Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 3, 2015

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Mountain View News Saturday, January 3, 2015 

WANT A REALLY GOOD NEW YEAR RESOLUTION SUGGESTION? TRY 
VOLUNTEERING! IT MAKES A SOUL FEEL GOOD AND THE COMMUNITY BETTER!

C:\Users\amyputnam\Pictures\SMHPS\John's new logo, January 2013.jpg
Founded in 1931, the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society (SMHPS) is a nonprofit 501(c)
(3) organized for the purpose of collecting, preserving, and displaying documents, artifacts, and 
oral histories pertaining to the founding and subsequent development of Sierra Madre, CA and 
its surrounding communities. Following our mission, the SMHPS operates and maintains the 
City’s museums which are Richardson House and Lizzie’s Trail Inn, both located in Mt. Wilson 
Trail Park at the corner of Mira Monte and Mt. Wilson Trail Drive. Also, the SMHPS and the 
Sierra Madre Public Library are co-owners of the Sierra Madre Archives which are located in the 
Library. 

The SMHPS is approaching 200 members and we’re hoping that you’d like to join this exciting and interesting group. 
We have excellent opportunities to docent at the museums, to participate with the oral history program, to volunteer 
at the Library performing archival duties, and to help with our exciting programs. If you’d like to meet us, please 
come to our upcoming free program on Saturday afternoon January 24th from 1-4pm at 154 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
This will be a local history authors’ forum and will feature 11 respected authors who have written excellent books 
about Sierra Madre and the San Gabriel Valley area. 

For more information about the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society, visit our new website at www.smhps.
org. To contact us regarding specifics of how you can be an active member in the SMHPS, email us at smhps@outlook.
com, leave a message on our museums’ answer machine at 626-836-6709, or phone Maggie Ellis, membership chair, 
at 626-355-7074. We would love to have you join us! 


Help us build our next amazing float! We're at the float barn, 587 East Sierra Madre 
Blvd,every Sunday from 10 am-?. Membership is open to all; $25. Per family. Help is needed 
in many areas. For further information,go to our website,www.smrosefloat.org, or leave a 
message at 626 355-7005.


Who We Are

 Volunteers, who feel that libraries are important, have become 
members of the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library. The group 
contributes volunteer hours, materials, and money to strengthen 
Library programs and services. Each year the Friends sponsor a gala 
wine tasting, noteworthy book sales, and a prestigious art fair.

Mission

 The purpose of the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library is to promote 
community awareness of, support for, and utilization of the high 
quality programs, services, and facilities of the Sierra Madre Public Library as a lifelong center for learning. The 
Friends accept the obligation to raise funds so that the cost of the efforts, services, and necessary materials needed 
for optimal operation of the Library can be met. Want to help? Call (626) 355-7186

SIERRA MADRE KIWANIS CLUB

The Sierra Madre Kiwanis is a service club. We are 
local men and women who want to “give back” to our 
community. We are non-political, non-
denominational, and accept anyone (at 
least 18 years of age) for membership. 
Our local club, founded in 1927, is part of 
Kiwanis International.

What we do: The emphasis of our Kiwanis 
Club is on the children of Sierra Madre. 
We’ve supplied funding for local students (scholarships) 
and schools (science lab equipment, text books, field 
trips, etc via grants. We have also supported the 
community as a whole by such activities as raising 
money for the Sierra Madre Emergency Radio Station, 
Purchasing a new sound system for the Hart Park 

Senior Center and more. We support many community 
activities in partnership with the city and other 
organizations.

We also sponsor service clubs for youth at the middle 
school and high school level. We sponsor The Sierra 
Madre Middle School’s Service Club (Kiwanis Builders 
Club) and the Arcadia High School Key 
Club.

Our Kiwanis Club meets each Tuesday 
at noon at The Lodge, 33 E. Sierra Madre 
Blvd., Sierra Madre. 

We’d love to have you come and visit. Mention this 
article and lunch is on us!

For more information call 626-355-0728 or go to our 
website: www.sierramadrekiwanis.com. You can also 
find us on facebook. Go to www.facebook.com/pages/
Kiwanis-Club-of-Sierra-Madre

About Creative Arts Group

Founded in Sierra Madre in 1960, Creative Arts Group (CAG) provides a friendly and 
nurturing environment for people of all ages, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds. 
Bringing together the richness of our diverse community through programs, exhibitions, 
and workshops, CAG provides a means for discovering creative self-expression and 
developing an understanding and appreciation of others through the arts.

Creative Arts Group is a vital, energetic, art center and gallery attracting more than 
2000 students annually who both shop and take classes. The organization aims to 
enrich the lives of individuals through the arts – a place where children and adults come 
to experience the joy of creating art as well as to appreciate the artistic talents of others.

Hours: M-F 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sat. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm


The Sierra Madre 
Playhouse has evolved 
from a theatrical heritage 
that stretches back to the 
days when Sierra Madre 
was just a tiny village. 
Residents presented 
dramas and musicals as 
early as the 1880s in their 
homes, in the Town Hall, 
and in the Woman’s Club.

Then in 1923, the structure 
presently housing the 
Sierra Madre Playhouse 
was built. During the 
ensuing years, it has served as the focal 
point of the city’s family entertainment 
center, whether as a movie house, an 
arcade, or most recently, a theatre.

Its names have changed, as well as its 
functions. It was the “Wistaria Theater” 
when it first opened, but by 1929 it became 
the “Sierra Madre Theatre.”

As with most community theaters, the 
Sierra Madre Playhouse has often been 
in tight financial straits. To support the 
theater, a small group of dedicated local 
citizens spearheaded a campaign in 1995 
to assist the Playhouse, with George 
Enyedi and Lee and Barbara Cline playing 
lead roles. The Playhouse reorganized 
and became a non-profit corporation. A 
Board of Directors was formed in 1996 
comprising nine dedicated community 
volunteers and theater lovers.

Each season-which runs from January 
through the following December, The 
Playhouse presents six to eight events, 
featuring well-written comedies, 
musicals, and intriguing mysteries. 
More serious dramas are interspersed 
occasionally. All are family oriented, and 
they showcase a repertoire remarkably 
varied for a community theater.

Playhouse Productions

An Equity-waiver theater with ninety-
nine seats, the Playhouse attracts both 
union and non-union actors of the finest 
caliber. The SMP can even boast a one-
time performance in the 1982-83 season 
by Oscar-winner Tom Hanks, who filled 
in for a friend in Neil Simon’s “Barefoot 
in the Park.”

Many of Neil Simon’s and Agatha 
Christie’s successes have been produced 
at the Playhouse. A few plays have 
enjoyed return engagements through 
the years. Weightier scripts include “The 
Madwoman of Chaillot,” “Rashoman,” 
“The Lion in Winter,” “The Miracle 
Worker,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Caine 
Mutiny Court Martial,” “All My Sons,” 
“The Member of the Wedding,” “The 
Innocents,” and “Golden Boy.”

“Oliver,” “Dames At Sea,” “The 
Fantasticks,” “Sound of Music,” “Spitfire 
Grill,” “Putting it Together” and “Side 
by Side by Sondheim,” and “You’re a 
Good Man, Charlie Brown” are among 
the musicals which have been offered. 
Favorites at the holiday season are 
“Scrooge” and various versions of “A 
Christmas Carol.”

The Playhouse is located in the charming 
foothill village of Sierra Madre, and 
attracts patrons numbering more 
than 8,000 from throughout the San 
Gabriel Valley and nearby cities. Most 
productions are presented on Friday and 
Saturday evenings, and Sunday matinees. 
Group events are welcomed.

While honoring the traditions of its long 
history, the Sierra Madre Playhouse has 
also entered into the modern age with 
e-mail and Website facilities. These 
conveniences are just one more way in 
which the Playhouse serves the needs of 
the clientele of today and tomorrow.

Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 West Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra 
Madre, CA 91024

www.sierramadreplayhouse.org

Ralphs Club and The Sierra Madre 
Playhouse

Ralph’s Grocery Stores have made it easy 
to help your local theater!

It’s Easy… just shop, swipe your card & 
earn!

Giving more back to the community!

Ralphs is committed to helping our 
communities grow and prosper. Year after 
year, local schools, churches and other 
non-profit organizations earn millions 
of dollars through our Community 
Contributions Program.

In this case, you will be helping The 
Sierra Madre Playhouse! The Ralphs 
Community Contribution Program was 
designed to make your fundraising the 
easiest in town by simply using your 
Ralphs Club Card.

 The Sierra Madre Playhouse will 
receive from Ralphs: 4% on all monthly 
purchases, per enrolled card, up to 
$500.00. 5% (BONUS LEVEL) on all 
monthly purchases, per enrolled card, 
over $500.00. We receive the donations 
from Ralphs via a quarterly contribution 
check mailed directly to us. This program 
does not affect your club card discounts at 
all; it takes nothing from you.

Please sign up today!

EVOLUTION OF A THEATRE - SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE


SIERRA MADRE CIVIC CLUB 

is a club whose purpose is to promote unity and good fellowship, and to strive 
toward civic, philanthropic, and youth welfare advancement. Open to any person 
residing in Sierra Madre and vicinity.

Visit us on facebook : www.facebook.com/pages/Sierra-Madre-Civic-Club


NOMINATE THE CITIZEN OF 
THE YEAR!

The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce 
is seeking nominations for the 2014 Citizen 
of the Year. To be eligible, a person 
must be a resident of Sierra Madre. The 
accomplishment(s) or project(s) for which 
they are being nominated must have been 
of benefit to the community of Sierra 
Madre and its citizens during 2014. They 
must have served without remuneration 
on the project for which they are being 
nominated, and members of the Chamber 
of Commerce Board of Directors are not 
eligible.

 Completed forms should be mailed to 
Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce, 19 
Suffolk Ave, Unit A, Sierra Madre, 91024 
by Jan. 6th. The winner will be selected by 
members of the Chamber Board of Directors, 
and will be honored at the annual 
Citizen of the Year/Board of Directors 
Installation Dinner to be held in January 
31, 2014. Nomination forms are available 
either online at www.sierramadrechamber.
com or by calling the Chamber Office at 
626-355-5111.

JOIN THE SIERRA MADRE GARDEN CLUB 

MONDAY JANUARY 12, 2015

CAMELLIAS, AZALEAS, AND MORE…….

 Tom Nuccio of Nuccio’s Nurseries in Altadena will be the 
speaker at the Garden Club’s January 12th meeting. Back by 
popular demand, Tom will talk about recent camellia and azalea 
introductions, propagating and plant culture. He will specifically 
address the care for camellias and azaleas in the current drought 
conditions.

 Tom Nuccio is part of the family owned Nuccio Nurseries. With 
more than 600 cultivars and species available. It is one of the 
most recognized sources for camellia and azalea introductions 
worldwide. Family members began the business as a backyard 
operation in 1935 in Alhambra. Today it is located on six acres 
in north Altadena at 3555 Cheney Trail. If you are looking for a 
camellia or azalea that is out of this world – this is the place!

Nuccio’s website is: www.nucciosurseries.com

 Everyone is invited. Dinner begins at 6:30 P.M.; followed by 
the program at 7:15 P.M. Catered dinner is $11; reservations for 
dinner must be made by January 10th by calling

626-836-4945. There is no charge for attending only the program.

 Location: Hart Park House, Memorial Park, 222 W. Sierra Madre 
Blvd., Sierra Madre. For information call the reservation number 
or visit www.smgarden.org

OTHER VOLUNTEER 
OPPORTUNITIES AND/OR 
ORGANIZATIONS YOU CAN 
SUPPORT:

SIERRA MADRE CHAMBER OF 
COMMERCE

Wistaria Festival

Sierra Madre Winter Festival

626-355-5111

THE SIERRA MADRE 4TH OF JULY 
COMMITTEE

Call 626-355-7135 for more information

THE SPERO FOUNDATION

(626) 355-HOPE (4673)

PO Box 1295

Sierra Madre, CA 91025

THE MT. WILSON TRAIL RACE

www.mountwilsontrailom

VILLAGE VINE INTERNET RADIO

www.villagevine.org

GATEWAY COACH TO OFFER TRANSPORTATION TO 
RALPH’S HASTING RANCH

 The City of Sierra Madre in partnership with First Transit 
is adjusting the Gateway Coach Round-A-Bout fixed route 
transportation line beginning January 5, 2015. In place of the 
previous Albertsons stop, the Gateway Coach will now make a 
scheduled stop at the Ralphs in Hastings Ranch. The other stops 
along the route will remain the same.

 The Gateway Coach operates Monday through Friday from 
11:00am-1:30pm and stops at various locations throughout the 
City. The transportation service is offered at no cost for all ages. 
For more information on stop location and times, please contact 
the Community Services Department at 626-355-7135.