Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 5, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, November 5, 2022 

EDITORIAL continued from Page 1

 potentially violates both the Fifth Amendment (Takings) and First Amendment (Freedom of Religion). 
While many will say “their lawyer claims otherwise,” let’s not lose sight of the fact that every courtroom 
proceeding has two lawyers that each claim the other lawyer is wrong. One can believe whichever lawyer 
they want to but in the end, Sierra Madre’s taxpayers will be the big losers, being forced to pay their hard 
earned tax dollars in legal fees. 

Sierra Madre has a history of excessive legal fees resulting from land use and property rights violations. 
Only a few years ago, Sierra Madre was sued by the owners of 1 Carter for $30 million because of land use 
and property rights violations. The Sierra Madre taxpayers were forced to pay hundreds of thousands of 
dollars to defend a City Council decision only to later have the City Council reverse their own decision in 
order to drop the suit. Remember back several years ago Sierra Madre spent $500,000 to defend a voter 
passed initiative in the landmark case Friends of Sierra Madre v. City of Sierra Madre. This case was also 
a land use and property rights violation. Sierra Madre just can’t afford any more of these unnecessary and 
costly legal battles. We have serious infrastructure repairs that are needed. 

For generations the Passionists have been wonderful neighbors to all of Sierra Madre and perfect stewards 
of their property. They have been generous providers for many Sierra Madreans, never asking for anything 
in return. For decades they have provided housing for various Sierra Madre residents that may have 
otherwise become homeless. Their outreach programs are too numerous to mention and they never have 
brought attention to their generosity. They have been victims of vile, hateful, and shameful comments by 
HR supporters only because they need to sell a portion of their property in order to maintain their mission 
and purpose. 

Let’s not let the selfishness of a few residents force Sierra Madre into a downward spiral of unnecessary 
wasteful litigation. Ask yourself, “If the yes-on HR group finds it necessary to intentionally spread false 
information, lie, deceive the public, and harass vulnerable senior citizens and many others, is this a group 
worthy of your trust and your vote? 

VOTE NO on HR. 

FRIENDS OF THE SIERRA MADRE LIBRARY BEST USED BOOK SALE SI-

LENT AUCTION OF COLLECTIBLE BOOKS 

The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library announce they are sponsoring a Silent Auction of unusual books and 
magazines held from Friday, November 1-28, 2022 inside the Sierra Madre Library. The books may be viewed 
in the display case in the main room and will be available for closer inspection on Saturday, November 5 from 
1:00-2:00 p.m. and Monday, November 14 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Featured in the Silent Auction will be a col-
lection of nine books published by C.F. Braun & Co, Limited Edition authorized Stirling Moss Biography, a 
limited edition signed Peter De Seve sketchbook, a Disney Animation Studios artbook, a famous American 
Illustrator book and a collection of rare magazines. 

Bidding sheets and auction rules will be available in a Friends of the Library notebook, accessible on the check-
out counter. There will be 15 items for sale; each book or magazine set will be numbered and has a correspond-
ing numbered bid sheet in the notebook. Bidders are asked to write their bids on the bid sheets with a contact 
phone number. Thirty minutes before the end of the auction on the last day, Monday, November 28, 2022, the 
bid sheets will be removed from the notebook and placed on a table in the library for last minute bids. The 
bidding will close promptly at 7:00 p.m. Winning bidders will be notified the next day and will then be able to 
pick up their purchases at the library within the next 10 days. 

This sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Sierra Madre Public Library. All proceeds will be used to support 
programs, services and acquisitions for the library. 

The silent auction will be at the Sierra Madre Public Library, 440 West Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. For 
more information, please visit us at our web site www.sierramadrelibraryfriends.org., our Facebook page; or 
call 626-355-7186. 


THE SIERRA MADRE 
ROSE FLOAT 
ASSOCIATION NEEDS 
YOU! 

We have opened the online sign-up program 
for decorating the Sierra Madre 
Rose Float, entitled “Papa’s Turn”, during 
Deco Week, December 26 to January 
1st (the parade is on January 2nd). Sign 
up through our website www.sierramadrerosefloat.
org/getinvolved/volunteer/
decorate. Please read the guidelines, 
then sign up through iVolunteer. If you 
have difficulty signing up or have questions, please email us at info@sierramadrerosefloat. 

org. 

If you have a group of 8 or more, you need to schedule a time by completing the Application 
for Group of Volunteers form (there is a link at the bottom of the Volunteer Guidelines page) 
and return it to volunteer@sierramadrerosefloat.org. See you at the barn! 

WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis 

“I start lighting pine-
scented candles the 
day after Halloween!” 
Mary Page Keller“A grandmother pretends 
she doesn’t know 
who you are on Halloween.” 
Erma Bombeck 

Yes, I know Halloween 
is over, but it’s hard to 
let something so delightful 
go without a 
backward glance or 
two. Halloween in Sierra 
Madre is unique, 
unusual, fantastical, 
beyond creative, 
crowded, and more 
fun than a room full of 
zombies. The costume 
parade downtown is so 
cute, the window art, 
the scarecrows – my favorite 
is still the pirate 
in front of the Buccaneer 
– but Buzz Light-
year and all the others 
that were winners are 
so…let’s say it again: 
creative!! 


Tuesday morning is candy wrappers everywhere, pumpkins starting to fall in on 
themselves, sleepy grumpy kids heading to school and happy memories of another 
super Sierra Madre Halloween. Alegria, as always, was the place to be and 
there were so many incredible displays of pumpkin carving art. At the Parkers, 
their giant serpent, Cinderella’s coach and the many skeletons lounging around 
the lawn were more amazing than usual. The floor lamps with pumpkin shades 
were especially artistic. The picture today (by Ken Fong) is one especially creepy 
specimen. The perfect note to end the Halloween season. The Cardellas, too, had 
a fabulous yard full of skulls and pumpkins. Everyone went above and beyond 
the call of Halloween and I congratulate everyone on all they did to make a fantastic 
night. 

We had just enough trick or treaters to make it an enjoyable time but next year I 
have got to buy more candy. I had given out my last three pieces of candy, turned 
out my lights and called it a great Halloween when the doorbell rang again. I 
debated: Go? Don’t Go? I went and found the cutest little girl, couldn’t have been 
more than three, standing on my doormat looking up with huge brown eyes. Her 
mom was right there with her but I had to explain that I was all out of candy. 
I can’t think when I last felt more horrible! The mom was very gracious and 
pointed out to her adorable little girl that next door looked like a lot was going 
on. Talk about bad moments! Next year more candy! 

“Halloween was confusing. All my life my parents said, ‘Never take candy from 
strangers.’
Then they dressed me up and said, ‘Go beg for it!’” Rita Rudner 

Now, it’s November and everyone is sick of all the political advertising and will 
be glad when that ends. More important, however, is the fact that Thanksgiving 
is less than three weeks away and Christmas is a month after that. As always, 
time has slipped past us and we need to start thinking about what we’re going 
to serve, who we’re going to invite. Will someone invite us and we won’t have to 
clean and cook? So many questions…so few answers. Brine the turkey? Fry the 
turkey? Spatchcock the turkey? Will there actually be turkeys available? Will 
they cost more than a new Tesla? Boggles the mind! Of course, now that Taylor’s 
Ol’ Fashioned Meat Market has a deli, in addition to groceries, wine, the best 
produce anywhere and glorious cases full of beautiful steaks, chicken and fish, 
you might check them out. 

“May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump. May your potatoes and 
gravy have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize, 
and may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs!” Anonymous 

Here are a few thoughts to start you out in a good frame of mind as the holiday 
season crashes down on us: 

1. Stay active! Stay in shape. Keep moving. Exercise doesn’t take time, it 
makes time. And you feel better if you’re out there breathing and moving.
2. Take it slow, one day at a time. Don’t dwell on the past. Focus on today 
and what you can do to improve.
3. Take care with what you’re putting in your tummy! Eat healthy stuff, yes, 
vegetables!
4. Surround yourself with good friends. 
5. Never underestimate the value of a smile. 
6. Get outside more. It’s beautiful out there. Look at everyone’s flowers and 
trees. 
7. Give thanks for what you have – health, friends and family. 
8. Live in the moment. Spend quality time with those who matter to you. 
9. Follow your dreams. 
10. Laugh a lot. Life is so sweet and so enjoyable. So enjoy yours! 
“The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age.” 
Lucille Ball 

Christmas is coming, friends and neighbors! 
And here’s an easy shopping suggestion:
“Sunrises & Sunflowers Speak Hope” 
is a great gift for yourself or someone you love! 
As is: “A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of Laughter.”
Look for them on my book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis 
Amazon will send them off to anyone or everyone on your gift list and you 
don’t have to wrap or mail anything.
“Star of Wonder – A Christmas Story” is also there for all you Kindle readers. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com