Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 30, 2014

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Mountain View News Saturday, August 30, 2014 

Sierra Madre Police Blotter

WALKING SIERRA MADRE…The Social Side By Deanne Davis

“The cars we drive say a lot about us.” Alexandra Paul

“It’s not just a car, it’s a person with a car.” Chris Hovland

 Have you walked by Sierra Madre Independent Honda at Baldwin 
and Montecito? It’s kind of just across the street from Beantown, 
which is really convenient. You can leave your car with Chris, and 
go across the street for a cup of coffee and some oatmeal. 

 Chris Hovland is a California native, which is pretty neat as 
most everybody is from someplace else. He started his career at 
Alhambra Motors (now Goudy Honda) then moved on to Pasadena 
Honda but realized that he really wanted to talk to customers 
himself, rather than having problems relayed through a service 
manager and various other folks. Let’s face it, when our car is 
going EEERRRRKKKK!! Or UMMMMMM KLUNK, we want to 
describe it to the guy who’s going to work on it, not somebody who 
might not get it right. That’s why Chris started his own Honda 
maintenance/repair business; he thought he could do it better and 
wanted to deal with people, not just cars. He figured out early on 
that direct contact works best.

 Twenty years ago when Chris was looking around for just the 
right place to set up shop, he was thinking maybe La Canada-
La Crescenta but then Mike Eing, who owns the building which 
houses both Sierra Madre Independent Honda and Village Auto 
Clinic, called Chris to let him know there was an available spot 
there in his building. After spending a little time around town, he 
realized Sierra Madre was the right place for him. And as so many 
of our Sierra Madre business people say, “The people are nice here!” 
Chris proudly reported he has never had one bad check! That’s 
pretty cool! His very first customer who wasn’t a friend or family 
member, Marie Crimins, is still coming to see Chris with all three 
of her family’s Hondas. My fellow happy Honda owner, John, and 
I are on our third Chris maintained Honda.

 Chris’s son, Brian, is now working with his Dad and it’s a happy 
relationship. Starting at Goudy, working for Chris’s old boss there, 
Brian was doing OK till the economy took a downturn and Chris 
said, “Hey, come work for me…I’ll pay you more!” Talk about an 
offer you can’t refuse!

 Sierra Independent Honda may be one of the only auto shops 
that have a garden in front where tomatoes usually flourish – 
except right now when his look kinda droopy like everybody else’s. 
He’s got red peppers, a watermelon which is being harvested today, 
eggplant and is willing to take gardening advice from anybody 
who’s got a good suggestion. He said it’s not uncommon to arrive 
at work and find folks feasting on his cherry tomatoes! 

 Chris lives in Pasadena and commutes by bike to work two or 
three times a week. He’s a hiker, enjoys our Mt. Wilson Trail and 
Winter Creek Trail off Chantry Flats. He likes motorcycle riding 
and is generally doing his best to keep fit, just like most of us are.

 I asked Chris if anything funny ever happened and he immediately 
told me about one of his clients arriving with a problem under the 
hood, which was resolved when they opened said hood and there 
was a rat living in there, dining on his wiring! He said people lose 
all sorts of stuff under their seats – wedding rings and money came 
to mind – which require taking the seats out, which he’s happy to 
do.

 Advice for car owners? Check your fluids! Check your tires. 
Condition your leather (Chris gave me a reproving look at this 
point as this is one of the things I’m afraid I’m not very good about.) 
If you see coolant leaking, don’t drive! Your temperature gauge is 
really important. If you don’t overheat it, your car will live forever. 
One of our adorable daughters started driving to LAX to pick us up 
and discovered the hard way that overheating is not a good idea!

 Chris loves being part of Sierra Madre, loves to work and is 
very proud of his business. He says that he has such a feeling of 
usefulness and accomplishment in his work and enjoys talking 
to his clients. If you haven’t met Chris, go by and say hi! He’s 
available Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – 54 North 
Baldwin. Phone is 626-355-4663. 

 I Read this on Yelp.com…pretty much says it all:

 “Under Chris’ Expertise, my 2001 Honda is about to hit 
300,000 MILES and still runs in Top condition. If you appreciate 
Quality Craftsmanship and Mechanics who have Integrity, I 
highly recommend you bring your car to his shop. I have been 
bringing my Honda here for 8 years now, I drive the distance from 
Orange County to get all of my Honda’s work done at this shop. I 
recommend Chris to my closest friends, he is THE BEST!”

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

is available on Amazon.com; or at https://www.createspace.
com/4561071. 


During the week of Sunday, August 17th to Sunday, August 24th, the Sierra 
Madre Police Department responded to approximately 449 calls for service.

Monday, August 18th

At 3:47 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 500 block of Santa 
Anita Court regarding a residential burglary. Upon arrival, Officers 
were informed by the victim that she had been away from her home 
for several days, and when she returned she noticed her exterior double 
pane glass door, located to the rear of her residence, was shattered. She 
informed Officers that a glass vase that was located on a patio table was 
missing, which was later found shattered near the door. When Officers 
questioned nearby neighbors, they learned that on the night of Friday, 
August 15th a neighbor had heard the sound of shattering glass but did 
not report it. Through investigation, Officers determined the suspect(s) 
entered the property through an unlocked side gate. They used a glass 
vase from the property to attempt to break the rear glass door, but were 
only able to break the exterior layer of the dual paned glass. The suspect(s) 
also attempted entry through a separate rear door by breaking the door 
handle, but were unsuccessful. A thorough walk through determined 
the suspect(s) did not make entry into the residence. This case has been 
forwarded to the Detectives Bureau.

Wednesday, August 20th

At 8:50 am, Sierra Madre Police responded to the area of Michillinda 
Ave. and Fairview Ave. after receiving a call to the station regarding a 
suspicious man unknown to the residential area. A man matching the 
description of the caller was located. During a consensual encounter, 
a records check was conducted. Investigation revealed the man had 3 
outstanding arrest warrants. The man was arrested and transported 
to Pasadena PD jail for booking. The agency issuing the warrant was 
notified and they later took the man into custody.

Friday, August 22nd

At 7:13 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 200 block of Old Ranch 
Rd. regarding a missing vehicle. Upon arrival, Officers were informed 
by the victim that she had parked her vehicle on Mountain Trail Avenue 
north of Grandview Avenue earlier in the day. When she later returned, 
her vehicle was missing. The victim informed Officers she did not know 
who could have taken it and never gave anyone permission to use her 
vehicle. This case has been forwarded to the Detectives Bureau.

Sunday, August 24th 

At 11:55 am, Sierra Madre Police responded to lobby of the station 
regarding a suspicious circumstances report. Officers were informed by 
the subject that while out in the community, she noticed a flyer posted 
on a tree that was soliciting friendship from juveniles between the ages 
of 15 and 17 years old. The flyer had also referenced the term “cuddle 
buddy.” The reporting subject was concerned the flyer may exploit or lure 
young adults into potential danger and wrongdoings. Officers canvassed 
the reported area the flyer was first found and removed any additional 
flyers they found. The flyer advertised a contact number. Officers called 
the number and made contact with a young man aged 16. Officers later 
arrived to the young man’s address and were met with the young man 
and his father. When questioned about the flyer, the young man informed 
Officers he simply made them and posted them because he was bored and 
later realized it wasn’t the best idea to have done so. The young man also 
told Officers that he had yet to be contacted by anyone regarding his offer 
of friendship. Officers advised the young man to use smarter and better 
decisions when trying to make new friends and dismissed the case.

SIERRA MADRE SCARECROW FESTIVAL


By Donna Packer

Walk around Sierra Madre and in many small 
garden patches tucked into sunny corners of 
front yards and adjacent to driveways you can 
glimpse the unmistakable orange color of nascent 
pumpkins heralding the approaching autumnal 
season. This is the time to exercise your creative 
and artistic muscles.

 Kicking off the celebration of fall is Creative 
Arts Group’s 3rd Annual Scarecrow Festival in 
Sierra Madre. Scarecrows are limited only by 
your imagination. Whimsical, fierce, high-tech, 
humorous, traditional, environmental, alternative 
– all shapes, sizes, and materials are welcome. 
There are special categories for families, children 
(under 16), and individuals. Scarecrows that 
adorn private residences, highlight businesses, 
service organizations, churches, schools, or 
government agencies are welcome. Scarecrows 
can be stationary or animated, may be in the form 
of humans, animals, fantastical creatures – the 
sky is the limit! Applications for the contest can 
be picked up at Creative Arts Group at 108 N. 
Baldwin Ave or on our website. A free scarecrow-
making workshop will be given at the art center 
on Saturday, September 13th. The deadline to 
enter is September 19th and scarecrows must be in 
place by September 28th. Judging will take place 
at the beginning of October and awards will be 
given in numerous categories including a popular 
choice award. Maps of the scarecrows will be 
available October 4th, and each scarecrow will be 
equipped with a QR code that can be scanned by 
smart phones to reveal the individual story behind 
each scarecrow. Creative Arts Group will offer 
an organized tour of the scarecrows on October 
11th. You can find out more about the festival and 
register online for the workshop and the contest at 
www.creativeartsgroup.org/scarecrow-festival/.

 The culmination of the fall season is 
Halloween, and Sierra Madre is rightly known 
for its exquisitely carved pumpkins and theatrical 
Halloween displays. Throughout the town, houses 
and yards are decorated for the witching hours. 
Two blocks of Allegria Ave. are cordoned off each 
Halloween to allow a multitude of visitors to view 
these elaborate displays. The Creative Arts Group 
Scarecrow Festival adds a little more quirky fun to 
Sierra Madre’s celebration of fall. We hope you 
will all join in to show off our town’s creativity and 
community pride. 

For more information see our ad on page 12.

Hi, I’m Penelope and you can come by the 
Creative Arts Group to meet me in person. I 
am one of many scarecrows that will adorn 
Sierra Madre throughout the month of October.

UNDERSTANDING 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Presentation by M. J. Ferrill of Hut Dogs

Tuesday, September 2nd 12:00 Noon

SIERRA MADRE KIWANIS CLUB

33 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. (The Lodge)

Lunch 12:00 - $10.00

Program 12:30 - FREE

Call 626-355-0728 to reserve 

your seat!