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Robot Competition at Monrovia High This Saturday

Monrovia High is hosting an open-to-the-public robot qualifying tournament this Saturday, Dec. 5. Qualifying matches are from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and elimination matches from 3-5 p.m. Almost 300 robotics students and their robots will compete. Monrovia has 50 robotics students divided into five teams: R.E.D., Kings & Queens, Suit Bots, Thavma, and Spectrum. If you'd like to support the MHS program contact Thomas Dobson at tdobson@monrovia.k12.ca.us

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia New Year's Eve Party

New Year's Eve on Myrtle, Dec. 31, 7 p.m. to midnight. Beer and wine garden, midnight toast and ball rising, live band "Night Owl", family-friendly area, kids area. For more information contact Pam Fitzpatrick 862-4297. http://goo.gl/f9ucmO

- Brad Haugaard

State Auditor Decides Against Full Audit of Monrovia | Train Station Rehab Decision Delayed

~ Following an initial assessment, the State Auditor's Office has decided not to do a full audit of Monrovia's finances. http://goo.gl/elzebG

~ The City Council decided to delay until its Dec. 15 meeting a decision about hiring Daylight Limited to rehab the old Monrovia train station. http://goo.gl/rPy3fV

- Brad Haugaard

MOOYAH Burger Coming to Monrovia

MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes will open a restaurant in the Pavillions shopping area at Foothill and Myrtle in Monrovia. It'll be in the unit just west of Blaze Pizza. I've asked the publicist when and am waiting for an answer. It is a "new fast casual 'better burger' concept." Here's the website: http://www.mooyah.com/

- Brad Haugaard

Healthcare Enrollment Event in Monrovia

ChapCare will host a Covered California health insurance enrollment event at its 513 E. Lime Ave. location on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Counselors will answer questions and help people enroll in a low or no-cost health insurance plan. Open enrollment lasts until Jan. 31. During the first two open enrollment periods, 90% of people who purchased a Covered California plan qualified for financial assistance. ChapCare can also help enroll in Medi-Cal or the Los Angeles County My Health LA Program. You will need a California driver's license, ID, passport, or utility bill; recent paystubs, last year's tax return; Social Security Card, Naturalization Certificate, Employment Authorization Card, Residency Cards.

- Brad Haugaard

Santa's Monrovia Schedule

More detail: http://goo.gl/Pcvr58
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia To Consider Marijuana Regulations | Christmas Tree Lighting And Parade

From City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly update (http://goo.gl/B2TU39) ...

- In response to the state passing the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, which added new procedures pertaining to the cultivation, distribution, and transportation of medical marijuana facilities, the city plans to change its municipal code on medical marijuana dispensaries and related activities. The proposed ordinance will be introduced on Dec. 15, with the final public hearing and consideration scheduled for Jan. 19, 2016.

- The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Parade will take place this Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. with the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Library Park, then the Holiday Parade at 7 p.m. The parade will travel north on Myrtle from Chestnut to Palm and will be led by Grand Marshal Chuck Keen, a Monrovia resident who has dedicated his life to support our local veterans and military personnel.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Merchant Robbed; Church Holiday Events


~ The Monrovia store Dollmakers Kattywompus, on Myrtle in Old Town, is looking for the man in this photo. The store writes on Facebook: "If you recognize him, please call the Monrovia PD @ (626) 256-8000. He stood there and did some friendly chatting with our Miss Cindy, then said "Sorry!" as he picked up two Hoverboards and ran out the door with them. A HUGE financial loss for a small family owned store like ours." More info: http://goo.gl/wJv6FL

~ The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company presents "Ring in the Holidays!" on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at 122 S. California Ave. The event features Cantata 140 "Wachet Auf" by J.S. Bach, plus film music, popular hits, folk songs, and traditional choral favorites with a holiday theme. In addition to the adult singers, students in Kindergarten through 7th grade will sing to culminate their participation in the "Kids in Concert!" singing workshop produced by SGVCC. Tickets are $20 at the door ($15 seniors/students, $5 children under 12). Purchase tickets at http://www.sgvccsingers.org or by check (SGVCC; P.O. Box 2225; Monrovia, CA 91017).

