Also inside:

 Peter Dills - 

 Steakhouse Sunday Brunch

 Page 10

 Arts & Entertainment - 

 Page 11

 Business Today - 

 Page 12

 Looking Up with Bob Eklund - 

 Page 14 

LEFT TURN/RIGHT TURN

 Page 12

OPINION

 Page 13

SAVVY SENIOR

 Page 15

NATURE & THE ENVIRONMENT

 Christopher Nyerges

 Page 16

ONE OF A KIND by Chris Bertrand

KNEIER 
LODGE AT 
BIG BEAR

 
Page 20

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

SIERRA MADRE

The Latest From Search & 
Rescue 

Page 3

The MAD Town Council 

 Page 5


ARCADIA

Don Penman Retires 

Page 6

PASADENA

MONROVIA/DUARTE

What happened to Perssons 
Nursery?

Page 4


Mayor Lutz Says Thanks 

 Page 7

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2011

VOLUME 5 NO. 32

PLAINTIFF SEEKS SETTLEMENT 
OF LAWSUIT - CITY AGREES

A NIGHT ON THE TOWN

BLUES AND JAZZ 
ARTIST RAY BAILEY 
TO PERFORM AT 
NEXT CONCERT IN 
THE PARK

 
Sierra Madre resident John 
Crawford, an often outspoken 
critic of Sierra Madre government, 
filed a lawsuit in May of 
this year seeking intervention 
from the Los Angeles Superior 
Court against the city and 

alleging that the city acted 
contrary to the law (Prop 218) 
in its implementation of the 
recent water rate increase.

 However, on July 29, 2011, 
the lawsuit was dismissed 
“with prejudice”, the result of a 
settlement agreement reached 
with Crawford and the City of 
Sierra Madre.

 In the case, Crawford asked 
the court to:

 1. Invalidate the rate 
increase;

 2. Declare the city’s actions 
unconstitutional; and

 3. That the court award 
Crawford his costs, expenses 
and attorneys fees. 

 Crawford’s attorney for this 
matter was former Mayor Kurt 
Zimmerman.

 As a result of the settlement 
agreement, Crawford was not 
granted any of his demands. 
The Ordinance will stand and 
the city, by accepting the offer 
for settlement, will not have 
to spend any more money defending 
the rate increase.

 Although the cost of the city’s 
defense in this matter is not 
yet known, according to law, it 
will be paid for out of the city’s 
water revenues.

 The dismissal by the court, 
based upon the mutually 
agreed upon settlement, was 
done ‘with prejudice’, meaning 
that Crawford is prohibited 
from bringing another such 
lawsuit against the city on this 
water rate increase.

 A statement was issued this 
week by the city which recapped 
the settlement agreement 
and the actions that lead 
to it:

City Agrees to a Non-Monetary 
Settlement in Local 
Lawsuit

 “In early May of 2011, Plaintiff 
John Crawford filed a lawsuit 
in hopes of invalidating 
the City’s recent water rate 
increase. In June, the City responded 
to the lawsuit challenging 
the complaint; and 
shortly thereafter the plaintiff 
approached the City seeking a 
non-monetary settlement.

The City was very confident it 
would prevail in court; however, 
the City Council decided 
to accept Mr. John Crawford’s 
settlement offer and the case 
was officially dismissed on 
July 29th. 

The City Council agreed to accept 
the settlement offer, basing 
their decision upon what 
they felt was best for the City’s 
residents and water customers, 
noting that further judicial 
proceedings would result 
in additional legal fees. 

In exchange for the dismissal, 
the City agreed that in the 
event the City was to consider 
a water rate increase, before 
May 1, 2014, the City would 
continue to provide water 
customers with a Fact Sheet, 
similar to one it provided during 
the last rate increase process, 
as well as information regarding 
low income discounts, 
which is always available 
at City Hall and the Public 
Library. 

The City expressly denied that 
it breached any duty or obligation, 
and maintains it fully 
complied with the Proposition 
218 rate increase process.

Mayor John Buchanan stated, 
“The informational piece requested 
in this settlement is 
information that we provided 
in the past, and we agreed to 
provide it again because it will 
assist residents in making informed 
decisions. We would 
have agreed to do this without 
a lawsuit. Although I believe 
there was no basis for this lawsuit, 
this resolution ends the 
matter at no cost to residents.”

