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Earthquake Workshop Gets Seismic Response - Will Also Be Online


The number of people wanting to attend the earthquake workshop on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. has far exceeded expectations, so KGEM will work with the Historic Preservation Group and Fire Department to stream the workshop both live and for later viewing on YouTube, here.

- Brad Haugaard

Police Sponsor Blood Drive Sept. 12 at Community Center


Monrovia Police Department will host a blood drive Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Community Center (119 W. Palm), 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free t-shirt for donors. Register here. Use sponsorship code "bob23" in the search field.

- Brad Haugaard

Pizza for Parks Foundation


The Parks, Wilderness, and Recreation Foundation has arranged with Blaze Pizza to donate 20% of its proceeds on Thursday, Sept. 12, 5 to 8 p.m. to MPWRF programs and scholarships.

- Brad Haugaard

Drop-In Pickle Tuesdays an Saturdays


Indoor Pickleball Open Play at Mary Wilcox Youth Center (843 E. Olive Avenue). Tuesdays 7 to 9 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon. $2 fee per person (cash only). Waiver required. Ages 16 and under need adult supervision. Bring own equipment; limited supplies available. For information contact Community Center: 256-8228.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Today Magazine Now Online


The Fall Monrovia Today magazine is now online, with activities including Old Town Festival, Grateful and Thankful Event, and classes. Paper version coming soon. View online edition.

- Brad Haugaard

Get a Block Party in a Trailer


Monrovia Area Partnership is offering a Block Party trailer to Monrovians, containing various items to facilitate community events. The trailer includes cocktail tables, 6-foot tables, folding chairs, and picnic tables, as well as umbrellas, ice chests, and trash cans for convenience. Safety items such as a fire extinguisher and first aid kit are provided. For entertainment, the trailer comes with lawn games, sports equipment, and other amenities. The trailer is designed as a convenient way to host neighborhood gatherings. No personal use, business use, fundraisers, religious events, sporting events, political stuff, etc. Details here.

- Brad Haugaard

Council to Discuss Budget, Inclusionary Housing


At its next meeting (agenda here) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider proclaiming September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month  and  September 8-14 as  National Suicide Prevention Week.

~ The Council will also hold a study session to get an update on its 2024-25 budget, and to discuss "inclusionary housing," a type of program designed to provide housing for lower income families, often by requiring developers to set aside a percentage of a development's housing units for lower-income residents. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Man Sentenced to 60 Years in 2020 Killing

 A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to 60 years to life in prison for the killing of 27-year-old Antonio Zaza at Al’s Liquor store on Duarte Road in late 2020. (The linked-to article incorrectly says 2023.) Deon Armstrong shot Zaza, a stranger, on December 20. Trayvon Dixon, 24, acted as Armstrong’s lookout and was sentenced to 22 years. Tribune article and MonroviaNow article.

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Three Car Collision; Drunk With Loaded Rifle; Stolen License Plates; Etc.


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

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 422 service events, resulting in 87 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto
August 22 at 8:42 a.m., a caller in the 100 block of Montana reported his vehicle stolen. An investigation revealed the caller left his vehicle running while he went inside his house, when he returned his vehicle was gone. This investigation is continuing. 

Vehicle Burglary
August 22 at 10:13 a.m., an officer responded to a complex in the 800 block of S. Myrtle regarding a vehicle burglary. An investigation revealed the suspect took property from the victim’s vehicle and fled. This investigation is continuing. 

Battery – Suspect Arrested
August 22 at 12:58 p.m., a caller in a parking lot in the 700 block of W. Huntington reported two subjects fighting. Officers arrived and located the two subjects’ involved. The victim sustained minor injuries to his face. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. 

Injury Traffic Collision
August 22 at 6:41 p.m., officers responded to the area of Magnolia and Huntington regarding a traffic collision. When officers arrived they contacted the involved parties and one party was transported to a hospital for treatment. 

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
August 22 at 7:59 p.m. a resident in the 800 block of W. Foothill reported that her ex- husband was outside her residence and was refusing to leave. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject. A computer search revealed he had multiple warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
August 22 at 11:55 p.m., an officer patrolling the 700 block of W. Huntington when he saw a vehicle, occupied by two subjects, loitering in the parking lot of businesses which were closed for business. The officer discovered one of the subjects was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Monrovia PD jail for booking. 

