Arcadia author Patricia Anaya has written an anti-bullying book for kids, inspired by a child's suicide. It is called "The Three Powers: Magic to Love Yourself."
Juan L. Lorenzo, 31, of San Gabriel, was charged with one count of murder and one count of assault with deadly weapon in connection with fatal stabbing of Anthony Berry, 18, of Pomona, in the 1300 block of S. Golden West Avenue. Jose Cruz Ramirez of San Gabriel was initially also arrested, but was released. Lorenzo and Ramirez work at Money Pot Shabu Shabu restaurant and became involved in an argument with Berry. Lorenzo will be arraigned January 5, 2012.
A sculptural 584-foot Metro Gold Line bridge, that will span the eastbound 210 Freeway, is under construction now. The $18.6 million bridge will be a dramatic gateway to the San Gabriel Valley. The bridge builder is Skanska USA Civil. The bridge's design concept of Native American baskets was designed by artist Andrew Leicester. The bridge should be completed in summer 2012. The bridge will have a built-in technology that can gauge damage to underground pilings after an earthquake. The entire 11.5 mile eastward Gold Line Foothill Extension through Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa is due to be finished in 2015.
Wind-swept cities slowly recover from a severe windstorm that blew through the San Gabriel Valley early Thursday morning. Arcadia was hit hard and "city crews and contracts are continuing to work hard to clean roadways," said Arcadia police Lieutenant Tom Leveque. Road closures that remained in effect in Arcadia on Friday morning included: westbound Colorado Street at Santa Anita Avenue; westbound Camino Real Avenue at El Monte Avenue; Longden Avenue between El Monte Avenue and Holly Avenue; Colorado Place between Colorado Boulevard and Huntington Drive; the 200 block of W. Leroy Street; the 1100 block of S. Fifth Avenue.
Thousands of San Gabriel Valley customers will be receiving refunds from Golden State Water Company after state regulators ruled the San Dimas-based company failed to properly oversee contracts that led to overcharging customers. The CPUC ruled that Golden State must refund Northern California and Southern California customers $9.5 million over the next 3 years and/or lower rates. About $400,000 in refunds will be given to 100,000 Southern California customers, including customers in Charter Oak, Claremont, Covina, Glendora, La Verne, San Dimas, Walnut, San Gabriel, Arcadia, El Monte, Irwindale, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead and Temple City.
Southern California Edison (SCE) works to restore power to crisis areas after a destructive 70 mph windstorm hit yesterday early morning, and caused power outages in Pasadena, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Arcadia, Altadena, Monrovia, El Monte, Sierra Madre, Temple City, and San Marino.
Southern California Edison (SCE) workers continued their round-the-clock efforts to restore the San Gabriel Valley's power grid following the extensive damage that occurred during early Thursday's windstorm. The hardest hit customer areas were Arcadia, Altadena, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Montebello, Monrovia, Rosemead, San Gabriel and Temple City. About 135,000 SCE customers remained without electricity.
Southern California Edison (SCE) apologizes for power outages that left 430,000 San Gabriel Valley residents in the dark for days, and some for weeks after the November 30-December 1 windstorm.
Leon San Blas had planned to bring a medical marijuana dispensary to the site of a former car wash at 4332 East Live Oak Avenue in unincorporated Arcadia, but the Los Angeles Regional Planning Commission unanimously rejected the use permit.
Gift cards to Picasso's Cafe, Bakery and Catering Co. are now selling at Costco warehouse stores. Each purchase also supports two local non-profits--Pacific Clinics and Our Neighborhood Homework House. Pacific Clinics is headquartered in Arcadia and is a community behavioral health care agency.
A $600,000 grant from the Azusa-based San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy, plus $200,000 of in-kind amenities provided by the County Department of Parks and Recreation, will help fund a face lift for Peck Road Park at 5401 Peck Road.
The restaurant Dave & Buster's at Westfield Santa Anita mall hosted a financial literacy seminar for 350 high school and college students. The seminars were organized by the nonprofit Operation HOPE and the Housing Authority of Los Angeles.
Make-a-Wish recipient Elizabeth Victoria, 12, of San Gabriel, hugs former recipient Jayne Philbin, 14 of Sierra Madre. Elizabeth's wish for a shopping spree was fulfilled yesterday in Arcadia as part of Macy's National Believe Day. Elizabeth suffers from renal disease.
Los Angeles County home sales rise slightly in November. Locally, 13 San Gabriel Valley cities saw their median home prices decline in November, while 11 communities posted increases. Arcadia ranked among the 10 California cities with the highest median home prices in November, according to the California Association of Realtors (CAR).
Arcadia Police arrested Juan Lorenzo, 31, and Jose Antonio Cruz Ramirez, 26, both of San Gabriel, on suspicion of the stabbing murder of Anthony Berry, 18, of Pomona, at 1300 S. Golden West Avenue. The suspects are employees of Money Pot Shabu Shabu restaurant and became involved in an argument with Berry. Lorenzo will be arraigned January 5, 2012.
Los Angeles County home prices and sales continue to decline. The median price of a Los Angeles County home fell in October to $339,910, down 2.6% from September's price of $349,040. However, Arcadia led all California cities with a 40% jump from last year's median price. Currently the median home price in Arcadia is $856,000. Other San Gabriel Valley area median home prices are given.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital's new wing, a $140 million, 184-bed tower, that opened last month, largely replaces 2 hospital buildings built in 1957 and 1967. This new building helps as Arcadia Methodist Hospital (AMH) plans to address the risks of buildings collapsing during an earthquake. Joe La Brie, a structural engineer said AMH has addressed utility line hazards. Acute services are being relocated to the new tower. See related story about earthquake preparedness at other hospitals in the San Gabriel Valley (see same page).
Federal legislation aimed at bringing more teachers back in the classroom is providing Pasadena-area school districts with more than $12.3 million, according to the California Department of Education's preliminary figures. Many district officials are wary of immediately using the money to hire teachers, saying they will likely have to lay off the teachers next year. The money comes from President Obama's $26 billion Jobs Bill for teachers and other government jobs. A chart shows preliminary allocations to San Gabriel Valley school districts. Arcadia Unified School District is scheduled to receive $1,667,871.