Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 3, 2015

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 3, 2015 

Walking Sierra Madre…The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis

“All the same, said the Scarecrow, I shall ask for brains 
instead of a heart; for a fool would not know what to do 
with a heart if he had one. I shall take the heart, returned 
the Tin Woodman; for brains do not make one happy, and 
happiness is the best thing in the world.”


L. Frank Baum

In the immortal words of little Carol Anne in Poltergeist, 
“They’re here!” Scarecrows, that is! They’re popping up 
all over town in anticipation of the Scarecrow Festival. 
Let me introduce #37, 
Drought Fighting Floral Flora 
who has already removed her 
lawn and taken the pledge to 
be a Water Saver. Good luck, 
Flora! 

 Walking Sierra Madre this 
morning, my water saving 
buddy, John, and I saw a water 
main leak at the entrance 
to Canon Drive. Promptly 
alerted the Police Department, 
who were already aware of 
it and said work would be 
starting on it shortly. We’re 
sharing your pain, dear City of 
Sierra Madre, as you, too, have 
been on the receiving end of a 
warning from the State Water 
Resources Control Board 
because the 32% conservation 
goal was not met. Water main 
breaks! Yep, familiar territory. 
Our horrendous water loss 
was due to a galvanized pipe 
buried four feet deep that 
destroyed itself and oozed 
water for goodness knows how long, causing us to incur 
a water bill with penalties that left us speechless! We’re 
all doing our best to use less...less...less! More rain would 
be really nice, wouldn’t it!

 Have you been to the Arboretum lately? What a 
wonderful place that is. We were invited to “A Night 
to Honor Gale Kohl – A celebration to benefit the 
Children’s Learning Patio and Education Programs.” 
It was hot, it was muggy, but it was a great time. If you 
don’t know about Gale Kohl, and we didn’t, she is one 
of those people who goes about doing good. For the 
Arboretum, she has been a leader in developing the 
FRESH cooking classes, and is an ardent supporter of 
children’s garden education. The Arboretum hosts over 
16,000 school children annually, many of whom are 
from low income families and have no idea where food 
comes from. These are the future caretakers of our land, 
friends. Proceeds from the dinner we attended, which 
was donated by The Kitchen for Exploring Foods, will 
be used to create the Children’s Learning Patio and lots 
of new education activities to teach kids about garden 
ecosystems, the role of plants in sustaining all life and 
the nutritional importance of freshly grown fruits and 
vegetables. Sounds really cool, doesn’t it!

 Intriguing sculptures are scattered about the grounds, 
many representing strange and exotic creatures. A 
peacock walked by us as nonchalantly as though a couple 
of hundred folks sipping wine is an everyday occurrence. 
We learned that there is a full grown coyote living 
somewhere in the Arboretum, and he’s one healthy guy. 
He is welcome as he helps curtail the rodent population. 
We were there for the Red Moon Eclipse, too, which 
hasn’t happened in more than three decades and won’t 
occur again till around 2033. 
We were seeing it when earth’s 
shadow somewhat dimmed it, 
but it was impressive all the 
same.

 OK, here’s what you 
really want to know...what 
did we have to eat. Oh my 
gosh! Hors d’oeuvres were 
amazing, featuring tempura 
sweet potato bites, teeny pita 
shells filled with hummus, 
and several other goodies. As 
everyone was seated at long 
tables, much of the dinner was 
served family style. We started 
with a salad of heirloom 
yellow, red and orange 
cherry tomatoes, whipped 
Feta cheese, toasted pine 
nuts and wild arugula. Sooo 
good! Then beef tenderloin 
you could cut with your fork; 
shrimp scampi with roasted 
baby red, yellow and orange 
peppers; Orzo pasta with 
assorted squash and so much 
more. Dessert was an apple creation and I want the 
people from The Kitchen for Exploring Foods to come 
live at our house. The centerpiece was lemon leaves 
with assorted baby vegetables, very colorful, simple and 
exquisite. 

 The Arboretum volunteer organization, Los 
Voluntarios, logs approximately 3,000 hours per year, 
according to our son-in-law, Chuck, who is a member 
of the Arboretum Board and graciously invited us to be 
his and our daughter, Leah’s, guests. The third Tuesday 
of every month is a free day at the Arboretum. Next 
one is October 20th. If you’ve never been, you need to 
treat yourself to a day of wonder and some of the most 
beautiful plants and trees in the world.

 As Joyce Kilmer said in 1913: “I think that I shall 
never see a poem lovely as a tree.” True!!

 My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

Blog: www.authordeanne.com

 “Tablespoon of Love, Tablespoon of Laughter” is 
available there…

An excellent wedding gift. Teachers would love it, too!


SIERRA MADRE POLICE BLOTTER

During the week of Sunday, September 20th, to Sunday, 
September 27th, the Sierra Madre Police Department 
responded to approximately 273 calls for service. 

Tuesday, September 22nd At 1:23 pm, Sierra Madre Police 
responded to the 400 block of Theresa Lane regarding a 
residential burglary. Upon arrival, the victim informed 
Officers that at around 1:15 pm, he arrived home and 
parked his car in the garage and entered his home through 
a connecting door from the garage. Upon entering, the 
victim heard voices coming from the master bedroom 
saying, “Get out of here.” As the victim entered the 
bedroom he was confronted by a male suspect wearing a 
grey hoodie. The victim yelled at the man who then shoved 
the victim to the floor and ran out of the residence through 
a studio door. The victim stated he believed the man fled 
in a silver BMW that was parked in front of his house 
when he arrived and was gone following the incident. The 
victim stated he only saw one suspect, but believed he was 
talking through a radio or cell phone to someone posing as 
a lookout who had informed him to get out. Estimated loss 
was set at $3000, but would have been more as the victim 
startled the suspect during his collection of electronics. 
This case has been forwarded to the Detective Bureau. 

 

Wednesday, September 23rd At 7:47 pm, Sierra Madre 
Police responded to the 700 block of Brookside Lane 
regarding a domestic violence incident. Upon arrival 
Officers witnessed the male sitting in a chair in the living 
room while the female was lying on the floor. When Officers 
asked the man how the woman got on the floor, he stated 
she fell. When Officers woke up the woman, she stated the 
man hit her and knocked her out. Officers determined the 
argument resulted after the woman wanted to change the 
television channel and the man refused so she threw the 
remote at him and when she confronted him the man hit or 
pushed her causing her to fall back and 

hit her head. The woman was transported to a local hospital 
for further evaluation and the man was arrested and 
charged with domestic battery. 

At 12:29 am, Sierra Madre Police 
responded to the area of Highland Avenue east of Baldwin 
Avenue regarding a suspicious vehicle. Upon approaching 
the vehicle Officers discovered a woman sitting in the front 
passenger seat. When questioned, she stated the vehicle 
belonged to her friend who went into the apartments nearby 
and she was waiting on him. The suspect consented to a 
search and informed Officers that she was in possession of 
marijuana. In all Officers located marijuana and two pipes. 
A name search revealed the woman was wanted by the Los 
Angeles Sheriff’s Department. A detailed look into the car 
revealed that false registration tabs were being used on the 
vehicle, as well as numerous electronic equipment, checks 
issued to an unknown person, and blank checks often used 
in fraudulent manners. Officers impounded the vehicle 
and charged the woman with possession of marijuana and 
unlawful drug paraphernalia and misappropriation of 
lost property. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department took 
custody of the woman for her want. 

Saturday, September 26th At 12:55 pm, Sierra Madre 
Police responded to the 200 block of West Carter Avenue 
regarding a residential burglary. Upon arrival Officers were 
informed by the victims that their young son left the home 
around 7:30 am, and upon returning he entered through the 
unlocked front door and went to his bedroom to discover 
his Ipad was missing. When the boy’s mother arrived 
home a few hours later he asked if he had seen the Ipad and 
while looking for it around the house, the woman noticed 
her master bedroom had been rummaged through and 
noticed her jewelry box was disturbed. Her other children’s 
rooms had appeared to be rummaged through also. In all 
multiple tablets, laptops and video games were stolen from 
the home. Officers determined the suspect(s) entered the 
home by climbing on the trash cans and entered through 
the unsecured garage window. Once inside the garage they 
entered the home through the unlocked interior door then 
exited through the front door. This case has been forwarded 
to the Detective Bureau. 


Lattes & Literature – A Paranormal Experience

Expect goosebumps on your arms and chills to run up and down your spine as you hear real life tales 
and see actual images of true Paranormal Experiences. Then find yourself being entertained by a 
rare Literary Lives Performance that you will have to see for yourself to believe.

Featuring

Frances Chavez - Author of Old Mission Cemetery Tales

Michelle Hewitt - Mourning Dove Promotions

Georgia & Michael Nunez - San Gabriel Ghost Seekers

Valerie E. Welch - Performance Artist appearing as Louisa May Alcott, 

beloved author of the children’s classic “Little Women”

Saturday October 24, 2014

10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Sierra Madre Woman’s Club - The Essick House

550 West Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA 91024 

Includes Continental Breakfast ~ Lite Lunch ~ Afternoon Sweet Treats 

Only $15 through October 23.

$20 on October 24

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com