Working with Remodeling Contractors

Saturday, January 16, 10:30 am

If you are about to remodel your home or hire a contractor, don’t miss Penny Spark’s free presentation at Crowell Public Library on Saturday, January 16th. She knows the 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 planning stages through the inevitable changes along the way, as well as 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. You will learn how to stay in charge, control costs and see your job finish on schedule.

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 (now Slate, Ltd.) when she got fed up with contractors she had hired for her own projects. She realized that hiring the right contractor is very time consuming and most people do not do it properly. Matching each job with the right contractor is the main objective of her service.

Protect yourself from contractor schemes, dreaded outcomes and nightmare stories. Come to Crowell Public Library for this informative program on Saturday, January 16 at 10: 30 a.m.

English for Beginners: 2016 Sessions

Fridays: January 15 - February 26
1:15-2:30 pm

This free class at Crowell Public Library is for those who know just a bit of English, but want to learn more. If you or somebody you know is an English beginner and wants to improve, this free seven week class will help all participants make progress. Instructor Richard Bourell will cover vocabulary and basic concepts. His method is to concentrate on listening and conversation skills so that students can interact in English, building vocabulary and confidence. The class will not dwell on grammar, but will encourage students to learn English through real life situations and dialogs.
Richard Bourell has been teaching English for almost forty years, locally and globally, and is the author of the Video Language DVD series, and In English, a video and workbook-based ESL series. He has taught for the Los Angeles Unified School District, the American English Institute in Mexico City, the Richard Lewis School of Languages in Paris, Huntington Park Community Adult School and the ELS Language Center in Los Angeles. His students have come from all over the globe: Latin America, the Middle East, Russia, Korea and Japan. Now Mr. Bourell is reaching out to the community and offering his course for free, a fabulous opportunity for patrons of Crowell Public Library, so don’t miss out.
Interested learners must register in advance by calling the Library at (626) 300-0777, extension 579.