Sierra Madre News Net - For news and information about Sierra Madre Businesses, Events and People

Trail Restoration Under Way

I was able to join a Forest Service Volunteer to legally enter the Mt. Wilson Trail on Tuesday night. Since the Trail is still closed, you are asked to stay off the mountain. I took these pictures (and a lot more, that I'll be posting later) while I was up there. In the bottom picture, you'll see a hot spot, even as recently as Tuesday night. Fortunately, it rained that night, so hopefully that was the end of these. Volunteers are working on the trail, and it is ~~hoped that it will be re-opened soon~~ NOW OPEN and the Trail Race will be run in this, the 100th anniversary of it's first run. In the meantime, thanks to Pete, Pete, Gary, John, Mark, and Mark, who were on the Trail Tuesday when I was there, and to Charlie who has been working on the Trail for years, and to all the other volunteers working so hard to make the trail passable, not just for runners, but for the hiking enthusiasts who come from throughout California on a daily basis. ~~We'll let you know when we hear more about the re-opening of the Trail.~~ THE TRAIL IS NOW OPEN!

(5/9/08) Sierra Madre Civic Club Awards Education Grants At its meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Madre Civic Club announced the recipients of its “Education Award 2008”, a main philanthropy for the group. Only high school seniors are eligible for the grants, given conditionally on one of the following; that the senior be a resident of Sierra Madre, has a relative who is a member of Civic Club, or has worked in Sierra Madre for the last twelve months or has a parent who works in Sierra Madre.

Key points about each student considered by the Awards Committee include: volunteer activities, interests, talents, hobbies, accomplishments or recognition, plus educational or career plans.

Two letters of reference - one from a teacher or school administrator and one from an adult leader in the applicant's volunteer activity or an employer – were also required for the consideration of the Education Awards Committee, chaired by Amy Putnam.

Selected to receive awards this year were: Brittany Banis, Dalia Copti, Jenna Coyne, Pablo Garcia, Kara-Leigh Huse, Simone Lovano, Katie Merrill, Ellen O’ Connor, Mireya Perez, Andrew Pirrone, and Caitlin Skelly.

Brittany Banis attends Mayfield Senior High, and plans to attend UCSD. Dalia Copti attends Maranatha High School, and will be going to San Diego State. Jenna Coyne attends Paul VI High School in Audobon, NJ, and plans to go to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Pablo Garcia, a Duarte High School senior, will be attending Cal Poly Pomona, La Salle's Kara-Leigh Huse will "fight on" at USC, and Simone Lovano will be traveling east to Rutgers after also graduating from La Salle High School. When Katie Merrill graduates from PHS, she’ll be applying her grant towards her studies at Bryn Mawr. Ellen O’Connor, who attends Alverno High School, will be attending UC Berkeley in the fall. Mireya Perez will graduate from Arcadia High School, and after attending community college at first, plans to complete her studies at either Berkeley or UCLA. Andrew Pirrone, who, with Merrill, attends PHS, will be joining Garcia at Cal Poly Pomona. And Caitlin Skelly will head up to the Bay area to attend San Francisco State University. For more photos from the event (and a caption that tells you who each of the students in the above picture is, click here...

(5/8/08) Dedication of Milton and Harriet Goldberg Park In April of 1947, Milton and Harriet Goldberg were among the founders of the Sierra Madre Community Nursery School. In April of 2008, the Milton and Harriet Goldberg Park became a reality, and Sierra Madre Community Nursery School played an integral part of the creation.

For decades, Sierra Madre children have played on the open lots at the corner of Sunnyside and Ramona. Milton Goldberg had bought the property, but refused to build on it, saying "Children need space, time and love." Roberta and Michael Goldberg, children of Milton and Harriet, wanted to see the land become park space after their parents passed away.

The City hadn't opened a new park in more than thirty years. But thanks to the sale of the land that the Sierra Madre Community Nursery School sits on to the school, funds were made available for the City to purchase the land from the Goldbergs, and in November of 2007 the ground was broken on the park. And in April of 2008, nearly sixty-one years to the day after the Goldbergs were instrumental in creating a special space for Sierra Madre's children, another special space for Sierra Madre's children became a reality as Mayor Kurt Zimmerman dedicated the park by reading a proclamation naming the day Milton and Harriet Goldberg day in Sierra Madre, and the Goldberg offspring joined Harriet's sister, Natalie Jacobs and Roberta's longtime friend and former Sierra Madre mayor Enid Joffe in cutting the ribbon for the opening of the park.

