Why Monrovia May End Its Contract With Friday Night Fair Operator And Hire Another Company

At its Tuesday, Aug. 4 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/1B2b9d ), the Monrovia City Council will consider its staff's recommendation (staff report: http://goo.gl/MPuQFJ ) to terminate the contract of the new Friday Night Fair operator, LA PartyWorks, and engage a new company called Greenleaf Events, Inc.


The City of Monrovia is charging that ...

"While LA PartyWorks has been able to successfully integrate several new elements into the Friday Night Family Street Fair – including enhanced live entertainment, updated signage, and the incorporation of several new appropriate vendors – the operator has also demonstrated an inability to adhere to basic regulations stipulated in their contract, while also being unable to work collaboratively with Event stakeholders."

And, at its  July 28 meeting ...

"the Oversight Committee unanimously recommended that the City Council terminate the agreement with LA PartyWorks and consider engaging a new vendor to operate the overall Event."

Here are some of the city's concerns:

"Operational Concerns

• Lack of development of a traffic control plan
• Event set-up and take-down procedures
• Provision of adequate and trained staff to coordinate and manage the Event
• Trash collection activities
• Provision of electrical power to all portions of the Event
• Implementation of an overall lighting plan for the Event
• Compliance with ADA regulations
• Reduction in size and number of vendors in the Certified Farmer’s Market section of the Event

Procedural Concerns

• LA PartyWorks operated a kettle corn vendor booth in direct competition with an Old Town Merchant
• LA PartyWorks prohibited all event vendors from selling water / soda and operated an exclusive vendor booth selling drinks
• LA PartyWorks impaired the operations of an Old Town Merchant’s vendor booth in order to gain an operational and competitive advantage for their own vendor booth
• LA PartyWorks resisted the requirement that they provide seating at the Event in an effort to impair the operations of an Old Town Merchant’s vendor booth
• LA PartyWorks added an inappropriate number of new food vendors which has resulted in increased competition with Old Town Merchants Reliability Concerns
• Concerns from Old Town Merchants, vendors, and Event stakeholders regarding how LA PartyWorks manages, coordinates, and produces the Friday Night Family Street Fair
• Inaccurate and conflicting representations by LA PartyWorks regarding their overall business plan / financial model regarding operation of the Event
• Concerns regarding the commitment that LA PartyWorks has to continuing the production of the Event"

That being said ...

"LA PartyWorks was able to correct most of the operational and procedural deficiencies identified."

And if the City Council wants to end the contract, staff has a replacement company in mind, Greenleaf Events, Inc., which ...

"has over 75+ years of experience coordinating and producing street fair, farmer’s market, music festival, car show, and other similar special events. The company currently produces a weekly Farmer’s Market in the City of Rosemead, and has also been engaged to operate
the Kiwanis’ Taste of Monrovia event."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Mark Twain Statue Gets Dressed Up

A number of people posted pictures (this one by Erica Reel) of the Mark Twain statue at Library Park, on Facebook. Hmmm. Kinda hot today for a sweater.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at the Monrovian

Dinner recently at the Monrovian, at the corner of Colorado and Myrtle. Got the Deep Fried Chicken for $11.49 and an iced tea for $2.39. It came with a chicken tortilla soup. Good! I liked it. 

- Brad Haugaard

Video of New Monrovia Biotech Incubaor

Here is a video about LabLaunch, the new biotech company incubator that just opened in Monrovia. https://goo.gl/ds9gbW

- Brad Haugaard

Big Dog and Cat Clearance Event

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, which serves Monrovia, is participating in "Clear the Shelters," a day-long adoption event on Saturday, August 15 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The adoption fee for cats and dogs will be reduced to $20.

The Humane Society is at 361 S. Raymond Avenue in Pasadena. Regular policies and screening apply. To expedite the process, print out and complete an adoption application from the website. If you rent, bring proof you are allowed to have a pet at your residence. View all animals at the shelter here: http://goo.gl/NHEcY2 .

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Drugs; Hit and Run; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 27-29. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 382 service events, resulting in 57 investigations.

Possession of a Controlled Substance/Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspects Arrested
July 28 at 9:03 a.m., officers responded to a parking structure in the 700 block of South Myrtle on the report of a subject passed out behind the wheel of a white Honda. When the officers arrived, they found two male subjects in the vehicle. As the driver exited the vehicle, he dropped a syringe containing what appeared to be heroin. The passenger attempted to run from the officers, but an officer gave chase and detained the second suspect. A search of the vehicle revealed additional heroin and methamphetamine; both suspects were arrested.

Injury Hit & Run Collision – Suspect Arrested
July 28 at 12:04 p.m., a hit and run collision that just occurred was reported at Primrose and Oak. Witnesses followed the suspect vehicle, a black BMW with major collision damage, and reported the vehicle was parked at a residence on Heather Heights. The Foothill Air Support helicopter arrived above the residence and watched the vehicle in the driveway until officers could arrive. The father of the suspect driver called police from work. He received a call from his juvenile son, admitting he was involved in the collision. Further investigation revealed the son was unlicensed and had taken his father's car without permission. The suspect was arrested for felony hit and run.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 29 at 4:01 p.m., officers stopped a male subject for a vehicle code violation. The subject was found to be driving on a suspended license. He had several outstanding warrants for his arrest and is currently on parole. He was arrested and his vehicle was stored.

Problem With New Street Fair? | Rain Today?

~ City troubled by how the Friday Night Street Fair is being handled. http://goo.gl/OF6F8M

~ 60% chance of rain today. http://goo.gl/VnR5SB

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's STAAR Surgical Reports Sales Down for Q2

Monrovia's STAAR Surgical, which makes lenses for the eye, reported that net sales were $18.7 million for the second quarter of 2015, down 7% compared to $20 million in the prior year. http://goo.gl/zDjazK

- Brad Haugaard

The Wizard of Oz Jr. Starts Tomorrow

The Wizard of Oz Jr., Thursday, July 30 (2pm and 7pm), Friday, July 31 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and Saturday, Aug. 1 (2 p.m. and 7 pm) at the IFGF church 147 Palm Ave., Monrovia. A fun musical for kids and kids at heart. Support the young performers of Center Stage, Inc.'s Summer Theater Camp. Tickets are $15 VIP and $10 GP. Evening shows are almost sold out so best time to watch would be during the matinee shows. Source: Facebook post

Chat With a Monrovia Cop

National Night Out on Tuesday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., August 4, in Library Park. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and locally by the Monrovia Police Department, it will involve over 16,540 communities from all 50 states. In Monrovia it will provide an opportunity to meet with our officers, share a meal and ask those questions they have always wanted to ask a police officer. Free food, music and unity.

- Brad Haugaard

Walking Tour of Old Town Monrovia

Walking tour of the historic Monrovia downtown area on Saturday, August 8, at 10 a.m. RSVPs are not necessary, and the cost is $5 per person. Meet at the SE corner of Palm and Myrtle Avenues.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Train Maintenance Yard Turned Over to Metro

Gold Line Construction Authority CEO, Habib Balian, reports that ...

"Yesterday, the Foothill Gold Line Operations Campus was formally accepted by Metro. The turn-over process started several weeks ago and was finished two months ahead of schedule. Turn-over is an important milestone for the campus and the project overall, and allows Metro to begin receiving vehicles to the facility. Over the next two years, the campus will be the delivery point for a total of 74 vehicles for testing and training purposes; two have been delivered to date. Only 15 are needed to fully operate the Foothill Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa."

- Brad Haugaard

Open House at Monrovia's Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills

Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills invites community members to visit this Friday, July 31, during its open house. The Club will be open all day, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tour the facilities and learn more about the club's life-changing work with youth. 600 S. Shamrock Avenue.  RSVP to kbuller@foothillsbgc.org

- Brad Haugaard

Vehicles to be Washed Less Often; Is 'Monrovia' Sign Too Small? Water Usage Cut; Etc.

In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/8QsqWU ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ As part of its water conservation effort, the city will wash its vehicles less frequently.

~ Initial feedback on the "Monrovia" sign that was installed on the south side abutment of the 210 Freeway at Myrtle Avenue is that it looks a bit small. "However," Chi writes, "as we move forward, additional artistic leaf details will soon be added to the "Monrovia" sign, as well as more landscape to finish off the area."

~ In May 2015, Monrovians reduced their water consumption by 20.25% compared with May 2013, and in June by 34.5% compared with June 2013. Also, for April, the city reduced its water usage by 29% compared to April 2013, and in May by 46% compared with May 2013.

~ Scout Angel Benitez from Boy Scout Troop 483 recently completed his Eagle Scout Project at Canyon Park, leading a team building a new fence around a native plant garden at the Nature Center.

~ Traffic clog-ups on Duarte Road between Myrtle Avenue and California Avenue have been caused by the loss of the vehicle detector during recent street paving activities. Chi said the city hopes to get that fixed in the near future.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovians Can Now Water Only Every Fourth Day, and More Water Rules

On July 21, 2015, the Monrovia City Council adopted Phase IV of the City’s Water Conservation Plan requiring additional water use restrictions. The regulations in Phase IV will take effect immediately due to the severity of California’s drought, while the enforcement plan and penalty structure will take effect following a 45-day educational period, ending on September 5th.

The City Council’s adoption of Phase IV includes the following elements:

• Mandatory 28-percent water conservation for Monrovia as a whole in order to meet the reduction level mandated by the State;
• Outdoor watering should be limited to about once per week or no more than every fourth day for a maximum of fifteen minutes per watering station or landscaped area before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. only; and
• An enforcement plan that focuses on achieving water conservation primarily through the use of education and outreach.

The enforcement mechanism included with Phase IV restrictions includes the following six-step Enforcement Plan:

• First violation results in a door hanger containing water conservation information.
• Second violation results in phone or in-person Staff contact providing conservation information.
• Third violation results in a formal written notice containing information on the fines that may be issued if additional violations occur.
• Fourth violation may result in a $100 fine.
• Fifth violation may result in a $200 fine.
• Sixth or more violations may result in a $300 fine.

The City wants to emphasize that the goal is to conserve water and comply with State mandates, not to issue a high number of fines or collect more money from our residents and businesses.

Furthermore, the City Manager or his designee can issue variances for customers who have received a violation notice and have extenuating circumstances that require them to conserve less water.

Additional water conservation restrictions remain in effect, including:

• No turf irrigation within 48 hours following measureable rain or during high winds.
• All water leaks must be fixed within 48 hours of discovery.
• Hoses should be equipped with a nozzle or quick relief shutoff valve.
• No washing hard or paved surfaces with potable water except as is required for sanitary purposes.
• No water shall be used to clean, fill, or maintain levels in decorative fountains, ponds, lakes or other similar aesthetic structures unless such water is part of a recirculating system.
• No person shall permit or cause irrigation water to spray or flow to any impermeable private or public surface, including driveways, sidewalks, streets, or storm drains.

City Staff will be conducting significant outreach to the community to help raise awareness of the Phase IV mandatory regulations during the educational period, and the new penalty structure will not be enforced until September 5th.

The good news is that Monrovians are doing more than their part to conserve water in the midst of our current drought. As a community, we have been able to reduce our overall water usage levels by 34.5% in June 2015 when compared with June 2013.

As a water customer, the City reduced its water usage by 46% in May 2015 as compared with May 2013. The City is taking additional steps to use water efficiently at City facilities, including:

• Conducting water audits at four parks within the City, namely Highway Esplanade Park, Lucinda Garcia Park, Recreation Park, and Rotary Park; and
• Drought-tolerant landscape renovations within Julian Fisher Park, along Myrtle Avenue in Old Town Monrovia, at City Hall, and on street medians.

The Public Services Department will be hosting Water Conservation Outreach booths at the Friday Night Street Fair through September 4th. Feel free to stop by to ask questions, pick up informational materials, and win free giveaways!

For more information or to read the complete Water Conservation Ordinance, visit www.CityofMonrovia.org.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Biter Arrested; Ski Equipment Stolen; Robber Loads Backpack, Walks Out; Intoxicated Woman Calls for Help; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 23-26. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Robbery/Warrants – Suspect Arrested
July 23 at 2:22 p.m., a suspect entered a business in the 100 block of West Foothill and selected merchandise. He walked out of the store without paying for the merchandise and was confronted by a loss prevention agent in front of the store. A struggle ensued, and the suspect bit the agent on the arm, attempting to flee with the stolen merchandise; he was detained by loss prevention agents. An officer arrived and arrested the suspect for robbery. A computer check revealed the suspect also had two outstanding warrants for his arrest, which were added to his charges.

Petty Theft
July 23 at 3:47 p.m., officers responded to the 800 block of West Duarte Road regarding a theft investigation. The victim reported his apartment storage unit had been broken into and miscellaneous camping and ski equipment was stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Robbery
July 23 at 6:49 p.m., a robbery was reported at a business in the 300 block of West Huntington. Officers arrived and were informed that the robbery actually occurred the day before. Employees reported that a male suspect came into the store and walked down one of the aisles. He was carrying a backpack, and as he exited the aisle, he walked directly out of the store, sounding the theft alarm. An employee followed the suspect outside and asked him to come back into the store. The suspect told the employee he had a knife and to leave him alone. The employee turned and went back into the store. The employee did not report the incident to his manager until the next day. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Verified Complaint Filed
July 23 at 10:51 p.m., dispatch received a call of a solo vehicle traffic collision at the intersection of Olive and Shamrock. Officers responded and located a vehicle that had collided into a block wall. The driver was still inside the vehicle. After investigation, officers determined the driver had been drinking and was driving under the influence. He also had several medical conditions and was taken to a hospital. A verified complaint for the charges will be filed with the District Attorney’s Office.

Vehicle Vandalism/Attempt Burglary
July 24 at 8:06 a.m., an officer responded to the 100 block of West Cherry regarding vehicle vandalism. The victim stated his vehicle's rear window had been smashed. An officer investigated and determined nothing had been stolen.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
July 24 at 1:25 p.m., a petty theft was reported at a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain. The suspect was detained by loss prevention for stealing a power drill and several deadbolts. The suspect was positively identified and determined to be on probation for burglary. The suspect was arrested and received a citation to appear in court on the charge.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 24 at 8:54 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of Palm and Primrose for a vehicle code violation. During the contact for the traffic stop, the suspect told the officer he had marijuana and methamphetamine in the vehicle. The driver was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 25 at 3:22 a.m., officers observed two male subjects at a park in the 700 block of East Lemon after the park had closed. The officers contacted the subjects and determined one of them displayed symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Further investigation confirmed this and smoking paraphernalia was also located on the subject. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Medical Assist
July 26 at 7:25 p.m., dispatch received a call from the California Highway Patrol reporting a female subject in distress. She was crying and asking for police help. She was calling from her cell phone and disconnected from CHP before they could get any information. Monrovia dispatchers called the woman back on her cell phone, but could not get any identifying information from her either. Monrovia dispatchers then conducted a thorough investigation and were finally able to contact the woman’s husband. He said she was driving from Las Vegas in a rental car. The husband called his wife and she said she was parked behind a business in Monrovia. Officers responded and located the vehicle behind a gas station in the 700 block of West Huntington. The female was extremely intoxicated and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Monrovia's Boy's and Girl's Club Gets $3,000 Check

West Coast footwear retailer, WSS, presented a $3,000 check on July 23 to Monrovia's Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills to support education and career opportunities for youth. This is part of a ten-day tour to present $3,000 checks to 27 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout LA.

- Brad Haugaard

Grandparents Day Celebration Sept. 12

For your calendar: Grandparents Day, Saturday, September 12, noon to 3 p.m. at Second Baptist Church, 925 S. Shamrock Ave. Sponsored by the Monrovia Duarte Black Alumni Association. Tickets $20, $10 for kids 12 and younger. RSVP to Eloise Hart at (760) 669-0669.

- Brad Haugaard

New Townhomes Planned Near Monrovia's Station Square

Brandywine Homes will begin demolition this month on Lotus Court, a .74-acre community that will offer 13 townhomes on Duarte Road near Station Square, a newly revitalized transportation hub in Monrovia, Calif. Brandywine expects to begin sales in February 2016 and plans to complete the community by summer 2016. http://goo.gl/lmdXFI

- Brad Haugaard

Look at Saturn Tonight at Monrovia's Library Park

Join Monrovia's Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers at Library Park at the corner of Myrtle and Lime after dark tonight to look at the Moon and Saturn.

- Brad Haugaard

Truck Petting Zoo at Library Park

Truck Petting Zoo, Saturday, July 25 from 2-3:30 p.m. at Library Park. Stories, songs, craft and movie about trucks, and climb on trucks - fire trucks, police trucks, garbage trucks and more. For children in grades K-5.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Le Gourmand

Lunch Saturday at the new Le Gourmand, on the west side of Myrtle just south of Lime. Got a prosciutto with whipped goat cheese, arugula and sun dried tomato panini ($9.98) and an iced tea ($2.28). This is mostly a market but with a fair number of tables.  The service was friendly and the food was fine. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Stolen Trains; Police Decline High-Speed Chase; Thief Drives Away While Owner Getting Coffee; Graffiti on Community Center

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 20-22. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 407 service events, resulting in 67 investigations.

Burglary Follow-up
On July 14, an officer stopped a vehicle in the 400 block of Stedman for a traffic violation and inside the vehicle were numerous antique hobby trains and jewelry, which the suspect claimed he purchased from an auction. The driver had a suspended license, and the vehicle and property were stored. Also inside the vehicle was a name on a business card belonging to a subject that lives in Arcadia. The officer went to the address listed on the card to verify if the subject was the victim of theft, but no one was home at the time. He left his business card for the owner to contact him. On July 20, the subject arrived home from vacation to find his residence had been burglarized. Arcadia Police Department was called to handle the burglary report and the victim responded to Monrovia Police Department, where he identified the stolen property. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Pursuit
July 20 at 2:29 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a theft of merchandise. The suspect fled the location in a 2014 Nissan Armada with Colorado plates. The officer was entering the parking lot as the suspect pulled out onto Huntington. When the officer tried to pull the vehicle over, it fled westbound Huntington and then onto the 210 Freeway, heading westbound. The officer went in pursuit of the vehicle. The suspect vehicle began accelerating to a high rate of speed. Due to the unsafe speed and the incident being a minor theft, the officer discontinued the pursuit at Baldwin. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
July 21 at 8:50 a.m., a grand theft was a reported in the 200 block of South Alta Vista. The victim had parked his truck in front of his residence the night before. When he returned to his truck the next morning at 8:45 a.m., he found that a piece of equipment had been stolen from the bed of his truck. The victim had several pieces of work equipment in his truck; one of the items was a welder that was locked to the bed of the truck. The suspect cut the chain and stole the welder. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
July 22 at 2:58 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 900 block of West Duarte Road. The victim parked his vehicle in front of a business and went into the store, leaving his vehicle running with the key in the ignition. As he was buying a cup of coffee, he looked outside and saw a male suspect in his vehicle, backing up and out of the parking stall. The victim ran outside yelling at the suspect, but the suspect did not stop. He drove out of the parking lot and fled in the vehicle. Officers searched the area for the vehicle, but it was not located. The victim described the suspect as a male, approximately 20-30 years old, 5’10” to 6’ tall, weighing 190-200 pounds, with a shaved head and wearing a black t-shirt. The stolen vehicle is a white, 4- door, 2008 El Dorado. The investigation is continuing.

Felony Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 7:29 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Lime and Heliotrope when he stopped a motorist for a vehicle code violation. The officer contacted the driver and recognized him as a possible wanted suspect. The officer confirmed the subject was wanted for felony vandalism and arrested him.

Vandalism
July 22 at 8:42 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the Monrovia Community Center in the 100 block of West Palm on the report of vandalism at the location. Unknown suspect(s) spray painted graffiti on the rear side of the building on the walls. The investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication/Resisting Arrest – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 8:54 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Palm regarding a male subject who was yelling and banging on his girlfriend's front door. Officers arrived and found the male subject in the front yard yelling at the neighbors and displaying signs of intoxication. He was yelling because his girlfriend had broken up with him. Officers determined he was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. As the officers attempted to detain him, the suspect struggled with the officers, resisting arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody, where he was held for sobering.

New VP at Monrovia's STAAR Surgical | Adams Gives Spicer a Turn

~ Dr. Jon K. Hayashida has been named to the newly created position of Vice President of Global Clinical and Medical Affairs at Monrovia's STAAR Surgical Company, which makes and markets implantable lenses for the eye. http://goo.gl/ByiBUX

~ At Tuesday's city council meeting, Mayor Tom Adams turned the gavel over to Mayor Pro Tem Larry Spicer and let him run the show. http://goo.gl/7RX6pS

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Kings and Queens: They Understand Robot Too

Monrovia High's Kings and Queens robotics team hosted a group of 80 students from Shanghai, China who visited Monrovia High to see what high schools in the U.S. are like. "They may speak a different language, but they understand robot just like we do." Source: Kings and Queens Facebook post.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia: When You Can't Bear Them in Your Trash; Former Fire Department Leader Dies; Rock in the Park; Youths Honored; Etc.

