Books

As we approach Christmas, I wanted to recommend three books about our community that I think you will enjoy very much: The first is "Bawdy Balboa" by Judge Robert Gardner . Gardner, the father of Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Gardner, was beloved by many in Newport Beach and wrote a long-time column in the Daily Pilot. This book describes growing up on the Balboa Peninsula during the "Roaring Twenties. " These are great stories that make it clear that the Atlantic City in "Boardwalk Empire" had nothing on Newport.

Cindy Frazier, city editor of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot, the Daily Pilot's sister paper, will read a sample of her writing during the Saturday morning portion of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC. In an email to colleagues this week, Frazier announced that she has been invited to take part in "Dimestories," a three-minute prose reading event, scheduled for 11 a.m. at the festival's Etc. Stage. "The piece, 'Bleeding Hearts,' was voted number one of all the pieces presented during the run up to the festival, so I'm pretty stoked about it," she said in her email.

D o you need some ideas for a kids' party? The Newport Beach Public Library has a great selection of books on parties and celebrations, including many that are just for children. All kinds of fun ideas for party themes, games, and crafts are waiting to be discovered in these books. For the younger set, try "My Party Art Class" written by Nellie Shepherd . This book presents three party themes with invitations, decorations, games, and crafts for young children. Create an underwater party, a garden party, and a magic party.

How do we come together to talk about things that matter to us all? On a foundation of thought-provoking books, California Reads provides a springboard for people in our community to think about and discuss ideas that are critical to life in our state. Searching for Democracy is a yearlong initiative leading up to the presidential elections of 2012 that provides Californians with many different ways to explore how the humanities provide insights and opportunities to converse about the nature, state, and needs of our democracy.

Deirdre Newman Students at Mariners Elementary School are listening while they read -- to books recorded on tape. The tapes are available to students courtesy of a $985 grant from California Federal Bank to Pat McLaughlin, a third-grade teacher at the school. Her grant, titled "Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Listen and Learn," promotes reading fluency as third-grade students listen to read-along books such as "Tacky the Penguin" and "A Picture Book of George Washington."

On the fifth floor of the Chicago Tribune Tower is a square windowless room accessed by a single door. This room is called, with a regrettable lack of imagination, the Book Room. It will not surprise you to learn that it is filled with books. Day after day they arrive in a sharp-cornered cavalcade, books of every shape and size and color, books covering subjects both obvious and startling, both trivial and profound. Fiction and nonfiction. Paperbacks and hardbacks. Good books and so-so books.

As summer winds down, kids are getting ready to go back to school. Whether children are just beginning kindergarten or going into a new grade, books can help address some of their anxieties or highlight the fun and exciting aspects of starting school. Make the Newport Beach Public Library part of the fall season and enjoy these cute picture books with a back to school theme. "Wemberly Worried" by Kevin Henkes : Wemberly, a young mouse, worries about everything. The idea of starting nursery school brings on a whole new list of things to worry about.

Mrs. Fales Book Club, a Newport Beach-based group formed in 2004 for young readers, has made good on a year-old promise to help spread literacy to other children in the community, donating $500 worth of books to kindergarten through third-grade students at Wilson, Whittier and Pomona elementary schools. In 2006, the book club, composed of elementary school-age kids, raised $1,500 to bring children's author Kate Klise to town for a meeting, but she waived her usual speaker's fee, asking the members to "pay it forward" by helping children with fewer resources.

While "Uncle Dave" is away in Iraq, 8-year-old Adam Langevin of Newport Coast is doing all he can to boost the morale of outgoing soldiers and demonstrate his support for the troops, one book at a time. Last April, Adam and his mother, Alisa Langevin, started collecting children's books and donations for the USO's United Through Reading program. A partnership with Family Literacy Foundation, the program provides deploying troops an opportunity to record a DVD of themselves reading a selected book, both of which are then mailed to their families.

If you have been meaning to start some projects around the house, or learn more about even just basic woodworking, the Newport Beach Public Library has many new titles that can help! The library stocks many books on introductory information, orientation to various tools, wood identification, and projects of all kinds. "The New Woodworker Handbook" by Tom Hintz is a good starter book for would-be woodworkers. Hintz discusses workshop safety and organization, tool selection, buying tips, and maintenance, wood selection and finishing, and even basic joints.

