THE HORN IS BACK! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 VOLUME 8 NO. 39 ....And no one is happier about it than SIERRA MADRE POLICE CITY TO BEGIN USING ADDITIVES this man! TO REDUCE ‘BROWN’ WATER TAKING BACK UNWANTED Since Sierra Madre began contingent upon LA County There are so many importing water, residents Health Department approval. historic icons in Sierra PRESCRIPTION DRUGS have had an ongoing problem Madre and the Sierra with brown, rust colored Inman confirmed in a Madre Emergency Horn SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th water. This continues to occur telephone interview on Friday is certainly one of them. in various parts of the city. that there are still many old Currently housed in the [SIERRA MADRE, CA] – On cabinets are highly susceptible to September 27 from 10 a.m. to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates steel pipes in the city’s system Montecito parking lot at The ‘brown water’ has been that do rust. This is not the corner of Baldwin 2 p.m. the Sierra Madre Police of prescription drug abuse in the Department and the Drug U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the reported in homes with the case with cement pipes Ave. and Montecito Enforcement Administration number of accidental poisonings galvanized pipes as well as and may be the reason that Ave., it is touted as (DEA) will give the public its and overdoses due to these drugs. those with copper pipes. The some areas of the town aren’t being the most effective ninth opportunity in four years Studies show that a majority of cause has been deemed to experiencing discolored water. ‘warning’ system there to prevent pill abuse and theft by abused prescription drugs are be the rust that is released is. That is, of course, ridding their homes of potentially obtained from family and friends, by the interaction of the He also explained that the according to old timers dangerous expired, unused, and including from the home medicine imported water on the city’s orthophosphate will “overtime like former Mayor unwanted prescription drugs. cabinet. In addition, Americans Bring your pills for disposal to the are now advised that their usual water delivery system. It is form a microscopic coating to George Maurer and his now believed to be generated keep rust from being released. coffee crew. Police Department Lobby at 242 methods for disposing of unused W. Sierra Madre Blvd. (The DEA medicines—flushing them down as the water travels through Discoloration from corrosion A very loud horn, cannot accept liquids or needles or the toilet or throwing them in the the city’s worn infrastructure. is not a problem unique to when functioning, it sharps, only pills or patches.) The trash—both pose potential safety This was not a problem prior Sierra Madre. Other cities, will alert the entire city service is free and anonymous, no and health hazards. to the importation of water, use orthophosphate for that Former Sierra Madre Mayor and questions asked. DEA is in the process of that something is very SMFD Volunteer, George Maurer as Sierra Madre well water very reason, said Inman. Last April, Americans turned in approving new regulations that contained no chemicals that wrong. When power is 390 tons (over 780,000 pounds) of implement the Safe and Responsible out, and all else fails, the horn can get the job done. prescription drugs at nearly 6,100 Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which would trigger such a reaction. Approval has been received In an effort to resolve this from the county to use the This seemingly magical device is actually, according to sites operated by the DEA and more amends the Controlled Substances than 4,400 of its state and local law Act to allow an “ultimate user” problem (corrosion control), chemicals as described in Dr. James Carlson of the city of Sierra Madre, “..a radio frequency review the City’s existing Baribeau’s plan. During the controlled signal originally used for alerting volunteer members enforcement partners. When those (that is, a patient or their family results are combined with what was member or pet owner) of controlled nitrification action plan, and council meeting, she appeared of the Department to the existence and location of a fire. The horn collected in its eight previous Take substance medications to dispose of other water concerns, Dr. via Skype to assist Inman with was previously used as a secondary alerting system, as required by Back events, DEA and its partners them by delivering them to entities Helene Baribeau of Baribeau the presentation. the NFPA and ISO. With the ability to be heard over the entirety of have taken in over 4.1 million authorized by the Attorney General Environmental Engineering the 3.2 square miles of the City of Sierra Madre, the horn has faced pounds—more than 2,100 tons—of to accept them. The Act also allows was awarded a professional The chemically enhanced some controversy since its original installation in 1915 due to the pills. the Attorney General to authorize services contract in June to water will begin distribution volume and frequency of the alerts. This initiative addresses a vital long term care facilities to dispose public safety and public health issue. of their residents’ controlled study the situation and see on Monday. As for health Over the course of the horn’s nearly 100 year history, the horn Medicines that languish in home substances in certain instances. what could be done. (http:// concerns, Inman says the was tested daily at 12:00 noon in accordance with NFPA 3-1.5.2.2 mtnviewsnews.com/v08/htm/ amount of orthophosphate requiring all outside devices, radio, telephone, or other means for n25/index.htm) being used will do no harm, alerting volunteer and off-duty fire fighters to be tested once a day. nor distort the taste of the This practice was briefly discontinued in 1999, however, following EVERY DROP COUNTS! Last month Dr. Baribeau water when ingested. community support for the tradition (lead in part by Sierra Madre Residents need to be aware of the new restrictions completed an Interim City College’s sale of t-shirts reading “Save Our Horn… Blow Me Corrosion Control Plan and Daily”) testing was once again reinstated until late in the 2000s. on watering. it was presented to the city Why do water systems add In 2008 the Kiwanis Club with former Mayor George Maurer council on September 9th phosphate to drinking water? Even-numbered addresses are limited to landscape irrigation on What are the health effects leading the charge, approached City Council with the intention to Mondays and Thursdays. Odd-numbered addresses and addresses by Public Works Director reactivate the horn after a period of disuse. The horn has recently Bruce Inman. The plan of drinking water containing ending in fractions are limited to landscape irrigation on Tuesdays phosphates? been repaired, and it is intended that the horn will be used as an and Fridays. calls for the infusion of Zinc emergency notification system in the event of disaster.” Orthophosphate into the The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued On Wednesday, October 1st at 2:00 pm. The Horn will be If you would like to report water waste you can now do so on water system before it leaves a report on the toxicology of officially tested. It is a very effective emergency alert because the City’s website or by emailing [email protected]. for distribution to households. inorganic phosphates as food it is so loud there is no section of the city in which it cannot be Please describe how water is being wasted, include the location, By doing so, it is hoped that a ingredients. The FDA considers heard. Its’ reinstatement is intended to interface with the city’s and a photo if available. We will then send a courtesy notice to the liner will form in the pipes phosphates as a food additive to Emergency Radio Station, 1630AM in the event of a disaster. property so the issue can be fixed. preventing corrosion that is be “generally recognized as safe.” then transported to individual This report is available at: www. When residents hear the horn, they will know to turn to the elsevier.com/locate/foodchemtox. station or SMTV3 for further instructions. You can also send an Email to [email protected] households. The council approved moving forward Thank you George for your persistence in getting this valuable OR use the form on the city’s website: www.cityofsierramadre. com with the recommendations tool emergency warning system back in action! contained in the plan S. Henderson/MVNews Inside this week: WALKING SIERRA MADRE…The Social Side By Deanne Davis patio, complete with a student desk and Belgian waffles on Saturdays and Sundays till CALENDAR Pg. 2 and a poster announcing their Harvest 4:00 p.m., yum! Sorry to see the Center for Wellness Festival coming up in less than a month! around the corner from Starbucks has gone. None of SIERRA MADRE NEWS Creative Arts Group’s scarecrow is us like to see empty storefronts. Remembering Ed Clare Pg. 3 busily working away at a potter’s wheel Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. – a bit hotter and the town and if you haven’t seen Lew Watanabe’s is controlled chaos with parents bringing their PASADENA/ALTADENA beautiful sculpture-fountain piece, backpack laden sweeties to all our local schools. The New City Council Rules “Antiquity” in front of their building, highlight of our day is seeing all those excited little Pg. 4 take time to stop and enjoy a moment people running to meet the day.