Arcadia FYI
Welcome to Arcadia FYI!: Your host, Christine Zito, sharing with you the inside scoop on everything happening in and around the city. Bringing you the latest news, current events, and fun topics, featuring insightful conversations with local business owners, community spokespeople, and our city leaders. Also your opportunity to let me know what you want to hear or what questions you have at arcadiafyi.com
Episodes
13 episodes
Arcadia Politics, Plain Talk with Councilman David Fu on Recall and Cost of Housing
I sat down with Councilman David Fu for a candid look at his recall challenges and how Arcadia really works—what keeps the city safe and solvent, and where theatrics can hijack the public square. We explore the city’s “virtuo...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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49:40
How A High School Theater Became The City’s Cultural Heart
A city can spend decades wishing for a stage—or it can build one that becomes the neighborhood’s favorite seat. I sit down with Christine Lee, president and CEO of the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation, to share how Arcadia transformed cafeter...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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30:35
What Makes A City Feel Like Home During The Holidays
I sat down with Donna Choi, MJ Finstrom, and Diana Bacero as they share the story of the Downtown Arcadia Holiday Fair and why it evokes such a special, hometown feel: a curated mix of makers and local shops, Macy’s on-site with Shiseido ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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32:44
Who Built A City’s Soul: The Baldwins, Memory, And The People Who Preserve It
What makes a city feel like home? In this episode of Arcadia FTY, I follow the journey through Arcadia’s past—where a land deal by Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin set the stage for incorporation in 1903, and where his daughter, Anita, turned ambition ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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31:01
Trick-or-Treat, Inside Downtown Arcadia’s Events, Partnership, To Small-Business Growth
A tiny nonprofit team, Downtown Arcadia, maps out a safe, walkable Halloween Haunting while revealing how email, giveaways, and partnerships turn community moments into real support for local businesses. We share routes, vendors, volunteer stra...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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45:13
How A Historic Racetrack Became A Safer, Busier, And Olympic-Ready Venue
What if a 90-year-old racetrack could feel brand new without losing its soul? I sit down with Pete Siberell of Santa Anita Park to unpack how a true Arcadia icon blends world-class racing, safer practices, and community-first programming to cre...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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35:58
Inside Arcadia Unified: Stability, Choice, and the Whole Child
If you’ve ever wondered what a great public school district looks like from the inside, this conversation pulls back the curtain with rare honesty and heart. I got the opportunity to sit with Superintendent Dr. David Vannasdall to trace how Arc...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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44:00
Beatles, Prayer, and City Planning: Conversation with Paul Cheng
The journey from immigrant to civic leader is a classic American story, and Councilman Paul Cheng's path exemplifies this transformative experience with remarkable emotion. Arriving on Christmas Day 1977, Cheng recalls his family's pursuit of o...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:01:16
Building Your Online Brand: Email, Social Media, and AI Strategies
I sit with Digital marketing expert MJ Finstrom shares practical strategies for enhancing your business's online presence through effective email marketing, social media tactics, and artificial intelligence tools. We dive deep into buildi...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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47:39
A Conversation with Mayor Sharon Kwan, First Asian Woman Mayor of Arcadia and Former Mayor April Verlato
What happens when a city's first Asian woman mayor takes office during a time of significant challenges? Mayor Sharon Kwan joins former Mayor April Verlato for a candid, solutions-oriented conversation about Arcadia's future. The ho...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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58:09
Hydration, Grilling, and Hidden Summer Nutrition Wisdom
On this Episode of Arcadia FYI, USC Arcadia Hospital dietitian, professor, and author, Victoria Buxton-Pacheco shares some great insights on summer nutrition, hydration needs, and healthy eating strategies during hot summer month. She also chal...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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32:26
Arcadia's Hidden Champion: From Drifter to Business Owner to Kids Books
Ever wonder what it takes to be a trailblazer in a male-dominated world? Nadine Sachiko Hsu shares her remarkable journey as the first female drift racer in America, and how that experience shaped her into the multi-talented creator she i...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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32:31
Downtown Arcadia: Building Community on First Avenue
What does it take to create a downtown from scratch? In our premiere episode, we pull back the curtain on one community's remarkable journey to build the heart of a city.Join host Christine Zito as she welcomes the movers and shakers be...
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27:28