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Santa's Touring Monrovia This Week

If you missed it the first time, here is Santa's schedule for touring Monrovia: https://goo.gl/KNrBzs

- Brad Haugaard

Noon Year's Eve Fun Family Program

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Company Creates Computer Eye On a Chip


SiLC Technologies, Inc., a Monrovia company (423 E. Huntington, just east of California), has come up with an improved computer vision device, and put it on a chip.

The system uses LiDAR, which Wikipedia defines as "a surveying method that measures distance to a target by illuminating the target with pulsed laser light and measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor." Like radar with lasers.

The company says existing LiDAR systems suffer from range limitation due to eye safety concerns (you don't want to shoot eye-blasting lasers every which way), "multi-user cross-talk" (I think that means the possibility of the sensors picking up reflections from someone else's LiDAR system and getting confused), and cost.

The company says its new LiDAR-on-a-chip system addresses all these concerns and could be valuable in the potentially huge markets of self-driving vehicles, facial recognition systems, robotics and artificial intelligence systems. https://goo.gl/PD3PLg

- Brad Haugaard

Eclipse the Kitty Looking for Invitation to Your House


Eclipse (A468903) is an 8-month-old kitty looking for a home for the holidays. She was surrendered to the Pasadena Humane Society a month ago and is in need of a new friend and home. When you visit her in the Cat Communal Room she is the first to approach you. She loves ear scratches and full body pets and will head bump for more. She enjoys playing, cuddling, and napping and is looking for that special someone to make her part of the family this holiday season.

The adoption fee for cats is $75. All cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before being adopted.

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

Elf Movie This Monday Night at the Library


For Monday Movie Night Elf, Monday Dec. 17, from 6-8 p.m. in the library Community Room. Dress in your pajamas, bring your blanket, pillow and your favorite stuffed friend. Enjoy freshly popped popcorn. Sponsored by Friends of the Monrovia Public Library. https://goo.gl/NGq9nf

- Brad Haugaard

GoMonrovia Prices May Go Up (With Exceptions) Again; Rules for Sidewalk Vendors

Growth of Lyft rides in Monrovia.

At its next meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/Y5V6Gs)the Monrovia City Council will consider ...

 ~ A price increase and other modifications for GoMonrovia. Why? Because the insanely successful Lyft partnership that gives residents cheap rides around town is flat running out of money.

The city wants to maintain $.50 shared rides to or from Old Town and to and from the Gold Line Station, but other shared rides would increase from 50 cents to a dollar, and solo rides would increase from $3 to $3.50.

Also, the city will seek to be completely reimbursed by LA County and Bradbury for their participation in the program, or seek to scale back services to them. And, it will restructure the Dial-A-Ride program so it is ONLY for handicapped riders.

The problem is the program's estimated annual cost is $2.7 million and the city only has $1.2 million per year to spend on it. These changes, the staff report says, "are estimated to improve the GoMonrovia financial position by around $1.5 million, which would still leave an annualized funding gap of around $600,000."

Since that's still short, the city will monitor the program, reevaluate after this coming June, and possibly make additional adjustments.

Details: https://goo.gl/XLQjtC

~ What to do in response to California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, which allows sidewalk vendors (we're not talking food trucks here), whether cities like it or not.

To address this Monrovia has come up with these proposed regulations:

  • Restrict vending near farmers' market, special events, or schools during school hours.
  • No vending in Canyon Park, the Hillside Wilderness Preserve, and city parking lots.
  • No stationary sidewalk vendors in areas zoned exclusively residential.
  • Restrict operation to to normal business hours for the area.
  • Require proper trash disposal.
  • Require sidewalk vendors meet accessibility requirements.
  • Require vendors have a County Department of Health permit (for food vendors), have a California seller's permit, liability insurance, and a city business license.


- Brad Haugaard

A Christmas Service for the Hurting

Not everybody is happy during the Christmas season, so Monrovia's Hope Unlimited Church is holding a "Blue Christmas" service, "a gentle, contemplative service for those who are carrying pain or loss." Tuesday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. The church is at 1900 Walker Ave, Monrovia. Walker is a block south of Duarte Road on the east side of Myrtle.

Oh! Another one. On Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Library Park, the Longest Night Service, a free "service designed to honor those loses and give us a place to grieve what might have been." Sponsored by the city, Monrovia Healing Connections, Monrovia Ministerial Association, and Douglass & Zook.

- Brad Haugaard

Study the Night Sky in Library Park Tonight

Tonight the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be at the southeast corner of Library Park, at Myrtle and Lime for about two hours after sunset. If you'd like a glimpse through a telescope there should be at least three of them out.

- Brad Haugaard

Breakfast at Jake’s Road House


As you can see, I got a bit eager and ate half my eggs before remembering to take a picture. Anyway, had breakfast at Jake’s Road House, on the east side of Myrtle just north of Olive. Got the sausage and eggs plate for $9.95 and a coffee for $2.95. Nice, filling meal, good service. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Health Conscious Shoplifter; Gardener's Tools Ripped Off; Drunk Drivers; Sleeping Driver; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for December 6-12. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 394 service events, resulting in 80 investigations.

Shoplifting
December 6 at 12:57 p.m., an employee who works at a business in the 400 block of W. Huntington called and reported a theft. An adult male entered the store, walked directly to the vitamin shelf and selected several boxes of probiotics. The subject then walked out of the store without paying for the items. The suspect fled prior to the officer’s arrival. The suspect was not located.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
December 6 at 5:28 p.m., a caller reported a subject disturbing people at a park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle. Officers arrived, but the subject had left. While the officers were at the park, they discovered a subject in need of medical attention. Monrovia Paramedics responded and treated the subject. The officers located another subject who was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Residential Burglary
December 6 at 9:17 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of S. Sunset arrived home and discovered their house had been burglarized. Officers arrived to investigate and discovered a side window had been shattered and the house was ransacked. This investigation is continuing.

DUI/Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
December 7 at 7:09 a.m., a caller reported a disabled vehicle stopped in the 800 block of S. Myrtle. Officers arrived and discovered the vehicle had collided into a traffic sign. The driver appeared to be intoxicated. A DUI investigation was conducted, and after field sobriety tests were completed, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 7, at 12:19 p.m., a caller reported three motorists had just collided into one another in the 100 block of W. Huntington. Officers responded to investigate. Two of the motorists complained of pain. The motorist at fault was issued a citation.

Grand Theft
December 7 at 1:17 p.m., a grand theft incident was reported in the 400 block of N. Encinitas. An unknown suspect stole gardening tools from the bed of a truck. While the truck was parked, someone took equipment, including a lawn mower. The investigation is continuing.

Fraud
December 7 at 5:16 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of N. Encinitas attempted to purchase a vehicle on Ebay. She was given instructions online to pay $3,100 via Ebay gift cards, which she did; however she never received the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

DUI/Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
December 7 at 7:14 p.m., a victim called police and reported another motorist just struck his vehicle in the 300 block of W. Huntington. The motorist fled the scene of the collision and the victim followed him until the police arrived. Officers detained the driver who fled the scene and found him to be intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI.

Vehicle Burglary
December 8 at 6:57 p.m., a customer of a restaurant in the 800 block of W. Huntington discovered his vehicle had been burglarized while he was inside the restaurant. The window had been shattered and items were stolen. Investigation continuing.

Violation of Court Order/Warrant – Suspect Arrest
December 8 at 9:42 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 2000 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a motorist committing a driving violation. He stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver and passenger. A computer check revealed the driver had an active domestic violence court order restraining him from being near the passenger in the vehicle. The driver also had a warrant for his arrest, so he was arrested and taken into custody.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
December 8 at 10:01 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of N. Magnolia reported a motorist had just collided into several parked cars, causing major damage to the vehicles involved. Officers arrived and contacted the driver, who was intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were completed, she was arrested for DUI.

Vehicle Burglary
December 8 at 10:08 p.m., a customer of a restaurant in the 800 block of W. Huntington walked outside to his parked car and discovered someone had burglarized it. One of the windows had been shattered and several items that were left inside his car were stolen. This investigation is continuing.

In Park After Closure
December 8 at 11:10 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 200 block of S. Primrose when he saw three subjects loitering inside Library Park after the park had closed. The officer contacted all three subjects and issued citations for the violation.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
December 9 at 1:00 a.m., a caller reported a possible DUI motorist stopped in the middle of the road in the 100 block of S. Myrtle. Officers arrived and contacted the motorist, who was intoxicated. She was stopped blocking the roadway with her engine running. After field sobriety tests were conducted, she was arrested and taken into custody for DUI.

