BY AVONELLE D. BOX

Such a joyous welcome to the New Year: Our 2nd District Supervisor, Dianne Jacob, topped the library’s fund raising by the $440,000 that was still needed to complete Ramona’s application for a new and larger library to accommodate the community’s needs.

A great big thank you to the Honorable Dianne Jacob!

At the annual meeting of the Friends of the Ramona Library on Wednesday, Dec. 3, five new members were elected to the board of directors: Jeanne Ghilbert, Carol Lapp, Barbara Pierce, Doris Stone and Ian Zalewski. Congratulations to all the new directors!

January is Heritage Month at the library, with special programs. Story time with the Children’s Librarian, Margaret, continues to be at 11 a.m. Wednesdays. Preschoolers celebrated Heritage Month on Wednesday, Jan. 7 with paper dolls from around the world.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, from 2:30 to 5 p.m., a special bookmark craft time for all ages will continue the celebration.

A special Heritage Month celebration will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22 with the Ramona Del Sol Dancers presenting Mexican culture.

Ending the month on Saturday, Jan. 31 will be the City Moves professional dancers, a dance and PE team presenting African stories and dance at 11 a.m.

The Grandparents and Books Volunteer Readers scheduled for this month are: Tita Braley, 1 p.m. Fridays; Donna Shelton, 11 a.m. Thursdays; and Rose Howland, 11 a.m. Mondays.

Members of the Adult Book Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13 in the Community Room and review "West with the Night" by Beryl Markham.

President Elyse Kuhn will convene the first meeting of the year of the Friends’ board of directors at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan.19 in the Community Room. Special planning of the program year will be the central theme of meeting, which includes our Proposition 14 application. All board members are asked to schedule their time to be present.

As presented at the annual meeting, the Literacy Program is planning its schedule for the year and will use the Community Room on Saturday, Jan. 17, so there will be no Mini-Book Sale in January.

The library will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.