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Citrus Auto Team Participates in High-Mileage Contest

Citrus Automotive and Physics Eco-marathon (CAPE) Owls participated in the 2014 Shell Eco-marathon Challenge, to see which student-built vehicle could travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. Citrus College serves Monrovia. The Owls ranked 27th out of 41 in its category. Its Citrus EV8 reached a high of 186.13 miles per gallon. The team, composed of seven students, was one of 126 student teams from across North, Central and South America to compete at the eighth annual global competition, which took place April 24-27 at the Discovery Green Park in Houston.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia to Shopping Convention; Girl Scouts 'Realign'; Fundraisers

~ Monrovia will attend a major shopping center convention, ICSC, in Las Vegas in an effort to attract more businesses to the city, according to City Council member Becky Shevlin.

~ According to a Girl Scouts representative speaking at the Monrovia Coordinating Council, the Girl Scouts is "realigning on volunteers." She said the economy is difficult and it is hard to pay staff. 

~ Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center, helping low-income families, will get 10 percent of all proceeds at Paco's Mexican Restaurant (on Foothill just over the border in Arcadia) on May 27, 3-9 p.m. 

~ Monrovia's Centre Stage will hold a block party in Library Park on May 17, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pancakes, live entertainment, etc. 

~ If you put food out by your mailbox this Saturday the postal delivery person will pick it up and it will be given to Foothill Unity Center. 

- Brad Haugaard

Baseball: Monrovia Loses to San Marino :-(

Monrovia High loses to San Marino in boy's baseball, 5-3. http://goo.gl/PStp4w

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Golf - Third Place in League

Monrovia High golf beat Temple City in the season finale to finish the season with a record of 5 and 5, good enough to tie for third in the Rio Hondo League. http://goo.gl/QIVT9M

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Senior VP Leaving, Releasing 'Certain Claims' | Peter Pan | Gold Line Yard

~ AeroVironment is losing Senior VP and Chief Operating Officer, Thomas Herring, who is getting $215,000 and some other benefits, and he has "agreed to customary provisions relating to non-disparagement, cooperation and the release of certain claims."

~ The play, Peter Pan, at Monrovia High tonight and tomorrow at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 5 p.m. Tickets available at the door. .

~ Walls are going up at the Gold Line maintenance yard in Monrovia. Photo: http://goo.gl/wsXyf9

- Brad Haugaard

Missing Kitty; Monrovia Fire Chief on NBC News; Evensong at St. Luke's

~ This kitty missing since April 15, from Jasmine and Lime. Eight months old, small, solid grey. One gold and one green eye. Looks crosseyed. Has a chip. Any info, email emmaghumphrey@gmail.com or call or text: (323) 804.0646.

~ Monrovia Fire Chief Chris Donovan will be featured on NBC Nightly News this Sunday as part of an Ann Curry special filmed in Monrovia in late February during the rain and mud flow, according to Public Information Officer Alexis Backofsy. She said the program should run Sunday at 5:30 p.m., unless some breaking news delays it.

~ The choir of St. Luke's Episcopal Church - 22 S. California Avenue at Foothill Boulevard - along with guest singers, will present for Evensong a free public performance of Henry Purcell's "Declare His Honour" on Sunday, May 18, at 4 p.m. An offering will be taken, and a wine and cheese reception will follow.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Plastic Bag Ban; Federal Control of Hillsides; Etc.

At its May 6, 7:30 p.m. meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/01ZFSa ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider banning plastic grocery bags. "No store shall provide any customer a plastic carryout bag." And, "This prohibition applies to bags provided for the purpose of carrying away goods from the point of sale and does not apply to produce bags or product bags" ( http://goo.gl/EnrRdu ). Comment: I believe this is a needless butting in to the lives of Monrovians. I think the notion that plastic bags are a bigger problem than other forms of waste is not seriously defensible.

~ Discuss proposed Legislation by Congresswoman Judy Chu designating various areas within the San Gabriel Valley as a National Recreation Area. The Monrovia staff report indicates that the proposed NRA boundaries seem to indicate that it would incorporate all of the Hillside Wilderness Preserve, Monrovia Canyon Park, likely some residential homes, Monrovia water and utility infrastructure, Monrovia fire access roads, and Monrovia Fire Station 103 ( http://goo.gl/hRfPiB ). Comment: Why, oh why, would we ever want to give the federal government control over city land - or even nearby non-city land?

~ Consider leasing up to 25 vehicles to replace current vehicles within the Public Works fleet. http://goo.gl/WpWsoF

~ Also, at 4:30 p.m. there will be a study session on the Draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan and Station Square Transit Village Public Improvements. http://goo.gl/uerfHJ

~ And at 6:30 p.m. there will be a closed session for labor negotiations and new city manager discussion. http://goo.gl/0pvi9a

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Monrovia Pizza Company

Lunch at Monrovia Pizza Company, at the corner of Mayflower and Duarte. Got two pepperoni slices and a drink for $5. Good deal and tasty. 

