- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Church in Spotlight for Joplin Efforts
Portantino Bills Go to Full Assembly
Monrovia School Board to Evaluate Itself
Monrovia City Manager on Budgeting and Pension Costs
Monrovia Assemblyman Challenges Feds to Take Illegal Immigrant Inmates
Monrovia Writing Workshop | Memorial Day Flyover Picture
~ Picture of the planes in the Memorial Day flyby over Monrovia. http://goo.gl/k0sna
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Memorial Day Salute | Major Huntington Disruptions | Shaw Honored | Librarian
~ There are already disruptions on Huntington because of construction, but now the city is warning that there will be "major" disruptions. Details: http://goo.gl/ttGrd
~ Councilman Clarence Shaw given Renaissance Award. http://goo.gl/Uhp1f
~ Monrovia librarian to attend national youth conference. http://goo.gl/7ET3Q
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Aztec Hotel in Dispute
Monrovia Senator's Bill Moves to Senate Floor
- Brad Haugaard
Fiesta at Immaculate Conception
- Brad Haugaard
Photo of Monrovia's First Fire Truck
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Church Helps Joplin
Lunch at Burger Shack
- Brad Haugaard
Adoptable Cats and Dogs | Monrovia VFW
~ Here's where to find a friend. IVHS - Cats ( http://goo.gl/tdJ5K ), dogs ( http://goo.gl/H3Iey ), other critters ( http://goo.gl/YQmf6 ). San Gabriel Valley Humane Society: http://goo.gl/LGcwg
Monrovia Budget Study Session | Miyachi Opens Brazil Office
Monrovia PD: DUI, Hit and Run, Burglary, Theft, Robbery
Free Monrovia High Concert | School Librarians | Unity Leaders Honored| Stolen Laptop
Army Orders Planes from Monrovia's AeroVironment | Football Schedule
~ Monrovia Wildcat football schedule. http://goo.gl/GdMqi
- Brad Haugaard
Will Monrovia School Libraries Be Cut?
I totally sympathize with the parents. I love libraries. I haunted my junior high library. But I also sympathize with the dilemma of the Monrovia School Board. As long as money is not coming from the state (and I don't see much more coming any time soon) I fear that not cutting in one place will simply mean cutting more in another place. I'm afraid it is not a question of whether school programs are hit, but which school programs are hit.
Many years ago, school districts controlled their own money. As I recall, they had taxing authority and raised their own funds. Then a judge ruled that it was unfair because poorer districts couldn't spend as much as wealthier districts, so all state education funds would be collected by the state and distributed "fairly." Well, you know what happened. The state decided this was its money.
I think that back then all the state's school districts should have banded together and fought to collect and disburse education tax money themselves, rather than ceding that authority to the state. When a governmental entity gives up its taxing power, it becomes a begging, insignificant pawn.
I know, I know. 20/20 hindsight.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Senator Huff: Governor 'Moving In Right Direction'
Not exactly love and kisses, but Republican State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, is making some positive noises about Democratic Governor Jerry Brown's latest budget:
"Senate Republicans believe that the Governor is moving in the right direction by making education and law enforcement funding a top priority. We're also pleased that the Governor chose to embrace Republican proposals to pay down state debt and, at the same time, provide some badly needed job-creation incentives."
But, he adds, "the Governor's proposal still sets the state on a course of unsustainable spending growth in the future."
Source: http://goo.gl/5vdRh
- Brad Haugaard
Eat Pizza, Help Unity Center | Computer Stolen
- Brad Haugaard
No Monrovia High Senior Ditch Day
"Senior ditch day is not a school endorsed activity. If your child participates in such a given activity with an unverified absence, he/she will lose their senior privileges which include grad night, senior breakfast and graduation. Refunds will not be given if tickets are already purchased. All absences must be cleared by Friday at 3:00pm."
http://goo.gl/lkbNh
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia FD Gets Back Its Very First Fire Engine
Monrovia Plans $39.6 Million Land Sale to Gold Line
Monrovia Schools: Where to Cut | MHS Sign | Rock Store
~ Photo of the new electronic sign at Monrovia High. http://goo.gl/jPAI5
~ Profile of Monrovia rock store owners Anthony Arreola Lailani Leyden. http://goo.gl/VBO9g
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police Chief Search | Aztec at Night
Monrovia FD Checking Buildings for Fire Safety
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia School Lunch Prices Up, Re-Roof Mayflower, Plymouth toTraditional Schedule
~ Consider raising school lunch prices from $2.25 to $2.50 for elementary lunches and from $2.50 to $2.75 for secondary school lunches. And apparently this is required by the federal government. http://goo.gl/wodpV
~ Hear a budget report that says finances look slightly less dire than last time the board got a report, but still nasty. In order to come up with a balanced budget, Director of Fiscal Services David Conway says "additional budget adjustments will likely be necessary." http://goo.gl/CkGde
~ Consider spending up to $10,000 to re-roof four buildings at Mayflower School, from July 13 to August 12. http://goo.gl/g3PXJ
~ Consider switching Plymouth Elementary back to a traditional schedule. Apparently this will save money, but in the short run it'll cost $159,012. Yikes! http://goo.gl/yOtNq
- Brad Haugaard
Breakfast at JB Burgers
- Brad Haugaard
Free Film at Monrovia Library | Writing Workshop
~ Foreign film, "Cape No. 7," with English subtitles at 2 p.m. this Saturday at the Library. http://goo.gl/1cyBx
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Biggest Loser | Artist Susan Dobay
~ Susan Dobay's work at Monrovia's Scenic Drive Gallery. http://goo.gl/TYbVI
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Theft, Attempted Suicides, Assaults, Etc.
Monrovian Makes Sitcoms International | Patch Plans to Influence Election
~ The family of Patch news websites, one of which is in Monrovia, hopes to play a roll in next year's presidential election, according to next-door Sierra Madre Patch ( http://goo.gl/n4mST ). The headline says Patch - headed by left-leaning Arianna Huffington - is expanding "Into Three Key 2012 Election Primary States" (New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina) and the story adds that "the sites weren’t chosen at random. Those three are key early primary states in the 2012 presidential election."
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Chamber has Free Speedway Tickets
- Brad Haugaard
Donnelly Accuses Brown, Challenges Him to a Debate
- Brad Haugaard
Aerovironment & BMW | VegeUSA Vegan Chicken
Monrovia Softball :-) | Police Tweets?
~ Monrovia PD may use Twitter and Crimemapping.com. http://goo.gl/wvbOD
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Unity Center & Biggest Loser / Gov. Brown Attending Huff's Prayer Breakfast
~ State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, announced that Governor Jerry Brown will be attending the California Prayer Breakfast that Huff is co-hosting. http://goo.gl/subM6
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Mayor Annoyed by Governor's Budget / Football / Cool and Wet
~ A look at Monrovia's football team for the upcoming season. http://goo.gl/iqG3E
~ Seems an awfully cool, wet year we're having. A good chance of rain today and tomorrow: http://goo.gl/L5KKn
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Race Winners / Portantino Bill Passes Assembly
~ The full list of winners of the Fountain to the Falls race. http://goo.gl/TIf3z
~ Assemblymember Anthony Portantino. who represents part of Monrovia, had legislation passed in the Assembly making it illegal to carry an unloaded gun in public. http://goo.gl/5zdqH
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Gold Line, New Chief, and Arts Supporter
John Wilson of Monrovia Boys & Girls Club / New Stayhealthy Chairman
~ Stayhealthy, Inc., of Monrovia, has announced that Tommy G. Thompson, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and governor of Wisconsin, has been elected to serve as the company's chairman of the board.
http://goo.gl/cpKms
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Home Ownership Increases
Spacecraft Landing Site to be Discussed in Monrovia
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site Workshop will be held tomorrow (Monday, May 16) through this coming Wednesday at the Doubletree Hotel in Monrovia. The meetings start at 8:30 a.m., and a friend of mine, Roger Wiens, Genesis Project Leader at Los Alamos National Labs, said that as long as there is room, the public can attend. The topics look very technical ( http://goo.gl/S4ltd ), but if the discussion on where to land a spacecraft on Mars is of interest, you may want to attend.
- Brad Haugaard
Man Arrested in Monrovia Stabbing Incident
- Brad Haugaard
School Honoree / Debit Card Fraud
~ The Wall Street Journal reports that thieves stole debit card info at Michaels arts-and-crafts stores across the country, and part of the money was withdrawn here in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/vdHpE
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia First Presbyterian Church at Odds with Denomination
Lunch at Monrovia Mimi's
- Brad Haugaard
Progress on the Sorta-Monrovia Park
Star-News opinion editor, Steve Scauzillo, is making progress in his push to get local communities to adopt the Peck Road Water Conservation Park, which is in county area just a smidge below the Monrovia border ( http://goo.gl/Gw3Wz ).
At his suggestion, I went and looked at the park and have two observations: 1) It is indeed a beautiful park with a nice lake. 2) The front gate is ugly and easy to overlook - a plain sign next to a scruffy chain-link fence. (See here: http://goo.gl/Id2zU ).
Maybe a good first project would be to make the entryway easier to notice and more attractive. Unless he had told me that there was a beautiful park back there I'd have never known. I even passed it by when I was looking for it.
Neat project!
