The League of Women Voters in conjunction with the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce hosted a well-attended, almost overflow candidate forum on Monday at City Hall. The room seemed evenly divided, much like the council itself.
Each of the Candidates: Pat Alcorn, John Crawford, Joe Mosca, Bill Tice, Nancy Walsh and Don Watts made brief opening statements before delving in to the usual round of questions from the audience.
The forum, though well attended, was scarcely a stimulating experience for many of the voters in attendance as many of the questions lead directly into canned responses from the well-prepared candidates.
One such candidate was local blogger John Crawford (a.k.a. Eric Maundry) who, in response to each question read quotations from archived posts from his
blog, which on his campaign mailer he proclaims to be the number one news source for Sierra Madre.
Pat Alcorn appeared somewhat nervous but spoke directly to the voter and Josh Moran was passionate about getting the civility back into local government, referring to a city council that has been passionately divided over a number of issues in recent years. He was adamant that the all the candidates felt that Sierra Madre’s small town charm should remain intact, saying he didn’t believe any candidate would wish the city to become another giant metropolis as some have suggested.
There were numerous references to the importance or otherwise of the city’s SCAG membership. And there were the occasional snickers of disapproval from various more outspoken citizens in council chambers when the idea of restoring “civility” was mentioned over and again.
Candidate Joe Mosca, who has faced colossal criticism from blogger/candidate John Crawford held his head high and stuck to the issues while pointing out his many contributions to the city since he’s been on council.
The always fascinating, amusing and deeply religious “Eagle” Bill Tice soared to new heights with some of his comments on Monday giving everyone in the council chambers pause to laugh and not take themselves too seriously while still caring for the city enough to participate in the process. While Bill Tice has perhaps little chance of getting elected, he insists on running each election. Some say it wouldn’t be an election without Bill running.
Candidate Nancy Walsh spoke concisely and eloquently about her platform which is obviously in stark contrast to others seeking a seat on council. Walsh argued, among other things, that the hysteria over the city’s involvement with organizations like SCAG and the SGV Council of Governments was overblown.
Meanwhile Don Watts, who many simply could not hear, said he wanted to continue the good work he and his colleagues have done in the past four years. Watts repeatedly apologized for speaking with such a low volume as many complained they could not hear his responses to the questions.
The candidates are clearly not all on the same page. It seems fairly obvious, at least to the casual observer, that Alcorn, Crawford and Watts maintain a vastly different viewpoint on city politics and future planning than those of Mosca, Moran and Walsh. Just one drive around the small city for a look at the placement of yard signs and other campaign materials tells that story in no uncertain terms.
Issues such as Stonehouse (Formerly One Carter) and the “blight” of the abandoned Skilled Nursing Facility and street repairs were high on the agenda. The new council will face many challenges but the primary one facing voters seems to be, as in many cities across California, how to properly fund the city’s future without mortgaging it entirely.

Nancy Walsh

I am a thirty-seven year resident of the City of Sierra Madre who chose to raise my two daughters here. My girls attended St Rita School, and their three daughters follow in those footsteps today. We love the small town atmosphere that allows children the freedom and safety that we experienced as young people.

I believe in progress made through managed change. It is incumbent upon our city council to demonstrate leadership, transparency and management skills to take us into the future. I know that I am up to the task, and my experience speaks to it.

I was an employee of the Los Angeles County (LACO) Health and Mental Health Departments for twenty-nine years. I have experience in budgeting contracts and grants administration. I managed the Coastal Health Centers that included supervising over two hundred employees, managing a budget of about $30 million, working with community based agencies, and successfully responding to the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Hospitals Organization. I worked directly with the offices of the County Board of Supervisors. I have worked with local, state and federal agencies. I am currently the Chair of the City of Sierra Madre Senior Community Commission, and was the Chair of the LACO Commission on HIV/AIDs. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Los Angeles and graduate courses in administration and management.

I will strive to strengthen our city fiscally through improved revenue generation. I will work to bring new business to the city, and manage change within the parameters of our common vision for Sierra Madre. I will represent all of our citizens, and promise to support expanded services from the very young to the senior citizens.

I have the time, the knowledge and the skills to work for the betterment of the citizens of Sierra Madre. It will be an honor to serve.

Josh Moran

Being raised in Sierra Madre, I felt the beauty of what it means to be
part of a safe and caring community. With this foundation, I have
spent my adult years giving back, starting with a 12-year career as an
English teacher. I have served as a member of the Community Services
Commission, the Youth Master Plan, the All-America City Committee,
Sierra Madre Rotary, and the Trail Race Committee. These years of
service familiarized me with the municipal planning process, and the
work involved in achieving a positive sustainable future.

I stand for: re-igniting our sense of community; providing the quality
public services that this town has provided since I was a kid, from
the swimming program, to the library, to the fourth of July parade;
managing our budget, amid the economic crisis our state is going
through; fostering business, encouraging people to shop and eat
locally; communicating respectfully, knowing that even though there
are going to be differing opinions, they all matter in creating the
policies that govern our city; and lastly preserving our great sense
of history and character, while continuing to progress in a controlled
and appropriate way.

Within our community and City staff, we have a wealth of experience,
knowledge and creativity to meet the fiscal and ideological challenges
that face our City. Divisiveness and mistrust have been an
unnecessary distraction recently, and my goal is to be a leader in
re-opening the lines of communication, and mediating the disagreements
that may arise in order to find the common ground that will lead our
community to a more vibrant and prosperous future.

