SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO SIERRA MADRE ON CHRISTMAS EVE 

7pm - December 24th at the Sierra Madre Fire Station


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2015

VOLUME 9 NO. 51

Happy Holidays FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU

SIERRA MADRE TO 
RESUME PUMPING 
WATER FROM WELLS


After almost two years of relying exclusively on 
imported water due to Sierra Madre’s water supplies 
low levels caused by the drought, the city is going 
back to pumping water from its own wells. 

In late November, the city council authorized city staff 
to begin pumping from the Sierra Madre wells again. 
While the levels are high enough to begin pumping, 
the city will continue to purchase water from the 
Metropolitan Water District to supplement what 
comes from the SM wells and hopefully eliminate the 
problems of discoloration and smell.

 In a press release from the city on Wednesday, 
residents were informed that, “ Due to low water 
levels in the aquifer, the water being pumped from 
the ground will be augmented with imported 
water placed into the City’s spreading basins for 
groundwater recharge. The reactivation of the City’s 
wells is intended to alleviate the water discoloration 
issues that have plagued much of Sierra Madre for the 
last two years. The reduction in water discoloration 
will not be immediate. Some neighborhoods may see 
a spike in discoloration before the water distribution 
system stabilizes and water clears.”

 The reactivation of the City’s wells began on 
Wednesday, December 16, 2015.

 “Customers may notice a chlorine odor to the water 
and some may notice a taste difference during the 
transition from chloramine to chlorine disinfected 
water. The water will be safe to drink and cook with, 
however it may be necessary for some customers to 
run their faucets a few moments to allow the water to 
clear before using it.

 This action by the City has been done with the 
approval of the California Department of Public 
Health – Division of Drinking Water, the Los Angeles 
Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the 
Raymond Basin Management Board.

 It is not expected that the use of imported water 
for groundwater recharge will have an adverse 
effect on the groundwater supply. The Raymond 
Basin Management Board has approved the use of 
the imported water as a one-year pilot project and 
will assist the City of Sierra Madre in stringently 
monitoring groundwater quality.

 The need to conserve water in Sierra Madre 
remains critical. The return to wells does not signal 
an end to the drought and groundwater level remains 
extremely low. Replacing groundwater with imported 
water is the only way the City can operate the wells for 
the foreseeable future.

 For the next twelve months the imported water 
will be used for groundwater recharge in a pilot 
program approved by the Los Angeles Regional 
Water Quality Control Board, the Drinking Water 
Division of the State Water resources Control Board, 
and the Raymond Basin Management Board.

 If residents have any questions, please contact 
Director of Public Works Bruce Inman at (626)355-
7135 ext. 801 or Deputy Director of Water Jose 
Reynoso at (626)355-7135 ext. 813.

MVNews

The Osti Christmas Decorations from Sonny Salsbury’s 2009 Sierra Madre Calendar. Salsbury said in 2006, “Sierra Madre is my 
favorite town anywhere” and many of his paintings, such as the scene above, depict a look into the charm of Sierra Madre that still 
exists today. For years we have shared Salsbury’s works with our readers. This picture originally appeared in the Mountain Views 
News in 2008.


CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES SOUGHT

 
The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the 2015 
Citizen of the Year. To be eligible, a person must be a resident of Sierra Madre. 
The accomplishment(s) or project(s) for which they are being nominated must 
have been of benefit to the community of Sierra Madre and its citizens during 
2015. They must have served without remuneration on the project for which 
they are being nominated, and members of the Chamber of Commerce Board 
of Directors are not eligible.

 If you would like to nominate someone, nomination forms are available at 
www.sierramadrechamber.com.

 You can also pick up nomination forms at the Chamber office, City Hall, the 
Library, and the Recreation Center. Completed forms should be mailed to 

Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce, 19 Suffolk Ave., Ste. A, Sierra Madre, 
91024 by January 4, 2016. 

 The winner will be selected by members of the Chamber Board of Directors, 
and will be honored at the annual Citizen of the Year/Board of Directors 
Installation Dinner to be held in January 30, 2016. 

 Previous Awardees:

 

CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

 Pg. 3

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

 Pg. 5

PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 6

THE QUESTION OF CHRISTMAS:

“Do you believe in me or not?”

This question emerges in the opening scene of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas 
Carol,” being the forceful petition, which Jacob Marley, a ghost, demands of 
his old business partner Ebenezer Scrooge. Jacob Marley warns Scrooge that 
he is to be haunted by three spirits. The function of these spirits assume the 
action of angels by the manner in which they document Scrooge’s past, present 
and foreseeable future. Charles Dickens’ timeless masterpiece has become 
synonymous with the season of Christmas.

Outside of the obvious introduction of the three separate periods of time, there 
exists three distinct themes present in the story…Do you believe in Charity? Do 
you believe in Happiness? Do you believe in Kindness? 

By posing these questions with Scrooge, Charles Dickens is raising the lantern 
of consciousness in each of us, and exposes the pettiness in which we allow to 
exist within our hearts; the forgiveness we so stubbornly withhold; and the 
simple seeds of kindness that grow in a greatness of a forest. These are the deeper 
themes that Dickens petitions in each of us.

I don’t believe that Christmas is the greatest day of the year — the lessons of 
Easter are far more important in their measurements of Christ than the infant 
reflections of Christmas, but I must admit that I love Christmas most of all. I 
suppose it is my secret of sorts, being that no one could conceivably know of 
it outside of me, as I have never held a baby in my arms. I suppose that most 
of my apprehension exists in the illogical belief that I may break something so 
tenderly precious to the world, and being of the judgment that my fingers are 
insufficient instruments in securing such a priceless work of art, I have refused 
the invitation. But Christmas is something altogether different in my mind, 
inspiring the emotion of holding that child at Bethlehem. When I meditate upon 
the miracle of what occurred on that first Christmas more than two thousand 
years ago, I perceive my love to be as great as any mother would ever hope to 
imagine. We must understand that Christmas is empty of meaning if we regard 
kindness and charity as inconsequential. 

(Continued on page 5)

Dave Loera, Sr. 2014

Joe and Jacquie Pergola 2013

Marlene Enmark 2012

Richard Mays 2011

Glenn and Amy Putnam 2010

Paul and Louise Nieby 2009 

Angel Throop 2008

Pete Siberell 2007

Bud Switzer 2006

John Grijalva 2005

Hank Landsberg 2004

Rob Stockly 2003

Bill Messersmith 2002

Carol Canterbury 2001

Marilyn McKernan 2000

George Enyedi 1999

Judy Webb-Martin 1998

William McKernan 1997

Shirley McGillicuddy 1996

Lew Watanabe 1995

Jan Reed 1994

Michael Sizer 1993

Dorothy Hobiak 1992

Doug Hayes 1991

Helen Walker 1990

Celeste McCreary 1989

Harry C. Martin 1988

Howard L. Wagner 1987

Royden F. Estoppey 1986

A. Virginia Liskow 1985

Joseph Delgatto 1984

Hugh Campbell 1983

Marjorie Peterson 1982

Mary Tumulty 1981

Phyllis Chapman 1980

Gertrude Gerke 1979

Charles Brown 1978

R. Robert Evans 1977

Sam Tesoro 1976

John Goodall 1975

George Maurer 1974

Earl LaLone 1973

H. Clay Reavis 1972

Myrtis Waite 1971

Rudolph Hartman 1970

Janet Wood 1969

Carl Hobson 1968

Ruth Barden 1967

William Wark 1966

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

NOTICES Pg. 15

 Established in 1946, the Sierra Madre Chamber’s Mission is: “To encourage 
a healthy business environment by advancing, promoting and supporting 
the businesses serving Sierra Madre.” This includes providing a voice for 
local businesses when dealing with local government, creating networking 
opportunities monthly, supporting other non profit groups in town and 
sponsoring events such as the Wistaria Festival, Winter Festival and the 
Citizen of The Year, to help promote and brand the city of Sierra Madre.

 For more information on the Chamber, call 626-355-5111.

F.Y.I. Pg. 18