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How Should Monrovia Spend Its New $4.5 Million Sales Tax Revenue?

Remember the Measure K sales tax Monrovia passed for itself? Well, the city wants to know how you think it should spend the money.

Take this 9-question "Measure K Preliminary Spending Plan Community Survey" here: https://is.gd/yPDMfF

On November 5, 2019, residents of Monrovia voted to approve Measure K, the Keep Monrovia Revenues Local Sales Tax Measure, to ensure new sales tax revenues stay in Monrovia to be reinvested into the community. Measure K will generate an estimated $4.5 million per year in additional sales tax revenues for the City. Leading up to the election, a preliminary five-year expenditure plan was developed, identifying community enhancing projects. Those who choose to take the survey will be asked to rank these spending plan options, which includes:

  • Establishing a new and/or improved community center
  • Reducing costs for residents by decreasing utility bills, such as water
  • Working towards a AAA credit rating by building the rainy day fund and planning for future costs increases
  • Investing in public buildings, park improvements and community facilities
  • Addressing other community priorities like affordable housing, preventing homelessness, youth programs and public safety, etc.

After April 30, the findings of the survey will be discussed by the Monrovia City Council, along with the Measure K Citizens Advisory Committee, and will be shared with the community. Hard copies of the surveys are available upon request. The new sales tax will go into effect on April 1, 2020. For additional information on Measure K, visit MonroviaMeasureK.org.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Sons of Korah Tonight at Calvary Chapel Monrovia

Concert at Calvary Chapel Monrovia (http://www.ccmonrovia.org/) tonight (Wednesday, Feb. 26) from 7-9 p.m. by Sons of Korah (https://sonsofkorah.com/), an Australian band "devoted to giving a fresh voice to the biblical psalms." Calvary Chapel is on Myrtle at the southwest corner of Cherry, two blocks south of Huntington.

- Brad Haugaard

San Gabriel Valley Choral Company Presents Classic Opera Music

The award-winning San Gabriel Valley Choral Company will conduct "a far-ranging romp through the annals of the operatic repertory" at its classically-themed concert of opera choruses, arias, and scenes on Saturday, March 21, 7:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Monrovia.

The concert will traverse nations and centuries, from Henry Purcell's intimate Baroque chamber opera Dido and Aeneas to the full-throated Romanticism of Verdi's "Va, pensiero" with a little Mozart, Gilbert & Sullivan, and Benjamin Britten thrown in for lyricism and laughs. A women's "Chorus of Peasant Girls" from Eugene Onegin by Piotr Tchaikovsky is the musical topping.

The concert will offer an historical overview from the 1600s of Henry Purcell to the WWII era of Benjamin Britten, with choruses plus solos and duets from significant operas.

Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, written in 1680 and, based on the tragic love story of Dido and Aeneas immortalized by Virgil in the Aeneid, is heralded as the birth of English opera. Not quite on the heels of Purcell's operatic success was G. F. Handel's Alcina, an opera seria which entertained London's Covent Garden audiences in 1735 with it "Chorus of the Enchanted Islanders" and also featured several instrumental segments to showcase the talents of then beloved ballerina Marie Sallé. Composed nearly 50 years later during the Classical period, but with elements of Baroque opera seria, the "Voyager's Chorus" from Mozart's Idomeneo shines as his greatest chorus opera and was written in 1781 when he was only 24. Jumping ahead 60 years, enter the "Va, pensiero" from Giuseppi Verdi's beloved Nabucco. This impassioned chorus is most strongly associated with Italy's 19th century struggle for nationhood. Also by Verdi and immediately recognizable by everyone from opera buffs to fans of Looney Tunes cartoons is the "Anvil Chorus" from Il Trovatore, written in 1853. In a departure from the romantic/tragic themes of Verdi, a variety of choruses by Gilbert & Sullivan from their celebrated romp, Pirates of Penzance, will usher in some British Victorian era levity from 1879. Composed only a year earlier (1878) by Piotr Tchaikovsky, the "Chorus of Peasant Girls" from Eugene Onegin will spotlight this Russian opera based on selected passages from Alexander Pushkin's novel in verse by the same name. And finally, representing the 20th century will be Benjamin's Britten's "Old Joe Has Gone Fishing" from his opera Peter Grimes. Premiering in 1945 at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, it was greeted with wild critical and popular acclaim. It is said Britten carried the manuscript around with him during the years of London's devastating bombing by the Nazis, nervous of leaving it unattended.