Joe Mosca

It has been an honor and privilege to have served on the Sierra Madre City Council for the past four years.

I am proud of what we worked hard to accomplish. I successfully fought to establish a paramedic program and implement major changes in public safety, which have made us safer. We worked to balance our budget and put away more money in reserves; updated and repaired our water system; created the first city park since the 1970s; protected our hillsides against unreasonable development; lobbied and successfully received significant grant funding for Sierra Madre.

There are many challenges that lie ahead. With your support, I will use my experience and passion for Sierra Madre to ensure that our police and fire departments are fully equipped and trained to meet any emergency; maintain the level of services in this period of economic downturn and state budget cuts; implement our plan to re-pave and maintain our roads; balance our budget by finding ways to be more efficient and creative; and, most importantly, preserve the amazing qualities that make Sierra Madre a very special place to call home.

Thank you and I would be honored by your vote.

_____________________________________________

John Crawford

The progress Sierra Madre has made in the past two years under the leadership of Mayors Kurt Zimmerman and MaryAnn MacGillivray has been extraordinary. No longer are we enduring a City Hall that is incapable of getting its audits done, maintaining a balanced budget, or leveling with the public. It is this spirit of competence and loyalty to our small city ideal that encouraged me to run for City Council. Here are some of my goals:

- A continued monitoring of the UUT tax. Hikes to the 12% limit are legally possible, and in tough economic times we need to find ways to decrease that tax load.
- A Library is the heart of any town, and I pledge my support to continue funding for this vital resource.
- The Senior Center and Sierra Madre Community Room renovations are now funded. We must make sure that work is quickly completed and the needs of our residents met.
- Public Safety is our greatest responsibility. Adequate resources must continue to be allocated for our Police, Paramedics, and Firefighters.
- The Canyon Zone and General Plan Committees must be allowed to complete the work of protecting one of the most unique and fascinating cities in California. Resident control over their own living environment is an ideal I believe in, and nowhere has that worked better than with these citizen – not consultant – run committees.
- I strongly support the Eminent Domain Initiative. But it must be remembered that the fight against government confiscation of private property doesn’t stop there.
- Measure V has been vital in preserving the small town life we enjoy in Sierra Madre. But Sacramento edicts such as SB 375 now threaten our ability to control development in our own community. We must develop strong ties with the many other cities concerned about the right to control their own planning. Sacramento mandated development – mostly unfunded – can only result in a kind of generic “could be anywhere” architecture so alien to our lives here in Sierra Madre.

I have been endorsed by both Mayor MaryAnn MacGillivray and Mayor Kurt Zimmerman. Their hard work brought Sierra Madre back from the “shenanigan years.” It is my hope to continue the responsible governance they returned to our town.

Pat Alcorn

Our family moved to Sierra Madre in 1964 and we immediately became involved in volunteer activities as our two sons joined local sports activities. I became active in Civic Club, and was a member of the Commission on Aging, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and planned and worked on many civic activities.

In 1994, my husband and I embarked on a sailing trip around the world, returning home to Sierra Madre in 2001. We immediately became involved in civic activities. There were many changes to our village, some were enhancements, some were not.

The majority of the residents were unhappy with a series of housing and downtown development plans that would drastically change the character of our town. When the City Council would not listen to them, they initiated Measure V to limit the height and area of downtown buildings and elected a city council who would listen to their voice. Owners of property should be able to develop their properties, but in a manner consistent with the nature of the city. I fully support what the people have chosen for their town and want to become part of the majority on the Council to insure a continued voice.

Fiscal responsibility and development have long been the issues of each council election. We are facing a series of attempts by regional and state agencies to usurp local control of finances and housing regulations that could irrevocably change the face of Sierra Madre. Our Council must maintain local control of our city housing, land use and revenues by forcefully presenting our case in regional and state mandates. We must also maintain responsible development within the parameters of our current local zoning, hillside and General Plan ordinances. And lastly, we need to maintain vigilance to ensure continued balanced budgets for our public safety as well as our library, parks and recreation.

____________________________________________________________________________
Don Watts

I ran for City Council four years ago because I saw that
the overly ambitious plans for the downtown area would
bankrupt our City. Had this plan gone forward Sierra Madre,
would have been saddled with millions of dollars in debt, and
the way the economy went, much of what could have been
built there would be empty today, as is the case with so
many similar projects in California. To me the signs of the
worst economic downturn since the depression seemed clear,
and to go forward with the Downtown Specific Plan would have
been a terrible mistake . Unfortunately, time has proven my assessment to be
correct.

Today our City is the picture of fiscal health. Our budgets
are balanced, a paramedic service is in place, and much
needed emergency equipment has been purchased, and while
there is always more to be accomplished, I have consistently
voted in this town’s interests. The welfare of our
citizens is my priority, and my pledge is to continue with
that important work going into my second term on your City
Council.

I feel it is always important to put Sierra Madre first.
While nobody can predict what the challenges will be
over the next 4 years, I know for a fact that I will continue to fight
the constant and intrusive unfunded mandates thrust upon us
by the special interests that run Sacramento. That is my
pledge, to continue to put the peoples’ interests,
and Sierra Madre first.

Bill Tice

No Comment from Bill!

