Between The Stacks

Yulia Weston, a certified yoga instructor, teaches free yoga classes at the Athens-Limestone Public Library on Mondays at 10:45 am and Tuesdays at 7:15 pm. She  explains how yoga is not just a physical practice but also aims to calm the nervous system and reduce stress.Yulia explains her teaching style, which is focused on core stability, strength, and alignment. She addresses yoga etiquette, props, and the importance of listening to one's body. She also touches on the 2021 lifting of the yoga ban in Alabama public schools, highlighting its many benefits as a form of exercise.

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MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS is a series of five talks sponsored by A New Leaf Counseling Center. Clinical licensed therapist, Coleman Thompson, talks about depression, its signs and symptoms, and how it differs from sadness. Persistent low mood, low appetite, sleep changes, and negative thoughts for more than 6 months may indicate depression. He notes depression in children and adults may look different and advocates family and cognitive behavioral therapy to learn healthy coping skills. Exercise, positive self-talk, journaling, self awareness and family support are key in overcoming depression.

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https://www.alcpl.org/
https://www.anewleafcounseling.net/
https://nndc.org/resource-links/

A.J. Coleman reads two chapters from the first book in her Happy Hallomentary series titled Welcome to Life (and the fifth grade). Jacket:
         Meet Frankie Stine. He's a tall, green, one-month old who wears his heart on his sleeve. Starting the fifth grade at
         Happy Hallomentary School...has him pretty nervous. Frankie isn't afraid of the monsters and creatures that he will
         be going to school with, he's just afraid that they will not like him! Join him as he starts his first day of school and learns
         meeting new people isn't so scary!

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www.alcpl.org./podcasts/

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Local author A.J. Coleman debuts the first book in her Happy Hallomentary series titled Welcome to Life (and the fifth grade). The book follows Frankie Stein, a one-month-old green robot who is nervous about entering the fifth grade in a school for Halloween creatures. His classmates include witches, spiders, ghosts, and trolls, and their principal is an extra large pumpkin with creeping vines. In the series, aimed at ages 6-10, Coleman explores the range of emotions and relatable themes many kids experience in starting a new school year. She self-published the books  and also drew the illustrations. Coleman draws inspiration from author R.L. Stine and advises aspiring writers to write every day and avoid reliance on AI. She highlights the value of originality in creative writing and art.

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www.alcpl.org./podcasts/ 

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Representatives from mental health support groups talk with library outreach coordinator, Lauren Tubbs, about services available in Limestone County. Alicia Davila from Pearl Behavioral Health Services stresses the need to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Neal Vickers from NAMI highlights the importance of peer support and education. Jeff Hastings from ROSS discusses the correlation between substance use disorders and mental health issues. Mark Prescott from Wings Across Alabama talks about their warm line and educational programs. They all stress the need for community awareness and support, and provide contact information for their organizations to help those in need.

https://www.alcpl.org/
https://ross4u.org/  (ROSS -  Recovery Organization of Support Specialists)
https://namihuntsville.org/  (NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness)
https://wingsacrossal.org/about-us/  (Wings Across Alabama)
https://www.pearlbhs.com/  (Pearl Behavioral Health Services)
ALABAMA WARM LINE: 1-844-99-WINGS | 1-844-999-4647  (Free, confidential, and non-crisis peer support service available 24/7)

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 Lisa Hoffman, Museum Curator at Athens State University, talks about the traveling quilt exhibit celebrating Black History on display through March 7.  Originating from Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center in Hendersonville, Tennessee, the exhibit features quilts honoring Black Americans who have made important contributions in literature, science, medicine, technology, and patriotism. She talks about the rich history of quilt making and its importance as both an art form and, historically, a life or death means of survival in the Underground Railroad. Monteia Moore, Campus Events Manager, gives a preview of a special exhibit  - The Wall That Heals -  a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Wall coming to the campus November 6-9, 2025.

https://www.alcpl.org/
https://www.athens.edu/home-heart-heritage-quilt-project-celebrating-black-history-coming-to-athens-state/
https://www.athens.edu/the-wall-that-heals-is-coming-to-athens-on-november-6-9-2025/

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Brian "Fox" Ellis, author and storyteller, previews his role in the 2025 Festival of Cranes. Portraying John James Audubon, Brian depicts the artist and naturalist who traveled over 30 years to wilderness areas painting and documenting over 400 bird species. The Festival of Cranes is an annual event and celebrates the birds, featuring the sandhill and whooping cranes, that winter at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Brian is an annual performer at the festival and is an active member of the Illinois Audubon Society. His love of nature is eloquently expressed in his books and poetry.

https://www.alcpl.org/
https://foxtalesint.com/
https://www.visitdecatural.org/2025FOC
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wheeler

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Local author and Calhoun Community College English Instructor, Bradley Sides, talks about his writing journey. He began writing in college and published his first story in 2014. After his first book, Those Fantastic Lives, was released in 2021 critics called him "an exciting new voice in fiction." His second book, Crocodile Tears Didn't Cause The Flood, has been described as "a traveling carnival filled with pond monsters, vampire girls, fire breathing children...also a collection of good-hearted people making their way through unstable worlds." A writer in the magical realism genre, Bradley talks about writing and facing rejection as a way to hone and improve literary works. He also lists some of his favorite authors.

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https://www.bradley-sides.com/

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Athens-Limestone County Public Library presents our youth librarian, Amanda Coleman, reading scary stories! Classic tales include Alvin Schwartz's "The Green Ribbon" and Roald Dahl's "The Landlady." Grab your popcorn and prepare for a scare!

https://www.alcpl.org

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When Alabama author Heather L. Montgomery isn’t writing children’s books, you might find her hanging out in trees or catching bugs. Her passion for uncovering the mysteries of the natural world have ignited the curiosity of countless numbers of kids. Heavily researched topics from roadkill to mummies to animal poop, she frames many of her books as mysteries challenging readers to investigate both the gross and cool facts of science. Her enthusiasm for her work and has spawned 17 books to date. 

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https://heatherlmontgomery.com/

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