Monrovia's Stop-Tree

This is not a trick photo. The tree is really growing right up the middle of the stop-sign pole and out the top. On N. Canyon. - Brad Haugaard

Ernie's Auto Parts Gone

Just noticed. Ernie's Auto Parts at Huntington and Mayflower is gone, moved to Azusa. Shame. They were very helpful for me once. - Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's World Pet Association / Huff vs. Epilepsy

~ The World Pet Association of Monrovia is sponsoring the "America's Family Pet Expo." And here I didn't even know Monrovia had a World Pet Association. http://goo.gl/uKO5R

~ The Senate Health Committee has approved legislation by Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, authorizing school districts to provide employee volunteers with training to provide emergency medical assistance to pupils who suffer epileptic seizures on campus. http://goo.gl/D6Oub

- Brad Haugaard

Which Monrovia Logo? / AeroVironment

~ Which Monrovia logo do you like? Let the city know: http://goo.gl/4enxD

The single logo is the proposed one; the other group are alternatives. 

For me? I dunno. I think I actually prefer E. Simple and cheerful.

~ AeroVironment gets $14.8 million order from the Army. http://goo.gl/EjKSf

 - Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Election Returns

[ 9:46 - Becky Shevlin and Tom Adams win reelection to the Monrovia City Council. So does Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, but that's no surprise since she ran unopposed. The play-by-play is below.]

If you want to follow the Monrovia election returns tonight, click here: http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/elections

I'll be updating this post as well.

8:35 - Vote by mail votes are in and Tom Adams and Becky Shevlin have taken a strong lead. Shevlin: 1218, Adams: 1015, Ziegler: 470, Joe Espinosa: 273 (not bad for having withdrawn, but perhaps people voted before he did), and Jason Cosylion: 71.

9:06 - A few more numbers from precinct 1.

TOTALS

Joe Espinosa: 292

Jason Cosylion: 79

Chris Ziegler: 530

Tom Adams: 1096

Becky Shevlin: 1341

9:11 - Becky Shevlin has been involved in sooo many community organizations. It seems she made quite a few friends along the way.

9:12 - Adding on precinct 8:

TOTALS

Joe Espinosa: 302

Jason Cosylion: 89

Chris Ziegler: 578

Tom Adams: 1185

Becky Shevlin: 1452

9:15 - Precinct 21  reporting, which adjusts the totals to ...

TOTALS

Joe Espinosa: 314

Jason Cosylion: 95

Chris Ziegler: 603

Tom Adams: 1228

Becky Shevlin: 1508

9:25 - With all but one precinct  reporting at least some numbers now ... 

TOTALS

Joe Espinosa: 355

Jason Cosylion: 123

Chris Ziegler: 752

Tom Adams: 1534

Becky Shevlin: 1848

9:26 - Seems pretty safe to call it for Shevlin and Adams.

9:27 - Looking at the numbers, it is pretty amazing how many people voted by mail.

9:40 - It appears all the votes except for precinct 30 have been fully counted, if my math it right.

9:44 -  The votes have now all been counted and it appears clear that Becky Shevlin and Tom Adams, the incumbents, have won, and will be returning to the city council.

9:44 - Final numbers:

TOTALS

Joe Espinosa: 382

Jason Cosylion: 132

Chris Ziegler: 785

Tom Adams: 1615

Becky Shevlin: 1936

- Brad Haugaard

Polls Are Open, Monrovia

For today we've dropped the wall of separation between church and state. Here is the polling location at First Presbyterian Church. Vote today!

- Brad Haugaard

Voting Day in Monrovia! / Flute & Clarinet / Gold Line

~ Don't forget to VOTE today! Two seats on the Monrovia City Council will be decided.  

 

~ Enjoy the sounds of Le Petit Duo, a flute and clarinet duo at the library April 18 at 7 p.m. http://goo.gl/epI7K

 

~ This Star-News editorial hopes the sale of Monrovia  property for the Gold Line can happen soon so construction won't be held up. http://goo.gl/lAvNi

 

- Brad Haugaard

Vote Tuesday! / Student Leadership / Huff

~ Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 12, is election day in Monrovia. Be sure to vote!

~ Monrovia high school age students are invited to attend the Duarte/Monrovia Youth Leadership Summit. http://goo.gl/ZFtSI

~ Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia in the state senate, has introduced legislation to allow government agencies to contract out for supplies and services with private business. http://goo.gl/mRVa5

- Brad Haugaard

Dollar Deal

Nice deal. Buy a kid-size frosty at Wendy's for a buck (which goes to charity) and you get this tag, which entitles you to a free kid frosty each time you buy something at Wendy's for the rest of the year. - Brad Haugaard

Special Forces Hamsters

"Kung Zhu Ninja Warriors and Special Forces Hamsters." I don't know how you can resist (I couldn't) even though they are over the border at the Target in Duarte. - Brad Haugaard

See Old Monrovia Victorian Homes

If you are interested in seeing the insides of old Victorian homes in Monrovia, you might want to sign up to go on the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group's 29th Mothers Day Home Tour. It features five Victorian homes built before 1893, plus Leven Oaks and the Historical Museum. It lasts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults, $14 Seniors 65 and older, $9 for Teens, and children 12 and younger are free. Tour starts at Historical Museum 743 East Lemon Ave. You can purchase tickets at Paint N’ Play, Monrovia Bakery, the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce and at the Friday night Family Festival. For more information, go to www.mohpg.org.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Monrovian

Had dinner tonight at the Monrovian restaurant. Steak and potato with vegetables cooked just right, not limp and not raw. It came with a green salad which you don't see because I ate it. Good, standard American food, no pretensions.
- Brad Haugaard

Assets of Monrovia's Soliant Energy Company Sold

It appears that Monrovia's Soliant Energy is no more. Its core assets - "equipment, inventory, software, licenses, intellectual property, and tooling for the rooftop solar energy product line" - having been sold to EMCORE Corporation, of New Mexico, which will "integrate the former Soliant research and development and pilot production line into its existing facilities located in Alhambra, CA." 

