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New Monrovia Water And Sewer Fees Start November

Look for a big jump in your water and sewer bill starting in November. Details: http://goo.gl/LrOUH0

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Price Tag Swap Scam; Drugs and Alcohol

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for October 22-25. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
October 22 at 3:20 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a shoplifter in custody. The suspect was seen removing price tags and placing lower-cost price tags on the items. He then attempted to purchase the items at the lower cost. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. He was later released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
October 23 at 7:20 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers were patrolling in the 200 block of East Duarte and contacted a subject. The subject was found to be in possession of a methamphetamine pipe. They arrested the suspect for the violation.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
October 23 at 9:19 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers were on patrol in the 700 block of East Olive when they contacted a subject who had two warrants out for his arrest. The suspect was arrested per the authority of the warrants and taken into custody.

Stolen Motorcycle
October 24 at 7:51 a.m., a resident called to report his motorcycle had been stolen from the 700 block of South Myrtle. The motorcycle is a 2016, red, Ducati. The theft occurred sometime between October 23 at 8:40 p.m. and October 24 at 7:30 a.m. The investigation is continuing.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
October 24 at 6:49 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of West Palm on the report of a fight in progress. Upon police arrival, the fight had stopped and some of the involved subjects were gone. One of the subjects remaining at the location was contacted and determined to be intoxicated to the point of not being able to care for his own safety. The subject was arrested and taken into custody for being drunk in public. He was held for sobering.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
October 24 at 10:01 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 200 block of West Foothill regarding a subject causing a disturbance. The subject was determined to be intoxicated to the point of not being able to care for his own safety. He was arrested and held for sobering.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
October 25 at 2:15 a.m., a driver was stopped heading south on Myrtle for traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver was determined to be intoxicated. The driver indicated he was drinking at a relative’s house prior to being stopped. He was arrested and taken into custody. He was held for sobering and later released on a citation to appear in court.

Felony Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
October 25 at 3:09 a.m., officers were dispatched to an injury traffic collision in the 100 block of East Evergreen. The investigation revealed one of the drivers was intoxicated and rear-ended the other vehicle, which was legally stopped and waiting for the signal light to turn green. The victim complained of pain to her neck. The victim was treated at the scene by Monrovia Fire Department paramedics and taken to a local hospital by ambulance. The intoxicated driver was arrested. He was held pending the court appearance date.

Residential Burglary
October 25 at 6:15 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of East Cherry regarding a residential burglary. The suspects entered the home by breaking a window. The loss appears to be money and jewelry. The investigation is continuing.

Man Killed, Woman Wounded in Unincorporated Monrovia

A man was killed and a pregnant woman was injured in a shooting in unincorporated Monrovia Sunday night. http://goo.gl/EjV5am

- Brad Haugaard

Wandering Monrovia Homes

You might think that once a house is build it pretty much stays put. Well, not always. The latest Monrovia Historic Preservation Group newsletter give several examples of traveling homes:

- The Tillapaugh House at 200 E. Lime once stood at 129 S. Primrose.

- The Luther Blair House, at 508 S. Ivy, was originally at the northwest corner of Ivy and Olive.

- The home at 224 S. Heliotrope was once at the SW corner of Heliotrope and Wildrose.

- The 1887 Victorian and Colonial Revival home at 240 W. Hillcrest Blvd. once stood on the southeast corner of Hillcrest and Magnolia.

- Mills View, at 329 Melrose Avenue, once faced Hillcrest Boulevard but was turned 90 degrees.

(Thanks to MOHPG - http://www.mohpg.org/ - for the information.)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Enrollment Up a Smidge


Enrollment at Monrovia Schools is a smidge above what was projected. https://goo.gl/XZ81C7

That and more at the next Monrovia School Board meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/VxwnY2 ), 7 p.m. Oct. 28.

- Brad Haugaard

See International Space Station Tonight

Jane Houston Jones, of Monrovia's Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers, says that, "tonight (Friday the 23rd), look up from 7 p.m. until 7:06 p.m. to see the International Space Station. The maximum altitude will be 59° above the horizon (90° is overhead) at 7:04 p.m. The Space Station will travel from the Northeast to the East-Southeast, disappearing into the shadow of the earth at 7:06 p.m."

- Brad Haugaard

Rep. Chu's Proposed National Recreation Area Would Overlap Into Monrovia


Red outlining shows where proposed National Recreation Area would overlap City of Monrovia boundaries. Click picture to enlarge.

