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Fountain to the Falls: They're Off!


Runners head up Myrtle moments after the start of the Fountain to the Falls race today. the race goes from the fountain at Library Park, up to the waterfall in Monrovia Canyon Park, and back.

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia School Board: Video Game Design, Dual Immersion, Cheaper Website

At its next meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/D7AKmL ), the Monrovia School Board will, among other things, ...

- Consider offering courses in video game design and Spanish language and culture.

- Receive a report on its dual-language immersion programs. The report says Spanish-speaking students go from 90% Spanish-teaching in kindergarten to 50% in fifth grade. ( http://goo.gl/6mHWqt ) Comment: Hmmm. So... if by age five when they enter kindergarten the kids are speaking 100% Spanish, why can't they be speaking 100% English after another five years when they are in fifth grade?

- Consider going with a less expensive company to host its website. http://goo.gl/oLPUjp

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Sakura Sushi House


Had dinner last night at Sakura Sushi House, at the corner of foothill and May. Got the Monrovia Roll ($11.95) and a beer ($6.85). The roll had crab, shrimp, cucumber and salmon with a seaweed salad on the side. Very good! Completely exceeded my expectations. Never had seaweed salad but it was excellent, too. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia High Named Gold Ribbon School

School Board Member Alex Zucco reports that Monrovia High School has been named a California Gold Ribbon School. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced the winning schools: "These schools are academically successful, vibrant, and innovative centers of learning and teaching. They provide great examples of the things educators are doing right - embracing rigorous academic standards, providing excellence and creativity in teaching, and creating a positive school climate."

Comment: Congratulations, MHS!

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Wrong-Way Cyclist; BB Guns; DUIs; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 4-6. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 414 service events, resulting in 82 investigations.

Traffic Collision/Vehicle vs. Bicyclist
May 5 at 8:57 a.m., a bicyclist was traveling southbound on the wrong side of the road on California and was struck by a vehicle traveling on Central as they both entered the intersection. The vehicle was traveling at a slow speed, so the cyclist sustained only minor injuries and was treated by Monrovia Fire Department paramedics.

72 Hour Mental Evaluation
May 5 at 8:35 p.m., officers responded to a fight in progress at a business in the 100 block of West Foothill. A male subject and his girlfriend were getting coffee at the business, when a male suspect started yelling at the girlfriend and hitting the male subject for no reason. Police have had previous contact with the suspect for prior mental issues. The victim was not injured and did not want prosecution. The suspect was taken to a hospital, where he was held for a 72-hour mental evaluation.

Driving Under the Influence/Hit and Run Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
May 6 at 12:13 a.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a speeding vehicle in the area of Huntington and Magnolia. Officers responded and were searching the area for the vehicle, when dispatch received a second call from a witness, stating the vehicle had crashed into a church parking lot wall in the 500 block of West Lemon. Officers responded to that location, but the vehicle was gone.

The Foothill Air Support helicopter responded to assist in the search for the vehicle. Officers located the vehicle in a business parking lot on Foothill, and the driver had gone inside a store. There was collision damage found on the vehicle from the church wall. The suspect was positively identified as the driver by a witness and was determined to be driving under the influence. The suspect was arrested for DUI and hit and run.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 6 at 2:13 p.m., police received a call reporting a male subject digging through a trash dumpster at a park in the 800 block of East Olive and it appeared as if he had two rifles in a blue trash bag on the ground next to him. Officers responded and determined the rifles were actually BB guns, and the subject said they were not his. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested for the warrant and the BB guns were taken and held for safe keeping until the owner can be found.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 6 at 11:06 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 100 block of West Duarte Road regarding an injury traffic collision. The investigation revealed that the 20-year-old driver was intoxicated and had collided into the center median that is under construction. A section of the center median curb sustained damage and will need to be replaced. The driver was not injured, but was arrested for driving under the influence and held for sobering. 

Duarte Ralph's Closing | 80% Chance of Rain Friday

~ Some of you may shop at the Ralphs in Duarte. Well, it's closing in July. http://goo.gl/oWR1Xc

~ Hmm. 80% chance of rain Friday. 40% today. http://goo.gl/s1kSj4

- Brad Haugaard

Water Still Flowing Down Myrtle

A correspondent who mentioned this problem earlier says it is still going on. He writes that the pictures below, taken this morning, show water coming from the Jack In The Box shopping area at the corner of Duarte Road and Myrtle Ave (first picture). Some of it then flows along Duarte Road (second picture), and some down Myrtle "past Spanner on Myrtle as far as I can see" (third picture). He said he has been sending similar pictures to the city for years and that "if the city expects the residents to meet their savings goal of 28%, it should start with the larger businesses that are wasting thousands of gallons a day. What does it take to get this to stop?"

- Brad Haugaard




Coming Up in Monrovia

~ May 7, Thursday, Monrovia Ministerial Association and Monrovia Interfaith Council to meet at the City Hall flagpole at noon in honor of National Day of Prayer. Public welcome.

~ May 9, Saturday, National Letter Carriers Food Drive. Letter carriers will pick up packaged food you leave at your mailbox.

~ May 9, Saturday, Monrovia Firefighters Annual Pancake Breakfast Fire Station 101, 141 E Lemon Ave in Old Town; Jr. Firefighter challenge, raffles, displays, bounce house, demonstrations. Tickets at event. Kids under 3 eat free. For more info call 256-8181.

~ May 9, Saturday, Taylor Performing Arts Center at Monrovia High presents Broadway Star and Tony nominee Susan Egan in her award-winning one woman show "The Belle of Broadway." One performance only. MHS music and drama students will perform in several ensemble numbers. 7 pm. Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com

~ May 14, Thursday - The Taylor Performing Arts Center at Monrovia High presents "Superstars of Music" with more than 600 vocal and instrumental Monrovia music students. 6:30 p.m., tickets available at the door. Proceeds benefit MUSD's vocal and instrumental music programs.

~ Friday, May 15 - Saturday May 16 - Friends of the Monrovia Public Library Spring Book Sale at the library, noon-5pm; Saturday 10am-5pm. $5 Bag Clearance Sale on Saturday from 4-5pm.

~ May 16, Saturday - Monrovia Historic Preservation Group's inaugural Walking Tour of historic Downtown Monrovia. Meet at the SW corner of Palm and Myrtle Avenues at 10 am. Cost is $5 per person (12 and under free) and reservations are required. Go to the Online Store at www.mohpg.org to reserve a space.

~ May 16, Saturday - Monrovia Days "Myrtle Madness", featuring live entertainment, games, booths, music, family fun. Library Park 8 am - 3 pm. $7 Pancakes in the morning and BBQ in the afternoon. Information at www.centrestageinc.com or call Keely Milliken at 297-4758

~ May 17, Sunday - Second Annual Monrovia Days Music Festival, Library Park. The Whistling Diva, The Delgado Brothers, Raggae Rock, acoustic musicians and more. Vendors, food trucks, kids activities, SPCA Adoptions. For more information contact Carole Kaufman at www.whistlingdiva.com

~ July 4 The City of Monrovia's 4th of July Concert & Fireworks Show. Entertainment will begin at 3 pm with recorded music, followed by a live band playing from 7 - 8:30 pm The fireworks show is free and is scheduled to begin at 9 pm and will last approximately 20 minutes. http://goo.gl/z5Vm3N

~ Thursday, July 16 - Sunday July 19 - The Taylor Performing Arts Center at Monrovia High presents it's 5th professional Production for the community "Thoroughly Modern Millie". Thursday 8 pm; Friday 8 pm; Saturday 2 and 8 pm and Sunday 4 pm.

Source: Calendar thanks to Becky Shevlin

- Brad Haugaard

Breweries to Monrovia? | Biotech Incubator Coming | Be a Commissioner | No Cell Phone Tower?

In his weekly report, City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

- The city has been approached by two separate beer/wine brewery operations that expressed an interest in purchasing one of our Hamby Park units. Where, you may ask is Hamby Park? Had to look it up myself. It is the industrial area around Myrtle and Duarte.

- A new biotech incubator company called Lab Launch Monrovia is leasing approximately 11,000 square feet of research space at 605 E. Huntington, hopefully opening its doors by July 15. (An incubator helps young companies get off the ground.) Also, the city is talking with Oak Crest Institute of Science to develop a similar program, but one that would help even smaller companies get started.

- If you want to serve on the the Community Services Commission, deadline to apply has been extended to May 15. Send a note to City Clerk Alice Atkins for more info: aatkins@ci.monrovia.ca.us

- Apparently there will be no cell phone tower at the reservoir where Ridgeside Drive runs into North Canyon Blvd. Chi said residents "vehemently" oppose the tower.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Department to Honor Eleven Employees

The Monrovia Police Department will be recognizing the accomplishments of eleven of its employees on Thursday, May 7, at 5 p.m. in the City of Monrovia Council Chambers. The eleven recipients will be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for their exceptional work, their dedication to the Monrovia Police Department and their commitment to the community of Monrovia.

The Honorees are:

Distinguished Service Medal
Sergeant Tom Loy
Detective Sarah Bushmeyer
Detective Wendie Contreras
Detective Chad Harvey
Detective Stewart Levin
Detective Kevin Oberon
Detective Robert Van
Officer Damien Bartholomy
Officer Steven Bracci
Officer Jose Pacheco

Officer of the Year
Agent Richard Schneider

Source: Monrovia Police Department

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Train Maintenance Yard Open House May 23

On May 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., there will be a community open house and tour of the new $265-million Monrovia train maintenance yard, which is being completed ahead of schedule. The 24-acre yard is located just south of the 210 Freeway and just west of Home Depot. Entrance is off California Ave.

Adams Now New Monrovia Mayor; Crudgington Joins Council

Tonight Tom Adams became mayor of Monrovia and Gloria Crudgington became the newest city council member. Former mayor Mary Ann Lutz stepped down. While the campaign between Adams and Lutz was a bit testy at times, tonight everybody was polite. Adams complimented Lutz, saying, "What you did for Monrovia can't be replicated by anyone," and Lutz said that while she was "profoundly saddened" that she will not be part of the city leadership, she wished the new mayor her best.

In his opening remarks as mayor, Adams announced one substantive change and one superficial one. Substantive: He said he thinks council members could better learn how the city is governed if they switch committee assignments every year rather than every two years. Superficial: He said that while he will attempt to be "presentable," he doesn't much like ties and doesn't plan to start wearing one just because he's now sitting in the mayor's chair.

Comment: It's hard to be gracious when you've just lost, but Mary Ann was gracious. Good for her.

- Brad Haugaard

Antonovich Honors Monrovia Soccer Team | Holden Human Rights Bill

~ LA County Board of Supervisors Mayor Michael Antonovich honors the Monrovia High boys soccer team for winning the Division 6 CIF Championship Title. http://goo.gl/PVWpa3

~ A bill by Monrovia's assembly member, Chris Holden, to extend from two years to 10 years the statute of limitations on human rights abuses, has been unanimously approved by an Assembly committee and will now go before the full Assembly. Holden's office says AB 15 would will bring California law into line with federal regulations for filing civil lawsuits based on acts of genocide, torture, war crimes and human trafficking.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovians Help Foothill Unity Center Celebrate 35 Years

Monrovia City Council member Becky Shevlin and former Mayor Mary Ann Lutz helped Friends of Foothill Unity Center celebrate its 35th birthday on Saturday evening. Proceeds from the party go to support the Center's "wide range of programs helping the most vulnerable children, individuals and families across eleven San Gabriel Valley cities. During the past five years, the number of families coming to the Center for help has more than tripled.  Last year the organization provided over 75,000 critical services to 4,994 low-income families (10,288 persons)." Photo courtesy of PasadenaNow.com

- Brad Haugaard

Rain This Week in Monrovia?

50% chance of rain in Monrovia on Friday. And 20% Thursday. http://goo.gl/BlsjsU

Update: Phooey! Down to 20%

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Scoby to Play for Azusa Pacific | Xencor Reports Revenue Down

~ Former Monrovia High football star, Kurt Scoby, is moving back from Fresno State to join Azusa Pacific. http://goo.gl/scwYt9

~ Monrovia's Xencor reports that, "Revenues for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 were $1.5 million, compared to $2.2 million in the same period of 2014."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Bear in the Kitchen; IRS Scam; Not His Van; Texting to Punching; Dueling Videos; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 30 - May 3. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Fraud/Elder Fiduciary Abuse
April 30 at 9:52 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a bank in the 200 block of South Myrtle regarding fraud and elder fiduciary abuse. An elderly couple received a fraudulent scam call from the 209 area code. The caller claimed to be the IRS and demanded taxes due. The husband attempted to call the IRS, but could not reach anyone to get verification. In fear of getting in trouble, he went to the bank to withdraw money to send to the suspects. While the husband was on his way to the bank, the wife contacted the Monrovia Police Department and asked for police intervention. An officer arrived just as the husband was exiting the bank and was able to advise him he was being defrauded. He redeposited the $4,000, and while the officer was still with the victim, the suspect called again. The officer answered the phone and attempted a ruse to get the suspect to advise on where to send the money; however, he would only talk to the victim. There was no loss, but the emotional impact on this elderly couple was significant. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
April 30 at 1:46 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of South Violet called police after a resident moved out of an apartment, leaving behind what everyone thought was his van. They contacted him, and he said the van was not his. He thought it belonged to another resident. A computer check of the van revealed it was a stolen vehicle taken from Arcadia back in 2013. All of the residents had assumed the van belonged to someone in the apartment complex, so they had not called police to report it. The vehicle was recovered.

Vandalism/Battery
April 30 at 3:21 p.m., an officer responded to the corner of Central and Myrtle regarding a vandalism and battery incident. A driver was sitting at a green light, texting in his SUV. The driver of a large cement truck in back of him honked at him to go, and the impeding driver held up his middle finger at the truck driver. The truck driver exited his vehicle, and at some point, the cement truck driver was punched in the mouth by the SUV driver. The cement truck driver then smashed the windows of the SUV. The order of events could not be determined and there were no independent witnesses. Statements and pictures were taken and a verified complaint report for the appropriate violations will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 30 at 9:20 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 400 block of South Myrtle on the report of a suspicious person in area. After contacting the subject, the officer discovered the subject had an outstanding warrant issued by the Long Beach Police Department. The suspect was arrested for the warrant.

Bear Incident
May 1 at 3:39 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of North Canyon was upstairs and heard noises downstairs. He went down and saw a bear in his kitchen. He was able to get out of the house and call police. The Fish and Wildlife Warden was notified and began to respond. Officers arrived first and observed the bear coming out of the house. No tags were observed on the bear and it was persuaded back into the foothills without further incident.

Stolen Vehicle
May 2 at 9:28 a.m., a stolen vehicle was reported in the 300 block of Highland. The vehicle stolen is a silver, 2007, Toyota Tacoma, pickup truck. The vehicle was stolen between 2:00 and 9:30 a.m. There was no sign of forced entry. The investigation is continuing

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
May 2 at 10:08 p.m., a hit and run traffic collision occurred in the 200 block of North Myrtle. The suspect vehicle was a black Audi. The vehicle side swiped two parked cars. Witnesses saw the car heading west on Foothill after the collision and wrote down the license plate number. Upon investigation, the registered owner was contacted and said he had let a friend borrow his car. The officer arranged to speak to the friend, who eventually admitted to being involved in the collision and said he was unfamiliar with the vehicle, a stick shift, and he lost control of the car. A verified complaint was filed with the District Attorney’s Office for vehicle hit and run charges.

