By Sue Hotz
Let the summer fun begin
This week marked the school year’s end for most of our neighborhood youths. Families will be on the road enjoying much needed vacations. We wish all safe travels. Many San Diegans opt for staycations—why not, we live in a resort town! If you haven’t yet made your summer plans, we would like to offer some suggestions. The Library’s 94th Annual Summer Reading Program (SRP), “Reading by Design,” runs June 15-Aug. 15.
Sign up online; check out a book; kickback with your favorite libation; read; relax; record the books you read; win prizes. Super easy! We also encourage you to join in our community’s many FREE summer activities including our Branch’s SRP Special Events, Mission Trails Regional Park, Allied Gardens First Friday concerts and the Fourth of July Fireworks and Music Fest at Lake Murray!
Youth SRP special events
The San Carlos Branch Library, following its RFID upgrade, reopens on Saturday, June 24. Meditation resumes at 9:30 a.m., and from 11:30-12:30, we jump right into our weekly summer Special Events with a Recycled Art Workshop. The whole family will have fun with Joan Green from Arts for Learning San Diego, creating new treasures from reusable materials.
Every Wednesday from 2:30-3:15 p.m., enjoy SRP family-fun entertainment. Programs start on June 28, with Michael Rayner’s Super Funny Variety Show. Performing his one-of-a-kind tricks and stunts, Rayner puts on a hilarious show fit for the entire family! His most requested tricks include balancing a wheelbarrow on his chin, spinning a cheeseburger on a parasol, and juggling various surprising objects.
July 5, All About Sharks: They are seen as the villains of the oceans; but what role do they really fill? Learn the truth behind common shark myths and why there are so many great white sharks this year at our local beaches. Get a close-up look at some preserved local species. This program is presented by World Below the Waves.
July 12, Cowboy Ken: With lively tall tales, old cowboy songs, historical facts, and lots of audience participation, Cowboy Ken brings the iconic image of the American cowboy to life! See the Old West art of trick roping up-close; you may even get a chance to try!
July 19, in a very hands-on program, the League of Extraordinary Scientists will teach us all about life-cycles. Every living thing has a life-cycle. See tadpoles, frogs, beetles, butterflies, and mantis up close, and find out how we are all connected.
Youth weekly recurring programs include Tuesdays at 4 p.m. when it’s yoga and storytime for ages 3-8. Ages 18 and under can learn or improve their chess skills on second and fourth Tuesdays (except July 11) from 5-7 p.m. Thursdays at 4 p.m. (except July 6) ages 3-8 experiment with different media in Process Art. Fridays at 10 a.m. it’s time for preschoolers to enjoy stories and art projects. Starting Saturday, July 8 at 11 a.m., and then every second and fourth Saturday thereafter, ages 0-6 and their caregivers will enjoy music and movement in Spanish with our NEW program, Canta y Baila Conmigo (all language levels are welcome).
Battle of the book characters
See your favorite book characters face off. Harry Potter defeated Voldemort, but he never had to face Captain Underpants, or Junie B. Jones. Here’s how it works: Visit the library throughout the summer to check out books featuring a list of 16 popular characters and then vote for your favorite. By summer’s end, we will have narrowed the 16 book characters to one grand champion.
Artists
July 5-Aug. 3, we are delighted to offer a unique, color splashed art display in our Winer Family Community Room & Art Gallery. Melanie Peterson creates vibrant abstracts using alcohol ink on yupo paper. A Psychology major at SDSU, Peterson likens alcohol inks to Rorschach tests; each person will see something different in each painting. A multi-talented artist, Peterson also paints modern illustrations with acrylics, bringing wit and imagery to current social issues. Her Artist Reception is scheduled for Saturday, July 15, noon-2 p.m.
Books and speakers
July 13 at 12:30-2 p.m., the Library Book Club is discussing “Complete Maus,“ by Art Spiegelman.
July 21, 2-3:15 p.m., Jim Bregante asks us to “Step Back in Time: San Diego’s Waterfront through the Eyes of a Child.” Bregante, a seasoned speaker, native San Diegan, and a docent for the Maritime Museum of San Diego, will share his experience of growing up in Little Italy. Bregante includes local photos from historical and family archives in his presentation.
OASIS
July 14, 2-3 p.m., in the second of this FREE three-part Healthy Habits series, Brandon Harding discusses how to “Shake the Salt Habit: Limiting Salt in Your Diet.” Learn how foods high in salt sneak into our diet and effective ways to reduce them, without sacrificing flavor! Participants will enjoy a healthy snack and experience low-impact exercises to increase physical activity, an important component of weight management and health. Attendees will receive a free health guide with recipes and tips for healthy living.
Adult program changes
Starting July 1, Chair Yoga becomes “Mind/Body Fitness for Older Adults.” The class will continue with the same instructor and similar content. This class is limited to the first 25 patrons arriving due to our space limitations.
English and Spanish Conversation Cafes have been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience, and will repost if they resume. Tai Chi classes have been canceled.
Branch closure: June 12-23
During the closure, please return library materials using the outside drop slot and boxes; items on HOLD before June 23 will be extended until July 8; place labeled Book Sale donations on the provided cart or bench by the branch’s side door. We re-open on Saturday, June 24.
Dates to remember
June 15: Online Summer Reading Program signups begin.
June 24: Recycled Art Workshop. We’re open.
June 30, 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Friends of the Library only, Used-Book Pre-sale
July 1, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: SCFOL Monthly Used Book Sale.
July 4: CLOSED for Fourth of July. See you at the Lake Murray all day for Lake Murray Fireworks and Music Fest
July 7: 6-8 p.m.: Allied Gardens’ first Friday in the Park concert
—Sue Hotz is board member and publicity chair for the San Carlos Friends of the Library.
