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Walking Tour of Old Monrovia

If you would like to learn about Monrovia's history, join a two-hour walking tour this Saturday, August 4. The tour begins at 10 a.m. and lasts about two hours. Cost is $5 per person. Learn about early Monrovia and the buildings that populated Myrtle Avenue when the town was incorporated in 1887.  ​Meet at the SE corner of Myrtle and Palm Avenues.

- Brad Haugaard

Foothill Unity Center Hawaiian Fundraiser


Join Foothill Unity Center August 30 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. for a Hawaiian night at the DoubleTree hotel. Enjoy Hawaiian Music. Learn to hula dance. Hang out with Fritz Colman (KNBC weatherman), Rudy Moreno (George Lopez Show, Fluffies Revolution), and Scott Shimamoto (Ice House). Chill out with Hawaiian food and drinks. Have fun and help your community. All donations will go to Foothill Unity Center's Capital Campaign. Your donations will be deeply appreciated by the low income and homeless families in our community. Please reserve your tickets here: https://goo.gl/9QMUtn

- Brad Haugaard

Polling Centers Going Away; Cooling Center Open Longer; Train Station Rehab Receives Reward; Flags Will Soon Be Back

In his weekly report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ Beginning in 2020, LA County will replace polling places with "Vote Centers," which will let people submit their ballot at any Vote Center in LA County and will be open up to 11 days before the last day to vote. Monrovia will likely have around two Vote Centers, as opposed to the five election polling places it typically has. Also, new voting equipment, which will include a combination of electronic voting mechanisms and a paper ballot.

~ It's still hot, so the cooling center (the Monrovia Community Center at 119  W. Palm Ave.) will be open at 8 a.m. through August 5.

~ The California Preservation Foundation has selected the rehabilitation of Monrovia's historic Santa Fe Depot to receive a 2018 Preservation Design Award in the Rehabilitation category.

~ The flag poles at City Hall are not displaying flags because of some broken fixtures. Chi writes: "The City has ordered the replacement parts necessary and the repair work should be completed within the next week or two."

- Brad Haugaard

Ernie - Your Hiking or Running Buddy?


Ernie (A461155) is one amazing dog. He is a 3-year-old pit bull who is energetic and active. He has gone out with our Wiggle Waggle Wagon crew a few times and loves meeting new people, even kids! He likes playing with toys, but he absolutely loves laying in your lap. If you’re looking for a hiking or running buddy who will not hesitate to cuddle and take a nap with you afterward, come meet Ernie at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA.

The adoption fee for dogs is $130. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated 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.

Source: Pasadena Humane Society (which serves Monrovia)

- Brad Haugaard

Pamela Fitzpatrick Dies

Monrovian Pamela Fitzpatrick has died, according to multiple posts on Facebook. She was the managing partner at The Dollmakers Kattywompus store on Myrtle and was very involved in Monrovia- and especially Old Town - affairs.

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia's AeroVironment to Supply Norway With Drone System

Monrovia's AeroVironment has won a $17.6 million contract to supply its Puma AE (All Environment) hand-launched drone system to Norway. https://goo.gl/GVzGpN

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Noodle Street


Dinner at the new Noodle Street, in the Vons shopping center. Got the Curry Beef Noodle bowl for $9.75 and a watermelon juice for $4.25. Clean, modern atmosphere. Super busy, maybe because of it’s just opened and it was the last day for 30% off. Food was good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Husband Battered; Wife Battered; Police Officer Battered; Threatening With Knife; Drunks and Drugs; Shoplifting; and So Forth

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for July 19–25. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 417 service events, resulting in 76 investigations.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 19 at 8:53 a.m., a caller reported a homeless male and female subject fighting next to Library Park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle. When officers arrived, they contacted both subjects. An investigation revealed the couple were married and had a domestic violence restraining order against one another. The female subject had hit the male subject multiple times, causing injuries. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
July 19 at 10:30 a.m., a caller reported a homeless male subject lying across a sidewalk in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Officers responded to determine if the subject needed medical care, but found him to be heavily intoxicated and unable to care for his own safety. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
July 19 at 9:02 p.m., security for a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington called to report they were detaining four subjects for shoplifting. Officers arrived, and after conducting an investigation, they arrested and took the four subjects into custody. The stolen property was returned to the store.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 20 at 4:58 a.m., a caller reported a suspicious person loitering in the 300 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who was found to be in possession of a pipe that had been used to smoke methamphetamine. The subject was arrested.

Grand Theft – Suspects Arrested
July 20 at 10:01 a.m., security for a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called to report a female subject had just fled their store with power tools and had not paid for the merchandise. They advised she entered a black vehicle driven by a male subject. Officers arrived and stopped the vehicle as it was leaving the parking lot. After investigating, both subjects were arrested and the stolen property was returned.

Traffic Collision / DUI – Suspect Arrested
July 20 at 9:26 p.m., a caller reported two vehicles had collided at the intersection of Ivy and Olive. Officers responded and contacted both drivers. One of the drivers was found to be intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, he was arrested for DUI.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
July 20 at 9:34 p.m., a caller reported a male subject was lying in the middle of the street in the 500 block of S. Myrtle. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who was found to be heavily intoxicated. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 21 at 1:26 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 1500 block of S. Mayflower when he saw a bicyclist commit a violation of the rules of the road. He stopped the bicyclist and discovered he was in possession of a pipe that had been used to smoke methamphetamine. The rider was arrested.

Traffic Collision / DUI – Suspect Arrested
July 21 at 2:03 a.m., a caller reported a motorist had just collided into a curb in the 300 block of W. Central. Officers responded and contacted the driver. The driver was intoxicated, and after field sobriety tests were conducted, he was arrested for DUI.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
July 21 at 2:35 a.m., a caller reported seeing a man lying on the ground in the 600 block of S. Ivy. Officers responded and located the subject, who was found to be too intoxicated to care for his own safety. The subject was taken into custody.

Possession of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
July 21 at 5:27 a.m., a resident in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle reported a suspicious male loitering on the street in front of her house. Officers responded and contacted the subject. He was found to be in possession of cocaine and was arrested.

Vehicle Burglary
July 21 at 8:37 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Duarte walked outside her home and discovered someone had burglarized her vehicle sometime during the night. Several personal items were stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
July 21 at 2:35 p.m., an employee of a store in the 700 block of W. Huntington reported that two male subjects entered her store, took merchandise from a shelf and ran out of the store without paying. Officers searched the area for the subjects, but were unable to locate them. This investigation is continuing.

Burglary / Criminal Threats / Brandishing a Weapon – Suspects Arrested
July 21 at 10:42 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Central reported she was having a dispute with her neighbor. Officers arrived and contacted both subjects. After investigation, it was discovered one subject forced her way into the other’s home and made criminal threats while brandishing a knife. The suspect was arrested.

Traffic Collision / DUI – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 3:16 a.m., a resident in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle reported a motorist had just collided into a curb in front of her house. Officers arrived and contacted the driver, who was found to be intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Grand Theft Auto
July 22 at 8:53 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of S. Ivy walked outside their home and discovered their vehicle had been stolen sometime during the night. While conducting the investigation, officers received notice that another police agency found the vehicle completely stripped. This investigation is continuing.

Battery on a Police Officer / Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 5:07 p.m., an employee of a bar in the 400 block of S. Myrtle reported an intoxicated male had entered their bar making threats. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. He was arrested for being drunk in public. During the booking process, he battered a police officer, which was added to his charges.

Violation of Court Order – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 7:49 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 1200 block of S. California when he saw a male subject who he knew to be restrained by court order from being where he was. The officer stopped the subject and arrested him for the violation.

Strong-arm Robbery – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 9:29 p.m., security for a grocery store in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported they were detaining a male subject who they observed shoplifting from the store. As they were detaining him, the subject began hitting them and forced the stolen property from their hands as he attempted to escape detention. Officers arrived, and after an investigation, arrested the subject.

