Monrovia School Board to Discuss Superintendent, Certify It Has Enough Money ... for Now

At its March 13 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/2YCGP ) the Monrovia School Board will ...

~ discuss Superintendent Linda Wagner in closed session prior to the main meeting. Is she leaving?

~ certify that although it expects to have enough money for the current year and the following two fiscal years while maintaining at least a three percent reserve, however ... its reserves may drop below the required three percent in the 2015-16 fiscal year. http://goo.gl/kc8t2

- Brad Haugaard

Dogwood For Sale Again

Well, I told you a while ago that Juvo Capital was going to move in to the old Dogwood Market. But after all that renovation I guess they decided not to. It appears to be for sale again.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Cafe LuMar

Lunch at Cafe LuMar, 136 E. Colorado, just east of Myrtle. Got the ham, cheese and peas crepe ($9.75) with a LuMar Coffee (Turkish style. For $3). Really good crepe! Coffee was good in an espresso kinda way. Nice service, too. And the chocolate banana crepe ($9) for desert is wonderful.

- Brad Haugaard

Fish, Fountain, Fling and More

Lenten fish fry, Fountain to Falls race, Spring Fling (shop in Old Town and get entered in a drawing), living with Parkinsons seminar at the Y. http://goo.gl/CYpkk

- Brad Haugaard

Tomorrow, California Avenue at the Railroad Tracks Will be Closed for Five Months

California Avenue in Monrovia will be closed at the railroad crossing, just north of Duarte Road, beginning tomorrow, for five months.

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority says crews will be constructing grade crossing improvements at California Avenue between Evergreen Avenue and Duarte Road as part of the 11.5-mile Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project.

Tomorrow, the California Avenue/Duarte Road intersection will be completely closed to traffic for one day only - from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. - while crews place traffic control equipment. Once in place, Duarte Rd will reopen to traffic, but California Ave will be closed for five months to construct the train crossing improvements.

Construction work hours for the California Ave crossing work will be 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Note: Occasional longer work hours, possible work on Sundays and night work may be necessary to complete this work as scheduled.

There will be no left turns from westbound Duarte onto southbound California Ave. Traffic will be allowed to proceed east and west on Duarte Rd through the California Ave intersection (with the exception of a one-day closure of the intersection on Saturday, March 9, 2013).

A temporary pedestrian crossing will be available for pedestrians traveling north-south on California Ave. A detour route for motorists will be in place and signage will be posted to direct motorists. Local surrounding businesses will remain open and accessible during this activity. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use alternate routes.

Source: Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority press release. For more information call its hotline -  (626) 324-7098.

Update: The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority wants to be clear that it is not the "Metro." Fair enough. I've changed the post above to add the underlined stuff.

- Brad Haugaard

Baseball: Monrovia Wildcats vs Temple City

Photos of Wildcats vs. Temple City high school baseball. http://goo.gl/DCbQZ

- Brad Haugaard

Del Taco on the Plate for Monrovia Planning Commission

At its March 13 meeting, the Monrovia Planning Commission will consider allowing a Del Taco to be built across Huntington Drive from the Target store. (Yeah, I always thought that was Duarte, too, but guess not.) If approved, it would join a Fast5Xpress automatic car wash, which has already been approved for the site. http://goo.gl/ibwpY

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Leading in Baseball | Restore the Old Fire Engine | Rain Likely

~ Monrovia High leads the league in baseball. http://goo.gl/EC7HD

~ Monrovia fire personnel responded to 88 emergency calls last week, including a house fire that caused $100,000 in damage.

~ If you'd like to donate to restore Monrovia's 1917 Seagrave fire engine, here's how: http://goo.gl/Txenf

~ Ninty percent chance of fain tonight and Friday. http://goo.gl/anhUy

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Construction Along Duarte Road

The City of Monrovia reports on Facebook that, "Beginning March 9, California Avenue will be CLOSED to all traffic between Duarte Rd. and the area just north of the railroad tracks for five months, opening back up in July 2013. Crews are constructing grade crossing improvements, expanding from one track to two for the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension. Through traffic will be permitted along Duarte Rd. across California, but traffic crossing Duarte Rd. on California will be detoured to Myrtle Ave or Mountain Ave."

- Brad Haugaard

Applications Open for Monrovia Area Partnership

Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) is accepting applications for the 2013 Youth Leadership Academy. Enrollment is open to youth in grades 8-12, and will begin on April 13. Details: http://goo.gl/uQM4Q

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: He Loses Girl, Grabs Purse, Gets Arrested; Arrest in Grand Theft

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 4-6. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 445 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.

 

Criminal Threats / Battery / False Imprisonment / Robbery - Suspect Arrested

March 6 at 7:40 p.m., police received a call reporting a domestic violence incident in progress at a residence in the 200 block of Mauna Loa.  A 17-year-old girl was in a dating relationship with a 20-year-old male, and when she attempted to end the relationship, he threatened to kill her mother.  A school teacher learned the suspect was at the location and went there to assist the victim.  The suspect choked the teacher.  When the girl tried to walk away, the suspect unlawfully restrained her.  The girl's mother was able to get her away from the suspect, and the suspect responded by grabbing the mother's purse from her shoulder, breaking the straps and running away with the purse.  He was detained by officers and the purse was recovered.  The suspect was arrested and taken to jail without further incident.

 

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up: Grand Theft

February 14, 2013, a grand theft occurred at a residence in the 400 block of East Olive. A woman's wallet with her ID, social security card and other cards was taken, along with some small electronics.  On March 4, a male subject was arrested and was found to be in possession of several items which were taken in the grand theft.  The West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force wrote a search warrant for the subject arrested and served the warrant on March 5.  The results were positive and many of the objectives of the search were met.  The investigation is continuing. 

