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Monrovia School Year Could be Cut | Boot Camp Bill

~ Monrovia school year could be cut by 21 days. http://goo.gl/1qGZ7
 
~ "Boot camps," such as the one run in Pasadena by now-arrested  Monrovian, Kelvin McFarland. Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, is helping push the legislation. http://goo.gl/ug4Zq
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's World Vision Suspends Relief in Mali Due to Insecurity

Monrovia's World Vision has halted its relief efforts in the African country of Mali because of insecurity following a recent coup, but says it will "resume relief work as soon as the security situation allows." http://goo.gl/C1nEk

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Chamber Wants Local Control of Ontario Airport

The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce reports via Twitter that it "is supporting the effort to obtain local control of Ontario Airport." (LA currently controls it.) A petition page: http://goo.gl/ebAER
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman's Smog Bill Shot Down

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, says a smog-check bill he presented was voted down on a party line vote. Donnelly writes: "Current law requires that a vehicle receive a new smog check both every 2 years and upon transfer of vehicle ownership even if the vehicle being transferred is already in compliance. This duplicative requirement is unnecessary and creates another financial burden for Californians." Source: http://goo.gl/2ZcMq
 
- Brad Haugaard

Job Event | Will Scoby Play for Monrovia? | MHS Scholarship | Mayflower Fundraiser | Biz Showcase | Green-Tech Talk

~ All-day job seekers event from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 5 at the library. Details: http://goo.gl/vdk6L
 
~ Football player Kurt Scoby to Monrovia or Duarte? http://goo.gl/mjmgN
 
~ Monrovia High ASB is raising money for a scholarship in honor of former MHS student, Davien Gram, who was a victim of gang violence. This scholarship will be awarded to a senior who writes an essay best describing how gang violence has affected his or her life. http://goo.gl/HmTxA
 
~ Fundraiser for Mayflower School tonight at Islands Restaurant. Print this coupon: http://goo.gl/ciLAe
 
~ A Business Showcase in Old Town Monrovia on Friday, April 27, in the 700 block of Myrtle Ave., 5-9 p.m. at the Family Festival. Details for exhibitors here: http://goo.gl/HZgfg
 
~ A green-tech talk on Earth Day, 1-3 p.m. April 21 at the Monrovia Library. Speaker is Gale Banks of Gale Banks Engineering. 256-8274 to reserve a spot. http://goo.gl/vjecP
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Craigslist Robbery, Pink-Primer Burglarmobile, Waving a Pistol, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 5-8. - Brad Haugaard]
 
Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.  
 
Robbery
April 5 at 2:14 p.m., a robbery was reported in the 1600 block of South Mountain.  A female victim went to a business parking lot to meet a subject she contacted on Craigslist.  The victim was purchasing a brand new iPhone from the suspect.  The suspect approached the victim, who was standing outside her vehicle, and handed her a box.  As she inspected the box, the suspect grabbed her money from the front pocket of her sweatshirt, and the force caused her to fall backwards. The suspect fled with the money, running north towards Evergreen.  He was described as a male White, 30 years old, 6'0", 180 pounds, black spiked hair, wearing a grey sweatshirt.  Investigation continuing.
 
Residential Burglary
April 5 at 5:42 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of Mountain reported that someone had broken into their home.  The suspect entered the location through a front window and ransacked the home, taking jewelry, a safe, and other miscellaneous items.   A neighbor saw a possible suspect on the property.  The suspect is described as a male Hispanic or Filipino, 25 years old, 5'5", thin build, wearing glasses, a tan sweater and blue jeans. The suspect was driving a white, 2 door, older model Acura, with pink primer around the doors and a black paper license plate with the word "power" written on it.  Investigation  continuing.
 
Vehicle Burglary
April 5 at 5:54 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of South Canyon.  The victim parked her vehicle on the street at 7:30 p.m. and returned to her vehicle the next morning at 9:00 a.m.  There were no signs of forced entry, and the victim did not realize a seat was missing from the vehicle until 5:00 p.m. that day.  She then reported the burglary to police.  Investigation continuing.
 
Vehicle Burglary
April 6 at 10:48 a.m., a vehicle was reported burglarized in the 1800 block of Sixth Avenue.  The vehicle was parked in the street in front of a residence at 1:00 a.m. and locked.  The victim returned to vehicle 10:30 a.m. and found the passenger door unlocked.  The glove compartment was ransacked and her purse was taken from the trunk.  The investigation is continuing.
 
Brandishing a Handgun in a Threatening Manner
April 8 at 7:00 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Los Angeles Street regarding a suspect that drove by in a black Nissan Altima, brandishing a handgun in a threatening manner.  The Foothill Air Support Team helicopter was monitoring the radio frequency and located the suspect vehicle.  The helicopter directed responding units to the vehicle and it was stopped at Ivy and Cypress.  The victim positively identified the vehicle and the driver, as the suspect, but she did not desire prosecution.  The vehicle was searched, but the gun was not located.  The driver was unlicensed and did not have valid identification.  He was arrested and later released upon verifying his identity.  A passenger was arrested for violation of Monrovia's gang injunction and was taken into custody.  Two other occupants in the vehicle were identified and released.
 
 
Special Enforcement Team Weekly Activity
 
Weapons Violation - Suspect Arrested
April 7 at 8:20 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of Treelane and Camino Real because the license plate was found to have a warrant associated to it.  Upon contacting the female driver, she was found to be unlicensed.  A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of marijuana inside the vehicle and a handgun was found concealed in the engine compartment; the gun was wrapped in a white towel and wedged against the vehicle battery.  The male passenger is the registered owner of the vehicle.  He was arrested and charged for possessing the firearm.  He was also found to be in possession of a stolen access card.

Monrovia Assemblyman's Disaster Prep Bill Approved by Assembly Committee

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino's bill to improve emergency and disaster preparedness in California was unanimously approved today 12 to 0 in the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee.
 
AB 1650 requires public utilities to hold comprehensive disaster preparedness meetings every two years with the counties and cities they service in order to improve readiness and better prepare for natural disasters.
 
The San Gabriel Valley was hit hard in early December 2011 by devastating winds that knocked out power to nearly a quarter-of-a-million customers; some of them for more than a week.
 
Source: Portantino press release
 
- Brad Haugaard

Fundraising Hike for Monrovia YMCA

There will be a fundraising hike for the YMCA at 10 a.m. April 28 (Saturday) from Fireman’s Flat to Canyon Park Waterfall, followed by BBQ at noon. Families welcome. $25 Adults, $10 Children, $50 Families. Proceeds will benefit Summer Adventure Camp, Homework Heroes, aquatics program and other youth programming. To register or for more information contact Santa Anita Family YMCA at 359-9244, or Linda Wagner at 350-6247 or lindawagner1@dslextreme.com. - Thanks to Becky Shevlin for this info.
 
- Brad Haugaard

Confusion Meat Explained

Some of you may recall this post ( http://goo.gl/SMMYM ) in which I expressed my confusion at the "Shanghai Confusion Meat" on the menu at Monrovia's Shanghai Dumpling House. Well, a brave soul from LA Weekly has ordered it, and here is a picture and description: http://goo.gl/wf60p

- Brad Haugaard

Coach: Monrovia Seniors Best Ever | Audition for Bye Bye Birdie

~ Monrovia football coach: Next set of seniors is "the best group he's ever had." http://goo.gl/XqxaE
 
~ Audition for Centre Stage's Bye Bye Birdie this Saturday. http://goo.gl/Qg3Y4
 
- Brad Haugaard

Fish Fry

Bethel AME Church (148 W. Lime) is having a fish fry from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, April 13 and April 20. Call 930-1816 for details.
 
- Brad Haugaard

Happy Easter Monrovia!



The sunrise service this morning at Library Park.

- Brad Haugaard

Carrying the Cross for Education | Relay Race | Monrovia Easter Services

~ Carrying the cross from San Diego to San Gabriel Mission to raise money for Monrovia and Arcadia Catholic education. http://goo.gl/AhlVI
 
~ Monrovia wins relay race at Arcadia Invitational. http://goo.gl/OVhRo
 
~ A list of Easter services in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/uTozb
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Siren Arts

A feature story on Monrovia's Siren Arts video and post-production company. http://goo.gl/IMCXn
  
- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Submarine & BBQ Teriyaki


Lunch at Submarine & BBQ Teriyaki, in the Baja Ranch market center. Don't know why the "sub" part of the name. No subs that I can see. Japanese style food. Clean and well kept inside. Got a chicken teriyaki and California roll with vegetable tempura box. Very good!

- Brad Haugaard

How to Chime In on Design of Monrovia's Station Square Project

If you'd like to give your thoughts on the proposed design of the Station Square project (near the coming Gold Line station), you can speak at a City Council study session on Monday, April 9, at 3 p.m. at the Monrovia Community Center Senior Game Room at 119 West Palm Ave. Agenda, such as it is, here: http://goo.gl/ie3L2
 
- Brad Haugaard

State of the Monrovia Schools

The Board of Education invites you to attend the 2012 State of the Schools Report to the Community,Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at Monrovia High School, starting at 6 p.m. From 6-7 p.m. Friendship Circle student performances and school displays, then at 7:30 p.m. the State of the Schools Address in the Performing Arts Center.  From Monrovia Schools press release  
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Softball Wins! | Be on 710 Committee | Money for Transportation | Wil's Opening

~ Monrovia High softball team captures Northview Softball Tournament title. http://goo.gl/StAvJ
 
~ If you are interested in being on a Community Liaison Council about the 710 Freeway (the freeway that doesn't go through South Pasadena) "to support the SR-710 Environmental Study team in providing feedback on the technical study and overall outreach efforts," here's some detail: http://goo.gl/hnV7v
 
~ Gold Line spokesman Habib Balian reports that yesterday the Southern California Association of Governments’ Regional Council unanimously approved the 2012-2035 Regional Transportation Plan to spend "$524 billion over the next 25 years to enhance the regional transportation sys­tem," with an emphasis on freeways but with $246 billion for public transportation. Balian added that South Pasadena Mayor (and Assembly candidate for Monrovia's district) Michael Cacciotti "believes that even with these changes the plan continues to place too much emphasis on freeways."
 
~ Grand opening of Wil's Sport and Tackle (fishing gear) at 8 a.m. on Friday, April 13. 310 S. Myrtle. 
 
- Brad Haugaard

Reacting to Violence on Sherman & Neighborhood Tips

In light of recent violence on Sherman Avenue, Monrovia's  Neighborhood Strategy Team will be walking that neighborhood talking to residents. http://goo.gl/rE0QD
 
Tips for neighborhoods from the city:
 
~ Keep your porch and/or alley lights on at night
~ Become familiar with your neighbors
~ Report graffiti immediately (Graffiti Hotline 836-3654)
~ Report suspicious activity: Crime Stoppers (Anonymous tips via call or text) - (800) 222-TIPS; or Monrovia Dispatch (626) 256-8000
~ Don't be silent! If you hear or see something wrong, alert your neighborhood. Call Monrovia Neighborhood Services 932-5563
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Lots of Shots, Burglary Tools, Prowling

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for April 2-4 – Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 473 service events, resulting in 76 investigations.

Shots Fired

On April 2 at 8:40 p.m., dispatch received numerous 9-1-1 calls of shots fired in the area of Sherman and Los Angeles. Officers responded to the area and found six cartridge casings in the street and two bullet holes in a front facing wall in the 1200 block of Sherman. No one was injured. A compact car was seen right after the shooting, driving westbound on Cherry at a high rate of speed. No suspect description. Investigation continuing.

Parolee-at-Large / Possession of Burglary Tools / Possession of a Deadly Weapon

On April 4 at 2:39 a.m., an officer stopped and contacted a male and female walking in the 500 block of Parkrose. Upon talking with them, their statements conflicted as to why they were in the area and where they were going. Further investigation revealed the male subject was a parolee-at-large with an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody. The officer located a large knife and a burglary tool near the area where he arrested the suspect. The suspect later admitted possession of the knife and the burglary tool. He was charged with the additional crimes.

Prowling

On April 4 at 5:35 a.m., officers were dispatched to 600 block of West Olive, where a suspect was seen prowling at a residence. When the resident went outside, the suspect fled, running eastbound through a neighbor’s yard. An area search was conducted for the suspect, but he was not located. Investigation continuing.

- Brad Haugaard