Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 23, 2023

11

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 23, 2023 

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges [www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]


Meet MEEMOW, sweet senior!

Meet Meemow - 
Your Future Feline 
Friend! 

 Are you ready 
to open your 
heart and home 
to a loving, senior 
cat who was callously abandoned? Meet 
Meemow, a charming feline with a heart full 
of love and a voice that will melt your heart. 
This sweet senior kitty is ready to embark on 
a new journey, and all he needs is a kind and 
caring human to share it with. He’s about age 
10, but don’t be put off—that’s not at all old 
for a kitty! 

See more pictures of him on our website’s “Seniors” page. Submit the Lifeline for Pets adoption 
application on our website, as well: www.lifelineforpets.org. Special Note: This weekend, 
Sept. 23-24, we will be at Pet Food Express in Glendale, 11:00 - 2:00, with some of our 
kittens. Come and say hello!


ANTIGUA COFFEE SHOP of Northeast Los Angeles:

The Two Brothers who built a Highland Park establishment

[Nyerges is the author of “URBAN SURVIVAL GUIDE,” from which this 
article was extracted.]

I wanted a cup of coffee, and so I entered Antigua Bakery in Highland 
Park, from the rear entry from the parking lot. 

I noticed that they built a little flower bed out back where there was once 
trash and dead weeds. Now there was now a beautiful wood-framed garden 
bed with colorful flowers and even some vegetables. But what was 
the wooden pole sticking out of the middle, with a plastic bucket strapped to the pole with 
some sort of tubing leading to the roof?

I asked Miguel Hernandez about the garden when I went in to get my coffee. He and his 
brother Dennis were born in Guatemala City and moved to the U.S. in 1999. They opened 
their coffee house in 2007.

Miguel told me that he had wanted to do something with a little bit of space in the rear of 
the coffeehouse, a somewhat ugly little spot where trash would accumulate. So, with en-
couragement and help from his teenage daughter Kathy, he built the little sturdy-framed 
garden out back.

RECYCLING COFFEE GROUNDS

“You know we throw a lot of coffee grounds away, right?” Miguel asked me. “Well, we filled 
that little raised bed garden with lots of our coffee grounds. It’s a really good way to recycle 
the grounds.” Miguel pointed out that they still end up tossing some used coffee grounds 
away, because they use so much. They do give some away to gardeners and mushroom 
growers, and they plan to continually find a home for their used grounds.

SAVING WATER FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING

“But what’s that plastic bucket up on the post?” I asked Miguel. He broadly smiled and he 
told me that he realized the air conditioning for Antigua constantly drips out water. “I ran 
a tube from the AC to that bucket, and the water from the bucket drips down and waters the 
garden. Why not put that water to use?,” he asked. 

Miguel wasn’t sure if the AC condensation would be sufficient to water the garden, but to 
his surprise, he found that the water from Antigua’s AC system filled the five gallon jug at 
least three times a day, and up to five times during hot weather. “There is so much water 
coming off the AC,” explained Miguel, “that I run the tube to fill those overflow bottles, and 
I actually take water home for irrigation.”

SETTING AN EXAMPLE

The little garden also has a little solar lamp, and a bird bath for the birds. It’s a great ex-
ample of what anyone – even in the urban environment – can do to help save and recycle 
resources.

The Hernandez brothers also recycle as many of their used cans as possible, in which they 
receive certain food items. And during very hot weather, they put out a jug of water and 
cups on the front entrance for passers-by to get a drink. “A lot of people, even homeless, 
really need a drink and sometimes they are a bit too embarrassed to just ask for water,” explains 
Miguel. They also put out a water dish for dogs.

“We’re just trying to do the right thing to give back to the community,” explains Miguel. 
“And if we do this, maybe others will do so also, and we’ll all make a difference to our 
community.”

 

SIDEBAR

After meeting with Miguel Hernandez, I was sitting at the Highland Park farmers market, 
having a non-GMO tamale, and a friend and I were talking about Antigua’s system of sav-
ing their AC water for the garden.

“So where does that water actually come from?” my friend asked.

We knew the water dripped from the AC system, but where did it actually come from? With 
a bit of research, I learned that the water which drips out of 
the AC system originally comes from the air! That’s right. 
From the air. Moisture from the air is what cools the system, 
and it condenses on the tubes. 

So, is that water OK to drink, we wondered?

We found our answer on-line, titled, “Water dripping from 
air conditioners: Is it sani-tary? Could you drink it?” It was 
from a column by Forrest Wickman, who answers ques-
tions about the news. Here is the essence of his answer to 
the question. Yes!

According to Wickman, most of the dripping from air conditioners 
is just condensed water vapor that comes from 
the air inside the building. Window air conditioners are 
designed to drain this water. Generally speaking, water 
is exactly like rain (which also forms from condensed water 
vapor) or the moisture that collects 
on a cool can of soda, and it's typi-cally 
no more harmful. However, in rare cases 
small amounts of water can be left to stag-
nate inside the air conditioner, making it a 
breeding ground for bacteria.

Wickman says that the water that drips 
from air conditioners is probably even safe 
for drinking, and is certainly more potable 
than the drinking water in many countries. 
Good to know, just in case…


Pet of the Week

 
Who can resist Mike's smile?! Not us! This four-year-old 
boxer beams from ear to ear whenever he gets visitors, and his 
tail wags non-stop when he gets pets. 

 Mike was so shy when he first arrived at the shelter that he 
would even hide in the back of his kennel. Now we're getting 
to see his true personality, and he is FUN. He loves going to 
the training yard and exploring. He adores toys and games 
and bounces from one toy to another like a kid in a candy 
store. All traces of shyness seem to be behind him, and his 
bubbly personality is on full display.

 He also is quite cuddly when he settles down. He curls up close for pets and will put his 
big head in your lap for more. Mike is also very clever- he loves to show off all his tricks 
whenever he sees a treat. 

 Mike is just so excited to meet everyone he can't help but smile!

 The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, 
and age-appropriate vaccines. 

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. 

 View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.
org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available 
every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. 

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone 
calls or email.


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