News: brad.haugaard@gmail.com   •  Restaurants   •  Library Catalog   •  Library Activities  •  History   •  Facebook / X/Twitter / RSS

Donate Week / Water Polo

~ January 17-23 is Donate Week in Monrovia's green month. Give stuff you don't need anymore to a charity, get rid of hazardous waste and old electronics.

The Salvation Army will come get your old clothing and furniture for free. Call 1-800-SA-TRUCK 1 (800) 728-7825 to schedule a pick-up. Also, this Saturday (Jan. 22) there will be a Salvation Army collection event at the Park & Ride lot at the southwest corner of Myrtle and Pomona avenues. Stop by and drop-off stuff.

Also, you can get rid of old paint, bug spray, batteries and old electronics (television sets, VCRs, cell phones) by contacting VM Curbside, LLC for free pick-up. Call 1-800-449-7597 to schedule.

~ Girls Water Polo: Monrovia 6, Temple City 8 :-( http://goo.gl/Lfw4N

- Brad Haugaard

Doggy Restrooms

Just across from the restrooms in Monrovia Canyon Park we find that the dogs have not been forgotten. Zoom in if you can't see the detail.


- Brad Haugaard

State of Monrovia Speech / Resurfacing of Huntington

A couple stray items from City Manager Scott Ochoa's weekly report:
 
~ Tickets are gone for the State of the City address by Mayor Mary Ann Lutz at the Krikorian Premiere Theater on Monday, January 24, but you can watch it on KGEM. http://www.kgem.com
 
~ West Huntington Drive will be a big, fat mess for a few months starting in March as the street is refurbished. The street will be ground down to be resurfaced and some concrete panels will be removed or replaced.
 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Making New Land in Monrovia

Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa reports that in February the city council will consider a plan to put a cover over the wash at Huntington and Fifth. Bingo! New property that can be used for new businesses. Bottom line: more sales and property tax for the city and school district. [Didn't Mark Twain say you should invest in land because they're not making any more of it? Guess he was wrong.]
 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Great White Shark vs. Monrovia

Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa warns that Monrovia faces a "fragile" economic recovery during 2011.
 
In his weekly report, he writes that "The economic recovery that is underway still has not quite reached Main Street USA, and we have the financial and organizational bumps and bruises to prove it."
 
However, he said, sales tax revenue is up, property tax revenue is "mildly growing" and we're starting to see a bit of building.
 
But, he said, "2011 will not be easy, even if the State of California does leave us alone." And he does not seem optimistic that "the 30-foot great white shark that is the State of California" will leave the city alone.
 
Specifically, he is upset at Governor Jerry Brown's proposal to eliminated redevelopment agencies.
 
"I suppose," he writes, "I have to give the Governor credit for having the gumption for coming to the conclusion that, if he can't shake the money from the piggybank, he may as well take the piggybank and break it."
 
Ochoa adds that, "Without redevelopment agencies, most cities - perhaps every city - will be unable to sustain any semblance of economic development activity."
 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Beautiful MLK Day in Monrovia


It looks like it will be a beautiful Martin Luther King day in Monrovia. Estimated high of 80 and - as you can see - a lovely clear day.
Also, check out Foundation 44, a nonprofit Monrovia counseling service that helps students go to college. http://goo.gl/5t5Py
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Sports: Football, Girls Basketball

~ Running back De'Shawn Ramirez hopes to be back on the Monrovia High football team in the fall. http://goo.gl/UBhof
 
~ Girls Basketball. Monrovia 59, San Marino 40. :-) http://goo.gl/JYEPu
 
- Brad Haugaard

Green Dot To Manage Federal Pilot Program / Funeral / Bleachers

~ Monrovia's Green Dot Corporation will manage a Treasury Department pilot program to let low income people receive their tax refunds via debit card. http://goo.gl/R7Evx
 
~ Funeral services for former Monrovia Police employee. http://goo.gl/fLZvY

~ More on the bleacher problems at Monrovia High. http://goo.gl/H9ou4
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council: On the Agenda

Here is the agenda for the Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m. Monrovia City Council meeting: http://goo.gl/GfzEx
 
And here are some items on the agenda:
 
