Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 17, 2010

WELBORN (cont. from page 10)

political acts that have made a mockery of our 
democratic traditions, ideals and the President’s own 
words.

 The appointment was so brazen and wrong that 
even the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance 
Committee, Max Baucus, complained about the end-
run, stating “Senate confirmation of presidential 
appointees is an essential process prescribed by 
the constitution that serves as a check on executive 
power”. We can only hope that other Democratic 
senators come to realize that it is not just the people’s 
power this president seeks to limit. He is truly 
comfortable – desirous actually – ruling from on 
high without the consent or opinion of the Senate or 
House. 

 Those who follow and count themselves as fans of 
Barak Obama may seem themselves as philosopher 
kings who, along with their anointed leader, know 
what’s best for the rest of us, but the rest of us 
Americans simply see arrogant, condescending 
bullies who want to control the most sensitive and 
private decisions we will ever be called to make: 
decisions about our health.

 Elections have consequences, and we are living 
the natural consequences of electing to the office of 
the presidency the 2nd most left-leaning Senator in 
the history of the Senate. I am willing to forgive the 
electorate for their 2008 decision, since candidate 
Obama did everything he could to position himself as 
a moderate (see my Dec 11, 2008 article). The voters 
accepted that version and prayed it was close to the 
truth. The ensuing 1-• years of his presidency have 
shown the color and texture of Obama’s true stripes. 
In that sense, then, the next election will matter more. 
With the truth being disclosed with every utterance 
and appointment of this administration, voters will 
have a clear opportunity to inform their leaders 
whether they wish to live in a land of freedoms or 
limits. 

 The choice has never – I repeat, never! – been 
clearer in my lifetime. My only hope is that when 
the inevitable repudiation of the extreme leftist turn 
in our country’s governance occurs that we will not 
have traveled so far down that path that we will not be 
able to repair the damage. Actions and elections have 
consequences. Whether it is in the form of Supreme 
Court nominees or Medicare agency appointments, 
we must always be vigilant and guard our freedoms 
and rights, or we will find them usurped and co-
opted by those who believe that they know better 
than the rest of us how to live our lives.

 About the author: Gregory J. Welborn is a freelance writer 
and has spoken to several civic and religious organizations 
on cultural and moral issues. He lives in the Los Angeles 
area with his wife and 3 children and is active in the 
community. He can be reached at gregwelborn@earthlink.
net.

11

Homes & Property

 Mountain Views News Saturday, July 17, 2010 

One Of A Kind: Featuring unique homes & gardens and the people who create them Story and Photos By Chris Bertrand


Spectacular Annandale Contemporary… Just Listed

The prestigious Annandale neighborhood, in 
western Pasadena, grew up around the Annandale 
Golf Club established over a century ago by, among 
others, railroad magnate and philanthropist Henry 
Huntington, and included members with familiar 
names like Gamble, Kellogg and Weyerhaeuser.

The winding streets above the club curve up and 
up, revealing only short bits of road ahead, like 
slowly unwrapping a delightful package. The slow 
climb leads one to expect panoramic views from the 
homes situated above. This sleek contemporary, just extensively remodeled, 
does not disappoint that or any expectation of this 4633 square foot single 
level home with separate guest house. 

It’s a neighborhood built on privacy, with many of the properties gated. The 
entrance to the property is elegantly “wrapped” in sleek lines suggesting the 
delights inside without revealing any of them. The pattern of the wrought 
iron gate is beautifully mimicked in the driveway detailing. 

A camera intercom at the gate, part of a state of the art 8 camera DVD security 
system, provides the resident with a full view of guests at the gate. A long 
level driveway whets the appetite for the 2.1 acres with fresh landscape and 
hardscape, including punctuations of grass infused pavers.

A courtyard entry soothes the soul with a long stone waterfall which can also 
be enjoyed from the formal living areas. Conversely, from the courtyard one 
can see all the way through the home to downtown LA and well beyond, even 
to the ocean on clear days. 

The water feature extends across the pathway to the front door, inviting 
the entrant to step across the steel bridge to this contemporary refuge. In 
accordance to the owner’s attention to detail, the pattern of the bridge material 
imitates the front door hardware.

