Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, November 19, 2016

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Mountain View News Saturday, November 19, 2016


SIERRA MADRE WOMAN'S CLUB COMMUNITY PRAYER 
BREAKFAST KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SEASON

Walking Sierra Madre…
The Social Side by Deanne Davis

On Wednesday, the Historic 
Essick House was filled with 
community members who 
partiicpated in the SMWC's 
45th Annual Community 
Prayer Breakfast. The theme 
for this years event was 
Reflections on "Praise and 
Thanksgiving".

 Elected officials and other 
community leaders enjoyed 
a breakfast prepared by 
members of the Woman's 
Club and included the famous 
'Secret Recipe Quiche".

 SMWC President Beverly 
Clifton welcomed guests and 
the Mistress of Ceremony for 
the event was member Patricia 
Jessup-Woodlin.

 Members of the local clergy 
shared words of encouragement 
an thanksgiving. They 
included Father Michael 
Bamberger - Episcopal Church 
of the Ascension, Deacon John 
Hull, St. Rita's Catholic Church, 
Mr. Steve Licata - Baha'i Faith 
and Rev. Cynthia Crowell of 
Trinity Presbyterian Church. 
The benediction was given by 
Pastor Sangman Shin of Sierra 
Madre United Methodist 
Church.

 Remarks were also given by 
LA County Supervisor-elect 
Kathryn Barger and Faith Lee 
from Assemblyman Chris 
Holden's office. MVNews

Walking Sierra Madre this 
time of year is a delight, 
pure and simple. There are 
still pumpkins on lots of 
folks’ porches, which will 
last for months, till the 
squirrels find a weak spot. 
Those easterners who say 
we don’t have Autumn 
color haven’t seen OUR 
leaves and it finally feels 
like Fall. I expect we’re 
all doing something 
about Thanksgiving. 
Brining our turkey (best 
thing ever for a moist 
and tender Festive Bird!), 
making a pie, looking for 
something new to do with 
sweet potatoes and, best 
of all, inviting family and 
friends to share the feast. I 
know none of you folks have ever had the following experience...

The Ghost of Thanksgivings Past

The Festive Bird is in the stove,

And time now for a nap.

I laid me down, closed my eyes,

And at the window heard a tap.

It’s far too soon for guests to come,

I need a little peace!

The stuffing’s ready, cranberries chillin’,

Pies overflow with pumpkin fillin’.

The tap just keeps on at my window,

But I’m not gonna look!

There’s nothing more for me to do,

This is one tired and sleepy cook.

So I snuggled deep down in my afghan,

Turned my head the other way.

I don’t care who’s at that window,

They can tap all day.

Off I went to slumberland and dreamed a lovely dream,

A kitchen, clean and washed and spotless, everything just right.

But then I dreamt a dreadful dream,

That made me shriek with fright!

The tapping at my window,

More insistent grew.

And what was out there tapping,

I’ll now describe to you.

The Ghost of my Thanksgivings Past,

A turkey that was huge!

Tapped an enormous beak at my window,

And gobbled…. “J’ accuse!”

“Forty Thanksgivings, and more,” he said,

“Since you walked down the aisle.

Forty turkeys you’ve served up, 

With sweet potatoes and a smile.”

“Forty turkeys come and gone,

And still your gravy’s awful!

And the year the turkey hit the floor,

Should be declared… unlawful!!”

“Most of them were nicely done, I’ll give you that,” he said.

“But some were cooked so badly,

You should have ordered Chinese instead!”

What an awful dream, I thought, as I cowered in my bed.

The Ghostly Turkey wasn’t finished,

With his accusations many.

And I, offering excuses,

Discovered I hadn’t any!

But then he smiled and said to me,

“Your crimes are all forgiven.

For those who’ve gathered at your table,

Have rejoiced and laughed for hours.”

“We turkeys relish meals like these,

They are sweet as summer flowers!

Enjoy today, with friends and family, gathered ‘round your table,

Give thanks for health and joy and peace…

Then share this Thanksgiving fable.”

And with a last gobble…gobble, the Ghost of Thanksgivings Past,

 Flew up, up, and away…

And I heard him exclaim, ere he flew out of sight…

“Happy Thanksgiving to all…

And for heaven’s sake, learn to make better gravy!”

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Hope it’s the best one ever!

 My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

 Blog: www.authordeanne.com

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

As are all the Emma Gainsworth Fall Pumpkin Adventures

Follow me on Twitter, too! https://twitter.com/@playwrightdd


Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving are left side front to back: Faith Lee, Mayor Pro Tem Rachelle 
Arizmendi, Former Mayor John Harabedian, Fire Chief Steve Heydorgg, City Clerk Melinda Carillo, 
Acting Public Works Director Chris Cimino. Right side front to back: Kathryn Barger, Mayor Gene Goss, 
Former Mayor John Capoccia, City Manager Elaine Aguilar, Development Director Vincent Gonzalez and 
Personnel Director Miguel Martinez. Photo by Laura Aguilar

VFW 3208 SUCCESSFULLY GETS SIERRA MADRE POST 
OFFICE RENAMED AFTER MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER 
LOUIS VAN IERSEL

 For more than a year, The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), 
Post 3208 Sierra Madre with the assistance of Congresswoman Judy Chu, lobbied 
the powers that be to rename the Sierra Madre Post Office after World War I 
Veteran Louis Van lersel. Van lersel was a Sierra Madre resident who received 
the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving 1000 American soldiers during the 
First World War. 

 Van lersel moved to Sierra Madre in 1946 and served as Commander of Veterans 
of Foreign Wars, Post 3208. As a World War I Veteran Louis Van lersel served in 
the United States Army and received the Medal of Honor in 1919. During World 
War II he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served with the 3rd 
Marine Division in the Bougainville Campaign. Louis Van lersel died at the age 
of 93 in Sierra Madre and is buried in Arlington Cemetery. There is also a marker 
in Sierra Madre’s Pioneer Cemetary commemorating his life. At the time of his 
death at age 93, Van Iersel 
was believed to be the 
most highly decorated 
surviving World War I 
veteran. 

 The dedicaation took 
place earlier this month 
with Grandson John Van 
Iersel, pictured below 4th 
from right standing next 
to Congresswoman Judy 
Chu and other family 
members and VFW 3208 
in attendance. 

Photo by Mary Lou 
Caldwell.


SIERRA MADRE HOLIDAY PARKING ENFORCEMENT SCHEDULE

 

Thanksgiving Parking

Please be advised that beginning 2:00 am on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 there will be City-wide exemption for parking 
violations regarding overnight parking. This exemption will extend until 2:00 am on Sunday, November 27, 2016 in observance of 
Thanksgiving. Please note that safety violations related to parking will still be enforced. 

 

Winter/New Year’s Holidays

Please be advised that beginning 2:00 am on Saturday, December 17, 2016 there will be a City-wide exemption for parking violations 
regarding overnight parking. This exemption will extend until 2:00 am on Tuesday, January 3, 2017, in observance of the holiday 
season. Please note that safety violatinos related to parking will still be enforced. 

 There will be Officers on staff 24/7 to handle enforceable parking issues and safety violations during these tiems. 

 

*** Safety Violations examples: Red, White, and Blue Zones; parking violations obstructing egress/ingress to the roadway or 
sidewalk. ***


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