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Sierra Madre

Mountain Views News Saturday, December 14, 2013

MVNews this week: Page A:3

DOWNGRADE

(continued from page 1)

need for the rate increase, and
it also has answers to the most
frequently asked questions.
I also encourage everyone
to contact city staff or any
members of the city council if
they have any questions at all,
and I’m asking that our citizens
support the rate increase.
In my opinion, if the rate
increase does not pass, we’ll
have to immediately go into
a lock-down mode where we
defer maintenance wherever
possible to buy time while we
look at the possibility of selling
the water utility while we have
some leverage. If we completely
deplete our reserves and default
on the bond debt, we will lose
negotiating leverage. Speaking
as a citizen as well as a Council
member, the sale of the water
utility under any circumstances
would be a bad deal for all
of us, one that we would
regret long into the future.”

A path to recovery?

As the Mayor and Councilman
Capoccia stated, the only
hope for the future of our Water
Company is the passage of the
rate increase. In order to do
so, it is recommended that residents
not protest the increase in
the Prop 218 packet.

Moody’s is doubtful the Sierra
Madrean’s are responsible
enough to recognize the need to
financially support the city’s water
company and its obligation.
They warn, “Failure to adopt or
fully implement the proposed
rate increases will result in further
downward pressure on the
rating.” They do offer steps to
recovery, however:

-Sustained and material improvement
of debt service coverage
leading to compliance
with rate covenants;

-Significant improvement of
reserves

-Long-term stable customer
growth.

They also articulate what will
certainly bring the rating
down:

-Failure to implement the Prop
218 rate increases

-Further decline in debt service
coverage

-Loss of Customers and revenue
sources

-Further Violations of Bond
Covenants

The downgrade will impact
more than just the city’s bonds.
In the event of a disaster or
other unforeseen circumstance,
the water company, although it
is a separate entity of the city,
and its challenged credit rating
will impair the city’s ability to
borrow, refinance or engage
in many other fiscal activities
at a reasonable interest rate.
It may even cripple the city’s
ability to restructure its finances
totally. Given the city’s “above
average socioeconomic profile”
investors, as stated by Moody’s
will not look favorably on
the city’s willingness, or lack
thereof, to properly manage its
obligations.

LIGHT - (continued from page 1)

test required to attain an operating license.
When I asked our 4th graders if anyone would
be interested in becoming a ham radio operator,
about 40 hands shot up like rockets. Jo Anne was
delighted to hear that so many students had an
interest. She then suggested that, together with
their parents, they check out a website, www.
hamuniverse.com, to attain information on how
to get a ham radio operator license. JoAnne
wanted parents to know that unlike risks involved
with children using the Internet, the ham radio
culture is much more “child safe.” She also noted
how helpful ham radio operators tend to be, both
blind and sighted, in assisting those who need
help.

Next, Jo Anne opened up about challenges she
faced learning to read Braille as a 1st grader.
Because she struggled with learning Braille,
she had to repeat 1st grade. However, a teacher
eventually figured out that her difficulties were
not due to learning issues, but due to the fact that
she had been forced to learn to read Braille using
her right hand, when she was left handed and had
more touch sensitivity in her left hand. Once that
glitch was figured out, Jo Anne had no problem
reading Braille.

After sharing how she struggled to learn Braille,
Jo Anne demonstrated how proficient she had
become. Due to my request, she had brought the
Braille translation of The Cay, a book that our 4th
graders will be required to read as part of their
curriculum this year. Student eyes popped like
popcorn when they saw her adeptly decipher and
read aloud the sea of thousands of raised bumps
arranged in complex patterns on the page.

As an assembly finale, Jo Anne unveiled her
talents as an accomplished composer, pianist,
and singer. Springing up quickly from her folding
chair, Jo Anne grasped the edge of my elbow
and followed me with ease to the auditorium
keyboard. She performed a song she wrote for
C.L.I.M.B. right after she moved in there. “I
thought C.L.I.M.B. was such a wonderful place
when I first came that I wanted to write a song
about it,” Jo Anne explained. “And I still think it
is wonderful,” she added.

As Jo Anne played, I stood next to her and
looked out at the audience of 4th graders. Bodies
were still. Faces were intense and serious, totally
opposite the look of a typical 10-year-old out on
the playground. Jo Anne’s song connected the
room. Her slender fingers touched the keys of
the keyboard precisely, as her beautiful, pristine
voice caught our hearts. Tears began to well up
in some students’ and teachers’ eyes. Her lyrics
resonated deep within us as she crooned, “We’re
just like anyone else, only we can’t see.”

When the song ended, the crowd erupted in
applause, celebrating Jo Anne. We had come to
appreciate how far she had come from less than
3 pounds at birth to a mountain of strength
and warmth, determined to see light, despite
darkness, hope despite challenges, and humor in
driving a car without sight.

Mountain Views-News Saturday. December 14, 2013

WALKING SIERRA MADRE……THE SOCIAL SIDE
By Deanne Davis

REMEMBERANCE

LORENA MARIE GOUAUX WYNNE

Born in Carencro, Louisiana on April 26, 1927, the second of five
children, Lorena was raised in Lafayette, Louisiana. She attended
Lafayette High School and the University of Southwestern
Louisiana, where she majored in English Literature. She married
her husband of 60 years, Leslie Bernard Wynne, Jr., in 1949 and
came to Sierra Madre, where they raised five children.

