Watercolor workshop set for Oct. 28

The Monrovia Association of Fine Arts will offer a watercolor workshop with instructor Pete Morris Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm. Participants will explore wet-into-wet and damp-into-wet techniques. Registration is required by Oct. 26. Details and registration.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia bridal shop offers free gown after racist proposal interruption

Monrovia bridal shop Saint Clark Bridal Suite has offered Hayley Lugo a free wedding dress after video of a woman shouting racist comments during Lugo’s Oct. 2 wedding proposal in Laguna Beach went viral. Owner Lisa Clark said she wanted Lugo to know there is still kindness in the world. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Three Monrovia High students selected for county student advisory council

Monrovia High School students Brandon Chou, Hillary Leng and Aris He have been selected for the Los Angeles County Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council for 2026–27. Chou is in 11th grade; Leng and He are in 12th grade. They will share student perspectives on educational issues and connect with students from across the county.

- Brad Haugaard

Canyon Early Learning Center celebrates Hispanic heritage with folklórico dance

Canyon Early Learning Center students celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a performance of traditional Mexican folklórico dances. The visiting dance group introduced students to Mexico’s music, colorful costumes and cultural traditions.

- Brad Haugaard

Fire Station 101 open house Saturday

Monrovia Fire & Rescue will hold a Fire Prevention Week open house at Fire Station 101, 141 E. Lemon Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be games, fire demonstrations, station tours and fire safety tips built around this year's theme, "Charge Into Fire Safety," which focuses on charging batteries safely. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia merchandise sales support Blondie's cubs

Monrovia's city store is selling a $25 Blondie's Bearcubs T-shirt and a $10 plush Monrovia Bear Keychain, with all proceeds supporting the cubs' rehabilitation. The shirt depicts a mother bear and two cubs against the foothills. Both items are available while supplies last. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Free fire-resilient gardening workshops, Oct. 17 and Nov. 5

Upper Water and UC Master Gardeners will offer a free fire-resilient gardening workshop Oct. 17, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., on the first floor of Upper Water's office, 248 E. Foothill Blvd. A free virtual session follows Nov. 5, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. The workshops cover landscaping practices that reduce fire risk. In-person attendees who live in Upper Water's service area can pick up a free Water Smart Home Kit. Register online. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Native plant sale and 200-tree giveaway, Nov. 14

The California Native Plant Society's San Gabriel Mountains Chapter will hold a native plant sale Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Monrovia Historical Museum, 742 E. Lemon Ave. Native seeds, art, T-shirts and a native flower guide will be available, along with gardening advice. The city will give away 200 native trees to attendees while supplies last. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Go Zero adds $60.2 million for home rebates

Rebates for replacing gas furnaces and water heaters with zero-emission heat pumps are expanding. South Coast Air Quality Management District has $60.2 million in additional funding for its GO ZERO Incentive Program, which provides rebates from $500 to $1,000 - up to $2,000 in overburdened communities. Multifamily properties qualify for $500 to $1,000 per unit. Solar water heating and smaller heat pumps are now eligible. Equipment installed September 4 or later qualifies. Funding is limited. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Volunteers sought for Make a Difference Day, Oct. 24

The Volunteer Center of San Gabriel Valley will hold its 36th Make a Difference Day Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to noon, starting at Library Park, 321 S. Myrtle Ave. Check-in is from 7 to 8 a.m. Volunteers will help with home repairs, yard cleanups, park improvements and nonprofit projects. Lunch, snacks and an event T-shirt are provided. To sign up, call 256-8187 or 774-1105. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Arts group seeks input for its strategic planning

The Monrovia Association of Fine Arts is asking artists and art lovers to complete a short survey before its November strategic planning meeting. The survey asks what participants value, what they want more of and how MAFA can better support local artists and the arts.

Details.

- Brad Haugaard

School board to consider 2026–27 goals

At its next meeting the Monrovia Board of Education (agenda) will consider approving its 2026–27 goals: raise math and core-subject achievement by 2%, reduce chronic absenteeism to 10%, work toward attendance exceeding 96%, close student-group performance gaps, and continue developing academic, behavioral, college/career and social-emotional supports.

- Brad Haugaard

Coming Up in Monrovia

Monrovia High music fundraiser at B&C Teriyaki and Boba Box, Oct. 9

Big band dance social coming to Old Town Oct. 9, 30

Old Town Fall Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 10

Fire Prevention Week Open House, Oct. 10

City Council, school board candidate forums, Oct. 12

Pumpkin carving for veterans at Library, Oct. 13

Yarn and Sewing Hangout at the Library, Oct. 13

Free movie: 'Monrovia's Route 66', at Community Center Oct. 16

Veggie gardening workshop Oct. 17 at Community Garden South

Street Rods Forever Car Show, Oct. 17 on Myrtle

Creation Connections concert at Maryknoll, Oct. 18

Dungeons and Dragons at the Library, Oct. 20

Chipotle Monrovia Fundraiser to Benefit Survivor Justice Center Oct. 21

Painted Promises art fundraiser, Oct. 23–25

Free bulky-item drop-off Oct. 24 at Station Square

Live Oak Cemetery tour, Oct. 24

Make a Difference Day volunteers sought for Oct. 24

Taste of Old Town Returns Oct. 25

Jewish Book Festival: Oct. 25 through Dec. 6

Mobile Vote Center at Street Fair on Oct. 30

Calvary Chapel Harvest event set for Oct. 31

Halloween Spooktacular and Trick-or-Treat Bash, Oct. 31

November Adult Craft at the Library, Nov. 3

Community Prayer Breakfast set for Nov. 20

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police crack down on reckless young riders

Youth arrested.

Monrovia Police are coming down on reckless bike riding. Full video here. Cops report they have received multiple complaints about juveniles recklessly riding bicycles, e-bikes, and electric motorcycles during the Friday Night Street Fair. Police are cracking down and urging parents to ensure their children's bicycles and electric vehicles are street-legal and that their children obey traffic laws.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Mimi‘s

Dinner at Mimi‘s, at the corner of Huntington and Mayflower. Got the Hatch  Chicken Flautas for $16.99 and an iced tea for $3.99.

- Brad Haugaard