Arcadia resident Thomas V. McKernan, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Automobile Club of California, has been elected president of the non-profit Los Angeles Police Foundation, which was created to help fund police safety programs.
7-year-old Maria Lugo Rocha of Sinaloa, Mexico, is recovering after a surgery to remove a bone tumor from her chin, performed last week at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. LIGA International, a non-profit group of medical experts, pilots and volunteers, helped to bring the girl to Arcadia to have the surgery.
Ruth Gilb, president of the board of directors of the Arcadia Welfare and Thrift Shop, says the store is a vital part of the community. Not only is it a retail store, it is a social service facility that provides assistance to people with financial, family, and personal problems.
Arcadia Rotary Club and other clubs in the United States raised $30,000, which was matched by the Rotary Foundation to total $330,000. The money will go to college loans for students in a southwest Ugandan village.
9-year-old Maria Lugo came to Arcadia Arcadia Methodist Hospital from Mexico to have a steel plate removed from her chin. It was a follow-up surgery to a softball-size tumor removal she had in April, 2008, at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Dr. Jon Tyrell, a member of LIGA International, and Dr. B.S. Chandrasekhar operated on her. LIGA International is a non-profit group of medical experts, pilots and volunteers who travel to clinics in Sinaloa, Mexico several times a year.
The Arcadia Fire Department has formed a special relationship with Dean Street Station 105 in Brooklyn, New York. One Voice For Tomorrow is a local non-profit organization that helps raise money for the Dean Street Station Fund and to help the Arcadia Fire Association Widows and Orphan Fund.
Arcadia Rotary Club will celebrate 75 years. Starting with 15 members in 1927, the group now has 110 members. Charities and worthy causes that the group supports are listed.
Arcadia City Council has accepted a federal grant of $125,000 to place a uniformed police officer on the campuses of the city's three middle schools. The program is called Youth and Educational Support (YES).
Westfield Group is funding a new "grass roots" coalition to oppose the Santa Anita Park race track mall development by Caruso Affiliated. The coalition is called Arcadia First! but includes Westfield representatives, Westfield tenants and downtown businesses, and not only citizens, as the membership in a grass roots organization might suggest.
Westfield Group, owner of Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita, has proposed two ballot measures for the November election. Westfield is gathering signatures for the two initiatives: 1) to mandate free parking at all large retail projects and 2) to ban large billboards. A poll of 300 registered Arcadia voters in February showed 74% support the free parking initiative and 62% support the billboard measure.
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.
Information on the philanthropic projects of the Assistance League of Arcadia that are supported by proceeds from the sales at the Bargain Box thrift shop. The article includes an announcement about the store offering holiday items.
Mount Wilson Vista Girl Scout Council will host a benefit dinner to raise funds for its "Pathway to Promise" program. The program reaches out to girls in underserved areas such as Montebello, El Monte, Rosemead and San Gabriel.
The Arcadia Board of Education promised parents and supporters of former teacher Sandra Ragusa a statement on why she was not allowed to withdraw her resignation.
City of Arcadia renews a contract with lobbyists, The Ferguson Group, for national legislative advocacy representation. The contract is $65,000 annually for unlimited service each month.
The police department has a regular schedule of reorganizing with Officer Mike Cervantes returning to patrol duty after being a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer. Filling the DARE position will be Officer Brian Ortiz. Officer Toni Caylor will be working with students as the YES (Youth and Educational Support) officer at Arcadia High School. Background information on each officer is provided.