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Monrovia Commercial Fire Still Under Investigation

The cause of the commercial structure fire at 1120 South Shamrock is "still under investigation, with a special team of investigators working to get the details of how the fire started, where it started, and how it spread so quickly," according to a report from Monrovia Fire Department. The department reports that during the $1.5 million fire "the mutual aid system worked as designed, with units from Monrovia, Los Angeles County, Arcadia, Alhambra, San Gabriel, San Marino, Glendale, Pasadena and Burbank on scene to control and extinguish the fire."
 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia FD: Whack Back Lantana

The Monrovia Fire suggests severely whacking back any Lantana plant you may have. The stuff builds up and presents quite a fire hazard as we enter fire season. The FD says that because we can "begin to expect Santa Ana conditions in the next few months, the efforts of brush abatement and evacuation planning will be well worth the efforts."
 
For information on the Ready, Set, Go! program for residents in the very high fire hazard zone, contact the fire prevention office at (626) 256-8106.
 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Portantino VIP at NARAL Summit | HIV/AIDS Summit

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, was a "VIP" guest and Honorary Co-Chair of NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) Pro-Choice America's 2011 Power of Choice Summit on September 15. http://goo.gl/ywr1A


Also, Portantino is sponsoring an AIDS/HIV Action Summit at City of Hope on Sept. 21, from  9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: http://goo.gl/vmCSA


- Brad Haugaard

Eastbound Freeway Closed Tonight

All eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway will be closed tonight, September 19, from midnight to around 5 a.m. Tuesday for the Gold Line bridge construction near the Santa Anita offramp. Eastbound lane and on-ramp closures will begin even earlier, at 9 a.m. for Rosemead, Michillinda, and Baldwin on-ramps. http://goo.gl/e1VrH

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Candidate Starts Facebook Page | No Grocery Strike

~ School Board candidate (and incumbent) Ed Gililland has started an election Facebook page, here: http://goo.gl/oUGoG


(If other candidates have online resources for people, please let me know. I'd be happy to publicize them.)


~ A grocery store strike deadline has passed with no strike - yet. http://goo.gl/sqkoc


OPINION: I hope that's a good sign Ya know, I don't really think now is a great time for a strike. With so many out of work the grocery chains will probably have no difficulty hiring replacements, and the replacements (for checkers, at least) may simply be more automatic check-out stations. They're coming anyway, but from a checker's perspective, why hurry them along? Striking seems a bit suicidal to me.


- Brad Haugaard

Workers at Grocery Chains May Strike | Donnelly on TV

~ Vons (Pavilions, by the way, is owned by Vons) and Albertsons workers (and Ralphs, if you shop in Arcadia) may go on strike. http://goo.gl/Ya7dL


~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, appears on Star-NewsMakers video program ( http://goo.gl/LK39u ). And on the Daily Show? http://goo.gl/Aj4qr


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia House is Historic

East Palm Avenue house granted historic status. Nice house!: http://goo.gl/O2KDg
 
- Brad Haugaard

Football: Arcadia Over Monrovia :-(

Monrovia loses to Arcadia 30 - 22.


The sad details: http://goo.gl/WojSv 


- Brad Haugaard

Pouring the Bridge Foundation | Monrovia Korean War Vets

~ Tonight, 45 concrete trucks pour the first pillar foundation for the Gold Line bridge near the Santa Anita offramp on eastbound 210.

~ The Monrovia American Legion is looking for Korean War vets, especially women. http://goo.gl/qVUAz

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Oto-Oto


At Oto-Oto Japanese restaurant for lunch. At Fifth and Huntington. We got the Monrovia Roll, Caterpillar Roll, Wagyu beef, chicken meatball with cheese, mushrooms, and green iced tea. Kind of like tapas, lots of little items. Be bolder than me and try the chicken cartilage. Very elegant place. And delicious. Shown here: Monrovia Roll, mushrooms and chicken.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Mountain Lion

Mountain lion sighted in Monrovia ( http://goo.gl/2EIEW ) on Lotone St. Here's Lotone: http://goo.gl/iMDJz




- Brad Haugaard

Help Families & Honor Former Monrovia Mayor Bob Bartlett

Join Foothill Unity Center on Sept. 22, 6-9 p.m. at Santa Anita Park racetrack, to help local families in need with food, health services, crisis referrals and more. $75 per person. MC is Rob Fukuzaki, ABC7 Eyewitness News Sports Anchor. Music by Instrumental Women Project Lady Jazz Ensemble. Honorees include former Monrovia Mayor Bob Bartlett. Sign up here: http://goo.gl/FlDB0


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council to Consider Covering Wash, Etc.

