SATURDAY MAY 12, 2012

VOLUME 6 NO 19

Breaking News:

NELL AND BOB SOLT, WISTARIA 
VINE OWNERS NAMED FOURTH 
OF JULY GRAND MARSHALS

The volunteer Sierra Madre 4th of July Committee is excited to announce 
that the 2012 Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal will be Nell and Bob 
Solt, the Wistaria Vine Owners. “The Grand Marshal is a person’s whose 
efforts over a long period of time has been beneficial to the community of 
Sierra Madre. The title of Grand Marshal is intended to honor a person’s 
volume of work, dedication and overall enhancements to our city.” 

Since 1972, when they purchased the property at Hermosa and Carter 
Ave, Nell and Bob Solt have graciously opened their property to allow 
thousands of people to visit the world-famous Wistaria Vine during 
Sierra Madre’s signature event, the Wistaria Festival, held each March. 
For forty years, not only have they opened their property to outsiders on 
the day of the festival, but for days in advance, with media day, docent 
training day, equipment drop off and pick up day, and more.

SIERRA MADRE’S OLDER AMERICANS OF THE YEAR:

NAN AND JERRY CARLTON


CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS MADE

Mayor Josh Moran started his tenure as head of the council with a very 
long council meeting Tuesday night. The agenda included amendments 
to the FY 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 budgets, fee changes and 
more. However, one of the most anxiously awaited agenda items, 
Council assignments to various committees and organizations did not 
happen until almost midnight.

The following council liaison appointments were made:

(Alternates are in parenthesis)

Planning Commission Chris Koerber (Harabedian)

Senior Community Commission John Capoccia (Walsh)

Community Services Commission Josh Moran (Capoccia)

Tree Commission John Capoccia (Koerber)

Library John Harabedian (Koerber)

Green Advisory Commission Nancy Walsh (Moran)

SM Volunteer Fire Department Josh Moran (Harabedian)

Chamber of Commerce Nancy Walsh (Capoccia)

Sierra Madre School Koerber (Moran)

Sanitation Josh Moran (Walsh)

SM Police Department Harabedian (Capoccia)

Council of Governments (COG) Harabedian (Walsh)

SCAG John Capoccia (Koerber)

League of Cities Josh Moran (Harabedian)

Foothills Workforce John Capoccia (Moran)

Cal JPIA Chris Koerber (Capoccia)

Independent Cities Assoc. Nancy Walsh (Moran)

Council members will serve a term of 1 year.

On Friday evening, The City of Sierra 
Madre Community & Personnel 
Services Department and the Senior 
Community Commission bestowed 
the honor of Older Americans of the 
Year for 2012 on Nan and Jerry Carlton. 
Each year the President of the 
United States, the Governor of California 
and the Los Angeles County 
Board of Supervisors designate the 
month of May as Older American 
Month. 

 The award was presented at the 
Hart Park House Senior Center. 
Sierra Mayor Josh Moran presented 
a Proclamation from the City of 
Sierra Madre. Special presentations 
were made by Mark Harmon from 
Congressman Dreier’s office, and 
Rita Hadjimanoukian from Supervisor 
Michael Antonovich’s office. 

 The Carltons are longtime active 
volunteers in the community and 
been involved in numerous activities, 
including (partial listing) the 
Sierra Madre Friends of the Library, 
the Mt. Wilson Trail Race, the Wine 
& Jazz Walk, the Sierra Madre Civic 
Club & Senior Lunch Program, 
the Little League and much, much 
more.

 

 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. 

Photo by Bill Coburn

Don’t Forget: Letter Carrier Food Drive TODAY

 The Foothill Unity Center is partnering with the US Postal Service for 
the Letter Carrier Food Drive. Put all your non-perishable goods in a 
bag for your letter carrier to pick up on Saturday, May 12, 2012. 

 


BETTY R. MCWILLIAMS NAMED 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 

FOOTHILL UNITY CENTER, INC.


Foothill Unity Center Deputy Director 
Betty R. McWilliams has 
been chosen from a field of over 20 
candidates to assume leadership of 
the organization effective June 4. 
She succeeds Joan E. Whitenack, 
who is retiring after nearly 17 years 
as head of the agency. 

As a key member of the Center’s 
management team for 14 years, 
McWilliams has played a pivotal 
role in its growth into one of the 
most effective nonprofit agencies 
in the area. In partnership with 
Whitenack, she led the expansion 
of its program service area from 
three cities to eleven, now providing 
services to more than 4,000 unduplicated 
very low income local 
families and homeless each year. 
She was instrumental in securing 
the Center’s federal designation as 
Community Action Agency for the 
Foothill Area and in the success of 
its major annual fundraising event, 
the Golden Plate Awards Dinner. In 
addition to overseeing the Center’s 
day-to-day operations, McWilliams 
has helped to develop many 
of its client programs, including 
Health Services, Pet Food Bank, Senior/
Disabled Home Delivery, case 
management and much more. She 
has also been instrumental in the 
planning and execution of its annual 
Back to School, Thanksgiving 
and Holiday Distributions. Prior 
to joining the Center, McWilliams 
served as Executive Director of 
the Pasadena Senior Center for six 
years and held other administrative 
positions in the private sector.

“After a months-long search and 
the review of a strong field of final 
candidates, Betty emerged as the 
hands-down choice of our Executive 
Search Committee,” said David 
Steinmeier, President of the Center’s 
Board of Directors. “As Foothill 
Unity Center enters a new era 
of helping local families in need, 
we are fortunate and proud to 
have Betty’s exceptional leadership 
skills, seasoned experience, caring 
and passion at the helm.”

NOTE: A retirement party for Joan 
Whitenack is planned for Thursday 
evening, June 28, 5 – 8 p.m. at the 
Double Tree Hotel in Monrovia. 
For information and reservations 
($10 per person), contact Barbara 
Rolf at the Center, 626.358.3486 or 
email barbara@foothillunitycenter.
org

About Foothill Unity Center

Foothill Unity Center helps local 
low-income families and individuals 
get the food, health care and crisis 
assistance they need to survive, 
and hopefully get back on their feet. 
In 2011, the nonprofit Center, the 
Community Action Agency for the 
Foothill area, provided more than 
35,000 family food services – including 
monthly groceries, weekly 
perishable foods, bag lunches for 
the homeless, homebound delivery 
and more. The organization 
also supplies access and referrals to 
health care services, plus referrals 
to over 100 local organizations and 
partners for other crisis services.

This Week’s Highlights:

BUSINESS NEWS & 
TRENDS

New Column:“Social 
Media Tips & Tricks”

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

Mother’s Day Short Story by 
Anne Montgomery:“An Extraordinary 
Woman”

Guns, Cash Seized 
in Welfare Fraud 
Investigation

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