The Arcadia float in the 2003 Tournament of Roses Parade will be built by Bill Lofthouse, dean of Rose Parade float builders and owner of Phoenix Floats.
Using the theme "100 Years of Good Health, Happiness and Prosperity," an Arcadia Rose Parade float commemorates the city's centennial. Riding on the float will be a doctor, a nurse, a graduate of Arcadia Methodist Hospital's neonatal program, US Army Captain Jon Shafer, a horseracing figure, and two local children. The two children will be chosen by random drawing.
Arcadia's 100th birthday festivities will begin in January with the city's float entry in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. Riders on float include Jon Dorian Shafer, Lane Barcham and Alison Chien. Other activities for the centennial year are outlined.
Bradford Hack, Dawn Pejsar, and Nicholas Campbell will be some of the riders on the 2003 float representing Arcadia in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. Other riders are named as well.
Arcadia officially unveiled the design for its city centennial float last week. Designed by Phoenix Builders, it features the Queen Anne Cottage, the wishing well fountain from Santa Anita, and a giant peacock. It cost $100,000. A list of float riders is included.
Arcadia has lost its float theme for 1974 because the designing firm missed the deadline. "The First American" idea has been claimed by Los Angeles County, although Arcadia is still appealing through Supervisor Baxter Ward.
62-year-old Gary J. DiSano of San Juan Capistrano, formerly of Arcadia, is the new Tournament of Roses president. He unveiled the theme for next year's parade: "2010: a cut above the rest." He has been a Tournament of Roses volunteer since 1972.
Two local fire safe councils, the Sierra Madre and Big Santa Anita councils, each received $1000 of a grant from Farmers Insurance Group. The grant will help residents protect their homes.
Jack Laidlaw and his daughter Jessica Laidlaw will ride the Trader Joe's float in the Rose Parade. Jack Laidlaw is a film and art teacher at Arcadia High School. His home at the Oakridge Mobile Home Park was lost in the Sayre fire in November, 2008.
Arcadia resident Anjali Agrawal, a senior at La Salle High School, was named one of the seven princesses selected for the 2003 Tournament of Roses Court. She was selected from a group of 38 finalists.
Dr. Ed Ryan has been chosen President of the Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association for 1975. The parade theme is Heritage of America. Arcadia's entry title has not yet been chosen.
The City Council voted to start a Worker's Compensation self- insurance program. The city has used state compensation in the past, but self-insurance will save approximately $480,000 in the next 5 years.
Natalie Innocenzi, 17, of Arcadia, and student at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, was crowned the 92nd Rose Queen, by 17-year-old Dominic DiSano, son of the late Gary DiSano, the recently deceased President of the Tournament of Roses.