p4, v9.20 — Sierra Madre — Mountain Views News

Sierra Madre

Mountain Views News Saturday, May 16, 2015

MVNews this week: Page 4

COMMUNITY INPUT (cont. from pg. 1)

Public Works - Park Maintenance | General
admin for: streets, water & sewer utility,
sidewalks & street repairs, street sweeping
(most funding comes from restricted funds)

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 16, 2015

ENJOY A BIT O’ BRITAIN AT THE JUNE FAIRE

Offering Fun, Food and Entertainment for the Whole Family

TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES (In thousands, with transfers)

Photo by Stephanie Vitale

The British Home will be holding its 2015 June
Faire on Saturday, June 6th, from 10:00 am to
2:30 pm.

This family-friendly event celebrating “All
Things British “ is held annually on the first
Saturday in June at Sierra Madre’s graceful non-
profit independent and assisted living facility for
seniors. Admission is free.

Colorful booths, boutiques and refreshment
stands situated on the beautiful 2½ acre campus
will offer hand-made arts and crafts, books,
collectibles, personal accessories and decorative
items for sale. One hundred percent of the
proceeds go to the support of the British Home.

Refreshments include something for everyone-
-bangers on a bun, home-baked breads and
pastries, strawberries and ice cream, and more.
An outdoor Victorian Tea Room will be open for
fairgoers to enjoy a leisurely “cuppa” and delicious
English sweets and savories.

Enjoy traditional Irish and Scottish dances
performed by adults and youngsters on the upper
lawn during the afternoon.

A congenial British Bobby and Beefeater will be
strolling the grounds, happy to have their photo
snapped, or to be included in a “selfie.”

One of the most popular Faire features is the
Raffle Booth, where tickets may be purchased to
enter the $1,000 Grand Prize Raffle. The first,
second and third place winners, who need not be
present, are announced at the conclusion of the
Faire.

The British Home is located at 647 Manzanita
Avenue in Sierra Madre, in a residential area,
with parking along Ramona and Manzanita
Avenues, as well as on the side streets. For more
information, please call (626) 355-7240 or visit
our website: www.britishhome-ca.us.

FRIENDS OF THE SIERRA MADRE LIBRARY

BEST USED BOOK SALE

The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library announce plans for the June Best Used Book Sale on Friday,
June 5 (3-7 p.m.) and Saturday, June 6 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). The Sale will be held in the basement and the
parking lot behind the library at 440 West Sierra Madre Blvd. Just received is a large donation of knitting
and quilting books (many with patterns) in pristine condition, ready for those summer projects. Also
in the basement sale will be newer fiction and non-fiction books, including some current best-sellers.
“Coffee-table” type books on art history, cooking and contemporary culture will be on our Basement
table, while on the shelves are a great collection of books of every genre, DVDs and audio books, and
wonderful children’s books. Yes, we have Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia! Check out our
“Featured” shelves for Father’s Day and Graduation gifts too.

The parking lot will have the ever-popular Bargain Books for only $1.00 each. Small paperbacks are
only 5/$1.00 and a large donation of thrillers and mysteries just came in so there is a great selection
available. Our children’s and teen books outside sell for $.25 - $1.00. Shop early for the best selection!

All proceeds from the sale benefit the programs, services and acquisitions of the Sierra Madre Library.

Since 2012, in preparation for the UUT revenue reductions, City Manager Elaine Aguilar has
restructured city operations and made the following reductions:

2015 KIDS’ FUN RUN T-SHIRT

DESIGN CONTEST –

WINNER ANNOUNCED

Sierra Madre, CA. – May 11, 2015 - A winner has been selected in the Mount Wilson Trail Race
Kid’s Fun Run T-shirt Design Contest. The winning artwork is titled “The Kids Fun Run” and was
submitted by Sierra Madre Elementary School student, Christine Manoukian. Christine’s artwork
will be featured on the back of the MWTR Kid’s Fun Run T-shirt. She will be recognized for her
accomplishment on Saturday, May 23rd at the Mount Wilson Trail Race prior to the Kids’ Fun Run.
Submitted pieces of artwork had to include a depiction of Mount Wilson in their design. For more
information on the Mount Wilson Trail Race and activities please contact the Community Services
Department at 626-355-7135.

It was reiterated that “...for Fiscal
Year ending June 2016, we are
currently projecting a $762,000
deficit, and for Fiscal Year
ending June 2017 the deficit is
projected at $1,005,000.”

The council has directed staff
to explore contracting out of
city services. Library services,
Animal Control, Recreational
Classes (completed), Police
Services, Fire and Paramedic
Services.

There will be at least three
additional presentations before
a city wide Town Hall meeting
on June 6th. Residents are
asked to tell city leaders what
is important to them, what
services they want to continue.
Staff and council will be
available to answer questions
and receive your ideas.

Graphics courtesy City of SM

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor:

At the May 12th City Council
meeting, a proposal was put
forth to close the Community
Services Department and in
lieu of putting the issue of
closing the library altogether
with a ballot measure which
is a State requirement, library
services could be limited to
two part-time employees with a
severe cut-back of library hours.
This, as Council Member Goss
stated, would alleviate the need
to use the reserves in order to
have a balanced budget.

These two departments are
the very social fabric of the
Community. I was chatting
with a young woman who had
come to register for the Mt
Wilson Trail Race. She said she
and her husband had recently
moved into Sierra Madre.
“I love this town, she said,
there are so many wonderful
activities and I’ve met all of my
friends here at the Baby Rhyme
Time program at the Library.”
In one small story, this new
resident epitomized the reason
we need a fully staffed Library
and a Community Services
Department.

I attended a seminar on
Wednesday aimed at helping
Friends of the Library
Associations in their charge
of furthering the programs at
public libraries. The last key-
note speaker of the day was
noted fiction author Meg Waite
Clayton. As she was recounting
her background, she asked if
anyone from Sierra Madre was
attending the conference. The
four of us raised our hand. She
then went on to say that when
she was 11 years old, her family
moved to Sierra Madre. They
lived in a small rented house and
there were no other children
living on the block. So, she
said, she only had her 4 brothers
to hang out with. She decided
to join the summer reading
program at the Sierra Madre
Library and she was determined
to win the prize for the most
books read. Every day she
checked out several books (the
thinnest books she could find).
The librarians soon noticed her
and began to introduce her to
the children’s classics. Not only
did she discover the thrill of
reading, but decided then, to
one day become an author in
her own right. She has written
four best-selling novels and
another “The Race for Paris”
will be out soon.

Libraries change lives. Our
Community Events enrich a
community in ways that no
other can or does. Please join
me in helping the City Council
Members understand that these
two departments need to stay in
our city budget.

Pat Alcorn, Sierra Madre