Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 8, 2012

7

Mountain Views News Saturday, December 8, 2012

DUARTE RESIDENTS: 

HOME BURGLARY ALERT

 The City of Duarte and the Los Angeles County 
Sheriff's Department want residents to be aware 
that a home burglary has occurred in the Chimes 
Area of Duarte, specifically in the 2000 Block of 
Royal Oaks Drive. Please note, increased County 
Sheriff's patrols and other security measures have 
already been implemented in the area in light of 
the recent burglary activity. 

 On Tuesday, December 4, 2012, between 11:45 
p.m. and 1:30 p.m. while the occupants were away 
from the home, unknown person(s) smashed a 
rear bedroom window and entered the home and 
stole two collectable coins and a passport. There 
were no witnesses. 

 Deputy Wayne Goodrich would like to remind 
residents not to leave any valuables inside your 
vehicle. Two vehicle burglaries were reported 
early last week in the Royal Oaks Area of Duarte, 
specifically in the 2500 and 2600 Blocks of Sunnydale 
Drive. There were no signs of force entry 
or witnesses. The suspect(s) reportedly stole valuables 
that were left in the car ranging from tools 
to electronics. 

 Important tips to remember to help keep your 
neighborhood and family safe: 

-Make your home look occupied, leave the TV, 
radio, or lights on, or your dog in the backyard. 

-Lock all doors, windows, and garage doors before 
you leave the house or go to bed. 

-Use motion detector lights outside. 

-Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspaper 
or flyers to build up while you are away. Arrange 
for the post office to hold your mail, or 
a friend or neighbor to collect them regularly. 

-Push-button locks on doorknobs are easy for 
burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all 
your outside doors. 

-Keep your yard clean and bushes and trees 
trimmed. Do not give burglars a place to hide. 

-If you have an alarm system, use it, even if you 
leave for a short period of time. 

-If you do not have an alarm system buy signs 
that say you have an alarm and place them 
around your home.

If you have any information that can assist in the 
investigation of these burglaries please contact 
Special Assignment Deputy Wayne Goodrich at 
the Duarte Sub Station by calling (626) 357-7938, 
ext. 320. 

 Should you witness a crime in progress, please 
call 911. 

 If you would like to leave an anonymous tip, you 
may do so by calling the Sheriff's Satellite Station 
Crime Tip Hotline at (626) 357-7938, ext. 462. 

 Tips can also be e-mailed duartecrimetips@lasd.
org. If you see suspicious persons or vehicles in 
your neighborhood, please report them by contacting 
the Temple Sheriff's Station at (626) 448-
9861 or (626) 285-7171.

MONROVIA’S 45TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARADE

 

By Joan Schmidt

 A good time was had by all 
who attended holiday festivities 
in Old Town Monrovia. It began 
with the official tree lighting 
ceremony at 6:00 pm. The 
beloved tree used so many years 
was lost during last year’s wind 
storms, but special thanks to 
Home Depot for the new one!

 This year’s parade theme was 
“All That Glitters”, and believe 
me, there were many bright 
lights on the vehicles and on the 
participants themselves! Prior 
to the Parade, the announcer 
mentioned Betty Sanford as one 
of the judges. This remarkable 
woman was such an asset on 
the Monrovia School Board 
many years. A few years ago, her 
beloved husband Jules passed 
away, but Betty has remained an 
active member of the community 
and is always willing to help out. 
Betty is one of the sponsors for the 
Holiday Festivities in Old Town 
Monrovia. All Season long, there will be gift wrapping stations, strolling carolers and live music! 
(Thank you to Betty, Donna Baker, Podley Properties, Courtyard Marriott, Doubletree by Hilton and 
Will’s Sport and Tackle.)

 Representing our City were Mayor Lutz, Mayor Pro Tem Joe Garcia, Council Member Tom Adams 
and wife Sally, Council Member Larry Spicer, City Treasurer and #1 Historian Steve Baker-all in 
vehicles! Then Council Member Becky Shevlin rode a bike! It was awesome. Police Chief Jim Hunt 
and wife rode in a classic police vehicle, and two Motor Cops - one was Jim Mead - had begun the 
parade!

 All Monrovia schools participated - from the HS Matching Band and Drill Team, (YAY Wildcats!), 
Clifton and Santa Fe Middle Schools and all elementary schools! 

 From Arcadia, ICA parents and students came in full force. I spotted David Schirz and Mom Lisa, 
as well as the Sarmientos with their three children, the Macias twins and Mariah Saleem!

 Neighboring Duarte’s Falcon Matching Band also participated and Mayor Margaret Finlay was on 
hand. Prior to the Parade, Margaret had said, “Monrovia is the Best neighbor!”

 Why was this theme chosen? Perhaps because of everyone’s FAVORITE Monrovia resident, Kim 
Rhode, Grand Marshall. Kim put Monrovia on the map at this year’s Olympics. She is the ONLY 
person to win a medal in an individual category five consecutive years! I met Kim at the Duarte Route 
66 years MANY years ago. She was either 16 or 17 and had just won her first medal. Years have gone 
by, but she is the same gracious, unaffected girl I met back then! She hails from El Monte and is very 
proud to call it her hometown. But she loves living in Monrovia, her home now, and being able to 
walk from her home to Old Town!

 In addition to the schools, there were many scouts and church groups represented. My personal 
favorite was the Arcadia Indians! There was a truck pulling a large decorated boat and the happy 
players were on it! Of course Santa was a great favorite, too. Thank you to the City of Monrovia and 
ALL of its merchants, from Foothill down to Olive and one block east and west. They all made this 
possible!

 A final note. Want to eat with Santa? This weekend Santa will arrive! Ring in the Merry for 
Breakfast with Santa- Saturday, December 8th, Jake’s Roadhouse at 8:45am and Peach Café at 9:45 am. 
On Sunday, Peach Café at 11:15am.

 At Annunciation Parish Hall, 1307 East Longden Avenue, Arcadia, there will be breakfast with 
Santa on Sunday December 9th, 8-12. There will be prizes, pictures and lots of fun. See you there - 
we’re bringing the grandkids!


ICA students

COMPASSIONATE RESCUE PRESENTS TO DUARTE KIWANIS

 

 

Alan and Vokouhi Unell were inspired to start their own non-profit – Compassionate Rescue – after 

realizing the global issue of clean drinking water. 884 million people have no access to clean drinking 
water on a daily basis, and Compassionate Rescue has created a number of ways to help – one child and 
one community at a time. With the help of Sierra Madre Rotary Club and other local organizations, 
they are raising money for “Life Straws”. These Life Straws can be used for a full year, and are a simple 
mechanism to clean the water as it is being drunk. Additionally, Compassionate Rescue coordinates 
building wells in needed areas – the current project is in Asaba, Nigeria.

Vokouhi shared her personal inspiration – she grew up in Armenia and being the youngest daughter, 
her job was to haul water for the family from the nearby river. In her culture, the assumption was that 
girls did not need education – that their jobs were to haul that water for the entire family.

So, providing wells, not only saves lives lost to disease, it is changing the futures of many young 
women who now have the potential of education.

The Duarte Kiwanis Club has lunch meetings the first, third and fifth Tuesdays of the month at 
Westminster Gardens. For further information on speaking or joining the club, contact Dr. Diane 
Hernandez at drdiane@drhernandezoptometry.com. 


Monrovia Police Blotter

Highlighted Activity for November 29 - December 2, 2012

 Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events. To see a complete listing of crimes reported, 
go to the City of Monrovia website at www.monroviapd.org and click on the crime mapping link. Sign up 
to follow us on twitter for police notifications.

 

Man Attempts to Lure Teen into Car

On Thursday, November 29, 2012, at approximately 8:10 a.m., a 15-year-old high school student 
was walking to school in the 500-600 block of West Olive when she was approached by a male white 
suspect driving a white, four-door, pickup truck, unknown size. The suspect asked the student to get 
into his vehicle, but the student refused, stating she did not know him. He drove forward and turned 
onto the 600 block of Monterey, parking along the curb. He waited for the student to approach. As 
the student approached the vehicle again, the driver offered the student $200 to get into his vehicle. 
The student refused, and the suspect left the area. The student notified school officials as soon as she 
arrived at school. 

 It is unknown if this is related to the incident which occurred on November 8, but detectives are 
investigating and are coordinating their investigation with school officials. 

 Suspect Description: male, white, 30-35 years old, unknown height, thin build, black shaggy hair 
- medium length, wearing black framed prescription glasses. The victim could not describe the suspect's 
clothing.

 Suspect Vehicle Description: older model, white, four-door, pickup truck.

 

Residential Burglary

November 30 at 10:50 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of North Alta Vista to 
investigate a burglary that had occurred within the last two days. The victims had been out of town 
and returned home to discover someone had broken into their home. The suspect(s) smashed the 
glass backdoor and gained entry into the home. Once inside, they took a purse and some jewelry from 
the home. The investigation is continuing.

 

Residential Burglary 

November 30 at 4:14 p.m., a burglary was reported in the 800 block of Ridgeside Drive. The location 
is a vacant residence that is in the process of being remodeled and was left unlocked. The suspects 
entered the residence and took tools from the attached garage. The suspect(s) then left the location 
undetected. Investigation continuing.

 

Elder Abuse / Grand Theft

November 30 at 5:24 p.m., an elderly male subject came into the police department lobby and reported 
that several guns he owns were stolen from his apartment while he was in the hospital. Further 
investigation revealed he had begun to associate with two female neighbors, who steadily gained 
his trust and took over his finances. While he was in the hospital, they went into his apartment and 
took his property, including bank statements and gold jewelry. He told the investigating officer that 
he never gave anyone permission to go into his apartment and take his property. A call was made to 
the female neighbors, who admitted they had his property, but claimed he told them to take it for 
safekeeping while he was in the hospital. An Adult Protective Services referral was generated. The 
investigation is continuing.

