Monrovia Power Outage | Pre-Game Profile of MHS Football Team

~ A power outage hit 524 households last night. http://goo.gl/P9U4n

~ A pre-game look at Monrovia's football team. It's Monrovia vs.
Glendora. http://goo.gl/7AYhO

- Brad Haugaard

Open Auditions to be Held for Monrovia Rotary Talent Show

The Rotary Club of Monrovia is looking for local talent for its annual
talent show and BBQ. Selected performers will compete for the title of
best in town and a $500 grand prize.

Open auditions will be held at the YMCA (501 S Mountain Ave, Monrovia)
on Saturday, Aug. 27, Sept. 10, and Sept. 17 each from noon-3 p.m. for
the annual Monrovia's Got Talent competition. All ages are welcome.

Please RSVP to Denise Harvey (626-483-4861) prior to the auditions to
pre-qualify. All types of acts are welcome, such as singing, dancing,
comedians, instrumentalists, magicians, guitarists, novelty acts, or
any other unique talents.

The annual "Monrovia's Got Talent" show is a fundraiser to support
Monrovia Rotary Foundation's community and international projects.
The event will be held on Saturday Sept. 24, 2011 from 5 p.m. to 10
p.m. at the Monrovia Historical Museum (742 East Lemon).

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by contacting Denise Harvey
(626-483-4861) or Julie Roybal (626-222-0571).

Continually updated information on the event can be found at
http://www.monroviarotaryevents.com/

- Brad Haugaard (from Monrovia Rotary Club press release. By the way,
I'm guessing it is a "$500 grand-prize," not a "$500-grand prize." In
case you had your hopes too high :-)

Monrovia's AeroVironment Makes a Profit

AeroVironment, Monrovia's military drone maker, has reported a first
quarter profit, with a 62% increase in sales. http://goo.gl/JiQu3

- Brad Haugaard

Sacramento Has Two Days to Pass Gold Line Law

Sacramento has only two more days to pass legislation to make it indisputably legal for the Gold Line board to be composed of representatives of cities along the Gold Line route. Otherwise, the measure will need to be reintroduced later.

Gold Line spokesman Habib Balian writes that, "Yesterday, the State Senate unanimously approved AB 706, a bipartisan bill co-authored by Senators Bob Huff and Dr. Ed Hernandez and Assembly members Norma Torres, Mike Eng, Curt Hagman, and Roger Hernandez. The bill now goes to the Assembly for a vote. 

 

"Unfortunately," he adds, "the Legislature is only in session until this Friday, so the next two days are critical. If it doesn’t get approved in the Assembly before the end of the session, a new bill would have to be introduced when the Legislature returns to session next year. We are fortunate to have so many legislators - on both sides of the aisle - supporting the AB 706, and we certainly thank them for taking up the issue quickly. We are hopeful that with their help, this issue will be resolved in the next 48 hours."

 

- Brad Haugaard

Drilling Begins on Gold Line Rail Bridge

Drilling has begun on the foundations for the Gold Line bridge just west of the Santa Anita offramp on the eastbound 210.

According to Gold Line spokesman Habib Balian, Caltrans approved the permit last week and "drilling began yesterday on the first of the three deep foundations. Over the next week, the 11 foot diameter hole for the first foundation (located on the southern shoulder) will be completed,  the reinforcing steel cage will be installed and concrete will be poured and tested. Once drilling is complete on this first foundation, the drill rig and crane will then be moved to the center median of the freeway to start work on the remaining two, 110-foot deep foundations."

- Brad Haugaard

Portantino Rape Bill Approved in Senate | City Council Denies Open-Meeting Law Violation

~ A rape-reporting bill by Assembly member Anthony Portantino (who represents part of Monrovia) was approved by the State Senate Tuesday on a 37 to 2 vote. The bill now goes back to the Assembly for approval of minor changes before heading to the Governor for his signature.

 

~ Monrovia City Council says there was no violation of open-meeting laws in regard to its not replacing Councilman Shaw, who was called to active duty in the military. http://goo.gl/jlfCe

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia VFW Taking Flags

The Monrovia VFW is accepting worn flags in anticipation of 9-11.
http://goo.gl/6vROz

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia-Glendora Football

Video discussion of Glendora - Monrovia football game.
http://goo.gl/6CuxT

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Sale of Land to Gold Line May Face Big Delay

The sale of Monrovia land to the Gold Line for a maintenance facility has been delayed yet again - possibly until January unless the State Supreme Court can be persuaded to modify a ban it has imposed.

In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/P8KVM ), Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa said there was a delay in approving the sale when the State abolished redevelopment agencies, so the city had to wait until the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency could be reconstituted (after agreeing to pay a "ransom" to the state of more than a million dollars), but now that that has occurred, the Supreme Court has forbidden the agencies from getting rid of their assets during the court challenge to the state's new redevelopment law.

So, Monrovia can't sell the property, unless, Ochoa said, the court agrees to modify its order. Hopefully the court will rule on that question this week.

- Brad Haugaard

A Closer Look at AeroVironment's Switchblade

A closer look at the new model-airplane-size Switchblade attack drone, made by Monrovia-based AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/HA8jE

 

- Brad Haugaard

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