SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2015 VOLUME 9 NO. 25SIERRA MADRE C.E.R.T. 
RECEIVES GRANT 
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2015 VOLUME 9 NO. 25SIERRA MADRE C.E.R.T. 
RECEIVES GRANT 
Francisco Martinez, Southern 
California Edison Local Public 
Affairs Regional Manager, 
presented a $1500 grant to 
the Sierra Madre CommunityEmergency Response Team 
(CERT) to support community 
emergency preparedness. 
Pictured above receiving the 
grant are De Alcorn, Martinez,
and Robert Gjerde, shown by the“Sierra Madre CERT EmergencyResponse Trailer.”

 The grant will be used foroutfitting the trailer, training,
and for community education. 
The trailer is being equippedfor emergency operations, 
communications, and with 
emergency supplies and 
equipment. It is a self-contained 
unit with solar panels, batteries,
and a generator. 

The Sierra Madre Civic Club 
also generously donated $850 tohelp in this effort. The supportof the community is greatlyappreciated. 

Sierra Madre CERT is a groupof volunteers trained in all-
risks and all-hazards during amajor disaster. They are trainedto take care of themselves and 
their neighbors, first. CERT isalso trained to assist in case the 
limited staff of the Sierra Madre 
Volunteer Fire Department isoverwhelmed. 

A major function of CERT isto educate the community aboutbeing prepared for emergenciesso that they can take care of 

themselves and help their 
neighbors. This is done throughhanding out free informativematerials at the CERT booth 
during public events. Trainingon related subjects is conductedat monthly meetings at the HartPark House, the fourth Thursdayof the month at 7:00 PM, all arewelcome. 

In addition CERT conducts 
an annual Basic CERT class in 
August. This is a twenty hour,
hands-on class that teaches how 
to safely:

Manage utilities and put out

 small fires 

Treat the three medical

 killers by opening airways,

 controlling bleeding, and

 treating for shock

Provide basic medical aid 

Perform light search for and

 rescue operations

Organize themselves and

 spontaneous volunteers for

 disaster response

Collect disaster intelligence

 to support first responder’s 

 efforts 

Sierra Madre CERT operatesunder the authority of the 
Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire 
Department and follows FEMAguidelines. 

For more information on the 
class and meetings please 
email info@sierramadrecert.
org or visit our website at www.
sierramadreemergency.org

Look for us at Memorial Park 
for upcoming events there, aswell as the July 4th parade andactivities. 

SM FIRE DEPARTMENT ENTERS COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENT WITH MONROVIA FOR 
BATTALLION CHIEF SERVICES 

Photo by: Katherine Gjerde 

 
With the retirement of the 
last long time Sierra Madre 
Battalion Chief last week, 
City Manager Elaine Aguilar 
entered into an agreement 
with the City of Monrovia 
to begin providing Battalion 
Chief services to Sierra 
Madre. According to Aguilar, 
“The nature of volunteerism 
within the ranks of the Fire 
Department have changed. 
New volunteers want to 
become career firefighters and 
after spending a few years in 
Sierra Madre, they are ready 
to move on.” 
The city has been fortunate 
for years to have committed 

residents to serve as Battalion 
Chiefs but in the last ten 
years, after decades of 
service, the department lost 
resident volunteers Michael 
Bamberger, Roger Lowe and 
on July 12th of this year Bob 
Burnett. Bob’s retirement 
came after 34 years of service. 

The arrangement with 
Monrovia is not contracting 
out says Aguilar. The new 
arrangement began on 
June 1st. MFD will provide 
“response services at the 
scene of fires and significant 
emergencies for the City of 
Sierra Madre. 


Aguilar says it 
would be cost 
prohibitive to 
hire full time 
Battallion 
Chiefs. BT’s do 
not respond to 
every call, so 
the city’s safety 
and response 
time will not be 
compromisedwith this new 
arrangement.
Another benefit 
is that the SMFD 
personnel will 
be able to use the 
Monrovia fire 
training tower. 

 MVNews 

After 34 years of volunteer service SMFD Battallion Chief Bob 
Burnett is taking it easy. Thanks Bob for all you’ve given us. 


COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON 201516 
BUDGET TUESDAY 

Minimum Level I Cuts Expected – 

After the most extensive community outreach regarding budget 
matters in Sierra Madre’s recent history, the city council will 
have to make their final decision at Tuesday’s council meeting. 
Based upon input from the community and discussions at the 
last council meeting, it appears that minimal cuts will be made 
to the 2015-16 Budget. Council meetings begin at 6:30

SUSPICIOUS DEVICE 
FOUND NEAR SIERRA 
MADRE ELEMENTARY 



On Tuesday evening, at 
approximately 10:30 p.m., the 
Sierra Madre Police Departmentreceived a call for service 
regarding an explosion that washeard in the area of Sierra Madre 
Elementary’s Lower Campus. 
Officers responded to the 
location, checked the vicinity,
and were unable to locate anyevidence of an explosion. 

However, the followingmorning, around 8:30 A.M.,
SMPD received another call 
from another resident who had 
found remnants of an explosivedevice along with a suspiciousbag that was hanging on theschool fence near the west side 
of the lower campus. 

Upon arrival, police locatedthe suspicious object and 
immediately set up a containmentof the area. The object waslocated on the fence on the east 
sidewalk of Hermosa between 
Highland and Laurel. The LASDBomb Squad and Hazmat teams 

were notified and responded tothe location. The bomb squadrendered the device safe, but 
did confirm it was some type ofdestructive device. While the 
Bomb Squad and Hazmat teamstayed in the area, SMPD officerscanvassed the entire campus anddid not locate any additional 
devices on or near the campus.
The area has since been cleared. 

School is out for the summer 
and the building was empty 
during the time. 

The incident is now subject toa joint investigation between theSierra Madre Police Departmentand the Los Angeles County 
Sheriff’s Department.

 Anyone with any informationpertaining to this incident, orif you observed anything oranyone suspicious, please call 
the Sierra Madre Detective 
Bureau at 626-355-1414.

 Photo courtesy SMPD 

WATER PENALTIES 
TO BEGIN JULY 1ST 


Sierra Madre City Council has approvedenacting monetary penalties for water 
customers thatexceed their Water Conservation 
Target beginning with the July 1, 2015 bill.
This bill would include water usage during themonths of May and June for customers on theEast side of Baldwin Avenue. For customers on 
the west side of Baldwin Avenue the August billwill include penalties for water usage during themonths of June and July. PENALTIES ONLYAPPLY TO CUSTOMERS THAT EXCEED 
THEIR CONSERVATION TARGET. 

Mandatory Water Conservation Regulations

•Even-numbered addresses are limited 
to landscape irrigation on Mondays and 
Thursdays.
•Odd-numbered addresses and addresses 
ending in fractions are limited to landscapeirrigation on Tuesdays and Fridays.
•Lawn, landscaping, and other turf areascannot be watered between the hours of 10am 
and 4pm and cannot water the sidewalks or 
streets. 
•Water leaks must be immediately fixed.
•Washing of sidewalks, walkways, patios,
driveways, or parking areas cannot be donewith a water hose. 
•No water can be used to clean, fill or maintain 
levels in decorative fountains unless such water 
is part of a recycling system.
•The use of a hose to wash an automobile is 
prohibited, except where the hose is fitted witha shut-off nozzle or device attached to it that 
causes it to cease dispensing water immediatelywhen not in use. 
Inside this week:

CALENDAR Pg. 2 

SIERRA MADRE NEWS 
Pg. 3 

PASADENA/ALTADENA 
Pg. 4 
ARCADIA NEWS 
Pg. 6 
MONROVIA/DUARTE 
Pg. 7 

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY 
Pg. 8 

BEST FRIENDS 
Pg. 9 


EDUCATION & YOUTH 
Pg. 10 

FOOD & DRINK 
ARTS Pg. 11 

HEALTHY LIVING

 Pg. 12 

GOOD LIFE 
Pg. 13 

THE WORLD AROUND 
US Pg. 14 
OPINION Pg. 15 

LEGAL NOTICES 
Pg. 16 


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