News: brad.haugaard@gmail.com   •  Restaurants   •  Library Catalog   •  Library Activities  •  History   •  Facebook / X/Twitter / RSS

Lt. Col. Allen Allensworth | Silverman Appointed to Monrovia's STAAR Surgical

~ Article on early Monrovian, Lt. Col. Allen Allen Allensworth. http://goo.gl/hFP3p0

~ Louis Silverman appointed to board of Monrovia's STAAR Surgical. STAAR designs, develops, manufactures and markets implantable lenses for the eye. http://goo.gl/nQc0Rk

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Marijuana; Drunk Driving and Fighting; Too Obvious Casing

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

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events. 

Possession of Marijuana for Sales – Suspect Arrested
On September 12 at 10:10 p.m., an officer observed a motorist speeding north on Madison and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Upon contacting the driver, the officer smelled marijuana in the vehicle and subsequently searched it. The officer located approximately 18 grams of marijuana packaged separately. The motorist explained that he was in possession of the marijuana because he was supposed to deliver it to his medical marijuana clients. The suspect was unable to show proof of legitimately operating a business and was arrested for possession of marijuana for sales. 

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
On September 13 at 3:46 p.m., a male and female subject got into an argument at a residence in the 500 block of East Foothill. The argument led to a physical altercation. The subjects are in a dating relationship and had been drinking. An officer arrived and determined the male suspect to be the primary aggressor in the incident; he was arrested and taken into custody. 

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
On September 13 at 11:04 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of South Madison regarding a suspicious vehicle parked in the roadway. Upon arrival, the officer found the vehicle parked in the opposing lane of traffic with two flat front tires. The driver was the sole occupant and was still in the driver's seat. The investigation revealed the driver had crashed into an unoccupied parked car and was under the influence of drugs while operating a motor vehicle. The driver was arrested. 

Suspicious Person / Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
On September 13 at 11:04 p.m., an officer responded to the 200 block of East Maple on the report of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, the officer located an intoxicated person inside of the reporting party’s vehicle without permission. The suspect was determined to be too intoxicated to care for his own safety and was arrested for public intoxication. The suspect was taken into custody and held for sobering. 

No-bail Warrants / Delaying an Officer – Suspect Arrested
On September 15 at 12:28 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Royal Oaks and Mountain when he saw a male subject riding a bicycle who appeared to be casing the neighborhood. The officer turned on his lights and siren, but the bicyclist attempted to flee by riding faster. The officer yelled at the subject to stop, but he kept riding as fast as he could for two blocks. The officer drove in front of the male, blocking his path and allowing the officer to apprehend him. A computer check revealed the subject had two no-bail warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody without further incident. 

Citrus College Officer Saves Woman's Life

Officer Todd Dickson receives Humanitarian Service Award from Glendora Community Coordinating Council President Robin Merkley.

Citrus College Campus Safety Officer Todd Dickson has been honored by the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees and the Glendora Community Coordinating Council for saving a woman trapped behind her airbag before her car was engulfed in flames at Foothill Boulevard and Citrus Avenue, near the west entrance of the Citrus College campus.

Dickson, a five-year Citrus, said, "I just did what I thought needed to be done." He added, "I saw the young lady, and I thought of the possibility that she may never see her family again."

Citrus College serves Monrovia.

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard



Sticky Fingers Fundraiser for Monrovia's Unity Center Auxiliary

Sticky fingers fundraiser for Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center Auxiliary will be held this Thursday, Sept. 18, from 5-10 p.m. at Robin's Wood Fired BBQ at 395 N. Rosemead in Pasadena. 10% of proceeds to the auxiliary.

- Brad Haugaard

Local Newspapers - Star-News & Tribune - Apparently Are For Sale

The daily newspapers, Pasadena Star-News and San Gabriel Valley Tribune, which circulate in and around Monrovia - may be up for sale as Digital First Media - which owns those papers and lots of others, is considering putting itself on the block, either to sell as a whole or in parts. http://goo.gl/38gm0Y

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Events: Free Movie Tonight | Senior Massage | Chili Cook-Off

~ Free family movie tonight at the Library, 6-7:45. For more info call (626) 256-8274. Hint: It's cool in the Library.

~ This Thursday, Sept. 18, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monrovia Providers Group will provide at-home seniors and their care partners a choice of mini-massages and mini-manicures, followed by lunch and raffle; $5 donation is requested. At Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm Ave. RSVP to Rebecca at (626) 256-8232.

~ This Saturday, Sept. 20, 6-9:30 p.m., Chili Cook-Off and Fundraiser for Monrovia Reads, at Monrovia Tennis Club, 158 N. Sunset. For information contact Diane Delmatoff (626) 303-6600.

Source: Coordinating Council calendar

- Brad Haugaard

Free Air Conditioning in Monrovia | Allensworth

If you'd like a bit of free air conditioning for the next days, due to the heat Monrovia is opening the Community Center (119 W Palm) today to 8 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Details here ( http://goo.gl/TfQAvN ) plus some hot-weather tips.

UPDATE: I dropped by at 5 p m. today and was told it was closing for the day, a bit earlier than advertised, so I went to the nice and cool Cherry On Top. 

~ Commemoration today of early Monrovia, Lt. Col. Allen Allensworth http://goo.gl/5CpgaJ

- Brad Haugaard

SCE Urges Care With Energy Use During Heat Wave

With blazing temperatures forecast for the Monrovia area during the next few days, Southern California Edison is asking people to conserve energy when they can, and particularly between 2-6 p.m. - the hours of peak energy use. This will lessen strains on power supplies and the possibility of outages.

The California Independent System Operator believes electricity consumption during the heat wave could exceed the summer's previous peak of 44,200 megawatts on July 30.

