Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 15, 2012

6


Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 15, 2012 


From Arcadia’s Best:

14 YEAR-OLD, 
AHS BOMB 
THREAT

A 14-year-old male Arcadia 
High School student was arrested 
today (Wednesday, Sept. 
12) after making criminal 
threats that led to nearly 4,000 
students being locked down on 
the campus all afternoon and all 
activities at the high school cancelled 
for the rest of the day and 
evening.

 

Shortly before noon today the police department was notified of an e-mail bomb threat on the Arcadia 
High School Campus. Arcadia Unified School District officials placed the campus on lockdown 
and had the approximate 3,800 students remain in place while police officers investigated the source 
of the threat. Simultaneously, the campus was searched for suspicious objects through a coordinated 
effort between law enforcement and school personnel. No threats were found. The students were released 
for the day shortly before 3 p.m.

 

The arrested student is being held at East Lake Juvenile Hall. – By Scott Hettrick

FAMILY NATURE HIKE!

SATURDAY OCTOBER 13 

7:30AM SHARP!

$15 PER PERSON

Bring the family and join us as we hike to the 
Hollywood Sign on Saturday, October 13th! 
(Originally was scheduled for Saturday, September 
29th)! This nature hike is approximately 
4.5 miles roundtrip with a moderate level of 
difficulty. Participants will meet at the Arcadia 
Community Center at 7:30am and travel by bus 
to the Bronson Canyon entrance to Griffith Park 
in Hollywood. Upon arrival, participants will 
do some light stretching and then embark on a 
hike to the world-famous icon, the “Hollywood 
Sign” and experience an epic view of L.A.’s unique 
urban sprawl. It is the most famous sign in the 
world, and was originally erected in 1923, then 
rebuilt in 1979. Each letter is 50-feet high and 30-
feet wide and the full sign spans 450-feet across 
a summit on Mount Lee. At the end of the hike 
participants will enjoy a picnic lunch. The $15 
fee includes transportation and lunch. Children 
must be accompanied by an adult.

You can register now, on-line, by mail or in 
person! To download the registration form, go 
on-line to the City of Arcadia’s website: www.
ci.arcadia.ca.us or stop by the office, 375 Campus 
Drive. For more information please call 
626.574.5113!

Arcadia High School was forced to lock down 4,000 students 
Wednesday.

HISTORICAL MARKER DEDICATION AND SNEAK 
PREVIEW SEPT. 24 AND OCT. 2 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARBORETUM 

(FORMER HOME OF LUCKY BALDWIN)

ARCADIA, Calif. – A new “History Lives Here” 
historical marker showcasing vintage photographs 
and descriptions of the history and evolution 
of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and 
Botanic Garden that was once the home of Arcadia 
founder Lucky Baldwin will be dedicated at 
4 p.m. October 2 near the main entrance of the 
Arboretum.

A special first-ever preview of a mock-up of the 
Marker will be unveiled to attendees of the Arcadia 
Chamber of Commerce’s annual Taste of 
Arcadia at the Arboretum on Sept. 24.

This is the ninth marker dedicated by the Arcadia 
Historical Society in five years and the first to be 
entirely funded and presented by the independent 
Friends of the Society group which supports 
the Society in many ways. The tenth Marker will 
be dedicated this fall, coinciding with the unveiling 
of a new life-size statue of Lucky Baldwin.

Among the little-seen photographs presented on 
the Arboretum Marker will be an 1889 painting 
by H. H. Cross of Baldwin and daughter Anita 
sitting with dogs near the famous lake in front 
of the guest cottage (now called the Queen Anne 
Cottage); Lucky Baldwin’s nearby adobe home 
place of more than three decades (often called 
the Hugo Reid adobe, though Reid never lived 
there); and postcard views of the Baldwin Ranch, 
circa 1905, referred to by the Los Angeles Times 
in 1893 as one of the most beautiful botanical 
gardens in the world.

