Several special services provided by the Assistance League of Arcadia are reviewed, including a national program called "The Kids on the Block," which features almost life-size puppets.
The Assistance League of Arcadia will have teams of puppeteers that use the Japanese "bunraku" technique perform at local elementary schools this fall, addressing divorce, physical abuse and cultural differences.
The Assistance League of Arcadia is sponsoring "Operation School Bell," a project which provides over 900 needy San Gabriel Valley children with new shoes, socks, underwear, sweatshirts, and 2 complete outfits each year.
Mary Bittner, 79, is retiring from the Arcadia Welfare and Thrift Shop after 33 years on the governing board and 4 years as welfare director. Ms. Bittner will move to a retirement community in San Luis Obispo.
Police arrested two men and are seeking two others in connection with a stabbing that occurred at the height of the holiday shopping season at the Santa Anita Fashion Park.
Nordstrom's Department Store is scheduled to open in August 1994, while 20 specialty shops and a 292-seat food court will open in October, 1993. The $34.3 million expansion is expected to generate about $1 million in sales tax revenue each year, as well a create 250 retail jobs.
About 3000 shoppers attended the opening ceremonies of the 6th Nordstrom's store in the Los Angeles area. Seattle-based Nordstrom has grown into a 77-store chain in 14 states with $3.58 billion in sales last year.
Profile of All Seasons, located in the Pavilions shopping center on Naomi St., one of the few holiday-oriented businesses that stays open year-round (it changes its inventory every few months).
Downtown 2000: is the CFRP making a difference? In 1993, Arcadia City Council and the Redevelopment agency implemented the Comprehensive Revitalization Strategy and Program, a project designed to bring a new economic vitality to the downtown district. One of the main components of the program is the Commercial Facade Rehabilitation Program (CFRP), which provides financial assistance to downtown merchants for store-front improvements. Garlan Roberson received $11,000 from the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency for improvements to his business, Sullivan's Paints. Since the facade improvements, Roberson says business has increased significantly.
The annual Friends of the Arcadia Public Library booksale will feature 50,000 used books ranging in price from $.75 to $7. This is potentially the last sale since a book shop is part of the design for the library expansion project, scheduled for ground-breaking in November, 1994.
Jack in the Box announced it will no longer buy hamburger patties from Vons. This comes a week after a severe food poisoning outbreak linked to Jack in the Box left 2 children dead and at least 75 people hospitalized.
Opening at Santa Anita Fashion Park on June 24, 1995, Boxes of Fun features rubber stamps, personalized gifts, clip art for computers, and more. The store is profiled.
Margaret Pappas, who runs the Back on the Rack consignment shop at 118 South First Ave., says the store is "99.95% women's clothing" that "must be impeccable." Items not sold in 90 days either go back to the customer or are donated to charity.
Arcadia neurologist Vincent Fortanasce talks about his experiences as a Little League manager and his philosophy in dealing with children and patients.