Traffic Collision
December 9 at 2:16 a.m., a single vehicle collided into a tree in the 1000 block of S. Mayflower. Officers responded and contacted the driver and his passenger, who were not injured. The driver had lost control of the vehicle due to excessive speed, which caused him to hit a curb and tree. Investigation continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 9 at 3:15 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 2500 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a vehicle in the roadway that had major collision damage. The officer stopped and found the driver inside with no visible injuries. The motorist had collided with several parked cars after falling asleep at the wheel while driving. The motorist was issued a citation and taken to a nearby hospital for complaint of pain.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
December 10 at 1:13 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of S. Primrose reported two motorists had just collided into one another in front of the caller’s house. One of the vehicles hit a nearby fence, and the occupants immediately exited and ran from the scene. Officers searched for the subjects, but did not locate them. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
December 10 at 5:29 a.m., an employee of a business in the 200 block of W. Duarte arrived at work and discovered someone had forced entry through a window into the building sometime during the night. A laptop computer was stolen from inside the building. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud
December 10 at 9:45 a.m., an employee from a business in the 900 block of W. Foothill called to report that an unknown subject used a stolen and forged prescription note to pick up codeine cough syrup. The officer confirmed the prescription note was stolen from an El Monte pharmacy. Investigation continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
December 10 at 4:31 p.m., a caller reported two motorists had just collided into one another in the 200 block of S. Myrtle. One of the motorist exited his vehicle, looked around, re-entered his vehicle and fled the scene without exchanging the required information. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
December 10 at 5:14 p.m., a caller reported that his vehicle was broken into sometime during the night while it was parked in the 200 block of Poppy. He had tools stolen from the bed of his truck. Investigation continuing.

Vandalism
December 11 at 7:07 a.m., a business owner in the 500 block of W. Foothill called to report that sometime overnight someone damaged their air conditioning vents. Investigation continuing.

Ex-Felon in Possession of Firearm/No-Bail Warrant – Suspects Arrested
December 11 at 7:20 a.m., a caller reported a suspicious vehicle that was occupied by multiple subjects. The caller stated the driver appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Officers arrived and learned one of the subjects had an outstanding no-bail warrant for his arrest. Officers located a loaded .38 caliber firearm where the subject was sitting. He was in possession of ammunition, methamphetamine, and he impersonated another person. He was arrested and taken into custody. The two other occupants were arrested for receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
December 11 at 3:50 p.m., a caller reported a semi-truck struck a traffic signal in the 1800 block of S. Mayflower. This caused the traffic signal lights to go out. The Public Works Department was notified and immediately started working on the issue. Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspects Arrested
December 12 at 3:29 p.m., officers were patrolling the 700 block of S. Myrtle when they located an occupied stolen vehicle, traveling north on Myrtle. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 100 block of E. Palm. Two of the passengers fled on foot and the driver of the GTA stayed inside the vehicle. A containment was set up and all suspects were taken into custody. The driver was arrested for GTA. One of the passengers was arrested for resisting/delaying a peace officer and possession of someone else's personal identifying information. The third suspect was arrested for resisting/delaying a peace officer, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Grand Theft Auto
December 12 at 6:40 p.m., an employee in the 500 block of W. Duarte called to report that a customer’s vehicle had been stolen. The vehicle was at the location to have work done on it. A female Hispanic in her 20’s came into the location and asked for directions to West Covina. She then exited and walked around to the side of the building, where vehicles are kept. The vehicle, a black 2010 Ford Explorer, had the key in the ignition. The female entered the vehicle and drove it away. Investigation continuing.

Winter Celebration at the Y

A winter celebration with games, activities such as gingerbread house building, and raffles. tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 14, 5:30-8 p.m. at the Santa Anita YMCA, 501 S. Mountain Ave.

- Brad Haugaard

Joy and Sorrow


Tonight in Library Park was joy and sorrow. The postponed Christmas tree lighting followed by a vigil for Cecilia Meza and her daughter, Monrovia High School senior, Kelsey Cami Meza, who were recently murdered.

- Brad Haugaard 

Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Event Tomorrow; Pot Lab Opening in Monrovia; Gravel Bags; Youth Volleyball; Chamber Awards

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

~ To replace the rained out holiday parade there will be a Community Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Event at Library Park tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be music;  parade float entries; carriage rides; photo booth; face painting; Starbucks coffee, tea, and cocoa; cookie decorating station; and a Letters to Santa station. There will also be a display of parade floats. The Christmas tree will be lit at 5:30 p.m. For questions call Monrovia Community Center at 256-8246.

~ A company called LB PharmLabs received the final State regulatory approvals needed to open a new cannabis testing laboratory in Monrovia at 1000  S. Magnolia Ave. The firm says it "provides the "cannabis industry with laboratory testing and analytic services to ensure consumers have access to safe medicine."

~  If you're a resident living in an area subject to flooding, you might want to pick up some gravel bags at either the Public Works Yard (600 S. Mountain) or Fire Station 101 (141 E. Lemon Ave.), Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. And if you want something to put in them, you can get gravel any time in the parking lot south of the baseball field in Recreation Park, on East Olive Avenue. For more information contact Public Works at 932-5575.

