Valentine’s Lunch at Bella Serra

Had Valentine’s Day lunch at Bella Serra, on the east side of Myrtle, just north of Lemon.  Got the Cioppino for $35 and a beer for $7. Very good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

For Vin, Everyone Is His Best Friend

One-year-old Vin is a happy-go-lucky lab/husky mix who has never met a person who is not his new BFF. 

Vin is sure to steal your heart with his silly nature and A+ personality. He is very cuddly and playful, and he seems to get along well with other similar-sized dogs. 

He recently spent the day out with the Pasadena Humane mobile team and had a wonderful time. He met dozens of people, played with every toy he could find, and got to practice all his training cues. He made fast friends with one of the other dogs- they even traded toys back and forth. 

Vin is an active dog, so he would be an ideal hiking or walking companion. He walks very nicely next to his person like the well-behaved boy he is!

Vin and all other animals over 6 months old can be adopted for only $14 from February 8 – 18, during Pasadena Humane’s Make Your Heart Happy-Adopt A Pet promotion! 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 an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Daily adoption appointments can be scheduled online. New adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Walk-in appointments are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00.  Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email. 

- Brad Haugaard

Free Monrovia Neighborhood Conference April 27

The 14th Annual Monrovia Neighborhood Conference on April 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offers free booths, lunch, and health screenings and workshops on leadership, community resources, and local history. At Second Baptist Church. Details and registration here. 

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Monrovia High Sophomore Class of 1918

Monrovia High School sophomore class of 1918. Interesting that the schools were apparently not segregated at that time. L to R front row: Marian Harvey, Leona Ames, Mildred Marshall, Grace Hoerger, Elizabeth Palmer, Ivy Anderson, Evalyn Grimes, Dorothy Dodd, Thelma Black, Emily Williams, Dorothy Cassill. Second row: -- Ball, Grace Collins, Hazel Robinson, Beulah McHugh, Helen Kent, Maybelle Hill, Eleanor Everest, Mary Schachter, Mollie Cass, Ruby Root, --, Lenore Talbot, -- McFadden, Lucille Laird, Lou Remington, --. Back row: Merritt Fleming, Ernst Maag, Alfred Cass, John Adams, Myron Hotchkiss, Warren Chadwick, Robert Bowman, Thomas Ross, Paul Dupar, Richard Howey, John Walters, Lee Crane, Clyde Sherwood, Raymond Herr. M.G. Boynton, Lora C. Rau (Teachers). From the Myron Hotchkiss 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

City Considering Two New 25 MPH Zones

At its next meeting (agenda here) the city's Traffic Safety Committee will consider installing 25 mph signs on S. Eighth Ave. between W. Duarte Road and El Norte Ave., and  on S. Alta Vista Ave.

- Brad Haugaard

Black History Celebrationj at Library Feb. 17

Black History Month celebration Feb. 17, at Library with a spotlight on African American arts. Storyteller Ina Buckner-Barnette and crafts in the Youth Services area. Contact: asimpson@ci.monrovia.ca.us or 256-8269.

- Brad Haugaard

Learn About the Planets at Library Feb. 15

Learn about the planets at the Space Exploration event on Feb. 15, 6-8 p.m. at the Library. Learning stations and telescope viewing with Sidewalk Astronomers and Monrovia High Astronomy Club if good weather. No reservation required. Contact: asimpson@ci.monrovia.ca.us or 256-8269.

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Consider New Principal Position

At its next meeting (agenda here) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

~ Creating a new administrative job, Alternative Education and Expanded Learning Principal. That person would oversee  Canyon Oaks High School and Mountain Park Independent Study. Details.  

~  Recognizing February as Black History Month, as Career and Technical Education Month, and designating Feb. 5-9 as National School Counseling Week. 

- Brad Haugaard

City Wins Excellence Award for Lucinda Garcia Park Improvements

Monrovia has been selected for the 2023 California Park and Recreation Society Award of Excellence for the Lucinda Garcia Park Improvement Project. The award recognizes outstanding achievements of agencies and individuals in the areas of design, park planning, marketing, communication, and community improvement and programming. Details in video.

- Brad Haugaard

City Wants Your Thoughts on Streetlights

 The city wants to know what you think of some new streetlights. At night, check out the streetlights along Almond from South Canyon to California; along California from Almond to Maple; and along East Maple from California to Shamrock. These are warm-white LED bulbs designed to mimic the amber glow of traditional streetlights. They also use 30 to 70 percent less electricity, are more reliable and last longer. Let the city know what you think here. 

- Brad Haugaard

New Playground Equipment Coming to Rotary Park

As shown here, the company, Landscape Structures, will add new equipment and playground surfacing to Rotary Park. It should be finished for summer.

- Brad Haugaard

State of the City Address Feb. 13

Residents are invited to the 2024 State of the City Address at LOOK Cinemas in Old Town on Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. City departments will host booths with activities and information, followed by the address at 6 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Talk On Tongva Tribe at Monrovia Historical Museum

The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group is hosting a talk about the local indigenous Tongva Indians on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 1:30 p.m. at the Monrovia Historical Museum. Deb Ogden, a retired educator from the Duarte Unified School District, will speak. Admission is free, and refreshments will be provided.

- Brad Haugaard

MTown House Party at Library Park March 10

There will be a House Party to celebrate the MTown Awards at the bandshell at Library Park on March 10 starting at 1 p.m. The event will feature music from Chris Loos, David Cardena, Big Mace 3000, DJ Rox Mix, and a special guest. The MTown Awards beginning at 3 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Romantic Valentine Carriage Rides Feb. 14

Valentine's Day Romantic Carriage Rides, Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 5-9:30 p.m. Tickets $40 for a 15-minute private ride. Four adults per carriage, up to six riders for families with young children. For more information or reservations, call 256-8246. If it rains, rides will be canceled, and you'll get a full refund. Sponsored by Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Porch Pirate; Thief Switches Debit Cards; Not Drunk, But He Had an Arrest Warrant; Robbers Steal Take-Out Food; Drunk Drivers; And More...

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 1 – 7. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 372 service events, resulting in 53 investigations. 

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
February 1 at 6:35 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of E. Olive reported an adult female subject trespassing. Officers arrived and located the female subject. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Theft
February 1 at 11:29 a.m., a caller reported that someone stole property from her front porch in the 300 block of W. Lime. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of Methamphetamine – Suspect Arrested
February 1 at 10:47 p.m., a store employee in the 600 block of W. Huntington reported a suspicious male adult in the store. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject. An investigation revealed the subject was in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Violation of Court Order
February 2 at 11:00 a.m., a caller in the 900 block of S. Shamrock reported a male subject who has a restraining order to not be at the location was in the building. The subject was gone prior to officers’ arrival. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
February 2 at 11:14 a.m., a victim in the 200 block of S. Myrtle reported that she dropped her debit card after using an ATM and an unknown subject handed her what she believed to be her card. She had been handed a card that did not belong to her. Later she received an alert stating that someone had withdrawn money from her account. This investigation is continuing.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
February 2 at 1:17 p.m., an employee from a business in the 1100 block of E. Huntington reported a female subject at the location was refusing to leave. Officers arrived and made contact with the female subject who had been previously arrested for trespassing. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
February 2 at 3:50 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington regarding two subjects who stole items from the store. Officers arrived and located the subjects who were in possession of the stolen property. They were arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Violence / Robbery
February 2 at 6:06 p.m., a caller in the 500 block of W. Duarte reported she was battered by her boyfriend. She reported that he took her cellphone, her jewelry and fled the area. Officers arrived and searched the area but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Resisting / Delaying – Suspect Arrested
February 2 at 8:46 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 1600 block of S. Mountain when he saw a bicyclist riding in violation of a vehicle code. Officers conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the subject. The subject became agitated and uncooperative. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Shots Fired / Homicide
February 3 at 1:30 a.m., several callers in the 100 block of E. Olive reported a fight and multiple gunshots. Officers arrived and located an adult male victim suffering from several gunshot wounds. MFD responded and transported the victim for medical care and he was pronounced deceased by hospital stuff. This investigation is being handled by the LA County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau and MPD Detective Bureau.

Non-injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the influence – Suspect Arrested

February 3 at 2:25 a.m., a caller reported seeing a motorist collide into a wall in the area of Evergreen and Shamrock. Sierra Madre Police Officers responded and contacted the driver, who was not injured. The driver displayed symptoms of being under the influence. A DUI investigation determined the driver was under the influence. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
February 3 at 3:02 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of N. Alta Vista reported she was involved in an argument with her adult son who was heavily intoxicated. He had threatened to burn the house down. Irwindale Police Officers responded and found the son outside the house in the front yard. He was arrested for being drunk and taken into custody.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
February 3 at 6:57 a.m., a caller in the area of Myrtle and Central reported a possible DUI driver in the area. Officers arrived and located the vehicle and driver nearby. The driver was not DUI, but a computer search revealed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Fraud
February 3 at 12:05 p.m., fraud was reported in the 800 block of W. Walnut. The victim stated that someone accessed her account and withdrew money. This investigation is continuing.

