Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 11, 2010

2

CALENDAR

Mountain View News Saturday, December 11, 2010 


Holiday Decorating Contest

 Weather Wise


5-Day Forecast 

Sierra Madre, Ca.

 Mon: Sunny Hi 70s Lows 40s 

 Tues: Sunny Hi 70s Lows 40s 

 Wed: Sunny Hi 70s Lows 40s 

 Thur: Sunny Hi 70s Lows 40s 

 Fri: Sunny Hi 70s Lows 40s 

Forecasts courtesy of the National Weather Service

Gobble Gobble Hey!"

Yeah, yeah, I know - I used that title a couple years ago. But you 
SAT. 12/11 - SURFIN' WITH ELVIS @ OCEAN VIEW BISTRO 
IN MONTROSE, 9pm. (sort of the pared-down version of Longboard 
Ranch) 3826 Ocean View Blvd. (818) 248-2722. Full bar 
and kitchen. www.ovbistro.com 

 

also.... CHECK OUT THESE live-hosted weekend shows at 
KCSN:

especially PAT BAKER'S TANGLED ROOTS program, which 
airs on KCSN 88.5 FM every Sunday from 3-5pm, just before 
The Dylan Hours, hosted by the lovely and talented Lisa Finnie, 
5-7pm.

Pat's show is the longest running and most influential of all the 
Americana/Roots programs at KCSN. He has an astounding personal 
library of music and plays everyone from Robert Johnson 
to Kate Wolf to Frank Zappa to Hank Williams to Nina Simone 
to Allen Ginsberg to The Grateful Dead to Townes Van Zandt to 
Steve Earle, etc., etc., etc.

For a complete listing of the live weekend shows and their descriptions, 
folks can visit: www.kcsn.org

A note: due to the fact that KCSN shares a frequency with Saddleback 
College, folks on the east side are better off tuning in at kcsn.
org, where the stream is crystal clear! 

 

Please remember to call and verify all info. before making plans. 
Everything is subject to change. This is show biz, after all... 

 

Hope to see you out & about, SierraMadreSue 

sierramadresue@yahoo.com 

DECO 
BLITZ!!

Saturday, December 18 
and 

Sunday, December 19 

 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Free lunch will be provided!

“Sueños de California” has the potential to be one of Sierra 
Madre’s most beautiful floats ever. Because this year’s entry is so 
large, we are hoping to complete at least 35% of the decoration 
before Christmas. To reach this target we need your help! 

 We’d love to have you join us any time during the month of December 
to help decorate, but December 18 and 19 are days when 
we especially need all hands on deck. 

 Join us for a Deco Blitz! Help decorate the spires of the mission 
in oatmeal, cinnamon and sesame seed. Create bark for palm 
trees and bougainvillea vines. Experienced decorators might 
detail monarch butterfly wings with intricate patterns of orange 
lentil, rice and strawflower. 

 Work is available for all experience levels, however we mainly 
need volunteers aged 14 and up. All minors must have a release 
form signed by a parent prior to working. Release forms are 
available at the Float Barn. There’s no need to call ahead of time 
unless you are bringing a large group (more than 6 people). 

 Float decorating is a lot of fun, but it can be messy so wear your 
grubby clothes. Free lunch will be provided.

 See you at the Blitz! Float Barn 587 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Sierra Madre, CA 91024 355-7005


Submit your entries for our 2nd annual Holiday Decorating 
Contest! Enter the address of homes we should consider 
for our 2nd annual contest. We’ll drive and evaluate the 
entries in our service area from Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra 
Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia and Duarte on Monday and/or 
Tuesday, December 13-14 between 5-9 p.m. So…. If you’re 
entered, make sure your lights are on for us to take photos 
and make the awards! Send your submission addresses with 
street address, cross street and town name to C.Bertrand@
MtnViewsNews.com 

All Aboard Enchanted 
Railroad Storytime!

Actor-storyteller Bill Ratner spins family-friendly 
tales Dec. 18

All aboard for some family fun! Voice-over artist and storyteller 
Bill Ratner will tell imaginative, railroad-themed tales at 11 a.m. 
Saturday, Dec. 18, in Descanso Gardens.