There were many members of the Goldberg extended family in attendance at the dedication, which was attended by several dozen folks, among them Council members John Buchanan and Joe Mosca and Public Works director Bruce Inman. Also on hand from Public Works were Chris Cimino and Suzi McConnell. Community Services Director Michelle Keith was on hand, with Assistant Director Elisa Weaver, and Adam Matsumoto also was on hand representing Community Services. Fire Chief Steve Heydorff and Engineer Bill Messersmith were on hand. City Manager Elaine Aguilar was joined by former City Manager John Gillison at the ceremony. Council members Don Watts and Maryann MacGillivray did not attend. For lots more photos from this event, and video, including the proclamation by Mayor Zimmerman, click here.

From the Archives

We've pulled photos and videos from the archives, and created new pages for the SMVFA Pancake Breakfasts in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Visit the Firefighter's Annual Flapjack Breakfast page. We've also created a page for last month's City Council reorganization, featuring several photos, as well as videos of Council members John Buchanan and Maryann MacGillivray taking the oath of office.

(5/7/08) Popular Musicians To Be Featured at Sierra Madre Art Fair

The 46^th Annual Sierra Madre Art Fair is proud to offer the exceptional work of about 100 Fine Artists. Scheduled for Saturday May 17^th, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday May 18^th 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, at the tree-lined Memorial Park, 220 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, this year’s Art Fair is already creating quite a buzz!

Sure to please art-lovers and music-lovers alike, popular and varied musicians can be enjoyed at the Bandshell. From 11:00am to 1:00pm Saturday and Sunday, unique musicians ‘String Planet’ feature string instruments in a popular format everyone knows and enjoys. Be sure to check out Larry Tuttle’s expertise on the ‘Stick’ and be wowed! Also featured Saturday from 2:00 to 4:30 will be Stephanie Bettman and the Boys. Well-known from Nashville to LA, they provide a catchy, toe-tapping mixture of bluegrass, folk, and jazz with a “mountain vibe” – a perfect blend for our Foothill communities! Voted “Best of LA by LA Magazine”, the all-acoustic Gonzalo Bergara Group can be seen Sunday 2:00-4:00pm. This acclaimed trio blends Blues with Latin-swing, and is extraordinary!

Not to be outdone by the Bandshell, the Park’s South Lawn will feature LA’s popular acoustic guitarist Logan Coats on Saturday from 1:00 to 2:30pm; Ann Luke on the dulcimer Saturday and Sunday; and Harpist Ron Longo. Don’t miss The Daisy Chang Duo Sunday 12:00 to 1:30 pm for some jazzy Brazilian Guitar rhythms that are sure to get you going! Joel Penner Trio is a returning favorite, and can be enjoyed Saturday 3:00 to 5:00pm, and Sunday 2:00 to 4:00pm. Their inspiration is a bebop sound of the ‘40’s and ‘50’s, and they get the crowd going with original and well-known standard tunes with unique Jazz, Latin, funk, and pop music—always enjoyed by all ages!

Enjoy the creativity of Fine Artists’ ceramics, jewelry, oils, watercolors, mixed media, photography, and so much more! When the family gets hungry, stop by the Food Court for some of the area’s best offerings!

Sponsored by the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library, proceeds directly support Library services, acquisitions, programs, and grounds’ improvements. For more information contact Sharon Murphy @ (626) 355-3977, or go to www.sierramadreartfair.com.

(5/7/08) Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal Sought

Sierra Madre Parade on Friday, July 4^th

The Sierra Madre Fourth of July Committee is looking for candidates to serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2008 Fourth of July Parade. This year's parade will be held on Friday, July 4, according to Matt Bosse, Fourth of July Committee Chairman.

Candidates for the Parade Grand Marshal should echo the spirit of Sierra Madre and should be active volunteers in any of the local nonprofit organizations in Sierra Madre.

Nominations should be sent to: The Fourth of July Committee, P.O. Box 1073, Sierra Madre 91025 or via e-mail to matthewbosse@hotmail.com by Monday, June 2^nd.

