Monrovia's STAAR Surgical Consolidates Manufacturing in Monrovia

Monrovia's STAAR Surgical is consolidating its manufacturing in Monrovia, leasing a 26,000 square foot building immediately adjacent to its current facility to accommodate the consolidation and as provide for growth. The lease is for eight years, beginning approximately at the end of November 2012, assuming all contingencies are met. STAAR Surgical makes implantable lenses for the eye. http://goo.gl/JB9PE

- Brad Haugaard

Dry Lightning Possible Tonight To Wednesday Evening

Red flag warning in effect from midnight tonight until 5 p.m. Wednesday for dry lightning and gusty winds. http://goo.gl/Y7RvY

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Will Look for Other Money to Complete Rail Line | Full Freeway Closures Ahead | Huff Supports Film Industry Tax Relief

~ Gold Line Construction Authority Habib Balian reports that for the Azusa to Montclair phase of the rail line, "the Construction Authority will seek out other funding sources as we advance the preliminary engineering, planning and design." Other sources would be required, he said, because it appears Measure R funds will not be used for that purpose. In preparation, he said the Authority has released a draft environmental impact report on the the Azusa to Montclair phase of the line. Source: press release

~ The eastbound and westbound 210 will be completely closed August 28 and 29 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day. Also, the eastbound will be fully closed August 30 from midnight to 5 a.m. The closures are to begin the process of removing the temporary supporting structure for the bridge. There will be 20 full eastbound freeway closures in the next six weeks. Source: press release

~ Video: Senator Bob Huff (who represents Monrovia) supports a two-year extension of tax credits for the film and television industry to persuade them do do filming in California. http://goo.gl/xrnKF

- Brad Haugaard

Senator Bob Huff Predicts 30-Year Wait for Completion of Gold Line, Opposes Extension of Measure R Sales Tax

Video: Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (who represents Monrovia) comes out against the proposed extension of the Measure R sales tax to fund mass transit, saying the R-extension does not provide money to complete the Gold Line to Claremont, as promised in 2008. He said that "if the extension is approved by voters, it will mean a 30-year delay or more for the Foothill Extension of the Gold Line from Pasadena to Claremont." http://goo.gl/j8D6c

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Golden Girl | Golden Plate

~ Monrovia's Golden Girl, a feature article about Olympian Kim Rhode. http://goo.gl/HP1BD

~ Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center will hold its 14th Golden Plate Awards on Friday, September 21, at the Pasadena Convention Center. Details: http://goo.gl/Husna

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Band Room to Close

The Monrovia High Band and Colorguard has announced on its Facebook page that the band will have to leave the MHS Band Room, which will be "closed indefinitely" because it is not earthquake safe. "The band program and all its ensembles and classes will continue on schedule. The current plan is to move all classes, equipment and assets to our new 'temporary' home."

- Brad Haugaard

Huff Lists 'Job Killer' Bills Being Considered by Legislature

Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, lists "five 'Job Killer' bills" the California state legislature is considering: http://goo.gl/WDOoD

- Brad Haugaard

Maryknoll Card Party | Monrovia Y Corn Toss

~ Monrovia's Maryknoll Sisters is holding a Fall Harvest Fundraiser Luncheon/Card Party September 11 beginning at 10 a.m. with luncheon ($15) at noon. Drawings and door prizes. Call 358-1825 for reservations.

~ The Monrovia Y is sponsoring a "Corn Toss" on Saturday, September 29 beginning at 3 p.m. at Monrovia Tennis Club, 158 N. Sunset. A corn toss is "a fun and exciting game similar to horseshoes except you use wooden boxes called Corn To9ss platforms and corn/bean bags instead of horseshoes and metal stakes." $50 per player. Interested in participating? Contact Jim ward at jim@wardservice.com

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Suicide by Cop Fails, Snapshots Lead to Suspects, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 16-19. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events. 

Warrant / Parolee at Large - Suspect Arrested

August 16 at 7:20 a.m., police were requested to the 800 block of West Chestnut regarding a male transient sleeping on a bench on a business property near their front lobby.  Officers arrived and recognized the subject from prior contacts.  Computer checks revealed he had an outstanding warrant out of Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and a no-bail parolee-at-large warrant.  He was arrested and taken into custody.

Disturbed Subject / Mental Evaluation

August 16 at 16:27 p.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a male subject walking around holding a knife in the 300 block of West Duarte.  After making the initial report the caller hung up the phone.  Officers responded and located the subject in a parking area.  The subject was holding a large knife and refused to drop it at the request of officers.  He stated to the officers that he wanted them to shoot him.  One of the officers eventually talked the subject into dropping the knife.  The subject was taken into custody.  

A check of the subject's cell phone revealed the phone number was the same as the reporting party.  It appears the subject was the one who made the initial report on himself.  The subject was taken to a hospital, where he was placed on a 72-hour hold for mental evaluation.      

Traffic Collision - Vehicle vs. Pedestrian

August 17 at 8:49 p.m., a 73-year-old female was walking east on Royal Oaks and began to cross Mountain in the pedestrian walkway.  The female claims she had a white figure facing her, indicating she was clear to cross the street, when a vehicle turned southbound onto Mountain from Royal Oaks.  The driver claims she had a green signal facing her direction of travel.  The pedestrian managed to push away from the vehicle with her arms, but still fell to the ground, striking her head on the asphalt.  She complained of pain to her left leg, left arm, and her head.  She was taken to a hospital, where she is expected to recover from her injuries.  The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

August 18 at 8:34 a.m., an officer was dispatched to an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Eighth Avenue regarding a vehicle burglary.  The victim parked her vehicle in a guest parking stall to the rear of the complex in the evening.  She locked the vehicle, but had left her purse and laptop on the floorboard, behind the front passenger seat.  When she returned to her vehicle the next morning at about 8:30 a.m., she found the rear passenger side window shattered.  Her purse, credit cards and laptop were all missing. Investigation continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered

August 18 at 10:36 a.m., the victim of a grand theft auto called to report he had located his stolen vehicle in the 100 block East Colorado.  The victim was out riding his bicycle around town and happened to come across his vehicle.  The vehicle is a silver, 2005 Toyota Camry and was reported stolen on August 15.  Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto / Warrant / Receiving Stolen Property - Suspects Arrested

August 18 at 12:22 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 100 block of West Lemon.  The victim parked her vehicle in her designated parking stall at her apartment complex and locked it.  When she returned to the vehicle the next morning it was missing.  The vehicle is a green, 1997 Acura Integra.

At 2:02 p.m. the same day, a vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of California.  The reporting party ran out of his house when his wife told him someone had just broken into his vehicle.  He ran to the alley and saw three suspicious subjects in and around a green Acura Integra.  He was able to get a picture on his cell phone of the driver, suspects, the vehicle, and the license plate.  He attempted to follow the suspects, but lost them.  He then went home and called police.  Police responded and checked the area.  An area search was made and two of the suspects were eventually located.  The vehicle license plate was found to belong to the stolen Acura from earlier that morning.  The pictures taken by the reporting party positively identified the driver of the stolen vehicle.  The second suspect was found to have an outstanding warrant.  Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody.      

In the early morning hours of the next day, officers located the third outstanding suspect sleeping in an alley.  He had shaved his head in an attempt to alter his appearance.  He was taken into custody with incident. 

August 19 at 8:38 p.m., an officer on patrol was driving through an alley in the 200 block of West Colorado and located the stolen green Acura parked in a carport stall of an apartment complex.  The vehicle was recovered.

Grand Theft Auto

August 19 at 9:17 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of East Central.  The victim parked and locked his black, 2004 Chevy Silverado in front of his residence about 9:00 p.m. in the evening.  He noticed the vehicle missing the next morning at 9:00 a.m.  The vehicle has 20-inch chrome rims.  Investigation continuing.

Domestic Violence - Suspect Arrested

August 19 at 4:27 p.m., officers responded to a fight in progress between two subjects at a business parking lot in the 200 block of West Huntington.  When the officers arrived, they detained a male subject in the parking lot.  The other half involved in the fight was the male subject's girlfriend, who was last seen walking west on Huntington.  Officers located the girlfriend, who was found to have injuries from the fight.  The male subject was arrested for domestic violence.

Donnelly Rated 100% Conservative

In his Donnelly Dispatch newsletter, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, reports that he received a 100 percent rating from the American Conservative Union and was given its "Defender of Liberty" award. http://goo.gl/xdkXk

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Bodybuilders Named Grand Marshals

Bodybuilders Brian and Jennifer Whelan, owners of Monrovia's Foothill Gym, have been named Grand Marshals of Duarte's Salute to Route 66 Parade. http://goo.gl/Wd9bp

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Olympian Kim Rhode Honored

Monrovia honors skeet-shooting Olympian, Kim Rhode, medal winner in five Olympics in a row. http://goo.gl/imRWJ

- Brad Haugaard

Portantino and Adams: Breaks for Movie Business or All Business?

On Facebook, Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, comments on an LA Times article headlined, "California Assembly approves state film, TV tax credit extension" . Portantino writes: "it is so important to keep filming in California!"

Under Portantino's post, Monrovia City Councilman Tom Adams responds: "All business is important in California, let's offer the same for all and bring back the business we have lost".

- Brad Haugaard

Gary Babb Oil Paintings

Plums

New oil paintings by Gary Babb, August 25-September 30, at Segil Fine Art Gallery, 110 West Lime.

 
- Brad Haugaard

Framing Monrovia Jack-in-the-Box

The framing is well underway for the Jack-in-the-Box at Huntington and Magnolia.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at McDonalds

Lunch recently at McDonalds at Mayflower and Huntington. Got the Angus Chipotle BBQ Bacon burger combo (got most of the bases covered with that name). $6.49 plus tax. I tasted the BBQ but not sure I tasted the chipotle. Not sure what chipotle is so maybe that's not surprising. Anyway, tasty.

- Brad Haugaard

Donnelly Condemns Driver Licenses for Illegal Aliens

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, has issued
a press release condemning a decision to issue drivers licenses to
illegal aliens. http://goo.gl/Pqq7a

- Brad Haugaard

Aztec Hotel Being Renovated

The city reports that the Aztec Hotel is being renovated by it's new
owners. http://goo.gl/3ZClg

- Brad Haugaard

Video: Senator Bob Huff Commentary

Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (who represents Monrovia) gives a
preview of the final two weeks of legislative session in the
California State Capitol and provides an update on Senate hearings
into unreported "slush funds." http://goo.gl/E6yFG

- Brad Haugaard

Darrione Jones May Join Monrovia Football Backfield

Darrione Jones may give Monrovia High football backfield more power.
http://goo.gl/gp55G

- Brad Haugaard