Monrovia High students will get 20-25 minutes tomorrow to talk to astronauts in the International Space Station, according to School Board member Ed Gilliland. He said only six schools in the country have been given that honor.
- Brad Haugaard
World Vision to Consolidate Monrovia Offices
World Vision, International, a Monrovia-based Christian relief agency on Chestnut, will be consolidating its operations from two buildings to one and selling or leasing the remaining building to help fund its ministry. A speaker from World Vision told the Monrovia Coordinating Council today that the organization, with 44,000 staff around the world (200 in Monrovia), opened its first office in Monrovia when it was founded by a Arcadian in the 1950s.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Skateboarding in Recreation Park | $5 Million Monrovia Home for Sale
~ Video clip of skateboarding at the Monrovia skateboard area (in Recreation Park). http://goo.gl/Wjwt9
~ $5 million home for sale in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/U8pnS
- Brad Haugaard
~ $5 million home for sale in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/U8pnS
- Brad Haugaard
Robotics Tournament and Science Expo at Monrovia High
Robotics Tournament, Space Station Downlink & Science Expo and Evening Star Party at Monrovia High tomorrow night 5-8 p.m. Details: http://goo.gl/0NyPu
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Lunch at Jake's Roadhouse
Lunch at Jake's Roadhouse on Myrtle in Old Town. Got the Jalapeño Burger ($10.95) and a beer. Lots of jalapeños, guacamole, tasty and messy. The extra napkins were a big help. Plus, quick and pleasant service. $14.76 plus tip.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Democrats Endorse Mary Ann Lutz and Larry Spicer | Rockhounds
~ The organization, Foothill Community Democrats, has "overwhelmingly endorced both Mary Ann Lutz for re-election and Larry Spicer for election to the Monrovia City Council." That, according to its Facebook post.
~ Monrovia Rockhounds will present its 52th Annual Gem and Mineral Show on March 2 and 3, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ayers Hall at the Arboretum. Details: http://goo.gl/hLIsa
- Brad Haugaard
~ Monrovia Rockhounds will present its 52th Annual Gem and Mineral Show on March 2 and 3, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ayers Hall at the Arboretum. Details: http://goo.gl/hLIsa
- Brad Haugaard
Remodel | Women in Pain | Legend of Sara McGee
~ AW Collision Center of Monrovia renovates its building. http://goo.gl/3NRqw
~ Senator Carol Liu, who represents Monrovia, wants to designate September 2013 as Pain Awareness Month and September 13, 2013, as Women In Pain Awareness Day to draw public attention to "gender disparity in pain assessment and treatment in the United States." http://goo.gl/b74t9
~ Legend of Sara McGee. Wednesday March 20, 3-4 p.m. at Canyon Park Cabin. Learn about Monrovia's Rankins family and the Legend of Sara McGee as told by Park Ranger Hector Inzunza. Activities include a brief walk in Canyon Park after the story. For the whole family. Space is limited so sign up early. http://goo.gl/gBwVP
- Brad Haugaard
~ Senator Carol Liu, who represents Monrovia, wants to designate September 2013 as Pain Awareness Month and September 13, 2013, as Women In Pain Awareness Day to draw public attention to "gender disparity in pain assessment and treatment in the United States." http://goo.gl/b74t9
~ Legend of Sara McGee. Wednesday March 20, 3-4 p.m. at Canyon Park Cabin. Learn about Monrovia's Rankins family and the Legend of Sara McGee as told by Park Ranger Hector Inzunza. Activities include a brief walk in Canyon Park after the story. For the whole family. Space is limited so sign up early. http://goo.gl/gBwVP
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Council: Fourth of July Show, Family Festival Fees, Water Cleanup
Among other things, at its March 5, 7:30 p.m. meeting (agenda http://goo.gl/4ABjS ), the Monrovia City Council will consider ...
~ An agreement with Pyro Spectaculars for the production of the 2013 Fourth of July fireworks show. It'll cost $20,500. (Comment: Expensive but worth it. Beautiful show!) http://goo.gl/OxsTi
~ Whether Monrovia should forgive all the franchise fees Family Festival Productions owes the city for 2012 and waive all 2013 franchise fees for producing the Monrovia Family Festival? http://goo.gl/0Vg6p
~ How to comply with the federal government requirement that cities clean up water from rain storms. (Here's the staff report: http://goo.gl/IrCZh ). Staff is recommending that the city work with other local cities and either "watch, support, or protest the Clean Water, Clean Beaches Fee Initiative." I believe that's the tax LA County suggested a while ago, got slammed for, and took back to the drawing board.
- Brad Haugaard
~ An agreement with Pyro Spectaculars for the production of the 2013 Fourth of July fireworks show. It'll cost $20,500. (Comment: Expensive but worth it. Beautiful show!) http://goo.gl/OxsTi
~ Whether Monrovia should forgive all the franchise fees Family Festival Productions owes the city for 2012 and waive all 2013 franchise fees for producing the Monrovia Family Festival? http://goo.gl/0Vg6p
~ How to comply with the federal government requirement that cities clean up water from rain storms. (Here's the staff report: http://goo.gl/IrCZh ). Staff is recommending that the city work with other local cities and either "watch, support, or protest the Clean Water, Clean Beaches Fee Initiative." I believe that's the tax LA County suggested a while ago, got slammed for, and took back to the drawing board.
- Brad Haugaard
Report on Monrovia's Operation Safe Neighborhood
Stats for Operation Safe Neighborhood
At the March 5 meeting of the Monrovia City Council, Police Chief Jim Hunt will recommend continuing the Operation Safe Neighborhoods Program ( http://goo.gl/OMcBR ). He listed "a number of significant events over the past year from the City’s Operation Safe Neighborhoods and Gang Task Force efforts." Here are some, from Hunt's report:
- On September 15, 2012, Monrovia Nuevo Varrio gang members drove by a house in the 100 block of East Los Angeles Street and shot at subjects sitting on the front porch. They struck a female adult with a shotgun round. The victim was not a gang member. Monrovia officers were handling a loud party call nearby and heard the shots. Officers responded to the location while other officers checked the freeway for the suspects. Officers located the suspect vehicle on the 210 freeway and followed it south on the 605 freeway. The suspects tossed the shotgun out on the 605 freeway. Three gang members were in the vehicle and were arrested. The shotgun was recovered. The victim survived her injuries and the suspects are being prosecuted for attempted murder.
- Chaplain Jerry Johnson responded to the death of a sixteen year old teenager who had committed suicide on July 11, 2012. He counseled the family and assisted with the process of dealing with the coroner. Chaplain Johnson also counseled the young lady’s boyfriend who arrived on the scene. On his return, he met with the officers who had responded to deal with the initial call.
- Several weeks later, the team who works with MAGIC, Lt. Ortlund, Officer Bushmeyer and Chaplain Brown participated in an event addressing teenage suicide at Monrovia High School. This is one more example of how our personnel interact with the community regarding at-risk youth.
- The Monrovia Police Department was recognized by the California Regional Community Policing Institute with the Community Policing Finalist Award for the Operation Safe Neighborhoods program. This program which included innovative suppression, intervention and prevention components resulted in a 64% decrease in gang crime in Monrovia over the last five years.
- Brad Haugaard
Last Major Contract Awarded for Gold Line
At its meeting last night, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority Board of Directors awarded a 48.7 million contract, the third and final design-build contract for the Foothill Extension light rail project from Pasadena to Azusa, to Webcor Builders, a California-based construction company with more than forty years of experience building similar projects.
The contract is for design and construction of parking facilities for Gold Line stations, as well as enhancements at and around the stations to improve connections for train riders arriving by bus, foot or bicycle. Webcor will start by working on the design for the parking facilities and station enhancements.
"Webcor provided the best value to the Construction Authority," said Habib F. Balian, CEO of the Construction Authority. "Following the evaluation process, they received similar high marks for their experience and technical proposal as their competition; however, their price was almost $8 million less. Bottom line, we were able to get an extremely qualified team for the best price."
With this contract awarded, the Construction Authority has awarded all contracts needed to complete the 11.5-mile Foothill Extension project. The first contract was awarded to Skanska USA for the Gold Line Bridge in June 2010. The bridge was completed on time and on budget, and turned over to the Construction Authority in December 2012. Foothill Transit Constructors, a Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture, was awarded the $486 million Alignment design-build contract in November 2011. They have nearly completed design for the light rail project, cleared the right of way of old track and vegetation, and are under construction on numerous bridges, crossings and the first of six stations.
Source: Gold Line press release
- Brad Haugaard
The contract is for design and construction of parking facilities for Gold Line stations, as well as enhancements at and around the stations to improve connections for train riders arriving by bus, foot or bicycle. Webcor will start by working on the design for the parking facilities and station enhancements.
"Webcor provided the best value to the Construction Authority," said Habib F. Balian, CEO of the Construction Authority. "Following the evaluation process, they received similar high marks for their experience and technical proposal as their competition; however, their price was almost $8 million less. Bottom line, we were able to get an extremely qualified team for the best price."
With this contract awarded, the Construction Authority has awarded all contracts needed to complete the 11.5-mile Foothill Extension project. The first contract was awarded to Skanska USA for the Gold Line Bridge in June 2010. The bridge was completed on time and on budget, and turned over to the Construction Authority in December 2012. Foothill Transit Constructors, a Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture, was awarded the $486 million Alignment design-build contract in November 2011. They have nearly completed design for the light rail project, cleared the right of way of old track and vegetation, and are under construction on numerous bridges, crossings and the first of six stations.
Source: Gold Line press release
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Assemblymember Introduces Bill To Keep Mentally Disordered Offenders in State Custody
Assemblymember Chris Holden (who represents Monrovia) has introduced AB 1065 - supported by Los Angeles County - that would require an inmate who has been classified as a Mentally Disordered Offender, or Mentally Disordered Sexual Offender and served time for a crime where he or she was required to undergo treatment in a state mental facility, to remain under state supervision.
Under the state's prison realignment law that went into effect in October 2011, more than 12,000 parolees have been put on probation in LA County rather than state parole. To qualify, their last offense must have been non-violent, non-sexual, non-serious. But the law only applies to that last offense, not their entire criminal history.
"The state system is better equipped to handle these offenders than the counties which are being asked to take up the difficult task of supervising very dangerous offenders," Holden said.
Source: Holden press release
- Brad Haugaard
Under the state's prison realignment law that went into effect in October 2011, more than 12,000 parolees have been put on probation in LA County rather than state parole. To qualify, their last offense must have been non-violent, non-sexual, non-serious. But the law only applies to that last offense, not their entire criminal history.
"The state system is better equipped to handle these offenders than the counties which are being asked to take up the difficult task of supervising very dangerous offenders," Holden said.
Source: Holden press release
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: No Car for Fake Checks, Bank Robbery Suspect Awaits Trial
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Feb. 25-27. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 454 service events, resulting in 78 investigations.
Fraud / Commercial Burglary
February 26 at 2:35 p.m., police responded to a business in the 800 block of East Central on the report of a fraud incident in process. Two suspects walked into the car dealership to purchase a vehicle. They each provided forged checks, and one provided an altered driver's license. The salesman was suspicious and called police. The suspects were arrested and taken into custody without incident.
Detective Bureau Case Follow-up
Chase Bank Robbery - Suspect Arrested for Series of Robberies and Awaiting Trial
On August 30, 2012, at 12:54 p.m., a lone male suspect entered Chase Bank located in the 600 block of West Huntington Drive. He approached the business teller window and placed a demand note under the teller window. The teller opened the folded note and realized it was a robbery note. The suspect in this bank robbery is suspected of a series of other robberies in the San Gabriel Valley. A similar vehicle and suspect description was obtained in the series, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation dubbed the suspect the "Haggler Bandit." Information was obtained and the suspect was identified.
On October 23, 2012, the series of robberies was presented to the District Attorney's Office by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Majors Team. An arrest warrant for seven felony counts of robbery was filed against the suspect, including the Monrovia bank robbery, with a bail amount set at $415,000.00. The suspect was located and arrested in Memphis Tennessee. He was extradited back to California and interviewed by Pasadena Police Department Detectives. He confessed to the series of robberies and now awaits trial.
Blockage on East Foothill Until 5 p.m. Today
The center lanes of East Foothill Blvd will be blocked from Mountain to Shamrock Ave both directions until 5p.m today to repair water utilities. Signs will be posted- please drive safely around work crews. http://goo.gl/xXYD2
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Staar Surgical: Revenue Is Up
Monrovia's Staar Surgical reports fourth quarter earnings for 2012 up one percent over fourth quarter 2011. http://goo.gl/STt6L
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia City Council Candidates Forum March 14
There will be a Monrovia City Council candidate forum at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 in the Council Chambers at the Monrovia City Hall. If you watch on KGEM, you can submit questions by calling 932-5550. The candidates are: Alexander Blacburn, Robert Parry, and Larry Spicer.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Mayor Calls for Budget Compromise
Mayor Mary Ann Lutz calls for a budget compromise in Washington. http://goo.gl/VjKqn
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Senator Wants South Pasadena Freeway-Path Houses Sold
Senator Carol Liu, who represents Monrovia, has introduced a bill allowing CalTrans to sell houses in South Pasadena, originally in the path of the proposed 710 freeway. She says this is okay because, "In the last decade attention has shifted to the construction of a tunnel, rather than a surface route." http://goo.gl/py5SC
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
More Parking at Aztec | City Council Race
~ The old shed comes down to make way for more parking at the Aztec Hotel.
~ On the City Council race front, former State Senator Dick Mountjoy to be Robert Parry's Campaign Chairman, and Mayor Mary Ann Lutz is hosting an event for candidates Larry Spicer and Alex Blackburn. http://goo.gl/lGoHl
- Brad Haugaard
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