At the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce's annual Power Planning Conference on January 24, City of Arcadia's City Manager, Dominic Lazzaretto, provided optimism to the local business community during this time of economic uncertainties. He said 25% of Arcadia's $48 million in annual revenue comes from local businesses--with nearly $10 million from sales taxes and another $2 million-plus from licenses and permits. The City has proposed a new business assistance program ombudsman to help entrepreneurs with the start-up process, is working with Chamber of Commerce to create a more interactive one-stop business checklist, and has not increased the cost of a business permit.
Arcadia City Council Recap. Project approved: a large mixed use (residential and commercial) at Duarte Road and First Avenue. Approved: replacing utility poles with an underground system at Morlan Place, adjacent to Rusnak Mercedes Benz dealership.
Annual Taste of Arcadia, an Arcadia Chamber of Commerce event, will take place Monday, September 19 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. As always, a percentage of proceeds goes to three local non-profit organizations. This year, the beneficiaries are Assistance League of Arcadia, the Boy Scouts of America/Lucky Baldwin District, and the Arboretum Foundation.
Controversy looms at the Chamber of Commerce about the chamber's policy on member awards and the size of its reserve, with questions coming from John Wuo. Wuo later resigned from Chamber Board.
Taste of Arcadia Has Been Canceled. Last Thursday afternoon, the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce announced the cancellation of Taste of Arcadia 2020, which would have been held on Sept. 28.
The Taste of Arcadia is an annual event which showcases local food vendors and other businesses in a festive atmosphere at the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Normally, the event sees over 1,500 members of the public attend to sip and sample food, wine and distilled liquors. This might be the first time the event has been canceled in its nearly 40 year history.
Gene Glasco named Arcadia's Citizen of the Year by Chamber of Commerce. He is Arcadia City Clerk and founder of the Arcadia Vietnam War Monument Memorial.
Beth Costanza, Executive director of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, has received positive feedback from chamber members after she published a piece called "Arcadia's meanest spirited businesses," in which she took to task such companies as Washington Mutual, Bank of America, Ralphs and Sav-On.
Arcadia Chamber of Commerce opened its 50-year-old time capsule which was buried when the iconic chamber building was built in 1965. It contained some film which deteriorated. A new time capsule was buried.
Alice Wang will be inducted as 2012 Citizen of the Year and Santa Anita Park's Pete Siberell will be sworn in as 2012-2013 Chamber President at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner on April 19, 2012 at Santa Anita Park's elegant Chandelier Room.
Local business Vintage Treasures and Antiques Arcadia, owned by mother and daughter team Jeanette C. Beraha and Raquel McLaughlin, celebrates its first anniversary with a New Business award from Arcadia Chamber of Commerce. It is located at 340 East Foothill Blvd., Arcadia.
History of Taste of Arcadia, the Chamber of Commerce event. It takes place September 24 this year at Los Angeles County Arboretum. Traditionally held the last Monday in September, each year the event grows in popularity. Taste of Arcadia began as the Wine Shed Mixer to raise money for Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association.
Arcadia attorney, former mayor Jim Helms, receives "Business Icon" Award from Arcadia Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Hettrick and Arcadia Historical Society President Gene Glasco for his dedicated work as an attorney since 1952. Jim is also a former Mayor of Arcadia (1971-1972), Arcadia Chamber President and Arcadia Citizen of the Year 1979 and 2004.
Business spotlight on Hyper Coffee at 203 S. First Avenue in Arcadia, in a historic Art Deco building. It has been in business 17 years. By Helen Wang.
Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation Executive Director Sue Cook will speak on March 5 at the next Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Forum at the Chamber's conference room.
Arcadia Chamber of Commerce launches new networking campaign. Pop-Up mixers are held monthly at Arcadia bars whose owners are Chamber members. The first one was at Monkey Bar at Westfield Santa Anita mall, January 9. Pop-Up mixers are not advertised in advance, instead information is posted through social media within days of the event. RSVPs are not necessary.
The Victoria's Secret store in the Westfield Santa Anita Shoppingtown has been hit by thieves in recent months. $3,000 in merchandise was stolen in the past month. Thieves accounted for roughly $150,000 in losses last year alone.
Authorities have released Joshua Connole of Pomona, a suspect in the August 22 vehicle vandalisms labeled by FBI as acts of ecoterrorism. More than $2 million in damage was caused by vandals claiming affiliation with the Earth Liberation Front. High-end sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and other vehicles at the Rusnak Mercedes Benz dealership in Arcadia, Advantage Ford in Monrovia, Clippinger Chevrolet in West Covina, and Duarte Mitsubishi were torched and spray painted.