By Beverly McCraw
Spencer Public Library

Old and young alike, from babies to grandparents, enjoyed two hours of “Frozen” fun on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Spencer Public Library.

Even though the weather was raining and dreary, 41 children and 27 adults enjoyed four rotations of crafts, storytime featuring “Frozen” characters, a dragon-inspired puppet show and a scavenger hunt with “Frozen” prizes. Several volunteers manned the various stations.

Paula Watkins checked in each child and passed out color-coded “Frozen” stickers to all. Each group visited a different station according to colored dots on stickers. Since the library only expected around 20 children, it was a little frantic at times. The brave teen puppeteers soldiered on despite the crowds and the stability of the puppet stage which had a few wobbly moments.

Five teens from Salisbury Seventh Day Adventist School had only practiced the play twice but performed it seven times by the end of the day in order to accommodate the large crowd.

Leslie Talbott, dressed in a period-appropriate princess gown, regaled the children with tales of Olaf, Anna and Elsa from the “Frozen” movie.

Walter Fyler and Paula Watkins had to rehide the “Frozen” characters for the scavenger hunt at least five or six times.

Bella Maynor and her grandmother Jill Maynor helped toddlers and young ones as they created foam gingerbread people and colored large scenes from the Frozen movie.

Beverly McGraw narrated the puppet script, which she had written and, when necessary, held up parts of the puppet stage, which had some unstable moments. After all the children had finished the four stations, everyone gathered in one room and passed out cupcakes, cookies and lemonade. Then the names of the winners of the scavenger hunt were called. At least 20 of the 41 children had won a first, second or third prize.

The first 24 children who had signed in at the door received a small treat bag with a bookmark, candy and a pencil.

The Spencer Public Library’s next winter event happened on Tuesday. Joyce Ingram, a local who speaks on subjects such as aprons, outhouses and a redneck Christmas, offered the main entertainment.

Gene and Jonathan Duncan presented Christmas music with banjos and guitars with a bluegrass twang. Sandra Duncan led the vocals on two renditions of “O Holy Night” and “Mary, Did You know.”

The library is planning two events for January and February, which honor Dr. Martin Luther King and Black History Month.

Dates for the January event are not firm, but the library event will feature a young gospel artist named Mia Mason and her mentor Destiny Stone. This event will be called “Diverse Women of Destiny.”

On Feb. 11, an art and drama teacher at North Rowan High School will be bringing two classes during the school day on a field trip to our library.

Two local artists, Jae Wheeler and Na Sha, will be sharing their expressions of Black History and Culture through art. Wheeler is working on several new pieces which he hopes to display in the library for the month of February. He will share his life story and how art is a big part of his life.

Na Sha, currently residing in Concord but previously a New York resident, will share her ideas of recycling ordinary objects with colorful themes from African art.

The students will share lunch with both artists and will be able to ask questions.

Beverly McCraw is the Spencer librarian.