Mountain Views News, Combined edition

Combined Edition

Inside this Week:

Things to Do Places to Go:

Sierra Madre:
Walking SM … The Social Side
Monastery Minute
Preserve Sierra Madre
Letter to the Editor

SM Community Calendar:
SM Calendar of Events

Pasadena – Altadena:

Altadena · So. Pasadena · San Marino:
San Marino Events

Best Friends and More:
Chef Peter Dills
Table for Two
Christopher Nyerges
SM Playhouse Presents
Katnip News!
Pet of the Week

The Good Life:
Family Matters
Out to Pastor
Senior Happenings

Education & Youth:

Support Your Local Businesses:

Opinion:
Now That's Rich
Dick Polman
Stuart Tolchin On …
The Funnies

Legal Notices:

Sports:

Support Your Local Businesses:

Columnists:
Deanne Davis
Peter Dills
Marc Garlett
Robert Gjerde
Rich Johnson
Christopher Nyerges
Rev. James Snyder
Stuart Tolchin

Recent Issues:
Issue 14
Issue 13
Issue 12
Issue 11
Issue 10
Issue 9
Issue 8
Issue 7
Issue 6
Issue 5
Issue 4

Archives:
MVNews Archive:  Page 1

MVNews this week:  Page 1

SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2022 VOLUME 16 NO. 15VOLUME 16 NO. 15 
real estate 
Jan Greteman 626.975.4033 
jan@jangreteman.com 
jangreteman.com #01943630 
Judy Webb-Martin 626.688.2273 
jwmartin@dppre.com #00541631 
Katie Orth 626.688.0418 
korth@dppre.com #00942500 
Your Story. Your Home. Your Team. 
Together Stronger. 
WebbMartinGroup.comWe continue to be so appreciative of all our 
clients whom we have been able to support. 
Despite everything, we are NEVER too busy 
to support you. Feel free to reach out to 
any of us with questions about the market 
and/or if you are interested in moving 
forward with selling or buying a home. 
Averages-Jan-March 2022 
Averages-Jan-March 2021 
3 
3 
3 
3 
2,124 
2,036 
12,983 
11,072 
$879 
$659 
$1,536,457 
$1,266,656 
$1,685,789 
$1,250,416 
Address Beds Baths SF SF Lot Price SFList Price Sold Price 
Single-Family Homes Averages 
Averages-Jan-March 2022 
Averages-Jan-March 2021 
2 
2 
2 
3 
1,213 
1,318 
$650 
$624 
$775,725 
$775,725 
$788,750 
$811,000 
Address Beds Baths SF Price SFList Price Sold Price 
Condominiums Homes Averages 
AREA MARKET REPORT JAN-MARCH 2022 
Sierra Madre 
Prices of Single-Family Homes in Sierra Madre were 
up by a whopping 34% for the 1st quarter of 2022. 
It’s a great time to sell and we understand 
how to maximize your home’s value! 
471 Auburn Avenue 
Sierra Madre 91024 
4 Beds | 4 Baths | 3,679 sf | 11,179 sf Lot 
Contemporary Craftsman Listed at $2,499,000 
JUST LISTED | Open House Sunday 2-4pm 
8:30am to 2:00pm 
Saturday, April 23rd 
30 North Baldwin Avenue 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024 
Looking To Dispose Of 
Your Sensitive Documents? 
Stop by and drop-off 
your documents safely. 
471Auburn.comOvercrowdingcauses push forrelocation 
By Kevin McGuire 
During a special meeting, CityCouncil authorized the purchase 
of the property at 350 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd. with the vision that 
it will be a new facility for Police 
and some public safety opera-
tions in the city. 
The building is the site of the 
old Bank of America, which sits 
adjacent to Pantorium Cleaners 
and directly across from Tacos 
Ensenada on N. Lima St. and W. 
Sierra Madre Blvd. The property, 
over 9,000 square feet, will give 
the Police Department the extra 
space they need compared to the 
current, cramped situation at 
242 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., that 
they share with the Fire Depart-
ment. The Fire Department will 
remain at its current location. 
For many years, Sierra Madre 
prided itself on an all-volunteer 
Fire Department, and the cur-
rent location served its pur-
pose. In 2019, the department 
switched to full-time employees. 
Chief Brent Bartlett cited many 
concerns the department faces 
now, including lack of locker 
space to store equipment and 
gear and minimum toilets and 
shower facilities. “Both public 
safety departments have out-
grown the building, especially 
combined,” Chief Barlett stated. 
The Chief also mentioned the 
need to move away from dorm-
style sleeping arrangements and 
have separate areas for staff to 
sleep, especially in the age of 
COVID-19. Sleeping with masks 
on became the norm during the 
peak of the pandemic. 
The 242 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
firehouse dates back 50 years 
when there weren’t as many fe-
male firefighters, and updates 
must be made to accommodate 
everyone. Staff currently uses 
