Dare to Be Aware: A Journey Into Mindfulness

Saturday, February 16, 10:00 a.m.

Anyone wanting to grow as a human being will want to come to Crowell Public Library on Saturday, February 16 for an exciting workshop on mindfulness.  Ron Serven will teach how to be present in one’s life and not just a spectator from afar.  Participants will learn how to become more self-aware, how to live one’s life and connect to others, to integrate mindfulness into life, as well as learn the basics and benefits of meditation. The tools that attendees will take away will greatly enhance their awareness so they can experience a total transformation that gives a better sense of who they are, allowing them to be present in life and give oneself permission to constantly move in the direction of being the best version of themselves for the rest of their lives. Participants will contemplate three profound questions:  Who Am I?  What do I want in my life? What is my purpose in life?  In addition, attendees will learn how to better manage their lives and strategize on a sometimes scary six letter word called “stress.”  

A former City Parks Division Manager, Ron Serven is currently Environmental Services Manager/City Arborist for the City of San Marino.  He is a Certified Life /Health Coach with the Health Coaching Institute.  He has also conducted the library’s rose pruning workshops for the past twenty-four years.

Learn how to live every moment of life with more connection, more confidence, more meaning and more happiness! 

Rose Pruning Made Easy

Saturday, January 19^th, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

 Ron Serven, Environmental Services Manager and San Marino City Arborist, will conduct his 26th annual rose pruning workshop on Saturday January 19, 2019, and give even the most inexperienced gardeners the knowledge to promote healthy, beautiful rose blooming when spring comes around.  Learn the techniques in one two-hour session and be ready to work in companionship with nature.

This is the perfect time to get out into the yard and manage rose bushes for maximum bloom and health. Ron makes it interesting and fun.  A former City Parks Division Manager, Ron’s expertise with roses is still visible throughout the city, particularly at beautiful 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 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.  Rose pruning promotes healthy roses by increasing air circulation that can help prevent disease. 

Attendees will learn a bit about how plants work, what makes them thrive and will soon be spending some enjoyable time in their home gardens, armed with the knowledge to keep it thriving and bursting with blooms.  Ron will wipe away the fear of damaging the plants or wasting precious time.  He is also very good about answering questions, so bring them on.

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

Toastmasters Talk of the Town

Beginning Thursday, January 10  6:30-8:30 pm

In an era where people seem to be communicating strictly with their thumbs, gaining confidence in public speaking does not come easily or cheaply.  Crowell Public Library and the Toastmasters organization are joining forces to present a free series that will be the quickest means to improve participants’ speaking skills and confidence.  The new “Talk of the Town” Toastmasters meetings have participants delivering short speeches and leaders offering coaching. There will be a demonstration meeting on January 10, followed by meetings every first and third Thursday of the month. Although Toastmasters charges a nominal fee to join their organization, visitors are welcome to the library meetings at no charge, but registration is required.

Participants will gain confidence in public speaking, communication and language skills, and learn to think quickly and clearly, becoming an effective listener.  Speech-craft can also help participants improve performance in problem-solving, meeting in larger groups,  motivating people, selling ideas or products, conducting business meetings, impromptu speaking, managing nervousness, introducing a speaker, speech structure and organization, beginning and concluding a speech, body language, vocal variety, and knowing an audience.  Friendships and careers can and do blossom for those experiencing Toastmasters.  

The Talk of the Town Toastmasters club will be led by seven club officers and guided by two club mentors. Ming Jiang, joined Toastmasters in 2016.  She served a number of club officer roles and is currently Arroyo Seco Division Director, the charter president and club mentor for San Marino Toastmasters Club.  Ming will be club sponsor, mentor and president for Talk of the Town Toastmasters club.  Mary Hsu, joined Toastmaster in 2018, and is a charter member of San Marino Toastmasters Club. Mary is serving on the Crowell Library Board and will be club sponsor for Talk of the Town.  Xuling Wu joined Toastmasters in 2009 and is currently Area A3 Director in Arroyo Seco Division.  Xuling will be serving as club mentor and charter Vice President of PR of Talk of the Town.  Sandra Cheng, joined Toastmasters in 2018, is a charter member of San Marino Toastmasters Club. She is serving VP of Membership at Club 6 and Assistant Area Director of Area A4 in Arroyo Seco Division. Sandra will be serving as Vice President of Education for Talk of the Town Club. 

Sign up today at the Library’s Reference Desk to insure that you receive one of the coveted seats!

High Definition Precision Healthcare is Coming

Tuesdays January 8 – February 6, 12:30 pm

Hal Slavkin, Professor and Dean Emeritus from USC, returns to Crowell Library January 8th, with a new class about the recent advances in healthcare based on new understanding of the human genome.  In six sessions, participants will explore healthcare and biotechnology, with a focus on the new personalized healthcare options.

The lectures will provide an historical view of healthcare in the United States from 1900 to the present, highlighting major healthcare reforms. Throughout this period of time, cost, access, and quality have each served as drivers for various types off health policies and federal, state, and local legislation. Considering cost, the USA now spends $3.2 trillion on healthcare yet ranks 9th out of the 9 major industrial nations of the world in health outcomes. Considering access, we do not as yet provide healthcare access to all Americans whereas other industrial nations provide 100% of their populations with healthcare. We have 10,000 people per day turning 65 years of age and this cohort also contains the vast majority of chronic diseases and disorders. Meanwhile, profoundly significant discoveries have and are being made that can provide innovation and transformation for USA healthcare. This lecture series will highlight what is and what might be.

Today healthcare providers consider factors such as genotype (an inventory of all that person’s genes), phenotype (the sum of observable characteristics from hair color to cardiac function) and the environment (epigenetics) in which the individual exists.  This course will demonstrate how phenotype connects with genotype; the principles underlying the development and evolutionary process of how an organism grows; and how novel and innovative gene editing techniques can address major human diseases and disorders such as birth defects, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary disorders, periodontal diseases, cancers, mental diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases and disorders. 

Professor and Dean Emeritus at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Hal Slavkin has served as Chair of Biochemistry, and as the Director for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.  No reservations are required.