7
Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 25, 2015
KOVACIC MAYOR FOR SIXTH TIME
By Scott Hettrick
Courtesy of Arcadia’s Best
Gary Kovacic was elected Mayor tonight, April 21,
2015, by his peers on the Arcadia City Council for
this sixth time since 1998 (including once in a shared
rotation among all five Council Members during the
2003-04 Centenial Year).
Incoming Mayor Gary Kovacic (l) honors
outgoing Mayor John Wuo, standing next to new
Mayor Pro Tem Roger Chandler (center) and
Council Members Sho Tay and Tom Beck
And three-time former Mayor Roger Chandler
since 1989 was elected Mayor Pro Tem tonight,
lining him up for a likely fourth term as Mayor in
2016-17.
Mayor Kovacic is in the final year of a second
consecutive four-year term, meaning he will need
to step away from the Council for at least two years
after he concludes his latest term as Mayor next
April.
The quick and uncontested nominations and
unanimous elections of Kovacic and Chandler
came moments after outgoing Mayor John Wuo was
praised by his peers, representatives of other County,
State and Federal legislators, and local organizations
for the end of his fourth gig as Mayor since his
abbreviated debut during the Centennial year in
2003-04.
Among those groups honoring Wuo with
presentations were the Arcadia School Disitrct and
School Board, the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce,
and the Arcadia Chinese Association. Wuo will
remain on the Council for the final year of his four-
year term. He has not said whether he will run for
re-election less than a year from now.
The other two Council Members, Sho Tay and
Tom Beck, both completing their first year on the
Council, apparently were never considered for
Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem this time around. Often
these arrangements are quietly coordinated to a
certain degree a year ahead of time amongst the
Council Members, although they are restricted
from discussing any topic with more than one other
Council Member and nothing is ever official under
they actually vote at the regular public City Council
meeting each April.
Some of the discussion amongst Council
Members with others attending the pre-meeting
reception tonight was about the next election in 2016
for which the campaign begins late this year. Only
two seats will be open — Wuo’s and the outgoing
Kovacic. If Wuo runs again, he will likely be one
of three former Mayors running, including four-
timer Bob Harbicht, and Peter Amundson, who was
Mayor once in 2010-11 and was on the Council for
eight years before having to sit out the past year and
the next before running again.
Burton Brink, who ran a pretty strong campaign a
year ago, has announced publicly many times that
he will be running again. And attorney April Verlato
is also expected to run. Verlato is the new President
of the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association
and has been prominent as one of the leaders in the
battle of Highlands homeowners against the City of
Arcadia over the last six months or so.
Before the ceremonial portion of the City
Council meeting began, Highlands homeowner
David Arvizu used his full five minutes of public
comment to reiterate the fact that he has filed a
class action lawsuit against the City to overturn
their decision to allow two large homes to replace
two smaller homes. He also said that in case city
officials didn’t get the message in a recent meeting,
there will be no settlement of the suit, that there may
even be another lawsuit, and that work has begun to
mount a petition drive to recall three sitting Council
Members, outgoing Mayor John Wuo whose term
ends in a year, newly-elected Mayor Roger Chandler,
and first-year Council Member Sho Tay.
Two other people making public comments
complained about the City’s new requirement that
operators of massage services have a business license
from the State of California instead of the City of
Arcadia. The first woman was emotional and wiping
away tears during her comments. Although City
Manager Dominic Lazzaretto advised them that as
long as they have a valid City license, they should
qualify for the state license without much problem,
they each said it was not that simple because there
are other requirements that will take time and are
causing them to lose their license to operate their
business in the meantime.
The meeting began with an invocation during
which the Almighty was called on to help Arcadians
make it through this period where criminals are
“terrorizing” our community and to help Arcadians
who are dealing with the water shortage.
After a preamble filled with such concerning
characterizations, pointed criticisms, legal threats
and uncomfortable and emotional pleas in front of
an audience that included the spouses and parents
of Council Members who came to celebrate special
moments for their loved ones, the more upbeat
portion of the meeting got underway. Several of the
Council Members noted that despite some challenges
faced by Arcadia, as always and no different and still
fewer than most cities, Arcadia remains a very well
run and very safe community.
Kovacic said that he encourages his Council peers
and the community to heed the advice of Aretha
Franklin’s “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” for one another as they
grapple with the challenges ahead.
Incoming Mayor Gary Kovacic (l) honors outgoing Mayor John Wuo, standing next to new Mayor Pro
Tem Roger Chandler (center) and Council Members Sho Tay and Tom Beck
ARCADIA AAUW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
FUNGI AND GLOBAL WARMING CONNECTION
A CANINE EVENT
TO FIGHT CANCER
The City of Arcadia along with the Hope Can Cure Cancer Club
from Arcadia High School is hosting a Bark for Life Event. Bark
for Life is a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners to
raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer.
Bark for Life is directly related to Arcadia’s Relay for Life and shares
the theme, “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.” So bring your best
canine friends and join us for a fun-filled day starting with a walk,
and continuing with demonstrations, contests, and games. Keynote
Speaker is Dr. Domotor from Dr. Domotor’s Animal Hospital.
