Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 14, 2016

3

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 14, 2016 


Walking Sierra Madre…The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis

Even though the weather wasn’t exactly what 
we’d call cooperative, at least it didn’t rain this 
past weekend and dampen our 54th annual 
Art Fair. We went Saturday afternoon and saw 
so many exciting, creative things. Featured 
artist, Sarah Moore had some exquisite pieces 
on display. You can look at her work on her 
website: www.sassafrasspottery.com. These are 
truly unique with a finish she achieves with 
high fire glazes. 

 Steve Trovato and Tim Kobza, who both 
teach at USC, btw, were filling the park with 
some terrific guitar music and we spent a few 
delightful minutes with good friends, Michael, 
Kim and Charlie, enjoying the music.

 Walking around the displays, we especially 
liked Art of Glass by Jackie...particularly her 
“These Boots Were Made For Walkin’” a wall 
hanging with bright green and orange high 
heeled boots covered with butterflies.

 Lilia Venier’s ceramics included some 
charming, amusing teapots and all sorts of 
pieces with cute octopuses perched on them. As 
I was clutching this adorable teapot, trying to 
justify adding it to my overstuffed house, my 
Art Fair companion, John, simply said, “Step 
away from the teapot. You are standing too 
close to the teapot!” But I’m still thinking about 
it!

 Good friends, Tatum, Logan and Lauren, 
who are BravoCelli, were playing on the South 
Lawn and we were astonished anew at the 
professionalism and skill of these very young 
people. Such talented young musicians!

 There were many photographers and canvas 
artists displaying their work but my favorite was 
John Wortham, a photographer from Big Bear 
Lake, whose work was so bright and vibrant 
that it really lit up this cloudy, grey weekend. 
A large piece featuring sunflowers was so vivid 
you felt you could actually touch them. John’s 
work is available at a variety of places in Big 
Bear and you can take a look at his website: 
www.worthamphotography.com.

 Roving correspondent/son-in-law, Chuck 
Seitz, reported that Peppertree Grill was packed 
Saturday night for the return engagement of J 
J Jukebox, starring Rich Johnson, occasional 
columnist for the Mountain Views News. 
There was dancing in the aisles to dear old 
faves: Winchester Cathedral, Sweet Caroline, 
Octopuses Garden and we’re sorry we didn’t 
make it.

 Hope your Mother’s Day was filled with 
good things and family. We had lunch with 
five outstanding mothers, four grandchildren 
and a great time was had by all. Cards were 
exchanged, love was all around us and the only 
thing which could have made it more perfect 
would have been more of the grandchildren in 
attendance. As they grow older, it gets harder 
and harder to get them all in the same room...
jobs, distance. You probably have the same 
thing in your family.

 If you take Westways Magazine, put out by 
the fun folks at the Auto Club, you probably saw 
the nice mention in their Letters (May edition) 
about our very own Four Seasons Tea Room. 
Marsha Boal, of La Canada Flintridge said she’d 
just been to England where, “I enjoyed a variety 
of afternoon teas and none of them compared 
with the lovely tea at Four Seasons. Don’t miss 
the scones that are served hot from the oven. 
The best!” I totally agree with Marsha! 

 Have you noticed that the former Albertson’s 
Market center has been painted and the 
“Available” sign is down? Fingers crossed for a 
new market! If you’ve wondered what on earth 
is happening at the Hotel Shirley on Baldwin, 
it’s being painted and will be more beautiful 
than ever. Looks like Sierra Fusion (formerly 
Sierra Brigante) is about to open! Woo hoo! 
And, sadly, looks like Les Champs Elysees, our 
lovely apparel shop across from Beantown, is 
going. 

 If you’re not doing anything tomorrow, 
May 15th, my good friend and co-writer, 
David Wheatley, is giving a free organ recital 
featuring some Bach, some Faure, some original 
compositions, some amazing improvisations, 
and before you yawn and say, “No Thanks!” let 
me add that he’s funny, quirky and whimsical, in 
addition to being an internationally-recognized 
organist. It’s 3 p.m. at St. Athanasius at the 
Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Park 
Avenue, Los Angeles 90026. He’s good. Trust 
me! Have a fabulous week!

 My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

Blog: www.authordeanne.com

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


SIGN UP NOW FOR DODGER STADIUM TOUR 

Sierra Madre, CA. – May 13, 2016 – Sign up 
now for your spot on the L. A. Dodger Stadium 
Tour and Box Lunch on July 16. Board a bus 
at 9:00 am in front of the Sierra Madre Public 
Library for a short ride to Dodger Stadium and 
take part in an exclusive hour-and-a-half-long 
tour behind the scenes, followed by a box lunch 
with Dodger dogs. 

 The tour is part of One Book One City, a 
popular annual community reading program 
sponsored by the Sierra Madre Public Library. 
The deadline to reserve your spot is July 1. 
Ticket prices are: $45 adults, and $35 seniors 
and youth under 18.

 The Natural, by Pulitzer Prize-winning 
author Bernard Malamud, is this year’s OBOC 
choice. The witty and biting novel is thought 
by many to be the best baseball book ever 
written. OBOC invites everyone in the area to 
read and discuss the same book during a month 
of exciting programs. The goals are to build a 
sense of community, promote literacy, and 
have fun.

 The Dodger Stadium Tour is only one of a 
series of baseball related activities during July. 
Reservation forms are available at the Library 
and online at www.cityofsierramadre.com/
services/library. 


SHARE SOME 

GOOD NEWS! 

 “The Kindness of Strangers” feature encourages readers 
to share their stories. I can assure you, they will be 
uplifting especially in contrast to all the the challenges 
and issues we have to deal with daily. So, if you have 
something you would like to share, please submit it to: 
editor@mtnviewsnews.com. It doesn’t matter where you 
were or when it happened. Share your good expeiences in hope that it might bring a little joy and/
or inspire someone.

 -Susan Henderson, Editor/Publisher MVNews


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