Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 20, 2014

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Mountain View News Saturday, September 20, 2014 

Sierra Madre Police Blotter

WALKING SIERRA MADRE…The Social Side By Deanne Davis


“It is my passion. When I dance I don’t notice the weather, the crowds, nothing! 
I am totally in the dance.” Alexander Gallagher

 Are you planning to go down to Santa Anita Park this coming weekend 
for the Greek Fest? It’s going to be fantastic! I met some delightful young 
Sierra Madreans this week who will be part of it - Friday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m.; 
Saturday, noon-1 a.m.; Sunday, noon-10 p.m. There will be food, wine tasting, 
exhibitions, kids games, a sports bar, even more incredible food and admission 
is just $5! And, speaking of wonderful things to eat, the ladies of St. Anthony’s 
Greek Orthodox Church are making all of it, just the way it has been made for 
generations! Yes, every bit of it!. I understand that there will be 7,000 Souvlaki, 
which is chicken, lamb or beef on a skewer. And that’s just one dish! There will 
be many many more and Greek food is soooo good!

 Let me get to the dancing! This is the major passion of the young folks I 
met. Greek dance is a competitive event among the young people. They start 
learning when they are really little, i.e., three! Kids cycle through various 
groups based on age until they are 19, then many of them go on to coach Greek 
dance. The two young men I met yesterday, George and Alexander Gallagher 
are students at PHS, 9th and 11th grade respectively, and they are dedicated to 
Greek dance. They also are involved in water polo, Boy Scouts and other youth 
groups. I said to George, “You don’t have time to get into any trouble at all, do 
you!” He laughed.

 Young people involved in Greek dance practice once a week for a 2-1/2 hour 
session, all of which leads up to a huge annual competition in February: Folk 
Dance Festival, which includes dance groups from not only the West Coast, 
but as far flung as Hawaii, Alaska, Las Vegas and more. The groups are judged 
not only on dancing, but on singing – and that’s in Greek, and on costumes. As 
the Festival draws nearer, the practice sessions bump up to three times a week. 
These kids are serious about this and take much pride and joy in their dance. 
Greek musicians, from Greece, play the traditional music. I asked George and 
Alexander if they spoke Greek, and they do, “almost fluently!”

 St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church in Pasadena is the hub for Greek 
Dance in our area. It’s an all volunteer group, taught through the church, which 
includes about 75 children, with very young dancers learning from the high 
school/college age, passing down the traditions of song, dance and authentic 
costumes made by the grandmothers of the community, many of whom are 
from Greece. The costume the group wears determines the dance they will 
perform. The St. Anthony’s dance groups are consistent prize winners, by the 
way. The dance is beautiful, unison work, and how the faces of the dancers 
shine! It’s exciting, dear friends!

 It was an absolute delight to see our amazing young local artist, Alexia 
Saigh, (see art by Alexia and Ariana at Leonora Moss in Kersting Court) who 
attends Gooden School and wins prizes all over the place for her artwork, the 
most recent being the Sweepstakes Award at the L. A. County Fair for her 
history report and art project on Pompeii. She and her sister, Ariana, both 
entered projects and all of their entries won first prizes. Ariana and Alexia are 
both very involved and dedicated to Greek Dance. Alexia is part of the Spitha 
(name translates as Little Sparks) group and Alexander, George, and Ariana 
are part of high school group, Pyrkagia (which translates to On Fire). Dance 
performances at the Fest for Spitha are 5:30 on Sat/Sun and Pyrkagia is at 7:30 
on both days.

 And the costumes! Oh my! The costumes are gorgeous! All handmade, 
all traditional and as authentic as possible. They are extremely intricate with 
lots of embroidery and beading. And they are heavy! The costume Alexia 
is wearing represents the Serres region of Greece. I had an opportunity to 
email chat with Julia Kiotas who was a dancer as a teen; her children were both 
dancers and have moved into coaching, as they love their culture and the teens 
they train. Julia’s mother has been the dance school’s volunteer seamstress for 
many years.

 It was thrilling to meet kids filled with excitement and dedication, pride in 
their heritage, loving their connection…. “the connection…it makes us what 
we are!”

