Creative Housing Options in Arcadia (CHOA). Local efforts to address the lack of affordable housing and homelessness. On Saturday, April 20, 2024, a group of about 30 community members met at The Hills Church in Arcadia for a 2-hour "Sharing Session" to learn about what is being done in the city to address these issues. Safe Parking Programs were discussed. Arcadia City Council member Eileen L. Wang and Arcadia Mayor April Verlato attended.
2024 ELECTIONS - Pasadena City College: Four candidates compete for two Board of Trustee seats on the March 5 election. Voters elect a trustess from each of the seven districts in an area that includes Arcadia, a portion of El Monte, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Temple City. Area 2 candidates are Kevin D. Strotz and James Aragon. Area 6 candidates are Ryan Liu and John Quintanilla.
The Book Rack, a bookstore that has served Arcadia for 40 years, is closing. The owner Karen is retiring. Doors close permanently on February 23, 2024. The store's address is 204 South First Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006.
A fourth horse dies from training injury at Santa Anita Park. A 5-year-old mare named Big Switch has been euthanized following a sesamoid injury from exercising. Owner and breeder is George Krikorian. Trainer was John Sadler and jockey was Juan Hernandez.
Breeders' Cup-Back to front. Race horse Fierceness rebounds from previous race struggle to win Juvenile, the $2 million Grade I race. Fierceness is a Mike Repole homebred trained by Todd Pletcher. Jockey John Velazquez in photo riding on Fierceness.
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."
Ryan Liu, a former Pasadena City College (PCC) Valedictorian enters race for PCC's board of trustees Area 6 seat. The seat, which represents portions of El Monte, San Gabriel, Rosemead, Arcadia and Temple City, is currently held by John Martin, first elected in 1979.
Santa Anita Park faces suits from former Human Resources head over COVID-19 protocols. Plaintiff Jill Eknoian-Lopez alleges she was forced to resign in 2021 after experiencing a backlash when she complained the company was not following a safe coronavirus protocol. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 15, March 23, 2023.
Arcadia City Council approves a temporary permit for an inflatable Fun Box play area in the parking lot of The Shops at Santa Anita mall (formerly Westfield Santa Anita mall, name was changed in 2022). It will run from March 1 through May 23. The Shops at Santa Anita is at 400 S. Baldwin Avenue.
Driver is arrested after 7-Eleven rammed. Monrovia man Sterling Williamson, 23, was arrested on suspicion of murder after he created a disturbance at a 7-Eleven store at 1003 South Baldwin Avenue on November 24, 2022, then allegedly crashed his car through the doors and tried to flee. There were no injuries.
National Hockey League news-Jason Robertson signs a new deal with Dallas Stars. He is a restricted free agent, is 23-years-old, and was born in Arcadia.
A second Interstate-210 shutdown August 17 through August 23. Major closure for the San Gabriel River Bridge Hinge Replacement Project, affecting eastbound 210 Freeway at the Interstate-605 and Irwindale Avenue.
210 Freeway closure five days affecting eastbound Interstate-210 from Wednesday, August 17 through Tuesday, August 23 for the San Gabriel River Bridge Hinge Replacement Project.
City of Arcadia continuing Concerts and Movies in the Park Series with an event every Thursday from June 23 through August 4 at 240 West Huntington Drive, on the lawn between Arcadia City Hall and Arcadia Police Department. This Thursday's concert will be performed by The Smokin' Cobras, followed by the movie Mulan.
Anita Baldwin statue to be unveiled at Le Méridien Hotel in Arcadia
The Anita May Baldwin statue at the Le Méridien Hotel will be unveiled on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 at 11 a.m. Anita is the daughter of city founder, Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin. The statue will be featured on the opposite end of the Huntington Drive islands’ hotel property.
“We are very excited to be bringing Anita back to Arcadia,” said Mayor Sho Tay in a statement released by the city. “I would like to thank the Shen, Liu and Chen Families, Jeff Lee, the Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation, Heather D. Gibson and Margaux L. Gibson, and the Arcadia Historical Society, for their generous donations.”
“On behalf of the Baldwin family, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Arcadia City Council, the Arcadia Historical Society, the Le Méridien Hotel and all those who have supported this effort to pay homage to my great-great grandmother, Anita May Baldwin,” said Margaux Gibson. “This magnificent statue of Anita will showcase a strong woman who was ahead of her time. I am proud to call Anita May Baldwin my great-great grandmother, and I am truly proud to be a part of this historic project.”
The Anita statue was sculpted by local artist and southern California native Alfred Paredes — who created the Lucky Baldwin statue on the corner of Huntington Drive and Holly Avenue — and is aptly named, “A Legacy of Charity” in honor of Anita’s contributions to life in early Arcadia and throughout California.
Pacific League high schools still waiting for the go-ahead from Los Angeles County Public Health for school districts to resume athletic activity on school campuses. The Pacific League includes Arcadia, Burbank, John Burroughs, Crescenta Valley, Glendale, Muir and Pasadena high schools.
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner has identified the 23-yearold Hispanic male killed at an August 31 house party on the 2800 block of Caroline Way in Arcadia as Gustavo Lopez.