Summer concerts on the Internet. Not quite the same thing but hey! no ants or mosquitoes! :-) Click to enlarge.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 358
Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m. July 8: Monrovia: 358 (up 6 since 8 p.m. July 7), 29 deaths (unchanged); Unincorporated Monrovia: 45 (unchanged).
Trader Joe's market: 5 cases, no deaths.
- Brad Haugaard
Toasty This Weekend - Highs of 104!
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Wins Awards for GoMonrovia and Monrovia Renewal Project
"Enhancing the quality of life through programs and projects is one of our highest priorities in Monrovia and GoMonrovia and Monrovia Renewal have done exactly that," said Monrovia Mayor Tom Adams. "Whether it's taking a discounted Lyft ride anywhere in the city or walking on a newly paved sidewalk, we are thrilled that our community is proud of and continues to support these award-winning programs and projects."
GoMonrovia uses ride-share programs offered by Lyft, which is the city's primary public transit provider for all non-disability-related (ADA) services. It collaborates with the city's existing dial-a-ride operator to serve passengers with ADA needs and helps transition dial-a-ride shuttles onto the Lyft platform.
Monrovia Renewal is a multi-year initiative to repair and restore the city's aging infrastructure that was plagued by a backlog of deferred maintenance. Since implementation, the city has completed approximately $41.7 million in improvements and repairs. Additionally, the city has made more than 8 million square feet of street improvements, 154,000 square feet of sidewalk replacements, 114,000 linear feet of new curbs and gutters, over 2.5 miles of new water pipelines, nearly 5 miles of sewer improvements, 197 point repairs to sewer lines and 800 new water service lines installed.
ICMA is the world's leading association of professional city and county managers and other employees who serve local governments.
Source: City of Monrovia press release
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: No Bomb, Just Ice Packs; Theft Suspect Drives 'Happy Birthday' Truck; Dog Bites Waitress; And More...
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 2-8. - Brad Haugaard]During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 456 service events, resulting in 48 investigations.
Petty Theft
July 2 at 5:18 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Evergreen called police to report a theft. Sometime during the night, someone removed the storage rack that had been mounted on his truck and stole it. This investigation is continuing.
Warrant / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 3 at 6:36 a.m., police received a call reporting a suspicious person inside a parking structure in a 200 block of W. Pomona. Officers arrived and detained the subject. A computer check revealed a no-bail warrant was issued for the subject for a parole violation. The subject was arrested for the warrant and during a search incident to arrest, drug paraphernalia was located on his person, which was added to his charges.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 3 at 10:34 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 700 block of W. Huntington when he saw a vehicle commit a vehicle code violation. The officer conducted a traffic stop and the driver admitted to being in possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested for possession of a drug pipe.
Theft – Suspect Arrested
July 3 at 6:59 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of W. Duarte called police to report she saw a male subject walking out of her apartment complex with her bike. When she yelled at the suspect, he fled. Officers set up containment of the area and were assisted by the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter. The suspect was subsequently located and arrested.
Suspicious Circumstances / Bomb Squad Call-Out
July 3 at 7:41 p.m., officers responded to the north gate of the police department regarding a suspicious package. Surveillance video was reviewed and it showed a female subject place a box at the location. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad was called to investigate. They determined the box was safe and, upon inspection, found it contained three large ice packs.
Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested
July 4 at 9:29 a.m., officers were patrolling the 1100 block of Encino when they contacted two suspicious subjects in a hotel parking lot. One of the subjects was registered as a guest at the hotel. Both subjects were found to be in possession of methamphetamine and were arrested.
