On Friday, February 6, 2009, The Craddock Center will present the Fifth Annual Helen Lewis Lecture. The series of lectures was established in honor of anthropologist, Dr. Helen Lewis, to focus on a specific area of Appalachian life and culture. We are pleased to announce the 2009 lecturer will be Marian Wright Edelman, the Founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) in Washington, D.C. Under her leadership, CDF has become one of the nation’s strongest voices for children and families.

She will speak about children living in poverty in Appalachia and the roles of child advocates and caring communities. Please note the change of location and date. This year’s lecture will be held February 6 at Cherry Log Christian Church at 7:00 p.m. and is one month earlier than usual. We hope you will hold that date on your calendar and join us for a great evening.

Admission is free and no reservations are required. — TLS

MY NEIGHBOR IS DOWN TO ONE ROOSTER

And has no hens at all. It is not the economy; it’s the hawks, the owls, and one gray fox.

For several years now my farmer neighbor has repaired the hen house, bought hens, and was in business. The rooster crowed, the hens clucked, and chicks chased bugs and grasshoppers. The future looked bright. Then came the hawk and the owl and chicks disappeared. Then came the fox and hens disappeared. For three summers the drama repeated itself. Each Fall the rooster was alone. This past summer there were no hens or chicks. But there is the rooster.

Now and then he crosses the road to visit me. “Do you still crow?” “Of course; why do you ask?” “Well, I don’t see any hens or chicks, so I wondered.” “There will be more; my boss is just running late this year; there will be more.” The very thought thrilled him. He strutted, flapped, and crowed.

I asked his boss if he were getting more hens. He said No, he couldn’t afford to keep doing it. “Have you told the rooster?” “No.” “Well, he’s hoping.” “I know, but I can’t take away his hope.”

The 4-year old boy who ran into Head Start ahead of me was full of prance and strut. “Did you know my mommy and daddy are buying a car and will pick me up today?” “Wow! That’s wonderful!” His mother is a meth addict; his father is in prison.

Did I take away his hope? Did I tell him he had no future? No. In fact, I was there to tell him the opposite, that he has a future. Thanks to you. — FBC

SPECIAL THANKS TO                     

The Cherry Log Christian Church for the use of their building for Appalachian Weekend and the October 6 Preaching Workshop.

- The Craddock Center board members who hosted the storytelling event.
- Kim Cheves, Amanda Galloway and Connie Chancey who were present for the children.
- Janice Harris who welcomed children on the Story Express.
- Jim Weiland who donated one of his beautiful pine needle baskets to raise funds for the Center.
- Little G’s Nursery and Jim and Janice Harris for providing the plants and decorations.
- Jean Rose, Gary Tomblin and Tom and Nancy Zarle who displayed and sold their beautiful artwork.
- The local storytellers, Shirley Carmichael, Betty Wilson, Sue and Bill Canady, Helen Lewis, and Fred
  Craddock, who entertained us during the day.
- Tammy Blair who took care of everything.

All of you who came and made the day special. — TLS
  

I CAN’T FIND THE LIST                  

Of those who requested of me a copy of a poem I have quoted more than once. As I explained in the speech, I had a calligrapher make two copies which were framed and given to our daughter and son the year she graduated from college and he from high school. I am proud they still have them after more than 30 years. It is a Yiddish poem entitled “Der Ikker” (The Main Thing).

The poem follows, with the hope that those on the last list read Milk and Honey. To them I apologize. To the rest of you, I give permission to stop reading at this point. — FBC  

If your outlook
on things has changed –
this is not the main thing.

If you feel like laughing
at old dreams –
this is not the main thing.

If you recall errors
of which you are ashamed –
this is not the main thing.

Even if you know
that, what you are doing now,
you’ll regret some other time –
this is not the main thing either.

But beware lightheartedly
to conclude from this
that there is no such thing
as a main thing –
this is the main thing.

Hirsch Oscherovitch

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?                     

Hand bells are ringing and preschool children are singing in 70 classrooms where the Children’s Enrichment Program is being offered this school year. We are so grateful to Eileen and Mac McRoberts, who donated the beautiful hand bells for the Arts Specialists to use in the classrooms. Now you may be wondering how preschoolers, who can’t yet read music, can play bells?! I could tell you the Craddock Center Arts Specialists work magic in the classrooms and that would be true. I could tell you the Arts Specialists are simply amazing to watch as they teach these lucky children and that would be true. But the way the bells work is by color. So if you have the red bell, you ring it only when the instructor holds up the red card. By watching the cards and remembering your color, a song is produced, attention is expanded, and a great sense of accomplishment is felt by preschoolers. Thanks, Eileen and Mac!!!! — TLS

I’M MOVING, I’M LEARNING               

Is new curriculum being used in Andrews, NC, Lumpkin and Pickens County Head Start Programs to address childhood overweight through movement songs, songs about healthy nutrition, food preparation, and songs to celebrate feeling great. Kim Cheves is piloting this material in these three schools where it has been received with great enthusiasm and interest. In our fast food, biggie size culture this counter message focuses on nutritional choices and exercise through music and movement that preschoolers will understand and remember. As funding is available The Craddock Center hopes to implement this movement program in all of the Children’s Enrichment sites. — TLS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

“Winged for the Heart”, Saturday, January 31, 2009 — 7:30 p.m., Fannin County High School, Performing Arts Center