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Trader Joe's Hummus and Dip Recalled

Hummus and 5-layer dip from Monrovia-based Trader Joe's is being recalled. Possible listeria contamination: http://goo.gl/GLv2X1

- Brad Haugaard

Festival of the Foothills Today and Tomorrow at Monrovia's Immaculate Conception Church

Immaculate Conception Church, on Shamrock, is holding its Festival of the Foothills today and Sunday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1-11 p.m. Sunday. Live bands, rides, games, food and craft beer.

- Brad Haugaard

Myrtle Avenue Sunrise

I saw this sunrise from the Pavilions parking lot a couple months ago and painted it. It is looking east from the Starbucks toward Myrtle.

- Brad Haugaard

Picture of Paint n' Play Burglary Suspect

Picture of the man suspected of ransacking Monrovia's Paint n' Play: http://goo.gl/QqJjtS

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School District: Add Jobs? AP Classes; Governor's Budget

At its next regular meeting on May 28, 7 p.m. (agenda: http://goo.gl/g6zKre ), the Monrovia School Board will ...

~ Consider adding four new clerical positions to the district's Human Resources department. http://goo.gl/u547UJ

~ Hear reports on Advance Placement U.S. and European history and a K-5 math curriculum.

~ Hear about Governor Jerry Brown's budget proposal, which affects the schools. The report addresses the state's $74 billion unfunded liability for teacher retirement, establishing a rainy day fund, and the expiration of Prop 30 taxes. http://goo.gl/GLGedV

- Brad Haugaard

The Bear Went Over the Mountain

Video of a bear crossing Mountain Avenue. I can't quite place where it is on Mountain, but looks like it may be close to Foothill. http://goo.gl/9el7EC

- Brad Haugaard

Memorial Day Ceremony at Monrovia's Live Oak Memorial Park

There will be a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. at Live Oak Memorial Park and Mortuary (200 E. Duarte Road) with the Upper San Gabriel Valley Allied Veteran's Council. All are welcome.

The local VFW Post 2070 maintains a Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor all those from the local area who have died while defending our country. Details: http://goo.gl/WPp1Vy

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Budget Study Session | Unity Center Fundraiser | Chu Anti-Hazing Amendment

~ Special City Council study session on the budget, Tuesday, May 27, at 5:00 p.m. http://goo.gl/geJIxN

~ Fundraiser for Foothill Unity Center Auxiliary on Tuesday, May 27, 3-9 p.m. at Paco's Mexican Restaurant on Foothill in Arcadia. Ten percent of all dining proceeds, whether dining in or out, go to help low income families through the Unity Center.

~ An amendment by Congresswoman Judy Chu to the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act would require the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on anti-hazing efforts of each branch of the military. The amendment also requires updated reports from the service branches on their hazing prevention and response efforts. Her amendment was approved by a voice vote. Chu represents part of Monrovia. http://goo.gl/2BeILS

- Brad Haugaard

The Folks Who Keep Monrovia Clean and Working

As part of National Public Works Week, May 18-24, Monrovia is recognizing the importance of its public works people. These men and women oversee the streets, sidewalks, traffic systems, water system, sewer system, trash pickup, street sweeping, parks and more. City of Monrovia photo.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Wang's Place


Lunch at Wang's Place, Chinese restaurant on Lemon just east of Myrtle. Got the nine dollar lunch special with Kung Pao chicken, white rice and hot-and-sour soup.  Plus a beer for $5. Came with Japanese tempura, so it was kind of fusion-y. Really good. Liked it a lot. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assembly Member's Grease Law Passes Assembly

A bill by Assembly member Chris Holden to combat the growing problem of kitchen grease theft has passed by unanimous vote in the Assembly and now heads to the Senate. Holden represents Monrovia.

"Restaurants are finding that their used kitchen grease is a hot commodity that has sparked grease wars in a battle over who can cash in on the 'liquid gold' that is then converted into biodiesel fuel," explained Assemblymember Holden. "This bill closes a loophole in enforcement code that will make it easier to stop the bad players."

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. Thieves often strike in the night and syphon off the used grease and sell it on the black market.

AB 1566 gives law enforcement the tools they need to stop modern-day oil rustlers by beefing up requirements for licensed haulers, increasing the penalties for stealing grease and allowing law enforcement to impound vehicles for up to 15 days.

About 3 billion pounds of used oil is produced in the U.S. each year. Biodiesel is a product of vegetable oil or animal fat mixed with alcohol that can be turned into usable engine fuel or added to regular diesel.

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

War Amputee Soccer Demonstration at Monrovia's Library Park

International Full Gospel Fellowship / Restored Life Fellowship (i.e., the church at Primrose and Palm) will hold a summer kick-off on June 1, 2-5 p.m. with a party in Library Park. There will a special soccer demonstration by young people who had limbs amputated, as shown in the movie "Blood Diamond." Also, live music with The Johnnies, taco truck, games, free car wash. For more information, call 358-7700.

- Brad Haugaard

Possibility of Severe Thunderstorm

The National Weather Service is predicting the possibility of a "severe thunderstorm" (one-inch hail and gusts to 60 mph) in effect until about 4:15 p.m. today for northeast LA County. It seems this is probably referring to the north side of the mountains, but couldn't hurt to carry an umbrella. http://goo.gl/PL16Ok

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Resident on Let's Make a Deal

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/LMADlogo2011.jpgCBS has written me a note to say that Monrovian George Brown will be on CBS’ Let's Make a Deal on Thursday, May 29.
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Illegal Two-for-One Sale; Skateboard Rip-Off; Tip Jar Break-In; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 19-21. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 368 service events, resulting in 70 investigations.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
April 19 at 1:25 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of Wildrose called police to report a white truck parked in front of his house. The dash board of the truck was on his front lawn. An officer responded and ran the license plate of the vehicle, which returned as a reported stolen out of El Monte on May 17. The vehicle was recovered.

Vehicle Burglary
May 19 at 8:03 p.m., a witness phoned police to report two adult male subjects that drove into a parking lot in the 700 block of East Lemon in a red sports car type vehicle. The subjects stopped, exited their car and shattered the window of a parked car. They appeared to be removing something from the vehicle and then they fled. Police responded and an area search was conducted, but the suspects were not located. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
On May 19 at 8:07 p.m., loss prevention personnel at a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain called police to report a shoplifter in custody. They observed the male subject select two drills and place them into a cart. The subject left the cart in the garden department with one of the drills still in it. He went to the check out area and paid for the second drill, and then left the store. He returned a short time later and retrieved the drill he had left in the cart. He then proceeded to the check out area. He told employees he had already purchased the drill and showed them the original receipt. He left the store with the drill and was stopped outside by loss prevention. An officer responded and arrested the suspect.

Stolen Vehicle
On May 20 at 12:14 a.m., a worker at a business in the 1400 block of South Myrtle Avenue flagged down an officer to report his vehicle had been stolen from the business parking lot during his shift. An area search was made, but the vehicle and suspect were not located. The investigation is continuing.

Theft From a Vehicle 
On May 20 at 2:29 p.m., a theft from vehicle was reported in the 400 block of Patterson Drive. The victim is unsure if he locked his vehicle or not. Miscellaneous items were taken. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Person
On May 20 at 5:30 p.m., two subjects, one light skinned wearing a gray muscle shirt and one dark skinned wearing a red and yellow hat, approached the victim in the 900 block of West Duarte. They asked the victim for directions and then grabbed the victim’s skateboard out of his hands. The suspects ran west on Duarte Road and out of sight. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary / Grand Theft
On May 21 at 6:11 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of South California regarding a grand theft. He spoke with the project manager at the location, who told him someone broke into the equipment boxes during the night and stole a large amount of construction tools. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglaries
On May 21 at 5:35 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 200 block of West Duarte Road on the report of two vehicle burglaries. Two vehicles were broken into while the victim’s were inside a gym working out. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
On May 22 at 1:30 a.m., a customer at a gas station heard glass breaking at a nearby business in the 700 block of West Huntington. She looked in the direction of the business and saw what she thought were shadows of men inside, so she called the police. When the officers arrived, they saw two male subjects in dark clothing exit the store and run across a field along the 210 Freeway. The front window of the business had been shattered. Containment of the area was established, but the suspects were not apprehended. The loss from inside the business was a small amount of cash from a tip jar. The investigation is continuing.

For Your Calendar: Taste of Old Town Monrovia

This year's Taste of Old Town Monrovia has been scheduled for Oct. 19. Wine, food, bands and musicians, on Myrtle in Old Town. Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Monrovia.

Monrovia Police Cracking Down on Drivers Without Seat Belts

The Monrovia Police Department wants to remind motorists to Click It or Ticket. In order to enforce this reminder, beginning Monday, May 19th, officers will be joining in the 2014 national seat belt enforcement mobilization and cracking down on motorists who are not belted.

Even with a seat belt usage rate of 97.4 percent, California still has 800,000 or more who aren't buckling up. In a crash, they stand a 50 percent greater chance of being killed than those who have taken the two seconds to buckle in. In an ongoing effort to reach those remaining safety holdouts, police, sheriff and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) departments across the state will be taking part in Click It or Ticket from May 19 through June 1.

"Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer vacation season, and we want to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound," said Sergeant Daniel Verna. "If you are not wearing your seat belt, you will be ticketed."

According to new data released from the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatalities are up nationwide for the first time in five years. In 2012, 10,335 people who were killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing their seat belts. NHTSA data also details how more traffic vehicle deaths occur at night. In 2012, 61 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed during the nighttime hours of 6:00 p.m. - 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts.

"Wearing a seat belt is one of the easiest and best things you can do to protect yourself in the event of a car crash," said Rhonda Craft, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. "Taking a few moments to properly secure yourself and all your passengers before going on your way could mean the difference between life and death."

The cost for a seat belt violation in California for unbuckled vehicle occupants over age 16 is a minimum of $161 for a first offense. The penalty fees for failing to properly buckle up any child under the age of 16 is a minimum of $490 per child for a first offense, plus a violation point will be added to the driver's record. If the parent is not in the car, the driver gets the ticket. For more traffic safety information, visit the California Office of Traffic Safety at www.ots.ca.gov or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Click It or Ticket mobilization, http://www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.

Source: Monrovia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard

Energy Efficiency Workshop at Monrovia Library

Energy efficiency workshop Wednesday, May 28, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Monrovia Library Community Room. Details: http://goo.gl/phohR8

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council Overturns Plastic Bag Ban

In a topsy-turvy moment, the Monrovia City Council tonight overturned the plastic carry-out bag ban that it approved at its previous meeting.

It happened like this: The motion that was passed last time came up for a confirmation vote this evening, a process called "second reading" that is usually routine, but in this case two council members were missing, Councilman Larry Spicer and Councilman Alexander Blackburn, both of whom, along with Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, voted to pass the measure at the previous meeting. So, with Spicer and Blackburn missing, Councilman Tom Adams made a motion to reject the plastic bag ban, Councilwoman Becky Shevlin seconded the motion, and the motion carried, with Mayor Lutz voting in opposition. Several people spoke in opposition to the bag ban, and Mayor Lutz said she thought those in opposition were "orchestrated" and that the council should vote on the matter when all five members were present.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Paint 'n Play Burglarized

Monrovia's Paint 'n Play, on Myrtle, was burglarized. Photos and jewelry taken. http://goo.gl/i1scPt

- Brad Haugaard