No Monrovia High Senior Ditch Day

Parents of MHS seniors, the high school has a warning:
"Senior ditch day is not a school endorsed activity. If your child participates in such a given activity with an unverified absence, he/she will lose their senior privileges which include grad night, senior breakfast and graduation. Refunds will not be given if tickets are already purchased. All absences must be cleared by Friday at 3:00pm."
http://goo.gl/lkbNh

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia FD Gets Back Its Very First Fire Engine

Monrovia is once again in possession of its very first fire engine, a 1917 Seagrave. It's a mess, but the Fire Department wants to restore it, and is beginning to look for donations.

 

Here's the story, from the City Manager's weekly report:

 

"Ninety-five years ago, on May 3, 1916, Monrovia's La Vista Grande Hotel was destroyed by a fire. As a result, Fire Chief George C. King began asking the City trustees for a more effective apparatus and with support the first piece of mechanized equipment the City ever purchased, a 1917 Seagrave Fire Engine, was placed in service. The City trustees authorized the purchase of a 350 gallon capacity six-cylinder Seagrave motor-pumping fire engine, combination hose, truck and chemical, for $5,000. The engine was a front line piece of equipment and served the City well until it was eventually taken out of service here in Monrovia and replaced.

 

"While currently in a state of disrepair, the engine has changed hands many times and saw service in several communities, including the famous collection at Harrah's in Reno. In 2003, local resident, Susan Motander tracked down the engine in Nevada and purchased it from the previous owners.

 

"Earlier this year Susan graciously donated the engine to the Monrovia Fire Department.

 

"Now begins the campaign to raise the funds necessary to restore the engine, which has a working name of "Tommy" in honor of a former Monrovia Firefighter Tommy Knowles. It is estimated that the 1917 Seagrave will need considerable restoration work to bring it back to its original condition."

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Plans $39.6 Million Land Sale to Gold Line

Monrovia plans to sell properties near California Avenue and Duarte Road to the Metro Gold Line for $39.6 million. The matter will be considered at the City Council's June 7 meeting.

If you want to see the proposed sales agreement between the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency and the Gold Line, here it is: http://goo.gl/abNxd . There will be a public hearing on the matter at the same meeting: http://goo.gl/gLw6z

In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa says that, "No doubt, the consideration of this proposed agreement will ratchet up the legal maneuverings by the party already suing both the City of Monrovia and GLCA on this matter." http://goo.gl/i9DGt

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools: Where to Cut | MHS Sign | Rock Store

~ Monrovia School Board member Alex Zucco writes that she hopes people will come to the next school board meeting with "ideas/suggestions of what their cuts would be...sports, a school, buses, more teachers?" But, she wrote, she'd like people to have "already bombarded their State lawmaker with complaints because Schools only have as much money as the State gives them." She said the district is $700k short and "The State is crippling public schools".

~ Photo of the new electronic sign at Monrovia High. http://goo.gl/jPAI5

~ Profile of Monrovia rock store owners Anthony Arreola Lailani Leyden. http://goo.gl/VBO9g

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Chief Search | Aztec at Night

~ More on search for new Monrovia Police Chief. http://goo.gl/0CtwM

 

~ Beautiful picture of the Aztec Hotel at night. http://goo.gl/RkM8i

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia FD Checking Buildings for Fire Safety

Monrovia Fire Department checking for fire safety this month - especially brush around buildings. http://goo.gl/OTjEu

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Lunch Prices Up, Re-Roof Mayflower, Plymouth toTraditional Schedule

At its Wednesday, May 25, meeting ( http://goo.gl/pS9Wx ) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider some changes to the construction project at Monrovia High and also ...
~ Consider raising school lunch prices from $2.25 to $2.50 for elementary lunches and from $2.50 to $2.75 for secondary school lunches. And apparently this is required by the federal government. http://goo.gl/wodpV
~ Hear a budget report that says finances look slightly less dire than last time the board got a report, but still nasty. In order to come up with a balanced budget, Director of Fiscal Services David Conway says "additional budget adjustments will likely be necessary." http://goo.gl/CkGde
~ Consider spending up to $10,000 to re-roof four buildings at Mayflower School, from July 13 to August 12. http://goo.gl/g3PXJ
~ Consider switching Plymouth Elementary back to a traditional schedule. Apparently this will save money, but in the short run it'll cost $159,012. Yikes! http://goo.gl/yOtNq

- Brad Haugaard

Breakfast at JB Burgers

At the corner of Myrtle and Olive. Nothing elegant here, but nice chorizo for breakfast.

