Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 13, 2013

6

 
Mountain Views News Saturday, April 13, 2013

BALDWIN STATUE DEDICATION APRIL 16

From Arcadia’s Best

SANTA ANITA LANES CLOSED FOR MONTHS

The most brutal part of the construction of the Gold Line through Arcadia begins 
soon, with the right lanes of Santa Anita Avenue to be closed for months to northbound 
and southbound lanes beginning later this month or early May. Closures will 
continue through the spring and summer and until late October.

The lanes will be closing as the first steps towards construction of a bridge carrying 
train tracks over the four-lane road, which will also include the lowering of the road 
where it now rises in a hump to meet the tracks.

Santa Anita lanes will be closed once work on the bridge over Colorado Boulevard 
is complete and that road is open west of Santa Anita. A construction notice is 
forthcoming. 

“By Gads! This must be paradise,” 
is the expression famously 
attributed to Lucky Baldwin in 
1875 upon first seeing the land 
that would, years later, become 
the City of Arcadia.

Arcadia’s founding father, Elias 
J. “Lucky” Baldwin, will be honored 
for his pioneering and 
visionary contributions to Arcadia 
and the San Gabriel Valley 
with a bronze statue entitled 
“A Dawn in the West” that will 
be unveiled and dedicated on 
Tuesday, April 16 at 4 p.m. in 
the Reverend Monsignor Gerald 
M. O’Keeffe Rose Garden, 
near the Arcadia Community 
Center at 365 Campus Drive, 
Arcadia.

 “We are so pleased that we are 
able to pay tribute to the great 
visionary Elias Baldwin,” said 
City of Arcadia’s Mayor, Robert 
C. Harbicht. “He was a forward 
thinker and a pioneer in the 
days when California was just 
beginning to blossom. He saw 
the beauty and potential in the 
San Gabriel Valley and he put 
into motion the dream he saw 
for this community. The tradition 
of horse racing is an excellent 
example of something that 
Lucky introduced to Arcadia 
and that flourishes to this day.” 
Harbicht said, “The City Council 
and community at-large are 
thankful to Lucky’s family for 
donating to the City this wonderful 
representation of our 
cherished past.”

 Bringing the statue to fruition 
was a labor of love for the two 
donors, Margaux Gibson-Viera 
and Heather Gibson, great, 
great, great granddaughters of 
Lucky Baldwin. “Having Elias 
J. ‘Lucky’ Baldwin memorialized 
in the form of a statue has 
been a dream of mine. It gives 
me great joy and peace to know 
that this monument will stand 
for generations to come. I hope 
that E.J. “Lucky” Baldwin’s 
legacy is never forgotten and 
this representation of him will 
help to achieve that,” said Margaux 
Gibson-Viera. “This gift is 
not only to Arcadia, but to all 
of California and our United 
States of America. Elias Jackson 
was one of California’s greatest 
pioneers!”

 “I am happy to donate the 
statue of Lucky Baldwin to the 
City of Arcadia along with my 
sister Margaux to honor the life 
of our great, great, great grandfather,” 
added Heather Gibson. 
“I wish for this statue to inspire 
the youth of Arcadia to read 
and study history -- to look 
ahead and never give up. It is a 
reminder to all who come and 
visit of just how much one man 
or woman can do in a lifetime.”

 Mrs. Gibson-Viera and Ms. 
Gibson are descendants of Anita 
Baldwin, Lucky’s second daughter, 
and the only child from his 
marriage with his third wife, 
Jane Virginia (Jennie) Dexter.

The majestic statue stands nine 
feet tall (13 feet with the base) 
and highlights a dignified yet 
unpretentious Baldwin in a 
vest and suit with a bowtie. He 
is realistically featured with a 
pocket watch draped across his 
mid-section and his characteristic 
hat in his hand. The statue 
is positioned west with Lucky’s 
gaze focused in the direction 
of his homestead on the ranch, 
and the famous Queen Anne 
Cottage that he built, which are 
now part of the Los Angeles 
County Arboretum and Botanic 
Garden.

 The statue was artfully designed 
and crafted by artist Alfred 
Paredes. Paredes, working 
out of his Pomona, CA studio, 
was honored to be a part of 
such a significant contribution 
to the Arcadia story. “It’s a real 
privilege and honor to be trusted 
with a family’s legacy,” said 
Paredes. “I take it seriously, and 
I am really glad that the family 
and City are so pleased with the 
work.”

