- Brad Haugaard
Free Kelly Boyz Country Music in Park Tonight
Warehouse Condos at Magnolia and Chestnut
Ten warehouse or “flex” condos will replace the burned out automotive customization and repair shop at the southeast corner of Magnolia and Chestnut.
- Brad Haugaard
Tacos Ensenada Coming
A Tacos Ensenada restaurant is coming to the former Starbucks on the north side of Huntington Drive in Monrovia. This is a chain of restaurants. Others nearby are in Sierra Madre and Duarte. - Brad Haugaard
Informational Zoom Meeting for Parents Wanting to Continue At-Home Learning
- Brad Haugaard
Meet the Police - National Night Out; Monrovian Running in Olympics; Monrovia Strong Web Page; Hiring Library Associate
~ Get to know members of the Monrovia Police Department at National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Library Park. This is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police/community partnerships and camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer and more caring.
~ Monrovian Cravon Gillespie will be competing in the 4x100 meter relay next week.
~ The new Monrovia Strong web page has lots of resources to help get through challenging times. https://is.gd/TKCm3n
~ Monrovia is hiring a library associate. Details here: https://is.gd/qmLeln
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Council to Consider: Updated Chick-fil-A/Starbucks Plan, How to Honor Pamela Fitzpatrick
~ Consider approving the revised Chick-fil-A and Starbucks plan to develop the former Claim Jumper restaurant site on Huntington Drive after Chick-fil-A exceeded the requests by the City Council at its previous meeting. The company has agreed to save an old sycamore tree; to provide not just two parking spots dedicated to future electrical charging stations, but to provide two fully functional electric vehicle charging stations; and to incorporate alternative tree types in the landscaping. https://is.gd/tDNyNe
~ Discuss how to recognize recently deceased Pamela Fitzpatrick for her years of service to the Monrovia community. https://is.gd/FxpAtr
- Brad Haugaard
Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: Still Rising - Up 49 Cases; No More Deaths
Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m.,
07/28/2021. Changes since
07/21/2021.
City of Monrovia: 3,321 cases (up 49), 79 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 389 cases (up 9), no deaths
- Brad Haugaard
City of Monrovia: 3,321 cases (up 49), 79 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 389 cases (up 9), no deaths
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Two Weeks, Three Burglaries; Man Breaking Into Cars Given Ticket; Woman Bites Man; Shoplifter Ticketed; Woman Threatens to Send Nude Pictures of Man to His Friends, Family
Non-Injury Traffic Collision / Hit and Run
July 22 at 5:12 a.m., a driver near the intersection of California and Huntington reported she was side swiped by a vehicle while stopped at the intersection. The suspect vehicle fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival. This investigation is continuing.
Commercial Burglary
July 22 at 11:52 a.m., an employee from a business in the 1700 block of California reported that over the course of two weeks, three separate burglaries occurred. An investigation revealed the suspect/s accessed the location through an unlocked door. Various tools and a computer were taken. This investigation is continuing.
Mental Evaluation
July 22 at 1:19 p.m., the Facebook Law Enforcement Response Team contacted dispatch regarding suicide postings made by a female who lived in the 1800 block of Tenth. An investigation revealed her exact address and officers were able to contact her at her residence. The female had taken a large quantity of a prescription medication and made multiple suicidal statements. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment and to be evaluated by a mental health professional.
Non-Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 22 at 3:26 p.m., a caller reported a reckless driver in the area of Olive and Myrtle. Another caller reported the same vehicle hit a car in a parking lot in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Officers responded and were able to locate the vehicle and the driver. The driver exhibited signs and symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.
Vandalism
July 23 at 2:13 p.m., an employee of a hotel in the 700 block of W. Huntington called to report a vandalism. An occupant had vandalized a hotel room prior to checking out. This investigation is continuing.
Injury Traffic Collision
July 23 at 4:27 p.m., a caller reported an injury traffic collision at the intersection of Duarte and Mayflower. Officers and paramedics responded to the area and made contact with the parties. Three occupants reported minor injuries. An investigation was conducted and the driver at fault was issued a citation.
Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
July 23 at 8:36 p.m., a caller reported a minor traffic accident had just occurred near the intersection of Magnolia and Huntington. One of the parties continued driving finally pulling over at Ivy and Evergreen. Officers responded and determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol. He also had warrants. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department.
Mental Evaluation
July 24 at 12:51 a.m., a caller reported a subject on the Metro bus in the 700 block of W. Huntington was trying to physically harm the bus driver. Officers arrived and detained the subject in question. No one on the bus was injured. It was determined the subject was a danger to others and he was in need of being evaluated by a mental health professional. He was taken to a local facility for treatment.
Theft
July 24 at 3:03 p.m., a caller reported she was the victim of a theft while shopping at a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington. She stated that while she was shopping she received text messages of possible fraudulent activity on her credit cards. She checked her purse, which was in the shopping cart, and discovered her wallet was missing. She recalled a female approaching her inside the store and asking her about certain merchandise. This was enough time to distract the victim and allow another subject to remove the victim's wallet from her purse. This investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft
July 24 at 5:07 p.m., a caller reported she was standing outside of a business in the 400 block of W. Huntington when a white vehicle drove into the parking lot and stopped parallel to the victim. A female passenger used a ruse to distract the victim and remove a gold chain she was wearing. The victim realized what happened and told the suspect to give the chain back. The vehicle then drove away prior to officers arrival. This investigation is continuing.
Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 24 at 8:52 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding suspicious subjects concealing merchandise. A male subject selected merchandise from the hardware department and exited the store without paying for the items. The male subject was with a female subject who was contacted by officers at the scene. The female had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. Loss Prevention did not desire prosecution for the theft. The female was arrested per the authority of the warrant and was transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for booking.
Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 24 at 9:13 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle regarding a male subject harassing customers and refusing to leave. The male subject was contacted and an investigation revealed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested per the authority of the warrant and released out in the field with a citation to appear in court.
Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
July 25 at 6:49 p.m., a caller reported subjects entering vehicles in a secured parking lot in the 1600 block of S. Magnolia. The reporting party saw a male and female climb the fence and enter numerous vehicles on the lot. Officers responded to the area and located and detained two subjects. One of the subjects was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested and released with a citation.
Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 25 at 8:09 p.m., officers responded to a family disturbance between a male and a female at a residence in the 800 block of W. Colorado. The couple live at the location and have a child together. The female bit the male in the shoulder causing injury. She was arrested for domestic violence and taken to the Monrovia Police Department.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 25 at 11:22 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of W. Foothill regarding a driver possibly driving under the influence. Officers responded to the area, located and stopped the vehicle. An investigation revealed the driver was intoxicated. He was arrested taken into custody.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
July 26 at 12:42 a.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the 700 block of Monterey. They arrived and contacted one party outside the residence. It was determined he was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department Jail for a sobering period.
Vehicle Burglary
July 26 at 6:34 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 800 block of W. Duarte regarding a report of vehicle burglary. The victim said he parked his vehicle at the location on Saturday and discovered the front window had been smashed on Sunday. The interior was ransacked. This investigation is continuing
Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Resisting Officers
July 26 at 4:17 p.m., a caller reported a male Hispanic showering and exposing himself in an alley in the 200 block of W. Walnut. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject. The subject became uncooperative during the detention and officers restrained him when he tried to run away. The subject displayed signs and symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Paramedics responded and transported him to a local hospital for treatment.
Missing Person
July 26 at 5:26 p.m., Monrovia Police dispatch received a call from the 800 block of E. Palm and heard a male and a female yelling at each other. The female stated her son had wires around his neck and was attempting to harm himself. Officers arrived but the subject fled from the residence. Officers attempted to locate the subject, but were unable. The mother wanted to report him as a missing suicidal person. He was placed in the missing persons systems. This investigation is continuing.
Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
On July 26 at 10:20 p.m., an employee from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called to report a female adult had just taken clothing from the store without paying for it. Officers arrived and detained the female. The merchandise was recovered from the female and returned to the store. The female was arrested at the scene and released with a citation.
Shoplifting
July 27 at 8:07 a.m., an employee of a grocery store in the 600 block of W. Huntington reported a female subject had just left the store with food she did not pay for. Officers located the subject nearby, however, the store refused to prosecute her for the theft. She was advised she would be arrested for trespassing if she returned.
Grand Theft
July 27 at 10:15 a.m., the owner of a store in the 100 block of E. Walnut called to report the theft of a large shipment of products delivered by UPS and Amazon. Before taking the packages inside the building, she went inside to retrieve something. A few minutes later when she walked outside, all the packages were gone. This investigation is continuing.
Extortion
July 27 at 8:32 p.m., a young male adult in the 500 block of W. Walnut reported he was a victim of an online extortion scam. The victim reported he had met a female through an online dating app a day earlier. He stated they were texting nude pictures back and forth to one another, when suddenly the female started sending profile pictures of the victim's family and friends while saying she was going to post the nude pictures on the internet if he didn't pay money. This investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft
July 27 at 8:34 p.m., a caller reported the theft of his catalytic converter in the 700 block of S. California. It had been stolen from his parked vehicle overnight. This investigation is continuing.
Vehicle Tampering / Petty Theft
July 28 at 7:49 a.m., a resident in the 1100 block of S. Fifth walked outside his home and discovered someone had stolen his vehicle's license plates and windshield wipers. The car had lotion squirted on it as well. This investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft
July 28 at 2:32 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of N. Grand discovered someone had stolen his vehicle's catalytic converter. This investigation is continuing.
Dinner from Alitalia Pizza
Got dinner from Alitalia Pizza, at the northeast corner of Foothill and Madison. Take-out only and cash only. Got an extra large pizza for $14 plus $4 for two toppings (sausage and pepperoni) and an antipasto salad for $9. Nice!- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Water at 'Notification Level' for Perfluorooctanoic Acid
The Notification Level is "a health-based advisory level established by the Division of Drinking Water for chemicals in drinking water that lack maximum contaminant levels."
The report says:
Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid are readily absorbed but not readily eliminated from the human body. Health effects associated with long-term exposure include harmful effects to a developing fetus or infant; harmful effects to the immune system, thyroid and liver; and cancer. Perfluorooctanoic acid exposures resulted in increased liver weight and cancer in laboratory animals. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid exposures resulted in immune suppression and cancer in laboratory animals.
Source: https://is.gd/RXTjJN
-Brad Haugaard
Police DUI Checkpoint Friday Evening, August 6
Over the course of the past three years, there have been 292 DUI investigations with 27 of those resulting in collisions with injuries, harming our citizens and neighbors of Monrovia.
In California, this deadly crime led to countless deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver. Alcohol and drug-impaired deaths still make up the largest category of overall vehicle fatalities, with 29% of all deaths being caused by a drunk driver.
Monrovia Police Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun without a DUI:
- Always use a designated driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation.
- See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take their keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
- Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
- Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who are drinking and how they are getting home.
Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not! Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.
Funding for this checkpoint is provided to Monrovia Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Source: Monrovia Police press release
- Brad Haugaard
Foothill Transit Drops 270 Bus Stop at Primrose and Foothill
- Brad Haugaard
Craig Is a Total Sweetie Who Wants to be Your Guy
Eight-year-old Craig is a gentle and affectionate cat who’s looking for his special someone! Craig is a friendly kitty who frequently wants petting and attention from our volunteers. He would be a wonderful work-from-home, movie night, and lazy Sunday companion for a lucky adopter. Craig is a total sweetie who just wants to be your guy!
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 an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
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: Tailor Shop on Myrtle in 1907
Louis Umbach's tailor shop that was located on the east side of 600 block of S. Myrtle Ave. c. 1907. See full details here. From the Myron Hotchkiss collection.
