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OPINIONOPINION

RICH JOHNSON

POTPOURRI: Questions & Answers

MOUNTAIN 
VIEWS

NEWS

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Susan Henderson

PASADENA CITY 
EDITOR

Dean Lee 

SALES

Patricia Colonello

626-355-2737 

626-818-2698

WEBMASTER

John Aveny 

DISTRIBUTION

Peter Lamendola

CONTRIBUTORS

Lori A. Harris

Michele Kidd

Stuart Tolchin 

Harvey Hyde

Audrey Swanson

Meghan Malooley

Mary Lou Caldwell

Kevin McGuire

Chris Leclerc

Dinah Chong Watkins

Howard Hays

Paul Carpenter

Kim Clymer-Kelley

Christopher Nyerges

Peter Dills 

Rich Johnson

Rev. James Snyder

Katie Hopkins

Deanne Davis

Despina Arouzman

Jeff Brown

Marc Garlett

Keely Toten

Dan Golden

Rebecca Wright

Hail Hamilton

Joan Schmidt

LaQuetta Shamblee

STUART TOLCHIN

PUT THE LIGHTS ON


MAZEL TOV

Most of us have heard and used the word potpourri. Do you 
know what potpourri is?

Well, I’ll tell you… both by giving you definitions followed by 
mesmerizing examples.

1. A combination of incongruous things (look it up)

2. A miscellaneous anthology or collection

3. A mixture of dried flower petals and spices used to 
scent the air (my favorite). Let’s begin:

The first airline stewardess…or (for the politically correct crowd) flight attendant. 
Her name was Ellen Church. Hired by United Airlines May 15, 1930. She 
had to be a registered nurse, no taller than 5’4” and weigh no more than 115 
pounds.

Ms. Church’s duties included carrying the passengers’ luggage, cleaning the plane, 
helping the pilot and crew push the plane out of the hanger and onto the runway. 
And finally, she was required to hold the hose during refueling.

Next, what came first the hot dog or the bun? The first hot dogs were sold on 
Coney Island in New York in 1871. No buns. Vendors handed the hot dog out 
with a white glove to keep their fingers clean but too many customers walked off 
with the gloves. Thirty years later, in 1904, someone thought up using buns and 
I guess it just caught on.

Mrs. Ludlow Ogden Smith and her husband were dropped from the Philadelphia 
Social Register in 1934 because Mrs. Smith decides to become a movie actress. 
You might know Mrs. Smith better by her given name…Katharine Hepburn.

What was Al Capone’s business occupation? According to his business card Mr. 
Capone was a second-hand furniture dealer.

In 1700’s America, how many children did the average married woman give birth 
to? 13 children (the life expectancy at birth for Americans in 1789 was 34 for men 
and 36 for women). PS Benjamin Franklin was the 15th child born to a Boston 
soap maker.

Have you ever had a drink of Lithiated Lemon? No? Not so fast. Lithiated Lemon 
was the original snappy name of a drink we call 7-UP. Name changed in 1933.

How many baseballs are used in an average 9 inning game in the Major Leagues? 
108 262,440 baseballs used per MLB season.

Speaking of baseball, the rules have changed over the years. “Runs” were originally 
referred to as “Aces”. Pitching was underhand and if the ball was caught on 
the first bounce the batter was out.

Speaking of sports, the official sport of the state of Maryland is Jousting.

The first female medical doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell, was admitted to Geneva 
College Medical School in New York…as a joke. She graduated at the head of her 
class…in 1849.

What is Los Angeles’ full name? (Take a deep breath) El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora 
la Reina de los Angeles de Porciiuncula”. Translated? “The Village of Our 
Lady the Queen of the Angels of Little Portion”.

What did the newspaper headline say the day after the Gunfight at OK Corral? 
“Three Men Hurled Into Eternity in the Duration of a Moment”!

Believe it or not Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman were not the first choices 
for the lead in “Casablanca”. Who were the original actor actress cast? “Ann Sheridan 
and Ronald Reagan”. Continuing “Bogie and Katherine Hepburn” weren’t the 
first choices for “The African Queen”. Those roles were originally intended for 
“David Niven” and “Bette Davis”.

Ever wonder what song became the absolutely first “Gold Record”? “Chattanooga 
Choo Choo” by Glenn Miller in 1941. While we’re on songs was the “Star Spangled 
Banner” the original “National Anthem”? Nope, nope and nope. Our first 
national anthem was “Yankee Doodle.”

Who was the first president to shake hands? Thomas Jefferson. George Washington 
and John Adams greeted visitors by bowing to them. (We should have our 
presidents start doing that!).

