STAY SAFE......STAY COOL.....WEAR A MASK! 


VOLUME 14 NO. 34

 SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2020 

PLAYHOUSE LAUNCHES ORAL 
HISTORY PROJECT

Despite its shuttered windows, the Sierra Madre Playhouse has 
been hard at work planning our 2021 season while venturing into 
the new reality of streaming virtual content online. With weekly 
marquee messages, virtual readings, and social media presence, the 
theater is as busy as ever. 

Sierra Madre Playhouse is launching an oral history project intended 
to tell the entire story of the building's nearly 100 years as an entertainment 
venue in Sierra Madre. Production began this summer 
on a series of video interviews detailing its history, as told by those 
who worked or enjoyed it as a movie house as well as a performing 
arts theater. 

The project will shed light on the Sierra Madre Playhouse's history 
from its conversion from a furniture store and undertaker's shop to 
the Wistaria Theater in 1924 to the Sierra Madre Playhouse, as it is 
known today.

This summer, Sierra Madre Playhouse staff has received research 
assistance and production support from seventeen-year-old PUSD 
intern Valentina de la Pena, a senior at Marshall Fundamental in 
Pasadena. Over the past six weeks, she has had a deep dive into 
the history of Sierra Madre while preparing a timeline of the Playhouse's 
role on its main street.

The Playhouse is now inviting the community at large to join in our 
effort. We ask those who have photos, memorabilia and their own 
stories to share from the theater to participate in our interview series 
to be displayed on the Sierra Madre Playhouse's website. If you 
or someone you know might be interested in participating in this 
oral retelling of the Sierra Madre Playhouse's history, please contact 
Volunteer Coordinator Pamela Winters at prwinters@sierramadreplayhouse.
org or http://info@sierramdreplayhouse.org

EXTREME HEAT WARNING 
EXTENDED THROUGH 

AUGUST 26, 2020 FOR 
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY!

The Los Angeles County Health Officer has extended an Extreme Heat Warning 
as high temperatures have been forecast for the following areas:

East San Fernando Valley through Wednesday, August 26

West San Gabriel Valley through Wednesday, August 26

East San Gabriel Valley through Wednesday, August 26

 West San Fernando Valley through Wednesday, August 26

Santa Clarita Valley through Monday, August 24

Antelope Valley through Monday, August 24

Public Health reminds everyone to take precautions to avoid heat-related illness, 
especially older adults, young children, outdoor workers, athletes, and 
people with a chronic medical condition who are especially sensitive to negative 
health impacts from extreme heat. Public Health offers the following recommendations 
during high temperature days:

Drink plenty of water and keep hydrated throughout the day.

If you must go out, plan your day to avoid going out during the hottest hours, 
and wear sunscreen. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothes, and bring a hat or 
umbrella with you.

Cars get very hot. Never leave children or pets in cars and call 911 if you see a 
child or pet in a car alone.

Beware of heat-related illness, like heat stroke and call 911 if you see these 
symptoms: high body temperature, vomiting, and pale and clammy skin.

Check on those at risk, like those who are sick, older adults, pregnant women, 
and children, and those who live alone.

Avoid strenuous work outs wearing face coverings or masks not intended for 
athletic purposes; this means avoiding contact with others while you work out.

Visit your power company’s website or contact them by phone to determine if 
you are scheduled for a rolling power outage.

To find a location near you, visit https://ready.lacounty.gov/heat/ or call 211.

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SIERRA MADRE IS 
GOING 100% 

RENEWABLE OP ED By Robert Parkhurst

Based on data for the first half of the 
year, NASA, the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, 
and other scientific organizations 
forecast that 2020 will be either the 
warmest or second warmest year 
since records began in 1850.

This troubles me. I do not want my 
children growing up in a world with 
increased wildfires, droughts, floods, 
and famine. We are at a critical point 
in the fight against climate change 
and the actions we take in the next 
few years will determine the type of 
world our children and grandchildren 
inherit. 

Thankfully, Sierra Madre is not sitting 
on the sidelines – we are demonstrating 
our long history of environmental 
leadership. Earlier this year the 
City Council voted for all residents to 
start receiving 100% clean, local and 
renewable electricity starting this October. 
This electricity will come from 
projects like the Azalea solar and energy 
storage project in Kern County, 
which will generate enough electricity 
to power more than 25,000 Southern 
California homes. That is enough 
electricity for 5 Sierra Madres! This 
project will come online in December 
2022 and create more than 450 local 
construction jobs.

This electricity comes to us through 
the Clean Power Alliance, an organization 
of 32 cities in Los Angeles and 
Ventura Counties who have banded 
together to purchase electricity on behalf 
of their residents. Not only does 
the Alliance provide us the ability to 
purchase clean energy at a lower cost 
than Southern California Edison, it 
gives us local control over purchasing 
our electricity and gives us the ability 
to design and implement programs 
that directly benefit the residents of 
Sierra Madre. We were one of the 
first cities to sign on to the Alliance. 
As members of the Alliance, a representative 
from the City reviews and 
votes on every one of the Alliance’s 
projects, ensuring that Sierra Madreans 
receive maximum benefit of those 
renewable energy projects. 

In addition to buying renewable electricity, 
the Alliance will be launching 
programs this year that benefit our 
City and community. These include 
residential solar panel and storage 
projects in disadvantaged communities 
and incentives for publicly accessible 
and affordable electric vehicle 
charging stations. 

The cost of going to 100% renewable 
is a modest increase of between 7 and 
9%. Of course, not everyone can afford 
a little extra on their bill. Thankfully, 
we all have options. You can 
switch back to “Clean Power”, which 
is 50% renewable. The Clean Power 
rate keeps your costs the same as they 
are today and you get more renewable 
electricity than that provided by 
Southern California Edison. If money 
is tight, there are other options that 
can reduce your energy bill by as 
much as 30%. Just call 888-585-3788 
and an Alliance customer service representative 
will ensure that you are 
enrolled in a plan that is right for you.

For those, like me, who believe that it 
is important to do our part to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions, paying a 
little more on our electricity bills for 
100% local, renewable energy is a reasonable 
price to pay. We will prevent 
tens of thousands of tons of CO2 from 
entering the atmosphere every year 
while creating sustainable jobs for local 
residents.

Sierra Madre has shown tremendous 
leadership, first in joining the Clean 
Power Alliance, and now in voting 
to default to 100% renewable energy. 
This is one of the reasons I decided to 
run for City Council. I want to build 
on our commitment to provide affordable 
local and renewable electricity 
to our residents and community. 
Together we can reduce the most 
significant impacts of climate change, 
but only if we act now.

Robert Parkhurst is the vice chair of 
Sierra Madre’s Energy, Environment, 
and Natural Resources Commission 
and vice chair of the Community Advisory 
Committee for the Clean Power 
Alliance, Sierra Madre’s electricity 
provider. He is also running for Sierra 
Madre City Council and one of his priorities 
is keeping Sierra Madre an environmental 
leader.