3

Mountain View News Saturday, February 1, 2025


Weather Wise


WALKING SIERRA MADRE -

 The Social Side by Deanne Davis

6-Day Forecast Sierra Madre, Ca.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I had written a really dandy 
column mentioning our awesome Rose Parade float. But then the 
world caught fire and I decided to put it away for a while. Thanks 
to the delightful rain last Monday, the fires are pretty much under 
control and now all we need to worry about is mudslides and 
what all the dear people who lost everything are going to do. We 
are now seeing generosity coming forward in so many ways as 
the response to need is amazing. My friend, Pat, wanted to donate 
some gently used clothing to her church but was told that they 
had already received so much that there was nowhere to put 
anymore. Money is happening, help is happening and Altadena 
will come to life again. Sierra Madre losses will be rebuilt. We are 
a people of strength, energy, hope and…there’s my word for the 
year again: Thankful.

Here are my BTF (Before the Fire) thoughts, which might make 
you smile...

January is International Creativity Month. My creative efforts so far this year have been along the lines of putting away Christmas 
decorations. Again I ask…why is it that putting Christmas decorations up, carefully placing each ornament, gluing Joseph’s fingers 
on again for the perfectly arranged Nativity scene, and just generally having a great time unwrapping all these treasures is so much 
fun and putting them back in their crates just really isn’t. (Frowny face emoji here.) This comment isn’t totally dated as I have several 
friends and neighbors who are still just now getting around to putting away the last of Christmas.

The picture is of our fabulous prizewinning 2025 Rose Parade float, “Fiesta!” and granddaughter, Emily, taken before the parade 
started. I was elated to see the exciting announcement by the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association, and I quote, “The recent 
wildfires have left our hearts heavy. Now is the time to lift our spirits and turn our thoughts to creativity. Take a moment to escape 
the weight of it all – grab your sketchpad and start drawing. This year’s float design contest is open and we want to see your visions 
come to life! The theme for the 2026 parade will be announced on February 4th.” Can’t wait to see what it’s going to be but I’m 
thinking it’s going to be based on HOPE!

In case you didn’t know, 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, which begins on January 29th and ends on February 16, 2026. The 
snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac and represents wisdom, patience and mystery. It’s also known for its ability to shed 
its skin, which symbolizes personal growth and renewal. The Wood element adds creativity, flexibility and growth to the snake’s 
traits.

And what does this mean to us? Well! The snake will be lucky in 2025. Our natural intuition will help us navigate challenges and 
seize opportunities. It’s going to be a busy year and we need to avoid burnout and fatigue. We’ve certainly had plenty of that! 

I was happy to see so many Christmas trees out by the curb waiting to be picked up and recycled.

Looking further into recycling Christmas trees, there are all sorts of good things that can happen to them: You can start a new 
compost pile. A thin layer of evergreen branches makes a sound base for a new compost pile as the branches allow for air flow. 
Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially for lake and river shoreline 
stabilization. Sunk into fish ponds, trees make an excellent protective nursery where smaller fish can take refuge. Shredded trees 
can be used as free, renewable and natural path materials that help the environment and meet the needs of hikers. And, yes, our 
trails will be open again soon.

“Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.”

Native American Saying

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”

Cicero, Roman Philosopher

As I’ve already mentioned, my word for 2025 is Thankful. Another word for Gratitude.

Gratitude has been linked to improved mental health. It can reduce stress, increase happiness and even improve sleep. A simple 
“thank you” can go a long way to uplifting both the giver and the receiver.

“Gratitude can transform any situation. It alters your vibration, moving you from negative energy to positive. It’s the quickest, easiest, 
most powerful way to effect change in your life.” Oprah Winfrey

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loving kindness lasts forever.”

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.

 Sun Sunny Hi 60s Lows 40s 

 Mon: Sunny Hi 60s Lows 40s 

 Tues: Sunny Hi 60s Lows 40s 

 Wed: Sunny Hi 70s Lows 50s

 Thur: Sunny Hi 70s Lows 50s 

 Fri: Sunny Hi 70s Lows 50s

Forecasts courtesy of the National Weather Service

SIERRA MADRE CITY MEETINGS

SIERRA MADRE CITY 

COUNCIL MEETING

February 11, 2025 5:30pm

THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD 
IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS!

As part of the City of Sierra Madre’s 

COVID-19 transparency efforts and The 
Brown Act provides the public with an opportunity 
to make public comments at any 
public meeting. Public comment may also be 
made by e-mail to PublicComment@CityofSierraMadre.
com by 3:00 p.m. on the day of 
the meeting. 

Emails will be acknowledged at the Council 
meeting and filed into public record. The 
public may also comment in person at the 
meeting.

The meetings will be streamed live on Foothills 
Media website at foothillsmedia.org/sierramadre 
and broadcast on Government 

Access Channel 3 (Spectrum)..