their one common room for eat-
ing, training, meetings, and edu-
cation. They are in need of more 
storage space for equipment, pa-
perwork, and medical supplies. 
Police Chief Roderick Armalin 
articulated many of the same 
concerns with overcrowding, 
adding health and safety con-
cerns. “Employees need spaces 
when they need a minute to get 
away and de-stress and get them-
selves together to deal with some 
of their issues,” Chief Armalin 
stated. The Police department 
has expanded in the last few 
years with a few more part-time 
positions filled. Chief Armalin 
pointed out the cramped spaces 
citing that some officers have 
no lockers, the female facilities 
are inadequate, and the small 
dispatch station lacks privacy as 
public members can hear police 
calls in the background. 
After some discussion, CityCouncil unanimously and en-
thusiastically authorized the 
purchase of the Bank of America 
building for $3.4 million, plus 
closing costs, in two installments. 
Approximately $2.1 million 
will come from surplus bud-
geted revenue, the rest from the 
General Fund. Bank of America 
would have to agree and sign the 
sale agreement. Once complete, 
an environmental impact report 
will be required. If all goes well, 
the building could be in escrow 
by May 28th. 
UPDATE BREAKING NEWS: 
On Friday, April 8, 2022, the City 
of Sierra Madre issued a press 
release regarding the purchase 
which included the following 
statement: 
"The City learned that its pur-
chase offer had been accepted 
and on April 5, 2022 the Coun-
cil met in a Special meeting to 
authorize the City to pay $3.4 
million plus closing costs for the 
purchase of the Property. The 
building is being considered 
as the new location for the Si-
erra Madre Police Department 
and will require some renova-
tions to conform with ADA 
requirements. 
As a condition of acquisition, 
the Planning Commission is re-
quired to find that the acquisi-
tion is consistent with the City’s 
General Plan. The PlanningCommission must adopt a reso-
lution regarding general plan 
consistency before the close of 
escrow. 
Mayor Goss stated that, “pru-
dent financial decisions by the 
last City Council and the current 
Council have built City reserves 
and make it possible to manage 
this purchase. 
This purchase will move our 
City ahead in a historic way. To 
be able to make this type of in-
vestment is a statement about 
the importance of public safetyin our community.” 
SIERRA MADRE POLICE 
DEPARTMENT BANKING 
ON A NEW HOMEOn Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the 
Sierra Madre Planning Commis-
sion had just one item on the 
agenda -A public hearing on 
The Meadows At Bailey Canyon 
development. The hearing drew 
more than 150 people advocating 
their position on the project and 
at times, advocates on both sides 
of the issue expressed their con-
cerns with considerable passion. 
The project which has been the 
subject of controversy for years. 
At Tuesday’s hearing, it was rec-
ommended that the PlanningCommission review the appli-
cations submitted by The Con-
gregation of the Passion, Mater 
Dolorosa Community, in part-
nership with New Urban West, 
Inc., to construct 42 single-fam-
ily detached residential units re-
ferred to as the “The Meadows at 
Bailey Canyon Specific Plan.” 
City staff recommended, “based 
upon substantial evidence pre-
sented to the Planning Commis-
sion during the public hearings 
conducted with regard to this 
Project”, that the Commission 
“• Certify the Environmental 
Impact Report (EIR) and adopt 
the Mitigation Monitoring and 
Reporting Program; and 
• Approve amendments to 
the General Plan and Land Use 
Map and Zoning Code and Zon-
ing Map to change the project 
site from Institutional to Single-
Family Residential Specific Plan 
Overlay; and 
• Approve the Specific Plan; 
and 
• Approve the Lot Line Adjustment, and 
• Approve the DevelopmentAgreement. The recommenda-
tion may be made pursuant to 
applicable findings pursuant to 
Planning Commission Resolu-
tions 22-10 and 22-11, included 
herein.” 
Once the commission votes on 
those items, they will be sent to 
the city council for final approval 
or rejection. 
The meeting went on for more 
than 4 hours which included in-
put from all involved with the 
project including representatives 
of the Monastery, Consultants 
involved with the project, New 
Urban West and Dudek and city 
staff. In addition there was a 
lengthy public comment period 