The 127-acre Arboretum was the heart of the 
sprawling Rancho Santa Anita, originally an outpost 
of Mission San Gabriel. Baldwin purchased 
8,500 acres of Rancho Santa Anita in 1875 and 
eventually owned nearly 50,000 acres of today’s 
San Gabriel Valley before he died in 1909. His 
daughter Anita maintained her father’s beloved 
Santa Anita home site for decades but was forced 
to sell it in 1936 due to financial burdens created 
by the Great Depression. In 1947, the new owners, 
a real estate syndicate headed by the Chandler 
family (longtime owners of the Los Angeles 
Times) sold the prime property surrounding the 
adobe and cottage at less than market value to an 
ambitious group of horticulturists backed by the 
County and the State for the purpose of create 
an Arboretum. History still lives here because of 
their efforts.

The series of Historical Markers are part of the 
non-profit Society's mission to create broader 
public awareness of noteworthy historical events, 
people, and landmarks in Arcadia. The Society’s 
first Historical Marker was presented during the 
Centennial Celebration of First Avenue Middle 
School in October 2007. Others since then: Los 
Angeles County’s Arcadia Park near the peacock 
fountain; the original City Hall on the northwest 
corner of Huntington Drive and First Avenue; the 
Woman's Club of Arcadia on First Avenue; three 
presented during 75th Anniversary dedications 
for the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, Santa 
Anita Park, and Adams’ Pack Station; and most 
recently The Derby restaurant last year.

 

Gene Glasco is president of the Arcadia Historical 
Society.

Sandy Snider researched, wrote and coordinated 
the photographs for the Derby, Arboretum, and 
upcoming Lucky Baldwin markers as a member 
of the Society’s Historical Marker Committee 
chaired by Scott Hettrick and assisted by Carol 
Libby. 

Contact:

Arcadia Historical Society: 626-446-8512

or Scott Hettrick, e-mail: hreporter@aol.com / 
cell: 626-485-8783

Web site: http://www.arcadiahistoricalsociety.org

RECORD 75 VENDORS AT BIGGEST-EVER TASTE 
OF ARCADIA

 A record 75 vendors will be showcased at Taste 
of Arcadia from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 
24 at the L.A. County Arboretum. 

 The heart of the annual event will be 40 cabanas 
offering the most delicious and exotic food, 
desserts, wine, and beer from local restaurants, 
caterers, hotels, retirement homes, and other 
organizations.

 Tastes from each of these booths as well as the 
following list of fun and activities is available for 
only one $50 ticket purchased in advance ($60 at 
the gate) by calling 626-447-2159, going to the 
the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce office at 388 
W. Huntington Drive, or purchasing online here.

 

Here are links to some of the rest of the fun:

 ¦12 new 2013 cars from four local dealers

 ¦30 local businesses and organizations in the 
first-ever Business Showcase at the Taste

 ¦Three former “Sound of Music” child stars sign 
autographs

 ¦Food Network celebrities and Mayor Pro Tem 
Mickey Segal judging food contest

 ¦Great Lounge-O-Rama eight-piece band plays 
Swing and Sinatra before switching to classic pop 
rock

 ¦Sneak peek at new Arboretum Historical Marker 
to be dedicated Oct. 2

 ¦Raffle prizes include a Panasonic home theater 
system; jewelry, and much more.

FALL CLASSES FOR ADULTS (50 YEARS +)

 The City of Arcadia Recreation & Community Services Department – Senior Services Division 
is offering fall classes for adults (50 years of age and older) beginning the end of 
September. The course offerings include yoga, strength training, line dancing, oil painting/
acrylics, watercolor painting, tai chi, zumba gold, aerobics, yogalates, and balance and mobility 
classes. Also offered is a NEW FREE program, Tech Talk! Tech savvy volunteens will 
pair up with senior citizens looking for assistance and help to overcome fear with the operation 
of cell phones, smart phones, tables, computers and other aspects of the technology age. 
Registration is open now! Courses are offered at the Community Center, 365 Campus Drive 
AND the Dana Gymnasium located at Dana Middle School,1401 S. First Avenue.

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

ARCADIA POLICE BLOTTER

For the period of Sunday, September 2nd, through Saturday, September 8th, the Police Department responded 
to 1,079 calls for service of which 124 required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of 
the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, September 2:

1. At about 2:37 p.m., an officer responded to Gap at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin 
Avenue, in regards to a theft report. Unknown suspect(s) stole twenty-four pairs of jeans and fled 
undetected. No witnesses were located.
2. At approximately 6:00 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Sharon Road regarding 
a theft report. After having an open house event, a jewelry box was discovered missing. The mortgage 
sales associate recalled five suspicious adult subjects walking through the home and believed they were 
involved in the theft. The subjects, described as two Hispanic males and three Hispanic females, left the 
location in a late 90’s dark green Toyota Camry. No fingerprints were located.


Monday, September 3:

3. Around 9:35 a.m., an officer responded to the 900 block of Coronado Drive regarding an 
auto burglary. Unknown suspect(s) stole one of the resident’s vehicles from his driveway, which was 
unsecured and unattended. The victim discovered his spare key, which he stored in the center console 
of another vehicle, was missing. No one reported seeing or hearing anything suspicious.
4. Shortly after 6:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the Cheesecake Factory at the Santa Anita 
Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, in reference to a robbery that just occurred. The victim explained 
an unknown suspect(s) assaulted him with a sharp object and took his wallet. Inconsistent statements 
revealed the subject was not telling the truth and shortly after, mall security revealed the wallet was 
located in the parking lot. An investigation revealed the subject fabricated the story because he was 
afraid to tell his father he lost his wallet. The case is being considered for filing for False Report of a 
Felony to a Police Officer. 


Tuesday, September 4:

5. At about 12:36 a.m., an officer observed a male subject impeding traffic as he crossed the street 
on a red traffic signal at the intersection of Huntington Drive and Baldwin Avenue. The officer observed 
a bottle of Vodka protruding out of the victim’s pants. The 20-year-old Hispanic male was cited, released 
in the field, and the bottle of liquor was destroyed. 
6. At approximately 3:30 p.m., an officer responded to Gate 1 in the area of Santa Anita Mall, 400 
South Baldwin Avenue, in regards to a suspicious male subject. A resident reported the subject hopped 
the fence into her yard carrying a bundle of clothing and then ran toward the mall after she confronted 
him. An investigation revealed the 20-year-old Hispanic male stole from Macy’s. He was arrested in the 
mall parking lot and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 


Wednesday, September 5:

7. At almost 11:00 a.m., an officer responded to Arcadia Methodist Hospital, 300 West Huntington 
Drive, regarding suspicious circumstances. A security guard witnessed a suspicious Black male subject 
walking through the hospital wearing blue hospital scrubs. As soon as the subject realized he was being 
watched, he hurried out of the location and fled in a black 2008 Audi. 


 An investigation revealed the subject was escorted off the property in January 2012 after he was seen 
wearing a lab coat and acting like a doctor. Officers advised the subject not to return, or he would be 
arrested for trespassing. 

8. Around 10:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 2000 block of Cielo Place in regards to a 
bear in the front yard. As officers approached the location, they observed a cinnamon colored bear 
rummaging through the resident’s trash cans. Soon thereafter, the bear looked at the officers, left the 
trash cans, and walked directly towards them. In reaction to the approaching bear, one of the officers 
used less-lethal resources to encourage the bear back into the wild. The officer’s effort was successful as 
the bear immediately turned away and fled back into the hillside out of sight. Neither the bear nor the 
officers were injured during the encounter. 


Thursday, September 6:

9. Shortly after 2:10 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a broken headlight, in 
the area of Huntington Drive and Gateway Drive. An investigation revealed the 32-year-old Hispanic 
female driver had a suspended license and one outstanding misdemeanor warrant, and the 28-year-old 
Hispanic male passenger had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Both suspects were arrested, 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking, and their vehicle was impounded.
10. At about 1:20 p.m., an officer responded to H&M at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin 
Avenue, in reference to a private person arrest. A female subject concealed merchandise inside her 
purse and exited the store without making payment. The 34-year-old Hispanic female was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 


Friday, September 7:

11. Around 6:25 p.m., an officer responded to the Arcadia Police Department front counter in 
regards to a fraud report. The victim discovered several unauthorized transactions as she checked her 
bank account online. A Wells Fargo Bank representative revealed the account was accessed several times 
by an unknown subject(s). The total loss was over $24,000. The victim had no idea how her personal 
information was compromised. 


 At approximately 7:42 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Second Avenue and Pamela Road 
regarding a two-party traffic collision. An investigation revealed an intoxicated driver attempted to pass 
another vehicle without sufficient clearance and collided with the front half of the vehicle, causing its 
driver-side airbag to explode. No injuries were reported. The 35-year-old White male was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.