Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 16, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 16, 2013 

Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Log

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING 
FOR NEW SIERRA MADRE BUSINESSES

Sierra Madre, CA, February 12, 2013 – Lily Buckner and Yvonne Fata celebrated their businesses’ 
grand opening with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting followed by a reception with friends, 
families and colleagues on Thursday, February 7. Chamber of Commerce President Ed Chen led the 
ceremony and was joined by Board Members Noah Green, Susan Henderson and Madeline Ramo. 
Also offering their congratulations to these entrepreneurial women were Mayor Pro Tem Nancy 
Walsh representing the City of Sierra Madre and the office manager from State Assemblymember 
Chris Holden’s office. 

Lily Buckner of Lily Spa and Beauty is a licensed massage therapist and esthetician. Lily specializes 
in eyelash extensions and is an Xtreme Lashes® Certified Stylist. Xtreme Lashes®, a global leader in 
field, requires hands-on training sessions for certification. In addition to Swedish and deep-tissue 
massage, Lily is offering massage using Aroma Touch Techniques and doTERRA (CPTG) Certified 
Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils. 

Yvonne Fata offers Classic European facials, microdermabrasion and epidermal leveling, organic 
and pumpkin facials and multiple types of skin peels. Yvonne currently uses product lines such as 
Osmosis, an organic botanical skin care line, and Jan Marini, a medical-grade line. Yvonne also offers 
waxing services literally from head to toe, with a strict policy against “double dipping” to protect the 
client’s health. 

These two independent businesses are conveniently located south of Kersting Court at 24 West Sierra 
Madre Boulevard, upstairs in Suite E. For appointments, gift certificates and more information about 
services, contact Yvonne Fata at (626) 485-9845; and Lily Spa and Beauty at lilybuckner@me.com or 
(626) 755-3240. 

Above: A staff member on behalf of State Assemblymember Chris Holden presents Yvonne 
Fata and Lily Buckner certificates in recognition of the grand opening. 

2013 has started out quietly for 
the Sierra Madre Search and 
Rescue (SMSR) Team. The 
team responded to three calls 
for assistance. 

Missing Hiker, San Gabriel 
Canyon: The Team responded 
to the West Fork area of San 
Gabriel Canyon to support the 
San Dimas Mountain Rescue 
Team in the search for a missing 
hiker. The initial request came 
at 12:30 a.m. on the 13th. 
Several small 2 and 3 person 
search teams were assigned the 
task of covering all the trails 
and side canyons near the Bear 
Creek area. Ground searchers 
were joined by helicopters 
that aided in the search effort 
and insertion of field crews 
at key locations. Additional 
SMSR personnel assisted the 
incident commander (IC) at the 
command post with generating 
detailed maps of the search 
areas, crew assignments, and 
logging details of areas that had 
been searched. As field crews 
were returning to the command 
post and preparations were 
underway for operations the 
next day, the missing hiker was 
located near the West Fork Road 
below Cogswell Dam. The hiker 
was cold and had been slightly 
injured in a fall. He was treated 
by rescuers and transported to 
a local hospital by LA County 
Fire helicopter. The operation 
was secured at 7:30 p.m.

Team Training, Mount Baldy: 
Readers are familiar with 
SMSR’s response to emergencies 
in our local mountains, but are 
less familiar with the training 
that goes into preparing for 
these emergencies. The ability 
to safely spend extended periods 
of time in the mountains during 
any conditions is essential in 
ensuring team members can 
help a lost or injured individual. 
A good example of how the team 
prepares is illustrated through 
the recent winter training the 
team held on Mt. Baldy January 
11-12. Team members hiked 
into the Baldy Bowl area above 
Manker Flats and established 
a camp in the snow at approx. 
8,500 feet above sea level. This 
gave newer team members an 
opportunity to practice camping 
skills in winter conditions and 
refine their personal skills and 
seasoned members a chance to 
expand and share their skills. 
The ability to safely take care of 
oneself is vital before a rescuer 
can render any aid. Overnight 
temperatures into the single 
digits reminded everyone that 
our local mountains can be 
inhospitable places for those 
that are not prepared.

A cold and clear morning 
dawned for what would be a 
full day of training in the snow. 
Team members split into two 
groups with one group working 
on ice ax self-arrest and snow 
travel skills while the other built 
a series rescue systems. Patient 
packaging and evacuation skills 
in winter conditions were all 
part of the training program. 
These hours of training and 
practice contribute to the team’s 
readiness and ability to respond, 
as our motto says, “Anywhere 
in the wilderness that someone 
needs help….” 

For over 60 years the all-
volunteer Sierra Madre Search 
and Rescue team has been 
responding to calls for help in 
the local mountains and beyond. 
Funded entirely by private 
donations, SMSR provides a 
range of public programs on 
wilderness safety in addition to 
its search and rescue activities. 
The Team never charges for any 
of its services. 

For more information, including 
how to arrange a wilderness 
safety demonstration for your 
school or group, visit www.
smsr.org.


Sierra Madre Police Blotter

February 4-10, 2013

No residential burglaries have been reported in the City of Sierra Madre since January 
31, 2013. This is the largest time gap between burglaries since the trend started in mid-
December 2012.

Monday February 4, 3013

At noon, a 25 year old male (no further description) walked onto a property under 
construction in the 100 block of Rancho Road and took an air compressor. As the site is 
frequented by a number of construction workers, witnesses did not take particular note of 
this individual walking away with the item. 

“AN EVENING OF HART” 

Have you ever wanted to speak to someone from History? 

Well, on Thursday, February 21st you will be able to do just that. Come join us at the Hart-Park 
House to experience and evening with John Jacob Hart, one of the founding businessmen of our city. 
Learn about his family and his life before moving to Sierra Madre. Hear how he started the winery on 
40 acres, and how this land was later transformed. The Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society 
invites you to “An Evening of Hart”.

This program is free and is presented by the Historical Preservation Society on Thursday, February 
21st at 7:15 P.M. at the Hart Park House in Memorial Park. Light refreshments will be served. 

PLANTING HISTORY – NEW GARDEN AT 
THE MUSEUMS Submitted by Chris Bachwansky 

 On Sunday the 10th there was a beehive of activity at Sierra Madre’s two museums, Lizzie’s Trail 
Inn and Richardson House, as ground breaking began for the site’s new bird and butterfly friendly 
garden. The garden is a joint project of The Sierra Madre Garden Club and the Sierra Madre Historical 
Preservation Society (SMHPS). 

 A team of 21 volunteers from both groups cleared vegetation and cleaned up existing beds. Garden 
designer Orchid Black, President of the California Native Plant Society and owner of Native Sanctuary, 
was on hand to survey the site for a new garden plan that she is donating to SMHPS. 

 The design will emphasize local plants, many of which can be found along the Mount Wilson Trail 
and will be have name tags for identification, good water management, and attract many birds and 
butterflies to the area. According to Orchid Black, native plants are best planted at two different times 
during the year, so the garden will be planted in stages. 

 SMGC President Glenn Putnam remarked, “The day was a big success. Both groups accomplished 
a lot of cleanup and now the new garden can begin to take shape. A big thank you to all of our club 
members who helped make the event such a success!”

SMHPS President Amy Putnam said, “This is progress toward making the Museums even more 
interesting and informative for our community. I’d like to thank all the members of the Garden Club 
and the Historical Society who assisted with the initial landscaping effort. Stay tuned, and watch our 
garden grow.”

 The Sierra Madre Garden Club meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 for dinner or 7:15 
for just the general meeting and program at the Hart Park House in Memorial Park. The Historical 
Preservation Society meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:15 Hart Park House. For more 
information, visit the SMGC at www.smgardenclub.shutterfly.com and the SMHPS at www.smhps.
com or email smhps@outlook.com. 


SMHPS member Norma Bachwansky, garden designer Orchid Black, SMHPS President 
Amy Putnam and SMGC President Glenn Putnam pause for a moment to survey the progress 
made at Lizzie's and Richardson House.