The Magic Door Books remained open following the death of co-owner Dwain Kaiser last July, with his widow, Joann, saying she would operate the store until December in a prolonged liquidation sale.
but the light is still on in the cozy 155w used bookstore. 2nd street in downtown pomona.
You are reading: Magic door iv quality used books
Joann Kaiser told me that she still doesn’t want to give up the store. she still has proceeds from a gofundme campaign to pay her rent for a while, and then there are still over 10,000 used books to dispose of, all at an additional 30 percent discount.
While most of the paperbacks and hardcovers kept in the back storage room were shelved when the space was cleared, a storage unit full of books remains untouched. and among the couple’s personal possessions recently recovered from another storage unit are, naturally, more books.
Kaiser, 69, was shot to death in the apartment the couple shared with a mother and her teenage son. he called the police and was arrested.
kaiser had owned four former bookstores in upland and claremont since the 1960s before taking time off to work as a plumber. But, his wife said, “he wanted one last store,” which became Pomona’s Magic Gate IV in 2005. Much of the stock was books he amassed during his plumbing purgatory.
joann said the store’s expenses are low thanks to the help of friends, but foot traffic has decreased. We were talking on a Sunday afternoon and only one paying customer had been there that day.
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“I need to earn more money from the store. volunteers are not volunteers forever,” said kaiser, 83. “I appreciate the support I’ve received.”
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I suspect the rent money will run out before the book supply, but I applaud her for sticking it out. the world could use more libraries, not less.
We were saying goodbye when a customer walked in. The first-timer said he lives in Fontana and has been working out west to investigate bookstores. “Is it okay if I look around briefly?” he said he.
he seemed to think I worked there, so I told him, “no need to be brief. look around you as long as you want.”
cultural corner
• the 2012 documentary “somm”, about the effort involved in becoming a master sommelier or wine manager, will be screened at 10am. m. February. 10 in the Claremont Public Library Meeting Room, 208 Harvard Ave. It’s part of the Friends of the Library community’s reading on the same page on California wine history “Tangled Vines.” After the screening, the certified sommelier Sal Medina of the Packing House Wine Merchants will answer questions. admission is free.
• Record collectors take note: the twice-yearly kspc-fm cd and record expo takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. m. to 4 p.m. m. feb. 11 at the Smith Campus Center Ballroom, 170 E. 6th street, claremont. more than 25 vendors will sell vinyl records, compact discs, dvds and more. admission is $2.
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• at 3 p.m. m. There will be a lecture on late friends and artists Aldo Casanova and Jim Fuller. feb. 11 at the boone recital hall at scripps college, 231 e. 10th St., Claremont, by art writer Suzanne Muchnic and Fuller’s daughter, Mary Fuller Roberts. Attendance is free. The event, organized by the Claremont Museum of Art, is tied to its exhibit “Kind Natures: Aldo Casanova and James Fuller,” on view through March 25 at 200 W. street 1.
• Organist William Peterson will give a recital at the Memorial Hill Organ at 3 p.m. m. feb. 11 in the bridges music room, 150 e. 4th st., claremont, playing selections by bach and others. admission is free. Peterson, professor of music and organist at Pomona University (he played the inaugural concert on the 3,519-pipe organ in 2002), retires at the end of this semester.
• In a segment of “jimmy kimmel live” on Wednesday, a recipient of deferred action for childhood arrivals and her husband, a conservative prison guard and an American. soldier, she met with six defenders of america first, including highlander robin hvidston. “I don’t think they’ll deport her,” Hvidston said. “I hope you’re right, Robin,” Kimmel replied.
signs of our times
artist richard ankrom’s 2001 stunt where he enhanced a caltrans sign on the 5 freeway in downtown los angeles. is receiving new attention. I didn’t just write about him dec. 27, but abc-7 followed up with a story Jan. 22.
ankrom told reporter rob hayes that he hasn’t stopped. he once installed 59-star flags at various historic sites around the city: the additional stars represent other American stars. territories, apart from afghanistan and iraq, as a protest against the wars there. He added that he won’t take credit for other work he’s done until seven years have passed: “I have to wait for the statute of limitations to expire so I don’t go to jail.”
co-anchor marc brown said, “i like this guy.”
vignette of the valley
during his homily last Sunday on Chino Street. margaret mary catholic church, in a scripture about who you listen to and who you follow, deacon john cruz gave a personal example: every sunday he buys the daily bulletin and turns to my column. he said he likes the people, places and council meetings I write about, one parishioner recounted.
i called cruz to thank him for the rare honor of a pulpit announcement. he said that he has been reading me for years and hoped the reference would connect with some in his audience. Since divine assistance may be all that can save newspapers right now, I can only say: preach it, deacon.
david allen writes sunday, wednesday and friday, a trinity of appearances. email dallen@scng.com, call 909-483-9339, visit insidesocal.com/davidallen, like davidallencolumnist on facebook, follow @davidallen909 on twitter and shop “intro” and “pomona de la a to z”.
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