American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF): Julia’s Darling – Seeking the Recognition It Deserves

with Dr. Dee Fitzgerald
Thursday April 4, 7:00 p.m.

Julia Child was one of the founders of American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) along with Robert Mondavi and Richard Graff. DR. DEE FITZGERALD, Chapter Chair of AIWF Orange County will present a program at Crowell Public Library on Thursday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Library’s Barth Community Room, featuring this 501(c)(3) national organization and its Days of Taste © (www.daysoftaste.org), a nationwide initiative which introduces fourth and fifth graders to good food habits and enjoyment. The program was featured last year on the Jamie Oliver Show for the Long Beach Fremont School program, now in its thirteenth year. With national attention focused on childhood obesity, the Days of Taste program is receiving special attention and a rejuvenation of the enthusiasm AIWF enjoyed during the early nineties, including a gathering of chefs on the White House lawn hosted by Michelle Obama. Dr. Fitzgerald’s presentation will trace the history, intention, present focus and current challenges of the 24 chapter, 3,000 member organization.

Dr. FitzGerald brings substantial credibility to the topic, as he served as one of three members on the national membership committee providing input to the restructuring of the national organization. He is a retired Navy dentist who has busied himself as a consultant in the dental field and with non-profits, including the AIW F.

Plan to attend this free event to learn more about the diversity of Julia Child and the timeliness of the organization she founded.

The Friends of the Crowell Public Library’s ONE BOOK, ONE CITY selection for 2013 is Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz. “It is rare for someone to emerge in America who can change attitudes, beliefs, and culture. Julia Child’s story, however, is more than the tale of a talented woman and her sumptuous craft.” (from the publisher’s description).

For further details on this exciting program and others at Crowell Library, keep an eye on the website: http://www.CrowellPublicLibrary.org.

Dearie author BOB SPITZ

Thursday April 18, 7:00 p.m.

The Friends of the Crowell Public Library will present BOB SPITZ, the author of their 2013 One Book, One City selection Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child, on Thursday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. in the Library’s Barth Community Room. Mr. Spitz actually met Ms. Child says on his website: “I watched her TV show at my mother’s elbow when I was a teenager… but in 1992, while I was on assignment for various magazines in Italy, I got the chance to meet and travel through Sicily with Julia, which is when I developed a huge crush. She was, well, Julia Child! — larger than life and full of all the personal traits one associates with her: straight talk, passion, encouragement, wit, and insight. I knew immediately that I would write a biography of her and received her blessing.”

Bob Spitz is the award-winning author of The Beatles, a New York Times best seller, as well as seven other nonfiction books. His articles appear regularly in magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and O, the Oprah Magazine among others. Mr. Spitz will happily sign copies of Dearie for those in attendance. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear about the real Julia Child from one who knew her well.

Every year the Friends of Crowell Public Library present a series of ONE BOOK, ONE CITY events that bring the community together in celebration of the joy of reading. Past selections have included Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker, Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart, Samurai’s Garden, by Gail Tsukiyama, The Ragtime Kid by Larry Karp and 2012’s The Sherlockian by Graham Moore.

For further details on this exciting program and others at Crowell Library, keep an eye on the website: http://www.CrowellPublicLibrary.org.

Hiring a Contractor?

Be a Smarter Homeowner
Find out how to hire the best tradesmen
with Penny Spark
Thursday March 28, 7:00 p.m.

Are you about to remodel your home or hire a contractor? Then don’t miss Penny Spark’s free presentation at Crowell Public Library. She knows the twenty critical questions to ask when interviewing a contractor, the pitfalls to avoid during your home improvement project, as well as the legal requirements of the contract you sign. She will outline how to navigate the process from the preliminary planning stages through the inevitable changes along the way, to inspections, warranties and final payments. She can tell you what projects will increase the value of your home and what modifications you can make to keep seniors safe.

Penny Spark has been vetting contractors for over ten years and has guided thousands of homeowners through their remodels, additions, and maintenance and repair projects. She started the Southern California Home Improvement Referral Service when she got fed up with contractors she had hired for her own projects. She realized that hiring the right contractor is a very time consuming process and most people do not have the time to do it properly. Matching each job with the right contractor is main objective of her service.

Protect yourself from contractor schemes, dreaded outcomes and nightmare stories. Come to Crowell Public Library Thursday evening, March 28 for this free, informative program.

