Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 7, 2012

6


Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 7, 2012 

From Arcadia’s Best

SEGAL PLEADS: NEW COUNCIL 
FACES

A week before the Arcadia City Council election day on April 10, Councilman 
Mickey Segal pleaded for people in the community to step up and 
run for election in order to bring much-needed new blood and two or 
three new faces to the five-member City Council.

 

Segal’s plea was referring to the next election two years from now in 2014, 
and followed his lengthy verbal scolding of three current candidates who 
would each bring a new face to the Council but whom Segal made clear 
are not candidates he favors to replace current Mayor and candidate Gary 
Kovacic, or former Mayor and current candidate John Wuo. Kovacic and 
Wuo, along with Segal and fellow Councilmen Peter Amundson and Bob 
Harbict have each served many years on the Council.

 

Using his free comment time prior to the agenda items at the City Council 
meeting Tuesday night, April 3 — the first meeting attended by new 
City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto, Segal criticized the three new-face 
challengers as being uniformed and misinformed on many issues they 
have raised during their campaign. He characterized Henry Nunez as 
someone who went on a hunger strike and laid down on railroad tracks 
to protest the candidates in the 2010 race but noted that he has not repeated 
any of those stunts now that he is a candidate himself. Segal noted that Mary Dougherty was on the school board for 
16 years but hadn’t done that for 10 years and has now chosen “this point in her life” to run for City Council. He challenged 
her positions on mansions and unfunded retirement benefits, saying neither was an issue of major significance except when 
attempting to stir interest for her campaign.

 

Segal also criticized candidates Nunez and Sho Tay for suggesting the City Council could have done more to revitalize 
Downtown Arcadia. He says the City has poured millions into the area over many years with little improvement. The Council 
cannot improve the fortunes of the area, he said, but it is up to business owners and local shoppers.

 

But then he ended his comments by saying it is very important for the City Council to get an infusion of new ideas from new 
Councilmen to replace the two or three current Councilmen who will be up for re-election or termed out in 2014, including 
Segal, who will be up for re-election to his fourth four-year term, should he decide to run again. Mayor Pro Tem Harbicht 
and former Mayor Amundson will be termed out after two consecutive four-year terms in their current stints. 

It was then that Segal pleaded with qualified Arcadia residents to start thinking about running for City Council in 2014 in 
order to change the complexion of the Council. 


MEASURE A TALLY FINAL

For the record, Measure A officially passed by 58 votes out 
of more than 10,000 cast.

 But while that may seem like a slim margin, keep in mind 
that the 58 votes were above and beyond the required two-
thirds, or nearly 67% who voted in favor of assessing a property 
tax of about $228 per parcel of land owned in Arcadia 
for the next five years to go directly to the Arcadia schools 
to provide about $3.4 million of the projected $7 mil. budget 
shortfall.

 

By comparison, President George W. Bush never even got 
51% of the total vote in either Presidential election he won. 
In 2004 he had less than 48% of the vote and yet was still 
elected President. So, nearly 66.87% would be considered a 
landslide and a mandate in most other elections.

 

“The Arcadia community continues to value and support 
its school district,” said Dr. Joel Shawn, superintendent of 
the school district. “We are very grateful and look forward 
to our continued excellence in the service of the students of 
this fine community.”

 

The final tally certified by the County, according to the Arcadia 
School District, was:

 ¦Yes: 6,700

 ¦No: 3,265

 

At total of 10020 ballots were cast.

 

“Obviously the Arcadia Board of Education and I are extremely 
happy with the official results of Measure A passing,” 
Shawn said. “We know that this important achievement 
could not have happened without thousands of hours 
of volunteer time put in by our teachers, staff, administrators, 
students and community members. We are especially 
indebted to Steve Phillipi and Diane Lucas, who served as 
co chairs of the Measure A Campaign Committee.”

 

– By Scott Hettrick

Mickey Segal in a 2010 campaign photo

Arcadia Police Blotter

ADULT COOKING CLASSES – 
SPRING 2012!

