KGEM's Third Annual Holiday Special

Here is Community Media of the Foothills' third Annual Holiday Special.  Lots of music and thoughts from various city people, including KGEM host Ralph Walker, City Manager Dylan Feik, School Board Member Jennifer Anderson, Police Chief Alan Sanvictores, leaders at KGEM, plus, How to make the Palomares Family's pretzel salad and a nighttime drive through Monrovia showing Christmas decorations.

- Brad Haugaard

Toy and Canned Food Drive Saturday

Tomorrow, Dec. 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Monrovia Police Officers' Association will partner with Detail Union for a drive-through toy and canned food drop-off. If you would like to contribute, please bring unwrapped toys or canned food to Detail Union, located at 1311 S. Shamrock Ave.

- Brad Haugaard

Helicopter Power-Pole Replacement in Wilderness Preserve

On this coming Tuesday (Dec. 22) and the following Monday (Dec. 28), Southern California Edison will be replacing two power poles in the Wilderness Preserve using a helicopter since they're not accessible any other way. A few residents in and around the Hillside Wilderness Preserve that may have power interruptions and accessibility affected.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia-Made Keepsakes from Bobcat-Burned Trees Support Community

Take home a piece of Canyon Park and give a gift that supports our Monrovia community.

The Monrovia Parks, Wilderness and Recreation Foundation is raising money to support its work by selling this ornament/keepsake handcrafted in Monrovia using fallen trees from Canyon Park that burned during the Bobcat Fire. Proceeds go to supporting the mission of the foundation. 

For one week (through December 22), any person making a donation of at least $30 will receive one holiday ornament/keepsake as a thank you.

For questions email empower@monroviapwr.org.

To support the foundation's work, click here:  https://is.gd/6POM04

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Coronavirus Count: 208 More Cases, No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 12/16/2020. Changes since 12/09/2020.

City of Monrovia: 1513 cases (up 208), 41 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 174 cases (up 32), no deaths

Redell Pine: 2 cases (unchanged), no deaths
Caltrans Monrovia 4 cases, no deaths
Miracle Works 5 cases, no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

City Hall Phones Off the Hook Friday Afternoon

If you need to call someone at Monrovia City Hall Friday (Dec. 18), do it in the morning. There's phone system maintenance from 1 - 5 p.m. You can use email, however: Here's the staff email list:  https://is.gd/TPhAhb

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner from Luscious Dumplings

Okay, this is embarrassing. This photo is of what is left over after we ate it all. I forgot to take a picture of all the food listed below before we started eating (I think I was anxious to get to it), but the dumplings looked like this - but there were lots and lots more of them. 

Anyway, got dinner from Luscious Dumplings, in the shopping center on Duarte Road at Sixth.  Got Angus beef rice bowl; Angus stewed beef noodle soup; pan-fried chive pockets; boiled chive, pork, egg and shrimp dumplings; pan-fried chicken dumplings; pan-fried pork dumplings; and steamed soup dumplings. Used DoorDash. Each item was about $11. Cost for food was $76.50, plus tax, a service fee of $11.48, and a driver tip. It was indeed luscious. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Gunpoint Robbery of Customer at Gas Station; Woman Attacks With Box Cutter; Daughter Batters Mom; Ring Camera Leads to Arrest; Arson Suspected in Bush Fire; Man Steals Tip Jar; Etc.

 [Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 10-16. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 318 service events, resulting in 68 investigations. 

Mail Tampering
December 10 at 10:00 am, a resident in the 200 block of Linwood called police to report someone had broken into his mailbox during the early morning hours and scattered his mail all over the street. It is unknown if any mail was missing. Investigation continuing. 

Fraud Report
December 10 at 4:48 pm, a resident in the 400 block of Monrovista reported she had recently signed up for unemployment benefits and was waiting for her EDD card to be delivered, but it never came. She checked online and discovered a large sum of money had been fraudulently withdrawn without her permission. Investigation continuing. 

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 11 at 2:41 am, an officer conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of S. Alta Vista, and during his investigation, he discovered the driver had several outstanding warrants. The driver was arrested without incident. 

Battery
December 11 at 7:42 am, a resident in the 1400 block of S. Magnolia reported her adult daughter had just battered her, then drove away from the area. Officers searched for the suspect, but could not locate her. This investigation is continuing. 

Petty Theft
December 11 at 8:22 am, workers at a demolition site in the 1900 block of S. Myrtle reported some of their tools had been stolen sometime during the night. The tools were not left in a secured location. This investigation is continuing. 

Court Order Violation
December 11 at 10:35 pm, officers were dispatched to the area of Greystone and Hillcrest regarding a subject loitering in the area. When officers arrived, they located the subject and discovered he had been near his grandparents’ residence in violation of a current court order. The subject was arrested. 

Commercial Burglary
December 12 at 12:28 am, the owner of a business in the 200 block of W. Duarte was alerted by his Ring camera that someone was inside his business. The owner was able to provide information as to the subject's movements. Officers arrived in the area and found the subject on Myrtle and Pomona. They detained the subject and he was positively identified. The subject was arrested and the officers located the property that was taken. 

Commercial Burglary
December 12 at 5:47 pm, the owner of a storage unit located in the 2100 block of S. Myrtle discovered someone had forced entry into the locked unit and burglarized it. This investigation is continuing. 

Assault with a Deadly Weapon
December 13 at 11:04 am, a caller reported she was at the corner of Colorado and Alta Vista and had just been cut with a box cutter by an unknown female subject who fled the area. The caller could not explain why the suspect cut her. Officers searched for the alleged suspect, but could not locate her. The caller's injury was a shallow cut to her abdomen, and she was transported to a nearby hospital for medical care. This investigation is continuing. 

Arson
December 14 at 1:27 am, a resident in the 400 block of E. Greystone called to report that bushes were on fire. Officers responded and found the hedge in front of the residence was fully engulfed with flames, approximately 20 feet into the air. An officer was able to extinguish the fire with a garden hose. Monrovia Fire arrived on scene and completely extinguished the flames and smoldering area. Evidence was recovered at the scene. Investigation continuing. 

Possession of Burglary Tools
December 14 at 1:39 am, police dispatch received an alarm activation at a business in the 1400 block of S. Mountain. The alarm company accessed the buildings video surveillance and saw a male subject hiding behind cars. Officers arrived on scene and located the subject lying on the ground. He was in possession of tools and a car jack. The subject admitted to coming to the location to steal a BMW rim, but before he could start removing the rim, he was detained by police. He was arrested. 

Arson
December 14 at 3:47 am, a resident in the 100 block of S. Mayflower called to report that the contents of a dumpster were on fire. Officers arrived and extinguished the fire. No one was in the area. The neighborhood was canvassed for video surveillance. Investigation continuing. 

Grand Theft
December 14 at 8:46 pm, a female subject entered a business in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle to get gasoline. As she was filling up her vehicle, the suspect opened the front driver's side door and took her purse containing the keys to her vehicle and fled. The vehicle had to be towed to her residence. Surveillance footage was available. Investigation continuing. 

Petty Theft
December 14 at 10:22 pm, an employee from a business in the 100 block of S. Myrtle called police to report a male subject in his 30's, wearing a white, blue, and black hoodie, walked inside and stole the tip jar containing cash. The suspect then fled on foot. Surveillance footage is available and the investigation is continuing. 

Injury Traffic Collision
December 15 at 5:40 pm, a pedestrian was crossing California with a shopping cart when she was struck by a vehicle traveling north on California. The pedestrian was treated by paramedics at the scene and released. 

Armed Robbery
December 16 at 7:10 am, officers were dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle on the report of an armed robbery that just occurred. The victim reported he had been robbed at gunpoint. He was fueling his vehicle at a gas station when the suspect approached him armed with a smaller, semi-automatic pistol and demanded his money and wallet. The victim complied and the suspect fled through a nearby alley, where he got into a dark colored Honda Civic and drove away. The investigation is continuing. 

Mary Ann Lutz Takes Begins Her Service on Citrus College Board

On Dec. 15 Monrovian Mary Ann Lutz took the oath of office to serve on Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees, filling the seat of the late Joanne Montgomery, who retired in November 2020 after more than 20 years of service.

Lutz has served in a variety of government positions, most recently as government liaison/policy advisor to U.S. Rep. Grace F. Napolitano. She also spent six years as the mayor of Monrovia, after being elected in 2009 and reelected in 2011 and 2013; and six years as a member of the Monrovia City Council.

"I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve on Citrus College’s board of trustees," Lutz said. "This board has always worked together to achieve the common goal of increasing student success, and I am looking forward to contributing to this effort. I hope to build upon Mrs. Montgomery’s legacy and will ensure that the district thrives despite the challenging times in which we now live."

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard

Long Time Monrovia Educator, Joanne Montgomery, Has Died

Long time Monrovian, Joanne Montgomery, who just retired last month after 22 years of service on the Citrus College Board of Trustees, has died. City Council member Becky Shevlin said she believes Montgomery was about 86 years old.

Shevlin writes: "Our Monrovia community lost one of its heroes... Joanne was a beloved Monrovia Unified School District teacher, Citrus College board member and was active in countless other community organizations. Joanne was a beautiful example of sharing love and support for all who knew her. She will be missed.

The announcement of her retirement early last month included this information:

She began her career as an educator and worked as an elementary school teacher for the Monrovia Unified School District for 32 years. She was also a master teacher for several universities and served on numerous school committees.

"During her more than 20 years of service to Citrus College and the communities it serves, Trustee Montgomery has contributed greatly to the college's growth and progress. Her leadership has been instrumental in establishing Citrus College as a national leader in higher education," said Dr. Geraldine M. Perri, superintendent/president of Citrus College. "On behalf of the college community, I congratulate Trustee Montgomery on her retirement and thank her for the decades of guidance and vision she has provided. Her presence at the college will be dearly missed."

Throughout her career, Montgomery received awards as an educator and community leader. Some of her honors include a Teacher of the Year award; being appointed by the California governor to serve on the board of directors for the 48th District Agricultural Association, where she served for more than 16 years; being selected as the 2003 recipient of the Dick Lord Award from the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce; being named the 2015 Woman of the Year for Monrovia for California's 48th State Assembly district; and the Outstanding Educator Award from the Monrovia Duarte Black Alumni Association. Most recently, in May 2019, Trustee Montgomery received a Fulfilling the Trust award from the Community College League of California.

Montgomery had a reputation for understanding how big-picture decision-making affected instructors and students. She was a passionate advocate for AB 288, which allowed high school students to take college-credit courses while still in high school, and she tirelessly promoted Citrus College.

- Brad Haugaard

Christmas Home and Business Decorating Contest Winners

The City of Monrovia has announced the winners of the 2020 Holiday Home Decorating Contest and Old Town Monrovia Window Decorating Contest. Here they are:

Home Contest Winners
Best Still Display: 2102 S. Myrtle Avenue
Best Outdoor Display: 633 King Street
Most Effective use of Lighting: 276 N. Primrose Avenue
Best Neighborhood Effort: 517 Valmont Place & Valmont Drive
Santa's Workshop Award: 333 Norumbega Drive
Holiday Spirit Award: 1510 Pilgrim Way
Judge's Award: 209 S. Sunset Place
Children's Choice Award: 826 Ocean View Avenue

Business Contest Winners
Best Overall Display: House of Windsor, 526 S. Myrtle Avenue
Most Creative Display: Saint Clark Bridal, 519 S. Myrtle Avenue
Best Holiday Display: Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 517 S. Myrtle Avenue
Judge's Award: Monrovia Floral, 119 E. Olive Avenue
Most Spectacular Display: Civiltec Engineering, 118 W. Lime Avenue

- Brad Haugaard

Last School Food Distribution of Year on Dec. 18

The last day of meal distribution from Monrovia Schools this year will be this Friday, December 18. The Food Services department will not be distributing meals to the community’s children during the winter break, beginning Monday, December 21, 2020, through Friday, January 1, 2021.

Meal distribution service will resume on Monday, January 4, 2021, from 7:30 am – 11:30 am at all of our school sites. For questions, contact Alex Pelayo at 471-2054.

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Reorganize, Honor Former Members Wong and Gililland

At its next meeting (https://is.gd/HCdnWk) the Monrovia School Board will honor Bryan Wong and Ed Gililland for their years of service on the board, and will elect new board officers from among themselves - Board President, Vice President, and Clerk.

- Brad Haugaard

Friendly, Intelligent, Affectionate Dog Seeks Perfect Person

Three-year-old Solange was found injured under a freeway overpass, and our veterinarians suspected she may have been hit by a car. She underwent surgery to repair her fractured femur, and since then has healed wonderfully and blossomed into such a sweet dog! Now that Solange has recovered, she has so much energy and loves to play. She’ll even toss her toys up in the air and catch them! Solange is friendly, intelligent, and affectionate – all she needs now is her perfect person.

Solange is eligible for a 30-day adoption trial. Bring her home with all the supplies, get to know her, and at the end of 30 days, decide if you’d like to adopt. Email foster@pasadenahumane.org to get started with your 30-day adoption trial.

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.

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

School District Given 30,800 Covid Masks

Monrovia School District tweets that Monrovia High School parent David Berger, and Min Zhu, of Global Promo, donated 22 boxes of KN95 masks to MUSD on Dec. 10. Each box had about 1,400 masks, estimating a total of 30,800 masks.

Comment: That's a lotta masks!

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Church Delivers Five Vehicle-Loads of Toys to Boys and Girls Club

Monrovia’s Fellowship Church reports that it’s toy drive for the Monrovia Boys & Girls Club last month brought in “so many donations that it took five vehicles to bring all the toys back to the Boys & Girls Club site.”

- Brad Haugaard

Playgrounds Reopen; Submit Questions for 'State of City' Address; Crosswalk Modification at Lucinda Garcia Park; Ridgeside/Oakglade Preparations

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

~ Playgrounds have been reopened. Wear a mask, keep six feet of separation, wash hands.

~ Have thoughts on what questions the 2021 State of the City address should address? Submit them here:  https://is.gd/4DCYja

~ The crosswalks at the intersection of Olive and Mayflower were put in to make it easier for pedestrians to access Lucinda Garcia Park. Unfortunately, the south-side crosswalk "did not leave sufficient room for motorists to make a left hand turn from Olive Avenue onto Mayflower Avenues." So it's being removed.

~ If you live on or near Ridgeside, Oakglade, or Canyon Park, you may wish to watch this video (about 56 minutes) that describes the city's plan to prevent mudflow damage. Hint - K-rail. https://is.gd/eirZlM

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Coronavirus Count: 135 More Cases, No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 12/09/2020. Changes since 12/02/2020.

City of Monrovia: 1,305 cases (up 135), 41 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 142 cases (up 34), no deaths

Redell Pine (residential facility): 2 cases, no deaths

Correction: The increase for the City of Monrovia and Unincorporated Monrovia were incorrect. I've corrected them.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner from Jake’s Roadhouse

Got a Family Barbecue Dinner for $55 from Jake’s Roadhouse, on the east side of Myrtle a bit north of Olive. We chose tri tip and ribs. It came with six sides and muffins. Very tasty. I especially liked the ribs. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Attempted Murder; Mail Thefts; Burglaries; Etc.

 [Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 3-9. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 307 service events, resulting in 73 investigations. 

Fraud
December 3 at 11:26 a.m., a resident in the 600 block of W. Lime called police to report a fraud incident. The resident had discovered someone had been ordering items using her Amazon account without her permission. An investigation revealed the account was linked to her credit card. She said some of the items had already shipped. This investigation is continuing. 

Attempt Grand Theft Auto
December 3 at 3:59 p.m., a resident in the 1800 block of Eighth Avenue walked outside his home to go to work and discovered someone had forced entry into his vehicle and attempted to tamper with the ignition. The suspect was unsuccessful in taking the vehicle and fled. This investigation is continuing. 

Mail Theft
December 4 at 3:06 a.m., an officer was on patrol near the intersection of Norumbega and Valmont when he discovered mail scattered in the street. More mail was found scattered from numerous residences on Norumbega. This investigation is continuing. 

