A tile tapestry was unveiled on the northwest wall of the Arcadia Public Library on Friday, April 8, 2005. More than 200 individual tiles were painted by the public to depict life in Arcadia. A photo is included.
A ceremony was held for the moving of a memorial plaque dedicated to Captain Jerry Broadwell. He is the only Arcadia firefighter to die in the line of duty. The plaque has been moved to Station 2.
A group of Arcadia firefighters who had gone to New York City to help after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were so profoundly affected that they organized a fundraiser to benefit widows and orphans of the New York Fire Department and Arcadia Fire Department. Those who went were Captain Hutcheson, Captain Trabbie, John Beveridge, Craig Stogner, Cody Cerwin and paramedic Mike MacGregor.
Arcadia Public Library opens "Teen Center," with a new collection dedicated especially to teenagers. It is located in the northeast corner of the adult reading room.
On March 5, 2005, the city will hold a community art project to decorate 6 by 6 inch tiles that will be affixed to the northwest exterior wall of the Arcadia Public Library. The theme is "Arcadia is..." The project is limited to 200 tiles.
Arcadia Fire Department received Fire Engine No. 343 from the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES). The number is significant and it has been specially dedicated by the state to the memory of the 343 New York City firefighters who died on September 11, 2001.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital unveiled Chinese and English print ads to encourage people of Chinese descent to get screened for colon cancer. The year-long campaign featuring Chinese colon cancer survivors was developed by the American Cancer Society and four Asian-American owned advertising agencies.
Innovations were unveiled at the opening day of Santa Anita Park. There is a new horseshoe - shaped bar and the SIRONA restaurant overlooking the paddock plus a new entertainment area and two grills now under construction. A list of people seen in the crowd is included.
City of Arcadia Mayor Gary Kovacic proclaims March 2 "Bobbie the Bobcat's New Friend: Day of Kindness" for Barnhart School's student-created book launch. It will be read at Arcadia Public Library on Read Across America Day.
The Arcadia Public Library is now offering a new 24-hour, 2 days a week email reference service and a live interactive chat reference service called "Ask the Librarian."
Santa Anita Park unveiled its new, all-dirt main track yesterday, allowing thoroughbred horses to get used to the natural surface three weeks before the start of the traditional winter meet. The dirt track replaces a synthetic one that failed to drain properly during heavy rains, resulting in 16 lost racing days since the fall of 2008.
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) recently evaluated the Arcadia Fire Department and reconfirmed its designation as a "Class 1" department. This is the second time Arcadia has been so honored. Only 41 fire agencies in the country have this elite distinction.
The new landscaping and bus shelter for the west side of the Arcadia Public Library will cost $152,126.03 and will be done by Mariposa Horticultural Enterprises Inc.
Arcadia Public Library will have a new conference room constructed and will remodel the existing room into offices and a work area. An office will be created for the Friends of the Library. This is the first phase and the contract was awarded to K & S Design for $106,500. Phase 2 of the project, to be completed at a later date, will include a teen center and an enlarged international language area.