School Board Agenda

School Board meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the district HQ. On the agenda:
- Revised budget for 2010-11.
- A bunch of change orders on construcion at Monrovia High.
- October enrollment report. (Down a bit, but not as bad as expected.)
- Hiring a go-between to oversee MHS construction.
- And a bunch more stuff.
Full agenda here: http://goo.gl/5EYr
- Brad Haugaard

Sprinklers Off

With the recent rains, California American Water, which serves Monrovia and other local cities, is urging residents to conserve water by turning off sprinklers for at least seven days after the rains.
 
http://goo.gl/WRAl

- Brad Haugaard

Volleyball: La Canada 3, Wildcats 1 :-(

http://goo.gl/RJ4w

and

http://goo.gl/EZAB
 
- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Gets Big Order

Monrovia's AeroVironment has received a $7.2 million contract to delivery its new digital Puma All Environment unmanned aircraft systems and training services to the U.S. Special Operations Command.

http://goo.gl/IkcB
 
- Brad Haugaard

Urban Coyote

A photo of a coyote on Hillcrest. Not so very unusual in Monrovia these days ...
 
http://goo.gl/2ek8
 
- Brad Haugaard

School Superintendent Interview

An interview with Monrovia Schools Superintendent Linda Wagner.

http://goo.gl/40cr

- Brad Haugaard

Scrip for Friends of Library

You can support the Friends of the Library by purchasing scrip. Merchants give part of your purchase price to the Friends.

Details here: http://goo.gl/Voc6

- Brad Haugaard

City Salaries

Nice article about Monrovia city salaries:
http://goo.gl/SFds
- Brad Haugaard

Smoking Still Permitted in Parks

In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa said that although city staff had proposed banning smoking from all parks, because of discussion during the last City Council meeting, staff "will drop the smoking ban in urban parks from the proposed ordinance unless and until Council expressly directs otherwise."
 
He said there are two sides to this philosophical argument, which are:

"'Tobacco is legal, adults have the right to use it or not, and a park is a public place.' The counter argument usually revolves around the notion that 'Your freedoms end where mine begin, and vice-versa; second-hand smoke can cause cancer; the park is open to non-smokers and smokers alike.'"

Source: http://goo.gl/qEKM

- Brad Haugaard

Hope for Monrovia Economy

In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa is relieved to report that ...

"[T]here is reason to be mildly optimistic. We have characterized FY 2010-11 as a 'recovery year' - although we defined 'recovery' as simply no more negative growth. I am pleased and relieved to report that the last two quarters' receipts - which help as indicators for the following four quarters - indicate that our sales tax revenues have bottomed out and we are seeing slight growth.

"With all eyes on the 4th quarter of 2010 (holiday shopping) as an important test of consumer confidence, I can tell you that our auto dealers are doing better than they were a year ago, and that Kohl's and Living Spaces are providing the bump that we anticipated. Some of our business sectors are still weak, but similar tax generators in different markets are reporting that they are returning to normal; thus, we are hopeful to have the same experience."

Source: http://goo.gl/qEKM

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Company Tests High-Altitude Robo-Plane

Global Observer, an unmanned, hydrogen-powered military aircraft designed to operate at stratospheric levels and developed by Monrovia's AeroVironment, has successfully completed initial flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base.

Source: http://goo.gl/E1tt

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Running From California To New Jersey

Wow! Fifty six-year-old Monrovian John Radich is running from California to New Jersey. He appears to be in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the moment.

http://goo.gl/sF2l

Secret Art

Stop in the lobby of Focus One (now First City) Credit Union at 404 E Huntington. Some nice art by local folks, right in the lobby.

- Brad Haugaard

Anti-Bullying Club

Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz reports that Monrovia High School is starting an anti-bullying club. I hope the first people it recruits are members of the football team.

- Brad Haugaard

Halloween Roundup

- Old Town Trick-or-Treating on Friday, October 30, from 3-6 p.m. along Myrtle Avenue.
 
- Halloween Stories on Saturday, October 30, from 2-3 p.m. in the library's Story Time Room. "Gruesome goblins and fierce Frankensteins are invited to an afternoon of stories, songs, craft and film celebrating all things Halloween! Wear your costume."
 
- Costume Contest on Saturday, October 30, from 3-6 p.m. in Library Park. Also, a Parade of Characters and Pumpkin Carving Contest. For information, call (626) 256-8246. Read more: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_16447861#ixzz13lcz4nCL

- Vendors at Market in the Park (Library Park) will distribute candy from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31.

- Dia De Los Muertos Turner & Stevens Mortuary, November 2, from 7-10 p.m. 200 E. Duarte Road. http://goo.gl/Qopq
 
- Brad Haugaard