Chapter Ends: Joe Glidden Stepping Down as Friends of the Library President

After serving for 14 years, Joe Glidden is stepping down as president of Friends of the La Mesa Library. As a result, the library bookstore is looking for a new treasurer to start as soon as next month.

John Schmitz will leave the treasurer position to temporarily step in as president for the nonprofit group. Glidden announced he’ll be retiring in April. A vote will later be held for a permanent president.

Schmitz said Friends also needs help with membership and publicity.

“As with any volunteer organization, the more people are willing to help, the less any one individual is required to do,” he said.

Membership runs on a calendar year, though applications from potential joiners are accepted year round. Applications can be found in brochures at the library or the bookstore. The bookstore provides the library financial backing, about $2,000 a month.

Said Schmitz: “Our bookstore continues to do well, which has allowed us to give funds to the at a time when the county of San Diego has made cuts to the overall ... library system budget.”

For more information on positions available and their duties, contact Schmitz directly at 619-460-1744 or at jcschmitz@hotmail.com. For those interested in how donations are being used, check out the bookstore’s latest monthly report.

MURRAY MANOR ROLE MODEL: Third-grade teacher Nancy Michalowski has been named Teacher of the Year at Murray Manor Elementary School in north La Mesa—selected by her peers, says principal Guido Magliato.

“She is just an amazing lady,” he says. “She is such an encourager to me and a great
asset to her teammates.”

She’s celebrated for her “turn off the TV for a week” exercise, where kids who take the pledge write about their experience. A 2004 Diane Bell column told how her own kids grew up without TV—and became high school valedictorians.

“Michalowski represents the highest ideals of teaching,” says a salute on the school website. “She richly deserves the recognition and accolades for her excellence, enthusiasm, and energy. Nancy demonstrates at Murray Manor that high expectations bring high performance. She exemplifies the message at Murray Manor that ‘Good is not our goal; we strive for excellence.’ ”

FUN TO PLAY AT THE Y-M-C-A: The East County YMCA’s summer day camp programs are open for registration, with specialty camps ranging from equestrian to extreme water and land sports. And for campers who prefer things a little lower key, plenty of traditional outdoor programs exist for the choosing, like its zoo and SeaWorld camps, or swimming and arts and crafts.   

“Children and teens have camped at our Y for over 30 years,” said Alicia Branam, the YMCA’s day camp director. “When [here], kids are given new responsibilities and they learn independence.”

The local John A. Davis Family YMCA overlooks La Mesita Park near Parkway Middle School off Dallas Street.

For more information, visit eastcounty.ymca.org or contact Branam 619-462-9622, ext.  2405.