Monrovia Assemblymember's Grease Bill Approved by Committee

A bill by Monrovia's Assemblymember, Chris Holden, to combat the growing number of kitchen grease thefts, was overwhelmingly approved today in Assembly Transportation Committee.

AB 1566 beefs up requirements for licensed haulers, increasing the penalties for stealing grease and allowing law enforcement to impound vehicles for up to 15 days.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, a typical fast-food restaurant produces 150-250 pounds of grease a week and a fully loaded pumper truck could bring in as much as $900 at a recycling center.

AB 1566 now goes to Assembly Agriculture for consideration.

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Easter Egg Hunt and Kids Health Event | Looking for Seniors to Honor

~ Monrovia is sponsoring an Easter egg hunt and healthy kids event on Saturday, April 19, at 10 a.m. at Recreation Park ( http://goo.gl/RbzxA5 ). Registration for all egg hunts will begin at 9:45 a.m. Activities include: arts and crafts, face painting, carnival games, refreshment area, wellness activities, demonstrations, toddler activities, teen activities, musical entertainment and a visit from the "Spring Bunny" (aka Easter Bunny). For additional information, contact the Department of Community Services at 256-8246. Source: press release

~ Monrovia is still looking for nominees for its Older American of the Year Award. Details: http://goo.gl/67Lj8e

- Brad Haugaard

Location of Blaze Pizza

Here is where the Blaze Pizza will be located in Monrovia. In the Pavilions shopping center next to Baskin-Robbins. 

- Brad Haugaard

Why Monrovia is Scraggly on the Bottom | Yoga Class

~ Why is the Monrovia border scraggly on the bottom (see here: http://goo.gl/0DRwYA )? Well, it all has to do with finding children for its first school. Fun details: http://goo.gl/wtKn6v

~ Yoga teacher Betsy Laban is teaching a new gentle yoga class at 10:30 a.m. Fridays in Swan Hall at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at California and Foothill. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. Drop-ins are welcome. Signup and fee information: http://goo.gl/w1YgJW

- Brad Haugaard

Blaze Pizza Coming to Monrovia | San Marino Over Monrovia :-(

~ A new build-your-own pizza place called Blaze Pizza coming to Monrovia. It'll be at 108 W Foothill, which I believe is in the Pavilions shopping center at Foothill and Myrtle. More about this, and Flamzz Pizza, here: http://goo.gl/KMIeeI

~ San Marino 3-2 over Monrovia in baseball. http://goo.gl/ikN7oU

- Brad Haugaard

Bella Sera Being Remodeled

Monrovia's Bella Sera restaurant is being remodeled. It's on Myrtle just south of the Krikorian Theater.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board: Salary Increase for Employees; Fixing the Grass; Ballot Initiative

At its March 26 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/ViSKvb ), the Monrovia School Board will ...

- Release its tentative agreement with its various labor groups, which is to give them a 1.8 percent salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2013. http://goo.gl/O1wosy

- Consider renovating the fields at Clifton and Santa Fe middle schools. New grass will cost $350,000 to $400,000, plus incidental costs. http://goo.gl/vx7FF2 Comment: Yikes! That's a lot of money for grass.

- Discuss a proposed ballot initiative that would prevent the state from redirecting or reducing local property tax revenue away from public schools. http://goo.gl/faJQ9h

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Izakaya Uppo

Lunch at Izakaya Uppo, a new Japanese restaurant about three doors up from Olive on the east side of Myrtle. Got the Uppo  Signature Ramen for $7.95 and an iced tea for $2.50. Plus tax and tip. That's a pork cutlet in the picture, by the way. It came with a little garden salad. Very nice for a cool day. 

- Brad Haugaard

Salsas Taqueria Replaces S'Links

The former S'Links Gourmet Hot Dogs, at the corner of Myrtle and Olive, is now Salsas Taqueria, and it's open. S'Links is moving, but I know not where. 

-Brad Haugaard

Fundraiser to Replace Equipment from Monrovia's Centre Stage | Bear Video

~ "The Lights of Broadway", a musical fundraiser to replace equipment stolen from Monrovia's Centre Stage, 7 p.m. tonight at Arcadia Christian Church, 1900 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia. For information call Keely Milliken at 297-4758.

~ Another bear video. This one looks as if it was filmed on Hillcrest. http://goo.gl/oEnYsg

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Radio Shack Robbery | Baseball Loss to Rosemead :-(

~ Monrovia Radio Shack robbed. http://goo.gl/fmuUAB

~ Rosemead 4-2 over Monrovia in baseball. http://goo.gl/UBzJBW

- Brad Haugaard

Yappy Hour for Monrovia Dogs

Yappy Hour for dogs at The Dog Zone, 150 W Foothill (next to Pavilions) 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 21. Bring your social pup(s) for fun and snacks! Meet The Dog Zone crew, Two Dogs Petsitting, Beans The Whippet, Romping Dogs Dog Training, Pawmazing Pets Photography, get info on Bark For Life of Monrovia, etc.

- Brad Haugaard

Planned Apartments at Monrovia Train Station | Peach Cafe to Open for Dinners

~ Local developer Samuelson Fetter is proposing a five-story, 261-unit apartment building that will be right next to the Monrovia Gold Line station. Monrovia city staff held a preliminary review of the plan to give suggestions to the developer. http://goo.gl/VV5hnz (Photo from City of Monrovia)

~ With more nightlife, Peach Café (141 East Colorado) will begin opening for dinner. For the past eight years it has been open only for breakfast and lunch. http://goo.gl/VV5hnz

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council to Meet About Appointment of a New City Manager

The Monrovia City Council will hold a closed session meeting March 24 at 5 p.m. regarding the appointment of a city manager. http://goo.gl/uBjbn6

- Brad Haugaard

Support Monrovia Boy Facing Chemotherapy

Scott Stokes posts on Facebook about Joncee Troy Lenker, a seven-year-old Monrovia boy who will have to undergo chemotherapy following cancer surgery to remove an eye ( http://goo.gl/oRVFL4 ). Stokes writes: "If you can afford it, please purchase a fundraising shirt to show your support for this amazing kid and his family." Here is the link to purchase a t-shirt: http://goo.gl/r7pwPc

- Brad Haugaard