Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 21, 2012

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, January 21, 2012

“What’s Going On?” 

News and Views from Joan Schmidt

SOCALGAS WARNS CUSTOMERS 

ABOUT POTENTIAL PAYMENT SCAM


County Area News: 

New Council Member 

And Proposed New Street Sign

LOS ANGELES, January 19, 2012 – Southern 
California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) is warning 
customers to be aware of an ongoing wire 
fraud that could potentially reach SoCalGas 
customers. The fraudulent activity has been 
reported on the East Coast and at this time there 
are no indications that SoCalGas customers 
have been targeted.

Utilities on the East Coast have reported 
that individuals misrepresenting themselves 
as utility employees are calling customers and 
threatening to turn off electric and gas service 
if payment is not made to them that day. 
Utility customers, primarily in the Hispanic 
community, have been told that payment must 
be made by purchasing a pre-pay credit card, 
and are directed to another phone number 
where information is then obtained from the 
card and the cash value is removed from the 
card or the permanent card is registered in 
another name and redirected.

“Although there have not yet been reports of 
this fraudulent activity in southern California, 
we want to alert our customers in an effort 
to prevent them from becoming potential 
victims,” said Michael Schneider, vice president 
of customer operations at SoCalGas. “We 
advise customers to be alert and not to provide 
any type of financial information if they receive 
a call from a suspicious company. “

SoCalGas does not proactively contact 
customers to ask for credit card information over 
the phone, said Schneider. The utility provides 
past due notices in writing before service is 
shut-off for non-payment. Additionally, all 
SoCalGas employees on company business are 
required to carry a photo ID badge. When 
customers call SoCalGas for billing inquiries, 
employees will always be able to provide account 
information and the exact past due balance. If 
customers receive a phone call that makes them 
feel uncomfortable, they should hang up and 
call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 or 1-800-342-
4545 in Spanish, or the local authorities to file 
a report. 

###

About Southern California Gas Co. 

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has 
been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural 
gas to its customers for more than 140 years. It 
is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution 
utility, providing service to 20.9 million 
consumers connected through nearly 5.8 
million meters in more than 500 communities. 
The company’s service territory encompasses 
approximately 20,000 square miles throughout 
central and Southern California, from Visalia 
to the Mexican border. SoCalGas is a regulated 
subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).

By Joan Schmidt

The New Year has 
brought some VERY 
exciting news for the 
county area. First of all, 
there is a new Council 
Member, Terrence 
Williams. If his name sounds familiar, it should: 
he was a recent candidate in the Monrovia School 
Board election and was endorsed by the Pasadena 
Star News. Mr. Williams has lived in the Monrovia 
County Area for 22 years. He and his wife Bobbie 
are proud parents of four children. Their eldest, a 
daughter, is a product of Monrovia High School, 
currently attending Citrus College and working. 
Their eldest son, Luke was a member of the 
Monrovia Football Team which just won the CIF 
Championship.

Their other two sons attend Monrovia schools 
also. Mr. Williams, a business owner, is an active 
community member, involved in his children’s 
schools, his Church, Second Baptist in Monrovia 
and working with law enforcement to improve 
our communities. He certainly will be an asset 
to the Town Council, representing the Monrovia 
area.

The Town Council elections were scheduled 
for January 12th. No other candidates came 
forward by the deadline. There was an emergency 
Board Meeting and it was decided to appoint Mr. 
Williams to the Council and change the by-laws 
to having seven members as it originally had. The 
paperwork to do so has been mailed to the state.

The other news is the County Street signs. 
There has been a debate about this issue for over 
a year. Federal funding will provide for the new 
signs. Since we are unincorporated, there was the 
suggestion to change our name to a new name 
and it would include the three county areas of 
Arcadia, Monrovia and Duarte. Many residents 
DID NOT like this. I agree. I may live in the 
“County” area, but my address is “Monrovia” and 
my daughters are products of Monrovia High 
School. Dorothy Smith of the Duarte County 
area, who has done SO MUCH volunteer service, 
said, “I live in Duarte and my sons went to Duarte 
HS; I DON’T want to change the name of where 
I live!

At the January 16th meeting, there was 
the proposed new street sign. (See photo) 
Everywhere in the county area-be it Duarte, 
Monrovia, or Arcadia- it would say, “Mayflower 
Village”. I could hardly believe it. At first I 
thought it was amusing, but after much thought, 
“RIDICULOUS” describes it! “Mayflower 
Village” was built in 1949. It probably goes from 
Mayflower Avenue, East to either Peck Road 
or Myrtle Avenue. I live on the other side of 
Myrtle, so the name change would be beneficial 
if I wanted to sell my house. However, it’s NOT 
FAIR for the residents of Duarte. They are proud 
of Duarte HS (YAY, FALCONS!) and the legacy 
of Andres Duarte. And the folks from South 
Arcadia (south of Live Oak Avenue) are not really 
part of “Mayflower Village”- that’s in Monrovia. 
“Mayflower Village” was so unique. It had its own 
shopping center with the “Mayflower Market”, 
a restaurant, Beauty Salon, Barber, Florist and 
Drug Store. The residents of Mayflower Village 
are NOT happy with the suggestion and I don’t 
blame them. If you DO NOT want the ENTIRE 
UNINCORPORATED area called “Mayflower 
Village”, please e-mail Town Council Chair, David 
Hall (davehall32@yahoo.com ) or call Supervisor 
Antonovich’s office (909) 394-2264 and let them 
know your feelings. These HUGE signs will be on 
the main streets and I can’t understand why they 
can’t fit “Monrovia County”, “Arcadia County”, 
or “Duarte County” instead of Mayflower Village.

The Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte Town Council 
meets the 3rd Tuesday each month, even month 
Tuesdays at Annunciation Church Hall, 1307 
East Longden Ave, Arcadia; odd month Tuesdays 
at Pamela Park, Pamela Road, Duarte. There 
are always representatives from the Sheriff’s 
Department and Brian Mejia, Field Deputy for 
Supervisor Antonovich’s office who give updates 
on current activities. Members of the CA Highway 
Patrol and a rep from the Live Oak Library also 
attend on occasion. Meetings are a good way to 
know your area. See you there!


YOURS? MINE? OURS? EXPLORING PRIVATIZATION

A Free Community Forum, Feb. 11, 2012

The League of Women Voters Pasadena Area 
will tackle the challenging and controversial 
topic of privatization at a free community forum 
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at 
the Neighborhood Church, 301 N. Orange Grove 
Blvd, Pasadena. 

The forum title, “Yours? Mine? Ours? 
Exploring Privatization” captures the ambiguity 
of privatization. People who 

appreciate using public resources such as 
libraries, roads, parks and schools tend to resist 
privatization. Cash-strapped communities 
and those opposed to taxes see privatization 
as a way to cut government costs. Few people, 
however, understand the full implications and 
complications of transferring public services, 
assets and functions to the private sector, what 
works and what doesn’t work. 

What happens when a municipality or 
government privatizes services such as libraries, 
roads, park and other functions? What are the 
impacts? Are there savings to governments? 
Does it make sense for cash-strapped cities? Does 
it make sense for everyone in the community -- 
residents and businesses alike? 

The League forum will explore various models 
of privatization from complete divestiture (selling 
off public assets and 

public spaces) to contracting out services, 
sharing services with other cities and public/
private partnerships. Local examples will be 
provided.

The emcee and panel moderator will be Jan 
Sanders, director of Libraries and Information 
Services for Pasadena.

Cynthia Kurtz, former city manager of 
Pasadena and currently president and chief 
executive officer of San Gabriel Valley Economic 
Partnership, will lead off the program with an 
overview of privatization.

Panelists will be Mark R. Alexander, city 
manager, city of La Canada Flintridge; Scott 
Ochoa, former city manager of Monrovia and 
now Glendale city manager as of January 3; Frank 
Zerunyan, director of Executive Education, 
senior fellow, USC School of Policy, Planning, 
and Development.

Following the presentations, the audience 
will break into groups to discuss specific topics 
including public safety, municipal services, 
transportation and roadways, and property, 
facilities and open spaces.

Refreshments and a resource table with 
handouts on the issue of privatization will be 
available. The forum is free, but donations are 
welcome.

Reservations are requested by calling the 
League office, 626-798-0965, or e-mailing office@
lwvpasadenaarea.org.

THE BIRTHDAY MEMORY RUN


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges

 

[Nyerges is the author of several books, 
including “Self-Sufficient Home,” and he 
blogs at www.ChristopherNyerges.com. 
For more information on his books and 
classes, he can be reached at School of 
Self-reliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 
90041]

 

Another cycle in my life has arrived and I performed my 
annual ceremony this morning. I went down into the Arroyo 
Seco, and ran 57 laps for my “birthday memory run.” 

It was cold and overcast down in the canyon amidst the 
sycamores, alders, and oaks, and the weather seemed to 
parallel my being born into the world with ignorance of the 
ways of man. The fact that there was no one around seemed to 
further make the point that we are each born into this world, 
alone and naked.

I began my run, one lap for each year, while trying to re-live 
that year as I ran. I was able to more fully get into the past 
feeling of being there, and actually living it. 

Suddenly there was this Conscious awareness, “me,” and it 
was looking out at a very strange world through my new eyes. 
“What is this strangeness?” I thought. I found myself crying 
as I ran through these early years, as I often cried back in the 
mid to late 1950s in my Pasadena home. Why did I cry? I 
was fed, clothed, warm, and there were no abuses. But I felt 
an indefinable feeling that something was wrong and that 
I was no longer a part of the Eternal Oneness that I’d been 
connected to.

But how could I have told anyone about that? Even now, it’s 
difficult.

I ran around the large body of water, surrounded by still fallen 
branches from the recent heavy winds. 

As I ran, I realized how we all 
take everything for granted, 
and we question too little, 
much to our detriment. We 
seldom ask “Why?” and 
we quickly join the herd 
in trying to get better, get 
more, outdo, make money, 
make more money, go to 
school so you can get a job, 
and get married. These 
are the things we all do. 
They are expected. We do 
so automatically. And we 
end up with barely any 
time to look at each of our 
choices, and each thought, 
to see where our choices are 
taking us.

I felt much empathy for 
my parents, two people 
who were like gods to me 
as a child, and who in fact 
struggled like every one 
else in their day to day 
challenges. How blind I 
was!

I looked for real love, and 
sometimes found it. My life with Dolores was full of ups 
and downs, and successes and failures, and a rich tapestry of 
struggling to find meaning in life, all the while working to fit 
this into the necessities that society and others impose upon 
us.

I saw my various projects that brought me and others 
happiness and fulfillment, though my mind went to the many 
projects that I did not get done. I wrote in my notebook these 
projects so I could take action this year.

I saw the birds and heard the squirrels and a cool breeze sung 
in the treetops as I neared the end of my life’s review. 

Life is sweet and short, and, as we’ve all been told, this is it 
and there’s no dress rehearsal. I smiled inwardly at my circle 
of friends and family, and hoped and prayed that 2012 will 
be the best year ever, the transformational year of change, as 
reflected in the fulfillment of the 13th Baktun of the Mayan 
Long Count calendar. Yes, 13 means “good luck” to Mayans! 

It was a great run, and I thank each of you who have been a 
part of this wonderful circle.


Pet of the Week

Homer: Animal ID # A4374988


Meet a stunning boy with mesmerizing eyes, 
the debonair Homer (A4374988). Homer is a 
calm and affectionate one-year-old white and 
red male Boxer mix puppy who was found in 
emaciated condition in the City of Industry on 
December 16th and brought to the Baldwin Park 
shelter. Weighing fifty pounds, he is underweight 
and needs to gain ten to fifteen pounds. Homer 
walks well on the leash and although he doesn’t 
know any commands, he is very well socialized. 
He passed his shelter-given temperament test 
with flying colors. He is good with other dogs 
and we think he will be good with children. 
Soulful and handsome, with a medium energy 
level, Homer will be the ideal indoor pet for an 
individual or family living in a private home. 
To watch a video of Homer interacting with a 
volunteer, please click here: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=8e92Eip3PZs

To meet Homer, please visit him at the Baldwin 
Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, Baldwin 
Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378). For 
any inquiries about Homer, please reference his 
animal ID number: A4374988. 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 Homer 
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 dog of all breeds, ages, and sizes 
available for adoption in local shelters, visit 
http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/
shelter-support-program/.