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.
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 horse euthanized at Santa Anita Park after training injury. It was a 3-year-old colt named Uncle Boogie, owned by Eric Homme and trained by Andrew Lerner. Eleven horses died from a racing or training injury during the winter/spring meet, which ended June 20.
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
Arcadia announces free transportation options during 2023 Breeders' Cup. Free fares on Arcadia Transit Fixed-Routes and Dial-a-Ride Service on November 3 and 4, for residents and visitors.
Arcadia calls for municipal electionon November 8, 2022 and seeks city council member candidates for electoral districts 2, 3, and 5. Eligibility, nomination period, and nomination petition qualifications are detailed.
Arcadia City Council elections make history. For the first time, Arcadia City Council will have majority Asian and majority female representation. Unofficial results for Arcadia:
District 2--Sharon Kwan
District 3--Eileen Wang
District 5--Dr. Michael Cao
Arcadia City Council poised for historic changes. In a pair of firsts, the Arcadia City Council will have majority of women and three Asian-American members on the dais. New council members are:
District 2--Sharon Kwan
District 3--Eileen Wang
District 5--Dr. Michael Cao
See hard copy in VF City Council (2020-2029)
Arcadia kicks off 2020 City Council election. Final candidates in District 1 are Mayor April Verlato running for reelection and newcomer Yuli J. Sira. Verlato is currently on the last year of her first term on city council and she as elected mayor her last year. She is an attorney with Verlato and Roberts law firm in Arcadia. She is a native of Arcadia, with a long list of endorsements, including former mayors of Arcadia. Sira is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker. District 4 has two candidates--longstanding council member and former mayor Peter Amundson and newcomer Paul Cheng. Amundson has completed three terms on City Council and served twice as mayor. He is an Arcadia native, with a long list of endorsements. Paul P. Cheng is a highly publicized attorney specializing in business operations and commercial realty transactions. He previously ran for Arcadia City Council in 2010. Also up for reelection is City Clerk Gene Glasco. He is running unopposed.
Arcadia Police Department S.W.A.T. Team busted a marijuana cultivation operation in the 300 block of Walnut Avenue. Three suspects, Xiaoshen Zhang, Te Zhang and Peng Song were arrested. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, January 23, 2020.
Arcadia police officer wounded in shooting is released from hospital. Officer Kevin Manley, 26, is recovering from his injury (shot in the jaw) by suspect Nurhan Venk during a domestic dispute and barricade. Manley has been with Arcadia Police Department for 6 months and worked for Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department before that. He has 3 years of law enforcement experience.
Arcadia Senior Services is partnering with Arcadia Chinese Association to celebrate Chinese New Year on Friday, February 3, at the Arcadia Community Center, 365 Campus Drive. It's an event for age 50 and over and the cost is $10 per person.
Arcadia's Senior Economic Development Analyst Tim Schwehr to discuss growth in the city at Arcadia Community Coordinating Council on February 3 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 400 West Duarte Road.
Arcadia Unified School District celebrates successful 10th annual #ArcadiaFirstDay social media campaign with pictures of the first day of school. It has become a cherished tradition in the community.
Arcadia Unified School District earns California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) award from the state. It recognizes a school and/or school district for taking an innovative, proactive approach to reimagining teaching, learning, and important school services during the pandemic, where California schools saw State-mandated distance learning for the 2020-2021 school year. Arcadia Unified School District and Holly Avenue Elementary received CAPP honors.
Arcadia Unified School District's Profiles in Excellence returns as an in-person ceremony after a 2-year halt due to the pandemic. Profiles in Excellence recognizes 12 certificated staff and 12 classified staff. The recipients reflect the district's tagline--Imagine, Inspire and Inquire--and go above and beyond in helping the students, teachers, families and the entire district. Photo of the recipients.
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.
Bobcat Fire, on its 9th day in the San Gabriel Mountains, continued to grow north of the San Gabriel Valley. It had charred 38,299 acres Monday with containment at 3%. The fire has crossed to west side of Santa Anita Canyon. On Sunday, residents in Arcadia and Sierra Madre who live north of Elkins Avenue and east of Santa Anita Avenue were ordered to evacuate. About 305 homes were in the evacuation zone. Most are in Arcadia and 32 are in Sierra Madre.