When you think of deadly animals, you usually think of sharks, lions, and crocodiles, and snakes. If you think about animals that kill via diseases or viruses they spread, you might think of tapeworms, tsetse flies, and even rabid dogs. But those animals are each responsible for annual deaths ranging from a handful to 50,000 deaths per year.
That compares with humans who kill 475,000 of each other per year. But worst of all? The Mosquito kills 750,000 people per year, according to Jason Farned, public information officer for the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, who presented a fascinating report this morning (April 2, 2015) at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Affairs Forum sponsored by Keystone 365 Sponsor Singpoli.
The presentation in the Chamber’s conference room sponsored by Foothill Credit Union and led by Chairman Jack Orswell from Orswell & Kasman, Inc. Environmental Assessments & Consulting, also included updates from City of Arcadia officials about artwork coming on local bridges and construction starting on new motels, plus reports from the offices of Congresswoman Judy Chu and Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez, among others (details of their reports below).
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Jason, who has been with the Control District for nearly two years and in his current post since last June, said the primary point of importance for everyone to take away is that mosquitoes and vectors (any animal that transmits disease to humans or is considered a public health nuisance) grow in water, especially standing water of even tiny amounts, and that three of their four life cycle stages are in water.
Jason is a Cal Poly Pomona graduate with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management (he spent 12 years at Buca di Beppo) and is working on his master’s at the University of La Verne. He spent three years with Passport Advisory Group and is a licensed Real Estate person, advising investors on hotel and restaurant acquisitions and dispositions.
The Control District, funded by a fixed $11.34 in property taxes, needs the public’s help in monitoring standing or dripping water areas at home and businesses, including seemingly empty pools that still have puddles or even several feet of water in them and add more with every rain — there are 1,459 such empty pools in the region (six per square mile), Farned said, noting that a full pool can generate as many as three million mosquitoes in a month.
Informative color brochures filled with information are available at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce office, 388 W. Huntington Drive.
Following Jason’s presentation, attendees heard the following regular monthly reports:
- Phil Wray, City of Arcadia Deputy Director of Development Services/City Engineer, said the owners of Santa Anita Inn have submitted their final plans for the construction of two new multi-story hotels — Fairfield and Residence Inns — and will start construction on the project within a few months that will result in 211 rooms on the property in place of the several of the current one-story motel buildings on Huntington Drive. He also noted that two bridges in Arcadia will soon be getting long-planned artwork, starting in a couple months with lighted artwork about six-feet tall on the side southbound and northbound abutments of the Gold Line bridge over Santa Anita Avenue.
That artwork will feature a peacock feather design that can change colors, as well as the word Arcadia in an iconic font from signs of yesteryear. Later, the train bridge over Huntington Drive will feature the historic and iconic Route 66 logo on both sides at both ends of the word Arcadia spelled out all the way across the bridge. Meanwhile, the Gold Line construction authority will turn over the project to Metro in September. Wray also noted that the new Sycamore tree protection ordinance to require more strict preservation of the trees goes into effect Friday, April 3.
- Viola Van, representing Congresswoman Judy Chu, said her office will be formally announcing soon that Arcadia’s Diane Lucas will be honored soon based on a nomination by Mayor Pro Tem Gary Kovacic. The Congresswoman and Controller Betty Yee hosted a free tax preparation workshop for low income families yesterday, April 1.
Van also said the office is soliciting student artwork submissions for the annual Artistic Discovery Congressional art competition. Deadline to submit artwork is Friday, April 17, 2015 at Congresswoman Judy Chu’s District Office in Pasadena — send to:
Office of Congresswoman Judy Chu, 527 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 106, Pasadena, CA 91101
Students MUST fill out packet. Artwork entered in the contest may be up to 32 inches x 32 inches (including frame) and may be up to four inches in depth. The artwork may consist of the following:
o Paintings – including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
o Drawings – including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers
o Collage
o Prints – including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
o Mixed media
o Computer Generated Art
o Photography
All entries must be original in concept, design, and execution. It is hosted by the House of Representatives, a nationwide high school arts competition that recognizes and encourages artistic talent in the nation. Contest is open to ALL high school students in the 27th Congressional District. First prize winner in our Congressional District will win a trip to Washington D.C. and have his or her art displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also showcase artwork from other contest winners nationwide. For any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Congresswoman Chu’s office at 626-304-0110 or email Enrique.Robles@mail.house.gov
- Clayton Arick representing Senator Dr. “Ed” Hernandez provided a list of nearly 20 bills in a 2015 package prepared by the Senator, many of which relate to Medi-Cal, Medicaid, and health in general.
- Brian Mejia from Supervisor Michael Antonovich was unable to attend due to the death of his father last week – Government Affairs Forum regular attendees signed a card that was mailed to Brian.
As Chamber CEO Scott Hettrick detailed the upcoming Chamber events (see below), including a 1920s-themed Mixer at the historic Prince Erik Hall, Jack Orswell related that the only Arcadia policemen to die on duty, Albert Mathies, was a neighbor of Prince Erik in the 1920s and that Prince Erik attended Mathies’ funeral.
Also attending and sharing informational updates were Rainbow Yeung from the AQMD, Sophia Chan from Forest Lawn, and Donna Lee, who volunteers at the Museum of Arcadia Heritage.
Hettrick welcomed everyone to today’s meeting and noted the following upcoming events:
- Thursday, April 9 — Ribbon-Cutting at Beauty Culture, 715 S. First Ave.
- 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 — Mixer Congress Orthopaedics/Elite Motion, 289 W. Huntington Drive
- 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 16 — Networking Breakfast featuring Pasadena Pops and honoring Jim Helms, Santa Anita Golf Course club house Sunset Room, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave.
- 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 22 — Love Lunch, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 924 W. Huntington Drive
- 5 p.m. Thursday, April 23 — Mixer by Santa Anita Gardens at Prince Erik Hall, 2607 S. Santa Anita Ave.
The next Government Affairs Forum on May 7 will feature the City of Arcadia’s Administrative Services Director Hue C. Quach providing a financial report, and Public Works Director offering important updates on water restrictions.
The public is invited at 8 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month to hear informative presentations at the monthly Government Affairs Forum sponsored by Singpoli and led by Chairman Jack Orswell from Orswell & Kasman, Inc. Environmental Assessments & Consulting, and co-chairman Pete Ulrich, former Arcadia City Councilman. RSVPs to the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce office are appreciated – (626) 447-2159 or info@ArcadiaCaChamber.org.