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Monrovia High and Mayflower Named 'Star Schools'

Monrovia High and Mayflower Elementary have been named Star Schools by the Campaign for Business & Education Excellence for narrowing achievement gaps between student populations. At both schools, Hispanic and socioeconomically disadvantaged students raised their English scores and outperformed schools with similar demographics for English and math.

- Brad Haugaard

National Day of Prayer May 4

The Interfaith Council of Monrovia will participate in National Day of Prayer on May 4 from 7-8 p.m. at the Tzu Chi Foundation, at 206 E. Palm.

Marijuana and Airplanes at Monrovia City Council

Old airplane mural

New airplane mural

The Monrovia City Council will discuss marijuana regulation proposals at a study session at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 2. https://goo.gl/d9QyT1

Then, at the regular meeting at 7:30, the council will consider a proposal to redo the airplane mural in Old Town, behind the Paradis Ice Cream shop on the west side of Myrtle. The old mural "is definitely showing its age." Other possible improvements may include better lighting to make the breezeway area "more inviting and safe." https://goo.gl/PJTF3q

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Kiku Sushi

 
Dinner at Kiki Sushi, in the Huntington Oaks shopping center. Got the Geisha Combo (8 pieces of Sushi) for $15.99 and a medium beer for $4.99. It came with a little salad,  a bowl of miso soup, and a tiny scoop of ice cream for desert. The fish was very fresh and good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia to Offer CPR Training

Monrovia Fire & Rescue will provide free hands-only CPR training on Sidewalk CPR Day, Thursday, June 1, at Library Park (321 S. Myrtle Ave.), from 8 a.m. to noon Last year, more than 17,000 people in Southern California learned how to save a life in just five minutes with a quick lesson from local firefighters and medical professionals through the coordinated LA County- wide Sidewalk CPR Day program.

"Thanks to easy access to training, Citizen CPR is rapidly growing as a way to empower bystanders to save a life when someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest," said Captain Chris Huson. "We are glad to team up with the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency and the American Heart Association to bring Sidewalk CPR to our local community. With 80 percent of all cardiac arrests occurring at home, we need to help family and friends learn how to double or triple their loved one's chance of survival."

Learning hands-only CPR helps local emergency responders by focusing on the first few critical minutes following a cardiac arrest.  Since the lungs and blood contain only enough oxygen to keep vital organs healthy for that amount of time, bystanders become heroes until emergency responders arrive on scene. With each chest compression using hands-only CPR, ordinary citizens can easily provide the ongoing blood flow needed to give the patient a much better chance of survival once responders arrive.

Once trained, citizens are encouraged to download the PulsePoint app, which was activated in Los Angeles County last August. More than 33,000 CPR-trained citizens have downloaded this lifesaving app to receive notifications that someone nearby is in need of CPR.  To learn more, visit the PulsePoint Foundation website at www.pulsepoint.org.

Only 32 percent of victims receive CPR from a bystander. Don't be a bystander in a cardiac emergency, be a lifesaver. For more information about this upcoming training, contact Captain Chris Huson at 256-8119 or chuson@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Car Is Stolen, Recovered, Then It Burns; Student Doesn't Have Gun; Under the Influence

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 24-26. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 453 service events, resulting in 76 investigations.

Theft – Suspect Arrested
April 24 at 1:11 p.m., a theft was reported at a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington Drive. The suspect entered the business, selected merchandise and fled on a bicycle without paying for the merchandise. Officers located the suspect a short distance away. The investigation revealed the suspect was on parole and he admitted to the theft. The suspect was arrested and is being held pending a court appearance.

Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
April 24 at 2:33 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 100 Block of S. Primrose when he recognized a subject who he knew had an active felony WANT for his arrest. The officer made contact with the suspect and arrested him without incident. He was held pending his court appearance.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 24 at 2:38 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 200 block of S. Myrtle regarding subjects loitering near the park. The officer recognized one of the subjects and knew he had outstanding warrant. A computer check confirmed an outstanding bench warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. He is being held pending his court appearance.

Residential Burglary
April 24 at 4:38 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of S. Myrtle. The home was burglarized while the victims were away for the day. The suspects forced entry through a back window and ransacked the home. Jewelry and miscellaneous property was taken. The investigation is continuing.

Under Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 24 at 7:48 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 400 block of S. Myrtle regarding a male subject in his 20s, lying in the street. When the officer arrived, the subject jumped up and ran. Additional units responded to the area and the suspect was apprehended in an alley in the 100 block of W. Lemon. The suspect was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Theft of Purse
April 24 at 9:05 p.m., a theft of a purse was reported at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. An elderly female victim was shopping for approximately one hour when she realized her purse was missing from her shopping cart. The victim believes someone removed her purse from her cart while she was shopping. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered / Fire
April 24 at 9:15 p.m., an officer responded to California and Duarte regarding a vehicle on fire. Duarte Sheriffs deputies arrived on scene prior. A check of the license plate revealed the vehicle was reported stolen out of San Bernardino. The driver of the vehicle was the registered owner, who had reported his vehicle stolen on April 1. He saw his vehicle at a business in San Bernardino that day and took his vehicle. He did not call San Bernardino Police Department to let them know he recovered his vehicle. He said he was driving on the 210 Freeway when his front tire started smoking. He exited Mountain and drove to Duarte Road, where the vehicle caught on fire.

Felony Vandalism
April 25 at 3:43 a.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the 800 block of W. Olive. The victim reported that someone shattered the windows on his vehicle. A tall subject was seen throwing bricks through the windows and running east on Olive. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 25 at 9:37 a.m., a male subject was reported huffing something from a bag in the 600 block of W. Myrtle. Officers arrived and detained the subject. The investigation revealed the suspect was inhaling the propellant gas from an aerosol can, and he was under the influence. The suspect was issued a citation and taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

Vehicle Burglary
April 25 at 1:22 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Oceanview regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim called to report that she parked and locked her vehicle and returned later to find someone had burglarized it. Miscellaneous items were taken and the investigation is continuing.

Fight in Progress
April 25 at 10:42 p.m., dispatch received several calls reporting a fight in progress in the 800 block of W. Olive. Prior to police arrival, three subjects jumped into a white Lexus and fled east on Olive. Officers stopped the vehicle in the 700 block of W. Walnut. One of the subjects inside the vehicle was injured in the fight and was treated by Monrovia Fire Department paramedics. All three subjects were uncooperative with police. Officers did not locate the other subjects involved in the fight. The incident does not appear to be gang related.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 26 at 7:18 a.m., officers responded to the report of suspicious drug activity in the 400 block of W. Huntington. The officers arrived and contacted the person in question. After speaking with the subject, it was determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Suspicious Activity Reported
April 26 at 7:49 a.m., a citizen called police and reported seeing a male juvenile exit a vehicle with a handgun. The juvenile appeared to be a student at Monrovia High School. Officers responded and located the unoccupied vehicle. The registered owner of the vehicle was a new student at the high school. The student was located in a classroom and the school was placed on soft alert; staff is notified to keep students in class and no change of class or bells are activated. The student was removed from class and questioned. Officers learned he had a brother in another class. The sibling was located and questioned. The juveniles’ backpacks, vehicle and lockers were searched and no weapons were found. Police then contacted the parents and confirmed there was no way they could have any weapons.

Monrovia Firefighters Pancake Breakfast - Demonstrations and More ...

Monrovia Firefighers' Pancake Breakfast May 13 from 7-11 a.m. at Fire Station 101, 141 E. Lemon. Jr. Firefighter Challenge, displays, bounce house, live demonstrations. Proceeds benefit Monrovia charities. For more information call 256-8181.

