Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 4, 2012

6


Mountain Views-News Saturday August 4, 2012 

TASTE OF ARCADIA MOVES TO SEPT. 24 IN 
RECOGNITION OF ROSH HASHANA

Arcadia-based Jewish Federation in first Business Showcase at the 
Taste 

ARCADIA (Aug. 2, 2012) – Taste of Arcadia has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 24, a change 
of one week so as not to conflict with the second night of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year that 
begins at sundown on Sunday, Sept. 16.

All elements of the Taste of Arcadia, including vendors, participants and sponsors, will remain 

in place on the new date of Sept. 24, including the same time of 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the annual host 
venue of the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanical Garden. 

Advance tickets are $50 and will be $60 at the gate. You can buy online at: http://arcadiacachamber.
org/events/taste-of-arcadia/ or call the chamber office at 626-447-2159.

If you have already purchased a ticket and cannot attend on the new date of Sept. 24 and would like a 
refund, please contact the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce at 626-447-2159.

With the new date for Taste now one day before the Jewish Day of Atonement called Yom Kippur, 
the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce has invited the Jewish Federation of Greater San Gabriel and 
Pomona Valleys to have an information table at the first-ever Business Showcase at the Taste and to 
become a member of the Chamber. Executive Director Jason Moss accepted the invitation in order to 
bring more awareness to the region about the 19-year-old Federation, which moved from Covina to 
Arcadia in late 2010. He has also provided the Chamber with an eight-year calendar of Jewish Holy 
Days, which the Chamber will post on the Chamber web site at www.ArcadiaCaChamber.org and 
make available to all members and partner organizations.

The independent non-profit Jewish Federation will honor Arcadia Mayor Pro Tem Mickey Segal and 
Steve Sopkin at the Honoring Community Leaders Brunch at the Doubletree Hotel in Monrovia on 
Sunday, Oct. 21.

Jewish Federation is a fundraising and coordinating body dedicated to bringing together all the many 
threads of Jewish life East of the Greater Los Angeles area. Its mission is to provide programs and 
services that meet the needs of the local Jewish community and serve as the Jewish voice of the 
community. 

Segal and his wife Lee, who were named the Chamber’s Citizens of the Year in 2008, will also be 
presented a Humanitarian Award at the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership’s 9th Annual San 
Gabriel Valley Awards Gala on Sept. 7 at the San Gabriel Country Club in San Gabriel.

When scheduling events, the Chamber always tries to accommodate the calendars of local groups, 
cultures, and religions, and maintains the monthly activity calendar of City, schools, churches, and 
other groups for the non-profit Arcadia Community Coordinating Council.

As always, a percentage of the proceeds from Taste of Arcadia will be donated to local non-profit 
organizations. This year there will be more beneficiaries than ever, with the chamber donating $5 of 
every ticket sold by a pre-approved organization.

Dozens of the best local restaurants, caterers and wine-and-beer vendors will present tastes of their 
cuisine at no extra charge all evening long to the approximately 1,000 attendees of Taste of Arcadia 
on Sept. 24. And the Business Showcase at the Taste will offer the first chance for community groups 
and non-food businesses, including car dealers, to present information at what is called “the signature 
event of Arcadia.”

A new culinary contest judged by celebrity chef Jyll Everman of the Food Network promises to spark the 
tastiest and most original foods, desserts, and drinks. The eight-piece band Lounge-O-Rama, positioned 
for the first time in the southwestern “Roost” area, will perform Swing, Big Band and American standards 
in the early part of the evening before switching to classic pop rock as the sun goes down and the dance 
floor comes alive. That’s also when the traditional exotic Brazilian dancers will appear to the delight 
of the crowds. Arcadia High School’s talented drum line will again greet guests as they enter the gate.


The Chamber’s Community Builder Presenting Sponsor for 2012-13, Westfield Santa Anita, is once 
again also the Gold Sponsor for Taste of Arcadia. Methodist Hospital is a returning Silver Sponsor.

Other sponsors include Ticket sponsor Waste Management; Gift Bag sponsors Sylvia Ramos of 
Coldwell Banker George Realty, Weaver & Associates Insurance, Century Rooter Service and 
Plumbing, and PNC Mortgage; Brazilian dancers sponsor Valley Vista Services; Parking tram sponsor 
Arcadia Association of Realtors; and Peacock Package sponsor The Southern California Gas Company.

ACCOLADES GO TO ARCADIA AAUW MEMBERS

Two members of the Arcadia Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) 
were honored for their accomplishments at the Branch’s June meeting. Carol Dennis was given the 
Arcadia Branch’s 2012 Woman of Achievement award, and Past President Betty Harris received a 
certificate from the national AAUW for her fifty years of membership.

