“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Madiba Nelson Mandela Pg. 14


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2013

VOLUME 7 NO. 49

FINAL WATER 
& SEWER RATES 
COMMUNITY 
MEETING

On Thursday, December 12, 2013 
at 6:30pm the City will host the final 
water & sewer rates community 
meeting. This meeting will provide a 
brief summary of the first four meetings, 
an overview of the rates the City 
Council initiated under the Proposition 
218 Notification and Protest 
Ballot process, and an explaination 
on how the 218 process works. Please 
contact City Hall at 626.355.7135 for 
further information


THE PRESENT THAT MAY NEVER BE GIVEN

Sierra Madre Senior Community Commission’s 
Attempt To Improve Conditions at Memorial Park and 
The Hart Park House Delayed Again

By Susan Henderson

At the November 26th City Council 
meeting, the SM Senior Community 
Commission once again ran into 
questionable opposition to their 
attempt to give $60,000 of funds they 
have earned over the years to the city 
for the improvement of the restroom 
situation in Memorial Park and the 
storage problem in the Hart Park 
House. 

The Senior Services Commission 
(SCC) recognized several years ago 
that the renovation of the Hart Park 
House had failed to address the issue 
of storage. As a result, tables, chairs, 
podiums, etc., are stored by leaning 
them against the walls or stacking 
them in one of the two rooms available 
for senior activities. In the agenda 
report, staff provided a picture of the 
items as they are currently stacked 
and not only do they take up valuable 
recreation space, they are a potential 
hazard. In the illustration shown, a 
large, round table is leaning against the 
wall with nothing to anchor it. Because 
the redesign of the center included 
plans to expand public rentals, there 
are more chairs and tables than in the 
previous configurations of the facility.

In addition, when the decision was 
made to build the two new restrooms 
, male and female in the park near 
the tennis courts in 2012 , a decision 
was made by the council not to 
renovate the existing restrooms which, 
according to City Manager Elaine 
Aguilar,” have not had any work done 
on them since 1992 or ‘93”. The state 
of the restrooms being discussed now 
was part of the discussion to build new 
ones at that time. 

 

Further, the 2012 Parks and Facilities 
Master Plan noted that the old 
restrooms were “often disreputable”, but 
failed to offer any solutions regarding 
how to remedy the situation. In fact, 
the PFMP 
doesn’t list the 
restrooms in 
the group of 
first, second 
or third 
priorities.

Another 
reason for 
including the restroom reconfiguration 
was to provide a Family Restroom, 
clearly visible to parents in the park 
and accessible to families with a need 
for changing tables, sufficient space 
to deal with very small children or 
children of the opposite sex, and 
persons with special needs.

While that may seem reasonable and 
generous, it has created a firestorm 
of controversy. In a 3-1 vote, the 
council decided to delay action on the 
matter until February and directed 
staff to explore other options. They 
also asked the Senior Commission to 
take a ‘survey’ of users of the park to 
see if they wanted a family restroom 
in place of the existing Male and 
Female restrooms that currently exist. 
(Councilmembers John Capoccia, 
John Harabedian and Josh Moran 
voted to postpone the decision; Mayor 
Nancy Walsh voted against postponing 
it and Councilman Chris Koerber 
was absent). This action infuriated 
members of the SCC as they had 
worked on this project for more than 
a year and could see no real reason to 
further delay it. The cost estimates and 
design were created by professionals 
and had been thoroughly researched.

Opposition From The Community 
Services Commission

Because the proposed renovations 
were to be in the park, the plan went to 
the Community Services Commission 
for approval. It was denied twice. In 
a letter sent to the council and read 
aloud at (continued on page 19) the 


PROP 218 

INFORMATION 
AND PROTEST 
BALLOT MAILED

Residents of Sierra Madre should 
soon expect a large envelope with 
the words “Protest Ballot Enclosed” 
in the mail within the next few 
days, according to information on 
the City’s Facebook page.

The envelope will contain information 
on the proposed water rate 
increase, instructions on how to fill 
out the ballot if you do not agree 
with the proposed rate hike and the 
ballot itself.

If you agree or accept the rate increase, 
there is nothing else for you 
to do. 

If you wish to protest the rate increase, 
follow the instructions for 
filling out the ballot and mail it 
back in the self addressed stamped 
envelope that was included in the 
packet. Protest ballots must be 
turned in by January 28, 2014. 

For more information call 
626-355-7135.

8 INDICTED IN HOME BURGLARY RING

Eight defendants who allegedly operated 
a residential burglary ring that 
targeted Los Angeles Times subscribers 
named on stolen “vacation hold” 
lists pleaded not guilty today to more 
than three dozen charges contained in 
a Grand Jury indictment, the District 
Attorney’s Office announced. 

 

Prosecutors said the eight stole an estimated 
$1 million in dozens of residential 
burglaries in both Los Angeles and 
San Bernardino counties. 

 

The 39-count indictment unsealed today 
by Judge Charlaine Olmedo names 
Randal Joseph Whitmore (dob 3-19-
69), Duane Vantuinen (dob 10-26-
61), Joshua Ray Box (dob 11-17-69), 
Lorraine Marlene Vasquez (dob 11-
20-72), Cory Mulligan (dob 8-22-91), 
Brian Thomas Duran (dob 5-12-71), 
Margaret Mary Susan High (dob 3-7-
84) and Edwin Lynn Valentine (dob 
8-13-60). 

The eight are charged with multiple 
counts each of first degree residential 
burglary, receiving stolen property and 
conspiracy. 

 Deputy District Attorney Mark Inaba 
with the Organized Crime Division 
said an extensive investigation led by 
the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department 
included joint investigations by Glendora, 
Monrovia, Burbank and Arcadia 
police departments and the San Bernardino 
Sheriff’s Department. 

The investigation was launched following 
a June 24, 2012, traffic stop 
involving Whitmore. Police allegedly 
discovered stolen property in the car 
along with an L.A. Times “vacation 
hold” lists that contained the names 
and addresses of subscribers and the 
dates that they were scheduled to be 
out of town. 

All eight return to court on Dec. 10 in 
Los Angeles Superior Court, Pomona 
Branch, Department P for pretrial. All 
are being held on more than $1.6 million 
bail each. If convicted as charged, 
each faces at least 20 years in state 
prison. 

Los Angeles County District Attorney’s 
Office Press Release

Also Inside this week: 

SIERRA MADRE

Calendar Page 2

Sierra Madre News Page 3

PASADENA/ALTADENA

Pg. 4

Prep offers more. We know that educational opportunities 
don’t end at the campus gates and that they 
don’t stop when the bell rings.
Flintridge Prep 
Admissions Open HouseSunday, December 8, 20131 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Register at www.flintridgeprep.orgWhat are you looking for 
in a school?
middle school, high school, co-ed
Flintridge PrepWhat you learn lasts a lifetimePrep for Life
Auto Theft Suspect 
Arrested

AROUND SGV Pg. 5

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 6

JOIN THE VILLAGE CHURCH FOR A 
COMMUNITY POTLUCK BEFORE THE 
CANDLELIGHT WALK

Planning to participate in Sierra Madre’s traditional Candlelight Walk on 
December 22? Walk up the hill a little early (5:30), stop at the Church of the 
Ascension, and share in food and fellowship at the Village Church’s Community 
Potluck Dinner (bring enough of your favorite salad, main dish, or dessert to 
serve 8). Filled with food and community spirit, you’ll be ready to join the 
singing and celebrating as we share in the Candlelight Celebration at 7:00 pm. 
Community Potluck starts at 5:30 pm in the newly renovated Hawk’s Hall all are 
welcome. 

Church of the Ascension is located at the corner of Baldwin and Laurel. For more 
information about the potluck, call the parish office at 626-355-1133 or visit: 
www.ascension-sierramadre.com. 

MONROVIA/DUARTE 

 Pg. 7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 8

FOOD & DRINK

Peter Dills Pg. 9

BEST FRIENDS Pg. 10

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

 Pg. 10

THE GOOD LIFE 

 

 Pg. 11

Savvy Senior

Senior Happenings

This and That


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

WORLD AROUND US

 Pg. 12

BUSINESS

 Pg. 13

LEFT TURN/RIGHT 
TURN/OPINION 

 Pg. 14

SMTV Channel 98 

Program Guide Pg. 15

LEGAL NOTICES Pg. 17




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