Monrovia City Manager: Detective Stories; Tax Meeting; Hairspray Auditions

In his weekly update ( http://goo.gl/vE48Sa ), City Manager Oliver Chi tells three detective stories. In one case Monrovia detectives tracked down a "storage locker ... filled from floor to ceiling with miscellaneous tools." In another case, Detective Oberon helped identify a suspect who had intimidated elderly victims into paying him for car repairs they never wanted. In the third case Detective Chad Harvey brought enough information to the district attorney's office to file charges in a $950,000 embezzlement case.

- There will be another public meeting tonight (Sept. 29) about the proposed water and sewer tax increase. 7-8:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (415 S. Ivy Avenue).

- Auditions Oct. 12 and 13 for Hairspray, to be performed at the he Taylor Performing Arts Center on Dec. 4, at 8:00 p.m., Dec. 5, at p.m. and 8 p.m., and on Dec. 6. at 4. p.m. For audition information, email Julia Clegg at jclegg@monroviaschools.net

- Brad Haugaard

Rain On Sunday for Monrovia?

Sixty percent chance of morning showers this Sunday, Oct. 4. http://goo.gl/VnR5SB

- Brad Haugaard

Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler Filming in Monrovia Next Week

Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler will be in Monrovia Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 5, 6, 7) filming a new feature film called "The House." They play a couple that lost their daughters college fund and open an illegal casino in the basement to try and get the money back. They will film at two private residence locations and six locations in Old Town. There will be intermittent traffic control on Colorado Blvd in front of the Peach Cafe on Monday only, and on the 400 and 500 blocks of Myrtle on all three days. Source: Diane Delmatoff, City of Monrovia

Update from Diane Delmatoff:

Monday – Peach Cafe 141 E. Colorado

Tuesday – 500 block of Myrtle 

Wednesday – 400 block of Myrtle

- Brad Haugaard

Ancient Whale Coming to Monrovia

The nearly intact fossilized remains of an ancient whale discovered at a construction site in Santa Cruz are coming to Monrovia, to Paleo Solutions. Source: Tom Adams. http://goo.gl/zUTBtU

- Brad Haugaard

Blood Moon Rising - Tonight

Beginning at 7:11 tonight Monrovians (and lots of others) will be able to see a rare astronomical sight, a super blood moon eclipse. This involves a super moon (when the moon is closest to earth it appears larger) and a total eclipse in which the moon will appear a rusty red (because of sunlight filtering through our atmosphere and reflecting off the moon). It is also the final in a "tetrad," series of four eclipses occurring at six-month intervals. I believe this will begin just as the moon is rising tonight. http://goo.gl/OhWTtA

- Brad Haugaard

Celebrate the Arts at Library Park

A very nice art show in Monrovia's Library Park today. I really like the chalk art. Also, I won a book from the Coffee House Writers Group because I knew the answer to a deep literary question: What was the name of Dick and Jane's dog? (If nobody knows the answer I'll post it soon. )

Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Mayflower School Community Installs Newly Won Playground Equipment

The Mayflower Elementary School community got together today to install $20,000 worth of playground equipment that the school won in a Dr Pepper Snapple KaBoom contest.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Cooling Center Open This Weekend

The City cooling center (aka Monrovia Community Center, 119 West Palm Avenue) is open today and tomorrow if you need to escape the heat: Saturday, Sept. 26: 7am - 7pm Sunday, Sept. 27: 7am - 7pm.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment to Buy Back Some of Its Stock

Monrovia's drone-maker, AeroVironment, has announced that it plans to buy back 23.5 million shares in common stock because the company believes it is undervalued. http://goo.gl/VYbAVD

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus Creates Institute to Help Students Graduate

This fall Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, will inaugurate the Institute For Completion "to increase the number of students who complete their educational goals." The college is soliciting funds for the institute, which will need "sustainable ongoing funding," and has appointed Dr. Kathryn Jameson-Meledy to head it up. The institute will focus on four tasks: "Innovative Strategies, Professional Development, Resource Development, and Research." Source: Citrus press release.

- Brad Haugaard

High Speed Rail Tunnel Through San Gabriel Mountains Being Considered

The state's High Speed Rail Authority is apparently considering a rail tunnel through the San Gabriel Mountains.

Anyway, the Authority is considering several alternative routes through the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and wants to do some boring to evaluate the feasibility.

So, the US Forest Service is asking for the public's comments on the matter. If you have thoughts, they may be sent by mail or e-mail to: Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, Attn. George Farra, 701 N. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006 or e-mail to gfarra@fs.fed.us Subject: HSRA GI. But get your comments in by October 23 of this year.

Source: http://goo.gl/KmvRcH

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Hon Sushi

Dinner last night at Hon Sushi, in the Pavilions shopping center at Foothill and Myrtle. I got the Las Vegas Roll ($9.99) and a beer ($4.95, happy hour price). I'm thinking maybe the roll was not entirely traditional Japanese, but it was very tasty! Service quick and friendly. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia High Lady Cats Basketball Clinic

Monrovia High Lady Cats will host a basketball clinic for students in third to eighth grade on Oct. 3 from 9:15-11 a.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. $10 fee. Contact Coach Wil White at hicoach41@gmail.com or at 500-3369.

Citrus Administrator Named 'Sustainability Champion'

Fred Diamond, director of facilities and construction at Citrus College, was recently presented with the California Community Colleges Board of Governors' 2015 Sustainability Champion award. Diamond was named because he has led Citrus College's sustainability efforts, and has also served as an advisor and mentor to other districts throughout the community college system. Citrus College serves Monrovia.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Stolen Vacuum, Water Heater, And Door Panel; LoJack Vehicle Recovery

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 21-23. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 441 service events, resulting in 77 investigations.

Grand Theft
September 21 at 6:08 a.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 700 block of East Cypress. The reporting party arrived at work in the morning and discovered all of the batteries to the business semi-trucks had been stolen. A total of 22 batteries were taken in the theft. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
September 21 at 1:03 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 700 block of South Myrtle on the report of a vehicle burglary. The victim parked his vehicle in the parking structure while visiting his brother. When he returned to his vehicle, he found a window was smashed and a vacuum that was in the vehicle had been stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
September 21 at 4:07 p.m., dispatch was contacted by LoJack and advised they were tracking a recovery signal from a stolen vehicle to the area of Evergreen and Myrtle. Officers responded and located the stolen vehicle, which was unoccupied. The vehicle had been stolen out of Pasadena several hours earlier. The vehicle was stored for Pasadena Police Department processing or for the victim to recover. No suspects were located.

Residential Burglary
September 22 at 8:49 a.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of North Encinitas Avenue. The residence is under construction and unoccupied. Unknown suspects broke into the location sometime in the afternoon on September 20. A white utility truck was seen in the driveway. The suspects stole a new hot water heater that was being installed. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
September 24 at 1:38 a.m., an officer responded to the 100 block of East Huntington Drive regarding a vehicle burglary. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s vehicle by smashing the driver’s window. The suspect(s) then removed the interior door panel and fled the area. The victim’s vehicle is a silver 2001, Toyota Highlander, Other valuables in the vehicle were not disturbed. The investigation is continuing.