SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2016

VOLUME 10 NO. 14

ANN TYLER NAMED 2016 OLDER AMERICAN


FORMER RESIDENT FILES COMPLAINT WITH FPPC 
OVER 2014 UUT CAMPAIGN REPORTS

The Sierra Madre Senior Community 
Commission proudly announces that 
Ann Tyler is the Sierra Madre Older 
American of the year 2016. 
Ann, at 92 years of age, richly deserves 
this honor, due to her active involvement 
in many of the volunteer groups in our 
city. She has been a resident for over 70 
years and can look back on her many 
years of service as an integral member of 
our community. 
Having graduated from St. Rita’s and 
from high school at PJC, she grew up 
demonstrating the value of volunteerism. 
She was among the 14 young women who 
founded the Civic Club ,in 1944, .and 
served as president of that group. She 
has also served as president of the Sierra 
Madre Womens’ Club. She was devoted to the 
group of wives of the Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire 
Department, supporting both her late usband, 
Bryce, and later, her son, Mike. Currently, Ann is 
serving as president of the Priscilla Circle, a group 
of local women providiing help to Sierra Madre 
famillies. 
She is an expert in the creative skills involving 
crocheting, knitting and quilting. She has been 
a loyal member of both the local classes in yoga 
and strength training. She often spends time at 
her desert home, where she has great visits with 
another long-time Sierra Madrean, Mert Waite. 
She has been called the “mother of Sierra Madre” 
by one admirer. We are fortunate to have 
Ann as a wonderful, long-time member of our 
community. She is an outstanding Sierra Madre 
Older American of the year.

 Just days before Sierra Madre voters decide 
whether or not to maintain the city’s Utility User’s 
Tax at 10%, a former resident and City Council 
Member filed a complaint with the California Fair 
Political Practices Commission against the 2014 
Yes on Measure UUT committee alleging that 
reports were not made in a timely manner. 
On March 29, 2016, Christopher Koerber of 
Cookeville, Tennesee signed a sworn affadavit 
alleging that the reports filed on the campaign 
were not filed in a timely manner. Koerber’s 
statement was witnessed by another former Sierra 
Madre resident, John Crawford of San Dimas. 
The complaint was filed 
against the Yes on Measure UUT Committee and 
specifically names Treasurer Amy Putnam who 
the Treasurer of the campaign, and former Mayor 
Nancy Walsh, both of whom signed the reports 
submitted. There is no allegation of malfeasance, 
but accusations that the funds were not reported 
in a timely manner. Putnam is a retired Professor 
of Accounting and is also the treasurer for the 
current Yes on Measure UUT committee. It is not 
clear what action the agency will take, if any, at this 
time. The total funds collected by the committee 
was less than $4,000.00 and the ending balance 
was less than $10.00. 
There is wide speculation that 
this complaint is an effort to discredit the current 
Yes on UUT campaign, especially since Koerber 
was a well known member of the Pasadena Tea 
Party with its anti-tax agenda, but it is unclear as 
to why he has filed this complaint now, especially 
since he lives in Tennesee and appears to have 
no personal or business interest in Sierra Madre. 
Both men have been opposed to proposed 
all UUT measures. 
This is not the 
first controversial collaboration between Koerber 
and Crawford. In an article that appeared in 
this publication in February 2014, just before the 
election, it was discovered that Crawford and 
Koerber corresponded via email about engaging 
in the practice of ‘trolling’, an internet practice 
of anti-social behavior causing interpersonal and 
shock value controversy. (http://mtnviewsnews.
com/old/?t=MVNews&v=8&n=08). 
The FPPC will determine whether the 
complaint has merit, and what actions if any are 
warranted. The final campaign report was filed on 
12/26/2014. 

Ann Tyler (center) with Senior Commissioner JoAnn 
Williams(l) andCommissioner Jacquie Pergola (r)

For those Residents and businesses that still have telephone landline, television (FIOS), and Internet service 
provided by Verizon, you now have a new carrier, Frontier Communications, effective April 1st. 

 Last year, Verizon sold those assets in California, Texas and Florida to Frontier, but kept its wireless 
service. Verizon officials have previously announced it wants to mostly focus its business efforts on its 
wireless service, although it will hold onto landline operations in contiguous northeast markets, said Les 
Kumagai, Verizon spokesman. 

 Landline technology is expected to be obsolete in the coming decade, and telecommunications companies 
are increasingly focusing on wireless assets, said Jay Prag, professor of economics and finance at the Drucker 
School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.

 For more information on Frontier Communications and what this change means, go to www.meetfrontier.
com. 

NO MORE VERIZON? 
(Not an April Fools Day Prank)

FRIENDS OF THE SIERRA MADRE LIBRARY BEST USED BOOK SALE

The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library announce that 
the April Best Used Book Sale will be held on Saturday, 
April 2 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) The sale is held at the back of 
the library, 440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. in the parking 
lot and in the basement.

 Featured at this sale will be COOKBOOKS. We 
have a large collection of cookbooks on our shelves; 
all will be half price at the sale. Newer cookbook 
collections on the Table in the Basement will be offered 
at our usual low prices, $2.50 - $6.00. In addition, 
the Bargain Book boxes on the parking lot will have 
cookbooks of many kinds for only $1.00! 

 We also will be featuring a group of Local History 
volumes recently released from the library’s collection. 
Included are books on California history and 
geography, some signed.

 In addition, there is a wonderful like-new set of 
the Harvard Classics Collector’s Edition with many 
classic literature titles. Our Collectible shelves are full 
of books signed by authors, some first editions, and 
interesting vintage titles.

 Together with our contemporary thrillers, mysteries 
and newer fiction, the shelves are full of non-fiction 
books of every type. Looking for a Home Repair book 
or a book of quotations? One on Tudor queens or a 
political biography? Come to the Best Book Sale, meet 
and share with other book lovers, and take advantage 
of our low prices on high-quality books!

 All proceeds from the sale will be used to support 
programs, services and acquisitions of the Sierra 
Madre Library. The Friends of the Sierra Madre 
Library is a non-profit organization and all proceeds 
benefit the Sierra Madre Library. For more 
information visit us on Facebook, at our website www.
sierramadrelibraryfriends.org, or call the library at 626 
355-7186. See you at the Book Sale!


Inside this week: 

CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

 Pg. 3

PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 6

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 7 
MONROVIA/DUARTE Pg. 7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 8

HEALTHY & FOOD

 Pg. 9

THE GOOD LIFE

 Pg. 10

THE ARTS

 Pg. 11

THE WORLD AROUND US Pg. 12

BEST FRIENDS

 Pg. 13

BUSINES NEWS & TRENDS

 Pg. 13

OPINION

 Pg. 14

LETTER TO THE EDITOR 
Pg. 14

ELECTION NOTICES 
Pgs. 2 and 12

LEGAL NOTICES 
Pg. 16