The National Recreation Area, which Representative Judy Chu has again introduced into Congress, would overlay part of north Monrovia, including all of Monrovia Canyon Park and most or all of the Hillside Wilderness Area, as well as several residential streets.

In her press release (here: http://goo.gl/5ffDzt ) Representative Judy Chu, who represents the north edge of Monrovia, writes that:

"Establishing an NRA along the Foothills and San Gabriel River corridor would enhance conservation, increase access for all communities by connecting park poor areas to open space, and improve the management of the area through improved resources, education, and public engagement."

The Monrovia City Council opposed a previous version of her proposed National Recreation area, as it, too, would have overlayed part of the City of Monrovia.

A map of the proposed National Recreation area: https://goo.gl/xXAWnb

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Jake's Roadhouse

Had dinner last night at Jake's Roadhouse, on the east side of Myrtle just north of Olive. I got a Jalapeño Burger for $11.95 and a draft beer for $6.50. Tasty and quite filling. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Congresswoman Judy Chu Pushing to Expand National Monument Area in San Gabriel Mountains

Congresswoman Judy Chu, who represents Monrovia, has just announced on Twitter that:

"I'm about to introduce a bill to expand the San Gabriel National Monument and create a new National Recreation Area."

Chu had earlier pushed for the San Gabriel Mountains -including part of Monrovia - to be designated as a National Recreation Area. The Monrovia City Council opposed that measure and the proposal did not advance in Congress. Then, she asked President Obama to declare part of the San Gabriel Mountains to be a National Monument, an approach which did not require approval of Congress. Mr. Obama did that.

- Brad Haugaard

Name of Donor of Monrovia Library Park Fountain Repainted


An engraving on the center block on the left indicates that the covered fountain in Library Park was donated by the Farmers Club, and tiny bits of paint in the engraving indicated that it had been painted. Well, now it has been repainted so everyone can easily read the name of the donor. Photos courtesy of MOHPG: http://www.mohpg.org/

- Brad Haugaard

Tribune Endorses Montgomery for Citrus Board

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune is endorsing Joanne Montgomery to continue as the Monrovia-area representative on the Citrus College Board. http://goo.gl/w4A2wm

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Begins Service to Monrovia On March 5, 2016

The Gold Line will start operation on March 5, 2016, with service out to Azusa. http://goo.gl/41UPLC

- Brad Haugaard

Dia De Los Muertos Celebration

Dia de los Muertos celebration, 6 to 10 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, at Live Oak Memorial Park, at 200 East Duarte Road. http://goo.gl/omYJjw

- Brad Haugaard

Jewish Authors Speak at Monrovia Library

The Monrovia-based Jewish Federation's 17th Annual Jewish Book Festival continues with these Monrovia events:

- At the Monrovia Library Community room at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, Mary Morris will discuss her novel The Jazz Palace, the story of two Jewish families in the turbulent Chicago of the 1920s.

- Bestselling writer Shulem Deen, author of "All Who Go Do Not Return: A Memoir," will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Monrovia Library Community Room. Born into an insular Hasidic sect, Deen married at 18, fathered five children, and then one day turned on the radio – which led him to the library, and then the Internet. His faith unraveled. Deen has been called "the poet laureate of ex-Chasidism." Reservations are suggested.

The full calendar of events at www.jewishsgpv.org. For information, ticket reservations, or to request a brochure, call the Jewish Federation at 445-0810 or send an e-mail to federation@jewishsgpv.org. Reservations can also be made on line at jewishsgpv.org/event-tickets

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Burglary; Speeding Past Police Car; Drunkenness; Etc.

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

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 392 service events, resulting in 77 investigations.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
October 19 at 9:24 a.m., an officer on patrol contacted a suspicious subject in the 200 block of West Lemon Avenue. During the contact and identification of the subject, it was discovered that the subject had a warrant out for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
October 19 at 10:26 a.m., an officer on patrol contacted subjects at a park in the 300 block of South Myrtle Avenue and recognized several from prior contacts. A computer check of the subjects revealed one of them had a sizeable warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
October 19 at 12:43 p.m., officers responded to a burglary alarm activation in the 800 block of Crescent Drive. Officers arrived and established containment of the area. A male subject was seen in the area just prior to the call. Officers approached the location and saw a rear door had been pried open and there were fresh footprints leading up to the entry point. The home was cleared and no one was found inside. An extensive area search was conducted, but the suspect was not located. The owner responded and did not find anything missing. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
October 21 at 12:19 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Huntington and California when he saw a speeding vehicle traveling east on Huntington pass his vehicle, almost colliding into it. The officer stopped the vehicle for the speeding violation at Huntington and Mountain. While speaking with the 21-year-old male driver, the officer determined he had been drinking. Field sobriety tests were conducted, and the driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was taken into custody and held for sobering.

Suspended Driver’s License/Warrants – Suspect Arrested
October 21 at 12:29 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 3100 block of South Peck Road. A computer check revealed the driver had a suspended driver’s license and two warrants for his arrest. The driver was cited for his traffic violations and arrested for the warrants. The driver was taken into custody and later released to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Temple Station on the warrants.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
October 21 at 7:00 a.m., an unoccupied stolen vehicle was located by an officer on patrol in the 600 block of West Palm Avenue. The vehicle had been stolen out of Rancho Cucamonga and abandoned at the location.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
October 22 at 3:16 a.m., officers responded to the report of a male and female arguing in front of an apartment complex in the 800 block of West Duarte Road. When they arrived, they located the subjects on the sidewalk. The male subject was intoxicated and determined to be too drunk to care for his own safety. He was arrested and held for sobering.

Monrovia's Mt Sierra College Will Participate in Global Game Jam

Mt Sierra College will participate in the worldwide Global Game Jam, which gives has participants develop, design and test a game over a 48-hour period. http://goo.gl/G8FKfa

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Looking For Car-Fix Scammer

Monrovia Police looking for a man who would disable cars belonging to seniors, then "fix" them and demand payment. Photo of suspect here: http://goo.gl/DJmAOA

- Brad Haugaard

Metro Opening Day Announcement Tomorrow; Left Turns Blocked; New Traffic Signal

From City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly report ( http://goo.gl/DV0Bfh ):

- Metro will announce the opening date for the Metro Gold Line tomorrow, Oct. 22.

- The City has installed a "No Left Turn" sign for westbound traffic on Hillcrest Boulevard at El Nido Avenue because of "concerns that were raised by neighbors." Comment: Uh. If you block westbound traffic from turning south on El Nido doesn't that just mean there will be more traffic turning south on Sunset, McKinley, Garfield, Madison, Lincoln and 5th? It seems this benefit for the residents of El Nido comes at the cost of an additional burden on the residents of these other streets. How is this fair?

- A new traffic signal at Peck Road and Duarte Road is scheduled to be turned on this week.

- Brad Haugaard

Learn To Brew Beer in Monrovia

Learn How to Brew Day, Saturday, Nov. 7. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Monrovia Homebrew Shop, 1945 S Myrtle. "This is a free event, we will be giving a free course on making an Amber Ale. We will cover ingredients, equipment, and have a hands on brew session. This event is free! All attendee's receive a complimentary 10% discount on any purchase the day of the event. Call 531-0825 for information.

Upcoming Monrovia Events

Coming events in Monrovia (Thanks to Becky Shevlin for these calendar items):

~ There will be a viewing for former Monrovia Mayor Bob Bartlett on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 3-7 p.m. at Woods Valentine Mortuary 1455 N Fair Oaks in Pasadena. Services Friday, Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. at United Methodist Church at 140 E Palm Ave. in Monrovia (parking at and shuttles from Paragon and Colorado Commons Parking Structures). Immediately following: Burial at Live Oak Cemetery. Repast at Second Baptist Church, 925 S. Shamrock Ave., Monrovia (parking at and shuttles from Albertson's parking lot off of Huntington Drive.)

~ Caring Crafter's Boutique Sale, Thursday, Oct. 22 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Community Center 119 W. Palm. Purchase one-of-a-kind handmade items including hats, scarves, purses, blankets, quilts and more.

~ Waterwise Gardening Fair and Native Plant Sale, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Library Park. For more information on backyard composting and water conservation contact Public Services at 932-5575. For information about the Native Plant Sale, contact Canyon Park Staff at 256-8282.

~ Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration, Thursday, Nov. 19 at Immaculate Conception Church; 740 S Shamrock. For information contact Bobbi Rahmanian at 215-2704 or bobbir9@gmail.com