SIERRA MADRE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST 

SATURDAY, MAY 5th 7 to 11 am 


SATURDAY MAY 5, 2012

VOLUME 6 NO 18

POLICE APPREHEND CAR BURGLARY 
SUSPECT; HOME BURGLAR SOUGHT

COUNCIL TO TACKLE BUDGET SHORTFALLS

 Quick action by the Sierra Madre 
Police Department on Thursday, 
led to the arrest of a Pasadena resident 
after a brief vehicle pursuit on 
Sierra Madre Blvd.

 Marcus Allen Corner, 25, had 
been spotted near St. Rita’s Church 
testing the doors on parked cars 
in what appeared to be an effort to 
find an unlocked vehicle. Witnesses 
noticed Corner, who was talking 
on his cell phone, and quickly reported 
the unusual behavior to the 
SMPD. 

 Within a minute of notification, 
the SMPD made a high risk traffice 
stop and arrested Corner. He was 
charged with felony attempted vehicular 
burglary and is being held 
on $120,000 bail.

 Sergeant Joe Ortiz warns residents 
not to leave valuables in plain sight 
in your vehicles and to always lock 
your car.

Home Burglar Sought

 On May 1st, a home in the 600 
block of Elm Street in Sierra Madre 
was burglarized between 5:45 p.m. 
and 9:00 p.m. The thief entered the 
property via an unlocked side gate 
and broke a window to gain entry 
to the house. As of press time, 
there was no description of the 
suspect. Anyone who may have 
information regarding this crime is 
asked to contact the Sierra Madre 
Police Department, 626-355-1414.

Lock your doors!

 Sgt. Ortiz reminded residents 
that despite the tranquility of our 
town, it is absolutely necessary 
that doors, windows and gates be 
locked and residential burglaries 
and car burglaries continue to be 
a problem. Regarding residences, 
Ortiz noted that alarms do serve as 
a deterrent and encouraged homes 
that have alarm systems to display 
the signs in the front of the house. 

 With the election and ceremonies 
behind, the newly reorganized Sierra 
Madre City Council will hold its first 
full meeting on Tuesday, May 8th. 
Among the items on the agenda are 
the introduction of a new SMVFD 
Battalion Chief and six new firefighters, 
new council appointments and 
public hearings on fees and zoning. 
(See notices on page 21).

 However, of all the agenda items listed, 
the one that is certain to require 
the most attention is the discussion 
of the budget. 

 The council will discuss the FY 
2011-2013 Biennial Budget projected 
ending balances for FY 2011-2012 
and the Revised FY 2012-2013 Budget 
and Fee Schedule.

 For the FY 2011-2012 the city 
will have a reduction in revenues of 
$317,600 of which 50% ($164,373) 
is from the existing Utility User Tax 
revenues declining. There has also 
been a decrease of $46,441 in Franchise 
Fees and a reduction of $47,000 
in Vehicle License Fees from the state.

 To mitigate the impact of this revenue 
loss, the city has reduced the 
budget by $402,000. However, because 
projections for 2012-2013 
indicate a continued decline in revenues, 
more adjustments will have to 
be made. In the staff report that the 
council will consider, additional budget 
cuts of $504,696.

 The council will meet on Tuesday, 
May 8th at 6:30 p.m.at City Hall.

S. Henderson/MVNews

50TH ANNUAL SIERRA MADRE ART FAIR

The 50th annual Friends of the Sierra Madre Library’s art fair will be 
held in Memorial Park, 222 West Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, on 
Saturday, May 5, from 9:30AM to 6:00PM and Sunday, May 6, from 
9:30AM to 5:00PM. More than 80 artists will be displaying and selling 
their fine arts during the weekend. Mediums include oil paintings, 
jewelry, water colors, glass, wood, metal, photography, pottery, 
ceramics, mixed media, and hand woven baskets and rugs. The Art Fair 
will be the perfect place to find that unique Mother’s Day, graduation, 
or wedding gift and to find art that you will be proud to wear or display in your home.

Live music will be featured throughout the weekend in the band shell and on the south lawn and a food court will offer a 
variety of food and drinks provided by local non-profit groups as well as food vendors. For the children, the Creative Arts 
Group has planned a fun and imaginative craft activity on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm.

A new feature of this year’s fair will be a silent auction. So far, forty of the artists who are displaying and selling their 
creations at this year’s fair have donated lovely, one-of-a-kind pieces for the auction which means that you’ll have a chance 
to bid on some really beautiful artwork. 

So come early and stay all day. Browse through the wonderful displays of artwork, sit on the lawn and listen to music, have 
a little lunch, check on your silent auction bids, and then go back and purchase those lovely pieces of art that have been 
calling your name ever since you spotted them. Proceeds from the Art Fair benefit the Sierra Madre Library. For more information, 
visit our website at sierramadrelibraryfriends.org or call 626 355-7186.


