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Kidnapping Case vs. Monrovian | Book Club

~ More on the kidnapping case with Monrovia defendent Kelvin "Sgt. Mac" McFarland. http://goo.gl/Fjvsb


~ A new book club will meet in the Children's Story Room at the library on July 26 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss Sarah's Key by Taitana de Rosnay. In August the club will read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. "Be prepared to shed torrents of tears for that one." [Do people read books to cry? I guess I'm wired differently.] http://goo.gl/zTQRh



- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Biotab to Pay $1.75 Milion

The Orange County Weekly writes that Monrovia company, Biotab, which makes a male enhancement product, has agreed to pay $1.75 million in an action brought by the Orange County District Attorney's office. http://goo.gl/Yiefg
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Member Chesley Resigns

Monrovia School Board member Clare Chesley has given her resignation from the board, according to fellow board member Alex Zucco. Zucco says that the board "accepted Clare Chesley's resignation as she begins a new chapter...or book in La Canada." http://goo.gl/0vWzA
Comment: She will be missed. Clare is razor sharp and passionate and has solid good sense. She has left a very positive mark on Monrovia School District. Best wishes, Clare!
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Adjusting Stereo while Drunk; Stealing Lawnmowers, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for July 14-20 – Brad Haugaard]</I

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 572 service events, resulting in 105 investigations. Following are the last week’s highlighted issues and events:

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested

On July 14 at 10:49 p.m., a driver was traveling east in the 400 block of West Foothill. She reached down to adjust the car stereo, drifted toward the right side of the lane, and collided into a parked vehicle. During the investigation, it was determined the driver was under the influence and she was arrested.

Public Drunkenness – Suspect Arrested

On July 17 at 8:49 p.m., police received a report of a disturbing subject, possibly intoxicated, at a park in the 300 block of South Myrtle, where a summer concert was being held. An officer responded and located the subject in question on Palm Avenue. After assessing the subject, the officer determined that she was unable to adequately care for herself. She was arrested for public drunkenness and later released after sobering.

Grand Theft

On July 18 at 2:32 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Parkrose regarding a theft. A gardening crew working in the area left two lawnmowers in two different yards while they took a break in the backyard of a house. When they returned to the front of the house, the lawnmowers were missing. The lawnmowers are valued at approximately $1700.00 each. Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

On July 19 at 9:30 a.m., a white, 1986 Toyota truck was stolen from a parking lot in the 3300 block of South Peck Road. The vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system.

Grand Theft Auto

On July 19 at 5:27 p.m., a victim discovered his blue, 2004 Chevrolet Silverado truck had been stolen out of a parking lot in the 700 block of East Huntington. An officer viewed surveillance videotape and saw the suspects commit the theft. Two male subjects drove into the lot in a white, Chevrolet Silverado truck, broke into the victim’s truck and drove away. Investigation continuing.

Residential Burglary

On July 19 at 5:32 p.m., a male subject returned to his home in the 900 block of West Hillcrest and discovered his front door was unlocked and his dog was out. Further investigation revealed forced entry had been made through the rear glass door. The suspect entered through the rear yard gate. The suspect stole jewelry and cash. Investigation continuing.

- Brad Haugaard

National Night Out in Monrovia

Give a going away party for crime. The Monrovia Police Department is sponsoring National Night Out in Library Park, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2. The event is designed to alert residents about crime prevention, and will feature police displays, demonstrations and refreshments. Flyer here: http://goo.gl/NvziK

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's World Vision Helps Somalia | Traditional Music | County Says Portantino's Bill a Burden

~ With the United Nations warning of spreading famine in Somalia, World Vision, a Monrovia-based relief organization, is already at work in Somalia with food, healthcare, sanitation and development projects. http://goo.gl/6Xk0i


~ During the Summer Art Walk (7-10 p.m. July 30 along Myrtle in Old Town) there will also be a traditional music performance in the breezeway behind the east-side businesses, featuring Half Again ("Smooth folk with rich harmonies") and the Kattywompus String Band. http://goo.gl/Ca2zB


~ Supervisors for California's Nevada County are unhappy about the rape-kit reporting requirement proposed by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia. They say the measure does not provide funding for the extra work. http://goo.gl/qIq5N


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Has Best Football Team - Star-News

Star-News says Monrovia High football team is tops. "There really can't be any disputing Monrovia is the No. 1 team in the area." http://goo.gl/5pKbi

- Brad Haugaard

Fake Gunshots for Movie

Did anyone hear gunshots today near the corner of Duarte Road and Sixth Avenue? If so, it was a movie being filmed. http://goo.gl/gKtsp
 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Reps Oppose Gays-in-History Teaching Mandate | World Songs and Fashion

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly and Senator Bob Huff, who represent Monrovia, oppose a new state mandate that schools teach about gays in history. http://goo.gl/ueVPh

World songs and fashion, at the library. Saturday, July 23, 10 a.m. Free. Reserve at Adult Reference, or call 626-256-8274. http://goo.gl/BqnLv

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Artist Finds Look-Alike Sculpture at Orange County Building

Monrovia sculptor Don Wakefield was surprised to see something that looks an whole lot like one of his sculptures sitting outside a building in Orange County. http://goo.gl/NmVAo
You can compare the two sculptures here: http://goo.gl/0pd8y
 
- Brad Haugaard

Cost of Protecting against Terrorism Will Rise | Monrovia Library Popular | Paying Off the State

In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/JX3Ef ), Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa writes that:
 
~ The toolbox that wasn't a bomb, but was just a toolbox (here: http://goo.gl/BAHpH ), may be a sign of things to come. He says: "It is indeed better to be safe than sorry, but I suspect expensive days like this may become more common. Unfortunately, the credible threat of violence is like a bell that has been rung and now cannot be un-rung; a cost of doing business in the crazy world."
 
