Sniffing Volcanoes with Drones from Monrovia Company

Alaskan scientist using Raven drones from Monrovia's AeroVironment to sniff volcanoes. http://goo.gl/2LVxW8

- Brad Haugaard

Which College Will Scoby Sign With? | Unemployment Rates for Monrovia and the State

~ Speculation about what college Monrovia running back Kurt Scoby will choose. Arizona State? http://goo.gl/93bVQ

~ Unemployment dips in California, but is up a bit in Monrovia (Patch: http://goo.gl/ZRYkI ). Comment: What bugs me about news reports I've seen on employment numbers (here's a Star-News report, too: http://goo.gl/TE7K9 ) is that they don't address the main criticism: the claim that employers are switching to part-timers to avoid Obamacare mandates. For example, if you fire one full-timer and hire two part-timers, you are "adding jobs," but I don't think that is exactly good news. I hope the criticism is wrong, but I'd like to hear it addressed. Are more hours being worked or not?

- Brad Haugaard

School Board: Labor Union Agreements, Budget

At its July 24 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/te7hl ), the Monrovia School Board will decide whether to approve agreements with the Monrovia Teachers Association (agreement here: http://goo.gl/n97Pj ) and the California School Employees Association (agreement here: http://goo.gl/uPSVj ).

Also, the board will hear a report on the district budget prepared by Director of Fiscal Services David Conway, who has some kind words for the state: "This is the first state budget in nearly a decade that is truly balanced, without using accounting gimmicks, funding shifts or increased deferrals of state apportionments." http://goo.gl/kWz1V

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Rigo's Mexican Food

Lunch at Rigo's Mexican Food, at the corner of Foothill and Mayflower. Got the Caldo de Mariscos ($10.95) and iced tea ($1.50). It is a seafood and veggie soup. Came with tortillas and, of course, chips. Very nice!

 

- Brad Haugaard

Bright New Paint Job for Mini Mall

The mini mall at Mayflower and Foothill has a new paint job. You are unlikely to miss it. 

 

- Brad Haugaard

Construction on Gold Line Maintenance Yard | Music Man

~ Work on the Monrovia Gold Line maintenance yard proceeds.

~ Professional production of The Music Man, tonight at Monrovia High. Get tickets here: http://goo.gl/kHory

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Water is Fine | Jazz Cats | E Waste | Cancer Research | Art Walk

~ Monrovia reports its water quality "comes through with flying colors." Report here: http://goo.gl/j1EbR

~ This Sunday, July 21, 7 p.m. at the Library Bandshell: "Gem City Jazz Cats."

~ E Waste Recycling at Monrovia Park N Ride (corner of S. Myrtle and W. Pomona Ave.) Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28, 9-3 p.m.

~ Monrovia's bigShrimps restaurant is helping Karly Adair raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma research. You can help, too. http://goo.gl/x0bVB

~ Summer Art Walk along Myrtle in Old Town Saturday, July 27, 7-10 p.m. Art for sale, galleries open, art demonstrations, live music.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Nominated for Emmy Award

According to the East Lime Avenue Facebook page, Monrovian Mike Roth has received an Emmy nomination for his cartoon, The Regular Show. "This is his fourth nomination, one of which resulted in a win last year!" Here's Wikipedia on The Regular Show: http://goo.gl/BXX74

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Says: Watch Out for Giant Beams!

Commuters and residents are advised that 130-foot concrete beams for the Metro Gold Line Extension will be transported through the City of Monrovia between Friday, July 19 and Tuesday, July 23.

The beams will be used for the construction of the San Gabriel River Bridge. Most of the 21 beams will be transported during off peak hours between 4 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. starting on Friday and ending on Tuesday, and are not expected to cause significant impact to residents and businesses. However, three beams will be transported through Monrovia between the hours of noon to 2 p.m. on Friday.

"Based on the alternatives evaluated by Public Works, Gold Line and their contractors, this route and delivery times will result in the least impact to our community," City Manager Laurie Lile said.

All trucks carrying the oversized loads will exit Westbound 210 at Myrtle onto West Central Avenue, on Central to Mayflower Avenue, turning left to Duarte Road and traveling on Duarte Road into the City of Duarte.

Drivers on the road during this time are asked to be mindful of pilot cars and traffic controls in the area.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Burglars Hitting Cars in North Monrovia | Big Crane

~ Burglars targeting cars in north end of Monrovia. http://goo.gl/jbUQW

~ Big crane being used to upgrade power lines at north end of Encinitas. http://goo.gl/egBB7

- Brad Haugaard

Music at the Aztec

The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company invites the choral community of Southern California to join in singing a preview of its upcoming season. With selections by Mozart, Ramirez, Gibbs, Lauridsen, Orban and more, this will be a supernatural afternoon of music from all over the globe, presented in the stunning ambiance of the historic Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, where the SGVCC will perform in October the first concert of its 2013-2014 season. Included is an afternoon workshop on Saturday, August 10, where Artistic Director Zanaida Robles will lead the singers on an exciting tour of several selections of the season’s repertoire, and an optional Sunday morning (August 11) performance of a spiritual at a Monrovia church service. There will also be an optional group dinner Saturday evening. Online registration of $35 is being accepted at www.sgvccworkshop.eventbrite.com. For more information, please contact choralcompany@gmail.com or 626-579-2433.

The Saturday, August 10 workshop will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and will include the following repertoire: Mozart’s Requiem; “Kyrie” from Misa Criolla by Ramirez; “Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind” by Rutter; the spirituals “Every Time I Feel the Spirit” by Dawson and “Great God Almighty” by Gibbs; and Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. The optional Sunday morning session will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia. Registration includes score rental, refreshments, and two free tickets to any 2013-2014 season concert. The registration deadline is July 31. Whether you’re looking for a choir to sing in or you are just seeking an afternoon of making great music, the SGVCC welcomes you to its workshop.

Artistic Director Zanaida Robles is on the faculty of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) while pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral music at the University of Southern California (USC). As a DMA Teaching Assistant at USC, she directs the USC Thornton University Chorus. Ms. Robles also directs Discovery Camerata and served for three years as director of the MusicUNTOLD Chorale. She has prepared choirs for performances with such artists as Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, and Wayne Brady.

Founded in 1995 by Dr. Thomas M. Miyake of California State University, Los Angeles, the SGVCC is a non-profit choir based in Monrovia, CA. The group’s repertoire has included music from the Renaissance period to recent works of the 21st century. Along with more traditional selections, music performed has featured avant-garde, jazz, gospel, Broadway musical revues, and staged productions. More information about the chorale and the concert season can be found at www.choralcompany.org.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard 

Outside Dining Approved for New Monrovia Hot Dog Joint

Monrovia's Design Review Committee has given the okay for outside dining to S'Links, a gourmet hot dog joint that will be opening soon at 630 South Myrtle. Here are some pictures (if you have a Facebook account) of the work going on in the building to get ready for the opening: http://goo.gl/tCvuc

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Mailbox Theft, Bank Fraud, Cars and More

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 15–17. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 475 service events, resulting in 82 investigations.

Attempt Mail Theft

July 15 at 1:58 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of Sombrero reported that a male White subject in a silver Honda Passport, or similar vehicle, drove on the wrong side of the street to his mailbox and attempted to open it. Due to a similar incident, the victim had replaced their traditional mailbox with a security mailbox and the suspect was not able to open the mailbox. The suspect realized he had been seen and fled the area. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

July 16 at 1:48 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 600 block of West Duarte Road. The vehicle was actually taken a week earlier, but the victim waited to report it because she thought it might be a family member who took the car and they would return it. When the family member refused to return the car, the victim reported it as stolen. The vehicle taken was a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle. The LoJack system on the vehicle was activated and El Monte Police Department located the vehicle. A short time later a possible suspect, the victim's brother, came forward and admitted he had taken the vehicle. El Monte Police Department arrested him.

Vehicle Burglary

July 16 at 2:30 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from a business parking lot in the 1600 block of South Mountain. The victim is an employee of the business and the theft occurred the previous day about 5:30 p.m. The loss was an iPod, black Ray Ban glasses and a Bank of America checkbook. That day, the victim saw a silver Acura SUV with two suspects who had jumped into the Acura and left quickly. The vehicle entered the 210 Freeway. The victim followed the vehicle on the freeway, but lost sight of it. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto – Motorcycle

July 16 at 2:57 p.m., a black, 2009, Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle that had been locked in a parking lot in the 100 block of West Huntington Drive was taken by unknown suspect(s). The theft occurred between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. that day. The investigation is continuing.

Fraud

July 16 at 4:08 p.m., a male Hispanic suspect entered a bank in the 100 block of West Foothill and attempted to withdraw cash from an account that had just been opened over the Internet. The funds in the account had been fraudulently deposited from another recently opened account. The suspect provided a fraudulent California identification card. The bank became suspicious and called the police.

The suspect was on the phone with someone during the delay at the teller window. He realized the police had been called and he then fled the location. The suspect had committed the same crime a week earlier and had received $800 in cash. Bank staff advised that this is a popular scam that has been occurring in Los Angeles County. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

July 18 at 1:16 a.m., police responded to the report of a stolen vehicle from the 400 block of North Encinitas. A 1997 Honda was taken from the front of the residence. The investigation is continuing.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Assault with a Deadly Weapon / Injury Hit and Run Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Charged

On July 6, the suspect driver in this case was involved in three incidents over a short period of time in three different locations, one in Monrovia. In the Monrovia incident, the suspect drove his vehicle around a bicyclist on Huntington and Mountain before intentionally striking him. The suspect was later arrested in Azusa. The California Highway Patrol handled two of the three incidents and the case was filed jointly at Pasadena Superior Court. The charges filed were three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, other than firearm; two counts of injury hit and run; and two counts of driving under the influence, resulting in injury. The suspects bail was set at $320,000.

Felony Evading / Hit & Run Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence / Gang Injunction Violation – Suspect Charged

On June 4, a driver failed to yield and evaded an officer attempting to stop him. The suspect made his way into the City of Duarte and drove into a cul-de-sac, where he exited his moving vehicle, injuring his foot. The suspect was taken to a hospital. He was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The case was filed in Pasadena Superior Court and the suspect was charged with felony evading, misdemeanor hit and run, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and violation of the City of Monrovia's gang injunction.

Suspect Arrested and Charged for Thefts From Vehicles

On July 13, a resident in the 1000 block of Norumbega saw a suspect in her vehicle. The suspect, realizing he was seen, exited the victim's vehicle with her purse in hand. The suspect ran from officers and he was not located. A few hours later, a citizen reported a subject jumping over the wall adjacent to the wash into a backyard in the 200 block of Madeline. Officers responded to the house and spoke to a number of subjects.

Further investigation led to the issuing of a warrant for one of the subjects at the house on Madeline; he was located and arrested. He admitted to committing a number of thefts from vehicles. The case was filed in Pasadena Superior Court and the charges filed are one count of receiving stolen property and four counts of petty theft. Detectives were able to connect the suspect to five other theft cases. They were able to recover some of the property stolen and return it to their owners.

Monrovia Assemblymember: Boycott Florida

Press release from Monrovia's Assemblymember:

Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) - with the backing of the California Legislative Black Caucus - said he would introduce a resolution calling for a repeal of Florida's "stand-your-ground" law and urging a boycott of Florida in the wake of the not guilty verdict in the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

"When I heard the verdict last weekend, I was disappointed and saddened. Another young black child is dead and nobody is being held accountable," said Assemblymember Holden. "It is a true nightmare scenario for every black parent in America, and a sad commentary on racial injustice in this country.

While sitting in a downtown Los Angeles courthouse waiting to be called for jury duty earlier this week, I thought 'What do we do now'? I urge the Department of Justice to investigate civil-rights charges against Zimmerman and it is my sincere hope that the tragic death of Trayvon Martin compels legislators in Florida and other states to put an end to stand-your-ground laws. I keep asking myself - didn't Trayvon Martin have a right to also stand his ground? What were Trayvon Martin's rights?

Until then, I plan to plan to introduce a Resolution on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus urging a boycott of Florida, and encouraging all organizations, businesses, and families who would normally do business with or travel to Florida to consider patronizing other states; it's just not safe to travel in Florida until the law is changed.

The death of Trayvon Martin is a tragedy that will reverberate across the country. My heart is heavy, but I continue to believe that a peaceful, lawful solution is the only answer. By boycotting Florida tourism, conventions, and conferences we send a clear message that the death of an unarmed black teenager cannot be tolerated."

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment's Stock Jumps Way Up

At this writing, stock in Monrovia's AeroVironment has jumped 13.8 percent ( http://goo.gl/HBe8N ) on news that the investment firm, Engaged Capital, owns a 5.1 percent chunk of the company. http://goo.gl/0cDtm

- Brad Haugaard

Your Car Lights Are On - Thanks Monrovia PD!

Getting a call at 1:45 in the morning from the police is usually the last thing you want to happen, but it happened to us last night, and I'm glad it did. The Monrovia Police called around that time to tell us that a car in our driveway had the inside light on, thereby saving us from a dead battery this morning.

Thanks Monrovia Police Department! It is not for nothing that Monrovia is sometimes compared to Mayberry. In a good way, I mean ... like Andy, not Barney.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Reads Little Library | Singing

~ Fire Department volunteers installed the first of Monrovia Reads' Little Libraries outside the residence 149 E. Fig Avenue, a block north of the freeway and a bit east of Myrtle.

~ If you have a singing voice, Monrovia's San Gabriel Valley Choral Company is having auditions at First Presbyterian Church August 18 -September 24. Details: http://goo.gl/V60Je

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Pastor on Zimmerman/Martin Case

On Twitter, Pastor Albert Tate of Fellowship Monrovia, writes: "What if Zimmermans n Martins went 2 the same church? The Gospel must b lived out n Kingdm Contxt We ned MultiEthnic Gospel Centerd Churches"

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: More Thefts from Vehicles; Using Children as Shields; Gang Shooting? Alcohol Incidents

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 11–14. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested

July 11 at 9:39 a.m., while on routine patrol, officers observed a subject loitering in the 300 block of West Huntington. A no-trespassing order had been signed due to this subject repeatedly loitering at the location. The suspect was arrested for trespassing.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested

July 11 at 11:02 a.m., a female suspect entered a business in the 900 block of West Foothill and took three bottles of liquor and left the store without paying. The business called the police, and the suspect was located and arrested.

Thefts From Unlocked Vehicles / Vehicle Burglaries – One Suspect Arrested

On July 12, police received numerous reports of thefts from unlocked vehicles and two vehicle burglary reports. Police are continuing to see a sudden increase in thefts from vehicles and vehicle burglaries throughout the City. In most of the incidents, the vehicles have been left unlocked. Suspect(s) are entering the vehicles during the late evening and morning hours and taking any items of value in the vehicles. It is unknown if the thefts are related.
On July 13, a suspicious subject was seen jumping over fences and running through backyards shortly after an in-progress theft from a vehicle was reported. Police responded and detained the subject. The investigation led to the recovery of some stolen property and the suspect was arrested. The investigation is continuing.

Theft From a Vehicle

July 12 at 10:48 p.m., officers responded to a restaurant parking lot in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a theft from a vehicle. The victims parked their car at 9:45 p.m. and went in to eat. When they came out at 10:40 p.m., they found their vehicle had been ransacked. Their Bluetooth device and cell phone had been taken. The vehicle was left unlocked. Investigation continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested

July 13 at 2:10 a.m., an officer stopped a female subject who was driving in the 200 block of East Huntington at a high rate of speed. Through investigation, she was determined to be intoxicated and she was arrested for driving under the influence.

Drunk in Public

July 13 at 4:00 a.m., an officer located a female passed out in her vehicle parked in the 100 block of North Highland. She was unresponsive in the passenger seat. Paramedics were called and she was taken to a nearby hospital.

Child Endangerment / Human Shielding – Suspect Arrested

July 13 at 5:15 a.m., officers responded to the report of a female subject in the 100 block of Norumbega screaming for help. When they arrived, they heard what sounded like a person being hit and a male and female yelling at each other. They made contact with the female at the front door. She said she had not been hit or injured and she was yelling at her boyfriend, who was in his bedroom with their two children, a three and four year old. She said he had no weapons. The house was in disarray with feces on the walls, floors and on the children's bed.

The male subject refused to open his locked bedroom door and was yelling profanities at the officers to leave. The officers entered the bedroom to check on the welfare of the children and the male subject, since a domestic fight had just occurred. Upon entry, the intoxicated male grabbed the two children and used them as a shield to avoid being arrested. The children were secured and the subject was arrested without injury. The Department of Children and Family Services was notified and will be checking on the condition of the home.

Vehicle Burglary in Progress – Suspect Arrested

July 13 at 6:27 a.m., a female subject returned to her car and found a male subject sitting inside it. The suspect fled and she contacted the police. An area search was conducted and the suspect was spotted in the area. He fled from police and an extensive search was conducted, but the suspect was not found.

At 9:10 a.m., a resident reported seeing two juveniles jumping fences in the 400 block of Meadow Lane. One of the juveniles matched the description of the burglary suspect that ran from police earlier that morning. An area search was conducted and the two juveniles were located and detained, along with two other subjects that were with them.

The subject eventually admitted that he was, in fact, the person who ran from police earlier. He showed the officers where he hid the stolen merchandise, which was under a cactus plant in a ravine. Two additional victims surfaced later in the morning. The suspect had entered two other unlocked vehicles, and in both incidents had taken iPods that were left in the vehicles.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

July 14 at 2:18 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for vehicle code violations. The driver showed symptoms of intoxication. After an investigation, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon

On Sunday, July 14, 2013, at approximately 3:30 a.m. in the morning, a shooting victim arrived at the Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Hospital staff contacted the Monrovia Police Department. An officer arrived and handled the investigation.

The victim told the officer that he was driving in the area of Mountain and Royal Oaks when a subject pulled up in a vehicle next to him, asked him "where are you from" then shot at him, striking him in the shoulder. He drove to a nearby friend's house, and the friend drove him to the emergency room. Police personnel arrived in the area and located evidence that confirmed the shooting.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned male black in his mid-to-late 20's with short black hair, driving an older-model blue Lexus or Toyota, with aftermarket halogen headlamps.

The victim had a non-life-threatening wound and was released within hours of the incident. The victim is not a gang member and is not affiliated with any gang. The investigation will be assigned to the Detective Bureau and is currently ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Monrovia Police Department Detective Bureau.

Residential Burglary

July 14 at 6:51 p.m., an officer responded to the 200 block of North Canyon regarding a burglary. The victim came home after being away for the weekend and discovered someone had broken into their home. The investigation is continuing.

Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer / Drunk in Public – One Suspect Arrested

July 14 at 11:07 p.m., an officer was in the area of Shamrock and Monrovista when he observed a vehicle code violation and attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle pulled over and the driver and two passengers immediately fled on foot. The officer detained two additional passengers in the vehicle, while responding officers searched for the three outstanding suspects. The Foothill Air Support Team helicopter responded to help in the search. The subjects were not found.

The officer was able to determine the identity of the driver and he will be charged with resisting and delaying a peace officer. One of the detained occupants was intoxicated and was arrested for public intoxication. The vehicle's registration was expired for over one year and it was stored. The investigation is continuing.

Former Assemblymember Representing Monrovia Launches Talk Show

"The Question Is," a current events program with Anthony Portantino, who formerly represented Monrovia in the state Assembly, premiered this month on the Charter Communications' California Channel 101.

Two shows have been completed. The first dealt with HIV and AIDS and the second will be a discussion of AB 109, the controversial prison realignment plan implemented for California. Was it good public policy? Is it working? And how is the system dealing with the reentry of so many former inmates?

"Before I go back into politics," Portantino said, "I want to share as much information on hot topics as I can. ... 'The Question Is' will endeavor to ask and answer questions about issues that the public should hear about and that no one else is digging into. I'm not shy and the questions will be tough on policy and opinion makers on The Question Is."

The show will air on California Chanel 101 Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30 pm.

Here is the first show on YouTube: http://goo.gl/JTxd9

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard