Opinion: Citrus College Recognized For Student Completion, Success

By Mrs. Joanne Montgomery, Board Member Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees

College success and the completion of academic goals are the most important focus of an institution of higher learning. This is true for students, their families, the taxpayers, and the businesses and industries that will need highly skilled, well-educated workers, ready to take on the challenges of the 21 st century workplace.

As Monrovia’s representative on the Citrus College Board of Trustees for the past 18 years, I am continually delighted by the college’s ability to set new institutional records and fulfill its commitment to be a “College of Completion.”

The 2015-2016 academic year has been a stellar year for Citrus College. This past fall, Citrus College was one of two community colleges in California to be recognized with the Student Success Award by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The award validates college programs that support students as they achieve their higher education goals.

Citrus College was recognized among the nation’s top 100 community colleges for awarding degrees by the publication Community College Week. Citrus College was also ranked 12th in the United States for the number of associate degrees awarded to Hispanic students by The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. For the sixth consecutive year, Citrus College was designated a “Military Friendly®” school by GI Jobs magazine.

This spring, and for the second time, Citrus College was one of 150 community colleges in the nation invited to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The college has now advanced to the next round of the competition. In addition, the Campaign for College Opportunity, a nonprofit organization devoted to ensuring that the next generation of students in California has the chance to go to college and succeed, named Citrus College a “Champion for Higher Education.” The college was one of 13 California community colleges and three California State Universities that were honored for leading the way in creating strong transfer pathways.

Also this spring, Citrus College was named the “Best Community College” by the readers of the San Gabriel Valley Newsgroup publications for the third consecutive year. No doubt Citrus College’s dedicated faculty and staff; our beautiful campus with its state-of- the-art facilities; the college’s stunning location next to the foothills—and close proximity to the Gold Line; and our collegewide commitment to student success, has continued to make Citrus College a regional favorite in the San Gabriel Valley.

As the academic year draws to a close, I am especially gratified to say that Citrus College will once again break its record for the number of degrees awarded to students at Commencement for the sixth consecutive year.

I would like to thank the Monrovia community for their continued support of Citrus College. It is an honor to represent you on the Citrus College Board of Trustees.

Dinner at Shrimp House

Dinner at Shrimp House, at the corner of Peck Road and Live Oak. Got the Pacific Red Snapper for $14.39 and a beer for $4.39. This is a traditional fish restaurant. Very pleasant. I got a green salad, not shown because I ate it. Very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Help Monrovia Teacher Win $2,500 for Her Class

You can help Kim Kirkendall win $2,500 from Farmers Insurance for her special needs class at Monrovia's Wild Rose School just by voting, and you can vote once a day. Click here ( https://goo.gl/RPp8Ns ), type "Monrovia" in the city field, then click on the card for Kim. The voting form will appear. Enter your email address and Farmers will send you a confirmation email (dig in your spam folder if you miss it). Finally, click on the confirmation link in the email.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Identity Theft; Counterfeit 50s; Pistols and Rifle Stolen; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 30 – June 1. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 412 service events, resulting in 66 investigations.

Identity Theft / Credit Card Fraud – Suspect Arrested
May 30 at 9:04 a.m., police received a call of a suspicious vehicle on Patrician Way. When officers arrived, they located a vehicle occupied by a male and female adult. During the investigation, the officers discovered the female driver was in possession of blank credit cards and personal information belonging to numerous subjects. The female suspect was arrested and taken into custody for identity theft and credit card fraud. The male subject was released.

Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
May 30 at 8:31 p.m., an officer on patrol stopped a bicyclist for vehicle code violations at Ivy and Maple. A consent search of the subject revealed a methamphetamine pipe in his possession. He was arrested and taken into custody. He was issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Commercial Burglary
May 31 at 8:03 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of W. Duarte Road on the report of a burglary. Employees arrived for work in the morning and discovered the business had been burglarized. The suspect entered the business by cutting a hole in the roof with an axe. Once inside, the suspect was able to disable the alarm and cut a hole in the side of a safe with a steel cutter. The suspect stole cash from the safe and fled the location back through the roof. The investigation is continuing.

Fraud / False Information to a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
May 31 at 6:29 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of California called police to report that an adult female had come by her house twice, stating she was there to pick up two envelopes that UPS and the Postal Service had delivered. The resident refused to give her the envelopes and called the police. An officer responded and detained the female suspect a block away from the residence. The female suspect gave officers a fraudulent driver's license with a false name on it. The suspect's identification showed the address where the envelopes were delivered. The two envelopes contained two credit cards with the suspect's alias on them. The suspect was arrested for several fraud charges and giving false information to a police officer.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 31 at 8:27 p.m., officers responded to a traffic collision at the intersection of Mountain and Valley View. A van hit a parked car. After evaluating the driver, it appeared he may have had a medical emergency that caused him to hit the parked vehicle. He was checked by Monrovia Fire Department paramedics and taken to the hospital.

Counterfeit US Currency
May 31 at 9:16 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a patron passing two counterfeit $50 dollar bills at the location. The officers arrived and detained the subject. The subject stated that he completed a gardening job in Garden Grove and the individual paid him with the three $50 dollar bills and the rest in $20 dollar bills. As the subject was unaware he possessed the counterfeit bills, the officers seized the three $50 dollar bills and released the subject. The case was referred to the Secret Service for investigation.

Vehicle Burglary
June 1 at 3:02 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of N. Primrose. The victim had been to a shooting range and left four pistols and a rifle in the trunk of his vehicle. On June 1 at around 3:00 a.m., two suspects were seen unlocking the vehicle with a key fob. The suspects entered the vehicle and removed the firearms by accessing the trunk through the rear seat. The suspects stole the firearms and walked away from the location. The suspects are believed to be a male and female, both suspects were wearing hoodies. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
June 1 at 3:56 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of Poinsettia. The victim left his vehicle parked in front of his residence on the street overnight. When he returned to his vehicle in the morning, he noticed the contents of the glovebox had been removed. The suspects had also tried to remove the stereo. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Fraud – Three Suspects Arrested
June 1 at 6:58 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington regarding a shoplifting in progress. As the three suspects exited the store, they were detained. After investigation, one female adult was arrested for petty theft and a warrant, one male adult was arrested for petty theft, and the other male adult was arrested for receiving stolen property and unlawful use of another's personal information.

Monrovia Bears at Work

- Brad Haugaard 

Less Water for Monrovia | Shuttle Usage 'Moderate' | Awards | Bartlett Memorial | Spilled Water | Summer Reading

In his weekly update, City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

- For Fiscal Year 2017/18 Monrovia will be allowed to draw 20,000 fewer acre feet of water from the ground, 13.3% less than for Fiscal Year 2016/17 (July 1 through June 30, 2017) That's 130,000 acre feet compared to 150,000 acre feet. The Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster established this "safe yield." In response, Chi said the "City's strategy involves the continued imposition of aggressive water conservation measures, utilization of the City's Water Cyclic Storage Bank (a water savings account in which the City currently has over 1,400 acre feet of water production rights), and the strategic purchase of additional water production rights from other agencies in the Basin."

- The city's weekend shuttle service between the train station and Old Town has seen "very moderate usage." Since March 11, ridership on the shuttle has averaged 27 riders on Friday and 14 on Saturday.

- At the 2016 Neighborhoods USA annual conference, Monrovia Area Partnership won first place for its newsletter, second place for its Care for your Neighbor Program (Physical Revitalization / Beautification), and second place for its Youth Leadership Academy (Social Revitalization / Neighborliness).

- The Bob Bartlett Memorial Committee has recommended the City hire an artist to develop a mosaic mural at Station Square to honor the late Bob Bartlett. The city has received seven proposals and is reviewing the qualifications of the artists.

- An electrical failure last week at the city's well at 2655 S. Myrtle Ave. caused water to run into the street. Water Treatment Towers 3 and 4 had gone into an electrical shutdown, which let the water overflow.

- The Library will kick-off its Summer Reading Program on Thursday, June 16, from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Station Square Park with Fantastick Patrick, the one Man Circus Band. Laughs, juggling, music, a 10-foot high unicycle, and other "fantastic" tricks.

- Brad Haugaard

Bike Riding Seminar June 4

Bike Safety Saturday, June 4 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Parking lot of St. Luke's Episcopal Church at California and Foothill. Safety, riding skills, first aid, opportunities for Girl Scouts to earn badges. For more information, call Michael Gray, (818) 468-8870. Sponsored by Monrovia Police, American Red Cross, Girl Scouts and Empire Bikes. http://goo.gl/3Qu3D9

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Hit and Run; Burglary; Catalytic Converter Stolen; Couple Arrested for Fighting; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 26-29. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Felony Hit and Run Traffic Collision
May 26 at 6:11 p.m., officers responded to the report of a hit and run traffic collision in the 1300 block of S. Magnolia Avenue. The victim’s vehicle was rear-ended by the suspect’s vehicle, which was traveling at a high rate of speed. The suspect then drove off and fled the scene. The victim saw the vehicle and suspect from his rear view mirror and said he could identify the suspect if seen again. He also gave a description of the vehicle. The victim complained of pain and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Several hours later, as the victim was returning home from the hospital, he saw the suspect vehicle. He called police and provided the license plate number. A computer check was run on the license plate to find the registered owner’s address. The vehicle was located at the registered owner’s residence and was stored for investigation. The registered owner was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
May 26 at 9:26 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of E. Fig Avenue. Three to four male suspects were seen running from the residence. At least one was carrying property. The suspects got into a white, Hyundai sedan and fled the location. A side window was smashed to gain entry and the home was ransacked. A safe containing money and jewelry was taken, along with the video surveillance equipment. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
May 27 at 9:52 a.m., a grand theft incident that occurred in the 400 block of Genoa was reported to police. The victim parked her vehicle on the street in front of her residence in the evening. When she returned to her vehicle the next morning, she discovered someone had stolen the catalytic converter off her vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 28 at 1:19 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of Live Oak and Longden. During the traffic stop, it was determined that the driver had been drinking and was driving under the influence. After investigation, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence and held for a sobering period.

Residential Burglary
May 28 at 7:22 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 800 block of S. Canyon Boulevard. The father of the victim went to his daughter's apartment to check on it because she is out of town. When he arrived, he saw a back window had been shattered and the residence was ransacked. Jewelry was taken from the home. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
May 28 at 8:06 p.m., officers were dispatched to a traffic collision with possible injuries in the area of California and Los Angeles. During the investigation, it was determined that one of the drivers involved was intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence and held for a sobering period.

Domestic Violence – Suspects Arrested
May 29 at 9:20 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of Grand Avenue on the report of two subjects fighting. They arrived and found a male and female with injuries. Both subjects admitted they had been in a fight. The subjects were found to be boyfriend and girlfriend; both were arrested for domestic violence.

Walking Tour of Old Monrovia

The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group will conduct another walking tour of downtown Monrovia on Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m. The tour lasts about two hours, and participants will be walking a total of 8 city blocks. Cost is $5 per person, and reservations are not necessary. Meet at the SE corner of Palm and Myrtle Avenues. http://www.mohpg.org/

- Brad Haugaard

CPR Today at Library Park | Monrovia Baseball Loses :-( | Inside Buyers | City Closed for Memorial Day

~ Sidewalk CPR lessons today at Library Park, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. http://goo.gl/G6RFd1 (UPDATE: My apologies. This was not today, it is this coming Thursday, June 2.)

~ Monrovia baseball loses CIF bid with loss to Tahquitz Titans. http://goo.gl/VL3KlC

~ Insiders buying stock in Monrovia's Staar Surgical. http://goo.gl/4UCeLQ

~ Monrovia city facilities closed today in honor of Memorial Day.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Mooyah Burgers

Dinner last night at the new Mooyah Burgers, in the Pavilions shopping center at Myrtle and Foothill. I got a Mooyah burger for $5.79, a small fries for $2.49 and a Little Moo shake for $3.49. A very lively place. The burger comes on a potato bun and is tasty. Shake nice and thick. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Gold Line Service to Improve In Late June

"All Gold Line trains will run from Azusa to East Los Angeles with frequencies of every seven minutes during peak hours beginning Monday, June 27, Metro CEO Phil Washington announced Thursday." http://goo.gl/ZjBM8s Comment: This is very good. I take the trains at rush hour and most of the time it is standing room only because currently half the trains from LA end at Sierra Madre Villa station, which means the trains that continue on - and come back - are about every fifteen minutes and are very crowded. Hooray!

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Baseball - Success in Round Two of Playoffs

Monrovia baseball over Ganesha in the second round of the CIF playoffs. http://goo.gl/LbtNY2

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Warn of Fake IRS Phone Scam

The Monrovia Police Department would like to alert the public to a telephone scam that The Monrovia Police Department would like to alert the public to a telephone scam that is currently targeting the public. This week, a Monrovia resident called police to report a telephone scam where they received a recorded phone call from a suspect claiming to represent the Department of the United States Treasury. The suspect stated the call was concerning tax fraud and gave the resident a hotline phone number to call. The suspect said the resident would be facing litigation and would be arrested and put in jail if they did not respond to the call. The resident did not return the phone call. They recognized the call was a fraudulent telephone scam and reported the incident to police. Legitimate businesses and government agencies will not ask you for personal information over the phone. The Monrovia Police Department would like to remind the public not to respond to these telephone scams and to never give out personal information over the telephone.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Vehicle Burglaries and Vandalism; Identity Theft; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 23-25. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 425 service events, resulting in 69 investigations.

Vehicle Burglary
May 23 at 8:53 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 800 block of Monterey. While police were investigating the incident, a second victim from the 800 block of Monterey contacted police stating their vehicle had also been burglarized. The suspect smashed the vehicle windows to gain entry. A laptop computer that was left on the passenger seat was taken from the first vehicle and a backpack was taken from the second vehicle. The investigations are continuing.

