The Capistrano Insider

Capistrano Librarian Announces Movie, Hints at Retirement...

From the coolest Librarian, Teri Garza ...

San Juan Capistrano Library First Friday Film, January 6 at 7 pm  "Last Play at Shea" - (2010)  90 min. documentary that chronicles the last concert/event to play at Shea Stadium headlined by hometown Long Island boy, Billy Joel.  Besides great music, also provides historical footage on American suburban life, Billy Joel's career as well as Met's baseball.   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262986/

Greetings & happy 2012!  Hope you all had a great holiday time.  I am approaching 2012 with a great deal of excitement because it is signaling the start of a new phase in my life.  I recently celebrated a milestone birthday which has put me in a category where retirement is there if I want to take it.  I haven't set the exact date but it will be sooner than later.

 But meanwhile, the First Friday Film program at the San Juan Library is not retiring and with the continued support of the SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ROTARY CLUB, will continue to bring for your entertainment and/or educational pleasures, movies you won't catch at your neighborhood theater plus all the fresh popcorn you can eat in one sitting.  Unlike most of the films I show, I've  already seen this one because I happened to have watched it in the comfort of my own home theater.   I thoroughly enjoyed it & thought it would be perfect for the Friday night crowd.   So come Friday evening at 7 pm, the La Sala Auditorium, just north of the library, will be filled with not only the music of Billy Joel, narration by Long Island's other favorite son Alec Baldwin, but the greatest band of all The Beatles will be seen, and barely heard about all the screaming girls, when they played Shea in 1965.  And since Shea's primary purpose was for baseball, you also get to relive the triumphant '69 World Series & Game 6 of the '86 Series.  There's just something for everyone!  And unlike last month's film, I don't think there will be any tears shed because no one dies in the end. 

Well, I've already spent too much time composing this reminder and I didn't even have time for "shop talk".  Suffice to say, while I like the extended shopping hours that the holiday time brings and additional coupons my favorite retailers put out, I resent the crowded parking lots & amateur shoppers messing up my clearance racks.  My holiday shopping mantra is get in early & get out by noon.  I also take advantage of the lax return policy in cases where I've misplaced my receipt.  It's also the only time I venture outside of the "ladies & shoe departments" to do my gift buying for my "loved ones".  Shopping for oneself eliminates the problem of "will they like it" or "will it fit". 

Another reminder that "An Evening at the Academy Awards" with my favorite Hollywood Couple, Robert Kline & Stephanie Heredia is returning bigger & better Friday February 24.  By bigger and better, as my final Oscar night as the "hardest working librarian in show business", we're upping the ticket price but expanding the snack bar to include dinner, beverages beyond water, and the opportunity to win a big flat screen TV.  It will be $20 well spent and tax deductible since it will go toward the latest Friends of the Library project MTB ( Move The Bookstore!). 

For you cartoon lovers, the Saturday film for the kids the next day, January 7, will be "Kung Fu Panda 2" at 11 am.  You come at your own risk because there's going to be a room full of noisy kids who, if we didn't close the snack bar down half way through the movie, would consume 1/2 of the 50 lb. bag of popcorn that I go out & buy every other month.  For more information or shopping tips, just reply back to [email protected] or call 949-248-5132 where you can leave a message.

Teri Garza, Librarian and soon to be full time "Buyologist"
                        www.ocpl.org     

                        San Juan Capistrano Regional Library

                                 31495 El Camino Real

                          San Juan Capistrano,  CA  92675

                                       949-493-4984

Friday's Library Film: "Waiting for Superman"

For those of you not aquainted with SJC Librarian Teri Garza, let's just say she'll challenge your idea of librarians. Here's an email she blasted out -- I'm posting here because the 2010 Waiting for Superman, of course, took a look at the public education system by following several students.

The Capistrano Library is across from the Mission, and I'd recommend the movie showing to anyone interested in education. A good evening out.

Here's Garza's announcement: 

Friday, June 3 at 7 pm   "Waiting for Superman", 2010  Documentary film which analyzes the failures of the American public education system.  Winner of the Audience Award for best documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1566648/  Rated PG - 102 mins.    $2 donation or free to Friends of the Library and SJC Rotarians (you know who you are). 

This film program is made possible by the generous donation of the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club!

Greetings Film Fans,
   I'd planned to send this out yesterday, May 31 but I got waylaid and now it's June 1.  That's OK because I'm sitting here in my office and The Talk show on CBS just came on and one of their guests is the director of this Friday's film.   If you've not heard of it, go up and click the link from the Internet Movie Database and you can decide if it's worth 102 mins. of your valuable time.  The filmmaker who brought us Al Gore in "An Inconvenient Truth", decided to shine a light on the public education system as he observed it .  The idea came to him as he'd be driving his own kids across town to their private schools.   It's just out on DVD and there is quite a number of requests of people wanting to see this film.  For a mere $2., (or for free if you're up to date in your Friends membership), you can avoid that wait while munching on freshly popped popcorn.  As usual, show starts at 7 pm in the La Sala Auditorium, right next to the library. 

    The kids film, which we'll be showing Saturday morning at 11 am is "Gnomeo & Juliet", an animated film with a soundtrack by Sir Elton John.  Based on William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, it will be my way of getting in the mood for my upcoming review of Capistrano Shakespeare Festival by the Camino Real Theater.   Watch for those upcoming critiques!  The Saturday  film is free since you get to share the experience with a room full of noisy kids!

    I'd love to go into all the details of the "Night of the Arts", my first and last library gala but I might incriminate myself.  Suffice to say if you were here, you had a great time while also helping the Friends of the Library support the San Juan Library to be able to provide the best library service for all those who venture through our world renown walls to educate their minds, enrich their lives, or just check their Facebook. 

    I'd also love to share my latest endeavors to curb my shopping addiction.  You know you can't get one of my emails without a little "Shop Talk" thrown in.   I was doing so good  because I was working more than usual in getting ready for the gala and attending the various community events that I felt were important to participate in.  They included the Equestrian Coalition's Kentucky Derby event at the Regency Theater, Independence Bank's Grand Opening/Mixer, the musical Sweet Charity at the Camino Real Theater, the Battle of the Mariachi's at the Mission, and Restaurant Week which I thoroughly enjoyed as documented by a write up in the San Juan Capistrano Patch!   I really think I could have made it through the month of May if it hadn't been for the Memorial Day Sale at Sears.  They know my weakness which requires at least an additional 30 % off what is already clearance.   As an experienced "buyologist", I know that there's always a chance that  marked down items might scan less than the tagged price.  Suffice to say, I added 13 new stylish bags to my accessory room, average cost, $8.  So, know that all my friends and female relatives will be getting purses for their birthday/Christmas gift. 

    Just remembered one more bit of information to relate.  We've got a Multicultural Art Series concert coming up June 11.  It's been a few months since our last one and so this will be the first one in the courtyard for 2011.  It will feature Greely Savoy Duo, who are Cajun fiddlers, guaranteed to make you tap your toes and whatever else moves when you've enjoying music.  Showtimes are at 6:30 & 8:30 pm and tickets go for $10 adults & $5 for kids under 12. 

    Well, that's all from me.  If you have any questions or need more information, just reply back, visit www.ocpl.org or call 949-248-5132 and if I don't answer the phone, just leave your name and number.   

Teri Garza, Librarian/SJC Rotary Fan/Buyologist/Bag Lady

Here's the Weekend SJC Library Lineup ...

From the Coolest Librarian, Teri Garza:

San Juan Library First Friday Film March 4, "The Town" 2010 directed and starring Ben Affleck  rated R, La Sala Auditorium, $2 donation at the door.  Bank robbers in Boston.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/ 

I am still feeling the afterglow of a great Oscar night hosted by my Hollywood Producers Robert Kline & Stephanie Heredia.  We had a full house of real movie lovers who got the inside track on all the nominees who lived our their dreams 2 nights later at the KodakTheater.  I also think it was quite predictable, at least the major categories. 

