Monterey Park shooting aftermath. Lunar New Year is typically a festive and family affair, but was marred by a mass shooting in Monterey Park, which killed 10 at a dance hall. David Lee, co-president of Arcadia Chinese Association, said Lunar New Year is supposed to be "a happy time for family reunions because Chinese tradition and culture is very family-oriented."
Westfield Santa Anita kicking off Lunar New Year Celebration on Thursday, January 20. It's the Year of the Tiger. Arcadia Mayor Sho Tay will join Westfield representatives and community partners to unveil a 7-foot-tall golden tiger as the centerpiece of this year's Center Court decorations. A gold "wishing well" will be installed so shoppers can donate to Asian Pacific Community Fund. Westfield will announce a Gift with Purchase promotion.
Arcadia Public Library hosts Lunar New Year celebration on January 18, 2020. Celebrating the Year of the Rat with fun stories, activities and a Lion Dance and presentation by Shin Dance Academy, sponsored by Sino U.S. Performing Arts Organization.
The Chinese Cultural Promotion Center has recently been established by a group that plans to promote Chinese culture in the area. Dr. Sheng Chang, director of the new group, said the organization will hold a Chinese Cultural Festival once a year.
Officials offer words of condolence for Monterey Park shooting victims. As Monterey Park grieves lives of 11 victims of a mass shooter who shot people at Star Dance Studio on Saturday, January 21, the Lunar New Year eve (Chinese New Year eve), President Joe Biden, Governor Gavin Newsom, and local officials such as Arcadia Mayor Paul Cheng, Rosemead Mayor Sean Dang, Duarte City officials, Los Angeles City Council, among others, offered condolences.
Monterey Park shooting aftermath. Ex-tenant: Attack suspect hated his dance instructors. Huu Can Tran harbored a deep hatred for fellow instructors at Star Dance Studio where he killed 11 patrons and wounded 9 others on Saturday, January 21, the Lunar New Year eve. Tran's tenant, a man who formerly rented a small home from the gunman said Tran distrusted people and could become very angry. At one time, Tran had lived in an apartment in Arcadia. The former tenant describes other aspects of Tran's personality.
About 40 members of the Arcadia Chinese Association protested in front of the Chinese Consulate General offices, condemning the Chinese government for killing unarmed students in Beijing.
Arcadia's new senior center will be built at the Rose Garden at the corners of Huntington and Campus Drives. The city will start taking bids for the proposed $2.5 million, 18,000-square foot building in April. (At least 21% of the city population is over age 60.)
The city has decided against trying to lease a vacated elementary school for a senior citizen center. Seniors are interested in having a drop-in center but the additional cost of leasing a school would not be justified.
Senior citizens center still faces many, many obstacles. Since the formation of the Arcadia Senior Citizens' Commission in 1978 one of its goals has been to acquire or construct a senior citizens/community center.
Arcadia could build a multi-purpose Senior Citizen Center for $1.5 million plus the cost of the property, according to a report submitted to the City Council by Warren Shaw, chairman of the Arcadia Senior Citizen's Commission. The report indicated that most of the money would come from state and federal sources, but that Arcadia would need to chip in at least $225,000 of matching funds. The center is necessary, Shaw said, due to a current lack of senior citizen facilities.
The Chinese School in Arcadia, with about 85 children, is geared to teaching Chinese children about their cultural heritage, music history, language, customs and traditions. See hard copy in VF "Schools - Private."
The Arcadia Chinese Association honored its new president Dr. Wayne Lin. The association, which began seven years ago with 25 families, represent 1300 today.
Construction of a new senior center in Arcadia will be funded in part through more than $200.000 allocated from federal Community Development Block Grant funds for the 1988-89 fiscal year, not through an exchange of money with another city that would have cost Arcadia about $75,000.
The new Senior Citizen Center, now in the architectural drawing stage of development will replace the Rose Garden at the corner of Huntington and Campus Drives. The center will house the administration offices of the Arcadia Parks and Recreation Department and the Historical Museum.
Review by Merrill Shindler - Asian market is authentic. 99 Ranch Market chain has hundreds of good things at its multiple San Gabriel locations, including one in Arcadia. Its mission is to offer authentic Chinese ingredients to underserved Chinese-American communities across America.
Plans to build a new Arcadia Senior Center are moving forward, with studies of the center's possible role, funding for the center and scouting for a site under way.
An ad hoc committee of seniors plans to collect 5,000 signatures by the end of February asking the Arcadia City Council to commit itself to acquiring a senior center.
A building contract for a senior citizens center has been awarded to Nationwide Construction of Downey. Groundbreaking is anticipated in three months. The center will be built on the triangular piece of land at the intersection of Holly Avenue and Campus and Huntington Drives across from the Chamber of Commerce.