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Jackie Chan V8 Commercial in Monrovia

Jackie Chan in Monrovia to film V8 commercial at old Super A Foods market. http://goo.gl/qOm6L

- Brad Haugaard

Locking Shopping Carts


Pavilions Shopping Center has installed a system to lock shopping cart wheels if they try to leave the parking lot. I guess I'll have to bring my car from now on.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Produce in the Park

~ Pictures of Produce in the Park designed to tempt you to attend. http://goo.gl/DTTl6

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Plays Great Bridge | 31 Heros Workout

~ Monrovian plays awesome hand in bridge competition in Croatia, gets noticed by NY Times: http://goo.gl/yLeUE
 
~ TEAM CrossFit Academy of Monrovia, hosts 31 Heroes Tribute Workout: http://goo.gl/G3jrT
 
- Brad Haugaard

Tuskegee Statue for Monrovia?

A statue of a Monrovia Tuskegee Airman for Library Park? No money, says Mayor Lutz. What about others?, says Councilman Adams. http://goo.gl/QWdDK
 
- Brad Haugaard

Goodwill for Unity Center


Goodwill and the Foothill Unity Center Auxiliary are partnering to raise money for the Center. Bring your "gently used" items to the Albertson's parking lot any weekend this month - or October 1. See attached flyer for important details.
- Brad Haugaard

Renovation at Former Super A

Old Super A supermarket building, on Duarte Road, being renovated. http://goo.gl/FBxIE
 
- Brad Haugaard

DA to Evaluate Monrovia Council Action | Wildcat Scrimmage | Baker Honored | Social Networking Seminar | Pig in the Park

~ District Attorney's office will look at complaint that Monrovia City Council violated Brown Act. http://goo.gl/xKf07
 
~ Wildcats scrimmage with Crescenta Valley. http://goo.gl/07Jdx
 
~ Monrovia City Treasurer and history-of-Monrovia expert Steve Baker will receive the 2011 Cathy Hotchkin Humanitarian Award. http://goo.gl/mNzmw
 
~ The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce is participating in a workshop to help businesses understand how to use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Email Marketing, LinkedIn and Blogs. If you are interested, sign up here: http://goo.gl/zzios .
 
~ Seen the pig in the park? Here's the story. http://goo.gl/5iAMc
 
- Brad Haugaard

Father Greg Boyle Describes Homeboy Industries

Article on Father Greg Boyle's talk about the gang intervention program, Homeboy Industries, at the Monrovia Community Center. http://goo.gl/3BnpN
 
- Brad Haugaard

Henry's is Now Sprouts


- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Jersey Mike's


Lunch at Jersey Mike's, a chain sub sandwich shop, next to Sprouts (the former Henry's) on Huntington. I got The Original Italian on wheat. They're generous with the oil and vinegar, which I like.
- Brad Haugaard

Profile of CEO of Monrovia-Based Green Dot | 'Not Guilty' Plea in Stabbing | New Lawyer for McFarland

~ A Fortune Magazine profile of the CEO of Monrovia-based Green Dot. http://goo.gl/DizV1
 
~ Suspect pleads not guilty in stabbing of Monrovian on Gold Line. http://goo.gl/hMnoC
 
~ Monrovian Kelvin McFarland, who runs a "boot camp" in Pasadena and has been charged with kidnapping, will have to switch lawyers. http://goo.gl/u459c
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Faces Impasse With Employees; Will Consider Imposing Its Final Offer

Facing a labor negotiations impasse with city employees, the Monrovia City Council will decide (among other things) whether to unilaterally impose its final offer. http://goo.gl/TrUW3
 
According to the staff report: "Unfortunately, no agreement was reached. MMEA employees took a vote on August 11, 2011, wherein they elected not to accept the City's last and best and final offer."
 
With that, the City Council will decide at its September 6 meeting whether to unilaterally implement the city's "last, best and final offer to the Monrovia Municipal Employees Association."
 