The Parade begins at 10 a.m. at Sierra Madre Blvd. and Sunnyside, progressing east to Sierra Vista Park until about 11:30 a.m. At that time Memorial Park, on the west side of town, will be filled with nonprofit food booths and the Beer Garden will be open for business.

Chairman Bosse reminds residents that the event kicks off at Memorial Park beginning 6 pm on July 3^rd with the band Aluminum Marshmallow and continuing with the Night Bloomin' Jazzmen playing under the large shade tree from noon to about 4 p.m. on July 4^th - children's games will take place also on the south lawn of Memorial Park. Food booths and the Beer Garden will be open both the evening of July 3^rd and after the parade on July 4^th.

Fund Established to Help Pay for Firefighting Efforts A Santa Anita Fire Fund has been set up with the Sierra Madre Community Foundation to help the City pay for the cost of fighting the Santa Anita Fire. If you would like to donate, you can download the attached form and mail it with your donation to:

SIERRA MADRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

PO Box 716, Sierra Madre, CA 91025

Checks should be made out to SMCF/CCF with "Santa Anita Fire Fund" in the memo.

4th of July Parade Applications Available Online Exclusively at SierraMadreNews.Net

The Fourth of July parade application has now been posted online, exclusively on this website. Click the headline above to download your copy of the application. For Sierra Madre 4th of July coverage as it occurs, visit our fourth of July section of the site, www.sierramadre4thofjuly.us

(Pat Ostrye's Column, Including Back Columns, Will Return to This Corner Next Week, If Not Sooner)

Annual Toilet Giveaway Scheduled for May 10th

The annual low-flush toilet giveaway will take place on May 10th. Sierra Madre residents with proof of residence will be able to drive thru at Sierra Vista Park (that's right, you'll never have to get out of your car) and pick up a water conserving toilet. Then you come back on May 24th and drop off the one you replaced. Click on the image to read all about it. Note there's a typo on the flyer, it says you'll enter a high school parking lot, you'll actually be entering the park parking lot, at 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. This event is a fundraiser for the YAC, which gets a check each year based on the number of toilets traded in. This is the second year that owners of multiple residences (condo/apartment owners) will be allowed to trade in, as well.

Joke of the Day

Thanks to Mike in Sierra Madre for this one...A Japanese doctor said, 'Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him looking for work in six weeks.'
The German doctor replied, 'That's nothing, we can take a lung out of one person, put it in another, and have him looking for work in four weeks.'
Then the British doctor said, 'In my country, medicine is so advanced that we can take half of a heart out of one person, put it in another, and have them both looking for work in two weeks.'
And finally a Texas doctor, not to be outdone said, 'You guys are way behind. We took a man with no brains out of Texas, put him in the White House and now half the country is looking for work.'

Equal time department:

One day during his presidency, Bill Clinton walked down the steps of Air Force One with a great big sow under each arm. The Marine at the bottom of the stairs jumped to attention, broke into a salute and greeted the President "Nice pigs, Sir!" Bubba looked at the Marine and said "Pigs? Why these aren't just pigs, these are genuine, purebred Arkansas razorbacks." He nodded to the one in his right arm and said "I got this one for Chelsea" then nodded to the one in his left arm and said "and I got this one for Hilary." The Marine, still at full attention and maintaining his salute, responded "Nice trade, Sir!"

Quote of the Day

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. " -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

(5/8/08) Sierra Madre Schools, Businesses and Non-profits Recognized at San Gabriel Valley Environmental Awards

By Bill Coburn

On Tuesday, May 6^th, six Sierra Madre organizations were recognized at the San Gabriel Valley Environmental Awards, sponsored by the Los Angeles Regional Agency (LARA). According to James Carlson, with SM Public Works Dept., the City is a member of LARA. The membership is paid for by Athens, who provides the City’s waste disposal services. Carlson said that AB 939, requires all Cities to divert fifty percent of their solid fills from landfills. By virtue of its membership in LARA, the City is able to pool/average its numbers so that if in some months they don’t quite reach the required fifty percent, they won’t incur penalties. Another benefit is shared funding to put on educational showcases and joint events, as well as an opportunity for City staffers to discuss and consult about ways to handle problems, or share success stories for possible implementation. For the rest of the story and pictures from the luncheon, click here...

Editor's Note: Glenn Lambdin recently began an "occasional" column in the Mountain Views Observer. When I spoke with him shortly after, I mentioned that I would have liked to have had his column on the site as well. As it turns out, MVO publisher Susan Henderson was o.k. with the idea of Glenn's column being online on my site, as well as in print, so you'll now be able to find his column here, as well.

On My Mind These Days

By Glenn Lambdin

For many of those in attendance or who watched Tuesday night’s City Council reorganization on TV, we find ourselves asking, “Why did newly elected Maryann MacGillivray not support Mayor Pro-tem Joe Mosca as mayor. Why did she choose to drive a deeper wedge into an already dysfunctional council by voting to elect Kurt Zimmermann as mayor, skipping over Joe? It’s a question I would have liked Maryann to explain, but she stayed silent on the matter. I’ve never known Maryann to be short on words. So councilwoman, why?

In 1996, two years prior to my four year term on our city council and during Maryann’s last term, I attended every council meeting tirelessly. I watched and listened with great fascination and admiration of Maryann’s ability to articulate the development of her thought process. Maryann speaks with the logic and reasoning of a scientist and she possesses an incredible ability to explain how she comes to her conclusions. For a time, I often said that of all the councilmembers that I didn’t serve with, Maryann has always been one of my favorites. (shared of course with Gary Adams). As a matter of fact, when I was contemplating whether to run for council in 1998, Maryann was the first person I called to ask for advice.

With eight years of previous council experience, Maryann is seasoned well enough to realize the destructive nature of a dysfunctional council. (The type of dysfunction that was demonstrated Tuesday night by Councilmember Watt’s rude and disrespectful interruptions of other councilmembers.) And, Tuesday night as Maryann sat in chambers as an elected official for the first time in ten years, I have to believe that she was well aware that she had the option to be the driving force to put an end to this destructive dysfunction and start building a cohesive team. Sadly, she chose not to. So, Maryann, again I wonder, why?

One person suggested that maybe she had to “pay back” those supporters that made a failed attempt to recall Joe. Frankly, I can’t see Maryann putting herself in any position where she felt indebted to anyone. She’s way too proud and certainly too smart for that.

Perhaps it was a vote of no confidence. But again, Maryann thinks like a scientist and without even a scintilla of empirical evidence to support such a conclusion, she would have to reject it. Maryann is intelligent enough to see through all of the nonsensical rhetoric that was aimed at Joe and, coupled with per past experience, she knows the commitment it takes to be a councilmember. The facts are that Joe is possibly the hardest working councilmember this city has ever seen and has never broken a campaign promise as some might falsely claim. That’s a fact and Maryann knows it! So then, why?

Flashback ten years when Maryann left her term infecting our community with her bigoted flawed doctrine of fundamentalist intolerance. Now maybe the answer becomes apparent. That was Maryann’s “in your face” parting shot to our community that she wore like a badge of honor. Now, fast forward to the present and Maryann is serving with an incredible man whose family she was compelled to call a “garbage can situation.”

Tuesday night I possibly witnessed a shameful seamless transition from ten years ago to the present where Maryann went from proudly spewing her faith-based fundamentalist hatred to actually implementing it today. God, I hope not!

(5/6/08) Fire Safe Council Meeting

I'm working on getting video of the Fire Safe Council meeting posted. Each 7 - 8 minute video is about 75mb, so after I get each piece edited and created, uploading takes quite a while. The meeting was about 1 hr. and 45 minutes long, so they may not all be posted for a day or two, but they'll probably still be up before Channel 3 gets them up. Here's a link to the page, where I've started putting them up...I also picked up the handouts, and will do what I can to make links to the sites referenced in the handouts, and when possible, to scan in and post the handouts.

(5/7/08) Author's Night Series Continues with Timothy Potter Author and Sierra Madrean Tim Potter will discuss and sign his new novel, The Lost Boys: A Parochial Novel of the Vietnam Generation, on Monday, May 19, at 7:00 p.m. at the Sierra Madre Public Library, 440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.. Ten years in the making, the book is a fictionalized memoir of a group of veterans who struggle to come to terms with the war and find stability and meaning for their lives in a largely hostile post-war America. Sponsored by the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library.