"We anticipate having an adequate supply of electricity," said Paul Grigaux, SCE's vice president of Transmission, Substations and Operations. "However, with more energy likely being used in the evenings, especially air conditioning, the extra demand can strain SCE's equipment when it's not given the opportunity to cool off."

Tips:

- Use electric fans instead of air conditioning when practical.

- Turn off unused appliances and equipment.

- Avoid using air-conditioner when evaporative coolers or humidifiers are running.

- Avoid using energy-intensive appliances during early morning or evening hours.

- Limit how often you open your refrigerator door.

Source: SCE press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Sends Out Drought Regulations Postcard


Just got this oversized postcard about drought regulations in the mail from the city. I guess we can't say we haven't been "officially notified" anymore. ;-)

- Brad Haugaard

Oliver Chi Resigns Barstow Position to be Monrovia City Manager

The Desert Dispatch is reporting that Oliver Chi has resigned his position as assistant city manager for Barstow to accept a position as Monrovia's city manager. http://goo.gl/jcIpTJ

- Brad Haugaard

Classic Old Car Show in Monrovia Today


Classic old cars on display along Myrtle on Old Town today. 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Merengue Bakery Closes for Move to Myrtle


Merengue Bakery has closed at its Colorado St. location and promises to reopen at its new location on Myrtle within two months under new management. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Over Arcadia

Monrovia beats Arcadia in football, 47-14. http://goo.gl/zH7EAQ

- Brad Haugaard

Neil Tadken Named Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church


On September 4, the Vestry of The Parish of St. Luke the Physician, Episcopal Church in Monrovia unanimously called the Rev. Neil A. Tadken, to serve as Rector, starting immediately.  A public institution and celebration of new mutual ministry led by the Right Reverend Mary Glasspool, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, will be held at the church on Sunday, October 19, at 3 p.m.

Born and raised in New York, the Rev. Tadken earned his Master of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont/Claremont School of Theology.  He holds a bachelor's degree from Occidental College and a Master of Fine Arts in Theater/Acting from Cornell University.

Fr. Neil discerned his priestly calling while an active parishioner at All Saint's Church in Pasadena.  Upon graduation from seminary, Neil worked as Program Director for ACTION: AIDS CareTeams in our Neighborhoods, an interfaith non-profit pastoral care ministry housed at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Laguna Beach.  Following his ordination, he served as Associate Rector for Pastoral Care at St. James' in the City, Los Angeles.  He joined St. Luke's as "Priest in Charge" in Aug. 2013.  He is married to Frank Slesinski, an interior designer.

Locally, the Rev. Tadken serves as treasurer for the Interfaith Council of Monrovia, as well as the Monrovia Ministerial Association.  He is also working with Foothill Unity Center and Rebuilding Together, as well as other non-profits, to help repurpose church and other local property to serve as "Seeds of Hope" community gardens that provide produce for need-based distribution and nutrition education.   Neil has served on the board of the Episcopal Urban Internship Program, the Bishop's commission for HIV and AIDS Ministries, and currently serves on the Program Group for GLBT Ministries for the Dioceses of Los Angeles.

Prior to ordination, the Rev. Tadken was a professional actor, director and founding member of the Basic Theater Co. in NYC.  Between 1994 and 2001, soap opera watchers may have seen him recurring as "Don McTavish" on ABC's General Hospital and Port Charles.  In 1993, he founded and directed a national AIDS education and outreach effort for television called "Day of Compassion," which became an annual event.   He was honored with a "Ribbon of Hope Award" from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1997 for that effort.

Source: St. Luke's press release

- Brad Haugaard

Missing Cat

Have you seen this Monrovia cat?

Lunch at Domenico's


Lunch at Domenico's, just east of Magnolia on Huntington. Old-style Italian, pasta, cheese and red sauce sort of place, but I got the Soup and Salad Combo for $8.99 (but I upgraded the salad to an antipasto, so it was actually $2.50 more) from the Lunch Specials menu, plus an iced tea ($2.75). Also came with garlic bread. Good and filling!
  
- Brad Haugaard

A Drought Helped Create Monrovia

The Monrovia Historic Preservation newsletter reports that it was a drought, something like we're having now, that resulted in the creation of Monrovia. The newsletter says that there was serious flooding from December 24, 1861 until January 17, 1862, but this was followed by almost two years of drought, the Great Drought, which forced cattle ranchers to sell land. At this time William Monroe and four other investors bought the land that would become Monrovia from Lucky Baldwin.

- Brad Haugaard

Historic Buildings in Monrovia

Pictures of 130 historic buildings (mostly homes) in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/TSZyeX

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council to Consider Oliver Chi as New City Manager

It appears Oliver Chi will be Monrovia's new city manager, effective October 13 of this year, if the City Council approves a proposed three-year appointment, with a base salary of $195,000 per year, at its Tuesday's (Sept. 16) city council meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/44bDln ).

The staff report ( http://goo.gl/7wg1CY ) does not give any background on Chi, and the only Oliver Chi I can locate is currently assistant city manager for Barstow. This Oliver Chi graduated with a BA in political science from USC and holds a master's degree in public administration from USC ( http://goo.gl/2KIZZa ), and was previously the city manager of Rosemead, but was let go by the city council there. The only information I can find on this particular Oliver Chi - again, not sure I have the right one - is kind of mixed, though these are not all news stories, but lean on the opinion side and are a bit dated. But here they are for what they are worth: http://goo.gl/fbJWNa , http://goo.gl/OUDygh , http://goo.gl/BNDHnN , http://goo.gl/uTqo7Z

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia/Arcadia Football Game

Family of Monrovia High football coach Chris Stevens are coming to town for the Arcadia game. They're Arcadia grads. Hmm. http://goo.gl/UagLDz

- Brad Haugaard