- Brad Haugaard

Help Package Cookies for Children With Illnesses


Help package cookies to be delivered to children in homes and hospitals at the Butterfly Kisses Foundation First Annual "Cookies of Love" Day on April 30 and May 1 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at the corner of Foothill Blvd. and California Ave. This new foundation is based in Monrovia. Contact the foundation at 824-1416 or at caring@butterflykissesfoundation.com to let them know the time, day, and number of people in your party. Foundation President and Executive Director Kelly Quezada writes: "Since I began my own cookie company in 2012, I have always wanted to find a way to help families and their children who are dealing with critical and ongoing illness." More about the foundation: http://www.butterflykissesfoundation.com/

City Letter to Monrovia Community

An Open Letter to the Monrovia Community

April 25, 2017

As you may have heard by now, on the evening of Saturday, April 22, 2017, there was a violent and tragic shooting at 134 West Cypress Street in Monrovia.  The incident left one 18-year-old Monrovia resident dead, and another 17-year-old resident of unincorporated Monrovia in critical condition.  Additionally, we are aware at this time that both of the shooting victims were Monrovia Unified School District students, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this time.

Given the active investigation that is ongoing, there are few details about the shooting that the City can share.  However, we are aware that this violent incident has inspired a great deal of speculation, which has resulted in the spread of inaccurate information being distributed in the news and across social media about gang crimes occurring in our City and region.  To that end, we wanted to provide some factual information about the context for this incident and details about the City’s substantial and continuing efforts to curb gang violence in our community.

Regarding the most recent shooting, we do know that a Hispanic male in his early to mid-20s is the suspected shooter that law enforcement authorities are currently looking for.  It appears that the shooter entered the rear garage located at 134 West Cypress Street through a back alley on the evening of April 22, 2017, at around 11:30 p.m.  Upon his entrance, the suspected shooter encountered three individuals gathered in the garage, including the two Hispanic males and one Hispanic female.  It is unknown at this time what the suspected shooter’s motivations were.

However, after a brief verbal exchange, the suspect proceeded to open fire and shot the two male victims, killing one individual and injuring the other.  After opening fire, the suspected shooter fled the scene on foot into the alley located at the rear of the residence.  Homicide investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are now investigating the case, which is the standard protocol for most murder investigations in our region because of the sophisticated tools and resources available at the County.

We recognize that any shooting causes real and legitimate fear in the community.  However, as news of this recent incident has been shared, unrestrained speculation has resulted in reports that Monrovia has a significant gang problem.  Such accounts are simply inaccurate.  In reality, our community has very little gang activity, due primarily to proactive gang violence reduction efforts that the City has instituted during the past 10 years.  As a result, there are virtually no gang members living in Monrovia today.

Back in 2007, Monrovia, Duarte, and the surrounding unincorporated Los Angeles County areas did experience a significant spike in gang violence and hundreds of gang members lived in the region.  Much of the gang activity at that time was race-based, with significant conflicts between African American and Hispanic gangs.  When confronted with this issue, Monrovia began working to remove criminal street gang members from our community.  One of the City’s most effective measures was implementation of a preliminary gang injunction in 2009, which was eventually expanded to serve as a permanent injunction against the gangs in 2010.  The injunction is still in place today and serves as a critical tool in the City’s efforts to identify and remove gang members from our community.

In addition to the gang injunction, the City has also worked for years alongside our neighborhood leaders to develop strategies to eliminate gang elements from Monrovia.  For example, our Police Department has coordinated with community members to put pressure on landlords who rent to criminals, and in every case we have pursued, that pressure from residents and the City resulted in landlords evicting criminal tenants.  Our Police Department staff have also assisted landlords in their efforts to evict criminal tenants by appearing in court to testify in contested evictions, while also providing landlords with information about ways to rent to responsible individuals.

After years of hard work, we have seen results here in Monrovia.  Today, there are less than 10 gang members who live in our community, and because of our efforts, we have seen a major drop in both violent crime and gang crime in Monrovia during the past decade.

Unfortunately, the rest of our region has not been as proactive in working to remove gang members from their communities.  For example, Duarte did not participate in the gang injunction.  This means that the Hispanic gang and the Crip gang in Duarte have been unaffected by our injunction.
Also, while Los Angeles County did participate in the injunction (which applies to gang members living in the unincorporated areas surrounding Monrovia and Duarte), the County does not have the same type of focused community policing programs that we have in Monrovia, and they have not had the same success that we have had in removing gang members from the unincorporated areas surrounding our City.

These regional factors have resulted in many gang members still living in the areas to the south and to the east of Monrovia.  And beginning in 2016, similar to the violence we saw in 2007, gang activity has erupted in our region.  The gang violence has primarily been between the Crip gang in the unincorporated areas surrounding Duarte / Monrovia, the Hispanic gang in Duarte, and a Blood gang in Pasadena.  And there have been multiple gang related shootings and homicides in Duarte, Pasadena, and the unincorporated Los Angeles County areas.

Throughout this recent surge in gang activity, Monrovia has avoided most of the violence because we have so few gang members living in our community.  In fact, the City experienced very little gang crime in 2016.  However, the reality is that gang members living in the region drive through Monrovia, visit friends / family in our City, and shop at our businesses.  These factors, coupled with the few gang members who still live in town, leaves open the possibility that gang violence may occur here in Monrovia.

To that end, in addition to the most recent shooting we experienced on April 22, 2017, there have been three other recent instances of violent activity in Monrovia, which include:

1. On February 9, 2017, a male Hispanic gang member shot at a subject who was not a gang member in the 100 block of Los Angeles Street.  Fortunately, the victim was not hit and Monrovia Police Officers quickly apprehended the shooter, along with two accomplices.  In addition, City investigators were able to locate the gun that was used in the shooting, and the suspect is now awaiting trial.  It is important to note that the shooter had been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in Ontario, California in 2015.  Because of California’s early prisoner release policies, he was out of prison in 9 months and had come to visit a friend in Monrovia when he committed another assault, this time with a handgun.

2. On March 29, 2017, a subject was at a store in the 400 block of East Duarte road when he was shot at by a gang member while sitting in his vehicle.  The victim, who was hit, fled the scene to his residence in the unincorporated area of Duarte, where his family then called for help.  This was a case where rival gang members from areas outside the City were involved in a shooting at a business in Monrovia.  The victim will survive his injuries and the investigation is ongoing.

3. On April 7, 2017, a drive by shooting occurred in the 100 block of East Los Angeles Street.  During the incident, no one was hit and no one was injured.  The shooting took place at a residence where Crip gang members associate, and the investigation is continuing.  At this time, it has not yet been determined if the shooting was gang related or if the incident was provoked because of a drug related deal.  Furthermore, while the Monrovia Police Department has been aware of the issues at this location, we have been unable to evict the residents because they own the home.  However, the City has taken proactive measures in an attempt to resolve the issues at this problem address, including the installation of high definition surveillance cameras that monitor the entire street on a 24/7 basis.

It is always unacceptable when a shooting occurs in town, and last weekend’s shooting that resulted in the death of a Monrovia resident is a tragedy that will be thoroughly investigated.  As we move forward, additional public information will be released when possible.  However, as the process unfolds, we did want to make the community aware that there is a lot of inaccurate information about the shooting incident that is being spread on social media, including statements made that the second victim had died, which is not true.

There are also many inaccurate sentiments being shared that Monrovia is centrally involved in the regional gang violence that has been occurring since 2016.  We have outlined in this correspondence all of the possible recent gang-related shooting incidents that have occurred in Monrovia.  While it is true that gang activity spills into our City at times, the facts illustrate that gang violence is primarily originating from other areas where Monrovia has no jurisdiction.  Furthermore, with regard to the latest April 22, 2017, shooting incident, it has yet to be determined if the matter is even gang related.

While social media can be a helpful way to share accurate information, it also frequently causes the spread of false information, as has been the case recently.

Here in our Monrovia, we have taken, and we continue to take, great efforts to reduce gang violence.

And our efforts have produced real results.  As the chart below illustrates, violent gang crime in Monrovia has been significantly reduced over the years.



As we have worked together over the past ten years, Monrovia was able to reduce the number of gang members living in our community to make our City a safer place.

As we continue working together as a community, all of us here at the City are confident that we will be able to solve the real public safety issues that Monrovia faces today.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact City Manager Oliver Chi (626-932-5501, ochi@ci.monrovia.ca.us) or Police Chief Jim Hunt (626-256-8095, jhunt@monrovia.laclen.org).

