Lifestyle

Each year, thousands of schools and libraries across the country celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Seuss’s with readings of his works on his birthday (March 2). Wills Point has been no exception to the nationwide trend, bringing in guest readers and volunteers to share the works of Dr. Seuss annually in its classrooms. Students in Chasity Mixon’s third grade class at Earnest O. Woods Intermediate School were among those locally that took part in this year’s event with an assist from Tamara Pearson Brown. Brown is the grandmother of Woods Intermediate student Camryn Pearson.

Crafts for Storytime on Friday, Feb. 19 at the VZC Library included making a paper plate chicken. Storytime is held at 10 a.m. each Friday morning at the Van Zandt County Library, 317 First Monday Lane, Canton.

The day is almost here and the countdown has officially begun. 

The Van Zandt County Library will be running on a limited schedule for March.  

After 23 years, new flooring will be installed in the main library, and essential services will be relocated to the Buchanan Room.

Wills Point Medical Clinic, located at 568 N. Fourth St., held a reception Feb. 12 to welcome its new provider, Amanda Clark. Dr. Mustafa Firoz, head of the WPMC, noted the addition of Clark would allow the clinic to offer serve more residents with their health needs. Those present at the reception included Clark, Mayor Mark Turner and his wife Cathy, and Firoz.

Storytime at VZC Library Feb. 12 was all about Valentines. Children learned about the history of Valentine’s Day while also hearing stories from volunteer reader, Ms. Rhonda, who also read stories from her personal collection of tales.

Pastor Lonnie C. Cunigan and members of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Wills Point sponsored a community meeting Jan. 30. The purpose of the meeting was to allow church and community leaders to welcome and meet with new Chief of Police Rob Powell and new WPISD Superintendent Scott Caloss.

At the Van Zandt County Genealogical Society’s monthly meeting Jan. 23, Tom Tyler of Canton was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for 2015. 

Tyler is a regular volunteer librarian at the Van Zandt County Library of Genealogy and Local History. He assists with numerous projects of the society and volunteers to take tombstone photos at local cemeteries in answer to requests through findagrave.com.

A regular feature of the genealogy meetings is a short item of genealogical or historical interest presented by Martha Heard of Canton.  This month’s topic was the Teapot Dome Scandal of the 1920s.

Wills Point Pilot Club donated Christmas cheer to the Alzheimer's residents of Crestwood Health & Rehabilitation in the form of craft supplies. The Wills Point Pilot Club volunteers were then thanked by Christmas Carols sung by the residents. Pictured is Lettie Clark, President Wills Point Pilot Club and Debra Huff, Life Enrichment Director for Crestwood and Pilot member. The Wills Point Pilot Club is a 501C3 volunteer organization helping the community by supporting brain health and helping residents stay safely in their homes with Lifeline monitors. 

Children at Storytime at VZC Library Jan. 22 learned all about getting dressed and learned that the first step is putting on underpants.

“Underwear,” by Mary Elise Monsell was read to children and is about Zachary the zebra who does not like or snaps or sleeves or slippers or zippers but he did like “underwear” of all descriptions. 

The next story was “Dinosaurs Love Underpants” by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort.  Dinosaurs were all wiped out, a long way back in history.  No one knows quite how or why but the answer may just be underpants. 

Surveys across the country indicate that students are not learning history or government.  Indeed, many colleges do not require even one course for graduation in most majors.    Do you know when the Civil War was?  Do you “remember Pearl Harbor”?  Do you know how many senators are in Washington?  Do you know what the electoral college is?

Try a history book the next time you are looking for an exciting read. 

Or pick a book about the Constitution of the United States.   Consider the pages and pages of laws and rules that are in force now, and compare that to the simplicity of our founding document.