More detail on Monrovia winning a silver award for its sustainability efforts. http://goo.gl/4M8GT
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia High Symphonic Band off to Carnegie Hall
The Monrovia High Symphonic Band will be performing in the 2012 New York Wind Band Festival, held this Sunday (Feb. 26) at Carnegie Hall. Monrovia is one of only six high school ensembles from throughout the country selected to perform in this prestigious event.
Daniel Magallanes, Director of Instrumental Music at MHS, said, "We will be leaving for NYC on Wednesday night for a five-day tour of the city. This tour will include workshops and interscholastic rehearsals in preparation for the festival performance. While in Manhattan we will also visit the American Natural History Museum, the 9-11 Memorial and see the Broadway production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
The MHS Symphonic Band is one of several award-winning instrumental music ensembles at Monrovia High School. Made up of woodwind, brass and percussion students, the Symphonic Band rehearses and performs classical and contemporary concert band literature while increasing the musicianship and leadership skills of its members.
Update: Charlotte Schamadan adds that the Monrovia-Duarte Quota Club helped raise some of the money to send them to New York.
-Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Son of Red Tail Airman works on Red Tail Movie | Democrats for Holden | Gun Owners vs. Portantino
~ Monrovia illustrator and son of a Tuskegee Airman, David Russell, worked on the movie Red Tails, about the Tuskegee Airmen. http://goo.gl/pJLJH
~ Democratic Party endorses Chris Holden for Assembly district including Monrovia. http://goo.gl/e4Xkj
~ Gun owners hope to reverse Anthony Portantino's no-open-carry law in courts. http://goo.gl/MGCVk
- Brad Haugaard
Fun Things I Saw in Monrovia Today
~ I saw a woman with a little dog on a leash. She set the leash down for a few moments and the little unrestrained dog quietly looked over at some big dogs. Then the woman picked up the leash and instantly the little dog went crazy, barking at the other dogs and straining at the leash to get at them. I guess its easy to be brave when you know you don't have to be.
~ The menu at Shanghai Dumpling House (Foothill at May) has dumplings (spicy pork ones are really good, by the way) but also has "Shanghai Confusion Meat." Being a little confused, myself, I asked what it was. It's Shanghai-style ham.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia City Council: Covering the Wash, Deals with the Gold Line
At its Tuesday, Feb. 21, meeting, the Monrovia City Council meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/lmA5h ) will consider, among other things:
~ Whether to award a $173,450 contract to Kormx, Inc., to build a cover over the Santa Anita Wash at Huntington Drive and Fifth Ave. New land for development, and the cover will connect the land on either side of the wash. http://goo.gl/96e8z
~ Whether to do street upgrades for the Gold Line near Myrtle and Duarte, California and Duarte, and
Mountain and Duarte. The Gold Line will reimburse the city for the work. http://goo.gl/9DDPL
~ Whether to work a deal with the Gold Line for a parking facility at the coming Gold Line train station. http://goo.gl/1Z5Om
~ A report on the city's economic development efforts. http://goo.gl/IRxRM
- Brad Haugaard
More Than 50 Face Layoffs at Monrovia Schools - Bus Fees, Too
The Monrovia School Board will consider authorizing the layoffs of approximately 52 full-time staff members due to lack of money and anticipated lower enrollment at its Wednesday, Feb. 22, meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/Ykhzx ). Details:
~ Despite a little 10-student upward blip in Monrovia school enrollment recently, it appears the overall trend is down. For 2012-13, Monrovia Schools' Director of Fiscal Services, David Conway, estimates a 1.76 percent decline. One bright sign: Elementary enrollment seems to be inching up, which "could portend well for district enrollment trends." Fewer students means fewer staff, and he projects the loss of the equivalent of 2.4 full time staff members, 1.4 at Monrovia High and 1 at the elementary level. http://goo.gl/yN0wp
~ And then there are the cuts from just not having enough money. The equivalent of 42.3 full time employees will be let go. School District staff is recommending cuts in K-12, Adult Ed, and Regional Occupational Programs. (If my reading is correct, these numbers include the 2.4 mentioned in the previous item.) http://goo.gl/Ze3D9
~ Plus (why it is a separate item, I don't know) cuts of the equivalent of 9.4 full time staff members for pre-Kindergarten services due to "lack of work and/or lack of funds." http://goo.gl/8XEbK
~ And further, also for lack of money, district staff is recommending charging a $50-per-semester fee for transportation to and from school. http://goo.gl/pEoIJ
~ An effort by the Monrovia School District to increase attendance (and hence, state funding) hasn't been working so far. According to a report by the district, school attendance is essentially unchanged since last year. Ups here, downs there, but pretty steady overall. http://goo.gl/vB9pl
- Brad Haugaard
Lunch at Planet Cookies
Had lunch at Planet Cookies (at Myrtle and Lime). It's not just cookies. Sandwiches, soups, salads. I got a pepper beef sandwich on sourdough. I liked it a lot. I think the word "cookie" may put off some people looking for lunch, but it shouldn't. Tasty.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Unity Center - Giving Help, Needing Help
Foothill Unity Center's latest newsletter reports the organization helped 12,117 people in 2011 with more than 3 million pounds of food, health and crisis services, not to mention food for 726 pets. This year the center's food inventory is at a 10-year low. If you can help, drop off rice, pasta, beans, soup, peanut butter, cereals, canned foods, tomato/spaghetti sauce, and meal helpers like tuna and mac and cheese. The center is at 415 W. Chestnut Ave.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia to Honor Those in Service | Portantino Introduces Residential Care Bill
~ Monrovia will host a Salute to Service on Tuesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers to honor Monrovia Servicemen and Servicewomen. http://goo.gl/sPd75
~ Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, has introduced a bill that will allow continuing care retirement communities to provide services in private residences without the residence having to become a licensed care facility. http://goo.gl/j4NrR
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Senator: Cal State Needs to Control Administrator Pay
State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, said he agrees with Gov. Brown about "the ever-escalating pay packages" of Cal State University administrators. He said, "On the same day that the CSU Board of Trustees voted to increase administrators' salaries, they also voted to increase student fees." Huff said he couldn't recommend confirming nominee Herbert Carter to the Cal State Board until there is "real evidence that the CSU Trustees are making the tough decisions needed to control escalating costs that are being passed onto students and their families." http://goo.gl/44XBO
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Home Fire | Presidents Day | Tardy Sweeps
~ Fire at Monrovia home. http://goo.gl/TslUJ
~ Monrovia City facilities and schools will be closed Presidents' Day, Monday, February 20.
~ Random tardy sweeps at Monrovia High "because of a sharp increase in tardies throughout the school day. ... If you are caught, you will be assigned Saturday School." Uh-oh. Better watch out! http://goo.gl/juzTh
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Fat Dog or Thin Burglar, Burglary, Theft, Etc
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 13-15. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 433 service events, resulting in 96 investigations.
Grand Theft Auto
On February 13 at 3:23 p.m., an employee from a business in the 500 block of West Huntington reported her vehicle stolen from the parking lot. She parked her vehicle in the lot near the front of the business at 7:00 a.m. When she returned to her vehicle at 3:00 p.m., she discovered it missing. The vehicle is a black, 1996 Honda Accord. The vehicle was entered into the Stolen Vehicle System and the investigation is continuing.
Attempted Vehicle Burglary
On February 13 at 6:23 p.m., an attempted vehicle burglary was reported at a condominium complex in the 700 block of South Myrtle. The victim parked her vehicle in the bottom level parking structure at approximately 5:00 p.m. She returned to her vehicle approximately one hour later and found that someone had attempted to smash the driver side window and had tried to pry open the passenger door. The attempt was unsuccessful and there was no loss from inside the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.
Residential Burglary
On February 14 at 10:54 p.m., police responded to a residential burglary in the 400 block of East Olive. The suspect entered through a doggy door. The circuit breakers on the home were turned off, the Internet cable was pulled apart, and the only loss was an alarm clock and a cell phone charger. Investigation continuing.
Detective Bureau Case Follow-up
Robbery Case Update - Third Suspect Arrested
On February 9 at 10:57 p.m., three male suspects robbed a male victim while he was walking in the area of Colorado and Violet. One of the suspects hit the victim in the face, possibly with a gun, and they took a small amount of cash he had on him and his cell phone. Officers arrived quickly and detained two of the suspects in the area of Violet and Linwood; they were arrested for robbery. The Foothill Air Support helicopter and Irwindale Police Department's canine unit assisted with a search for the third suspect, but he was not located.
Following up on leads, detectives served a search warrant on February 15 on two locations. The detectives were searching for the third suspect and a weapon used in the crime. Detectives searched both locations and the weapon was not located. The third suspect, however, was found at one of the locations and was arrested and taken into custody.
Assembly Candidate Supports Public Transportation
Michael Cacciotti, South Pasadena Mayor and candidate for the 41st Assembly District (which includes Monrovia), said state money should be spent on light-rail and bus-ways instead of freeways. He said these "can drive our economy forward and create more jobs than building new freeways.” and, he said. “Public transit gets us off foreign oil, out of traffic jams, and cleans up our air pollution too.”
Source: press release
- Brad Haugaard
Portantino Introduces Bill to Regulate Boot Camps
Alleged abuses at a boot camp run by Kelvin McFarland, of Monrovia, has prompted Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, to co-author a bill to regulate such programs. http://goo.gl/SWE09 - Brad Haugaard
Yogurtland to Monrovia | Donate Prom Dress | Good Safety on Bridge
~ Yogurtland will replace Quiznos on Myrtle near Foothill. http://goo.gl/CgU2W
~ Donate a prom dress to a Monrovia High girl. http://goo.gl/va6BD
~ Gold Line reports no injuries in 30,000 hours of work on Gold Line bridge. http://goo.gl/Jmd2k
- Brad Haugaard
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