I've just finished calculating the ballots by the Friday night crowd and I'm afraid I've got a tie on my hands.  So I'll be heading back down to Sarducci's to visit Tom and see if he can help me out so I'm not having to draw between the 2 winners.  They haven't heard who they are yet but they both had 10 out of 11 correct, and each missed a different category.  The Best Foreign Film seemed to be the one that was least predictable.  It was the best Open Snack Bar this town had ever seen since the Regency's grand opening last May, with cookies, fresh popcorn & full size candy bars! 

   Sure wish I could have just left the room set up for this coming Friday night but the Pilates class on Tues. & Thurs. might have had a problem with that.  So, I'll be back lugging out the chairs, speakers, projector, tables, etc again this Friday so I'm hoping there's a good number of you, who like myself, didn't see "The Town." 

If they'd have nominated 11 Best Pictures, it would have probably been in there.  Mr. Kline said that the academy is still carrying a grudge with Ben Affleck for his J Lo film Gigli.  His wife Stephanie, mentioned it, along with the comedy Morning Glory as her 2 favorite films from 2010.  Those reasons, plus the fact that the entire month of March in San Juan is all about "the town" and "the birds."    

The Swallow's come back, starting March 19, St. Joseph's Day, when the religious ones soar in and then the pagan ones wait till parade day Sat. March 26 when things are a bit more wild with 100's of horses parading through town.  That type of transporatation or just your own 2 feet, is the only way you'll be able to get around town.  In fact, the library even closes because you can't get near it after 8 am.  And back by popular demand, the SJC Library precision Book Cart Drill Team is returning.  For the past 2 years, we've wheeled our little book carts right through the center of town cross weaving, circling, both clockwise & counterclockwise, yet we are still trophy challenged.  I'm hoping the 3rd time is the charm because with the various cutbacks to our book budget this past year, the drill team participants has also been reduced from 10 to 6.  We're hoping that our precision will be more precise with fewer of us to mess up and we'll break away from the Susan Lucci curse.  I know my parade days are numbered so I'd really like to add a parade trophy to my Shoe Shrine.  It's probably the only day of the year you'll see me in flat shoes. 

    Speaking of shoes, which I frequently do, I'd like to give a shout out to the Sear's associate who "gifted" me with an extra 30% pass a few weeks ago.  I'm can't remember if I regaled already that particular shopping expedition that had me leaving the store with 13 boxes of footwear.  Suffice to say, I did end up returning at least 3 pairs once the euphoria had worn off.  But even my own mother, when I shared my "booty" where I paid $7  & $10 for footwear which retailed for up to $89 had to admit they "were keepers".  So perhaps this Friday night, I'll be rocking in a pair of my new boots or I might even wear my newly earned "Golden Oscar" shoes that Stephanie Heredia presented to me last Friday night.  I guarantee you will not find any other librarian with a jazzier collection of shoes.  I know I'd for sure win just for quantity!  Well, that's this week's reminder.  I've got a busy social calendar that I've got  to get started planning the appropriate wardrobe beyond Friday night's movie. 

New melodrama to review at the Playhouse, Mayor's State of the City dinner, Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday,  El Presidente Ball, Parade Day, & next Multicultural Concert March 26 (another double header) with Gerry O'Bierne & Rosie Shipley.  And before I forget a quick shout out to my favorite service club in the whole wide world, the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano!   They graciously have chosen to continue their sponsorship of our monthly film program.  I'm sure glad they did because we just printed up a new supply of popcorn bags with their logo.  Thanks again Rotarians! You are the best! 

As usual, I've rambled on way too much and didn't event mention the Sat. film which is "Megaminds" for the kids and any brave adults who don't mind a room full of noisy kids.   It starts promptly at 11 am and is free.  That's all from me.  I now need to go and make my font a little bigger which makes it easier on the eye, yet takes up more space.  Oh well, Steve really appreciates it. 

For more information call 949-248-5132 & leave me a message.

Ciao

Teri Garza, Librarian/Gal About Town (San Juan Capistrano)

Garza: Capistrano Library Reopening -- No More Food!

