Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 23, 2011

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

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT (cont. from pg. 1)

and specialty care to the city, adding better healthcare access to local residents, an increase in employment and ancillary complementary business use by patients and staff. 

Dr. Sami also notes that the facility will, by its location north of I-210, add to the city’s earthquake and emergency preparedness. Since Sierra Madre could face difficulties in accessing hospitals south of the 
freeway after a quake, this larger medical facility could aid in providing medical care in a catastrophe.

Wistaria Restaurant and Bar at old Lozano’s at 44 N. Baldwin. (left)

After a lull, contractors are once again hammering away at the former Lozano’s restaurant site. While the outside has been 
mostly complete for months, the interior is not.

The building, now owned by the Ribolis of Maddalena Restaurant and San Antonio Winery, will house a new iteration of the 
culinary inspirations of Mike and Anne’s Restaurant in South Pasadena, named for restaurateur, Steve Ahn’s parents, Mike and 
Anne. He plans an American bistro menu, similar to the South Pasadena location.

The restaurant has sent representatives and taste tempting delights to both the Wine and Jazz event in October, 2010 and the 
Library’s fundraiser in early 2011, but earlier hopes of a late 2010 opening have left this prominent Sierra Madre spot dark. Their 
manager indicates a current target opening in late May, for the approximately 60 seat eatery, starting with dinner and weekend 
brunch.

Though the posted license application lists Wisteria Grill as the proposed name, Ahn is working through changes to reflect the 
local preferred spelling, now Wistaria Restaurant and Bar.

The Bottle Shop Hopes to Expand Pending City Nod, 58 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd. (right)

Owner Bill Sullivan proposes to enlarge The Bottle Shop westward into 
the adjacent storefront and to extend the structure 190 square feet to 
the south. In the proposed, expanded 1190 square feet of space, Sullivan 
hopes to build a tasting area, incorporate extra display space and add a 
bathroom. He notes this is, “Not a wine bar, but an area to offer tastes of 
wines we sell,” in the context of food and wine pairing, etc., said Sullivan.

Assisted Living Developer Under Contract to Purchase Former Skilled 
Nursing Facility, 225-45 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

With the weeds growing through the cracks in the pavement 
at the former skilled nursing facility across from City Hall, 
the site has become more of an eyesore each year that it stands 
empty and dilapidated. Fountain Square Development West 
LLC partner, Billy Shields, confirmed April 20th, that they 
have entered into a contract to purchase the site, but have not 
closed on a purchase. 

“Three of us are involved, and I will be leading the 
development out here in the West,” noted Shields. “We plan 
to build, then become owner operators of this residential 
community.”

In March, Shields appeared before the City Council, not 
with a formal plan or formal application, but to open an 
exploratory dialogue with the community. The organization’s 
idea is to develop a fully licensed, assisted living community housing about ninety, with a staff of approximately 25, 
including 24/7 nursing. A part of the facility would accommodate Alzheimer’s or dementia residents. 

Shields explained further, “We’ve made preliminary application to the city, which allows them to respond to some 
of the basic parameters we are proposing. We’re anxious to get their comments and key questions answered, and to 
have the different departments look at the plans. Within a month of that meeting, we plan to meet requirements for 
the formal application.”

Shields, a resident of Poway, played for the San Diego Chargers, the New York Jets and 1984 Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers, before moving to senior living community development at Virginia-
based, Sunrise Senior Living, where he spent 17 years. “I’ve enjoyed the senior living business, particularly when we open new communities… when we see the families and the residents move in a frail elderly 
resident. It’s so much more rewarding than building apartments and commercial real estate,” reflected Shields.

The Fountain Square team all came with experience from Sunrise, before creating their own senior development organization. Sierra Madre will be their third project, after their first in suburban D.C., and a 
second in White Plains, New York. Shields invites Sierra Madreans to view the website for their New York assisted living residence at www.TheKensingtonAL.com, with the sidebar note that each development 
is customized to the style of the community. The group welcomes input on Fountain Square’s development ideas from neighbors and the community at 858-748-0201. The group also plans forums, perhaps 
on the site grounds, as the process evolves. 

3


Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 23, 2011 

Sierra Madre Police Blotter

City of Sierra Madre

GENERAL PLAN 
UPDATE

REQUEST FOR 
PROPOSALS

The City of Sierra Madre is inviting 
proposals for assistance with the 
technical studies and the preparation 
of an Environmental Impact Report 
as part of the City’s comprehensive 
update of its General Plan. The 
City invites your firm to submit a 
proposal on this project. 

Background

The City’s first General Plan was 
adopted in 1996, and it includes all 
seven mandatory elements required 
by the State. This update will be 
the first comprehensive update of 
the General Plan. The City Council 
appointed a 9-member General Plan 
Steering Committee (GPSC) which 
has been meeting since November 
2009 to review the current General 
Plan, develop the work program and 
community outreach program, and 
begin to develop goals, policies, and 
objectives. The preparation of an 
updated General Plan is necessary 
to provide consistency between 
the zoning code and General Plan, 
to address recent development 
pressures within and around the 
City, and to address recent State 
mandates regarding global warming 
and sustainable growth policies and 
objectives.

Scope of Work - Technical Studies 
and Environmental Impact Report 
(EIR)

The consultant will assist the General 
Plan Steering Committee (GPSC) 
and City staff in completing all 
technical studies normally associated 
with a General Plan Update, 
including statutory requirements on 
climate warming and sustainability 
issues/initiatives which have local 
impact to the City of Sierra Madre. 
The consultant will be responsible in 
completing an EIR to fully comply 
with the California Environmental 
Quality Act and fully inform the 
public and decision making body 
about the potential environmental 
impacts of the General Plan Update 
and reasonable alternatives that 
may result from the policies. The 
consultant will also provide general 
assistance as directed by City Staff 
regarding the organization of data, 
preparation of documents, and 
assistance with the steps necessary 
to meet State law requirements for 
completion. 

The Request for Proposals (RFP) 
packet includes background, scope 
of work, work products, proposal 
requirements, and selection criteria, 
and is available from the City of 
Sierra Madre Development Services 
Department, 232 W. Sierra Madre 
Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024, 
or request by email or mail by 
phoning the Development Services 
Department at 626.355.7135. The 
RFP, including the 1996 General 
Plan, and the draft 2008-2014 
Housing Element is available at the 
Development Services Department 
in City Hall, the City library, or 
can be downloaded from the City’s 
website at www.cityofsierramadre.
com. All inquiries regarding this 
RFP should be directed to: Danny 
Castro, Director of Development 
Services, phone 626.355.7135.

Proposals must be received at the City 
of Sierra Madre Development Services 
Department, 232 W. Sierra Madre 
Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 
no later than 3:00 p.m. May 23, 2011. 

REMEMBRANCE

Monday, April 10th:

2:11AM- DUI Alcohol/Drugs, Highland 
Ave and Baldwin Ave. An officer stopped a 
38 year old Sierra Madre driver for a Vehicle 
Code violation and determined that the driver 
was under the influence of alcohol. The officer 
arrested the suspect and took him to the Pasadena 
jail for booking.

Tuesday, April 11th:

5:06 PM- Hit and Run Private Property 300 
blk. W. Sierra Madre Blvd. A motorist collided 
with another motor vehicle parked on private 
property and left the scene without leaving 
identifying information. 

Tuesday, April 12th:

12:58 AM- DUI Alcohol/ Drugs, Shadow Grove 
and Michillinda Ave. An officer stopped a 24 year 
old Pasadena driver for a Vehicle Code violation 
and determined that the driver was under the 
influence of alcohol. The officer arrested the 
suspect and took him to the Pasadena jail for 
booking.

