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Our Community Reads Begins its Third Year

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Friends of the Aptos Library / Our Community Reads

Friends of the Aptos Library is pleased to announce that their very successful “Our Community Reads” (“OCR”) program is returning for its third year!

The ballots were cast and the public will soon learn which of five nominated books will be the featured title for the 2020 Our Community Reads (OCR) season. On September 26th, 50 members of the community came from La Selva, Aptos and Capitola to choose the winner. The voting event was hosted by the Friends of the Aptos Library at the Aptos Branch.

Books under consideration are: Map of Salt and Stars, by Zeyn Joukhadar, Patriot Number One by Lauren Hilgers, Isaac’s Storm, by Erik Larson, Earthquake Storms, by John C. Dvorak, and lastly Change Comes to Dinner, by Katherine Gustafson. Each one of these books tells a fascinating story, and each in its own way would be relevant to us here in the Central Coast. We encourage everyone to read them all!

The idea behind “OCR” is to foster community by having as many people at one time reading the same book. The Friends host a series of events free and open to the public to offer our residents the opportunity to gather and share ideas around related themes from the book. Last year a total of 16 events, with something for everyone, brought the community together over a span of almost 9 weeks as we delved into the themes of The Death and Life of Monterey Bay: A Story of Revival. Partnerships with several organizations such as Save Our Shores, and the Elkorn Slough Foundation along with participation from Cabrillo College and Aptos High School made this possible. La Selva Beach Friends of the Library hosted a panel of five scientists for a lively and informative discussion.

This year the Friends of the Capitola Library will join the Aptos Friends in sponsoring events that will begin late January and run approximately 6 weeks. We look forward to meeting members of our community through this interactive and exciting program. Visit the Friends of the Aptos Library web site to learn more.

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February Breakfast Meeting

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WHAT: February Breakfast Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, February 14th, 2019, 7:30-9:00am
WHERE: Best Western Seacliff Inn, Aptos
COST: $25 members/$30 non-members – Prepay and save $3!

Susan Nemitz has been the Director of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries for three years where she is currently working to transform the libraries’ physical facilities and internal services into 21st Century community learning environments. She was the Director of the Ramsey County Libraries in Minnesota for eleven years where she remodeled three branches and redeveloped four new branch libraries. She lives with her golden doodle in Seabright.
To RSVP:

Please call : 831-688-1467

Driving Course for Seniors @ Aptos Library

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The California Highway Patrol is offering a traffic safety program called the Age Well, Drive Smart Program for senior drivers from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at Aptos Public Library, 7695 Soquel Drive.

The course is designed to provide drivers with the keys to driving safer and driving longer. The Age Well, Drive Smart course is approximately two-and-one-half hours long and is free of charge. These class is geared toward drivers age 65 and older, but it is open to anyone who feels they can benefit from this information.

Space in this class is limited. For details or to make a reservation, call 831-662-0511.

Monthly Book Sale at Aptos Library

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Friends of the Aptos Library will be holding its monthly book sale, Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the Aptos Library from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. There will be delicious baked goods for purchase as well.

Come browse tons of books of all genres. This is the major fundraising event for the Friends who support literacy programs, Our Community Reads, and assistance for the library in a myriad of ways. The Live Like Coco foundation, a program supported by the Friends, is an organization that encourages kids to read through a generous book-give-away program.

Legally Speaking Series Offered at Santa Cruz Libraries

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Legal Issues Series

The Santa Cruz Public Library System (SCPL) has partnered with the Santa Cruz County Bar Association to offer a free monthly series of discussions with Q & A on various legal and financial life event topics.

The new series, titled Legally Speaking, answers questions about the most frequently experienced legal issues faced by people in our community. These discussions will take place at various locations throughout the county. The first event, covering immigration law, will be held at the Downtown Library on January 24th from 6-7 p.m.

Read a good book lately?

The Sold Book
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If you have some room on your reading list, I invite you to read my book Get It Sold! It's an easy read (just 110 pages!) and it tells you everything you need to know about selling your home quickly, easily, and at absolute peak pricing. I'll send it to you for free - no shipping charge either!

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Led by Jeraline Singh Edwards, Esq, this presentation will encompass “Know your Rights,” immigration law fundamental principles, such ways to become a U.S. citizen, main categories of immigrant, ways to get a green card, process of naturalization, and the “Do’s and Don’ts” of immigration law. Most importantly, we will discuss the truths and myths about current immigration law and policies. Jeraline is a Professor at Monterey College of Law teaching Immigration Law Clinic. She is a Seaside Rotary Club Board member, Del Monte Manor Board Member, and a member of Monterey County and Santa Cruz Bar Association and American Immigration Lawyers Association.

According to Library Director Susan Nemitz, “Navigating legal and financial life events can be overwhelming. Getting a good overview and having a professional answer questions can significantly reduce this stress.” Nemitz also indicated that the series is a result of a 2018 SCPL Innovation Grant. These small internal grants “…encouraged staff at all levels to look to their own passions, and to try something new to meet the needs of the community.” The new series will serve as a pilot to help determine which additional topics and formats will benefit the community.

Other events in the series include:

  • Thursday, Feb 14, 2019: Estate Planning with Emily Buchbinder at the Aptos Library
  • Thursday, Mar 14, 2019 Elder Law and Abuse with Anna Penrose at the Downtown Library
  • Thursday, Apr 11, 2019 Coastal Access with Gary Redenbacher at the Scotts Valley Library
  • Thursday, May 9, 2019 Labor Law with Gretchen Reganhardt & Lizett Rodriguez (CRLA) at the Downtown Library

Looking for a Home in Aptos?


Every home in Aptos is unique, and finding just the right home can be like finding that needle in a haystack. Fortunately, now there's SantaCruz.RealEstate, featuring the best search engine for Aptos homes and real estate available online today!

Experience Winter Magic at the Aptos Library

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Magician Mike Della Penna

Experience winter magic at the Aptos Library!  Renowned magician Mike Della Penna is coming to the Aptos Library on Saturday, December 15th 2018 at 3 PM to share is unique and zany magic with children of all ages in the Aptos Community.

Mike Della Penna has been awarded the “Parent’s Press Best of East Bay” for three years running:  2015, 2016, and 2017.  He is known for captivating the 3-to-7-year-old crowd with his laughter-filled, participatory magic shows.  In a former life he was a stand-up comedian in Boston for 20 years, before returning to his boyhood love for magic in 2004 when he moved to the Bay Area.

Come out and meet with your fellow Aptosians this weekend at the Library!  Put away the screens and have some good old fashioned magical fun.

Can’t make it to the 3 PM show?  Good news – he will also be appearing that same day at other Santa Cruz Public Libraries on that same date:

Saturday • December 15th
10:00am – 11:00am
Downtown Library • 224 Church St.

Saturday • December 15th
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Scotts Valley Library •251 Kings Village Rd.

Read a good book lately?

The Sold Book
Get My Book Today!

If you have some room on your reading list, I invite you to read my book Get It Sold! It's an easy read (just 110 pages!) and it tells you everything you need to know about selling your home quickly, easily, and at absolute peak pricing. I'll send it to you for free - no shipping charge either!

OK Send me a Copy!

Support the Aptos Library when Shopping Deluxe

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Deluxe Foods Aptos
Deluxe Foods Aptos

Attention all you Deluxe Foods Shoppers! Congratulations, here’s another good reason Deluxe earns your patronage. The good folks there have agreed to donate a percentage (we hear it’s 10%!) of all the food you purchase to the Friends of the Aptos Library.

Care to participate? It’s easy! Just remember to say “APTOS LIBRARY” before you check out at Deluxe Foods. If you do that, the cashier will record your purchase and credit this unique fundraising effort.

All the funds raised will be used to support the 2019 Community Reads program.  The goal of the program is to create a shared experience by having members of the entire Santa Cruz community – from teens to adults – all reading the same book.  Funds raised will later be used for the capital campaign for the remodel of the library, blending with funds from Measure S.

The book for 2019 Community Reads has not been chosen yet, and members of the community are encourage to make suggestions by writing to friendsoftheaptoslibrary@fscpl.org. Nominated books will be voted on at an event on September 5th.

Read a good book lately?

The Sold Book
Get My Book Today!

If you have some room on your reading list, I invite you to read my book Get It Sold! It's an easy read (just 110 pages!) and it tells you everything you need to know about selling your home quickly, easily, and at absolute peak pricing. I'll send it to you for free - no shipping charge either!

OK Send me a Copy!

Free Mindfulness Classes at Aptos Public Library

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Free Mindfulness Classes at Aptos Public Library

The Santa Cruz Public Library System (SCPL) has announced a six session Intro to Mindfulness course at the Aptos Public Library.  The series of classes is scheduled to begin in September and run through October of this year.

Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment, which can be developed through the practice of meditation and other training.

