Monrovia Now: News and Comment about Monrovia, California

Man Robbed of Gold Necklace

Man robbed of gold necklace outside Monrovia Taco Bell. https://goo.gl/zETKim

- Brad Haugaard

3D Printers at Monrovia Library? Business Meeting Rooms? Tech Tool Lending?

In the latest Monrovia Public Library survey, which you can take here ( https://goo.gl/yXbxgJ ), there are some interesting ideas for services the library could provide, including:

~ Technology lending service (laptops, e-readers, other tech tools)

~ Maker spaces (3d printer, graphic design software, etc.)

~ Computer programming instruction

~ Business services center (meeting rooms/presentation technology/scanners/ etc.)

~ Local history programs

~ Book groups and author talks

~ Classes for adults

~ Educational lectures by subject specialists

~ Language learning groups and classes

~ Live musical performances

~ Nature and science programming Interested

~ Social events for adults

Comment: It is difficult for libraries to find their place in a digital world, but these seem to be interesting possibilities.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at T Phillips

Dinner last night at T Phillips, on the southwest corner of Myrtle and Colorado. Got the meat loaf for $18 and a large beer for $10.50. Very good but a lot. I had to take some home.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Drugged Out With Child; Serial Trespassing; Multi-Car Window Smashing; Chasing Family With Knife; Finger Gun; Car Flips Out; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for October 17-19. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 400 service events, resulting in 75 investigations.

Driving Under the Influence / Possession of Drugs / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Child Endangerment – Suspect Arrested
October 17 at 6:33 a.m., officers responded to the report of a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway with the engine running in the 400 block of N. Alta Vista. Officers arrived and found a female driver passed out behind the wheel with her 8-year-old son in the vehicle. She admitted that she had used drugs throughout the night. Drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle. The suspect also had outstanding warrants for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody. The Department of Children and Family Services responded to take custody of the child.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
October 17 at 10:11 a.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington regarding a trespassing suspect who refuses to abide by the no trespassing order prohibiting him from being at the location. He has repeatedly returned to the location, despite numerous arrests, and he continues to cause disturbances at the business. He was arrested and held due to the likelihood of re-occurrence. He will be held until his court date.

Residential Burglary
October 17 at 3:15 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 100 block of W. Greystone. One of the residents arrived home and found the home ransacked. The loss is undetermined and the investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Vandalisms
October 18 at 3:40 a.m., a victim of vandalism called police to report that a window on his vehicle had been smashed. The vehicle was parked in the 100 block of W. Lemon Avenue. An officer arrived and located a total of four vehicles with smashed windows. All four victims were contacted and it appears that nothing was taken from the vehicles after the windows were smashed. No suspects were located. The investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
October 18 at 3:54 a.m., an alarm company called to report an activation at a business in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle Avenue. Officers arrived and found that an unknown suspect threw a rock that struck the front window, causing it to break. The investigation is continuing.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Suspect Arrested
October 18 at 9:15 a.m., officers and the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter responded to an apartment complex in the 400 block of Genoa regarding an intoxicated family member chasing other family members with a knife. All of the family members were outside of the residence when officers arrived and the suspect was still inside. Officers were able to talk the suspect into coming out of the residence and they detained him.

Family members reported that the suspect is an alcoholic. The adult son said he was involved in a verbal argument with his father when his father grabbed a knife and charged after him. The son held his father against the wall while the other family members ran outside. As the son was attempting to flee through the front door, he hit the father with the front door as he opened it, causing injury to the father's head. The suspect was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and taken to a hospital, where he was treated and cleared for booking, then taken into custody.

Stolen Vehicle – Suspect Arrested
October 18 at 11:52 a.m., officers located a stolen vehicle in the area of Myrtle and Chestnut with three occupants inside. They followed the vehicle to a parking lot, where they conducted a high-risk stop. Further investigation revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen by a rental car service in Santa Monica. The vehicle was rented with fraudulent documents. The driver was the only suspect arrested.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
October 18 at 7:19 p.m., a theft in progress in the 500 block of Huntington was reported to police. A male and female were detained in the parking lot. The investigation showed there was no theft, but the female was found to have a warrant for her arrest and was in possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
October 19 at 8:31 a.m., a domestic violence incident was reported at a residence in the 300 block of Oakcliff. A male and female subject became involved in an argument over text messages. The couple are no longer in a dating relationship, but are still living together. The male subject pushed the female and then began choking her. When she began calling police, he simulated a gun with his fingers and told her he should kill her. Officers arrived and the suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
October 19 at 8:43 a.m., a driver was traveling on Peck and lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle hit a wall and a fire hydrant, and then flipped. The investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of drugs. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Commercial Burglary
October 19 at 9:41 a.m., an officer responded to a church in the 1300 block of S. Magnolia Avenue regarding a break-in. The suspect entered by removing slats from a window and took several blankets. The investigation is continuing.

