News: brad.haugaard@gmail.com   •  Restaurants   •  Library Catalog   •  Library Activities  •  History   •  Facebook / X/Twitter / RSS

Monrovia Quarterback Noah Rodriguez named Offensive Player of the Year

Monrovia High School quarterback Noah Rodriguez has been named Offensive Player of the Year by the sports writers for the Pasadena Star News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Whittier Daily News. The writers also selected Monrovia players Carlos Hernandez, Robert Bush and Jacob Calnon for their ideal All-Area Team. https://tny.im/YNEn2

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Covered Fountain at Library Park

Postcard of the fountain at the entrance to Library Park. See full details here.

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

School District and Chamber of Commerce Donate Food to Unity Center

School District.

The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce and Monrovia Unified donated food - for people and critters - to the Foothill Unity Center today.


Chamber of Commerce (Photo by Kevin Sullivan.)

- Brad Haugaard

Clifton Students Put On Concert, Perform Elf and A Christmas Carol

Clifton Middle School students put together a Winter Concert in their school auditorium and the Drama Class performed Elf and a condensed version of A Christmas Carol. 

- Brad Haugaard

Scout Camp Above Canyon Park Also Damaged By Storm

Camp Trask, the Boy Scout Camp above Canyon Park, was also hard hit by the storm. Posting on the Trask Scoout Reservation Facebook page, Ranger Anthony wrote that despite the scouts’ “Be Prepared” motto, “all the preparation that was made could not have prepared us.” Supporters have offered to come help make repairs but Anthony said the road through Canyon Park is not usable and a lot of the repair work will need to wait until the first of the year.

- Brad Haugaard 

Canyon Park Damage: Rocks as Big as Minivans, Mud and Debris Everywhere

The road to the ranger station. I got this picture second hand, so I don't know the photographer.

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports that, "on Thursday afternoon, I was able to join staff for a tour of Canyon Park to observe damage from Tuesday's rain storm. It is quite incredible to see the power of water and how it impacted our beloved park. There is mud and debris everywhere. Sections of roadway are gone and culverts are filled in. The stream has cut new paths throughout the park and in some areas, 6-12 feet of earth has been eroded away. There are rocks of all sizes, some as large as minivans, scattered throughout the park. We are already preparing our work to: clear out debris; remove silt, sediment and rock from the park, and; begin to repair the damaged infrastructure. Our work will take a long time so we should all expect the park to be closed indefinitely for a period of time."

- Brad Haugaard

Christmas Tree Recycling

- Brad Haugaard

Winners of Holiday Home and Business Decorating Contest


Here are the winners of the Holiday Home and Business Decorating Contest:

Home Winners

  • Best Still Display: 752 Valley View Avenue
  • Best Outdoor Display: 612 W. Palm Avenue
  • Most Effective use of Lighting: 214 S. Alta Vista Avenue
  • Best Neighborhood Effort: 517 Valmont Place & Valmont Drive
  • Santa's Workshop Award: 1128 Carmelita Circle
  • Holiday Spirit Award: 826 Ocean View Avenue
  • Judge's Award: 300 Block of North Alta Vista Avenue
  • Children's Choice Award: 221 Grand Avenue
Business Contest Winners
  • Most Creative Display: Mark Houston Associates, Inc. - 517 S. Myrtle Avenue
  • Best Holiday Spirit: Monrovia Floral - 119 E. Olive Avenue
  • Judge's Award: Dream Décor - 505 S. Myrtle Avenue
  • Most Spectacular Display: Civiltec Engineering - 118 W. Lime Avenue
Map here: https://tny.im/Bq8G


- Brad Haugaard

Tik Tok Friday School Threats Not Credible, Extra Police Anyway

From Superintendent Ryan Smith:

“The Monrovia Unified School District has become aware of troubling posts that have been shared widely this week on the social media platform TikTok. The posts refer to a threat to school safety on Friday, December 17.

“The posts are part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our schools or district and are not specific to Monrovia Unified. We have heard reports from other districts that the same posts are circulating in their communities. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority.

“Additionally, the district has been in contact with the Monrovia Police Department (MPD) regarding this matter. MPD will have an increased presence around our campuses throughout the school day on Friday as an added precaution.”


- Brad Haugaard 

Santa At The Aztec Hotel

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council to Consider Getting Rid of Elected Mayor Position

At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/U3hN) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider the wording of a proposed ballot measure that would make the office of mayor a yearly rotating position among the council members. The proposed wording of the ballot measure, which would be voted on at the regular municipal election in 2022, would cause the office of mayor to revert to being a standard city council seat after the expiration of the mayor's term in 2024. https://tny.im/xgxZE

~ Receive and file the 2020-2021 Independent Financial Audit of the Low and Moderate Income Housing Asset Fund and the 2020-2021 Housing Successor Annual Report. https://tny.im/EfIhP

- Brad Haugaard


Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 15 More Cases, Zero More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 12/15/2021. Changes since 12/8/2021.