At its Sept. 20 meeting ( http://goo.gl/9UTvl ), the Monrovia City Council will (among other things) ...


~ Consider contracting with Cordoba Corporation for up to $229,700.00 to oversee construction of a cover over approximately 50 feet of Santa Anita Wash at the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Huntington Drive. Presto! New land for the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency. http://goo.gl/lVUV6


UPDATE: And a picture of the wash: http://goo.gl/I8YuD


~ Consider adopting a resolution to transfer money from the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency to the City each year so the city can pay the state-required annual payment (probably about $262,000 a year) that will allow the Redevelopment Agency to exist. It's kinda convoluted, but I think that's what it says. http://goo.gl/NoNi6


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Staff - Consider South-Side Park as Part of Gold Line Station Project

Monrovia city staff reports that "Monrovia is still deficient in the amount of urban park space it affords residents compared to national recreation standards," but is recommending not buying a residential property in south Monrovia for a "pocket park" because it isn't in the best location, wouldn't have the best facilities, and a park might be better considered together with the proposed "Station Square" project attached to the Gold Line station. http://goo.gl/che6w
 
The report will be presented at the Monrovia City Council meeting on Sept. 20: http://goo.gl/9UTvl
 
- Brad Haugaard

Fewer Shopping Carts Laying Around Monrovia

Monrovia City staff reports that a shopping-cart ordinance passed last year "has resulted in a significant decrease of abandoned and discarded shopping carts throughout the City." From 993 abandoned shopping carts between Jan. 1-Aug. 31, 2010 down to 848 for Jan. 1-Aug. 31, 2011. The report will be presented at the City Council's Sept. 20 meeting. Take a peek at it here: http://goo.gl/8M1Rt
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia vs Arcadia Tonight | City Hires Lobbyist | Bridge Video

~ Thoughts on Monrovia vs. Arcadia football. Game is tonight, 7 p.m. at Arcadia High. http://goo.gl/ri2hA


~ City hires lobbyist to help in Sacramento with Gold Line. http://goo.gl/ewIaf


~ Video of late-night construction of 210 Gold Line bridge. http://goo.gl/p9Tak


- Brad Haugaard

Has Monrovia School District Reversed Its Enrollment Decline?

Monrovia School District enrollment. Notice in particular the final two bars, the "P" (projected enrollment bar) and the "A" (actual enrollment bar).

It is probably too early to say if it is a trend, but enrollment in Monrovia Schools, which has been declining for years and was projected to continue declining, has taken a surprise jump up.
According to Deputy Superintendent Debbie Collins, as of today (Sept. 15):
~ Elementary schools are up 108 students from projected enrollment.
~ Middle schools are up 36 students from projected enrollment
~ Monrovia High School and Canyon Oaks School are up 8 over projected enrollment.
She adds that the district's Spanish Dual Immersion Program has attracted 13 students to date from outside the district and is generating a great deal of support from parents.
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia PD: Parolee in Attic & Dagger & Pistol & Burglaries

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for September 8-14 – Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 550 service events, resulting in 93 investigations. Following are the last week’s highlighted issues and events:

Parolee-at-Large – Suspect Arrested

On September 9 at 3:50 p.m., Monrovia’s Special Enforcement Team officers, augmented by Monrovia, Arcadia, and Baldwin Park police officers, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, went to the 200 block of Los Angeles to search for a parolee-at-large. The parolee was found in the attic trying to hide from the officers. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Department of Child and Family Services Referral / Resisting and Delaying a Police Officer – Suspect Arrested

On September 10 at 7:30 a.m., officers went to a residence in the 200 block of Madeline to investigate a referral from the Department of Child and Family Services. Upon their arrival, they found the mother of a minor child under the influence of alcohol. She was so intoxicated she was unable to care for the child. There were six additional adults in the residence who were all at varying stages of intoxication. The officers took the minor into protective custody. The mother tried to prevent the officers from leaving with the child, and she was subsequently arrested for resisting and delaying a police officer. After a caseworker from Department of Child and Family Services interviewed the child, she was released to her father.

Fight in Progress / Possession of a Concealed Weapon / Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested

On September 11 at 1:52 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 600 block of South Primrose regarding a fight in progress. When Officers arrived, they detained five subjects and conducted pat-down searches on them. During the investigation, a female subject was found to be in possession of a dagger. She was arrested for the weapons violation and for being drunk in public. The other subjects were released in the field.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested

On September 11 at 3:04 a.m., officers on patrol in the 100 block of West Huntington heard the sound of a traffic collision. The officers observed a vehicle leaving the area westbound on Foothill at a high rate of speed. An officer followed the vehicle and eventually caught up to it as it entered into the city of Arcadia. The driver was detained and was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested. The investigation revealed the driver had fled the scene of a traffic collision. It was discovered that the suspect struck an unoccupied parked vehicle in the 100 block of Stedman. The suspect was arrested for driving under the influence and hit and run.

Residential Burglary

On September 12 at 3:43 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of Bradoaks heard noises in her home. When she went to check, she found two male subjects, approximately 19 years old, one was wearing a baseball style hat. The two suspects ran from the residence and a white Chrysler 300 was seen speeding away from the location. Investigation continuing.

Residential Burglary

On September 12 at 5:06 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of Oakcliff returned home from work at about 5:10 p.m. and found the inside of his home ransacked. He looked around his home and found the kitchen screen had been taken off and a window was open. Investigation continuing.

Residential Burglary

On September 13 at 1:09 p.m., a burglary was reported in the 500 block of West Maple. The resident left for work at 8:00 a.m. and returned home at 1:11 p.m. The victim found the backdoor of the residence open. The victim called police and did not go inside. Officers responded and checked home to ensure no suspects were inside. No suspects were located. Jewelry and a computer hard drive were taken. Investigation continuing.

Gang Injunction Violation / Brandishing a Weapon – Suspect Arrested

On September 15 at 2:45 a.m., police received a call from a female subject in the 100 block of Montana stating her ex-boyfriend, a gang member, was in front of her house and was playing music loudly. When she asked him to turn down the volume, he responded by brandishing a pistol in a threatening manner. Officers responded and detained the suspect without incident. The pistol turned out to be a realistic-looking toy. The suspect was arrested for violating the curfew of the gang injunction and brandishing a replica firearm. Because the suspect was arrested two days ago for violating the injunction’s curfew, he was held for bail on the likelihood or recurrence.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Structure in Big Fire | AeroVironment

~ Monrovia building catches fire. Housing Southwest Grinding and Kan Jen. http://goo.gl/yjvuw




~ Feature in San Gabriel Valley Tribune about AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/IUSza


- Brad Haugaard

Antonovich wins Award | Horseback Riding | Council Imposes Employee Contract | AeroVironment | Monrovia Population

~ County Supervisor Michael Antonovich has received Ascencia's Hope and Compassion Award for service to the homeless. http://goo.gl/zSnVJ
 
~ And if you are the horseback riding type, Antonovich is holding his annual Trail Dusters Ride on October 16 starting at Bonelli Park. Call  909-599-8411 for details. http://goo.gl/CHAaa
 
~ The Monrovia City Council has imposed its last offer on the Monrovia Municipal Employees Association. http://goo.gl/RY52D
 
~ Discussion about whether Monrovia's AeroVironment is a good investment. http://goo.gl/7Rqvg
 
~ The Monrovia Public Library blog notes that the 2010 census shows the city's population has dropped, from 36,929 in 2000 to 36,590 in 2010. Well, considering the number of students in Monrovia schools is declining, I'm not too surprised. http://goo.gl/qpsta
 
- Brad Haugaard