Lunch at Mediterranean Garden Grill

Had lunch at the Mediterranean Garden Grill, on Foothill near Melrose, a few blocks west of Myrtle. Got chicken schawarma from the lunch menu for $9.99 and a tarragon soda for $2.50 (plus tax and tip). Schawarma was very tasty and tarragon soda was different and I really liked it.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Clifton Middle School is Distinguished

Clifton Middle School becomes 'California Distinguished School.' http://goo.gl/AMOVo

- Brad Haugaard

Fake Monrovia Disaster | Kids and Parents Storytime

~ The Monrovia Fire Department is leading an emergency response drill from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, April 18. The drill will involve nearly 70 people, made up of City Hall employees and CERT volunteers. The drill will simulate an earthquake that results in a damaged reservoir. Activities will take place at Station 1, Station 2 and at an apartment located at 2055 S. Myrtle Avenue. This event is staged (not real). These drills prepare the City in the event of a real disaster. For more info call the Fire Department at 256-8181.

~ 123 Play with Me Storytime for parents and kids 0-4 at the Library on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Features "one-on-one" time with children and helping children get ready to read through playing, singing, talking, writing, and reading. Adult participation required. Call 256-8274 for more information.

Source: City's This Week in Monrovia newsletter.

- Brad Haugaard

Two Hillside Trails Should Be Open in Mid-June

At a briefing about a month ago I asked Monrovia City Manager Laurie Lile when the trails in the Hillside area would be open to the public. She said one trail would open in about a month. Since it has been a bit over a month, thought I'd get an update. Here is her response ...

"Although when we last spoke, I thought things would move more rapidly, we are now looking at opening both the Sleepy Hollow and Highland Access points in mid-June.  On Tuesday evening, the Community Services Commission approved the design for the entry signage, with a few minor changes, and the contractor is now approved to manufacture the signs.  The gates, trash receptacles, and mutt mitt dispensers have already been constructed and are ready for installation.  They will be installed with the signage prior to officially opening the access points.  I do not have any updates on the time frames for opening the Ridgeside and Cloverleaf accesses at this time."

- Brad Haugaard

Yet Another Monrovia Bear

A bear in our yard (on Hillcrest) at 1 p.m. today. Bolder and bolder these critters.

Monrovia Mayor Named Woman of Distinction

Judy Chu, who represents the top edge of Monrovia in Congress, named Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz as one of her Women of Distinction. http://goo.gl/qjA5R

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Thief Steals Catalytic Converters; Big Burglary Bust

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 8-10. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 469 service events, resulting in 65 investigations.

 

Grand Theft From a Vehicle

April 10, overnight, three victims had their catalytic converters stolen off their vehicles.  The incidents occurred in the 600 block of West Olive, 500 block of West Maple and the 400 block of West Lime.  The investigation is continuing.

 

 

Detective Bureau Case Follow-Up

 

March 26, an officer responded to and conducted a burglary investigation at a business in the 100 block of West Walnut, Antiques of Fairoaks.  Sellers rent cases from the business owner to display and sell their products.  Suspect(s) broke into the location overnight and stole merchandise from the cases.  Four victims were identified.

 

One of the victims found and identified some of her property being sold on eBay and contacted police.  She recognized not only the items, but also the description of the items she had written on the tags.  Through investigation, detectives found information on the seller, and the investigation led to an address in Tujunga. 

 

A search warrant for the location in Tujunga was written and served on April 10 at 5:30 a.m.  The property/residence in Tujunga was extremely large, so Monrovia detectives requested assistance from the West San Gabriel Valley Burglary Task Force, Pasadena Police Department and Glendale Police Department SWAT Teams.  The search warrant was executed without incident.  The objective of the search warrant was met and the victim's property was recovered from the residence.

  

This case is a great example of multi-agency cooperation and teamwork.

Monrovia's Unity Center Helped Almost 5,000 | Passing Tournament | Being on Ballot Helps

~ In its newsletter, Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center reports that it helped 4,699 low-income and homeless families in 2012.

~ Monrovia to participate in passing tournament. http://goo.gl/B2syl

~ Daily News observes that Monrovia election shows that the results favor who are on the ballot rather than write-ins. http://goo.gl/w5hcy

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian - No Contest in Fake Bomb Reports

Monrovian pleads no contest to charge of making false bomb report. http://goo.gl/rUAMG

- Brad Haugaard

Study Session on Finding a New Monrovia Superintendent

The Monrovia School Board will hold an open study session at 6 p.m. April 15 on the superintendent search process at the district office.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Mayan Bar and Grill Gets Sign

The new restaurant at the Aztec Hotel should be opening soon. The sign has been posted and according to Facebook posts, the restaurant is inviting friends to test its foods.

Monrovia's AeroVironment Gets $13.8 Million from Army

Monrovia's AeroVironment gets $13.8 million from the Army for Raven drone work. http://goo.gl/I0Qja

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Vintage and Collectible Sale and Auction

Vintage and Collectible Yard Sale and Silent Auction for Monrovia Historical Museum, this Saturday, April 13, 8 a.m.-noon, 742 E. Lemon Ave. Pre-1969 items such as crystal, lamps, porcelain dinnerware, sterling silver, nambe, silver plate items, vintage clothing, etc. Free admission and parking. For info call Pam Barkas 599-8187.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Election: Blackburn and Spicer Win

With the results of today's election in, the two new Monrovia City Council members are ...

- Alexander Blackburn.

- Larry Spicer (who served as Clarence Shaw's fill-in while Shaw was on active military service).

Write-in candidate Robert Parry fell short but pretty strong considering he was write-in.

Final vote, Blackburn 1691, Parry 983, Spicer 1504.

- Brad Haugaard

Counting Ballots for the Monrovia City Council

The Vote by Mail ballots have Larry Spicer and Alexander Blackburn in the lead, but no regular ballots yet.

Power Outage Affects 22 Monrovia Customers

An unexpected power outage is affecting 22 Southern California Edison power customers in Monrovia. SCE says the problem, "Lines Down," caused by "Foreign Object in Equipment," should be fixed by 10 p.m. tomorrow, April 10. http://goo.gl/mJSZr

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblymember Legislation to Help Start-ups In State

Assemblymember Chris Holden (who represents Monrovia) hopes to expand on the state's iHub innovation network with a new plan to create economic opportunities for start-up companies. It's part of his legislation (AB 250) that was overwhelmingly approved with bi-partisan support today in the Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy Committee.

AB 250 would allow emerging technology companies an opportunity to partner with the state to demonstrate new innovative technologies on underutilized state properties.

"We want to put the state in a position to cultivate and incubate young companies that are developing new technologies," explained Assemblymember Holden. "Our goal is to foster greater collaboration between innovators and investment opportunities within the state."

There are three parts to AB 250:

- Establishes the California Innovation Hub (iHub) Program into law.

- Authorizes the Director of the Department of General Services to authorize the use of vacant or underused state property for full-scale demonstration programs to benefit start-up technology companies,

- And creates the iHub Accelerator Fund in the state treasury to accept private sector funding to operate the program.

AB 250 will expand the development of iHubs across California and develop more economic opportunities for start-up companies throughout the state. They are anchored by at least one major university or research center which provides access to new inventions and cutting edge thinking.

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

New Video of 210 Gold Line Bridge

"Teaser" video of new 210 Gold Line freeway bridge. http://goo.gl/p6ql5

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Election Today

Election day is today, Tuesday, in Monrovia. If you have any clue what is going on, get out and vote! Your polling place is on your sample ballot. If you forgot, it is here: http://lavote.net/LOCATOR/

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's STAAR Surgical Expects Q1 Growth of 16% Over Q1 2012

Monrovia's STAAR Surgical Company, which makes replacement eye lenses, today announced that first quarter revenue is expected to be approximately $18 million, which would represent approximately 16% growth over the first quarter of last year. http://goo.gl/C5zjQ

- Brad Haugaard