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What Child is This? Musical at Monrovia's First Presbyterian Church

Joel Raney's Christmas musical, "What Child is This?" and sing-a-long carols at Monrovia's First Presbyterian Church, Friday, Dec. 11, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Directed by David Michael Layne. http://goo.gl/73oUUj

- Brad Haugaard

Mystery Monrovia Stinkyness Still Unidentified | Bartlett Memorial | Christmas Tree | Traffic Light

A few items from City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly report ( http://goo.gl/ryDtQK ) ...

~ The city hasn't yet located the source of the stink on the east side of Monrovia. Chi said the city has "opened up every manhole in the area to investigate. Our staff report that the odor was not a sewer-based smell, but rather, identified the odor as more akin to a dead and decomposing animal." Staff cleaned the sewers to be sure, then - thinking it might be the catch basins - contacted the County. County couldn't find anything. Next step: clean the storm water catch basins.

~ Monrovia is going to replace the grass around City Hall with drought tolerant landscaping. The landscaping design includes a moving sculpture of an iris located at the southeast corner of City Hall. The landscaping will be installed over the next few weeks.

~ The Bob Bartlett Memorial Committee has recommended commissioning a mural or tiled mosaic to memorialize Bob Bartlett in the Station Square area.

~ Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Parade on Thursday, Dec. 3, starting at 6 p.m. with the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Library Park. Parade at 7 p.m. along Myrtle.

~ There's a new traffic signal at Peck Road and Duarte Road. it is just flashing red now but will be fully operational on Nov. 23.

- Brad Haugaard

What Drought? Water Flowing in North Monrovia


I frequently ride my bike up into Gold Hills, and along Alta Vista, which at that point crosses Myrtle and goes east up the hill. This water has been flowing along Alta Vista - at about this speed - all that time. I don't recall ever seeing it dry. And yes, I reported it to the city months ago. If you can't view it here, try this: https://youtu.be/OKrOuUAmhuk

- Brad Haugaard

Vote Today To Help Clifton Middle School Win a Science Lab

Today is the day (Nov. 17) to help Clifton Middle School win $100,000 for a new science lab. You just gotta vote. Details: http://goo.gl/j8ws9N

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Friends of Library - Fewer Paperbacks

An interesting statistic from the Friends of the Monrovia Public Library: The number of paperback books they receive is becoming fewer, but the number of hardbacks continues strong. http://goo.gl/orgVCA

Comment: Hmmm. Wonder why.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Football Wins Over Grand Terrace

Monrovia wins 27-17 over Grand Terrace. http://goo.gl/DKnN0U

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Stolen Blankets; Big Gas Leak; Drunk Driving; Hit and Run; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for November 12-15. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Stolen Vehicle
November 12 at 7:35 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 100 block of West Pomona. The victim was out of the country for two weeks, and while he was away, his flatbed trailer was stolen from the location. He does not know when it was taken. The vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle database and the investigation is continuing.

Robbery
November 12 at 5:24 p.m., loss prevention personnel from a business in the 500 block of West Huntington Drive phoned police to report a robbery that had just occurred. A male suspect concealed two blankets and left the store without paying. The loss prevention officer confronted the suspect outside the store, but the suspect refused to go back into the store. As the loss prevention officer attempted to detain the suspect, he struck the loss prevention officer and fled. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, dark skin, mid-twenties, with a pony tail and small mustache. He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 13 at 3:36 p.m., a motorist observed a male subject driving north on Shamrock. The subject was swerving back and forth, brushing up against the curb. The witness called police and reported the driver for possible drunk driving. Officers responded and located the vehicle in the 200 block of Jasmine. The subject was found passed out behind the wheel. The windshield wipers were on, the engine was running, and the subject's foot was on the brake. Officers contacted the subject and he was positively identified by the witness as the driver. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the suspect was arrested for driving under the influence.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 13 at 8:35 p.m., an officer responded to the area of Myrtle and Duarte Road on the report of a subject asleep at the wheel in the number two lane. The officer arrived and located the vehicle, which was running and in drive. The officer tapped on the window and the driver woke up, causing the vehicle to roll forward. The vehicle continued forward and then the driver accelerated, heading south on Myrtle. The officer ran back to his vehicle and followed the suspect. He located the vehicle at Myrtle and Longden. The investigation determined the driver was intoxicated and was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Fire Assist
November 14 at 11:39 a.m., a homeowner ruptured a pressurized gas line in the 300 block of Wildrose while doing construction work in their backyard. Officers responded to establish a safety perimeter and possible evacuation, but it was determined not necessary. A perimeter was set and the Gas Company was notified

Medical Assist
November 14 at 11:53 a.m., an officer responded to the report of a male subject having chest pains and difficulty breathing. When the officer arrived, he found the subject on the ground and another subject was performing chest compressions on him. Fire Department personnel also responded and the subject was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Suspicious Person – Robbery Suspect Arrested
November 14 at 1:56 p.m., a suspicious subject was reported at a business in the 500 block of West Huntington. The subject was a possible suspect from a robbery at the business that occurred on November 12. Officers arrived and after investigation, the suspect was placed under arrest for the robbery. The suspect was taken into custody and the stolen property from the robbery was recovered.

Vandalism
November 14 at 3:52 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Wildrose Avenue on the report of vandalism to three vehicles. The tires on all three vehicles had been slashed. Two additional vehicles were located in the area that also had their tires slashed. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 14 at 4:27 p.m., a possible drunk driver was reported in the area of Shamrock and Huntington. Officers located the vehicle, detained the driver and conducted field sobriety tests. The driver was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested for driving under the influence.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
November 14 at 7:27 p.m., an officer was dispatched to an apartment complex in the 1200 block of South Primrose on the report of a male adult subject yelling and banging his head against a door. When officers arrived, they determined the subject was intoxicated and could not care for himself. He was arrested for public intoxication and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence/Hit & Run Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
November 15 at 4:45 p.m., a driver reportedly struck a vehicle in the area of Magnolia and Chestnut. The driver stopped briefly, then left the scene without providing his identifying information. The suspect was located at his residence in the 200 block of Fig. The investigation revealed he was driving under the influence and he was arrested.

Monrovia Flags Lowered For Paris Victims

Monrovia Mayor Tom Adams writes that, "The flags at City of Monrovia facilities will be flown at half staff out of respect for the victims in Paris." Comment: Good.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Station Square Almost Done | Bike Master Plan And Rent-a-Bike Service

On Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. the City Council will have a study session on its historic train depot rehabilitation project ( http://goo.gl/x1Guqe ), then at the regular 7:30 meeting a report on the whole Station Square Transit Village project (In short, major construction should be done by this December, though passenger service doesn't begin until next March.) http://goo.gl/dLUqGU

Also, the council will consider hiring Alta Planning + Design for $42,500 to put together a Bicycle Master Plan for the city, and to study the possibility of creating a rent-a-bike service based at the train station. http://goo.gl/YwzsA1

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools Loses $1.5 Million Because of Students Leaving

Monrovia Schools lost $1.5 million due to more students transferring out of the district than transferring in to the district. The district let 396 students transfer out but accepted only 212, a 184-student loss. here

That will be on the agenda at the next school board meeting on Nov. 18. Full agenda here: here

NOTE: Google rejected these URLS, but I've appealed and am leaving them here for Google to check.
(broken URL https://goo.gl/e3LlGk )
(broken URL https://goo.gl/CPRC6k )

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at T Phillip's''


Dinner last night at T Phillip's, at Myrtle and Colorado. Got the Buffalo Chicken sandwich ($11) and a beer ($6). Pleasant, lively atmosphere, good service, and a very nice sandwich. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Considering Park Smoking Ban; Bike and Hike Day; Transit to Trains

A few items from City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly report ...

~ Monrovia is thinking of banning smoking in its parks. Here are the unadopted minutes of a Community Services Commission subcommitte evaluating a potential ban on smoking in public parks. http://goo.gl/GmUhAr

~ Monrovia and other San Gabriel Valley are planning an "Open Streets" event "to promote walking, biking, public health, awareness of alternative modes of transportation, community connections, economic development, zero-emissions transportation." The event is proposed for June 26, 2016, from 8 a.m. to p.m. along a 17-mile route and linking all the Gold Line stations from South Pasadena to Azusa.

~ Monrovia, Duarte and Covina, are together asking for proposals to handle transportation within the cities to and from the new Metro train station.

- Brad Haugaard

Mayan Bar and Grill Now Open

The Mayan Bar and Grill, in the old Aztec Hotel at Foothill and Magnolia,  is now open. I had already had dinner tonight but I stuck my nose in, and, yup, it's open. Here's the menu:

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Youth Collects 700 Shoe Boxes Of Christmas Gifts For Children of the World

Monrovian Grayson Wade will be taking more than 700 packed shoebox gifts to Arcadia Presbyterian Church in support of Samaritan's Purse "Operation Christmas Child," a charity he has been supporting since he was nine years old. He is now 15 and attends Bosco Tech High School.

This is his sixth year raising money and packing boxes. His first year he packed 2, second year 64, third year 130, fourth year 364, last year 444 and this year more than 700. He walks door to door seeking monetary donations and encouraging families to pack shoeboxes. He speaks at Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, has presented at scout troops and service fairs at local high schools.  He has donation boxes around the community and local shoe stores save empty boxes for his campaign.

This year he has donations from over 275 families and the donations are still coming in. With the money collected, he will pack more than 600 boxes and will collect more than 150 packed boxes from local families.
 
The shoeboxes include school supplies, hygiene items and an assortment of crafts, musical instruments, games and toys. He also includes a note to the recipient and has received notes back. Among other countries, his shoeboxes have gone to Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Haiti, and the Philippines.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Alcohol Caused Auto Crash; Packages Stolen From Porch

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for November 9-11. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 395 service events, resulting in 59 investigations.

Driving Under the Influence Traffic Collision
November 9 at 6:51 p.m., officers responded to a parking lot in the 1600 block of South Mountain Avenue regarding a possible medical assist or drunk driver. Officers arrived and located the vehicle, which had struck a parked vehicle in the parking lot. The vehicle was still running and a female driver was unresponsive behind the wheel of the vehicle. The windows were up and the doors were all locked. Fire Department personnel broke a door window to assist the subject and she was taken to a hospital for treatment. Alcohol was believed to be a factor in this accident and DUI charges are pending the blood test results.

Theft of Packages
November 10 at 6:24 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of Sequoia Circle reported that two packages that were delivered to her front porch had been stolen. The packages had been delivered sometime on October 28, 2015, and were taken by an unknown suspect. The investigation is continuing.

Veterans Day Event at Monrovia's Library Park

Allied Veterans Council of the Upper San Gabriel Valley hosts Veterans Day event at Library Park. http://goo.gl/Bdok6e

- Brad Haugaard

Help Monrovia's Clifton Middle School Win a $100K Science Lab | Cheaper Electricity Coming

~ Prep your keyboard fingers! Monrovia's Clifton Middle School is one of 20 semifinalist schools nationwide (and one of only two in California) in Northrup Grumman Foundation's Fab School Labs science lab makeover contest and could be one of five schools to receive $100,000. To win a lot of people gotta vote on Facebook on Tuesday, Nov. 17 on this page: www.facebook.com/fabschoollabs . Details: http://goo.gl/wRQEDR

~ Southern California Edison reports that residential customer bills could decrease about six percent by the end of March as a result of several actions by the California Public Utilities Commission. http://goo.gl/34aXvT

- Brad Haugaard

Antonovich Veterans Day Message | ChapCare Offers Insurance in Monrovia

~ Mayor Mike Antonovich, who represents Monrovia on the County Board of Supervisors, has released this Veterans Day Message: "On Veterans Day, our nation honors the 50 million soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard personnel throughout our history, and their families, who have dedicated themselves to the defense of our country. We pray for those who have died, those with us today, and those currently serving to preserve liberty and peace throughout the world. For their service, sacrifice and courage, they have earned our permanent gratitude and respect."

~ Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (ChapCare) is expanding its Covered California insurance enrollment efforts to Monrovia beginning Nov. 10. Its office is at 513 E. Lime Ave., Suite 102.

- Brad Haugaard

Cleo the Cat Dies | Monrovia Police Win

~ You may have seen Tina pushing her cat Cleo around town in a baby carriage. According to Facebook poster Judy Walker, Cleo passed away Saturday at the ripe old age of 22. Tina hopes to get a new cat when the time is right.

~ In the Battle of the Badges - a fundraising volleyball game - the Monrovia Police were victorious, 16-14, over the Monrovia Firefighters. http://goo.gl/Op65Xf

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Shoplifting Suspects Get Citation; Burglar Gets Costume Jewelry; Driving Drunk Into a Wall; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for November 5-8. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Theft From a Vehicle
November 5 at 6:55 a.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 800 block of West Duarte Road. The victim went to his vehicle, which he had parked in the carport area, and saw items were missing. He realized he left the vehicle unlocked and someone entered his vehicle without his permission and had stolen his belongings. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
November 5 at 4:10 p.m., an officer on patrol saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, heading south on Ivy from Colorado. Officers tried to catch up to vehicle, but lost sight of it until a caller reported a subject fleeing from a vehicle matching the description in an alley in the 200 block of West Maple Avenue. Officers arrived and located the unoccupied vehicle. A search of the surrounding area was conducted for the fleeing suspect, but no suspect was located. The vehicle was stolen earlier in the day from another city.

Identity Theft/Fraud Investigation
November 5 at 6:58 p.m., an officer responded to a location in the 800 block of West Duarte. The victim reported that several credit card accounts had been opened fraudulently in her name by an unknown suspect. The suspect had also canceled her cell phone service. The investigation is continuing.

Theft From a Vehicle
November 5 at 7:05 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 100 block of North Ivy. The victim parked her vehicle and had left it unlocked. An unknown suspect entered the vehicle and stole several items that had been left inside. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle
November 5 at 8:12 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of East Huntington. The victim reported her 1998 Honda Civic was stolen from the business parking lot while she was at work. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
November 6 at 8:16 p.m., a theft was reported at a business in the 500 block of West Huntington. An adult female walked into the store, selected and concealed several items in her purse, and walked out of the business without paying. She was stopped outside by store loss prevention. An officer responded to the location, arrested the suspect and took her into custody. She was later released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
November 6 at 10:37 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a theft of merchandise. A male and female went into the business and concealed several items of merchandise on their persons. They attempted to leave the store without paying for the merchandise and were stopped by loss prevention personnel. An officer responded to the business and they were arrested and taken into custody. They were later released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Hot Prowl Burglary
November 7 at 7:38 a.m., an elderly resident in the 1000 block of East Huntington Drive phoned police to say she heard a noise inside her mobile home sometime in the middle of the night. She went into the spare bedroom to see what the noise was, but did not notice anything unusual. She did not turn on the lights. She returned to the room in the morning and found the screen had been removed from the window, which she had left open, and the room had been ransacked. Two pieces of costume jewelry were missing. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence Traffic Collision
November 7 at 4:31 p.m., officers responded to the report of a male subject who had driven his vehicle into a wall in the 900 block of West Duarte Road. Officers arrived and found the subject unresponsive behind the wheel with the doors locked and the windows rolled up. The officers broke a window to the vehicle to gain entry. Once inside, they determined the subject was breathing. It was determined that the subject was intoxicated and was possibly driving under the influence. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. Charges will be filed pending blood test results.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
November 7 at 11:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Lime regarding a male and female adult couple arguing. When Officers arrived, they learned the male had struck the female in the face with a clenched fist during the argument. The male suspect was arrested and taken into custody for domestic violence.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 8 at 5:20 a.m., an officer responded to the intersection of Colorado and Ivy regarding a subject passed out behind the wheel with the vehicle running. When officers arrived, they discovered the driver was intoxicated. He was arrested for driving under the influence and held for sobering.