Monrovia Over Viewpoint :-)

Monrovia beats Viewpoint High (of Calabasas) 50-0 in first of playoff games. http://goo.gl/0zIwD

- Brad Haugaard

New Scoreboard for Monrovia High South Gym?

At its 7 p.m. Nov. 14 meeting, the Monrovia School Board will discuss getting a new scoreboard for the Monrovia High School South Gym, at a cost of $8,115.56; the use of school facilities; and other stuff. Details here: http://goo.gl/f1XeW

World Vision Help Haiti | Monrovia Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade

~ Monrovia's Christian relief agency, World Vision, has responded to Hurricane Sandy's destruction in Haiti by distributing food, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, jerry cans, blankets, baby supplies, and bedding to more than 7,000 families in the capital Port-au-Prince, the island of La Gonave, and around the southern town of Les Cayes. Details: http://goo.gl/qrv8Z

~ Christmas tree lighting ceremony and holiday parade, Dec. 6. Details: http://goo.gl/GSFdy

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Girl Refuses Lure to Ride in Car

~ Man tries to lure Monrovia girl into car. http://goo.gl/jEYD8

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Loteria

Lunch at Loteria, the new name for Enrique's, at Colorado and Ivy. Got the Cocinita Pibil, which I believe is a Yucatan specialty, for $14.95 plus tax and tip for food and iced tea. Pork, plantains, black beans with marinated onions and a little salad. Really good and a generous portion. I had to take some home.

- Brad Haugaard

Clifton Teacher Finalist for California Teacher of the Year

Kyle McClure, a science teacher at Monrovia's Clifton Middle School is
an LA County finalist to be California Teacher of the Year.
http://goo.gl/pVjwm

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Bridge: 'Largest, Single Public Art Transit Infrastructure Project' In State

The 210 Gold Line bridge, "the most distinctive bridge in Southern California," is nearing completion. It will be "the largest, single public art transit infrastructure project in California."

 

Anchored by two 25-foot tall concrete baskets that pay tribute to the indigenous peoples of the San Gabriel Valley and the oversize iconic roadside traditions of nearby Route 66, the Gold Line Bridge over the I-210 freeway northeast of Los Angeles, in Arcadia, will be the new Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley when it is completed next month.

 

- The on-time and on-budget Gold Line Bridge is the first element of the 11.5-mile Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project from Pasadena to Azusa to be completed by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority.

- More than 92% of the materials used to make the bridge were domestic, nearly all from local and regional sources.

- The LAEDC estimates that the Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa will generate nearly 7,000 new jobs (2,600 in construction) and $1 billion in economic output for the region over its construction period (construction completion is anticipated in late 2015).

- A national artist competition led to the selection of renowned public artist Andrew Leicester to create the bridge's landmark design. The selection was made by a committee of community stakeholders from throughout the Foothill Extension's corridor, following receipt of 15 submissions by highly qualified public artists.

- Mr. Leicester's vision for the bridge drove the design and engineering process – the first time such a process has been used on Caltrans infrastructure project.

- In addition to the two large concrete baskets, the bridge's featured serpentine design on the main underbelly of the bridge simulates the patterns found on the Western Diamondback snake, metaphorically referencing the spine of the transit system.

 

Source: Gold Line press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Staff Testing Christmas Lights

Monrovia reports on Facebook that starting tonight city staff is testing the Old Town holiday lights and that those lights will be featured in a holiday themed T-Mobile commercial Monday night, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Automated Car Wash to Go in East Monrovia

There will be a new automated car wash going in where Angelo's Burgers used to be, at 935 East Huntington, over near Duarte, according to notes from the Monrovia Planning Commission. Plus, a number of new residential developments. Details: http://goo.gl/DyZO2

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Infected City Website Should be Fixed Soon

Monrovia city spokesman Dan Bell said the problem of the city website being infected by a virus that turns the web pages into promotions for Viagra and Cialis "should be resolved shortly." No specific deadline at this point, he said, but soon.

Also, he adds, the whole site is being redesigned and will be replaced in the near future.

Previous articles: http://goo.gl/qDSkB

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Post Office Grow Your Business Seminar

The Monrovia Post Office will hold a free ‘Grow Your Business’ seminar about EDDM Retail, eBay shipping and other topics at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the Monrovia Post Office, 225 S. Ivy Ave. To reserve a spot visit USPS.com/growyourbusinessdays .

"Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) Retail offers a reach unparalleled by any other method to build traffic and find new customers. Now the local butcher, baker and pizza pie maker can reach every mailbox on a local neighborhood delivery route with EDDM Retail using a simplified address of 'Postal Customer.'

"And for eBay sellers, USPS has simplified shipping merchandise to customers. Without leaving your home or office you can order free shipping supplies, download postage and print shipping labels, schedule a free package pick up and more."

"EDDM Retail allows businesses to mail small volumes (200 - 5,000 pieces) within an area serviced by a single Post Office at the retail counter using cash, check, or debit card. Save time on mail preparation and save cost with no bulk permit fees or mailing list needed. Businesses just need to register to utilize EDDM Retail. For additional information businesses can visit uspseverydoor.com or call USPS Business Development Specialist Alexandra Uyleman at 323-586-1473.

Source: USPS press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Car Left with Motor Running Driven Away, Electronics Burglaries, 3:30 A.M. With a Crowbar

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for November 5-7. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 469 service events, resulting in 90 investigations.

 

Residential Burglary

November 5 at 3:55 p.m., police responded to a residence in the 300 block of Greystone.  The resident came home and found a large quantity of items had been gathered by the suspects, but was left near the front door.  It appears the suspects were scared off and left the items behind.  A laptop computer and PS3 video game were taken.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Domestic Violence / False Imprisonment / Assault With a Deadly Weapon / Attempted Robbery - Suspect Arrested

November 5 at 11:06 p.m., a domestic violence incident was reported in the 400 block of Monrovista.  A 19-year-old male subject held a knife to the throat of his girlfriend as he restrained her and demanded money.  She was not injured during this crime; however, during the investigation, it was learned the suspect hit the victim in the face earlier that day in the City of El Monte, which caused an injury.  The suspect was arrested without incident.

 

Residential Burglary

November 6 at 5:55 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of Mountain View Avenue.  A residential burglary had occurred sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Unknown suspect(s) gained entry by climbing through a window.  An IPAD, X-Box, two Laptops, and two handguns were stolen.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Grand Theft Auto

November 7 at 7:51 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of East Los Angeles Street.  The victim left his vehicle running in his driveway while he was moving some equipment from his house to his car.  While he was inside the house, he heard the sound of his vehicle being driven away.  He tried to locate the vehicle with negative results.  A firearm was in the car when it was taken.  The vehicle was later recovered in the City of El Monte.  The vehicle had been set on fire and burned.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Vehicle Burglary

November 7 at 7:13 p.m., an officer responded to a vehicle burglary report in the 100 block of Orange Court.  The victim parked his vehicle and locked the doors at around 9:00 p.m. in the evening.  He returned to the vehicle at 8:00 a.m. in the morning and saw his vehicle had been ransacked and items were taken.  The Items taken were golf clubs, workout clothing, a watch, and sunglasses.  Investigation continuing.

 

Burglary / Possession of Burglary Tools - Suspect Arrested

November 8 at 3:27 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a suspicious subject in the area of 200 North Grand.  Due to the time of morning and the area having many recent burglaries, the officer stopped to talk to the subject.  During the contact, the officer found the subject was in possession of a crow bar, car stereo, and other burglary tools.  An area check was conducted for evidence of a crime and a vehicle missing a stereo was found a short distance away.  The owner of the vehicle confirmed his vehicle had been burglarized and the stereo found on the suspect detained was, in fact, the one missing from his vehicle. 

Police Officer's Gun, Badge and Car Stolen

Reserve El Monte police officer who lives in Monrovia has his car, containing gun and badge, stolen from in front of his house. http://goo.gl/amWZI

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment May Have Deal with Fiat

Monrovia's AeroVironment has installed more than 10,000 residential car chargers in the US, and may get a deal with Fiat. http://goo.gl/X6GqH

- Brad Haugaard

See Hacked City of Monrovia Web Pages for Yourself

I have an email in to the City of Monrovia asking about the city's hacked website, and I'll let you know what I hear back. But I'm beginning to wonder if anybody even believes me that the website actually has been hacked (earlier articles: http://goo.gl/9NznM and http://goo.gl/KIyuV ). So, if you want to see the hacked pages for yourself in your browser, the easiest way is to just look at what Google found when it visited the pages. We do that by looking at Google's cache.

Again, the pages below do not appear hacked for a regular visitor to the website, just for Google, so ...

