If you’ve already missed some of the parties, don’t worry. The Fort Smith Public Library’s Centennial Celebration that began in January will continue through the rest of the year with more fun events for all ages.

This month there will be an outdoors, communitywide birthday party at the main library from 4-7 p.m. June 7. Along with a giant birthday cake, hot dogs and snacks, party-goers can enjoy live music and other attractions that will give the event a street festival atmosphere, library director Jennifer Goodson says.

If you’ve been meaning to buy one of the centennial’s commemorative cookbooks and haven’t, you may have to call the library to get your name on a possible second printing of the unique Book Plates cookbook. In late May, only a handful of the first 500 cookbooks printed were left to be sold. And no wonder. The text is sprinkled with interesting quotes and quips about food and books compiled by the Friends of Library cookbook committee. The great recipes and library memories were contributed by local and out-of-town fans of the library – including one from Las Vegas, Of All Places, award-winning newspaper columnist Sharon Randall.

Randall was the special guest speaker for two sold-out Friends of the Library fund-raising events last month. Her weekly column for the Scripps Howard News Service is syndicated in 400 newspapers, including the local Times Record, and she has about 6 million readers nationwide.

As a reader of Randall’s column for years, and a colleague, of sorts, I was motivated to make it to one of the library’s parties featuring her.

In all, nearly 400 more of Sharon’s local readers happily paid for the opportunity to see her. And they were not disappointed. Sharon “live” was just as down to earth and captivating in person as she is in print.
Because she writes about her life, family and friends, her readers can relate their joys and sorrows to the ones Sharon writes about. And they let her know that in person and in letters, notes and emails.

“We care about the same things,” Sharon told us.

Sharon said she stopped here once several years ago, en route to Tennessee, then read us a funny column referencing that brief encounter with our city.

Nobody expected her that time, but area fans were alert and prepared for her arrival last month. Many had sent welcoming notes and emails in advance. Others apologized, as if she were family or a close friend, that they wouldn’t be able to see her while she was here.

One woman wrote Sharon that while she wouldn’t be able to see her during her visit here, she was confident that everyone else Sharon met here would give her a welcome that would rival the one she’ll receive at the Pearly Gates. That fan, the columnist wryly commented, exhibited extreme faith in both Fort Smith’s hospitality and Sharon making it to Heaven.

I doubt Sharon would compare her luncheon audience to a heavenly host, but she surely noticed how much we enjoyed her sharing some of her thoughts and favorite columns with us. Reading her work in a clear, melodic voice that hints of her South Carolina roots – despite all the years she has spent in California and, more recently, Nevada – Sharon had us alternately laughing out loud and fighting back tears.

One woman in the audience got a laugh out of all of us while the columnist was explaining why she couldn’t stay around and meet everyone after lunch. If she did that, Sharon said, she would be so worn out she would probably end up at the hospital instead of her speaking engagement for the library that night.

“But we have good hospitals here,” the woman in the audience sweetly called out.

The popular writer did take time to field a few questions and share some advice, however. Best answer to a question: Fan, “When you’re writing about your life, do you ever embellish?”

Sharon, instantly, with mock innocence, “Not a bit!”

Best advice to non-writers and writers: “Everybody has a story – tell yours to someone and ask somebody to tell you theirs.”

Best advice to writers: “Writing doesn’t happen until it’s read.”

Lunch with Sharon was like having one of your best outings ever with a favorite friend, sister, cousin, aunt, your mom or your grandmother. Many mothers and daughters and sisters attended both of Sharon’s appearances, Jennifer noticed. I was personally delighted to see many of my friends and relatives at the noon event.

Just before she really did have to leave us, Sharon said she would read just one more column, if we wanted her to. When her offer was met with silence, not applause, she momentarily looked a little confused. Then she glanced around the room and noticed how intently her audience was anticipating that “one more column.”

“I was afraid for a minute you didn’t want to hear another one,” she said with a smile before reading the encore.

Don’t worry, Sharon, your Fort Smith fans will gladly sit still to hear you read anytime you can make it back. In fact, we’d be happy to see you many more times before you get that rivaling welcome at those Pearly Gates.

Linda Seubold, editor of Entertainment Fort Smith Magazine, can be reached at lindaseubold@efortsmith.com. Read her archived columns and articles online.

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