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Football: Monrovia over St. Francis

Monrovia over St. Francis 17-13. http://goo.gl/3CKTe

- Brad Haugaard

Unhappy Monrovia School Board Member | Hot Days at Hand | Old Town Music

~ Monrovia school board member Alex Zucco is apparently not happy with a fellow board member. She writes on Facebook: "Disappointed, but not surprised, one Board member met privately with small group of unhappy parents to 'try' to work backroom deal...undermining MHS staff, administration and our Board."

~ Temperatures in Monrovia expected to be up to 102 by Monday. http://goo.gl/wcdgX

~ Video: Music on the street in Old Town Monrovia. http://goo.gl/WM0po

- Brad Haugaard

Governor Brown Signs Portantino Long-Gun Legislation

Governor Jerry Brown today signed Assemblymember Anthony Portantino's legislation banning the open carry of rifles and shotguns in California cities. Portantino represents part of Monrovia.

Violations are a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1000. Law enforcement personnel are exempt as are hunters and others carrying unloaded weapons under specified licensed circumstances and in most rural areas.

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at T Burgers

Lunch at T Burgers on Foothill. For about $6 got a combo burrito and a drink. A generous helping of ground beef, cheese, and beans. Tasty.

- Brad Haugaard

210 Eastbound Closures

Reminder: Eastbound 210 will be completely closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Monday through Thursday this coming week, starting October 1. For Gold Line bridge work.

- Brad Haugaard

Senator Bob Huff on State Government Successes and Failures

State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, gives an end-of-session wrap up. A few items ...

- Pension reform: "The good news: The State Legislature finally got around to passing pension reform legislation. The bad news: It doesn't solve most of our problems."

- On workers compensation: "Republicans and Democrats reached across the aisle to pass legislation that will reduce costs on employers while increasing benefits for workers who are injured on the job."

- CEQA: "The Legislature missed a golden opportunity to open up the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to a series of reforms during the final two weeks of legislative session. If there is any good news out of this failure, it's this: There is a new coalition building in favor of CEQA reform."

More here: http://goo.gl/xD2Jn

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia vs. St Francis in Football | Los Victor's Gets a B | Got a Spare Refrigerator?

~ Preview of tonight's football game with St. Francis. http://goo.gl/JaZTD

~ Monrovia's Los Victor's Mexican restaurant gets a "B" rating from county. http://goo.gl/MjywS

~ Monrovia High snack bar needs a refrigerator and deep freezer. If you have one you'd like to donate, contact the Monrovia High ASB office.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Drone Used to Monitor Environment

Raven drone made by Monrovia's AeroVironment used to monitor dam and river habitat on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. http://goo.gl/LC17T

- Brad Haugaard

Text a Business Suggestion for Pavilions Center to Monrovia City Hall

The city is asking Monrovians to tell the city what kind of business they would like to go in the Foothill Park Plaza (that's the Pavilions shopping center). Just use your cell phone to text your answer to 616 219-0804. City staff will use the answers in building its new Monrovia Strategic Plan.  [Source: press release]

In her weekly letter, City Manager Laurie Lile adds: "After the Council provides their direction on our proposal, we will be coming to you with a variety of ways that you can participate, from texting us your comments, connecting to us through our website, to attending a “town-hall” meeting.  The success of this effort will rely a lot on the willingness of our residents and stakeholders to talk to us and share their views."

And, "Starting with a Fill-Up Old Town campaign, the City’s Economic Development Department is actively seeking out input from residents, shoppers and businesses via text message to weigh in on what new businesses the City should attract to Old Town."

Source: http://goo.gl/unouo

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Hire PR for Lawsuit, Money for Strategic Plan, Oppose Defense Cuts, SG Valley Council of Governments

At its 7:30 p.m. meeting on October 2 (agenda: http://goo.gl/VDKsm ), the Monrovia City Council will consider ...

~ Paying $8,000 a month for the rest of the year to Cerrell Associates, Inc., to provide public relations in the Station Square Transit Village development lawsuit. "[I]t is critically important to embark on a public outreach campaign that will inform Monrovia residents and our community the facts of the lawsuit, as well as provide litigation support.

~ Spending up to $65,450 "to develop a new City-wide Strategic Plan to guide the City's programs and services in this time of budgetary constraints."

~ A proposal to oppose federal government "sequestration" cuts that would affect defense. This is relevant to Monrovia because Monrovia companies Roncelli Plastics, AeroVironment, and Ducommun Aerostructures could suffer layoffs. Interesting stats: Roncelli's business is 30% defense related; AeroVironment 80%; and Ducommun Aerostructures 49%.

~ Spending $16,000 to be a member of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.

- Brad Haugaard

Another Lawsuit Against Monrovia?

It appears Monrovia is anticipating yet another lawsuit, so the City Council (wearing its hat as the former Redevelopment Agency) will meet in closed session at 7 p.m. this Tuesday with its attorney to discuss the impending suit, by - if I understand correctly - the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority.

The announcement says: "A point has been reached where there is a significant exposure to litigation against the Agency, in the opinion of the Agency on the advice of its legal counsel, based on the Notice of Proposed Eminent Domain Proceeding and of Opportunity to be Heard sent to the Agency by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority on August 28, 2012." http://goo.gl/WakUr

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Armed Robbery and Carjacking

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 24-26 -Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 479 service events, resulting in 69 investigations.

Car-Jacking / Armed Robbery

September 25 at 6:38 a.m., a male victim called police and reported that he just had his vehicle taken from him at gunpoint on Fifth Avenue, between Chestnut and Walnut. One of the suspects approached the victim and asked if he would help jump start his late 1980's, small, white, pickup truck. The truck was occupied by another suspect and was parked on Fifth Avenue. The victim agreed to help and drove his vehicle up to the suspect's vehicle, at which time one of the suspects pointed a small, silver-colored handgun at the victim and demanded all his money. The victim complied and the suspects fled the area, one in the suspect's pickup truck and the other in the victim's 2002, green Dodge Caravan.

Suspect one, the driver of the pickup, is only described as a male, unknown race. Suspect two, the suspect who took the victim's money and drove off in his vehicle, is described as a male White, in his late 30's, 5'9" tall, thin build, with blond shoulder length hair, wearing blue jeans and a blue T-shirt with a circle logo on the front. Officers searched the area for the suspects, but were unable to locate them. Investigation continuing.



- Brad Haugaard

Yemen to Get Drones from Monrovia's AeroVironment | Firefighter Builds 'Little Libraries'

~ The country of Yemen will get four AeroVironment drones. http://goo.gl/8oSo8

~ Monrovia firefighter builds "little libraries" for Monrovia Reads. http://goo.gl/2lUCy

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Band Fundraiser

The Monrovia High Wildcat Band and Colorguard had a fundraiser at the Fresh and Easy market on Foothill today.

Monrovia Olympian, Kim Rhode, Will Be Grand Marshal of Pomona Parade

Monrovia Olympian - gold medalist in skeet shooting - Kimberly Rhode will be the grand marshal of the Pomona Christmas Parade, according to the Downtown Pomona Owners Association, organizer and primary sponsor of the parade.
 
This year's parade theme, "A Golden Christmas," is a compliment to Rhode and her accomplishments as well as recognition of Pomona's heritage. The parade committee, which consists of local community members, also plans to honor individuals that have worked tirelessly to make a difference in Pomona.
 
