Here we are into March and with world events leading the news, these are very uncertain times for all of us.

One fact remains: Life is short. Rather than sit at home in the dark and wring your hands, you can choose to live your life as fully as possible.

Go take a walk around Lake Murray and spot the wildflowers and baby ducks. If you have more energy, take a walk around Mission Trails and visit the grinding rocks where the Kumeyaay processed acorns next to the river with rounded stones aka “mortars” that they held in their hands. Did you know they survived in this area for 10,000 years? And if you possess strong pairs of legs and lungs, then climb up Cowles Mountain and even further to Pyles Peak and have a look at the beauty that is our home. As I have said many times, we’re living in America’s finest neighborhood, in America’s finest city.

Spring is upon us and we are fortunate to have experienced these past few rainstorms that will add some much-needed water into our reservoirs. With all the snow that fell in the local mountains, our streams will be flowing. The cycle of life continues.

Our District 7 Council member Raul Campillo has been holding town hall meetings throughout the past year and a half and hopefully you have given yourself the opportunity to attend and present any of your important issues. My mom used to say that we kids had no right to complain about anything if we hadn’t tried to do something to fix the problem. I would say the same to you.

It is easy to sit at your computer and complain about potholes or unwanted cell towers next to your house. But if you have not written a letter, made a phone call or shown your face at a virtual town hall meeting, there may be room for improvement in your attitude. In that case, return to paragraph one and take a walk around Lake Murray. And then get involved in your town council.

It’s been wonderful to see a few of our neighbors step up to take charge in our San Carlos Area Council over these past few months. This includes our new Secretary, Tamar Caspi, who also sits on the Navajo Community Planners and has been contributing to our Facebook page. And new Board Member Cynthia Wootton who brings her love of the environment to the San Carlos Area Council plot at the San Carlos Garden. Kudos to you both!

The Councilman’s most recent newsletter reinforces his dedication to one of our town’s longest-standing issues. “My number one priority in District 7 continues to be the construction of the San Carlos Library! If you’ve driven by the parking lot next to the library, you’ll see… WORK IS HAPPENING! This is the final step before we receive a letter closing out the groundwater case and allowing the City to finally purchase the land. I plan to stop by the site frequently with my staff and will be inviting members of the community to join us as the project continues to move forward. We WILL build the San Carlos library.”

I’m now allowing my excitement to mount, and you can, too, as many of us know that a library is the heart of any town: a place to gather and share crafts and stories as well as, a learning zone for the entire family.

The SCAC will be meeting at least one more time virtually on Zoom, this March 16.

We will post the link at our Facebook page. Yours truly will be the guest speaker and I will regale you with tales of how in the 17th Century, many folks departed their beloved Ireland due to the Potato Famine, boarded Coffin Ships and sailed towards a new life in the Americas. The ports of New York City and Quebec both welcomed the refugees who were able to survive the ravages of disease and months-long quarters in the holds of ships that were meant to carry goods, not people. If you’re curious to learn more, then tune in at our Zoom meeting on the evening before St. Patty’s Day!

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom.

The link will be posted online at http://facebook.com/ sancarlosareacouncil

If you have a San Carlos story to share, or would like to get involved in your Town Council, contact San Carlos Area Council VP Patricia Mooney at patty@ crystalpyramid.com.

—Patricia “Patty” Mooney is an award-winning San Diego video producer and partner at San Diego’s longest-serving video production company, Crystal Pyramid Productions.