Arcadia Mayor's Breakfast / State of the City and Methodist Hospital update at Community Connections by Joan Schmidt. Mayor Peter Amundson was born and raised in Arcadia and spoke about what a great city it is to live, love, learn and leave a legacy. He spoke about the great Arcadia Public Library with its 42 high tech computers.
Gary Kovacic is Arcadia's mayor for the sixth time since 1998. Mayor Pro Tem is Roger Chandler. Mayor Kovacic is in the final year of a second consecutive four-year term. Due to term limits, he will have to step away from Arcadia City Council for at last two years after he concludes his current term as mayor, next April.
Unanimous Arcadia City Council acts to place local funding measure, known as the “Arcadia Public Safety, City Services and Accountability Measure” on the June 2019 ballot to maintain public safety and other city services. City staff and the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee have indicated Arcadia has a multi-million dollar structural deficit.
Street closures for the 59th Annual Festival of Bands Parade hosted by City of Arcadia. Baldwin Avenue between Huntington Drive and Naomi Avenue will be closed 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Duarte Road between Golden West and El Monte Avenue closed 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and Campus Drive between Santa Anita Avenue and Holly Avenue closed 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Over the two days of the Breeders' Cup this year, there were 95,000 in attendance, at Santa Anita Park. It was a 5 percent increase over the last two year's two-day crowds.
Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) Deputy Superintendent Robert Leri has resigned. Arcadia High School Principal David Vannasdall will take on the additional role of Deputy Superintendent March 1 and leave his job as principal at end of school year to become Deputy Superintendent. Other personnel changes within the school district. AUSD is trying to cover a projected $7 million annual budget deficit with a proposed 5-year parcel tax. Arcadia Educational Foundation is doing its annual solicitation.
Arcadia Public Library Foundation donates over $16,000 to Arcadia Public Library. The money will be used to fund Kaleidoscope Classical Concerts, more chairs for the library auditorium, more new adult Chinese language materials, more copies of best seller e-books, updated software for the preschool computers, and updated performances rights DVDs for Children's programming.
Honorees of Arcadia Chamber 2015 Business Awards include Patricia Colonello of Mountain Views News. Business Person of the Year went to Kin Hui of Arcadia, CEO of Singpoli Group. Business of the Year went to Sierra Auto Honda, a family owned business. Raquel McLaughlin and her mother were awarded New Business of the Year.
Four-story downtown building approved. It will be a mixed-use apartment/commercial building at corner of First Avenue and Wheeler Street behind 24-Hour Fitness.
Arcadia Police Department Chief Guthrie has implemented an Area Command Community Partnership Program to effectively address crime issues and improve quality of life issues in the City of Arcadia in its five geographic areas (same as voting districts).
Arcadia Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast 2019: we are all Americans in a great city. Columnist Joan Schmidt recaps the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast and City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto’s State of the City Address. Pictured: Kari Helman, Jim Helms and his daughter.
Seven candidates for two seats on Arcadia City Council: Paul Cheng, April Verlato, Bob Harbicht, Peter Amundson, Dr. Sheng Chang, Burton Brink, and Paul Van Fleet.
Hale Corporation to break ground August 13 on medical building in Arcadia. It will be a four-story office building, built as a joint-venture partnership with The Stronach Group. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A3, August 20, 2013 and Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, August 15, 2013.
The body of missing Arcadia firefighter Mike Herdman was found by rescuers in the Sespe Wilderness yesterday. He went missing June 13. Cause of death is pending an autopsy. Herdman would have turned 37 tomorrow. He is survived by a wife and 6-year-old daughter.
Recently, about 140 people attended the 16th Annual Law Day at Arcadia Public Library. This free Ask-a-Lawyer Program is a joint effort of the City of Arcadia and the Arcadia Chinese Association.