Freeway Closures | Whitenack Retirement Date

~ The Gold Line folks say there will be up to seven days of freeway closures on the eastbound 210 between Feb. 5-18. The closures are for construction on the bridge near Santa Anita Avenue. Closures will start no earlier than 10 p.m. and end no later than 1 p.m. the following day.

 

~ Joan Whitenack, executive director of Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center, had previously announced she would be retiring. She has now set her retirement date for June 30 of this year.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Cuts

Monrovia's representative on the Citrus College board, Joanne Montgomery, reports that the college has been cutting and expects to cut more, another 5%, or about $2.5 million more. Because of the repeated cuts, she said, the school is down about 3,000 students. Good news: local high school grads will get priority registration.
- Brad Haugaard

Low Food Supplies at Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center

Joan Whitenack, executive director of Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center, reports that in past Januaries the Center usually has a 3-6 month food supply, "but not this January." This year there is only a 1-2 month supply. If you'd like to contribute: http://goo.gl/d7HZd

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Black History Month | Y Fundraisers

~ Black History Month celebration Feb. 19 at United Methodist Church, 140 E. Palm Ave., 2-5 p.m. Photos, live entertainment, speakers and refreshments. To contribute old photos, money, etc., email mdbaa91016@gmail.com

~ The Monrovia Y has several restaurant fundraisers this month, at Rubio's, Ranchero and T-Phillips. But you gotta bring the flyer, so contact the Y to get one.

- Brad Haugaard

Half-Price Book Sale at Monrovia Library

Adult hard cover and trade paperback books and media with a red dot on the spine are half price in February for the Friends Store at the Monrovia Public Library Red Dot sale. (The Friends bookstore is inside the Library.) At half price, most materials will be $1.  Selection is varied. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Monrovia Public Library’s programs and services. For more information, call (626) 932-5555, Ext. 3124 or visit www.friendsofmonroviapubliclibrary.org . Source: press release.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Redone Mon-Arc Shopping Center

Before and after photos of the refurbished Mon-Arc Shopping Center. http://goo.gl/XMTmC

- Brad Haugaard

Revenue Outlook Poor for Monrovia Schools, School Facilities Use,Non-Monrovia Fundraising

At its Feb. 8 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/0g2qQ ), the Monrovia Board of Education will:

- Get a projected revenue report. Summary: Bad. Details here: http://goo.gl/tYxcs

- Consider a district policy about use of school facilities by outside organizations. Details: http://goo.gl/d8Hsk

- Consider a request by Superintendent Linda Wagner about fundraising activities that involve shopping outside of Monrovia. http://goo.gl/qwkOT

- Brad Haugaard

Staff Recommends Minimalist Hillside Approach | Unity Center Family in Video

~ At its Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m. meeting, the Monrovia City Council will consider what to do with the hillsides above Monrovia that the city purchased quite a few years ago. City staff and the Community Services Commission recommend that the Council adopt a minimalist approach, adding only "new gates, signage, bear-proof trash receptacles, and mutt mitts" at each access point and adding “No Parking” signs on  Cloverleaf Drive. Source: http://goo.gl/5XVyv

 

Opinion: This is just Really, REALLY wrong! Everybody in the city is paying for this land and it would be utterly unfair for the city to make it HARDER for city residents to get to it, as would happen if (as under this proposal) the city posts additional stretches of street as "No Parking." I understand residents near the trailheads don't want cars parked out front all day. Fair enough, but that argues for adding some city parking at the trailheads, NOT for making it harder for the people who are paying for this recreation area to get to it.

 

~ Foothill Unity Center reports that the Tuckers, the first family featured on this LA Times video about people struggling in the recession, are Unity Center clients. http://goo.gl/5ZgzM

 

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Cafe Opera

Lunch at Cafe Opera yesterday. My wife said, "No t-shirt!" Glad I listened. Its rather elegant. Got the Trout Almondine. Delicately seasoned and very good. Also, lunch came with warm fresh bread. I ate it all.
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools Fund Drive for Hit-and-Run Victim

Monrovia School District is conducting a fund drive for the family of the hit-and-run victim, a student at Clifton Middle School. http://goo.gl/R28Vm

Semi-Mystery Movies at Monrovia Library | Cacciotti Wants Emergency Drills

~ Friends of the Monrovia Public Library is sponsoring the showing of a sort-of unnamed film on Monday, Feb. 6 from 6-8 p.m. in the Library Community Room as part of a "three-week film series of award winning or nominated films of the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Bring your dinner and we'll provide dessert. FREE. Our second film selection stars Christopher Plummer, Ewan McGregor, and Mélanie Laurent. Rated R, 104 minutes" ( http://goo.gl/K6jZp ). Hmm. If only there were more clues, but I'm going with this: http://goo.gl/6KdkI

 

~ South Pasadena Mayor Michael Cacciotti, who is running for  Assembly in Monrovia's Assembly district, "called on lawmakers to require joint planning and response drills between Southern California Edison and local governments that provide first responder services to their local residents when the lights go out." (Source: Caccioti press release)

 

- Brad Haugaard

Are Little Drones an Air Safety Problem?

Some pilots are concerned about air safety with drones (such as those made by Monrovia's AeroVironment) flying around. http://goo.gl/5e87D

 

- Brad Haugaard

State of City Address for Monrovia Youth | Fire Department Loses Friends

~ On Wednesday, February 8, Mayor Mary Ann Lutz will again deliver the State of the City address - but this time for Monrovia youth. This second annual address will be held for high school students at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at Monrovia High.

~ Monrovia Fire Department has lost two friends to cancer:

- Cathy Brooke, grants manager for the California Fire Safe Council, who helped Monrovia through the grant process for a decade. "Through Cathy’s advocacy, Monrovia’s hillsides are safer, and Monrovia’s residents are better prepared than we were a decade ago."

- Also, Arcadia Fire Captain Andy Troncale. "Monrovia Fire was particularly touched by the passing of Andy, due to the closeness of the two agencies, and the fact that his son, Clark, is a cadet with our Department.  Andy will be missed, but his legacy lives on in his son Clark who wants to be a firefighter just like his Dad!"

Source: http://goo.gl/2YCa2 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Hillside Plan | 'Successor Agency' | Guilty in Shooting

~ At its Feb. 7 meeting, the Monrovia City Council will consider adopting the Hillside Wilderness Preserve and Hillside Recreation Area Resource Management Plan. http://goo.gl/s1K6j

 

~ The "Successor Agency to the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency" will hold what I believe will be its first meeting Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. (This is the governmental agency the city created to wind up the affairs to the redevelopment agency, necessary since the state abolished redevelopment agencies.) Here's the agenda: http://goo.gl/y9Cn1

 

~ Gang member guilty in 2008 shooting. http://goo.gl/xn9dU

 

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Businesses | Citrus Raises Tuition | Chubby Squirrel

~ A round-up of some new businesses in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/ZptQH

~ Citrus College raising its tuition to $46 a unit. http://goo.gl/uO6qN

~ Chubby little Monrovia squirrel. http://goo.gl/G8mRf

- Brad Haugaard