Landmarks are slowly disappearing along Route 66. Preservationists have kept some relics such as the historic windmill atop Denny's restaurant which dates back to its days as a Van de Kamp's coffee shop from the wrecking ball.
A history of the Van de Kamp's windmill atop the Denny's Restaurant currently at the northeast corner of Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive. The Arcadia windmill was built nearly 40 years ago as part of an architectural movement called programmatic architecture, or roadside vernacular, wherein the buildings reflected their tenants. See hard copy in VF "Buildings."
Horse racing community feels the loss of James Ortega, Joseph Ortega, and Charles Ortega, 3 of the 9 victims killed by Bruce Pardo, a disgruntled former in-law who crashed a Christmas Eve party in Covina, dressed at Santa Claus. James, Joseph and Charles Ortega all owned race horses and loved the sport.
Obituary / death notice. James C. Lesperance, died January 20, 2006 at the age of 74. He was a long-time resident of Arcadia until retiring to Mammoth Lakes. Jim is survived by his wife Marylin, their children Laura, Jim, Doug (d), Renee, Corinne, and Jeff, eight grandchildren and four stepchildren. Services will be held at St. Luke's Catholic Church, 5605 Cloverly Avenue, Temple City, on Saturday, January 28, at 12:00 p.m.
The National Guard Armory building has been demolished and a portion of Arcadia Police Department, that recently housed the men's and women's locker rooms, has been demolished to make way for construction of a new $16 million police facility. A ceremonial groundbreaking will take place in the area behind the current police facility at 250 W. Huntington Drive, on September 28.
The founder of Focus on the Family, James Dobson, will resign as president and chief executive. Dobson formed the beginnings of Focus on the Family in 1977 in Arcadia and moved to Colorado Springs in 1991.
Incumbents Maryann Gibson, John McClain, and James Romo, are the only candidates so far to request school board candidacy papers. Forms must be filed by Jan. 17.