Felony Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
October 19 at 7:47 p.m., an officer was hailed down by a subject in a vehicle near Magnolia and Evergreen. The subject pointed out a vehicle and reported that the driver of the vehicle was threatening him. The officer saw the vehicle in question. As the driver attempted to drive away, he committed two vehicle code violations and was stopped by the officer on Evergreen. When the officer contacted the driver, he noticed the driver seemed intoxicated. The officer conducted field sobriety tests and arrested the driver for DUI. A records check of the driver revealed he had three other DUI convictions within the last ten years, which made this charge a felony.

Celebrate the Arts | Monrovia Council Discusses Work on Home

~ Monrovia Association of Fine Arts presents its 53rd Annual Celebrate the Arts Show and ChalkFest on Saturday (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.), Oct. 29/30 at Monrovia Library Park. Highlights at this admission-free event will include artist demonstrations and art sales, kids chalk activities from ChapCare, a beer garden by Pacific Plate Microbrewery, a Collectible Book Sale by the Friends of Monrovia Library, continuous live entertainment, and robotics and urban art displays by Monrovia high school students. Admission is free and a variety of food trucks will be on hand to provide tasty treats. For more information or to sign up for an artist booth space, contact christine@monroviafinearts.org.

~ The Monrovia City Council discussed construction work done on a north Monrovia home, allegedly without the proper permits. https://goo.gl/TtvCHE

- Brad Haugaard

New Banners for Monrovia's on Active Duty | Old Town Board Vacancy | Hillside Area About to Open | Etc.

In his latest report ( https://goo.gl/cX1txB ), City Manager Oliver Chi reported ...

~ The City’s current Blue Star Banners will be replaced with newly designed banners on Huntington Drive on Monday, Nov. 7. The banners recognize and honor Monrovians who are on active duty.

~ There is an opening on the Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board as member Sean Sprinkel is resigning, so the City is accepting applications to complete the remainder of Mr. Sprinkel’s term, which is set to expire in June 2018. For details contact City Clerk Alice Atkins at 932-5505 or at aatkins@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

~ The Hillside Wilderness Preserve should be fully opened to the public by the end of this month. Chi said that, "This past week, we made terrific progress." He said the four new gates at the Ridgeside and Cloverleaf access points have been installed, and the trail repair work is progressing well. "Staff had a chance this past week to tour the upgraded trail system, which provides terrific views of the valley and will serve as a great passive recreational hiking trail for our community."

~ While the recently adopted neighborhood compatibility ordinance focuses on single family development, it lets the Planning Commission reject lot consolidations for multifamily developments if it "feels that a lot consolidation in any existing neighborhood is not compatible."

~ Monrovia Legacy initiative has put together a report called, "Monrovia’s First Houses," which says that there are at least 62 homes and two commercial buildings in Monrovia that were constructed prior to the City’s incorporation in 1887! The report also identifies each of the “first houses” of Monrovia, and contains impressive information about each of the properties, including the address, the first owner of the house, and the initial cost to build the home. Details here:

~ The Monrovia Police Officers' Association will hold a community event to raise funds and awareness of breast cancer on Friday, October 21 from 6 to 9p.m. in Library Park. It will feature live music by the band Celluloid Heroes, BBQ, baked goods, raffle prizes, and merchandise.

~ A service will be held Oct. 22, at 11 a.m. at Live Oak Cemetery for Paul Smith, who started work for the City of Monrovia as a Pump Operator in 1960 and ended his career in 1994 as Utility Division Manager.

~ Steve Baker, City Treasurer and City Historian, will host the 7th Annual Cemetery Walk and Talk Program at Live Oak Cemetery on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 and include the tour and dinner. Hear about the first settlers of Monrovia. Register at the Monrovia Community Center (119 West Palm Avenue). Call 256-8246 for more information.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Relief Organization Prepares for Assault on Mosul

World Vision, a Monrovia-based Christian relief organization, is planning for a humanitarian disaster as the Iraqi army prepares to assault the ISIS stronghold of Mosul, a city of 1.5 million. World Vision is expanding its existing food programs, preparing to supply clean water, sanitation, and more. Details: here.

