City of Glendora (626) 914-8200

Bi-Monthly Report to the Residents of Glendora
Glendora Report
Published by The City of Glendora
Dec./Jan. 2010/11
Centennial Kickoff Huge Success...Christmas Parade – December 11
The kickoff event for the 100th birthday of Glendora took place on November 19th,
2010. This initial centennial celebration occurred in conjunction with the always popular annual Village Holiday Stroll. Festivities included music, holiday shopping, a magnificent tree lighting ceremony and a special visit from Santa himself. Young and young
at heart enjoyed the various activities. To emphasize the historic nature of this year’s
Village Holiday Stroll and tree lighting, previous Mayors of Glendora were in attendance and told the story of Glendora. Also highlighting the centennial celebration was
entertainment from Glendora High School’s Royal Stewarts/Silhouettes, free give-aways at the centennial booths and a special train show at First Christian Church. This
joyous event marked the beginning of a year-long countdown to November 13, 2011,
when Glendora will celebrate 100 years of incorporation as a California city.
The next official centennial event is the annual
Glendora
Christmas
Parade on December 11,
2010. The parade will
start at 9:00 a.m. sharp in
the Downtown Village
and will be led by the
award winning Glendora
High School Tartan Band
and Pageantry. Santa
Clause will once again make an appearance, and the parade will also feature some very
special honorees: Citizen of the Year – Sharon Lewis; Adult Hometown Hero - Dorothy
Fountain; and Youth Hometown Hero – Cady Tescher. The parade route starts by heading southbound from Glendora and Bennett Avenues, then heads west along Foothill
Boulevard before finally turning north at Grand Avenue, ending at Grand and Bennett
Avenues. The motto for this year’s parade is “All about Kids” and to honor Glendora’s
centennial, the parade theme will be “An Old Fashion Christmas.” Please visit
www.glendorachristmasparade.com for more information.
Glendora’s Centennial Committee and City staff have been hard at work preparing
for this centennial year of celebration and urge all residents to discover more about the
history of our city. Glendora Public Library has an impressive collection of past
Glendora newspapers on microfiche for the public to enjoy. Officials also urge all interested to visit the Glendora Historical Society Museum at 314 N. Glendora Ave.
Operating hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., every Saturday, excluding holidays.
In order for this celebration to be a success, the Centennial Committee is in need of
Volunteers and sponsorships. To volunteer, or to sponsor and take advantage of the
opportunity to market to thousands of residents and visitors, please call the Community
Services Department at 626-914-8228, or visit the City’s website listed below. The
Committee has an outstanding sponsorship package aimed at businesses, corporations,
families and individuals.
For more information about the centennial and upcoming events, please visit
www.ci.glendora.ca.us and click on the Centennial link.
Chief Montoya Retires From
Glendora Police Department
Financial & Compensation
Transparency Highlighted
After serving nearly 8 years as the Chief of Police for the
Glendora Police Department, Chief Montoya has retired his
badge. Chief Montoya’s career spans three communities over
his 34 years of law enforcement service. Besides Glendora,
they include 20 years in Monterey Park and 8 years in La Verne
where he served as a Captain.
Chief Montoya has led a Glendora department of approximately 110 employees during his tenure. Some of the remarkable achievements have been his ability to secure highly competitive grant funds for the department and the San Gabriel
Valley Police Departments to jointly share. “The Chief has
really marketed the use of regionalizing many services that
smaller departments need, yet given the limited budgets cannot afford,” said City Manager
Chris Jeffers. “His willingness to go to the plate for San Gabriel Valley cities against agencies
like Los Angeles for the limited grant dollars is a story that most will never truly appreciate as
it is done so skillfully.”
During his tenure, Chief Montoya has hired a majority of the members of the Glendora
Police Department which accounts for about 48% of total City workforce. “He certainly has
left his leadership imprint on the men and women of the Glendora Police Department,” indicated Chris Jeffers. “His work ethic and drive to always improve one’s self is evident in these
hires. We will miss his leadership and professionalism.”
As Chief, the reduction in crime has also become a legacy. The crime statistics according
to the DOJ show the City’s serious crime has fallen by 30% since he first came to Glendora.
While Chief Montoya will be the first to pin the success on the sworn officers, support staff
and the many volunteers of the Police Department, his tenure as Chief has guided and motivated them to make the reduction possible.
Chief Montoya will continue to call Glendora home as Tina, his wife and their wonderful
daughter Elizabeth, became residents a little over one year ago.
The City Council members have expressed their appreciation for the years of service and
his professionalism as the Police Chief at a recent luncheon attended by employees, fellow area
Police Chiefs and numerous community members.
With the recent news articles covering municipal financial reports and employee compensation, the City of Glendora has taken the extra step to highlight its key
financial documents and employment contracts on the City’s website.
“The goal is to show that Glendora continues to lead in transparency among
cities,” said Finance Director Josh Betta. “The City has been very fiscally prudent
in dealing with budgets and labor relations over the last several years.”
The information is linked from several pages throughout the City’s website,
including the home page and the Finance and Human Resources Department pages.
Following the links takes visitors to a page that describes various financial topics
ranging from the budget to City Manager compensation to the various Glendora
employee association labor contracts. Each topic features links to supporting and
related documents.
“Contracts for the City Manager, Department Directors, and employee associations are posted on this page so the public has full access to their employment documentation,” said Deputy City Manager Brenda Fischer. “The information will be
updated whenever changes occur so the public always has immediate and full access
to the latest information available.”
City of Glendora
(626) 914-8200
www.ci.glendora.ca.us
City of Glendora
116 E. Foothill Blvd.
Glendora, CA 91741-3380
Postal Customer
Glendora, CA 91740-91741
PRSRT. STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT# 92
GLENDORA
ECRWSS
Glendora Report Page 2
See the
Newly Renovated
Big Tree Park
BEFORE
The Community
Services Department
is happy to announce
the completion of
improvements at Big
Tree Park. The improvements include
new picnic tables,
benches and Victorian gazebo.
AFTER
Library Happenings
Glendora Public Library has something for everyone! Join the excitement by attending one of these events,
proudly presented by the Glendora Public Library and Friends Foundation:
December 4th - 11th 10:00 am / Main Floor
January 8th 1:00-8:00 pm / Bidwell Forum
“Super 7 Day Sale” – Come to the library on a “Family Game Day” – Game Day is back! Drop in
Saturday morning and browse the sale tables for bar- anytime and try out an assortment of games, puzzles
gains on CDs, Records and Inspirational Books.
and brainteasers. Feel free to bring your own games as
well. Open to all ages; pizza served at 5 p.m.
December 4th 10:00 – 11:30 am / Bidwell Forum &
Friends Room
January 10th 7:00 pm / Main Floor
“A Morning with Santa” – The Glendora Library is “Books Alive!” – Adult book discussion group on Red
partnering with Community Services to bring you “A Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson.
Morning with Santa”. There will be refreshments and
January 10th - February 26th Bookmark Contest
crafts with Santa in the Bidwell Forum and stories in
“Bookmark Contest begins” – All students in grades Kthe Friends Room. Don’t forget your cameras!
12 who attend school in Glendora are welcome to parDecember 8th 5:30 pm / Friends Room
ticipate in the contest.
“Novel Idea” – Adult book discussion group; share
January 22nd 2:00 pm / Bidwell Form
your favorite book with the group.
“Opera Talks” - Want to learn more about the opera?
This is an interactive presentation led by members of
December 9th 3:00 pm / Friends Room
“Polar Express” – Come and watch the favorite classic LA Opera's Community Educators. This is the third in
movie Polar Express and enjoy milk and cookies too.
a series about the history of opera and will feature the
opera II Turco in Italia
December 13th - 18th Children’s Room
“Gingerbread Houses” – All week have fun construct- January 27th 3:30 pm / Friends Room
“Books ‘n Brownies” – Teen book discussion group on
ing your own Gingerbread House.
