Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 16, 2013

SECTION B

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2013

INTRODUCING SIERRA MADRE’S 
ROYAL COURT

AUTHOR OF SIERRA MADRE MYSTERY TO SPEAK 
AT LIBRARY 

Sierra Madre is the setting for a new mystery series by author Chuck Greaves 
who will be speaking at the Sierra Madre Library on Wednesday, November 13 
at 7:00 p.m.

Greaves will talk about his series set in town and featuring the Sierra Madre 
police department. He has written the first three of the Jack MacTaggart series 
of legal mysteries, - Hush Money, Green-eyed Lady, and the forthcoming, The 
Last Heir. Starting with the second installment, this year’s Green-Eyed Lady, the 
series is set in Sierra Madre. 

 

Greaves is a former resident of both Sierra Madre and Pasadena who spent 
25 years as an L.A. trial lawyer before turning his attention to fiction. His 
debut mystery, Hush Money, has been nominated for several national awards 
and honors, including the Shamus Award (Private Eye Writers of America), 
the Rocky Award (Left Coast Crime) and the Audie Award for Best Mystery 
Audiobook of 2012. 


ST. RITA RAIDERS ADVANCE TO CYO 
“FINAL FOUR”

Sierra Madre, CA – Last weekend was a big one for St. Rita’s Varsity football 
team! A Saturday win over Beatitudes of La Mirada put them into the “Elite 
Eight” for the ninth year in a row, and their nail-biting win over Corpus Christi 
of Pacific Palisades on Sunday shot them straight into the “Final Four” of the 
60-team CYO playoffs.

The Raiders trailed at the half in the Beatitudes game as they traded touchdowns 
with the defending CYO champs, but jumped out to a lead in the second that 
they never relinquished. An interception by Luca Farroni, thwarting a Bruin 
drive, followed by another interception returned for a touchdown by Blake 
Howard contributed to a final score of 38-26.

Sunday’s game against high-scoring Corpus Christi had parents looking for 
throat lozenges! St. Rita’s boys in blue scored twice quickly in the first quarter 
and never trailed in the intense defensive battle. Two point conversions 
ultimately became the difference in the game against the Wildcats. A clutch 
interception, fourth-down conversion and careful clock management 
ended the final-minute threat by Christi, securing a 16-12 win for St. Rita. 
“After the rough start in the opening tournament, I’m very happy to bounce back 
to win league and make it to the Final Four,” said Quarterback Blake Howard. 
“We’re really hoping to bring home a championship trophy for Coach Randy 
Davies’ first CYO title!”


St. Rita will now face the dominating St. James of Torrance, from the powerhouse 
South Bay Conference, at 12:15pm on Nov. 16, at St. Paul High School. 

St. Rita School, located at 322 N. Baldwin Ave. in Sierra Madre, is a top-ranked 
Catholic parish school with an award-winning, championship CYO sports 
program. 


The Sierra Madre Rose Float Association is pleased to announce the selection of the 2014 Sierra Madre Rose 
Float Association Princesses. Please help us welcome Tessa Rose Brandstater, Hannah Latham, and Madison 
Vlcek who will represent SMRFA and the City of Sierra Madre over the coming year. Ms.

Brandstater is a senior at Maranatha, Ms. Latham is a sophomore at Pasadena High School and Ms. Vlcek is 
a sophomore at Pasadena High School. Photo courtesy SMRFA

SIERRA MADRE POLICE COMMUNITY 
SERVICE TEAM

By Marina Coco La Salle

It has been just about a year and a half now since the Sierra Madre Police Department developed a new division comprised 
of volunteers wanting to help make a difference in the community. After the shocking news of increased criminal activity 
within the city a few weeks back, SMPD has been working hard to put residents’ minds at ease. By fully incorporating this 
new team of volunteers into the department, there is another set of eyes and ears to keep the little village of Sierra Madre 
safe and worry free. 

Interested in becoming a part of this team? Sergeant Joe Ortiz gave this writer an insight on the process of becoming a 
member. First and foremost, anyone who is interested should fill out and turn in an application, which can be found at the 
station. Next a brief background check will be made on the individual, who if they pass will move on to an oral interview 
process. This twenty to thirty minute interview is done at Sierra Madre City Hall and is conducted in front of a panel of city 
employees and officials. Once the panel has come to a consensus and approved of the candidate, the last step is to take a 
live scan of your finger prints. When all things have checked out, the applicant will have a one on one with Sergeant Ortiz 
himself to be trained on all necessary skills. 

