Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 21, 2012

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 21, 2012 


GARY KOVACIC, ROGER 
CHANDLER AND JIM 
BARROWS HONORED

Newly Elected Officials Sworn In

By Joan Schmidt

 The evening began with a lovely outdoor reception. A cool 
California evening, great company and food are a perfect way 
to start a special evening in Arcadia. At the reception were 
many old friends such as Steve Johnson from Assemblyman 
Tim Donnelly’s office and Joan Whitenack from Foothill 
Unity Center with her husband Ray. Arcadia Police Chief 
Bob Guthrie was there, as well as Fire Chief Tony Trabbie 
attended; it was great to see him back after his surgery. A new 
acquaintance, Arcadia High School Government Teacher Jim 
Fox was on hand with some of his students from the Advanced 
Placement Government Course. 

 After the reception, the council meeting began with the 
Invocation by the Fire Chaplin followed by the pledge lead by 
Arcadia High School student Elliott Lee. 

 It was time for business. The final results of the April 10 
election were given: Gary Kovacic-4127, John Wuo-3000, Mary 
Doughtery-2355, Sho Tay-2049, and Henry Romero-873. The 
lone candidate for City Clerk, Gene Glasco received 3653 votes.

 During the address time from the audience, Cheri Cabot 
spoke of Lawn Bowling at Arcadia Park. There are special events 
between April 28 and May 9; festivities begin at 9am and end 
7pm. During that time, there will be food trucks and an Open 
House will be May 12.Please call (626) 351-5327 for further info.

 It was now time for Presentations. First honored was Gary 
Kovacic for his year as Mayor, followed by Council Member 
Roger Chandler for his sixteen years serving the City of Arcadia 
and lastly outgoing City Clerk, Jim Barrows.

 There was quite an entourage of presenters: Mark Harmsen on 
behalf of Congressman David Dreier, David Monroy for Senator 
Bob Huff, Steve Johnson for Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, 
Hovanes Gasparian for Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, 
Brian Mejia for Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Bob Hoffman 
and Scott Hettrick for Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Joel 
Shawn and Janet Chew for the Arcadia Board of Education, 
Josephine Louie for the Arcadia Chinese Association, Dan 
Ausman and Cliff Daniels representing Arcadia Methodist 
Hospital and Jim Fox for Arcadia High School Government 
Teacher! Wow, the amount of certificates, plaques and kind 
words were IMMEASURABLE! I could fill this paper with ALL 
the accolades but will just try to limit my comments to a few 
memorable moments.

 For outgoing Mayor Gary Kovacic-attending the special 
opening of a new wing of Arcadia Methodist Hospital even 
though he was a patient at the time; his SIXTEEN years as coach 
for Arcadia High School’s constitution team; the hours spent 
Monday evenings at the Chamber, plus inviting students to his 
home is amazing. On hand were his beautiful wife Barb and his 
mom. Gary said during his tenure on the Arcadia Council, Barb 
attended most events with him!

 Roger Chandler and newly sworn in Mayor Bob Harbicht 
began their careers together and over the years Roger has been 
instrumental in many of the positive changes in the City, such as 
redevelopment.

 Not only has Jim Barrows done an outstanding job as City 
Clerk, but he and his wife had done so much volunteer service! 
No one wants him to leave. They called up his wife and both 
were presented a Key to the City of Arcadia!

 The Arcadia Reception and Council Meeting were two really 
special events well attended and enjoyed by many.


Newly elected John Wuo and Gary Kovacic

Ray Wheeler and Joan Whitenack

ROTARY SALUTE TO SENIORS LUNCHEON

The City of Arcadia Recreation & Community Services Department in conjunction with the 
Arcadia Rotary Club is hosting the annual Rotary Salute to Seniors luncheon on Tuesday, 
May 8th from 11:30am-1:30pm at the Arcadia Community Center, 365 Campus Drive.

Jack Lamp has been selected by the Senior Citizen Commission to be the 2012 City of 
Arcadia Senior Citizen of the year and will be recognized at the luncheon by the Mayor and 
the Rotary Club for his extensive volunteer commitment to the community. 

There are still tickets available for the luncheon and may be purchased at the Community 
Center. The cost is $4 per person. For more information, please call Arcadia Senior Services 
at 626.574.5130.

Arcadia Police Blotter

For the period of Sunday, April 8th, through Saturday, April 14th, the Police Department responded to 
1,039 calls for service of which 120 required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of 
the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, April 8:

1. Around 6:49 p.m., an officer responded to the 000 block of South Baldwin Avenue regarding 
a theft report. Unknown suspect(s) stole a bicycle from the resident’s patio. The officer determined the 
suspect(s) forced entry through the patio fence, which surrounded the location. No one saw or heard 
anything suspicious. 
2. At approximately 7:17 p.m., officers responded to the Arcadia Police Department front 
counter regarding a fraud report. The victim explained she was aware that one of her friends was going 
on a trip to Europe soon. She received an email from her friend stating she had lost her passport and 
credit cards in Wales, and needed a wire transfer to come back home. The victim completed the wire 
transfer, and later discovered her friend’s email account had been compromised, and that she had not 
left on her trip yet. The victim is desirous of prosecution. 


Monday, April 9:

3. At about 9:21 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a black Toyota pick-up truck on Holly 
Avenue at Longden Avenue, for failing to stop at a stop sign. The officer discovered the driver had a 
suspended license and had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. The 25-year-old White male was 
arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
4. Shortly after 7:55 p.m., officers responded to the 2000 block of Greenfield Avenue in regards to 
a suspicious circumstances report. A man standing to the front of the location explained to officers that 
he was there to purchase two vehicles, which he saw advertised on Craigslist. Shortly after, a Hispanic 
female adult exited the residence and explained she was selling cars for a friend. An investigation 
revealed the female subject, along with two other suspects (her 16-year-old son and a Hispanic male 
adult), forced entry into her ex-boyfriend’s home. Further investigation revealed the ex-boyfriend was 
incarcerated at the time of the report. All three suspects were arrested and transported to the Arcadia 
City Jail for booking. 


Tuesday, April 10:

5. At about 8:34 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a silver Volkswagen Jetta because 
he saw the driver talking on her cell phone, in the area of Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive. 
An investigation revealed the 47-year-old White female had a suspended license and was under the 
influence of alcohol. She was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
6. At approximately 6:53 p.m., an officer responded to Sephora at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South 
Baldwin Avenue, in reference to a theft report. A female adult concealed merchandise inside a used 
shopping bag, and exited the store without making payment. The 21-year-old Chinese female was 
arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 


 

Wednesday, April 11:

7. Around 10:35 a.m., officers were dispatched to Chase Bank, 700 West Huntington Drive, in 
regards to a suspicious circumstances report. An investigation revealed the victim, an elderly male, was 
trying to withdraw $18,000 so he could pay for house repairs. He explained a man approached his house 
and offered to fix the leak he had in his roof. He further explained the man was waiting for him at the 76 
Gas Station across the street, 701 West Huntington Drive. The victim’s account history revealed he had 
withdrawn close to $40,000 over the last few months, which he thinks he gave to the same man. An area 
check for the suspect proved negative. 


 

Thursday, April 12:

8. Shortly after 6:20 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 000 block of South Golden West 
Avenue regarding a residential burglary report. The victim returned home and discovered it had been 
ransacked. Jewelry and cash were reported missing. The officer could not locate any signs of forced 
entry, and no one saw or heard anything suspicious. 
9. At about 7:48 p.m., an officer responded to the Macy’s parking lot at the Santa Anita Mall, 
400 South Baldwin Avenue, in reference to a theft report. The victim discovered unknown suspect(s) 
stole her purse from inside her vehicle. The victim believes she might have left the passenger door 
unlocked. No one saw or heard anything suspicious.


Friday, April 13:

10. Around 1:56 p.m., officers responded to the Ralphs parking lot, 211 East Foothill Boulevard, 
regarding a vehicle collision with a pedestrian. As the driver of a white Dodge Ram reversed out 
of her parking stall, she struck a man walking to the rear of her vehicle. An investigation revealed 
the pedestrian was walking toward the entrance of the supermarket while looking down to fix his 
raincoat hood. The officer determined the vehicle was traveling five miles per hour. No major injuries 
were reported. 
11. At approximately 9:10 p.m., an officer conducted a DMV check on a black Honda Accord 
traveling on Santa Anita Avenue at Huntington Drive, and discovered a warrant attached to the license 
plate. An investigation revealed the 38-year-old Hispanic female driver was never issued a license. 
She was cited and released in the field. A search of the front passenger, a 38-year-old Hispanic male, 
revealed he was in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 


Saturday, April 14:

12. At roughly 10:25 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of South Santa Anita Avenue 
regarding a residential burglary report. The victim was contacted by an unknown male subject at her 
front door, who stated he was a contract worker for the City of Arcadia and wanted to check her water 
for sewer contamination. After the subject was let into the home, he instructed the victim to tap on 
the kitchen faucet with a spoon while he checked other areas. A short time later, the victim discovered 
the subject was gone, and noticed a large amount of cash missing from her bedroom. The suspect is 
described as a Hispanic male, early to mid 40’s, 6’0” tall, muscular build, with brown hair and brown 
eyes, wearing a light blue colored long sleeve denim shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. 


Sierra Made Police Department arrived at the location and provided the officer with a crime bulletin 
containing two composite sketches of two suspects who committed a burglary in their city by similar 
means. The victim believed one of the sketches looked like the suspect that burglarized her home. 

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. 

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. 

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!