Hello from the Greenup Public Library System! Did you know that this day marks the anniversary of the Trail of Tears? This is the name given to the forced relocation of the Eastern Native American tribes in 1825. It was President Andrew Jackson's policy to remove Native Americans from their ancestral lands to make way for settlers and speculators that lead to the forced march of some 20,000 Native people.
Kentucky History
Over time we’ve visited many historic locations throughout Kentucky but we haven’t discussed the history of the state itself. Kentucky became the first U.S. state west of the Appalachian Mountains when it was granted full statehood on June 1, 1792. As a border state Kentucky played an important but highly divided role in the American Civil War. At the beginning of the war the state was officially neutral with soldiers from both sides calling it their home.
This neutrality was important because Kentucky knew that both armies would have to march through it in order to reach each other. By removing itself from the conflict it hoped to protect itself from the Union and the Confederacy. The Northern states were unhappy with this decision because it would force the Confederate army to march through their borders instead. President Lincoln for his own part considered neutrality to be an act of treason and saw it as nearly the same as aiding the rebellion. He tolerated it only because it meant not losing another state to the Confederacy.
However, in September 1861 a Confederate army lead by General Leonidas Polk entered the state, breaking this neutrality. The Confederates were followed shortly thereafter by a Union army, leading to both open battles and guerilla campaigns. With neutrality no longer an option Kentucky was forced to take a side. On December 10, 1861 Kentucky was accepted by the Confederacy as its 13th state although it never formally seceded. Despite this turn of events however many Kentuckians deeply sided with the Union and eventually formally sided with it. This strong Union patriotism was only helped by the fact that the south had been the first side to violate Kentucky’s neutrality.
New York Times Best Sellers
New to the New York Time’s Best Seller list is “Lost” by James Patterson. Lost opens with new FBI taskforce head Tom Moon leaving his home city of Miami to hunt down two notorious Russian crime lords. “Blood Brothers” Roman and Emile Rostoff have not only managed to evade authorities but also construct a deadly crime syndicate throughout Europe and metropolitan Miami. Things take a turn however when the brothers choose a new target, someone near and dear to Moon.
Don’t Forget About Our Harry Potter Book Month!
In celebration of Harry Potter Book Night, GCPL has planned multiple events at the Flatwoods branch throughout February. Feb. 7 @ 6 pm - Harry Potter Craft and Trivia Night. The top three trivia winners will win a prize. Priority sign-up for the escape room will begin at this event for those in attendance. Feb. 20 @ 6 pm - Interactive Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Experience the magic as you play along with props and snacks.
Watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with a vault of supplies: magic wands, golden snitches and wizard sweets. Adventure at Hogwarts from the comfort of the library. Costumes and wizarding attire encouraged! Feb. 22 @ 10 am - 5 pm - Harry Potter Escape Room. All of our witches and wizards will have to work together to find the spell that will help them escape. Registration will begin on February 7 at Trivia Night. Remaining spots will be open to public on the following Monday.
Quotes
“The Paradoxical Commandments
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.”
― Kent M. Keith, The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council
Jokes
What's the easiest way to get straight As?
Use a ruler.
A man walks into a library and orders a hamburger. The librarian says, "This is a library." The man apologizes and whispers, "I'd like a hamburger, please."
How do you look for Will Smith in the snow? Just follow the fresh prints.
What time does a duck wake up? The quack of down.
Some people eat snails. They must not like fast food.
Lauren Cagle
Library Hours
Flatwoods: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 10-8. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10-5.
Mckell: Monday,: 9-8, Tuesday-Friday 9-5. Saturday 9-2.
Greenup: Monday and Thursday: 9-8. Tuesday-Friday: 9-5. Saturday: 9-2
Closed Sunday.
Phone #s Flatwoods: 606-836-3771, Fax: 606-836-8674. Mckell: 606-932-4478. Greenup: 606-473-6514.
More about all the library has to offer is available on our website @ www.greenuplib.org. Make sure to read next week’s Beacon for more reads and weekly events.
