The Weekender: The Library Issue
Good morning, Clayton.
I know I promised an interview with Amanda Underwood, but scheduling and shoddy internet service got in the way. It’s still coming and may be what spurs me to having more than just one thing per week.
Instead, we’re getting a lot of good news. So I present: The Library Issue.
Our lead this week highlights the reopening of our beloved downtown space. As someone who spent many Summers as a kid downtown, I have a ton of memories here. Stephen King, Goosebumps, early internet access, and, most of all, A+ air conditioning. I’m hoping this new era for the library will finally lead to them giving me the keys to the microfiche machine after literal decades of asking. PLEASE. Imagine the “On This Day in Clayton” pieces we could have at The Dispatch.
Stay for The Good Thing, too, to read our love letter to Premieres Video and the video store era. It ties into the library also.
I hope that everyone has a happy 4th!
Let’s get into it.
The Dispatch Lead
The Library Turns the Page
Not every big thing in town has to be a fight.
A beloved public space is coming back to life. A place where everyone is welcome, and no purchase is necessary. At the library.
The Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library is reopening after a year-long renovation project, and the Town of Clayton celebrated the project this week with a ribbon-cutting for the updated downtown space.
The library will reopen to the public on Monday, July 6, with an official Grand Re-Opening celebration on Saturday, July 11.
The renovated library includes new study rooms, a laptop bar, expanded seating, and a more browsable collection meant to make it easier for visitors to find books, resources, and a place to settle in for a while. During the grand reopening, visitors will be able to tour the updated space, sign up for library cards, take part in games and hands-on activities, and learn more about upcoming programs and services.
That’s the practical stuff. The bigger thing is this: in a town growing as quickly as Clayton, it’s nice that the library is still one of the places that’s built around access.
Clayton spends a lot of time talking about growth, traffic, services, zoning, planning, and whether the infrastructure can keep up. All very important conversations. But a town’s quality of life isn’t just measured in sign permits and tax base.
It’s also measured in the places where people can simply exist.
Libraries are easy to take for granted because they don’t ask much from us. They’re quiet. They’re steady. They don’t usually generate drama that fills meeting rooms with angry faces or social media with angry comments. But they do the kind of work a growing community needs more of, not less.
They give kids a place to discover books. They give students a place to study. They provide people with access to computers, research assistance, programs, meeting space, and information. They give families something to do that doesn’t require spending money. They give older residents a familiar place to stay connected and a sense of community. They give anyone, at any point, a reason to walk through the door.
That’s important. Especially downtown.
As Clayton grows outward, downtown is under more pressure to become a destination. More restaurants. More events. More visitors. More talks about parking, sidewalk seating, streetscape development, and what Main Street is supposed to be.
But downtown also needs anchors that aren’t just commercial. Places that remind people this is still a community, not just a market.
Hocutt-Ellington has long been one of those anchors.
This renovation gives the library a refreshed interior and updated tools, but its purpose is still very traditional in the best way: a shared public space for learning, reading, gathering, and connecting.
In a town where we talk so much about everything that’s changing, it’s worth paying attention when something familiar gets lifted up instead of replaced.
A renovated library might not sound flashy, but it’s the kind of investment that says something about what Clayton values.
A place to read.
A place to learn.
A place that belongs to everybody.
That’s a pretty big thing.
The Grand Re-Opening celebration for Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library is Saturday, July 11. The library reopens to the public Monday, July 6.
Town Hall Watch
No Town Council or Advisory Board Meetings Next Week
Next Council meeting will be on Monday July 20.
Town Facilities Closed on Friday, July 3 in observance with Independence Day
Downtown Dispatch
Summer Reading Kicked-Off This Week
Even with the ribbon-cutting and planned Grand Re-Opening Celebration, summer reading is already officially underway at Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library.
This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story,” a playful trip into dinosaurs, paleontology, archaeology, and the idea that stories are hidden everywhere. In books, in history, and in the community around us.
