Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 9, 2014

WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT (continued from page 1)

Stephen Dorek Equipment Rentals will be notifying individual project neighbors of the 
pending construction work. While every effort will be made to minimize inconveniences to 
neighboring residents, some impacts are unavoidable. The Water Department apologizes in 
advance for those inconveniences and asks for community patience with the project. The result 
will be a more reliable water distribution system. 

Motorists are advised to take alternate routes. Construction activity will take place weekdays 
between 7 AM and 4 PM and the project is expected to be complete October 8. The Contractor 
will make provisions for trash pickup and vehicular access for residents of the project area. 
Questions regarding the project may be addressed to Bruce Inman, Director of Public Works 
at binman@cityofsierramadre.com or 626.355.7135.


3

Mountain View News Saturday, August 9, 2014 


Sierra Madre Police Blotter

WALKING SIERRA MADRE…THE SOCIAL SIDE By Deanne Davis

During the week of Sunday, July 27th to Sunday, August 3rd, the 
Sierra Madre Police Department responded to approximately 
383 calls for service.

Tuesday, July 29th

 At 7:28 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to 100 block 
of South Mountain Trail regarding annoying phone calls. 
Upon arrival, Officers were informed by the victim that she 
had received four calls from an unknown number which was 
listed as Unknown on the caller ID. The first call occurred the 
week prior with an unknown male asking the victim if she 
would star in an adult film for a large amount of money, which 
the victim declined and hung up. A second call was received 
the morning of the report, but went unanswered. A third call 
shortly followed from a different unknown male that claimed 
he had an adult video of the victim and was going to sell it 
to an adult site. A fourth call occurred and left a voicemail 
stating the victim’s name and address and informing the 
victim that a vehicle would be coming to pick her up to take 
her to an audition shortly. A vehicle never appeared. This case 
has been forwarded to the Detectives Bureau. 

Wednesday, July 30th

 At 9:21 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 30 block 
of West Grandview Avenue regarding a petty theft. Once on 
scene, Officers were informed by the victim that a book that 
was ordered online was set to arrive by 9:00 pm that night. 
At around 5:00 pm the victim went to retrieve the mail and 
noticed the package had not arrived. At around 7:00 pm, the 
victim checked the mail box again and noticed the package 
had arrived, but the packaging was open and the book was 
missing. This case has been forwarded to the Detectives 
Bureau. 

Friday, August 1st

 At 4:52 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 200 block 
of West Highland Avenue regarding a residential burglary 
report. Upon arrival, Officers were informed by the victim 
that she had previously rented her back house to the suspect, 
and when the suspect failed to pay rent, he returned his key 
and removed himself from the property. While the victim 
was out doing errands, the suspect arrived at the residence 
and informed the victim’s daughter he was there to pick up 
the last of his belongings. The victim’s daughter gave the 
suspect her keys to allow the suspect to open the backhouse. 
The suspect spent nearly a half hour in the residence while 
the victim’s daughter called the victim to come home. As the 
victim pulled up to her home, the suspect was backing out 
of the driveway. The victim used her vehicle to block him in 
to ask about the money still owed. The suspect threatened to 
hit the victim’s vehicle, so she moved it and the suspect fled. 
Upon investigating, the victim discovered her window air 
conditioning unit and window curtains were missing from 
the backhouse that she had provided. The suspect also left with 
the victim’s daughter’s keys. This case has been forwarded to 
the Detectives Bureau. 

Artist’s rendering of the 2015 Sierra Madre Rose Float Association’s Inspirational Story Entry

 “I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!”

The Little Engine That Could – Watty Piper (Nom de plume of Arnold 
Munk of the publishing company of Platt & Munk)

 That’s us, folks! Sierra Madre really is The Little Engine That Could! 
We remember this delightful children’s story which first appeared in 
print in 1920. The tale of a little engine who thinks he can pull a long 
heavy train over a hill and does, indeed, do exactly that! The theme of 
this year’s Rose Parade is “Inspirational Stories” with Louis Zamperini 
as the Grand Marshall. Although Mr. Zamperini passed away this 
July 3rd, the Parade will still be honoring his legacy of bravery and 
indomitable spirit through “Inspirational Stories.” 

 Why, you’re asking yourself, are we talking about the Rose Float 
now? Well, we all saw it in the July 4th Parade and it was so amazing 
already I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who wanted to know more 
about it.

 Sierra Madre’s annual Rose Parade float is truly an inspirational 
story! All volunteer workers from the design phase right on through 
the building, the decoration and the ride down Colorado Blvd., every 
year is a challenge to say the least! Spent an afternoon with long-time 
Sierra Madre Rose Float Association member, Donna Sutcliffe, and 
walked away filled with admiration for these dedicated people who 
work all year to bring our float to life. Donna spoke admiringly and 
with a real sense of loss of Rose Float Association’s President, Robert 
Young, who passed away July 17th. She spoke especially of Bob’s 
dedication and his insistence that everything involved with the annual 
float had to be fun! 

 Donna mentioned Bonnie Colcher, Volunteer Coordinator and her 
husband, Dave. Bonnie will talk to any group of people she can find 
to bring in more volunteers and more donations. This is a good time 
to mention that the float is financed completely by donated dollars! 
Dave is a scientist at City of Hope by day and a master float welder all 
the rest of the time. Looking at the float in its current incarnation, i.e., 
the frame is built - that required a LOT of welding! Originally from 
Chicago, the Colchers sort of stumbled across the float barn 8 or 9 
years ago and were hooked! Bonnie and other Rose Float Association 
members beg merchants all over town for gifts and prizes for 
Legendary Bingo, the SM Rose Float Association’s major fundraisers, 
which take place twice a year in April and again in October. 

 Legendary Bingo, according to Donna, “is not your grandmother’s 
Bingo!” The Bingo caller is an outrageous drag queen, they acquire a 
one night beer and wine license, there’s all you can eat popcorn and 
pizza (for sale…it’s a fundraiser!) from our own Sierra Madre Pizza. 
There was such a huge crowd at the April event they ran out of pizza 
before the games even began and had to send out for more! Now that’s 
a successful event! I’m thinking my favorite Rose Parade watching 
buddy, John, (who watches the Rose Parade anxiously counting the 
minutes till the game) and I are missing out on a great event and will 
be playing Bingo in October!

 `Rose Parade Decoration Week – which is when the flowers are 
attached to the float – is a super week! This past December, City 
Council Member, John Harabedian, and his wife, Young-Gi, cooked 
hamburgers and hot dogs (provided by The Burger Shack in Monrovia, 
which is owned by local family the Tsinoglous) five days in a row for 
the volunteers. Mayor Pro-Tem, John Capoccia helped staff the Sales 
Booth, working the phones, giving directions and helping volunteers 
from all over Southern California find our float! And find us, they 
did! From the west side, Riverside, San Bernardino, we had volunteers 
from all over the place! 

`The float design this year for “I Think I Can!” is a compilation of ideas 
from the Brandstater family, Joanne Garcia and Nancie Filkins. Their 
design concepts were combined by Charles Meier, Creative Director at 
Paradiso Parade Floats. You can take a look at our float-in-progress by 
checking out the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association Facebook page. 
Here are a couple of things I learned talking to Kay Sappington at the 
float barn: Float dirt is coffee…regular and decaf! Why both? They’re 
different colors! Blue is impossible to replicate in flowers. What makes 
up blue is usually purple. It’s eleven miles from the barn to where our 
float is parked at the Rose Parade. There is a float driver, who applies 
front brakes, a float co-driver, who controls the rear brakes and a road 
captain who keeps an eye out for anybody suddenly cutting in front 
of the float. 

 “I Think I Can!” features an engine with a face and a personality, 
cargo cars filled with giraffes, a teddy bear and a sock monkey! 

 The cars will rock, steam will rise, And Sierra Madre will win 
another big prize!

 Hey! Mark your calendars for the October Legendary Bingo night, 
which is planned for October 11th, and plan to glue on flowers in 
December…oh! And a few dollars would be nice, too! Just say to 
yourself, “I Think I Can!” 

Editor’s Note: The date for a Memorial Service for SMRFA President 
Bob Young has not yet been released.

 

My book: “A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of Laughter”

is available on Amazon.com; or at https://www.createspace.
com/4561071” \t “_blank”