Focus on the Family, Arcadia's 5th largest employer, has run out of room and may have to leave town. The mushrooming non-profit organization with a Christian radio, publishing, counseling, film and television ministry, could leave within 6 months to a year.
Focus on the Family, and Arcadia-based Christian organization dedicated to the preservation of the home, is about to move into new offices in Arcadia. The organization, which has grown rapidly over the past few years, currently has 310 employees and occupies offices in 7 separate buildings in Arcadia. The new building, located on Foothill Blvd., will be completed around the first of October.
Robert Harbicht, vice chairman of the Arcadia Planning Commission and former mayor of the city of Duarte, has become an official candidate for the Arcadia City Council by filing his nomination papers with the city clerk.
By unanimous vote of the City Council, Donald Pellegrino was selected as mayor of Arcadia for the 1985-86 year and Mary Young was selected to replace him as mayor pro-tem.
Arcadia's Focus on the Family has a "handshake agreement" to move to Pomona. The 5th largest employer in Arcadia, with 400 workers, will move everything except a warehouse in Monrovia, to Pomona.
Mary Young was installed as the new mayor of Arcadia, while Charles Gilb was named mayor pro-tem. Donald Pellegrino and David Hannah stepped down from the council to be replaced by Roger Chandler and Robert Harbicht.
Councilmen Jeff Dring and Dick Haltom sent letter to state Fair Political Practices Commission charging Mayor Don Pellegrino with a $307,500 conflict of interest.
A civil lawsuit involving Arcadia Mayor Donald Pellegrino has been delayed until July 16 to give the defendant's new attorney time to familiarize himself with the case.
City Councilman Jeff Dring again raises question of conflict of interest on property previously owned by Mayor Don Pellegrino and purchased by one of partners of Cornerstone/RPI Development Co.