Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden will have its historic buildings upgraded and a new 5-year strategic plan is being drafted for the first time in many years. Among items to be improved are the roof replacement and stabilization of the Hugo Reid Adobe (aka Baldwin Adobe), the rehabilitation of the library, as well as roof replacements for the 126-year-old Queen Anne Cottage of "Fantasy Island" fame, and the Coach Barn. Mitchell Bishop, curator of the historic collections, said he plans to rehabilitate Baldwin Lake.
Arcadia Unified School District upgraded and improved four campuses over summer break, costing nearly $10 million. Funded under the district's $218 million Measure I Bond, the four schools that got updated classrooms and facilities are Arcadia High School, Camino Grove Elementary, Hugo Reid Elementary, and Highland Oaks Elementary schools.
Arcadia Unified School District hires four new principals. They are Tom Bruce (First Avenue Middle School), Teresa Oakdale (Holly Avenue Elementary School), Ben Acker (Foothills Middle School), and Lauren Leahy (Hugo Reid Elementary School). The new hires come soon after David Vannasdall became the district superintendent in May.
Tarzan returns to Arboretum in Arcadia. Arboretum celebrates Hollywood history on June 30 with a special presentation of On Location: Tarzan at the Arboretum by Scott Tracy Griffin, author of Tarzan on Film and Tarzan the Centennial Celebration. Baldwin Lake and surrounding landscape served as stand-in for African jungle in 12 classic Tarzan films.
LA County Arboretum’s “Moonlight Forest” brings people together in San Gabriel Valley. The Arboretum is now displaying hundreds of magnificent lanterns depicting exotic animals, shimmering flowers, whimsical pandas, soaring dragons, and other themes.
Pasadena Pops Orchestra debuts its first summer season at the Los Angeles County Arboretum today with Marvin Hamlisch, composer and conductor. The CalPhil lost out to the Pasadena Pops in a bid to stay at the Arboretum and CalPhil signed up with neighboring Santa Anita Park instead.
Annual Taste of Arcadia, an Arcadia Chamber of Commerce event, will take place Monday, September 19 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. As always, a percentage of proceeds goes to three local non-profit organizations. This year, the beneficiaries are Assistance League of Arcadia, the Boy Scouts of America/Lucky Baldwin District, and the Arboretum Foundation.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and parts of the Huntington Library remain closed to the public more than two weeks after a ferocious windstorm hit the region overnight on November 30 and December 1. At the historic Arboretum, more than 325 trees were toppled and more than 700 others were damaged. The Arboretum officials want to reopen by December 31. At the Huntington Library in San Marino, more than 50 major trees went down but officials estimate that between 150 and 200 trees will be lost altogether from the damage.
A ninth historical marker, presented by Arcadia Historical society, will be dedicated on October 2 near the main entrance of the Los Angeles County Arboretum. This "History Lives Here" marker showcases vintage photographs and descriptions of the history and evolution of the Arboretum, which was once the home of Arcadia founder Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. See hard copy in VF "Historical Society"
Forest bathing is the latest thing to do at the Arboretum in Arcadia. It is a new program for people to immerse themselves among trees and leave the mind, body and soul at ease.
Moonlight Forest returns to Arboretum by popular demand. It is a magical lantern art festival that will be bigger and brighter in 2019. Runs November 9 through January 12.