A statue of Arcadia city founder Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, has been proposed by his great-great-great granddaughter, Margaux Viera, of Pasadena, for placement in the rose garden next to Arcadia Community Center. City council will consider the issue tonight. City council must agree to provide a location for the proposed statue, purchase a pedestal, and provide any electrical, lighting, and landscaping deemed appropriate. (Article erroneously states that Margaux Viera is the great-great-granddaughter of Elias J. Baldwin. In her proposal to the City of Arcadia, she states that she is, in fact, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Baldwin.)
Arcadia city council agrees to accept gift statue of Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. His great-great-great granddaughter, Margaux Viera, 34 of Pasadena, will commission a bronze statue for display next to Arcadia Community Center. The statue will be worth close to $60,000. The city will pay for pedestal, lighting and landscaping, up to $25,000.
Lucky Baldwin statue to be unveiled at Reverend Monsignor Gerald M. O'Keefe Rose Garden at Holly Avenue and Huntington Drive. Bronze sculpture commissioned, donated by city founder Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin's descendants Margaux Gibson-Viera and Heather Gibson (Baldwin's great-great-great granddaughters). Statue was designed and made by artist Alfred Paredes. See also VF Statuary #20.
Lucky Baldwin statue dedicated. at Reverend Monsignor Gerald M. O'Keeffe Rose Garden at Holly Avenue and Huntington Drive. Bronze sculpture commissioned, donated by city founder Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin's descendants Margaux Gibson-Viera and Heather Gibson (Baldwin's great-great-great granddaughters). Statue was designed and made by artist Alfred Paredes. See also VF Statuary #20.
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Baldwin family push to revive Baldwin Lake. The 4-acre lake in the middle of the Arboretum stands polluted, filled with tons of mud and filth from years of urban runoff. Tony Zampiello, executive officer of the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster, along with the county's Department of Parks and Recreation, have formed a task force with goal of dredging the old lake built by Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin in the late 19th century. Margaux Viera, Baldwin's great-great-great granddaughter, a member of the "Save Baldwin Lake" task force, says the shoreline around the lake is collapsing and eroding. See hard copy in VF "Arboretum."
Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage has a permanent exhibit on Anita Baldwin. The daughter of Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin was a quiet woman of great compassion.
Summary of a vintage promotional booklet about Santa Anita Park havings its inaugural race on Christmas Day, December 25, 1934. At the time, Los Angeles Turf Club Inc. was the owner and operator of Santa Anita Park and there were 53 racing days that first season. Charter stockholder and membership requirements are discussed.
Santa Anita Park restaurants and eateries cut back by limiting service. The FrontRunner will serve fewer items during satellite wagering period and the Turf Club and Club House will be closed entirely. Photos of Jay Cohen, trumpeter, Billy Malone and kitchen staff and counter.
A multi-million dollar remodeling at Santa Anita Park will include a restoration of the Chandelier Room to its former glamour. The room is nearly 80 years old (probably not true, according to Sandy Snider), and is the most popular event venue at the track. Other portions of the grandstand will be renovated and will remain true to the architectural and design style of the Art Deco period that originally inspired it.
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.
A jury convicted DeQiang Song, 24 of Monterey Park, of the kidnapping and attempted murder of a 21-year-old woman, who he knew through a mutual friend, after taking her on a trip to Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall in Arcadia on September 8, 2010. He then took her to a remote area of desert in San Bernardino County and bound her, strangled her, sliced her throat with a knife and left her for dead. She survived. Song asked the victim's father for $10,000 in ransom money. He will be sentenced April 26 in Alhambra Superior Court.
Los Angeles County officials are holding a meeting at 6:00 PM today at Arcadia County Park to address concerns and to "clarify misperceptions" about a plan to bring in a new operator and manager for the park's tennis center. The community is concerned about pricey fees or membership dues if the recommended operator iTennis is approved by the Board of Supervisors next month. Tony Bell, spokesperson for Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, said there will be no pay-to-play or required membership. The new contract will be to improve the quality of services, programs and amenities.
Arcadia's original Din Tai Fung location at 1108 South Baldwin Avenue is closing for two months for renovations, but a bigger, 9000 s.f. flagship store at Westfield Santa Anita mall opened yesterday. The other Din Tai Fung location at 1088 South Baldwin Avenue will be permanently closed.
Deqiang Song, 26, of Monterey Park, gets life in prison without possibility of parole, for the crime of kidnapping for ransom, and a second sentence of life in prison plus four years, for the attempted murder of his then 21-year-old victim. Song met his victim through a mutual friend and took her to Westfield Santa Anita mall in Arcadia on September 8, 2010. Then he took her to a remote area of desert in San Bernardino County. He strangled the woman and slit her throat. He called her father for ransom. She survived.
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.
Santa Anita Park: another horse dies; summary on its way. Death is fifth in month; The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) report on past meet is due in December. GQ Covergirl, a 6-year-old mare trained by Doug O'Neill injured her front legs Friday on Santa Anita's training track and was euthanized.
Santa Anita Park to honor Ambrosio Maldonado's family legacy with a birthday party. Members of the Maldonado family have worked at the racetrack since 1934. Ambrosio was employed as a masonry laborer from 1945 to 1972. His father, Elpidio Maldonado worked there 1934 until 1967. Ambrosio's son Jerry Maldonado worked 1988 to 1995. Jerry's brother Joe worked there 31 years and Joe, Jr. is currently employed. See also VF "Santa Anita Park-People" (item #32).