Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, January 23, 2021

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 23, 2021 


WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis

 FEBRUARY 12TH LIBRARY 

VIRTUAL WINE AND CUISINE 
TASTING BENEFIT 

Don’t miss the Virtual Wine and Cuisine Tasting benefit on Friday, February 12, 2021 from 
6:00 to 7:15 PM. The benefit will be hosted by Jeff Champion of Rae’s Place Fine Wine Boutique. 
Rae’s Place is owned and run by the Champion Family: Kate, Raegan (Rae) and Jeff. 
Jeff is native to the San Gabriel Valley. Kate is local, having grown up in Monrovia. Jeff is a 
certified wine expert who brings people together to appreciate the art and science of wine. 
Jeff has arranged a special appearance for you by Lisa and Michael from Sweetzer Cellars 
Wineries.

Inspired by a summer trip to France in 2008, Lisa and Michal began making wine in a 
second story apartment in West Hollywood. “We crushed in the carport, fermented in the 
dining room, and pressed in the kitchen. The bedroom, kept at 60 degrees, served as our cellar.” 
Plan to attend the Library Virtual Wine Tasting to learn more about Lisa and Michael’s 
journey in becoming highly successful California wine makers. 

Whether you are thinking about romance, bromance or a virtual get-together with your best 
gal pals, this is for you!

Tickets are now on sale online at sierramadrelibraryfriends.org. Registration is a 3-step process. 
The $25 registration fee to Friends of Sierra Madre Library, plus price of wines and/
or Appetizer Selections from local Sierra Madre restaurant. To be more specific, after you 
have paid the registration fee on the Friends of Sierra Madre Library, you will be directed 
to Rae’s Place Fine Wine Boutique so you can purchase your wine. Once you purchase your 
wine, you will be provided recipes you can prepare at home that pair with the wines, or directed 
to a local Sierra Madre restaurant where you can pre-order appetizer selections that 
will pair with your wines. Your wine will be delivered to your home a day or two before the 
virtual wine tasting.

The proceeds of this event help support the Library’s programs for children and adults 
throughout the year. For more information about the event or Friends of the Sierra Madre 
Library visit our website at www.sierramadrelibraryfriends.org.

“I have decided to stick with love.” Martin Luther King

What a week we had this last week! Martin Luther King day on Monday, a moment to 
pause and reflect on this great man’s life. The quote goes on to say, “…for I know that love 
is ultimately the only answer to mankind’s problems.” The Inauguration last Wednesday 
seemed to be heading in that same direction…that love is the answer.

Here are a few of the things that made an impression on me:

Eugene Goodman, the Capitol police officer who single-handedly led the mob that broke 
into the Capitol two weeks ago away from the Senate Chamber, escorted the new Vice-
President, Kamala Harris and her husband into the Inauguration. Officer Goodman is 
now acting deputy sergeant -at-arms for the senate. As the mob bore down on the closed 
doors leading to the Senate chamber, from which all members of Congress had not yet 
been evacuated, Goodman intercepted the crowd and retreated down an adjacent hallway 
leading them away from the chamber. Sounds pretty heroic to me!

Bill Clinton making his way over to Mike Pence to greet him and engage him in 
conversation when it looked like Mr. Pence was going to be ignored by all. Kindness 
works!

Senator Amy Klobuchar, first woman elected to represent Minnesota, looked so happy, 
thrilled and excited to be there and her speech promised, “never to take our democracy 
for granted.” Here is my favorite part: “This is the day our democracy picks itself up, 
brushes off the dust and does what America always does, goes forward as a nation, under 
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Snow started to fall but didn’t last long. 
The sun came out and, while it looked really cold, at least everybody didn’t have to sit 
outside under a snowstorm!

The principal ladies all looked terrific. The outfits on Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, 
Laura Bush, Jill Biden and Kamala Harris were all just perfect. Lady Gaga did a nice job on 
the Anthem, but I had to laugh when I saw that a lot of Twitter folks were comparing her 
outfit to costumes worn in the “Hunger Games” movies. The huge golden dove of peace 
on her shoulder with an olive branch clutched in its beak had to be 6” wide and 5” tall. But 
if you’re Lady Gaga, you can pull it off. Remember the meat dress?

Jennifer Lopez sang an interesting version of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” 
which was written as a protest song in 1940. Guthrie wanted to address income inequalities 
in America and the suffering of millions during the Great Depression. When I graduated 
from 8th grade sometime shortly after the discovery of fire, the 8th grade class of St. Paul’s 
in Westwood sang this song. 

I don’t remember who used the quote from Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1981, but I 
loved hearing it: “To few of us here today, this is a solemn and most momentous occasion; 
and yet, in the history of our nation it is a commonplace occurrence. The orderly transfer 
of authority as called for in the Constitution routinely takes place as it has for almost two 
centuries and few of us stop to think how unique we really are. In the eyes of many in the 
world, this every-four-year ceremony we accept as normal is nothing less than a miracle.”


My picture is of the Capitol with a glorious blue sky behind it and flags draped over the 
front of it. I was impressed by the field of flags which covered the National Mall and 
featured flags from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., American Samoa, Guam, Northern 
Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In years past, the Mall was 
stuffed with thousands of people there to see the new President take his oath of office. I 
missed seeing all the people with their children and babies bundled up to be part of this 
historic moment. Flags are nice but just don’t have the same meaning as people. There 
were a few spectators, socially distanced, out in front of the ceremony, but it was kind of 
sad looking.