Robbery
February 3 at 1:06 p.m., a victim in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported he was walking out of a restaurant with food when two subjects approached him and demanded the food. The victim handed the order and the suspects fled. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 3 at 4:37 p.m., a caller in the area of California and Duarte reported a possible DUI in the area. The caller stated the driver was asleep at the wheel. Officers arrived and located the vehicle and the driver still inside. A DUI investigation revealed the driver was under the influence. He was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

Shoplifting
February 4 at 11:40 a.m., a male and female adult entered a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington and took merchandise without paying. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
February 5 at 8:34 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of Los Angeles reported a vehicle burglary. The victim reported gardening equipment and tools were stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
February 5 at 10:31 a.m., an employee from a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington reported an item stolen from the worksite. This investigation is continuing.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision
February 5 at 9:18 p.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported in the area of Ivy and Huntington. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
February 6 at 7:17 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 700 block of W. Huntington regarding a person loitering near the entrance of a business. Officers arrived and located the subject, a computer check revealed he had outstanding warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
February 6 at 9:02 a.m., an officer patrolling the 100 block of W. Duarte saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The officer conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver. A computer search revealed the driver had outstanding warrants for his arrest. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto
February 6 at 12:54 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 200 block of Melrose regarding a stolen vehicle. The victim reported that she parked her vehicle in front of her residence and it was later stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence / Violation of Court Order – Suspect Arrested
February 7 at 8:01 a.m., while patrolling the area of Duarte and Alamitas an officer saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The officer conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver who displayed symptoms of being intoxicated. A DUI investigation revealed the driver was under the influence. A computer search revealed the driver was restrained from the passenger. Both subjects were arrested for being in violation of the court order. The driver was transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

Mental Evaluation
February 7 at 3:38 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 800 block of S. Myrtle regarding a female juvenile subject who was involved in an argument with her mother and tried to harm herself. The officers determined she was a danger to herself and transported her to a medical facility for a mental evaluation.

Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested
February 7 at 10:11 p.m., officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle in the area of Huntington and Monterey. Officers arrived and located the suspect vehicle occupied by an adult male, adult female, and a child. Officers made contact with the vehicle and the occupants. The male and female subject were arrested and taken into custody.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence / Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
February 7 at 11:47 p.m., a resident in the area of Myrtle and Hillcrest called to report hearing a vehicle collision. Officers arrived and located an abandoned vehicle with fresh collision damage. A male and a female adults subjects nearby admitted to being in the vehicle. The male adult admitted to being the driver. A DUI investigation revealed he was under the influence. The male was arrested for DUI and the female subject was arrested for being drunk in public. They were both transported to the MPD jail and held for a sobering period.

City Council and Mayoral Candidates Forum

 Here are some comments that stood out to me in tonight's City Council and Mayoral Candidate Forum, and here is the full video of the forum.

City Council Candidates Forum

Three candidates for the two open City Council seats were present, Edward Belden, Sergio Jimenez (incumbent), and Jesus Rojas. A fourth candidate, Antoinet Mushet, did not attend.

Rojas said that as a police officer (for El Monte) his top concern is public safety. He said he wants to make sure the police and fire departments have the resources they need. He said the Monrovia Police Department is short on officers, that he would work to get the department its own armored vehicle (currently, he said, it shares with other jurisdictions), and would work to get more license plate reading cameras around town. El Monte, he said, has far more such cameras, and they have dramatically cut down the amount of time it takes to solve crimes. He said he'd like to work with the school district to increase police presence on school campuses and have officers patrol the Metro trains. Also, he said, he wants to make sure the fire department has the tools it needs to fight fires on the top floors on the new, higher buildings in town.

Jimenez said he wants to keep working to prevent the "New-York-ization" of Monrovia. He said it is hard to fight Sacramento's decrees, but at least it should be possible to prevent high levels of development in selected areas. Also, he would like to see more electric vehicle charging stations around town to help the environment.

Belden said he is familiar with finance, being a project manager for multi-million dollar projects and the treasurer of various non-profits. He would like to reduce carbon emissions in city buildings and vehicles. He said his top priority would be safety, but "you can't be safe without a home," so he would put affordable housing as his number one priority.

All three candidates said they support ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units, aka "granny flats") as a way to provide lower-cost housing, and they would also require developers of multi-unit housing projects to provide a percentage of low-income housing. They also all expressed concern about the short-term rental of single family homes (as through Airbnb) if they are used as party houses. Rojas suggested passing an ordinance regarding parties at rental houses, and perhaps fine the property owners for problems.

Mayoral Candidates Forum

Both incumbent Mayor Becky Shevlin and challenger, Council Member Larry Spicer, were present.

Spicer said he is running for mayor because the office needs "new thinking" and that he would push to get business into Station Square, while Shevlin said she believes she is the best qualified, with years of leadership experience.

Shevlin said her top priorities would be to preserve Canyon Park and the city's historic homes, helping to create more historic districts, which have some legal protection against Sacramento's overruling of local zoning ordinances. Spicer said his top priority would be affordable housing.

Both agreed on the importance of public safety, affordable housing, and addressing homelessness. When asked how they differed from each other, Shevlin said she only recalls their voting differently once, on a vote of No Confidence on District Attorney George Gascón. She didn't say which way they each voted.

Regarding Station Square, Shevlin said when there are more people circulating in the area that should make a restaurant viable. Spicer said that twice a year he would host young entrepreneurs at Station Square to see what they might propose. He would like to bring the Old Town feel to Station Square.

Regarding diveresity, Spicer said he would like more African Americans on city staff so it is a replica of the community. Shevlin said the city tries to be as diverse as possible, and always invites everyone.

Spicer suggested that a commercial building could be used to house the homeless. He added that one building owner he talked to was open to the possibility but was concerned about drugs and the cost of making repairs. Shevlin said her homelessness focus is on prevention - using education, preparing people for jobs, addressing mental health and substance abuse problems.

To promote community involvement Spicer basically suggested parties. If you make it fun, he said, and include food, people will show up. He added that for seniors he'd like to provide food for them each month from a different restaurant; that and provide more trips and activities.

Someone asked how the city could be more welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. Shevlin said all city programs are open to everybody. Spicer said the city should provide more programs surrounding Pride Month, and promote it as it does for others.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner from Altalia Pizzeria

Dinner from Altalia Pizzeria, in the little shopping center at the corner of Madison and Foothill. Got a medium Spinach White Pizza for the happy hour price of $18.86 and a half order of antipasto salad for $8.05. Plenty for two people and we had both pizza and salad left over. Very good pizza! By the way, this is strictly a takeout place; there’s no seating.

- Brad Haugaard 

Shooting Victim Identified as Ahmed Marwan Najjar, 27, of Glendora

The man who was shot to death in the parking lot behind the businesses at the northeast corner of Olive and Myrtle was Ahmed Marwan Najjar, 27, of Glendora, according to MyNewsLA.com. If you have any information about the shooting, call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or anonymously at Crime Stoppers (800-222-8477) or lacrimestoppers.org. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Utility Box Artists Needed

The City of Monrovia has five utility boxes that need painting - artistically. Artists can apply for the Art on the Box program, which will pay artists $700 to enhance utility boxes.

Requirements:

• Design must reflect My Monrovia theme.
• Design must be submitted on the template provided.
• Colors on the rendering should be representative of the final colors.
• Design must be original and cannot infringe upon any copyright or trademark.
• Design must be family friendly.

Box Locations:

• 1005 S. Myrtle Ave.
• 110 E. Olive Ave.
• 198 S. Primrose Ave.
• 111 W. Colorado Blvd.
• 100 W. Lemon Ave.

Submittal Requirements:

• Open to residents and non-residents of all ages.
• Email completed application to Kerri Zessau at kzessau@ci.monrovia.ca.us with the subject line reading "2024 Art on the Box Application."
• Artists may submit up to two designs.
• Incomplete applications or applications received after the due date will be disqualified.

Design Selection:

• The Art in Public Places Committee will review and select the designs.
• Artists will be notified on April 18, 2024 if their design was selected.
• Designs will be evaluated on originality, creativity, quality and relativity in reflecting this year’s theme.

To download the PDF Application Form, click here.  For questions, contact Kerri Zessau at 932-5564 or kzessau@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

- Brad Haugaard