Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 1, 2013

5

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 1, 2013 


“What’s Going On?” 

News and Views from Joan Schmidt

Why I Wrote My Books:

GUIDE TO WILD FOODS

[Nyerges is the author of 10 books, and teaches regular classes through the 
School of Self-reliance. He does a weekly podcast at Preparedness Radio 
Network, and blogs regularly at www.ChristopherNyerges.com.]

REMEMBERING VETERANS

 
Over the Memorial Day 
weekend, my family and I 
attended three great events 
that honored our Veterans.

 On Saturday, Supervisor 
Mike Antonovich hosted 
his 16th annual Veterans 
Fair, “Remembering Our 
Veterans & Their Families, 
Past Present and Future” 
at Arcadia Country Park. 
The Master of Ceremony was Channel 4’s 
Fritz Coleman. Also joining Antonovich were 
Congresswoman Judy Chu and Sheriff Lee Baca. 
Local dignitaries included Temple Station’s 
Captain Nee, Pasadena Police Chief Phil Sanchez, 
Arcadia Council Member Peter Amundson, 
Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, Duarte Mayor 
Pro Tem Liz Reilly and Council Member Phil 
Reyes, Glendora Mayor Joe Santoro and Council 
Member Karen Davis, and Monrovia-Arcadia-
Duarte Town Council Members, Terrence 
Williams, Linda Sells and John Nicoloro.

 The day began with great music by “Tony’s 
All-Star Band” followed by Lutheran High 
school’s Junior ROTC Armed Drill Team. There 
was a special ceremony with Opening Prayer 
by Bishop John B. Reid, St. Michael’s Orthodox 
Church and presentation of Colors by AmVets 
Post 113 from Irwindale. Highlights included the 
Golden Skydiving Team and a flyover by WW II 
Condor Squadron. Throughout the day, no cost 
immunizations, haircuts/manicures and health 
screening were available as well as information on 
employment, veterans’ benefits and legal issues. 
There were many Military Vehicles on display, the 
Sheriff’s Posse, food booths and a play area for 
kids. There also was the “Wall of Remembrance”-
where photos are placed each year. It was certainly 
a great event.

 Monday, Memorial Day, we attended the special 
Mass, celebrated by Monsignor Zimmerman. He 
told how his dad was in the military during World 
War I, but wasn’t permitted overseas because of 
his German background. However Monsignor’s 
older brother Bill, an Air Force Major, made up 
for that. During World War II, he flew Fighter 
Planes over Europe. 

 Later that morning we attended the Memorial 
Day Tribute at Live Oak Cemetery, and it was 
truly amazing. Janine Coyne, Secretary/Treasurer 
of the Allied Veterans Council welcomed us. The 
M.C. was Scott Sinclair, its President. Colors 
were advanced by the Civil Air Patrol, followed 
by Monrovia High School Band‘s rendition of the 
National Anthem. Chuck Keen, from American 
Legion Post 44 led us in prayer followed by Clint 
Stamps, Arcadia/Monrovia VFW Post 2070 and 
the Pledge.

 The main address was by Chaplain CPT Morsan 
McSweeney, US Army Reserves. She was awesome, 
relating experiences of her work with returnees 
from Iraq and Afghanistan. Other speakers 
included Senator Carol Lui, Congresswoman Judy 
Chu, Monrovia Mayo Mary Ann Lutz, Duarte 
Mayor Pro Tem Liz Reilly, and Arcadia Mayor Pro 
Tem John Wuo. My daughter Karen commented 
how EACH of the above-mentioned gave an 
outstanding talk-yet each was from a different 
perspective. Karen felt Mary Ann‘s reached our 
granddaughter Jen. My heart broke as Judy Chu 
told us of her nephew’s death in Afghanistan, and 
Liz Reilly reminded everyone how Memorial Day 
began. I’ve known Carol Lui for fifteen years and 
she was as eloquent as always. Other local officials 
included Duarte Council Members Phil Reyes 
and John Fasana, and Monrovia’s Mayor Pro Tem 
Becky Shevlin and Council Member Larry Spicer.

