Monrovia Youth Baseball Wins Tournament | Napolitano Approves of Obama Immigration Decision

~ Monrovia Youth Baseball League Pinto Division All-Stars has won the championship at the Charter Oak Tournament. http://goo.gl/CXjkT

~ Grace Napolitano, candidate for the 32nd District, which includes Monrovia, approved of the Obama Administration's decision to halt deportations of some illegal/undocumented immigrant youth. http://goo.gl/9XmFW

- Brad Haugaard

Dodger Jansen at Monrovia Store Today | Library Film

~ LA Dodger Kenley Jansen will be at the Paul's TV (in Living Spaces) today. Details: http://goo.gl/jWq6F

~ Free film, Unfinished Business, about three who protested Japanese internment during WWII. Wednesday, June 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. http://goo.gl/0c5BQ

- Brad Haugaard

Old Grenade in Monrovia | Huff Against State Budget | Helping Animals

~ Old grenade found in Monrovia county area. http://goo.gl/uhAKH

~ Video: A very unhappy Senator Bob Huff - who represents Monrovia - urges a no vote on the state budget, calling it a "fantasy world." "We should be ashamed of ourselves," he said. "We've borrowed from every fund that is not nailed down." ( http://goo.gl/KS34A ). And a written statement: http://goo.gl/EvfcW

~ Monrovia MOMS Club donates to animals. http://goo.gl/E82gV

- Brad Haugaard

Concrete Pouring Begins on 210 Bridge Starting Late Monday

The bridge from the air.

According to Gold Line Extension spokesman Habib Balian, starting late Monday, 2,100 cubic yards of concrete will be placed to form the main outrigger beam and lower half of the superstructure of the 210 Freeway bridge. This will require more than 200 concrete trucks accessing the site over an 18-hour period, and a full closure of the Eastbound 210 Freeway from 11 p.m. Monday night through 5 a.m. Tuesday morning. Here are some more aerial pictures: http://goo.gl/XCh0A

 

Source: Gold Line press release

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman Criticizes President's Actions as Dictatorial

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly says on Facebook that this is his "new decal."

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, today accused President Obama of acting dictatorially in his decision not to enforce some immigration laws, and mocked the distinction - often used in the immigration debate - between the terms "illegal" and "undocumented" with a sticker, shown above.

Regarding the President, Donnelly wrote on Facebook: "I wonder what the President had for breakfast this morning that gave him the impression that he is the Dictator-in-chief instead of the elected President, whose chief job as head of the executive branch is to see to the ENFORCEMENT of the laws, not the undermining of them."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council: Budget, Faith, and Legal Ads

At its June 19 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/VaeOf ) the Monrovia City Council will, among other things ...

~ Consider adopting the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget and Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Schedule of Fees and Charges. The actual budget info does not seem to be on line yet, but when it is, it should be here: http://goo.gl/A5uHj

~ Recognize Eric Faith for his years of service to the City. "Mr. Faith served as Mayor from 1974 to 1976, as a Councilmember from 1976 through 1982, and was appointed to the Planning Commission in 1984, where he served continuously for 28 years."

~ Consider a bid from Beacon Media (Monrovia Weekly) to be the publisher for the city's legal ads at a cost of $9.50 per inch per column. "Pasadena Star News and Mountain Views newspaper did not respond." Staff recommends continuing the contract.

Comment: You will not read an editorial like this in any newsPAPER, but I think the day is coming (and should already be here) when legal ads are no longer required since a) nobody reads the newspaper anymore, b) the information can easily be put online for anybody who wants it, and c) if the state really feels there is a compelling reason to push these ads at people, then there is an increasingly strong argument that such ads should go in online media. But, frankly, why not just get rid of them?

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Zen Buffet

Lunch at Zen Buffet at the corner of Huntington and Fifth. I don't expect much from a buffet, but I thought everything was actually quite tasty. Deserts were good, too.  You can go back for more servings. A bit over $12 for lunch and an iced tea with tax, so come really hungry.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Runner to Compete in 100-Mile Mountain Run

Photo: Tom Crawford and his running buddy, Cormac.

Monrovian Thomas Crawford, who had the best time in Monrovia's Fountain to the Falls race, will be running in the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run, up and down mountains - with a total of about 18,000 feet up and 23,000 feet down - from Squaw Valley to Auburn. It starts on June 23.

Tom said if he has a good day he may complete the course in about 17 hours or maybe a little under. If you'd like to track him, all the runners are wearing a GPS unit, so you can follow along at the Western States web site: http://www.ws100.com/

- Brad Haugaard

Free Monrovia Monday Night Movies

Free Monday Night Movies held on, uh, Mondays, from June 11-July 30. 6:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room. Bring your family and a pillow and a favorite stuffed friend. Fresh popcorn provided. Call the Library at 256-8274 for movie titles. (Thanks to Becky Shevlin for the tip.)

- Brad Haugaard

Farmer's Market Themed Art Show at Monrovia's Segil Fine Art

"Watermelon Wedgies" by Linda Brown

Segil Fine Art is having its Annual Summer Group Exhibit from June 23-August 18, with the theme, The Farmer's Market: From Field to Farm, Market to Table. Segil Fine Art is at 110 West Lime.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Trader Joe Chicken Recall | Monrovia Home Prices Rise | Senator Huff on Budget, Education

~ Trader Joe cranberry apple stuffed chicken breast recall. http://goo.gl/N9kcI

~ Monrovia home prices rise over past year. http://goo.gl/EcTO0

~ Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, calls the latest Sacramento budget is "about ninety percent taxes and gimmicks." http://goo.gl/9uqJy

~ Video of Huff stating his opposition to anti-charter school legislation. http://goo.gl/lZJNG

- Brad Haugaard

A Night at the Monrovia Library

Video of the Monrovia Library's summer reading program ( http://goo.gl/p8hm0 ). Also some written details (scroll down a bit): http://goo.gl/sXPCb

- Brad Haugaard

Eric Faith Retiring: One of the 'Team of Three' Who Turned Monrovia Around

Planning commissioner and former Monrovia Mayor Eric Faith has retired after 38 years of service. Faith served on the City Council from 1974-84, and since then has been on the planning commission.

From the City Manager's Report:

"Eric's service to the community cannot be overstated. When he came to office as an elected official in 1974, Monrovia was suffering from a downtown that was nearly vacant. Businesses could not get out of town fast enough. Change was needed and that change came in the form of a 'team of three' who ran for City Council seats and won. Together they helped initiate the change that led to Monrovia becoming a City envied by many of the surrounding communities. In addition to Eric the 'team of three' consisted of former Mayors Bob Bartlett and Pat Ostrye." http://goo.gl/sXPCb

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Car Swiped, GPS Swiped from Cars

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 11-13. – Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 491 service events, resulting in 68 investigations.

Vehicle Burglary

June 12 at 5:12 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of South Primrose reported that someone had cut the window of his Jeep and ransacked the interior of the vehicle. Nothing was taken from the vehicle. Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

June 12 at 6:17 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of North Myrtle. The victim parked her car in her driveway in the evening. When she went out to the vehicle in the morning at 6:00 a.m. to go to work, the car was gone. The vehicle was unlocked and a key to the car was inside the console. The vehicle was located and recovered that same day at 5:30 p.m. in the 200 block of West Colorado. Investigation continuing.

Theft From a Vehicle

June 12 at 8:13 a.m., police responded to the report of a theft from a vehicle in the 200 block of West Lemon. The victim parked his vehicle in the rear carport at his residence in the evening. The vehicle was unlocked. The victim returned to his vehicle in the morning and found his GPS missing. Investigation continuing.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman's Bill to Urge Feds to Fully Reimburse State for Cost of Jailing Illegal Alien Felons Fails

A bill by Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, "which urged Congress and the President to fully reimburse the State for the cost of incarcerating illegal alien felons," was killed, Donnelly said "because the Democrats refused to vote." He said that the federal government only reimburses the state "pennies on the dollar" for that cost. http://goo.gl/t16LL

- Brad Haugaard