Former Books at the Monrovia Library

Pictures of some of "modified" books at the Monrovia Library. http://goo.gl/bwoR6

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Summer Activities Brochure | Job Fair | VBS at First Pres.

~ The brochure of Monrovia summer events is out. Youth and adult classes; library services; youth, adult and senior activities; parks info, etc. You can browse it here: http://goo.gl/QVQCJ

~ Job Fair, hosted by the City of Monrovia, Tuesday, June 19 from 9:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. For details, contact Jennifer McLain at 303-6601 or jmclain@ci.monrovia.ca.us .

~ Vacation Bible School at First Presbyterian Church, June 24-28. Registration deadline is 3 pm Friday, June 15. http://goo.gl/nIuZ5

- Brad Haugaard

Denmark Buys Drones From Monrovia's AeroVironment

Monrovia's AeroVironment just got a $9.6 million order to supply the Danish Armed Forces with its Puma drone aircraft. http://goo.gl/PavSf

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia 109th in State for Childhood Obesity

Monrovia is 109th in the state for childhood obesity, with an obesity rate of 39.8%, according to the California Center for Public Health Advocacy. http://goo.gl/L0T5L

- Brad Haugaard

Help Wild Rose School Raise Money for Grass and Trees

As part of its Lots2Give program, Big Lots is collecting $1-$5 donations through July 8 to help Wild Rose Elementary School get "new grass and trees planted in its Kindergarten Playground to create a clean and safe green space and prevent students from getting excessively dirty and overheated during recesses and meal times."

Also, the school could win $20,000 in Lots2Give's online video contest. Wild Rose's video was created by a group of fifth grade students. You can see it, and vote for it, here: http://goo.gl/H4Xwx

- Brad Haugaard

Happy 125th Birthday to Monrovia's Santa Anita YMCA!

It was founded at a public meeting held at the Pioneer Bakery at 409 S. Myrtle Avenue in 1887.  Thousands of members later, the Santa Anita Family YMCA is celebrating 125 years of service to Monrovia, Duarte, Bradbury and Arcadia at an anniversary event at 3 p.m. on June 16 at the YMCA, 501 S. Mountain Avenue in Monrovia.

“This is a historic milestone, and one that symbolizes the passionate dedication of generations of volunteers who worked to help our community thrive,” said Santa Anita Family YMCA Board President Steve Baker. “We are inviting the public to celebrate this special time with us as we honor those who have contributed to our success as we hope for another 125 years of meaningful impact.”

The Santa Anita Family YMCA, a non-profit, charitable organization, has nearly 5,000 participants and members, more than 300 volunteers and nearly 60 employees.  Over the years, the Y has stayed true to its purpose of strengthening the foundations of community by offering a wide range of programs for all ages that focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

Among the youth programs are the popular basketball, volleyball and dodgeball classes and leagues, where more than 4,500 children participate each year, and swim classes, where more than 1,400 kids learn to swim each year. Adults programs such as group fitness classes see 2,200 participants each year.

But the Y does not just emphasize healthy living – it also has promotes youth and teen development through such programs as Model United Nations and Youth in Government. Social responsibility is also a critical component to the Y’s goals. In fact, in the past 12 years alone, the Santa Anita Family YMCA has provided more than $2 million to ensure that all families have access to the support and solutions that will help them to thrive.

During the anniversary event, organizers will reveal a new installation which recognizes past and present philanthropists, whose efforts continue to make a positive impact on the Y and our community.

“Over the past 125 years countless community philanthropists have invested their time and money to ensure that every child’s potential is nurtured, that the health and well-being of our community is improved and that our neighbors are supported,” said Damon Colaluca, executive director of the Santa Anita Family YMCA. “We are merely stewards of this movement. Any success that we experience today is only possible because of the efforts of those that have come before us.”

People interested in attending the June 16 event or who would like to know more about the Y can contact Cheryl Reynolds at 626-359-9244, or by email at cherylreynolds@ymcala.org.

Source: YMCA press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Restaurant Pad for Sale | Creepy's Not Illegal

~ Only $6 million to buy an empty pad that would be great for a food court building in the Albertson's shopping center. http://goo.gl/7O4Et

~ Monrovia Police report they don't have a reason to arrest a man taking pictures of girls near a Santa Fe Middle School. Creapy it may be, but not illegal. http://goo.gl/MwYhs

- Brad Haugaard

Patch Reports Better Earnings and More Visitors

AOL is reporting that its Patch local news sites, including Monrovia Patch, are seeing strong revenue and traffic growth ( http://goo.gl/UynTA ), though, according to the Wall Street Journal ( http://goo.gl/QyzcG ), the company apparently faces a proxy fight by investors who are critical of the cost of Patch, and skepticism by others in the financial press, such as Bloomberg ( http://goo.gl/q6bxp ) and Forbes ( http://goo.gl/r93e6 ). Forbes writes that while making $40 million this year is a big improvement for Patch, last year it spent about $160 million.

