SALISBURY - It started out with an idea of the Rowan Traveler's Club in 1911, and has evolved into a vital and active public library system serving Rowan County with public access computers, programs for all ages, and staff ready to help with all kinds of questions.  Library customers made over 398,000 visits to the library, borrowed over 800,000 items, and used computers over 100,000 times in the past year.

Rowan Public Library celebrates its centennial this year.  2011 marks the one hundredth anniversary of the public library in Rowan County.  In 1911, the Traveler's Club, the first federated club in Salisbury, decided to establish a library for Salisbury. The Club issued an invitation to all other local clubs, associations and societies to join in the effort.

On March 13, 1911, in the Elk's Hall, the library association was first formed and elected Archibald Henderson Boyden as its chair.  The Boydens offered the small Henderson law office, still located today on the corner of Fisher and Church Streets, as a temporary home for the library.  Later the family donated a portion of their property as the site of today’s headquarters.

SALISBURY - On Wednesday I was the emcee for the 13th annual Fashions For A Cause that benefits the Community Care Clinic in Salisbury.

I don't do the event because I'm an expert on haute couture, it's more because I believe in the mission of the clinic to help those who may not be able to afford health insurance or medical care.

Take Maury Phillips for instance.

On Wednesday she told the assembled crowd how she and her husband moved to Salisbury from Concord.  After buying a house and all the expenses that go with it, Maury's husband became seriously ill, and eventually died.

Maury was left with no insurance and no job.  Parttime jobs didn't offer health benefits, and Maury found herself with her own serious medical needs, including Type 2 Diabetes and serious blood disorders.

She says the "angels" at the Community Care Clinic in Salisbury saved her life.

"When I win the lottery," Phillips joked, "the first check I'll write

SALISBURY -On Wednesday, April 6, the Catawba College Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Stephen Etters, associate professor of music, will embark by bus on its “2011 Mid-Atlantic Tour.”

Approximately 40 students, with majors as diverse as Environmental Science and Elementary Education, in addition to Music and Music Education, will present concerts and offer master classes in a variety of venues before returning to campus on Sunday, April 10.

Stops include Wed., April 6, Chase High School in Forest City; Thurs., April 7, Galax High School in Galax, Va., and Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Va.; Fri., April 8, Appomattox County High School, Appomattox, Va.; Sat., April 9, Busch Gardens Theme Park, Williamsburg, Va.; and Sun., April 10, First United Church of Christ, Hampton, Va.

The ensemble’s performance repertoire will feature works from Walter Hartley, Anthony Suter, Lowell Shaw, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John Barrows, Paul Basler, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Robert W. Smith.

Dr. Etters said he hopes the tour will help spread the word about Catawba’s thriving and diverse Music program and provide an opportunity to recruit student musicians to the college. “The main thing I want the high school students to realize when they see a performance of the ensemble is the wide variety of academic majors represented among the musicians. Most of the musicians are not music majors, but rather are just students who love music and want to continue to perform.”