S. Henderson/MVNews 

 
The Friends of the Sierra Madre 

Library and The Sierra Madre Kiwanis 
Club will host next Sunday’s 
(August 14th), Concert In The 
Park featuring Ray Bailey and his 
entourage.

Bailey, a Los Angeles native, has 
been playing since he was a child. 
His mother, was a jazz saxophonist 
who played in the Be-bop style of 
Charlie Parker and Dizze Gillespie. 
She taught her son basic chords and 
music fundamentals early on.

 In 1988, Ray started singing with 
a local organist, Jimmy Caravan and 
after Caravan’s death, Ray became 
the leader of his own band. He recently 
returned from a Canadian 
engagement where he showcased his 
latest CD release, Resurrection. 

 The concert will be held from 6:00 
pm to 8:00pm and is free to the public. 
All concerts will be held at the 
Memorial Park Bandshell, 222 W. 
Sierra Madre Blvd. next to City Hall. 
Seating is on the green so remember 
to bring blankets and lawn chairs. 

Alcohol is prohibited. 

On Tuesday, Sierra Madre’s Police, Fire,CERT, Emergency Communications 
Team, and Search and Rescue Team gave public safety demontrations as a part 
of the National Night Out program. Residents attending were treated to dinner 
by In- N- Out Burger. Photos by Chris Bertrand


SIERRA MADRE HELPS SENIORS TO STAY COOL 

The Community & Personnel Services Department and the Senior Community Commission 
would like to remind local seniors that during this time of hot weather that they should follow 
these tips to stay cool and safe.

• Slow down, avoid strenuous activity. Do not try to do too much on a hot day.

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect 
heat and sunlight and help maintain normal body temperature. 

• Protect your face with a wide-brimmed hat.

• Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty and stay 
hydrated.

• Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do not have air conditioning, stay on 
your lowest floor, out of the sun or go to a place where you can get relief from 
the heat, such as air conditioned, library, theaters and other community facilities 
that may offer refuge during the warmest times of the day.

• Electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help evaporate perspiration, which 
cools your body.

• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, 
awnings or louvers. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters 
a home by up to 80 percent.

• Check on family, friends and neighbors.

• If you believe you, or anyone you are with, is experiencing a heat-related medical 
emergency, promptly call 911, and if possible, move to a cooler place.

If seniors do not have air conditioning in their homes, the City welcomes seniors to visit 
one of the following City facilities to stay cool.

• Sierra Madre City Hall – 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. – Monday – Thursday, 7:30 
am to 5:30 pm & every other Friday, 8 am to 5 pm (626) 355-7135

• Sierra Madre Public Library – 440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. – Monday – 
Wednesday, Noon to 9 pm, Thursday & Friday, Noon to 6 pm and Saturday, 10 
am to 6 pm (626) 355-7186

• Sierra Madre Community Recreation Center – 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
– Monday – Thursday, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm & every other Friday, 9 am to 6 
pm (626) 355-5278. The Aquatics Center is open for summer season until 
September 5; please call (626) 355-2356 for hours of operation.

SIERRA MADRE 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9TH

OPEN SESSION 6:30 PM

City Hall

232 W. Sierra Madre Bl.

Sierra Madre

Agenda includes (partial listing):

Review of Solar Permit Fees

Discussion of Southern California 
Association of Governments 
(SCAG) Survey

CORRECTION: 

In the article on Midge Morash 
last week, the services on August 
27, 2011 the Rev. George Crisp of 
Sierra Madre United Methodist 
Church will preside. Rev. Mark 
Trotter will perform the Homily.

Sierra Madre Now Has

Online Payment Services

The city now gives residents the opportunity to pay for services 
online! You are now be able to view and pay your water bill, 
traffice ticket or overnight parking permit from the comfort of 
your own home. 

 Simply go to: www.cityofsierramadre.com and click on the 
link “I want to” then click on the item you wish to pay. Setup is 
very simple. If you have further questions please contact the Finance 
Department at City Hall or call (626) 355-7135 and they 
will be happy to assist you.

Inside This Edition...

CALENDAR Page 2 

Sierra Madre News Page 3

Pasadena/Altadena Page 4

Around San Gabriel Valley Page 5

Arcadia Page 6

Monrovia/Duarte Page 7

Education & Youth Page 8

SUMMER FUN Page 9

Good Food & Drink Page 10

Arts & Entertainment Page 11

Legals Page 12

Left/Right Page 13

Opinion Page 14

The World Around Us Page 15

 The Good Life Page 16

Homes & Property Page 17


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