Ship steering wheel

Greetings! Have you turned the wheel to enter in the New Year?


The Western Flyer was one of the main characters of the book Sea of Cortez (later Log from the Sea of Cortez) by Steinbeck & Ricketts. The book is one part scientific discovery, one part literary, and shaken with a side of philosophy. On Saturday, January 11th from 12-4pm, one day only, we plan on having the original brass steering wheel, two compasses and the shift lever from the Western Flyer inside the Pacific Biological Laboratories. This is a rare opportunity to touch these relics before they go up for auction next month.


But how are they arriving back to Monterey? Well, the boat had many chapters after the Sea of Cortez was published, and was eventually renamed the "Gemini". The ship changed hands several times, with the Fry family upgrading some of the "Gemini" parts, but keeping the originals. After partially sinking multiple times while in Alaska and Washington, it was located by the original ship call sign "Whisky Bravo 4404" while submerged and family members realized it was actually the old Monterey Purse Seiner, the Western Flyer. The ship has now been brought back to life by the Western Flyer Foundation. There is a longer article here from Gig Harbor, Washington if you'd like a fuller story about the ship history. Steinbeck wrote "...the boat designed through milleniums of trial and error by the human consciousness, the boat which has no counterpart in nature unless it be a dry leaf fallen by accident in a stream." For Steinbeck, the boat was an archetype, something that lived, and something that connected to the spirit of humanity. Join us and take a look at these relics of our history while learning a bit about Cannery Row while you're at it!


Pacific Biological Laboratories is located at 800 Cannery Row.



Warmly~

Brian

RETURN TO THE SEA OF CORTEZ...

TOMORROW

Voyage with John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts

on the Western Flyer through the Sea of Cortez.


Join us for a zoom panel discussion on the

2025 return of the Western Flyer to the “Sea of Cortez.”

 with:


Chris Dunlop PBA Gallery 


Richard Astro, the author of John Steinbeck and Edward F. Ricketts:

The Shaping of a Novelist and

co-author of A Tidal Odyssey: Ed Ricketts and the Making of

Between Pacific Tides.


Donald Kohrs, Branch Library Specialist at the Harold A. Miller

Library of Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station

and researcher (author) of

The History of the Pacific Grove’s Chautauqua Program,

The History of the Hopkins Seaside Laboratory and

The Early Years of the Hopkins Marine Station, Edward F. Ricketts and Jack Calvin: The Publishing of Between Pacific Tides, and The Hamilton Family: John Steinbeck Maternal Ancestors.


Return to the Sea of Cortez

TOMORROW Friday, January 10th

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

ZOOM

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED


Note: Registration will close 2 hours before

the program is scheduled to begin.


This program is in partnership with PBA Galleries and

Michael Hemp from The History Company.

PIGLETS WORKING ON

THEIR ENGINEERING DEGREES???

The Three Pigs challenge your kids to a build-off!


It's time to get CREATIVE! Use design skills, math problem solving, and logical adeptness to create a house from blocks, LEGO's and cardboard.

Kids Build with Pigs!

Saturday, January 11th

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

MPL Community Room

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED


PS - Yes, there really will be piglets here!

ENDURING DEMOCRACY

Enduring Democracy Film Poster

Join us for a screening and panel discussion on

Enduring Democracy: The Monterey Petition.


In a dusty filing cabinet in the historic Japanese American Citizens League Hall is Monterey, the original signed petition that became the basis of this documentary was located. The petition stands as a lesson for all Americans interested in preserving the ideals of our democratic and inclusive way of life.


Note that this film screening will be held at the Japanese American Citizens League building.



Enduring Democracy: The Monterey Petition

Saturday, January 11th

IN PERSON 

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

JACL Heritage Center

424 Adams Street

STRANDED ON MARS...

Get psyched for January’s

Book Flight Book Club discussion on

The Martian, by Andy Weir. 


This sci fi novel presents Mark Watney, a NASA astronaut, who gets stranded on Mars. Watney’s journal shares his daily struggle to stay alive, including the very real chance of starvation, machine and system errors, and unsustainable environment conditions. 



Mark will not quit and is destined to use

his ingenuity and resourcefulness to survive. 


Book Flight Book Club - The Martian 

Tuesday, January 14th

IN PERSON 

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

MPL Community Room


REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

LITTLE READING FRIENDS

Does your 5 - 8 year old need 

some additional reading practice? 


Or do they love showing off

their reading skills? 


Join the Reading Buddy program by signing your child up for a 25 minute one-on-one 

reading practice time with a teen reader. 


Reading Buddies

Wednesday, January 15 and 22nd (every Wednesday)

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Monterey Public Library Children's Area


Teen readers will be available on a first come, first serve basis.


For any further questions, please call the Teen Librarian at (831)646-2094.

FINAL EARTH FRIENDLY

GARDENING WORKSHOP

UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties

empower people with knowledge and skills to

grow food and garden sustainably, protecting California's

natural resources across Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties.


Join us for the fourth and final Earth Friendly Gardening Workshop.


Protecting Wildlife and Environment

Saturday, January 18th

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

MPL Community Room

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED


Fourth Workshop: Protecting Wildlife and Environment 

What you do in your garden can have a big impact on our environment. 

Learn what you can do to provide food, water, and shelter for beneficial

insects and birds; to reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers;

and to reduce water usage.


Presenter: Barbara Rae-Venter


The UC Master Gardener Program is a statewide program of the

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

SWEET TOOTH?



Monterey Public Library Friends & Foundation's (MPLF&F)

Annual Chocolate and Wine fundraiser is just a few weeks away!


Don't miss out!

Early bird tickets

available now through February 1st! 

MPLF&F CHOCOLATE AND WINE EVENT 

Saturday, February 22nd

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

MPL


Interested in getting involved as a volunteer or sponsor? We’d love your help! Contact us at info@investinmpl.org

MPL Hours of Service:

Monday: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Bookmobile Information:

Call (831) 646-3710 or click Bookmobile for detailed hours and locations.

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