Found Stolen Vehicle
July 23 at 1:40 p.m., an employee of a business in the 3300 block of S. Myrtle called to report they had inadvertently purchased a vehicle from a subject that was later reported stolen by the actual owner. The owner did not report the vehicle stolen immediately because he was in police custody. The vehicle was returned to its rightful owner and the investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 23 at 8:09 p.m., a caller reported a male subject was standing in front of a residence in the 600 block of E. Colorado, possibly selling narcotics. Officers arrived and the subject attempted to run from them, but was detained. A computer check revealed he had multiple warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft
July 24 at 2:01 p.m., a caller reported he agreed to meet a male subject at a business parking lot in the 900 block of W. Duarte. He had contacted the subject on the internet and was going to sell a cell phone to him. When he handed his cell phone to the subject, the subject fled the area with the phone without paying. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication / Battery on a Police Officer – Suspect Arrested
July 24 at 7:47 p.m., a caller reported a homeless female subject lying on the sidewalk in the 900 block of W. Duarte, possibly in need of medical care. When officers arrived, they contacted the subject and found her to be heavily intoxicated. She was arrested and taken into custody, but resisted officers. In the jail she bit one of the officers while handcuffs were being removed.

Domestic Violence
July 24 at 9:27 p.m., a female subject entered the police lobby and advised she had just been battered by her husband inside their home in the 1800 block of Eighth Avenue. Monrovia Paramedics were called and provided assistance for her injuries. She was given information for victim’s assistance. Officers were unable to contact the male subject. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
July 25 at 4:06 p.m., the house sitter for a home in the 300 block of Oakcliff arrived and found the house had been burglarized while the residents were on vacation. Officers arrived and discovered the suspects entered through an unlocked rear door. It is unknown what was taken. This investigation is continuing.

Careful of this Scam!




This is a scam that is played - apparently - on wealthy people,  since this was sent to a friend of mine in San Marino.

It is a paper letter, addressed specifically to an individual, that threatens to reveal your dirty secrets to your wife and demands money paid in Bitcoin. 

My friend reported it to the San Marino Police who told him a lot of people in town have been getting it.

So, basically they don’t have anything on you. They’re just fishing, or “phishing,” as the terminology is. Just report it to the police. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Daughter of Monrovia's Pioneering 'Strawberry King' Dies

Mary Yoshie Sakatani, daughter of Monrovia pioneer, Yutaro Uyeda (the "Strawberry King") died July 17 of this year, according to a brief article in the Los Angeles Times. She was born on July 22, 1923, attended Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School, then Pasadena City College. During World War II she was held at Pomona Fairgrounds, then transferred to the Heart Mountain, Wyoming, internment camp, where she met and married Masato Sakatani.

Thanks to Dennis Sanchez for the tip.

- Brad Haugaard

Two Large Developments Take a Step Forward; County Planing New Taxes; Summer Entertainment

TownePlace Suites

AvalonBay


In his weekly report (which may eventually be here: https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reported that ...

~ The Development Review Committee has unanimously approved two large developments, TownePlace Suites Hotel, a 109-room, five-story complex at the southwest corner of West Huntington and South Myrtle, and the AvalonBay Project, a mixed-use development composed of a single building containing 154 apartment residential units, 3,500 square feet of ground-floor retail, and a five-story, six-level 286-space parking garage on a 2.1-acre site at the northwest corner of Myrtle and Chestnut. Both proposals will be considered by the Planning Commission on Aug. 15, at 7:30 p.m.

~ LA County is placing a new tax proposal on the November 2018 ballot that could cost the average homeowner about $80 a year, or 2.5 cents per square foot cost on all impermeable surface area (pavement, concrete, rooftops, etc.) per year. The money is to pay for separate storm water sewer systems "to address both clean water and climate change by improving water quality, while also helping Los Angeles County comply with State and Federal Clean Water Acts."

~ Summer Concert and Movie Schedule

Saturday Concerts - Location: Station Square Amphitheater, 7- 8:30 p.m.
July 28 - The Answer, Classic Rock
Aug. 4 - Upstream, Reggae
Aug. 11 - Cold Duck, Motown Soul
Aug. 18 - Kellye Huff Band, Country
Aug. 25 - Boxcar 7, Jazz

Sunday Concerts - Library Park, Rotary Bandshell
July 29 - AD & The Soul Co., Blues & Soul
Aug. 5 - Just Dave Band, Country/Folk
Aug. 12 - The Nolan Shaheed Quintet, Jazz
Aug. 19 - Disney Tribute Band, Children's Music
Aug. 26 - Yachty By Nature, Yacht Rock Band 70s & 80s

Movies in the Park
Saturday, July 28 - The Sandlot @ Recreation Park (740 E. Olive Ave.)
Saturday, Aug. 4 - Back to the Future @ Library Park.
Saturday, Aug. 11 - Coco @ Kiwanis Park at Grand Avenue (340 N. Grand Ave.)

