A packed crowd of about 100 people attended Friday evening’s event at McClintic Library. “Across The Yew Pine: The Hammons Legacy Project” is a multimedia presentation of photographs, stories and music of a Pocahontas County family that is known and appreciated in far-flung corners of the world. Dwight Diller, also well known for his own “old timey” traditional banjo and fiddle music, and a close friend of the Hammons beginning in the late 60’s, presented the program with personal appreciation and feeling for the family.

BJ Gudmundsson, who is assisting in the media production end, explained that the project when completed will be available in all West Virginia public, school, and academic libraries. Gail Hatton, who is transcribing the oral stories, sang an acappella rendition of a song sung in the style of Maggie Hammons. Dwight Diller on fiddle and his son, Caleb, on banjo, together performed three tunes.  A slide show concluded the program with recorded stories, one each by Sherman Hammons, Burl Hammons, Maggie Hammons Parker, and Ruie Hammons.   Among the many people in the audience were Hammons descendents.

Durbin Days is this week. The Durbin Library Building Committee is continuing to promote the new library to visitors and locals during the many activities. As matters stand, it appears construction might start this summer or early fall. A few important yet anticipated pieces of the financial puzzle need to still line up.  If so, then the pad will be poured and the “barn raising” will commence, with the idea of framing and enclosing the structure. The interior will then be completed during the final phase as further resources come in.

Almost Heaven Habitat For Humanity (Pendleton County) merged on July 1 with Habitat For Humanity (Greenbrier County) and will be developing services for low income people in Pocahontas County.  The Durbin Library Building Committee has met with Habitat toward obtaining volunteer assistance for some of the initial library construction framing.  The library is also willing to help with hosting the volunteer groups that will be coming in the years ahead to help on housing projects.

The Linwood Community Library Association continues to work toward stable operational funding for the newly opened branch at the Welcome Center.  They are hosting a fundraiser Porch Party August 14 that will feature the R&B sounds of Lady D and the Mission. Mark your calendars for this one!

I hope all of you have a nice stack of books to read this summer. And be sure you encourage your youngsters to read, too.