Fire Resilient Gardening workshop June 27

Upper Water district is sponsoring a Fire Resilient Gardening workshop at its headquarters June 27, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Upper Water and the UC Master Gardeners will present strategies for plant selection, garden design, and maintenance to help reduce wildfire risk around homes. Headquarters is at 248 E. Foothill Blvd., first level. Registration required here. Questions: Katherine@usgvmwd.org.

- Brad Haugaard

Happy Mothers' Day to a Monrovia mom from USS Nimitz

A Monrovia Navy crew member aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, AO3 Puente, recorded this video for her mom for Mother's Day. (AO3 stands for Aviation Ordnanceman Petty Officer 3rd Class, an enlisted rank of E-4).

“Hi, my name is AO3 Puente. I’m from Monrovia, California, on the USS Nimitz and on Mother’s Day, I want to recognize my mom, Evelyn Busiere. She’s my heart and soul, and I just want to tell her, love you, Mom.”

- Brad Haugaard

Special seat belt enforcement campaign begins May 18

Monrovia Police will conduct extra patrols through May 31 as part of the statewide “Click It or Ticket” campaign, looking for drivers and passengers not wearing seat belts or children not properly secured in car or booster seats.

- Brad Haugaard

Boys and Girls Club carnival May 31

Family carnival and Youth of the Year rally at Recreation Park May 31, noon to 4 p.m. Inflatables, games, food trucks, car show, and open house. Open to the public. $20 wristband for activities; $25 at the door. Adults must pre-register and sign waivers. Cashless event. Sponsorships and congratulatory messages available. Tickets here.

- Brad Haugaard

Baby Storytime at the Library, May 12

Baby Storytime at the Library, Tuesday, May 12, 10 to 10:30 a.m. For children to age five. Books, songs, games, and motion activities to help develop pre-literacy skills. Children must attend with an adult. For information call the Library at 256-8274. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Game Night for Adults at the Library, May 22

Game Night for Adults at the Library, May 22, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Adults 18 and older can play board games, puzzles, and Nintendo Switch games, or bring games to share. In the Library Lobby. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Firefighters Pancake Breakfast tomorrow, May 9

- Brad Haugaard

Art Night Tonight at Grey & Cash

The Monrovia Fine Arts Association is hosting Art Night this evening at Grey & Cash in Old Town, from 6 to 9 p.m. Artists interested in displaying their work at a future event can find more information at monroviafinearts.org.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia ACTV Phase 1 bike and pedestrian project survey open through June 26

The city wants your thoughts on its plan to build bike and pedestrian connections under the 210 freeway and along Central and Evergreen to better connect the train station and Old Town. It is finalizing plans for the "Monrovia Active Community Travel Vinculum Phase 1" project. (A vinculum being "a bond, tie, or connecting band.") Details here. The community survey (here) is open through June 26. For email updates and meeting notices, contact ccastruita@monroviaca.gov.

- Brad Haugaard

Free garden tools workshop at Monrovia Community Garden South, May 23

Monrovia Community Garden South is hosting a free Garden Tools Workshop on May 23, from 9 to 11 a.m. at 1650 S. Magnolia Ave. The workshop covers tool safety, maintenance, and choosing the right tool for the job. SGV Best Cutlery will be on hand to sharpen tools at no charge. Bring your own tools. Parking is available at the free Park & Ride lot at 168 W. Pomona Ave.

- Brad Haugaard

Coming Up in Monrovia

Trip planned to see Sound of Music May 8

Unity Center needs volunteers for big May 9 food drive

Monrovia Fire & Rescue pancake breakfast, May 9

Author to sign books at Black Cat Fables, May 9

Storytime with Park Naturalists, May 9

Free 'Flourishing in Retirement' course to be held at Monrovia Community Church starting May 10

Yarn and Fabric Hangout May 12 at Library

Coming up for Monrovia Days, May 14-17

Watercolor workshop at the Community Center, May 27

VFW Post 2070 BBQ & Car Show, June 13

- Brad Haugaard

Planning Commission to consider what to do with old house the city bought

At a special meeting the Planning Commission (agenda here) will hold a study session on what to do with the old Victorian house the city bought at 222 E. Cypress Ave. Under consideration: Preserve the house and mature trees and add 14 housing units of no more than two stories. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Pasadena church plans move to Monrovia

CrosspointLA, a church located on Altadena Drive in Pasadena, is planning to move to Monrovia, using space in the World Vision International building at 800 W. Chestnut, between Walnut and Fifth. The church would use the space on Sundays and for a Wednesday night child-focused Bible study program, called AWANA. The proposal will be considered by the Planning Commission. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Free 'Flourishing in Retirement' course to be held at Monrovia Community Church starting May 10

A free course on "Flourishing in Retirement, How to live fully, fruitfully, and joyfully in the season of retirement" will be held at Monrovia Community Church (former First Presbyterian Church at Foothill and Myrtle) on Sundays, 9 to 10:10 a.m., in the church's Fireside Room on May 10, 17, 31, and June 14. The course will be taught by Mark Roberts, a senior fellow for Fuller Seminary's Max De Pree Center for Leadership and will cover biblical teachings as well as contemporary research on retirement. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Las Marias

Dinner at Las Marias, in the shopping center at the southwest corner of Foothill and Alta Vista. Got the number one combination, a soft taco and chile relleno for $14.30 and an Agua Fresca for $3.64. Very nice and filling, and I thought the "small" drink was pretty big.

- Brad Haugaard