Selections will be conducted by SGVCC Artistic Director Alexandra Grabarchuk, and Associate Artistic Director David Rentz. Ukrainian-born conductor Dr. Grabarchuk is Director of Choral Activities at Whittier College. Rentz is Associate Professor of Music at Chaffey College and Adjunct Professor of Music and supervisor of the graduate conducting program at Claremont Graduate University.

Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors and students, and $5 for children under 12. Tickets may be purchased online at www.sgvccsingers.org, or by sending checks payable to: SGVCC, 2648 E. Workman Ave., Ste. 3001 #312, West Covina, CA 91791. Tickets purchased online by March 20 will be eligible for a $5 discount. Tickets will also be available at the door.

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Named 'Military Friendly' for Entire Decade

For an entire decade, Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, has earned annual recognition as a Military Friendly School for its commitment to helping veterans successfully transition from the military to higher education.

Citrus College's supportive environment for veterans, coupled with the college's ability to meet academic thresholds, such as student retention, persistence and graduation rates, contributed to this year's "Gold" distinction.

This past year, nearly 400 student veterans benefited from services provided by the Citrus College Veterans Success Center.

- Brad Haugaard

Women's Suffrage Event; Creating a Business; Survey on Dementia

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

~ On this 100th anniversary year of the 19th Amendment, the Monrovia Historical Preservation Group and Monrovia Historical Museum will co-sponsor a free event on women's suffrage and the 19th Amendment on Sunday, March 8, at 1:30 p.m. at the Historical Museum, 742 E. Lemon Ave. There will be a talk on suffrage by Pauline Field, chairman of 50/50 Leadership and light refreshments. https://is.gd/MewciP

~  Oak Crest Institute of Science will sponsor an afternoon of free seminars and discussions on how to get from idea to a successful business on Wednesday, March 4, from 2 to 7 p.m., at Oak Crest's campus on 132 W. Chestnut Ave. Seminars are on intellectual property, corporate structure & fundraising, and accessing small business administration (SBA) services. Registration is required. Register here: https://is.gd/U5dRVc

~ Take a 10-minute confidential survey to help Dementia Friendly Monrovia better direct its work. Here: https://is.gd/5T0CJI

- Brad Haugaard

Miles the Multitasker - Tennis Ball and Belly Rubs

Miles is the best multitasker. He loves chewing on tennis balls and getting belly rubs. Why choose between two of your favorite things when you can have them both at the same time? When ten-year-old Miles isn’t multitasking like a boss, he’s probably chowing down on some crunchy treats or splashing in one of the kiddie pools in the play yard. But let’s face it, all he wants is to sit in your lap and be pet all over. Now where’s that tennis ball?

The adoption fee for dogs is $140. 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

All the Mayoral and City Council Candidate Statements

Here are links to the candidate statements that have run in MonroviaNow during the past six days. None of them have been edited.

Mayoral Candidates
Tom Adams
Stephen Grollnek
Melissa Taylor

City Council Candidates
Donna Baker
Gloria Crudgington
Becky Shevlin

- Brad Haugaard

Statement of City Council Candidate Gloria Crudgington

GLORIA CRUDGINGTON Statement
I was first elected to the Monrovia City Council in 2015 and I am running for re-election. I moved to Monrovia 40 years ago. My husband Cleve and I became involved in city politics in 2000, when we ran the successful campaign that saved Monrovia’s foothills from housing development. We received the Iris Award, Monrovia Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year Award, for our efforts.
I have been on the Board of Directors of the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group for 22 years. I successfully lobbied in 2014 for a moratorium on demolition of historic homes and, after I was elected, I worked with my council colleagues to pass anti-mansionization and neighborhood compatibility ordinances and restore our historic train depot.
Our current City Council holds a wide range of views, but we find ways to disagree without being disagreeable. Some of our accomplishments:
  • Monrovia Renewal: fixing streets, sidewalks, sewers, etc.
  • We brought back Monrovia Days Parade and Carnival.
  • We started the Lyft program for subsidized shared rides: 500,000 rides in 2019!
  • We stabilized our pension fund and raised Monrovia’s bond rating to AA.
  • Our homelessness prevention program kept 23 families in their homes.
My proudest achievement as a Councilmember has been my involvement in Monrovia’s mandated storm water clean-up compliance. My work with regulators and environmental groups has saved Monrovians over $200 Million dollars in compliance costs, without sacrificing water quality. I am running for re-election primarily to ensure that this work is completed.
I credit my success to 30 years’ experience as a Marriage & Family therapist. Although I am retired from clinical practice, I see my expertise in conflict resolution as an extremely helpful tool as a Councilmember. I would very much appreciate your vote.
Please visit my website: www.GloriaCrudgington.com

Bubbles In Library Fountain


Someone apparently put detergent in the Library Park fountain. Thanks to Kelly Moran for photo. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Statement of City Council Candidate Becky Shevlin

BECKY SHEVLIN – A candidate with proven commitment and leadership and working with and for you to:

• Seek smart options for continued economic growth and stability.
• Ensure transparency, accountability for Measure K and grant funding, and a balanced budget.
• Provide vital safety and public services, ongoing physical infrastructure repair and maintenance and increasing reserves.
• Preserve and protect our historic homes and districts, Wilderness Preserve and other natural resources.
• Fight for local control to allow Monrovia to address the specific needs of Monrovians.
• Collaborate regionally to address issues of homelessness, housing affordability, and water/stormwater issues.
• Strengthen our City through community education, involvement and volunteerism.

PROUDLY SERVING MONROVIA -

Council Liaison Appointments –

-Adopt-A-School; Clifton Middle School
-Foothill Transit Governing Board
-Monrovia Association of Fine Arts Board
-SG Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District Board of Trustees, President
-So CA Association of Governments and CEHD Committee Member
-SGV Council of Governments 2nd VP; Homeless Committee Chair; Capital Projects & Construction Committee
-Healing Connections
-Library Board

Alternate
-Foothill Workforce Development Board
-LA County Sanitation Districts 15/22
-Monrovia Chamber of Commerce
-Community Media of the Foothills
-Historic Preservation Committee
-League of California Cities

Community Member/Supporter
-Friends of the Monrovia Library
-Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, Historical Society, and Historical Museum
-Monrovia Reads Board Member since 2003; Past President 2008/2009, current Treasurer
-Monrovia Community Coordinating Council Member 21 Years, serving in all Executive Board
positions; current Calendar Coordinator
- Monrovia Guild – CHLA Member since 2007, Past President 2017/19, current VP
-Monrovia Latino Heritage Society
-Monrovia Garden Club
-Monrovia Reads, member since 2003; Past President; current Treasurer
-LA County Commission for Women, Commissioner & Past President 2015/17
-Sunday School Teacher ongoing 40 Years
-Supporter of numerous other Community Groups/Organizations

Lunch at Cafe on Lemon

Lunch at the new Cafe on Lemon (former Wang’s Place) on the south side of - you guessed it - Lemon, about a half block east of Myrtle. It’s a casual breakfast-lunch kinda place. Got the Greek Salad ($9.95) with chicken ($4) and a “#NoToxicEnergy” drink (a juice blend) for $5.85. Good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

National News! Bear Sighted in Monrovia!!

Bears, bears, bears. It’s not news that Monrovia has bears. This juvenile delinquent from a few years ago was in our back yard. 

Monrovia's latest bear has received media coverage from as far away as Baltimore, Maryland: https://is.gd/wvCki7

Comment: Sigh! I think we Monrovians are getting a bit tired of the media uproar whenever someone takes a bear video. Trees have leaves, the ocean has fish, and Monrovia has bears. Relax.

- Brad Haugaard

Bradoaks Principal Discusses School's Designation as Science Academy

On California School News Radio Bradoaks Elementary School Principal Jayne Nickles discusses the school's recent designation as a science academy, the importance of inquiry-based learning, increasing parent involvement and preparing for the school’s Spring Fair.



