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'Marilyn Monrovia' Running For Actor's Union Presidency


A former Monrovian who goes by the stage name, Marilyn Monrovia, is running for president of Sag-Aftra (Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), the union that represents people in the entertainment industry. 

She writes that she "lived in Monrovia since 1995, although I am now married and moved to Chapman Woods.  I was playing roller derby with the Prison City Derby Dames in 2010-11.  That is when I adopted the stage name Marilyn Monrovia, since I have been working in Hollywood doing background and any such work.  This is my second time to run." The ballots were mailed July 24 and are due by Aug 23.

She adds that, "I have been studying servant leadership skills in Boy Scouting. My son Bret is in Troop 21 in Sierra Madre."

- Brad Haugaard 

Tribute Ceremony for Monrovia Couple Who Drowned

About 200 people attended a tribute to the Monrovia couple, Raul and his wife Esmeralda Gonzalez who drowned at Lake Havasu. https://goo.gl/1inVLw

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council Plans Old Town Parking Structures; Cafe at the Library? Etc.

Proposed location of parking structure, between Lemon and Lime just south of the Library.

At its next regular meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/3EXuZe ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider an "exclusive negotiating agreement," good until Jan. 1, 2018, with Robhana Group to build a parking structure on what is now "the City parking lot situated between Lime Avenue to the north, Lemon Avenue to the south, Primrose Avenue to the west, and Myrtle Avenue to the east." https://goo.gl/yk5Z26

~ Hold a public hearing to discuss vacating the eastern half of the alley that goes west from Myrtle to Primrose between Chestnut and Walnut to secure enough land to build a parking structure. https://goo.gl/WjYJfQ. Comment: As this appears to be a different location from the previous parking structure item, it is apparently a different parking structure.

~ Consider the Library's proposed strategic plan ( https://goo.gl/4cU79N ), which includes the possibility of a library cafe, better wifi (needed!), and revised library hours.

~ Consider selling the property located at 498 Monrovista Avenue to T.I. Industry Corporation for $220,000. https://goo.gl/uHhyA8

~ Consider selling the property at 1234 Sherman Avenue to Bowden Development, Inc., for $210,000. https://goo.gl/RwhWGe

~ Earlier, before its regular meeting, the Monrovia City Council will hold a study session to consider "CalPERS Pension and Water Supply Challenges." https://goo.gl/wc4AdY

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Luscious Dumpling



Dinner at Luscious Dumpling, in the shopping center at Duarte Road and Sixth. Got the Steamed Soup Dumplings for $8.50, an Angus Stewed Beef Noodle soup for $7 and a Diet Coke for $1.50. It was all excellent and the dumplings were indeed luscious. And no, I didn't eat all the dumplings by myself. I'm not that big a piggy. I shared. Note: This is a cash only business, no credit cards. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Art Walk in Old Town Monrovia Saturday Night


Art walk tomorrow along Myrtle in Old Town, 7-9 p.m. July 29. Art displays, art for sale, art demonstrations and live music.

- Brad Haugaard

Get a Kitty at CatCon


The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, which services Monrovia, will facilitate on-site adoptions at CatCon, the annual convention where pop culture and cat culture converge. More than 100 cats and kittens will be available for adoption over the course of the two day event held at the Pasadena Convention Center on August 12 and 13.

The adoption fee will be reduced to $20 for one cat or two for $30, both at the event and at the shelter’s physical location at 361 S. Raymond Avenue in Pasadena. All adoptions include the spay/neuter surgery, microchip and up-to-date vaccines. Cats and kittens will be ready to take home the same day.

CatCon will be on Saturday, August 12 from 9am to 6pm and Sunday, August 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets available at catconworldwide.com. Use the promo code PHS to take $5 off the price of a ticket.

The Pasadena Humane Society will also be providing adoptable cats for Buzzfeed's "Party Right Meow," a CatCon After Dark Event at The Rose in Pasadena on Saturday, August 12.

Source: Pasadena Humane Society press release

- Brad Haugaard

Almost-Always-Done Building Across From Library - Is Delay Because of Cost of Electrical System?

The problem with the always-almost-done building on the east side of Myrtle across from the Library is that it doesn't have electricity, and according to Old Town merchant Pam Fitzpatrick it doesn't look likely that it will get electricity. She says that the original electrical service needs to be replaced with a service that can run a two-story building with an elevator, which means a new transformer, and she wonders if the problem is that this would "cost a boatload of change." https://goo.gl/BZbw9Y

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Golf Clubs Theft; Drunk Driving; Lost Man Found

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 24-26. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 426 service events, resulting in 86 investigations.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

July 24 at 9:14 p.m., officers responded to a call reporting a subject passed out inside a vehicle in the 800 block of W. Duarte Road. Through investigation, the officers determined the subject was intoxicated and had been driving. The subject was arrested for driving under the influence and taken into custody.

