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November 23, 2024

Quotes of the week

"The biggest laughs you'll ever hear in life are like at a Thanksgiving dinner with a bunch of loved ones, and nothing funny is said, you know, but there's this laughter that's going through the room, and it just comes from love.”

— Norm Macdonald, actor, writer, comedian

Holiday open hours at City libraries and recreation centers

Each year, the City of Menlo Park observes holidays for Thanksgiving. Thank you for your understanding as we take time off to celebrate the holiday. All City libraries, recreation centers, the senior center and child care centers will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29. Some facilities will be closed additional days before and after Thanksgiving. Please visit our website for a full schedule. See the holiday open hours.

Shop local! Light Up the Season

Ring in the holiday shopping season with a festive "winter wonderland" themed event in downtown Menlo Park. Enjoy family-friendly entertainment, youth performances, hot cocoa and cider (quantities limited) and the lighting of the big oak tree. Shop and dine at local Menlo Park small businesses while you are downtown! This free community event happens rain or shine on Friday, Dec. 6 from 5:30–7 p.m. at Fremont Park, Santa Cruz Ave. at University Dr. Save the date.

Photos with Santa at Belle Haven Community Campus 

New location in 2024! Please bring your camera and join us for holiday cheer with a delicious breakfast, fun holiday crafts and photos with the North Pole's most famous inhabitant. Advance reservations are required – tickets are $5 per person. Join us on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at Belle Haven Community Campus, 100 Terminal Ave. Get tickets.

Seed lending libraries

Part of Menlo Park's "library of things," the City of Menlo Park's seed lending libraries operate as community seed exchanges. Borrowers can "check out" a wide variety of vegetable and flower seeds to plant in their gardens for home use. Gardening workshops and resources encourage residents to grow food and help foster community resilience, self-reliance and a culture of sharing. The seed lending libraries are housed in repurposed library card catalogs at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., and Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more. 

"Winter Reads" community reading game

End this year strong, keep reading through the winter season and kick-start the New Year as you read your way through the coziest time of the year. The City of Menlo Park's "Winter Reads" program is open to all ages. Anyone can participate by signing up on the Reader Zone App through Jan. 17. Achieve your reading goals and earn a free book or Kepler's gift card donated by Friends of Menlo Park Library! Sign up and start reading.

Stuffed animal sleepover storytime

The City of Menlo Park is hosting a very special sleepover just for stuffed animals! Bring your plush stuffie to the library for an evening storytime. Then say goodnight to your little friend and go home for the night. You'll learn about their overnight library adventures when you pick up your toy the next day! This free community event received funding support from Friends of Menlo Park Library. Storytime and sleepover drop off at Menlo Park Library or Belle Haven Library is on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. Click either location for more details.

Improved parking completed at Nealon Park

Construction to improve the Nealon Park parking lot is complete. Based on community feedback, parking was reconfigured to add over 20 new spaces. New back-in angle parking on Middle Avenue allows for safer loading and unloading by park visitors, especially for families with children, and enhances bicycle safety by reducing the risk of bicycle collisions with car doors. For additional information about back-in angle parking (e.g., instructional videos), please visit the project webpage.

Library Commission Meeting

The Library Commission is comprised of Menlo Park residents who advise the City Council on matters related to the city's libraries. The next meeting is on Monday, Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. This is a hybrid meeting; participants can join online or in person. See the meeting agenda.

This week in Menlo Park: free community programs

These free community programs received funding support from Friends of Menlo Park Library.

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Group
Join us online to talk about A Natural History of Dragons, by Marie Brennan Isabella. Participate online via Zoom on Monday, Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Learn more.

Teen Media Night
If you're a teen in grades six–12, text your friends and join us for free movies and video games! This week we’re playing Mario Party Superstars at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m. Learn more.

Children's Music Concert with Rosemarie Austin
Enjoy some catchy beats and sing along! Rosemarie Austin writes and performs songs for children and their families in a fun and interactive show. Join us at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. Learn more.

Melanated Women Read
Melanated Women Read is a book discussion group by and especially for Black women. This month we're reading Bluebird, Bluebird, by Attica Locke. Participate online via Zoom on Monday, Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Learn more.

National Civil Rights Museum: The Bridge to Freedom
2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches which paved the way for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Join us on a guided virtual trip to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, where the night's topic will be The Bridge to Freedom: The Selma to Montgomery Campaign, 1965. Join us online via Zoom on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. Learn more.

Teen Table Top Gaming
Teens in grades six–12 are invited to join us every month for drop-in Dungeons and Dragons or other tabletop roleplaying games. Never played before? That's no problem! We've got all the supplies and knowledge you need to jump right in at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. Learn more.

Garden Talk: Efficient Irrigation Practices
Join us to learn about the benefits of smart irrigation controllers, different types of efficient irrigation techniques, irrigation system maintenance and how to reduce runoff and save water. Participate online via Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Learn more.

Steel Drum Music with Harry Best
Imagine the sand between your toes as you enjoy the engaging Caribbean steel drum music of Harry Best! Join us at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. Learn more.

Check out more free community programs

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

Recipe: Old-fashioned oven-baked yams

Here’s an easy and delicious side dish that kids can help make and it’s fun for grown-ups too. Recipe provided by the City of Menlo Park nutrition services team.

Ingredients

• 6 lbs red sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• ¼ cup orange or apple juice
• ½ cup water
• 2 cups brown sugar (light or dark)
• 4 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 5 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups melted unsalted butter
• 1 lb bag of mini marshmallows

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place all the ingredients except the mini marshmallows into a large rectangular baking dish and mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout.
3. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the mixture, then cover the dish with foil.
4. Bake for 35–45 min. until soft.
5. Remove, carefully uncover and sprinkle marshmallows evenly over the top.
6. Bake for another 10 min. or until the marshmallows melt. If you have a torch, give the marshmallows a little scorch.