Monrovia

Moving from one of the smallest cities in Los Angeles County to one of the largest, Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa will replace outgoing Jim Starbird in January as Glendale's top executive. The City Council announced Ochoa's appointment Tuesday night, describing the 40-year-old as having a fresh outlook and a keen eye for finances. “Scott's credentials, his values, his experience, his multidimensional understanding of local government and municipal operations impressed us all,” said Mayor Laura Friedman, adding that the size of a city doesn't accurately represent the challenges it faces.

The Glendale City Council tonight confirmed Scott Ochoa as the city's next top executive, replacing retiring City Manager Jim Starbird. Ochoa holds the city manager job at Monrovia, a city that with a population of roughly 37,000, is far smaller than Glendale, the third largest city in L.A. County. Ochoa has been city manager in Monrovia since 2004, a culmination of a long civic career there, according to an announcement from Glendale City Hall immediately after the council confirmation.

A second consecutive loss by the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy girls? soccer team appeared all but certain. The Tologs controlled the flow of play, but did everything but score. That changed dramatically with a perfect shot as time wound down. Bianca Garoian scored with 15 seconds left to give Flintridge Sacred Heart a 1-1 tie against Monrovia in a nonleague match at the Glendale Sports Complex on Wednesday afternoon. The goal shattered the frustration that had been pent up inside the Tologs (1-1-1)

Monrovia, from which Glendale's new city manager hails, was named Los Angeles County's most business-friendly city in its category on Thursday. The Eddy Awards, handed out by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., recognizes two cities each year based on their commitment to economic development, business services, tax rates and fees, incentives and communication with business owners, according to an announcement from the organization....

Firefighters hope to have a brush fire that burned more than 175 acres in Monrovia out by Sunday evening. The blaze started late Saturday morning in a residential backyard in northwest Monrovia and spread to rugged terrain in bordering wild lands. At one point flames came within 80 yards of homes, but no structures were damaged. "We're really fortunate we were able to stave off the fire and protect the homes," city spokeswoman Jennifer McLain said Saturday night. PHOTOS: Fire in Monrovia -- Los Angeles Times staff

Charles Rich Something wasn't right while he warmed up on the bullpen mound under threatening skies. Nobody except Matt Stoner -- the ace pitcher on the La Canada High baseball team -- knew if he could capture another gigantic moment by throwing a second consecutive no-hitter. Stoner fought valiantly before the roof caved in on him and his teammates. La Canada committed five errors that largely contributed to a 6-2 Rio Hondo League home setback against Monrovia on Friday.

Charles Rich MONROVIA -- First Patrick Perrigue worked his tightrope act to perfection, then he pounded his fist against the football to signal the end of an era. The La Canada High junior probably couldn't have been in better condition to perform both acts as he needed a mixture of agility and strength to snuff out Monrovia in a Rio Hondo League football contest Thursday at Monrovia. The nimble Perrigue scored two touchdowns and blocked an extra-point attempt to lead La Canada (9-1, 5-0 in league)

Peter Samore LA CANADA HIGH -- The coaches of La Canada and Monrovia highs knew exactly who their competition was in Thursday's girls' water polo match. Spartan Coach Mary Holt knew that her team was going up against a first-year program. Wildcat Coach Paul Bullock knew his team was going up against the No. 5 team in Division III of the CIF Southern Section. La Canada won the Rio Hondo League contest, 17-5, at the Spartan pool. "It was what we expected," Bullock said.

Chuck Schilken The La Canada football team entered Friday's game against Monrovia fighting for its playoff life.By the time the Spartans left Wildcat Field, however, they were the convincing leaders in the Rio Hondo League race. Quarterback Tom Michael passed for four touchdowns and rushed for another to lead La Canada to a 47-0 romp and deliver Monrovia's first league loss. "This was fun," said Michael, who completed 16 of 27 passes for 405 yards and an interception.

TODAY GIRLS' SOCCER Flintridge Prep vs. Pasadena Westridge at TBA, 3:15 p.m. Monrovia at La Canada, 3:30 p.m. BOYS' SOCCER La Canada at Monrovia, 3:30 p.m. GIRLS' WATER POLO Mission Hills Alemany vs. Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy at TBA, 3 p.m. Rancho Palos Verdes Chadwick at Flintridge Prep, 3:15 p.m. Glendale vs. Palos Verdes Peninsula at Manhattan Beach Mira Costa High,...

Firefighters hope to have a brush fire that burned more than 175 acres in Monrovia out by Sunday evening. The blaze started late Saturday morning in a residential backyard in northwest Monrovia and spread to rugged terrain in bordering wild lands. At one point flames came within 80 yards of homes, but no structures were damaged. "We're really fortunate we were able to stave off the fire and protect the homes," city spokeswoman Jennifer McLain said Saturday night. PHOTOS: Fire in Monrovia -- Los Angeles Times staff

GLENDALE - Every match wrestled ended in a pin at Hoover High when the Tornadoes hosted Monrovia High in a Rio Hondo League dual meet Thursday. Hoover Coach Mark Bitetti, who saw all but two of his wrestlers pinned in a 60-18 loss, had two explanations for the prevalence of the pinfall. “It's a result of inexperience and lack of fight is a part of it,” Bitetti said. “Inexperience is part of it, but you've got to fight to get off your back. They did stupid things to get on their back and when they did they couldn't get out of it.” The Tornadoes (1-3 in league)

For most of the first half of the season, the St. Francis High football team found itself in its share of close nonleague games. St. Francis Coach Jim Bonds doesn't expect anything to change when the Golden Knights kick off Mission League at 7 p.m. Friday against host Cathedral. “In the Mission League, week in and week out, you are expecting a dog fight,” said Bonds, whose team is 3-2 and ranked No. 8 in the latest CIF Southern Section Western Division poll. “More so now at this stage of the season.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE - On the doorstep of adulation, riding a tidal wave of momentum, it all slipped away for St. Francis High's football team in gut-wrenching fashion. With just over one minute remaining, the Golden Knights trailed Monrovia by four points, but a clutch Jared Lebowitz fourth-down conversion pass to John Carroll put St. Francis on the Wildcats' one-yard line with time, opportunity and the momentum to go ahead and likely claim victory. But the ensuing play saw a quarterback sneak fumbled into the air before coming to rest on the ground in the grasp of Monrovia, leading to a 17-13 victory for the Wildcats and a bitter loss for the host Knights on Friday night at Friedman Field.

In recent years, the St. Francis High football team has frequently looked to the Pacific League to fill its nonleague schedule, sometimes playing as many as three opponents from the league in one season. But with annual clashes with Burroughs and Crescenta Valley falling by the wayside, the Golden Knights have looked to another nearby league to fill the void in the Monrovia Wildcats of the Rio Hondo League, who will visit Friedman Field at 7 p.m. Friday. "With their success recently, [plus]

Amid fears of being perceived as giving preferential treatment, Monrovia's City Council this week failed to reach consensus on modifying a home loan made to their former city manager, Scott Ochoa, who left that city for the top job in Glendale. In 2004, Monrovia offered the newly hired Ochoa $275,000 as part of a 30-year second mortgage. He's paid about $100,000 in interest over the years and is supposed to pay off the entire loan when he sells his house. But with his home upside-down - he bought it for $775,000 and plans to sell it for $739,000 - he offered to pay $200,000 of his debt through the home sale and asked the city to let him pay the remaining over the next three to four months with an escalating interest rate.

City Manager Scott Ochoa wants his former employer, the city of Monrovia, to restructure a $275,000 home loan officials gave him in 2004 so he can speed up his move to Glendale. The proposal, which is largely procedural in nature, has reportedly set off a political windstorm in Monrovia, even though officials there say the new agreement may pencil out better for everyone. The loan dates back to when Ochoa was moving to Monrovia in 2004. At the time, city officials agreed to offer him a second mortgage loan of $275,000 with 5% interest.

A 50 year resident of La Canada, passed away peacefully in her home on March 9.  Born and raised in Manchester England, she and her husband Arthur immigrated to the US in 1952.  She was predeceased by her husband Arthur Kaye in 1996.  She is survived by her four children, Suzanne Tauer (husband Richard) of Arcadia, Michelle Kaye of La Canada, Jeanette Haghayeghi (husband Mehrdad) of Alexandria Virginia and Scott Kaye (wife Caprice) of La Canada.  She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Allison (husband Paul)

Glendale's new city manager, Scott Ochoa, will be making nearly as much as his longtime predecessor - $235,600 plus benefits - according to an agreement approved by the City Council Tuesday night. Ochoa, who is currently Monrovia's city manager, will be replacing Jim Starbird, who makes roughly $240,000 a year, in January. The agreement approved on Tuesday is an upgrade for Ochoa, who makes $180,000 plus benefits in Monrovia - a city less than one-fifth the size of Glendale.

Monrovia, from which Glendale's new city manager hails, was named Los Angeles County's most business-friendly city in its category on Thursday. The Eddy Awards, handed out by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., recognizes two cities each year based on their commitment to economic development, business services, tax rates and fees, incentives and communication with business owners, according to an announcement from the organization....