Recent News

Members of VFW Post 3208 with members of the 4th of July Committee just after Grand Marshal announcement was made. Click to enlarge.
Press Release posted 5/20/13 - The volunteers of the Sierra Madre 4th of July Committee are pleased and excited to announce that the 2013 Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal will be Sierra Madre’s Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3208.
According to the nomination requirements, “The Grand Marshal is a person or persons whose efforts over a long period of time has been beneficial to the community of Sierra Madre. The title of Grand Marshal is intended to honor a person or persons’ volume of work,dedication and overall enhancements to our community.”
No one embodies this more than the members of the VFW.
Sierra Madre’s VFW Post No. 3208 was granted its status on February 13, 1935 – officially the “Harry L Embree Post No. 3208, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, an organization existing under authority of an Act of Congress, approved May 28, 1936. From the VFW website regarding the National organization: “The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans’ pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves. In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.”
The membership of the Sierra Madre Post consists of veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. These are true American Heroes living in our community and what better way to acknowledge them, their service and their families than saying thank you during this year’s 4th of July Celebration.
The community service endeavors of the Veterans of Foreign Wars go well beyond the realm of “veterans helping veterans.” Sierra Madre’s VFW has provided a Scholarship to the Veterans of Pasadena City College; supported the Pasadena High School ROTC program, supported local Boy & Girls Scouts; sponsorships for Sierra Madre Little League teams and adult co-ed Softball. The Veterans have donated flags to the City that are used to line the City streets, donated $10,000 to for bleachers at Heasley Field, donated $5,000 to Pony League for field repairs and just recently purchased a pole and flag for Dapper Field.
If you want to learn more about the VFW, the Post meets at the Hart Park House on the second Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m., or look for a Veteran during the 4th of July Parade as they hand out flags to kids along the route.
For more information on all of the 4th of July Festivities, please visit www.sierramadre4thofjuly.com
Monday May 20 2013
Posted 5/20/13 – If you are looking for a friend or family member in Oklahoma, you may find some help at www.SafeAndWell.org. Of course, they will have to have been able to access a computer or contact someone who has access, but it’s a place to start. The Red Cross is accepting monetary donations via [...]
Monday May 20 2013
Press Releases posted 5/20/13 It’s Naptime for the Library’s Popular Preschool Storytime Preschool storytime at the Sierra Madre Public Library will take a week’s nap and will not meet on Monday, June 3 and Wednesday, June 5. Summer Reading begins on June 10, and library programs are taking a break so staff can ready the [...]
Monday May 20 2013
Posted 5/20/13 - Sierra Madre Police Department Police Blotter Report, May 13-19, 2013 Monday, May 13, 2013 At 1am, officers observed a traffic violation at Baldwin Avenue and Sierra Madre Boulevard and attempted to make a traffic stop. The vehicle continued west on Sierra Madre Boulevard travelling at approximately 50 MPH. The vehicle travelled through the [...]
Saturday May 11 2013
Posted 5/11/13 – I’ll be posting an article and video at some point, but here are the photos to whet your appetite.
Tuesday May 07 2013
Press Release posted 5/7/13 -The Kiwanis Club of Sierra Madre invites you to their 3rd annual Boot Skootin’ Dance & Chili Cook-Off Fund Raiser, to be held on Saturday May 11th from 6 to 10pm in the Sierra Madre Room at the Rec. Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.! Cost of tickets is $25. All [...]
Tuesday May 07 2013
Posted 5/7/13 – The US Postal Service will hold its annual Letter Carriers Food Drive this Saturday, and all are invited to participate by leaving their non-perishable food items in a bag by their mailbox. USPS employees will then return them to the Post Office, where they will be packed up and transported to the [...]
Saturday May 04 2013
Press Release posted 5/4/13 (Received 7:20am) – Despite continued gusty winds yesterday, firefighters are making good progress towards containment on the rash of wildfires that have sparked the past couple days. Over 4,000 firefighters are on the frontlines of the nearly half dozen major wildfires that are burning in California. Yesterday, the winds shifted in [...]
Thursday May 02 2013
Posted 5/2/13 - The Sierra Madre Volunteer Firefighters’ Association will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast at the Fire Station at 242 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. this Saturday, May 4th, from 7 to 11am. Cost of the breakfast, which includes pancakes, sausage, coffee (donated by Starbucks), milk and orange juice is just $5. Proceeds help to fund [...]
Thursday May 02 2013
Press Release posted 5/2/13 – The number of days the tennis courts at Sierra Vista Park and Memorial Park are closed for court resurfacing has been extended. Due to the curing process, the court closure will continue through Sunday, May 5, 2013. Sierra Vista Park is located at 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, [...]
Thursday May 02 2013
Posted 5/2/13 - LIVE MUSIC – Sat. May 4th and Sun. May 5th at the Sierra Madre Art Fair – thank you Jean Sudbury for setting it all up this year! Main Stage/Bandshell in North part of Memorial Park: Steve Trovato and Tim Kobza, Country Jazz Guitar Masters, Saturday, May 4 at 11:00 Nick Ariondo, Composer [...]
Thursday May 02 2013
Press Release from National Weather Service posted 5/2/13 - Special Weather Statement for Los Angeles County, San Gabriel Valley, CA Issued by The National Weather Service Los Angeles, CA 5:08 am PDT, Wed., May. 1, 2013 … OFFSHORE WINDS WITH VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS FOR INTERIOR SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY… … ELEVATED FIRE DANGER [...]
Monday April 29 2013
Updated 8:45pm, 4/29/13 – As of 8:45pm, the SCE outage map shows no outages in Sierra Madre. Posted 4:25pm, 4/29/13 – As of shortly before 4pm, the City reported on its Facebook page that “We are receiving reports of power being restored throughout the City, including at the Library. Library staff is working to reopen [...]
Monday April 29 2013
Press Release posted 4/29/13 - Monday, April 29, 2013 (2:00pm). Southern California Edison is indicating approximately 1800 service outages in and around Sierra Madre. City staff is in contact with SCE representatives on this issue. Unfortunately, SCE has not provided any estimates on the restoration of power at this time. Updates will be made as information [...]
Thursday April 25 2013
Posted 4/25/13 – Santa Anita Fire: Facts and Background Saturday, April 26th, 2008, started out like many other spring days in Sierra Madre. Blue skies, a high of 80 degrees expected, and multiple community activities scheduled. The City was going to hold dedication ceremonies for its first new park in thirty years, Goldberg Park in [...]
Thursday April 25 2013
Posted 4/25/13 – More than six dozen women turned out for the 44th Sierra Madre Woman’s Club Fashion Show Luncheon, themed “Sailing into Spring”. Eight models, from teens to seniors, strutted their stuff at Essick House, the Woman’s Club’s historic Clubhouse. The clothes, jewelry, handbags and accessories were all provided by Arcadia’s Magnolia Boutique, with [...]