Highland Park History

 

The article “Clyde Browne and the Abbey San Encino” by Charles Cooper takes a close look at a local resident and his architectural obsession. You may have seen the Abbey… it’s directly across the street (and down the dell) from the library. You will learn that the Abbey includes a wedding chapel, a dungeon, and a bell tower that housed the bell that used to call Garvanza children to school. Take a look at the article for lots of fascinating detail.

The image is from the article and depicts Clyde’s noted descendant Jackson Browne.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question…

 The question this time, what is an ATS (applicant tracking system)?

The Well-Dressed Ape

 

Hannah Holmes turns on naturalist eye on herself in TheWell-Dressed Ape.  Chapter by chapter she looks at the human animal in the same way a discerning observer would examine a butterfly or an antelope.  In these various chapters she examines a human’s physical description, brain, perception, range, territoriality, diet, reproduction, behavior, communication, predators, and ecosystem impacts.  The book is interesting and easily accessible to the non-expert. I quibble a bit with the way she’ll go from her example, usually of herself under personal scrutiny, to a universal principal of behavior for all humans. However the book does remain charming and guides readers to a generally objective look at themselves and their species.

Programming Coming up This Week

First… the Winter Reading Challenge is underway. Sign up online at: https://www.lapl.org/winter or swing by the branch and let us sign you up.  Complete assorted tasks and earn a chance to win cool prizes. Then check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
11:00 Baby & Toddler Storytime (Register: http://tinyurl.com/EdendaleStorytime)
4:00 Laughter Yoga (email eaaronson@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 Skate Bud Presents: Doin' Tricks (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Wednesday
3:00 Dive into Language: Vietnamese for Kids (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 Let's Talk About Books (grades 3-5; email ahowe@lapl.org for link)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
5:00 Climate Cafe and Garden Club (email ecalla@lapl.org for link)

Friday & Saturday
Library closed for New Year Celebration

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

Highland Park History

 

This article from the 3/16/1984 edition of the Highland Park Journal talks about the history of the Ebell Club, a cultural landmark since 1913 (as the article’s title notes).  Read this article for a fascinating look at the origins and work of the Ebell Club.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question (Answer)….

 

The question this time was what is bibingka?  Bibingka is a Filipino rice cake traditionally eaten around Christmas. The popular dessert or snack is made with rice, coconut milk, eggs, and milk, along with various other ingredients.

The question, and answer, were found on A to Z World Food.  It is an online resource containing traditional recipes for 174 countries of the world and a food glossary with over 800 terms.  Includes articles on ingredients, food quotes, and historical timelines. The resource can be found on LAPL’s Research & Homework page under A and you can access it with your library card.

Arroyo Book Club January Pick

 

The Arroyo Book Club will be reading Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff for discussion at our January meeting.  The book is described by the publisher as follows…

Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives. And sometimes, it turns out, the key to a great marriage is not its truths but its secrets. At the core of this rich, expansive, layered novel, Lauren Groff presents the story of one such marriage over the course of twenty-four years.

While the hold list on the ebook means that it is unlikely that you will be able to check out an ebook copy before the meeting, there are plenty of physical copies.  Swing by the branch at your convenience and pick one up.

We will meet to discuss the book on January 22 at 3:00 via Zoom.  Email ayosco@lapl.org with questions or to sign up for the discussion link.

Programming Coming up This Week

First… the Winter Reading Challenge is underway. Sign up online at: https://www.lapl.org/winter or swing by the branch and let us sign you up.  Complete assorted tasks and earn a chance to win cool prizes. Then check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
11:00 Baby & Toddler Storytime (Register: http://tinyurl.com/EdendaleStorytime)
4:00 Laughter Yoga (email eaaronson@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 Skate Bud Presents: How to Ride (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Wednesday
11:00 Virtual Toddler Storytime (email shrmno@lapl.org for link)
3:00 Dive into Language: Korean for Kids (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday & Saturday
Library closed for Christmas Holiday

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

Highland Park History

Check out this draft Historic Context Statement of the Northeast Los Angeles Subregional Planning Area prepared by the Historical Resources Group for the Los Angeles Conservancy in February of 1990.  It is a 24 page document that looks at 

• geographic boundaries & natural features

• history of development

• economic development

• residential development

• development of civic, religious, cultural, and social institutions

• etc.