where both opponents and sup-
porters of the project spoke. 
In the end, the commission re-
quested additional information 
so that they could “see what the 
project will look like” as it re-
lates to the proposed changes. 
Arrangements will be made for 
commissioners to go to the proj-
ect site and be able to compare 
what is being proposed versus 
what currently exists. The visit 
will be compliant with Brown Act 
regulations.
It was unanimously agreed that 
no decisions would be made at 
that time. The hearing was con-
tinued until May 5, 2022. Chair-
man Pesvner adjourned the 
meeting shortly after 11 pm. 
PLANNING COMMISSION 
MEETING DRAWS OVERFLOW 
AUDIENCE 
SMPD DEESCALATES 
POTENTIALLY 
DANGEROUS SITUATION 
Around 4pm Friday after-
noon, Sierra Madre Police 
were called to the K-Petrol 
gas station at the corner of 
Baldwin and Sierra Madre 
Blvd. after a customer 
become a threat to the station 
owners and patrons. 
According to witnesses, the 
man, in his 20's appeared to become extremely agitated and 
threatened to physically harm the station owners when they 
tried to address his concerns. He threatened anyone who 
tried to calm him down. 
Eventually, according to the proprietor, Abgar Artenyan, the 
man did leave only to return about 15 minutes later more 
agitated, making demands on the staff and pushing at least 
one customer who was transacting business inside. He also 
threatened to "kill" Artenyan. 
At that point the Sierra Madre PD was called. According to 
Lt. Barrientos, the man was in an apparent 'state of mental 
decline'. SMPD was able to ascertain that he had been off his 
medication and was believed to be suffering from schizo-
pherenia and bi-polar dysfunction. 
The young man was remanded into custody for mental health 
evaluation where he will receive the appropriate treatment. 
He was not a resident of Sierra Madre. 
The owners of the station did not want to press charges as it 
was clear that "by the things he was saying and doing, and 
the rage he was in, that he had some type of mental or drug 
problem", said Artenyan. 
SMPD undoubtedly relied on some of the training they re-
ceived last year for dealing with mental health issues when 
responding to calls for service. 
The training, facilitated by the LA County Sheriff 's Depart-
ment was ordered by Chief Rod Armalin late in 2021 to fur-
ther help SMPD officers when dealing with mental health 
issues as they respond to calls for assistance and to teach 
SMPD the latest techniques when deescalating situations.
MVNews 
SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2022 VOLUME 16 NO. 15VOLUME 16 NO. 15 
real estate 
Jan Greteman 626.975.4033 
jan@jangreteman.com 
jangreteman.com #01943630 
Judy Webb-Martin 626.688.2273 
jwmartin@dppre.com #00541631 
Katie Orth 626.688.0418 
korth@dppre.com #00942500 
Your Story. Your Home. Your Team. 
Together Stronger. 
WebbMartinGroup.comWe continue to be so appreciative of all our 
clients whom we have been able to support. 
Despite everything, we are NEVER too busy 
to support you. Feel free to reach out to 
any of us with questions about the market 
and/or if you are interested in moving 
forward with selling or buying a home. 
Averages-Jan-March 2022 
Averages-Jan-March 2021 
3 
3 
3 
3 
2,124 
2,036 
12,983 
11,072 
$879 
$659 
$1,536,457 
$1,266,656 
$1,685,789 
$1,250,416 
Address Beds Baths SF SF Lot Price SFList Price Sold Price 
Single-Family Homes Averages 
Averages-Jan-March 2022 
Averages-Jan-March 2021 
2 
2 
2 
3 
1,213 
1,318 
$650 
$624 
$775,725 
$775,725 
$788,750 
$811,000 
Address Beds Baths SF Price SFList Price Sold Price 
Condominiums Homes Averages 
AREA MARKET REPORT JAN-MARCH 2022 
Sierra Madre 
Prices of Single-Family Homes in Sierra Madre were 
up by a whopping 34% for the 1st quarter of 2022. 
It’s a great time to sell and we understand 
how to maximize your home’s value! 
471 Auburn Avenue 
Sierra Madre 91024 
4 Beds | 4 Baths | 3,679 sf | 11,179 sf Lot 
Contemporary Craftsman Listed at $2,499,000 
JUST LISTED | Open House Sunday 2-4pm 
8:30am to 2:00pm 
Saturday, April 23rd 
30 North Baldwin Avenue 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024 
Looking To Dispose Of 
Your Sensitive Documents? 
Stop by and drop-off 
your documents safely. 
471Auburn.comOvercrowdingcauses push forrelocation 
By Kevin McGuire 
During a special meeting, CityCouncil authorized the purchase 
of the property at 350 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd. with the vision that 
