~ Black History Month celebration Feb. 19 at United Methodist Church, 140 E. Palm Ave., 2-5 p.m. Photos, live entertainment, speakers and refreshments. To contribute old photos, money, etc., email mdbaa91016@gmail.com
~ The Monrovia Y has several restaurant fundraisers this month, at Rubio's, Ranchero and T-Phillips. But you gotta bring the flyer, so contact the Y to get one. - Brad Haugaard
Half-Price Book Sale at Monrovia Library
Adult hard cover and trade paperback books and media with a red dot on the spine are half price in February for the Friends Store at the Monrovia Public Library Red Dot sale. (The Friends bookstore is inside the Library.) At half price, most materials will be $1. Selection is varied. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Monrovia Public Library’s programs and services. For more information, call (626) 932-5555, Ext. 3124 or visit www.friendsofmonroviapubliclibrary.org . Source: press release.
- Brad Haugaard
Redone Mon-Arc Shopping Center
Before and after photos of the refurbished Mon-Arc Shopping Center. http://goo.gl/XMTmC - Brad Haugaard
Revenue Outlook Poor for Monrovia Schools, School Facilities Use,Non-Monrovia Fundraising
At its Feb. 8 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/0g2qQ ), the Monrovia Board of Education will:
- Get a projected revenue report. Summary: Bad. Details here: http://goo.gl/tYxcs
- Consider a district policy about use of school facilities by outside organizations. Details: http://goo.gl/d8Hsk
- Consider a request by Superintendent Linda Wagner about fundraising activities that involve shopping outside of Monrovia. http://goo.gl/qwkOT
- Brad Haugaard
Staff Recommends Minimalist Hillside Approach | Unity Center Family in Video
~ At its Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m. meeting, the Monrovia City Council will consider what to do with the hillsides above Monrovia that the city purchased quite a few years ago. City staff and the Community Services Commission recommend that the Council adopt a minimalist approach, adding only "new gates, signage, bear-proof trash receptacles, and mutt mitts" at each access point and adding “No Parking” signs on Cloverleaf Drive. Source: http://goo.gl/5XVyv
Opinion: This is just Really, REALLY wrong! Everybody in the city is paying for this land and it would be utterly unfair for the city to make it HARDER for city residents to get to it, as would happen if (as under this proposal) the city posts additional stretches of street as "No Parking." I understand residents near the trailheads don't want cars parked out front all day. Fair enough, but that argues for adding some city parking at the trailheads, NOT for making it harder for the people who are paying for this recreation area to get to it.
~ Foothill Unity Center reports that the Tuckers, the first family featured on this LA Times video about people struggling in the recession, are Unity Center clients. http://goo.gl/5ZgzM
- Brad Haugaard
Lunch at Cafe Opera
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Schools Fund Drive for Hit-and-Run Victim
Monrovia School District is conducting a fund drive for the family of the hit-and-run victim, a student at Clifton Middle School. http://goo.gl/R28Vm
Semi-Mystery Movies at Monrovia Library | Cacciotti Wants Emergency Drills
~ Friends of the Monrovia Public Library is sponsoring the showing of a sort-of unnamed film on Monday, Feb. 6 from 6-8 p.m. in the Library Community Room as part of a "three-week film series of award winning or nominated films of the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Bring your dinner and we'll provide dessert. FREE. Our second film selection stars Christopher Plummer, Ewan McGregor, and Mélanie Laurent. Rated R, 104 minutes" ( http://goo.gl/K6jZp ). Hmm. If only there were more clues, but I'm going with this: http://goo.gl/6KdkI
~ South Pasadena Mayor Michael Cacciotti, who is running for Assembly in Monrovia's Assembly district, "called on lawmakers to require joint planning and response drills between Southern California Edison and local governments that provide first responder services to their local residents when the lights go out." (Source: Caccioti press release)
- Brad Haugaard
Are Little Drones an Air Safety Problem?
