Monrovia Now: News and Comment about Monrovia, California

Apartment Planned for South Fifth in Monrovia

150-unit apartment building planned for South Fifth Avenue in Monrovia, just south of Huntington Drive. http://goo.gl/YtLXp

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Arrested for Peeping Under Woman's Skirt

Monrovia man arrested after using camera to sneak-peak under woman's skirt. http://goo.gl/hBXK3

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Gets Less Government Work | Rain Today? | Newcomers

~ Monrovia's AeroVironment hurting with less government work and hopes to diversify. http://goo.gl/M3Tml

~ Twenty percent chance of rain today. http://goo.gl/5W11r

~ The women's club, Newcomers and Friends of San Gabriel Valley, is having a free Meet-and-Greet Coffee on Wednesday, May 1, 10 a.m. to noon, at a member's home in Sierra Madre. The club is for women who are new to the area, or have had changes in their lives, or are looking for fun and interesting daytime activities and making new friends. For more information, please visit www.sgvnewcomers.com.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Xylem Salon and Spa Helping Raise Money for Clean Water

In 2013 the botanical beauty brand, Aveda, is committed to raising $5 million for clean water. Monrovia's Xylem Salon and Spa, in Old Town, is supporting the effort along with thousands of other Aveda locations around the world. Xylem will participate in a global 24-hour cut-a-thon on Earth Day, April 22, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

In addition to raising money for clean water, Aveda salons will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most money raised for a charity by haircuts in a 24-hour period.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Drones Help Clear Blast Area at Vandenberg

Raven drones, made by Monrovia's AeroVironment, are now being used to scout the rocket launch zone around Vandenberg Air Force Base to make sure nobody is in the area of the blast. http://goo.gl/e9JOn

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Baseball Scores 4-3 Win Over La Canada :-)

Monrovia over La Canada in baseball. http://goo.gl/JI7wQ

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia High AP Class | Auditor's Report

At its April 17 meeting (agenda here: http://goo.gl/b6ESe ) the Monrovia School Board will consider, among other things ...

~ Adding an AP class at the high school called "Human Geography," to "introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of the Earth's surface." It'll cost about $21,000 for books and materials. http://goo.gl/4d0UQ

~ Receiving an auditor's report on the use of Measure M bond funds. Report here: http://goo.gl/NbMwm

- Brad Haugaard

Spooky Monrovia Library Scavenger Hunt

Spooky Scavenger Hunt, Saturday April 6, 7-9 p.m. at the Library. For 6th-12th graders. Sponsored by Friends of the Monrovia Public Library. Follow clues to discover hidden treasures in the Library at night. The fastest team wins a prize. http://goo.gl/Jpqw8

- Brad Haugaard

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