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City Facilities Reopening; Free Gun Locks; City Commission Positions Open; Racism Meeting; Landlord Benefits

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

~ City facilities will reopen on Monday, May 10. Covid rules still apply. 

~ Monrovia Kiwanis Club has partnered with the Monrovia Police to provide free gun safety locks. For more information call the Monrovia Police at 256-8000.

~ More spots have been added for the free compost and mulch event at the Public Works Yard (600 S. Mountain) on Saturday, May 22, 8 a.m. to noon. For a reservation (required) contact Jamie Bumia at 932-5579 or  jbumia@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

~ Residents can apply for positions on the Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and Community Services Commission. Also, Old Town business owners may apply for positions on the Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board. Applications due by Monday, May 10.  Interviews in the weeks following. Terms begin on July 1. https://is.gd/ZAkbag

~ Monrovia ChangeMakers will host a Zoom meeting on Racism Against Asian Americans: Past & Present on Wednesday, May 19, at 6 p.m. Meeting ID: 868-5112 5241, passcode: 488265.

~ Monrovia landlords may benefit from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments' new Landlord Incentives Program, which provides rent checks each month to landlords who lease to tenants receiving rental assistance to leave homelessness. The program can also help mediate problems. Details: https://landlordincentives.org/

- Brad Haugaard

A Video History of the Monrovia Days Parade

A video slide show of the history of the Monrovia Days Parade over the past 100+ years. From the Monrovia Historical Society.

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: One More Case, One More Death

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 05/05/2021. Changes since 04/28/2021.

City of Monrovia: 3,165 cases (up 1), 77 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 373 cases (up 1), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: More Catalytic Converters Stolen; Man Hit With Phone; Traffic Accidents; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 29 – May 5. - Brad Haugaard]


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 355 service events, resulting in 70 investigations.

Vandalism
April 29 at 2:25 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of E. Almond called police to report that a neighbor just broke a window on his house with her fist. Officers arrived and located the female suspect. Paramedics also responded due to her hand bleeding. The suspect was found to be heavily intoxicated. This case will be forwarded to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for prosecution consideration.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 29 at 5:38 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Colorado and Canyon, which is a four-way stop. Both drivers believed they had the right of way. One of the drivers was complaining of pain, but had no visible injuries. Paramedics responded.

Grand Theft
May 1 at 9:06 a.m., an employee from a business in the 1700 block of S. Peck called police to report that two catalytic converters were taken from two company vehicles sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
May 1 at 7:22 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of W. Pomona. The victim reported that two subjects just stole her Kia Optima from the street in front of her apartment complex. Officers arrived and searched the area, as well as the parking structure, but were unable to locate the vehicle or the suspects. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
May 1 at 8:14 p.m., while officers were searching a parking structure in the 200 block of W. Pomona for a stolen vehicle, they located a subject loitering on the lower level. The investigation revealed he was not involved with the auto theft, but was in possession of drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance. He was arrested and released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Fraud
May 2 at 10:58 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of Stedman called police to report she was a victim of fraud. She received an email she thought was from Chase Bank. The email said there was an issue with her bank account and she needed to confirm her information. She clicked on the email and input her information. The next day she discovered several fraudulent transactions on her account. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
May 2 at 12:01 p.m., a resident in the 1700 block of S. Mayflower came to the Monrovia Police Department lobby and reported his girlfriend struck him in the face with her phone. An investigation was conducted and the female subject was contacted. The officer determined the primary aggressor was the girlfriend. She was arrested for domestic violence and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto
May 3 at 6:55 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of W. Pomona. The victim returned to his vehicle in the morning and discovered someone had stolen his work vehicle from the parking structure. He found the door handle on the ground where he had parked the vehicle the night before. The vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Child Neglect / Wanted Person
May 3 at 2:17 p.m., a caller dialed 911 from a hotel in the 900 block of S. Fifth, then hung up the phone. Employees of the hotel went to the guest room and discovered two children ages 5 and 6 left alone in the room, so they called the police. Officers arrived and discovered the renter of the room was wanted in another state. The children were transported to Monrovia Police Department and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) responded to take custody. The mother of the children arrived and, after being interviewed, DCFS allowed her to take custody of the children. The suspect was never located.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 4 at 1:26 p.m., two drivers collided into each other at the intersection of Myrtle and Maple. One of the drivers complained of pain to his left shoulder and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The driver found at fault was issued a citation at the scene.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 4 at 4:54 p.m., two drivers collided into each other at the intersection of Duarte and Mayflower. Officers arrived and found that one of the drivers complained of pain to his right arm. Paramedics arrived and treated the injured driver on scene.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Theft of Mail – Suspects Arrested
May 5 at 2:28 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 900 block of W. Huntington when he saw two subjects he recognized from previous encounters inside a vehicle. The subjects appeared intoxicated and further investigation revealed they were both under the influence of a controlled substance. They were also found to be in possession of stolen mail and drug paraphernalia. Both suspects were arrested.

