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MonroviaNow Candidate Election Statements

As soon as the filing period ended for those wishing to run for the office of mayor or city council for Monrovia, I sent an invitation to each candidate offering space in MonroviaNow.com to make a campaign statement. (If you are a candidate and didn't get an invitation, check your email.)

Requirements were that they could use up to 300 words, could include one picture and the statement needed to be submitted by Monday, February 16 at the latest. I do not plan to edit the statements at all and intend to publish them in the order I receive them, then, later in the campaign I plan to post a list of links to all the candidates' statements, so they'll be easy to compare.

So, keep an eye out, the first one is coming up today.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Gold Line Yard | Historical Museum to Honor Abolitionists

~ Story on nearly-completed Gold Line Maintenance Yard. http://goo.gl/kMpILN

~ Monrovia Historical Museum will honor abolitionists during Black History Month. http://goo.gl/fkGdrm

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Stereo Stolen from Vehicle; Helping US Marshals

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 19-21. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 359 service events, resulting in 67 investigations.

Theft from a vehicle
January 19 at 6:54 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 100 block of El Nido regarding the theft of a stereo from a vehicle. The victim parked his vehicle overnight on the street with the doors unlocked and the windows down. The victim returned to his vehicle in the morning and discovered his car stereo had been ripped out of the dashboard. The investigation is continuing.

Outside Assist – United States Marshals
January 21 at 3:25 p.m., United States Marshals had information that a wanted fraud suspect was at a location in the 600 block of South Primrose in Monrovia. They notified the Monrovia Police Department and requested assistance. Officers and Monrovia’s Special Enforcement Team responded to assist. The suspect was found at the location and taken into custody by U.S. Marshals.

Monrovia Workout Trainer on TV Friday

Trainer Marisa Inda, who works at Monrovia's Foothill Gym, will appear this Friday as a guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show, 4-5 p.m. Channel 4. Here she is turning pull-ups into sort of a dance routine. Cool: http://goo.gl/xK8vbo

- Brad Haugaard

Candidates for Monrovia Mayor, City Council

The filing period to run for the Monrovia City Council and Monrovia City Council closed at 6 p.m. today. Here are the qualified candidates in the order I received them from City Clerk Alice Atkins. ("Qualified" means their nomination papers had at least 20 signatures from eligible registered Monrovia voters who reside in the city, as verified by the City Clerk). They will be voted on at the April 14 general municipal election:

Mayor
Leonard Holen
Mary Ann Lutz
Tom Adams

Council
Scott Austin
Clifford DeCosta
Becky A. Shevlin
Stephen Grollnek
Jordan Kittleson
Gloria Crudgington
Robert C.J. Parry
Chris Ziegler
Tom Gulley

Soon I plan to offer all the candidates space in MonroviaNow to introduce themselves.

- Brad Haugaard

African-American History at Monrovia Historical Museum

African-American history celebration at Monrovia Historical Museum on Feb. 8, from 1-4 p.m. It's at 742 East Lemon, in Recreation Park.

Monrovia Council: Encinitas Historical District? | Wilderness Entrance Won't Be Forgotten

Tuesday night's Monrovia City Council meeting:

~ The Monrovia City Council wants to determine if the residents in the first couple blocks north of Foothill on Encinitas want to be part of an historical district. The issue came during an appeal to block the demolition of a house at 256 N. Encinitas. (The appeal was tabled until Feb. 17)

~ A Monrovia resident (me) said he was concerned that progress in opening the Cloverleaf entrance to the Hillside Wilderness area to hikers and bicyclists "could again slip between the cracks and be forgotten." City Manager Oliver Chi promised it would not slip between the cracks and said he hoped the issue would be resolved within the next several months. He said the city is contacting property owners to negotiate access to the trail.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Electronics Stolen; Husband Scares Wife by Walking Home; Tourist Bus Theft; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 15-18. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Commercial Burglary
January 15 at 11:03 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 2600 block of South Myrtle on the report of a commercial burglary. Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into two suites in an office building by forcing the doors open by unknown means. Upon entering, the suspect(s) took computers and electronic equipment from both locations. The suspect(s) then left undetected. The investigation is continuing.

Critical Missing Person Located
January 15 at 6:56 p.m., an adult female came into the police lobby to report her husband had walked away from her after an argument in the parking lot across from the police station. She was concerned, because her husband is a 67-year-old male with a severe case of Alzheimer’s. He had walked away 20 minutes earlier and had not returned.

Officers began an extensive area search, using all available resources: the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter, twitter notification sent, neighboring agencies phoned and notified by teletype, units were sent to the missing person’s home in San Gabriel, two teams of scent dogs were used, and local hospitals were contacted. At 10:00 p.m., no leads had developed. Police units continued searching and the wife went home to wait there.

At 1:59 a.m., the woman phoned and reported her husband had just arrived home. He had walked home from Monrovia to San Gabriel. San Gabriel Police Department officers and paramedics confirmed he was home and checked his condition.

Grand Theft from a Tourist Bus
January 17 at 3:46 p.m., police responded to a shopping center in the 500 block of West Huntington. Several tourists reported that someone had boarded their open and unlocked tourist bus, which was parked in the shopping center parking lot while all the tourists were off the bus and shopping for about an hour.

While the victims were shopping, an unknown suspect rummaged through the tourists’ personal belongings and took six cell phones, one laptop computer, and one passport. The driver was waiting in the driver's seat. It is possible that the driver had fallen asleep while the theft occurred. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
January 18 at 7:02 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a business parking lot in the 500 block of West Huntington. The victim had parked and went into a store in the shopping center. When he returned to his vehicle, he found the passenger side window had been shattered and personal items that were left in the vehicle had been taken. The investigation is continuing.

Monrovia Students Benefit from Citrus' Haugh Scholarship

201 Haugh Scholars

This fall 25 Citrus College freshmen from Monrovia began a mentoring program to facilitate their transition from high school to college, thanks to Judy Haugh, Citrus College alumna and daughter of the late Dr. Robert D. Haugh.

The Haugh Scholars Program honors Dr. Robert D. Haugh, Citrus College's third superintendent/president, who served the college from 1967-1981. Under his leadership, the present Citrus Community College District was established, enrollment and diversity increased, the college expanded its programs, and new facilities were built, including the performing arts center that bears Haugh’s name.

The Haugh Scholars Program is for Citrus College freshmen from Monrovia, where Dr. Haugh and his family were longtime residents. Throughout the semester-long program, the Haugh Scholars will attend seminars to facilitate communication and foster community. Seminars cover such topics as developing educational and career goals; applying for financial aid; accessing Citrus College’s educational resources; and transferring to a four-year institution.

Judy Haugh provided input into the structure of the program. She is a longtime community college educator who recently retired as articulation officer and associate professor of counseling for Riverside City College.

Source: Paula Green at Citrus College

- Brad Haugaard


Paradis Ice Cream Coming to Monrovia


On the west side of Myrtle south of Lime. There is another store in Montrose. Here are some pictures on their Facebook page of their ice creams. Look good! http://goo.gl/b3P6uY

- Brad Haugaard

Trader Joe's Murals By Monrovia Artist

Murals at Monrovia Trader Joe's store by Monrovia artist Bryan Hillberg. http://goo.gl/l2dxdd

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's World Vision Part of Ebola Vaccine Effort | Johnson to Cathedral

~ The Christian relief organization, World Vision, partly based in Monrovia, has been chosen to be part of a $250 million dollar initiative across several groups to help bring an Ebola vaccine solution to West Africa. http://goo.gl/s5U0jA

~ Monrovia High running back Kameron Johnson transferred to Cathedral High. http://goo.gl/0Il5lP

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Taisho Teriyaki Grill


Lunch at Taisho Teriyaki Grill, in the shopping center at the corner of Huntington and Fifth Avenue. Got the Combo Sushi Bowl with spicy tuna and salmon ($10.95) and a drink (1.65). Came with seaweed. Very good.
- Brad Haugaard

Free Gas in Monrovia Today?

In a Twitter posting, KIIS is offering free gas somewhere in Monrovia today. I can't figure out where. Anyone know? http://goo.gl/r8QqbE

UPDATE: I have a report that it is at the Shell station at the corner of Monterey and Huntington, 7-9 a.m. Up to $40 in free gas.

UPDATE 2: Apparently it is over now. I guess they were swamped quick.

- Brad Haugaard

Filming on 'The Other' Beginning in Monrovia | Extension to File to Run for Council

~ About 14 days of filming will begin Tuesday at 127 and 131 Highland for a feature film called "The Other." Diane Delmatoff of the Monrovia Community Development Department says: "It will be mostly interior shots. The neighborhood is going to be pretty impacted, so I'm not sure they would want any looky-loos."

~ Deadline for filing for those who want to run for Monrovia City Council extended. http://goo.gl/QknCnn

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Breathalyzer Ignition Switch Outfoxed; Stopping Attempted Suicide; Vehicle Burglary

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 12-14. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 395 service events, resulting in 67 investigations.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence of Drugs – Suspect Arrested
January 12 at 8:24 a.m., an officer on patrol discovered a collision that had just occurred between two vehicles at the intersection of Huntington and California. It was determined that one of the drivers was traveling east on Huntington and failed to stop for a red light. The vehicle struck another vehicle traveling north on California with a green light. The driver who failed to stop for the red light had a court ordered breathalyzer ignition starting machine in his vehicle from previous DUI convictions. He was determined to be driving under the influence of prescription narcotics that prohibit him from driving. He was arrested for driving under the influence.

Mental Evaluation
January 13 at 12:44 p.m., officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 700 block of South Myrtle regarding a female who was reported to be suicidal. When officers arrived, the female subject refused to open the door. Officers forced entry into the apartment to ensure the female subject was okay. Upon entering, they found her swallowing multiple methadone pills in an attempt to kill herself. They stopped her from swallowing the pills and cleared her mouth of the pills. Paramedics responded and took the female to a local hospital, where she was treated.

Vehicle Burglary
January 14 at 6:11 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of West Huntington Drive. The victim parked and locked her car, and then went into work. When she returned at the end of the day, the car was open. A gym bag and items from the glove compartment were missing. It is unknown how the suspect(s) gained entry into the car, as there was no sign of forced entry. The investigation is continuing.

Looking for Low-Income Home Buyers | Cookie Kick-Off | Monrovia Representative Introduces School Construction Bill

~ San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity is trying to find low-income first time home buyers who are living in poor or inadequate housing conditions and are willing to contribute 500 hours of sweat equity to build their home. Three of the nine homes in the planned Desiderio project are reserved for low-income veterans. Details: http://goo.gl/d1FCdN

~ Local Girl Scouts held a cookie kick-off rally at Holy Angels Church on Jan. 10. Cookies will be on sale until March 8. New cookies are "Rah Rah Raisin" (oatmeal with raisins and Greek yogurts chunks) and Toffee-tastic (gluten free crispy, buttery cookie with golden toffee bits). For more information: http://goo.gl/Fz5bxG .

~ Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, today introduced Assembly Bill 148 to offer an alternative solution to school construction funding. He said: "AB 148 will begin discussions about the future of school financing, which may include both bond financing or tax financing, and also streamline the state facilities program, currently a burdensome layer of bureaucracy." Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment May Build Drone in India

Monrovia dronemaker, AeroVironment, could begin building its military drone, Raven, in India. http://goo.gl/fKreQJ

- Brad Haugaard

Three Monrovia High Students Selected as Top CIF Talent

Top CIF football talent includes three Monrovia High students: Octavious Spencer, Tysean Brown, Anthony Marquez. http://goo.gl/mCzd9L

- Brad Haugaard

Giraffe Removed from Monrovia Condos

Giraffe statue in front of the Ivy At Monrovia Condominiums has been removed. Gem City Images has the before/after pictures: http://goo.gl/yXJN8U

- Brad Haugaard