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2024 Year In Review2024 Year In Review

Mountain View News Saturday, December 28, 2024

ANOTHER OUTSTANDING WINNER!

REMEMBRANCES:

Family & Friends We Honored in 2024 

(partial listing)

TOP STORIES 
2024*


TRASH RATES HAVE GONE UP, 
AND SO HAS THE CONFUSION

Athens compacts it all down - from new rates 
to new ways to sort your trash 

 Residents of Sierra Madre have certainly 
noticed a hike in their trash pick-up rates 
over the last few years. The most recent one 
occurred on January 1, 2024, with a shocking 
56% increase in the disposal rate. In addition 
to the hike, there are new rules for sorting 
food waste, which now goes in with green 
waste. But why is there such a big jump in my 
Athens’ bill? And what about the bears? What 
is Senate Bill 1383, and why does it concern 
me? (MVN FEB 17, 2024)

PUBLIC SAFETY REWARD PROGRAM 
APPROVED 

Brave citizens could receive up to $5,000 for 
information leading to criminal convictions.

PROJECTIONS SHOW BUDGET 
DEFICIT LOOMING 

Could job cuts be in the future?

(MVN April 27, 2024)

SIGNATURES SUBMITTED FOR 
PUBLIC SAFETY PARCEL TAX 
MEASURE 

 Approximately 1,000 signatures were 
submitted to the City Clerk's office in 
support of placing a parcel tax measure on 
the November Ballot, pending verification 
(MVN May 18, 2024)

THE RETURN OF THE METRO 268 
SERVICE TO SIERRA MADRE 

Submitted by Max Romero,Member,

Sierra Madre Public Transportation 
Subcommittee 

After nearly a year of hard work and outreach, 
the Sierra Madre Public Transportation 
Subcommittee has finally secured an 
arrangement with Metro to return the 268 to 
Sierra Madre. 

The route will have five key stops along 
Sierra Madre Boulevard within city limits, 
connecting residents with the Sierra Madre 
Villa Metro station, The Shops At Santa Anita 
Mall and the El Monte Metrolink and Bus 
Stations. (MVN May 11, 2024)

CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS 
ORDINANCE AMENDING 
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL 
PROPERTY USE

The main focus revolved around temporary 
use permits (TUP), home occupations, and 
changes that could benefit historic landmarks 
in residential zones. 

 These changes proposed to the City Council 
resulted from the TUP exemption, which 
allows small events of less than 25 people 
to be used more frequently to justify small 
commercial activity, negatively affecting 
surrounding neighbors. (MVN June1, 2024)

SIERRA MADRE PUBLIC SAFETY 
MEASURE FAILS - KRIEBS AND 
PARKHURST WILL EACH SERVE A 
SECOND TERM ON COUNCIL

 Sierra Madre Write-In Candidate Sue 
Spears to serve as City Treasurer and Former 
Mayor John Harabedian elected to California 
Assembly In a statement from City 
Manager Jose Reynoso, "Regardless of the 
outcome, one thing is clear: the City Council 
and Administration stand firmly in support 
of our public safety team. Even if the 
measure does not pass, the City remains 
committed to exploring all solutions to 
mitigate our projected budget shortfalls and 
support our Fire & Police Departments in 
continuing to provide high-quality services 
to our reesidents.

Together we will navigate these times and 
continue to uphold the high standards of 
service that define Sierra Madre. I am confident 
in our collective strength and ability 
to overcome any challenge."

(MVN Nov 9, 2024) 

2025 SIERRA MADRE ROSE 
PRINCESSES CHOSEN

 "There Is No Light Without a Dawning" by Helen Steiner Rice

No winter without a spring And beyond the dark horizon

Our hearts will once more sing... For those who leave us for a while

Have only gone away Out of a restless, care worn world

Into a brighter day


2024 SMRFA ENTRYTHE ENCHANTED MUSIC BOX 

Winner Queens Award Most Outstanding Presentation of Roses

Photo by Dirk Bolle

SIERRA MADRE HONORED!


