J.C. Hyke playing at Matt Denny's Ale House

Now a single father of two daughters, singer-songwriter J.C. Hyke was born in Dallas but spent most of his childhood in Pasadena taking piano lessons and playing sports. Hyke  and his band The Gambling Scarecrow spent the summer of 2007 opening for two major country acts, Brad Paisley and Montgomery Gentry.

He picked up an acoustic guitar at age 20 and quickly wrote his firs song. He moved to Nashville in 2001, living on Music Row honing the craft of songwriting, performing at the world famous Blue Bird Café, The Broken Spoke, Legends, The Hall of Fame Lounge, and The Boardwalk Café, and then released his debut CD Fallin‘ in 2003.

After a five-year stint in Olympia, Washington, from 2004-09, Hyke moved to Arcadia and has been hosting his acoustic music show at Matt Denny’s for a year-and-a-half. The popular program under custom lighting on the patio features four different songwriters each week.
So, stop in and say howdy next Tuesday.

– By Scott Hettrick

That will be just a few months before the new “iconic” bridge over the 210 freeway is completed this summer, Foothill Extension Authority public affairs director Lisa Levy Buch told the group of community leaders gathered Thursday, Feb. 2, at the monthly Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Forum.
Since that bridge will once again bring train tracks over the freeway and into Arcadia, that means that a new bridge will need to be built to carry the Gold Line train over Colorado Blvd again when the line opens in 2015.
The County was originally prepared to retrofit the Colorado bridge to make it earthquake-safe until Gold Line officials alerted the County that their money would be wasted on a bridge that was about to be torn down.

A third bridge in Arcadia must then be built to carry the tracks over Santa Anita Avenue near Fasching’s Car Wash.

Buch also revealed for the first time that a decision was recently made to build the 11.5-mile extension in reverse order from the end of the route in Asuza west to the current end of the line at the Sierra Villa station in Pasadena just west of Arcadia.

Work on the iconic bridge over the 210 will begin a series of as many as 20 consecutive late-night full closures of all eastbound lanes between Baldwin and Santa Anita Avenues weekdays from midnight to 5 a.m. that will continue through February and possibly into March. A lengthy temporary support structure, known as falsework, will be erected to create a secure work space over the lanes of the freeway for the entire span of the future 584-foot bridge crossing the freeway at a skewed angle. The falsework structure will create a temporary tunnel-like effect temporarily, as shown in the artist rendering at right.
On nights of full closures, eastbound on-ramps at Rosemead Blvd., Michillinda Ave. and Baldwin Ave. will close at approximately 9:00 p.m., lane closures will begin at approximately 10 p.m. and all lanes will re-open by 6 a.m. the following day.

Meanwhile, legislative groundwork is being laid to extend the Gold Line from Azusa beyond the L.A. County border to Montclair, with an eventual target destination of the L.A. Ontario Airport.

Further details about all the planned construction through Arcadia will be presented by the Foothill Extension Authority and Arcadia City officials at the Chamber’s annual Planning Conference from 8 a.m. – 12 noon on Thursday, Feb. 23 in the Director’s Room of the Santa Anita Park race track.

The Planning Conference, featuring a breakfast buffet, is open to all Chamber members and costs $25 per person. RSVP is required; call the Chamber at 626-447-2159.
Retiring City manager Don Penman will present his final State of the City address at the conference, among several other planned presentations.

– By Scott Hettrick

Courtesy of Arcadia Fire Dept.

Courtesy of Arcadia Fire Dept,

The blaze was dangerously close to the new Dana Middle School gym just a few feet away.
Luckily, there was no one inside the house and there was no damage to the gym or other properties.
Five fire trucks, two paramedic trucks, and two helicopters rushed to the scene. Tons of smoke was seen and smelled very strongly all the way up to Duarte Road.

Courtesy of Arcadia Fire Dept,

The house had been vacant and up for sale for a couple months and had been sold recently and was in escrow at the time of the blaze. Officials said the buyer was planning to demolish the structure anyway.
There was  lots of storm debris and piles of leaves and foliage and clutter in the house.
Officials do not suspect any foul play. Possible causes: a vagrant or prankster.

– By Scott Hettrick

L-r Mayor Gary Kovacic, Bruce Lazenby of sponsor Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary AHS principal David Vannasdal.

Joining the Mayor was AHS principal David Vannasdall and Bruce Lazenby, Executive Director of corporate sponsor Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary, which made the banner possible. The company is also printing promotional posters, providing water for the cast and audience, and purchasing group tickets for their employees to enjoy the show.

“Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary is pleased to support Arcadia High School and the Performing Arts Department,” said Lazenby. “We think Oklahoma is more than OK. The arts are an essential component of human development, theater arts allow students to forge a craft and develop a vehicle of self expression. Our First Lady said it this way, ‘It’s through this constant exchange—this process of taking and giving , this process of borrowing and creating—that we learn from each other and inspire each other.’ Rose Hills is proud to support this year’s spring performance of Oklahoma.”

“The AHS Drama Department, directed by Steven Volpe, brings a very sophisticated theater experience to a high school stage,” said Vannasdall. “The students are dedicated young actors with a passion for performing.”

After the unveiling, the men made their way down the block to Denny’s, another corporate sponsor that is offering a $5 discount with every ticket purchase.

Mayor Kovacic reflected on the school’s theater department when he attended Arcadia High.
“Arcadia has a rich tradition of excellent student musical productions,” he said. “Back in 1968, when I attended Arcadia High School, it was The Music Man, and I’m looking forward to this year’s production of Oklahoma.”
“My emphasis this year as Mayor has been volunteerism, and I am glad that Rose Hills, Denny’s, and the volunteers at our own Community Center have partnered with the high school’s theatre department for this production. It demonstrates an expanding community involvement with our talented students.”

“Thanks to Measure I, the new performing arts center now under construction at the high school will create opportunities for many more community partnerships to help the theatre department provide Arcadia with top quality entertainment.”

Oklahoma will be presented in the high school Litle Theatre t 7 p.m. Thursday – Saturday March 22, 23 & 24 as well as the following weekend, March 29, 30 & 31st. The doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Organizers expect every performance to be sold out well in advance.

Bruce Lazenby of Rose Hills purchases a ticket with a discount at Denny's.

Tickets can be purchased at Denny’s, at the northeast corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue. No matter where you purchase your tickets, Denny’s will offer a $5 discount on any order of $15 or more each time customers show their ticket stub. Tickets for seniors and students are only $10, meaning they will get 50% of the ticket price back when they take advantage of the Denny’s offer.
Denny’s is also putting up posters and handing out postcards to promote the play to their customers.

In addition, tickets can be purchased online at www.arcadiastage.com. Other options when purchasing online are a Fast Pass which allows you bypass the line at the door on the night of the performance. Also online you can purchase a VIP reserved seat for $25. This not only provides you your choice of seat and a comfortable pillow you also do not have to stand in line and your seat will be reserved even if you show up at 7 pm.

Seniors can purchase special opening night discount tickets at the Arcadia Senior Center and the Monrovia Community center.

Another sponsor, Dalvina Cookies, has made it possible for fliers to be passed out at all the senior centers and all senior living facilities in Arcadia, Pasadena, Monrovia, Duarte and Bradbury. In addition, Dalvina has made it possible for posters to be posted at many local business establishments as was done for the last production. However, this spring the list of participating businesses is more than double the number from last fall. Some of the businesses participating are Ralph’s, Albertson’s, Fresh and Easy, Fasching’s Car Wash, and Pacos.

– By Scott Hettrick

City Council/Successor Agency Regular Meeting

Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 6:00 p.m.

AGENDA

Location: City Council Chamber Conference Room, 240 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with a disability who require a disability related modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, may request such modification or accommodation from the City Clerk at (626) 574-5455. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to the meeting.

