My husband and I are finding out that we are not alone! Many grandparents are raising their grandkids, so I am turning my notes and tips into a helpful, comical e-book, available in November 2026. A portion of it will be in the newest edition of “The Roundabout Magazine” in August. Welcome to our world!
This fourth annual art scholarship honors the legacy of Oleen Norman Tharpe of Wilkes County, North Carolina, who used her artistic talents and creativity to encourage countless young artists (including me) while working as a teacher’s aide at Ronda-Clingman Elementary School, as a private art teacher, and as a character designer through her sock doll …
Read more “Teena Maureen is Excited about Her Wilkes County Art Scholarship!”
On April 1, 2025, the application for the Third Annual Oleen Norman Tharpe Art Scholarship for Wilkes County art students is available upon request by email at tharpescholarship@gmail.com. This annual art scholarship honors the legacy of Oleen Norman Tharpe of Wilkes County, North Carolina, who used her artistic talents and creativity to encourage countless young …
Read more “Teena Maureen is Excited for Her Wilkes County Art Scholarship!”
This spring, my husband and I became TSP for DSS for our 3 year-old grandson. At the time, we were enjoying our second year of empty-nesting. To start over at our ages was shocking! My husband kept saying our first goal was to get our grandson out of diapers before he went into them! I …
On April 1, 2024, applications for the Second Annual Oleen Norman Tharpe Art Scholarship for Wilkes County art students will be available upon request by email at tharpescholarship@gmail.com. This annual art scholarship honors the legacy of Oleen Norman Tharpe of Wilkes County, North Carolina, who used her artistic talents and creativity to encourage countless young …
Read more “Teena Maureen is Excited for Her Wilkes County Art Scholarship!”
My puzzle is now finished and checked off my bucket list. My Ronda newsletter from the 1990s is now a magazine! I hope you enjoy reading the area history and school news in this online edition, by clicking the “The Roundabout” page link below. The printed copies of this edition are in the works! I …
Read more “Premier Edition, “The Roundabout Renaissance,” is here!”
Ronda-Clingman Elementary is where Oleen Norman Tharpe, in the 1960s to early 1970s, taught her young students to love art. I know this for a fact because, in 1971, she was my first art teacher. She inspired me to “make something colorful,” just as Teena Maureen says in the book. Ms.Oleen formed her book using …
Read more “Exciting Book Tour Ends Today At Teena Maureen’s Birthplace”
Teena Maureen’s book tour visited Traphill Elementary today! Thank you so much to the wonderful teachers and Principal Cleary for supporting this book! Traphill Elementary has a special place in my heart since its teachers and staff raised my three girls and two of my grandchildren, Ella and Wesley. They presented the book today to …
Coach Tharpe and I made our second stop on Teena Maureen’s book tour today at C.B.Eller Elementary! Thank you so much, staff, kindergarteners, and first graders, for your support of this book! After 50 years, we are sharing Ms. Oleen’s work with Wilkes County students and beyond! The future is bright!