Jean Embry reads a selection from her poetry book The First Piece of the Puzzle to members of the Sassy Red-Hat Chicks chapter of the Red Hat Society on Aug. 19 at the Columbia County Library in Evans. Embry, a retired speech pathologist, also signed her books.

A new page in the history of Columbia County was turned Saturday night as nearly 400 guests dressed in their finest were given a grand preview of a new library and performing arts center in Evans.