Myrtle Avenue in the 1920s looking north at Lemon. The Candy Shop at left. Baxter Building at right. Photo by William Ward.. See full details here. From the William Ward collection. Identifying information from Kim Ward Anderson.
School Board to Honor People, Declare Days, Weeks and Month, and Condemn Violence
~ Consider adopting a board policy regarding English language learners, as recommended by the California School Boards Association.
~ Congratulate:
- MHS Teacher Nate Overby & MHS students Sara Avalos, Ethan Clark, Jor'Denay Collier, Joey Hansen, and Nathan Lujan on winning at theVirtual Fullerton College High School Theatre Festival.
- Director of Special Education, Jennifer Johnson, on being named the Association of California School Administrators "Special Education Administrator of the Year", for Region 15.
- MHS Assistant Principal, Felicia Limbrick, on being named the Association of California School Administrators, State and Region 15 "Co-Administrator of the Year."
~ Declare:
- May 4, as National Day of the Teacher, and May 3-7, as National Teacher Appreciation Week.
- May 16 through May 22 as Classified School Employee Week.
- May 10-14 as School Health Services Appreciation Week and May 12, as National School Nurse Day to honor school nurses and health clerks.
- The month of May 2021, as Mental Health Awareness Month.
~ Condemn:
"The Armenian Genocide, the Rohingya in Myanmar, Darfuris in Sudan, the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide, and the atrocities perpetrated by ISIL against religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria are part of a growing list in recent history that depict the atrocities committed by man."
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Planning to Withdraw From Local Board - Cites Bad Service
The decline of funds going to serve Monrovia residents.
Monrovia is hoping to withdraw from something called the Foothill Workforce Development Board (FWDB), which distributes federal money "for job skills assessment, basic education, job training, job placement, and community workforce development."
Except the Monrovia City Council says it has been doing very little of that for Monrovia, and has actually been doing less and less of it over the past four years. So now the council wants the city to join a similar program administered by LA County, where it believes it will get a better deal.
"The City of Monrovia believes our community, as well as those of Duarte and Arcadia, have been underserved by FWDB administration and operations, particularly in terms of job training for MAD residents and the equitable sharing of WIOA [federal] funds."
Arcadia and Duarte, by the way, are also thinking of pulling out of the Joint Powers Agreement, which is made up of Arcadia, Duarte, Monrovia, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena.
The city says that Monrovia, Arcadia, and Duarte (MAD) make up 39.2 percent of the population of the FWDB, but are only getting 26.5 percent of the money, while Pasadena, with 48.3 percent of the population, gets 66.3 percent of the money. Also, it says FWDB uses nearly 60% of its total budget for administrative expenditures and only 40% for its services. [Comment: 60% admin costs seems extremely high.]
For the city to withdraw and join the county's program involves a public comment period, which ends May 9. You may comment by email to PIO@ci.monrovia.ca.us.
If the county is cool with Monrovia joining, the switch will also need to be approved by Sacramento.
This motion to withdraw was approved by the City Council: https://is.gd/1vYlJK
This is the application to join LA County's program: https://is.gd/Q3vlEr
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Days Activities: Picnic in Library Park; Donate a Rock; Adventure at Home
Monrovia Days will be semi-in-person this year. There will be no annual parade or carnival, but here's what will happen:
~ On May 14 through May 16, people can grab a meal from a restaurant in Old Town and join the Picnic Pavilion Celebration at Library Park. Throughout the day, Monrovia students and Centre Stage will provide entertainment. Participants must sit at a table or in a designated park pod, and are encouraged to bring their own seating. There will also be free horse drawn carriage rides through Old Town and a free photo booth.
~ To celebrate Monrovia's 135th birthday residents can paint a rock and donate it as part of a permanent installation at Library Park. Paint a rock that is no more than 3 inches long. When dry, drop it off at the Monrovia Community Center (119 W. Palm Ave.). Rocks must be received no later than 4 p.m. on May 7. Before the Monrovia Days weekend they will be installed in the north-east portion of the park.
~ Monrovia Days Family Adventure at Home, a three-day challenge. Registered participants will receive special activity kits that includes arts and crafts, special games, challenges and activities. Upon completion of each challenge, participants will earn limited edition birthday badges. Registration is required and limited and is now open here: https://is.gd/lmCKbT (click on Special Event > Monrovia Days Family Adventure at Home)
- Brad Haugaard
Library Opening, Community Center and City Hall Opening; Canyon Park Hopefully Opening in Summer; Yard Sales Now Okay
~ The Library, Community Center and City Hall should be open in the coming weeks. On Monday, May 3, the Monrovia Public Library will open for limited, in-person services by appointment only, Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., and Thursday-Saturday, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Call, text, email, or drop by to make an appointment to use a computer or get personalized support from a librarian. Curbside service will still be available. Initially, browsing will be unavailable.
~ Feik said contractors will make emergency repairs in Canyon Park, reevaluate Canyon Park conditions, and hopefully open this summer.
~ Yard sales are now permitted, but you must obtain a permit. To obtain a permit, please submit a Yard Sale Permit Application (here: https://is.gd/JmQHMo). For questions, contact the Neighborhood & Business Services Division at 932-5582.
- Brad Haugaard
School District to Offer Grief Counseling, Why Variations in Back-To-School Experiences; Vaping Seminar; Free Tutoring; End-of-Year Celebration
The goal of bringing back to the classrooms as many students as possible while adhering to LA County Department of Public Health recommendations has resulted in variations across the district. Classrooms with very few students might not provide hoped for social interaction, so some cohorts have been combined. The variables involved include the number of students opting into the hybrid program and the size of the classroom.
There will be a webinar on the dangers of vaping available in English and Spanish at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27. Sign up here: https://is.gd/eqhdLP
There is free, virtual, after-school tutoring for students K-12. Contact your school site for details.
The district has begun to explore options for end-of-the-year celebrations, which will include in-person commencement ceremonies. "As of now, we are confident that in-person celebrations will be allowed, with the recommended health and safety measures in place." More information will be made available from school sites in the coming weeks.
For Superintendent Thorossian's full report, see here: https://is.gd/PDEHZn
- Brad Haugaard
Weekly Coronavirus Count: 11 More Cases, 1 More Death
Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m.,
04/21/2021. Changes since
04/14/2021.
City of Monrovia: 3,163 cases (up 11), 76 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 372 cases (up 2), no deaths
- Brad Haugaard
City of Monrovia: 3,163 cases (up 11), 76 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 372 cases (up 2), no deaths
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Tailgate Stolen; Customer Punches Fast-Food Worker; Car Hits Bicyclist; Catalytic Converters Stolen; Grand Theft of Plants; Etc.
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 380 service events, resulting in 80 investigations.
Theft
April 15 at 8:32 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of W. Lemon called to report the tailgate to his truck had been stolen sometime during the night. Officers responded and reviewed video surveillance footage. This investigation is continuing.
Battery – Suspect Arrested
April 16 at 2:12 a.m., an employee at a fast food restaurant in the 200 block of W. Huntington called police to report a battery incident. A male adult walked into the drive-thru and tried to order food. A female employee refused service and the suspect became upset. He then leaned into the drive-thru window and punched the female worker in the face. Officers arrived, but the suspect had fled the area. An search was conducted and the suspect was located a short distance away. He was taken into custody and positively identified by the victim. The suspect was arrested.
Residential Burglary
April 16 at 9:13 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Cherry called police to report a burglary. She returned home and discovered someone had broken into her residence while she was out. Officers checked the interior of the home and no one was found inside. This investigation is continuing.
Injury Traffic Collision
April 16 at 10:23 a.m., a caller reported a traffic collision at the intersection of Evergreen and Myrtle. Officers and paramedics arrived on scene and checked on the well-being of the occupants. Two subjects were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. This investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft
April 16 at 8:00 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 400 block of Pearl. The victim reported that his catalytic converter had been stolen sometime during the night. Officers arrived and checked the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.
Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 1:49 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Montana regarding a suspicious person in a residential backyard. Upon arrival, the subject was located and detained. The investigation revealed the subject had been kicked out of a local sober living home because he was under the influence of a controlled substance. Officers conducted an evaluation and determined he was, in fact, under the influence. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Injury Traffic Collision
April 17 at 7:58 a.m., a caller reported an injury traffic collision that just occurred in the 400 block of E. Duarte. Officers arrived and found the collision was between a vehicle and a bicyclist. The vehicle was traveling west and made a left turn into a parking lot, failing to yield to a bicyclist traveling east. The vehicle struck the bicyclist, ejecting him from the bike and causing visible injuries. The driver of the vehicle was cited.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 9:42 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Magnolia and Huntington when he stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation. When the officer contacted the driver, the driver exhibited signs of being under the influence of narcotics. The driver was given standard field sobriety tests and it was determined he had been driving under the influence. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Battery – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 11:20 p.m., a battery incident was reported at a residence in the 1200 block of Magnolia. The victim reported that his roommate had pushed him after they had gotten into an argument. Both parties had been drinking alcohol at the time of the argument. The victim desired prosecution and conducted a citizen’s arrest. The roommate was arrested and taken into custody.
Grand Theft
April 18 at 1:44 p.m., a resident in the 1300 block of S. Mayflower called police to report the catalytic converter was stolen off his vehicle sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.
Medical Assist
April 18 at 3:04 p.m., a subject in the 300 block of E. Lime called 9-1-1 to report his girlfriend had taken too much pain medication and was now unresponsive. Officers arrived and noticed she was experiencing signs and symptoms of an opiate overdose. Officers administered two doses of Narcan and the subject responded. Paramedics arrived on scene and took over care. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
April 18 at 10:22 p.m., a female subject at the intersection of Duarte and Tenth called police to report she was just involved in an altercation with her boyfriend. Officers contacted the victim, who reported that the suspect had smashed her face into the window of his vehicle. The suspect was located and arrested for domestic violence.
Grand Theft
April 20 at 12:08 a.m., an employee at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a suspect was taking plants from outside in the garden area. The suspect loaded the plants into a truck and fled the area before officers arrived. This investigation is continuing.
Medical Assist
April 20 at 1:21 a.m., officers responded to the 600 block of E. Olive regarding an unresponsive female subject who had overdosed on opiates. Officers arrived and administered two doses of Narcan, which revived the subject. Paramedics arrived, took over care of the subject, and she was transported to a hospital for further treatment.
Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
April 20 at 6:54 a.m., employees of a coffee shop in the 200 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject was trespassing on their private property and causing a disturbance. This same subject was previously warned to stay off the property. Officers arrived, contacted the subject, and he was arrested for trespassing and released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.
Vehicle Burglary
April 20 at 7:57 a.m., a customer of a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain returned to his vehicle after shopping and discovered someone had forced entry, taking all his tools. This investigation is continuing.
Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 20 at 9:22 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of W. Huntington regarding a suspect using a needle to administer a controlled substance. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who showed signs of being under the influence. Further investigation revealed he was also in possession of a controlled substance. The suspect was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Theft From a Vehicle
April 21 at 7:58 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Walnut walked outside his home and discovered his unlocked vehicle had been rummaged through sometime during the night. Personal items inside were stolen. This investigation is continuing.
Non-Injury Traffic Collision
April 21 at 10:45 a.m., a traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Foothill and Heliotrope. Officers responded and found no one was injured from the collision. The party found at fault was issued a citation.
Weapon Offense
April 21 at 3:16 p.m., a resident in the 2100 block of S. Peck called police to report a male subject that shot a BB gun at their house. A male subject, approximately 16 years old, rode by their house on a bicycle and shot several BB's at the house with a BB air gun. Officers searched the area for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. Three BB's were found next to the house. This investigation is continuing.
Shoplifting / Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
April 21 at 8:42 p.m., an employee at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain observed a subject stealing merchandise from the store. Officers arrived and contacted the suspect, who was in possession of stolen property. An investigation revealed the suspect had also been advised of a no-trespass authorization at that business. He was arrested for both shoplifting and trespassing. He was released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.
Virtual Walk to Waterfalls in Monrovia Canyon Park
Here's another virtual tour of the trail leading to the waterfall in the still-closed Monrovia Canyon Park.
- Brad Haugaard
Clifton Middle School's Heidi Reed Finalist in Winter Guard International
Clifton Middle School's Heidi Reed has made it to the finals of the Winter Guard International 2021 virtual season. Winter Guard International is an organization that produces regional championship events for color guard, percussion ensembles, and small marching bands.
- Brad Haugaard
Lunch at Cafe on Lemon
Lunch today at Cafe on Lemon, on the south side of Lemon (well, yeah) about a half block east of Myrtle. Got the Grilled Chicken Pesto sandwich for $11.95 and an iced tea for $2.95. I was going to be good and only eat half, but, well, it was so good I ate it all.
- Brad Haugaard
Video of Monrovia Fire Department's New Ladder Truck
- Brad Haugaard
60s Concert in Cloverleaf Canyon May 1
- Brad Haugaard
Squirt and Her Mom Looking For Forever Home
Squirt is ten years old and was surrendered to the shelter with her twelve-year old mom, Eve. Squirt and her mom are bonded and hoping to find a forever home together! Although Squirt is a little more reserved than her mom, in her foster home she’s actually started meowing for attention. While Eve head butts when she wants to be pet, Squirt will lay with her paw on your arm or your face if you’re not paying enough attention to her. Squirt is definitely coming out of her shell in foster care, and can’t wait for a forever home for her and her mom!
The adoption fee for cats is $100. 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 day at 5:00 p.m. for the following day.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
A Moment in Monrovia History: Ward's Photo Shop
Ward's Photo Shops. William Ward was the unofficial city photographer in the 1920s-1940s.. See full details here. From the William Ward collection. Identifying information from Kim Ward Anderson.
Monrovia Secondary Schools to Reopen Monday, April 19
The Reopening of Secondary Schools begins Monday, April 19 and we are so excited for the return of our secondary students for in-person instruction. Monrovia Unified is working hard to ensure a welcoming environment for our students, as their return to school will feel vastly different to years past.
Throughout the week, our secondary schools have provided communications to families regarding cohort assignments and have been conducting campus tours for sixth- and ninth-grade students, as well as students who are new to Monrovia Unified.
To prepare our students and families for their return, our school sites have also hosted seminar classes, with instructional videos and virtual assemblies.
Students will be asked to submit a daily health screening prior to arriving on campus and their temperature will be checked before entering campus. Within campuses, directional signs and floor markers have been placed to ensure social distancing and proper movement through hallways.
Arrival and dismissal procedures vary by school and those plans have been communicated to families. Should you have any questions, please contact your individual school site.
As we move forward with the reopening of our secondary schools, the health and safety of our entire school community remains our priority. We are hopeful that as Los Angeles County continues moving toward the minimal risk yellow tier, Monrovia Unified can begin exploring options for end-of-the-year, in-person student activities, and commencement ceremonies.
Though we do not have information on these events yet, we will share plans as soon as they become available.
Please continue to practice health and safety protocols, and we will see some of you on Monday for the Reopening of Secondary Schools!
Sincerely,
Dr. Katherine Thorossian
Superintendent
City Seeks Residents Thoughts on Environmental Justice
Here's an online survey: https://is.gd/cmS0rk
And a Zoom workshop on Environmental Justice on April 29, at 6 p.m. https://is.gd/xUrnIK
- Brad Haugaard
Small Businesses Can Sign Up to Get Free Personal Protective Equipment on April 27
Monrovia businesses (and other county businesses) with fewer than 100 employees can get a free 30-day supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees on April 27, from 11-4 at Santa Anita Park.
But businesses have to sign up in advance. Do that here: ppeunite.org/sign-up
PPE Unite is a joint public/private effort to give small businesses and organizations access to needed personal protective gear to keep their staff and employees safe. The program gives access to PPE, promotes PPE use, and provides additional resources for businesses.
- Brad Haugaard
City to Post 'No Parking - Residents Only' Signs Near Clamshell Trail
Ridgeside near Clamshell trail.
City Manager Dylan Feik reports that the city will add nine more signs in the Ridgeside/Oakglade area to persuade people not to park near the entry point of Lower Clamshell Trail. The signs will say, "No Parking - Residents Only."
If you want to know why people are being forbidden to park in a location that appears perfect for people to park without disturbing the neighbors, it is because it was a condition the city had to meet to get an easement to allow the trail to be opened. See here for details: https://is.gd/T5hUX2.
- Brad Haugaard
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