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Monrovia Hires Tina Cherry as New Community Services Director

After a lengthy recruitment process, the City of Monrovia has hired a new Community Services Director: Tina Cherry, MPA. Ms. Cherry has an extensive background in the field of community services, and comes to Monrovia from the City of Chino where she served as the Department of Community Services Recreation Supervisor since May 2007.

Cherry's career focus has been on service to the community through youth and recreation programs. Her career has taken her through many cities and given her great experience, starting as a recreation leader and making her way up through the ranks of the Community Services Departments of Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Laguna Hills and Chino.

Cherry has managed before and after-school programs, seasonal camps for youth, intervention and prevention programs, city-wide special events, literacy and health initiatives, the Chino Youth Museum and the armed forces banner program. As Community Services Director for the City of Monrovia, Cherry will oversee the Recreation and Library Division.

Cherry graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton in 2003, and received her Master's in Public Administration from Cal State Northridge in 2010.

"I am honored to be part of this very strong team here in Monrovia- it seems to be a really good fit," said Cherry. Ms. Cherry began work in Monrovia on Monday, March 24, 2014. Former Community Services Director April Soash retired in November 2013.

Born in Yorba Linda, CA, she now lives in the City of Corona with her husband of nine years, Craig Cherry.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Triumphs: Color Guard Undefeated; Drum Line is Finalist; Robotics Team Among Best in Country

~ This weekend, the Monrovia High Color Guard continued its undefeated season by winning first place in Division AA at both the WGASC Golden Valley Tournament on Friday and the WGASC Arcadia Tournament on Sunday. The Sunday score set a new personal best for Monrovia Color Guard and seats the team second among 92 schools as it looks for its third championship in four years.

~ Also this weekend, the Monrovia High Drum Line competed in the WGI Western Percussion Championship, where it qualified as a finalist, seating 6th out of 18, finishing 7th at finals.

~ Monrovia High's "Kings & Queens" robotics team competed at the three-day Western Super Regional Championship, where it had an 8-2 qualifying record and made it to its divisional semifinal. At the tournament the Kings & Queens competed against 72 teams from 14 states. Teams at this level represent the top 7 percent of robotics teams in the country.

Source: http://goo.gl/UbNOi8

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Pit Bull Attack; Armed Play Station Robbery; Knife Fight Over Love?

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 20-23. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Stolen Vehicle
On March 20 at 9:04 a.m., dispatch received a call from a business in the 1800 block of South Mountain regarding a stolen vehicle. The victim reported one of their company vans had been taken overnight. The vehicle was secured and all keys were accounted for. There were no signs of forced entry. The investigation is continuing.

Dog Incident
On March 20 at 12:29 p.m., a Code Enforcement Officer observed a pit bull attack a dog that was being walked by a couple in the 300 block of East Lemon. Code Enforcement radioed for officers to respond. Officers responded and held the dog until Pasadena Humane could respond. Pasadena Humane Animal Control Officers arrived to handle the incident.

Suspicious Activity
On March 20 at 1:05 p.m., officers attempted to contact two suspicious subjects at a park in the 700 block of East Lemon. As the officers walked up to talk to the subjects, they ran and a foot pursuit ensued. During the foot pursuit, one of the subjects discarded a baggie of marijuana. A perimeter was established around the area and one of the subjects was located. The suspect who discarded the baggie was not located, but officers involved in the foot pursuit recognized the suspect. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Identity Theft / Possession of a Fictitious DMV Identification – Suspect Arrested
On March 20 at 3:18 p.m., a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain called police to report a shoplifter. Loss prevention contacted a female suspect who had concealed items on her person and left the store without paying. Officers arrived and determined the suspect was also in possession of a fake driver’s license. She did not have any other identification on her. She was arrested and taken into custody. During the booking process, an additional ID with someone else’s name was located.

Armed Robbery
On March 20 at 3:45 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 300 block of West Huntington on the report of a robbery. A male suspect walked into the store and produced a handgun. He demanded a Play Station and the cash in the register. He then ordered the employee to walk to the back of the store and he fled the location. He fled in a four-door vehicle, possibly grey. The suspect is described as a male White, 5'8", average build, 38-42 years old, green eyes, and clean shaven. He was wearing a blue hat, "security" button down shirt, grey jeans, and possibly white sneakers. The investigation is continuing.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon
On March 21 at 11:05 p.m., a caller reported he was the victim of a robbery in the 300 block of West Cypress and that he had been stabbed. He reported that there were three suspects. Officers arrived and upon investigation, determined that the victim was not robbed and that the victim and the suspect have a love interest in common. The victim and suspect actually stabbed each other during an altercation. Both victim and suspect received non-life-threatening stab wounds and were treated at a hospital. The two outstanding suspects have been identified and the investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol / Hit and Run Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
On March 22 at 2:10 a.m., officers responded to the 400 block of South Ivy regarding a hit and run traffic collision. A female claimed she was the victim of a hit and run. A description and the direction of travel of the suspect vehicle were relayed to field officers. A citizen volunteer happened on the vehicle at California and Hurstview and called for assistance. The female driver was stopped and detained for hit and run and drunk driving. The driver and passenger were arrested.

Vehicle Burglary
On March 21 at 8:01 a.m., dispatch received a call regarding a vehicle burglary in the 700 block of West Huntington. The victim parked and locked his Chevy Tahoe in the rear parking lot of a hotel. When he returned late the next morning, the doors were unlocked and the third row seat was missing. A large sum of cash was also taken from the console. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
On March 21 at 9:10 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of East Lime regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim found two suspects in her vehicle when she returned from the movies. She confronted the suspect in the driver’s seat. He gave her two purses and headphones he had taken from the vehicle. The suspects then fled. Based on the descriptions of the suspects, the officers were able to identify one of the suspects as a local homeless person. The suspect was found a short time later and confessed to being in the car, but would not identify his partner. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
On March 23 at 3:32 a.m., an officer was patrolling in the 1600 block of South Mountain when he observed a motorist run a red traffic light. The investigation revealed the motorist was driving while under the influence of a controlled substance and was in possession of illegal smoking paraphernalia. The motorist also had an outstanding warrant issued for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Monrovia Assemblymember's Grease Bill Approved by Committee

A bill by Monrovia's Assemblymember, Chris Holden, to combat the growing number of kitchen grease thefts, was overwhelmingly approved today in Assembly Transportation Committee.

AB 1566 beefs up requirements for licensed haulers, increasing the penalties for stealing grease and allowing law enforcement to impound vehicles for up to 15 days.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, a typical fast-food restaurant produces 150-250 pounds of grease a week and a fully loaded pumper truck could bring in as much as $900 at a recycling center.

AB 1566 now goes to Assembly Agriculture for consideration.

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Easter Egg Hunt and Kids Health Event | Looking for Seniors to Honor

~ Monrovia is sponsoring an Easter egg hunt and healthy kids event on Saturday, April 19, at 10 a.m. at Recreation Park ( http://goo.gl/RbzxA5 ). Registration for all egg hunts will begin at 9:45 a.m. Activities include: arts and crafts, face painting, carnival games, refreshment area, wellness activities, demonstrations, toddler activities, teen activities, musical entertainment and a visit from the "Spring Bunny" (aka Easter Bunny). For additional information, contact the Department of Community Services at 256-8246. Source: press release

~ Monrovia is still looking for nominees for its Older American of the Year Award. Details: http://goo.gl/67Lj8e

- Brad Haugaard

Location of Blaze Pizza


Here is where the Blaze Pizza will be located in Monrovia. In the Pavilions shopping center next to Baskin-Robbins. 

- Brad Haugaard

Why Monrovia is Scraggly on the Bottom | Yoga Class

~ Why is the Monrovia border scraggly on the bottom (see here: http://goo.gl/0DRwYA )? Well, it all has to do with finding children for its first school. Fun details: http://goo.gl/wtKn6v

~ Yoga teacher Betsy Laban is teaching a new gentle yoga class at 10:30 a.m. Fridays in Swan Hall at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at California and Foothill. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. Drop-ins are welcome. Signup and fee information: http://goo.gl/w1YgJW

- Brad Haugaard

Blaze Pizza Coming to Monrovia | San Marino Over Monrovia :-(

~ A new build-your-own pizza place called Blaze Pizza coming to Monrovia. It'll be at 108 W Foothill, which I believe is in the Pavilions shopping center at Foothill and Myrtle. More about this, and Flamzz Pizza, here: http://goo.gl/KMIeeI

~ San Marino 3-2 over Monrovia in baseball. http://goo.gl/ikN7oU

- Brad Haugaard

Bella Sera Being Remodeled



Monrovia's Bella Sera restaurant is being remodeled. It's on Myrtle just south of the Krikorian Theater.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board: Salary Increase for Employees; Fixing the Grass; Ballot Initiative

At its March 26 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/ViSKvb ), the Monrovia School Board will ...

- Release its tentative agreement with its various labor groups, which is to give them a 1.8 percent salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2013. http://goo.gl/O1wosy

- Consider renovating the fields at Clifton and Santa Fe middle schools. New grass will cost $350,000 to $400,000, plus incidental costs. http://goo.gl/vx7FF2 Comment: Yikes! That's a lot of money for grass.

- Discuss a proposed ballot initiative that would prevent the state from redirecting or reducing local property tax revenue away from public schools. http://goo.gl/faJQ9h

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Izakaya Uppo

Lunch at Izakaya Uppo, a new Japanese restaurant about three doors up from Olive on the east side of Myrtle. Got the Uppo  Signature Ramen for $7.95 and an iced tea for $2.50. Plus tax and tip. That's a pork cutlet in the picture, by the way. It came with a little garden salad. Very nice for a cool day. 

- Brad Haugaard

Salsas Taqueria Replaces S'Links


The former S'Links Gourmet Hot Dogs, at the corner of Myrtle and Olive, is now Salsas Taqueria, and it's open. S'Links is moving, but I know not where. 

-Brad Haugaard

Fundraiser to Replace Equipment from Monrovia's Centre Stage | Bear Video

~ "The Lights of Broadway", a musical fundraiser to replace equipment stolen from Monrovia's Centre Stage, 7 p.m. tonight at Arcadia Christian Church, 1900 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia. For information call Keely Milliken at 297-4758.

~ Another bear video. This one looks as if it was filmed on Hillcrest. http://goo.gl/oEnYsg

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Radio Shack Robbery | Baseball Loss to Rosemead :-(

~ Monrovia Radio Shack robbed. http://goo.gl/fmuUAB

~ Rosemead 4-2 over Monrovia in baseball. http://goo.gl/UBzJBW

- Brad Haugaard

Yappy Hour for Monrovia Dogs

Yappy Hour for dogs at The Dog Zone, 150 W Foothill (next to Pavilions) 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 21. Bring your social pup(s) for fun and snacks! Meet The Dog Zone crew, Two Dogs Petsitting, Beans The Whippet, Romping Dogs Dog Training, Pawmazing Pets Photography, get info on Bark For Life of Monrovia, etc.

- Brad Haugaard

Planned Apartments at Monrovia Train Station | Peach Cafe to Open for Dinners


~ Local developer Samuelson Fetter is proposing a five-story, 261-unit apartment building that will be right next to the Monrovia Gold Line station. Monrovia city staff held a preliminary review of the plan to give suggestions to the developer. http://goo.gl/VV5hnz (Photo from City of Monrovia)

~ With more nightlife, Peach Café (141 East Colorado) will begin opening for dinner. For the past eight years it has been open only for breakfast and lunch. http://goo.gl/VV5hnz

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council to Meet About Appointment of a New City Manager

