Sarah Kincaid Cook, NSDAR - The Colony, TX

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween! If you have additional candy left over, let’s get it to our amazing Blue STAR Moms group!

10/12/2026

Thank you Melissa Wilkinson and Sarah Kincaid Cook, NSDAR - The Colony, TX for leaving us a beautiful seasonal surprise—two lush chrysanthemums bursting with buds! 🍂🌼 We can’t wait to see them in full bloom.

Your thoughtfulness warms our hearts and makes our Post 21 home even more welcoming. ❤️

09/20/2026

Don't forget! Tonight is the night for this amazing Recognition Sunset Ceremony hosted by American Legion Holley-Riddle Post 21!

Ensure this event is on your calendar and bring your friends and family. This is a gorgeous ceremony that you do not want to miss!

09/18/2026

🏛️ WHY DOES CONSTITUTION WEEK EXIST?

Every September, you see Constitution Week displays in libraries, schools, courthouses and communities across America. But have you ever wondered who started it?

The answer may surprise you!
The Daughters of the American Revolution

In 1955, DAR members petitioned Congress to establish September 17–23 as a week dedicated to the Constitution. Congress adopted the resolution, and on August 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law. 🇺🇸

But the idea wasn't simply to put up a few displays once a year. The women behind the effort wanted Americans to learn about the Constitution, understand the history behind it and remember why it matters. They envisioned DAR chapters bringing the Constitution into their communities through displays, programs, proclamations, educational activities and conversations.

📜 More than 70 years later, DAR chapters across the country are still doing exactly that. Here in Avery County, Crossnore Chapter NSDAR is proud to carry that tradition forward with our Constitution Week display at the Avery County Public Library .

We hope you'll stop by, take a look, and maybe discover something about the Constitution you didn't know before because Constitution Week isn't just about remembering something that happened in Philadelphia in 1787. It's about learning the story, asking questions, and understanding the document that has shaped American history for generations.

That's what those DAR members in 1955 wanted Americans to do. And that's why, every September, we're still talking about the Constitution. 🇺🇸📜

Happy Constitution Week from Crossnore Chapter NSDAR! 🎉

09/08/2026

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

📜 Ye Olde Excel File - this 168-year-old chart turns the Declaration of Independence into a fascinating puzzle!

This incredible chart, created in 1858, takes the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence and organizes their lives in a way that lets you follow the lines to uncover some remarkable stories. (See the hi-res version here: https://gigi.mwa.org/imagearchive/filename/481119_ )

At a glance, you can discover:

📍Who signed? All 13 colonies were represented, with Pennsylvania having the most signers (9) and Rhode Island the fewest (2).

📍Where were they educated? 31 had collegiate, academic, or classical educations, while others were described as having a liberal education, common schooling, or being self-taught.

📍What did they do? Lawyers were the most common profession, followed by merchants, but the group also included physicians, clergymen, and farmers.

📍Who was the oldest? Benjamin Franklin, at 70.

📍Who was the youngest? Edward Rutledge and Thomas Lynch Jr., both just 26.

📍Who never married? Caesar Rodney and Joseph Hewes.

📍Who had the most children? Carter Braxton - with an astonishing 18 children!

📍 Who was the first signer to die? John Morton, less than nine months after signing.

The chart also tracks who outlived their spouses and children, the order in which the signers died, and how long each lived. Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the last surviving signer, dying at the age of 95.

What makes this chart especially fascinating isn't just the information, it’s seeing how people in 1858 chose to organize and understand the generation that founded the United States. It’s history looking back at history. And honestly, the chart itself is a work of art.

To see a short but engaging video about how to read this chart, visit Useful Charts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfbDPKAPe8A

08/29/2026

In 1995, Dolly Parton began mailing books to children in her home county, hoping to inspire a lifelong love of reading in honor of her father, who could not read or write.
That idea lives here, too. Every month, 329 children in Knott County receive a new book in the mail—thanks to neighbors who support the program, volunteers who help make it possible, and a woman from Sevier County, Tennessee, who started it all.
Like Dolly, we believe that “you can never get enough books into the hands of enough children.” Hindman Settlement School is proud to be a partner of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and to continue building on her incredible legacy for generations to come.

Here are three ways you can help carry that legacy forward:
1. Make a donation.
In lieu of flowers, Dolly’s family has asked that donations be made to the Imagination Library. You can give directly to the Knott County Affiliate here https://bit.ly/3cwJikY

Select the “I would like to designate this donation to a specific Imagination Library Local Program Partner” button and then choose KY-Knott as the local program partner.

2. Give a child the gift of reading.
If you have a child under the age of 5, sign them up for the Imagination Library here:
https://bit.ly/2BwMs8D
You can also sign up at Donuts and Dolly on Monday August 31 at the Knott County Public Library from 7:30am-9:00am and The Wandering Willow from 3:00pm-5:00pm!

3. Share your story.
Has the Imagination Library impacted your family? Share your story in the comments below. We would love to hear how these books have made a difference in your child’s life!

Thank you, Dolly, for believing in the power of a book and for giving children everywhere the opportunity to dream a little bigger.
We will always love you. ❤️