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Monrovia Firefighters Battle Blaze


The fire is at the southeast corner of Magnolia and Chestnut, apparently at Mosher's Garage, or at least in the same building . Lots of old classic cars there. 

Update: Appears to be about out. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia's Mt. Sierra College Starting Film Institute

Monrovia's Mt. Sierra College is starting a film institute at the school: https://goo.gl/4Tyauf

- Brad Haugaard

Celebrate the Arts Today; Victory over South Pas :-)

~ Monrovia's Celebrate the Arts festival continues today at Library Park - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here are some pictures from Saturday:  https://goo.gl/DvBSdf

~ Monrovia beat South Pas in football. :-) https://goo.gl/MkJapk

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School District May Hire Federal Government Lobbyist for $30,000 a Year

At its Oct. 11 meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/Ddx7Hn), the Monrovia Board of Education will consider, among other things, hiring a lobbying firm for $30,000 a year. "David Turch and Associates (DTA) [will] act as federal advocate on behalf of the District and advise, counsel and represent MUSD in its affairs with the Legislative and Executive branches of the federal government." https://goo.gl/dtPS9V

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Cafe X2O


Dinner at Cafe X2O on the north side of Foothill just east of Alta Vista. Got the chicken shawarma (new on the menu) or $11 and a draft beer at the $3 happy hour price. It was delish! I liked it a lot. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Amada Miyachi Consolidates Its Newly Purchased Company to Monrovia

The San Diego office of UK-based MacGregor Welding Systems was moved to the Amada Miyachi America offices in Monrovia on September 1.

Amada Miyachi Europe acquired UK-based MacGregor Welding Systems, a designer and manufacturer of precision micro joining equipment, along with its USA facility, MacGregor Systems. With this acquisition, Amada Miyachi expanded its range of products and services to meet the complete joining needs of its global customer base.

"Acquiring MacGregor creates an excellent opportunity to grow the business through the effective collaboration of the Amada Miyachi and MacGregor teams and to further develop new resistance welding and other welding products that meet the demands of modern industrial customers worldwide," said David Fawcett, Group CEO and President Amada Miyachi America and Amada Miyachi Europe.

"Integrating MacGregor's capabilities with those at our Monrovia facility will leverage MacGregor's engineering capabilities, excellent customer relationships, and differentiated product line," he added.

Source: Amada Miyachi press release

- Brad Haugaard

Free, Professional, Car Wash - No Donations, Saturday

Monrovia's Calvary Road Baptist Church is offering a free car wash "supervised by experienced professionals," plus hot dogs and refreshments tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 7, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. "Just bring your dirty car and an appetite, no donations needed or accepted." The Church is on the north side of Olive a half block west of Magnolia.

- Brad Haugaard

Portantino to Be Honored for Commitment to Education

This evening, Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents Monrovia, will be recognized as the 2017 Policymaker of the Year by the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities "for his outstanding commitment to higher education and continuous support of students attending California's private, nonprofit colleges and universities." The award is presented annually to an individual or organization who has exhibited strong leadership benefiting higher education. Portantino is the Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Car Wheels Stolen; Burglary Thwarted; Very Drunk; Shoplifter Covers License Plate

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for October 2-4. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 427 service events, resulting in 89 investigations.

Grand Theft
October 2 at 11:29 a.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 1600 block of S. Magnolia. Two male suspects wearing hooded sweatshirts were seen on surveillance video taking the wheels off of a Dodge Charger at the facility. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Burglary Tools / Patrol Hold – Suspect Arrested
October 3 at 3:53 p.m., a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report a possible theft in progress. Two suspicious suspects were at the business. One went into the store and began loading a basket with merchandise. The second suspect was in a vehicle outside waiting for him with a child in the car. Security called police and as officers arrived on scene, the suspect outside warned the suspect inside, who then exited the store without the merchandise. A traffic stop was conducted on the suspect waiting outside in the vehicle, who was parked in a fire lane. The driver was found to be on parole and in possession of burglary tools. He was arrested and a parole hold was placed on him. The Department of Children and Family Services was contacted regarding the child, who was ultimately released to her mother.

