The FLF meeting June 22 focused on plans for inviting guests and speakers to future meetings and on the possibilities for furnishings in the Teen Room. See the notes here. We’d love to have you join us, along with members of the Boulder Creek and Scotts Valley Friends, at the next meeting on July 27 at 4 p.m. in the Felton Library Community Room.
Volunteer Spotlight
The FLF Park Team provided this tent, installed by volunteers Ralph Miljanich and Jim Mosher, to shade the children’s gravel digging area. The team plans and provides enhancements to the Felton Discovery Park (as approved by County Parks), such as native plant identification labels to be installed this summer. They provided the pop-up Storybook Walk, The Keeper of Wild Words, in collaboration with the library, in June to mid-July. In addition, the Park Team and County Parks organize monthly work parties for community volunteers, whose invaluable work helps keep the park flourishing. The FLF Park Team consists of Moana Whipple, Marilyn Marzel, Jenn Mount, Nancy Gerdt, Michele Mosher, and native plant expert Kirsten Hill, who writes about park plants for this newsletter. If you’re interested in joining the team or volunteering in another way, please email feltonlibraryfriends@gmail.com.
Library News
New hours at the Felton Branch began Tuesday July 5 when the Scotts Valley staff returned to their branch to prepare for its opening planned for August 6. The Felton Branch will be closed on Sundays.
Branch Manager Angie Lyons will be leaving July 14 for a new position as Reference and Instruction Librarian for Student Success and Outreach at Dominican University of California's Archbishop Alemany Library. We’ll miss her and wish her well! There will be a temporary Branch Manager until the position is filled.
Summer Reading Events:
Felton, Boulder Creek, Scotts Valley
Summer Reading signup is open to all ages, including adults, until July 31. Earn prizes and raffle entries by tracking your reading! FLF and FSCPL contributed funds to the library to support this program. Sign up here or call 831-427-7713.
See Summer Reading Events at all SCPL Branches here.
Friday, July 8, 11 a.m. at the Boulder Creek Library.Slim Chance Circus. This 30-minute show for all ages combines classic circus, vaudeville, and slapstick comedy into a multitude of magical moments and surprises.
Saturday, July 23, 11 a.m. at the Scotts Valley Community Center.Fratello Marionettes Presents: The Vaudeville Follies. This 30-minute marionette variety show is presented in the spirit of the old-time music hall. The puppeteers build the puppets themselves and perform in full view of the audience.
Wednesday, July 20, 2 p.m. at the Boulder Creek Library.Perry Yan’s Magic Show. Perry’s 30-minute magic show is a unique combination of sleight of hand and comedy. Perry is a family entertainer, so both kids and adults can expect a wonderful experience! Perry’s blend of comedy and mystifying magic will keep you in awe and laughing!
Tuesday, July 26, 12 p.m. at the Felton Library.Germar the Magician: Germar el mago. Germar’s humor will make you laugh while his magic will make you wonder! The show will be bilingual in Spanish and English.
Native Plants in the Park
California Wild Rose (Rosa Californica)
The Discovery Park is looking lush and full, rightly so for these warm summer days. Wild roses and yarrow are intermingling nicely. The Moonshine Yarrow (Achillea moonshine) and Blue Blossom Ceanothus are blooming in the shade. Native grasses and sedges have grown tall and set seed (Blue Wild Rye, Creeping Wild Rye, and the Berkeley Sedge). Blue Elderberry and the Creek Dogwood berries are ripening; like the grass seed, they too will soon attract birds. Along with the California Wild Rose and Blue Blossom Ceanothus, pollinators may find Bee Plant (Scrophularia californica) and Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon hetereophyllus) still blooming. Blooming in front of the library is Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii), which, like many sages, is also loved by pollinators. In the coming days and weeks, look for the firecracker red California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum) and pink California Aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) to come into bloom. As a late bloomer, the Fuschia is a magnet for hummingbirds and the Asters are attractive to many insect pollinators. Don’t forget to look in the creek at the Water parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa) in peak bloom! This plant is a host to the Anise Swallowtail butterfly larvae.
Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries News
Our Chapter of FSCPL, Felton Library Friends, and Friends of the Capitola LIbrary conducted successful campaigns to provide enhancements to their new branch buildings. FSCPL, the Chapters’ nonprofit umbrella organization, recently completed a campaign for enhancements to three branches: the recently reopened Garfield Park Branch; the Branciforte Branch, still being renovated; and the Aptos Branch’s new building, which broke ground on June 15.
My two favorite things are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. — Peter Golkin
