Anita Baldwin statue to be unveiled at Le Méridien Hotel in Arcadia
The Anita May Baldwin statue at the Le Méridien Hotel will be unveiled on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 at 11 a.m. Anita is the daughter of city founder, Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin. The statue will be featured on the opposite end of the Huntington Drive islands’ hotel property.
“We are very excited to be bringing Anita back to Arcadia,” said Mayor Sho Tay in a statement released by the city. “I would like to thank the Shen, Liu and Chen Families, Jeff Lee, the Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation, Heather D. Gibson and Margaux L. Gibson, and the Arcadia Historical Society, for their generous donations.”
“On behalf of the Baldwin family, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Arcadia City Council, the Arcadia Historical Society, the Le Méridien Hotel and all those who have supported this effort to pay homage to my great-great grandmother, Anita May Baldwin,” said Margaux Gibson. “This magnificent statue of Anita will showcase a strong woman who was ahead of her time. I am proud to call Anita May Baldwin my great-great grandmother, and I am truly proud to be a part of this historic project.”
The Anita statue was sculpted by local artist and southern California native Alfred Paredes — who created the Lucky Baldwin statue on the corner of Huntington Drive and Holly Avenue — and is aptly named, “A Legacy of Charity” in honor of Anita’s contributions to life in early Arcadia and throughout California.
Arcadia announces public hearing on city council redistricting, where draft maps will be reviewed. It will take place on March 1, 2022 at City Council Chambers, 240 West Huntington Drive, at 7:30 PM.
Arcadia Invitational attracts the best. Two-day meet to represent more than 600 schools in track and field from California and nearly 30 other states. The meet is today and tomorrow at Arcadia High School. See also Pasadena Star News, p. B2, April 7, 2022--Pushing himself, Covina's Kerry Smith hoping for big weekend at Arcadia.
Arcadia Invitational Track and Field event scheduled for May 7, 8. It is the signature event in the area this year with many of the top athletes in the state performing at Arcadia High School. See also Pasadena Star News, p. B2, May 2, 2021 about Arcadia Invitational being limited to runners from California due to COVID-19 restrictions. No spectators.
Arcadia woman Ruixue "Serena" Shi, 37, pleaded guilty to soliciting $22.8 million in funds for a condominium and hotel project scheme. The crime is one federal count of wire fraud, which has a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, 7, October 28, 2021.
City of Arcadia hosting free COVID-19 vaccine site February 7 and 14 at Arcadia Community Center, in collaboration with Chinatown Service Center. The Johnson & Johnson and the Moderna vaccines are available for ages 18 and up. Pfizer vaccine is available for ages 5 and up.
Creative Housing Options in Arcadia (CHOA). Local efforts to address the lack of affordable housing and homelessness. On Saturday, April 20, 2024, a group of about 30 community members met at The Hills Church in Arcadia for a 2-hour "Sharing Session" to learn about what is being done in the city to address these issues. Safe Parking Programs were discussed. Arcadia City Council member Eileen L. Wang and Arcadia Mayor April Verlato attended.
Driver is arrested after 7-Eleven rammed. Monrovia man Sterling Williamson, 23, was arrested on suspicion of murder after he created a disturbance at a 7-Eleven store at 1003 South Baldwin Avenue on November 24, 2022, then allegedly crashed his car through the doors and tried to flee. There were no injuries.
Gold Line has a new name. Now it is called the L Line, but it will be split to become the A Line or the E Line in 2022 after Metro's Regional Connector Project is finished.
L-Line Extension. Claremont Councilman Ed Reece to chair light rail line board, the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Board of Directors. The extension of the L-Line (formerly Gold Line) from Glendora to Pomona is 40% finished and scheduled for completion in early 2025. Reece will oversee the extension to Claremont and Montclair. The light rail line serves Arcadia, Pasadena, East Los Angeles and Los Angeles's Chinatown.
The Marching bands in the 2021 Tournament of Roses Parade have been announced. Arcadia High School's Apache Marching Band and Color Guard will participate in the 2021 Rose Parade. See also Mountain Views News, p. 3, March 7, 2020.
Obituary/death notice. Arcadia to celebrate life of City Council member Roger Chandler on Tuesday, December 7 at 6:00, prior to the City Council meeting at 7:00. Chandler served on City Council for almost 24 years.
One found dead in apartment fire on Genoa Street near First Avenue on Sunday, April 7. Arcadia police Lieutenant Kollin Cieadlo said there were no signs of foul play so far. Charlie Tuggle, a battalion chief with Arcadia Fire Department estimated damages to the structure at $10,000 and $1,000 to the contents. Arcadia fire Captain Drew Pryor said the call came in at 9:18 P.M. and the bathroom of the apartment was on fire. By 9:37 P.M. the fire was out. The dead man's identity has not been released.
Pandemic looms over school election. Arcadia Unified School District Board incumbents and one hopeful revisit COVID era. Leigh Chavez and Fenton Eng are seeking re-election on June 7. Ben Zhang is a thrid candidate for the two seats.
Pasadena City College Board. Three challengers hold leads over incumbents in the recent primary election. In Trustee Area 7, Incumbent Anthony Fellow and Alton Wang, a legal advocate focused on improving representation in government for communities across the country, hope to represent the city of Arcadia on the college's Board of Trustees. Wang led early in a tight race. Both Fellow and Wang recognize the importance of the issues of housing insecurity and increasing access to college courses in the wake of declining enrollment at PCC. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A8, June 9, 2022--Incumbent Fellow leads Alton Wang.
Pasadena Pops concert at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Michael Feinstein conducts the orchestra in music made famous by Judy Garland, Doris Day, Peggy Lee and Liza Minelli on August 13 at 7:30. Guest performers include Melissa Manchester, Nicole Henry and Maddie Baillio.
Pasadena Tournament of Roses announces 2024 Rose Queen Naomi Stillitano, a senior from Arcadia High School. She is the 105th Rose Queen, lives in Arcadia, is co-president of Italian Culture Club, a dancer and actress with the Arcadia Stage Theater. Born and raised in Italy for 7 years, with goal to create her own fashion brand, interested in studying fashion design. The Rose Queen and the Rose Court act as ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the Pasadena community, and the greater Los Angeles area. Each Royal Court member receives a $7500 educational scholarship.
Right woman for the job. New Athletic Director at University of Southern California (USC) Jennifer Cohen brings integrity to Trojans program. She has 30 years of collegiate athletic experience, including the past 7 years in the same post at University of Washington. Cohen was born in Arcadia.
Santa Anita-based 'Free Animal Doctor' continues to help pet owners with needed services. Now entering its second year, Free Animal Doctor, a non-profit provides free veterinary services to dogs and cats, and is located in Santa Anita Park's parking lot 7. It opened on September 15, 2020. Free Animal Doctor utilizes Crowdfunding to raise monies for specific pets. Co-founder is Sam Bernardo. Spaying and neutering are available. See freeanimaldoctor.org or call 626-487-7129 for more information.