Our Community Reads: Thank You!

We would like to send a heartfelt “Thank You” to all of the many participants who “attended” events during our 2021 season. It was only our fourth year, and what a strange one it was. Luckily, we had an incredible group of highly esteemed presenters who, from their offices and living rooms via Zoom gave it their all!

Thanks to Senator Laird and his stellar panel, to David Reichard of CSU Monterey Bay faculty, to the powerful personal story of local resident Dinah Davis. We all grew and learned and felt the emotion of what has transpired over the years relative to HIV/AIDS. Supervisor Zach Friend gave us some levity with our annual Trivia Night, and allowed readers of The Great Believers a place to share their knowledge of the book and win some prizes in the process!

We are grateful to our many branch book discussion group leaders, from Aptos, Capitola, Felton and La Selva Beach for bringing people together to dive deep into the themes of Rebecca Makkai’s powerful novel, and also to volunteer April Zilber for leading a very fun and creative hands-on art event.

All of the effort made by everyone whether participating in or leading events, enrich this dream of ours to bring people together, to create community, and to learn and grow through the experience of reading a single book together. Thank you all!

We also thank Santa Cruz Public Libraries for lending their support to Our Community Reads. Special thanks to Rowan Rammer and Sarah Jones for coordinating events and providing tech support.

See you next year in the 2022 Season of Our Community Reads.

— Aptos Chapter of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Library
Jim Bourne
Bobbie Edgin
Pat Emard
Kris Franceschi
Melanie Freitas
Gale Farthing
Barbara Gaebe
Ofelia García
Teri Handzel
Coni Hendry
Sandy Laue
Diana Mejia
Eileen Miller
Ginny Morris
Lynn McNussen
Debby Peronto
Jodi Pratt
Susan Schenck
Denise Ward
Tricia Wynne