Source: City of Monrovia

- Brad Haugaard

Concern Over Unity Center Moving to World Vision Building; $300 - Easy as Pie

~ A Planning Commission decision to grant a conditional use permit for Foothill Unity Center to purchase the World Vision building on Chestnut has been appealed to the city council. Some neighbors expressed concerns that it could cause increased traffic, that it will encourage the homeless to loiter in the area, and that there could be an increase in shopping carts in the area.

~ Sign up for the pie eating contest taking place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, as part of Monrovia Days. The Public Services Department is looking for teams of 5 people. The team that can finish eating their pies first (without the use of their hands) will win a $300 cash prize.  The second-place team will win $150, and the third-place team will take home $50. Here's the application form: https://goo.gl/5NZgjK

Update from City Manager Oliver Chi: "I was writing tonight to let you know about a correction regarding the Foothill Unity Center!  In our last City Manager’s Update, I incorrectly indicated that an appeal had been made of the Planning Commission decision to grant the Foothill Unity Center a conditional use permit to move to 790 West Chestnut Avenue.  I was informed by staff today that although there were individuals who indicated their intention to appeal the decision, ultimately, there was no formal appeal filed.  Therefore, the Planning Commission decision to grant a CUP allowing the Foothill Unity Center to move will stand, and the City is looking forward to working with the Foothill Unity Center on coordinating their move to the new facility, which will certainly enhance the ability of the Foothill Unity Center to continue making a positive impact here in Monrovia"

- Brad Haugaard

Canyon Oaks High Mourns Loss of Classmate Oscar Garcia

Monrovia's Canyon Oaks High School mourns the killing of classmate Oscar Garcia in a Saturday night shooting. A video report: https://goo.gl/YRq0mU

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Homicide; Bicyclists Injured; New Phone Scam; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 20-23. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 20 at 8:47 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle. A subject was riding a bicycle heading east across Myrtle without the proper lighting equipment. A vehicle traveling north on Myrtle did not see the subject and struck his front tire, causing the bicyclist to fall and hit his head. The bicyclist was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Parking Problem / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 21 at 9:52 a.m., officers responded to the report of a parking problem in the 1300 block of Orange Avenue and discovered several subjects inside the vehicle. They contacted the subjects and discovered one was semi-unconscious and required medical attention. A second subject had a warrant. The person with the warrant was arrested and the person needing medical attention was treated by Monrovia Fire Department and taken to the hospital.

Vehicle Burglary
April 21 at 4:00 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 800 block of Genoa. The victim reported that his truck had been parked on the street in front of his residence overnight. When he returned to his vehicle the next afternoon, he saw the locked tool rack had been pried open and several of his tools were missing. The investigation is continuing.

New Phone Scam
April 21, police dispatch received three calls reporting a new phone scam. The suspects are calling residents and claiming to be affiliated with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. They are informing people that if they don't arrange to have gift cards delivered to a particular location, deputies will come to their residence and arrest them. All three callers said LASD Alta Dena was listed on the caller ID from the suspects. None of the callers sent gift cards.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 22 at 1:17 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a traffic collision in the 700 block of W. Huntington. A driver was traveling west on Huntington in the number two lane and he claimed to have fallen asleep. He rear-ended a semi-truck that was in the left lane of westbound Huntington, turning right onto the freeway. The investigation determined the driver was driving under the influence. The driver was arrested.

Family Disturbance / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 22 at 8:27 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of Parkrose Avenue to investigate a disturbance between a father and his adult son. During the course of the investigation, the officers discovered the adult son had an outstanding warrant. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
April 22 at 12:00 p.m., the victim called police to report a hit and run traffic collision in the 200 block of W. Cypress. The victim parked his vehicle on the street in front of his residence. When he returned to his vehicle, he saw it had been side-swiped. The incident occurred sometime between 12:45 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The investigation is continuing.

Public Assist
April 22 at 5:47 p.m., three male adults decided to ride electric unicycles from Azusa to Monrovia, across the foothills. One of the subjects became dehydrated. He was exhausted and could not continue, so another subject rode to Canyon Park to get help. He told the Monrovia Fire Department staff that his friends were approximately one hour into the foothills. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and Sierra Madre Search and Rescue took the lead and the subjects were found at approximately 10:00 p.m.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 22 at 10:06 p.m., a traffic collision involving a vehicle versus bicyclist was reported at Mayflower and Colorado. The driver of the vehicle fled. Officers responded and conducted an area search. They located the suspect vehicle as the driver was parking in the northern part of the city. Officers conducted an investigation and concluded the driver was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and taken into custody. A passenger in the vehicle confirmed they had hit a bicyclist. The bicyclist sustained only minor scratches.

Homicide
April 22 at 11:35 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of W. Cypress on a call of shots heard. Officers found two male victims with gunshot wounds inside a rear garage. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The second victim, a 17 year old, was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The suspect is described as a male in his 20s, who fled the scene on foot. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau was asked to come conduct the investigation.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
April 23 at 11:49 a.m., a domestic violence incident was reported in the 200 block of N. Alta Vista. A male and female were involved in a verbal argument that turned physical. The male battered and strangled the female, causing visible injuries. The subjects are not married, but have several children together. The suspect was arrested and is being held pending his court appearance.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 23 at 10:30 p.m., officers observed a female subject sleeping near some bushes at Myrtle and Cherry, and they stopped to check on her to see if she was okay. She was found to have drugs in her possession and was arrested.

Oscar Garcia Was Victim in Saturday Night Shooting in Monrovia

The 18-year-old man who was shot and killed late Saturday night has been identified as Oscar Garcia, who attended Canyon Oaks High School. https://goo.gl/e0FguC . if you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Sheriff's Department's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. You can also leave at tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

- Brad Haugaard

Man Shot and Killed and Juvenile Injured in Monrovia Saturday Night

An adult man was shot and killed and a juvenile was shot and wounded late Saturday night on West Cypress, just off Myrtle. https://goo.gl/g9apxr

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Hippie Bots Go to Netherlands; Remembering Victims of Genocide

At its next meeting, on April 26, the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

~ Approving an extended field trip for the Clifton Middle School robotics team, the Hippie Bots, from May 13-23 to compete in the FTC Dutch Open Robotics Tournament. The cost, $12,500, will be entirely paid by donations. Best wishes, Hippie Bots!

~ Approving a resolution, "In Remembrance of Those Lost to Genocide and Man's Inhumanity to Man," which will commemorate "the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide, and the atrocities perpetrated by ISIL against religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria," among others. April 24 marks the 102nd commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Black Angus

 
Dinner at Black Angus, on Huntington. Got the 3/4 pound prime rib with baked potato soup and a dinner salad for $24.99, and a beer for $8.45. Very good 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police Warns Public of Telephone Scams

The Monrovia Police Department would like to alert the public to several telephone scams that are currently targeting the public. The scams are known as the IRS Scam, the Southern California Edison Scam, the Grandparent scam, and the Telephone Scam Targeting the Elderly.

Internal Revenue Service Telephone Scam
As the 2014 filing season nears an end, the Internal Revenue Service today issued another strong warning for consumers to guard against sophisticated and aggressive phone scams targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, as reported incidents of this crime continue to rise nationwide. These scams won’t likely end with the filing season so the IRS urges everyone to remain on guard.

The IRS will always send taxpayers a written notification of any tax due via the U.S. mail. The IRS never asks for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the telephone. For more information or to report a scam, go to www.irs.gov and type "scam" in the search box.

People have reported a particularly aggressive phone scam in the last several months. Immigrants are frequently targeted. Potential victims are threatened with deportation, arrest, having their utilities shut off, or having their driver’s licenses revoked. Callers are frequently insulting or hostile - apparently to scare their potential victims. Potential victims may be told they are entitled to big refunds, or that they owe money that must be paid immediately to the IRS. When unsuccessful the first time, sometimes phone scammers call back trying a new strategy.

Other characteristics of this scam include:
• Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
• Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security number.
• Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
• Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
• Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
• After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:
• If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue, if there really is such an issue.
• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.
• You can file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose “Other” and then “Imposter Scams.” If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes. Taxpayers should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations (such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS.

The IRS encourages taxpayers to be vigilant against phone and email scams that use the IRS as a lure. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. Recipients should not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the message. Instead, forward the e-mail to phishing@irs.gov. More information on how to report phishing scams involving the IRS is available on the genuine IRS website, IRS.gov.

Southern California Edison Telephone Scam
Utility bill scammers are once again targeting customers throughout the United States by phone and sometimes even email. In both scenarios, the scammers often request personal information and threaten to cut off electrical service if they do not receive immediate payment.

Some Southern California Edison (SCE) customers have reported receiving these suspicious emails that look like a bill. Others have reported aggressive phone scams threatening immediate service disconnection if customers don’t pay a purported overdue bill.

“SCE never uses high-pressure tactics to collect or demand money for past due bills,” said Marlyn Denter, SCE’s manager of Consumer Affairs. “We are not in the business of threatening our customers with the immediate termination of service.” This latest email scam follows a recent utility phone scam where more than 2,000 SCE customers were targeted. Unfortunately, more than 300 customers have fallen victim to the scam, many of them mom and pop business owners and entrepreneurs whose first language is not English. The scammers often demand immediate payment through a prepaid cash card or debit card. The average loss for SCE business customers last year was between $800 and $1,000; residential customer lost an average of between $300 and $500. Overall, the total losses so far for SCE customers are estimated at $225,000. “We ask our customers to be alert to these scams that demand immediate payment and threaten service disconnection,” said Denter. If SCE customers receive suspicious emails, they should never click on any links or attachments, and never send a reply. Customers should also delete the email. If a customer has been victimized, they can report it online to the U.S. Department of

Justice’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force at StopFraud.gov.
SCE customers suspecting a fraudulent call should ask for the caller’s name, department and business phone number. If the caller refuses to provide this information, customers should terminate the call and report the incident immediately to local police. In either situation, customers should contact SCE at 800-655-4555.

Southern California Edison Scam
This particular scam targets businesses. The Suspects in this scam call the business claiming to be in billing or collections for SCE and/or Verizon. The caller tells the business their services are going to be shut off within 45 minutes to an hour, and a crew has been dispatched to cut off service unless a same-day payment is made immediately. They claim their records show the business is late on their payment and the service to the business will be affected within the hour. The caller then requests payment by a prepaid VISA or Money Pak Card and tells the business where they are available. A number of businesses in Monrovia have been taken by the scam and the loss is usually about $500-$800. The suspects sound seemingly legitimate and are targeting businesses, as businesses typically cannot afford to be without phones or power over the weekend. This is NOT normal SCE or Verizon protocol, SCE and Verizon do not shut off service on the weekends.

Grandparent Scam 
The suspects in this type of scam will call an elderly person and pretend to be a grandchild or young relative of the victim. They tell the elderly victim they are in some type of trouble and are in jail, and that they need bail money. They ask the elderly person not to tell their parents. A second suspect then calls pretending to be the police and proceeds to give the victim instructions on were to wire the bail money.

The suspects target older folks, hoping they can gain an emotional and quick response to the "need" to help out the young relative, and many times it works. The victims will quickly go to their bank, withdraw and transfer the money in an attempt to help, and by the time they realize the scam, the money has already been picked up by the suspects and is gone.

It is so important to spread awareness and to educate those that we know in hopes of preventing this crime from happening. If you have a loved one, a friend, or perhaps a neighbor that is older, share this information with them and help keep them from becoming a victim.

Telephone Scam Targeting the Elderly
The Monrovia Police Department has received several calls from elderly Monrovia citizens reporting the following telephone scam:

The elderly victim receives a call stating they owe money for an outstanding debt. The suspect soon states if they don’t pay this debt, a warrant could be issued for their arrest, their bank account will be put on hold, and there is a possibility they will lose their house. The suspect then tells the victim if they want to resolve the matter, they need to purchase a Greendot prepaid money card with a certain amount, usually not more than $500.00. Once the victim obtains the card, they are to call back and give the card number so it can be verified. The suspect then transfers the money from the victim’s card to another card and the money is gone. If the victim falls for the scam, the suspect sometimes calls back and tries to solicit additional money from the victim.

Please be aware of this scam and let others know this is going on so we can prevent this crime. Please inform your loved ones, especially the elderly, as they are the targets of this particular scam. Let them know to never give out personal information to anyone over the phone. A legitimate company would not operate by asking for personal information over the phone; they would have your information already.

Source: Monrovia Police Department

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Thief Locks Himself Out of His Getaway Car; Intoxication; Telephone Scams

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 17-19. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 404 service events, resulting in 78 investigations.

Parole Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 9:09 a.m., a male subject was reported loitering on a property in the 500 block of S. Mountain. Officers arrived and a computer check of the subject revealed he had an outstanding parole warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 17 at 10:26 a.m., an officer was dispatched to an injury traffic collision involving a commercial dump truck that was traveling east on Walnut and failed to maneuver a slight turn at California Avenue, clipping a fire hydrant. The water from the hydrant went into the Edison power lines, causing intermittent power outages in the area. Southern California Edison responded to evaluate the lines and the Monrovia Fire Department shut off the hydrant.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 18 at 3:00 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at Mountain and Royal Oaks. The driver attempted to make a turn onto Royal Oaks and struck a vehicle, then hit the center median and came to a rest. The investigation revealed the driver to be under the influence of some type of intoxicant, possibly an inhalant. He was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Petty Theft
April 18 at 8:54 p.m., a theft of merchandise was reported at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. A male suspect took two leaf blowers and ran out the garden area of the store to the parking lot. The suspect attempted to get into a white Saturn with no license plates, when he realized he left the keys in the ignition and locked the doors before he entered the store. He dropped the leaf blowers and ran through the parking lot, out of sight. Officers searched for the suspect, but he was not located. The suspect’s vehicle was impounded. Later, the suspect called the business and asked for his vehicle back, but was told it was impounded by the police. The suspect was found to be on probation for theft and he refused to come to the police station for an interview. The investigation is continuing.

Telephone Scams
April 19 at 10:53 a.m., telephone scams were reported to police by two separate victims. The first victim received a phone call from a male suspect demanding money. The suspect told the victim he had his mother and if the money was not received, his mother would be harmed. The victim could hear an elderly female voice in the background, asking for help. The victim believed what the caller was telling him, and in fear for his mother’s safety, he drove to his bank to withdraw money. A coworker of the victim called police to report the incident and an officer responded to the bank. The officer arrived and contacted the victim as he was walking into the bank. The investigation determined that the phone call was a scam.

At 12:22 p.m., a second victim came into the police station to report another telephone scam. The suspect in this incident pretended to be a relative of the victim in need of money to get out of trouble. The victim in this incident realized the phone call was a scam and hung up the phone. She reported the incident so others would be aware.

Seminar About K-12 Public Education Online, at DoubleTree Monrovia

There will be a free information session for parents about California Connections Academy @ Capistrano, a tuition-free K-12 online public school authorized under state law by the Capistrano Unified School District, on Wednesday, May 31, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the DoubleTree Monrovia, 924 W. Huntington Dr. More information: https://goo.gl/HkVs6K

- Brad Haugaard

'Portland Loo' for Parks; Carnival Coming to Monrovia Days; County Not Interested in Measure H Ideas; Huntington Medians Almost Done: Etc.

Portland Loo.

In his weekly report, City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ City staff has been planning public restrooms at city parks. The version they're thinking about was developed in Portland, and is called "The Portland Loo." It has angled louvers at the base that gives visibility inside but allows privacy, has an external light to indicate when it is occupied (which lets the cops keep an eye on it easily), and the wash basin is outside to discourage occupants from lingering. Cheaper, too. About $100,000 to $150,000 instead of the standard $250,000 to $300,000.

~ The carnival is coming back to Monrovia Days, which will be held on Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21. The city, school district, and Centre Stage have coordinated to bring back the carnival. Plus, the pancake breakfast event, parade honoring MUSD Scholars and Champions, performances by youth, food, and of course, the famous Pie Eating Contest.  Sign up for the parade or pie eating contest here: https://www.monroviadays.org/

~ LA County staff reportedly gave a polite brush off to any ideas on how spend the Measure H money, that's the 1/4-cent sales tax money that was approved to fight homelessness. Chi writes that according to Monrovia's designee at a meeting: "LA County personnel politely told everyone in attendance that the proposed spending plan they had previously developed would be the one recommended for approval to the LA County Board of Supervisors, and that if anyone had an objection, they would be welcome to lodge their objections when the spending plan comes up for a vote."