Once inside, the owners kept the best of noted Pasadena architects Cain and 
Mc Kerracher’s design and materials, during an extensive remodel, just completed. An earlier owner expanded the floorplan, adding master suite space and an extra bedroom. 

I found the home perfect for a single or couple, as well as a family, a true rarity. The wing with three bedroom suites is separate, with a fourth bedroom and bath off the kitchen. A separate, 
835 square foot guest house with full kitchen and bath is adjacent, but completely private.

Dark polished terrazzo still eloquently speaks of the home’s 1961 origins, as does the living room’s fireplace wall of Palos Verde stone and floor to ceiling glass views toward the saltwater, 
infinity edge pool, downtown and the ocean.

The owner’s stone and tile industry background provided them knowledge and expertise in choosing unusual and exciting, yet highly durable, flooring, counter and bath surfaces. Each 
application is sleek and uniquely stunning, like the 24” polished porcelain “super white” tile in the kitchen and 
casual areas with stainless steel spaces to tie the kitchen’s stainless steel to the rooms beyond. 

Porcelain tile is a wonderful application for kitchens, baths and pool areas due to its through color and 
impermeability to stain. Believe me; I’ve tested it in my own home, accidentally, of course. The iridescent glass 
tiles in the pool change color and personality depending on the weather and light. The Indian “Rainforest” marble 
is spectacular in one of the baths, as is the “Deep Sea” granite in the dining room wet bar… and much more. 

Outside, the 550 square foot deck, just renovated with cable rail and fire resistant decking creates an outdoor 
living space for the gentle breezes that come up into Annandale Canyon through the notch in the hills below the 
home. The neighborhood banded together over the past years to purchase previously development-ready land, to 
preserve the neighborhood as is, for future generations. 

Important in this area, there is dedicated parking outside the gate, plus ample space for a dozen cars onsite, in 
addition to the (fabulously finished) garage. 

The owners have created the magical balance between elegance and a practical comfortable lifestyle. I was 
admittedly reluctant to leave it behind to return to hot city life.

1352 Glen Oaks Boulevard in Pasadena was just listed at $3,595,000 by Catherine “Tink” Cheney of Coldwell 
Banker. For more information, contact the agent at 626-356-8129 or visit the property’s unique website at 
www.1352GlenOaks.com. 


If you know of an interesting home or garden that might be suitable for my column, please send the details to C.Bertrand@
MtnViewsNews.com. 


Chris Bertrand

1352 Glen Oaks

 
This year’s tax filing season 
is behind us, but if you sell 
your home this year (or any 
other, for that matter), you'll 
find your home will shelter 
your

taxes as well as your family. 
Specifically, the Taxpayer 
Relief Act of 1997 provides 
a substantial exemption on 
your capital gains when you 
sell.

 In general terms, when 
you sell your home, the IRS 
allows you to keep

capital gains – tax-free - of up to $500,000 
(married filing jointly) or

$250,000 (single taxpayers). That's right, no 
taxes on your gains, if you

qualify.

 It's fairly simple to qualify, with the most 
important requirement being

that you've lived in the home for two of the 
last five years. And this is an

exclusion you can claim again and again, 
theoretically every two years!

 There are even provisions if you are forced to 
sell before you satisfy the

two-year requirement, for reasons such as job 
change, illness, divorce,

disaster or others. The exclusion on capital 
gains taxes is simply prorated in

these cases.

 For example, if you live only one year in your 
home before being forced to

sell early, you can exclude up to one-half of 
the normal limits from capital

gains taxes (up to $250,000 instead of $500,000 
for married taxpayers

filing jointly). As always, consult your tax 
professional to discover how to

maximize the benefits of homeownership.

 Luther Tsinoglou has just been named the top 
producing sales agent in Dickson Podley Realtor's 
Sierra Madre office for 2009, making the top 10% 
at the company overall. Luther has been licensed 
and practicing real estate since 1992. He specializes 
in residential and income property in Southern 
California. Luther can be reached at his direct line 
(626) 695-8650 or at luther@tsinoglou.com. 


New Listing!


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