NATIONAL TAKE BACK 
INITIATIVE A HUGE SUCCESS

On Saturday April, 28, 2012, 
Sierra Madre Police Department 
participated in the National Take 
Back Initiative. In cooperation 
with the Drug Enforcement 
Administration (DEA), the Sierra 
Madre Police Department collected 
over 50 lbs. of old, unused, and 
excess medication that was turned in 
to Police Officers at City Hall today. 

Police Chief Larry Giannone 
commended the community for an 
outstanding job of properly disposing 
of the old and unused medications 
that could have potentially posed a 
safety risk if the medications were 
discarded improperly. The drop 
off started at 10:00 AM and ended 
at 2:00 PM. In just four hours the 
public was able to walk up and hand 
the medications to officers, with no 
questions asked, resulting in over 50 
lbs. of a variety of medications slated 
for destruction.

The Sierra Madre Police Department 
looks forward to participating in 
the event next year and our goal 
will be to double the amount of 
old medications taken in now that 
community members know how 
easy it was to dispose of the items 
properly.

OWN A PIECE OF THE HISTORIC PEPPER TREE

Kiwanis Club To Auction Unique Artifact

 On March 1st on of Sierra Madre’s most beloved icons, the Pepper Tree was 
cut down due to its diseased condition. The tree, which stood for more than 
125 years held thousands of wonderful memories for those who lived in 
town, and those who were just passing by. In the days leading up to the 1st, 
countless residents stopped by to sit by the tree one last time. What followed 
were discussions on how to preserve the memories of the tree. How about a 
bench? Or a special fence? None of those solutions were feasible. 

 However, longtime Sierra Madre resident and Kiwanis Boot Skootin Chairman 
Joe Pergola had a brilliant idea. Let’s use the wood to create a one of a 
kind souvenir that will be an eternal reminder of the great tree.

Pergola, a professional cabinet maker 

created the unique Cross pictured above. 
Carved and finished by hand, the Cross, 
with a brass plate which details its origin 
will be part of the Silent Auction held 
at the Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club Boot 
Skootin’ Chili Cook-Off and Fundraiser 
next Saturday. The proceeds will be used 
to fund the club’s Paul Magaris mini-grant 
program and other programs for the youth 
of the community.

In addition to the auction, the event will 
offer attendees the chance to sample an array 
of Chili’s prepared by both professionals 
and amateurs, participate in line dancing 
instruction given by a professional, 
eat, drink and be merry!

Food Critic Peter Dills will chose the 
winners in the Professional and Amateur 
catagories, and attendees will vote on The 
People’s Choice.

If you are interested in entering the cook-
off, contact Pergola at 626-355-8333 or 
email him at jojacpergola@aol.com.

Plan for a night full of good food, great 
fun, and much more! The event will be 
held in the Sierra Madre Room and the 
Recreation Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre 
Blvd., Sierra Madre.


NEIL TURNS SWEET 16

 
Sierra Madre is a town where every day there is a celebration going on somewhere. 
This week it was Neil’s 16th birthday celebration. Neil (center with the 
birthday hat) is the town’s celebrity Sus scrofa domesticus - pig. He’s lived happily 
on W. Montecito for most of his life. And while he didn’t get the expected new 
car when he turned 16, he did party hard and go ‘live’ on air on the “Barry, Lisa 
and Rich Show,” a comedy trivia show on internet radio station, Radio Fishbowl 
(www.radiofishbowl.com )and authenticates Neal’s status as a bona fide celebrity.

 Rich Johnson, Lisa Baum and Barry Schwam (above) helped with the celebration 
by bringing Neil coffee from Niko’s, Cookies from Beantown and a banana 
from Lisa’s lunch bag. 

 Even though the party is over, you can visit Neil anytime. He’ll be glad to see 
you. He lives with Katherine Emerson on W. Montecito on the south side of the 
street, just before Lima. You’ll recognize his adobe easily. He might even come 
out of the house and chat with you!

This Week’s Highlights:

SIERRA MADRE 
BUSINESS UPDATES

A Fond Farewell and A 
Hearty Welcome

Arcadia Page 6

Monrovia/Duarte Page 7

Arts & Entertainment Page 9

The World Around Us Page 11

The Good Life Page 12

Sports Page 14

Legal Notices Pgs. 18-21

PASADENA/ALTADENA

4

17

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

3

Student Arrested for 
Replica Handgun

Sierra Madre Search and 
Rescue

Niko and Friends Café 
900 Valley View #6, Pasadena, CA 
Almost in Sierra Madre – we are in the East End! 
On the N Michillinda/Montecito Corner 
Monday to Friday: 7 am to 6 pm. Saturday: 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, Closed on Sunday 
626-510-6151 
.... 
www.NikoandFriendscafe.com 
No Gimmicks! 
Just Good Coffee! 
Arf, woof, woof! 
My dad and I like coming to Niko’s for Coffee! 
Read The Paper Online At: www.mtnviewsnews.com