PHOTOGRAPHS

By

Terry Miller

The League of Women Voters in conjunction with the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce hosted a well-attended, almost overflow candidate forum on Monday at City Hall. The room seemed evenly divided, much like the council itself.
Each of the Candidates: Pat Alcorn, John Crawford, Joe Mosca, Bill Tice, Nancy Walsh and Don Watts made brief opening statements before delving in to the usual round of questions from the audience.
The forum, though well attended, was scarcely a stimulating experience for many of the voters in attendance as many of the questions lead directly into canned responses from the well-prepared candidates.
One such candidate was local blogger John Crawford (a.k.a. Eric Maundry) who, in response to each question read quotations from archived posts from his
blog, which on his campaign mailer he proclaims to be the number one news source for Sierra Madre.
Pat Alcorn appeared somewhat nervous but spoke directly to the voter and Josh Moran was passionate about getting the civility back into local government, referring to a city council that has been passionately divided over a number of issues in recent years. He was adamant that the all the candidates felt that Sierra Madre’s small town charm should remain intact, saying he didn’t believe any candidate would wish the city to become another giant metropolis as some have suggested.
There were numerous references to the importance or otherwise of the city’s SCAG membership. And there were the occasional snickers of disapproval from various more outspoken citizens in council chambers when the idea of restoring “civility” was mentioned over and again.
Candidate Joe Mosca, who has faced colossal criticism from blogger/candidate John Crawford held his head high and stuck to the issues while pointing out his many contributions to the city since he’s been on council.
The always fascinating, amusing and deeply religious “Eagle” Bill Tice soared to new heights with some of his comments on Monday giving everyone in the council chambers pause to laugh and not take themselves too seriously while still caring for the city enough to participate in the process. While Bill Tice has perhaps little chance of getting elected, he insists on running each election. Some say it wouldn’t be an election without Bill running.
Candidate Nancy Walsh spoke concisely and eloquently about her platform which is obviously in stark contrast to others seeking a seat on council. Walsh argued, among other things, that the hysteria over the city’s involvement with organizations like SCAG and the SGV Council of Governments was overblown.
Meanwhile Don Watts, who many simply could not hear, said he wanted to continue the good work he and his colleagues have done in the past four years. Watts repeatedly apologized for speaking with such a low volume as many complained they could not hear his responses to the questions.
The candidates are clearly not all on the same page. It seems fairly obvious, at least to the casual observer, that Alcorn, Crawford and Watts maintain a vastly different viewpoint on city politics and future planning than those of Mosca, Moran and Walsh. Just one drive around the small city for a look at the placement of yard signs and other campaign materials tells that story in no uncertain terms.
Issues such as Stonehouse (Formerly One Carter) and the “blight” of the abandoned Skilled Nursing Facility and street repairs were high on the agenda. The new council will face many challenges but the primary one facing voters seems to be, as in many cities across California, how to properly fund the city’s future without mortgaging it entirely.

Nancy Walsh

I am a thirty-seven year resident of the City of Sierra Madre who chose to raise my two daughters here. My girls attended St Rita School, and their three daughters follow in those footsteps today. We love the small town atmosphere that allows children the freedom and safety that we experienced as young people.

I believe in progress made through managed change. It is incumbent upon our city council to demonstrate leadership, transparency and management skills to take us into the future. I know that I am up to the task, and my experience speaks to it.

I was an employee of the Los Angeles County (LACO) Health and Mental Health Departments for twenty-nine years. I have experience in budgeting contracts and grants administration. I managed the Coastal Health Centers that included supervising over two hundred employees, managing a budget of about $30 million, working with community based agencies, and successfully responding to the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Hospitals Organization. I worked directly with the offices of the County Board of Supervisors. I have worked with local, state and federal agencies. I am currently the Chair of the City of Sierra Madre Senior Community Commission, and was the Chair of the LACO Commission on HIV/AIDs. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Los Angeles and graduate courses in administration and management.

I will strive to strengthen our city fiscally through improved revenue generation. I will work to bring new business to the city, and manage change within the parameters of our common vision for Sierra Madre. I will represent all of our citizens, and promise to support expanded services from the very young to the senior citizens.

I have the time, the knowledge and the skills to work for the betterment of the citizens of Sierra Madre. It will be an honor to serve.

Josh Moran

Being raised in Sierra Madre, I felt the beauty of what it means to be
part of a safe and caring community. With this foundation, I have
spent my adult years giving back, starting with a 12-year career as an
English teacher. I have served as a member of the Community Services
Commission, the Youth Master Plan, the All-America City Committee,
Sierra Madre Rotary, and the Trail Race Committee. These years of
service familiarized me with the municipal planning process, and the
work involved in achieving a positive sustainable future.

I stand for: re-igniting our sense of community; providing the quality
public services that this town has provided since I was a kid, from
the swimming program, to the library, to the fourth of July parade;
managing our budget, amid the economic crisis our state is going
through; fostering business, encouraging people to shop and eat
locally; communicating respectfully, knowing that even though there
are going to be differing opinions, they all matter in creating the
policies that govern our city; and lastly preserving our great sense
of history and character, while continuing to progress in a controlled
and appropriate way.

Within our community and City staff, we have a wealth of experience,
knowledge and creativity to meet the fiscal and ideological challenges
that face our City. Divisiveness and mistrust have been an
unnecessary distraction recently, and my goal is to be a leader in
re-opening the lines of communication, and mediating the disagreements
that may arise in order to find the common ground that will lead our
community to a more vibrant and prosperous future.

Joe Mosca

It has been an honor and privilege to have served on the Sierra Madre City Council for the past four years.

