Arcadia launches homelessness program and perception survey. It is designed to solicit feedback about homeless in the city and to help inform the City and residents on the community's preferences for homeless support services.
Creative Housing Options in Arcadia (CHOA). Local efforts to address the lack of affordable housing and homelessness. On Saturday, April 20, 2024, a group of about 30 community members met at The Hills Church in Arcadia for a 2-hour "Sharing Session" to learn about what is being done in the city to address these issues. Safe Parking Programs were discussed. Arcadia City Council member Eileen L. Wang and Arcadia Mayor April Verlato attended.
210 Freeway closure five days affecting eastbound Interstate-210 from Wednesday, August 17 through Tuesday, August 23 for the San Gabriel River Bridge Hinge Replacement Project.
Great news from the Great Race Place. Eclipse Awards for Horse Racing, held at Santa Anita Park, honored Jessica Pyfer as Apprentice of the Year, Joel Rosario as Jockey of the Year, and race horses CeCe and Corniche.
Santa Anita Park race track hosts 2023 Horse Racing Women's Summit (HRWS) on September 29. Over 150 women from 13 states and Canada gathered for the second HRWS to advance racing by empowering women.
Ed Andersen of Arcadia Historical Society will present a program about Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin to the Arcadia Community Coordinating Council on March 2, 2020.
SoCalGas conducting aerial methane mapping over SoCalGas infrastructure in the cities of Monrovia, Arcadia, Temple City, Rosemead, El Monte, and San Gabriel on October 20 and 21, to look at pipeline safety.
A second Interstate-210 shutdown August 17 through August 23. Major closure for the San Gabriel River Bridge Hinge Replacement Project, affecting eastbound 210 Freeway at the Interstate-605 and Irwindale Avenue.
Ed Andersen, president of Arcadia Historical Society, presents a local history program at Arcadia Public Library on March 11 at 2:00. The topic is The San Gabriel Valley in 1877: through the lens of Carleton Watkins (photographer).
Actor and comedian Kevin Hart's Hart House is open in Monrovia at 602 West Huntington Drive. This fast food is all plant-based, no additives or hormones, artificial colors, preservatives, or high fructose corn syrup and it's delicious. Karen MacNair of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce waas present at the ribbon cutting.
Non-profit group Free Animal Doctor seeks to build a full service non-profit veterinary clinic at Santa Anita Park racetrack through donations and crowdfunding. The website is FreeAnimalDoctor.org.
All Arcadia Unified School District's elementary schools earn historic acclaim in California's coveted 2023 Distinguished Schools Program. The award winning Arcadia elementary schools are Hugo Reid Elementary, Camino Grove Elementary, Highland Oaks Elementary, alternative learning program Rancho Learning Center, Baldwin Stocker Elementary, Holly Avenue Elementary and Longley Way Elementary School.
Going for gold in their 80s and 90s. Sneiders Family Fitness in Arcadia celebrates their 30th year hosting the Senior Games Powerlifting Championship. Competitors ranged in age from their 50s to 90s.
Arcadia Public Library has opened a Community Memory Lab, with free, do-it-yourself equipment to digitize photos, documents, VHS video and audio cassette recordings, film slides, negatives, and 8mm film.
Grand opening of new Live Oak Library celebrated recently. The $7.3 million refurbishment began May 2019 and completed September 1, 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. It is a Los Angeles County Public Library branch. Los Angeles County supervisor Kathryn Barger attended. Its manager is Denise Dilley.
Arcadia Unified School District earns California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) award from the state. It recognizes a school and/or school district for taking an innovative, proactive approach to reimagining teaching, learning, and important school services during the pandemic, where California schools saw State-mandated distance learning for the 2020-2021 school year. Arcadia Unified School District and Holly Avenue Elementary received CAPP honors.
Pasadena Tournament of Roses announces 2024 Rose Queen Naomi Stillitano, a senior from Arcadia High School. She is the 105th Rose Queen, lives in Arcadia, is co-president of Italian Culture Club, a dancer and actress with the Arcadia Stage Theater. Born and raised in Italy for 7 years, with goal to create her own fashion brand, interested in studying fashion design. The Rose Queen and the Rose Court act as ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the Pasadena community, and the greater Los Angeles area. Each Royal Court member receives a $7500 educational scholarship.
Arcadia adopts comprehensive pension management plan, saving $85 million. It addresses the City's $154 million in unfunded pension liabilities. It focuses on:
-use of reserves to prepay existing liabilities
-refinancing existing debt to lower interest rates to free up cash flow
-prepaying costs with surplus funds from voter-approved Measure A sales tax increase
-financing long-term capital improvements
-using pension obligation bonds to lower the overall costs of pensions
-negotiating for more employee cost-sharing.
See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, February 27, 2020