Coronado Times

Hands-On Film Class with Tony Perri
2025-04-26 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library and Coronado Art Commission invite you to step into the director’s chair for a hands-on film class with award winning producer and director, Tony Perri. In this collaborative class, aspiring filmmakers will work together to create a short film that will be submitted to the Coronado Island Film Festival.
Participants will learn scripting, direction and every aspect of pre-production, production and post-production. The course will also provide opportunities to get together outside of class to apply newfound knowledge into the practical application of on-location filming, directing scenes, how to work a camera, light a scene and record audio. The team will learn the basics of editing and all post production tasks as well as how to distribute and market the final short film and process required for submitting the movie to film festivals.
The course is eight weeks long and participants are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible as the class will be working on a collaborative project.
Classes will cover:
Film Types and Production Overview Through watching different types of short films, the class will decide what kind of movie it will produce. Story ideas will be discussed along with how to script the film, create storyboards and the production logistics needed to make the movie per their script, the storyboards created and the vision of production team.
The Production Team The roles of each of the following positions are explained and each class member will have the opportunity to work at every job and/or focus on specific roles which may interest them.
Scripting, Storyboards, Casting and Pre-Production The team will create a shooting script and storyboards. Through this, they may decide on filming locations, how to cast the movie, production planning as well as the equipment, crew and props needed for the on-location filming.
Directing, Producing and Cinematography How to direct both action and actors is reviewed along with the roles of the producer and cinematographer. Examples of great directing and cinematography are shown.
The Art of Filming, Lighting and Audio Production Scenes which can be filmed at or near the Library will be produced. Participants will learn how to operate different types of cameras, lights and microphones.
Music, Special Effects, Editing and Post Production As we watch various films, the class begins to understand the importance of music and how it fits into the post production process. They learn how to mix music, scenes and special effects in order to create the story they wish to share with the viewers.
Mastering the Film and Distribution Upon completion of post production, the class will discover the art of color-correcting the video, sweetening the sound and preparing the final film for screenings. The team will learn how to distribute the film digitally and submit it to film festivals.

About Tony Perri
Tony Perri began his broadcast and film career at the Walt Disney Company as a producer, director and broadcast journalist. After Disney, Mr. Perri became producer and director at the nationally syndicated TV show, PM Magazine and the long-running local version at KPIX-TV (CBS), Evening Magazine.
Tony went on to form the TV, film and digital media production company, Surf’s Up Studios. His most recent films include the documentary, “School of Thought” with David Lynch, Paul McCartney and John Hagelin. His feature film, “Serotonin Rising” starring the Dalai Lama and Deepak Chopra won the prestigious “Audience Choice Award” at the Estes Park Film Festival. “Serotonin Rising” sold out its world premiere at the Vail Film Festival where it won the audience choice award.
Mr. Perri is an executive producer and director with Surf’s Up Studios, which produces movies, music videos, webisodes, news reels and all forms of social and digital media. Tony also teaches a workshop he developed called “Backpack Journalism” at the University of California at San Diego, Digital Arts Center. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado where he teaches documentary production, TV production, on-air technique and broadcast journalism.

CIFF Student Classic Film: “The Great Escape" (1963)
2025-04-27 13:00 | Winn Room, Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
On Sunday April 27 at 1 pm, the 2025 “War That Shaped Our World” CIFF Student Classic Film Series continues with director John Sturges’ 1963 classic, The Great Escape. Featuring an all-star ensemble cast and a memorably iconic score by Elmer Bernstein, The Great Escape is notable as actor Steve McQueen’s breakout lead role as “cooler king,” Captain Virgil Hilts. It is no coincidence that McQueen later went on to become known by movie insiders as “the King of Cool.”

Director John Sturges’ war thriller is today recognized as a masterpiece of the POW and action genres. It is based on a 1950 book of the same name by Australian Paul Brickhill, who was part of the March 1944 mass escape from the Nazi POW compound, Stalag Luft III. While the film has its critics as a clichéd chronicle of the escape, it stands as a testament to the daring and ingenuity of British and Allied aviators and aircrew who labored for almost a year to devise and execute an audacious plan to flee captivity and tie up Nazi troops trying to track them down. It stands today as a memorial to the 50 POWs executed in the aftermath of the breakout. As Charles Clarke, an RAF Officer shot down and interned at Stalag Luft III succinctly put it, “Without the film, who would remember what a magnificent achievement it was?”
The opening of the film informs the audience, “This is a true story. Although the characters are composites of real men, and time and place have been compressed, every detail of the escape is the way it really happened.” Movie lovers won’t want to miss this opportunity to screen this most enduring of WWII themed action classics.
The screening is FREE and open to the public.
The complete 2025 Student Classic schedule and reservations are available on the CIFF website under the “Year-Round” dropdown tab.

Explore Coronado’s Remarkable Trees on a Guided Walking Tour
2025-04-29 11:00 - 12:00 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
On Tuesday, April 29, from 11 am to 12 pm, join us for an enriching Walking Tree Tour through Library Park and Spreckels Park. This guided walk offers a unique opportunity to discover an incredible collection of trees from around the world—some native to nearby areas like La Jolla and Cabrillo Canyon in Balboa Park, and others from far-off places such as Norfolk Island, Australia, Bangkok, Thailand, and Central Africa.
Leading the tour is John Blocker, a seasoned horticulturist with 31 years of experience at the San Diego County Department of Agriculture. His extensive background includes chairing the Cactus and Succulent Division at the Coronado Flower Show for 18 years, serving as a founding member of the California Garden and Landscape History Society, and contributing horticultural history articles to California Garden magazine for 15 years. As the Historian for the San Diego Floral Association, Mr. Blocker brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to every tour.
Space is limited to 15 participants, register now by visiting coronado.ca.us/civicrec, calling 619-522-7343, or stopping by the Spreckels Center front desk at 1019 Seventh Street. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience brought to you by the John D. Spreckels Center!
Spreckels Park, June 2021. (The Coronado Times)

An Evening with Brad Taylor: NYT Bestselling Author and Former Special Forces Officer Explores 'Into the Gray Zone'
2025-04-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
New York Times bestselling author Brad Taylor will be at the Coronado Library discussing his new book, Into the Gray Zone, with Matt Coyle. A book-signing will follow. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served, subject to availability. Limited preferred seating is available with purchase of Into the Gray Zone through Warwick’s bookstore. Please visit https://www.warwicks.com/taylor-2025-reserved-seat or call the store at 858-454-0347 for more information.

Brad Taylor, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), is a twenty-one-year veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces, including eight years with Delta Force. Taylor retired in 2010 after serving more than two decades and participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has written eighteen New York Times bestsellers and is a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife and two daughters.
About Into the Gray Zone
Pike Logan uncovers a geopolitical scheme that has spiraled out of control in India in this latest pulse-pounding thriller from New York Times bestselling author and former special forces officer Brad Taylor.
While on a routine security assessment in India, Taskforce operator Pike Logan foils an attempted attack on a meeting between the CIA and India’s intelligence service. Both government agencies believe it’s nothing more than a minor terrorist attack, but Pike suspects that something much more sinister is at play. After another terrorist operation at the Taj Mahal, he begins to believe that outside powers are attacking India in the gray zone between peace and war, leveraging terrorist groups for nothing more than economic gain. But the separatists conducting the operations have their own agenda.
After a massive slaughter and kidnapping of hostages during an elaborate Indian pre-wedding party, two global powers are destabilized, and only Pike Logan and his team can de-escalate the tension by rescuing the captives. What follows is a race against the clock that winds through the bustling markets of Old Delhi, the luxurious resorts of Goa, and the epic halls of the Taj Mahal. It will take everything that Logan and the taskforce have to foil an intricate plot that leaves countless lives in the balance.
Matt Coyle is the author of the bestselling Rick Cahill crime series. His books have won the Anthony, Shamus, Lefty, Authors on the Air Book of the Year, and the San Diego Book Awards, among others. He was the 2021 San Diego Writers Festival’s Mystery Writer of the Year. Odyssey’s End was a Lefty Award Finalist. Matt was recently named a 2024 Odin Award-winner from the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. He lives in San Diego and is working on something brand new.

FITT for Life: How to Make Healthy Living Work for You
2025-04-30 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Healthy living doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. If you’ve ever struggled with figuring out what actually matters, staying consistent, or feeling stuck in an all-or-nothing cycle, this interactive session will give you a new approach. Whether your goal is to lose weight, improve health markers, exercise more, eat better, or simply feel better in your body, the FITT framework will help you break through common barriers and build lasting habits. You’ll walk away with clear next steps to make prioritizing your health easier and more effective—without burnout, frustration, or unrealistic expectations.

Esther Avant is an author, speaker, and health industry veteran with over 19 years of experience helping people unlock their full potential by prioritizing their health. Through her bestselling book, To Your Health, podcast by the same name, and her work as a coach, Esther teaches individuals how to use health as the foundation for achieving lasting success in all areas of life—whether it’s losing weight for good, boosting career performance, or fostering personal growth. With a focus on her signature FITT framework and the three Cs of success, she empowers her clients to build sustainable habits that lead not just to better health but greater confidence, success, and happiness.

The Psychology of Weight Loss: Coronado Health Coach Breaks it Down

Star Wars Day
2025-05-01 17:30 - 18:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Calling all Star Wars fans! Come join us in a special Star Wars event where we will be making lightsabers, build out of this world LEGO creations and take pictures with our very special guests…the Imperial Sands Garrison!! Costumes encouraged and all ages are welcome.

Viva Mexico! Explore Rituals, Customs, and Heroes
2025-05-06 13:30 - 14:45 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Viva Mexico! Rituals, Customs, and Heroes is a fascinating presentation that delves into the rich traditions, folklore, and historical events of Mexico’s annual celebrations. From the vibrant commemorations of Mexican Independence in September to the deeply symbolic Día de los Muertos in November, this engaging session will explore the pre-Columbian beliefs that shaped Mexico’s cultural identity and the pivotal moments that led to its independence from Spanish rule.
Leading the presentation is Raquel, a talented designer and art historian with a profound passion for Mexican culture. With 13 years of experience as a docent at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park, she has guided countless visitors through the world of Mexican folk art and traditions. Raquel also curates cultural trips to Mexico, offering travelers a deeper connection to the country’s history, artistry, and customs.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Mexico’s vibrant heritage. To register, visit coronado.ca.us/civicrec, call 619-522-7343, or stop by the John D. Spreckels Center at 1019 Seventh Street.

More Than Concrete and Steel: The Science Behind Bridges
2025-05-10 14:00 | Winn Room, Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Whether you’re fascinated by physics, architecture, or infrastructure, join us to uncover the science and engineering behind building bridges that last.

About the Speaker:
Prior to coming to UC San Diego, Palermo was a professor in structural Engineering at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, which he joined in 2009. He started his career as a Faculty in 2005 as Assistant Professor (tenured) at Politecnico di Milano, Department of Structural Engineering.
Palermo has three patents, over 400 publications in international journals and conference proceedings. Palermo is a member of several associations and is a Fellow of the International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), Engineering New Zealand, the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE). He served as President of the Concrete NZ Learned Society in 2021-2022 and New Zealand Head Delegate of the fib (Federation International du Beton) 2015-2023. Palermo is a passionate teacher and received several awards at the University of Canterbury. In 2021 Palermo was awarded as the “Most Influential International Accelerated Bridge Construction Person of the Year Outside U.S.” in Academia at the 2021 Accelerated Bridge Construction Conference in Miami.

Learn to Design Like a Pro at the “Intro to Canva” Tech Workshop
2025-05-12 14:00 - 15:00 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Ready to unlock your inner designer? Don’t miss the Tech Workshop: Intro to Canva on May 12 from 2 to 3 pm at the John D. Spreckels Center (1019 Seventh Street). This free, hands-on workshop will guide you through the basics of Canva — a user-friendly graphic design tool perfect for creating stunning visuals for social media, presentations, invitations, and flyers.
Whether you’re completely new to design or just want to sharpen your skills, this session will help you build confidence and bring your ideas to life. Bring your device and your creativity — we’ll help you with the rest!
Sign up online at www.coronado.ca.us/civicrec, call 619-522-7343, or stop by the front desk at 1019 Seventh St. for more information.

"Murder of the Jujube Candy Heiress: A Coronado Cold Case" - Virtual Book Talk
2025-05-19 17:00 - 18:00 | CA
One candy heiress, two bullets, and three suspects.
Coronado rarely makes news for violent crime. But in the spring of 1975, World War II widow and retired librarian Ruth Quinn was murdered, execution-style, in her cottage. Her death sent a shock wave through the community. The granddaughter of Jujubes and Jujyfruits creator Henry Heide, Ruth was found fully clothed with her shoes on, in her bed, dead from two gunshot wounds. To this day, her murder has never been solved, but whispers about her brother, her son, and even a local petty thief still swirl.
The Coronado Historical Association is proud to host Coronado author Taylor Baldwin Kiland as she sifts through the dirt for the facts about Ruth’s life and her untimely end fifty years ago. This event will take place virtually over Zoom on May 19 at 5 p.m. Pacific / 8 p.m. Eastern.
RSVP HERE
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Candy, Coronado, and a 50-Year-Old Cold Case

DigArts Extravaganza
2025-05-22 17:00 - 19:30 | Coronado Performing Arts Center, 650 D Avenue, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Roll out the red carpet! The Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) Digital Arts Conservatory will host this year’s awards show, the Digital Arts Extravaganza, on Thursday, May 22 from 5 to 7:30 pm at the Coronado Performing Arts Center at 650 D Avenue. This exciting and interactive show features student work in photography, graphic design, film and animation. Not only are guests treated to amazing works of digital art, but they get to vote for “Viewer’s Choice” in several categories.
This year’s red carpet event features an artist’s reception, galleries for still artwork, and film festivals from animators and filmmakers. There will be live voting for best of show as well as an awards presentation.
“This is our end-of-the-year celebration, and it’s a culminating event where our level four students share their final capstone projects,” said Michelle Evenson, film and design teacher. “Students work for several weeks to create personal legacy projects to showcase at the Extravaganza.”
The event is almost entirely student-produced. The students created all the live voting forms, the gallery cards, and they also emcee the event.
The artist’s reception will open at 5 pm in the theatre lobby and will feature the works of photography, graphic design, and game design students. The film and animation screenings will begin promptly at 5:30 pm in the main theatre and conclude at 7:30 pm.
Get tickets at CoSASanDiego.com or at this link.

AI Agents for Everyone: How to Use Them and Why They Matter
2025-05-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
In this engaging and accessible lecture, we’ll explore the growing world of AI agents—what they are, how they work, and how they’re becoming tools in everyday life. From simplifying personal tasks to transforming workplaces, AI agents are no longer reserved for tech experts. Learn how to interact with these intelligent tools, integrate them into your routine, and understand the societal impact they carry. Whether you’re a curious beginner or looking to stay ahead in a tech-driven world, this session will empower you with the knowledge to make AI work for you.
Sheldon Yu is a PhD Candidate at UC San Diego, advised by Professor Julian McAuley. His research focuses on recommender systems and large language models (LLM).

"Fragments of Change" Public Art Mosaic Unveiling
2025-05-29 17:00 | Coronado High School (CHS), 650 D Avenue, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Coronado High School art students help put the finishing touches on a large-scale mosaic along Sixth Street. The 23 foot tall art piece is titled “Fragments of Change” and represents over ten months of work by CHS students. A public unveiling for the community will take place on Thursday, May 29 at 5pm. L-R: Sarah Alari, Brianna Hoak, Kristin Smith, Sofia Martinez, Edie Alicandri, Skiter Aurelia Chappel (safety consultant), Mia Coronado. Image: CUSD
“Fragments of Change,” a striking new public mosaic designed and created by students at Coronado High School, will be officially unveiled on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 5 pm at 6th Ave and D Street. The community is invited to attend the celebration.

More details:
Coronado’s Newest Public Art Installation Created by High School Students

An Evening with Viet Thanh Nguyen
2025-06-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join the Coronado Public Library as we welcome Pulitzer Prize winner Viet Thanh Nguyen. He’ll discuss his newest title To Save and To Destroy, a moving, personal meditation on otherness and a call for political solidarity, with Lily Hoang. Originally given as a series of Norton lectures, these captivating essays earned a starred review from Library Journal as ‘[a]n essential addition for collections about the process and theory of writing, authors of diverse backgrounds, and particularly the experiences of Asian Americans, immigrants, and refugees in the United States.”
A book-signing will follow. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served, subject to availability. Limited preferred seating is available with purchase of To Save and To Destroy through Warwick’s bookstore. Please visit https://www.warwicks.com/nguyen-2025-reserved-seat or call the store at 858-454-0347 for more information.

About Viet Thanh Nguyen
Viet Thanh Nguyen is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer, Nothing Ever Dies, and, most recently, To Save and to Destroy. A recipient of the MacArthur Foundation and Guggenheim fellowships and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Nguyen is Aerol Arnold Chair of English and Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California.
About To Save and To Destroy
Born in war-ravaged Vietnam, Viet Nguyen arrived in the United States as a child refugee in 1975. The Nguyen family would soon move to San Jose, California, where the author grew up, attending UC Berkeley in the aftermath of the shocking murder of Vincent Chin, which shaped the political sensibilities of a new generation of Asian Americans.
The essays here, delivered originally as the prestigious Norton Lectures, proffer a new answer to a classic literary question: What does the outsider mean to literary writing? Over the course of six captivating and moving chapters, Nguyen explores the idea of being an outsider through lenses that are, by turns, literary, historical, political, and familial.
Each piece moves between writers who influenced Nguyen’s craft and weaves in the haunting story of his late mother’s mental illness. Nguyen unfolds the novels and nonfiction of Herman Melville, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ralph Ellison, William Carlos Williams, and Maxine Hong Kingston, until aesthetic theories give way to pressing concerns raised by war and politics. What is a writer’s responsibility in a time of violence? Should we celebrate fiction that gives voice to the voiceless–or do we confront the forces that render millions voiceless in the first place? What are the burdens and pleasures of the “minor” writer in any society? Unsatisfied with the modest inclusion accorded to “model minorities” such as Asian Americans, Nguyen sets the agenda for a more radical and disquieting solidarity with those whose lives have been devastated by imperialism and forever wars.
About Lily Hoang
Lily Hoang is the author of eight books, including most recently A Knock at the Door (Texas Review Press’s Innovative Prose Series), Underneath (winner of the Red Hen Press Fiction Award), A Bestiary (PEN/USA Non-Fiction Award finalist), and Changing (recipient of a PEN/Open Books Award). She is a Professor of Literature at UC San Diego, where she teaches in their MFA in Writing.

Jet Trails & Tall Tales: Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello Discusses "Through the Yellow Visor"
2025-06-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join the Coronado Public Library for a high-octane evening with Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello, former TOPGUN instructor, combat pilot, and host of the popular Fighter Pilot Podcast, as he shares stories from his gripping memoir, Through the Yellow Visor.
More than just dogfights and flybys, Aiello’s book offers an unfiltered look into the real world of naval aviation — where grit, resilience, and teamwork matter more than ego. From flight school challenges to combat missions over Iraq, his journey reveals the human side of life at Mach speed.
Don’t miss this chance to meet the man behind the mic, hear what it’s really like to land on a moving aircraft carrier, and get a signed copy of the book that podcast fans have been waiting for.

