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Monrovia's AeroVironment Plans Vertical Takeoff Aircraft

Monrovia's AeroVironment is considering creating a vertical takeoff and landing craft. http://goo.gl/NiXGM

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Book Sale | New Elected Representatives? | Portantino

~ In August, Friends of the Library is having is Yellow Dot sale. All adult books and media with a bright yellow dot on the spine are half-price. The Friends Store is in the Library. http://goo.gl/OR0Gg
 
~ Possible Monrovia representatives after redistricting. http://goo.gl/ykeLU
 
~ Portantino-Perez feud continues. http://goo.gl/EhYdw
 
- Brad Haugaard

September 11 Remembrance in Monrovia | Community Center Maintenance

~ A tenth anniversary remembrance of the 9/11 attacks will be held at the Monrovia Fire Department at 1 p.m., Sept. 11. Details: http://goo.gl/Ou1VC
 
~ Dates of facility maintenance at Monrovia Community Center: http://goo.gl/Cx1T9
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Gets Huge Order | City Split in Redistricting | Flame Broiler Restaurant Opening

~ Monrovia's AeroVironment gets $65 Million order for its unmanned aircraft systems. http://goo.gl/PRDXA
 
~ Redistricting chops Monrovia in two for congressional representation. http://goo.gl/jjhJH 
 
~ A Flame Broiler fast-food restaurant that serves up healthy alternatives like grilled chicken teriyaki bowls is opening soon in the Henry's Market complex. http://goo.gl/etDzR 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Registration

Monrovia High Registration - Aug. 16 for Seniors, Aug. 17 Juniors, Aug. 18 Sophmores, Aug. 19 Freshmen. Aug. 22 Make-up Day. Students need TDAP shots to register. Details: http://goo.gl/rh4e5


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's World Vision Helping Somalia

Monrovia's World Vision delivers tents for Somalia refugees. http://goo.gl/EMbo8
 
- Brad Haugaard

Olympic Speakers in Monrovia


Monrovia Reads is sponsoring a Distinguished Speakers Series, featuring Olympians Louis Zamperini, John Naber, Mark Crear, and Kim Rhode. They'll speak at the Monrovia Library Community Room, from 7–9 p.m. on Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Feb. 9, 2012, and March 8, 2012. All proceeds benefit Monrovia Reads. Details here: http://goo.gl/KyXJV
- Brad Haugaard

A Taste of Old Town Monrovia

Monrovia Kiwanis Club is sponsoring an event to let Monrovia restaurateurs show off their culinary skills. Food and music and proceeds go to benefit the YMCA. October 16, 5-8 p.m. on Myrtle between Lime and Olive. Tickets $50 in advance, $60 at the door. Details: http://goo.gl/JZXVR
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Makes Drone-Bomb

The Economist Magazine describes drone-bombs called "Switchblade" being developed by AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/7mGTC

- Brad Haugaard

Decoding Monrovia Street Lights | Motorcycle Crash | Why Hunt Was Selected as Police Chief

Selections from Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa's weekly report:


~ In case you were wondering how to tell streetlights that are owned by Monrovia from streetlights owned by Southern California Edison, well, all wooden and metal poles are owned by SCE, except for the green metal poles in the Old Town area around Myrtle Avenue. The remaining poles (concrete) are primarily owned by the City. So if you see any burned out bulbs, now you know who to tell. City Public Works: (626) 932-5575; SCE: (800) 611-1911


~ The Fire Department responded to 66 emergency calls from 8 a.m. August 2, to 8 a.m. August 9, including helping Arcadia treat a motorcyclist involved in a crash on the 210 on August 6. The cyclist "received traumatic injuries when he fell from his motorcycle. The victim was transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital Trauma Center where he is expected to recover from his injuries."


~ Jim Hunt got the job as police chief, Ochoa writes, because of his "knowledge of the Department, personnel and community, his vision of the future of public safety in Monrovia, his proven leadership over the years, and his engaging management style earned him the job. ... [H]e is a Five Tool Player: he Thinks, he Leads, he Communicates, he knows our Operations, and he is a dedicated Public Servant."


- Brad Haugaard

Portantino's Transparency Legislation

[Press release from Assemblyman Anthony Portantino's office. Portantino represents part of Monrovia.]



Continuing his efforts to bring transparency and accountability to the State Legislature, Assemblymember Anthony Portantino  (D-La Cañada Flintridge) has introduced an Amendment to the Standing Rules of the Assembly (HR20) calling for all Assembly financial records to be made public.


“Californians deserve the respect of the legislature by having access to how their money is being spent,” said Assemblymember Portantino. “We have used the better part of this legislative year legislating good practices in cities such as Bell and Vernon.  We need to lead by example and not shroud our budgets in secrecy.”


