Memorial Day 2015 - In Memory of Those Who Died For Us...Page 4


SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2015

VOLUME 9 NO. 21

CITY OFFERS WEBINAR TO 

GATHER COMMUNITY INPUT 
ON GENERAL FUND DEFICIT

Sierra Madre, CA. – The City Council is still collecting input 
on how to close the budget deficit. You can do this from home 
next Wednesday by participating in the General Fund Budget 
Input Webinar on May 27, 2015 7:00pm. To register, email city@
cityofsierramadre.com. 

Council Members are asking for residents’ to share their 
priorities on General Fund spending and seek out ways to 
reduce costs (services) or increase revenues (taxes and fees). The 
City Council will present an accumulation of this information 
for further input at a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, June 6 
from 10am-12noon in the Fire Station Bay and will consider all 
community input when deciding how to balance and create a 
sustainable budget. 

Residents can send additional comments and suggestions to 
city@cityofsierramadre.com for distribution to all five Council 
Members. For further information, please call 626.355.7135, or 
visit us online at www.cityofsierramadre.com or in person at 
City Hall at 232 West Sierra Madre Blvd. Monday - Thursday 
7:30am - 5:30pm.

GETTING READY FOR THE MT. WILSON TRAIL RACE


CHANGES AT SMPD

 According to City Manager Elaine 
Aguilar, Sergeant Joe Ortiz was 
appointed Interim Captain of the Sierra 
Madre Police Department earlier this 
week. Ortiz, a long time veteran of the 
force, will temporarily fill the vacancy 
created with the departure of Captain 
Carlos Islas. Islas, a retired LAPD officer, 
resigned from the department to take a 
position with the City of Bell.

 Officer Ken Berry, another veteran SMPD, is now the Interim 
Seargent . 

 
On Friday, runners and supporters loaded up on Pasta in preparation for Saturdays Race. The meals were served by 
the Civic Club and prepared by Zugo’s. Photo by Bill Coburn

NEXT REGULAR 

SIERRA MADRE 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

 At the next city council meeting there will be discussions 
regarding the Proposals for Contracting Various City Services 
and Budget Reductions. There will also be a discussion about the 
approval of the Strategic Planfrom the May 6th Retreat. There will 
also be an update on the Demo, Grading and Irrigation installation 
for City Hall Landscape. 

 Can’t make it to the meeting, but still want to share your thoughts? 
You can mail or drop off a written statement to City Hall or email 
city@cityofsierramadre.com before 5:30 the night of the meeting 
and your statement will be delivered to all the Council Members.

Everyone is Invited to the 2015 Mount Wilson Trail Race!

Be sure to stop by Kersting Court this Saturday, May 23, 2015 
and enjoy the sights and sounds of the second oldest trail race in 
California! If you have family and friends in town for the holiday 
weekend, this is the perfect event to show off what makes Sierra 
Madre a special place to live. The day starts with the Presentation 
of Colors by the Veterans of Foreign War Post 3208 and Kaiya 
Wilson, a Sierra Madre Elementary School student, singing the 
National Anthem. The main race will then start promptly at 
7:30am

Just after the main race is the 10th annual Kids' Fun Run. This free 
event for youths 3-12 years of age begins at 7:45 am on Saturday, 
May 23. Youths will run up and down Baldwin Ave and finish 
under the same banner as MWTR runners! Youths 3-6 years of age 
will turnaround at Highland, while youths 7-12 will turnaround at 
Mira Monte. All participants must sign up with a parent/guardian 
beginning at 7:00 am in Kersting Court. The first 250 youths to sign 
up will receive a free t-shirt and participation ribbon, compliments 
of the Sierra Madre Community Foundation and Sierra Madre 
Civic Club.

While the runners are on the trail, spectators can visit the MWTR 
vendors. We will have booths providing trail and Sierra Madre 
history, MWTR souvenirs, health/medical groups, fitness groups, 
and much more!

Beginning at 9:00am runners and non-runners can enjoy a brew 
or two while sharing their race stories at the beer garden. Proceeds 
from the beer garden are donated to Sierra Madre Search and 
Rescue. Beers on tap include Mission Blonde from San Diego and 
Humboldt Nectar IPA from Paso Robles. Beer is $6.00 a cup.

With all these festivities, there is something for everyone. We hope 
too see you this Saturday at the 2015 Mount Wilson Trail Race!

CITY ENCOURAGES INPUT 
FROM RESIDENTS ON 
BALANCING BUDGET

Chart Highlights Current Dilemma


Inside this week: 

CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS 
Pg. 3

Sierra Madre, CA. - The 
Sierra Madre City Council 
will be hosting a Town Hall 
Meeting at the Fire Station 
on Saturday, June 6, 2015. 
Residents are encouraged to 
drop by between 10am and 
noon and enter to win one 
of six great participation 
prizes: A Meal with the 
Mayor, A Helicopter Ride, 
Dinner with Firefighters, 
a Free Park Rental, 10 Free 
Library DVD Rentals, or a 
Storytime Birthday Party at 
the Library. 

 At the Town Hall 
Meeting, each participant 
will have the opportunity to 
“balance” the City’s budget 
with the current projected 
revenues. Residents will be 
able to study the impacts 
of various reductions 
including, but not limited 
to, reduction in hours and 
programs at the Library 
and Community Services, 
fewer public counter hours 
at the Planning Department 
and City Hall, contracting 
policing services to the 
Sheriffs or paramedic 
services to a private 
ambulance company. 
Participants will also be 
asked to “vote” on various 
revenue measures ranging 
from no new revenues to 
increased fees and fines, or 
a general or special tax. 

 The accumulation of 
input gathered at ten 
different budget input 
meetings that took place in 
May will also be available 
for further comment and 
discussion. 

 All the information 
collected at the Town Hall 
Meeting will be presented 
to the City Council for 
consideration as the 
Council deliberates and 
makes decisions on how to 
balance the City’s budget 
at their regular meeting 
on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 
at 6:30pm in the Council 
Chambers. Residents are 
encouraged to attend and 
provide public comment on 
this very important topic. 

 Residents can send 
additional comments 
and suggestions to city@
cityofsierramadre.com 
for distribution to all 
five Council Members. 
For further information, 
please call 626.355.7135, 
or visit us online at www.
cityofsierramadre.com or 
in person at City Hall at 232 
West Sierra Madre Blvd. 
Monday - Thursday 7:30am 
- 5:30pm.

 PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 6

ARCADIA NEWS 

 Pg. 7

MONROVIA/DUARTE 
Pg. 7

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY 

 Pg. 8

BEST FRIENDS

 Pg. 9

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 10

FOOD & DRINK

ARTS Pg. 11

HEALTHY LIVING

 Pg. 12

GOOD LIFE

 Pg. 13

THE WORLD AROUND 
US Pg. 14

OPINION Pg. 15

LEGAL NOTICES

 Pg. 15