Library Open House! Snow at Lacy Park!

Saturday, January 24, 2015
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The Crowell Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Library and Library Staff invite one and all to celebrate the Library’s seventh anniversary with an open house on Saturday, January 24th. Stop by to see the wide variety of services and programs the library has for seniors, teens and kids. Did you know the Library offers passport acceptance and test proctoring? Library visitors can see the work of artist Debbi Swanson Patrick in the Crain Art Gallery, named after long time librarian, Carolyn Crain. Learn about the Meet the Authors series, sponsored by the Friends of the Library and take advantage of the great bargains in the Friends Book Shoppe. Seniors can see a demonstration of Dakim Brain Fitness, made possible by the Library Foundation. Dakim is a clinically tested computer-based program with a touch screen that anyone can use. The Foundation has also recently donated 36 new library computers, all equipped with Window 8.1, 24 inch monitors and the complete Microsoft Office Suite of programs.

In the children’s area, there will be face painting from eleven to two, and a demonstration of the new Early Literacy Station donated by Library Trustees Mary Hsu and Debra Sadun. This is a dynamic all-in-one digital learning solution for children ages 2-8 featuring more than 70 educational software applications spanning seven curricular areas. At 10:45 there will be bi-lingual storytime. At noon, the annual bookmark contest winners will be announced and kids can enjoy a magical performance from Abbit the Average at 2pm. Outside there will food trucks for all: The Pudding Truck, Don Chow’s Tacos and Slammin’ Sliders.

Down the street at Lacy Park, enjoy a day of fun in "Snow Marino!" Fifty tons of snow will be delivered for sledding, snowballs, and snowmen. Parents can watch their kids ride the train, or slide down the giant slide. Coffee, kettle corn, and food will be sold. To participate in Snow Day, a wristband will be required. Pre-sale wristbands will be available for $7 at the Recreation Department. Admission at the door is $9. Children two years and under are free. For more information, please call the Recreation Department at (626) 403-2200. Celebrate San Marino Community Services on Saturday, January 24th!

Helping Hands for Hand-Held Devices

Three Upcoming Saturdays:
January 31, February 28 & March 28
2:00-4:00 pm

Electronically savvy students from San Marino High School will be available on three upcoming Saturdays from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Crowell Public Library’s Thornton Room to help people figure out how to use their hand-held devices. People can sign up for any or all of the free sessions. Many people have iPods, Androids, tablets, iPhones, and other gadgets, but can’t figure out all of the features. The teen volunteers are familiar with many of the concepts behind these devices, so even if they haven’t used a particular gadget, they may be able to help a person figure out what to do.

This program was initiated by San Marino High School junior Chunbill (“Billy”) Liu who grew up surrounded by gadgets, but noticed there was a technology gap with people who did not have that advantage. Billy approached Librarian Rex Mayreis about closing this gap, while getting in some community services hours for himself and his friends, but has continued the program because there is such a need. The Los Angeles Times covered a session last year and posted a video about it at http://lat.ms/1sODdVg.

If you are frustrated with online and telephone support options, come to Crowell Library and work with a living, breathing techie that will help you “bond” with your device. There’s nothing like one-on-one assistance to help solve problems and tackle sticky widgets.

To reserve your spot for this program, please call 626-300-0777, extension 579 as soon as possible. There are a limited number of teen volunteers, so slots will fill quickly.

Jazz & Swing from A to Z PART II: The Story of America's Music

Six Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
beginning January 29, 2015

Dr. Thom David Mason, USC Professor of Jazz Studies at the Thornton School of Music, returns with a new six-session course sponsored by the USC Emeriti Center College. This time the wildly popular class will offer these scintillating topics:

January 29: The Benny Goodman Story
February 5: The Big Band Stars: Gene Krupa & Lionel Hampton
February 12: Glenn Miller: Icon of the Swing Era
February 19: Harlem Stars of Jazz & Swing
February 26: Singing Jazz & Swing
March 5: Frank Sinatra & the Rat Pack
Thom Mason was chairman of the department of jazz studies at the USC Thornton School of Music from 1983 to 1996. During that period he created the bachelor of music, masters of music and doctor of musical arts programs in jazz studies. He has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses and served as academic advisor. He is a saxophone, clarinet and flute specialist and has played with such notable artists as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Jack Sheldon, Louis Bellson, and Ernie Watts. 1996 he received the Jazz Educator of the Year Award from the Los Angeles Jazz Society. His multimedia presentations are filled with music excerpts, rare photos, film clips, humorous stories and live demonstrations that stimulate, educate and entertain.
There is no charge for this course, but reservations are required. Hep cats can save a spot by calling the library at 626 300-0777. Please note: because Part I of this class was so popular, the Library has booked the SAN MARINO CENTER next door for Part II so there will be plenty of room!

Meet the Author: Nicole Mones

Nicole Mones: Night in Shanghai
Thursday January 22nd 7:00 p.m.