Burlington Store to Open this Fall in Huntington Oaks Shopping Center
In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports:
~ A Burlington store (aka Burlington Coat Factory) is planning to open in the former Toys R' Us space in the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center this fall. Interior and exterior improvements are being now being made to the 40,411 square foot space, which is one of the largest spaces in the center.
~ Monrovia Fire & Rescue spent five days in Ashland, Oregon, to assist with the Bootleg Fire but have now been redeployed to the Dixie Fire in Plumas County, California. All costs associated with the deployments are fully reimbursed to the city.
~ The city has broken ground on EV charging stations in Old Town. Four Level 2 charging stations will be installed at the public parking lot along the 100 block of East Lemon. Construction is expected to last from Monday, July 26 through Tuesday, August 3.
~ Monrovia Community Garden, at 303 W. Colorado, is accepting applications to rent garden beds. Beds cost $60 per year and are open to Monrovia residents and families with children enrolled in MUSD. Download an application (https://is.gd/lQvcDp) and submit it by Sept. 10. Scholarships are available to those who qualify. The program will run from October 2021-October 2022. For more information contact the Garden Director at info@monroviacommunitygarden.org.
- Brad Haugaard
Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 34 More Cases, No More Deaths
Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m.,
07/21/2021. Changes since
07/13/2021.
City of Monrovia: 3,272 cases (up 34), 79 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 380 cases (up 3), no deaths
- Brad Haugaard
City of Monrovia: 3,272 cases (up 34), 79 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 380 cases (up 3), no deaths
- Brad Haugaard
Natural History Museum Entomologist Studies Insects Around the World - and in Bug-Rich Monrovia
In addition to studying insects in tropical regions, Brown has also been part of a project to study urban insects of Los Angeles. The BioSCAN project, he writes, "has uncovered surprising new knowledge about species living in local backyards," especially including Monrovia.
Brown said he has been studying insects since he was a child and stayed interested even into his teenage years, when so many abandon their interest in the topic - though he admits that he toyed with the idea of playing in a heavy metal band - but by college he was solidly back in the entomology camp.
Monrovia, he said, has a wide variety of insects, because it, and other foothills communities, are so near the mountains, where insects abound. Of the roughly 100 species of phorid flies (his specialty) found in the Los Angeles area, he said, about 90 occur in his own backyard in North Monrovia, including many that were new to science. His backyard is the most species-rich habitat that they have examined, and he even found a couple of varieties of flies that he's only seen in Florida and South and Central America previously. Before this project began, he said, scientists estimated there were about 3-4,000 species of insects in the LA area; but the study has raised the estimate to about 20,000.
The much higher estimate, he said, is because while bigger bugs have pretty much been accounted for, the flies he works with are in the itty-bitty range - 2 millimeters long and smaller. These smaller insects, he said, are "still a frontier everywhere." The world’s smallest fly was described by Brown several years ago and is only 0.4 mm long. He named it Megapropodiphora arnoldi after former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, based on its greatly enlarged forelegs.
Brown is a native of Toronto, Canada, did his undergraduate and masters work at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Under the tutelage of Steve Marshall he began studying the fly family Phoridae. In 1990, he obtained his doctorate at the University of Alberta in Canada, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution and University of Maryland. In 1993 he took up his current position in Los Angeles.
He said when he heard he got the job he called his wife, who was watching the Rodney King riots, so ..., he said, there were some mixed feelings about moving to the LA area.
But they did, initially renting in Burbank then buying a home in Monrovia in 1996. They like Monrovia's small town feeling.
Brown has also written two books, numerous scientific papers, and has conducted research in many parts of the world, but especially tropical rainforests. There, he studies phorid flies, especially parasitic species known as ant decapitating flies and bee killing flies. He is also interested in fossil phorid flies in amber, integrating them into phylogenetic knowledge based on morphology and molecular characters. Most recently, he led a National Science Foundation funded effort to completely inventory the Diptera (true fly) fauna of the mid-elevation tropical forest in Costa Rica.
