January 2014

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President’s MessageWith the holidays behind us, we are gearing up for a very special 2014. The 44th Wine and Cuisine Tasting Benefit is just around the corner and the committee is busy gathering silent auction gifts and coordinating the kitchen, set-up and clean-up, and merchant participants, to make sure that this will be the social/fund-raising event of the year. Tickets, which went on sale in December, are available at the Sierra Madre Library, The Bottle Shop, Savor the Flavor, and Arnold’s Frontier Hardware & Gifts.Many thanks to Savor the Flavor for hosting our fundraising Private Holiday Shopping Party. We came home with some very wonderful goodies to add to our kitchen pantry. One, Vanilla-Fig balsamic vinegar, has become a staple in my kitchen. If you couldn’t make the event, be sure to check this out and the other yummy things Karen Keegan has to offer.Also, a big thanks to Margaret and John Quigley for hosting the joint Friends Board and Library Trustee holiday gathering. This was a chance to get acquainted as we work towards our common goal of enhancing our public Library.Happy New Year To You All, Pat Alcorn

WINE AND CUISINE TASTINGTICKETS ON SALE NOW

Tickets are on sale now for the 44th annual Friends of the Sierra Madre Library Wine and Cuisine Tasting. The event will be held on Friday evening, February 21, at the Alverno Villa, 200 N. Michillinda in Sierra Madre, and will be an elegant affair featuring more than two dozen vintners providing superb wines and local restaurants offering delectable hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Tickets to the premier event are $80 and allow early admission at 6:00 p.m., as well as a souvenir wine charm. A sommelier will give a special wine tasting for those at the premier event, a chocolatier will provide chocolates to be paired with the red wines, and a local restaurant will offer hors d’oeuvres to be paired with the white wines. Tickets to the main event are $60 and provide admission at 7:00 p.m. All are on sale at the Sierra Madre Public Library, The Bottle Shop, Savor the Flavor, and Arnold’s Frontier Hardware & Gifts.Throughout the evening you will enjoy live music and Magic Castle magicians as you stroll about the Villa sampling the wonderful wines and appetizers. A silent auction will again be offering lovely artwork, services, tickets to special events, restaurant vouchers, and many other tempting items. For a delightful evening of enjoying fine wines, tasty food, and lively entertainment amidst the company of friends, please join us at Alverno on February 21.The committee would like to thank local Sierra Madre artist, Victoria Randall, for designing and donating this year’s art work that is featured on all post cards and posters. The painting will be offered as a silent auction item as well as another piece of her art.The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library is a non-profit organization and all proceeds benefit the Sierra Madre Library. For more information, contact chairperson, Robert Newton, at robertandmarsha.newton@gmail.com.

MINI-ROSE FLOAT PROGRAMOn December 23, 105 people enjoyed our Rose Parade Mini-Float Building program – headed by our new Children’s Librarian, Christine Smart. To say it was a rousing success would be an understatement. Participants listened to a short presentation about Sierra Madre’s 2014 entry, then decorated a float of their own, and concluded by following Library Director Carolyn Thomas on a march around the Library!After the bulk of patrons had finished parading around the Library, Teen Docent coordinator Diane Spiegel and teen volunteers gave two tours using the Digital Storyboards, giving 29 participants time to ask more questions about the history of the Rose Parade in Sierra Madre. Christine also had our remaining Christmas books on display, in order to check out as many of them as possible before the winter holiday. Thank you to the Friends of the Library (who funded the program) and to the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association, without whom this successful program would not have been possible.

ADULT VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDIf you are interested in assisting with our local history archives, please contact Jill Schofi eld at 626-355-7186.

WELCOME CHRISTINE SMARTChristine Smart, our new Associate Librarian for Youth Services, has spent four combined years as a Children’s Librarian in Salt Lake City, UT, and New Holland, PA. I bet you wouldn’t guess from her experience that she was born and raised in La Cañada and graduated from La Cañada High School! She

went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a minor in Music and has started her Master’s Degree in Library Science through San Jose State University. Christine is an innovative and creative addition to our team; and although she has only been with us a few weeks, she has already performed preschool Storytime, community tours, and even built mini-rose parade fl oats with Library Director Carolyn Thomas. She is excited and eager to bring her knowledge and enthusiasm for Children’s and Young Adult literature to the patrons of our community Library. Feel free to stop by the Children’s Room and introduce yourself. She would love the opportunity to meet you and recommend a new title to you and your loved ones.

