News: brad.haugaard@gmail.com   •  Restaurants   •  Library Catalog   •  Library Activities  •  History   •  Facebook / X/Twitter / RSS

Monrovia High's Luke Williams

Feature on Luke Williams, Monrovia High wide receiver. http://goo.gl/d7Fl4
- Brad Haugaard

Details for Monrovia Fans about the CIF Championship Game

From the Monrovia Wildcats Facebook page ( http://goo.gl/95EPl ):

~ Game is at Monrovia High.
~ There will be a Monrovia High CIF Championship tailgate event, Saturday noon to 6:30 p.m. at Eisenhower Memorial Park, 601 N. 2nd Ave. in Arcadia.
~ Ticket Prices are $9 and $5. High school students must show ID to get the $5 price. 
~ Tickets are available all week 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the ASB office. Cash only.
~ The ticket booths will open on game day at 5:30 p.m.
~ Parking is $5 and the lots will open at 5 p.m.
~ Only CIF-SS may sell merchandise. We risk losing future rights to host games and possible fines if anyone else sells merchandise. 
~ Bleachers will be brought in to provide more seating for the visitors side. 
~ Band members from both teams will be on chairs, down on the track to allow more seating for spectators.
~ No horns allowed. They are against CIF policies. Blowing Bull horns or using other loud horns can get us disqualified.
~ Wear green and white. Party City has hand clappers and Green and White Pom Poms for sale. $2.99
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Holiday Parade

Even though it was rescheduled because of the wind storm, apparently word about the Monrovia Christmas parade got out. I had to park about three blocks away and there were solid people on either side of Myrtle when I got there. There were even more people there when I returned after trudging back to my car to get the camera I forgot.
- Brad Haugaard






Monrovia Has Enough Seating for Visiting San Gabriel High

Monrovia High has plenty of seating in the football stadium for visiting San Gabriel High. http://goo.gl/TKRpk
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Finance Director Named Interim City Manager | SCEInvestigated, Apologizes | Boy's Soccer | 210 Bridge | Donnelly on Daily

The form for freeway bridge pillar.
~ Monrovia's finance director, Mark Alvarado, has been appointed to be interim city manager. http://goo.gl/M7Qxn
~ The State's Public Utilities Commission is investigating Edison's response to the windstorm. http://goo.gl/KFHvQ
~ SCE apologizes for windstorm response. http://goo.gl/uEc2m
~ The Monrovia High Boy’s Soccer team finished as one of the top four teams in the Paso Robles Soccer Tournament. http://goo.gl/blvb0
~ Later this week, the contractor will pour concrete to complete the structure of the first column of the 210 bridge. The column “form” (shown in the photo) is nearly installed. Once complete, concrete will be poured into the form and allowed to cure. The form will then be stripped and moved to form the second and third columns.  Later next year the basket aesthetic elements will be added.
~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, appeared on The Daily Show, defending the initiative process: http://goo.gl/rwySe
- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Chase Bank Opens

~ New Chase Bank opens on Huntington (old Spire's site). http://goo.gl/sKeqK

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia QB Competition | Christmas Parade | Lee Murder Trial | Holiday Concert

~ Thoughts on the competition to be Monrovia Wildcat quarterback. http://goo.gl/5OgRk
 
~ Remember, the rescheduled Christmas Parade is tonight (Wednesday, Dec. 7) at 7 p.m. along Myrtle in Old Town.
 
~ Prosecutor: Suspect kicked Felicia Lee. http://goo.gl/jXuil
 
~ Hear holiday and classical music in the Library Lobby at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Featuring the Sterling Flute Choir, Cal State Northridge Flute Quartet, Le Petit Duo and others. Light refreshments. http://goo.gl/Zs5qn
 
- Brad Haugaard

210 Bridge Patterned on Basket

The Engineering News Record calls the design of the new rail bridge over the 210 at Santa Anita "iconic." Reports it is patterned after a Native American basket. http://goo.gl/8qjY1
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Reports Nice Profit

Monrovia's AeroVironment reports a $6.6 million profit for the quarter. http://goo.gl/JEDZR
 
- Brad Haugaard

New Owner of Chesley Law Office

Torossian LLP, of Pasadena, is taking over the Law Office of Clare Chesley, formerly run by Monrovia School Board Member Clare Chesley, who moved out of town.
 
Partner Darrell G. Brooke - a longtime Monrovian - will head the new Monrovia office, assisted by Aimee Saye and Sigrid Caldera. Brooke has been involved in various community organizations, including the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, on which he serves as a board member and legal advisor. 
 
Torossian specializes in estate planning, probate, elder law, conservatorships, and tax and business planning. The office is located at 525 S. Myrtle Ave., Suite 204, at the corner of Myrtle and Colorado. Telephone: (626) 303-1806.
 
- Brad Haugaard (from press release)

Santa Touring Monrovia

Santa is set to tour Monrovia for five nights, Monday, Dec. 12 through Friday, Dec. 16, from 5:30–9:30 p.m. as follows:
 
Monday, Dec. 12 – Streets south of Huntington, west of Myrtle to Fifth, and north of southern city boundaries. Also includes Valley Circle.
Tuesday, Dec. 13 - Streets east of Myrtle and north of Foothill.
Wednesday, Dec. 14 – Streets west of Myrtle and north of Foothill.
Thursday, Dec. 15 – Streets east of Myrtle south of Foothill, north of Duarte Road and west of the east city boundaries.
Friday, Dec. 16 – Streets south of Foothill to Huntington between Myrtle and Fifth.
 
- Brad Haugaard (thanks to Becky Shevlin for info)

Power On in Old Town Monrovia

Power to Old Town Monrovia is now 100 percent on. http://goo.gl/aBe9P
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman Asks SG Valley be Declared in State of Emergency

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, has asked Governor Jerry Brown to declare the San Gabriel Valley to be in a state of emergency. Here is his letter:
 
Dear Governor Brown,
 
The devastation in the San Gabriel Valley and the 44th Assembly District has been significant and dramatic.  There continue to be homes without power nearly one week after the winds began.
 
I respectfully request that you declare a "state of emergency."  Residents of small and large cities need assistance and the towns and counties warrant the state's help in meeting the demand placed on them from this horrendous natural disaster.
 
Please consider touring the affected communities and I again urge you to quickly declare so that emergency resources can be made available.
 
Respectfully,
  
Anthony J. Portantino
 
 
- Brad Haugaard (from press release)

Monrovia PD: Emergency Operations, Burglary, Theft, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for December 1-4 – Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events. To see a complete listing of crimes reported, go to the City of Monrovia website at www.cityofmonrovia.org and click on the crime mapping link.

Monrovia’s Emergency Operations Center Activated

On December 1 at 4:24 a.m., the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the City of Monrovia was activated due to the amount of damage created by windstorms. All available personnel were assigned to specific tasks to meet the demands on the calls for service regarding power outages, downed power lines and downed trees. The windstorms began the night before at approximately 11:00 p.m., but calls reporting property damage began after midnight. The police department received over 500 calls for service in a 24-hour period. The calls ranged from residents trapped due to downed trees or power lines, preventing them from leaving their residences, to broken water lines. The appropriate departments were notified through the EOC. The entire day was spent answering calls for service due to the wind related incidents. While there were over 500 calls for service, only two calls involved criminal investigations. The calls for service did not let up until after 9:00 p.m. The EOC was scaled down after midnight.

Attempt Residential Burglary

On December 1 at 8:36 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of West Colorado reported an attempt burglary. Suspect(s) tampered with the deadbolt on the detached garage and cut the lock off a toolbox on a nearby trailer. The incident occurred sometime between 2:45 and 6:30 a.m. No suspects were seen or heard. Investigation continuing.

Commercial Burglary / Forgery

On December 1 at 5:31 p.m., the owner of a business in the 400 block of West Foothill called to report that a female suspect had entered her business on November 19, 2011, and purchased several items using a check from a closed account. The female was identified through computer checks. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft

On December 2 at 1:26 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of Falling Leaf called to report someone had stolen his laptop from his unlocked vehicle, which was parked in front of his residence during the night. No suspect(s) seen or heard. Investigation continuing.

Commercial Burglary / Runaway Juvenile

On December 2 at 3:46 p.m., a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called to report two female juveniles who had walked into the business, selected merchandise, and stole several items from the location. The juveniles fled the location when approached by the loss prevention officer. They had dropped their purses as they were trying to get away. One of the juveniles eventually came back to the location and turned herself in to police. A computer check revealed she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. The juvenile was taken into custody.

The subject was found to be a ward of the court and was later released to a worker from the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). As the female and the DCFS worker exited the police department, the female ran southbound on Ivy and out of sight. Officers responded and conducted a search, but she was not located. A missing person’s report was completed for the runaway.

Vehicle Burglary

On December 2 at 6:54 p.m., a female resident in the 1000 block of Royal Oaks parked her vehicle in the parking lot of her apartment complex, leaving her purse inside the vehicle. The female was inside for about hour, and when she returned, she discovered the passenger window had been smashed and her purse was taken. No suspect(s) were seen or heard. Investigation continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

On December 2 at 8:37 p.m., a female subject called to report a vehicle burglary that occurred in the 1300 block of South Magnolia. She parked and locked her vehicle in a carport of an apartment complex. When she returned to her vehicle, she discovered her rear window smashed and her computer case and accessories missing. A citizen recovered some of the victim’s property in the roadway at Canyon and Chestnut. The citizen called police and turned in the victim’s property. The crime occurred sometime between 6:40 and 8:30 p.m. Investigation continuing.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

On December 4 at 3:20 a.m., a vehicle collided with two parked vehicles in the 800 block of West Foothill. Officers responded and determined the driver to be driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested.

- Brad Haugaard

$4 Million Damage in Monrovia | Arboretum Hit

~ Monrovia estimates $4 million loss from wind storm. http://goo.gl/FVA9t 
 
~ Next door in Arcadia, the Arboretum was seriously hit. See the video. Sad, but an "opportunity." http://goo.gl/FVA9t
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Clean-Up Could Cost Half a Million Dollars

Clean-up costs for the City of Monrovia could be up to half a million dollars. http://goo.gl/Uykh6
 
- Brad Haugaard

Extra Curbside Green-Waste Collections | County Emergency Management | Big-Item Collection | Big Bins | Mini Police Copter

~ Athens will pick up extra green-waste this week. Just keep putting your refilled green-waste barrels out through Dec. 9. http://goo.gl/HWwb0
 
~ LA County announced today that it is activating its Disaster Hotline (1-800-980-4990) to report damage caused by the wind storm. You can also call 2-1-1. The press release says the county will use this information to get state and federal assistance. Also, it reports that the Office of Emergency Management "stands ready to ramp up if conditions warrant." [Opinion: Good, but, um, I think conditions warranted five days ago. For an emergency office, this strikes me as rather slow off the mark.] http://t.co/5cikr0OT
 
~ Athens will also pick up bulky items that won't fit in your barrels (you get two free bulky-item pick-ups per year). If you need to do that, call Athens Services to schedule a pickup at (626) 336-3636. http://goo.gl/HWwb0
 
~ Updated list of where you can take big branches and big-plant stuff (but not palm fronds): http://goo.gl/HWwb0
 
~ A pretty cool (though slow-loading for me) video of AeroVironment's Qube mini police-copter. http://goo.gl/x8dBl
 
- Brad Haugaard

99 Percent of Monrovia Power Should be Restored Today

April Soash, of the City of Monrovia, reported to the Monrovia Coordinating Council this morning that power should be on for 99 percent of Monrovia sometime today. She said city workers, Southern California Edison workers, and private volunteer contractors, such as Steve Pokrajac (She said if you see him, say "thank you, thank you, thank you") have been working together to get the electricity back on. 


Kate Clark, a businesswoman on Myrtle, said that some businesses in the 300 and 400 blocks of Myrtle "can't hang on much longer." She said the broken poles are in places that are difficult to fix. Other council members suggested that businesses' insurance policies may cover some of the loss and Edison may be able to process claims for some reimbursement from the Public Utilities Commission.


Also, Soash said:


- Street sweeping should get back on schedule. The city crew from Canyon Park will be preceding the sweeper to take care of problems.


- Athens Services has been working "24/7."


- The city has been contacting disabled Monrovians to make sure they are okay.


Foothill Unity Center Executive Director Joan Whitenack said the center lost power only for one day, but kept its walk-in freezer locked down tight, so there was no spoilage. Still, she said, the Center could use more meats for its holiday distribution to low-income families. Ham, turkey, chickens and small roasts, if you can help.


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Offices Open, Park Not | Careful With Contractors | Free Storage | Monrovia vs. San Gabriel | Green Dot

~ All Monrovia city offices and schools are open for regular business today. One exception: All wilderness access points, including Canyon Park, are closed until Tuesday. http://goo.gl/7y9tO
 
~ If you encounter any independent contractor who says he has been sent by the city, he hasn't been. Monrovia isn't endorsing or authorizing specific contractors. http://goo.gl/7y9tO
 
~ U-Haul offering free storage for wind victims. http://goo.gl/3m2xH
 
~ Monrovia vs. San Gabriel Saturday in football finals. http://goo.gl/hNV93
 
~ Green Dot hires John MacIlwaine as new Chief Information Officer. http://goo.gl/lDC5M
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Holiday Parade Set for Wednesday | Expert: Lee Died of Drug Overdose

~ Holiday Parade rescheduled for this coming Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. along Myrtle in Old Town. http://goo.gl/gB6H2


~ Psychiatrist says Felicia Lee died from overdose of GHB. http://goo.gl/laVVJ


- Brad Haugaard