Shoplifting
October 3 at 7:28 p.m., employees at a business in the 700 block of W. Huntington recognized a group of subjects in the store that had committed thefts at their other store locations. The group selected numerous items and fled through the rear doors. They fled the area in a green Nissan. The investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
October 3 at 10:48 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of E. Colorado regarding a report of a male subject causing a disturbance. They arrived and determined the subject was extremely intoxicated and unable to care for his own safety. A computer check revealed the subject also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting
October 3 at 11:00 p.m., a shoplifting incident was reported at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. A male suspect selected a power saw from a shelf and fled out the front door to a waiting vehicle. The vehicle's plates were covered and the suspects fled the area in the vehicle. Officers searched the area, but were not able to locate the suspects or vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Felony Vandalism
October 4 at 10:26 a.m., a felony vandalism was reported in the 100 block of Spanner. The incident occurred sometime between midnight and 9:45 a.m. Four vehicles were keyed on the sides and hoods. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence
October 4 at 1:58 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of W. Palm regarding the report of an assault. The female victim told officers she was assaulted by her boyfriend, who fled the location prior to police arrival. Officers conducted an area search for the suspect, but he was not located. The investigation is continuing. 

Former Monrovia City Manager Takes Over in Ontario

Former Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa (who later served as Glendale city manager) has accepted a new position as city manager of Ontario, for a $310,000 per year salary. https://goo.gl/FD2ny2

- Brad Haugaard

All Souls' Eve Service at Saint Luke Church

The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company will present All Souls' Eve, a concert honoring the souls of those who have departed, on Saturday, October, 28, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Monrovia, 122 S. California Ave. The concert will include selections from Moz Requiem, Moerten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna and other works of remembrance old and new. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and $5 for children under 12. They may be ordered online at sgvccsingers.org or via check payable to SGVCC and mailed to SGVCC, PO Box 2225, Monrovia CA 91017.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia-Based Trader Joe's Faces Tough Competition in Amazon-Owned Whole Foods

Monrovia-based Trader Joe's has been hit by price cuts at the new Amazon.com-owned Whole Foods. Reuters reports that "10 percent of Trader Joe’s regular customers visited Whole Foods between Aug. 28 and Sept. 3." https://goo.gl/Mitfs4

- Brad Haugaard

Calling for Monrovia Veterans' Stories

The Monrovia Public Library, in conjunction with the Veterans History Project, is interviewing United States veterans. If you or someone you know is interested in telling their personal military service stories, watch this video ( https://youtu.be/91kTyrndtDU ) and contact Mabel Cross at 256-8262.

- Brad Haugaard

Marijuana Growing in Monrovia; 4th Dimension Conversion; Deadly West Nile Virus; Do You Like Street Music? Kiwanis Donate to Improve Park; Chalkfest; Veterans' Stories


What the former 4th Dimension will look like.

In his weekly report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports:

~ The Planning Commission has recommended that marijuana cultivation (up to six plants) be allowed both indoors and outdoors as long as there is no commercial activity at the growing site. The state requires that personal cultivation be allowed indoors but the commission recommends it be allowed outside as well, but that it must be:
- in a rear yard.
- not be visible to the general public.
- in a secure location.

Robert Parry, Planning Commission chairman, added in a Facebook post, "We expanded to allow outdoor cultivation (as well as indoor cultivation) for a very specific, safety oriented reason. Because of the number of old homes in town, the architecture and building experts on the Commission were very concerned about the electrical load typically associated with marijuana growing. The risk of fire in our older, extremely valued historical homes with ancient electrical wiring is very great. The change was purely intended to prevent fires and resulting damage to homes and surrounding homes."

The City Council will consider the proposal at its Oct. 17 meeting.

~ The former 4th Dimension on Myrtle is now being converted into two retail / restaurant storefronts along Myrtle Avenue (about 3,000 square feet) and 24,000 square feet of office space on the ground floor at the rear of the building and the entire basement.

~ LA County is rolling out a countywide alert to warn residents about mosquito-borne West Nile and Zika viruses.  West Nile can cause long-term health problems, including difficulty walking, neurological disease, loss of independence, memory loss and even death. The greatest risk is among persons over 50 years and those with health problems. Zika symptoms are not severe, but can cause serious birth defects in unborn children. The mosquitoes are most likely to bite around dawn and dusk. Use mosquito repellent, drain all stagnant water where mosquitoes and keep pools and fountains clean.

~ The city and Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board have been sponsoring two live music performances in Old Town each week, on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, between the 100 - 600 blocks of South Myrtle Avenue. Is this worth continuing? Let the city know here: https://goo.gl/UxbD9b

~ Kiwanis Club will present the city with a $20,000 check to pay for three more benches, three custom trash receptacles, four custom picnic tables, and a custom bike rack to be installed at the top of Kiwanis Park at Grand Avenue. and a "holiday tree" to be planted at the top of the park, which the Kiwanis will decorate during the holidays. Plus, the city plans to: replace the chain link fence along the top of the park with a tubular steel fence, replace the drinking fountain with one nearer the stairs, and install a  Monrovia Bear at the top of the Park on Grand Avenue near the "holiday tree."

~ The 54th Annual Celebrate the Arts Show & Chalkfest this weekend. On Saturday, Oct. 7, activities from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while Sunday's events on Oct. 8, will last from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Monrovia's Library Park. Chalk festival, Oktoberfest beer garden, kids chalk and coloring area, collectible art, plus food trucks and live music.  For more information: https://goo.gl/bWZR16

~ Veterans can share their stories as part of the Monrovia Public Library's Veterans History Project. Here's a little video explaining the process: https://goo.gl/rUaqYk

- Brad Haugaard

Alan Sanvictores Will Be Monrovia's next Police Chief

City Manager Oliver Chi announced today the appointment of Captain Alan Sanvictores as Monrovia's next Police Chief.  Alan will assume command of the Monrovia Police Department to succeed current Police Chief James Hunt, who is retiring on Nov. 2.

"We are so fortunate in Monrovia to have an individual of Alan's character and ability to serve as our next Police Chief.  In our organization, we operate in a mission driven and team based environment, and Alan's approach is perfectly aligned with our core values of serving with humility, hunger, loyalty, and smarts.  I am confident that Alan will continue building upon the legacy of success at the Monrovia Police Department as he steps into this new leadership role."

Alan began his career with the Monrovia Police Department 22 years ago, having first been hired as a Police Recruit in 1995.  During his time with the City, he has served in the role of Police Officer, Police Agent, Detective, Sergeant, and Lieutenant.  Most recently, he was promoted to the rank of Captain in January 2010.

"Alan has served as our senior Captain for nearly eight years," said Police Chief Jim Hunt.  "During that time, he has done just a phenomenal job of supporting the initiatives in the Monrovia Police Department, and he has displayed integrity, innovation, and leadership at the highest levels.  I know that Alan will be a simply Police Chief for the community."

During his time with the City, Alan has served in many special assignments, including as the Team Commander for the Foothill Special Enforcement Team, the Assistant Team Leader for the Monrovia Tactical Response Team, and as the Sergeant assigned to run Monrovia's famed Community Activist Policing Bureau.  He holds a Bachelor's of Science degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, along with a Master's of Arts degree in National Security from California State University, San Bernardino.

"I am truly humbled to have the chance to serve the people of Monrovia as Police Chief," said Alan.  "Having the opportunity to lead the Monrovia Police Department is the highlight of my professional career, and I am looking forward to serving with the men and women in our department as we all work together to continue making Monrovia an even better community than it is today."

In his spare time, Alan enjoys spending time with his wife Lisa and their two daughters, and they all enjoy trying new and exotic cuisine.  Additionally, Alan served our country as a member of the Army, and he works to stay in touch with other veterans who also served in the armed forces.

Alan will be formally sworn in as Monrovia's next Police Chief on Nov. 7, before our regularly scheduled City Council meeting that evening.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Calvary Road Baptist Church Praying for Those Affected by Las Vegas Shootings

‎Stephen On Kie Li‎ reports on Facebook that Monrovia's Calvary Road Baptist Church will be praying both for members who have been affected by the mass shooting in Las Vegas, "and we would welcome adding your prayer requests as well." You can send prayer requests for "family, friends, coworkers or anyone else you know" who has been affected by the massacre to the church at prayer@calvaryroadbaptist.church

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Suspected Shoplifter Makes Fuss - Gets Arrested; Auto Theft Suspect Leaves Wallet Behind; Trash Can Stolen; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for September 28 – October 1. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
September 28 at 9:15 p.m., a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington called police to report an adult male who was causing a disturbance by yelling at employees and citizens outside the location. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. Upon a consent search of his backpack, merchandise from the business was located inside. The officer contacted the manager of the business, who confirmed that the items were stolen. The suspect was arrested, booked, and later released with a citation to appear in court.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
September 28 at 10:03 p.m., loss prevention at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a shoplifter. A male suspect went into a dressing room with clothing and came out wearing the new clothes and not his own. The suspect then selected a suitcase, put more clothing inside, and walked out of the store without paying for anything he had on or inside the suitcase. Officers arrived and detained the suspect outside the store. All of the items were recovered and the suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
September 29 at 1:33 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 900 block of W. Duarte when he observed a male subject sitting at the outside tables of a closed business after hours. The Officer stopped and contacted the subject. A consent search revealed the subject was in possession of drug paraphernalia. Three hypodermic needles were found on his person and one of them had heroin in it. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
September 29 at 6:47 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of E. Maple. The victim reported that the passenger-side window of his vehicle was shattered and tools were stolen from the floorboard of the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Grand Theft Auto
September 29 at 7:29 a.m., an attempt grand theft auto was reported in the 1400 block of S. Primrose. The victim heard a loud noise outside near his garage. He looked outside and saw that his vehicle had been moved and a subject was sleeping in the driver's seat. The victim attempted to contact the subject while calling the police. The suspect woke up and ran south from the location, dropping his wallet with his identification as he fled. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 29 at 2:04 p.m., loss prevention at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a shoplifter. The suspect was seen leaving the store without paying for merchandise he had selected. An officer arrived and took custody of the suspect. During a search of the suspect, a bag containing methamphetamine was found on his person. A computer search revealed he also had a warrant for his arrest, which was added to his charges.

