March 17, 2013March 17, 2013• 
Sierra 
Madre Wistaria Festival 
•• 
Sierra 
Madre Wistaria Festival 
•
www.wistariafestival.com


VOLUME 7 NO 10

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

WATER SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD MEETING TODAY ON 
WATER RATES

The first community study session on Saturday, March 9, 
2013 at 10:00 am in the Sierra Madre Room at the Community 
Recreation Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre, will be a 
discussion of our water rates, and the upcoming water rate 
study that the City Council will be commissioning.

For this meeting, we will focus on the following question:

How do we structure water rates so that we:

• Keep our water utility financially viable,

• Promote conservation so that we minimize or delay 
our need for an alternate water supply,

• Give a higher priority to health and hygiene needs 
of our citizens vs. discretionary uses (long hot showers, lush 
landscaping),

• Be sensitive to those that are least able to pay, and

• Build reserves to replace and repair aging 
infrastructure.

If you are interested in participating, the agenda reports on 
the State of the City’s Infrastructure and a Discussion on 
a Potential City Utility (Water, Sewer, Strom Drain) Rate 
Study are on the City’s Website.


WISTARIA FESTIVAL FORECAST:

GREAT WEATHER, GOOD FOOD & LOTS OF FUN

After two consecutive years of inclimate 
weather, it appears that the Luck 
of The Irish is going to shine upon this 
year’s Wistaria Festival. Forcast for 
dry, sunny weather promise to put a 
smile on the faces of all attendees.

The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce 
will hold its annual Wistaria 
Festival on Sunday, March 17, 2013. 
The festival first began in the early 20th 
century, drawing as many as 100,000 
people over an extended period of 
time. Now the vine, which is on private 
property, is available to the public for 
viewing only one day a year, this year 
on the 17th. 

The Guinness Book of World Records 
has certified the vine as the world’s 
largest blossoming plant, and estimates 
that at its peak, the vine had as many 
as 1.5 million blooms, weighed 250 
tons, and covered more than an acre 
of ground. The vine is so large that it 
encompasses the better part of two 
properties. 

In addition to the vine viewing, downtown 
Sierra Madre is transformed 
into an arts and craft fair for the day, 
with 100 artisans and crafters displaying 
their work at booths on the town’s 
two main streets, which are closed off 
to traffic for the day. This compliments 
well the charming village shops that 
line the downtown area, offering those 
in attendance a great opportunity to 
find just the right gift, that special item 
for the home décor, or a keepsake to be 
treasured through the years.

In addition to the shops, the town’s 
restaurants will be serving the delightful 
cuisine Sierra Madre has become 
known for. Since the surge in popularity 
of outdoor dining in the 1990s, 
Sierra Madre has been known throughout 
the valley as a great place to dine 
al fresco with a spectacular view of 
the San Gabriel mountains just to the 
north. There’s something for every 
taste, with a variety of international 
flavors at the local eateries, Mexican, 
Italian, Thai, and California Continental 
cuisines, several types of American 
cuisine and even a Sushi spot.

A dozen musical acts will be performing 
at five outdoor venues that ranges 
from solo acoustic guitar and vocals, to 
blues rock, country rock and more.

The downtown festival is free to all 
who attend. Viewing of the vine is also 
free of charge, but due to the steep uphill 
climb to the private properties and 
limited parking in the vicinity of the 
vine, it is recommended that enjoy a 
ride in the shuttle buses provided for 
your comfort. Tickets for the shuttle 
are $12 round-trip when purchased in 
advance, and $15 the day of the event. 
Because the vine is on private property, 
it is not ADA compliant. Due to the 
hilly terrain, the site will not accommodate 
wheelchairs, strollers or people 
with limited mobility.

Shuttle tickets can be purchased online 
and printed on your home computer 
up to and including the day of 
the event. Visit www.WistariaTickets.
com to purchase your tickets. They can 
also be purchased at Savor The Flavor, 
Bean Town and The Bottle Shop in Sierra 
Madre. (For more information see 
page 5).

The Wistaria Festival is sponsored by the Sierra 
Madre Chamber of Commerce, with assistance 
from Chamber Sponsors Athens Services, Southern 
California Edison, The Kensington Group and 
The Mountain Views News. 


MOUNTAIN LIONS ATTACK AND KILLS 

FAMILY DOG

As this edition was going to press, reports of a Mountain Lion (or mountain lions) entering a backyard on Vista Circle and 
killing a pet Yorkshire Terrier named Cory came in. This is the third report of a mountain lion(s) killing small animals this 
week. Residents are reminded that our foothills are occupied by wildlife and the coyotes and mountain lions can pose a 
serious threat to small animals and children.

 Should you spot a dangerous animal, call the Police right away. The Sierra Madre Police Department number is 
626-355-1414.

NOTED AUTHOR TO SPEAK AT ROTARY

Steven Fink is one of the nation’s leading experts in crisis management and crisis communications. 
He is the author of the seminal work on the subject: Crisis Management: Planning for 
the Inevitable, which remains to this day the most successful and widely-read book on crisis 
management ever published. 

His latest book, Crisis Communications: The Definitive 
Guide to Managing the Message, will be published in March 
2013 by McGraw-Hill. Whereas Crisis Management deals 
primarily with the reality of the unfolding crisis and how to 
manage it, Crisis Communications focuses on the perception 
of the event and, most especially, the perception of how 
it is being managed. And, as he asserts, in the pitched battle 
between perception and reality, perception always wins.

The theme of his presentation on Tuesday will be “What to do and what to say when a 
crisis hits your business”.

Why not bring a friend or guest on Tuesday and lets fill the room for Mr. Fink. Our 
speaker will be signing his book after the meeting so make sure you remember to bring 
your check book or wallet with you to the meeting. The price of the book is $32.80.

The Sierra Madre Rotary Club meets at 7:00 am at the Hart Park House in Sierra Madre.


MAYOR MORAN TO SPEAK AT SIERRA 
MADRE KIWANIS CLUB

Sierra Madre Mayor Josh Moran will speak to the 
members and guests of Kiwanis on Tuesday, March 
12, 2013 at noon.

He will review for those who were not able to attend 
the State of the City Address last month, the overall 
financial status and outlook of Sierra Madre.

Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon and is $10. The program is free and will 
begin at 12:30. Reservations are desired. Please call 626-355-0728 to confirm.


HOW TO CREATE A MIND......................Page 16

This Week’s Highlights: 

Calendar Page 2

Sierra Madre News Page 3

Pasadena/Altadena Page 4

WISTARIA FESTIVAL Page 5

Around San Gabriel Valley Page 6

Looking Up Page 6

Arcadia Page 7

Monrovia/Duarte Page 7

Education and Youth Page 8

 Food & Drink Page 9

 Best Friends Page 10 

Arts/Health Page 11

The Good Life Page 12

 Homes & Property Page 18

 Left Turn/Right Turn Page 14 

Opinion Page 15

Business Today Page 16 

Legal Notices Page 17-21

AROUND SG Valley

5

3

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

ARCADIA NEWS

6

5

PASADENA/ALTADENA

MONROVIA/DUARTE

7