Integrating Tech Into Classrooms

Superintendent Ryan Smith said the schools district staff has “shared information with the Board of Education about our plans to begin transforming classroom learning environments in a way that integrates technology, fosters collaboration, and increases engagement.” Here is the district’s outline on how to do that: https://shrtm.nu/JhvW

- Brad Haugaard 

City Finances - Pretty Good; Working With Neighboring Cities; Etc.

At its next meeting (agenda: https://shrtm.nu/JdPf) the Monrovia City Council will …

~ Receive a generally positive report on the city’s finances. “Overall, the City is in a solid financial position as we enter the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2021-22. While we are beginning to see some cost increases due to growing inflation, most contracts have already been established for the year, so impacts are minimal for this fiscal year. However, inflation and growing costs are a concern as we are developing our upcoming budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23. Additionally, we’re not quite out of the woods yet with respect to the pandemic’s financial impacts, but finances do, in fact, continue to improve over time.” Full report: https://shrtm.nu/LqR2

~ Consider forming an working group with Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, and Sierra Madre to establish the Rio Hondo/San Gabriel River Watershed Management Joint Powers Authority. The point of this is to work together to meet federal water runoff purity regulations. https://shrtm.nu/mT5B

~ Also, the city council members will (figuratively) take off their city council hats and put on their  Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency hats to consider a measure that could save the city approximately $2,498,538 in interest. https://shrtm.nu/zWXt

~ Finally, the council will hold a study session to consider the city’s “Capital Improvement Program and Overview of Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Fees.” https://shrtm.nu/cpRg

- Brad Haugaard

Water Art Contest; Blood Drive; Monrovia Days; Firescaping and Compost


~ The Upper San Gabriel Valley Water District is sponsoring a “Water is Life” art contest for grades K-12. The contest encourages students to envision water as a vital part of their everyday lives and to think about water conservation through their artwork. Deadline to submit artwork is June 2.  Details: https://shrtm.nu/8PVM

~ The Monrovia Police Officers' Association is sponsoring a blood drive on May 5 at the Community Center (119 W. Palm), from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “MONROVIA”

~ The city, school district, and Centre Stage are sponsoring the three-day Monrovia Days celebration, May 13 - 15. Activities include a Monrovia High School pep rally, parade, live music, beer garden, Merengue pie eating contest, a carnival and more. 

~ The Monrovia Days Parade will be on Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m., featuring our local youth, “Scholars and Champions.”  To apply to be in the parade submit an application by May 6. https://shrtm.nu/dHYJ

~ The Upper San Gabriel Water District will hold two virtual workshops on firescaping and composting. Free but you need to register. 

Firescaping: May 12, noon - 1 p.m. Learn how to have a fire-resistant landscape. https://shrtm.nu/4uwe

Compost: June 9, noon- 1 p.m. Learn to make compost and mulch for healthy soil. https://shrtm.nu/yYDu

~ Monrovia Fire & Rescue is holding a free Business Emergency Resiliency Training (BERT) workshop on preparedness for both businesses and their employees. May 17, 1 - 4 p.m. at the library Community Room.  https://shrtm.nu/lV5w

- Brad Haugaard 

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 11 More Cases, One More Death

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 04/27/2022. Changes since 04/26/2022.

City of Monrovia: 8,343 cases (up 11), 104 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 877 cases (up 1), 4 deaths (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Innocent of Car Theft But Arrested for Drunk Driving; $5,000 Taken from Unlocked Car; Thief Swaps Old Shoes for New; Safe Stolen from Business

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 21 – 27. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 423 service events, resulting in 88 investigations. 

Vandalism
April 21 at 2:02 a.m., an officer patrolling near the 210 Freeway and Huntington saw graffiti painted on a wall. No suspect was seen in the area. This investigation is continuing. 

Vandalism
April 21 at 6:35 a.m., a caller reported a transient encampment along the wash in the 900 block of W. Huntington. Officers responded and found graffiti on the train overpass structure. Three more locations were later discovered to have been vandalized in a similar way. This investigation is continuing. 