- Brad Haugaard

Duke Needs a 'Laid-Back' Owner


Duke (A380317) is not a puppy, but he rocks the "puppy dog" look. This 5-year-old Catahoula is very friendly. He has gone out with our Wiggle Waggle Wagon crew a few times and has gotten along with people of all ages. He loves going for walks, and bonds quickly with new handlers and friends. He is a mellow dog looking for a laid-back owner. Visit him today at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. (The Pasadena Humane Society serves Monrovia.)

The adoption fee for dogs is $130. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated 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.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Opens Cooling Center

An Excessive Heat Watch will be in effect from Monday, July 23 through Thursday, July 26. Temperatures in the valley are expected exceed 100 degrees, with modest relief in the evening. This watch may be extended if weather conditions do not improve.

We would like to remind everyone that precautions should be taken, especially by individuals who participate in outdoor activities, older adults, caretakers of infants and children, and those sensitive to the heat. If you have an elderly or infirm neighbor without air conditioning, make sure that they get to a cooling center or other air conditioned space. The City of Monrovia has a designated cooling center located at:

Monrovia Community Center (119  W. Palm Ave.)

The cooling center will operate 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. on the following days:
Monday, July 23
Tuesday, July 24
Wednesday, July 25
Thursday, July 26
Friday, July 27

Source: Monrovia Fire Department press release

- Brad Haugaard

Make Wild Rose an 'Art School'? District May Broadcast its Board Meetings; Etc.

At its next meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/qcQhFw), the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Hear a report about plans to make Wild Rose Elementary School an "art school." Dr. Leslie Miller, school principal, will give "an informational report on the plans to begin the transition of Wild Rose ES into an art school." No further detail in the agenda.

~ Consider a deal to broadcast the Board of Education meetings. The district would pay Community Media of the Foothills (aka KGEM) $350 to broadcast and record each board meeting (or all board meetings if there is more than one per day). https://goo.gl/Vo8kM8

~ Consider adopting a budget for 2018-19. Looks pretty healthy. You can see it here: https://goo.gl/LxTggQ

~ Consider adding a fence on the east side of the Bradoaks Elementary School campus.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Big Shrimps


Dinner at Big Shrimps, on the north side of Colorado about a half block of Myrtle. Got the sea bass entree for $12  and a beer for $4.50. Very good. I enjoyed it. 

- Brad Haugaard 

'Footnotes,' Monrovia's Sidewalk Poetry Project

A nice article on Monrovia's sidewalk poetry project, cleverly dubbed "Footnotes." https://goo.gl/jQi2sn

- Brad Haugaard

National Night Out: Meet the Monrovia Police

National Night Out will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Library Park. Meet several of Monrovia’s police officers, detectives, bike patrol, community policing, SWAT officers, Special Enforcement Team officers, volunteers, Police Explorers and have some BBQ’d all-American hot dogs.

Source: Monrovia Police Department

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Counterfeit Bills; Wife Whacks Husband; Shoplifting; And So Forth

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for July 12–18. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 423 service events, During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 423 service events, resulting in 72 investigations.

Traffic Collisions
July 12, between 7:45 a.m. and 1:22 p.m., three non-injury traffic collisions occurred at the intersections of Duarte/Mayflower, Monterey/Huntington, and Fifth/Huntington. The drivers who were found to be at fault were issued a citation for their driving violations.

