Mountain View News Saturday, April 11, 2026 55 Mountain View News Saturday, April 11, 2026 55 
STATEMENT FROM ASM. JOHN HARABEDIAN ON THE SUDDEN PASSING OF LOS ANGELES 

COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY LEVI VARGAS “To Deputy Vargas’s family, there are no words that can carry what you are feelingright now. The entire community stands with you,” said Assemblymember John Harabedian (D - Pasadena).

Deputy Levi Vargas was a husband, a son, and a brother. He served the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department for 11 years. He showed up every day 
and served this community with integrity, professionalism, and care for the people he was sworn to protect. He passed during the Baker to Vegas relay, an 
event built on endurance, teamwork, and service. His loss is felt by his family, all who served alongside him, and members of the community.

 “We thank Deputy Vargas for his service to public safety and to the people of Los Angeles County. He gave years of his life to protecting others, and that 
will not be forgotten. Tonight, San Dimas gathers to honor his life and stand with those who knew and loved him. We grieve this loss together and hold his 
family in our thoughts,” said Assemblymember John Harabedian (D - Pasadena). The vigil was held onFriday, April 10th, 2026 in San Dimas. 

EATON FIRE-IMPACTED 
SURVIVORS INVITED TO 
LEARN MORE ABOUT 
‘TURNKEY’ REBUILDING 
OPTIONS ON SAT. 
APRIL 25 AT PASADENA 
SENIOR CENTER 

Residents of Altadena and Pasadena who were impacted by theEaton fire are invited to attend an informative event to helpunderstand rebuilding with the Turnkey/Production buildingoption on Saturday, April 25 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., onsite at thePasadena Senior Center. 

At this event, presented by the Altadena Recovery and RebuildCorporation (ARRC), attendees will learn what makes ‘turnkey’and production building unique. They’ll also learn what is 
included in terms of design, production and other factors, andexplore the full rebuild process. 

The event is free and reservations are suggested. To register or 
for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and 
click on Lectures & Classes, then Informational Lectures, or call626-795-4331. 

In addition, we’ll discuss timelines, budgeting considerations,
and how to think about potential gaps between insurance andtotal rebuild cost. These reliable pre-planned options can helpshorten timelines, simplify decision-making and reduce risk in a 
way that may improve long-term insurability. 

Altadena Recovery Rebuild Corporation is a communitynonprofit committed to urgently reestablishing Altadena’s 
community, homes, businesses, commercial corridors, urbanforest, and natural habitat. ARRC offers private sector input,
guidance, and resources to the rebuild and recovery of Altadena. 

This workshop is just one of many initiatives of PSC’s Eaton 
Fire Community Support resources that were provided to thecommunity within days of the devastating Eaton Fire. Additional 
resources to community members impacted by the fire can befound under the Resources menu on pasadenaseniorcenter.org. 

The Pasadena Senior Center’s mission is to improve the lives ofolder adults through caring service with opportunities for social 
interaction, fitness programs, basic support and needs services,
education, volunteerism and community activism. With 10,000Americans per day becoming older adults, the center is a leaderin addressing issues of aging and provides innovative, cutting-
edge, nationally recognized programs for this population group. 

As a donor-supported nonprofit, the center operates without anylocal, state or federal funding and provides more services to olderadults than any other organization in the San Gabriel Valley.
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. To learn morevisit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call 626-795-4331. 

SUPERVISOR KATHRYN BARGER SECURES 
BOARD BACKING FOR EXPANDED 
WILDFIRE MORTGAGE RELIEF LEGISLATION 
Page 3 
HARABEDIAN LEGISLATION 
SUPPORTED BY LA COUNTY 
SUPERVISORS 

Last week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously 
approved a motion authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger 
to support new state legislation by Assemblymember John Harabedian 
aimed at expanding recovery resources for communities 
impacted by the Eaton Fire. 

The motion directs the County to advocate for Assembly Bill 1847, 
new state legislation that provides longer-term critical mortgage 
relief for wildfire survivors. The proposed law requires mortgage 
providers to expand the current mortgage forbearance period 
from 12 to 36 months and also extends the deadline for requests 
for forbearance to January 7, 2029, allowing homeowners facingfinancial hardship to pause payments without late fees, negative 
credit reporting, or risk of foreclosure as they rebuild. 

“From day one, my priority has been to stand with my Eaton Fire 
constituents and advocate for every resource available to help 
them recover,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We must draw 
down every possible form of financial relief—local, state, and fed-

BETWEEN THE 
SHELVES: 

A CONVERSATION 
WITH ANA BUCKLEY OF 
FABLES AND FANCIES 

By Elizabeth Converse 

When did you first start loving books? 
I was a very very young child. When 
we visited my aunt — she lived up in 
the mountains — she had a little library 
on the bottom floor of her house, 
and while my parents and my aunt and 
uncle had conversations, I would be 
downstairs going through the books. 
She was a huge Lord of the Rings fan! 

There were so many Lord of the Rings things down there, with dragons 
and things, and I was like, well, this looks exciting. So I forced myself 
to read it, because even though I loved it, it was pretty advanced 
reading for a child. But I got through it, and that just set me off on myjourney. It's an escape, it's learning and growing and experiencing. Myfavorite thing in the world. 

