Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 21, 2012

BUSINESS (cont. from page 1)

Iris Intrigue Closes… What’s 
Next? 

 Health issues unfortunately forced 
the December closure of Iris Intrigue, 
clothing and gift boutique, owned 
by Lori Dutcher Brown. The signs 
are down and the retail space has 
been emptied at 49 W. Sierra Madre 
Boulevard (right), a prime corner 
location near Kersting Court. Building 
owner Richard Ward, who also owns 
one of the city’s longest established 
businesses here, E. Waldo Ward 
and Son, confirmed the property is 
available for lease and ready to be 
shown, after a short delay. The retail 
space is 1668 square feet. A storage 
area in the back may also be available 
to a lessee. For more information, call 
626-355-1850.

Steamers Building Under 
Construction

 Though not much looks very different 
from the Sierra Madre Boulevard view of 
the building at 136-142 W. Sierra Madre 
Boulevard, the back of the building has 
been completely removed. Right now, “It 
looks like a doll house, where you can look 
in from the back side,” said one citizen in 
town.

 Previous information from owner, Robert 
Amin, indicated the building was being 
readied for March, 2012 occupancy of 
one to several tenants, with one to three 
ground floor restaurant or retail spaces 
plus office areas upstairs, accessed by a new 
elevator. Inspection delays due to holidays 
and limited city inspection scheduling has 
contributed to a new planned completion 
target of April or May, according to Amin. 
“The demolition is done, and the foundation 
is complete. As soon as inspections take 
place, we’ll put in the framing and finishing.”

 According to Danny Castro of the Sierra 
Madre Planning Department, “There are 
current building permits to make tenant 
improvements consistent with their 
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) approval 
granted by the Planning Commission. A 
part of the CUP approval is removal of 
the two dwelling units at the rear of the 
building, as well as reconfiguring interior 
space (removal of walls, etc.), and that’s why 
you see a partial demolition of the rear of 
the building. Construction plans are on file 
here at City Hall.” 

 “We don’t know yet what’s going in” he 
continued. “The CUP allows restaurant/
eating establishments at the site, but the 
CUP does not require these uses. It could 
be any other commercial uses – we are just 
not aware of the owner’s plans at this time.” 

In an interview with Amin, the owner 
indicated that he has interest from a national 
sandwich chain as well as a cupcake chain, 
and hopes one or both with enliven the 
western area of downtown Sierra Madre.

The property is for lease, and information is 
available at 310-766-0588. 

DWELLING UNIT

(continued from page 1)

“The purpose of this 
clarification is to increase the 
density in the core area and to 
change, what would be 96 units, 
into one unit. Not just do it for 
this next project on the agenda, 
but throughout the city.”

 Sutton suggested this would 
lead to a land rush, “to build 
these kinds of care facilities, 
because it would not matter 
how many people are in the 
facility, 200, 300, 500, 1000, as 
long as they all have one kitchen 
they would be one unit.”

 Former Planning 
Commissioner John Hutt 
agreed that such a change would 
be going down a dangerous 
road, “By this definition 
every office is a dwelling unit, 
certainly every hotel room.” 
Hutt said they should leave the 
definition alone.

 Hutt also said there was a 
danger in applying language 
from the building code into the 
zoning code.

“In the definition of dwelling 
unit from the building code 
it talks about provisions for 
sleeping, eating, etc, as required 
by this code. Each one of those 
things that has a provision for, 
has a long, long list of what that 
means. That isn’t taken over 
into the zoning code.”

 Former Mayor Kurt 
Zimmerman said before the 
project moves forward, it 
should simply go before the 
voters. He also said, if that were 
the case, “I would vote in favor 
of it.”

 Of the candidates running 
for city council April 10, 
only LAPD Sergeant Colin 
Broderick spoke on the issue 
although, saying at first, he was 
advised not to.

“I was told that I can’t ask too 
many questions on measures, 
that I myself or others 
running for city council, may 
come before them.” He said. 
“However, this is such an 
important issue that I think its 
income it on me to ask you guys 
some questions to answer.”

 For three hours the 
commissioners struggled 
with the issue, consistently 
going back to the original 
definition. Commissioner 
Spears suggested at one point 
they look at the Mater Dolorosa 
Retreat Center.

“The monastery at the top 
of Sunnyside looks a lot like 
what we are talking about. It’s a 
number of people living in one 
building, who are not family 
and they eat communally.”

 Development Services 
Director Danny Castro and 
Assistant City Attorney Scott 
Porter repeatedly said that 
Sierra Madre Municipal Code 
17.12.030 requires the planning 
commission to recommend to 
the city council clarification 
when ambiguity becomes 
relevant, as is in this case, they 
said.

 Although a vote not to change 
the definition was unanimously 
passed, the project will continue 
with the planning process 
which includes further review 
of every aspect of the plans by 
the Planning Commission at its 
next meeting. 

 

3


Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 21, 2012 

SIERRA MADRE’S “ONE BOOK ONE CITY 2012” EVENTS

REMEMBRANCES

STANLEY CLARENCE SPAETH

Aug. 30, 1927 - Jan. 9, 2012

Stanley Clarence Spaeth went home to be 
with the Lord due to heart 

complications on January 9, 2012 at 12:20 
p.m. at San Antonio Hospital 

in Upland, Ca. He was 84.

Stan was born in Detroit Michigan and 
moved to California in 1949. He 

married Jean, his wife of 54 years, and 
raised 8 children in Monrovia 

where he owned and operated the Monco 
Sign Co. He then retired as the City of 
Monrovia Electrician in 1989. He and his wife later moved to 
Landers, CA in the high desert where they lived out the remainder 
of their days.

Stan was active in many areas in Monrovia and the high desert 
community. He was a WWII vet, owned a sign company, was 
an amateur radio operator, pilot, contractor, electrician, worked 
with the Civil Defense, made all the radio equipment for the 
Monrovia Police cars in the 80's, a Rotary Club President, a Jaycee 
President, a Boy Scouts of America Scoutmaster, Morongo 
Basin Search Rescue Sheriff and a Trustee church leader, to just 
name of few of his amazing accomplishments.

He is survived by his 7 children: Claudia Beaudoin, Eric Spaeth, 
Greg Spaeth, Tim Spaeth, Laura Wiles, Shirley Jergensen, John 
Spaeth; and his 11 grandchildren: Chris Nichols, Reuben, Bryan 
& Elissa Spaeth; Evan, Ryan & Summer Wiles; Kyle & April Jergensen; 
Cory & Janice Spaeth.

A memorial service will be held at Calvary Chapel Landers, in 
Landers, Ca, on January 28, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. In place of flowers, 
donations may be made to Morongo Basin Search & Rescue 
in Stan's memory.


The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 
containing the first twelve short stories 
about the famous detective by Sir Arthur 
Conan Doyle, will be honored during 
February at the Sierra Madre Public Library 
as the City of Sierra Madre’s One Book One 
City selection for 2012. All events are free 
and open to the public.

 One Book One City annually engages the 
community in reading the same notable 
book at the same time and encourages 
everyone to come together to explore the 
literature and join in public discourse. 
Doyle’s tales, along with stage, screen, radio 
and television adaptations, have made 
Sherlock Holmes a permanent part of our 
culture, appealing to readers and audiences 
of all ages. Copies of The Adventures of 
Sherlock Holmes are available in a variety 
of formats—print, CD audiobook, e-book, 
electronic book—from the Sierra Madre 
Public Library.

 A “Mystery Contest” drawing will kick off 
the month-long program on February 1. 
Everyone who reads the stories and is able 
to answer three questions will be entered 
in a drawing to be held at the Library on 
Wednesday, February 1. The winner will 
receive the elegant two-volume set of The 
New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The 
Complete Short Stories, the most lavishly 
illustrated edition of the Holmes tales ever 
produced, edited by Leslie S. Klinger. 

 On Thursday, February 2, at 7:30 p.m., Leslie 
S. Klinger will present “An Evening with 
Sherlock Holmes, Hosted by Les Klinger.” 
Mr. Klinger, considered one of the world’s 
foremost authorities on Sherlock Holmes, 
is the editor of The New Annotated Sherlock 
Holmes, published by W. W. Norton in 
2004 and 2005, winner of the Edgar Award 
for Best Critical/Biographical Work and 
nominated for every other major award 
in the mystery genre. Mr. Klinger, along 
with author Laurie R. King, also edited the 
recently released book A Study In Sherlock: 
Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon, in 
which eighteen superstar modern mystery 
authors provide fascinating, thrilling, and 
original perspectives on Sherlock Holmes. 
This book will be available for purchase and 
autographing after the talk.

 On Thursday, February 9, at 7:30 p.m., 
Sisters in Crime will present a panel 
discussion on “Holmes’ Influence on 
Detective Fiction.” The panel will include 
Amnon Kabatchnik, known for his books 
on crime drama for stage and screen; 
Michael Mallory, Sherlock Holmes expert 
and author; and Naomi Hirahara, prize-
winning mystery writer. Tammy Kaehler, 
author of the Kate Reilly car racing 
mysteries, will moderate.

 On Thursday, February 16, from 11:00 
a.m. to 12 noon, the Sierra Madre Public 
Library will host a book discussion of 
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes at 
the Library during the Library’s monthly 
“Third Thursday” book group.

 In the evening of Thursday, February 16, at 
7:30, Catherine Addé will present “Sherlock 
Holmes’ London: An Illustrated Talk,” an 
armchair tour of London in the footsteps 
of the world’s greatest detective. Ms. 
Addé is a travel industry veteran and was 
thrilled to live in London while working 
on her Master’s in Tourism Management. 
She is a long-time Sierra Madre resident, 
an active community volunteer, and an avid 
reader. She serves on the Board of Trustees 
for the Sierra Madre Public Library. 

 On Saturday, February 25, at 5:00 p.m., 
a special screening of a classic Sherlock 
Holmes movie will take place at the Library. 
This will be the final event in Sierra Madre’s 
One Book One City 2012 program. 

 One Book One City 2012 is sponsored by 
the Sierra Madre Civic Club, the Sierra 
Madre Historical Preservations Society, 
and the Friends of the Sierra Madre Public 
Library. 

For more information, please contact Catriona 
Shafer or Sophia Duran at (626) 355-7186 or visit 
the Library’s website at www.cityofsierramadre.lib.
ca.us . The Sierra Madre Public Library is located 
at 440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., in Sierra Madre, 
California.


During the week of Sunday, January 8th, 
to Saturday January 14th, the Sierra 
Madre Police Department responded 
to approximately 277 calls for service. 
See crimereports.com for updated 
information. 

Sunday, January 8th:

12:59 PM- Use Another’s Personal 
Identification to Obtain Credit/
Etc. This case involves an unknown 
suspect that used the victim’s 
credit information to open a credit 
card account without the victim’s 
permission. 

3:45 PM- Use Another’s Personal 
Identification to Obtain Credit/
Etc. This case involves an unknown 
suspect(s) using the victim’s 
credit card information to make 
purchases. 

Monday, January 9th:

12:50 PM- Use Another Personal 
Identification to Obtain Credit/
Etc. This case involves an unknown 
suspect(s) using the victim’s 
Wells Fargo credit card to make 
unauthorized charges. The victim 
used his card at the Valero gas 
station prior to the fraudulent 
charges. 

2:29 PM- Use Another’s Personal 
Identification to Obtain Credit/
Etc. This case involves an unknown 
suspect(s) using the victim’s 
Chase card to make unauthorized 
charges. The victim used his card 
at the Valero gas station prior to the 
fraudulent charges. 

8:06 PM- Attempted to 
Abandonment of Animals, Bailey 
Canyon Wilderness Park. This 
incident involves the attempted 
abandonment of two rabbits in 
Bailey Canyon by a male adult and 
his juvenile son. 

9:50 PM- Criminal Threats, 300 
blk. Montecito Ave. This incident 
involves criminal threats posted 
on Facebook, which the victim 
perceived as threats to cause her 
great bodily harm or death. An 
Emergency Protective Order 
was granted and the suspect was 
verbally served. 

Tuesday, January 10th:

7:34 AM- Use Another’s Personal 
Identification to Obtain Credit/
Etc. This case involves an unknown 
suspect(s) using the victim’s Wells 
Fargo card to make unauthorized 
charges. 

2:39 PM- Take Vehicle W/O Owner’s 
Consent, 600 blk. W. Sierra Madre 
Blvd. Unknown suspects stole a 
2011 Suzuki GSXR 750 Motorcycle 
from an apartment carport. The 
suspects were identified as two male 
Hispanics in a blue Astro minivan. 

11:40 PM- Danger to Self/Others/
Gravely Disabled, 300 blk. Mariposa 
Ave. This case involves woman 
being placed on a 72-hour hold for 
psychiatric evaluation. 

Wednesday, January 11th:

7:07 AM- Use Another’s Personal 
Identification to Obtain Credit/Etc. 
This case involves the attempted 
unauthorized use of the victim’s 
debit card number after purchasing 
gas at the Valero gas station.

5:44 PM- Use Another’s Personal 
Identification to Obtain Credit/Etc. 
This case involves the attempted 
unauthorized use of the victim’s 
debit card number after purchasing 
gas at the Valero gas station.

Thursday, January 12th :

5:23 PM- Disorderly Conduct/
Drunk in Public, 10 Blk. Kersting 
Ct. Officers responded to Lucky 
Baldwin’s Pub regarding a 
disruptive patron who was refusing 
to leave. Officers determined that 
the woman was too intoxicated 
to care for herself or others and 
arrested her for public intoxication. 
The Sierra Madre resident was 
transported to Pasadena Police Jail 
for booking. 

Friday, January 13th:

11:36 PM- DUI Alcohol/Drugs, 
Rosemead Blvd and Foothill Blvd. 
An officer stopped a 20-year old 
Burbank motorist for a Vehicle 
Code violation and found that the 
driver was under the influence of 
alcohol. The male was transported 
to Pasadena Police Department jail 
for booking. 

Sierra Madre Police Blotter


SENIOR 
COMMUNITY 
COMMISSION 
SEEKING 
“OLDER 
‘SIERRA 
MADRE’ 
AMERICAN OF 
THE YEAR”

The City of Sierra Madre 
Community & Personnel 
Services Department and 
the Senior Community 
Commission are seeking your 
assistance to find the 2012 
Older ‘Sierra Madre’ American 
of the Year. If you know 
someone who lives in Sierra 
Madre, has demonstrated 
outstanding community 
service and is 60 years of age or 
older, please contact the Senior 
Services Desk at (626) 355-
7394 for a nomination form or 
stop by the Sierra Madre City 
Hall, Library or Community 
Recreation Center for 
nomination information.

Nominations are due to the 
Community & Personnel 
Services Department, 611 E. 
Sierra Madre Blvd., by Monday, 
February 20, 2012. The Senior 
Community Commission 
will discuss nominees and 
announce the honoree at their 
regular scheduled meeting on 
March 1, 2012 at 3 pm in the 
Sierra Madre City Council 
Chambers. The honoree 
will also be recognized at a 
reception held in their honor 
on May 11, 2012.

Previous Honorees include: 
Pat Alcorn, Fran Garbaccio, 
Ken Anhalt, Eph Konigsberg, 
Russ Anderson, George 
Throop, Loyal Camacho, 
John Grijalva, Joylouise 
Harte-Smith, James Heasley, 
Midge Morash, James Tyler, 
Isbella Paegal, Bonnie Garner, 
Rose Fafach, Ed Wellman, 
Celeste McCleary, Dorothy 
Tillquist, Doris Webster, Elsie 
Dannmayer, George Mauer & 
Karl Teigler.


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