THE TALK OF THE TOWN - WATER!....Pg. B1 SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 Inside this week: VOLUME 7 NO. 25 COUNCIL HAS ANOTHER FULL SIERRA MADRE AGENDA TUESDAY FAREWELL TO A GRAND LADY Calendar Page 2 Sierra Madre News Page 3 In April when the Sierra Madre City Council reorganized, the first few meetings thereafter were, while productive, rather uneventful. For a few meetings not even a dozen residents showed up to participate. PASADENA/ALTADENA However, that has changed and the as Mayor Walsh and the council can look forward to increased public participation as the agenda items of later are of great GELSON’S CLOSES Pg. 4 concern to the community. After the last regularly scheduled meeting, a special meeting on water conservation was held. The special meeting brought seemed AROUND SGV Pg. 5 to address some of the community concerns, however, issues such as a morato- rium on new development that had been requested by several speakers, di d not THE DUARTE LIBRARY happen. (See related story on page B1) NYERGES: GARY KNOWLTON This week at the regular council meeting, In addition to the issue of Mandatory Water Conservation, which attracted little interest until the notice was sent to residents, the agenda has two other matters that have been of great concern to the public. The first is the issue of public facilities impact fees and the second ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 6 is the Public Safety Master Plan. AFD FILLS THE BOOT The council meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 6:30 pm in the council chambers at City Hall. MONROVIA/DUARTE New Crop of Future Pg. 7 CITY OF SIERRA MADRE FREE CONCERT IN Leaders THE PARK SERIES PRESENTED BY EDUCATION & YOUTH KENSINGTON ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY ALVERNO Pg. 8 Join the City of Sierra Madre this summer min’ Gourmet Food Truck for the Concerts in the Park, beginning On Friday, as many as 200 people daughter Muriel at the time was GRADUATES Sunday, June 23, 2013 and occurring ev- July 7 – Luke Mulholland Band (Blues), filled the Sierra Madre Room at the shown sharing photos of her life BEST FRIENDS Pg. 9 ery Sunday through August 11, 2013. The sponsored by the Sierra Madre Issei Me- Recreation Center to celebrate the life from the time she was an infant and concerts are FREE thanks to the support morial Foundation of Marjorie “Mama Pete” Peterson through her 90th year. • Meet N Potatoes Food Truck Charlie Brown Canine Clown of Kensington Assisted Living Facility, who passed away just shy of her 97th Two of the children that attended the along with numerous community hosts. July 14 – Decades of Rock (Classic Rock) birthday. school, a young man about 5 and an- FOOD & DRINK Concerts begin at 6:00pm and run through sponsored by the Spero Foundation • Survived by her son Dan and daugh- other young lady who appeared to be 8:00pm. All concerts will be held at the Juan’s Tacos: tacos, burritos, chips and ter Muriel, five grandchildren and a about 10, also came to the mike in her Tips & Trifle Pg. 10 Memorial Park Bandshell, 222 W. Sierra salsa Madre Blvd. next to City Hall. Seating is host of great grandchildren, those in honor. on the green so remember to bring blan- July 21 – Elvis (Elvis Tribute), hosted by attendance shared their stories of how One of the most moving tributes THE WORLD AROUND US kets and lawn chairs. Alcohol is prohibited. the Rotary Club of Sierra Madre this remarkable woman touched their came from local resident Katrelya An- LOOKING UP - Pg. 10 Spectators are encouraged to support local • Rounds Burger Food Truck & The Ice lives. gus, who met Mama Pete when she organizations that may provide refresh- Princess Rev. Jim Walden of Temple City’s was 6. In her honor, Katreyla wore a ments. For additional information please July 28 – Jane Fuller (Pop) sponsored by First Baptist Church led the services red, white and blue ensemble, sym- contact the Community Services Depart- Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club and Friends of and Mayor Nancy Walsh, Phyllis bolic of Mama Pete’s attire every year ment 626-355-5278. THE GOOD LIFE Pg. 11 the Sierra Madre Library • Corfu Restau- Chapman, Ann Tyler and Jan Reed at the 4th of July Parade. Savvy Senior Concerts in the Park Schedule: rant and Kiwanis Birtyday Cake all spoke of Mama Pete’s magnificence Everywhere you looked you could Senior Happenings and extraordinary commitment to see Teddy Bears, Mama Pete’s trade- June 23 – Cowbop (Cowboy Jazz/Western August 4 – Undercover Girls (Rock and Bebop), sponsored by the Sierra Madre Roll) sponsored by L.A. County Supervi- children and the community. mark favorite stuffed animal. SPORTS Pg. 12 Civic Club sor Michael D. Antonovich • Meet N Pota- Two of her great grandsons rendered Refreshments were prepared and • Surfer Taco Food Truck toes Food Truck musical selections and the inspira- served by the Sierra Madre Civic Club August 11 – Gem City Jazz Cats (Big tional poem, “Dash” was read by Jerry and Woman’s Club. The Sierra Madre SECTION B June 30 –Hard Days Night (Beatles Trib- Band) sponsored by the Senior Commu- Marbie. Kiwanis Club assisted with reception ute Band) sponsored by the Sierra Madre nity Commission • FREE popsicles!! A video made for her 90th birth- and ushering of guests. THE TALK OF THE TOWN: Volunteer Firefighters Association • Slum- WATER day celebration and narrated by her BUSINESS Pg. B2 HAPPY 104th BIRTHDAY SOPHIE! Photo and story by Bill Coburn categorized by the distance between the British Home took a day trip to HEALTHY LIVING the two parties talking. Sophie met a Balboa, and Sophie was thrilled at the florist seven years her senior named memories it brought back for her. She Pg. B3 James Hules, and six days shy of her retired from the phone company in 20th birthday, the couple were mar- 1966, (yes, she’s been retired nearly 50 ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT ried. Nine years later, they set off for years), though she continued to drive Pg. B4 California, where Sophie worked the until the age of 94! night shift as an operator for Pacific LEFT/RIGHT Pg. B5 Telephone and Telegraph Company. After retiring, Sophie became active in James found work during WWII work- Senior Citizen’s groups, and did a lot ing for the government as a painting of traveling. Jim eventually became ill, OPINION Pg. B5 contractor, painting black out windows and Sophie tended to his needs until to prevent the enemy from seeing the his passing in 1983. She continued to lights in the houses, should they attack travel, including trips to Hawaii, Paris, LEGAL NOTICES from the air. and the South of France. She lived in B6-B9 the house she and Jim had shared in Sophie and Jim bought a house in South South Pasadena, tending to their gar- Pasadena, and raised three children dens, until after the age of 100, but she FYI Pg. B10 there, Carol, Jim and Susan. All three moved into the British Home a couple children were in attendance Saturday to years back. Today, she still gets up and celebrate with her. Her siblings have all sweeps the sidewalk and patio area passed away, but her nephew Will was around her “unit” and looks back on a able to be there. Sophie also has five life well-lived. grandchildren, six grandchildren and a great, great grandchild, several of who With dozens of friends and relatives on were also there to celebrate with her on hand Saturday to enjoy a breakfast that Saturday. featured waffles, eggs benedict, fruit and much more, Sophie had a smile on @mtnviewsnews There must be something in the wa- en, that Sophie was able to return to Sophie continued to work as a tele- her face throughout the celebration. It’s ter there at the British Home in Sierra the U.S., which she and her family did phone operator, first taking the Red been a tradition each year on her birth- Madre. Or maybe it’s the excellent care aboard a steam ship originally built in Line to work, eventually learning to day for Sophie to tell British Home ad- they take of their residents, but at the 1912, named The President Wilsone, drive herself to work. She also enjoyed ministrator Marlene Rainen “See you moment, there are two centenarians in after Woodrow Wilson, the American driving to the beach, and regularly next year!” I’ll look forward to seeing residence, both of them active and mo- president during WWI. Her father spent her vacation at Balboa Island or you next year, Sophie, as we celebrate bile. And one of them, Sophie (Koenig) Josef, mother Gertrude, sisters Rose on Catalina. Last year, a group from 105! Happy birthday! Hules, celebrated her 104th birthday and Louise, and two brothers, Josef www.facebook.com/ last Saturday, with family and friends and William left the farm they lived on mountainviewsnews coming from as far away as North Car- to sail on the Presidente Wilson’s first HAVE LUNCH WITH SIERRA olina to be with her. trip to America after the war. They re- entered the U.S. like millions of immi- MADRE’S FIRE CHIEF Sophie Koenig was born in Yugoslavia grants, through Ellis Island, ultimately The Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Department's Chief Steve Heydorff and his on June 14, 1909. Her parents had trav- settling in Cleveland, Ohio. Battalion Chiefs will be joining our Kiwanis meeting at noon on Tuesday, June eled from their home in New York for a 25. family gathering, but found themselves Sophie and her younger sister by four unable to return to the United States years, Louise, also born on June 14th, They will be giving a brief overview of the Department's staffing, training due to a combination of civil unrest, attended school together to learn Eng- hours, calls made per year, cost saving to the City and additional pertinent military conflict, and ultimately, the lish, and after six years of schooling, information.