FREE EL NIÑO PREPARATION WORKSHOP - SIERRA MADRE CITY HALL

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5TH 2015 9:00-11:00AM


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2015

VOLUME 9 NO. 49

Walking Sierra Madre…The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis

SIERRA MADRE WINTER FESTIVAL KICKS OFF HOLIDAY 
SEASON WITH SNOW, SHOPPING AND FUN

“Rollin’ On the River... Come paddle along! Adventure 
waits just around the bend.”

Sierra Madre’s 2016 Rose Float

So there are these big pink flamingoes, see, watching 
Mr. Park Ranger with an intensity that only big pink 
flamingoes can generate, waiting for him to turn his 
back and get involved with an inquisitive tourist. The 
moment comes, they make a break for it, leap aboard 
their trusty umbrellas, start paddling with all their 
might... and end up gliding down Colorado Blvd. on 
New Year’s Day. That’s our story, as imagined by Richard 
Burrow, who submitted the winning float concept, and 
we’re sticking to it!

 Every year we think it’s our best year ever, and this 
year, the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association has 
outdone themselves creating this flamingo masterpiece. 
The umbrellas rock back and forth, the flamingoes rear 
their pink heads high in the air, and four of the nicest, 
most well spoken, brightest young ladies we’ve met 
are riding along. We will be amazed when we see our 
float covered with at least 12,000 carnations in every 
shade of flamingo pink, over 5,000 light and dark iris, 
10,000 lavender and white roses will create the river and 
splashes as our escaping flamingoes roll on down the 
river. Pine branches will form the base, lentils, coffee 
grounds, assorted seeds, peas and beans will form the 
umbrella handles and other earthy areas. Dried items, 
such as strawflowers, will fill the insides of the umbrellas 
where the flamingoes sit as they make their race to 
freedom. Let’s just say it’s going to be gorgeous and you 
will be so proud of our princesses, as they are stellar 
young women.

 We visited the float barn the day our princesses were 
learning what to do in the unlikely case of a fire on the 
float. Between drills, I got to chat for a few minutes with 
each of our princesses, who will be beautifully dressed 
by Sarah and Arthur of Les Champs Elysees on Baldwin 
here in town. 

 Princess Emily Lopez, a senior at Alverno, plans to 
attend college on the east coast and will be majoring in 
biology with an eye toward a career in neonatology. And, 
yes, she’s well aware that there will be heartbreak in that 
branch of medicine. Emily is a Sierra Madre resident, 
of course, as are the other three princesses. She’s in the 
National Honors Society, plays softball, is in the book 
club and has visited Greece. Emily thought Greece was 
a beautiful place with all the white houses, the deep 
blue ocean, and a view of antiquity in practically every 
direction she looked. When asked how she liked the 
food, she got that far-away look of ecstatic remembrance 
and said she loved the food. 

 Princess Cameron Martinez, also a senior at Alverno, 
has her eye on Santa Clara, LMU or Stanford for college. 
She’s planning a Political Science major leading to 
becoming an attorney. Cameron is active in sports, 
volleyball and softball, she’s a reader, a writer, and enjoys 
travel. She has spent some time in France and went to 
the top of the Eiffel Tower, even though she’s not all that 
fond of heights. But it was so worth it as the views from 
the top are beyond amazing. The gardens, the Seine, all 
of Paris in every direction. Cameron is ready to go back 
to Paris!

 Princess Katie Stapenhorst, a junior at Polytechnic, is 
giving thought to possible colleges, but it’s too soon to be 
making serious decisions just yet. Katie enjoys meeting 
and talking to people and thinks she’d like a career where 
people skills would be important, possibly education or 
social services. And, she’s on her school dance team. Katie 
has also spent some time in France where she was involved 
in a home study program, where French was spoken most 
of the time. In northern France, near Calais for part of her 
visit then in Paris. She loved the fact that everything is so 
accessible, thanks to the Paris Metro. And the bread! Ah 
the bread, the fresh baguette every day! She’d like to go 
back. Katie has been a float worker for several years and 
now she’ll be riding, too.

 Princess Kari Savoie, a junior at Flintridge-Sacred 
Heart Academy, is considering medical school as she 
wants a career where she will make a difference. She 
attended a week long camp at Irvine Medical Center 
where attendees shadowed doctors and nursing 
staff. Kari sees herself as a surgeon. She has been in 
synchronized skating for 8 years, figure skating for 
11 years and is part of a 16 person team centered in 
Anaheim called The Iceka-Teeks. She and her team 
have competed around the country: Massachusetts, 
Michigan, Rhode Island, Colorado, and they are on 
track for international competition! 