The press release goes on to say that Soliant "was" a leading developer of photovoltaic systems for commercial rooftop applications.

Source: http://goo.gl/Opgff

- Brad Haugaard

Survey of Monrovia Candidates / Mother's Day Tour

~ A survey of the candidates for the Monrovia City Council. Remember, election is this Tuesday, April 12. http://goo.gl/PTlOt

 

~ Mother's Day Old Homes tour. http://goo.gl/6rRPi

 

- Brad Haugaard

Volunteers for Food Drive / Antonovitch vs. State

~ Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center needs scouts, social groups and other teams of volunteers for its May 14 canned food drive with the National Association of Letter Carriers. Details: http://goo.gl/vXqUh

~ Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovitch, who represents Monrovia, objects to Governor Jerry Brown's plan to transfer state prisoners to local jails. http://goo.gl/fX8oK

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Old Town Bistro

The new Old Town Bistro (by the old Box Jewelry clock). Owned by the same folks who own the Mediterranean Grill. Nicely decorated, but simple, inside. I got cream of asparagus soup (yum!) and press-grilled roast beef and bleu cheese sandwich. Tasty. - Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools Quake-Safe? / Café-On-Tour / AeroVironment Selected

~ Would Monrovia schools be safe in an earthquake? http://goo.gl/TuBzY

~ Monrovia Café-On-Tour. Poetry, music and performance art. Tuesday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Library's Community Room. Free but reserve a spot by calling (626) 256-8274. http://goo.gl/1N01B

~ AeroVironment has been chosen to expand a private electric vehicle charging network in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. http://goo.gl/yjwHC

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Trail Reopens / Shooting Arrest / Gardening / Huff on Budget

~ Bill Cull trail reopens in Monrovia Canyon Park after fire. http://goo.gl/5G6ws

 

~ Monrovia woman arrested in connection with Altadena shooting. http://goo.gl/IMVr0

 

~ Smart Gardening workshop on April 30. Everything from worm composting to water- and fire-wise gardening. Sign-up info here: http://goo.gl/Ss3Vk

 

~ State Senator Bob Huff, representing Monrovia, blames Democrats for state budget impasse. http://goo.gl/IMVr0 

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia PD: Barricaded Suspect, Drugs, Burglary, DUI

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 31 - April 6. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 540 service events, resulting in 97 investigations.  Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

 

Burglary - Suspect Arrested

April 1 at 1:55 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a subject being detained for theft.  The officer determined the subject had used a receipt from a previous purchase and returned to the business, where he selected the same items again.  He also put on two shirts and went to the counter to get a refund using his receipt.  His account was credited and he exited the doors.  He was detained by store loss prevention.  He was arrested and charged with burglary.

 

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Warrants - Suspect Arrested

April 1 at 2:19 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 600 block of West Huntington.  The driver exited the vehicle quickly, but the officer took control without any incident.  The subject was found to have a warrant out for his arrest.  A search of the vehicle revealed he had some crystal methamphetamine and several different pills.  The driver was arrested.

 

Felony Driving Under the Influence / Hit & Run Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested

April 2 at 3:26 a.m., officers were dispatched to Shamrock and Huntington regarding a vehicle that collided into and destroyed the light signal box, shutting off the light signals in that intersection.  The driver attempted to disassociate himself from the accident and refused to take responsibility; however, officers were eventually able to place him behind the wheel.  The driver was determined to be under the influence, but refused to take any tests.  His passengers were injured and were taken to a hospital for treatment.   The driver was arrested.

 

Burglary

April 2 at 10:49 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of East Lemon.  The residence was being fumigated and workers noticed some of the tent pins holding the tent shut had been removed.  They peeked in and saw the doggie door had been kicked in and they called police.  The residents are in the process of moving and many of their belongings had already been packed.  A responsible party eventually responded to the location.  Investigation continuing.

 

Barricaded Suspect / 72-Hour Mental Evaluation

April 3 at 7:55 p.m., officers were dispatched to a call reporting that a male subject had threatened his girlfriend with a sword.  He then retrieved ammunition for his firearms.  His girlfriend and her sister feared for their safety and ran out of the location and called the police.  When officers arrived, the male suspect refused to cooperate and made suicidal comments.  He barricaded himself inside the residence.  Officers contained the location and the Foothill Special Enforcement Team (FSET) was activated.  An arrest warrant was obtained for the male suspect regarding the incident with his girlfriend.  After several hours of negotiations, FSET personnel deployed chemical agents into the residence.  The suspect then surrendered without further incident.  He was taken to a hospital and held for a 72-hour mental evaluation, pending criminal charges.

Star-News Endorses Adams and Shevlin

The Pasadena Star-News has endorsed Tom Adams and Becky Shevlin for Monrovia City Council. Voting day is April 12. http://goo.gl/WqnaX

 

- Brad Haugaard