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AeroVironment Sells Drones To Canadian Navy; Xencor Has Fourth Quarter Loss

~ The the Royal Canadian Navy has acquired the Puma II AE, a maritime mini unmanned drone, made by Monrovia-based AeroVironment. The drone will be used aboard RCN Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels. https://goo.gl/rRjkrA

~ The biotech firm, Xencor Inc., of Monrovia, has reported a loss of $11.8 million in its fourth quarter, or 25 cents a share. However, it lost less than analyst had expected. https://goo.gl/tzGDdD

- Brad Haugaard

Public Safety Meeting Today

Public Safety meeting, today, March 1 at 5:30 p.m. Assemblyman Holden hosting. At the Community Center, 119 W Palm. Issues related to Proposition 47 and 57.

- Brad Haugaard

Meeting Wednesday for Property Owners In Potential Historic Districts

There will be a second special community meeting for property owners to discuss the potential formation of historic districts in Monrovia tomorrow, Thursday, March 1, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Property owners in these potential historic districts are invited:

Downtown East Residential Potential Historic District
Bordered by Ivy Avenue to the west, Colorado Boulevard to the south, Shamrock Avenue to the east, and the buildings on the north side of Lemon Avenue to the north.

Esplanade Potential Historic District
Bordered by West Chestnut Avenue to the north, West Huntington Drive to the south, Monterey Avenue to the west, and South Mayflower Avenue to the east.

Parker Avenue Potential Historic District
Includes the east end of Parker Avenue, starting at South Mayflower Avenue, and continuing approximately half-way down the street, ending at 536 Parker Avenue on the south side of the street, and 547 Parker Avenue on the north side of the street.

Highland Place Potential Historic District
Single-family residences located on Highland Place north of the multi-family residential buildings on Foothill Boulevard, and extends north to West Hillcrest Boulevard.
The purpose of the meeting will be to present and discuss the components of the potential historic district with the residents and explain how it relates to them as property owners.  View a copy of the informational packet that was mailed to each of the property owners in the four potential historic districts outlined.

- Brad Haugaard

Enter Monrovia's Litter Lottery; Cheap Rides Coming to Town; Books

In his weekly report City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ You can enter the monthly bulky-trash raffle to win $25. Just report bulky trash items littering sidewalks, such as couches, mattresses, and tables, and you'll be entered into a contest to win a $25 gift card. Report an item to bulkyitem@ci.monrovia.ca.us or call 932-5575. Include your name, address and phone number and details about the item. Include a picture if possible. Contact Alex Tachiki at atachiki@ci.monrovia.ca.us, or 932-5553 for details.

~ The city's new transportation program will begin March 17 for those who live, work, or visit Monrovia. It involves Lyft rides in town for fifty cents; LimeBike rent-a-bikes for a dollar for 30 minutes (You locate a bike on your cell phone, scan the code to unlock the bike, ride, park in a safe location, and lock the bike using the built-in locking mechanism), and the current Dial-a-Ride program will continue for riders with ADA-related and wheelchair needs.

~  The Monrovia Reads van will be bringing its mobile library, along with literacy librarians and wifi service, to local elementary schools beginning in March. Mondays, Bradoaks; Tuesdays, Wildrose; Wednesdays, Plymouth; Thursday, Monroe; Friday, Mayflower. For more information call the Library at 256-8274. The program is a partnership between Monrovia Reads, the Monrovia Public Library Foundation, and the City of Monrovia.

~ The Monrovia Police Department is installing a Little Library in front of its station, with books from Monrovia Reads. The grand opening will be March 1 at 11 a.m. in front of the police station. If you attend the opening, try to bring a book to donate. Library paid for with funds donated by the Monrovia Police Officers' Association.

- Brad Haugaard

Arcadia Women's Club - Open to Monrovians, Too

The Arcadia Woman's Club invites women of all ages to attend its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 7 at 11 a.m. in its historic Clubhouse, 324  S. First Ave., Arcadia.  The meeting includes a social hour, business meeting, luncheon and a guest speaker on a topic of community interest.  The luncheon cost is $15. 

The Arcadia Woman's Club is a philanthropic organization with members from throughout the San Gabriel Valley.  Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month, September to June.  The club is a 501c3 non-profit organization participating in community service activities focused on issues such as domestic violence, orphaned children, Veterans, aid to pregnant women and new mothers, Books for Braille, camperships and other local charities.  Another notable activity is the club's annual recognition luncheon for Arcadia's first responders, Arcadia Police and Fire Departments, which is coming up in March.

The club also has fun while raising funds to support its work as experienced at its recent Bridge and Bunco afternoon where more than 50 participants enjoyed lively game play, prizes and a delicious lunch.  Another festive favorite is the annual fashion show and luncheon coming up on April 14.  This year's theme is Springtime in Paris.

Women interested in getting to know more about the Arcadia Woman's Club and its activities are encouraged to call Linda Mokler, membership chair, at 287-0261 or email:  llmokler@yahoo.com.

Source: Arcadia Women's Club press release

- Brad Haugaard

Pastel the Bunny Needs a Home


Pastel the Bunny

Pastel (A449244) is a cute 8-week- old bunny available for adoption here at the Pasadena Humane Society. Pastel is here with two littermates, who are also looking for their forever homes. They like to hop around their kennel, eat alfalfa hay and timothy hay, and cuddle together. If you are looking to adopt a baby bunny, come to the Pasadena Humane Society and talk to an adoptions counselor today. The adoption fee for rabbits is $35. All rabbits are spayed or neutered and microchipped before going to their new home.

New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

The Pasadena Humane Society serves Monrovia.

Source: Pasadena Humane Society

- Brad Haugaard

Hepatitis A Health Meeting Tonight

There will be a city meeting tonight on public health, together with the LA County Department of Public Health, to address concerns about Hepatitis A and other communicable diseases due to activities of the homeless. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Library Community Room.

- Brad Haugaard

'Trees, Birds, Gardens, and People' at Garden Club Meeting

Pasadena Audubon Pro Birder Dessi Sieburth will speak tonight about, "Trees, Birds, Gardens, and People" at the Monrovia Garden Club. Light refreshments at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m. in the Fireside Room at the First  Presbyterian  Church at Foothill and Myrtle.

- Brad Haugaard

Opening the Old Monrovia Train Depot

A photo report on the opening of the old Monrovia train depot and the dedication of the Bob Bartlett memorial. https://goo.gl/R2xTFH

- Brad Haugaard

Mayflower School May Get Light-Up Signs

At its Feb. 28 meeting (agenda), the Monrovia School Board will consider accepting a $12,200 bid by Custom Signs, Inc. to replace the school signs at Mayflower School with two LED signs. The signs will be paid for by the Mayflower PTA.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Baja Mar Fish Taco


Lunch at Baja Mar Fish Taco, in the shopping center at Foothill and May. Got the lunch special with a fish taco, a carnitas taco, rice, beans and a drink for $7.49. Enjoyed it a lot. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Woman Faces Down a Car; Stolen Truck Tailgate; Drunks; Illegal Weapons; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 15-21. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 413 service events, resulting in 78 investigations.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
February 15 at 9:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of E. Foothill to check on the welfare of a male subject who had fallen and was unable to get up off the ground. When the officers arrived and contacted the subject, they discovered he was extremely intoxicated and was unable to care for his own safety. The officers arrested him for public intoxication.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 15 at 11:03 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1600 block of S. Mountain when he saw two people arguing loudly in a business parking lot. After investigation, one of the subjects was found to have a warrant. Officers arrested her and took her into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 16 at 9:56 p.m., a sergeant was patrolling the Station Square Platform in the 1700 block of S. Primrose when he saw three subjects he recognized. A computer check revealed one of the subjects had a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant.

Drinking Alcohol in Public
February 17 at 12:05 a.m., a sergeant was patrolling the 700 block of E. Cypress, when he saw a parked vehicle occupied by two subjects next to a closed business. When the sergeant approached the vehicle, he saw both subjects were drinking alcohol in public. They were issued citations to appear in court for the violation.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
February 17 at 1:07 a.m., a sergeant was on patrol in the 100 block E. Olive, when she saw a subject staggering in the street. She stopped the subject to talk to him and found he was too intoxicated to care for himself. The subject was arrested for public intoxication.

Attempt Burglary
February 17 at 4:02 a.m., an audible burglary alarm was activated at a business in the 900 block of W. Huntington. When officers arrived, they found a glass window to the business had been removed. No suspects were located and nothing was taken. The owner of the business responded to replace the window.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 17 at 11:01 a.m., officers were dispatched to the report of a suspicious vehicle that was occupied by two subjects and parked in front of a business. When the officers arrived, they contacted the two subjects. A computer check revealed one of the subjects had a warrant for a Redondo Beach criminal case. Officers arrested the subject and Redondo Beach Police responded to Monrovia and took custody.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
February 17 at 5:39 p.m., the owner of a parked vehicle discovered fresh collision damage to their car that had occurred while they were inside of a business in the 100 block of S. Myrtle. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of an illegal Weapon – Suspect Arrested
February 18 at 12:24 a.m., an officer was extra patrolling the parking lot of a business that was closed in the 1600 block of S. Mountain when he saw a parked vehicle occupied by two subjects. As the officer approached the vehicle, the subject sitting in the driver’s seat opened the door. The officer saw there was an illegal weapon next to where this subject was sitting. The subject was arrested for possession of the weapon.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
February 18 at 3:36 a.m., a sergeant was patrolling the 3000 block of S. Myrtle, when he saw a vehicle in front of him make an illegal wide right turn. The sergeant followed the vehicle and saw the driver make several more driving violations. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was found to be intoxicated. After conducting field sobriety tests, the sergeant arrested the subject for DUI.

Battery
February 18 at 9:27 a.m., employees of a business in the 1600 block S. Mountain saw a vehicle that was involved in previous theft enter their store’s parking lot. When they approached the car, the occupants opened the door and intentionally hit one of the employees. The door closed and the vehicle fled the area. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
February 19 at 8:28 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of Hacienda walked outside his home and found his truck’s tailgate had been stolen sometime during the night. He had parked the truck on the street the night before. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
February 19 at 1:14 pm., the owner of a vehicle found his car window shattered and tools were taken. He had parked his car on the street in the 900 block of S. Fifth earlier in the day. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
February 20 at 11:02 a.m., employees of a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a subject had just stolen a pressure washer. Officers responded and located the suspect fleeing the store. The suspect was detained and, after an investigation was conducted, he was arrested for shoplifting.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 20 at 11:09 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle in the 1800 block of S. California for a driving violation. A computer check revealed the driver had a warrant for his arrest, so the officer arrested him and took him into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 20 at 1:48 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle at Myrtle and Evergreen. A computer check revealed the driver had a warrant for his arrest, so the officer took him into custody.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
February 20 at 7:08 p.m., a traffic collision occurred between two vehicles at Magnolia and Walnut, and one of the drivers immediately began walking away from the scene. Officers responded and located the fleeing driver, who requested paramedics due to a medical issue. Monrovia Fire Department paramedics arrived and transported him to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Violation of Court Order
February 21 at 9:24 a.m., a subject came to the police station to report her ex-boyfriend had violated the terms of a court order at her home in the 1600 block of S. Alamitas and had possibly made threats to her through a third party. The third party could not immediately be contacted by the officer. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
February 21 at 12:10 p.m., a landscaper reported his lawnmower had just been stolen from the back of his truck, which was parked in the 900 block of W. Hillcrest while he was at a nearby home, gardening. Officers searched the area for the thieves, but were unable to locate them. This investigation is continuing.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon
February 21 at 8:07 p.m., several callers reported an incident of road rage occurring in the 1400 block of Monterey. Officers responded and located the two drivers standing outside their vehicles in the middle of the street, yelling at one another. After an investigation, it was discovered that the aggressor followed the victim home. A passenger in the suspect vehicle exited and scratched the victim’s car with a sharp object. The victim exited her vehicle and stood in front of the suspect vehicle to prevent them from leaving. Officers arrested the driver and passenger from the suspect vehicle.

Monrovia Garden Club Topic: Trees, Birds, Gardens, and People

Pasadena Audubon Pro Birder Dessi Sieburth will speak about  "Trees, Birds, Gardens, and People" at the  Tuesday, Feb. 27,  meeting of the Monrovia Garden Club. Meetings are held in the Fireside Room at the First  Presbyterian  Church at Foothill and Myrtle. Meetings are open to the public and start at 7 p.m. with a social hour with light refreshments at 6:30 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Home Builder Fred Bowden Dies; Class on Protecting Your Home From Wildfires; Etc.

In his weekly report, City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ Monrovian Fred Bowden has died of cancer.  Bowden built Bowden Development, Inc., a prominent local home builder.

~ In anticipation of the next wildfire, the Monrovia Fire Department has prepared a class to teach residents how to assess the fire vulnerability of their homes. Also, firefighters who responded to the 2017 wildfires in California will provide first-hand accounts of what they saw. The event will take place on May 5, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Monrovia Community Center in the Kay Dalton Room.  To RSVP, or for questions, call 256-8109.

~  Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) will host a block party on March 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Second Baptist Church (925  S. Shamrock) with family fun, games, and prizes, and to teach people about city services. Also, MAP, with the Art in Public Places program, will debut Neighborhood Treasures, a new program designed to highlight unsung Monrovia heroes. The first art treasure will honor Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth. Contact Ariel Tolefree-Williams at 932-5563 for party details.

~ A retirement party for city employee Lisa Hansberger will be held on March 1, at 5 p.m. at the Diplomat Restaurant.

- Brad Haugaard

Dedication of Historic Santa Fe Depot and Bartlett Memorial

The community is invited to attend the City of Monrovia's dedication event in recognition of the restoration of the Historic Santa Fe Depot and the christening of the Mayor Bob Bartlett Memorial.  The event will take place at Station Square (1629  S. Myrtle Ave.) on Sunday, Feb. 25, starting at noon.

During the past year, the City has, in partnership with the development team at Daylight Limited, LLC, been working to carefully rehabilitate the Historic Santa Fe Depot, which is one of the most historically significant structures in Monrovia.  The building, which was originally built in 1926, has been formally identified as the City's 137th landmarked building. "It is a community treasure whose history is completely intertwined with the development of the City of Monrovia," said Mayor Pro Tem Gloria Crudgington.  Staying true to its original Spanish Colonial Revival Style, the efforts to restore the facility is now complete, and efforts are underway to find a restaurant operator for the rehabilitated space.

Additionally, Station Square will also house the new Mayor Bob Bartlett Memorial.  Led by Mayor Tom Adams and City Council Member Larry Spicer, the Bob Bartlett Memorial Committee was established in October 2015, and for the past two years, the committee has worked to determine how best to commemorate and honor former Monrovia Mayor Bob Bartlett. Mayor Bartlett was elected as the first African American to serve on the Monrovia City Council in 1974.  Later, in 1988, he was elected Mayor and served in that position through 2001.  During his tenure, Mayor Bartlett presided over many community enhancements, including the revitalization of Old Town, the development of the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center, establishment of the Community Center, and developing the High Tech Corridor on East Huntington Drive.  Given his service to Monrovia, the City Council commissioned the establishment of a mosaic art piece that would honor Mayor Bartlett's legacy. 

To celebrate the restoration of the Historic Santa Fe Depot, along with the installation of the Mayor Bob Bartlett Memorial, the City hopes that you can attend this special occasion celebrating the newest additions to Station Square.  The event is completely free to the public, and parking will be available at the Station Square Park-and-Ride parking lot on the southwest corner of Myrtle Avenue and Pomona Avenue.  For more information, please call 932-5512.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Dedication of Monrovia Train Depot and Bartlett Memorial

Dedication of the Historic Santa Fe Depot and the memorial to Mayor Bob Bartlett on Sunday, Feb. 25 in the Station Square parking lot. If you'd like to attend, RSVP by Thursday, Feb. 22 to jtran@ca.monrovia.ca.us or by calling 932-5512.

- Brad Haugaard

Below Freezing Weather Predicted for Monrovia Tonight

Bring your critters and sensitive plants inside tonight. The National Weather Service is predicting that the temperature will drop below freezing in Monrovia and a lot of the county, from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday. https://goo.gl/E5Cn2Z

- Brad Haugaard

Chili Cook-Off to Benefit Unity Center

There will be a chili cook-off on Feb. 24 to benefit Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Details here: https://goo.gl/dDXA6f

- Brad Haugaard

See Historic Monrovia Pictures at Renovated Train Station


Each Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, from 1-4 p.m. throughout March and April the newly restored Monrovia train station will be displaying 100 photographs from the Legacy Collection, a sample of the 5,000 soon to be online at the Library. Prints of some of these photos will be for sale. Admission is free, no reservations required. For more information contact Sandy Burud at the Monrovia Historical Society at monroviahistoricalsociety1896@gmail.com or at  256-3423 or 675-8323.

- Brad Haugaard

Hamiltunes Today at IFGF Church

Hamiltunes, today, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. at IFGF Church, 147 W. Palm. Broadway's "Hamilton" sing-a-long. Details: https://goo.gl/d5S92H

- Brad Haugaard