2024 ELECTIONS - Pasadena City College: Four candidates compete for two Board of Trustee seats on the March 5 election. Voters elect a trustess from each of the seven districts in an area that includes Arcadia, a portion of El Monte, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Temple City. Area 2 candidates are Kevin D. Strotz and James Aragon. Area 6 candidates are Ryan Liu and John Quintanilla.
El Monte man gets 21 years for killing boss at newspaper's office. Zhong Qi Chen, 64, of El Monte, was sentenced. He pleaded guilty in March to the voluntary manslaughter of Yining Xie, of Arcadia, at The China Press in Alhambra at 2121 W. Mission Road, Alhambra, CA.
Practical Move is favorite horse. Facts about today's 86th running of the Santa Anita Derby.
-Bob Baffert has won the race a record 9 times.
-The race has produced 19 Kentucky Derby winners.
-Practical Move (race horse) is the 8-5 favorite, followed by Geaux Rocket Ride and National Treasure.
El Monte man pleads guilty to killing boss in office. Zhong Qi Chen, 63, pleaded guilty to fatally shooting his boss Yining Xie, 58, of Arcadia, at a newspaper office in Alhambra in 2018, at The China Press, 2121 W. Mission Road, Alhambra, CA.
Santa Anita Park faces suits from former Human Resources head over COVID-19 protocols. Plaintiff Jill Eknoian-Lopez alleges she was forced to resign in 2021 after experiencing a backlash when she complained the company was not following a safe coronavirus protocol. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 15, March 23, 2023.
Readers share hobbies started during the COVID-19 Pandemic and after, with columnist David Allen. Annick Downhower got hooked on streaming horse racing and reading blogs. She has returned to watching in-person racing at Santa Anita Park and continues to stream races on Fan Duel.
Diners line up to get last meal at Rod's Grill in Arcadia. Restaurant that has served generations of people closes on Sunday (yesterday). Hundreds of diners made a final pilgrimage to Rod's Grill in Arcadia at 41 W. Huntington Drive, along Historic Route 66. Rod Wellman started the restaurant in 1946 in Alhambra. The Arcadia location opened in 1957 offering 10 cent coffees and 40 cent slices of pie a la mode. Wellman's sons Barry and Brian took over years later, then Manny Romero bought it about 25 years ago and kept its vintage vibe. Romero was an immigrant from Mexico. He died in 2021. Television shows such as This is Us, Mad Men, Last Man Standing, and Luck, had filmed episodes there. See hard copy in VF. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A3, A4, February 9, 2023.
Interior view of Rod's Grill showing customers eating at counter and at tables in booths. Also pictured are some waitresses and cooks, as well as two of the historic photos that the restaurant displayed on its walls. Rod's was located at 41 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia, along Historic Route 66, from 1957 through February 2023.
Interior view of Rod's Grill showing customers eating at the counter, sitting in colorful turquoise seats. Waitresses and cooks can be seen in the kitchen area, as well as a portion of two of the historic photos that the restaurant displayed on its walls. Rod's was located at 41 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia, along Historic Route 66, from 1957 through February 2023.
Exterior view of Rod's Grill showing the west side of restaurant, its sign, customers waiting outside, and the street signs where it was located, the corner of Huntington Drive and Morlan Place. Rod's was located at 41 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia, along Historic Route 66, from 1957 through February 2023.
Exterior view of Rod's Grill showing the south side of restaurant with its rock mosaic wall and both the sign on the front of the building and the pole sign bearing its name that stands on the west side. Customers can be seen waiting outside. Rod's was located at 41 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia, along Historic Route 66, from 1957 through February 2023.
Former TV finance analyst from Arcadia James Arthur McDonalds, Jr. charged with lying to investors about the health of his finance firm and failing to disclose massive losses incurred through risky investments following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. McDonald was CEO of Los Angeles-based Hercules Investments and Redondo Beach-based Index Strategy Advisors Inc. He is believed to be in hiding.
Three candidates vie for two seats on Arcadia Unified School District Board. Leigh Chavez and Fenton Eng are currently the respective president and vice president of the school board. In Tuesday's primary election, newcomer Ben Zhang is in the running. Zhang has criticized the current board for its response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A3 and A9, June 9, 2022 for semifinal vote count--incumbents Leigh Chavez and Fenton Eng are ahead.
Arcadia High School Choral Program concludes year with First Annual Choir Night Cafe benefit concert on May 20 at Arcadia Performing Arts Center. 2022 has been a year marked with change, with a new director and a return to in-person performances following distance learning due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Choral Program consists of Concert Choir and Chanteurs.
For the first time in two years, the Arcadia Educational Foundation (AEF) Summer School Program for 2022 will happen in person for all grade levels. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, summer school had to be conducted virtually during the summers of 2020 and 2021. As for health and safety, summer school has been adapted in accordance with the health guidelines and regulations that Arcadia Unified School District follows.
On April 28, Arcadia Police Department hosts first in-person Coffee-with-a-Cop event since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, at the Bowlero in the Westfield Santa Anita mall. Prior to the pandemic, coffee was held once every 3 months. Arcadia Police Chief Roy Nakamura, five lieutenants, several sergeants, and volunteer police attended, along with some city council members.
Arcadia High School League of Legends esports team wins second place at CIF tournament in December 2021. Esports are played online and got its start at Arcadia High School during COVID-19 because everyone was online and looking to play their favorite games with their friends.
City of Arcadia hosting free COVID-19 vaccine site February 7 and 14 at Arcadia Community Center, in collaboration with Chinatown Service Center. The Johnson & Johnson and the Moderna vaccines are available for ages 18 and up. Pfizer vaccine is available for ages 5 and up.
Arcadia Unified School District offering free COVID-19 rapid take-home tests for every student through the month of January. They held a drive-through pick-up event on January 4 and 5 at Arcadia Performing Arts Center at 188 Campus Drive. In addition to these rapid tests, which were provided by the California Department of Health, the district also has their regular testing located at Arcadia Education Center, which is for Arcadia Unified School District students and staff, free of charge.
ChapCare opens weekend COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Westfield Santa Anita. Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27) stresses the importance of getting the vaccine at a press conference last Thursday.
