- Brad Haugaard
Attempted Kidnapping of Boy in Monrovia
Attempted kidnapping of 6-year-old boy reported. http://goo.gl/iCQgS and http://goo.gl/pfzq4
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia School Board: Should State Make It Easier for Schools to RaiseTaxes?
At its Nov. 9 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/JGmKs ), the Monrovia School Board will:
~ Consider whether to support a proposed state senate constitutional amendment that would allow school districts to raise parcel taxes by a 55 percent majority rather than the current two-thirds majority. http://goo.gl/ert5O
~ Discuss pushing the state to stop cutting school funding, to provide a less-volatile funding source ("revisit Proposition 13 and the property tax arena"), give districts maximum local control, and pony up years of money the state already owes districts. http://goo.gl/DIwGD
~ Consider refinancing a loan, bringing the interest rate from 5.3 down to 3.3 percent and saving $380,000. http://goo.gl/lzZA9
~ Consider creating two new positions, a Campus Supervisor job ( http://goo.gl/sMmhT ), which will replace a discontinued job and save the district $3,400 a year, and an "Instructional Assistant-Special Education" ( http://goo.gl/c7uEs ) which will be paid for by an outside funding source.
- Brad Haugaard
Man Who Shot Himself on Myrtle Identified
The man who shot himself in front of Library Park last week was 45-year-old Sue Chee Ng, of Allen, Texas. http://goo.gl/yCfmm
- Brad Haugaard
Lunch at The Flame Broiler
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Unity Center Has Most Clients Ever, Needs Turkeys | McCarthy to USC?
~ Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center reports that while "we are barely into November, and we're on track to register the most client families ever for our Thanksgiving distribution. That has us talking turkeys. We're going to need more of those than ever before, too. (Or gift cards for them.) Our freezers in Monrovia and Pasadena are waiting. Call Joan at (626) 358-3486. http://goo.gl/pTfnL
~ USC really wants to get Monrovia defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy ( http://goo.gl/HEC70 ) and Monrovia coach Ryan Maddox would like to see them get him ( http://goo.gl/k4dO0 ).
- Brad Haugaard
SGV Tribune Endorsements for Monrovia Races
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune is endorsing:
~ Bruce Carter for Citrus College Board of Trustees.
~ Ed Gililland, Terrence Williams and Bryan Wong for Monrovia School Board.
Source: http://goo.gl/qD3HI
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia is Most Business Friendly Small City in LA County
Monrovia has won the Most Business-Friendly City in LA County in the under-60,000 population category in the LA County Economic Development Corporation's 16th Annual Eddy Awards ceremony. http://goo.gl/1rAXH
The award was presented at a ceremony tonight.
Monrovia was up against four other finalists: Commerce, Duarte, Gardena and La Mirada.
Criteria LAEDC considered in selecting the winner were:
~ Demonstrated commitment to economic development as a priority
~ Excellence in programs and services designed to facilitate business entry, expansion, and retention
~ Economic development activity over the past three years
~ Competitive business tax rates and fee structures
~ Availability of economic incentives
~ Effective communication with and about business clients
- Brad Haugaard
Tree Festival to Support Monrovia Boys & Girls Club
A new charitable event, The Festival of Trees, will support Monrovia's Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills. The event, a long-time tradition in communities throughout the United States, will feature a display of Christmas trees and wreaths donated by individual and corporate sponsors, and decorated by local florists and artisans. Full-sized, fully-decorated trees, as well as wreaths and table-top trees, will be available through raffle tickets and a silent auction. Trees will be delivered the following day to the winners’ homes. Pasadena florist, Jacob Maarse, will decorate the grand prize tree. The event, also featuring the Citrus College Singers, dining and dancing, will be held from 6-10 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena. For tickets or more information, call: 626-305-5353 or email foothillsfestivaloftrees@gmail.com.
- Brad Haugaard (from press release)
Two Monrovia Candidates for Citrus College Board of Trustees
In addition to the three seats open for the Monrovia School Board, there is also a contest for who will be the next Citrus Community College District trustee for area 5 (that's us). The choices are Bruce Carter, retired college professor, and Joanne Montgomery, the incumbent. Here are their websites:
Bruce Carter: http://goo.gl/pFlAZ
Joanne Montgomery: http://goo.gl/6MO3a
Remember, the election is this coming Tuesday, Nov. 8.
- Brad Haugaard
Moving a Drain for Gold Line | Burnett & Son | Miyachi Unitek
Moving a storm drain.
~ Moving a storm drain pipe and demolishing the old bridge's foundation to put in the abutments for the new Gold Line bridge near Santa Anita Avenue.
~ Burnett & Son Meat Co. is purchasing new x-ray packaging and contaminant detection systems. http://goo.gl/UHFGp
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia PD: Playing With Fire, Two Vehicle Roll-Overs, Myrtle Suicide, Pumpkin Throwing, Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Oct. 27-Nov. 2. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 502 service events, resulting in 96 investigations. Following are the highlighted issues and events. To see a complete listing of crimes reported, go to crime mapping at http://www.crimemapping.com/map/ca/monrovia.
Trespassing - Suspect Arrested
On October 27 at 11:24 a.m., a 19-year-old male subject was placing pizza advertisements on the front door of houses when he came across an unlocked door in the 200 block of Sunset. He decided to enter the home. He was found loitering in the kitchen by the housemaid, and when discovered, he ran out of the house and out of sight. Police responded and he was apprehended on the next street over, continuing his work. He was placed under private person's arrest for trespassing.
Fire
On October 27 at 3:40 p.m., a fire was reported on the railroad tracks behind the 700 block of Montana. Officers responded and discovered a cloth towel on fire. They put out the fire. Witnesses saw two junior-high-school-aged, male subjects, leaving the area of the tracks, walking west along the tracks out of sight. Both had skateboards. It is unknown if they were the subjects who started the fire. Officers searched the area, but did not locate any suspects.
Attempt Burglary
On October 27 at 6:16 p.m., police were dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of North Myrtle. The victim estimates the suspect attempted to enter the property between 8:15 a.m. and 5:35 p.m. on October 27. A rear window screen was cut, allowing access to the door handle. There was no loss. The suspect may have been scared off prior to completing the burglary. Investigation continuing.
Residential Burglary
On October 27 at 7:19 p.m., an officer responded to the 500 block of East Olive regarding a burglary report. The victim saw that her jewelry box appeared to be tampered with earlier in the week, but due to being in a rush, did not investigate further. She later discovered that five gold rings and a bottle of Brandy were missing. There was no forced entry or evidence discovered. Investigation continuing.
Warrant / Gang Injunction Service - Suspect Arrested
On October 28 at 5:39 p.m., Monrovia Police Department received a call from San Gabriel Police Department advising they had a female in custody for a no-bail warrant out of Monrovia. The female is a documented gang member named in the gang injunction, but had not been served. Her warrant was for felony vandalism she had committed in the City of Monrovia. An officer responded and served her the gang injunction papers and took her into custody for the warrant. She was transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail.
Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested
On October 28 at 10:02 p.m., an adult, male subject left a World Series party on Beechwood and collided with a parked vehicle; both vehicles were heavily damaged. Police responded to the scene and the driver was determined to be driving under the influence. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Traffic Collision
On October 29 at 4:57 a.m., police received the report of a traffic collision with a vehicle rolled over at Myrtle and Huntington. A driver had grown impatient waiting at the traffic light and drove north on Myrtle to make a u-turn. The driver failed to see an approaching vehicle and struck it. The driver of the second vehicle lost control and the vehicle rolled over. Injuries were complaint of pain only and one person was transported to a hospital by paramedics.
Domestic Dispute / Suicide
On October 29 at approximately 12:01 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of South Myrtle. When officers arrived, they found a man holding a woman at gunpoint. Officers immediately confronted the male suspect and ordered him to put the gun down. The suspect then turned the gun on himself and took his own life. The investigation revealed that the suspect was the woman's ex-husband and they had one child together. The suspect had followed his ex-wife and child and had confronted them where the incident occurred. The woman and child were not injured. The investigation is continuing and is being conducted by the Monrovia Police Department Detective Bureau.
Outside Assist - California Highway Patrol
On October 29, a caller reported a drunk driver on the 210 Freeway, striking walls with his vehicle and driving on the rim of one tire. Another caller then reported a traffic collision with the vehicle rolled over in the area of Myrtle and the 210 Freeway. The driver had exited the freeway at Myrtle, striking the cement construction barricades. He lost control of his vehicle and went through the fence for the freeway embankment. The vehicle struck a large light standard with such impact it sent the light fixture flying off the pole and bent the pole severely. The driver was found unconscious trapped inside his vehicle. Monrovia Fire Department personnel responded and extracted the driver by cutting off the top of the car. The subject was taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Felony Vandalism
On October 30 at 2:53 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Magnolia and Genoa regarding a subject that was using a realty sign post to vandalize two cars. On arrival, the officers found the suspect had fled. Two vehicles parked on the street were heavily damaged. A search was conducted for the suspect, but he was not located. Investigation continuing.
Vandalism
On October 31 at 7:32 a.m., a school district employee called to report graffiti on their warehouse in the 400 block of Almond. An officer responded and located the graffiti on the warehouse east facing wall and on a small retaining wall. The graffiti is gang related and was written in black spray paint. Investigation continuing.
Vandalism
On October 31 at 9:16 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 1200 block of South California was flagged down by a resident. The resident reported that the north facing wall of a house had been vandalized with graffiti. The graffiti is gang related and was written in green spray paint. Investigation continuing.
Vandalism - Suspect Arrested
On October 31 at 9:45 a.m., a witness called police to report a male subject vandalizing a stop sign at Ivy and Walnut with yellow paint. The witness stayed on the phone and helped direct police to the suspect's location, and the suspect was detained. The subject was positively identified by the witness and arrested. The reporting party was notified that they would be eligible for Monrovia Police Department's Stop Graffiti Bounty Program for reporting the incident that led to an arrest.
Vandalism / Petty Theft / Curfew / Trespassing - Suspect Arrested
On November 1 at 2:10 a.m., officers responded to a call of three subjects throwing pumpkins in the 200 block of North Encinitas. Officers discovered pumpkins broken up on several streets in the area, but no suspects were located. At 3:33 a.m., a caller reported hearing someone throwing pumpkins in the area again. Officers arrived and located a subject dressed in all black. When officers attempted to detain him, he fled the area, jumping fences. The 17-year-old male subject was eventually detained. There were no other suspects located. The suspect was arrested for the above listed charges. He was eventually cited out and released to his mother.
Grand Theft Auto
On November 1 at 7:30 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of West Duarte regarding the report of a stolen vehicle. The victim parked his vehicle in his assigned carport stall and locked it. Sometime between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m., the vehicle was stolen. The vehicle is a black, 1995 Nissan Maxima. All keys are accounted for. Investigation continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
On November 1 at 7:59 a.m., a subject from the same complex in the above incident approached the officer and reported that someone had broken into his vehicle. This vehicle was parked across from where the stolen vehicle had been parked. The vehicle was found with the trunk ajar and the two front doors open. The loss was undetermined. Investigation continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
On November 1 at 9:06 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 1000 block of Maurice regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim reported that she parked her Lexus in the driveway at 6:00 p.m. The vehicle was secured and locked. She returned to her vehicle the next morning at 9:00 a.m. and saw the front passenger window smashed. She looked in the vehicle and noted her purse was missing from the front passenger seat. The victim did not hear or see anything during the night. Investigation continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
On November 1 at 9:57 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 1500 block of Pilgrim Way. The victim parked his vehicle on the street in front of his house at 6:00 p.m. The vehicle was secured and locked. The victim returned to the vehicle at 9:00 a.m. the next morning and noticed the inside had been ransacked. The stereo, navigation system and an iPod were taken. The victim did not hear or see anything during the night. Investigation continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
On November 1 at 10:07 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of Norumbega called police to report a vehicle break-in. The vehicle was broken into sometime between 5:00 and 7:30 a.m. in the morning. The victim's purse was taken from the vehicle.
Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested
On November 2 at 1:47 a.m., a resident in the 900 block of South Primrose called police and reported unknown subjects on his roof. Officers responded, but no subjects were located on the roof. The officer noticed that the reporting party was displaying signs of drug usage. After checking the subject further, the officer determined that he was under the influence. The subject was arrested and taken to Monrovia Police Department, where he was charge with being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Schamadan: Hold off on Christmas!
Monrovia columnist Charlotte Schamadan cheers Nordstrom (in the Star-News' Weekly Star) for committing to NOT putting up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. To which I add, Amen! I think early decorations ignore Thanksgiving and, ironically, minimize Christmas - If it is always Christmas season, it's never Christmas season.
- Brad Haugaard
'Crush' at Monrovia Canyon Park | Bradoaks Food | Prolacta Gets Funding | MHS Successes
~ Pictures of the movie Crush (a teen horror flick) being filmed in Monrovia Canyon Park. http://goo.gl/bv3Eb
~ Introducing the USDA's food diagram (gone is the pyramid) at Monrovia's Bradoaks School. http://goo.gl/rgQLs
~ Monrovia's Prolacta Bioscience, which provides human breast milk for critically ill, premature infants, has secured funding from Health Evolution Partners, which invests in rapidly growing companies in the healthcare industry. http://goo.gl/ni8r5
~ Monrovia High reports that: 14 Wildcat cross-country racers either broke or set personal records; water polo, volleyball, and tennis teams are wrapping up successful seasons; the robotics team hosted 12 other teams at the First Halloween Robotics Scrimmige this last weekend, winning two awards.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Distillery
A feature story about Monrovia's artisan distillery, GreenBar Collective. http://goo.gl/hV3BU - Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Painting Exhibit | Search for New City Manager
Arroyo Bridge
~ Solo Show of work by artist Cynthia Britain at Segil Fine Art (110 W. Lime), Nov. 5-26. Artist’s Reception, Saturday, Nov. 5, 5-7 p.m. Her work: http://goo.gl/N0az2
~ The search for a new Monrovia city manager is on. http://goo.gl/TffCb
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Football | Search for Shooter
~ Video discussion of Monrovia and Mid-Valley Division football. (I tried to get it to work. Kept saying to come back later. Hope it works for you.) http://goo.gl/7akkA
~ Sheriff's deputies search for man who shot boy in leg. http://goo.gl/EVD4S
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia City Manager Moving to Glendale
At tonight’s Monrovia City Council meeting, City Manager Scott Ochoa tendered his letter of resignation, effective January 2, 2012. This move came after the members of the Glendale City Council had, at their afternoon City Council meeting, appointed him as Glendale’s next City Manager. Ochoa’s tenure in Glendale will begin on January 3, 2012.
Ochoa has held the City Manager position in Monrovia since March 2004.
He began working for the City of Monrovia as an intern in 1993, while in his senior year at Claremont McKenna College. After graduating from Claremont McKenna with a Bachelor of Arts in Government in 1993, Ochoa earned a fulltime position with the City. While working in Monrovia, Ochoa obtained a Master’s Degree at the USC School of Public Administration with an emphasis in public sector entrepreneurship. Prior to his appointment as Monrovia’s City Manager, Scott held various management positions in the City Manager’s office, including Assistant City Manager and Assistant Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency.
As the City Manager of Monrovia, under the general direction of the City Council, Ochoa managed an aggressive economic development program, worked to balance quality of life issues with fiscal constraints and development pressure, and restructured the organization to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing business environment. His management philosophy was predicated on values-based management, exceptional customer service, and precision execution.
“My colleagues and I will miss Scott Ochoa, his leadership and professionalism are unparalleled – Glendale is getting a great City Manager” said Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz.
Ochoa is currently very active in economic development activities in the San Gabriel Valley, serving on the Board of Directors of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, and as the Chair of the Gold Line Foothill Extension Technical Advisory Committee. He is also Past-President of the San Gabriel Valley City Managers’ Association, Past-President of the Monrovia Kiwanis Club, and is an active member of the Boys & Girls of the Foothills Board of Directors.
“I could not be prouder or more appreciative of my time in Monrovia,” wrote Ochoa in letter of resignation. “City Councils have worked in partnership with community leaders and staff to accomplish amazing feats – from attracting new development, to reimagining entire sections of town, to surviving and even thriving through the Great Recession, to building a new public library. Monrovia taught me about who I am, and what a motivated and focused group of people are able to accomplish when they work together.”
Ochoa will succeed Glendale City Manager Jim Starbird, who will be retiring in December after 14 years of service to the City of Glendale. Starbird is himself a former Monrovia City Manager, having worked in Monrovia during the 1970’s and 1980’s.
"Glendale is a wonderful community – diverse, well-managed and progressive. I hope to add the benefit of my experiences to this dynamic organization and validate the City Council's trust and confidence in me” said Ochoa. “Following a manager of Jim Starbird's caliber is no easy task; however, with a high-performance management team, dedicated employees, and clearly defined and ambitious expectations from the Council, I look forward to the challenge. I can't wait to begin serving Glendale."
- Brad Haugaard (from City of Monrovia press release)
DA Says: No Problem with How Monrovia City Council Handled Vacant Seat
District Attorney says Monrovia City Council did not violate Brown Act in how it handled Councilman Clarence Shaw's seat open (it left the seat open) when he was called up by the Army Reserve. http://goo.gl/eIaEU
- Brad Haugaared
Candy Buy-Back at Monrovia Schools | More Abuse Complaints | School Newsletter
~ YMCA volunteers at Monrovia Elementary Schools are buying back Halloween candy and passing out raffle tickets to win a bicycle. http://goo.gl/le2KZ
~ Three women add to complaints of what they considered abuse at a Pasadena 'boot camp' run by a Monrovia resident. http://goo.gl/ksVp5
~ The Fall Monrovia Schools newsletter is out ( http://goo.gl/5vmIT ). Highlights:
> The grand opening for the Louise K. Taylor Performing Arts Center at Monrovia High is set for Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. You are welcome to attend.
> Plymouth Elementary is a Los Angeles Regional Award Winner in the 2011 Governor’s Challenge Competition for its work in physical fitness.
> Plus stories on Bradoaks and Wildrose schools, and Bradoaks employee Ross October.
- Brad Haugaard
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