Injury Traffic Collision
August 23 at 7:20 a.m., officers responded to the area of Primrose and Foothill regarding an injury traffic collision involving three vehicles. One of the parties involved complained of pain and were transported to a hospital for treatment. 

Mental Evaluation
August 23 at 10:25 a.m., officers responded to the area of Foothill and Madison regarding a male subject that fell and was bleeding from the head. Officers arrived and located the male subject, who was heavily intoxicated. Officers have contacted him numerous times in the past for falling down and sustaining injuries due to being heavily intoxicated. He was placed on a mental evaluation for being gravely disabled due to substance abuse and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. 

Lost / Stolen Plate
August 23 at 1:24 p.m., a caller in the 2600 block of S. Myrtle reported his license plate stolen. This investigation is continuing. 

Vehicle Burglary
August 23 at 4:41 p.m., a victim in the 400 block of W. Huntington reported a window to her vehicle was smashed and her purse was stolen while she was inside of a store. This investigation is continuing. 

Drug Activity / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
August 23 at 10:28 p.m., a caller in the area of Myrtle and Walnut reported a subject slumped over in his vehicle. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject and determined he was in possession of drug paraphernalia. A records search revealed he had warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Driving Under the Influence / Weapons Offense – Suspect Arrested
August 23 at 10:29 p.m., an officer in the area of Peck and Live Oak conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle. The officer made contact with the driver who displayed symptoms of being intoxicated. A computer search revealed the driver was on probation for DUI. An investigation revealed he was intoxicated, in violation of his probation, a loaded rifle was found in his vehicle. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 24 at 12:20 a.m., while patrolling the 600 block of W. Huntington the officer saw a vehicle driving the wrong way. The officer conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the subject who displayed objective symptoms of intoxication. A DUI investigation revealed the driver was under the influence. The driver was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period. 

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
August 24 at 1:05 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Pomona called to report a subject trespassing on her property. She was arrested and taken into custody. 

Injury Traffic Collision
August 24 at 1:34 p.m., a caller in the area of Huntington and Primrose reported a traffic collision. Officers arrived and made contact with the parties involved. One occupant complained of pain. The driver at fault was issued a citation. 

Injury Traffic Collision
August 24 at 3:38 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the area of Fifth and Duarte. Officers and Paramedics arrived and made contact with the parties involved. One driver suffered injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
August 24 at 5:34 p.m., an officer patrolling the 200 block of Los Angeles located a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was recovered and the registered owner was notified. This investigation is continuing. 

Weapon Offense – Suspect Arrested
August 24 at 7:22 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of W. Foothill regarding subjects consuming alcohol in public. Officers arrived and made contact with the subjects. A computer search revealed one subject had a warrant for his arrest. An investigation revealed that subject was in possession of a fixed-blade knife. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

False Imprisonment – Suspect Arrested
August 25 at 3:12 p.m., a victim in the 1000 block of E. Huntington reported that she was involved in an argument with her boyfriend and he was not letting her leave. Officers arrived and attempted to make contact with the victim and her boyfriend, however, he refused to contact officers and would not allow the victim to contact the officers. Officers had to force entry into the home. The boyfriend was arrested and taken into custody. 

Grand Theft
August 25 at 3:43 p.m., an employee from a business in the 900 block of W. Foothill called to report that a subject entered the store and stole merchandise. This investigation is continuing. 

Shoplifting
August 26 at 11:02 a.m., a loss prevention officer for a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington called to make a shoplifting report. This investigation is continuing. 

Vandalism
August 27 at 4:55 p.m., a victim driving in the area of Colorado and Madison reported a male subject cut her off, stopped in front of her, got out of his vehicle, yelled at her, broke her side view mirror, and left the area. This investigation is continuing. 

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
August 27 at 7:56 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a male subject who stole merchandise and fled the store. Officers arrived and located the subject nearby. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Drug Offense / Warrant Arrest – Suspects Arrested
August 28 at 2:47 a.m., an officer patrolling the area of Huntington and Encino saw a vehicle in violation of a vehicle code. The officer conducted a traffic stop and contacted the three vehicle occupants. A computer search revealed the driver and a female occupants had warrants for their arrest. An investigation revealed the driver was in possession of drug paraphernalia. They were arrested and taken into custody. 

Residential Burglary
August 28 at 10:04 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Walnut reported a residential burglary. Officers arrived and made contact with the resident. An investigation revealed damage to a rear sliding door, the interior was ransacked, and property was taken. This investigation is continuing. 