2:03 AM- Outside Agency Assist, Caballero 
Ave./Orange Grove, Arcadia Sierra Madre PD 
received a 911 call from a victim reporting that 
he saw two men break into his car and drive off in 
a white pickup truck. The call was transferred to 
Arcadia due to the location of the crime. A Sierra 
Madre police officer responded to the area and 
saw a white truck matching the suspect vehicle 
description. The officer stopped the vehicle, and 
with the assistance of the Arcadia PD officers, 
determined that the occupants were the suspects 
from the car burglary. Both suspects were turned 
over to Arcadia PD and booked for burglary and 
possession of stolen property. 

 

Wednesday, April 13th:

5:06 PM- Auto Burglary, 500 blk. Ramona Ave. 
An unknown suspect(s) forced open a locked 
vehicle parked on the victim’s driveway and stole 
$6.00 worth of coins.

8:18 PM- Grand Theft Exceeding $950, 200 N. 
Michillinda Ave. An unknown suspect(s) took a 
Canon camera lens off a bench outside the Villa 
building at Alverno High School during a school 
event. The lens was worth $1,200.00 

Thursday, April 14th:

8:00 AM- Auto Burglary, 200 blk. W. Carter 

Ave. 

An unknown suspect(s) smashed the driver’s 
window and took a GPS mount worth $40.00. 

8:11 AM- Auto Burglary, 200 blk. W. Carter Ave. 
An unknown suspect(s) smashed the driver’s 
window and took a FIDM canvas bag, an 8••• 
X11 portfolio, a 11X17 art portfolio, 11X17 paper 
sketch pad, 11X17 pad of tracing paper, a leather 
bound notepad, subject notebook, business card 
holder, markers, pack colored pencils, graphite 
pencils, pencil sharpener, scissors, rubber cement, 
double side tape, stapler, post-its, highlighters, #2 
pencils, Uniball pens, stapler remover, FIDM text 
books, yoga mat and bag, clothing steamer, car 
phone charger and men’s size 9 work boots. The 
loss was valued at $590. 

3:09 PM- Auto Burglary, 600 E. Sierra Madre 
Blvd. An unknown suspect entered the YMCA 
office and removed keys from a desk. The suspect 
used the victim’s keys to open the victim’s car and 
stole his wallet. The suspect used the victim’s 
credit cards at four locations in Pasadena and 
Arcadia. The suspect is a black male, 20, wearing 
a white button down shirt, dark pants, no further 
description.

7:39 PM- Use Another’s Identification to 
Obtain Credit/etc. An unknown suspect(s) tried 
to open a credit card account using the victim’s 
personal information. 

Friday, April 15th:

11:10 AM- Altered/Forged/Counterfeited 
Document, 600 W. Grandview Ave. An 
unknown suspect(s) fraudulently obtained the 
victim’s account information and illegally cashed 
two checks in Los Angeles. Suspect(s) also tried 
to use the victim’s debit card at a department 
store. 

2:00 PM- Tampering/Injuring Vehicle, 100 blk. 
N. Mountain Trail Ave. An unknown suspect 
used a tool to damage the victim’s vehicle. 
The victim stated that her boyfriend’s former 
girlfriend had been stalking him and might be 
the suspect. 

2:45 PM- Tampering/Injuring Vehicle, 700 blk. 
Alta Vista Dr. An unknown suspect(s) used a 
tool to damage the victim’s car. 

Saturday, April 16th: 

1:36 AM- DUI Alcohol/Drugs, Baldwin Ave 
and Orange Grove Ave. An officer stopped 
a 63 year old Temple city driver for a Vehicle 
Code violation and determined that the driver 
was under the influence of alcohol. The officer 
arrested the suspect and took him to the Pasadena 
jail for booking. 

Christopher Bruce Gordon

During the week of Sunday, April 10th, to Saturday, April 16th, the Sierra Madre Police Department 
responded to 352 calls for service. See crimereports.com for updated information. 