An interesting perspective on the history of the area.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question…

 Let’s think holiday themed food with this question and ask what is bibingka?

One Word Kill

 

Mark Lawrence takes us back to the 80s in One Work Kill.  There we meet Nick, recently diagnosed with Leukemia, and his cadre of D&D playing friends.  During an eventful month Nick meets a mysterious stranger who gives him a mission that will see life change dramatically for everyone involved.  

This was a good read that left many unanswered questions.  I would recommend it to lovers of subtle SF.

Programming Coming up This Week

First… the Winter Reading Challenge is underway. Sign up online at: https://www.lapl.org/winter or swing by the branch and let us sign you up.  Complete assorted tasks and earn a chance to win cool prizes. Then check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Sunday
3:00 Scrabble Fun (in person at Arroyo Seco)

Monday
11:00 Baby & Toddler Storytime (Register: http://tinyurl.com/EdendaleStorytime)
2:00 Art From Home: Snowflakes (email nohlwd@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
6:00 Ghost Stories - A Holiday Literary Tradition From Victorian Times and Beyond (email eden@lapl.org for link)

Wednesday
9:30 Magical Songs and Stories With Miss Rebecca: Holiday Story Time (email ecalla@lapl.org for link)
3:00  Dive into Language: Chinese Mandarin for Kids (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 LA Made: Jaime Hernandez (Los Hernandez Bros) in Conversation With Javier Cabral (LA Taco) (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
4:00 Your Author Series: Daniel José Older (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Saturday
3:00 Arroyo Book Club discusses Twelfth Night by Shakespeare (email ayosco@lapl.org for link)
 
Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

Highland Park History

 

Interested in the native wildlife inhabiting the Mt. Washington region? Then you’ll want to check out the 4-H produced brochure “We Hike Elyria Canyon”.  This 31 page booklet provides a detailed look at the plants and animals of Elyria Canyon Park circa 1995.  The included drawings by the 4-H students are totally adorable too.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question (Answer)….

 

This time we asked what is the difference between venomous and poisonous? Well… The term venomous is applied to organisms that bite (or sting) to inject their toxins, whereas the term poisonous applies to organisms that unload toxins when eaten. With respect to snakes, very few are poisonous, but some, like the black mamba, are venomous.

The question, and answer, were found on Britannica School, a digital resource is a three-part multi-subject encyclopedia with portals for elementary, middle, and high school students. I was browsing through the high school portal for this question.  The resource can be found on LAPL’s Research & Homework page under B and access it with your library card.

Red, White & Royal Blue

In Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue we meet Alex whose mother is President of the United States in a world with no Trump.  Alex has always hated the English Prince Henry (the English royal family is also different in this world).  A photo of the two of them up in apparent arms forces a publicity damage control “friendship” that soon grows into a real friendship and then something more.  The two struggle with their relationship against a backdrop of one’s mother’s re-election campaign and the other’s family’s insistence on maintaining the correct image.

All in all this is a sweet, easy-to-read romance with engaging characters.  I would recommend it to any lover of romance.

Programming Coming up This Week

First… the Winter Reading Challenge kicks off this week. Sign up online at: https://www.lapl.org/winter or swing by the branch and let us sign you up.  Complete assorted tasks and earn a chance to win cool prizes. Then check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
11:00 Baby & Toddler Storytime (Register: http://tinyurl.com/EdendaleStorytime)
7:00 Pajama Storytime (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 A Conversation with Jean-Pierre Isbouts author of The Ultimate Visual History of the World (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Wednesday
11:00 Virtual Toddler Storytime (email shrmno@lapl.org for link)
6:00 Zentangle with Us (In person at Arroyo Seco)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 LA Made Tamale Making Workshop With Two Mamacitas Pop Up Kitchen (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
10:00 Yoga & Meditation With Master John (email dmatthews@lapl.org for link)
4:00 Your Author Series: Lyn Risling (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Saturday
2:00 Docent Tour of Central Library Virtual (email docents@lapl.org for link)
 
Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

Winter Reading Challenge

 The Enchantment of Books

This year’s Winter Reading Challenge runs from December 6 through January 8.  It is an activity based, challenge.  Sign yourself up online or swing by the library and have us sign you up.  You can track your progress using the online Beanstack app or an offline paper game board.

Completion of five tasks earns entrance into the prize drawings.  Drawing winners win a prize from the Library Store.

