INTERFAITH BREAKFAST (continued from page 1)

 and our Mountain Views News Owner / Editor, Susan Henderson. 

Our City Council was represented by Gene Goss and Kelly Kriebs (both former mayors, along 
with other former mayors Rachelle Arizmendi, Clem Bartolai, and Rob Stockly). 

City Staff was represented by our new City Manager, Michael Bruckner, Assistant City Manager 
Miguel Hernandez. City Clerk Laura Aguilar, Planning Manager Clare Lin, City Librarian Leila 
Regan, our Interim Public Works Director Brian Dickensen, Treasurer Sue Spears and our Fire 
Chief Brent Bartlett and Police Chief-Gus Barrientos. Sierra Madre’s Community Services and 
Commissions were also well represented: Supervisor Ted Tegart; Commission Liaisons: Library 
Board of Trustees with leigh Gluck, Natural Resources by the City’s James Carlson, Planning 
Commission by Kevin Brennan, Revenue Ad Hoc Committee with Roberta Malfitano; and 
Senior Commission by Mia Khadour. 

Our various schools were represented by La Salle’s Ernst Siy, Marshal High’s Lori Touloumian, 
Alverno Heights Academy’s Joanne Harabedian, Sierra Madre Middle School’s Garrett Newsom, 
and Bridge Montessori’s Ms. Aartha.

From our many non-profits, we had representatives from the British Home, Cancer Support 
Community, CERT, Chamber of Commerce; Civic Club; Disabled American Veterans; Emergency 
(Ham Radio) Communications Team; Fletcher Fund; Kiwanis; Sierra Madre Playhouse; Rose 
Float Association; SMEAC; Spero Foundation; and our VFW #3208.

From our Citizens and Older Americans of the Year we had: Heidi Hartman 2025, Mary Carney 
2024, Bob & Sue Spears 2021; De & Pat Alcorn 2017; Clem & Nina Bartolai-2015; Marlene 
Enmark 2012 and Richard Mays 2011.

Started during a time of deep city strife, the Prayer Breakfast is one of only two “sit-down” events 
each year where our government officials, educators, non-profit leaders and other active and 
involved leaders and residents can come together and share what’s going on “in person”. Ideas 
flow, connections are made, and together we reflect on what makes Sierra Made the truly special 
community it is. Huge thanks to our SMWC members helping before and during the Breakfast. 
And please, mark your calendars now for our 50th Annual Interfaith Community Prayer Breakfast 
next year on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.


44

Mountain View News Saturday, November 22, 2025


REMEMBRANCE


CONNIE 
HASTINGS

Long time resident of Sierra 
Madre, Connie Hastings passed 
away September 18th at her home 
in Scottsburg OR. She grew up in 
Sierra Madre and was very active 
in the community.

She worked at Hoegees Camp up 
in the San Gabriel Mountains as a 
teenager. 

She was the first woman President 
of the Sierra Madre Chamber of 
Commerce in 1978.

Connie ran the Sierra Madre Glass 
shop and later opened R T Hastings 
Construction Co with her 
husband Bob.

She loved to swim, ski, fish, dance 
and entertain friends.

She was the daughter of Mary Perkins 
owner of Mary Market in the 
Canyon.

She is survived by her daughters 
Colleen, Doreen, Kathy and sons Michael, and Bob Jr., sisters Kathy Fisher, Maureen Daniels 
and Eileen Perkins, Grandchildren and Great Grand children nieces and nephews.

BASIN SUMMARY AND STATUS UPDATE (cont. from page 1)

YUCCA TRAIL RAIL AND TIMBER STRUCTURE STATUS AND ACTION PLAN

Following the Santa Anita Fire above Sierra Madre in April 2008, the Los Angeles 
County Department of Public Works constructed a rail-and-timber structure on Yucca 
Trail, located above Woodland Drive, and adjacent to the Nature Friends facility in Sierra 
Madre’s lower canyon area. Completed in 2009, the structure assisted in managing 
anticipated mud and debris flows during heavy rain events. It has performed as designed—
capturing debris approximately two inches in diameter or larger while allowing 
muddy water to pass between the timber planks.

In 2015, the County determined that the post-fire risk of mud and debris flows had 
subsided and informed the City that it intended to remove the structure unless Sierra 
Madre agreed to assume ongoing maintenance responsibilities. In 2015, the City assumed 
ownership and maintenance of the structure and basin; however, funding for 
ongoing maintenance of the basin has been limited.

Post Eaton Fire, the Yucca Trail basin is the only remaining site requiring clearance. 
Planning and coordination are underway, a contractor has been selected, and work is 
scheduled to begin once weather conditions allow—likely in early December—and will 
take about two-months to complete. Approximately $60,000 in funding for this work 
was approved in the Fiscal Year 2025/26 adopted budget.

BASIN MONITORING AND EXPECTED UPGRADES

City and County public works departments continuously monitor debris basins and watershed 
conditions. When sediment or debris accumulation reaches established limits, 
crews perform timely removal and maintenance to restore capacity and reduce downstream 
risk.

Under normal, unburned watershed conditions, debris basins are cleaned out when 
they reach 25% of total capacity. Under burned watershed conditions, the threshold is 
lowered to 5%. Once these limits are reached, the basin is cleared and returned to 100% 
available capacity.

Several real-time webcams are available for public viewing to help residents and emergency 
personnel observe watershed and debris basin conditions during storm events. 
The following cameras provide direct visibility into the basins above Sierra Madre:

• Bailey Canyon Debris Basin 1

• Bailey Canyon Debris Basin 2

• Sierra Madre Dam Bridge

• Sierra Madre Canyon 1 

 (Sierra Madre Dam)

• Sierra Madre Canyon 2 

 (Sierra Madre Dam)

To view Sierra Madre specific debris basin monitoring cameras listed above, please go 
to: the City website sierramadreca.gov. 

These feeds are part of the State’s AlertCalifornia monitoring network operated by UC 
San Diego. The system provides high-resolution, continuously updated imagery that 
allows City personnel and emergency responders to assess slope conditions, debris flow 
potential, and storm impacts in real time.

In addition to utilizing the existing camera network, the City is exploring a partnership 
with UCSD to install new monitoring stations at City-maintained debris basins and 
structures. This effort aims to strengthen situational awareness, improve early detection 
capabilities, and enhance operational decision-making during severe weather events.

For more information, contact Sierra Madre Public Works at (626) 355-7135 or visit the 
City website sierramadreca.gov. 

To receive Emergency Alerts, please register at Nixle and Genasys Emergency 
Communications.


FRIENDS OF LIBRARY BOOK SALE

The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library announce their December Book Sale is 
coming up fast. It will be held on Friday, December 5 (3:00-7:00 p.m.) and Saturday, 
December 6 (10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) Featured this time will be a number of 
NEW gifts and holiday books, CDs and DVDs! Look for 2025 Fiction and Non-
Fiction books suitable for gifts as well as large-format books on Art, Cooking, 
Culture and History. A special collection on Craftsman and Bungalow houses 
will be for sale; also a large collection of children’s books on the American Revolution, 
just in time for the country’s 250th birthday.

Don’t forget our WONDERFUL $5.00 Bag Sale on Saturday. Choose from all of 
our Bargain books and Media to place in a large grocery bag for only $5.00!

This will be the last Book Sale for a few months as we work to fill the empty 
shelves of our BRAND-NEW Friends’ Bookstore in the remodeled main library. 
Look for our special Grand Opening in June 2026.

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