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SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2025

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides 
by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Lic. #01991628. All material presented 
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Happy 
Easter!
May your Easter 
basket be filled with 
joy, happiness, and 
peace this season 
and always.
#1 BROKERAGE IN THE US 
FOUR YEARS IN A ROW
VOLUME 19 NO. 16VOLUME 19 NO. 16

WHAT HOPE DOES ONE OFFER TO 
THE PERSON WHO HAS LOST 

EVERYTHING, AND WHAT WORDS 
PROVIDE COMFORT TO THOSE 
WHO HAVE LOST MORE THAN 
POSSESSIONS? by Craig Haikola

The streets were filled with celebration as the people 
dreamed with delight at the sight of Jesus approaching 
Jerusalem. “Finally, the Messiah has come to 
claim his kingdom!” emerged a victorious voice 
from the crowd. The collected scholars of the street 
recited the familiar promises of the prophets, and 
the triumphant words contained within the scared 
scrolls of the temple. It was a day filled with hope, 
not only for those citizens of Jerusalem, but for the 
disciples of Jesus as well. 

For three years the disciples had followed Jesus. Setting 
aside their obligations of work and placing the 
weight of financial burden upon their families, the 
disciples had surrendered many common comforts 
in the anticipation of this prophetic moment -- to 
enter the glorious gates of Jerusalem with the crowd 
chanting “Jesus the Messiah.” 

Much like the disciples, we are often unhesitatingly 
confident of what the next chapter of the story will 
produce. But at that moment when everything is so 
perfectly placed, when we firmly stand atop of life’s 
highest mountain, the author turns the story in a 
different direction.

Less than a week following the royal entrance of Jesus, 
as the city of Jerusalem slept, the sworn adversaries 
of Jesus reckoned the threat of his popularity 
versus their own power. Bringing a contingent 
of soldiers to take him prisoner during the secretive 
hours of the night, and in their wicked haste 
of thieves, they orchestrated a trial and submitted 
a verdict -- death to Jesus. The streets, only days 
before, filled with the supporters of Jesus, now 
watched in fright and disbelief as the Roman soldiers 
marched him to the hill called Golgotha. 

As noon approached and with the sun moving directly 
overhead, a vast specter of darkness covered 
the whole of the Earth, which the 19th century 
scholar Charles Spurgeon labeled “the midday midnight.” 
Many must have wondered if the sun would 
ever shine upon this world again. It is said by some 
that the intensity of this darkness cast its shadow 
into the chamber of Heaven. The Bible describes 
the outspoken ridicule that transpired beneath the 
cross where Jesus was dying as they said, “He saved 
others, but he cannot save himself” emanating the 
unrighteous scorn of his captors. 

For the disciples, the human condition of doubt 
destroyed hope. If they were able to kill Jesus, they 
thought, even when the multitudes supported him 
and affirmed his teachings, then surely, the next trial 
shall be ours. How much easier it will be to hunt, 
capture and crucify his followers. The shield that had 
protected them, the belief in him and the all-important 
presence of Jesus, no longer existed.

I have never heard a sermon about the day following 
the crucifixion of Jesus. We tend to migrate 
past this moment in history without the appropriate 
soul-searching and reflection the day deserves. 
Many times, in our own lives, we discover that we 
are like the disciples: angry, confused, frightened 
and crushed by sorrow. As I drove through the city 
of Altadena, a couple days after the fires had ravaged 
the region, the pain of loss was piercingly present 
upon the faces of the people who stood before what 
was once their beautiful home. 

I drove beside the burnt churches and past the family-
owned businesses, stopping to look at the places 
where the landmarks of the city had been reduced 
to ashes. I remember coming to a particular home 
that I once loved, as the owner had labored to make 
the grounds great. There he was outside the property. 
I imagined that I could see his mind drifting to 
the cherished keepsakes of some trip he had taken 
or the family photos he esteemed as treasures and 
displayed as art upon his walls. The world seemed 
like an empty place at that moment, and I did not 
need to imagine that the full weight of worry was 
upon his shoulders. 

If the story had ended there at the cross, with the 
death of Jesus, we may have marked it up to just another 
innocent man who was murdered. Many of 
the greatest episodes of life are announced in the 
discovery of the next day. Following the disciples’ 
day of mourning, as the sun lifted its light over the 
land, the curious sight of a massive stone that had 
secured and guarded the entrance of the grave where 
Jesus was placed, was rolled aside. He had risen.

Offering an invitation to all the world to come and 
witness the miracle where Jesus had kept his promise 
by defeating the consequence of sin and death, 
we must remember that day which summons that 
beautiful morning as a new beginning in our own 
hearts. 

