Arcadia police officer Luis Vicuna received the Arcadia Police Department's Life Saving Medal last week for helping save the life of 76-year old James Chen, who collapsed at the Arcadia Sports Fitness Club late last year. Pictured are Arcadia Police Chief Robert Sanderson, Officer Luis Vicuna and Captain Gene Gioia.
Arcadia property owners will be asked to renew a street lighting fee schedule and assessment in June, when funding is set to expire. Officials warned that without an extension of the lighting assessment district, the city would lose about $420,000 a year. Unless the assessment is renewed, the city might have to cut services such as police protection, fire and emergency medical response services, library services, and recreation programs. Arcadia property owners currently pay 40% of street lighting repair and maintenance costs, while the city covers the other 60%. That would remain unchanged in the new assessment district, but the amounts each household pays will be different. Family households in residential neighborhoods will be charged $28.44 a year, while single-family homes along major thoroughfares will pay $16.73 a year.
MI Developments, the new owners of Santa Anita Park, defended canceling Oak Tree Racing Association's lease for fall racing, saying the contract did not account for the true economic cost of running the race track, according to Dennis Mills, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Canada-based MI Developments. On the other hand, Oak Tree's director and executive vice president Sherwood Chillingworth said the race track was getting the better deal, as Santa Anita Park got 75% of Oak Tree's profits. Chillingworth is talking about running Oak Tree at Hollywood Park or Del Mar.
A recent audit of fire department response times in 12 cities shows San Marino and Pasadena firefighters were the quickest in responding to emergency calls. The report covered April, May and June. San Marino's and Pasadena's average response times were 4:03 and 4:02, respectively. Arcadia's average, in comparison, was 4:21.
City clerks often earn six figure salaries. Pasadena has the highest paid clerk in the San Gabriel Valley with an annual salary of $143,006, and 10 cities have clerks that make more than $100,000. The City Clerk is responsible for all city records and for orchestrating city elections. Arcadia's city manager Don Penman said the role of city clerk as chief record keeper is essential and the pay is justified because of the level of responsibility the position demands. Arcadia's city clerk is paid $90,870 per year.
Less than 6 months after reinstating it, Arcadia City Council voted unanimously to suspend the trapping and killing of coyotes in residential neighborhoods. The program, which has caught 20 coyotes since August, drew constant fire from residents and animal rights activists. Arcadia city councilman Bob Harbicht says the program was successful. The combination of educational programs and trapping has resulted in the trapping of fewer coyotes and fewer complaints at City Hall. The city spent $15,000 to conduct the trapping program, carried out by Chino-based Animal Pest Management Services, from August 2010 through January 2011. The city will suspend trapping and monitor the situation.
A group of friends that grew up together in or near Arcadia, who joined a Camp Fire Girls troop together seven decades ago, reunited 6 years ago and now meet monthly. They are (pictured): Donna Tyler, 81, of Hemet, Sharon Lasken, 80, of Arcadia; Judy Ramaker, 70 of Pasadena, and Marian Walski, 83, of Duarte. They meet at the house of their leader, 97 year old Hazel Williams. Other troop members not shown include Betty Quinn, 81, of La Mirada and Betty Emick, 80 of Claremont.
The Beltran family struggles after losing their home in a fire in February. It was a house they were renting in the 1500 block of 10th Avenue in Arcadia. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in property loss and roughly $50,000 in content damage.
An ancient Chinese maternity tradition, from the Sung Dynasty (960-1275 AD), known as "Zuo Yue Zi," is translated as "doing the month."It refers to the care of a Chinese woman during the first month after giving birth. The practice is explained here by Wei-Chen Tung, a former registered nurse at Arcadia Methodist Hospital and now an assistant professor of nursing at University of Nevada, Reno. The practice requires new mothers to follow a strict diet and rest for 3-4 weeks following a pregnancy. Tung says a lot of Chinese women still practice this, so hospitals should be aware of this part of Chinese culture. Maternity tourists--women who want to come to the United States to give birth to a full-fledged American citizen, have given rise to businesses that cater to them, such as the maternity home that was shut down in the 1300 block of South Palm Avenue in San Gabriel on March 8. It had been 5 townhomes illegally converted into a maternity home.
Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum is currently exhibiting "Arcadia Fire Department: a history." It is the 7th annual Arcadia High School honors history exhibit. The high school students interviewed firefighters for the project. In photo: firefighters James Miller and Chris Moore, and students Tim Lim, Breana Flores, and Brittney Lee.
Santa Anita Park is making a bid for the 2012 Breeders' Cup. Former Breeders' Cup CEO Greg Avioli has taken over as Chief Executive Officer of Stronach Entertainment, and now oversees Stronach Group's race tracks and other assets. Avioli's experience brings strength to Santa Anita Park's bid. Santa Anita Park last hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2008 and 2009. The city of Arcadia gets one-third of 1 percent of all monies bet on the track. The event generated nearly $57,000 in betting handle in 2008 and nearly $58,000 in 2009 for the city.
Arcadia Police Department has a new police chief. His name is Bob Guthrie and has been serving as interim police chief since Bob Sanderson retired in April. He joined the Arcadia Police Department as a cadet in 1989.
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.
On October 25, 2011 at 7:18 AM, Arcadia Fire Department responded to a structure fire with multiple explosions in the 1400 block of S. Mayflower Avenue. The flames engulfed a detached 4-car garage behind a single family home. The fire appears to be accidental. Estimated loss is $150,000 including two vehicles. No one was injured.
Arcadia Chinese Association's biggest fundraiser of the year to benefit the Arcadia community takes place November 5 with the theme "That 70s Show." Funds raised are donated to Arcadia High School, Arcadia Public Library, Arcadia Police Department, Arcadia Fire Department, Arcadia Methodist Hospital, Assistance League of Arcadia, Foothill Unity Center, Arcadia Historical Museum and more.
Arcadia High School graduate Layla Zomorod, 18, heads to impoverished Anse Le Raye, St. Lucia island to assist this economically challenged fishing village.
Power still out in parts of Pasadena. The California Emergency Management Agency's acting secretary Mike Dayton is touring the cities most impacted by the windstorm. His visit is considered a precursor to a state declaration of emergency, which would pave the way for state and federal assistance. Arcadia City Manager Don Penman said damage to public buildings and recovery efforts are expected to top $2 million, and that damage to private property could run several million more.
State official views damage caused by last week's windstorm. California Emergency Management Agency's acting secretary Mike J. E. Dayton toured 8 San Gabriel Valley cities that were hardest hit, including Altadena, Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Temple City, San Gabriel and Alhambra, to assess the damage. He will determine whether state or federal assistance may be applicable.
California Governor Jerry Brown declares a state of emergency in response to the recent windstorm that caused about $75 million in damage, primarily in the San Gabriel Valley. The declaration allows city governments to be reimbursed for up to 75% of the cost of the damage through state and federal agencies. It also allows state agencies to assist in the recovery.