About the Book:
Ride Along with a Real Top Gun and Get His View from the Cockpit
You’ve heard him as host of the Fighter Pilot Podcast. More than 100k listeners have been waiting for this book.
Now ride along. From the cockpit of a Navy jet circling overhead, an aircraft carrier — 1,000 feet long and displacing 98,000 tons — looks no bigger than a child’s toy. No wonder the fighter pilots call it a boat. Try landing on one of these bucking broncos without boltering.
TOPGUN instructor and seasoned naval aviator, E. Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello takes readers on an exhilarating flight from being a wide-eyed eight-year-old peering into a jet’s cockpit at the Point Mugu Airshow to flying one. Not the Hollywood version by any means, Vincent explains his tough, terrifying, and trusted path to flying America’s war planes.
From flying F/A-18 Hornets on missions worldwide, to serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, to teaching the art of air combat at TOPGUN, Jell-O brings you into the adrenaline-fueled world of naval aviation while proving that persistence is a pilot’s most valuable skill.
After retiring from the Navy with more than 3,800 flight hours and 700 carrier landings, Vincent, now an airline pilot, hosts the popular Fighter Pilot Podcast, where he explores the fascinating world of air combat with stimulating revelations about:

The complex, multi-million-dollar aircraft,
The lethal weapons systems they employ, and
The fearless people who protect our country every single day.

This is the personal story of a boy with big dreams who became the man behind the yellow visor.
About the Author:
Commander Aiello is native of California. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles and was commissioned through the Navy ROTC Program in August 1992. Commander Aiello attended Navy pilot training and was awarded the coveted wings of gold in August 1995. Following initial training in the F/A-18 Hornet with VMFAT-101 at MCAS El Toro, Santa Ana, California, Commander Aiello’s first operational assignment was with VFA86 at NAS Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida. During this tour he deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH aboard the aircraft carriers USS GEORGE WASHINGTON and USS JOHN F. KENNEDY.
In 2000, Commander Aiello reported to the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at NAS Fallon, Nevada where he attended the Navy Fighter Weapons School, or TOPGUN, and remained on the staff as an instructor. In 2003 he was assigned to VFA97 in NAS Lemoore, California where he deployed to the Arabian Gulf aboard the carrier USS NIMITZ in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. In 2004 Commander Aiello attended the School of Naval Aviation Safety at the Naval Postgraduate School before reporting to VFA-94 in Lemoore for his department head tour. In 2005 he again deployed aboard NIMITZ to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf in support of OIF.
Commander Aiello reported to the Strike Fighter Weapons School, Pacific at Lemoore in 2006 and remained until 2009 when he was assigned to the staff of Carrier Air Wing FIVE in NAF Atsugi, Japan where he deployed to the Western Pacific aboard GEORGE WASHINGTON. Commander Aiello’s next assignment came in 2010 to the staff of Commander, U.S. THIRD Fleet, San Diego, California where he deployed to Afghanistan as an ‘individual augmentee’ with a Joint Special Operations Command task force in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE. During this assignment Commander Aiello completed a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
In 2013 Commander Aiello returned to NSAWC in Fallon where he served as Program Manager for the Navy’s F-16 adversary fleet. In 2015 Commander Aiello reported to the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest at NAS North Island, California where he served as the F/A-18 Integrated Project Team Military Program Manager and F/A18A-F Hornet and Super Hornet functional check pilot.
Commander Aiello retired from the US Navy in March 2017 following nearly 25 years of faithful and honorable service. He accrued 3,800 total flight hours including 3,200 in all models of the F/A-18 and nearly 200 in the F-16A/B. He has flown more than 70 combat missions over Iraq and performed over 700 carrier-arrested landings. His decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, and numerous personal and unit decorations.
Commander Aiello is married to the former Beth Grimm of Rogers, Arkansas; they reside in Coronado with their three sons: Slater, Anthony, and Dawson.

Lights, Camera… Conspiracy: A.C. Adams discusses "Chasing Shadows"
2025-06-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join the Coronado Public Library and Ollie Media as they welcome author duo A.C. Adams to discuss their debut novel, a gripping tale of mystery, betrayal, and the search for truth. In Chasing Shadows, a young woman’s father disappears without warning and a cryptic message is all he leaves behind. Her quest to find him leads across continents and into a tangle of buried secrets that will shatter everything she believed about her family. The authors, veterans of the entertainment industry with backgrounds in both television and theatre, will discuss their inspirations for the book and more.
Watch the trailer for their book here.
A book signing will follow the talk. This event is free and open to the public to attend. Books will be available for sale.
About Chasing Shadows
When renowned professor Dr. Aidan Ryan vanishes without explanation, he leaves behind a haunting message revealing he has a new life and can never return. His devastated daughter Sofia embarks on a global search to uncover the truth behind her father’s disappearance. What she finds is more shocking than she could have imagined—a web of family secrets and lies that challenges everything she thought she knew.
After clues send her to Italy, Sofia reconnects with her estranged mother Ella who reveals a hidden past of trauma and deceit. When they discover Aidan’s ties to The Brotherhood, an elusive, powerful society that operates in the shadows of world affairs, Sofia and Ella become ensnared in a deadly conspiracy. Trapped in ancient catacombs beneath the Roman countryside, they must confront their mysterious captors and fight for their lives. But as they edge closer to escape, one question remains: Will Aidan choose his family or The Brotherhood?
A.C. Adams is the nom de plume of co-authors Anthony Leigh Adams and Christina Adams. They have written and produced film and television projects for studios including Disney, ABC, CBS, NBC, and OWN. Their production company, Adams Entertainment, is based in La Jolla, California. For more information about Chasing Shadows and A.C. Adams’s other projects, visit adamsentertainment.com.