The library’s Summer Reading 2026 program runs from July 1 through August 15 and includes reading challenges for all ages. There are four programs available through Beanstack:
- Beginner Readers: ages 0–6
- Children: ages 7–12
- Teens: ages 13–17
- Adults: ages 18 and up
Children 12 and under will receive a free book upon registration, and teens and adults who complete the challenge will earn a reusable water bottle, while supplies last. Participants can also earn badges and virtual tickets for prize drawings throughout the summer.
The library officially re-opens on Monday, July 6, but In the meantime, readers can still use Libby for ebooks and audiobooks, and Clayton Library cardholders can also use their cards at other NC Cardinal libraries.
In a summer full of camps, vacations, and screen time battles, this is a good reminder that one of Clayton’s best free activities is also one of its simplest: helping people keep reading.
More information, updates, and registration details are available at ClaytonLibraryNC.org.
The rainforest is coming to the garden.
Join us Saturday, July 11 for FernGully at the Community Garden, a nostalgic outdoor movie night at the Main Street Community Garden.
Gates open at 7 p.m. with vendors and concessions before the movie starts after sunset. Bring a chair, a blanket, and the kids — or just your inner ’90s kid.
Tickets: [ticket link]
Vendors TBA.
Movie and concessions sponsorships are still available. Interested businesses can DM us on Facebook.
Weekend Picks
A quick rundown of what’s happening around Clayton this weekend. Music, markets, food, family stuff, and anything else worth leaving the house for.
Friday
Independence Day Fireworks Display | Multiple Viewing Locations
Friday, July 3 | 9:15 p.m. | Fireworks launched from Clayton Middle School
Clayton’s Independence Day fireworks are back Friday night, but this year’s setup is a little different.
Because of construction at the new Clayton High School, the fireworks will launch from Clayton Middle School. The show starts at 9:15 p.m. and is expected to last about 20 minutes.
This is a fireworks-only event. There will not be food, vendors, music, or other activities at the launch site, and Clayton Middle School will be closed to the public.
Public viewing and limited parking will be available at Clayton Community Park, Clayton Community Center, and Christ the King Church. Lots will close at 5 p.m. and reopen at 7 p.m. Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.
A few important notes: no parking along Amelia Church Road or Guy Road, no public entry at Clayton Middle School, and no grills, tents, glass, pets, or alcohol.
Bring a chair, find a spot, and enjoy the show.
Slab-Built Tray + Dish Class
Pottery Camp | 12973 US-70 Business
Pottery Camp is hosting a hands-on clay class where guests can create their own custom tray or dish from a slab of clay.
Participants will choose from a variety of shapes and underglaze transfer designs, then learn the basics of hand-building, glaze transfers, and decorating their piece. The class is designed to be approachable and beginner-friendly, with plenty of options to make each tray or dish feel personal.
The class is recommended for ages 10 and up, though younger children may participate with assistance.
Registration and more info here.
Pour & Park
LaDiDa Wine Shop | 459 E Main St | 5–9 p.m.
LaDiDa’s new Friday night series, Pour & Park, continues this week with food, drinks, live music, and an easygoing 21+ atmosphere.
This week’s featured food truck is Barone Italian Grille, serving Italian street fare from 5 to 9 p.m. Guests can grab a bottle, enjoy a glass of wine, beer, or cocktail, and settle in while live music sets the tone for the night.
No reservations, no rush — just food, drinks, music, and a relaxed Friday night downtown.
Saturday
The Dispatch Presents: A Free Bike-Up Surprise Movie
Town Square | 8pm
Our Movies in the Garden Summer film series is coming, so we’re testing the outdoor movie rig Saturday night with a free mystery movie downtown celebrating one of America’s greatest heroes, Roger Corman.
Full pre-show, old trailers, drive-in vibes, and a family-friendly creature feature.
Bring a chair or blanket, ride your bike if you can, and come watch something weird outside.
No tickets, no fuss.
Fourth of July Jazz Brunch
Crescendo at The Station | 231 E Second St.
