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.
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.
48th Annual Arcadia Festival of Bands will be held Saturday, November 17. The event, which showcases the finest high school instrumental music talent in Southern California, has been a proud tradition in Arcadia since 1953. Dennis Davies, who recently retired after serving 39 years as a music director in Arcadia Unified School District, has been named Grand Marshal.
The Apache marching band will participate in the annual Festival of Bands. Dallas Massey, Apache Tribal Chairman for the White Mountain Apaches, will be the Grand Marshal of the parade.
Ambassador Jason C. Yuen, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, will be grand marshal of the 49th Festival of Bands Parade in Arcadia.
Members of the Arcadia High School Marching Band earned money by blowing up balloons for the Democratic National Convention at Staples Center. The money will pay for a trip later this year to the Gator Bowl in Florida.
The 4th Annual Veteran's Day Celebration took place November 11 at Arcadia County Park. Sponsored by Mike Antonovich of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. In photo, veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor James R. Wire.
Apache band captures praise in Arizona. The Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band and Color Guard took part in the White Mountain Apache Fair and rodeo in Arizona. The announcer said, "We are proud you are using our name." Photo caption: Wearing their new Apache-approved headdresses, members of the Arcadia high School Apache marching band tend to final details prior to the Arizona parade last weekend.
The Arcadia City Council has named Sawaz Elmari to the city's Centennial Commission. The City council has established a $200,000 budget for the yearlong celebration.
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.
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.
Actor Doris Roberts from TV's "Everybody Loves Raymond" was the keynote speaker at a conference on aging at the Arcadia Community Center. It was sponsored by the Los Angeles Commission for Woman and the County Commission on Aging.
Arcadia High School and music teacher, Mike Danielson from First Avenue Middle School, are among the nominees for the BRAVO awards presented by the Education Division of the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County.
Gary Kovacic is Arcadia's mayor for the third time. His first term was in 1998-1999 and his second term was in 2000-2001. In this, his third term, he is one of four out of the five Arcadia city council members rotating into the mayor's position during the 2003 Arcadia Centennial. The article includes biographical information.
Arcadia Weekly columnists:Donna Baker reports on real estate, p. 18; John Luke writes on sports, p. 14; Billy McLellan writes movie reviews, p. 11; Dawn Mueller writes theatre reviews, p. 7; Bill Peters writes music reviews, p. 13; Vince Pirolli is the wine guy, p. 7; Jack Von Bulow, D.D.S. reports on dental news, p. 21; Kelvin Wong writes about real estate, p. 19.