Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden will have its historic buildings upgraded and a new 5-year strategic plan is being drafted for the first time in many years. Among items to be improved are the roof replacement and stabilization of the Hugo Reid Adobe (aka Baldwin Adobe), the rehabilitation of the library, as well as roof replacements for the 126-year-old Queen Anne Cottage of "Fantasy Island" fame, and the Coach Barn. Mitchell Bishop, curator of the historic collections, said he plans to rehabilitate Baldwin Lake.
Arcadia High School boys Sergio Gonzalez (Runner of the Year), Ryan Vargas, Mitchell Pratt and Estevan DeLaRosa, have been named to 2011 All-Area Cross Country boys first team. James O'Brien of Arcadia High School, is named Coach of the Year. Francis Lee of Arcadia High School, is on the second team.
TV's Mario Lopez to host Lucky Baldwin Poker Tournament on June 10. It is a fundraiser to preserve the 1880s architecture of Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin's home at the site of Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
Downtown Arcadia hosts Patriotic Festival in honor of America's 243rd birthday. It takes place June 29, 5:00-9:30 PM on First Avenue, south of Huntington Drive, with live music, food, entertainment, and fireworks.
Altrusa Club of Arcadia celebrated 52 years. Arcadia Mayor John Wuo presented the club with a special commendation from the city for its service to the community.
Denny's Restaurant at Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia hosts a monthly "Carcadia" car show. Any car enthusiast is welcome to show his/her car. The event was founded by Scott Hettrick and Glenn Oyoung.
"Mother Road"-clear road ahead to make Route 66 a historic trail. A bill that passed the House of Representatives by unanimous vote June 5, could make Route 66 a National Historic Trail, meaning the 2400 mile road that passes through 8 states, could get federal dollars for preservation, promotion and rehabilitation. Part of the road runs through Arcadia.
Arcadia Museum Education Center (MEC) was dedicated June 28, 2014. It was a 5-year project from concept to completion. It has long been a dream of Floretta Lauber, Arcadia's first female mayor, to build the MEC to fill a void in the museum's ability to bring in guest lecturers. The Museum Foundation was the founding sponsor and donated $500,000 to the City of Arcadia towards the cost of the building.
Arcadia Unified School District adds Common Core Days to the 2014-2015 school calendar. This means students will be released at 11:40 on 9/18, 10/9, 11/6, 1/8, 2/5, 3/5, and 5/14.
A passenger (name withheld pending notification to next of kin) in a stolen vehicle was killed and another hurt yesterday following a pursuit by Arcadia police. Richard John Villareal, 28, of Arcadia, and his male passenger led Arcadia police on a chase that ended about 11:40 AM on Lower Azusa Road and Arden Drive in Temple City when the stolen car crashed into two other vehicles. The passenger was dead at the scene. The driver sustained minor injuries and was arrested. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 7, June 5, 2014.
All aboard: Arcadia gets into training. The Metro Gold Line Station in Arcadia will have a grand opening on Saturday, March 5. The light rail Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa will be offering free rides on March 5.