Mental Evaluation
April 21 at 9:39 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1100 block of E. Huntington regarding a male caller stating he was having “issues” with his head. Officers arrived and determined the subject may be a danger to himself or others and needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. He was transported to a local facility for treatment. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 22 at 1:51 a.m., a suspicious subject was reported breaking into a vehicle in the 700 block of E. Foothill. Upon arrival officers saw that the vehicle being broke into was now driving away from the location. The vehicle was stopped and an investigation revealed that the suspect had broken into his parents’ vehicle. The parents were contacted and advised he had permission to use the vehicle. The suspect advised that he had locked the keys in the vehicle and decided to break a window to get in. The suspect showed signs and symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested for DUI and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period. 

Vehicle Fire
April 22 at 4:42 a.m., a vehicle fire was reported in the 700 block of Mountain View. Upon arrival they found the vehicle in flames. Fire personnel responded and put out the fire. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft
April 22 at 7:32 a.m., a caller in the 700 block of W. Huntington reported someone had stolen the catalytic converter from a vehicle during the night. This investigation is continuing. 

Battery – Suspect Arrested
April 22 at 9:42 a.m., an employee at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill called to report a male transient walked into the store and punched the manager. Officers arrived and located the suspect walking away from the store. The suspect was identified by the victim and was placed under private person's arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. 

Grand Theft
April 22 at 11:03 a.m., two callers reported their vehicles’ catalytic converters were stolen overnight. One in the 1000 block of Royal Oaks and the second in the 300 block of N. Madison. This investigation is continuing. 

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
April 22 at 12:31 p.m., a caller in the 600 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject was down on the street and unresponsive. Officers arrived and found the subject to be sleeping. While speaking to the subject officers saw drug paraphernalia next to him. The subject admitted the paraphernalia was his and that he uses it to smoke a controlled substance. He was arrested and released with a citation. 

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
April 22 at 1:27 p.m., an employee at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called to report they had caught someone stealing and that he was currently being detained. Officers arrived and accepted their private person's arrest. He was released with a citation. 

Grand Theft
April 22 at 2:40 p.m., a caller in the 900 block of E. Lemon reported she had parked her vehicle in front of a school and went inside for a few minutes. When she returned she noticed $5,000 in cash was taken from her unlocked vehicle. This investigation is continuing. 

Missing Person
April 22 at 10:05 p.m., a subject who had been arrested for a series of vandalism’s was released from court the previous day. His mother had not heard from him since his release and wanted to report him missing. Officers responded to their residence in the 100 block of N. Mountain and took a Missing Person’s report. He was added into the national missing person’s database. This investigation is continuing. 

Drug Activity / Parole Violation – Suspect Arrested
April 22 at 11:08 p.m., an officer was patrolling the intersection of Mountain and Evergreen when he saw a vehicle traveling without headlights. The vehicle was stopped and an investigation revealed that one of the passengers had used a false name and was also in possession of a controlled substance. Further investigation revealed that he was also on parole. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Domestic Violence
April 23 at 3:02 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1200 block of Sherman after a subject broke into his girlfriend’s residence and tried to steal her cell phone. During the altercation the suspect pushed both his daughter and his girlfriend. The girlfriend sustained a minor injury. The suspect fled the scene before officer’s arrived. This investigation is continuing. 

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
April 23 at 1:45 p.m., a caller reported a single car traffic collision in the 400 block of E. Foothill. Officers arrived and checked on the well-being of the occupants and determined that no one was injured. The driver at fault was issued a citation and a police report was completed. 

Grand Theft Auto
April 24 at 9:02 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of Bonita called to report his vehicle was missing and he did not give anyone permission to take it. Officers arrived and added the vehicle to the national stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft
April 24 at 9:51 a.m., an employee from a business in the 700 block of W. Huntington called to report that two guests had their catalytic converters taken from their vehicles sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing. 

Court Order Violation – Suspect Arrested
April 24 at 4:01 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Lime called to report that her son was in violation of a domestic violence restraining order by being on her property. Officers arrived and saw the son on the property. The restraining order was confirmed and the son was subsequently arrested. 