Some pilots are concerned about air safety with drones (such as those made by Monrovia's AeroVironment) flying around. http://goo.gl/5e87D
- Brad Haugaard
State of City Address for Monrovia Youth | Fire Department Loses Friends
~ On Wednesday, February 8, Mayor Mary Ann Lutz will again deliver the State of the City address - but this time for Monrovia youth. This second annual address will be held for high school students at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at Monrovia High.
~ Monrovia Fire Department has lost two friends to cancer:
- Cathy Brooke, grants manager for the California Fire Safe Council, who helped Monrovia through the grant process for a decade. "Through Cathy’s advocacy, Monrovia’s hillsides are safer, and Monrovia’s residents are better prepared than we were a decade ago."
- Also, Arcadia Fire Captain Andy Troncale. "Monrovia Fire was particularly touched by the passing of Andy, due to the closeness of the two agencies, and the fact that his son, Clark, is a cadet with our Department. Andy will be missed, but his legacy lives on in his son Clark who wants to be a firefighter just like his Dad!"
Source: http://goo.gl/2YCa2
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Hillside Plan | 'Successor Agency' | Guilty in Shooting
~ At its Feb. 7 meeting, the Monrovia City Council will consider adopting the Hillside Wilderness Preserve and Hillside Recreation Area Resource Management Plan. http://goo.gl/s1K6j
~ The "Successor Agency to the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency" will hold what I believe will be its first meeting Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. (This is the governmental agency the city created to wind up the affairs to the redevelopment agency, necessary since the state abolished redevelopment agencies.) Here's the agenda: http://goo.gl/y9Cn1
~ Gang member guilty in 2008 shooting. http://goo.gl/xn9dU
- Brad Haugaard
New Monrovia Businesses | Citrus Raises Tuition | Chubby Squirrel
~ A round-up of some new businesses in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/ZptQH
~ Citrus College raising its tuition to $46 a unit. http://goo.gl/uO6qN
~ Chubby little Monrovia squirrel. http://goo.gl/G8mRf
- Brad Haugaard
Pastor of Monrovia's First Presbyterian Unhappy with Church's Denomination
Pastor Tony Osimo, of First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia, appears to be increasingly unhappy with the direction of the church's denomination, saying in the church's "Tower Times" newsletter that he met with 2,200 other Presbyterian Church USA pastors to discuss how "to remain faithful to the Scriptures and our theology while ministering without compromise in a denomination that is becoming increasingly bureaucratic and drifting away from the essential tenants of the Christian faith."
He also expressed interest in a new Presbyterian denomination that has been formed for churches that want to transfer out of the Presbyterian Church USA.
Source: http://goo.gl/TLfsd
- Brad Haugaard
Pouring Abutment for Gold Line Bridge
The Gold Line reports that this week 21 trucks lined up to pour nearly 227 cubic yards of concrete for the walls of the southern abutment of the Gold Line rail bridge near the Santa Anita offramp.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: 180 Days in Jail in Hit-and-Run Case; Brandishing Fake Gun; Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Jan. 30 - Feb. 1. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 470 service events, resulting in 106 investigations.
Vehicle Burglaries
On January 30, officers responded to several vehicle burglary reports at a condominium complex in the 100 block of West Colorado in the secured tenant parking area. Items taken varied from car parts to in-dash radios. Additionally, a garage door opener was taken in one of the burglaries. The investigation is continuing.
Theft - Suspects Arrested
On January 31 at 11:27 p.m., a witness called police and reported a male and female suspect stealing his neighbor's bicycle from the 100 Block of West Colorado. An officer stopped a couple matching the description near the location. The witness positively identified both suspects and they were still in possession of the bicycle. The victim desires prosecution. They were both arrested for the theft.
Theft From a Vehicle
On February 1 at 3:10 a.m., an officer responded to the 200 block of East Los Angeles regarding a theft from a vehicle. The victim's front bumper was missing from his 2000 Honda Civic. Investigation continuing.
