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Mayan Grill Area for Lease | Bone Marrow Drive | Digital Marketing | Band Fundraiser

~ The never-opened Mayan Grill in the Aztec Hotel is now available for leasing. Details: http://goo.gl/j3Nqhn . Thanks to Gem City Images for the tip: http://goo.gl/zBm3Cb

~ Monrovia bone marrow drive successful. http://goo.gl/pP31BR

~ Monrovia business seminar: Digital Marketing Do's and Dont's, Feb. 6. Details: http://goo.gl/GJ8dKn

~ Wildcats band and color guard fundraiser Saturday, January 25 at Walgreens on Foothill (next to Ralph's), 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Suggested donation $6 for cars $8 for trucks and SUVs.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Halfway Mark in Police Bike Ride | South African Flag

~ Monrovia marked the halfway point in Sunday's Chino police bike ride for fallen officers. http://goo.gl/ZguiX6

~ South African flag on display at City Hall for the month. Honoring Nelson Mandela. http://goo.gl/TzaoBQ

- Brad Haugaard

Myrtle Ave. Closing for Four Months | Tom Sawyer Musical

~ Myrtle Closes near Duarte Road for most of the day starting today and Sunday, and then it is closed full time for four months starting Monday. Details: http://goo.gl/SHgSTM

~ The Broadway musical, Tom Sawyer, presented by Monrovia's Centre Stage, at the Louise Taylor Performing Arts Center (aka Monrovia High auditorium) Jan. 30, 31 and Feb. 1, 2. Details: http://goo.gl/NQcVEF

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Pizza Place - Flamzz; And Loteria Moving to Myrtle

Flamzz Stone Fire Pizza to replace Loteria Cantina at corner of Colorado and Ivy. Loteria moving to Myrtle. http://goo.gl/DOplZH

- Brad Haugaard

Ramen & Yakitori Restaurant Coming to Monrovia


A new restaurant, Ramen & Yakitori, is coming to Monrovia. It's in the old Oh My Goddard Gallery on the east side of Myrtle, a half block north of Olive.

Update: Got a report in that it should open Feb. 5.

-Brad Haugaard

New Bike Shop on Myrtle

Empire Bikes, a new bicycle shop on Myrtle specializing in Giant and Intense bikes is now open. Just north of Olive on the west side.

-Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Jake's Roadhouse


Lunch at Jake's Roadhouse. Got a Polish sausage sandwich ($9.45) and an iced tea ($1.59). Plus tax and tip. Nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Canyon Park Featured on KPCC | School Board Honors Maddox

~ Monrovia Canyon Park was recently featured on KPCC as a place to take out-of-towners when they come to visit. You gotta scroll down a bit: http://goo.gl/hjDw2g

~ Video of Monrovia School Board honoring Coach Ryan Maddox for a good season. http://goo.gl/f2mx5f

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: BMW Stolen, Partly Stripped; Drugs; Theft; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 13-15. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 373 service events, resulting in 89 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto / Vehicle Recovered
January 13 at 6:17 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 400 block of East Greystone.  The victim parked her vehicle, a 2006 BMW, in front of her residence in the evening.  When she returned to her vehicle the following morning, she discovered the vehicle was missing and called police.   Later that day, El Monte Police Department advised that they had recovered the vehicle in their city.  The vehicle was partially stripped.  The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft - Suspect Arrested
January 13 at 10:11 a.m., loss prevention from a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called police to report a theft.  A male adult subject walked into the business and selected a pair of desktop speakers and jeans.  He took the items into the dressing room and removed the tags.  The subject left the store without paying for the merchandise and fled on a bicycle.  Loss Prevention followed the suspect, called police, and waited for officers to arrive.  The officers recovered the property and arrested the suspect.

Family Disturbance / Under the Influence of Drugs - Suspect Arrested
January 13 at 6:26 p.m., officers were dispatched to a house in the 800 block of West Olive regarding a family disturbance.  When they arrived, they discovered the 28-year- old male resident was causing the disturbance.  He was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was in possession of methamphetamine and a smoking pipe, as well.  He was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Battery - Suspects Arrested
January 14 at 7:19 p.m., a male and female were reported to be fist fighting and yelling at each other in the middle of the street in the 500 block of East Cherry.  When officers arrived, they detained both subjects.  The two had been in a relationship for 15 years and it was determined they had been fighting each other equally.  A computer check revealed the female also had a no-bail warrant for her arrest.  Both suspects were arrested and held for court.

Vehicle Burglary
January 14 at 11:00 p.m., a subject staying at a local hotel in the 700 block of West Huntington went to their locked truck and discovered the left rear window shattered.  The doors were still locked, but the victim's black leather briefcase had been taken from the rear floorboard.  The victim had parked his truck earlier that night and went into the hotel.  The investigation is continuing.

An officer checked the hotel parking lot discovered a second vehicle with a shattered rear window and the doors still locked.  Officers attempted to contact the owner, but were not successful.  At 12:31 a.m., the owner contacted the police to report the vehicle burglary.  The victims said they parked their vehicle at 8:15 p.m. and then went shopping.  Three men's suits were taken from the rear hatch area of the vehicle, below the shattered window.

Outstanding Warrant / Under the Influence of Narcotics - Suspects Arrested
January 15 at 8:08 p.m., officers were dispatched on the report of subjects trespassing inside a vacant house in the 100 block of East Cypress.  When they arrived, they located a male and female subject.  The female was found to have an outstanding warrant for her arrest and the male was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance.  Both subjects were arrested and taken into custody.

Violation of Domestic Violence Restraining Order - Suspect Arrested
January 15 at 10:23 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle at Peck and Camino Real.  A computer check of the male driver had a domestic violence restraining order to stay away from the female who was sitting in the passenger seat.  The male was arrested for violation of the restraining order and taken into custody, where he was held until court the next morning.

No-Bail Felony Burglary Warrant - Suspect Arrested
January 16 at 1:53 a.m., an officer observed a male subject he recognized walking into a convenience store at Huntington and Mountain.  He knew a no-bail warrant had been issued for the subject for felony burglary.  The officer confirmed the outstanding warrant and waited for assisting officers to arrive.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody without incident.

Brio Closes Retail Shop - Moves to Warehouse


Brio Electric Bikes, which was on Olive just east of Myrtle, has apparently closed it's doors. However, it is now located in a warehouse and is open by appointment only, according to its website: http://goo.gl/wGatla . Thanks to Brad Hori for the tip.

- Brad Haugaard

Glendora Fire Seen from Monrovia


There is smoke billowing into the air east of Monrovia at about 6:45 this morning. View from Pavilions parking lot.

Update: People on Twitter say it is at Colby Ridge located above Glendora.

Update 2: A Star-News editor writes that homes are endangered.

Update 3: Glendora schools closed. ABC report: http://goo.gl/lhDrRU 

Update 4: Three people in custody. http://goo.gl/ODq7uJ

Update 5: the city of Monrovia has sent two firetrucks to help with the fire.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Albertsons Supermarket Closing

The Monrovia Planning Department reports that the Albertsons supermarket on East Huntington will be closing in February. Details: http://goo.gl/DNTQOw . A web search suggests that Albertsons is closing a lot of stores.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Fire (and Rescue) Department to Get New Logo

Proposed new logo. Comment: I like it! Classy.

At its next meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/TX1W1V ), the Monrovia City Council will consider adopting this new logo for the Fire Department.

In his report ( http://goo.gl/JGfuYv ) Fire Chief Christopher Donovan writes that the Fire Department also performs rescues, and the new logo emphasizes that.

- Brad Haugaard

AOL Mostly Sells Its Patch News Websites

A company called Hale Global is taking over the Patch family of news websites. Monrovia has a Patch website. AOL will keep a minority ownership. Hale specializes in turning around online media companies. http://goo.gl/Nlkv65

- Brad Haugaard

Panera Bread Holds Its Official Grand Opening


Panera Bread has been open for a while, but held its official grand opening today. Lots of city and Chamber if Commerce folks showed up. The company is going to be donating to Foothill Unity Center. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assembly Member Introduces Bill to Let More High School Students Take College Courses

Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, has introduced AB 1451, which would expand opportunities for high school students to enroll in community college courses. It would also encourage students who need help passing the California High School Exit Exam and students who traditionally do not attend college. Details: http://goo.gl/ZW1yX6

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Assemblyman Introduces Tax Hike Bill

Monrovia's assemblyman, Chris Holden, has introduced a bill into the legislature that could increase the taxes on employers in enterprise zones who do not pay their "qualified" employees over $2,000 a month. Because it is a tax increase, it will require a two-thirds vote. http://goo.gl/DtZEdX

- Brad Haugaard

Historic House No. 1 Goes on Sale in Monrovia

Real estate broker, Century 21 Adams & Barnes, notes that the house designated "Historic Landmark #1" is going on sale in Monrovia tomorrow. If I'm not mistaken, this house is at the corner of Primrose and Oaks. Here it is. http://goo.gl/DDxufv

- Brad Haugaard

Holden Bill on Mentally Ill Gets Bipartisan Support | Holocaust Survivor at Monrovia VFW

~ Assemblymember Chris Holden's measure to prevent last-minute dumping of seriously mentally ill inmates on county streets, passed its first committee test today. This measure passed with unanimous bipartisan support out of the Assembly Committee on Public Safety. Holden represents Monrovia. AB 1065 provides county probation departments with more time to identify, and plan for more intensive treatment and supervision of released offenders who were formerly classified as a mentally disordered offender.

~ Holocaust survivor to speak at Monrovia VFW Post. http://goo.gl/FMctKu

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Restaurant: Copper Still Grill to Replace Sam's Kabob Room

A new restaurant called the Copper Still Grill will be going in at 608-610 S. Myrtle, the site of the former Sam's Mediterranean Kabob Room. At its next meeting the Monrovia Planning Commission was going to consider granting a conditional use permit for the restaurant to serve alcohol, but the floor plan isn't ready, so the item is being continued until the February 12 meeting. Sounds like a micro-brewery kinda place. http://goo.gl/SC5lZ6

- Brad Haugaard