Gold Line Extension Website

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority has launched a new website at www.foothillextension.org to provide information about the project.

First picture: map of Gold Line extension.
Second picture: rendering of planned overpass just west of eastbound Santa Anita offramp.

-Brad Haugaard

Where's the Game? Arcadia! / AeroVironment Financials / Cats-San Dimas Video

~ More on the difficulties in finding a spot for the Monrovia-Whittier Christian football game. http://goo.gl/8s2i3  (The game will be played at Arcadia High School. http://goo.gl/fqBtA )
 
~ Monrovia's AeroVironment reports that second quarter performance "exceeded our forecast," saying that "revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 was $63.8 million, up 24% from second quarter fiscal 2010 revenue of $51.4 million." However, "net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 was $0.3 million, down 88% from second quarter fiscal 2010 net income of $2.2 million." Still, having said that, the company "reaffirms its expectation to achieve revenue growth of 10% to 15% over fiscal year 2010, with an operating income margin between 10% and 12%." http://goo.gl/5pkR9 . More from LA Business Journal: http://goo.gl/hCMuV

~ Video clips of the Monrovia-San Dimas game here: http://goo.gl/Wti7E

 
- Brad Haugaard

Bad View from Bleachers? / Christmas Tree

~ Oops. Whittier Christian unhappy with visitor bleachers at Monrovia High for MHS vs WC football game. We can't see! http://goo.gl/ZtdSS
 
~ Buy a Christmas tree, help the Monrovia Library (PDF). 6-9 p.m. Dec. 15. http://goo.gl/Xoa7v
 
- Brad Haugaard

Preservation / Giving / Santa

270 N Myrtle

Historic Preservation ~ This Wednesday the Historic Preservation Commission will discuss the house at 270 N. Myrtle Avenue, described by City Manager Scott Ochoa as "a smallish Queen Anne/Craftsman/Spanish bungalow."

In his weekly report, Ochoa writes: "It seems that the new owners of the property will agree to keep and preserve the original portion of the existing house (the Queen Anne), while expanding and upgrading portions of it. In exchange, the HPC and the Planning Commission would approve necessary minor exceptions to the Code (in order to set the house and the addition appropriately on the lot). I don't think anyone is entirely happy, but sometimes that is the best sign of a good compromise."

City Employees Give to Community ~ Ochoa writes that Monrovia Municipal Employees' Association (MMEA) typically donates to the Unity Center or does other good works around the holidays, but this holiday season and next year, he says, MMEA will go further and perform "a host of community volunteer projects and efforts," starting with a food drive to complement the volunteer time and resources they donate to the Unity Center.
"In consultation with the board," Ochoa writes, "I am hopeful that they will be agreeable to allowing the Management Team to come alongside of them, and that the police officers' and firefighters' unions will want to partner up on a diverse array of community projects and programs as well."

Santa at Library ~ Toddlers and preschool children are invited to the Library on Tuesday, December 7 and Wednesday, December 8 at 10:45 a.m. for a Santa story time featuring holiday story, songs, and snacks. A very special guest will make a cameo appearance at the end of the show - jolly old St. Nicholas himself!

Source: http://goo.gl/Bcbdo

- Brad Haugaard

More Needy - Unity Center Needs Christmas Help

This year the Foothill Unity Center in Monrovia plans to distribute 3,500 toys to children in low-income families, 460 more than it distributed last year, plus food for about 2,000 families.
 
Joan Whitenack, of the Foothill Unity Center in Monrovia, told the Coordinating Council today that after a very busy Thanksgiving the Center needs to do it all again for Christmas. If you'd like to pack or otherwise help, give the center a call at (626) 358-3486 or email volunteer@foothillunitycenter.org.
 
- Brad Haugaard

Chamber of Commerce Award Winners

Monrovians Ulises Gutierrez, Lisa Barrios and Julie Gentile were honored Friday by the Chamber of Commerce for their contributions to the community. Gutierrez received the Iris Award; Barrios the Monroe Award, and Gentile the Dick Lord Award.
 
The Iris Award is equivalent to a Citizen of the Year award and is given to honor those in Monrovia for their contributions to our community.  Ulises Gutierrez was a troubled youth who found his way out of drugs and gangs through Teen Challenge, which for Ulises was a place of acceptance and encouragement that gave him strength to move beyond his background.  Ulises knew that there were still many young people in the same place from which he came; he was passionate and determined to do what he could to help them.  Taking all that he learned though experience, he formed a youth group for teenagers in similar situations to his, which became the Youth Alliance in Monrovia.  This in turn led to his job as Outreach Coordinator at the Santa Anita Family YMCA.  Ulises takes his passion to help, insights, experience and innate speaking abilities with him to all his volunteer activities.  Ulises volunteers his time for many community organizations, the Foothill Unity Center,  Make a Difference Day Monrovia and the Monrovia/Arcadia Ministerial Association, to name a few.  Ulises has many roles in the community, pastor, advocate, life coach and bridge builder, making him an outstanding role model for our community.  Additionally, Ulises serves on the boards of the Monrovia/Arcadia Ministerial Association, Foothill Unity Center, Social Model Recovery Systems, Liaison for the City of Monrovia and Duarte Mediation Team and is a partner with LegacyMakers International in Pasadena.  We congratulate, thank and commend Ulises Gutierrez for all that he does and will continue to do in our community.
 
The Monroe Award was established in 2000 for business person of the year in recognition of outstanding contributions to the community. The recipient for 2010 is Lisa Barrios of Paint 'n' Play2 in Old Town Monrovia.  Lisa Barrios is well known in the volunteer world as she volunteers her time and materials to many organizations in the community.  For the City of Hope's Helping Hearts Program, Lisa creates ceramic handprints of patients, both kids and adults.  For the Foothill Unity Center's Back to School Program and the Holiday distributions, working with children in need and helping them explore art and ceramic painting as part of the Unity Center outreach efforts.  She hosts workshops and fundraisers for the Girl Scouts of the Greater San Gabriel Valley, students with special needs find employment opportunities at Paint 'n' Play2.  Monrovia High School ceramics students benefit from Lisa's giving spirit as well, students are encouraged and promoted through opportunities to partner with Paint 'n' Play2 to further their craft and seek employment at Paint 'n' Play2.  Lisa is a supporter of the Village Afterschool Program, and the Boys and Girls Club by holding workshops for kids at her store.  Additionally, Lisa assists in promoting and fundraising and hosts a gallery for the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts MAFA; MAFA in turn supports the Monrovia Unified School District's arts education efforts.  Lisa volunteers her time to the Old Town area as well, assisting with organizing the Summer Art Walks and by promoting and participating in public activities in Old Town. 
 
Monrovia is fortunate to have a business leader who not only speaks about giving back, but also puts her money where her heart is, always finding time for another project, another worthy cause and another child.  Congratulations Lisa!
The Dick Lord Award is presented each year to an individual in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Monrovia Chamber over a period of time.  The Chamber is pleased to recognize Julie Gentile, Gentile, McCloskey & Company for the many volunteer hours she has given to the Chamber during the past several years.  Julie has been a member of the Ambassador Committee for four years and rarely misses an event.  Julie is always there to lend a helping hand and sponsors events throughout the year as well.  Julie is an essential advocate for the Chamber, promoting the benefits of membership and has brought in several new members to the Chamber and is considered by all involved a most valuable and cheerful volunteer.  The Chamber greatly appreciates all the time, effort and dedicated volunteerism Julie continues to provide the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce.
 
- Edited from information supplied by Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karin Crehan

IRS Raid / More Bleachers? / Assault on Officer

~ IRS raids Monrovia company. http://goo.gl/0tzci
 
~ Monrovia High may add bleachers for Wildcats-Whittier Christian game. http://goo.gl/mpiMm
 
~ A Monrovia man was arrested in connection with assault on Pasadena police officer at Rose Bowl. http://goo.gl/zblQC
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Cats Over San Dimas - 47 to 14

Monrovia Wildcats win against football rival San Dimas! Next Saturday the Cats take on Whittier Christian at home (but actual site is to be determined).

Details here http://goo.gl/Rn7uf and here http://goo.gl/YOEOQ .
- Brad Haugaard

Football vs. San Dimas / New Department Name

Football Tonight ~ The Wildcats face rival San Dimas at San Dimas High this evening. http://goo.gl/Jq7ht

If you can't make it to the game, you can follow it here: http://goo.gl/odGFN
 
New Department Name? ~ The Monrovia Department of Community Services (Recreation and Library Divisions) is thinking about a new name, logo and mission statement. Take the survey to give your thoughts. http://goo.gl/jqiU5
 
- Brad Haugaard

School Board Meeting: District Solvent ... for Now

At its December 8 meeting (agenda here: http://goo.gl/CGaGI ), starting at 7 p.m., the Monrovia School Board will, among other things:

~ Shuffle seats, electing a new president, VP, Clerk and Secretary from among the board members. http://goo.gl/3GCsm

~ Declare that it is fiscally responsible. As required by the State of California - which is deeply concerned that other governmental agencies be fiscal responsible - the school district will report that it is able to meet its fiscal obligations for this year and the following two years. However, Director of Fiscal Services, David Conway, warns that a little further out, "the district will not currently be able to maintain the required reserve at the end of fiscal year 2013-14." The required reserve is three percent. http://goo.gl/h8tes

- Brad Haugaard

Need Volunteers / Bueno / Fundraising

Volunteers ~ Foothill Unity Center needs volunteers from now through Dec. 21 for its biggest holiday distribution ever for sorting, packing, event and breakdown/cleanup shifts. To sign up or get more info, call Raina or Rob, (626) 358-3486, or email volunteer@foothillunitycenter.org. Also, the center needs canned or packaged foods, new toys and clothing (hoodies!) for kids and teens, and funds are welcome. 9-5 weekdays. http://goo.gl/xkfQb
 
Bueno ~ Not stopping Wildcats' Nick Bueno. http://goo.gl/NAvyb
 
Police ~ Monrovia PD will stop using a fund-raising company. http://goo.gl/kwcTh
 
- Brad Haugaard

Santa's Coming to Town

Okay, all you adults who have children or who are children inside, here's the schedule for Santa Claus touring Monrovia on a Christmas-light-festooned Monrovia fire engine with a reindeer sleigh escorted by a carols-playing police car.

Santa Claus is coming to town (from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.) on ...

Monday, Dec. 13 ~ South of Huntington, west of Myrtle to Fifth, and to the south side of Monrovia.

Tuesday, Dec. 14 ~ East of Myrtle and north of Foothill.

Wednesday, Dec. 15 ~ West of Myrtle and north of Foothill.

Thursday, Dec. 16 ~ East of Myrtle, south of Foothill, north of Duarte Road, to the east city boundary.

Friday, Dec. 17 ~ West of Myrtle, south of Foothill, north of Huntington, to the west city boundary.

Oh yeah, he'll be giving away candy canes!

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia is Finalist / Parade Pix / Home Decorating

Vote for Monrovia ~ The City of Monrovia is one of ten finalists in the University of Kansas' Community Toolbox "Out of the Box" award. You can vote for the winner here http://goo.gl/gmnIc and you can review the finalists here http://goo.gl/dz6CX and see this page - http://goo.gl/WhwkK - for the description of Monrovia's "Monrovia Area Partnership," designed to restore peace in troubled neighborhoods, specifically to eliminate crime and blight on Sherman Avenue after some gang violence.

Parade Pictures ~ More Monrovia Christmas Parade pictures here http://goo.gl/BwLx1 and here http://goo.gl/y2qnV

Home Decorating ~ Remember, if you want to compete in the Holiday Home Decorating Contest, contest applications are due Dec. 10. Details here: http://goo.gl/4uDwj

- Brad Haugaard

Council Meeting: Water Level Low, Rules for Parks, More

A few items of note that will be considered at the Monrovia City Council's meeting on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. ( http://goo.gl/bO9lu ). The council will... 

- Hear an update of the city's Water 4 Life water conservation program. The report says, "Due to recent droughts, the Main San Gabriel Groundwater Basin (which the City’s groundwater is pumped from) has reached historically low water levels." But the city has achieved significant water reduction using voluntary conservation (See chart above). http://goo.gl/rJiJb

- Consider a new ordinance regulating activities at city parks. http://goo.gl/YzbzF

- Set a public hearing for Dec. 21, 2010 on whether to change what is commonly known as "the Leonard Property" from a Residential Designation to Hillside Wilderness Preserve. http://goo.gl/Lijwp

- Set a public hearing for Dec. 21, 2010 to discuss regulations covering food and ice cream trucks. http://goo.gl/FtTgt

- Consider whether to continue using Athens Services for the "Old Town Franchise Area" (http://goo.gl/aGk1B) and  whether to continue using Athens for another six months for street sweeping. [Did you know Monrovia has 90 miles of streets, 4 miles of medians, and 12 miles of alleyways?] ( http://goo.gl/HMB2y ) and decide whether to give Athens a raise ( http://goo.gl/mAA0z ).

- Vote on whether to enter into a $12,300 contract with Dimensions Unlimited to update the city's Hazard Mitigation Plan. In other words, the plan for what the city will do in the event of a disaster. Details here:
http://goo.gl/x7Plm

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Holiday Parade

A few pictures of the parade this evening. I think one of the best
things about this parade is that it has no pretensions. No pretensions
at all.
- Brad Haugaard

Christmas Tree Lights Go On

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 lights! The lights go on at the Monrovia Christmas tree.

(Uuug! Cell phone pictures aren't so great at night, are they?)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Report: Wandering Child, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Nov. 21-Dec.1. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 454 service events, resulting in 81 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

Commercial Burglary
November 26 at 8:50 a.m., an officer responded to a business in the 500 block of East Evergreen regarding a burglary. The reporting party said someone had broken into the business either the day before or overnight. The suspects cut part of a corrugated steel panel to gain entry. A loss was not established and the investigation is continuing.

