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Monrovia Company Selected to Provide Tiny Drones to Navy

The Navy has selected Monrovia-based AeroVironment to supply miniature Blackwing drones for its submarines. http://goo.gl/AGA6nf

- Brad Haugaard

Steinway Piano Fundraiser

St. Luke's Episcopal Church Choir will present its fourth annual fundraiser to help purchase a Steinway concert grand piano on Saturday, May 22, at 5 p.m. Dinner in Guild Hall at the church, 122 S. California Ave. at Foothill followed by the show, directed by Music Director Kent Jones, in the sanctuary. An array of musical styles will be performed by members of the choir and guests. Wine and dessert will follow. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at the door. Reservations recommended. Email jklauer@gmail.com or call Kelly Lauer at 905-5247 by Wednesday, May 18.

Pictures of Monrovia Days Parade

Great pictures of the Monrovia Days Parade at Gem City Images: http://goo.gl/SgtRmG

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Mayor In Pie Eating Contest

Monrovia Mayor Tom Adams takes a breather in the Monrovia Days pie eating contest. How cool is a town when you get to see the mayor with his face smeared with pie? Can you imagine the mayor of LA doing this?

- Brad Haugaard

More Trader Joe's Veggie Products Recalled

Monrovia-based Trader Joe's has added to the list of foods it is recalling for fear they may be contaminated with Listeria. All frozen veggies: http://goo.gl/usvrEe

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Days Is On!


Monrovia Days is on today and tomorrow. The center of the action is Library Park. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Council to Consider: 'Raw Inspiration' to Run Street Fair; Sending Anti-Tax Letter To County; Etc.

At its May 17 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/HyaGB9 ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

- Consider hiring Raw Inspiration to run the Monrovia Friday Night Family Street Fair. A city review team visited and liked the Calabasas Farmers' Market, run by Raw Inspiration, and found that, "While the Calabasas Farmers' Market was not an exact replica of Monrovia's Street Fair (the event lacked a significant entertainment component), incorporating elements from the Calabasas event into our Street Fair was highly recommended." http://goo.gl/jMmQAK

- Consider sending a letter to Supervisor Michael Antonovich saying why the city doesn't like the proposed Los Angeles County Park Tax. In short, city staff thinks it's unfair. In long ... http://goo.gl/YKxUwJ

- Consider spending some of the bond money the city raised for water/sewer/street repair for engineering and design services ($1,532,900 to Merrell Johnson Engineering and $81,260 to Civiltec Engineering)

- Plus another $30,880 to Precision Concrete Cutting for sidewalk assessment services.

- Also, the council will hold a 5 p.m. study session about the city's 2016-2017 budget. http://goo.gl/6iVWjj

- Brad Haugaard

Mayor Adams And Crew In Video Ad for Monrovia Days

If you want to see Mayor Tom Adams in cool blue sunglasses with a squirt gun in a rappy video ad for Monrovia Days, you will want to watch this: https://goo.gl/ucsDe0

- Brad Haugaard

Will Chris Rich Be Interim School Board Member?

Monrovia School Board will likely appoint former board member Chris Rich to serve out the remainder of retiring Alex Zucco's term. Zucco is taking a position with the state PTA. http://goo.gl/mDCFSW

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Domenico's



Dinner at Domenico's, a traditional style Italian restaurant on Huntington just east of Magnolia. Got the ravioli and spaghetti combination plate $15.99, and a large beer for $7.50.  It came with a nice salad. Tasty and filling. 
- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Garden Club to Host Home Beautification Awards

Monrovia Garden Club will host the 2016 Monrovia Home Beautification Awards. The club will select eight front gardens. Yards are judged on appearance, how they enhance the home and neighborhood, and on its own merit as a work of art. An award sign will be put in the front yard announcing the resident as a winner, and the Mayor will present each resident with a Certificate of Recognition. The next Monrovia Garden Club meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24 in Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Myrtle and Foothill. Light refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m.

MOOYAH Burgers Opening May 23

MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes - in the Foothill Park Plaza at Myrtle and Foothill - is opening its doors on Monday, May 23. MOOYAH says it never uses frozen beef, it house-bakes its buns, serves fresh-cut fries and real ice cream shakes. The restaurant is owned by Ara Avagyan, an Armenian immigrant who has attended both medical school and earned a master's degree in leadership and management. He has held executive positions and owned companies in the home health industry. Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Hit With a Bat; Shoplifting With Baby Stroller; Cell Phone Swiped; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 9-11. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 426 service events, resulting in 99 investigations.

Graffiti Vandalism
May 9 at 9:10 p.m., officers were dispatched to a park in the 900 block of California on the report of graffiti vandalism. When they arrived, they found someone had spray painted graffiti in large letters on a wall. The investigation is ongoing.