Free Interactive STEM Show for Families
2025-07-09 12:00 | Nautilus Room, Coronado Community Center, 1845 Strand Way, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Get ready for a science-filled adventure the whole family will love! Join Science Heroes at the Coronado Community Center on Wednesday, July 9 at 12 PM for “Adventure of the Missing Color”—a FREE interactive STEM show packed with exciting experiments and theatrical storytelling.
Kids will be amazed by hands-on science fun exploring chemical reactions, air pressure, and explosive physics! This unique blend of education and entertainment will keep them engaged from start to finish. Happening in the Nautilus Room, this is a can’t-miss event for curious minds of all ages!
For more info, call 619-522-7342.

"Down to the Bone" Caitlin Rother and the McStay Family Murders
2025-07-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us for an evening of true crime and investigative insight as New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother discusses her latest book, Down to the Bone, a riveting deep dive into the San Diego-based McStay family murders. This high-profile case captured national attention—featured on the cover of People magazine and in several TV documentaries—and led to the conviction and death sentence of Joseph McStay’s business associate, Charles “Chase” Merritt.
At this special event thanks to the San Diego Writers Festival, Rother will take the audience behind the scenes of her reporting, unpacking how assumptions, missteps, and courtroom controversy—including claims of confirmation bias and prosecutorial misconduct—shaped the outcome of one this disturbing case.
Books will be available to purchase thanks to Bay Books Coronado. A book signing will follow the event.

ABOUT DOWN TO THE BONE
In her latest work of investigative nonfiction, DOWN TO THE BONE, New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother explores the messy high-profile case of the McStay family murders, which were featured on the cover of People magazine and in several TV documentaries. Rother takes readers step-by-step through the decisions, assumptions, and theories by detectives and prosecutors that ultimately led Joseph McStay’s waterfall builder, Charles “Chase” Merritt, to be sent to death row after a trial marked by accusations of confirmation bias and prosecutorial misconduct.
Joseph McStay was last seen on Feb. 4, 2010, when he had lunch with Charles “Chase” Merritt. Subsequently unable to reach Joseph for days, Merritt urged Joseph’s mother and brother to contact authorities, while Joseph’s other associate, Dan Kavanaugh, called the police himself. Joseph’s brother Michael finally reported the family missing on Feb. 15, but detectives found no blood or sign of a struggle in the house, and no clues to the family’s whereabouts. Soon, Merritt and Kavanaugh were pointing fingers at each other as they fought for control of Joseph’s business. The only thing that key parties in this case could agree on was that this case was about money.
Within months of the family’s remains being discovered, San Bernardino County sheriff’s detectives had focused their investigation on Merritt, despite the lack of forensic evidence tying him to murder at the house or in his truck and belongings. During a six-month trial, the defense illustrated that Kavanaugh, who was never considered a suspect and ducked a subpoena to testify, had the same alleged motive as Merritt.
This book takes a behind-the-scenes look at the flaws in the two sheriff’s investigations and the prosecution’s firm belief that they got the right man, despite contradictions in their timeline and the unanswered questions about when and where this family was killed.
After reviewing voluminous court files, including 1,200 exhibits, hundreds of photos, and thousands of pages of records, Rother was able to paint a comprehensive and compelling portrait of this family’s life at the time they disappeared. In addition to these public records, Rother’s book is based on her own interviews and crucial discovery materials—including witness interviews and investigative reports—that took a dozen years to obtain. This deep research enabled her to disclose new and exclusive case details that have never been released publicly, to describe the eventful journey to trial, and to sensitively portray the lasting impact on Joseph’s and Summer’s families.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 16 books, ranging from true crime to thrillers and memoir. A New York Times-bestselling author and investigative journalist, Rother worked nearly 20 years for daily newspapers. Writing books full-time since 2006, she draws from decades of watchdog reporting on topics from addiction to suicide, mental illness, murder, government, political corruption and the criminal justice system. A popular speaker, she has appeared more than 250 times on TV, radio, and podcasts as a crime expert. A former writing instructor of 10 years, she coaches a limited number of aspiring author clients. In her spare time, she goes ocean swimming, sings and plays keyboards in a jazzy, bluesy trio called In the Lounge.

Explore Weird Moons with NASA Ambassadors
2025-07-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Calling all young astronauts! Join us for a special program with NASA’s Solar System Ambassadors, David Narevsky and Lyford Rome. They will teach us about “weird” moons and other unusual objects in space, both in and outside of our solar system. Activity to follow!