~  The city's Youth Sports Program will feature Indoor Volleyball Practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7 p.m. or 7-8 p.m. Games Saturday mornings. Details: https://goo.gl/WrHBgs

~  Winners of the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce's Iris Award (Citizen of the Year), Monroe Award (Business Person of the Year), Service to the Chamber Award, and the Military Service & Stewardship Award, are: Iris Award, Monrovia Reads; Monroe Award, Oak Crest Institute of Science; Service to the Chamber Award, Richard Andrews, Realtor with Century 21 Adams & Barnes; Military Service and Stewardship Award, Donna "Sam" Natali.

- Brad Haugaard

Goober Needs a Furrever Home

Goober (A462838) is a 4-year-old Chinese Shar-Pei looking for a home for the holidays. Goober has been at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA since July! We think he’s been getting overlooked in the kennels. This past weekend he went home with a foster family to get some comfy couch time. He was a very well-behaved boy who liked to follow his Foster around the house and sit right by her side. He gave tons of kisses and slept peacefully at the foot of the bed at night. Goober is now back at PHS looking for a new friend who would like to give him a furrever home.

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

Vigil for Cecilia and Kelsey Cami Meza at Library Fountain, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m.


There will be a vigil tomorrow, Wednesday, December 12, for Cecilia Meza and her daughter, Monrovia High School senior, Kelsey Cami Meza, who were recently murdered.

The vigil will be at the Monrovia Public Library Fountain area at 6:30 p.m.

Carmen Martinez writes:
Please bring candles (preferably battery operated - if regular wax candles, make sure to have a cup to catch the melting wax).
If you do not bring candles, we will have some that have been lovingly donated.
We will have a poster board you can sign and color markers.
We will have note cards, and color markers, for you to write your memories of Kelsey and/or Cecilia and a box you can drop them off in for their family (or you are welcome to take them for keepsake). You are encouraged to write your memories before the vigil.
We have been told Starbucks will provide free coffee.
We will have Pastor Tim Mahan, from Fellowship Monrovia, lead us in prayer and say a few words to our teenagers.
Family and friends will have a chance to say a few words.
Jennifer Ranger and family will sing Amazing Grace.
Pastor Tim Mahan will close us in prayer.
We will have some MAP leaders, community members and friends help us set up and pass the candles.
Please share the information about the vigil. If you have any questions, comments and/or concerns, please message me [Carmen Martinez, 626-673-5308.].
GoFundMe link: https://www.gofundme.com/in-memoriam-of-cecilia-and-kelsey-cami-meza
There will be a donation box available for anyone that is able to donate, but it is not required.
Thank you for all of you that have stepped up and donated candles, time and love.
Let's make Monrovia proud and not leave any trash on the ground.
- Brad Haugaard

Studio Movie Grill Now Reportedly Complete

The Studio Movie Grill build-out is complete, according to the blog, Gem City Images (https://goo.gl/GNPTXf), so you should now be able to enjoy a meal with your movie.

- Brad Haugaard

Tree Lighting- and Party - Wednesday, Dec. 12

As you likely are aware, due to the rain last week, the City regrettably had to cancel our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Parade.  However, in an effort to organize a scaled down version of our annual holiday celebration, we are happy to share that the City will be hosting a special Community Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Event at Library Park this coming Wednesday, December 12, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.  

 

We hope that everyone in the community will join us for a special evening of festive, holiday cheer!  We plan on displaying several of the floats that were created for the parade this year at the event, and will also have live holiday musical performances, special holiday crafts, Christmas themed activities, and of course… the official lighting of our community Christmas Tree!  In addition, at this special event, we will be recognizing and celebrating our Parade Grand Marshall – the Monrovia Area Partnership, MAP Leaders!

 

If you have any questions, please call the Monrovia Community Center at 256-8246! We look forward to celebrating with everyone on Wednesday!


Source: Monrovia City Manager Oliver Chi 

 

- Brad Haugaard 

Murdered Mother and Daughter Victims of Strangulation

The murdered Monrovia mother and daughter - Cecilia Meza, 41, and 17-year-old Kelsey Cami Meza - were both strangled, and the daughter also suffered "blunt head trauma," according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. https://goo.gl/SBv25h

- Brad Haugaard

Presentation on Founder of Oldest African-American Architecture Firm in LA

On Martin Luther King Day, Sunday, Jan. 20, from 1-2 p.m., the Monrovia Historical Museum (742 E. Lemon) will host a program on Monrovia's Robert Kennard, founder of the oldest African-American architecture firm in Los Angeles. Details: https://goo.gl/1ULuEf

- Brad Haugaard

Vigil for Murdered Mother and Daughter on Wednesday

A public vigil will be held this coming Wednesday, Dec. 12, for Cecilia Meza and her daughter, Kelsey Cami Meza, who were murdered in the 800 block of Colorado Boulevard earlier this week. The vigil will be at 6:30 p.m. by the fountain at Library Park. For questions, please contact Carmen Martinez at 673-5308.

- Brad Haugaard