Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 11, 2010

5

AROUND THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 11, 2010 

CAMPAIGN SEASON BEGINS

REMEMBRANCE

Joseph Charles Banis

March 14, 1920 ~ September 3, 2010

 Mano sunus (Lithuanian “My son”), Joe, Pop, Grandpa, 
Grandpa Joe, Great grandpa B...., whatever Joseph Banis’ 
relationship, he was always the faith filled, compassionate, 
loving and humorous person heaven now celebrates and we 
so sorely miss.

 Joe was educated in the local Lithuanian Parish School 
and local high school as preparation for college with study 
in Chemical Engineering and Finance. WWII interrupted 
his college for a time but God used this “interruption” 
to gift him with meeting and marrying Eunice DeLoach. 
Together the two welcomed six children into a home built 
on values of Faith in God and support of the less fortunate 
here and abroad, all offered in love and great humor! A 
thoughtful and informed approach to life was modeled and 
expected so education was a high priority. “No one can 
take away knowledge” pop said. He clearly believed that 
the mind was a gift not to be squandered Joe was born in 
Chicago Heights, Illinois, the treasured son of Lithuanian 
immigrants, John and Elenora Banis. !

 Joe served his country admirably and courageously as 
an Air Force Pilot in WWII and the Korean War, with an 
Honorable Discharge in 1953. He completed his college 
degree and had a successful career in banking. He brought 
home financial wisdom and thoughtful jokes to instruct 
and humor his family daily. We will never forget that: 1. 
“Your savings will earn you money so the most important 
use for earnings is SAVING!” and 2. “You don’t go to 
college to learn that pie are square (πr2) – pies are round!!”

 As a spiritual leader in his family, Joe lived his faith and 
modeled and taught it to his family. : Sunday mass, Saturday 
confession, parish events and support for missions and the 
less fortunate were an important part of his life. He was an 
active resident of his beloved Sierra Madre for the last 46 
years. 

 Joe’s legacy is that he loved life, and he gave us a model 
for how to live it. He accepted and embraced the challenges 
and responsibilities of life, and he taught us how to do the 
same. 

 A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, September 11, 
2010 at St. Rita Catholic Church Sierra Madre, California

Eunice Banis and the Banis family


Labor Day traditionally is the kick-off for the fall campaign season. In the San Gabriel Valley, simultaneous statewide campaign 
offices were opened for the Democratic Party with a great deal of fanfare. Pictured above, the Claremont Headquarters. 

Photo by: Howard Hays

Duarte

Duarte Festival of Authors – A Feast for Booklovers 

More than 50 Authors to Speak, Sign Books Oct. 2

 
More than 50 authors will participate in 
talks, panel discussions and book signings 
at the 8th annual Duarte Festival of Authors, 
Saturday, Oct. 2. The event will take place 
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the park at 
Westminster Gardens, 1420 Santo Domingo 
Ave. Admission is free.

Fr. Gregory Boyle, author of “Tattoos 
on the Heart: The Power of Boundless 
Compassion,” and founder of Homeboy 
Industries, the largest gang intervention 
agency in the country, will be among the 
day’s featured speakers at 3 p.m. 

Also headlining the event will be bestselling 
author, leading neuroscientist and frequent 
TV guest authority on the mind, aging, and 
memory, Dr. Gary Small. Dr. Small will 
discuss his latest book, “The Naked Lady 
Who Stood on Her Head,” recounting some 
of his most unusual cases at 1 p.m. 

Presented by The Friends of the Duarte 
Library, the Duarte Festival of Authors offers 
a feast for book lovers of all ages and tastes. 
Once again the festival will showcase a rich 
sampling of the diversity of literary talent 
who live and work in Southern California. 

With the growing popularity of performance 
poetry, this year’s festival will feature 
Indelible Ink, a showcase of performance 
artists whose original work is avant garde, 
courageous, entertaining and thought 
provoking. Showcase host, Monica Lee 
Copeland, one of the early instigators in the 
Slam Poetry movement and Jerry Quickley, 
award-winning poet, storyteller, hip-hop 
artist, and political activist, will be among 
those who perform their work at 11:30 a.m.

Among the numerous authors scheduled 
to appear and sign their books are mystery 
writers, Dennis Palumbo, “Mirror Image;” 
Jeff Sherratt, “Detour to Murder;” Joel Fox, 
“Lincoln’s Hand;” Gayle Carline, “Freezer 
Burn;” Alice Zogg, “Revamp Camp,” and 
Ann Carter, “Cape Seduction.” 

Pulitzer prize winning journalist turned 
award-winning author, Jesse Katz will 
present his father/son baseball memoir, 
“The Opposite Field,” which was a 2010 
summer reading pick by Westways. In tune 
with the headlines of troubled young stars, 
author C. B. Shiepe’s offers his fiction novel, 
“Cliff Falls.” Gerald Schiller, the author of 
nine books and a performing magician 
will talk about his latest, “It Happened in 
Hollywood,” and Thelma T. Reyna, offers 
up a collection of short stories in “The 
Heavens Weep for Us and Other Stories.” 
Readers can draw inspiration from authors 
Philip Ostergard, “The Inspired Wisdom of 
Abraham Lincoln,” Scott Glabb, “A Saint in 
the City,” Judie O’Neill, “The Lazy Woman’s 
Guide to Just About Everything,” Marja 
Meijers, “Breath of Life,” Brenda Winner, 
“Ten Perfect Fingers,” and Chuck Robertson, 
“A Simple Man’s Study of Esther.” 