The parade, which involves local bands, JROTC groups, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, sporting leagues, school clubs and more, takes place Saturday, December 8 at 10 a.m. along Second Street in Downtown Pomona. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Teacher an LA County Teacher of the Year | Liu in Dubious Tax Scheme? | Uniforms to Kosovo | The Bug Man | Halloween Parade

~ Monrovia teacher, Kyle McClure, a Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year. http://goo.gl/wNwxU

~ This article asks if State Senator Carol Liu, who is running to represent the Monrovia area, was involved in a dubious tax shelter scheme. http://goo.gl/oxpc1

~ Wine of the Month Club owner, Paul Kalemkiarian, packs softball uniforms off to Kosovo. http://goo.gl/Oi662

~ Steven Kutcher, The Bug Man, will talk about entomology (that's bugs), and his work in Hollywood at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Monrovia Canyon Park cabin. Free.

~ Halloween Costume Contest and Parade of Characters on October 31. http://goo.gl/PKMi5

- Brad Haugaard

Wine Tasting at Big Shrimps Restaurant

Monrovia Chamber of Commerce reports that bigSHRIMPS (just east of Myrtle on Colorado) is having a complimentary wine tasting today (Tuesday) from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Stealing a Bike from 12-Year-Old, Thieves Make off With Safe, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 20-23 -Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

Parole Violation - Suspect Arrested
On September 21 at 2:31 p.m., officers were on patrol in the 1200 block of Encino when they noticed a group of subjects in front of a residence. They recognized the subjects and requested a warrant check, which revealed one of the subjects had a no-bail warrant for parole violation. Officers approached and took the suspect into custody without incident.

Robbery
On September 21 at 8:47 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a robbery that just occurred near the 100 block of West Lemon. A 12-year-old boy had been hit in the head by an unknown suspect and his bicycle was taken from him. The suspect is described as a male White, late teens or early twenties, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt. He was last seen riding the stolen bicycle north through an alley with a male Hispanic subject who was wearing a red shirt and was on another bicycle.

Officers made an extensive area check, but did not locate the suspect. The stolen bicycle is a Sabroso brand, Stunt Jumper, model MX, with red forks. The victim was checked by paramedics and then taken to a hospital for further examination. Investigation continuing.

Commercial Burglary
On September 23 at 4:02 a.m., officers responded to the 300 block of West Huntington Drive regarding a burglary. Suspect(s) pried open the rear door of a business and removed a small safe from the premises. The loss was a small amount of cash. Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
On September 23 at 7:43 a.m., a female juvenile from a girl's home in the 100 block of North Ivy stole one of the home caretaker's vehicles. The suspect is currently on probation for grand theft auto and has a history of running away. Officers made an area check around town for the vehicle with negative results. The Sheriff's Department helicopter assisted with the area check. California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department were notified. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
On September 23 at 10:58 a.m., a 1998 Honda Civic was reported stolen from the 1100 block of Royal Oaks. The victim parked his vehicle at 11:00 p.m. in his assigned parking space to the rear of his apartment complex and locked his vehicle. When he returned to it the next morning at about 6:30 a.m., the vehicle was gone. The victim did not give anyone permission to take his vehicle. Investigation continuing.

Domestic Violence - Suspect Arrest
On September 23 at 7:55 p.m., employees of a business in the 400 block of West Foothill called police regarding a female subject that stumbled into their store with an injury to her face. She claimed her husband had just hit her. Officers arrived and determined the crime had just occurred in the 100 block of South Mayflower. The husband was located and arrested. Both subjects were found to be intoxicated.

Removing Palm Trees in Monrovia

Cutting down palm trees along Hillcrest between Myrtle and Encinitas. http://goo.gl/HukpT

- Brad Haugaard

The Gold Line Bridge As It Will Soon Look





Gold Line spokesman Habib Balian sent along these pictures of the Santa Anita freeway bridge. In the first photo the basket-design has been super-imposed on a photo so you can see what it looks like. In the second picture you can see each "weave" element.

Habib reports that the basket "elements are being fabricated in Gardena; each weave of the basket is nearly 6 feet long and weighs 800 pounds. Each basket is made up of 60 weaves, individually cast. They will start to be assembled on site in the next month."

- Brad Haugaard

Brown Signs Portantino Mammogram and Disaster Prep Legislation

Over the weekend, Governor Brown signed Assemblymember Anthony Portantino's legislation to ensure that more women have access to mammograms (AB 137) and legislation requiring investor-owned electric utilities and water companies to develop an emergency and disaster preparedness plan every two years (AB 1650) and to hold comprehensive disaster preparedness meetings with the counties and cities they service.

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Patch to Get Remake | Maryknoll Brunch | Comedy at Monrovian

~ The Patch websites (to which Monrovia Patch belongs) are apparently being redesigned to have a lighter, more community-forum vibe, rather than a small-town newspaper feeling, although news will apparently still play a part. Journalism website Poynter has the story ( http://goo.gl/zde4K ) and here is an example of the new Patch style: http://bellmore.patch.com/

~ Maryknoll Sisters of Monrovia is celebrating the final event of its centennial year: a Centennial Brunch/Bake Sale and Country Store will on Sunday Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Adults, $15, Children under 12, $7. At 300 Norumbega Drive, Monrovia. Grand Raffle - first prize $1,000; second prize $500.00, and third prize $250.00. Raffle tickets are a $2 donation each, or a book of 12 for $20. Drawing at 2 p.m. Winner need not be present. For more information call (626) 358-1825. Food, a centennial display, shop for baked goods, treats and crafts. Admittance is free to the centennial display, bake sale, and country store.

~ Comedy to make a difference at the Monrovian: http://goo.gl/L39tX

- Brad Haugaard

Trader Joe's Recalls Peanut Butter

Monrovia-based Trader Joe's is recalling its "Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter" out of "an abundance of caution." Details: http://goo.gl/ysdkE

- Brad Haugaard

White Saddle Construction

A lot of construction at White Saddle, a mountain road junction above Monrovia Canyon Park. A guy I met up there said Southern California Edison is upgrading power lines taking wind farm power from Tehachapi to Chino Hills, and had to fix up the roads near the power lines as well.

- Brad Haugaard

Former Monrovia Store, Outlet EOS, Now in Azusa

The Outlet EOS store, which had to move out of Monrovia for a Gold Line maintenance yard, now has a much bigger place in Azusa. http://goo.gl/KS6fC

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia E-Waste Round Up | Free Health Check | Calling Singers

~ E-waste round-up from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 29 at Mt. Sierra College (101 E. Huntington). It accepts electronic devices that plug in or take batteries. Not accepted: batteries, fluorescent lights, wood, glass, tires or large appliances. ACTS Thrift Store will donate to Foothill Unity Center for each pound of electronics donated.

~ Get a free health check on Saturday, October 13, from 9 a.m. â€" 3 p.m., at SET for LIFE's 8th Annual "Healthy Living for LIFE Expo 50 " at the Fannie M. Goodwin Education Center, 925 South Shamrock Ave., in Monrovia. Families can get free stroke, cholesterol, diabetes, low vision, BMI, hearing and blood pressure screenings with no pre-registration. Raffle prizes, live music and free lunch for anyone who gets four or more screenings. To register for a free mammogram, call (951) 485-4031. For details, http://setforlifenews.org or (626) 386-8071.

~ Monrovia-based San Gabriel Valley Choral Company is looking for singers. Details: http://goo.gl/b3OSy

- Brad Haugaard

Space Shuttle Endeavor Flies By Monrovia


The space shuttle Endeavor flies by Monrovia just past noon today on its way over JPL. Photo sent by Brad Hori, snapped by Joe K, who, Brad says, "took the pictures as I was busy looking through my binoculars."

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Chang's Thai Bistro

Lunch at Chang's Thai Bistro on Myrtle. Nice decor, nice display of food on the plates. Nice seasoning. Got the Thai BBQ chicken for $7.95 plus tax and tip. Very good!

- Brad Haugaard

Antonovich Slams Governor on Potential Early Release of Prisoners

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who represents Monrovia on the LA County Board of Supervisors, said Governor Jerry Brown is setting up a situation that will force the state to release prisoners early. He writes: "Rather than housing prisoners in cost-effective contracted facilities, the administration would rather be forced into an early release situation to comply with the federal court order..." http://goo.gl/XJHic

- Brad Haugaard

Eastbound 210 - All Lanes Closed Late-Nights this Coming Week

Full closure of 210 eastbound around Santa Anita beginning 11 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 23 through Tuesday. Lanes will all reopen at 5 a.m. the following mornings. Also, on Wednesday and Thursday nights, full eastbound closure from midnight to 5 a.m. They're removing the supports from the bridge, which can stand by itself now.

- Brad Haugaard

South Hills Over Monrovia :-(

Monrovia battled back from far behind to almost close the gap with South Hills ... but not quite. http://goo.gl/ndl0y

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board to Evaluate Superintendent

At a closed session at 6 p.m. this coming Tuesday, Sept. 25, the Monrovia School Board will evaluate the performance of Superintendent Linda Wagner and discuss her "employment/compensation & contract." Opinion: Sounds like a pretty standard annual review. http://goo.gl/AJXHu

- Brad Haugaard

Nature Paintings | Homeless Hygene | Ballot Proposition Session


Hummingbird Lake

~ "Drawn to Nature," a solo show of more than 50 new paintings by Linda Brown, Oct. 2-31 at Segil Fine Art, 110 West Lime.
 
~ Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center reports on Facebook that it is in "urgent need" of items for its Homeless Hygene kit, specifically disposable razors, travel-size tooth paste, soap, lotion and conditioner as well as tooth brushes and small size combs or brushes. Donations may be brought to the Monrovia center at 415 West Chestnut.
 
~ Monrovia Chamber of Commerce reports on Facebook that it is helping sponsor a free "Ballot Proposition Information Session" on many of the November 6 propositions. The meeting is on Tuesday, October 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Library's Community Room. The League of Women Voter's will provide the speakers.
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Tips: Foil Vehicle Burglaries

Thieves look for easy and inviting targets when it comes to selecting
a vehicle to burglarize or steal from. It is up to you to make every
effort to prevent your car from being targeted. Here are some basic
tips that will make your vehicle a little less inviting to thieves:

*LOCK your car!

*Always park in well-lighted areas.

*Install motion lights in your driveway.

*Install and use a vehicle alarm.

*DO NOT leave valuables in plain view.

*Leave all items of value at home if possible.

*Look around when you park. Notice anyone or anything suspicious?
Write down license plates and descriptions. Alert on-site security
or staff and CALL the police.

Many auto burglaries or thefts from cars occur right in a residential
driveway, and too often, it is because the vehicle was never locked.
Suspects will often target cars that are left unlocked, walking up and
down a street trying car doors all the way. Take the time to secure
your vehicle. Other thieves target victims by watching what is placed
inside a trunk or hatch. If you plan on stopping by the gym, park, or
elsewhere after work, take the time before you leave to place your
belongings safely in the trunk. Don't wait until you park to then
transfer your laptop, purse, bag, or briefcase to the trunk. Thieves
may be watching and targeting your car.

These are just a few tips to help prevent you from becoming a victim
of auto burglary. Be proactive, look around, and most importantly,
don't hesitate to call the police if you see something or someone
suspicious.

Source: Monrovia Police Department

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Repossessed Repossessed Car is Repossessed, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 17-19 -Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 488 service events, resulting in 83 investigations.

Medical Assist

September 19 at 1:39 a.m., police received a call reporting a man not breathing at a residence in the 800 block of West Walnut. Officers responded and found a 50-year-old man unconscious. They administered four shocks from an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and performed CPR until they were relieved by Monrovia Fire Department paramedics. The victim was taken to a hospital for further treatment.

Grand Theft Auto Recovered

September 19 at 3:07 p.m., a stolen vehicle was located in the backyard of a residence in the 100 block of East Los Angeles Street. The vehicle had been previously repossessed from the location. The repossession company in Los Angeles discovered the vehicle was missing from their lot and reported in stolen to the Los Angeles Police Department. The vehicle was discovered in the backyard of the residence, exactly where it had been repossessed from a few days prior. The vehicle was recovered and returned to the repossession company. Investigation continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

September 19 at 9:50 p.m., a vehicle burglary occurred in the 200 block of Grand. Witnesses saw two suspects ransacking the victim's truck, which was parked on the street. Tools were stolen from the vehicle. The victim reported that the vehicle was locked. The suspects gained entry by an unknown means. Suspect #1 is described as a male Hispanic, 20 to 30 years old, 5'9" to 6'0" tall, dark hair, a tattoo on the left side of his neck, wearing a gray shirt and dark pants. Suspect #2 is described as a male Hispanic, 20 to 30 years old, 5'6" tall, wearing a gray sweatshirt and dark pants. The suspects fled in a small vehicle with round tail lights. Investigation continuing.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up: Attempted Murder Case Update

Detectives investigated a shooting that occurred on September 15 involving three suspects. The suspects fired two or three shots at a male and female sitting on the porch of a residence in the 100 block of East Los Angeles Street. The female was hit in the torso and upper right leg by what appears to be bird shot from a shotgun. A van matching the suspect vehicle description was seen entering the 210 Freeway and was followed and stopped by police on the 605 Freeway. The van was positively identified as the suspect vehicle and the three suspects inside were arrested. The female victim is in stable condition.

Detectives filed the case with the District Attorney's Office and felony charges of attempted murder were filed against the suspects. The suspects were arraigned and are being held for a preliminary hearing.

Latino Art Display

Latino art 1-5 p.m. on Sunday at the Monrovia Historical Museum. http://goo.gl/KYA3w

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Christmas Tree | Money for Trees | Women's Club

~ Monrovia lost its Christmas tree (at the northeast corner of Library Park) in the big windstorm. Now it has a new one: http://goo.gl/3p9XE

~ Speaking of the windstorm, Monrovia will get $40,134 to replant trees it lost in the storm, according to Supervisor Michael Antonovich. http://goo.gl/72ZYo

~ The local women's group, Newcomers and Friends of San Gabriel Valley, is having a meet and greet coffee on Wednesday, October 3, at 10 am to noon. Details: http://goo.gl/0h7Ro

- Brad Haugaard

Donnelly Urges Another Veto

Another Open Letter from Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, this one asking Governor Jerry Brown to veto AB 1532 and SB 535, which he says, "will only serve to exacerbate the current jobs crisis, tossing taxpayer dollars into a wishing well, rather than wisely investing." http://goo.gl/X9YCN

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia vs South Hills Preview | George Frazier | Details on Shooting

~ Video preview of upcoming Monrovia-South Hills football game. http://goo.gl/d62rl

~ Profile of Monrovia football's George Frazier. http://goo.gl/Wuk0f

~ Details on Monrovia drive-by shooting that wounded woman. It was gang related. http://goo.gl/T53uT

- Brad Haugaard

Video of Fire Near Gold Line Bridge

Video of fire next to Gold Line bridge. http://goo.gl/GBzYN

- Brad Haugaard

Senator Huff on 'Missed Opportunities' for Reform

Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia in Sacramento, has compiled a list of what he says are legislative "missed opportunities," including pension reform, child predator reform, and budget reform. http://goo.gl/kG3Yb

- Brad Haugaard

Donnelly Urges Veto of Vaccination Bill

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, urged Governor Brown in an open letter to veto vaccination bill AB 2109. He said it "impedes parents' right to make the best medical choices for their family, costs families in the midst of an economic downturn, and violates the religious freedom of many California residents." http://goo.gl/Udml0

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Attempted Murder; Airborne Driver Kills Light Pole, Causes Fire; Drunk in Public

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 13-16. - Brad Haugaard]
  
Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.
 
Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested
September 14 at 5:53 p.m., a vehicle was traveling south on Myrtle, South of Duarte, lost control, hit the curb and went airborne.  The vehicle collided into a telephone pole and light pole, knocking them both down and starting an electrical fire.  Officers arrived and determined the driver to be driving under the influence.  The driver sustained minor injuries.  The driver was arrested.
 
Shots Fired / Attempted Murder - Suspects Arrested
September 15th at 11:25 p.m., Monrovia Police Officers were in the 100 block of Montana handling a loud party call when they heard the sound of shots fired.  Units immediately broke and began an area check.  A victim was found in the 100 block of East Los Angeles.  Officers were told by witnesses that a Maroon van was seen driving northbound through the north/south alley of the 1300 block of South Myrtle.  As it turned onto eastbound Los Angeles, two or three shots were fired at a male and female sitting on the porch of a residence in the 100 block of Los Angeles.  The female was hit in the torso and upper right leg by what appears to be bird shot from a shotgun. 
 
An officer in the area saw a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle description getting onto the 210 Freeway, eastbound, and stopped the vehicle at Ramona and the 605 Freeway.  The van was occupied by three male Hispanic suspects.  The Van was positively identified as the suspect vehicle and the three suspects were arrested.  The female victim is in stable condition.  Initial investigation indicates this shooting may be gang related.
 
Drunk in Public - Suspect Arrested
September 16 at 2:40 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Pilgrim Way regarding a disturbance involving a male and female.  The female called police and stated she was worried that her boyfriend, who had been drinking all day, was going to get into his car and drive home.  When officers arrived, the male was outside near his vehicle.  He was found to be intoxicated and was arrested for being drunk in public.

Gold Line Nears Completion

I-210 Gold Line Bridge Falsework disassembled 

"The Gold Line Bridge is only a few months away from an on-time, on-budget hand-off to FTC, the Alignment contractor that is responsible for completing the stations, track and systems for the project. Currently, the formwork and falsework is being removed, and the architectural elements designed into the superstructure by artist Andrew Leicester are starting to be revealed.  As the falsework is removed in late September through early October, up to 20 nights of consecutive late night closures of the eastbound I-210 Freeway are planned.

Source: Gold Line press release

- Brad Haugaard

Route 66 Talk

Monrovia Historic Preservation Group will hear an open-to-the-public talk about historic Route 66 by Duarte author Claudia Heller at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Monrovia Public Library. http://goo.gl/uOYBY

- Brad Haugaard

Shooting Victim Doing Better

Victim in shooting recovering. http://goo.gl/Liisg

- Brad Haugaard

103 Today in Monrovia | Power Outage Update

~ Good morning, Monrovia. Predicted temperature today, 103, so get your outdoor tasks done early ... or late. http://goo.gl/WtwKk

~ Southern California Edison reports that the remaining 37 customers affected by the power outage that started yesterday should have power restored by 6:03 p.m. today. Cause of the outage is listed as "extreme heat," which apparently caused equipment failure. http://goo.gl/fW8Tq

- Brad Haugaard

Wildcats Over San Dimas in Football :-)

Monrovia Wildcats over San Dimas, 35 to 23: http://goo.gl/K5WE8

- Brad Haugaard

Temperature Hits 106 | Monrovia Activities Brochure | Dog Hunting

~ Temperature hits 106 in Monrovia today. http://goo.gl/9ViyU

~ Monrovia's fall/winter activities brochure. You should get one in the mail, but here it is if you need it, all 20 pages: http://goo.gl/BaE7s

~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, writes an "open letter" to Governor Jerry Brown asking him to veto SB 1221, which would prohibit hunting bear and bobcats with dogs. He said, "It would not, however, prohibit the state's own rangers from doing so. This is the apex of government hypocrisy..." http://goo.gl/uBXzM

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Power Outage

Power is out in a lot of Old Town right now. The library, for example, seems only to have emergency lighting and the traffic light at Foothill and Myrtle is dead, as is the light at Foothill and Magnolia.

UPDATE: Southern California Edison reports that the problem began at 2:29 p.m. and is affecting 1,136 customers. Estimates power will be mostly restored by 4 p.m. Cause is unknown. http://goo.gl/fW8Tq

UPDATE 2: Estimated Restoration Time: Currently Being Re-evaluated; Customers Impacted: 2019.

UPDATE 3: Estimate of the number of customers affected has been reduced to 496.

UPDATE 4: 5:29 p.m. - Estimate of the number of customers affected has been bumped up to 1085.

UPDATE 5: 9:48 p.m. SCE is estimating the problem will be fixed by 2 a.m. tomorrow, with 454 customers affected.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Cafe Opera

Lunch at Cafe Opera (corner of Myrtle and Lime). Got the Black Sesame Tuna Salad. Came with fresh jalapeño bread. Very delicious lightly seared ahi tuna on a bed of garden salad with pasta. With iced tea and a shared bread pudding (awesome!) for desert, $44.57 for the two of us.

- Brad Haugaard

Lots of Full Nighttime Closures of Eastbound 210

The 210 eastbound (around the Gold Line bridge) will be completely closed nightly from Sunday, Sept. 16 through Thursday, Sept. 20, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day. Also, it will be closed nightly from Sunday, Sept. 23 through Thursday, Sept. 27, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Business Visitation, Gang Report, Greenhouse Gas

Main items on the Monrovia City Council's September 18, 7:30 p.m. meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/m4VjR ):

~ The city is planning a three-month program to visit businesses in Old Town. The report says that while the "economic engine of Monrovia is found primarily throughout Huntington Drive, auto row, and in manufacturing zones near the I-210 Freeway, Old Town Monrovia is the symbolic heartbeat of the community." http://goo.gl/caOhp

~ The mid-year report from the Monrovia Police Department on the anti-gang program, Operation Safe Neighborhoods, shows quite small crime numbers. Details: http://goo.gl/1jAEv

~ As part of California's requirement that "greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020," the Monrovia City Council will hear an Administrative Draft Energy Action Plan. Lots of data here: http://goo.gl/NHgiB

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Activities: MAP, Sports, and Classes

~ Mentioned this before, but City Manager Laurie Lile emphasizes the Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) Leadership Academy in her weekly letter. It is a six-week program that provides information on Monrovia, municipal government, community building, and neighborhood strengthening. Interested? Details here: http://goo.gl/reOrJ

~ The Monrovia Community Center is offering flag football and cheer for kids, and classes for youth and adults. Youth classes include: Lego building, drawing, soccer and Mad Science. Adult classes include: Zumba, Mommy Fitness, Pilates, Beer and Bread and Jewelry Making.

Source: http://goo.gl/YXEsC

- Brad Haugaard

Rose Gardens Project | Relief to China | Sacramento Successes and Failures | CrossFit Remembers 9-11

~ Update on construction of the "Rose Gardens at Santa Teresita" project lapping over 12 acres in Monrovia and Duarte. http://goo.gl/iR0jX

~ Monrovia Christian relief organization, World Vision, has sent 1,000 hygiene kits and 113 big tent covers to the earthquake disaster zone in Yunnan Province, China, to supplement government relief efforts. http://goo.gl/eNwE6

~ Video: Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, outlines the budget successes and failures during the latest Senate session in Sacramento. http://goo.gl/yRLio

~ CrossFit Monrovia honors 9-11 victims. http://goo.gl/qGnrE

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Felon With Body Armor, Biker Volunteers for Arrest, Bullying, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 10-12. - Brad Haugaard]
  
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 468 service events, resulting in 85 investigations.
  
Felon in Possession of Body Armor - Suspect Arrested
September 10 at 4:20 p.m., a speeding vehicle in the 2100 block of South Myrtle was stopped by an officer on patrol.  The driver was identified and found to be on felony probation.  A consent search of the vehicle was conducted and a bullet resistant vest was found in the vehicle.  The suspect was arrested for the charge of felon in possession of body armor.
  
Fire Assist
September 10 at 10:09 p.m., officers responded to a local private college in the 100 block of East Huntington due to smoke coming from the roof of the building.  The Foothill Air Support Team helicopter was on scene as officers arrived to check for flames.  Air Support advised that the smoke was coming from the northwest corner of the roof.  Officers evacuated the entire building and stopped northbound traffic on Myrtle and westbound traffic on Huntington.  The Monrovia Fire Department arrived and located an air conditioning unit on the roof that was on fire and put the fire out.  There were no injuries involved.  
 
Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested
September 11 at 4:01 a.m., an officer on patrol stopped a male adult riding a bicycle at Peck and Longden for a traffic violation.  Prior to any search, the subject stated he was on parole and had methamphetamine in his pocket.  The officer retrieved a small plastic container that contained methamphetamine.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.
  
Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested
September 11 at 10:08 a.m., a couple was arguing in the lobby of a hotel located in the 900 block of West Huntington and police were requested.  The subjects left the location prior to officers arriving, but were found nearby in a parking lot.  The officers contacted the subjects and determined the male subject to be under the influence of drugs.  He was arrested and taken into custody.
  
Burglary
September 11 at 9:58 p.m., a male subject at a gym in the 700 block of East Huntington put his property in a locker and secured it.  When he returned to the locker, he found his lock missing and his wallet stolen.  Investigation continuing.
  
Possession of a Methamphetamine Pipe / Driving on a Suspended Driver's License - Suspect Arrested
September 12 at 3:57 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers on patrol observed a driver acting suspiciously in the north end of the city.  While the officers were following the suspect, they saw the driver throw a glass pipe out of the vehicle.  When the officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver slowed down, but did not stop for several hundred yards, eventually stopping at Foothill and Heliotrope.  The suspect was also found to be driving on a suspended license.  He was arrested for the above listed charges without further incident.
  
Grand Theft Auto - Suspect Arrested
September 12 at 7:33 p.m., an officer on patrol saw a suspect walking in the area of Canyon and Foothill that was wanted for grand theft auto.  The suspect was arrested without incident.  The suspect was later found to be in possession of items that belonged to residents who live in the 300 block of Wildrose.  When officers contacted the residents, it was learned they were victims of unreported thefts which occurred on September 10.  An unknown suspect had stolen their wallets from their two unlocked cars.  The victims identified their stolen property, and the suspect was additionally charged with receiving stolen property.
  
Tip of the Week: Bullying Prevention
Bullying is one of the most serious concerns in our schools today.  Bullying occurs in all grade levels and can consist of words, name calling, threatening or intimidating comments.  It can be sexually, verbally, or emotionally harmful, which often results in serious violent crimes.  If you think you have witnessed a bullying situation or your child has been the victim of bullying and you want to learn more, please go to stopbullying.gov.  Learn how you can be part of the solution to bullying.

Hot Days | Monrovia Book Sale | Staar Board Member | Damage at Mt. Sierra

~ Temperatures are supposed to be in the high 90s today and perhaps as high as 102 Friday. http://goo.gl/MsJ9C

~ The Friends of the Monrovia Public Library Fall Sale, with more than 5,000 books, will be held on October 13 & 14 in both Library Park and the Library Community Room from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The famous $2 a Bag Sale is on Sunday from 3-5 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Monrovia Public Library. Prices for regular books and media range from 25¢ to $2. Collectables are individually priced from $5 to $40. Book sellers are welcome, scanners are not permitted.

~ Charles Slacik, CPA, 58, has joined the board of Monrovia's Staar Surgical. Mr. Slacik has over 30 years of executive level experience in the health care industry. http://goo.gl/suuw2

~ A fire at Mt. Sierra College caused $15,000 damage. http://goo.gl/D4ZMc

- Brad Haugaard

Look-Ahead Football Video: Monrovia vs. San Dimas

Video: Sports writers look ahead at Monrovia-San Dimas football game. http://goo.gl/XBFv0

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Comedy Night | Donnelly Objects

~ The Volunteer Center of the San Gabriel Valley is sponsoring a comedy night with raffle prizes September 27 at 7 p.m. at the Monrovian Family Restaurant. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Two drink minimum.

~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, writes "An Open Letter to Governor Brown" asking him to veto AB 1081, which in an earlier message, he said would turn California into "a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants" ( http://goo.gl/s1Qbj ). Also, he criticizes Brown for raising taxes on lumber: http://goo.gl/fLHX1

- Brad Haugaard

Old Track Removed at Monrovia Station

The old train tracks have been removed at the old Monrovia train station in preparation for the Gold Line. http://goo.gl/OVBVg

- Brad Haugaard

Meeting about Wildfires on the Edge of Town

If you are interested in "best management practices of mitigation, prevention and response to urban-interface brush fires," the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Fire Chief Advisory Group will be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Monrovia Public Library. You can't speak at the meetings, just watch. However, the "Fire Department will be holding a series of public forums and scoping meetings in the near future to allow for participation from all members of the community and those stakeholders that would be impacted by a brush fire." http://goo.gl/KuX9a

Smoke Causes Evacuation of Mt. Sierra

Smoke causes evacuation of Monrovia's Mt. Sierra College. http://goo.gl/mM8eO

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Flags at Half-Staff for 9-11

Flags in Monrovia will be flown at half-staff Tuesday, September 11, in recognition of Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance. http://goo.gl/O6BHB

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Black Tape Over Licence Plates is Suspicious, Vehicle Burglaries

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 6-9. - Brad Haugaard]
 
Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.
  
Gang Injunction - Suspects Arrested
On September 7 at 8:56 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of East Duarte for a littering violation.  Upon contacting the occupants, the officer found the three occupants to be in violation of Monrovia's gang injunction.  The occupants were arrested for the violation and later released on a citation.
 
Burglary
On September 7 at 10:44 p.m., police responded to a business in the 100 block of West Foothill regarding a burglary.  A security guard in the parking lot observed two females exit a vehicle and place black tape across the rear license plate to obstruct it.  The two females entered the business and the guard remained in the parking lot to monitor the vehicle.
  
Several minutes later, the two females exited the market with a shopping cart full of store merchandise.  As the females approached their vehicle, they saw the security guard and fled on foot, leaving the merchandise and their vehicle behind.  The officer who responded recovered enough evidence to establish a burglary and to possibly identify one of the suspects.  The vehicle was stored and the investigation is continuing.
 
Vehicle Burglaries
On September 8, four vehicle burglaries were reported throughout the day.  The burglaries occurred in the 400 block of East Cypress, the 800 block of West Hillcrest and in the 600 and 700 blocks of West Foothill.  The entry into the vehicles appears similar and was possibly made by the same suspect(s).  The door locks on all four vehicles were broken to gain entry.  The investigation is continuing.

GoDaddy Takes Down MonroviaNow.com

A hacker group called "Anonymous" crashed the GoDaddy.com hosting service ( http://goo.gl/RDmHx ), which in turn took down websites around the world, including MonroviaNow.com. MonroviaNow is not hosted at GoDaddy, but it uses a redirect service provided by GoDaddy, and without that MonroviaNow was effectively taken off line, Sorry for the inconvenience.

Update: GoDaddy.com is now saying it was fully responsible for the outage that took down websites around the world, so apparently not hackers. In an apology letter to customers the company said, "The service outage was due to a series of internal network events that corrupted router data tables." It said no customer information was released and it is giving to each customer a credit "for the value of 1-month of service for each of your active/published sites."

- Brad Haugaard

Health Screening | New Thrift Store Opening | Toastmaster Club

~ Fifty-plus health screening sponsored by Set for Life on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Fannie M. Goodwin Education Building, 925 S. Shamrock, in Monrovia. For details, email info@setforlifenews.org or call (626) 386-8701.  http://setforlifenews.org

~ United Thrift, a new thrift store, is opening in Monrovia to benefit the Foothills Pregnancy Resource Center and First United Methodist Church of Monrovia. The store will be at the church (140 E. Palm) and will hold an open house October 17 from 6-9 p.m.

~ A new Toastmasters Club is opening at the Monrovia Y. Toastmasters teaches public speaking.

- Brad Haugaard


City Manager: Monrovia Bond Rating Should Go Up When Lawsuit Resolved

Monrovia City Manager Laurie Lile told the Monrovia Coordinating Council she is "confident" the city's bond rating will go back up when the "scary" developer lawsuit for an "amazingly large amount" ($106 million) is resolved. She said she believes the developer is open to settling, but that negotiations with the Gold Line will affect those talks. Even best case, she said, the lawsuit is not going to be resolved in a couple of months.

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Food-Truck Regulations Coming

City Manager Laurie Lile told the Coordinating Council that the city settled it's food-truck lawsuit because it had become clear it would lose and would have to pay the food-truck folks' attorney fees. She said the city will redraft it's rules and try to control the trucks using parking regulations.

- Brad Haugaard

Read Across Monrovia

Read Across Monrovia is looking for adults who would like to read to
young students in town on Oct. 11 from 8 to about 9 a.m. Contact
Joanne Spring if interested: jspring@altrionet.com.

- Brad Haugaard

Batchelder Tile Designs in New Monrovia Train Station

Historic Batchelder tile designs will be incorporated into the new Monrovia Gold Line Station, according to Jim Wigton, writing in the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group's newsletter. He writes that "Cha-Rie Tang, the artist who has designed the Monrovia Gold Line Station," has contacted homeowners who have the tiles and "is making impressions that she plans to incorporate into the Gold Line Station design." Examples of Batchelder tile: http://goo.gl/JxOzJ

- Brad Haugaard

E-Waste Round-Up Sept. 29 at Monrovia's Mt. Sierra College

There will be an e-waste round-up from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 29 at Mt. Sierra College (101 E. Huntington). It accepts electronic devices that plug in or take batteries. Not accepted: batteries, fluorescent lights, wood, glass, tires or large appliances. ACTS Thrift Store will donate to Foothill Unity Center for each pound of electronics donated.

- Brad Haugaard

Donnelly's '10 Worst Bills' | Mei Mei Huff's Radio Program

~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, has come out with his list of "2012's Top 10 Worst Bills," which he wants Californians to petition Governor Brown not to sign. They range from "prohibiting law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities" to a measure that "increases taxes on lumber products." http://goo.gl/TMMR7

~ Mei Mei Huff, the wife of State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, has a new Mandarin-language radio program in the LA area on KAZN AM1600 at 7 p.m. Saturdays. Huff said on Facebook that she will discuss politics "from a pro-jobs, limited government viewpoint, but what did you expect?"

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia 52, Arcadia 17 :-)

Monrovia over Arcadia in football. http://goo.gl/9loQR . Details: http://goo.gl/b67b0

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools: Finances, Purchase of iPads, School Facilities Use

At its Sept. 12, 7 p.m. meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/IxUPZ ), the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Review its "Unaudited Actuals - Annual Statements of the revenue, expenditures and the ending fund balances for all district funds for the 2011-12 fiscal year." http://goo.gl/5et0X

~ Consider buying Apple iPads for classroom use, for $238,509.38. http://goo.gl/uLw2g

~ Consider policies on the use of school facilities.

- Brad Haugaard

Detail Being Revealed on 210 Bridge | Blood Drive


 
~ Architectural elements of the 210 Gold Line bridge, designed by artist Andrew Leicester, are being revealed as the "falsework" (scaffolding) is being removed. Spokesman Habib Balian says it will take several more weeks of consecutive night closures to complete the removal process. He adds that off-site work continues on fabrication of the baskets that will soon sit atop the bridge's main columns.

Also, he reports that eastbound closures of the 210 "will start again late Sunday night, and continue through next Friday morning. Closures start around 9 p.m. each night with nearby on-ramp closing first, then individual lanes begin to close around 10 p.m. Full closure of the eastbound freeway starts at Midnight, and all lanes reopen by 5:00 a.m. the following morning."
 
~ Community blood drive, Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 800 Royal Oaks Drive in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/DPaMb
 
- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Tastee Express

Lunch the other day at Tastee Express. That's the little hot dog stand out front of Home Depot. There are some tables with umbrellas so don't worry, you won't have to sit on the curb. Got the Polish dog combo for $6.95. Hey! That was really a great dog! This is across town for me but if I'm in the mood for a Polish dog I think I'll be back.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Albertson's Appears to Survive

Albertson's is closing stores in Southern California, but apparently the Monrovia store is a survivor. At least I don't see it mentioned as closing. http://goo.gl/C54nE

- Brad Haugaard

White in Two | Electronics Recycling

White in Two

~ This new artwork is on the garage at the house on the corner of Magnolia and Hillcrest. It is called "White in Two" and owes its inspiration to Paul Morphy. I know because I painted it.
  
~ Electronics recycling at Bradoaks Elementary School at 930 E. Lemon Ave. (cross street is Mountain Ave.) on September 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be recycled and Bradoaks PTA will earn money.
   
- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Stock Drops | Monrovia FD to Remember 9-11

~ The market was apparently not impressed with the performance of Monrovia's AeroVironment - which had a first quarter net loss - as its stock fell 6.36 percent today. http://goo.gl/IaYUl

~ At 6:50 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11, the Monrovia Fire Department will join 43 other area fire departments to raise and lower the flag to half-staff in honor of the 343 firefighters and 72 police officers died in the 9-11 terrorist attack. http://goo.gl/RXt3K

- Brad Haugaard

Candidate Judy Chu Speaks at Democratic Convention | City to Repeal Food Truck Ban

~ Video: Congresswoman Judy Chu, who is running for Congress in a district that includes Monrovia, speaks at the Democratic National Convention, endorsing President Barack Obama and criticizing Mitt Romney. http://goo.gl/Vzudk

~ City to repeal ban on food trucks. http://goo.gl/X7GA1 . Suit costs city more than $200,000. http://goo.gl/jFMd2

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Unlocked Car Leads to Missing Purse, Mountain Lion Tips

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 3-5. - Brad Haugaard]
 
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 422 service events, resulting in 64 investigations.
 
Theft From a Vehicle
September 6 at 1:41 a.m., a theft from an unlocked vehicle was reported in the 300 block of East Hillcrest.  The vehicle was parked in the victim's driveway.  The victim heard noises, looked out his window and saw an unknown suspect exit his vehicle and run eastbound.  A purse was stolen from the vehicle.  The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 25-30 years old, medium build, wearing a white shirt, white shorts and white shoes.  The investigation is continuing.
 
 
Tip of the Week: Living With Mountain Lions
There has been very little research on how to avoid mountain lion attacks.  But mountain lion attacks that have occurred are being analyzed in the hope that some crucial questions can be answered.  Following are safety tips and information provided by the California Department of Fish and Game.  For further, more detailed, information click on Living With California Mountain Lions.   
 
Do Not Hike Alone:  Go in groups, with adults supervising children.
 
Keep Children Close To You:  Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children.  Keep children within your sight at all times.
 
Do Not Approach a Lion:  Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation.  Give them a way to escape.
 
Do Not Run From a Lion:  Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal.  Make eye contact.  If you have small children with you, pick them up, if possible, so they don't panic and run.  Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
 
Do Not Crouch Down or Bend Over:   A person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal.
 
Do All You Can To Appear Larger:  Raise your arms.  Open your jacket if you are wearing one.
 
Fight Back If Attacked:  Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back.  Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice.  The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.
 
Immediately Report All Encounters or Sightings.

Talk By True Crime Author Chip Jacobs

A talk by true crime with author Chip Jacobs, writer of The Ascension of Jerry. Bumbling hit men. Burning corpses. A threatened son. Life in hiding. Tuesday, September 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room. http://goo.gl/FQu88

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment gets $16.5 Million from Army - Plus Lots More Later

AeroVironment gets $16.5 Million from U.S. Army for Raven drone system with miniature swiveling payload. Total projected value of the project is $65,889,191. http://goo.gl/yDw53

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council Member Becky Shevlin Wins Woman Achievers Award

The City of Monrovia is pleased to announce that City Councilwoman Becky A. Shevlin has been recognized as one of Business Life Magazine's recipients for their 23rd annual woman achievers award. Councilwoman Shevlin is being recognized for her outstanding positive contributions to her community. She is also being recognized for being a mentor to other women throughout her community.
 
Upon hearing of her selection Shevlin said, "I am truly honored to be recognized by Business Life magazine for making a difference in Monrovia. As Council members we serve our communities in an effort to continually improve the way of life for our residents." Shevlin also stated "Throughout my life I have always strived to be a positive influence." 
 
Business Life's "Saluting Woman Achievers" awards luncheon and ceremony will be held at the Glendale Hilton Hotel on September 27th. The event will be hosted by Co-Chairs Supervisor Michael Antonovich and Christine Antonovich and the Honorable Senator Carol Liu.
Go to www.businesslife.com for more information on this event.
 
Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Holding No-Questions-Asked Prescription Drug Collection

On September 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Monrovia Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your medications for disposal to the Monrovia Community Center at 119 W. Palm Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016.  The service is free and anonymous; no questions asked.

During the previous four take-back events, 774 tons of prescription drugs were collected nationwide, of which more than 58 thousand pounds were collected in the greater Los Angeles area, alone. 
 
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards. 
 
Four days after the first take-back event in September 2010, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an "ultimate user" of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.  The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long-term care facilities to dispose of their residents' controlled substances in certain instances.  DEA has begun drafting regulations to implement the Act, a process that can take as long as 24 months.  Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies like Monrovia Police Department and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.
 
For additional information, please contact Sergeant Glen Coleman at (626) 256-8020
 
Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Reports a Loss, But an Expected Loss

Monrovia's AeroVironment reports net loss, as anticipated, for its first quarter ending July 28:

"Fiscal 2013 is unfolding consistent with our range of expectations for the year. We anticipated a typically low revenue first quarter would produce a net loss because we are staffed and investing to achieve the growth we expect in the second half of this year and beyond," said AeroVironment chairman and chief executive officer Tim Conver. "First quarter revenue of $58.7 million was about $3 million less than we expected, attributable to contract timing, and produced a loss per share of $0.06." http://goo.gl/BTBd8

- Brad Haugaard

Hot Rod Show, Free Oil Filters

The city will be handing out oil filters and recycling kits a at the 22nd Annual Hot Rod and Custom Car Show in Old Town. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8 http://goo.gl/9E2TM

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Credit Rating Cut by Standard and Poor's

Standard and Poor's credit rating agency has cut Monrovia's credit rating to BBB-plus from A and put the city on negative outlook, meaning there may be further cuts in its rating. http://goo.gl/U7l62

Jack in the Box Proceeds

Looks as if framing is about done on the Jack in the Box that is replacing the old Pottery Barn. http://goo.gl/agRn1

- Brad Haugaard

Funny in Russian | Selena Gomez | Huff vs Tax Measure

~ "But It's Funny in Russian: My adventures in sitcom overseas." Workshop with author and TV writer John Vorhaus. Free. October 6, Library Community Room, 1-3 p.m.

~ Selena Gomez filming "Feed the Dog" in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/BG3ay

~ Video: Senator Bob Huff (who represents Monrovia) objects to a measure to raise taxes on business by more than $1 billion to pay for spending for scholarships. Huff said it would blow a $900 million hole in the budget. The measure failed. http://goo.gl/vJcX1

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Bank Robbery, Caught on Video, Theft from Unlocked Car, Knife in Library, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 30-September 2. - Brad Haugaard]
 
Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.
 
Vehicle Burglary
August 30 at 7:58 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 400 block of Linwood.  The victim parked his vehicle in front of a residence at 8:00 p.m. in the evening and returned to it the next morning at 7:50 a.m.  When he returned to the vehicle, he found the door lock was punched.  A CD player and subwoofers speakers were taken.  Investigation continuing.
 
Bank Robbery
August 30 at 12:54 p.m., officers responded to a robbery at a bank in the 600 block of West Huntington.  The suspect handed the bank teller a note, money was given to the suspect, and the suspect walked out.  No weapon was seen.  The suspect got into a silver, 2010 Chevy Impala and drove away.  Surrounding agencies were notified.  The suspect is described as a male, Black, 5' 8" tall, thin build, thin moustache, thin goatee, wearing a red, white and black plaid shirt and dark sunglasses.  The investigation is continuing.
 
Grand Theft From a Vehicle
August 30 at 17:32 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Palm regarding a theft from a vehicle.  The victim parked her vehicle at 7:30 in the evening and did not lock it.  When she returned to her vehicle in the morning, she found her laptop computer, purse with cash in it and her wedding ring had been stolen.  Investigation continuing.
 
Theft - Suspect Arrested
August 31 at 9:30 a.m., a customer at a fast food restaurant in the 800 block of East Huntington left his briefcase full of valuables on the floor of the business and walked away briefly.  While the man's attention was away from his briefcase, a male suspect took the case, walked out of the business and drove away with it.  Through witness interviews, it was learned that the suspect possibly worked for a local business.  The manager of the business was contacted and was able to identify the suspect on video surveillance as one of his employees.  The suspect was contacted by phone and immediately returned with the briefcase.  He was arrested for the crime and the stolen property was returned to its owner.
 
Theft From a Vehicle
September 1 at 9:29 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 200 block of West Olive observed an unoccupied, parked vehicle with the front passenger door open.  He stopped and ran the license plate number, which returned to an address in the 200 block of West Olive.  The officer made contact with the owners of the vehicle.  They told the officer they had parked the vehicle the night before and had left it unlocked.  The loss from the vehicle was a cell phone charger, a bluetooth headset, and medication.  Investigation continuing.
 
Commercial Burglary - Suspect Arrested
September 1 at 2:14 p.m., loss prevention at a business in the 500 block of West Huntington reported a shoplifter in custody.  The suspect used a pair of scissors to cut tags and security sensors off merchandise and concealed the items on his person.  He then exited the store without paying and was detained by loss prevention.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. 
 
Grand Theft Auto
September 1 at 3:44 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 500 block of Diamond.  The victim parked his vehicle on the street in front of his residence in the evening.  He locked and secured the vehicle and went inside.  He returned to the vehicle at 5:00 a.m. the next morning and his vehicle was missing.  The victim went to work and did not report the crime until he returned home from work.  The vehicle is a gold, four-door, 1997 Honda Accord.  Investigation continuing.
 
Attempt Assault With a Deadly Weapon - Suspect Arrested
September 1 at 4:33 p.m., Monrovia Library personnel reported a subject with a knife chasing the library security guard.  Officers arrived and detained the suspect.  Apparently, the suspect became upset while trying to use the copier in the library and began yelling at library employees and patrons.  When the security guard tried to talk with the suspect, he pulled out a folding knife and began swinging it at the security guard.  The security guard held his baton in front of the suspect to keep him at bay.  Officers arrived and the suspect was arrested without further incident.
 
Vehicle Burglary
September 1 at 9:49 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a business parking lot in the 800 block of West Huntington.  An employee of a business parked her vehicle in the parking lot and went in to work.  When she returned to her vehicle at 9:45 p.m., she found that someone had tampered with the driver's door.  Upon further inspection of the vehicle, the victim noticed the hood had been opened and it appeared someone may have tried to remove parts from the engine, but had abandoned their efforts.  No items were missing from the vehicle.  Investigation continuing.
 
 
Special Enforcement Team Weekly Activity
 
On August 29, Special Enforcement Team officers assisted patrol on a commercial burglary investigation at a business in the 500 block of West Huntington.  They arrived on scene and located two suspects running from the area.  The officers detained the suspects and one of them was identified as the theft suspect.  Both suspects were arrested by patrol officers, one for burglary and the other for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
  
On August 31, Special Enforcement Team officers arrested a known gang member for violating Monrovia's gang injunction.  The gang member was in the gang injunction safety zone after curfew and was in possession of marijuana. 

Best Pies in LA County from Monrovia Woman

Monrovia woman wins first place at LA County Fair for her pies. http://goo.gl/RmbFM

- Brad Haugaard

Cafe LuMar | HIV Summit | Freeway Closure

~ A feature story on Monrovia's Cafe LuMar. http://goo.gl/mTWuu

~ Reminder: Full closure of eastbound 210 Freeway tonight for Gold Line bridge work, from midnight to 5 a.m. It will also be closed same hours on Wednesday and Thursday, and on Sept. 9-13.

~ California Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, and City of Hope are teaming up with fashion designer and HIV activist Mondo Guerra for an HIV/AIDS Summit at 9 a.m. on September 12 at City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia YMCA to Honor 92-Year-Old Swim Coach


After 25 years of teaching the swimnastics class at the Santa Anita Family YMCA, Colonel Don Carver is hanging up his trunks.

Carver, who just turned 92 in March, will be honored for his weekly water workouts at a retirement celebration at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7 at the Santa Anita Family YMCA, 501 S. Mountain Avenue. All are welcomed to attend the event, where he will receive a plaque and other certificates of recognition for his service.

"This class has helped keep me going for well over 25 years," Colonel Carver said. "I am thankful for the opportunity, and I’ve enjoyed the wonderful camaraderie with all the people I’ve encountered over the years."

Hundreds of people are expected to attend his retirement celebration on Sept. 7 to honor a man that has kept them healthy by leading the water exercises and keeping his "mermaids" – as he refers to those in his mostly senior group – kicking. Colonel Carver was born in Indiana on March 30, 1920. He served in the military for 23 years, during which time he was piloting cargo jets for the military and later flying government-contracted planes all over the world, including flying dangerous transport missions into Vietnam during the war. Carver has lived all over the world until he settled 1965 in Monrovia.

In 1984, Colonel Carver became a member of the YMCA, where played basketball and swam. His transition to teaching the swimastics class started in 1992 on a substituting basis to help a friend in need. But it wasn’t too long before he took the helm as the leading coach every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the water aerobics class.

In 2000, Colonel Carver told the San Gabriel Valley Weekly – who wrote a story about his 80th birthday and his dedication to teaching at the YMCA – that he is fond of the class because it keeps him connected to people and keeps him healthy.

"I see a lot of people my age," the Colonel told the Weekly in 2000. "They get back to a certain age and let the old rockin’ chair get them and that’s it."

But the Colonel has not let age stop him from doing the things he enjoys. Aside from his time at the YMCA, he likes to play golf, swim at the Y, participate in the American Legion, plays basketball and baseball, has a USS Iowa membership, is an avid gin rummy player and is a fierce crossword puzzler.

"Col. Carver exemplifies what it means to serve others. During his decades of volunteering at the Y, he has helped countless people improve their health and enhance the quality of their lives," said Damon Colaluca, executive director of the Santa Anita YMCA. "At the Y, we believe that neighbors helping neighbors makes a community strong. Thank you Col. Carver for serving as a shining example of that belief." For more information about the event, contact Cheryl Reynolds at (626) 359-9244 or by e-mail at cherylreynolds@ymcala.org.

Source: YMCA press release

- Brad Haugaard

Students Talk to Astronauts | Staar Adds Leaders | Gangster Rock

~ Monrovia High students will talk to astronauts in space. http://goo.gl/UqazD

~ Monrovia's Staar Surgical adds leadership "as it builds a stronger foundation to drive growth opportunities." http://goo.gl/DbosT

~ Gangster Rock, at the Library. A Taiwanese film about a gangster who fights a record company and help the musicians. Sept. 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. http://goo.gl/uwBi2

- Brad Haugaard

Historic Monrovia Train Station



An historic picture of a Santa Fe train at the old Monrovia train station. Posted by Bill Mohr on Facebook.
 
- Brad Haugaard

Frustrating Copy Machine Leads to Arrest of Monrovian

Monrovian arrested at Library after reportedly brandishing a knife. He was said to be angry at the copy machine. http://goo.gl/3Utc6

- Brad Haugaard

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly Runs Down the Clock to Prevent 'Bad Laws'

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, writes on Facebook that part of his legislative strategy in the last hours of the latest Assembly session was "to slow down the pace of bad laws being passed by running out the clock at midnight."

He cited a San Francisco Chronicle article that said those hours were "made a bit longer in the Assembly by Assemblyman Tim Donnelly ... who spoke - yelled, actually, and often drifted to unrelated issues - on seemingly every one of the hundreds of measures."

Donnelly writes:

"I believe we shouldn't just pass 550 bills, we should know what is in them, and sometimes the best way to do that is ask questions and spark a debate. I also hoped to slow down the pace of bad laws being passed by running out the clock at midnight. There were a number of bills that never made it to the floor due in part to this strategy along with the coordinated efforts of my colleagues."

- Brad Haugaard

Structural Work Done on 210 Bridge

All structural work is now completed on the Gold Line bridge over the 210 Freeway. http://goo.gl/mkMpW

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Loses to Ayala :-( | Haggler Bandit

~ Monrovia Football loses to Ayala 16, 15. http://goo.gl/0xbfP

~ Police look for Haggler Bandit, who struck in Monrovia and five other local banks. http://goo.gl/I778R

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Up in STAR California Education Test Results

Here is a summary of the STAR California Standards Test results. Throughout the state, things have been improving ( http://goo.gl/pF4jj ).

Summary shows Monrovia schools are up in all CST categories:

- 2011: http://goo.gl/zMsXg
- 2012: http://goo.gl/y4C4L

Here are detailed results for Monrovia Unified in general:

- 2011: http://goo.gl/KfEoD
- 2012: http://goo.gl/WyTKf

And if you'd like to break it down by school, select a school then press "View Report":

- 2011: http://goo.gl/63xEX
- 2012 http://goo.gl/2SBYz

- Brad Haugaard