Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 8, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, October 8, 2022 

REMEMBRANCES 

HARRIET HAAKE PLUNKETT 

Mom passed away a few days short of her 92nd 
birthday at the age of 91 in SanMarino. She 
was born in Los Angeles to Mildred and Harry 
Haake. She attended Polytechnic and graduated 
from Westridge School in Pasadena then graduated 
from The University of Colorado Boulder. 

At the early age of 12 Mom became a member 
San Marino Community Churchand continued 
being an active member until her passing. Mom 
was President of the Seeder and Weeders Garden 
Club, Co-Chair of the annual Pasadena Guild of 
Children Hospital Treasures and Trivia sale and 
perpetual Linen section matriarch. Member of 
the Pasadena Town Club and assisted with the 
annual Christmas holiday decorating. 

But, most of all Mom truly loved her family, 
home, and garden. 

She will be missed by her daughter and son-inlaw 
Patricia and Rudy Colonello, son William Plunkett, grandson Connor Plunkett, and the 
family dog Lacy. A private family service was held. Memorial 


Donations may be made to The Pasadena Guild of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. P.O. Box 
51101 Pasadena, CA 91115 

From the family of Harriet Haake Plunkett 


SIERRA MADRE POLICE BLOTTER

 The following represents a summary report of some of the major incidents handled 
by the Sierra Madre Police Department during this period. This list is not intended 
to be considered exclusive or all-inclusive. 

Tuesday, September 20 
Hit and Run Traffic Collision with Pedestrians Involved 

At approximately 7 AM, officers responded to the intersection of Sierra Madre Blvd and Lima St. 
for reports of a hit and run traffic collision. Upon arrival, officers discovered two elderly males 
suffering from modertate injuries, in the crosswalk of the intersection. According to witness statements, 
a red 4 door sedan was seen driving through the intersection, striking the pedestrians, and 
continue driving eastbound on Sierra Madre Blvd. The two victims were transported to a local 
hospital by Sierra Madre Fire Department Paramedics. Due to the swift investigation by our patrol 
officers, as well as helpful surveillance footage from local businesses, our detectives were able to 
locate the vehicle and subsequently locate the driver. A 62 year old female was arrested for the incident, 
and the case has been forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for filing considerations.

 Tuesday, September 20 
Theft from Motor Vehicle 
At approximately 3 PM, officers took a theft from motor vehicle report. The reporting party stated 
that unknown suspect(s) stole various camera equipment from their vehicle. There is no suspect 
information at this time. The Detective Bureau is following up on this incident.

 Tuesday, September 20 
Theft from Motor Vehicle 
At approximately 3 PM, officers took a theft from motor vehicle report. The reporting party stated 
that unknown suspect(s) stole various camera equipment from their vehicle. There is no suspect 
information at this time. The Detective Bureau is following up on this incident.

 Wednesday, September 28 
Theft 
At approximately 10 PM, officers responded to reports of a theft in the 100 block of W Highland 
Ave. The reporting party stated that 2 bicycles were stolen from the porch of their home, sometime 
during the day. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the suspects. The Detectve 
Bureau is following up on this incident. 


WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis 

“Bookworms aren’t people 
who love to read. They are 
people who treat books as 
treasures” 

“Bookworm Problem #1: 
Laughing out loud while 
reading a book in a public 
place and getting funny looks 
from the other people.” 

“Bookworm Problem #2: 
Having a sleep disorder called 
‘Just one more chapter.’” 


“Bookworm Problem #3: Getting absolutely and undeniably attached to book characters 
where we laugh and cry with them, and physically miss them when we finish the book.” 

We could go on and on waxing rhapsodic about bookworms, especially this particularly 
charming one languishing on a bale of hay outside the library. The Bookworm 
Caterpillar informs us in this excellent photo by Leah Davis, that “On the first day he 
read… Blue Ridge Babies 1, 2, 3: A Counting Book by Laura Sperry Gardner; Illustrations 
by Stephanie Fizer Coleman.” 

I thought I’d take a look at the book to see what it was about, just in case there were 
any little people in my life who needed a book about counting. Well! I think I want this 
for myself! Here’s what it’s about: 

“Explore the Blue Ridge Mountains, a part of the Appalachian range that teems with 
fascinating plant and wildlife, through the memorable frame of the engaging folk song 
“Over in the Meadow.” Amongst budding dogwood trees, crooked creeks, mountains 
fading to heaven, and other stunning settings, animal mothers and their young all 
play a part in the great wide wilderness. Count the babies on every page: one fawn 
hides while two bear cubs forage, three cardinal fledglings fly and four owlets hoot, all 
the way up to ten salamander efts and one last expansive view of a unique American 
region.” 

The Bookworm Caterpillar had another huge reason for choosing a counting book to 
start off his sojourn in front of our library. As shown on the front page of the October 
1st issue of the Mountain Views News, Assemblymember, Chris Holden, presided 
over a Library Grant Ceremony and presented a check for $10 million dollars for 
improvements and repairs to the Sierra Madre Library. The library, built in 1955, has 
needed some help for quite a long time. Scheduled improvements include seismic 
concerns and increased space consisting of an outdoor community area. The Bookworm 
Caterpillar is happily counting his blessings, all ten million of them. 

Our Library is one of Sierra Madre’s most wonderful assets, filled with treasures. When 
John and I and our family came to live in Sierra Madre in 1967, one of the first things 
we did was go to the library. We checked out all the books possible, Leah and I, every 
few days, read them all then went back for more. As Leah was only 12 at the time, 
she was unjustly confined to the Children’s Room. Being far more adult than many 
adults, she had a serious and lengthy conversation with Mary Tumilty, the Librarian 
at that time, and a gracious and knowledgeable Librarian she was, too, a woman of 
great wit and dry, acerbic humor. When Leah explained that she wanted to read all 
the Perry Mason mysteries, Ms. Tumilty had no trouble at all giving her an adult card. 
Yes, friends and neighbors, I’ve told this story before, but the library was the center of 
our life for so many years, before the days of Kindle and quick delivery from Amazon. 

We never missed a used book sale and when John moved to heaven and the house on 
Alegria had to go to someone else, I packed up about 500 books and some of the most 
delightful people from the library came and took them back there. In my mind’s eye, I 
see other mother-daughter duos pulling treasures from the used book sale tables and 
stashing bags full of books in the truck of their car. Updating our library is the best 
thing possible to do with ten million dollars. 

More and more scarecrows are popping up around town and, hopefully, the competition 
with be fierce and the Creative Arts Group judges are going to be up deliberating 
for days on which entry deserves the prize. 

AND, the Sierra Madre Civic Club wants to make the Downtown Halloween Art 
Event a huge success. This new version is so much better than the old “poster paint 
on the windows” method, which was, to say the very least…messy! Now you draw 
or paint your art on a paper canvas, and it goes up in the windows downtown and 
everyone is happy!! 

The “Blue Ridge Babies Counting Book” made me want to share my latest reading 
adventure with you: “Grey Mountain” by John Grisham. There aren’t any adorable 
animals in this book, just murder, intrigue and evil-doing in the Appalachian Mountain 
Range. Here’s the synopsis: 

“The year is 2008 and Samantha Kofer’s career at a huge Wall Street law firm is on the 
fast track—until the recession hits and she is downsized, furloughed, and escorted 
out of the building. Samantha, though, is offered an opportunity to work at a legal aid 
clinic for one year without pay, all for a slim chance of getting rehired. 

In a matter of days Samantha moves from Manhattan to Brady, Virginia, population 
2,200, in the heart of Appalachia, a part of the world she has only read about. Samantha’s 
new job takes her into the murky and dangerous world of coal mining, where 
laws are often broken, communities are divided, and the land itself is under attack. But 
some of the locals aren’t so thrilled to have a big-city lawyer in town, and within weeks 
Samantha is engulfed in litigation that turns deadly. Because like most small towns, 
Brady harbors big secrets that some will kill to conceal.” 

I’ve definitely got Bookworm Problem #2 with this one!! Highly recommend!! 

Watch for scarecrows. Some of them are scary. They’ll creep up on you… Be afraid! 
Be very afraid! 

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis 
Where you’ll find “Sunrises and Sunflowers Speak Hope”
And “A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of Laughter”
Both of these books are stuffed with hope and a good recipe or two. 

All five of the Emma Gainsworth pumpkin adventures are available on Amazon.comThey’re guaranteed to make you laugh and want to see what happens to Emma next. 


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