I am proud of what we worked hard to accomplish. I successfully fought to establish a paramedic program and implement major changes in public safety, which have made us safer. We worked to balance our budget and put away more money in reserves; updated and repaired our water system; created the first city park since the 1970s; protected our hillsides against unreasonable development; lobbied and successfully received significant grant funding for Sierra Madre.

There are many challenges that lie ahead. With your support, I will use my experience and passion for Sierra Madre to ensure that our police and fire departments are fully equipped and trained to meet any emergency; maintain the level of services in this period of economic downturn and state budget cuts; implement our plan to re-pave and maintain our roads; balance our budget by finding ways to be more efficient and creative; and, most importantly, preserve the amazing qualities that make Sierra Madre a very special place to call home.

Thank you and I would be honored by your vote.

_____________________________________________

John Crawford

The progress Sierra Madre has made in the past two years under the leadership of Mayors Kurt Zimmerman and MaryAnn MacGillivray has been extraordinary. No longer are we enduring a City Hall that is incapable of getting its audits done, maintaining a balanced budget, or leveling with the public. It is this spirit of competence and loyalty to our small city ideal that encouraged me to run for City Council. Here are some of my goals:

- A continued monitoring of the UUT tax. Hikes to the 12% limit are legally possible, and in tough economic times we need to find ways to decrease that tax load.
- A Library is the heart of any town, and I pledge my support to continue funding for this vital resource.
- The Senior Center and Sierra Madre Community Room renovations are now funded. We must make sure that work is quickly completed and the needs of our residents met.
- Public Safety is our greatest responsibility. Adequate resources must continue to be allocated for our Police, Paramedics, and Firefighters.
- The Canyon Zone and General Plan Committees must be allowed to complete the work of protecting one of the most unique and fascinating cities in California. Resident control over their own living environment is an ideal I believe in, and nowhere has that worked better than with these citizen – not consultant – run committees.
- I strongly support the Eminent Domain Initiative. But it must be remembered that the fight against government confiscation of private property doesn’t stop there.
- Measure V has been vital in preserving the small town life we enjoy in Sierra Madre. But Sacramento edicts such as SB 375 now threaten our ability to control development in our own community. We must develop strong ties with the many other cities concerned about the right to control their own planning. Sacramento mandated development – mostly unfunded – can only result in a kind of generic “could be anywhere” architecture so alien to our lives here in Sierra Madre.

I have been endorsed by both Mayor MaryAnn MacGillivray and Mayor Kurt Zimmerman. Their hard work brought Sierra Madre back from the “shenanigan years.” It is my hope to continue the responsible governance they returned to our town.

Pat Alcorn

Our family moved to Sierra Madre in 1964 and we immediately became involved in volunteer activities as our two sons joined local sports activities. I became active in Civic Club, and was a member of the Commission on Aging, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and planned and worked on many civic activities.

In 1994, my husband and I embarked on a sailing trip around the world, returning home to Sierra Madre in 2001. We immediately became involved in civic activities. There were many changes to our village, some were enhancements, some were not.

The majority of the residents were unhappy with a series of housing and downtown development plans that would drastically change the character of our town. When the City Council would not listen to them, they initiated Measure V to limit the height and area of downtown buildings and elected a city council who would listen to their voice. Owners of property should be able to develop their properties, but in a manner consistent with the nature of the city. I fully support what the people have chosen for their town and want to become part of the majority on the Council to insure a continued voice.

Fiscal responsibility and development have long been the issues of each council election. We are facing a series of attempts by regional and state agencies to usurp local control of finances and housing regulations that could irrevocably change the face of Sierra Madre. Our Council must maintain local control of our city housing, land use and revenues by forcefully presenting our case in regional and state mandates. We must also maintain responsible development within the parameters of our current local zoning, hillside and General Plan ordinances. And lastly, we need to maintain vigilance to ensure continued balanced budgets for our public safety as well as our library, parks and recreation.

____________________________________________________________________________
Don Watts

I ran for City Council four years ago because I saw that
the overly ambitious plans for the downtown area would
bankrupt our City. Had this plan gone forward Sierra Madre,
would have been saddled with millions of dollars in debt, and
the way the economy went, much of what could have been
built there would be empty today, as is the case with so
many similar projects in California. To me the signs of the
worst economic downturn since the depression seemed clear,
and to go forward with the Downtown Specific Plan would have
been a terrible mistake . Unfortunately, time has proven my assessment to be
correct.

Today our City is the picture of fiscal health. Our budgets
are balanced, a paramedic service is in place, and much
needed emergency equipment has been purchased, and while
there is always more to be accomplished, I have consistently
voted in this town’s interests. The welfare of our
citizens is my priority, and my pledge is to continue with
that important work going into my second term on your City
Council.

I feel it is always important to put Sierra Madre first.
While nobody can predict what the challenges will be
over the next 4 years, I know for a fact that I will continue to fight
the constant and intrusive unfunded mandates thrust upon us
by the special interests that run Sacramento. That is my
pledge, to continue to put the peoples’ interests,
and Sierra Madre first.

Bill Tice

No Comment from Bill!

