SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011 VOLUME 5 NO. 20 THE 2011 Mt. Wilson Trail Race Much More Than Just A Race PAT ALCORN: Sierra Madre’s Older American Of The Year In less than 13 days, hundreds of ness of Sierra Madre Search & Rescue. people will gather in Kersting Court SMSR will beneficiary of this year’s to participate in the activities associ- race in commemoration of its 60 years ated with the famous Mt. Wilson Trail of public service. Race. On Saturday, May 28th, some The Trail Race is a community effort 300 runners will make the trek from lead by a committee of dedicated vol- Baldwin Avenue and Sierra Madre unteers. They are: Blvd. to the end of the Mt. Wilson Trail and back down again. It is also Mt. Wilson Trail Race Committee expected that over 150 children will Pete Siberell, Chair participate in the Kids Race up Bald- Gary Hilliard win on Saturday morning too. But, James Faulkner there is much more to the weekend Jim Liston than just the race! Andy Kumeda Although for many, the fun started Karen Moran back in January when runners began Pam Kelly training for the race, the night before Heidi Hartman race day gives those who are not ven- Dennis Hartman turing up the trail a chance to partici- Lisa Spigai Perez pate in the festivities. Sharon Pevsner From left to right, De Alcorn, Minor Harkness, Pat Alcorn and her granddaughter Sabrina. On Friday, May 27th, the MWTR Jay Chapman Photo by S. Henderson Committee will host the annual Pre- Eric LeClair Race Pasta Feed. From 5:30-7:00 p.m., Jon Pedder On Friday evening, the Sierra De, who is also Sierra Madre’s Sec- her remarks, she looked out into Cafe 322 will serve dinner, as the run- Keith Van Dusen Madre Senior Community Com- retary of Volunteerism also spoke audience and saw her dear friend, ners come to pick up their packets. Pat Alcorn mission, along with the City of Si- highly of his wife’s commitment to Minor Harkness, who now lives in A portion from each dinner served Adam Matsumoto erra Madre, bestowed the honor of the community. Idaho. will be donated by Cafe 322 to Sierra Madre Search & “Older American Of The Year” on 40 year resident Pat Alcorn. Alcorn co-chaired the Friends of The Older American Of The Year Rescue. On display the Library Wine and Cuisine Tast- award is presented in conjunction Friday night is a The event was attended by com- ing for the last two years, is also co- with the National Older Americans slideshow of previ- munity members of all ages who chair of the Community Services Month (May). ous Mount Wilson Trail Race photo. showed their appreciation for Al- Commission, and was president of corn’s volunteer efforts. Among the Civic Club in 1971, 1972, and Sponsors for the event included Ar- You can also pur- cadia Gardens, Beantown, the Bu- chase Trail Race those present were her former ‘boss’, 2005. She has contributed to the Pastor Langley, and representatives community in many other capaci- caneer Lounge, Cafe 322, Casa Del merchandise Friday Rey, Foothill Home Care Partners, night. from Congressman David Dreier, ties and has been nickname, along On race day, there Senator Bob Huff and Supervisor with her husband De, “Mr. and Fresco’s Family Restaurant, Friends is even more to do. Michael Antonovich’s office. Si- Mrs. John Q Citizen”, a moniker of the Sierra Madre Library, Kiwan- The race will be- erra Madre Mayor John Buchanan, that notes their participation in just is Club of Sierra Madre, Leonora gin at 7:30 am. At as well as Councilmembers Mary about any community event going Moss, Mama Pete’s Nursery School, 7:45, the Kids Mile Ann MacGillivray, Josh Moran and on in town. The Only Place In Town, The Sierra Fun Run will start. Nancy Walsh. One of the most touching moments Madre Senior Club, Village Pizzeria Children run under and Zugo’s Cafe. Alcorn’s husband of over 50 years, of the evening was when, during the same banner as Mount Wilson Trail 2010 was the first year that fans could actually Race runners one watch the race via a live video feed in Kersting Ct. Resident Files I-210 BRIDGE/ICONIC FREEWAY STRUCTURE UPDATE mile up Baldwin Avenue and back. Youth ages 3 and up This year’s event sold out in record Lawsuit Over can participate in this free event and time. Just two weeks after the appli- all participants will receive a ribbon cations were publicized, 300 runners Water Rate and T-shirt. had committed and a waiting list was Increase Spectators can also view the race in developed. People come from all Kersting Court via live video feed, over the country to participate, with On May 6, 2011, a lawsuit was courtesy of the Sierra Madre Search Tommy Marshall coming the longest filed in the Los Angeles Superior and Rescue Team. distance. He is coming from North At 9:00 a.m. on Race Day, the Beer Carolina. Court by Sierra Madre resident Garden and vendor booths will open. John Crawford against the City of The beer garden is sponsored by a lo- HISTORY Sierra Madre. The suit alleges that cal Sierra Madre Foundation (The The Mount Wilson Trail Race is the the city acted contrary to the law Spero Foundation) Proceeds from second oldest trail race in the country; (Prop 218) in its implementation the beer garden are donated to Sierra first held in 1908 when runners raced of the recent water rate increase. Madre Search and Rescue which is to Mount Wilson, rested 1/2 hour, celebrating its 60th year. then raced back down. The race was The city maintains that it did The official Race Starter will be long held sporadically from the first year in fact follow the provisions of time Sierra Madrean Miner Hark- until the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, Prop. 218, which requires public when it was abandoned completely. In autumn of 1965 it was revived and notification of rate increases such has grown over the years to its pres- as water, and also allows citizens Crews conduct environmental sampling at the site of the future I-210 ent format. Organized by a volunteer the opportunity to protest such Bridge. committee and sponsored by the City actions. of Sierra Madre, the current race is You may have noticed crews working 8.6 miles in length. The exact course In 2010, an organized protest at the future site of the I-210 Bridge, Inside This Edition... has changed by erosion, fires and between Baldwin and Santa Anita against the increase was orches- Avenues on the eastbound I-210 CALENDAR Page 2 earthquakes. For this reason no of- trated, however, it failed to yield ficial record is recognized. Since the Freeway. Following installation of a the required majority needed to temporary sound wall and erosion Sierra Madre News Page 3 revival in the 1960s, today’s course is prohibit the city from moving considered the most difficult. control materials last month, crews forward. were busy conducting environmen- Pasadena/Altadena Page 4 THE COURSE tal sampling. The 8.6 mile race starts on pavement, After an extensive outreach to In the coming weeks, crews will be- Arcadia Page 5 uphill, to a dirt path no more than the community, the city proceed- gin shoring (or grading) the slopes three feet wide. It features an eleva- ed with the increase which was of the center and southern freeway Monrovia/Duarte Page 6 tion gain of over 2,100 feet; approxi- the first such increase since 2006. medians, to create space for the large mately 4.3 miles to the turnaround construction equipment to access Education & Youth Page 7 the construction site. A temporary point at Orchard Camp. Most of the It is not known at this time what Good Food & Drink Page 8 race takes place on the Mount Wil- retaining wall will be built along the cost of defending this lawsuit the center median of the freeway to Arts & Entertainment Page 9 son Trail, where some sections have will be. Those costs, however, Legals Page 10 vertical drop-offs of several hundred support the westbound I-210 traffic feet. Boy and Cub Scout Troops pro- will come out of the city’s water lanes, as part of that effort. Left/Right Page 11 vide water at two locations: the 2.3 revenues. Work on the structure's foundations Opinion Page 12 mile marker (at First Water) and is planned to start in June. Drilling, The World Around Us Page 13 the turnaround point. Due to the Crawford is being represented rather than pile-driving, has been selected as the construction method The Good Life Page 14 steep, narrow features of the trail, the by Former Sierra Madre Mayor Homes & Property Page 15 race is limited to a maximum of 300 Kurt Zimmerman. for the foundation work. Although runners. this method takes more time, it was FYI Page 16 MVNews/Archives S. Henderson/MVNews selected because it reduces impacts on the local community. Read The Paper Online At: www.mtnviewsnews.com 2 Mountain View News Saturday, May 14, 2011 CALENDAR Community Yard Sale Weather Wise AUTHOR The City of Sierra Madre Senior Community Commission presents a Community 5-Day Forecast Yard Sale on Saturday, June 11, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. located in the TALK Sierra Vista Park Parking Lot (611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.). Community members Sierra Madre, Ca.