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Monrovia's Jewish Federation Book Festival in November

A noted Bible scholar, one of New York's most celebrated chef/caterers, a foreign correspondent and several historical novelists are among the acclaimed authors coming to speak in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys for the Monrovia-based Jewish Federation's 16th Annual Jewish Book Festival from Nov. 2-23. Festival-goers will get the inside scoop on everything from integrating nuts and seeds into a healthy gourmet diet to Chinese attempts to save thousands of Jewish lives during World War II. Details: http://goo.gl/RqrCy6

- Brad Haugaard

Panera Fundraiser to Fight Breast Cancer

On October 10, 100% of net sales of Panera Bread's Pink Ribbon Bagel at participating Southern California bakery-cafes will be donated to Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation for research into the cause and prevention of breast cancer. For the rest of the month, 10 cents from the sale of each bagel will be donated to the Foundation. There is a Panera Bread in Monrovia at the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center.

- Brad Haugaard

City of Monrovia Tips on Living With Bears

- Purchase and properly use a bear-proof garbage container.
- Wait to put trash out until the morning of collection day.
- Don't leave trash, groceries, or animal feed in your car.
- Keep garbage cans clean and deodorize them with bleach or ammonia.
- Keep barbecue grills clean and stored in a garage or shed when not in use.
- Only provide bird feeders during November through March and make them inaccessible to bears.
- Don't leave any scented products outside, even non-food items such as suntan lotion, insect repellent, soap or candles.
- Keep doors and windows closed and locked.
- Consider installing motion-detector alarms, electric fencing or motion-activated sprinklers.
- Harvest fruit off trees as soon as it is ripe, and promptly collect fruit that falls.
- Securely block access to potential hibernation sites such as crawl spaces under decks and buildings.

This is an active time of year for animals and they may venture out of the foothills and into residential neighborhoods where they can become a potential danger to humans.

More tips: http://goo.gl/ZAMT5k

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Station Square Meeting | Fire Danger

~ Ask questions about the Station Square Transit Village project tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 5:30 p.m. at the Monrovia Park & Ride Lot at 1601 S. Myrtle. For more information, contact Monrovia Public Works at 932-5575 or email pwcomments@ci.monrovia.ca.us. http://goo.gl/WPDhNp

~ National Weather Service reports that critical fire weather conditions are likely Wednesday night through Friday evening due to low humidity and gusty northeast winds.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: See Police Car, Fall Over; DUI on DUI; Invisible Attacker

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 25 - 28 . - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested 
On September 26 at 12:21 a.m., an officer noticed a male subject standing, looking as if he was off balance, in the 300 block of West Duarte Road. When the subject saw the police car, he completely lost his balance and fell backwards into a bush. The officer stopped to check on the welfare of the man and determined he was so intoxicated that he was unable to care for his own safety. The subject was arrested for being drunk in public and was taken into custody and held for sobering.

Driving Under the Influence / Warrant – Suspect Arrested 
On September 28 at 1:50 a.m., an officer followed a vehicle onto the 210 Freeway for a vehicle code violation. He attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle continued traveling west at 35 miles per hour, then exited at Baldwin in the city of Arcadia, where it stopped. After investigation, the driver was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested for driving under the influence. The suspect also had a no-bail warrant for his arrest for a previous DUI, which was added to his charges.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Weapons Offense – Suspect Arrested 
On September 28 at 4:39 a.m., a hotel in the 700 block of West Huntington called police to report that a male subject had entered the hotel and was yelling that someone was going to kill him. The subject had a large knife and went up to the ninth floor. Officers arrived and detained the subject, who was in possession of a dagger. The suspect admitted he had just used methamphetamine. He was hallucinating and believed something was chasing him. The suspect was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance; he was arrested and taken into custody.

Bus Tour of Monrovia Craftsman Homes | Grease Bill Becomes Law

~ The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group Newsletter reports that MOHPG will be working with Pasadena Heritage to provide guides for Pasadena Heritage's bus tour of Monrovia during its Craftsman Weekend, Oct. 17-19.

~ A grease bill by Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, has been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 1566 beefs up requirements for licensing haulers, increases the penalties for stealing grease and allows law enforcement to impound vehicles for up to 15 days. Fines have been raised to $1000 for a first violation, $5000 for a second and $10,000 for the third violation. Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Member Disappointed at the State Limiting Schools' Disciplinary Powers

Monrovia School Board member Alex Zucco is apparently not happy with Governor Jerry Brown signing a law that limits the use of "willful disobedience" as a reason to suspend students. Zucco writes on Twitter: "So much for 'local control' - heavy sigh." http://goo.gl/Yf00f8

Comment: I am with you on that, Alex. Slowly - and sometimes not so slowly - local authority is being usurped by the state and federal governments.

- Brad Haugaard

And Yet More Monrovia Bears



I saw these bears, a mom and cub, hanging out in an oak tree about a half hour ago in north Monrovia. To avoid helicopters I refrained from calling the TV news. 
- Brad Haugaard

Le Gourmand Restaurant Coming to Monrovia


Le Gourmand, a new market/cafe, is coming to Monrovia. Just south of Lime on the west side of Myrtle. It is still being fixed up but this window sign says: Gourmet Market & Café. Specialty Items, Home, Gift Baskets, and More.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Over Los Altos :-)

Monrovia wins tight football game over Los Altos. Monrovia 27, Los Altos 25.

Update: Full story http://goo.gl/rQ820f

- Brad Haugaard

Too Much Fuss About Monrovia Bears?


Old picture of bear in our back yard.

I'm curious.

It seems whenever a bear is sighted in Monrovia we have sort of a media stampede, like today. Helicopters and whatnot. But bears - for better or worse - are really getting to be rather commonplace here and I'm wondering if maybe the media isn't overdoing things a bit.

What do you think?

- Brad Haugaard

Attend Citrus, Make More Money | Poppy Paint at Train Yard | Development of Station Square

~ PayScale, Inc. has recognized Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, as one of the nation's top 10 public two-year colleges based on alumni earning potential, and fifth among California's 112 community colleges in this category. The report, released September 10, 2014, encompassed data collected from 349 public and private institutions and included early-career and mid-career median salaries for alumni who earned associate degrees. Overall, public community colleges out-performed private career colleges in terms of associate degree-only graduate salaries. Source: Citrus press release

~ The canopy frames at the Gold Line Operations Campus in Monrovia received a California Poppy color paint job this week. Comment: Nice, though I'm not sure I'd call the color "California Poppy." http://goo.gl/6IUCxM

~ Samuelson & Fetter received approval for a 261-unit apartment complex as a part of Monrovia's Station Square. http://goo.gl/sI2acu

Got Lunch at Rigo's Deli Mini Mart


Got lunch at Rigo's Deli Mini Mart, at Mayflower and Foothill. The place with the cow. Got the roast beef sandwich with egg, except they didn't have any egg, so roast beef, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado and jalapeños for $6.35. It is pretty tight quarters so I took it to go. Also got a small watermelon juice ("sandia" on the menu) for $2. Pity about the egg but it was still a really great sandwich. The watermelon juice was fresh-made in front of me. Excellent! And I didn't know you could fill these cups up into the lids!

- Brad Haugaard

Another Monrovia Bear

Yet another bear in a backyard. Overhead shot, so I'm assuming that is the helicopter we've been hearing. http://goo.gl/1vQqDR

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia QB Asaph Zamora | Dumping Fines | Workers Quit Vynl Tech

~ Feature story on Monrovia quarterback Asaph Zamora. http://goo.gl/7llM7H

~ Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that will "increase the fines imposed upon those convicted of damaging, vandalizing or illegally dumping on property maintained by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy" to $1,500. The conservancy includes a bit of the San Gabriel Mountains. AB 1767 was authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia.

