Free Thanksgiving Meals for Children from Monrovia High

Monrovia High School will distribute meals to all children in the community on Monday, Nov. 23 and Tuesday, Nov. 24.

On Monday, the school will provide one complete meal for every child; on Tuesday tow complete meals (one meal for Tuesday and the other meal for Wednesday). The meal service time will stay the same: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 am.

For questions contact Alex Pelayo at 471-2054.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools Names Classified Employee, and Teacher, of the Year

The Monrovia Unified School District Newsletter (https://is.gd/j7Fcjc) reports on the 2020 Classified Employee of the Year, and Teacher of the Year:

Mrs. Theresa Brunn was selected as the Classified Employee of the Year. She serves as the Personnel Technician in the Human Resources Department and has been with the District since 2006, first serving as a Clerical Assistant II in the Superintendent’s office, and next as a Senior Account Clerk in Payroll from 2012-2015.

Danny Ray was selected as Teacher of the Year. Ray teaches Social Science, Renaissance leadership, and P.E. at Clifton Middle School. This year marks Danny’s 10th year at Clifton, but this decade only represents half of his career in education as a teacher.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Recognizes Top Scholars

 The Board of Education tweets that it has recognized James Delisio, Charlie Heatherly, Hailey Sarmiento, and Zachary Szymkowski on being named National Merit Scholarship Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, and Adam Marin for being named a National Hispanic Scholar.

- Brad Haugaard

Dan Sipple Wins Contest for 'Art in Public Places' Logo

Art in Public Places Program has selected Dan Sipple's design as the AIPP official logo from among 23 submissions, from design professionals to a six-year old.

The AIPP Committee believed that Sipple's logo fully captured the spirit of the stated requirements. It reflects Monrovia culture and characteristics, includes the words "Monrovia" and "Art in Public Places," incorporates Myrtle leaves and reproduces well in different sizes and formats.

- Brad Haugaard

A Toy Drive Where You Don't Give a Toy

Don't give a toy if you'd like to donate to the Monrovia Police Officer's Association's Spark of Love toy collection this year. Because of the plague, no physical donations for this event. If you would like to make a general donation or contribution to the association, please visit its website at www.monroviapoa.org.

- Brad Haugaard

Christmas Parade - And Santa - Coming to You This Year

City Accepting Applications for Holiday Home Decorating Contest

Holiday Home Decorating Contest details:

• Contest registration will close on Monday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m.
• Judging will take place on December 10 - 13
• Addresses of all entered homes will be included on the Holiday Home Decorating Contest Map

Awards will be given out to the following categories:

• Best Still Display
• Best Outdoor Display
• Mot Effective Use of Lighting
• Best Neighborhood Effort
• Santa's Workshop Award
• Holiday Spirit Award
• Judges Award
• Children's Choice Award

Contact Ashley Gonzalez, Recreation Coordinator, for more information at 256-8246 or agonzalez@ci.monrovia.ca.us

Register here: https://is.gd/m8oPaY

- Brad Haugaard

State Auditor Improves Its Assessment of Monrovia's Fiscal Health

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports that in a new report the California State Auditor - which last year said Monrovia was number 10 on its "Fiscally Challenged Cities" list - has improved Monrovia's standing to position 21, though Feik says that last year's report was based on outdated information and "focused on narrow pieces of data." The city, he said, "continues to be in solid financial shape and we look forward to long-term positive trends."

Here are the fiscal health rankings of some nearby cities (Bigger numbers are better): West Covina, 9; El Monte, San Gabriel, 20; Claremont, 23; Covina, 31; Arcadia, 87; Azusa, 179; Glendora, 196; Duarte, 232; San Marino, 234; Sierra Madre, 250; Temple City, 377; San Dimas, 379; Rosemead, 428; Bradbury, 439. https://is.gd/jePkkZ

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Coronavirus Report: 53 More Cases, No More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 11/17/2020. Changes since 11/11/2020.