Burglary
December 4 at 9:49 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of W. Cypress discovered someone had rummaged through his locked storage box behind his house, which is off an alley. The suspect took miscellaneous car parts and then fled. This investigation is continuing. 

Mail Tampering
December 4 at 10:02 a.m., management of an apartment complex in the 200 block of W. Pomona discovered someone had opened packages and mail belonging to several different tenants, then left the packages in the lobby of the complex. This investigation is continuing. 

Burglary
December 4 at 10:26 a.m., a resident in the 900 block of S. Myrtle called police to report that someone had broken into his neighbor’s storage container. The container had been rummaged through. The owner of the storage container was notified and was responding from out of town. This investigation is continuing. 

Fraud
December 4 at 11:41 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of Norumbega discovered checks she had mailed through the U.S. Post Office had not arrived at their destination. Investigation revealed they had been taken and cashed by someone other than the recipient. This investigation is continuing. 

Non-Injury Hit & Run Traffic Collision
December 4 at 3:41 p.m., a motorist called police to report being hit by another driver who collided into the back of her vehicle at the intersection of Monterey and Parker. The driver fled the scene without stopping. Officers arrived and checked the area, but did not locate the suspect vehicle. The victim was not injured. This investigation is continuing. 

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
December 5 at 9:43 a.m., an officer stopped a motorist in the 1400 block of S. Myrtle for a driving violation. An investigation revealed the driver was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The driver was arrested. 

Injury Traffic Collision
December 5 at 11:12 a.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 700 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. Both drivers complained of pain so paramedics also responded to the scene. The driver who was found to be at fault was issued a citation. 

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
December 5 at 1:29 p.m., a caller reported two motorists collided into one another at the intersection of California and Walnut. The caller reported no one was injured. Officers arrived and facilitated an exchange of information only. 

Shots Fired
December 5 at 9:47 p.m., officers responded to a shooting that occurred in the 300 block of W. Duarte. No one was injured. Evidence of the shooting was recovered at the scene. Detectives arrived on scene and took over the investigation. The investigation is continuing. 

Attempt Murder
December 5 at 9:50 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of W. Huntington regarding a call of shots heard in the area. Moments later, dispatch received a call indicating two adult males had sustained gunshot wounds while driving in the 400 block of W. Huntington. They immediately drove home and called the police. Officers and paramedics responded and treated the victims. They were transported to a local hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. This investigation is continuing. 

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
December 6 at 8:03 p.m., an officer patrolling the 300 block of W. Duarte observed a bicycle riding without a front light in violation of the vehicle code. The officer stopped the rider, and an investigation revealed he was in possession of a controlled substance. The rider was arrested and issued a citation. 

Burglary
December 7 at 7:16 a.m., an employee of a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington arrived to work and noticed the front glass window was broken. Officers arrived and contacted the property owner. During the investigation, it was learned that the glass window was broken and the suspects removed the cash register. This investigation is continuing. 

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 7 at 11:26 p.m., an officer was patrolling the area around Station Square and saw a subject on a bicycle fail to stop at a red light traffic signal. The officer stopped the bicyclist. An investigation revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrant. 

Vehicle Burglary
On December 9 at 4:14 a.m., a possible vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of E. Pomona. The victim called police to report that the alarm was going off on his vehicle. Officers arrived and saw that someone had broken into the vehicle. This investigation is continuing. 

Vehicle Burglary
December 9 at 2:25 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 600 block of W. Huntington. During the investigation, the officer was able to obtain evidence possibly identifying the suspect. The next day, the officer drove to a residence in search of the vehicle used in the crime and located it in a rear parking lot of an apartment complex. The victim's property could be seen inside the vehicle. The officer had the vehicle towed to the police station, and after a search warrant was obtained, various items taken from the victim were recovered. This investigation is continuing. 

Medical Assist
December 9 at 12:45 p.m., a female subject called police dispatch to report a male subject that was down and not breathing. An officer responded and, upon arrival, administered two doses of Narcan and the subject recovered. Paramedics arrived and treated the subject at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital for further treatment.