Star-News Election Endorsements

Star-News endorsements for Tuesday's election. http://goo.gl/U16oP

- Brad Haugaard

Info on Monrovia 32nd District Congressional Candidates

Interviews by Patch of the three candidates for U.S. House of Representatives for the 32nd District, which includes Monrovia except the area north of Hillcrest-Greystone. (Click the "Open Checked" button). http://goo.gl/6kR9M

- Brad Haugaard

Line Down the Street for Monrovia Yogurtland Opening

The grand opening at Yogurtland was apparently quite a success, judging from this line down the street. http://goo.gl/6iyBH

- Brad Haugaard

Contributors to 41st Assembly District Candidates

A good overview of who is contributing how much to the candidates for the 41st Assembly District. http://goo.gl/TUpF9

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Fire Responds to Problem in Park

Six Monrovia Fire units responded to a report of a woman feeling poorly at the falls in Monrovia Canyon Park today.

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Gets Initial Order on Possible $65.8 Million Order

AeroVironment gets a initial $15.8 million order from the US Army for its Raven drone, with a total projected value of $65,889,191. http://goo.gl/knCI4

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Sentenced for Hit and Run

Monrovian sentenced to six months for hit-and-run. http://goo.gl/FPNyw

- Brad Haugaard

Interviews with Candidates for 41st Assembly District

Here are Patch interviews with all the candidates for the 41st Assembly District. Click the "Open Checked" button to see them all at once. http://goo.gl/c502s

- Brad Haugaard

School Board Budget Session | KNX Pictures | Huff Amendment Denied

~ The Monrovia School Board will hold a special meeting to study the 2012-13 budget situation. Comment: Should be a cheerful event. http://goo.gl/CdoWg

~ Photos of KNX broadcasting from the Monrovia Coffee House on Myrtle today. http://goo.gl/SgBTM

~ Video: Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, asks the Senate for an amendment to make it easier to fire teachers guilty of serious abuses of students. He said it currently takes up to eight years to get rid of such teachers. His amendment was voted down. http://goo.gl/N5dm6

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Shanghai Gourmet

Lunch at Shanghai Gourmet, new place in the shopping center near Fifth on Duarte Road. We passed on the pig stomach and sea cucumber and got sauteed beef with orange peel and the spicy chicken. Came with soup and tea. Chopsticks only. Really delicious! And lots. Had to take some home. My favorite was the beef but both were great. And cheap. $13.90 for both meals and a Coke.

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Funding

The California State Assembly has passed AB 1600 to extend the Gold Line to Montclair in San Bernardino County and making the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) a non-voting member of the Authority.

 

Also, the the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments has decided to withhold support of a proposal to permanently extend the Measure R sales tax until it is made clear whether the money will be used to extend the Gold Line to Claremont.

Source: Gold Line press release

 

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Progress

Crews are finalizing the form-work and installing over 500 tons of reinforcing steel for the bridge's superstructure and outrigger (or main cross-beam). Once completed in early June, 2,100 cubic yards of concrete will be placed to form the main bridge structure. The photos above show the significant progress made on the bridge by the Skanska team in the last few weeks.

Nearly 80 full-time engineers and designers are currently hard at work designing the Pasadena to Azusa project. Some elements of the design are close to - or at - 85%; while most are at around 60% completion. This process will continue through 2012, with construction starting in earnest in September.

As design progresses, FTC crews are out along the corridor conducting pre-construction activities. During the last several weeks, crews have begun demolishing the abandoned track in Arcadia, as well as demolishing the Colorado Boulevard bridge, which crosses Colorado Boulevard just west of Santa Anita Avenue.  

Source: Gold Line press release

If you would like to attend a Gold Line open house, see details here: http://goo.gl/vunqM

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Mayor on Radio | Yogurtland Celebration Saturday

~ Mayor Mary Ann Lutz reports on Twitter that she is being interviewed by KNX Radio at 7:20 a.m. today. KNX is broadcasting live from Old Town Monrovia today. UPDATE: If you missed it, Mayor Lutz said that Monrovia is "more than just a town, it is a community," and she told the story of Samson the hot tub bear.

