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Mountain View News Saturday, August 2, 2025


Weather Wise

WALKING SIERRA MADRE 

 The Social Side by Deanne Davis


6-Day Forecast Sierra Madre, Ca.

 Sun Sunny Hi 80s Lows 60s 

 Mon: Sunny Hi 80s Lows 60s 

 Tues: Sunny Hi 90s Lows 60s 

 Wed: Sunny Hi 90s Lows 60s

 Thur: Sunny Hi 80s Lows 60s 

 Fri: Sunny Hi 80s Lows 60s

Forecasts courtesy of the National Weather Service

“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top 
of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it 
pauses in its turning. The weeks before are only a climb from balmy 
spring, and those that follow are a drop to the chill of Autumn. 
But the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously 
silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets 
smeared with dramatic color.” Natalie Babbitt

That pretty much says it all. It’s still way too hot and as I mentioned 
last week, I’m ready to get out my pumpkins. Of course, it’s 
nowhere near Fall, but I’m really tired of summer and ready for a 
change. However, school starts next week!

Here are a few of the wonderful things to celebrate in August, in 
addition to Mary’s Market getting that life-changing grant!

• Admit You’re Happy Month
• Family Fun Month
• Golf Month
• Happiness Happens Month
• International Pirate Month
• National Catfish Month
• National Eye Exam Month
• Peach Month
• Picnic Month
• Romance Awareness Month
• Water Quality Month


Tomorrow is National Sisters Day. My sister’s birthday is Monday. 
Happy birthday, Heidi. Last Wednesday, July 30th, was my daughter, Crissy’s birthday. We do not mention ages anymore. Suffice 
to say that the first men who walked on the moon did it just days before she was born.

“When the lunar module lands on July 16th, only 30 seconds of fuel remain. Armstrong radios “Houston, Tranquility Base 
here. The Eagle has landed.” Mission control erupts in celebration as the tension breaks. With more than half a billion people 
watching on television, he climbs down the ladder and proclaims: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

I didn’t care. I was so pregnant I could hardly walk and watched Neal Armstrong walk on the moon lying on my back on the 
floor with my swollen feet on the couch. 

Speaking of significant days: Today is our Library’s Used Book Sale from 10-2 in the Library Parking Lot. Go! I found some of 
the best books I ever read at the Used Book Sale. Trust me!

August is also National Language Month; which means we need to pay attention to our words. Harvey Mackay, one of my 
favorite columnists says: “Words are the building blocks of relationships. They can build trust, show empathy and create 
bonds. The wrong words can damage relationships, sometimes irreparably. Certain words can offend or alienate people. By 
choosing your words wisely, you respect your listeners and create a more inclusive environment.” Ain’t that the truth! This is 
why discussing politics and/or religion at Thanksgiving is forbidden and all conversation should be about how moist the turkey 
and deliciously tasty the gravy.

The Apostle, James, addressing this same issue in his book, back toward the end of the New Testament said: “Dear brothers, 
don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry (no politics at the table!). (James1:19-20) 
and then there’s this one also from James, who, apparently, was tired of people who talked too much and not very nicely: “The 
tongue is a small thing but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by

one tiny spark and the tongue is a flame of fire, full of wickedness…and can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of 
destruction and disaster!” (James 3:2-5-6) As Thumper said to Bambi, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all!”

The picture this week is of prickly pears, ripe and ready to eat. Notice that nice red color. The problem with trying to use prickly 
pears is they are just not as easy to deal with as other fruits like lemons or oranges. To start with, collecting your prickly pears 
should be done with leather gloves and tongs. Then, put the fruit in a paper bag that will prevent the glochids (thorns, stickers) 
from coming through. Then, carefully burn the fruit over an open flame from a blow torch, lighter or candle. After being 
burned, the fruit can be peeled by cutting off both ends, making a slit from top to bottom the carefully peeling the skin off 
the fruit to reveal a dethorned fruit. Seriously? I know people use them, I’ve seen it on the Food Network! But I’m just not up 
for potential pain. Recipes abound for jam, jelly, margaritas, candy, but I can’t get myself past that first step of needing leather 
gloves and tongs.

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

So many fun books, great recipes and stories in

A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of Laughter, and

Sunrises and Sunflowers Speak Hope

SIERRA MADRE CITY MEETINGS

SIERRA MADRE CITY 

COUNCIL MEETING

Council is on Summer 

Recess Until:

August 26, 2025 5:30 pm

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. 

 
550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
@ So. Side of Sierra Madre Woman’s Club 
Opened 1957: 68 Years of Service to Our Community 
Shop Closed for Summer 
So many thanks for your donations 
and support this past year!! 
Our Charities & Scholarships Thank You, too! 
Enjoy your summer! See you when the 
Shop Re-Opens 
Thur., September 4 – 10-3 
Clean, gently used donations again 
Accepted After 7/4/25 
SierraMadreWomansClub 
Wistaria 
Thrift Shop 
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