Arcadia Police Department officers John Jurman and Jennifer Casillas received life-saving medals, and Stan Flores received the Medal of Merit for helping in the arrest of a kidnapper.
Arcadia City Council hears report on Phase Two of the Arcadia Public Library Strategic Plan. It outlines the need for additional funding to the Strategic Plan to accommodate for remodeling and additional office space and staff.
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."
City contemplates approval of Phase Two of Arcadia Public Library's Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan outlined the current budget, proposed budgetary increases, and proposed plans for improvement of the library's facilities and staffing needs.
A bus shelter will be built on the west side of the Arcadia Public Library. The shelter will be Arcadia Transit's bus stop. Benches and forty trees will be added.
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.
Arcadia City Council has approved a new contract with the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS) to provide animal services to Arcadia. The contract is for $69,838, a 3% increase over the current year's agreement. The city has contracted with PHS since 1994. PHS handles dog licensing, answers calls for service and offers low-cost spay and neuter clinics. Other items were approved, including a contract with Engineered Plumbing Inc. for water mains and valves, the purchase of Mobile Data Terminals for the Arcadia Fire Department from Nida Companies, and massage therapist permits.
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 celebrates its 100th birthday on August 5, 2003. The date reflects the anniversary of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors certifying the results of the cityhood election. Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin was talking about creating a city as early as 1886. He wanted to name the city Baldwin. On July 27, 1903, thirty-nine residents voted for cityhood.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC, Police Chief Dave Hinig said the Arcadia Police Department has evolved and is thinking beyond local crime enforcement. Officers are thinking more regionally and are more conscious of calling the bomb squad.
Racing improprieties and cheating alleged at Santa Anita Park. "Sponging" speculations are causing an increase in security policies at Santa Anita Park. Fist-sized sponges have been allegedly placed in horses' nostrils to impede their breathing capabilities, and thus, their chances of winning.