June 20, 2025 • 27 mins
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 behind Downtown Arcadia—Donna Choi, MJ Finstrom, and former Mayor Peter Amundsen—who share the untold story of how citizen desire transformed into community reality.
Subscribe to Arcadia FYI for more stories about the people, places, and events that make this community special. Visit ArcadiaFYI.com to suggest future topics that matter to you!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Christine Zito (00:01):
Hello and welcome to Arcadia FYI.
My name is Christine Zito and Iam the host of this podcast
show.
What is Arcadia FYI?
Well, thanks for asking.
It's going to be a show focusedon community here in the city
of Arcadia.
The podcast will feature somereally great interviews that I'm
(00:22):
looking to inform, enlightenand, yes, even entertain.
And, yes, we will address someof the concerns that us
residents have regarding thelocal issues here in the city of
Arcadia.
Furthermore, I will provideinformation about activities
outside our community that you,your family and your friends can
participate or enjoy.
(00:42):
You can hear Arcadia FYI atarcadiafyicom or on your
favorite podcast channel likeYouTube, apple Podcasts, spotify
, amazon Podcasts andiHeartRadio For your information
.
When you go to arcadiafyicom,you can tell me what you would
(01:03):
like to hear on this show,because our voices count and I
want your voice to count.
So let me know what you wouldlike to hear by just filling out
the form.
It comes straight to me and Iwill work on it.
I would also like to thank oursponsors Longo Toyota Thank you
so much for being a part of thisshow and Star 7 Financial, with
(01:27):
the founder, francine Chu.
I wouldn't be able to do thiswithout you, so thank you very
much.
All right, let's get this partystarted.
For your information, this isthe first episode and it's about
something very dear to my heart.
Very dear to my heart it'sdowntown Arcadia.
In studio, we have the moversand shakers that make it all
(01:48):
happen.
And well, they just really putdowntown Arcadia on the map,
that's for sure, and a lot ofyou probably already know about
downtown Arcadia, but I'm hopingthat today you might learn just
a little bit something new,something that maybe you didn't
know.
So in studio, we have thewonderful and always laughing
(02:10):
Donna Choi, hello.
And the notable and, if I cansay, legendary, Mj Finstrom,
hello.
And never the least and he hasa bigger title former mayor
Peter Amundsen.
How you doing, sir Fine?
Former Mayor Peter Amunds (02:23):
Thank you for having me.
Christine Zito (02:24):
Oh, no problem.
Okay, I'm going to ask you guysa few questions.
I'm going to start with Donna.
Donna, okay, all right, here wego.
Where were you born and raised?
Very close to here.
Donna Choi (02:34):
West Covina, california.
Christine Zito (02:37):
Really, you were born in West Covina.
Donna Choi (02:38):
I was born in West Covina but I grew up all over
California.
My dad was in the fire service,so I lived all over and now I
reside in Los Angeles County andI'm happy to be here in Arcadia
.
Christine Zito (02:49):
Oh, that's good.
Do you have family?
Are you married?
Donna Choi (02:52):
Single Alien oh, I have a, really awesome husband,
five chickens, a really greatferal cat that's no longer feral
and we're working on the aliens.
I may be one, but we'll findout later.
Christine Zito (03:07):
Okay, all right, mj Filmstrom.
So what is your business?
MJ Finstrom (03:12):
my business is called hot dogs and we help
people get smarter and morecreative with their marketing
that's.
Christine Zito (03:18):
You know what I have to say.
I work with MJ and you are thebest when it comes to social
media marketing.
MJ Finstrom (03:23):
I, I tell you that, thank you.
Christine Zito (03:24):
And email marketing.
So do you have family, marriedchildren?
MJ Finstrom (03:28):
I have one daughter .
She goes to University ofHawaii, and I have a husband and
I have a dog and I live inArcadia.
I've worked here in Arcadia formany, many years.
Your daughter goes to.
Christine Zito (03:36):
University of Hawaii.
Oh bummer Aloha, oh my goshHawaii Okay and also in studio.
Come right up to thatmicrophone there, Peter.
Peter Amundsen, how are youdoing?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (03:50):
Now , where's your business at?
I know you do.
It's in the city of industry.
Christine Zito (03:52):
And what is it that you do?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (03:53):
I have Minuteman Transport.
We are a refrigerated warehouseand transportation company and
what we say is we feed thefamilies of the Pacific
Southwest.
And during the pandemic wewould find out if all the things
going on, we were the mostessential, pretty much most
essential because we fed thefamilies as they were hunkered
down.
We were on the streets makingit happen.
Christine Zito (04:15):
So you have trucks.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (04:17):
And a refrigerated warehouse.
Christine Zito (04:18):
Oh, wow, see, I didn't know that.
I knew you were a councilmanand you were a mayor.
Do you have family, marriedSingle?
I knew you were a councilmanand you were a mayor.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (04:25):
Do you have family Married Single
Alien, I'm married, I'm about 37years and we have three
children and I better get thisright Six grandchildren.
Christine Zito (04:39):
Oh wow, Do you like being a grandpa?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (04:42):
I do.
Someone said the other day, ifI knew how much fun it was, I
would have gone straight tobeing a grandpa.
Christine Zito (04:48):
That is great.
That is great.
So I had these little bio quiz.
I just want to do this so wecan get to know you a little bit
more.
Donna, what's your favoriteboard game?
Donna Choi (04:59):
Well, I really like to play all board games, but I
like Ticket to Ride a lot.
I love Monopoly and I love doesParcheesi count?
Because I love Parcheesi,parcheesi's oh and Yahtzee oh
and Yahtzee, as my mother wouldsay Hatsy Tatsy, give me a
Yahtzee oh, that is really great, mj, when you wake up in the
(05:22):
morning, what's your favoritesmell?
MJ Finstrom (05:25):
Oh, I was hoping I'd get the board game.
I thought that would be poker.
My favorite smell is nothing.
Christine Zito (05:32):
Is nothing Okay.
Well, let me ask you this whathas been your greatest mistake
in the kitchen?
MJ Finstrom (05:45):
Oh, there's a lot of questions.
I'm too creative in the kitchen, like I'll start, and then I'm
like, oh, because I'm creativeat work, I'll add things to it.
It's just epic failures all thetime.
But I am known for my air friedbundt cake.
Christine Zito (05:57):
Now, yeah, I don't I'm, I didn't know it,
yeah okay, well, okay, that'sanother show, that's another
show.
Yeah, all right, peter, do youhave any animals?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (06:06):
Yes .
Christine Zito (06:06):
You have a cat.
Are you a cat dog, a cat dog?
Are you a dog person or a catperson?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (06:10):
I'm a dog person, okay.
Christine Zito (06:12):
What two things would you like to ask your dog?
And he can answer you back.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (06:19):
Why are you moping around the house
so much?
Because we think we know welost.
We lost another dog and I think, I think, uh, I think he's
still looking for his buddy anduh, second question um, I, I
don't have a second question.
Christine Zito (06:39):
I'm sorry, just why he's moping around yeah all
right, let's get into why we'rehere, downtown Arcadia.
Now, how long has DowntownArcadia been Downtown Arcadia
and how did it go ahead and talkabout the history?
Donna Choi (06:52):
Well, this is Donna.
Downtown Arcadia was founded in2014, but I'd really like to
throw the baton over to Peter,because Peter was so
instrumental in getting thiscommunity benefit district
started, supported and alive.
So, Peter, why don't you takeit away?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (07:09):
All right.
Yes, I'm sure many peopleremember there was Rick Caruso
wanted to build the shops in SanNita and I was just recently
elected to the city council in2006.
Yay, so I was just recentlyelected to the city council in
2006, and went through multiplehearings as the liaison, the
(07:30):
planning commission.
I mean these hearings went to 2o'clock in the morning, then it
gets to council people.
But my one takeaway was is thatthe people want it.
The people wanted a downtown,they wanted the shops at Sydney,
they wanted the project to bebuilt and because they'd say the
kids had them all, uh, and theyneeded some place and they,
(07:51):
they kind of yearned for whatmonrovia had, you know, and um,
the city of arcadia had had aproject 2000 where it renovated
the, the streets.
Then it walked away and so Ihad the.
When I was on council, I kept onhearing this, the desire for
downtown, and it used to be akind of.
(08:11):
In 2010, I became mayor and Ikind of made it my, I kind of
made it the.
They used to have a littlething where they gave the mayor
a little bit of control, not alittle control, but they gave
him like an extra project, theygave him a little flexibility on
that and I made mine was thecreation of the downtown because
(08:32):
I felt the desire that they hadfor it.
And so at the time we hadredevelopment money, which
pretty much it was money thatwas taxed, money that was put
aside it would only be usedtoward redevelopment.
And I went to the council andthe council seemed like they had
(08:52):
all gone.
I served with some great men oncouncil and they all had gone
to the same hearings I had andrealized that there was this
desire for a downtown.
I had and realized that therewas this desire for a downtown,
and so I came with the idea tocreate a downtown and it was
(09:19):
felt pretty, it was pretty wellreceived because they all felt
they had all felt what I hadfelt, that there was this desire
for downtown.
And so we started allocatingsome money and in the midst of
it we lost redevelopment.
So and so redevelopment.
The governor brown took themoney back and there there was a
mindset that you couldn't doanything without redevelopment
(09:40):
money and that we had a paradigmshift.
Actually, the city brought areally great guy on, tim Schwer,
who had a different mindset,where we could go out and we
could actually draw a businessand we didn't have to depend on
government money.
But the thing is in the middleof this, as I said, we lost
redevelopment and, rough memory,$150,000 or something like that
(10:01):
.
We were going to front.
In fact I was down in Italy, alittle Italy driving through in
San Diego on Sunday and thecompany that we hired actually
managed a little Italy, and sohe helped us put it together.
But it was a little tenuousbecause in the process of losing
(10:22):
redevelopment, we had to takegeneral fund money to create it,
and I didn't know if thecouncil redevelopment money was
for redeveloping.
But general fund money is, asone of the council members used
to say, it was real money.
Donna Choi (10:38):
Yeah, it was real money?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (10:40):
I hope so, and you know they all I
say to much my uh greatappreciation.
Uh, they all, just they all uhbacked me in the motion of
creating the downtown Arcadia.
Uh, the goal was, though, wewere priming the pump, we were
creating it as a city and wewanted it to be actually led and
(11:01):
uh financed through thebusinesses that actually
encompass downtown Arcadia.
So I actually didn't know if itwas going to pass For sure.
City manager told me it was.
We were on vacation down inCabo and I flew back just for
the vote, and it's kind of funny.
You're going through securityand you don't have any baggage
and they go.
What's this guy's gig?
(11:23):
But came back.
Christine Zito (11:24):
I got a vote.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (11:24):
I got a vote it was a 5-0 vote and
we went out and we put it outto hire and created it.
So it was.
It was it has really stronggrassroots because we all felt
you know Arcadians wanted adowntown and it wasn't going to
be as simple as what Monroviawas and we found that out too.
Christine Zito (11:44):
Did you run into problems with comparisons?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (11:46):
We tried, you know, but downtown
Monrovia is downtown Monrovia.
Christine Zito (11:49):
Yeah.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (11:50):
And I think we found out that we
had to create something that wasmore Arcadiesque, yes, and so I
know there's a lot more in thestories, but that's kind of you
want to know the founding of it.
So we hired this consultant andhe went out and did polling to
figure out where the downtownassociation could be, where
(12:12):
there was favorites, where wecould get to vote for.
So that's why the downtownconfiguration is as it is.
Is is is because you know wewanted a positive vote, and so
right and so okay, now thinkingof the what are the boundaries?
Christine Zito (12:25):
so you have it from.
Okay, you're coming, let's,let's, because it's Huntington
and First Avenue, so let's,let's come like we're coming
down from the racetrack andHuntington and Sarah Clark so
once again, once again, I'mgetting Donald correct.
Former Mayor Peter Amu (12:39):
Remember , on my understanding, it starts
at Santa Anita, right.
Donna Choi (12:42):
Correct.
It's First Avenue Santa Anitato Second, To Second Huntington.
I'm sorry, Huntington fromSanta Anita to Second and First
Avenue from California where themiddle school is up to Santa
Clara just above the traintracks.
Okay, got it.
Christine Zito (12:59):
And the train station.
So that's all downtown Arcadia.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (13:02):
So often people ask me where is
downtown Arcadia?
It actually was the first inHuntington where the old City
Hall used to be Right yeah.
And to me they made a terriblemistake when they tore down that
great piece of architecture,but that's a different podcast.
Christine Zito (13:21):
Okay, yeah, we'll talk about that later,
peter.
Donna Choi (13:23):
You know.
One other thing I'd like tomention about the founding is
we're very lucky that we had ourfounding board.
Member is April Verlato.
We had a lot of really greatbuy-in from the Chamber of
Commerce and Matt Denny's andsome very important businesses
in town, so we were very luckythat people donated their time.
