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Two Monrovia High Robotics Teams Heading For World Championship Competition - Raising Travel Funds


The Suitbots ...

... and the Droidnoughts.

For the first time the Monrovia High School robotics program will be represented by two teams at The FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in Houston, TX. On April 18 the Droidnoughts and the Suitbots will travel together to Houston to compete against 130 robotics teams from around the world.

The Suitbots earned their spot in the World championships by first qualifying through league play for the LA Regional Championships. At the LA Championships they reached the Semifinals and won the Connect Award qualifying them for the Western Super Regional Championships in Tacoma, WA where they were again very strong with a record of 7-2 placing them seventh in their division, reaching the quarterfinals. This outstanding result qualified them for the World Championships.

The Droidnoughts also advanced to the LA regional championships. They were one of 20 teams from the western United States to receive an invitation to the World Championships through the First Tech Challenge lottery process.

These two outstanding Monrovia High School teams will now represent Monrovia, the Los Angeles region, and the 13 western states in The FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships in April.

Monrovia Robotics is an after school program that participates in the FIRST Tech Challenge where students come together to design, build, and program robots to compete in a game that changes each year. Each team is led by an adult mentor who guides them through the process. FIRST robotics has been described as a sport for the mind and is an all encompassing STEM activity.  In addition to building the robots, teams also compete in the ability to inspire, community outreach, connections to the engineering community, innovation, design process and programming skills, which are documented in an engineering notebook.

The Monrovia Robotics Program started in 2010 with one robotics team made up of nine students. Today the program has six robotics teams made up of over 60 students. In addition, the students at Monrovia High School have been instrumental in mentoring and spreading robotics to both of the Monrovia Unified School District (MUSD) middle schools. All together MUSD has 10 robotics teams.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is more than just building robots. The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting Mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

Please support Monrovia's effort to send these outstanding robotics students to the World Championships in Houston. We have created a GoFundme account (https://www.gofundme.com/mhs-robotics-worlds-2017) where we are accepting donations. Or you can contact the Monrovia Robotics program coordinator, Tom Dobson (tdobson@monroviaschools.net) for information on how to make a tax deductible donation or a donate by check.

Source: Press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Assault at Metro Station; Elderly Driver Forgot About Brake; Very, Very Drunk; Car Over Embankment; Suspect Returns for Wallet, Arrested

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 16-19. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
March 16 at 9:25 a.m., police received a call reporting a male subject had struck a female and proceeded to force her into a public restroom at the Metro Rail Station in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle. Officers were dispatched to the location. Officers were given a good description of both parties and quickly detained both subjects. After investigation, the male half was arrested for domestic violence.

Family Disturbance / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 16 at 11:45 a.m., officers responded to the report of a family disturbance at a residence in the 1400 block of S. Magnolia. When officers arrived, they spoke to the female half and discovered she had an outstanding warrant. She was arrested and removed from the location.

Petty Theft / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 16 at 12:32 p.m., a shoplifting in progress was reported at a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington Drive. Officers arrived and located two suspects matching the description provided by the reporting party. One of the subjects had outstanding warrants and was arrested. The other was released.

Warrants – Suspect Arrested
March 16 at 10:37 p.m., officers were on patrol near a park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle and found a subject sleeping in a walkway. A computer check revealed he had two outstanding warrants and he was arrested.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 17 at 2:46 a.m., officers were on patrol in the 100 block of Los Angeles when they saw a subject stumbling in an alley. He was found to be extremely intoxicated and unable to care for his own safety. He was arrested for being drunk in public.