 There was recognition of Blue Star Families, 
Gold Star Mothers, and Veterans of ALL branches 
of service. The Celebration concluded with 
Benediction, a 21 gun salute, Taps, Raising of 
the Flags, Dove Release and Amazing Grace 
performed by Pipe Major John Massie, MBE. 
Afterwards, Live Oak Cemetery provided 
refreshments and attendees left with an even 
deeper appreciation of the 

GREAT SACRIFICES our Serviceman and 
Servicewomen and their families made for us.

 The first book I 
wrote was “Guide 
to Wild Foods.” It 
represented my 
attempt to put my various notes and articles 
about plant lore and ethnobotany into some 
usable format. If these notes were organized, 
others might be able to travel over the path I’ve 
struggled over a bit more easily. But I actually 
compiled and wrote the book for my own 
personal use and was happy to see that others 
found the book worthy of purchase.

 I began “Guide to Wild Foods” in 1975, and 
I began by simply alphabetizing, by common 
name, all the notes on the various plants I’d been 
learning to identify, and then learning how to 
use them for food, medicine, or something else.

 In my bedroom of my parents’ home, I kept 
my crude of my observations, my studies, and 
my recipes scattered in a somewhat organized 
fashion over every flat surface. In 1976, I began 
by writing weekly columns for the now-defunct 
Altadena Chronicle as my first attempt to begin 
publishing my book. 

 With the help of various mentors, I began 
to more fully organize the notes into cogent 
chapters, got illustrations, and got the whole 
book printed and bound.

 The first edition was a dream come true, but 
contained many typos. By the next printing, I’d 
cleaned up the errors in the text, improved the 
drawings, and expanded the text. In fact, since 
it’s first appearance in 1978, I’ve updated the 
book nearly every time there was a new printing.

 One of my greatest surprises came when I was 
listening to the old American Indian hour on 
Pasadena City College Radio early one Saturday 
morning. Dorothy Poole, aka Chaparral Granny, 
was talking about the uses of certain local wild 
plants. As I listened, it sounded vaguely familiar. 
I quickly pulled out my copy of “Guide to Wild 
Foods” and opened to the plant she was talking 
about. Imagine my surprise to see that she was 
reading directly from my book! I felt honored 
that she felt my compilation and personal 
commentary was worthy of sharing on the 
American Indian hour.

 The book helps the beginner understand 
the basic botanical terminology, and quickly 
shows the reader how to best utilize many of the 
common wild plants for food, medicine, soap, 
etc. 

 Many of the plants listed in this book are not 
native, and are considered invasive weeds. They 
are the plants that gardeners love to pull up and 
toss in the trash, or worse, to spray Roundup on 
them so they don’t come back. 

 But it turns out that some of the wild foods 
are more nutritious than much of what we find 
in the supermarket. And they taste good too, if 
you simply take the time to learn how to prepare 
them.

 In “Guide to Wild Foods,” you learn that 
the brown pod from the carob trees planted all 
over Southern California are edible, and are an 
excellent source of calcium and B vitamins.

 You also learn that dandelion is the richest 
source of beta carotene (not carrots), and that 
purslane is the richest plant source of Omega 3 
fatty acids, and that the common lambs quarter 
is like nature’s mineral tablet.

 I include many of the Native American uses 
of plants, such as the yucca plant which was a 
valuble soap and fibre source, as well as three 
types of food. And you learn about many of 
the natural cures to poison oak, including the 
seemingly unusual treatment that I’ve done for 
the past 30 years.

 “Guide to Wild Foods” is available at Amazon, 
at bookstores, and at www.ChristopherNyerges.
com. I hope you enjoy your copy! 


ALTADENA TOWN COUNCIL POLLING SITES 

Election Day June 8 – Pre-Election Event June 4 

Locations for eight Altadena Town Council Election Polling Sites have been announced. There will 
be seven sites open on Election Day, Saturday, June 8, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, with the exception 
of the Library, which will open at 10:00 to coincide with the start time of the “Art on Millionaire’s 
Row” event. 

