Centenarian Nell Parks get some assistance in cutting the first piece of cake at her 100-year birthday party on Saturday.  I have several dozen pictures and a story that go with this picture, and some audio and video, too.  Come on back and see it, it will be posted soon.

The Sierra Madre Volunteer Firefighters Association recently made a donation to the "Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors," a non-profit organization managed by firefighters and civilians who volunteer their services to assist those that have been affected by burn injuries. According to the organization's website, FQBS hosts several fund raisers throughout each year in which donations are received and distributed on behalf of each donor to local burn centers and foundations, as well as burn survivors and their families.

Firefighter's Quest was founded in 1996 following the Southern California Malibu Brush Fire in which six firefighters were injured while trapped in a "Firestorm".

To view several more photos from this event, click here.

To find out more about the organization, please feel free to call Toll Free (866)937-8378, or visit them online at http://www.firefightersquest.org.

As an integral part of Sierra Madre's culture, the Sierra Madre Woman's Club participates in the major "happenings" in the town, from mixers with the Chamber of Commerce, to style shows, musicals, card parties, ice cream socials, and, of course, the Fourth of July activities.

One of those established events, hosted by the club -- the Fourth of July Pre-Parade Open House with complimentary continental breakfast -- is scheduled again this year from 8 to 10 a.m. at the clubhouse on the corner of Sierra Madre Blvd. and Sunnyside. That location is also where the famous parade begins. About 10 members volunteer to arrange and host the event.

Eunice Banis "pounds out" patriotic songs on the club's 1913 Chickering piano for the songfest that morning. As an aside, the club purchased the piano new six years after the club was founded in March, 1907.

But it's a serious group, too. During this year the club of 123 members donated $20,000 to area charities. That's money they make from their Wistaria Thrift Shop located in the parking area behind the clubhouse. The shop is 52 years old.

On the holiday, after the departure of guests after the Fourth of July Open House, members of the club line the south side of Sierra Madre Boulevard to watch the parade. Then they do the dishes and straighten up the clubhouse before they go to Memorial Park for the afternoon activities.

    Sierra Madre Woman's Club is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, an international service organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C.

This fall Janet Ten Eyck starts her second year as president of the club. Phyllis Chapman, well-known town historian, has served as membership and public relations chair for years. Dixie Coutant was the last two-year president.

Everyone is invited to join these enthusiastic and hard-working women on July 4, 2009, for their open house.

The Fourth of July Committee, led by Matt Bosse, is in charge of all activities that day under the umbrella of the City. Sierra Madre Community Foundation handles the finances.

This year the committee is joined by the Sierra Madre Athletic Association and Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce in running the Beer Garden that will be open in Memorial Park on Friday evening, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.

(6/3/09) Midge Morash Named 4th of July Parade Grand Marshal   Midge Morash (shown at left after being honored by City Council in 2004) was named 2009 Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal this week, according to Matt Bosse, Fourth of July Committee chairman. The entire committee participated in the selection.

This 48-year Sierra Madrean, known as "Mother Nature" in environmental groups, will lead the famous Fourth of July Parade down Sierra Madre Boulevard.

Midge is still on the board of Sierra Madre Environmental Action Council, a group she helped found in 1972. She has designed three of their brochures with information provided by Eaton Canyon Nature Center and helped develop information for the kiosk at Bailey Canyon. She devised a trail guide for Live Oak Nature Trail and Canyon View Nature Trail in Bailey Canyon, again with assistance from Eaton Canyon Nature Center.

Midge described the first recycling center located at the mouth of the road to the Rose Float barn where SMEAC sponsored collection of glass, paper and aluminum cans until the City instituted City-wide recycling.

Midge, with SMEAC, began Nature Awareness field trips once a year for all third graders in town, recruiting and training docents. Additionally, SMEAC continues to sponsor spring and fall Bailey Canyon Cleanup Day. Bailey Canyon's area starts at the top of Grove Street and expands north for the lower and upper hiking areas. SMEAC also sponsored an ecology fair early-on as part of Earth Day, and, as usual, Midge was one of the leaders.

When the Morash children were small, she volunteered in all the usual school functions and was a leader for Brownie and Girl Scout troops for years. She also trained docents for the Nature Awareness program and was outdoor docent at Lummus Home near Los Angeles. For several years, along with her volunteer work, she was lab technician at the hospital when it was located in town.

Before his death in 1988, her husband Tal and she directed YMCA camps in the San Bernardino Mountains. She continues to assist folks, now volunteering with her daughter, Anne, at Casa Colina Hospital for Rehabilitation near Pomona for an outdoor adventure program.

Midge's focus has forever been on nature. "I have a passion for nature and teaching others about nature. Kids have to learn respect for nature and the knowledge of the environment, and to live respectfully."

She said, "It's a great honor to be chosen Parade Grand Marshal and I'm surprised to be chosen. It's nice to know people notice and appreciate what you do."

Forty-eight years ago Midge and Tal Morash "rolled into town" from Altadena and decided to raise their four children here. Tal died in 1988 and their three children (Anne, Kim and Paul) and three grandsons live in California. One son is deceased.

On February 13, 2009, Midge fell and broke her pelvis, and recently moved to The Oaks in Pasadena, a retirement center. Perhaps now she'll have more time to continue her interest in art, music and in clay sculpture.