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Mountain View News Saturday, April 25, 2015
Walking Sierra Madre…The Social Side by Deanne Davis
SIERRA MADRE POLICE BLOTTER
“A little bit of this town goes a very long way!” Hunter S. Thompson
“Las Vegas, all the amenities of modern society in a habitat unfit to
grow a tomato.” Jason Love
Why, you’re wondering, is Walking Sierra Madre talking about
Las Vegas? Well, friends and neighbors, my convention-going, best
walking partner, John, and I spent the last few days in Las Vegas
attending the National Association of Broadcasters Convention
(John conventioned and I hit the outlet stores). And, yes, we had a
very good time. Having attended this particular event for many years,
we know what to do; we go as quickly as possible to the Bellagio Hotel
and spend an hour in their Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. It’s
hard to believe the creativity behind this display, and each time we
go it’s completely different. It’s like the Rose Parade only it’s standing
still. And the tulips! There are thousands and thousands of tulips in
every conceivable color. Banks of tulips, fields of tulips. There are
daffodils, chrysanthemums, and the artistry is beyond anything
most of us could imagine.
Currently, the Botanical Gardens is featuring a show entitled
Spring Celebration. Think cherry blossom time in Japan with
enormous faux cherry trees covered with acrylic blossoms. A huge
turtle covered in flowers which are replaced every three days, by
hand! Streams of water passing under bridges, an enormous crane,
wings spread, ready for flight. An six foot tall Faberge egg created
of flowers, umbrellas suspended from the high glass ceiling and
everywhere you look, people are silently admiring, taking pictures,
wide-eyed and appreciative. If you happen to be walking Las Vegas,
take an hour or so to feed your soul. The Botanical Gardens are free
and open 24/7. The exhibit changes four times a year to celebrate the
changing seasons.
Looking forward to next month when I’ll be chatting with Lew
and Joyce Watanabe, dear friends of Sierra Madre. Joyce says tax time
and eye surgery are taking up all their time and after her cataract is
gone and her new glasses are on hand they’ll be ready to tell us all
their adventures.
Getting home from Las Vegas, I realized I wanted comfort food
and this is definitely it, one of those recipes that you can make
five million times and nobody ever gets tired of it. It’s quick,
relatively inexpensive, kids love it, and you can serve it with tomato
soup and everyone who sits down with a couple of these will go,
“Ahhhhhhhhhh…..” guaranteed! We call it…
Cheese Toasties
1 lb. Tillamook cheese (now that you can buy it, pre-grated,
in a bag at the market, this is an even more attractive dish.)
2 cans chopped black olives (small cans)
1 can chopped green chiles (Ortega) ( small can, unless you
really love chiles!)
2 cans tomato sauce
1 Tb. Vinegar
Mix together, chill three hours, if you’ve got three hours. But we
always wanted it NOW and it works just fine on that basis.
Spread on sourdough bread and put under the broiler till it’s melted
and slightly browned.
You can use any kind of sharpish cheese, I think Pepper Jack would
be fantastic with this.
Don’t think too much about calories, just enjoy it. Remember, life is
short and dessert should be eaten first.
My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis
Blog: www.authordeanne.com
“Tablespoon of Love, Tablespoon of Laughter” is available there…
During the week of Sunday, April 12th, to Sunday, April 19th, the
Sierra Madre Police Department responded to approximately 403
calls for service.
Friday, April 17th
At 3:13 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 100 block of North
Lima St regarding a possible burglary in progress. Upon arrival
Officers were informed that the reporting party had been driving
by her driveway when she noticed an unknown male standing in a
driveway. She confronted the suspect and asked what he was doing,
to which he replied he was cleaning windows for the property owner.
The woman decided to call the property owner to confirm and while
doing so, she looked back to see the suspect riding away on a blue
mountain bike. The suspect was described as a Male, White standing
6 ft. tall with a thin build. The suspect was carrying tools and a small
pocket knife. Officers were unable to locate the suspect. This case has
been forwarded to the Detectives Bureau.
Saturday, April 18th
At 7:10 am, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 100 block of North
Lima St. regarding a burglary report. Upon arrival Officers were
informed by the victim that his storage locker had been broken into.
The victim stated he came out earlier that morning to his car port,
and discovered his storage locker wide open with his tool kit missing
which is valued at more than $100.00. The unknown suspect(s) gained
access to the storage locker by cutting and removing the padlock on
the locker. This case has been forwarded to the Detectives Bureau.
At 12:30 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 2000 Block
of North Santa Anita Avenue regarding a vandalism report. Upon
arrival, the victim informed Officers that the night prior, he had
parked and secured his vehicle. When he had walked out to his
vehicle the following afternoon, he noticed a small crack on the top
portion of his windshield. In addition, the victim also discovered
similar damage to one of his bedroom windows. Upon inspection,
Officers were able to determine that the damage caused matched that
of a “BB” gun round. This case has been forwarded to the Detectives
Bureau.
THE NATIONAL
LETTER CARRIER
FOOD DRIVE
Let’s stamp Out Hunger
Together
SATURDAY,
MAY 9, 2015
Volunteer support is needed to
receive and pack the donated food items at post offices in
Duarte, Monrovia, Altadena, Pasadena, San Marino and
Sierra Madre. This is a great opportunity for youth and
adult volunteers!
Please register online at www.foothillunitycenter.org
Thank you for all your support and assistance.
Foothill Unity Center Inc.
Volunteer Services Department
PRESERVE SIERRA MADRE TO SPEAK AT
KIWANIS, TUESDAY, APRIL 28th AT 7 a.m.
Have breakfast with the Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club and hear
from the organizer of Preserve Sierra Madre, Matthew Bryant.
The organization has been very vocal in speaking out against
over development in the city.
The meeting will be held at The Lodge (formerly Masonic
Temple), 33 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Breakfast will be served at 7
a.m. at a cost of $7.50. The presentation is fee. Call 626-355-
0728 to reserve your seat.
On the Marquee: Notes from the Sierra MadrePlayhouse
THANK YOU JUNE CHANDLER
By Christian Lebano
Artistic Director
It is with sadness that the
Playhouse has said goodbye to
June Chandler’s “For the Love
of Acting” classes which she
has decided to discontinue.
She began offering adult acting
classes in 2002. June has been
associated with us in various
ways since she appeared in a
production of Neil Simon’s The
Good Doctor in the 1981-1982
season. She went on to direct
that same play in 2007.
In 2009, she and her husband,
Randy, started Fairy Tale
Theater, a series of Saturday
morning children’s plays. The
actors came from her acting
classes. Fairy Tale Theater was
very popular with children, their
parents, and grandparents who
came just to see the kids enjoy
themselves. June wrote the
scripts, recruited and rehearsed
the actors, and, with Randy
and their longtime friend,
Kathy, came up with some
very imaginative costumes and
props. Each Saturday morning,
they decorated the proscenium
for a single performance and
struck it afterward. Randy ran
lights and sound and did most
of the setup and strike ladder
work. As fun as it was, it was
a great deal of work, and they
stopped a couple of years ago.
June has been very supportive
of me and the changes we’ve
been making at the Playhouse
over the last couple of years.
I’m hoping that though she
won’t be offering her classes
anymore that she will continue
to work with us as we grow
and evolve. Thank you, June
Chandler for all you’ve done for
the Playhouse over the years!
. . . .
The set is going in now for The
Odd Couple. The count-down
to opening begins. Much to
do in the next few weeks. Our
wonderful cast will have that
great first day on the set they
will be living on for the next two
months but have only imagined
in a rehearsal hall. I love those
first rehearsals on set – so much
changes and solidifies. Then we
have our technical (lights and
sound) and dress rehearsals
(putting on costumes for the
first time is another big boost
to a production – as is seeing
your fellow actors in something
other than the rehearsal clothes
you’ve gotten used to.) And
then, of course, the cast has
those first audiences to look
forward to – so important
when playing a comedy. There
is nothing like getting those
first validating laughs for lines
you knew were supposed to be
funny but have been saying in
empty rooms!
Remember we give 20%
discounts for groups of 10 or
more who purchase their tickets
ahead of their attendance date.
Please call Mary Baville at
626.355.4318 to arrange your
purchase. This is one play you
won’t want to miss.
As always we do it for you – our
SMP family – whose support
and loyalty mean so much to
us and for whom we hope we
bring pleasure and joy and
moving experiences in the
theater. Please let me know
how you think we are doing.
Reach me at ArtisticDirector@
SierraMadrePlayhouse.org
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