Wayne County Reads to finish events
By From staff reports
Published in News on February 19, 2012 1:50 AM
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"The Pleasure Was Mine," a book about a family's journey through Alzheimer's, is the 2012 Wayne County Reads selection.
Wayne County Reads will wrap up its 2012 "season of reading" this week with a look at the roles of caregivers and a celebration for all ages.
A panel discussion is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Wayne County Public Library, 1001 E. Ash St. Wayne County residents who have cared for family members afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and dementia will share their stories of the joys and challenges that came with their responsibilities.
"The Pleasure Was Mine," this year's Wayne County Reads selection, is about a family dealing with a matriarch with memory loss.
The panelists include Brenda Behr, Robert Fuller, Martie Saylors and Miriam Wessell, all of whom have been caregivers for their parents, and Kivett Ivey, who cared for his wife. Some had their relatives in their homes, others were in assisted living. Some had siblings to help them, others bore all of the responsibility.
"They each have a different story and perspective, so it should be interesting," said Anne Paugh, Alzheimer's North Carolina Inc. outreach development coordinator, who will moderate the panel.
On Thursday, the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Library will hold a program for children featuring storyteller "Nana Belle" who will present a story on grandparents and aging. That event is set for 7 p.m.
A "Festival for the Ages" is scheduled for 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Wayne County Center at 208 W. Chestnut St.
The family event will highlight some of the activities through which characters in the book connected. It will feature performances by Samantha Casey and the Bluegrass Jam, the Warsaw SeeSaw Square Dancers, and clogging by the RENdancE Academy. There will be handcraft activity tables hosted by four Wayne County Extension and Community Association clubs, a spinning wheel provided by Aycock Birthplace and a pottery demonstration by Randy Wright.
During the festival, the winners of the prose and poetry contest sponsored by the Goldsboro Writers Group will be announced and will read their works on various aspects of aging.
The "Quilts and Their Stories" exhibit at the Wayne County Museum at 116 N. William St. will remain on display through the end of the month.
Wayne County Reads is a one book, one-community project started in 2004. In addition to discussing each book's literary merits, WCR provides free public programs such as lectures, exhibits, performances, films, discussions, demonstrations, contests and festivals that explore the themes and issues in the books.
Wayne County Reads selections have included "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, "Big Fish" by Daniel Wallace, "Night" by Elie Wiesel, "Walking Across Egypt" by Clyde Edgerton, "Blood Done Sign My Name" by Tim Tyson, "Blackbeard: America's Most Notorious Pirate" by Angus Konstam, "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, and "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time" and "Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan" by Greg Mortenson.
The 2012 Wayne County Reads Partners are the City of Goldsboro, County of Wayne, Mount Olive College, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Library, Wayne Community College, Wayne Country Day School, Wayne County Public Library System, Wayne County Public Schools and many interested individuals.
Support for this year's programs has been provided by Friends of the Wayne County Public Library, Kiwanis Club of Goldsboro, Foundation of Wayne Community College, and the 2010 HealtHabit Benefit Wine Tasting.