Vehicle Burglary
May 5 at 12:15 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of Highland. The victim reported that a cell phone and wallet were stolen out of his vehicle, which was parked on the street. Officers responded and determined the vehicle had been locked, but one of the windows was left slightly rolled down. The suspect possibly reached into the vehicle, unlocked it, and then stole the items. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 5 at 8:09 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of Los Angeles regarding a vehicle being driven back and forth, and the driver was honking his horn. Upon arrival, officers determined the suspect was intoxicated. After an investigation was conducted, the suspect was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 5 at 8:12 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Foothill and Ivy regarding a possible intoxicated driver colliding into a parked vehicle. The officers located the suspect driving and initiated a traffic stop. Further investigation determined the driver was driving while intoxicated. He was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.

Monrovia's Xencor Reports Smaller Loss Than For Same Time Last Year

Monrovia corporation, Xencor, reported a net loss for the first quarter ended March 31 of $2.5 million, or $(0.04) per share, compared to a net loss of $8.1 million, or $(0.14) per share for the same period in 2020. Xencor is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cancer and autoimmune disease treatments.  Details: https://is.gd/OpTHZN

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Copper Still Grill

Dinner at Copper Still Grill, on the east side of Myrtle below Colorado. Got Grandma’s Meatloaf for $15 and a beer for $4.95. Very nice. Nicely spiced and cooked. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia High Game Designer to Attend Top Game Design School in Country

Monrovia High School senior Charlie Heatherly, who helped build the school’s game development team, Forge Interactive, will take his talents to the next level as he attends USC – home to the top-rated game design program in the country.

“It is overwhelming to me in the best possible way. I am excited and ready to learn,” Heatherly said. “This is the culmination of hundreds of hours of hard work that I have put in, as well as that of my entire games team. I want to thank my father, who taught me how to be a team leader, and my teacher Mr. Carlson, who guided me through the development of my first game during my junior year.”

Heatherly honed his game designing skills through Forge Interactive, Monrovia High’s student-led indie game development team. With team members that specialize in all aspects of the game design process – from art and animation to writing and testing – Forge Interactive’s goal is to graduate students who have team-building experience and are knowledgeable about the game industry.

“Charlie’s leadership skills are a big reason that Forge Interactive has been so successful,” Monrovia High CTE teacher Anthony Carlson said. “Forge is a practical approach to tech education that focuses on teamwork, helping students develop project management skills and holding daily meetings to move their project forward. We want students to graduate with an accurate idea of what it’s like to work in the industry, with experience and skills under their belt.”

Heatherly joined Forge Interactive as a junior, where he developed his first game, Gossip Inc., putting the lessons taught by his father, a game designer and media executive, to the test.

Heatherly became a game director at Forge, bringing a team together to design Forge’s first digital game, Red Dungeon. Heatherly also co-hosts the Socratic Cinema podcast and is a member of the Mathletes Club.

Monrovia High School senior and Forge Interactive team member Matthew Thoemmes will join Heatherly as a game design major at an elite university, attending UC Santa Cruz next year.

