What's planned for 100-year Route 66 celebration in Monrovia

Thursday, April 30, Grand Opening Celebration of "Engines of Change: How Transportation Shaped Monrovia," 4-6 p.m. at Monrovia Historical Museum, 742 E. Lemon Ave. Special Route 66 exhibit, live music, ice cream, donuts, and beverages.

Sunday, May 3, Community Celebration at Recreation Park, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Vintage cars and trailers, live music and entertainment, Route 66 exhibit at Monrovia Historical Museum, architectural tours along Route 66, food vendors and merchandise, and photo opportunities. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Reads fundraiser May 7

Monrovia Reads annual fundraiser, So all May Read, Thursday, May 7 at 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree, 924 W. Huntington Drive. $110 per person. Dinner, no host bar, live and silent auctions. Tickets here. 

- Brad Haugaard

Art contest for students in grades 6–12; scholarships to winners

Creative World Art Center of Arcadia is inviting San Gabriel Valley students in grades 6–12 to enter a free art competition with scholarships of up to $1,000. Finalists will be exhibited at the Creative World Art Gallery at 524 S. 1st Avenue in Arcadia from May 9 to 29. Up to five original works may be submitted electronically by April 17. Details here.

- Brad Haugaard

New art to be unveiled for Artist Reception at Community Center, April 24

Artist Alley, in the Monrovia Community Center, will present a new set of artists beginning with a free open-to-the-public  Artist Reception on April 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

- Brad Haugaard

Free class on making art with found items, April 29

There will be a free class on creating art with found and recycled materials at the Monrovia Community Center on April 29. Free but you need to register, here. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia is again a finalist for All-America City Award

Monrovia has again been named a finalist for the All-America City Award. It won the award in 2024 and reached finalist status in 2023. According to it's website, the All-America City Award "recognizes communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues." This year Monrovia's application highlights programs including the police Community Activist Policing Bureau, SGV CARE, partnership with the Community Adult School, and the city's Biking for Bucks program.

- Brad Haugaard

Two bear cubs may be returned to wild by October; contributions welcome

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that the bear cubs of the euthanized “Blondie” are in good health, are being rehabilitated and may be released back into the Angeles National Forest, perhaps as soon as October. The two cubs, 2–3 months old, are receiving intensive care at San Diego Humane Society. It costs about $400 per week to prepare the cubs for the wild. Click here if you would like to donate to cover those costs. Also, the city will soon have merchandise for sale with all proceeds going to support the two bears.

"Over the course of the next several months," Feik writes, "we want to promote this campaign to help the bear cubs, further educate our community about living with wildlife, and advocate for policy change that leads to better outcomes for both humans and wildlife."

- Brad Haugaard

Sweet Mozza is an adventurous husky who loves long walks, yard time, and a good chew

Three-year-old Mozza at is a sweet, adventurous gal! This energetic pup at Pasadena Humane loves long walks and playing in the yard, but also enjoys settling down for a tasty chew. In her foster home, she gets along with another dog and has been very gentle with kids.

Mozza also loves to participate in playgroup at the shelter and is a regular at foster sleepovers and mobile events, where her fun-loving personality really shines. She is also on the lookout for a special adopter who can help manage her health, as she does experience occasional seizures.

If you’re interested in an incredible and beautiful dog with a heart of gold, come meet Mozza today!

Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 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: Filming at Monrovia Airport

The 1939 Twentieth Century Fox movie, 20,000 Men a Year, was filmed at the Monrovia Airport. Here are Randolph Scott, Margaret Lindsay, and George Earnest? Here is the IMDB description of the movie. From the Gary Boen 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

Kiyoshi Kuromiya Neighborhood Treasure event

- Brad Haugaard

Bye Bye Birdie play at Clifton Middle School, April 9, 10, 11

Tickets for sale here.

- Brad Haugaard

Happy Easter, Monrovia!

The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

(Matthew 28:5-6)

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Easter services here.

- Brad Haugaard

Singers invited to audition for choral group April 14, 21

San Gabriel Valley Choral Company invites singers to audition for its 2025-2026 season. Auditions, on April 14 and 21,  include vocal exercises, sight-learning, and a brief a cappella song. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, with the next concert on June 20. Membership fee $225; scholarships available. Sign up for an audition here.

- Brad Haugaard

Learn to draw manga characters at the Library, April 25

Character design workshop for anime and manga fans at the Library on Apr. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. Adults and teens 16+ will learn tips for drawing favorite characters or creating originals. Registration required, here.

- Brad Haugaard

Storytime with park naturalists, April 11

Storytime outdoors with park naturalists at Tsuneishi Park, behind Chick-fil-A, on April 11 from 10 to 10:45 a.m., for children to age 5 and their caregivers. Stories, music, movement, and nature facts led by park naturalists and library staff. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard