A new director has been hired to take the place of Dave Alstadt, who is moving to direct vocal music. The new man is John Work, currently band director at Pasadena High School.
Francis Ching, 60, a native Hawaiian, is retiring after 20 years as supervisor of the Los Angeles County Dept. of Arboreta and Botanic Gardens, which includes the LA County Arboretum in Arcadia.
The University of La Verne has agreed to sponsor summer school in Arcadia to take the place of that cut by the passage of Proposition 13. Tuition will be charged.
The jungle area of the Arboretum is being restored with a $250,000 grant. The jungle has been badly damaged due to heavy use and a fire. It is being restored as a prehistoric jungle garden.
The California Home for the Aged Deaf celebrates its 30th anniversary. Funded by residents fees and donations, it has provided housing to over 400 deaf persons since its beginning. It is one of only five such homes in the nation.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a program for the development of a Hall of Environmental Education at the Arboretum. The Arboretum foundation has pledged $500,000 to the total $1,295,000 bill. There is no timetable for the work, but it will take approximately 2 or 3 years.
The possibility of a fee for admission to both the Arboretum and Descanso Gardens is being considered by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. At a hearing, Hal Roach, a member of the Board of Governors expressed the hope that the Supervisors would not resort to charging a fee. The fee would NOT be used to keep up the Arboretum, but would go into the County General Fund.
Nine visitors to the Arboretum were injured when a large eucalyptus branch fell on them. They were taken to Arcadia Methodist Hospital where all but two were treated and released. The more seriously injured had a broken right arm and spinal damage.
Article describes two June events: a wine and cheese social and a continental breakfast. The history of the founding of the Arboretum, now celebrating its 33rd year, is reviewed.
The Los Angeles County Commission on School District Organization voted 9-0 to deny Sierra Madre's petition to join the Arcadia School District. The matter will go to the state Board of Education, which may take 3-4 months to make a decision.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the Arcadia Board of Education, Dennis Chuning, has announced his resignation in order to take a position as Director of Business Services at Pasadena City College.
There will be summer school this year, for a price. Classes will be arranged through the Arcadia Department of Recreation and the University of La Verne.
The Automobile Club of Southern California will relocate its Temple City and Monrovia offices to its new facility at 420 East Huntington Drive, Arcadia, beginning October 16.
There will be no summer school in the Arcadia Unified School District due to the passage of Proposition 13 limiting property taxes to 1 percent of the assessed valuation.