“Being invited to the Forge has been one of my best high school experiences,” Thoemmes said. “When I came to class I knew almost nothing at all about programming. I was slowly able to learn thanks to the guidance of the team, and I was accepted into UC Santa Cruz to study game design and programming. I am extremely excited to be attending UC Santa Cruz.”

To learn more about Monrovia High School’s Digital Studies Academy, which focuses on game design, software engineering and digital, video and graphic design, visit the school’s website.

“We are thrilled to see our game design students advance to programs that will allow them to expand on the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit that has made Monrovia Unified and Forge Interactive leaders in the field of video game development,” Monrovia Board President Maritza Travanti said. “Thank you to Anthony Carlson for developing this program and best of luck to Charlie and Matthew. We can’t wait to see what the future brings them.”

Source: Monrovia School District press release

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Named as Military Friendly


In recognition of its commitment to student veterans and their families, Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, has been named both a Military Friendly School and a Military Friendly Spouse School.

Home to more than 400 student veterans, Citrus College received the 2021‐2022 awards from VIQTORY, a service‐disabled and veteran‐owned small business that owns and operates the Military Friendly brand. Schools receiving these honors were evaluated from public data sources and survey responses.

Citrus has been named a Military Friendly School for 11 consecutive years. The Military Friendly Spouse School honor, the college’s second in a row, came as a result of efforts to create sustainable educational opportunities for military spouses.

One example of Citrus College’s commitment to veterans and their families is the Veterans Success Center, which connects veterans to a wide array of services, ranging from academic counseling and orientations to mental health support and vocational rehabilitation. Additional services include help navigating the various military tuition assistance programs.

For military spouses, the Veterans Success Center takes the time to work with them on their education benefits and other resources available to them. The Veterans Success Center also provides military and veteran spouses all the services provided to student veterans, including access to the VetSuccess on Campus counselor and other resources.

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard


Sweet Penny Has Lots of Affection to Give


Penny is five years old and has such a sweet personality. This dilute calico beauty is a little cautious when meeting new people, but just minutes after getting to know you, she’ll be reaching out to head bump your hand and ask for more pets! It really doesn’t take her long to come out of her shell. This sweetie has so much affection to give, it wouldn’t surprise us if she became a lap cat or a cuddle bug in her future home.

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.

Niew 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: The Palms Hotel on Myrtle

Palms Hotel at 167 S. Myrtle Ave. Photo by William Ward.. See full details here. From the William Ward collection. Identifying information from Kim Ward Anderson.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

First Presbyterian Church Preschool Reportedly Closing

Shannan Davis, who said she works at the First Presbyterian Church Preschool at the corner of Myrtle and Foothill, has reported on Facebook that the preschool will be closing, apparently at the end of this school year, according to discussion on the post.

- Brad Haugaard

Equity Committee Doesn't Find Unfairness in City Government; Budget Update; Asia/Pacific Heritage Month


At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/jAMBm6) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Receive a report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Equity and Inclusion that basically says Monrovia does not have any unjust or unfair policies, practices, and procedures. 

The staff report says: "The Committee's sole function was to review with the community to determine whether any policies, practices, and procedures of the City of Monrovia are unjust or unfair; create structural barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion in City governance, employment, or enforcement; or perpetuate systemic racism in City government and provide a report back to the City Council with any recommendations for change the Committee deems advisable for consideration."

The committee, formed after the killing of George Floyd, not only didn't report any such flaws, but was complimentary of city departments. It made 44 recommendations . The report is here: https://is.gd/BpgJho

~ Receive a mid-year budget update. Basically, property tax is fine. Sales tax is "better than originally expected." Hotel bed tax (TOT) has been "the most impacted," but city staff is hopeful it will improve as travel picks up. Plus, some small increases and decreases in expenditures. https://is.gd/M2igYq

~ Proclaim May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. https://is.gd/a683S9

- Brad Haugaard

Chick-fil-A Review Coming Up; Fake SWAT Team Was Just Acting for Film; EV Chargers in Old Town; Equity Committee to Report

Proposed Chick-fil-A at former Claim Jumper site.

