March 10, 2015


SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

VOLUME 9 NO. 9

The City of Sierra Madre and the 
Senior Master Plan Committee 
are in the process of updating the 
Senior Master Plan. The initial 
stages of the update will focus on 
two Town Hall meetings to gain 
feedback from our older adult 
population. Participation in these 
Town Hall meetings is an excellent 
way to provide your input and help 
shape the future needs of the older 
adult community. 

 The next Town Hall meeting is 
on Saturday, February 28, 2015 
at 11:00am. The meeting is at the 
Hart Park House, located at 222 W. 
Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, 
CA 91024. All are welcome.

 

 For more info please contact the 
Community Services Department 
at 626-355-7135

SENIOR MASTER PLAN TOWN HALL

CANDIDATES DISCUSS QUALIFICATIONS, VISION AT FORUM

On Tuesday, at the Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club, 
PUSD Board Candidates Larry Torres and 
Sandra Siraganian attended a political forum 
where they discussed their qualifications and 
reasons for running for office. Moderated 
by Former Mayor Clem Bartolai, they also 
responded to questions from the audience.

 The forum was held in an effort to help 
voters make an informed decision when they 
go to the polls on March 10th. On that date, 
voters will have the opportunity to vote on a 
district specific representative for the Pasadena 
Unified School District Board. The newly 
created District 6, for which residents have 
waited two years to vote on representation, 
encompasses all of Sierra Madre and a rather 
unusually shaped boundary that in some parts 
goes as far south as Duarte Road.

 Voters in the PUSD area which includes 
Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre and some 
unincorporated areas, elect seven Board of 
Education members by geographic area to 
serve four-year terms. High school students 
elect a non-voting student representative who 
sits on the Board. The duties of the Board 
include adopting the annual budget, approving 
all expenditures, establishing district policy, 
authorizing employment of personnel, 
approving textbooks and courses of study, and approving new and innovative academic initiatives. The actions of every 
member of that Board, especially the representative of District 6 will have 
an impact on the lives of every resident of Sierra Madre, whether or not 
they have children enrolled in the District.

 Sierra Madre has two public schools, Sierra Madre Elementary and 
Sierra Madre Middle School. The elementary school recently underwent 
extensive Measure TT improvements and the Middle School is operating 
in portables while a brand new school is being erected. And, although 
they are located within the city limits of Sierra Madre, the facilities 
belong to the Pasadena Unified School District. As a result, decisions on 
all aspects of their use and the impact of such are made by the Board of 
the PUSD.

 Recent changes in representation on the Board has paved the way 
for Trustees to have a clear area of responsibility. Each Trustee will be 
representing their individual districts and are expected to bring the 
concerns of the communities they represent to the table.

 The Sierra Madre Trustee will have the responsibility of making certain 
that decisions made by the Board do not have an adverse impact on life 
in Sierra Madre as it currently exists. The newly elected Trustee will be 
expected to advocate for policies that will continue to bring resources to 
the two schools to help them maintain their current No. 1 status within 
the District. Both schools are also in the top ranking among public 
schools statewide.

 And, most importantly to residents who have no ties to the district, the 
quality of the schools in Sierra Madre have a direct impact on the values 
of property in Sierra Madre.

 To view the forum in its entirety, go to www.villagevine.org. To read more 
on the District 6 race, go to page 4.


REMEMBRANCE...

JON ZENN INSKEEP


Jon Zenn Inskeep passed away at the Villa Gardens 
in Pasadena on February 15, 2015. Beloved husband, 
father, grandfather, and friend he will be intensely 
missed. He lived, until his last month, an active and 
driven lifestyle.

 Jon was born on March 23, 1933 and raised in 
Pennsylvania by his parents, Alonzo and Dorothy 
Inskeep. He graduated from McKeesport High 
School where he met the love of his life, Susan Adams. 
After attending Yale University and graduating with 
a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1954 he decided 
that he wanted to move to California to live near the beach; so away he went. 
Once in California he convinced Susan to move across the country and marry 
him. They started a life together that would include 60 years of loving marriage.

 Jon Zenn Inskeep Jon Zenn Inskeep In the mid-1960’s Jon discovered 
his passion for mountaineering. He climbed all the highest peaks in the 
western United States as well as major peaks in Mexico, Europe, and Africa 
(Denali, The Grand Teton, Kilimanjaro, and the Matterhorn to name a few). 
By including his children in his passion, he was climbing peaks with them all 
over the American southwest and beyond. He was also a founding member of 
the California Mountaineering Club, was involved in organizing and leading 
climbs, and held leadership positions within the Sierra Club’s climbing groups 
in Southern California. 

 His love of mountaineering also led to more than twenty years of 
involvement with the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team. His knowledge 
and expertise helped save the lives of hundreds of stranded and lost people. 
He participated in operations all over the southwest as well as in Mexico and 
Hawaii and made lifelong friends with the other members of his team.