There will also be a pre-election event on Tuesday night, June 4, from 5:00 to 9:00pm at the Altadena 
Community Center for voters unable to vote on Election Day. As usual, the Tuesday night ballot box 
will be locked in an unused jail cell at the Altadena Sheriff’s Station until the ballot count on Saturday 
afternoon. 

The locations are: Altadena Library 

600 E Mariposa Street Crown City Masonic Building 

2540 Fair Oaks Avenue 

Farnsworth Park 

568 Mt Curve Avenue Gordy’s Garage 

843 W Woodbury Road 

Loma Alta Park 

3330 North Lincoln Avenue Podley Properties 

1471 East Altadena Drive 

S&J Automotive 

1904 New York Drive Pre-Election Tuesday, June 4 

Altadena Community Center 

730 East Altadena Drive 

5:00 to 9:00pm 

For more information contact Eric Pierce, Chair

2013 Altadena Town Council Election Committee

626 664-4300

THE OLIVE TREE INTERFAITH SUMMIT

Olive Tree will be held on Thursday,June 6, from 7-9pm, in the Cultural Hall of The Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pasadena Stake Center. The Stake Center is located at 770 Sierra Madre 
Blvd. Pasadena 91107.

The purpose of Olive Tree, is to provide clarity for both believers and nonbelievers in the, Messiah. 
The panel will discuss the differences, common roots and misconceptions amongst: Catholicism, 
Islam, Judaism, Evangelical Christianity, Protestant denominations and Mormonism. Following a 60 
minute formal discussion, audience members will have the opportunity to ask members of the panel, 
questions pertaining to their faith. 

Speakers include: Father Alexei Smith, Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer, Archdiocese of Los 
Angles; President Jorge Becerra, Arcadia Mission President- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints; Sarah Taylor, an adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary, in Pasadena; Jonathan Freund, Interim 
Executive Director, Board of Rabbis of Southern California/ The Jewish Federation of Greater Los 
Angeles; Levent Akbarut, Spokesman, Islamic Congregation of La Canada-Flintridge; Jeremy Langill, 
Director of Youth Ministry, All Saints.

ASSEMBLY PASSES HOLDEN BILL TO GIVE 

MILITARY PERSONNEL A TAX BREAK

Sacramento – Assemblymember Chris Holden’s 
legislation to give active duty military personnel 
a tax break when they are transferred into California 
was approved by the state Assembly late 
Wednesday. AB 143, the Military Use Tax Exemption, 
would eliminate use taxes – a type of 
sales tax – on personal property purchased by an 
active duty military member who has been transferred 
into the state.

“It just doesn’t seem fair to tax our active duty 
military personnel when they are already making 
so many sacrifices,” explained Assemblymember 
Holden. “California is home to nearly 13% of active 
duty members stationed in the U.S. It just 
seems the right thing to do to relieve some of the 
burden for those who may least be able to afford 
it,” concluded Holden. 

Here’s how it works: A “use tax” is levied on items 
purchased out-of-state for use in California. 

If you are on active duty in Texas and buy a computer 
or furniture, then three months later you 
are transferred to a base in California, you would 
be required to pay a “use tax”. Under AB 143 the 
tax would be waived.

Active duty military in California are already 
exempt from paying taxes on such items as cars 
or trucks they bring into the state. This measure 
would expand that to include items such as furniture, 
stereos, computers or any items purchased 
from a retailer while living in another state. 

AB 143 is supported by the State Board of Equalization 
and Veterans groups throughout California. 
It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES TAX INCENTIVES TO 
PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN HISTORIC BUILDINGS

 LOS ANGELES COUNTY — 
Initiated by Supervisors Mark 
Ridley-Thomas and Michael 
D. Antonovich, the Board of 
Supervisors unanimously approved 
a Mills Act Ordinance 
that allows owners of qualified 
historic properties to receive 
a tax reduction and use 
the savings to help rehabilitate 
and maintain their historic 
buildings. 

“These economic incentives 
help preserve historic residential 
neighborhoods and revitalize 
older downtown districts,” 
said Supervisor Antonovich. 
“Older unincorporated communities 
including La Crescenta, 
Montrose, East Pasadena 
and Altadena have older housing 
and commercial buildings 
that will benefit from these 
incentives.”