Brandishing a Replica Firearm - Suspect Arrested
On February 1 at 11:35 p.m., police received a call reporting a man with a gun inside a bar in the 100 block of East Olive. The reporting party said the male suspect had displayed a handgun, causing the customers to become fearful. Officers arrived and the man was detained without incident. The weapon was a BB gun that looked like a pistol. The suspect claimed to be a gang member and said he needed the gun for protection. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Detective Bureau Case Follow-up
Vehicle Versus Pedestrian Hit & Run Traffic Collision - Suspect pleads to Felony Charge
On January 27, a hit and run traffic collision occurred at Huntington and Canyon, where a 12-year-old girl was struck by a vehicle as she tried to cross the street. The driver fled the scene, but through investigation, was located and arrested. The child was severely injured and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in critical condition. Detectives submitted the felony hit and run case to the District Attorney for filing. The suspect pled to the felony charge and accepted a sentence of 180 days in jail and 3 years probation.
Search Warrant - Additional Victim Identified
A proactive investigation by patrol officers gave Monrovia Police Department's Detective Bureau enough information to secure a search warrant for a residence in the 200 block of West Olive, which was served on January 25. The residents are suspected to be selling stolen property and narcotics from the residence. An additional victim was identified this week from this case. That brings the total to six victims of theft.
Fighting Cholera | Monrovia Wine Club | Little Gym
~ In an attempt to avoid a cholera outbreak, Monrovia's World Vision, a Christian relief agency, is distributing water purifiers in Mozambique following heavy storms. http://goo.gl/Ua7Hq
~ Monrovia's Original Wine of the Month Club will help sponsor the fifth "Santa Anita Uncorked" wine and culinary festival at Santa Anita Race Track on Sunday, March 25. http://goo.gl/E4VmS
~ A profile of the Little Gym, in Monrovia, a fitness center for little children. http://goo.gl/k7dnc
- Brad Haugaard
Driver in Monrovia Hit-And-Run Case Released | Soup-er Bowl
~ Driver who was arrested in hit-and-run case released on her own recognizance. http://goo.gl/MTJJU
~ On its Facebook page, First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia reports that it will serve a "Soup"-er Bowl Lunch tomorrow (Feb. 2) to the staff and teachers of Clifton Middle School, with several people from the congregation making the soups. - Brad HaugaardMonrovia's Senator: Don't Blow IPO | Pages from the Heart
~ Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, says he hopes the state won't blow the expected one-time tax revenue windfall from the Facebook IPO. He said he'd like to use the money for education and to pay down state debt. http://goo.gl/h7kbF ~ Profile of Monrovia scrapbooking company, Pages from the Heart. http://goo.gl/DXTnN - Brad Haugaard
Opinion: At Least Try, Star-News!
I know I'm pathetic, but I kinda like newspapers. The paper kind. I even subscribe to the Star-News, which covers Monrovia. So it's sad to see it shrinking. I understand the economics the Star-News faces, but what I don't understand is why it doesn't seem to be trying.
For example, I understand that with fewer ads, there must be fewer pages and therefore, less news, but look at the picture above (from Monday, but similar on other days). If you add all the unpaid ads selling the Star-News (Quit selling me - I already bought!) it adds up to about a full page. Wouldn't it be better to fill that space with something more interesting, like NEWS?
Another example. Do people really need TWO horoscopes every day? In today's paper, for example, they are on pages A12 and B8. Couldn't one of those spaces be filled with something different? Like, maybe, stuff about Monrovia ;-)
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Antique Store Has New Home
Monrovia's Antiques Off Fair Oaks store has recently moved to a new 15,000+ square foot building at 137 W. Walnut Ave. in Old Town Monrovia. The collective store includes "everything from furniture to art, chandeliers to jewelry." http://goo.gl/q1EVH
- Brad Haugaard
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