Creating an Attractive & Sustainable Home Garden

Tuesday, June 15th, 7:00 p.m. BOB PERRY, author, landscape architect, and Professor Emeritus from Cal Poly Pomona, will present a summary of planting ideas and guidelines that are suited for attractive and sustainable residential gardens for San Gabriel Valley communities. Garden design examples will be shown to illustrate the use of planting palettes that have distinctive aesthetic character and have compatible water and maintenance needs. He just published a landmark book, Landscape Plants for California Gardens, which the Los Angeles Times said was destined to be a classic. Those who wish may purchase the book at a discount and get it signed. Bob Perry is a recognized expert in areas of landscape plants and water conserving garden design. He is also a Fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects, based upon his academic career and long-standing commitment to resource conservation and sustainable landscaping. This program is free and all are welcome.

Photo Preservation

Sunday, June 6th 2:00 p.m. Are you anxiously eyeing those family photos deteriorating in an old shoebox? Come to Crowell Public Library and learn how to take action to preserve those treasures. Photographer DAVID OSWALD’s slide presentation will cover photography’s early pioneers and demonstrate how, as photography’s popularity increased, the need for photo albums and scrapbooks also increased dramatically. He will show how photo preservation and restoration has changed from traditional techniques to modern computer technologies, with samples of the photo restoration work Oswald has performed. A question and answer segment will follow the program. David Oswald has worked as a photographer for over 30 years, specializing in landscapes, portraits, photo restoration and digital imaging. He has photographed numerous national parks since 1984 and in January 2009, published his first book, “A Journey Through Mukuntuweap: The History of Zion National Park.” This book will be available for purchase after the presentation. Join us for another free and informative program at Crowell Library!

Bilingual Chinese & English Story Time

Saturday May 22 @ 11:00 a.m. The newest addition to Crowell Public Library’s innovative programming for children, the Bilingual Chinese & English Story Time, now has a regular schedule: the fourth Saturdays of the month. For May, that will be Saturday the 22nd. The library’s amazing Youth Services Department has teamed up with several volunteers from the community to present this unique program. Stories, songs, and finger-plays are conducted in both Mandarin Chinese and English. In an effort to serve Chinese speakers, as well as educate non-Chinese about the culture and expose them to another language, these story times place an emphasis on increasing literacy in both languages. Everyone is invited to attend, regardless of what language(s) you speak. All ages are welcome, but the program is designed for ages 3 to 5. Come hear some of your favorite children’s stories and songs in two different languages, listen to some new ones, and make a fun craft! If your children are too old for story time, but you’d still like to get involved, the library is always looking for volunteer storytellers who are fluent in Mandarin. Crowell Public Library is currently the only public library in the San Gabriel Valley offering a Chinese-English Story Time. Come be a part of this fun and unique program!

Children’s Rhythm Workshop

Saturday, May 8, 2010, 2:00 p.m. Girl Scout ASTGHIK HAIRAPETIAN will be presenting a Children’s Rhythm Workshop at Crowell Public Library as part of her Gold Award Project. What is a Gold Award project? A sustainable contribution to the community, and Astghik will be raising money to buy CDs, CD players, and headphones for the children’s section of the library. This rhythm workshop will teach kids from two to ten the basics of music. No prior knowledge of music is required. Kids will learn basics of reading rhythms and working together to create interesting and layered beats. There will be different percussion instruments to encourage creativity. By the end of the workshop, they will have created their own song that includes all facets of rhythm. Participants will gain a new appreciation for music and its backbeat. Astghik believes that music is an important part of our lives and something we should teach kids about early on. The workshop is free, but participants are asked to bring gently used and new kids' CDs to help add to the children’s music section at the library.

The Doctor Is In: Type 2 Diabetes

Monday, May 24, 2010, 6 p.m. DR. GAMINI HETHUMUNI, a specialist in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center, will talk about Type 2 Diabetes, including the risk factors for developing it, and the strategies for successful management of the disease. Type 2 Diabetes has become a tremendous problem in the United States, with at least 21 million people afflicted with the condition in which cells do not respond to insulin produced by the pancreas. Having Type 2 Diabetes increases the risk of a host of other health problems including loss of vision, heart attack, and stroke. Find out what you can do to protect yourself. There will be an opportunity to ask the doctor questions at the end of the talk, and light refreshments will be served. The program is FREE, but space is limited. Call (626) 300-0777 to reserve your space. This lecture is part of the ongoing THE DOCTOR IS IN! series of educational programs designed to help you stay healthy and active. The lectures by some of the communities most accomplished physicians are being presented at Crowell Public Library, in conjunction with the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center. Join us and learn about important health topics from the experts.

Weight Management & Metabolic Disease

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 7:00 p.m. Dieting without results is one of the most frustrating experiences. You blame yourself, question everything you put in your mouth, every exercise you do, in an effort to find out why you can’t shed the pounds like others do. But for a growing number of people, the problem isn’t with diet or exercise alone, but a condition called metabolic syndrome. According to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, more than one in five Americans has metabolic syndrome. The number of people with this condition increases with age, affecting more than 40 percent of people in their 60s and 70s. Do you have symptoms of a metabolism problem that is keeping you from losing weight? DR. KURT HONG from the Huntington Medical Foundation will explain metabolic syndrome and what the symptoms are. He will demonstrate ways to boost metabolism and lose weight. Dr. Hong is a board-certified Physician Nutrition Specialist who joined HMF after successfully practicing in both Los Angeles and Orange County. From 2003 to 2008 he was on the faculty at UCLA School of Medicine where he served as the Director of the Resnick Immuno-Nutrition Laboratory & Program. He is often invited to speak about metabolic syndrome and obesity therapeutics at national events such as the annual meeting of the Obesity Society. This program is free and reservations are recommended by calling the library reference desk: (626) 300-0777 ext. 579.

Book Donation Weekend!

Saturday, May 15, 10:00 a.m. – 4 :00 p.m. Sunday, May 16, 1:00 p.m. – 4: 00 p.m. How many friends does it take to support a library? With deficits looming in every city, a gazillion and a half may be underestimating. At Crowell Library, being a friend is easy: join the happy throngs and give a little library a big, big lift. Bring your gently used books, CDs, DVDs, even those dinosaur videos, to Crowell Public Library and help a great institution stay that way. You’ve been meaning to start that spring cleaning and here’s your chance to lighten your load while giving to a fabulous cause and being green. And, when you donate two or more boxes or sacks of library materials, you will receive a $5 Book Shoppe coupon for your consuming pleasure. If you’ve ever had the heart-palpitating thrill of visiting the Crowell Library’s Book Shoppe, you know what choice items are waiting for you. Highly attractive volunteers will be loitering in the parking lot behind the library, eager to unload your car and give out tax deductible donation receipts should you need them. If by chance you have more than a carload, please call (626) 300-0779 to arrange for a pickup and a big hug. Prevent a landfill: donate on May 15th and 16th. Thanks for being a friend!