Cabot Public Library Focus On Teens

When you walk into the Cabot Public Library on Main St. in Downtown Cabot, you will not see just an ordinary library. This library is equipped with much more than it’s residents expected. However, when Kathleen Frankl came on board, it was just another added blessing to the library and the community.

With a large student population in the rural town of nearly 21,000 residents nearly 900 high school seniors graduate each year, and the new teen department has helped students going forward.

Frankl is the Young Adult and Adult Services Librarian. She works closely with the Cabot School District to ensure she understands the needs of the young adults. Moreover, Frankl says she has seen great results. “We have a group of kids who will come in after school and just spend time. They’ll play the X-Box, they’ll sit and talk, and they’re not on the street wondering around.”

Inside Cabot Public Library photo:cnewsbuzz
photo: cnewsbuzz

Frankl says the most important part of her job is to ensure that the teens feel that they are in a safe place where they can be themselves. “That’s what’s really close to my heart.”

“Our Teen Department was almost non existent before we moved here because our Children’s Librarian was also our Teen Librarian. But our children’s department grew so dramatically with the population increase, that she did not have time to do a lot with the teens,” said Library Branch Manager, Tammie Evans in an interview last year. Now that Frankl is overseeing the Teen Department, Evans says she is very pleased. “She has just been absolutely wonderful.”

Some of the other services that the teen department at the library provides include, tutoring. According to Frankl, the AP Academy students at the high school volunteer their time and tutor students that need it for free.

“Since it’s a free service a lot of kids who come are elementary kids who can’t afford a tutor.” Said Frankl. “We’ve been doing this for about six months now. And it has been wonderful.”

The library also offers Chess Lessons for young adults and adults who are interested in learning how to play. A Crafters Corner meets on Tuesdays and the younger teenage girls learn how to crochet and knit from the older ladies. The library also host video game tournaments.

Frankl says she is hoping to add more services to the library that will continue to attract the teens and adults to the library. She says she hopes the services that she provides will bring the teens and adults closer. “What I’m attempting to do is developing a generational bridge, which is something that I’d like to be able to do because that gap narrows a little bit, because there is a gap.” She said.

Mentors and Minors Showcase Their Talent

It was a fun time, had by all who attended the Mentors and Minors in Music Education Performance at, the Cajun Wharf Restaurant, in Little Rock.

Under the leadership of Dr. Danny Fletcher, these young men performed liked true professionals at their craft. The event was in honor of the legacy of two great Jazz Musicians, Art Porter Sr. and Art Porter Jr., and the Art Porter Music Education Scholarship Foundation.

Admission was free and hosted by, Pamela Smith, former Co-Host of Good Morning Arkansas. “This is what we do every year in the winter for the love of Art,” said Smith. Smith is now the Communications Director for the Little Rock School District.

According to Dr. Fletcher, this event kicks off the first of several other events this year. “The beginning event is held every February, because it is the birthday of Art Porter Sr. who would have celebrated his birthday February 8th,” he said. “We culminate with our ending concerts which consist of a whole week of jazz the first of August, and it is in the honor of Art Porter Jr.”

Dr. Fletcher said he was taught by Art Porter Sr. and he encouraged him to play music. And although Art Porter Jr. was a few years younger than he, they hung out together. “We loved doing everything at Cajuns because this is where Art played. This was the first venue where I played saxophone professionally,” he said.

Dr. Fletcher says the young musicians are able to perform at this same venue because, when Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas he passed the, Art Porter Law, which allowed underage youths to perform in establishments that served alcohol under the supervision of an adult. “Art Porter Jr. played here when he was in High School,” he said.

Kyron Sing A middle school honor student acted as M.C. for the event and portrayed Art Porter Sr. as he told the back-story of the legendary artist’s life. “I thought the performances were great. I especially liked the solos by the piano and the drummer,” he said.

The Art Porter Sr. Memorial Scholarship provides one thousand dollars to any student in the state attending an Arkansas College and majoring in music. The Art Porter Education Foundation gives funds for instruments for schools in the Little Rock school district and it helps mentor students in the school district and all over the state.

Art Porter Sr. began his music career at home with his mother and by the time he was 8 years old began playing for the church. By the time he was 12 he played his first recital and by the time he was 14 he was hosting a half hour musical program for classical music. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Arkansas A&M, now known as the University Of Arkansas, Pine Bluff.

Art Porter Jr. died while on a boating trip in Thailand in 1996 after performing at the Thailand International Jazz Festival. He was 35 years old.

DSC00632 photo:Charlotte Flowers-Weston

A Center For Celebration

A CENTER FOR CELEBRATION

In honor of Black History, every year, nationally, we designate the month of February to celebrate the achievements of African Americans. However, at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, in Little Rock, Arkansas, African American history is celebrated everyday. There, you will see and hear stories about the achievements and contributions that Blacks have made to Arkansas and the country.

“Our Mission here at Mosaic Templar Cultural Center is to collect, preserve, to celebrate, and to interpret African American history from 1870 to the present, especially in the areas of politics, business and the arts,” said Key Fletcher, Interim Director of the center.

Between 1870 and 1910 an estimated 700,000 African Americans participated in the Great Migration throughout five southwestern states. Many scholars note that this expansion had its greatest impact right here in Arkansas.

