Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 18, 2012

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 18, 2012 

CIVIC CLUB CELEBRATES 67 YEARS OF SERVICE

KIWANIS PRESENTS 
MAYOR JOHN 
BUCHANAN;

COMMUNITY 
ELECTION FORUMS

ALSO PLANNED

On Tusday, February 21st, 
Sierra Madre Mayor John 
Buchanan will speak to the 
Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club. 
The presentation will include 
a preview of the upcoming 
State of the City Address 
to be given later in the 
month.

 The meeting will be held 
at The Lodge, formerly the 
Masonic Temple, at 33 E. 
Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra 
Madre. Lunch will be served 
at noon. The program will 
begin at 12.45. 

 Seniors and those unable to 
attend the State of The City 
Address on the 27th, are 
encouraged to attend. The 
event is free to the public.

Upcoming Events:

 The Kiwanis Club will 
also present two informative 
community forums in 
March. 

On Tuesday March 13, the 
Candidates Forum will present 
all candidates who are 
running for City Council. 
Candidates will state their 
positions on important issues 
and will takes questions 
from the audience.

On Tuesday March 27, the 
Kiwanis Club will host an 
informational forum regarding 
the User Utility Tax. 
Representatives will present 
pro and con sides of this issue 
and will accept questions 
from audience members.

Both forums will be at noon, 
and an optional lunch will 
be available. Additional details 
will be forthcoming in a 
few weeks.


A SEASON OF 
LENT AT SIERRA 
MADRE’S 

VILLAGE 
CHURCH 
OF THE 
ASCENSION

The season of Lent lasts approximately 
46 days, including 
Sundays, between Ash 
Wednesday and Easter Sunday. 
Since its founding in 
1885, Ascension and other 
churches in the Sierra Madre 
community have gathered to 
observe the weeks prior to 
Easter as a special time for 
prayer and meditation about 
their Christian discipleship. 

Lent officially starts with 
Ash Wednesday, a day of 
penitence and reflection. At 
Ascension, Ash Wednesday 
Mass and Imposition of 
Ashes will be held on February 
22, 2012 at 7:00 am, 
Noon, and 6:00 pm. All are 
welcome.

 

 The community is also 
welcome to join Ascension 
throughout this Lent on 
Wednesdays (from February 
29th to March 28th) beginning 
with Eucharist at 6:00 
pm, Lenten Potluck Supper 
(soup or salad) at 6:30 pm, 
and this year’s Lenten Program 
Series “Encounter with 
Christ in Mainstream Culture” 
at 7:00 pm. Each week, 
Ministry Intern Marianne 
Zahn will examine multimedia 
excerpts from television, 
movies, and the Internet discussing 
how today’s media 
culture interacts with Scripture, 
our Christian tradition, 
and our lives. 

Come for some part or all 
of this special series of reflection. 
The Lenten Series 
is a great way to meet new 
neighbors and check out 
a wonderful community 
church. For more information, 
please call (626) 355-
1133 or visit: www.ascension-
sierramadre.com. 

This month the Sierra Madre Civic Club celebrated its 67th 
birthday by honoring their past presidents and honorary 
lifetime members, picture above. Many of the honorees, 
including three of the original charter members of the club, 
were able to attend the party, some coming from as far 
away as 250 miles. The club thanked the 59 past presidents 
for their “devoted service and willingness to lead” and for 
bringing “new and different ideas from year to year” to the 
membership.

The club spokesperson, committee co-chairman Vicki 
Vernon, read a note from past president and charter member 
Ann Tyler (president 1951-1952), who was unable to attend, 
that spoke to the club’s beginning and reason for being.

“I was 21 years old, the mother of 2 ½ babies, living with 
my parents while my husband was in the Navy, when 15 
members in similar situations…organized the Sierra Madre 
Civic Club in June of 1944.

The faces have changed but the aims and purposes of the 
Club are still the same. All of the proceeds of our many 
endeavors were given back to the community. 

You are still doing the same things today and I am so proud 
to be a charter member of the Civic Club.”

Honorary lifetime memberships are given for “service 
above and beyond the call of duty” and have been bestowed 
on 28 members for contributing to the club with tireless 
enthusiasm and dedication to the community.

A special salute was given to honorary lifetime member Arly 
Hahn who, at the spry age of 97, is a beloved member and an 
example of the caliber of membership the club attracts. 

