..:: Sierra Madre, CA Chamber of Commerce ::..

Coming Attractions

City Council Candidate Forum

Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host a City Council Candidate Forum on Monday, March 8th from 6:30 to 8:30pm. The Forum will be held at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. All candidates have been invited to participate, as of 2/19, all candidates have responded that they will attend except Council member Don Watts. The forum will be conducted by the League of Women Voters, Pasadena Area, and they will provide a moderator, timekeeper and question sorters, all of whom are non-Sierra Madre residents.

Candidates will be seated alphabetically; only candidates are invited to participate. If a candidate is unable to attend, they may submit a written opening and closing statement which will be read by the moderator. Each candidate will be given 2 minutes for an opening statement and 2 minutes for a closing statement. One minute will be given to answer written questions from the audience; questions must focus on issues relevant to the Sierra Madre City Council election. These rules will be explained to the audience at the beginning of the forum.

Tables outside the forum room will be provided for campaign materials (buttons, flyers, literature, signs, etc) and no campaign materials are to be brought into the room where the forum is being conducted.

March Mixer at Sierra Madre Woman's Club

Thursday, Mar. 11^th at the Sierra Madre Woman's Club, 550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, 5:30 - 7pm, $10/members, $15/non-members - All City Council candidates have been invited to attend for meet and greet, all candidates except Don Watts have confirmed attendance as of 2/19. Business networking, great food lovingly prepared by women of the Club.

Wistaria Festival

Sunday, March 14^th, Downtown Sierra Madre, 9am to 5pm. View the world's largest blossoming plant from 9am to 4pm. Entry to the vine is free, round-trip shuttle ride to the vine is $10/pre-sale, $15/day of the event. Pre-order your shuttle tickets at www.WistariaTickets.com. Downtown festival (admission is free) features the works of 175 juried artisans and crafters. Shop at downtown stores, enjoy live music at multiple outdoor venues, kids attractions, remote broadcast by KOLA 99FM. Fun for the whole family!! More info: www.WistariaFestival.com

April Breakfast Mixer

Thursday, April 8th, Hart House in Memorial Bark (Senior Center), 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., 7:30 - 9am, brought to you by the Chamber in partnership with Microsoft Corporation. Seminar on Windows 7, learn what's new and different in Windows 7 from earlier versions, instructed by Microsoft partner and Sierra Madre Chamber member Village Domain

Current Events

Sierra Madre Selected to be Part of FEMA Pilot Project

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a pilot project submitted by Donna Cayson, Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) Distinguished Fellow. Cayson, a retired Sierra Madre Police Dept. officer, is assigned to the Department of Homeland Security; FEMA, National Preparedness Directorate. Cayson's proposed initiative seeks to develop and pilot a model that will increase individual preparedness through an all-inclusive community based approach combined with the development and implementation of a Technical Assistance Template.

The purpose of this pilot project is to take action in response to recent research which indicated that there has been little increase in the number of prepared citizens over the past six years. Cayson believes that individual preparedness will increase when the collective efforts of all community stakeholders are focused on the common goal of individual preparedness.

Nearly two dozen local organizations have been invited to participate in the program, and the Chamber of Commerce is taking an active role.

For more information regarding this project, please click here to view the Chamber Press Release.

Recent Events

Citizen(s) of the Year/Board Installation Dinner