The trial for Isaac Campbell, charged with the murder of Liya "Jessie" Lu, has been delayed to give the Public Defender Jim Duffy time to transcribe a set of tapes from follow-up witness interviews from August. Lu went missing August 11, 2007 and her body was discovered a month later in the trash can of Campbell's friend's house in Arcadia.
Juan L. Lorenzo, 31, of San Gabriel, was charged with one count of murder and one count of assault with deadly weapon in connection with fatal stabbing of Anthony Berry, 18, of Pomona, in the 1300 block of S. Golden West Avenue. Jose Cruz Ramirez of San Gabriel was initially also arrested, but was released. Lorenzo and Ramirez work at Money Pot Shabu Shabu restaurant and became involved in an argument with Berry. Lorenzo will be arraigned January 5, 2012.
Leon San Blas had planned to bring a medical marijuana dispensary to the site of a former car wash at 4332 East Live Oak Avenue in unincorporated Arcadia, but the Los Angeles Regional Planning Commission unanimously rejected the use permit.
Four men try to rob an Arcadia couple outside their home near Lovell Avenue and Camino Real Avenue. They are in the jewelry business and just got home after attending a trade show. The couple believe the robbers followed them home. Anyone with information should call Arcadia police detectives.
Seventeen year old La Canada High School student Evanne Elizabeth Friedmann was crowned the 93rd Rose Queen. The 2011 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court includes Friedmann, Tatyane Anaid Berrios of Arcadia High School, Sarah Frederickson of Maranatha High School, Jessica Montoya of Flintridge Preparatory School, Tenaya Senzaki of Pasadena High School, Kathryn Thomson of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Michelle Washington of Pasadena City College.
Evanne Elizabeth Friedmann was crowned the 93rd Rose Queen by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses President Jeffrey Throop. She is a seventeen year old La Canada High School senior and will reign over the 122nd Rose Parade. Rose Princesses on the Royal Court are Tatyane Anaid Berrios of Arcadia High School, Sarah Frederickson of Maranatha High School, Jessica Montoya of Flintridge Preparatory School, Tenaya Senzaki of Pasadena High School, Kathryn Thomson of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Michelle Washington of Pasadena City College.
Arcadia Police arrested Juan Lorenzo, 31, and Jose Antonio Cruz Ramirez, 26, both of San Gabriel, on suspicion of the stabbing murder of Anthony Berry, 18, of Pomona, at 1300 S. Golden West Avenue. The suspects are employees of Money Pot Shabu Shabu restaurant and became involved in an argument with Berry. Lorenzo will be arraigned January 5, 2012.
Arcadia police arrested 3 burglary suspects after a high-speed chase on the 210 Freeway ended in a crash in Azusa yesterday. The suspects are Dominic Bertirotti, 23, of Monrovia, Salim Alayache, 23 of Pasadena and Salvador Esparza, Jr., 18 of Azusa. No one was injured seriously.
Hazel Williams, 96, of Arcadia, volunteers as coordinator of two outreach ministry projects she started at Arcadia Presbyterian Church--Operation Christmas Child and The Happy Big Box Program. The programs help needy children.
Gift cards to Picasso's Cafe, Bakery and Catering Co. are now selling at Costco warehouse stores. Each purchase also supports two local non-profits--Pacific Clinics and Our Neighborhood Homework House. Pacific Clinics is headquartered in Arcadia and is a community behavioral health care agency.
Individual students and the Arcadia Educational Foundation (AEF) raised about $840,000 for the Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) during its annual appeal last year, enabling the district to reinstate 12 teaching positions. Budget cuts from the state have created "serious challenges" for Arcadia schools over the past 4 years, said AUSD superintendent Joel Shawn.
With about a dozen Southern California cities, including Arcadia, potentially seeking new city managers this fall, some local officials are worried demand could drive up the salaries. Arcadia City Councilman Roger Chandler, whose city manager Don Penman is retiring in October, after 3 years as top administrator, said the opportunity to work for certain cities will outweigh the competitive market. He said this will not create a bidding war for city managers. Penman's annual salary is $214,032 plus $4000 in deferred compensation. He receives $14,076/year in medical benefits, 4 weeks vacation, 2 weeks management leave, and use of a car and BlackBerry.
Los Angeles County home prices and sales continue to decline. The median price of a Los Angeles County home fell in October to $339,910, down 2.6% from September's price of $349,040. However, Arcadia led all California cities with a 40% jump from last year's median price. Currently the median home price in Arcadia is $856,000. Other San Gabriel Valley area median home prices are given.
Federal legislation aimed at bringing more teachers back in the classroom is providing Pasadena-area school districts with more than $12.3 million, according to the California Department of Education's preliminary figures. Many district officials are wary of immediately using the money to hire teachers, saying they will likely have to lay off the teachers next year. The money comes from President Obama's $26 billion Jobs Bill for teachers and other government jobs. A chart shows preliminary allocations to San Gabriel Valley school districts. Arcadia Unified School District is scheduled to receive $1,667,871.
Thousands of San Gabriel Valley customers will be receiving refunds from Golden State Water Company after state regulators ruled the San Dimas-based company failed to properly oversee contracts that led to overcharging customers. The CPUC ruled that Golden State must refund Northern California and Southern California customers $9.5 million over the next 3 years and/or lower rates. About $400,000 in refunds will be given to 100,000 Southern California customers, including customers in Charter Oak, Claremont, Covina, Glendora, La Verne, San Dimas, Walnut, San Gabriel, Arcadia, El Monte, Irwindale, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead and Temple City.