Experts say fierce Santa Ana winds will return this week. Last week a brutal windstorm ripped through Southern California, leaving dozens of homes uninhabitable and toppled hundreds of trees in the San Gabriel Valley. Arcadia Unified School District is scheduled to open all its campuses today except Highland Oaks and Longley Way Elementary Schools.
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.
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.
Make-a-Wish recipient Elizabeth Victoria, 12, of San Gabriel, hugs former recipient Jayne Philbin, 14 of Sierra Madre. Elizabeth's wish for a shopping spree was fulfilled yesterday in Arcadia as part of Macy's National Believe Day. Elizabeth suffers from renal disease.
The fate of Isaac Campbell, 36, on trial for the murder of Liya "Jessie" Lu, rests with the jury now, after attorneys on both sides gave their closing arguments yesterday.
Arcadia High School girls named to 2011 All-Area Tennis first team include Francis Dean and Nadia Pacheco-Amaro. Elizabeth Lieu of Arcadia is on the second team.
Los Angeles County officials are holding a meeting at 6:00 PM today at Arcadia County Park to address concerns and to "clarify misperceptions" about a plan to bring in a new operator and manager for the park's tennis center. The community is concerned about pricey fees or membership dues if the recommended operator iTennis is approved by the Board of Supervisors next month. Tony Bell, spokesperson for Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, said there will be no pay-to-play or required membership. The new contract will be to improve the quality of services, programs and amenities.
Arcadia's Baldwin Stocker Elementary School and Pasadena's Roosevelt Elementary have been nominated for National Blue Ribbon honor. The program recognizes some of the highest performing and most improved schools in the nation.
Santa Anita Park kicks off racing season with new events and Hollywood tie-in to HBO television series "Luck." There is a new Luck Lounge and a new Kids Zone.
The body of 41-year-old Monrovia woman Carina Yong-Yi Sun was found in a vehicle at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on January 9, 2012. The cause of death has tentatively been ruled suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Obituary/death notice. An emotional farewell to Arcadia firefighter Andy Michael Troncale. He died at age 52 of cancer. Funeral services were held January 30, 2012 at Holy Angels Catholic Church, interment at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.
The next Arcadia city council election in April will be an all-mail ballot, that is saving the city thousands of dollars. The five candidates for two seats are Arcadia Mayor Gary Kovacic, John Wuo, Sho Tay, Henry Nunez and Mary Dougherty.
HRTV and Santa Anita Park have announced plans for a first ever non-fiction documentary film competition entitled "A Day at the Races" for film students and filmmakers wishing to make a five-minute or less Santa Anita-based film. First prize is $10,000.
Historical background on plans to build a performing arts auditorium in Arcadia, starting in 1977-1978. The Arcadia Auditorium Foundation (AAF) was formed by Charles Gilb, Gloria Horstman and Joe Sargis. The building did not come to fruition but the money has supported music programs at Arcadia Unified School District over the years. Now that Measure I is funding a Performing Arts Center at Arcadia High School, the AAF will fund the ending expenses of the construction. Arcadia Mayor Gary Kovacic has been a long-time advocate of an auditorium. See hard copy in VF "Arcadia Performing Arts Center."