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Mountain View News Saturday, July 20, 2024


DR. MICHAEL CAO TAKES OFFICE AS ARCADIA MAYOR

 

ARCADIA, CA – Dr. Michael Cao of the Arcadia City Council was sworn in as the Mayor on Tuesday, 
July 16, 2024, succeeding Mayor April Verlato who most recently served as Arcadia’s Mayor since 
September 2023. Councilmember Sharon Kwan will now serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

 

Since his election to the Arcadia City Council in 2022, Mayor Cao has made significant strides in his 
mission to enhance public safety and provide equitable services and healthcare to all residents.

 

Mayor Cao has been a driving force behind major health and safety initiatives in Arcadia. These efforts 
include the creation of the City’s first Health Committee to make health education more accessible to 
the community, and actively opposing the Zero Bail policy across Los Angeles County. Mayor Cao is a 
staunch supporter of public safety, which includes the Arcadia Police Department’s initiative to install 
mobile surveillance units, and the Arcadia Fire Department’s acquisition of a new Basic Life Support 
(BLS) ambulance and the hiring of seven new ambulance operators. Additionally, Mayor Cao was 
instrumental in establishing Arcadia’s first Veteran Banner Recognition program, which will honor all 
living veterans in Arcadia annually, beginning November 2024.

 

“Service to others has been the cornerstone of my personal and professional journey, from my dedicated 
military service to providing healthcare, and now as Mayor of Arcadia,” said Mayor Cao. “I am deeply 
honored to serve Arcadia and will work to ensure our community remains a safe, healthy and prosperous 
place for all."

 

Mayor Cao is defined by his unwavering dedication to public service. He honorably served his country 
for 10 years as an active-duty Major in the United States Air Force. During his deployments in Iraq 
and Afghanistan, he led the Critical Care Airlift Team, playing a crucial role in treating and saving 
the lives of servicemen and servicewomen. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Aerial 
Achievement Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Following his military service, Dr. Cao 
founded a private medical practice dedicated to providing healthcare to diverse and underserved populations.

 

Mayor Cao represents the City of Arcadia as the incoming President of the L.A. County Division of the League of California Cities, a member of the Foothill Workforce Development Board and a member 
of the Clean Power Alliance. He currently serves as a public member on the State Bar of California Committee of Bar Examiners by the California Speaker of the Assembly, liaison for the Arcadia Library 
Board of Trustees and a director on the Arcadia Police Foundation. Mayor Cao formerly served as chairman of the Arcadia Senior Citizens’ Commission, commissioner on the HIV Commission by the Los 
Angeles County Supervisor and liaison for the Arcadia Planning Commission.

 

The offices of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem are filled automatically by rotation among the Councilmembers with each serving a term of approximately nine and one-half months.

Photo courtesy: City of Arcadia

WEST NILE VIRUS POSITIVE 
MOSQUITOES CONFIRMED IN 
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

West Covina, Calif. (July 15, 2024) — The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector 
Control District (SGVMVCD/District) has confirmed the first detection of West Nile 
virus (WNV) activity in its service area. The virus was detected in a mosquito sample 
collected from a surveillance trap near Morgan Park in the city of Baldwin Park.

“West Nile virus can be transmitted by the native Culex mosquito species which is 
most active at dusk and dawn,” said Director of Scientific Programs Tristan Hallum. 
“There is no cure or human vaccine for West Nile virus. Therefore, the best method of 
protection is to prevent mosquito bites and reduce potential mosquito sources.”

Since West Nile virus is endemic to the San Gabriel Valley, it is typically detected 
by local public health agencies during Summer. The warm overnight temperatures 
contribute to mosquito populations and disease activity. The District will continue 
monitoring disease activity and controlling mosquitoes in public spaces through 
routine inspections and necessary treatments, but residents should take precautions 
to protect their health.

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility. The District urges residents to take 
an active role in reducing the threat of WNV in their communities by taking the 
following actions to stay healthy and bite-free:

Tip out stagnant water around the home weekly;

Toss unused containers that can hold stagnant water; and

Protect against bites by using insect repellent containing any one of the following 
CDC-recommended ingredients: Picaridin, DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (or 
PMD), or IR3535.

For more information, residents can contact the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and 
Vector Control District at 626-814-9466, online at SGVmosquito.org, or on social 
media: Facebook, X, and Instagram.

About SGVMVCD

SGVMVCD is one of five vector control districts in Los Angeles County. Year-round, 
the agency monitors stagnant water sources, such as gutters, storm drains, channels 
and non-functional swimming pools. The agency also routinely monitors populations 
of adult mosquitoes using traps and tests groups of adult female mosquitoes for the 
presence of WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases. In addition, the agency submits 
samples from dead birds, such as crows, for testing, which can provide insight into the 
spread of WNV.

About West Nile Virus

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, West Nile virus 
(WNV) is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. One in five individuals infected 
with the WNV, for which there is no cure, will exhibit symptoms that include fever, 
headache, body aches, nausea or skin rash. The symptoms can last for several days 
to months. One in 150 people infected with the virus will require hospitalization. 
Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis 
and possibly death. Those at greatest risk include seniors and individuals with 
compromised immune systems. People over 50 years of age and those with chronic 
health problems are at higher risk of severe illness. While not all mosquitoes carry this 
virus, the type of mosquito that spreads this virus is found throughout Los Angeles 
County.


2024 ARTIST’S CHOICE EXHIBITION 

PRESENTED BY THE PASADENA SOCIETY OF 
ARTISTS

The Pasadena Society of Artists proudly presents its Artist’s Choice Exhibition opening Tuesday, August 6, 
2024, at Whites Fine Art Gallery located at 2414 Honolulu Avenue in Montrose, California. The 
exhibition closes on Saturday August 31. Concurrently the exhibition can be viewed at ISSUU.
com or the PSA website, www.PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org. A printed catalog will be available 
for purchase.

PSA has been presenting Artist’s Choice exhibitions since 2009. This is the 11th exhibition in this 
ongoing series. Artwork in this exhibition has been created and selected by the artist. Many are 
new works not previously seen by the public. Artwork is available for purchase. 

Fifty-three members are exhibiting 90 artworks. Media includes acrylic, pen & ink, photography, 
watercolor, ceramics, oils, fabric collage, assemblage, etchings, collage, cotton thread on fabric, 
colored pencil, graphite pencil, alcohol ink, welded metal, gouache and pastel.

Participating artists are Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin, Julianna Aparicio-Curtis, MariBeth 
Baloga, Cyndi Bemel, Barbara Lai Bennett, Michele Benzamin-Miki, Mariko Bird, Katy Bishop, 
Anya Cherrice, Chuka Susan Chesney, Liz Crimzon, Jean Cunningham, Adeola Davies-Aiyeloja, 
Marion Dies, Karen Duckles, Lore Eckelberry, Martin Ehrlich, Mims Ellis, Maryellen Eltgroth, 
Sandy Fisher, Judy Frisk, Steve Graziani, R. Rene Hoffman, Sharon Jeniye Cohen, Jeffry Jensen, 
Saon Kashem, Nora Koerber, Joanna Kos, Patricia Lee, Tommy Lei, Warner LeMénager, George 
Paul Miller, Christopher Moore, Richard G. Murphy, Tom Oldfield, Victor Picou, Mike Pitzer, 
Rebecca H. Pollack, Rhonda Raulston, Jean Richardson, S.A. Smith, Robert Michael Sullivan, 
Kathleen Swaydan, Laurel Termini, Barbara Thorn, Cecilia Torres, Suzanne Urquiza, Tsvetelina 
Valkov, Ken Weintrub, Sean Yang.

Founded in 1925, the Pasadena Society of Artists is one of the area’s original professional artist 
groups. The Society is noted for its vigorous, active membership, wide diversity of artistic statement, 
and high professional standards. Membership is by juried submission.

PSA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to present the works of its many talented and 
creative artists to the community of Pasadena and surrounding areas. Combining an active 
tradition of community participation and partnering with local community arts organizations, 
as well as philanthropic, humanitarian and educational institutions, PSA endeavors to enhance 
public awareness of art and the enriching qualities it brings to our lives.

For more information about PSA please visit www.PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com