Visit https://lapl.org/winter to pre-register for the program now and begin the challenge on the 6th 

Make plans to enroll your entire family and see who is first among you to complete the challenge!

Highland Park History

 

Check out the article “Heads Up in Highland Park” by Eddie Rivera for the news that Highland Park had been awarded Targeted Neighborhood Initiative funds in 1998. Learn what that project was, how the money was going to be spent, and the interesting provided historical background of Highland Park in this piece.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question…

 This time let’s ask what is the difference between venomous and poisonous?

The Arroyo Book Club December Book

 

This year the Arroyo Book Club will continue our tradition of reading one of the Bard’s plays for our December meeting.  This time around we will be reading Twelfth Night.  Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s romantic comedies.  It is centered around twins Viola and Sebastian and some serious mistaken identity complicating their respective loves.

We have plenty of copies of the “No Fear” edition of the play here at the library if you’d like to swing by for a physical edition.  The No Fear edition is the one that has the current English on one side and the original text on the other. If you prefer an e-version you can find it via overdrive/libby here.  

If you would like to watch Twelfth Night performed you can find two options on the Kanopy platform.  The first is Trevor Nunn’s 1996 version (https://lapl.kanopy.com/video/twelfth-night-0).  The second is from a 1980 BBC series noted for their fidelity to the text (https://lapl.kanopy.com/video/twelfth-night)

Finally…. A reminder that this year our December book club meeting will fall on the third Saturday of the month, specifically, we will be meeting on 12/18 at 3:00 to share our thoughts.  Email ayosco@lapl.org if you are interested in attending and we’ll add you to the program link list.

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
12:00 Monday Meditation with Don Cadora (email eden@lapl.org for link)
3:00 Teen Book Bites: Native American Heritage (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 Effective Interview Skills for Teens (email cpalacios@lapl.org for link)

Wednesday
11:00 Virtual Toddler Storytime (email shrmno@lapl.org for link)
3:00 Dive into Language: Vietnamese for Kids (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 Shrinky Dink Fun (In person at Arroyo Seco)

Friday
10:00 Yoga & Meditation With Master John (email dmatthews@lapl.org for link)
4:00 Your Author Series: Adrianna Cuevas (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Saturday
10:00 Western Edge Writers (email shannah@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

Highland Park History

 

Explore local Heritage Square Museum with the help of “Heritage Square Facts & Photos”.  This 1982 document provides a basic overview of the buildings on site at that time.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question (Answer)….

 

This time we asked what were some of the things Harriet Tubman was noted for?  There are, of course, many answers.  According to Mr. Gerry W. Hazleton, who was seated on the War-Claims committee... 

“her services in the various capacities of nurse, scout, and spy were of great service and value to the Government, for which no compensation was paid her beside the support she was furnished…”  

He goes on to recommend she be paid $2,000 for her services to the Union Army. 

This information was obtained by reading some of the scanned images of original archival material about Harriet Tubman.  This information can be found in Black Freedom Struggle, an online resource that focuses on  African American U.S. history, featuring historical newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, and correspondence.  Find the resource on LAPL’s Research & Homework page under B.

Craftsy

Are you a crafter? Do you like the feel of yarn pulling across your fingers? Or the sensation of a stick of charcoal on hand with a blank page before you? Perhaps you enjoy presenting a lavishly decorated cake to your family? Then Craftsy is here for you.  Whether you’re an old hand at knitting, baking, drawing, or you’d like to get started Craftsy has the video help for you.  What is Craftsy? Craftsy is an online resource for all creative makers that includes over 3,000 hours of diverse video instruction. 

This resource is available via Libby (your ebook app).  It is found in the Libby Extras section and each check out gives you access to the content for 7 days.  Craftsy is free and easy to use.  

Zentangle Mania…

 

Zentangle® is "mindful doodling". It is meant to provide you with the opportunity to relax and de-stress while at the same time creating lovely looking artwork. Books that discuss the topic include:

• Totally Tangled by Sandy Steen Bartholomew 
• One Zentangle a Day by,Beckah Krahula 
• Pattern Play by Cris Letourneau 

Check out the book covers for an idea about how pretty zentangle can be then plan to join us on December 8 at 6:00 to learn how and to make a piece or two of your own.  

