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).
A national mobile "Driving for Quality Care" campaign to fully fund nursing care came to Country Villa Huntington Drive, an Arcadia retirement village yesterday, where seniors signed its petition. The petition urges state lawmakers to allocate $16 million in recently approved emergency Medicaid funding for long-term care. Residents Helen Smith and Janet Spriggs are pictured.
More high winds expected. Clean-up efforts remain ongoing across San Gabriel Valley. With Santa Ana winds expected to batter Southern California for several days this week, residents and work crews scrambled yesterday to clear downed trees, replace utility poles and restore power after the historic storm that hit Thursday, December 1, 2011. A small army of Southern California Edison (SCE) workers gathered in the Santa Anita Park race track parking lot--some waiting for orders, others moving the dozens of replacement transformers. SCE will need to bring power back to the 78,000 customers still without electricity as of yesterday afternoon.
Area hospitals are rated on their earthquake safety and readiness. Arcadia Methodist Hospital received a 2 out of 5 rating for all buildings. This hospital has been granted a waiver and won't have to be at a rating of 3 until 2030. See related article on p. A1.
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.
Arcadia City Council declared its intention to provide seed redevelopment money--provided a state Supreme Court ruling in January frees up such funding--to help the Arcadia Downtown Business Association breathe new life into the city's traditional downtown, by establishing a property-based business improvement district.
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.
Maria C. Martinez, a former employee of a Rite-Aid store in Arcadia, was awarded $3.4 million by a jury, which found she was discriminated against because of a medical disability and for complaining that a company manager sexually harassed her.
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 Supervisors approved an $8.5 million budget to complete a new pool facility at Arcadia County Park by May 2013. Sparano & Mooney Architecture will create initial "scoping" designs that contractors will use to bid on aspects of the project.
Clean-up may cost millions in the aftermath of the windstorm that hit in the early hours of December 1. Power is still out in many communities, hundreds of homes damaged and thousands of trees have snapped.
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.
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.
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.
With about a dozen Southern California cities, including Arcadia, potentially seeking new city managers this fall, some local officials are worried demand could drive up the salaries. Arcadia City Councilman Roger Chandler, whose city manager Don Penman is retiring in October, after 3 years as top administrator, said the opportunity to work for certain cities will outweigh the competitive market. He said this will not create a bidding war for city managers. Penman's annual salary is $214,032 plus $4000 in deferred compensation. He receives $14,076/year in medical benefits, 4 weeks vacation, 2 weeks management leave, and use of a car and BlackBerry.
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.