Tiger Mosquitoes Get Close | Coffee With Chris Holden

~ West Nile Virus carrying tiger mosquitoes are getting close to Monrovia. They have just been discovered near Live Oak and Santa Anita avenues in Arcadia. They have been found earlier in El Monte. http://goo.gl/AcBtZ

~ Monrovia Coffee with Democratic candidate for the 41st Assembly District, former Pasadena mayor Chris Holden, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. RSVP: 358.6796 or cmccallum50@yahoo.com . NOTE: Happy to promote any local candidate events, from either party, as long as it's happening in Monrovia. Just send me the details.

- Brad Haugaard

Rain Tomorrow in Monrovia? | Mini Power Outage

~ Forty percent chance of rain tomorrow and Friday. http://goo.gl/sQTAi

~ Southern California Edison reports that there is a power outage in Monrovia affecting 76 customers. It was caused by an equipment failure and is almost fixed. http://goo.gl/c5bE5

- Brad Haugaard

Job (The Bible One) on Myrtle

From the Things I Never Noticed Before Department, this cornerstone-like plaque on the south side of the Pinkberry building on Myrtle. It is Job 28:28, from the Bible:

And he said to man, The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.

Anybody know any other cool, hidden things around town?

- Brad Haugaard

Donate Underwear or Food, and Volunteer

Make a Difference Day, Oct. 27 at Library Park, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sign up for a half day project, donate canned food or underwear (yes, really - unopened packages of socks or underwear for women and children victims of domestic violence). For information contact Jessica Kubel jessicakubel_sgv@yahoo.com

- Brad Haugaard

Christmas Tree Fundraiser | Freeway Lane Closures Tonight

~ Monrovia High School Band & Colorguard is having a Christmas Tree Drive with Oregon Christmas trees, cheaper than last year. Order by Nov 3. For details contact Cristina Samp, 626/388-3991 or cristinasamp@rocketmail.com, or Robin Hebert @ robin4mhsband@yahoo.com .

~ Tonight up to four eastbound 210 freeway lanes will be closed, 11 p.m. to 5 p.m. Slow lane will remain open.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Power Outage

Southern California Edison reports 64 Monrovia customers without power. Earlier it reported 1,066 without power. http://goo.gl/5R9qS

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Marijuana Patch on Colorado, Helping Despondent Man, Burglary Parolee Arrested for Petty Theft

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for October 4-7. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

 

72-Hour Mental Evaluation

October 6 at 9:24 p.m., dispatch received a call from a distraught female subject who reported that her husband had possibly taken an overdose of pills and had expressed a desire to harm himself.  Officers and Monrovia Fire Department personnel responded to the 600 block of West Olive.  The man heard the approaching sirens and ran.  An area search was conducted with the help of the Foothill Air Support helicopter.  The subject was eventually found hiding in an empty lot west of Olive Park.  He was taken to a hospital, where he was held for mental evaluation.

 

Petty Theft With Priors / Possession of Methamphetamine / Parole Hold - Suspect Arrested

October 7 at 1:52 p.m., a business in the 700 block of East Huntington called police to report a shoplifter.  A female suspect entered the store and told the cashier she wanted to return some items, but that she needed to pick up a few more items first.  While in the store, the suspect selected several items from the shelves and concealed them in her purse.  The suspect paid for a few items that were in her basket, but she never paid for the items in her purse.  The suspect left the store. 

 

Employees confronted the suspect outside the store, and the suspect asked if she could pay for the items instead of being arrested.  An officer arrived at the store and took custody of the suspect.  Methamphetamine and syringes were found in her purse, along with the stolen merchandise.  Further investigation revealed the suspect is on parole for burglary.  The suspect was booked for possession of methamphetamine, petty theft with priors, and a parole hold.

 

Special Enforcement Team Weekly Activity: Cultivation of Marijuana

October 4, Special Enforcement Team officers conducted a search warrant for marijuana cultivation at a residence in the 900 block of West Colorado.  Nineteen marijuana plants were taken for evidence, along with other cultivation materials.  A revolver was taken from the residence for safe keeping.  The female at the location was arrested for cultivation of marijuana.

Stock of Former Monrovia Company, Green Dot, Drops 20 Percent

 

Former Monrovia company, Green Dot, was clobbered today by the stock market, falling more than 20 percent, apparently on news that Walmart and American Express have teamed up to offer a competing pre-paid card. http://goo.gl/J8C06

 

Green Dot moved out of town over the Labor Day weekend and is now located on North Halstead just off Foothill in East Pasadena. Near the  Best Buy.

- Brad Haugaard

Maddox on St. Francis Win | Trial in Alleged Sex Assault

~ Monrovia coach Ryan Maddox on the win over St. Francis in football. http://goo.gl/jHZx2

~ Trial begins for Monrovian accused in sexual assault at Duarte school. http://goo.gl/XmgF7

- Brad Haugaard

Copper Lamp Sued for Lack of Handicapped Parking

A man has filed suit against Monrovia's Copper Lamp, a liquor store on Foothill, charging it does not have handicapped parking. According to the Monrovia Weekly, John Ho has filed more than 100 similar lawsuits. Details: http://goo.gl/QyOHo

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman Forms Political Action Committee

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, writes on Facebook that he has started a political action committee, called the California Patriot PAC, "focused on electing Patriots to the CA State Assembly and State Senate." http://goo.gl/FwlWx

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Over South Pas in Football :-)

Monrovia football wins over South Pas 53-14. http://goo.gl/p2MPT

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board: MHS Pool, Textbooks, Union Talks, Facilities Budget

At its October 10, 7:30 p.m. meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/b0pNQ ), the Monrovia Board of Education will, among other things, ...

- consider tweaking an agreement with the city regarding the city's rights in the Monrovia High swimming pool so that the city can assign its rights in the pool to another governmental agency to to a non-profit. http://goo.gl/zWZ1j

- hold a public hearing on "the adequacy of textbook funding and the availability of textbooks and instructional materials."

- consider topics to discuss with the district's two employee unions, the Monrovia Teacher's Association and the California School Employees Association.

- look over a facilities budget. http://goo.gl/uxlMY

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Library Book Sale

Friends of the Monrovia Library will hold its Annual Fall Book Sale Saturday and Sunday, October 13-14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The $2-a-bag sale is 3-5 p.m. Sunday.

- Brad Haugaard

Work on Gold Line Yard Begins

Work has begun on the Gold Line maintenance yard in Monrovia. Picture: http://goo.gl/O5zvF

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Update Video | Condo Construction Approved.

~ Gold Line construction update video. http://goo.gl/2VHM1

~ 18-unit condos at South Ivy and East Olive. http://goo.gl/wI2Hr

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Planet Cookie

Lunch at Planet Cookie, on Myrtle at Lime. Got a pepper beef sandwich toasted with potato salad, fresh potato chips and small drink for about $10. Very nice. The potato salad had a bit of a tang, like vinegar, which I enjoyed.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Bakery Makes Giant Cake

Monrovia's Merengue Bakery makes a HUGE cake. Video: http://goo.gl/wIIcl

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman Calls LAPD Chief a 'Disgrace'

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, slams LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck for "having no regard for the law" on immigration. He writes on Facebook: "So LAPD Chief Beck has no regard for the law, but he wants you and I to obey the law. I guess he wants to pick and choose which laws to obey and which to ignore, and he's LA's top cop? What a disgrace!" Donnelly links to this press release: http://goo.gl/g6O9r

- Brad Haugaard

Share a Great Monrovia Idea | Gold in Golden Years

~ If you have a great idea for Monrovia, the City wants to hear about it. City Manager Laurie Lile writes: "In the past, City priorities have centered around redevelopment in an effort to build critical infrastructure, reinvigorate blighted areas and create development centered around housing and business attraction. Now the focus shifts back on the community. Innovation and creativity for communities is no longer held within the walls of City Hall, but is open to anyone with a great idea." She said the city will be reaching out to people over the next few months.

~ Monrovia Providers Group will host its 11th Annual "Putting the Gold Back in the Golden Years" on Thursday, October 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Community Center. $5 for seniors 50 and older. For more information, call the Department of Community Services at 256-8246.

Source: City email, but hopefully will be online here shortly: http://goo.gl/67DMv

- Brad Haugaard