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix.
January 8th - 15th 10:00 am / Main Floor
“Super 7 Day Sale” – Come to the library on a Events are free to the public and will take place at the
Saturday morning and browse the sale tables for bar- Glendora Public Library, 140 South Glendora Ave.
gains.
For information call the Library at (626) 852-4891.
South Hills Wilderness Park Improvements
This is a perfect spot for everyone to enjoy a wonderful lunch or family outing. Along with the new
improvements to the park the Community Services
Department is excited to announce a new “Big Tree
Park” sign.
At a grand re-opening of Big Tree Park in October,
the Community Services Commission hosted the City
Council and neighborhood to a morning cup of coffee,
donated by Classic Coffee, and a special cake commemorating the rehabilitated neighborhood park.
Comments from neighbors were one of excitement
and gratitude for the new park that will brighten up the
area and allow residents to simply enjoy the open
space provided. Big Tree Park is located at 665 South
Santa Fe Ave in Glendora.
The park is named after the 130-year old Specimen
Fig tree that welcomes all and displays a canopy of
shade for a large part of the park itself. Please check
our website www.ci.glendora.ca.us for more details on
this park and many other recreation areas that
Glendora has become famous for.
Come see the new renovated park.
NEW PARK SIGN
The City applied for a grant from the Los Angeles
County Regional Park and Open Space District for Fifth
Supervisorial District Excess Funding, and South Hills
Wilderness Park was the recipient in the amount of
$48,736.30.
The Tonyon, Elderberry, Bonnie Cove West and
Bonnie Cove East trails were earmarked for improvements. The Tonyon trail improvements include: a retaining
wall was installed at the base of the Tonyon Trail, the trail
was moved east about 10 feet at the base. This wall will
help save the 75 year old oak tree and has brought significant enhancements to the overall appearance of South Hills
Park. Trailhead improvements at the Elderberry trail
include new delineating trail walls, a trail head, brush
clearing and some poison oak removal, Bonnie Cove East Elderberry Trail Head and new delineating trail
and West include a graded parking area, new delineating wall. Previously the area was so overgrown
trail walls and refurbished trail signs. A new trail was you could not see where the trail began.
installed on the Bonnie Cove west side just as you enter the
wilderness area. In an effort to draw more attention to the
trails, the walls have been built to better identify where the
trail heads are located. The areas will also receive drought
tolerant plantings at the walls later this fall.
City staff coordinated the projects with Public Works,
LA Works and the contractor. Leading the efforts to build
the walls at Bonnie Cove East and West and at Elderberry
Trail was Gordon Rowley, from the Trails Committee, a
youth group from LA Works and parks staff. They built
three delineating trail walls, one for the entrance to each
trail; these walls consist of local river rock and establish a
visual entrance to each trail head. Additionally, the trail
heads were moved slightly to better align with the existing
trail and to make for a safer egress and ingress to the trail New retaining wall in the South Hills Park at
the Tonyon Trail.
itself.
Gordon Rowley started working trails in 1957 for the Forest Service. He has worked on Glendora trails since
1974 and, from 1980 to 1984 was part of a committee with Bob McDonald and Bob Deering to advise City
Council on trail matters. Gordon has been on the Glendora Trails Committee since 1984. Additionally, he was
a Scoutmaster from 1972 to 1995, and continues as the Eagle Scout Coordinator for Troop 483. To date he has
coordinated over 100 Eagle projects, mostly in Glendora; and since 1980 Gordon has facilitated the City flag program and the Flag Retirement program since 1984.
