Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 15, 2010

3

AROUND THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

 Mountain Views News Saturday, May 15, 2010


“Betting on Habitat” a Success at 
Santa Anita Park

Over 200 attended a first time Habitat for Humanity fundraising event on May 1st at Santa 
Anita Racetrack. Event chair, Juanita St. John, fondly remembered social events in decades 
past revolving around the running of the Kentucky Derby, and initiated this event. The open 
air event enjoyed the breathtaking backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Santa 
Anita track and jumbo screen of the Derby run below.

San Gabriel Valley chapter executive director, Sonja Yates, was pleased to announce today 
that over $14,500 was 
raised in this effort. 
“We’ve been swamped 
with finishing the 
eleven condominium 
home development 
at Kenwood Street in 
Glendale for a June 5 
dedication, and are so 
grateful that Juanita 
took on this fun and 
profitable afternoon 
attended by so many 
Habitat supporters. 
Every little bit helps 
us move closer to our 
goals for new projects 
on the boards in our 
valley.”

Mario Del Grosso, a 
home buyer, from the 
recently completed 
Monrovia build on 
Sherman Avenue 
spoke eloquently on 
the rigorous selection 
process, the strenuous 
build process and 
the neighborhood 
“family” the four families built together with their four homes during that year long process 
in Monrovia. 

Dozens of silent and live auction items from local restaurants and services were quickly 
snapped up, but one of the most unusual items offered to lively bidding was a tour of old town 
Monrovia, with shopping and dining stops, coordinated by Betty Sandford, the Honorary 
Patron for the event. Sanford received a standing ovation for her lifelong support of worthy 
community causes including San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Completion of the Kenwood homes will bring this organization to the significant 54 home 
production benchmark. Coming next is the affiliate’s first “green” build. For more information 
on how you can make a difference at the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, visit www.
SGVHabitat.org or call 626-387-6899.


BettySandford, Juanita St. John and Habitat Director, Sonja Yates

Mario Del Grasso, a Habitat home buyer spoke 
eloquently to the attendees

Duarte

Sierra Madre

VAN TASSEL CREEK WATERSHED ELIMINATION 

PROPOSED AS PART OF VULCAN EXPANSION

 According to the findings of an analysis released today by A.G.I. Geotechnical, Inc., approximately 50 acres of the Van Tassel 
Creek watershed will be eliminated by Vulcan Materials Company under its proposed plan to expand its mining operations to 
the 80 acre site immediately adjacent to the City of Duarte. 

According to the report, the current Environmental Impact Report (EIR) being considered by the Azusa City Council does not 
analyze or mitigate the almost 50 acre reduction in the watershed area. It also states that the EIR does not address the effects 
that the elimination of Van Tassel Creek will have on the native animal, vegetation or plant life.

The watershed review conducted by A.G.I. Geotechnical, Inc., was commissioned by the City of Duarte and submitted in 
writing to the City of Azusa in response to the ongoing debate on the validity of the Vulcan EIR and Revised Conditional Use 
Permit currently under consideration for approval by the Azusa City Council. The Council originally postponed a decision on 
whether to allow Vulcan to move its mining operations to the west side of its property on April 26 to provide its staff time to 
review and prepare answers to questions raised in A.G.I.’s initial geology report and other recently received comments on the 
Vulcan EIR submitted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, City of Hope, and the City of Duarte. The hearing 
will continue on May 17 starting at 6:30 pm at Azusa City Hall.

 (…more)

Vulcan has a permit from the City of Azusa to mine 190 acres of its 270-acre property. It is seeking approval to move its mining 
operations from the currently approved 80 acres on the east side of its property to 80 acres on the west above Duarte. 

 In 2008, the Duarte City Council established a $700,000 fund entitled the “Fight Against Vulcan Expansion” fund 
(FAVE) in response to the anticipated expansion plans by Vulcan and its potential adverse impact on Duarte residents. For 
more information about the City of Duarte’s Fight Against Vulcan Expansion activities, call Duarte Deputy City Manager, 
Karen Herrera at (626) 357-7931, ext. 221.

Santa Anita Racetrack 
During WW II

Did you know that the Santa Anita Racetrack was used as a Japanese-
American relocation facility and army ordnance training camp during 
World War II? TV host and reporter Carolyn Conley will discuss these, 
and other fascinating facts in “The 
Lost Years: The History of Santa 
Anita Racetrack During WW II,” on 
Wednesday, May 19, at 7:00 p.m., at 
the Sierra Madre Public Library. 

Ms. Conley began her racing 
career as a groom and went on to 
exercise horses for a number of the 
training greats, including Charlie 
Wittingham, Bobby Frankel, 
D. Wayne Lukas, and Richard 
Mandella. From 1996-2002 she was 
a key member of Santa Anita Park’s 
Eclipse Award-winning broadcast 
team, and for several summers 
served as the host of “Racing from 
Monmouth Park,” on Fox Sports 
New York. “The Lost Years” was 
originally a documentary written 
and produced by Ms. Conley for 
HorseRacing TV. She is currently 
a Santa Anita track and location 
reporter and hosts “RaceDay America for HRTV. 

This program is free and open to the public. 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. Closed on 
all major holidays. For information on all our Library activities and services, 
please call (626) 355-7186, or visit our website at www.sierramadre.lib.ca.us. 


STUDY REVEALS MINING WILL RESULT IN A 76% INCREASE IN 
MATERIALS FOR VULCAN; “EVEN SWAP” THEORY DISCREDITED 

 An analysis by A.G.I. Geotechnical, 
Inc. shows that Vulcan’s available 
mining material will increase by 
approximately 76% if allowed to move 
to the westernmost 80 acres of the site; a 
far cry from the even swap the company 
has touted since it first introduced 
the expansion plan in 2009 to the 
community.

