SIERRA MADRE EDITION


SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017 

VOLUME 11 NO. 5

MT. WILSON TRAIL NEEDS YOUR HELP

MAN TOSSES 
EXPLOSIVE INTO LOCAL 
EATERY By Dean Lee

At press time, Pasadena Police were still looking for a man who 
threw a small explosive into a crowded Old Pasadena restaurant 
Thursday night causing customers to panic as they evacuated, 
leaving personal belongings and half eaten meals behind.

According to Police Lt. Art Chute, officers responded shortly 
after 6 p.m. to the Cheesecake Factory located at 2 West Colorado 
Blvd. Witnesses said a man opened the front doors, lit and threw 
a round object inside landing near the bar area. Some witness said 
the object landed under a table, exploded, and then poured heavy 
smoke. 

Police Lt. Vasken Gourdikian, Friday called the object a “glorified 
firecracker” saying the situation was most likely a prank. Pasadena 
Mayor Terry Tornek also told reporters the object was more like a 
firecracker than a bomb. 

 Still, out of caution, Federal authorities were notified, however 
officials from the FBI said the incident was being handled by local 
Pasadena Police Detectives.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad 
responded first to the scene and rendered the device safe. No 
customers or employees were injured. 

Witnesses described the suspect as a Male of Hispanic or Middle 
Eastern descent, 6 foot, thin build, with a heavy beard and wearing 
all black clothing and a black beanie. The suspect ran from the 
scene. No getaway car was spotted.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call 
Pasadena Police at 626- 744-4241 or you may report information 
anonymously at lacrimestoppers.com (insert key word Pasadena).


232 W.SIERRA MADRE IMMEDIATE Media VIOLATIONSierraMadre, CA.–February 1, 2017–contacted the Sierra Madre Police Department home when she heardasound the resident saw a male Hispanic foot, eastbound down the drivewayof her Officers responding to the area observed violation of 5200(a) V.C,no frontorrear driverreturned with a warrant out of While conducting an inventory search along with2 masks.Inside thesuspect’s Anthony Luke Madrid, was transported 20150(a) P.C., suspect in possessionof While not a newtechnique, “knock-knock neighborhoodsin the SanGabriel Valley. majority of them travel in luxury cars with Anthony Luke Madrid 
232 W.SIERRA MADRE BLVD.SIERRA MADRE,CA 91024T.626.355.7135 F.626.355.2251FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Media Contact:Donna Cayson, Police CaptainAgency Name: Cityof Sierra MadreEmail: city@cityofsierramadre.comTelephone Number: 626.355-5427Website: www.cityofsierramadre.comWEAPONS VIOLATIONSierraMadre, CA.–February 1, 2017–On January 31, 2017 a Sierra Madre residentin the 2000 block of LilianoDr.,
contacted the Sierra Madre Police Department regarding a suspicious occupied vehicle. The resident statedshe home when she heardasound coming from her "Ring Home Security" doorbell. When viewing the livestreamvideo, the resident saw a male Hispanic in his 20's walk up to the porch,lookto the left, then to the right, andfleeon 
foot, eastbound down the drivewayof her home andenter the driver’s side door of a Range Roverwith paper plates.
Officers responding to the area observed avehicle matching the description providedbythe resident. The vehicle violation of 5200(a) V.C,no frontorrear license plates, soa traffic stopwas initiated.Awant and warrant check driverreturned with a warrant out of San Bernardino.
While conducting an inventory search of the vehicle, animitation firearm(with the orange tip removed)was located 
along with2 masks.Inside thesuspect’s vehicleweretwo(2) license platesthat belong to the vehicle.The suspect,
Anthony Luke Madrid, was transported to the West Valley Detention Center and booked on his warrant. He was 20150(a) P.C., suspect in possessionof an imitation firearm with the orange tip removed.
While not a newtechnique, “knock-knock burglars”driving luxury cars are believed to be targeting affluent 
neighborhoodsin the SanGabriel Valley. Often times,burglars make phone callsinto homes before breaking in and a 
majority of them travel in luxury cars with paper plates.
###
Anthony Luke Madrid
Damage by recent rains may jeopardize Trail Race if not repaired. The 
recent rains have inflicted damage on both the Mt. Wilson Trail and the 
Bailey Canyon Trail. Both trails have been badly damaged and blocked by 
sliding mud, debris and ground failure. A team of local trail volunteers, led 
by Charlie Bell and Pete Siberell are working to repair the Mt. Wilson Trail 
and make sure that it is open and safe. Pete is the Race Director of our very 
own Mt. Wilson Trail Race and leads teams of hard working volunteers 
up the trail every year from January to May to make sure the trail is open 
and safe for the race. Charlie Bell is a local iconic hero and he has been 
maintaining both the Bailey Canyon Trail and the Mt. Wilson Trail for 
over 30 years.

Want to Volunteer?

Charlie and Pete are looking for new people who work out and race on the 
trail and want to give back….which means that not counting our usual 15 
or so regular trail workers, there are hundreds of you who have not had 
the chance to experience trail work and give some back. Why not make it 
happen this year…you will be helping the trail and getting a workout in at 
the same time! 

 Mt. Wilson Trail work days are scheduled for (all Sundays): February 26, 
March 26, April 30, May 14 and May 21. Volunteers are to meet at Lizzie's 
Trail Inn at 7:00am. It is asked that people (ages 18 and over) bring water, 
gloves and sun protection. They also need to email Pete Siberell if interested 
(psiberell@santaanita.com) so that there will be enough tools for everyone. 
Figure on working until about 11:00A to 11:30A, and we will be off the trail 
by noon with a brief stop to re-hydrate at the trail head.

 Last week 
there were 15 
hard-working 
and community-
minded volunteers 
who replaced two 
stretches of fence 
that was damaged 
during the rains. 
If not for these 
repairs, some of 
the trail would be 
unpassable in areas.

Donations Needed:

 Charlie and Pete are supported by the Fletcher Fund as part of the Sierra 
Madre Community Foundation. The Fletcher Fund provides money so 
materials and tools can be bought for the trail repair work. It is administered 
by the Sierra Madre Community Foundation. Without these critical 
donations the volunteers could not do their work on these historic trails. 
Any donation, large or small is tax deductible. Please send it to The Sierra 
Madre Community Foundation Fletcher Fund, P.O. Box 716, Sierra Madre, 
CA 91025. Please make any check payable to the "SMCF-Fletcher Fund.

 If you can't donate any time, please consider supporting the team with a 
donation to the Fletcher Fund. (Trail Photos courtesy of Tommie Silva and 
Bob Spears)

SUSPECT ARRESTED THANKS TO 
ALERT RESIDENT

 On January 31, 2017 a Sierra Madre
resident in the 2000 block of Liliano 
Dr., contacted the Sierra Madre Police 
Department regarding a suspicious 
occupied vehicle. The resident stated 
she was inside her home when she heard 
a sound coming from her “Ring Home 
Security” doorbell. When viewing the 
live stream video, the resident saw a male 
Hispanic in his 20’s walk up to the porch, 
look to the left, then to the right, and flee 
on foot, eastbound down the driveway of 
her home and enter the driver’s side door 
of a Range Rover with paper plates. 

 Officers respond-ing to the area 
observed a vehicle 
matching the 
description provided 
by the resident. 
The vehicle was in 
violation of 5200(a) 
V.C, no front or 
rear license plates, 
so a traffic stop was 
initiated. A want and 
warrant check of the 
driver returned with 
a warrant out of San 
Bernardino. 

 While conducting 
an inventory search 
of the vehicle, an 
imitation firearm 
(with the orange 
tip removed) was 
located along with 2 
masks. 

 Inside the sus-
pect’s vehicle were 
two (2) license 
plates that belong 
to the vehicle. The 
suspect, Anthony 
Luke Madrid, was 
transported to 
the West Valley 
Detention Center 
and booked on his warrant. He was also cited for 20150(a) P.C., 
suspect in possession of an imitation firearm with the orange 
tip removed. While not a new technique, “knock-knock 
burglars” driving luxury cars are believed to be targeting affluent 
neighborhoods in the San Gabriel Valley. Often times, burglars 
make phone calls into homes before breaking in and a majority of 
them travel in luxury cars with paper plates. 

ONE BOOK ONE 
CITY UPDATE

JPL: Powered by STEAM! by 
Dr. Steve Cornford, started 
February’s One Book One 
City events with a tour of the 
universe and its splendor at the 
Sierra Madre Public Library on 
February 1. Cornford, shared 
images of planets, stars, and solar 
systems that are the “Art” part of 
STEAM (Science, Technology, 
Engineering, Art & Math). HE 
is with the Strategic Systems 
Office at NASA/JPL/Caltech. 

Rise of the Rocket Girls: The 
Women Who Propelled Us, 
from Missiles to the Moon to 
Mars by Nathalia Holt is this 
year’s choice for the One Book 
One City Program sponsored by 
the Library in February 2017. 

 Other sensational events in 
February are: 

 Thursday, Feb. 16, at 11:00 
am - Third Thursday Book Club 
- Rise of the Rocket Girls at 
Library. 

 Thursday, Feb. 16, at 4:00-5:00 
pm, Community Recreation 
Center. - STEAM Club. Discovery 
Dome Planetarium for Children! 
Spend an hour learning about 
space. Registration is required 
and space is limited. 

 Thursday, Feb. 16, at 5:00-
6:00 pm, Community Recreation 
Center. - Discovery Dome 
Planetarium for Adults! Take a 
journey through the universe. 

 Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3:00 pm 
Saturday Afternoon Movie – 
Iron Giant , at the Library. 

 Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:00 pm 
Nathalia Holt , in the Sierra 
Madre Elementary School 
Auditorium. 

 Nathalia Holt, author of Rise 
of the Rocket Girls, is a science 
writer and author of Cured: 
The People who Defeated HIV 
. Her work has appeared in 
The New York Times, The Los 
Angeles Times, The Atlantic, 
Slate, Popular Science, and Time 
Magazine. 

SIERRA MADRE CHAMBER STARTS 
NEW YEAR WITH NEW LEADERSHIP

Beginning with the celebration of 
Sierra Madre’s Citizens of the Year 
dinner last week honoring Rod and 
Joan Spears, 2017 is promising to 
be a busy one for the Sierra Madre 
Chamber of Commerce. 

 At that dinner, the newly elected 
Board of Directors was introduced. 
Steve Sciurba, known in the city 
as the public face of Kensington 
Senior Living was elected as 
President with local realtor Carol 
Canterbury as Vice President. Also 
elected were realtor ary Janette
Ledea as Secretary, Mountain Views 
News Editor Susan Henderson as 
Treasurer and Luther Tsinoglou 
(Podley Properties), Elizabeth Booth (Santa Anita Race Track), Ed 
Chen (Athens Services). Completing unexpired terms are Directors 
Tonia Patino and Denise Delmar.

 As incoming President, Steve Sciurba want the community to 
know that the Chamber of Commerce wants to promote a strong 
economic climate in town without overwhelming 
the city’s village character. “We want members and 
the community at large know that we draw by the 
power of partnerships. 

 The Chamber is dedicated to ensure that our village 
remains the desired place to live, work, play, and buy 
products or services local.”

 The 2017 Wistaria 
Festival is next on 
the agenda. The 
annual event will 
be held on Sunday, 
March 12, 2017 and 
will include shuttles 
to view the historic 
vine, day long 
musical festivities, 
over 100 crafters and 
food vendors, and 
car show. 

 Tickets for the 
shuttle are available online by going to the Chamber’s 
website: www.sierramadrechamber.com or go 
to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-wistaria-
festival-tickets-21266458550. 


Steve Sciurba, 
2017 SM Chamber President


February, 2017