A window on the beauty and adventure to 
be found in and around the outdoors of 
Southern California is chronicled in the 
works of Elizabeth Pomeroy, “Lost and 
Found,” “John Muir in Southern California,” 
and Lahla Keiser, “Glendora’s Backyard: Big 
Dalton Canyon,” while author/photographer 
Mike Torrey offers a glimpse into “Machu 
Picchu’s Terraces of Enlightenment.” 

James Aguirre shares the story of “William 
Henninger, His Native American Wife, 
Teresa and Their Legacy,” and Bert W. 
Colima, “Gentleman of the Ring: The Bert 
Colima Story,” relates the story about the 
life of his middleweight champion father. 
Author/decorated Pasadena police officer, 
Victor Cass will appear with his new novel, 
“Telenovela,” set in Pasadena that alternates 
the plot of a Mexican soap opera, the 
fictitious “Sofia de Amor,” with the love lives 
of two beautiful, sophisticated Latinas who 
happen to be the daughters of immigrants.

Authors of children’s and young adult books 
include Ann Stalcup, “Leo Politi: Artist of 
the Angels,” Jean Blasiar, “Emmy Budd and 
the Hijacked Train,” Lois Carlson, “Shadows 
of the Past,” and Jenny Hughes, “The 
Journeys of Jeff and Jessie.” 

Other authors who will be on hand to talk, 
meet the public and sign their books include: 
Ann Garrett and Nancy Goodell, “TLC for 
Frazzled Kids,” Janie Speare, “ABC’s for 
Christ,” Loa Blasucci, “All Health’s Breaking 
Loose,” Debbie Madison, “Rider Down,” 
and Ron Oberon, “Our Earth and Beyond.”

There will also be a host of other treats 
awaiting festival-goers, including a fine art 
exhibit by local artists.

For more information, call (626) 357-4151 
or visit www.friendsoftheduartelibrary.com. 

#

 

Sierra Madre

Oktoberfest

The City of Sierra Madre is hosting the 6th annual Oktoberfest 
Golf and Tennis Tournament on Saturday, October 2, 2010. All 
proceeds from this event directly benefit the youth of Sierra 
Madre and the surrounding communities. Proceeds from this 
event enable the Youth Activity Center (YAC) of Sierra Madre 
to purchase new supplies and equipment and host programs and 
classes for YAC members. 

The golf portion of the tournament will be held at the Eaton 
Canyon Golf Course. The golf tournament will be a nine-hole, 
best ball, foursome format. The tennis tournament will be held 
at the Orange Grove tennis courts in the City of Arcadia and will 
follow a mixed doubles, round-robin format. Both the golf and 
tennis tournament will begin at 8:00am.

Following the golf and tennis tournaments a lunch reception and 
awards ceremony will be held at the Hart Park House, located at 
222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024, at 12:00pm. 
There will be a raffle and silent auction during the reception and 
awards ceremony. The proceeds from this event will create new 
programs and classes at the Youth Activity Center, as well as 
purchase much needed furniture for the facility. Currently there 
are over 100 youth enrolled at the Youth Activity Center from 
Sierra Madre and the surrounding communities. 

Registration forms for the Oktoberfest Golf and Tennis 
Tournament can be found online at www.cityofsierramadre.com, 
or at the following City buildings: Community and Personnel 
Services Office located at 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, 
CA 91024; City Hall located at 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra 
Madre, CA 91024; and the Library located at 440 W. Sierra Madre 
Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. The cost for the golf tournament 
is $70.00 per person and the cost of the tennis tournament is 
$50.00 per person, both fees include lunch. If you are interested 
in attending the lunch reception and awards ceremony tickets 
can be purchased for $25.00 per person. For more information 
on the event or on how to contribute please call Kyle Schnurr, 
Events Specialist, at 626-355-5278 ext. 705. 


411 on H2O

 The City of Sierra Madre is sponsoring two “Walk and Talks” and 
three Community Water Forums dedicated to the topic of water 
operations, water capital improvements, and water department 
finances. You’re invited to attend the upcoming events. 

Walk & Talk – tour the water treatment & distribution plant, meet 
water department staff, learn about what’s involved in providing 
quality water, obtain information about the department’s 
finances, and most importantly, ask questions. (Approx. 2 hours.) 

Community Water Forums – another opportunity to learn 
about the City’s water department, finances, operations, and ask 
questions, without the need to walk around the water department 
maintenance facility. (Approx. 1 hour.)

A few of the items covered include:

Where the City gets its water.

Why are water system improvements needed? Which future 
projects are planned? What will it cost?

What are the finances of a city water department?

What happens if the Water Department is unable to meet its 
financial obligations?

And much more!

This fall, the City Council will discuss increasing the City’s water 
rates. Please provide your input and comments at a Walk & Talk, 
or a Community Water Forum, or by contacting City Hall – 
the City Council will use your input and comments when they 
discuss a future water rate increase.

This is your chance to ask questions, get involved, make 
important decisions regarding the long term viability of the 
water department. 

Come ask your questions!

- Community Water Forum - Monday, Sept. 13, 7:00 pm

 Youth Activity Center - 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. 

- Walk & Talk - 
Wednesday, Sept. 29, 
6:00 pm 

 Public Works Yard 
- 621 E. Sierra Madre 
Blvd. 

Community Groups, 
Homeowner 
Associations, or 
individuals interested 
in hosting a group 
presentation may 
contact Elisa Weaver, 
Director of Community 
& Personnel Services at 
626-355-5278 to make 
arrangements.


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