Editorial: Libraries, October, produce, acorns, blood donation, books

In October's County District 3 Newsletter, Supervisor Jim Holmes writes: "Libraries are a very important part of any community... I am very pleased that Mary George, Director of Library Services, and Sophie Bruno, the very able assistant director, have begun the process of safely reopening our libraries, with some locations set to open Oct 6." As in, this week. Investigate placer.ca.gov/6670/Modified-Services. The list includes the Auburn Library, plus Granite Bay, Kings Beach and Tahoe City. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and noon to 5 p.m. on Friday. Colfax Library opens on Tuesday, Nov. 3. In my not-at-all humble opinion, a vital ingredient of a community is an open, busy library. When all of Placer County's libraries open, all will be right with the world. … On Combie Road in Meadow Vista, Trish Schreiber has installed her Halloween decorations on the hill above the Schreibers' driveway. She also decorates for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. And she's celebrated and made the rest of us happy for 30 years. Thank you very much, Trish. … The next time you visit the Meadow Vista Transfer Station at the end of Combie Road, you'll pass a charming little fruit stand called The Farmacy, presented by Dirty Boots Floral by Mariah Stephens. This is her first year of selling her flowers and community produce from The Farmacy. "Several of my friends grow produce," she said. One grows zucchini in his backyard. "Another friend in Lincoln offers squash from her Fleur de Lis farm; and at Lincoln's Plum Possum farm, another friend makes pumpkins and other squash" available. I've also found pears, peppers and eggplant. And a cash receptacle. What if people just take stuff? I asked. After all, it's on the honor system. She said (and I heard her shrug over the phone) that most people pay most of the time. Indeed, sometimes they overpay. And if they steal the produce, "they take it because they need it." Such a patient, humane attitude. But most people pay. … I recently joined participants of Open Mic for the Spoken Word on Zoom: Chery Anderson, Mark Berry, Ed Lewis, Sheila Lopez, Phyllis and Cyril Kalbach, Karen Daly, Jennifer Rutherford, Rebecca Partridge, Don Adams and Eric Hurrt. After one Spoken Word member read her story, I decided to read "The Shooting of Dan McGrew," a tale of murder, wilderness and sensuality. I had a good time. Want more info? Email Chery Anderson: taleteller2@gmail.com. … Gold Country Wildlife Rescue recently asked for acorns — they're caring for several orphaned baby tree squirrels. I saw their request four days after they posted it, so I emailed contact@goldcountrywildliferescue.org – did they still need acorns? Brianna's response: "Thank you so much — however our freezers are jam-packed with acorns now, so we are not accepting anymore acorns." Jam-packed with acorns. After four days. What a community. I can hardly stand it. … I donated plasma at Vitalant last week. To my delight, all the beds were full with people willing to talk to me. The man next to me wouldn't give me his name, but he's 44 and has donated platelets for three years — and donated blood for 22 years. Linda Meylink has donated platelets for about four years — before that, she donated blood for 40 years. Barry White has donated blood for 28 years "because it's a way to give back — I can do good without talking about it." Marge Johnson has donated blood for 30 years, because "It's a privilege to donate," she said. And Al Jones has donated blood for 20 years. "I've seen a lot of accidents," said the guy who is retired from the local Highway Patrol. OK: Want to donate blood? Or platelets? Or plasma? Of course you do. Investigate vitalant.org or visit 11990 Heritage Oak Place Suite 2A, Auburn; or phone (877) 258-4825. … Last Wednesday, as my editor Bill Poindexter (see elsewhere in this venerable newspaper) and I visited Winston Smith, to check on my (free!) face masks, three women came in. I approached them, because I love talking to people in bookstores. Especially this one. Out-of-county residents, they came up because they'd heard about this bookstore. Suzi Springsteen-Marks is from Sacramento, and she'd found what she wanted: vintage books. Her daughter Karla Marks, 20, was "looking for old war books." Pal Patty Thorpe, 24, from Fair Oaks, stood by the mystical section, looking for books "about crystals and tarot cards. These books just called me over here," she said. Patty loves bookstores and books, although her dyslexia has kept her at a second-grade reading level. I stood amazed, because even though reading must be difficult, her dyslexia doesn't keep her away from books. Here she was anyway, enthusiastic and a reader. I was proud of Patty, and tickled that the three of them chose to meander all the way up here to investigate Auburn's bookstore. … "Butt Lady" Sally Dawley shared her numbers with me as of last Wednesday: a really amazing 1,814,520. Closing in on 2 million, for heaven's sake. Congratulations, Sally. That's my town. Got any items for me? Email me at goldcountrydenizens@gmail.com. And register to vote.