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Memorial Walk | Elf on Almond Street Tonight

~ Memorial walk at Library Park for Newtown victims. http://goo.gl/gXYNb

~ Movie night on Almond Avenue tonight. Showing Elf. Bring a chair (and a coat). Details: http://goo.gl/KrrEG

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: More Police Near Schools; Grinch Stealing Christmas Packages

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 17-19. - Brad Haugaard]
 
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 410 service events, resulting in 76 investigations.
 
Monrovia Police Department Providing Police Presence at City Schools
Our hearts go out to all touched by the tragedy that has occurred in Newtown, Connecticut.  This horrific event has affected us all.  Safety in our schools has always been, and continues to be, a high priority for law enforcement.  In response to this senseless act of violence, the Monrovia Police Department is providing an increased police presence at schools throughout the city.  Patrol officers have been instructed to periodically visit and touch base with all schools in the city during daytime hours.  The visits will be random and will occur at various times and locations.  This increased visibility is meant to help comfort and calm the fears of the children, parents, and school staff, alike.     
 
The Monrovia Police Department trains annually to deal with incidents of violence that might occur at a school.  The department has a tremendous collaborative working relationship with the Monrovia Unified School District.  Police Department and school staff meet and train regularly to ensure employees are prepared to deal with these rare, but critical, types of incidents.  Police officers conduct scenario training, yearly, at actual school campuses throughout the district, and each school in the district has prepared a crisis response box for the Police Department with information necessary to deal, immediately, with any incident at any school.    
 
Theft of Packages
December 17 at 3:15 p.m., a theft of packages was reported in the 500 block of Terrado.  The victim had packages delivered and they were left on the front porch.  A neighbor saw a white Chevy Silverado drive up quickly to the front of the victim's home.   The suspect exited the truck and ran up to the home, grabbed the two packages and ran back to the truck.  The vehicle fled southbound, out of sight.  The suspect is described as a young, male, African American.  Investigation continuing.

Monrovia Library Board Member Sponsors Elephants for Library

Monrovia Public Library becomes sponsor of elephant babies. http://goo.gl/Vr9ec

- Brad Haugaard

Santa Touring Monrovia

Santa is touring Monrovia now ...



with his reindeer ...

and sleigh full of Monrovians.

For full Santa schedule: http://goo.gl/KLSKG

- Brad Haugaard


Visit the Monrovia Home Decorating Winners

All the Monrovia Holiday Home Decorating contest winners: http://goo.gl/aF86F

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Firefighters Turn Over Toys and Cash to Unity Center

Today the Monrovia Fire Department's Spark of Love toy drive turned over more than a thousand toys and $6,000 to Foothill Unity Center to make local kids' Christmases a bit brighter. City spokesman Dan Bell said the firefighters did even better than last year, when, he said, it appears a lackluster economy and rainy days depressed giving. Firefighter Ernie Moreno was the driving force behind the drive.

Channel 7 Eyewitness News, a sponsor of the event, showed up to report the event.

- Brad Haugaard

Police Chief: More Patrols Around Monrovia Schools

Monrovia Police Chief said the police would step up patrols around Monrovia schools in light of the recent shootings in Connecticut. http://goo.gl/CKB9t

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Boy's Soccer

A report on Monrovia High boys soccer. http://goo.gl/DGQqK

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Councilman Garcia Won't Run Again

Monrovia Councilman Joe Garcia won't run for reelection. http://goo.gl/o8x2e

- Brad Haugaard

Power Outage Hits Monrovia

There is a power outage affecting 1,745 Monrovia customers. I saw the lights were all out around Foothill Boulevard near Magnolia Ave. Southern California Edison is estimating it will be mostly restored by 7 p.m. today. It says it doesn't know the cause, but I'm guessing wind. Details: http://goo.gl/DqGeC

UPDATE: 2,712 customers affected. Cause: "Weather Conditions"

More here: http://goo.gl/fZ5bJ

- Brad Haugaard

Former Monrovia Mayor Earns Degrees Before End of World | First Presbyterian Provides Breakfast for Teachers

~ Former Monrovia mayor and current school board member, Rob Hammond, reports that he has finally been awarded the degrees he went back to school to earn. "After four long years it is finally over. Double major in Organizational Management and Public Relations & Marketing." After mentioning a list of supporters, he says: "Thank you all... Good thing I finished before the end if the world!"

~ Monrovia's First Presbyterian Church is providing a continental breakfast for Clifton Middle School teachers this morning as part of its Caring for Clifton program. http://goo.gl/WGLFj

- Brad Haugaard

Freeway Bridge Completion Ceremony | New Restaurant at Aztec Hotel | Where's Santa?


Construction Authority Board Chairman Doug Tessitor makes remarks during the bridge completion ceremony.
   
~ On Saturday more than 350 guests and officials gathered to mark the on-time, on-budget completion of the Gold Line Bridge. Speakers included Representatives Grace Napolitano and Judy Chu; State Senator Carol Liu; Supervisor Mike Antonovich; and Metro and Construction Authority board member John Fasana.
    
~ New restaurant "will soon be opening in the Aztec Hotel." http://goo.gl/kvkfT
 
~ Tonight Santa will be touring south of Huntington, west of Myrtle to Fifth, north of southern city boundaries. Also on Valley Circle. For full schedule: http://goo.gl/KLSKG
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: The Season for Drunk Driving, Metal Knuckles, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Dec. 13-16 – Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

On December 14 at 12:52 a.m., an officer observed a driver go through a stop light at Huntington and Magnolia. He conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, and the investigation determined the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

On December 14 at 5:50 a.m., an officer observed a driver go through the stop sign at Mountain and Foothill. He stopped the driver and conducted a DUI investigation. The driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested

On December 14 at 6:29 p.m., a burglary was reported at a business in the 100 block of West Foothill. A male suspect entered the store, concealed alcohol under his clothing and fled the location. Loss prevention chased the suspect, caught him and called police. The suspect admitted to entering the store with the intent to steal alcohol as he had no money to pay. He was arrested and charged with burglary.

Weapons Violation / Warrants – Suspects Arrested

On December 15 at 3.20 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by two male subjects in the 200 block of East Huntington. Both occupants had outstanding warrants, and the driver had a suspended driver's license. Upon searching the vehicle, the officers located metal knuckles beneath the center bench seats. The driver claimed ownership of the metal knuckles and was additionally charged for the weapons violation. Both subjects were arrested.

Monrovia Schools Restore Some Cuts with Passage of Prop 30

The Monrovia Unified School District Board of Education authorized the
restoration of five school days and one staff development day for the
2013-2014 school year as a result of proactive fiscal management and
new state revenue, Superintendent Linda Wagner announced today. In
addition, the board also announced the end of salary reductions for
school employees.

Due to ongoing state budget cuts and declines in revenue, the school
district had been forced to reduce student and staff development days
over the last three years, as well as institute an across-the-board
three percent salary reduction for school employees. However, as a
result of proactive and smart fiscal management by the school district
and the passage of Proposition 30 in Nov, the school board was able to
restore all cuts to days and end the salary reduction.

"Our students and our schools owe a big thank you to the voters for
supporting Proposition 30," said Monrovia Unified School District
Superintendent Linda Wagner. "Despite budget cuts from the state, we
pulled together and found solutions that ensured our students
continued to receive the level of education they deserve. Our
teachers, staff and the school board should be commended for their
efforts over the last few years."

Over the last three years, Monrovia school leaders have taken
proactive steps to reduce costs and protect local schools from the
impacts of state budget cuts. In addition to reducing school days and
employee pay, the school district has adopted other local cost-saving
measures, including:
- Reduced administrative support in K-8 schools
- Modified library hours
- Streamlined adult education course offerings
- Created greater efficiencies with textbook ordering

The new school days will be a part of the 2013-2014 academic schedule,
which will be made available in the Spring of 2013. Restoration of
employee salaries will coincide with the start of the new school year.

For more information, please visit www.monroviaschools.net.

Source: School District press release

- Brad Haugaard

Fellowship Monrovia: Toys for 350 Children

According to a Facebook post, the church, Fellowship Monrovia, has adopted 350 children in low-income families and is collecting toys today for their parents to give them at Christmas.

- Brad Haugaard

Biking Saves Life of Owner of Stan's Monrovia Bike Shop

Feature article about Carlos Morales, new owner of Stan's Monrovia Bike Shop, and how biking saved Morales' life. http://goo.gl/QC8ak

- Brad Haugaard

Wild Motorcycles Made in Monrovia

Check out the video of a wild motorcycle created by Dugally MADercycles of Monrovia. Had no idea a company like this was located in town. http://goo.gl/woc78 . And here's its website: http://dugallery.com/

- Brad Haugaard

Local Reaction to Connecticut Killings.

Monrovia Patch has a good round-up of local leaders'  reaction to the tragic killings in Connecticut. http://goo.gl/sbBr8

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Soccer Star Trying Out to Play Major League Soccer

Monrovian Joe Franco (partial bio: http://goo.gl/jIwtE ), who led Cal State Northridge to "its most successful season in seven years" and was "the 2012 Big West Defender of the Year," will get a chance to try out to play Major League Soccer.

Franco was invited to the 2013 Adidas MLS Player Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, from Jan. 11-15, where he will demonstrate his skills to coaches from the 19 MLS clubs, giving him the chance of being drafted on Jan. 17.

Only 54 players have been invited to the Combine so far this year and only 38 will be drafted in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 17 in Indianapolis.

Source: Major League Soccer press release

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Remodeled Jim's Burger

Lunch at the remodeled Jim's Burger at Sixth and Duarte Road. It is remodeled on the outside but identical on the inside, including the good burgers. Got a cheeseburger with avocado for $4.85 plus the cost of an iced tea and tax. Liked it.

- Brad Haugaard