Domestic Violence
May 10 at 6:20 p.m., officers responded to the report of a battery in progress at a park in the 900 block of California. The officers arrived and contacted the male victim, who had minor injuries from a confrontation with his girlfriend. The suspect hit the victim with a bat and punched him several times in the head and face. The suspect had left the area and was not located. The suspect was entered into the law enforcement wanted persons system and the investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
May 10 at 6:58 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a shoplifting incident. A female adult had been seen by store security placing jewelry into a baby stroller. The female exited the store without paying for the items. Loss prevention personnel detained and placed the suspect under private person's arrest. The officer arrested the suspect and issued her a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 11 at 12:17 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 100 block of W. Walnut when he observed a male adult subject hiding near a wall next to a closed business. He contacted the subject and a consent search revealed he had a methamphetamine pipe in his possession. The officer searched the immediate area and recovered a baggie of methamphetamine, but the suspect said it did not belong to him. A computer search revealed the suspect also had a warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody for possession of drug paraphernalia and the warrant.

Petty Theft
May 11 at 12:51 a.m., a petty theft incident was reported at a business in the 200 block of W. Huntington. The victim was eating at the fast food restaurant when a male adult suspect suddenly grabbed the victim's cell phone and ran out of the business. Police were called and an area search was conducted, but the suspect was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Essential Oils Class at Monrovia Library | Senior Discount on Trash Pickup

~ Free Essential Oil Remedies class, Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Monrovia Library. Make simple remedies using natural and potent therapeutic grade essential oils with host. Each participant will make blended remedies such as: Sleepy Time blend, Tummy Tamer, Achy Muscle Blend, Flu Bomb, Focus and Concentrate. Register at http: http://tinyurl.com/zxaq8mp

~ Monrovia residents 65 years of age or older are eligible for a 10% discount on solid waste services. Proof of age from a legal document (driver license, identification card, etc.) is required. Simply stop by the Public Works Department (600 S. Mountain Avenue) and staff will verify your age, so Athens Services can apply the discount to your account. (Thanks to Recreation Supervisor Rebecca Sandoval for info.)

- Brad Haugaard

New Townhomes Near Station Square

Brandywine Homes has begun construction at Lotus Court, a new community offering 13 townhomes on Duarte Road at Lotus Court, a few blocks west of Station Square.

Brandywine is building 13 three- and four-bedroom townhomes ranging in size from 1,555 to 1,705 square feet with private yards, full side-by-side garages, Spanish-inspired architecture, stainless steel appliances and solid-surface counters. The stucco, three-story townhomes with tile roofs are being built around an existing historic landmarked home built on the site in the early 1900s. The neighborhood will include a central recreation area.

The project is expected to be complete this summer.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Upcoming at Monrovia's Station Square Park

Here is an overview of events that have been scheduled to kinda break in Station Square Park. (This is in addition to a concert series the city is working on.)

  • Summer Reading Club Kick-Off. June 16 from 6-7 p.m.
  • Family Dance Party For Younger Children & Their Families on June 23 through August 18. Every Thursday from 6-6:30 p.m.
  • Brews & Books, June 23 from 7-8:30 p.m.
  • Night Hike at Canyon Park, June 30, July 28, and August 11, from 6:30-9 p.m. A shuttle will take participants to Canyon Park for a guided tour to learn about the creatures that take over the park at night.
  • Summer Concerts At Station Square. All concerts from 6:30-8 p.m. July 14 – The Who Show (The Who Tribute Band); July 21 - Escape (The Journey Tribute); August 4 – Mirage (Visions of Fleetwood Mac); August 18 – Doobies, Inc. (Doobie Brothers Tribute Band).

Source: City Manager Oliver Chi weekly report.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Staff Doesn't Like County Tax Plan | Construction on Foothill | Fire Engine Gets First Workout | Etc.

In his weekly report, City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ Monrovia city staff doesn't much like a proposed county parks tax measure that will likely be on the November ballot. An individual who, for example, owns a 2,000 square foot home would pay $60 a year. Chi says that the city would only get back 32 cents for each dollar of tax it would pay. Instead, West LA would get a big chunk of the money. He writes that, "it seems incongruent and unfair that our residents should have to pay for park space in Los Angeles and on the west side, especially when considering the fact that those areas are park deficient because of deliberate land use and development decisions that were made by Los Angeles / west side communities."

~ If you use Foothill frequently, Arcadia has begun a roadway improvement project along Foothill between Michillinda and Santa Anita. It should last through mid-August 2016. There will be sporadic lane closures, but Arcadia has indicated that at least one lane in each direction will remain open.

~ The city's new Fire Engine 101 got its baptism into service at a 3-car detached garage fire. City Manager Oliver Chi said it "performed flawlessly."

~ Learn CPR. The Sidewalk CPR program is scheduled for Thursday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Library Park.

~ There will be a free ESL Pronunciation and Conversation Class from May 31-June 23 for English-language learners. The class will be held Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Library Community Room. Adult students must register prior to May 31. Online registration www.mcasweb.com . Contact Library Supervisor Rebecca Elder at (626) 256-8274 for further details.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Days This Weekend: Parade, Pie Eating Contest, Music Festival, Beer, Etc.


