The Arcadia City Planning Commission voted unanimously to allow McDonald's restaurants to open an "Express" restaurant at 1311-B South Baldwin Ave. This will be the second "Express" restaurant in the state; "Express" refers to the limited hours of operation (daily 8 AM to 9 PM), menu, and lack of drive-through services.
Downtown 2000, the $4 million revitalization project, will primarily affect Huntington Drive and First Ave. Huntington Drive will have more landscaping and lighting, while First Ave. will have angled parking and landscaping to be more pedestrian oriented.
Some city departments have been reorganized to increase economic development, financial planning and team building. The Finance Dept. is now Administrative Services, merging support services with finance, purchasing, data processing, and records management. The Public Works Dept. is now the Maintenance Services Dept, maintaining the city's parks, streets, and water systems.
The Arcadia Community Center now offers a meal program with a charge of $3, as there in no federal funding for this program. The Center offers a variety of programs, from skilled nursing care to government benefits counseling to recreation programs to dances and free movies.
Fantastic Sams, a popular hair salon, opened a new store at 50 West Las Tunas Drive. They offer a 20% senior discount for the 55+ crowd Monday thru Friday, as well as a special play area with toys for small children.
Suzanne Barnes is a speech pathologist who works out of her Arcadia home and is only the 106th specialist in the world to receive the COM certificate for oral facial myology. She is profiled.
Ron Garner, the new chief of the Police Dept., has over 21 years of experience with the Beverly Hills Police Dept. as officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain.
Margaret Pappas, who runs the Back on the Rack consignment shop at 118 South First Ave., says the store is "99.95% women's clothing" that "must be impeccable." Items not sold in 90 days either go back to the customer or are donated to charity.
A fire that started in a classroom at Baldwin Stocker School was completely contained by the Arcadia Fire Dept. on the morning of February 14. No other rooms were damaged in the blaze.
Bob Margett, currently an Arcadia City Councilman for the second time, will seek a Republican seat in the 59th district of the State Assembly. The preliminary election is on April 11.
The Arcadia Coordinating Council's Campership Program, now in its 48th year, assists over 200 underprivileged youths in the Arcadia area in attending weeklong, all-day, or halfday summer camps.
The Arcadia branch of the Red Cross, originally chartered in 1948, was rechartered last October as one of 2250 national branch offices. The Red Cross is run by volunteers, with no funding from the government.
The Arcadia Police Department is turning to the public for assistance with the homicide investigation of Mr. Shao-wu Yen, who was struck and killed one year ago by a small pickup while waiting to cross the street at the intersection of Holly and Fairview Avenues.
Five candidates are running for three Arcadia School Board seats: Maryann Gibson; Mike Lamb; Min Mey Chang; John Wuo; and John McLain. They are profiled.