This from Capistrano's Librarian, Teri Garza:

San Juan Capistrano First Friday Film Dec. 3  at 7 pm  "Winter's Bone"  Best Picture Winner at the Sundance Film Festival, 2010  Rated R,   La Sala Auditorium 

Greetings Film Fans,

Boy am I glad December has finally arrived!  No, it's not because my birthday is this month (hint, my lucky number is 7!)   It's because the library has been closed the entire month of November for its long overdue installation of brand new carpet & paint! I was afraid this day would never come, at least in my lifetime.  But thanks to the Friends of the Library and their dedication and money this wonderful building has returned to the splendor and beauty that it had 27 years ago this Friday when it first opened!  Back then, the place had more shelf space then books but through the years, we've filled those  shelves to their maximum capacity. 

We've also had to do adapt our interior to handle computers, which are a major aspect of any public library.  A recent adaptation was the remodeling of the tower story room into the "tower of power," where we have more than doubled the number of computers available for the kids.  I thought I'd have a chance to take some time off and do what I like to do best, shop, but I ended up working the whole time.   If you've had the pleasure of visiting me in my  office, imagine that everything in it had to be packed up!  That alone would take 1/2 the month.  I did have to fight the urge to just turn in my retirement paperwork since I had everything packed up but then I remembered I'd promised the  staff that I wouldn't leave before Oprah.  So I'm here for at least another year.

 I'm afraid the Artist's Receptions will have to no longer include refreshments.  Spills on old crummy carpet were no problem but now, I'm not letting any stains happen on my watch.  And no more trying to cover up nicks in the paint or dents in the walls with unnecessary posters or signage because there aren't any!.  To quote Madonna, we're "Like a Virgin", touched for the very first time.    I think the paint fumes have finally got to me.  

We are two hours away from opening our doors again and I would say that anything that could have gone wrong in the last 24 hours has.  I could go into detail but it's not a pretty or amusing story so I won't.  I definitely look forward to getting back to being the hardest working librarian in show business.  And so I'm hoping some of you will be joining me this Friday night at 7 p.m., where I will be showing a "riveting thriller" and a film that Roger Ebert called "one of the year's best films,"  "Winter's Bone".  When it was first released and I read the review and thought it would be just right for my Film Fans.  And so when I checked the latest list of recent releases that my movie license included there it was!  Here's the link to read about it and help you decide if you will be joining me for the last one of the year.

The Saturday kids film is a good one too, "Toy Story 3" and shows at 11 am, Saturday Dec. 4.  That blue link just reminded me that I need to plug my favorite service club, San Juan Capistrano Rotary, whose generous donation helped cover the costs of not only the free popcorn and water I serve but the cost of the films themselves.  All the fillms we show eventually are cataloged and become a permanent part of our collection. 

Well, that's all from me because I need to go empty trash, vacuum, & stock bathrooms.   The latest crisis I met with this morning  was that the janitor service wasn't notified that they needed to clean us last night! Oh well,  I guess that's why I get the big bucks! So if I don't see you Friday, have a great holiday and I hope to see you next year!

For me information, call 949-248-5132 and hopefully I remembered to update my message machine.

Teri

Hawaiian Entertainment at the Capistrano Library Friday

 From our cool Librarian, Teri Garza

 

"Na Kamalei: the Men of Hula"  7 pm   56 mins.  2006 Documentary. 

Film followed by a live Kahiko Hula dancing performance by the "Na Mele O Ke Kai" dance troupe.

 

San Juan Capistrano Regional Library, La Sala Auditorium  

$2 donation at door. Free popcorn

 

Aloha Film Fans,

    I'm warning you right now, this is going to be a long one!  I’ve just got too much  happening in my life at the moment.  This coming Saturday I will not only be attending my 40th high school reunion but I’m half of the 2 person committee. I swore to myself after the 30th reunion, which I also put on, that I wasn’t going to do it again. But it’s like childbirth.  One forgets all the pain & suffering and voila!  The next baby is on the way.  There was an attempt to turn it into a picnic but I’m sorry when you’ve reach 40 years of living beyond high school, if you want to present yourself in the best possible light, it needs to be artificial and not in the bright sun light of a hot August day.  And should you need a little support and lift to put your best foot/body forward, “Spanx” aren’t made for lounging at the park.  So I bit the bullet and this Saturday night, the St. Paul High School, in Santa Fe Springs, Class of 1970 will be gathering at an OC hotel that will remain nameless at this time.  That is because at the last minute, like last week, they informed me that the room we had booked wasn’t going to be useable since it was being remodeled.   Silly me assumed when you sign a contract to book an event at a hotel in a certain room, that’s what you’d be getting.   Seems the wallpaper hasn’t arrived from China and the floor is gone.   If I didn’t like the situation, well I could have my money back.  Never mind that 100 + people would need to be notified of the change or that there were 25 + rooms booked at that hotel for Saturday night.  Well, my co-committee person happens to be a bit more tenacious than myself so she told them they’d need to work something out for us that would let us still have our reunion at “the Hills”.  Oops, it slipped out.  Well, I left those negotiations to her and I did what I always do when I get a bit stressed,  and went shopping where I found not 1, not 2 but 3 cute pairs of silver shoes.  Yes, I purchased all 3 because they their total cost was under $20.  

 

I’m hoping that in my next reminder, I’ll be sharing how great everything was and that yes, I was cuter than that girl who thought she could steal my boyfriend.  Oh, to be 17 again and have those types of problems be all you had to worry about.  Enough about my stroll down memory lane and back to this Friday’s Film which coincidently, was selected because of the reunion.  Seems one of my classmates happens to be the director of a Polynesian dance troupe up in San Luis Obispo. She’s down here this weekend for the reunion, and don’t ask me why but she must travel with hula dancers and they were looking for a place to perform.  How fortunate for her that I just happen to have at my disposal, a lovely venue and would have an audience for such a performance. She told me about this film, Hula Men which could be screened first and then we’d “bring on the dancers”!   In my entire librarian career I’ve never had a Hawaiian theme event so I figured this would probably be my last opportunity to wear my coconut shell top at the library.   So, that’s what I have planned for your viewing pleasure this Friday night at 7 pm.   Movie first, dancers 2nd.   If all that wasn’t enough to worry about this weekend, my favorite Rotary Club in the entire world, the San Juan Capistrano Rotarians are holding their annual Ridge Walk/Run/Bike event this Saturday morning.   I mistakenly shared with them my talent as a “spiral balloon arch artiste” and how can you have a big event like that without a big spiral arch to mark the Start & Finish?  So this former balloon lady for “Mark & Brian” will give up a couple hours of vital beauty sleep Saturday morning to mark the Ridge Walk with Rotarian blue & yellow colors.   I might be a little out of practice but that’s the least I can do for the SJC Rotary Club  who have lent their sponsorship & funds to help finance our monthly film program. 

 

I’d like to think that once Sat. night is over it things would calm down but that’s not the case at all. October might mean Halloween to you but for me and the last 6 years it’s become getting ready for Day of the Dead.  It is a wonderful event where the library plays host to artwork, altars, music dancing, food and all the things that make up this celebration of life and those who have left it.  It will be Sunday Oct. 24.  This year’s is better than ever because I’ve decided that I’d add something new.  This year we are privileged to have the entire House of Skeleton exhibit that will be displayed 2 weeks later at the Bower’s Museum for our Sunday event.  Well, why not use it as a centerpiece for a fundraiser for the Friends of the Library?  I bet there are adult people who’d love to come down on Saturday night when there wouldn’t be 100’s of little kids with skeleton painted faces running around and all the extra commotion.  

 

I’m just now working out the details and will be sending out an email invite so mark your calendar for Saturday Oct. 23, library, “Evening of the Dead”, details to follow. 

 

Well, that’s it for now.  I’ve got to get this sent out now or you’ll be reading this after the fact.  If you do have any questions, reply back or call 949-248-5132.  

 

Aloha & hope to see you Friday night.

 

Teri Garza, Librarian/Balloon Artiste/Reunion Organizer