~ Work on the Huntington Drive medians should be done within the next two weeks. Also, there will be new American flags along Huntington Drive and the entryway signs at the east and west end of town will be touched up.

~ Canyon Park will be closed a few days to improve the entry trail alongside the road. There'll be a concrete curb along the side of the road to separate pedestrians and bicycle traffic from the vehicular traffic. The park will be closed May 1 and 2, open on May 3 though there will be construction, then closed again May 8 and 9, and finally a bit of clean-up on May 10.

~ Monrovia Public Library is going to get better Internet service, with speeds increasing to 1 gigabit per second, about ten times faster than the current speed of 100 million bits per second. (Hooray! I've tried it and it's pretty bad at times.) The Library received a $24,000 grant from the California State Library to do the work.

~ Monrovia Biotech Day 2017 will take place on April 26, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills Mary Wilcox Youth Center (843  E. Olive Ave.).  Teens from the sixth grade up are welcome.  The free event will allow students to meet scientists and conduct experiments and play games. The event is sponsored by LabLaunch Monrovia, Oak Crest Institute of Science, and the Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills.

- Brad Haugaard

Yes, Del Taco Will Be Reopening, And 'Soon'

A lot of people have been wondering on social media what has become of the shut-down Del Taco on Huntington across from Target. Well, it promises that it is "reopening soon," and is hiring for all positions. https://goo.gl/XFVhWz

- Brad Haugaard

All About Pelargoniums at Monrovia Garden Club Meeting

At the Monrovia Garden Club monthly meeting on Tuesday April 25, 7 p.m., Matt-Del and Rebecca Tufenkian of Dominus Planetarium will teach about pelargoniums.  Materials will be available to plant and propagate a small plant. The meetings are held in the Fireside Room on the north side of the parking lot at First Presbyterian Church. Meetings start at 7 p.m. with light refreshments served at 6:30 p.m. Visitors welcome.

- Brad Haugaard

Truck Hits Hydrant, Water Hits Power Lines, Power Goes Out

A semi truck created a geyser when it hit a fire hydrant. Apparently the water shot up, hit the electricity lines and knocked out the power for 435 customers. https://goo.gl/gYAXR1

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Surprising Vehicle Burglar; Front Door Kicked In; Man Attacks Dad and Grandmother; Erratic Food Truck; And More

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 13-16. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Residential Burglary
April 13 at 2:28 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of W. Hillcrest regarding a burglary. The location is vacant, but staged for sale. The property owner returned to the location and saw the rear glass door had been shattered. Nothing was stolen from inside the location, but it was evident the suspects had searched through the location for items. There was graffiti inside the location as well. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 13 at 3:38 p.m., an officer responded to the rear of a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington regarding a homeless person camping. One female adult was located inside a make shift shelter. While speaking to her, officers determined she was under the influence of methamphetamine. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
April 13 at 5:01 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of N. Alta Vista called police to report their home had been burglarized. The resident had returned home and found someone had kicked in his front door. Officers responded and searched the residence, but no suspects were located. Numerous items were taken from the home. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
April 14 at 12:08 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of W. Evergreen regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim walked outside to her vehicle and found a suspect inside rummaging through her belongings. She yelled at the suspect and he ran away. Officers conducted an area check, but did not find the suspect. The victim believes the suspect may have taken some of her mail from the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested
April 14 at 1:19 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 400 block of S. Myrtle when he observed a subject that was snorting a white substance off of a metal box. The officer detained the subject and he admitted to snorting methamphetamine. The suspect was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Vehicle Burglary
April 14 at 2:28 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 800 block of W. Duarte Road. The victim parked and locked her vehicle in the carport of her apartment complex, leaving her purse on the front seat. When she returned to the vehicle, she found a window had been smashed and her purse was missing. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 4:47 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 1400 block of S. Shamrock conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a vehicle code violation. A computer check revealed the driver had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Battery / Elder Abuse – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 8:56 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of Fano on a battery report. The 21-year-old son woke up and began arguing with his father. He then began punching his father on the head. His grandmother walked into the room to see what was going on and he turned and wrapped his arm around her neck and began choking her. An Uncle had to intervene until police arrived. The suspect was arrested for battery and elder abuse.

Theft from a Vehicle
April 15 at 7:26 a.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 1600 block of S. Mayflower. The victim parked her vehicle in her garage, but the vehicle was unlocked and the garage door was open throughout the night. She returned to her vehicle the next day and noticed property had been stolen from inside. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Delaying and Resisting a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
April 15 at 8:37 a.m., a caller reported a male subject driving a food truck erratically in a park in the 700 block of E. Lemon. Officers arrived and located a male subject walking south on Shamrock and determined he was, in fact, the driver of the vehicle. The subject displayed symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance and he fled on foot from officers across the street and entered a church. Officers detained the suspect and he was arrested. The suspect was held for a sobering period.

Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sales – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 1:10 a.m., officers responded to the area of Mountain and Valley View regarding a subject smoking marijuana in a vehicle. The investigation led the officers to conduct a vehicle search and a large quantity of drugs were located in addition to packaging material and a scale. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Wheelhouse Ceramics Spring Sale - April 28,29




Wheelhouse Ceramics (Monrovia Adult Education) is having its spring sale Friday April 28, 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, April 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wheelhouse Ceramics is a non-profit group and the sale helps fund the studio. Over 30 artists' work is represented to view and/or purchase. The studio is located near the corner of Myrtle and Duarte, behind AAMCO and Troy's Donuts & Burgers and just east of Santa Fe school.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Robotics Teams Go Worldwide!

Monrovia's robotics teams will compete in Houston and the Netherlands. https://goo.gl/lD5j09

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Transit and Stormwater Requirements

At the next City Council meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/iaY9bn) the council will consider hiring Parking Company of America to manage Monrovia Transit (https://goo.gl/hjywi9), and consider spending $375,781 to buy five new buses for Monrovia Transit (https://goo.gl/Ju57Hk).

Also, before the regular meeting the council will hold a study session (https://goo.gl/TNAX7M) on the super-expensive stormwater-clean-up requirements that are being put upon Monrovia and lots of other local cities. This will include a discussion of Senate Bill  231, which defines "sewer" as including systems designed to handle storm water (https://goo.gl/w6gNMo).

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Jewish Center Plans Holocaust Remembrance Play

In observance of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Monrovia-based Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys and the Pasadena Playhouse are partnering for a special staged reading of "Righteous," a Holocaust related play, on Monday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Written by playwright Jeff Cohen, Righteous centers around Eduard Schulte, a prominent German industrialist, who was one of many German citizens who were secretly against Nazism, who was first to report to the west of the Nazis intention to murder all of the Jews in Europe. Cohen's play captures the essence of this unsung hero's life through the eyes of his granddaughter.

The play is being read by the Jewish Federation's JFed Players and is being performed in partnership with the National Jewish Theater Foundation's Remembrance Readings. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by contacting the Pasadena Playhouse box office 356-7529.  For more information contact the Jewish Federation 445-0810 or the Pasadena Playhouse at 356-7529.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Hawaiian BBQ and Dim Sum

 

Dinner at Hawaiian BBQ and Dim Sum, in the Pavilions shopping center at Foothill and Myrtle. Got the Hawaiian BBQ Chicken for $6.99 and an iced tea for $2.38. Good, and a lot. I was hungry but had to save some for later. 


- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Grand Theft Trailer; Sleeping in the Garage; Drugs and Alcohol

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 10-12. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 418 service events, resulting in 77 investigations.

