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Mountain View News Saturday, May 25, 2024

THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MOSQUITO & VECTOR 
CONTROL DISTRICT (SGVMVCD/DISTRICT) REMINDS 
RESIDENTS TO TAKE AN IMPORTANT STEP IN 
PROTECTING THEIR HEALTH THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND 
WITH THE RELEASE OF ITS LATEST MOSQUITO JINGLE, 
“LOS REPELENTES.”

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION OF “THE 
FIVE LAST YEARS” CONTINUES RUN AT SIERRA 
MADRE PLAYHOUSE THROUGH JUNE 16

The Sierra Madre Playhouse (SMP) boasts 
another huge hit with its production of Jason 
Robert Brown’s musical, The Last Five Years, 
which continues it run through June 16. 

Critics raved about last weekend’s sold-
out opening performances. Stage Scene LA 
proclaimed, “WOW! Jayde Mitchell and 
Jackie Bonsignore and Bryan Mittelstadt and 
Margaret Berkowitz deliver four breakout 
star turns.” Stage and Cinema decreed, “It 
practically begs you to see it again.”

The distinctive two-person show is a captivating 
and emotionally charged musical journey 
that explores the complex dynamics of the 
relationship of Cathy and Jamie through the lens 
of time. The characters portray their relationship 
in a non-linear narrative, with Jamie’s story told 
in chronological order, and Cathy’s story told in 
reverse chronological order. 

Because the play is entirely sung, SMP’s 
production features two separate casts due to 
its vocal demands. Margaret Berkowitz and 
Jackie Bonsignore trade off as Cathy, and 
Bryan Mittelstadt and Jayde Mitchell alternate as Jamie.

Set against a backdrop of soaring melodies and heartfelt lyrics, The Last Five Years, 
directed by Josh Shaw, delves into the highs and lows of love, dreams, and the passage 
of time. 

In addition to the two casts, the production includes two different musical versions, with 
some shows featuring a live piano and others a six-piece ensemble. Pianist Joshua Foy 
is the music director. The ensemble also includes Jessica Chen, violin; Alexander Elliott 
Miller, guitar; Jon Lee Keenan, bass; and cellists Derek Stein and Betsy Rettig.

For tickets ($12 - $45), please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. 
Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 
91024.


“Jump into summer with a new mosquito 
tune and a reminder of the best way to prevent 
mosquito bites and mosquito-transmitted 
diseases,” said Communications Director 
Anais Medina Diaz. “This new music video 
highlights how applying repellent is a simple, 
yet important step in protecting your health 
this summer.”

Set in a mythical town in the San Gabriel 
Mountains, “Los Repelentes” follows the 
story of a community that finds repellent 
ingredients excellent in repelling mosquitoes, 
but one resident is reluctant to use them until 
he soon realizes how dangerous and annoying 
mosquito bites can be. The resident quickly 
appreciates the magic of using mosquito 
repellent after seeing how effective the 
four repellent ingredients are at protecting 
members of his community.

While summer is still officially a few weeks 
away, daytime and nighttime temperatures 
continue to increase, creating suitable 
environmental conditions for mosquito 
populations to thrive. Mosquito control 
officials urge residents to take this holiday 
weekend as an opportunity to tip out standing 
water, toss out unused containers, and protect 
themselves by using an insect repellent that 
has an active ingredient recommended by the 
CDC such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, and 
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

Although West Nile virus persists as the 
biggest threat to San Gabriel Valley residents, 
mosquito control officials are concerned about 
an increase in travel-related dengue cases due 
to dengue epidemics around the world. Last 
fall, the District quickly responded to the first 
locally acquired Dengue case in California. 
With the presence of aggressive, daytime 
biting Aedes mosquitoes in the San Gabriel 
Valley, the risk of other locally acquired cases 
remains.

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility. 
The District urges residents to take an active 
role in reducing the threat of mosquitoes in 
their communities.

For more information, residents can contact 
the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector 
Control District at 626-814-9466, online 
at SGVmosquito.org, or on social media: 
Facebook, X, and Instagram.

About SGVMVCD

SGVMVCD is one of five vector control 
districts in Los Angeles County. Year-round, 
the agency monitors stagnant water sources, 
such as gutters, storm drains, channels and 
non-functional swimming pools. The agency 
also routinely monitors populations of adult 
mosquitoes using traps and tests groups of 
adult female mosquitoes for the presence of 
WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases. In 
addition, the agency submits samples from 
dead birds, such as crows, for testing, which 
can provide insight into the spread of WNV.

BOOST MILITARY MORALE WITH A T-SHIRT THIS SUMMER

(StatePoint) Often separated 
from loved ones while 
training or deployed to remote 
locations around the world, 
from South Korea to Germany 
to bases across the United 
States, service members and 
their families make sacrifices 
every day.

One way that military 
supporters can demonstrate 
to service men and women 
that they have their backs 
is through the USO T-Shirt 
Campaign, running through 
July 4. Now in its 14th year, the 
annual event encourages the 
public to show appreciation 
and honor the military 
community by wearing the 
â€oeOfficial Uniform of the 
Military Supporter.”

Campaign organizers say 
the purpose is to boost the 
morale of those in uniform by 
showing them they’re never 
forgotten, while helping connect civilians with the military community. The campaign 
also raises critical funds for the USO, which focuses on strengthening the well-being of 
service members and their families. Donations to the USO help support more than 250 
centers around the world, a care package delivery program, global entertainment, military 
spouse and youth programming and more. This year’s T-shirt design was chosen by 
service members and supporters from around the world. To learn more, as well as to donate 
and receive a shirt to show your support, visit USO.org/tshirt.

As you celebrate summer’s patriotic holidays in the months ahead, consider taking 
meaningful action to positively impact the lives of service members, and demonstrate your 
support.


USO Global Ambassadors Wilmer Valderrama and 
Vanessa Lachey show their support.

RETIRED TEACHERS TO HEAR FROM

 AARP’S FRAUD FINDERS SPECIALISTS

At their June meeting, members of the California Retired Teachers’ Association Div. 171 
(CalRTA) will learn about AARP’s Fraud Watch Network from the network’s Fraud Finders 
specialists. The agency has a Scam-Tracking Map to help people find and report scams in 
their area. The Retired Teachers will hear stories about how scams often happen and how to 
protect themselves from identity theft.. Seniors are especially vulnerable. The Fraud Watch 
Network can be reached at 1-877-908-3360. 

The Retired Teachers luncheon meeting will take place on Friday, June 14 at Our Savior 
Lutheran Church in Fellowship Hall, 512 W. Duarte Rd., Arcadia 91007. The hall is located 
behind the church sanctuary, and ample parking is available. At 11:00 am, doors open and 
guests arrive, with the business meeting at 11:30, lunch to follow at 12:00 pm, and at 12:45 
pm the Fraud Finders presentation to take place.

A box lunch will be provided by Panera with a choice of sandwiches. Choose one: Deli Turkey, 
Tuna Salad, or Mediterranean Veggie. Each sandwich is accompanied by potato chips and 
a chocolate chip cookie. Coffee and water will be provided. Guests are welcome. The cost of 
the luncheon for members and guests is $17. Please mail your check payable to CalRTA Div. 
171 by Friday, June 7 to John Gera, P.O. Box 1133, Temple City, CA 91780. For information 
regarding reservations, you may call John Gera at (626) 286-0714.

Membership in the California Retired Teachers’ Association is open to all retired educators, 
as well as to current classroom teachers and to any others interested in joining this active 
group. For membership information, please call Karen Frey at (562) 693-1495. The motto of 
CalRTA is “Your Partner in Pension Protection.”

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.