Monrovia's 125th Birthday, featuring The Monrovia Day Parade - "Cruisin' With Samson." 7 p.m. on May 12. http://goo.gl/PHKJr
- Brad Haugaard
Mountain Lion Alert
From the City Website:
A mountain lion has been sighted during the evening hours in the mountainous area around the 1100 block of Norumbega Road. California Fish and Game has been advised and is monitoring the situation. Residents in the area are encouraged to be alert to their surroundings and use appropriate precautions with their children and pets. http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/
More detail: http://goo.gl/oFAPZ
- Brad Haugaard
40 Years in Prison, Meth, Fighting, Mountain Lion, Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Feb. 3-9. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 525 service events, resulting in 101 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:
Update - Gang member sentenced for 2007 attempted murder
February 2, 2011, Monrovia Police Department detectives concluded the prosecution of a Monrovia Nuevo Varrio gang member who was responsible for the 2007 shooting and attempted murder of an individual in the 200 block of Cherry. The suspect was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
Vehicle Burglary
February 3 at 8:06 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Wildrose regarding a vehicle burglary. He arrived on scene and the victim reported his vehicle had been broken into during the night. The loss is unknown and the investigation is continuing.
Injury Traffic Collision
February 3 at 8:15 p.m., a vehicle collided into a light pole at Mountain, just north of the 210 Freeway. The light pole fell onto a main power grid line. Officers blocked Mountain until Edison arrived to clear the downed active line. The driver of the vehicle was not hurt; however, the passenger had minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.
Grand Theft Auto Recovery
February 4 at 10:46 p.m., an officer on patrol located an unoccupied stolen vehicle. The vehicle was a 1995 Honda and was parked on Chestnut in front of a business. A DMV computer check confirmed it was stolen out of Monterey Park. No suspects were located.
Driving Under the Influence / Possession of Marijuana / Outstanding Warrant - Three Suspects Arrested
February 5 at 4:30 a.m., an officer stopped a driver at Magnolia and Lemon for possibly driving under the influence. After conducting an investigation, it was determined the driver was, in fact, under the influence. The front passenger was found to be in possession of a paper bag full of Marijuana, totaling just over three ounces. The rear passenger was found to have an outstanding warrant. All three subjects were arrested.
Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer / Public Intoxication - Suspect Arrested
February 6 at 1:12 a.m., officers responded to a disturbing subject call at a night club in the 300 block of South Myrtle. As the officer arrived, the subject ran from him. The officer apprehended the subject near Ivy and Palm. The subject was determined to be a minor under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Fighting / Drunk in Public - Three Subjects Arrested
February 6 at 1:56 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Palm and Myrtle observed several females fighting. He requested assisting officers, who responded and the involved parties where detained. The investigation revealed the females all know each other, but due to their intoxicated state, they argued and two of them got into a physical altercation. All three subjects were arrested.
Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Suspect Arrested
February 6, a Special Enforcement Team officer conducted a traffic stop, and the resulting search revealed the subject was in possession of methamphetamine and a methamphetamine smoking pipe. He was arrested for the narcotics charges and three outstanding warrants.
Police Pursuit - Suspect Arrested
February 6 at 9:09 a.m., an officer responded to the 100 block of North Lincoln Place regarding vehicle vandalism in progress. The suspect was last seen driving north on Lincoln. An officer located the suspect vehicle at Hillcrest, east of Myrtle. Officers attempted a traffic stop with emergency lights, but the vehicle failed to yield and increased speed. The vehicle went through several posted stop signs and a residential alley. The pursuit ended in the 200 block of Canyon Crest, where the suspect fled on foot. Containment was set up with the assistance of two units from Arcadia Police Department. Officers conducted a search of the area with no results. As officers were about to leave the area, the suspect was spotted in the 100 block of North Ivy. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and positively identified by the witness. The suspect was also wanted for criminal threats.
Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer / Possession of Methamphetamine - Suspects Arrested
February 6 at 4:43 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting two male subjects fighting in the 800 block of West Duarte. When the officer arrived, he saw a subject loitering near the passenger side of a parked vehicle and another subject in the driver's seat. The subject on the outside of the vehicle had head injuries consistent with a fight. As the officer approached the vehicle, the driver sped off south on Eighth and pulled into the carport area of an apartment complex, where the driver fled on foot. The second subject also tried to flee, but was detained. The Foothill Air Support helicopter assisted in the search for the first suspect. Officers eventually located the suspect hiding in the laundry room of the complex. Further investigation revealed the subject received the head injuries from an unrelated traffic collision and had just been released from the hospital. The suspects were arrested for resisting and delaying officers. One of the suspects was in possession of methamphetamine when arrested.
Disturbing Subject / Resisting and Delaying a Pease Officer - Suspect Arrested
February 6 at 9:51 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 100 block of North Canyon regarding an intoxicated adult throwing furniture and demanding vehicle keys from his family members. The family members refused to give the suspect the keys because he was too intoxicated to drive. The family members locked themselves in a bedroom and called police. When officers arrived, they were greeted by the intoxicated suspect, who became aggressive and yelled profanities at the officers. Officers attempted to check the welfare of the family members, but were obstructed by the intoxicated suspect. Officers had to arrest the suspect in order to control him. The officers were then able to check on the family members and found they were not harmed. The suspect was taken into custody and later released after a sobering period.
Animal Problem - Coyote
February 7 at 6:49 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of Wildrose called to report a coyote had jumped her fence and attacked her cat. Animal Control responded to the location and found the coyote had attacked and killed the cat. The coyote had left the location and returned again several times during the incident. While animal control was at the location the coyote was seen again near the yard before it fled the area. Later that same evening police received another call of a coyote seen at an apartment complex at Foothill and Magnolia, and later there was another sighting at Magnolia and Huntington. The Department of Fish and Game was notified.
Search Warrant - Three Suspects Arrested
February 8, 2011, Special Enforcement Team officers and detectives served a search warrant in the 500 block of East Foothill. Officers recovered a handgun, drugs and stolen property. Three suspects were arrested.
Mountain Lion Sighting
February 9 at 9:06 p.m., a resident driving in the 1100 block of Norumbega saw a mountain lion in the middle of the road that was approximately 125 pounds. An officer was dispatched to the area and located the mountain lion. The officer used a beanbag gun and managed to send the mountain lion back into the hills.
Arboretum Needs Your Opinion / Senator Needs Your Art
~ The LA County Arboretum, next door in Arcadia, wants your opinions for its planning to better serve the area. You can take a 5-10 minute survey here: http://goo.gl/0mHAS I took it. Pretty painless.
~ Bob Huff (R), who represents Monrovia in the California State Senate, is looking for entries for the California State Senate art show. Details here: http://goo.gl/9XCrU
- Brad Haugaard
Online Library / Miss Majorette / Hiker Recovering
~ This is not new, but I'll bet a lot of people don't know that you can check if the Monrovia Library has a book, and if it is checked in, right from your home computer. Just click here: http://goo.gl/5NLn9 ~ Last year Clifton student Madisen Buonsanti became Miss Beginner Pre-Teen Majorette of California. http://goo.gl/FhMj5 ~ Injured hiker recovering. http://goo.gl/SNfkJ - Brad Haugaard
Doggy Drinking Fountain
- Brad Haugaard
Mayor to Testify before State Senate / Rename Olive Ave. Park? / Promotions
In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa reports that:
~ Mayor Mary Ann Lutz is scheduled to testify before the Senate Local Government Committee next Wednesday. He said she'll defend redevelopment, a program that Governor Brown would like to end.
~ at the last City Council meeting, "Mayor Pro Tem Adams requested that a study be conducted to change the name of Olive Avenue Park to a name that recognizes the contributions of Monrovia's Latino community over the years."
~ Steve Sizemore and Craig Jimenez took over the jobs of Community Development Director and Planning Division Manager, respectively.
Source: http://goo.gl/ncm8s
- Brad Haugaard
Carden School to Combine with Anita Oaks
On July 1, Monrovia's Carden of the Foothills school and Duarte's Anita Oaks School will combine to become Foothill Oaks Academy, located in Duarte.
Here is further information from the press release:
"The school will provide reasonably priced private school education from preschool through 8th grade, with a focus on individual attention to students, small class sizes, core curriculum, after school care, and many exciting opportunities for enrichment. Foothill Oaks Academy will kick off an engaging summer school program in 2011, which will be followed by a full academic program starting in September 2011.
"Both school boards and administrators came together to create Foothill Oaks Academy based on the best methods and style of education gleaned from both schools, with a continued commitment to core values and quality education that have come to define both schools within the community. The combination of the schools will provide a strong future, as well as improvements in academic programs for Foothill Oaks Academy. Nancy Lopez, the current principal at Anita Oaks School, and Diane Kieffaber, the current principal of Carden of the Foothills School, will co-direct Foothill Oaks Academy under the guidance of a board of trustees comprised of representatives from each school."
The Foothill Oaks Academy website is www.foothilloaksacademy.org. For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Ryan Soule at (626) 485-1688.
- Brad Haugaard
Here is further information from the press release:
"The school will provide reasonably priced private school education from preschool through 8th grade, with a focus on individual attention to students, small class sizes, core curriculum, after school care, and many exciting opportunities for enrichment. Foothill Oaks Academy will kick off an engaging summer school program in 2011, which will be followed by a full academic program starting in September 2011.
"Both school boards and administrators came together to create Foothill Oaks Academy based on the best methods and style of education gleaned from both schools, with a continued commitment to core values and quality education that have come to define both schools within the community. The combination of the schools will provide a strong future, as well as improvements in academic programs for Foothill Oaks Academy. Nancy Lopez, the current principal at Anita Oaks School, and Diane Kieffaber, the current principal of Carden of the Foothills School, will co-direct Foothill Oaks Academy under the guidance of a board of trustees comprised of representatives from each school."
The Foothill Oaks Academy website is www.foothilloaksacademy.org. For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Ryan Soule at (626) 485-1688.
- Brad Haugaard
New Monrovia Walking Path / YMCA Run
~ City of Monrovia Management Analyst, Dan Bell, reported today that the city will install signs for a one-mile walking route throughout Old Town this week. The route, suggested by Councilmember Becky Shevlin and her husband, Chris, is being paid for entirely by the Monrovia Kiwanis Club.
~ If you'd like to help the Santa Anita Family YMCA and get a bit of exercise as well, the Y is having a 5k run/walk around Recreation Park on Saturday, Feb. 26. Adults $20, kids 14 and under $10. Money raised by the run will benefit the YMCA. Adult run at 8 a.m.; kids at 9:30 a.m. Call 626 359-9244 for details.
- Brad Haugaard
Huffington in Charge of Patch / Wrestling / Kirby Profile
~ The Monrovia Patch news website - and its hundreds of sister news sites - will soon have a new editor-in-chief in Arianna Huffington, the left-leaning commentator and founder of The Huffington Post. AOL, the owner of Patch, is purchasing The Huffington Post and putting her in charge of its media group.
From the press release:
"As part of the transaction, Arianna Huffington, The Huffington Post’s co-founder and editor-in-chief, will be named president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group, which will include all Huffington Post and AOL content, including Engadget, TechCrunch, Moviefone, MapQuest, Black Voices, PopEater, AOL Music, AOL Latino, AutoBlog, Patch, StyleList, and more." (Emphasis mine.)
Source: http://goo.gl/4OaY4
UPDATE: It appears Huffington will be somewhat of a hands-on manager. TechCrunch reports that Huffington "feels an affinity with Patch, AOL’s burgeoning local news properties." http://goo.gl/OdttT
UPDATE 2: In a blog post on The Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington writes: "AOL's Patch.com covers 800 towns across America, providing an incredible infrastructure for citizen journalism in time for the 2012 election, and a focus on community and local solutions that have been an integral part of HuffPost's DNA." http://goo.gl/htmDR
Certainly media owners have political viewpoints, though they usually try to at least sound neutral, but it sounds here as if Huffington intends to use Patch as a political tool and bring it into ideological alignment with The Huffington Post. I hope I'm misinterpreting this because I wish Patch all the best and I've enjoyed and admired it, and I don't think politicizing it is the road to success.