Warrant / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 10 at 7:15 a.m., a disturbing subject was reported at a residence in the 200 block of W. Palm. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who was found to have an outstanding warrant. The subject was arrested and during the booking process, narcotics were located in his possession. The subject was later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Grand Theft Auto
April 10 at 3:27 p.m., a pop-up trailer was reported stolen from the 900 block of S. Primrose. The trailer was being stored on the property and it was stolen sometime over the weekend. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
April 11 at 12:19 a.m., police dispatch received several calls reporting a disturbance between a male and female at a residence in the 100 block of E. Scenic. Officers arrived and the male subject walked away from them. When the officers attempted to detain him, he fled and ran through several yards. The subject was detained at Greystone and Canyon. He was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Suspicious Subject / Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
April 11 at 7:07 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Colorado called police to report a subject sleeping on an air mattress in the carport of her apartment complex. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. The investigation revealed the subject had two outstanding warrants for his arrest. While the officers were attempting to take the suspect into custody, he resisted by tensing his arms and trying to pull away from their grasp. He was arrested and taken into custody without injury. The suspect was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Possession of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
April 12 at 12:31 a.m., officers responded to the report of suspicious subjects walking around with flashlights in the 1200 block of S. Fifth Avenue. Officers arrived and contacted a male subject who was standing near some bushes. The subject was acting suspicious so officers checked the area where he was standing and located a baggie containing methamphetamine. The subject was arrested for possession of narcotics.

Vehicle Burglary
April 12 at 6:55 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of N. Mountain. The victim parked and locked her vehicle in front of her residence and went inside for the night. She returned the next day and saw several items had been taken from her vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
April 12 at 9:12 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of E. Olive reported that sometime during the night someone vandalized his garage with graffiti. The investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
April 13 at 1:42 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Diamond regarding a driver who hit some parked cars and fled the scene. Officers arrived and stopped the vehicle. The investigation determined the driver was intoxicated. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Monrovia Canyon Park Hike For Veterans


On Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m.-noon, the Veterans Resource Center of the Monrovia Public Library is sponsoring a guided hike in Monrovia Canyon Park for veterans, service members, family and friends of all ages. Included is a picnic lunch sponsored by The Friends of the Monrovia Public Library. Register online at cityofmonrovia.org/library or call 256-8262.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Election: Incumbents Win

All the incumbents won yesterday's election. The only contested race was for mayor, which Mayor Tom Adams won handily.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Graduation Rate Up, Suspension Rate Down

A good report for Monrovia Schools. According to a recently released state report, the graduation rate for 2016 was up and suspension rate is down (for MHS: https://goo.gl/FSQAzf ). The Star-News says Monrovia "saw one of the largest jumps in its graduation rates across the entire county" (https://goo.gl/5GeB4o).

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Again Named as 'Military Friendly School'

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, has been named a Military Friendly School for 2017, the seventh consecutive year the college has earned this recognition. The designation, by the magazine, by G.I. Jobs, is for embracing military students and ensuring their success in the classroom.

The college's Veterans Success Center serves approximately 500 veterans annually. It is located in a 3,700 square-foot facility that offers computers, quiet rooms for studying and a garden for veterans to maintain and grow food. Its services include mental health management, academic counseling and financial aid assistance.

Citrus recently collaborated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide medical exams, screenings and follow-ups for student veterans on campus. The partnership marked the first time the VA offered telehealth services on a California college campus.

Source: Citrus press release

- Brad Haugaard

Historic Monrovia Home Loses Its Porch; Market Grill Becoming Furniture Store; Churches Rent Parks for Easter; Etc.

In his weekly report (https://goo.gl/tvTGGe) City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ The home at 311  E. Lemon Ave. - which is a historical landmark - has had its front porch removed. Chi writes: "Unfortunately, the owner of 311  E. Lemon Ave. decided to demolish the entire front porch of the house without City approval and without permits." The city is considering what to do about it.

~ The former Market Grill site at 525  S. Shamrock Ave. is going to be turned into a furniture store.

~ Two churches are renting two parks for Easter - Library Park and Station Square Park. Calvary Chapel is renting Library Park and plans to set up 700 chairs with tents. The service will be held Easter Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon. Also, Bridgetown Church is renting Station Square Park and plans to set up 200 chairs and provide canopies for refreshments. The Easter Sunday service will be from 9 a.m. to noon.

~ The State of California has approved $5.2 billion in new taxes and fees to fund transportation and road improvements. Monrovia expects to get $800,000 per year. One interesting aspect of the new taxes is that "zero-emission vehicles will be required to pay an additional $100 / year vehicle registration fee, to make-up for the fact that owners of zero-emission vehicles do not pay any gas tax." Comment: So, they encourage you to use less gas, then charge you more because you do.

~ As part of the citywide streets, water and sewer renewal project work will begin on Myrtle between Huntington Drive and Central Avenue beginning on the evening of Sunday, April 16. Work will be done at night to minimize inconvenience to daytime traffic.

~ Last week the Monrovia Fire Department and the Red Cross installed 76 fire alarms in 30 mobile homes at the Monrovia Mobile Home Park Estates located on Huntington Drive.

~  The art piece to honor former Mayor Bob Bartlett is almost done, but the city wants to hold off installing it until Station Square renovations are finished, which should be in mid-to late-summer.

~ Foothill Unity Center is considering buying the World Vision property located at 790  W. Chestnut Ave.. The Planning Commission will consider the matter at its April 12 meeting.

- Brad Haugaard

Suspects Crash Carjacked Car After Forced Home Entry; Man Punched in Face For Earbuds; Girlfriend Hit With Purse; Cars Broken In To; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 6-9. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Vehicle Burglary
April 6 at 9:17 a.m., two subjects parked their vehicles in the 600 block of N. Canyon Avenue, near the opening of the nature trail. The subjects went for a hike and when they returned, they found the windows to their vehicles had been shattered and both cars were ransacked. There was nothing missing from one of the vehicles, but a purse was taken from the second vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
April 6 at 9:21 a.m., officers located an unoccupied stolen vehicle in a parking lot in the 700 block of W. Huntington Drive. The vehicle was reported stolen recently to the Pasadena Police Department. The vehicle was recovered and stored for fingerprinting.

Residential Burglary / Pursuit / Felony Hit & Run / Carjacking Vehicle Recovered – Suspects Arrested
April 6 at 3:58 p.m., dispatch received a call from a resident in the 600 block of Norumbega, reporting that several male subjects had forced entry into a neighboring home. The caller advised that the subjects fled the location at a high rate of speed in a gray Mercedes Benz when the home’s alarm activated.

Responding officers located the suspect vehicle at Mountain and Foothill and a pursuit was initiated. The suspect vehicle collided into several other vehicles in the 200 block of East Foothill. Three suspects ran from the vehicle and one was detained inside. The three suspects that ran were located within minutes and all four suspects were arrested. A driver of one of the vehicles involved in the traffic collision with the suspects complained of pain and will seek medical treatment. The suspect vehicle was found to have been stolen in a carjacking incident that occurred on March 28 in the city of Los Angeles. There were several items that appear to be stolen property found inside the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
April 7 at 7:52 a.m., officers responded to the report of a stolen vehicle in the 1400 block of Alamitas Avenue. The victim parked her vehicle on the street in front of her residence. When she returned to her vehicle, it was missing. There were no signs of forced entry. The investigation is continuing.

Shots Fired
April 7 at 5:07 p.m., police received several calls reporting shots fired in the 100 to 200 blocks of Los Angeles. Officers arrived on scene, obtained statements and canvassed the area. An older, white Camaro reportedly fled west and a dark-colored SUV fled east from the area right after the shooting. They were allegedly chasing a grey, 1990's Honda, which drove through the area with firing from their vehicle. Initial reports are the occupants of the suspect vehicle were male Black subjects. Officers searched the area, but the suspects were not located. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
April 7 at 10:47 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a business parking lot in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The victim parked her vehicle in the lot and went into a business. When she returned, she found a window was smashed on her vehicle and her purse and wallet had been stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
April 8 at 12:57 a.m., a male and female who are boyfriend and girlfriend went out drinking and began arguing. The argument continued when they arrived home and the male subject threw a purse at his girlfriend, which caused an injury to her chin. He was arrested for domestic violence.

