2023 Calendar of Events

Every Second Tues. 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group 

Every Third Mon. 6-8:30 p.m. | Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

Last Thursday each Month | Writers' Group 

Select Saturdays | Carolina Explorers 'Adventures in Nature' Science Program, ages 8-12 

9 Tues. 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group:  

Joyful (Ingrid Lee) 

A Way in the Wilderness (Kowaleski)  

15 Mon. 6-8:30 p.m.  |  Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

18 Thurs. 7-9 p.m.  |  NEW! WRITERS' GROUP (See description at the bottom of this page)

20 Sat. 1-4 p.m.  | Carolina Explorers 'Adventures in Nature' Science Program, ages 8-12

13 Tues. 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group:  

Coal Miner’s Daughter (Lynn)

River of Earth (J. Still)  

15 Thurs. 2:30 p.m. | BE READERS (youth book discussion group)

17 Sat. 1-4 p.m. | Carolina Explorers 'Adventures in Nature' Science Program, ages 8-12 

19 Mon. 6-8:30 p.m.  |  Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

22 Thurs. 2:30 p.m. | BE READERS (youth book discussion group)

29 Thurs. 2:30 p.m. | BE READERS (youth book discussion group)

29 Thurs. 7-9 p.m.  |  WRITERS' GROUP

6 Thurs. 2:30 p.m. | BE READERS (youth book discussion group)

11 Tues. 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group:  The Good Left Undone (Trigiani) 

13 Thurs. 2:30 p.m. | BE READERS (youth book discussion group)

15 Sat. 1-4 p.m. | Carolina Explorers 'Adventures in Nature' Science Program, ages 8-12

17 Mon. 6-8:30 p.m.  |  Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

18 Tues. 7-8 p.m.  |  Summer Series Lecture: Janet Barton Speer, Professor Emeritus at Lees-McRae College  (See description at the bottom of this page)

20 Thurs. 2:30 p.m. | BE READERS (youth book discussion group)

27 Thurs. 7-9 p.m.  |  WRITERS' GROUP

8 Tues. 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group:  Demon Copperhead (Kingsolver) 

19 Sat. 1-4 p.m.  | Carolina Explorers 'Adventures in Nature' Science Program, ages 8-12 

21 Mon. 6-8:30 p.m.  |  Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

31 Thurs. 7-9 p.m.  |  WRITERS' GROUP

12 Tues. 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group:  Black Cake (C. Wilkerson)  

18 Mon. 6-8:30 p.m.  |  Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

16 Sat. 1-4 p.m. | Carolina Explorers 'Adventures in Nature' Science Program, ages 8-12

28 Thurs. 7-9 p.m.  |  WRITERS' GROUP 

10 Tues. 4:15 p.m. | Book Discussion Group:   Virgil Harbor (J. Glass) 

16 Mon. 6-8:30 p.m.  |  Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

28 Sat. 1-4 p.m. | Carolina Explorers 'Adventures in Nature' Science Program, ages 8-12 

20 Mon. 6-8:30 p.m.  |  Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

18 Mon. 6-8:30 p.m.  |  Bluegrass Country Music Jam 

Book Discussion Groups:

Thanks to the generous support of the  High Country Charitable Foundation, the Book Exchange is able to  purchase each of the titles mentioned above for discussion group participants to borrow and read.  There will be a copy of these titles on the list on the desk at the Book Exchange for readers to check out by writing their name and date on a pad. We do ask that discussion group  participants return the books as soon as finished, so others can read  the books before the meetings.  The discussion group is open to anyone  interested in participating and discussing literature.  No need to sign  up – just come! 

NEW Writers' Group:

Welcome POETS, short story WRITERS and NOVELISTS! Participants meet on the last Thursday of every month (dates are contingent on at least 4 people expressing interest).

The goal of our time together is to share and enjoy our written works, as well as to kindly offer constructive feedback at the writer's discretion. If interested in a date listed on the above calendar, please email Nikki at  zigjoy@zoho.com and include your name in the email. 

BE READERS:

BE Readers, a youth book discussion group, will meet at the Book Exchange at 2:30 pm Thursdays from June 15th through July 20th (6 Thursdays).  A copy of each book will be given to all participants.  The discussion group, open to all rising 5th and 6th graders, is led by a retired librarian and teachers. For information or to sign up, contact Susan Staton at susan.staton@gmail.com.

The Book Exchange "Summer Lecture Series" Presents:

THE [W]RIGHT SISTER | Tuesday, July 18, 7-8 pm

Janet  Barton Speer, Professor Emeritus at Lees-McRae College and Banner Elk’s  resident Queen of Summer Theatre, will present a program about her newest musical production,

‘THE[W]RIGHT SISTER’, which will run at Evans Auditorium July 23-29. If  you hear the “Wright Brothers,” your mind travels easily to Wilbur and  Orville, who in 1903 went from simple bicycle shop owners to the famous  inventors of heavier-than-air flight. But while the Wright Brothers had  their heads in the clouds, there was one person on the ground working to  help them soar—their sister, Katharine. Janet Speer will be talking  about the Wright family and the process of turning it into a musical. Members of the cast will be at the event to demonstrate some of the  music. This event is free, but we always welcome your donations to help keep the Book Exchange open!

Carolina Explorers Adventures in Nature: 

Carolina Explorers “Adventures in Nature” is a fun and FREE hands-on program for ages 8-12 (grades 3-6). Certified NC Environmental Educator and Blue Ridge Naturalist Tamara Randolph leads participants in learning about plants, animals, fungi, rocks, weather and other cool things in nature that make this area such an amazing place to explore! For each session we will have a different theme. Parents can bring their children to the Book Exchange at 1 p.m. and pick them up at 4 p.m. We will also spend time outside at Tate-Evans Park exploring along the greenway. Please register your child by emailing tamara@NCexplorers.com or by texting/calling 828-406-8187. Each session is limited to 10 participants. Learn more at www.NCexplorers.com.

Volunteer at the Book Exchange!

Volunteer for a future slot, or to be a substitute. Being a substitute is an easy way to see if you like it!  Direct volunteer questions to Dusty Ross, dkross@uncg.edu.  

It's a small town, but there's lots to do!  You may enjoy these other organizations' offerings also:

• Mayland Community College: Continuing Education Schedule for Spring 2023
• Ensemble Stage Theatre at the Historic Banner Elk School
• BE Artists Gallery at the Historic Banner Elk School
• Avery Community Yoga at the Historic Banner Elk School 
• Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation
• Lees-McRae Summer Theatre