Here is one of the city's Viagra pages as it appears to you ( http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/monrovia-public-library ) and here is the same page as Google sees it: http://goo.gl/x847G

Here is a city Cialis page as it appears to you ( http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/city-government/elected-officials ) and here is the same page as Google sees it: http://goo.gl/4rgZu

Here is a whole set of Google results with dozens of infected pages. (Roll over the almost invisible >> button to the right of each search result, then click on the "Cached" link.): http://goo.gl/AqPRk

Also, you can view the pages directly by changing the user-agent on your browser to "googlebot" ( http://goo.gl/Jxh3i ), but I'd avoid that unless you're a techie.

- Brad Haugaard

Video of 210 Bridge Artist's Sketchbook | Rita's Italian Ice | Stuff the Monrovia Fire Engine

~ A short video of award-winning artist Andrew Leicester's Gold Line Bridge design sketchbook on display as part of Pasadena Art Center's "Pages" Exhibition. http://goo.gl/b45HI

~ Rita's Italian Ice (apparently popular on the East Coast) store may be coming to Monrovia area. http://goo.gl/MY5Yg

~ Stuff the Monrovia Fire Engine to make a child's Christmas more enjoyable. Nov. 23-24 in front of the Krikorian Theater. For details contact Firefighter Ernie Moreno, 256-8181.

- Brad Haugaard

Freeway Lane Closure | Vets Day | City Survey

~ Nov. 8, from 2 a.m. to 1 p.m. two eastbound 210 lanes will be closed for bridge crews "to remove the last remaining falsework from the freeway median."

~ On Facebook Mayor Mary Ann Lutz invites you to a Veterans Day observance at Library Park on Monday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m.

~ Monrovia wants your thoughts for direction in its planning, so look for a survey in your water bill, call 932-5555 x1402, text 219-0845 or e-mail planmonrovia@ci.monrovia.ca.us , or attend a meeting. Two listed here: http://goo.gl/ydrVx

- Brad Haugaard

The Local Winners

Soon serving Monrovia ...

- Judy Chu (D) [over Jack Orswell (R)] in Congress (27th District), handling the of top Monrovia, roughly from Hillcrest/Grand/E. Greystone north.

- Grace Napolitano (D) [over David Miller (R)] in Congress (32nd District), handling the rest of Monrovia.

- Carol Liu (D) [over Gilbert Gonzales (R)] in the State Senate.

- Chris Holden (D) [over Donna Lowe (R)] in the Assembly.

Also, Measure J passed, meaning we will continue to pay the transportation tax begun under Measure R. (Update: Oops! I stand corrected. It got a majority but not the required two-thirds.)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Area Election Results

Results after polls close at 8 p.m.

Here are links to results for our local races:

Results for 27th District U.S. House of Representatives
Note: This is the top sliver of Monrovia, roughly from Hillcrest/Grand/E. Greystone north.
Jack Orswell (R) vs. Judy Chu (D):
http://rrccmain.co.la.ca.us/charts/0012/0012CD27.htm

Results for 32nd District U.S. House of Representatives
Note: This is the rest of Monrovia, roughly from Hillcrest/Grand/E. Greystone to the south.
David Miller (R) vs. Grace Napolitano (D):
http://rrccmain.co.la.ca.us/charts/0012/0012CD32.htm

Results for 25th State Senate District
Carol Liu (D) vs. Gilbert Gonzales (R):
http://rrccmain.co.la.ca.us/charts/0012/0012SD25.htm

Results for 41st Assembly District
Chris Holden (D) vs. Donna Lowe (R):
http://rrccmain.co.la.ca.us/charts/0012/0012AD41.htm

Results for Measure J
http://rrccmain.co.la.ca.us/charts/0012/0012CMMJJ.htm

Results for anything else you'd like to track
http://rrccmain.co.la.ca.us/

- Brad Haugaard

News Photographer Finds Trouble at Polls | Election Day Giveaway | Native American History

~ Press photographer told he was not permitted to take pictures in Monrovia polling place. Poll worker backs down. http://goo.gl/uDE0K

~ Election day giveaway, a beautiful photo of Monrovia at night. http://goo.gl/awz7I

~ Monrovia Historic Museum is featuring Native American Heritage this month with exhibits from the early 1900s, exhibits honoring our schools, the Pottenger Health Sanatorium, Native American and natural history artifacts from the city's 120 year history. Details: 357-9537 or (909) 297-6356. Hours: Thursday and Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Free.

- Brad Haugaard