Cindy Frazier, city editor of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot, the Daily Pilot's sister paper, will read a sample of her writing during the Saturday morning portion of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC. In an email to colleagues this week, Frazier announced that she has been invited to take part in "Dimestories," a three-minute prose reading event, scheduled for 11 a.m. at the festival's Etc. Stage. "The piece, 'Bleeding Hearts,' was voted number one of all the pieces presented during the run up to the festival, so I'm pretty stoked about it," she said in her email.

Have you ever participated in a book club group, or wished you could form a group? There are so many reasons to join a book club or to start your own. It's an excellent way to enjoy books and challenge your mind. Participating in a book club encourages you to read more, and opens your mind to reading books you might not normally select. It can also provide you with the opportunity to have fun and make new friends! The Newport Beach Public Library can get you started with a book discussion group with our collection of "Book Club in a Bag" kits.

How do we come together to talk about things that matter to us all? On a foundation of thought-provoking books, California Reads provides a springboard for people in our community to think about and discuss ideas that are critical to life in our state. Searching for Democracy is a yearlong initiative leading up to the presidential elections of 2012 that provides Californians with many different ways to explore how the humanities provide insights and opportunities to converse about the nature, state, and needs of our democracy.

Students bedecked themselves in St. Patrick's Day regalia, teachers came in festive attire and parents stayed warm and dry in Adams Elementary School's multipurpose room Friday as it sprinkled outside. The students were in for a surprise, but it wasn't the candy they thought they were getting. Instead the Mesa Verde-area school received a leprechaun's pot of gold in the form of nearly $7,500 for new books. "What that means is [Principal Gabe Del Real] and your fine librarian are going to go to Barnes & Noble and shop till they drop to give you lots of books, so you can read day and night," Charles Mariano, the vice president and manager of City National Bank's Costa Mesa branch told the students during flag deck.

Amid allegations of using public funds for politics, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce has further distanced itself from its Political Action Committee. Chamber President Richard Luehrs said that the two groups have separated, and last week city officials finalized a contract that will allow them to audit the chamber's books. These developments come as city officials prepare to choose which nonprofits will receive annual grants for the next fiscal year. The chamber was awarded nearly $40,000 in public funding this year for its Taste of Newport festival and Christmas Boat Parade.

Superwoman, Spider-Man and Captain America are not your typical characters in a dance number, but that's exactly what Corona del Mar High School's Orchesis dance team is presenting at its upcoming show, "Tales of the Incredible Super Orch: Dancing in a Comic World. " The dancers gave a preview of their comic book themed show Thursday evening at Fashion Island's Atrium Courts in an effort to garner community interest and raise money. They've been hard at work since August - practicing nearly everyday and even reading comic books and working to understand character orgins - to bring the Hulk, Superwoman, Captain America, Catwoman and more to the stage during a 20-piece performance featuring everything from jazz and lyrical numbers to ballet, tap and modern dances.

Last week, the American Library Assn. announced the 2012 book award winners for children and young adult books, including the John Newbery Medal, for outstanding contribution to children's literature; the Randolph Caldecott Medal, recognizing the most distinguished picture book; and the Michael L. Printz Award, for excellence in literature targeted for young adults. "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos won the 2012 John Newbery Medal. Intended for children ages 10 and older, this title is sure to please readers of all ages with the story of a young boy who finds himself spending his entire summer vacation typewriting obituaries.

Those of you reading books electronically will be happy to know that the Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries has given the Orange County Public Libraries $1,000 to purchase more "best-seller" e-books. Costa Mesa's three libraries are branches of the OCPL. The demand for these books has increased dramatically recently, and the Friends are trying to satisfy that need. * Library master plan needed Libraries affect the quality of life in a community. The better the library, the better the quality of life.

During an appearance in late December on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight," Jane Fonda was asked which man from her past she would choose to accompany her to a desert island. Would she select a famous ex-spouse like Ted Turner or Tom Hayden? Or would this be the moment when Fonda spilled the beans about some long-ago liaison with a heretofore unknown beau for whom she still pines? To Morgan's obvious disappointment, Fonda chose: none of the above. "My girlfriends," she replied.