The Friends of Crowell Public Library’s Meet the Authors series continues with Night in Shanghai, Nicole Mones’ new novel about the collision of jazz, war, and the Holocaust in 1930s China, has been called "Historical fiction at its best," by NPR critic Alan Cheuse. Mones’ nonfiction writing on China has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and Gourmet Magazine.
The story is set in 1936, as classical pianist Thomas Greene is recruited to Shanghai to lead a jazz orchestra of fellow African-American expats. He becomes the toast of a city obsessed with music, money, pleasure and power, even as it ignores the rising winds of war. Song Yuhua is refined and educated, and bonded to Shanghai's most powerful crime boss in payment for her father's gambling debts. She burns with rage and risks her life spying on her master for the Communist Party. Only when Shanghai is shattered by the Japanese invasion do Song and Thomas find their way to each other. Torn between music and survival, freedom and commitment, love and world war, they are borne on an irresistible riff of melody and improvisation to Night in Shanghai's final, impossible choice. In this impressively researched novel, Nicole Mones weaves in a startling true tale of Holocaust heroism little-known in the West.

One of the earliest participants in U.S.-China trade after the Cold War ban was lifted in the nineteen-seventies, NICOLE MONES began doing business in China immediately after the end of the Cultural Revolution. As an individual she traded textiles with China for eighteen years before she turned to writing about that country. Her novels Night in Shanghai, The Last Chinese Chef, Lost in Translation, and A Cup of Light are in print in more than twenty-three languages and have received multiple juried prizes.
This event is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be served. With wonderful Friends like these, the authors keep coming at Crowell Public Library!

LA Opera Talk: The Ghosts of Versailles

Sunday, January 18, 2:00 p.m.

Part of LA Opera’s Figaro Trilogy, this 20th century grand opera buffa, composed by Italian American John Corigliano, premiered in 1991 at the New York Metropolitan Opera. Trapped in the spirit world, the ghost of Marie Antoinette bitterly reflects on her final suffering. Her favorite playwright tries to entertain the melancholy queen with the continuing adventures of his beloved characters from The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. But sneaky Figaro refuses to play by the script, breaking free from the opera-within-the-opera in a surprise bid for a better life. Extravagantly scaled, gloriously tuneful, supremely touching and yet uproariously entertaining, The Ghosts of Versailles turns history on its head as love attempts to alter the course of destiny. The LA Opera production will be presented in English with projected English captions.

Crowell Library’s favorite LA Opera Community Educator DIANE BELTOYA will present a free audio-visual presentation on this dazzling opera Sunday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the Library’s Barth Community Room. Light refreshments will be served. Diane is a native of Los Angeles and has studied Classical voice for ten years. She is currently in Pasadena City College's Jazz Vocal program.

Opera is not just magnificent music, dance and theater with astounding sets on a beautiful stage. An opera can sweep you away to foreign lands, take you back in time, dazzle you with pageantry and bring history to life. It is literature, social studies, cultural diversity, multiple languages and most of all, it is exciting! Come explore the world of opera through LA Opera’s education programs. Opera has something for everyone. The program is free and open to all opera aficionados and first timers.

Free Social Security Workshop

Thursday, January 15, 6:30 p.m.

According to famed financial journalist Jane Bryant Quinn, the average retiree leaves thousands of dollars on the table* simply because they don't understand how to optimize their Social Security benefits. This upcoming free workshop at Crowell Public Library offers a chance to avoid this mistake. This informative and easy to understand evening will be led by JOHN PAK, a Certified Financial Planner who will simplify some of the more popular rules as well as the confusing ones. He will revisit the origins of the Social Security system, take a closer look at the mechanics of the program, and explore the ways in which individuals can maximize benefits and avoid the pitfalls. This workshop is open to all who are interested in learning and discussing this federal program. Attendees will receive an opportunity to request a free Social Security personalized assessment. Did you know there are over 500 different ways that enrollees can claim benefits? Or that one can claim 50% of one’s ex-spouse's benefits? Or that one can earn 8% per year for delaying benefits?

John C. Pak has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. He received a B.A. in Finance through Cal State Fullerton's Mihaylo School of Business and completed financial planning training through NYU. He is very active in spearheading community outreach initiatives with local colleges, public libraries and lifelong learning centers in the greater Los Angeles County area to promote financial literacy and empowerment. John's firm, Searchlight Financial, is the host of KFWB 980AM radio’s “Smart Money Fundamentals.” This workshop has been conducted at numerous Los Angeles area libraries, as well as UCLA extension, UCR extension, UCSB extension, Cal State University of Long Beach (OLLI) and Cal State University of Fullerton (OLLI).

People who have worked hard all their lives should get the most out of their benefits by attending this free seminar Thursday, January 15th at 6:30 p.m. at Crowell Public Library.

*http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-10-2013/when-to-claim-social-security-benefits.html

Free Rose Pruning Workshop

Saturday, January 10th, 9:00-11:00 a.m.


Ron Serven, Environmental Services Manager/City Arborist for San Marino will conduct his 22nd annual rose pruning workshop on Saturday, January 10, 2015, and give even the most inexperienced gardeners the knowledge to promote healthy, beautiful rose blooming when spring comes around. Learn the techniques in just an hour or so and be ready to work in companionship with nature in no time.

A former City Parks Division Manager, Ron’s expertise with roses is still visible throughout the city, particularly at Lacy Park. Many rose lovers have benefited from and attended repeat performances of Ron’s workshop at Crowell Library. He will demonstrate optimum rose pruning techniques and answer questions from the audience, such as what to do in cold weather, or how to deal with irregular rainfall. Those who attend will be ready to go out into their own yards the very same day to get the job done. Attendees will get a better sense of how Mother Nature works and will soon be spending some enjoyable time in their home gardens, armed with the knowledge to keep it thriving and beautiful.

This workshop is free and reservations are not required, but if you have questions, please call the library (626) 300-0777, extension 579.