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

~ On May 3 Chick-fil-A and Starbucks will begin the environmental public review and comment period for their proposal to construct and operate two new drive-thru restaurants at the southwest corner of Huntington and Encino Avenue (former Claim Jumper restaurant site).

~ The reason the city requires filming permits is because of incidents like this: A resident without a  permit filmed a fictitious SWAT team breaking into a house, complete with the sound of guns and the use of tear gas. Neighbors were - ahem - concerned. Even charitable and student films must obtain a permit so neighbors can be notified and concerns addressed.

~ Electric vehicle charging stations will soon be installed in Old Town and should be available by summer. The public ones will be at Public Parking Lot #4, in the 100 block of E. Lemon.

~ The ad hoc Committee on Equity & Inclusion will present its recommendations to the City Council at its Tuesday, May 4, meeting.  The five-member committee was formed to determine if any city policies, practices, or procedures are unjust or unfair.

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Coronavirus Count: Just 1 New Case, No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 04/28/2021. Changes since 04/21/2021.

City of Monrovia: 3,164 cases (up 1), 76 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 372 cases (unchanged), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Arbor Day in Library Park - April 30, 3-7 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Suspects Fire Shots at Gas Station, Arrested; Police Help Two Suicidal Men; Stolen Tailgate; Police Find Missing Person; Shoplifting; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 22-28. - Brad Haugaard]


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 311 service events, resulting in 56 investigations.

Grand Theft
April 22 at 9:24 p.m., a grand theft incident was reported in the 600 block of W. Huntington. While a construction worker was working at a business in the area, someone entered the tool boxes on his truck and took a large amount of tools within a twenty minute time frame. The investigation is continuing.

Weapons Offence – Suspect Arrested
April 23 at 12:21 p.m., an officer was providing traffic enforcement in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Before the officer was able to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle stopped and a passenger exited holding a handgun. The passenger fired five shots toward a local gas station in the City of Irwindale. The passenger then reentered the vehicle and began heading south. Additional units responded and initiated a traffic stop in the City of El Monte. The suspects were detained until Irwindale Police Department arrived to conduct an investigation.

Mental Evaluation – Mental Health Treatment Provided
April 23 at 1:54 p.m., a caller on S. Magnolia reported that her best friend’s husband was suicidal at his house. The caller informed dispatch the suicidal subject had a rifle within arms reach. Officers arrived and were able to communicate with the suicidal subject. They were able to deescalate the situation and talked the subject into coming out of the house with his hands up. He was safely cared for and transported to a local facility for mental health treatment.

Shoplifting
April 23 at 7:08 p.m., an employee of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain advised that a suspect had just stolen merchandise and fled in a vehicle. Officers searched the area for the suspect vehicle, but were unable to locate it. This investigation is continuing.

Theft
April 23 at 7:55 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of El Nido called police to report the tailgate had been stolen from his 2011 Chevrolet Silverado truck. He last saw his vehicle the day prior. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
April 23 at 9:19 p.m., an employee of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report a shoplifter. The suspect stole hand tools and fled the store on foot. Officers arrived and checked the area, but the suspect was not located. This investigation is continuing.

Missing Person Located
April 24 at 4:03 a.m., officers on patrol in the 200 block of W. Huntington saw a subject walking down the street who appeared disoriented. They contacted him, and further investigation revealed he had been reported missing out of Mentone California. A family member was contacted and was able to respond to pick up the subject.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 25 at 6:52 a.m., officers responded to a traffic collision in the 1800 block of S. Mayflower. A driver had been traveling north on Mayflower and made an unsafe turning movement, causing him to collide into a parked vehicle. It was determined that the driver was not under the influence of any substances. Both the driver and passenger were treated for minor injuries by paramedics.