Was presidential retreat “Camp David” always “Camp David”? Nope, nope and 
double nope. President Eisenhower changed the name to “Camp David” from its 
original name “Shangri-La” named by FDR.

Finally, the question we all have asked at one time or another: “How many elephants 
does it take to fill up a blue whale”?

The answer is the same number that us professional newspaper moguls use to 
end a newspaper column. -30-

 PS Halloween Party/Concert at Nano’s is this upcoming Saturday night at Nano’s. 
7:00-10:00 Costumes optional. Yours truly and JJ Jukebox in concert. Call (626) 
325-3334 for info. Call Wednesday through Saturday after 4:00pm for reservations 
or information.

Every day seems different as if part of a different world. Of 
course, we all know it is the same world perhaps created 
somehow by someone or somebody. I want to review the 
past week with you so that you can share my wonder. Friday 
was the incredible day of the three Shohei Ohtani homeruns 
combined with his 2-hit pitching and 10 strikeouts which 
were part of the Dodger victory that now allows our home-
town team to participate in the World Series. If you don’t know what I am 
talking about, it’s as if we live in different worlds but please keep reading anyway.

 My son had slept over Friday night to watch the game with my wife and 
I and on Saturday morning I planned to attend the No Kings demonstration 
occurring all over the United States including right here in our little Sierra 
Madre. I tried to interest my son, who suffers from life-long developmental 
difficulties, but at first, he was disinterested. He asked what possible difference 
his participation could or would make and he wanted to stay in the house. That 
changed once he saw my wife creating No Kings posters and her industry and 
enthusiasm reached him and now, he wanted to be a participant in what was 
taking place.

Just before we left, I called the editor of this paper to see if she was going 
to attend the demonstration and was told that busy as she was, she would do her 
best to glide by. She also said I was free to write about my impressions of the 
demonstration but gave me no word-limit and really no promises that my report 
would be published. So, off my son, my wife, and I went to Kersting Court our 
little plaza off Sierra Madre Blvd which is the center of our foothill town.

As we left, we wondered how many people would be there but were 
surprised at the number of protesters already present. I am sure that by this time 
you have read about the protest and learned that it was the largest demonstration 
in the history of Sierra Madre. There was music and conversation and music 
and costumes, but no huge display of anger. It was very sunny, and my wife and 
son left early but I stayed talking with people.

Later, I caught a ride with a neighbor and invited her to my home to 
admire the view from our deck. The neighbor involved us by describing the 
volunteer work she was doing helping to advise the worried Hispanic population 
of Pasadena and it is now my hope to soon begin volunteering next week. She 
also told us about the extraordinary experiences that have long been a part of 
her life. In what I call transcendental experiences within a nonphysical realm 
she sees and talks to God. Wow!

After my neighbor left I wrote a report and emailed it to the editor. 
That was Saturday and on Sunday my son once again stayed overnight as he 
was very anxious about his colonoscopy procedure which was scheduled for 
11 AM Monday. Poor guy, he was up all night. To help him relax I decided 
to read him a short story from the Book the Best American Short Stories of 
the Century which included The Key written by Isaac Bashevis Singer. This 
story describes a lonely old woman who believes she is surrounded by hostile 
neighbors and predators. She loses her apartment keys and fears she will die 
on the street. Surprisingly she receives help from her neighbors and gets back 
into her apartment. Her whole attitude about her life profoundly changes. At 
the end of the story, she imagines hearing the words “mazel tov” which is the 
Hebrew expression signifying congratulations and best of luck for the future. In 
my world it is an expression often heard as praise for a job well done.

 I want to end with this message with the thought that if I ever have 
an experience like the ones described by my neighbor and find myself in the 
presence of God it is my hope that rather than complain about the world that 
might have been I will say to the Creator “mazel tov” congratulating He or 
She for what has been accomplished and expressing my hope for the future. 
Certainly, tomorrow is a new day, and we can all appreciate our own life and the 
constant ever-changing world that surrounds us. 

Stay informed but be positive.

Mountain Views News 
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HOWARD Hays As I See It


“Where would you rather be on this beautiful Saturday than here to 
protect our democracy?” – participant at the “No Kings” rally, Kersting 
Court


Seven million Americans, 
in 2,700 demonstrations 
throughout the country, 
participated in “No Kings” 
rallies last Saturday. Estimates for here in Sierra 
Madre were a thousand showing up around 
Kersting Court – twice the turnout of the first 
“No Kings” rally in June.