Glendora Report Page 3
Chili Cook-Off +Talent Show+Bluegrass Music =
Lots of fun in the Village
Al’s Shoe Repair Closes After 61 Years
Hundreds turned out to
enjoy a day of great talent,
tasty chili and hot bluegrass music on Oct. 16 in
the Glendora Village.
Presented by the Business
Improvement
District,
much of the event’s success was due to the efforts
of event chairpersons
David Frisella (Chili
Cook-Off), Paul Dorn
(Bluegrass Festival) and
Phil Goss (Glendora’s Got
Talent).
Chile Cook-Off Competition
Chili chefs set up
their pots and started
food prep early in the
morning to get their
savory entries ready
for judges and the public, who also got to
vote for the best chili.
While the chili was
cooking, Glendora’s
Got Talent contestants
took to the Village
Plaza stage to compete
for the coveted grand
Best Backyard Chefs
prize of a golden guitar Best Restaurant Chile
Domenico’s
Jr.
John Crawford, Wayne Merritt
provided by Strings
and Bob Nelson
Music. The morning
of music and dance was performed by contestants from as young as 3 years old.
Glendora’s Got Talent Grand Prize winners were
the singing duo of Molly Billman and Andrea Tulcan.
Winners were selected in two categories at the
Chili Cook-Off – Restaurant and Backyard Chef.
Domenico’s Jr. took home the top prize and bragging rights for Best Restaurant Chili.
Judges selected the team of Glendora residents
John Crawford, Wayne Merritt and Bob Nelson for
First Place Backyard Chefs.
Following the Chili Cook-Off, six bluegrass
bands performed on the Village Plaza Stage and
about 50 bluegrass musicians performed at various
stages throughout Glendora Village.
The event proved to be a success in several ways
as many stores that remained open reported record Talent Grand Prize Winners
Molly Billman and Andrea Tulcan
sales for the day.
Halloween Walk kicks off trick-or-treat weekend for family
Glendora Village was invaded by little ghoulies, ghosties, fairies, princesses, superheroes and other creatively costumed creatures during its popular annual Halloween Walk
on Oct. 29. Children went door-to-door throughout the Village as merchants handed out
thousands of treats. And some beloved pets got dressed up, to join in the fun.
They’ve moved!
Periwinkle has moved to 163-A N. Glendora Ave., from its former location behind the
Village Vault. Big storefront windows facing out to the Avenue make is so much easier
for shoppers to see what owner Lisa Gustafson has to offer.
The Village Manor has moved temporarily to 146 N. Glendora Ave., Suite 104 (near
Domenico’s Jr.), while its longtime home is redesigned. Owner Donna Stanley has created a holiday wonderland in her new location with Halloween, Thanksgiving and of
course, Christmas showcases.
A Glendora institution since 1949, Al’s Shoe Repair located in the Village at 208 N.
Glendora Ave., has closed, bringing to an end two generations of service to thousands of
customers.
Barbara Biaselli Woods, who took over the shop when her father Albert passed away
in 1994, reluctantly decided to retire due to health issues, and said “I miss the people, the
customers we’ve had for years.”
Albert bought the shoe repair shop in 1949 from the owner at the time named Al,
Barbara recalled. “We didn’t even have to change the sign on the window!”
Albert Biaselli had owned a shoe repair shop in Chicago where Barbara was born, and
decided to move his family to California where his brother and sister lived in Baldwin
Park. Barbara remembers living behind the repair shop when they first operated it. The
family moved to Arcadia for a while, but increasing demands of the business required
relocation to a home in Glendora in 1961.
Barbara started working in the shop when she was 14, greeting customers and “handling the counter” for her Dad, who did all the repairs. “I really didn’t want to do any of
the work,” she recalled, but somehow she learned about the business anyway, something
she realized later.
She got a business degree at Citrus College and handled preliminary bookkeeping to
turn over to the shop’s accountant.
Albert Biaselli worked until the day he died at 78 in 1994 from a sudden heart attack,
Barbara said with pride. “He was on the job all his life,” she said. “He didn’t want to ever
retire, because he didn’t know what else to do.”
The decision to close the shop this summer came after Barbara was diagnosed with
breast cancer, of which she is making a good recovery. Her husband Chet had retired from
the trucking business earlier this year, and she felt it was probably a good time to join him
in retirement.
She regrets that she wasn’t able to let her customers – so many of them became friends
– know why the shop closed so suddenly. She would love to hear from them if they would
send an email to her at chetbarbara@earthlink.net.
Don’t look for another “Al” to take over the shoe repair shop, though. “Nobody could
do what we did for our customers,” she said, adding she’ll probably sell the equipment,
clean it up and rent the space to a new business-owner.
Upcoming Events in the Glendora Village
Holiday Parade: December 11
Wine Walk: February 11
Food Network Features Local Business
In September, the Food Network episode of “America’s Best – Top 10 Sweets”
was broadcasted and Glendora’s very well known Donut Man was showcased as
Number 6 on the list. The Donut Man especially known for the strawberry and peach
stuffed donuts was show-cased for its most famous donut – the strawberry donut.
Jim and Miyoko Nakano, the owners of the Donut Man, are well known for the
unbridled focus on quality to the products and production of their donuts. The
Nakano’s bought the very simply store hamlet that use to be an Orange Julius in 1972
and set out with a very unconventional idea of what a donut should be and have
become a Mecca for donuts in the County and now the nation.
To learn how to make donuts, Jim visited French bakeries to learn techniques for
making his delightful donuts. With that knowledge and since that he (Jim) could provide better service, the Nakano’s were in business in Glendora. The name Donut
Man is said to come from an experience Jim had a local restaurant when he was just
starting out and a little girl pointed to him and said “there’s the donut man.”
Besides being known for their donut business, the Nakano’s have been very active
over the years with the City’s Moka Japan Sister City Association. Just this past
month the annual hosting of exchange students occurred at Sandburg Elementary
where 16 students from Moka arrived.
The Donut Man located at 915 E. Route 66 is open every day, 24 hours a day. You
can call them at (626) 335-9111.
Glendora Report Page 4
December/January Events and Activities
Glendora Meeting Dates:
Santa is coming to Glendora. Join us for a morning of fun Saturday, December 4th from 10:00 a.m.
to 11:30 a.m. at the Glendora Library located at 140 S. Glendora Ave. The Santa Claus Party is presented by the Community Services Department and the Glendora Library and Co-sponsored by the
Glendora Rotary Club. This event features a visit from Santa, children’s arts and crafts projects, snacks
and lots of holiday fun! Pictures with Santa are available for $2.00. For more information, please call
(626) 914-2357, or visit the city’s website at www.ci.glendora.ca.us..
City Council Meeting
2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
Holiday Home Decorating Contest – Glendora residents are invited to enter the 16th annual holiday home decorating
contest. Categories include: Use of Lights, Animation, and Lawn Display. Judges will select winners for Best Overall
and Sweepstakes. Deadline to enter is December 6th. Judging will take place December 8 and/or December 9. Entry fee
is $2 for each home. For more information, please call the Crowther Teen and Family Center at (626) 914-2357.
Planning Commission Meeting
1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
Letters to Santa – Glendora residents may send their letter to Santa Claus in care of Glendora Community Services
Department, 116 E. Foothill Blvd. CA, 91741. Please include a self addressed stamped envelope by December 10th for a
reply from Santa.
Community Services Commission
3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
Glendora Annual Christmas Parade is Saturday December 11th at 9:00 am. The Parade STARTS downtown “In The
Village” led by the award winning GHS TARTAN BAND and ENDS at La Fetra & Sandburg Schools on Grand and
Bennett. This year’s motto is: “All About Kids” and the 2010 theme is in honor of Glendora’s Centennial, “An Old
Fashioned Christmas!” Citizen of the year is Sharon Lewis, Adult Hometown Hero is Dorothy Fountain and Youth
Hometown Hero is Cady Tescher.
Library Board of Trustees Meeting
3rd Monday, 7 p.m.
Glendora Library, Bidwell Forum
Teen Center Trip Magic Mountain – January 17th 9:00 am-7:00 pm. $25 for Grades 6 through 9. Registration is taken
at the Teen Center. For more information, please call the Crowther Teen and Family Center at (626) 914-2357.
Community Events for Seniors
Senior Christmas Luncheon Sponsored by Glendora Rotary Club. Tuesday, December 7th, 11:30 a.m. at the La Fetra
Center. In-person reservations are accepted beginning November 1st thru December 1st or until this event reaches maximum occupancy. (Note: This event may be sold out prior to publication)
Dinner and Bingo Presented by Partners of La Fetra
Tuesday, January 11
Dinner: 5:30 p.m.
Bingo: 6:16 p.m.
Enjoy a great meal and then try your luck at Bingo. Your $10 ticket includes dinner, two-10 game bingo packs and one
special game. Purchase tickets, in-person, at the La Fetra Center by January 4th.
Senior Health and Information Fair
Thursday, January 20
1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Multiple agencies and organizations will provide information on housing, health insurance, social security and MORE!
In addition, several helath screening will be offered. Save the date for this FREE opportunity to get answers to your questions.
Adults Learn to Read for Free at the Glendora Library
Do you know someone who has difficulty reading the news, writing a check, or following a recipe? Though most
of us take these things for granted, these activities are difficult for 1 out of 5 Americans who have problems reading.
The results can be feelings of frustration and failure. One solution is free, one-to-one tutoring provided by Glendora
Reads. This program, designed especially for English-speaking adults who want to improve their reading or writing
skills, is offered at Glendora Public Library. Most new learners find out about our program from family and friends. If
you would like more information, please contact Mary Pat Dodson in the library’s Literacy office at (626) 852-4897.
Glendora READS is funded by Glendora Public Library Friends Foundation, California Library Literacy Services,
and a Community Development Block Grant.
Historic Preservation Committee Meeting
4th Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
Trails Committee Meeting
Last Monday of the Month, 6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
Investment Advisory Committee Meeting
Meets Quarterly, call (626) 914-8210
City Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Rm
Beautification Committee Meeting
Meets Quarterly, call (626) 914-8210
City Hall, Council Chambers
Water Commission Meeting
Meets Quarterly, call (626) 914-8210
City Hall, Council Chambers
Credit Cards are accepted
for payment at City Hall, Library,
Police Department and the
Community Services Department.
Contact Information
Glendora City Council
Ken Herman, Mayor
Douglas F. Tessitor, Mayor Pro Tem
Terry Kent, Council Member
Karen K. Davis, Council Member
Gene Murabito, Council Member
www.ci.glendora.ca.us
Animal Control……………….....……914-8275
Building Permits/Inspection…...……914-8222
City Clerk ………….………........……914-8210
City Council …………….....…………914-8201
City Manager ……………….......……914-8201
Code Enforcement …………........…. 852-4825
Non-Emergency Police ...…....…….. 914-8250
Graffiti Hotline ……………….....….. 963-8540
Household Hazardous
Waste Collection…….…….....1-888-253-2652
Housing Programs ...……………..... 914-8208
City Job Line ……………….....….….914-8206
La Fetra Senior Center ……...….….. 914-8235
Glendora Library ……………....…... 852-4891
City Mini Bus System ……….....…… 914-8233
Overnight Parking Information ….... 914-8250
Community Services ……....……….. 914-8228
Planning & Redevelopment …......… 914-8214
Public Works (Streets/Engineering) ....… 914-8246
Teen Center ……………………....…. 914-2357
Water Emergency (8 am to 5 pm) .....… 914-8246
Water Emergency (After 5 pm) ….....… 914-8250
Utility Billing (City) …………..……. 914-8239