The District Attorney's Office announced this week it won't prosecute an Arcadia Police Officer for elder abuse for accepting $9000 from an elderly woman. Arcadia Resident Bernis St. Thomas, 89, told investigators she wanted to give officer Michael Castro the money.
Representatives of the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced that Santa Anita Park race track has been named to their list of the country's most endangered historic places. Efforts mount to preserve Santa Anita's architectural integrity.
Apache band captures praise in Arizona. The Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band and Color Guard took part in the White Mountain Apache Fair and rodeo in Arizona. The announcer said, "We are proud you are using our name." Photo caption: Wearing their new Apache-approved headdresses, members of the Arcadia high School Apache marching band tend to final details prior to the Arizona parade last weekend.
Construction begins on Anoakia luxury housing development, on the former site of Anoakia, Anita Baldwin's mansion, on the corner of Baldwin Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in Arcadia. The Anoakia Mansion was demolished last August to make way for 31 homes to be built by Hover Development Inc. of Newport Beach. Anita Baldwin, daughter of Lucky Baldwin, lived there until her death in 1939. It was used as a girls' school from 1941 to the late 1970s. The new housing development is 19 acres.
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer announced that a House and Senate Committee approved $900,000 to help Arcadia Police Department convert its current radio equipment, operation on wide-band UHF, to narrow band technology. This conversion is needed to become compliant with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards.
Anoakia Estates model homes to open for viewing by this spring. The community is made up of 31 luxury homes. Developer is Tom Hover. The homes were constructed on the site of Anoakia, an estate owned by Anita Baldwin, daughter of Arcadia city founder, Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, at Foothill Boulevard and Baldwin Avenue. The homes will be 2-stories, and 5,000-6,000 square feet.
Jennifer Consalvi and Julie Gu, both of Arcadia High School, went to Washington DC to participate in the Presidential Classroom Scholar's Program. They met with Congressman David Dreier and Ralph Nader.
Arcadia Chamber of Commerce takes Bank of America, Ralphs Grocery Co., Albertsons and Washington Mutual to task for not joining the Chamber of Commerce.
Beth Costanza, Executive director of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, has received positive feedback from chamber members after she published a piece called "Arcadia's meanest spirited businesses," in which she took to task such companies as Washington Mutual, Bank of America, Ralphs and Sav-On.
Arcadia will give a free blue star poster to any resident whose son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse or grandchild is on active duty in the military.
Grant Chu, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ming R. Chu of Arcadia, received a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
The history of the peafowl from Indian and Java that live in Arcadia is presented. Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin imported three pairs from India in the 1880s. His daughter Anita Baldwin added some birds from Java. The peacock is official bird of Arcadia, is protected, and should not be fed. See also VF "Peacocks" for copy of article.
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.
On December 5, the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce will honor Gary L. Thomas, Arcadia resident and the 2003 President of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. Thomas, a 41 year member was elected to the Executive Committee in 1995.
Los Angeles Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich announced that the Board of Supervisors has appointed Arcadia resident Daisy L. Ma to the Los Angeles County Commission for Children and Families. The board also reappointed Arcadia resident Michael Gi-Hao Cheung to the Los Angeles Commission on Insurance.
Safeway, Inc., the parent company of The Vons Companies, Inc., announced layoffs which will include 28 workers at the Vons Pavilions headquarters in Arcadia.