In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/3dt3Eo ), City Manager Oliver Chi writes that ...

~ Bear-resistant trash cans available for a fee from Athens Services.

~ Former Monrovia Fire Department Division Chief Dave Dennis passed away at his home in Rancho Cucamonga.

~ The Bulldogs Classic Rock Band, from 7-8:30 p.m. this Sunday, July 26. in Library Park.

~ The Community Services Commission Board and City staff recognized Jackie Villalvazo and Lilia Alvarez as its Youth Commissioners of the Year at the monthly Commission Meeting.

~ Big Hero 6 is the final movie in the free Summer Movie Series is on August 8, at 8 p.m. at Grand Avenue Park. Bring a chair. For more information call the Monrovia Community Center at (626) 256-8246.

~ Monrovia Library met its goal of singing up at least 2,000 individuals for its 2015 Summer Reading Club.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Fake Firearm; Two Dead From Gunshots; Car Stolen at ATM; Burglar Leaves Clues; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 16-19. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Domestic Violence/Possession of a Replica Firearm/Possession of a Dirk or Dagger – Suspect Arrested
July 16 at 7:00 a.m., an officer responded to a call reporting a male suspect pushing and dragging his girlfriend through the grass at a park in the 700 block of East Lemon. The officer arrived at the location and detained the suspect. He was found to be in possession of a dagger and a replica firearm. The suspect had melted the red tip off the barrel to give the gun an authentic appearance. The suspect's girlfriend did not sustain any injuries during the incident. The suspect was arrested and held, pending his court appearance date.

Disturbance/Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 16 at 7:05 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Central regarding a disturbance. Upon contacting and identifying the subjects, one of them was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested for the warrant and taken into custody.

Death Investigation
July 17 at 1:46 a.m., Monrovia Police Dispatch received a call reporting possible shots heard in the area of 100 Grand Avenue. Monrovia Police Officers arrived and located a male and female adult deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. The initial investigation indicates a domestic dispute. There are no suspects being sought at this time. The investigation is continuing and is being handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau.

Warrants – Suspect Arrested
July 17 at 9:21 a.m., police received a call reporting a suspicious male subject looking into parked cars in the 200 block of Montana. Officers responded and located the suspect. He was identified and found to have several warrants for his arrest. He admitted that he was looking into the cars and had actually entered a couple looking for things to steal. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Burglary/Possession of Burglary Tools – Suspect Arrested
July 17 at 3:32 p.m., police received a call from a business in the 500 block of West Huntington reporting a burglary in progress. The suspect had stolen merchandise from the Alhambra location of the business earlier in the week and was now at the Monrovia store. Officers responded to the location and detained the suspect. The suspect was found to be in possession of burglary tools, which was added to his charges.

Burglary
July 17 at 9:13 p.m., a burglary was reported at a residence in the 300 block of Valle Vista Avenue. The victim had just arrived home at her residence and found it had been ransacked. Officers responded, but no suspects were located at the residence. The victim had left the garage door to her residence open while she was gone, and the interior door from her garage to the residence was closed, but also unlocked. Several items were taken. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 18 at 1:57 a.m., officers observed a vehicle stopped at a red light at Duarte and Myrtle without headlights during hours of darkness; the vehicle then made an abrupt lane change and accelerated through the intersection. The vehicle was stopped for the vehicle code violation, and after investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.

Warrants/Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 18 at 10:12 p.m., an officer stopped a driver at Mountain and Huntington for a vehicle code violation and discovered the driver had several outstanding warrants. The driver was subsequently arrested. During a search, the subject was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and several access cards that did not belong to him. The additional crimes were added to his charges.

Grand Theft Auto
July 19 at 12:19 a.m., the victim of a grand theft auto phoned police to report her vehicle had just been stolen. The victim exited her vehicle to use an ATM in a parking lot in the 600 block of West Huntington and left her vehicle unlocked and running. While she was outside of the vehicle, a male suspect got into the vehicle and fled the area. The vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system. The investigation is continuing.

Burglary – Suspect Arrested
July 19 at 7:48 a.m., an employee from a preschool in the 900 block of West Duarte called to report someone possibly inside the school. Officers responded and it appeared someone had been at the location, as a bicycle and clothing had been left behind. One of the officers recognized the bicycle from previous contact with a local male subject. After officers cleared the school, a resident in the 1800 block of Sixth Avenue called and reported a male suspect was trying to get into his rear shed. When officers arrived, the subject ran to the rear of a business, but was quickly detained. This was the same male subject the officer had contacted several days earlier on the bicycle. The suspect was wearing a shirt taken from the preschool. He admitted to being at the school and was arrested and taken into custody.

Wine Not? Fundraiser to Support Monrovia Providers Group Work With Seniors

The Monrovia Providers Group will host its annual grant fundraiser, Wine Not?, to support its senior grant program, at Westminster Gardens, 1420 Santo Domingo Ave. in Duarte on Friday, September 18 from 6-9 pm. Tickets are $25 per person. The event will feature samplings of specially chosen wines from local wineries, hors d'oeuvres, raffle prizes and a special non-alcoholic "mock-tail" for those who don't care for wine, but would like to support the grant program. Additional sponsorship opportunities and information, as well as event tickets, are available by emailing: info@monroviaproviders.org.

- Brad Haugaard

ChapCare Opening New Health Care Center in Monrovia

On August 3, Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (ChapCare) will open a new health center (ChapCare Lime) at 513 E. Lime Avenue, Suite 101, in Monrovia. ChapCare brings a range of healthcare services to underserved and underinsured families in Monrovia, Duarte, and Arcadia. It accepts Medi-Cal, Medicare and many Covered California and private insurance plans. Services include family medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, mental health, optometry, and health insurance screening and enrollment, and hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Source: Press release

- Brad Haugaard

Doña Oxford to Perform at St. Luke's

Doña Oxford will perform a benefit at 6:30 p.m. on August 1 in the courtyard of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Ave. at Foothill. Tickets, $25, include dinner and one drink, and can be ordered at http://goo.gl/9W4mxC. Proceeds benefit community service efforts and the church building fund. Oxford's style fuses blues/soul vocals and boogie-woogie piano. She has performed with such artists as Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, Levon Helm, Bob Weir, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Julia Fordham and Shemekia Copeland. Also appearing will be violinist and pianist Dr. Adam Kendall, who studied violin performance at UC San Diego and played with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra during a research year abroad.