I was also struck by the presence of soldiers everywhere, making sure the peace would be 
kept. I knew they would be there, but it was startling all the same.

You all saw this, too, and have your own thoughts and memories to take away. I was struck 
by how many times the words, “A more perfect Union…” were spoken. And “without 
unity there is no peace.”

Garth Brooks singing Amazing Grace was a great ending note. And one last observation, 
the real star of the day was the guy who swabbed down the podium before and after every 
speaker, taking a sanitizing wipe out of a blue package and wiping down the top and 
complete front while the next speaker waited. 

All I saw and heard made me think of the Prayer of St. Francis…

“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon; 

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

Stay well!

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

“Sunrises and Sunflowers Speak Hope” 

Is available there, as is 

“A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of Laughter.”

Easter is on its way and “The Crown”

My story about what happened to that crown of thorns

Is now a real book! Also available on Amazon.com

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

Yes, dear readers, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. I will find you a great wine to make a hero 
out of you in the coming weeks. This week we travel back to Paso Robles for a visit to the Justin 
winery, one of the most popular and recognized wineries in Paso Robles. My pick is their Cabernet 
Sauvignon. I have enjoyed many cabernets from Paso, and this one, for the money, just might be my 
favorite. Why? The price is around $25 and I could easily sip this wine all by itself. For me, red wines 
are best when paired with food. Justin is the exception to this rule. However, some soft cheese and 
seasoned crackers might be in order.

 Justin Cabernet is a big, rich wine with a good 
amount of tannin that balances out the thick 
flavors in the glass. Good density and intensity 
with a dose of oak gives the wine a dimension that 
really makes Justin a winner. Along with hints of 
ripe black cherry, blackcurrant and berry fruit with 
vanilla, cinnamon and subtle dried fall leaf accents, 
you’ll find moderate blackcurrant, cherry fruit and 
baking spice flavors on the first taste. 

Justin winery, like many Paso Robles wineries, is a relative newcomer. The first grapes were picked 
in 1981 and, as I mentioned, it just might be the most popular winery in the region, for good reason. 
The winery offers wines from $19 to $100, and this cabernet is on their less expensive side so there’s 
no reason to spend that kind of dough.

This weeks Wine term: Sommelier is a French word for wine steward, often placed held in high 
esteem. Sommeliers have passed tests to earn the right to be called a sommelier.

Dills Score: 91

Closure: Corked

Each week I will give you my Dills Score. Starting with a base of 50 points, I have added 8 points for 
color, 8 points for aroma or “nose”, 8 points for taste, 7 points for finish, and 10 points for my overall 
impression, which includes my value rating.



Join me this Wednesday at 3 PM as Interview Anthony Riboli winemaker on Facebook live, you 
should not miss this interview


SIERRA MADRE POLICE BLOTTER

Grand Theft 
On 01-10-2021 at 8:30AM, a resident in the 00 block of Esperanza 
Ave. filed an on line report regarding an attempted theft of a 
generator that is valued at approximately $5000.00. 
Case pending the outcome of further investigation 

Theft from a Vehicle 
On 01-10-2021, at 7:05PM, officers responded to the 400 block of Manzanita Avenue 
regarding a theft report. The resident said she discovered the glove compartment of her 
unlocked car had been ransacked with unknown paper work taken from the car. 

Outstanding Warrant 
A bicyclist was stopped for a vehicle code violation on 1-11-21 at 9:55PM. During a records 
check the subject returned with a no-bail warrant. The subject was transported to Pasadena 
Jail and booked for the no-bail warrant. 

Possession of Drugs/Paraphernalia 
On 1-12-21 at 12:52AM, officers conducted a consensual encounter of a subject walking 
with a bicycle in the area of N. Santa Anita Ave. The subject later admitted to having a glass 
bulbous pipe. Further investigation determined the subject had a small clear plastic bag 
containing methamphetamine and four bulbous pipes. The subject was cited for possession 
of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Case to DA’s office 

Petty Theft 
Sometime between 1-11-21 at 7:00PM and 1-12-21 at 7:00AM, unknown person(s) entered 
an unlocked vehicle parked in a carport in the 500 block of W. Sierra Madre Bl. and stole 
approximately $25.00 in change. 

Theft from a Vehicle 
Sometime between 1-14-21 at 5:00PM and 1-15-21 at 9:30AM, unknown person(s) entered 
a locked vehicle parked in the 500 block of W. Sierra Madre Bl. by smashing a driver’s side 
rear window. The suspect(s) stole a wallet and several bags from the cargo area of the vehicle. 
Case to Detectives

Theft 
Officers responded at 12:50PM to the 00 block of W. Sierra Madre Bl. for a report of a theft 
from the business. A customer entered the store to make a purchase and left his wallet on 
the counter unattended for a few minutes. When he returned to the counter to complete his 
purchase, he noticed that his wallet was missing. 
Case to Detectives 

Stolen Vehicle 
A resident in the 600 block of W. Sierra Madre Bl. reported his car stolen sometime between 
1-15-21 at 6:00PM and 1-16-21 at 8:00AM.
Case to Detectives

 
January 10, to January 16, 2021 
During this period the Sierra Madre Police Department responded 
to 292 calls for service. 


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