Arcadia brothers Eric and Richard Dong (they attend San Marino High School) receive Outstanding Young Philanthropists award. They offered piano lessons to kids at the Union Station family center. They gave money and talked to the kids about investing in the stock market. With profits they made from their investments, they established the Richard and Eric Dong Endowment Fund for Union Station to provide scholarships for children in sports, music and the arts, leadership, and human rights promotion, to buy books for the family library; to fund staff appreciation and recognition and to finance the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights educational programs.
Four San Gabriel Valley students recognized with the Congressional Award Medal from Congresswoman Judy Chu. Recipients were Richard Dong of Arcadia, Julieanna Guo of Alhambra, Cristie Huang from Arcadia and Melanie Phan (Claremont).
Arcadia wrestles with homeless issue. Metro Gold Line is seen as factor by some in the growing numbers camping nearby. In 2016, the Arcadia Station of Metro Gold Line opened and police began seeing a marked increase in calls for service regarding homelessness, said Sergeant Dan Crowther.
Homeless impact on business. The article defines the homeless and gives ways business owners can protect their property and safety. Steve Delgadillo, community affairs liaison for Arcadia Police Department, monitors and responds to encounters between citizens and the homeless.
California Philharmonic's (Cal Phil) "Be Instrumental" Holiday Haul 2011 will benefit Union Station Homeless. Services have been extended through December 21.
Homeless initiative takes a back seat to home improvement grants. Arcadia City Council approved Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funds for 2017-2018 fiscal year for home improvements and repairs to low and moderate-income residents, about $230,000 and only $20,000 on the Homeless Initiative Program. Mayor Tom Beck expressed concern for the disparity.
Wei Sheng "Jackie" Chen, 46, of Arcadia, owner of Tema Media Inc., and store manager Dong Qun Lin, 40, of Alhambra, were arrested for allegedly importing and selling Chinese movie DVDs bearing an allegedly counterfeit Dolby Digital trademark. They were charged for the federal crime of trafficking in counterfeit goods. If convicted, Chen and Lin each face a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Los Angeles County's 2017 homelessness count has gone up 23% from the previous year and District 5, where Arcadia, Monrovia and Pasadena lie, has exceeded the county high at 30%. Measure H funds from a 1/4 cent sales tax increase in Los Angeles County, creates estimated $355 million per year to use on homeless initiative. Los Angeles Board of Supervisors voted on how to properly allocate over a billion dollars from Measure H to help prevent and combat homelessness.
Gold Line extension may be contributing factor in Arcadia homeless population. Arcadia is seeing a drastic increase in homeless compared to recent years, specifically in Downtown Arcadia and Arcadia County Park, largely due to the Gold Line light rail extension that opened in early 2016 with a stop in Arcadia. Arcadia Police Department has seen a 46% increase in transient calls to deal with in 2017, compared to 2016.
Eric Perry Memorial 5K Run/Walk takes place June 2 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia. Eric Perry died of brain cancer. His family is covering the costs of the event and will be donating all proceeds to the American Brain Tumor Association. Perry was a longtime resident of Arcadia.
The historic Adams' Pack Station is having a fundraiser tomorrow. The funds are needed for the 50+ year old general store at Chantry Flat, to make upgrades to meet health codes. The pack station, originally established in Sierra Madre before it moved to Chantry Flat in 1936, uses a team of donkeys to carry supplies to the cabins in the Big Santa Anita Canyon, a camp owned by the United Methodist Church.
Gas prices in America are reaching record highs. A Gallup poll this month found 85% of U.S. adults believe President Obama and Congress "should take immediate actions to try to control the rising price of gas." Mike Siroub, who has operated Union Oil Station in Arcadia for 25 years, said customers who used to fill up just put in $10 or $20 at a time, telling him they can't afford to fill up and that they are driving less or using more fuel-efficient cars. Photo of Rosalyn Buchanan filling her gas tank in Arcadia.
Foothill Gold Line Station dedication schedule is established. Arcadia Station August 22, 10 AM. Monrovia Station September 12, 10 AM. Duarte/City of Hope August 15. Irwindale August 28, 5 PM. Azusa Station September 19.
Metro responds to concerns over paid parking at Arcadia Gold Line Station. It costs $3 to park there but it had been free. Now that there is a cost to parking at Arcadia Station, there are more open spaces and this was Metro's anticipated and desired effect.
Arcadia Gold Line plaza design chosen. Concept is "Town Square" for the transit plaza adjacent to the Gold Line Arcadia station and parking lot, to be built on the northwest corner of First Avenue, across Santa Clara Avenue.