Grand Theft Auto Attempt
March 17 at 10:22 a.m., officers responded to the report of a vehicle burglary in the 200 block of Kruse Avenue. When they arrived, they found the ignition to the victim's vehicle had been punched and there was a shaved screw driver left on the floorboard of the vehicle. The stereo had been removed and stolen. It appears the suspects were attempting to steal the vehicle, but were not successful. The vehicle was locked. The investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision / Property Damage
March 17 at 10:31 a.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 100 block of E. Walnut. An elderly female was attempting to park and forgot to place her foot on the brake. She continued to drive through the parking spot, over the curb and into the front glass windows of a business. She narrowly missed an employee inside the business. The driver was given a re-examination notification.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
March 17 at 10:35 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Spanner regarding a female subject lying on the ground and a male standing over her. Officers arrived and learned that the subjects are boyfriend and girlfriend. They were both extremely intoxicated and were trying to walk home. The female had fallen several times and the male kept picking her up to try to walk her home. The female was so intoxicated she had to be taken to a hospital for treatment. The male was too intoxicated to care for his own safety and was arrested for being drunk in public.

Traffic Collision
March 18 at 7:51 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 1000 block of Briarcliff. A vehicle traveling on Briarcliff went off the side of the road and landed approximately ten feet down an embankment. There were four occupants in the vehicle, but none of them were injured. It appears the owner of the vehicle had done some work on the brakes and may have left air in the lines, causing the brakes to fail.

Trespassing – Suspects Arrested
March 19 at 10:50 p.m., officers responded to a trespassing report at a motel in the 900 block of E. Huntington. A subject was entering the room he had rented at the motel and found a young male and female were inside the room. Both subjects fled on foot from the room. The male subject dropped his wallet in the room as he was leaving. Both subjects returned to the Motel to retrieve the wallet and were detained by officers. Further investigation revealed the door had been left unlocked by management and they had only been in the room for a few minutes. The 16-year-old female was found to be a reported runaway from Los Angeles. Both subjects were arrested for trespassing.

Man Shot and Killed in Monrovia/Duarte County Area

A man was shot and killed Saturday night in county area between Monrovia and Duarte, on East Camino Real Street, just east of California Avenue. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia's Canyon Oaks Named a Model Continuation High School

Monrovia's Canyon Oaks High School has been named a 2017 Model Continuation High School by the state "for its high percentage of graduates accepted into four-year universities [20-30 percent], rising test scores and culture of preparing at-risk youth for college and career." Comment: This is really quite remarkable as continuation high schools are often little more than baby sitting services with the number of grads going to college is closer to zero percent.  https://goo.gl/XM7GNt

Monrovia May Hire Company to Create 'Historic Context Statement'; Water-Saving Challenge

At its next meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/cTaZ53 ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider hiring ASM Affiliates of Pasadena for $64,100.60 to create an "Historic Context Statement" for Monrovia. An HCS "is a report that provides the basis for evaluating historic significance and integrity. It helps to identify important themes in history and then relate those themes to existing resources or property types. Themes may be related to historic events, development patterns, trends, or even cultural topics. An HCS is a valuable tool in helping identify significant properties. https://goo.gl/lMw2mW UPDATE: City Clerk says this item has been pulled from the agenda to be considered at a later meeting.

~ Consider participating in the annual Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation through the National League of Cities this April. Residents in winning cities are eligible to win various prizes and a grand prize will be rewarded to a winning city. https://goo.gl/lyWEnl

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council and School Board to Hold Joint Meeting

The Monrovia City Council and School Board will hold a joint meeting on this coming Tuesday, March 22, to discuss Monrovia Days, the Fourth of July celebration, legislative policy, get an update on the School Resource Officer (cop on campus) program, and to discuss developing a "science ecosystem." The meeting will be held at the school district's board room at the district office at 325 Huntington Drive. https://goo.gl/epSWuB

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Sena


Dinner at Sena, on the west side of Myrtle just south of Lime. Got the short rib grilled cheese sandwich for $11 and a happy hour beer for $4. Enjoyed it.

- Brad Haugaard

Interviews With Monrovia Mayoral Candidates

KGEM's Ralph Walker interviews mayoral candidates ...