Vehicle Burglary
July 12 at 8:05 a.m., a female subject called police to report her vehicle had been burglarized. She had parked her vehicle and purchased coffee from a store in the 600 block of W. Huntington. She returned to find the vehicle window had been shattered to gain entry and the vehicle was burglarized. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
July 12 at 8:36 p.m., officers found a vehicle that had been reported stolen parked in a parking lot in the 100 block of W. Foothill. They monitored the vehicle and saw a male subject enter the vehicle to drive away. They stopped the subject, and after investigation, arrested him for theft of the vehicle.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 12 at 11:40 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 700 block of E. Olive when he saw a male subject he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest, so he was stopped and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision / DUI – Suspect Arrested
July 13 at 1:15 a.m., a caller reported a motorist collided into a parked vehicle in the 500 block of S. Alta Vista. Officers responded and contacted the driver, who was intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI.

Commercial Burglary
July 13 at 3:42 a.m., officers responded to an alarm at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington and discovered someone had shattered the front window and taken a safe. Officers searched the area for the suspects, but were unable to locate them. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
July 13 at 1:43 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 500 block of E. Walnut when he saw a parked vehicle that had expired registration. A computer check revealed the plates on the vehicle were not on the right car. While having the vehicle towed, the owner approached the officer and was behaving erratically. She was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, so she was arrested and taken into custody.

Possession of Narcotics / Resisting an Officer – Suspect Arrested
July 13 at 2:43 p.m., a sergeant was patrolling the 700 block of E. Olive when he saw a suspicious occupied vehicle. He contacted the occupant, who was not the registered owner. The subject could not provide vehicle paperwork, had no identification, and initially lied about his name. When the sergeant informed the occupant he was being detained, he made a movement as though he was going to start the ignition. Officers detained the subject and he was arrested for resisting officers. Prior to transport he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and a syringe.

Passing Counterfeit Money
July 13 at 3:39 p.m., the manager of a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a customer had purchased merchandise using a counterfeit bill. Officers responded to investigate. During the investigation it was discovered that additional customers had recently passed similar counterfeit bills. The U.S. Secret Service was notified. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 13 at 5:03 p.m., security for a store in the 700 block of E. Huntington called to report a male subject was being detained inside the store for shoplifting. Officers responded and after investigating the incident, took custody of the subject. A computer check revealed the subject also had a warrant for his arrest.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrest
July 14 at 11:47 a.m., an officer was called to the police lobby regarding a family disturbance that had occurred earlier at the family’s home in the 500 block of E. Olive. The officer discovered the wife had hit her husband multiple times, causing visible injuries. She was arrested and taken into custody. The victim was provided information regarding domestic violence victim’s assistance.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
July 14 at 6:44 p.m., two vehicles collided into one another at the intersection of Huntington and Fifth. One of the drivers fled the scene, failing to stop and exchange information. This investigation is continuing. No injuries were reported.

Violation of Court Order / Resisting an Officer / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 15 at 2:59 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 800 block of W. Olive when he saw a suspicious male loitering on the street. He stopped the subject and discovered there was a warrant for his arrest, as well as a court order restraining him from being where he was. The subject was arrested, and during the booking process, he physically resisted officers.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
July 16 at 6:54 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of Genoa walked outside his home to go to work and discovered a motorist had collided into his vehicle sometime during the night. His vehicle had been parked on the street. Whoever collided into his vehicle did not leave any contact information and did not call the police to report the collision. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
July 16 at 9:01 a.m., a landscaper was doing work at a business in the 400 block of Huntington when a male subject approached his work truck and took some of his tools, then fled the area in a vehicle. Officers searched for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
July 16 at 11:39 a.m., a caller reported she parked her vehicle on the street in the 600 block of N. Canyon, then went for a hike. When she returned to her car, she discovered someone had shattered one of the windows and took her purse and cellphone. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
July 16 at 12:29 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of E. Duarte walked outside her home to go to work and discovered someone had rummaged through her vehicle, which she had left unlocked. She told officers her briefcase and jewelry were taken. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 16 at 3:58 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 400 block of W. Duarte when he saw a male subject he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had several warrants for his arrest; he was arrested and taken into custody.

Trespassing / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 16 at 10:17 p.m., security for a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported a male subject had strewn his belongings across a business walkway for customers and was refusing to leave. Officers arrived and the subject continued to refuse to pick up his belongings and leave. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest, so he was taken into custody.

Shoplifting
July 17 at 1:14 p.m., employees of a store in the 400 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject had just left their store after concealing merchandise in his backpack and failing to pay for the items. Officers arrived and searched for the suspect. The suspect was located and arrested. The property was returned to the store.

