In search of $50,000 in additional money for education, the Arcadia Unified School District has kicked off a district-wide energy conservation program in an effort to cut energy usage for each school by 10% compared with last year.
Fundraising efforts (primarily via direct mail solicitation) by the Arcadia Educational Foundation have yielded $45,000 to be used for a new science lab at Arcadia High School and $20,000 to buy mini-computers for Arcadia grade school students.
The Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association will break its ties to the Chamber of Commerce and will form an independent body in order to gain status as a tax deductible organization.
Huntington High School started an Independent Study Program last September. The program is free and open to anyone older than 18 who did not finish their diploma. 75 students are currently enrolled in this successful program.
Immediately after passing a balanced budget of $25.4 million, the Arcadia Board of Education eliminated another $265,854 worth of jobs from the district payroll to help provide pay hikes for district employees.
The Arcadia City Council put off voting for a combined school and city election until it can determine whether the county, in that instance, would give up running the school election.
Arcadia police seized more than 154 lbs. of cocaine worth an estimated $70 million and arrested 4 Colombian nationals in the largest drug haul in the city's history. Homes on Fairview Avenue, Arcadia Avenue and Huntington Drive were raided.
Santa Anita Park completed its most successful season ever with $445 million wagered. Total attendance was also an all-time high. The admission tax netted the city $1.1 million. The Park's other contributions to the city are discussed.
An international businessman was abducted from his Arcadia home and later released the same evening after his abductors demanded he pay them $1 million. He was told that he would be contacted the next day with instructions about where to put the money, but no money has been paid. This is the first kidnapping of this type in Arcadia, although there have been four other kidnappings in the San Gabriel Valley since last October.
Residential development in Arcadia will come to a virtual halt if a group called SOS (Save Our Suburbia) is successful in getting residents to adopt a no-growth initiative it plans to put on the next city ballot.
A new ballot issue that calls for an independent state reapportionment commission may be introduced depending on the California Supreme Court's decision on the current redistricting plan.
Although owners of horse-size lots in Southeast Arcadia recently lost a battle before the City Council to extend a moratorium on subdivisions in the area, one leader of the group says they will continue their fight on 2 fronts: a lawsuit against the city and the formation of a new citizen's group to put initiative measures on the city ballot to limit development of Arcadia.
East Pasadena Water Company has positive development to report. Company has commitment from State Dept. of Water Resources for a $1.5 million low-interest loan, funded from state bonds.
An Arcadia man who didn't like a group of church Christmas carolers singing on his front lawn, brandished a gun at the group and threatened to kill them unless they got off his property. Police surrounded his house for an hour before he surrendered.
A group under the direction of the Arcadia Friendship Club will visit Tripolis, Greece, Sister City of Arcadia. A special proclamation honoring Tripolis' Mayor Tasos Sehiotes and Greek Independence Day has been prepared for presentation.