Monrovia High Teacher Honored

Monrovia High's Paul Dols was honored as Jostens (the class ring
company) Renaissance Coordinator of the year. They were honored at the
21st annual Jostens Renaissance National Conference on July 13-15 in
Orlando.

"With their passion and dedication, these awardees have made a
difference in their schools and districts by implementing strategies
that impact academic performance, attendance and behavior."


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Company Helps Talk to Mars

Mayor Mary Ann Lutz reports on Facebook that Monrovia's ITT Excelis
Deep Space Network provides a key component for communicating with the
successfully-landed Mars, Curiosity.

- Brad Haugaard

Unity Center Fundraiser Tomorrow

Eat at Paco's (200 E. Foothill in Arcadia) any time between 3-10 p.m. on Aug. 5, (this Sunday), and Paco's will give Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center 10 percent of all dine-in and take-out proceeds. Then the Center will use the money for food, crisis assistance and healthcare for San Gabriel Valley families.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia - Example of a Farmers' Market Town

Monrovia is used as an example in this ABC story about the boom in farmers' markets across the country. http://goo.gl/jcrBI

- Brad Haugaard

Pedestrian Hit by Car on Myrtle

Pedestrian struck on Myrtle. In fair condition. http://goo.gl/YcV9M

- Brad Haugaard

Magnolia Northbound Closure

The north bound lane of South Magnolia will be closed from from Cypress Avenye to Huntington from August 6-9 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m to install water utilities. http://goo.gl/00xzK

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Burger King

Lunch at Burger King. Got a Carolina BBQ Whopper with medium drink and sweet potato fries. $6.58. Good. For desert I HAD to try the limited-time-only bacon sundae: vanilla ice cream, caramel, fudge and bacon. My wife, who maintains some culinary standards, declined to even taste it. Me? I thought it was great.

- Brad Haugaard

Missing Brown and White Dog

Missing dog. North Monrovia.

AeroVironment Drones in Somalia Accidents | Produce Exchange

~ Raven drones built by Monrovia's AeroVironment have apparently involved in accidents in Somalia. http://goo.gl/wDxr2

~ Produce in the Park produce exchange, Saturday, August 4 in Library Park, 9-11 a.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Portantino: 710 Freeway Would be Disaster

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino writes on Facebook that "710 freeway
would be a disaster for our region." The long-delayed 710 would run
through South Pasadena.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's World Vision Evaluates Relief Project for Rwanda Refugee Camp

Monrovia's World Vision, a Christian relief agency, is evaluating how it can provide nutritional support for children and sanitation to a relief camp in Rwanda for refugees fleeing fighting in the Congo. http://goo.gl/gWsNh

- Brad Haugaard

50s Music in Library Park this Sunday

The Wonderelles, 50s music, in Library Park this Sunday, August 5, 7-8:30 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Creating Online Neighborhoods

Monrovia's Neighborhood Services is promoting a social networking site called NextDoor.com, which people are using to:

- Find a new home for an outgrown bike
- Track down a trustworthy babysitter
- Quickly get the word out about a break-in
- Find out who does the best paint job in town
- Organize a garage sale
- Ask for help keeping an eye out for a lost dog

The city has launched seven neighborhoods, with seven more in the pilot phase. The largest so far has 47 members and calls itself the Monrovia Bears. The Wildrose neighborhood, which has 15 members, was the first to get started almost six months ago.

"I have used Nextdoor to welcome new neighbors, give away my couch and post information to keep our neighborhood looking good," said Heather Greer, a member of the Wildrose neighborhood. The founder of the Little Italy neighborhood, Christine Voyvodich, has gotten 21 of her neighbors to sign up.

Other online Monrovia neighborhoods include: Julian Fisher, Tree Streets, East Colorado, Sprouts, Mary Knoll, Monrovista/Hurstview, South Madison, Grand Avenue, Mayflower, Alamitas and 5th Avenue.

To find out more, attend the Neighborhood Conference next Saturday, August 11, at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm Avenue, starting at 10 a.m. Free classes, meet city leaders and staff, receive a free lunch and raffle prizes, and learn how to get more involved in the creating the neighborhood you want.

Classes include: Monrovia Moving Forward, Making an Impact using Social Media, Unity in Diversity, Developing Leadership, Citizen Engagement, History of Monrovia, Developmental Assets for Kids, Code Enforcement, Social Services Panel, Disaster Preparedness, Government 101, and the Power of Presentation. Contact Neighborhood Services at (626) 932-5563 or email map@ci.monrovia.ca.us to get more involved.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Preview of Gold Line Facility in Monrovia

Last night the Gold Line Construction Authority met with Monrovia homeowners and other future neighbors of the 24-acre, $120 million (capital cost) maintenance and operation facility. The meeting, which was attended by about 45 stakeholders and city of Monrovia officials, provided an overview of the Pasadena to Azusa project as well as an in-depth look at the 85% design submittal for the facility. Below, is the proposed site plan for the facility’s campus and the 85% design rendering of the facility’s main building.

Source: Gold Line press release

- Brad Haugaard

Concrete Poured for Gold Line Bridge

Report from Gold Line:

Last night, Skanska placed more than 600 cubic yards of concrete (64 truck loads) for the deck of the I-210 Gold Line Bridge. The work, which began in the late afternoon and was completed at 6:00 a.m. this morning, required a full eastbound freeway closure from 11 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

As with previous major concrete placements, this activity required significant coordination and orchestration. It also took the hard work of on-site crews to ensure the concrete was placed accurately and per plan. The deck is now covered with curing blankets and plastic, which will remain in place for approximately seven days.

Over the next several weeks, crews will begin the important process of removing the forms from the superstructure and finishing the exterior of the bridge. Although a typical activity, it will have greater importance because of the significant architectural design of the structure. First, crews will need to lower the falsework structure a few feet (this activity was accounted for in the falsework’s design). Then crews will have the working platform needed to remove the forms around the exterior of the superstructure and conduct the finishing work.

Source: Gold Line press release

- Brad Haugaard