Monrovia Police: Shoplifter Given a Ticket; Girlfriend Batters Boyfriend; Trying to Find Deer With Arrow; Drunk; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for October 13-16. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Vehicle Burglary
October 13 at 2:25 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of Valle Vista Avenue reported a vehicle burglary. The victim parked and secured his vehicle in the evening on October 8. When he returned to the vehicle the next morning, he noticed his vehicle was unlocked and cash was missing from inside. There was no sign of forced entry and the vehicle appeared to be ransacked. The investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
October 13 at 3:27 p.m., officers responded to the report of a motorcyclist that had fallen in the 200 block of E. Cypress. They arrived on scene and found a teenage boy on the ground who appeared to have been involved in a solo vehicle traffic collision. He was semi-conscious and witnesses confirmed he had been driving in the street when he lost control and fell to the ground. The juvenile's family was contacted and he was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
October 13 at 8:03 p.m., an employee from a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington called police stating a male suspect stole merchandise and left the business without paying. The suspect was last seen heading east on Cherry from Magnolia. Officers located a subject matching the description and he was positively identified as the suspect. The suspect was arrested and released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Domestic Violence / Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
October 14 at 12:38 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of E. Olive Avenue regarding a vandalism incident. A female subject called police to report her boyfriend struck her vehicle with his vehicle and was possibly drunk. The investigation revealed the female had battered the male subject, leaving visible injuries on his neck and she actually struck his vehicle with hers. The female suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
October 14 at 1:16 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 500 block of S. Mayflower. A vehicle struck a parked car. Officers arrived and, through investigation, determined the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
October 14 at 8:15 p.m., loss prevention personnel from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a petty theft that just occurred. A male suspect had taken items without paying for them and was now seated in a gray Honda in the parking lot. The vehicle left the parking lot, but was stopped by police on Alta Vista, south of Huntington. The driver was positively identified by loss prevention and the driver was arrested. The property was recovered. The driver was later released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Grand Theft Auto
October 15 at 8:15 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of E. Evergreen Avenue. The victim reported that his black, Honda Civic was parked out in front of his residence a 6:00 p.m. the night before. When he went out to his vehicle in the morning, he discovered it was missing. The investigation is continuing.

Injured Animal
October 15 at 2:44 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of Highland regarding the report of a deer that had an arrow protruding through its neck. Officers located the deer and it appeared that the arrow had not seriously injured the animal. The deer fled the area before aid could be rendered. The Department of Fish and Wildlife was notified and are coordinating with the Monrovia Police Department to provide aid to the deer as soon as they are able to contain the animal.

Suspicious Person / Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
October 16 at 1:48 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of N. Ivy called police to report a male subject knocking on the door, but was not saying anything. Officers responded and located the subject still near the residence. The subject was extremely intoxicated and was determined to be unable to care for himself. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
October 16 at 2:30 a.m., an officer on patrol was in the area of Lime and Ivy when he saw a subject near the intersection. The officer contacted the subject, who showed signs of being intoxicated. The officer determined the subject was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. The subject was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Hands-On History at Monrovia Historical Museum

Enjoy "hands-on history" at a meeting of the Monrovia Historical Museum on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m., at the museum, 742 W. Lemon. Visitors will be asked to participate in the museum's displays by writing down their favorite memories of Halloween in Monrovia.

- Brad Haugaard

Deer Stuck With Arrow Spotted in North Monrovia

Deer stuck with an arrow has been wandering around in north Monrovia. https://goo.gl/WrnT5w

- Brad Haugaard

Art Night at Monrovia City Council - Poetry in the Sidewalks

Proposed Bartlett memorial at train station.

At its next meeting ( https://goo.gl/o0ByHt ) the Monrovia City Council will, among other things, consider ...

~ Stamping poetry into the sidewalks of east-west streets, and tidbits of Monrovia history into north-south streets. It'll cost $7,000 the first year for 10 sidewalk panels, paid for by an existing art tax on developers. Short poems would be selected through an annual contest open to all ages. https://goo.gl/xSHuRK

~ Also, the company developing the "MODA at Monrovia Station" multi-family project proposes to pay its art tax with a $264,000 shimmering mosaic waterfall on the side of the building. https://goo.gl/1dl8FM

~ A recommendation by the Bob Bartlett Memorial Tribute Committee to spend $30,000 (again, in art-tax money) to hire artist Carole Choucair Oueijan based on her proposal (see above) for a mosaic sculpture honoring Bob Bartlett. https://goo.gl/WZONy9

- Brad Haugaard

Boys and Girls Club Open House | St. Luke's Celebration

~ Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills will hold an open house on Thursday, Oct. 20 from 3-6 p.m. at its facilities at 600 S. Shamrock. RSVP to kbuller@footillsbgc.org. This is part of "Lights On Afterschool," a national campaign to raise awareness about the need for after school programs. Actress and Founder of WRiTE BRAiN BOOKS, Meredith Scott Lynn (Days of Our Lives, Legally Blonde), will do a creative writing exercise with the kids and perform her Out of School Time rap, about the importance of after school programming.

~ Monrovia's St. Luke's Episcopal Church will hold a catered reception at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, the weekend following the Feast of St. Luke, to celebrate the church's 125-year history and to highlight its community partners. Requested contribution $20. Admission to the 7:30 p.m. concert is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students. Concert features St. Luke's Choir and San Gabriel Valley Choral Company. The church is at 122 S. California Ave. Further information at email@trishgresham.com or 357-7071.