Please remember dogs must be on a leash and please be ready to
clean up after your four legged friends.
By supporting Bark for Life, you help the American Cancer Society
save lives, and that helps us move closer to our ultimate goal of
creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays. To register
your dog, please visit: HYPERLINK “http://www.relayforlife.org/
barkarcadiaca” www.relayforlife.org/barkarcadiaca. The cost is $20
for your first dog and $10 for your second dog.
WHERE: Arcadia Dog Park (Eisenhower Park) located on the
corner of Colorado Boulevard and Second Avenue: 601 N. Second
Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006.
WHO: All dog owners and (and lovers) and people who would like
to help the cause.
WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2015
Registration begins at 9:00am; Opening Ceremonies start at 10:00am
For information contact: City of Arcadia, Recreation and
Community Services, 626.574.5113 or Carter L. Spruill at
barkarcadia@hotmail.com or call 323.309.3954.
About the City of Arcadia
Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, Arcadia
is an 11.38 square mile community with a population of just over
56,000. Located approximately 20 miles east of downtown Los
Angeles, Arcadia is known for combining small-town charm with
the conveniences and amenities of a mid-size city. Arcadia is a full-
service charter city governed by a five-member City Council, elected
at large. Recognized for exceptional education and recreation
opportunities and beautiful neighborhoods, Arcadia is also defined
as the “Community of Homes” and has twice been designated the
“Best City in California in which to Raise Kids” by Business Week
Magazine.
Who would have thought that the lowly fungi (think of molds and
mushrooms) are also contributing to global warming? Because of
longer springs and summers in such cold regions as Alaska, fungi are
more rapidly reproducing and releasing more carbon dioxide during
their brief life cycles. Researcher Adriana L. Romero-Oliveres can
explain this phenomenon and its possible long-term effects. Adriana
is an International Fellowship recipient from Mexico who is working
toward a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC-Irvine.
Her Fellowship is partially funded by the American Association
of University Women (AAUW) through its AAUW Funds project
which supports women in research and advanced studies.
The Arcadia Branch of AAUW will climax a successful year of
meetings and events with a luncheon meeting that features Adriana
L. Romero-Oliveres as speaker. An inveterate researcher, Adriana
has done lab work and has also spent months doing field experiments
in Alaska, both in the forest soil and in a special greenhouse. Adriana
hopes to resolve an ongoing debate: “Do fungi adapt to global
warming and what are the consequences to our environment?” Her
upcoming doctoral dissertation will conclude with the answer to
that question.
The luncheon meeting will take place on Monday, May 11, in the
Church of the Good Shepherd’s Jordan Hall, at 400 W. Duarte Road
(SW corner of Duarte Rd. and Holly Ave.), Arcadia. The luncheon
is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m., with Adriana Romero-Oliveres’
power-point presentation to follow. The AAUW-Arcadia meeting
will conclude with a brief business meeting. The Board of Directors
will be installed. Long-time members Shirley Campbell and Kathryn
Brandes-Tyler will be honored with certificates for their fifty years of
AAUW membership.
A festive Mexican-style luncheon is planned for the occasion with
Taco Salad, Fruit Kebobs, Flan as a dessert topper, and a choice of
beverages. The cost of the luncheon for members and guests is $15.
Reservations are due by May 8. To reserve, call Joyce McGregor at
(626) 447-6543, payable at the door. If necessary, you may leave a
telephone message for Joyce. Those who have Joyce’s e-mail may
RSVP that way.
Membership in the American Association of University Women
is open to all women and men holding a university or college degree,
as well as to those with an Associate of Arts degree or its equivalent.
Enrollment in the organization is welcome at any time.
ARCADIA POLICE BLOTTER
For the period of Sunday, April 12th, through Saturday, April 18th,
the Police Department responded to 1,192 calls for service of which
132 required formal investigations. The following is a summary
report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this
period.
Sunday, April 12:
Just before 11:19 a.m., officers conducted an area check near the
Westfield Shopping Town, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, in search of
a subject wanted for theft from LensCrafters. Officers located the
subject and an investigation revealed he had five pairs of sunglasses
totaling $1,030.00, a glass smoking pipe commonly used to smoke
methamphetamine, and an outstanding felony warrant from Texas.
The 41-year-old black male was arrested and transported to the
Arcadia City Jail for booking.
At approximately 3:05 p.m., an officer responded to the lobby of
Monrovia Police Department, 140 East Lime Avenue, regarding
an incident of domestic violence that occurred within the City of
Arcadia. The victim stated her boyfriend grabbed her by the neck
and threw her against a sofa during an altercation. On Monday,
April 13, officers located the suspect. The 22-year-old white male
was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.
Monday, April 13:
At about 6:57 a.m., an officer responded to the 11900 block of
Goldring Road regarding a vehicle burglary report. The victim
stated his amplifier was stolen from his Nissan Xterra sometime
during the previous night. It is unknown how the suspect entered
the locked vehicle. No suspects were seen and no witnesses were
located.
