Miracle on Myrtle Christmas Celebration

Quite a crowd at the Miracle on Myrtle Christmas celebration in the front yard of the Library. Some great singing, snow for kids. Just got started.

Update: The Miracle on Myrtle film featured a cameo, of sorts, of Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz. Cute.

- Brad Haugaard

Best Outdoor Display in Monrovia

Drove by the "Best Outdoor Display" on Alta Vista tonight. Just morth of Foothill. Pretty.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Church Outgrows Community Center, Will Move to High School

Beginning on the last Sunday of this year, Dec. 30, Fellowship Monrovia will begin meeting at the newly-renovated Performing Arts Center at Monrovia High School. According to one of my sources, the church, which began early this year, quickly grew to 500-600 in attendance each Sunday and outgrew the Community Center across from Library Park. Services will continue to be held at 9 and 11 a.m. http://goo.gl/nLS3Q 

 

- Brad Haugaard

World Premier of 'Miracle on Myrtle' Movie

Here is the flyer for the Miracle on Myrtle Christmas event. 5 p.m. Sunday at Library Park. Live music, the world premier of the film, "Miracle on Myrtle," and there are rumors of snow. http://goo.gl/7tLqH

- Brad Haugaard

Memorial in Library Park

A memorial in Monrovia's Library Park to the children and school staff who were killed in Newtown, Connecticut.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at 21 Bistro. Wow!

Lunch at the new 21 Bistro, at 110 E. Lime, just east of Myrtle, a French style restaurant. Got the Slow Braised Short Ribs and Mashed Potato, $10, and iced tea for $1.75. Plus tax and tip. Nice, crunchy warm bread for starters. If you know menu-French you'll be ahead of the game. Food? Oh! My! Goodness! A-mazing! I've always thought short ribs were greasy, but not here. Okay, I do admit to a personal interest in this review, which is that I want it to stay open so I can eat here again, so please try it! Oh, dessert was also super.

- Brad Haugaard

Christmas Music at Monrovia's Academy of Music for the Blind | Christmas Eve Rain?

~ Video: Two cute kids at the Academy of Music for the Blind in Monrovia perform Christmas music at the Academy's winter recital - http://goo.gl/tQ7ZB - and, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas: http://goo.gl/L4diR . Here is the Academy's website: http://www.ouramb.org/

~ Forty percent chance of rain in Monrovia on Christmas Eve but should be a partly-cloudy but rain-free on Christmas. http://goo.gl/baqY9

- Brad Haugaard

Memorial Walk | Elf on Almond Street Tonight

~ Memorial walk at Library Park for Newtown victims. http://goo.gl/gXYNb

~ Movie night on Almond Avenue tonight. Showing Elf. Bring a chair (and a coat). Details: http://goo.gl/KrrEG

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: More Police Near Schools; Grinch Stealing Christmas Packages

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 17-19. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 410 service events, resulting in 76 investigations.

 

Monrovia Police Department Providing Police Presence at City Schools

Our hearts go out to all touched by the tragedy that has occurred in Newtown, Connecticut.  This horrific event has affected us all.  Safety in our schools has always been, and continues to be, a high priority for law enforcement.  In response to this senseless act of violence, the Monrovia Police Department is providing an increased police presence at schools throughout the city.  Patrol officers have been instructed to periodically visit and touch base with all schools in the city during daytime hours.  The visits will be random and will occur at various times and locations.  This increased visibility is meant to help comfort and calm the fears of the children, parents, and school staff, alike.     

 

The Monrovia Police Department trains annually to deal with incidents of violence that might occur at a school.  The department has a tremendous collaborative working relationship with the Monrovia Unified School District.  Police Department and school staff meet and train regularly to ensure employees are prepared to deal with these rare, but critical, types of incidents.  Police officers conduct scenario training, yearly, at actual school campuses throughout the district, and each school in the district has prepared a crisis response box for the Police Department with information necessary to deal, immediately, with any incident at any school.    

 

Theft of Packages

December 17 at 3:15 p.m., a theft of packages was reported in the 500 block of Terrado.  The victim had packages delivered and they were left on the front porch.  A neighbor saw a white Chevy Silverado drive up quickly to the front of the victim's home.   The suspect exited the truck and ran up to the home, grabbed the two packages and ran back to the truck.  The vehicle fled southbound, out of sight.  The suspect is described as a young, male, African American.  Investigation continuing.

Monrovia Library Board Member Sponsors Elephants for Library

Monrovia Public Library becomes sponsor of elephant babies. http://goo.gl/Vr9ec

- Brad Haugaard

Santa Touring Monrovia

Santa is touring Monrovia now ...

with his reindeer ...

and sleigh full of Monrovians.

For full Santa schedule: http://goo.gl/KLSKG

- Brad Haugaard

Visit the Monrovia Home Decorating Winners

All the Monrovia Holiday Home Decorating contest winners: http://goo.gl/aF86F

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Firefighters Turn Over Toys and Cash to Unity Center

Today the Monrovia Fire Department's Spark of Love toy drive turned over more than a thousand toys and $6,000 to Foothill Unity Center to make local kids' Christmases a bit brighter. City spokesman Dan Bell said the firefighters did even better than last year, when, he said, it appears a lackluster economy and rainy days depressed giving. Firefighter Ernie Moreno was the driving force behind the drive.

Channel 7 Eyewitness News, a sponsor of the event, showed up to report the event.

- Brad Haugaard

Police Chief: More Patrols Around Monrovia Schools

Monrovia Police Chief said the police would step up patrols around Monrovia schools in light of the recent shootings in Connecticut. http://goo.gl/CKB9t

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Boy's Soccer

A report on Monrovia High boys soccer. http://goo.gl/DGQqK

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Councilman Garcia Won't Run Again

Monrovia Councilman Joe Garcia won't run for reelection. http://goo.gl/o8x2e

- Brad Haugaard

Power Outage Hits Monrovia

There is a power outage affecting 1,745 Monrovia customers. I saw the lights were all out around Foothill Boulevard near Magnolia Ave. Southern California Edison is estimating it will be mostly restored by 7 p.m. today. It says it doesn't know the cause, but I'm guessing wind. Details: http://goo.gl/DqGeC

UPDATE: 2,712 customers affected. Cause: "Weather Conditions"

More here: http://goo.gl/fZ5bJ

- Brad Haugaard

Former Monrovia Mayor Earns Degrees Before End of World | First Presbyterian Provides Breakfast for Teachers

~ Former Monrovia mayor and current school board member, Rob Hammond, reports that he has finally been awarded the degrees he went back to school to earn. "After four long years it is finally over. Double major in Organizational Management and Public Relations & Marketing." After mentioning a list of supporters, he says: "Thank you all... Good thing I finished before the end if the world!"

~ Monrovia's First Presbyterian Church is providing a continental breakfast for Clifton Middle School teachers this morning as part of its Caring for Clifton program. http://goo.gl/WGLFj

- Brad Haugaard

Freeway Bridge Completion Ceremony | New Restaurant at Aztec Hotel | Where's Santa?

Construction Authority Board Chairman Doug Tessitor makes remarks during the bridge completion ceremony.

   

~ On Saturday more than 350 guests and officials gathered to mark the on-time, on-budget completion of the Gold Line Bridge. Speakers included Representatives Grace Napolitano and Judy Chu; State Senator Carol Liu; Supervisor Mike Antonovich; and Metro and Construction Authority board member John Fasana.
    

~ New restaurant "will soon be opening in the Aztec Hotel." http://goo.gl/kvkfT

 
~ Tonight Santa will be touring south of Huntington, west of Myrtle to Fifth, north of southern city boundaries. Also on Valley Circle. For full schedule: http://goo.gl/KLSKG
 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: The Season for Drunk Driving, Metal Knuckles, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Dec. 13-16 – Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

On December 14 at 12:52 a.m., an officer observed a driver go through a stop light at Huntington and Magnolia. He conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, and the investigation determined the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

On December 14 at 5:50 a.m., an officer observed a driver go through the stop sign at Mountain and Foothill. He stopped the driver and conducted a DUI investigation. The driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested

On December 14 at 6:29 p.m., a burglary was reported at a business in the 100 block of West Foothill. A male suspect entered the store, concealed alcohol under his clothing and fled the location. Loss prevention chased the suspect, caught him and called police. The suspect admitted to entering the store with the intent to steal alcohol as he had no money to pay. He was arrested and charged with burglary.

Weapons Violation / Warrants – Suspects Arrested

On December 15 at 3.20 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by two male subjects in the 200 block of East Huntington. Both occupants had outstanding warrants, and the driver had a suspended driver's license. Upon searching the vehicle, the officers located metal knuckles beneath the center bench seats. The driver claimed ownership of the metal knuckles and was additionally charged for the weapons violation. Both subjects were arrested.