Wildcats Baseball Over Arcadia :-) | Monrovia Cover Girl? | Huff Slams Brown Tax Proposal

~ Wildcats, 8-2 nonleague victory over Arcadia in Baseball. http://goo.gl/el6Ao

~ Monrovia cover girl competitor. http://goo.gl/xIVIk

~ Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (who represents Monrovia) has issued the following statement regarding news that the Governor would introduce a revised version of his $31 billion tax hike:

“Just days after insisting that his was the only responsible tax plan for an integrated budget solution, it looks like the Governor has capitulated by accepting the public employee union tax hike scheme.

This back-room tax increase deal does not bode well for the prospects of real public employee pension reform since it is now clear that the public employee unions are controlling the entire agenda.

The Governor has previously acknowledged that a heavily top-weighted tax would further increase the volatility of state tax revenues that are already subject to severe boom and bust cycles.

This larger and longer tax scheme will inevitably lead to massive state government spending growth and set the stage for yet another budget crisis in California. The idea that a seven-year tax increase is “temporary” defies credibility.” 

Source: http://goo.gl/FPyBs

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia City Manager? | False-work Almost Done | Win a Shopping Spree

~ The Monrovia City Council is holding a special closed session meeting this Friday morning on what appears to be the topic of the city manager. The city has been looking for a new city manager, so (I'm guessing) perhaps it has a candidate it intends to vote on. http://goo.gl/2gxP7 [Update: Nope. I checked and the city is still in the interviewing stage.]

~ Gold Line spokesman Habib Balian reports that the "false-work" - the wooden frame on which the 210 Freeway bridge will be constructed - "will be fully erected early next week, a significant milestone for the project that required more than 20 full late-night closures of the eastbound I-210 Freeway over the last two months. Once complete, crews will focus on constructing the main cross beam and superstructure."

~ Win a shopping spree in Old Town Monrovia. http://goo.gl/ZuoKU

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Senator: Proposing No-More-Miramonte Rules | Diggin for Daisy's | Antonovich

~ Monrovia's State Senator, Bob Huff, says Republicans are proposing rules to prevent any more Miramonte-type sexual abuse by teachers. Rules would prevent old records from being discarded, end delays in dismissal process, have dismissal review done by an administrative law judge alone, allow disciplinary dismissal without pay (reimbursed if found not-guilty), require teachers under law enforcement investigation to be removed from the classroom, strip pensions from felons, etc. http://goo.gl/jhBtU

 

~ Intro to Diggin for Daisy's eco-friendly kid store. http://goo.gl/advLi

 

~ Monrovia's County Supervisor, Michael Antonovich, will run virtually unopposed. http://goo.gl/Orw9N

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Track Does Great | Easter Egg Hunt

~ Monrovia High Boy's and Girl's Varsity Track teams both won team titles last weekend at the Cougar Relays at Azusa Pacific University. There were more than 40 teams participating and well over 3,000 people in attendance. Skylar Buchanan, Ellis McCarthy, Micheal Harris and Sophia Carnevalle all won two events apiece to lead the Wildcats. The Wildcat Frosh/Soph team also had a great day finishing runners-up in their respective divisions. Overall the Wildcats brought home over 75 medals and four trophies from the invitational. The Wildcats will run against Covina HS on Wednesday at 3:00 on our new track. Source: http://goo.gl/SaOUQ

 

~ A Spring Easter Egg hunt will be held April 7 from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Recreation Park. Details here: http://goo.gl/xGylQ

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman Slams Cal State Executive Compensation

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino says that although this is "Sunshine Week" (advocating transparent and accountable government), "that idea seems to have fallen on deaf ears at the California State University." Portantino (and Senator Leland Yee) said "recent news reports suggest that CSU officials continue to conceal details about excessive compensation for campus presidents – including tens of thousands of dollars in perks such as housing, car allowances, and retirement and health benefits." They add: "There is no justification for these bloated salaries and even less justification for hiding the truth from the taxpaying public." Both Portantino and Yee are sponsoring governmental-salary legislation. Portantino's AB 1787 would freeze compensation for public employees making over $100,000. Yee's SB 967 would prohibit raises for top executives during bad budget years or within two years of a student fee hike. 

 

- Brad Haugaard

Meet '365 Thank Yous' Author at Monrovia Library

Monrovia Reads is sponsoring an event at the Monrovia Library on April 9 at 7 p.m. to meet John Kralik, author of "A Simple Act of Gratitude," and "365 Thank Yous." When Kralik's life hit a desperate low, he decided on New Years Day that if he could focus on what he had instead of what he didn't have, that perhaps his life would become at least tolerable. In "365 Thank Yous," Kralik chronicles the following year, in which he wrote a thank you note every day to anyone and everyone he could think of. Event is free but donations appreciated. Space is limited, so contact Diane Delmatoff at 303-6600 for a spot. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

 
- Brad Haugaard

Huff: Reform Teacher Dismissal Process | Monrovia High from Above | World Vision

~ Monrovia's State Senator, Bob Huff, is planning "legislation aimed at reforming the teacher dismissal process following a scandal within Los Angeles Unified School District where teachers were charged with lewd crimes against students." He says, "State law has hamstrung school administrators from firing teachers when misconduct crimes occur." http://goo.gl/7TlDd

~ Monrovia High from above ... at night: http://goo.gl/IbYaf

~ Monrovia's World Vision is still helping tens of thousands of families a year after the Japanese earthquake/tsunami. http://goo.gl/0gUIg

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Church Building for Sale

A for-sale sign is up for the church building at the corner of Primrose and Palm (across from the northwest corner of Library Park). Broker is CNL Religious and Educational Real Estate.
- Brad Haugaard

Curves Holds Fundraiser for Foothill Unity Center

Curves of Duarte is kicking off its 2012 Curves Food Drive today with a challenge to collect 4,000 pounds of food for Foothill Unity Center. The club is asking members to donate bags of non-perishable food or cash throughout March to fight hunger in the community. The club will also waive the joining fee for new members who bring in a bag of non-perishable food or donate $30 to Foothill Unity Center from March 12–24. For more information about Curves of Duarte, at 1159 Huntington Dr., contact Stacey Park at 626-303-4800 or curves.duarte@verizon.net. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Gets Drone Order | Six-2-Six

~ AeroVironment gets $11.1 million order for Raven drone. http://goo.gl/6EfsA

~ Balloon-popping event at Six-2-Six store's anniversary. http://goo.gl/dxRqI

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Baseball Loss to La Salle | College-Bound Students Honored

~ Monrovia loses to La Salle in Baseball  :-( http://goo.gl/txPwr

 

~ College bound Monrovia students honored. http://goo.gl/vWLHo

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools: Still Running Out of Money, Buy Web Hosting and Audio-Visual Equipment

At its Wednesday, 7 p.m., March 14 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/QyRNf ), the Monrovia Board of Education will, among other things ...

 

~ Hear a report saying it won't be able to pay its bills. "We are projecting a negative $1,280,625 Ending Fund Balance at the end of 2013-14. ..." and worse in the future. That estimate assumes voters reject a tax hike.  http://goo.gl/ydVqP

 

~ Consider paying $21,314 for a one-year contract to SchoolLook/SchoolWires to provide "web hosting for student email and parent portal." ( http://goo.gl/bDDEu ) Opinion: I dunno about this. Unless there's something I'm missing, $21k a year seems like way too much money for what sounds like a boilerplate set-up-and-forget portal/email system.

 

~ Will consider buying classroom audio-visual equipment for a cost of $731,367. http://goo.gl/SFnBW

 

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Opportunities for Local Small Biz | Education Cuts Meeting | Huff Commentary

~ The Gold Line and Foothill Transit Constructors (Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture) hosted a "Meet the Primes" networking event for small businesses today. More than 120 people, representing more than 75 local and regional small businesses, attended and learned about opportunities on the project and how they can participate. Gold Line spokesman Habib F. Balian said this was "one way the Authority could help bring small businesses together with the prime contractor, as they aspire to meet the Authority’s 16 percent goal for small business participation in our project."

 

~ Saturday forum on education budget cuts with Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents Monrovia, out in Glendora.  http://goo.gl/3j1sv

 

~ A "Capitol Comment" video from State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia. http://goo.gl/xibbT

 

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Baja Mar

Lunch at Baja Mar Fish Taco, in the Certified Market complex on Foothill. Got a couple fish tacos. Lightly breaded, tasty. It is not an elegant place, but he food was fine.
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia: Deer City USA

I counted 12 deer in this herd this morning, up at the north end of Ivy Avenue. I've seen as many as 16.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Green Dot Buys Loopt - Enters E-Wallet Arena

Monrovia's Green Dot, which specializes in prepaid credit cards, is moving into the "electronic wallet" arena with the purchase - for $43.4 million in cash - of Silicon Valley's Loopt, Inc., "a pioneer in mobile user interface design, real-time location-based mobile rewards marketing, and geo-location application technology." The press release says this will "provide the opportunity for Green Dot to become a leader in mobile wallets, rewards and payment solutions at retailers nationwide."

 

Opinion: Very cutting edge. Basically this means letting you use your cell phone as a credit card and probably giving you the option to get coupons as you walk by various stores.

 

- Brad Haugaard

 

SoCal Gas: Watch for Fakes | Above Monrovia | Baseball :-(

~ Southern California Gas Company is warning of fake company inspectors claiming to be doing leak inspection. Check their ID. http://goo.gl/O2sA2

~ Beautiful picture looking down on Monrovia at night. http://goo.gl/e1KRy

~ In baseball, Monrovia came in fifth in Arcadia Elks Tournament. http://goo.gl/AL7VP

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Graffiti Bounty | Biking Against Diabetes

~ Last year, Monrovia had approximately 7,100 calls reporting graffiti, which cost $70,000 to remove. If you witness vandalism call (626) 256-8000. If police arrest the suspect, you will receive a $100 bounty. For more information on the Graffiti Bounty Program: http://goo.gl/hdoBO

 

~ Cyclists tour Monrovia to raise money to fight diabetes. http://goo.gl/UcCIj

 

- Brad Haugaard

Wall Street Expected More from Monrovia's Staar Surgical | Conviction Upheld

~ Wall Street was hoping for better financial results from Monrovia's Staar Surgical. http://goo.gl/yJwLz

~ An appellate court has upheld the conviction of two gang members in the 2008 killing of a girl in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/pZSgJ . Update: http://goo.gl/9oTtm

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia: Tree City USA

A picture of Mayor Lutz and council members Adams, Shevlin and Spicer holding up the Tree City USA banner at today’s Arbor Day celebration. http://goo.gl/aGUE9

- Brad Haugaard