Published: September 03, 2008 03:16 am            

Embrace the Arts event to include disORIENTed memorabilia

At the Library

For a taste of, or a memory of, previous Murders on the disORIENTed EXPRESS, join us for Embrace the Arts from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The exhibit is entitled "disORIENTed Memories and Memorabilia."

This October’s presentation of “Close Encounters of the Texas Kind” marks the thirteenth edition of hilarity, hi-jinx and hullabaloo on Murder on the disORIENTed EXPRESS. Sue and David Smith started the marvelous murder mystery/dinner theater/train-ride event, Murder on the disORIENTed EXPRESS in 1993 as a fund raiser for Palestine Public Library and Anderson County Literacy Council.

Using snippets of local history, local flavor, and Texas hospitality, thousands of people have traveled from nearly every state in the Union (and Canada, too!) to enjoy this fun-filled event.

This “retrospective” exhibit features memorabilia including scripts, posters, T-shirts, costumes, and photographs. It reminds us of past fun times that feature the talents of local thespians and local playwrights and entices us to attend this year’s exciting Murder on the disORIENTed EXPRESS event!

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Things don’t always go as planned — and then again, some times they do. Library staff members, for instance, all made plans with friends and family for the holiday weekend—and then came Hurricane Gustov. Some of us started attending planning meetings and making arrangements on Thursday for the influx of hurricane evacuees from endangered regions near the coast.

Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m., library staff members, Red Cross workers, law enforcement, ham-radio operators, nursing faculty and nursing students set up shop at the Palestine Civic Center for the pre-screening and registration of hurricane evacuees. We called it the Processing Center. Registration began at 11 a.m. and shelters opened at 1:30 p.m.

When the doors opened for intake of evacuees, it looked like Christmas Eve at Wal-Mart! People swarmed through the doors. Traffic cones and pink engineering tape do wonders in controlling foot traffic!

Area churches prepared for serving food and providing beds for about 100 people per shelter. Many of the people we registered had been to Palestine to escape Katrina.

The part that went as planned is the part where the registration process went smoothly. I want to commend library staff members for their part in the registration process — for 36 hours straight! They gave up their holiday weekend to help others. I also commend all the folks involved in this humanitarian effort. Good job, everyone!

And you thought librarians only read books!

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Remember that Grandparents Day is Saturday. We invite grandparents to join their grandchildren for a special Storytime honoring grandparents, a craft, and refreshments on at 11 a.m. Saturday.

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“Weaving with Toni Smith” was such a hit that Toni and the participants have established a regularly scheduled meeting time on the second Tuesday of each month at the library to meet, share tips, learn new techniques, and enjoy fellowship with fellow weavers. Beginners and experienced weavers, alike, are invited to join in.

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Carol A. Herrington is the director of the Palestine Public Library. Contact the library at 903-729-4121, and visit online at www.palestine.lib.tx.us, or cherrington@palestine.lib.tx.us.

 

        

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