A $30 million plan to provide standardized breathing equipment for every fire department in Los Angeles County has been suspended after a lawsuit alleged the contract process was mishandled and firefighters complained about the quality of the equipment. Arcadia-based Allstar Fire Equipment is suing the city and county of Los Angeles, contending the contract process was improperly handled in a manner that ignored firefighter input and unfairly favored the winning bidder, L.N. Curtis and sons.
AbilityFirst and Santa Anita Park held a fundraiser to benefit adults and children with disabilities. Pictured is jockey Kayla Stra atop Fred, a horse that appeared in the movie "Seabiscuit."
Arcadia resident and business owner Fawaz Elmasri, who was born in Lebanon, conveyed a message that Muslim people are peaceful and the Islam religion condemns killing of civilian people and the destruction of property. He explained that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were acts against God.
Arcadia residents will select three trustees today. Running for the Board of Education are challengers Roger Sonnenberg, Fred Peritore and Daniel Haste. Incumbents are James Romo, John McClain and Maryann Gibson.
Arts & Culture spotlight on the new exhibit at the Ruth & Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum. The exhibit is called "Roll 'em!: Motion Pictures Filmed in Arcadia and Surrounding Communities." Photos include Dana Dunn, curator at the museum, and movie posters of "A Star is Born" starring Judy Garland and James Mason, and "The African Queen," starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.
A chart shows school enrollment numbers from 1998 to 2004. More than 40 percent of the public school districts in California are experiencing declining enrollment. Experts say it is due to a decline in the birth rate and families' migration patterns.
Democratic State Controller Steve Westly will formally announce today he is running for governor in 2006. The kickoff event is being held in a friend's house in Arcadia, the city where he was born.
The first set of quadruplets delivered at Arcadia Methodist Hospital were born to mother Feda Shalabi and father Samer Shalabi of El Monte. The babies were delivered by Cesarean section by Dr. Richard Williams.
Grant Chu, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ming R. Chu of Arcadia, received a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
A green-colored golden retriever puppy named Wasabi was born to Goldie, owned by Peter Tseng of Alhambra. Greg Hardy, the veterinarian at Best Friends Pet Hospital in Arcadia, said when puppies are born, sometimes there is a green discharge that could stain their fur, but will usually wash off. Wasabi's case is unusual.
Incumbents Maryann Gibson, John McClain, and James Romo will defend their seats on the Arcadia School Board in the April 15 election. A forum will be held in which challengers Daniel Haste, Fred Peritore and Roger Sonnenberg wil discuss issues with incumbents.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant has voided a $30 million contract that Los Angeles County awarded to L.N. Curtis and Sons for fire equipment. Arcadia-based Allstar Fire Equipment sued the city and county of Los Angeles, claiming the selection process used to award the contract was improperly handled and the judge agreed. The actual funding for the contract came from the federal Department of Homeland Security. The judge's orders require the county to either restart the bidding process or re-evaluate all the bids properly.
Mirai Nagasu, an ice skater who was born in Montebello and raised in Arcadia, shown in photo, is training and competing hard to become an international skating champion.
Obituary/death notice.
In Loving Memory of David Saunders II, March 28, 2007 - Aug. 28, 2007. David was born in Illinois, and he moved with family to Arcadia, Ca, where he attended Arcadia Schools. He served in the U.S. Army field artillery from 1944 to 1946. He is predeceased by father, Joseph, mother, Marion, sister Nanette and brother, Joseph. He worked many years at the Zanibar Restaurant in Duarte, Ca. For many years, he was a devotee and friend of Stan Laurel, which brought a tremendous sense of humor to him and his friends. He joined the Motor Yacht Tacinda Jean as steward and traveled across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and traveled extensively there. Dave returned to So. Ca. to care for his mother and worked at PSA storage until his retirement in Pasadena, Ca. At his request Neptune Society handled the final arrangements. He will be greatly missed by John Haddad, Col. Alan Fox (US Army ret.), Jerry Salthouse, and a multitude of friends.
Obituary/death notice.
In Loving Memory of Jean Irwin Lewis, Aug. 21, 1914 - Nov. 7, 2006. Jean was born in El Monte, California. She was the school nurse at Rosemead High School for 26 years. After retirement in 1976, Jean enjoyed traveling and her second home in Mexico. She has been active with the Arcadia Senior Friendship Club and the Arcadia Presbyterian Church. Jean always had a zest for living and enjoyed new experiences. Her husband, Jim Lewis, and daughter, Sally Lash, survive her. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation or the Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, Covina, in her name.
Obituary/death notice. Restaurateur Sue Campoy, who owned and operated Julienne in San Marino, CA, has died of breast cancer. She died on March 4, at the age of 70. She was born in Arcadia on February 10, 1939.
Pasadena Fire Department officials spent more than $320,000 to purchase breathing apparatus from distributor L.N. Curtis and Sons, which is at the center of a lawsuit filed by rival equipment company, Arcadia-based Allstar Fire Equipment against the city and county of Los Angeles. 57 self contained breathing apparatus remain unused at Pasadena Fire Station 34 pending a judge's ruling next month.