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Merry Historical Christmas, Monrovia!

 


Merry Christmas, Monrovia!

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” – Galatians 4:4-5

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Coronavirus Count: First Death in Unincorporated Monrovia

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 12/23/2020. Changes since 12/16/2020.

City of Monrovia: 1745 cases (up 232), 41 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 199 cases (up 25), 1 deaths up 1

Redell Pine: 2 cases (unchanged), no deaths
Caltrans Monrovia: 6 cases
Miracle Works: 5 cases


- Brad Haugaard

LA Sheriff's Department to Investigate Shooting Death on Duarte Road

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau will be investigating the shooting death of a man Wednesday night in the 400 block of West Duarte Road, according to a Monrovia Police Department press release. Monrovia Police urge anyone with information the shooting death to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323 890-5500 or the Monrovia Police Department Detective Bureau at 626 256-8041.

The press release adds that the victim of the shooting, which occurred at approximately 8:19 p.m., "was shot in the chest by unknown suspect(s). He was pronounced dead at the scene by Monrovia Fire Department."

CBS News, citing the LA Sheriff's Department, adds that the shooting occurred at Al’s Liquors, that the victim was inside the store and was shot in the upper torso. https://is.gd/PUYYDZ

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch from Jimmy John’s


Got lunch yesterday at Jimmy John’s, in the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center. Got the Beach Club (turkey, provolone and avocado) on wheat bread (also comes on French bread).  $12. Very nice!

- Brad Haugaard 

Man Shot and Killed on Duarte Road

A man was shot and killed Wednesday night about 8:20 p.m. in the 400 block of West Duarte Road, between Mayflower and Magnolia avenue, according to a report in the Star-News. https://is.gd/ve3G93

- Brad Haugaard

Snowball: Mellow and Easy-Going


 Even though the weather in Southern California is sunny, Snowball is the purr-fect cat for the winter season and beyond! This four-year-old kitty will probably win you over with her snow-white fur and striking green eyes, but she also has a great personality. Snowball is the kind of cat who enjoys attention, and will head-butt you to get more. She’s mellow and easy-going, and is looking for a home where she can settle in and really come out of her shell. Snowball can’t wait to bring her chill demeanor to your home all year long! 

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 and schedule a virtual adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday 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

Trader Joe's Recalling Lightly Salted Edamame

Monrovia-based Trader Joe’s is recalling its "Trader Joe’s Lightly Salted Edamame," sold locally, which "have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes." Affected products have these date codes: 22LA102 M, 22LA102 N, 22LA102 P, 22LA080 B. If you bought it, don't eat it. Discard it or return it to any Trader Joe’s for a refund.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Chamber of Commerce Discount Deal to Help Restaurants

- Brad Haugaard

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