Monterey Park mass shooting one year later. City still lives in massacre's shadow. Permanent memorial to the 11 victims is still in planning stages. In Arcadia, doughnut business owners Francois Ung and his wife Shally Ung remember and honor their friend Andy Kao, a victim of the shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio on January 21, 2023, with a pledge that they will send proceeds from sales at their Arcadia Donuts store on January 20 and 21 to the Monterey Park Hope and Resiliency Center and the Andy Kao Memorial Ballroom Dance Group to assist funding the nonprofit organizations. See also related article, "Who were the Monterey Park shooting victims? A year later, a reflection," Pasadena Star News, p. A13, January 21, 2024.
Arcadia High School teen Naomi Stillitano is the new Rose Queen. Naomi is a dancer, actor, born in Italy, is the 135th person crowned. Includes some biographical information.
Pasadena Tournament of Roses announces 2024 Rose Queen Naomi Stillitano, a senior from Arcadia High School. She is the 105th Rose Queen, lives in Arcadia, is co-president of Italian Culture Club, a dancer and actress with the Arcadia Stage Theater. Born and raised in Italy for 7 years, with goal to create her own fashion brand, interested in studying fashion design. The Rose Queen and the Rose Court act as ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the Pasadena community, and the greater Los Angeles area. Each Royal Court member receives a $7500 educational scholarship.
Right woman for the job. New Athletic Director at University of Southern California (USC) Jennifer Cohen brings integrity to Trojans program. She has 30 years of collegiate athletic experience, including the past 7 years in the same post at University of Washington. Cohen was born in Arcadia.
Decorated vet to celebrate 100th birthday. U.S. Air Force vetean Edward Lopez was a fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War. Born in Los Angeles and living in Arcadia for more than 50 years, he is one of the last living members of the Air Force's 365th Fighter-Bomber Group known as The Hell Hawks, a reserve fighter squadron in the U.S. Marine Corps. See hard copy in VF People.
A 38-year-old Los Angeles man, accused of setting four arson fires in Arcadia and of carjacking a woman trying to move her car away from one of the fires, is arrested. The first fire was in a rear corridor on the second floor of The Shops at Santa Anita mall, at 400 South Baldwin Avenue at 11:40 A.M. on Friday. The other three fires were in the vicinity of the 900 block of Arcadia Avenue.
Dallas Stars' Robertson enjoys record-setting season. Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars left wing, was born in Arcadia and moved to Michigan when he was 10.
San Gabriel Valley high school Track and Field leaders as of April 5. Based on leaderboards at Athletic.net. All distances in meters. From Arcadia:
in 1600 meters, Brandon Chang, 4:16.36.
in Discus, Vrishank Biju, 142-11 (dual meet)
in 800 meters, Reena Hsieh, 5:01.84.
in the 3200, Reena Hsieh 10:54.35.
in Discus, Emma Samvelian, 120-2
in Pole Vault, Emma Samvelian, 10-6.
Ed Andersen, president of Arcadia Historical Society, presents a local history program at Arcadia Public Library on March 11 at 2:00. The topic is The San Gabriel Valley in 1877: through the lens of Carleton Watkins (photographer).
Officials offer words of condolence for Monterey Park shooting victims. As Monterey Park grieves lives of 11 victims of a mass shooter who shot people at Star Dance Studio on Saturday, January 21, the Lunar New Year eve (Chinese New Year eve), President Joe Biden, Governor Gavin Newsom, and local officials such as Arcadia Mayor Paul Cheng, Rosemead Mayor Sean Dang, Duarte City officials, Los Angeles City Council, among others, offered condolences.
Monterey Park shooting aftermath. Ex-tenant: Attack suspect hated his dance instructors. Huu Can Tran harbored a deep hatred for fellow instructors at Star Dance Studio where he killed 11 patrons and wounded 9 others on Saturday, January 21, the Lunar New Year eve. Tran's tenant, a man who formerly rented a small home from the gunman said Tran distrusted people and could become very angry. At one time, Tran had lived in an apartment in Arcadia. The former tenant describes other aspects of Tran's personality.
In hockey news, Dallas Stars play the Los Angeles Kings in Los Angeles today. Dallas winger Jason Robertson was born in Arcadia, California. His family had season tickets to the Kings games before they moved to Michigan when Jason was 10. His brother Nick Robertson plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
National Hockey League news-Jason Robertson signs a new deal with Dallas Stars. He is a restricted free agent, is 23-years-old, and was born in Arcadia.
Arcadia Unified School District hosting community conversations regarding district's improvement needs. Community input is critical because it helps the school district plan how to use resources to educate and support all students. This is the seventh year of conducting this annual community conversation, via survey, through February 25 at 11:59 PM.
Drive-through Christmas light show at Santa Anita Park, 285 West Huntington Drive, called Reindeer Road, produced by World of Illumination. Tickets available. The event started November 11, 2021 and runs through January 2, 2022.
11 Arcadia High students named National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalis
Arcadia High School continues its 28-year streak of seeing a double-digit number of students represented in the renowned National Merit Scholarship Program. This year, 11 Arcadia High students are counted among less than 1% of high school seniors across the nation that have been named 2022 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, who now have the opportunity to vie for one of nearly 7,500 scholarships that collectively total close to $30 million.
Anita Baldwin statue to be unveiled at Le Méridien Hotel in Arcadia
The Anita May Baldwin statue at the Le Méridien Hotel will be unveiled on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 at 11 a.m. Anita is the daughter of city founder, Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin. The statue will be featured on the opposite end of the Huntington Drive islands’ hotel property.
“We are very excited to be bringing Anita back to Arcadia,” said Mayor Sho Tay in a statement released by the city. “I would like to thank the Shen, Liu and Chen Families, Jeff Lee, the Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation, Heather D. Gibson and Margaux L. Gibson, and the Arcadia Historical Society, for their generous donations.”
“On behalf of the Baldwin family, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Arcadia City Council, the Arcadia Historical Society, the Le Méridien Hotel and all those who have supported this effort to pay homage to my great-great grandmother, Anita May Baldwin,” said Margaux Gibson. “This magnificent statue of Anita will showcase a strong woman who was ahead of her time. I am proud to call Anita May Baldwin my great-great grandmother, and I am truly proud to be a part of this historic project.”
The Anita statue was sculpted by local artist and southern California native Alfred Paredes — who created the Lucky Baldwin statue on the corner of Huntington Drive and Holly Avenue — and is aptly named, “A Legacy of Charity” in honor of Anita’s contributions to life in early Arcadia and throughout California.