City of Monrovia: 4,226 cases (up 15), 87 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 470 cases (up 2), 1 death (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Post Office Gets a New Postmaster


Monrovia's post office is welcoming its new Postmaster, Wayne Truong.

Truong started his postal career in April 1998 as a PTF (part-time, flexible) mail carrier in the city of Glendale. On Dec. 20, 2014 he was promoted to supervisor in the City of Burbank. He then was promoted to be postmaster of a Level 21 Post Office in Tujunga in 2019, and then given an opportunity to be the officer in charge of the Monrovia Post Office. This is an upper level position as the Monrovia Post Office is a Level 22 office. His goal is to continue moving up within the Post Office and manage a Level 24 Post Office. He says his passion and love for the job keep him going and he is always looking for ways to support his employees' growth within the Post Office.

"It's an honor and privilege to be a postmaster," he said. "I plan to create a positive work environment for all my employees and provide a reliable customer service to the Monrovia community "

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Sena

Dinner at Sena, on the west side of Myrtle just south of Lime. It was 52 degrees and we sat outside, but the heater kept us nice and warm. Got the Short Rib Tacos for $12.50 and a beer for $5. Yummy! Very good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

High Water Mark at Sawpit Dam

This picture shows the high water line at Sawpit dam caused by Tuesday’s storm. I spoke with a ranger who said a lot of their cars are trapped in Canyon Park because the mud is covering the road out. He also said that a log was washed into a fire hydrant and broke it open. A lot of work to do. However, there appears to be no damage whatsoever to the nearby residential streets that were threatened. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Marigold is a Cuddle Cat


Two-year-old Marigold is affectionate, gentle, and loves to be petted. She’ll rub against your legs and hands when she wants attention, and loves to be held. She even allows belly rubs! She’ll follow you from room to room to be near you, or cuddle up next to you while you watch a movie. Marigold would be a wonderful companion for someone who wants a little shadow in their life!

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

No Mud Problems for North Monrovia Residences, But Damage to Monrovia Canyon Park

The city reports:

"Thus far, the neighborhoods of Ridgeside Drive and Oakglade Drive have not experienced significant debris or mudflow onto the streets. Throughout the rain event, the Oakglade Debris Basin, a drainage structure, has captured the debris and mudflow. At this time, these neighborhoods remain under an Evacuation Warning."

However ...

"The City of Monrovia has issued a Proclamation of Existence of Local Emergency in response to the rainstorm on December 13 and December 14, 2021, and is activating a virtual Emergency Operation Center. There has been significant movement of mud and debris, along with rocks and boulders, in Monrovia Canyon Park. There is a substantial amount of debris and mudflow within Monrovia Canyon Park causing damage to facilities, roads, parking areas, utility systems and trails. 

"Additionally, staff has identified a broken water main in Monrovia Canyon Park caused by the debris flow. The water system in Monrovia Canyon Park, including the running water in bathrooms and drinking fountains, has been compromised. Monrovia Canyon Park has been closed to the public since Thursday, December 9, and will remain closed indefinitely. Although Monrovia Canyon Park is closed, signs for “Do Not Drink the Water” will be placed within the park until the water main can be repaired."

Details here.

- Brad Haugaard

New School Board President and New Deputy Superintendent


School District Superintendent Dr. Ryan Smith reports that:

The school board has selected Selene Lockerbie as its new president, replacing Maritza Travanti, who served as president for 2021. Also, Traci Gholar was elected as vice president, and Jennifer Anderson as clerk.

The board also welcomed new Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Greg Francois, from the Paramount Unified School District, where he has served for the last fifteen years in various leadership roles including interim assistant superintendent and director.

Superintendent Smith is also from the Paramount school district. 

- Brad Haugaard 

No Sign of Mudflows Yet

As of about 9:15 this morning there is no sign of mudflow on the streets below the Bobcat burn area in north Monrovia. Both Oakdale and Ridgeside are clear. Also, residents appear ready, with mud guard plywood barriers blocking driveways between k-rail.

- Brad Haugaard 

Evacuation Warning for Ridgeside and Oakglade Due to Possible Mudflow

Monrovia has issued an evacuation warning for residents living in the areas of Ridgeside Drive and Oakglade Drive. An Evacuation Warning means that there is potential threat to life and/or property, and those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave now.

The city is providing extra patrols and Public Works is prepared with tractors and dump trucks and the county has cleaned out a lot of the mud in the Sawpit catch dam.

Details here

- Brad Haugaard