Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 27, 2021

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 27, 2021 

THE LATEST FROM THE CITY 

The November 13 Mountain Views News 
front page article was: ‘Housing Element 
Update Adopted! City Council Vote Unanimously 
Despite Citizen Opposition’. We at 
Preserve Sierra Madre find this disturbing 
for several reasons. In adopting the Housing 
Element, the General Plan (dubbed by a former 
Mayor as “The Constitution of the City”) 
needed to be amended. That included two 
major amendments – one was to add a religious 
overlay zone so that potential housing 
units could be built on religious properties, 


huge implications was produced for public view at 

namely the Old North Church, and the Method-

the same time as the Draft Environmental Impact 

ist Church (other churches refused). The second 

Report for the Meadows housing project. We, the 

amendment was the Safety element, adding Hz.5b 

public who will be impacted forever by these deci


under Fire Safety – “Avoid construction of new 

sions, had 49 overlapping days to study and com-

development in natural open space areas in Very 

ment on these two 4,000 page reports and 11 days 

High Fire Severity Zones.” This appears to have 

additional days to comment on the DEIR. 

been done to ease the way for the building of 42 

What is so disturbing is the lack of transparency 

high income homes proposed by New Urban West 

in the process. We have been told that the Envi


on the Monastery property. Our town has been 

ronmental Impact Report will have residents’ com-

tasked by the state to find locations to build 204 

ments included, with responses. However, if these 

new housing units. These potential new homes 

responses are similar to those for the SEIR, they 

“may or may not be included” in this number when 

will be rather meaningless. Preserve Sierra Madre 

attempting to come up with new housing. We keep 

submitted a 28 page analysis of the DEIR, with 

getting confusing statements as City Council has 

questions. We were told by the Planning Director 

said that the Meadows project is under the rules 

that at least 70 emails were received. Will we be 

of the old general plan, the Meadows EIR, and the 

able to voice our concerns? Will they be heard? 

MOU. 

We, as well as other concerned residents, have 

It took the General Plan Update Steering Commit-

stated frequently that responding to City Council 

tee five years, which included hundreds of volun


discussions cannot adequately fit into a three min-

teer hours, among approximately 100 volunteers, 

ute time frame. The Planning Commission allows 

several town hall meetings and a city-wide survey 

five minutes, but at the last meeting, Chair Pevsner, 

of what residents considered important to our 

switched to three minutes. 

town. The City had planned on hiring a consultant 

By now you have received post cards and a brochure 

for different aspects of what needed to be updated 

from New Urban West regarding this housing de


to the original General Plan of 1996. Instead, using 

velopment. You will see that NUW is projecting 

volunteers, the City was saved over $25,000. 

“Open Space Area,” north of the Monastery and 

This time, in 2021, the City paid the Consul


“Residential Area” on the south end. This looks 

tant nearly $250,000, to come up with this year’s 

suspiciously like an attempt to thwart the General 

Housing Element and General Plan Update. Un-

Plan change in the definition of open space in a 

like the extensive work by many volunteers on the 

Very Severe High Fire Zone. 

2015 General Plan, this revision was updated by 

The Passionist Fathers certainly have the right to 

a consultant with only one public scoping meet-

sell their property, to whomever they please. The 

ing held in July of this year, two weeks before the 

Passionist Fathers will make a lot of money from 

Draft SEIR was circulated. Only 25 residents at-

the sale of the property. As will the developer. 

tended. Expecting and counting on volunteers to 

As this housing project goes through the required 

contribute to Sierra Madre, but then not soliciting 

review process, we are asking for transparency by 

and welcoming their input on critical city issues is 

our City Hall and by our elected officials – the City 

disconcerting. 

Council. 

Ironically, the Supplemental Impact Report with its 

FRIENDS OF THE SIERRA MADRE 
LIBRARY SILENT AUCTION OF 
COLLECTIBLE BOOKS 

Now through Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. 
Stop by the library’s Display Case to 
view them. Bids can be placed in the 
Friends notebook at the checkout counter. 
All proceeds will be used for Library programs, 
services, and acquisitions. 


SIERRA MADRE POLICE BLOTTER 
SIERRA MADRE HONORS NOMINATIONS SOUGHT 
This year marks the 5th Annual City of Sierra Madre and Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce joint 
event honoring those organizations and individuals that work tirelessly to make Sierra Madre a won-
derful place to live, work and play! 
In 2020, the event was held virtually due to the pandemic. This year, the event will once again be held 
in person, with all the pomp and circumstance due to the honorees. 
The Awards ceremony will be held on January 19, 2022. Nominations will be accepted for the follow-
ing recognitions: 
SIERRA MADRE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR for residents who have benefited the city during 2019 
as a volunteer. 
SIERRA MADRE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR for an outstanding business existing in Sierra Madre 
for more than 5 years that has been an active supporter of the community. 
GEORGE MAURER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for a person/entity whose lifetime of 
service embodies the spirit of volunteerism. 
THE WISTARIA AWARD recognizing a City/Community Partnership that assists with providing 
community wide programs and services 
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AWARD for an employee/individual for protecting and maintaining safety 
in Sierra Madre. 
COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICE AWARD presented to youth under 18 for outstanding service 
and dedication to the community. 
To nominate, simply email your candidates with the reasons why you feel this person or organization 
is deserving to by 5:00 pm December 15th, 2021 to either smadrecc@gmail.com or HonorsDinner@
cityofsierramadre.com. 
You can also mail your nomination to: 
Honors Dinner Nomination 
c/o Sierra Madre City Hall232 W Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024. 
NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 15, 2021. 
November 7-13, 2021 During this period, the Sierra Madre Police Department responded to approxi-
mately 150 calls for service. 
Monday, November 8An unknown suspect entered unlocked vehicles at a residence in the 600 block of Auburn Ave. While 
inside both vehicles, the suspect stole several items, including the victim’s wallet. The suspect later used 
the victim’s credit cards to illegally purchase items at local stores in the area. The Detectives’ Bureau is 
following up on this incident for leads. 
Friday, November 12Officers responded to a residence regarding a domestic disturbance. Through the Officers investiga-
tion, it was determined no battery occurred,and all parties were counseled. Officers kept the peace 
while one party gathered personal items and left the residence. 
Saturday, November 13From November 12, 2021, at 10:30 pm to November 13, 2021, at 7:00 am, an unknown suspect forced 
entry into two vehicles at a residence in the 00block of N. Canon Ave and stole several items, including 
a driver’s license. The Detectives’ Bureau is following up on this incident for leads. 
Saturday, November 13At about 12:00 am, an officer observed a vehicle code violation and conducted a traffic enforcement 
stop. During the contact, the juvenile driver was found to be impaired and under the influence of an 
alcoholic beverage. The juvenile driver was arrested, cited, and later released to a parent 
WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis 

“An optimist is someone who starts a 
new diet on Thanksgiving Day!” 

“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen 
hours to prepare. They are consumed in 
twelve minutes. 
Half-times take twelve minutes. This is 
not a coincidence.” Erma Bombeck 
“I came from a family where gravy is 
considered a beverage.” Erma Bombeck 

“I am grateful for what I am and have. 
My thanksgiving is perpetual.” 
Henry David Thoreau 

Thanksgiving is behind us, friends and 
neighbors, and there are now only 28 
days till Christmas. I’m hoping you 
won’t be eating turkey forever, everything 
you prepared was a masterpiece 
and your guests are still shouting your 
praises. Hoping also you had moments 
of joy, laughter and wonderful memories. 
I thought this week I’d just pass 
along a bunch of thoughts loaded with 
hope and encouragement. 
“What are our dreams? Can we dream a mighty impossible dream? We can, you know, and God 
can make it come true. If we can just begin to love as He has loved us, He will change the color of 
our world. He will change the color from the grey of lonely, the dark blue of disappointment to the 
bright yellow and orange of joy. If we start to paint with the brush of joy, right where we are, and 
start to teach others how to paint, we will be busy till Jesus comes; for painting is slow work…a 
stroke here…a stroke there. But if we just keep filling in our world, we will find that we can cover 
up a lot of grey with our yellow and orange of joy. We want to meet our Lord with our hands full 
of fruit. We want to occupy till he comes and, you know, a good tenant makes improvements 
wherever he or she is!” 


