Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 22, 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, October 22, 2011 

PORTANTINO AND PRO TEM STEINBERG NAMED 
TOP TWO DEMOCRATS BY CAPITOL INSIDERS

UNDERSHERIFF LARRY WALDIE’S RETIREMENT 
PARTY: A CELEBRATION AND A REUNION By Joan Schmidt 

Sacramento - Schools may 
have done away with winners 
and losers, but not the 
folks at Sacramento’s 
“Around the Capitol”. Today, 
they released the results of 
their reader poll and named 
Assemblymember Anthony 
Portantino – Assembly Legislator 
of the Year. Darrell 
Steinberg, the Speaker Pro 
Tem of the State Senate was 
named Senate Legislator of 
the Year.

In the category, Assembly 
Democrat, Portantino 
was judged the top by capitol 
insiders who cited the 
following:

• "He fought the man 
and won." 

• "For calling a spade 
a spade when combatting 
overly zealous party discipline, 
and calling for greater 
transparency in Assembly 
budget matters." 

• "Independent."

Portantino said he was 
thrilled to be chosen and 
promises to continue the 
fight to open up the State Assembly 
budget records for 
public review.

“From the back bench, it 
feels pretty good to know 
that folks inside the capitol 
know that sunshine is just 
around the corner. I’m honored 
that this little fight has 
garnered independent support 
and verification. Rumor 
has it that the Speaker 
has increased Assembly budgets 
by $20, excluding mine 
of course, so that members 
can buy sunscreen in the 
wake of the Times and Bee 
court date. In a belt tightening 
exercise, I heard it was 
announced that there is only 
enough money in the kitty 
to pay the lawyers so Assembly 
staff will have to fend 
for themselves and purchase 
their own sunscreen. Seriously, 
this is a pretty cool 
thing to have happened, 
thanks from me, my staff 
and the good residents of the 
44th AD.”

Check out the final results at: 
www.aroundthecapitol.com/
nooner/2011-10-19.html

 Recently, I attended 
the Retirement Party for former 
Undersheriff Larry Waldie 
. What a celebration that was! 
Over 750 came to honor a man 
who gave 44+ years to the Los 
Angeles County Sheriff’s Department 
and what a career that 
was! Larry began in the Custody 
Division in 1967. Through 
the years, besides custody, he 
worked at the Transportation 
Bureau, Research and Development 
Bureau, and Custody 
Administration. Station Assignments 
included Firestone, 
Norwalk, Lennox, and Walnut, 
as a Captain. His final assignments 
included Commander of 
Custody Adminstration-1997, 
Chief (one day!)-1999, Assistant 
Sheriff from ’99-2005, and 
Undersheriff from 05-09.

 The reception was held 
at the lavish Crown Plaza Hotel. 
The social hour lasted from 
5:30-7:00, either outside on the 
breezy terrace or inside, enjoying 
music by a Mariachi band. 
During this time, I saw many 
old friends. Retirees included 
Sheriff Photographer Buddy 
Fowler and wife Brenda, Commanders 
Bob Binkley, Ken Brazille, 
Richard and Lynda Castro. 
Past Temple Station personnel 
included Captain Dave Silversparre 
and Lieutenants, Minh 
Dinh, Val Rosario and Dominic 
Valencia. Then a sumptuous 
dinner followed, including 
American, Mexican or Chinese 
cuisine, and ending with 
a dessert bar. During dinner, 
we enjoyed listening to Oldies, 
loud enough to enjoy, but 
not deafening where you can’t 
hear each other’s 
conversation!

 That 750+ 
people came to 
Larry’s retirement 
party illustrates 
how much he is 
loved, admired 
and appreciated. 
THREE retired 
Undersheriffs attended: 
Jerry 
Harper, Bill Stonich 
with wife Barbara 
and Paul Myron-
who traveled 
from Henderson, 
NV although Paul’s 
beloved wife Brenda 
recently passed 
away. Of course 
Sheriff Lee and 
Carol Baca, current Undersheriff 
Paul and Valerie Tanaka and 
Assistant Sheriff Cecil Rhambo 
were present. All the Department 
Chiefs attended: Region 
I- Chief Neal Tyler, Region II-
Chief and Mrs. James Lopez, 
Region III- Chief Tom and 
Janice Laing, Leadership and 
Training Division-Chief Roberta 
Abner, Technical Services Division 
Chief David and Sheryl 
Betkey, Court Services Division 
Chief Rich and Nora Barrantes, 
Detective Division Chief William 
Mc Sweeney, Custody Operations 
Division Chief Dennis 
Burns, and Correctional Services 
Division Chief Alex Yim.

 Retired Undersheriff 
Bill Stonich was Master of 
Ceremony. After dinner, he has 
everyone in stitches with his 
humor as he traced Larry’s life 
from birth to his outstanding 
career at the Sheriff’s Department. 
(Larry also served as 
Mayor of Walnut a few years.) 
Larry in turn was choked up 
by the number of attendees. He 
thanked his wife Charlotte for 
all of her support throughout 
his career. Larry introduced his 
son Larry & wife Margo, daughter 
Lauren, his brother Fr. Paul, 
a Catholic priest and his sisters.

 On the Display Tables 
were several awards and 
plaques. Special presentations 
were made by Sheriff Lee Baca 
and Undersheriff Paul Tanaka.

 What a wonderful tribute 
to an outstanding man. Everyone 
who came shared in his 
joy. Thank you, Larry for 44+ 
dedicated years in the Sheriff’s 
Department. Enjoy spending 
more time with the family and 
more golf! 


