Exciting line up in the new year at the library

As we step into 2025, our li­brary is excited to offer a vari­ety of events to help you start the year with creativity, well­ness, and community spirit. Join us on Thursday, Jan. 16 from noon – 2 p.m. for our Uku­lele Jam Sessions, where all skill levels are welcome. Sheet music is provided and singing is optional for this relaxed and enjoyable musical gathering.

Kick off your year with health and vitality by join­ing our Feeling Fit Club ev­ery Friday in January from 2 – 3 p.m. This functional fitness program is designed for older adults, focusing on endurance, strength, flexibility, and bal­ance to help maintain inde­pendence. It’s a perfect way to stay active and connect with others.

Make a difference for the en­vironment at the Watershed Warriors Community Cleanup on Saturday, January 4, from 9 – 11 a.m. Join I Love a Clean San Diego for a litter cleanup to divert trash from our water­sheds and keep it from reach­ing the Pacific Ocean. Visit cleansd.samaritan.com to reg­ister.

For the writers among you, our Writers’ Workshop is held on Saturdays, January 11 and 25 from 10 a.m. – noon. Wheth­er you’re a beginner or a sea­soned writer across any genre, this workshop offers a support­ive environment to share your work, receive feedback, and have fun.

Enhance your mental well-being with our Mindfulness Practice Group, meeting on Saturdays—January 11, 18, and 25 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Led by UCSD certified teacher Laurie Hallihan, this group provides a safe space for meditation, meaningful shar­ing, and connection. Whether you’re experienced in mindful­ness or new to meditation, this practice group is here to sup­port and nurture you.

For our youngest library patrons, don’t miss the Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Saturday, Jan­uary 18 at 10:30 a.m. Bring your favorite plush animal and join us for a delightful teddy bear-themed storytime and craft session. It’s a perfect way to spark creativity and imagi­nation in our little ones!

We’re happy to announce that all of our storytimes are back in session! Every Wednes­day at 10:30 a.m., children ac­tively participate in stories, music, and movement, with time for free play afterward. On Fridays at 10:30 a.m., ba­bies experience the sounds and structure of language through rhythm, rhyme, and repetition in a fifteen-minute program, followed by time for baby and caregiver socializing. Addition­ally, join us for Bilingual Sto­rytime on Thursday, January 9 at 10:30 a.m., where songs, books, and rhymes are shared in English and Spanish. Fi­nally, don’t miss Storybox The­atre – Kamishibai on Thurs­day, January 23 at 10:30 a.m. This unique storytime uses the Japanese storytelling tra­dition of Kamishibai to bring international folktales to life through a wooden theatre, il­lustrations, and narration.

We look forward to help­ing you make 2025 a year of growth, health, and commu­nity.

All library programs are free and open to the public. Thank you to the Alpine Library Friends Association for their generous support!

See you at the library!

Susan del Castillo is Librarian II/ Branch Manager