~ Workers say they had to quit Monrovia company Vynl Technology when they couldn't show they were in the country legally. http://goo.gl/OBAPoI

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Marijuana; Old Acquaintance at a Bad Time; Shaking Motor Home

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 22-24 . - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 404 service events, resulting in 53 investigations.

Marijuana Grow Discovered 
On September 24 at 6:40 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers investigated the report of a possible marijuana grow in the 100 block of East Colorado. The Special Enforcement Team obtained a search warrant for the location and confirmed a moderate-sized hydroponic marijuana grow. The investigation is continuing.

Prowling 
On September 24 at 11:30 p.m., an officer responded to the 1200 block of Los Robles regarding a prowler. The caller reported that someone was knocking on the windows of her residence. The victim was not expecting anyone. She was extremely scared and dispatch directed her to take her phone and go into her bathroom and secure the door. Officers responded and located a subject in the backyard of the victim’s property. The subject located was an adult male and he was acting very strange, but was not under the influence. He claimed to know the female resident and said he was homeless. The resident confirmed she did know the subject from years ago when he lived across the street. She had no idea why he was at her residence. The subject claimed he had been chased there by gang members. The area was searched extensively and no one else was located in the area. The subject was identified and strongly advised to leave and not return. The victim did not want prosecution.

Family Disturbance / Warrants – Suspects Arrested 
On September 25 at 1:15 a.m., dispatch received a call reporting someone screaming from a motor home parked in the 700 block of East Lemon. The caller indicated they could see the motor home shaking as though subjects were fighting inside. Police arrived and located the vehicle. The subjects were not fighting, but both had outstanding warrants and were arrested.

Monrovia Police Find 150 Marijuana Plants in Warehouse

Monrovia Police found an indoor hydroponic marijuana farm at a warehouse near the corner of Colorado and Ivy last night. Lt. Nels Ortland said the warehouse was very well organized and had about 150 plants. He said police found the farm after an anonymous tip, but as there was nobody at the location when police arrived, they are still working to connect the farm with whomever is responsible.

- Brad Haugaard

Chu Says Obama Interested in Making San Gabriel Mountains a National Monument

Representative Judy Chu says President Obama is interested in the possibility of turning the San Gabriel Mountains into a National Monument. http://goo.gl/vcPk66

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Celebrates 100 Years

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, will begin its centennial year celebrations with public festivities on Saturday, October 11, 2014, at the Citrus College stadium, including an All-Class Reunion, Centennial Celebration special events and activities, and the Homecoming Game.

The All-Class Reunion and Luncheon is open to all Citrus Union High School and Citrus College alumni from every graduating year.  Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. with lunch served at noon.  For $19.15, alumni luncheon attendees will receive lunch and a special pin commemorating the event.  Guests may register online at www.citruscollege.edu/100 or by calling the Citrus College Foundation at 626-914-8825.
 
At 2 p.m. will be free-to-the-public events - including a car show, food trucks, face painting and other children’s activities, a business expo and Citrus College historical exhibits.

The day’s celebrations will conclude with the Homecoming Game at 6 p.m. The Citrus College Fighting Owls will face the Bakersfield College Renegades. During the halftime show, Citrus College student musicians and singers will perform a tribute in honor of America’s veterans.

Citrus College was founded on June 5, 1915, under the leadership of Dr. Floyd S. Hayden. It opened with 27 students and became the first community college to be established in Los Angeles County and the fifth in California. The institution was established due to an innovative trend in higher education that was being adopted across the nation, in which high schools were allowed to add two years of postgraduate work, approximating the studies prescribed in the first two years of college.   This allowed a growing number of high school graduates to advance their educational goals, acquire new marketable skills, and achieve greater prosperity.

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Receives $22 Million Order | Cute Bear

~ Monrovia's AeroVironment receives $22 million RQ-12 Wasp AE Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems order for United States Marine Corps. http://goo.gl/FXe3xH

~ A Southern California Edison worker encounters a bear (cute one, too) in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/fkq6Ic

- Brad Haugaard