Monrovia Days is coming up this weekend.

Saturday

On Saturday, May 14, everyone is invited to to Old Town to celebrate Monrovia’s 130th Birthday! It begins at 8 a.m. with a welcome and pancake breakfast at Library Park. Then, at 9 a.m., the Monrovia Day Parade. After the parade, at around 10:30 a.m., there will be activities throughout the day, including:

Live entertainment, performances by Monrovia Unified School District students and Centre Stage participants, carnival games, laser tag, a dunk tank, food, and a good old fashioned pie eating contest, bounce houses, rock wall climbing, book sale hosted by the Friend’s of the Library, food and a beer garden.

The new pie eating contest will award a total of $500 in cash prizes to the winning teams! $300 prize to fastest team. No hands allowed!

Sunday

The Monrovia Days Music Festival will start at noon on Sunday, May 15, and will feature live music,
vendors, local merchants, food, another beer garden, and a variety of activities for the kids!

Here's who's playing and when: http://goo.gl/i71CPx

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Heroin; Shoplifter Escapes on Mountain Bike With Speakers; Thief Leaves Cell Phone; Thefts From Unlocked Vehicles; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 5-8. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Suspicious Vehicle / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 5 at 3:16 p.m., an officer saw a suspicious vehicle traveling down Madison. The vehicle kept stopping and starting for no apparent reason, then pulled into the driveway of an apartment building in the 200 block of S. Madison and stopped. The vehicle was occupied by a female adult driver and male adult passenger. A resident of the property saw them and told the officer that the occupants did not belong on the property. The officer contacted the subjects to find out what they were doing at the location. A computer check of the subjects revealed the female driver had a $30,000 warrant for her arrest out of Pasadena. She was arrested and taken into custody. The male subject was identified and released. The subjects had no valid reason for being on the property.

Vehicle Burglary
May 5 at 11:19 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 500 block of W. Huntington Drive. The victim parked and locked her vehicle in a business parking lot at 3:00 p.m. She returned to her vehicle at 11:19 p.m. and saw that her passenger window was smashed and her backpack had been stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
May 6 at 1:00 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a welfare check on an adult male who was lying face down in the grass at the corner of Primrose and Chestnut. When the officer arrived, he contacted the subject, who appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The officer conducted a drug evaluation and determined the suspect was under the influence of heroin. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody, where he was held for sobering.

Shoplifting
May 6 at 6:43 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a shoplifter. Officers responded to the location to look for a male suspect who removed a pair of speakers from the store without paying. The loss prevention agent followed the suspect out of the store to Mayflower Avenue, where the suspect fled on a white, mountain bike. The officers conducted an area search, but were not able to locate the suspect. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
May 6 at 11:18 p.m., a shoplifter was reported at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain Avenue. A male suspect pushed a cart with tools in it through the garden center and out the emergency exit doors without paying. The suspect was not located and the investigation is continuing. Theft from a Vehicle May 7 in the early afternoon, four thefts from vehicles were reported to police. All four vehicles had been left unlocked. The thefts occurred in the 500 and 600 blocks of Terrado. The vehicles were ransacked and miscellaneous items were stolen. The investigations are continuing.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
May 7 at 10:40 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain regarding a suspect who was detained by loss prevention personnel for shoplifting. The suspect used a receipt he found in the parking lot to return items that he selected in the store that he had not purchased. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 7 at 8:35 p.m., officers noticed a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot in the 700 block of W. Huntington Drive that was occupied by a male adult. An officer contacted the subject and a computer check revealed multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest. Drug paraphernalia was found in the vehicle prior to it being towed from the scene. The suspect was arrested and later released with citations to appear in court.

Shoplifting
May 8 at 7:37 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding the theft tools from a business. The suspect entered the store and selected an expensive saw. While the suspect was standing in the register isle, he was talking on his cell phone and holding the saw. The suspect abruptly ran from the register line through the front doors to an awaiting vehicle, which had a second suspect driving. As the suspect was running from the store, he dropped his cell phone and a fixed blade knife. Employees were able to get the license plate of the suspect vehicle and the investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence
May 8 at 2:32 p.m., a female subject came to the police station to report she was the victim of domestic violence. She said she went to visit her husband and mother-in-law at their residence in the 800 block of W. Walnut. The husband sneaked out the back of the residence and went to drink with his friends. The wife located the husband and walked him back to the apartment. During an argument over his drinking alcohol, the husband punched the wife in the mouth and scratched her neck. Further investigation revealed there is an emergency protection order from prior domestic violence. The husband left the apartment prior to police arrival. The investigation is continuing.

Alex Blackburn Selected As Monrovia Mayor Pro Tem

Monrovia City Council member Alex Blackburn has been unanimously selected as the Council's mayor pro-tem. In other words, he serves as mayor when the mayor isn't available. http://goo.gl/Ugr8Mi

- Brad Haugaard