Arcadia Rotary Corner by Joe Miller. Over the years, with 501 (c)(3) status, the Arcadia Rotary Foundation has funded the Paul Johenk Fund, Ted McBane Fund, Dr. Bruce Walter Fund, Ira Traweek Fund and Nick Pokrajac Fund. The Paul Johenk Fund contributed $15,000 for one of the rooms at Arcadia Methodist Hospital, $10,000 to Arcadia Public Library for refurnishing a room, $10,000 toward construction of the Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum. Board of Directors are Bill Gleason, Brian Hall, Mike Real, John Murphy and Ira Traweek.
The Rotary Club met at and toured Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Rotarian Dennis Lee is CEO of the hospital and Rotarian Greg Bond is president of the Methodist Hospital Foundation. Other Rotary service projects discussed.
Arcadia Public Library will have a new conference room constructed and will remodel the existing room into offices and a work area. An office will be created for the Friends of the Library. This is the first phase and the contract was awarded to K & S Design for $106,500. Phase 2 of the project, to be completed at a later date, will include a teen center and an enlarged international language area.
There’s something about Mary. Mary Hansen (photo) honored by Arcadia Rotary Club with the Paul Harris Fellow award for service “above and beyond,” according to Arcadia Rotary Club President Pat Dolphin. Mary was also selected as 2018 Senior of the Year because of her 46-plus years of volunteer work throughout Arcadia.
Joe Miller writes a semi-regular column called Rotary Corner in Arcadia Weekly. It covers activities of the Arcadia Rotary Club and Rotary International. The page number varies by the issue.
Arcadia Rotary's inaugural "Field of Honor" displays 1000 U.S. flags at Arcadia County Park. It is an impressive display of patriotism. Flags are sold for $50 to anyone who cares to remember a loved one or service member. It is a Rotary fundraising effort to benefit numerous area charities including Boys and Girls Club.
Festivities for the grand re-opening of the Arcadia Public Library will begin on November 19. The President of the Arcadia Public Library Foundation, Jesse Vanlandingham, is still seeking donations to cover interior details.
The expansion and creation of recreation and activity programs at all school levels and extending Arcadia Public Library hours to include Sunday afternoon topped the list of recommendations in the Youth Master Plan.
The library has new equipment for people with special needs. The "Reading Edge" scans printed text, converts it and then reads it aloud for those who are blind or visually impaired. The library also has a color video magnification system.