Thursday, JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2012
A zusa B eacon Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
California Philharmonic’s Premiere at Santa Anita Race Track this Saturday Evening
PLEASE SEE PAGE 18
Volume XVII, No. XXVI
Sierra Madre Council Chips Away at Complexities of Kensington Project BY JIM E. WINBURN
Commerce members. Cal Phil’s 2012 Summer Season and special guests presented a historymaking move to the infield of Santa Anita Race Track, which is now renovated, concert-ready and destined to become Southern California’s premiere outdoor concert venue . It will be enhanced with a
The Kensington turned out to be too big for any immediate action at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Sierra Madre council members discussed the proposed assisted living facility’s Specific Plan and its Municipal Code Text Amendment for the first time since the Planning Commission recommended approval to the council at its Jun. 11 meeting. Although council members succeeded in clarifying some of the project’s legal aspects, they realized it would be a few more sittings before any ac-
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Vanessa Carlton (left) will be performing with Cal Phil this Saturday at the Santa Anita Race Track. On the right (from left) Dr. Arthur Bartner (USC Trojans), Cal Phil Maestro Victor Vener, Vanessa Carlton, Andre Vener, Pasadena Entrertainment and George Haines, President of Santa Anita during the press conference Tuesday. -Photo by Terry Miller
BY TERRY MILLER Officials from the popular California Philharmonic, Santa Anita Race track and city officials including Arcadia Mayor Bob Harbicht marked the beginning of a new era for the CalPhilhamonic orchestra on Tuesday at a press conference announcing the beginning of the new season at the new
location, Santa Anita. Three time Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Vanessa Carlton who’s hits include A Thousand Miles, Ordinary Day and White Houses, will be playing opening night of Cal Phil’s Festival on the Green at Santa Anita Race Track on Saturday June 30, 2012. Vanessa will also join Cal Phil on Sunday July 1, 2012 for
an encore performance matinee at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Carlton was quick to point out that she’s excited to work with a full orchestra at this stage in her career. Dr. Arthur C. Bartner – Director of The USC Trojan Marching Band for 42 years was also on hand for and joked with Victor Vener about the early days in bands together. The
Barricaded Man Holds Off Police in Monrovia
San Gabriel Valley Governing Agency Approves Ace’s Bid for Autonomy
BY SUSAN MOTANDER
BY JIM E. WINBURN
Late on Tuesday afternoon, Monrovia police received a phone call from a man informing them that a friend of his, David Hipkins, was despondent. The friend was worried about a potential of suicide. Monrovia police went to Hipkins’ home on Duarte Road in Monrovia to perform a welfare check on him according to Chief of Police Jim Hunt. Hunt said the man Please see page 21
San Gabriel Valley’s largest collaborative government body approved a motion on Thursday to allow the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority to become its own separate entity. Created by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments in 1998, the ACE Construction Authority now has been given the green light to draft a transfer agreement addressing all related issues to its separation from SGVCOG. ACE Executive Direc-
tor Rick Richmond stated in his presentation to the COG governing board that ACE has outgrown its parent organization, having become self-sufficient over its 13 years of doing business. “We really do not rely upon the COG for any functional activity that we have to perform,” he told the board. “We have certain things that must be approved by the COG, and obviously we do that, but we are capable of standing Please see page 5
revered band is kicking off Cal Phil’s new season with a bang both at Santa Anita Race Track on June 30, 2012 and at then Walt Disney Concert Hall on Sunday July 1, 2012. There was also an official ribbon-cutting attended by Cal Phil representatives, Santa Anita Race Track officials, City Officials, City Council and Arcadia Chamber of
Fourth of July Events in the San Gabriel Valley
The Rose Bowl holds one of the largest fireworks displays in California. -Photo by Terry Miller
Sierra Madre 4th of July Firecracker Fun Run The 2nd Annual 4th of July Firecracker Fun Run, a 5K event is open to runners of all ages and follows the 4th
of July Parade route. Participants will begin in Kersting Court and run east on Sierra Madre Boulevard down to Sierra Vista Park, turn around and run west back up Sierra Madre Boulevard to Sun-
nyside Avenue. Participants will turn around again at Sunnyside and travel the parade route on Sierra Madre Boulevard back to Kersting Court. Please see page 7