Difficult Trash Disposal

How to get rid of bulky items and hazardous waste in Monrovia: http://goo.gl/P7J0y8

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Woman's Car Hijacked - Her Son Almost Taken

A Monrovia woman reports that her car was hijacked just a few feet away from her as she got money out of the Wells Fargo ATM machine in the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center at about midnight Saturday night. Her son was in the car and just managed to get out. Source: Facebook posting.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Assist With Sierra Madre Emergency

Apparently Sierra Madre just had an emergency in which someone apparently turned in a hand grenade, according to a City News Service report. Interestingly, Sierra Madre asked people to contact the Monrovia Police Department. I guess our contract with Sierra Madre to provide it with police command assistance is kicking in.

- Brad Haugaard

Flash Flood Watch for 210 Corridor | Concert Canceled

~ The National Weather Service in Oxnard has issued a flash flood warning for Central LA County until 9 p.m., including the Central San Gabriel Mountains and adjacent valley communities along the 210 corridor. "Very heavy rainfall with rates over one inch in 30 minutes have been observed...capable of producing flash flooding and debris flows." http://goo.gl/jrxagw

~ The Sunday night concert in the park has been canceled because of the rain. Well, good trade.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Water Restrictions; Truck Restrictions; Solar Un-Restrictions; Etc.

At its regular meeting on July 21 (agenda: http://goo.gl/1rP18s ) the Monrovia City Council will, among other things, consider ...

~ More restrictions on the use of drinking water, including (for Phase I, what we are in now) limiting watering no more than 15 minutes per watering day, plus new restrictions on overwatering, over-spray, watering during wind or after rain, and use of water on permeable surfaces. For Phase II, spray irrigation would be limited to "not more than every fourth day, essentially once each week." http://goo.gl/l2rGG9

~ Limit the weight of trucks to minimize damage to city streets. "The use of all streets within the city is prohibited by any vehicle exceeding a gross weight of 6,000 pounds, except upon the truck routes specified in Section 10.24.010(B). A vehicle in excess of 6,000 pounds up to a maximum of 14,000 pounds, including its load, may utilize the streets and portions of streets designated as truck routes." http://goo.gl/7AEcR8

~ A new rule to make it quicker to install small rooftop residential solar systems. "The Building and Safety Division shall issue a building permit or other non-discretionary permit within 3 business days following receipt of a completed application." More streamlining as well. Comment: Sounds pretty good. http://goo.gl/zLxeT9

~ A new compensation agreement with employee groups. http://goo.gl/jbrIS2

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Jake's Roadhouse

Dinner at Jake's Roadhouse on the east side of Myrtle south of Colorado. Got the half  full rack of baby back ribs for $18.95 $24.95 and a beer in a frosty mug for $4.99. Well! That was more than I expected. I couldn't finish half those ribs. A lot of meat on those ribs. Nice.

Update: Sorry for goofs. I planned to order the half rack and should have. Then I figured I was hungry enough for the full rack, but no way!

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Wins $50k in Sports Competition

Monrovian wins $50k at Kids Choice Sports competition. http://goo.gl/UTqZ41

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Man and Woman in Possible Murder-Suicide

Monrovia man and woman found dead in possible murder-suicide. http://goo.gl/Zd7dC9

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Acquaintance Gone, Car Gone; Driving Backwards Into Hydrant; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for  July 9-15. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 442 service events, resulting in 54 investigations.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 12:30 a.m., officers were in the area of Shamrock and Colorado when they heard a male and female arguing. The female was walking and the male was driving his vehicle next to her, yelling at her. The officers stopped the male subject in the vehicle and through investigation determined he was intoxicated. He was arrested for driving under the influence and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 8:20 a.m., an officer conducted a warrant service at a location in the 800 block of El Dorado. Per the authority of the warrant, the officer located and arrested the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody and held until his court appearance.

Grand Theft Auto
July 10 at 9:54 a.m., an officer responded to the 700 block of Foothill on the report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle stolen is a 2000, burgundy Saturn. The victim allowed an acquaintance to spend the night at his home. When he woke up the following morning, his vehicle and car keys were missing; the acquaintance was also gone. The investigation is continuing.

Welfare Check/Juvenile No-Bail Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 10:30 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Monrovista on the request for a welfare check of an unreported, missing female juvenile. Upon arrival, the female juvenile was located and returned to her father. A second juvenile at the location was discovered to have a no-bail warrant for his arrest. The officer arrested the juvenile and took him into custody for the warrant. The juvenile was later taken to Juvenile Hall for housing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 3:45 p.m., police responded to a family disturbance at a residence in the 1500 block of South Magnolia. A 16-year-old boy at the location called police and reported that his parents were arguing. The officer arrived and arrested the husband. The female subject had visible injuries to her face and arms. The suspect was held pending his court appearance date and an emergency protective order was issued.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
July 10 at 7:18 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of South Mountain on the report of a vehicle that was parked and appeared to be emitting smoke. Upon questioning, the subject admitted to running into a pole at a fast food restaurant. The investigation revealed the driver was intoxicated; he was arrested and held for sobering. The suspect was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Residential Burglary
July 10 at 11:47 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of West Hillcrest regarding a residential burglary. The resident left for several hours and returned to find her home ransacked. The unknown suspect(s) made entry through an unlocked side door. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
July 11 at 12:59 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of South Myrtle. Forced entry was made into the vehicle and a cell phone charger and battery pack were taken. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
July 11 at 1:25 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation. Investigation revealed the driver was intoxicated and he was arrested. The driver was found to have four prior convictions for DUI, which made this arrest a felony. The suspect was held until his court appearance.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 11 at 4:00 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of South Shamrock and observed a subject in the park sitting on a bench with a broken glass methamphetamine pipe on the ground in front of him. The subject denied knowledge of the broken pipe; however, he was found to be in possession of another methamphetamine pipe. The suspect was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Traffic Collision/Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
July 11 at 11:40 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a vehicle that was driving in reverse in the 200 block of North May and struck a power pole and a fire hydrant. An officer arrived and determined that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and held for sobering.

Theft Investigation
July 14 at 11:36 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation at Hillcrest and El Nido. The driver was found to be driving on a suspended license and his vehicle was stored. An inventory of the vehicle revealed rare coins, antique hobby trains and jewelry. The officer suspected the items were possibly taken in a burglary and held the property for observation. The officer also located a new cell phone within the property. Further investigation revealed the phone was stolen from a vehicle that was parked in a parking lot in Duarte. The phone had not been reported stolen yet. Also within the property were grocery store reward cards with a name on it. Officers are attempting to locate possible victims. The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Strong-arm Robbery
July 14 at 6:11 p.m., a male driver was making a right turn from Central onto Myrtle when he stopped for a male subject who was riding his skateboard in the crosswalk. When the driver stopped, he was approached by a male suspect, approximately 17-19 years old, who appeared to be a friend of the skateboarder, who was around the same age. The suspect told the driver he almost collided into his friend and demanded money from the driver.

The driver refused because he did not have any money in his possession. As he tried to drive away, the suspect reached into the vehicle and punched the driver in the face. The driver/victim fled the scene out of fear, believing he was being robbed. Officers searched for the suspect and the skateboarder, but were unable to locate them. This investigation is continuing.

Misdemeanor Hit and Run Traffic Collision
July 14 at 10:29 p.m., a witness reported a hit and run traffic collision that occurred in a business parking lot in the 400 block of West Duarte. The suspect vehicle was last seen heading eastbound on Duarte Road. Officers arrived in the area and located the victim. Through investigation, officers identified the suspect, a known gang member. An area search near his parent’s home resulted in the recovery of the suspect’s vehicle; however, the suspect was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 15 at 8:33 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of California regarding a fight in progress. Two subjects possibly involved, a male and female, were possibly fighting two other subjects. They were located near the intersection of Canyon and Walnut; however, they were uncooperative with officers. Officers were unable to locate anyone else involved and were unable to determine if a crime had occurred. After officers cleared the scene, another fight in progress was reported at 9:05 a.m., near the intersection of California and Huntington. Officers arrived and detained the same two subjects from the earlier incident. Again, the subjects were uncooperative, and no crime could be established. A computer check revealed the male subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and taken into custody. The female subject was released at the scene after being issued a citation for a traffic violation.

Monrovia Assembly Member's Car Buying Bill Approved by Legislature

The legislature has given final approval to a bill by Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, to require "Buy Here, Pay Here" car dealerships to provide a 5 to 10-day notification period before a remote kill device can be used to disable a car for lack of payment. Currently the law requires a two-day notification. The bill now goes to Governor Brown.

Drive-In At Monrovia Library

Drive-in theater for kids at Monrovia Library. http://goo.gl/ie94Yb

Driver Hit in Face in Attempted Robbery

Man punched in attempted robbery in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/Tfuzxn

- Brad Haugaard

A Chance of Rain for Monrovia This Weekend

50% chance of "scattered thundershowers" this Saturday, and 40% chance of rain on Sunday. http://goo.gl/VnR5SB

- Brad Haugaard

Video Intro to 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' at Monrovia High

A video description of the upcoming play, Thoroughly Modern Millie, July 16-19. https://goo.gl/n2zxiU

Have Dinner With a Monrovia Police Officer

Monrovia residents are invited to Library Park for a night of free food, music and unity from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4. Meet Monrovia Police officers, share a meal and ask those questions you have always wanted to ask a police officer.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia May Limit Truck Weight | Seat for City on Board of LabLaunch? | Etc.

In his latest weekly report ( http://goo.gl/MwOjki ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ The city's Traffic Safety Committee is considering a modification to the city's truck route ordinance to limit trucks entering the 210 freeway from Myrtle to 14,000 pounds.

~ Korva Labs (www.korvalabs.com) and Drywired, LLC (www.drywired.com) have moved into the new LabLaunch science / technology incubator facility at 605 East Huntington, and more companies are scheduled to move in during the coming months. Chi said that the city has "discussed the possibility of the City being provided with a seat on the LabLaunch Monrovia Board of Directors to ensure that the City's interests are well represented as the overall biotech / science / technology platform continues to grow.

~ The city is tentatively planning a joint meeting between the Monrovia City Council and the Monrovia Unified School District on August 17 at 5 p.m. Location not announced yet.

~ The new Foothill Gold Line Operations Campus got its first resident train car, or "light rail vehicle" (LRV). Chi writes: "The vehicle was very large and was delivered using an oversized-load trucking service. This is the first of many similar deliveries that will be taking place over the next year and a half."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Providers Group Honors Brenda Shorkend

The Monrovia Providers Group awarded its annual Joel Olsen Award, honoring the member with the best volunteer record, to Brenda Shorkend of Shorkend Care Management. Also, bakery owner Becky Rivanis of Rivanis Baking Company, was presented with an appreciation award for her support of MPG's Care Cafe events.

MPG is a non-profit organization of community agencies and private resources that help provide reliable, local services to area seniors. All donations are used to assist seniors with age-related issues; educate them about opportunities; and provide supportive activities and emergency grants to those in need.

- Brad Haugaard

Portantino Running For State Senate in Monrovia's District

Anthony Portantino, who formerly represented Monrovia in the state Assembly, is now running for the State Senate to represent the 25th State Senate district, which runs from Sunland-Tujunga in the west to Upland in the east and includes Monrovia. Today he announced an endorsement by State Controller Betty Yee. Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's LeRoy's Makes Diner List

Monrovia's LeRoy's Diner makes the list in LA Eater.com's "13 Super Cheap Diners You've Never Heard of In LA." http://goo.gl/ggoSxC

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Adult Leadership | Montaigne

~ Monrovia Area Partnership is putting on an Adult Leadership Academy on Thursdays at 7-9 p.m. from September 10 through October 22 at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W Palm.. Training on how to network with existing city resources to improve neighborhoods. Sign up here: http://goo.gl/xbFHT1

~ The J*Fed Players, under the umbrella of the Monrovia-based Jewish Federation, will present "Montaigne," a new musical by Joseph Charney. On the surface, Montaigne is a glimpse into modern high school life, but at a deeper level it is about how we communicate with each other and discover who we are. At the First Church of the Nazarene (3700 Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena) on Saturday, August 1 at 8 p.m., Thursday, August 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets at www.jewishsgpv.org/forms

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Summer Art Walk July 25

Scene from a previous Summer Art Walk

Summer Art Walk, Saturday, July 25 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the 400 Block of S. Myrtle, in Old Town Monrovia. There will be local MAFA artists (painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry designers, ceramic artists) plus art demonstrations and local musicians. A gallery reception with refreshments at Paint 'n' Play Studio, 418 S. Myrtle. The gallery will showcase art from Duarte Youth & the Arts Program, a pilot crime prevention program for 3rd to 12th grade youth, co-sponsored by the California Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP), MAFA and Paint 'n' Play Studio.

Empty Bowls Monrovia will be selling the more than 40 handmade ceramic bowls left over from its June fundraiser for $10 each. All proceeds are donated to Foothill Unity Center, which also received more than $6,000 from the June event. Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement to end hunger through ceramics: emptybowlsmonrovia.wix.com/2014
 
- Brad Haugaard

Bill Shieff Takes Over As Head of Monrovia Rotary

Bill Shieff, a long time Rotarian, resident of Monrovia, and Chairman of Move Monrovia, took over the helm of the Monrovia Rotary Club, succeeding outgoing president Bryan Earll of Apex Fasteners, in a custom of yearly leadership turnover practiced in Rotary Clubs around the world.

Shieff, in his introductory remarks, reaffirmed that a top priority of the club will be to offer services and programs to the children and teens of Monrovia including sending high school students to Rotary Youth Leadership Camp (RYLA), sending eighth graders to Teen Leadership Camp (TLC), a continuation and expansion of the clubs Santa Clothes program providing school clothes to needy students, and ongoing support of the Interact Club and Robotics program at Monrovia High School as well as many more. Shieff also commented on the clubs renewed partnership with Monrovia Adult School to provide Vocational Scholarships.

Mr. Shieff and his wife Sue are parents of two and grandparents of six. They enjoy travel, music, and fine food. Bill is an avid road cyclist, motorcyclist, licensed pilot and continuing education and technology enthusiast. He is a Vietnam Veteran with an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy.