1630 AM EMERGENCY RADIO & 

Free on-air publicity for local events

 Sierra Madre’s EMERGENCY radio station is now accepting scripts for 
Public Service Announcements (PSAs) about community events. PSAs 
will be broadcast on the air at no charge. The station operates 24/7 and can 
be heard at 1630 on the AM dial.

 Any local non-profit or non-commercial organization can have their 
event information broadcast to the public on Sierra Madre Community 
Information Radio. The station covers the city of Sierra Madre, plus 
surrounding areas of Pasadena, Arcadia, and Monrovia. 

Your event must:

• Benefit a non-commercial or non-profit entity
• Be open to the public
• Be of general interest to local citizens


Just 
write a Public Service Announcement that describes your event and 
e-mail it to radio@cityofsierramadre.com. 


City of Sierra Madre

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

From: The City of Sierra Madre

Subject: EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 

 FEE SCHEDULE ADDITIONS 

The City of Sierra Madre gives notice, pursuant to State of California law, 
that the City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider the adoption 
of a City Council resolution amending the Fee Schedule by adopting 
an Emergency Medical Services Dispatch fee, ePCR fee, First Responder 
fee and Paramedic Subscription fee. 

DATE AND TIME OF HEARING PLACE OF HEARING

City of Sierra Madre City of Sierra Madre

City Council meeting City Council Chambers

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

(Hearing begins at 5:30 p.m. Sierra Madre, CA 91024

or shortly thereafter)

All interested persons may attend this meeting and the City Council will 
hear them with respect thereto.

For further information on this subject, please contact Sierra Madre Fire 
Department EMS Captain Karen Bustillos at (626) 355-3611.

Posted 1/31/2025 

By: Laura M. Aguilar

City Clerk of Sierra Madre 

CERT EVALUATES THE SIERRA MADRE 
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

The CERT General Meeting on February 23rd was billed as 
an inside look at the workings of the Emergency Operations 
Center (EOC) during a major disaster. That meeting turned 
into a standing room only town hall with Bob Spears, Emergency 
Services Director along with City Manager Jose Reynoso, 
Captain Chris Bertrand of the SMFD and Librarian Leila 
Regan who answered many concerns regarding the operations 
during the Eaton Fire. Following the meeting, Bob Spears invited 
all to take a tour of the EOC.

Many of those attending were residents of the Canyon and 
other foothill areas who were directly impacted by the fire and 
still had questions regarding the procedures during and after 
the evacuation call-out. Most questions raised were about 
the storm that was forecasted for the weekend as concerns 
for mudslides. Manager Reynoso explained the city’s placing 
of k-rails along vulnerable spots in the City along with the 
procedure for citizens to obtain sandbags for shoring up one’s 
property. 

Many thanks to Bob Spears, Jose Reynoso and Lilia Reyes for 
taking time out of their busy schedule during this very hectic 
time to answer questions and relieve some of the fears of our 
residents.

Sierra Madre CERT will host Rich Snyder at our next General 
Meeting on February 27, at the Hart Park House at 7:00 P.M 
Rich will share his experiences during the Eaton Fire as well 
as going over some of the ways you can protect your property 
the next time a disaster strikes – and there will be a next time.

Pat Alcorn, President SMCERT.

SIERRA MADRE LIBRARY BOOK SALE 

FEBRUARY 7TH & 8TH

The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library announce that 
the next Used Book Sale will be held on Friday, February 
7 (3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.) and Saturday, February 
8 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.). The sale will take place on 
the parking lot at the Temporary Library, 350 West Sierra 
Madre Blvd. This sale will feature our VINTAGE 
books. 

We’ve been collecting a wide variety of titles includ-
ing T. E. Lawrence’s REVOLT IN THE DESERT and 
an early reprint of LOLITA. Also look for THE THREE 
MUSKETEERS and the sequel TWENTY YEARS 
AFTER, together in a 1901 The D’Artagan Romances 
set. Attractive 1976 editions of LLANA OF GATHOL, 
JOHN CARTER OF MARS, and AT THE EARTH’S 
CORE, Science Fiction titles by Edgar Rice Burroughs, 
will also be available as well as many other classic titles 
and authors. In addition, we have a large Local History 
collection in-cluding reference sets CALIFORNIA 
OF THE SOUTH (1933) and HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE, 
LOS ANGELES CITY AND COUNTY 
(1930s). As always, we have current fiction and nonfiction 
in every genre for your reading pleasure.

Look for our Bargain books at only $1.00 each, small 
paperbacks .25 each or 5/$1, Children’s and Teen books 
from .50 to $5, and a media collection of DVDs and 
CDs for $1.00 each; audio books $3. At this sale, we’ll 
also have games and jigsaw puzzles.

Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic cashiers look forward 
to talking books with you at the next Book Sale!


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