Christine Zito (13:42):
Yeah, now, I didn't know it was grassroots.
So I think that that reallyshows integrity and the people
that support.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (13:50):
It was.
There was a lot In fact, onceagain, as I said, when the city
primed the pump for it, but theyreally wanted it to be led by
the community.
And you know she mentioned MattMcSweeney who really stepped
out of his own comfort zone tokind of be the face of it.
And then, you know, april andsome other business people were
really important in itsnurturing and actually in its
(14:13):
growth, actually in its growthand so but yeah, this was not
something that the city hall oreven well, we've had a great
relationship with the chamberand to me we worked hand in hand
with them.
But to me it was more organicthan the city just dictating
something.
MJ Finstrom (14:33):
Right.
Well, I think it's alsoimportant to note that it's not
the city, it's a separate entity.
Although we's not the city,it's a separate entity, although
we partner with the city a loton different things.
A lot of times people thinksomething that downtown Arcadia
is doing is the city of Arcadia,and it's not.
It's this entity, it's thisprivate, it's this nonprofit
organization made up ofvolunteers and people who are,
(14:54):
you know, part of this businessdistrict.
It's a self-assessed taxdistrict and people don't
realize that it's not the city.
But you know, we love workingwith the city, but the things we
do aren't it's, you know, we.
Often the city gets credit forthat.
Christine Zito (15:10):
Yeah, you know, and that's a good thing, a good
note right there for people toknow that it's not downtown
Arcadia, is not the city of art.
I mean working the city,Arcadia government.
Donna Choi (15:23):
That's absolutely correct.
And now you get to see whywe're so lucky to have MJ
Finstrom.
Yeah, she spells it out just asit is, so that everybody knows
the facts.
And and she's right about, theassessment is on the property.
So a lot of times, people,people, I'm just a block outside
the district, well, you're notpaying into the assessment, but
(15:44):
we want everyone to come playwith us, so everyone is invited.
I hope you all heard that yeah,I think that's great.
Christine Zito (15:50):
Well, let's talk about how.
What makes downtown arcadia sofun?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (15:56):
Can I get a little history of that
too, since uh you, as a lifelongArcadian and born, you know I
was, uh, uh, try to remember theArcadia Methodist hospital.
So I lived there a while, uh youknow, we, we tried, you know,
and we, we tried running it, weuh, as you know, as uh, trying
to get it to go and it was.
(16:16):
It was kind of it's kind ofrough, you know, if Matt's
running this business or April'sdoing her thing and you need
something.
So we were, I think, as adowntown association, we're
really blessed when, when, uh,we stumbled across Donna, who,
donna, who brings such a great,uh, vitality and life, and then,
(16:37):
at the same time, mj came onboard and she brings this
creativity, you know, when youknow so many times, like when
the pandemic hit us and I'mgoing, oh man, we can't have
fireworks, can't do that and youknow, she find, they find a way
to shift gears and make youknow, some people say, make, you
know, lemonade out of sourlemons.
(16:57):
But you know, some people say,make you know, lemonade out of
sour lemons.
But you know, they've done areally good job.
They bring a life and avitality.
A great team, the dynamic duo,I'd say, of the downtown Arcadia
.
Christine Zito (17:07):
I know.
And so these events, who?
Okay?
So, yeah, mj, like I said,she's rocks.
Okay.
So with the events, yes, sherocks, okay.
So with the events, yes, thereis.
You have, well, the ones that I, when I first started getting
involved with Downtown Arcadia,you had the Patriotic Festival,
correct, I love the PatrioticFestival.
Then you have the Halloween wedo Halloween Haunting, halloween
(17:29):
Haunting.
And then you have the Holiday,holiday Fair, holiday Fair.
And then, just recently, thelast couple of years, is the
Lunar Yep.
Donna Choi (17:37):
Lunar New Year.
Christine Zito (17:38):
Festival, lunar New Year Festival.
Who thinks of these things?
Donna Choi (17:42):
Well, you know, the Patriotic Festival and fireworks
was Peter's dream and Iremember when we first met, it
was the Patriotic Festival, nofireworks, and he and I both
shared our love for fireworksand patriotism and the country,
and it was a really cool meetingof the minds and we worked
(18:04):
really hard to get the fireworksand so we that's how that came
about.
Peter is the chair of thePatriotic Festival.
He's a real patriot.
So this was his dream to seethat happen.
And then this year we had somehorrible tragedies strike the
region and we decided now is notthe time for fireworks, let's
do something new, exciting, thatall of the community can enjoy.
(18:27):
So we brought the first everdrone show to downtown Arcadia.
I said it as those past tense.
So you have the opportunity tosee it on June 28th.
Christine Zito (18:38):
On June 28th.
Yeah, and MJ, you had a greatyou know wrench in that, didn't
you?
And getting the drones here.
MJ Finstrom (18:48):
Not, it really wasn't me.
Donna was the one who found thedrone producer.
She's like she hustles when itcomes to those kinds of things,
and but we all were, you know,we all kind of decided that, you
know, I mean this is a bigshift and we are known for
pivoting.
I don't know this.
I've been here for 10 years.
I didn't realize that untilDonna told me that last night.
And probably every event.
(19:09):
We have some sort of wrench thatgets thrown at us and we have
to pivot and this was one ofthose wrenches, but we're really
embracing it because it'sreally about honoring which.
Peter is really wellestablished with technology and,
if anybody knows me, I'm a technerd and I love that kind of
stuff and Donna and I haveuncovered like all these things
(19:31):
that you can do with a drone andwe started to think, okay, how
can we make this really special?
So we invited the community toshare their ideas for what kind
of drone displays, and so we'vehad so many people submit ideas
and you'll see them come to lifeon June 28th.
It's going to be really fun andthe technology behind the
drones is fascinating andactually you can get a VIP
(19:53):
ticket if you really want to seethe drones firsthand.
At First Avenue Middle Schoolthey're raising money.
Everybody's leveraging ourevents.
The cool thing is that we bringcommunity together so people
can get to know each other, thecommunity can get to know all
the community players.
It's really one of the onlyplaces where you can reach that
many people in Arcadia andpeople are lined up.
Donna has them lined up to geta booth.
(20:14):
I mean, it's been so fun onthat level, you know, it's just
great.
Christine Zito (20:19):
How many people actually attend just the
Patriotic Festival?
Donna Choi (20:23):
Well, we have the ability to do cell phone pings
and know how many people withcell phones are there.
Last year it was 17 000 cellphones.
