Plaza de las Fiestas, a new multipurpose arena in the northwest quadrant of the infield at the Santa Anita Park, has been created to accommodate Family Faire weekend outings for groups of 25 or more, as well as company picnics, concerts, trade shows, equine shows and other special occasions that can share the day with racing.
Karen Garr is one of 400 pari-mutual clerks behind the betting windows at Arcadia's Santa Anita Park. The 44 year old Arcadia resident has been close to the race track since 1969, when she started as a "pony girl" in the back stretch of Santa Anita Park.
May Co. has bowed out of the proposed expansion of the Santa Anita Fashion Park. As a result, the project's price tag should drop from $75 million to approximately $32 million.
The Arcadia Bond Committee has received nearly $11,000 in donations to help fund its campaign for a $28 million bond measure to upgrade Arcadia public schools.
The City Council approved funding for a new guardrail along Santa Anita Canyon Road, where a motorist drove over a mountainside last year. Federal funds will cover 90% of the new guardrail costs, and the new guardrail could be in place as early as spring.
Partick Anderson, 23, of Inglewood remained in custody on suspicion of murder charges for the shooting death of Henry Miller, 27, of Los Angeles, who was killed in the paddock at the Santa Anita Park race track, making this the first shooting at the track in its 55-year history.
The opening day of Oak Tree marked the introduction of satellite wagering on Santa Anita Park races at Hollywood Park and Los Alamitos. After years of resistance, Santa Anita Park has fully embraced satellite wagering in a bid to win back fans lost to the lottery and urban congestion.
The Board of Education has approved a new after-school child care program to be conducted by the Santa Anita Family branch of the YMCA at the Holly Avenue Elementary School Youth Hut. About 20 children have been enrolled in the program, which can accommodate up to 35.
The Anoakia School, soon to be renamed the Anita Oaks School, won a victory against staunch opponents of the relocation when the Duarte City Council unanimously approved the move to property owned by New Life Assembly of God Church.
The recent scaling back of the proposed expansion at the Santa Anita Fashion Park means the city may no longer need a bond to help pay for the project.
In an informal, long-range planning session, City Council members made a new library and police station two of their top priorities. Last month, the council approves spending $55,000 to hire a consultant, to be chosen at the June 19th meeting, to draw up plans for a new library to replace the overcrowded library.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously to begin condemnation proceedings of a property at 156 Santa Clara Street. The agency wants to claim the land for retail stores and office buildings. Eminent domain proceedings were begun since the city and the owners of the property have not been able to agree on the value of the property.
The City Council passed a resolution supporting the Arcadia Coalition for Education, a group of educators and community members demanding more state money for schools.