Pet Of The Week

Tony: Animal ID # 
A4344937

Meet the sweetest snuggle 
buddy at the shelter, Tony 
(A4344937). Tony is a 
tremendous two-year-old 
tricolor male mutt who was 
found as a stray and brought 
to the Baldwin Park shelter 
on September 26th. 

Weighing twenty pounds, 
he walks okay on the leash, 
is well socialized and is 
probably housebroken. 
Great with other dogs, this 
lapdog loves people and 
is so excited about life in 
general that he wiggles 
with joy whenever he sees 
anyone. Volunteers are 
confident that he will be 
great with children. Tony 
will be a perfect indoor pet 
for anyone in any living 
situation. To watch a 
video of Tony Interacting 
with a volunteer, please 
visit: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=WegWZUGbhGc

To meet Tony, 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 
Tony, please reference 
his animal ID number: 
A4344937. 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 Tony 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/.


NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................YoGamaDreNew students only.
Limited time offer.
EXPLORING OUR HALLOWE’EN ROOTS by Christopher Nyerges

[Nyerges is the author of Enter the Forest, 
How to Survive Anywhere, and other books. 
His weekly podcast can be heard on-line at 
Preparedness Radio Network. He can be 
reached at Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, 
or www.ChristopherNyerges.com.]

 

 Hallowe’en is coming. But what’s it all 
about? Today in Sierra Madre, when most 
people think of Hallowe’en, they think of 
children - and adults - getting excited about 
a costume they’re going to wear, and all 
the food and candy. But still, why do we 
celebrate this holiday? Is it simply a night of 
“fun”? How did this get started?

 

 Historically, Hallowe’en had to do with 
the dead, with ghosts, with spirits. Let’s turn 
back the clock a bit to explore the roots of 
this All Hallow’s Eve.

 

 To the ancient Celts, there were six 
significant fire ceremonies during the year. 
The greatest of these were Beltane, the first of 
May, and Samhain, the last day in October. 
(Originally, Samhain was celebrated from 
October 31 through November 2). The Feast 
of Samhain (meaning “summer’s end”), 
marked both their Feast of the Dead and 
the Celtic New Year. This time of the year, 
more or less half way between the autumnal 
equinox and the winter solstice, was a time 
of decay and death on the earth. This was 
especially apparent in Western Europe, 
when the temperatures dropped and the 
rains fell.

 

 Throughout much of Europe in past 
centuries, country people (nearly everyone) 
lived simple lives, and their Old Religion 
was based on the seasons, and on the 
recognition of the reality of the spirit world. 
They relied on their Old Religion with 
its ritualistic ceremonies for help and for 
guidance. They believed that on the Feast 
of Samhain, the spirits of their ancestors 
could and would rise from the cold barren 
fields to dwell in the warm cottages. There 
they must be greeted with food, decoration, 
and festivity if they were to protect the 
household.

 

 Thus, in its origin, the Feast of Samhain 
was a rite designed to protect humans from 
the activities of the dis-incarnate. It was a 
bargain with the dead (and other spirits) 
so they’d stay away and cause no trouble 
during the next year.

 

 In the 700s, the Roman Catholic Church 
authorities accepted the fact that they had 
failed in their attempts to eliminate the 
“pagan” Samhain observances within the 
now-Christianized world. Thus, as has often 
occurred when New Religion clashed with 
Old Religion, the names of the holy days 
were simply changed. By changing the name 
from Samhain to Hallowed Eve, the Old 
Religion practice could continue, now as a 
Christian holiday. Everyone was happy, and 
things went on as usual. 

 The original custom of giving to the 
spirits spread through all cultures and lands 
with many variations. Today, the custom 
manifests by giving candy to the proxies of 
the spirits, the children who dress up like 
goblins and witches -- as well as whatever 
politician’s masks are popular. 

 

 To see another way to observe this event, 
you should visit downtown L.A.’s Olvera 
Street sometime between October 31 and 
November 2, to see how “The Feast of the 
Dead” is commemorated in Mexico. You 
will not see an intent to keep the spirits 
away. Rather, via shrines, songs, and even 
painting the faces like skulls, the deceased 
spirits are invited back to be honored and 
remembered. 

 

 Unlike some religious groups who 
advocate complete abstinence from any so-
called “pagan” Hallowe’en celebrations, my 
posture is not to turn a blind eye to what 
society is doing, but to find a way to elevate 
the day to one of personal growth and 
insight.

 

 So what are some practical lessons we 
might learn from Hallowe’en?

 

 In past years, my associates have 
gathered to view the classic “vampire” 
movie “Nosferatu,” both the original and 
the 1978 Klaus Kinsie version. We gathered 
with large bowls of popcorn, and other 
refreshments, and explored the nature of 
fear. We remained focused on finding the 
science within that movie as to how to deal 
with our own inner fears. Additionally, 
“Nosferatu” provides a pictorial view of how 
each of us succumb to our weaknesses, and 
how we “become someone else.” [See our 
Schedule at www.wtinc.info.]

 Another way to elevate our use of this 
Hallowe’en time is to re-consider our use of 
costumes. Do we not invoke the presence 
of those persons we choose to masquerade 
as? Rather than invoke the presence of 
dark entities, why not dress up as our role 
models, or Heroes, and Saints. Children – 
and especially adults – can use this time 
to invoke the presence of such historical 
great figures such as Florence Nightingale, 
Gandhi, Sequoia, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, or 
Abraham Lincoln. 

 

 By utilizing the ancient Holy Day of 
Samhain in this manner, we can rise out of 
the darkness of our own ignorance. By such 
practice, we can return to the roots of this 
ancient commemoration which we today 
call Hallowe’en. 


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