$10,000 Reward in Murder of Terry Alford

Press release from the office of County Supervisor Catherine Barger:

Seeking justice for the Monrovia community, Supervisor Kathryn Barger introduced a motion at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting to offer a $10,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest of whomever is responsible for the murder of Terry Alford.

The reward comes nearly a year after the incident occurred on January 29, 2021, when 46-year-old Alford was shot multiple times in front of a residence in Monrovia while visiting his family. He was on the front porch when four male suspects snuck up behind him. Law enforcement investigators believe the shooting was gang related and intentional, but presume Alford was not the intended target.

“Terry Alford and his family deserve justice and answers,” Supervisor Barger said. “While the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Monrovia Police Department have been dedicated to solving this crime, we need the community’s help to reach a conclusion. My thoughts are with Terry’s wife, children, and siblings as they grapple with this senseless tragedy.”

The City of Monrovia is closely partnering with Los Angeles County in this effort.

“The Alford Family deserves justice for the tragic death of Terry,” City Manager Dylan Feik said. “Four suspects remain in our community, somewhere, and we ask for the community’s help in finding them.”

If anyone has information about this incident, they are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323)-890-5617 or the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or lacrimestoppers.org.

Source: Press release from Supervisor Barger: https://shrtm.nu/Wv24

- Brad Haugaard 

Mayor Tom Adams Will Not Run Again

Adams announces he will not run again.

Monrovia Mayor Tom Adams announced that he is retiring from public office at the end of his term in June.

Adams, who has served the city for more than 30 years, first on the Planning Commission, then City Council, and most recently as Mayor, made the announcement at the conclusion of this year's State of the City address. 

Adams said he feels he has achieved "every single goal" he set for himself when he was first elected mayor. "I feel I am leaving Monrovia in far better shape than I found it," and "if stay longer it would be just for my ego."

Adam's seat will be filled in this June's election.

Here is his announcement: https://youtu.be/Wv0GI9wjANg?t=3901

- Brad Haugaard

Nominations Open for 'Woman of the Year'

Assemblyman Chris Holden is accepting nominations for "Woman of the Year" for the 41st Assembly District. Details: https://a41.asmdc.org/woman-year-nominations

-Brad Haugaard

Chicken (the Cat) Has Gone Through a Lot; She Just Wants Love and Stability

Three-year-old Chicken was surrendered to the shelter due to anxiety after the other cat in the household passed away. Understandably, Chicken has been under some stress due to losing her cat friend and her family, so she needs a patient adopter who will let her go at her own pace. It would be helpful to provide her with a sanctuary space, such as a quiet room, while she gets used to her new environment. Chicken has been through a lot, and just wants the love and stability of a forever 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.

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

Monrovia High Student One of Just Nine Posse Scholars Across the Nation

Monrovia High School Senior Tamika Samuels will be attending Middlebury College in Vermont with the help of the Posse Scholarship, a full, 4-year scholarship for students traditionally overlooked in the college admissions process.  Middlebury chooses a handful of students each year for this honor.

Samuels is one of just one other Posse scholars from around the nation.

Celebrating with Samuels' family and friends on the zoom call was MHS School Counselor Noel Hernandez, one of many who helped on the journey to this achievement. 

"It was absolutely amazing to hear such great news.", said Hernandez. "This news made my week and I advised Tamika to keep that feeling alive in her heart for as long as possible."

From her time with the Black Student Union, Math and Science Academy, Varsity Tennis team and many other programs, she said they all helped her get to where she is now.

"MHS has helped prepare me for college," Samuels said. "I want to take the time to thank all the teachers I've had throughout high school and my counselor Ms. Hernandez and Ms. Putrika."

She has one piece of advice for those that might be holding off on applying: "I'd say, just go for it. You never know what the outcome would be but you'll feel at peace knowing that you did your best and prepared for it. So just do what you have to do, be your authentic self and believe in yourself."

Samuels will join the Middlebury's Math and Science Department and plans to focus her studies in biology. Her goal is to eventually attend medical school and become a pediatrician to help close the healthcare gap for communities in-need.

- Brad Haugaard

Getting Rid of Your Storm Debris

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that …

“City crews are working through the streets of Monrovia to pick up piles of debris. Residents with downed trees and limbs can stack them in the front yard near the street to be hauled off. Crews will continue picking up debris through the end of the week so please don’t worry if we haven’t come just yet…we’ll get there! In addition, the City is placing large roll-off dumpsters at 3 locations should you wish to dump green waste. The bins are already placed at the following locations –

• Community Center (119 W. Palm Avenue)
• Public Works Yard (600 Mountain Avenue)
• Recreation Park (2 bins at 620 S. Shamrock Avenue)”

Also, Edison still has a backlog but is working to restore power, and the city is helping those with significant damage to their homes.

- Brad Haugaard 

A Moment in Monrovia History: Monrovia Union High School

Monrovia Union High School. From the Steve Baker collection. 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

Artist Reception for New Exhibit at Community Center

- Brad Haugaard

Tree Falls Onto Property in North Monrovia

The wind did cause some serious damage in Monrovia. This house on Heather Heights in north Monrovia  had a tree fall on it. 

- Brad Haugaard 

City Provides Staging Area to Help SCE Restore Power

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that to assist Southern California Eduson in its work restoring power in Monrovia, the city has closed Central Avenue between California and Shamrock so SCE can stage more equipment, which will speed up its efforts to restore power.

- Brad Haugaard 

City Manager: Just Stack Windstorm Branches and Bags of Debris By the Curb

In case you are running out of green waste containers following Friday night's windstorm, City Manager Dylan Feik writes that you can "just  stack limbs and branches somewhere near the street so we can get to it. No need to schedule…there are downed limbs everywhere so we’ll stop wherever we see them!" Also, you can put other storm debris in trash bags and put it at the curb. Crews will pick those up as well when they come by.

- Brad Haugaard

'High Wind Warning' Cancelled, But 'Wind Advisory' In Effect Until 2 p.m. Sunday

The National Weather Service has cancelled its "high wind warning" but said a "wind advisory" is in effect for the San Gabriel Valley until 2 p.m. Sunday. "Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph. Strongest near the foothills." https://tny.im/a6uyR

- Brad Haugaard

City Services Busy Throughout Windy Night

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that Police, Fire and Public Works departments worked through the night responding to considerable damage caused by the winds. "Last night alone, the Police Department responded to 34 alarm calls, 26 calls for down live wires, some of which caused sparking in the streets or fires that are now extinguished, and 36 tree emergencies that ranged from downed trees, trees falling on cars, and even one that fell on a home that is deemed unsafe and uninhabitable."

- Brad Haugaard

Winds Hit Monrovia

A windstorm is hitting Monrovia now with flickering lights in homes, blown transformers, and a power outages reported on social media between Shamrock and Mountain, between Huntington and the 210 freeway, and near Hillcrest and Magnolia in north Monrovia. 

The National Weather service has issued a warning of winds from 15 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 60 mph, in the San Gabriel Valley through 3 p.m. Saturday. https://tny.im/xAsYl

Update: At 7:30 a.m. Saturday traffic lights are out along Huntington Drive in west Monrovia.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High to Get Intro to Engineering Course

At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/WTEAH) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider, among other things, adding "Honors Introduction to Engineering Design" as a new course for high school students. https://tny.im/WFjiw

- Brad Haugaard

Work Begun on Re-Plastering Ceiling of Historic Anderson House.

Work began today (Friday) on re-plastering the ceiling of Monrovia's historic Anderson House.

The Monrovia Historical Society, which preserves the house as a museum, held an auction late last year of vintage items that either did not relate to the Society's mission, or were surplus, to help raise funds for the renovation. The ceiling plaster, which had been falling in sheets, had forced the closure of the museum.

The work is being performed by Monrovia's Mountjoy Construction.

- Brad Haugaard

Valentine's Day Romantic Carriage Rides

- Brad Haugaard

Penalties for Using Too Much Water; General Plan Revision; City Wants Artists to Paint Utility Boxes

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

~ Monrovians whose water usage exceeds 90% of their usage for the same month in 2020 will be charged "a penalty of two times the cost of a water billing unit (748 gallons of water) for each unit in excess of what is permitted. For a typical residential unit, the standard penalty is $4.88 per unit in excess."

~ No, Feik writes, the rain wasn't enough to fill major reservoirs and end the drought.

~ The city is updating its general plan...

The goal of the Housing Element is to create 982 housing units for "extremely low income" to "moderate income" people. The city "is not responsible for the actual construction of these units. The City is, however, responsible for creating a regulatory environment in which the private market could build these units." https://tny.im/iM248

Goals of the Environmental Justice Element are to promote: healthy and affordable housing, public and recreational facilities, healthy food access, climate resiliency, civic and community engagement and services. https://tny.im/caMQy

The Safety Element is the city's plan to protect against fire, flooding, earthquakes, heatwaves, drought, pollution, and crime. https://tny.im/idK0f

~ Monrovia is looking for artists to paint four of its utility boxes. The theme for this year's Art on the Box program is Celebrating Diversity. Applications will be accepted through March 31. Each artist may submit up to two proposals. Details: cityofmonrovia.org/art.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Students Get Access to 24/7 Online Tutoring

Monrovia students now have access to a free 24/7 online tutoring service called Paper. "Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions to their essays, there will always be experts available online to assist students in over 200 subjects." Details: https://tny.im/7gEGU

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 812 New Cases, One New Death

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 01/19/2022. Changes since 01/12/2021.

City of Monrovia: 6,909 cases (up 812), 89 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 730 cases (up 76), 1 death (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard