Halloween Safety Tips From Monrovia Police

Tips for a safer Halloween from Monrovia PD:

• Make sure your costume is easy to see. Light colors or reflective tape are good to use.
• Make sure that your costume is short enough so you won’t trip on it.
• Carry a flashlight so you can see and people can see you.
• Use make-up instead of a mask.
• Go with friends and/or parents. Don't go out alone.
• Cross only at corners and never cross the street between parked cars.
• Walk only on well-lit streets and stay on the sidewalks.
• Wait until you get home to sort, check and eat your candy. Check all of your treats and throw away things that are not wrapped
• Make sure you call the police if you see anything that doesn’t look safe.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Second Thoughts On Stealing Pitbull; Man Steals Car on Test Drive; Bicyclist Hit By Car; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for October 26-28. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 398 service events, resulting in 77 investigations.

Stolen Motorcycle
October 26 at 7:02 a.m., a motorcycle was reported stolen from the 500 block of East Almond Avenue. The victim parked his motorcycle at the end of his driveway, near his home. When he returned to it in the morning, it was gone. He did not hear anything unusual and had no idea who would have taken it. The motorcycle information was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle database. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
October 26 at 10:45 a.m., an officer responded to the report of a burglary in the 200 block of North Encinitas. The suspect made entry into the residence through an open window and stole a 16-week-old, Pitbull/Bullmastiff puppy. Several hours later, the victim received a call from the Pasadena Humane Society informing him that his dog had been located. The house had signs of a break-in. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
October 26 at 2:22 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 800 block of West Walnut Avenue. The victim listed the vehicle for sale on Craigslist. On October 24, a male suspect met with her to test drive the vehicle. The victim allowed the suspect to drive the vehicle and he has not returned. The vehicle information was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle database. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
October 27 at 1:33 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of East Greystone Avenue called police to report she had a package stolen from her front porch. Two female Hispanic subjects were seen exiting a silver Honda Civic and removing a package from the porch. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle
October 28 at 3:59 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 300 block of South Fifth Avenue. The resident parked and locked his car on the street in front of his house in the evening and went inside his home. He returned to his vehicle in the morning and immediately saw it was missing. He did not give anyone permission to take his car, a 2003, 2-door, silver, Honda Accord.

Grand Theft
October 28 at 10:50 a.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 700 block of East Huntington Drive. An employee of the business reportedly sold expensive products from the business to a customer off of the books. The suspect then paid two other employees to keep quiet about the transaction they had witnessed. The suspect employee was fired and the police were called. Some of the product was returned. The investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision/Vehicle vs. Bicyclist
October 28 at 11:51 a.m., a female on a bicycle was struck by a vehicle in the area of Shamrock and Colorado. The bicyclist was traveling the same direction as the vehicle, veered into the lane of traffic and was struck. The impact was at a slow speed, as both parties were approaching a stop sign. The bicyclist fell to the ground and sustained lacerations and complained of pain to her neck. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
October 28 at 2:59 p.m., officers responded to the report of an erratic driver in the 600 block of West Huntington. They located the vehicle and the female driver parked in a business parking lot, taking up several spaces. After speaking with the subject, the officers determined she had been drinking. The driver complained of chest pains and was taken to a hospital, where she was cleared for booking. She was taken back to the Monrovia Police Department, where she was booked and held for sobering.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
October 29 at 3:36 a.m., a male adult walked into the Monrovia Police Department lobby and told the dispatcher he was turning himself in because he was under the influence of methamphetamine. An officer contacted the subject and after investigation, determined the subject was under the influence of a controlled substance. The officer arrested the subject and he was held for sobering.

Vehicle Burglary
October 29 at 4:35 a.m., a resident parked his car on the street in the 800 block of West Chestnut, locked the doors, and went into his apartment on Walnut. At 4:35 a.m., he went out to his car and discovered the driver-side window was shattered. His two jackets and iPad were taken from the front passenger seat. The investigation is continuing.

Citrus College To Honor Military Veterans

Citrus College and the Associated Students of Citrus College, in partnership with Azusa Pacific University (APU) and the cities of Azusa and Glendora will present the 10th annual Saluting Our Veterans event on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the college's Campus Center Mall.

The program will honor four veterans: Jesse Martinez of Azusa, U.S. Air Force; Stuart Strother of APU, U.S. Army; Derek Robert Beck of Glendora, U.S. Navy; and Bruce Olav Solheim of Citrus College, U.S. Army. Company B - The Andrews Sisters Tribute and Citrus College's Night Shift and Pop Rock Ensemble bands will provide entertainment.

Also, the college's Veterans Success Center will hold an open house from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Citrus College is located at 1000 West Foothill Boulevard in Glendora. Parking on campus is free during the event.

Low Water Landscaping | Winds In Monrovia

~ Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District is offering a "Life After Turf" low-water landscaping workshop on Nov. 5, 6-9 p.m. at the district offices at 602 E. Huntington Drive in Monrovia. Details: http://goo.gl/3zfYyS

~ Possibility of winds up to 17 mph tomorrow, Friday, and 13 mph on Monday. http://goo.gl/VnR5SB

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Staar Surgical Sales Up | Scholarship Gala for High School Seniors

~ Monrovia's Staar Surgical reports "Net sales were $18.8 million for the third quarter of 2015, up 3% compared to $18.2 million reported in the prior year period." http://goo.gl/a41p2E

~ Monrovia Duarte Black Alumni Association 23rd Annual Scholarship Gala to benefit local high school seniors. Saturday, Nov. 7, 6 p.m. to midnight at the DoubleTree in Monrovia. $60 per person. Cocktail atire. Dinner and dancing. RSVP to Eloise Hart at (760) 669-0669.

- Brad Haugaard

Silent Mary Pickford Movie With Live Organ at Monrovia's First Presbyterian Church

Silent movie with live organ, Friday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. at Monrovia's First Presbyterian Church, at Foothill and Myrtle. The church will show the silent movie, Little Annie Rooney, staring Mary Pickford, with live pipe organ accompaniment by Randy Woltz. Suggested Donation: $8. Free Parking.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Falls to South Pas :-(

South Pas Girl's Volleyball over Monrovia. http://goo.gl/lQeYOl

- Brad Haugaard

Shooting Victim Was Duartean | Possible Rain in Monrovia

~ The man shot in unincorporated Monrovia this weekend was a Duarte man. http://goo.gl/ceuizE

~ 30% chance of rain Monday and 50% Tuesday. http://goo.gl/VnR5SB

- Brad Haugaard

New Company For Kiddie Ride Portion of Monrovia Street Fair | Committee to Honor Bob Bartlett

From Monrovia City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly report ( http://goo.gl/2DrTNc ):

- A new company will now be running the Kiddie Ride portion of the Friday Night Street Fair after LA PartyWorks asked to be relieved of that duty and the city agreed after being assured that another vendor could be found. Green Leaf and LA PartyWorks will continue joint administration of the overall event.

- At its Oct. 20 meeting, the Monrovia City Council appointed Mayor Pro Tem Larry Spicer to lead a new Bob Bartlett Memorial Tribute Committee "to determine the best way in which the City can honor former Mayor Bartlett."

- Brad Haugaard

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