Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 19, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, November 19, 2022 

ANOTHER GREAT AUTUMN MEET AT SANTA ANITA 

And it’s off to Del Mar! Story and photo by Joan Schmidt 

Santa Anita Park just completed 
its successful Autumn Meet. The Final 
Standings show Winning Jockey as Ramon 
Vazques (25), followed by Juan Hernandez 
(20), Umberto Rispoli (18) and Edwin Maldonado 
(17).

Ramon Vaquez, is a native of Puerto 
Rico, who graduated from their Vocational 
Jockey School in 2002 and raced first in 
Puerto Rico. In 2011, he came to the US and 
most recently raced at Oaklawn in Arkansas. 
After learning Jockeys Flavien Pratt and 
Umberto Rispoli were coming East, he and 
his agent Bill Castle discussed moving his 
tack to Santa Anita. Trainers Peter Miller 
and John Sadler saw his talent, and he has 
been riding for them. Congrats to Ramon!

Another newcomer to Santa Anita 
whom I recently met is Abdul Alsagoor from 
Saudi Arabia. He grew up around horses, but 
had no formal training. He watched Jockeys 
whom he greatly admired including Johnny 
Velazquez. Velazquez and Flavien Pratt have 
come to SO CAL for the Winter Meet at Del 
Mar. Pratt is a favorite here on the West 
Coast, where he raced many years and won 
many titles. Everyone was thrilled that Pratt 
won the Breeder’s Cup Classic on Flightline. 
He’s one of the good guys, and it warms my 
heart that he and Manon have such a beautiful 
family. They both were so kind to the late 
Pat Morris, (“Pat the Hat”). She was the BEST fan at Santa Anita and loved by everyone.

Congratulations to trainer Peter Miller (16) with most win during the Autumn Meet, and fellow trainers 
Phil D’Amato (15), Doug O’Neill (13), George Papaprodromou (11), and Jeff Mullins (10). 
The Jockey Colony has gone south to Del Mar for their Winter Meet, but will return to Santa Anita December 
26. See you Opening Day! 

New Jockey to Santa Anita, Abdul Alsagoor, from Saudi Arabia. 


Peter Dills Knows 
DILLS WINE PICKS FOR YOUR TURKEY 

Thanksgiving is upon us and it is my sworn duty to come up with a handful 
of wines that will go with a traditional oven baked turkey /smoked turkey, 
even the duck substitution will go well with my list. First, sorry in advance 
for all my chardonnay loving readers (see blow for my apology) A high-acid, 
low-tannin Pinot, with bright cherry and cranberry flavors over rich spices, 
can do right by almost all the exuberant side dishes any turkey might require. 
San Simeon makes a marvelous Pinot Noir under $20 it is a winner. 

My second choice, though, isn’t a 
surprise, at least if you love bubbles like I do. Two California Sparklers that 
I enjoy, Domaine Carneros Brut ($30) from the house of Taittinger, I have 
said that this wine from California comes as close to a ‘real” champagne that 
I’ve had, I picked up a bottle recently at Pavilions and it will also go great 
with Prime Rib. Newsweek Magazine selected the Roederer Estate their value for the new millennium 
and I agree, when I am shopping for that $20 wine it is my go to choice. 


How about a Rose, my friend Jason Valenzuela, wine steward par excellence recommends the AIX is 
hails from the south of France/Provence.
Last but not least do consider a Cabernet, a favorite side kick of Prime Rib for years, our own Maddalena 
has an outstanding one and the price of $15 is perfect for the holidays, who does Prime Rib on 
Thanksgiving? I must admit the Dills household has been doing it for years. 

My Chardonnay apology, all that sauce, butter, gravy will absolutely kill any hope of your favorite 
buttery Oaky Chardonnay, though I defend your right to drink what you like to drink at any holiday 
party!

San Simeon Pinot Noir 
Maddalena Cabernet 
Domaine Carneros Brut 
AIX Rose 
Roederer Estate 

All available at your local VonsJoin me every Sunday Morning on Go Country 105 FM at 8 AM 

NEW LOCATION FOR RETIRED TEACHERS’ MEETING! 

The California Retired Teachers’ Association Division 71 (CalRTA #71) is pleased to announce that 
their members will have a luncheon meeting on Friday, December 9, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 
in Fellowship Hall, 512 W. Duarte Rd., Arcadia 91007. The hall is located behind the church sanctuary, 
and ample parking is available. At 11:00 am, doors open and guests arrive, with the business meeting 
at 11:30 and lunch to follow at 12:00 pm. At 12:45 pm, a performance by the Verdugo Hills Sweet Ade-
lines Chorus will end the meeting on a musical note. 

A box lunch will be provided by Panera. On the luncheon menu is a choice of sandwiches. Choose one:: 
Deli Turkey, Tuna, or Mediterranean Veggie. Each sandwich is accompanied by potato chips and a 
chocolate chip cookie. Bottled water will be provided. Guests are welcome to come enjoy the luncheon 
and to hear the Sweet Adeline Chorus, which promises to sing old standards as well as holiday music. 

The cost of the luncheon for members and guests is $15. Please mail your check payable to CalRTA 
Division 71 by Friday, December 2, 2022, to John Gera, P.O. Box 1133, Temple City, CA 91780. For 
information regarding reservations, you may call John Gera at (626) 286-0714. 

Membership in the California Retired Teachers’ Association is open to all retired educators, as well 
as to current classroom teachers and to any others interested joining this active group. The motto of 
CalRTA is “Your Partner in Pension Protection.” 


A PATSY CLINE HOLIDAY CONCERT OPENS AT 
SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE ON NOVEMBER 25 

One of the biggest box-office hits and critical successes in the history of Sierra 
Madre Playhouse was its 2015 production of the musical Always….Patsy 
Cline. Now, the Playhouse is bringing back that show’s dynamic star and musical 
director, reuniting them for an extraordinary concert entertainment, A 
Patsy Cline Holiday Concert. 

Cori Cable Kidder returns as the Patsy Cline character, singing a cavalcade of 
country classics (Walkin’ After Midnight; Crazy) and holiday hits (Jingle Bell 
Rock, White Christmas). The two-hour event of toe-tapping tunes is just right 
for a memorable holiday show. 

Cori Cable Kidder was born in Arkansas and graduated from Ouachita Baptist 
University. Her numerous musical theatre credits include roles in Pump 
Boys and Dinettes (at Sierra Madre Playhouse); Hello, Dolly!; The Full Monty; 
The Producers; Titanic; Chicago; Anything Goes; Mame; Damn Yankees: and 
so much more. She is also a choreographer. 

Sean Paxton is Sierra Madre Playhouse’s favorite musical director. His previous 
shows at Sierra Madre Playhouse include Always…Patsy Cline; Pump 
Boys and Dinettes; Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!); Dames 
at Sea; and The Marvelous Wonderettes. He also composed original music for 
our productions of Deathtrap and Stuart Little. A graduate of USC School of 
Music, he is an ASCAP Award-winning composer. 

There will be a 4-piece band. 

This show is suitable for all ages. 

Tickets are already selling briskly for this show, so please reserve your tickets 
early. A Patsy Cline Holiday Concert is a guaranteed good time. 

A PATSY CLINE HOLIDAY CONCERT. A delightful concert entertain-
ment for the holiday season. Starring Cori Cable Kidder. Musical director: 
Sean Paxton. Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse. At Sierra Madre Play-
house, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Opens Friday, No-
vember 25, 2022 at 8 p.m. Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sun-
days at 2:30 p.m. Also, Wednesday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, 
December 22 at 7:30 p.m. Closes Friday, December 23. Sundays December 
11 and 18 are sold out. Admission: $45.00. Seniors (65+) $40.00. Youth (21 
and under) $25.00. Teen tickets (age 13-19) are available at $5.00 through the 
TeenTix Pass program. Go to our website to learn more. Group discounts are 
available for groups of ten or more. Go to our website to learn more. Reserva-
tions: (626) 355-4318. Online ticketing: http://sierramadreplayhouse.org 


KEVIN HART’S 
“HART HOUSE” 
COMES TO 
MONROVIA 

Residents from Monrovia, 
Arcadia and Duarte 
are in for a treat! 
Kevin Hart opened his 
second “Hart House” at 
602 West Huntington 
Drive, Monrovia last 
week. What makes this 
fast food so special? The 
food is all plant-based, 
no additives or hormones, 
artificial colors, 
preservatives or high-
fructose color syrup, 
and it’s so delicious! The 
tasty milkshakes are 
made from an oat-soy 
blend. Kevin Hart really 
cares about people eating 
healthy at affordable 
prices. Sandwiches and 
burgers are priced $5-$7. 

 Fellow Town Council 
Members, Dave Hall, 
Terrence Williams and 
I attended the Ribbon-
Cutting and had a Certificate 
of Recognition. 
In addition, many local 
officials from the three cities, Field 
Representatives from Congresswomen 
Grace Napolitano, Assemblywoman 
Blanca Rubio, Supervisor Barger, and 
Senator Anthony Portantino himself 
attended. The C.E.O.’s from the three 
Chambers of Commerce, Monrovia’s Juliana 
Ornate, Arcadia’s Karen Mac Nair, 
and Duarte’s Shoshana Puccio all spoke 
of what an wonderful opportunity Hart 
House brings to the San Gabriel Valley, 
(Healthy food at affordable prices), how 
grateful they are to Kevin Hart; also 10% 
of that day’s profits went to the Boys and 
Girls Club of the Foothills. 

Andy Hooper, CEO of Hart 
House told us Monrovia was chosen because 
it was lacking in plant-based options. 
Monrovia’s Hart House was designed 
by Black female entrepreneurs Kai 
Williamson and Nicolette Santos with 
bold shapes, bright colors and a design to 
make customers feel comfortable. 

Chef Mike Salem, head of culi-
nary innovation, told us that people whoaren’t into a vegan lifestyle should try it. 
Fellow Town Council Michael Wright 
raved about the chicken sandwich meal 
even though he’s a “Carnivore”. He was 
right. The cheeseburger was to die for, 
smothered with onion slices, tomato, and 
lettuce on a fresh roll. The next day, I was 
back at Hart House after a funeral with 
vegetarian Bennett Sennett, Field Deputy 
for the Sheriff. Ben may live a distance 
in the Inland Empire, but he’s definitely 
coming back with his family.

The attached photo shows the 
many officials who came with Certifi-
cates; in addition, many locals came to 
eat. and the line went all the way around 
the building and beyond! Please come to 
the Hart House for a healthy affordable 
meal-you won’t be disappointed. Photo 
By Carrie Lynn Barker 


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