Crescendo is celebrating the Fourth with its monthly Jazz Brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by dinner from 4 to 8 p.m., with an early wrap so the team can enjoy the fireworks. Reservations are highly recommended, though walk-ins are welcome at the bar.
July 4th Saturday at First Street Tavern
First Street Tavern | 115 E First St
First Street Tavern is opening at noon on Saturday with food, $3 domestic beers, July cocktails, and a late-night DJ set from DJ Monty (9pm - Midnight)
Sunday
DnD Game Night
Revival 1869 | 222 E Main St
Adventure is coming to Revival 1869 with its first DnD Game Night on Sunday afternoon.
Last time was character building. This week, those characters get put to the test in a one-shot 5e campaign expected to run about 3 to 4 hours. New and experienced players are welcome, and it’s OK if you missed the character-building night.
Bring a 4th-level character, settle in, and enjoy an afternoon of tabletop adventure, community, and cocktails.
Archer Lodge Family Fun Day
Archer Lodge Community Center | 14009 Buffalo Road, Archer Lodge
Archer Lodge Community Center’s annual Family Fun Day returns Sunday with food trucks, vendors, concessions, kids activities, live entertainment, and fireworks.
The afternoon kicks off at 4 p.m. with food trucks and vendors, followed by a Kids Bike Parade at 4:30 p.m. and skydivers at 5 p.m. Inflatables will run from 5 to 8:30 p.m., with family activities continuing until 9 p.m.
The evening also includes an America 250 skit from 5:30 to 6 p.m., music from DJ Carlton Vinson from 6 to 9:15 p.m., and fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
One Good Thing
Every week, we're going to try and end on a positive note. Snapshots of Clayton history, local legends, monumental ackomplishments in the community, and more. This section is supposed to make you feel good.
An Ode to Premieres Video & The Video Store Era
I miss video stores.
For years and years, the Friday night routine was going to the video store. Depending on who was taking us as kids, it could be JJ’s Video, where Clayton Seafood now sits, if my dad was driving. Or Video Express, now home to Noe’s Bakery next to Compare Foods. Or A-1 Video. Or SkyHigh Video in Selma.
Real ones know about the red curtain at Video Express.
Then Premieres Video opened, and it was glorious.
We didn’t have a Blockbuster in Clayton until much, much later, so Premieres was our Blockbuster. Everything was new. There were no weird smells. And the place was staffed by teenagers who were cool.
Every Friday night, my brother and I were allowed to rent one thing each. I would always pick a movie. He would always get a game. That was our weekend.
The other thing about Premieres was the 99-cent shelf and the Staff Picks, also 99 cents. So even as a kid, I could afford to rent an extra movie or two with my own money.
That tradition continued all through high school. Premieres Video definitely had a huge impact on my love for independent cinema. I discovered my favorite director, Quentin Tarantino, there when I rented Pulp Fiction for the first time.
It was one of the few times my dad had heard about a movie and wanted to watch it with me. We were both blown away.
When I returned it, I gushed to the manager, KC, about the movie. At which point he moved Reservoir Dogs to his Staff Picks shelf so I could rent it for 99 cents.
After that, he always had a weird and wonderful indie pick waiting for me.
I really do miss the video store. With the resurgence of physical media, hopefully one of these new stores pops up in Clayton someday.
Thanks for these photos, Robert White — one of the last soldiers of Premieres Video.
Gone but not forgotten.
The video drop box slot still remains outside of Top Beauty.
With the library reopening, Your library card also comes with movies.
Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library cardholders have access to Kanopy, an ad-free streaming service with movies, documentaries, classic cinema, indie films, foreign films, educational videos, and kids’ content. Clayton Library’s digital resources page says Kanopy is available on mobile devices, computers, Roku, Apple TV, and Fire Stick, with users limited to 18 tickets per month.
So yes, the library still has books. But it also has a pretty solid streaming shelf.
Maybe we can talk the Clayton library staff into recommending Kanopy picks every week for The Dispatch.
-- Dan
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