Monrovia City Web Page Unintentionally Promoting Viagra

Okay, Monrovia's Library page (this one: http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/monrovia-public-library ) has indeed been hacked and is being used to sell Viagra.

If you click on the link in the previous paragraph you will see nothing about Viagra, but if you pretend to be the Google crawler coming by to check if anything is new, then you see all the Viagra stuff you see above and more, and the links to Viagra websites you see in the bottom image.

Non-techies can skip this. Here's how I got the page. On a Linux system command line I used wget http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/monrovia-public-library --user-agent="googlebot" to output the page as Google sees it to my desktop, then renamed it to have a ".html" extension, then viewed it with my browser.

So, what is the point of creating a page with links to Viagra websites if it cannot be seen by actual people who might buy the stuff? Well, my guess is that because one way Google ranks pages is by how many reputable websites link to the page, therefore, whenever Google drops by to see about the Monrovia Library, it finds that site is linking to Viagra sites, so it bumps up in its the listings those particular Viagra sites that are linked to by the City of Monrovia, among others.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch From Rigo's Mini Mart & Deli

Got lunch yesterday at Rigo's Mini Mart & Deli. Not the Mexican food place, but the cow place right across the street at Mayflower and Foothill. For $8.44 got a Roast Beef with Egg Sandwich and a drink. It  came with roast beef, a hard boiled egg, a slice of cheddar, lettuce, onion, tomato, avocado and jalapeños. The deli is small with just two tables so I had a picnic in Library Park which was fine because the grass wasn't too damp. Conclusion: Wow! Sandwich was fresh and loaded with good stuff, plus great potato salad and a pickle. I have to say I think this is one of the best sandwiches I've had in Monrovia and I didn't even know they served them until a friend told me. Great!

- Brad Haugaard

Has Monrovia City Website Been Hacked Again?

The Monrovia City website appears to have been hacked again and one resident believes that the apparently compromised city web site may be being used to steal the credit card information of Monrovians paying their bills online. (See UPDATE below.)

Look at the two Google search-result images above. On the first image notice the Google warning after the city's green web address: "This site may be compromised."

Now look at the second image, and notice the second and third search results, advertisements for Viagra. Those are not websites pretending to be Monrovia, however. If you click on the Viagra-ad links, they actually go to the City of Monrovia web page.

This was brought to my attention by a computer-savvy former co-worker and fellow Monrovian, who suspects the site may be being used to steal credit card numbers, his in particular. He writes:

"Over a month ago, I did a search to get to the city's site. If you do so on Google, you'll see that they've posted a 'this site may be compromised' . . . I took a print out down to the city and they said they'd have their technical guy look into it. They haven't. As you'll see, if you search for the monrovia public library, you'll get ads for viagra and cialis. This is called a pharma hack. Here's some info on it: http://digwp.com/2010/07/wordpress-security-lockdown/#pharma-hack ...

"This is pretty important because I used the site to pay my utility bill with a 2 month old debit card. Less than 14 hours later, the card was used in at a pharmacy in South Carolina. Like you, I'm pretty careful online and I've never had my number compromised until I clicked through to the city's site."

Opinion: Um, yes, this is pretty important. If this has taken a month to address, that is a very bad reflection on the city. Note, if you read the accompanying link here, the hack doesn't change the appearance of the city web page, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been hacked.

UPDATE: As I look at the bill-paying option on the city website it appears that it is actually being hosted at another site, munisselfservice.com, so I'm not sure that a hack of the Monrovia city site would allow credit card info to be stolen.

- Brad Haugaard

Holiday Parade Application | Teachers for 30

~ If you want to be in the Monrovia Christmas Parade, here's the application. http://goo.gl/D7dPi

~ Video of Monrovia teachers rally for Prop 30. http://goo.gl/B0NFP

- Brad Haugaard

City Council Agenda: Planning Monrovia, Helping Biz, Bikeways

A few items on the Nov. 6 Monrovia City Council agenda (here: http://goo.gl/RbMj8 ):

~ Here is the approach the city intends to take in its "PlanMonrovia Community Outreach Program" to get Monrovians' thoughts on what the city's goals should be. http://goo.gl/gUB3Q

~ The city is taking advantage of a free program by California Manufacturing Technology Consulting to help "manufacturers, assemblers, fabricators, machine shops, or job shops that employ between 1 and 500 employees and whose annual sales fall between $150,000 and $10 million." Details: http://goo.gl/rexMn

~ Adjustments to city bike routes because of the Gold Line. http://goo.gl/sF6lx

- Brad Haugaard

Mary Todd Lincoln in Monrovia

At the Monrovia Historical Museum meeting this Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. at 742 E. Lemon Ave., the RD Players will portray Mary Todd Lincoln and her brother-in-law Mr. Edwards. Mrs. Lincoln will describe her journey from childhood mansion to the White House, being incarcerated in an insane asylum, and much more. Free.