You may see Brown and his wife walking their dogs in North Monrovia. If so, say hi.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: Blowing Through Red Lights; Stolen Vehicles; Fatal Crash; Etc.
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 342 service events, resulting in 47 investigations.
Grand Theft Auto / Recovery
July 15 at 6:56 a.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of S. Peck regarding the theft of a vehicle. After an initial investigation, the vehicle was entered into the DMV Stolen Vehicle System. Later in the day, an officer was dispatched to a call of a suspicious vehicle that appeared to be abandoned. The officer discovered the vehicle in question was the stolen vehicle from earlier. The vehicle was recovered. This investigation is continuing.
Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 17 at 8:45 a.m., a caller reported a male and female were arguing at a business in the 200 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and located the couple. After an extensive investigation it was determined the female was the primary aggressor. She was arrested and taken into custody.
Vehicle Burglary
July 17 at 10:07 a.m., a resident in the 1100 block of Sesmas called to report her vehicle was broken into. Officers responded and determined that personal property had been taken from the vehicle. The suspect(s) had gained entry by shattering two of the vehicle’s windows. This investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft Auto
July 17 at 11:37 a.m., a caller reported his vehicle was taken from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain while he was shopping. Officers responded and collected evidence at the scene. The vehicle was entered into the DMV Stolen Vehicle System. This investigation is continuing.
Fatal Traffic Collision
July 18 at 6:51 a.m., officers and fire personnel responded to the 500 block of N. Magnolia regarding a solo traffic collision. An investigation revealed the vehicle had been driving approximately 100 mph in a designated 25 mph zone. The vehicle struck a curb before overturning and catching fire. The driver did not survive the collision. No other persons were injured. The investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft Auto
July 18 at 8:55 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of Genoa walked outside her home and discovered her vehicle had been stolen. Officers searched the area, but could not locate her car. The vehicle was entered into the DMV Stolen Vehicle System. This investigation is continuing.
Non-Injury Traffic Collision / Hit and Run
July 18 at 11:26 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of N. Grand discovered someone had crashed into his vehicle sometime during the night, then fled the area. The vehicle had been parked on the street in front of the resident's home. This investigation is continuing.
Reckless Driving – Suspect Arrested
July 19 at 2:30 a.m., an officer was patrolling in the area of Monterey and Walnut when he observed a vehicle driving through stop signs at a high rate of speed. The officer tried to catch up to the vehicle as it continued to drive through red signals and stop signs. The officer conducted a traffic stop on Myrtle and Pomona. The driver was arrested for reckless driving and was taken to the Monrovia Police Department jail for booking.
Unlicensed Driver / False Information to a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
July 19 at 8:23 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 400 block of W. Foothill when he saw a motorist commit a vehicle code violation. He stopped the driver, who did not have any form of identification. An investigation revealed there was no license issued for the name provided by the driver. The officer arrested the subject in order to fingerprint and identify him. He was transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking. After fingerprinting, it was revealed the driver had given a false name. He was additionally charged with providing false information to a peace officer.
Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
July 19 at 2:49 p.m., a caller reported a male subject spray painting graffiti on the loading dock walls and doors of a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Officers responded and made contact with a subject in the area matching the description given. Witnesses positively identified him as the suspect. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Shoplifting
July 19 at 3:01 p.m., employees of a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male subject had just fled the store with merchandise he did not pay for. Officers searched the area for the suspect, but could not locate him. Officers located the stolen merchandise in the parking lot and returned it to the store. This investigation is continuing.
Shoplifting / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 20 at 2:07 p.m., an employee of a gas station in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle reported a male subject had just stolen alcohol from their store. Officers searched the area for the suspect and located him drinking the alcohol at Station Square Park, less than a block away from the store. The suspect was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Dinner at The Monrovian
Dinner at The Monrovian, at the northeast corner of Myrtle and Colorado. Got the Avocado Toast for $10.50, the Simple Salad for $4, and a beer for $7.50. Lots of avocado and the salad was indeed “simple,” but also generous. Really good!- Brad Haugaard
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