Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 27, 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

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AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 27, 2011 

Pet of the Week


“What’s Going On?” 

News and Views from Joan Schmidt Clayton

A RESPONSIBLE VOTER

Georgie: Animal ID # A4312033

Meet Georgie, a marvelous, eager-to-please 
puppy. Georgie is a ten-month old, brown and 
white, male Pit Bull Terrier who was found in 
Azuza on July 16th and brought to the Baldwin 
Park shelter. This dog is forty pounds of pure 
unadulterated love. Described by volunteers as 
“wonderful”, this delightful boy walks well on 
the leash and has clearly had some training. 
He also appears to be housebroken. He is 
very well socialized and equally fond of people 
and other dogs. Georgie will be a spectacular 
indoor pet for an individual or family living in 
a private home. To watch a video of volunteers 
interacting with Georgie, please visit: http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKIYzy3F82k.

To meet Georgie, please see him at the 
Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, 
Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378). 
He is currently available now. For any inquiries 
about Georgie, please reference his animal ID 
number: A4312033. The shelter is open seven 
days a week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-Thursday and 
10am-5pm Friday-Sunday. This is a high-intake 
shelter with a great need for adoptions. For 
more information about Georgie or the adoption 
process, contact United Hope for Animals 
Volunteer Adoption Coordinator Samantha at 
samanthasayon@gmail.com or 661-309-2674. 

To learn more about United Hope for Animals’ 
partnership with the Baldwin Park Shelter 
through its Shelter Support Program, as well 
as the many dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes 
available for adoption in local shelters, visit 
http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/
shelter-support-program/. 


On November 8th of this 
year there will be local 
elections in the cities of 
Duarte and Monrovia. 
Both cities will hold 
school board elections. 
Only Duarte will hold 
City Council elections. ( 
Monrovia holds its City 
Council Elections in 
April, and Arcadia holds 
both its City Council and School Board 
elections in April.)

 In Duarte, there will be two open council 
seats on the Duarte City Council. Seeking 
re-election are Lois Gaston, a retired human 
resources district manager for AT &T, and 
John Fasana, a project manager for Southern 
California Edison. I have known both these 
fine people for twenty years. Any time any 
volunteer is needed, there is Lois. She’s 
an excellent “Take Charge” person and 
accomplishes anything she sets out to do. 
John Fasana is very competent also. Duarte 
City Council took the newly-formed MAD 
Town Council under its wings when we first 
began and helped and supported us too.

The three challengers vying for the 
positions on the Duarte City Council are Liz 
Reilly, a special educational aide at Valley 
View Elementary School; Anil Gunaratne, an 
auditor; and Henry Baltazar, Jr., a landscape 
contractor. At this point, I am not acquainted 
with the challengers. However, as the election 
comes closer, I will relate more info about 
them, statements they issue, and attend any 
forums when possible..

DUARTE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS: 
Go to the source and Get the REAL facts!

Duarte’s upcoming School Board elections 
will have three incumbents seeking re-
election. They are Rose Brooks-Mitchell, 
Francisco Figueroa, and Pamela S. Kawaski. 
Challengers include David Hall, architectural 
designer; Dolores Ortiz, production manager; 
and Tom Reyes, small business owner.

Recently, one of the challengers running 
for school board is making statements that 
seem unbelievable.. Just because a person 
is a respected member of the community, 
and has helped a community doesn’t make 
them infallible. Challengers have stated that 
“Duarte High School is going downhill. A few 
years ago, ONLY 14% of its graduates were 
prepared for college, now 7%.” That REALLY 
seemed farfetched to me! A newspaper 
printed that 88.5% of Duarte students who 
began high school graduated! That’s first 
good statistic. Secondly I called the principal 
of Duarte High School and he looked up the 
statistics! 75% of its 2011 graduates went to 
college. I am entreating all voters, “You have 
a moral obligation to your community to 
delve into ALL THE FACTS! Do not vote 
for someone for their past work or because 
they’re your friend. Vote for the person who 
WILL HELP your community and schools.”

MONROVIA SCHOOL BOARD 
ELECTIONS

The City of Monrovia’s School Board 
Elections look to be exciting. Former Mayor 
Rob Hammond is vying for one of three 
open seats. He has been quoted, “For all the 
different needs that are out there, is the school 
district providing the service it intended to 
provide.” Hammond wants to know why 
several families have gone out the district 
for their children’s education. School Board 
President Ed Gilliland says the district runs 
a parent survey every year. As a grandparent 
whose child attended Plymouth one year, 
I can tell you it was HORRBLE having one 
child in a year-round school and your other 
children in traditional schools. Ridiculous! 
That’s why my neighbor moved to Claremont 
several years back. 

Monrovia School Board member Clare 
Chesley resigned because she moved out of 
state. Ed.Gilliland and Board Member Bryan 
Wong have pulled papers to run. Besides 
Rob Hammond, other challengers include 
Janeane Lechuga Covarrubias, an escrow 
officer; Terrance Williams, self-employed 
sales and marketing representative for a 
transportation company; and Ed McCarthy, 
a business owner; David Dale Crabtree; and 
Erik Nordahl. 

Azusa Eagles to Host Fourth 

Annual Charity Poker Run August 27

Proceeds benefit Loma Linda Children’s 
Hospital

Azusa, Calif. – The Fraternal Order of Eagles 
#2810 of Azusa, Calif., will hold their Fourth 
Annual Charity Poker Run Saturday, Aug. 27, to 
benefit the Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. The 
event begins at 8 a.m. at the Azusa Aerie, located 
at 1603 N. San Gabriel Canyon Rd.The poker 
run is open to the public with a registration cost 
of $20 per person. Ride length is 100 miles and 
events include a 50/50, door prizes, arts & crafts, 
raffles, a bike show and more. Crossroads Band 
will perform live for guests.The Azusa Eagles has 
maintained a presence in the community since 
1948 and currently host more than 290 Aerie and 
180 Auxiliary members.For information contact 
Beth at eaglepokerrun@aol.com or by phone at 
626-252-7138.

U.S. EPA SETTLEMENTS TO PROVIDE MORE THAN 

$4 MILLION FOR DRINKING WATER AT 

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SUPERFUND CLEANUP

San Francisco - The U.S Environmental 
Protection Agency has entered into two 
settlements totaling $4,407,000 to help pay for 
cleanup costs at the South El Monte section of the 
San Gabriel Valley Superfund Site in Los Angeles, 
Calif.

The first decree settles claims brought by 
EPA and the California Department of Toxic 
Substances Control against Aerojet-General 
Corporation. The second decree settles claims 
brought by EPA against Mammoet Western, Inc., 
Time Realty Investments and Tonks Properties. 

“EPA has now recovered over $13 million to pay 
for the cleanup of contaminated groundwater and 
provide drinking water for thousands of families 
living in surrounding communities,” said Jared 
Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator of EPA’s 
Pacific Southwest Region. “These settlements 
reinforce EPA’s commitment to having the 
cleanups paid for by those responsible for the 
environmental damage.”

“This settlement has been long overdue, and is 
a crucial step towards cleaning up the pollution 
from responsible parties in South El Monte,” 
said Congresswoman Judy Chu, Democrat, 32nd 
District, El Monte. “I commend the EPA for 
their continued work to make sure the residents 
of the San Gabriel Valley have a reliable and safe 
drinking water supply for future generations to 
come.” 

The Consent Decrees were entered in federal 
District Court on August 19, 2011 and resolve 
liabilities for contamination from industrial 
solvents including PCE and TCE, as well as 
other chemicals, including perchlorate in the 
groundwater. 

The South El Monte Operable Unit was listed on 
the National Priorities List in 1984, and overlies 
approximately 8 square miles of groundwater 
contaminated with volatile organic compounds. 
The funds paid through these settlements will be 
used to implement the cleanup at the site. 

EPA signed an interim Record of Decision with 
the goal of containing contaminated groundwater 
in 2000, and issued an Explanation of Significant 
Differences to address emerging contaminants in 
2005. EPA has a Cooperative Agreement with 
the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority to 
implement the remedy, by funding groundwater 
extraction and treatment systems operated by the 
City of Monterey Park, San Gabriel Valley Water 
Company, and Golden State Water Company.

 What better way than a 
scoop of ice cream with a 
little fudge sauce on top to 
savor women’s right to vote? 

 To celebrate the momentous 
day 91 years ago when 
women gained full participation 
in democracy with the 
passage of the 19th amendment, 
the League of Women 
Voters Pasadena Area is 
throwing an ice cream social 
for the whole family on Sunday, 
Aug. 28, 4:00-5:30 p.m., 
at the historic Hillmont 
House, 939 N. Hill Ave., 

Pasadena.

