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.
Council revises tax for admissions over race track protests. The revisions recommended apply to the existing admissions tax (a tax on other events, entertainment, amusement or competition other than horse racing held on premises with a capacity of 1,000 or more.)
Santa Anita Park will have thoroughbred racing from December 26 through April 22, a season expanded by two weeks. The horse racing bill AB 3383 provided other changes in the sport that will affect Santa Anita Park.
A special 8 page supplement offers a variety of articles on the Santa Anita Park track, its history, activities, facilities and its contributions to the community.
More than 400 rosebushes from the Arcadia Rose Garden were moved to the Arcadia High School campus. The city is planning to build a senior citizen center on the rose garden's former site.
Fashion Park is more than a center of business activity. It sponsors various special events such as the Community Health Fair designed to entertain, educate and assist residents. The mall's sales and property taxes constitute a large portion of the city's revenues.
Air conditioning is being installed at the track as part of $3.4 million in improvements being made this summer in preparation for the first season of inter-track wagering offered at Santa Anita Park this year from July 27 to September 14.
As part of a $2.6 million capital improvements program, Santa Anita Park race track has built a 2-story addition to the east end of the club-house. The 2nd story patio will be open during the Oak Tree meet, with a third story to be constructed next year.
A bomb scare at the J. C. Penney Co. store in Santa Anita Fashion Park mall led to the closing of about ten stores and the evacuation of more than 100 customers and employees.
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.
Former Arcadia Police Chief Charles D. Mitchell died August 2, after a long bout with lung cancer. Mitchell, 53, retired on July 5, 1985, after more than 20 years with the Arcadia Police Department.
The Arcadia Planning Commission gave permission to G. Barton Payne to open a Sunshine Yogurt & Bakery at the shopping center at Duarte Road and Santa Anita Avenue, but other eating places at the same corner could be vetoed. The Commission is concerned about the impact of extra traffic at that intersection.
The city council agreed to spend no more than $3000 per year to maintain the big dish fountain at Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive. The fountain broke several years ago and the county felt it could not justify the cost of fixing it.
The preliminary report of the population and housing counts of the 1980 census provides population figures for cities in the area. Arcadia's population increased slightly more than 800 from 45,138 in 1970 to 45, 955 in 1980.
Arcadia police arrested 4 men in 4 separate rooms of the Embassy Suites motel, confiscating more than 2 ounces of cocaine and $5,600 in what police called "drug money."
As the first stage of what the owners hope will be a 2-part improvement of Arcadia's Santa Anita Fashion Park, the 12-year-old shopping center has announced it will soon begin a $10.5 million interior and exterior remodeling.