Monrovia Juice Bar Opens Location at Arcadia High | Joannie Yuille to be Honored

~ The Monrovia Robeks (Fifth and Huntington) has just opened one of the country's first public school juice bars at the new cafeteria at Arcadia High School. Robeks owner Robert Kenz says the franchise has been providing juices to area middle schools for several years but this is the first location to offer fresh fruit and vegetable juices made to order. Source: press release

~ Congresswoman Napolitano will honor volunteer Joannie Yuille as her Woman of the Year. Yuille was nominated by Mayor Lutz. The award will be presented by Napolitano at a Luncheon on April 10 in El Monte. http://goo.gl/Bn4uzG

- Brad Haugaard

Lenten Fish Fry Dinner

Friday, March 27, Monrovia Knights of Columbus will hold a Lenten Fish Fry Dinner. 130 W. Pomona Avenue, Monrovia; 5:30-8 p.m. Take out available. Call 359-6489 for details.

- Brad Haugaard

Reports on Monrovia City Council and Mayoral Races

A report in the Star-News about the Monrovia City Council race ( http://goo.gl/heuSg9 ) and the mayoral race ( http://goo.gl/DXOm0J ).

- Brad Haugaard

Foothill Unity Center to Celebrate 35th Birthday

Friends of Foothill Unity Center will celebrate the organization's 35th birthday on Saturday, May 2, with a gala evening in the Sofia Ballroom at Noor Event Center, 260 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena. Festivities begin with a 5:30 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, followed at 7:30 p.m. by dinner and program, featuring a live auction. Tickets are $150 per person. For information on tickets, sponsorships and program ads, contact Barbara Rolf, 358-3486, barbara@foothillunitycenter.org. Proceeds will support Foothill Unity Center's programs helping the most vulnerable children, individuals and families across eleven San Gabriel Valley cities.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board to Consider New Math Classes

At its next meeting the Monrovia School Board will, among other things, consider some new math classes and textbooks. http://goo.gl/3Eb16O

- Brad Haugaard

Contributions in Monrovia City Council Race

Here is the latest list of campaign contributions in the Monrovia city council race. All contributions are from Monrovia unless a different city is noted. Note: I am a bit dubious about the figures for Mr. Austin's campaign; although I checked the dates of the contributions it appears that some of them may be duplicate entries. My apologies if there are errors. Let me know of any problems and I'll correct them.

Becky Shevlin
Alec Jimenez $175
April Soash $200
Becky Rivanis (non-monetary gift – pastries, beverages for event) $330.46
Becky Shevlin (loan) $100
Betty Sandford $250
Chris Kidd (non-monetary gift – room for event) $500
Chris Shevlin (loan) $5,000
Christopher Shevlin $5,000 (Becky says there was only the $5,000 loan)
Glenn Cox, Jr. $100
Hal Leavens $100
Jacen Crehan $100
Janet Cerswell (Alta Loma, CA) $100
Jeanne Miles $300
Joane Spring $200
Judy Schaeffler $100
Pam Barkus $100
Pamela Fitzpatrick $200
Paul Lawrence $150
Pokrajac Corporation (San Jacinto, CA) $500
Rudy Castrellon $300
Susan Hirsch $100

Chris Ziegler
Chris Ziegler (loan) $4,000

Clifford DeCosta
Clifford DeCosta $1,000
Clifford DeCosta $1,000

Gloria Crudgington
Arlene Dunson $150
Ford Printing & Mailing (Irwindale. Non-monetary gift – discount) $150
George Forbes $100
Gwendolyn Jones $100
Judith Pace Twomey $100
Lisa Magno $100
Marie Metsker $100
Marilyn C. Serotko $100
Myrtle Court Apartments $5,000
Samuel J. LaSala, Jr. $100

Jordan Kittleston
Donna Jiminez (Chino Hills), $50
Jordan K. Kittleston, $100
Nipa & John Dunn, $100
Committee to Re-Elect John Valdiria (San Bernardino), $150
Adam Sands (Redlands), $75
Jerry Chambers (Upland), $25
Asja Thomas, $5
Robyn Gordon (Upland), $100
Diamond King, $50
Bianca Slagle (Indianapolis, IN), $50
Jordan K. Kittleston, $20
Jordan K. Kittleston, $25
Eva Baeza (Fontana), $100
Renford R Reese (Pomona), $200
Earl DeVries (Ontario), $25

Robert Parry
Brian Yamaguchi $100
Bruce Merwin $200
Chris Ziegler $100
Danie Oullette $100
Dennis Geary $1,000
Gwendolyn Jones $100
John Jackson (Wildomar, CA) $100
Kevin Kothlow (Laguna Beach, CA) $250
Loresly Dowling $300
RC Stamps $200
Richard Mountjoy $250
Robert Parry $1,500

Scott Austin (corrections from Mr. Austin)
Alhambra Firefighters Political Action Committee (Alhambra) $2,500
California Professional Firefighters Political Action Committee (Sacramento, non-monetary gift for printing lawn signs – 02/05/2015) $1,210.61
duplicate of above California Professional Firefighters Political Action Committee (Sacramento – 02/10/2015) $1,210.61
Daniel Haro (Alta Loma, CA) $100
David Brinker (Akron, OH) $200
Debbie Austin $28.52
Debbie Austin (loan) $3,000
Debbie Austin $1,000
Donna Baker $200
Firefighters for Better Government Political Action Committee (Camarillo, CA) $2,500
Joe & Paula Costantino (DPO, AE) $200
Karen Suarez $200
Mary Ann & Cory Lutz $250
Michael Cacciotti (South Pasadena) $100
Monrovia Firefighters Issues Committee (02/02/2015) $3,000
not a valid PAC and not received Monrovia Firefighters Association Local 2415 (02/06/2015) $3,000
Natalie Park (South Pasadena) $100
Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 (Sacramento – 01/17/15) $1,000
Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 (Sacramento – 02/26/2015) $2,000
duplicate of above Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 (Sacramento – 02/28/2015) $2,000
Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 (Sacramento – 03/05/2015) $2,000
Samuel LaSala $100
Thomas Alan Suess $100
Thomas Fouser $100
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 Political Action Committee (LA) $500
Victor Castellanos $500

Stephen Grollnek
No contributions listed

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Office Depot Closing

Robert Parry reports seeing a sign going up over the Office Depot on Huntington saying the store will be closing on May 16.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Gold Line Maintenance Yard Gets Its First Rail Cars

Habib Balian, in charge of Gold Line construction, reports:

"Yesterday, the first light rail vehicles arrived to the nearly completed $265 million, 24-acre Gold Line Operations Campus in Monrovia. The full-service, state-of-the-art facility will be completed and turned over to Metro in early June, ahead of the previous delivery schedule of September... Over the next several weeks, final preparations and live wire testing will be underway throughout the campus."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Trader Joe's Recalls Walnuts

Monrovia-based Trader Joe's is recalling walnuts for possible salmonella contamination. http://goo.gl/T3ov2H

 

- Brad Haugaard

Contributions in Monrovia Mayoral Race

Here are the latest campaign contributions in the Monrovia mayoral race. Note, I have not included information about Mr. Leonard Holen as he did not report any contributions. All contributions are from Monrovia unless a different city is noted:

Tom Adams
Blaine Fetter, $1,500
Linda Fetter, $1,500
Reid Samuelson (LA), $1,500
Jack Samuelson (LA), $1,500
Eric Mozilo, $2,000
Gurdev Singh Anand (Glendora), $1,000
Fred Bowden, $1,000
George Forbes, $1,500
Warren Lukesh (Sunland), $1,500
John Bonholtzer, $500
Charles Pollard, $100
J. Harrington Construction (Pasadena), $100
Paul Kalemkiarian, $250
Alice Mah, $100
Roger Dickey, $200
Peter Sylchak, $100
Dan Whoolery (Arcadia), $100
Barbara Radford, $200
G Arakelian, $200
John Radford, Jr., $500
Larry Moore, $100
Joseph Leonard, $250
Danny Crandel, $100
Hal Leavens, $100
Robert Wight (Azusa), $100
Karen Taylor, $100
Donald Eldridge (Glendora), $200
Kurt Anderson, $200
Edward Rigazzi (Covina), $100
Gwendolyn Jones, $100
Judy Schaeffler, $100
Michele Thompkins (Astoria, OR), $100
Richard Mountjoy, $250
Gage Freeman (Northridge), $500
Joseph Leonard (I know; listed twice), $250
Kirsten Jardino (Arcadia), $100
 
Mary Ann Lutz  
Fortune Dynamic (City of Industry), $1,000
Chateau Capital (Arcadia), $1,200
Gloria Huss (Monrovia Floral – balloons, flowers), $171
Hal Dash (Valencia), $200
Kathy Stone, $100
John Wayne Carlson, $1,000
Dick and Jan Singer, $250
Denis & Diana Bertone (San Dimas), $250
Peter & Toni Hoffman (Sierra Autocars), $999
Gary & Karen Sutherland, $100
Hans Liang (Monterey Park), $100
Mike & Cheryl Antos, $100
Frances & David Cash, $100
Brian Ulm, $100
Gloria & Steven Rassmusen, $100
Andre Quintero (El Monte), $100
Jim & Joanne Spring, $200
Felix Villaneva, $100
Janet Wall, $500
Mike & Marilee Mohajer (San Dimas), $100
Michael Cacciotti (South Pasadena), $150
Janet & Norm Cerswell (Alta Loma, CA), $100
Ferne Petrie, $500
Corey & Mary Ann Lutz, $5,000
Anthony Portantino Campaign Account, $250
Gordon & Louise Robertson, $100
Paul and Amy Lawrence, $500

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Driving Drunk With Four-Year-Old; Bike vs Bike

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 16-18. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 441 service events, resulting in 82 investigations. 