Incumbent Tom Adams
Challenger Mark Harris

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Vehicle Theft; Trailer Theft; Burglaries; Sledge Hammer Burglary; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 13-15. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 426 service events, resulting in 91 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto
March 13 at 8:15 a.m., a car trailer was reported stolen from a business location in the 1800 block of S. Peck Road. The trailer was parked at the business on Saturday, March 11. When the victim arrived at the business in the morning on March 15, the trailer was missing. The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Residential Burglary
March 13 at 11:32 a.m., a resident in the 1300 block of S. Magnolia called police to report that three window screens on their home had been tampered with, but the suspect did not gain entry. The responding officer checked the area for any evidence left behind and the investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
March 13 at 3:08 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 600 block of Parkrose regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim parked his vehicle on the street in front of the residence the evening before and secured the vehicle. He returned to his vehicle in the morning and saw the car stereo was missing. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle
March 13 at 6:54 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of W. Evergreen. The victim said she parked her 2008 Honda CRV in the complex parking lot the night prior. She returned to the lot the next evening and found her vehicle was missing

Residential Burglary
March 13 at 9:09 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of N. Magnolia called police to report that his home had been burglarized. He had been on vacation for ten days and arrived home to find his front door unlocked and the house ransacked. Officers were dispatched to the residence and it appears the suspects made entry through a dining room window. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
March 14 at 10:14 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of Fano regarding a possible fight in progress. When they arrived, they saw a male subject running west on Fano and they detained him. Further investigation revealed the suspect stole a bottle of alcohol from a business in the 500 block of W. Duarte. The store clerk chased the suspect to Fano Street. The suspect was arrested for petty theft.

Vandalism
March 14 at 10:54 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of Date Court called police to report four suspects vandalizing property. The suspects were described as three White males and a White female with short hair, wearing a trench coat. The suspects were writing graffiti on a flower planter. The suspects were last seen walking south on Falling Leaf. Officers responded to the area, but were unable to locate the suspects. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
March 15 at 8:15 a.m., a commercial burglary was reported at a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and found the front window of the business had been smashed. It appears the suspect broke into the business with a crowbar and stole currency from the location. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
March 15 at 8:40 a.m., a commercial burglary was reported at a business in the 400 block of W. Huntington. The front window to the business was smashed. The investigation revealed a suspect broke into the business with a sledge hammer and stole currency from the location. The investigation is continuing.

Mental Health Evaluation
March 15 at 10:10 a.m., a subject was reported driving erratically, running stop signs and speeding. The subject exited his vehicle in the area of Huntington and Mountain and walked into traffic. Officers arrived and detained the subject. The investigation revealed the subject was making delusional statements and was a danger to himself. He was placed on a 72-hour mental evaluation hold and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 15 at 5:02 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Myrtle and Colorado noticed a vehicle commit a vehicle code violation. The officer made contact with the driver and a computer check revealed an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and was held on the warrant, pending his court appearance.

Indecent Exposure – Suspect Arrested
March 15 at 5:03 p.m., a female subject called police to report that a male subject sitting at a bus bench in the 300 block of W. Huntington exposed himself to her. Officers arrived, located the suspect and placed him under arrest.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up - Criminal Threats Investigation
On March 14, after an on-going investigation, the student who posted a photograph of four handguns on a social media site with the caption, "I've had enough, get ready for Monday MHS," was arrested for criminal threats. Officers recovered the four handguns depicted in the photograph and confirmed they were BB guns. The student was later released to his mother with a citation to appear in court on the charges. The detective handling the case has taken it to the District Attorney, who will be reviewing it for filing charges.

Will Street Fair Move to Library Park? Homeless Update at City Council Meeting


In his weekly update (https://goo.gl/HIWzPq), City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ The city is considering shifting the location of the Friday Night Street Fair a bit north, to center on Library Park and the streets on its north and south sides, Lime and Palm. Less of Myrtle would be closed, just from Lime to a bit north of Palm.

~ There will be an overview of homeless issues at the March 21 meeting of the Monrovia City Council.

~ Monrovia Police Department is a finalist in the James Q. Wilson Award for Excellence in Community Policing, which recognizes California law enforcement agencies that have successfully institutionalized the Community Policing philosophy. Each year, three agencies across the state are recognized. Chi said it is, "One of the most prestigious awards that can be bestowed to any law enforcement agency in California."

