Monrovia's AeroVironment Commissioned to Build Ship-Launched Drone | Fire Danger | WWII Display | Mayor Interviewed

~ Monrovia's AeroVironment, Inc. has been selected by the federal government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone designed to operate from small ships to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The contract is worth $2.3 million. http://goo.gl/5kzecN

~ National Weather Service is predicting gusty Santa Ana winds with elevated fire danger starting tonight through Wednesday for the San Gabriel Valley and other areas. http://goo.gl/8eujii

~ The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group reports in its newsletter that the Monrovia Historical Museum has a new exhibit that pays homage to the service men and women who participated in World War II. Items include an autograph by the pilot of the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima.

~ Attorney Patricia Corrales interviews Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz on KGEM. http://goo.gl/7WsssS

- Brad Haugaard

Fire Guts Monrovia Home

Monrovia home on Royal Oaks gutted by fire. Everyone safe. http://goo.gl/pIHNXQ

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Art Show | Dia De Los Muertos | Station Square | Vets Day

"A Beautiful Moment" by W. Jason Situ

~ A one-man show of works by W. Jason Situ, Nov. 9-30, at Segil Fine Art, 110 West Lime. Opening reception, Saturday, Nov. 9, 5-7 p.m. Wine, appetizers, live music and the artist.

~ Dia De Los Muertos today (Nov. 2) starting at 11:30 a.m. at Live Oak Memorial Park on Duarte Road. http://goo.gl/J2uFkq

~ The City Council will hold a special meeting about the Station Square Transit Village on Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. Discussion will cover design concepts, timelines, etc. http://goo.gl/rkh1kU

~ Monrovia city offices and facilities will be closed for Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Allied Veterans Council is hosting a Veterans Day event in Library Park at 11 a.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Democrats Endorse Williams and Zucco

According to a tweet by LA Democrats, the Monrovia Democrats organization has endorsed Terrence Williams and Alex Zucco for School Board.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Jim's Burger

Lunch at Jim's Burger. On Duarte Road near the Arcadia border. Got a pastrami sandwich ($7.25) and small drink (85 cents). Very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard

Benefit Art Show and Scholarship Fundraiser Dance

~ Foothill Pregnancy Resource Center art show with music and auction today, Nov. 1, 7-10 p.m. at Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm. Tickets $50. 358-2122.

~ Monrovia Latino Heritage Society scholarship fundraiser dance, Saturday, Nov. 2, 7:30-11:30 p.m. at Monrovia Masonic Center, 204 W. Foothill. $25 at the door.

Source: http://goo.gl/b0hIb3

- Brad Haugaard

Here's How to Prep for the Monrovia School Board Election

The election for the Monrovia School Board is coming up on Nov. 5. Here are some resources that may be helpful in deciding how to vote:

~ My impression of the candidates at a forum: http://goo.gl/W2qwS7

~ Candidate profiles from Patch: Scott Pomrehn http://goo.gl/c0XXsk , Terrence Williams http://goo.gl/mejnOg , Ruhiyyih Nikole Yuille http://goo.gl/mmrdt2 , Alexandra Zucco http://goo.gl/vGcyo2 .

~ A Star-News overview: http://goo.gl/zTFhRF

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Composting | Free Veggies! | Prayer Breakfast

~ A composting workshop has been scheduled for tomorrow, Nov. 2, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in Recreation Park. Tips for successful gardens, from worms to drought-and-fire-resistant landscaping. Compost and worm bins will be available for Monrovia residents to purchase at a discounted price, and free mulch. http://goo.gl/MMJEo0

~ Produce in the Park, tomorrow, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the Lime and Myrtle corner of Library Park. Bring spare produce from your garden and take home other people's spare produce.

~ All Nations Church, 1948 Peck Rd., will hold a prayer breakfast Saturday morning. http://goo.gl/ANWxUL

- Brad Haugaard

Halloween in Monrovia

Want to know what a Trunk or Treat looks like? I was wondering myself, so I went down to First Presbyterian Church. Decorated car trunks with goodies for the kids.

