pA:5, v7.47 — Around The San Gabriel Valley

Around The San Gabriel Valley

Mountain Views News Saturday, November 23, 2013

MVNews this week: Page A:5

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 23, 2013

A MUST Read for All:

MORE VISIONS OF ARCADIA: A
COMMUNITY ANTHOLOGY

Ten years ago, Gary Kovacic edited a great book, Visions of Arcadia in conjunction with the
City’s Centennial. There was so much positive feedback and requests for another book, that Arcadia’s
fine Councilman once again started the lengthy process. Try to imagine reading through and editing
some 145 essays, going through hundreds of photos and then deciding how to categorize the essays
into chapters.

This past Sunday, a wonderful event occurred at the Good Shepherd Methodist Church in
Arcadia. A special program featured authors, Gary Kovacic, Carol Libby and Elizabeth Pomerey.
Gary has lived in Arcadia since 1952. Besides serving on the City Council, he is president/CEO of the
Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation, board member of Foothill Unity Center, Inc., and volunteer
coach of Arcadia High School Constitution Team. Besides his editing and writing skills, Gary
practices law in Los Angeles.

Carol Libby is the author of Chronicles of Arcadia and co-author of Images of America, Arcadia.
Carol and her husband Hal moved to Arcadia in 1956 into Hal’s parents’ home which was built in
1938. Carol has been a member of the Historical Society since 1986. Her father-in-law told her many
stories about early Arcadia which she found fascinating and thus wrote Chronicles of Arcadia. She
did much research on articles covering a time period of 57 years and had an 11 page timeline! Carol
mentioned her interest in street names and told the audience that a few were named after Lucky
Baldwin’s horses!

Elizabeth Pomeroy is author of
Images of America, Pasadena; Lost
and Found: Historic Landmarks
of the San Gabriel Valley and John
Muir: A Naturalist in Southern
California. Elizabeth graduated
from Stanford and earned her
doctorate at UCLA. She has resided
in Pasadena for 35 years and is on
the staff at Huntington Library. One
story Elizabeth shared was about
the origin of the Santa Fe Depot.
Lucky Baldwin sold off a portion of
his land across from his ranch for
the railroad to be built. At that time,
there were five passenger trains and
several freight trains. However, in
1940, the depot was closed. There
was a great effort to save the building. It was dismantled, moved and reassembled in 1979 on the
Arboretum grounds. Initially the building cost $5000; at the time of its move, its value was $32,000.

There are so many great essays in the book covering every topic imaginable! Of course, I loved reading
Marilynn Goulard’s Raising Five Children on a Farm in Arcadia (1950-60). A peahen laid some eggs
and then returned to the Arboretum! Another essay that caught my eye was Why I Became Italian by
Frank Perini. This wonderful man still owns and operates the Perini Barber Shop at 73 East Foothill
Boulevard, Arcadia. I had a delightful visit with him yesterday after reading his story. I learned quite
a lot, but I don’t want to spoil it for you.

This book covers so many different aspects of life in Arcadia-its history covers an era long gone and
recalls life in the old days! Not only are their memories from the old MAD (Monrovia-Arcadia-
Duarte) High School but essays from young adults who share their great experiences in the Arcadia
School System. Of course Council Member Bob Harbicht speaks of those great morning breakfasts at
Crocker’s Corner and even retired Jockey, Eddie Delahoussaye speaks of his illustrious career.

The book ends with An Arcadia Photo Gallery by San Gabriel Valley’s great photographer, Terry
Miller. Copies of More Visions of Arcadia: A Community Anthology may be purchased by either
Arcadia City Hall of the Arcadia Library. I have already purchased three for my children-they make
excellent Christmas gifts! Thank you so much, Council Member Gary Kovacic for this priceless book,
his wife Barb for her support, patience and encouragement to Gary during the many hours spent on
this project, and to the other 144 essayists! It’s great reading!

HILLSIDES CHARITY DISTRIBUTES MORE THAN 100 BASKETS OF
FOOD FOR NEEDY FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS

(PASADENA) Due to the generosity of four local organizations and businesses, Hillsides, a Los Angeles
County charity, has collected 102 food baskets to distribute this Thanksgiving season for families
in need. The bins, filled with staples such as rice, potatoes, cereal, canned vegetables and canned
fruits, were donated by the Pasadena area chapter of the National Charity League (NCL), the Pasadena
Lake Avenue branch of the Bank of America, and Alexandria Real Estate Equities in Pasadena.
The city of Pasadena also provided 20 turkeys and 20 bags of Thanksgiving trimmings.

“I cannot thank these four groups enough for helping out families during this holiday season,” said
Laura Kelso, Hillsides director of community resources. “Each basket has enough food to feed a family
for 10-14 days, which will be a life-saver for those families in our community with very few resources
who otherwise might go without.”

This is the tenth year that the Pasadena chapter of the NCL, which fosters the mother-daughter relationship
through community service, has donated Thanksgiving baskets for Hillsides. “This drive
is a way our members can take our family values of caring and share them with another family,” said
Pasadena branch President Paula Knop.

One mom, Judy Penner, and her daughter spent an entire Sunday shopping and sorting the food.
“My daughter felt really good knowing she was helping someone,” said Penner. “We put together five
baskets and would have done 10, but we couldn’t fit any more in our car.”

In other holiday events, on November 16, volunteers from the Optimist Club at Gabrielino High
School in San Gabriel made Thanksgiving crafts with the children in residence at Hillsides. On
Wednesday, November 27, the recreation staff of Hillsides will put on a pre-Thanksgiving Day feast
on campus for the children complete with party favors and special treats.

“During this time of giving, we are so thankful for the organizations, businesses, and staff that make
sure families and children are provided for during this time of the year,” said Joseph M. Costa, Hillsides
chief executive officer. “Hillsides helps more than 7,400 individuals a year, and such support
would not be possible without the incredible generosity of our volunteers and donors.”

Hillsides is a premier provider dedicated to improving the overall well-being and functioning of children,
youth, and families in need. To learn more about Hillsides, please visit www.hillsides.org.

Above: Pasadena chapter National Charity League volunteers Michelle Escobar and Judy Penner drop
off buckets of food to Hillsides to help needy families over the holidays.

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