~ Wrestling. Monrovia's league standing. http://goo.gl/xgegn
~ Profile of former Monrovia City Councilman Dan Kirby. http://goo.gl/Ju043
- Brad Haugaard
Bear Poles / Basketball / Cupid / Author Talk / Rockin' Women / Tutoring
~ Along the Ben Overturff road, in Forest Service area above Monrovia Canyon Park, you see a lot of telephone poles (who has a phone up there I've no idea), all of which have scratch marks almost exactly six feet off the ground. Bear scratching posts. As you can see from the thin photo below, those bears could eventually chop down a pole. It got me thinking: When they replace a pole, maybe they ought to cut the old one off about seven feet from the ground instead of three feet. That way the bears would have a nice broken-in phone pole to scratch and maybe the new poles would last a lot longer. (No extra charge for that idea.)
~ Boys basketball; Monrovia 62, San Marino 31 :-) http://goo.gl/iV8qA
~ On Saturday, February 12, from 2 - 3 p.m. Cupid is bringing some favorite stories, songs, crafts and film to the library in honor of love, hearts and Valentines. For ages 4 years through 5th grade. http://goo.gl/O0Vr3
~ Author Daniel McLaurin will talk about his book, "32 Minutes of Greatness," the story of the Hillside High basketball team of Durham, North Carolina, and how it persevered in the face of mid-1960s racism. Wednesday, Feb 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m. http://goo.gl/DSA4I
~ The Monrovia Library will be holding a "Women Who Rock" performance in the lobby on Tuesday March 29, at 6:30. If you are a musically talented woman, contact Youth Services Librarian Rebecca Diaz at rdiaz@ci.monrovia.ca.us. http://goo.gl/W86nT
~ Monrovia's AVID tutoring program. http://goo.gl/YCaPT
- Brad Haugaard
Market Grill Review
This video of The Market Grill - which is kinda hidden away (525 S. Shamrock, across from Recreation Park) - shows the building it's in. I had a very tasty sandwich there. http://goo.gl/YatI5
Antonovich Blasts State Government
Monrovia's representative on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, Mike Antonovich, testified before the California State Assembly Subcomittee on the Budget this evening that, basically, the state is a spendthrift that needs to make real structural reforms and shouldn't be trying to shift its expenses off onto the counties.
Antonovich said the state is "overspending," is driving businesses out of California, has a "bloated bureaucracy," is using a "magician's slight-of-hand trick" in its finances, and so forth.
You can see his testimony on YouTube: http://goo.gl/xWLJ2
- Brad Haugaard
Mr. Monroe / Boost Monrovia / Water Polo / Upper Room Play
~ I was curious what our founder, Mr. Monroe, looked like, so I took a good look at him, right in Library Park. William N. Monroe seems like a nice guy - kinda stony-faced, but nice. Did you know his middle name was Newton?
~ The Star-News is having a "Readers Choice Awards" contest, so if you'd like to nominate a great Monrovia business or two, pick up a copy of today's Star-News and vote (I didn't see the form online). It is on page A5. I've seen the form before, so maybe the paper will run it again.
~ Girls Water Polo - Monrovia 3, San Marino 8 :-( http://goo.gl/KqmkQ
~ Monrovia Second Baptist is putting on the play, "The Upper Room," as part of Black History Month. http://goo.gl/sxU3O
- Brad Haugaard
Attack with a Drill, Child Abuse, Hit and Run, Robbery, Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Jan. 27-Feb. 2. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 454 service events, resulting in 86 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:
Felony Vandalism - Suspect Arrested
January 20 at 12:35 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain regarding a subject that had thrown rocks at nine parked vehicles, breaking seven windows. The male suspect was wearing a white t-shirt with a red sweatshirt tied around his waist and he had fled the area. The suspect was located and detained by officers on Mountain under the freeway. He was positively identified and arrested for felony vandalism and misdemeanor warrants.
Felony Hit and Run Traffic Accident - Suspect Arrested
January 20 at 2:14 p.m., officers responded to the area of Foothill and Mayflower regarding two male subjects fighting as a result of a traffic collision. The collision involved a motorcycle and a car. A passenger on the motorcycle sustained injuries. The driver of the car fled, but was detained by an officer a short distance away. The driver was positively identified and was arrested.