That does not count thechildren, that does not count
the over 20, can we safely sayover 20 000.
Oh, easy, easy yeah, and, andpeople also fill up all of the
restaurants in downtown Arcadiaand they'll go hang out even at
(20:46):
County Park if they want to havea different view.
It's a really great sense ofcommunity and it's free.
MJ Finstrom (20:54):
Did we mention that ?
Oh my God, wait a minute.
Donna Choi (20:56):
What Free, free, free, all of our events are free
and I want to make sure we didsay it's 5 to 9.30 on Saturday,
june 28th and it's on FirstAvenue between Huntington and
Diamond Now what are some of thegiveaways you're giving away?
Mj.
What do we have?
MJ Finstrom (21:15):
Well, thank you to the fabulous Stephen Rhee.
He always brings the bestprizes to our giveaways.
Christine Zito (21:22):
Okay, don't tell me, wait a minute.
Stephen Rhee's giving awayDodger tickets.
He is, he's giving away Dodgertickets.
MJ Finstrom (21:28):
They are going to be behind home plate on the 4th
of July.
Yes, we also have one nightstay at the new Hilton when it
opens up.
It'll be opening up, I think,around October time frame, so
two people are going to win aone night stay for that.
We also have a bike from reithat downtown arcadia has bought
(21:49):
and every year we give away by.
Oh my god, that's the fun partthat's pure joy.
Christine Zito (21:53):
Last year we had a kid always doing
participating in we're buyingthe bike, yeah, yeah so it's
sponsored by downtown arcadia.
MJ Finstrom (22:00):
But these kids that and these people that win the
bike, they go.
I mean that's where the purejoy is when we're down.
I mean that makes all of thishard work worth it to see a kid
who just won a new bike and thisis the biggest one.
You might have to look it up.
Some of you, some other people,might have to look this up, but
black, pink tickets it's a verypopular.
(22:21):
I think they're worth about$3,000.
Ask your kids If you have kidsin high school.
They will know who Blackpink is.
Go ahead.
Donna Explain this.
Donna Choi (22:30):
Blackpink is a Korean all-girl band and they
are so amazing.
If you saw the White Lotus,lisa is on there, she played
Mookie, and we also have Rosé isin there.
They are just awesome.
They're.
The whole spectacle iswonderful.
(22:50):
So thank you, stephen ree, forthat.
Oh, stephen ree is giving awaythe tickets.
Yes, onto the dodger tickets andthe black paint and uh, mj is
right, the new hilton arcadiathat is right across from san
anita Anita Track is going to beopen in October, soft open in
August, so you'll all get thechance to go on the rooftop bar
(23:11):
to see the San.
Gabriel Mountains with a glassof wine in your hand.
That's right.
I can't wait for that.
Christine Zito (23:16):
So, focusing on the Patriotic Festival, it's
going to be from Diamond toHuntington, but there's going to
be food carts, food trucks,booths, and I do want to say, if
you want to meet me, I'll beserving wine.
I pour wine every year at thePatriotic Festival and also at
(23:39):
the holiday and Lunar I pourwine.
I'm Italian, so I got to pourwine.
Donna Choi (23:44):
Always for the first hour it seems.
I don't know what happens toyou after that first hour.
Christine Zito (23:49):
Christine zito, I would say two hours, yeah,
about two and a half times.
MJ Finstrom (23:53):
After that, I take my wine and you'll, yeah, I go
up and down, yeah, so the goodthing to note is the street
closes at 12 o'clock, okay, sopeople trying to get traffic,
and then we open it with someremarks from officials, and then
we have a mini parade, miniparade.
This is not the Rose Bowlparade, this is a mini parade.
We call it a promenade.
Donna Choi (24:12):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
MJ Finstrom (24:13):
A tiny little mini parade but it's very fun and a
lot of community groups marchdown and we have the pep band
from Arcadia High School.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (24:19):
We have Purdy Purdy, that's right.
MJ Finstrom (24:21):
Yeah, we have people passing out flags.
It's very fun, and then at 7o'clock is our big giveaway.
So make sure, if you want thosetickets, you've got to go to
ArcadiaDTcom to sign up to getthe tickets.
What was that?
Christine Zito (24:36):
ArcadiaDTcom, donna, and you can find all the
information atDowntownArcadiaorg and also at
ArcadiaFYIcom.
MJ Finstrom (24:43):
I'll make sure to put that all on there.
Our big giveaway is at 7o'clock.
You have to be present.
Christine Zito (24:49):
And the drone fireworks will start 9 o'clock,
9 o'clock 9 pm, I mean there isso much traffic when the
fireworks happen in downtownArcadia, I mean it is like
people are at the park.
I mean you can't move downFirst Avenue.
It's just a beautiful thing tosee the community, it's gonna be
awesome, tradition and uh andtechnology coming together well,
(25:12):
thank you for making historytoday, being the first guest to
come on to arcadia.
Fyi and next are the nextpodcast.
Oh, I do want to say this.
This is a dream come true forme.
My business is in downtownArcadia and I, I just can't.
I can't thank God enough forthat and thank you for the
(25:32):
blessings in that.
But the next, the next podcast,we're going to have someone
that is also in downtown Arcadia.
She owns a photography business, she wrote a book and we're
going to be talking about herbook and her car, because she
drives race cars.
I think she does drifting, sheused to do drifting, and that's
(25:53):
all I'm going to say.
So I want to say thank you MJ,thank you, thank you Donna,
thank you Peter, for being myguest in downtown Arcadia.
Don't forget Patriotic Festival, june 28th that's a Saturday
Starts at 5 o'clock.
Donna Choi (26:08):
5 o'clock.
And Christine, before we leave,I want to thank you for having
us on here, you, theaward-winning commercial
producer.
And what was that big award yougot?
Telly the Telly.
Christine Zito (26:21):
That's a huge deal.
It is a.
I want it for a televisioncommercial and an online video
for Arcadia Chamber and a tellyis like an Oscar.
Donna Choi (26:32):
You're very accomplished and well served.
Thank you All, right, thank you.
Christine Zito (26:38):
Thank you, guys For your information.
When you go to Arcadia FYI, Iwant to remind you to let me
know what you would like to hearon the show and I will work on
it to make sure that your voicesare heard in our community,
especially here in the city ofArcadia.
I want to thank again oursponsors, longo Toyota.
(26:59):
They are a great dealership andif you've never been to Longo
Toyota, I highly recommend thatyou go, because it's more than
just checking out cars.