it will be a new facility for Police 
and some public safety opera-
tions in the city. 
The building is the site of the 
old Bank of America, which sits 
adjacent to Pantorium Cleaners 
and directly across from Tacos 
Ensenada on N. Lima St. and W. 
Sierra Madre Blvd. The property, 
over 9,000 square feet, will give 
the Police Department the extra 
space they need compared to the 
current, cramped situation at 
242 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., that 
they share with the Fire Depart-
ment. The Fire Department will 
remain at its current location. 
For many years, Sierra Madre 
prided itself on an all-volunteer 
Fire Department, and the cur-
rent location served its pur-
pose. In 2019, the department 
switched to full-time employees. 
Chief Brent Bartlett cited many 
concerns the department faces 
now, including lack of locker 
space to store equipment and 
gear and minimum toilets and 
shower facilities. “Both public 
safety departments have out-
grown the building, especially 
combined,” Chief Barlett stated. 
The Chief also mentioned the 
need to move away from dorm-
style sleeping arrangements and 
have separate areas for staff to 
sleep, especially in the age of 
COVID-19. Sleeping with masks 
on became the norm during the 
peak of the pandemic. 
The 242 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
firehouse dates back 50 years 
when there weren’t as many fe-
male firefighters, and updates 
must be made to accommodate 
everyone. Staff currently uses 
their one common room for eat-
ing, training, meetings, and edu-
cation. They are in need of more 
storage space for equipment, pa-
perwork, and medical supplies. 
Police Chief Roderick Armalin 
articulated many of the same 
concerns with overcrowding, 
adding health and safety con-
cerns. “Employees need spaces 
when they need a minute to get 
away and de-stress and get them-
selves together to deal with some 
of their issues,” Chief Armalin 
stated. The Police department 
has expanded in the last few 
years with a few more part-time 
positions filled. Chief Armalin 
pointed out the cramped spaces 
citing that some officers have 
no lockers, the female facilities 
are inadequate, and the small 
dispatch station lacks privacy as 
public members can hear police 
calls in the background. 
After some discussion, CityCouncil unanimously and en-
thusiastically authorized the 
purchase of the Bank of America 
building for $3.4 million, plus 
closing costs, in two installments. 
Approximately $2.1 million 
will come from surplus bud-
geted revenue, the rest from the 
General Fund. Bank of America 
would have to agree and sign the 
sale agreement. Once complete, 
an environmental impact report 
will be required. If all goes well, 
the building could be in escrow 
by May 28th. 
UPDATE BREAKING NEWS: 
On Friday, April 8, 2022, the City 
of Sierra Madre issued a press 
release regarding the purchase 
which included the following 
statement: 
"The City learned that its pur-
chase offer had been accepted 
and on April 5, 2022 the Coun-
cil met in a Special meeting to 
authorize the City to pay $3.4 
million plus closing costs for the 
purchase of the Property. The 
building is being considered 
as the new location for the Si-
erra Madre Police Department 
and will require some renova-
tions to conform with ADA 
requirements. 
As a condition of acquisition, 
the Planning Commission is re-
quired to find that the acquisi-
tion is consistent with the City’s 
General Plan. The PlanningCommission must adopt a reso-
lution regarding general plan 
consistency before the close of 
escrow. 
Mayor Goss stated that, “pru-
dent financial decisions by the 
last City Council and the current 
Council have built City reserves 
and make it possible to manage 
this purchase. 
This purchase will move our 
City ahead in a historic way. To 
be able to make this type of in-
vestment is a statement about 
the importance of public safetyin our community.” 
SIERRA MADRE POLICE 
DEPARTMENT BANKING 
ON A NEW HOMEOn Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the 
Sierra Madre Planning Commis-
sion had just one item on the 
agenda -A public hearing on 
The Meadows At Bailey Canyon 
development. The hearing drew 
more than 150 people advocating 
their position on the project and 
at times, advocates on both sides 
of the issue expressed their con-
cerns with considerable passion. 
The project which has been the 
subject of controversy for years. 