Known to her fellow AAUW members as the lady with a camera (or two), Carol Dennis has been 
active as the group’s photographer for nearly ten years. With her keen eye, Dennis has faithfully 
covered meetings and special events for the Arcadia Branch. She has even moved up to producing 
DVDs, complete with graphics and music, for the group’s fund-raising events. Other positions she 
has held are Program Vice President and member of the Tech Trek Committee, in which she helps 
interview local middle-school girls that the Branch sends to AAUW-California’s Tech Trek Science/
Math Camp at Whittier College each summer.

 Dennis, a retired elementary teacher, received B.A. and Master’s degrees in Education from 
CSU Los Angeles. She taught sixth grade for forty years at Macy and El Portal schools (Whittier/
La Habra) in the Lowell Joint School District. During her years of teaching, Dennis organized the 
Academic Olympics at her schools. As a Master Teacher, she mentored many

prospective teachers. She is a recipient of two PTA Life Awards from her schools. Always interested in 
promoting education, in retirement Dennis volunteers once a week (or more) at her former schools. 
That is a thirty-mile round-trip drive from her home in Temple City!

 Carol Dennis has no trouble staying busy in retirement. She is also historian and photographer 
for the California Retired Teachers’ Association #71 (SGV). An inveterate traveler, Dennis has 
covered all seven continents (Antarctica twice) and is planning to go to South Africa this summer. 
Generous by nature, she has shared her travels with her two teen-aged granddaughters by taking each 
on a separate European vacation. When at home, Dennis enjoys her family of dogs and cats.

 The second honoree of an AAUW award is Betty Harris, who received a certificate from the 
national AAUW for her fifty years of membership. Harris is an Arcadia Branch Past President, having 
served two different terms in office. In 1990, she was honored with the Woman of Achievement 
award. Harris is known throughout the Arcadia community for her civic contributions. For the 
past five years, she has served as the Coordinator of the English Conversation Class, which is jointly 
sponsored by the Arcadia Branch of AAUW and the Arcadia Library. 

 Arcadia AAUW members heartily applaud these two deserving women.


Joyce McGregor (L) presents Carol Dennis with Arcadia AAUW’s 2012 Woman of 
Achievement award.

ARCADIA POLICE BLOTTER

For the period of Sunday, July 22nd, through Saturday, July 28th, the Police Department responded 
to 850 calls for service of which 113 required formal investigations. The following is a summary 
report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, July 22:

1. Shortly after 7:00 a.m., two commercial burglaries were reported to have occurred overnight 
to businesses on West Las Tunas Drive; one in the 00 block and the other in the 500 block. Suspect(s) 
broke glass on the front doors to each business, made entry, and stole money from the cash registers. 
Although the business locations are not related, based on the circumstances, the crimes appear to have 
been carried out by the same suspect(s). 
2. At approximately 10:00 p.m., a two-vehicle collision occurred at Huntington Drive and Santa 
Anita Avenue. After making an unsafe left turn and causing the collision, one of the drivers fled the 
scene and sped off. The driver lost control and became involved in a second collision, striking a light 
pole at Huntington Drive and First Avenue. Officers contacted the female driver and found her to be 
driving under the influence of alcohol. A 23-year-old Hispanic female was arrested and booked at the 
Arcadia City Jail on charges of DUI and hit & run.


Monday, July 23:

3. At about 7:15 a.m., officers were called to an apartment complex located in the 800 block 
Fairview Avenue after a male suspect attempted to break into the coin box on a washing machine. The 
male was interrupted while trying to pry the coin box open. A witness blocked the suspect’s car and 
would not allow him to leave. Officers arrived and arrested a 33-year-old Caucasian male, along with a 
21-year-old Hispanic female accomplice. Both were booked on felony charges at the Arcadia City Jail. 
4. A burglary to a construction site located in the 600 block East Live Oak Avenue was reported at 
about 9:15 a.m. The site supervisor found the gate lock cut and several table saws, along with an electrical 
box, removed from the location. The incident occurred overnight.


Tuesday, July 24:

5. Around 1:19 a.m., a male subject made his way into an open business located in the 100 
block of East Huntington Drive. The male was disrupting the business, causing a disturbance, and 
left without paying for a cup of coffee. Officers detained the male and found him to be intoxicated. A 
53-year-old Caucasian male was arrested for being drunk in public was booked at the Arcadia City 
Jail. 
6. Sometime between 9:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., a vehicle was burglarized while parked in the 
1300 block of South Baldwin Avenue. Suspect(s) punched the door locks and opened the vehicle, 
removing $20.00 in cash. 


Wednesday, July 25:

7. Around 4:00 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation, tinted windows, 
on First Avenue near Colorado Boulevard. The driver was found to be unlicensed and to have 
had multiple previous license suspensions. The driver, a 22-year-old Asian male, was issued a 
misdemeanor citation in the field.
8. Shortly after 11:00 a.m., officers responded to the Sport Chalet at the Westfield Mall, 400 
South Baldwin Avenue, regarding a theft suspect being detained. The male suspect had taken a pair 
of gloves from the store without paying and was detained by loss prevention agents. The male was 
found to be in possession of other stolen clothing, as well as narcotics paraphernalia. A 25-year-old 
Asian male was arrested on misdemeanor charges and booked at the Arcadia City Jail. 