They have this huge acreagethat looks like a mall with all
kinds of things inside, soyou've got to go check that out.
And to Star 7 Financial,francine Chu.
You're great people and untilnext time, be blessed and make
(27:24):
it a great day.
Hello and welcome to Arcadia FYI.
My name is Christine Zito and Iam the host of this podcast
show.
What is Arcadia FYI?
Well, thanks for asking.
It's going to be a show focusedon community here in the city
of Arcadia.
The podcast will feature somereally great interviews that I'm
(00:22):
looking to inform, enlightenand, yes, even entertain.
And, yes, we will address someof the concerns that us
residents have regarding thelocal issues here in the city of
Arcadia.
Furthermore, I will provideinformation about activities
outside our community that you,your family and your friends can
participate or enjoy.
(00:42):
You can hear Arcadia FYI atarcadiafyicom or on your
favorite podcast channel likeYouTube, apple Podcasts, spotify
, amazon Podcasts andiHeartRadio For your information
.
When you go to arcadiafyicom,you can tell me what you would
(01:03):
like to hear on this show,because our voices count and I
want your voice to count.
So let me know what you wouldlike to hear by just filling out
the form.
It comes straight to me and Iwill work on it.
I would also like to thank oursponsors Longo Toyota Thank you
so much for being a part of thisshow and Star 7 Financial, with
(01:27):
the founder, francine Chu.
I wouldn't be able to do thiswithout you, so thank you very
much.
All right, let's get this partystarted.
For your information, this isthe first episode and it's about
something very dear to my heart.
Very dear to my heart it'sdowntown Arcadia.
In studio, we have the moversand shakers that make it all
(01:48):
happen.
And well, they just really putdowntown Arcadia on the map,
that's for sure, and a lot ofyou probably already know about
downtown Arcadia, but I'm hopingthat today you might learn just
a little bit something new,something that maybe you didn't
know.
So in studio, we have thewonderful and always laughing
(02:10):
Donna Choi, hello.
And the notable and, if I cansay, legendary, Mj Finstrom,
hello.
And never the least and he hasa bigger title former mayor
Peter Amundsen.
How you doing, sir Fine?
Former Mayor Peter Amunds (02:23):
Thank you for having me.
Christine Zito (02:24):
Oh, no problem.
Okay, I'm going to ask you guysa few questions.
I'm going to start with Donna.
Donna, okay, all right, here wego.
Where were you born and raised?
Very close to here.
Donna Choi (02:34):
West Covina, california.
Christine Zito (02:37):
Really, you were born in West Covina.
Donna Choi (02:38):
I was born in West Covina but I grew up all over
California.
My dad was in the fire service,so I lived all over and now I
reside in Los Angeles County andI'm happy to be here in Arcadia
.
Christine Zito (02:49):
Oh, that's good.
Do you have family?
Are you married?
Donna Choi (02:52):
Single Alien oh, I have a, really awesome husband,
five chickens, a really greatferal cat that's no longer feral
and we're working on the aliens.
I may be one, but we'll findout later.
Christine Zito (03:07):
Okay, all right, mj Filmstrom.
So what is your business?
MJ Finstrom (03:12):
my business is called hot dogs and we help
people get smarter and morecreative with their marketing
that's.
Christine Zito (03:18):
You know what I have to say.
I work with MJ and you are thebest when it comes to social
media marketing.
MJ Finstrom (03:23):
I, I tell you that, thank you.
Christine Zito (03:24):
And email marketing.
So do you have family, marriedchildren?
MJ Finstrom (03:28):
I have one daughter .
She goes to University ofHawaii, and I have a husband and
I have a dog and I live inArcadia.
I've worked here in Arcadia formany, many years.
Your daughter goes to.
Christine Zito (03:36):
University of Hawaii.
Oh bummer Aloha, oh my goshHawaii Okay and also in studio.
Come right up to thatmicrophone there, Peter.
Peter Amundsen, how are youdoing?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (03:50):
Now , where's your business at?
I know you do.
It's in the city of industry.
Christine Zito (03:52):
And what is it that you do?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (03:53):
I have Minuteman Transport.
We are a refrigerated warehouseand transportation company and
what we say is we feed thefamilies of the Pacific
Southwest.
And during the pandemic wewould find out if all the things
going on, we were the mostessential, pretty much most
essential because we fed thefamilies as they were hunkered
down.
We were on the streets makingit happen.
Christine Zito (04:15):
So you have trucks.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (04:17):
And a refrigerated warehouse.
Christine Zito (04:18):
Oh, wow, see, I didn't know that.
I knew you were a councilmanand you were a mayor.
Do you have family, marriedSingle?
I knew you were a councilmanand you were a mayor.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (04:25):
Do you have family Married Single
Alien, I'm married, I'm about 37years and we have three
children and I better get thisright Six grandchildren.
Christine Zito (04:39):
Oh wow, Do you like being a grandpa?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (04:42):
I do.
Someone said the other day, ifI knew how much fun it was, I
would have gone straight tobeing a grandpa.
Christine Zito (04:48):
That is great.
That is great.
So I had these little bio quiz.
I just want to do this so wecan get to know you a little bit
more.
Donna, what's your favoriteboard game?
Donna Choi (04:59):
Well, I really like to play all board games, but I
like Ticket to Ride a lot.
I love Monopoly and I love doesParcheesi count?
Because I love Parcheesi,parcheesi's oh and Yahtzee oh
and Yahtzee, as my mother wouldsay Hatsy Tatsy, give me a
Yahtzee oh, that is really great, mj, when you wake up in the
(05:22):
morning, what's your favoritesmell?
MJ Finstrom (05:25):
Oh, I was hoping I'd get the board game.
I thought that would be poker.
My favorite smell is nothing.
Christine Zito (05:32):
Is nothing Okay.
Well, let me ask you this whathas been your greatest mistake
in the kitchen?
MJ Finstrom (05:45):
Oh, there's a lot of questions.
I'm too creative in the kitchen, like I'll start, and then I'm
like, oh, because I'm creativeat work, I'll add things to it.
It's just epic failures all thetime.
But I am known for my air friedbundt cake.
Christine Zito (05:57):
Now, yeah, I don't I'm, I didn't know it,
yeah okay, well, okay, that'sanother show, that's another
show.
Yeah, all right, peter, do youhave any animals?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (06:06):
Yes .
Christine Zito (06:06):
You have a cat.
Are you a cat dog, a cat dog?
Are you a dog person or a catperson?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (06:10):
I'm a dog person, okay.
Christine Zito (06:12):
What two things would you like to ask your dog?