The A.G.I. analysis reveals that 
volumetric information previously 
produced by Lilburn 
Consulting – the 
firm that prepared 
the mine expansion 
Environmental 
Impact Report (EIR) 
on behalf of the City 
of Azusa – contains 
a critical error that 
results in a drastic 
understatement of 
magnitude of the 
mine expansion. 
Lilburn utilized 
a 22 year old 
topographical map 
when calculating the 
current amount of 
material existing on 
the east side of Fish 
Creek thus resulting 
in an erroneous 
conclusion that 52.5 
million cubic yards are available to mine 
under the pre-existing mining plan. 

A.G.I. Geotechnical, utilizing the 
correct topographical map concluded 
that the amount of material available 
under pre-existing mining plan is only 
34.6 million cubic yards. If the new 
west side project, at an estimated 60.9 
million cubic yards, is approved, it 
would authorize a 76 percent increase 
in the amount of minable material for 
Vulcan. The increase would be so large 
that the Company would have more 
material available to mine under the 
new expansion plan than it originally 
had when the CUP was first approved in 
1988 (57.5 million cubic yards). 

 “Even using 
the Azusa consultant’s numbers, this 
is far from an even swap. “It makes 
one question the accuracy of the other 
portions of the EIR; a point we have been 
raising from the very beginning.” said 
Duarte City Manager Darrell George

The volumetrics review conducted 
by A.G.I. Geotechnical, Inc., was 
commissioned by the City of Duarte and 
submitted in writing to the City of Azusa 
in response to the ongoing debate on the 
validity of the Vulcan Environmental 
Impact Report (EIR) and Revised 
Conditional Use Permit currently under 
consideration for approval by the Azusa 
City Council. 

The Azusa City Council originally 
postponed a decision on whether to allow 
Vulcan to move its mining operations to 
the west side of its property on April 26 
to provide its staff time to review and 
prepare answers to questions raised 
in A.G.I.’s initial geology report and 
other recently received comments on 
the Vulcan EIR submitted by the South 
Coast Air Quality Management District, 
City of Hope, and the City of Duarte. 
The hearing will continue on May 17 
starting at 6:30 p.m. at Azusa City Hall. 
Interested parties are encouraged to 
attend.

Vulcan has a permit from the City of 
Azusa to mine 190 acres of its 270-acre 
property. It is seeking approval to move 
its mining operations from the currently 
approved 80 acres on the east side of its 
property to 80 acres on the west above 
Duarte. 

 In 2008, the Duarte City Council 
established a $700,000 fund entitled the 
“Fight Against Vulcan Expansion” fund 
(FAVE) in response to the anticipated 
expansion plans by Vulcan and its 
potential adverse impact on Duarte 
residents. For more information about 
the City of Duarte’s Fight Against 
Vulcan Expansion activities, call Duarte 
Deputy City Manager, Karen Herrera at 
(626) 357-7931, ext. 221.

The Friends of 
The Altadena Library 
present 
The First Annual• Millionaire’s Food Courtfeaturing a taste of Altadena 
from many of your favorite 
restaurants like:
Amy’s Patio CafeBills’ Chicken • Bulgarini’s 
Martin’s BBQThe Coffee GalleryThe Park Bench Deliand others.for more information:
call 626-798-0833 email: mtkomai@altadenalibrary.orgfees and comissions will benefit the Altadena LibrarySaturday 
June 5th 201010AM until 6PMSaturday 
June 5th 201010AM until 6PMat the Altadena Library600 East Mariposa, Altadena, CA 91001Fun for the whole family. 
Make a day of it.
• Delicious food• Art Festival featuring 
local artists• Juried Salon Exhibit• Fantastic Art Installationcreated by children 
attending the event
Open Houses 5/15 & 5/16 
Open Saturday & Sunday 2-4pm2573 E Villa St. Pasadena Patricia Dmytrow $539,000 
Open Sunday 1-3pm418 W Woodruff Ave. Arcadia Ken Gay $828,000 
Open Sunday 1-4pm759 Arcadia Ave. #D Arcadia Niroo Dev $459,950 
Open Sunday 2-4pm3028 Glenrose Ave. Altadena Susan Stone Rey $460,000332 Cabrillo Rd. Arcadia Cynthia Tilleman $768,0002159 Highland Vista Dr., Arcadia Jeff & Darlene Bowen $998,000635 W Foothill Blvd. Arcadia Kay Yoon $1,298,000756 W Foothill Blvd. Monrovia Kay Yoon $448,000363 Heather Heights Ct. Monrovia Gary Lorenzini $699,000739 W Hillcrest Blvd. Monrovia Susan Miali $770,000352 Hill St. Monrovia Susan Miali $849,000362 Longford Place Monrovia Nicola Speranta $1,398,000249 N Orange Grove Blvd. Pasadena Mel Macklin $610,000121 Marion Ave. Pasadena Jean Valiquette/Blanca Jenkins $611,0003560 Mountain View Ave. Pasadena Susan Stone Rey $648,0001623 Hastings Heights Ln. Pasadena Pauli Morin/Kelly Myers $1,998,0004829 Arden Temple City Howard Lu $588,000 
Open Sunday 2-5pm1328 Oakwood Dr. Arcadia Amy Ellis $950,000 
Open Sunday 3-5pm103 W Arthur Ave. Arcadia Peggy Fong Chen $998,0001011 Rodeo Rd. Arcadia Peggy Fong Chen $1,388,000 
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com