In his business career, he was the President/CEO of Randolph Shieff & Associates, Inc. which provided domestic and international clients with contract manufacturing services.

The Monrovia Rotary Club welcomes visitors to its meetings and actively seeks service minded individuals to join its membership. The club meets Tuesdays at noon at the Monrovian Restaurant on Myrtle Avenue, in the upstairs banquet room. More information can be found at www.monroviarotaryclub.com

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Max's Mexican Cuisine

Dinner recently at Max's Mexican Cuisine, across the street from Target, on Huntington. Yes, that's still Monrovia. Got an Enchilada Suiza and Chili Relleno combo for $9.45 and a 22-oz beer for $7. I've never been disappointed at Max's, and I wasn't this time either. It was very good. Also, cheerful quick service and I love their good-bye: "See you tomorrow."

- Brad Haugaard 

Scaffolding Finally Down on New Commercial Building

Not quite done yet, but the commercial building across from the Library on Myrtle is looking good now that the scaffolding and fencing is finally down. http://goo.gl/ZXOMjA

Monrovia School Board: Textbooks and Budget

At its July 15 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/upf8DX ), the Monrovia School Board will consider ...

~ Adopting a math textbook and submitting an art textbook for public review.

~ Approving a revised 2015-16 budget. http://goo.gl/OGxp7X

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Stealing Electricity From a Bank; Sleeping in a Park; Car Stolen; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 6-8. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 421 service events, resulting in 64 investigations.

Residential Burglary
July 6 at 5:49 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of East Maple. The night before, the victim closed his automatic garage door and went into his house. He thought it had closed all the way, but at 7:00 a.m. the next morning, he walked outside and saw the garage door was partially open, with enough room for someone to crawl underneath. He closed it all the way and went to work. When he returned home from work, he opened his garage door and noticed several car batteries and a hydraulic fuel pump had been stolen. He immediately called the police. The investigation is continuing.

Drug Paraphernalia/Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 1:21 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 500 block of South Myrtle when he saw a male subject loitering around a bank’s ATM machines; however, he was not using the machines. The male had a bandanna covering his face and he was sweating, appearing suspicious.

The officer contacted the subject, who told the officer he was stealing electricity from the bank by charging his cell phone in their outside electrical outlet. The subject was showing signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance, so the officer conducted a drug evaluation. He was arrested for being under the influence, and he was found to be in possession of an almost empty baggy of methamphetamine and a used, glass smoking pipe.

Park Closed – Citations Issued
July 7 at 2:08 a.m., an officer was patrolling a park in the 500 block of South Mountain and located two male subjects camping out and sleeping after the park closed. Signs were posted notifying the subjects that the park was closed; they were both issued citations and asked to leave the park.

Grand Theft Auto
July 7 at 4:38 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 600 block of West Huntington Drive. The vehicle is a 2015, Chevy Camaro and was stolen from a business parking lot. The victim saw the vehicle being driven away by a male suspect, but did not realize the car was hers until she found that her vehicle was gone from where she had parked it. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 10:28 p.m., officers responded to a market in the 400 block of West Foothill regarding a male subject who was causing a disturbance in the parking lot with store customers. When the officers arrived, a computer check revealed the male had two outstanding warrants for his arrest. The male subject was arrested and taken into custody for the warrants.

Monrovia FD Creates Training Facilities With Grant Money

What the Monrovia Fire Department has done with its Homeland Security grants: http://goo.gl/L1PYSu

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Kim Rhode to be Pan American Games Flag Bearer

Monrovian Kim Rhode has been selected as Team USA's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the XVII Pan American Games to be held July 10 in Toronto. http://goo.gl/c83k7y

- Brad Haugaard

Tour of Historic Monrovia This Saturday

Monrovia Historic Preservation Group will conduct its next walking tour of downtown Monrovia this Saturday, July 11, at 10 a.m. Reservations are not necessary. Meet at the southeast corner of Palm and Myrtle Avenues. Cost is $5 (12 and under free) and lasts approximately two hours. http://goo.gl/I9gLrc

- Brad Haugaard

Family Services Director Retires | Mt. Sierra Student Graduation

~ Executive director of Santa Anita Family Services retires: http://goo.gl/DMMq9L

~ Monrovia's Mt. Sierra College honors its graduates: http://goo.gl/AzXwdH

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Charged With Attempted Murder | Holden Human Rights Bill

~ Monrovia man charged with attempting to kill Arcadia police officer: http://goo.gl/LxDuLt

~ A bill by Monrovia's Assembly representative, Chris Holden, to expand the time limit for filing human rights claims in cases of torture, rape, and sex trafficking, has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. AB 15 extends the statute of limitations on human rights abuse cases from two to ten years, bringing it into line with federal law. Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Gets New CFO

Monrovia-based AeroVironment today announced the appointment of Raymond Cook as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective immediately. http://goo.gl/u6Cg3k

- Brad Haugaard

Holden School-Employee Travel Bill Signed By Governor

Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law Assembly member Chris Holden's bill (AB 915) to remove travel restrictions on public school employees. Existing law prohibits employees who are on leave and receiving workers' compensation from traveling outside California unless the school board approves the travel. AB 915 repeals that prohibition. According to Holden's office, "This bill received overwhelming bi-partisan support in both Assembly and Senate." Holden represents Monrovia. Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: 'I Have Meth In My Pocket'; Domestic Violence; Under the Influence

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 2-5. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 3 at 1:23 a.m., police received a call reporting a possible drunk driver. The caller observed the driver drinking behind a business near Myrtle and Evergreen. The caller saw the subject get in his vehicle and reported him to police as he was leaving the area. Officers located the vehicle and saw the driver swerve and nearly hit a parked car. The driver was stopped and, through investigation, he was determined to be driving under the influence; the driver was arrested and held for sobering.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 3 at 1:15 p.m., an officer was sent to the 500 block of West Olive on the report of a male and female arguing inside of a parked vehicle. Officers arrived and, through investigation, determined the male subject was the primary aggressor. The subjects are in a dating relationship and were involved in an argument. During the argument, the male suspect grabbed the victim by the back of the neck, squeezing for several seconds before releasing his grip. The suspect also slapped the victim several times. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody; he was held pending his court appearance.

Possession of a Controlled Substance/Outstanding Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 4 at 9:57 a.m., an officer observed a bicyclist riding erratically in and out of the roadway and crosswalk in the 400 block of West Huntington Drive. He stopped and contacted the subject. The subject told the officer he had methamphetamine in his pocket. The officer searched the subject and found that he was in possession of methamphetamine; he was arrested and taken into custody. A computer check revealed the subject also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, which was added to his charges.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 5 at 7:31 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Linwood regarding a welfare check. The caller reported her father was extremely intoxicated and she thought he was going to get in his car and drive away. The subject was found sitting on the curb in front of the home. A computer check of the subject revealed two outstanding misdemeanor warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody for the warrants.

Comment: Thoughts on Monrovia's Fourth of July Celebration

The Monrovia Fourth of July celebration at Library Park was - as usual - wonderful, but you know, even though the fireworks were great (Thank you, city government and generous contributors!) what really touched my heart was the result of a glitch.

