Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 9, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 9, 2013 

REMEMBRANCE

LEVEQUE CONSTRUCTION CELEBRATES A QUARTER 
CENTURY OF HOME BUILDING AND DESIGN

This past Saturday February 2, 2013 marked the 25th anniversary for the LeVeque Construction 
building team. Anthony and Jim LeVeque have created beautiful remodels and custom homes in 
the San Gabriel Valley. For friends, family and clients attending the quarter century milestone, the 
founders proudly thanked their supporters and looked forward to another year ahead planning and 
building useful residential spaces, especially in the kitchen, bathroom and additional living spaces 
categories.

“While building new homes are 
not the main focus of our business, 
we are seeing homeowners 
extend and expand their current 
residences to include extra room 
for an aging family member, 
necessary student housing a 
long overdue bathroom or a 
creative kitchen space with energy 
efficient appliances,” remarked Jim 
LeVeque. 

Gathering in Bill Sullivan’s 
beautifully designed wine tasting 
room of the Bottle Shop, the 
Leveque clan and staff were 
greeted by many well-wishers, La 
Salle Alumni, and clients including 
Msgr. Richard Krekelberg from 
St. Rita Parish whose upgraded 
sanctuary, intricate hardwood 
floors and altar remodeling 
project had been completed under the supervision of the original architect, John Gougeon, Jim and 
Anthony LeVeque and crew. That major restoration process incorporated new lighting elements and 
removal of the traditional altar rail, kneelers and allowed the wide open space in the modern church. 
This renovation represented a major undertaking for the 100 year old parish and the results were 
spectacular according to Msgr. Richard Krekelberg and St. Rita parishoners.

At the top of Sunnyside Avenue also in Sierra Madre, the majestic Mater Dolorosa Founder’s Room, 
and residential work and facilities upgrades for director Fr. Patrick Brennan, CP and staff delighted the 
residents and visitors to the quiet monastery soaring above the Los Angeles basin. “This construction 
project remains a constant source of pride and craftsmanship since the LeVeque team undertook our 
design and construction plans. Not only did they finish on time and on budget, they went to great 
lengths to match the original doors from the 1920’s which adorn the structure and maintain a sense of 
elegance and lasting value. I cannot recommend anyone more highly than these two good men. They 
work well, and get the job done. Their imagination and skill far exceeded what we had envisioned on 
our own“, stated the monastery’s affable director Fr. Pat.

A 16 page colored tribute book reflected a rare collection of marble detailed tile work in a Pasadena 
San Rafael neighborhood, a classic French styled traditional chef’s dream kitchen, followed by an 
elegant raised ceiling, open beam V Groove truss work, and hand-made patina ironwork, custom tile 
accents, exposed beams and closed with a Tuscan mural for a subterranean wine cellar and multimedia 
room. This La Canada Prohibition era hidden basement once unearthed after 80 years captured the 
imagination of many admirers. Several members of the Sierra Madre Rotary Club – Walter Poser, 
Dan Alle, Peggy Beauregard, Karen Swisher, and Tom Brady came to appreciate the hard work and 
dedication of these master builders and recent club members. 

Having a general contractor’s license #599887 and several specialty licenses B1, C10, C20 and H1C 
qualifies the company to take on simple and complex construction projects. “Serving commercial 
accounts and residents in Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Pasadena, San Marino, Monrovia and La Canada 
for the past 25 years has been so rewarding and many of our finished jobs have appeared online at 
www.LeVequeConstruction.com now since we launched our website and social media campaigns this 
year. Whenever homeowners want us to create imaginative and useful living spaces, we collaborate 
together and deliver our best work,” noted Jim LeVeque.

As the celebratory toast was raised in their honor, Anthony stated plainly, “I am a man of few words 
and many tools! Jim added, “We grew up here; our families live and play in this friendly community. 
With children attending the local schools and regular Little League baseball at Hensley Field, we 
have made Arcadia and Sierra Madre our home.” If anyone needs an opinion about quality home 
construction and doing it right, the Leveque’s can be found in town building something special for the 
years to come. For more information and a free estimate contact 626-305-9490. 


JOE EDWARD 
VERNON

February 9, 1929 - 

January 28, 2013

Joe Vernon passed away 
peacefully in his sleep at his 
home in Monrovia on January 
28, 2013. He was 83 years old. 
He was a generous and loving 
husband, father, grandfather 
and great grandfather and a 
loyal friend who fought a long 
and courageous battle with 
leukemia, but never stopped 
loving life and looking forward 
to the future with his family.

Joe was born on February 9, 
1929, in Amarillo, TX. His 
family moved to Sierra Madre, 
CA in 1941 where he grew up, 
attended schools and married 
the love of his life, Darlene 
(Bennett) Vernon on February 
12, 1950. He was proud to 
serve in the California National 
Guard Unit from Sierra Madre 
and fought in the Korean War. 
He served as Commander of the 
Sierra Madre VFW. Joe moved 
his family to Monrovia in 1955 
and built his family home in 
1966. Joe had a long and storied 
career of 40 years at Santa Anita 
Race Track; first with American 
Totalizator Company and then 
with the Pari-Mutuel Union 
Clerks. He was a member of 
SEIU Local 280. He loved 
being around the track and his 
friends. Everyone knew him 
and loved him. He traveled all 
over the Western United States 
and Canada making sure the 
racing circuit was always up 
and operational. He enjoyed 
many summers in Del Mar at 
the track and the beach. Joe 
retired in 2000 and devoted his 
life to his family and friends, his 
love of cooking, traveling in his 
motor home, crabbing along the 
Oregon Coast, and perfecting 
his game of golf. He always saw 
the positive in everything and 
everyone he met. If you were a 
friend of Joe’s, you were a friend 
for life. 

His family was always the 
center of his world and he 
leaves behind his loving wife 
of 63 years, Darlene; his 
daughters, Dani Jo Hopper 
(Don) and Dawn Mosco 
(Mike) and sons Joey Vernon 
and Jeff Vernon (Carol); his 
grandchildren Kristen Hopper 
Petersen (Brian), Chad Hopper 
(Kathleen), Dustin Hopper, 
Desiree Mosco McCoy (Brent), 
Jennifer Mosco Williamson 
(Joe), Nicole Mosco, Noelle 
Vernon, Brennhan Vernon 
and Tessa Vernon. Joe was 
also blessed with eight great 
grandchildren.

Joe lived his life to the fullest with 
honesty, integrity, generosity, an 
abiding faith in his Lord and 
conviction to always do the 
right thing. To his family and 
friends he was a larger than life 
hero and although he will be 
deeply missed, his smile will 
live in our hearts forever.


St. Rita Parishoners Jim and Anthony LeVeque 
standing with Msgr. Richard Krekelberg and staff.

Sierra Madre Police Blotter

January 24 - February 2, 2013

Sunday January 27, 2013

Between the hours of 3:30 and 7:00pm unknown suspects broke into a residence in the 300 block of 
East Grandview Avenue. The suspects removed a screen on a rear window then smashed the glass 
with a brick. Several rooms were ransacked and a pillow case from the bedroom was apparently 
used to carry items removed from the residence. Two televisions, a laptop computer, money and 
jewelry were reported stolen.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

A theft from vehicle took place in the 200 block of East Grandview Avenue. Overnight, an unknown 
suspect entered an unlocked truck parked at the curb and removed a number of power tools. 

During the same time period, another theft from vehicle took place in the 600 block of West Alegria 
Avenue. An unknown suspect 
entered an unsecured vehicle 
parked at the curb. An I-Pod 
power cord and miscellaneous 
documents were taken. 

Thursday January 13, 2013

A resident in the 300 block of 
Foothill Avenue returned to his 
residence after being away for 36 
hours and discovered his house 
had been burglarized. Unknown 
suspects had forced open the 
rear door using a pry type tool. 
Items in the master bedroom 
were disturbed and it appeared 
the jewelry had been removed 
from drawers. Neighbors did 
not report seeing any unusual 
activity in the area. 


CIVIC CLUB TO 
HOST MIXER

Sierra Madre Civic Club is hosting an informal 
mixer for new and prospective members on 
Thursday, February 21st from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. 
at 329 W. Grandview Ave. 

If you have wondered what the Civic Club does 
and how you can be part of the many ways the 
club serves the community and our residents, 
come and meet the board members. See how 
Civic Club supports philanthropic grants and 
scholarships that directly benefit the town and 
its students, and how Civic Club is involved in 
City events such as the Mount Wilson Trail Race, 
the Wistaria Festival, Huck Finn Day, Halloween 
Window Painting and the decorating and 
maintenance of the City Hall Rotunda and more. 
Discover the social side of Civic Club as well with 
recent outings to the L.A. River Walk, various 
museums and the Sierra Madre Playhouse. 

The Club is open to all women who reside in 
Sierra Madre and the vicinity. If you would like to 
attend the mixer, please contact Kari Janzen via 
email at jlkanzen@roadrunner.com or Chandy 
Shair at cshair831@gmail.com. 

If you cannot attend the mixer, you are invited to 
come to a monthly general meeting the second 
Thursday of each month (except for Aug. 8) at 
7:30 P.M. in the Hart Park House, Memorial Park. 


BEGIN YOUR 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 13, 2013 at 7:00 am, Noon, and 6:00 pm. All are 
welcome.

 For more information, please call (626) 355-1133 or visit: www.ascension-sierramadre.com. 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Attention PUSD…
Build Our School…
Now!

After years of delays, finger-
pointing, bad money management 
and sloppy oversight, 
it is embarrassing that the 
Sierra Madre Middle school 
is still not built. We recently 
had a very cordial joint meeting 
with our city council and 
PUSD board members where 
much was said, but little was 
done. Here are the facts: 1 – the 
original cost estimates where 
admittedly(Architect) rushed in 
order to put measure TT on the 
ballot. 2 – The district demolished 
the school without a formal 
plan. 3 – The TT oversight 
has been a joke at best, criminal 
at worst. 4. Our school has been 
asked to take unnecessary cuts 
because PUSD board members 
are not afraid of our voting bloc. 
5 - Other projects have been allowed 
to run grossly over budget 
at a time when PUSD is 
screaming poverty. Enough is 
enough. Build our school at the 
current rates without modification. 
I imagine our votes our 
really going to matter when the 
district needs another bond approved 
by the taxpayers, and regardless 
of the outcome of this 
project, I can assure you that 
every appropriate action will be 
taken to defeat that measure. 

Fred Thomas, Sierra Madre

DO YOU KNOW HART? HISTORICAL 
SOCIETY PROGRAM FEATURES HART 
HISTORY

 You know Memorial Park. You know the small meeting hall in the middle of the park called Hart 
Park House. Do you know that the park was once a vineyard and that Dr. John Hart was one of 
the first major wine producers in Sierra Madre? His wine was lauded as “excellent” and as a “pure 
product” due to Dr. Hart’s extensive study of European methods of wine production and his imported 
vines. Grape sugar levels in grapes grown in our park were as high as 20 per cent and this, coupled 
with his hand production techniques, made for a smooth wine without the harsh taste of machine 
produced wines.

He was well known for his excellent winery, but he also donated land for the first public school and 
was a champion of Sierra Madre’s growth and culture. It wasn’t all roses for Dr. Hart, though. He 
was also the center of smear campaign created by later arrivals, temperance activists who objected 
to his “grog shop”. Sides were taken in town, controversy and rhetoric flew, and reputations were at 
stake! What happened next? Come to the meeting and meet Dr. John Hart through his history and 
achievements and see how he shaped Sierra Madre.

On February 21st The Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society will present a fascinating program 
at 7:15 at Hart Park House in Memorial Park about Dr. John Hart and his many contributions to 
Sierra Madre’s growth and culture..