~ The City Council will receive an annual financial report on the city by an independent auditor. Big picture: as of June 30, 2010, Monrovia's combined net assets decreased $10.41 million, or 29.7 percent, compared to the previous year. Lots more detail here: http://goo.gl/PCDOS
 
~ The City Council will consider entering into an agreement with Southern California Edison - along with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments - to work on energy efficiency projects. More here: http://goo.gl/JOLL6
 
~ Monrovia is scheduled to receive aabout $369,031 in Community Development Block Grant money which will be spent on neighborhood preservation, rehabilitation, and sports and recreation activities. http://goo.gl/ycJnD
 
~ The council will vote on some new rules for business signs in Old Town. http://goo.gl/IH5Hr
 
~ The council will decide whether to give letter grades to mobile food vendors (as is done for restaurants) and tax them $225 per year for a business license, plus a $25 application fee for a new license, and $11 for a renewal. http://goo.gl/psaOs
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Soccer and Basketball

Boys Soccer. Monrovia 5, Temple City 0 :-) http://goo.gl/tSn9p
 
Boys Basketball. Temple City 60, Monrovia 56 :-( http://goo.gl/y5EMZ
 
Girls Basketball. Monrovia 55, Temple City 34 :-) http://goo.gl/y5EMZ
 
- Brad Haugaard

Cheap Chicken

Monrovia's King Ranch Market is offering 10 lbs. of chicken thighs and drumsticks for $3.90 until Tuesday. That's 39 cents a pound. My wife says that's "unbelievably cheap." Source: http://goo.gl/Ew5hF

- Brad Haugaard

Assaults, Battery, Robbery, Burglary, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Jan. 6-12. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 512 service events, resulting in 117 investigations.  Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:
 
Grand Theft from Vehicle
January 6 at 6:51 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Wildrose regarding a vehicle burglary.  The victim reported that his truck was broken into sometime during the night.  The victim had parked his truck in his driveway, but did not lock it.  He returned to it in the morning and discovered the loss.  Investigation continuing.
 
Outside Assist - Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force (LA IMPACT) - 5 Suspects Arrested 
January 6 at 1:02 p.m., an officer responded to the 800 block of West Duarte to assist LA IMPACT personnel on a residence check.  As they arrived at the residence, a vehicle was exiting the garage.  The vehicle was stopped.  A large amount of marijuana was located in the vehicle.  Five suspects were detained and arrested; one subject ran and was not located.
 
Vehicle Tampering - Suspects Arrested
January 6 at 7:31 p.m., a witness reported two male juveniles seen checking car doors on several vehicles on Foothill near Shamrock.  Officers responded and the two were stopped and subsequently arrested for vehicle tampering.  The investigation determined no burglaries or thefts had occurred, probably because all the doors were locked.  The two juveniles were later released to their parents with citations.
 
Attempt Burglary
January 6 at 11:34 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 700 block of East Huntington. An employee of a business reported that a male subject had just broken the front, glass door to an adjacent business.  When the suspect saw the employee, he left walking west on Huntington.  An officer responded and found the suspect at California and Huntington in a parking lot.  When the suspect saw the police car, he fled through the parking lot.  Containment was set up with the assistance of Arcadia police officers and the El Monte Police Department helicopter; however, the suspect was not located.
 
Assault with a Deadly Weapon / False Imprisonment - Suspect Arrested
January 7 at 6:59 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of West Olive regarding a fight in progress.  When they arrived, a female subject exited the house and ran to the officers.  Her hands had been tied behind her back with a belt and she was screaming for help.  Her mother was with her and the mother's finger had been cut.  The two subjects were at the location visiting an aunt, who lives in the garage, which has been modified into a dwelling space.  An argument had begun with residents in the backhouse as to whether or not they had a right to be there.  The male resident from the backhouse grabbed the daughter by the hair and pulled her into his house, where he tied her up, then wielded a knife and slashed at the mother who was trying to protect her daughter.  The officers arrested the suspect.  An I.C.E. hold was placed on the subject, as he was found to be illegally in the United States.
 