(5/8/08) Kid’s Art Show at CAG Through May 25th

Mix together Puppetry and Painting with a little Ceramics, Woodwork, and Stained Glass, and you’ve conjured up a bright and whimsical art show featuring the work of 1^st through 9^th grade students. Visitors will see brightly colored masks of paper, wood, and clay; puppets from classes throughout the year including “How the Elephant Got Its Trunk” complete with crocodile and Limpopo River; ceramic cups, bowls, witches, and dinosaurs; stained glass hearts and flowers along with some abstract work; and a painted parade, sailboat, fish in the sea, and children walking on a rainbow.

The exceptional instruction at Creative Arts Group represented in this show by teachers Cathy Manzo, Cathy Imhoff, Debbie Schweiner, Lynn Hendricks, D. Lester Williams, and Barbara Wamboldt have provided stimulating projects that bring out the creativity in each child. Creative Arts Group offers an extensive array of art classes for children throughout the year, including Drawing & Painting, Mixed Media, Cartooning, Puppetry, Ceramics, and many one-and two-day specialty workshops.

The Children’s Art Show runs through May 25, 2008, at Creative Arts Group, 108 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre.

(5/8/08) Alverno Jaguar Softball Heads to CIF for Seventeenth Straight Year

Alverno High School’s softball team is heading to CIF playoffs for the seventeenth straight year. The undefeated Jaguars hold a 10-0 Horizon League record this season, with a 20-3-0 record overall. For the rest of the story, and pictures, click here.

(5/8/08) Friends of the Library to Have Bargain Books Table at Library

The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library will have a Bargain Books Table Sale inside the Library during the Library’s public open hours. Featured titles will include Fiction, Health, Nature, and Specialty books. All books are in good condition and will be sold at the bargain price of $1.00.

The book sale will occur Monday, May 12 – Saturday, May 17, 2008

The Sierra Madre Public Library, located at 440 West Sierra Madre Boulevard in Sierra Madre, is open Monday through Wednesday from Noon to 9 p.m., Thursday and Friday from Noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For further information on programs and services please visit the Library’s web site at www.sierramadre.lib.ca.us or call (626) 355-7186

These every-other-month book sales sponsored by The Friends help provide funding for Library resources and programs.

(5/9/08) Hilarious ‘Beau Jest’ Brings Summer Fun to Sierra Madre Playhouse

By Fran Syverson

Girl meets Boy. Waiting eagerly to meet the boy, too, are Mom and Dad—especially Mom. So daughter finally agrees to have them all to dinner.

Just one problem: girl (Jewish) had met and fallen in love with boy (gentile)—but Mom and Dad had been waiting eagerly for their Sarah to find “a nice Jewish boy” to marry.

What to do—what to do? Sarah is almost obsessive in her need to please her parents. So what she does is phone an escort service and hires a Jewish stand-in “beau” for the dinner. She can, she rationalizes, introduce her parents to the real boyfriend, Chris, later. She hopes they’ll grow to love him as she does and somehow eventually come to terms with the notion of a non-Jewish son-in-law.

Could there be a better set-up for the “jests” in Beau Jest? Well, yes—because it quickly evolves that Bob, the stand-in beau, is also actually a gentile. Thus Beau Jest is hilarious from the first footlights, its wit and humor ranging from sophisticated to brassy.

The senior Goldmans arrive for dinner, casserole in hand. It’s to be warmed “in the oven, not the microwave,” Miriam admonishes. Abe grumbles about the parking—and so begins the verbal sparring between Miriam and Abe, and also between Miriam and Sarah. It’s endless, and stays frolickingly funny to the final curtain.

Miriam and Abe Goldman (Rosina Pinchot and Howard Krupnick) personify the stereotypical smothering parental couple roles so well that some of the audience pondered whether, offstage, they are actually married. (They’re not.) They’d steal their scenes if it weren’t for the strong counterpoint of the leads: radiant, irrepressible Meg Wolf as Sarah Goldman and handsome Travis Nefores as Bob.

Bob, an actor “between assignments”—read “jobless”—soon demonstrates his thespian talents as Sarah’s beau. He must throw on the mantle of being not only Jewish, but also a physician, which Sarah impulsively conjures for him, the better to match her fiancé.

When he starts to get in too deep, Sarah, with a certain flair, manages to change the subject or give Bob cues. As they begin to relish how well they are carrying off their charade, the connections between them grow. Sarah soon senses another complication in her love life. Her ardor for Chris (John Lysaght) seems to waver in proportion to her continuing contact with Bob. (Don’t miss the impromptu back massage.)

What they don’t realize is that her divorced brother Joel (Jonas Gabriel) is not quite as taken with the situation, and casts some well-placed skepticism. But then, he’s a psychiatrist, probably reveling inwardly as he observes his clan’s dysfunction. Still, he’s not above a rousting good sibling argument with Sarah.

In addition to being laugh-a-minute funny, Beau Jest also slips in a bit of a message. James Sherman’s play surely was not meant to be educational, but those who are not Jewish can gain some insight into Jewish tradition, especially at the Seder. Even then, the family cannot get through their customary rituals without familial and comic confrontations.

Sarah’s Chicago apartment is modern in a non-definitive way, with a tan overstuffed sofa and two occasional chairs, an entertainment center, wall lamps, and dining furniture. Greenery softens the edges, as does an “outdoor” window, cleverly lit to evoke sunlight.

Stan Kelly, no stranger to the Sierra Madre Playhouse, directs this romantic comedy. Lois Tedrow does her usual fine job of costuming, up to and including Sarah’s just-out-of-the-shower bath towel. Multiple backstage roles are filled by David Calhoun as set designer and master carpenter; by Anne Marie Atwan as stage manager and properties, along with Ruth Thompson; by Ward Calaway as producer, plus program design with John Johnson who is also production photographer; and by Kristen Cox as lighting designer, who shares light and sound operations with Karen Young and Mike Dessin.

Steve Shaw is sound designer. Jang-Hyun Yoon, Dong-Kyu Yang, Tommy Wang, and Achim Kovi comprise the lighting crew. With Calaway and Dessin on the construction crew are Don Bergmann and Dana Zeuschner. Bruce Yeakel is credited with the poster art design, and Philip Sokoloff is publicist. Charles Andrese is the longtime Playhouse artistic director.

If you see Beau Jest once and, a couple of weeks later find yourself bored with the summer TV lineup, you might consider enjoying another evening with the Goldmans, knowing you’ll find them just as funny the second time around.

Beau Jest runs weekends through Sat., June 14. Curtain time is 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. for Sunday matinees. Admission is $20 general, $17 for seniors (65+) and students, and $12 for children 12 years and under.

The Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Free parking is available in city lots. Restaurants on Sierra Madre Boulevard and Baldwin Avenue offer pre-theater dining for every taste. For reservations or more information, phone (626) 256-3809, or visit the website, www.sierramadreplayhouse.org, for information or for online credit-card sales. Photos by Ward Calaway Photos 1 and 3, Meg Wolf, Travis Nefores Photo 2, Howard Krupnick

(5/8/08) City Council Agenda

5/13/08 Closed and Regular Meeting

(5/8/08) City Staff Available To Answer Your Questions Do you have a question regarding an item on an upcoming City Council agenda? Do you have any questions regarding City services? While you can always call City Hall and get an answer to your question, we’re providing another, convenient opportunity to get your questions answered.

Beginning on Monday, May 12th, from 9 am to 10 am, the City Manager and Department Heads will be standing by, available at City Hall to answer any questions you may have regarding City Council agenda items, items on the warrant register, or city services in general. You do not need to make an appointment – just drop by anytime between 9 am and 10 am on May 12th. A complete list of dates and times is shown at the bottom of this page.

Please remember that anyone can call City Hall, at (626) 355-7135, to get their questions answered, and appointments are also available. If you prefer to just drop by, future office hours are:

Monday, May 12th, 9 am to 10 am

Tuesday, May 27th, 9 am to 10 am

Monday, June 9th, 9 am to 10 am

Monday, June 23rd, 9 am to 10 am

If you have any questions, please call City Hall at (626) 355-7135.

