Military Re-Enactors, Yogurt, Huff on Governor's Bill

~ US Military re-enactors this weekend at Monrovia Historical Museum. http://goo.gl/bXrNE

~ Yogurtland to open soon (east side of Myrtle just south of Foothill). http://goo.gl/oUmLn

~ Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, writes: "Senator Mimi Walters and I recently sent a letter to Governor Jerry Brown asking for his leadership in urging his Democratic colleagues and the members of the Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions to allow an up or down vote to be taken on Governor Brown's 'Twelve Point Pension Reform Plan.'" ( http://goo.gl/AFS1J ) Comment: Here we have Republicans introducing a Democratic governor's bill, verbatim, and now the Republicans are asking a Democratic governor to try to persuade Democratic legislators to allow a Democratic governor's bill to be voted on. Bizarre.

- Brad Haugaard

Marines Order Drones from Monrovia's AeroVironment

Monrovia's AeroVironment has received a $3.65 million order from the United States Marine Corps for its Raven drone and a set of spare parts. http://goo.gl/S9FPp

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Member to Represent District at Democratic National Convention | Job Workshop | Library Friends

 ~ Monrovia School Board member Alex Zucco reports on Facebook that it "Looks like I'm going to represent the 27th Congressional District in Charlotte [North Carolina] at the [Democratic] Presidential Convention!!! Thanks to all the 141 people that came out to vote..."

~ All-day free workshop at the Library to help job-seekers freshen up resumés, interview wardrobes and sharpen job hunting skills. http://goo.gl/QAgMA

~ Want to be a member of the Friends of the Monrovia Library? Membership meeting May 16. http://goo.gl/G3vhn

- Brad Haugaard

Foot Juggler at Monrovia Cinco de Mayo Festival

He was pretty good!

Pea-Fowl Invade Monrovia

I took this picture today of two peahens (fancy tail is on the other side of the family, the peacock) near the parking area just south of Lime and west of Myrtle. Wandered in from Arcadia I guess. Hope they're just passing through.

- Brad Haugaard

Baseball: San Marino 3, Monrovia 0

San Marino one game out of first, with Monrovia and Temple City tied for the league lead. http://goo.gl/KEabE

- Brad Haugaard

New Paintings Coming to Monrovia's Segil Fine Art

Segil Fine Art will be presenting paintings by Felice Hrovat from May 6-June 2.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council: New City Manager, Honoring Residents, Buying Lots of Stuff

 At the City Council meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/2nTlL ) this Tuesday the council will...

~ Welcome and swear in new City Manager Laurie K. Lile.

~ Recognize Mark Still as the 2012 Monrovia Older American of the Year.

~ Recognize longtime resident and longtime member of Kiwanis Don Yost for his dedication and years of valuable contributions to the community. Members of the Monrovia Kiwanis Club will be on hand to accept the Certificate of Recognition on behalf of Mr. Yost.

~ Consider authorizing the purchase of a $40,445 computer that will allow the Police Department "to use the current and future Spillman software versions, which are unable to run on the current server which is outdated." Comment: Wow! That's a way expensive computer.

~ Consider buying $14,536 worth of signs (two for each entry point) for the hillside preserve and recreation area.

~ Consider buying the Fire Department a new Records Management System for $19,988.82 (paid entirely by the State) and 19 iPad computers for $14,192.64 (paid entirely from the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee).

~ Consider an updated and extended contract with Athens for trash pick-up.

- Brad Haugaard

Rubber Mold for Freeway Bridge | Monrovia Business Showcase | Huff on Money for Schools

~ Gold Line construction crews install rubber form liner along the inside walls of the bridge structure. These will result in the texture along the outside of the superstructure once the concrete is poured. http://goo.gl/RNk1u

~ At the street fair tonight stop by and see the Business Showcase, more than 30 local businesses. http://goo.gl/hKquw

~ Video: Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, laments the death of his ads-on-school-buses measure and the setbacks reforming the legislature. http://goo.gl/0ZhWC

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at China Express

Lunch at China Express, right next to the Rite Aid at Huntington and Magnolia. Very clean and nice inside. Got the lunch special with chow mein and drink for $4.99 including tax. Generous portion and quality fairly good.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Ghosts?

Ghosts in Monrovia? Hmm. Some stories. http://goo.gl/i7XrH

 
- Brad Haugaard

Cinco De Mayo This Sunday in Monrovia

This Sunday, April 29, noon to 9 p.m., the second annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Old Town, at Myrtle and Colorado. Local artists and musicians. Entertainers include the Delgado Brothers, Ballet Folklorico and the headliner, Hector Dominguez Mariachi. http://goo.gl/bSOAy

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Spelling 'Zom-Bee'

Monrovia Spelling Bee May 19 at 1 p.m. at the Community Center. Students in grades 6-12 (public, private, or home study) are eligible. Email mayflowerdes@gmail.com with name, grade, school and T-shirt size. Get back spelling bee rules and word list. This year's theme: "Spelling Zom-Bees."

Monrovia's Green Dot: Good Earnings | Water Into Mortgages

~ Monrovia's Green Dot Corporation today reported an 18% year-over-year increase in non-GAAP total operating revenues1 to $145.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. http://goo.gl/rTBl5

 

~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, comments on Facebook that he voted against a bill (SB 900) that "originally dealt with water quality control boards when it entered the chamber and now it is dealing with mortgages after the vote. We literally had 30 seconds to read the new version of the bill. The bill passed 43-24."

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman's Audit-the-Legislature Bill Voted Down

According to a press release from Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, his bill to audit legislative books "was killed this morning in the Assembly Rules Committee. The vote fell along party lines with 4 Republicans in favor, 4 Democrats opposed on the recommendation of Nancy Skinner, Chair of the Assembly Rules Committee."

AB 1887 would have asked the State Controller to take over and conduct an annual audit of the legislature's books for two years. After that, the Joint Rules Committee would take over the audit process. The bill also would have required the Senate and Assembly Operating Funds to return any unused funds to the General Fund.  Portantino said the Assembly is violating its own rules by not conducting a Performance Audit. 

In his testimony Portantino quoted the San Francisco Chronicle, "The Assembly leadership has demonstrated that it cannot be trusted to give anything resembling a forthright accounting of how these politicians are spending our money. It's time for an independent audit of the Assembly's books."

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard