Monrovia City Councilman Tom Adams is apparently unhappy with the city's Pavilions supermarket. This comment was posted on the Internet service "foursquare."
- Brad Haugaard
Enrollment Up at Monrovia Schools | No Redevelopment Money for Schools - Yet | Agenda
~ Enrollment for Monrovia Schools is unexpectedly up for October. The district was predicting a loss of 112 students but instead gained 122.
~ Not only is the transfer of Monrovia property to the Gold Line on hold pending the outcome of a lawsuit by cities against the state's new rules on redevelopment, but now the Monrovia School District reports that the same hold is preventing any redevelopment money from coming to the schools. http://goo.gl/blZGR
~ Here is the agenda for the next School Board meeting, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. at the district offices: http://goo.gl/khUOZ
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Chevy Dealer's Salesmen to be 'Prince Charmings'
The owner of Sierra Chevrolet is going to Disneyland to learn how to turn "car salesmen into personable Prince Charmings." http://goo.gl/XF8Ni
- Brad Haugaard
Lunch at Los Gueros
- Brad Haugaard
Protesters March to Trader Joe's Monrovia HQ
The Florida labor group wants Trader Joe's to pay an extra penny a pound for tomatoes it picks, to benefit the pickers. Trader Joe's says it is already doing that but won't sign the agreement because "the agreement that Trader Joe’s has been asked to sign is overreaching, ambiguous and improper."
Details from both sides at these links:
~ Coalition of Immolakee Workers: http://goo.gl/rEisD
~ Trader Joe's response: http://goo.gl/M0OGG
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's STAAR Surgical - Making Money
Monrovia's STAAR Surgical expects revenue to be up 16 percent for third quarter. http://goo.gl/23DnT
- Brad Haugaard
Bridge Work | Maranatha Over Monrovia? | Walmart Employees Get Sick
Working on the 210 Gold Line bridge abutments.
~ Star-News Sports Writer picks Maranatha over Monrovia in football. http://goo.gl/XVIFL
~ Walmart employees get sick after handling money. http://goo.gl/I9tem
- Brad Haugaard
$7.3 Million Army Contract for Monrovia Company | Prolacta Collects $100k for Breast Cancer Research
~ Monrovia's AeroVironment gets a $7.3 million Army contract for support services for its Puma drone. http://goo.gl/bNjKS
~ Prolacta Bioscience of Monrovia has collected more that $100,000 since October 2010 for breast cancer research. http://goo.gl/oZhNZ
- Brad Haugaard
More on Monrovia Crime Mapping
The Monrovia Police Department has taken a step forward to better inform the public about crimes that are occurring in the City by making their crime data available online to the public. Any resident with access to the Internet can map out and analyze recent crime activity in their neighborhood. CrimeMapping.com also offers free Crime Alerts which help keep the community well informed by distributing incident reports via e-mail to anyone that subscribes to the system. Monrovia residents and business owners can now stay up to date regarding what is happening near their home, work or child's school. The fifteen crime types displayed are those most often requested by the public and include such reported incidents as robbery, assault, burglary and theft. Citizens can turn crime types on and off depending on what they are interested in learning about and activity can also be queried by date as there is a rolling ninety days of information available at CrimeMapping.com. Simple reports and charts which help depict current trends can be instantly accessed based on a buffer distance
or the visible map area. CrimeMapping.com has proven effective in reducing crime by increasing the number of eyes and ears out there aware of local activity. The department will be able to use CrimeMapping.com live at community meetings to help provide reliable crime information and encourage citizens to report offenses. You can access CrimeMapping.com through a link on the City of Monrovia website. The department also has a link to an informative video that explains how to use all the features on the crime map. To learn more about crime mapping visit the website at www.cityofmonrovia.org. - Brad Haugaard (from city press release)
or the visible map area. CrimeMapping.com has proven effective in reducing crime by increasing the number of eyes and ears out there aware of local activity. The department will be able to use CrimeMapping.com live at community meetings to help provide reliable crime information and encourage citizens to report offenses. You can access CrimeMapping.com through a link on the City of Monrovia website. The department also has a link to an informative video that explains how to use all the features on the crime map. To learn more about crime mapping visit the website at www.cityofmonrovia.org. - Brad Haugaard (from city press release)
Monrovia PD: Investigation of Mayflower Shooting, Purse Tug of War, 'Everyone's Going to Die', Drugs, Alcohol, Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Oct 13-19. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 551 service events, resulting in 91 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:
Vehicle Burglary
On October 13 at 9:49 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a hotel parking lot in the 300 block of West Foothill. During the investigation, the officer checked video surveillance of the location. He observed a male Hispanic subject approach the victim's vehicle and enter through the passenger door. The window had been left cracked open and the suspect reached in and unlocked the door. He then removed the car stereo and a cell phone, which was left on the passenger seat. The suspect was last seen getting into a tan SUV and leaving the area. The investigation is continuing.
Homicide Investigation
On October 14 at 5:18 a.m., the Monrovia Police Department received a 911 call from a resident in the 200 block of North Mayflower reporting a shooting. The Monrovia Police Department responded to the location and discovered a 63-year-old male had been shot inside the house. The Monrovia Fire Department also responded. The victim was pronounced deceased at 5:29 a.m. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau was called and assumed the primary investigative responsibility with the Monrovia Police Department's detectives assisting. There were no arrests made in the case and the case will be presented to the District Attorney's office for filing consideration once the investigation is completed.
Attempt Strong-arm Robbery
On October 14 at 1:29 p.m., an attempt robbery occurred at a fast food restaurant in the 300 block of West Huntington Drive. A female subject was sitting by herself inside the location with her purse on the table in front of her. A male Hispanic in his late teens entered the restaurant, approached the female and grabbed her purse. The female immediately grabbed her purse, as well, and the two were struggling for it. The female was pulled to the ground during the struggle, at which time the suspect gave up and ran outside. A witness followed the suspect outside and saw him get into the rear passenger side of a newer-model, blue, 4-door Nissan Altima, driven by a male black. The suspects fled east on Cypress, out of sight. The suspect had facial hair and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with "Monrovia" printed on the front in white, as well as black shorts and black Vans type shoes. Officers, including the Special Enforcement Team and the Foothill Air Support helicopter, searched for the suspect vehicle, but it was not located.
Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested
On October 15 at 12:40 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of West Duarte regarding a possible drunk driver. The reporting party followed the vehicle off the freeway and informed dispatch of his direction of travel. Officers located the vehicle in the 900 block of West Duarte, and after investigation, determined the driver to be under the influence. The driver was arrested.
Medical Assist / Drug Overdose
On October 15 at 1:42 a.m., officers responded to a medical assist in the 300 block of North Encinitas and found the victim had overdosed on Heroin. He was transported to a hospital for treatment. Officers recovered drug paraphernalia, along with Heroin, which was next to the victim when they arrived. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, being under the Influence of a controlled substance, and possession of a syringe.
Traffic Collision / Driving Under Influence - Suspect Arrested
On October 15 at 4:30 a.m., a traffic collision occurred in the area of Mountain and Olive involving a possible drunk driver. Officers arrived on scene and determined the driver was intoxicated and he was arrested for driving under the influence.
Mental Evaluation
On October 15 at 12:50 a.m., a subject entered a night club in the 300 block of South Myrtle without paying and immediately became aggressive with the patrons. Security guards had to physically remove him from the location. When officers arrived and contacted the subject, he was extremely delusional and continued to exclaim that everyone was going to die. The officers detained the subject and he was taken to a hospital, where he was held for 72-hour mental evaluation.
Medical Assist / Air Rescue - Monrovia Falls
On October 16 at 2:00 p.m., a medical assist was requested for a female adult that was hit in the head with a rock at Monrovia Falls. Monrovia Fire Department paramedics responded and handled the call. Police were called back to the falls regarding a 49- year-old male subject that decided to climb above the falls to find the subject(s) that dislodged the rock. The male subject got stuck on a ledge and could not go up or down. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department responded with a helicopter and removed the male subject from the rocks.
Embezzlement
On October 19 at 9:52 a.m., the victim/owner of a business in the 300 block of West Maple and a witness came into the lobby of the police station to file an embezzlement report. On October 14, they found a piece of paper in their copy machine that had been altered to the benefit of a female employee. They became suspicious, conducted audits, and put together packages of checks from different banks that had been altered to the benefit of the same employee. The employee has defrauded the company of a large sum of money. The investigation will continue.
Video of Monrovia Company's Killer Drone
A very impressive demo video of the new Switchblade killer-drone by Monrovia's AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/UFv10
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia School Board Candidates' Forum
Candidates at the Monrovia School Board forum. (Candidate on the left whose tag you can't see is Hammond.)
The atmosphere was friendly as seven candidates for three open Monrovia School Board seats gave statements and answered questions at a forum run by the League of Women Voters at Monrovia's Open Door Church of God in Christ Wednesday night.
There were no obvious divisions among the candidates in terms of how they felt the district has been doing or where they felt it should be going and nobody made any absurd, impossible-to-fulfill promises.
The incumbents, Ed Gililland and Bryan Wong, basically ran on their records and blamed the cuts they made - especially for librarians and the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) - on budget cuts from the state, and none of the other candidates challenged that assessment.
The challengers - (in order of their seating) Rob Hammond, Ed McCarthy, Terrance G. Williams, Janene Lechuga Covarrubias, and David Dale Crabtree - ran on their credentials, enthusiasm, and ideas.
Okay, here is my attempt at a summary of the candidates positions:
~ Hammond hammered on - and reminded people that he was hammering on - the need to address the district's financial troubles by persuading more parents to send their children to Monrovia schools. The logic here is that the state pays districts based on the number of students attending, so, more students, more money. And to persuade parents, he wants to improve the music, art and vocational programs. And he spoke of his community involvement, including being a founder of the Monrovia Reads program.
~ McCarthy said he has children in the district, and wants to see parents and teachers come together to benefit "every last child."
~ Williams said he has been involved for 18 years with the district, and has a child at Clifton Middle School, has been involved in the PTSA, as a school site council member, in sports and mentoring. He said the board should represent the district geographically, and he would bring diversity in that way. Also, he said he doesn't want teachers to raise children, but that parents should partner at home with what teachers do in school.
~ Covarrubias is also a Clifton parent and is deeply involved there. She said she has spent 20 years in business and is a fourth generation Monrovian. She wants all parents to feel welcome to be involved in schools, all students to be challenged to their full potential and prepared for life, and for all employees to feel worthwhile. She said the district's decision to lay off librarians was a factor that made her decide to run for the board, and while she didn't say it was a wrong decision, she did say the decision is "worth revisiting."
~ Crabtree is a retired educator. He taught chemistry, computer, and mathematics, and was a principal. He said he has written grants and has improved student achievement levels.
~ Incumbent Ed Gililland talked about rising test scores and the "huge number" of awards the district has won. And, oh, by the way, he is not interested in pursuing any other city or state office.
~ Incumbent Bryan Wong said he is the most senior board member, although he is only finishing his second term. It is a "young board." He said Monrovia has "successes other districts envy." Enrollment is up and "our test scores are up over 800 during most difficult financial times district has ever seen."
Some noteworthy comments:
Gililland - "I want every school to score over 900. Every school. I want the best schools in the state. I'm not satisfied with the best in the San Gabriel Valley or LA."
Williams - (Would he hire back librarians who were layed off?) "Yes, I will. We need librarians." And the Regional Occupational Program? "ROP is a necessity. Period. Just like librarians. Period."
McCarthy - "We need to give kids more laptops so they can go on the net and look up any kind of books, so we can cut out money spent on libraries." He suggested that "we can buy more iPads in place of librarians."
Covarrubias - (in contrast) "Last year's decision to close the libraries was very frustrating. It is what got me sitting here."
Crabtree - (Would he support a parcel tax to fund the schools?) "I'm not opposed to a parcel tax, but that is for the voters to decide." But, he said, "I don't think it could pass at this time." He was the only candidate to not oppose a parcel tax. Everyone else was firmly against a tax, at least in the current economy.
Hammond - When he asked the Monrovia Teachers Association about its relationship with the district, the answer was always, Good. And that, he said, is an excellent reflection on the district's negotiating teams.
Wong - The ROP was not cut by choice, and not because the program was failing. The opposite is true. It was very successful, so it was one of the last things the district cut, and when funding becomes available it will be one of the first things to be added back.
Best intentionally funny line (from Crabtree): "I grew up in rural South Dakota, and went to a one-room country school. I was always at least second in my class. There were two of us in my class."
Best unintentional funny line (no name, I don't want to embarrass someone for a slip of the tongue): "Monrovia is the best city in town." Amen to that!
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Drones in Afghanistan | Band Fundraisers | Mayor Endorses Holden | Crime on a Map
~ Drones made by Monrovia's AeroVironment saw action in Afghanistan. http://goo.gl/zOeSv
~ A couple Wildcat Band fundraisers, at Jakes' ( http://goo.gl/7DEYb ) and a household-items donation fundraiser with Goodwill ( http://goo.gl/A9p2L ).
~ Mayor Mary Ann Lutz endorses Chris Holden for Assembly. http://goo.gl/0HBFM
~ See Monrovia crime on a map. http://goo.gl/plWGQ
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Assemblyman Selected as Assembly Democrat of the Year
Sacramento's "Around the Capitol" blog has named Monrovia's representative, Anthony Portantino, as its Assembly Democrat of the year, as selected by its readership: http://goo.gl/ACm7P
Portantino said: "From the back bench, it feels pretty good to know that folks inside the capitol know that sunshine is just around the corner. I’m honored that this little fight has garnered independent support and verification. Rumor has it that the Speaker has increased Assembly budgets by $20, excluding mine of course, so that members can buy sunscreen in the wake of the Times and Bee court date. In a belt tightening exercise, I heard it was announced that there is only enough money in the kitty to pay the lawyers so Assembly staff will have to fend for themselves and purchase their own sunscreen. Seriously, this is a pretty cool thing to have happened, thanks from me, my staff and the good residents of the 44th AD."
The blog also called Senator Bob Huff and Assemblyman Tim Donnelly "compelling" nominees in their categories.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's STAAR Surgical Winning Japanese Regulatory Approval
Monrovia's STAAR Surgical, which makes implantable contact lenses, has passed regulatory hurdles to selling its "Toric ICL" in Japan, which, a company spokesman says, "brings us much closer to final approval." http://goo.gl/6n57w
- Brad Haugaard
Partial Freeway Closures Until Oct. 28
The Gold Line folks are warning there may be partial lane closures on the eastbound 210 near Santa Anita from now through Friday, October 28. If so, they will begin no earlier than 10 p.m. and last no later than 1 p.m. the following day. No total closures. They'll be unloading steel cages to fit in the 18 foundation holes that will anchor the west end of the bridge. There'll be another 18 for the east end of the bridge. After inserting the steel cages they'll pour concrete.
- Brad Haugaard
Florida Tomato Workers to Picket Monrovia's Trader Joe's
A Florida workers-group plans to picket at Trader Joe's Monrovia headquarters at 1 p.m. this Friday "to express their growing impatience" and attempt to persuade the company to sign a contract controlling how much it pays for tomatoes. The contract would also control the company's "supply chain transparency," would enforce on it a "Code of Conduct," and would require "third-party verification," according to a press release from the Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers.
According to CIW spokesman Oscar Otzoy, Trader Joe's already says "that it will only buy from Florida tomato growers abiding by the Fair Food Code of Conduct" and "that it is already paying a penny per pound 'Fair Food Premium' to improve tomato pickers wages. But," Otzoy adds, "we have seen no proof of that."
- Brad Haugaard
Wrestling Bears in Monrovia Park - Yawn, More Bears
Mama Bear: Back off!
With heads down, huffing and puffing as we rode our bikes to the top of Monrovia Canyon Park today, we came within 20 feet of a mama and baby bear wrestling in the middle of the road before I glanced up.
"Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait!" I yelled to my biking buddy.
I snapped some shots as the bears ambled off the road, and then we made our way to the top and I took another picture from above, but mama bear looked like she was getting a bit grumpy (as you can see above), and we were getting a bit nervous, so when the bears decided to check out the nature center, we skittered down the hill.
- Brad Haugaard
New Monrovia Retail Boutique | Switchblade | Killed Man Identified | Rally at Trader Joe's HQ
~ Michelle's Upscale Resale Boutique has opened in the Paragon building on Myrtle. It sells "new and gently worn designer items handpicked for style and quality." http://goo.gl/Lkx5i
~ A Wired Magazine story about the Army getting the Switchblade mini killer-drone, made by Monrovia's AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/RoFDS
~ Man shot in Monrovia identified as David Wesley Blair from Tennessee. http://goo.gl/o7CjJ
~ Labor organization plans rally at Trader Joe headquarters in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/AADN2
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's McCarthy in All American Bowl
A full story about Monrovia's Ellis McCarthy playing in the Army All-American Bowl in Texas. http://goo.gl/fGGe1 - Brad Haugaard
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