Girls Basketball / Clothing Store Robbed

~ Girls Basketball: Monrovia 57, South Pasadena 37 :-) The only undefeated team in Rio Hondo League. http://goo.gl/dJIJz and http://goo.gl/DnYRI

 

~ Monrovia's Avenue clothing store robbed. http://goo.gl/ST4BG

 

- Brad Haugaard

Upcoming Monrovia School Board Meeting

At its 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 meeting, the Monrovia Board of Education will ... 

~ Consider various rules for student transfers within the district, and to and from other districts. http://goo.gl/RKHUf

~ Take a look at a list of projects the district has been working on, and is thinking of working on. Here's the list: http://goo.gl/M7uEA

And here's the full school board agenda: http://goo.gl/NaNi3

- Brad Haugaard

Martin Luther King Stories / Gold Line

~ On Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. there will be Martin Luther King, Jr. stories, honoring his dream through story and song. http://goo.gl/AhyC6

 

~ The Metro Gold Line folks completed a series of public meetings last night, the first step in clearing the Azusa to Montclair stretch of the rail line under environmental regulations. Press release here: http://goo.gl/0mmEZ

- Brad Haugaard

Le'au / Water Polo / Smoking / Mr. History / Loaves of Love

~ Monrovian Tirah Le'au in volleyball all-star game. http://goo.gl/LPMPI

 

~ Girls Water Polo. South Pas 19, Monrovia 5. http://goo.gl/AOzo4

 

~ American Lung Association doesn't think much of Monrovia's (and other local cities') anti-smoking bans. http://goo.gl/DVmOX

 

~ Steve Baker, Mr. Monrovia History - http://goo.gl/aDFTV

 

~ Loaves of Love - Help the Volunteer Center of San Gabriel Valley put together decorated bread baskets for needy families and Foothill Unity Center. Details here: http://goo.gl/27lfE

 

- Brad Haugaard

Street Walking in Monrovia

A while ago I posted a rant ( http://goo.gl/KOw9t ) called "Are the Sidewalks Broken?" about people walking along the middle of the car lanes in Monrovia right next to perfectly good sidewalks. Now I read that the Governors Highway Safety Association says that "pedestrian fatalities increased during the first six months of 2010." http://goo.gl/vFdyl

 

Well, surprise, surprise.

 

I can't prove there is a connection between accidents and people wearing dark clothing and walking along the middle of the car lanes in the dark, but I kinda sorta think it's a reasonable assumption, and as I said before, if the police want to hand out tickets, I'll cheer. I'd rather people get tickets than hospital bills. 

 

- Brad Haugaard

Domestic Violence, Firearms, Injury, Burglary ...

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Jan. 13-19. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 453 service events, resulting in 109 investigations.  Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

 

Domestic Violence

January 13 at 12:28 p.m., a resident in the 900 block of West Olive reported her neighbors were fighting and that the male subject had a knife.  Officers arrived and summoned paramedics, as both the male and female had injuries.  They were taken to separate hospitals; their injuries were not life threatening.  An Emergency Protection Order was obtained on the female's behalf.  Due to their injuries, neither party was arrested.  The investigation will be completed and forwarded to the District Attorney's office.

 

Ex-Felon in Possession of a Loaded Firearm / Ex-Felon in Possession of Ammunition - Suspect Arrested

January 13 at 9:41 p.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Magnolia and Central when she observed a Lexus with tinted windows that rolled through a stop sign.  She attempted a traffic stop.  The driver did not yield immediately, but eventually stopped at Alta Vista and Montana.  Upon approaching, the officer observed a rifle in the vehicle and ordered the driver to put his hands on the steering wheel.  She requested additional officers.  Assisting officers arrived and were able to safely remove the driver and detain him.  The weapon had one round of unexpended ammunition in the chamber and a magazine with three additional rounds was found next to the driver seat.  The driver is a convicted felon.  He was arrested and booked for several felony charges.

 

Injury Traffic Collision

On January 17 at 5:08 p.m., a 13 year old bicyclist was hit in the crosswalk at Mountain and Wildrose.  The bicyclist was thrown from his bicycle and paramedics were requested.  The 13 year old said he was a little sore, but did not want to be taken to a hospital by ambulance.  His parents said they would take him later if there was a need.  A traffic accident investigation was conducted.

 

Possession of Burglary Tools - Suspect Arrested

January 18 at 3:29 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Pomona and California and observed a suspicious subject who is known for burglary and is on parole.  The officer contacted and searched the individual and found he was in possession of lock picks and slugs in the size and shape of a U.S. dollar coin.  The suspect was arrested.

 

Commercial Burglary

January 19 at 3:07 a.m., an employee of a hotel in the 900 block of South Fifth reported a burglary committed by a male suspect seen on video entering the rear of the hotel through an unlocked door.  The suspect approached the front counter while the clerk was away, forced open the cash register, and removed an unknown amount of cash.  Once a copy of the video is available, it will be provided to police.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Residential Hot Prowl Burglary

January 19 at 4:43 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of East Duarte was preparing to go to work when she discovered her purse was missing.  Upon further investigation, she discovered her kitchen window screen had been removed.  Apparently, someone opened the unlocked kitchen window, removed the victim's keys from the kitchen counter, and unlocked the door.  Once inside, the suspect took the victim's purse.  The investigation is continuing.

Old Town Valentine / Fiberglas Bears

~ Win an Old Town Monrovia Valentine's Day Weekend! A 40-inch teddy bear; a dozen red roses; breakfast, lunch or dinner at your favorite Old Town Monrovia restaurant. Details here: http://goo.gl/66G0R

 

~ The artist-decorated 3- to 4-foot-tall Fiberglas bears we mentioned earlier ( http://goo.gl/A3PeI ) have been announced by city officials. They'll be sprinkled around town. http://goo.gl/oy4jm

 

- Brad Haugaard 

Elections / Girls & Boys Club / Boys Soccer :-(

~ City Elections. A few challengers but Mayor Lutz will run unopposed. http://goo.gl/P5lAe

~ There will be a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club on Feb. 5, 5:30 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel, 924 W. Huntington Drive in Monrovia - http://goo.gl/PXHjE

~ Boys Soccer - La Canada 2, Monrovia 1 :-(  http://goo.gl/ON6UO

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Approved for Metro Maintenance Yard

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority Board of Directors yesterday certified a supplemental environmental impact report (EIR) approving a 25-acre maintenance and operations facility in Monrovia, new parking locations at the Monrovia and Irwindale stations, reconfiguration of the intersection of Mountain Avenue and Duarte Road and replacement of two bridges.

 

The plan is for the maintenance and operations facility to be located in Monrovia between Evergreen Avenue on the north, Shamrock Avenue on the east, California Avenue on the west and Duarte Road on the south.

 

Habib F. Balian, CEO of the Construction Authority, said that approval of the supplemental EIR "is an important step in our process to ready the Foothill Extension Pasadena to Azusa for final design and construction."

 

The extension from Pasadena to Azusa, which includes adding six new stations, should be finished by late 2014.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Historic Frame

You may recall the Monrovia Historic Preservation Commission discussing the house at 270 N. Myrtle? Well, here it is now. I guess the frame and foundation are what's being saved.

Here's the house earlier: http://goo.gl/jOz1T
- Brad Haugaard

Donate Week / Water Polo

~ January 17-23 is Donate Week in Monrovia's green month. Give stuff you don't need anymore to a charity, get rid of hazardous waste and old electronics.

The Salvation Army will come get your old clothing and furniture for free. Call 1-800-SA-TRUCK 1 (800) 728-7825 to schedule a pick-up. Also, this Saturday (Jan. 22) there will be a Salvation Army collection event at the Park & Ride lot at the southwest corner of Myrtle and Pomona avenues. Stop by and drop-off stuff.

Also, you can get rid of old paint, bug spray, batteries and old electronics (television sets, VCRs, cell phones) by contacting VM Curbside, LLC for free pick-up. Call 1-800-449-7597 to schedule.

~ Girls Water Polo: Monrovia 6, Temple City 8 :-( http://goo.gl/Lfw4N

- Brad Haugaard

Doggy Restrooms

Just across from the restrooms in Monrovia Canyon Park we find that the dogs have not been forgotten. Zoom in if you can't see the detail.

- Brad Haugaard

State of Monrovia Speech / Resurfacing of Huntington

A couple stray items from City Manager Scott Ochoa's weekly report:

 

~ Tickets are gone for the State of the City address by Mayor Mary Ann Lutz at the Krikorian Premiere Theater on Monday, January 24, but you can watch it on KGEM. http://www.kgem.com

 

~ West Huntington Drive will be a big, fat mess for a few months starting in March as the street is refurbished. The street will be ground down to be resurfaced and some concrete panels will be removed or replaced.

 

Source: http://goo.gl/EXHaA

 

- Brad Haugaard

Making New Land in Monrovia

Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa reports that in February the city council will consider a plan to put a cover over the wash at Huntington and Fifth. Bingo! New property that can be used for new businesses. Bottom line: more sales and property tax for the city and school district. [Didn't Mark Twain say you should invest in land because they're not making any more of it? Guess he was wrong.]

 

Source: http://goo.gl/EXHaA

 

- Brad Haugaard

Great White Shark vs. Monrovia

Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa warns that Monrovia faces a "fragile" economic recovery during 2011.

 

In his weekly report, he writes that "The economic recovery that is underway still has not quite reached Main Street USA, and we have the financial and organizational bumps and bruises to prove it."

 

However, he said, sales tax revenue is up, property tax revenue is "mildly growing" and we're starting to see a bit of building.

 

But, he said, "2011 will not be easy, even if the State of California does leave us alone." And he does not seem optimistic that "the 30-foot great white shark that is the State of California" will leave the city alone.

 

Specifically, he is upset at Governor Jerry Brown's proposal to eliminated redevelopment agencies.

 

"I suppose," he writes, "I have to give the Governor credit for having the gumption for coming to the conclusion that, if he can't shake the money from the piggybank, he may as well take the piggybank and break it."

 

Ochoa adds that, "Without redevelopment agencies, most cities - perhaps every city - will be unable to sustain any semblance of economic development activity."

 

Source: http://goo.gl/EXHaA

 

- Brad Haugaard

Beautiful MLK Day in Monrovia

It looks like it will be a beautiful Martin Luther King day in Monrovia. Estimated high of 80 and - as you can see - a lovely clear day.

Also, check out Foundation 44, a nonprofit Monrovia counseling service that helps students go to college. http://goo.gl/5t5Py

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Sports: Football, Girls Basketball

~ Running back De'Shawn Ramirez hopes to be back on the Monrovia High football team in the fall. http://goo.gl/UBhof

 

~ Girls Basketball. Monrovia 59, San Marino 40. :-) http://goo.gl/JYEPu

 

- Brad Haugaard

Green Dot To Manage Federal Pilot Program / Funeral / Bleachers

~ Monrovia's Green Dot Corporation will manage a Treasury Department pilot program to let low income people receive their tax refunds via debit card. http://goo.gl/R7Evx

 

~ Funeral services for former Monrovia Police employee. http://goo.gl/fLZvY

~ More on the bleacher problems at Monrovia High. http://goo.gl/H9ou4

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council: On the Agenda

Here is the agenda for the Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m. Monrovia City Council meeting: http://goo.gl/GfzEx
 
And here are some items on the agenda:
 
~ The City Council will receive an annual financial report on the city by an independent auditor. Big picture: as of June 30, 2010, Monrovia's combined net assets decreased $10.41 million, or 29.7 percent, compared to the previous year. Lots more detail here: http://goo.gl/PCDOS
 
~ The City Council will consider entering into an agreement with Southern California Edison - along with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments - to work on energy efficiency projects. More here: http://goo.gl/JOLL6
 
~ Monrovia is scheduled to receive aabout $369,031 in Community Development Block Grant money which will be spent on neighborhood preservation, rehabilitation, and sports and recreation activities. http://goo.gl/ycJnD
 
~ The council will vote on some new rules for business signs in Old Town. http://goo.gl/IH5Hr
 
~ The council will decide whether to give letter grades to mobile food vendors (as is done for restaurants) and tax them $225 per year for a business license, plus a $25 application fee for a new license, and $11 for a renewal. http://goo.gl/psaOs
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Soccer and Basketball

Boys Soccer. Monrovia 5, Temple City 0 :-) http://goo.gl/tSn9p
 
Boys Basketball. Temple City 60, Monrovia 56 :-( http://goo.gl/y5EMZ
 
Girls Basketball. Monrovia 55, Temple City 34 :-) http://goo.gl/y5EMZ
 
- Brad Haugaard