Monrovia's STAAR Surgical Has New Marketing Program | Cushman Graduates From Air Force Training

~ Monrovia's STAAR Surgical is launching a new online marketing program and website to market its implantable eye lenses throughout the world. http://goo.gl/JMM5H

~ Monrovia High grad, Airman Jonathan R. Cushman, has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. http://goo.gl/w60zd

- Brad Haugaard

Armed Man Barricaded in Monrovia House; Surrenders After Tear Gas

Man barricaded in house on Duarte Road. http://goo.gl/oudNI

UPDATE: Gives up after tear gas used. http://goo.gl/CblyJ

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Profits Up | Monrovia School Closures Unlikely | Thoughts on Myrtle | Huff on Open Enrollment

~ Monrovia's AeroVironment reports fiscal fourth quarter profits up. http://goo.gl/OKEfZ

~ Monrovia School Board president Bryan Wong says although the possibility of closing schools is in the district's contingency plan, it is a remote possibility. http://goo.gl/SOFX7

~ Some photos and thoughts about development along Myrtle Ave. http://goo.gl/8RyV3

~ Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, tells how his open enrollment measure works. (Sounds more like something parents living outside Monrovia need to know, however). http://goo.gl/PJZqh

- Brad Haugaard

Register for Free Monrovia Neighborhood Conference

The Monrovia Area Partnership is hosting the annual MAP Neighborhood Conference on Saturday, August 11th from 10am â€" 3pm at Monrovia Community Services Center.

While the MAP Neighborhood Conference is being offered free of charge, pre-registration is required and can be found online at cityofmonrovia.org, at the front counter of City Hall or by calling Neighborhood Services Staff at (626) 932-5563.

The MAP Neighborhood Conference will feature hands-on workshops covering material regarding community safety, programming skills, character development and ways to connect in the community.

These workshops and activities have been designed for a diverse set of participants and that's why this Neighborhood Conference is the perfect day of casual training and networking for employees, volunteers, employers, board members and all residents looking to be an effective leader.

Participants will also enjoy free breakfast and lunch, closing the day with an ice cream social and raffle prizes. During these activities, participants will have the unique opportunity to casually network with City staff, local resource representatives, community service clubs & agencies and other residents wanting to partner efforts to lead the community into a bright future.

Groups who pre-register with 10 or more participants will receive recognition at the Conference and Groups with 15 or more will receive a certificate and recognition at the following City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 4th.

This event only comes once a year and it’s not to be missed. Be sure to save your spot by registering early and tell your friends to do the same. Let’s keep growing together!

Source: City press release

- Brad Haugaard

'Long Gun' Measure by Monrovia Assemblymember Portantino Passes Senate Committee

A measure by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino - who represents part of Monrovia - to expand on last year's ban on openly carried handguns, has passed the Senate Public Safety Committee on a vote of 4 to 2. AB 1527 would outlaw the open carry of unloaded long guns â€" such as rifles or shotguns.

Portantino writes: "Last year, we tried to craft a narrow bill to close a loophole in the hopes that gun enthusiasts would support ending this dangerous practice. Unfortunately, the open carry folks reacted by carrying rifles and other long guns, alarming the public and creating a potentially dangerous situation. As law enforcement officials tell us, it not only creates a tense situation, but wastes time and money when police have to roll out and respond to these unnecessary calls."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Area Democrats to Vote on 'Fracking'

According to its Facebook page, Monrovia's Foothill Community Democrats will vote at its Thursday meeting on whether to urge the LA City Council to ban "fracking," a new method of extracting oil from the ground.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia UPS Store Has New Location

Monrovia Chamber of Commerce reports on its Facebook page that The UPS Store, that has been in Monrovia for about twenty years, has recently relocated to a new location at 710 S. Myrtle Ave.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Sleeping Driver Arrested, Burglary, Auto Theft

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 21-24. - Brad Haugaard]

 

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

 

Commercial Burglary

June 21 at 7:26 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of West Foothill regarding a break-in.  The business was broken into sometime during the night.  The suspect(s) pried open the rear door, which faces an alley, made entry, and stole merchandise from the business.  Investigation continuing.

 

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

June 21 at 8:54 p.m., a witness called police to report a possible drunk driver who ran a stop sign at Fifth and Colorado.  The witness followed the vehicle to Monterey and Chestnut, where the driver pulled over and slumped her head against the steering wheel.  Police arrived and contacted the female driver, who was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.

 

Grand Theft Auto

June 22 at 10:32 a.m., a reporting party came to the police department lobby to file a grand theft auto report.  The vehicle belongs to a friend who is presently in Korea, but was having the reporting party watch the vehicle for him.  The vehicle was taken sometime between the evening of June 20 and the morning of June 22.  The vehicle is a black, 2000 Honda Civic.  Investigation continuing.

Clean Up Day in Monrovia | Dinner Theater | Art Walk

Mayor Lutz Cleans Up

~ Mayor Mary Ann Lutz thanked Council Member Becky Shevlin, Monrovia Kwainis and Rotary Clubs for sponsoring clean-up day. She writes on Facebook: "We cleaned Old Town and Recreation Park! Thank you to all that helped!"

~ Summer dinner theater featuring the Fantastick Patrick Show: comedy, juggling, face-balancing, plate-spinning and a 10-foot unicycle. June 28, 7 to 7:45 p.m. at the Library Park Bandshell. Bring dinner and a blanket or chair. http://goo.gl/KOWjp

~ Summer Art Walk June 30 from 7-10 p.m. along Myrtle in Old Town. Art and live music. http://goo.gl/NMvR8

Burglars Make off With Monrovia Salon's Shampoo and Conditioner

About $6,000 of hair products were stolen from Monrovia hair salon, The Long Hair Company.

- Brad Haugaard

Retirement Party for Foothill Unity Center Executive Director, Joan Whitenack

On Thursday, June 28, 2012 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the DoubleTree Hotel in Monrovia a retirement party will be held to honor and celebrate the 17 years of hard work and dedication that Joan Whitenack has given to the community as Executive Director of the Foothill Unity Center, Inc. Appointed as the Center’s Executive Director in 1995, Joan took a small, non-profit to an organization with a $3.5 million cash and in-kind budget working from of three different sites in Monrovia and Pasadena, and serving more than 12,000 unduplicated individuals from eleven different cities.

Volunteers, supporters and other friends of the Center are all invited to this event to say thank you to Joan for her long years of service and leadership to the community. For further information and reservations ($10 per person), please contact Barbara Rolf at the Center, 626.358.3486 or email her at barbara@foothillunitycenter.org.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools: Budget Woes, Labor Contract, Borrowing to Pay the Bills

Among other items at the Monrovia School Board's June 27 meeting meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/5bZZh ) are these ...

~ Here's the proposed budget for the school district. It assumes, perhaps a bit optimistically, 'flat' state funding and warns of a $2.5 million shortfall if the state tax proposal should fail. http://goo.gl/W9eLz

~ In the tentative labor contract with the Monrovia school district's non-teachers, employees will get a .47 percent increase in benefits, all in healthcare, over the next three years. The district will increase its contribution from $11,959.50 to a maximum of $12,423.90. http://goo.gl/Usnpr

~ The board will consider allowing the district to borrow from various district funds ( http://goo.gl/e6Wzx ) and from the LA County Treasurer ( http://goo.gl/BAB4H ) if necessary because a certain deadbeat state government (that's my opinion, by the way) is not paying its bills on time.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Closures and Firings if Tax Measure Fails?

What will happen to Monrovia schools if the November tax measure should fail?

According to a report to be discussed at the School Board's June 27 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/5bZZh ) the district needs to be ready for that, so the board will consider a contingency plan, which proposes these possibilities:

Since the district is paid by the state on Average Daily Attendance, the district might increase its revenue by improving attendance, adding Saturday school for (I think) students to make up missed days, and trying to attract international students.

Also, it would have to cut. Possible cuts include "school closure," letting go up to 14 employees go, reducing use of materials, energy, and transportation, cutting board meetings to once a month, eliminating contributions to "secondary" athletics, and maximizing class size. http://goo.gl/rdFj4

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Condo and Home Prices Up | Union Protests | Huff Protests

~ Since last year, the price of condos in Monrovia rose 14.8 percent. Single family home prices rose 7.3 percent. http://goo.gl/ZALKw

~ Electrical union protests that Monrovia's Green Dot is "cheating the community" because it says the company is not hiring a company that provides healthcare and pensions for all its workers. http://goo.gl/yKD5V

~ Video: A visibly annoyed Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, chews out his Senate colleagues for failing to bring Governor Jerry Brown's pension reform bill to the floor of the Senate and for excluding Republicans from budget meetings. http://goo.gl/uslE7

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at B & C Teriyaki

Lunch at B & C Teriyaki at Foothill and Madison. Got the chicken curry special, which comes with a huge 32 oz drink for $6.50. Also, there's a little covered patio I'd never noticed. Food was fine but the sauce seemed more like sweet-and-sour than curry. But a nice rice bowl kinda dish.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Library: Learn Social Media; Internment Camp Film

~ Learn to use social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 27 in the Library Community Room. Call 256-8274 to sign up. Walk-ins welcome. http://goo.gl/eAmU6

~ Twenty-two minute film, Pilgrimage, Wednesday, June 27, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room. "Shows how the abandoned WWII internment camp for Japanese Americans has been transformed into a symbol." Discussion after. http://goo.gl/mihzE

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Dave Guzman is Coach of the Year | Mosquito Spraying Next Door | Tiger's Wife

~ Monrovia's Dave Guzman named coach of the year. http://goo.gl/2on5G

~ San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District is going to be spraying for tiger mosquitoes next door in El Monte on June 22 ( http://goo.gl/qJoMF ). It appears the spray area is pretty far down in El Monte. http://goo.gl/maps/WauQ

~ Novel T's Book Club is meeting Tuesday, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Library's Community Room to discuss the book, "The Tiger's Wife," by Tea Obreht. Open to the public.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Armed Robbery, Sunglass Smash and Grab, Stolen Batteries

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 18-20. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 472 service events, resulting in 86 investigations.

 

Commercial Burglary

June 18 at 8:06 a.m., police responded to the report of a commercial burglary in the 600 block of West Huntington.  The burglary occurred sometime between 5:00 p.m. on June 17 and 8:00 a.m. on June 18.  Suspect(s) smashed a window and took Oakley, Maui Jim and Rey Ban sunglasses from the business.  No alarm sounded.  Similar cases have been reported in Anaheim, Whittier and Montclair.  Investigation continuing.

 

Armed Robbery

June 16 at 8:00 p.m., an armed robbery was reported at a business in the 900 block of West Huntington.  Two suspects entered the store, produced handguns, and ordered the two employees to the floor.  While one suspect held the victims at gunpoint, the other stole cash and cell phones from the business.  The suspects were last seen northbound from the location on foot.  The suspects are described as male African-Americans, in their 20's, one with a goatee and the other had beard stubble on his face.  One suspect wore a black hooded sweatshirt, the other wore a gray one, and they both had on black pants.

 

Theft From a Vehicle

June 16 at 8:16 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a theft from an unlocked vehicle in the 100 block of Stedman.  The victim parked her vehicle in her assigned space directly in front of her apartment in the evening, but left the vehicle unlocked.  When she returned to her vehicle the next morning, she noticed the vehicle had been ransacked.  The only thing missing was approximately three dollars in coins from a duffel bag that was in the vehicle.  Investigation continuing.

 

Grand Theft / Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft - Suspects Arrested

June 19 at 11:01 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Foothill and California when he observed a silver Lincoln.  The vehicle matched the description of a suspect vehicle from a battery theft incident the previous day.  The suspects stole batteries from a cable box in the City of Monrovia.  The occupants of the vehicle, a male and female, matched a witness description of the suspects in the case.  The officer noticed that the vehicle registration was also expired.  He stopped the vehicle and contacted the suspects.  When he spoke to the driver, he observed batteries and a yellow safety vest in the vehicle.  A short time later, a call was received in dispatch regarding a theft of batteries from a cable box on California that had just occurred.  It appears the officer contacted the suspects just after they completed another crime.  The stolen batteries were recovered and confirmed stolen by cable company employees.  Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody.  The vehicle was stored as evidence.

 

Grand Theft Auto

June 19 at 5:05 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 300 block of East Olive.  The vehicle, a 2005, black Nissan Altima, was taken sometime between midnight the night before and 5:00 p.m.  on June 19.  Investigation continuing.   

 

Monrovia Takes $1 Million Hit From Loss of Redevelopment

Monrovia City Manager Laurie Lile reports that this year Monrovia has taken a $1 million hit because it has had to absorb the costs associated with the loss of the City's Redevelopment Agency. But, still, the city came up with a balanced budget.

Of the state's budget process, she writes that:

It's unsettling, to say the least, that these important decisions are made in the opacity of the legislative conference room, with little to no input from the constituencies that will be most affected.  We are expending a considerable amount of staff time and energy to monitor the progress of these bills so that we can respond immediately to the actions proposed by the legislature - just as soon as those actions are revealed to anyone beyond the inner offices of the State Capitol building. ...

This balanced budget was achieved through pension cost-sharing with employees, a new two-tier retirement system and no increase in staffing.

Some more budget numbers from Lile:

Of the $31.97 million in projected General Fund revenues, the majority (58%) comes in through property tax and sales tax revenues.
The greatest expenditure from the City General Fund comes from Public Safety: 40% from Police and 29% from Fire.

General Fund personnel costs are budgeted for $22.46 million, however, in accordance with the Council priorities, total cost should not exceed 75% of net operating costs.  In order to meet long range financial targets, the City will continue to negotiate with employee groups to pick up their full the share of PERS employee pension costs by the 2013-2014 budget.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is being reduced by 21%, or $66,000, scaling back programs for safe and healthy neighborhoods.

Annual street resurfacing will continue through 2013 using Prop C funding.

After the loss of Redevelopment, the City had a net loss of $1 million.  As a result, 4 vacant positions within the City were eliminated, overhead charges to all City operations were increased by 1%, phone and computer replacement allocations were reduced, and vehicle and equipment replacement was deferred.

- Brad Haugaard

Rotary Club of Monrovia Supports Olympic Shooter Kim Rhode

Olympic shooter Kim Rhode

Rotary Club of Monrovia will be presenting Olympic athlete Kim Rhode with a donation check at its next meeting to help fund her training for this summer's Olympic games.

Rhode, a Monrovia resident, will be attending the 2012 Summer Olympics, and if she medals, she will be the first U.S. athlete in an individual sport to medal in five consecutive Olympics. Kim is a two-time Olympic gold medal winner and six-time national champion in double trap. She was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Most recently she won a silver medal in skeet shooting at the 2008 Summer Games.

Source: Rotary Club press release

- Brad Haugaard