The Battle of Leyte Gulf Lecture
2025-07-16 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us for a compelling presentation on the Battle of Leyte Gulf—the final major fleet operation of World War II and the largest naval battle in history. Spanning over 100,000 square miles and involving nearly 300 ships, this epic conflict resulted in the loss of 26 vessels and more than 400,000 lives.
Discover how this pivotal battle marked the end of the Japanese Navy as an offensive force, featuring four major naval engagements. The climactic final confrontation saw the lightly armed escort carriers of Taffy 2 and Taffy 3 face off against a powerful Japanese fleet led by the world’s largest battleship.
The battle also saw the first organized kamikaze attacks in the Pacific and set the stage for the U.S. liberation of the Philippines—culminating in General Douglas MacArthur’s iconic declaration: “I have returned.”

Wildlife Comes to Coronado: Free Live Animal Show at the Community Center
2025-07-16 12:00 | Nautilus Room, Coronado Community Center, 1845 Strand Way, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us at the Coronado Community Center on Wednesday, July 16 at 12 pm for a free live animal show that’s as educational as it is exciting.

Presented by Zovargo, a wildlife education organization, this event offers a hands-on learning experience where you can meet reptiles, mammals, birds, and more. Perfect for curious minds of all ages, the show takes place in the Nautilus Room and will introduce you to a variety of fascinating animals while teaching about their ecosystems and the importance of conservation. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with nature right in your own community!
For details, call 619-522-7342

College Admissions Essay Workshop
2025-07-17 15:00 - 16:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Five Secrets for WINNING Personal Statement Essays
Want your college essay to stand out in a sea of applicants? Join nationally recognized college admissions and essay expert Ms. G. as she reveals her Top 5 Secrets for crafting unforgettable personal statements. Perfect for students and parents, this free workshop will cover what colleges really want, powerful hooks, essay do’s and don’ts, and real examples that got students into Yale, Brown, Duke, UCLA, and more.
Presented by Ms. Eva Goetze (Ms. G.)
Founder of College Advising Boutique | Strategic College Consultant | Career & Major Specialist
Eva Goetze, known to families as Ms. G., offers elite, personalized college advising for students of all motivation levels—whether driven or still discovering their path. With nearly two decades of experience mentoring teens and over a decade in high-level leadership roles—including former COO and three-time Chief of Staff in FinTech, AI, real estate, and marketing—Ms. G. brings sharp strategy and real-world insight to the college admissions process.
At College Advising Boutique, she combines cutting-edge tools with a deeply personalized approach, guiding families through every stage: major exploration, college list development, essay editing, and application timeline management. Ms. G. stays on the pulse of emerging careers, trending majors, and competitive admissions standards, helping students prepare not just for acceptance—but for long-term success.
Ms. G. is especially known for her essay expertise, having taught English in over four international countries and edited more than 20,000 essays and drafts. Her students’ essays have helped them gain acceptance to top-tier and highly selective schools, including Yale, Brown, Duke, Rice University, Tulane, Michigan State, Claremont McKenna, and all University of California campuses, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego.
Her approach empowers students to find their authentic voice, tell powerful stories, and submit applications that rise to the top.

July Spice It Up, Coronado!
2025-07-18 02:30 - 15:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Discover a new favorite spice or herb with Coronado Public Library! Each month, the library invites community members to explore different spices used in dishes around the world. Registrants will pick up the monthly spice/herb selection at the library, cook with it, and join other food enthusiasts to discuss what they made and their thoughts about the spice.
For the month of July we will be sampling Cajun seasoning.
The meeting will be held, on Zoom, on Friday, July 18 at 2:30 p.m. The Zoom link will be emailed the day before we meet. Once registered, participants will receive an email about when they can pick up their sample of spice and a couple of recipes. This program is a great way to try new ingredients in your dishes and become a more confident cook in the kitchen!
See photographs and recipes from past Spice It Up, Coronado! HERE, then click on Open Access.

Disclaimer(s)

Food Allergies

We cannot guarantee that food served at this program has not come into contact with tree nuts, soy, or other allergens.

Callooh Callay! A Brillig Look At Wonderland Through A University Looking Glass
2025-07-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join Linda Cassady for a journey into the literary wonderland of Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, through the treasured Cassady Carroll Collection of University of Southern California’s Special Collections. This engaging lecture explores how a remarkable book collection has inspired students to discover the genius behind Alice’s adventures, transforming some into artists in their own right. Discover the extensive works by and about Lewis Carroll housed in the USC Special Collections, and learn how an innovative Wonderland Award competition sparks the imagination of Southern California students as they pursue and rediscover Dodgson’s legacy. Come see how students tumble down their own rabbit holes of creativity, finding Alice in the wonderland of their own imaginations through art, literature, and scholarly exploration.