Come and learn how to cook quick, easy and delicious 
3-course meals with Jan Sayvongsa, a Graduate of Le 
Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Every week will be 
an adventure for your taste buds. Enhance your knife skills 
and perfect all the cooking techniques. This class is for all 
skill levels of cooks! Classes are held once a week and start 
the week of April 9th. The fee is $50 for five weeks plus $50 
for materials. Classes are held in the Arcadia Community 
Center Kitchen, 365 Campus Drive, Arcadia 91007. 

You can register now on-line, by mail or in person! For 
specific times, location, fees and to download the registration 
form go on-line to the City of Arcadia’s website: ci.arcadia.
ca.us or stop by the office, 375 Campus Drive. 

For more information please call 626.574.5113!

For the period of Sunday, March 25th, through Saturday, March 31st, the Police Department responded to 939 calls for service of which 129 
required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, March 25:

1. Around 4:48 p.m., an officer responded to JCPenney at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, in regards to a male 
juvenile in custody for theft. The suspect concealed two t-shirts while inside a fitting room and exited the store without making payment. 
The 16-year-old Hispanic male was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.


2. At approximately 9:14 p.m., officers responded to the 000 block of South First Avenue regarding a residential burglary report. The 
victim returned home and discovered unknown suspect(s) forced entry through a sliding glass door. Video game equipment and two sets of 
car keys were reported missing. No one saw or heard anything suspicious. 


Monday, March 26:

3. At about 6:37 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of South Baldwin Avenue in reference to a domestic disturbance. 
Upon contact with the suspect, the officer conducted a search of his person and recovered a controlled substance. A records check revealed 
the 31-year-old Hispanic male had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. He was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for 
booking. 


4. Shortly after 7:50 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a motorcycle for Reckless Driving and Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign, 
in the area of Camino Grove Avenue at Eighth Avenue. The driver was observed traveling over seventy miles per hour and an investigation 
revealed the driver was never issued a license with a motorcycle endorsement. The 32-year-old White male was arrested and transported to 
the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 


Tuesday, March 27:

5. At about 10:16 a.m., an officer responded to the 000 block of West Longden Avenue in reference to a burglary report. The victim 
returned home and discovered $2,900 in coins missing from her garage. Unknown suspect(s) forced entry through the garage door and fled 
undetected. The victim is desirous of prosecution. 


6. At approximately 6:02 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 000 block of Christina Street regarding a burglary investigation. The 
victim discovered her jewelry was missing from her carport cabinet, which she used as storage space. She has no idea who took her property, 
and is desirous of prosecution. 


 

Wednesday, March 28:

Around 3:45 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the Arcadia Police Department front counter in regards to an identity theft report. The victim 
discovered unknown suspect(s) opened a Verizon Wireless account under his name. He has no idea how his personal information was 
compromised, and is desirous of prosecution. 

7. At approximately 6:30 p.m., an officer responded to the 000 block of South Second Avenue regarding a residential burglary report. 
An unknown male suspect knocked on the victim’s rear door and asked her to step outside so he could speak with her about construction 
for her rear gate. After the victim went back inside her home, she discovered a bedroom was ransacked and her front door was unlocked. 
Cash and Vicodin pills were reported missing. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, approximately 5’10” tall, 200 lbs., clean shaven 
with dark brown curly hair, wearing a blue baseball cap with a white “P” insignia, white sweater, and blue jeans. The victim never saw the 
suspect(s) that entered the house and stole the property. 


 

Thursday, March 29:

Shortly after 8:20 a.m., officers responded to the 12000 block of Lower Azusa Road regarding two female subjects seen rummaging 
through mail beside their vehicle. Upon arrival, the officers observed the vehicle’s trunk and doors wide open with multiple articles of 
mail, bags, letters, and clothing lying on the floor. A records check revealed the vehicle had expired registration and one suspect had five 
outstanding misdemeanor warrants. The officers discovered the suspects were in possession of numerous pieces of mail, identification 
cards, credit cards and blank checks belonging to other people. They were also in possession of several altered and forged checks, 
controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and stolen property. The 30-year-old Hispanic female and 32-year-old female of unknown 
race were arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 

8. At about 2:32 p.m., an officer responded to Premier Chiropractor, 411 East Huntington Drive, in regards to a theft report. While 
an employee assisted a customer to the rear of the location, an unknown male subject entered the business and rummaged through an 
office area. Video surveillance revealed he took $500 in cash from a cash box. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 
30-years-old, 5’10” tall, 160 lbs., with black hair and a goatee, wearing glasses. 


