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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011 VOLUME 5 NO. 38 A Mountain Views News Exclusive: An In Depth Interview: Billy Shields of Fountain Square Properties on the Sierra Madre Assisted Living Project On Wednesday, September 14, Mountain Views Publisher/Editor, Susan Henderson, and Reporter, Chris Bertrand, met with Billy Shields (pictured far right) of Fountain Square Properties West. This LLC is in contract to purchase and develop the long closed, skilled nursing facility at Sierra Madre Boulevard and Hermosa, in Sierra Madre. After last week’s, well attended, city sponsored public meeting on September 7, Shields returned to Sierra Madre this week to talk with Mountain Views News, discussing the evolving project, the background and experience of the key players and other factors. “We had some great questions and comments last week, which we are working through as we prepare for the next phase of the city process. I have since heard more by phone and email from some in attendance. We expect this kind of interaction, which is important to creating a great project.” On the topic of the group’s experience in senior living, Shields said the three principals, along with other core team members have worked together many years, some since 1993. In their previous employment, they were all actively involved in the development of more than 200 communities and the operation of more than 425 senior living communities run by their company, prior to going off on their own. The partners have developed and now manage two East Coast projects, through Fountain Square Properties East, LLC. One project in White Plains, NY, is in the “fillup” process now, with the first residents moving in currently. The Sierra Madre project, currently proposed as 75 single or spouse/sibling/ friend-shared suites with a private bath and communal meals, social programs and transportation assistance, is under Shields’ purview in Fountain Square Properties West. A Southern Californian for many years since his San Diego Chargers days, Shields says he will personally supervise the proposal, design, the entitlement process through approval, construction and management after construction. He cites the importance of continuity between the building phase and the operation phase after opening, indicating how critical it is for “the developer to mesh well with the operator,” he commented. “The first day you are open, you have to serve a great meal and care for people as well as you will six months or five years later.” “We have a very experienced team who understand all facets of the business including the day-to day operations. Tiffany Tomasso previously COO of an international senior living owner / operator, and past president of our national trade organization (ALFA) brings more than 26 years of experience to the team, critically important to smooth every day operations.” Early in the discussion, the question came up whether there is any association between Shields’ Fountain Square Properties and the similarly named, City of Pasadena owned, Heritage Square project, a senior apartment project in northwest Pasadena, in the works for a decade. “Absolutely not,” said Shields. “We are a private, assisted living company. Regarding who will be their likely “customers” Shields identified two population segments that are critical to be served by an assisted living facility such as theirs. Shields stressed the importance of meeting the needs of both populations. The first is the actual resident, who statistically is an 83 year old female (approximately 80% of residents are female), who needs assistance with 3 or 4 activities of daily living (ambulation, eating, dressing, medication management, etc.). The community will be licensed by the State of California Department of Social Services as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. Residents cannot be “bed ridden” or require complex medical procedures. The second “customer” is the family of the resident, the “caregiver” children; most often this is the eldest daughter. In almost all cases, according to Shields, there is some family involvement with the decision to reside in assisted living and escalated care upon illness or advancing frailty, and active communication and relationship development is critical for a smooth living experience for the resident. The Sierra Madre project will accommodate a “neighborhood” for those with memory loss as a result of Alzheimer’s or other causes. This neighborhood will provide programs for two different levels of socialization and meals. Shields explained, “Those who are recently diagnosed would eat and socialize in a different common area than those with advanced stages of the disease.” “Ours is a month to month rental model,” said Shields, without a buy-in such as Royal Oaks in Bradbury. Almost all costs are inclusive, including utilities, hospitality cleaning and phone, with an increased supervision and therefore, cost, for memory impaired suites. The monthly rental would include housing, meals, medication assistance, scheduled transportation, a nurse onsite 24/7 plus additional staff onsite 24/7 as well, the number depending on the occupancy level. The project, although it will house up to 96 residents, will not have individual “units.” Since all meals are prepared in one commercial kitchen, there are no cooking facilities in any of the suites (though some may have small refrigerators for medications and snacks, plus a sink for aide and visitor use outside the bathroom). “Basically,” chuckled Shields, “we will have a house with 75 bedrooms and one kitchen.” At last week’s meeting at the Youth Activity Center, Gregg Yamachika, the outside consultant planner selected, was introduced by the city. “The cost of this planner in paid by the applicant as is the city staff time and that of other outside consultants in environmental, traffic, etc.,” according to Shields. “The company has funded the city planner in order to streamline the paperwork involved with processing their proposal.”The next step in that process is an environmental plan, which must be completed before the next city meeting on the project can take place, sometime later this fall. Shields welcomes opportunities to meet with civic groups, etc. to further the dialogue on how best to match the assisted living business model with local community priorities and needs. As a de rigueur part of the regular development process, in addition to city sponsored meetings, Shields has already met with residents of the properties directly behind the project on Montecito, and other affected or interested people. Proposals are in the works for presentations on Tuesday, October 18th at both Sierra Madre Kiwanis and Rotary meetings for interested parties to hear more about the proposed project, and offer their perspectives. In order to contact Shields directly, he has posted his email and phone numbers: BShields@ FSProps.com and 858-748-0201. SIERRA MADRE’S PROPOSED ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY Sierra Madre Rose Float Association Seeks Applications for Princesses/Escorts The Sierra Madre Rose Float Association is seeking applications for the position of Princess/Escort to represent the City at local functions and activities and ride on our float on New Year’s Day in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. Princesses/Escorts will not only have the honor of riding on the Sierra Madre float, but will have the pleasure of speaking to the Sierra Madre City Council and local service organizations and clubs. In addition, they will assist with float decorating and contribute to publicity opportunities. Princesses/Escorts will have a very exciting and educational year. Application Guidelines and Process: 1) Applicants must be 15 to 18 years old, have a 3.0 grade average and be a resident of Sierra Madre. 2) Applications may be picked up at City Hall, your High School or downloaded from the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association website: www.smrosefloat.org 3) Applications must be received at the SMRFA post office box by October 6th, 2011. Applications submitted later than October 6th will not be accepted. 4) Applicants must be able to attend judging interviews on Saturday, October 8th, between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. at the Sierra Madre Lodge, 33 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. No parents please. 5) Princess Coronation Dinner and Ceremony will be held Sunday, October 16th, 3:00 PM at the Sierra Madre Lodge, 33 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Tickets are $5.00 for friends and family (candidates are free). Tickets will be available at the door. Refreshments will be served. For more further information or questions, please contact Donna Sutcliffe at 626-355-8579. RETIRED PASADENA PILOT SPEARHEADS 9-11 MEMORIAL Story by Chris Bertrand On a day sprinkled with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of commemorations of the lives lost in the terrorist attacks on US soil on September 11, 2001, one particular event in Pasadena, CA stands out. Just a few short weeks ago, Capt. John Mc Dannel, a retired United Airlines pilot and a Pasadena resident, reflected that New York Drive in Pasadena would be a fitting place to hold an event remembering 9-11…those lost a decade ago. “This would never have happened if Sierra Madre, Pasadena After Hours and Altadena Rotary Clubs didn’t put their shoulders into it,” reflected Mc Dannel. Since 2002, Mc Dannel has already made strides to memorialize those lost by planting and hand watering 140 oaks from his own truck along the rather bereft, mostly commercial section of New York Drive. He’s also recently gained some ground at the county and city of Pasadena level on his vision to make part of the area into a park for a permanent local memorial to 9-11, including turning part of the Eaton Canyon Debris Basin into a lake that Sierra Madre, Pasadena and Altadena residents can enjoy long into the future.” The ceremony was attended by nearly a thousand people. The ceremony included a flyover of jets from Miramar Naval Air Base, speakers from all walks of life touched by that day a decade ago, a military presentation of colors, twenty one gun salute and taps, band music from Pasadena Community College and La Salle High School, poems, readings, a riderless horse with the traditional backwards facing boots for a lost comrade, invocations and benedictions from clergy. In just two and a half weeks, three local Rotary Clubs, Pasadena After Hours, Sierra Madre and Altadena, the Rotary District 5300, Pasadena Optimist, Masonic Lodge 272, VFW, US Navy Leave and USS Pasadena Foundation, Military Order of the Purple Heart #1898, American Legion East Pasadena Post 280, High Point Academy, Lender Processing Services, Inc., Viet Nam Veterans of America #446, Santa Anita Model A Club, crew members of United and American Airlines, elected officials and others formed an army of volunteers to make the ten year anniversary in Pasadena a landmark event. Perhaps the most personal and insightful moments of the day came from Dr. Denise Campbell, a USC Doctor of Education, who was at the World Trade Center to attend a conference on 9-11-01. She was shaken from her hotel bed by the first plane impact and rushed to the street in her bright red pajamas, only to view the unfolding horror from street level. For Mc Dannel and his corps of local Rotary Clubs and other community volunteers, two big steps toward the permanent memorial have already taken place. A permanent highway type sign proclaiming that a section of New York Drive has been designated a memorial to 9-11 was completed and displayed to the crowd of about a thousand. Second, the Tamkin Foundation, owners of Hastings Ranch Plaza where Sears is located, donated $25,000 to build the stone signage for the memorial. The group hopes to gather enough donations to purchase land for a park on the Drive, and to construct a large memorial wall surrounding I-Beams requested from the wreckage of the World Trade Center in New York. Dan Alle of Sierra Madre Rotary said of the event, “With his vision and courage, Capt. Mc Dannel took something negative and turned it into something positive for our community.” To donate to the New York Drive Memorial fund, visit www.Pasadena911Memorial.org for more information. 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 Nature & Environment Page 9 Arts & Entertainment Page 11 Left/Right Page 12 Opinion Page 13 Legals Page 14/15 The World Around Us Page 16 The Good Life Page 17 Homes & Property Page 18 From left to right, Congressman Adam Schiff, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, Councilman Terry Tornek, Gene Masuda and Jacque Robinson; Mrs. McDannel, John McDannel and Assemblyman Anthony Portantino Photo by Dean Lee Read The Paper Online At: www.mtnviewsnews.com | |||||||||||||||||||
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Mountain Views News 80 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. #327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.604.4548 www.mtnviewsnews.com |