Quote of the week

“Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive. But inside our heads — at least that’s where I imagine it — there’s a little room where we store those memories. A room like the stacks in this library. And to understand the workings of our own heart, we have to keep on making new reference cards. We have to dust things off every once in a while, let in fresh air, change the water in the flower vases. In other words, you’ll live forever in your own private library.”
– Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore

Library card art exhibition — send us your designs

Calling all artists! The City of Menlo Park is refreshing our library card designs, and we want your help. Menlo Park residents of all ages are invited to submit original artwork inspired by the theme, “My Library Adventure in Menlo Park.” Art submissions will be accepted until Oct. 31 and reviewed by a panel of library staff and stakeholders. Select designs will be printed on new library cards and made available to the public. Learn more.

Free design workshops
To help get your creative juices flowing, we'll be hosting free, artist-led workshops in September: 

• Saturday, Sept. 13, from 2–3 p.m. at Belle Haven Library with Nan Hockin
• Sunday, Sept. 14, from 2–3 p.m. at Menlo Park Library with Tim Nickodemus
• Monday, Sept. 15, from 4– 5 p.m. at Belle Haven Library with Genevieve Santos

Save the date: Halloweek!

Mark your calendar and get ready to celebrate with three Halloween-themed, family-friendly community events hosted by the City of Menlo Park:

Halloween parade and carnival 
Decorate your bike, wagon or scooter and wear your Halloween costume as our ghoulish parade struts through downtown Menlo Park. Then, enjoy Halloween-inspired carnival games, bounce houses, prizes, candy, balloon and tattoo artists and free performances. Join us on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. The parade will begin down Santa Cruz Ave. and finish at the carnival at Fremont Park. Learn more.

Pumpkin splash 
Wear your swimsuit for the floating pumpkin patches at Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool. Ticket price includes a pumpkin, pumpkin decorations, a goody bag and additional time for swimming. Participate on Sunday, Oct. 26, at Belle Haven Pool, 100 Terminal Ave., from 11 a.m.–noon and Burgess Pool, 501 Laurel St., from 1–3 p.m. Learn more.

Trunk-or-treat
Enjoy a safe and fun way for children in our community to enjoy Halloween. Instead of going door-to-door, kids will go from car-to-car, with each vehicle’s trunk decorated in a creative and festive Halloween theme. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring joy to children and families while fostering community spirit. Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 4:30–6 p.m. at Belle Haven Community Campus, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.

Public Works Open House is Sept. 27

The City of Menlo Park Public Works department is hosting an Open House on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Corporation Yard (333 Burgess Dr.) to showcase some of the work they do for the community and share information about their team. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to enjoy family-friendly activities and learn more about City programs and services. Learn more.

Heritage tree tag scavenger hunt

Branch out and discover stem-ulating tree facts during Menlo Park's first annual Heritage Tree Tag Scavenger Hunt. We have placed 19 tags next to beautiful heritage trees throughout the City to help raise awareness of the City's urban forest. Get rooted in nature and embark on the search for heritage tree tags in your neighborhood park. You’ve got to see them to be-leaf them! Participants can enter in a drawing for a free fruit tree. Join us for this fun challenge through Sept. 22. Learn more.

Swim lessons  

There’s still time to sign up for fall swim lessons at Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool! Menlo Park residents receive special resident rates and additional scholarships and hyperlocal resident discounts are available at Belle Haven Pool.

Want extra practice? Add an Open Swim Pass to your swim lesson! Browse available classes online and secure your spot today.

Need help signing up? Reach out to our customer service team or stop by Belle Haven Pool or Burgess Pool anytime. Learn more and register.

Free literary and cultural programs  

These free literary and cultural programs received funding support from Friends of Menlo Park Library.

• Storytime at the library. Join us in person at the library for interactive fun and learning for children and their caregivers. Storytime promotes the joy of reading and helps to develop early literacy skills.
  • Belle Haven Library: Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m., Fridays at 5:15 p.m. or Saturdays at 10:15 a.m.
  • Menlo Park Library: Thursdays at 10:15 a.m., Fridays at 10:15 a.m. or Saturdays at 11:15 a.m.
    
    
• Portuguese Fado and World Music. Join us at the library for a beautiful performance of Fado, the soulful and haunting music of Portugal! Participate on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 1–2 p.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.
  
  
• Magic and Fun with Chiquy Boom! Chiquy Boom's Magic and Music Show is a bilingual event full of fun for children and families! Join us on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 11–11:45 a.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.
  
  
• California Book Group: I'm Glad My Mom Died. Our brand-new California Book Group meets quarterly, in person to discuss books set in California or written by authors who live in or are from California. Our September book is I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Participate on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 3–4:15 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
  
  
• Melanated Women Read: Angela Davis: An Autobiography. Melanated Women Read is a book discussion group by and especially for Black women. Join us online via Zoom on Monday, Sept. 8, from 6:30–8 p.m. Learn more.
  
  
• Book Discussion: Absolution by Alice McDermott. Join our Fiction Book Group online via Zoom to discuss Absolution by Alice McDermott on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 6:30–7:45 p.m. Learn more.
  
  
• Teen Media Nights. Watch a movie and play video games at the library! Join us for Teen Media Nights from 3:30–5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, where we will either be watching a film or playing video games in the library Teen Zone.
  • Wednesdays at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave.
  • Fridays at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St.
    
    
• How Small Towns Transformed California into an American Place. California is celebrating 175 years of statehood! Historian Kyle Livie, Ph.D. will share how small towns transformed this place from “Feathered Kingdoms” to “Cities of Homes.” Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 6–7 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
  
  
• Global Language Storytime: Japanese. Join us for a special storytime full of fun and Japanese culture, conducted all in Japanese! For ages two–five with their grown-ups. Participate on Friday, Sept. 12, from 11–11:30 a.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
  
  
• Sensory-Friendly Film Screening: Cinderella. Join us for a Disney Princess Film Festival! Our sensory-friendly series will bring you all the princess films, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Moana 2. The film festival is open to all and no registration is required. A caregiver or parent must be present with each child. Watch Cinderella with us on Friday, Sept. 12, from 11:30 a.m.– 1 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more and view the complete event series.
  
  
• Teen Book Group: Cemetery Boys. Teens ages 12–17, join us to discuss this month’s book, Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Participate on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
  
  
• Mystery Readers Group: Latino American Heritage Month. Join us in reading and sharing mysteries from Latino American authors to celebrate this important month! Participate online via Zoom on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 6–7:15 p.m. Learn more.

Check out more free community programs
The above was just a sample of the many free activities hosted by the City of Menlo Park this week. Check out the community events calendar to see them all!

City Council to discuss swim centers Sept. 9 

Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool will be the topic of the City Council study session tentatively scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 9. City Council will receive end-of-summer attendance, financial reports and related background information about the aquatics program. City Council also will review possibilities for sustaining and potentially expanding open hours at the City's swim centers. Learn more.

Aquatics working group meeting Sept. 23   

The aquatics working group is an opportunity for community members to participate in intimate "focus group" sessions to provide feedback and gain insight about the programs and services at Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool. Sessions are open to all interested community members. Join us on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. at Belle Haven Community Campus, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.

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