~ Yogurtland (on Myrtle near Foothill) is having a grand opening celebration tomorrow (Saturday) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free yogurt from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free Sanrio t-shirts for the first 100. Free $5 gift card for first 50. Balloons for kids.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Company Helps Electric Vehicles Drive from Seattle to Canada

Electric vehicle chargers from Monrovia's AeroVironment now make it possible to drive an electric vehicle from Seattle to the Canadian border. http://goo.gl/t6Jis

- Brad Haugaard

Contract Night for Monrovia City Council

A lot of contract updates are on the June 5, 7:30 p.m. Monrovia City Council agenda, including: providing transportation service for county residents near Monrovia, having a company provide graffiti removal, renew a tree trimming contract, another contract for maintaining city vehicles, another for consulting about updating the city's "Pavement Management System" (street repair, I think), another to fix a water well pump, yet another to update a computerized water management system, and again, one to update the city and police computer systems, and finally, one to renew the trash hauling contract. http://goo.gl/iVCp6

Opinion: One item that caught my eye was that for the graffiti removal contract staff recommends an increased payment due to an "increase in fuel costs." Hmm. That's pretty standard, and fair enough, but fuel prices also go down at times. Does the price the city pays go down if fuel costs decline? If not, why not?

- Brad Haugaard

Keeping Business in Monrovia | CPR Training

~ In her weekly report, Monrovia City Manager Laurie Lile says one of the city's goals is to attract and retain businesses. She says she visited Roncelli Plastics, on Duarte Road, whose processes and equipment she commends as "state of the art" and "a shining example of Monrovia's high-tech future." She writes: "It's our goal to not only keep all employers like Roncelli Plastics, but to see them grow and continue to flourish here." She adds: "We are as focused on retaining our existing businesses as we are on bringing new businesses into the City." http://goo.gl/RzfVD

~ Also in the report, on June 7 from 9 a.m. to noon is "Sidewalk CPR Day." Monrovia Fire Department will have a booth in front of the Library to teach residents the life-saving technique. Sessions last about 10 minutes. http://goo.gl/RzfVD

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Backyard Tree Problem Scam, Falling After Hiding from a Bear, Burglaries, Auto Thefts, Drive 25

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 28-30. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 487 service events, resulting in 109 investigations.

Domestic Battery
May 28 at 9:21 a.m., a caller reported a male subject assaulting a female subject in the area of Madison and Colorado.  Officers arrived and spoke to both subjects.  Through investigation it was learned that the male subject is the ex-boyfriend of the female and he was forcefully pushing her to walk with him to the store.  She was resisting him, so he clamped his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her hair, trying to force her to walk with him.  The victim was not injured, but does desire prosecution.  An Emergency Protective Order was issued and served.

Residential Burglary
May 28 at 1:20 p.m., police responded to the report of a residential burglary in the 100 block of Spanner Street.  A female Hispanic suspect, approximately 50 years old, approached the front door of the residence, which is occupied by two elderly women and one of the women's daughters.  Only one of the women was home at the time and her daughter was sleeping in her room.  The suspect spoke to the resident and told her she had purchased the property behind the victim's house and there was a tree problem that she wanted to show her.  The suspect and the victim walked to the rear of the property.  As they did so, the suspect was on the phone the entire time.  Once the suspect left, the victim went back inside her home and found it ransacked and her wallet, cash and jewelry were taken.  The victim observed a dark colored, 4-door vehicle in front of the house during this incident.  Investigation continuing.

Commercial Burglary
May 28 at 3:13 p.m., a burglary was reported at a business in the 100 block of East Lemon.  The suspect(s) forced a gate and used a pry tool to enter a side door to a conference room.  The alarm sounded and the suspect(s) forcefully tore a flat screen television from its mount and fled the scene.  Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
May 28 at 7:55 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 400 block of West Foothill.  The victim parked and locked her vehicle in front of the business where she works and left it there over the weekend, as she went out of town.  When she returned on Monday evening, the vehicle was gone.  The vehicle is a white, 2009, 4-door BMW with paper plates.  Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
May 29 at 7:59 a.m., a grand theft auto was reported in the 300 block of East Lemon.  The victim parked his ATV, a green, 2008 Honda Foreman, in the bed of his pickup truck in his driveway.  Suspect(s) removed the ATV from the bed of the truck sometime overnight.  Investigation continuing.

Daytime Residential Burglaries
Three daytime residential burglaries occurred in the morning and afternoon hours on May 29.  Two occurred in the 100 block of North Alta Vista and one in the 600 block of Terrado.  The victim of the first home on Alta Vista is in the process of moving out and had most of her belongings out of the home.  She was not able to respond, so a family member secured the house.  A list of stolen items will be provided upon her return.  Suspect(s) entered the home by prying open a bathroom window.

Suspect(s) entered the second home burglarized on North Alta Vista by removing three glass louvers from the window and then opening it.  The victim's house was very full of personal items and it was hard to determine what was taken from the property.  The victim reported cash taken.

