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Parenting and Teen Program

A program for parents and another for teens. Grief and loss, brain development, childhood depression, etc. March 31 in Monrovia. Details: http://goo.gl/MIjYI

- Brad Haugaard

Scoby to Play for Monrovia? Rain on Wednesday?

~ Kurt Scoby to play football for Monrovia this fall? http://goo.gl/DkGRy

~ Thirty percent chance of rain on Wednesday. http://goo.gl/sXaRv

- Brad Haugaard

La Canada Over Monrovia in Baseball :-(

Baseball: La Canada 2, Monrovia 1 http://goo.gl/MO9e6

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Nano Cafe

Lunch at Nano Cafe, at Mayflower and Duarte Road. Got an iced tea ($2.49) and the lunch special Reuben Sandwich ($8.99). I really like the small-town atmosphere of this place. Food is fine, too.

- Brad Haugaard

More Farmers Markets in Monrovia

Family Festival Productions gets price break from the city in exchange for more farmers markets. http://goo.gl/ClTn1

- Brad Haugaard

Canyon Park Storytime: Legend of Sara McGee

Canyon Park Library storytime. Hear about the Rankins family and the Legend of Sara McGee. Visit the three gravestones. March 20, 3-4 p.m. Free. http://goo.gl/YJLkX

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Drumline, Yogurtland, St. Pat's Day, Monrovia Today Joins Community Services

Get details here: http://goo.gl/tz7LS

~ Get a video preview of the Monrovia High Drumline competition.

~ Yogurtland fundraiser today.

~ Where to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

~ Mentioned this before but didn't notice that the Monrovia Today publication has been combined with the Community Services brochure.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Baseball Favorite

Monrovia High Baseball is "overwhelming favorite." http://goo.gl/y0Fvl

- Brad Haugaard

At Council Meeting: New Monrovia City Website Coming | Storm Water Tax Report

At the upcoming March 19 7:30 p.m. City Council meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/FnAKR ) the city will ..

- see the redesigned city web site.

- hear a report on the county's latest thinking on its proposed storm-water runoff tax. http://goo.gl/36gyw

- Brad Haugaard

Pictures of Coming Del Taco

Pictures of the coming Del Taco over by Target, which, by the way, will be open 24 hours. http://goo.gl/Iw51w

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council Candidates Forum Overview: Agreement, Guns and Lawsuits



Candidates Larry Spicer, Alexander Blackburn and Robert Parry

A few notes from the Monrovia City Council candidates forum:

- Larry Spicer emphasized his long and varied community experience, and his time as a planning commissioner and fill-in city council member.

- Alexander Blackburn spoke of how his experience as an attorney bringing contesting sides together would be valuable in city government.

- Robert Parry talked about his ability to lead (he has served in the Army), his committment to controlling the city budget, public safety, making sure the Gold Line station is a positive and not a negative, and establishing a park in the south part of town.

The candidates were mostly in agreement, except, perhaps, on two matters:

1. Would you support a parcel tax on Monrovians? (The candidates seemed to think this referred to the water-runoff tax the county had proposed.)

- Blackburn said he is not in favor of any new tax but if an expense is forced on the city by a higher government, a parcel tax might be a "reasonable conclusion."

- Spicer said it would take a lot of study as it might hurt seniors and disabled vets. He said the city would have to put it to the voters and let them decide.

- Parry said, "No," and added, "We're taxed enough."

2a. Would you support gun control in Monrovia?

- Spicer said he is for some form of gun control because he is against guns in schools.

- Blackburn said the city would have to respect the Second Amendment but would be willing to have some form of gun control if the majority wants it.

- Parry said he is "generally opposed to gun control," but would be willing to require gun owners keep their guns in gun safes in their homes.

2b.  And a followup question, Would you allow teachers to have guns in school?

- Spicer said no.

- Blackburn said his gut feeling is no, but it is hard to know without doing study, "but my gut feeling is it's a terrible idea."

- Parry didn't exactly say yes, but he said that the average police response time is six minutes and "someone can do a lot of damage in that time."

An interesting tidbit came out following a question about how the city could minimize the number of lawsuits it faces.

Spicer (who served as a fill-in council member) said City Manager Laurie Lile had emphasized that the city needs to return to getting the details right. "We have to work smarter," Spicer said. "We have to get back to basics."

Then Parry followed up by saying that a lot of the lawsuits against the city are from city employees.

- Brad Haugaard


A Monrovia Del Taco in Six to Eight Months

Monrovia Del Taco (across from Duarte Target) could be open in six to eight months. http://goo.gl/awy6V Comment: I know this is not health food and I know it's not authentic Mexican, but every once in a while I like to get those crunchy tacos. Yum! I'm looking forward to this.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Car Thief Escapes; Man Holds Suspects with Gun, Police Take Suspects and Gun; Suspect Leaves Her Phone at Crime Scene

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 11-13. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 432 service events, resulting in 71 investigations.

