One Book, One City: T. Jefferson Parker’s Iron River

Crowell Public Library Announces
ONE BOOK, ONE CITY featuring
T. Jefferson Parker’s
IRON RIVER

Muffy Hunt, Chair of the Friends of the Crowell Public Library, announced today the community’s ONE BOOK, ONE CITY selection for 2010: T. Jefferson Parker’s latest novel, Iron River. Ms. Hunt was joined in the Barth Community Room by an enthusiastic Mayor Eugene Sun who addressed the crowd, Councilman Dennis Kneier and Police Chief John Schaefer who will also participate in One Book, One City events. Councilman Kneier will lead a book discussion and Chief Schaefer will talk about how the book relates to the community of San Marino. ONE BOOK, ONE CITY programming not only promotes literacy, but a strong sense of community and civic pride.

Fast-paced and wholly original, Iron River simultaneously spotlights Parker’s talents as a vivid story teller and brilliant crime writer, and the complex and dangerous gun trafficking industry, a crucial issue of our day. Several copies of the book are available at Crowell Library and patrons are urged to check them out soon in preparation for the One Book, One City events which will also include a mystery tour of Los Angeles and culminate with an in-library appearance by author T. Jefferson Parker Sunday, April 18th at 2:00 p.m. at the Library.

Anti-Valentine’s Day Party!

Crowell Public Library Invites Teens to our
Anti-Valentine’s Day Party!
Barth Community Room
February 12 at 3:30 pm

Middle School and High School students (grades 7-12) from the San Gabriel Valley region are invited to the Crowell Public Library’s first-ever Anti- Valentine’s Day Party on Friday, February 12th.

An Anti-Valentine’s Day party is a perfect venue for teens to creatively thumb their noses at commercial excess—there will be several activities, including making hilarious anti-valentines and writing break-up story mad-libs. They’ll have a blast poking fun at romance novel covers—we will provide color copies for teens to add illustrations and colorful comments. We will enjoy broken-heart cookies, chocolates and other sweets—after all, treats are the only redeeming feature of Valentine’s Day!

Teens don’t need to be single to join this party—they are encouraged to bring friends, including significant others, and enjoy mocking commercial stereotypes of romance. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Crowell Public Library.

Brain Aerobics Returns!

with Francine Katz Mondays, 12:30-2:30 p.m. or Tuesday mornings, 9:30-11:30 Starting January 11th

Challenge your memory, improve language skills, and ease the burden of hearing loss by learning to lip read. In these fun and stimulating classes, enhance your verbal skills by analyzing how language looks and sounds. Instructor Francine Katz challenges the class to memorize sentences, play word games and focus on lip-reading skills. She has taught this class at various locations for over 45 years and students rave how their mental agility has improved after participating. Boosting our brain power can only help us age with grace!

Francine Katz, MA, SLP, CCC, is a graduate of Northwestern University and a licensed speech-language pathologist and lip reading specialist. Mrs. Katz was with Pasadena City College for over twelve years. She was “Teacher of the Year” at PCC in 2005. She was also listed in “Who’s Who in America,” Western Section.

Get your brain in shape with a free weekly two-hour workout in the Barth Community Room at Crowell Library in a relaxed atmosphere with rewarding results. No obligation visits are welcome.

The Doctor Is In! Preventing Stroke, Aneurysm, and Other Vascular Related Conditions

Monday, January 11, 2010, 6 p.m.

DR. ANDREW HURWITZ, a Board Certified Thoracic and Vascular Surgeon, will discuss simple methods to prevent brain attack (stroke) and other serious vascular related conditions including aneurysm. Learn how early detection of vascular disease can save your life. 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 Library’s ongoing series THE DOCTOR IS IN! -- educational programs designed to help you stay healthy and active. The lectures, by some of the community’s 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 in the Barth Community Room.

Bilingual Chinese and English Story Time

Fourth Saturdays @ 11:00 a.m.

The newest addition to Crowell Public Library’s innovative programming for children, the Bilingual English & Chinese Story Time, now has a regular schedule: the fourth Saturdays of the month. Upcoming sessions will include Saturday January 23rd, February 27th and March 27th, all at 11:00 a.m.

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. As this unique program continues to blossom, we hope to offer it on a weekly basis.

Crowell Public Library is currently the only public library in the San Gabriel Valley offering a Chinese Story Time. Come be a part of this ground breaking program!

Adult Connections: SAFE TRAVEL

Thursday, January 21 10:00 a.m.

DEBBIE PRIESTER of Titan Travel will enlighten future travelers with the details on what they need to do before heading off on that well deserved vacation. She will share her expertise on preparing one’s house, luggage and financial affairs before leaving, and offer tips and personal insights on traveling safely and smartly. A door prize will be awarded at the end of the program.

Debbie Priester has traveled throughout the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Asia, and extensively in the United States. She has been in the travel business since 1985 and has owned and operated Titan Travel since 1989. She is active in Rotary Club and the San Marino Chamber of Commerce.

Adult Connections is a new program at the Crowell Public Library, offered on the third Thursday of the month. Enjoy coffee, donuts and a different topic of interest each meeting. Upcoming “explorations” may include genealogy, gardening, digital cameras, de-cluttering, or a topic of interest suggested by attendees. We’re always open to ideas.

Make your next trip a truly stress-free and joyful vacation.

Computers for Absolute Beginners

Monday, January 11 10:30 am-12 pm

For those who have shied away from computers because they don’t even know where to start, this class will offer the introduction they’ve been waiting for. Attendees will have a chance to pick up the basic concepts and skills of computing, as well as to ask all those questions they’ve been too intimidated to voice: How do you turn it on and off? What does a mouse do? What is a cursor, and what in the world is scrolling?

After attending this hands-on workshop, people can decide whether they want to take additional classes or do a little more experimenting on their own. This will definitely be a grand opportunity to get wet without drowning!

The workshop is free, but reservations are necessary and can be made by calling (626) 300-0777.