- Brad Haugaard
Mariachis / Lice
Monrovia's Favorite Bear on Parade
Monrovia Day Parade
Next Up at the Monrovia City Council
Huff's Teacher-Layoff Bill Dies in Sacramento
Eat for the Monrovia Band
Miss Myrtle - Monrovia's Myrtle Avenue
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Unlawful Sex, DUI, Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for May 5-11 – Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 556 service events, resulting in 96 investigations. Following are the last week’s highlighted issues and events:
Vandalism
May 6 at 3:45 a.m., an officer was flagged down regarding a shattered front window at a business in the 300 block of West Foothill. The owner of the business was notified and an investigation was conducted. It was determined that there was no theft at the location.
Outside Assist – Alhambra Police Department – Suspect Arrested
May 6 at 9:49 p.m., a subject entered the Monrovia Police Department lobby requesting advice from an officer regarding a dispute he had with his girlfriend in Alhambra. While talking with the officer, the subject stated he had been involved in a minor altercation in Alhambra. Alhambra was contacted and advised the officer that the subject was wanted for assault with a deadly weapon involving a firearm. The subject was detained for Alhambra Police Department. A search of the suspect’s vehicle in the parking lot rendered the recovery of the firearm. The suspect was taken into custody by Alhambra Police Department.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 7 at 2:42 a.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Myrtle and Evergreen observed a suspicious vehicle. The driver was leaning to one side as he drove the vehicle. The officer stopped the driver when he failed to use a turn signal in the 100 block of Montana. During the investigation, it was determined that the driver was under the influence and the driver was arrested.
Unlawful Sexual Intercourse – Suspect Arrested
May 8 at 2:45 a.m., officers responded to a hotel in the 1100 block of East Huntington after receiving a 911 call from a citizen. The citizen reported hearing a female screaming for someone to get off of her from inside the hotel room. Officers arrived, contacted several subjects, and discovered a 19 year old male who admitted to having consensual intercourse with a 16 year old female. The suspect was arrested. The female subject was later released to a guardian.
Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 9 at 12:51 a.m., officers responded to a solo vehicle traffic collision in the 500 block of West Duarte Road. The vehicle had crashed into a light pole and a tree on the south sidewalk. The driver was identified and officers determined he was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested.
Possession of Burglary Tools – Suspect Arrested
May 9 at 9:02 p.m., the manager of a business in the 900 block of West Huntington called to report a subject on their roof. He was concerned because of recent burglaries at their store, so he called the police. Officers arrived and were informed that a male, white, subject, thin build, and balding had just left on a bike. Officers checked the roof area and found a storage shed, which is normally kept closed, was now open and several backpacks were found. The backpacks contained burglary tools, including a lock-pick set. A male subject matching the description of the suspect was detained within minutes by officers. The subject was known by the officers to have recently been arrested for possession of burglary tools. He told the officers the bags and contents on the roof of the business were his. After being identified by a witness who saw him in possession of one of the bags a short time earlier, he was arrested and charged for possession of burglary tools.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Mayor on Caltrans Audit / Volunteers / Book Sale
~ Early-bird volunteers needed to pass out t-shirts and runners’ bags at the fountain at Library Park at 5 a.m. this Saturday, May 14. http://goo.gl/Nx6BN
~ Huge Friends of the Library book sale Saturday, May 14, from 10 a,m, to 5 p.m. in Library Park. From 3-5 p.m. it's "$2 a Bag." http://goo.gl/81LyX
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Day This Saturday, May 14
- Food (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Game booths and activities at Library Park.
- A spelling bee at 11 a.m. in the Community Center.
- A concert at Library Park, starting at 4:30 p.m.
- Balloons and a balloon artist for kids.
- Free Samson the Bear Face Painting.
- More
See more here: http://goo.gl/tgaXP
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Over Temple City :-)
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Day Parade, Thursday at 7 p.m.
Help Monrovia Post Office Feed Poor
Monrovia Roads Closed Saturday for Race
Monrovia's Historic Aztec Hotel For Sale
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia High in Top 20% of California Schools
- Brad Haugaard
Interesting Old Monrovia House / MAFA Gala
~ Monrovia Association of Fine Arts gala. http://goo.gl/mkulp
- Brad Haugaard
Happy Wet Monrovia Mothers Day
- Brad Haugaard
Free Ice Cream for Monrovia Moms
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Student Artist
- Brad Haugaard
Park Survey / Girl Scouts / Track & Field / Park Renamed / New Restaurant
~ Girl Scout Troop 2831 hosted a pet food drive at Petco in Pasadena and collected an entire pallet of much-needed supplies for Foothill Unity Center's Pet Food Bank. http://goo.gl/c1hCb
~ Monrovia's Amanda Mansoorbekht breaks 30-year record at track and field finals. http://goo.gl/W5hGx
~ Monrovia's Olive Park renamed for Latina civil rights leader. http://goo.gl/2snLl
~ Max's Mexican Restaurant on Huntington now open. http://goo.gl/36VlN
- Brad Haugaard
Donnelly Objects to Aid for Illegal Immigrant Students
Monrovia Schools May Charge Foreign Students / MHS Almost Done
Attendance Slips at Monrovia Schools
Lunch at Peach Cafe
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Redevelopment History / Carbon Monoxide
~ A new California State Law requires homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes by this July. Details: http://goo.gl/OcuNf
- Brad Haugaard
Produce Exchange and Worm Tea
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police Chief Retires / Free Cold Drink
May in Monrovia / Baseball / Old Car Dealership
~ Charlotte Schamadan reports on the busy month of May in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/mr3Cm
~ Wildcats over South Pas in baseball. :-) http://goo.gl/wXJom
~ Neat old picture of Bob Longpre Pontiac dealership in Monrovia (You'll have to scroll down.) http://goo.gl/K7DMU
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Tourist Bear / Book Sale / SciFi Monrovia
~ Friends of the Monrovia Library will have a huge book sale Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Library Park. $2 a bag from 3-5 p.m. ( http://goo.gl/DGhcW ). Also, the Friends could use volunteers: http://goo.gl/POefr
~ I just had coffee with Monrovian Rob McClinton, who represents TownLoop.com (a Pasadena company coming soon to Monrovia to benefit schools) and is a part owner of ScienceFiction.com.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Jobs / Aerosmith
Monrovia Musicians / Book Club / Dog Wash / Huff Annoyed
~ Monrovia Library is forming a new monthly book club. http://goo.gl/dzgZ8
~ Get your dog washed at Dog Zone to support Wounded Warriors. May 15. http://goo.gl/Tppfq
~ State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, is annoyed that legislation he authored "to root out and dispose of any and all state regulations that hinder new job and business development" was killed on a party-line vote. http://goo.gl/K4Stf
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia High Accomplishments
~ The Monrovia High drumline took third place at the American Drumline Association Championships in open class this past weekend, and it was promoted this year to a higher division.
~ In track and field, tenth grader Amanda Mansoorbakht is ranked first in league in the 800 and mile and ranked in the top five in the school's division. Eleventh grader Max Armenta is ranked second in the 800 and mile and in the top ten in the school's division.
Source: http://goo.gl/vhM1w
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Company Gives Money for Milk / Curb Painting
Monrovia's Parasoft Founder Dies / Baseball / Run / Sangria
~ Not looking so good for Monrovia High baseball. :-( http://goo.gl/wEDRS
~ If you are thinking about doing the May 14 Fountain-to-the-Falls run, you need to sign up by May 11, here: http://goo.gl/o0one
~ Monrovia School Board member Alex Zucco likes white sangria. http://goo.gl/rqql6
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Captain on Bin Laden / More on Cinco de Mayo / Disaster Prep / Sponsor Fireworks
~ More coverage of Monrovia's May 1 Cinco de Mayo, from Monrovia Weekly ( http://goo.gl/KFxvI ) and from Mayor Mary Ann Lutz: http://goo.gl/u4tt0
~ Earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, tornadoes and floods in the south. It's crazy out there, so the City of Monrovia has tips on being prepared for disaster: http://goo.gl/zDqWY
~ Businesses, help sponsor the Fourth of July fireworks show. Hey, I'll be there! Loved it last year. Here's how: http://goo.gl/u1vga
- Brad Haugaard
Cheap Chiliburger in Monrovia / Monrovia Day Video
Mylar Balloons Caused Monrovia Power Outage
Ochoa writes: "They [the balloons] got caught in the lines near the California-Jasmine Avenue neighborhood and caused the transformer to blow. The power lines actually ended up on the ground. Fire and Police units responded immediately; however, we are fortunate that no one was hurt. Mylar balloons - don't buy them. Get your special someone a book, or a card, or savings bond - just no more metallic balloons."
Source: http://goo.gl/mlbFS
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Should Recover 'Sooner than Most'
Ochoa added: "Given the increase in activity we have seen in Monrovia - the relative lack of commercial vacancies in our office buildings, the steady business among our restaurants and retailers and the stabilization of the housing market - I believe that we are indeed emerging from recession. What's more, I believe our economic diversity will bring us back sooner than most and stronger than most."
Source: http://goo.gl/mlbFS
- Brad Haugaard
Shooting Suspect Dead / Green Dot
Trail Above Monrovia Closed
Murder Suspect in Monrovia Mountains? / Sports Outreach
~ Calvary Chapel of Monrovia is working with with the Santa Anita Family YMCA to provide a sports outreach for local 5th through 8th graders on July 5-8. For more information or to enroll, contact the church. http://goo.gl/4UzI1
- Brad Haugaard