Driving Under the Influence / Hit and Run Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested
January 7 at 11:41 p.m., officers responded to the report of a traffic collision at Alamitas, just north of Diamond.  A driver struck a fire hydrant with his vehicle.  There was no damage to the hydrant; however, there was extensive damage to the vehicle.  The driver lost his front bumper as he fled the scene.  He drove around the corner to his home on Montana, followed by a witness.  As he parked in his driveway, officers arrived and saw him enter his home.  He was located hiding in a small cabinet next to the backdoor.  He was positively identified by the witness and was determined by officers to have been driving under the influence.  He was arrested and taken into custody.
 
Domestic Battery - Suspect Arrested
January 8 at 11:02 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 700 block of West Walnut.  They arrived and determined a husband and wife had been arguing about an incident that occurred over a year ago, but the husband's mother had just found out about.  The husband slapped the wife once in the face.  He was arrested for misdemeanor spousal battery and later released on citation.
 
Assault with a Deadly Weapon / Conspiracy to Commit a Crime / Participation in Criminal Street Gang / Violation of Gang Injunction - Suspects Arrested
January 8 at 8:02 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 100 block of Montana regarding several victims being attacked by gang members.  The victims alleged they were standing in the carport area of the location when a black SUV approached and four gang members exited the vehicle.  One of the gang members was armed with a machete and another was holding a handgun.  The gang members chased the victims for a short distance, but returned to the SUV without further incident.  No shots were fired and no one was injured.
 
Approximately 30 minutes later, an officer located the SUV at Peck and Longden.  One of the suspects fled on foot through residential yards.  The Foothill Air Support helicopter arrived and directed officers to the suspect, and he was taken into custody.  The suspect is a juvenile gang member who had a no-bail warrant out for his arrest.  During the foot pursuit, a high-risk stop was conducted on the SUV.  Three additional suspects were detained.  The victims positively identify the suspects and their vehicle.  The weapons were not recovered.
 
Parole Violation / Possession of Methamphetamine Pipe / Possession of Marijuana - Suspect Arrested
January 9 at 2.55 a.m., an officer stopped a suspicious person parked behind a business at Pomona and Myrtle. Upon contacting the subject, a subsequent investigation revealed he was on parole for arson.  The officer found a glass methamphetamine pipe, marijuana, a folding knife, and a laptop computer that is believed to be stolen.  The subject was arrested and a parole hold was obtained.
 
Vehicle Burglary
January 11 at 5:52 a.m., two male suspects wearing dark clothing and black beanies were seen smashing the window on a vehicle.  The suspects were seen removing a GPS from the vehicle.  They fled and were last seen getting into an older Honda with a roof rack.  The incident is under investigation.
 
Robbery
January 12 at 11:06 p.m., a robbery was reported at a business in the 500 block of West Huntington in the parking lot.  A female employee had just ended her shift and was walking to her car.  An older, grey, 4-door Honda Civic with tinted windows approached her.  The vehicle was occupied by two male subjects, possibly gang members.  The passenger exited the vehicle and approached the victim with a knife in one hand and a small black club in the other.  When he demanded the victim's money, she told him she did not have any.  He then demanded her cell phone, which she gave to the suspect.  The suspects fled southbound on Mayflower.  Investigation continuing.

Woman Robbed / Gym Opens Tomorrow / Oscar Movies

~ A woman robbed on Huntington near Mayflower last night. http://goo.gl/l188l
 
~ Monrovia High gym to open Friday. http://goo.gl/iY8zB
 
~ The Monrovia Library presents Road to the Oscars movie nights, on January 24, January 31, and February 7. Movies start at 6 p.m. in the Library Community Room. This series is free and is sponsored by the Friends of the Monrovia Public Library. For film titles and descriptions, please call the Library at 626-256-8274 and ask for the Adult Reference Desk. http://goo.gl/b7ntC
 
- Brad Haugaard

Yard Sales / No Review of Conviction / No Contest

~ Cool, a list of yard sale locations in Monrovia for Jan. 10-16. http://goo.gl/pUPVw
 
~ State Supreme Court will not review conviction in the stabbing deaths of a Monrovia couple. http://goo.gl/eyNWa
 
~ Monrovian enters no contest plea in killing of Arcadia man. http://goo.gl/sSUf6
 
- Brad Haugaard

Loopnet Leaving Town / Monrovia Spy Plane

~ Loopnet, a Monrovia-based online real estate listing service, is moving to Glendora. http://goo.gl/merWc
 
~ More on huge spy plane built by Monrovia's AeroVironment: http://goo.gl/zAG58
 
- Brad Haugaard

Tom Adams - Mayor of Bras


Not only is Tom Adams Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Monrovia, but according to his Twitter postings he is also "mayor" of various businesses and organizations around town, including Little Caesars, Monrovia Community Center, and, of course, Wizard of Bras.

Congratulations, Tom!

Actually, he is just using an online game/tool called foursquare.

And just kidding, Tom. That's okay isn't it Tom? Tom?

- Brad Haugaard ( See Tom's comment ===> )

What's Objectionable about 'Rent' Play?

Since the Monrovia School District thought the play Rent was inappropriate for a high school play, I thought I'd skim through it to see what might be objectionable. You can read it yourself, here: http://goo.gl/M2GEe

UPDATE:I should make clear that this is from a script I found on the Internet. If the play the High School was thinking of putting on has been modified, then the information below may not fully apply.

Well, it is certainly very racy and gritty. There are scenes that are distinctly sexual. Not something I'd go to. Here are a few clips and comments about the script, and note that the stuff below is pretty strong in itself:
 
~ It uses very crude language in places. It lets you know right away it's not Oklahoma! You run into your first "sh_t" in the opening lines and in various places thereafter, and there is the "f" word in its various iterations, including the one with "mother" in front of it.

~ There is drug abuse and drinking. Quoting from the script: "April buys a packet of white powder from a dealer, THE MAN, a sinewy, greasy, sleazy dope dealer" and "A heavy rain. Roger and April shoot heroin beneath a fire escape" and, as part of a toast, "To marijuana" and "Wine and beer" and, after a funeral, "C'mon. Let's go get drunk."

~ There are sex scenes and sexy scenes. From the script: "Roger and April make love." and "Maureen and Mark are making love." and "Maureen is just grinding as she dances with another guy." and "Maureen shares a passionate kiss with the man, then turns, shares another with the woman" and "Angel lies face down on the table. Mimi mimics giving it to her from behind."

~ There is suicide: "April's lifeless arm dangles over the side. A heavy stream of blood mingles with the bathwater, spilling over onto the floor."

~ There are references to various forms of sexuality: Maureen works at a sex club that features bondage. "Handcuffs. Leather. Whips." and - as part of the toast referenced above - "To sodomy. It's between God and me." and "To S and M!" and there are references to dildoes and masturbation and cross-dressing and a lesbian relationship.

~ There is Santa Claus in drag.

~ There is a crude reference or two to the birth of Christ. A song says "In this week when we celebrate the birth ... / In that little town of Bethlehem, we raise / our glass, you bet your ass to ... /
[The song is interrupted as "Maureen moons Benny's table." Then is continued by Mark] / "La Vie Boheme!"

~ A guy kills someone's pet dog by throwing it from a 23rd story window.

~ There is a strip scene, though it appears the audience only sees the backs of the actors: "Mimi and Angel throw off their leather. All bra and panties. Mimi and Angel whip off their bras. We see them from behind."

~ There is a reference to sucking on a cow's udder. [Not sure how to classify that.]

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Spy Plane / STAAR Revenue Down

~ Spy Plane - Giant AeroVironment spy drone (almost the wingspan of a 747) takes a test flight in the Mojave. Can stay in the sky for days. http://goo.gl/cCSPt
 
~ Declining Revenue - Monrovia's STAAR Surgical expects to report $14.2 million in revenue in the fourth quarter, a decrease of 28 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009. http://goo.gl/H76In
 
- Brad Haugaard

Yet More on Rent Play

~ Statement from Monrovia High principal - http://goo.gl/E0Qvq
~ Will the ACLU get involved? http://goo.gl/BUiJW
~ More details - http://goo.gl/GkKLv

What do you think?

~ Should the district consider the content of a play before allowing it to be performed?
~ Should the district ever overrule a drama teacher?
~ What guidelines, if any, should be used to determine which plays are performed at Monrovia High?

Add a comment.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Traffic Advisory

Beginning tomorrow, January 11, a long-term public works project starts on Myrtle Avenue at both the Huntington Drive and Chestnut Avenue intersections. The project will run to May 2. Work hours are between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
 
More details here: http://goo.gl/RBQsE
 
- Brad Haugaard