At approximately 1:33 p.m., an officer conducted an enforcement
stop on a vehicle stolen out of the City of Inglewood. Additional
officers arrived and the 50-year-old Asian male was arrested
without incident. The suspect was transported to the Arcadia City
Jail for booking.
Tuesday, April 14:
Around 9:35 a.m., an officer initiated a traffic stop on a bicyclist in
the 400 block of East Huntington Drive for riding on the sidewalk.
Upon contacting the rider, he admitted to having burglary tools and
hypodermic needles used to ingest methamphetamine. The subject
also had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. The 40-year-old
white male suspect was arrested and transported to the Arcadia
City Jail.
Just after 10:30 p.m., an officer responded to Victoria’s Secret in the
Westfield Shopping Town, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, regarding
a theft report. The manager of the store discovered approximately
50 items of merchandise were taken sometime during the day. The
investigation is ongoing.
Wednesday, April 15:
Shortly after 2:11 a.m., an officer conducted an enforcement stop on
a vehicle in the area of Duarte Road and El Monte Avenue due to a
witness stating the vehicle fled the scene of a traffic collision. The
officer contacted the driver of the hit and run vehicle and detected
a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. A series of tests indicated
the 32-year-old male of unknown race was under the influence of
alcohol. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Arcadia
City Jail for booking. The victim of the hit and run collision did not
require medical attention.
At about 5:22 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the
800 block of Monte Verde Drive regarding an attempted burglary
report. The victim noticed a rear window screen had been bent
sometime between 2:35 p.m. and 5:22 p.m. on this date. No suspects
were seen and no witnesses were located.
Thursday, April 16:
At approximately 9:30 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in
the 1800 block of Alta Oaks Avenue regarding a theft report. The
officer determined an unknown suspect stole the victim’s tax forms
from her front porch. No suspects were seen and no witnesses were
located.
Around 6:43 p.m., an officer initiated a traffic stop near the
intersection of Duarte Road and Sixth Avenue for expired
registration. Upon contacting the driver, the officer learned the
29-year-old Hispanic female was uninsured and had an expired
license. She was cited and released in the field. The vehicle was left
legally parked.
Friday, April 17:
Just after 10:09 a.m., an officer responded to the front counter
of the Arcadia Police Department regarding a fraud report. An
investigation revealed an unknown suspect deposited the victim’s
check after changing the payee’s name. The altered check was
payable to “Eric Steve-Lee Hauck.” The investigation is ongoing.
At about 4:40 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 200
block of Hacienda Drive regarding a battery that had just occurred.
The 12-year-old victim stated the suspect was yelling derogatory
comments at him from a vehicle. The victim ran toward his residence
and the suspect parked, exited the vehicle, tackled the victim, and
punched him in the face. The victim did not require medical attention.
A witness and the victim reported the suspect as a teenage Asian male
who was an occupant of a newer model, white Scion XB.
Saturday, April 18:
Just after 2:22 a.m., an officer conducted an enforcement stop on a
vehicle in the 11600 block of Clark Street for expired registration.
Upon contacting the driver, the officer detected a strong odor of
alcohol. A series of tests indicated the 29-year-old Hispanic male
was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and his blood
alcohol content was greater than 0.08%. An inventory search of
the vehicle revealed he was in possession of 56 grams of suspected
cocaine, nearly 200 prescription pills, a digital scale with white
residue, and more than $1,200.00 in cash. He was arrested and
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.
At approximately 6:48 p.m., officers responded to 99 Ranch
Market, 1300 South Golden West Avenue, regarding a grand theft
report. The victim stated she and her son were seated in their car
when an unknown suspect opened the front passenger side door and
took the victim’s purse from the front seat. The victim witnessed
the suspect flee in a black Range Rover. The suspect is described as a
Hispanic male, medium build, and clean shaven. The investigation
is ongoing. Contact: Watch Commander – (626) 574-5156
INCIDENT: ROBBERY
On Monday April 20, 2015, at about 4:59 a.m., Arcadia police
officers were dispatched to the Hilton Garden Inn at 199
North Second Avenue. The night clerk reported that a suspect
had just committed a robbery. The suspect entered the lobby,
displayed a black revolver, and then demanded the cash from
the register. The clerk opened the drawer and gave the suspect
an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect was last seen
walking out the front door.
The suspect was described as being a male, Black,
approximately 25-years-old, 5’10” tall, with a thin build, dark
complexion, and he was clean-shaven. The suspect’s face had
tattooing that started above both eyes, went around the eyes,
down his cheeks, and continued down the front of his neck.
The suspect was wearing a dark-colored hat, a dark hooded
sweatshirt, light gray sweat pants, and red and white colored
athletic shoes.
This incident is being investigated by Arcadia Police
Department Detectives. Anyone with information on
this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police
Department at (626) 574-5151, case #15-1976. If you prefer to
provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call “Crime
Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters
TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the tip
web page at Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers.
SEE OUR ISSUES
ONLINE ON YOUR ‘
MOBILE DEVICE!
at http://issuu.com/mtnviewsnews
|