The Carroll Collection
The Cassady Lewis Carroll Collection was established in 2000 and has grown to contain more than 6,000 rare books, pamphlets, letters, and other items related to the work of Lewis Carroll including inscribed editions, books from Carroll‘s own library, and many works by major illustrators of the Alice stories. There are signed copies of movie scripts, playbills from stage adaptations, Victorian-era playing cards, and pop-up books. More recently, comic books, graphic novels, manga editions, literary parodies, computer games, movies, and original art work related to Carroll and his Alice books are part of the collection.
The Wonderland Award
The Annual Wonderland Award is an annual multidisciplinary competition at the University of Southern California that encourages new scholarship and creative work related to Lewis Carroll. A primary goal is to promote use of the G. Edward Cassady, M.D., and Margaret Elizabeth Cassady, R.N., Lewis Carroll Collection, held in Doheny Library at USC.
Since 2005, about 600 students have reimagined, reinterpreted, and remixed Carroll’s stories. Submissions include film and screenplays; poetry and readings; short fiction; book art [writing desks, boxes of wonder, missing diaries]; music, lyrics, scores, and performances; art [photography, painting, digital art, art installations]; ballet and dance; golf courses, board and digital games [with music, readings, and polysyllogisms]; illustrated novels; arts and crafts [dolls, ceramic tea sets, and fashion], and scholarly essays.

Linda Cassady and her husband, George Cassady, MD, gifted a Lewis Carroll Collection to the University of Southern California in 2000. Her area of “collecting” Carroll is as a sponsor and judge of the Wonderland Award, an annual multidisciplinary competition that encourages new scholarship and creative work related to Lewis Carroll. Linda is a member of the USC Libraries Board of Councilors. She is the past president and current treasurer of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America.

Meet the Creatures of San Diego: A Free Live Reptile Show for Families
2025-07-23 12:00 | Nautilus Room, Coronado Community Center, 1845 Strand Way, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Community Center invites you to a free, live, interactive reptile show presented by The Living Coast Discovery Center on Wednesday, July 23 at noon.
This family-friendly presentation features local wildlife in their exciting “Move It!” program. Find out how animals slither, swim, jump, and fly in the most interesting ways. Participants will learn about local animals that call San Diego home. Through fun dance moves and up-close animal encounters, participants will walk away knowing how to crawl like a tortoise and slither like a snake.
No advanced registration is required; come to the Nautilus Room in the community center for some up-close and personal animal encounters right here in Coronado. Bring your family to share your love of nature with them.
For more information, call 619-522-7342.

Clean Eating Summer Snacks + Treats Cooking Demo
2025-07-24 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Learn to re-make all your favorite summer treats the healthy plant-based and gluten-free way with Katie’s Healing Kitchen! Come hungry as this class includes samples of all dishes.

Cake Batter Milkshake w/ Hidden Cauliflower
Totally Loaded Nachos w/ House-Made Cashew Cheese + all the fixin’s
“Snickers” Stuffed Dates

Registration is required.

Katie Farina is the owner and chef behind Katie’s Healing Kitchen. She teaches vegan and gluten-free cooking classes in San Diego. Katie is the author of “Katie’s Healing Kitchen,” a cookbook with over 100 vegan recipes focusing on using food as medicine. Find her at: www.katieshealingkitchen.com or on Instagram @katieshealingkitchen.

A Wild Encounter in Coronado – Up Close with Exotic Animals
2025-07-30 12:00 | Nautilus Room, Coronado Community Center, 1845 Strand Way, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Wild creatures are coming to Coronado! Enter the mysterious world of the rainforest—without leaving town! On Wednesday, July 30 at noon, the Coronado Community Center’s Nautilus Room becomes the gateway to Wild Wonders, an unforgettable wildlife experience. Watch in awe as captivating creatures from South America emerge from the shadows—Think a slinking boa constrictor, a wide-eyed kinkajou, or even a curious armadillo. This free event invites animal lovers of all ages to meet these exotic animals up close, guided by the knowledge and passion of a seasoned animal biologist. Let your wild side roam!

Summer Reading Teen Event: Fairy Garden
2025-07-30 15:00 - 16:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Teen Summer Reading events happen every Wednesday at 3 pm during the Summer Reading Program, June 16-August 9.
Today’s Activity: Make a Mini Fairy Garden — design and decorate your own mini fairy garden, complete with mini fairy house you’ll get to paint.
Teen events are for those entering or finishing grades 6-12.

Foamy Fun with Dynamite Dave
2025-08-02 14:00 - 15:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Dynamite Dave is back again for some foamy fun! Enjoy the end of summer with some non-toxic and hypoallergenic foam! For the third year in a row the library invites you and your family for this fun event. Bathing suits highly recommended, goggles suggested but not necessary!

Special Mystery Book Club: A History of Mystery with Bryan Plank
2025-08-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us for a special session of Mystery Book Club with guest speaker Bryan Plank, who will take us through a brief history of the genre and discuss some of the formative historic mysteries. Bryan first started reading mysteries in elementary school with the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels. What really connected him to the genre was reading Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout. Ultimately, he has read hundreds of mysteries and watched thousands of mystery movies and television programs. He has visited and corresponded with some of the leading mystery writers of our times.
The Coronado Public Library’s Mystery Book club meets regularly on the third Monday of each month. Receive reminder emails about our meeting by registering below. Registration is encouraged but not required.