Brandishing a Weapon
July 4 at 9:36 a.m., a male subject called police to report the brandishing of a weapon. The subject rents a room from a resident in the 300 block of Prospect. The renter went to the house to collect a refund after being told to leave the location that same morning. When he knocked on the door, the owner of the home answered, knowing the renter was coming to collect money. The owner went to get something and said he would be right back. He returned brandishing a handgun and told the renter to get off the property. He also told the renter he was not going to get his money back. The renter left the area and called the police. This investigation is continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
July 4 at 11:51 a.m., a subject went to visit Canyon Park and left her vehicle parked in the 600 block of N. Canyon. When she returned, she discovered someone had shattered one of the windows to gain entry and took several personal items. This investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft from a Vehicle
July 4 at 12:26 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Foothill reported a grand theft. Someone took his tools from his unlocked truck, which was parked in front of his home. Surveillance video shows the theft occurred at 11:30 a.m., and the suspect vehicle was a green Toyota Tacoma with Happy Birthday written in pink lettering all over the truck. This investigation is continuing.
Shoplifting
July 4 at 1:13 p.m., an employee of a beauty supply store in the 600 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject had just left the store with electric hair clippers without paying for the item. Officers searched the area for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.
Dog Bite
July 4 at 2:48 p.m., a dog bite incident was reported in the 400 block of S. Myrtle. The victim is a server at a restaurant. At 1:00 p.m., she walked outside the restaurant where a customer was sitting at a table with their dog and the dog bit her on the leg. The victim went to a nearby hospital for medical care after obtaining the owner's information. Pasadena Humane was notified and will be handling this incident.
Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Driver Arrested
July 5 at 11:08 a.m., a caller reported a traffic collision at Myrtle and California. A motorist was driving south on California and fell asleep, colliding into a parked car. Officers responded and, after investigation, determined the driver was driving under the influence. He was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 9:22 p.m., a caller reported a subject lying on the sidewalk in the 400 block of W. Duarte. Officers responded to check on the subject’s welfare. They located the subject and determined he was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested for public intoxication and held for a sobering period.
Grand Theft Auto
July 8 at 9:42 a.m., a caller in the 600 block of W. Duarte reported someone had stolen his daughter’s 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe sometime during the night. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. The vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. Investigation continuing.
Stolen Vehicle Recovered
July 8 at 12:14 p.m., a caller reported a vehicle had been parked in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle for the past eight days. Officers arrived, and the investigation revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen out of North Hollywood. This investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft Auto
July 8 at 6:34 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of W. Colorado regarding a stolen vehicle. The caller reported his vehicle had been parked in front of his residence earlier in the day. The vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system and later that night, it was recovered by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department with the suspect driving. The suspect was arrested.
Vandalism
July 8 at 7:00 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington regarding a window smash to a vehicle. The victim had been away from his vehicle a short time. When he returned, he saw the driver-side, rear window had been smashed. All doors were still locked and nothing was taken from the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.
Editor's Note: Be careful leaving valuables in your vehicles. I got a note from reader, "Ali Kat," who said: "I wanted to alert the citizens to not leave any valuables in the trunk of their cars because thieves have some sort of slim jim or master key to get into them. Especially if they park on the street. They got me." Good advice.
Lunch from Gene’s Grinders
Lunch from Gene’s Grinders, at the southeast corner of Myrtle and Olive. Got the Combination sandwich (ham, salami, provolone) for $8. Yum!- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Coronavirus Count: Up 16 in Two Days, to 352 - 1 More Death
Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m. July 7: Monrovia: 352 (up 16 since 8 p.m. July 5), 29 deaths (up 1); Unincorporated Monrovia: 45 (up 7).
Brookdale Monrovia: 8 (unchanged), 1 death (unchanged).
Trader Joe's market: 5 cases, no deaths.
- Brad Haugaard
City Working to Expand Outdoor Seating for Restaurants
The city will also "be studying the options to designate curbside pick-up spots on each block. At this time, streets will not be closed to vehicles, however, Old Town visitors may see a reduction in parking spots where outdoor seating is being expanded.
"If you're a business that's looking to expand your outdoor dining, please contact Krystina Livraga, Code Enforcement Officer at klivraga@ci.monrovia.ca.us or call 932-5533."
