SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2015

VOLUME 9 NO. 41


SIERRA MADRE SAYS THANKS!


Volunteerism is 
the life blood of 
the City of Sierra 
Madre. It is the 
glue that keeps 
this community 
pristine. It has 
been stated 
numerous times 
and is a fact, that 
if a dollar value 
were assigned to 
all of the work 
done by volunteers 
in town, if the city 
had to actually pay 
for the services 
provided, the cost 
will be prohibitive. 
So, once a year, the 
city takes the time 
to say Thanks.

 On Thursday 
evening, the annual 
event known as Sierra Madre Honors was held at Alverno High School where the community was 
given the chance to recognize and honor the true treasures of Sierra Madre, its volunteers, City 
Commissioners and employees. 

The following are the awardees for 2015: 

George Maurer Lifetime Service Award Bob Spears

Community Youth Service Award Emma Allen

Public Service Award Rosemary Garcia

Public Safety Award Police Captain Joe Ortiz

Wistaria Award Sierra Madre Garden Club

 In addition the 
following persons 
were honored 
as outgoing 
commissioners: 
(pictured left)

Nina Bartolai 
Senior Community 
Commission 

Robert Stockly 

Library Board of 
Trustees

Leslee Hinton 
Community Services 
Commission

Kevin Paschal Planning Commission (n

William Pevsner Planning Commission

Caroline Brown Energy, Environment & Natural 
Resources

Fran Garbaccio Senior Community Commission

Former Mayor John Buchanon served as the Master of Ceremonies 
and the SM Middle School Service Club (Kiwanis Builders Club) 
served as hostesses. Photos courtesy City of Sierra Madre

Receiving the Community Youth Service Award is Miss Emma Allen with City 
Manager Elaine Aguilar on her left and Mayor John Capoccia on her right.


PCC TRUSTEE ELECTIONS

 

Pasadena City College Trustee Elections 
Nov. 3 for Area 2 and Area 4 that 
includes Sierra Madre and Pasadena

By Dean Lee

 Discussing issues ranging from academic 
accreditation to the resignation of the last 
president, all six Pasadena City College board of 
trustees candidates appeared Tuesday night for 
first and only debate held at the school ahead of 
the Nov. 3 election.

With two seats open, the candidates were grouped 
in threes with former Pasadena Unified School 
District board member Tom Selinske, USC 
professor James Osterling and social scientist 
Martin Enriques vying for Area 2. 

With candidates Hoyt Hilsman, an author and 
former student trustee Marshall Lewis, up against 
Incumbent Bill Thomson for Area 4 that includes 
the region around PCC. 

contunued on page 6

Inside this week: 

THEY’RE HERE!

 Sierra Madre’s 4th annual Scarecrow Festival kicks off October 
2nd with scarecrows appearing throughout town through the end 
of October. Awards will be given in several categories including 
best representation of a business, church, service organization 
or government office; best scarecrow story, most humorous, 
scariest, most clever etc. in child and adult categories. 

 Tour all of the scarecrows on display, and then vote for your favorite. Maps will be 
available at Creative Arts Group as well as at participating businesses throughout Sierra 
Madre. Or you can register for a free shuttle tour of the residential scarecrows on October 
10th at www.creativeartsgroup.org/scarecrow-festival/ An awards ceremony will take 
place Friday, October 16th at 7 pm at Creative Arts Group, located at 108 N. Baldwin Ave. 

 


CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

 Pg. 3

PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 6

KEEP SIERRA MADRE POLICE DEPARTMENT 
SENTIMENT VOICED AT PUBLIC MEETING 
TO DISCUSS OPTIONS By S. Henderson/MVNews

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

 Pg. 7

 
On Monday evening, the 
committee appointed by the Sierra 
Madre City Council to investigate 
whether or not to contract out the 
Sierra Madre Police Department, 
heard over and over again from 
residents that filled the council 
chambers, that contracting out to 
the LA County Sheriff’s Department 
was not acceptable. During the 
course of the meeting, chaired by 
Former Mayor Glenn Lambdin, 
there was only one speaker who took 
issue with the SMPD and his stated 
concerns were personnel related. 

 Deputy City Manager Elisa Cox 
gave a brief history of the committee 
noting that because the existing 
Utility Users Tax has begun its 
sunset, revenues will continue to 
decline until it reaches 6%, creating 
a budget deficit in excess of $1 
million dollars over the next two 
fiscal years. Because the Police, 
Fire and Paramedics are the largest 
expenditures out of the general 
fund, the committee’s charge was to 
see if contracting out these services 
would be an alternative.

 Throughout the evening, resident 
after resident expressed not only a 
desire to keep the SMPD, but also 
voiced concerns about the Sheriff’s 
Department should no other option 
be available. Public Safety Director 
and Police Chief Larry Gianonne 
also read a list of 37 comments/
questions submitted by the public 
that echoed the comments brought 
to the podium at the meeting.

 On October 26th, a representative 
from the LASD will be at the 
next meeting to answer questions 
residents may have regarding their 
proposals.

 The issue of contracting out may 
be moot however, as the Revenue 
Committee has recommended an 
increase in the UUT that would 
cure the budget deficit. Those 
recommendations will be discussed 
at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 7 
MONROVIA/DUARTE Pg. 8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 9

BEST FRIENDS

 Pg. 10

FOOD & DRINK

 Pg. 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Pg. 12

THE GOOD LIFE

 Pg. 13

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

 Pg. 14

THE WORLD

 Pg. 15

OPINION Pg. 16

 
LEGALS Pg. 17