Vets Bill by Monrovia's Assemblymember Approved by Committee

Legislation by Monrovia's Assemblymember, Chris Holden, to give veterans a stronger voice in college leadership was approved today in the Assembly Higher Education Committee.  AB 1557 has bipartisan support - 14 Democrats and Republicans co-authored the bill.

AB 1557 gives veterans permanent seats on the Board of Governors of the California Community College system by adding a student member who is a veteran or current member of the military. The bill also requires one of the existing 12 board seats to be held by a member or former member of the Armed Forces who has demonstrated expertise and leadership in the field of veterans' affairs.

"This bill is designed to give veterans a voice in college leadership," explained Assemblymember Holden. "As we wind down these wars, veterans returning to college face unique challenges and need a voice in their college leadership.  If campuses are not prepared to help these soldiers transition from combat to college, we run the risk of alienating thousands of returning vets."

Thousands of veterans are expected to fill the seats at California's public colleges and universities. Already the state's community colleges lead the nation with more than 44,000 vets enrolled - the largest number since World War II.

AB 1557 is supported by American Legion - California, AMVETS - California, California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party, Veterans of Foreign Wars - California.

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's S'Links Hotdog Restaurant Papered Up

It appears S'Links Gourmet Hotdogs, at Myrtle and Olive, is closed. (No! See update.) The windows are all papered up. Too bad. I liked their hotdogs. But, just a few doors up Myrtle, Izakaya Uppo, a ramen and yakitori restaurant, is now open. Thanks to Doran for the tip.

UPDATE: No, S'Links is not closing, just moving. Hooray! According to the Chamber of Commerce, the owners are putting a new restaurant in this location and moving S'Links elsewhere. Thanks to Keith Johnson for the tip.

-Brad Haugaard

Possible Shortage of Train Cars for Expanded Gold Line

Nice track you got there, Gold Line, but where are the trains? http://goo.gl/l0MNPL

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Fake Money; Stealing Cement; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 13-16. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events. 

Possession of Fictitious U.S. Currency / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
March 13 at 8:39 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of North Grand on the report of a suspicious white truck that had been driving up and down the street and was now stopped in the neighborhood. Officers arrived and saw three occupants in the truck, the driver walked out from a rear yard. The driver said he was in the area to purchase an engine from a friend that lived in the back house. A female passenger denied having any identification, but a consent search of the vehicle revealed her wallet containing $1,300.00 in fictitious U.S. currency. She also possessed a methamphetamine pipe. She was arrested and taken into custody. The Secret Service was contacted regarding the fictitious bills. The other occupants of the vehicle were released. 

Grand Theft Auto
March 14 at 7:42 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1900 block of South Peck Road. The vehicle is a four-door, white, 1994 Honda Accord and was stolen sometime overnight. The investigation is continuing. 

Recovered Stolen Vehicle
March 14 at 1:27 p.m., parking control ran the license plate on a vehicle parked in the 400 block of Lemon. It returned stolen out of Covina. The vehicle is a four-door, tan, 1994 Honda Accord. The investigation is continuing. 

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
March 14 at 5:38 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 600 block of East Walnut regarding a male subject who was acting erratic. Officers arrived and located the subject in an alley by Shamrock. Their investigation revealed the subject was in possession of methamphetamine and a methamphetamine pipe. He was arrested and taken into custody. Ex-Felon with a Gun / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested March 14 at 10:47 p.m., dispatch received a 9-1-1 hang-up call from a residence in the 100 block of North May, with a possible dispute heard in the background. Officers arrived at the location and could hear a male and female arguing inside. When contacted, both subjects admitted to using cocaine and consented to a search of the residence. During the search, a stolen shotgun and methamphetamine was found. The male subject was determined to be an ex-felon. Both subjects were arrested. 

Foot Pursuit / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Burglary Tools – Suspect Arrested
March 15 at 10:25 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Bradbury and Orange saw a male subject on a bicycle with a satchel over his shoulder. The subject was acting suspicious, looking at every residence as he passed. The officer attempted to contact the subject, and as he pulled up behind the bicyclist and turned on his emergency lights, the subject quickly rode away. The subject dropped his bike and the satchel, and then jumped a fence. The officer ran after the subject and was able to detain him. The subject was found to have methamphetamine, along with burglary tools in the satchel. The suspect was arrested. He also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. 

Commercial Burglary – Suspects Arrested
March 15 at 2:45 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding three shoplifting suspects in custody, one male adult and two female juveniles. The three suspects walked into the store and began selecting merchandise. They went to the women’s department, where they concealed the merchandise in a blue leather purse one of the female suspects was carrying. After all the merchandise was in the purse, the females exited the store without paying for the merchandise. All three suspects were detained by loss prevention outside the store. Officers responded to the location and arrested the three suspects. 

Driving Under the Influence / Drunk in Public – Suspects Arrested
March 16 at 2:30 a.m., an officer stopped a driver in the area of Evergreen and Myrtle. After investigation, the female driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested. The female passenger was also intoxicated and was arrested for being drunk in public. 

Residential Burglary
March 16 at 6:39 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 800 block of West Duarte Road. The neighbors called the victim because they noticed the doors at his residence were unsecured. The owner is in the process of fixing up the residence prior to moving in and the residence is vacant. It appears the suspects broke one of the garage door windows and unlatched the garage door. The suspect(s) then made entry into the residence and took tools and remodeling fixtures. The investigation is continuing. 

Petty Theft From a Vehicle – Suspect Arrested
March 16 at 9:25 p.m., an officer responded to a petty theft from a vehicle at a parking lot in the 1600 block of South Mountain. A male suspect was seen removing items from the bed of a truck in the parking lot. The suspect took bags of cement and power tools. The suspect then fled in a black Chevy Camaro. At 5:10 a.m., an officer from the Arcadia Police Department stopped the vehicle and arrested the suspect for possession of stolen property.

Monrovian Connor Sams Signs Letter of Intent for Northwestern

Connor Sams of Monrovia, has signed a letter of intent to continue his soccer career at Northwestern (Iowa) beginning in the fall of 2014.

Sams, the son of Todd and Maureen, is a 5-11 defender/midfielder from Monrovia High School in California. He has earned four letters and was a part of a 18-4-5 Monrovia team that won their league championship last season. Sams finished with six assists and was named a First Team All-Rio Hondo League as a junior and was an Honorable Mention as a sophomore.

A scholar-athlete all four years at Monrovia, Sams has also been named to the National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, and is a member of the California Scholarship Federation. Sams plans to major in Public Relations/Sports Management while at Northwestern.

"Connor is a smart and tough defender who can play centrally or on the outside," said head coach Dan Swier. "He has a strong soccer pedigree and will help us as we look for players who can replace the likes of Matt Dowie and Justin Lehman. Connor is a great addition to our program and our school."

Northwestern College is a NAIA school located in Orange City, Iowa.

Source: Press release

- Brad Haugaard

Small Earthquake Felt in Monrovia

If you felt your house jiggle this morning, that was a 4.4 quake. (I didn't even wake up but my wife felt it and several people on Twitter confirmed feeling it.) http://goo.gl/GX56NU

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Gets an 'A-' for Historic Preservation

Los Angeles Conservancy gives Monrovia an "A-" grade for historic preservation. http://goo.gl/1lQbkt

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Deer Herd

I saw this herd of deer in North Monrovia today, on Canyon Boulevard. I think there were eight.

-Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Healing Connections Promoting Suicide Prevention

March4Balance task force members hand out materials on suicide awareness.

Monrovia Healing Connections, a task force of community members, city officials, students and Monrovia Unified School District staff, is presenting March4Balance, a series of community outreach and educational events to raise awareness of suicide prevention and related mental health issues.

Through March 23, task force members are visiting service clubs, teen commissions, churches, and other community-based gatherings to give a short presentation on suicide awareness, talk about what is being done in Monrovia to aid and support those dealing with emotional and psychological issues, and provide a brochure listing tools and resources

"Over the past four years, we have lost five Monrovians under the age of 24 to suicide, " says Ulises Gutierrez, March4Balance campaign coordinator. "We can't all be mental health professionals, but all of us should learn how to respond when someone needs help. Our goal is to get all community members trained on how to recognize and respond to people who are suffering and in danger of harming themselves."

The campaign will end on Tuesday, March 25, with a 5:30 p.m. with a community rally in Monrovia Library Park. We invite our local community to join us. To join the effort or book a presentation, contact Gutierrez, ugutierrez1@yahoo.com.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Boys & Girls Clubs Gets Donation from Toyota

Gary Botka (Toyota Financial Services- Auction Remarketing Manager); Tanisha Thompson (TFS Community Ambassador); Emily Samayoa; Boys & Girls Club members.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Foothills has received a $12,857 donation from Toyota Financial Services (TFS), in partnership with four auto remarketing firms, ADESA, Manheim, DAA Northwest, and Norwalk Auto Auctions. This is part of a larger contribution of $500,000 from TFS to Boys & Girls Clubs of America that will be divided equally among 35 clubs across the country running the Diplomas to Degrees (D2D) college readiness program.

Launched in 2012, D2D provides tools, resources, and training for thousands of teens to help transition from high school to college.

“Our partnership with Toyota allows us to continue combatting the high school dropout crisis and prepare our teens for successful futures in college,” said Executive Director, John Wilson. He added that Toyota employees also volunteer as mentors and help with fundraising.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Café X2O

Lunch at Café X2O. What does X2O mean? Two kisses and a hug. This is the former Mediterranean Grill on Foothill, and it is still Mediterranean food but the decor is more hip. Got the chicken kebab ($10) and a beer ($5). Plus tax and tip.  Food was tasty and very pleasant sitting on the semi-outdoor patio on a nice day. 

- Brad Haugaard

Get Trained for an Emergency | Tzu Chi Anniversary

~ If you would like to be trained in emergency response, the City of Monrovia suggesting this program, put on by LA County Fire Department, tomorrow in La Canada. Details: http://goo.gl/14Utf6

~ Tzu Chi Academy of Los Angeles will hold a 20th anniversary celebration carnival on March 16, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Monrovia's Clifton Middle School. http://goo.gl/Rs99st

- Brad Haugaard

Opera of Zombies, Sorcery and Enchantment at Monrovia's St. Luke Church

The LA-area group, Opera Animata, will present its inaugural performance of an extra-creepy version of Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas on Saturday, March 22, 8 p.m., at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Ave., in Monrovia. Free, but a $10 donation is suggested. A reception will follow the performance.

The 1688 Baroque Dido and Aeneas, Purcell's first opera and one of his foremost theatrical works, has always had a hefty helping of sorcery, elves and enchantment. But fearing it might be too mild for modern-day audiences, Opera Animata has added zombies.

The roles of Dido and Aeneas will be sung by Trisha Rivera and Joel Castro. Production director Jenny Ohrstrom will portray Belinda. Other singers include Alyssa Brode, Sarah Reynolds, Kari Burgess, Jennifer White and Steve Nolen. MacKenzie Reed is keyboardist, and LeVanna Atkinson-Williams is Stage Manager.

Source: Press release

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Bear Video

Another Monrovia bear video. This one in a trashcan. http://goo.gl/8WLKkG

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Planning Commission Okays Vehicle Storage Lot for South End of Town

The Monrovia City Planning Commission has approved the use of a property at 3331 Peck Road, at the very south tip of Monrovia, for vehicle storage for "Jorge's Get Around Transport," a private transportation service. http://goo.gl/V5XfrU

- Brad Haugaard