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Script for All-America City Presentation
to National Civic League
Sing a boisterous “HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!” (ALL IN HATS REPRESENTING 10 DECADES OF FASHION
(at end of presentation “Hats off to Sierra Madre!!”)
1 - Lisa
Spigai-Perez: Good Morning
Anaheim!!! As our fine city celebrates its centennial in 2007, I’d like to
introduce you to the true Treasure of Sierra Madre… its active Citizen
Volunteers, who for the past 100 years, have worn many hats filling many
roles making this the outstanding community it is.
2 - Cathy Ryne:
Sierra Madre is an oasis in urban Los Angeles, characterized by its village
atmosphere and memorable for the last volunteer Fire Department in Los
Angeles County. We are also home to our historic Wistaria Vine, planted in
1894, the vine which is on private property and is opened to public viewing
once a year is the world's largest domestic flowering vine according to
Guinness... (the records book not the beer company!).
1 - Enid Joffe:
The history, strength, resilience and beauty of our Wistaria are metaphors
for our thriving community. Like the roots of the vine, the roots of our
town are secure because our founders understood that for our small town to
thrive we needed a strong civic infrastructure.
2 - Ann Ta:
This year we are marking our Centennial with festive, historical, artistic
and cultural events and celebrating what we have done to preserve our
environment and enhance the quality of life for the oldest and youngest
among us.
1 - Roberta Goldberg:
Sierra Madre has a long history of dedication to protecting and preserving
open space. As a Boy Scout in the 1920s my father, Milton Goldberg, camped
and hiked on our mountainsides. In the early 40’s, he and my mother acquired
3 plots of land. He built a small home on one and left the other two
undeveloped for the entire neighborhood to enjoy. Despite many lucrative
offers over the years, he would not sell them, believing that being outdoors
was essential to children’s healthy development.
2 - Josh Moran:
“Children need space, time, and love” were Milt’s words and for 60 years he
watched children, myself included, playing on his park like property. After
his recent death, Sierra Madre purchased the land to create the Milton and
Harriet Goldberg Recreation Area. The design of the park using natural
materials and native plants will be a fitting legacy to Milton’s vision.
1 - John Buchanan:
Milt Goldberg
was not alone in recognizing the responsibility of conserving open space and
nature’s gifts. In 1971, a concerned citizenry established an
Environmental Action Council to ensure our lovely mountainsides were not
over developed.
2 - Angie Chen:
Then in 1989, the Sierra Madre Mountain Conservancy was incorporated, the
first in the San Gabriel Valley, and it was the impetus and model for the
establishment of 15 more in the region in the following decades.
1 - John Buchanan:
Because of the Conservancy’s efforts, the City adopted the Hillside
Management Ordinance, and set reasonable limits on development.
2 - Angie Chen:
The language of this Ordinance helped Sierra Madre acquire the funds to buy
125 acres of once privately owned land, making them part of the Conservancy.
1 - Benn Martin:
More recently, citizens identified two seemingly irreconcilable concerns;
the need to preserve our existing open park space and a demand for more
facilities for our youth.
2 - Patrick Simcock:
We solved the problem by putting a second story on our existing recreation
center, and because we were preserving open space, we were able to fund part
of the project with the open space funds.
1 - David Liston:
We also worked out agreements with public and private schools that enabled
us to increase field space 100% for youth sports and physical activities.
2 -
Beverly DeVoy:
The sturdy
trunk and limbs of our Wistaria Vine represent our seniors; the conduits to
the past, the support of the present, and the heart of our abundant yearly
bloom. Just like we nurture our vine, we made sure our Older
Americans were nurtured by creating our first Senior Master Plan in 2000. An
updated plan was adopted last month.
1 - Jan
Reed:
As the
community with
the
highest percentage of seniors in the region, it became apparent that our
older citizens on fixed incomes were becoming more vulnerable as property
values rose and affordable housing diminished.
2 -
James Carlson:
Recently,
we have achieved a number of milestones that improve the quality of life for
seniors including:
1 -
Judy Webb-Martin:
the upgrade to Advanced Life Support Services enabling the City to offer
paramedic service for the first time in its history
2 -
James Carlson:
Annual
Health Fairs and vaccination Clinics providing almost 400 immunizations for
seniors
1 -
Judy Webb-Martin:
Re-opening of the pool in the warm autumn months for afternoon lap swim
where seniors can exercise and socialize
2 -
James Carlson:
Over $200,000 in local grants to renovate the Senior Center and provide
education to seniors on accessing public transportation
1 -
Judy Webb-Martin:
And, the
creation of a Transportation Master Plan so all residents, even young ones
like him, have a way to get around town without driving.
2 -
Lynn Cirino:
Possibly the most impressive outcome is the creation of the
Sierra Madre Senior Housing Project with its 46 brand new for-rent units.
It is the the first affordable Senior Housing project built in Sierra Madre
and has served as a model to other communities in the region.
1 -
Phyllis Chapman:
The City
contributed 1.4 million dollars to acquire the land, and partnered with a
developer, using local, regional, state and federal funding to construct the
high-quality project which is close to the Downtown, Post Office, Market and
Senior Center. The complex itself also provides programs and activities to
its residents, making it an ideal place to live.
2 -
Maria Murray:
For 113
years our Wistaria Vine has flourished and thrived due to consistent
cultivation and strong support. We liken our children to its tender shoots
and sweetly fragrant lavender flowers, and we nurture their health and
well-being.
1 -
Tracey Thomas:
A Youth Master Plan was created in 1998 in response to increased drug and
alcohol use, smoking and bullying. After listening to the kids the Steering
Committee decided that a youth center was essential for Sierra Madre's 12 -
18 year olds. When the City Council finalized a permanent place for the
center, we kids were included in every step of the design process.
2 - Jim
Liston:
Financing
the Youth Activities Center (or YAC, as it is called) was a tremendous
challenge for a small town. The City pulled together a wide source of
funding to cover the 1.5 million dollar cost. Unfortunately, after we raised
the walls we didn’t have enough left for furniture.
1 -
Kaitlin Liston:
So we kids
wrote donation request letters,
2 -
Aliya Crochetiere:
Participated in fundraisers as waiters,
1 -
Kaitlin Liston:
Recycled
low flush toilets,
2 -
Aliya Crochetiere:
and gave all our earnings to furnish our center.
1 & 2 -
Kaitlin and Aliya (together):
We were proud to celebrate the opening of the YAC in 2005
1 -
Brenden McKiernan:
The staff
at the YAC has designed many programs and activities, including our Monday
Speaker Series, a Youth Employment Services (or YES) Program, and a variety
of popular classes such as Driver’s Ed .
2 -
Chief Diaz:
When gang
activity infiltrated our community and a near fatality occurred, the YAC, in
conjunction with the School District and Police Department provided grief
counseling and gang awareness and education for youths and parents. The
small size of the community allows us to step in and stop destructive
behavior by at-risk youths before it gets out of hand.
1 -
Jenny Bickel:
More than 100 community youths participate in the YAC on a regular basis.
2 - PJ
Siberell:
Ongoing surveys document a 14% decrease in minors smoking,
1 -
Jenny Bickel:
A 9% drop in bullying,
2 - PJ
Siberell:
An
8%
drop in alcohol use,
1 -
Jenny Bickel:
And a 7% decrease in marijuana use.
2 - Jonathan Medina: Sings
The YAC provides space for me to
learn, practice and rehearse on scholarship with a not–for-profit theater;
this allowed me to be recognized for my talent, hard work and perseverance;
not my Cerebral Palsy. As a result, after applying and auditioning
with 100 other middle-schoolers, I was accepted into the Los Angeles County
High School for the Arts and their respected vocal program.
1 -
Bill Coburn:
A recent survey
showed that since the creation of the YAC and the teens' involvement in the
development and creation of their space youth
participation in community service rose from 59% to 74%
2 -
Lisa Carlson:
Proactive
youths take on community
service projects each year including a Dog Wash Fundraiser which raises
money to maintain the Dog Park and Park clean-up days with the Sierra Madre
Environmental Action Council
1 -
Carter Thomas:
I can’t
wait to join the YAC!
2 -
Catherine Adde:
Preserving our beautiful hillsides and charming downtown is a challenge in
today’s world of big box retail stores, strip malls and fast food
restaurants. The price we pay to maintain our small town character is the
constant struggle to balance the city budget without the revenue that large
scale commercial development would bring. But the spirit of volunteerism
and the overwhelming commitment of our citizens to the preservation of our
community has made it work for the past 100 years and will make it work for
the next 100 years.
1 -
Lisa Spigai Perez:
I stand here today with a phenomenal group of people in their many different
hats, who make up our fabulous community, just like the individual Wistaria
branches that make up the world’s most unbelievable vine. All we have
left to say is:
ALL:
HATS OFF TO SIERRA MADRE! |