Vehicle Pursuit / Grand Theft Auto Recovery

March 12 at 2:06 a.m., officers attempted to stop a vehicle that was reported stolen to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on March 10, 2013, and a short vehicle pursuit ensued. The suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled in the area of Canyon and Palm. Containment was established and a yard-to-yard search was conducted, but the suspect was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary

March 12 at 8:07 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of Garfield regarding a residential burglary. The burglary occurred between 1:00 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. that day. An unknown suspect pried the backdoor open, ransacked the house and stole a loaded pistol. Investigation continuing.

Mental Evaluation

On March 13 at 10:20 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 500 block of West Foothill regarding a female juvenile trying to hurt herself. The juvenile was detained and appeared to be intoxicated. She was taken to a hospital, where she was placed on a 72 hour hold for mental evaluation.

Fight in Progress / Drunk in Public - Suspects Arrested

On March 14 at 2:31 a.m., a fight in progress was reported in the 500 block of West Foothill involving three male subjects; one subject possibly having a gun. Officers arrived and detained all three subjects. The subject with the gun stated that he heard fighting outside his residence. He thought one of the subjects was being robbed, so he armed himself and went outside. He held both subjects at gunpoint until the police arrived. The investigation revealed that the two subjects were fighting with each other and were both intoxicated. The handgun was taken for safekeeping, pending further investigation, and the two suspects were arrested for drunk in public.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Suspect in Residential Burglary Arrested and Sentenced to 2 Years

November 5 at 3:55 p.m., police responded to a residence in the 300 block of Greystone. The resident came home and found a large quantity of items had been gathered by the suspects, but were left near the front door. A laptop computer and video game were taken. It appears the suspects were scared off and left the items behind.
During the burglary, the suspect also left her cell phone behind. Officers located the phone during the initial investigation and evidence collection. The detective assigned to the follow-up investigation obtained a search warrant for the phone, located the owner and then issued a want for her arrest. The suspect was arrested and charges were filed.
On March 7, 2013, the suspect was sentenced to 2 years for residential burglary - a felony and a strike.


- Brad Haugaard

Suspect Caught in Monrovia After Being On the Lam for More than 30 Years

Long-running murder parolee suspect caught in Monrovia after being missing since 1980. He's been running a drug rehab center. http://goo.gl/wUEuw

- Brad Haugaard

Catalog of Spring Activities in Monrovia

Download a new 27-page catalog of Spring activities (in PDF format) from Community Services. Stuff for youth, adults, and seniors; trips, library, parks, events. http://goo.gl/ZYUFY

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Member Alex Zucco on Assemblymember's Staff

Monrovia School Board member Alex Zucco reports on Facebook that she has a new job at the field office of Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia. The district office is at 600 N. Rosemead Blvd., Suite 117, in Pasadena. There will be an open house there this Saturday, March 16 from 2-5 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Elementary Students in Elementary Olympics

From 850 to 950 Monrovia elementary students will participate in the eighth annual Monrovia Elementary Olympics, a physical fitness event for fourth and fifth grade students in the Monrovia Unified School District. The event will be held March 28, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Monrovia High football and baseball fields.

This event is organized by Dana Elliott, a fifth grade teacher at Wild Rose Elementary school, all elementary school P.T.A.'s and P.E. teachers, and the school district's Network for a Healthy CA. One hundred of these students have been selected to participate in the Olympic Games, which include the long jump, soccer shot, football punt, 50-yard sprints, and many more challenging track and field events. All other students will have the opportunity to participate in a volleyball game called Breakfast Beach Ball Bash! This game, hosted by the Network for a Healthy CA, is played with giant beach balls while the students learn the importance of making healthy breakfast choices. Students will also dance with KidTribe, a physical activity program that encourages them to move using hula hoops.

The Monrovia Elementary Olympic Games were created to promote physical fitness, healthy habits, and let the elementary schools get together to celebrate health and fitness. Through this collaboration, students will learn how breakfast fuels their body as well as how they can make informed choices that support good nutrition. By providing a variety of physical activity events, students will be exposed to activities that they may be able to do at home. As several studies have shown, increased physical activity enhances heart health, improves academic performance, and is a great way to manage stress. Furthermore, it is the goal of the Monrovia Unified School District's Network for a Healthy CA, and schools, to promote wellness and reduce the prevalence of preventable diseases.

Opening Ceremonies: 9 a.m.; Breakfast Beach Ball Bash/Hula Hooping: 10 a.m.; Lunch: beginning at 11:50 a.m.: Awards Ceremony: 12:30 p.m.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Firefighters Get Bald to Fight Children's Cancer

Tomorrow, March 14, members of the Monrovia and Arcadia fire departments, and others, will get their heads shaved to raise money to end children's cancer.

This event is being held at approximately 6:30 p.m. at Matt Denny's Ale House Restaurant, at 145 E. Huntington Drive in Arcadia and in more than 700 locations throughout 48 U.S. states and in many countries around the world.

The firefighters are working through Monrovia's St. Baldrick's Foundation ( www.stbaldricks.org ), the world's biggest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Candidate Forum Tomorrow

Monrovia City Council candidate forum tomorrow, March 14, 7 p.m. at City Hall. Details: http://goo.gl/5USGb

- Brad Haugaard

Aztec Hotel Restaurant Closer to Opening

Work is going nicely on the new restaurant at the Aztec Hotel. Here is the new bar.

- Brad Haugaard