And he can answer you back.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (06:19):
Why are you moping around the house
so much?
Because we think we know welost.
We lost another dog and I think, I think, uh, I think he's
still looking for his buddy anduh, second question um, I, I
don't have a second question.
Christine Zito (06:39):
I'm sorry, just why he's moping around yeah all
right, let's get into why we'rehere, downtown Arcadia.
Now, how long has DowntownArcadia been Downtown Arcadia
and how did it go ahead and talkabout the history?
Donna Choi (06:52):
Well, this is Donna.
Downtown Arcadia was founded in2014, but I'd really like to
throw the baton over to Peter,because Peter was so
instrumental in getting thiscommunity benefit district
started, supported and alive.
So, Peter, why don't you takeit away?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (07:09):
All right.
Yes, I'm sure many peopleremember there was Rick Caruso
wanted to build the shops in SanNita and I was just recently
elected to the city council in2006.
Yay, so I was just recentlyelected to the city council in
2006, and went through multiplehearings as the liaison, the
(07:30):
planning commission.
I mean these hearings went to 2o'clock in the morning, then it
gets to council people.
But my one takeaway was is thatthe people want it.
The people wanted a downtown,they wanted the shops at Sydney,
they wanted the project to bebuilt and because they'd say the
kids had them all, uh, and theyneeded some place and they,
(07:51):
they kind of yearned for whatmonrovia had, you know, and um,
the city of arcadia had had aproject 2000 where it renovated
the, the streets.
Then it walked away and so Ihad the.
When I was on council, I kept onhearing this, the desire for
downtown, and it used to be akind of.
(08:11):
In 2010, I became mayor and Ikind of made it my, I kind of
made it the.
They used to have a littlething where they gave the mayor
a little bit of control, not alittle control, but they gave
him like an extra project, theygave him a little flexibility on
that and I made mine was thecreation of the downtown because
(08:32):
I felt the desire that they hadfor it.
And so at the time we hadredevelopment money, which
pretty much it was money thatwas taxed, money that was put
aside it would only be usedtoward redevelopment.
And I went to the council andthe council seemed like they had
(08:52):
all gone.
I served with some great men oncouncil and they all had gone
to the same hearings I had andrealized that there was this
desire for a downtown.
I had and realized that therewas this desire for a downtown,
and so I came with the idea tocreate a downtown and it was
(09:19):
felt pretty, it was pretty wellreceived because they all felt
they had all felt what I hadfelt, that there was this desire
for downtown.
And so we started allocatingsome money and in the midst of
it we lost redevelopment.
So and so redevelopment.
The governor brown took themoney back and there there was a
mindset that you couldn't doanything without redevelopment
(09:40):
money and that we had a paradigmshift.
Actually, the city brought areally great guy on, tim Schwer,
who had a different mindset,where we could go out and we
could actually draw a businessand we didn't have to depend on
government money.
But the thing is in the middleof this, as I said, we lost
redevelopment and, rough memory,$150,000 or something like that
(10:01):
.
We were going to front.
In fact I was down in Italy, alittle Italy driving through in
San Diego on Sunday and thecompany that we hired actually
managed a little Italy, and sohe helped us put it together.
But it was a little tenuousbecause in the process of losing
(10:22):
redevelopment, we had to takegeneral fund money to create it,
and I didn't know if thecouncil redevelopment money was
for redeveloping.
But general fund money is, asone of the council members used
to say, it was real money.
Donna Choi (10:38):
Yeah, it was real money?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (10:40):
I hope so, and you know they all I
say to much my uh greatappreciation.
Uh, they all, just they all uhbacked me in the motion of
creating the downtown Arcadia.
Uh, the goal was, though, wewere priming the pump, we were
creating it as a city and wewanted it to be actually led and
(11:01):
uh financed through thebusinesses that actually
encompass downtown Arcadia.
So I actually didn't know if itwas going to pass For sure.
City manager told me it was.
We were on vacation down inCabo and I flew back just for
the vote, and it's kind of funny.
You're going through securityand you don't have any baggage
and they go.
What's this guy's gig?
(11:23):
But came back.
Christine Zito (11:24):
I got a vote.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (11:24):
I got a vote it was a 5-0 vote and
we went out and we put it outto hire and created it.
So it was.
It was it has really stronggrassroots because we all felt
you know Arcadians wanted adowntown and it wasn't going to
be as simple as what Monroviawas and we found that out too.
Christine Zito (11:44):
Did you run into problems with comparisons?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (11:46):
We tried, you know, but downtown
Monrovia is downtown Monrovia.
Christine Zito (11:49):
Yeah.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (11:50):
And I think we found out that we
had to create something that wasmore Arcadiesque, yes, and so I
know there's a lot more in thestories, but that's kind of you
want to know the founding of it.
So we hired this consultant andhe went out and did polling to
figure out where the downtownassociation could be, where
(12:12):
there was favorites, where wecould get to vote for.
So that's why the downtownconfiguration is as it is.
Is is is because you know wewanted a positive vote, and so
right and so okay, now thinkingof the what are the boundaries?
Christine Zito (12:25):
so you have it from.
Okay, you're coming, let's,let's, because it's Huntington
and First Avenue, so let's,let's come like we're coming
down from the racetrack andHuntington and Sarah Clark so
once again, once again, I'mgetting Donald correct.
Former Mayor Peter Amu (12:39):
Remember , on my understanding, it starts
at Santa Anita, right.
Donna Choi (12:42):
Correct.
It's First Avenue Santa Anitato Second, To Second Huntington.
I'm sorry, Huntington fromSanta Anita to Second and First
Avenue from California where themiddle school is up to Santa
Clara just above the traintracks.
Okay, got it.
Christine Zito (12:59):
And the train station.
So that's all downtown Arcadia.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (13:02):
So often people ask me where is
downtown Arcadia?
It actually was the first inHuntington where the old City
Hall used to be Right yeah.
And to me they made a terriblemistake when they tore down that
great piece of architecture,but that's a different podcast.
Christine Zito (13:21):
Okay, yeah, we'll talk about that later,
peter.
Donna Choi (13:23):
You know.
One other thing I'd like tomention about the founding is
we're very lucky that we had ourfounding board.
Member is April Verlato.
We had a lot of really greatbuy-in from the Chamber of
Commerce and Matt Denny's andsome very important businesses
in town, so we were very luckythat people donated their time.
Christine Zito (13:42):
Yeah, now, I didn't know it was grassroots.
So I think that that reallyshows integrity and the people
that support.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (13:50):
It was.
