Monrovia Days Music Festival

Monrovia Days Music Festival, May 15, noon-7 p.m. at Library Park. Rock, pop reggase, blues and more. Craft beer garden, vendors and artisans, food trucks, kids activities.

12-12:45, The Gem City Jazz Cats (Jazz)
12:45-1, Smokey Miles (Blues)
1-1:15, The Whistling Diva (Champion Musical Whistler)
1:15-2, Who’s Clayton (Acoustic Pop Folk)
2-2:45, Crimson Apple (Alternative Pop)
2:45-3:15, J Mosley and the LME Allstars (Acoustic Salsa)
3:15-4:15, Relish (Dance Rock)
4:15-4:45, Nigel Walsh (Americana)
4:45-5:30, Dread Daze (Reggae Fusion)
5:30-5:50, The Whistling Diva
5:50-6, TeamLz (Hip Hop Dance Duo)
6-7, Chase Walker Band (Blues).

Details: http://goo.gl/uc5fcv

- Brad Haugaard

Information About Online K-12 Education

There will be a free information session for parents about California Connections Academy @ Capistrano, a tuition-free K-12 online public school authorized under state law by the Capistrano Unified School District, on Tuesday, April 26, at 11:30 a.m. at the Monrovia Courtyard Marriott, 700 W. Huntington. Meet an Academy teacher, explore program and curriculum, and enrollment process. More information: 800-382-6010 or http://www.connectionsacademy.com

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Teens Extract Strawberry DNA

Extracting DNA from strawberries on Monrovia's Biotech Day. http://goo.gl/ajN8bu

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Sena

Dinner at Sena, on the west side of Myrtle just south of Lime. Love the short rib tacos but for a change decided to try the grilled chicken avocado sandwich for $9 and a happy hour beer for $4. Delicious!

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Dog Door Burglary; Pursuit Starts in Monrovia; Stolen Bike; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 18-20. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 423 service events, resulting in 77 investigations.

Vandalism
April 18 at 7:54 a.m., officers were dispatched to a preschool in the 1000 block of S. Canyon regarding a vandalism incident. Unknown suspect had written graffiti on a school fence, which faced the adjacent park. The graffiti occurred sometime over the weekend. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
April 18 at 10:47 a.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 600 block of Parker. The victim locked his residence and left on April 17. When he returned home on April 18, he found the back door of the residence unlocked. Cash, a wristwatch and a speaker were stolen from the location. It appears the suspect unlocked the backdoor by reaching through an open dog door. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 19 at 12:59 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for several vehicle code violations. Upon contacting the driver, he noticed signs of intoxication. After conducting field sobriety tests, the officer arrested the driver for driving under the influence. The suspect was taken into custody and held for sobering.

Felony Evading – Suspect Arrested
April 19 at 12:58 p.m., an officer responded to the 100 block of N. Mountain on the report of a suspicious vehicle, possibly casing the neighborhood. The officer located the suspect vehicle at Foothill and Mountain. When he attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled south on Mountain and entered the 210 Freeway, heading eastbound. The suspect was driving erratically at a high rate of speed and traffic conditions were heavy, so Monrovia police canceled the pursuit by police units. The Foothill Air Support Team helicopter continued to follow the vehicle and the California Highway Patrol picked up pursuit of the vehicle in San Bernardino County. The suspect and passenger in the vehicle were stopped by CHP and taken into custody for felony evading.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 20 at 9:53 p.m., a business in the 100 block of W. Duarte called police to report a disturbing subject. Police arrived and detained the subject as he was leaving the location. A computer check revealed the subject had a "no bail" parole warrant. He was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant.

Bicycle Theft
April 20 at 11:13 p.m., a bicycle was reported stolen from the 400 block of S. Mayflower. The bicycle was taken from the property sometime during the day while the victim was away from the residence. The investigation is ongoing.

Monrovia Events: Music Man; Healthy Kids; Day of Prayer

~ IFGF Church and Centre Stage Inc. present The Music Man. Meredith Wilson's six-time Tony Award winning family-friendly musical comedy has been entertaining audiences since 1957. Thursday-Sunday, April 21-24 and Thursday-Sunday, April 28-Sunday May 1, at IFGF Church at the northeast corner of Primrose and Palm Avenues. 7 p.m. performances Thursdays through Sundays and a 2:30 p.m. matinee Saturdays and Sundays. For information contact Keely Milliken at 297-4758 or centrestageinc@yahoo.com. For tickets: http://goo.gl/ZG81vf

~ YMCA National Healthy Kid's Day, Saturday, April 30, at Santa Anita Family YMCA. Healthy kid's fair, screenings, games, healthy snacks; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Information at www.ymcala.org/santaanita/

~ National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 5. Interfaith Council Event "Shining Our Light" at Mountainside Communion Church, 303 W. Colorado Blvd. Program 7-8:30 p.m., reception 8-8:30 p.m. Donations for the Foothill Unity Center collected at the end of the program. Information: Bobbi Rahmanian bobbir9@gmail.com

Thanks to Becky Shevlin for these calendar items.

- Brad Haugaard

Former Trader Joe's Employee Suing - Says Firing Was Because of Genitalia Gift

A former employee suing Monrovia-based Trader Joe's alleges he was fired after complaining about getting a gift shaped like male genitalia. http://goo.gl/PDJCzu

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Historical Society is Reborn - Needs Help

The Anderson House in about 1888. George H. Anderson lived here for 87 years. The home originally belonged to his parents, John and Lizzie Anderson (shown above with George in carriage and brother Lewis). John built the home and other buildings in Monrovia and was active in the business life of Monrovia, serving on the City Council in the early days. (Security Pacific Bank Collection, LA Public Library)

The Monrovia Historical Society has been revitalized. The Society was originally formed in 1979 – with a gift from the California Community Foundation - to care for the Anderson House as a museum open to visitors and fully furnished to the smallest detail to show family life in the 1880s.

The kitchen today

Unfortunately the Historical Society was dormant for nearly 15 years and the Anderson House was closed to the public.  As membership declined and founding members passed away, there were fewer volunteers to keep the museum open and fewer funds to keep it in good repair. In recent years, even visits by Monrovia schools’ third graders had to be curtailed as class sizes increased and the building itself become at risk. Now that’s changing.

Early on, the Historical Society spawned MOHPG (The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group) and members helped create the Historical Museum on Lemon Avenue.

But the Historical Society has a mission all its own. Today, it has two roles.  It is raising funds to restore the Anderson House (first-phase repairs are underway), and recruiting volunteer docents to once again open it to the public.  Its second role is to serve as the non-profit home of the new Monrovia Legacy Project.  The Legacy Project is preserving the collections and knowledge of City Historian Steve Baker and his predecessor - digitizing them and old photos and stories from the public, to make them accessible to the public through the Monrovia Public Library.

The Legacy Project was the spark that brought the Historical Society back to life.  Former Society Board members came back - Joe Garcia, Kathy Mueller, Todd Weber, Scott Thomas and Steve Baker - and they were joined by new board members Sandy Burud and Louise Robertson (Co-Project Directors of the Legacy Project) to form a current board.  There is a membership campaign to enlist Society members.  You can find out how to join http://goo.gl/B4vO5v

Two coming events to support the Historical Society:

1) May 1 Tour of the Anderson House.  For the annual tour of historic homes by MOHPG, the Anderson will be one of the homes on the tour. Tickets and information here: http://goo.gl/ZoqfQj

2. Narrated Driving Tours.  A series of driving tours through Historic Monrovia, narrated live by Steve Baker on a small Monrovia Transit Van.  For those who have done Steve’s cemetery tour, this is akin to that, but even richer.  As you ride in an air-conditioned van you will hear in story form tales of the events and characters who shaped out city.  The tours are:
Tour 1 Northwest Monrovia
June 18 —1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.
Tour 2 Northeast Monrovia
July 17 —11 a.m. or 2 p.m.
Tour 3 Southeast Monrovia
August 13 —1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.
Tour 4 Southwest Monrovia
October 16 —11 a.m. or 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Community Center -- $50 per person -- proceeds to the Historical Society. Or contact Louise Robertson @  305-3025. Sign up early as each tour can only take 20 people.

Your participation in these events and your passing the word will help the Historical Society become vibrant once again.    And certainly, gifts (of money, time, or materials) to support the Legacy Project and/or the Anderson House restoration would help enormously.

Contact:  monroviahistoricalsociety1896@gmail.com or call Sandy Burud @ 256-3423.

Source: Press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia-Based World Vision Helps Ecuador Earthquake Victims

Monrovia-based Christian aid and development agency, World Vision, is on the ground and responding to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Ecuador with two temporary shelters, distributed tents, hygiene products, diapers, food, water, and more. The quake happened on Saturday evening (local time) and has claimed at least 350 lives and left more than 2,000 people injured. http://goo.gl/f3Fm0O

- Brad Haugaard

Police Chase Starts in Monrovia

Police pursuit of a man in a pickup truck started in Monrovia. (Thanks to Robert Parry for tip.) http://goo.gl/JFtUA1

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Auditor Says Placentia Not Its Fault; Sell City Annex? Apartment Complex Almost Ready to Go; Feds May Pay for Some of Its Stormwater Costs; Etc.

In his weekly newsletter ( http://goo.gl/lQdi4f ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports, among a lot of other stuff, that ...

- Monrovia's audit firm, Lance, Soll and Lunghard, LLP (LSL), is the same firm working for the City of Placentia, which has recently had a $4.3 million embezzlement scandal. LSL tells Monrovia that it had not completed an audit for Placentia during the time most of the alleged embezzlement occurred, but had completed the audit for an earlier period, and that audit found "several material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in internal controls and instances of noncompliance." Chi adds that Monrovia has "very robust internal controls" and promises to "continue working hard to ensure that we do not violate the public's trust." See the link above for more detail.

- Monrovia is thinking of selling the City Annex, which I believe is the old two-story house at the southeast corner of Lime and Ivy, caddy-corner from City Hall. Chi writes that "repainting and repairing the building would cost in excess of $200,000. Given the cost, and the lack of a clearly defined use for the facility, it was determined that it would be better to sell the facility to a private user. The city is looking for bidders.

- Construction of a 261-unit luxury apartment complex next to the train station was delayed when the general contractor firm filed for bankruptcy. With a new contractor the project should break ground in 3-6 weeks.

- Congress Member Grace Napolitano, who represents most of Monrovia, has introduced a bill in Congress to provide $4.85 billion in grants and $20 billion in loans to support cities in implementing the Los Angeles County Stormwater Permit. If I understand correctly, this would help cities offset the costs imposed on them by the government to clean stormwater. The cost to Monrovia is (would have been?) $231 million.

- Readers of Los Angeles News Group newspapers (Star-News and others) voted Monrovia their "Favorite Friendly City / Downtown."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Garden Club - Create a Tower Garden

At the Monrovia Garden Club monthly meeting on April 26, the speaker will describe how to create a tower garden. The meeting is at the First Presbyterian Church, 101 E Foothill Blvd., on the corner of Myrtle and Foothill in the Fellowship Hall downstairs. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. with a social hour at 6:30 p.m. at which light refreshments will be served. Visitors are welcome.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Bloodhound Helps Find Lost Man; Arrest in Assault With Car; Burglar Switches Off Power; Stealing From Porch; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for April 11-17. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Grand Theft
April 11 at 8:56 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of N. Canyon called to report a theft from his vehicle. The victim parked his vehicle in front of his residence the night before, and when he returned to the vehicle the next morning, he found the tailgate was missing. The investigation is continuing.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision / Vandalism / Assault with a Deadly Weapon
April 11 at 10:22 a.m., officers responded to the area of California and Duarte regarding a traffic collision that had just occurred. Party one/victim wanted to exchange her information with party two/suspect, but he refused. The victim began to video the suspect and his vehicle with her phone. The suspect then took the victim’s phone from her and threw it on the ground. The suspect then got into his vehicle and tried to drive away. The victim and her passenger proceeded to stand in front of the suspect’s vehicle demanding him to stop and get out of the vehicle. The suspect moved forward and struck one of the females, causing her to lose her balance and fall to the ground. She did not sustain any visible injuries. The suspect then left the area before officers arrived. A vehicle description and a thorough search of the area was conducted, but did not locate the suspect or his vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

On April 12 at 10:22 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle involved in the above traffic collision. A traffic stop was made and an interview was conducted. The suspect admitted to his involvement in the hit and run traffic collision. The vehicle was impounded and the case will be presented to the District Attorney's Office.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 11 at 1:30 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the area of Magnolia and Maple regarding a traffic collision. Party one was headed south on Magnolia and crossed over into oncoming traffic to go around a vehicle in front of her. She then struck a vehicle headed north on Magnolia. Party one was taken to a hospital for medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Hot Prowl Residential Burglary
April 11 at 10:21 p.m., a resident in the 1100 block of Orange called police to report hearing her back sliding glass door shattering while she was inside her home alone. She had barricaded herself in her bathroom and called 911. An officer arrived, cleared the residence and found evidence of an attempted burglary. It appears the suspects fled after the alarm system on the home was activated. The investigation is continuing.

Hot Prowl Residential Burglary
April 11 at 11:37 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of E. Foothill called police to report noise on the first floor of her home. She was inside her bedroom and was awakened by her son banging on her door. The son heard noise on the first floor and the power to the home suddenly went out. The investigation revealed the suspects cut the electrical power to the residence by turning off the main circuit breaker on the side of the home. The suspects removed a window screen and pried open a rear window to gain access to the residence. It appears the suspects were scared away, as nothing was taken. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
April 12 at 2:18 a.m., dispatch received an alarm activation on a business in the 300 block of W. Foothill. Officers arrived and found the front door had been pried open and the suspects had entered the location. Officers cleared the location and no suspects were found. The owner had just arrived and determined nothing had been taken. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
April 12 at 8:15 p.m., officers went to the residence of a wanted suspect to locate and arrest him. For several days, officers were called to locations on the report of a male suspect seen inside women's bathrooms. His presence inside the women's restrooms and acts he had committed in the restrooms constituted a crime. Officers completed a thorough investigation, which led to the positive identification of the suspect. The suspect is known to the police department from prior contact. A computer check also revealed the suspect had several outstanding bench warrants for his arrest. Officers went to the suspect’s residence, located the suspect, and placed him under arrest. During a search of the suspect, drug paraphernalia was located in his possession. The suspect was booked and housed on the warrants and the case will be presented to the District Attorney's Office.

Suspicious Circumstances / Burglary – Three Suspects Arrested
April 13 at 4:30 a.m., officers responded to the report of suspicious suspects in the area of Lemon and Sombrero. The suspects appeared to be stealing items from a porch. The suspects were witnessed picking up items on the street near the intersection of Lemon and Sombrero and fleeing in a dark truck. Officers located the vehicle heading east on Royal Oaks, where they conducted a traffic stop in the City of Duarte. Three suspects were detained. They were found to be in possession of large amounts of cash. The investigation revealed a cash register, cash and store receipts belonging to businesses in the City of Duarte, which were determined to have been burglarized during the evening hours. Los Angeles Sheriff's deputies arrived, took over the investigation, and took custody of the suspects.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 3:35 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop of a bicyclist in the 100 block of E. El Norte for a vehicle code violation. The suspect was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrants / Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 6:43 a.m., a resident called from the 1000 block of Royal Oaks to report their 41-year-old son was causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and detained the subject. A computer check revealed he had two outstanding warrants for his arrest and was wanted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for violating his county jail work release. He was arrested for the warrants, and during a search incident to arrest, officers found him to be in possession of methamphetamine and a syringe. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
April 14 at 10:52 p.m., officers responded to an audible alarm at a residence in the 300 block of Bradoaks. When they arrived, they located a shattered rear glass door. The residence was cleared and a person responsible for the residence was located. The home had been ransacked and several items were missing. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
April 15 at 2:39 a.m., a victim called to report his vehicle was stolen in the 200 block of W. Maple. The victim parked his vehicle in the alley behind his business and left the car keys on the hood of the vehicle. He returned approximately two hours later and the vehicle was gone. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Methamphetamine / Driving on a Suspended License / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
April 15 at 4:29 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation in the area of California and Duarte. The vehicle was stopped for the violation. The driver was found to be driving on a suspended license and had warrants for his arrest. During a search of the driver, he was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine. He was arrested for the above listed charges.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
April 15 at 5:42 p.m., dispatch received several calls reporting that a vehicle collided into a parked vehicle in the 100 block of E. Colorado and drove away. Additional calls were received as the driver hit other vehicles. The suspect vehicle was located and a thorough investigation resulted in the arrest of the driver for driving under the influence. There were three vehicles located that were hit by the DUI driver and two victims were taken to the hospital due to injuries.

Outside Assist / Newport Beach Police Department – Suspects Arrested
April 15, between 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., Newport Beach Police Department responded to a residence in the 1800 block of S. Mayflower to conduct an investigation. When they arrived, they saw the suspect exit a stolen vehicle. They watched the location, informed the Monrovia Police Department about the circumstances and asked if Monrovia could conduct a traffic stop if the suspect left the location. At 8:30 p.m., Newport Beach police officers detained the suspect outside the location. They later booked three suspects at the Monrovia Police Department facility.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
April 16 at 12:07 a.m., officers stopped a vehicle in the area of Shamrock and Huntington for a vehicle code violation and discovered the driver had been drinking. After investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested, taken into custody and held for sobering.