JERRY BURNETT


SHIRLEY ANHALT


Citizens of the Year Barry and Leslie Ziff; Business of the Year The 
Mountain Views News; The George Maurer Lifetime Achievement Award 
Diane Sands; Employee of the Year Satnam Rait, Exemplary Employee Of 
The Year Jennifer Peterson , Chelsea Lee .

TOM CANTERBURY

'JAN' ERIKKSON

MARY 
CARNEY 
CHOSEN AS 
THE 2024 
SIERRA 
MADRE 
OLDER 
AMERICAN 
OF THE YEAR


ANNOUNCING THE 
2024 JULY 4th GRAND 
MARSHAL 

& 

HOMETOWN HERO

Drum roll please ….. the 
2024 4th of July Parade 
Grand Marshal will be Sierra 
Madre’s very own active 100 
year old Helen Reece!


9 10 24

THE DAY OUR ZIP CODE AND THE 
DATE WERE THE SAME - 

CECIL MARJORIEGAUDIT 


SUE LAVOE


SM LIBRARY BREAKS GROUND...

ROBERT SINGLETON


The SM Library's 
Meaningful 
Improvement 
project broke 
ground led by 
Assemblyman 
Chris Holden who 
was the driving 
force in securing 
$10 million in 
funding for the 
project.


DAVID OSTI


LA COUNTY 
SUPERVISORS 
SUPPORT SIERRA 
MADRE EFFORTS TO 
MANAGE LIVING 
WITH WILDLIFE

“….unanimously approved 
a motion introduced 
by Supervisor Kathryn 
Barger today that will 
ask the California 
Department of Fish and 
Wildlife for increased state 
resources to educate and 
safeguard Sierra Madre 
and surrounding foothill 
communities encounters.” 
(MVN June 8, 2024)

ROD SPEARS


LENICE SNYDER


A student walking home from elementary 
school spotted this bear leisurely walking 
down the street. Photo by E. Booth.

NATIONAL 
CHAMPIONS - 
SIERRA MADRE 
GIRLS SOFTBALL 
TEAM

Coach Vinny, Lacey 
Shaver, Tom Sullivan 
and Tom Acker, and 
each of their respective 
families behind them, 
carried out that mission 
at the highest level for 
nearly a decade. They 
inspired a group of 
girls who started on a 
dusty little T-ball field years ago, and this year that group engaged in an 
unprecedented campaign as the “Sierra Madre Threats.” Their consistency, 
togetherness and positivity were unmatched and unbeaten by any other 
team in the land. MVN September 28, 2024


SHIRLEY SUTER

The Sierra Madre Rose Float Association 
is pleased to announce the selection of the 
2025 Sierra Madre Rose Float Association 
Royal Court. Please help us welcome left 
to right, Julietta Hutt, Polytechnic School, 
Kendra Buchok, La Cañada High School, 
and Milania Thomas, Pasadena High 
School, who will represent SMRFA and the 
City of Sierra Madre over the coming year

(MVN October 26, 2024)


LISA SPIGAI


IGNORING THE CITY’S CODES

Former Mayor Glenn Lambdin investigates 
"...selective enforcement is a concern for 
me. Staff is not authorized to violate or 
ignore those laws that were adopted through 
legislative action." (MVN October 26, 2024)

* THE 2024 TOP STORIES ARE BASED 
UPON READERSHIP OF BOTH PRINT 
AND ONLINE EDITIONS.

www.mtnviewsnews.com

PUBLISHER H. SUSAN HENDERSON AND THE 
MOUNTAIN VIEWS NEWS WIN THE FIRST 
DISTINGUISHED JOURNALIST AWARD FOR 
COMMUNITY NEWS MVN October 26, 2024


RALPH EDDIE TRUMAN

BILL TICE

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