CALL TO ORDER

ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Gary Kovacic, Mayor
Robert Harbicht, Mayor Pro Tem
Peter Amundson, Council Member
Roger Chandler, Council Member
Mickey Segal, Council Member

PUBLIC COMMENTS – CLOSED SESSION/STUDY SESSION (5 minute time limit per person)

Any person wishing to address the City Council on any Closed Session/Study Session items is asked to complete a “public comments” card available in the Council Chamber Lobby. The completed card should be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the start of the Closed Session/Study Session meeting. Each speaker is limited to five (5) minutes per person, unless waived by the City Council. Under the Brown Act, the City Council is prohibited from discussing or taking action on any items not listed on the posted agenda.

CLOSED SESSION

a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(c) to confer with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation – one (1) case.

STUDY SESSION

a. New City Hall Cost and Financing Update.

7:00 pm, City Council Chamber

RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO OPEN SESSION

CALL TO ORDER

INVOCATION

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Gary Kovacic, Mayor
Robert Harbicht, Mayor Pro Tem
Peter Amundson, Council Member
Roger Chandler, Council Member
Mickey Segal, Council Member

REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY ON CLOSED SESSION/STUDY SESSION ITEMS

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS

MOTION TO READ ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BY TITLE ONLY AND WAIVE THE READING IN FULL

PRESENTATIONS

a. Presentation of car wash tickets to City Employees from the Arcadia Chinese Association.

PUBLIC COMMENTS (5 minute time limit per person)

Any person wishing to address the City Council during the public comment period is asked to complete a “public comments” card available in the Council Chamber Lobby. The completed card should be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the start of the 7:00 p.m. open meeting. Each speaker is limited to five (5) minutes per person, unless waived by the City Council. Under the Brown Act, the City Council is prohibited from discussing or taking action on any items not listed on the posted agenda.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY CLERK

1. CONSENT CALENDAR

All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and can be acted on by one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of the City Council request that specific items be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion.

a. Approve the Special Meeting Minutes of December 15, 2011, Regular Meeting Minutes of January 17, 2012 and Special Meeting Minutes of January 24, 2012.
Recommended Action: Approve

b. Continue in place Resolution No. 6811 ratifying the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency within the City issued on December 1, 2011 pertaining to the extreme wind event which began on November 30, 2011.
Recommended Action: Review and continue in place

c. Adopt Resolution No. 6816 declaring that weeds, brush, rubbish and refuse upon or in front of specified property in the City are a seasonal and recurrent public nuisance and declaring its intention to provide for the abatement thereof and to schedule the protest public hearing for February 21, 2012.
Recommended Action: Adopt

d. Authorize and direct the City Manager to execute a one (1) year contract extension with Vargas Olson Enterprises, Inc. for Construction Maintenance Services at various City facilities in an amount not to exceed $105,770.
Recommended Action: Approve

e. Authorize and direct the City Manager to execute a one (1) year contract extension with Waste Management Curbside, LLC for residential collection of household hazardous waste in the amount of $20,000.
Recommended Action: Approve

f. Authorize and direct the City Manager to execute a purchase order contract to West-Lite Supply Company, Inc. for the purchase of electrical lighting and accessories in the amount not to exceed $46,574.69.
Recommended Action: Approve

g. Authorize and direct the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Cumming for Construction Support Services for the City Hall Internal Renovation Project in the amount of $40,000 including a 10% contingency and approve an appropriation in the amount of $44,000 from the Capital Outlay Fund.
Recommended Action: Approve

2. CITY MANAGER ITEMS

a. “Sustainable Arcadia” – Update and progress on the City’s Resource Sustainability Policies and Programs.
Recommended Action: Adopt the Sustainable Arcadia Program as City policy consistent with the General Plan and adopt the Resource Protection and Sustainability Report as a single, coordinated policy document to direct City efforts and actions on environmental programs.

b. Authorize and direct the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with La Canada Design Group for Architectural Design Services for the City Hall External Renovation Project in the amount of $36,527 including a 10% contingency and approve an appropriation in the amount of $40,200 from the Capital Outlay Fund.
Recommended Action: Approve

ADJOURNMENT

The City Council will adjourn this meeting in memory of Arcadia Fire Captain Andy Troncale and Arcadia resident Ed Schreiner to February 21, 2012, 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber Conference Room located at 240 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia.