Dance instructor Ricky Sun and Evoke Dance Group, and amateur dancers ranging in age from 5 to 75, formed the first ever "Flash mob" of 100 dancers to appear at historic Santa Anita Park race track. They broke out in a choreographed routine to publicize Relay For Life. The flash mob was organized by the Chamber of Commerce.
Honorees of Arcadia Chamber 2015 Business Awards include Patricia Colonello of Mountain Views News. Business Person of the Year went to Kin Hui of Arcadia, CEO of Singpoli Group. Business of the Year went to Sierra Auto Honda, a family owned business. Raquel McLaughlin and her mother were awarded New Business of the Year.
Iconic Arcadia Chamber of Commerce building celebrates 50 years on November 12. A 1965 time capsule to be opened with tours of the building remodel. The building is round and all glass. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 19, November 5, 2015. See also Mountain Views News, p. 7, November 14, 2015 (time capsule was opened and contained film strips, films, and papers).
Arcadia declares fiscal emergency. Budget cuts may hurt city services. After an analysis of expenditures and revenues, Arcadia City Council adopted Resolution 7242 and declared a fiscal emergency.
Arcadia adopts comprehensive pension management plan, saving $85 million. It addresses the City's $154 million in unfunded pension liabilities. It focuses on:
-use of reserves to prepay existing liabilities
-refinancing existing debt to lower interest rates to free up cash flow
-prepaying costs with surplus funds from voter-approved Measure A sales tax increase
-financing long-term capital improvements
-using pension obligation bonds to lower the overall costs of pensions
-negotiating for more employee cost-sharing.
See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, February 27, 2020
Arcadia Senior Services is partnering with Arcadia Chinese Association to celebrate Chinese New Year on Friday, February 3, at the Arcadia Community Center, 365 Campus Drive. It's an event for age 50 and over and the cost is $10 per person.
Unanimous Arcadia City Council acts to place local funding measure, known as the “Arcadia Public Safety, City Services and Accountability Measure” on the June 2019 ballot to maintain public safety and other city services. City staff and the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee have indicated Arcadia has a multi-million dollar structural deficit.
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.
Arcadia Unified School District celebrates grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony of the Compressed Natural Gas Station. It was made possible by nearly $500,000 in grants from California Energy Commission and Mobile Source Air Pollution Review Committee. The new CNG station is estimated to save the district up to $40,000 in fuel and maintenance costs per year.
Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) Deputy Superintendent Robert Leri has resigned. Arcadia High School Principal David Vannasdall will take on the additional role of Deputy Superintendent March 1 and leave his job as principal at end of school year to become Deputy Superintendent. Other personnel changes within the school district. AUSD is trying to cover a projected $7 million annual budget deficit with a proposed 5-year parcel tax. Arcadia Educational Foundation is doing its annual solicitation.
Great news from the Great Race Place. Eclipse Awards for Horse Racing, held at Santa Anita Park, honored Jessica Pyfer as Apprentice of the Year, Joel Rosario as Jockey of the Year, and race horses CeCe and Corniche.
Arcadia firefighters helped raise funds for a muscular dystrophy fundraiser called "Fill the Boot" and were presented with a participation plaque by Megan Berry, Director for MDA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
President Eric Chen of Chateau Group and Robb Macmillan, Development Director, to share plans for new Marriott Le Meridien Hotel and Conference Center to be located directly across from the historic Santa Anita Park Race Track. Construction to start in 2018 and be completed by fourth quarter of 2019. On the site of the former Santa Anita Inn and Ramada Inn.