Gang Graffiti
November 26 at 12:21 p.m., an officer went to the 400 block of East Duarte on the report of graffiti in the area. The officer located the new graffiti on the southeast corner. The graffiti was gang related writing in black paint.

Grand Theft Auto
November 26 at 4:26 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 100 block of East Live Oak on the report of a stolen vehicle. An employee had parked the vehicle inside the fenced yard and locked it. In the afternoon, they went to use the vehicle and could not find it. All keys are accounted for and no one had permission to take the vehicle. The vehicle is a white, 2004, Ford F350 truck.

Child Endangering
November 27 at 8:59 a.m., a subject called to report finding a two year old, male child in the middle of the street at Shamrock and Ocean View. Officers responded and a door-to-door canvass revealed an open front door to a two story home. The residents did not respond to officers knocking. A contact for the location was called and this person responded to the location. The father of the boy was found to be asleep in the residence. Apparently, the parents know the child can open the door, but did not take any measures to ensure he could not get out. A report will be completed and forwarded to the Department of child and Family Services.

Petty Theft - Suspects Arrested
November 29 at 6:54 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington on the report of a petty theft. Two teenage sisters decided to steal items from the business and were stopped by loss prevention. Both had no criminal history. They were cited in the field and released to their mother, who had responded to the location.

Grand Theft Auto - Suspect Arrested
November 29 at 8:09 p.m., an officer on patrol received a LoJack hit on a stolen vehicle. With the assistance of the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter, officers tracked the hit to the area of Mayflower and Duarte Road. The signal was very inconsistent and officers had difficulty locating the stolen truck, but after a lengthy search, the truck was eventually located at a residence in the 500 block of Genoa inside a garage. The officer was able to see the truck through a crack in the garage door. The activity drew the resident out and she was questioned. She signed a consent to search for the garage and house. The garage was searched and the vehicle was recovered. The VIN number had been removed and was found on a workbench in the garage. The woman eventually admitted her husband had driven the truck there and put it in the garage. She claimed she did not know the vehicle was stolen. The wife called and asked the husband to come home, which he did. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Welfare Check / Mental Evaluation
November 29 at 8:37 p.m., officers responded to the report of a subject who claimed he wanted to kill himself with a razor. On arrival, officers determined the subject had ingested a significant amount of hard alcohol to the degree he needed medical aid. He also stated he wanted to die. Paramedics were summoned and they transported him to a hospital, where he will be held for mental evaluation.

Fraud / Warrant - Suspect Arrested
December 1 at 1:10 p.m., an officer was called to investigate a fraud which occurred at a business in the 400 block of South Myrtle. The suspect had passed a check on an account that had been closed in 2005. The suspect was arrested for an outstanding warrant and she was brought to the station. She admitted to passing the check and knowing the account was closed for several years.

Receiving Stolen Property - Suspects Arrested
December 1 at 11:22 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of North May reported two subjects in the area looking into cars and checking car doors to see if they were unlocked. Officers arrived and detained two female juveniles, 15 and 16 years old, both where in possession of stolen property. They claimed to have received the property from another female subject. Officers were able to locate some of the victims and their property was returned; however, all of the victims could not be located. Some of the property taken included: several pairs of sunglasses, an iPod, CD's, and a resident's wallet and driver's license.

Grand Theft Auto
December 2 at 1:00 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of West Maple called police to report his truck had just been stolen by unknown suspects who left in an unknown direction. The vehicle is a silver, 2007, Chevy Silverado truck. Officers responded but the suspect could not be located. Investigation continuing.

Green Dot / The Aztec / Football

Green Dot Selling Stock ~ Monrovia's Green Dot Corporation, a prepaid financial services company, has begun a secondary public offering of 4,269,051 shares of its Class A common stock. http://goo.gl/bzLEW

Ragtime at the Aztec ~ On the last Sunday of each month there is ragtime music at the Aztec Hotel. http://goo.gl/GQOJc

Cats vs. San Dimas ~ More thoughts on upcoming football game with San Dimas. http://goo.gl/5cOuW

- Brad Haugaard

Wanna Be Mayor? / Christmas Concert / Boy's Basketball :-(

Want to run for mayor, or for a seat on the Monrovia City Council in April? The City Clerk's office will host an information meeting on Monday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. in the Monrovia Library Community Room (PDF). http://goo.gl/FQQL1
 
Monrovia First Presbyterian Church's Christmas concert is this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. http://goo.gl/gjAla
 
Boys Basketball ~ Wildcats 56, Flintridge Prep 72. http://goo.gl/u29C3
 
- Brad Haugaard

City Council Video

For your viewing pleasure, the November 16 special meeting of the Monrovia City Council is now online. http://goo.gl/V8YnL
 
- Brad Haugaard