Monrovia Coronavirus Count: Still 154, But Another Death

Today's Coronavirus cases from LA Deptartment of Public Health:

Monrovia: 154 cases (up 2), 19 deaths (up 1).

Unincorporated Monrovia: 20 cases (unchanged).

Brookdale Monrovia: 8 cases (unchanged), 1 death (unchanged).

Monrovia Gardens Healthcare Center: 74 (unchanged), 16 deaths (up 1).

Monrovia Memorial Hospital:  26 cases (up 1) and 2 deaths (unchanged).

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Will Stay Closed Through Fall Semester

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, is extending its campus closure and will continue to provide remote/online instruction and student support services through both the summer 2020 session and the fall 2020 semester.

This decision was made for the safety and well-being of Citrus College students and employees, as well as the broader community, and it follows the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's current "Safer at Home" order.

While the physical college campus will remain closed during this time, the college has created a new Owl Success Hub webpage where students can learn how to transition to remote studies, access mental health resources and schedule counseling appointments. Library services and additional student support services and resources are also available. To access the Owl Success Hub, visit www.citruscollege.edu/stdntsrv/counsel/owlsuccesshub.

"I commend the entire college community for their perseverance and dedication to supporting students during these challenging times," said Dr. Geraldine M. Perri, superintendent/president of Citrus College. "Citrus College will continue to rely on guidelines from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to determine when it is safe to reopen."

Summer session registration is currently open, and instruction begins June 22. Fall semester registration begins July 6, and instruction begins Aug. 24.

For more information, visit the college's COVID-19 webpage at www.citruscollege.edu/covid19.

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard

Drive-Through Graduation Ceremony On for June 3

Monrovia High School seniors will turn their tassels and celebrate their many achievements during a drive-thru graduation ceremony at Monrovia High on June 3.

The graduation plan, approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and the City of Monrovia, adheres to all of social distancing and public health guidelines established for Los Angeles County.

“Ensuring our seniors receive the recognition they deserve is vital to Monrovia Unified School District and Monrovia High School,” Board of Education President Rob Hammond said. “With the advocacy of the Board of Education, Monrovia High leadership, our community, and Supervisor Kathryn Barger, I am happy to say that our seniors will have a memorable graduation ceremony on June 3.”

Monrovia High School’s Class of 2020 spoke up about their graduation desires during a virtual town hall meeting that included seniors and Monrovia High administrators, and also filled out a senior survey expressing their wishes for a graduation ceremony.

On May 8, Monrovia High School Principal Kirk McGinnis shared the news about a drive-thru graduation ceremony with students, detailing the step-by-step plan to keep students and their families safe during the celebration.

The District, after finalizing the graduation plan with Monrovia High School, received news from the Department of Public Health stating that graduation drive-thru ceremonies were prohibited in Los Angeles County.

Realizing the effect this decision would have on its students and school community, Hammond, Board Vice President Bryan Wong, Board Clerk Maritza Travanti, Member Selene Lockerbie, and Member Ed Gililland, worked with Monrovia High School to submit their graduation plan and advocate for the Class of 2020.

On May 22, Los Angeles County announced that drive-thru graduations would be allowed if all public health guidelines were met.

“We are truly grateful for the commitment our entire community has shown to our graduating class,” Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian said. “I’d like to thank our Board of Education for their strong leadership, Supervisor Kathryn Barger for her partnership, Principal McGinnis and the entire Monrovia High School team, the City of Monrovia, and our community for their dedication and work to give our students the graduation they deserve.”

Monrovia High School will set up a graduation stage on June 3 and invite students to walk the stage as their families watch from the safety of their vehicles. While practicing safe social distancing, Monrovia High School seniors will exit their vehicles, walk on stage, and receive their diplomas.

Monrovia High’s video production team will create a video component of the graduation ceremony. Senior portraits will be displayed on a screen as graduates walk across the stage. The ceremony will also be live-streamed, allowing community members to tune in from the comfort of their homes.

To ensure safety, each student will be assigned a call time to arrive with their family for the celebration.

“We know that our graduating class lost many senior activities because of the need for remote instruction,” McGinnis said. “With the commitment of all those involved, Monrovia High School’s Class of 2020 will have a graduation to remember. I look forward to celebrating each and every one of them on June 3.”

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch from Nano Cafe

Lunch from Nano Cafe, at the northeast corner of Magnolia and Duarte Road. Though it was lunch I felt breakfasty so I got the California Omelet for $12.99 plus $1 to switch out hash browns for fresh fruit. Definitely got my money’s worth with the fruit and the smell of the biscuit tantalized me until I got home. Everything was great! https://www.nanocafemonrovia.com/

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 154 - Up 2

Today's Coronavirus cases from LA Deptartment of Public Health:

Monrovia: 154 cases (up 2), 18 deaths (up 1).

Unincorporated Monrovia: 20 cases (up 1).

Brookdale Monrovia: 8 cases (unchanged), 1 death (unchanged).

Monrovia Gardens Healthcare Center: 74 (unchanged), 15 deaths (up 1).

Monrovia Memorial Hospital:  25 cases (up 1) and 2 deaths (unchanged).

- Brad Haugaard

Calvary Chapel Monrovia Also Opening for Services Sunday

Monrovia's Calvary Chapel, like Hope Unlimited Church, is also opening for services this Sunday, with limitations:

There will be three Sunday Services at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Attendance is by reservation only and you must reserve each week: https://is.gd/zFW2tb

Other limitations:

• There will not be any children's ministry now therefore we are limiting entrance to ages 12 years and above.
• Due to the high risk of our seniors we are limiting to under 65 year olds.
• All who are attending must wear a mask.
• Practice social distancing, no handshaking or hugging.
• Enter in main lobby, exit out patio or door on Myrtle.
• If you are sick or who have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 please stay home and watch online. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 152, up 4; No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases today, from LA County Department of Public Health:

Monrovia: 152 cases (up 4 from Saturday), 17 deaths (unchanged).

Unincorporated Monrovia: 19 cases (up 2).

Brookdale Monrovia: 8 cases (unchanged), 1 death (unchanged).

Monrovia Gardens Healthcare Center: 74 (unchanged), 14 deaths (unchanged).

Monrovia Memorial Hospital:  24 cases (unchanged) and 2 deaths (unchanged).

- Brad Haugaard

Coronavirus Induced Deficit Will Cause Huge Cuts for Monrovia Schools - Others

As a result of the coronavirus Monrovia School District faces cuts that are going to "clobber" school staff and will make the financial troubles the district faced in 2008 "look like a cakewalk," and 2008, School Board President Rob Hammond said, "was really bad."

In an interview Hammond predicted the state will have a "monster deficit" because of its coronavirus expenditures, and since school districts get almost all their money from the state, that means "huge budget cuts" for the Monrovia School District.

Because of the virus the State of California "has been throwing out money with both hands," but, unlike the federal government, he said, "the state can't print money" to pay its bills, so that means cuts.

A 10 percent hit, he said, would be $6 million for the school district, "but what if it's bigger? It's going to clobber people."

"No one knows how bad the cuts will be, but it's going to be bad."

It is not, of course, just the school district that is going to have problems, but the City of Monrovia, and "everything that relies on money from the state" is going to be hurting, Hammond said.

In this weird situation, and to meet the letter of the law, the school district plans to pass what Hammond calls a "fantasy budget." He said the LA County Office of Education told the districts to just pass something, anything, to meet the requirement of the law, and then start cutting.

Jumping Through Hoops

And it's not just money that's a problem. The district also has to dance to whatever are the latest legal requirements, or even to off-the-cuff remarks by people in authority.

For instance, as you probably know, the district, after thinking it had met the health requirements for a drive-through graduation ceremony at Monrovia High, the LA County Department of Public Health vetoed the plan (though that decision was later reversed) at, as Hammond put it "the eleventh hour."

But also, Hammond said, in a news conference Governor Gavin Newsom commented that school would start in July. That was news to the school districts and, he said, "it had a huge ripple effect," not only upsetting parents, teachers and administrators, but causing 10 days work by district staff trying to figure out how to meet that requirement. And now the idea is dead.

