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 City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto has appointed Captain Roy Nakamura as the city's 30th police chief. He is a 28-year veteran of the Arcadia Police Department. He succeeds Chief Robert T. Guthrie, who is retiring. Nakamura is the first police chief of Japanese and Asian descent in a city that once temporarily incarcerated Japanese and Japanese-Americans at Santa Anita Park. Arcadia's population is currently 60.8% Asian.
Arcadia High School teen Naomi Stillitano is the new Rose Queen. Naomi is a dancer, actor, born in Italy, is the 135th person crowned. Includes some biographical information.
Arcadia residents, city officials grapple with homeless issue at a public forum at Arcadia Performing Arts Center. City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said easing the homeless crisis comes down to two major areas--enforcement and services. Police Chief Roy Nakamura said the number of calls to Arcadia Police Department related to the homeless increased from 1493 in 2019, to 2067 in 2020.
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.
Dallas Stars' Robertson enjoys record-setting season. Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars left wing, was born in Arcadia and moved to Michigan when he was 10.
Decorated vet to celebrate 100th birthday. U.S. Air Force vetean Edward Lopez was a fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War. Born in Los Angeles and living in Arcadia for more than 50 years, he is one of the last living members of the Air Force's 365th Fighter-Bomber Group known as The Hell Hawks, a reserve fighter squadron in the U.S. Marine Corps. See hard copy in VF People.
Former Arcadia man accused of lying, losing millions of investors' money. James Arthur McDonald, Jr. former CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Hercules Investments LLC and Index Strategy Advisors Inc. was charged with one count of securities fraud. Prosecutors claim McDonald lost clients of his Los Angeles-based firm Hercules millions of dollars in late 2020. He had been renting a home in Arcadia.
Former TV finance analyst from Arcadia James Arthur McDonalds, Jr. charged with lying to investors about the health of his finance firm and failing to disclose massive losses incurred through risky investments following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. McDonald was CEO of Los Angeles-based Hercules Investments and Redondo Beach-based Index Strategy Advisors Inc. He is believed to be in hiding.
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.
In hockey news, Dallas Stars play the Los Angeles Kings in Los Angeles today. Dallas winger Jason Robertson was born in Arcadia, California. His family had season tickets to the Kings games before they moved to Michigan when Jason was 10. His brother Nick Robertson plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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.
Locally oned Chick-Fil-A to open in Westfield Santa Anita today. Restaurant will employ upwards of 50 team members. The owner of this franchise location at Westfield Santa Anita mall, in the food court, is Zach Zimmerman. He was born in Mission Viejo and graduated with a business economics degree with a minor in education from University of California Irvine.
National Hockey League news-Jason Robertson signs a new deal with Dallas Stars. He is a restricted free agent, is 23-years-old, and was born in Arcadia.
On April 28, Arcadia Police Department hosts first in-person Coffee-with-a-Cop event since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, at the Bowlero in the Westfield Santa Anita mall. Prior to the pandemic, coffee was held once every 3 months. Arcadia Police Chief Roy Nakamura, five lieutenants, several sergeants, and volunteer police attended, along with some city council members.
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.
Race horse White Abarrio wins the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. The jockey aboard was Irad Ortiz Jr. (photo). The trainer was Rick Dutrow.
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.