$2 million in funding to help provide more homes. San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust gets state award for affordable, transitional housing. About 2 dozen cities have partnered, including Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, and others, to develop affordable housing.
The 7th annual Quinceanera Parade, hosted by Los Angeles County Children and Family Services, took place at Los Angeles County Arboretum, for the first time. It was celebrated with a car parade.
10 People in L.A. County test positive for COVID-19 every minute. Every minute, on average, 10 people in L.A. County test positive for COVID -19, and these 15,000 individuals who test positive each day were capable of infecting others for two days before they had any symptoms or knew they were positive, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said Monday. At least 10-12% of people infected with the virus end up hospitalized at some point, and more than 1% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 end up dying.
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.
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.
210 Freeway closure five days affecting eastbound Interstate-210 from Wednesday, August 17 through Tuesday, August 23 for the San Gabriel River Bridge Hinge Replacement Project.
210 Freeway closure returns this week. For second time in a month, motorists face delays during a 5-day shutdown for bridge construction, closing eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway from the 605 Freeway interchange to Irwindale Avenue. The delays may be more pronounced in the weekday afternoon during peak hours through Pasadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, and Irwindale, as the eastbound lanes detour from 6 lanes into 3 lanes.
582 coronavirus cases in the San Gabriel Valley. Arcadia has 18 documented cases now. There could be more cases in the SGV as the availability of COVID-19 tests is limited
626 Night Market, an Asia-inspired market event returns for its ninth season at Santa Anita Park Friday through Sunday, with a phased reopening and reduced capacity. Admission is $5 plus fees.
2020 ELECTIONS - Outcomes for boards of college districts - Open seats draw range of challengers to lead local higher education. Citrus Community College
In Area 2, Laura Bollinger had an early lead over Joseph Hamer Salas for the Citrus Community College District race.
The Citrus Community College District encompasses Azusa, Bradbury, Claremont, Duarte, Glendora, Monrovia, and portions of San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Arcadia, Covina and Irwindale. The district enrolls more than 20,000 students.
Affirmative action vote splits Asian-Americans. Community members take part in a "No on Proposition 16" rally at Arcadia County Park on August 8. Prop 16 would legalize race-aware decisions in public college admissions, hiring, and contracting. This is a divisive issue among Asian-Americans. Some view it as racist. One banner reads, "Keep discrimination illegal."
All Arcadia Unified School District's elementary schools earn historic acclaim in California's coveted 2023 Distinguished Schools Program. The award winning Arcadia elementary schools are Hugo Reid Elementary, Camino Grove Elementary, Highland Oaks Elementary, alternative learning program Rancho Learning Center, Baldwin Stocker Elementary, Holly Avenue Elementary and Longley Way Elementary School.
All-Star Basketball Classic-rosters, coaches named. San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic for boys and girls basketball seniors will be held 3/25, making its return after a 3-year absence, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which canceled the games in 2020 and did not return in 2021 and 2022. From Arcadia, the All-Star Star-News boys are Lavon Domino and Tim Kwan. From Arcadia, the All-Star Star-News girl includes Mel Manell.
Another homeless village set to open in Baldwin Park. 16-unit tiny home complex will house families in need. It's called Serenity Homes, 13167 Garvey Avenue in Baldwin Park. Senator Susan Rubio, D-West Covina, celebrated the opening with elected officials from all over the San Gabriel Valley, including from Arcadia, Azusa, Glendora, La Puente, Monrovia, San Marino, South Pasadena, Temple City and Mount San Antonio College. It is the second tiny homes village opening in Baldwin Park within a year and serves as a model for how cities can expand homeless services.
Arboretum again shines a light on the fanciful. The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden has once again been transformed into a garden of illumination with its Lightscape holiday event. The nighttime walk-through attraction has taken over a mile long path with 18 elaborate installations that mix light sculptures and special effects with holiday-themed music.
Arboretum kicks off summer. Visitors to the 127-acre botanical garden and historical site, once the heart of Rancho Santa Anita--can enjoy seeing peacocks and the "Twilight Music and Cocktails at the Peacock Cafe Terrace."
Arcadia adopts comprehensive pension management plan, saving $85 million. It addresses the City's $154 million in unfunded pension liabilities. It focuses on:
-use of reserves to prepay existing liabilities
-refinancing existing debt to lower interest rates to free up cash flow
-prepaying costs with surplus funds from voter-approved Measure A sales tax increase
-financing long-term capital improvements
-using pension obligation bonds to lower the overall costs of pensions
-negotiating for more employee cost-sharing.
See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, February 27, 2020