"So much work goes into adjusting for plans that never occur."

"I've never seen anything like this. These ideas should be vetted." "We get these thought-bombings at least once a week."

Hammond said the direction the district gets from the California Department of Education is "UN-clear."

Fuzzy Planning

Despite this environment, the Board still needs to plan, and here are a few things it is thinking about, although these things, Hammond said, are "not written on stone, they're written on ice ... on a hot summer day."

• Postponing the start of school to around August 19, then taking a break from around Thanksgiving to early January, the idea being to have school closed during the flu season.
• Extend the school year.
• Modify the daily schedule to allow for 6-foot separation. This might mean staggered arrival and dismissal times for students. Perhaps some days students stay home and participate electronically.
• And kindergarten, whatever it ends up looking like, "won't look like what it has looked like before."

And just a few things that are more or less firm:

• The drive-through graduation will be held, as planned.
• Then, as soon as teachers remove their supplies from their rooms, the district is going to give its campuses a "deep cleaning" and institute a more stringent cleaning program that will be continued into the future. "Our priority is to be extremely clean," Hammond said.
• There will be six-week summer school for credit recovery and enrichment. Sign up, he said.

- Brad Haugaard

Canyon Park Is Open

Canyon Park is open. Reservations required unless you’re just passing through on your way to Camp Trask or beyond. 

This guy greeted me today a little bit above the bridge above the ranger station. He was coming up and I was going down. I don’t think he had a reservation and he certainly had no face mask. So where’s a ranger when you need one?

- Brad Haugaard 

Katza Pooh Is a ... Katza Pooh? - Yes, Katza Pooh! ... Is a Quiet, Proper Lady

Katzah Pooh is a quiet and proper lady who would love a friend to hang out with! This thirteen-year-old senior gal doesn’t ask for much – just some chin scratches, a nice comfy spot to nap next to her human, and a window to watch the world go by. Her foster mom says Katza Pooh is very sweet and easy to love, and with those beautiful green eyes, who could disagree?

The adoption fee for cats is $90. All cat adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org and fill out an online adoption application. Adoptions are by appointment only.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Church to Reopen for In-Person Services Next Sunday

Monrovia's Hope Unlimited Church (1900 Walker Ave., a block east of Myrtle and a block south of Duarte Road) is the first one I'm aware of that has announced it is resuming in-person worship services.

While it will continue its streaming services, the first in-person service will be on May 31, and according to an announcement by the church, this will be a "slow, safe" process following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control.

Service times are being rescheduled, spread out so staff has time to sanitize between services (9 and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for Spanish service), families will be seated six feet apart so it will take more time for people to be seated so they are being asked to arrive 20 minutes early, masks are required, and no children's ministry at this time. Because seating is limited, reservations are required. If you want to attend, here's the reservation page: https://hopeuc.com/la/worship-in-person/

REQUEST: If anyone knows of other Monrovia churches that are reopening, please send me info - preferably a link.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 148, up 6; No More Deaths

Coronavirus cases today, from LA County Department of Public Health:

Monrovia: 148 cases (up 6 from Saturday), 17 deaths (unchanged).

Unincorporated Monrovia: 17 cases (unchanged).

Brookdale Monrovia: 8 cases (up 6), 1 death (unchanged).

Monrovia Gardens Healthcare Center: 74 (unchanged), 14 deaths (unchanged).

Monrovia Memorial Hospital:  24 cases (unchanged) and 2 deaths (unchanged).

- Brad Haugaard

Painted Rocks on Hillcrest

Reader Rick Wentzel noticed someone trying to spread a little joy with these painted rocks on Hillcrest between Myrtle and Canyon.

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 142, up 5 - No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases today, from LA County Department of Public Health:

Monrovia: 142 cases (up 5 from yesterday), 17 deaths (unchanged).

Unincorporated Monrovia: 17 cases (unchanged).

Brookdale Monrovia: 2 cases (unchanged), 1 death (unchanged).

