Friday, November 16, 2018

Teen Poetry Happens Expounds On "Why Be Creative?"

I love Alexander County Library's creative teens and their dedication to the arts. Here is the compiled poem from the first official meeting of the club on October 9, 2018 at 16/90 T'ville Scoops.

The poem will be included in the 10 Anniversary edition of The Alexander Muse which debuts in April 2019. For submission guidelines, visit https://thealexandermuse.blogspot.com/p/the-alexander-muse-submission-guidelines.html . The magazine is open to all Alexander County high school students regardless of educational institution.



"Why Teen Poetry Happens?" by TPH Teens 2018/19

It is where pens click, pencils drop, and papers fly -
drawing, writing, singing or dancing.
Maybe you don’t know where you’ll be tomorrow,
I have ink within my veins and a pen upon my palm.

My life is parchment, my soul a quill,
dripping in black liquid.
I have poetry, music in the heart,
words in the air, notes on a guitar.

My feelings are as a river
flowing through and through.
Friends together, connecting with others,
lead within my bones, a pencil in my hand.

Aspirations lie within the very craft
of a word, a note, a stroke.
Let the words forever stain,
something no one can take from me.

Sometimes being lost is the best way to be,
the best way to be found.
My rhymes be sung as psalms
like I’m finally free.

Free to be myself, an escape
from my anxiety.
Let what I’ve said live on,
not just wash away as sand.

Special in so many ways than one,
a love for creativity in my chest.
So let invention begin,
let me bring forth my best.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Digital Storytime for Dr. Seuss's Birthday on March 2

In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday this Friday, we will read a Story Jumper digital book created by students in a Seussian format!  Click on the link below to read "There's a Zybrary in the Library"

Monday, December 18, 2017

Christmas 2017 Cheer from Teen Poetry Happens and Alexander County Library

Teen Poetry Happens is at it again with holiday cheer!  Check out their Christmas wish in their video parody for 2017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLgc8v2H-UU

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Teen Poetry Happens and Alexander County Library!

Mel

Friday, October 20, 2017

Build A Better World A Success for the Alexander County Library System

Alexander County Library and Bethlehem Branch had a wonderful summer of activities around BUILD A BETTER WORLD, the summer reading program.  664 youth joined the program with over 12,000 hours of reading reported and over 1300 folks attending programs. A whopping 87% of those who signed up participated in the program.


The libraries wish to thank: Alexander and Bethlehem Friends of the Library; Kim Hertzler and her sweet reading therapy dog, Abby; Alexander Central Auditorium and Christine Deal; Taylorsville Presbyterian Church; The Green Bean Players from The Green Room for their wonderful production of "Pinocchio"; Wendy's and Tar Heel Capital; and all of the amazing volunteers who make the program run smoothly!

So proud of our Golden Nail recipients who met all the challenges from the bottom of the calendar.



















Get tuned up for LIBRARIES ROCK - summer reading for 2018!  The program will run from June 17 - July 28, 2018 at Alexander County Library, Bethlehem Branch, and opening in 2018, the Stony Point Branch!


Enjoy these photos from BUILD A BETTER WORLD!

Miss Mel

Monday, October 2, 2017

Digital Storytime at Alexander County Library

Click here for Ms. Mel's Wide Mouth Frog

During the week of October 2 - 6, 2017 at Alexander County Library, I added a digital component during Storytime. Hopefully, the children and their caregivers enjoyed my retelling of the Wide Mouth Frog. It was a little book I wrote that former Teen Poetry Happens participant and YAYA, Jessica Ferretiz, illustrated for her senior project.  Our Storytime theme was THE SKY IS THE LIMIT. The little frog definitely flies around (and yes, that's a double entendre!!).

Patrons brought digital devices- such as an iPad, tablet, cell phone - to hook up to the library's wifi. They were able to participate as we told the story by pointing to words with their child. There were library tablets that could be used as well as my projection of the story on the wall.

Here are some photos of each Storytime.  I plan to do a digital storytime at least once a month.  The next digital series week will be on Tuesday, November 28 and Friday, December 1 when we have I LOVE SUPERHEROES as our theme. Hope to see you and your little one at Storytime!






Many thanks to all who joined me on the adventure!  Hope to see you and your little one at Storytime!

Miss Mel

Friday, June 16, 2017

BUILD A BETTER WORLD - Starting at Alexander County Library - A Double Entendre!

Alexander County Library and Bethlehem Branch have been signing up summer readers since May 1!  The big day to begin timed reading is Sunday, June 18.  Youth ages birth to 18 can read any materials - books, magazines, Internet articles, or even closed captioning on their favorite movies or shows.  They simply report their time each week to the library.  For all the details, check the library's website at www.alexanderlibrary.org/summer-reading.


 The Balloon Lady will be our first program for all ages on Friday, June 23 at Alexander Central Auditorium beginning at 10 am.  Hailing from Perth, Australia, she is fun to watch and to listen to!  There is a free balloon sculpture workshop for youth after the show.  Call me at the library to reserve your spot if you want to learn to make fun balloon animals.

The Green Bean Players from The Green Room Theatre will perform the classic fairytale "Pinocchio" at Alexander Central Auditorium.  The show begins at 10 am on Tuesday, June 27!


Volunteer opportunities are available!
Come, join us and BUILD A BETTER WORLD!

Mel (AKA, Tony the Buildah)


Monday, May 15, 2017

Alexander County Library's First Poetry After Hours Is Awesome!


Teen Poetry Happens members Hunter Addington, Noah Nowell, and Courtney Gant read the collaborative poem "Ask Me What I Remember" on April 21, 2017 at Alexander County Library.

“Ask Me What I Remember” Crafted by Teen Poetry Happens from written memories on the poetry wall, “Ask Me What I Remember – Images of Perseverance”, March 10, 2017

Friday nights at Mamaw’s house
Grandma playing piano by ear
My mama singing, snow at Christmas
Telling stories about childhood

Grass and caterpillars in my baseball glove
Playing in the spring,
Sliding at the shoals,
Climbing Rocky Face Mountain

I remember when I was scared
Ice had ripped my skin while sledding
Mercurochrome
Screaming “I’m dying, I’m dying!”

AM radio
Choke knobs on the dash
Crazy midnight adventures
All by a redhead’s side

Scared drivers,
Afraid of possibly sick children,
Provoked to drive quickly away
At their approach.

Roasting marshmallows
When it was chilly
Before computers took
Over our lives

My brother was born,
My sister was born
And we just keep on living
Hope to build a better tomorrow

















Thanks to all who came and shared their poetic works! 

At the Art After Hours reception on May 19 works by Ethan Swanson debuted.  The next Poetry After Hours - inspired by Ethan's He'art Exhibition - will be June 16, from 6 - 7:30 pm.  Join us!

Hope to see you soon at Alexander County Library!

Mel

Thursday, May 4, 2017

The Alexander Muse Debuts With Fantastic New Crop of Creative Teens

Keyley Sigmon garnered the front cover of the 2017 Alexander Muse with "Majesty'.
Novia Shoup's dramatic photograph "Undulate" won first place and the back cover the The Alexander Muse.



 Alexander Friends of the Library sponsored the reception that was free and open to the public at Reformation Lutheran Church in Taylorsville.




Chayton Chumley snagged 1st Place Prose with his moving piece "That Dragon, Cancer". 
Published students and coordinators photographed at the reception: (front row, left to right) Tessla Patterson, Rhiannon Griffith, Novia Shoup, Shelby Corriher, Hunter Addington, Alexander Muse Coordinator Robbin Isenhour Stewart. (Back row) Alexander Muse Coordinator Mel Hager, Kasey Wood, Ashley Woodie, Chayton Chumley, Janah Bucknum, Reid Coffey, Keyley Sigmon, Bryce Bowman, Alyssa Collins, Gracie Norton, Courtney Gant, and Alexander Muse Coordinator Beth Duncan. Not pictured: Tatiana Pierre, Caroline Erkman, Daniel Ervin, Ryan Masnicki, Tou Vang, Jacavian Voss, and Caleb Williams. 

Congratulations to all the published students!  


