Catawba County News

This Week at Your Library [Mar 6-12]

Published: March 04, 2021

LIBRARY PROGRAMS
828.465.8665

Contribute to Our Seed Library
Ongoing
Help us build a seed library, where the community can exchange seeds for free! We'll accept viable seeds at all locations during their standard business hours, and heirlooms are especially welcome. Please package and label any donations you drop off. The seed swap collection will be available to the public in early March and will be housed at the Main Library in Newton. Seeds are subject to availability and cannot be reserved.

Your Art With Us: The Future 
Through March 8 
Take a trip to the future! Thomas Cole was a 19th-century American landscape painter who told stories through his work. Eighth-grade students at Maiden Middle School studied Cole’s series, The Course of Empire, and envisioned a sixth painting for the series, which the students titled The Future. Open to interpretation, this new painting could identify the future as a day in Cole's era in 1836, be set in the present day, or look well beyond. The exhibit of student art is on display at the Main Branch in Newton and virtually on the library's website.

Cutting the Cord: Alternatives to Cable
Monday, March 8 at 6 pm
Join us for a virtual program designed to help inform people about various streaming alternatives to cable TV. We'll cover how streaming services can be a more affordable option for watching your favorite shows. To register for the program, visit https://tinyurl.com/cclscuttingthecord. 

LIVE Zumba with Honey & Jossiah
Monday, March 8 at 6 pm
This fun dance workout is appropriate for every skill and ability level and open to anyone 14+ (parental signature required for teens under 18). Classes are held outdoors in the lower parking lot of the Newton Library. In the event of rain, join the virtual session with this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87120563944?pwd=S09kaEVkd0dydm1VYW14WnVUZG9sUT09. Then enter the meeting ID: 871 2056 3944 and follow it with the passcode: Dance. [Please note that this word is case-sensitive. Enter it exactly as shown.] You can also visit www.facebook.com/ZumbaWithHmongSibs/. Meets every Monday.

St. Stephens Digital Book Club
Monday, March 8 at 6:30 pm
This month's digital book club meeting asks participants to read a book that challenges them, so choose something appropriate and come prepared to chat with others about your chosen read! The group meets at www.facebook.com/groups/St.StephensBookClub/. 

Resumés 101
Tuesday, March 9 at 2 pm
Thanks to a partnership with NCWorks Catawba, we're offering a virtual resumé-writing workshop. To participate, register at https://tinyurl.com/catawbajobs. A Zoom link will be sent out prior to the workshop. 

ESL Class – Intermediate
Tuesday, March 9 at 6 pm
Practice speaking English with us on Tuesday evenings! We'll spend the first 20 minutes or so on grammar and then start our conversations. If you'd like to register for class or get more information about the weekly series that runs through May 2021, please call the Newton branch at 828.465.8664.

Tinkercad Lucky Charm Designs
Wednesday, March 10 at 4 pm
Join our virtual program to learn how to use Tinkercad to create 3-D print designs of lucky charms. The session is a follow-up to last week’s Introduction to Tinkercad, but if you didn't attend the introduction, we'll catch you up at this program. We'll begin with a brief recap of Tinkercad and then review lucky charm designs before creating our own! An email address is required to create a Tinkercad account, and parental consent and an email are required for participants under 13. Register at https://tinyurl.com/cclstinkercad. We'll send a Zoom link out the day before the program. 

Teen Recipes: Microwavable Omelet
Wednesday, March 10 at 5:30 pm
April Vigardt from the NC Cooperative Extension office is presenting a month-long series featuring easy microwave recipes. All programs are 30-minute Zoom sessions, and the library will provide some ingredients for each recipe in weekly kits. (Kits will be available for the first 10 people or households who register for each program.) Teens are also invited to attend the Zoom session and supply their own ingredients if registration is already full.

• March 10: Omelet
• March 17: Enchiladas
• March 24: Chili
• March 31: Chocolate Mug Cake

Teens should register at https://tinyurl.com/CatCoMicrowave and can sign up for any or all sessions.

