Ron Charles, 61, who has been president of Santa Anita Park for 5 1/2 years, is resigning. His final day is today. General Manager George Haines will take over as interim president while MI Developments (MID) searches for a replacement.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC, Police Chief Dave Hinig said the Arcadia Police Department has evolved and is thinking beyond local crime enforcement. Officers are thinking more regionally and are more conscious of calling the bomb squad.
Five months after police officers moved into their new $16 million police station, the City Council will officially accept the construction contractor's work and sign off on the project.
Arcadia Police Chief Dave Hinig outlined a strategic plan to improve the department over a five-year period, at a cost of $536,498. The proposals would involve adding 11 new salaried positions.
The City of Arcadia has contracted with Gonzalez Goodale Architects to plan for a new City Hall. Both Upper and Lower City Hall buildings will be torn down after completion of the new facility.
Arcadia Public Library will have a new conference room constructed and will remodel the existing room into offices and a work area. An office will be created for the Friends of the Library. This is the first phase and the contract was awarded to K & S Design for $106,500. Phase 2 of the project, to be completed at a later date, will include a teen center and an enlarged international language area.
Los Angeles County Arboretum CEO Richard Schulhof, 65, to retire in late spring, after 14 years of leading the acclaimed horticultural site in Arcadia. New CEO expected this summer. See hard copy in VF.
A lot of Arcadians now own a piece of the city's float that will appear in the Rose Parade on New Year's Day. Residents who contribute a dollar or more receive a decal stating "I own a piece of the float."
Santa Anita Park Race Track owner Frank Stronach has met with city officials about Arcadia's concerns with the track expansion plan and future sessions will be held. The concerns centered around plans to build new barns on the north side of the property, the internal connections between the track and Westfield Shopping mall traffic and people, and architectural compatibility with the track.
Developer Rick Caruso and officials of Santa Anita Park met to discuss reviving The Shops at Santa Anita, a proposed upscale retail mall project. MI Developments (MID) had cancelled a 2005 contract with Caruso Affiliated to build the mall after bankruptcy restructuring at Santa Anita Park. Both parties hope to move forward with the mall.
Police warn residents to protect themselves against a serial prowler who allegedly targets Asian homes in the summer months. Police believe he has struck 80 times in the past seven years. Suspect is described as an African-American in his mid-40s weighing 225 pounds.
Magna Entertainment Corporation, owners of Santa Anita Park race track, is bidding to purchase the September race dates at the Los Angeles County Fair for September 13-29. The Breeders Cup will be returning to Santa Anita Park next October after a gap of ten years.