She passed away following a brief illness on December 7, 2013.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 2009, her parents
Claude Bernard Gouaux and Lorena Guidry Gouaux, sisters
Laurette Gauthier and Leontine Trappey and brother Claude
Bernard Gouaux, Jr.

She is survived by one sister, Louise Patout, and by her children
Dr. Les Wynne of Monterey Park, Mary Forney, Leontine Bajer,
Laura Forney and Leonard Wynne of Sierra Madre, her grandchildren Joseph Forney, Lorena Bajer
De La Rosa, Paul Forney, Louise Forney Fahlstrom, Robert Wynne, and Anne Forney, and by two
great grandchildren.

Lorena loved life, was ever gracious, and brought a sparkle of joy into so many lives. The combination
of her southern hospitality and her natural gift of relating to others endeared her to everyone she met.
She was a wonderful mother and role model, as well as being the driving force of support and biggest
fan for her artist husband’s career.

She was a devout Catholic and loved her dear St. Rita’s Parish. She loved traveling, shopping with her
daughters, cooking with her son, Leonard, and visiting with all her children and grandchildren. She
was a voracious reader and especially loved Russian literature. She had an indomitable spirit, and she
loved to laugh and share jokes. She was the center of her loving family, and she will be very dearly
missed.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Dec. 12 at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, followed by interment at
Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery.

Have you walked through Kersting Court and
admired our really handsome Christmas tree,
with wonderful red bows, ornaments, and
even a gift or two beneath? Last Sunday we
were delighted to see a family of Mom, Dad
and three young adult kids, decked out in red
Santa hats, standing in front of our community
tree, tripod set up on the sidewalk, Dad taking
one last look into the lens then vaulting over
the wall to get into position for the family
Christmas photo. They were having such
a great time. If you haven’t done yours yet,
there’s a new idea. We walked up Baldwin,
too, and admired another Santa inspired
Christmas decoration, which isn’t exactly in
the tree category, but is extremely creative.
Photo below.

All this Christmas tree talk reminds me that
my moment is coming, too, when it’s time to
trim the tree. Lovingly, we unearth all the
boxes of Christmas stuff, try to remember
what we did last year with the manger scene
that made it look so sweetly reverent, promise
ourselves we=re not going to do so much this
year, and then put up more than ever before.

There’s no way we can’t put out all the
Christmas goodies the children made in
Sunday School through the years; the little hands pressed into plaster of paris, the pictures mounted
in bread dough frames, the miniature red felt stockings with family names in glitter, the red globes
that date from the beginning of our marriage, which are cracked and crazed (as is, occasionally, our
marriage), but precious in our sight.

Yep, it’s two weeks before Christmas, you’ve
bought a beautiful real tree that smells so fresh
and forest-y that you want to bury your face
in it. It’s in the house in the time-honored
Christmas tree spot and it’s time to decorate.
The family scatters like roaches when the light
is turned on, and you and Tree find yourselves
alone, even though you made cookies to
convince everyone how much fun this is going
to be. This intimate moment deserves a small
celebration. It’s definitely time to make Egg
Nog!

Look through any Christmas Cookbook and
you’ll find Egg Nog, all right, the Victorian
version requiring way too much labor, and
you’ve already got the labor ahead of you:
Tree, Naked.

Here’s your traditional Egg Nog: Beat yolks
and whites of 8 eggs separately. Add 1/2 lb.
sugar to whites, beat until stiff. Add beaten
yolks to whites, mix until blended. Beat in 2
jiggers Rum. Add 1 bottle (4/5 qt.) Whiskey.
Beat mixture. Add 1 pint heavy cream. 1 quart
of milk. Mix. Chill well. Grate nutmeg over
top. Serve.

A bottle of whiskey?? Make this and Tree
will still be naked tomorrow and you’ll have
a headache!

Here’s a much easier, kinder, gentler version:

1. Buy a carton of prepared low-fat egg nog right out of the dairy case at your favorite market.

2. Put a tray of ice cubes in your blender.

3. Fill the blender two thirds full of egg nog mix.

4. Add a half cup of rum, brandy, or a little of both to the blender (or more, or less, depending on
how annoyed you are).

5. Blend until ice is pleasantly crunchified.

6. Pour into a large, beautiful, stemmed glass. Grate fresh nutmeg over top.

7. Sit down and admire Tree, while enjoying egg nog.

8. Realize that peace reigns now that family has scattered to unknown destinations.

9. Put on the Christmas CD that YOU like, the one that has “Grandma Got Run Over By a
Reindeer” on it, if that’s your cup of egg nog.

10. Allow joy to flood your heart, soul and mind.

11. Plug in that first string of lights and think about that first Christmas night, that first Light.

12. Rejoice! Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men!

13. Know in your heart that Tree will be the most beautiful one ever!

14. Invite friends and family over to share your egg nog and admire Tree.

“On a night like this, centuries ago,

A brilliant star rose in the East,

To show the Wise Men where to go.

They set out on a journey,

To find an unknown King.

Their hearts were filled with happiness

And praises they would sing!”

(“A Night Like This” from “Star of Wonder – A Christmas Musical”

Book & Lyrics by Deanne Davis, Music by David Wheatley)

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