The third home burglarized is in the 600 block of Terrado.  The victim is an elderly female.  She left the location at 7:45 a.m. and returned at approximately 1:25 p.m.  The suspect(s) went into her garage and obtained a screwdriver and ladder.  They made entry through a front window.  The house was ransacked and the loss was cash and jewelry.  It is unknown if these three burglaries are related.  The investigations are continuing.

Stranded Hiker Rescued
May 29 at 8:01 p.m., dispatch received a call from a 43-year-old female.  She said she was hiking near the Trask Boy Scout Camp when she saw a bear on the road.  She said she was hiding from the bear in some bushes.  Her cell phone signal was breaking up and dispatch lost phone contact with her.  Officers responded and began a search of the area.  The Foothill Air Support helicopter also responded to assist.

After searching the area for approximately one hour, the woman was found 20 feet below the road at the bottom of a steep hill.  She said that when she saw the bear, she panicked, backed up and fell down the hill.  She was unable to get back to the road without assistance.  The Fire Department responded and assisted her up the hill to safety.  The woman was not injured.

Theft From a Vehicle
May 30 at 3:26 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of East Hillcrest saw a tall male suspect wearing dark clothes tampering with his unlocked car.  The resident yelled at the suspect, who walked away, eastbound on Hillcrest.  The loss was a small amount of change.

Grand Theft Auto
May 30 at 7:04 a.m., a green Honda Accord was reported stolen from the 200 block of West Pomona.  The victim had parked and locked his vehicle in front of his house in the evening.  The vehicle was taken sometime overnight.  The El Monte Police Department called later in the day and advised they had recovered the vehicle.  It had been stripped and abandoned in their city.  Investigation continuing.


Tip of the Week: "Keep Kids Alive Drive 25" Campaign
"Keep Kids Alive Drive 25" is a traffic safety campaign to raise awareness of the residential speed limit.  In California the speed limit in residential areas is 25 MPH, unless posted otherwise.  The goal of the "Keep Kids Alive Drive 25" organization and the Monrovia Police Department is working together to end injuries and deaths that result from speeding vehicles in our neighborhoods.  The street in front of your home is over twice as dangerous as highways when it comes to number of deaths per miles driven (Federal Highway Administration).

The "Keep Kids Alive Drive 25" organization, the Monrovia Police Department and the Monrovia Unified School District are working collaboratively to create safe streets through education and active community involvement.

Be on TV | Make Monrovia's Fourth Great | Portantino Bill Not So Popular With Hunters | Trail Crew

~ Monrovia Chamber of Commerce reports that HGTV Home & Garden Television will be filming a new show at an open house this Friday, June 1 at 2 p.m. at the Monroe House (built by Monrovia founder William N. Monroe), 225 Monroe Place. If you'd like to attend, email your name and number of guests to maustin@asylument.com

~ Contribute online to make Monrovia's Fourth of July show great: http://goo.gl/SEn7m (I've been the last couple times and it is super!)

~ Some hunters are not happy about a bill by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, to change the name of the "Department of Fish and Game" to the "Department of Fish and Wildlife." http://goo.gl/jr6t6

~ Picture of the volunteer crew at work on the trails in Monrovia Canyon Park. http://goo.gl/Y8kjf

- Brad Haugaard

Portantino Disaster Bill Passes | Hand Grenade | Monrovia Fitness | Rose Tournament Gives to Monrovia Charity

~ A bill by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, to improve emergency and disaster preparedness was approved today in the State Assembly. AB 1650 requires public utilities "to hold comprehensive disaster preparedness meetings every two years with the counties and cities they service in order to improve readiness and better prepare for natural disasters. In addition, the California Public Utilities Commission will help set standards for each utility to meet." Source: Portantino press release.

~ Hand grenade in unincorporated Monrovia area. http://goo.gl/SMhvA

~ Fitness places in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/iqCyR

~ The Tournament of Roses Foundation is donating to the Academy of Music for the Blind in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/kfdwo

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Prolacta Donates to Make-A-Wish | Tanner EDA Partners with Australian Company

~ Prolacta Bioscience, of Monrovia, has made an additional donation to Make-A-Wish, bringing its donation total to just over $18,000 in six months. The contributions are made on behalf of mothers who donate excess breast milk to the Milk for Wishes Milk Bank, operated by Prolacta, which uses the milk to make nutritional products to benefit critically ill, premature infants. http://goo.gl/SDbLA

~ Tanner EDA of Monrovia, and Australian Semiconductor Technology Co. have concluded an agreement to deliver "analog/mixed signal IP and custom ASIC design services." http://goo.gl/vdV7m

- Brad Haugaard