Put another way, it is:

…the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.

Instructor Sue Doherty (anthropologist, author, and mindfulness teacher) will introduce the student to the practice of mindfulness in daily life. These sessions are informed by theories and practices that draw from contemplative traditions and the disciplines of medicine, psychology, and education.

Each class will be held from 7:00p-8:00p

  • Wednesdays in September: 9/12, 9/19 & 9/26
  • Wednesdays in October: 10/3, 10/10 & 10/17

Please note that this course is offered at no cost, with no registration required, and drop-ins are welcome.  Folks are encouraged to join the class for a single session or all six sessions.

Read a good book lately?

The Sold Book
Get My Book Today!

If you have some room on your reading list, I invite you to read my book Get It Sold! It's an easy read (just 110 pages!) and it tells you everything you need to know about selling your home quickly, easily, and at absolute peak pricing. I'll send it to you for free - no shipping charge either!

OK Send me a Copy!

Library Books and Media now Fine-Free for Kids

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Aptos Public Library
Aptos Public Library

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) is celebrating 150 years of library service by giving the gift of reading to every child and teen in the county. Starting on September 10th, 2018 all children’s and teen’s books and media will become fine-free.

It is well documented that access to a library improves student success. According to Heather Norquist, SCPL’s East Region Manager who leads the K-12 Outreach Team, “We have been working on a variety of ways to improve children’s and teen’s access to the reading materials and learning tools they need to succeed in life. We have brought together a team of Librarians to focus on K-12 outreach to strengthen our connections with county schools. We have purchased subscriptions for digital eBooks accessible to school libraries. These are several approaches that help us further our goal to have every child in Santa Cruz County receive a library card.”

Read a good book lately?

The Sold Book
Get My Book Today!

If you have some room on your reading list, I invite you to read my book Get It Sold! It's an easy read (just 110 pages!) and it tells you everything you need to know about selling your home quickly, easily, and at absolute peak pricing. I'll send it to you for free - no shipping charge either!

OK Send me a Copy!

One way to improve children’s access to library materials is to remove the burden of overdue fees. Library Director Susan Nemitz says, “We weighed what was more important to our mission, collecting these fees or improving access for children. As we reflect on the important changes in library services over the last 150 years, we felt that this was an appropriate change for a 21st century library.”

The fine-free status only applies to children’s and teen’s materials – not accounts. Adult materials will continue to generate overdue fees even if checked out on a child’s card. Individuals will continue to be responsible for damaged and lost items — children’s, teen’s and adult. After a one-time amnesty removal of account charges relating to children’s and teen’s materials that will occur on September 9th, everyone should be starting with a clean slate. Children’s and teen’s materials go fine-free on September 10th.

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Aptos Home Prices
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If overdue fees have prevented your child from getting a card or reading more books, now is the time to visit your library. Apply for your free card today and stop by any branch on September 10th to make your own sesquicentennial party hat!

African Dance comes to Aptos Library in June

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​The Diaspora Performance Project supports our community of Artists of the African Diaspora and provides opportunity for the development of new work, deep and meaningful connection to our community, and performances. All ages are welcome to these interactive and inspiring workshops. This program is made possible by the Tannery World Dance + Cultural Center.

Mandjou Koné: West African Dance

​Workshop for all ages Saturday​,​ June 9​th at 2​ ​p​.​m​.​ ​at the Aptos​ Library.  As a young girl Mandjou helped her Griot father keep his band alive by singing, dancing and playing instruments like the Djembe, Bala, Dundun, Kora and Tama. She is a popular dance educator and has been teaching and performing over the past twenty years throughout the US.

Nano Loubayi: Congolese African Dance

Workshop for all ages Saturday, June 30​th at ​2​p​.​m​. at the Aptos​ Library.  Promoting Congolese dance is the focus of Nano Loubayi, dance teacher, choreographer and director of Bitezo Bia Kongo, his Congolese African dance company. Loubayi lives in Santa Cruz, California, frequently teaching traditional Congolese dance.

These events are part of the Santa Cruz Public libraries Summer Reading Program, Reading Takes You Everywhere. A reading and activities program for all ages. To register, visit santacruzpl.org/srp/.​

Read a good book lately?

The Sold Book
Get My Book Today!

If you have some room on your reading list, I invite you to read my book Get It Sold! It's an easy read (just 110 pages!) and it tells you everything you need to know about selling your home quickly, easily, and at absolute peak pricing. I'll send it to you for free - no shipping charge either!

OK Send me a Copy!

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