SIERRA MADRE 4THOF JULY COMMITTEEPOBox1073,SierraMadreCA 91025James Annes,Chair626-355-5278May3,2018Immediate 4thof JulyGrandMarshalSteve HeydorffThevolunteersof theSierraMadre4th of July Committeearepleasedandexcitedtoannouncethatthe2018FourthofJulyParadeGrandMarshalwillbeSierraMadre’sveryownSteveHeydorff. “TheGrandMarshalisapersonorpersonswhoseeffortsoveralongperiod of timehasbeen beneficial to the community of Sierra Madre. work,SierraMadre’sFireChief afterserving37years(on theSierraMadreFireDepartment.Steve spentthe last39years makingSierraMadrehishome. 
Hemovedherein 1979with hiswifeLynetteandeventuallythey raisedtwodaughters,FarrellandGillian.onBrooksideLane.
Chief Heydorff joined thethen Volunteer becameavolunteerEngineerin volunteerCaptainin1989,andin servingpart-Prevention Bureau.
In 1993servingon aStateStrikeTeamStevevisitedfourmajorfiresin Mesa,AnaheimHills,LagunaandMalibu.In2002,andin 2003spentamonth helpingin In2006hewashiredby theCity astheDirectorof was electedas the City’slastandfinalVolunteerFireChief.to a paidChief by the City in 2008. Over the course he respondedtoover9000 calls,wastheleadingforcetobringparamedicservicetothecommunity andassistedtheCity withthetransitionfromthelastvolunteerfire
SIERRA MADRE EDITION

 SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2018 

VOLUME 12 NO. 18

4TH OF JULY GRAND MARSHAL STEVE HEYDORFF 


The volunteers of the Sierra Madre 
4th of July Committee are pleased 
and excited to announce that the 
2018 Fourth of July Parade Grand 
Marshal will be Sierra Madre’s very 
own Steve Heydorff. “The Grand 
Marshal is a person or persons 
whose efforts over a long period 
of time has been beneficial to the 
community of Sierra Madre. The 
title of Grand Marshal is intended to 
honor a person or persons’ volume 
of work, dedication and overall 
enhancements to our community.” 
Steve recently retired as Sierra 
Madre’s Fire Chief after serving 
37 years (mostly volunteer) on the 
Sierra Madre Fire Department. 
Steve really is our Hometown Hero 
making a difference in our lives 
every day. 

 Steve spent the last 39 years making Sierra Madre his 
home. He moved here in 1979 with his wife Lynette and 
eventually they raised two daughters, Farrell and Gillian. 
His first volunteer act was the building of a covered bridge 
in the Sierra Madre Canyon on Brookside Lane. 

 Chief Heydorff joined the then Volunteer Fire 
Department in 1981, became a volunteer Engineer in 
1985, volunteer EMT in 1988, volunteer Captain in 
1989, and in 2001 continuing his volunteer duties and 
began serving part-time in the City’s Fire Prevention 
Bureau. 

 In 1993 serving on a State Strike Team Steve visited four 
major fires in a 56 hour period including Kineloa-Mesa, 
Anaheim Hills, Laguna and Malibu. In 2002, he was 
promoted to volunteer Battalion Chief and in 2003 spent 
a month helping in Mississippi and 
Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. 
In 2006 he was hired by the City as 
the Director of Fire Services and 
in 2007 was elected as the City’s 
last and final Volunteer Fire Chief. 
The position was transitioned to 
a paid Chief by the City in 2008. 
Over the course of his service in 
Sierra Madre, he responded to over 
9000 calls, was the leading force 
to bring paramedic service to the 
community and assisted the City 
with the transition from the last 
volunteer fire department in Los 
Angeles County to a combination 
model. He’s final act was to create 
a children’s education area next to 
the Station so youth tours could 
continue and kids could learn what 
firefighters do while on the job. 

 In his free time, Steve and local firefighter Charlie 
Childs opened the Sierra Madre Brewing Company in 
1997 at the Old Ice House on Montecito and he got his 
pilot license. 

 Steve proudly states that his biggest accomplishment is 
seeing all the career firefighters who began their careers 
volunteering right here in Sierra Madre, finding their 
passion and following their dreams. 

 Overall, as a true Hometown Hero, Steve is a dedicated 
husband, father and friend to many. He is funny, kind, 
generous, and a whole-heartedly devoted contributor to 
our town; a shining example of the sort of person who 
makes Sierra Madre such a magical place to live. 

 For more information on all of the 4th of July Festivities, 
please visit www.sierramadre4thofjuly.com. 

TOO MUCH TRAFFIC IN THE VILLAGE?

Is technology eroding the village nature of Sierra Madre

Despite the best efforts of the citizens of Sierra Madre, the world beyond its boundaries are slowly 
bringing about unwanted changes. In this instance the villain isn’t some money grubbing capitalist, but 
rather the town has become another victim via the unintentional consequence of technology. 

Last week this paper reported on an accident caused by an out of control vehicle. Earlier this week, the 
Mountain Views News was contacted by resident Scott Bernstein who was a few feet away from the scene 
and who narrowly escaped being struck by the SUV. Still audibly shaken, Bernstein who is blind, was in 
the yard with his service dog when it happened. While sharing the details of his harrowing experience, 
the conversation changed to the increased frequency of traffic and its impact on Sierra Madre.

While it is a fact that the population of Sierra Madre has not fluctuated much in the last few decades 
(10,000 – 11,000+ residents), it is also a fact that the amount of traffic that traverses the streets has 
increased dramatically.

So, if the demographics of the town is pretty stable, what has changed? According to Captain Donna 
Cayson the number of traffic incidents, including accidents and moving violations such as speeding 
and illegal turns is on a steady rise. Streets like Grandview, Sierra Madre Boulevard, Orange Grove, 
Mountain Trail, Highland, Lima and Sunnyside have been burdened with additional traffic without any 
regard for the the expectedsafety and tranquility of the town. Much of the increased traffic is believed 
to be the result of motorists' increased use of GPS systems such as WAZE which encourages users to 
go through city streets and avoid slow freeway traffic. The headline of a story that appeared in the 
New York Times last year perhaps said it best, "Navigation Apps Are Turning Quiet Neighborhoods Into 
Traffic Nightmares." Smartphone services like Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps, send too much 
traffic through the heretofore quiet streets in town. Add to that the propensity of some residents to get 
everywhere in a hurry, signs like one posted on Sunnyside have started to appear. It says, “Drive like 
your child lives here” 

 So what can be done to suppress this unwanted traffic flow? Residents like Bernstein would like to see 
more speed bumps in town. Others would like to see more enforcement activities.

 The city is very aware of the growing problem, as residents do express their traffic concerns to City Hall 
according to CM Gabe Engeland. The challenge however, is to find solutions that not only help curtail 
the Sierra Madre 210 Alternative traffic flow, but does not have a negative impact on the residents of 
Sierra Madre who want to keep the town with safe streets and traffic light free.

S, Henderson/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