210 Freeway Closures Expected

Up to eight nights of full closure of eastbound 210 for Gold Line bridge construction is expected between now and March 17. Full closures between midnight and 5 a.m. Partial closures may last from 10 p.m. to 1 p.m. the following day.  
- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Gets $8.8 Million Defense Contract

AeroVironment has been awarded an $8.8 million Department of Defense drone contract. The contract modifies an existing contract. http://goo.gl/xdwvm

 

- Brad Haugaard 

Men Shoot Up Car in Monrovia

 Monrovia Police Department press release:

On Sunday, March 4, 2012, at approximately 9 p.m., Monrovia Police Officers responded to the area of California and Cypress regarding a shooting investigation. 
 
The investigation revealed a male adult victim was backing his vehicle from a residential driveway with his three year old son in the back seat. A gray sedan occupied by at least three male Hispanics suddenly pulled up and stopped in the roadway. The right front passenger of the gray sedan exited the vehicle and fired approximately six shots striking the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle.  The “shooter” returned to the gray sedan and the vehicle fled from the area at a high rate of speed. The “shooter” is described as a male Hispanic wearing a blue baseball cap. No one was injured during this incident.
 
The investigation is continuing.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Little League Season Begins

Former Dodger pitcher Dennis Powell helps launch Monrovia Little League season. http://goo.gl/r7vmu

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Wins Miss LA County Title

Monrovia woman, Monet Bagneris. wins the Miss Los Angeles County title, not to mention being "Miss Congeniality". http://goo.gl/xFqrX

 

- Brad Haugaard

Donnelly: It's Not a Fee; It's a Tax

State Assemblyman Tim Donnelly - who represents part of Monrovia - and five other Assembly members, are asking the members of the State Board of Equalization to oppose a cost to state homeowners of what Donnelly says will be "up to $90 per habitable structure on their property." He said the cost is being called a "fee" when it is actually a "tax" that violates the California Constitution and Proposition 26. http://goo.gl/kvbJN

 

- Brad Haugaard

The New Jim's Burgers | Paco's Fundraiser for Unity Center

~ The new look of Jim's Burgers on Duarte Road, after the Mon-Arc Center remodeling. (I hope they serve the same great burgers.) http://goo.gl/hYO0v

 

~ On Sunday, March 11, Paco's Mexican Restaurant in Arcadia will donate 10% of all dining proceeds from 3 to 10 p.m. to Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center Auxiliary to help families in need. Paco's is at 200 E. Foothill Blvd.; (626) 357-7270.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Entering Shell Eco-Marathon High-Mileage Race in Texas

Monrovia High's entry and team for last year's high-mileage marathon.

A Monrovia High School team led by auto shop instructor Phillip Jelinek will have a vehicle entry in the Shell Eco-Marathon, in Houston, Texas, again this year. The object of the event, from March 29-April 1, is to build the world’s most fuel-efficient vehicle - and produce the fewest emissions. Details on the race: http://goo.gl/0D43t

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Sena

Lunch at Sena, on west side of Myrtle just south of Lime. Nice back patio. I'd heard the tacos were really good so I got the spicy pork tacos. Wow! Delicious! Best tacos I've had since maybe... ever! Highly recommend.
-Brad Haugaard

First Relay Race at Monrovia High | World Vision Helps Mali Refugees

~ First relay race to be held at Monrovia High's new stadium. http://goo.gl/ZtAEC

 

~ Teams from Monrovia's World Vision International respond to refugee problem caused by violence in Mali. http://goo.gl/zFmux

 

- Brad Haugaard

Report on Monrovia's Success Against Gangs

According to a report that will be presented to the Monrovia City Council this coming Tuesday (March 6), the police department's Operation Safe Neighborhoods anti-gang program seems to be doing fairly well. Though the numbers are small and stats with small numbers are both iffy and jumpy, the most serious offence, "murder and attempted," is down, as are most categories for local gangs. Among serious crimes, only "assault with a deadly weapon" seems not to have declined much among hometown gangs. See the full report here: http://goo.gl/0lrDU

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Councilman Wins Backyard Contest | Replacing a Tree on Arbor Day | Sherwin-Williams Opening

~ The backyard of Monrovia City Council Member Joe Garcia and his wife Kathy King is featured in the latest Costco magazine as third place winners in the Backyard Makeover contest. Here's the magazine page: http://goo.gl/T0AHo

~ This Arbor Day (March 7) Monrovia Community Services and the Teen Advisory Board are going to plant a tree to replace one knocked over in the windstorm. You're welcome to attend. It's at 4 p.m. at the Community Center. http://goo.gl/oBzts

~ The new Sherwin-Williams paint store (503 W. Huntington) will hold its grand opening Saturday, March 10. 40% off paints and stains.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Senator Wins Charter School Association's 'Elected Leader of the Year' Award

State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, has won the Hart Vision Award for Elected Leader of the Year from the California Charter Schools Association. CCSA President Jed Wallace said, "On every bill introduced in recent years to turn back the clock on charter schools, Senator Huff has been a stalwart partner with CCSA and a champion for protecting the integrity of the California Charter Schools Act." http://goo.gl/XW1xi

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Burglary Fail, 50 to Life

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for Feb. 27-29. -Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 412 service events, resulting in 74 investigations.

Attempted Residential Burglary

On February 28 at 3:20 p.m., a 15-year-old male subject that lives in the 200 block of Violet observed a male suspect tampering with the window screen on the backdoor of the apartment where he lives. The suspect eventually left the area. Police were not called until the subject’s stepfather arrived home, a few hours later. The window screen appeared to have been cut, but the suspect did not make entry into the home. The suspect is described as a male, 6'0", thin build, wearing dark pants and a gray or black hooded sweatshirt, which covered his face and hands. Investigation continuing.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Gang member, Gary Sanchez, was convicted of murder in the Pasadena Superior Court last week. Sanchez was convicted of several gun and gang enhancements, and is facing fifty years to life in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23, 2012.

This case stems from an incident that occurred on December 15, 2009, at approximately 8:04 p.m. Sanchez shot and killed Jason Gentile near the intersection of Colorado and California in Monrovia. Sanchez also wounded Gentile’s girlfriend, who has completely recovered from her wounds. Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detectives investigated this case, but Monrovia Police Department personnel played a major role in the investigation and prosecution.

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment Drone in the Movies | Mark Twain's Other Woman

~ The Raven hand-held drone is featured in the recent Acts of Valor movie. Story and video clip: http://goo.gl/KBzil 

 

~ Learn about "Mark Twain's Other Woman," from the author of the book by that name. March 3, 1-3 p.m. in the Monrovia Library Community Room. Free but reserve a spot: http://goo.gl/Zb1sg

 

- Brad Haugaard