California Philharmonic's (Cal Phil) "Be Instrumental" Holiday Haul 2011 will benefit Union Station Homeless. Services have been extended through December 21.
California Philharmonic (Cal Phil) has announced its 2012 summer concert season is moving to Santa Anita Park. Cal Phil Music Director Victor Vener said a multi-year contract would be signed with the track, making the deal a partnership. CalPhil had been considered a Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden tenant for the past 15 years. The 2012 season will open June 30.
California Philharmonic played its last concert at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, after 15 years of playing summer concerts there. Next year, the California Philharmonic will be playing at Santa Anita Park, where the amenities include indoor plumbing, a full liquor license and improved parking.
California Philharmonic Orchestra officials held a press conference and said they do not know why the county decided to end a 15-year run of concerts at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden with them. The press conference was held at Cal Phil's new office in Arcadia. In attendance were Cal Phil founder and Music Director Victor Vener, his son Andre Vener (the orchestra's CEO), Robert W. Miller (member of the Cal Phil board), Michael Arnold (principal clarinetist), Barbara Hicks (volunteer) and 20 protesters who had picketed at the Arboretum, in reaction to the ouster of the orchestra.
Cal Phil's 20 years of outdoor concerts ends. The familiar giant concert dome of the California Philharmonic (CalPhil) will not adorn the infield at Santa Anita Park this summer. The concert series has been canceled by its board of directors to concentrate on the remaining scheduled concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall this summer. The series started at Los Angeles County Arboretum in 1996 when CalPhil maestro Victor Vener started a Hollywood Bowl-type experience for Arcadia.
California Philharmonic persists despite financial straits. It owes "quite a bit of money to quite a lot of people," including about $2,000 apiece to 60 musicians, but the orchestra has no plans to go out of business, said Music Director Victor Vener. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1 and 6, November 1, 2012.
Triple Crown winning jockey Victor Espinoza (he rode the race horse American Pharoah) visits patients at City of Hope. He donated about $80,000-his entire earnings from the Belmont Stakes-to the City of Hope cancer research and treatment facility.
Arcadia Welfare and Thrift celebrates 80 years with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Pictured are Arcadia Mayor Robert Harbicht, Arcadia Welfare and Thrift President Terry Totten, and a large group of supporters and friends. The store has helped the less fortunate, particularly the homeless.
CalPhil opens Festival on the Green summer concert series on June 30 with a concert featuring singer Vanessa Carlton, the USC Trojan Marching Band, and pyrotechnics, at Santa Anita Park. See hard copy in VF "Santa Anita Park 2011-2020."
Pasadena Pops Orchestra debuts its first summer season at the Los Angeles County Arboretum today with Marvin Hamlisch, composer and conductor. The CalPhil lost out to the Pasadena Pops in a bid to stay at the Arboretum and CalPhil signed up with neighboring Santa Anita Park instead.
Battle of the Bands. Two major orchestras change venues for summer programs. CalPhil will be performing at Santa Anita Park's infield, while Pasadena Pops Orchestra will be performing at the Los Angeles County Arboretum.
Santa Anita Park and Oak Tree Racing Association are vying for the same fall racing dates in 2011. The California Horse Racing Board will meet today to discuss awarding the September 28, 2011 through November 6, 2011 dates.
Arcadia is sprucing up nicely. Phil Wray, Arcadia City Engineer, says the city has been making improvements to road medians. He is proud to share that, "We just finished our median island re-landscaping project from Michillinda to Baldwin." More drought-tolerant plants were planted on the median. The same re-landscaping will be done for the road median on Baldwin Avenue to Holly Avenue. Future projects include rehabilitation of pavement from Santa Clara Street to Fifth Avenue.
The county Metropolitan Transportation Authority will sell naming rights to all rail lines, bus lines, and transit stations, such as the Gold Line Monrovia Station (in photo) and Foothill Gold Line Arcadia Station (in photo). The Corporate Sponsorship/Naming Rights Program was approved by the Metro board. CEO Phil Washington wants to stretch revenue; board member objects to commercialization.
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) blasts Southern California Edison (SCE) for poor handling of windstorm (November 30, 2011-December 1, 2011) in a 42-page report. Report cites serious safety violations and restoration time was inadequate. Among the hardest hit cities affected by power outages were Temple City, Arcadia, and South Pasadena.
Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Art Sherman (photo) says the "lucky gene" helped race horse California Chrome win the 140th running of Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs last Saturday. Jockey Victor Espinoza is also shown in photos.