Stolen Vehicle
May 2 at 10:32 a.m., dispatch received a call reporting a stolen vehicle in the 100 block of North Myrtle. The vehicle stolen is a white, 2005 Ford Escape. The vehicle was locked and there was no sign of forced entry. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle
May 2 at 11:13 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1600 block of South Mountain regarding a stolen vehicle. The vehicle stolen is a white, 1985, Toyota, pickup truck. The vehicle was stolen between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. There was no sign of forced entry. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
May 3 at 6:21 a.m., an officer responded to the area of 605 Freeway at Lower Azusa Road regarding a domestic violence incident. Officers from Irwindale Police Department had stopped a vehicle on the freeway, and the two subjects in the vehicle were arguing. The driver had bruising and swelling to her eye. She said she was punched in the face by her female partner, who was the other subject in the vehicle. The incident occurred in the 100 block of West Cherry in Monrovia. A Monrovia officer arrived and confirmed that domestic violence did in fact occur in Monrovia's jurisdiction. He arrested the suspect and took her into custody.

Petty Theft From Vehicles
May 3 at 7:30 a.m., dispatch received a call reporting several vehicles parked in the 500 block of Fano Street with there doors open and no one in the vehicles. Officers arrived and located four vehicles that appeared ransacked and burglarized. After speaking with the registered owners of the vehicles, it was determined that all of the vehicles had been left unlocked and various items were stolen from the vehicles. The investigation is continuing.

Battery – Suspects Arrested
May 3 at 2:34 p.m., dispatch received a call from a business in the 300 block of West Huntington. The employee reported that two male adult subjects came into the store and were arguing with the female manager of the store. The subjects decided to leave the store, and the female manager followed them out of the store and continued to argue with one of them outside of the store. Once outside, the male subject removed his phone and began to video tape the manager. She became more upset and slapped his phone out of his hand. She then removed her phone and began to video tape him. He then slapped her phone out of her hand and she responded by pepper spraying him. Both subjects desired prosecution. Both subjects were arrested and received a citation to appear in court on battery charges.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
May 3 at 3:21 p.m., a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called police to report a male subject that had stolen items from inside the store. The loss prevention officer was chasing the subject through the parking lot. Police were given a suspect description and responded to the area. The suspect was located and detained near the corner of Huntington and Mayflower. The suspect was arrested and received a citation to appear in court on burglary charges.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 3 at 5:13 p.m., officers responded to the area of Stedman and Greystone regarding a traffic collision. A driver struck a parked car and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then rolled, landed on its hood and slid to a stop. Both occupants, mother and teenage son, exited the vehicle on their own and sustained only minor injuries. Alcohol was not a factor in the collision. Officers responded quickly and controlled the scene.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
May 4 at 1:05 a.m., a possible drunk driver was reported exiting the 210 Freeway at Mountain. An officer in the area of Foothill and Alta Vista saw the driver swerving in the roadway and stopped the vehicle for further investigation. The driver was determined to be driving under the influence. The subject was arrested and held for sobering.

Details on Safety on Mayflower Campus | Monrovia Olympian Interview

~ The concern about safety at Mayflower School, mentioned earlier, is apparently that children are not always under teacher supervision and people - and animals - can walk onto the campus. This parent describes on video her concerns at the latest school board meeting: http://goo.gl/jcxsVo

~ An interview with Monrovia Olympic medalist Kim Rhode. http://goo.gl/agYokj

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council Change | Antique Mart | Online Education Session

~ Changing of the guard at the Monrovia City Council meeting this Tuesday. Not much else. http://goo.gl/iP1YQL

~ There will be an antique market at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Ave. in Monrovia on Saturday, May 9, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church parking lot. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the church building fund.

~ There will be a free information session for parents about California Connections Academy @ Capistrano, a tuition-free K-12 online public school authorized under state law by the Capistrano Unified School District, on Thursday, May 28, at 6:30-8 p.m. at the Monrovia Courtyard Marriott, 700 W. Huntington. Meet an Academy teacher, explore program and curriculum, and enrollment process. More information: 1-800-382-6010 or http://www.connectionsacademy.com

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Claim Jumper


Dinner recently at Claim Jumper, on Huntington. Got the rotisserie chicken ($16.99) with a side of chicken tortilla soup and a side of, ahem, fried mac and cheese (I was feeling adventurous). Plus a 22-oz. beer ($8.25). Chicken good, soup, great. Fried mac and cheese? Well, I think that's more of a kid dish.

- Brad Haugaard