Source: Becky Shevlin

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Senior Events

~ Free Medicare Changes Seminar, Friday, Nov. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to seniors 50 years and older. Information on Medicare options and changes to Medicare plans; comparing health plans. For reservations and information, contact the Department of Community Services at 256-8246.

~ Senior Game Day, Thursday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., open to seniors 50 years and older. Entertainment, a catered lunch and dessert. Tickets are $3. For reservations and information, contact the Department of Community Services at 256-8246.

- Brad Haugaard

Myrtle Avenue Closures for Construction

Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz writes that Gold Line Construction has begun in Monrovia and Myrtle will be partially or completely closed on and off starting this Monday, Nov. 5, to relocate a water line and remove existing track.

Schedule:

- Monday, Nov. 5, from 9 p.m. through Tuesday at 6 a.m. full closure of Myrtle Ave in both directions between Duarte Road and Railroad Ave.

- Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. full closure of northbound Myrtle Ave between Duarte Road and Railroad Ave.

- Wednesday, Nov. 7 through Friday, Dec. 14, northbound Myrtle closed 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Northbound right lane on Myrtle Ave will be closed 24-hours each day.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Helping the Secret Service; Hitting Parked Car, Fence, Power Pole; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for October 29-21 -Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 463 service events, resulting in 84 investigations.

Commercial Burglary / Grand Theft Auto

October 29 at 6:53 a.m., police responded to the report of a burglary and stolen vehicle from a business located in the 500 block of East Fig Avenue. Unknown suspect(s) broke into the business and loaded up tools and equipment into a company truck, and then drove away with the property and the truck. The vehicle is a white, 1991, Dodge Ram truck. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary

October 29 at 7:12 p.m., the owner of a business in the 500 block of South Shamrock called to report a theft had occurred earlier in the morning that they just discovered when they were reviewing surveillance footage of the store. The footage showed a male Black and female Black had entered the store together. The male subject distracted the employee, while the female took items and concealed them in her purse. The investigation is continuing.

Hit and Run Traffic Accident / Driving Under the Influence

October 30 at 1:52 a.m., officers were dispatched to a solo vehicle traffic accident. It appeared a single vehicle traveling north on Peck Road struck a parked vehicle on the east side of the street. The vehicle struck a parked car, spun out of control, struck a steel fence along the wash, and then finally hit a power pole and came to rest. Any occupants fled the scene prior to police arrival.

After approximately 20 minutes, the driver who had fled the scene called police and told the dispatchers his location. Police located the subject and Los Angeles County Fire paramedics arrived and rendered first aid. The driver was determined to be driving under the influence. He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The District Attorney will be reviewing the case for filing charges.

Petty Theft from Vehicle

October 30 at 8:05 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 800 block of West Foothill. The victim parked the vehicle in his complex parking lot and left the vehicle unlocked. When the victim returned to the vehicle the next day, he saw that someone had taken a coat, an Ipod and some Christmas ornaments from inside the vehicle. Investigation continuing.

Outside Assist – Secret Service Search Warrant

October 31 at 6:35 a.m., Monrovia detectives and patrol staff assisted the U.S. Secret Service in a search warrant service at a location in the 400 block of East Greystone. One suspect was arrested for five warrants, two were no-bail warrants, and a second suspect was arrested for nine counts of identity fraud. 

Peek in Monrovia Pirate Ship | Staar Surgical Q3 Report | Prayer Breakfast

~ Didn't get to see the inside of the Halloween pirate ship on Hillcrest? Channel 7 takes a tour. http://goo.gl/uuF2A

~ Monrovia's Staar Surgical reports that "The third quarter was a solid quarter for the Company despite lower revenue results than expected." Details: http://goo.gl/zggfe

~ Monrovia Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, "The Heart of Great Leadership," Friday, Nov. 16, 8:00 a.m. Speaker Ed Nicholls of The Right Way, A Leadership Development Company. At Courtyard by Marriott Monrovia, 700 W. Huntington Drive. $25 per person buffet breakfast. RSVP by Nov. 9 to Monrovia Chamber of Commerce, 358-1159 or e-mail: kr@monroviacc.com

- Brad Haugaard

Halloween Party on North Alta Vista

Big party on North Alta Vista. Video playing. The street is blocked off, cars are crowding the parking spaces and people are shoulder to shoulder. There's even a guy directing traffic.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Halloween Pirate Ship

908 Hillcrest. Always amazing. Just east of Madison. See it after dark
but watch for kids!

Monrovia's State Senator Honored by Medical Group

Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (who represents Monrovia) is being recognized by the California Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology with a service award for introducing SB 352, which would have prevented chiropractors from using lasers to treat patients with life-threatening allergies. http://goo.gl/3oSQT

- Brad Haugaard

Halloween | Help Hurricane Victims | Dia de los Muertos

~ Free Halloween events tonight at Library Park, 3-6 p.m. for ages 0-14. Dog costume contest, toddler area, arts and crafts, demonstrations, photo booth, face painting, wellness games, story times and trick-or-treating at Old Town Monrovia businesses.

~ How to help hurricane victims. http://goo.gl/HChUA

~ Dia de los Muertos Nov. 2 at Live Oak Memorial Park. 5:30 face painting, 7-8 p.m. Mass; 8:30-9 p.m. Azteca Dancers; 8-10 p.m. Mariachis.

- Brad Haugaard

Chamber of Commerce to Honor Monrovians | Mini-Power Outage

~ Monrovia Chamber of Commerce's honorees:

- Iris Award, Citizen of the Year, will be presented to Pastor Joshua Smith.

- The Monroe Award, Business Person of the Year, will be presented to Julie Gentile of Gentile McCloskey & Company.

- The Dick Lord Award for outstanding contributions to the Chamber will be presented to Nancy Bond of Nancy Bond Insurance Services.

Awards will be presented at the Annual Membership & Awards Dinner on Friday, Jan. 25 at the Courtyard by Marriott Monrovia.

~ Southern California Edison reports about 26 customers are without power in a planned outage due to equipment problems. The company reports that it is "in the process of completing repairs." Should be fixed by 6 p.m. http://goo.gl/FZLyc

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Senator Awarded Chamber's Highest Score | Rendering of New Chipotle Restaurant

~ The California Chamber of Commerce has awarded the highest of scores to Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (who represents Monrovia) for his support for small business owners and the business community in the State Legislature. http://goo.gl/vWClJ

~ Here is an architectural rendering of the new Chipotle restaurant that will be going in where the old Acapulco is now. http://goo.gl/2a5se

- Brad Haugaard

Local Jewish Federation Raising Relief for Hurricane Victims

The Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys is raising money for those affected by the hurricane.

You can drop-off contributions at the Jewish Federation, 550 S. Second Avenue, Arcadia, or donate to Jewish Federation of North America at http://jfeds.org/SandyRelief and designate that the donation is for JFNA Hurricane Relief Fund.

Contributions will go to social welfare agencies in the affected areas serving both the Jewish and general communities.

- Brad Haugaard

Dope Bust | Monrovia Man Says Not Guilty in Bomb Threat

~ Monrovia dope bust. http://goo.gl/LAFLt

~ Monrovia man pleads not guilty to making bomb threats. http://goo.gl/xwdRr

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Halloween Street Fest | 210 Lane Closures | KGEM Interview

~ Sounds like a wild time on North Alta Vista (between Hillcrest and Scenic) on Halloween evening. The street will be closed from 6-10 p.m. for trick or treaters. There will be a "haunted yard" and the Thriller dance video playing, with dancers on the street.

~ Occasional lane closures on the 210 eastbound for Gold Line bridge work between now and Nov. 10. Closures will begin no earlier than 10 p.m. and end no later than 1 p.m. the following day.

~ KGEM's Marlene Gibbs interviews Joe Nicassio about his book, "Resurrecting America's Entrepreneurial Spirit." Part one ( http://goo.gl/3fYfI ) and part two ( http://goo.gl/KY2sQ ).

- Brad Haugaard

Video Interviews with Local Candidates

Video: Monrovia Cable interviewer talks to the candidates: http://goo.gl/YTRg1

- Brad Haugaard