The Alexander Muse wishes to thank: Alexander Friends of the Library, Reformation Lutheran Church, Micah Henry and The Taylorsville Times, the judges, assistant Courtney Gant, and reception assistants, Sarah Fox and Autumn Pennell. Many thanks also to those who donated prizes to support the students and the arts.
1st Place Art - Alexander Friends of the Library
2nd Place Art – Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Center
3rd Place Art – Linda Merry Parker, Local Potter with Mery Pottins

1st Place Photography – Alexander Friends of the Library
2nd Place Photography – Suzanne Williams, REALTOR®, Coldwell Banker Boyd & Hassell
3rd Place Photography - Jacqueline Moose - Independent Jamberry Consultant

1st Place Prose – Alexander Friends of the Library
2nd Place Prose – The United Way of Alexander County
3rd Place Prose – Dale and Dianne White with Draggin W Farm

1st Place Poetry – Alexander Friends of the Library
2nd Place Poetry – Maskcara Beauty, Amanda Parker, Independent Artist
3rd Place Poetry - Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Center

Judges for the 2017 edition: ART – Ellen Ball, Meredith Janssen, and Laura Crooks; PROSE – James Ford, LaRonya Teague, and Deborah Reynolds; POETRY – Beverly Finney, Doug McHargue, and Bud Caywood; PHOTOGRAPHY – C. Joe Young, Carol Anne Hartman, and Chad Ritchie.
The magazine is a collaborative effort of Alexander County Library and Alexander County Schools.  Submissions are currently accepted for consideration to be in the 2018 edition.  Email digital entries of poetry, prose, and photography to thealexandermuse@gmail.com . Art items should be entered at the library or to Robbin Isenhour Stewart at Alexander Central High School. High school students from Alexander County, regardless of educational institution, are eligible to enter.


Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Poetry and More To Finish Out April

The Alexander Muse teen art and literary magazine will debut its 8th edition on Tuesday, April 25 at Reformation Lutheran Church in Taylorsville.  The reception, sponsored by Alexander Friends of the Library, will begin at 3:30 pm with a page by page reveal for the audience.  The reception is free and open to the public.

Alexander County Library has been celebrating all week (April 17-21) for its 50th Anniversary and it will culminate in an afternoon of food, face painting, pet rock making, and a lipsync battle between staff and teen volunteers!  Join us from 2 - 5 pm for the fun.

Then, at 6 pm as the library closes, our scene will become a poetry den for the first Poetry After Hours event.  An open mic invites poets of all ages to share works or even read poems of other poets.  Teen Poetry Happens will read their poem crafted from words collected on the March Art After Hours poetry wall.  Food, fun, and free!  Join us!

And don't forget, Alexander County's own RockyFest at Rocky Face Mountain Park will be on Saturday.  I'll be the emcee all day introducing amazing music from 10 am - 6 pm. Stop by and say howdy!!

Mel

Friday, April 7, 2017

Joyce Hostetter Inspires Many at Alexander County Library Programs




On March 5, 2017, the public was invited to hear NC author, Joyce Moyer Hostetter, speak on her newest novel, AIM. The book is a prequel in the Bakers Mountain Stories series which includes the beloved book, BLUE.




Library teen volunteers, Maia Southers and Courtney Gant, helped with setup, service, and cleanup. Also assisting was Hunter Jamison (not pictured).  I thank them so much for their help!






The reception was held at Reformation Lutheran Church in Taylorsville. Alexander Friends of the Library sponsored the event.







Alexander Friends of the Library President, Glenn Mays, welcomed the audience which came to hear Joyce Hostetter.











Alexander Friends of the Library also purchased one copy of AIM for each school in the county. Mrs. Hostetter signed them as well as others she had available for purchase. Thank you, Friends, for all you did for the library and the schools with this event!





I had my hair dyed blue. How I do love these books! And this author!











On Friday evening, March 10, Alexander County Library held its Art After Hours with the new exhibit, "Ask Me What I Remember: Images of Perseverance". Local photographers were encouraged to recreate scenes from BLUE or scenes reminiscent of their pasts.  A poetry wall gave reception attendees the opportunity to share memories in print.













Joyce Hostetter (left) chats with Alexander County resident and polio survivor, Fleeta Mayes, at Art After Hours.






Library Board Trustee chair, Miranda Burgin, welcomed the audience for the event celebrating local photographers and Joyce Hostetter's work that has inspired so many.






At the April 21, 2017 Poetry after Hours event, Teen Poetry Happens will share their poem pieced together from imagery collected on the poetry wall.  Area poets will also be encouraged to attend and share their works about the current exhibit or other works in an open mic. The reception and poetry readings will go from 6 - 7:30 pm at Alexander County Library.

Hope to see you soon at Alexander County Library!

Love, 
Mel