 Families are invited to gather for stories, then purchase a ticket 
for a ride on Descanso’s very own Enchanted Railroad. Hot cocoa 
will be served from 10:30 a.m. to noon (free while supplies last).

 Ratner is one of Southern California’s leading storytellers. He 
performed at this year’s National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, 
Tenn. He has told stories from coast-to-coast and across 
the Atlantic.

 His voice is instantly recognizable: He is heard on movie trailers 
(“Megamind,” “Yoga Bear” and “Blades of Glory”), on animated 
series (“Family Guy” and “Robot Chicken”) and as an announcer 
(Discovery, A&E and as the voice of Channel 7).

 Enchanted Railroad Storytime will meet, weather permitting, 
at the Center Circle in Descanso Gardens. Storytime is free with 
Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students; $3 children 
5-12; free for children 4 and younger. Railroad tickets are priced 
separately at $3 each.


PUBLIC INVITED TO ATTEND PLANNING SESSION

 On Monday, December 13, 2010 at 6:00 pm the Community & Personnel 
Services Department will be inviting the Continual User Groups, 
Contract Instructors, and members of the Coordinating Council to meet 
with staff to discuss the current procedures when utilizing City facilities. 
This meeting will take place in the City Council Chambers at 232 W. 
Sierra Madre Blvd. 

 Per the Brown Act, staff will be posting the meeting for both the Community 
Services Commission and Parks & Facilities Master Plan Committee 
and invite members of both bodies to participate at this informational 
session. 

Background 

As the City gets closer to opening the renovated Sierra Madre and Fireside 
Room and beginning construction on the Hart Park House Senior 
Center, staff has reviewed the City’s current procedures for utilizing the 
City’s facilities. 

Currently, the City charges $23 per hour for a Facility Attendant when 
the Sierra Madre Room is rented out for a private event. However, the 
City does not charge, nor does the City provide, a Facility Attendant 
when rooms in either the Community Recreation Center or Hart Park 
House are utilized for meetings, contract classes, and some not-for-profit 
events. Instead, a practice of checking out a key has been put into place. 
At the Hart Park House, the key is checked out and returned to the Police 
Department after the meeting/class. But in the case of the Community 
Recreation Center, each organization/contract teacher has been given 
their own key, which in theory, is returned after the event; however, as 
some organizations and all contract classes meet more than once, the key 
is generally held on to and often not returned. 

 Over the years, PA systems, tables, chairs and other items have “disappeared” 
from these locations. We have experienced increased levels of 
vandalism and many tables have been broken. We have also had user 
groups violate policy, including drinking alcoholic beverages in the 
Youth Activity Center. Additionally, with the addition of Personnel and 
Risk Management to the Department, the offices now contain confidential 
information and documentation. 

 We have taken steps to strengthen security including creating a more 
rigid “key check-out” process with the Police Department, replacing the 
doors from the back patio during the renovation, and installing security 
cameras in the Sierra Madre Room. However, when a facility is in use, 
staff feels that having a Facility Attendant on-site to be responsible for 
ensuring that the facilities are being used appropriately, to make sure 
users remain in the areas they are permitted, and to close the buildings 
securely is the best business practice and in the best interest of both the 
organization and the community. 

Financial Implications 

Scheduling a Facility Attendant to be on-site when a regular staff person 
is not available will come as an increased cost. Currently, the City’s salary 
matrix has a part-time Facility Rental Supervisor (Facility Attendant) 
utilized for private rentals, generally on the weekends. 

 According to the recent fee study adopted by the City Council, the fully 
burdened cost to the City for a part-time Community & Personnel Services 
staff member is $49/hour. This rate includes the hourly rate, the 
cost of taxes, insurances, and all other administrative overheads. If the 
City requires a Facility Attendant to be on-site whenever a building is 
being utilized the cost impact will not exceed $2,500 per week. This is a 
high estimate based on the $49/hr rate, times 4 hours a day, multiplied by 
6 days a week for two positions (one for the Hart Park House, the other 
for the Community Recreation Center). 

 A cost of $2,500 per week equates to an additional $130,000 a year that 
is not currently within the City’s budget. Staff is concerned that passing 
this cost on to the user groups, especially in its entirety, would make utilizing 
the City’s facilities far too expensive, especially for the Continual 
User Groups. 

Currently, Continual User Groups pay an annual fee of $106 for their 
monthly meetings. Many of these groups give back thousands of dollars 
to the Department and City each year both in goods and in volunteer 
services. Staff fears that charging $49/hr for a Facility Attendant for each 
meeting would cripple these volunteer organization’s budgets resulting 
in either the groups not utilizing the City facilities or a decrease in donations 
which traditionally has enabled the Department to host a number 
of programs and events. 

Summary 

 We invite and encourage the Community Services Commission and 
Parks & Facilities Master Plan Committee to attend a meeting to gather 
community input on this topic on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 6:00 
pm in the City Council Chambers. This meeting is open to the public. 

SIERRA MADRE ROSE FLOAT 
ASSOCIATION

PARADE TICKET

 R A F F L E

SEE THE 2011 ROSE PARADE IN PERSON

TWO FRONT ROW GRANDSTAND TICKETS ON 
ORANGE GROVE BLVD.

PARKING INCLUDED

RAFFLE TICKETS: $ 1.00 each 6 for $ 5.00

(Retail Value of $90.00 Per Ticket)

Available at the Sierra Madre Rose Float Barn

DRAWING TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 
29TH at 7:00PM at the Sierra Madre Rose Float Barn

(Winner need not be present) Donated by Sharp Seating


2011 Entertainment Books Are Here!

Please help the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association raise funds 
for the 2011 Entry “Suenos De California” buy buying an Entertainment 
Coupon Book today. You’ll not only be helping a wonderful 
cause, you will save $$$$ when you redeem the coupons.

 The book starts at $25.00 for the San Gabriel Valley. Others 
are available at various prices. Call Ann at 626-574-1331

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MIXER

 The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce invites you to 
join them for their December Mixer, at the Sierra Madre 
Rose Float Association Barn, located at587 E. Sierra Madre 
Blvd. on Thursday, December 16th, from 5:30 – 7pm.
Cost to attend Chamber 
Mixers is $7/members, $15/
non-members, (NOTE: this is 
the standard mixer admission 
fee for you to use as a guide, 
however, for this mixer only, 
ANY amount you wish to donate 
will be gratefully accepted). 
ALL Admission fees collected 
will be donated to SMRFA.
Get a preview of this year’s 
float, “Sueños de California.” 
At 33 ft. high and 55 ft. long, 
it is one of the most ambitious 
floats ever attempted bny 
SMRFA. Will Suenos be the 
Association’s sixth consecutive 
award-winning float? Stop by 
for a pre-parade preview. Meet 
members of the Association 
when they are not working 
on the float and have time to 
answer any questions you may 
have. Enjoy refreshments and 
show your support for the Sierra 
Madre Rose Float Association.


FIRST UNITED 
METHODIST 
TO PERFORM 
HANDEL’S 
MESSIAH

The holiday season is 
upon us. Join us on December 
19th when the 
Chancel Choir, Sanctuary 
Quartet and Chamber 
Orchestra will present 
the Christmas portion of 
Handel's " Messiah" during 
the Sunday Service. 
Sunday worship begins 
at 10 AM. Join Us. First 
United Methodist Church 
500 East Colorado Blvd, 
Pasadena CA 91101 

For more information 
contact the church at 
First United Methodist 
626.796.0157

1630 AM

Free on-air publicity for 
local events

Sierra Madre’s new community radio station is now accepting 
scripts for Public Service Announcements (PSAs) about 
community events. PSAs will be broadcast on the air at no 
charge. The station operates 24/7 and can be heard at 1630 on 
the AM dial.

Any local non-profit or non-commercial organization can have 
their event information broadcast to the public on Sierra Madre 
Community Information Radio. This new radio station covers 
the city of Sierra Madre, plus surrounding areas of Pasadena, 
Arcadia, and Monrovia. 

In a nutshell, your event must:

• Benefit a non-commercial or non-profit entity

• Be open to the public

• Be of general interest to local citizens

Just 
write a Public Service Announcement that describes your 
event and e-mail it to radio@cityofsierramadre.com.