Sierra Madre Wine & Jazz Walk Saturday, October 8, 2011 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2011 VOLUME 5 NO. 40 A REALLY BIG THANK YOU! PRELIMINARY NEW SIERRA MADRE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, ESTHER SALINAS After 34 years of dedicated service, Sierra PLANS INSPIRE CALLS FOR A Look Back and a Look Forward Madre Librarian Toni Buckner retires Story and Photos by Chris Bertrand On Friday, September 16, a stand- ing-room-only crowd of over 200 PUBLIC VOTE With the first month of school Before the ink has dried on pre- under her belt, Esther Salinas, people gathered in the Sierra liminary plans for an Assisted Liv- Madre Room of the Community the new principal at Sierra Madre ing facility on W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Elementary School (SME) sat Center to thank Toni Buckner for residents are asking that the project down with the Mountain Views her 34 years of service to the Si- be subject to approval via a citywide News for an in depth interview. erra Madre Library. City officials, vote. And, although the matter was Reporter, Chris Bertrand was city department heads, the library not on the council agenda several joined by Fred Thomas, an SME staff, the library board of trustees, people addressed the council during parent and representative from board members of the Friends of community communications on the one of the school’s many active, the Sierra Madre Library, friends matter. parent-facilitated organizations. and neighbors were represented The primary concern, expressed In an informal poll of SME parents, at the gathering. Guests enjoyed initially by David Hinton, is that the reaction has been very positive a lovely selection of refreshments project exceeds the density limits for and favorable to Salinas’ selection the downtown area and therefore to fill the shoes of Principal Gayle including hors d’oeuvres, mini Bluemel, who just retired. sandwiches, wraps, and fruit and must be approved via a vote of the vegetable trays provided by Bean people as mandated in Measure V. Wealth of Experience Town as well as wine, water, and Measure V, passed in 2008 does Said Thomas of the selection iced tea. state that any building that exceeds experience, “When I had a chance 3 stories, 30 feet in height and/or 13 to share my thoughts about who units per acre must be approved via a should be chosen for our new The formal part of the evening SMES Principal Esther Salinas began when Mistress of Ceremo- city wide vote. However, according principal, I said (to the selection to the developer of the project, Foun- committee), ‘When you’ve found nies, Patricia Hall, introduced achievement spot in the PUSD, with the dignitaries who were there tain Square and its representative, the best of the applicants, go one step Billy Shields, The Kensington (the even higher. That’s what we want at 908 API test scores for 2011 (Currently, to honor Toni and wish her well. Library Board of Trustees presi- name of the proposed facility), does Sierra Madre.’ And that’s what we the API scores measuring student Present at the reception were for- dent, Catherine Adde praised To- not exceed those requirements. got. She’s exactly what we needed. performance and other student data mer mayors Clem Bartolai, Bart ni’s ability to deal with all types of The issue boils down to the defini- It’s allowing the great machine, the are compiled into one), some faculty Doyle, and Rob Stockly, former people and to select staff members tion of a ‘dwelling unit’. momentum that we built here to meetings, their Spotlight Assemblies city treasurer Richard May, cur- each of whom brings a unique set continue. At the same time, she brings highlighting musical and artistic As proposed, the facility will acco- performances by a particular grade rent mayor John Buchanan, and of skills to the library. Friends of modate, “75 single or spouse/sibling/ a wealth of experience and knows how to listen.” level plus other collaborations, Salinas’ city council members Josh Mo- the Sierra Madre Library president, friend-shared suites with a private focus is on the “lower” campus of 716 ran, Nancy Walsh, and Mary Ann Darlene Traxler, thanked Toni for bath and communal meals, social pro- students, which includes four classes at MacGillivray. Following a speech her help during the design and grams and transportation assistance.” That ‘wealth of experience’ Thomas spoke of is broad. After a Bachelor of every grade level from k-5. by city manager, Elaine Aguilar, planting of the Library gardens and (Mountain Views News Sept. 17, 2011) Science, she was a researcher in a civil Toni received a standing ovation for all the support she has given the engineering firm for almost a decade, A Neighborhood School in a Tight when Mayor Buchanan presented Friends over the years. Polly Bon- Shields believes that because the calculating boundaries drafting Knit Community her with a tile containing the Sierra nett called all the library staff to ‘suites’ do not constitute invidual parcel and tract maps, and working “SME is an amazing place in so many Madre city emblem, her name, and join her as they wished Toni well. dwelling units and therefore do meet through the entitlement process with ways, with such a rich tradition the dates of her years of service and the requirements. municipalities on the firm’s projects. of pursuing excellence, and a read a proclamation from the city Each staff member presented her Those calling for a vote did not op- commitment to positive relationships that listed all of her accomplish- with a gift representing a contribu- pose the project, but wanted ratifica- With a lifelong love of learning, she with parents and the community,” tion by a public vote as called for in decided to go back to school for a said Salinas. “It has the benefit of ments during those 34 years. tion Toni has made to the library being the only neighborhood school and to the city. (cont. on page 3) Measure V. S. Henderson/MVNews teaching credential, falling in love with the profession of teaching and woven into the fabric of (a tight knit) her students in the process. Salinas community.” followed up with a Master’s degree in educational technology, both from Salinas and former principal Bluemel Azusa Pacific University. had several opportunities to meet before she took over the reins at She taught kindergarten through third SME, to effect as smooth a transition grade, including a student teaching as possible. “The more time we stint in a multi-age classroom, which spent together, the more we saw a came into use later as an administrator like mindedness. I’ve kept a poster of a school with both traditional and she had on the wall behind the desk, multi-age open classrooms. quoting Sir Isaac Newton. It reads, ‘If I have seen further than others, it is by From teaching in the classroom and standing on the shoulders of giants.’ “ serving as a curriculum specialist and interim positions as principal at two “It’s important to honor and appreciate schools in La Canada, Salinas moved the generations of teachers, students to an administrative position at a Title and parents that came before. It’s never One school in Thousand Oaks, part of just one person. It’s easy to embrace a team that made it a high achieving what’s wonderful here, the legacy, the school within that designation, history and the great team we have then on to Burbank Unified, as an in place. We also have to continue to opportunity to work closer to home. move forward.” In Burbank, she served as a principal PRESENTED BY as well as director of human resources, Parental Concerns about School Construction Riboli Family Wine Estates & San Antonio Winery a position that was eliminated due to budget cuts. Regarding concerns raised by parents Proceeds to benefit City of Hope since she started, the biggest one is “When I read about the Sierra Madre the transition and construction at position,” reflected Salinas, “I saw an both campuses. (continued on page 3) Saturday, October 8, 2011 opportunity to match my skills with the mission of the school. It seemed 4 – 7 p.m. a natural fit to come and be involved Inside This Edition... in a school with such a passion for Downtown Sierra Madre at Baldwin and Sierra Madre Blvd. academic achievement and arts and CALENDAR Page 2 music.” VIP San Antonio Winery Wine Garden Sierra Madre News Page 3 Changes in Process to Separate Pasadena/Altadena Page 4 7:00-10:00 p.m. Elementary and Middle School Around San Gabriel Valley Page 5 Regarding her job description and the school’s designation in the district, Arcadia Page 6 Tickets $40 pre-sale • $50 day of event both are in the process of a change over the next two years. The school Monrovia/Duarte Page 7 $125 VIP Package includes VIP Wine Garden has been listed as a pre-K through 8th grade school with two campuses Education & Youth Page 8 • Stroll through historic downtown Sierra Madre about a half mile apart within Sierra • Browse in local shops Madre. In the past, Salinas’ position Nature & Environment Page 9 • Taste fine wines and sample local cuisine has overseen both campuses. Recently, Garrett Newsom, formerly Arts & Entertainment Page 11 • Listen to Live World Class Jazz Bands assistant principal in charge of the • Enjoy a Fabulous Silent Auction “upper” middle school campus, was Left/Right Page 12 • View Antique Cars named as Planning Principal for what Opinion Page 13 • Sneak a peek of the 2012 Mercedes from Rusnak will become a separate middle school entity after the construction of the new Legals Page 14/15 The World school building is completed about two years from now.