“We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” Henri J.M. Nouwen 

“Every moment one lives is different from the other. The good, the bad, hardship, joy, the tragedy, 
love and happiness are all interwoven into one single, indescribable whole that is called life. You 
cannot separate the good from the bad. And perhaps there is no need to do so, either.” Jacqueline 
Kennedy Onassis 

“One regret that I am determined not to have is that I did not kiss you enough.” Daniel Ladinsky 

“It came to me that reform should begin at home. And since that day I have not had time to remake 
the world.” Will Durant, Historian 

A Christmas Wish for You: I wish for you…comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, 
rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, gentle 
hugs when spirits sag, friendships to brighten your being, beauty for your eyes to see, confidence 
for when you doubt, faith so that you can believe, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the 
truth, and love to complete your life. 

Lord, if you put the dream in my heart and if it’s not to be, change me so I can relinquish it. 

“I thank Thee first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took 
my purse, they did not take my life; third because although they took my all, it was not much; 
and fourth because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.” Matthew Henry, Minister 
(1662-1714) 

“We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way. We 
cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that 
is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I 
react to it.” Charles Swindoll 

“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones. And when you have 
laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go and sleep in peace. God is awake!” Victor Hugo 

“There is no such thing as the ‘whole truth.’ Everything is shades of grey. I see you with the eyes 
of my heart and you are perfect.” 

“Friendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness 
of one another.” Eustace Budgell 

“Do one thing every day that scares you. Sing. Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts. Don’t 
put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss. Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes 
you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself. 
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. (If you succeed in doing this, tell me 
how.) Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements. Accept certain inalienable 
truths: prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you’ll 
fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children 
respected their elders.” Mary Schmich’s column in the Chicago Tribune 

One last thing…if someone brought you home a turkey anything like this, covered with pink 
feathers, or a pinecone with construction paper tail feathers, put it carefully away in a safe place 
so you can put it on your table again next year. If all goes well in your life, you will receive these 
precious turkeys for several years, until the turkey artists grow too wise, sophisticated and worldly 
to create these little masterpieces anymore. But you can keep them forever and the time will come 
when the turkey artists will appreciate that you kept them safe. 

“That First Noel’s come ‘round again, 
Just like it does each year!
To tell us it’s Christmas, a very Merry Christmas!
The best time of the year, the best time of the year!” 

At long last, the new Emma Gainsworth novelette is out!
“Hurricane: An Emma Gainsworth Adventure 
Look for it on my book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis 
Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09K5YVTCPEmma is up to her elbows in disaster…you’ll love it! Best $2.99 purchase ever! 

VOLUNTEER FOR SMRFA DECO WEEK 

The Sierra Madre Rose Float Association has opened the online sign up program for decorating 
the Sierra Madre Rose Float during Deco Week (December 26th to December 31st). 

Please sign up for this year’s float entitled “Nature’s Classroom” and join us preparing our 
beautiful Amazon rainforest. 

Sign up through our website at https://sierramadrerosefloat.org/getinvolved/volunteer/decorate/ 
to get involved, then volunteer, then decorate! 

Our Volunteer Guidelines have changed this year, and we have some new restrictions and 

Covid-19 protocols, so it is important to read our guidelines BEFORE you sign up through 


iVolunteer. If you have difficulty signing up or have 

questions, please email us at info2021@sierrama


drerosefloat.org. 

If you have a group of 8 or more, you need to 
schedule a time that would be convenient for your 
group to work. Please complete the Application for 
Group of Volunteers form and return it to volunteer@
sierramadrerosefloat.org. 

We may be able to open up more spots when it gets 
closer to Deco Week, so if you don’t find your preferred shift or the shifts are full, please check 
back in December. 

Thank you for participating and we’ll see you at the barn! 

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