Thursday, July 26:

9. At approximately 12:23 p.m., an officer was called to Cotton On, a business at the Westfield 
Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, regarding a female employee being detained for theft. Store loss 
prevention agents had detained the female after taking multiple items of clothing from the store. 
During their interview, the employee admitted to additional thefts as well. A 19-year-old Hispanic 
female was arrested for commercial burglary and booked at the Arcadia City Jail.
10. Around 3:15 p.m., a vehicle vandalism was reported to have occurred in the parking lot of 
Arcadia High School, 180 Campus Drive. The student parked his vehicle at the location at about 7:45 
a.m., returning to the car at about 1:25 p.m. Suspect(s) had scratched the sides, doors, and hood of 
the car, causing extensive damage. The victim did not know who caused the damage. 


Friday, July 27:

11. At about 7:27 a.m., an officer was alerted to a felony wanted vehicle being driven on Baldwin 
Avenue near Huntington Drive. The alert was from the automated license plate reader in the patrol 
unit. The officer conducted a stop on the vehicle in the parking lot of 400 S Baldwin Avenue and 
detained the driver. The driver was the named subject in the felony want out of San Bernardino 
County. The suspect was arrested and later released to San Bernardino County Sheriffs. 
12. A burglary to a laundry room coin box located in the 900 block of W Duarte Road was 
reported at about 9:15 a.m. The property manager found a washing machine and coin box in the 
laundry room broken and the change from the coin box removed. The incident occurred overnight.


GRAMMY 
WINNER 
NATALIE COLE 
TO HEADLINE 
METHODIST 
HOSPITAL’S 
CRYSTAL BALL 

Celebrated singer Natalie Cole 
will headline the 2012 Crystal 
Ball October 13 at the Pasadena 
Convention Center, Methodist 
Hospital announced today. 

Aptly themed An Unforgettable 
Night with Natalie Cole, the 23rd 
annual event will honor former 
Methodist Hospital President 
and CEO Dennis Lee and his 
wife, Carolyn, for their many 
years of support for the hospital. 
Dennis retired in 2011 after 17 
years as CEO, and Carolyn was 
an equally committed supporter 
of the hospital during the 
couple’s two decades here.

John Wuo and Peggy Tsiang 
Cherng, both dedicated hospital 
supporters, are co-chairs this 
year. Cherng and her husband, 
Andrew, were Crystal Ball 
honorees in 2004, and Wuo and 
his wife, Jane, co-hosted the 
event in 2007. 

Grammy-winning Natalie 
Cole

The daughter of jazz legend Nat 
King Cole, Natalie Cole rose to 
prominence with hits such as 
“This Will Be (An Everlasting 
Love),” “Inseparable” and “Our 
Love.” She also re-recorded 
standards by her father, 
resulting in such favorites 
as Grammy-award-winning 
“Unforgettable...with Love.” 

Ms. Cole, who has many movies 
and television appearances to 
her credit as well as being the 
author of two bestselling books, 
has won nine Grammy awards 
throughout her illustrious 
career. 

Crystal Ball 2011 raised 
$530,000, and with Cole 
headlining this year’s event, the 
co-chairs and their committee 
members hope to surpass that 
amount. Proceeds will go to 
support the hospital’s elite 
stroke program, designated an 
advanced primary stroke center 
for Los Angeles County by The 
Joint Commission and recent 
recipient of the American Heart 
Association/American Stroke 
Association’s Get With The 
Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus 
Quality Achievement Award.

“It’s a very important event,” 
Cherng said. “Once a year it 
gives us a great opportunity to 
showcase to the community 
what the hospital is all about.” 

“At the same time,” she added, 
“it allows people to celebrate 
an organization that they 
enthusiastically support.” 
Cherng is co-founder of the 
Panda Restaurant Group, 
sponsor of the Panda Cares 
Charity Golf Invitational, which 
donates a significant portion 
of its tournament proceeds to 
Methodist Hospital.

Wuo agreed. “The Crystal Ball 
has become a premier event 
in the San Gabriel Valley. 
While it continues to raise a 
good amount of money for 
the hospital, our goal first and 
foremost is for people to have 
a great time,” said the former 
Arcadia mayor and current city 
council member. “If they enjoy 
a great evening, everything else 
will fall into place.”

 The 2012 Crystal Ball 
will be – in a word, unforgettable. 
The evening will also include an 
elegant dinner, dancing and live 
and silent auctions.

For more information about 
sponsoring Crystal Ball or to 
request an invitation, please 
contact Gloria Rico at 626-
821-2340 or crystalball@
methodisthospital.org.