 

Parolee at Large - Suspect Arrested 

November 30 at 8:11 p.m., an adult male subject was aggressively confronting two people who were 
waiting for the bus at Magnolia and Huntington. An officer in the area had stopped, noticing the 
subject, and was waved over by one of the people waiting for the bus. The officer contacted the male 
subject, who then immediately became confrontational with the officer. Additional officers arrived 
and the subject was determined to be intoxicated and had been in possession of an open container 
of alcohol. He was arrested and taken into custody. At the police station, a computer check revealed 
the subject is a parolee at large and considered armed and dangerous. He has an extensive history of 
violent crimes. A parole hold was obtained for the suspect. 

Possession of Fraudulent Social Security and California Identification / Drinking in Public - Suspect 
Arrested November 30 at 12:55 p.m., an officer observed a subject with an open alcohol container on 
Myrtle Avenue. He stopped and detained the subject. The subject presented a fraudulent identification 
card. He was subsequently arrested and booked. The investigation is continuing. 

Fight in Progress

December 1 at 1:55 a.m., officers were dispatched to a possible fight in progress at a hotel in the 900 
block of Fifth Avenue. Several subjects were detained, and one male subject was checked by Monrovia 
Fire Department paramedics after reporting he had been sprayed with pepper spray. He declined 
medical treatment and officers could not confirm the fact the he was sprayed with pepper spray. One 
female subject was arrested for a warrant. All of the subjects were detained and field interview cards 
were completed. All persons not staying at the hotel left the premises.

 

Grand Theft Auto

December 2 at 9:10 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 400 block of Los Angeles. The vehicle 
is a red, 1996 Honda Civic, which was taken from the street in front of the victim's home. The investigation 
is continuing. 

DUARTE VOLUNTEERS INVITED TO HELP DECORATE CITY OF 
HOPE’S 2013 ROSE FLOAT

City of Hope and City of Duarte have designated Sunday, Dec. 30 “Duarte Day,” an opportunity 
for local volunteers to work on City of Hope’s especially significant 2013 Tournament of Roses 
Parade float. The world-class biomedical research, treatment and education institution founded 
in 1913 in Duarte, will officially launch its Centennial festivities as a participant in the Rose 
Parade on New Year’s Day.

 “Helping to decorate a Rose Parade float that will be seen and enjoyed by millions of 
parade viewers around the world is a fun and exciting way to kick off the new year. Volunteering 
to work on the City of Hope float is a great opportunity for our Duarte residents to salute the City 
of Hope’s 100 years of life-saving work,” said Deputy City Manager, Karen Herrera. 

 City of Hope is recognized worldwide for its compassionate patient care, innovative science 
and translational research, which rapidly turns laboratory breakthroughs into promising new 
therapies. “The Journey to CURE,” theme of City of Hope’s 2013 Rose Parade float, depicts a colorful 
oversize lab. The float was built by Phoenix Decorating Co. 

 Decoration site for the City of Hope float is Rosemont Pavilion, 700 Seco St., in Pasadena. 
Volunteers must be at least 13 years of age or over. Opportunities are available for 80 volunteers who 
will be split into two work shifts of 40 persons each. The first shift will work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
The second shift from 4 p.m. to completion. Each volunteer will receive a t-shirt and commemorative 
City of Hope Centennial lapel pin. Volunteer information packet is available below. 

 For those who would like to support the City of Hope float decorating efforts, but are unable 
to volunteer, there is another way to help. Purchase a rose that will be used on City of Hope’s float. 
Roses can be purchased for $20 each online at www.cityofhope.org/buy a rose. The vial that will 
contain the rose can also include a personal message.

 To volunteer for Duarte Day float decorating, call Karen Herrera at Duarte City Hall, (626) 
357-7931.

PLAN MONROVIA HOSTS ALL-BOARDS & 
COMMISSIONS WORKSHOP

 

As a precursor to the community workshops to be held in December and January, Plan Monrovia 
brought together members from the Planning Commission, Community Services Commission, 
Historic Preservation Commission, Library Board, Youth Commission and the Old Town Advisory 
Board to ask the question:

What are the most important things the City should focus on over the next five years?

Through an interactive process, each Commissioner and Board member voiced what they believe to 
be the highest priorities for the community, and then voted on the top five. 

Interested in what they had to say? Check back on our website www.PlanMonrovia.org to view the 
results later next week.

Can't wait to give ideas? Join the 70 other Monrovians who are submitting their ideas online- everything 
from community gardens, to dining options at the new Gold Line station. Just click here.

 

Tuesday , December 11, 2012

Community Workshop 1

Monrovia Community Center

119 W Palm Avenue, Monrovia, CA

7:00- 9:00 p.m.

 

Saturday, January 12, 2012

Community Workshop 2

Calvary Chapel Monrovia

123 W Pomona Ave, Monrovia, cA

9:00- 11:00 a.m.