An earthquake registering 5.5 on the Richter scale hit Australia's southeast coast at 3:28 PST on Wednesday, December 27, 1989. Newcastle, Australia's fifth largest city, suffered the majority of damage as 11 were known to have died. A city of 500,000, Newcastle has the largest concentration of heavy industry in the country.
Toxicity tests show that the spill of an asphalt and water mixture into an Arcadia fishing lake poses "no significant water quality threat," according to a state water quality engineer.
The Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association chose an unusual method of delivery in mailing announcements to the membership for the forthcoming "Lucky Baldwin Day" celebration. The mail arrived by a hot air balloon.
At the Board of Education meeting there was some discussion of the Space Utilization Committee's recommendation to close two elementary schools, Bonita Park and Baldwin Stocker. Robert Kladifke, a member of the committee, objected to closing the newest and most educationally modern school in the district, Baldwin Stocker. Two public hearings are scheduled.
More information on proposed budget cuts: 53 teachers will be cut rather than the 60 that had been publicized; the instrumental music program will remain intact; academic counseling will continue but personal counseling will be cut back.
Two elementary schools, Bonita Park and Baldwin Stocker, have been recommended for closure by the Space Utilization Committee. The Board of Education will analyze the recommendations and schedule public hearings before making a decision.
Construction of a Vons Market west of Baldwin Avenue between Duarte Road and Naomi Avenue may depend on whether the East Pasadena Water Company accepts the City Council's proposal allowing the city to extend its line into the water company's territory at the western end of the Vons development. The East Pasadena Water Company's lines are too small to be effective in case of fire.
Between August 11 and September 30, the city will install brick sidewalks on Huntington Drive between 2nd Avenue and Santa Clara Street as the first major phase of Arcadia's downtown revitalization project.
Petitions are being circulated that are aimed at thwarting the possible closure of two elementary schools. The savings would amount to only .7% of an $18 million school budget - not enough to justify closing the schools, according to the parents of students at Bonita Park and Baldwin Stocker.
Todd Dickson, a 12-year-old student at Baldwin Stocker School, has won a trip to Spain. Parade Magazine conducted a contest for news carriers across the country. Todd joins 139 other carriers for his two week trip.
Arcadia's City Council selected American Golf Corporation of Santa Monica to refurbish and run the Arcadia Par 3 Golf Course as 620 East Live Oak. The estimate for remodeling is set at $405,000.
H. Richard (Dick) Closson has been elected president of the Huntington Bank. Closson has been in the banking profession for more than 25 years and has resided in Arcadia for 30 years.