Theft – Suspect Arrested
April 25 at 2:34 p.m., an employee of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain advised that a male suspect was concealing merchandise inside his clothing. The suspect fled the area after being confronted by loss prevention personnel. Officers located the suspect and detained him. An investigation was conducted and the suspect was arrested.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
April 26 at 10:03 p.m., officers responded to the 1000 block of E. Huntington regarding a loitering subject. The owner of the property authorized a no-trespass order against the subject and officers stood by while he left the location. The property owner called back at 2:13 a.m. and advised the subject was back. Officers responded again and arrested the suspect for trespassing.

Trespassing / Vandalism
April 27 at 12:04 a.m., officers responded to the 800 block of W. Olive regarding a trespassing violation. An investigation revealed the suspect was the reporting party’s ex-boyfriend and that he had vandalized her vehicle. Officers searched the area, but the suspect had left. This investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation – Mental Health Treatment Provided
April 27 at 7:14 a.m., a resident in the 1000 block of E. Huntington reported her neighbor was yelling and throwing items outside of the mobile home he was living in. Officers arrived and found the subject locked inside his mobile home, refusing to open the door. The subject saw the officers and pointed a knife to his neck, stating he was going to kill himself. After placing the knife down, he continued yelling and throwing items throughout the mobile home. Officers established communication, however, this did not immediately control the situation. A clinician from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health arrived, however, the subject would not communicate. Additional officers arrived, and once they distracted the subject, officers entered the home with a key provided by his family. They detained the subject without incident and he was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance for mental health treatment.

Shoplifting
April 27 at 11:32 a.m., an employee of a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male subject had just walked outside the store without paying for merchandise he had taken. Officers arrived and searched the area for the subject, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Fight in Progress
April 28 at 2:03 a.m., officers responded to the 500 block of Date regarding a fight in progress between two male subjects. Officers arrived and detained a subject they recognized from previous encounters. He had minor injuries that were treated by paramedics. He refused to cooperate and would not say who else was involved in the fight.

Vandalism
April 28 at 10:24 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Colorado walked outside his home and discovered his mailbox, along with several of his neighbors’ mailboxes, had been vandalized sometime during the night. It is unknown if any mail was taken from the boxes. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 28 at 2:30 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Huntington and Mountain. Officers responded and found one of the passengers was complaining of pain. Paramedics responded to offer treatment. The driver found to be most at fault was issued a citation.

Domestic Violence
April 28 at 4:59 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Walnut called police to report her ex-boyfriend had just slapped her and then broke her cellphone during an argument. When officers arrived, the suspect had already fled the area and could not be located. The victim did not sustain any injuries. An emergency restraining order was obtained and the case is being forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution.

Monrovia Through The Eyes of Artist Rob Sato

This poster by artist Rob Sato, which depicts Monrovia as seen through his eyes, can be seen on Metro buses and trains from now through end of May. Here's more: https://is.gd/1vWHAI

- Brad Haugaard

Preview Rotary Club Items for Auction

You can now preview the items Rotary Club of Monrovia will have on auction.  See the items here: https://trellis.org/monrovia-rotary There are currently 60 items to bid on and more are expected, so check back for updates. The fundraiser for the club's service projects will be held from May 1-16. Bidding starts 9 a.m. on May 1 and closes at 6 p.m. on May 16. You can also follow Rotary on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MonroviaRotary or Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/monroviarotaryclub.

- Brad Haugaard

Shabba Is Camera Ready, Smart, and Even Housebroken


They say smiles are contagious and Shabba couldn’t agree more. This five-year-old pup is full of big grins, bringing joy and laughter to those closest to him. Shabba is not only camera-ready, he’s super smart. He’ll happily show off his “sit” or “down” commands and his loose-leash walking skills. He’s even housebroken! Shabba is looking for a new home with an experienced owner and no small children. If you’re ready to bring some smiles to your life, adopt Shabba!

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. 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 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

Lunch at Mimi’s

Lunch today at Mimi’s, at Huntington and Mayflower. Got the Quiche Lorraine for $13.99 and a cup of coffee for $2.99. It was delicious and filling - took some home for dinner. 

- Brad Haugaard