por Sue Hotz

Summer is half over 

School summer vacation is half over. “It can’t be!” the kids shout while parents groan, “another six weeks, really?” July 15 marks the halfway point of the library’s Summer Reading Program. Sign up by age group at bit.ly/1UqH2zI, record your summer reading hours/books, and find the list of prizes for each reading level. Prizes may be claimed, until supplies last, anytime before August 30. Our adults who reach their reading goals may choose either a book from our “free book rack” or a $5 voucher good at our monthly Used Book Sale. Book sale revenues drop during June and July so please support your library by increasing your future purchases.

Summer Special Events 

Over 100 kids and adults attend our Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Summer Reading Program Special Events. Next up are these fun family favorites:

• July 20: “Animal Champions” from Pacific Animal Productions. Which animal lives the longest, is the longest, jumps the highest, or has the best camouflage? Meet these animals live.
• July 27: Literature Comes to Life presents “Swimmy.” Kids from the audience will participate in acting out the story, complete with costumes and direction provided by teacher and children’s theater actress Stacey Wein.
• Aug. 3: “Circus Marionettes” from Pig’s Eye Puppets. Ten marionette circus performers present a fast moving show, and answer questions about this ancient form of puppetry.
• Aug. 10: “The Found Object Juggling Show” with Michael Rayner. This wacky and hilarious show will keep you entertained as Michael balances and juggles a variety of surprising impromptu objects.
• Aug. 17: “Totally Tide Pools” with Living Coast Discovery Center. Living is tough in tide pools! Discover the crazy ways their inhabitants have adapted to stay safe. The program is interactive and is our final Summer Special Event; come and celebrate with us!

Battle of the Funny Books 

The large bulletin board in the Children’s area shows the book standings in “The Battle of the Funny Books.” July 21 is the day votes will be counted to determine the elite eight; the Aug. 4 vote tally narrows the field to the final four; after the Aug. 11 count, only two books will remain in contention and on Aug. 18, Youth Services Librarian Erin Moore will post San Carlos’ choice for the “Funniest Book.” Don’t forget — your vote counts.

Isla Desafío

What did youth do before video games? Pinball! The second Wednesday of every month from 4 – 5 p.m., Challenge Island presents a unique science- and engineering-based program that encourages kids ages 8 – 12 to create, think outside the box and become part of a team. Aug. 10, kids return to pre-1977 and the days of “Pinball Passion.” Along with their tribe mates, they will create their own unique pinball game and invite other tribes to play it and compete for the highest score. Space is limited. Call 619-527-3430 or come in to sign up.

Chess and other summer fun 

Our Chess Club is expanding and we’ve had to purchase more chess boards! Join this group of under age 18 youth on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 5 – 7 p.m. New members at any skill level are welcome. It’s a fun way to improve logical thinking skills and increase math ability. The club was organized by Luke, who is a student and library patron. We hope to see you on July 26, Aug. 9 and 23.

Tuesdays at 4 p.m., join kids ages 3 – 8 for yoga and stories. Toddlers and preschoolers listen to stories and actively participate in making themed crafts, singing songs and learning rhymes on Fridays at 10 a.m.

espectáculos de arte

We thank Dr. Roberta Flynn for displaying the art of her husband, Jim Flynn, and for the informative reception attended by over 70 patrons who learned about Stellar Care’s “Memories in the Making” art classes sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association.

Local artist, Mike Hefner’s artist reception is July 16, noon – 2 p.m., in the Winer Family Community Room & Art Gallery of the San Carlos Branch Library. His plein air paintings will be on exhibit until Aug. 4 and include, among his other prize-winning paintings, Hefner’s first place entry at this year’s Del Mar Fair.

In our Art Gallery Aug. 9 – Sept. 1, Tim Mountain, our San Carlos Branch library clerk for over 20 years, will display another skill in his repertoire: photography. Mountain graduated from San Diego State University with a major in geography, which instilled in him an eye for nature’s complex beauty. His photographs depict a variety of local venues and are waiting to find a place in your home. Please plan on attending his artist reception Aug. 20, noon – 2 p.m. A portion of all art sale proceeds are donated to the library.

Libros y autores

The San Carlos Library Book Club will discuss “Boston Girl” by Anita Diamant on Aug. 11 at 12:30 – 2 p.m.

Join us as Rick Crawford tells stories of San Diego’s history described in his latest book, “San Diego Yesterday” on July 22 from 2 – 3 p.m. Crawford is the manager of Special Collections at the San Diego Public Library, and as the former San Diego Historical Society‘s Archives Director and editor of the Journal of San Diego History for nine years, he has written extensively on local history. Crawford is the author of “Stranger Than Fiction,” “Vignettes of San Diego History,” and “The Way We Were in San Diego.”

OASIS

A San Carlos favorite, Mark Carlson, is back with stories about the “Ghosts of Little Bighorn” on Aug. 19 at 1 – 2:30 p.m. Learn what led to the war where Custer’s 7th Cavalry Regiment and six tribes of the Sioux and Cheyenne nations fought for supremacy and survival.

Fechas para recordar

Now until Aug. 15: sign up for Summer Reading Program

Aug. 5, 2 – 4 p.m.: SCFOL Members-Only Used Book Pre-Sale

Aug. 6, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.: monthly Used Book Sale

—Sue Hotz es directora de publicidad de los Amigos de la Biblioteca de San Carlos. Comuníquese con ella en [email protected].