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Saturday, January 27, 2024 

SENIOR COMMUNITY COMMISSION ARE 
SEEKING YOUR COLLABORATION TO 
FIND THE 2024 OLDER 'SIERRA MADRE' 
AMERICAN OF THE YEAR. 

Nominations are now being accepted for this renowned honor. Note 
that although worthy, Senior Community Commissioners are not 
eligible. Additionally, nominations will only be accepted for new 
candidates who have not been honored in years prior. 

The nomination form is available on the city's website at: https://www.cityofsierramadre.com/cms/one.
aspx?portalId=212393&pageId=241945 and return it to the Hart Park House Senior Center, or mail/
walk in to City Hall, Community Services Department, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 
91024 prior to. or no later than. Wednesday. March 13th• 2024. 

The Commission will review nominations and select an honoree at their regularly scheduled meeting 
on Thursday, April 4th, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. 

The individual selected by you or your organization must live in Sierra Madre, while demonstrating 
outstanding community service and be at least the age of, or older than 60. The honoree will be 
recognized at a reception held in their honor on Wednesday., May 8th., 2024. 

Previous Honorees: Dick Johnson, Joan Crow, Jerry & Nan Carlton, Pat Alcorn, Fran Garbaccio, Ken 
Anhalt, Eph Konigsberg, Russ Anderson, George Throop, Loyal Camacho, John Grijalva, Joylouise 
Harte-Smith, James Heasley, Midge Morash, James Tyler, Isabella Paegal, Bonnie Garner, Rose Fafach, 
Ed Wellman, Celeste McCleary, Dorothy Tillquist, Doris Webster, Elsie Dammeyer, George Mauer, 
Karl Teigler, Laurie Cooper, Lucille Flanders, Ann Tyler, Jay Whitcraft, Darlene Crook, Paul Hagen and 
Clem and Nina Bartolai. 

Thank You in advance for your support and assistance with this spirited community event. Should you 
have any additional questions, feel free to contact Lawren Heinz, Administrative Analyst at (626) 355-
5278 x704. 

WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side

by Deanne Davis


JANUARY IS INTERNATIONAL CREATIVITY MONTH!

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have” Maya Angelou

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” Albert Einstein

“Creativity takes courage.” Henri Matisse

I came across this 
statement by Jim 
Jarmusch, (An 
American independent 
filmmaker and 
screenwriter. His 
filmography includes 
13 feature films, 2 
documentaries, 6 
music videos and 
4 short films. In 
addition to working 
on several other films 
and appearing on 
screen on multiple 
occasions as an actor 
and as himself.) I loved 
everything about this 
and wanted to share it 
with you, dear friends 
and neighbors:

“Nothing is original. 
Steal from anywhere 
that resonates with 
inspiration or fuels 
your imagination. 
Devour old films, new 
films, music, books, 
paintings photographs, 
poems, dreams, 
random conversations, 
architecture, street 
signs, trees, clouds, 
bodies of water, light 
and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you 
do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality 
is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery – celebrate it! In any case, 
always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from – 
it’s where you take them to.”

In other words, Mr. Jarmusch is paraphrasing Solomon, who said in Ecclesiastes 1:9: 
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing 
new under the sun.”

The things that speak directly to my soul will pretty much be found outside. There is 
an oleander tree outside my office window. Every year a hummingbird builds a nest 
there, hidden among the bright pink blossoms. Cacti (or cactuses) of every shape and 
size burst forth in astonishing flowers of amazing colors. Last year a quail family built 
a nest under one of the plants in my backyard and one day the nervous mom and dad 
herded a dozen babies from under that plant to under the lemon tree where they spent 
the day in cool shade. Then they were gone. 

Sunsets and sunrises capture my soul. Today’s picture is an exquisite sunset picture 
taken by the lake by granddaughter, Emily. I think what Mr. Jarmusch means is to steal 
the joy from everything you see. To intentionally look everywhere with eyes that really 
see. I left the little quail eggshells under the plant and every now and then when I’m 
there I can see them. I even caught part of a rainbow after the storm Saturday. 

Mr. Jaarmusch spoke of poetry and I was so delighted to find this charming poem by 
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) on Facebook, of all places. It reminded me 
of my Catholic School education years when we were required to learn poems and be 
able to stand in front of our class and recite them from memory. This practice has gone 
the way of the corset and the horse and buggy but believe it or not, I can still remember 
a bit of “The Village Smithy,” also by Longfellow:

“Under a spreading chestnut tree

The village smithy stands;

The smith, a mighty man is he,

With large and sinewy hands… 

It goes on quite a ways but that’s all I have left. Actually, I don’t think it was a bad 
thing to do to fourth graders. It kept us out of the bars and pool halls. The Arrow 
and the Song, about the impact of our actions is totally worth borrowing and to avoid 
plagiarism, I’ll credit Mr. Longfellow.

The Arrow and the Song

I shot an arrow into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For, so swiftly it flew, the sight

Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For who has sight so keen and strong,

That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak

I found the arrow, still unbroke;

And the song, from beginning to end,

I found again in the heart of a friend.

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

Take a look! There are interesting goodies galore for

You Kindle readers and even an actual book or two for you

“I need to hold it in my hands” readers.


THE FRIENDS OF THE SIERRA MADRE 
LIBRARY ANNOUNCE THAT THEIR 

BEST USED BOOK SALE 

The Sale will be held on Friday, February 2, 2024 (3:00 - 7:00 
p.m.) and Saturday, February 3, 2024 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.). 
The February book sale will take place in the parking lot at the TEMPORARY library location, 
350 West Sierra Madre Blvd. 

Featured this time will be a selection of vintage books, including a complete 11-volume set of 
The Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant, several signed first editions, and other 
antique collectibles. Also included will be newer best sellers, thrillers, and non-fiction titles. 
We will also have our usual Bargain Books at only $1.00 each and small paperbacks 5/$1.00. 
Children’s titles are $.50 to $5.00 with many Young Adult books available this time.

Our $5.00 BAG SALE will take place on Saturday. Buy a large grocery bag for $5.00 and fill it 
with any of our Bargain books. All proceeds from this February sale will be used for programs, 
acquisitions and services of the Sierra Madre Public Library.

This sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Sierra Madre Public Library. All proceeds will be 
used to support programs, services and acquisitions for the library.

Come early for the best selection and to talk books with knowledgeable cashiers and other 
book-lovers and to welcome the holiday season while contributing to our wonderful community 
library. For more information, please visit us at our web site www.sierramadrelibraryfriends.
org., our Facebook page; our Instagram page or call 626-355-7186.

 􀀃􀀃􀀃􀀃􀀃􀀃
WISTARIA FESTIVAL 2024􀀃 
SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024 􀍲 9:00 AM TO 5 PM􀀃 
FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY􀀃
Celebrate The Guinness Book of World Records Wistaria Vine􀀃 
Send a Greeting with the Official Wistaria POSTMARK􀀃
Visit Local Shops and more than 100 Crafters & Food Vendors􀀃
And THE SIERRA MADRE AUTO SHOW􀀃
Vendor Applications Available Now! 􀀃
Shuttle Tickets Sales Begin February, 2024 
www.sierramadrechamber.com􀀃
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