SIERRA MADRE EDITION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2017 VOLUME 11 NO. 50 THE FATE OF THE SIERRA MADRE LIBRARY SIERRA MADRE CANDLELIGHT WALK DECEMBER 17TH 7:00 PM The season of Christmas reminds us of that traditional Christmas carols. The procession glorious child who entered the world. will end at Kersting Court in the center of town As 2017 comes to an end, there have been a number Sierra Madre Recreation Center on East Sierra Madre The Candlelight Walk is held each Christmas where the Christmas story will be read from the of changes in Sierra Madre. Several of the city’s top Blvd. That would include expanding the current season to celebrate the journey Joseph and Mary Scriptures. management have left us: City Manager Elaine Aguilar, Recreation Center. This option would be funded by made to Bethlehem where Jesus was born over The event begins at St. Rita traveling down Public Works Director Bruce Inman and a little over selling the current Library building and the back lot 2,000 years ago. With “Mary and Joseph” leading Baldwin to Kersting Court. It is recommended a year ago this week, SMPD Chief Larry Giannone. with no tax increase to residents.1 the way, the procession will begin at St. Rita’s to arrive at 6:45p.m., as the walk will begin However, with those retirements new leadership 2. Keep the Library at its current location and move Catholic Church in Sierra Madre, accompanied promptly at 7:00 p.m came forward, City Manager Gabe Engeland, Public some services and events/programs to other city by participants holding candles and singing Works Director Chris Cimino and SMPD Chief Joe venues. Fund repairs by selling the back lot with no Ortiz. All have brought in a new era of transparency, extra tax burden on residents.2 all making responding to the concerns of the citizenry 3. Enhance and expand the current Library at its ‘TIS THE SEASON….TO BE SAFE their priority. One such effort to reach out to the existing location, expand services and programming Residents Urged To Protect Against Burglaries, Package the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock public currently underway by Engeland… What to do by funding with a property tax increase.3 and Identity Theft This Holiday Season your doors. with the Sierra Madre Public Library? 4. Significantly reduce Library services, limit public 3. Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going In January, residents will receive in the mail a survey access to areas of the Library which are not safe until At press time, Sierra Madre experienced at least one to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to in which they are asked what the fate of the Library alternative funding is available and do not sell any burglary and one attempted burglary on opposite sides automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off should be. According to staff reports, this survey will city-owned property and do not increase property of town. Unfortunately, incidents such as these are during the day. cost the city approximately $16,000 and will come taxes for Library services.4 occurring far too often, especially during the holidays. 4. Keep your garage door closed and locked. The Sierra Madre Police Department and the 5. Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or from the city’s general fund. It is hoped that the The Sierra Madre Library Board of Trustees and departments of all the cities surrounding Sierra Madre, flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the results will give the city some direction as to what it The Friends of the Library all recognize the need to have been admonishing citizens to be alert, to “see Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or should do. There are four courses of action the city come up with a solution that will enable the facility something, say something”. That becomes even more neighbor to take them regularly. could take and they will be presented to the public in to continue to serve the 6,000+ patrons that use the important in the next few weeks as thieves step up their 6. Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going the survey. library every month. They are asking are residents to efforts to violate unsuspecting residents. away for an extended time. Currently located on W. Sierra Madre Blvd. since give the choices serious consideration and respond There are a number of things that can be done as a 7. Check your locks on doors and windows and replace 1955, the current structure does not currently meet accordingly when the survey arrives after the holidays. deterent however. The following list is compiled from them with secure devices as necessary. Pushbutton American Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, is not a variety of Police Departments on how to protect your locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install earthquake safe, and needs extensive repairs on the S. Henderson/MVNews belongings: deadbolt locks on all your outside doors. roof, windows, electrical and heating/air conditioning. 1. Make your home look occupied, and make it 8. Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are There are other issues confronting the current library. difficult to break in. available for better security. Namely, it is not large enough. There is not adequate 2. Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave 9. Don’t Tempt a Thief: (CONT. ON PAGE 2) space for the storage of valuable archives, nor is it large bout the Sierra Madre Public Library: enough to adequately handle the amount of patron The Sierra Madre Public Library, begun in 1887, is the traffic. fourth oldest city library in Los Angeles County and Says Library Trustee Barry Ziff, “we need a place the tenth oldest in Southern California. The current that is safe and complies with all State and Federal building of 8,762 square feet houses a collection of requirements.” about 70,000 cataloged items, a historical archives collection, free Wi-Fi, eBooks and DVDs. The Library What should the city do? Services Department is one of seven departments of None of the solutions are without expense. They the City of Sierra Madre and offers a wide range of range from moving the library to a new location library services to adults, teens and children. Services to doing absolutely nothing. The latter guarantees are expanded through participation in the Southern unpredictable financial emergencies and potential California Library Cooperative, a network of 39 area litigation. The choices are below: libraries. 1. Move the Library from its current location to the Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com 2 Mountain View News Saturday, December 16, 2017 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Weather Wise 6-Day Forecast Sierra Madre, Ca. Sun Sunny Hi 50s Lows 40s Mon: Sunny Hi 50s Lows 40s Tues: Sunny Hi 50s Lows 40s Wed: Sunny Hi 50s Lows 40s Thur: Sunny Hi 50s Lows 40s Fri: Sunny Hi 50s Lows 40s Forecasts courtesy of the National Weather Service CITY OF SIERRA MADRE CALENDAR OF EVENTS Unless otherwise noted, all meetings listed below are held at City Hall 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, Ca. 626-355-7135 NEXT REGULAR December 12, 2017 6:30 pm 1630 AM EMERGENCY RADIO & Free on-air publicity for local events Sierra Madre’s EMERGENCY radio station is now accepting scripts for Public Service Announcements (PSAs) about community events. PSAs will be broadcast on the air at no charge. The station operates 24/7 and can be heard at 1630 on the AM dial. Any local non-profit or non-commercial organization can have their event information broadcast to the public on Sierra Madre Community Information Radio. The station covers the city of Sierra Madre, plus surrounding areas of Pasadena, Arcadia, and Monrovia. Your event must: • Benefit a non-commercial or non-profit entity • Be open to the public • Be of general interest to local citizens Just write a Public Service Announcement that describes your event and e-mail it to [email protected]. SIERRA MADRE CITY MEETINGS Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 6:30 pm Can’t make it to the meeting, but still want to share your thoughts? You can mail or drop off a written statement to City Hall or email [email protected] before 30 the night of the meeting and your statement will be delivered to all the Council Members.Sierra Madre City Hall 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA 91024 (626) 355-7135 City Council December 12, 2017 at 6:30 pm Planning Commission December 7, 2017 at 7:00 pm Community Service Commission December 18, 2017 at 6:30 pm Senior Community Commission December 7, 2017 at 3:00 pm Library Board of Trustees December 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm - Location TBD Energy, Environment, and Natural Resource Commission December 20, 2017 at 7:00 pm BE SAFE - continued from page 1 1. Lawn mowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight 2. Always lock your garden sheds and garages. 3. Use curtains on garage and basement windows. 4. Never leave notes on your door such as “Gone shopping.” Targeting the Outside: Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards but can be problematic because of our friendly raccoons and other wildlife.