Star Wars celebrities to gather for fan event at Chalice Collectibles in Arcadia to raise funds for charity. Chalice Collectibles is one of the biggest independent retail stores selling Funko Pops (mostly vinyl pop culture figurines). Chris Bartlett, the voice and human behind C-3PO and 1-JAC on the Disney Plus streaming series "Obi Wan Kenobi," Kat Cressida, the voice of Princess Leia in "Star Wars: Rebellion," "X-Wing Alliance," and "Star Wars: Rogue Squadron," Misty Rosas, who portrayed Kuiil and Frog Lady on "The Mandalorian," and Leilani Shiu, who portrayed Teeka the Jawa on "Obi Wan Kenobi," Tatooine Jawa and offworld Jawa on "The Mandalorian" and other roles on "The Book of Boba Fett" will be there to sign toys and stuff. Chalice Collectibles is located in The Shops at Santa Anita (mall), 400 South Baldwin, Suite 2, Arcadia, CA 91007.
Pasadena Symphony announces Brett Mitchell as new music director, beginning a 5-year tenure on April 1. The Pasadena Symphony makes up half of the Pasadena Symphony and Pops Organization, and officials said Michael Feinstein will continue as conductor of the Pasadena Pops, which presents an annual summer concert series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
Judge found that a man was sane at the time of the bludgeoning deaths of his then-estranged wife's two teenage nephews in the boys' Arcadia home. Deyun Shi is on trial for the murders of 15-year-old Anthony Lin, who was asleep when attacked with bolt cutters, and 16-year-old brother William Lin, who was killed while studying in a separate room, on January 22, 2016. Shi was found giulty on two counts of first-degree murder.
Old Town Monrovia's Underdog Bookstore--an LGBTQ-owned book shop uplifting diverse authors and local presses--fights intolerance with inventory. Bookseller Muse Lee was confronted by a customer, a woman who felt "oppressed as a white person" and voiced objections that included racism and homophobia. Emily Lindley-Rodriguez, who works in Arcadia, is saddened to hear of the hate experienced at Underdog.
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.
Meet Rose Queen Naomi Stillitano. Profile on the Arcadia High School senior, who is ready to welcome new year in style going down Colorado Boulevard. See hard copy in VF Tournament of Roses. See also: Learn more about the 2024 Rose Court's six princesses, p. A5.
World AIDS Dayspotlights those who have died. This is the 35th anniversary of World AIDS Day. One event is being held at The Arboretum in Arcadia, a breakfast hosted by Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Paul Edmonds will be the speaker.
Arcadia man's 100th birthday to be family affair. Art Del Rey turns 100 this weekend. He is a World War II veteran (United States Navy). He had a successful career in real estate and started his own business in 1963, Art Del Rey Realty, Inc. in Arcadia, which thrives to this day.
The 2024 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court has a Halloween moment. They spent the evening trick-or-treating at the Tournament House in Pasadena. Naomi Stillitano of Arcadia, who was crowned the Rose Queen last week, was dressed as Cupid from the movie "Valentine's Day."
Indictment implicates Baldwin Park's ex-city attorney Robert Tafoya in $70,000 bribery scheme to help secure cannabis permit from a vote by Councilman Ricardo Pacheco. Special agents with the FBI and IRS arrested former Compton Councilmember Isaac Galvan, 36, and another person, a 50-year-old Arcadia resident, who is the owner and operator of a cannabis grower that obtained a permit in Baldwin Park.
TailoredSpace brings flexible co-working space to suburbs. TailoredSpace CEO Drew Sanden, a seasoned commercial real estate broker, launched TailoredSpace with COO Scott Maples in 2019. The company has been expanding its office campuses in Southern California suburbs, offering flexible co-working and communal spaces for fixed-price monthly memberships. Sanden said he cut his teeth in brokerage along the 210 Freeway corridor--Monrovia and Arcadia.
Presidential history in good hands with Arcadia car detailer Jerome Holland. Holland, owner of Car Bath Mobile Detailing in Arcadia, was one of 40 handpicked automotive detailers who spent 6 days restoring the first Air Force One jet at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
Decorated vet to celebrate 100th birthday. U.S. Air Force vetean Edward Lopez was a fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War. Born in Los Angeles and living in Arcadia for more than 50 years, he is one of the last living members of the Air Force's 365th Fighter-Bomber Group known as The Hell Hawks, a reserve fighter squadron in the U.S. Marine Corps. See hard copy in VF People.
New York's Carnegie Hall hosts young musicians from San Gabriel Valley's Classical European Music Academy Los Angeles (CEMALA). A list of young people who performed include a few from Arcadia--Allen Chen, Andrea Li, Evan Girard-Sun, Farrah Chan, Halley Wang, Ngai Zou, and Sunny Xu.
For the wonderfully weird, Monarch rules. Amid theatrical decor, try a martini with vinegar and Slippery Egg Crab Fried Fun. There is no destination in San Gabriel Valley like Monarch at 1212 South Baldwin Avenue. Merrill Shindler reviews the restaurant opened by the Leon family, who first brought us their take on Peruvian-Chinese cooking at Chifa in Eagle Rock. Monarch is serving modern Chinese cuisine.
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.
What is the horse racing industry doing to prevent catastrophic injuries? The deaths of 7 horses at the home of the Kentucky Derby has once again intensified the debate over the safety of horse racing. How common are injuries and deaths? There have been a spate of deaths in recent years, most notably 30 at Santa Anita Park in 2019. Those led to a series of safety reforms that spread nationally. Article also answers the questions, Why are horses euthanized after a limb injury? Are there treatment alternatives? What is racing doing to address injuries? Who was Barbaro and why did he matter?
CEO Ikenna Mmeje begins managing USC Arcadia Hospital. Ikenna "Ike" Mmeje will lead expansion of access to specialized healthcare and research to the San Gabriel Valley while overseeing all management and operations of the hospital. The hospital was formerly Methodist Hospital of Southern California and is now run by Keck Medicine. Mmeje replaces former president and CEO Dan Ausman, who has retired. Mmeje served as CEO of both Memorial Care Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children's and Women's Hospital in Long Beach. He previously held CEO and COO roles with Tenet Healthcare.
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.