PHOTOGRAPHS

By

Terry Miller

The League of Women Voters in conjunction with the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce hosted a well-attended, almost overflow candidate forum on Monday at City Hall. The room seemed evenly divided, much like the council itself.
Each of the Candidates: Pat Alcorn, John Crawford, Joe Mosca, Bill Tice, Nancy Walsh and Don Watts made brief opening statements before delving in to the usual round of questions from the audience.
The forum, though well attended, was scarcely a stimulating experience for many of the voters in attendance as many of the questions lead directly into canned responses from the well-prepared candidates.
One such candidate was local blogger John Crawford (a.k.a. Eric Maundry) who, in response to each question read quotations from archived posts from his
blog, which on his campaign mailer he proclaims to be the number one news source for Sierra Madre.
Pat Alcorn appeared somewhat nervous but spoke directly to the voter and Josh Moran was passionate about getting the civility back into local government, referring to a city council that has been passionately divided over a number of issues in recent years. He was adamant that the all the candidates felt that Sierra Madre’s small town charm should remain intact, saying he didn’t believe any candidate would wish the city to become another giant metropolis as some have suggested.
There were numerous references to the importance or otherwise of the city’s SCAG membership. And there were the occasional snickers of disapproval from various more outspoken citizens in council chambers when the idea of restoring “civility” was mentioned over and again.
Candidate Joe Mosca, who has faced colossal criticism from blogger/candidate John Crawford held his head high and stuck to the issues while pointing out his many contributions to the city since he’s been on council.
The always fascinating, amusing and deeply religious “Eagle” Bill Tice soared to new heights with some of his comments on Monday giving everyone in the council chambers pause to laugh and not take themselves too seriously while still caring for the city enough to participate in the process. While Bill Tice has perhaps little chance of getting elected, he insists on running each election. Some say it wouldn’t be an election without Bill running.
Candidate Nancy Walsh spoke concisely and eloquently about her platform which is obviously in stark contrast to others seeking a seat on council. Walsh argued, among other things, that the hysteria over the city’s involvement with organizations like SCAG and the SGV Council of Governments was overblown.
Meanwhile Don Watts, who many simply could not hear, said he wanted to continue the good work he and his colleagues have done in the past four years. Watts repeatedly apologized for speaking with such a low volume as many complained they could not hear his responses to the questions.
The candidates are clearly not all on the same page. It seems fairly obvious, at least to the casual observer, that Alcorn, Crawford and Watts maintain a vastly different viewpoint on city politics and future planning than those of Mosca, Moran and Walsh. Just one drive around the small city for a look at the placement of yard signs and other campaign materials tells that story in no uncertain terms.
Issues such as Stonehouse (Formerly One Carter) and the “blight” of the abandoned Skilled Nursing Facility and street repairs were high on the agenda. The new council will face many challenges but the primary one facing voters seems to be, as in many cities across California, how to properly fund the city’s future without mortgaging it entirely.

Nancy Walsh

I am a thirty-seven year resident of the City of Sierra Madre who chose to raise my two daughters here. My girls attended St Rita School, and their three daughters follow in those footsteps today. We love the small town atmosphere that allows children the freedom and safety that we experienced as young people.

I believe in progress made through managed change. It is incumbent upon our city council to demonstrate leadership, transparency and management skills to take us into the future. I know that I am up to the task, and my experience speaks to it.

I was an employee of the Los Angeles County (LACO) Health and Mental Health Departments for twenty-nine years. I have experience in budgeting contracts and grants administration. I managed the Coastal Health Centers that included supervising over two hundred employees, managing a budget of about $30 million, working with community based agencies, and successfully responding to the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Hospitals Organization. I worked directly with the offices of the County Board of Supervisors. I have worked with local, state and federal agencies. I am currently the Chair of the City of Sierra Madre Senior Community Commission, and was the Chair of the LACO Commission on HIV/AIDs. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Los Angeles and graduate courses in administration and management.

I will strive to strengthen our city fiscally through improved revenue generation. I will work to bring new business to the city, and manage change within the parameters of our common vision for Sierra Madre. I will represent all of our citizens, and promise to support expanded services from the very young to the senior citizens.

I have the time, the knowledge and the skills to work for the betterment of the citizens of Sierra Madre. It will be an honor to serve.

Josh Moran

Being raised in Sierra Madre, I felt the beauty of what it means to be
part of a safe and caring community. With this foundation, I have
spent my adult years giving back, starting with a 12-year career as an
English teacher. I have served as a member of the Community Services
Commission, the Youth Master Plan, the All-America City Committee,
Sierra Madre Rotary, and the Trail Race Committee. These years of
service familiarized me with the municipal planning process, and the
work involved in achieving a positive sustainable future.

I stand for: re-igniting our sense of community; providing the quality
public services that this town has provided since I was a kid, from
the swimming program, to the library, to the fourth of July parade;
managing our budget, amid the economic crisis our state is going
through; fostering business, encouraging people to shop and eat
locally; communicating respectfully, knowing that even though there
are going to be differing opinions, they all matter in creating the
policies that govern our city; and lastly preserving our great sense
of history and character, while continuing to progress in a controlled
and appropriate way.

Within our community and City staff, we have a wealth of experience,
knowledge and creativity to meet the fiscal and ideological challenges
that face our City. Divisiveness and mistrust have been an
unnecessary distraction recently, and my goal is to be a leader in
re-opening the lines of communication, and mediating the disagreements
that may arise in order to find the common ground that will lead our
community to a more vibrant and prosperous future.

Joe Mosca

It has been an honor and privilege to have served on the Sierra Madre City Council for the past four years.

I am proud of what we worked hard to accomplish. I successfully fought to establish a paramedic program and implement major changes in public safety, which have made us safer. We worked to balance our budget and put away more money in reserves; updated and repaired our water system; created the first city park since the 1970s; protected our hillsides against unreasonable development; lobbied and successfully received significant grant funding for Sierra Madre.

There are many challenges that lie ahead. With your support, I will use my experience and passion for Sierra Madre to ensure that our police and fire departments are fully equipped and trained to meet any emergency; maintain the level of services in this period of economic downturn and state budget cuts; implement our plan to re-pave and maintain our roads; balance our budget by finding ways to be more efficient and creative; and, most importantly, preserve the amazing qualities that make Sierra Madre a very special place to call home.

Thank you and I would be honored by your vote.

_____________________________________________

John Crawford

The progress Sierra Madre has made in the past two years under the leadership of Mayors Kurt Zimmerman and MaryAnn MacGillivray has been extraordinary. No longer are we enduring a City Hall that is incapable of getting its audits done, maintaining a balanced budget, or leveling with the public. It is this spirit of competence and loyalty to our small city ideal that encouraged me to run for City Council. Here are some of my goals:

- A continued monitoring of the UUT tax. Hikes to the 12% limit are legally possible, and in tough economic times we need to find ways to decrease that tax load.
- A Library is the heart of any town, and I pledge my support to continue funding for this vital resource.
- The Senior Center and Sierra Madre Community Room renovations are now funded. We must make sure that work is quickly completed and the needs of our residents met.
- Public Safety is our greatest responsibility. Adequate resources must continue to be allocated for our Police, Paramedics, and Firefighters.
- The Canyon Zone and General Plan Committees must be allowed to complete the work of protecting one of the most unique and fascinating cities in California. Resident control over their own living environment is an ideal I believe in, and nowhere has that worked better than with these citizen – not consultant – run committees.
- I strongly support the Eminent Domain Initiative. But it must be remembered that the fight against government confiscation of private property doesn’t stop there.
- Measure V has been vital in preserving the small town life we enjoy in Sierra Madre. But Sacramento edicts such as SB 375 now threaten our ability to control development in our own community. We must develop strong ties with the many other cities concerned about the right to control their own planning. Sacramento mandated development – mostly unfunded – can only result in a kind of generic “could be anywhere” architecture so alien to our lives here in Sierra Madre.

I have been endorsed by both Mayor MaryAnn MacGillivray and Mayor Kurt Zimmerman. Their hard work brought Sierra Madre back from the “shenanigan years.” It is my hope to continue the responsible governance they returned to our town.

Pat Alcorn

Our family moved to Sierra Madre in 1964 and we immediately became involved in volunteer activities as our two sons joined local sports activities. I became active in Civic Club, and was a member of the Commission on Aging, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and planned and worked on many civic activities.

In 1994, my husband and I embarked on a sailing trip around the world, returning home to Sierra Madre in 2001. We immediately became involved in civic activities. There were many changes to our village, some were enhancements, some were not.

The majority of the residents were unhappy with a series of housing and downtown development plans that would drastically change the character of our town. When the City Council would not listen to them, they initiated Measure V to limit the height and area of downtown buildings and elected a city council who would listen to their voice. Owners of property should be able to develop their properties, but in a manner consistent with the nature of the city. I fully support what the people have chosen for their town and want to become part of the majority on the Council to insure a continued voice.

Fiscal responsibility and development have long been the issues of each council election. We are facing a series of attempts by regional and state agencies to usurp local control of finances and housing regulations that could irrevocably change the face of Sierra Madre. Our Council must maintain local control of our city housing, land use and revenues by forcefully presenting our case in regional and state mandates. We must also maintain responsible development within the parameters of our current local zoning, hillside and General Plan ordinances. And lastly, we need to maintain vigilance to ensure continued balanced budgets for our public safety as well as our library, parks and recreation.

____________________________________________________________________________
Don Watts

I ran for City Council four years ago because I saw that
the overly ambitious plans for the downtown area would
bankrupt our City. Had this plan gone forward Sierra Madre,
would have been saddled with millions of dollars in debt, and
the way the economy went, much of what could have been
built there would be empty today, as is the case with so
many similar projects in California. To me the signs of the
worst economic downturn since the depression seemed clear,
and to go forward with the Downtown Specific Plan would have
been a terrible mistake . Unfortunately, time has proven my assessment to be
correct.

Today our City is the picture of fiscal health. Our budgets
are balanced, a paramedic service is in place, and much
needed emergency equipment has been purchased, and while
there is always more to be accomplished, I have consistently
voted in this town’s interests. The welfare of our
citizens is my priority, and my pledge is to continue with
that important work going into my second term on your City
Council.

I feel it is always important to put Sierra Madre first.
While nobody can predict what the challenges will be
over the next 4 years, I know for a fact that I will continue to fight
the constant and intrusive unfunded mandates thrust upon us
by the special interests that run Sacramento. That is my
pledge, to continue to put the peoples’ interests,
and Sierra Madre first.

Bill Tice

No Comment from Bill!

