Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, April 4, 2020

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 4, 2020 

MATER DOLOROSA ANNOUNCES 
CANCELLATION OF 2020 GOOD 
FRIDAY STATIONS OF THE CROSS

April 1, 2020 – The Passionists of Holy Cross Province will not open the grounds of the Mater Dolorosa 
Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre to worshippers this Good Friday, April 10, in keeping with 
California’s Stay at Home order.

In recent years, up to 3,500 worshippers have attended Good Friday Services at Mater Dolorosa and 
prayed and meditated at the Retreat Center’s Stations of the Cross and gardens. However, the Retreat 
Center closed its gates last month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will not open them on 
Good Friday.

“We deeply regret having to take this unprecedented action, especially since it is hard to imagine a time 
when prayer and meditation is needed more,” said Michael Cunningham, Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center 
Director. “We ask our regular visitors, and everyone, to use this Good Friday as a time to pray for a 
rapid end to this pandemic and healing for all who have been impacted by this tragic turn of events.”

The Retreat Center will provide online Good Friday services. For information on the services, visit the 
Retreat Center’s website, www.MaterDolorosa.org and our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/MaterDolorosaRetreatCenter 
Thank you for your understanding.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Cunningham, Retreat Center Director 626/355-7188 
mcunningham@materdolorsa.org

The Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center is a ministry of the Passionists of Holy Cross Province. The 
Passionists purchased the 88-acre Retreat Center property in northwest Sierra Madre in 1924 and have 
offered spiritual retreats there since 1926.

WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side 

 by Deanne Davis

“Worry pulls tomorrow’s cloud over today’s sunshine.” 

Harvey Mackay

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, a week before Easter Sunday. On this particular day we gather together 
to commemorate Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey while the crowds spread their 
cloaks before him, waved palm branches, shouted, “Hosanna!” and just generally celebrated this 
man who had walked among them for three years, healing their sick, raising the dead, giving sight 
to the blind, loving their children, and teaching a new way to live, based on love rather than the 
law. Just a few days later, these same people would be shaking their fists and shouting, “Crucify 
him! Crucify him!” 

One of his very own disciples, Judas Iscariot, would betray him with a kiss, having sold Jesus for 
30 pieces of silver. I’ve always wondered if Judas might have regretted betraying Jesus. We don’t 
really know, do we, what happened with Judas, except that it all went wrong. “And Satan entered 
into Judas…” Luke 22:3

I wrote the lyrics to this song as part of “Hands!” The Musical, and my co-writer, David Wheatley, 
composed beautiful music for them. He has sung and played it several times for Good Friday 
services, and it is extremely moving.

“I’d Like Another Yesterday”

“I’d like another yesterday. 

Turn back the hours, make it yesterday.

I’d walk these roads again with you,

Share wine and bread and share the laughter, too.

I’d like…another yesterday,

To feel the sun again upon my face.

To listen to the things you say.

This time, believe you really are…The Way.

And now it’s all come down to this, I’ve betrayed you…with a kiss.

These silver coins fall through my fingers,

Just like petals from a rose.

Too late to change things, I suppose,

Too late to change things, I suppose.

I’d like another yesterday.”

Easter week is certainly going to be different this year what with Stay At Home edicts restricting 
where we go and what we can do. Churches will be live-streaming their services and we will 
all be able to observe Good Friday and Easter itself some way. Last year my family and I sat on 
the grass by the lake here where we live and heard, once again, those wondrous healing words: 
“He is risen! He is risen, indeed!”

Meanwhile, the most encouraging sights I’ve seen this week have been hummingbirds feasting on 
my lavender plants and bees dining on my lemon and orange blossoms. The church we’ve been 
attending came by Crissy’s house just three doors up the street from me, where Jessie and Emily 
live, and created a lovely chalk drawing, embellished with many hearts, on the sidewalk saying:

TCE Kids Love and miss you,

Jessie and Emily

Just a little advice about worrying about our current situation from Dale Carnegie who wrote a 
book entitled, “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living,” originally published in 1948:

1. Analyze the situation honestly and figure out what is the worst possible thing that could 
happen.
2. Prepare yourself mentally to accept the worst, if necessary. (We will never be able to buy 
TP again…or, worse, there won’t be any wine!)
3. Calmly try to improve upon the worst, which you have already agreed mentally to accept.
4. Keep busy, don’t fall apart over trifles, cooperate with the inevitable, decide just how 
much anxiety this situation may be worth and refuse to give it more, don’t worry about the past. 
5. Hang on to your sense of humor with both hands and use it as much as possible. Smile at 
everyone who is 6 feet away from you.


Easter is coming, dear friends and neighbors! We might not be able to see the sunrise at the 
Hollywood Bowl, but we can see it wherever we happen to be and celebrate the fact that we 
will get through this and, hopefully, life will see us more grateful for little things like going out 
to lunch, getting our nails done, and hugging each other. How I miss hugging. We will not be 
defeated!

So wash your hands, drink lots of water, stay home and laugh at all the great jokes that are 
circulating.

This week I’m still leaning on Phil.4:6 “Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about 
everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience 
God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and 
minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

How many Palm Sunday church services have you been to where all the little kids came down 
the aisle brandishing palm fronds with absolutely no clue what they were doing. You won’t be 
seeing that tomorrow so here are some palm fronds to make you smile.

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis – check out

“The Crown” -a great Easter story, available there. 

Take a look at a little preview…

https://youtu.be/Y_pC0X286T8

“Hands!” The Musical is available on TuneCore 

SIERRA MADRE NEWS BRIEFS 

COVID19

WHAT'S GOING ON AT CITY HALL?

All Commission and Board meetings will operate under the Governor's 
Directive suspending certain elements of the Brown Act. 
We will encourage all Commission and Board Members to call in 
for meetings. If they do not prefer calling in, we will limit the number 
of attendees in person, as to not violate the 6 ft. of distance 
practice. We will provide a space for public dialogue/comment as required by law, but will 
strongly encourage public comment to be given by phone, text, or email before and during the 
meeting. 

We are suspending all water/utility service disconnections. We are suspending all late payments 
and penalties for utility bills that come past due during this time period. We will allow 
repayment plans to be made to the maximum practical benefit of the customer during this time 
period. We will consider all financial hardship claims from our residents whose work status is 
impacted during this time period. We will suspend all overnight parking enforcement with the 
exception of parking that is a hazard to public safety during this time period. 

As stated above, this list will change as new or better information becomes available. As a City 
we remain committed to the safety of our employees, their families, and the community. Our 
primary mission at this stage, as a government, is to protect public safety and our first responders 
from any unnecessary exposure, so they can continue to provide critical services and respond 
to the needs of our community. Gabriel L. Engeland City Manager City of Sierra Madre 
626.355.7135 GEngeland@CityofSierraMadre.com www.CityofSierraMadre.com 

City staff are monitoring email communication daily, and although employees are minimizing 
direct engagement and interfacing less with the community, please note that voice messages, 
emails, and social media responses are being addressed in the most efficient and timely manner. 

If at any time additional information is needed, please contact City Hall Administrative Services 
at (626) 355-7135, Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 5:30p, as they are taking messages and 
e-mailing the appropriate person. 

For messages that may trickle in otherwise, please note our team is remotely checking voicemail 
daily at the Community Services Department, 355-5278 x702.


ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST TEMPORARILY 
CLOSES HIGH-USE AREAS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

ARCADIA, CA, APRIL 3, 2020 

In alignment with current Federal, state, and local guidance for social distancing and 
to ensure health safety of its visitors, volunteers and employees, the Angeles National 
Forest will temporarily shut down portions of the San Gabriel Mountains National 
Monument and Los Angeles Gateway Ranger District, effective April 4, 2020 through 
April 30, 2020.

Please refer to the following link for a list os areas impacted by this closure notice:

go.usa.gov/xvYJZ


TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

Wine Sales are surging

Pete’s Pick of the week

SAN SIMEON CABERNET 
SAUVIGNON

We jump up in class a bit this week 
and still stay in California. We are still 
opening the darks reds as we travel to 
Paso Robles. 

Why Paso Robles?

Paso Robles Wine Country is home to plenty of wineries throughout the region. The perfect 
climate for producing award-winning premium wines, Paso Robles Wine Country is located 
in California between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Paso Robles Wine Country is home to 
more than 200 wineries, mostly comprised of boutique and small family-owned vineyards 
and wineries. Speaking of award wining wines from Paso Robles this past week I enjoyed the 
San Simeon Cabernet Sauvignon. And boy did I ever, this Paso Robles stand out is aged for 
at least 18 months in French oak barrels leading to structured tannins** and provides texture 
and depth with a lengthy somewhat spicy finish. 

Winemaker Anthony Riboli tells me that this wine is one of his favorites when he is home 
with his family enjoying a dinner he went on to say “As a fourth generation winemaker, I 
really want every consumer to taste the quality and care that our family imparts into every 
bottle of San Simeon Cabernet Sauvignon. From estate vineyards to artisan winemaking, we 
want the consumer to feel part of our family... to feel special.” Thanks Anthony! With Easter 
fast approaching this reviewer would suggest some dark chocolate though on my tasting I 
enjoyed it with a Firm Cheddar Cheese.

Tannins…. A Dills Definition.. Tannin is the textural element that makes the wine taste dry, 
though I use the word often to describe how is feels on my tongue, thus dry, sandy, bitter 
etc…

Dills Score
Each week I will give you my Dills Score. I have added points for value. I’m starting with a 
base of 50 points; I added 8 points for color, 8 points for aroma or “nose”, 8 points for taste, 
8 points for finish, and 9 points for my overall impression, which includes my value rating.

Total Score 89 Retails for $
25.00 AT VONS


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