- Bead Haugaard

Coming Up: Monrovia Firefighter's Breakfast; Mother's Day Home Tour (Including Aztec)

~ Monrovia Firefighters Association Annual Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, May 10, 7-11 a.m. Kids under 3 eat free. Fire station 101, 141 E. Lemon. Proceeds to charity. http://goo.gl/KEAVR6

~ Monrovia Historical Preservation Group 32nd Annual Mother's Day Home Tour, including the Aztec Hotel, Sunday, May 11 (Monrovia Chamber of Commerce office is selling tickets). http://goo.gl/2lK55u

- Brad Haugaard

Swap Produce at Monrovia's Library Park

Swap produce this Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. in Library Park (at the corner of Lime and Myrtle). Pictures from previous Produce in the Park gatherings: http://goo.gl/40iLvy

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Attempted Boyfriend Strangling; Drugs; Alcohol; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 28-30. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 433 service events, resulting in 83 investigations. 

Theft From an Unlocked Vehicle
On April 28 at 8:40 a.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 200 block of East Greystone. The victim parked her vehicle in her driveway at approximately 10:00 a.m. She left her vehicle unlocked. When she returned to her vehicle at 10:30 p.m., she found her right passenger door ajar, and her jacket and a notebook were missing from the vehicle. The investigation is continuing. 

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
On April 28 at 1:13 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 400 block of West Chestnut regarding a disturbing subject who would not leave. The subject was located and was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance. He also had an outstanding warrant. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
On April 28 at 1:49 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a homeless person in the area of Lemon and Primrose. The subject was perspiring heavily, walking fast, and kept looking back at the officer. The officer contacted the subject and determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested. 

Criminal Threats / Battery – Suspect Arrested
On April 29 at 3:53 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of West Duarte regarding the reporting party’s grandson, who was causing a disturbance. The officer determined the subject had made criminal threats and pushed his friend. The disturbing subject was arrested and taken into custody. 

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
On April 29 at 8:45 p.m., a commercial burglary was reported at a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain. The female suspect entered the location pushing a stroller with an infant inside. She selected merchandise and placed it on top of the stroller. She put her sweater over the top of the stroller, concealing the merchandise. She then walked out of the store without paying for the merchandise and was detained by store loss prevention. The suspect was arrested for burglary and taken into custody. 

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
April 29 at 10:38 p.m., a disturbing subject was reported at a business in the 1100 block of East Huntington. An officer arrived and learned an argument had taken place between several subjects. Most of the subjects left before the officer arrived, but one of them was located in the parking lot. Upon contacting the subject, the officer determined he was too intoxicated to care for himself. He arrested the subject for public intoxication. The subject was later released on a citation after sobering. 

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
April 30 at 6:23 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington on the report of a shoplifter in custody. The female suspect entered the store and selected merchandise, which she placed in her cart. She then went into the fitting rooms. While in the fitting rooms, she concealed some of the merchandise in her purse. She was detained by loss prevention after exiting the store without paying for the merchandise in her purse. The suspect was arrested for burglary and taken into custody. 

Public Intoxication / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 1 at 1:49 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Myrtle and Lemon when he observed a group of suspicious subjects loitering. The officer contacted the subjects and determined one of them was extremely intoxicated. He was uncooperative and verbally abusive toward officers. He was arrested for public intoxication and taken into custody. 

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
May 1 at 4:47 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1400 block of South Magnolia on a domestic violence investigation. The officer’s investigation revealed the female subject involved in the incident was the aggressor. She attempted to strangle her live-in boyfriend, and the victim sustained fingernail scratches on his neck. He declined medical treatment. The officer arrested the female suspect for domestic violence. 

Credit Card Fraud Case Solved – Suspect Arrested
On June 12, 2013, a male subject entered a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain and attempted to use three forged credit cards with the stolen account information of three victims embedded in the cards. Loss prevention had been given a tip that the suspect would be coming in to commit the crimes and a loss prevention officer was able to observe and photograph the suspect in the act of committing the crime. He was also able to photograph the suspect’s vehicle and license plate.
Patrol personnel took the report of the incident and began an initial investigation. Initially, the victim’s could not be identified; however, with determination, a detective eventually located all of the victims and obtained what was needed to proceed against the suspect.
Working with another law enforcement agency, the suspect was identified and apprehended. The handling detective took the case to the District Attorney’s office for review, and the charges of burglary and attempted theft by means of fraudulent use of credit cards was obtained. This is a good example of collaborative effort and persistence by the investigators involved.

Monrovia Man Shot at in Whittier

Masked man takes shot at Monrovian sitting on a swing in Whittier. http://goo.gl/TUkKlp

- Brad Haugaard

Windy Day in Monrovia?

Possible "strong and damaging" Santa Ana winds will affect the San Gabriel Valley through early afternoon today, according to the National Weather Service. http://goo.gl/RG1fGh

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Canyon Park, Preserve Closed Because of Fire Danger

Monrovia's Canyon Park and the Hillside Wilderness Preserve will be closed through Thursday, May 1 because of high fire danger. Details: http://goo.gl/sD9Btv

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Bella Sera Restaurant Re-Opening

Monrovia's Bella Sera Trattoria, at 422 S Myrtle, is reopening on May 8 with a grand opening from 5-7 p.m. The restaurant, under new ownership, will serve "authentic Italian cuisine with only the freshest ingredients" and "new, bold flavors and signature dishes."

Guests at the grand opening will be treated to complimentary appetizers and drinks to provide a taste of the options Bella Sera has to offer. The restaurant will also be selling $5 raffle tickets at the event and accepting donations to benefit AbilityFirst ( http://www.abilityfirst.org ), an organization serving people with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other developmental and physical disabilities. It will also donate 10% of the proceeds the restaurant has for the opening day to AbilityFirst.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard