Monrovia Now: News and Comment about Monrovia, California

AeroVironment Receives $17.2 Million Order

Monrovia-based AeroVironment has received a $17.2 million order from the U.S. Army for its digital Puma All Environment (AE) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) contractor logistics support, training and accounting for contract services.

Source: http://goo.gl/wdvyI

- Brad Haugaard

Abducted children / DA Investigation

~ Abducted children - who spent time in Monrovia - turned over to Texas authorities. http://goo.gl/GqaVu

~ DA Investigated Monrovia fire officials. http://goo.gl/5VA2X

- Brad Haugaard

Vote Today! Your Country Needs You

I saw our neighborhood cat, Clyde, at the polling area. I said, "Sorry Clyde, you can't vote, this isn't Chicago."

- Brad Haugaard

Historic Preservation: 270 N. Myrtle

In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa said the Historic Preservation Commission had an "interesting and intense meeting" about the property at 270 N. Myrtle Avenue. The commission voted 3-to-3, thus taking no action. Ochoa said:

"The property at 270 N. Myrtle Avenue was purchased by a private owner, who apparently intends to demolish the house in favor of building two new homes. Again, there are two underlying lots and the construction of two single-family homes is a permitted use. Still, the historic preservation community in Monrovia fervently desires to save the house. Thus, we may end up with the immovable object meeting the irresistible force. That said, I do hope and believe that a workable compromise is within reach. Our Planning staff is doing a great job of educating folks and problem-solving."

Source: http://goo.gl/6bof

UPDATE: A correspondent writes to say that some members of the Commission want things both ways.

She said they want to be able to say that some pre-1940 homes are not historic and bar them from the benefits accorded to historic homes, but at the same time want to be able to prevent non-historic homes from being replaced, thereby denying all the benefits of historic status but demanding all the limitations.

She said her family attempted to get her older home designated as an historic home, but was told that it was old but not historic.

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Sells Chargers / Radich runs through Ohio / Train Station / Tirah Le'au

~ Monrovia's AeroVironment got a deal to equip Nisan dealerships with battery chargers for the launch of the Nissan LEAF electric car. http://goo.gl/efhw

~ Monrovia runner John Radich - as we noted earlier - is running across the continent to the East Coast. He is now in Ohio. http://goo.gl/aLE9

~ Nice black and white photo of Monrovia's old train station. http://goo.gl/jtBL

~ Tirah Le'au Transforms Monrovia High volleyball. http://goo.gl/fAJG8

- Brad Haugaard

Discrimination Lawsuit

Firefighter files suit against the City of Monrovia claiming he was discriminated against for union activities.

http://goo.gl/WMH95

- Brad Haugaard

Time Right for Monrovia Electronic Media?

In his weekly report, Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa notes MonroviaNow (this publication) and Monrovia Patch:

"Patch.com and Monrovia Now, a local daily news service and quasi-community blog, respectively, have hit the ground running. While Monrovia Now posts a lot of community news and information, and invites folks to share their opinions, it is not a commercial venture. Patch.com, on the other hand, is a venture by AOL to fill the hole that exists in the traditional print media's coverage of community news; and, at the same time, sell advertising of local businesses and events.

"With daily newspapers still losing money and having trouble covering small-town news (no matter how many municipal scandals there seem to be), and the weeklies (such as the Monrovia Weekly) only printing true community news once a week (the second run is largely legal ads), the time may be ripe for an expansion of e-media. We shall see..."

Yes, we shall indeed see.

Source: http://goo.gl/LGla

- Brad Haugaard

Jim Stafford Dies

The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce reports that member Jim Stafford of Nethook, Inc., passed away Monday evening, October 25, 2010. "Jim was a personal friend of the chamber, helping us many times with our computers and he attended Chamber events regularly." He also worked at Maranatha High School in Pasadena.

http://www.facebook.com/MonroviaChamber

- Brad Haugaard

Wilderness EIR Ready. Got Thoughts?

The City has prepared an environmental impact report for the Hillside Wilderness Preserve and Hillside Recreation Area (the foothills area north of town from Arcadia to Bradbury). You can get a CD copy of the report at the Monrovia City Hall, Community Center, or Library, and, I believe, it will be posted on the city website, but I can't find it yet. Anyway, once you read it you may have thoughts, so there will be a "scoping" meeting (which means you get to give your thoughts but it is not a meeting for questions) at the Community Center at 6:30 p.m. on November 17. Or you can send thoughts to asoash@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

UPDATE: In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa notes that: "the City will introduce and study only those uses that can reasonably be considered under the terms of Measures A & B (i.e., no motocross, no golf courses, etc.; only hiking, biking, interpretive trails, nature centers, etc.)." However, he added that "this range of uses is considerably more intensive than what was originally approved."

- Brad Haugaard

Nominees for Outstanding Monrovian

If you know an outstanding Monrovia resident, who has been making contributions to the community both recently and for an extended period of time, you might want to nominate him or her for the Chamber of Commerce's Iris Award, which is kind of a Citizen of the Year award. Nominations must be in by November 22. You can download the nomination form here: http://goo.gl/PlVI

- Brad Haugaard

Magic With Tigers?

The Monrovia Kiwanis is sponsoring the "Art of Imagination" magic show. I hear there may be tigers. Tickets are about gone. This Friday at Clifton Auditorium at 7 p.m. Call 358-8988 for reservations.

- Brad Haugaard

Trust and Raises

Not strictly about Monrovia, but I noticed this juxtaposition of items on the front of the Star-News website this morning and couldn't resist showing it. Methinks the two may be connected.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/

- Brad Haugaard