Jerry Collins Picnic Pavilion dedication ceremony will be held July 19, 2016 at Wilderness Park at 2240 N. Highland Oaks Drive in Arcadia. There is a memorial plaque to commemorate his life. He was a former Director of Parks and Recreation for City of Arcadia. He started his service with City of Arcadia in 1970 and had a 24 year career. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 12, July 21, 2016.
A new Arcadia Police Officer Sergio Machado is ready to protect and serve Arcadia. He had his ceremonial badge pinning last week after completing his 18-month probationary period.
Los Angeles City Fire Captain Jack Fry, an Arcadia High School graduate, class of 1978, was named Training Officer of the Year by the Los Angeles Fire Commission.
On September 8, 2011, Arcadia Mayor Gary Kovacic had an emergency procedure to put a stent in one of his 3 major heart arteries. His Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery was 90-95% blocked. He was released from Arcadia Methodist Hospital (AMH) the following day and was back at AMH 24 hours later for a dedication ceremony of the new patient tower that has been under construction for some time now.
Arcadia City Councilman John Wuo resigned, citing health and personal reasons. He had served on council for 12 years, including as mayor for 3 terms. His resignation comes on the heels of a lawsuit and intense scrutiny of his alleged involvement with GemCoin (digital currency) and alleged violations of the Political Reform Act's statement of economic interests disclosure requirement and conflict of interest.
Arcadia firefighter Michael Herdman, who went missing and was found dead on June 27 at the bottom of a cliff in Los Padres National Forest, had drugs in his system when he died. Ventura County Medical Examiner toxicology report said he had alcohol, Ecstasy, and Adderall in his body.
Frank Perini, longtime Arcadia Rotary member and hairdresser, honored on his 93rd birthday. He had 58 years of perfect attendance in Rotary. Frank Perez changed his name to the Italian sounding Perini to be able to buy a house and to be accepted into Arcadia Rotary.
The graduation of a San Gabriel Valley Law Enforcement Explorer Academy class is dedicated to the memory of retired Azusa police Officer Randall ("Randy") Phillips, 55, of Ontario. Phillips died in a car crash on his way to teaching that first day of class.
Arcadia attorney, former mayor Jim Helms, receives "Business Icon" Award from Arcadia Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Hettrick and Arcadia Historical Society President Gene Glasco for his dedicated work as an attorney since 1952. Jim is also a former Mayor of Arcadia (1971-1972), Arcadia Chamber President and Arcadia Citizen of the Year 1979 and 2004.
San Gabriel Mayor Albert Y. M. Huang announced he would resign from office after his arrest in a domestic violence case involving a confrontation with a woman (not his wife) outside New Taste Dupling House at 301 West Valley Boulevard. San Gabriel City Council accepted his resignation. He graduated from Arcadia High School in 1994.
A Los Angeles County report showed that life expectancy in Los Angeles County reached 80.3 years, an all-time high, according to the county Department of Health Services. Arcadia, East San Gabriel, Walnut and Rowland Heights had some of the highest life expectancy rates in the county. Arcadia's life expectancy is 84.7 years. Females of Asian-Pacific Islander descent have the highest life expectancy in the county and all four of the SGV communities with the highest life expectancy rates also have high populations of residents of Asian Pacific Islander descent. In general, the report found that people in affluent communities tend to live longer while residents of poorer cities in more urban parts of the county had some of the lowest life expectancy rates.
Arcadia Chamber of Commerce will introduce candidates who represent Arcadia in the U.S. Congress in a forum at 8:00 AM, August 2, at 388 W. Huntington Drive. Longtime Arcadia resident and Republican candidate Jack Orswell is confirmed to speak and Democratic candidate Judy Chu is expected to attend.
War veteran Mike Velarde, 78, of Arcadia, tricked his Spanish-speaking mother into signing the paperwork to enlist in the U.S. Army at age 16. He had served in the Korean War. A photo of Velarde is shown in honor of Memorial Day. He remembers his wartime buddies who did not make it home alive.
Deqiang Song, 26, of Monterey Park, gets life in prison without possibility of parole, for the crime of kidnapping for ransom, and a second sentence of life in prison plus four years, for the attempted murder of his then 21-year-old victim. Song met his victim through a mutual friend and took her to Westfield Santa Anita mall in Arcadia on September 8, 2010. Then he took her to a remote area of desert in San Bernardino County. He strangled the woman and slit her throat. He called her father for ransom. She survived.
Arcadia couple Harry and Sarah Sneider are fitness trainers. Harry is 69 and Sarah is 66 years old. They say that fitness icon Jack LaLanne, who died last week at the age of 96, was their personal inspiration and friend, whose motivation encouraged them to expand their training business and better inspire others to reach their fitness goals.
25-year-old Arcadia man Matthew Fay Echauri sentenced to 10 years and life in state prison with the possibility of parole for attempted murder, mayhem and domestic violence for stabbing his 18 year-old girlfriend in Temple City two years ago.