~ Sacred Christmas Service at Bethel African Episcopal Church, 148 W. Lime, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. with guest preacher Rev. Lynn Gabriel. http://www.bethelmonrovia.com/ or 930-1120

- Brad Haugaard

Traffic Accident Knocks Out Power in East Monrovia

A traffic accident knocked the power out for 143 Southern California Edison customers at about 1:30 p.m. today. The accident took down one or more poles and power lines, and from the map appeared to take place on Royal Oaks Drive near Santa Teresita Hospital. https://goo.gl/DIJ9eN

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Suspect in High School Arson Followed by Witness; Stolen Vehicles; Drunk Driving; Man Asks To Be Shot - He Is ...With Taser; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for November 23-29. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Vehicle Burglary
November 23 at 6:56 a.m., an officer responded to an apartment complex in the 1300 block of South Alta Vista. A truck and an SUV were parked next to each other in the carport. Unknown suspect(s) shattered windows on both vehicles, reached in and took tool boxes from both vehicles. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
November 23 at 7:00 a.m., a grey Nissan pickup was reported stolen from Magnolia, parked between Lime and Lemon. The owner of the vehicle kept a spare key in the glovebox. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 23 at 8:45 a.m., an off-duty officer called Monrovia police to report a possible drunk driver committing vehicle code violations. An officer responded, located the vehicle and also observed a vehicle code violation. He conducted a traffic stop and after investigation, determined the driver was driving under the influence. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Theft From a Vehicle/Burglary
November 23 at 4:42 p.m., an officer was dispatched to an apartment complex in the 200 block of Linwood. Suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle that was parked on the street and took two remotes that were inside the vehicle. One remote opened the gate to the complex and the second remote opened the garage. The suspect(s) entered the complex using the remote, opened the garage and stole tools from inside. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
November 23 at 7:08 p.m., the registered owner of a vehicle came into the police lobby to report her vehicle had been stolen from the 800 block of Monterey Avenue. She explained that she had allowed her unlicensed son to borrow her vehicle several days prior. She later learned that her son had been arrested for a home robbery in Monrovia. Her vehicle had been taken by one of the subjects who had been with her son during the robbery. She did not give anyone other than her son permission to use her vehicle. The vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle computer database. The investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collison/Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 23 at 7:29 p.m., officers responded to Foothill and Violet on the report of a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a bicyclist. They arrived and located both parties. They learned the bicyclist had been riding on the wrong side of the street and was struck by the vehicle. The bicyclist was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested for DUI after being cleared by Monrovia Fire Department paramedics.

Vehicle Burglary
November 24 at 4:37 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at Alta Vista and Lemon. A work truck with locking drawers on the utility bed was parked on the street on Alta Vista. Unknown suspect forced open one of the drawers and stole tools from the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
November 25 at 7:59 a.m., an officer responded to the 700 block of East Lemon regarding the report of a vehicle burglary. Unknown suspect(s) entered a locked vehicle and stole a third row seat. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered – Suspect Arrested
November 25 at 11:53 a.m., officers located a stolen vehicle in the 500 block of south Myrtle. The female driver claimed she borrowed the car. There were items found inside the vehicle that belonged to the driver, as well as numerous papers, identification and other paperwork that did not belong to the driver. The investigation on fraud related charges is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
November 25 at 2:55 p.m., a resident called police to report a vehicle burglary in the 600 block of Huntington. Unknown suspect(s) shattered the passenger side window of the vehicle and stole the GPS from the driver-side dash area. The investigation is continuing.

Felony Evading/Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspects Arrested
November 25 at 9:38 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle make a turn from Mountain onto Huntington, heading east without stopping at the red signal. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle as it traveled at a high rate of speed, but the driver continued to travel east for approximately three miles, eventually stopping on Huntington at Irwindale Avenue. A high-risk stop was conducted. During the investigation, officers noticed the driver, a 19-year-old, and passenger displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. The driver and passenger were arrested and taken into custody. Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Brandishing a Knife/Drunk in Public – Four

Suspects Arrested
November 26 at 1:50 a.m., officers responded to the area of Lime and Myrtle regarding a fight between a male and female. During the call, it was reported that the male subject had a knife. Officers arrived and observed a male and female involved in an altercation. The male subject had the female subject in what appeared to be a chokehold. As the officers approached, the male subject released the female and began to advance toward the officers. He told the officers to shoot him and continued to advance toward one of the officers. The suspect refused to follow the officers’ commands to stop and one of the officers deployed his Taser. The suspect was subdued and taken into custody. Through investigation, it was learned that three suspects were involved in the altercation prior to police arrival. A male subject had approached and told the male suspect to leave the female alone. The male and female, along with another male, then attacked the intervening subject and began kicking him until he fell to the ground. Two other male bystanders yelled out to the suspects to leave the male subject alone and one of the suspects brandished a knife. The bystanders backed off and called police. Three suspects were arrested for the assault on the male victim, and one female was arrested at the scene for being drunk in public.

Grand Theft Auto
November 26 at 2:40 p.m., a resident from the 500 block of West Colorado called police to report her vehicle had been stolen. She went to her vehicle and discovered her brown, 1996 Honda Accord had been stolen from her residence. A screwdriver was located on the ground where her vehicle had been parked the night before. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary/Grand Theft Auto
November 26 at 3:17 p.m., an officer responded to the 700 block of East Lemon regarding a residential burglary and stolen vehicle. The victim reported that the keys to his vehicle and a bag containing two laptops were taken from inside his residence, and that his vehicle had also been stolen. He said the door to his residence was not secured. The victim could not verify ownership of the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Vandalism
November 26 at 9:32 p.m., a female subject called police from the 800 block of West Foothill to report her ex-boyfriend was driving around her apartment complex. The subject recently received a restraining order against the ex-boyfriend. Officers checked the area for the ex-boyfriend, but he was not found. Several hours later the female subject called back and reported that all four tires on her son's vehicle had been slashed. An officer responded to investigate the vandalism. The son's vehicle was parked in a public parking lot near the female subject’s apartment when vandalized. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
November 26 at 11:50 p.m., an officer responded to the 200 block of West Lemon regarding a residential burglary. The victim left their residence for a Thanksgiving dinner. When they arrived home, they noticed the front door was open and the house was ransacked. It appears the suspect(s) gained entry through an unlocked window. A handheld safe containing credit cards was taken.

Mental Evaluation
November 27 at 7:15 a.m., officers responded to the area of Huntington and the 210 Freeway regarding a female walking in and out of traffic. Officers located a female subject who has mental problems and has been placed on mental holds repeatedly. Officers spoke with the female and determined she could not care for herself. She was taken to a mental facility and held for a 72-hour mental evaluation.

Grand Theft
November 27 at 1:52 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 600 block of Huntington regarding a grand theft. The victim reported the third row seat to his Cadillac Escalade was taken out of his vehicle while he was inside a business. He reported that he was only out of his vehicle for 15 minutes. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
November 28 at 4:25 p.m., a resident from the 300 block of Scenic Drive called police to report the house next to his appeared to have an open door and that the residents were not at home. Officers arrived to find the front door had been broken into and unknown suspects had ransacked several rooms in the home. Officers cleared the residence and secured the door. The residents were notified and were on their way home. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
November 29 at 9:40 a.m., an officer responded to the 1300 block of Alta Vista regarding the report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle stolen was a white Honda Civic. The vehicle was stolen between 1:00 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. The investigation is continuing.

Strong Armed Robbery
November 29 at 8:03 p.m., officers responded to the area of Ivy and Huntington regarding a robbery. The female victim was walking south on Ivy from Huntington when two male Hispanics ran up from behind and struck her on the head with a glass bottle. The victim fell to the ground and the suspects pulled her purse from her possession. The suspects were last seen heading east on Cypress out of view. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
November 29 at 8:15 p.m., a resident called from the 300 block of West Huntington to report his vehicle had been stolen. The victim parked and locked his vehicle in the parking lot of a business and left for the weekend. He returned on November 29 and discovered his vehicle was missing. The investigation is continuing.

Arson
November 29 at 12:23 p.m., an officer responded to Monrovia High School in the 800 block of West Colorado regarding suspicious circumstances. A witness reported hearing glass breaking at the high school, seeing flames and a male subject running away from the area. The witness followed the suspect. Containment of the area was established, and a male juvenile was located and taken into custody. The suspect is a student at the school. The Monrovia Fire Department is handling the arson investigation and said the counseling office sustained severe damage. The juvenile was taken to the Eastlake Juvenile Detention Facility. The school principal was on scene and confirmed they will continue to hold classes. The investigation is continuing.

The Spread of Sleds in Monrovia

Photo courtesy City of Monrovia

The latest issue of the city-published Neighborhood News ( http://goo.gl/wzWF4Z ) says that last year Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) leader, Susan Pilcher, found four sleds, which she painted as Christmas decorations and delivered to her neighbors. This year, she and fellow MAP leader, Gina Ammon, expanded the project to 100 painted sleds, which will be on display throughout December on East Wild Rose Avenue, down Bradbury Road to Orange Avenue. Plus a few more on Park Rose, Rose Lane, Oak Leaf and Winding Oak. Extra benefit: A lot of the neighbors now know each other from the painting party. Comment: Very cool! Now we need some snow to go with them.

- Brad Haugaard

Holiday Dinner For Live-Alone Seniors

Holiday turkey dinner with gifts and entertainment for San Gabriel Valley live-alone seniors (60 plus) on Saturday, Dec. 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Monrovia Community Center. RSVP to Rebecca Romero at 256-8232 or rromero@ci.monrovia.ca.us by Dec. 3. Sponsored by Monrovia Providers Group with support from Fellowship Monrovia.

- Brad Haugaard

Fire at Monrovia High Early Monday Morning

Three alarm fire at Monrovia High School early this morning. Juvenile arrested on suspicion of arson. School's still on. http://goo.gl/oe9uoT

- Brad Haugaard

Pricey Home | The Other Monrovia Did Great in Football

~ Most expensive single-family home now for sale in Monrovia is a five bedroom, four-and-a-half bath residence on Norumbega. Asking price: $2.54 million. http://goo.gl/mHAOus

~ Sadly, Monrovia High football didn't quite finish on top this year, but our namesake, Monrovia High in Indiana, did very nicely, winning a Class 2A state championship. http://goo.gl/v76oVp

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council To Consider Leasing Old Train Depot; Raise for City Manager; Removing Invasive Species; New Job Classification; Oversight Committee

At its Dec. 1 meeting (agenda ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

- Consider leasing the historic Santa Fe train depot to Daylight Limited for 55 years for a $2,500 a year. Plus, the city will loan Daylight $1.5 million for 25 years. If the company rehabs the depot to the city's satisfaction, the loan will be forgiven. Source

- Consider boosting City Manager Oliver Chi's salary by 2.5%, from $195,000 to $199,875. Source

- Consider applying for a grant to remove invasive species from Monrovia Canyon Park and Hillside Wilderness Area. Especially the Ageratina adenophora (commonly known as eupatory or sticky snakeroot). Source

- Consider agreements with city employee groups to create a new job classification scheme that will designate 114 job descriptions for the city. Source

- Consider establishing an oversight committee for "Monrovia Renewal," the plan to fix the city's water and sewer lines. Source

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Mayan Bar and Grill


Dinner Wednesday night in the new Mayan Grill in the Aztec Hotel at Foothill and Magnolia. Got the shrimp in spicy Cajun sauce ($9.99) with a side of potatoes ($2.99) and a beer ($2.50 at half-off happy hour price). Well, that was a new experience! It all came in a plastic bag (potatoes too) and the steamed shrimp (big and a lot of them) were whole, so I had to work to get them apart, but tasty when I succeeded.  You get a lobster bib and plastic gloves. You'll need 'em.

- Brad Haugaard 

Stop Hunger Now Video at Monrovia High

Video of Monrovia community joining together to "Stop Hunger Now" at Monrovia High. Packaging meals. https://goo.gl/QsWkCV

- Brad Haugaard

Happy Thanksgiving, Monrovia!

Happy Thanksgiving, Monrovia! Here is the Thanksgiving Proclamation by our first president, George Washington: http://goo.gl/tK3m6M

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Veranda Restaurant To Distribute Food for Thanksgiving

A posting on Facebook says that Veranda restaurant (corner of Myrtle and Lime) will be giving out free food to those in need for Thanksgiving. 9-11 a.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Gets $13 Million Order From Marine Corps

Monrovia's AeroVironment announced today that it received a $13,015,396 order for its RQ-20A Puma AE reconnaissance drone (and spare parts) for the United States Marine Corps on October 27, 2015. http://goo.gl/Nd4URM

- Brad Haugaard