Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 19, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 19, 2013 


WALKING SIERRA MADRE……
THE SOCIAL SIDE By Deanne Davis

As Charlie Brown’s friend, Linus, would say, “This may be the 
year the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch to bring 
us all wonderful presents!”

Pumpkins are more than just a squash, dear Sierra Madreans, 
they are a state of mind. Here we are, two weeks away from 
Halloween, and everywhere we look as we wander ‘round the 
town we see pumpkins! We’re seeing witches, zombies, ghosts, 
and giant spiders, too, but the pumpkins are our favorites. Real 
ones tucked among flowers or stacked on front porches; and 
really cool fake ones with scary faces, leering faces, and some 
happy ones who look very much like they’ve been sampling the 
cooking sherry! And the lights! Oh my! Orange ones, purple 
ones, lights inside skulls, lights inside skeletons. We are such a 
creative bunch here.

This past Saturday we, the adorable John and I, joined a number 
of friends, family and neighbors to say our last goodbyes and 
share just a few more great stories about Doug Sutcliffe. In case 
you didn’t know, Doug was one of the guys who, along with 
Bud Switzer, was the originating spirit of Halloween on Alegria 
Avenue. Doug, a brilliant engineer and machinist, had Dracula 
rising out of his coffin, flying ghosts, his daughter, Lynn, in a 
marvelous witch outfit, with green face and hands, shrieking 
with witchy laughter on the roof of their front porch. Doug, 
in his quiet way was, just generally, having a great time, year 
after year as ghoulish ghosties crowded his lawn and little kids 
kinda didn’t want to get too close. Doug and David Blakeslee, 
another Halloween creator, dear friend and neighbor just a 
couple of doors down, are together again and will be watching 
the thousands of big and little kids who will be trick or treating this 
year on their street. 

Like Bud Switzer, the pumpkin carving artist beyond compare, I 
now look at every pumpkin with an eye toward what it could be to 
reach its true destiny. This one could have a happy grin and maybe 
a few crooked teeth. That one could be a sad, droopy-eyed guy with 
big eyebrows. This enormous one could be Cinderella’s coach. That 
one with the funny lump could be Quasimodo. It’s all in how you 
look at it. This year, as we walk the street and admire how creative 
our neighbors are, we will send a smile heavenward and think good 
thoughts of Doug and David who did so many amazingly creative 
things to make Halloween one of the major good times in our lives.

Hey! When you’re carving your pumpkin this year, see just how 
out of the box you can make it. After all, pumpkins are much more 
than squash, they are personalities just waiting to escape! And take 
a picture, too. When you’ve created a masterpiece, you need to 
document it. 

“From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggety beasties and things 
that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!”

 

A Cornish Prayer

FRIENDS OF THE SIERRA 
MADRE LIBRARY SILENT 
AUCTION

Recent donations to the Friends of the Sierra 
Madre Library Book Sale Committee have 
contained some very special books including 
a signed novel by the late Tom Clancy. These 
exceptional books will be featured in a Silent 
Auction to be held in the Sierra Madre Public 
Library, 440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre 
from Friday, November 1, 2013 through Monday, 
November 25, 2013. The books will be on display 
in the display case in the library’s main room. To 
inspect the books more closely, visit the library 
every Saturday in November from 1-2 PM. 

Bidding sheets and rules will be available in 
a notebook located on the library’s checkout 
counter. Each of the books for sale at the auction 
will be numbered and will have a corresponding 
numbered bid sheet in the notebook. Bidders are 
asked to write their bid amounts and a contact 
telephone number on the appropriate bid sheet. 
Bidding will close promptly at 8 PM on November 
25. Winning bidders will be notified by telephone 
the next day and will then be able to pick up their 
books at the library.

Proceeds from the Silent Auction will benefit the 
Sierra Madre Library’s programs, services, and 
acquisitions. For more information, visit our 
website at www.sierramadrelibraryfriends.org. 

A complete list of the books to be auctioned 
follows.

THE LOUVRE

by Luca Bachechi

Barnes and Noble, 2007

EINSTEIN – THE LIFE OF A GENIUS

by Walter Isaacson

Carlton, 2009, 1st printing

AMERICAN PAINTING

by Donald Goddard

Hugh Lauter Levin, 1990

THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

by Tom Clancy

Naval Institute, 1984

Signed

THE FAVORITE STORY BOOK OR PLEASING 
SKETCHES FOR YOUTH

by Clara Arnold

Phillips, Sampson and Co., 1854

BACK ROADS OF CALIFORNIA

by Earl Hollander

Lane Publishing, June 1971, 1st printing

LITTLE MOOK AND DWARF LONGNOSE

by Wilhelm Hauff, illustrated by Boris Pak

David R. Godine, 2004, 1st edition

THE ROMANCE OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS 
KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE

illustrator Arthur Rackham, 

Weathervane Bks. 1978

LITTLE BLACK SAMBO

by Helen Bannerman, illustrated by Eulalie

Platt & Munk, 1972

Set of BARSETSHIRE novels (6 volumes)

by Anthony Trollope

Oxford University Press 1986

Set of PALLISER novels (6 volumes)

by Anthony Trollope

Oxford University Press 1989

OXFORD ILLUSTRATED DICKENS (21 
volumes)

by Charles Dickens

Oxford University Press, 1987

FROHAWK’S BIRDS OF HAWAII

Paintings by F.W. Frohawk,

Text by Scott Wilson and Sheila Buff

Wellfleet 1989


HELP END POLIO NOW 

By Marina Coco La Salle 

On Saturday, October 26, 2013 the Rotary Club of Sierra Madre and the Interact Club will be 
walking in hopes of raising funds for the eradication of Polio. In 1979, this group began their work 
by vaccinating children in the Philippines. Since then, the group has been working hard to eliminate 
Polio. Their efforts helped reduce polio cases by 99 percent worldwide, but they still need help. 

The fundraising goal is $10, 000 for the day. Thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, every 
$1 raised by various clubs will be matched by a $3 contribution by the foundation. There are multiple 
ways to contribute to the cause. People can donate cash or checks at the event or mail checks to PO 
Box 863, Sierra Madre, CA 91025. Be sure to make checks out to District 5300 and write Polio Walk 
in the notes section. Those interested in walking can join the group at 9 A.M. in Kersting Court.

Rotarians have been able to help immunize children around the world. With the donations and 
efforts of others, many can help make a difference and fight for their cause. Every dollar counts. Just 
making a small donation can help a child against this crippling disease for their entire life. 

https://www.rotary.org/en/take-action/end-polio?housead=

http://sierramadre.patch.com/groups/events/p/end-polio-now-walk-kersting-court-102613-9-am-
sierra-madre