The 9th annual "Remembering Our Veterans and Their Families" event was held at Arcadia County Park to honor our soldiers. Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich attended.
The 37-acre Arcadia County Park, which costs the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department $234,000 a year to operate, may be fenced off and "abandoned" if the Department is forced to slash 25% of its budget.
The 65 year old statue of Hugo Reid created by Preston Prescott may be moved from Arcadia County Park to a spot between the Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum and the Arcadia Community Center. The City Council will have to approve $57,362 contract for its removal.
Arcadia celebrated 100 years of cityhood with a cameo appearance by Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin, portrayed by John Reuter. Activities included a scavenger hunt, author book signing for Visions of Arcadia, and the unveiling of the bronze peacock topping the fountain. The peacock was sculpted by Dave Chapple.
Arcadia County Park fountain rededicated. The fountain in the park, which is a memorial to wartime casualties, was rededicated to honor those who perished in last year's September 11th terrorist attack. The fountain is being redone and will have a bronze peacock on the top of the fountain. The renovated landmark will be called Peacock Corner.
The Arcadia County Park swimming pool will be closed for the summer, to be demolished and rebuilt at a later date. The pool is 70 years old and officially known as the Norman S. Johnson Aquatic Center. On July 19, a chlorine spill sent 17 children to the hospital. The repairs would cost $80,000, so the County chose to not reopen the pool for the three weeks left of this summer.
Arcadia park goes to the dogs. The 46th annual Bassett Hound Picnic was held at the Arcadia County Park. Picnic featured contests for the saddest face, longest ears, most spots, humorous costume, and crazy hat.
Arcadia Rotary's inaugural "Field of Honor" displays 1000 U.S. flags at Arcadia County Park. It is an impressive display of patriotism. Flags are sold for $50 to anyone who cares to remember a loved one or service member. It is a Rotary fundraising effort to benefit numerous area charities including Boys and Girls Club.
The cause of the excess chlorine in the Arcadia County Park swimming pool that sent 17 children to the hospital on July 19 was found to be human error. Workers at the pool mistakenly primed the chemical pump twice, allowing up to 20 extra gallons of chlorine into the water.
CDC optimism is a shot in the arm. New guidelines ease restrictions on vaccinated people. On Saturday, March 13, Maitely Weissman, cofounder of Essential Caregivers Coalition, and other grassroots activists will be marching at 1:00 PM at Arcadia Community Regional Park, while socially distanced, to honor those who have died in long-term care facilities since the March 13, 2020 visitation ban and those who are isolated inside. The "honor walk" in Arcadia is part of a series of coordinated events across 17 states in commemoration of the anniversary of the ban.
The city council agreed to spend no more than $3000 per year to maintain the big dish fountain at Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive. The fountain broke several years ago and the county felt it could not justify the cost of fixing it.
The City Council awarded a $30,000 commission to an Irvine artist, David Chapple, to create a bronze peacock sculpture as the focal point for the fountain at "Peacock Corner" in Arcadia County Park.