There was a lot In fact, onceagain, as I said, when the city
primed the pump for it, but theyreally wanted it to be led by
the community.
And you know she mentioned MattMcSweeney who really stepped
out of his own comfort zone tokind of be the face of it.
And then, you know, april andsome other business people were
really important in itsnurturing and actually in its
(14:13):
growth, actually in its growthand so but yeah, this was not
something that the city hall oreven well, we've had a great
relationship with the chamberand to me we worked hand in hand
with them.
But to me it was more organicthan the city just dictating
something.
MJ Finstrom (14:33):
Right.
Well, I think it's alsoimportant to note that it's not
the city, it's a separate entity.
Although we's not the city,it's a separate entity, although
we partner with the city a loton different things.
A lot of times people thinksomething that downtown Arcadia
is doing is the city of Arcadia,and it's not.
It's this entity, it's thisprivate, it's this nonprofit
organization made up ofvolunteers and people who are,
(14:54):
you know, part of this businessdistrict.
It's a self-assessed taxdistrict and people don't
realize that it's not the city.
But you know, we love workingwith the city, but the things we
do aren't it's, you know, we.
Often the city gets credit forthat.
Christine Zito (15:10):
Yeah, you know, and that's a good thing, a good
note right there for people toknow that it's not downtown
Arcadia, is not the city of art.
I mean working the city,Arcadia government.
Donna Choi (15:23):
That's absolutely correct.
And now you get to see whywe're so lucky to have MJ
Finstrom.
Yeah, she spells it out just asit is, so that everybody knows
the facts.
And and she's right about, theassessment is on the property.
So a lot of times, people,people, I'm just a block outside
the district, well, you're notpaying into the assessment, but
(15:44):
we want everyone to come playwith us, so everyone is invited.
I hope you all heard that yeah,I think that's great.
Christine Zito (15:50):
Well, let's talk about how.
What makes downtown arcadia sofun?
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (15:56):
Can I get a little history of that
too, since uh you, as a lifelongArcadian and born, you know I
was, uh, uh, try to remember theArcadia Methodist hospital.
So I lived there a while, uh youknow, we, we tried, you know,
and we, we tried running it, weuh, as you know, as uh, trying
to get it to go and it was.
(16:16):
It was kind of it's kind ofrough, you know, if Matt's
running this business or April'sdoing her thing and you need
something.
So we were, I think, as adowntown association, we're
really blessed when, when, uh,we stumbled across Donna, who,
donna, who brings such a great,uh, vitality and life, and then,
(16:37):
at the same time, mj came onboard and she brings this
creativity, you know, when youknow so many times, like when
the pandemic hit us and I'mgoing, oh man, we can't have
fireworks, can't do that and youknow, she find, they find a way
to shift gears and make youknow, some people say, make, you
know, lemonade out of sourlemons.
(16:57):
But you know, some people say,make you know, lemonade out of
sour lemons.
But you know, they've done areally good job.
They bring a life and avitality.
A great team, the dynamic duo,I'd say, of the downtown Arcadia
.
Christine Zito (17:07):
I know.
And so these events, who?
Okay?
So, yeah, mj, like I said,she's rocks.
Okay.
So with the events, yes, sherocks, okay.
So with the events, yes, thereis.
You have, well, the ones that I, when I first started getting
involved with Downtown Arcadia,you had the Patriotic Festival,
correct, I love the PatrioticFestival.
Then you have the Halloween wedo Halloween Haunting, halloween
(17:29):
Haunting.
And then you have the Holiday,holiday Fair, holiday Fair.
And then, just recently, thelast couple of years, is the
Lunar Yep.
Donna Choi (17:37):
Lunar New Year.
Christine Zito (17:38):
Festival, lunar New Year Festival.
Who thinks of these things?
Donna Choi (17:42):
Well, you know, the Patriotic Festival and fireworks
was Peter's dream and Iremember when we first met, it
was the Patriotic Festival, nofireworks, and he and I both
shared our love for fireworksand patriotism and the country,
and it was a really cool meetingof the minds and we worked
(18:04):
really hard to get the fireworksand so we that's how that came
about.
Peter is the chair of thePatriotic Festival.
He's a real patriot.
So this was his dream to seethat happen.
And then this year we had somehorrible tragedies strike the
region and we decided now is notthe time for fireworks, let's
do something new, exciting, thatall of the community can enjoy.
(18:27):
So we brought the first everdrone show to downtown Arcadia.
I said it as those past tense.
So you have the opportunity tosee it on June 28th.
Christine Zito (18:38):
On June 28th.
Yeah, and MJ, you had a greatyou know wrench in that, didn't
you?
And getting the drones here.
MJ Finstrom (18:48):
Not, it really wasn't me.
Donna was the one who found thedrone producer.
She's like she hustles when itcomes to those kinds of things,
and but we all were, you know,we all kind of decided that, you
know, I mean this is a bigshift and we are known for
pivoting.
I don't know this.
I've been here for 10 years.
I didn't realize that untilDonna told me that last night.
And probably every event.
(19:09):
We have some sort of wrench thatgets thrown at us and we have
to pivot and this was one ofthose wrenches, but we're really
embracing it because it'sreally about honoring which.
Peter is really wellestablished with technology and,
if anybody knows me, I'm a technerd and I love that kind of
stuff and Donna and I haveuncovered like all these things
(19:31):
that you can do with a drone andwe started to think, okay, how
can we make this really special?
So we invited the community toshare their ideas for what kind
of drone displays, and so we'vehad so many people submit ideas
and you'll see them come to lifeon June 28th.
It's going to be really fun andthe technology behind the
drones is fascinating andactually you can get a VIP
(19:53):
ticket if you really want to seethe drones firsthand.
At First Avenue Middle Schoolthey're raising money.
Everybody's leveraging ourevents.
The cool thing is that we bringcommunity together so people
can get to know each other, thecommunity can get to know all
the community players.
It's really one of the onlyplaces where you can reach that
many people in Arcadia andpeople are lined up.
Donna has them lined up to geta booth.
(20:14):
I mean, it's been so fun onthat level, you know, it's just
great.
Christine Zito (20:19):
How many people actually attend just the
Patriotic Festival?
Donna Choi (20:23):
Well, we have the ability to do cell phone pings
and know how many people withcell phones are there.
Last year it was 17 000 cellphones.
That does not count thechildren, that does not count
the over 20, can we safely sayover 20 000.
Oh, easy, easy yeah, and, andpeople also fill up all of the
restaurants in downtown Arcadiaand they'll go hang out even at
(20:46):
County Park if they want to havea different view.
It's a really great sense ofcommunity and it's free.
MJ Finstrom (20:54):
Did we mention that ?
Oh my God, wait a minute.
Donna Choi (20:56):
What Free, free, free, all of our events are free
and I want to make sure we didsay it's 5 to 9.30 on Saturday,
june 28th and it's on FirstAvenue between Huntington and
Diamond Now what are some of thegiveaways you're giving away?
Mj.
What do we have?
MJ Finstrom (21:15):
Well, thank you to the fabulous Stephen Rhee.
He always brings the bestprizes to our giveaways.
Christine Zito (21:22):
Okay, don't tell me, wait a minute.
Stephen Rhee's giving awayDodger tickets.
He is, he's giving away Dodgertickets.
MJ Finstrom (21:28):
They are going to be behind home plate on the 4th
of July.
Yes, we also have one nightstay at the new Hilton when it
opens up.
It'll be opening up, I think,around October time frame, so
two people are going to win aone night stay for that.
We also have a bike from reithat downtown arcadia has bought
(21:49):
and every year we give away by.
Oh my god, that's the fun partthat's pure joy.
Christine Zito (21:53):
Last year we had a kid always doing
participating in we're buyingthe bike, yeah, yeah so it's
sponsored by downtown arcadia.
MJ Finstrom (22:00):
But these kids that and these people that win the
bike, they go.
I mean that's where the purejoy is when we're down.
I mean that makes all of thishard work worth it to see a kid
who just won a new bike and thisis the biggest one.
You might have to look it up.
Some of you, some other people,might have to look this up, but
black, pink tickets it's a verypopular.
(22:21):
I think they're worth about$3,000.
Ask your kids If you have kidsin high school.
They will know who Blackpink is.
Go ahead.
Donna Explain this.
Donna Choi (22:30):
Blackpink is a Korean all-girl band and they
are so amazing.
If you saw the White Lotus,lisa is on there, she played
Mookie, and we also have Rosé isin there.
They are just awesome.
They're.
The whole spectacle iswonderful.
(22:50):
So thank you, stephen ree, forthat.
Oh, stephen ree is giving awaythe tickets.
Yes, onto the dodger tickets andthe black paint and uh, mj is
right, the new hilton arcadiathat is right across from san
anita Anita Track is going to beopen in October, soft open in
August, so you'll all get thechance to go on the rooftop bar
(23:11):
to see the San.
Gabriel Mountains with a glassof wine in your hand.
That's right.
I can't wait for that.
Christine Zito (23:16):
So, focusing on the Patriotic Festival, it's
going to be from Diamond toHuntington, but there's going to
be food carts, food trucks,booths, and I do want to say, if
you want to meet me, I'll beserving wine.
I pour wine every year at thePatriotic Festival and also at
(23:39):
the holiday and Lunar I pourwine.
I'm Italian, so I got to pourwine.
Donna Choi (23:44):
Always for the first hour it seems.
I don't know what happens toyou after that first hour.
Christine Zito (23:49):
Christine zito, I would say two hours, yeah,
about two and a half times.
MJ Finstrom (23:53):
After that, I take my wine and you'll, yeah, I go
up and down, yeah, so the goodthing to note is the street
closes at 12 o'clock, okay, sopeople trying to get traffic,
and then we open it with someremarks from officials, and then
we have a mini parade, miniparade.
This is not the Rose Bowlparade, this is a mini parade.
We call it a promenade.
Donna Choi (24:12):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
MJ Finstrom (24:13):
A tiny little mini parade but it's very fun and a
lot of community groups marchdown and we have the pep band
from Arcadia High School.
Former Mayor Peter Amundson (24:19):
We have Purdy Purdy, that's right.
MJ Finstrom (24:21):
Yeah, we have people passing out flags.
It's very fun, and then at 7o'clock is our big giveaway.
So make sure, if you want thosetickets, you've got to go to
ArcadiaDTcom to sign up to getthe tickets.
What was that?
Christine Zito (24:36):
ArcadiaDTcom, donna, and you can find all the
information atDowntownArcadiaorg and also at
ArcadiaFYIcom.
MJ Finstrom (24:43):
I'll make sure to put that all on there.
Our big giveaway is at 7o'clock.
You have to be present.
Christine Zito (24:49):
And the drone fireworks will start 9 o'clock,
9 o'clock 9 pm, I mean there isso much traffic when the
fireworks happen in downtownArcadia, I mean it is like
people are at the park.
I mean you can't move downFirst Avenue.
It's just a beautiful thing tosee the community, it's gonna be
awesome, tradition and uh andtechnology coming together well,
(25:12):
thank you for making historytoday, being the first guest to
come on to arcadia.
Fyi and next are the nextpodcast.
Oh, I do want to say this.
This is a dream come true forme.
My business is in downtownArcadia and I, I just can't.
I can't thank God enough forthat and thank you for the
(25:32):
blessings in that.
But the next, the next podcast,we're going to have someone
that is also in downtown Arcadia.
She owns a photography business, she wrote a book and we're
going to be talking about herbook and her car, because she
drives race cars.
I think she does drifting, sheused to do drifting, and that's
(25:53):
all I'm going to say.
So I want to say thank you MJ,thank you, thank you Donna,
thank you Peter, for being myguest in downtown Arcadia.
Don't forget Patriotic Festival, june 28th that's a Saturday
Starts at 5 o'clock.
Donna Choi (26:08):
5 o'clock.
And Christine, before we leave,I want to thank you for having
us on here, you, theaward-winning commercial
producer.
And what was that big award yougot?
Telly the Telly.
Christine Zito (26:21):
That's a huge deal.
It is a.
I want it for a televisioncommercial and an online video
for Arcadia Chamber and a tellyis like an Oscar.
Donna Choi (26:32):
You're very accomplished and well served.
Thank you All, right, thank you.
Christine Zito (26:38):
Thank you, guys For your information.
When you go to Arcadia FYI, Iwant to remind you to let me
know what you would like to hearon the show and I will work on
it to make sure that your voicesare heard in our community,
especially here in the city ofArcadia.
I want to thank again oursponsors, longo Toyota.
(26:59):
They are a great dealership andif you've never been to Longo
Toyota, I highly recommend thatyou go, because it's more than
just checking out cars.
They have this huge acreagethat looks like a mall with all
kinds of things inside, soyou've got to go check that out.
And to Star 7 Financial,francine Chu.
You're great people and untilnext time, be blessed and make
(27:24):
it a great day.
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