Critical Missing – Subject Located

July 24 at 11:03 p.m., an 82-year-old man with Alzheimer’s was reported missing from a residence in the 200 block of Montana. Officers were dispatched and began canvassing the area. Police dispatch began calling local jurisdictions to advise them of the critical missing, and while talking to an employee from Metro, it was discovered that sheriff’s deputies were with the missing person at the Arcadia Metro Station. The subject was reunited with his family.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

July 25 at 11:20 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a vehicle speeding on Myrtle. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and observed the driver displaying symptoms of being intoxicated. After further investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested.

Residential Burglary

July 26 at 6:29 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 800 block of W. Duarte Road. Unknown suspect(s) entered through an unsecured sliding door at the rear of the location and took two laptops and several credit cards. The credit cards were then used at a gas station and a store in Pasadena. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft

July 26 at 7:28 p.m., a grand theft incident was reported at a hotel in the 300 block of W. Foothill. A male, white suspect entered the hotel and stole a bag of golf clubs. He fled the location on foot. The investigation is continuing. 

Auditions for JFed Players 'Twilight Zone'

Auditions for the JFed Players Community Theatre Ensemble's next production, "Twilight Zone" will be held next week - July 30th, 31st, and August first - with performances in October.
This iconic series created by Rod Serling took us all to another dimension, ". . .a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind." The four episodes, presented as four one-act plays with one intermission, will explore personal reactions to fear and loneliness, one even punctuated with humor. Audition dates and times: Sunday, July 30, 3-5 p.m.; Monday, July 31, 7-9 p.m.; Tuesday, August 1, 7-9 p.m. Auditions at the Jewish Federation, 114A Lime Ave., Monrovia. Performances will be in October at a venue in the San Gabriel Valley. For more information call the Jewish Federation at 445-0810.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Groundwater is Really Low; Wine Walk; Etc.



In his weekly update City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ Groundwater is barely above its lowest level, and is falling. Without conservation it will be below its record low by this fall. So... water before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to minimize water loss, only once every four days, no more than 15 minutes per landscaped area. Note: 15-minute limit does not apply to drip irrigation systems, new planting of low-water usage plants, or if reclaimed water is being used as permitted by law.

~ Monrovia's first Wine Walk will be on Aug. 26, in Old Town, to introduce people to all the businesses in Old Town. Participants will stroll through Old Town, enter businesses, and sample a variety of wine, while exploring each business and its offerings. Music, too.

~ Monrovia will be featured in the September issue of the Old House Journal. The two articles are about Frank and Tammy Guarino's kitchen restoration in their 1926 English Cottage, and the second article is about the community as a whole.

~ The badly angled street sign located at Foothill Boulevard and Fifth Avenue wasn't hung by the city, but by the county. Chi says at last word the sign should be fixed within a week or two.

~ The Veterans Resource Center at the Monrovia Public Library interviewed Richard McCubbins, an Air Force veteran during Vietnam, on video. See it here: https://goo.gl/oVi2KW

~ Monrovia Association of Fine Arts presents its Summer Art Walk this Saturday from 7-10 p.m. along Myrtle in Old Town. Local artists, including painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry designers, ceramic artists, art demonstrations, and music.

~ The new entryway to Canyon Park will be dedicated on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 4 p.m.

~ The Pasadena Humane Society will host a low-cost wellness clinic in Monrovia on Aug. 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at Library Park. Low-cost vaccines, microchipping and pet licensing. Dogs must be on leash, and cats must be in carriers.  For more information call the Pasadena Humane Society at 792- 7151, ext. 132.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Arrested for Shoving Grandma; Car Registration Stolen; Lots of Drunk Driving; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 20-23. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Verified Complaint Filed
July 20 at 6:00 p.m., a disturbing subject was reported at a business in the 200 block of E. Duarte. An officer responded and located the subject driving a vehicle near the location. Through investigation, the officer determined the subject was driving under the influence of a controlled substance and he was found to be in possession of hypodermic needles. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. A verified complaint will be submitted to the District Attorney for filing consideration.

Injury Traffic Collision / Missing Person Located
July 20 at 10:15 p.m., an officer responded to the report of an injury traffic collision in the 800 block of W. Chestnut. A vehicle traveling east on Chestnut moved to the right and collided with a parked vehicle. The driver, a 94-year-old male, suffered injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. He was disoriented and he thought he was in another city. The subject had been reported as a missing person from Los Angeles.

Residential Burglary
July 20 at 10:45 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of El Nido. The resident left the location at approximately 1:00 p.m. When she returned at 10:45 p.m., she found her home and been broken into and ransacked. A small safe and other miscellaneous items were taken. The investigation is continuing.

Battery – Verified Complaints Filed
July 21 at 12:31 a.m., a battery incident was reported in the area of Primrose and Linwood. Two subjects were involved in a fight. The suspects know each other and both desired prosecution. Verified complaints will be completed and submitted to the District Attorney’s office for filing consideration.

Violation of Restraining Order – Suspect Arrested
July 21 at 8:30 a.m., officers were on patrol in the 200 block of W. Huntington when they saw a male and female that are the subjects involved in a restraining order. The female subject has a valid domestic violence court order to protect her from the male subject. Officers contacted the male as he was leaving the area and took him into custody for violation of the court order. The suspect was booked and is being held pending his court appearance.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 21 at 3:47 p.m., officers were on patrol in the 400 block of E. Walnut when they recognized a subject they knew had a number of outstanding warrants. The suspect has been evading arrest. Officers contacted the suspect and placed him under arrest. The suspect was booked and is being held pending his court appearance.

Elder Abuse – Suspect Arrested
July 21 at 9:03 p.m., officers responded to the 800 block of W. Duarte regarding a disturbing subject. The suspect threatened his 84-year-old grandmother and pushed her. She was fearful because of prior acts of violence. The suspect was arrested for elder abuse.

Warrants / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 21 at 10:43 p.m., officers contacted two subjects in the 1300 block of S. Magnolia. One subject was found to have warrants for her arrest. When she was searched, she was also found to be in possession of hypodermic syringes. She was arrested and later released to an outside agency on the warrants.

Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 1:29 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding suspicious persons in the area. Upon their arrival, one of the subjects ran. A foot pursuit ensued and the suspect was taken into custody. He was arrested for resisting and delaying a peace officer. He was booked and released on a citation to appear in court.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 3:12 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit several traffic violations at the intersection of Mountain and Huntington. He followed the vehicle and noticed the driver was swerving. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was determined to be under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested for DUI and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
July 22 at 6:00 a.m., the victim parked and locked her vehicle in front of her home the night before. Sometime during the night, unknown suspects entered her vehicle and stole the registration from the glovebox. Nothing else was taken. The investigation is continuing.

Bicycle Theft
July 22 at 8:30 a.m., a theft of bicycles was reported in the 1800 block of S. Alta Vista. Two bicycles were taken from an open garage. No evidence or witnesses were located and nothing else in the garage had been disturbed. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 1:49 p.m., a domestic violence incident was reported in the 1300 block of S. Mayflower. A male and female were reported to be verbally arguing in a parked vehicle. Officers arrived and contacted the female, who was now standing outside the car and had visible facial injuries. The male subject had left the area. The victim was treated at the scene, but refused to be taken to the hospital. The investigation revealed her boyfriend had battered her during an argument and fled prior to police arriving. Officers located the suspect a short distance away and arrested him. The suspect was booked and is being held pending his court appearance.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 7:04 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 300 block of E. Lemon saw a vehicle attempting to park. The officer saw the vehicle collide into a parked vehicle. The officer contacted the driver and, through investigation, determined he was driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested for DUI and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence / Hit and Run Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
July 23 at 12:04 a.m., dispatch received numerous calls reporting a vehicle had crashed into a structure in the 100 block of S. Mountain. Officers arrived and found the driver had fled the scene on foot. The occupant of the house the vehicle crashed into was uninjured and none of the vehicle occupants were injured. The driver was located at Mountain and Olive. He was identified by several witnesses and showed signs of intoxication. An investigation was conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 23 at 1:49 a.m., officers were working a DUI patrol assignment and observed a vehicle speeding on Myrtle. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver showed signs of intoxication. A DUI investigation was conducted and the driver was determined to be too intoxicated to operate his vehicle safely. The driver was arrested for DUI.

Join Monrovia PD for National Night Out, Tuesday, August 1

Join the Monrovia Police Department for National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Library Park. This event lets citizens come for crime awareness, drug awareness, and to meet some of the men and women of the Monrovia Police Department.  https://goo.gl/1i5R6J

- Brad Haugaard

Second Monrovia Historic District to be Dedicated


The Monrovia City Council and Monrovia Preservation Group will dedicate Monrovia's second historic district this Thursday, July 27 at 5 p.m.  All Monrovians are  welcome to attend the event. Below is a link to the announcement on the MOHPG website.  Here is a video album of the homes on the 100 - 200 blocks of Encinitas Ave.  https://goo.gl/vk2oiP

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Couple Drowns in Lake Havasu

Monrovia husband and wife, Raul Gonzalez, 44, and Esmeralda Gonzalez, 41, apparently drowned while boating. https://goo.gl/87eRk4

- Brad Haugaard 

Rent Telescopes at Monrovia Library


- Brad Haugaard 

Qualifying Monrovia Students May Get Guaranteed Admission to Azusa Pacific

At its July 26 meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/zVbaaa), the Monrovia School Board will, among other things, consider a "memorandum of understanding" with Azusa Pacific University that would guarantee Monrovia graduates who meet APU's requirements would be admitted to the university. https://goo.gl/9fxYcv

Comment: Also, I appreciate the district implementing an online agenda system that lets people click on the agenda and then click on the supporting documents for each item. This is a vast improvement on the previous system, which required the agenda and all the supporting documents - sometimes well over 120 pages if I recall - to be downloaded before you could see anything. This is much cleaner, simpler and faster. Thanks. You can see the new system here. Be careful to click on "Agenda." If you click "Packet" you will be downloading the whole nine yards, as before.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Jake's Roadhouse



Dinner at Jake's Roadhouse. Got the California Chicken Sandwich for $10.95 and a big beer for $7.50. It was hot; I was thirsty. Anyway, nice chicken sandwich and the beer was frosty cold, as I like it. 


- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia High Class of '72 Reunion

Monrovia High Class of '72 will hold a reunion on Saturday, August 19 from 3-10 p.m. (Location secret until you sign up.) Cost is $45 per person and you must pay by August 4. Checks should be payable to Shirley Slattery, PO Box 2112, Monrovia, CA 91016. For more information: monroviaclass72@aol.com.

- Brad Haugaard

Copper Still Grill Making Progress


Copper Still Grill has its sign up. Progress but looks like it's not quite ready to open yet. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Intoxicated Child Annoying; Commercial Break-ins; No Shoplifting But Arrested for Having a Throwing Star; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 17-19. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 437 service events, resulting in 91 investigations.

Child Annoying / Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 17 at 9:04 p.m., police dispatch received multiple calls reporting an adult male chasing another adult male, who was holding a baby, in the area of Myrtle and Duarte. Officers arrived quickly and found several parents with children, who stated that the male had approached them and claimed that their child was his. Officers located the suspect and detained him. Their investigation revealed that the suspect was under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested and booked for several offenses.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence

July 17 at 10:19 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the area of Magnolia and Palm. A pickup truck was traveling on Magnolia and collided into multiple parked vehicles. The driver of the truck was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. Due to the injuries he sustained during the collision, he was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary

July 18 at 3:37 a.m., police responded to a commercial burglary report at a business in the 900 block of W. Huntington. Unknown suspects shattered the front door to gain access to the business. The suspects entered and exited the location within 30 seconds, and then fled in a small silver sedan, heading west on Huntington. The suspects are described as two males wearing hooded sweatshirts. Officers conducted an area check, but were unable to locate the suspects. There was no loss other than the repair cost to fix the front door. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary

July 18 at 6:00 a.m., a commercial burglary was reported at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Sometime during the night, unknown suspects shattered the front window and entered the business after hours. The suspects removed the register and fled. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested

July 19 at 10:37 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 700 block of W. Duarte Road. A caller reported a male subject in front of the location, striking a female. Officers responded and located a witness that confirmed the report and told officers the couple had gone into the residence. Officers located both subjects inside the residence and confirmed the report. The male subject was arrested for domestic violence and taken into custody.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested

July 19 at 4:02 p.m., a male subject was reported trespassing at a residence in the 1200 block of S. Sherman. Officers responded and located the subject inside the residence. The officers confirmed that a no-trespassing order had been issued to the subject. He was arrested for violation of the court order.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

July 19 at 6:40 p.m., a possible drunk driver was reported leaving a gas station in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle. The driver seen entering the 210 Freeway at Myrtle. Officers located the driver at the 210 and 605 Freeway interchange and conducted a traffic stop. After investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested and taken into custody.

Weapon Offense – Suspect Arrested

July 19 at 6:55 p.m., an employee from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report a possible shoplifting in progress. Officers arrived and detained the subject outside of the store. It was determined that the subject did not actually commit a theft, however he was in possession of a shuriken, a martial arts throwing star. He was arrested for the weapon offense.