Vandalism
September 29 at 2:46 p.m., a vandalism incident was reported in the 500 block of S. Lincoln. Sometime between 7:00 a.m. on September 28 and 11:00 a.m. of September 29, someone used a metal pipe to smash multiple windows on the victim's vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Providing False Information to a Peace Officer – Suspects Arrested
September 29 at 4:01 p.m., loss prevention at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a shoplifting incident to police. Two female suspects concealed merchandise in their purses and walked out of the store without paying. Officers arrived and detained the suspects, who admitted to the theft. The officers recovered the stolen merchandise. The suspects were arrested and during the booking process, both suspects lied about their identities. They were additionally charged with providing false information to a peace officer.

Grand Theft Auto
September 30 at 6:57 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1400 block of Alamitas Avenue. The victim left his vehicle running while he went into his home momentarily. When he came back outside, his vehicle was gone. The vehicle stolen is a brown, 1982, Datsun King Cab truck. The investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
October 1 at 4:16 a.m., a rollover traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Foothill and Sunset. When officers arrived, the driver was still inside the vehicle and couldn't get out. Paramedics arrived and assisted her out of the vehicle. She told the officers she fell asleep and lost control of the vehicle. She was taken to the hospital for treatment and an officer followed to request additional blood be taken to be tested at a later date. The investigation is continuing.

Theft
October 1 at 7:49 p.m., a theft was reported at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. A male suspect stole a trash can containing other unknown items from the business. He exited through an emergency exit on the west side of the store. Another suspect in a white Ford Focus with paper plates was waiting on Shamrock for the suspect and they fled in the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
October 1 at 7:52 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 800 block of W. Colorado. The victim locked the vehicle and went into work. Upon their return, they found the rear glass window was ajar and items were missing from the vehicle, along with the third row seat. It appears the suspect used a thin tool, possibly a screwdriver, to break the latch. The investigation is continuing. 

Monrovia Fire Prevention Week - Open House Oct. 14

Monrovia Fire & Rescue will be participating in the annual Fire Prevention Week. Every year, Fire Departments across the nation celebrate Fire Prevention week to urge residents to take proper safety measures to decrease their risk of fires.  This year's Fire Prevention Week campaign, "Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!" reinforces the crucial need for an escape plan. As part of the campaign, Monrovia firefighters will be visiting Monrovia Unified School District fourth grade classrooms during the week of Oct. 9 to educate students on the importance of developing an escape plan for families in their home, and safety tips surrounding that topic.

To conclude the week, on Oct. 14, Monrovia Fire & Rescue will open its doors at Station 101, located at 141 E. Lemon Ave., to the general public between the hours of 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for an open house event. During the open house, Monrovia Fire & Rescue will host a Junior Firefighter Challenge-a course designed for kids to simulate firefighter drills-and an Auto Extrication demonstration. The demonstration will include tools and procedures the department uses to extricate a patient from an automobile accident.

For more information on Fire Prevention Week and resources to help keep you and your family safe from fire and related hazards, visit Monrovia Fire & Rescue's website: https://goo.gl/Pfgnhr

Source: Monrovia Fire Department press release

- Brad Haugaard

View Saturn and the Moon Tonight

The Sidewalk Astronomers will be at the southeast corner of Library Park tonight, There should be "great views of Saturn and the moon."

- Brad Haugaard 

City Council: Taking Back Our Communities; Coffee With a Cop; Etc.


There will be an update on Monrovia's "Taking Back Our Community Coalition" at a study session at 6:30 p.m. prior to the regular City Council meeting. https://goo.gl/5w68SF

Then, at the regular meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/wdZcay), 7:30, there will be more discussion of Taking Back Our Community" and Police Chief Jim Hunt will report on National Coffee With a Cop Day, which will be held Oct. 4 at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on the corner of Myrtle and Foothill between 7-9 a.m. "Our officers want to get to know you and for you to know them - there's no agenda, no distractions, and no barriers."

Plus a report on improvements at Kiwanis Park at Grand Avenue and a presentation from Monrovia Kiwanis.

And other stuff.

- Brad Haugaard