Commercial Burglary
March 17 at 6:54 a.m., police responded to a business in the 400 block of West Foothill regarding a window that had been smashed at the location. An officer arrived and found the front window had been smashed and the suspect(s) stole the cash register, which contained a small amount of cash, and 6 packages of cigarettes. The investigation is continuing. 

Weapon Offense – Suspect Arrested
March 17 at 6:06 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 900 block of Norumbega regarding a complaint of subjects smoking inside a vehicle in a fire zone. An officer arrived and contacted the driver. A check of the vehicle revealed the registration was expired and the vehicle was impounded. A search of the vehicle prior to impound revealed a pair of brass knuckles, which the driver said belonged to him. The driver was arrested for possession of brass knuckles. 

Driving Under the Influence / Child Endangerment – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 12:21 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of West Huntington when he stopped a vehicle for almost crashing into the center divider. The driver was intoxicated and had her four year old child in the vehicle. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence and child endangerment. The child was released to a relative. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 5:08 a.m., an officer responded to a business parking lot in the 700 block of South Shamrock regarding a female passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle. The subject was determined to be extremely intoxicated. She was arrested and taken into custody for sobering. 

Bicycle Collision With Injuries
March 18 at 1:50 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a bicycle accident at Canyon and Almond. Two juvenile bicyclists were riding on Canyon when one rider hit the other and went down, breaking his arm. The parents were notified and the child was taken to the hospital for treatment. 

Why Does Monrovia Elect Its Mayor Separately?

I got to wondering about why Monrovia elects its mayor separately from the city council, since so many similar-size cities in the area just elect council members, who then elect the mayor among themselves. So I asked City Clerk Alice Atkins, who said the at-large mayor issue was on the city ballot in March 1976. She said it passed with just over 69% of the votes. Here is the voter guide argument that apparently persuaded Monrovians to adopt the change (no argument was filed against the measure):

The complexity of societal problems has forced citizens to re-evaluate their rules in the democratic process.

Today, more than ever, governmental decisions affect the daily lives of all of our citizens. In such an environment it becomes necessary for society to take steps to insure that their elected officials exert greater leadership and become responsive to the majority will. The Mayor, as the titular head of the community, is in the best position to reflect majority opinion, although the powers and general duties of an elected mayor and councilmen are the same, his responsibilities and opportunities for exerting leadership are greater by virtue of the position he occupies. In this light, many neighboring have gone to an elected mayoral system so that citizens may be able too insure that their Mayor has the necessary abilities, time, energy and leadership qualities for such an important office. Responsiveness is also mandated by the people, for the Mayor will have to answer to those who directly elected him.

Our present system, council selection of Mayor, does not adequately provide for Mayor responsiveness, nor does it insure us that such an important position will be filled by a person possessing all of the desirable qualities. Without proper democratic controls, citizens cannot be certain that a council selected Mayor will truly represent the wishes of the people.

The election of Mayor will not cause a change in our present council manager form of government, but it will provide our citizens with a meaningful choice and not leave such an important selection open to chance. An elected Mayor will become directly responsive and responsible to the people. Only by this method can we be certain to gain the community leadership needed in a complex society.

VOTE YES

R.L. DICK MOUNTJOY


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Relief Agency Begins Vanuatu Aid

Monrovia Christian relief organization, World Vision, reports that it has begun the distribution of emergency supplies after a Category 5 cyclone slammed into Vanuatu in the Pacific earlier this week.

Mike Wolfe, World Vision's national director in Vanuatu reported: "Just severe devastation everywhere you looked. The trees were stripped bare, broken branches everywhere, and many of the homes we saw were completely destroyed." http://www.worldvision.org/press-release/world-vision-reaches-remote-island-vanuatu-finds-utter-devastation

- Brad Haugaard

Boys & Girls Club Youth To Be Honored

On Friday, March 20, the 2015 Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills "Youth of the Year" will be recognized at the annual awards celebration. Presented by DoubleTree by Hilton - Monrovia and chaired by Donna Baker, the ceremony will take place from 5:30-7:00 pm, in the ballroom of the DoubleTree at 924 W. Huntington Drive. The event is free and open to the public, though reservations are required.

The event honors club members who, with the help of their club, have met obstacles head-on and, despite the odds, have given back to their club and community. Youth of the Year winners demonstrate service to Club, community and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability. Local Youth of the Year winners receive a $500 scholarship and then go on to compete at the county, state and national levels.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia PD Helps Rescue Woman Held in Mexico | Champion and Giggle | Montgomery Honored

In his weekly report City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ Monrovia Police worked with the State Department and Mexican government to free a US citizen held against her will in Mexico.

~ With Champion Cable's Monrovia operations being shut down, if all the company's customers switched to satellite television, "the City would stand to lose somewhere around $60k-$70k / year in franchise fees, while KGEM would lose around $30k / year." The city is talking with Champion successor Giggle Fiber.

~ Assembly Member Roger Hernandez has announced his selection of Joanne Montgomery as Women of the Year for Monrovia. Montgomery is Monrovia's representative on the Citrus College board.

- Brad Haugaard