~ Library programs are growing: This fiscal year (June 2010 to July 2011) the library staff "presented a total of 504 programs for youth with 28,341 participants. Last Fiscal Year 2009-10, the Library Staff presented a total of 322 programs for all ages with 18,298 participants."
 
~ A Gold Line item has been removed from the City Council agenda because the city's redevelopment agency "may no longer function until we agree to pay off the State of California." (The recently passed state budget eliminates redevelopment agencies and only allows them to be reconstituted if they agree to pay money to the state.) So, the city council will need to "adopt a non-binding 'Continuation Ordinance' which tells the State that we plan to make the ransom payment next year."
 
- Brad Haugaard

Difficulties in Prosecution's Case Against Monrovian

The prosecution's case against Monrovian Kelvin McFarland, who runs a Pasadena "boot camp" and is accused of kidnapping, etc., seems to be running into some difficulties. http://goo.gl/gNVwD
 
- Brad Haugaard

Wonderelles in Monrovia


The Wonderelles at the summer concert series, Sunday evenings in Library Park. "Welcome to the past lane." All girl 50s band. Fun. Next Sunday (July 24, 7 p.m.) it's Mariachi Zacatecas.

 - Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Wizard of Bras | Food List for Unity Center

~ Creative Woman - aka "The Wizard of Bras" - is featured in the LA Times today. (The store has 18,000 bra styles. Who knew?). http://goo.gl/e1FXJ

~ Foothill Unity Center has released a list of the kinds of supplies they need. http://goo.gl/BDbKp

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Senior Complex

More on Rose Gardens at Santa Teresita, the planned senior retirement homes planned on the Monrovia/Duarte border. http://goo.gl/HFa91

- Brad Haugaard

School Employees Get 3% Pay Cut - in 2013, Etc.


Proposed school employee salary adjustments

The Monrovia School District has negotiated with its various employee groups a three percent salary decrease ("in conjunction with a decrease of 6 days in all work calendars"), effective Sept. 1, 2013, and apparently no raises until then. http://goo.gl/ebzvu
That will be on the agenda of the Board of Education's July 20, 7:30 p.m. meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/V22T7 ). Also on the agenda, the board will consider ...
~ Upping the payment authorization to re-roof some Mayflower School buildings. Apparently the original estimate missed a few items. The price will now be $219,900. http://goo.gl/nZdaN  
~ Consider switching to a data management system (Illuminate) that will save the district $20,000. http://goo.gl/7EaHR 
- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Mayor on Air Quality | Flamingos | Green Dot

Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz discusses Monrovia's work to improve air quality on this video. http://goo.gl/8WkAj
 
First Presbyterian Church's high school department is covering Monrovia lawns with pink flamingos as a fundraiser. $20 per hit. http://goo.gl/TkIa2
 
Green Dot will announce its Q2 results July 28. http://goo.gl/UjDvW
 
- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Bella Sera


Lunch at Bella Sera on Myrtle. Got a prosc... prosh... Italian ham sandwich. I liked it a lot. Very tasty sandwich and good service.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Redevelopment: Join or Die | New Old Town Signs

At its 7 p.m., July 19, meeting ( http://goo.gl/xIN3C ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider whether to pay the state of California for the privilege of allowing Monrovia's redevelopment agency to exist. City staff recommends joining the program, even though its report characterizes the state action as a "raid on local funds" and seems to mock the volunatary nature of the arrangement. 

~ Consider a city staff recommendation to replace various Old Town signs, which "are quite old and have been looking shabby for the past few years." The new ones would be paid for by Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board and "available franchise fees."
 
- Brad Haugaard

Portantino Battle Heats Up | Monrovia Fundraiser | Shaw's Deployment

~ The battle between Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, and his own party's leadership gets serious. He is demanding budget office records from his own Democratic Party ( http://goo.gl/2xnWi ).  Background: 1. Portantino voted against governor's budget. 2. Democratic leadership cut his budget. 3. He says it was as punishment. 4. They say it's because he overspent his budget. [Opinion: I don't know if Portantino overspent or not, but there is a) something suspicious about the timing, and b) something ludicrous about Assembly leaders accusing ANYbody of overspending.]


~ Help Unity Center by having dinner at Paco's, July 31, 5-8 p.m. 10% of proceeds go to the Center's Auxiliary.


~ More on City Councilman Clarence Shaw being called on to active duty. http://goo.gl/1TrK1


- Brad Haugaard