See New Displays At Ashe County Library On display at the public library through December is a showing of paintings by Mary Covington; wooden toys, puzzles, and games by John Ulrich; quilt by Tressie Calhoun, Christmas tree (upstairs) decorated by the Ashe County Garden Club, and Christmas tree (downstairs) decorated by the Children’s Department Staff and Christmas wreath by Molly Gambill. PAINTINGS Mary Covington started classes with private artists many years ago and then started studying art again after she retired about twenty years ago and moved to Ashe County. She studied under many art instructors including Jack Young and Phylis Shaw. Covington’s beautiful work depicts still life, floral arrangement, scenery, and the old Wilkes County Courthouse. Covington is a member of the Blue Ridge Art Clan and has shown her paintings at their yearly art shows. She has also shown her work at Ashe Memorial Hospital. The hospital and Yadkin Valley Bank also purchased some of her paintings. The artist resides with her husband, Howard, in West Jefferson. WOODEN TOYS, PUZZLES, AND GAMES John Ulrich has been working with wooden items for over fifty-two years. He is retired from AMP, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC after thirty-seven years of service. In 1997, he and his wife, Lois, moved to West Jefferson. Ulrich uses his basement workshop to produce toys and other woodcraft. His skilled workmanship is shown in his display of wooden cars, airplanes, helicopters, school buses, creche puzzle, train puzzle, Christmas tree cut out ornaments, and tic tac toe game. Other items include a French Stair Builder’s saw in two sizes. QUILT Tressie Calhoun first learned to quilt from her mother, Laura Hoosier, and later from Betty Herbert at the Quilt Rack in Jefferson. Calhoun’s lovely quilt depicts the “Double Wedding Ring” pattern in multicolor on a muslin background. The quilt was a present to her son who later married Lisa Roland. Calhoun resides with her husband, J. D. in the Rich Hill Community. CHRISTMAS TREES The Ashe County Garden Club received their beautiful Fraser Fir tree from John Chafes of Hart-T Tree Farm in Grassy Creek. The Decoration Committee of Janet Kelly, George Knight, Carolyn and Gary Wolf decorated the tree with colorful cardinal birds and garden ornaments like a miniature watering can, rake, and hoes and other items for the public to enjoy near the circulation desk. The Children’s Department received their beautiful Fraser Fir tree from the Sturgill Tree Farm for use in the library meeting room. The staff will decorate it for the Children’s Christmas Party and other groups using the meeting room. CHRISTMAS WREATH Molly Gambill has turned her artistic talents to decorating a Christmas vine wreath with hand made flowers, pine cones, milkweed pods accented with a miniature vase of colorful flowers and milkweed down. Gambill resides with her husband, Jerry, in the Crumpler Community. The public is welcome to visit the library and see the many exhibits. The library is open Monday - Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday from 8:30 - 5; and Saturday from 8:30 - 4:00. However, the library will be closed Friday, December 12 from 8:30 to 1 p.m. for Staff In-Service Training and will reopen at 1 p.m. The library will also be closed December 24-26 for the Christmas Holidays.