Wayne County Reads plans cleanup, film showing
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on February 24, 2006 1:51 PM
Over the next few days, the Wayne County Reads program will offer two events related to this year's book selection, Elie Wiesel's "Night."
Saturday, local volunteers will begin a two-day service project at the Oheb Shalom Temple, located at the corner of James and Oak streets. Monday, Dr. Geoff Weiss will show the film "Night and Fog" in the Hennessee Room in Mount Olive College's Murphy Center.
Saturday's event, scheduled to begin around 2 p.m., will involve the cleaning and restoration of Oheb Shalom, the second oldest Jewish synagogue in eastern North Carolina.
Tara Humphries, a member of the Wayne County Reads committee, said various organizations and local residents have already signed up and pitched in to help with the event.
"The Lion's Club donated some industrial brooms, and the M.E.R.C.I. Center gave cleaning supplies," she said, adding more donations will be needed. "Anything is welcome. As we begin renovations, there will always be cleaning that needs to be done."
But the supplies would be useless without volunteers to utilize them, she said.
So far, 12 local residents have signed up to join in the effort. Groups from Wayne Community College will also be represented, including the International Students Club, she said.
Volunteers are at the top of the boards wish-list for the event, which also includes rags, cleaning supplies and industrial strength shop-vacs.
The second workday is scheduled for March 4, with volunteers arriving at 10 a.m.
Anyone who would like to pitch in should contact Ms. Humphries at 919-735-5151.
Monday night's event will feature both the 1955 film, "Night and Fog," and a discussion, led by Dr. Geoff Weiss, a professor in the English Department at Mount Olive College.
The film, directed by Alain Resnais, examines life and death within a Nazi death camp. Upon completion of the viewing, Weiss will lead a discussion on its contents and message.
After earning a doctorate in film studies from the University of Kentucky, Weiss began his teaching career, which has included positions at UK and Jefferson Community College in Louisville, Ky.
The Wayne County Reads program is well under way, with large turnouts at the first three events. The most recent, Dr. Gerhard Weinberg's lecture on the Nuremberg Trials, was attended by more than 250 people including school groups, retirees, county officials and city staff.