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
11:00 Baby & Toddler Storytime (Register http://tinyurl.com/EdendaleStorytime)
4:00 Laughter Yoga (email eaaronson@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 Teen’Scape Tea Time Tuesdays (email teens@lapl.org for link)

Wednesday
9:30 Storytime & Crafts with Shokoufeh (email smoghtassed@lapl.org for link)
3:00 Dive into Language: Mandarin Chinese for Kids (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
 
Thursday & Friday
Closed for Thanksgiving

Saturday
3:00 Arroyo Book Club discusses Animal Farm by Orwell (email ayosco@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

NELA Holiday Parade Returns!

The Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade will march down Figueroa Street from about where the library lives (York Blvd) to Sycamore Park on Sunday, December 5th.   The library will be participating and we invite you (& your family & friends) to join us.  Those daring souls who wish to join us in costume should feel free to go all out.  We will meet up in the Library parking lot on 12/5 at 12:15 before moving to the parade staging ground.

Please get in touch if you plan to join us so we can know to expect you.  Call us at 323-255-0537, email us at ayosco@lapl.org or drop by and sign up in person.  The more the merrier so pass along word of the event to everyone you know who might be interested.

Highland Park History

 

The article “Masonic Temple Restoration” by Richard Tuber, published 1/10/85, describes a Highland Park preservation project. The article includes interesting sides details about Highland Park itself, architectural information about the building in question, and the (sometimes curious) views of the developer.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question…

 This time let’s ask what were some of the things Harriet Tubman was noted for?

The Arroyo Book Club Movie…

 

The Arroyo Book Club’s November Pick is Animal Farm by George Orwell.  If you’re interested in checking out a movie version of the title there is one available via Hoopla here.  This version is brought to life by the vocal talents of an all-star cast and an array of magical special effects by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.  The cast includes Kelsey Grammer, Ian Holm, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Pete Postlethwaite, and Patrick Stewart and the film is directed by John Stephenson.

Read the book, check out the film, and join us in discussion on Zoom on Saturday, November 27 at 3:00. Email ayosco@lapl.org if you would like the program link.

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
2:00 NoHo Art From Home: Book Page Pumpkins (email edimapasok@lapl.org for link)
6:00 Creative Writing Workshop with Tony DuShane (email mpanzera@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 Teen’Scape Tea Time Tuesdays (email teens@lapl.org for link)

Wednesday
10:30 Thankful Storytime (email venice@lapl.org for link)
4:00 Shrinky-Dinks Fun (in person at Arroyo Seco)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 LA Made: Rethinking Wines - A Culture of Flavor and Feel (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
10:00 Yoga & Meditation With Master John (email dmatthews@lapl.org for link)
4:00 Your Author Series: Brandy Colbert (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Saturday
11:00 Genealogy Garage: Pre-WWI Military Records at NARA (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

Highland Park History….

 

This article from 2/26/1986 discusses the early days of Franklin High School and includes (a very blurry) picture of the old building.   Learn that in 1922 the Drill team and the Band both placed first in the all city contest among other facts.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question (Answer)….

 

This time the question was what California bird is among the largest flying birds in the world? The answer is the California Condor.  Adults weigh approximately 19.8 lbs (9 kg) and have a wingspan up to 9.1 ft (2.75 m).  This is a bird I remember seeing in the wild as a child on my grandparents farm in Fillmore.  

Then and now the bird is endangered.  Find out all about it in the article about it in Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America. This series is available in ebook from with your library card.  Access it under B on LAPL’s Research & Homework page 

Shrinky-Dinks

 

Have some fun with shrink-dinks! Create a lovely design, shrink it, and then use it as a zipper pull, a magnet, a pendant, or whatever your heart desires. Join us on Wednesday November 17 at 4:00 and set your creative juices flowing.

Everyone is welcome so bring the whole family.

