As the United States goes to war with Iraq and the threat of retaliatory terrorist attacks raised the national threat level to High Risk Orange, the cities of Monrovia and Arcadia are prepared for the worst. City officials are talking about emergency response. The city has developed the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), where representatives from all city departments can gather to organize and respond to any emergency.
Cities of Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, and Monrovia are seeking funding for fire training from the federal government (FEMA). They want to establish a training facility on federal property in Arcadia near the 210 Freeway and Santa Anita Avenue.
The Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay on the demolition of Anoakia. Until significant unresolved issues are settled the developers were ordered to stop everything.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital celebrated its 53rd Annual Holiday Homes Tour. All proceeds go to support The Next Generation of Care campaign, toward a new patient tower, expanded Emergency department, and additional ICU beds.
Arcadia and Sierra Madre's water supply to benefit from $1.8 million federal grant. Arcadia will get $900,000 of the grant. This will fund the next phase of an on-going, 5-year program to ensure emergency water for its citizens, following any potential seismic activity.
The City Council reviews changes that would allow Santa Anita Park race track to operate the Frontrunner Restaurant and big screen TV year around and to allow for satellite TV wagering until 1:30 a.m. seven days a week.
The Arcadia City Council has approved a 12-month pilot program to expand its Dial-a-Ride service to include a new non-emergency medical appointment transportation program for seniors and disabled persons. The program includes service to five hospitals outside the city limits--Huntington Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park, City of Hope Medical Center and Santa Teresita Hospital, both in Duarte, and Mountainview Dialysis Center in Monrovia.
The parking lot at the Arcadia Community Center will be expanded by including the lot where the Arcadia Historical Museum was formerly located. New electrical equipment will be installed. Total cost will be $104,600.
The Arcadia High School class of 2002 has 28 National Merit Scholarship finalists. It is the highest number in school history. A group photograph and biographical information on each finalist is presented.
In the transition to the new federal No Child Left Behind Program, the Arcadia Board of Education is losing money and is being forced to cut the number of English language instructional aides in elementary school.
Joe Miller writes a semi-regular column called Rotary Corner in Arcadia Weekly. It covers activities of the Arcadia Rotary Club and Rotary International. The page number varies by the issue.
Lisa Melinda Welchert was convicted on charges related to an Arcadia traffic fatality on February 9, 1999 that killed John Chan. The police were not held liable.