An 8-foot tall bronze tribute to Arcadia's official bird, the peacock, will be unveiled August 5, as part of the city's centennial celebration. The statue will be located in the fountain at Peacock Corner, in the front of Arcadia County Park, at the southwest corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue. The sculptor of the peacock is Dave Chapple and the sculpture cost $30,000.
Arcadia's official city birthday party will be held August 5, a date that reflects the official declaration of Arcadia cityhood by the Board of Supervisors, back in 1903. The 100th birthday party includes a scavenger hunt, the release of the anthology "Visions of Arcadia," unveiling the bronze peacock statue at Peacock Corner, a mixer at the Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum, and a birthday party at the Community Center. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 18, July 31, 2003.
A black-tie centennial ball was held in Ayres Hall at Los Angeles County Arboretum, with a Greek theme. Dinner was catered by The Derby Restaurant. Pictured at Pamela Blackwood (Chairman of the Centennial Ball committee, George Fasching, Susan Guirguis, Mayor Gary Kovacic, Gail Marshall, Mickey Segal, John Wuo, Bob Margett, Jim Helms, Floretta Lauber, Robert Harbicht, Edward Butterworth and Charles Gilb.
Dr. Sheng Chang has completed his three month term as mayor of Arcadia. For this centennial year, the position of mayor is a under rotation plan approved by the city council. Gary Kovacic will now be mayor for the next three months. Dr. Sheng Chang was honored as Arcadia's first Chinese-American mayor.
Gary Kovacic is Arcadia's mayor for the third time. His first term was in 1998-1999 and his second term was in 2000-2001. In this, his third term, he is one of four out of the five Arcadia city council members rotating into the mayor's position during the 2003 Arcadia Centennial. The article includes biographical information.