Gold Line Opening Weekend

July 26 - 27, 2003

Gold Line Opens, More Than 120,00 Ride on Opening Weekend While the LA Times estimated in its Sunday issue that 70,000 people rode the new Gold Line on Saturday, we spoke with MTA employees who told us that figure was low, and that the Sierra Madre Villa Station had moved 90,000 people through just that station.  Having been there all day for both days, we estimate that there were about 60,000 on Sunday, if the MTA's Saturday figure of 90,000 is accurate.  There were long waiting lines and the occasional glitch, but all in all, the MTA did a great job of moving things along, when one considers that the anticipated capacity for the Gold Line is 30,000 per day.  Triple capacity is a lot to handle, and the MTA managed to do it, even if there was a wait for the train.  Kudos to Teresa Milliken, who managed the Sierra Madre Villa Station Event, and to all at MTA who oversaw this historic opening weekend...The Sierra Madre Villa station had exhibits from organizations and communities such as the City of Pasadena, El Torito, FlexCar, LA Times, Pasadena Star News, Sparkletts, Noah's Bagels, Naked Juice and more.  Sierra Madre was represented with three booths, arranged by The Coburn Group, to promote Sierra Madre's businesses, non-profits, and events.  Nearly forty Sierra Madre businesses and organizations provided handouts/flyers/giveaways for The Coburn Group to distribute at its Sierra Madre booths.  Participating organizations and businesses included Howard Whalen Sculpture Garden, Sierra Madre Pioneer Days Association, Lunch Salon, Foothill Creative Arts Group, 55 North, Village Pizzeria, Domino's Pizza, Brown's Classic Interiors, Laurel's Apparel, Capelli Court, Tailgators, KC's Closet, Once Upon A Time, Sharon's Sierra Juice, The Coburn Group, Wildflour Baking Company, K's Deli Cafe, Restaurant Lozano, Harlequin Gallery, Karin's Salon, Corfu, Attitude!, Bethany Church, United Methodist Church, Foothill Center of Religious Science, A Better Nanny, Sierra Madre Community Services Department, Sierra Custom Kitchen, Bath and Design, Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club, Sierra Madre Rotary Club, Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce, Savor the Flavor, The Spinning Wheel, The Center for Wellbeing, Professional Sports Massage and Bodyworks, Julia Rocks, Bank of the West, A Better Nanny, and Les Carroll of Dilbeck GMAC Realty.  Special thanks to Les Carroll, who came down voluntarily both days and worked in the booth for a while, despite a bum leg.  The Coburn Group also hired musicians Jean Sudbury and Kurt Mcinnis to play early Saturday afternoon and Dave Osti to perform on Saturday (special thanks to Dan Kruse, who came and performed with Dave), and Tom Corbett and Bill Knopf to play on Sunday.  Local artists, including Vicky Mathieu, David Darbyshire, Pat Spencer, and Ginny Liskow  displayed their art at The Coburn Group's Sierra Madre booths.  The Coburn Group would also like to thank the following businesses  and organizations which purchased advertising in a 20-page booklet it produced for distribution at the opening of the Gold Line.  The advertisers in the booklet are:  (Full page) K's Deli Cafe, (2/3 page) Restaurant Lozano, (1/2 page) Arnold's Frontier Hardware and Gifts, Drop a Load Laundry, Harmony Day Spa, Karin's Salon, Professional Sports Massage and Bodyworks/Julia Rocks, Sierra Fitness, Sierra Madre Community Medical Group, The Hair Upstairs, Webb-Martin Realtors, Village Pizzeria, (1/3 page) A Better Nanny, Alexander's Tree Service, Briana Salon, City of Sierra Madre, E. Waldo Ward and Son, Foothill Creative Arts Group, Highlander Jr. Market and Liquor, Laurel's Apparel Service, Mary's Market and Cafe, Mortgage Plan, Prudential California Realty, Savor the Flavor, Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Custom Kitchens, Bath and Designs, Sierra Madre News Net/The Coburn Group, Wax Hands.  Thank you all!!

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