However, just before the regular council meeting will be a closed session which includes "Conference with Labor Negotiator." Perhaps a last-minute attempt at an agreement. 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Senator Gets Laws Passed | AIDS Seminar | Unity Center Dinner | Kingdom of Monrovia

~ Monrovia's state senator, Bob Huff, has gotten two items through the legislature and to the governor for (hopefully) his signature: 1) a bill to allow people to assist epileptic students, and 2) | a bill to allow door-to-door collection of hazardous waste. http://goo.gl/KRvaj  Opinion: Sigh. I approve, but why should we need a law to allow people to collect hazardous waste? I'd have never thought it would be illegal in the first place. 
 
~ HIV/AIDS education event, with Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, Sept. 21, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at City of Hope. To register, 626 577-9944.
 
~ Honoring those who have helped Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center. Cocktails, dinner, auction and music, Sept. 22, 6 to 9 p.m. at Santa Anita Park. Honorees include Monrovians Bob Bartlett and Monrovian Family Restaurant. $75 per person. Register by September 16. For information, call Gerald, (626) 358-3486.
 
~ The Kingdom of Monrovia. Who knew? http://goo.gl/wCiYi
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia PD: Meth and Much More, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for August 25-31 – Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 517 service events, resulting in 98 investigations. Following are the last week’s highlighted issues and events:

Disturbing Subjects / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested

On August 26 at 8:47 p.m., officers responded to the area of Magnolia and Duarte regarding a female subject following a male subject who allegedly took something of hers while at the street fair. Officers located both parties and determined that no theft had occurred. The subjects are boyfriend/girlfriend and were arguing over drugs. Both subjects were patted down and checked for warrants. The male subject was found to be in possession of cocaine and was arrested.

Attempt Robbery – Suspect Arrested

On August 27 at 1:58 a.m., a suspect in the 300 block of West Lemon reportedly simulated a gun under his shirt and demanded money from a male victim. The victim did not believe the suspect had a gun and fought with the suspect. The suspect fled south on Alta Vista empty handed. Officers arrived and met with the victim and a witness, and also began an area check for the suspect. A male subject matching the suspects description was seen running south on Magnolia and was detained. The victim positively identified the suspect and he was arrested and taken into custody.

Hit & Run Incident – Suspect Arrested

On August 28 at 2:20 p.m., a male subject driving his vehicle east on Primrose drove through the cones blocking the roadway at Lime for the Sunday Farmer’s Market event. The coordinator for the event stopped the vehicle inside the event and told the driver the street was closed to vehicle traffic. The male subject became angry and yelled that he lived that way, pointing east. He was told one more time that the street was closed. The driver proceeded through, striking the event coordinator and running over his foot. He sustained a broken ankle. A witness followed the suspect into a parking lot nearby, where officers apprehended him. He was arrested without further incident.

Domestic Violence / Reckless Driving / Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Child Endangerment – Suspects Arrested

On August 29 at 5:04 p.m., a caller reported a male subject battering a female subject inside a vehicle in the area of Colorado and Alta Vista. The caller followed the suspect vehicle as it drove away wrecklessly on the wrong side of the road, nearly colliding into numerous vehicles along the way. As an officer drove up behind the suspect vehicle, the driver looked back and discarded a small bag into the roadway and continued driving. The suspect then stopped for the officers a distance away from the area where he discarded the bag. The officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop and detained the male subject without further incident.

The female did not have any injuries and denied being a victim of domestic violence. The subjects are husband and wife, and they had their two small children, ages one and two, in the backseat of the vehicle. The female was under the influence of a controlled substance and there was drug paraphernalia concealed where she had been sitting inside the vehicle. She was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and child endangerment.

The bag discarded by the male suspect was recovered and found to contain methamphetamine and a drug smoking pipe. He was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, domestic battery, child endangerment, and wreckless driving. He was later found to have lied about his identity and was found to be on parole; a parole hold was obtained.

The two small children were not harmed during the incident and were taken into protective custody. They were later released to a grandparent after being interviewed by the Department of Child and Family Services.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

On August 31 at 4:51 p.m., a fast food restaurant in the 100 block of West Duarte Road reported a female in their drive-thru that was driving drunk. Officers responded and detained the female. An investigation was conducted and the female was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.

Strong-Arm Robbery – Suspect Arrested

On August 31 at 5:07 p.m., a business in the 300 block of West Huntington reported a female subject had just taken merchandise out of the store without paying for it. An employee attempted to stop the female, and the female fought with the employee to try and get away with the merchandise. Officers responded quickly and apprehended the suspect. She was arrested for strong-arm robbery and taken into custody.