Opinion: Best wishes, Nathan and the rest of the Monrovia Patch crew! Hope it works. America needs good local journalism, and Patch is a noble - and hopefully successful -experiment.

Monrovia Relief Agency, World Vision, Helps Syrian Refugees

Monrovia's World Vision, a Christian relief agency, is helping Syrian refugees with hygiene kits in Bekaa, where it has been working for 10 years, "and plans to provide food vouchers and establish four Child-Friendly Spaces - safe areas where children can enjoy fun activities and learn to cope from emotional upheaval." http://goo.gl/gdof9

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Senator Comments on Budget, Inaction on Education

In his newsletter, Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, comments on Governor Brown's new budget proposal and that nothing has happened in education reform. He writes that ...

~ "The Governor admitted in his May Budget Revision that the deficit for the upcoming fiscal year had grown to a whopping $16 billion, while the independent Legislative Analysts' Office puts the number at 'north of $17 billion.'" http://goo.gl/B0J3v

~ Five years after the release of a legislature-sponsored analysis, a report analyzing what California has done since the "Getting Down to Facts" studies has concluded that it has done, "next to nothing." http://goo.gl/zbJdX

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Puppet Theater for Children

Little Stage Puppet Theater, 104 E. Chestnut, for kids ages 3-9. Shows on Saturdays, June 16, 23, 30, at 11 a.m. noon and 1 p.m. Tickets $5. http://goo.gl/1KgR0

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Preventing a Sword Assault, Busted Bear Nose, Sexual Hit-and-Run, More Copper Thefts, Swiped Cell Phone, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 7-10. - Brad Haugaard]

 

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

 

Grand Theft

June 7 at 7:43 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a transit lot in the 1600 block of South Primrose regarding a theft of property.  The theft occurred sometime between 6:00 p.m. on May 22 and 5:00 a.m. on May 23.  Small spools of copper wire and several car batteries were taken from the lot.  Investigation continuing.

 

Sexual Battery

June 8 at approximately 1:19 p.m., a 17-year-old female was walking south on Magnolia at about Cypress.  She heard footsteps coming from behind her, but did not turn around.  Suddenly, she felt someone grab her buttocks and crotch area from behind.  She stopped, and the suspect ran past her on the left side.  The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, early 30's, 5 foot 7 inches tall, thick medium-length black hair, full beard, wearing a brown shirt and light blue jeans.  Investigation continuing.

 

Deadly Weapon With Intent to Assault - Suspect Arrested

June 8 at 7:15 p.m., officers responded to a park in the 300 block of South Myrtle regarding a suspicious person carrying a sword.  Officers detained the suspect, who was carrying a two-and-a-half-foot-long metal sword.  The suspect had been involved in an altercation with gang members at the park a week prior and had returned to the park with the sword.  The suspect was subsequently arrested for the above listed charge.

 

Bear Incident

June 9 at 2:00 p.m., a large bear was struck by a vehicle at Mayflower and Hillcrest.  The vehicle was not damaged, but the bear had injuries that required him to be tranquilized by Monrovia Animal Control and the Department of Fish and Game.  It was determined that the bear's injuries were minor, a broken nose and tooth, and should heal in a few days.  The bear was released back into the wilderness area above Canyon Park.

 

Possession of Methamphetamine / Trespassing - Suspect Arrested

June 9 at 6:22 p.m., police responded to the report of a subject entering a vacant and unlocked residence in the 1600 block of South Mayflower.  The subject was arrested for trespassing and also charged with possession of methamphetamine.

 

Commercial Burglary / Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested

June 9 at 9:27 p.m., police responded to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a burglary.  A female suspect entered a business with a box cutter and used it to cut the tags off of merchandise.  She took several items of clothing and left without paying.  She was arrested and taken into custody. During the booking process, methamphetamine was found on her person.  The additional charge was added.

 

Residential Burglary

June 10 at 8:30 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of West Palm.  The victim left his residence for approximately two hours.  When he returned, he found two computers and a backpack containing papers missing from his home.  Nothing else was taken and the residence was not ransacked.  The victim said he left his front door open, but the screen was closed and he believed it was locked.  There were no signs of forced entry.  A witness saw a male Black in his mid 30's and a female Hispanic in her mid 20's in the vicinity of the apartment during the time of the burglary.  Investigation continuing.

 

Strong-arm Robbery

June 10 at 9:17 p.m., a robbery of a cell phone was reported at California and Maple.  The victim and two friends were eating at a fast food restaurant.  The two female suspects were at the same restaurant.  When the victim and her friends left, the female suspects left and followed behind them, east on Huntington and then north on California.  When the victim began to make a call on her cell phone, one of the female suspects ran up behind her, bumped her and grabbed the phone.  Both female suspects ran eastbound on Maple.  The victim and her friends ran after the suspects, but lost sight of them.  Investigation continuing.

 

 

Special Enforcement Team Weekly Activity

 

Search Warrant

On June 7, Special Enforcement Team officers assisted patrol with an investigation of a suspect who was taking pictures of juvenile females near a school.  A search warrant and consent was used to recover a camera and computer from the suspect.  The searches included a vehicle, the suspect's work and residence.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Unlicensed Driver / Warrant - Suspect Arrested

On June 8, the Special Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle on Longden at Live Oak.  The driver was cited for being unlicensed and a passenger was arrested for a warrant for driving under the influence.

 

Driving With a Suspended License / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Suspect Arrested

On July 9, a suspicious vehicle that left the 200 Block of East Cherry was stopped by the Special Enforcement Team.  The driver was arrested and cited in the field for having a suspended driver's license and possessing a rock cocaine pipe.  The vehicle was stored.

Monrovia's AeroVironment Sells Drones to Swedish Army

The Swedish Army is buying drone aircraft from Monrovia-based AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/t8S5R

- Brad Haugaard

A Special Library Book Donation

Former student in a computer class at the Monrovia Library - who is paralyzed from the neck down - donates a book she wrote to the library. http://goo.gl/YMChL

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Charged in Bike Robbery Incident | More on Graduation

~ Monrovian charged in robbery of bicycle. http://goo.gl/Ba7WI

~ More on the Monrovia High graduation. http://goo.gl/nqB9K

- Brad Haugaard

Helping Find Missing Monrovia Pets

I just saw this missing-dog flyer and thought maybe I could be helpful. If you lose a pet in Monrovia, send me a little picture and a few words and I will probably post it here. I hate for pets to be lost.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School District Suing Office Depot, More Layoffs, No Raises, Budget Info

Among other topics at its June 15, 7 p.m. meeting, (agenda: http://goo.gl/ZjBO9 ), the Monrovia School Board will ...

~ Consider hiring an attorney to sue Office Depot. Monrovia and some other local school districts are suing Office Depot for what the district terms: "fraud it committed in pricing." The attorney would be hired on a contingency basis, meaning the law firm only gets paid if it wins. http://goo.gl/tmZsi

~ Consider laying off or cutting the hours of more employees. This time (if I'm reading this correctly) cutting a computer lab instructional assistant at Wild Rose Elementary from five hours a day for nine months a year to 3.75 hours a day for nine months, and cutting four preschool developmental aides at Canyon Early Learning Center from three hours daily for 12 months a year to 3 hours a day for nine months. http://goo.gl/mrucq

~ Reveal the agreement between the district and the Monrovia Teachers Association. It appears to be essentially a no-raises contract ( http://goo.gl/QbRt4 ). Ditto for the non-teacher employees: http://goo.gl/NK5l2

~ Hear some pretty bleak - but apparently slightly better - budget numbers for Monrovia schools. The image above gives a hint. http://goo.gl/em2Jk

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Bridge Construction - Freeway Closure June 18-19

Graphic showing what is happening with the bridge construction.


The Gold Line construction folks expect one closure of the eastbound 210 Freeway on Monday, June 18, from 11 p.m. through 5 a.m. on June 19. The lanes may be partially closed from 10 p.m. through 1 p.m. on the 19th.

- Brad Haugaard

Will Gold Line be a Short Line? Metro Not Providing Money to Lay Track to Claremont

The Metro is not allotting any more money to complete the Gold Line to Claremont, though it is providing more money to extend other lines, according to Habib Balian, spokesman for the Construction Authority for the Metro Gold Line.

Balian writes:

"We are extremely disappointed to see the draft updated Expenditure Plan just released by Metro. An updated expenditure plan is required by AB1446 for the proposed permanent extension of Measure R. AB1446 requires that the new Expenditure Plan include updated total cost estimates for the completion of each Measure R project (as defined in AB1446), as well as updated funding years and completion dates.

 

"Despite the fact that the Construction Authority submitted an expenditure plan for the project defined in Measure R ('Pasadena to Claremont'), Metro ignored both the statutory definition of the project as well as its estimated total cost of completion. In fact Metro did not adjust the total cost estimate beyond what has been assumed for the last few years.  This amount is not nearly enough to complete the voter-mandated project from Pasadena to Claremont and therefore does not meet the requirements set out in AB1446.

 

"As a comparison, Metro added a significant amount to the total cost estimates for a number of other projects:

 

· $1.65 billion was added for the I-405 Corridor

 

· Nearly $1 billion was added for the Westside Subway

 

· $500 million was added for the West Santa Ana Branch Corridor

 

· Just under $200 million was added for the Gold Line Eastside Extension"

 

Source: Press release from Habib Balian

 

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Burger Basket

Lunch at Burger Basket, corner of Mayflower and Duarte. We got two hamburgers with fries with drinks for $10.34. Not an elegant place but a good burger with crisp, fresh lettuce and tomato.

- Brad Haugaard