PHOTOGRAPHS

By

Terry Miller

Pete Gallanis and his dad stand outside the famous restaurant on Colorado Boulevard.
Photo by Terry Miller

Cameron’s Seafood Restaurant

By Victor Buell

Cameron’s Seafood’s big red fish-shaped sign has been an icon in Pasadena since the doors first opened in 1984. Then proprietor John Cameron ran the place for only two years before the current owner and general manager Pete Gallanis took over. For 24 of its 26 year history, Gallanis has made Cameron’s the place to go if you want great seafood in Pasadena.
Can you tell we liked it? Well we did.
Before we talk food, let me mention the service. Of course everyone knew we were there to review the place, so you’d expect them to be on their toes. But that aside, we were very impressed with the casual confident way our server and her supporting cast handled everything. The staff is attentive, prepared, professional, courteous, and appropriately playful. We were left alone to eat, but never felt neglected or forgotten.
We sampled several options, including 3 chowders, 3 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts.
First course, Clam Chowder 3 ways: New England, Manhattan, and for a new twist, the two mixed together. Each was thick and filled with clams (my pet peeve about some chowders is there just aren’t enough clams!) I grew up in New England-which makes me kind of a chowder snob-and was very happy. The Manhattan was nice and tangy, and the blended style was surprisingly successful (snob that I am I didn’t expect to like it.)
Then we dove into appetizers: Maryland Style Dungeness Crab Cakes with Pesto Aoli topped the list, with Garlic Shrimp and Sea Scallops a close second (both are available as entrées). We also like the Pan-Fried Calamari which was a different presentation, and mixed with mild banana peppers added a nice touch of acidity. The crab cakes were perfect, almost 100% crabmeat and no filler, and the pesto aoli was flavorful without overpowering the crab.
Entrees! Cedar Plank Wild Salmon with Raspberry Puree, and Petrale Sole with Lemon Picatta, one with nicely balanced Garlic Mashed Potatoes, the other with Au Gratin. (We learned btw, that there is no such thing as “Wild Atlantic Salmon.” Anyone claiming to serve it must have caught it personally.) The salmon was terrific, just smoky enough thanks to the cedar plank, moist and perfectly medium-rare. I could have lived without the raspberry puree-nothing wrong with it, but I would prefer something more savory. (A friend recently raved about the puree-so it’s a personal taste thing.) The sole was a big fillet that managed to stay hot for a good long time after being served. Great flavor, and the picatta was a nice touch.
Chef Luis Diaz (who spent several years with Ruth’s Chris and before that McCormick and Schmick’s) can really cook. You can count on fresh fish at Cameron’s unless otherwise described. Owner and GM Gallanis makes certain of that. Enjoy!

The Pasadena Independent toured the new broadcast headquarters of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), The Mohn Broadcast Center & Crawford Family Forum Thursday morning .
The Public Radio facilities which used to call PCC home are now a far cry from their humble beginnings.

The 35,000 square-foot building includes new studios, a generous sized news roomcomplete with latest technologies, and the Forum, designed for town hall-type meetings Bill Davis, President and CEO of SCPR, and radio personalities Larry Mantle and Patt Morrison are part of the SCPR family.

SCPR broadcasts from 89.3 KPCC-FM (Los Angeles and Orange County); 89.1 KUOR-FM (Riverside); and 90.3 KPCV-PM (Coachella Valley).
The $26 million dollar project was made possible in part by $8.5 million in gifts

Photos by Terry Miller

Anarchist Picnics are events for local and not-so-local anarchists and the anarcho-curious or friendly to convene, hang out, and make friends. Our hope is for monthly or periodic anarchist events to pop up in as many different cities and regions as possible.

There will be workshops, discussions, food, fun, literature, and performances. Please bring a dish to share as well as any picnic-ware you think necessary. This is open to those who do not identify specifically with Anarchism. As long as you’re respectful of the event, its guests, and topics then you’re more than welcome to be a part of the event.

Margi Rambo delivers a bowl in a Triples Tournament at the Santa Anita Bowling
Green Club’s Greens at the Arcadia County Park. (Photo by Gene Plunkett)

We all watched Curling in the Olympic games, but did you know that that sport on ice has a cousin on grass? Yup. Sure does. You may have heard the terms, Lead, 2nd Lead, Vice and Skip applied to the players. Even the Hog line was mentioned quite often. But hurling a 38-pound chunk of granite down the ice for about 140 feet can get rather tiring, not to mention the frosty tootsies you have to stand on for over an hour.
Being located in Southern California, Curling’s cousin, Lawn Bowling is very similar except for the ice, heavy granite rocks and the portion of the course that’s known as “The House.” We call that the “Head.” Where you deliver from is called the “Mat end.”
Like Curling, Lawn Bowling started long ago in the British Isles. Scotland, Ireland or England, it doesn’t matter. Kings and Queens played Lawn Bowls; it was banned because the archers were bowling instead of shooting arrows. Even Shakespeare and Walt Disney were bowlers. Of course Sir Francis Drake was playing bowls with Sir Walter Raleigh, when the Spanish Armada came to invade England. Sir Francis told the messenger that when they had finished their game he would attend to the Spanish. This was in 1588.
Lawn Bowls came to the “colonies” around 1615 or there about. The Brits brought it over. George Washington’s dad built a bowling green at Mount Vernon when George was born, and there is still a bowling green at Williamsburg, still in use.
The major differences in Curling and Lawn Bowling is that in bowling we use “bowls” in stead of a rock. These bowls have a built in bias that makes the bowl curve in one direction. Of course if you want to bowl in the other direction you turn the bowl over. Instead of a “House” Lawn Bowling has a “Head.” This is where your target is located. The “Jack.” It’s about the size of a cue ball, and is solid white. The idea of the game is to get more of your team’s bowls closer to the Jack than your opponents. If you are bowling a single, or a double game, you use four bowls each. A triple team use only three bowls each and for the Rinks game, each of the four bowlers only gets two bowls.
The bowling surface is called a “green” and the alley or “rink” you bowl on is usually around 120 feet long and between 14 and 16 feet wide. A game of triples lasts about two hours. The sport is easily learned. Many students that never played can be taught enough to get them started I two to three FREE lessons. We have all of the equipment needed and all we really need is interested students. The bowls weigh about 3 pound each so small children can’t handle them well. Anyone up to the age of 120 that can walk 120 feet at a time, bend over and pick up the bowls and roll them down the rink is surely welcome.
One nice thing about Lawn Bowling is that when it rains or snows, or freezes, we stay home by the fire and watch Curling. If you think you might like to try Lawn Bowling, come by the Arcadia County Park, just south of Huntington Drive on South Santa Anita Avenue and give it a look. Best times are Tuesday morning and Saturday morning at 9 AM. There’s usually a group of happy folks rolling their bowls. Lessons can be arranged to fit your schedule by calling Gene Plunkett at 626-351-5327. He can give you all the information you’ll ever need. If you have a computer visit our web site at: www.lawnbowling-arcadia.com <http://www.lawnbowling-arcadia.com> .
We have room for about 50 more bowlers in our club, so beat the crowd and come and give Lawn Bowling a try. It’s a lot easier than Curling on ice..Burrrrrrrrrr. See you on the greens.

When my mother decided to remodel her home and add a second story, I was able to convince her to take some simple steps now so that she can plan to age in place, in her own home.

Some easy updates now would make her home elegant and comfortable for an able-bodied and active person. And even though she’s active, there are those days when she has balance issues, her arthritis flares up, or her back hurts, limiting her mobility and desire to stand. So adding these convenient design elements now will allow her to seamlessly ease into her golden years at home, without the institutional look.

The kitchen was a perfect place to add some simple changes to make the kitchen accessible and convenient. My mom loves to cook and bake, but standing is sometimes difficult for long periods of time, and we wanted to prepare for a time when her mobility becomes decreased. Her mobility might change down the road, but her love for being in the kitchen will never change!

For the kitchen sink, we installed a brand new Touch faucet by Delta. This wonderful faucet turns on and off with a touch to the nozzle – no handles to mess with. Great for salmonella hands after handling a chicken, or anyone who has difficulty with arthritis and struggles to turn faucet handles. This would be convenient now, and down the road.

We added a workstation in the kitchen that was lower so she could sit and prepare food. We put a cute stool, upholstered in outdoor fabric for easy cleaning, where she can sit and chop or mix, for those days where she can’t stand for long periods of time. And down the road, it will be extremely convenient for cooking in her golden years as well. We placed it within access to the sink, so down the road she can have the option of lowering the sink as well.

We lowered the height of her microwave so that she wouldn’t have to reach up too far to pull food out, or struggle with the buttons being too high.

Dishwashers with drawers, instead of the traditional ones, are much more convenient and reduce the amount of bending the user has to do. This was a great solution for my mom who finds bending difficult now and then. Even the simple act of raising the height of a dishwasher can be a tremendous help to those with limited mobility.

Roll-out shelves and drawers were installed to help her reach items in the back much more easily, instead of bending and reaching. Instead of knobs on the cabinets, we installed old-fashioned pulls that are elegant and chic; these are very easy to use if one has arthritis or difficulty opening a cabinet or drawer by grabbing onto a knob.

The refrigerator had to be replaced, so we selected one that has the freezer on the bottom with the pull-out drawer. My mom doesn’t use the freezer as often, so it’s much more convenient for her have the refrigerator part on top. Now she doesn’t have to bend down to get items out.

Fatigue is a common issue for anyone who stands at their kitchen counters too long. But throw in decreased mobility, arthritis or back problems, and standing at the kitchen counter can be a real problem. For my mom’s kitchen, we installed cork floors that are not only non-skid and safe, but they are soft and give beneath your feet. An added bonus, cork floors are also green!

These simple adjustments to make my mom’s home convenient and accessible to her in her golden years, are also easy changes that make her home comfortable now. Preparing the home for years to come has become less institutional and can look chic and elegant. My mom’s visitors would not notice the subtle amenities we’ve added during this remodel , but her daily life will be much more convenient.

The MSF was able to explain some of its plans to assist the district.
Wagner praised the work of many volunteers, the help of the MSF and lobbying efforts in Sacramento, but explained “We’ll still have a gigantic short fall.” Among the cost cutting efforts she outlined were the increase of class sizes in the elementary schools from 25 students to 30 and the four furlough days planned.
“Things are bad, but the positive thing is we are working together,” Wagner said.
In support of that John Wilson, the president of the MSF, a group dedicated to raising funds to assist the school district spoke of several small plans the group already has underway including an upcoming 5K fun run planned for May 22, and their escrip program available through various supermarkets.

“We deeply care about you,” Wilson said. “We want the best teachers available.”
Of deep concern to many was the possiblity of closing one of the elementary schools. Wagner explained that it had “been on the docket for some time,” but that it was very difficult to close a school. “We are not considering it a viable option for next year,” she said.
Of greater likelihood was the sharing of school principals, secretaries and custodians. The district has already laid off one Assistant Superintendent. Notices have been sent to approximately 100 teachers indicating that they may be laid off. Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, Debbie Collins said that it was more likely that there would be only 16 teachers laid off at the end of this school year and that “probably 15 will be elementary school teachers.” She acknowledged that some of the teachers who would be laid off had been with the district as long as 8 to 9 school years.