At Tuesday’s hearing, it was rec-
ommended that the PlanningCommission review the appli-
cations submitted by The Con-
gregation of the Passion, Mater 
Dolorosa Community, in part-
nership with New Urban West, 
Inc., to construct 42 single-fam-
ily detached residential units re-
ferred to as the “The Meadows at 
Bailey Canyon Specific Plan.” 
City staff recommended, “based 
upon substantial evidence pre-
sented to the Planning Commis-
sion during the public hearings 
conducted with regard to this 
Project”, that the Commission 
“• Certify the Environmental 
Impact Report (EIR) and adopt 
the Mitigation Monitoring and 
Reporting Program; and 
• Approve amendments to 
the General Plan and Land Use 
Map and Zoning Code and Zon-
ing Map to change the project 
site from Institutional to Single-
Family Residential Specific Plan 
Overlay; and 
• Approve the Specific Plan; 
and 
• Approve the Lot Line Adjustment, and 
• Approve the DevelopmentAgreement. The recommenda-
tion may be made pursuant to 
applicable findings pursuant to 
Planning Commission Resolu-
tions 22-10 and 22-11, included 
herein.” 
Once the commission votes on 
those items, they will be sent to 
the city council for final approval 
or rejection. 
The meeting went on for more 
than 4 hours which included in-
put from all involved with the 
project including representatives 
of the Monastery, Consultants 
involved with the project, New 
Urban West and Dudek and city 
staff. In addition there was a 
lengthy public comment period 
where both opponents and sup-
porters of the project spoke. 
In the end, the commission re-
quested additional information 
so that they could “see what the 
project will look like” as it re-
lates to the proposed changes. 
Arrangements will be made for 
commissioners to go to the proj-
ect site and be able to compare 
what is being proposed versus 
what currently exists. The visit 
will be compliant with Brown Act 
regulations.
It was unanimously agreed that 
no decisions would be made at 
that time. The hearing was con-
tinued until May 5, 2022. Chair-
man Pesvner adjourned the 
meeting shortly after 11 pm. 
PLANNING COMMISSION 
MEETING DRAWS OVERFLOW 
AUDIENCE 
SMPD DEESCALATES 
POTENTIALLY 
DANGEROUS SITUATION 
Around 4pm Friday after-
noon, Sierra Madre Police 
were called to the K-Petrol 
gas station at the corner of 
Baldwin and Sierra Madre 
Blvd. after a customer 
become a threat to the station 
owners and patrons. 
According to witnesses, the 
man, in his 20's appeared to become extremely agitated and 
threatened to physically harm the station owners when they 
tried to address his concerns. He threatened anyone who 
tried to calm him down. 
Eventually, according to the proprietor, Abgar Artenyan, the 
man did leave only to return about 15 minutes later more 
agitated, making demands on the staff and pushing at least 
one customer who was transacting business inside. He also 
threatened to "kill" Artenyan. 
At that point the Sierra Madre PD was called. According to 
Lt. Barrientos, the man was in an apparent 'state of mental 
decline'. SMPD was able to ascertain that he had been off his 
medication and was believed to be suffering from schizo-
pherenia and bi-polar dysfunction. 
The young man was remanded into custody for mental health 
evaluation where he will receive the appropriate treatment. 
He was not a resident of Sierra Madre. 
The owners of the station did not want to press charges as it 
was clear that "by the things he was saying and doing, and 
the rage he was in, that he had some type of mental or drug 
problem", said Artenyan. 
SMPD undoubtedly relied on some of the training they re-
ceived last year for dealing with mental health issues when 
responding to calls for service. 
The training, facilitated by the LA County Sheriff 's Depart-
ment was ordered by Chief Rod Armalin late in 2021 to fur-
ther help SMPD officers when dealing with mental health 
issues as they respond to calls for assistance and to teach 
SMPD the latest techniques when deescalating situations.
MVNews 
Sonya Sanders


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We are always looking for awesome agents to join our Family! Call Today!! 



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Suzi Dunkel-Soto 
Jeyln Hermosa

Useful Reference Links

Mountain Views News 80 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. #327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.604.4548 www.mtnviewsnews.com