Monrovia Shouldn't Be Seriously Affected by Federal Government Shutdown

Monrovia City Manager Laurie Lile told the City Council that a brief federal government shutdown should not cause much of a problem, but if it is longer, people who rely on government checks, like Social Security, could be hurt. Still, she said, local government services probably would not be significantly affected unless the shutdown is lengthy.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Holden Report on State; Closure of Myrtle

~ Assemblymember Chris Holden told the Monrovia City Council the state economy has rebounded, he'd like to switch school funding from being attendance-based to enrollment-based, that he supports more local control of money used for local infrastructure, and that he is disappointed that his human trafficking bill - which would allow law enforcement to listen in on cell phone calls - was shot down. He said he'd try again in January.

~ Gold Line Construction Authority spokesman Habib Balian told the council Myrtle will be closed at the rail crossing from early next year until October.

- Brad Haugaard

$1.5 Million to Fix Old Monrovia Train Station; Station Square Features

It'll cost $1.5 million to fix up the old Monrovia train station, according to the developer working on the planned Station Square Project around the upcoming Gold Line station. Councilman Tom Adams suggested leasing the building for $1 a year in exchange for some private company fixing it.

Also at the City Council's Station Square study session this evening were preliminary plans for the project, which show a parking structure, traffic circle out front, tree-lined promenade and park area, commercial spaces, restrooms, and a cross-track pedestrian path. Oh, and Councilwoman Becky Shevlin wants a water feature - a fountain or something.

There was more, but the Internet video stream went off the air.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Firm Testing Autoimmune Drug | Blessing the Animals | Forest Closed | Watch for Fraud

~ Monrovia's Xencor, Inc. today announced that the first patient has been given a dose of XmAb587 in a clinical trial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The drug has the potential to treat other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus. In autoimmune diseases the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy body tissue. http://goo.gl/V3Gqul

~ Monrovia's St. Luke Episcopal Church (corner of Foothill and California) will hold a "Blessing of the Animals" service on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. Bring your pet (all species welcome).

~ Angeles Forest shuts down. The Forest Service reports: "Due to the lapse in federal government funding, the U.S. Forest Service, as with other federal agencies, is closed with the exception of certain essential services. However, we will attempt to make timely updates about public health and safety."

~ Monrovia Chamber of Commerce reports that a company is calling local businesses and falsely claiming to be working for the Chamber, and is threatening fines for being out of compliance with poster regulations.

- Brad Haugaard

Prediction for Monrovia vs. St. Francis Game

Star-News sports writer Steve Ramirez is picking St. Francis (La Canada) over Monrovia in this Friday's game (7 p.m. at Monrovia), but thinks it could go either way. http://goo.gl/DsTtSO

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Friends of the Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Monrovia Public Library will hold its semi-annual book sale, with more than 5,000 books, in conjunction with the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts' "Celebrate the Arts" festival in Library Park and in the Library Community Room on Friday, Oct. 11, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $2 per bag sale on Sunday from 4-5 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Monrovia Public Library.

- Brad Haugaard

Impressions of Provence Art Show at Segil Fine Art

"Ouvrez La Porte" by Julie Snyder

Impressions of Provence show at Segil Fine Art at 110 West Lime. Opening reception Oct. 5, 5-7 p.m. Exhibit runs until Oct. 31. http://goo.gl/6A6OgV

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Injured Bear; Chasing a Suspect on a Bike; Warrant Arrests

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Sept. 26-29. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Bear Incident
On September 26, police received numerous calls reporting an injured bear, but when the animal control officer located it, he determined the bear was actually ill.  The Department of Fish and Wildlife were requested.  They responded, tranquilized and took charge of the bear.

Delaying and Obstructing a Peace Officer / Gang Injunction Violation – Suspect Arrested
September 26 at 7:31 p.m., an officer on patrol saw a male subject riding a bicycle in the 400 block of East Duarte without lighting equipment.  The officer told the subject to stop, but the subject did not comply.  Instead, the subject jumped off the bicycle and ran west on Duarte.  The officer gave chase and detained the subject at on Monrovista.  The subject was arrested for delaying and obstructing a peace officer and was also found to be in violation of the gang injunction, which was added to his charges.

No-Bail Warrants – Suspect Arrested
September 26 at 8:25 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation in the area of Longden and Myrtle.  He observed a subject in the vehicle that he knew had two outstanding no-bail warrants for his arrest.  A computer check was run and the suspect was found to have three outstanding warrants: two no-bail warrants and a felony warrant.  He was arrested and taken into custody.

Out-of-State Felony Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 27 at 11:00 a.m., an officer observed a subject he recognized from previous contacts in the area of Mayflower and Foothill.  A computer check revealed the subject had a felony parole violation warrant out of the Kansas.  The male was stopped and arrested for the warrant without incident.

School Board Candidate Scott Pomrehn Launches Website

Monrovia School Board candidate Scott Pomrehn has launched his campaign website, http://www.scottpomrehn.net/ .

- Brad Haugaard

Santa Ana Winds? | Book Sale | Clean-up St. Luke's

~ Potential for a very warm and dry Santa Ana wind event with high fire danger Thursday night through Saturday. http://goo.gl/0Xseue

~ For October, books with a black dot on the spine at the Friends of the Monrovia Library bookstore (in the Library) are half-price. Regular prices range from $0.25 to $2.

~ Rev. Neil Tadken, the new Priest in Charge at St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Foothill, is inviting the community to help church members clean up the gardens and grounds, which "need major attention." Work days are "any part, or all, of three upcoming Saturdays - Sept. 28, Oct. 26, and Nov. 16, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m."

- Brad Haugaard

iPads at the Monrovia Library

The Monrovia Library now has iPads for the kids.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Over South Hills :) | Dols a Teacher of the Year | Candidates Ask for Democratic Endorsement | Free Online Courses

~ Monrovia High victorious over South Hills 31-13. http://goo.gl/hNGdqS

~ Los Angeles County Office of Education has chosen Monrovia High teacher, Paul Dols, as one of its teachers of the year. http://goo.gl/MsAiGA

~ Three Monrovia School Board candidates have asked the local Democratic club for its endorsement. The candidates are: Terrence Williams, Alex Zucco, Ruhiyyih N. Yuille. http://goo.gl/y7GXVe

~ Free online courses through the Monrovia Library: Accounting and Finance; College Readiness; Computer Applications; Design and Composition; Health Care and Medical; Language and Arts; Law and Legal; Personal Development; Teaching and Education; Technology; Writing and Publishing http://goo.gl/pwyHd4

- Brad Haugaard

Bridge Supports Installed | Monrovia Bear Put Down

~ Bridge deck beams being installed for the Gold Line bridge over Santa Anita Wash Bridge.

~ Bear found on Melrose, possibly hit by car, put down. http://goo.gl/OQPGdJ

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Construction Activities in Monrovia

Gold Line progress in Monrovia by map. Mayflower will be closed at the railroad crossing until December of this year. California will be closed just north of Duarte for seven months.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Cafe LuMar

Lunch at Cafe LuMar, on Colorado about a half-block east of Myrtle. Got the goulash with polenta special ($12.50), on a specials list, not on the regular menu, and an iced tea ($2.25). Nice atmosphere, real flowers on the table, pleasant service. Really good goulash. Also got a berry-cream cheese crepe (a special for $9.25) for desert. Oh, wow! Excellent desert. 

- Brad Haugaard

Antonovich: County Gets More Jail Space for Violent Offenders

LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who represents Monrovia,  reports that the county supervisors have approved a contract with the city of Taft for 512 jail beds so serious/violent inmates - such as rapists, child molesters, and carjackers - can serve their full sentences. He said they are serving less than 20% of their sentences now.

- Brad Haugaard

Representative Chu Wants Your Thoughts on Avoiding Government Shutdown

Congresswoman Judy Chu, who represents the top of Monrovia - roughly from Hillcrest/Grand/E. Greystone north - wants to know how you think the government should avoid a shutdown on October 1. Survey here: http://goo.gl/ByuZsa

- Brad Haugaard

Rob Hammond Completes Canada-to-Mexico Bike Ride

Former Monrovia mayor and present school board member, Rob Hammond, has completed his bicycle ride from Canada to the Mexican border. 17 days on the road.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Drug Busts; Gang Busts; Shoplifting

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Sept. 23–25. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 436 service events, resulting in 86 investigations.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested

September 23 at 9:48 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Shamrock and Huntington saw a subject standing at the drive-through window of a fast food restaurant. The subject abruptly walked away from the window when he saw the police unit. As the officer was approaching the subject to contact him, he saw the subject take something out of his pocket, toss it on the ground and walk away from it. The subject was detained. The subject was found to be in possession of marijuana and the item he threw on the ground was a glass pipe, with white residue in it, used for smoking methamphetamine. The suspect was arrested.

Gang Injunction – Suspect Arrested

September 23 at 11:29 p.m., officers responded to the report of a possible fight involving three male subjects in a parking lot in the 100 block of West Lime. As the first officer arrived, one of the subjects ran east towards Myrtle. The subject was detained by additional arriving officers. The subject is a known gang member who has been served with the gang injunction. He was arrested for violating the gang injunction court order.

Parolee-at-Large / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested

September 24 at 12:00 p.m., officers were investigating complaints of drug use and drug sales at area motels in the 700 block of West Huntington. Officers, assisted by the West San Gabriel Anti-Crime Task Force, contacted a female and her boyfriend. Through investigation, the boyfriend was determined to be a parolee-at-large and the female subject was found to have methamphetamine in her possession. Both suspects were arrested.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested

September 24 at 5:10 p.m., a theft was reported at a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain. The suspect was detained for shoplifting by the store loss prevention officer. A computer check revealed the suspect is currently on parole for burglary. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Monrovia vs South Hills Friday

Monrovia plays South Hills (West Covina) tomorrow (Friday) night at Monrovia High School.

- Brad Haugaard