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Mountain View News Saturday, May 31, 2025

SIERRA MADRE BOOKMARK CONTEST WINNERS

The Sierra Madre Library highlighted their annual student bookmark contest during a 
presentation before the City Council and handed out awards to some of the participants from 
area schools. 

The contest ran from March to April 2025, with the theme “Love My Sierra Madre”. Kids were 
to showcase people, places, or things, and illustrate what they love about Sierra Madre on their 
bookmark design. Library Board of Trustees member, Laura Palmer, and Associate Librarian 
for Youth Services, Doreen Thomas, headed the program. 

The contest was open to children from kindergarten to 8th grade who live in, go to school 
in, or have a public library card in Sierra Madre. According to Thomas, this year’s theme 
brought in 207 entries. Judges picked a first and second place winner for each grade level. The 
winners were recognized in City Council Chambers on April 30, and the winning entries are 
on display in the Children’s Room of the Library. Thomas encourages residents to visit the 
library to see them featured. 

In addition, four of the winning entries (shown in the photo) will have their bookmarks 
printed. Those winners were chosen by “Special Judges,” Mayor Robert Parkhurst, President of 
the Board of Directors of Friends of the Library, Jeanne Martin, City Manager, Jose Reynoso, 
and Library Board of Trustees Chair, Diane Sands. 

The winners who will get their bookmarks printed are Caleb Shafferman (Kindergarten/
Sierra Madre Elementary), Sophia Spears (3rd Grade/Sierra Madre Elementary), Alina Kwo 
(6th Grade/Sierra Madre Middle School), and PJ Altruz (7th Grade/Sierra Madre Middle School).

Thomas took the time to thank library sponsors who donated money and time to the event, including: The Sierra Madre Community Foundation, The Sierra Madre Women’s Club, Mountain 
Views News, The Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club, The Sierra Madre Civic Club, and The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library. 

The printed bookmarks will be available to the public later this summer at the library. - Kevin McGuire


RAVIOLI FEAST AT THE 
FIRE DEPARTMENT!

On Monday, May 19, and Wednesday and Thursday, May 
21 and 22, the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society 
(SMHPS) was pleased and honored to deliver a “Ravioli 
Feast” to all three shifts of the Sierra Madre Fire Department. 

Members of the SMHPS, as well as other guests attended 
one or more of the three nights, and shared in the festivities. 
SMHPS President, Leslie Ziff, portrayed “modern day” 
Lizzie and served food to all. Former Sierra Madre volunteer 
firefighters Richard Mays (SMHPS treasurer) and Mayor Pro 
Tem Kris Lowe were in attendance to share stories of then 
and now. In addition, on May 21, Mayor Robert Parkhurst, 
and special guests District Representative Darla Dyson of 
State Senator Sasha Renee Perez’s office and District Director 
Declan Floyd of State Assemblymember John Harabedian’s 
office attended.

Why, you may ask, did this come about? SMHPS recently 
discovered a newspaper article from the Pasadena Post on 
April 13 of 1929, announcing that Lizzie Stoppel (of the Trail 
Inn) brought a Ravioli Feast to the Sierra Madre Fire Department 
at city hall on April 12.

 
Lizzie had owned the Trail Inn business since June of 1926, and although the article did not say why she brought them dinner, 
we do know that the volunteer fire department loved to frequent her establishment and that Lizzie was especially fond 
of them too. Ninety-six years later, we felt that it was time the Historical Society once again recognized the fire fighters, 
especially after the Eaton Fire.

Darla and Declan presented the fire department with proclamations attesting to the work of the department in helping to keep the community safe from the recent fires and subsequent 
mudflows, and in addition, recognized the SMHPS with proclamations of their own for helping to keep history alive and safe, and for celebrating Lizzie’s “Ravioli Feast” with the fire 
department.

SMHPS sincerely thanks Fire Chief Brent Bartlett, Administrator Amy Hsu, and all the fire fighters from all three shifts for their hospitality and warm welcome, as well as sending thanks 
to our special guests who joined us. Thanks also to our members Christel Chang, Susan Gallagher, Pauli Morin, Shannon Moore, Diane Sands and Andrea Thorsen, who helped with the 
event. 

It takes a village, as they say, and Lizzie herself would not have wanted us to wait any longer to express our thanks.


8.5 x 11 landscapeInclude name, age,
contact info, and a shortdescriptionOne entry perpersonHand-drawnor paintedA DAY IN THE LIFEWITH OUR WILDLIFENEIGHBORSCreate art! Celebrate wildlife!
Winning contest entries will be featured in Sierra Madre’s2026 Calendar with fun facts and smart-living tips forsharing Sierra Madre with our foothill neighbors!
DEADLINE: JUNE 7, 2025OPEN TO ALL AGESSubmission InfoSubmit by email: 
wildlife@sierramadreca.govor drop off at Sierra Madre City Hall 
More info: 
SierraMadreCa.gov/wildlifeartcontestCITY OF SIERRA MADREARTWORK CONTESTWinning entriesin our 2026Calendar!
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