 Paredes has been a sculptor for 
more than 15 years and has had 
his work displayed in Beverly 
Hills, Laguna Beach, on “The 
Ellen Show” and in Sculpture 
Review Magazine, to name a 
few. Paredes has been the recipient 
of several sculpture awards 
including the 2010 Roger T. 
Williams prize by the National 
Sculpture Society.

A new Arcadia Historical Society 
“History Lives Here” 
marker, featuring photos and 
the story of Baldwin, is also being 
introduced at the site a few 
yards southeast of the statue.


HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S FIRST AUCTION APRIL 26

Dozens of collectibles from clocks to peacocks

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Arcadia Historical Society will hold its first ever auction from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 
Friday, April 26, at the Arcadia 210 Self Storage, 324 North Second Avenue.

Come and bid on rare historical memorabilia and artifacts of all shapes and sizes that mostly have no 
specific connection to Arcadia history or historical event. 

Among the items:

Spinning wheel; Mantle clock; Pair of bronze peacocks; T. Haviland (Limogue) serving dishes; 
Pieced quilts; Bridal gowns; Japanese tea cup & saucer sets; other tea sets; Vintage clothing from 
1900-1980; Cameras; Jewelry; Church pews; other collectibles

Come look, bid and enjoy wine and cheese for only $15. All proceeds go to the Arcadia Historical 
Society, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, interpreting and 
promoting community interest in the history of the City of Arcadia and its immediate environs.

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

Arcadia Police Blotter

For the period of Sunday, March 31st, through Saturday, April 6th, the Police Department responded to 1,011 calls 
for service of which 106 required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents 
handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, March 31:

1. At about 6:41 a.m., an officer responded to the area of Live Oak Avenue and Second Avenue regarding a 
vandalism report. The suspect damaged his father’s vehicle by smashing two of the windows with a rock. A search 
of his person revealed he was in possession of concentrated cannabis. The 18-year-old Hispanic male was arrested 
and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
2. Around 10:35 p.m., an officer was dispatched to M&P Sound Stereo, 25 West Las Tunas Drive, in reference 
to an attempted burglary report. Unknown suspect(s) broke the front window and attempted to grab merchandise 
from a display shelf; however, the merchandise would not fit through the security gate. It appeared the suspect cut 
him/herself in the process and left behind a blood stain. Further investigation is being conducted by the Detective 
Bureau. 


Monday, April 1:

3. At approximately 11:45 a.m., two suspects entered Victoria’s Secret at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South 
Baldwin Avenue, and stole 45 bras from a display table. The loss was over $2,000 and the incident was recorded on 
video surveillance. The suspects appeared to be Hispanic males in their mid-twenties. 
4. Shortly after 3:25 p.m., an officer responded to the 1600 block of Oakwood Avenue in regards to a 
residential burglary report. The victim discovered unknown suspect(s) gained entry into his garage by an unknown 
means, searched his vehicle, and fled undetected with an iPhone and various golfing equipment. No one reported 
seeing or hearing anything suspicious. 


Tuesday, April 2:

5. At roughly 2:44 p.m., an officer responded to the area of Huntington Drive and Golden West Avenue in 
regards to a disturbance between motorists. The suspect exited his vehicle as a result of a road rage incident and 
walked up to the victim’s vehicle. He hit the victim’s vehicle several times with a baseball bat, breaking the side view 
mirror. As the suspect fled the scene, another motorist followed him a short distance in order to record the license 
plate. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, early 30’s, approximately 5’10” tall, skinny build, short black 
hair, wearing a striped colored shirt and dark pants, and driving an older model black Mercedes Benz with tinted 
windows. 
6. Around 4:00 p.m., a female victim came to the Arcadia Police Department front counter to report a fraud. 
While checking her online bank account, the victim discovered two personal checks were cashed without her 
permission. Investigation revealed the checks were counterfeit. She had no idea how her account information was 
compromised and she was not desirous of prosecution. 


Wednesday, April 3:

7. At about 9:00 a.m., an officer responded to the area of the 210 freeway and Santa Anita Avenue regarding 
a vandalism investigation. Unknown suspect(s) used black spray paint to graffiti several areas of the Gold Line 
Bridge, which was blocked off for construction. The repair cost was estimated to be approximately $15,000. 
8. Shortly before 2:10 p.m., officers were dispatched to Macy’s at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin 
Avenue, in reference to fraud report. Two of three suspects were detained after making a purchase with a fraudulent 
credit card. Nine fraudulent credit cards were found in their possession. The 19-year-old Asian male and 24-year-
old Asian female were arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. The third suspect fled the 
location; however, he was recorded on the video surveillance. 