The Monrovia City Council will hold a closed session meeting March 24 at 5 p.m. regarding the appointment of a city manager. http://goo.gl/uBjbn6

- Brad Haugaard

Support Monrovia Boy Facing Chemotherapy

Scott Stokes posts on Facebook about Joncee Troy Lenker, a seven-year-old Monrovia boy who will have to undergo chemotherapy following cancer surgery to remove an eye ( http://goo.gl/oRVFL4 ). Stokes writes: "If you can afford it, please purchase a fundraising shirt to show your support for this amazing kid and his family." Here is the link to purchase a t-shirt: http://goo.gl/r7pwPc

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Pub Crawl to Fight Cancer

Relay For Life of Monrovia is sponsoring a pub crawl to raise money to fight cancer. http://goo.gl/BOeq98

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Electricians Catch Robbery Suspect; Homeless Evicted from Roof of Church; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 17-19. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 439 service events, resulting in 87 investigations. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 2:14 a.m., an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle traveling the wrong way down a one-way street in the 100 block of West Lime. The 19-year-old male driver was intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and he was determined to be DUI. He was arrested and taken into custody. He was later released on citation to appear in court. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 2:26 a.m., an officer stopped a blue Jeep in the 400 block of West Colorado for failing to stop for a stop sign. He approached the male driver and smelled a strong odor of alcohol. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the male subject was determined to be DUI. He was arrested and taken into custody. He was later released on citation to appear in court. 

Altered Vehicle Registration Tabs / Outstanding Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 12:55 p.m., a parking control officer working in the field saw a vehicle displaying altered registration tabs. An officer responded, confirmed the tabs were altered and stored the vehicle. On March 18, the registered owner of the vehicle came to the police department to dispute the claim. When a computer check was run on the registered owner, the registered owner was found to have an outstanding warrant and was arrested. The registered owner admitted to driving the vehicle, but did not admit to altering the tabs. The vehicle has not been registered since 2006. 

Outstanding Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 8:50 p.m., an officer saw a subject he knew had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was standing at the corner of Foothill and Sunset. A computer check revealed the subject had a $30,000 warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court on a charge of being under the influence of narcotics. The subject was stopped and arrested for the warrant, then taken to the Monrovia Jail, where he was booked and will be housed until his court appearance. 

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 9:41 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of North Magnolia on the report of domestic violence. When they arrived, officers contacted the female victim outside the home. She said her husband had just come home intoxicated and began yelling at her. He pushed her to the ground and started punching her, causing open wound injuries. Officers contacted the male suspect, who denied hitting his wife. The paramedics examined the victim, and the male subject was arrested for domestic violence. 

Residential Burglary
March 19 at 1:58 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 300 block of North Mountain. The resident left the location at 10:00 a.m. that morning, securing the property. The housekeeper arrived at 1:05 p.m. and found the master bedroom had been ransacked. The loss appears to be mainly jewelry. The suspect(s) appear to have entered the home through a rear door. The investigation is continuing. 

Robbery – Suspect Arrested
March 19 at 2:30 p.m., officers responded to the report of a robbery that just occurred in the 900 block of West Huntington. The victim was having her nails done at a local salon and had hung her purse on the back of a chair where she was sitting. The suspect entered the business and asked for the manager. When the employee left to get the manager, the suspect grabbed the purse and ran out the door. An employee began to scream and an electrician working outside the business heard the screams. He tried to stop the suspect by grabbing him. The suspect struck the electrician. A second electrician working at the location jumped in to help. Together, they detained the suspect until officers arrived. The suspect was taken into custody and held for bail. 

Trespassing – Suspects Arrested
March 19 at 8:56 p.m., the pastor of a church in the 100 block at California called police to report two homeless subjects, one male and one female, camping on the roof of the church. Officers arrived and successfully removed the two subjects off the roof. They removed blankets and all of their property off the roof, as well. The two were placed under private person's arrest for trespassing and taken into custody.