Attendance Slips at Monrovia Schools

A 2010-11 goal for Monrovia Schools was to improve attendance. (Remember, attendance isn't the same thing as enrollment.) Well, didn't quite work out. The elementary and middle schools actually went down in attendance, but this was almost made up by increases at Monrovia High and Mountain Park School. (The district is comparing against 08-09 because there was a flu epidemic in 09-10 that would mess up the stats.) http://goo.gl/tmV6S

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Peach Cafe

Just east of Myrtle on Colorado. I like the Southwestern Salad with cornbread. Got some gazpacho to go with it. Yum.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Redevelopment History / Carbon Monoxide

~ A video history of redevelopment in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/qzk1G

~ A new California State Law requires homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes by this July. Details: http://goo.gl/OcuNf

- Brad Haugaard

Produce Exchange and Worm Tea

Swap fruit and vegetables at Monrovia Library Park tomorrow (Saturday, May 7). Plus, free "worm tea." Yum. http://goo.gl/nUVV0

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Chief Retires / Free Cold Drink

~ Monrovia Chief Johnson retires after 32 years of service. http://goo.gl/dNuyj

 

~ Free cold drink. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (corner of Myrtle and Foothill) is giving away a free 12-oz. ice-blended drink (Cookies & Cream, Mocha Mint Chip, or Espresso Cream)  on May 10, 4-7 p.m. The card says to RSVP at Facebook.com/theCoffeeBean , but I can't tell if it is a requirement and I can't tell how to do it. Grrr.

 

- Brad Haugaard

May in Monrovia / Baseball / Old Car Dealership

~ Charlotte Schamadan reports on the busy month of May in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/mr3Cm

~ Wildcats over South Pas in baseball. :-) http://goo.gl/wXJom

~ Neat old picture of Bob Longpre Pontiac dealership in Monrovia (You'll have to scroll down.) http://goo.gl/K7DMU

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Tourist Bear / Book Sale / SciFi Monrovia

~ Another decorated Monrovia bear spotted. This one: "Samson the Tourist Bear." http://goo.gl/S0hEM

~ Friends of the Monrovia Library will have a huge book sale Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Library Park. $2 a bag from 3-5 p.m. ( http://goo.gl/DGhcW ). Also, the Friends could use volunteers: http://goo.gl/POefr

~ I just had coffee with Monrovian Rob McClinton, who represents TownLoop.com (a Pasadena company coming soon to Monrovia to benefit schools) and is a part owner of ScienceFiction.com.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Jobs / Aerosmith

Monrovia jobs workshop details: http://goo.gl/TfRL0

 

Band, Aerosmith, held jam sessions in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/VvESE

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Musicians / Book Club / Dog Wash / Huff Annoyed

~ Monrovia Superstars of Music. May 19. More than 300 district music students showcasing their talents. http://goo.gl/oY4I1

~ Monrovia Library is forming a new monthly book club. http://goo.gl/dzgZ8

~ Get your dog washed at Dog Zone to support Wounded Warriors. May 15. http://goo.gl/Tppfq

~ State Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, is annoyed that legislation he authored "to root out and dispose of any and all state regulations that hinder new job and business development" was killed on a party-line vote. http://goo.gl/K4Stf

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Accomplishments

~ The Monrovia High dance team competed at Knott’s Berry Farm in the Sharp International State Championships and the hip hop team came in 1st and the dance team scored their highest points of the season.

~ The Monrovia High drumline took third place at the American Drumline Association Championships in open class this past weekend, and it was promoted this year to a higher division.

~ In track and field, tenth grader Amanda Mansoorbakht is ranked first in league in the 800 and mile and ranked in the top five in the school's division. Eleventh grader Max Armenta is ranked second in the 800 and mile and in the top ten in the school's division.
Source: http://goo.gl/vhM1w
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Company Gives Money for Milk / Curb Painting

~ Prolacta Bioscience of Monrovia is donating $22,000 to the "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" organization, $1 for every ounce of breast milk it collected through March of this year. Prolacta makes human milk fortifier for critically ill, premature infants. http://goo.gl/kmnXe

 

~ A reader asks if the curb-painting organization, Canning Hunger, is legit. I asked the City and was told it does have a license. 

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Parasoft Founder Dies / Baseball / Run / Sangria

~ Dr. Adam Kolawa, founder and CEO of Monrovia's Parasoft Corporation of Monrovia, has died. http://goo.gl/n4JSV

~ Not looking so good for Monrovia High baseball. :-( http://goo.gl/wEDRS

~ If you are thinking about doing the May 14 Fountain-to-the-Falls run, you need to sign up by May 11, here: http://goo.gl/o0one

~ Monrovia School Board member Alex Zucco likes white sangria. http://goo.gl/rqql6

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Captain on Bin Laden / More on Cinco de Mayo / Disaster Prep / Sponsor Fireworks

~ Monrovia National Guard Captain Robert C.J. Parry, who served in Afghanistan, on Bin Laden: "A huge morale boost for us" and "a huge morale blow to the enemy." And for soldiers on the ground: "Yeah, he's dead! Now get on your gear. Time to go on patrol." http://goo.gl/UmAIQ

~ More coverage of Monrovia's May 1 Cinco de Mayo, from Monrovia Weekly ( http://goo.gl/KFxvI ) and from Mayor Mary Ann Lutz: http://goo.gl/u4tt0

~ Earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, tornadoes and floods in the south. It's crazy out there, so the City of Monrovia has tips on being prepared for disaster: http://goo.gl/zDqWY

~ Businesses, help sponsor the Fourth of July fireworks show. Hey, I'll be there! Loved it last year. Here's how: http://goo.gl/u1vga

- Brad Haugaard

Cheap Chiliburger in Monrovia / Monrovia Day Video

~ Get a 65-cent chiliburger at the Monrovia Tommy's Tuesday, May 3, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. by saying "Chili Fans" when you order. It's part of Tommy's 65th anniversary celebration. http://goo.gl/LFqlc

 

~ A KGEM public service video about everything going on during the Monrovia Day celebration. http://goo.gl/g946f

 

- Brad Haugaard

Mylar Balloons Caused Monrovia Power Outage

City Manager Scott Ochoa reported that mylar balloons whacked the power from parts of Monrovia Thursday ("from Mountain to Myrtle, Lime to Colorado").

Ochoa writes: "They [the balloons] got caught in the lines near the California-Jasmine Avenue neighborhood and caused the transformer to blow. The power lines actually ended up on the ground. Fire and Police units responded immediately; however, we are fortunate that no one was hurt. Mylar balloons - don't buy them. Get your special someone a book, or a card, or savings bond - just no more metallic balloons."

Source: http://goo.gl/mlbFS

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Should Recover 'Sooner than Most'

In his weekly report, Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa reports that at a meeting with Monrovia business leaders, Dr. Nancy Sidhu, Chief Economist of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, said the recession is easing, but "housing, construction and government employment were still significant drags on the recovery."

Ochoa added: "Given the increase in activity we have seen in Monrovia - the relative lack of commercial vacancies in our office buildings, the steady business among our restaurants and retailers and the stabilization of the housing market - I believe that we are indeed emerging from recession. What's more, I believe our economic diversity will bring us back sooner than most and stronger than most."

Source: http://goo.gl/mlbFS

- Brad Haugaard

Shooting Suspect Dead / Green Dot

~ Shooting suspect found dead, apparently from a self-inflicted wound. http://goo.gl/kb8fH

 

~ Monrovia's Green Dot signs deal with Rite Aid. http://goo.gl/Jmv62

 

- Brad Haugaard

Trail Above Monrovia Closed

Police are looking for a man in connection with a murder in the mountains. I suspect that is why the Ben Overturff Trail has been closed. - Brad Haugaard

Murder Suspect in Monrovia Mountains? / Sports Outreach

~ Police looking for murder suspect in mountains above Monrovia, Arcadia. http://goo.gl/AnZmZ

~ Calvary Chapel of Monrovia is working with with the Santa Anita Family YMCA to provide a sports outreach for local 5th through 8th graders on July 5-8. For more information or to enroll, contact the church. http://goo.gl/4UzI1

- Brad Haugaard

Cinco de Mayo Festival

Vendors and food and music this afternoon on Colorado just east of Myrtle. An early Cinco de Mayo. - Brad Haugaard