LATEST LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEALTH ORDERS....Page 7

 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020 


VOLUME 14 NO. 50VOLUME 14 NO. 50

SIERRA MADRE ZOOMS

Without Question COVID-19 Has Changed The Way We All Do Things. However 
in Sierra Madre, Not Even A Pandemic Can Deter The City From Moving Forward.

A GRATEFUL CITIZENRY SAYS 
THANKS AND FAREWELL TO 

FORMER MAYORS CAPOCCIA 
AND HARABEDIAN AND 

WELCOMES NEWLY ELECTED 
COUNCIL MEMBERS 

Sierra Madre without question 
is an 'All American City'. 
In the backdrop of the chaos 
which continues in Washington, 
this quiet village is a 
shining example of how a democracy 
works. As Councilman 
and Former Mayor Gene 
Goss said, Sierra Madre is "a 
model for other cities".

Councilmembers John 
Capoccia and John Harabedian, 
who served on the council 
since 2012 and who both have 
served as Mayor, decided not 
to run for re-election in 2020. 
Tuesday's meeting was their 
last official act as part of Sierra 
Madre's elected leaders. 

 They received Proclamations from Assemblyman Chris Holden and 
Congresswoman Judy Chu as well as a video message from State Senator 
Anthony Portantino. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger attended 
the Zoom meeting to not only thank them for their service but 
also to swear in the new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Luther Tsinoglou, 
President of the Sierra Madre Chamber also made presentations 
to all, including outgoing City Clerk Sue Spears.

 Prior to their departure, the entire council narrated a powerpoint 
presentation that was an overview of all the City Council's accomplishments 
since the last election. The presentation was an excellent 
review for the new councilmembers and a 'must see' for residents. 
You can view it by going to http://www.foothillsmedia.org/
sierramadre#sierramadre1 

 Elected by the citizens on November 3rd to fill the vacancies for the 
four year terms were Kelly Kriebs and Robert Parkhurst. Also elected 
was Edward Garcia to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Denise 
Delmar and Michael Amerio who ran unopposed and was re-elected 
as City Treasurer.

 The newly elected officials were sworn in by the outgoing City Clerk 
Sue Spears. 

 During the election, residents also voted to change the office of the 
City Clerk to an appointed position. Until a new city clerk is appointed 
by the City Manager, Assistant City Clerk Laura Aguilar will serve 
as the Interim Clerk.

 Mrs. Spears last official acts were to swear in the newly elected officials, 
and to preside over the election by the new council leadership. 
She was greatly praised for her professionalism in handing her 
position. 

 The new council elected Rachelle Arizmendi as Mayor and Gene 
Goss as Mayor Pro Tem who were sworn in by Los Angeles County 
Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

 Voter apathy was definitely not an issue in Sierra Madre. According 
to Asst. City Clerk Laura Aguilar the LA County Registrar of voters 
reported 88.2% of registered Sierra Madre voters exercised their 
rights. LA County only had 75.98% registered voter participation. 

MVNews

OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY 
SERVICE RECOGNIZED FOR 
EFFORTS DURING 2020 AT 

VIRTUAL DINNER EVENT 

On Thursday, the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce and the City of 
Sierra Madre held its' annual Honors Dinner recognizing volunteers and 
employees who were instrumental during 2020 at a celebratory virtual 
event. 

Normally, there is an gathering where everyone can socialize and have 
face to face contact with the awardees. This year, more than 114 attended 
virtually. To help local restaurants everyone who signed up was 
treated to take out dinners at nine participating local eateries. And, in 
the spirit of Sierra Madre, many attendees donned purple attire the official 
color of the town before they zoomed in.

 Awardees were nominated by the community and/or their employer for 
demonstrating extraordinary resolve in helping sustain the City of Sierra 
Madre, its' residents and businesses during the current pandemic. 

Recognized for their efforts were:

EXEMPLARY EMPLOYEE LEILA REGAN who as a city staffer at the 
Library went above and beyond 
her paid duties to help the citizens 
of Sierra Madre.

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 
TEVIN VOONG, Communications 
Coordinator 

LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD CHRIS 
CIMINO, Public Works Director: This 
was the first time this recognition was 
given. City Manager Gabe Engeland also 
announced that this award will be called 
in the future The Chris Cimino Lifetime 
Service Award

WISTARIA AWARD which recognizes a 
Community Partnership that assists with providing community wide 
programs and service was granted to SIERRA MADRE THRIVES 
which was started by business owners and friends in Sierra Madre to 
support the businesses of SM during the Pandemic; provide a weekly 
dinner free to those that need it in Sierra Madre and organize volunteers 
to help our neighbors. The award was accepted by Tom Denison who 
announced that with the increased spread of the virus, the group was going 
to 'reactivate'. For more information go to: https://www.smthrives.
com/

THE GEORGE MAURER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for 
a person/entity whose lifetime of service embodies the spirit of volunteerism 
was presented by George's daughter (George turned 98 earlier 
this year), Mikki Poretta to Kiwanis President and long time community 
volunteer and business person, JUDY WEBB-MARTIN.

THE 2020 BUSINESSES OF THE YEAR for an outstanding business 
existing in 
Sierra Madre has 
been an active 
supporter of the 
community was 
granted to two 
entities which 
cross generations 
in ownership 
but with a 
shared commitment 
to Sierra 
Madre: DON 
TAYLOR AT 
TAYLOR'S OL' FASHIONED 
MARKET who has been serving the area for 54 years (51 of 
them in Sierra Madre) and MADISON HOPKINS, AT FIT BAR SUPER 
FOOD CAFE. Madison, who is a 3rd generation Sierra Madrean, 
opened her cafe in 2019 and was immediately challenged with trying to 
exist during the Pandemic. She has not only kept the doors open serving 
the community but has availed her business to assist in supporting 
other charitable organizations and families needing assistance as a result 
of the current crisis.

 This year, two persons were awarded the 2020 CITIZENS OF THE 
YEAR which is for residents who have benefited the city during 2020 as 
a volunteer. The Awards this year also crossed generations. They were 
awarded to ROBERT GJERDE who created SIERRA MADRE MAJOR 
EVENTS Facebook Page and monitored it 24/7 with valuable information 
on the Pandemic, the LA County Response and the Bobcat fire. 
He did this while also keeping his commitments to his other volunteer 
endeavors such as CERT.

 MEGHAN MALOOLY, THE FOUNDER OF SIERRA MADRE 
HELPING HAND was also bestowed with the Citizen of the Year 
Award. The effort was created by Mehan through the generosity of 
neighbors to help find families that are in need of of financial assistance 
for buying groceries and other essential items. 

To view the entire Awards Show, go to: https://bit.ly/HonorsDinnerCSM


Mayor Rachelle Arizmendi above

Departing Councilmembers Harabedian 
and Capoccia below


Leila Regan

Tevin Voong


Wilma and Don Taylor


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