Alex Marshall, Author

 We’re proud to share the news that PS 39 dad Alex Marshall just gave birth – to a book! The Surprising Design of Market Economies, University of Texas Press, details how governments build economies, using laws, roads, education, policing, and other tools they develop (particularly how human nature works into the design of markets).

 

 

Alex argues that there really is no such thing as a free-market economy; as a result, he urges a national conversation about what kind of markets we want. An independent journalist and an engaging professional speaker, Alex was inspired for this ambitious book as he reported on local zoning issues, particularly transportation. His previous books sound fascinating too: How Cities Work and Beneath The Metropolis: The Secret Lives of Cities. In May of this year, he traveled to Seoul, South Korea to speak about transportation, money and fashion at the Korea Transport Institute. We wish we could have been there, but you can easily buy his book on amazon.com, or go to his website: alexmarshall.org.
Congrats, Alex!



~Ron Sklar, PS 39 Reporter at Large

Dynamic Changes to the PS 39 Annual Book Fair!

Extended hours, an on-line component and a special guest make this PS 39 tradition extra special

Date:  November 17, 2011

Time: 8:30 am  -- 7 p.m.

Room: 103

Our annual Book Fair encourages our kids to read and raises much-needed funds for the school. This event is especially vital, since we lack a main library. Because of this, each classroom maintains its own collection of books.

Event co-chairs Maria Lord and Kristen Robb announce some exciting additions to the annual event:

• Extended hours:  to accommodate working moms and dads who may not be able to join us until early evening, the fair will be extended until 7 pm.
• On-line: if you can’t make it in person, you can go on-line to purchase books or make a donation. The website link will be revealed and available during the week of the sale.
• Guest Author Doreen Cronin!  At 6 p.m., beloved author Doreen Cronin will visit the cafeteria for a reading and a signing. She wrote such favorites as Duck For President, Click Clack Moo: Cow's That Type, Diary of a Worm and Rescue Bunnies. You can read more about her at her site.
• Parents can pre-order Doreen’s books in advance by filling out an order form on our  P.S. 39 site.

Call for volunteers: it’s still not too late to volunteer, for as little or as much time as you can spare. Volunteer jobs range from set up and displays on Weds, Nov 16th to book sales on Thurs, Nov 17th.  We also need a greeter at the front desk, as well as book and merchandise sales people, and clean up/packing crew.

If you're interested, please contact Maria Lord or co-chair Kristen Robb.

  --- Ron Sklar, PS 39 Reporter at Large