(5/7/08) Re-Opening Fundraiser Held at Mary's Market

Mary's Market re-opened last night, with lots of live entertainment, friends, and donations. Mary's was broken into the Friday night before the fire started (4/25/08), and had been closed ever since. According to Henore Letourneau, he had been rushing to the vet's, and didn't get the cash drawer emptied, so the thieves got a lot more than they ordinarily would have. The loss was nearly enough to spell the end, but with a lot of encouragement from the residents of the canyon and other friends of Mary's, last night was the grand re-opening fundraiser, and a group of musicians including Jody and the Minions, Roadhouse Ron, Steven Radice and Jean, Faithanne and Friends, Joe and Maggie, and others performed throughout the evening. Things went so well, they ran out of food. Due to a prior engagement, I got there a little late, so I missed much of the crowd and all of the food, but those who were still there were having a ball. All tips for the musicians got turned back over to Mary's, and a great big jar was filled to the brim with donations (attention burglars, the jar was removed last night). If you haven't been to Mary's lately, now would be a good time to stop by. It was a good night, but it takes a steady string of good nights for a place like Mary's to keep open. It's a tradition in Sierra Madre, stop by and help keep it alive...There's more pictures here, and a video of "Roadhouse Ron" performing some Tom Petty has also been posted...

(5/7/08) YOU TOO CAN RECEIVE CITY E-MAIL UPDATES

In the wake of the recent fires, the City of Sierra Madre wants to once again alert its residents to the City eBlast system, where people can sign up to receive email updates on City meetings, job openings, events, programs – and in the case of emergency, updates on what is going on.

Interested parties should log on to www.cityofsierramadre.com

On the left hand column, click on “Access Sierra Madre”

On the top header, select “CommunicationLink”

Enter an email address and password and you too will be signed up to receive City updates.

For those already registered for the eBlast system, but no longer want to be, please hit respond to one of the eBlast messages or email city@ci.sierra-madre.ca.us and ask to be removed. Please do not hit SPAM as this will affect others ability to receive these updates.

For more information, please email city@ci.sierra-madre.ca.us or call 626-355-5278. (Editor's note: Some of the updates I provided during recent coverage were directly from the City's e-mail blast system, so if you weren't happy with the City's communication during the fire, sign up for it.)

Sierra Madre Artist Featured in L.A. Times Home and Garden Section Dan Gallagher of Dan Gallagher's Decorative Painting and Design was one of the subjects of a feature story on a Pasadena home owned by Andrea and Sean Moriarty in Thursday's L.A. Times Home and Garden section. Gallagher painted a mural to re-create the mosaic ceiling in the Boston Library. We'll be doing a feature on Gallagher and other Sierra Madreans involved in the home restoration project, including Brett Kenyon of Amperage Electric, Dave Forrester of Wood is Good (he brings Frosty to Sierra Madre each year), Paul Salvo of Finish Carpenters, Plumber Billy Koemans, Chris Bohler, C.B. Construction, and Kelly Corcoran, who designed and built a custom multi-wood tower room ceiling, custom gates, and stabilized the main staircase. Until then, enjoy the write-up in yesterday's L.A. Times (don't know how long that link will work for non-subscribers), and this story we did when Dan revitalized the storefront of Nancy Shollenberger's storefront property on Sierra Madre Blvd.

City of Sierra Madre Official Calendar (click on the flag) Editor's note - There's an error on the calendar. The City Council meeting shown on the calendar as being May 6th is actually May 13th.

Fire Dept. Pancake Breakfast Set for May 17th Community Should Make It a Record-Breaking Fundraiser After Last Weekend

The Sierra Madre Volunteer Firefighters' Association, (SMVFA), Annual (All You Can Eat) Pancake Breakfast will take place at the Fire Station on Saturday, May 17th from 7am to 11am.. Cost is $5, and proceeds from this Pancake Breakfast will help fund special equipment for the Sierra Madre Fire Department, aid for victims of disaster, the Sierra Madre Blood Drive, Huck Finn Day, Christmas stockings for children, summer programs at the library, youth athletic teams, Concerts in the Park, and other youth activities in the community. EVERY PERSON IN THIS TOWN SHOULD STOP BY, SAY THANK YOU, AND BUY SOME PANCAKES, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INTENTION OF HAVING BREAKFAST.

(5/8/08) The Sierra Madre Chorale presents

Under the direction of Fred Copeland

Accompanied by Stephanie Wan Hsiu Lan

"Song of America"

Friday May 23, 2008 at 7:30 in the evening

at the Arcadia Community Center,

365 Campus Dr., Arcadia

and

Sunday May 25, 2008

at 4:00 in the afternoon at the

Sierra Madre United Methodist Church

695 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. in Sierra Madre

Donations $7.00 Advance - $8.00 at the door - children under 12 admitted free

Choir rehearsals are on Monday evenings 7:30 to 9:30 at 695 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre. If you enjoy singing please join us ( no tryouts necessary)

For further information please call Susan Beach at 626-357-0560

Sierra Madre School Auction Raises $80,000

On March 31, 2001, the Sierra Madre PTA launched what has become a new tradition in town, putting up tents along Auburn Ave. and holding a live and silent auction to raise funds, with the proceeds going to help fund the renovation of the school auditorium. As part of the evening’s festivities, titled "Night of 10,000 Stars," past and present SMS students and teachers performed several songs live in the auditorium. But the main event was the auction, with items ranging from gift baskets to a ride in a Russian MIG. That first event brought in $54,000, though when one subtracts the $27,000 in seat sponsorships that are included in that figure, the auction itself brought in about $27,000.

Over the years, the auction has helped fund great things for Sierra Madre School. The 2002 event, “Together We Can” raised $12,000 for general school needs. 2003’s event, “CyberSpace” raised $25,000 to purchase computer hardware and software, and sound equipment. The 2004 event, titled “Art Fusion”, raised $40,000 for Choral Risers, Sound Equipment, an Arts Specialist and the Art Docent program.

“Kidsplay” was the theme in 2005, when $42,000 was raised to help pay for PE Aides, PE equipment, as well as professional development and the SPARKS program. In 2006, “Under the Tuscan Stars” raised $45,000 for Library books, reference materials and a Library Coordinator. Last year’s Centennial event, titled “Building for the Future , Celebrating the Past” raised $44,000 to be put toward paying for a Guidance Aide, a Resource Room Aide, Playground Aide, Kinder Aide, and an Arts Specialist.

Now it’s 2008, and the event has moved out of the street and into (for the sixth year in a row) LaSalle High School auditorium, with more than 300 people in attendance. This year’s event, sponsored by the Sierra Madre Rotary Club, which has sponsored it for the last six years, was themed “All-America City, All-America School.” And the really good news – the event raised $80,000 to pay for General Needs at the school. For the complete article, and about 50 pictures, click here.

New Sierra Madre Pool Summer 2008 Swim Lesson Schedule

The Sierra Madre Aquatics Center is changing to a new one-week swim lesson schedule. Rather than daily 30-minute lessons for two weeks, the swim classes will be extended to 45 minutes, still satisfying all American Red Cross requirements. There will be 11 separate swim sessions starting June 16 and running through August 29. The cost for the new 45 minute, one week swim lesson is $35.00.

Don’t know what level to register your child for? Come to our FREE SWIM TEST DAY - Saturday, May 31, 12 noon - 3:00 pm 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Certified instructions will be available to test skills and make class placement suggestions.

Mail-in only registration will begin Monday, June 2. Online registration will be accepted Tuesday, June 10 and walk-in registrations will be accepted Monday, June 16. Complete class details can be found in the summer edition of the Wistaria Vine: Community Brochure and Newsletter, scheduled to be mailed to all residents mid-May. The Wistaria Vine will also be posted online at www.cityofsierramadre.com, and available at the Community Recreation Center, City Hall, Public Library, Hart Park House, and Chamber of Commerce.

Sierra Madre Adult Softball League Grab your friends and neighbors and sign a team up for our Summer Adult Softball League!

Games will be played Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Don’t have a team? No worries! Sign yourself up and we’ll place you on a team. All players must be over 18 to play.

League runs end of June through August. $30 per player / $300 team

Limit 12 teams, must register by June 13, 2008.

Junior Guard Program

For youth ages 11-14 who want to gain knowledgeable experience around the Sierra Pool. Junior Guards assist around the pool and swim instructors during the lessons throughout the summer. The training class required to be a Junior Lifeguard, Guard Start, will be held June 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm with the exception of Saturday June 7, which will be held 9:00 am - 3:00 pm and cost $165.

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