Arcadia's crime drops in 2019. Compared to 2018, there was a 28% drop in residential burglaries, a 17% decrease in robberies, and an 11% reduction in assaults.
Arcadia Public Library screens international films every third Wednesday of the month. Coming up on March 18 will be "11 Flowers." Bring your dinner, dessert is provided.
Thoroughbred horse owner George Sharp has filed a lawsuit against Santa Anita Park saying his horse League of Shadows would have won race if veterinarin had not removed it. Sharp wants at least $90,000 in damages--the winner's share of the $150,000 purse because he believes his horse was likely to win. Sharp alleges the racetrack's owner Stronach Group has created a "culture of hysteria in the horse community by implementing ad-hoc and ever changing rules" in response to more than 40 equine deaths since December 2018.
NASA Ambassador Rosanne Sachson to speak at Arcadia Woman's Club meeting on March 4, 2020. The topic will be Apollo: to the moon and beyond, about how Apollo 11's Moon landing on July 20, 1969 brings us to today's space accomplishments and where NASA is headed in their next missions.
Arcadia faith leaders voice support for peaceful protests. Members of Arcadia Interfaith Action Group--representing the Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faith community--vehemently condemn the "senseless murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer." The group recognizes "that people of color are much more likely to be the victims of such violent treatment by law enforcement personnel."
Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests continue to build momentum across the nation and around the world demanding justice for the death of George Floyd and bringing the issue of systemic racism to Arcadia, where hundreds gathered to protest at Arcadia County Park.
Arcadia's historic Derby Restaurant may be relocated. A mixed-use project may take the place of The Derby and Embassy Suites at 211 East Huntington Drive - 233 East Huntington Drive. Local historian Sandy Snider expressed concern that the 99 year-old building may end up being razed. George Woolf bought the Derby in 1938, originally named Proctor Tavern when it operated in 1922. Councilman Paul Cheng supports the relocation of The Derby. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 2, August 13, 2020 for "The Derby-what's next?"
Stein Mart's bankruptcy to eliminate most stores. The combined effects of a challenging retail environment coupled with the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have caused significant distress in Stein Mart's business. More than 40 retailers have filed for Chapter 11, including more than two dozen retailers who filed since the pandemic began, such as America's oldest retailer Lord & Taylor, J. Crew, J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus, among others. Papyrus, a mall-based retailer of stationery and upscale greeting cards announced in January it would be closing all 254 of its US and Canadian stores, including 19 in Southern California (including Arcadia at Westfield Santa Anita mall).
Santa Anita meet opens: no fans but record betting. Santa Anita park began its 84th winter-spring meet yesterday with no audience, but had a record-breaking opening day in betting handle, as $23,003,159 was wagered on the 11-race card. The old record of $20,491,016 was set in 2018. First-year General Manager Nate Newby hopes fans will be allowed back soon. Until such time only essential personnel and horses' owners are allowed to attend races.
A driver killed, two passengers injured when car hits power poles and a fence about 11:30 PM on Sunday, February 21, near Las Tunas Drive and El Monte Avenue.
Family of murder victim Chyong Jen Tsai, left appalled by District Attorney George Gascon's reforms. Man accused in slaying facing a shorter sentence of 32 years and 4 months-to-life in prison if convicted, instead of life in prison without parole if prosecuted with "special circumstances." Gascon wants judge to dismiss two special circumstance allegations against the accused. Tsai was killed April 9, 2019 at her Arcadia home.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón facing further opposition. Two more cities, Norwalk and La Habra Heights, are preparing to cast votes of no confidence in Gascon. So far, 18 cities have had similar votes, including Arcadia, Azusa, Beverly Hills, Covina, Diamond Bar, Hidden Hills, Lancaster, La Mirada, Manhattan, Palos Verdes Estates, Pico Rivera, Redondo Beach, Rosemead, Santa Clarita, San Gabriel, Santa Fe Springs, Temple City and Whittier.
In Norwalk, District Attorney George Gascón gets vote of no confidence, along with 18 other cities, including Arcadia. Complaints directed at embattled DA continue to grow in Los Angeles County and a campaign to recall him is underway.
11 Arcadia High students named National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalis
Arcadia High School continues its 28-year streak of seeing a double-digit number of students represented in the renowned National Merit Scholarship Program. This year, 11 Arcadia High students are counted among less than 1% of high school seniors across the nation that have been named 2022 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, who now have the opportunity to vie for one of nearly 7,500 scholarships that collectively total close to $30 million.
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.
Drive-through Christmas light show at Santa Anita Park, 285 West Huntington Drive, called Reindeer Road, produced by World of Illumination. Tickets available. The event started November 11, 2021 and runs through January 2, 2022.
Arcadia Unified School District hosting community conversations regarding district's improvement needs. Community input is critical because it helps the school district plan how to use resources to educate and support all students. This is the seventh year of conducting this annual community conversation, via survey, through February 25 at 11:59 PM.
Monterey Park shooting aftermath. Ex-tenant: Attack suspect hated his dance instructors. Huu Can Tran harbored a deep hatred for fellow instructors at Star Dance Studio where he killed 11 patrons and wounded 9 others on Saturday, January 21, the Lunar New Year eve. Tran's tenant, a man who formerly rented a small home from the gunman said Tran distrusted people and could become very angry. At one time, Tran had lived in an apartment in Arcadia. The former tenant describes other aspects of Tran's personality.