Arcadia resident Thomas V. McKernan, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Automobile Club of California, has been elected president of the non-profit Los Angeles Police Foundation, which was created to help fund police safety programs.
Ruth Gilb, president of the board of directors of the Arcadia Welfare and Thrift Shop, says the store is a vital part of the community. Not only is it a retail store, it is a social service facility that provides assistance to people with financial, family, and personal problems.
The Arcadia Fire Department has formed a special relationship with Dean Street Station 105 in Brooklyn, New York. One Voice For Tomorrow is a local non-profit organization that helps raise money for the Dean Street Station Fund and to help the Arcadia Fire Association Widows and Orphan Fund.
Arcadia City Council has accepted a federal grant of $125,000 to place a uniformed police officer on the campuses of the city's three middle schools. The program is called Youth and Educational Support (YES).
Arcadia Rotary Corner by Joe Miller. Over the years, with 501 (c)(3) status, the Arcadia Rotary Foundation has funded the Paul Johenk Fund, Ted McBane Fund, Dr. Bruce Walter Fund, Ira Traweek Fund and Nick Pokrajac Fund. The Paul Johenk Fund contributed $15,000 for one of the rooms at Arcadia Methodist Hospital, $10,000 to Arcadia Public Library for refurnishing a room, $10,000 toward construction of the Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum. Board of Directors are Bill Gleason, Brian Hall, Mike Real, John Murphy and Ira Traweek.
The Arcadia Board of Education promised parents and supporters of former teacher Sandra Ragusa a statement on why she was not allowed to withdraw her resignation.
City of Arcadia renews a contract with lobbyists, The Ferguson Group, for national legislative advocacy representation. The contract is $65,000 annually for unlimited service each month.
The police department has a regular schedule of reorganizing with Officer Mike Cervantes returning to patrol duty after being a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer. Filling the DARE position will be Officer Brian Ortiz. Officer Toni Caylor will be working with students as the YES (Youth and Educational Support) officer at Arcadia High School. Background information on each officer is provided.
Embassy Suites Arcadia is scheduled to have a grand reopening after extensive property renovations, under the new management and ownership by Windsor Hospitality Group.
The Arcadia Board of Education will vote on a policy change regarding the release of students' personal information to military recruiters, colleges or prospective employers. In the past, Arcadia has had an "opt-in" policy, in which parents must specifically request information be made available, particularly to military recruiters. This policy is no longer allowed under federal guidelines, so the district will adopt an "opt-out" policy, putting the burden on parents to decide when information will be withheld.
Arcadia Public Library garden dedicated to the memory of Jesse Vanlandingham, known to many as Van. He was instrumental in founding the Arcadia Public Library Foundation and served as its president since its inception in 1995, until his death in 2000. The Vandlandingham Memorial Garden was designed by landscape architect Bob Ericksson.
Arcadia City Council has approved a list of a dozen projects to lobby for with the federal government. The projects will be pursued by city lobbyist, the Ferguson Group, by Mayor Mickey Segal, and a representative from Sierra Madre, as they try to coordinate lobbying efforts in Washington DC. On the list is a $20 million request jointly with Sierra Madre, for continuing programs to ensure safety of the water supply in case of seismic problems.