Monrovian Restaurant Apparently Being Sold

According to this sign in its window, the ownership of the Monrovian Family Restaurant, at Myrtle and Colorado, is being transferred to the Lipsky Corporation. (Thanks to Kelly Moran for the tip.)

- - Brad Haugaard 

Movies In the Park Schedule

Here's the schedule for Monrovia Community Services Department Summer Movies in the Park Watch a movie under the stars. Be sure to bring your lawn chair, blankets, and snacks! 

July 20
Kiwanis Park @ Grand Avenue
Incredibles 2

July 27
Julian Fisher Park
Ralph Breaks the Internet

August 2
Rotary Park
Mary Poppins Returns

August 10
Library Park
WALL•E

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Proclaimed 'Dementia Friendly'

The Monrovia City Council is proud to proclaim the City of Monrovia as Dementia Friendly in recognition of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.

The vision of Dementia Friendly Monrovia (DFM) is a community where those living with dementia, along with their care partners, will always feel embraced, engaged and supported.

As part of the Dementia Friendly America movement, the Monrovia Action Team was founded by the late Lisa Magno (July 27, 1954 - December 22, 2016) and formed through the Monrovia Provider's Group, where they continue to fulfill her mission by passionately serving the elderly in the community.

DFM is a cross section of organizations representing business, education, first responders, health care, faith community, local government, citizens and other partners, guided by Team Leaders; Senior Helpers Community Relations Coordinator, Nathan Kirschenbaum; Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, Public Policy Manager, Kelly Honda and Azusa Pacific University, Adria Navarro, Ph.D., LCSW Associate Professor, MSW Program, Department of Social Work and Sheryl Flynn, PT, Ph.D. Founder and CEO of Blue Marble Health. The committee meets regularly to advance the effort to develop programming and resources for Monrovia residents and their families that live with dementia.

For more information, follow the Dementia Friendly Monrovia Committee on Facebook (https://is.gd/FAxwD3). Additionally, the group meets every quarter and would like to hear from community members that are inspired to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors who live with dementia.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Superintendent Katherine Thorossian's May Schools Report

Dear Monrovia Unified School District community,

At Monrovia Unified, we are committed to preparing our students to graduate from high school equipped with the tools they need to be successful in college and careers. As our school year comes to an end, I am proud to say that our Class of 2019 graduates are responsible citizens who embrace diversity, think creatively and critically, and make a difference in the lives of others.

May was a time of celebration for Monrovia Unified and our scholars, teachers, and staff.

On May 6, our community came together to dedicate the Alternative Schools’ library to Bruce and Mariellen Staller, longtime volunteers who spent more than 20 years developing and improving the library. Our students are enriched by the time that our District volunteers offer so selflessly, and we are all grateful for all of the work Bruce and Mariellen put in to the library.

Monrovia Unified’s scholars and champions represented the District during the Monrovia Days community festival on May 18. The community enjoyed performances from our middle schools’ band and Monrovia High School’s marching band.

At the elementary level, our students were busy with dance and music performances. On May 28, all five of our elementary schools joined for the annual Elementary Spring Concert. Students stunned the audience with performances by combined bands, orchestra and strings, and combined choirs.

It has been a wonderful school year at Monrovia Unified, and our students have excelled in programs such as the arts, robotics, Code to the Future, dual language, and more! We encourage all of our students to enjoy their summer, while remembering the importance of staying connected to education during the summer months.

Congratulations to Monrovia Unified’s graduating Class of 2019 – though we are sad to see them go, we are excited for this new chapter in their lives!

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Suspect Drags Cop in Car - Zapped With Taser; Hit and Run Drivers Escape on Foot; Drugs and Alcohol; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 30 - June 5. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 398 service events, resulting in 80 investigations.

Warrant / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
On May 30 at 9:10 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of S. Alta Vista called police to report a female subject yelling and throwing things in the middle of the street. Officers arrived and located the subject. A computer check revealed she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested for the warrant and a search of the suspect revealed she was also in possession of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

Warrant / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
On May 31 at 12:13 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist in the 100 block of W. Lime for a vehicle code violation. A computer check on the subject revealed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested for the warrant and found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Warrant / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
On May 31 at 2:18 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 1600 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a subject at a park after closing hours. The subject was contacted and a computer check revealed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and during a search of his person, he was found to be in possession of illegal narcotics.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
On June 1 at 1:23 a.m., a caller reported that a motorist collided into a light pole in the area of Mountain and Lemon. The driver was located and he displayed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and/or prescription medication. Field sobriety tests were conducted. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence and held for a sobering period.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
On June 1 at 2:09 p.m., a caller reported that a vehicle was stopped in the middle of the street in the area of Walnut and Alta Vista, and the driver was resting his face on the steering wheel. Officers responded and contacted the driver. The driver displayed signs of being under the influence of drugs. Field sobriety tests were conducted and a DUI investigation was started. The subject was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
On June 1 at 4:07 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of S. Mayflower called police to report a vehicle that struck a parked vehicle and rolled over. The driver fled on foot and was last seen running north on Mayflower. Officers responded, but were unable to locate the driver. The vehicle was towed and the Investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
On June 1 at 6:26 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of N. Sunset called police to report his company vehicle was broken into sometime during the night. The vehicle was parked on the street in front of his residence. The vehicle had both passenger side windows smashed and a laptop was taken. Investigation continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
On June 1 at 11:15 p.m., a caller reported that a male subject was assaulting a female subject inside a vehicle at a business parking lot in the 800 block of E. Huntington. The male fled on foot and the female drove away. Officers responded and located both subjects nearby. After a thorough investigation, the male was arrested for domestic violence and a restraining order violation. A criminal complaint was completed against the female for a court order violation.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
On June 2 at 1:37 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 300 block of S. Myrtle when he observed a vehicle driving with no headlights on, in violation of the vehicle code. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was displaying signs of being under the influence of alcohol. Field sobriety tests were conducted and a DUI investigation was started. The subject was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
On June 2 at 2:36 a.m., an employee from a business in the 800 block of W. Huntington called police to report a vehicle that collided into a light pole. The occupants were seen fleeing the scene and being picked up by another vehicle. Officers responded, but did not locate the suspects. The vehicle that collided into the light pole was towed from the street. Investigation continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
On June 2 at 10:33 p.m., an employee from a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington called police to report her vehicle had been broken into while she was at work. The rear passenger side window was smashed and her purse was taken from the floorboard behind the driver's seat. Investigation continuing.

Burglary
On June 3 at 10:21 a.m., a resident in the 1900 block of S. Peck called to report his work vehicle was broken into while it was parked in front of his residence. One of the door locks had been punched and his briefcase was stolen. Investigation continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
On June 4 at 8:16 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of W. Colorado called to report a subject loitering in the laundry room at the location. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who was later found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Petty Theft
On June 4 at 8:39 a.m., a resident in the 600 block of Parkrose called to report a theft from her vehicle, which was parked in front of her residence. She left her vehicle unlocked overnight, and when she left for work in the morning, she discovered someone had ransacked her vehicle. Investigation continuing.

Public Intoxication / Resisting Arrest – Suspect Arrested
On June 5 at 12:12 a.m., several callers reported an intoxicated subject that was breaking apartment windows in the 800 block of W. Colorado. Officers arrived and located the subject, who was found to be under the influence of alcohol. He had cuts on his hands, substantiating the witness reports, and he resisted the officers as they took him into custody. He was arrested for being drunk in public and resisting arrest.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
On June 5 at 4:06 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of E. Colorado called police to report a male subject looking into vehicles with a flashlight. Officers responded to the area and saw a suspicious vehicle stopped on the street with a subject sitting in the driver’s seat. The male subject began reaching for something and the officer reached through the driver's window to restrain him. The subject began driving away, dragging the officer a short distance.

Another officer entered the suspect vehicle and prevented the driver from driving any further. The subject fought with the officers. A struggle ensued and one of the officers deployed his Taser. The suspect was taken into custody. Per policy, the Monrovia Fire Department responded and treated the suspect for the Taser deployment. The two officers were also treated for injuries sustained while taking the suspect into custody. The suspect and one of the officers were taken to a local hospital for further treatment. The suspect was later medically cleared from the hospital and taken into custody.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
On June 5 at 9:18 a.m., a resident in the 1300 block of S. Mayflower called to report a subject going through the trash. Officers responded and located the subject. It was discovered that the subject also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
On June 5 at 10:27 a.m., an employee from a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington called to report a possible intoxicated person inside the business. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. He was found to be extremely intoxicated and unable to care for himself. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
On June 5 at 1:07 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 800 block of W. Olive when he saw a subject he recognized from prior contacts. He was aware the individual had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The officer stopped the subject, confirmed the warrant, and arrested him per the authority of the warrant.

Monrovia Schools: Progress in Reducing Suspension Rate; Greatest Need in Math and Absenteeism - Hearing Scheduled

Monrovia Schools has developed its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) budget, which is now available for public review here: https://is.gd/cbK69d

The 344-page document details the strengths and weaknesses in the district and outlines what the district is going to do about the problems.

The district notes that its greatest progress has been in reducing the suspension rate, and its greatest needs are in mathematics and reducing chronic absenteeism.

The document says: 

Our immediate next steps are to:

1) Expand the math support provided include 4-5 grade teachers in the full implementation of the SWUN math curriculum [Common Core training], including a deeper study of the math framework. Also, continue to support the use of SBAC interims [progress tests] to guide adjustments to instruction based on the results.

2) District personnel and site administrators will focus on who are the students who are chronically absent and seek to provide supports based on individual needs. A portion of each Instructional Leaders meetings have been and will continue to be dedicated to the analysis of what has been effective in reducing chronic absenteeism and how to scale these approaches to other schools within the district.

The LCAP has been developed with community and staff input, based on student outcomes, and following guidelines regarding eight priority areas outline by the California Department of Education.

The LCAP hearing will occur during the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12. Approval of the LCAP is set for Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

Source: Monrovia Schools press release and LCAP document

- Brad Haugaard

Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks

Monrovia's Fourth of July Concert & Fireworks Show is scheduled for Thursday, July 4 with recorded music beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a live band at 7 p.m. and the free fireworks show beginning at 9 p.m. and lasting approximately 20 minutes. Spectators may reserve a park space no larger than 10 x 10 feet starting at 6 a.m. and must be supervised at all times.

- Brad Haugaard

Summer Concerts in the Parks - Station Square and Library Park

Monrovia's Public Services Department will host the 2019 Summer Concert Series.  Free musical entertainment from 7-8:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chair or blanket, sit back, relax and enjoy the variety of music.

Saturday Concerts at Station Square Amphitheater
1601 South Myrtle Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016

July 6 - COLD DUCK BAND (Old School)
July 13 - Night Owl Productions (Top 40)
July 20 - Blue Breeze Band (Motown / Jazz / Blues)
July 27 - Salsa Caliente (Latin Jazz / Salsa)
August 3 - The Hodads (Variety Band)
August 10 - The Skinny Ties Band (80's Rock)
August 17 - Mark Easterday Band (Country)
August 24 - Langston Theard & Adoration (Gospel Soul)


Sunday Concerts at Library Park, Rotary Club Bandshell 

July 7 - SOTO Band(Top 40 / Latin)
July 14 - Langston Theard & Adoration (Gospel Soul)
July 21 - The Kelly Rae Band (Country)
July 28 - The Smokin' Cobras (Retro / 50's)
August 4 - Hit Me 90s (90's Pop)
August 11 - BUMPTOWN (Old School Disco)
August 18 - Yachty by Nature (Yacht Rock 70's & 80's)
August 25 - The Answer to Classic Rock (Classic Rock)

- Brad Haugaard

Foothill Unity Center Preps for Back-to-School Supply Event

Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center is prepping for its 2019 Back to School school supply event with a meeting at its 790 W. Chestnut Ave., Monrovia, office on June 13, from 3-4:30 p.m. If interested, RSVP to information@foothillunitycenter.org

- Brad Haugaard

Officer Rosendo Ramos to Receive Distinguished Service Medal; Summer Reading Party; Etc.

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

~ The Library will hold a "Backyard Party" to kick off its summer reading program on Saturday, June 8, from noon to 4 p.m. in the park and throughout the library. Activities for all ages, from fort building and a paper airplane contest for the kids, to karaoke and DIY summer crafts for adults.

~ Monrovia Police Officer Rosendo Ramos III will be presented with a Distinguished Service Medal at the annual Police Department Awards Ceremony, Thursday, June 13, at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. A cake and punch reception will follow immediately afterwards in the Police Department Community Policing Room.

~ The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) will hold a Warriors Art Evening fundraiser on June 20 at 6:30 p.m. Participants can paint (or watch others paint) in an art session led by veteran and artist Wadvin Alfaro. The $26 fee includes painting, or watching, and a cheeseburger and fries dinner. Drinks sold separately. Register online (https://is.gd/H3arzJ) to support vets and the local VFW.

~ How we vote is changing. We'll be using "vote centers." There'll be community meeting about this on Thursday, June 6 at 6 p.m., at the Second Baptist Church. https://is.gd/9MnKK5


~  The city's Community Garden project, hosted by Mountainside Communion Church, received 27 applications for 21 available garden plots. So all the spots are taken, but if you want to attend the ribbon cutting, it'll be Saturday, July 20 at 9 a.m.

~  The city is applying for a state grant to make improvements at Lucinda Garcia Park (at Olive and Mayflower). On Thursday, June 13, at 6 p.m., city staff will show the Community Services Commission around the park so the commission can provide feedback on the staff plans.

- Brad Haugaard

Letter to Editor: Portantino Right to Drop SB50

The decision by State Senator Anthony Portantino to pull a bill that would have dismantled city planning authority over residential development in California was wise and necessary. SB50 was a blunt instrument that would have forced cities to allow 5 and 6 story apartment buildings regardless of considerations such as added demand for water, power, schools or other infrastructure. Historic neighborhoods would be destroyed. Quiet residential streets would find themselves construction sites for thousand-unit rental complexes.

Few of California’s 538 cities have existing buildings this large. It would dramatically change the character of these communities. Even the major cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles that do host similar buildings found SB50 unacceptable. Their city councils joined the opposition to this measure.

There is no doubt that California’s housing market is broken. Each year, the city of Houston issues as many housing permits than our entire state. But the blunderbuss that is SB50 is not the solution. Senator Portantino was right to pull the bill.

Robert Helbing
President
Monrovia Chamber of Commerce

Former Monrovian Leslie Van Houten Again Denied Parole

Former former Monrovia High School cheerleader and homecoming princess, Leslie Van Houten, was again denied parole - this time by Governor Gavin Newsom - for her part in the Charles Manson murders. https://is.gd/KBSOFg

- Brad Haugaard

I Only Wish!

This is rather funny.

According to the website, Zoominfo, MonroviaNow.com has an annual revenue of $3.2 million.

I wish! I think MonroviaNow made about $50 last year (Thanks for advertising Monrovia Historic Preservation Group! Hope it did well for you.)

Also, it says MonroviaNow has 16 employees.

Uh, no. Just me. Owner and chief bottle washer.

And it thinks we're based at 2033 E. Washington Blvd. in Pasadena (the address of St. James Church).

Nooo. I'm still in Monrovia. No idea where that came from.

Also, it appears the website believes Thomas Montes, who was recently appointed Monrovia Schools' new School Resource Officer, is somehow affiliated with MonroviaNow.

No again. He has no connection with MonroviaNow except for being the subject of a story.

I guess I should be flattered.

- Brad Haugaard

Report on Monrovia Music Fest

Here is a photo report on the 2019 Monrovia Music Fest by Gem City Images. https://is.gd/ptvcz7

- Brad Haugaard

New Features on MonroviaNow

Well, I finally got around to adding a feature to MonroviaNow that I should have added long ago. At the top of the MonroviaNow.com webpage you can now click on either "Schools" or "Police" to see the latest stories on either of these topics. So far I have added stories from 2019. Hopefully I'll get around to 2018 soon.

- Brad Haugaard

Sidewalk CPR - Learn to Save a Life

Need a Piano? Get One and Benefit Monrovia Historic Preservation Group

Monrovia Historic Preservation Group is selling a baby grand piano with its bench for $2,000. All proceeds benefit the group. https://is.gd/QCAF7h

- Brad Haugaard

Council to Vote on Putting Sales Tax on November Ballot

At its Tuesday, June 4, meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/oJoNJ8) the Monrovia City Council will consider calling a special election on November 5, 2019 to ask Monrovians to pass a .75% city sales tax to prevent the county or state from grabbing the money. https://is.gd/0Wnrul

The idea is that by increasing sales tax to the maximum level permitted by the state, that would make any new sales taxes passed by the county or state irrelevant in Monrovia.

The wording on the ballot measure would be as shown above.

The main uses for the tax money would be:

• To upgrade the Community Center.
• Achieve a AAA credit rating (meaning cheaper money if the city has to borrow).
• Give money back to residents.
• Capital and infrastructure improvements
• "Community Priorities," meaning affordable housing, youth programs, crossing guards, etc.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Church to Become Laser Tag Arena

This Friday a Monrovia church is going to turn its “whole auditorium into a giant laser tag arena” as part of a free event for high school students. From 6:30-10 p.m. The event will be held at Hope Unlimited Church (1900 Walker Ave., a block south of Duarte and a block east of Myrtle). 

- Brad Haugaard 

Comment: Let's Not Overlook the Trades at Monrovia Schools

Recently I commented on some new tech-related courses at Monrovia High, saying, "Well, this is good, but it doesn't give me much confidence that there is any follow-through on the discussion before the election about science and tech not being for everybody. How about adding some classes for the trades: auto mechanics, electricians, etc.?"

Well, I got a response from a member of the district saying, if I may paraphrase, that the new Advanced Graphic Design, Web Development, and Game Development classes ARE trades because by taking them students can get good jobs without going on to college.

Okay, I suppose this is an acceptable definition of the "trades," but it was not what I was thinking about. Nor, do I imagine, is it what other people think about when they think of the trades. What I was thinking about was the traditional get-your-hands-dirty kind of jobs.

So why do I - who spent a career at tech companies - think the traditional trades are so important?

Well, suppose you are a computer graphic designer, web developer, or game developer. Who is your competition? I'll tell you who - Every other designer or developer in the whole big, wide, hungry world! Any job that can be done digitally can be done pretty much anywhere.

I know this because I've lived in the midst of it. I've watched programmers go from making well over $100,000 a year to being laid off. A nearby tech company I know recently laid off about a hundred programmers. At the same time the company is hiring programmers overseas.

So, these jobs are very easy to outsource to India or Ukraine, but also everybody and his brother's cat is being taught computer tech. I just saw an article called: "Coding for kindergarten." The concepts and tools for programming are being made simpler and simpler, which means more and more competition, even locally.

But suppose instead that you are a plumber, welder, or auto mechanic - someone who has to be physically at a location. Who is your competition? Probably nobody outside of maybe a 20-mile radius. You are NOT competing against the whole world. And when I talk to people in the trades they complain that they can't get enough workers.

So while I don't want to demean tech jobs, and I think, in particular, that the robotics teams in the Monrovia schools are really great, I think we are giving the trades - in the traditional sense - very short shrift, and I think in fairness to our students who do not want to go on to college that we should offer them training in skills that cannot be done in India or the Ukraine for a quarter of the cost they can be done here.

Rant concluded.


Update: Oh yeah, I wanted to add this joke:

Man gets a bill from his plumber.

Man: "$150 an hour! I'm a lawyer and even I don't make that much."

Plumber: "Yeah, I didn't make that much when I was a lawyer either."


- Brad Haugaard