- Brad Haugaard

Free Film at Monrovia Library | Writing Workshop

~ Free writing workshop, May 25, June 1, and June 8, at the library. http://goo.gl/LDUNY

~ Foreign film, "Cape No. 7," with English subtitles at 2 p.m. this Saturday at the Library. http://goo.gl/1cyBx

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Biggest Loser | Artist Susan Dobay

~ Here are Foothill Unity Center clients, Franklin Quan and Claudia Pelaez Quan, on The Biggest Loser. Just click on "Jillian Michaels Gives Back." http://goo.gl/MbTd6

~ Susan Dobay's work at Monrovia's Scenic Drive Gallery. http://goo.gl/TYbVI

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Theft, Attempted Suicides, Assaults, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 12-18. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 533 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.  Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

 

Grand Theft Auto / Vehicle Burglary

May 13 at 9:12 p.m., police responded to the report of a stolen vehicle in the 900 block of South Primrose.  The victim parked his 1994 Honda Accord at the location.  When he returned to where he parked his vehicle, approximately an hour later, he discovered his vehicle was missing.  The victim did not know his license plate number.  The vehicle was located an hour later, half a block away in an alley.  The stereo and speakers were missing from the vehicle.

 

Attempt Suicide / Mental Evaluation

May 13 at 9:29 p.m., a female subject came to the police department lobby to report her ex-husband had stated that he was going to commit suicide.  He had grabbed the garden hose and left the location in his truck, which has a camper shell.  When his son called him, he stated that he was going to park somewhere, connect the hose to the exhaust pipe, and die of carbon monoxide poisoning.  The ex-wife had driven around searching for the ex-husband, but when she was unable to find him, she came to the police station.  The father refused to tell his son where he was parked. 

 

Police dispatchers where able to locate the vehicle by using the cell phone and discovered the vehicle was parked in a parking lot in the 400 block of East Foothill.  Officers arrived and located the vehicle with the hose attached to the tailpipe, leading into the camper shell.  The officers opened the rear hatch and smelled a strong odor of carbon monoxide.  The subject was lying in the bed of the truck, lethargic.  Paramedics responded and took the subject to a hospital for treatment, where he was held for 72-hour mental evaluation. 

 

Assault  with a Deadly Weapon - Suspect Arrested

May 13 at 10:14 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Montana regarding a large party at the location, and someone reported seeing a firearm on a subject.  A few seconds later, dispatch received a second call reporting a fight at the location and someone had been stabbed in the neck.  Officers arrived and saw numerous subjects running from the location.  A stabbing victim was found on the ground.  Witnesses reported seeing the victim fighting with another male subject.  Sometime during the fight, the suspect stabbed the victim.  The suspect was last seen running south through the property.  Containment of the area was established.  During the investigation, police received a call from a business reporting a subject lying on the ground in front of their establishment between two vehicles.  Officers responded and noticed the subject matched the description of the suspect from the stabbing incident.  The subject was positively identified as the suspect, and he was arrested and held for bail.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Assault with a Deadly Weapon - Suspect Arrested

May 15 at 10:31 a.m., officers responded to the area of Mayflower and Evergreen, where a fight between two male subjects had just occurred.  One of the subjects had a pocket knife and slashed at the victim, causing a laceration to the victim's arm.  The suspect ran north on Mayflower, where he was detained by an officer.  The suspect still had the knife in his pocket.  The suspect had gone to the location to drop off his child and an argument ensued between the suspect and the boyfriend of the child's mother, which escalated into a fight.  The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injury.

 

Attempt Suicide / Mental Evaluation

May 15 at 2:31 p.m., a female subject called to report she had received a telephone call from her mother, who told her she had taken an entire bottle of pills.  The mother hung up the phone and then would not answer.  Officers responded to the residence located in the 400 block of East Foothill and were able to gain entry through an open sliding glass door.  They searched the house, which was empty except for one bedroom that was locked, and no one was answering inside the room.  An officer forced entry into the room and found the woman unresponsive.  The officer performed first responder emergency aid until paramedics arrived.  She was then taken to a hospital for medical treatment and held for 72-hour mental evaluation. 

 

Vandalism / Emergency Restraining Order Issued

May 16 at 8:01 a.m., police responded to the 800 block of West Olive regarding a disturbance.  An adult male that had just moved in with his grandparent's became verbally abusive toward them and his mother.  The police were called to mediate the situation.  While police were at the residence, the subject broke the bathroom window with his fist.  He refused medical treatment and was placed under private person's arrest by his family.  He was taken into custody and booked.  When he was released from custody, he went directly back to his grandparent's house, where he began yelling at them again.  The grandmother called back and said she was scared and didn't want him there.  She requested an emergency protective order against him and a judge immediately issued a protective order.  Officers served the order and removed the male from the home without incident.

 

Commercial Burglary - Suspects Arrested

May 19 at 6:19 p.m., a business in the 700 block of East Huntington advised a theft of alcohol had just occurred.  The male and female suspects fled in a black Honda.  A witness followed the suspect's vehicle and directed officers to them by phone.  Officers apprehended the suspects on the 210 Freeway.  The investigation revealed they had stolen alcohol from multiple stores.  Four subjects were in the vehicle and all four were arrested and booked for burglary.  Several of the suspects were admitted gang members or gang member associates and said they had taken the alcohol for a party.  One of the male subjects is on parole for burglary and the female had recently been arrested for theft.

Monrovian Makes Sitcoms International | Patch Plans to Influence Election

~ Profile of Monrovian John Vorhaus, who adapts American TV sitcoms for remakes in other countries. http://goo.gl/rxVM6

~ The family of Patch news websites, one of which is in Monrovia, hopes to play a roll in next year's presidential election, according to next-door Sierra Madre Patch ( http://goo.gl/n4mST ). The headline says Patch - headed by left-leaning Arianna Huffington - is expanding "Into Three Key 2012 Election Primary States" (New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina) and the story adds that "the sites weren’t chosen at random. Those three are key early primary states in the 2012 presidential election."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Chamber has Free Speedway Tickets

Monrovia Chamber of Commerce has free tickets for Saturday May 21, 2011, Armed Forces Appreciation Night at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale. Call now 626 358-1159 to reserve yours. The Chamber hours are Mon - Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. http://goo.gl/VaiZa

- Brad Haugaard

Donnelly Accuses Brown, Challenges Him to a Debate

State Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents Monrovia, has accused Governor Jerry Brown of breaking a campaign promise not to raise taxes without the people's approval and of rejecting reform proposals. He offered to debate Brown: "I challenge you to meet me anywhere, anytime to debate the best way to solve our state's problems." http://goo.gl/mEFKd

- Brad Haugaard

Aerovironment & BMW | VegeUSA Vegan Chicken

~ Monrovia's AeroVironment gets a deal to provide electric-car chargers for BMW. http://goo.gl/G7csd

 

~ VegeUSA, right next to the 210 Freeway, has introduced vegan kung pao chicken and vegetarian ginger chicken. http://goo.gl/uIYR5

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Softball :-) | Police Tweets?

~ Monrovia High tops Gabrielino in Softball 6-4. http://goo.gl/H7nRB

~ Monrovia PD may use Twitter and Crimemapping.com. http://goo.gl/wvbOD

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Unity Center & Biggest Loser / Gov. Brown Attending Huff's Prayer Breakfast

~ Claudia and Franklin, two clients of Foothill Unity Center, will tell their story tonight on NBC's The Biggest Loser as part of the program's Pound for Pound Challenge, an effort to raise awareness of hunger in America and encourage involvement in finding solutions. The program airs at 8 p.m. (Report from Linda Taubenreuther.)

~ State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, announced that Governor Jerry Brown will be attending the California Prayer Breakfast that Huff is co-hosting. http://goo.gl/subM6

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Mayor Annoyed by Governor's Budget / Football / Cool and Wet

~ Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz is annoyed that in his revised budget, Governor Jerry Brown "STILL wants to eliminate Redevelopment Agencies." http://goo.gl/7j4Ye

~ A look at Monrovia's football team for the upcoming season. http://goo.gl/iqG3E

~ Seems an awfully cool, wet year we're having. A good chance of rain today and tomorrow: http://goo.gl/L5KKn

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Race Winners / Portantino Bill Passes Assembly

~ The full list of winners of the Fountain to the Falls race. http://goo.gl/TIf3z

~ Assemblymember Anthony Portantino. who represents part of Monrovia, had legislation passed in the Assembly making it illegal to carry an unloaded gun in public. http://goo.gl/5zdqH

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Gold Line, New Chief, and Arts Supporter

In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/BZieL ) Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa wrote that:

 

Despite the lawsuit against the Gold Line rail project, the city "will move forward with considering the transactions that we have negotiated in good faith with GLCA, and allow both the Gold Line and the plaintiff to decide upon whatever course of action they propose to take."

 

~ He hopes to have a new police chief to replace retiring Roger Johnson by September. Captain Jim Hunt is interim Chief of Police.

 

He congratulates City Council member Clarence Shaw, who was recognized May 7, as the Renaissance Award recipient by Monrovia Association of Fine Arts. He said, "Clarence has been a driving force in developing and supporting the arts in Monrovia."

 

- Brad Haugaard