Arcadia Chess Club meets on Monday nights. The club is open to members of the U. S. Chess Federation and has annual dues of $10. For more information, visit arcadiachessclub.com.
Commemorating the 85th anniversary of the death of Arcadia Police Department officer Albert Edward Matthies, the Arcadia Police and Fire departments will have a service at Live Oak Memorial Park, where he is interred and a commemorative monument will be unveiled at his grave site.
Event honors country's youngest veterans. Veteran Stan Pinta of Arcadia (photo) and others attend the 95th anniversary event of the conclusion of "The War to End All Wars" at Pasadena City Hall on Veterans Day.
Mei-Rung Lin, 47, was arrested in Arcadia and repatriated to Taipei, Taiwan, in connection with a 2.15 million dollar embezzlement scheme in her homeland. She was the subject of a "red notice" issues by the International Criminal Police Organization, better known as INTERPOL.
A memorial to honor slain Arcadia Police Department officer Albert Edward Matthies, was unveiled on the 85th anniversary of his murder, at his grave site at Live Oak Memorial Park in Monrovia.
A multi-million dollar remodeling at Santa Anita Park will include a restoration of the Chandelier Room to its former glamour. The room is nearly 80 years old (probably not true, according to Sandy Snider), and is the most popular event venue at the track. Other portions of the grandstand will be renovated and will remain true to the architectural and design style of the Art Deco period that originally inspired it.
New season began at Santa Anita Park on December 26. This season's opening day drew 41,000 fans, a significant increase over last year's turnout and a morale boost for the iconic venue that has been protected by National Registry of Historic Sites since 2006. In order to appeal to a younger crowd, the clubhouse space has been reconfigured, and the strictly reinforced dress code of yesteryear has been eliminated, along with the private Turf Club--now called Turf Terrace and is open to the public. The decor of the Chandelier Room has gone mid-century modern and the Directors' Room can be rented out for private parties. Gene Simmons of rock band KISS is a marketing advisor and the new management policy seems to be "anything goes." (Photos)
On the 84th anniversary of the murder of Arcadia police officer Albert E. Matthies, a ceremony was held by the Arcadia Police Officers Association in his honor. Matthies is the city's only police officer killed in the line of duty. A memorial plaque at Foothill Boulevard and Northview Avenue commemorates Matthies' sacrifice and a small plaque marks his grave site at Live Oak Memorial Park in Monrovia. Matthies was shot on July 18, 1927 and died the day after. The shooter was Frank Miller.
Race horse Bourbon Bay became the first horse in 17 years to sweep Santa Anita Park's trio of marathon graded turf stakes races with a half-length victory in the $150,000 Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap on closing day of the track's 75th anniversary meeting. The jockey was Rafael Bejarano, the first jockey since Laffit Pincay, Jr. in 1978-1981 to win three consecutive Santa Anita Park riding titles.
The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum celebrates its tenth year anniversary with an exhibit called Ten Years and Counting: the Legacy of the Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum, through October 29.
Santa Anita Park is looking to renovate the Chandelier Room, which is part of Turf Club. It would be gutted and turned into a "night club." The Chandelier Room has been around since the race track opened on Christmas Day, 1934 (probably not true, according to Sandy Snider). Its giant chandeliers were imported from Versailles in France.
Summary of a vintage promotional booklet about Santa Anita Park havings its inaugural race on Christmas Day, December 25, 1934. At the time, Los Angeles Turf Club Inc. was the owner and operator of Santa Anita Park and there were 53 racing days that first season. Charter stockholder and membership requirements are discussed.
Thomas McKernan, Arcadia resident, recently retired as CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California. He had worked with the Auto Club for 46 years. On May 1, he was succeeded by Robert Bouttier. McKernan has been elected to chairman of the Auto Club's board of directors. He will continue with several national responsibilities, including serving on the National AAA board of directors, chairing its planning and strategy effort. He will serve as vice chair of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
World War II internees reunite. Japanese Americans detained at Santa Anita Park before being sent to camps share photos, memories and friendship, at 75th anniversary event in Little Tokyo. See hard copy in VF Assembly Center.