Honoring Black History Month BUSINESS PROFILE: The Book Rack
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ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Sweet Judy Blue Eyes’ Opens The Rose Page 8
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SPORTS: El Monte National Little League Try-Outs Page 22
MonroviaWeekly Monrovia Weekly
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Thursday, February 18, 2016 - February 24, 2016
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Since 1996
Brad Dover Named Interim Fire Chief for Monrovia BY SUSAN MOTANDER
City Manager Oliver Chi said the 22-year-old veteran of the Monrovia Fire Department is "humble, hungry, loyal, and smart."
- Photo by Terry Miller
Brad Dover was named as Monrovia’s Interim Fire Chief last week upon the departure of former Chief Chris Donovan to El Segundo. City Manager Oliver Chi announced last week that he had selected Dover from among the city’s three Division Chiefs (the equivalent of what other departments call Battalion Chiefs). Chi said the 22-yearold veteran of the Monrovia Fire Department was “humble, hungry, loyal, and smart,” the characteristics he looks for in all city employees. Dover began working for Monrovia as a volunteer fire cadet in 1994 and was hired as a Firefighter in 1998. In 1999 he was assigned as a firefighter/ paramedic. He continued up the ranks in the department becoming a fire engineer in 2003 and a captain in 2006. He was appointed to his position as a Division Chief just last February. He was president of the Monrovia Firefighters Association president from 2013-2015. Dover also has a Bachelor’s of Science from California State University, Long Beach along with numerous California State Fire Officer and Chief Officer Certifications. Dover explained that Monrovia participates in SEE PAGE 13
COMPLIMENTARY COPY VOLUME 20, NO. 7
The Old Town Report
BY PAM FITZPATRICK It may be surprising to some that most cities have ordinances pertaining to the riding of skateboards in public places: the City of Monrovia is no exception. For those of us who have businesses in Old Town Monrovia, and those of us who stroll our Historic DisSEE PAGE 13
MHS Girls’Varsity Soccer Is Rio Hondo League Champions
First Time in 9 Years BY ALANA ELLIOTT
Council Meeting Gives Clarification of Issues Raised at State of the City Address Mayoral Rotation and Councilmember Blackburn’s Comments Discussed BY SUSAN MOTANDER The annual State of the City Address bought up two interesting issues including the mayor's suggestion that the city return to a rotation system of selecting the mayor from among the council members rather than directly electing someone to the po-
sition, and Councilmember Alex Blackburn's critique of the council itself. Both members of that body used their reports at the meeting on Tuesday to open up a discussion of those issues. Mayor Tom Adams again raised the issue of returning to the rotation system the council had used until 1980.
He pointed out that this would require a vote of the people, not just the council. The mayor requested, and the balance of the council concurred, that staff begin the process of setting up a committee to look into the question and get back to the council. Blackburn used his time to further explain the
remarks he made at the city address. He said it was his intent to urge the members of the council, and he specifically included himself in his remarks, to use greater discipline in setting priorities. He also noted that they needed to be careful not to overload staff "so that projects can be properly completed," and "to
become more vigilant about undue influence." He said that he talked to several members of the community and had spent some time over the weekend "brainstorming" with Councilmember Gloria Crudgington, the newest member of SEE PAGE 12
One of the biggest reasons for the success of the team is our coach, Carlos Cuellar. He took over the program late last year just prior to the season beginning. Coach Cuellar wants everyone on the team to work hard, but he also wants everyone to play. Last season we finished second in league and lost in first round of CIF play. This year we will have our first CIF game at home today and we plan on SEE PAGE 12