VOLUME 6 NO 43

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2012


MIDGE MORASH MEMORIAL DEDICATION

22.93 TONS

 On Sunday, November 11, 
2012 at 1:00 p.m. in Bailey Canyon 
Park, Sierra Madre, the Sierra Madre 
Environmental Action Committee will 
pay tribute to the memory of Midge 
Morash, a dear friend to many and 
one of SMEAC’s founders, who passed 
away July 23, 2011. 

 For those not familiar with the Sierra 
Madre Environmental Action Council, 
S.M.E.A.C., by acronym, was founded 
in 1971 by an energetic group of 
environmentalists in the community 
to address recycling in the city of Sierra 
Madre long before recycling and green 
waste diversion was a governmental 
mandate and to provide a voice and 
tool for environmental awareness and 
education. After 41 years SMEAC 
is still active and committed to this 
original mission and welcomes new 
membership and ideas to carry on the 
work that Midge was so instrumental 
in initiating.

 Midge and her family first 
came to Sierra Madre in 1961 and there began a lifetime 
of dedicated volunteerism for the community and beyond. 
Active in the usual school functions of her four children, 
John, Kim, Anne, and Paul, she was also a leader of Brownie 
and Girl Scout troops, and together with her husband Tal, 
directed YMCA camps in the San Bernardino Mountains.

 Midge lived a life dedicated to environmental education 
and conservation. Her signature contribution was 
spearheading the creation of Bailey Canyon Wilderness 
Park. Midge’s Girl Scout troop and SMEAC members 
together transformed a debris basin eyesore into a beautiful 
native plant park. With information provided by the Eaton 
Canyon Nature Center, Midge designed the information 
panels of the park kiosk and the trail guides for the Live 
Oak and Canyon View nature trails in Bailey Canyon. 
Midge also developed the Nature Awareness program 
which recruits and trains docents to lead field trips into 
the canyon once a year for all 3rd and 4th grade students of 
Sierra Madre schools. 

Outside of her family, Midge’s focus and life purpose was 
to understand and promote the conservation of nature. In 
her words, “I have a passion for nature and teaching others 
about nature. Kids have to learn respect for nature and the 
knowledge of the environment, and to live respectfully.” 
She carried this same interest and commitment into later 
volunteer work for an outdoor adventure program with her 
daughter, Anne, at Casa Colina Hospital for Rehabilitation.

Midge was also an accomplished artist and developed 
remarkable skills in clay sculpting. “I like faces,” she said, 
and over time filled her home and garden with beautiful 
sculpted busts. She thoroughly enjoyed music and 
opera, and was an avid reader and book club member. 
Always open-minded, Midge was an eloquent speaker 
and perpetually infused her message with optimism 
and a ticklish humor. Her endless ways of giving to the 
community brought her recognition as Sierra Madre Older 
American of the Year in 2000 and the Fourth of July Parade 
Grand Marshal in 2009. Midge was a grand lady, a sage, 
model citizen, and a gentle doer.

Please join the gathering of friends in Bailey Canyon Park, 
Sunday, November 11, 1:00 under the Elderberry tree, 
which she aptly named the Tree of Music, to pay tribute to 
this great woman and share memories of fun times shared 
together. 

Sierra Madre Compost Give Away is a Huge Success

 
Ed Chen, Director of Governmental Affairs for Athens Services released the following 
statement today on the Sierra Madre Compost Giveaway Event, held on 
Saturday, October 13, 2012. 

 “The City of Sierra Madre distributed 22.93 tons of organic compost to its residents 
to beautify their plants & gardens. We thank the city council for their support 
and bringing awareness to composting. Special thanks go to city staff Adam Matsumoto 
and James Carlson for coordinating this event, and Boys Scouts Troop 110 for 
assisting the residents on the day of the event. We look forward to continuing our 
partnership with the City of Sierra Madre on these successful events.” 

 Above residents of all ages help load compost; below, l to r: Ed Chen, and 
Councilmen John Harabedian, Chris Koerber and John Cappoccia.


CITY OF SIERRA MADRE TRANSPORTATION CHANGES

The City of Sierra Madre City Council approved changes to the City’s public transportation services at their Tuesday, 
October 9th meeting. The changes in schedule will affect the City’s Dial-A-Ride program and Round-A-Bout fixed route 
provided by First Transit, Inc. 

 The Round-A Bout fixed route will operate Monday through Friday between the hours of 11:00am-1:30pm. The 
Round-A-Bout transportation route will remain the same, except for the elimination of the Gold Line Station stop. 
The fixed transportation route will remain within the City of Sierra Madre on a continuous loop. The rider fee will be 
eliminated and the Round-A-Bout is available for all to use at no cost.

 The Dial-A-Ride services will be adjusted to operate Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00am-11:00am 
and 2:00pm-6:00pm. There are no services provided on Saturday or Sunday. Fares for the Dial-A-Ride service will 
remain the same at a rate of $2.00 per one way trip. 

 All changes go into effect on Thursday, November 1, 2012. For questions regarding 
transportation service changes please contact the Community Services Office at 
626-355-5278. Detailed information including the route map will be available 
online at www.cityofsierramadre.com.

Today!


BURGLARY 
CHARGES FILED ON 
ALONZO JOHNSON

In August of 2012 Sierra Madre experienced 
a series of residential and commercial 
burglaries. Through the diligent work 
of Sierra Madre PD Detectives, Alonzo 
Johnson, 49, a local transient was identified 
as being responsible for those burglaries.

Giannone said “The hard work of Detective 
Gonzalez led to the identification of Alonzo 
Johnson. Detective Gonzalez learned of 
similar crimes in South Pasadena where 
Alonzo Johnson was under arrest. Detective 
Gonzalez obtained information on Johnson 
and the victims in Sierra Madre positively 
identified him as being involved in our local burglaries”. 

Working in conjunction with the South Pasadena Police Department a series of 
criminal charges, ranging from Kidnapping, Robbery, and Burglary, were filed 
on Alonzo Johnson by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Alonzo Johnson remains in custody and is being held on a 1.195 million dollar 
bail. He is scheduled for arraignment in Alhambra on October 30, 2012.


HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS......Page 2

This Week’s Highlights: 

Calendar Page 2

Sierra Madre News Page 3

Pasadena/Altadena Page 4

Around San Gabriel Valley Page 5

Arcadia Page 6

Monrovia/Duarte Page 7

Education and Youth Page 8

Good Food & Drink Page 10

Best Friends Page 11

Arts/Health Page 12

Homes & Property Page 13 

The Good Life Page 14

Business Today Page 15

Sports Page 16

Ballot Box - Election 2012 Page 17

Opinion /Left Turn-Right Turn Pages 18-19

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

AROUND SG Valley

3

5

Humane Society Begins Door To 
Door Canvasing

ARCADIA NEWS

6

PASADENA/ALTADENA

4

MONROVIA/DUARTE

7

Bomb Threat For School and 
Health Department

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 
Coffee for the Coffee 
Connoisseur! 
Happy 
Halloween! 
We have this eraser in stock! 
Read The Paper Online At: www.mtnviewsnews.com