Halloween Traffic Safety!

Halloween night will bring plenty of gatherings and activity to our neighborhoods. As you drive or make your way around town, please pay close attention for pedestrians and little goblins running across the street. Watch out for our kids as they trick or treat on Halloween night from house to house or while getting out of parked cars.

Arcadia, like many communities, has many homes that are decorated and offer "haunted houses" attracting crowds of kids and traffic. When visiting these locations, enjoy the experience but remember to obey traffic laws and parking regulations.

• Don't double park or drop off passengers in the roadway.
• Don't block driveways.
• Don't park in crosswalks.
• Don't park in front of fire hydrants.

Please be courteous and respectful of your neighbors. Drive carefully and be aware of all the children celebrating tonight!

Longden Avenue will be closed to through traffic between El Monte - Holly Avenues tonight from 5:00 - 10:00 pm.  The closure is to accomodate expected pedestrian and vehicle traffic converging on this area on Halloween night.  Please use Duarte Road or Las Tunas Drive as alternate east-west roadways.  Residents with identification living in the 200-400 blocks West Longden Avenue will be able to access the closure.

And always - Don't Drink & Drive!

Weekly Tip - Halloween Safety

The safety of our children is on our minds each and every day. The celebrations and traditions that go along with Halloween add to the importance of monitoring our children's activity and giving them the guidance to help keep them safe. Here are a couple of websites that offer good tips on Halloween safety:

- CDC (Department of Health and Human Services)

- Halloween-Safety.com

- Pasadena Humane Society (for our four-legged friends)

There are also options to traditional "trick or treating" that allow your children to celebrate in a controlled and safe environment.  The City will be hosting their annual Halloween event for elementary age kids at the Community Center tomorrow, Wednesday, October 31st from 4:30-6:30 pm. The Community Center event is open to the public.  The Westfield Santa Anita Mall will also be hosting trick or treating in the mall from 4:30-6:30 pm tomorrow.

Holiday DUI & Driver's License Enforcement

Weekly Activity Highlights for October 14 - 20, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_10.14.12.pdf

Weekly Tip - Origin of Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week runs October 23rd-31st, 2012. Red Ribbon Week began in remembrance of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena who was kidnapped and murdered in Mexico in 1985. Agent Camarena had been working undercover for the DEA and was key in developing information that led to the eradication of large scale narcotics manufacturing operations in Mexico. Mexican cartel leaders sought revenge for these operations, murdering alleged informants and ultimately Agent Camarena. The RedRibbon.org website gives a well written summary of the history of Red Ribbon Week and offers an excellent tribute to slain DEA Agent "Kiki" Enrique Camarena.

Following his death, in Agent Camarena's home town, Calexico, CA, the public outpouring of support turned in to an organized community response in which citizens dawned red ribbons. They became a voice for prevention in order to reduce the demand for illegal drugs and use of drugs in America. The following year the California State PTA adopted the Red Ribbon Campaign. Then, in 1988, Red Ribbon Week was recognized nationally with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan serving as the Honorary Chairs.

Today, the Red Ribbon Celebration brings millions of people together to raise awareness regarding the need for alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention, early intervention, and treatment services. It is the largest, most visible prevention awareness campaign observed annually in the United States.

Weekly Activity Highlights for October 7 - 13, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_10.7.12.pdf

Weekly Tip - Are you Prepared?

Are you prepared for the next big earthquake?  Tomorrow, Thursday, October 18, 2012, at 10:18 am, millions of people will join in the annual Great California ShakeOut, bringing awareness to a very real threat to California.  Preparedness and knowledge are the keys to surviving during and after a significant earthquake.  The Los Angeles Fire Department offers an excellent preparedness booklet with information about steps you can take before and after an earthquake to help keep you safe, family plans for earthquakes, disaster and emergency supplies, and much more.  The LAFD booklet is available through either of the embedded links above.

Remember, if an earthquake strikes us today - Drop!  Cover!  And, Hold On!

•DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),

•Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

•HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.