Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 13, 2013

JOFFE (continued from page 1)

disabilities, to representing the 
cutting edge of entrepreneurial 
achievement, each one has had 
a profound impact on the world 
around them. Most importantly, all 
overcame tremendous obstacles in 
their careers, proving themselves to 
be wonderful role models for others 
who aspire to their success. I thank 
each of this year’s 16 Women of 
Distinction for their contributions, 
and urge them to continue being a 
shining beacon of inspiration for 
women and girls in our district and 
around the world.”

 Enid Joffe was recognized for her 
efforts as a Community Leader in 
Clean Energy. 

 According to Congresswoman 
Chu, “Enid Joffe would tell you that 
her claim to fame is that she hired 
former Labor Secretary Hilda Solis 
for her first job out of college. At the 
time, Ms. Joffe was working at United 
Way and she hired Hilda Solis to 
help with outreach to the Hispanic 
community. But of course, Ms. 
Joffe’s accomplishments extend far 
beyond hiring the former Labor 
Secretary.

 Ms. Joffe found her passion when 
she started working on charging 
technology for electric cars almost 
two decades ago. In 1999, Ms. Joffe 
co-founded her company Clean 
Fuel Connection to provide infrastructure 
sales, installation, service 
and consulting support for electric 
and natural gas vehicles. In 2002, 
the industry experienced a severe 
downturn. But Ms. Joffe is not the 
type to call it quits when things get 
rough. The determined Ms. Joffe 
and her company persevered. And 
in just 14 short years after the company’s 
founding, Ms. Joffe’s company 
has an annual revenue of over 
$4 million.

Before Ms. Joffe started her company, 
she expanded her knowledge 
of the clean energy industry by 
working as the manager of charging 
infrastructure for Edison EV 
where she worked with local, state, 
and federal governments on policy 
issues related to electric vehicles. In 
this role, she

also managed activities to obtain 
incentives for electric vehicle 
infrastructure and coordinated 
sales of public charging stations 
to government and public sector 
organizations.

 Besides her pioneering work in the 
clean energy industry, Ms. Joffe was 
also active in her community. She 
was first elected to the Sierra Madre 
City Council in April of 2004, and 
served as mayor from 2007 to 2008. 
In the non-profit sector, Ms. Joffe 
served on the board of West San 
Gabriel Valley YMCA from 1990 to 
1993 and served as the president of 
the Rosemead Kiwanis Club from 
1992 to 1993.”

Ms. Joffe received her bachelor’s 
degree in sociology from Barnard 
College. In addition, Ms. Joffe also 
received a master’s in sociology and 
an MBA from UCLA.

Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz

 Mayor Mary Ann Lutz is a giver 
when it comes to donating to community 
programs. She first became 
a member of the Monrovia City 
Council in 2003 and was elected 
mayor in 2009. During her tenure, 
she has helped to move key projects 
forward, including helping 
Monrovia to navigate through the 
uncharted terrain of having no redevelopment 
agency and pushing 
forward the Gold Line Extension. 
Today, construction of the Gold 
Line is underway and is slated to 
be completed in 2015. Under her 
watch, community programs such 
as Monrovia Area Partnership – a 
program that empowers residents 
to proactively improve their neighborhoods 
– have flourished.

More recently, Mayor’s Luntz’s biggest 
accomplishments have been in 
the area of environmental sustainability. 
Under her leadership, the 
Resource Management Plan was 
approved, paving the way for the 
preservation and responsible public 
access to hundreds of acres in 
the Angeles National Forest. Mayor 
Luntz has also been instrumental 
in the creation of the Monrovia 
Accords – a list of 21 action items 
that make water conservation, recycling, 
and sensitivity to the environment 
leading priorities of her 
administration.

Mayor Luntz’s most notable accomplishment 
is the successful effort to 
create the Los Angeles Storm Water 
Partnership. This partnership consists 
of a coalition of eight cities in 
Los Angeles County that continues 
to seek collaborative opportunities 
with other municipalities. In 
fact, this partnership has expanded 
in 2011 to form the LA Permit 
Group – a body that consists of 
62 voting agencies, all working 
hard to promote water quality and 
conservation.

 Despite all of her accomplishments, 
Mayor Lutz is too humble 
to take credit alone. In her recent 
State of the City address, she told 
the crowd of nearly 200 people that, 
“Nothing great happens in our City 
by the efforts of one person alone. 
It is a collaboration; a partnership.”

3

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 13, 2013 


ART OF THE GARDEN: A TOUR OF ENCHANTMENT

Garden lovers be prepared for a day of enchantment as the Creative arts Group presents ART OF 
THE GARDEN a garden tour on April 21, 2013 that will be a day to remember for all who participate 
and experience four truly magnificent gardens.

Nature retreat

Although this home is situated in the heart of Pasadena, it has the feel of a secluded getaway 
complete with a natural spring and a multitude of migratory birds. Designed by Doug Ewing, of 
Ewing Architects, this home with its light and airy Progressive Arts and Crafts style, fully embraces its 
natural surroundings. 

English Arts and Crafts Styled Estate

An English Arts and 
Craft estate built by 
Henry Huntington’s 
grandson, Edwards 
Huntington Metcalf, 
for his young 
bride in 1934 was 
purchased by the 
current owners 
who began a much 
needed restoration 
in 1992. Roses were 
a natural selection 
for a garden with 
such English roots, 
and this landscape 
boasts an astonishing 
selection with 
170 hybrid Teas, 
climbers, miniature 
and tree roses in the 
front garden alone.

Strolling past the “Birdhouse Garden” on the way to the rear yard, guests are treated to a beautiful 
fountain beneath Bay Laurel and Cassia trees. Continuing on, an exquisite view of expansive lawn, 
rare varieties of plants, pool, spa, pavilion, and outdoor Barbeque areas await. Near the back porch are 
a variety of herbs and vegetables with easy access to the kitchen and the custom-designed mini green 
house, tool shed and potting bench.

Spanish Revival Estate

This 1920s Spanish Revival boasts lovely covered terraces, patios, fountains and a charming casita 
designed by Architect Ron Ettinger. When the present owners purchased the property, the rear yard 
was a steep hillside with little useable space. Landscape designer, Rick Button, solved the problem 
by calling for a retaining wall with deep pylons to add much needed square footage to the property. 
Several large Fan Palm trees were craned onto the estate. Dimmick stone, fabricated on site, is used 
throughout. Citrus trees and herbs abound in the outdoor kitchen garden along with Mutabilis and 
Joseph’s Coat climbing roses. Beautiful varieties of geraniums can be found throughout the estate in 
pots and in the ground.

Italianate Estate

Purchased by the current owners in 2007, the grounds of this unique home believed to be designed 
by Silvanus Marston have gone through a major transformation to meet the needs of the active family 
who lives here. The driveway and garage access was moved from the side street to the south side of the 
house opening up room for the park-like rear garden. The hedged front yard features a concrete and 
pebble circular drive. New walls and gates take cues from the formal architectural lines. In the rear 
garden a new covered terrace creates livable space for the upstairs bedrooms as well as a beautiful tile-
floored dining and lounge space off the dining room and kitchen. The garden design made room for 
a grand pool and spa featuring handmade decorative Lescaux tiles. The cabana structure, anchored 
by Umbrella plants and Agave attenuata features a fireplace, outdoor kitchen and lounge area making 
poolside living a dream.

Designed by Nord Eriksson of EPT Design, the gardens were conceived to appear as though they 
were laid out in the 1920’s while, at the same time, reflecting the Owner’s eclectic taste and joyous 
spirit. A large central lawn, often the scene of impromptu soccer or football matches is surrounded 
by beds featuring succulents, Italian cypress, Yucca and Dracaenas, Olives, mature Coast Live Oaks, 
and profuse Bougainvillea. 

The “Art of the Garden” Tour is held Sunday, April 21st, from 10:30am to 4:30pm. To purchase tickets 
or for more information, call Creative Arts Group at 626-355-8350 or visit the office & gallery at 108 
N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre. Tickets are $25 in advance & $30 if purchased the day of the event. All 
funds are used to support CAG’s educational & community-service programs.


OTHER HONOREES:

•Evie Romero (Community Leader 
in Development Disabilities)

•Inger Miller (Former Olympian)

•Lillian Lee Jang (Community 
Leader in API Issues)

•Karen Chen (Business Woman 
and Community Leader)

•Susan Schenk (Community Leader 
in Sustainability)

•Karen Komsak Davis (Elected 
Official)

•Marta Escanuelas (Community 
Leader in Developmental 
Disabilities)

•Margaret “Margie” Martinez 
(Community Leader in Healthcare)

•Barbara Peterson Sinclair (Community 
Leader in the Health 
Profession)

•Mandy Wong (Community Leader 
in Public Safety and Education)

•Jeanne Raya (Community Leader 
in Law)

•Christina Kan (Community 
Leader in Healthcare)

•Megan Pan (Small Business 
Owner)

•Wendy Gladney (Author and 
Inspirational Figure)


Sierra Madre Police Blotter

 For the period April 1-7, 2013

Monday April 1, 2013

During the late afternoon or early evening hours, an unknown suspect entered an unlocked vehicle 
that was parking in a driveway in the 200 block of Grove Street. The suspect disturbed items in 
the glove box and the center console, but did not take any property. No other reports of vehicle 
tampering in this area were received.

At 10pm, officer responded to a call of a domestic fight in the 500 block of Manzanitas. A husband 
and wife were involved in a verbal argument that continued to escalate. At one point the wife started 
slapping her husband on the shoulder several times with an open hand. She then threw a bottle of 
cream against the wall smashing it and scattering the contents across the room. In response, the 
husband restrained her arms then pushed her away. The investigation revealed that the wife was the 
primary aggressor and she was subsequently arrested for domestic battery. 

A resident in the 00 block of Esperanza reported that the front license plate of her vehicle was stolen 
overnight. No other evidence of vandalism or attempted entry was observed.