High school track and field notes. Local athletes starting to leave an impression. The Covina Invitational takes places March 29-30, Arcadia Invitational takes place April 5-6, and Mt. SAC Relays on April 18-20, but there are some standout competitors such as Reena Hsieh of Arcadia and Arcadia juniorLayla Roslan.
Monterey Park mass shooting one year later. City still lives in massacre's shadow. Permanent memorial to the 11 victims is still in planning stages. In Arcadia, doughnut business owners Francois Ung and his wife Shally Ung remember and honor their friend Andy Kao, a victim of the shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio on January 21, 2023, with a pledge that they will send proceeds from sales at their Arcadia Donuts store on January 20 and 21 to the Monterey Park Hope and Resiliency Center and the Andy Kao Memorial Ballroom Dance Group to assist funding the nonprofit organizations. See also related article, "Who were the Monterey Park shooting victims? A year later, a reflection," Pasadena Star News, p. A13, January 21, 2024.
Singers Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken perform at Arcadia Performing Arts Center on Saturday, 9/23/2023. They were two of the favorites on the second season of TV show American Idol. Studdard won the American Idol competition and Clay Aiken was the runner up 20 years ago. The tour is called "Twenty, the Tour."
Bay Area horse racing track Golden Gate Fields in San Francisco to close permanently later this year. After the Golden Gate Fields meet ends, The Stronach Group said it will focus on moving horses from the Bay Area to Arcadia, with a goal of increasing field sizes and adding a fourth day of racing to the weekly schedule at Santa Anita Park, beginning in January. See hard copy in VF. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 28, July 20, 2023.
Los Angeles County Arboretum selects new CEO, Michael Desplaines. He has more than two decades of experience in historic property development and restoration, public garden management, environmental education and fundraising. He begins in July. He previously served as president and CEO of the Norfolk Botanical Garden in Virginia. He replaces Richard Schulhof, who retired after 14 years as CEO.
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.
Arcadia resident, Ruixue "Serena" Shi, gets 20-year sentence for Coachella Valley fraud involving $22.8 million in funds for a condominium and hotel complex called Hyde Resorts and Residences Coachella Valley. Shi was president and owner of Global House Buyer (GHB), a China-based real estate development company, and also was CEO of the Beverly Hills-based company Hyde Morgan Development, LLC. Chinese investors in the Hyde project were falsely promised visas through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
Woman gets 20 years in prison for bilking investors. Ruixue "Serena" Shi, 38, of Arcadia, bilked investors in a Southern California hotel and condominium project of at least $26 million. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 8, 14, November 24, 2022.
Highland Oaks Elementary School's Club program connects students with interests and friends. Baton Twirling Club, Coding Club, Food Crafts Club, and Hawks Nest Community Building Club, are just a sample of the over 20 clubs offered there. Patricia Mattera, now in her 7th year as Highland Oaks Principal, first gained inspiration for the student clubs from her previous work experience.
Pasadena parents speak on tirade of San Rafael Elementary School (in Pasadena) Principal Rudy Ramirez, an Arcadia resident. Pasadena Unified School District trustees meet in closed session but take no action; rant over janitor's arrest by Pasadena police videotaped. See also "Mayor Gordo defends critical letter," Pasadena Star News, p. A1, A6, August 20, 2022.
Arcadia High School Choral Program concludes year with First Annual Choir Night Cafe benefit concert on May 20 at Arcadia Performing Arts Center. 2022 has been a year marked with change, with a new director and a return to in-person performances following distance learning due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Choral Program consists of Concert Choir and Chanteurs.
Westfield Santa Anita kicking off Lunar New Year Celebration on Thursday, January 20. It's the Year of the Tiger. Arcadia Mayor Sho Tay will join Westfield representatives and community partners to unveil a 7-foot-tall golden tiger as the centerpiece of this year's Center Court decorations. A gold "wishing well" will be installed so shoppers can donate to Asian Pacific Community Fund. Westfield will announce a Gift with Purchase promotion.
Arcadia Assemblyman Ed Chau appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom as Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, with biographical information. Chau was elected to represent the 49th Assembly District in November 2012, which includes Arcadia. He was in private practice for nearly 20 years before his election and served on Montebello Unified School District Board. His law degree is from Southwestern University.
Arcadia woman Ruixue "Serena" Shi, 37, pleaded guilty to soliciting $22.8 million in funds for a condominium and hotel project scheme. The crime is one federal count of wire fraud, which has a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, 7, October 28, 2021.
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.
Another horse euthanized at Santa Anita Park after training injury. It was a 3-year-old colt named Uncle Boogie, owned by Eric Homme and trained by Andrew Lerner. Eleven horses died from a racing or training injury during the winter/spring meet, which ended June 20.