Lisa Shawley and Michael Shay, who play the accordion and cello, call themselves Just Desserts and promise to “cook up” lively World Fusion music for your pleasure on Sunday, March 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. Well known in the Austin area for their tango music, Just Desserts draws from the musical cultures of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as American pop and jazz, to create musical delicacies from every corner of the globe. As with all Music! Live performances, you may come and go or sit down and enjoy.

Their performance is a gift of the Friends of the Georgetown Library.

In August 2008 the library kicked off an oral history project focused on people’s memories of Marshall and Carver Schools and the events of the 1950s and ’60s that led to desegregation of Georgetown’s schools. At the kickoff, a panel of five long-time Georgetown residents–Harvey Miller, Birdie Shanklin, Paulette Taylor, Doug Benold, and Norman Spellmann–shared their memories of life in segregated Georgetown and how desegregation came about. After the panel discussion, a number of people in the audience also contributed their recollections and comments. At the kickoff and later in the newspaper we issued a call for volunteers who were willing to share their personal recollections in individual recorded interviews. We also called for volunteers to conduct the interviews.

Our good fortune brought us thirteen generous people who were willing to share their memories with posterity and eight willing workers who would conduct the interviews. Those who agreed to be interviewed included the five panel members (with Harvey Miller giving us two long interviews), plus Nell Benold, Lee L. City, Carl Doering, Milton Jordan, Laurie Locke, Nora Rose, Betty Spellmann, and J.D. Thomas. The interviewers were Callie Enlow, Chris Dyer, Joyce Hinds, Carol Parsonage, Mandy Shelton, Suzanne Stallings, Chad Thomas, and Ben Trollinger. Several people did two or more interviews, for which we are extremely grateful.

Now the recorded interviews are available on the library website. Click on the “Photos and Media” tab at the top of the page, scroll about half-way down the page that opens and you’ll find “Oral Histories.” Scroll down some more and you’ll see the names of the people who were interviewed. When you click on any name the audio toolbar pops up and the interview begins playing. You can’t adjust the volume with the toolbar. If you need to make adjustments, use the volume control for your speakers. In the future, transcripts will become available for each of the interviews. They will be posted as they are completed. Due to technical difficulties, Laurie Locke’s interview is very difficult to hear, so the transcript for her interview is already posted.

If you are interested in adding your memories, either of attending Marshall or Carver schools or of the process of desegregation in Georgetown, please contact Judy Fabry at 930-3552 or jkf@georgetowntx.org. We are hoping we’ll be able to expand this collection.

Surpassing all previous attendance records, more than 300 people attended this year’s children’s tea party, which was held on Thursday, March 19. The library staff couldn’t possibly have entertained so many children and their adult companions without a great deal of help.

Angie Wright, a long-time library patron and volunteer outdid herself this year. In the past she has made most of the tea party delicacies-always given without our having to ask-but this year she single-handedly made 840 cookies, 350 cupcakes, 400 sandwiches, and two kinds of punch. To top it off, she donated every bit of the food and she was there in person to serve what she’d made. We can only sit back and marvel at the gifts she heaps on us.

Another good friend, Sue Miller, a library volunteer and member of the Library Advisory Board, also went above and beyond what we would ever expect a volunteer to do. The little girls who attended the tea received crowns made of crepe paper flowers. Sue put together fifty of these crowns by herself-making the flowers and attaching them to the headbands. But that wasn’t enough. She also designed and made the pastel floral fantasy that decorated the tea table. Her work made the perfect setting for Ms. Angie’s food. Sue, like Angie, donated all of the materials she used and she did all of this without being asked to do it. Once she heard about the project, she went out, bought the supplies, and started working.

young ladies at tea

the tea table

A month before the tea party staff member Gloria Powers began designing and producing the beautiful place cards that marked each child’s place. She also worked with Ms. Rosa on the flower crowns, as did Doña Cecilia Ortiz, who made hundreds of the little flowers. Staff member Valerie Barber also contributed flowers for the table decorations.

Other faithful helpers, whom Ms. Rosa fondly refers to as the Library Moms (and their daughters), were there the day of the tea party to help in a multitude of ways-setting up and taking down, assisting with the food, and guiding the guests. Thanks to the Abe family-Debbie, Caroline, Stephanie, and Elizabeth; the Young family-Diane, Alison and Erika; the Sheridans-Barbara and Rebecca; Martha Paul, Anne Hamman, and Marla Brown. Clark Miller graciously helped with the heavy lifting involved in arranging the tables and chairs in the community rooms and long-time library friend Robyn Clay was there to help put the final touches on the table decorations.

a song for the party-goers

Finally, Taylor Weaver and her music students provided professional-quality musical entertainment throughout the tea party. Our community is growing a supply of musical performers of whom we can be very proud.

There is no way to adequately express our gratitude to people who give so much. They love what they do, and we hope that the personal satisfaction they feel is huge, because the tea party would not be the success that it has become without the countless hours of work and donated materials that these people have given. They have our sincere thanks.

To see more pictures of the tea party, click on Photos and Media at the top of the page, then choose Kids Events from the list of Photo Galleries.

The library will be closed Sunday, April 12, in observance of Easter. The drive-through bookdrop will be open so that you may return materials.

Sunday, March 29, 3-5 p.m. — Just Desserts — accordion and cello duo who are known for their tango interpretations, but also do a wide variety of world fusion music.

Sunday, April 19, 3-4 p.m. — Sun City Dulcimer Club — hear your old favorites, hymns, folk music, and ragtime.

Sunday, May 17, 3-5 p.m. — Mandy Rothenberg at the piano — accomplished local musician plays a wide range of music, from classical to pop.

Sunday, June 28, 2:30-4:30 p.m. — Just Friends — a jazz group from Sun City, playing jazz classics from composers and performers like Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Ellington.

All performances are casual. You may come and go or sit down and listen. These events are sponsored by the Friends of the Georgetown Library, Martha Lawlor and Don Ballard, and the Pedernales Electric Cooperative.