The 11.5 mile light rail Gold Line extension from Pasadena to Azusa was awarded to Foothill Transit Constructors. Kiewit-Parsons, a joint venture company, will design and build the project. Funding comes from Measure R.
210 Freeway sound wall is finished. The Metro project, which started in 2009, consists of 2 miles of sound walls along westbound and eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway between Santa Anita Avenue and California Avenue in Arcadia and Monrovia, paid with Measure R funds. The sound walls provide at least 5 decibels of noise reduction. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held. Several Arcadia residents near Victory Chapel on N. First Avenue, where the sound wall ends, are disappointed the barrier doesn't extend farther west.
The ad (open letter to the Arcadia community) that was paid for by the three members of the Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education who are targeted for recall--Cung Nguyen, lori Phillipi, and Kay Kinsler--was printed in the Pasadena Star News August 11, 2013. Fired Arcadia High School cross country coach James O'Brien and his supporters say the letter was a public relations bid to derail the recall effort. See hard copy of the letter in VF "Arcadia High School." See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1 and 27, August 15, 2013.
After a five-year hiatus, Arcadia City Council is considering reinstating a policy that would let property owners pay to be assigned a more auspicious house number, which some believe would improve the value of their home. The number 4 in a street address is considered a bad omen in many Asian cultures. In Mandarin language, the word "four" sounds like the word for death, while the number eight is considered lucky, because it sounds like the word for prosper. Arcadia's Asian population is approaching 60% and most potential buyers will be Asian. In a 3-2 vote, Arcadia City Council endorsed the move in principle and directed staff to report back on the costs involved.
After a two-year suspension, the Arcadia City Council will reinstate a coyote trapping program, after residents complained that the animals are attacking pets and showing aggressive behavior. The city has contracted with Animal Pest Management of Chino, California, to trap coyotes and euthanize them.
All four "tree-sitters" arrested while protesting the destruction of an 11-acre oak woodland in Arcadia appeared in Alhambra Superior Court and pleaded not guilty to one count each of trespassing and obstruction a police officer. They are John Quigley, 50, of Glendale, Julia Jaye Posin, 23 of Venice Beach, Travis Jochimsen, 28, of Lancaster and Andrea Bowers, 45 of Los Angeles. They rejected an offer of community service and payment of restitution from the District Attorney's office. The four will appear in court again April 22 for a pre-trial hearing.
Altrusa Club of Arcadia celebrated 52 years. Arcadia Mayor John Wuo presented the club with a special commendation from the city for its service to the community.
An activist group called Save the Arcadia Highlands is suing the City of Arcadia over two residential developments that Arcadia City Council approved in February, citing possible violations to "specific provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Planning and Zoning Law, filed March 12. The addresses involved are 29 East Orange Grove Avenue and 1600 Highland Oaks Drive. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 17, March 19, 2015.
Angeles National Forest fire officials raise fire danger level to extreme, effective Friday, September 2. This change is in response to September's seasonal drying combined with the 5th year of a drought.
Animal rights advocate Barbara Casey, who oversaw working conditions on the canceled HBO series "Luck" has sued HBO and the American Humane Association, claiming horses on the show were grossly mistreated. She says she was wrongfully fired after complaining about inhumane conditions on the show.
Anti-mansionization candidates snag seats on Arcadia City Council. Peter Amundson received 4122 votes and April Verlato received 4077 votes to become the two new city council members. Bob Harbicht received the third highest number of votes.
Arcadia aims to increase tourism and makes breakthrough in residential burglaries. Recap of Arcadia City Council meeting. New Arcadia tourism video was presented to promote Arcadia, with the goal of bringing new business investment to the city. Arcadia Police Chief Bob Guthrie gave a report on crime in the city and has recently uncovered a ring of burglars in the county through the cracking of codes on a captured burglar’s cell phone and has a couple of those criminals in custody.
Arcadia artist Qianjiao Ma (photo) vies for grand prize in the "Illustrators of the Future" competition to be honored during the 35th Annual L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Awards.
Arcadia Association of Realtors cancels city council candidate forum that had been scheduled for March 7 at the Arcadia Public Library. But since the city elections have moved from "at large" elections to district elections, the public would be better served by other, upcoming district-specific forums.
Arcadia-based company US Fine Investment Arts, Inc. is under investigation by state and federal agencies as it faces allegations from investors that it swindled them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The company has connections to Arcadia Councilman John Wuo.
Arcadia based Cub Scouts go Supernova. Four Scouts recently earned the highest accomplishment a Cub Scout can receive for science, technology, engineering and math. Gianni Carrano, Vincent Docimo, Ian Parsons and John Short, fifth graders at Holy Angels School in Arcadia and members of the school’s Cub Scout Pack 114, achieved the Supernova Award.