The Early Years of JPL: The Guggenheim Family and U.S. Rocketry

Monday, March 25, 7:00 p.m.
Nick Curry, Presenter

As a philanthropist, Daniel Guggenheim is best known as an aviation pioneer. He and his family created the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the promotion of Aeronautics June 16, 1926 which provided individual support for physicist Robert Goddard and aviation pioneer Charles Lindberg. Goddard was a physics professor whose contributions to rocket science included one of the first high altitude rockets. Charles Lindberg was most well-known for the first non-stop Atlantic flight.

The Daniel Guggenheim Aeronautical Engineering Laboratory was established at Caltech in May of 1929 and the family continued to finance the Laboratory through 1945. While serving as the Director, Dr. Theodore von Karman participated in the formation of what was the beginning of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Learn more about this fascinating era of Southern California aviation on Monday, March 25th when NICK CURRY presents a program sponsored by the San Marino Historical Society and Crowell Public Library. Nick is a 1961 graduate of San Marino High School and history has been his lifetime avocation. He has contributed to works on the Doheny family, the Chandlers, the Huntingtons, the Hearsts, the Gettys and the San Marino Centennial publication, just to name a few. He attended USC and Woodbury universities and worked for many years in the savings and loan industry.
Seating is limited and attendance to this free monthly series has been to capacity so arrive early!

LA Opera Talk: Cinderella

SUNDAY, March 17th 2:00 p.m.
Rossini’s Cinderella

In her impoverished stepfather's castle, a kindhearted girl dreams of escaping the tyranny of her vain stepsisters. When the prince announces that he will choose his bride at a glamorous ball, she seizes the opportunity to take control of her own destiny. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella, but Gioachino Rossini's warmhearted retelling is a delightful romantic comedy. LA Opera will bring it to life with dazzling vocal fireworks of an exciting young cast and a production new to Los Angeles.

In the meantime, everyone is invited to Crowell Library where Community Educator DIANE BELTOYA will play excerpts and highlight different aspects of the opera with her expertise. Learn about the variants of this particular version of the Cinderella story: some mice but no bippity, boppity-boo, just to name two. La Cenerentola was composed when Rossini was 25 years old, after his magnificent Barber of Seville. The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti, based on the fairy tale Cendrillon by Charles Perrault. The opera was first performed in Rome's Teatro Valle in 1817.

This introduction to opera at Crowell Public Library is absolutely free. It will undoubtedly inspire one and all to make a trip to the Los Angeles Music Center for a real opera experience.

Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives

California Institute of Technology and Crowell Public Library present
Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives
Featuring the Aquila Theatre Company
Thursday March 14, 7:00 p.m.

Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives is a staged reading that will include a repertoire of selections from Greek drama such as Homer’s Odyssey, Sophocles’ Ajax and Aeschylus’ Agamemnon. The ninety minute event will feature five professional actors and will include an introduction, performed readings, a post-show discussion and a town hall-style meeting, including audience comments. Participants will see the reading of artistically enriching classical plays and also gain experience in how to watch, appreciate and participate as a modern audience member viewing an ancient Greek play.

AQUILA THEATRE is a not for profit company founded in London in 1991 by Peter Meineck and based in New York City since 1999. Aquila’s mission is to bring the greatest theatrical works to the greatest number. To this end Aquila presents a regular season of plays in New York, at international festivals, and tours to approximately seventy American towns and cities each year. Aquila produces an extensive educational program and is also professional company in residence at the Center for Ancient Studies at New York University.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience and appreciate Greek drama in the twenty-first century.

This free evening of theatre is brought to you by Cal Tech and Crowell Public Library.

Design Review: Tree Ordinance Workshop

for San Marino Residents: Design Review: Tree Ordinance Workshop
Thursday March 7, 7:00 p.m.

Are you planning exterior changes to your home, but are not aware of the City’s architectural design policies and procedures? Do you want to know when a tree removal permit is required? Are you planning to re-landscape your rear yard, but aren’t sure if you can remove any trees?

If you have ever asked yourself any of these questions, then this free Design Review-Tree Ordinance community workshop is for you. Both newcomers and longtime residents will benefit from this workshop, which will be held on Thursday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the Barth Community Room of the Crowell Public Library. City staff and a Design Review Committee member will make a presentation regarding the design review process and tree removal procedures and will answer your questions. For more information, call Planning & Building Director Dave Saldana at 626-300-0710.