HR 20 requires all current financial records to be made available to the public, not a year from now, but immediately.  The resolution also provides for fairness in budgeting for all members’ office expenses and precludes leadership from either rewarding or punishing a member for voting their conscience.  There can no longer be arbitrary budget action under HR 20.  In addition, it requests that the State Controller conduct annual financial audits.

“Assembly leadership has refused to release current budget details and has not conducted a Performance Audit as required by law,” explained Portantino.  “Further adding insult to the process, the incomplete information released by the Assembly Rules Committee for last year has been discredited by the press.  Unfortunately, Leadership needs to be brought into the sunshine kicking and screaming. Under HR20, the adoption of members’ budgets would be done in an open and public hearing instead of behind closed doors. Not only will members’ budgets be made available, but, all Assembly leadership, committee, caucuses and all administrative budgets for the Assembly will have to be disclosed in comprehensive detail.  It is outrageous, unacceptable and wrong to keep the public in the dark when it comes to spending their money.”


The Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times have filed suit against the Assembly Rules Committee for keeping comprehensive budgets secret from the public.  Like the press, Portantino’s requests for comprehensive budget information have also been denied.


- Brad Haugaard

Ten-Year-Old Monrovia Boy Honored for Cancer Work

Nathan Hickey, 10, of Monrovia, has been honored by Kids Who Give, an organization that recognizes "young people who put their time, energy and hearts into helping people and making the world a better place."
 
Nathan formed Mountain Biking for Pablove to show support for kids with cancer. He rides his mountain bike for Team Pablove in races from March until September, and in October for Pablove Across America. Nathan races to raise awareness of childhood cancer, and in 2009 he raised almost $2,000 with his fundraising campaign.
 
For more about Kids Who Give, visit www.kidswhogive.com.
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia a Leader in Curbing Gangs | Portantino | Adult School | Homeboy

~ According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Monrovia is "emerging as a leader on how to quell gang crime." Baldwin Park is asking for advice. http://goo.gl/9DYm1


~ Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (who represents part of Monrovia) defies his own Assembly Democratic leadership by pushing bill to make legislative expenditures public. http://goo.gl/Xoc4S


~ Registration is now open for classes at Monrovia Community Adult School. http://goo.gl/jkB2P


~ Father Gregory Boyle, of Homeboy Industries, will be speaking at the library this Saturday. http://goo.gl/bW8kE


- Brad Haugaard

Upstream at Monrovia Library Park


Nice calypso steel-drum sound at the summer concert series tonight.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Baldwin's


Lunch at Baldwin's Sidewalk Cafe, 110 E. Lime. Got the pralines and pear salad. Yummy.

- Brad Haugaard

Difficulties Faced by Monrovia Youth Baseball

A feature story in the LA Times about the problems faced by the Monrovia Youth Baseball League. http://goo.gl/9BsMN
 
- Brad Haugaard

New Tech at Monrovia PD | Portantino

~ New Monrovia Police Chief, Jim Hunt, to introduce video reporting, crime mapping, more. http://goo.gl/Z17E7
 
~ In Portantino Affair, Portantino may challenge Assembly Speaker John Perez' protege in primary battle. http://goo.gl/LBzFG
 
- Brad Haugaard

UPDATED: Seven Candidates for Monrovia School Board

UPDATED: It looks like a crowded race for Monrovia Board of Education. Seven of the eight people who took out papers have filed to run. These are: Incumbents Ed Gililland and Bryan Wong; David Dale Crabtree; former Monrovia Mayor Rob Hammond; Janeane Lechuga Covarrubias, an escrow officer; Ed McCarthy, a businessman and parent; and Terrence G. Williams, entrepreneur/businessman. Crabtree is listed as living in Arcadia, but Superintendent Linda Wagner (see comments) says that this address could be unincorporated area which could fall within the Monrovia School District boundaries.  http://goo.gl/oUDnD




- Brad Haugaard

Clifton Principal to Gompers Middle School in LA

[From Monrovia Schools press release]

Traci Gholar has accepted a position with the Los Angeles Partnership
for LA Schools, as the new Principal of Samuel Gompers Middle School.
This Partnership is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the City
of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Unified School District. Traci was
recruited for this position and will begin her new adventure August
1st.
Traci has been an integral part of Monrovia Unified School District as
a parent, teacher, student body director of activities and
administrator at Monrovia High School, as well as the principal of
Clifton. We will miss her very much and wish her the best in her new
position.
- Brad Haugaard

Clifton Principal to LA Schools

According to multiple sources, Traci Gholar, principal at Clifton Middle School, will be leaving Monrovia schools. One source said, "it was pretty well known Ms Gholar was heavily recruited from LAUSD -- they sought her out and she accepted. Huge loss for MUSD."
- Brad Haugaard