity
Hermit’s Peak Michael McGarrity
Tom Clancy Red Winter Marc Cameron
MYSTERY
A World of Curiosities Louise Penny
BIOGRAPHY/ MEMOIR
My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy Clint Hill
The Light We Carry Michelle Obama
Spare Prince Harry
NON FICTION
17 Carnations: The Royals, The Nazis, and the Biggest Cover-Up in History Andrew
Morton
|
|
NONFICTION BOOK CLUB Meets Again in April
|
|
At the meeting of the Non-Fiction Book Club on February 12, the
group decided to skip the March meeting because of a conflict with "Delicious Reads,"
a special authors program sponsored by Hub City Bookshop in Spartanburg which will include the most recent author Dr. Benjamin Gilmer.
The group also decided to hold the April meeting at the home of Robbie ter Kuile,
since the Lanier Library will not be open on April 9, Easter. Beautiful Jim Key,
by Mim E. Rivas is the April book. In May, the club will discuss
Freezing Order, by William Browder.
|
|
Below are the links to our February Acquisitions & Orders. Feel free to contact the library to put your name on the hold list for
any you would like to read.
And, as always, let us know if there is a book or DVD you think
would enhance the collection.
|
|
Sisters of Mokama
Sisters of Mokama: the pioneering women who brought hope and healing to India by Jyoti Thottam is a nonfiction that reads like a fiction book. Once you start reading, it is difficult to stop as you’ll want to learn what happens next.
This is the true story of six Catholic nuns who left the Appalachian hills of Kentucky in 1947 to start a hospital in a poor, remote village of India. When an American priest wrote to their convent and asked that nuns come to India to build a hospital near his parish, the reverend Mother at first said “no.”
But, she soon realized that there were six sisters in her convent who had a desire to learn more about our world and to serve the people of India. Not only
did they agree to go to Bihar, India, they had to solicit the funds needed for their
travel and to build the hospital. Imagine their surprise, when they arrived in the
part of India where they were to live and work, to learn there was no electricity
and no running water. They were truly pioneers.
This story is written by the daughter of one of the nurses who was trained in
the school of nursing that the nuns began so they would have a pool of trained
nurses to help with the needs of the hospital. The author was able to glean the
story of the Sisters of Mokama from the letters that they wrote to their family
back in America and have been saved by their family. This book may be found on
the New Nonfiction book shelf, when isn’t checked out.
Submitted by Robbie ter Kuile
|
|
Equestrian Eventing
On February 15, Donna Younkin, Vice President of the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club, gave an interested audience a real education on the equestrian sport of Eventing.
We learned about the three components:
dressage, cross-country, and show-jumping. In addition, we were fortunate to have with us local resident and international 5* three-day event rider Zoe Crawford to share some of her experiences.
There are several local Eventing competitions and spectators and volunteers are welcomed.
|
|
Lanier Library welcomes all library-friendly dogs & cats,
but asks that they remain on leash or in their carriers at all times.
|
|
|
|
Sandra McCall's furry
grand-kitty,
Puddles McCall.
She is a recent rescue
who has successfully settled
into her new home with
Sandra's son,
Caelum.
|
|
Sandra's Shelf Display
Sandra's March display will be Our History Is Our Strength and will feature notable fiction and nonfiction celebrating the lives of women for Women's History Month.
|
|
March Display
The March display will include a collection of items of local history from James Metcalf.
|
|
Thank You!
Thank you to Donna Wise for the lovely display honoring the upcoming Gardening for Life Project event featuring Doug Tallamy on March 4.
|
|
The Lanier Library Poetry Committee is pleased to introduce a poem of the month program. Each month we will be posting a different poem that we hope will inspire you. The poem will be in the monthly newsletter and posted at the library.
Please let us know what you think of each month's selection.
|
|
March
[From HONE'S "Year Book"]
The insect world, now sunbeams higher climb,
Oft dream of Spring, and wake before their time:
Bees stroke their little legs across their wings,
And venture short flights where the snow-drop hings
Its silver bell, and winter aconite
Its buttercup-like flowers that shut at night,
With green leaf furling round its cup of gold,
Like tender maiden muffled from the cold:
They sip and find their honey-dreams are vain,
Then feebly hasten to their hives again.
The butterflies, by eager hopes undone,
Glad as a child come out to greet the sun,
Beneath the shadows of a sunny shower
Are lost, nor see to-morrow's April flower.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