City of Monrovia: 981 cases (up 53), 42 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 91 cases (unchanged), no deaths

The County has changed its Covid reporting page, adding a lot more information, including a list of organizations that have been cited. In Monrovia these include:

11/05/2020 Good Fortune Supermarket (Duarte Road) -  "High Risk"

10/22/2020 Rudy's Mexican Food - "Seats High Risk"

10/15/2020 Ikonicks Burgers- "Seats High Risk"

10/15/2020 Rudy's Mexican Food - "Seats High Risk"

10/02/2020 London Gastropub  - "Seats High Risk"

10/02/2020 Mikomi Sushi - "Seats High Risk"

And a list of organizations that have had three or more Covid cases:

Burger King Monrovia, 4, no deaths
Sierra Auto Cars, 5, no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Bad Driving Leads to Arrest of Driver With 50 Pounds of 'Controlled Substance'; Vehicle - And Dog - Stolen, Recovered; Robber Grabs Two Phones from Woman; Man Punches His Sister; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for November 12-18. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 308 service events, resulting in 60 investigations. 

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
November 12 at 12:35 p.m., a caller reported that a motorist struck a bicyclist at the intersection of Mayflower and Evergreen. Officers arrived and found no one was injured. Both parties exchanged information. 

Transportation of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
November 12 at 2:12 p.m., officers were on patrol in the 200 block of E. Huntington when they observed a motorist commit several driving violations. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was contacted. The driver was found to be in possession of 50 pounds of a controlled substance. The driver was arrested. 

Grand Theft Auto
November 13 at 6:45 a.m., a caller reported his vehicle was stolen during his work shift at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. Video surveillance was requested from the business and the vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing. 

Theft
November 13 at 4:20 p.m., an automotive business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a theft. A male subject dropped off his vehicle for a brake service. After the job was completed, the subject returned and left the business with his vehicle without paying for the service. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft Auto
November 14 at 1:48 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 800 block of S. Mayflower. The victim parked her vehicle with her dog inside and stepped away for a moment with the keys still inside. The victim heard her vehicle start up and leave the area. She called police and officers responded and conducted an area check. A short time later, officers located the stolen vehicle parked on Chestnut at Fifth with the dog still inside. This investigation is continuing. 

Theft From a Vehicle
November 14 at 2:41 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of N. Canyon walked outside her home and discovered someone had stolen the catalytic converter off her Toyota Prius. This investigation is continuing. 

Bicycle Theft
November 14 at 3:30 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Walnut call police to report that someone took his BMX bicycle. The bicycle had one of its wheels locked, but this did not prevent it from being stolen. This investigation is continuing. 

Strong-Arm Robbery
November 14 at 4:33 p.m., an elderly woman was walking in the 1200 block of S. Magnolia holding two cellphones. She was playing a game on one and was texting her friends on the other. A male subject approached her from behind and grabbed both her cellphones. The woman gripped them tight in her hands and a brief struggle ensued, but the suspect ultimately took the phones. He ran north on Magnolia to Cypress, where a vehicle was waiting. The suspect entered the vehicle and fled the area. The suspect is described as a male subject in his 20’s, wearing a mask and hoodie over his head. Investigation continuing. 

Grand Theft Auto / Stolen Vehicle Recovered
November 15 at 7:13 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of E. Maple walked outside his home and discovered his work vehicle had been stolen sometime during the night. An officer responded to investigate. After the vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system, it was located shortly after abandoned in El Monte. The vehicle was returned to the registered owner. This investigation is continuing. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 16 at 8:57 a.m., officers responded to the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a report of drunk driver. Officers checked the area and located a vehicle matching the description driving through a parking lot. They contacted the driver, who displayed signs and symptoms of being under the influence. A DUI investigation was conducted and the driver was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released on a citation to appear in court on the charges. 

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
November 16 at 3:19 p.m., officers were on patrol near the intersection of Shamrock and Huntington when they observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation. A traffic stop was conducted and an investigation revealed one of the occupants had a warrant for his arrest regarding an assault case within the city. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Trespassing / Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
November 16 at 4:02 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of E. Greystone regarding a suspect causing a disturbance at his grandparent’s home. Officers located the suspect, who was advised of a no-trespassing order that had been filed against him for that location. The suspect was also wanted for another case. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Battery / Resisting Arrest – Suspect Arrested
November 16 at 5:34 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 300 block of E. Palm regarding a family disturbance. The suspect punched his sister in the face and fled the scene. Officers arrived and located the suspect nearby, but he fled on foot. After a short chase, the suspect was apprehended and taken into custody. He was arrested for battery and resisting arrest. 