Robbery
January 21 at 6:05 p.m., police responded to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington that had just been robbed at gunpoint. The suspect was described as male, 30 years old, possible mustache or goatee, wearing a blue baseball cap, dark hooded sweatshirt, and dark pants. The suspect was given the money from the register and had exited the business running west toward Mayflower. An extensive area search was conducted, but the suspect was not located. Investigation continuing.
Grand Theft Auto Recovery - Suspect Arrested
January 21 at 8:37 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 1600 block of South Mayflower located and conducted a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was the listed suspect. She was arrested and taken into custody. The vehicle had been stolen from a car rental company.
Child Abuse - Suspect Arrested
January 21 at 5:36 p.m., an officer was dispatched for a welfare check at a residence attached to a business in the 2100 block of South Myrtle. The investigation resulted in the arrest of the father at the location. Two children were interviewed and stated their father chokes, kicks and pulls their ears. The 4 year old male child had visible injury to his neck. He told the investigating officer his father grabs his neck and chokes him. The Department of Child and Family Services assigned custody of the children to the mother with the requirement that they be kept away from the father until his hearing. In the early morning, the mother came to the police station with the children to bail out the father. The Department of Child and Family Services was notified and responded. They felt the children could not be protected under the current circumstances and took temporary custody of the children.
Fight in Progress / Public Intoxication - Subjects Arrested
January 23 at 1:44 a.m., officers responded to a night club in the 300 block of South Myrtle regarding a fight in progress. Upon arrival, several patrons were gathered to the front of the business and to the rear parking lot. No fight was observed and no victims came forward; however, two male subjects were obviously intoxicated and were arrested and taken into custody.
Vandalism / Destruction of City Property
January 24 at 8:30 a.m., officers went to the 400 block of East Duarte regarding the vandalism and destruction of city property. The officer found the lock to the location had been cut off. The property was checked, but no suspects were found.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
January 24 at 9:15 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of East Duarte saw a male and female subject on his neighbor's property. He closed the gate to secure the couple inside the fenced in area. The male suspect became combative and forced the gate open. During the confrontation, the victim was struck on the head with a cordless drill. The suspects fled the location. A search of the area was conducted for the suspects, but they were not located. The victim did not require medical attention. The investigation is continuing.
Portantino on Film Commission / Boys Soccer
Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, has been named to the state film commission. http://goo.gl/ZSvj5
Boys Soccer: Monrovia 3, Temple City 3 :-| http://goo.gl/fBFXk
- Brad Haugaard
Cutting California's Budget - A Lesson from Monrovia
I've been following Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa's colorful - and, I think, mostly correct - fulminations against the California state government, but I sympathize with Governor Brown's predicament: how to balance the state budget. Therefore, I would like to make a little proposal - based on an experience right here in Monrovia - to make a small cut in the state's expenses.
My proposal: Tell the Division of the State Architect to stop overseeing school construction. The DSA's task, according to its home page ( http://goo.gl/IGf4R ), is to "provide design and construction oversight for K–12 schools and community colleges throughout the State of California." But to the best I can determine, the main result of its oversight is to waste school districts' time and money.
This oversight requirement is insulting and wasteful:
Not So Fast on Monrovia Logo / Waste Roundup / Black History / AeroVironment / Green Dot
~ Oops! New Monrovia city logo was never approved by City Council. http://goo.gl/hfWfW
~ Hazardous waste roundup scheduled for Saturday, March 5 at the park and ride Lot, Myrtle at Pomona Avenues. Details: http://goo.gl/3Fgin
~ Black History Month will feature photos at Monrovia Historical Museum. http://goo.gl/yUb8Y
~ Milbank Manufacturing Co. of Kansas City, Missouri, has selected Monrovia's AeroVironment electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for its customers. http://goo.gl/oQx6K
~ Monrovia's Green Dot Corporation, a leading prepaid financial services company, has won four 2011 PayBefore Awards: Best Prepaid Program Media Advertising, Best Web Sales Channel, Best Consumer Value in Prepaid, and Best Third Party Prepaid Product Retailer. http://goo.gl/F9741
- Brad Haugaard
Friends of Monrovia Library Cheap Books
Selected adult books and media half-price in February at the Friends of Monrovia Library book store (right in the front door and to the left at the library). Look for items with red dots on the spine. MonroviaOpoly game also on sale - $25. http://goo.gl/JX0Fq
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