Cacciotti Platform | Huff in the News | MonroviaNow Top-Listed Monrovia News Site | Wine Tasting

~ Assembly candidate Michael Cacciotti, running in the 41st Assembly District to be  Monrovia's representative, lists his priorities as: "job creation, fiscal resourcefulness, 21st century transit, energy, and education systems." Here's his web site: http://www.michaelcacciotti.com/

~ Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, on NBC4's "News Conference" with Conan Nolan. http://goo.gl/KfHky

~ With a recent Google algorithm change, MonroviaNow is the first result for a search for "monrovia news," the third for "monrovia ca," and the sixth for a search on "monrovia." It is also the first news website listed for each of these search results. (This refers to a regular Google search, not a Google News search.) Update: Hmm. That the cause is the algorithm change is reasonable, but it is my assumption, and assuming is bad journalism. Forget the algorithm part; I don't know that part for sure.

~ Foothill Oaks Academy of Duarte (which includes the former Carden of the Foothills school of Monrovia) is having a wine tasting fundraiser. Details: http://goo.gl/yL8LK

- Brad Haugaard

Special Event Expo in Monrovia | Donnelly

~ Special Event expo at Monrovia's Courtyard Marriott April 29. http://goo.gl/pDoh8

 

~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly's newsletter, focusing on a discussion with a manufacturer thinking of leaving California because it is "all stick and no carrot." Donnelly represents part of Monrovia. http://goo.gl/u8ri8

 

~ Donnelly wants plea deal on gun-at-airport incident. http://goo.gl/YkjQg

 

- Brad Haugaard

Snow Over Monrovia

A nice dusting of snow on the mountains above Monrovia this morning.

Rain Possible Through Monday | Monrovia Baseball :-( | Huff Video

~ Rain today, and maybe tomorrow and Monday. http://goo.gl/sCAj0 

~ Monrovia Loses to San Marino in Baseball. http://goo.gl/ASgqv

~ Video of Monrovia's Senator, Bob Huff, on education proposal. http://goo.gl/nXOEn

- Brad Haugaard

Happy 100th First Baptist Monrovia | Sport and Tackle Shop | More $ for Gold Line

~ First Baptist Church is also (like the Maryknoll Sisters) celebrating its 100th anniversary. http://goo.gl/9x9lq

 

~ Wil's Sport and Tackle is moving into the spot formerly occupied by Scratch Cookies and Bakery. http://goo.gl/ZJjzt

 

~ The Senate has approved a transportation bill that should help the Gold Line. http://goo.gl/JD0PR

 

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Red Lobster

Lunch at Red Lobster on Huntington. Got the Harborside Lobster and Shrimp on the special "Lobsterfest" menu. Came with some great biscuits and salad (not pictured 'cause I ate 'em). At about $28, not cheap for lunch (but, after all, it is lobster). Very good and lots. Had to take six shrimp and some biscuits home.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Business Showcase | Huff on Education and Tax Proposal

~ Here's a sign-up flyer for businesses that would like to participate in the Chamber of Commerce's Business Showcase on April 27 - http://goo.gl/59RIz

 

~ Senator Bob Huff's weekly video comment (on education and the Governor's tax proposal): http://goo.gl/Ojrto

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Fourth of July Fireworks Show; Miss LA County; Maryknoll

Among other items on the March 20 City Council meeting (agenda here: http://goo.gl/AAcP2 ), the council will ...

 

~ Consider contracting with Pyro Spectaculars for an 18-minute Fourth of July fireworks show at Library Park. The $20,500 show (at 9 p.m.) will be a collaborative effort between the Fire, Police, Public Works and Community Services Departments. Opinion: Yeah! This is a great event. 

 

~ Recognize Miss LA County 2012, Monrovia resident Monet Bagneris.

 

~ Present a Certificate of Recognition to the Maryknoll Sisters in honor of their centennial celebration.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Mayor Named 'Woman of Achievement'

Mayor Mary Ann Lutz has been selected as the 2012 "Woman of Achievement" for the 24th Senate District in the category of Environment. She will be honored with special celebration along with eight other women on March 23 as part of Women's History Month.  http://goo.gl/EIA5a

 

- Brad Haugaard

Land and Seascape Exhibition at Monrovia's Segil Fine Art

Rolling In

"Land and Light" exhibition of new oil paintings by Laura Wambsgans, March 24-April 28 at Segil Fine Art. Opening reception, Saturday, March 24,5-7 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Suspect Re-arrested on Suspicion of Vandalizing Jail; No Checking Account for You; Tire Vandalism

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 12-14. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 402 service events, resulting in 81 investigations. 

 

Vandalism - Suspect Arrested

On March 12 at 9:29 p.m., a subject in custody was caught vandalizing his jail cell.  He used the metal fitting from his jail wristband to scratch gang graffiti into the paint of the jail bunk.  Special Enforcement Team officers had arrested the male subject on a no-bail warrant for violating Monrovia Police Department's gang injunction.  The Additional charges were added to his offenses.

 

Commercial Burglary / Forgery / Fictitious Identification

On March 13 at 2:44 p.m., a male subject walked into a bank in the 100 block of East Huntington with a fictitious license and attempted to open a checking account.  The bank employee noticed the license appeared counterfeit and called police.  The subject was taken into custody without incident.  The suspect's motives for opening an account are unknown.  Investigation continuing.

 

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

This week, detectives were working on a case that involved a husband and wife who are separated and getting a divorce.  The husband left threatening messages on the wife's phone and began committing minor acts of vandalism involving her car.  The situation escalated, and the wife's car tires were being punctured.  The wife moved in with her mother for protection.  

 

Due to the increase of violence in the husband's suspected activity, patrol officers were positioned to maintain surveillance on the location and the victim's car.  The husband arrived at the location and was seen damaging the wife's tires on her car.  The suspect attempted to drive away, but officers detained and arrested him for the vandalism, and for driving under the influence.  Detectives were able to get a seven-count indictment from the District Attorney's Office.

Monrovia Assemblyman Portantino Honored for Gun Control Measures

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, has been named Legislator of the Year by the California Police Chiefs Association for his measure banning the open carry of unloaded handguns in public places, and a later measure prohibiting individuals from openly displaying unloaded rifles and shotguns in public.

 

Source: Portantino press release

 

- Brad Haugaard

Wildcats Baseball Over Arcadia :-) | Monrovia Cover Girl? | Huff Slams Brown Tax Proposal

~ Wildcats, 8-2 nonleague victory over Arcadia in Baseball. http://goo.gl/el6Ao

~ Monrovia cover girl competitor. http://goo.gl/xIVIk

~ Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (who represents Monrovia) has issued the following statement regarding news that the Governor would introduce a revised version of his $31 billion tax hike:

“Just days after insisting that his was the only responsible tax plan for an integrated budget solution, it looks like the Governor has capitulated by accepting the public employee union tax hike scheme.

This back-room tax increase deal does not bode well for the prospects of real public employee pension reform since it is now clear that the public employee unions are controlling the entire agenda.

The Governor has previously acknowledged that a heavily top-weighted tax would further increase the volatility of state tax revenues that are already subject to severe boom and bust cycles.

This larger and longer tax scheme will inevitably lead to massive state government spending growth and set the stage for yet another budget crisis in California. The idea that a seven-year tax increase is “temporary” defies credibility.” 

Source: http://goo.gl/FPyBs

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia City Manager? | False-work Almost Done | Win a Shopping Spree

~ The Monrovia City Council is holding a special closed session meeting this Friday morning on what appears to be the topic of the city manager. The city has been looking for a new city manager, so (I'm guessing) perhaps it has a candidate it intends to vote on. http://goo.gl/2gxP7 [Update: Nope. I checked and the city is still in the interviewing stage.]

~ Gold Line spokesman Habib Balian reports that the "false-work" - the wooden frame on which the 210 Freeway bridge will be constructed - "will be fully erected early next week, a significant milestone for the project that required more than 20 full late-night closures of the eastbound I-210 Freeway over the last two months. Once complete, crews will focus on constructing the main cross beam and superstructure."

~ Win a shopping spree in Old Town Monrovia. http://goo.gl/ZuoKU

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Senator: Proposing No-More-Miramonte Rules | Diggin for Daisy's | Antonovich

~ Monrovia's State Senator, Bob Huff, says Republicans are proposing rules to prevent any more Miramonte-type sexual abuse by teachers. Rules would prevent old records from being discarded, end delays in dismissal process, have dismissal review done by an administrative law judge alone, allow disciplinary dismissal without pay (reimbursed if found not-guilty), require teachers under law enforcement investigation to be removed from the classroom, strip pensions from felons, etc. http://goo.gl/jhBtU

 

~ Intro to Diggin for Daisy's eco-friendly kid store. http://goo.gl/advLi

 

~ Monrovia's County Supervisor, Michael Antonovich, will run virtually unopposed. http://goo.gl/Orw9N

 

- Brad Haugaard