The city wants your thoughts on a proposal for the city to sign on with a green energy program. The program is described here: t.ly/Y7IB
To give your thoughts on the program, click here, t.ly/Y7IB, and scroll down.
- Brad Haugaard
Dinner at Knight Cap Cantina
Dinner at the new Knight Cap Cantina, a Mexican style restaurant that has replaced Ikonicks, on the east side of Myrtle just south of Lime. Simple menu. I got the “Burrito” with pork for $14 and a beer at the happy hour price of $5. Very nice.
- Brad Haugaard
Hart House - Veggie Based Restaurant - Will Open in November
In early November a new restaurant called Hart House will open at 602 W Huntington Drive, in the same building as Panera Bread.
The restaurant, founded by comedian, actor and entrepreneur, Kevin Hart, will feature "plant-based burg'rs, chick'n sandwiches, salads, nuggets, fries, tots and milkshakes." The company's press release says that, "All ingredients are 100% plant-based and are free of cholesterol, antibiotics, hormones, artificial colors, preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or trans fats."
This will be the second Hart House. The first location is in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles.
- Brad Haugaard
Blessing of the Animals at St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Attendees are also invited to bring new stuffed animals to donate to the Martin Luther King Jr. Pediatric Hub, which provides medical and mental health care to children exposed to domestic and sexual violence. Parish member Dr. Janet Arnold-Clark is the Director of this LA County center. These gifts will be blessed during the service and given to comfort children receiving care at the Hub.
- Brad Haugaard
City Responds to Youth Problems at Vons Center
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting City Manager Dylan Feik said that the city is responding to bad behavior by minors at the Vons shopping center on Friday nights. Feik said some youths have been skateboarding through Vons, stealing alcohol, and shoving employees. He said the city has assigned more police to patrol the area, and is meeting with Vons administrators and plans to meet with the shopping center owner.
- Brad Haugaard
Handsome Bruno Will Turn Heads
We really need to talk about Bruno. He is an astonishingly handsome Chow/Akita mix who will surely turn heads wherever he goes. He’s about 10 months old and full of fun!
Bruno was brought to the shelter because his family didn’t have time for him. Raising a large puppy can be quite difficult, but we’ve seen plenty of indications that Bruno is treat-motivated and has the ability to learn quickly. This guy will be so much fun to take hiking, camping or on any other adventure!
The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.
View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovian Sentenced to Prison for Helping Wealthy Chinese Fraudulently Gain Admission to U.S.
Yi Chen, a.k.a. “Brian Chen,” 35, of Monrovia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who also ordered him to pay a criminal fine of $400,000 and to forfeit $50,000 of his ill-gotten gains.
After a six-day bench trial that concluded on March 21, Judge Scarsi found Chen guilty of one count of visa fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Chen was acquitted of one count of conspiracy to commit immigration document fraud and 10 counts of visa fraud.
From June 2015 to February 2021, Chen was the CEO and owner of two “educational consulting” companies in Alhambra and Arcadia – Prime U.S. International and MS Education. These companies charged foreign students thousands of dollars for “guaranteed” admission to a college that would lead to the issuance of an F-1 student visa.
To secure admission to a school, the companies prepared application packages that used bogus or altered transcripts, and they hired people to impersonate the prospective student to take standardized tests, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Chen submitted applications containing these fraudulent supporting materials on behalf of at least one foreign national, which helped the student obtain admission to New York University.
Once a foreign student was admitted to a college, the school issued a “Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status – For Academic and Language Students,” which provided the basis for a student visa application or extension of permission to remain in the United States.
“Under the guise of operating an ‘educational consulting’ company, [Chen] made millions of dollars by faking every aspect of the college admissions process,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.
Chen, who has been in federal custody since March 2021, received the lion’s share of the profits from the visa fraud scheme. He also controlled seven bank accounts that received more than $15 million in deposits between 2016 and 2020.
Chen and co-defendant Yixin Li, a.k.a. “Eason Li” and “Calvin Wong,” 29, of San Gabriel, are linked to a group of imposter test-takers who were the subject of an earlier indictment that outlined how they used fake Chinese passports to take TOEFL exams on behalf of foreigners seeking college admissions and student visas. All six defendants in that earlier case pleaded guilty and were sentenced to probation. Li was sentenced on February 22 to time served.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service investigated this matter. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fraud Detection and National Security Section, provided substantial assistance. The Educational Testing Service, which administers the TOEFL exam, provided assistance during the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Julia Hu of the Major Frauds Section and Maria Jhai of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Source: Department of Justice press release
- Brad Haugaard
A Moment in Monrovia History: E. F. Spence, One of Monrovia's Founders
E.F. Spence, one of the founders of the City of Monrovia. He, along with J.D. Bicknell and J.F. Crank purchased land from E.J. Baldwin and with W.N. Monroe, founded the original townsite of Monrovia on their land. He was also an organizer of the Granite Bank and of the San Gabriel Valley Rapid Transit Railroad. He and Bicknell created a $10,048 fund to build the first school by donating profits from the sale of their lots to the school fund. In 1890 they opened a "Ladies College" at The Oaks and funded its first year of operation. He lived in Monrovia from 1887-1892. The photo has his signature, "Yours Fraternally, E.F. Spence.". From the Myron Hotchkiss collection. See full details here.
For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.
- Brad Haugaard
Free Low-Water Gardening Webinars for October
Organic Weed and Pest Management, Thursday, Oct. 13, 6 to 7 p.m. Register: t.ly/HQn-
Vegetable Gardening All Year Round, hursday, Oct. 20, 6 to 7 p.m. Register: t.ly/zmlb
- Brad Haugaard
Council to Discuss Signing Up for Green Energy Option
At its next meeting (agenda: t.ly/_tlc) the Monrovia City Council will ...
~ Discuss joining 32 other cities in the Clean Power Alliance joint powers authority, which would give the city access to green, or "green-er" electricity starting in 2024. If the city joins, it would choose a default green level: 100% renewable (such as wind, solar, geothermal), 50% green, or 40% green. However, individual customers could switch to one of the other two levels, or opt-out entirely and return to SCE electricity. For each $100 of electricity at current rates, 100% green electricity would cost an extra $3 and 50% green would cost an extra $1. t.ly/EB_2
~ Consider appointing Susie Ling to fill the unexpired Monrovia Library Board term ending June 30, 2023. The position became vacant when board member Janet Wall resigned to become city treasurer. t.ly/G3Il
~ Consider proclaiming Oct. 10-16, as Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week. t.ly/1QFG
~ Consider proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. t.ly/B2NF
~ Consider proclaiming October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. t.ly/kWwO
~ Hold a study session at 6 p.m.: "Debt Report / Review of the City's Debt and Credit Rating." t.ly/I2e5
- Brad Haugaard
What's Playing at Art in the Park Show Saturday
The Blenderz will begin the afternoon with a playlist of nostalgic tunes, and then Cover Story will take over from 2 to 4 p.m. Capping the afternoon will be a live stage performance at 4:15 by more than 60 young people from Centre Stage. They will preview their upcoming presentation of the musical "Matilda," based on the popular children's book by Roald Dahl.
- Brad Haugaard
Fall Youth Sports Starts Oct. 10; Next Neighborhood Treasure is Founder of Foothill Unity Center
~ Monrovia's Fall After School Youth Sports Program for fourth and fifth graders will begin October 10 and last until December 22. There will be a parents' meeting October 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the YMCA Activity Building (555 Mountain Avenue - between YMCA & Mary Wilcox Youth Center) for information about the program and to meet the program staff. Details: t.ly/_WHq
~ The next Neighborhood Treasure will be in honor of Josephine Anderson, founder of the Foothill Unity Center. The celebration will be at the Foothill Unity Center (790 W. Chestnut Ave.) on Saturday, October 15, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The art Unveiling will be followed by free food, games, and music. For questions email map@ci.monrovia.ca.us or call 932-5563. To register to attend: t.ly/XJrFA
- Brad Haugaard
Fire Safety Presentation at Next MAP Virtual Community Meeting
- Brad Haugaard
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