A recent audit of fire department response times in 12 cities shows San Marino and Pasadena firefighters were the quickest in responding to emergency calls. The report covered April, May and June. San Marino's and Pasadena's average response times were 4:03 and 4:02, respectively. Arcadia's average, in comparison, was 4:21.
Arcadia property owners will be asked to renew a street lighting fee schedule and assessment in June, when funding is set to expire. Officials warned that without an extension of the lighting assessment district, the city would lose about $420,000 a year. Unless the assessment is renewed, the city might have to cut services such as police protection, fire and emergency medical response services, library services, and recreation programs. Arcadia property owners currently pay 40% of street lighting repair and maintenance costs, while the city covers the other 60%. That would remain unchanged in the new assessment district, but the amounts each household pays will be different. Family households in residential neighborhoods will be charged $28.44 a year, while single-family homes along major thoroughfares will pay $16.73 a year.
Less than 6 months after reinstating it, Arcadia City Council voted unanimously to suspend the trapping and killing of coyotes in residential neighborhoods. The program, which has caught 20 coyotes since August, drew constant fire from residents and animal rights activists. Arcadia city councilman Bob Harbicht says the program was successful. The combination of educational programs and trapping has resulted in the trapping of fewer coyotes and fewer complaints at City Hall. The city spent $15,000 to conduct the trapping program, carried out by Chino-based Animal Pest Management Services, from August 2010 through January 2011. The city will suspend trapping and monitor the situation.
Arcadia Fire Department and Monrovia Fire Department resonded to a fire that destroyed a vacant Arcadia house in the 1300 block of South First Avenue. The house was in the process of being sold and was in escrow. The damage is estimated at $300,000.
Arcadia woman was hurt in apartment fire in 900 block of West Huntington Drive on August 7. The 50-something year old woman was taken to Arcadia Methodist Hospital in critical condition.
The Beltran family struggles after losing their home in a fire in February. It was a house they were renting in the 1500 block of 10th Avenue in Arcadia. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in property loss and roughly $50,000 in content damage.
Arcadia Unified School District's Board of Education took no action to reinstate fired coach James O'Brien as head cross country coach of Arcadia High School.
Organizers of the 626 Night Market at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, estimate as many as 50,000 people attended the recent 3 night run of the event. The event featured Asian street food booths and other vendors and entertainment.
Arcadia officials urge residents to report wind damage from the overnight windstorm that hit on November 30 and December 1, to help with efforts to receive state and federal emergency assistance. Damages in the city may reach the millions of dollars. Residents are asked to report their storm-related costs to the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, 211a.org or by calling 211.
Selfie Selfie Photo Studio has opened in Arcadia at 28 1/2 E. Huntington Drive. It offers private rooms where customers can snap quality and even costumed shots of themselves using a remote control. It is a venture of the popular 321 Photo Studio Franchise in China.
Venting outage outrage. Utilities get earful from wind-affected residents and politicians. Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich chastised Southern California Edison (SCE) officials for not responding effectively and failing during the disaster (windstorm November 30-December 1, 2011).
Arcadia incumbents appear to hold onto their seats. Semi-official results of City Council election. District 2-Tom Beck (northwest area, the neighborhoods surrounding Santa Anita Park on the north and west); District 5-Roger Chandler (the southeast area).
Miss Junior Taiwan Verena Wong, 5, of Arcadia (photo) and Miss Taiwan Paula Wu of Palo Alto together give away toys to preschoolers at La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center. They also presented the center with a $3000 check from Chinatrust Bank.
Mayors of seven San Gabriel Valley cities that were hard hit by last year's ferocious windstorm are making a plea to Governor Jerry Brown for state disaster relief. The seven cities include Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Temple City, San Marino, South Pasadena and La Canada Flintridge.