At the beginning of the night the music for the Star Spangled Banner abruptly stopped part way through the music, but then a great thing happened - the crowd picked up the national anthem and sang it themselves!

When I was growing up in the 60s this would not have been worthy of comment because the crowd always sang the national anthem. But I think during the ill feeling of the Vietnam War era a lot of people decided not to sing it, so various venues started bringing in singers to sing it, and it soon became something that was performed for the people rather than something sung by the people.

I would so much love to get back to the people singing the national anthem. To me, singing it as a crowd reinforces the sense that, "Whatever our political differences, we are all in this together."

Maybe we should start doing this intentionally, and it might as well be Monrovia that leads the way. But since I don't think people are used to singing the anthem anymore, maybe it would be good to have a song leader get the crowd started in singing it. But please, don't do it for us. It's not us if you do it for us.

- Brad Haugaard

Happy Fourth of July, Monrovia!

Fireworks at Monrovia's Library Park. Comment: The night started out well. There was a glitch playing the national anthem so the crowd sang it alone. A big improvement.

- Brad Haugaard

VBS At Monrovia's Calvary Road Baptist Church | Dr. Seuss Story Hour

~ Vacation Bible School July 14-18 at Calvary Road Baptist Church. Primary through high school grades. Games, crafts, Bible lessons, snacks and prizes. Church at 319 W Olive. Register here: http://goo.gl/lhaHe9

~ Dr. Seuss story hour at Friends Cafe (near Myrtle and Lemon), July 24 at 3 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Street Fair Doing Well

The Friday Night Street Fair, under new management, stretches along Myrtle from Chestnut up to Lemon. It seems to be going well, despite the spinoff street fair in Arcadia. Shops, food, pony rides, bounce houses and more. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Council: Fire Tax Increase; Reorganization of City Hall

At its July 7 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/YcHmX7 ), the Monrovia City Council will, among other things, consider ...

~ Raising the city's Fire Service Impact Fee from 60 cents per square foot to 90 cents per square foot for both commercial and residential buildings. Fire Chief Chris Donovan says that between 2000 and 2014, there has been a 17.5% increase in the annual number of Fire Department calls for service and a 29.6% increase in medical aid calls. http://goo.gl/eKQOtm

~ A reorganization of various city departments. http://goo.gl/1TybSn

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Panera Bread

Lunch today at Panera Bread on Huntington. Got an Italian Combo sandwich ($8.29) and a strawberry banana smoothie ($4.29). Everything was very good!

- Brad Haugaard 

Biotech Incubator Opening in Monrovia

A new biotech incubator company called LabLaunch is up and running in Monrovia. Here's a picture: https://goo.gl/57xK5Z

- Brad Haugaard

Fireworks Tips If You Are Not In Monrovia

Personal fireworks are illegal in Monrovia, but if you are in an area that allows them, the Monrovia Police Department has some Fourth of July safety tips for you:

• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Brass Knuckles; Car Flips Twice; Grandson Arrested; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 29 – July 1. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 420 service events, resulting in 65 investigations.

Weapons Offense/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
June 30 at 12:54 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 300 block of East Walnut on the report of a male subject causing a disturbance. The subject was banging on the door of a motor home parked at the location. When officers arrived, they contacted the subject, along with three other male subjects at the location. A pat down search for the officer's safety revealed the first male detained was in possession of illegal brass knuckles and a used pipe for smoking methamphetamine. The subject was arrested and taken into custody. The other three subjects were identified and released.

Vehicle Burglary
June 30 at 7:37 a.m., a commercial vehicle parked at a hotel in the 900 block of South Fifth Avenue was broken into by unknown means. A GPS that was in the center console and a mounted DriveCam device was stolen. There was no sign of forced entry to the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
June 30 at 2:34 p.m., a husband and wife were driving in their car, heading north on Magnolia toward Colorado. The husband was driving and suddenly veered into an unoccupied, parked truck. The force of the collision moved the truck approximately 25 feet forward, and the car flipped over twice. Both occupants of the vehicle sustained moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment. There was no sign of alcohol involved.

Bicycle Theft
June 30 at 8:44 p.m., an officer responded to the 100 block of South Ivy regarding a bicycle theft. The owner of the bike said he left it unsecured on the side of his house at 5:00 p.m., and when he returned at 7:30 p.m., it was gone. The side of the house is visible from the street. He described his bike as a BMX Free Agent with a grey frame, black handle bars, a black front wheel and red rear wheel. The investigation is continuing.

Vandalism/Warrant – Suspect Arrested
June 30 at 11:07 p.m., officers responded to an apartment in the 300 block of East Lime Avenue regarding a family disturbance. When they arrived, they spoke with the renter of the apartment. She told them she had allowed her adult grandson, who is homeless, to stay with her for one week, but she now wanted him out of her home. She refused to open the front door for him when he arrived home. He became angry and forced the door open, causing damage to the door frame. When he entered, he saw she had packed all his belongings into a bag. The grandson was found to have outstanding warrants for his arrest; he was arrested and taken into custody.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
July 1 at 3:23 a.m., a female was reported to be chasing a male south on Shamrock, approaching Huntington. Officers arrived and both were detained to investigate. The subjects were found to be husband and wife, and they had been involved in an argument at home. The husband left the house and the wife followed him, yelling at him as they walked. While officers were speaking with the female, it was apparent she had been drinking. The officer determined she was too intoxicated to care for her own safety and that her husband was not able to care for her either, so she was arrested for being drunk in public and held for sobering.

Outstanding Warrants – Suspects Arrested
July 1 at 8:05 p.m., officers were on patrol in the 100 block of West Huntington and recognized two subjects walking east on the sidewalk. They knew both subjects had outstanding warrants for their arrest. A computer check confirmed the warrants and both subjects were arrested; the subjects were held, pending their court appearance.

Tile Artist Next To Her Work At Monrovia Train Station

A photo Monrovia station artist Cha-Rie Tang next to one of the recently completed decorative tile column bases on the station platform. http://goo.gl/DanrB1

- Brad Haugaard

Restaurant For Historic Monrovia Train Depot? Mystery Hole No Longer; Banners; Mt. Sierra Moving

From  City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly report ( http://goo.gl/xGRtr0 )  ...

~ Above, renderings of the street light and pedestrian light banners planned for the Station Square project area.

~ The city hopes to find a restaurant to put in the historic Monrovia train depot.

~ For the Fourth of July weekend, Canyon Park and the  Hillside Wilderness Preserve will be closed July 3-5, and the Library will be closed between July 2-5.

~ By the end of the year, Mt. Sierra College is planning to move into a new space of approximately 25,000 square feet  at the south-west corner of Mountain Avenue and Royal Oaks Drive.

~ Upon investigation, the mystery hole outside Dr. Domotor's Animal House Veterinary Hospital (on the north side of Foothill) contains a large air conditioning unit in use by the business. The city has placed a steel plate over the hole and will keep the sidewalk detour until it comes up with a permanent fix.

- Brad Haugaard