Then I dropped by Brad Hori's house, on Maple just west of Hwy Esplanade. This thing jumped out at me from his mailbox and scared my socks off, but not as much as his pet attack-spider.

And of course, Alta Vista north of Hillcrest always does it up big. Scary music, scary fog, scary lights. The street is blocked off to cars, so it's wall-to-wall trick-or-treaters.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Chamber: Great Turnout for Trick or Treat; Winners of Annual Chamber Awards

Monrovia Chamber of Commerce suggests thousands have turned out today for its Old Town Trick or Treat fest. (Photo from Facebook)

Also, the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce has selected winners for its annual awards:

The Iris Award, Citizen of the Year, goes to Mark Still, Curator of Exhibits Monrovia Historical Museum.

The Monroe Award; Business Person of the Year, goes to Diane Balsamo, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

The Dick Lord Award, for outstanding contributions to the Chamber, goes to Shawn Davis, Route 66 Weekly.

Also, two new awards. The winner of the New Member Business of the Year will be announced in December, and the Military Service and Stewardship Award will go to Chuck Keen for his work for veterans.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: City Getting Out of Animal Control Biz; Merit Pay for Cops; Station Square; Etc.

At its Nov. 5 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/QEHXWO ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider contracting with the Pasadena Humane Society to provide "full animal control services" for Monrovia. "Effective January 1, 2014, Monrovia will no longer have animal control officers." http://goo.gl/SZMiUj

~ Consider reinstatement of merit step salary increases for members of the Monrovia Police Officers' Association "to reduce the attrition rate of public safety employees and related recruitment and training costs for the City of Monrovia." http://goo.gl/8wv5Mb

~ Have a 5:30 p.m. study session on the Station Square Public Improvements Concept Design.

~ At 7 p.m. recognize graduates of the Monrovia Area Partnership Leadership Academy.

~ Chat in closed session conference with its labor negotiator regarding contracts (I assume) with the Monrovia Firefighters' Association and Monrovia Police Officers' Association.

~ Consider adopting the latest California Building Standards Code. http://goo.gl/HtBlxu

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Congresswoman, Judy Chu, Introduces Veterans Bill

Congresswoman Judy Chu, who represents Monrovia, has introduced The Veterans Education Counseling Act to improve GI Bill educational benefits counseling process. It directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to differentiate between Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Chapter 36 Educational Counseling. http://goo.gl/clh5ON

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Unity Center Readying for Food Stamp Cut | Halloween Activities, Myrtle Closing

~ Foothill Unity Center writes that with the federal food stamp program facing a $5 billion cut this Friday, "We're bracing for more clients signing up with us - and finding the food and funds to meet their needs."

~ Mayor Mary Ann Lutz writes that Myrtle Avenue in Old Town will close from 2:30 - 6:30 pm. today for Halloween activities, which you can read about here: http://goo.gl/sryM2b

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Burglars Wake Sleeping Woman | Drug Bust

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Oct. 28–30. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 469 service events, resulting in 70 investigations.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested

October 29 at 3:04 p.m., officers responded to a park in the 400 block of South California on the report of several male subjects in the park involved in drug activity. After investigation, officers arrested one male suspect who was found to be in possession of a glass pipe and methamphetamine.

Hot Prowl Residential Burglary

October 30 at 11:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of North Alta Vista regarding a hot prowl burglary that just occurred. The owners of the residence were away from the location at the time of the burglary and a housekeeper was home, asleep inside one of the bedrooms. She was awakened by two male Black suspects that came into the room. When the suspects saw her, they ran out the backdoor of the residence. The housekeeper called the homeowners, and there was an approximate twenty minute delay until the owners arrived home and called the police. Officers responded and the area was searched, but no suspects were located. A rock had been thrown through the backdoor window to gain entry to the home. The investigation is continuing.

Veterans Day in Monrovia

Monrovia's Annual Veterans Day observance is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Library Park. The event will honor local servicemen and women who served our country in the U.S. military. For details call the Department of Community Services at 256-8246.

- Brad Haugaard