Events sponsored by the Friends
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DEAN RATZMAN "SWINGIN' WITH DEAN SHOW"
On Friday, February 9, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM, the library hosted an entertaining musical performance by solo musician Dean Ratzman that touches on the styles of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Elvis, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and many more!
Snacks and refreshments were provided.
This program was funded in part by Friends of the Casa De Oro Library. For more information, about the Friends, contact the library at 619-463-3236.
art on a sunday AFTERNOON
On November 12, 2023, members enjoyed the company of fellow Friends of the Library and delicious food and drink while browsing original artwork in a beautiful area home. The event was sponsored by a generous hostess downsizing her art collection and raised over $7,000 to support both children’s and adult programming at our library.
Our Moonlight & Music Fundraiser on June 4th, 2023…
Your Friends organized a lovely evening of music at a private home in Mt Helix. The Odeum Duo performed for fifty friends and donors. Proceeds from the auction items and ticket sales are already being used to expand both adult and children’s programming at the Casa de Oro branch library. Such programming is outside the budget for the library and is much appreciated and utilized! Thank you for your support of the Friends!
The “Love the Library” Celebration on February 11th, 2023…
…was a smashing success! Thank you to all who attended. Wasn’t Fred Benedetti amazing?! Your Friends of the Library are busy discussing future events and the many ways we can all work together to fund a variety of much needed programming for all ages in our community. Stay tuned for more information.
January 7th, 2023
The “Walk to the Top” of Mt Helix
January 7th, 2023
January’s Annual “Walk to the Top” of Mt Helix sponsored by GMIA and the Mt Helix Park is always a fun event. The Grossmont High School band led neighbors and friends (and, their adorable pets!) from the fire station all the way up. Your Friends of the CDO library staffed a booth and chatted with dozens of potential Friends (Not a member yet? Sign up now!). Everyone is certainly excited about the developing plans for the new library building in Casa de Oro. The view from the top of the park was exceptionally lovely…all in all, a great way to start the new year!
October 7th, 2022
The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Casa de Oro branch library was held on October 7, 2022. Susan Nichols, our FOL president introduced Migell Acosta, the San Diego County Library Director, who provided updates on the timeline and construction of the eagerly awaited, brand new branch library. Stay tuned for more details!
Watercolor Class: Monday, Oct 3
From 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Join art instructor Eddie Omens for a fun and informative watercolor art class for adults! This class is FREE and open to all skill levels. All materials will be provided. Call the Casa de Oro Library at (619) 463-3236 to reserve your spot today!
Follow this link for more info: https://sdcl.bibliocommons.com/events/6324b8e5110c9479b2f89ac9
Live music: Lisa Sanders & Brown Sugar Perform!
Tuesday, Oct 11 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Join Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar for a live musical performance at the Casa de Oro Library!
Lisa Sanders is an electrifying harmonizer. Her heartfelt songs are genuine with deep meaning and conviction. A musical style that can only be described as a soulful country blues, her genres include folk pop, gospel, rock and jazz. Writing, singing and producing from her heart in nearly every genre for over three decades, Sanders continues to make an impact in the musical world.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she began singing with her older brother Ty at an early age. The family relocated to Argentina Newfoundland, Canada where her parents encouraged music daily. Artists from Motown Records, Johnny Cash and others with a mixture of rock and classical music were key influencers in Sanders’ upbringing. Upon moving to Southern California, she signed to Cargo Earth Records and released her first album Isn’t Life Fine. After her second album Life Takes You Flying was released in 1999, Sanders went on to establish her own label Maya Jade Records in 2004. She has since released five albums from her own label.
Sanders has worked with musical legends including the Truckee Brothers, Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Rait, Al Green, BB King and Babyface. Sanders continues to songwrite, produce and collaborate with artists from all over. She currently resides in San Diego as the founder of Star Woodwork by Lisa. Star Woodwork by Lisa specializes in handcrafted wooden materials into beautiful objects, structures and garden pieces.
The Friends of the Casa de Oro branch library sponsors events like these shown above and below (depending on which device you are using to view this!). Help us sponsor more music and art classes by becoming a member now!
Letter from Your Friends of the library President
August 28th, 2022
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
Our board continues to advocate with governmental officials and the library administrators to ensure that our new library is built as soon as possible and that it meets the needs of our community. We’ve met with the SD County Director of Library Services, Migell Acosta, as well as Supervisor Chair Nathan Fletcher, both of whom have expressed strong support for building the new facility.
The land has been acquired and $22Million is set aside for construction. We support Chairperson Fletcher’s plan to move forward with constructing the 11,000 square foot library with an accelerated design/build process targeting completion by the start of the 2024 school year. In addition, we are pleased by his commitment to source additional funds for adjacent park amenities which will add outdoor space available for library usage.
If you would like to see our Board in action, we usually meet monthly on the 3rd Wednesday at the branch library. Our meeting is open to members wishing to attend. Please reach out if you would like to participate and I will add you to our invitation list with details.
By joining us as our Tea Party fundraiser in May, you demonstrated commitment to our library. I hope you will attend our Annual Meeting this coming October 7th at 5:00 pm! Your attendance sends a clear message to our elected officials and the County’s library administration that we both need and deserve a new library in Casa de Oro!
Using funds raised at our Tea Party in May, FOL will pay for programs for children, teens and adults in the fall. We are in process of scheduling live music performances, watercolor art classes, and yoga instruction. In addition, library staff has resumed a variety of other activities for kids and teens (eg crafts and story time).
The FOL purchased four book groups to supplement the library’s collection including Spanish language adult and children’s books. We also funded magazine subscriptions for the branch.
Thank you for your support!
Susan Nichols, President
Friends of the Casa de Oro Library
“When I was about eight, I decided that the most wonderful thing, next to a human being, was a book.”
May 1, 2022: The First Friend/Fundraiser for the library!
We had a sell out crowd at the first ever fundraiser for the Casa de Oro library. Thank you so much to Susan and Larry Nichols for hosting such a grand tea party in their marvelous garden!
We are so very grateful for the extraordinary support of our Grand Sponsors:
Joan Forbes
Jason Kardos, Mt Helix Lifestyles Real Estate
Bob and Holly Yarris
And, a huge shout-out to the following neighbors who donated generously as Sponsors:
Kathleen Hedberg, Board President, Helix Water District
Becky Koskinen
Charles and Marcia Kossman
A hug and thanks to our guest-of-honor, Dianne Jacob, who may have retired but is never far away from the important work needing to be done in our neighborhood!
Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers and neighbors who buttered hundreds of pieces of bread, chopped veggies, donated their time and talent (and chairs and tablecloths and sweeping skills!) to raise money on behalf of the library.
We raised almost $10,000 which will support much needed programming and material for our branch library. Stay tuned as we contemplate ideas and work up the energy for our next event, hopefully this Fall. As always, reach out if you’d love to participate on a committee!
A Special Friends of the Library February Meeting
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Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors, Nathan Fletcher, chats with Blanca Ginsberg, Interim Branch Manager, after touring the library.
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Chairperson Fletcher discusses the future of the library with President of the Friends of the Casa de Oro Library, Susan Nichols.
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Supervisor Fletcher attended a meeting of the Friends. He listened to and weighed in on our wish list for the new library project
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casafriendslibrary@gmail.com
(We are your neighbors and will NOT sell your contact info! If you would like to keep informed of all things related to the “New Casa Library”, let us know in whatever way you feel comfortable. )