Vehicle Vandalism
May 23 at 4:56 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the report of a vehicle vandalism in the 500 block of Bradbury. The victim parked the vehicle in the evening and returned the next day to discover the window had been shot, possibly with a BB gun. There was one small hole in the window, but no BB's were found inside. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
May 23 at 8:40 p.m., a male adult was caught by employees stealing several items from a store in the 100 block of W. Foothill. The employees detained the suspect and called police. An officer arrived and, after investigation, arrested the suspect. The suspect was issued a citation to appear in court on the shoplifting charges.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
May 23 at 11:35 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 1200 block of S. Mayflower observed a subject riding his bicycle and attempted to stop him for vehicle code violations. The subject jumped off his bike and ran through a gated apartment complex, but was apprehended by the officer. A search of the subject revealed a methamphetamine smoking pipe. He was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting/ delaying a peace officer.

Fraud Investigation
May 24 at 10:27 p.m., a victim of identity theft came into the police department lobby to file a report. The victim had received several applications for credit and newly opened credit card accounts. In checking her credit further, she found at least five accounts had been opened in her name. She canceled all the accounts and contacted police. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
May 26 at 5:30 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 400 block of W. Olive. The victim parked and secured his van in the evening. When he returned to his vehicle in the morning, the victim found one of the windows had been smashed. Upon further inspection, he realized his tools had been stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Municipal Service Bill To Go Up; Rotating Mayor; Power Poles; Etc.

In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/ILpgBG ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports:

- Your Municipal Services Bill will go up starting with the August 2016 bill. "For the typical residential customer, a 2.7% CPI rate adjustment will result in a $1.05 / month water bill increase, and a $0.24 / month sewer bill increase."

- The city is planning a set of community meeting to ask people their thoughts about having a the mayor's office rotate among council members. No dates yet.

- SCE will be replacing 214 50-year old power poles with new steel poles, 20 poles per day. You should get a door-hanger notice if there will be work in your area.

- There will be a grand opening of the remodeled Nature Center Exhibit in Canyon Park showcasing Native Americans of the San Gabriel Valley, on Saturday, May 28, from noon to 2 p.m. Event will feature with Native American blessing ceremony, children's activities, story telling, face painting, activity booths.

- Canyon Park Family Hike & Campouts on June 11-12 and August 13-14. From Saturday at 2 p.m. to Sunday at 10 a.m. $40 per 10x10 camping spot. Guided day and night hikes, story times, BBQ'd hotdogs and hamburgers, roast marshmallows... all while spending an evening in a tent beneath the stars. Then a Sunday morning pancake breakfast. For details contact Eugene Suk, Hillside Wilderness Preserve Supervisor, at 256-8281, or at esuk@ci.monrovia.ca.us!

- Monrovia students are featured in this video edition of Metro Motion taking a train ride to Citrus College in Azusa. https://goo.gl/nAoo60

- The latest edition of the Monrovia Today will be out in a week or two. Information about summer concerts, community events, and Library and Recreation activities, programs, and classes.

- Monrovia Day Parade winners: Best Band - Monrovia High; Best Float - Monrovia Elementary School Float; Best Themed Entry - Monrovia High Robotics Club; Best Cheer Squad - Monrovia High Cheerleaders; Best Dance Troop - Pasadena Cowgirls Drill Team & Drum Squad. Judges Award - Ballet Folklorico Azteca.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Rotary Awards Scholarships

The Monrovia Rotary Club reports that it has presented $14,000 in scholarships to students from the Monrovia School District. http://goo.gl/yuY5Ih

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia ChapCare Will Provide Pediatric Care

On June 6, Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (ChapCare), will begin providing pediatric medical services at its center in Monrovia, located at 513 E. Lime Ave. Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Bike Safety Saturday | Time Not a Factor Lecture

~ Bike Safety Saturday will be held on Saturday, June 4, from 8 to 10 a.m. in the parking lot of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, at Foothill and California. It will include safety tips, riding skills and first aid information, as well as opportunities for Girl Scouts to earn badges. For information, contact Michael Gray, (818) 468-8870. Sponsored by the Monrovia Police Department, the American Red Cross, Monrovia/Duarte Girl Scouts and Empire Bikes.

~ Christian Science lecture, "Time is Not a Factor in Your Life," by Dave Hohle, Saturday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Monrovia United Methodist Church, 140 W. Palm. Child care provided. Presented by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Monrovia.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia College Grad Wins Award for Outstanding Community Service

Aspiring pediatrician Karah Kirby of Monrovia is the 2016 recipient of Cal State Fullerton's Kenneth L. Goodhue-McWilliams Award, which recognizes outstanding community service in the health professions. She received the award Friday at the university's Honors and Scholars Awards ceremony, then donned cap and gown for the May 22 commencement ceremonies on campus. She graduated summa cum laude. Full story: http://goo.gl/J8JOvj

- Brad Haugaaard