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 336
Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m. July 5: Monrovia: 336 (up 32 since Thursday), 28 deaths (unchanged); Unincorporated Monrovia: 38 (up 5).
Brookdale Monrovia: 8 (unchanged), 1 death (unchanged).
Trader Joe's market: 5 cases, no deaths.
- Brad Haugaard
Former Mayor Lutz to Run for Open Seat on Citrus College Board
San Gabriel Valley community leader and former elected official Mary Ann Lutz announced her candidacy for District Area 5 of the Citrus Community College Board at the November 3 General Election.
“Today, I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for College Board with the support of the amazing Governing Board Member Joanne Montgomery. Trustee Montgomery has provided the district with strong leadership for over twenty years. I will build on her legacy as the new Board Member insuring that the district thrives despite the challenging times in which we now live.”
Montgomery announced her retirement after 22 years in office with an enthusiastic endorsement of Lutz. Montgomery stated that she is endorsing Lutz to ensure stability and good governance. “Mary Ann’s extensive policy experience especially with budgets and spending will help the district weather the challenging economic times ahead. She is a dedicated public servant and community leader with the knowledge to lead the district forward.”
Lutz has been endorsed by Senator Anthony Portantino, Assembly Member Chris Holden, Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, Assembly Member Laura Friedman, Citrus College Board of Trustee Member Joanne Montgomery, Citrus College Board of Trustee Member Sue Keith, Duarte School Board President Ken Bell, Duarte School Board Member Reyna Diaz, Duarte School Board Member Cece Carroll, Duarte City Council Member John Fasana, Duarte City Council Member Margaret Finlay, Duarte City Council Member Liz Reilly, Duarte City Council Member Bryan Urias, Former Duarte Mayor Lois Gaston, Monrovia School Board Member Ed Gilliland, Monrovia School Board Member Selene Lockerbie, Monrovia City Council Member Alex Blackburn, Monrovia City Council Member Larry Spicer, Monrovia City Treasurer and Citrus Board Foundation Member Steve Baker, Monrovia Former Mayor Lara Larramendi, Pasadena City College Board of Trustee Member Sandra Chen Lau, Pasadena City College Board Trustee Member Anthony Fellow (partial list).
Lutz was elected Mayor of Monrovia three (2 year terms) and elected Councilmember twice (4 year terms). She has also served as President of San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, Advisory Board Member and Chair of Women Mayors for the US Conference of Mayors, and Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. She also recently served as Government Liaison/Policy Advisor to Congresswoman Grace Napolitano. Her experience working with the community includes serving as President of the Monrovia Library Foundation, Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills, Past-President of the Foothill Unity Center, and District Chair for the Boys Scouts Lucky Baldwin District. She has been a member of the School Site Council for Santa Fe Middle School since 2003 and a 2010 Awardee of The Golden Apple Award for Monrovia.
Montgomery announced her retirement after 22 years in office with an enthusiastic endorsement of Lutz. Montgomery stated that she is endorsing Lutz to ensure stability and good governance. “Mary Ann’s extensive policy experience especially with budgets and spending will help the district weather the challenging economic times ahead. She is a dedicated public servant and community leader with the knowledge to lead the district forward.”
Lutz has been endorsed by Senator Anthony Portantino, Assembly Member Chris Holden, Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, Assembly Member Laura Friedman, Citrus College Board of Trustee Member Joanne Montgomery, Citrus College Board of Trustee Member Sue Keith, Duarte School Board President Ken Bell, Duarte School Board Member Reyna Diaz, Duarte School Board Member Cece Carroll, Duarte City Council Member John Fasana, Duarte City Council Member Margaret Finlay, Duarte City Council Member Liz Reilly, Duarte City Council Member Bryan Urias, Former Duarte Mayor Lois Gaston, Monrovia School Board Member Ed Gilliland, Monrovia School Board Member Selene Lockerbie, Monrovia City Council Member Alex Blackburn, Monrovia City Council Member Larry Spicer, Monrovia City Treasurer and Citrus Board Foundation Member Steve Baker, Monrovia Former Mayor Lara Larramendi, Pasadena City College Board of Trustee Member Sandra Chen Lau, Pasadena City College Board Trustee Member Anthony Fellow (partial list).
Lutz was elected Mayor of Monrovia three (2 year terms) and elected Councilmember twice (4 year terms). She has also served as President of San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, Advisory Board Member and Chair of Women Mayors for the US Conference of Mayors, and Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. She also recently served as Government Liaison/Policy Advisor to Congresswoman Grace Napolitano. Her experience working with the community includes serving as President of the Monrovia Library Foundation, Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills, Past-President of the Foothill Unity Center, and District Chair for the Boys Scouts Lucky Baldwin District. She has been a member of the School Site Council for Santa Fe Middle School since 2003 and a 2010 Awardee of The Golden Apple Award for Monrovia.
Source: Lutz press release
- Brad Haugaard
Shy Ruby Wants Comfortable Home
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 Mountain Lion Dies :-(
The injured mountain lion that was caught under a house in Monrovia has died. https://is.gd/b3ggk2
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint Night of July 16
Over the course of the past three years, there have been 336 DUI investigations, with 32 of those resulting in collisions with injuries, harming our citizens and neighbors of Monrovia.
In California, this deadly crime led to countless deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver. Alcohol and drug-impaired deaths still make up the largest category of overall vehicle fatalities, with 29% of all deaths being caused by a drunk driver.
Monrovia Police Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun without a DUI:
- Always use a designated driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation
- See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take their keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
- Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not! Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses, not to mention possible jail time.
Source: Police press release
- Brad Haugaard
Superintendent Thorossian's June Update
Monrovia Unified is dedicated to the success of each student and our teams of educators worked tirelessly to ensure all our students and families were equipped with the tools necessary to finish the school year strongly. During that process, you showed us patience and collaborated with teachers and administrators to make for a smooth transition to distance learning.
It was a bittersweet feeling ending the school year on June 3 without the opportunity to come together as a staff or to wish our signing off with a final “KIT” in student yearbooks.
I am especially thankful to the school teams for making those drive-through graduations so celebratory and personal. Monrovia High School, Canyon Oaks, Mountain Park, and Monrovia Adult School each hosted a final farewell that recognized student achievement and highlighted the “commencement” of future opportunities beyond the protective walls of our community. Our sincerest congratulations to the Class of 2020. We wish you nothing but success as you move on to college, career, and beyond!
Though we are currently on summer break, I want to remind our families that our Food Summer Program is running until Aug. 18. Families can pick up meals from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday at the school nearest you.
During these summer months, I also encourage students and families to take part in summer learning activities through Wide Open School, which is offering a free virtual summer camp with online and in-person activities for students and families.
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is offering spaces at 50 parks for children six years and up. The summer camp program offers support for families that are slowly integrating back into the workforce and need a safe and affordable program for their children.
Camp begins Monday, July 6 and you can register online. For more information on the safety guidelines of the program, visit the department’s website. All camps are adhering to COVID-19 safety guidelines that include physical distancing, cleaning, and the inclusion of personal protective equipment required for both staff and participants.
Lastly, this month the District shared with you the news about our reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year. In the coming month, our task forces at the elementary and secondary levels will explore multiple instructional models ranging from continued distance learning to in-person instruction – commensurate with the state’s four stage roadmap to reopen California.
Monrovia Unified is committed to ensuring the safety of our students. As we prepare for our reopening we must address some key issues significant to the reopening – health and safety practices, state funding cuts, instructional models, and district services.
Monrovia Unified will host three webinars discussing the reopening process at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m, on Thursday, July 9. Please register for the webinar ahead of time. The webinar will provide an overview of the process used to gather information, investigate several instructional schedules, and identify those that seem to best serve the needs of our students.