Arly volunteered with the Red Cross for approximately ten 
years and performed two three-week tours in Hawaii in the 
aftermath of hurricane Iniki. She also went to Missouri after 
the floods to render aid, commenting that she “never wants 
to see another flood in (my) life – so devastating.” Today 
Arly’s activities with the club may have slowed down a bit, 
but her efforts have helped make the club what it is today. 

Vickie Vernon went on to say that “today’s members are the 
bones of the club.” The club has grown from the 15 original 
charter members to a membership of more than 95 and 
growing. Its members represent all ages and walks of life in 
our town with old and young, students, retired, and business 
people joining together in an active, community-centered 
organization. 

Current President Colleen McKernan said, “It’s an honor to 
serve in the capacity of President considering the history of 
the club and its service to the community.” 

The Civic Club meetings are held on the second Wednesday 
of every month, 7:30 P.M. at the Hart House in Memorial 
Park. Guests are always welcome.


WISTARIA FESTIVAL TO OFFER TOURS OF LANDMARK 
HISTORIC HOTEL SIERRA MADRE (THE PINNEY HOUSE)

The historic landmark Hotel Sierra Madre, also 
known as the Pinney House, will be open for 
self-guided tours during the March 25 Wistaria 
Festival in Sierra Madre.

Built in 1887, Hotel Sierra Madre is slated to re-
open as a Bed and Breakfast Inn in summer of 
2012. The property has not been operated as an 
inn for over 100 years. 

Tours will be offered to visitors on the Wistaria 
Festival shuttle, as the bus stops in front of the 
Hotel Sierra Madre at 225 No. Lima St. 

Hotel Sierra Madre was designed by noted 
Victorian architects, the Newsom b rothers. It 
was one of a string of railroad hotels that served 
as lodging for train passengers who disembarked 
at the Baldwin depot on their travels from the 
midwest and east coast. It is one of the last 
remaining railroad hotels, and the only one to be 
operating as its original use of lodging.

Hotel Sierra Madre has undergone several 
years of renovation. It will open with six 
spacious elegant bed and bath suites, as well as 
several common rooms reminiscent of the late 
nineteenth century. 

More information on Hotel Sierra Madre can be found at www.hotelsierramadreus.com.

For more information on Wistaria Festival and to order Shuttle Tickets online, contact the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce, www.
wistariatickets.com. 


WANNA WATCH A WHALE?

Whale Watching Community Excursion

Join the Community and Personnel Services Department for its annual Whale 
Watching excursion on Saturday, March 3, 2012. Enjoy a two and a half 
hour narrated tour by Aquarium of the Pacific staff, charter boat with a two 
level viewing deck, and transportation to and from Long Beach. Snacks are 
available for purchase on the boat, 
or lunches can be brought aboard. 
For more information call 626-355-
5278.

Date: Saturday, March 3, 
2012

Time: 10:00am - 3:30pm

Cost: $28.00 per person

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Transportation leaves from the Community Recreation Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre 
Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

2012 MOUNT WILSON TRAIL RACE 
INFORMATION

Get Ready for the 2012 Mount Wilson Trail Race with Team CrossFit Academy 

The 2012 race will be here before you know it: Saturday, May 26.

Coach Eric LeClair and Team CrossFit Academy will be returning for their seventh year to provide 
free Saturday morning training runs for this challenging event for any interested trail runner. The 
training is a 16-week program designed with three different ability groups.: Beginner, Intermediate, 
and Advanced. The first training session will begin Saturday morning, February 4th at 7:00A in 
Kersting Court. It is recommended that all interested runners 
begin their training on this date; each Saturday morning will 
feature a different training run.

Coach LeClair has had hundreds of runners and racers within 
the ranks of the training team over the past six years. The 
training program has been so successful that it has resulted in 
over 20 Top 3 finisher medals!

From the beginning trail runner to the experienced veteran 
racer, all will be welcomed into this fun group and will be 
assisted in accomplishing his or her desired goal. To contact 
Coach Eric LeClair or Team CrossFit Academy directly, please 
call 626-437-8739 or search for either on Facebook.

Registration

Registration for the 2012 Mount Wilson Trail Race will begin 
on Monday, March 5 at 9:00am. Registration is available online 
at www.cityofsierramadre.com/onlineregistration. Runners are 
encouraged to register as soon as possible as space is limited. 
The MWTR sells out on an annual basis, be sure to reserve 
your spot for 2012! For more information please visit www.
mountwilsontrailrace.com or contact the Community Services 
Office at 626.355.5278.


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