Christopher Bruce 
Gordon, a native of 
Sierra Madre, CA, 
went to be with 
his Lord and Savior 
Jesus Christ on 
Wednesday, April 
13, 2011, after battling 
cancer. He is 
survived by his sisters 
Diana Lindsay 
(John) and Deborah 
Reinert (Denny), 
and his brother Jeff 
Gordon, as well as 
twelve nieces/nephews/
great nieces. 
His parents Anneliese 
and Robert 
Gordon and brother 
Douglas Gordon predeceased him. 

 Chris was born on November 20, 1947. He graduated from 
Pasadena High School in 1965, and attended Pasadena City 
College, Cal State L.A., and UCLA before graduating from 
U.C. Berkeley in 1971. He was subsequently awarded a master’s 
equivalent certificate for ministry training from Christian 
Associates International. He built upon his class hours 
of Greek with a 1,000 hour independent study to attain an 
intermediate proficiency level in Koine Greek linguistics. 

 While he did not formally enter the ministry, Chris’s adulthood 
was defined by his Christian faith. His love for Jesus 
Christ inspired him to live his life as a shining example to 
others. He was known for his humility and caring nature, 
as well as his knowledge and intense interest in all facets of 
Christianity. He was an office manager for a property investment 
company, a carpenter, and a handyman, and most 
recently taught English as a Second Language in the Los 
Angeles School District. Hobbies included surfing, guitar, 
singing, biking, hiking, sailing, writing, photography, and 
drawing. He wrote and drew a cartoon strip in the Sierra 
Madre News in his youth, and was a published writer/artist 
in a Christian national magazine. As a member of Arcadia-
Hoyt Curtis Club of Toastmasters’ International, he represented 
the club in several area speech contests.

Matthew 25:21 “Well done, good and faithful servant!” 
sums up Chris’s life. He will be deeply missed. A long-
term member of Bethany Church of Sierra Madre, Chris’s 
memorial service will be held there on Saturday, April 23, 
at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations 
to Wes Ringer’s ministry (#285607) at Wycliffe Bible Translators 
(www.Wycliffe.org/Give/WaystoGive.aspx). Online 
condolences may be sent to debreinert1@gmail.com.


The Rotary Club of Sierra 
Madre made a generous donation 
of $20,000 to the Sierra 
Madre Children’s Library Campaign. 
Rudy Hayak, Rotary 
Board Member, announced 
their pledge at a breakfast meeting 
held at the Library on April 
5, 2011. Patricia Hall, Campaign 
Chair, said, “The Sierra 
Madre Public Library is successful 
because of the generosity 
of donors like Sierra Madre’s 
Rotary Club. Every day children, 
and those who love and 
care for them, will benefit from 
your gift to the community.” 

 It has been nearly 20 years 
since the Children’s room was 
updated, and in that time the 
needs of families have markedly 
changed. There is a need 
to upgrade the Children’s Room 
to make the most of new child-
centered services and improve 
the use of space in the room. 
Plans include creating a preschool 
zone and a study/reading 
area for students, and devoting 
more space to computers 
and technology. 

 Currently, a large corner of the 
Children’s room is rendered 
unusable by an emergency exit 
that will be relocated, regaining 
valuable space. Replacing four 
old windows with higher, more 
environmentally efficient ones 
will save money on utilities, 
keep the room more comfortable 
for everyone, and create 
space for new bookcases that 
can hold substantially more 
books. These are a few of the 
changes planned.

 The Friends of the Sierra Madre 
Library are proud to help coordinate 
the fund raising for the 
project and invite organizations 
and individuals to join with 
Rotary and donate towards the 
project goal of $55,000 goal. 
For questions regarding details 
about the project and how to 
make a donation, please contact 
Meegan Tosh at (626) 355-7186. 

ROTARY CLUB’S LEADS FUNDRAISING FOR CHILDREN’S LIBRARY CAMPAIGN


The new home of the Wistaria Restaurant and Bar (above)

Assisted Living Center rendering (below)


Owner Bill Sullivan hopes to open a Wine Tasting 
Room next to the Bottle Shop