Friday, March 30:

9. Around 3:19 p.m., an officer responded to CVS, 1401 South Baldwin Avenue, in reference to a fraud report. A cashier swiped a 
customer’s credit card and discovered it was fraudulent. The suspect, described as an Asian male in his early thirties, approximately 5’4” 
tall, 130 lbs., with black hair, wearing a black jacket, black jeans, and white tennis shoes, fled the location while the cashier attempted to 
call credit services. 


10. At approximately 5:40 p.m., an officer responded to Macy’s at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, regarding 
a theft report. A female adult suspect concealed merchandise inside her stroller, and exited the store without making payment. An 
investigation revealed the suspect also stole from Sidecca, Victoria’s Secret, and Reflection. The 61-year-old Hispanic female was arrested 
and transported to the Arcadia City Hail for booking. 


Saturday, March 31:

11. At roughly 2:15 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a two-party traffic collision in the 000 block of West Camino Real Avenue, 
east of Lovell Avenue. The drive of a silver BMW collided into a parked vehicle. An investigation revealed she was under the influence of 
alcohol with a blood alcohol level greater than 0.08 percent. The 42-year-old Asian female was arrested and transported to the Arcadia 
City Jail for booking. 


12. Around 11:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 000 block of Catalpa Road, in regards to unknown suspects 
shooting paintballs at the house. While officers were standing to the front of the location, they observed the suspect vehicle pass by and 
conducted a traffic stop. An investigation revealed a 20-year-old Hispanic male passenger shot the paintballs as a prank for another 
passenger, who was the ex-girlfriend of the victim. The paintball shooter was cited and released in the field, and the driver, a 21-year-old 
Hispanic male, was cited for being unlicensed. 


COOKING FOR TOTS AND FUN 
WITH COOKING CLASSES

The City of Arcadia Recreation and Community Services 
Department is excited to announce a spring session of 
cooking classes for tots (ages 4-6) and youth (ages 7-12) 
taught by Jan Sayvongsa, a Graduate of Le Cordon Bleu 
College of Culinary Arts. The Cooking for Tots offers 
hands on basic cooking for younger children. The Fun with 
Cooking for youth teaches kitchen basics, table setting, 
manners and shopping tips as well as cooking simple meals 
and snacks. 

Both the Cooking for Tots and Fun with Cooking classes 
are held once a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays 
or Thursdays (no Monday class on May 28th) starting April 
9th for 5 weeks at a cost of $30. A $30 materials cash fee for 
food prepared during the class series must be paid at the 
first class meeting. Children need to bring an apron and a 
container to each class. Tot class times are from 4-5pm and 
Youth class times are from 5:15-6:45pm.

All classes will take place in the kitchen at the Community 
Center, 365 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. For more 
information please call 626.574.5113. 

CITY OF ARCADIA 
SENIOR SERVICES SPRING 
REGISTRATION 2012

The City of Arcadia Recreation & Community Services 
Department – Senior Services Division spring registration 
has begun for adults (50 years of age and older). The 
course offerings include yoga, yogalates, strength training, 
line dancing, kinetic tai chi, zumba gold, balance and 
mobility, oil & watercolor painting and aerobics. Courses 
are offered at the Community Center, 365 Campus Drive 
AND the new gymnasium located at Dana Middle School, 
1401 S. First Avenue.

For specifics on class dates, times and locations, please 
contact Arcadia Senior Services at 626.574.5130 or log 
onto the City of Arcadia Website at ci.arcadia.ca.us. 

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