Thursday, April 4:

9. At approximately 9:55 a.m., traffic enforcement officers stopped a vehicle for making a right turn on a red 
light at the 210 East freeway off-ramp and Baldwin Avenue. A records check revealed the driver had a suspended 
license. The 54-year-old Hispanic male was cited, released in the field, and his vehicle was left legally parked. 
10. Shortly after 10:50 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for expired registration in the 
area of Live Oak Avenue, west of Peck Road. An investigation revealed the driver had a suspended license and an 
outstanding misdemeanor warrant issued by the Arcadia Police Department. He was also in possession of drug 
paraphernalia and a hypodermic needle. The 32-year-old White male was arrested and transported to the Arcadia 
City Jail for booking. 


Friday, April 5:

11. At almost 10:32 a.m., an officer responded to the area of Huntington Drive and Holly Avenue regarding 
a robbery that had just occurred. As the victim walked eastbound on Huntington Drive, an unknown suspect 
approached her from behind and snatched her purse off her shoulder. The suspect entered an awaiting light blue 
colored sedan and the victim recorded the license plate as it sped off south down Holly Avenue. The suspect is 
described as a Hispanic male wearing dark clothing. Further investigation is being conducted by the Detective 
Bureau. 
12. Roughly after 9:30 p.m., an officer responded to the 000 block of East Norman Avenue in reference to a 
vehicle burglary report. The victim looked out of her window and noticed an unknown Hispanic male walking away 
from her vehicle. She noticed the vehicle’s interior light was on and explained to her boyfriend that it appeared the 
suspect had broken in. The boyfriend located the suspect a short distance away and confronted him; however, when 
the suspect put his hands inside his pocket, the boyfriend fled in fear the suspect was possibly attempting to remove 
a weapon. Officers were unable to locate the suspect at the time of the report and the victim was unable to identify 
any missing property. 


Saturday, April 6:

13. Around 12:02 a.m., an officer responded to Albertson’s, 298 East Live Oak Avenue, in regards to a fight 
in progress. An argument between two adult relatives over money led to a physical altercation. Both subjects 
sustained injuries and required medical attention. The 50 and 60-year-old males of unknown race were arrested 
and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking after receiving medical clearance. 
14. At approximately 5:07 p.m., officers were dispatched to an injury traffic collision in the intersection 
of Colorado Street and the northbound extension of Baldwin Avenue. A Volkswagen Beetle, traveling west on 
Colorado Street, attempted to turn left onto southbound Baldwin Avenue when it was broadsided by an SUV 
approaching eastbound. The driver and passenger of the Volkswagen were transported to Huntington Memorial 
Hospital with severe injuries. The driver and passenger of the SUV were treated for minor injuries at Arcadia 
Methodist Hospital. Preliminary investigation revealed the driver of the Volkswagen was under the influence 
of alcohol and marijuana. Further investigation is being conducted by the Major Accident Investigation Team. 


SAVE THE DATE!

OPEN HOUSE - ARCADIA COMMUNITY CENTER

On Saturday, April 27, from 8am-12noon, the Recreation & Community Services Department present 
the first annual “Open House” where many Recreation classes and programs will be showcased. 
Families can come out to the Community Center and visit a variety of booths for more information on 
summer classes, programs, and Library & Museum events. 

They can also experience live demonstrations from many of the instructors, and have their questions 
answered. Classes offer something for everyone in the family from Art, Zumba, Yoga, Karate, Tennis, 
Soccer, Golf, Cooking, Photography, Baton Twirling, Piano, Guitar, Acting, Ballet, Line Dancing, Salsa 
and more! Are you looking for a summer activity for your children or yourself? Check out the Summer 
Day Camp, Sports Camp, The Zone, The Pit, Swim Program, Museum events, Library Summer Reading 
Program and Fun n’ Play Playgrounds. Representatives will be available to answer your questions 
or provide more information for all. No registration necessary. 

For more information please call 626.574.5113 or go on-line to the City of Arcadia’s website: www.
ci.arcadia.ca.us.