Commercial Burglary
April 16 at 9:26 a.m., a business owner in the 2600 block of S. Peck called police regarding a burglary. The suspects jumped a rear fence and broke a large window on a rear door to enter the business. A laptop, television, power drill and miscellaneous garden tools were taken. The investigation is continuing.

Traffic Incident – Vehicle vs. Bicycle
April 16 at 12:01 p.m., an officer responded to the 900 block of West Huntington regarding a traffic incident. A bicyclist was heading eastbound on the north sidewalk of Huntington. The bicyclist veered onto the street because of pedestrians on the sidewalk and got his wheel stuck in a groove, causing him to fall into the lane of traffic. He was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound at approximately 20 mile per hour. The bicyclist refused medical treatment and left the scene on his bike.

Hot Prowl Residential Burglary
April 16 at 12:18 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of E. Cherry called police to report a burglary. The resident arrived home at approximately 1:00 p.m. He was sitting in a chair dosing off while watching television in his living room when he heard noise from a back bedroom. He thought it was his child and was not concerned. When he awoke in the morning, he remembered that his child had slept at a friend’s house. He went to check the back bedroom and found the window screen off and the window open. The resident said nothing was taken. The investigation is continuing.

Critical Missing Adult Located
April 16 at 6:25 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of Montana regarding a critical missing adult. The 80-year-old male was last seen at the location at 2:00 p.m. He has memory loss, vertigo and dementia. Available units began an area search. A blood hound was utilized and tracked the subject’s scent to the Metro Station near the platform. The Rail Operation Center was contacted and notified. A missing bulletin was forwarded and disseminated to their personnel. The Foothill Air Support Team helicopter conducted an area search on several areas requested, and local hospitals and businesses were contacted. At 1:30 a.m., the subject was located by City of Industry deputies. Monrovia officers responded to his residence after he arrived home to speak with him.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
April 16 at 9:59 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report three suspects concealing merchandise inside the store. When the officers arrived, they located one suspect outside and he was detained. Two additional suspects were detained when they exited the store a short time later. During the incident, the first suspect walked up to a vehicle prior to being detained. Police could see inside the vehicle and observed a credit card embossing machine, large amounts of mail, tax information, and other suspicious items. The vehicle belonged to one of the suspects and was eventually searched and stored. All three suspects were arrested and taken into custody.

Vandalism
April 17 at 11:03 p.m., a resident called police from the 100 block of Maple reporting three to five subjects on the roof of a business. Officers responded and found fresh graffiti on the roof. No suspects were detained. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol / Injury Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
April 18 at 3:10 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Diamond regarding a traffic collision. The vehicle was driving west on Diamond and collided with two parked vehicles, causing the vehicle to roll over on its side. The driver was taken to a hospital with complaint of pain. The driver appeared to have been intoxicated at the time of the collision. The driver admitted to being intoxicated and a verified complaint request will be submitted to the District Attorney's Office.

Monrovia's St. Luke Seeks Old Photos Of Church Ceremonies

St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Monrovia is seeking photos of weddings, baptisms, confirmations and other ceremonies performed at the church as part of this month's celebration of the 125th anniversary of its admission to the Diocese of California as a mission.

Email scans of photos to email@trishgresham.com with the subject line "Historic Photos," or mail nonreturnable copies of photos to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Ave., Monrovia CA 91016, Attn. Trish Gresham.

- Brad Haugaard

Enrollment in Monrovia Schools Continues Decline

At its April 20 meeting (agenda) the Monrovia School Board will ...

- Hear a report that 2016-17 enrollment in Monrovia schools is predicted to decline by 88 students, or 1.51%, to 5,755. This also means a decrease of 1.6 full-time equivalent teaching positions. Details here.

- Approve a list of Monrovia High graduates.

- Honor (together with the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce) these district employees: Martha Alvarez Holmes, Clerical Assistant I at Mayflower Elementary; Janet Dunbar, Teacher at Mayflower Elementary; Liana Beserra, Clerical Assistant III at Santa Fe Middle School; and Donna Monje, Teacher at Santa Fe Middle School.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Member Alex Zucco Resigning

Monrovia School Board Member Alex Zucco will be resigning from the Board, effective May 20, 2016. See item 9.2 on the agenda: here.

UPDATE: I asked her why, and here is her answer:

I was offered a job with the CA PTA as a Policy Consultant -- working on the LCAP statewide with PTA units and specifically, encouraging more Title I schools to add more of the arts to improve achievement and each unit having a point person on the PTA board for LCAP and the arts.

Also, she forwarded this letter from Superintendent Katherine Thorossian:

Dear MUSD Family,

Please join me in congratulating seasoned Board Member, Mrs. Alexandra Zucco, with her selection as the California State PTA Policy Consultant.  Unfortunately, this notable position requires her to move to Sacramento.  Thus, it is with mixed emotion that I share the news of Alexandra Zucco's resignation.  Her tenure, which began in 2009, will end  May 20, 2016.

Mrs. Zucco has been a staunch proponent of public schools, tirelessly working on behalf of students to provide the very best education for the children of Monrovia.  Whether serving in the PTA, Girl Scouts, the League of Women Voters, or the National Women’s Political Caucus Greater Pasadena Area, Mrs. Zucco has championed social justice issues and, through her work as the Health and Education Deputy for Assembly Member Chris Holden, been able to advocate for change through public policy.

Alex and her husband, Joe, have lived in Monrovia since 1996.  Their children, Zoe and Bonnie, remain proud Wildcat alumni as they pursue their own college paths, at Marist and George Washington University respectively.

On a more personal note, it has been a privilege to work with Alex Zucco.  Her perspective has helped shape the direction, and driven the continued progress, of our district. Even during the most challenging budget analyses, I could always count on Alex to blurt out the funniest (and most accurate) commentary.

I am confident that she will give the PTA the same remarkable stamp that she has imprinted on the walls of this district.

Alex, you will be missed.

Warmly,

Kathy


- Brad Haugaard

See Jupiter and Moon Tonight From Old Town Monrovia

Tonight, April 16, the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be at the corner of Myrtle and Lime from 7-9:30 p.m. sharing views of the moon and Jupiter.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Making Train Depot Historic Landmark, Encourage Higher Sales Tax, License Plate Readers, 'Sign Management', Buying Water, Etc.

At its April 19 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/BtRhgx ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

- Consider designating the old Monrovia Santa Fe Depot as a local historic landmark. http://goo.gl/f2T9ha

- Consider a request by Mayor Pro Tem Larry Spicer to encourage the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors to place a measure on the November 2016 ballot to raise sales tax by half cent for more transportation projects. http://goo.gl/1I7foN

- Review Monrovia Police Department policies on automated license plate readers, of which the city has five, three mobile and two on Myrtle, one south of the train station and one north of the station. http://goo.gl/Hxxt4r

- Consider paying 3M $80,200 to put together a "Sign Management System" to keep track of the city's 6,500 signs. http://goo.gl/59oTcA

- Consider leasing 700 acre feet of water production rights from the Azusa Valley Water Company and the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster for $476,748. That's actually 435 acre feet less than the city needed last year. http://goo.gl/tsR2rg

- Consider naming the circular driveway at Recreation Park as American Legion Way. http://goo.gl/llwD8k

- Consider buying three replacement handheld water meter readers from Inland Valley Water Works Supply Company for $13,859.51. http://goo.gl/mR9r9U

- Also, at 5 p.m., before its regular meeting, the council will consider a list of applicants to build a hotel in town. The agenda is pretty vague, but it is likely referring to the property at the southwest corner of Myrtle and Huntington. http://goo.gl/eA9jVe

- And, at 6:30 p.m. (also before the regular meeting) the council will honor the students who were graduated from the Monrovia Area Partnership's Youth Leadership Academy Graduation. http://goo.gl/EMXcKZ

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Domenico's

Dinner Wednesday at  Domenico's, on Huntington just east of Magnolia. Got the lasagna with a side of minestrone soup for $16.99 and a pint of beer for $5.75.  Very nice service. This is old-style Italian; cheese and red sauce. The soup was especially good On occasion old style I s just what I want. It was very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovian Kim Rhode and the Stigma Attached to Olympic Shooting

A Wall Street Journal article about Monrovia Olympics shooting medalist Kim Rhode and about how shooters are stigmatized because their sport involves guns. http://goo.gl/J8AEkB (Thanks to Robert Parry for the tip).

- Brad Haugaard