Monrovia Gardens Healthcare Center: 74 (unchanged), 14 deaths (unchanged).

Monrovia Memorial Hospital:  24 cases (unchanged) and 2 deaths (unchanged).

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools Planning for Distance Learning Even After the Virus

At its next meeting (https://is.gd/GEKoQ8) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

~ Distance learning even during non-virus times. The staff report (here: https://is.gd/uhl9Ap) says, "The Governing Board recognizes that distance learning can be a viable alternative instructional strategy that supports student achievement of academic goals. Distance learning opportunities may be offered to students participating in independent study, credit recovery courses, enrichment courses, or other courses identified by the Superintendent or designee." https://is.gd/nGSHkk

~ Spending more than a half million dollars - $581,493, to be exact - on 1,725 Chromebook computers and the network software to manage them. https://is.gd/DSDI20

~ A resolution asking "our Congressional delegation, inclusive of our United States Senators and House of Representatives, and the Governor of California to advocate for additional federal funding to prioritize stable public school funding." https://is.gd/jjTs7O

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Drive-Through Graduation is Back On

County Supervisor Supervisor Kathryn Barger has announced that the county has changed its mind - Monrovia's drive-through Graduation ceremony will be permitted, according to the Monrovia Weekly: https://is.gd/hQB6sX

School Board President Rob Hammond writes on Facebook:

Last Friday when we learned about this issue the Monrovia Unified Board of Education contacted our elected representative, County Supervisor, Kathryn Barger, to help solve this problem. The School Board also reached out to the parents of our students to advocate for our graduation.

Today I am pleased to report the collective voices of our community have been heard and on June 3, 2020 the graduation plan presented by MHS will proceed.

I would like to thank our students and parents for their help, as well as the City of Monrovia, MPD, MFD, the staff at MHS and MUSD District Office. In particular I would like to thank Supervisor Kathryn Barger for her help and guidance.

We will look forward to graduation day June 3, 2020.

- Brad Haugaard

Coronavirus Count: 137 - 6 More

Coronavirus cases today, from LA County Department of Public Health:

Monrovia: 137 cases (up 6 from yesterday), 17 deaths (unchanged - https://is.gd/bmKPBb).

Unincorporated Monrovia: 17 cases (unchanged).

Brookdale Monrovia: 2 cases (unchanged), 1 death (unchanged).

Monrovia Gardens Healthcare Center: 74 (unchanged), 14 deaths (unchanged).

Monrovia Memorial Hospital:  24 cases (unchanged) and 2 deaths (unchanged).

- Brad Haugaard

The Circuits of Monrovia; Memorial Will be Removed; Partial Myrtle Closure

There are 31 SCE circuits - with names - that cover Monrovia. Here they are.

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports:

~  Southern California Edison's 2020 Reliability Report for Monrovia is available here: https://is.gd/mCkpxK .

~  A small memorial at the corner of California Avenue and Duarte Road to pay honor and respect to victims of a tragedy that occurred there on April 15 poses a safety concern as it lies in the crosswalk area and glass candles have broken, so the City will remove it. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends so deeply affected by this tragedy."

~ Due to construction Myrtle between Walnut and Chestnut will be closed to southbound vehicular traffic - and northbound traffic should expect delays - this coming Tuesday (May 16) through May 28, and again on June 3. Closures from  7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Watch Virtual Monrovia Days

Here is the full video (about an hour and 40 minutes) of the Virtual Monrovia Days celebration:


- Brad Haugaard

Coronavirus Count: 131 - Up 3

Coronavirus cases today from LA County Department of Public Health:

Monrovia: 131 cases (up 3 from yesterday), 17 deaths (up 2 - https://is.gd/bmKPBb).

Unincorporated Monrovia: 17 cases (unchanged).

Brookdale Monrovia: 2 cases (unchanged), 1 death (unchanged).

Monrovia Gardens Healthcare Center: 74 (unchanged), 14 deaths (up 1).

Monrovia Memorial Hospital:  24 cases (up 1) and 2 deaths (unchanged).

- Brad Haugaard