Dinner at La Adelita


Dinner at La Adelita, on the south side of Colorado a little bit west of Ivy. Got a bean and cheese burrito for $9.95, plus $2 for avocado, and a beer for $6.50.  Very nice!

- Brad Haugaard 

Garden Design Workshop at Water District Headquarters, Sept. 21


Free 2-hour, in-person, garden design workshop on Sept. 21, 9-11 a.m. at the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District headquarters at 248 E. Foothill Blvd., in Monrovia. Topics: Watershed-wise landscaping, rainwater capture, climate-appropriate plants, hydrozones. Details and registration here

- Brad Haugaard

One-Year-Old Trina is a 'Plug-and-Play' Dog - Well Trained and Cuddly


One-year-old Trina has been getting rave reviews from the volunteers at Pasadena Humane. They’ve said that she is such a loving and wonderful girl who loves cuddling on the couch or bed and playing fetch or chewing on her toys. Her favorites were squeaky toys, though she happily chews on any the toys given to her.

Trina recently went on an overnight field trip and was exceptionally well-behaved in the foster family’s apartment. She was clearly house-trained, never had any accidents, and knew how to sit on command (especially if you had treats handy). She rarely barked and showed no signs of anxiousness when left alone for short periods.

This sweet girl was also a wonderful work-from-home companion; During several work Zoom meetings, Trina was left alone in the bedroom with the door closed, and she was perfectly content, either sleeping or playing with her toys. She also enjoyed car rides, happily sitting in the back seat without any issues.

Trina is ready to be your plug-and-play dog! Come see for yourself and meet Trina today!

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30 and can be scheduled online. View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

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. 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: Monrovia Savings Bank - 1910

The caption on this photo from 1910 says, "Monrovia Savings Bank where Gilbert's store now stands" (No, Gilbert's is gone as well.) at Myrtle & Orange Ave. (Colorado) in the former First National location. Signs in window above bank: "Drs. C. Davies Physician Surgeon and Dr. L.L. Day, Dentist." To left a jeweler. A California law that prohibited commerical banks from paying interest on deposits prompted the formation of savings banks, including the Monrovia Saving Bank. From the Myron Hotchkiss collection. Hmm. I wonder which corner this was on. 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

Creative Projects for Teens at Library, Wednesday, Aug. 28


Pop-up Makerspace for Teens at Library on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 3:30 to 5 p.m. For grades 6-12. Creativity station with supplies for zines, bracelets, pins, buttons. Sphero Mini Bots for coding, 3D art pen available. No registration required. Details

- Brad Haugaard

Veterans Meetup Tuesday Aug. 27



Monthly Veterans Meetup at Starbucks (Magnolia and Huntington) on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Veterans and military service members invited for free coffee, connections, and resource sharing. Veterans Service Officer or available to answer questions. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Merengue Bakery Plans Building Modifications

Proposed remodel of Merengue Bakery.

Merengue Bakery is asking the city's Historic Preservation Commission for its thoughts on a proposed facade remodel and addition to its building on Myrtle. The unused second floor (unused because the interior staircase was removed years ago) would be converted into a residential unit with an exterior staircase on the adjacent pedestrian ally. Details

- Brad Haugaard

Last Summer Art Walk of the Year, August 24 In Old Town


Last Summer Art Walk of the year, this Saturday, August 24.

- Brad Haugaard

Volunteers Wanted for Greening Projects on Sept. 14


Food ED is looking for volunteers to help transform Monrovia outdoor school spaces and greening projects on Saturday, September 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sign up here.

- Brad Haugaard

Clothing Drive to Support Monrovia High Music


There will be a clothing drive at Monrovia High School to support the school's musical arts program. Gently used or new clothes, shoes, bedding, towels, and linens. Drop-off dates: August 24, September 7, and 14, 9 a.m. to noon. Clean, sellable items in 13-gallon trash bags only. Drop-off point is on the east side of the school, but enter on the west side, at Madison Ave. parking lot (484 S. Madison Ave).

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Stinkin Crawfish


Dinner at Stinkin Crawfish, on the north side of Colorado a half block east of Myrtle. Got the Catfish and Fries for $14.25 and a beer for $6.50. Nice. Also, they give you a free dessert - deep fried Oreo and ice cream. 

- Brad Haugaard