Monrovia's World Vision: $1.2 Billion for Childhood Undernutrition

Monrovia's World Vision has committed to a $1.2 billion package of measures to combat childhood undernutrition, and is challenging governments - especially those from G8 countries - to match this commitment. http://goo.gl/dGlWr

- Brad Haugaard

Helicopter Construction Above Monrovia

A helicopter delivering a bucket of concrete to a power line construction crew above Monrovia today. Scads of butterflies up there, too. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Gold Line Maintenance Yard Reaches Milestone

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority has completed all design work, nearly 30 percent of construction, and nearly all underground utility installation on the 24-acre, $265 million Gold Line Operations Campus in Monrovia. More: http://goo.gl/kUnQW

- Brad Haugaard

Local Church Serves As Collection Point for Union Rescue Mission

Dominion Hilltop Ministries - at its new home at the Monrovia Community Center at 119 West Palm Ave. - is serving as a collection point for contributions to the Union Rescue Mission. Every second Sunday of the month, beginning this Sunday, the church is collecting as clothing, deodorant, soap, blankets, socks, tooth brushes, tooth paste, office supplies, cleaning supplies, diapers, feminine products and shampoo for the mission. Sunday services begin at 10:45 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.

For information, contact Dominion Hilltop Ministries at (855) 737-HILL. If you have items to donate and cannot deliver them to the church, call to arrange a pick-up.

- Brad Haugaard

Declining Reserves for Monrovia Schools

The Monrovia School Board will meet this coming Wednesday, June 12 (agenda: http://goo.gl/PvDvz ). Among other things, it will get an update on the district budget. From the staff report it appears the standout issue is that the district faces declining "undesignated reserves" over the next three years. 2013-14: $5,400,702; 1014-15: $3,097,871; 2015-16: $231,401. http://goo.gl/uGpLe

- Brad Haugaard

American Folk Music at Monrovia's First Presbyterian | Brand Your Resume

~ San Gabriel Valley Choral Company will present Tell It, a choral selection of America's folk music heritage. June 8 at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. http://goo.gl/qjG4r

~ Monrovia Library workshop: Adding your brand to your resume. June 26. http://goo.gl/YQkZw

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Le Roys

Lunch at Le Roys on Huntington, just west of Mayflower. The place with the lion. Got a French Dip sandwich ($7.55) and iced tea ($2.15). Plus tax and tip. Big iced tea. Big, and good, clam chowder (half eaten, here). Lots of beef in the sandwich. Good. Come hungry. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Summer Reading Club

Registration for Summer Reading Club begins Monday June 10, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Monrovia Public Library, for children to teens. Read and collect prizes each week. You can register anytime between June 10 and July 27. http://goo.gl/wdYQN

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Personnel Honored

Officer Jose Pacheco (Medal of Valor winner) and other Monrovia police personnel honored for their service. http://goo.gl/JGqhu

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board About to Interview Superintendent Candidates

The Monrovia Board of Education is beginning to interview candidates to replace Superintendent Wagner. There will be a closed session of the board this Monday, June 10, at 5:45 p.m. to talk with the candidates. http://goo.gl/dmwP6

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Firefighters Fill Boot | Budget Study Session

~ On May 30, Monrovia Firefighters participated in the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association's "Fill the Boot" fundraiser. Firefighters canvassed the intersection at Mayflower and Huntington from 7 a.m.-noon and raised $6,145 in five hours http://goo.gl/nbBZy

~ Another city budget study session for 2013-2015. Monday, June 10, 4 p.m. http://goo.gl/OzbTt

- Brad Haugaard

History of Monrovia's Big M , and More, in City Magazine

The latest Monrovia Today magazine is out. 44 pages of info. You can see it here ( http://goo.gl/Ij2M7 ) or wait for it to show up in your mailbox. Classes for children and adults and city information, including a history of the "Big M" on the mountainside above Monrovia. It was built in 1951 and is made of 25 tons of crushed rock and lined with 27 lights, which are lit to celebrate Monrovia High victories.

- Brad Haugaard

Fire Meetings for Folks on the North Edge of Morovia

The Monrovia Fire Department has scheduled neighborhood meetings for each of the city's fire hazard zones, along the north edge of the city.

- Fire Zone West (from south side of Hillcrest north, from west edge of city to Mayflower): Wednesday, June 19 (tentative), 6:30-8p.m.

- Fire Zone West-Central (from north side of Hillcrest north, from Mayflower east to Myrtle): Thursday, June 20, 6:30-8p.m.

- Fire Zone East (from north side Grand and Graystone north, from the east end of Hillcrest to east city border): Sunday, June 23, 3-4:30p.m.

- Fire Zone East-Central (from north side of Hillcrest north, from Myrtle east to about Grand): Tuesday, June 25, 6:30-8p.m.

RVSP to (626) 256-8181 or email cwpp@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Source: This Week in Monrovia newsletter

- Brad Haugaard

A Good Monrovia Bear | Vaccinate Your Dog

~ Great photo of a bear where it is supposed to be - in the mountains above Monrovia. http://goo.gl/S1rDn

~ Vaccinate your dog in Monrovia on June 12. http://goo.gl/8lbYi

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Guns and Ghosts, Transients, Bringing Meth Pipe to a Theft

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 3-5. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 469 service events, resulting in 80 investigations.

Mental Evaluation

June 3 at 8:49 a.m., officers responded to a verbal dispute where an unruly older transient was confrontational and had spit on the driver of a Foothill Transit bus. The driver did not desire prosecution against the man, and he was released. Approximately 30 minutes later, another caller reported an older male transient, matching the same description of the previous subject, who had become verbally abusive and had spit on him. Officers responded and detained the man. The subject was taken to a hospital and held for mental evaluation.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested

June 3 at 10:06 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a male transient subject acting suspiciously in the area of Peck and Longden. The officer made contact with the subject and identified him. A computer check of the subject revealed he had numerous warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and picked up by Covina Police Department on their outstanding warrant.

Mental Evaluation

June 3 at 12:45 p.m., a subject who has had regular police contact with our department and has a history of mental health problems came to the lobby to report a theft, which was civil in nature. He told the officer that if they didn't handle the matter immediately, he would take it into his own hands and get a gun. He further stated he sees ghosts and was off his medication. He was detained and taken to a hospital, where he was held for mental evaluation.

Failure to Yield / Vehicle Pursuit – Suspect Arrested

June 4 at 1:38 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a vehicle driving away from him without their headlights on. He attempted a traffic stop, but the driver did not yield. The vehicle accelerated away, and the officer followed in pursuit. After a short distance, the suspect jumped from the moving vehicle and broke his leg. The vehicle then jumped a curb and hit a parked car. The suspect was taken to a hospital. Criminal charges will be submitted to the District Attorney's Office for filing.

Petty Theft / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested

June 5 at 12:06 p.m., loss prevention personnel at a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain reported they had a suspect detained for theft. The suspect had placed items in his pockets and walked out of the store without paying. Officers arrived and the suspect was arrested for petty theft. The suspect's car was stored. The inventory search of the vehicle revealed a methamphetamine pipe which contained crystalline methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance was added to the charges. The suspect had prior convictions for possession, making this a felony. He was charged with felony drug possession, possession of smoking paraphernalia and petty theft.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

On May 30, at approximately 8:00 a.m., the West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force conducted a parole search at a residence in the 200 block of East Chestnut. The parolee was found to be in possession of one ounce of tar heroin that had been packaged for sales in 21 separate balloons. He was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, and a parole hold was obtained.