Monrovia Playwright's World Premiere

Monrovia playwright Diane Glancy, a prof at Azusa Pacific, will have the world premier of her play, The Bird House, at the Autry's Wells Fargo Theater in Griffith Park. Thanks to Charlotte Shamadan for the info. http://goo.gl/w2zQy

- Brad Haugaard

Is Monrovia Schools Superintendent Leaving?

Is Monrovia Schools Superintendent Linda Wagner leaving?

This Friday at 9:30 a.m. the Monrovia School Board will hold a special meeting, apparently to talk about a "possible Superintendent vacancy."

There will be a closed session (common for personnel issues) that is rather cryptically labeled, "Public Employee Appointment / Employment / Assignment - Superintendent," followed by this public item: "Discussion regarding employment of a search firm for possible Superintendent vacancy."

Source: http://goo.gl/ePckr

- Brad Haugaard

City Congratulates Firefighter Ernie Moreno | Harlem Shake

~ In a Facebook post, the City of Monrovia says, "Congratulations to Monrovia Fire Fighter Ernie Moreno, a 2013 Presidential MLK Drum Major Award Recipient. The award is given each year to those who have provided extraordinary acts of service, with reliability and commitment, and who seldom receive recognition. Ernie served as the driving force behind the over 1,000 toys and $6,000 donated to the Foothill Unity Center for the 2012 Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive, and served in other communities as well to help organize donations to those less fortunate. Congrats, Ernie!"

~ Fellowship Monrovia's student ministry, YOUNG, doing the Harlem Shake. http://goo.gl/WGSJD Comment: Uh... I think I'm too old to enjoy it.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Candidate Interviews | Chu Blames Republicans | Rain?

~ Interviews of Candidates for Monrovia City Council:

- Alexander Blackburn: http://goo.gl/8SI6g

- Robert Parry (write-in): http://goo.gl/gIO79

- Larry Spicer: http://goo.gl/iEEMf

~ In a Facebook post, Judy Chu, who represents the top edge of Monrovia, blames Republicans: "Sequestration was never meant to be good policy, and Californian's will suffer as a result of the GOP's unwillingness to stop it."

~ Sixty percent chance of rain on Thursday and 70 percent Friday. http://goo.gl/k0Dpe

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Students Talk to Astronauts

Monrovia students talk to astronauts in space: http://goo.gl/n5ovQ

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment: Revenue 'Fell Well Short'

Monrovia's AeroVironment reports a disappointing quarter: "'Third quarter revenue of $47.1 million and earnings per share of $0.17 fell well short of our plans primarily due to delays in government procurements expected during the quarter," said Tim Conver, AeroVironment chairman and chief executive officer.'" http://goo.gl/GStLi

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assembly Members: Holden Open House; Portantino Visiting Fellow

~ Current Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, will have an open house at his new district office (600 N. Rosemead Blvd., suite 117, Pasadena) on March 16 from 2-5 p.m.

~ Former Assemblymember Anthony J. Portantino, who used to represent Monrovia, reports that he is joining the USC Unruh Institute of Politics as a visiting fellow.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Victim in Killing | Kim Rhodes Wins Top Sports Moment

~ Monrovian was victim in Pasadena execution-style killing. http://goo.gl/3PU8k

~ Kim Rhode's Olympic shooting identified as a top sports moment. http://goo.gl/BWAlA

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Hit Head at Skatepark, Intoxicated Victim Beaten Up, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Feb. 28-March 3. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

Theft From a Vehicle
March 2 at 1:59 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 200 block of West Colorado.  The victim stated that she left her small, black Coach purse containing some cash in the glove box of her unlocked vehicle.  She believes the theft occurred sometime between 2:00 and 7:30 a.m.  The investigation is continuing.

 
Medical Assist
March 2 at 3:49 p.m., police responded to a medical assist call at a skatepark in the 800 block of East Olive.  A male juvenile fell and was conscious, but he could not move. Witnesses stated the subject was not wearing a helmet when he fell and he did not have one in his possession.  His aunt was caring for him while his parents were out of town.  Monrovia Fire Department personnel recognized the boy as a subject who had collapsed at school two days prior.  The subject said he hit his head, but there was no visible injury.  He was taken to a hospital for assessment and treatment.

Receiving Stolen Property - Suspect Arrested
March 2 at 5:03 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Myrtle and California observed a male adult subject riding his bike on a downtown city sidewalk.  When the officer approached the subject to cite him for the violation, the subject appeared to be placing something in the bushes. The officer questioned the subject and he stated he was in possession of a wallet that he believed was probably stolen.  The wallet was recovered and the possible victim information was obtained.  The suspect was arrested for receiving stolen property and released on citation to appear in court.

Battery
March 3 at 7:24 p.m., officers were dispatched to a park in the 700 block of East Lemon regarding a battery in progress.  According to witnesses, several male African American suspects were beating up a male Hispanic victim.  The victim suffered facial injuries and was taken to a hospital.  The victim was intoxicated and uncooperative at the time of the incident.  The victim's wallet was found in the general area, but it is unknown if he dropped it or if it was taken from him during the fight.  Three male subjects were located in the immediate area and detained.  The three subjects denied knowledge of the incident and did not have any visible injuries or torn clothing to suggest they had involvement.  The three subjects were identified and released.  The investigation is continuing.

Spousal Battery - Suspect Arrested
March 4 at 1:11 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of West Foothill regarding a domestic violence call.  The female victim said her common-law husband was intoxicated and entered the bedroom where she was laying down.  When she told him to get out, he became angry and began punching her in the leg several times.  The victim did not have visible injuries, but complained of pain to her right leg.  The suspect sustained superficial lacerations along the right side of his face, but he claimed to have sustained the injuries by falling down.  The suspect was arrested for spousal battery and taken into custody.