ONE BOOK ONE CITY IN FEBRUARYMaisie Dobbs has been chosen as the Sierra Madre Public Library’s 2014 One Book One City choice and an appearance by the author, Jacqueline Winspear, will highlight a month of exciting free programs at the Library. Winspear will appear on Saturday, February 22 at 2:00 p.m. in the Gooden School multi-purpose room and will talk about her mystery novel featuring an extraordinary young woman living through epic times in World War I era England and France.A reception will follow the talk and copies of all the books in the Maisie Dobbs series will be available for purchase and signing by the author. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, and Winspear’s talk caps a month of programs with a World War I theme. Kickoff Event - Saturday, February 1, 2:00 p.m. at the Library• Children’s Airplane Flying Contest • Display of artifacts from World War I • Display of World War I award-winning poetry by Christopher “Kit” Adde • Teen docents will feature virtual tours of Sierra Madre in the World War I period • Music from the era

Events Throughout The Month• Tuesday, February 4, 7:00 p.m., Library - Travel in Time and Space. Immerse yourself in Maisie’s world with an armchair traveler’s tour of World War I life. Catherine Adde will take us away to Cambridge, London, an historic house in the English countryside and the battlefi elds of France where the story takes place.• Wednesdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26, 4:00 p.m., Library Basement - Teen Book Club will read Leviathan, a steam-punk novel with a World War I setting.• Monday, February 10, 7:00 p.m., Sierra Madre Playhouse - Wings, the only silent fi lm to win the Best Picture Oscar. Wings is an epic World War I action drama that features spectacular aerial sequences of vintage dog fi ghting and a romantic angle featuring its top-billed star Clara Bow.• Wednesday, February 12, 7:00 p.m., Library - Featured Book Discussion - Everyone is welcome to attend a special discussion of Winspear’s book.• Thursday, February 20, 11:00 a.m., Library - Third Thursday Book Club discussion.• Thursday, February 20, 7:00 p.m., Essick House - In celebration of the Sierra Madre Library’s 2014 One Book One City selection, Maisie Dobbs, and the 100th anniversary of Essick House, the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society will present a program featuring author and historian Michele Zack. Michele will speak about life in Sierra Madre during the years up to, including, and immediately following World War I. Emphasis will be placed on the role of Sierra Madre’s women in shaping early 20th century community life and involvement in the War effort.• Friday, February 21, 7:00 p.m., Alverno Villa - Friends of the Library Wine Tasting. Actors dressed in the World War I period of Maisie Dobbs will mingle with the crowd. A signed copy of Maisie Dobbs will be featured as a silent auction item. • Saturday, February 22, 2:00 p.m., Gooden School Multi-Purpose Room - Appearance and book signing by author Jacqueline Winspear.

GARY WESSER POSTERSThe Friends newsletter has reached out and touched two more admirers of Gary - one request came from Carls-bad, CA, and the other from Sierra Madre. The news of the availability of the posters is traveling near and far. The Friends now have a supply of 30 posters. If you are in-terested in obtaining a free poster, please contact Beth Smith-Kellock at 626-355-8637 or bethgerrysmith@aol.com.

BEST USED BOOK SALEThe December Members Only Preview Sale and the Book Sale, despite the rain on Saturday, earned a total of $1844.00. In addition, sales in October and November from the 1-2 Buck Truck, the Internet, and the Silent Auction, totaled $1549.61. Total sales from October 5 to December 7 was $3393.61. Do you know someone who would pick up the left-over books from the Book Sale as a donation to a school or other organization? With our storage space at a premium, we must make space each time for new book donations and cannot save any of the Bargain Books from the parking lot. Please call Martha Troedson at 626-355-0650 or Alan Leahy at 626-355-9783 if you know of someone who could use them and will pick them up after each sale.The next Best Used Book Sale will be held Friday, February 7, and Saturday, February 8.

PARTNERS PROGRAMThank you to Laurie and Dick Cooper for renewing their annual membership in the Partners. Their renewal came at a very sad time as Dick passed away in early December. Laurie and Dick were married for 66 years. The Friends and Partners extend our deepest sympathy to Laurie and her family on their loss.

MARY TUMILTY ENDOWMENT FUND (MTEF)A sincere thank you to Angelyn and Kevin Moore for re-membering Mary Tumilty at this special time of the year with a most generous donation. Your thoughtfulness is ap-preciated by the Friends and Mary’s family.

TEENS AND TREASURES Teens interested in becoming volunteer history docents may sign up at the Sierra Madre Public Library. Teens will train and give tours using new Digital Storyboard technology at the Library’s local History Room and at the Richardson House Museum.

OVERDUE NOTICES BY E-MAILLibrary patrons may now choose to receive their overdue notices by e-mail instead of traditional print. E-mail notices are faster and do not involve a printing charge saving Library patrons money. Library staff will ask patrons how they would like to receive any overdue notices.

THIRD THURSDAY BOOK CLUBLively roundtable discussions of new and noteworthy books highlight the Book Club which meets at the Library on the third Thursday of the month, 11:00 a.m. – Noon. The book club selection for January will be The End of Your Life Book Club, by Will Schwalbe. Sponsored by the Friends.

NEW ART RACKSThe Library’s art collection has been inventoried, and what is not on display in the Library is now hung on new archival quality art racks in the basement archive room. Many thanks to the Friends for contributing the funding to buy the racks.

READER’S REVIEWThis month’s review is byCatherine Adde

Simple Dreams, by Linda RonstadtIf you’re looking for a kiss and tell, gossipy read, this is not it.

Instead, Linda Ronstadt’s beautifully written story is about growing up in the hot desert of Tucson, Arizona, spending an idyllic childhood on horseback, singing songs around campfi res with her family and her Mexican adopted family members as well.It traces her musical roots, bringing to life how she settled into the music business with deals made on a handshake instead of fl anks of attorneys and record company executives. She shares with us her beginnings with the Stone Ponies, on to being a ‘Pop’ star and solo artist, her Broadway days singing Opera, and her recordings with Nelson Riddle and the American Standards. These songs were discouraged by the record company, yet became best selling hits in a matter of days. Finally, her ‘Simple Dreams’ were to record the be-loved Mexican songs from childhood, and she was again discouraged by the executives, yet “Cancio-nes de Mi Padre” went double platinum instantly in November 1987 and is the biggest selling non-Eng-lish-language album in American recording history. We don’t learn about Linda’s personal life in too much depth, but the richness of her musical back-ground combined with excellent writing make this book a great read for any fans of her powerful vocal style and varied musical hits. Enjoy!CALL # STATUS: Non Fiction 782.4216

ART AND ESSAY CONTESTLocal students in grades K – 8 are invited to enter the So Much to See So Much to Do at the Sierra Madre Public Library Art and Essay Contest. The contest begins on Saturday, February 1, 2014 and entry forms are available at the Library and at schools in Sierra Madre. Students who live in Sierra Madre, and/or go to school in town and/or have Sierra Madre Library cards are eligible for cash prizes. Judges will award prizes per grade level. Those in grades K – 2 create drawings about the Library, and those in grades 3-8 write an essay. Entries are due by Friday, February 28, and the winning entries will be announced on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

Editor: Sharon Murphy Contributing Writer: Alice KuoDesign/Set Up: Melissa SanchezPrinted By: Sir Speedy

Editor: Sharon Murphy Contributing Writer: Alice KuoDesign/Set Up: Melissa SanchezPrinted By: Sir Speedy

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Parents and preschool children meet on Mondays 10:00 -- 11:00 a.m. and Wednesdays 7:00 -- 8:00 p.m. for lively stories, songs and crafts.BARKS AND BOOKSChildren of all ages are invited to visit with and read to a gen-tle and specially trained dog on the second Thursday of each month, 3:30 -- 4:30 p.m.TEEN BOOK CLUBYouth in grades 7-12 meet in the Teen Book Club on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Library basement. Join other teens for fun books, games, crafts and snacks. Members brainstorm ideas for book club selections and engage in lively discussions of current cultural and literary trends. SIERRA MADRE HISTORICAL ARCHIVESExplore local history in the Archives, jointly owned and maintained by the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society and the Library. For research assistance, please call 626-355-7186.

Editor: Sharon MurphyContributing Writer: Meegan ToshDesign/Set Up: Melissa SanchezPrinted by: Sir Speedy

JANUARY1/6 10:00 a.m. Storytime 1/8 4:00 p.m. Teen Book Club 1/8 7:00 p.m. Storytime1/9 3:30 p.m. Barks and Books1/13 10:00 a.m. Storytime1/14 7:00 p.m. eReader/Ancestry.com Classes 1/15 4:00 p.m. Teen Book Club1/15 7:00 p.m. Storytime 1/15 7:00 p.m. Friends Board Meeting 1/16 11:00 a.m. 3rd Thursday Book Club1/18 11:00 a.m. eReader/Ancestry.com Classes 1/20 LIBRARY CLOSED Martin Luther King Holiday 1/22 4:00 p.m. Teen Book Club1/22 7:00 p.m. Storytime 1/22 7:00 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting 1/27 10:00 a.m. Storytime1/29 4:00 p.m. Teen Book Club1/29 7:00 p.m. Storytime