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Sunday
3:00 Scrabble at the Library (in person program)

Monday
3:30 Basic Chinese Class (email phe@lapl.org for link)
6:00 La actividad política de las mujeres salvadoreñas del siglo XX (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Tuesday
11:30 Yoga for Well Being with Shaina (email jjones@lapl.org for link)
6:00 Expressions LA Virtual Poetry Readings and Open Mic (email eaaronson@lapl.org)

Wednesday
9:30 Storytime & Crafts with Shokoufeh (email smoghtassed@lapl.org for link)
4:00 Container Gardening with Master Gardener - Yvonne Savio (email wbermeo@lapl.org for link)
 
Thursday
Library Closed for Veterans’ Day

Friday
11:00 Introduction to Meditation (email wvally@lapl.org for link)

Saturday
11:00 Reducing Stress This Holiday Season - Meditation With Doug Frankel (email mschatkun@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

Computer Aide

Do you need help with the computer, with your phone, with another technical device? Whether it is using a device that’s new to you or figuring out the idiosyncrasies of an app or piece of software our Computer Aide can help. She can even help you navigate cumbersome websites to accomplish your tasks.

Our Computer Aide is available to lend a hand Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Swing by to meet her and bring your technical problems along.

History of Highland Park

 

Explore Highland Park hillside homes with the help of this Highland Park Heritage Trust brochure from 2000.  Line maps of the different neighborhoods, brief area descriptions, and photos and house description of selected homes included. Use it for a virtual tour and then plan yourself a walk.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question…

 This time the question is what California bird is among the largest flying birds in the world?

Game Day

 

(of the non-electronic variety)

If you’re in the mood for some good old fashioned scrabble make plans to join us on Sunday, November 7 at 3:00.  We welcome all comers --- even complete novices.  

This will be friendly, though there will (of course) be one winner.  Will that be you?  See you there.

…by the way if you have a scrabble game board bring it along…

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
10:30 Preschool Storytime on Zoom (register: https://forms.gle/fsR7oNUYLJHaz8hX6)
3:30 Basic Chinese Class (email phe@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
11:30 Yoga for Well Being with Shaina (email jjones@lapl.org for link)
5:00 Creative Writing Workshop With Writer Sesshu Foster (register: https://bit.ly/edenwriting)

Wednesday
11:00 Virtual Toddler Storytime (email shrmno@lapl.org for link)
8:00 Mario Kart After Dark (email kgilliland@lapl.org  for link)
 
Thursday
1:00 Free Legal Clinic (email prncho@lapl.org to sign up)
4:00 LA Made: Danny Trejo in Conversation With Donal Logue (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
3:00 Storytime & Sing-Along (email durant@lapl.org for link)
4:00 Your Author Series: Lilliam Rivera (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Saturday
10:00 Western Edge Writers (email shannah@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

History of Highland Park…

 The library phone number starts with 323.  This area code came to Highland Park in 1998.  Read this short little article, “The 411 on the 213”, by Tom Bratter to learn all about area codes in Los Angeles.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question (Answer)….

 

This time the question was what endangered California mammal is among the smallest that hibernate? The answer… the Pacific Pocket Mouse.  There are three historic localities for the subspecies in Los Angeles County—Marina del Rey/El Segundo, Wilmington, and Clifton—but there are no records of the Pacific pocket mice in the county since 1938. It apparently still survives in Dana Point and the Camp Pendleton areas (at least as of the late 90s).  

Find out more interesting facts about this small mouse in the article about it in Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America. This series is available in ebook from with your library card.  Access it under B on LAPL’s Research & Homework page.

The Arroyo Book Club’s November Pick

The Arroyo Book Club’s November Book Club book is Animal Farm by George Orwell. The ebook description is quite succinct:

The most famous by far of all twentieth-century political allegories, Animal Farm is the account of a group of barnyard animals who revolt against their vicious human master, only to submit to a tyranny erected by their own kind, can fairly be said to have become a universal drama. Orwell is one of the very few modern satirists comparable to Jonathan Swift in power, artistry, and moral authority; in animal farm his spare prose and the logic of his dark comedy brilliantly highlight his stark message. Taking as his starting point the betrayed promise of the Russian Revolution, Orwell lays out a vision that, in its bitter wisdom, gives us the clearest understanding we possess of the possible consequences of our social and political acts.

We will meet to discuss the book via Zoom on Saturday, November 27 at 3:00. Email ayosco@lapl.org if you would like the program link.

