Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 5, 2011

7

 
Mountain Views News Saturday, March 5, 2011 

Monrovian Older American of the Year Award

The City of Monrovia, Department of Community Services, is accepting nominations for 
the 2011 “Older American of the Year Award.” This award is presented to a Monrovian 60 
years of age or older, working or retired and still actively involved in volunteer service in 
Monrovia. The purpose of this award is to seek out, honor and encourage older persons to 
remain active volunteers in the community. Nomination forms are available at the Monrovia 
Community Center or by email request at CLOAKING . The City of Monrovia award winner 
will be recognized at the April 14 Senior Volunteer Luncheon, and at the Los Angeles County 
Commission on Aging celebration in May. For additional information please contact the Department 
of Community Services at (626) 256-8246. 

Duarte Mayor and School Board President 

Deliver JointState of the City/State of the 

School District Talks


Monrovia Police Blotter

During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 434 service events, resulting in 91 investigations. 
Following are the last week’s highlighted issues and events:

Grand Theft

On February 17 at 4:43 p.m., the victim of a grand theft came into the police station. He reported that he 
parked his vehicle in a parking lot at Myrtle and Pomona in the morning. When he returned in the afternoon, 
he found someone had stolen the catalytic converter off his 2004 Toyota Pickup. Investigation continuing.

Felony False Impersonation

On February 17 at 10:33 p.m., a male subject was arrested in San Bernardino County for a Monrovia battery 
warrant from an incident that occurred in 2001. An officer was sent to bring the suspect to the Monrovia jail. 
The officer dispatched had investigated the original case and discovered the suspect was actually the mother of 
the male subject’s children and she had used his name and information to identify herself to officers in 2001, 
and on other cases as well. This resulted in the warrant being issued for the wrong person, the male subject. A 
felony false impersonation report was completed by the officer and the warrant was reentered into the system 
with a note as to the true suspect.

Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested

On February 18 at 10:36 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the High School in the 800 block of West Colorado 
regarding a male student being detained. When the officer arrived, he learned the student had been 
brought into the discipline office for wearing a t-shirt with the word ecstasy written across the front, which is 
a school dress code violation. While in the office, the student became very nervous and kept reaching into his 
pocket. School security searched him and found three ecstasy pills in his pants pocket. The student was arrested, 
booked, and later released to a parent.

Domestic Violence - Suspect Arrested

On February 18 at 7:25 p.m., a male subject came home and got into an argument with his wife. During the 
ongoing argument, the wife tried to take the husband’s phone from him. He responded by biting her hand, 
causing visible injury. He was arrested for domestic violence. 

Grand Theft

On February 19 at 9:58 a.m., an officer responded to the 500 block of West Lime regarding a grand theft 
report. The victim told the officer he parked his vehicle on Mayflower the evening before, but did not lock it. 
He returned to his vehicle in the morning and saw the interior had been ransacked and some property taken. 
Investigation continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

On February 19 at 5:48 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business parking lot in the 500 block of West 
Huntington. The victim had parked his vehicle in the parking lot and secured it. When he returned, he saw the 
door lock had been punched and the third row seat had been taken. Investigation continuing.

Commercial Burglary

On February 19 at 9:34 p.m., loss prevention from a business in the 500 block of West Huntington observed 
three suspects cutting tags off of and secreting items on their persons. Officers responded and were in place 
when the suspects left the store with the merchandise. The officers detained the suspects without incident. Stolen 
merchandise was found on all three of the suspects. One suspect was found to be on probation for burglary 
and another was on parole for robbery. A consent search of their vehicle revealed further merchandise that is 
believed to be stolen from another retail store. The three suspects were arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery

On February 20 at 9:07 a.m., an officer was patrolling a shopping center parking lot in the 600 block of West 
Huntington. The officer noticed an unoccupied vehicle and discovered it to be a stolen vehicle. The vehicle is a 
1999 Honda Civic and was reported stolen February 19 out of Baldwin Park. The officer recovered the vehicle. 

Grand Theft

On February 20 at 10:48 a.m., an officer responded to a business in the 1400 block of South California regarding 
a theft of copper wire. Suspects removed a large amount of copper wire from a spool at a business. The 
suspects possibly gained access from a back alley. Investigation continuing.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision

On February 20 at 11:36 a.m., an officer responded to a solo traffic collision at Myrtle and Colorado. A driver 
was attempting to make a turn onto Colorado from Myrtle when he hit the signal on the corner and knocked it 
down. Monrovia Fire Department and the Edison Company responded for exposed live wires. 

Residential Burglary

On February 22 at 5:59 p.m., officers responded to a residential burglary in the 300 block of North Mountain. 
It appears the suspect entered through an unlocked door and stole miscellaneous valuables from the 
home. Two shotguns were taken, but the suspect left them on the lawn as he fled the area, he may have been 
startled by a neighbor. During the investigation, it was discovered that a neighbor had seen a suspicious subject 
sitting in a parked vehicle just south of the victim’s house at approximately 7:10 a.m. The subject is described as 
an 18-19 year old male, 5’ 10”, with a thin build. He was sitting in an older model, Dodge Plymouth minivan, 
white in color, with the engine running. The neighbor did not report the suspicious subject to police. Investigation 
continuing. 

Vehicle Burglary

On February 23 at 6:13 p.m., officers responded to a vehicle burglary that occurred in a hotel parking lot in 
the 700 block of West Huntington. A window on the vehicle was smashed and a purse was stolen. Investigation 
continuing.

Unreported Grand Theft Auto - 
Suspect Arrested

On February 24 at 5:14 a.m., the 
Los Angeles Police Department 
called to report they had been in 
pursuit of a 1995 Saturn and had 
one male suspect in custody. They 
requested a Monrovia officer contact 
the registered owner, who lives 
in the 200 block of East Pomona. 
The vehicle was stolen from the 
street in front of the registered owner’s 
residence during the night. The 
victim was unaware of the theft and 
does not know the suspect.

Duarte Mayor Tzeitel Paras-Caracci and Duarte Unified School District Board President Pam Kawasaki with The Gas 
Company Public Affairs Manager, Bob Cruz following their State of the City/State of the School District presentation. 
The Gas Company was the presenting sponsor of the event for the Duarte Chamber of Commerce.

DUARTE, CA, March 3, 2011 – While there was no getting around pointing out the economic challenges that confront 
the City of Duarte and Duarte Unified School District, there was also much upbeat about the joint State of the 
City/State of the School District presentations delivered by Mayor Tzeitel Paras-Caracci and School Board President, 
Pam Kawasaki.

More than 100 civic and business leaders attended the Duarte Chamber of Commerce sponsored luncheon held at 
the newly opened 34,000 square foot Maryvale Family Resource and Early Education Center in Duarte. 

Paras-Caracci and Kawasaki spoke of the reality of budget cuts and the shared dread of more to come as a result of 
the State’s budget crisis. But despite the gloomy economic news, Mayor Paras-Caracci told the crowd, “This could be 
our finest hour.” 

One example, she said is the new Maryvale facility which brought 30 new jobs to the City, provides child and family 
counseling, a family resource center, community classes and health and nursing services to the community.

 “This is part of our future, part of our legacy,” she said.

Other reasons for optimism sited by the Mayor.

The City is safer. Bucking the norm that when unemployment goes up so does the crime level, Part 1 crimes in 
Duarte were down 13% in 2010 in almost every category with the exception of auto and grand thefts, up nationwide. 
The City was awarded a $191,000 California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Grant (Cal-GRIP) in late 
2010 that it is putting to work to expand services to youth Kindergarten through 8th grade and their families. 

With the Gold Line now assured to come to Duarte, the City is optimistic that the station with at least 125 parking 
spaces will be completed by late 2014, constructed by the Gold Line Construction Authority and operated by Metro. 

 “Most of all we are excited about public and private partnerships. This will make our vision a reality. We will continue 
to stay positive and plan for an affordable housing and parking project to create synergy around the station. The 
only way we can complete this puzzle though is if the State stops taking our redevelopment pieces,” said the Mayor. 

The completion of the Youth and Family Master Plan is another example of a City that unites together, builds partnerships, 
shares resources and creates community, said the Mayor. The 10-month process by a volunteer committee 
of 27, comprised of a cross-section of the community, produced a plan of 66 action steps for enhancing services and 
programs for youth and families in Duarte. Now, a committee of 12, appointed by the City Council and chaired by 
Damon Colaluca, executive director of the Santa Family YMCA, will oversee the implementation of the plan. 

 Of major concern for the City is a projected $500,000 budget deficit for fiscal year 2010-2011 that could increase to 
$1.5 million if the Governor succeeds in his plan to strip cities of redevelopment funds.

 “We are seriously looking at ways to reduce costs and increase efficiencies. In a commitment to being smart about 
our anticipated reductions of services and programs this is our reality check,” said Mayor Paras-Caracci.

She said the City has faced a number of cuts in the past few years including a 16% reduction in staff, leaving a vacancy 
of 8 full time positions and a remaining full time staff of 43 for the City of 22,000 residents.

Public Safety office hours have been reduced from five and half days to four days a week. The City has also reduced 
hours in after-school park supervision.

“City Hall is still functioning but at some point there will be more to trim if we are to provide what we promised in 
our mission statement, ‘exemplary public services in a caring and fiscally responsible manner,’” said the Mayor.

School Board President, Kawasaki noted the continued widening between projected versus actual funding from 
the State for students. In 2011-2012, the District projected $6,464 ADA funding but received $5,196. She warned that 
the District stands to have another $1.3 million cut from its budget if the tax extension doesn’t pass on the June State 
ballot. 

“We also look at deferrals. Currently our revenue limit is roughly about $20 million. We’re looking at 33% deferrals 
right now. Those deferrals can go anywhere from six months to the next fiscal year but what the Governor is proposing 
right now is a 45% deferral rate. That’s really high and hard for any school district to carry on the excellence that 
it wants to,” said Kawasaki.

On the good news front for the District:

 Measure E, a $62 million bond that passed last year will create a technology endowment that will keep the District 
technology up to date for many years to come. The bond has strict guidelines and safety measures built in and an oversight 
committee that is required. Applications are available in the District Office and online for community members 
to serve on the seven member oversight committee. 

Duarte Unified School District API scores “are off the charts,” said Kawasaki. “This is what we are so proud of.” 
Andres Duarte grew by 43 points to an API score of 804. Beardslee advanced 30 points to 774. Maxwell increased 18 
points to 731. Royal Oaks was up 20 points to 870. Valley View improved by 14 points to 840. Northview Intermediate 
grew 58 points to 755, and Duarte High School increased 43 points to an API score of 750. The Duarte Unified School 
District achieved the most growth of any school district in the San Gabriel Valley, a total 38 point gain.

Royal Oaks has been invited to submit an application for the national Blue Ribbon award.

Valley View was awarded the Golden Bell as a California Distinguished School.

Northview Debate team is in contention for state finals.

Duarte High School now has three academies in place. Ninth grade students are placed in a Freshman Academy 
that helps indoctrinate them into the high school life and ease the transition from middle to high school. Students 
from grades 10 through 12 have the option of either entering the Business of Arts, Media, and Entertainment Academy 
or the Health, Science and Engineering Academy.

In an early college partnership program with Citrus College, the first group of 39 students will be graduating from 
Duarte High School with one full year of college completed. 

Mount Olive High School is going green. In the area of environmental sustainability through their Mount Olive 
Outdoor School Experience program (MOOSE), the school has garnered a number of grants including $5,000 from 
Toshiba; $3,000 from California American Water; two $10,000 grants in product from Rain Bird and the Department 
of Public Works; and $2,500 from the California Department of Education. 

Mount Olive is also starting a partnership with JPL and Citrus College centering on green initiatives. 

Last year 98.5% of the seniors graduated from Duarte High School and 84% went on to secondary education. 

The Mayor and School Board President also used the occasion of their joint presentation to formally kick-off the 
‘Year of the Youth and the Year of Family’ project. Initial effort will be to establish a Leadership Conference to help 
youth develop leadership skills and pride in their community. Southern California Gas Co. has agreed to help sponsor 
the Youth Leadership Conference that would include workshops where youth can learn how to get more involved in 
the community through volunteer activities including mentoring at lower grades and coaching sports. 

For more information, visit the City of Duarte website at www.accessduarte.com and the Duarte Unified School District 
at www.duarte.k12.ca.us.


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