 After his retirement Jon and Susan enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. 
and around the world. Whether in Europe, Australia, Africa, or cruising down 
the Mississippi River on the Delta Queen (one of their favorites) they always 
came back with great pictures and stories. “Grumps”, as he was affectionately 
called by his grandchildren, included his children and grandchildren on some 
of these adventures and took the family cruising on trips through the Panama 
Canal and the Inland Passage of Alaska. He revealed in the beauty of the world 
and did his best to share this appreciation with those that he loved.

 Jon is survived by his wife Susan, his children and their spouses – Mike 
and Geri, Wendy and Doug, Jon and Chuchay, and Dan and Becky, his 
grandchildren – Helena and Caleb, Patrick and Alicia, Jon, Reid and Erin, 
his step-mother Prisilla and half-sisters – Eppie and Meg, and his many close 
friends in the climbing community. His passing will leave a hole in all of our 
hearts, the type that can only be left by the loss of such a magnanimous man.

 In lieu of flowers please send a donation to the Villa Gardens Employee 
Fund for their kind and loving support of both Jon and his wife Susan.


Inside this week: 

The Sierra Madre Chamber 
of Commerce will 
hold its annual Wistaria 
Festival on Sunday, 
March 15, 2015. The festival 
first began in the 
early 20th century, drawing 
as many as 100,000 
people over an extended 
period of time. Now the 
vine, which is on private 
property, is available to 
the public for viewing 
only one day a year, this 
year on the 15th. 

 The Guinness Book 
of World Records has 
certified the vine as the 
world’s largest blossoming 
plant, and estimates 
that at its peak, the vine 
had as many as 1.5 million 
blooms, weighed 
250 tons, and covered 
more than an acre of 
ground. The vine is so 
large that it encompasses 
the better part of two 
properties. 

 In addition to the vine 
viewing, downtown 
Sierra Madre is transformed 
into an Arts and 
Craft fair for the day, 
with 100 artisans and 
crafters displaying their 
work at booths on the 
town’s two main streets, 
which are closed off to 
traffic for the day. This 
compliments well the 
charming village shops 
that line the downtown 
area, offering those in 
attendance a great opportunity 
to find just the 
right gift, that special 
item for the home décor, 
or a keepsake to be treasured 
through the years.

 In addition to the shops, 
the town’s restaurants 
will be serving the delightful 
cuisine Sierra 
Madre has become 
known for. Since the 
surge in popularity of 
outdoor dining in the 
1990s, Sierra Madre has 
been known throughout 
the valley as a great place 
to dine al fresco with a 
spectacular view of the 
San Gabriel mountains 
just to the north. There’s 
something for every 
taste, with a variety of 
international flavors at 
the local eateries, Mexican, 
Italian, Thai, and 
California Continental 
cuisines, several types 
of American cuisine and 
even a Sushi spot.

 Another attraction for 
families this year will 
be a Vintage Car Show 
along the western portion 
of Sierra Madre 
Blvd.

 A dozen musical acts 
will be performing at 
five outdoor venues that 
ranges from solo acoustic 
guitar and vocals, to 
blues rock, country rock 
and more.

 The downtown festival 
is free to all who attend. 
Viewing of the vine is 
also free of charge, but 
due to the steep uphill 
climb to the private 
properties and limited 
parking in the vicinity 
of the vine, it is recommended 
that enjoy a ride 
in the shuttle buses provided 
for your comfort. 
Tickets for the shuttle 
are $12 round-trip when 
purchased in advance, 
and $15 the day of the 
event. Because the vine 
is on private property, it 
is not ADA compliant. 
Due to the hilly terrain, 
the site will not accommodate 
wheelchairs, 
strollers or people with 
limited mobility.

 Shuttle tickets can be 
purchased online and 
printed on your home 
computer up to and including 
the day of the 
event. Visit www.sierramadrechamber.
com 
to purchase your tickets. 
They can also be 
purchased at Savor The 
Flavor, Bean Town and 
The Bottle Shop in Sierra 
Madre. The Wistaria Festival 
is sponsored by the Sierra 
Madre Chamber of Commerce, 
with assistance from Chamber 
Sponsors Athens Services, The 
Kensington and The Mountain 
Views News. 


CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS 
Pg. 3

SIERRA MADRE NOTICES

 Pg. 4

 PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 5

ARCADIA NEWS 

 Pg. 6

MONROVIA/DUARTE 
Pg. 7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 8

FOOD & DRINK

Peter Dills Pg. 9

BEST FRIENDS

 Pg. 10

HEALTHY LIVING

 Pg. 11

AROUND SGV 

 Pg. B1

 ARTS & 

 ENTERTAINMENT

 Pg. B2

GOOD LIFE

 Pg. B3

INTERESTED IN 
IMPROVING YOUR 
WELLNESS?

Attend the Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club Meeting on Tuesday, March 2, 2015 

Guest Speaker: Beatrize Rodiles, Wellness Counselor

The Lodge - 33 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA.

Lunch $10 at Noon Program 12:30 - FREE

Call 626-355-0728 for reservations

BUSINESS NEWS 

 Pg. B4


THE WORLD AROUND 
US Pg. B5

OPINION Pg. B6

LETTERS TO EDITOR

LEGAL NOTICES 

 Pg. B7