Los Angeles County National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists named. They will now compete for a share of scholarships worth almost $28 million. Those from Arcadia High School students are Isaac Cheng, Hongji Dai, Casey R. Kim, Kaitlyn A. Kwan, Caroline J. Ji, Jeffrey Oo, Steven H. Shi, Philip Tan, William Wong, Felicia Ye, Katelyn A. Yu.
Arcadia Mayor Paul Cheng proclaimed April 2 Education and Sharing Day calling for renewed focus on moral and ethical education. Mayor Cheng presented the proclamation to representatives of Chabad of Arcadia and the greater San Gabriel Valley. Chabad of Arcadia offers Jewish education, community and social service programming for families of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations.
Arcadia's Arroyo Pacific Academy celebrates grand opening of new campus at 325 N. Santa Anita Avenue. Congresswoman Judy Chu was present, as well as Arcadia Mayor Pro Tempore Sho Tay.
Teen brothers, ages 15 and 16, beaten to death in their home on 400 block of Fairview Avenue, just west of Holly Avenue. The suspect is their uncle by marriage, who is believed to have fled to China. The FBI was working with Chinese authorities. The victims appeared to have suffered "blunt force trauma." The suspect was already being sought in an attack on his wife. His wife filed a restraining order against him and began divorce proceedings.
New legislation gives city clerks statewide authority to sanctify marriages. Gene Glasco, Arcadia City Clerk, has authority to marry couples in California.
Arcadia Rotary Club had former University of Nevada Las Vegas football coach and long-time Arcadia resident Harvey Hyde as their keynote speaker earlier this month.
H. B. London, Jr., of Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group that opposes gay marriage, spoke at the 2011 Mayor's Community Breakfast, about the importance of compassion and unconditional love in the family. Outside there were some 90 protestors that support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson defends his speaker of choice at next month's Mayor's Community Breakfast. He has invited H. B. London, of Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group that opposes same-sex marriage. Residents and activists upset about this choice are organizing two counterevents of their own. Activists are planning a "peaceful" demonstration March 4 outside Arcadia Community Center and a bar-b-que at Pasadena's Unitarian Church for all families. Focus on the Family was founded in Arcadia by Dr. James C. Dobson and believes marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman. Amundson said the event is not about sexuality but about the Arcadia family.
Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson's selection of Reverend H. B. London, Jr. to speak at the community breakfast on March 4, is drawing criticism from some residents and gay-rights activists. London is a vice president of ministry outreach at Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group that opposes gay marriage. Some residents are asking Mayor Amundson to reconsider and they feel Focus on the Family delivers hateful messages. The city estimates it will pay between $5000 and $5500 for its contribution to the event, which will include the speaker's plane fare.
A federal investigation of a San Gabriel Valley-based Asian crime syndicate led to the arrests of 18 suspected Red Door gang members in several San Gabriel Valley cities, including Arcadia. The effort was dubbed "Operation Paint it Black." Authorities seized seven guns, 12,500 ecstasy pills, 2,230 marijuana plants and a Lamborghini. The 18 were indicted on drug trafficking and international marriage fraud charges.