 

As usual, it was a gorgeous day – blue, cloudless 
sky with air cleared by recent rains affording 
crisp views of the mountains as backdrop. I said 
“hi” to friends and then, meeting others, posed 
a question; “Of all the places you could be on 
a Saturday enjoying this beautiful weather, why 
are you here?” Sometimes they’d turn the question 
back at me, “Where would you rather be?” 
I thought of missing the annual Street Rods Forever 
car show in Monrovia. Those who know 
me, know that’s something I’d be thinking about.

 

There were a number of folks from Monrovia 
(also missing the car show). One group explained 
they were there to “speak in favor of democracy”, 
“in opposition to tyranny”. Another 
Monrovian explained they were there because 
“our democracy needs us”.

 

One from Pasadena said she was there to have 
her “voice heard” – and reminded that one of 
our “American values” is “showing up”.

 

Neighbors in Sierra Madre explained their position 
as, “no king, no dictatorship, no Trump” 
– a “moral compulsion”, a “duty to resist against 
tyranny”.

 

A group from Altadena expressed alarm over 
things “changing so fast”, “all the cruelty”, “National 
Guard in cities like we’re the enemy”.

 

Other folks from Altadena told how they’d lost 
everything in the fire – moving here last March. 
They said they wondered whether Sierra Madre 
“would all be conservative”, but now they especially 
“love the sense of community”.

 

A young lady from Sierra Madre said she was 
there to express her “care about human rights”, 
and to “let people know they’re not alone 
– solidarity”.

 

I complimented a participant from Eagle Rock 
on their sign; “A Naked Bike Ride Is Not An 
Insurrection”. They said, “The most important 
thing – to be here and stand up for our country”.

 

A couple from Pasadena simply explained, “We 
have to be here”, that they “feel better about the 
situation” being with “like-minded people”. A 
fellow from Sierra Madre said he was there “to 
show the flag – we’ve let them have it for too 
long.” Another expressed “responsibility to help 
others and protest against dictatorship”.

 

I met some dual-nationals down from Canada. 
They said what they valued most about down 
here was the multi-culturalism; “You take that 
out, there’s nothing.”

 

One lady put it succinctly; “I have a five-year-
old. It’s for their future.” Another was more expansive; 
“Gay, trans, young women, Latinas – I 
have six nieces. I want them to have the same 
rights I had.” There was one who made sure she 
introduced herself clearly; “I’m a Jewish woman 
with Palestinian friends.”

 

A couple from Arcadia said they were there to 
exercise their rights, and in protecting that right 
of free expression they’d “defend anybody with 
a different opinion”. A lady explained she was 
from a “family of immigrants”, that they’d “fight 
back in whatever way we can.”

 

Speakers included our State Senator Sasha Renee 
Perez and Congresswoman Judy Chu. Rep. 
Chu reminded that here in California, in addition 
to showing up at rallies, we have the opportunity 
to take concrete action: We can pass 
Prop 50 to counter President Trump’s efforts 
to rig the midterm elections in his attempt to 
avoid a Congress that might actually hold him 
accountable.

 

Both Sen. Perez and Rep. Chu were there the 
next day at the United Democratic Headquarters 
annual Oktoberfest. Also there was gubernatorial 
candidate Betty Yee. She spoke of talking up 
Prop 50 in a deep-red area of northern California, 
where they worried that redistricting would 
bring loss of representation for their interests. 
Yee pointed out to them how their current congressman 
avoided town halls while supporting 
policies resulting in loss of rural hospitals and 
affordable healthcare. She said she then asked 
them how well their interests were being represented 
now.

 

The “No Kings” rallies were about fighting 
back in the streets. Prop 50 is fighting back at 
the ballot box. Sen. Sasha Renee Perez told of 
fighting back in Sacramento. Among measures 
she’s co-sponsored is one requiring ICE to be 
unmasked with visible name badges – like our 
police, state troopers and sheriff’s deputies – or 
risk losing their qualified immunity. The point 
is being able to hold any law enforcement officer 
– whether local, state or federal – accountable 
for their actions.

 

On another issue, we’ve all been aware of 
Trump’s slashing funding for scientific research. 
Sen. Perez is co-sponsoring legislation for a 
bond measure to ensure that no matter how far 
back Trump is determined to drag the rest of the 
country, we won’t allow him to block scientific 
advancement here in California.

 

Sen. Sasha Renee Perez is leading. I’m looking 
forward to seeing where her leadership takes us 
in the years ahead. 

 

When I mentioned the weather to this one “No 
Kings” participant at Kersting Court, she waved 
her hand over the crowd and said, “This is what 
makes it a beautiful day!” She then turned to 
me and added, as if wanting to reassure me, 
that the people here “know what to do.” I like 
to think she’s right.


Mountain Views News

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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