Public Intoxication – Suspects Arrested
April 8 at 2:06 a.m., officers received two calls reporting subjects causing a disturbance in a rear alley in the 100 block of S. Canyon. On arrival, two subjects were found yelling and arguing. Both were extremely intoxicated and were arrested for being drunk in public. One of the subjects also had an outstanding warrant.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
April 8 at 9:00 a.m., a suspicious vehicle was reported in the 600 block of Montana Street. Officers located the vehicle and discovered it was reported stolen to the Los Angeles Police Department on April 7. The vehicle is a 1995 Honda Accord. There were no signs of forced entry. The vehicle was removed from the system and stored until the owner can be notified.

Warrants / Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
April 8 at 3:02 p.m., officers saw a subject walk out of a business who looked suspicious. The officer remained in the area and was flagged down a minute later by loss prevention from the business, who reported that the suspicious subject had filled a basket with store merchandise and began to leave the store without paying, but at the last minute discarded the basket and left the store. He was unsure if the subject had actually taken anything. The officer contacted the subject and began speaking with him. During the course of the contact, it was discovered that the subject had multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest and was in possession of methamphetamine and a drug pipe. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 8 at 9:08 p.m., an officer ran the license plates on a vehicle and they returned to a different type of vehicle. The officers conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver. The driver was found to have an outstanding warrant. The driver was arrested for the warrant, the vehicle was stored, and the plates were recovered from vehicle.

Stolen Vehicle
April 9 at 8:07 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the area of Duarte and Tenth. The victim left his vehicle parked on the street overnight. He woke in the morning and discovered his vehicle was missing. During the investigation, the officer learned the victim left his loaded firearm under the seat. He said he recently went to the firing range and forgot to take it out of the vehicle. The vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system and the firearm was also entered as stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Robbery
April 9 at 10:00 p.m., a robbery victim reported that he was approached by a male Black subject at a bus bench in the 300 block of W. Huntington. The suspect inquired about the victim’s wireless earbuds. The suspect asked if he could see them and the victim complied. After several minutes, the victim asked for the item back, but the suspect told him no. The victim reached for the earbuds and the suspect struck him in the face with a closed fist. The suspect then fled on foot with the property. The victim left the immediate area and contacted police. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
April 9 at 10:31 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 800 block of E. Olive. The victim left his keys and wallet on the center console of his vehicle and locked the doors to his vehicle and left. When he returned to his vehicle, the driver-side window had been shattered and the items were gone. The investigation is continuing.

At-Risk Boys Help Seniors

At-risk boys help seniors make greeting cards in Monrovia. https://goo.gl/zYD2Pi

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Construction Equipment Stolen; Heroin, Alcohol and Guns; Grand Theft With Kid

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 3-5. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 427 service events, resulting in 65 investigations.

Commercial Burglary
April 3 at 6:42 a.m., a burglary was reported at a business in the area of Huntington & Myrtle. A large container was broken into at the construction site and equipment was taken. The investigation is continuing.

Identity Theft
April 3 at 11:00 a.m., an employee at a business in the 1400 block of S. Mountain called police to report a female that attempted to purchase a vehicle with false identification. During the transaction the employee discovered the driver’s license the female presented did not belong to her. The female left the location prior to police arrival and was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
April 3 at 2:33 p.m., officers responded to a report of a residential burglary in the 500 block of E. Walnut. The resident stated that when she returned home from her vacation she noticed a pair of earrings and her laptop were missing. There were no signs of forced entry and the residence was not ransacked. The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Murder – Suspect Arrested
April 4 at 1:32 a.m., officers responded to the report of gun shots heard in the 100 block of W. Colorado. While officers searched the area they were flagged down by the victim who told the police that the suspect was her boyfriend and he had been using heroin and drinking alcohol. The suspect left the location after firing a handgun towards the victim. He fired additional rounds, reloaded his gun and fled in his vehicle. The suspect made comments about being upset with law enforcement. Officers located the suspect and took him into custody.

Residential Burglary
April 4 at 6:02 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 800 block of W. Palm regarding a residential burglary. The residents were away from home and when they returned they found the rear door with a glass pane had been shattered. The house was ransacked but nothing appeared to be missing.The investigation is still continuing.

Shots Fired
April 5 at 12:10 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of California and Los Angeles regarding a gun shot heard. The caller told the police he heard one shot fired possibly on Cherry. He walked to his front yard in the 400 block of Los Angeles and saw a black 2 door Honda, possibly a Civic traveling west on Los Angeles. The caller said the driver had his arm out the window, he heard a second shot and saw a muzzle flash. He was unable to give a description of the driver or the weapon. The officers checked the area but no evidence was found. Only one call was made to the Monrovia police department regarding this incident.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 6 at 12:41 a.m., a caller reported a suspicious person in the 800 block of W. Walnut. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject, further investigation revealed he had a warrant. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft / Conspiracy / Possession of a Controlled Substance–Suspects Arrested
April 5 at 7:11 p.m., officers were on patrol in the 500 block of W. Huntington when they noticed a suspicious vehicle stopped along the curb in front of a business. The vehicle had its hazard lights on and did not have license plates. Officers observed a female running out of the business carrying two large bags. The female got into the waiting vehicle which fled away. Officers stopped the vehicle a short distance away and through their investigation found out the female had stolen merchandise from the business. During the search of the vehicle, officers located narcotics and paraphernalia as well as a small child. The suspects were arrested and taken into custody.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 5 at 7:14 p.m., officers responded to a call in the 2100 block of S. Myrtle regarding a suspicious subject. The officers contacted the subject who was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Lunch at Sierra Cafe

 
Lunch recently at the Sierra Cafe, at the Sierra Auto dealership, on Central Avenue (the freeway access road on the north side) a half block west of Mountain. Got a cheeseburger for $6.99 and an iced tea for$1.50. It came with a bag of chips and the iced tea was gigantic! Cute little diner and the burger was very good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia's Assembly Member Has Bill Approved to Require State Agency to Communicate Clearly

Assembly Member Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, has had a bill to require a state agency to clearly explain what it does approved unanimously by the Assembly Committee on Human Services.

The press release says: "Assembly Bill 959 requires the Department of Developmental Services to expand the type of information offered by regional centers on their websites and describe the services offered in plain language for parents to understand," and the Legislative Counsel's analysis (https://goo.gl/HJKlc0) says: "This bill would require a regional center to also include on its Internet Website a list, in a standardized format prescribed by the department, of the services that are provided directly to consumers by the regional center or through service vendors or contractors."

Comment: I approve of this bill, but ... Cheesh! It really says nothing good about our state government when it takes an act of the legislature to get a government agency to carry out its basic duties in a simple, businesslike way.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Street Fair May Move to Library Park; City Property for Sale; Science Program for High Schoolers; Etc.

In his weekly update (https://goo.gl/Oh8apv), City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ The city is thinking of moving the Street Fair to Library Park beginning on Friday, June 30.

~ City staff it talking with the Monrovia Unified School District and Oak Crest Institute of Science about creating a summer science program for Monrovia High School students.

~ Monrovia is thinking of selling two vacant lots it owns at 498 Monrovista Avenue and 1234 Sherman Avenue.

~ A big eucalyptus tree came down in last week's windstorm around Violet Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

~ The California Parks and Recreation Society, District 13, will honor Monrovia and its Community Services Commission for banning smoking in city parks.

~ On Thursday, April 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will host a Community Health Fair at Library Park.

~ The Summer Art Walk will be held on July 29, from 7 to 10 p.m., along the 400 and 500 blocks of Myrtle Avenue in Old Town. Live music, a gallery reception, and art demonstrations.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police On Lookout This Month for Texting-While-Driving

This month the Monrovia Police Department is participating in National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In California, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Monrovia Police Department, CHP, local law enforcement, and community partners throughout the state are working together to make the roads safer by highlighting the dangers of being distracted while driving, especially by cell phones.

"Law enforcement would rather see everyone off their cell phones than hand out a lot of tickets," said Rhonda Craft, director of the Office of Traffic Safety. "Take care of calling, texting, setting your GPS and everything else before you hit the street." Lawmakers agree that distracted driving continues to be a growing problem among California's motorists. Assembly Bill 1785 went into effect on Jan. 1, requiring all drivers in California to keep their cell phone out of their hands while operating a motor vehicle. Under the new law, a driver may activate or deactivate a feature or function of the cell phone or wireless communication device by swiping or tapping its screen only if it is properly mounted or not being held in a driver's hand. Specific information on the new law can be found at www.ots.ca.gov.

