Monrovia Cinco de Mayo - Biggest in the Valley?

Organizers expect the upcoming Monrovia Cinco de Mayo Cultural Art and Music Festival to be the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the San Gabriel Valley, with more than 5,000 people expected, and also the first in Monrovia’s 125 years.

The free festival will take place from 2-8 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, at Colorado and Myrtle in Old Town. It will transform the streets with educational and cultural exhibits and musical performances from Grammy-winning entertainers, along with an array of dance performances from popular Folklorico and Oaxacan dance troupes.

 

The event kicks off with performances from CaliMex roots quartet, Los Fabulocos, and popular Latin Jazz ensemble, The Banda Brothers. The fiesta continues at the children’s stage where Folklorico and Oaxacan dance troupes will perform into the early evening. Throughout the celebration, attendees can enjoy works by more than 75 local artists, displaying works in a variety of media, including watercolor, oil painting, photography, ceramics, and glasswork. Visitors can also sample popular Mexican food from a variety of Monrovia restaurants, including Rudy’s Mexican Food Restaurant.

 

The event continues with special performances from the popular Delgado Brothers performing their Latin-infused blues and will culminate with a special performance from the Grammy Award-winning group, The Mariachi Divas, a multi-cultural, all-female mariachi ensemble. 

 

The festival is being produced by the Monrovia Cinco de Mayo Association in partnership with the Nuvein Foundation for Literature and the Arts to celebrate the diversity that is Monrovia and to promote an understanding of all peoples and their cultures. It is a community effort led by a 12-person committee headed by local business owner, Rudy Castrellon.

"I invite everyone to Monrovia to be part of history," Castrellon said.

For more information, including a schedule of the event, please visit www.monrovia5demayo.org.

- Brad Haugaard (from press release)

Monrovia's Bear / Goodbye Trolleys! / Donnelly

~ Some history of Samson the Hot Tub Bear - including new representations of him that will decorate Old Town. http://goo.gl/V0f27

~ Last Day of Monrovia Old Town Trolley Service, May 27, 2011. http://goo.gl/0EFle

~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents Monrovia in Sacramento, introduces Arizona-like immigration law. http://goo.gl/d433H

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schoolyards Become Parks

As of April 1, the schoolyards of all five of Monrovia's elementary schools will double as parks on the weekends. It's a partnership between the school district and city.

- Brad Haugaard

Serve in Monrovia Government

If you would like to serve (for free) in the Monrovia city government, there are openings available for a number of positions, all for three-year terms (except for one) and all which begin on July 1.

You can apply for a position on the Planning Commission, Community Services Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Library Board, or the Old Town Advisory Board (a two-year term, and open only to Old Town business or property owners). Deadline to apply is May 5.

If you are interested, there will be an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 26 at City Hall. Call 932-5598 to register.

- Brad Haugaard

Winning Y Logo / Tent Sale

~ The winning logo for the YMCA's vans, with 48 percent of the vote. http://goo.gl/qxq0R

~ Living Spaces is holding a multi-day parking lot tent sale. http://goo.gl/8Bd9q

- Brad Haugaard

Jim Hunt to be Interim Monrovia Police Chief

When Police Chief Roger Johnson retires on May 1, after 30 years of service, Captain Jim Hunt will become Interim Police Chief while the city recruits a new chief.

 

In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa said Hunt "is an excellent law enforcement professional, and I have every confidence that he will be able to manage the affairs of the Department during the upcoming selection process."

 

Ochoa also commended Johnson:

"Chief Johnson has built an impressive legacy and has faced many challenges during his career with the Monrovia Police Department. In addition to being a consummate law enforcement professional, he is also an insightful leader and resourceful business manager. These last several years have been some of the most challenging that Monrovia has ever faced. I am glad Chief Johnson has been a part of this team; truly, Monrovia has been the better for it. Congratulations, and thank you, Roger."

 

Source: http://goo.gl/L2CAp

 

- Brad Haugaard

No Monrovia Land-Sale to Gold Line for Now

In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa explained why the proposed sale of property for a Gold Line maintenance yard was dropped from the agenda:

"I should note right off the bat that the scheduled public hearing regarding the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency's (MRA's) proposed sale of land to the Gold Line Construction Authority (GLCA) has been cancelled. Unfortunately, GLCA and City/MRA have been unable to come to terms at this time regarding the transaction. For the time being, the City of Monrovia - and presumably GLCA - will mull their respective positions; if a deal is possible, we will re-notice at a future date."

 

However, the topic will still be discussed under Mayor Mary Ann Lutz' portion of the agenda.

 

Source: http://goo.gl/L2CAp

 

- Brad Haugaard

SWAT team / Police Car Hits Tree / Bakery

~ SWAT team responds to barricaded suspect in 600 block of Shady Oaks Drive, use tear gas to end standoff, arrest man. http://goo.gl/M6UBs

~ Police car forced to hit tree. http://goo.gl/RZE13

~ Monrovia Bakery and "Iceland" pilot filming. http://goo.gl/7aSYV

~ UPDATE: Oops! I've removed a burglar item from here. It referred to the wrong Monrovia. My goof.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Young at 100

Monrovia Centenarian Grace McKeehan taking up golf. http://goo.gl/YvmWZ

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Old Town Bistro Open

Old Town Bistro is now open. Sandwiches, paninis, crepes, salads. Next to the old Box Jewelry clock on Myrtle.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Library Park Porker

Sweet Pea the pig visits Library Park regularly. http://goo.gl/JYPWg

- Brad Haugaard

New Signal at Myrtle & Chestnut

It appears the new traffic signal at Myrtle and Chestnut has almost been finished. - Brad Haugaard

An Almost-Monrovia Park

Steve Scauzillo, Opinion Editor at the Star-News, recommended that since Monrovians want a park on the south side of town, they consider "adopting" Peck Road Water Conservation Park, at 5401 Peck Road in Arcadia, but just a hop and a jump from Monrovia. ( http://goo.gl/gGxGC ) So, I thought I'd go take a look. Here are some pictures I took.

- Brad Haugaard

Mediterranean Garden Grill

Warm day, nice for outdoor dining. We went to Mediterranean Garden Grill. Got the Chicken Schawarma. Enjoyed it. - Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Library Honored as 'Green' / Mishap with AeroVironment Plane

~ Mayor Lutz reports that Monrovia's Library has been honored by The U.S. Green Building Council Los Angeles Chapter with its 2011 Municipal Green Building Conference and Exposition Award of Recognition. The organization said the library "will serve as a model of measures to promote energy and water efficiency and methods to reduce resource consumption." Monrovia will receive the award at a ceremony on April 14. http://goo.gl/ta43W

~ Something went wrong with a test flight of the Global Observer, a robo-plane developed by Monrovia's AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/9d3G6

- Brad Haugaard

South Monrovia Park / Got Shopping Bags? / Y Honorees

~ Thoughts on building a park on the south side of Monrovia. We already have one ... sort of. http://goo.gl/gGxGC

 

~ Got any left-over plastic shopping bags? Foothill Unity Center could use them. http://goo.gl/nrJst

 

~ Santa Anita Family YMCA honors community members. http://goo.gl/agigG

 

- Brad Haugaard

More on Monrovia PD Chief's Retirement, Food-Truck Lawsuit

~ A bit more on Police Chief Roger Johnson's retirement: http://goo.gl/ed6jh

~ The food-truck association lawsuit against Monrovia (for excluding the trucks from the Old Town area) has made the big time, with the story on KTLA: http://goo.gl/ZZqmM

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council Invocations

I just noticed this curious item in the City Council agenda ( http://goo.gl/DuAud ). It gives instructions for religious leaders giving the invocation:

"To comply with recent court decisions, the City of Monrovia has advised persons giving the invocation not to recite sectarian references or prayer."

How you give an invocation without referring to elements of your faith or without praying? I thought "invoking" - in the religious sense - was praying for assistance.

I know Monrovia has to obey the law, but does an invocation that doesn't invoke God - or anything else - make any sense?

I have no problem with invocations, but if they're just going to be play-acting, maybe the city should drop them and instead, perhaps churches, etc., should invite council-members to their meetings and have real invocations for them there.

Aah, what do I know ...

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council Drops Gold Line Property-Sale from Agenda

The possible sale of property to the Gold Line for a maintenance yard - a topic that touched off a testy exchange between Monrovia City Councilman Tom Adams and Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, and a topic which prompted a special meeting of the Council, which was then continued until the council's April 5 meeting, and a topic about which Mayor Lutz and City Manager Scott Ochoa said was time-sensitive because of possible confiscatory actions by the state ... has been dropped.

The agenda for the City Council's April 5 meeting says:

"CANCELLED - Continued from April 5, 2011; Purchase and Sale Agreement between the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency and the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority for the Total Consideration of $39,627,818; Resolution Nos. 5-2011 and 2011-13

"Recommendation: This item has been withdrawn and requires no further action by the City Council and the Agency Board at this time."

Source: http://goo.gl/DuAud

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Day at the Races / Choir Wants Singers

~ Monrovia High Alumni Day at the Races, Sunday, April 3.

Gates Open at 10:30 am races begin at 12:30 p.m. Enter Gate 6 off Colorado Blvd. Proceeds to benefit the MHS Music Department & their trip to Carnegie Hall in 2012. Details: http://goo.gl/mJEP5

 

~ Monrovia's First Presbyterian Church Concert Choir is looking for singers for its annual Good Friday Concert and Meditation. http://goo.gl/u23MW

 

- Brad Haugaard