Santa Anita-based 'Free Animal Doctor' continues to help pet owners with needed services. Now entering its second year, Free Animal Doctor, a non-profit provides free veterinary services to dogs and cats, and is located in Santa Anita Park's parking lot 7. It opened on September 15, 2020. Free Animal Doctor utilizes Crowdfunding to raise monies for specific pets. Co-founder is Sam Bernardo. Spaying and neutering are available. See freeanimaldoctor.org or call 626-487-7129 for more information.
Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests continue to build momentum across the nation and around the world demanding justice for the death of George Floyd and bringing the issue of systemic racism to Arcadia, where hundreds gathered to protest at Arcadia County Park.
Local officials launch West San Gabriel Valley vaccination hubs in Monterey Park, Arcadia, Temple City and Rosemead. COVID-19 vaccinations of the Moderna vaccine presented by Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Herald Christian Health Center. See also "Individuals with underlying health conditions now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine" Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, March 18, 2021.
Class of 2023 graduations happening in Arcadia include:
June 1-Arroyo Pacific Academy graduation at Arroyo Pacific Academy, 325 North Santa Anita Avenue.
June 8-Arcadia High School graduation at Santa Anita Park Racetrack, 285 West Huntington Drive.
Also, June 6-Gabrielino High School (located in San Gabriel) graduation will be held at Santa Anita Park Racetrack.
Arcadia Unified School District offering free COVID-19 rapid take-home tests for every student through the month of January. They held a drive-through pick-up event on January 4 and 5 at Arcadia Performing Arts Center at 188 Campus Drive. In addition to these rapid tests, which were provided by the California Department of Health, the district also has their regular testing located at Arcadia Education Center, which is for Arcadia Unified School District students and staff, free of charge.
Bay Area horse racing track Golden Gate Fields in San Francisco to close permanently later this year. After the Golden Gate Fields meet ends, The Stronach Group said it will focus on moving horses from the Bay Area to Arcadia, with a goal of increasing field sizes and adding a fourth day of racing to the weekly schedule at Santa Anita Park, beginning in January. See hard copy in VF. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 28, July 20, 2023.
Live Oak Library reopens new space at a new address. Previously located at 4153 East Live Oak Avenue in Arcadia, it is now 1.1 miles to the west at 22 West Live Oak Avenue. It has undergone a $7.3 million refurbishment.
What's next for cabins in Santa Anita Canyon affected by Bobcat Fire? Historic cabins dating from the early 1900s were threatened by the fire in September. The number of cabins decreased to 63 from 80. Most were built during the Great Hiking Era. The cabin owners still use the original hand-crank telephone system invented by Alexander Graham Bell. Includes more history and description.
What is the horse racing industry doing to prevent catastrophic injuries? The deaths of 7 horses at the home of the Kentucky Derby has once again intensified the debate over the safety of horse racing. How common are injuries and deaths? There have been a spate of deaths in recent years, most notably 30 at Santa Anita Park in 2019. Those led to a series of safety reforms that spread nationally. Article also answers the questions, Why are horses euthanized after a limb injury? Are there treatment alternatives? What is racing doing to address injuries? Who was Barbaro and why did he matter?
Homeless forum in Arcadia spawns communication and compassion. It was held at the Performing Arts Center and designed to provide information on homelessness in Arcadia and giving community members a chance to share ideas and concerns. The Homelessness Resource Hub, now closed, had been offering services such as showers, laundry, free WiFi, charging stations, food, clothing, case management, and more at the city's PAR 3 Golf Course parking lot.
State offers funds for LGBTQ center in Whittier. The closest center like it are in Arcadia, Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles. The San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center is located at Prince Erik Hall, 2607 South Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006, behind Arcadia Congregational Church--which is temporarily closed due to COVID-19). The SGV location was found on the website sgvlgbtq.org
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger restores funding to Parks & Recreation. The budget will resume community pool operations in Arcadia, Granada Hills, Altadena, Littlerock, Quartz Hill and Castaic.
Four men sought in smash-and-grab thefts of purses and watches from the store Rebag at The Shops at Santa Anita mall, at 400 South Baldwin Avenue, on Sunday afternoon, December 3. See also Mountain Views News, p. 1, December 9, 2023.
Updated homeless ordinance in Arcadia raises more questions than answers. Arcadia installs 65 "No Camping" signs within city limits. The anti-camping ordinance, updated in 2021, makes accommodations for people experiencing homelessness that are camping by necessity, but does so in a way that is consistent with case law and includes restrictions on where, when and in what manner camping is allowed on public property.
A statue to honor Anita M. Baldwin, daughter of Arcadia's founder Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, will be built at the new Le Meridien Hotel, a luxury hotel in Arcadia. The artist/sculptor is Alfred Paredes, who also created the Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin statue.
NASA Ambassador Rosanne Sachson to speak at Arcadia Woman's Club meeting on March 4, 2020. The topic will be Apollo: to the moon and beyond, about how Apollo 11's Moon landing on July 20, 1969 brings us to today's space accomplishments and where NASA is headed in their next missions.
Arcadia Politics Becomes Ever More Confusing. Arcadia residents tell us they are concerned that the redistricting rules have changed the city’s voting requirements so much that it is hard to vote for someone you are not familiar with. Therefore, some voters told Arcadia Weekly they simply don’t vote anymore.
The recent council meeting was, indeed, contentious, as one of my colleagues wrote last week.
It appears there’s a push to change the political environment back to at-large voting.