In 1912, under the leadership of Grand Master William Alexander, the head of the Mosaic Templars, The National Grand Temple of the Mosaic Templars of America was constructed on land procured at the corner of West Ninth Street and Broadway.

Originally built as a three-story building-complex, The National Grand Temple of the Mosaic Templars of America’s purpose was to serve as an important resource center for African Americans in Little Rock. However, as membership and financial support grew, the organization added more services. It soon became home to retail businesses, office space, and a third-floor auditorium for special events. On October 15, 1913, over 2,000 people attended a dedication speech given by Booker T. Washington.

By 1992, when the building became in danger of demolition, The Society for the Preservation of the Mosaic Templars of America Building was formed in an effort to save the building from destruction. In 2001 and with the support of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center was created housing a museum to share the stories and lives of the many African Americans who were active in civil rights, politics, education, recreational activities and church organizations throughout Arkansas.

The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame located on the third floor of the museum has an exhibit that highlights the achievements of Black Americans in sports, art, music, civil rights, and education.

The museum is currently hosting its first art exhibit by a woman. Delita Martin notes that her exhibit, titled: I Walked On Water To My Homeland, was inspired by stories of the many African American women she have known throughout her life.

“My work at its roots is about the reconstruction of the identity of African American women. And through this reconstruction it allows me to give a new narrative, a different narrative of the roles of women of color in their community and within their family structure. And that’s very important to me,” said Martin.

“I’m really intrigued by a lot of the art I’ve seen. They’re very captivating,” Said Regina Alston who recently moved to Arkansas.

“You got a lot of different images and figures inside an individual painting. And you can see a lot of other imagery and a lot of other figures and stuff, brought together to make another picture inside the main picture,” said Jonathan Alston.

Freelance Artist, Lachandra Callahan said observing Martin’s art has brought out deep emotions in her. “It’s very very beautiful,” said Callahan. “I love her art. It’s making me feel some type of way because I understand what she is saying.”

The exhibit will continue throughout the month of February and until March 26th.

The Museum is located at 501 W. Ninth Street, Little Rock, Arkansas. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and closed on Sundays and Mondays. Admission is free.

Coca-Cola An Original Of America Exhibit

Visitors poured into the Clinton Presidential Library to see the exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Contour Coca-Cola bottle that was created by the Root Glass Company of Terra Haute, Indiana.

The story behind the contour bottle started in the U.S. It was such a popular product that others tried to duplicate the brand. In 1915, the company put out a creative brief to 8 different glass companies. The brief ask the companies to come back with a design for a bottle that could be recognized lying broken on the ground or that you could feel in the dark.

Earl Dean sketched out the initial design of the Coca-Cola bottle in 1915. It followed the shape of the Coca Pod and it had the ribs that were vertical running up and down the bottle with a beautiful base and a spout. The sketch was turned into a patent submission. The patent was approved and granted to the Root Glass Company in November of 1915. The sketch was created into a bottle mold and in 1916 the Coca-Cola bottle was introduced nationwide.

“Great design and it appeals to all the senses,” said James Summorville, Vice President of Global Design in a video interview at the exhibit.

For 50 years, Coca-Cola was package in a six and half ounce contour bottle. In 1960, the trademark office offered trademark registration for the contour bottle. At that time coca cola was the best-known consumer package in the world.

“The fascinating thing to me about the contour bottle is that particularly today it’s a memory” said Ted Ryan, the Director of Heritage Communications in a video interview at the exhibit.

Mac Mathis works at the Clinton Presidential Library Gift Shop and he says he’s seen a lot of visitors come to the exhibit. “It’s been pretty popular, and I’ve only been here a week.” Said Mathis.

The exhibit also displayed paintings from Norman Rockwell and other iconic artist. The exhibit will go on Monday through Sunday at the Clinton Presidential Library until February 15th.

Taking The Bar

When Shannon Pollzzie took the job as Bartender at the Nines Restaurant in Greystone Country Club she had no idea what she was getting into. “My son worked here as a Cart Kid and he found out there was an opening in the bar so I came up and applied.” Said Pollzzie. Although she had no experiencing working in a bar she learned quickly that it isn’t as easy as it looks at times.

Pollzzie notes, although it is important to have a pleasant personality, there are other things just as important to know like, making sure the stock is efficient and knowing what the customers like to drink.

“It is also important to know the difference between a single and a double shot.” Said Pollzzie.

Shannon Pollzzie smiles as she works behind the bar at the Nines. (photo by: C. Flowers-Weston)
Shannon Pollzzie smiles as she works behind the bar at the Nines. (photo by: C. Flowers-Weston)

Greystone Country Club and Golfing Community has a reputation for being one of  the most prestigious golf courses in Arkansas. And their restaurant serves up some of the best food and drinks in town.

Pollzzie insists that is because they have a great cook in the kitchen and know how to prepare for their customers. “We make sure we have everything in place before we start the day.” She said.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday serving lunch and dinner everyday and on most Sundays, Brunch is served.

Pollzzie notes, she has fun meeting the different people who come into the The Nines restaurant and bar after a morning or afternoon of golf.

“Some days we get a good crowd of people in. And on other days we only see ten faces. But it’s always fun whether there is a big crowd or a handful of people.” She said.

Every year the Club hosts a Costume Party on Halloween with food drinks and live entertainment. The Club also host a New Years party every year.