Arcadia's Centennial (1903-2003) approaches and the Arcadia Centennial Celebration Commission is planning on a year-long, citywide celebration for the city's 100th birthday. In photo, a baseball cap to commemorate the centennial, is on sale at Arcadia Public Library.
The Jack Lantz Big Band will perform big band swing music on April 27, 2003, at the Arcadia Community Center as part of the Arcadia centennial celebration.
Arcadia government officials and centennial committee members are planning a yearlong civic celebration beginning January 1, 2003. On January 18, a gala event will honor people who have served the city. The history of Arcadia's incorporation, including the decision to use August 5, 1903, as the official date, is included.
As part of the Centennial celebration, Gloria Horstman will review current books at the Arcadia Public Library. Horstman was an Arcadia school board member and served on the Library's Board of Trustees.
Patt Morrison, who is a member of two Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times reporting teams and host of KCET's "Bookshow", moderates a panel of Arcadia authors at a city centennial event on March 31, 2003 at Arcadia Public Library.
Locals are invited to document "A Day in the Life of Arcadia," by shooting pictures that reflect life in Arcadia. Photos will be part of an exhibit at the Arcadia Historical Museum to celebrate the city's centennial.
An 8-foot tall bronze tribute to Arcadia's official bird, the peacock, will be unveiled August 5, as part of the city's centennial celebration. The statue will be located in the fountain at Peacock Corner, in the front of Arcadia County Park, at the southwest corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue. The sculptor of the peacock is Dave Chapple and the sculpture cost $30,000.
Local residents and merchants have bought commemorative street banners which bear the inscription "Celebrating Arcadia's Centennial: 1903-2003" alongside their own name. Banners will be up January 1 and will hang until December 31, 2003.
As part of Arcadia's 2003 centennial celebration, each council member has served as mayor for a three-month period of time. Mickey Segal will lead the city for the last three months until after the April 13 City Council election.
As part of Arcadia's centennial, the city is considering putting up historical markers around town as reminders of past people and events that have shaped Arcadia. There has been $12,000 in centennial funds allocated for the program and a tentative list of some 30 sites presented to Arcadia City Council. Some potential marker locations are given.
"Visions of Arcadia", the anthology of essays celebrating the city's centennial, will be out in time to be presented at the city's 100th birthday party on August 5. The book was edited by Councilman Gary Kovacic. The printing cost over $15,000.