Live Preschool Storytime via Zoom
Thursday, March 11 at 10 am
Gather the kids and join us for a live, interactive preschool storytime! This family-friendly virtual event will include singing, reading, finger plays, and lots of your favorite activities! Please register at https://tinyurl.com/CatawbaThursdayStorytime. You’ll receive the registration confirmation and Zoom link in your email. 

Healthy, Happy & Wise: Improving Your Fitness
Thursday, March 11 at 5:30 pm
Join us for a virtual presentation with certified personal trainer Dr. George Place to identify ways to look after your physical health. We'll learn about joint protection and longevity through improved balance, flexibility, strength, cardio, and agility. To receive the Zoom link, register at https://tinyurl.com/ccls-HealthyHappyWise-reg.

Spring into Reading STEAM Program: Origami Rainbow Flowers
Friday, March 12 at 4 pm
We'll learn about spring, St. Patrick's Day, and rainbows as we make origami rainbow flowers that can change shape! Participants must register at https://www.tinyurl.com/SpringIntoReading to receive the Zoom link and a materials list. Note: This is the sixth of seven STEAM programs connected to our youth-targeted Spring Into Reading challenge coordinated through Beanstack. Participants can use this same link to register for any of the weekly STEAM programs running from Feb 2-Mar 18.

COMMUNITY
828.465.8665

Center & Venture: Tai Chi & Hike
Tuesday, March 9 from 3-4:30 pm
Certified personal trainer and tai chi instructor Dr. George Place will lead us in finding inner peace and outer adventure as we gather at Riverbend Park (6700 NC Hwy 16, Conover) for 30 minutes of tai chi, followed by an hour’s hike through the park. These events tick all the boxes: activity, calm, and nature, in the company of friends. Suitable for all fitness levels. Register and complete the waiver at https://tinyurl.com/ccls-CenterVenture-reg. 

Virtual Tai Chi
Wednesday, March 10 at 12 noon
Join our lunchtime tai chi class, led by Cooperative Extension director Dr. George Place. This short virtual session is designed to help people relax in their offices or home environments during a quick 30 minutes. It also helps promote balance and alleviate the effects of arthritis. Check www.facebook.com/catawbacountylibrarysystem for the Zoom code the day of the class. 

REGISTER KIDS NOW!

Our Spring Into Reading challenge runs seven weeks, beginning on Groundhog Day (February 2) and ending on the first day of spring (March 20).

The challenge has two parts: 

1. Kids are asked to read a total of 120 minutes each of the 7 weeks.
2. They're encouraged to attend 5 of  the 7 virtual STEAM programs we're offering as well. 

If they complete the reading challenges and the STEAM program requirements, they'll be entered into a drawing to win a cool, 3-D-printed monster! 

To register for the virtual STEAM programs and get materials lists to participate, visit https://tinyurl.com/SpringIntoReading. To log reading time each week and to document STEAM programs a child has attended, register the child at https://catawbacountync.beanstack.org/reader365. Reading time can be entered under the 'logging badges' tab, and STEAM programs can be entered under the 'activity badges' tab.

The STEAM challenges are as follows:

• Week 1:  Shadow Puppets - Tuesday, February 2 at 4 pm
• Week 2:  Borax Crystal Snowflakes - Tuesday, February 9 at 4 pm
• Week 3:  Ski Challenge - Thursday, February 18 at 4 pm
• Week 4:  Save Han Solo - Saturday, February 27 at 3 pm
• Week 5:  Bug Out Robots - Thursday, March 4 at 4 pm
• Week 6:  Origami Rainbow Flowers - Friday, March 12 at 4 pm
• Week 7:  Pi Day - Thursday, March 18 at 4 pm

For more details, call 828.465.8665 or visit www.catawbacountync.gov/library.

DROP-IN HELP
828.465.8665

Homework Helpers
Ongoing
The 4-H Youth Council is partnering with the library to offer 20-minute time slots for homework and reading assistance. Elementary and middle school-aged students may drop in on a first-come, first-served basis. Just check in at the circulation desk for guidance when you arrive. Parents must remain in the library during each session. Participating branches include: 

• Newton: Mon & Wed 4-6 pm
• Sherrills Ford-Terrell: Mon 4-6 pm
• Conover: Sat 10 am-12 noon