Stop by the branch for a copy of the book or access it via Hoopla here: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/14477046

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
4:00 Laugher Yoga (email eaaronson@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
6:00 Life Stories Open Mic (email wwood@lapl.org for link)
6:00 A Conversation With Author Cecilia Brainard: Selected Short Stories (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Wednesday
3:00 Dive into Language: Korean for Kids (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 Dia De Los Muertos - Face Painting Workshop (email wbermeo@lapl.org for link)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 LA Made: Life on a String (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
10:00 Walk Highland Park (meet in branch lobby)
4:00 Edendale Up Close Concerts Presents Kirstin Fife (email eden@lapl.org for link)

Saturday
3:30 Film Club Discussion of Four Weddings & a Funeral (email grnhls@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

History of Highland Park…

 Did you know it was the presence of a saloon in Sycamore Park that inspired citizenry to petition for Highland Park to join LA? Read the article Sycamore Grove attracts thousands annually by Fred Allen to learn this story and others about our lovely local park.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question…

 This time the question is what endangered California mammal is among the smallest that hibernate?

Middle Game

 In Middle Game by Seanan McGuire we meet Roger and Dodger.  The product of an alchemist’s experiment they are the embodiment of human knowledge and the key to unlocking the Impossible City and gaining god like powers.  We follow Roger and Dodger from their childhoods as they entangled, gradually begin to realize things are not as they seem, and eventually begin playing with time as they strive to find a path to a future that is acceptable to them.

The book has an interesting plot line that can be quite grim.  While I didn’t love it I also didn’t stop reading it which is, if nothing else, a measure of acceptability.  I would recommend it to readers who enjoy fantasy that takes a 90 degree turn from recognizable reality without leaving recognizable reality.

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
11:00 Italian Conversation Group (email language@lapl.org for link)
4:00 Laugher Yoga (email eaaronson@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
1:00 Alzheimer's Los Angeles: Keeping Your Brain Healthy (email nohlwd@lapl.org for link)

Wednesday
4:00 In Conversation With Author Molly Wizenberg (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
6:00 Edendale Film Discussion: The Alchemist Cookbook (email eden@lapl.org for link)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 LA Made: An Afternoon with TC Boyle (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
11:00 Introduction to Mediation (email wvally@lapl.org for link)
4:00 Your Author Series: Lilliam Rivera (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Saturday
3:00 Arroyo Book Club discusses Killers of the Flower Moon by Grann (email ayosco@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:   
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

History of Highland Park(ish)….

 

Curious about the Mount Washington Railway? Here (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520302.pdf) we have an article that describes the short life of the inclined railway that ran from Ave 43 & Marmion up the hill to the Mt. Washington Hotel.  The article was published in 1974 and was written by Roger Swanson.  Photographs are included.  

Messenger Clerk Job Opening at the Branch

Are you interested in a part-time job with the Library?  The Arroyo Seco Branch is currently accepting applications for the position of Messenger Clerk.  A messenger clerk is responsible for a number of tasks that include searching the shelves for books or other items requested by patrons and delivering materials to the public desk, shelving books and other items, keeping shelves and library public spaces neat and orderly, assisting patrons with computer access, preparing deliveries, emptying book drops, setting up rooms for programs, and other duties as assigned.

This entry-level, civil-service exempt, position pays $16.54 per hour.  You must be available to work any hours between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm, including weekends.

Application includes a performance exercise which must be passed before you can move on to an interview.

Stop by the branch if you have questions, need more details, or would like to apply.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question (Answer)….

This time the question is who was Ellen Taaffe Zwilich? Ellen Taaffe Zwilich is a highly regarded American composer who received the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1983 for her Symphony No. 1 (Three Movements for Orchestra). Her style of composition is lyrical, well-constructed, and appealing, combining modern tonal language with older compositional devices.

Check out her music using the libraries streaming musical service Freegal.

Find out this and other interesting information about the composer in the article about her in the Encyclopedia of World Biography.  The Encyclopedia of World Biography is a Gale Virtual Reference e-Book. It includes over 7,000 biographies on notables from every part of the world and from all time periods, includes photos, 23 volumes.  Find the ebook listed alphabetically under E on LAPL’s Research & Homework page and access it with your library card.

Dreyer’s English

 

Benjamin Dreyer injects quite a lot of personal wit into the topic of English grammar with his Dreyer's English : an utterly correct guide to clarity and style.  Dreyer is a copy editor for Random House and so has years of experience polishing up the written word, correcting grammatical errors, fixing up spelling or suggesting the correct word, tightening up phrases, and weeding out the linguistically illogical.  He shares that experience in this book in an effort to help his readers improve their written English.  He takes a problem per chapter, frequently devolving into a numbered, descriptive list approach but maintains interest in this somewhat dry topic by including his own opinions and anecdotes every step of the way.

I read the book for the sheer fun of reading it and would recommend it to others who enjoy examining language under the hood.  I would also recommend it to those who would like to polish up their own writing.

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
Library Closed in celebration of Indigenous People’s Day

Tuesday
9:00-3:00 COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic (in person at R.L. Stevenson Branch)
12:30 Spanish for Beginners (email language@lapl.org for link)
6:00 Investor Protection (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Wednesday
12:00 Your Savings (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
6:00 Cultures of Ancient Mesoamerica: A Learning Circle (email ayosco@lapl.org for information)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 LA Made: AMA With a NASA Scientist (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
11:00 Introduction to Mediation (email wvally@lapl.org for link)
6:00 Estate Planning - Getting Your Financial House in Order (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Saturday
10:00-2:00 Financial Planning Day: Consult 1-on-1 with a Financial Planner
(Register: https://planningday-oct16.paperform.co/)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

Highland Park History (The First Store)…

 The first store in Highland Park was located on the corner of Ave. 56 & Monte Vista.  Run by J. P. Stocksdale it opened in 1891 and incorporated a Post Office a year later.  Check out this newspaper article (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520321.pdf) from the California Index for a blurry photo of the building.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question…

 This time the question is who is Ellen Taaffe Zwilich?

Take a Brief Survey

The Los Angeles Public Library is currently running a patron survey.  The goal of the survey is to better understand how the library meets patron needs, and how people feel about the library as a welcoming and safe place.  The survey is available online in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korea, Tagalog, and Armenian.  The survey is available to fill out through the month of October.  You will find it here: https://www.lapl.org/survey.  

Feel free to stop by the library if you need help accessing it or filling it out.

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
11:00 Baby/Toddler Storytime on Zoom (Register: http://www.tinyurl.com/EdendaleStorytime)
2:00 Art From Home: Tessellations (email nohlwd@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 Memory Loss & Alzheimer's - Normal Aging vs. Signs of Dementia (email wbermeo@lapl.org for link)

Wednesday
12:00 Get Banked and the Advanced Child Tax Credit (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
6:00 Cultures of Ancient Mesoamerica: A Learning Circle (email ayosco@lapl.org for information)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 LA Made: Film Criticism Beyond the Establishment (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
11:00 Introduction to Mediation (email wvally@lapl.org for link)
4:00 Your Author Series: Duncan Tonatiuh (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Saturday
10:00-4:30 COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic and Free Dental Screenings (at the Panorama City Branch… This branch is located at 14345 Roscoe Boulevard)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

Financial Planning Day

 

The library, in conjunction with the Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, will once again host a Financial Planning Day.  This day provides you with the unique opportunity to consult, for free, one-on-one with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Bring the questions you have about your own financial situation to your session to get answers tailored to your circumstances.  The consultations will take place via telephone this year.  Appointments can be scheduled between 10:00 and 2:00 on Saturday, October 16.  Register for an appointment here: https://planningday-oct16.paperform.co/

In the week leading up to Financial Planning Day the Library will be hosting 5 financial planning workshops on the library’s YouTube and Facebook pages.  The workshops are scheduled for either 12:00 or 6:00. Find the complete schedule on the registration page as soon as it is finalized.

History of Highland Park

 

The 5/30/74 article, "City in touch with benefactors: Flagpole memorial," provides a recount of the installation of the large Veterans’ Memorial Flag post on the corner of York and Figueroa. Included I was pleased to learn, was the information that the large pine tree living where the pole is now was transplanted to Garvanza Park.  

Bi-weekly Trivia Question (Answer)….

 

This time the question is what was Vladimir Kosma Zworykin know for? Vladimir Zworykin is best known for his pioneering work in the development of television.

Find out this and other interesting information about engineer in the article about him in the Encyclopedia of World Biography.  The Encyclopedia of World Biography is a Gale Virtual Reference e-Book. It includes over 7,000 biographies on notables from every part of the world and from all time periods, includes photos, 23 volumes.  Find the ebook listed alphabetically under E on LAPL’s Research & Homework page and access it with your library card.

The Arroyo Book Club’s October Pick

 

The Arroyo Book Club’s October Book Club book is Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. 