 Ragtime music by Dad’s 
Band Plus One, games 
and activities for children 
and plenty of Carmela’s 
ice cream on the lawn of a 
Victorian landmark promise 
and old-fashioned good 
time. Children under 13 are 
free. Everyone else pays only 
$5. 

 Reservations and further 
information about the 
League are available by calling 
626-798-0965. 

 Reservations and tickets 
also are available online: 
http://www.lwvpasadenaarea 
.org/donate.html.

CELEBRATING WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY

AUGUST 28

HAVING A GOOD TIME ON A SMALL BUDGET

Today, in these difficult times, people of all ages are looking for entertainment that won’t break the 
bank! Years ago, when our Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte Town Council was first formed, there was danger 
of several libraries closing. There was a “Funeral” for the Duarte Library and a mock “Board-up” of the 
Live Oak Library. Duarte City Council member, Margaret Finlay, clued me in about borrowing videos 
from the library. The price was great-FREE! And besides borrowing SO many movies over the years for 
family entertainment, I also utilized the library for my class. We read selections from “Phantom Tollbooth” 
and “Watership Down”, and then saw the videos! Often, we read an interesting selection from a novel, and 
students then went to the library, borrowed the book and read it in its entirety. Don’t forget your libraries!
Several years ago, my Mom came from Jersey every summer to visit for two weeks. She was 
in her 80’s when I wanted to plan outings that would be interesting, but not too much walking or 
crowds. Disneyland was OUT of the question. I first took her to Norton Simon in Pasadena and 
that was awesome. (That’s another story.) Then I went to the phone book and looked up local 
museums. Her VERY FAVORITE was El Monte Historical Museum. (Mom liked it so well I 
ended up taking my sixth grade each year!) So I will begin my museum series with El Monte.
Before one goes into the museum, it’s interesting to look at its history. El Monte was literally an oasis or 
island in the middle of the arid San Gabriel Valley. Between 1770 and 1830, Spanish missionaries and 
soldiers stopped there for respite. That’s how the name came about! They called the area, “El Monte” 
which in Spanish 
means “meadow” 
or “marsh”. I, 
like most people, 
thought it meant 
“mountain”, but 
the word is an 
archaic Spanish 
translation of that 
era.

Nearby cities 
such as Arcadia, 
Lucky Baldwin; 
Duarte, Andres 
Duarte, Monrovia, 
William Monroe; 
all seem to owe 
their beginnings 
to a single man. El 
Monte had several 
families. Their 
journey began in 
Independence, 
Missouri and 
headed out toward California. The leader was Royce Oatman and he commanded a company of 45-50 
wagons. These wagons were led by oxen teams and there were five or six people per wagon. Somewhere 
along the journey, several of the Oatman families went ahead and were separated from the main group. 
Their fate was tragic; they were murdered by Indians. The surviving travelers did not want to turn back. 
Somehow they kept going and settled at the first place where water was plentiful. The site was beside 
the San Gabriel River and at the end of the Santa Fe Trails. Some went on to look for gold, but others 
remained. Ira Thompson was one of those who remained. He directed the first camp site and became a 
pillar of the founding organization. Along the rich fruitful lands, settlers who remained built homesteads 
and El Monte became a very successful agricultural community. Some highlights in its history are a 
train depot built in 1873 and El Monte being incorporated in 1912. Of special interest is Gay’s Lion 
Farm, a popular tourist attraction from 1925-1942, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gay, two retired 
circus stars. It was called the Disneyland of the 1920’s and 1930’s. The Gays raised animals for the 
motion picture industry and housed over 200 African lions. Some were used in the Tarzan movies and 
one was MGM’s Lion at the beginning of movies.

When you walk into the museum, you see an old “Stanley Steamer”. To the left are the little sections 
that represent different trades and rooms in a house, complete with antique furniture. There’s a section 
representing a school room and also a store. Ladies will enjoy the dress and hat shops.

When you first entered the museum, if you turned right instead, you would find many interesting 
display cases with memorabilia from wars, a section about Gay’s Lion farm, the fire and police 
departments. There is also a Rolls Royce that Winston Churchill rode in and a section that has display 
cases with fine china and one with a wedding dress, gloves, satin shoes and a purse. There are an antique 
piano and two beautiful cabinets that look like they came from Asia.

Come on down! There is so much to see and enjoy. Also there’s a great park right across the street! 
My students and I took a tour and then picnicked at the Park! It was a blast! 

MUSEUM HOURS

Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 P.m.

Phone: (626) 444-3813 + (626) 580-2232 3150 North Tyler Ave. El Monte, CA 91732