Members of the SLV community, including San Lorenzo Valley High School students, will read from some of their favorite works of literature during the Second Annual Felton Library Readathon on Wednesday, Feb 8 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Library, on Gushee Street in Felton. Come for all or any part of this three-hour event to celebrate and enjoy the fine art of the spoken word. Works will include authors Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Allen Poe, William Butler Yeats and more. Full details at www.feltonlibraryfriends.org.

The local chapter of National Active & Retired Federal Employees will meet at 11:30 a.m. at Seascape Sports Club, 610 Clubhouse Dr., Aptos. Col. Sharon Bystran, a retired nurse in the U.S. Army, will be featured speaker. Col. Bystran was the featured veteran at the Annual Veteran's Day Observance at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC last November. Cost is $17. For details and reservations, call 831-724-6970/3775.

The Meet the Author Series continues around the fireplace from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Today's offering is The Soquel History Book, the work of ten Soquel Pioneer and Historical Association members, including local historian Carolyn Swift. Several of the authors will talk about their roles in this massive undertaking. Refreshments and coffee will be served. The library is located at 3050 Porter St. For details call 831-475-3326 or visit www.porterml.org.

Join the Aptos Chamber of Commerce at its February Breakfast Meeting "Breakfast with the Amgen Tour" and special guest speakers Maura Noel and Matt Twisselman. 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Best Western Seacliff Inn, Aptos. Cost is $20 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members. Please call for reservations, 831-688-1467.

Homework struggles? Is your child smart in everything but school? Come to the February program of the Central Coast Learning Disability Association and find out how you can help your child be a more successful student. Call 408-291-4900 to reserve your seats. Meets at Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Dr., Room 704 in Aptos from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. More information at www.ldaca.org or by calling 831-566-5283.

Eric Jones, Prestigitator, is a rising star in the world of close-up magic. When he performs, cards fly, coins multiply, and audiences cheer. He will be offering a training session at the Coastal Magicians Club. His "Not as Hard as It Looks" workshop covers effects and techniques for coin and card conjuring with ranging difficulty. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., lecture begins at 7:30 at 750 Bay Ave., Capitola in the first floor Community Center. $5 for non-members. For more information visit www.ericjonesmagic.com or call Joshua Logan at 831-708-8860 or Bob Dipple at 831-464-7469.