~ The Monrovia Fire Department is creating al fire investigator program, which will let the department take a more active role in investigating the cause of fires.

~ Public Services Department is accepting nominations for the 2017 Older American of the Year Award.  This award goes to a Monrovian 60 years or older who is involved in volunteer service in Monrovia. Questions? Contact Rebecca Sandoval at 256-8232, or at rsandoval@ci.monrovia.ca.us. (Nomination form here: https://goo.gl/HIWzPq )

~ The Monrovia Today Spring Activity Guide is now available here: https://goo.gl/kRpbGY

~ There will be a meeting to hear people's thoughts about the Citywide Park Master Plan on April 13, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Community Center. For more information contact Katie Distelrath at kdistelrath@ci.monrovia.ca.us or at 256-8225.

~ Free workshops on how to use less water. To register for any of the workshops, or for additional information, call 443-2297, or email Valeria@usgvmwd.org. Workshops at Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, 602 E. Huntington Dr. Suite B, Monrovia.

  • Finding and Fixing Leaks, Tuesday, March 28, 7 to 9 p.m., 
  • California Friendly Landscaping, Tuesday, April 11, 6-9:30 p.m.
  • Greywater - Laundry to Landscape, Saturday, May 6, 8 a.m. - noon


- Brad Haugaard





Registration Open for Eighth Monrovia Area Partnership Conference

The Eighth Annual Monrovia Area Partnership annual conference will be held at the Monrovia Community Center at 119 West Palm on Saturday April 22, from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. It is free. To register, click here, https://goo.gl/rxkHt1, call 932-5563 or e-mail map@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Conference workshops include:

  • Building a Better Gold Line Experience
  • Building a Better Response to Homelessness in Monrovia
  • Building Better Awareness of our City's Unique History
  • Building Better & Cleaner Communities
  • Building Better with Resilience 

MAP is a partnership of residents, agencies and city departments, joining unique skills, knowledge and expertise to make Monrovia a strong and vibrant community. Since 2006, MAP has worked year round to develop and promote programs that enhance public trust, practice effective problem solving and educate residents on the subjects of neighborhood safety and community pride.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police St. Patrick's Day Safety Tips

St. Patrick's Day has become one of the nation's favorite holidays to celebrate and party. Unfortunately, too many people are taking to the roads after drinking, making the holiday one of our most dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 252 people lost their lives in drunk driving-related crashes during the St. Patrick's Day holiday period from 2011-2015. More than a fourth of them were killed in drunk driving crashes that occurred in the early morning, post-party hours (midnight to 5:59 a.m.).

That's why the Monrovia Police Department and the California Office of Traffic Safety are teaming up to reach all drivers with an important life-saving message and warning: Don't Drive Impaired by Drugs or Alcohol.

The Monrovia Police Department will deploy additional officers on special DUI Saturation Patrols, specifically to stop and arrest drivers showing signs of alcohol or drug impairment. In addition to this St Patrick's Day enforcement effort, all police, sheriff and the CHP will be on heightened alert, ready to stop and arrest any impaired driver throughout the long weekend.

"These needless deaths can be prevented," said Robert Wilken, Lieutenant with the Monrovia Police Department. "Planning a sober ride home before the party begins is the first step in staying safe on St. Patrick's Day. Don't wait until you've already been drinking to make your transportation decision. Designate your sober driver in advance, and never get behind the wheel if you've been drinking."

If you plan to celebrate this St. Patrick's Day, follow these tips to stay safe:

  • Before celebrating St. Patrick's Day this year, decide whether you'll drink or you'll drive. You can't do both. "Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving."
  • If you're planning on driving, commit to staying sober. If you've been out drinking and then get behind the wheel, you run the risk of causing a crash or getting arrested for a DUI.
  • Drugs, such as many prescription medications, marijuana or illicit drugs, can also lead to impairment and unsafe driving, leading to a DUI. When mixed with even a small amount of alcohol, the affects can be compounded.
  • If you have been drinking, call a taxi, sober friend, family member, or use public transportation. You can download the Designated Driver VIP free mobile app, "DDVIP," for Android or iPhone. The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more. The feature-packed app even has social media tie-ins and a tab for the non-DD to call Uber, Lyft or Curb.
  • Help those around you be responsible, too. Walking while impaired can also be deadly, as lack of attention could put you at risk of getting hit by a vehicle. If someone you know is impaired by alcohol or drugs, do not let them get behind the wheel and help them find a sober ride home.

Source: Monrovia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Gun Photo Posting Was a 'Joke'; Wife Threatened With Shotgun; Homeless Person Arrested on Suspicion of Cell Phone Theft; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 9-12. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 9 at 8:22 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of W. Palm regarding several subjects blocking a driveway. One of the subjects had an outstanding warrant and was arrested.

Outside Assist / Commercial Burglary – Suspects Arrested
March 9 at 8:32 a.m., officers assisted Arcadia Police Department with an investigation of suspects involved in a pursuit. During the course of the investigation, receipts and possible stolen merchandise from a business in Monrovia were located inside the suspect vehicle. Monrovia officers went to the business in the 500 block of Duarte Road and discovered it had been burglarized during the night. The suspects were arrested and joint investigations are being conducted.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 9 at 10:49 p.m., an officer on patrol saw a vehicle fail to stop for the red light at California and Huntington. The officer stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, who displayed symptoms of being intoxicated. Through investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested. He was taken into custody, where he was held for a sobering period.

Criminal Threats – Suspect Arrested
March 10 at 12:41 a.m., a female resident in the 700 block of E. Greystone called police to report her husband pointed a shotgun at her. She said she was lying in bed asleep when she was awakened by her husband, who was holding a shotgun. He threatened her and opened the shotgun to show her it was loaded. The two shells fell out onto the bed. She grabbed the shells, pushed him, and ran to a neighbor’s house and called police. She advised police that their two children were still in the house, ages 3 and 7. When Officers arrived, they positioned themselves around the residence. An officer called the house by phone and spoke to the suspect at length until eventually he was able to persuade the suspect to come out. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody without further incident. The children were unharmed and slept through the entire incident.

Threatening Social Media Post
March 10 at 5:08 p.m., police received notification of a threatening post on a social media site that displayed handguns with a caption reading, "I've had enough, getting ready for Monday MHS." Officers contacted the high school and officers interviewed the students that received the post. Some of the students replied to the post on the site, telling the individual that it was no joking matter and how serious the situation was due to the posting.

The student who posted the photo replied to everyone on the site that he was just kidding and only meant it as a joke. He said he didn't want to harm anyone and he was only joking. When the officers interviewed the student who posted the photo, he admitted to posting it, and said he was at a friend’s house when he got the idea on his own. The friend had BB guns and he took a photo of them. He then posted the photo with the comment on the social media site. He said he only wanted attention on the site and did not know it would go this far and involve the police. He was counseled and his parents were advised. Officers, through investigation, located the BB guns and confiscated them. The school will be handling the discipline of the student and the investigators will be contacting the District Attorney for the filing of potential criminal charges.

Stolen Vehicle
March 10 at 8:24 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1300 block of S. Magnolia. The victim parked his vehicle on the street in the evening, locking the doors and making sure he rolled up the windows. When he came out the next morning at 7:30 a.m., the vehicle was gone. He did not give anyone permission to take the vehicle, a 2006 Acura. The investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 10 at 11:18 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 300 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a subject sleeping in the park covered up by a blanket. He made contact with the subject and saw an empty bottle of alcohol next to him. The subject was intoxicated and thought he was in Alhambra. He was arrested for being drunk in public and held for a sobering period.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
March 11 at 1:13 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of W. Colorado regarding a domestic dispute. A male and female subject who live at the location became involved in an argument that escalated and turned physical. The female had visible abrasions and scratches to her back, arm and leg. The male subject was arrested for domestic violence. The female signed a refusal to prosecute, but wanted and emergency protection order, which was granted.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
March 11 at 7:59 a.m., the victim of petty theft reported her cell phone missing. She stated that she last had her cell phone at a gas station at Mountain and Huntington. Officers used the Find my iPhone app and located her phone at a park in the 600 block of S. Shamrock. The officers detained a homeless person in possession of the phone, who said he found the cell phone at the gas station. The victim said the cell phone was in her pocket the whole time while she was at the station. The suspect was arrested for misappropriation of lost property.