Possession of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
July 17 at 1:32 p.m., employees of a bank in the 200 block of S. Myrtle reported a suspicious male subject loitering in his car in their parking lot. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who was found to be in possession of a hypodermic needle filled with methamphetamine, along with other narcotics paraphernalia. The subject was arrested and his vehicle was towed.

Shoplifting – Suspects Arrested
July 17 at 5:59 p.m., security for a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported one male and two female subjects had just fled the store without paying for merchandise. Officers responded and located the subjects. After investigating, all three subjects were arrested and the property was returned to the store.

Violation of a Restraining Order / Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 18 at 9:01 a.m., an elderly female resident living in the 100 block of N. Fifth reported she had served her daughter with a restraining order earlier in the morning, using the service of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who forced her daughter out of the house. After the deputies left, her daughter returned and began hitting the mother. Officers responded and after an investigation, arrested the restrained person.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 18 at 7:25 p.m., a caller reported seeing an intoxicated male subject enter a parked vehicle in the 100 block of W. Foothill and drive away. Officers responded to the area, located and stopped the vehicle. After contacting the driver, field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Shoplifting / Vehicle Pursuit
July 18 at 8:36 p.m., security for a store in the 500 W. Huntington reported a male subject had fled their store after concealing merchandise in his clothing. He entered a vehicle and began driving out of the parking lot. Officers arrived and located the vehicle leaving the lot. They attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled onto the 210 Freeway. After a short pursuit and identifying the owner of the vehicle through DMV records, officers stopped pursuing the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Block Party Treasure Art Reveal: August 18


The City of Monrovia Neighborhood Services Division invites you to attend the Monrovia Area
Partnership’s (MAP) Block Party and Neighborhood Treasure Art Reveal. We will be featuring our
Neighborhood Treasure, Ms. Kate Wright, who was divinely inspired to devote her life to care for
the sick and the poor. Through donations of supplies and labor she built small cottages on her East
Cypress property, where she tended for patients suffering from tuberculosis who had no family or
resources to assist them. Kate received no financial compensation for any of her services and
served selflessly for over 30 years. She died in 1938 and is buried in Live Oak Cemetery.

Her devotion and selfless actions are being honored and recognized on August 18th, 2018 with a
unique piece of artwork that will be installed within the 500 Block of East Cypress Avenue. There
will also be a block party that will include free activities, free games, raffles, and free food for all of
our guests.

TO RSVP:

Go to the Eventbrite website and type in the search bar for “MAP Block Party and Neighborhood
Treasure Unveiling” or you can visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MonroviaAreaPartnership

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Tree Watering Systems; Monrovia Ahead in Paying Down Retirement Debt; LimeBike Glitches; Family Campouts

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

~ If you are concerned about how the drought will affect your trees, city staff "has developed a deep tree watering flyer that outlines both the supplies needed and the process involved with creating your own deep watering system. (I can't find a legible online copy but I'm sure you can get one at City Hall. If you know of a legible copy online let me know and I'll post it.)

~ Because CalPERS made 8.6% across all of its investments in its 2017-18 fiscal year, Monrovia is about $5.7 million ahead. Why? Because the city sold bonds worth about $100 million and sent the money to Calpers to pay off its unfunded retirement debt, and, Chi writes, "The money we sent earned 8.6% interest for roughly one-half the year.  When you couple those earnings with the reduction in interest payments that we would have had to make for our unfunded liability, the bottom line during the first fiscal-year of our CPR Plan decision has been this: We are [about] $5.7 million ahead of where we would have been had we not engaged our CPR Plan."

~ Because of turnover for the LimeBike operations team, it is taking longer to readjust the bikes. The company is hiring someone to take over readjusting the bikes in Monrovia.

~ More Family Hike & Campout events in Canyon Park are planned. BBQ dinner, s'mores, a hike, story-time, and more. Campouts are: July 21-22, Aug. 11-12, Aug. 25-26, Sept. 15-16, and Sept. 29-30.  Registration opens  three weeks before the event. For questions, call Canyon Park Naturalists at 256-8155.

- Brad Haugaard