Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 27, 2016

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Mountain View News Saturday, August 27, 2016 


Walking Sierra Madre…The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis


“I saw old Autumn in the misty morn stand 
shadowless like silence,

listening to silence.” Thomas Hood

The giant pumpkins are growing rapidly and are 
already pretty big, here on our street, but not a 
patch on what they will eventually become when 
they morph into huge spiders, Cinderella’s coach 
and lots of jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. Which 
brings Linus and his night-long vigil - waiting for 
the Great Pumpkin to descend on his pumpkin 
patch and leave wonderful presents behind 
because his is the most sincere pumpkin patch - 
to mind. We have the sincerest pumpkin patch in 
Sierra Madre. Talented neighbors grow the most 
astonishingly huge pumpkins then carve them into 
fantastical creations. These aren’t those thousand 
pound babies you see on TV that need a forklift to 
move, but they’re pretty big.

 Fall is definitely upon us, friends and neighbors. 
It’s not quite as hot but we’re still casting anxious 
eyes upon the hillsides and hoping ours won’t 
catch fire, still praying for rain but glad we’re not 
in Louisiana where even the graveyards have been 
washed away. School has started for some. Our 
Texas girls, Emily and Jessie, started first and 
third grade, and we have pictures of them looking 
confident and assured in their new classrooms. 
Grandsons, Blake and Luke are ensconced at USC, 
Blake as a senior and Luke as a sophomore, in a 
room that looks about the size of a really nice walk-
in closet, with another guy yet to come. Miss Fay, 
next door, is starting her second week of school and 
big sister, Violet, is still lounging around with little 
sisters Avery and Charlotte, watching movies and 
eating popcorn, as St. Rita’s doesn’t start till after 
Labor Day. All school used to start after Labor Day. 
There is a tremendously complicated reason why 
it isn’t that way anymore, which I read somewhere 
and promptly forgot.

 “August in sub-Saharan Los Angeles is one of the 
great and awful tests of one’s endurance, sanity and 
stamina.” Henry Rollins

 This week has been pretty pleasant, weather-
wise. The week before, however, we could honestly 
say, “These are the times that try men’s (and 
women’s and children’s and dog’s and cat’s) souls.” 
Of course, when Thomas Paine said that in 1776, 
he wasn’t talking about the weather. Walking Sierra 
Madre has been pretty nice with temperatures in 
the low 60’s, except for the gnats, of course. All the 
succulents look fabulous and we don’t look at the 
lawn anymore. You probably don’t either. Have you 
noticed the crepe myrtle trees all over town? They 
are gorgeous, especially the deep pink ones.

 Went to Costco today for a few of life’s necessities, 
i.e., batteries, Kleenex and tuna, and discovered 
that the aisles are awash in Halloween costumes 
and they had these life-size animated witches 
with flashing eyes and talking mouths for a mere 
$139.99, which are just what we’ve needed all along! 
I’m itching to get out all my Fall house decoration 
stuff but will control myself till September 1st. So 
many fun things happen in Sierra Madre in the 
next months...the scarecrow contest for one, which 
I really enjoy. Maybe I’ll just put my scarecrow out 
on the porch, even if it isn’t September.

 Fall means football, too, of course! The Rams are 
back, they’ve won two pre-season games and we 
breathlessly await the start of college football. USC 
vs. Alabama September 3rd. My walking buddy 
and most faithful USC fan, John, is counting the 
minutes.

 Don’t forget to get your letter in to Bruce Inman 
at Public Works by 5 p.m. August 31st if you’d like 
the City to leave that beautiful Ficus tree just past 
the Post Office on Baldwin alone. Yes, the sidewalk 
is a hazard, but that can be fixed. If you didn’t read 
Susan Henderson’s article on the tree in last week’s 
Mountain Views News, you can see it on line at 
www.mtnviewsnews.com. She is the voice of reason 
on this issue. We need our Sierra Madre trees!

 My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

Blog: www.authordeanne.com

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

 An excellent The Kids Are Back In School gift, by 
the way!

The City is seeking nominations for this year’s 
Honors Awards. Submissions must be received 
by September 9 at 5:00 pm. Awards are:

George Mauer Lifetime Achievement Award

Awarded to a person / entity whose lifetime of 
service /embodies the spirit of volunteerism

Wistaria Award

Recognizes a Community partnership that 
provides community-wide programs and 
services

Public Safety Award

Presented for outstanding service and duty to 
the community

Public Service Award

The Employee of the Year Award for remarkable 
public and customer service

Community Youth Service Award

Presented to a youth (under 18) for outstanding 
service and dedication to the community

Nomination forms are available at City Hall 
or on the City’s website. Nominations can be 
dropped off at City Hall or emailed to Dorothy 
Costello at dcostello@cityofsierramadre.com

SIERRA MADRE HONORS AWARDS - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

SIERRA MADRE PUBLIC BLOTTER

During this time period, the Sierra Madre Police 
Department responded to approximately 210 day 
and night time calls for service. 

Monday, August 15 At around 9:50 a.m. officers 
responded to the SMPD station lobby in regards 
to a possible fraud report. The victim alleges that 
a known suspect fraudulently signed and cashed 
checks from a deceased parent’s bank account 
without authorization from the Trustee. Case 
forwarded to Detectives. 

Tuesday, August 16 Officers responded to a report 
of a hit and run accident at 1:07 p.m. in the 400 
block of W. Sierra Madre Bl. The victim stated that 
a vehicle in the parking lot struck their vehicle 
and proceeded to leave the scene without stopping 
to exchange information. Victim and witnesses 
were able to provide information on the suspect 
vehicle and the driver to the investigating officer. 
Case pending 

Wednesday, August 17 At around 2:30 p.m. officers 
were dispatched to a burglary investigation in the 
500 block of E. Laurel Ave. The victim reported he 
left his house at 12:30 p.m. and returned at 2:30 
p.m. to find his front door open and the screen to 
the kitchen window lying on the ground. Several 
personal items of value were stolen including 
a credit card and a package that was delivered 
earlier. The victim later received a text message 
from the bank advising that the credit card had 
been used at two gas stations in neighboring cities. 
Case forwarded to Detectives 

Thursday, August 18 SMPD officers were 
dispatched to the 200 block of San Gabriel Ct. for 
a theft investigation. On August 16, at around 
11:30 p.m. LASD deputies responded to a call of a 
physical altercation. The suspect had left the scene 
prior to the deputy’s arrival. The victim believes 
the known suspect stole personal items belonging 
to the victim. Detectives will follow up on case. 


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