Injury Traffic Collision
March 11 at 11:59 a.m., a traffic collision with injuries was reported at Palm and Mayflower. Two subjects were taken to the hospital for complaint of pain.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
March 11 at 9:16 p.m., an officers was dispatched to Magnolia and Colorado on the report of a subject sleeping on the ground. The subject was located and found to be intoxicated. He was arrested for being drunk in public.

Grand Theft Tools
March 12 at 1:38 p.m., a theft of tools was reported in the 100 block of Acacia. The victim parked his work truck with tool storage boxes on the street the day before and the tool boxes were locked. The next day he returned to the truck and discovered the storage boxes unlocked and his tools were missing. The suspects possibly picked the locks on the truck. The investigation is continuing.

Photo Of Pistols Causes Concern Among Monrovia High Community

A photograph circulating on social media of four pistols with the caption, "I've had enough get ready for Monday MHS," has caused a lot of concern, but Monrovia School Board member Rob Hammond has posted that, "Rumors are running rampant. There is no lock down on any of our sites. There is no unusual activity and aside from rumors it is business as usual." He adds that, "If there were the potential of any of your children being hurt the school board, district office, and the school site would have contacted you and if need be closed the campus. The safety of the people on campus is our first priority."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Mayoral Race: Statement of Candidate Mark Harris

I asked both candidates for mayor - the one contested office in the upcoming Monrovia city election - to submit a statement about their candidacy. Following is the statement I received back from the challenger, Mark Harris. - Brad Haugaard

I love the "any-town USA" feel about Monrovia. My wife and I love walking through Old Town and visiting the many shops and restaurants. Over the last couple of years, Monrovia has seen a twenty percent increase in crime, rise in the homeless population, and the once proud feeling of an "All America City" start to slip away. I think it's time for a change and "A Fresh Start". My main goal in running for Mayor is to make a positive difference for the City of Monrovia and help us become a greater place to live work, and raise your family. I have only the best interests in the residents and business owners of Monrovia on my agenda, I am not a career politician just a Monrovian wanting to make a change for the City.

I have been married for 22 years to my wife Stacy and I have one son Blake who goes to Arizona State University.

Since 2006, I have worked with my twin brother in the celebrity brand marketing integration industry providing celebrity product placement for award shows including charity events, the Grammy's, the Oscar's, the Emmy's ABC, Miss USA, Miss America, and many more. I currently co-host a radio show with my brother and have appeared on reality TV including "Storage Wars" on the A&E Network. Previously I worked in the banking industry for twenty five years where I managed the customer advocacy department at the eighth largest mortgage company in the United States. My schedule gives me the flexibility and time to commit to the issues and concerns of the city of Monrovia.

One of the first items on my agenda is to look into addressing the Homeless issue and coming up with a comprehensive plan to solve the issue. I will start by reviewing the cities Homeless in the Park committee results and see what plan the City currently has in place and what their remedies were ? as it appears the situation has not improved since the committee was organized.

In regards to the rise in Crime in the City I will review the cities current budget for the Police Department and review to determine if the city is properly staffed to handle the current situation. I also would like to review well known crime areas and look into possible lighting for areas that may encourage crime in addition to reviewing the cities policy on city-wide cameras and actively encourage additional neighborhood Watches.

I would also like to create a Eco-Green City-Wide Policy to encourage and or create Green Practices and provide efficient city-wide recycling, Automobile Charging Stations, Solar panels and clean transportation options. Promote the Myrtle Avenue district and make it a "Destination", create Monrovia Volunteer programs and more including city-wide Transparency.