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
November 17 at 8:27 a.m., security at a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain saw a subject opening packages and concealing items on his person. Security tried to stop the subject, but he fled on foot. Officers responded and were told the subject was hiding in the bushes near the Metro tracks. Officers located the subject and arrested him for shoplifting. 

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
November 17 at 10:33 a.m., a victim of grand theft auto was driving through the 400 block of W. Duarte and saw his vehicle. The victim called the police and watched the suspect walk away from the vehicle. Officers arrived and detained the suspect. He was arrested for driving a stolen vehicle. 

Injury Hit and Run Traffic Collision
November 18 at 12:53 a.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported near the intersection of Huntington and Monterey. One of the vehicles failed to yield to oncoming traffic and fled the scene after the collision occurred. Officers arrived and checked the area, but the vehicle was not located. The driver of the vehicle that remained at the scene complained of pain and was treated by paramedics. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft Auto (Travel Trailer)
November 18 at 8:39 a.m., a travel trailer was reported stolen from the 200 block of Kruse. The victim returned to work and discovered his travel trailer her keeps parked in front of his business was missing. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. Video surveillance revealed that a white SUV pulled up to the trailer at 3:20 a.m. that morning and hooked up to it, then fled the scene with the trailer in tow. This investigation is continuing. 

Lunch at Mikomi Sushi

Lunch at Mikomi Sushi, on the east side of Myrtle about a half block south of Lime. Got the Combination Bento A, with spicy chicken for $10.95, and added an egg for $1.50. And a small beer for $4.95. Very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Churro Loves People - Other Dogs and Cats? ... Not So Much

Three-year-old Churro loves people as much as people love churros! This handsome dog isn’t a huge fan of cats or other dogs, so he would prefer to be the only pet in the home, but has so much love to give to humans and will make a great only child. While some dogs like treats more than anything, Churro wants back scratches and cuddles, so if you’re ready for some snuggle time, Churro can fill that role. He’s also very playful and loves to run, so if you’re looking to mix in some running time with your new best friend, he can do that too! Churro checks all the boxes, all he needs is you!

The adoption fee for dogs is $140. All dog 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 and schedule a virtual adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Monday at 10:00 a.m. for the following week.

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

- Brad Haugaard

Elks Children's Contest On Americanism

 The Duarte Elks Lodge, which serves Monrovia, is having an essay contest for students in grades 5-6 and 7-8 on "How Can Patriotism Be Demonstrated."

Entry form: Here

- Brad Haugaard

A Tour of Newly Reopened Wilderness Preserve

I took a bike ride today in the Wilderness Preserve, newly reopened today after the Bobcat Fire.

There are stretches of the trail that look very different, having been sculpted by a tractor, and other parts that are unchanged or barely changed.

The biggest changes are along the single-track section at the top of Clamshell Road. Here the vegetation has been scraped to create a fire break and the reconstituted trail looks rather different than it did before. Towards the bottom ends of the trail - near Ridgeside and Cloverleaf - there is very little change.

If you are riding a bike be aware that - as might be expected - there is a lot of loose soil that can hamper traction.

Here are my observations, starting from Ridgeside.

There is very little change on Clamshell Road until you get to the the high point, which is here. At this point the single-track section begins. Notice the potholes. I'd guess these are designed to prevent erosion when it rains, and perhaps to root out some of the non-native plants that had taken hold here.

Looking west toward the lookout point. Notice again the potholes, and of course the area used to be just a person-wide track through brush. No longer.

The post is the turn-off point to the switchbacks. Notice the fire burned right up to the fire break here.

At the top of the switchbacks, you can see the fire reached the trail.

A long downward view of the switchbacks. Previously you could not see most of the trail because of the brush; now it is visible all the way to the bottom.

And this is the same view looking up the switchbacks.

From here west the road has been scraped, with lots of loose soil on steep grades. When the road turns south, it is about the same as it was before the fire, with the exception of some brush clearance.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Dentist Who Repairs Ancient Audio Recordings

The Los Angeles Times has published an article featuring Monrovian Michael Khanchalian, a dentist who has used his dental skills to repair old wax cylinders, which contain some of the earliest audio recordings. https://shrtm.nu/WUeY

- Brad Haugaard 

School Board to Consider Clean-Up of Bobcat Smoke; Hiring Tech Companies; Adopting Textbooks; Etc.

