George Fasching leads campaign to get Denny's to fire up historic Van de Kamp's Dutch windmill. According to Los Angeles Conservancy, the coffee shop was completed in 1967 and designed by Pasadena architects Harold Bissner and Harold Zook.
Denny's CEO considers firing up the old windmill in 2016. It is atop the Denny's Restaurant at the corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue. It used to be the Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery, founded in 1915, a Los Angeles institution for much of the 20th century. According to Los Angeles Conservancy, the building was completed in 1967 and designed by Pasadena architects Harold Bissner and Harold Zook. Denny's Corporation CEO Stephen Dunn is happy to explore the possibility of activating the windmill.
Iconic Arcadia windmill will turn, turn, turn. Former Arcadia Mayor George Fasching spearheaded the effort to get Denny's windmill running again. Restoration work will begin soon, with June as the target for the windmill to run again. The windmill was the trademark for Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery, which was at this site, at the corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue, in 1967.
Denny's windmill spins again. The windmill atop Denny's at northeast corner of Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive was designed by Harold Bissner as the template for Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery's coffee shop franchise. It opened in 1967 in Arcadia, the first of 15 built from his designs. Denny's bought the location in 1989. Denny's spent $100,000 refurbishing the windmill.
Historic windmill turns again after long hiatus. George Fasching's original idea spawns huge community pride. The Denny's windmill was dedicated on June 29 after a refurbishment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New legislation gives city clerks statewide authority to sanctify marriages. Gene Glasco, Arcadia City Clerk, has authority to marry couples in California.