The Friends of the Aptos Library, along with the Capitola and La Selva Beach Friends, will host speakers Professor Traci Bliss and Eleonor Mendelson as part of the Our Community Reads program.
This year’s selected book is Patriot Number One, by Lauren Hilgers, which tells the true account of a couple who emigrate from Southeastern China to the U.S.
Traci Bliss
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Professor Bliss discusses the anti-Chinese movement in Santa Cruz County during the late 19th century in Soquel Congregational Church’s Parrish Hall.
Bliss will share compelling stories of resilience and humanity from her forthcoming book Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz (Arcadia History Press, May 2020.)
Then on Sunday, Feb. 2, at the Aptos Grange, Mendelson, Admissions Director of Five Branches University of Santa Cruz, will explain the five branches of Chinese medicine and the basic fundamentals of the Chinese philosophy that encourages a holistic and compassi onate approach.
These are two of thirteen events in the Our Community Reads program: films, discussion groups, art & culture, lectures and more that are offered as part of this program.
All events are free and open to the public.
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Mao’s Last Dancer
The La Selva Beach Library Friends will be hosting the film “Mao’s Last Dancer” at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 30. at La Selva Beach Community Church, 26 Florido Ave.
The film focuses on professional dancer Li Cunxin who was taken from his family in rural China at the age of eleven to train in Beijing. He became a gifted dancer and eventually defected to the U.S.
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- Tuesday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m., Soquel Congregational Church, Parrish Hall, 4951 Soquel Drive, Soquel. Doors open at 6:30.
- Sunday, Feb. 2, 1 p.m., Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista Dr. Light refreshments will be served.
Visit our website, www.friendsofaptoslibrary.org, to see a complete list of events, presenter information and details.