Coping Skills for Sight Loss

Monday November 6th, 10:00-11:30 am

Sight loss can be caused by macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts or diabetic retinopathy. On Monday, November 6^th, the Braille Institute will offer the latest information on adapting to visual changes and which assistive devices might be appropriate for individuals. Practical day-to-day applications will be presented such as organizing and identifying money and marking and labeling household items. The importance of staying connected will also be explored:  rediscovering the joy of reading, writing and communication. Attendees will learn about resources for getting around town, assistance with orientation and mobility.

According to the Braille Institute, twenty-one percent of people age 65 and over report some form of vision impairment. This represents 7.3 million people.* This workshop will address questions related to daily life with low vision. There are many causes of visual impairment and Braille Institute helps people of all ages overcome obstacles caused by low vision.

Braille Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate barriers to a fulfilling life caused by blindness and severe sight loss.  Each year the Institute serves more than 75,000 people, providing an environment of hope and encouragement through integrated educational, social, and recreational programs and through our services, classes, and seminars.  

This program is free to all and will take place in the Library’s Barth Community Room on Monday, November 6^th at 10:00 a.m.

Tracking John Muir Through San Marino

Monday, October 23, 7:00 p.m.

The year was 1877 when a young Scottish vagabond named John Muir first arrived in Southern California via steamship in the harbor of Los Angeles. After spending the night at the old Pico Hotel, he sauntered along through the Arroyo Seco to the fledgling City of Pasadena, where he found lodging with a former college classmate. He was soon treated to a buggy ride through the prospering citrus groves of what was to become the City of San Marino. The people he met there and the sights he saw have been carefully recorded through Muir’s writings and in the work of Muir’s friend, pioneering photographer Carlton E. Watkins.   

On Monday, October 23 in the Barth Community Room at Crowell Public Library, Ed Andersen will present his findings on John Muir’s travels through the area during those early days.  Mr. Andersen is a book collector, historian and board member of the Arcadia Historical Society. He has been tracking John Muir for the past two decades.  In addition to Muir’s colorful accounts of the San Gabriel Valley, Mr. Andersen’s presentation will feature Watkins’ invaluable photographs of early San Marino. When looking at history, there is always a “story behind the story,” and this presentation will reveal why Muir visited San Marino so many times during his later life.

In its speakers series, the San Marino Historical Society presents quarterly history talks focusing on topics especially selected for San Marino.  No reservations are needed.  For information on the San Marino Historical Society call (626) 304-9375 or email smhistorical@earthlink.net.

Come to Crowell Library at 7:00 p.m. on Monday October 23 for a fascinating look at a groundbreaking conservationist.

History of Fashion from a Technical Perspective

Tuesday, October 10, 7:00 p.m.

Former Fashion Institute Librarian Alex Kosztowny returns to Crowell Library on Tuesday, October 10, with another talk about fashion history, this time from a technical perspective.  Most people do not think about the craft and construction aspects that go into garment creation, but these elements play a vital role.

Up until the latter part of the 20^th century, methods of producing clothing had remained relatively unchanged. With the advent of mechanical processes such as the cotton gin, the sewing machine, and different weaving looms, fashion has been able to be transformed into a booming business that focuses on mass production, globalization, and outsourcing. These inventions have made fashion quicker, cheaper, and more readily available, yet certain elements still remain unchanged. It is just in the last decade that advancements such as 3D printing have seen an advancement in fashion that is truly new and unique, and catapulting us into the future. 

This expansion does not come without costs, however. Kosztowny will delve into labor issues and regulations, environmental impacts, and how fashion is affecting the health and well-being of the planet and its residents.

Alex Kosztowny is a Los Angeles based freelance designer and librarian who focuses on art, fashion, textiles, and the preservation of materials. He was an instruction and reference services librarian at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles and now works for the County of Los Angeles.  He holds his master’s degree in library and information science from the University of California at Los Angeles as well as degrees in fashion knitwear design, theatre costume design, and business management.

Come to Crowell Library for this fascinating look at fashion history at Crowell Library October 10^th at 7:00 p.m.