SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013

VOLUME 7 NO. 19

Inside this week: 

REPS. ADAM SCHIFF AND 
JUDY CHU INTRODUCE 

LEGISLATION TO ENSURE 
CITIES CAN QUALIFY FOR 
FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF 
AFTER MAJOR STORMS

Washington, DC – Today, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) 
and Judy Chu (D-El Monte) introduced legislation that 
would fix the problems that Pasadena and other cities in the 
Southern California faced in qualifying for federal disaster 
relief from the devastating windstorms of November and 
December 2011. Currently, small and medium sized communities 
located in large states like California have a particularly 
difficult time reaching the state-wide and county-
wide thresholds needed to qualify for federal disaster relief. 
This legislation would direct the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (FEMA) to take into account the ability of 
small and medium sized communities in large counties and 
in large states to recover from natural disasters.

“After the devastating windstorms two years ago, medium-
sized cities like Pasadena and Temple City were unable to 
access essential federal disaster relief merely because they 
are in a large county and state,” said Rep. Adam Schiff. 
“Natural disasters don’t choose to fall only in cities that are 
able to apply for federal assistance – they strike indiscriminately 
and without warning. We need to reform the process 
so small and medium-sized cities in more populous states 
like California are not penalized when it comes to getting 
much-needed disaster aid. While this legislation won’t help 
the Foothills recoup money they had to spend recovering 
from the last storm, it will hopefully prevent that from happening 
to these and other communities in the future."

“The American people deserve aid in the wake of natural 
disasters, regardless of where they live,” said Rep. Judy Chu. 
“The notion that some communities are more deserving of 
federal dollars than others based on the size of the county 
they are located in is simply unacceptable. That’s why I’m 
proud to introduce legislation to ensure no community faces 
the same bureaucratic hurdles that cities in the San Gabriel 
Valley faced following the windstorms of 2011. Just as 
natural disasters don’t choose their victims, our government 
shouldn’t pick and choose between those in need.”

“The windstorms in Pasadena cost the community over $14 
million in damages at a time when we could least afford it,” 
said Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard. “While we thought that 
we were deserving of federal disaster assistance, our level 
of damages did not meet current FEMA thresholds. We are 
pleased that this measure would make it more equitable for 
areas like Pasadena – small and medium-sized communities 
in high population states – when they are seeking vital 
disaster assistance in the future. We are grateful for Congressman 
Schiff and Congresswoman Chu’s efforts on these 
important matters and offer them our full support.”

Specifically, the bill would direct FEMA to take into account 
more than just the county-wide per capita threshold in evaluating 
a governor’s request under the “localized impacts” 
factor in the federal regulations. FEMA would consider the 
damage suffered by communities with up to 250,000 people 
located in counties with at least 1 million people in states 
with at least 5 million people, if the damage sustained by 
those communities is in excess of 10 percent of the communities’ 
General Fund or if the damage exceeds $100 per 
capita in those communities. In Pasadena alone, the damage 
was estimated to be $125 per capita.

This legislation would make it easier for FEMA to award 
federal disaster relief under the expanded “localized impacts” 
criteria for a small number of communities that fail 
to receive federal disaster relief if they do not meet the state-
wide and county-wide damage threshold levels because the 
calculation of these thresholds on a per capita basis punishes 
these communities for being located in large counties 
in large states. It would help make it much easier for communities, 
such as Pasadena and Glendale, to receive federal 
disaster relief if they were to suffer levels of damage similar 
to what our communities saw in the wake of the windstorm.

CONGRATULATIONS JOAN CROW 

Sierra Madre’s 2013 Older American of the Year

SIERRA MADRE

Calendar Page 2

Sierra Madre News Page 3


Sierra Madre Search and 

Rescue Log 

PASADENA/ALTADENA

Pg. 4

Police Release Child 

Molestation Suspect

Sketch

AROUND SG Valley Pg. 5

Schmidt - Thanks MFD

Nyerges - How We Affect Our 
Environment

Eklund - Looking Up

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 6

POLICE SEARCHING FOR 
DRIVE IN FATAL HIT AND 
RUN TRAFFIC INCIDENT

MONROVIA/DUARTE

Pg. 7

New Leadership Sworn In

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Pg. 8

Make Prom Safe & Fun

PUSD Leaders Sworn In

SPORTS Pg. 9

Older American Joan Crow (2nd from left) and daugthers. Photo by Bill Coburn

On Friday, the City of Sierra Madre and members 
of the Senior Community Commission and 
an overflow crowd of family and friends, came to 
the Hart Park House to congratulate Joan Crow, 
Sierra Madre’s Older American of the Year.

Mayor Nancy Walsh, a former Senior Community 
Commissioner, was the Mistress of 
Ceremonies. Presentations were made by Congresswoman 
Judy Chu, and representatives from 
Assemblyman Chris Holden and State Senator 
Carol Liu. The City of Sierra Madre made a presentation 
to Joan at their last council meeting. 
Also in attendance were Sierra Madre Mayor Pro 
Tem John Harabedian, and Councilmembers 
John Capoccia and Chris Koerber.

Joan was chosen for this honor because of her 
extensive history of community service. The 
honor is part of the U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services - Administraion on Aging’’s 
celebration of May as Older Americans Month.

“Unleash the Power of Age” is this years them. 

S. Henderson/MVNews

St. Rita Dominate CYO Finals

Girl Scouts, Jackie Robinson &

Dodger Stadium

GOOD FOOD & DRINK

 Pg. 10

BEST FRIENDS Pg. 11

Wildlife Webcams

SIERRA MADRE WOMEN HAVE LUNCH…AFTER 
A FASHION 

Photo and Story By Bill Coburn

 More than six dozen women turned out for the 44th Sierra Madre Woman’s Club Fashion Show 
Luncheon, themed “Sailing into Spring”. Eight models, from teens to seniors, strutted their stuff at 
Essick House, the Woman’s Club’s historic Clubhouse. The clothes, jewelry, handbags and accessories 
were all provided by Arcadia’s Magnolia Boutique, with owner Karen Crisci acting as mistress of 
ceremonies and describing each of the outfits for the crowd, while Eunis Banis played piano in the 
background. Standing in the photo above are the models for the fashon show.

 Woman’s Club president Mary Carney welcomed everyone and Liz Levine offered an invocation 
before event chair Melissa Stute introduced Ms. Crisci and the show got underway. For more than 
an hour, nine models showed off the fashions to the oohs and ahs of the ladies of the Club. Once the 
show was done, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch of chicken breast with a lemon sauce and capers 
served over rice, caesar salad, and a roll. Hot peach cobbler with ice cream finished off the meal.

 Following lunch, drawings were held to determine the lucky winners of the centerpiece door prizes, 
each of which were created by Sara Menjivar and featured live fish. In addition, numerous opportunity 
drawings of prizes from local merchants were given away, but the ladies seemed most excited 
about the $50 money hat.

THE GOOD LIFE Pg. 12

Savvy Senior

Senior Happenings


HEALTHY LIVING Pg. 13

Renee Quenell - SAMSKARAS

Lori Koop - Connecting To TRU

ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT

BUSINESS TRENDS Pg. 14

OPINION Pg. 15

Snyder - Mom’s Memory

Tolchin - My Cigarettes

Left Turn - Hayes As I See It

Right Turn - Welborn

LEGAL NOTICES 

Pgs. 16-19


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