As we contemplate the unbearable burdens that our 
friends and neighbors bear, let us not forget that 
hope and help is arriving from places we cannot 
anticipate. 

We discover one powerful example of how the world 
was changed in the life of Jesus. As we repeatedly 
encounter his petitions and communications to God 
through the action of prayer, all of us must speak in 
a unifying prayer until the community is rebuilt. We 
must continue until hope is restored and the powerful 
peace of God is placed upon the hearts of those 
who have suffered. 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

AFTER THE EATON FIRE AND RAINS, 
MOUNT WILSON TRAIL RACE PIVOTS!

Introducing The "MWTR RECOVERY RUN" on Saturday, 
October 4, 2-25 Community Events to Raise Money for 
Trail Maintenance on Mount Wilson Trail

Due to the utter devastation on the Mount Wilson Trail (MWT) caused by 
the Eaton Fire and subsequent rains, this year’s Mount Wilson Trail Race 
cannot be held on its usual Memorial Day weekend Saturday. The damage is 
so severe that the MWT must be reinforced and redesigned in many places. 
Because the state of the MWT is extremely dangerous, the U.S. Forest Service 
has closed the MWT until December 31, 2025. 

Accordingly, the 
Mount Wilson Trail 
Race Committee 
has decided to host 
a unique “MWT 5K 
Recovery Run” event 
within the Sierra 
Madre city limits on 
Saturday, October 4, 
2025,. The objective 
of the race and related 
events that day 
is to come together as 
a community to raise 
awareness of the tremendous 
amount 
of work that needs 
to be done to repair 
the MWT back to 
its race-ready condition 
and raise money 
for the Fletcher 
Trail Maintenance 
Fund, which pays 
for the equipment, 
materials, supplies, 
and tools used by 
our wonderful Trail 
Maintenance Crew volunteers.

The day’s MWT 5K Recovery Run events, including a 5K Race/Run, a Kids’ 
Fun Run, High School Challenge, Kersting Court booths, free photo booth, 
and beer garden, will tie into the City of Sierra Madre’s Octoberfest celebration. 
Community support will be provided by City of Sierra Madre Community 
Services, Fire, Police, and Public Works; Sierra Madre Civic Club; 
Sierra Madre Community Foundation; Sierra Madre Search & Rescue, Sierra 
Madre Woman’s Club, and Cub and Boy Scout Troops 110.

Registration for the MWT 5K Recovery Run will open soon on the Mount 
Wilson Trail Race website, with a portion of the registration fee going to the 
Fletcher Trail Maintenance Fund. The MWT 5K Recovery Run will start 
and end in the traditional Kersting Court location, going up Baldwin Avenue 
to Mira Monte Ave., up to the Mount Wilson Trailhead gate, then going 
west along Carter Ave. to the top of the Bailey Canyon Park settling basin, 
before heading back to Baldwin Ave. to the Finish Line. While participants 
will not be able to access Mount Wilson Trail and Bailey Canyon Trail that 
day, they at least can see where these wonderful trails start and why it is 
so important to have both trails repaired and ready to open ASAP for the 
public’s access and enjoyment.

Also upcoming and being planned is a free concert in Sierra Madre’s Memorial 
Park on Sunday, August 10, 2025, to call attention to the condition of 
Mount Wilson Trail and Bailey Canyon Trail. Frank Simes, Grammy nominated 
and multi-platinum-awarded musician, singer and guitarist (who has 
recorded and played with Don Henley, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Stevie 
Nicks, and the Who) and his band will perform at the concert, thanks to 
Sierra Madre resident Tom Hulick. Money raised will be donated to the 
Fletcher Trail Maintenance Fund, Sierra Madre Search & Rescue and Adams 
Pack Station. More details soon!

Please check back on the MWTR website (www.mountwilsontrailrace.
com) for updates on registration and additional details. Or call Race Director 
Pete Siberell at 626-840-1353.


INSIDE THIS WEEK

WISTARIA THANK YOUPage 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS Page 4

 WALKING SIERRA MADRE

PASADENA NEWSPage 5

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Page 6

EDUCATION & YOUTHPage 7

FOOD-DRINK-FUNPage 8

 Dining With Peter Dills

 The Tasting Room - Gustavo Lira

BEST FRIENDSPage 9

 THE GOOD LIFEPage 10

FIRE RECOVERY INFORMATION Page 11 

OPINION. Page 12

LEGAL NOTICESPage 13

SPORTS & FITNESS & MORE Page 15

 Fitness For Life...............Michele Kidd

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSSES Page 15