How did you come to choose Sierra Madre? I've always thought Sierra 
Madre was a beautiful walking community, that had a gap that needed 
to be filled. Books are kind of a luxury now — they're not something 
people seek out. 

What is your favorite thing about Fables and Fancies? The community 
that's grown around it. People are wonderful here — welcoming.
What do you offer besides selling books? We do children's story time 
and crafts — free, every weekend. Book clubs, author events, women's 
groups, activism events. It's a packed calendar. Beyond selling books, 
we try to be a hub. We offer third space for kids. There's a lot of spontaneous 
volunteers who just show up and never really leave, so I make 
them alphabetize things. 

What are these volunteers like — school-age or adults? Young people,
12 to 24, who stamp bags and alphabetize — and want somewhere to 
be, somewhere they feel safe, accepted, seen. 

I see you also exhibit art. Tell me about that. That happened organically. 
My brother is an artist, and I've always had his pieces here. Once the 
Art Walks started, it occurred to me we could just keep showing art 
and inviting artists to share their work. So now we have a gallery railing 
and a rotating collection. Also, bring your dog in — I take pictures 
of every one, and there's always a fresh water bowl and treats waiting. 

What does Fables and Fancies specialize in? Just books, really — new 
and used. I prefer fiction, and there's far more fiction on the shelves,
but I try to carry a little bit of everything. Sierra Madre is kind of insular 
— once the community's bought a book, they're not gonna buy it 
again. The places I worked before were tourist traps; you could carry 
the same book forever. Here I have no choice but to go through all the 
new releases constantly. It's actually a fun challenge. 

Is there anything that particularly attracts Sierra Madre readers? National 
parks. Books about national parks just move — mysteries, unexplained 
occurrences — people love those. People love their trees out 
here. Beyond that, our top sellers are never the national top sellers. 
I've had books that were number three in the country sit on the shelf 
for a month and a half with no takers. Sierra Madre does not go for 
that. They're more individualized — maybe picking up easy bestsellers 
somewhere else and coming here for more specialized titles. 

Do you have a favorite category yourself? Fiction — horror, sci-fi, fantasy, 
YA, depends on my mood. Right now I'm reading Witches byBrenda Lozano, a Mexican novel translated from Spanish. It's about 
Curanderismo — faith healing — but really it's exploring women 
who are othered because of what they do or what they are. It's told in 
two voices: the interviewer's chapters are very linear, and the healer's 
chapters are dreamy, poetic — you almost have to sound it out to get 
the meaning. It's just astonishing. I ordered three copies for the store. 

Any other reading recommendations? Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de 
la Cerda — short stories about violence in the border towns, nominated 
for the Booker Prize. I am Mexican, and I seek out Mexican 
authors. It's what I know, it's what I am. I plan to include more underrepresented 
authors as I grow!
What's your dream for the shop? Self-sustaining. Enough staff to run the shop, More. community-oriented 
things and the time for behind-the-scenes work. Longer term, I think 
about publishing under the Fables and Fancies imprint, and I'd love 
another tree. 

You've been part of the Art Walk since it began. What's your experience 
been? I love it. Sierra Madre, is a sleepy little town— by 3 o'clock 
it's tumbleweeds going down the street. Evening events that get people 
out are vital. I look forward to seeing more people, and using social 
media to spread the word in a highly effective way. 

The next Art Walk is June 19th, 4 to 8. 

L.A. COUNTY BOARD OF 
SUPERVISORS PROCLAIMS 
APRIL AS ARMENIAN HISTORY 
MONTH 
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously 
approved a motion authored by Supervisor Kathryn 
Barger and Supervisor Janice Hahn proclaiming April 2026 as 
Armenian History Month, honoring the rich cultural heritage, 
resilience, and contributions of the Armenian community. 

April holds deep significance for Armenians around the world. 
This year marks the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, 
as well as continued challenges facing Armenians glob-
ally–including the recent displacement of more than 100,000 
people from Artsakh. The Board’s proclamation recognizes 
both the importance of remembrance and the need to uplift the 
resilience of the Armenian community. 

“My district is home to the largest Armenian diaspora in the 
country, and thousands of my constituents are proud members 
of the Armenian community,” said Los Angeles County Board 
of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “I have seen firsthand how 
their culture, resilience, and values enrich the diverse fabric of 
Los Angeles County. Proclaiming April as Armenian HistoryMonth is a meaningful way to celebrate their enduring contributions 
and honor their history.” 

“Los Angeles County is the proud home to the largest population 
of Armenians outside of Armenia,” said Supervisor Janice 
Hahn. “It is important that we take this opportunity during Armenian 
History Month to recognize the Armenian Americans 
who have made a difference in our communities and celebrate 
the Armenian culture, while also joining our residents in commemorating 
and mourning the Armenian Genocide.” 

Later this month, Supervisor Barger will recognize outstanding 
members of the Armenian community during the Board of Supervisors 
Public Hearing meeting on April 28, 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