It will be my priority to make Monrovia a town you will be proud to call home and I appreciate your support. My name is Mark Harris and I'm running for Mayor.

Monrovia-Duarte Quota Club Disbands


After nearly 63 years of service to our communities, Quota International of Monrovia-Duarte has voted to turn in its charter.

Our members’ work over these many years has been a blessing in many ways to ourselves, and those we served. Our members are grateful for the opportunity to serve where needed, providing help as requested and to make many long-lasting friendships within our cities. Although we will no longer be working or planning philanthropic giving, we will, as individual members, continue to support our community.

Over the years, Quota Club has provided food and financial assistance for the needy, bought hearing aids and otologic exams for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, and contributed to the surgical re-building of an outer ear when deformity inhibited the ability to hear.

We helped hundreds of students from local public and private high schools move on in their collegiate and post-graduate careers with scholarships. In the 50s, 60s and 70s, Quotarians were the main benefactors for a local school for developmentally delayed children, and now, years later, those former students remain our friends as adults.

We were a major force in starting training and advocacy classes for teaching teenagers and their families life skills; in recent years we were a benefactor to the John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles aiding the youngest deaf children (newborn through infancy) to get a strong start in living their lives amidst the challenges of deafness.

Through Quota International, we’ve contributed to building homes for destitute women and children in India and Southeast Asia, and provided an ambulance and caregiving items for newborns in Central America.

Locally, we created and helped train fire and emergency personnel to give special needs assistance to the disabled and elderly in event of natural disasters. And, we’ve joined with many other local service groups to support areas of special concern to benefit many local residents' causes.

Among our blessings are the many friendships given to us by you, the communities of Monrovia and Duarte. Your generosity, respect and willingness to support what we’ve done over the years was a ray of sunshine and a beacon of hope in Quota’s quest to create a better tomorrow for those we served.

With gratitude,

Laurie Orvis
Secretary
Quota International of Monrovia-Duarte


Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Los Gueros



Dinner at Los Gueros, on the north side of Huntington just west of Magnolia. Got the Enchilada and Chile Relleno for $10.85 and an iced tea for $3. Good. Also, I can recommend the made-at-your-table guacamole. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Mayoral Race: Statement of Candidate Tom Adams

I asked both candidates for mayor - the one contested office in the upcoming Monrovia city election - to submit a statement about their candidacy. Following is the first statement I received back, from the incumbent, Mayor Tom Adams. - Brad Haugaard

Almost two years ago Monrovia gave me an opportunity to change the direction our city was headed in and I thank everyone for their trust. The time has passed quickly and now I ask for your trust again for there is much to do.

I am very proud that working together with the City Council and our staff these things are being addressed. We have our plan to Renew Monrovia in place and work is being done to bring our water systems, sewer systems, roads, curbs and gutters up to par.

We set out to talk to all of you to find out what you wanted in your neighborhood. As a result of that we have had the first major change of our zoning codes is years and now offer more protection to keep neighborhoods as the neighbors want them. You have a City Council that listens, listens to the needs of the community.

For the first time in over 6 years we are having regular meetings with our counter parts on the Monrovia Unified School Board. Our schools educate our children and we need to be able to work together with them, proudly, we now do.

At this point, Monrovia has more good things happening than it has had in years, more jobs, and better infrastructure, better working relationships with our community partners and stronger protection in our neighborhoods, securing a bright future. All you need to do is look around you and you can see the vast improvement in place. I would hope that we can keep this positive momentum moving, we will all benefit from it.

I respectfully ask you to allow us to continue this work and your vote!

Monrovia Company Chosen to Supply Volvo With Electric Car Chargers

Monrovia's AeroVironment, maker of drones and electric vehicle chargers, has been selected by automaker Volvo to develop Volvo's first custom global charging station. https://goo.gl/IHfJDM

- Brad Haugaard

Urinetown Opens Tonight

The Monrovia High play "Urinetown," opens tonight, with two more performances, tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday. Details: https://goo.gl/FTPPXq