- Brad Haugaard

Ikonics - Not BurgerIM - Opens at 11 a.m. Today on Myrtle

Today, at 11 a.m., Ikonics Burgers & Brew Co. will open on Myrtle near the theater, at 406 S. Myrtle.

It was going to be a BurgerIM, but the BurgerIM corporation is having serious financial difficulties, but the owners of the franchise are opening anyway, under the name Ikonicks Burgers & Brew Co. - "a taste of New York and Chicago."

A press release says the owners "have re-invented their business idea and have turned their investment into a positive!

"Over the past year, our owners have dedicated their time to building a unique concept that is set to captivate our community's attention. We have known that our community members were eager and anticipated dining at BurgerIM; but as we know the famous BurgerIM franchise has faced challenges that have affected and impacted the business community.  We decided that our dream and vision would NOT dwindle because of the challenges BurgerIM has brought."

- Brad Haugaard

Statement of Mayoral Candidate Stephen Grollnek

We the people   
Monrovia voters should realize what that means gives the citizens the right to vote for the people who they feel will protect and serve the community for the best interest for all 
Look at are streets trees sidewalks 
Is this Mayor looking after are beloved city or just looking out for his spacial interest group that he has reps-anted
For 35 years 
Time to make those spacial  words mean something 
We the people have this golden opportunity to make this change on March 2 
Stephen Grollnek  make your vote count to protect are city 

Education Input Meetings Monday and Tuesday

Monrovia Schools will hold meetings for input on its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) on Feb. 24, from 7-8:30 p.m., and Feb. 25, from 6-7:30 p.m. Both meetings in the Board Room of the District office at 325 E. Huntington. Spanish translation provided. And what's an LCAP? The California Department of Education says "The LCAP is a tool for local educational agencies to set goals, plan actions, and leverage resources to meet those goals to improve student outcomes."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Doggy Door Burglary; Thief Swipes Purse, Then Car; Vacant House Marijuana Farm; Fatal 210 Crash; And More ...

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 13-19. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 363 service events, resulting in 62 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
February 13 at 12:37 p.m., the OnStar Company notified Monrovia dispatch of a stolen vehicle parked in the 900 block of S. Fifth. Officers responded and located the vehicle. A male suspect was seen entering the vehicle. Officers initiated a traffic stop and conducted an investigation. The suspect was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
February 13 at 1:40 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of N. Primrose called police to report her home had been burglarized. She had left the home at 10:30 a.m. that day and returned at approximately 1:00 p.m. Officers responded and conducted an investigation. It appears the suspects entered the residence through a dog entrance in the rear door. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
February 13 at 6:38 p.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. A male suspect entered the store with the hood of his sweatshirt wrapped around his face. The suspect broke a display case and took two cell phones, then ran out of the store. Officers arrived and checked the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
February 13 at 9:06 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 900 block of W. Duarte. Officers arrived and obtained surveillance footage showing the suspect. The victim’s purse had been stolen previously while she was in a local business, and the suspect then used the keys to take the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 14 at 1:12 a.m., a caller reported multiple subjects in the 300 block of Meadow Lane, possibly looking into vehicles. Officers arrived and found the subjects were standing around a damaged vehicle. After investigation, it was determined the driver of the vehicle had driven into the curb. The driver was insistent he did not hit anything, and that the airbags deployed on their own. He was given a field sobriety test and it was determined he was driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He was arrested and transported to a hospital, where he provided a blood sample.

Grand Theft
February 14 at 3:43 p.m., a grand theft of a spare tire was reported in the 600 block of W. Huntington. The full-sized spare tire was taken from the back of the victim’s vehicle while parked in a business parking lot. The victim was shopping in a business. This investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
February 14 at 5:54 p.m., a female driver parked her vehicle in the 700 block of W. Foothill and was taking her child out of the vehicle. A second vehicle was passing by and hit her open passenger door. The second vehicle did not stop. Officers arrived and searched the area for the suspect vehicle, but were not able to locate it. This investigation is continuing.

Illegal Cultivation of Marijuana
February 14 at 9:13 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 400 block of Genoa regarding a report of possible prowlers in the area. A neighbor had seen two subjects running and jumping over a fence near the wash. During a search of the property for the subjects, an illegal indoor marijuana grow operation was discovered in a vacant house. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
February 15 at 8:49 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from an apartment complex in the 600 block of E. Olive. The vehicle had been taken sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Mail Tampering
February 15 at 9:25 a.m., a subject called police to report finding mail on the street from addresses on El Dorado, Diamond, and Encino. Officers responded and collected the mail, which will be returned to the correct addresses. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
February 15 at 2:33 p.m., two vehicles collided at the intersection of California and Huntington. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. One of the vehicles was traveling west on Huntington and failed to stop for the red traffic signal. One of the drivers was transported to the hospital for a complaint of pain.

Grand Theft
February 15 at 3:38 p.m., a grand theft incident was reported in the 700 block of Ocean View. The victim reported that he left his drone inside his unlocked vehicle overnight. When he returned to his vehicle, he found the drone had been taken from inside. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
February 15 at 3:49 p.m., a caller from a business in the 900 block of W. Foothill reported a shoplifting incident that had just occurred. Officers arrived and located the suspect, who was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested and issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Warrant / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 15 at 3:53 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a suspicious vehicle traveling through the intersection of Alta Vista and Hillcrest. A computer check revealed there was a no-bail warrant attached to the license plate. A traffic stop was made, and the driver exhibited symptoms of being under the influence. Field sobriety tests were conducted. The driver was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.

Attempted Burglary
February 15 at 4:46 p.m., a caller from a business in the 400 block of E. Duarte reported that a bolt had been cut to gain access to the business sometime during the night. Officers arrived and determined the suspects were not successful in gaining entry. This investigation is continuing.

Fatal Traffic Collision
February 16 at 4:42 a.m., officers responded to the 210 Freeway regarding an injury traffic collision involving a wrong-way driver. Officers arrived and found the two vehicles had been involved in a head-on collision. There was smoke coming from the vehicles and one of them was overturned. When officers checked for occupants, they found one of the drivers was deceased. The other driver was trapped inside the overturned vehicle. The officers were able to break a window and extract him. He was conscious and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. California Highway Patrol arrived on scene and assumed control of the investigation.

Vehicle Burglary
February 16 at 1:53 p.m., a member of a church in the 900 block of S. Shamrock walked outside the church and discovered someone had shattered her car window and taken her purse from the front seat while she was inside the service. Officers arrived and collected video surveillance of the suspects. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto Recovered / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 16 at 8:02 p.m., police received a call reporting a suspicious unoccupied vehicle parked in the 500 block W. Colorado. The vehicle appeared to be an old black and white police car with no lights or license plates. The investigation revealed the vehicle was not a police vehicle, but it had been reported stolen out of Santa Ana. While officers were there, a subject approached and told them it was his car. He claimed he purchased the vehicle from a friend for $1,000, but hadn't finished paying for it. The subject was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested for the warrant and the vehicle was recovered.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
February 17 at 1:59 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a shoplifting incident in progress. They arrived as the suspect was fleeing from loss prevention employees. The suspect saw the officers, stopped running, and complied. The property was recovered and the suspect was arrested. He was issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Commercial Burglary – Suspects Arrested
February 18 at 12:23 a.m., a caller reported seeing two male suspects breaking into a business located in the 2600 block of S. Myrtle. Officers responded and set up containment of the area with support from neighboring agencies. The two suspects exited the building with stolen items, but then ran back inside the building when they saw police. The two suspects were eventually located hiding within the building, away from one another. Both suspects were arrested. An injured suspect was taken to a nearby hospital, treated, and later released back into the custody of Monrovia Police Department. Both suspects were charged with commercial burglary and are currently being held pending their court appearance.

Theft
February 19 at 11:27 a.m., a theft from an unlocked vehicle was reported at a business parking lot in the 700 block of W. Huntington. The victim walked outside the store he was shopping in and discovered someone had entered his unlocked truck. The suspect took several tools, then fled the area. Officers searched for the suspect, but did not locate anyone. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
February 19 at 4:16 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a business parking lot in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. The victim returned to his vehicle from shopping and discovered someone had forced entry into it. The suspect took tools from inside the vehicle. Officers searched for the suspect, but were unable to locate anyone. This investigation is continuing.

Statement of Mayoral Candidate Melissa Taylor

I’m Melissa Taylor. I'm a community organizer, policy research consultant, a mother, a wife, and I am running to be Mayor of Monrovia in the 2020 election.

Growing up in the navy, I do not get to live where I was born. My family and I chose to move to Monrovia four years ago and have fallen in love with Monrovia’s small-town charm, the community and its accessibility to nature and the outdoors. With our broad mix of neighborhoods and cultures which all contribute to making Monrovia a wonderfully diverse place to live, we can continue to make it better. Regardless of where in the city you live or how long you have lived here, I want to make it a better place for everyone. My children and your children are the future of Monrovia.

I want to build a sustainable and livable future, founded on principles of equity, justice, and opportunity. Monrovia is a great place to live, but we can make it better. Whether it’s ensuring that our communities have enough affordable housing or keeping our streets and open spaces safe, I want to help make Monrovia a place that we can all be proud to call home.

I have been pulled to civil service to ensure that every single resident’s needs are taken into consideration when it comes to living in Monrovia. I want to be an advocate for everyone. I’ve worked with police, community and faith leaders to make communities safer, and recently helped establish and lead the San Gabriel Valley California chapter of the largest gun violence prevention organization. My background covers a wide range of policy issues from gun violence prevention, water and sustainability, and public issues related to water and the environment.

It would be my honor to serve as your Mayor.

Clifton Middle School's Hippie Bots Robotics Team Heading for Spain

When Clifton Middle School’s Hippie Bots robotics students travel to Spain as the sole United States representative at the FIRST Tech Challenge Barcelona Championship on Feb. 27-28, they will continue a tradition of fulfilling the school’s high expectations through commitment and teamwork.

“The Hippie Bots exemplify the spirit and determination of the Monrovia Unified robotics program, and their roles as world ambassadors speaks volumes on how far the District has come in such a short period of time,” Monrovia Board of Education President Rob Hammond said.

Clifton eighth-graders Lupe Hilario and Ty Weiss didn’t know each other when they joined the Hippie Bots at the beginning of the 2019-20 school year, but they shared an admiration for the team’s accomplishments and a desire to contribute to its success, which includes trips to Shanghai in 2016 and the Netherlands in 2017.

“I always looked up to the Hippie Bots,” Hilario said. “I looked at their success and their competitions and I really wanted to be part of that and learn engineering. I decided to apply, and I made it.”

Hilario compiles the engineering notebook for the Hippie Bots team while Weiss helps to build the robot and acts as the driver during competitions – and the two rely on each other to ensure the robots perform at peak efficiency.

“My brother, Jake, was a Hippie Bot when the team went to Shanghai, and I thought the competitions were fun,” Weiss said. “Then my friend joined the Hippie Bots last year and he really enjoyed it too, so I decided to do it. It’s really cool.”

Clifton history teacher Paul Flores had no experience with robotics when he accepted the role of robotics teacher in 2015, but the strategies he developed as a football coach have helped his students remain calm under pressure during tournaments.

“One of the things we would preach as a coaching staff was to make practice more difficult than the actual game, so the game becomes easy,” Flores said. “When you step out there, there is no stress. The competitions should be fun. Everything is just muscle memory. It’s all decided during practice who’s going to win these competitions.”

Beyond the opportunity to showcase their talents, Hippie Bots team members are looking forward to meeting their international peers, pick up pointers from competitors, learn European history and make new friends.

“The District is deeply appreciative of the community support for our robotics program,” Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian said. “Robotics is an investment in our students, and they are greatly increasing their ability to solve problems in the real world. Congratulations to Paul Flores and the Hippie Bots for continuing to achieve at the highest levels.”

A Go Fund Me campaign has been launched to cover costs related to travel, lodging, food, and shipping the robot. The goal is to raise $25,000. To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/f/hippiebots2020.

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

Historic Photos From Monrovia's Water District

Here are some cool historical images from the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. I like the one with the guy looking down on the pipe gushing water. https://is.gd/tBsoa3

- Brad Haugaard