We will continue providing updated information on our website, ParentSquare, and social media platforms.
Families are encouraged to tune in to Conversations with Ralph Walker, which will resume at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 10. The show airs on YouTube and features Board President Rob Hammond and Mayor Tom Adams, who share the latest local updates on COVID-19. Please submit questions to kgemtv@gmail.com or by calling (626) 357-4974.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katherine Thorossian, Superintendent
Citrus College Board Member Joanne Montgomery Will Not Seek Re-Election - Endorses Former Mayor Mary Ann Lutz
As a former elementary school teacher and educator, Montgomery has received countless awards and honors over her many years of service. "I love teaching, being an educator, and the college district. The only thing that brings me more joy is my family and I'm looking forward to spending more time with my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren," added Montgomery.
"Moving forward, I want to make sure I am leaving the district with stability and good governance, so I am endorsing former Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz to replace me. Mary Ann's extensive policy experience especially with budgets and spending will help the district weather the challenging economic times ahead. She is a dedicated public servant and community leader with the knowledge to lead the district forward."
Source: Press release
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Girl Troop Being Formed
The troop, which is partnering with American Legion Post 44, will give girls the opportunity to learn leadership, participate in community service, local government, parades, working with our local veterans and the Knights of Columbus. Some of their adventures will include whitewater rafting, long term camp, rock climbing, shooting, archery, swimming and life saving skills such as first aid, water survival training, land navigation, wilderness survival and merit badges to introduce them to life careers.
For questions please contact Organizational Representative Mark Peters by calling or texting 626-485-1032, emailing monroviatroop66g@gmail.com, or messaging on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girltroop66/
- Brad Haugaard
4th of July Decorating Contest Winners
The 2020 4th of July Home Decorating Contest and Old Town Monrovia Window Decorating Contest.
Home Contest Winners
- Best Patriotic Display - 515 W. Colorado
- Salute to Our Military Display - 751 E. Foothill Blvd.
- Small Town USA Display - 126 Melrose Ave.
- Most Spectacular - 380 Norumbega Dr.
- Judges Award - 210 Oaks Ave.
Business Contest Winners
- Best Patriotic Display -Dream Decor, 505 S. Myrtle Ave.
- Salute to Our Military Display - The Attic Events & Home Treasures, 312 S. Myrtle Ave.
- Small Town USA Display - Neighborhood Pawn, 619 S. Myrtle Ave.
- Most Spectacular - Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 517 S. Myrtle Ave.
- Judges Award - Puff Monkey, 427 S. Myrtle Ave.
- Brad Haugaard
City Council to Consider Juneteenth as Holiday, Committee to Study Any Structural Inequity in City Government
~ Declaring June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day in Monrovia. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. https://is.gd/YyUnW6
~ Establishing an ad hoc committee to review city policies, procedures and practices for possible structural inequity and to recommend solutions to remove barriers to equity in city government. https://is.gd/e87aNw
- Brad Haugaard
Santa Anita Family YMCA Delays Opening Until July 13
Y Executive Director Eric Boyd writes:
"I sincerely apologize for this disappointing news, but I hope you'll understand our rationale."
"We feel very good about the safety precautions and protocols on which we've trained our staff in preparation for re-opening. But our facility, quite frankly, still needs a few improvements before we feel that you, our Y family, can safely enjoy the full benefits of the healthy lifestyle activities we aim to offer. Our previous communications were sincere; just a little ambitious.
"That said, we will continue making the final necessary improvements to our facility (i.e. re-spacing equipment, power-washing select surfaces, etc.) in the coming days, and I look to our July 13th re-opening with great confidence. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding."
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 304, Up 3
Today's Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health: Monrovia: 304 (up 3), 28 deaths (unchanged); Unincorporated Monrovia: 38 (up 1).
Brookdale Monrovia: 8 (unchanged), 1 death (unchanged).
- Brad Haugaard
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