22 2 
Mountain View News Saturday, August 29, 2026 

Written by Gigi Hutchinson & Annette Pizzo-McGill some glitter sprinkles, but it’s about being there if 
From The Traveled Path Collaborative someone needs you.” 

We were curious about any obstacles that she mayMEET MEGHAN MALOOLY have had to overcome. 

Meghan replied: “I have insomnia and ADHD, 
which really contributes to that uniqueness 
mentioned above. I run on very little sleep and have 
to build my life around my sleep schedule. It can 
definitely be frustrating, especially when my days 
and nights get flipped, and I go days without talking 
to a real person, but it’s also what allows me to do 
what I do.” 

We asked Meghan, in what ways is she a part of the 
fabric of her community and what does she love 
about her community? 

“ I love that my community is so generous and kind. 
I can’t count how many times I was approached bya family who needed something that was beyond 
my capacity to help, but once I put the word out, 
the community always rose to the occasion and did 
whatever they could to help!” 

We wanted to know how Meghan stays inspired. 

“It’s going to sound cheesy, because it is incredibly

FROM SIERRA MADRE, CA cheesy, but it’s also very true. What keeps me 
inspired is the community. Every time I see that 
someone dropped off a donation at my house or I

Meghan is the small business owner of Paper Heart 

receive a message from someone asking if I know

Concierge Services where she functions as a “Girl 

of someone who needs a mattress, TV, clothes, etc.,

Friday”. Some of her most popular services are pet 

it reminds me how much this community looks out

sitting and event planning. 

for each other and others!” 

She also runs Sierra Madre Gives Back, which is 

a community philanthropic organization that she 

Meghan’s Words of Wisdom:

started six years ago. She collects gently used items 

and gives back to those in need. 

“SLEEP WHEN YOU CAN! Don’t take it for 
granted! But honestly, I don’t feel wise enough yet

She plans to continue both her small business and 

to be dishing out wisdom, but I look forward to the

community organization efforts. 

experiences I’m going to have that will allow me to 
be that wise owl. “

Meghan said that she loves being an event planner 

and pet sitter. “ It doesn’t even feel like work, it just 

Find Meghan at IG @sierramadregivesback

makes me so happy to do, especially when I get to 

Facebook -www.facebook.com/groups/

utilize my crafting skills for some of my jobs!” 

sierramadrehelpinghand 
For ‘Gives Back’ she has the ‘Prom Closet’ stocked 

The Traveled Path Collaborative

for anyone in need of fancy attire and she plans 

IG @thetraveledpathcollaborative

to do this for as long as she is able. She absolutely 

www.facebook.com/TheTraveledPathCollab

loves helping people find their dream outfits for 

Home | TheTraveledPath

important events. This is a HUGE plus! 

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@
thetraveledpathcollaborati225/f

Meghan remarked, “I’m a unique person in 
general, so everything I do is unique! 

“Our MISSION is to host a unique collaboration of

Just kidding, honestly, there’s nothing really special 

creative and inspiring women who empower each

about what I do. I just make myself available 

other to follow their path and realize their dreams.” 

if people need me, for both my job and my 

organization. I wish there was a secret sauce or 

WALKING SIERRA MADRE: 

The Social Side by Deanne Davis 

OK, I’m going to confess: I’ve started putting out all 
my decorations for Fall. Yes, there arepumpkins of all sorts scattered ‘round my house. Not 
all of them, but a lot. Normal peoplewouldn’t start on this until at least September, but I 
can’t wait any longer. There’s Pumpkin SpiceCreamer and Pumpkin Spice coffee at the grocery 
store and I’m so ready for Fall. I’m going togive you a little Fall story to start getting you in the 
mood, too. Yes, We’ve seen this before, but it’s fun so 
we’re seeing it again. 

A HALLOWEEN HORROR STORY 

Halloween is almost upon us (well, not really, but it 
will arrive eventually) and those pumpkinsthat decorate porches and walls with their happy faces, grotesque faces, scary faces are notalways what they seem. Come with me to the Pumpkin Patch, an acre dotted with corn stalks, 
scarecrows and pumpkins. More pumpkins than you were expecting. Enormous pumpkins, flat ones, 
round ones, tall skinny ones; some misshapen, some with strange lumps and bumps, some with scars 
and some so little they are passed over again and again. “Not that one Daddy! It’s too small. I want 
a really big one! I want that one…or that one…not that one, that one’s ugly!” for a pumpkin, whose 
entire life has been dedicated to growing into a carve-worthy orange globe, this is hurtful, degrading 
and can bring a pumpkin to thoughts of revenge. 


The packet of Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Seeds from Burpee arrived at the Pumpkin Patch in asomewhat damaged condition. There were heavy, dark tire tracks over the face of it and minuteholes where it had been ground into the ground. It had been rained on, left out in the sun and, inshort, was not a beautiful thing. The owner of the Pumpkin Patch, however, having paid $2.99for it wasn’t about to toss it out. Upon further inspection of the actual seeds, he discovered somewere cracked, tiny pieces missing. “What the heck,” he thought, “I might as well go ahead andplant them, they’ll probably grow…maybe.” 

And plant them, he did. But in a far corner of the Patch, not out in the rows where he put the restof his seeds. It was late May and an unexpected rain thoroughly drenched the Pumpkin Patch.
“This is great,” the farmer thought, “water these seeds in and give them a good start. Thesebabies will be enormous by September.” The rains came, the owner fertilized and the pumpkinseeds sprouted and put out miles of bright green runners. Blossoms formed and turned into smallorange balls. 

Everywhere except there in the corner of the Pumpkin Patch where the broken, cracked seedshad been planted. There the vines were thicker, stronger and stretched out in every direction,
seething with dark green life. Quite frankly, that corner area made the owner just a little uneasy.
There seemed something unpleasantly unusual about those vines. The word, “sinister” came tomind. Ridiculous! He thought. They’re pumpkins. That’s all, just plain old pumpkins. But werethey? 

To Be Continued… 

I hope you read Petr Dills’ column in last week’s Mountain Views News about all the terrific restaurants 
in Sierra Madre. One of the first columns I wrote for the News was about a new restaurant. Restaurants 
may come and they may go, but think how fortunate we are that we have so many great ones that are 
just a short walk or drive away. 

An excellent quote to wind up today’s column: 
“Warm summer sun, shine kindly here.” Mark Twain 

We’ve all had as much warm summer sun as we can stand, but this is such a nice idea. 

The picture this week: More Pumpkins 

Think Fall, my friends! Think Pumpkins! Think cooler weather! 
Think Pumpkin Spice Lattes. 

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis 
There are treasures there! Trust me! 
Including “Just Desserts” A Fall Fantasy Of Pumpkins Gone Wrong! 

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 

INSPIRING WOMEN OF SIERRA MADRE AND 
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES