Monrovia Now: News and Comment about Monrovia, California

Discrimination Lawsuit

Firefighter files suit against the City of Monrovia claiming he was discriminated against for union activities.

- Brad Haugaard

Time Right for Monrovia Electronic Media?

In his weekly report, Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa notes MonroviaNow (this publication) and Monrovia Patch:

"Patch.com and Monrovia Now, a local daily news service and quasi-community blog, respectively, have hit the ground running. While Monrovia Now posts a lot of community news and information, and invites folks to share their opinions, it is not a commercial venture. Patch.com, on the other hand, is a venture by AOL to fill the hole that exists in the traditional print media's coverage of community news; and, at the same time, sell advertising of local businesses and events.

"With daily newspapers still losing money and having trouble covering small-town news (no matter how many municipal scandals there seem to be), and the weeklies (such as the Monrovia Weekly) only printing true community news once a week (the second run is largely legal ads), the time may be ripe for an expansion of e-media. We shall see..."

Yes, we shall indeed see.

Source: http://goo.gl/LGla

- Brad Haugaard

Jim Stafford Dies

The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce reports that member Jim Stafford of Nethook, Inc., passed away Monday evening, October 25, 2010. "Jim was a personal friend of the chamber, helping us many times with our computers and he attended Chamber events regularly." He also worked at Maranatha High School in Pasadena.

http://www.facebook.com/MonroviaChamber

- Brad Haugaard

Wilderness EIR Ready. Got Thoughts?

The City has prepared an environmental impact report for the Hillside Wilderness Preserve and Hillside Recreation Area (the foothills area north of town from Arcadia to Bradbury). You can get a CD copy of the report at the Monrovia City Hall, Community Center, or Library, and, I believe, it will be posted on the city website, but I can't find it yet. Anyway, once you read it you may have thoughts, so there will be a "scoping" meeting (which means you get to give your thoughts but it is not a meeting for questions) at the Community Center at 6:30 p.m. on November 17. Or you can send thoughts to asoash@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

UPDATE: In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa notes that: "the City will introduce and study only those uses that can reasonably be considered under the terms of Measures A & B (i.e., no motocross, no golf courses, etc.; only hiking, biking, interpretive trails, nature centers, etc.)." However, he added that "this range of uses is considerably more intensive than what was originally approved."

- Brad Haugaard

Nominees for Outstanding Monrovian

If you know an outstanding Monrovia resident, who has been making contributions to the community both recently and for an extended period of time, you might want to nominate him or her for the Chamber of Commerce's Iris Award, which is kind of a Citizen of the Year award. Nominations must be in by November 22. You can download the nomination form here: http://goo.gl/PlVI

- Brad Haugaard

Magic With Tigers?

The Monrovia Kiwanis is sponsoring the "Art of Imagination" magic show. I hear there may be tigers. Tickets are about gone. This Friday at Clifton Auditorium at 7 p.m. Call 358-8988 for reservations.

- Brad Haugaard

Trust and Raises

Not strictly about Monrovia, but I noticed this juxtaposition of items on the front of the Star-News website this morning and couldn't resist showing it. Methinks the two may be connected.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Girls on Magic Carpet

Hope you had a happy Halloween. I think these girls did.

http://goo.gl/iBFH

- Brad Haugaard

Aztec Hotel

Article about historic Route 66 Aztec Hotel at Foothill and Magnolia.

http://goo.gl/QKTO

- Brad Haugaard

Donnelly Supporters Furious at Sacramento

Assembly candidate Donnelly fears violence if no progress is made in shrinking size of government.

http://goo.gl/zHAg

- Brad Haugaard

Square Root of Ote?

What IS the square root of "ote?" Hmm. Oh, wait a minute. I get it. Amen!

- Brad Haugaard

Football: Wildcats 40, Temple City 0 :-)

On a role!

http://goo.gl/QDcc

- Brad Haugaard

Grant from State Library

Monrovia Literacy Services will receive a grant from the State Library, which will put it at 97 percent of its fundraising goal.

Free Advice: When the check arrives, cash it quick.

Source: http://goo.gl/0KYE

- Brad Haugaard

Union Rep Urges Teachers to Vote

A representative of the California Teachers Association stopped by Monrovia to urge Monrovia teachers to vote for Brown and for Prop. 25.

http://goo.gl/eYnX

- Brad Haugaard

RIP Halloween Store

The thriving RIP Halloween Store in Monrovia adds a bit - briefly - to the city's tax base.

http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/10/29/halloween-stores/

- Brad Haugaard

Football: Wildcats vs. Temple City Preview

For the upcoming Monrovia vs. Temple City game being held at Maranatha, Star-News writer picks ... Monrovia!

http://goo.gl/Cgmc

- Brad Haugaard

Murder of Daughter Changes Mom's Direction

Mother of murdered Monrovia girl Sammantha Salas tells her story:

http://goo.gl/rCnu

- Brad Haugaard

Tuesday's City Council Meeting

Doesn't look like a very whiz-bang City Council meeting coming up this Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

- The council will vote on whether to adopt various standard building codes.
- There will be a report on the city's anti-gang efforts. Stats and stuff.
- The city will give notice that there will be a general municipal election on April 12, 2011 and decide whether to contract with "Martin & Chapman Company for Election Consulting Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $38,000." The seats currently held by Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, Mayor Pro Tem Tom Adams, and Councilmember Becky Shevlin will be on the ballot.

The Agenda: http://goo.gl/rbzl

- Brad Haugaard

Transit Village

A report on the proposed Station Square Transit Village near the proposed train station near the proposed Metro line near Duarte Road in Monrovia. Seems as if it is coming together:

http://goo.gl/LkRp

- Brad Haugaard

Pet Food Bank

You can help Foothill Unity Center stock its Pet Food Bank and hear from experts on grooming, petsitting, rescue, pet food and more at a free Healthy Pet Day and Foodraiser Saturday, November 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Highlander Pet Center, 419 W. Foothill in Monrovia. Leashed and well-mannered dogs welcome. Canned or bagged pet food donations accepted.

Details: http://goo.gl/ANo4

- Brad Haugaard