When it comes to individual tasks, these volunteers learn to wear many hats. They can help at local events, direct traffic, and 
even work on the records. Their most current addition to their previous tasks is a newer project called Volunteers On Patrol. 
Sergeant Ortiz elaborated saying, “They basically conduct residential checks. They’re mobile. They’re on patrol. If they see 
something that doesn’t make sense they will let our dispatcher know on the radio. So it’s an extra set of eyes and ears out 
in the field, and they’re 
doing that a couple 
times a week.” There are 
approximately twenty 
police volunteers all 
of whom are involved 
with Sierra Madre’s 
CERT program as well.

Sergeant Ortiz ended 
his interview stating, 
“I’m pretty fortunate to 
have such a huge group 
of people to come out 
and help the city.“ 

Pictured on the left, 
Police Volunteers Richard 
May and Stephanie 
Coyne. Photo by SMPD 
Volunteer Dave Felt.


SIERRA MADRE CHAMBER KICKS OFF HOLIDAY 
SHOPPING WITH THE WHO VILLE FESTIVAL AS 
AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TAKE PART 
IN SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

On Saturday, November 30th, Sierra 
Madre, will transform itself into Who 
Ville, as the formal kick-off of the 
holiday shopping season. The Who 
Ville Festival, which replaces the towns 
annual Dickens Village will be complete 
with Snow, Horse Drawn Carriages, The 
Grinch and Santa Claus. The event is 
encouraing families to come to town and 
support our local businesses and civic 
organizations as well as have FUN!

 Small Business Saturday is a day 
dedicated to supporting small businesses 
on one of the busiest shopping weekends 
of the year.

 From 1 to 8pm Saturday, the downtown 
area will host special festivities designed 
to bring shoppers to the popular shops in 
the Foothill Village. Beginning at 1pm, 
there will be an opportunity for kids to 
snow sled and ride a choo choo train. 
Local artists will have their work on 
display and for sale along with many of 
the local civic organizations in Kersting 
Court. At 4pm, horse and buggy rides 
will be available in a loop around a four 
-square block area downtown. 

 Later in the day, shortly after dusk, the 
official tree-lighting will take place, also 
at Kersting Court. Santa, accompanied 
by the Sierra Madre Rose Float 
Association princesses from the 2014 
Rose Float, will be available to listen to 
the wishes of youngsters, from 5to 8pm.

 

For more information about the Who 
Ville Festival, call the Chamber Offices 
at 626-355-5111.

WOUNDED WARRIOR CROSS COUNTRY CYCLING UPDATE: Jerry Poole and Mike King were resting in El Paso, Texas at press time. 

 As their journey continues, the weather keeps challenging them. This week it included thunder storms. However, they made it to El Paso safely. These courageous guys 
are also encouraged by the people they meet along the way. Below left, a note from a grateful Vietnam Vet. Center, biking friends who stopped to show their support. 

At home, Jerry’s wife Vicki (right) spoke to the Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club and members of VFW 3208 and shared the story of Jerry’s Journey and the Wounded Warrior 
Project. 

 On his facebook post, Jerry shared, “San Antonio is our next major city destination, 576 miles, which is over half the distance we will travel across Texas. Texas I-10 has over 
1/3 of the total intestate freeway road that travels coast to coast, 876 total miles. We will be in Texas A WHILE... Please continue to follow Iron Mike and myself on Facebook, 
your comments and encouragement keeps both of us motivated to keep going. Our donations are continuing to climb please spread the word or repost to your page we appreciate 
all the help we can receive. This worthwhile project to reaches many soldiers that need our help.” He also answered a frequently asked question about the donatons:

 What percentage of my donation goes directly to Wounded Warriors? “We continuously strive to keep administrative and fundraising costs associated with the operation 
of WWP as low as possible. Based on our fiscal year 2012 audited financial statements ending September 30, 2012, 81.6 percent of total expenditures went to provide services 
and programs for our Wounded Warriors and their families. We're proud to far exceed 
the Better Business Bureau's 
minimum standard 
of $0.65 for every 
dollar. We're consistently 
working to improve 
our efficiency and 
better serve warriors. If 
you're still curious, take 
a look at our financials.”

 So please donate to 
COAST TO COAST 
FOR COURAGE here:

https://support.woundedwarriorproject.
org/
individual-fundraising/
JerryPooleatFaceBook/


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