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/t705lY) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

~ Adopting a resolution authorizing emergency repairs (due to smoke damage from the Bobcat fire) without going through the standard bidding procedure (https://is.gd/3lpzuF) and hiring Belfor Property Restoration to do the clean-up 13 school district sites: https://is.gd/aHvuCA

~ Hiring Forecast 5 Analytics, Inc. for $81,600 to provide the data analytic licenses for Educational Services and Human Resources, from Nov. 19 through June 30, 2023. "We help schools use data analytics to create annual budgets, model different scenarios and make strategic decisions to optimize student outcomes." https://is.gd/q6ozAO

~ Adopting textbooks ...

K-5:

Social Studies Alive, by TCI for History-Social Science, $231,931.51

Discovery Science, by Discovery Education for Science, $462,632.64

Grades 6-8:

Amplify Science, by Amplify for Science, $246,725.39

The Living Earth, by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Biology, $47,646.30

Chemistry in the Earth, by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Chemistry, $52,076.00

Physics in the Universe, by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Physics, $16,400.18

[Comment: It never ceases to astonish me how insanely expensive textbooks are, and - unless they've changed recently - how they can make the most interesting subjects brain-numbingly boring.]

~ Do a deal with the non-profit Amigos de los Rios "to implement the Monrovia Urban and Community Forestry Project funded by California Climate Investment Grant from California Department of Forest and Fire Protection at Plymouth Elementary School, Santa Fe Computer Magnet School and Monrovia High School." https://is.gd/ynKPjc

~  Hiring AMS.net for $32,200 to perform (I think; it's kinda vague) a security check and upgrades to the district's computer network. https://is.gd/BykgVe

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Fellowship Church Plans Drive-Through Advent, Toy Collection

Monrovia's Fellowship Church is putting on a "Tis the Season" drive-thru event on Nov. 22 from 2-4 p.m. at Santa Anita Race Track (Gate 5) to worship, take communion, drop off a donation for a toy drive to benefit the children at the Monrovia Boys & Girls Club, and pick up an advent box with activities, devotionals, and ideas for celebrating Advent. https://is.gd/LslFkw

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Water Has Low Levels of PFAS; Traffic Flow at Train Crossings to be Improved; City to Join Restaurant Dining Area to Street Fair; Prayer Breakfast; Etc.

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

~ The city says Monrovia's water is safe, but it does contain low levels of polyfluoralky substances, PFAS, chemicals used in manufacturing since the 1940s. Samples were taken at each of the city's five water wells and three were found to contain the chemicals at levels high enough to be noted, but not high enough to require extra treatment. However, the city is considering water treatment and other steps to maintain compliance with drinking water standards. For questions contact Public Works Department at 932-5575.

~ Traffic delays at train crossings have been a problem. This will hopefully be improved in the next few weeks by more advanced traffic signal programming which should improve traffic flow and congestion at these 3 intersections. Questions? email  PWcomments@ci.monrovia.ca.us

~ There's a gap between the Friday Monrovia Street Fair and Market and the section of Myrtle that is closed on weekends for expanded restaurant dining. So, the city will shift the street fair north a bit to join the two, which "creates a continuity between the two programs and may generate more foot traffic for all businesses in Old Town." The relocation will go into effect on November 20, 2020.

~ The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce will hold its 55th Annual Community Prayer Breakfast on Nov. 20, at 8 a.m. This year's event will be virtual and there is no cost to attend. Details: https://is.gd/1itbKK

~ Through its online Fall Reading Program in October, with the theme "Read to Give," the library was able to donate 100 brand new books to the Foothill Unity Center for families in need. 

- Brad Haugaard

Wilderness Preserve Opens Monday

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that, “While Canyon Park will be closed for some time, we are happy to report that Monrovia’s 4.5 miles of trails in the Hillside Wilderness Preserve are now safe and accessible to the community.

“Beginning this Monday, Nov. 16, the access points to the Preserve will be open to the public daily From 6 a.m to 9 p.m.  To learn more, please call 626-256-8246.”

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Coronavirus Count: 43 More Cases, No More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 11/11/2020. Changes since 11/04/2020.

City of Monrovia: 928 cases (up 43), 42 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 91 cases (up 2), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard