Monrovia In Semifinals with 41-6 Victory :-)

Monrovia advances to the semifinals of the CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division playoffs with last night's 41-6 victory over Montebello. http://goo.gl/84yiKD

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Mimi's


Lunch at Mimi's. Got the bouillabaisse ($13.59) and a hot tea ($2.49). Plus tax and tip. With the cool weather and clouds, it seemed like a soupy kind of day.

- Brad Haugaard

Ann Roy - 102 Year Birthday


Department of Community Services Friendly Crafters group celebrated Ms. Ann Roy's birthday on Wednesday, Nov. 20.  Ms. Roy turned 102 years old on Wednesday, November 13.  A group of 20 fellow Crafters celebrated this special day with her, enjoyed cake, sang Happy Birthday and wished her well on this very special birthday. http://goo.gl/Crpvur

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Residents: Decorate Your K-Rail! And Houses, Too

There is a new contest category for the Monrovia Holiday Home Decorating Contest: Best Decorated K-Rail (That's those ugly concrete flood-control wall things around where the fire burned off. They need some decorating.)

Applications for the contest are available at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 West Palm Avenue, or on the City’s website at http://www.cityofmonrovia.org. Judging will take place Monday, Dec. 16.  Award winners will be recognized during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 17, at City Hall in Council Chambers.

The 13 judging categories are:
• Best Still Display
• Best Outdoor Display
• Best Decorated Outdoor Tree
• Best Window Display
• Holiday Spirit Award
• Most Effective Use of Lighting a house
• Toyland Award
• Children’s Choice Award
• Best Neighborhood Effort
• Snowman Award
• Judges Award
• Best Decorated K-Rail
• Tim McKeehan “Best of Season” Award

For more information, call the Department of Community Services at 256-8246.

Source: http://goo.gl/Crpvur

- Brad Haugaard

Update on E. Coli Outbreak | World Vision Opens Safe Space for Philippine Children

~ Update on E. coli outbreak suspected of coming from salads and wraps sold by Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's is based in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/mMpJzc

~ World Vision opened on Wednesday its first dedicated 'safe space' for 400 children affected by Typhoon Haiyan. World Vision's international office is based in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/NvmEvN

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center Needs Donations For Holidays | First Presbyterian Collects for Philippines

~ Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center is seeking donations of food, funds and volunteer time for its holiday season distributions. Funds may be donated online at foothillunitycenter.org. Food and checks may be dropped off weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 415 W. Chestnut Ave. Call 358-3486 for information.

~ First Presbyterian Church Monrovia (Myrtle and Foothill) is collecting for Philippines relief through Presbyterian Mission Agency: http://goo.gl/u4S4BJ

- Brad Haugaard

Community Services Director April Soash Retiring after 32 years in Monrovia

On Saturday, November 30, 2013, Monrovia Community Services Director April Soash retires from public service. Ms. Soash has served the majority of her career in the City of Monrovia, rising from a Recreation Supervisor in 1981, to Community Services Division Manager in 1990, Assistant Director in 1994 and finally to Director of the Community Services Department in 1996. Her official last working day is Friday, November 22.

Throughout her career, Ms. Soash has overseen the annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting in Library Park, the annual Spring Egg Hunt, Summer Concerts in the park, Halloween events and Canyon Park's Haunted Hikes, Summer Extravaganza, literacy and cultural programs at the Library, and the former Monrovia Soap Box Derby. She directed City rentals, contract classes, outdoor education programs, youth sports, shelters for emergencies, and published the quarterly Community Services brochure.

Over the past 32 years, she has served nine City Managers, five Mayors, and eighteen City Councilmembers, worked with four City Clerks, five City Treasurers, and seven City Attorneys, and attended over 776 City Council and Community Services Commission Meetings.

Ms. Soash has a Recreation Administration degree from Pepperdine University and has used that knowledge to its fullest extent in Monrovia. Her legacy can be seen in the new Public Library, the Wilderness Preserve, the Mary Wilcox Youth Center, and the Monrovia Skate Park.

Soash said, "So much of what I have done in Monrovia involves family. I met my husband here and raised my children here. I have loved the opportunities the City has brought me, and it has been an honor and privilege to serve Monrovia. I am excited to now focus my free time on my family."

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Two Hours in the Dressing Room; Cell Phone Grabbing; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Nov. 18-20. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 468 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.

Robbery
November 18 at 3:40 p.m., a robbery occurred in the 1100 block of South Myrtle.  The victim was walking south on Myrtle with his cell phone in his hand and his head down.  The suspect walked past the victim, grabbed the victim’s phone out of his hand and ran north on Myrtle.  The victim chased after the suspect, but when the suspect verbally threatened to beat him up, he stopped.  The suspect is described as an African American male, 20 to 30 years old, short hair cut, a goatee, approximately 6 feet tall, average build, wearing a green hooded sweatshirt with yellow writing and possibly matching green sweat pants.  Investigation continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
November 19 at 3:40 a.m., dispatch received a call reporting a subject having difficulty parking a vehicle on the street in the 500 block of East Walnut.  The caller stated that the person possibly struck a parked vehicle and drove up on the curb.  The driver got out of the vehicle and walked away.  

When officers arrived, they saw the parked vehicle with recent collision damage.  There were no other vehicles in the area that appeared to have damage caused by this vehicle.  As officers were taking pictures of the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle exited his residence.  The subject had a laceration over his left eye.  The subject started cursing at officers and displayed signs of intoxication.  There were no witnesses that could identify the suspect as the driver, and the vehicle was legally parked.  Officers took pictures of the vehicle and the suspect was arrested for being drunk in public.

Burglary / Possession of Burglary Tools / Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested
November 19 at 10:46 p.m., a female subject entered a business in the 500 block of West Huntington and selected several items of clothing and merchandise.  She entered the changing room, where she stayed for two hours.  When she exited the changing room, loss prevention personnel discovered several metal clothing sensors cut into pieces.  The suspect exited the store and walked to a fast food restaurant, where she entered the bathroom.  Officers arrived and when the suspect exited the bathroom, she was detained.  The wire cutters used to cut off the metal sensors were found in the bathroom, and the suspect was in possession of the stolen property.  The suspect was arrested.

Residential Burglary
November 20 at 6:58 p.m., police dispatch received a call from an alarm company reporting that the residential burglary alarm had activated at a residence in the 300 block of North Madison Avenue.  Officers responded and discovered a shattered rear sliding-glass door.  A search team entered and cleared the residence; no suspects were located inside.  The homeowner was contacted and indicated he was out of town. The investigation is continuing.

Pasadena Star-News Introduces a Pay Wall

The Pasadena Star-News, the daily newspaper that serves Monrovia, has decided to introduce what is commonly known as a "pay wall" for its online edition, meaning that you can't access all of it - or more than a set number of articles - without paying. Paper newspaper subscribers will get it without further cost. Star-News President and Publisher Ron Hasse announced the move in today's newspaper.

Opinion: This is a risky move. Some newspapers have had success with it, but I suspect the successful ones are publications that publish critical and unique information that is not easily available elsewhere. Best wishes, Star-News!

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Church to Provide Two Prayer Breakfast Speakers; Plans to Open Sister Church in Ecuador

Fellowship Monrovia church will provide speakers at not one, but two local Mayors Prayer Breakfasts. Albert Tate, senior pastor, will speak at the Monrovia breakfast (Nov. 22), and Michael Fields, associate pastor, will speak at the Duarte breakfast (Nov. 27).

Also, the church hopes to open a sister church in Ecuador, and plans to expand locally to serve Duarte and Los Angeles areas.

Source: The Weekly Star, Nov. 21. http://goo.gl/qchCPd

- Brad Haugaard

Rain Causes Small Monrovia Power Outage | Toy Drive for Philippines

~ A small power outage in Monrovia this morning. Southern California Edison said it affected 23 customers and was caused by equipment damaged by rain. The crew is completing repairs. http://goo.gl/IwML3H

~ The Monrovia High Filipino club is hosting a toy drive to donate to needy children in the Philippines. Details: http://goo.gl/3NYqzr

- Brad Haugaard

Assemblyman Chris Holden Visits Monrovia's Canyon Oaks School


Assemblyman Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, posts on Facebook: "Had a great time speaking with the high school students at Canyon Oaks School in Monrovia today."

Comment: Canyon Oaks is truly an amazing school. I did a story on its amazingness some years ago, which you can read here: http://goo.gl/NIRc6I

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center: Its Client Base Has Tripled in Five Years

In a fundraising letter, Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center notes that its "client base has more than tripled over the last five years," while "donations and grant funding remain significantly down. Our small staff has been stretched as far as it can go." The center is "the primary provider of food, case management/crisis help, and access to health care resources for 11 San Gabriel Valley communities." If you would like to donate money, you can do so here: http://goo.gl/baw8Sb

- Brad Haugaard

Is This Your Beagle?


Jen Havens is trying to find the owner of this female beagle found running around close to Foothill and Primrose. "She appears to be an unspayed adult (maybe 5 years old?). Not microchipped and no collar. If you have any idea where she belongs, text or call 626-673-7978."

Update: Jen writes: "Brad, thank you so much for posting on Monrovia Now! We think we found her owner because of your post :-)"

- Brad Haugaard

See's Candies Opens on Huntington Drive in Monrovia


A new See's Candies store has opened in the Huntington Oaks shopping center on Huntington Drive just in time for the holidays. Brad Hori writes that it is "conveniently sandwiched between Lindora  and Kirkland's Home." (Thanks, Brad!)

- Brad Haugaard
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