 Go on down to Santa Anita this weekend, see these amazing young people 
dancing the dances their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents 
danced. You’ll have the best time ever and the best food you’ll find anywhere, 
made by the ladies who know how to make Greek food the way it ought to be! 
Children under 12 are free! AND, there’s a coupon involving free admissions 
at http://www.pasadenagreekfest.org” “Celebrate…Eat…Live…Greek!” 
Opa!!

 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 31st to Sunday, September 7th, the Sierra 
Madre Police Department responded to approximately 490 calls for service.

Monday, September 1st

 At 6:30 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 300 Block of North Sunnyside 
Avenue regarding a welfare check. The call was placed by the subject’s daughter 
who claimed her father had been drinking all day and was not answering his 
phone. A previous incident of the man stating he’d drink himself to death 
caused the daughter’s concern. When Officers arrived on scene, they were met 
by a very intoxicated male subject. When Officers informed him they were 
there because of his daughter’s concern for his welfare, the man was staggering 
and having trouble maintaining his balance. The man informed Officers he was 
depressed and that was the reason for his drinking. As the man kept asking 
Officers why they were there, the Officers on scene felt the man was a danger 
to himself based on his extreme intoxication and history of wanting to drink 
himself to death. The man was taken into custody and transported to a local 
hospital to be placed on a 72 hour medical hold. 

Tuesday, September 2nd

 At 5:23 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 100 Block of North Baldwin 
Avenue regarding a suspicious vehicle in the area. Upon arrival, Officers located 
the vehicle and were approached by the owner. The subject informed Officers 
that he was visiting his child, but did not live there due to a restraining order. He 
stated his wife called him earlier that morning stating she needed money and 
wanted him to come over and that she wanted to drop the restraining order. 
He arrived at around 11 am and remained there all day, knowing he was in 
violation of his restraining order. Shortly after the wife arrived at the residence 
and confirmed to Officers that she had asked her husband to come over and that 
she would be going to the court to have the restraining order dropped. Upon 
review of the restraining order, it was determined it was issued as a domestic 
violence restraining order. Due to the man being in violation, he was taken 
into custody and booked for Intentional and knowing violation of a domestic 
violence court order. 

Friday, September 5th 

 At 5:52 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the area of Baldwin and Alegria 
Avenue regarding a hit-and-run incident. Upon arriving on scene, Officers 
were met by a subject who witnessed the incident. She informed Officers that 
a red truck had made a right turn into a residential drive way and then backed 
out. While backing out, the rear portion of the truck collided with the driver’s 
side door of another vehicle that was unoccupied, parked along the curb. The 
witness stated the suspect did not attempt to stop or provide any information 
regarding the collision. While inspecting the substantial amount of damage 
of the driver’s side door, Officers were approached by the vehicle’s owner. The 
owner was shocked by the damage and informed Officers she parked her 
vehicle there only thirty minutes prior. She stated she desired prosecution if 
the suspect was found. At around 7:19 pm, the victim contacted Sierra Madre 
Police after she spotted what she believed to be the vehicle that hit her, parked 
down the street of the original collision site. Officers arrived and inspected the 
vehicle, noting the positive ID made by the witness and the damage to the rear 
end of the vehicle. When Officers made contact with the owner, he confirmed 
the same series of events the witness described, and explained he fled because 
he panicked. The man was arrested and charged with Hit and Run Property 
Damage Only. 

 Sunday, September 7th 

 At 5:19 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 100 Block of Rancho Road 
regarding a residential burglary. On scene Officers were met by a female subject 
who informed them that the residence belonged to her deceased parents and 
was currently vacant. When she arrived earlier to check the property, she 
noticed the master bedroom had been ransacked and items appeared to be 
missing. She then notified her brother who stated the real estate agent had been 
there at around 11 am. When Officers made contact with the agent, he informed 
them he went to the residence after a neighbor reported seeing the front door 
open. He arrived and secured the home then left. Investigation concluded the 
unknown suspect(s) entered the rear yard through an unlocked gate and then 
removed the louver window panes from a rear window to gain entry into the 
residence. This case has been forwarded to the Detectives Bureau.