This book has been called "a masterpiece of narrative non-fiction" It is set around an American crime and the birth of the FBI and is a thrilling investigative account of a forgotten moment in history.

We will meet to discuss the book via Zoom on Saturday, October 23 at 3:00. Email ayosco@lapl.org if you would like the program link.

Stop by the branch for a copy of the book or access it via Overdrive/Libby here: https://lapl.overdrive.com/library/available/media/3015073. 

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Monday
11:00 Baby/Toddler Storytime on Zoom (Register: http://www.tinyurl.com/EdendaleStorytime)
4:00 Laughter Yoga (email eaaronson@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
5:00 Walk Highland Park (meet in Library lobby)

Wednesday
4:00 Dive into Language: Japanese for Kids (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
6:00 Cultures of Ancient Mesoamerica: A Learning Circle (email ayosco@lapl.org for information)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 LA Made: Life and Times of Civil Rights Activist Yuri Kochiyama (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
11:00 Introduction to Mediation (email wvally@lapl.org for link)
3:00 Storytime and Sing-Along (email durant@lapl.org for link)

Saturday
10:00 Western Edge Writers (email shannah@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

History of Highland Park

 

Check out this brochure, “The historic homes of Highland Park,” put out by the Highland Park Heritage Trust.  In it you will find a wealth of information about local houses of interest along with cute little line drawings of each. The brochure also includes a quick, informative Highland Park history.  Challenge yourself to read the brochure and set out walking to find each of the houses described.

Bi-weekly Trivia Question…

 This time the question is what is Vladimir Kosma Zworykin know for?

Save Me the Plums

 

Food writer and restaurant critic Ruth Reichl tackles her years as editor and chief of Gourmet in Save Me the Plums.  Reichl has always had an engaging and down to earth way of talking about food and making the mundane events of her life interesting, a talent she makes full use of in this book.  The book begins when she takes on the job, follows her as the magazine turns around, meets the challenge of being in New York on 9/11, and faces new challenges brought on by the recession before finally ending with the publishers decision to close down the magazine.  Along the way Reichl introduces us to the cast of characters who worked for and with Gourmet.  Recipes are included.

All in all an interesting look at a different, food driven, way of life.  I would recommend it.

Walk Highland Park Event

 

We will set out on foot to explore the Highland Park area once again on Tuesday, September 28 at 5:00 p.m. We will meet in the library lobby and decide upon a route that may involve, hills, stairs, or both so be prepared to sweat.  People of all ages are invited so make it a family affair. Dogs are welcome to come too but they will need to wait outside for the walk to begin.  

Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 323-255-0537 if you have any questions. Email is also an option, our email address is ayosco@lapl.org.

Programming Coming up This Week

Check out some of the exciting programming on offer from the library this week.  Visit the online calendar for the complete selection…

Sunday
4:30 LA Made: Phenakite Restaurant and the Art of Menu Creation (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Monday
11:00 Baby/Toddler Storytime on Zoom (Register: http://www.tinyurl.com/EdendaleStorytime)
6:00 Zumba with Cheryl (email vmagaw@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
9:00 - 3:30 Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic (In Person at R.L. Stevenson Branch)
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Wednesday
10:00 Virtual Preschool Storytime (email datmur@lapl.org for link)
6:00 Cultures of Ancient Mesoamerica: A Learning Circle (email ayosco@lapl.org for information)
 
Thursday
10:00 Storytime Online (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)
4:00 LA Made: Dr. Jose Hernandez: Soaring to New Heights (LAPL Facebook/YouTube)

Friday
9:00-12:00 Los Libros Festival events streaming on LAPL Facebook/YouTube. Visit https://www.lapl.org/libros-fest for schedule and additional details

Saturday
10:00-2:30 Los Libros Festival events streaming on LAPL Facebook/YouTube. Visit https://www.lapl.org/libros-fest for schedule and additional details

3:00 Arroyo Book Club discusses This is Happiness (email ayosco@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...

    LAPL platforms:    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

    Arroyo Seco Social Media:    
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl
Twitter: twitter.com/arroyoseco5

History of Highland Park

 

The article “Highland Park boy publishes new book an America’s craftsmen” was written in 1949, quite obviously, on the occasion of the publication of a book by Scott Graham Williamson. The article provides a quick look at Williamson’s life and makes a very noteworthy shout out to the Arroyo Seco Library.