Juanita Tobin Reading Fundraiser Feb. 11

Juanita Tobin Reading Fundraiser Feb. 11

The first Juanita Tobin Memorial Reading Fundraiser will be held on Thursday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Galileo's Bar and Cafe, 1087 West King St., Boone.

Funds raised will sponsor poet Shelby Stephenson on April 1 at Appalachian State University. Stephenson grew up on a small farm near Benson, in the coastal plain of North Carolina.

"My early teachers were the 35 foxhounds my father hunted. The trees and streams, the fields, the world of my childhood - all that folklore - those are my subjects," Stephenson said.

Juanita Tobin, a beloved poet with deep roots here in the High Country, died three years ago, just weeks before her 92nd birthday. She is best known here as a published poet and writer of a regular column in The Blowing Rocket newspaper. She was an active member of the High Country Writers Association and the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

"Ransom Street Quartet" and "License These Roving Hands," two of her books of poetry, were published by Parkway Publishers. Her work "chronicles the voice and history of this region of Appalachia," according to Earl Le Claire, poet, performer and chef.

During the evening, Joseph Bathanti, poet, novelist and professor at ASU, will read from his recent publication, "Land of Amnesia."

Le Claire will present his original work from his recent publication, "Below the Mayonnaise Factory."

Linda Steel, Grace Wakeman and Kathy Parkham will read poems from Tobin's collection.
Alice Naylor will host the event.

Light refreshments will be provided, courtesy of Paul and Judy Tobin, children of Juanita. Minimum contribution are $10 and $5 for students.

For more information, call Alice at (828) 297-4684 or Grace at 828-264-1947.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Feb. 25.