The Office of Traffic Safety will begin a new public awareness campaign throughout the state in April emphasizing how the new law makes virtually all hand-held cell phone activity illegal - talking, texting, and using apps. The campaign aims to end distracted driving through education and raise awareness about the associated dangers. The goal is to change motorist behaviors and save lives, not just in the month of April, but year round. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle collisions involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a 9 percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year.

Monrovia Police Department will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the state to provide educational experiences as well as zero tolerance enforcement efforts to discourage distracted driving. Officers will have a special emphasis this month on enforcing all cell phone and distracted driving laws. The goal is to gain voluntary compliance by drivers, but sometimes citations are necessary for motorists to better understand the importance of driving distraction free.

Monrovia Police Department is deploying extra traffic officers with grant-funded resources throughout the month of April in city locations with higher numbers of traffic collisions. Violators will be stopped and cited with fines set at $162 for first time offenders. This campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Source: Monrovia Police Department

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Daughter Bites Mother's Finger; Burglars Break Open Roof; Biking While Drunk; She Won't Give Her iPhone Back - He Takes Her Glasses; Man Robbed at Gunpoint; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 30 - April 1. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Shoplifting / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
March 30 at 1:01 p.m., a loss prevention employee at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a male suspect they had detained for petty theft. Officers responded and arrested the suspect for the petty theft and during a search of the suspect, officers found he was in possession of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine, which were added to his charges.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
March 30 at 1:58 p.m., a parking control officer located an unoccupied vehicle parked in the 300 block of S. Lincoln that had been reported stolen. An officer responded and confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Baldwin Park earlier in the day. The vehicle is a silver, 2000 Honda Civic. The officer recovered the vehicle.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 30 at 10:49 p.m., an officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop in the area of California and Lime for a vehicle code violation. The driver was found to be unlicensed and a parolee with an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Battery – Suspect Arrested
March 31 at 3:18 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 1000 block of Norumbega regarding a family disturbance. A mother and daughter were arguing and the daughter bit her mother’s finger. She also damaged property. The daughter fled the location prior to officers arriving, but was found hiding in a parked vehicle near the home; she was arrested for battery.

Attempt Commercial Burglary
March 31 at 9:34 a.m., an attempted burglary was reported at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. The suspects broke through the roof of two businesses and then through a wall in an attempt to access a third business. It appears the suspects were unable to access the area they were attempting to burglarize and left back up through the roof opening. The investigation is continuing.

Riding a Bicycle Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
March 31 at 12:21 p.m., an officer was dispatched on the report of a male adult riding a bicycle recklessly throughout the park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle and nearly hitting several pedestrians. Officers located the subject and determined he was intoxicated. The subject was also combative with the officers. He was arrested for riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol.

Grand Theft
April 1 at 5:07 p.m., a grand theft was reported by employees at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. The suspect stole a large amount of liquor from the business on March 31, but the store did not file a report at that time. The suspect returned to the store on April 1 and was recognized by employees, but he left the business. The employees then called police to report the prior theft. The investigation will continue.

Domestic Violence
April 1 at 7:11 p.m., a domestic violence incident was reported at Myrtle and Chestnut. The victim reported that her boyfriend gave her an iPhone for her birthday and then asked for it back. When she refused, he hit her on the head twice and took her glasses, then fled. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence
April 1 at 9:23 p.m., a witness called police and reported a drunk driver in the 200 block of Stedman. An officer responded and located the driver stopped in the middle of the street. After investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested and taken into custody.

Robbery
April 2 at 1:26 a.m., a robbery was reported in the 200 block of W. Lemon. The male victim was dropped off by Uber on Magnolia. As the victim walked east through an alley, a vehicle traveling west in the alley stopped and a male suspect exited. He approached the victim and told him to drop his phone. When the victim turned toward the suspect, he saw a gun in the suspect’s hand. The victim dropped his phone and was then instructed to drop his wallet. The victim dropped his wallet and walked away. The suspect fled the area. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
April 2 at 8:37 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of E. Pomona. The victim parked and locked his green, four-door, 1995 Honda Accord in front of his home and went in for the evening. He returned to his vehicle in the morning and found his car had been stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Bicycle Vs. Pedestrian Traffic Collision / Riding a Bicycle Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
April 2 at 4:19 p.m., a bicycle versus pedestrian collision was reported in the 300 block of Duarte Road. The father of a four-year-old girl called police to report that a male subject on a bicycle swerved and hit his daughter's leg, causing a minor injury. The suspect refused to stay at the scene and rode away; however, the father was able to provide a detailed description of the suspect. Officers were able to locate the suspect and he was arrested and held for a sobering period.

President of Citrus College Named 'Woman of the Year'


Dr. Geraldine M. Perri, superintendent/president of Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, has been named a "Woman of the Year" by State Senator Anthony Portantino.  Perri was honored at a ceremony in Pasadena on March 26 where 10 women were recognized for their contributions and accomplishments within the 25th Senate District.  "This year's Women of the Year of SD25 are each exceptional and unique in their advocacy to help others," said Senator Portantino.  "They represent the best in the district and it is my privilege to recognize their successes."

Dr. Perri was named Citrus College's superintendent/president in 2008 and has had a distinguished career in academia for over 30 years.  "Dr. Perri was selected because of her outstanding leadership and commitment to student success," Senator Portantino said.  "When we looked at what she has been able to accomplish at Citrus College, it was clear that Dr. Perri should be honored because she continues to advance the college's stellar reputation as a leader in higher education," Portantino said.

As superintendent/president, Dr. Perri oversees a $71 million operating budget and serves the communities of Azusa, Claremont, Duarte, Glendora and Monrovia.  "It was a truly an honor to be selected as a Woman of the Year," said Perri.

After earning an associate degree in dental hygiene, a bachelor's degree in dental health education and a master's degree in health education, Dr. Perri earned an additional master's degree in organizational development and a doctorate in human and organizational development.  Later, Dr. Perri completed Harvard University's Institute for Management and Leadership in Education and Cornell University's Community College Administrative Leadership Institute.

"I am a product of a community college, and I believe in the transformative nature and power of our nation's community colleges," Perri said.  "It is a privilege to be in a leadership role at Citrus College, a nationally recognized community college which is supported by a dedicated faculty, caring staff and a visionary Board of Trustees."

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard

Moon Watching Tonight in Monrovia

The Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers report that "We have a clear night for moon viewing tonight, so join us at our usual spot at the corner of Myrtle and Lime Streets in Monrovia Saturday night from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. for some great views of the moon."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia May Hire Second Highest Bidder for 'Historic Context Statement' | New, Improved Monrovia Days | Pyro in the Park

Monrovia's anti gang program seems to be producing results: https://goo.gl/AdW5Sh

At its next meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/qhMk5z) the Monrovia City Council will consider ...

~ Spending  $64,100.60 to hire a company to do a " Historic Context Statement" for the city. Of eight companies bidding, staff is recommending ASM, which provided the second highest bid for the project (the top bid was $65,626 and the low bid was $17,553.50). The staff report said ASM was selected because its proposal "recommended the appropriate amount of archival research and field work." Also, its proposal would involve "public outreach, a robust training program" for staff and "an informational brochure." https://goo.gl/BtgxAF

~ Approving a $50,000 contract with Paul Maurer Shows for the ride operations during a new and improved Monrovia Days celebration. The company would provide seven rides for adults, adolescents and children, including a Ferris Wheel, Gravitron, Giant Slide, Dragon Wagon, Taxi Cars, Jet Airplanes, Berry-GoRound, and a Dunk Tank. https://goo.gl/4WWx9A

~ Approving a $21,525 contract with Pyro Spectaculars to put on the 2017 Fourth of July Firework Show, still at Library Park although the city and school district had been thinking of moving it to Monrovia High. https://goo.gl/y740y1

- Brad Haugaard