On The Town:
“A once-in-a-lifetime sale!” That’s how Glendale libraries’ Project Manager Carolyn Flemming described the weekend, dollar-a-bag-sale at the Central Library. Those bags could be stuffed with as many books as each would take. Also available for sale were used chairs and tables for $25 each.
But it was the books that dozens of customers wanted as they crowded the library auditorium Saturday and Sunday. They were able to sort through thousands of hardbacks and paperbacks representing nonfiction, fiction, children’s and teens’ books.
Glendale residents Kevin and Jean Lee were accompanied by their 9-month-old daughter, Noelle Lee. The Lee family was looking for children’s books. They found some, judging from their bulging book bag.
Eagle Rock grandparents Norma and Richard Obregon brought their 3-year-old granddaughter, Samantha Rose. Samantha made her own choices of books and kept piling them on the ones Grandma was already carrying. Norma Obregon, juggling two stuffed bags, said her family members were big readers and gave books as gifts to each other. A flier announcing the sale brought her to the library.
Flemming explained that the book sale was the result of “changing the focus of the Chevy Chase library.” That library will now be more family-focused with children’s books and more popular books available to lend.
The weekend’s book sale turned out to be so popular it was extended to Monday. Proceeds will, in part, benefit the Friends of the Glendale Public Library that sponsored the sale.
The already popular, free admission Glendale Noon Concerts at the First Baptist Church of Glendale are becoming more popular.
Dozens of music lovers packed the pews Feb. 17 to listen to the Del Russo Ensemble with chamber music by composer-pianist Bevan Manson from noon to 12:45 p.m. — just enough for a break from work and a quick, $6 takeout lunch on hand from Angela’s Bistro.
Other musicians playing were Catherine Del Russo on oboe and English horn, Glendale resident Alan Busteed on violin, Nancy Roth on viola and Maurice Grants on violoncello.
The concert opened with the Concerto in D minor for oboe and piano composed by Alessandro Marcello. Other selections were composed by Manson. Manson is a frequent performer in Los Angeles and works as a musician for motion-picture studios. He has had works of his performed by Arco Voce Ensemble of Washington ,D.C., the San Francisco Symphony’s jazz ensemble and the Opening Night String Quartet.
In the audience were Glendale residents and good friends Grace Navarro and Lois Lovi, who said, “We hardly ever miss a concert.” In fact, the two met at one of the noon concerts.
The free-admission Glendale Noon Concerts are the first and third Wednesdays of the month.
The next concert, March 3, will feature violinist Hiromi Igarashi-Warren.
The Americana at Brand’s community room hosted a free weight-loss seminar and weigh-in Saturday presented by the Americana’s Luluemon Athletica, All About You! Wellness BootCamp and the Glendale Adventist Medical Center. The hospital is encouraging the Glendale community to get fit in 2010 by enrolling in its Lose a Ton in ’10 weight-loss challenge.
About 15 supporters of healthy eating and exercise attended the seminar, second in the series offered by Glendale Healthy Kids. Attendees were weighed either before or after the educational seminar.
Glendale resident and Glendale Community College student Rebecca Garrido has already begun losing weight using the program. She started at 288 pounds and plans to lose 50 pounds by 2011. Besides eating healthier, Garrido also exercises daily at the Wellness BootCamp gym in Glendale. Encouraging her at the weigh-in were BootCamp co-owners Elaine Miller and Narina Minasserian.
Glendale Adventist Medical Center will donate $1 for each pound the Glendale community loses. Funds will go to Glendale Healthy Kids.
Registration for the Lose a Ton in ’10 challenge is free. For more information, visit www.glendaleadventist.com.
While some people were losing weight at the Americana, others were putting on a few pounds.
The Carballo family was enjoying brunch Sunday at Frida Mexican Cuisine.
Glendale residents Carlos and Flory Carballo and daughters Erica Carballo, 9, and Stephanie Carballo, 4, filled their plates from a buffet featuring custom-cooked omelets.
Providing entertainment was balloon man Chicharrin, of Glendale. His butterfly-shaped balloons were the hit of the brunch.