 These delightful young women will be appearing 
at events around town in the next month: Kiwanis 
Club, Rotary, the British Home, the RV show at Santa 
Anita, the Kensington and, of course, before the City 
Council. They are charming, witty, bright and we can 
be immensely proud of them. Watch the Mountain 
Views News to see where you could meet them before 
the parade. “Rollin’ On the River” is sure to be another 
prize winner in this year’s Rose Parade!

 (Note: My interview with our princesses took place 
before the tragic events in Paris and San Bernardino.)

 My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

Blog: www.authordeanne.com

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

 Christmas is coming! You’ll need gifts!


Mayor Pro Tem Gene Goss (back row center) welcomed Santa and Mrs. Claus and 
their elves to Sierra Madre last Saturday. Also assisting Santa were the 2016 Sierra 
Madre Rose Parade Princesses Emily Lopez, Cameron Martinez, Katie Stapenhorst 
and Kari Savoie. The Winter Festival, sponsored by the Sierra Madre Chamber of 
Commerce is held annually to kick off the holiday season with fun for the entire family 
and support for Sierra Madre’s local retailers. Photo by Bill Coburn

SIERRA MADRE RANKS NO. 11 IN AMERICA’S 
TOP 20 BEST SMALL TOWNS FOR CHRISTMAS! 

According to Country Living, Sierra Madre is the only California city to make the list! “Where 
do Southern Californians go to get the Christmas spirit? Sierra Madre, a foothills town just a few 
miles east of Pasadena, imports snow from the San Bernadino Mountains every year to build a big 
snowman in the town’s central square, Kersting Court, until the balmy local temperatures send 
him downstream. There’s still plenty to see, with the town’s houses and businesses decorated for 
the season, a life-size nativity scene.....” Source: http://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/g2829/
best-christmas-towns-in-usa. 

CITY CLERK, NANCY SUE SHOLLENBERGER

TO END 32-YEAR CAREER


Since elected City Clerk in 1984, Nancy has acted as a buffer 
between the city government and its citizens.

 If a resident needs a public document, she gets it to 
them. When people encounter the government, 
sometimes they’re unsure of the steps to take to pursue 
their issue. Shollenberger said, “I do my best to make 
them feel comfortable.”

 Shollenberger, along with her husband and two children, 
moved to Sierra Madre in 1968. In 1972, Nancy started 
her own business, “The Sierra Madre Answering and 
Secretarial Service”. When cell phones and computers 
came into being, Nancy closed down her business in the 
Year 2000. 

In 1984, Gary Adams approached Nancy’s husband and 
asked him if he thought Nancy might consider being 
City Clerk. Nancy was very busy with her business and 
raising their two children, and never thought about 
being City Clerk. Of course, Shollenberger was honored 
that a City Council Member would think about her, so she considered it and decided to run 
in 1984. 

 Shollenberger was not challenged until 2008 however, she won and ran two more times, 
unopposed. It has been a wonderful career.

 Though Shollenberger is leaving office, she will continue living in Sierra Madre, where 
people know her for her helping hand to those seeking help from the city government.

 “I have been fortunate to have this opportunity”, Shollenberger said. “I’ve met so many 
absolutely fabulous people who are civic volunteers and commissioners I would have never 
met before. I love to be in a small town. Story and Photo courtesy City of Sierra Madre



FLINTRIDGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 
stand apart.
learn together.
FIND OUT WHAT PREP HAS TO OFFER!
Flintridge Prep Admissions 
Open HouseSunday, December 6, 20152 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Register at www.flintridgeprep.orgCoed 500 Students Grades 7-12 
Middle School & High School Presentations
..
CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

 Pg. 3

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Pg. 5

PASADENA/ALTADENA

Pg. 6

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 7 
MONROVIA/DUARTE Pg. 7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Pg. 8

BEST FRIENDS

Pg. 9

HEALTHY & WEALTH

 Pg. 10

THE GOOD LIFE

Pg. 11


FOOD & ARTS

Pg. 12

THE WORLD AROUND US

Pg. 13

OPINION

 Pg. 14

LEGAL

NOTICESPg. 15

F.Y.I. Pg. 18