Dinner at Jake's Roadhouse

Dinner at Jake's Roadhouse on the east side of Myrtle south of Colorado. Got the half  full rack of baby back ribs for $18.95 $24.95 and a beer in a frosty mug for $4.99. Well! That was more than I expected. I couldn't finish half those ribs. A lot of meat on those ribs. Nice.

Update: Sorry for goofs. I planned to order the half rack and should have. Then I figured I was hungry enough for the full rack, but no way!

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Wins $50k in Sports Competition

Monrovian wins $50k at Kids Choice Sports competition. http://goo.gl/UTqZ41

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Man and Woman in Possible Murder-Suicide

Monrovia man and woman found dead in possible murder-suicide. http://goo.gl/Zd7dC9

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Acquaintance Gone, Car Gone; Driving Backwards Into Hydrant; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for  July 9-15. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 442 service events, resulting in 54 investigations.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 12:30 a.m., officers were in the area of Shamrock and Colorado when they heard a male and female arguing. The female was walking and the male was driving his vehicle next to her, yelling at her. The officers stopped the male subject in the vehicle and through investigation determined he was intoxicated. He was arrested for driving under the influence and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 8:20 a.m., an officer conducted a warrant service at a location in the 800 block of El Dorado. Per the authority of the warrant, the officer located and arrested the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody and held until his court appearance.

Grand Theft Auto
July 10 at 9:54 a.m., an officer responded to the 700 block of Foothill on the report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle stolen is a 2000, burgundy Saturn. The victim allowed an acquaintance to spend the night at his home. When he woke up the following morning, his vehicle and car keys were missing; the acquaintance was also gone. The investigation is continuing.

Welfare Check/Juvenile No-Bail Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 10:30 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Monrovista on the request for a welfare check of an unreported, missing female juvenile. Upon arrival, the female juvenile was located and returned to her father. A second juvenile at the location was discovered to have a no-bail warrant for his arrest. The officer arrested the juvenile and took him into custody for the warrant. The juvenile was later taken to Juvenile Hall for housing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 3:45 p.m., police responded to a family disturbance at a residence in the 1500 block of South Magnolia. A 16-year-old boy at the location called police and reported that his parents were arguing. The officer arrived and arrested the husband. The female subject had visible injuries to her face and arms. The suspect was held pending his court appearance date and an emergency protective order was issued.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 7:18 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of South Mountain on the report of a vehicle that was parked and appeared to be emitting smoke. Upon questioning, the subject admitted to running into a pole at a fast food restaurant. The investigation revealed the driver was intoxicated; he was arrested and held for sobering. The suspect was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Residential Burglary
July 10 at 11:47 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of West Hillcrest regarding a residential burglary. The resident left for several hours and returned to find her home ransacked. The unknown suspect(s) made entry through an unlocked side door. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
July 11 at 12:59 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of South Myrtle. Forced entry was made into the vehicle and a cell phone charger and battery pack were taken. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
July 11 at 1:25 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation. Investigation revealed the driver was intoxicated and he was arrested. The driver was found to have four prior convictions for DUI, which made this arrest a felony. The suspect was held until his court appearance.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 11 at 4:00 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of South Shamrock and observed a subject in the park sitting on a bench with a broken glass methamphetamine pipe on the ground in front of him. The subject denied knowledge of the broken pipe; however, he was found to be in possession of another methamphetamine pipe. The suspect was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Traffic Collision/Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
July 11 at 11:40 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a vehicle that was driving in reverse in the 200 block of North May and struck a power pole and a fire hydrant. An officer arrived and determined that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and held for sobering.

Theft Investigation
July 14 at 11:36 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation at Hillcrest and El Nido. The driver was found to be driving on a suspended license and his vehicle was stored. An inventory of the vehicle revealed rare coins, antique hobby trains and jewelry. The officer suspected the items were possibly taken in a burglary and held the property for observation. The officer also located a new cell phone within the property. Further investigation revealed the phone was stolen from a vehicle that was parked in a parking lot in Duarte. The phone had not been reported stolen yet. Also within the property were grocery store reward cards with a name on it. Officers are attempting to locate possible victims. The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Strong-arm Robbery
July 14 at 6:11 p.m., a male driver was making a right turn from Central onto Myrtle when he stopped for a male subject who was riding his skateboard in the crosswalk. When the driver stopped, he was approached by a male suspect, approximately 17-19 years old, who appeared to be a friend of the skateboarder, who was around the same age. The suspect told the driver he almost collided into his friend and demanded money from the driver.

The driver refused because he did not have any money in his possession. As he tried to drive away, the suspect reached into the vehicle and punched the driver in the face. The driver/victim fled the scene out of fear, believing he was being robbed. Officers searched for the suspect and the skateboarder, but were unable to locate them. This investigation is continuing.

Misdemeanor Hit and Run Traffic Collision
July 14 at 10:29 p.m., a witness reported a hit and run traffic collision that occurred in a business parking lot in the 400 block of West Duarte. The suspect vehicle was last seen heading eastbound on Duarte Road. Officers arrived in the area and located the victim. Through investigation, officers identified the suspect, a known gang member. An area search near his parent’s home resulted in the recovery of the suspect’s vehicle; however, the suspect was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 15 at 8:33 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of California regarding a fight in progress. Two subjects possibly involved, a male and female, were possibly fighting two other subjects. They were located near the intersection of Canyon and Walnut; however, they were uncooperative with officers. Officers were unable to locate anyone else involved and were unable to determine if a crime had occurred. After officers cleared the scene, another fight in progress was reported at 9:05 a.m., near the intersection of California and Huntington. Officers arrived and detained the same two subjects from the earlier incident. Again, the subjects were uncooperative, and no crime could be established. A computer check revealed the male subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and taken into custody. The female subject was released at the scene after being issued a citation for a traffic violation.

Monrovia Assembly Member's Car Buying Bill Approved by Legislature

The legislature has given final approval to a bill by Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, to require "Buy Here, Pay Here" car dealerships to provide a 5 to 10-day notification period before a remote kill device can be used to disable a car for lack of payment. Currently the law requires a two-day notification. The bill now goes to Governor Brown.

Drive-In At Monrovia Library

Drive-in theater for kids at Monrovia Library. http://goo.gl/ie94Yb

Driver Hit in Face in Attempted Robbery

Man punched in attempted robbery in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/Tfuzxn

- Brad Haugaard

A Chance of Rain for Monrovia This Weekend

50% chance of "scattered thundershowers" this Saturday, and 40% chance of rain on Sunday. http://goo.gl/VnR5SB

- Brad Haugaard

Video Intro to 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' at Monrovia High

A video description of the upcoming play, Thoroughly Modern Millie, July 16-19. https://goo.gl/n2zxiU

Have Dinner With a Monrovia Police Officer

Monrovia residents are invited to Library Park for a night of free food, music and unity from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4. Meet Monrovia Police officers, share a meal and ask those questions you have always wanted to ask a police officer.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia May Limit Truck Weight | Seat for City on Board of LabLaunch? | Etc.

In his latest weekly report ( http://goo.gl/MwOjki ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ The city's Traffic Safety Committee is considering a modification to the city's truck route ordinance to limit trucks entering the 210 freeway from Myrtle to 14,000 pounds.

~ Korva Labs (www.korvalabs.com) and Drywired, LLC (www.drywired.com) have moved into the new LabLaunch science / technology incubator facility at 605 East Huntington, and more companies are scheduled to move in during the coming months. Chi said that the city has "discussed the possibility of the City being provided with a seat on the LabLaunch Monrovia Board of Directors to ensure that the City's interests are well represented as the overall biotech / science / technology platform continues to grow.

~ The city is tentatively planning a joint meeting between the Monrovia City Council and the Monrovia Unified School District on August 17 at 5 p.m. Location not announced yet.

~ The new Foothill Gold Line Operations Campus got its first resident train car, or "light rail vehicle" (LRV). Chi writes: "The vehicle was very large and was delivered using an oversized-load trucking service. This is the first of many similar deliveries that will be taking place over the next year and a half."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Providers Group Honors Brenda Shorkend

The Monrovia Providers Group awarded its annual Joel Olsen Award, honoring the member with the best volunteer record, to Brenda Shorkend of Shorkend Care Management. Also, bakery owner Becky Rivanis of Rivanis Baking Company, was presented with an appreciation award for her support of MPG's Care Cafe events.

MPG is a non-profit organization of community agencies and private resources that help provide reliable, local services to area seniors. All donations are used to assist seniors with age-related issues; educate them about opportunities; and provide supportive activities and emergency grants to those in need.

- Brad Haugaard

Portantino Running For State Senate in Monrovia's District

Anthony Portantino, who formerly represented Monrovia in the state Assembly, is now running for the State Senate to represent the 25th State Senate district, which runs from Sunland-Tujunga in the west to Upland in the east and includes Monrovia. Today he announced an endorsement by State Controller Betty Yee. Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's LeRoy's Makes Diner List

Monrovia's LeRoy's Diner makes the list in LA Eater.com's "13 Super Cheap Diners You've Never Heard of In LA." http://goo.gl/ggoSxC

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Adult Leadership | Montaigne

~ Monrovia Area Partnership is putting on an Adult Leadership Academy on Thursdays at 7-9 p.m. from September 10 through October 22 at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W Palm.. Training on how to network with existing city resources to improve neighborhoods. Sign up here: http://goo.gl/xbFHT1

~ The J*Fed Players, under the umbrella of the Monrovia-based Jewish Federation, will present "Montaigne," a new musical by Joseph Charney. On the surface, Montaigne is a glimpse into modern high school life, but at a deeper level it is about how we communicate with each other and discover who we are. At the First Church of the Nazarene (3700 Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena) on Saturday, August 1 at 8 p.m., Thursday, August 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets at www.jewishsgpv.org/forms

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Summer Art Walk July 25

Scene from a previous Summer Art Walk

Summer Art Walk, Saturday, July 25 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the 400 Block of S. Myrtle, in Old Town Monrovia. There will be local MAFA artists (painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry designers, ceramic artists) plus art demonstrations and local musicians. A gallery reception with refreshments at Paint 'n' Play Studio, 418 S. Myrtle. The gallery will showcase art from Duarte Youth & the Arts Program, a pilot crime prevention program for 3rd to 12th grade youth, co-sponsored by the California Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP), MAFA and Paint 'n' Play Studio.

Empty Bowls Monrovia will be selling the more than 40 handmade ceramic bowls left over from its June fundraiser for $10 each. All proceeds are donated to Foothill Unity Center, which also received more than $6,000 from the June event. Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement to end hunger through ceramics: emptybowlsmonrovia.wix.com/2014
 
- Brad Haugaard

Bill Shieff Takes Over As Head of Monrovia Rotary

Bill Shieff, a long time Rotarian, resident of Monrovia, and Chairman of Move Monrovia, took over the helm of the Monrovia Rotary Club, succeeding outgoing president Bryan Earll of Apex Fasteners, in a custom of yearly leadership turnover practiced in Rotary Clubs around the world.

Shieff, in his introductory remarks, reaffirmed that a top priority of the club will be to offer services and programs to the children and teens of Monrovia including sending high school students to Rotary Youth Leadership Camp (RYLA), sending eighth graders to Teen Leadership Camp (TLC), a continuation and expansion of the clubs Santa Clothes program providing school clothes to needy students, and ongoing support of the Interact Club and Robotics program at Monrovia High School as well as many more. Shieff also commented on the clubs renewed partnership with Monrovia Adult School to provide Vocational Scholarships.

Mr. Shieff and his wife Sue are parents of two and grandparents of six. They enjoy travel, music, and fine food. Bill is an avid road cyclist, motorcyclist, licensed pilot and continuing education and technology enthusiast. He is a Vietnam Veteran with an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy.

In his business career, he was the President/CEO of Randolph Shieff & Associates, Inc. which provided domestic and international clients with contract manufacturing services.

The Monrovia Rotary Club welcomes visitors to its meetings and actively seeks service minded individuals to join its membership. The club meets Tuesdays at noon at the Monrovian Restaurant on Myrtle Avenue, in the upstairs banquet room. More information can be found at www.monroviarotaryclub.com

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Max's Mexican Cuisine

Dinner recently at Max's Mexican Cuisine, across the street from Target, on Huntington. Yes, that's still Monrovia. Got an Enchilada Suiza and Chili Relleno combo for $9.45 and a 22-oz beer for $7. I've never been disappointed at Max's, and I wasn't this time either. It was very good. Also, cheerful quick service and I love their good-bye: "See you tomorrow."

- Brad Haugaard 

Scaffolding Finally Down on New Commercial Building

Not quite done yet, but the commercial building across from the Library on Myrtle is looking good now that the scaffolding and fencing is finally down. http://goo.gl/ZXOMjA

Monrovia School Board: Textbooks and Budget

At its July 15 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/upf8DX ), the Monrovia School Board will consider ...

~ Adopting a math textbook and submitting an art textbook for public review.

~ Approving a revised 2015-16 budget. http://goo.gl/OGxp7X

- Brad Haugaard