HELP DECORATE SIERRA MADRE FOR HALLOWEEN

 Students between the ages of 9-17 are invited to participate in Sierra 
Madre’s spooktacular Halloween Window Painting Contest. Applications 
and guidelines were distributed in local schools the week of September 
8 and can also be picked up from the Community Services office at 
the recreation center and at the front desk of City Hall. Completed 
applications are due back to these City locations by 5 PM on Thursday, 
October 9.

 Teams of up to four students of the same age group can work on a 
window design. At least one participant must be a Sierra Madre resident. 
Painting will be done from 2:30-6:00 PM on Friday, October 24th and 
from 7:30-10:00 AM on Saturday, October 25th. Judging will follow and 
awards will be given by age groups at 12:15 that Saturday. 

 Our local merchants are critical to the success of this event. They 
support us by allowing us to use their windows for the painting contest, 
through monetary donations to cover the cost of materials, and through 
the donation of other items that enhance the experience of the participants. 
We thank them for their help.

 This year’s Halloween Window Painting Contest is sponsored and 
underwritten by the Sierra Madre Civic Club and is free to participants. 
Specific questions may be directed to Marcia Bent, event chair, Sierra 
Madre Civic Club at 626 355-5372. We look forward to your participation 
in this annual event.


SIERRA MADRE POLICE TAKING BACK 
UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ON 
NEXT SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 27th 

[SIERRA MADRE, CA] – On September 27 from 10 
a.m. to 2 p.m. the Sierra Madre Police Department 
and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 
will give the public its ninth opportunity in four 
years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their 
homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, 
and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills 
for disposal to the Police Department Lobby at 242 
W. Sierra Madre Blvd. (The DEA cannot accept 
liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) 
The service is free and anonymous, no questions 
asked.

 Last April, Americans turned in 390 tons (over 
780,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 
6,100 sites operated by the DEA and more than 
4,400 of its state and local law enforcement partners. 
When those results are combined with what was 
collected in its eight previous Take Back events, 
DEA and its partners have taken in over 4.1 million 
pounds—more than 2,100 tons—of pills. 

 This initiative addresses a vital public safety 
and public health issue. Medicines that languish in 
home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, 
misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse 
in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number 
of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to 
these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused 
prescription drugs are obtained from family and 
friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. 
In addition, Americans are now advised that their 
usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—
flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in 
the trash—both pose potential safety and health 
hazards. 

 DEA is in the process of approving new regulations 
that implement the Safe and Responsible Drug 
Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled 
Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” (that 
is, a patient or their family member or pet owner) 
of controlled substance medications to dispose of 
them by delivering them to entities authorized by 
the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also 
allows the Attorney General to authorize long term 
care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled 
substances in certain instances.

SIERRA MADRE WOMANS CLUB TO HOST ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TEA 

 Sierra Madre Woman’s Club invites women 
throughout the area to attend their Membership 
Tea on Wednesday, September 24, 1:00pm, at 
Essick House, their historic clubhouse, at 550 W. 
Sierra Madre Blvd. An afternoon of enjoyment 
is planned with the opportunity to learn about 
membership in this busy, caring group. 

 Daytime meetings are held monthly on the 
2nd Wednesday, and some months, a tea meeting 
on the 4th Wednesday. Programs are presented 
at each meeting. In addition they host special 
club and community events. Their Craftsman 
building is also available to rent. At the rear of the 
clubhouse they operate their Wistaria Thrift Shop, 
considered one of the best in the Valley, special for 
both bargain and treasure seeker.

 Founded in 1907, the club has a long tradition of 
community service and generous philanthropy 
giving. Yearly, they donate to a list of worthy causes 
voted by members, plus scholarships to graduating 
high school seniors. This past year the scholarships 
totaled $6,000. They are longtime members of the 
Federation of Womens Clubs, learning and sharing 
with other groups.

 The club offers its members a warm fellowship and 
an opportunity to make lasting friendships. For 
more information about the Club or about attending 
the Tea, please call 626-355-3928 or 626-355-8979.