Burglary

On August 31 at 9:33 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of West Duarte Road on the report of a burglary. The victim reported that he locked his garage the night before at about 5:30 p.m. and went in for the evening. When he walked out to the garage in the morning at 8:20 a.m., he saw one of the two doors open. He checked his garage and discovered a miter saw and some of his tools were missing. The garage doors had been secured with padlocks. It appears the suspect(s) cut the locks and took them, as they were not located at the scene. Investigation continuing.

- Brad Haugaard

Living in Bearville | Monrovia's Guided Bomb | Senate Helps Gold Line | Monrovian Arrested in Fake ID Scheme

~ The Monrovia Police Department is hosting a community meeting about bears at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7, at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W Palm Avenue. Speaking and answering questions will be Dept. of Fish and Game biologist Rebecca Rebossa. A bear-resistant trash can will be available for inspection, along with information on how to obtain one. Animal Control Officer David Andrew will also be on hand to answer questions about other animal related issues. Call (626) 256-8000 for information. (From City Website - Couldn't have said it better myself.) http://goo.gl/oI5CA


~ U.S. Army has awarded Monrovia's AeroVironment $4.9 million Contract for Switchblade, a backpack-size, flying, guided bomb. http://goo.gl/JG2b7


~ State Senate committee passes legislation to allow the Gold Line board to continue being made up of city officials along the route. (This had been challenged in court, so, presumably, this solves that challenge.) http://goo.gl/uz0Le


~ Monrovian arrested in fake ID scheme. http://goo.gl/G2eeR


- Brad Haugaard

Shaw's Seat on Monrovia City Council | API Scores | City Beat | 9-11 Memorial

~ Discussion of Clarence Shaw's empty seat on the Monrovia City Council. http://goo.gl/blSqT
 
~ API scores show Monrovia schools doing a bit better. http://goo.gl/0Todb
 
~ The latest City Beat cable program features Sena (a new pub) and Candy Connection on Myrtle and information about the Police Department's "Drive 25" program. http://goo.gl/2NanJ
 
~ 9-11 memorial. Just a reminder, there will be a memorial at Fire Station 101, 141 E. Lemon Ave., at 1 p.m. Sunday, September 11. It will begin with a presentation of the colors, the national anthem, then Mayor Mary Ann Lutz will give a presentation and the city's Youth Commission will present a tribute poem, and a bronze statue will be unveiled. http://goo.gl/VxsDd
 
- Brad Haugaard

Old Car Show in Monrovia | Financial Aid | Green Dot

~ Saturday, Sept. 10, there will be an old car show along Myrtle, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce.
 
~ A student financial-aid simplification bill by Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, has been approved by the Legislature and is on its way to the Governor for his signature. A Portantino press release says it would "end a needlessly duplicative process and get more students to participate in state and federal aid programs." 
 
~ Monrovia's Green Dot will give a presentation at the Goldman Sachs Financial Technology Conference. http://goo.gl/DVOlM
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Ellis McCarthy on Cover of Local Sports Magazine

If you are a high school football fan, you probably ought to pick up a paper copy of the Star-News today. It comes with a nice insert magazine - prepXtra - with Monrovia's Ellis McCarthy on the cover and profiles of all the local teams (it ranks Monrovia #1).
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Senator: Budget and Economy Bad, Epilepsy Bill Progresses

Senator Bob Hufff, who represent Monrovia in the State Senate, paints a bleak picture of the California budget and economy in his latest newsletter ( http://goo.gl/JRDor ), but on the bright side, he says his bill to authorize school employee volunteers to provide emergency medical assistance to pupils with epilepsy who suffer a seizure is making progress: http://goo.gl/pFQzz
 
Huf writes that "there's no question that the budget is in trouble." He says it depends on "overly optimistic" tax estimates which are not coming true, plus the State Supreme Court has agreed to hear challenges to the state's plan to kill redevelopment [and thus collect more tax revenue].
 
Also, he writes that "the California unemployment rate edged up to 12%. It’s the first increase in the jobless rate since September 2010. California’s unemployment rate is now 30% higher than the national average. This isn’t good news."
  
- Brad Haugaard