Warrants – Suspect Arrested
April 24 at 4:27 p.m., a caller reported that a subject was causing a disturbance at a homeless encampment near Fifth and Huntington. Officers arrived and located the individual. An investigation revealed that he had several warrants for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrants and taken into custody. 

Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
April 24 at 6:23 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 800 block of S. Primrose regarding a subject spray painting a wall. Upon arrival officers located a suspect matching the description. During the investigation, officers found additional areas that had been spray painted with similar paint. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. 

Injury Traffic Accident
April 24 at 8:30 p.m., an injury traffic accident was reported in the area of Magnolia and Central. A juvenile who was bleeding from the head claimed to have been involved in a traffic collision while riding his motorized bicycle. When officers arrived they discovered the victim was riding on the sidewalk when a passerby in a vehicle yelled at him to not ride on the sidewalk. The victim exchanged words with the passerby and while distracted collided into a second vehicle. The victim fell off his bicycle and the other vehicle continued driving. It's unknown if the other party knew he was struck from behind by the bicycle. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. 

Traffic Collision / Hit and Run
April 24 at 11:26 p.m., a hit and run traffic collision was reported in the area of 600 block of W. Duarte. Upon arrival officers discovered the pole had been knocked down by a vehicle, but the vehicle fled the scene. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the vehicle. This investigation is continuing. 

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 25 at 2:33 a.m., an officer near the intersection of Central and Mayflower saw a subject going through a shopping cart in the area. The officer stopped and spoke with the subject. An investigation revealed that the subject had a no-bail warrant issued by parole. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Grand Theft Auto
April 25 at 7:24 a.m., a caller in the 600 block of W. El Norte reported his vehicle stolen. An investigation revealed that he had parked it the night before and locked the doors. He went out the next morning and discovered his vehicle was missing. The vehicle was entered into the national stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft
April 25 at 11:52 a.m., a victim in the 1400 block of Encino called to report that eight high end remote control cars had been taken from his patio. Officers collected surveillance footage of the incident. This investigation is continuing. 

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
April 25 at 1:01 p.m., an employee from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called to report that a suspect took off his old shoes and put on a new pair of shoes before leaving the store. A description was given and he was located a short distance away. The suspect was positively identified. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Loitering / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
April 25 at 3:46 p.m., a caller in the 900 block of S. Myrtle reported that a female subject was camped out in the parking area of a local business. An investigation revealed that there was a previous no trespass authorization issued against her for that location. Officers arrived and also confirmed that there were multiple warrants for her arrest. She was arrested per the authority of the warrants and taken into custody. 

Attempt Grand Theft Auto / Criminal Threats – Suspect Arrested
April 26 at 2:04 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Bonita regarding a grand theft auto in progress. Upon arrival officers detained a female suspect inside the vehicle. An investigation revealed that the suspect had also threatened to kill the reporting parties if they called the police. She was arrested and taken into custody. 

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
April 26 at 5:30 a.m., a delivery driver reported that he had backed up his truck and struck a light pole. 

Commercial Burglary
April 26 at 7:51 a.m., an employee at a business in the 200 block of W. Huntington reported that a construction crew had been working at the location and left the alarm off. An investigation revealed that sometime during the night unknown suspects entered the location and removed a safe. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft
April 26 at 7:00 p.m., a victim in the 200 block of Shamrock reported that someone had stolen his vehicle’s catalytic converter sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing. 

Mental Evaluation
April 27 at 8:56 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of E. Olive to speak with a 90 year old female who was in need of medical and mental health services. She was transported to a local facility for treatment. 

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
April 27 at 8:57 a.m., a caller in the 3000 block of Peck Road reported a vehicle that was purchased in early April was discovered to be a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was recovered and removed from the national stolen vehicle system. 

Grand Theft Auto
April 27 at 9:10 a.m., the victim parked his vehicle in front of his residence in the 800 block of Linwood and sometime during the night someone stole his vehicle. The vehicle was entered into the national stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft
April 27 at 4:24 p.m., the victim called to report he was working on a yard in the 300 block of Hill when a suspect in a white truck approached his van and removed several gardening tools. This investigation is continuing. 

Dinner at Tacos Ensenada


Dinner at the newTacos Ensenada, on the north side of Huntington just east of Monterey Ave. Got two Tacos Baja (fish and shrimp) for $9.40 and a small horchata for $2.09. The décor is basic but the tacos were delicious!

- Brad Haugaard 

You’ll Love Minnie’s Goofy Personality

Seven-year-old Minnie is a smart, silly dog who shows off her “dance of joy” when she prances around with her toys. She’s a very sweet and polite dog, but she also gets really excited to see her favorite people, and will sit as close as possible to them to get the most back scratches. Minnie has an adorable, goofy personality you can’t help but fall in love with!

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. 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. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

 - Brad Haugaard 

Candidate Forum May 4 at City Hall


The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters will host a Mayoral Candidate Forum and Ballot Measure Forum on Wednesday, May 4, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the city council chambers. Audience members may submit written questions to candidates and home viewers can submit questions by calling 932-5550 during the event. The forum will be aired live by KGEM-TV. 

- Brad Haugaard 

A Moment in Monrovia History: Receipts from Getts Drug Store

Two receipts from Getts Drug Store.  From the Kim Anderson 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

Creative School Comes Up With Creative Fundraiser for Dodger Fans

Wild Rose School of Creative Arts PTA has come up with a creative fundraiser: "If you are going to a Dodger game please consider buying tickets from the website link below. They are regular priced tickets but depending on where you sit $4-$22 per ticket is donated directly to our school!"

Here's the link: https://fevo.me/wildroseschool

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Students Treated at Hospitals for Eating Marijuana


In a letter Monrovia Schools Superintendent Ryan Smith warns parents of the dangers of edible marijuana. Some clips ...

"Over the last few weeks, a few of our students in our secondary schools have become ill due to ingesting edible marijuana (i.e. edibles); some of these students had to be transported to hospitals. Unfortunately, the use of edibles (as well as vaping of marijuana) among teenagers and its negative impact on them has been an increasing trend over the years within our state and across the nation."

He adds ...

"Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that it is not legal for students to possess, ingest, or be under the influence of edibles at school or at any school-related activity or event; likewise, it is not legal for students to furnish edibles to other students. In all cases involving edibles, students will be subject to disciplinary consequences including suspension or expulsion and law enforcement may become involved."

For the full letter with links to resources for parents, see here: https://tny.im/RTVFm

- Brad Haugaard

School District Plans to Buy Two Electric Buses, Etc.

At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/8ee23) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Consider buying two electrical buses from Creative Bus Sales of Chino at 370,000 apiece. Apparently all but three cents will be paid by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. https://tny.im/KREeb

~ Receive an informational report on 21st Century learning concepts and how they affect instruction.

~ Consider paying the University of Washington's Center for Educational Leadership $39,175 for nine days of professional development for administrators and instructional coaches "to further develop equity-centered, learning-focused leaders who make students happy, proud, and inspired to realize their limitless futures." https://tny.im/Lmnti

~ Consider paying Learner-Centered Collaborative $50,000 "to collaborate with MUSD leadership to perform a series of foundational activities that will contribute to the development of the MUSD Strategic Plan." https://tny.im/8XIs2

~ Consider paying CITE (California IT in Education) up to $35,000 to evaluate the current Technology Department structure, policies, and procedures. https://tny.im/FyDF

~ Consider declaring May 15-21 as Classified School Employee Week (https://tny.im/zgrfr); May 3 as National Day of the Teacher and May 2-6 as National Teacher Appreciation Week (https://tny.im/S8QbN); and also May 9-13 as School Health Services Appreciation Week and May 11 as National School Nurse Day (https://tny.im/pZy0G).

- Brad Haugaard

Boys and Girls Club to Honor Youth of the Year

The Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills will hold its Youth of Year celebration on May 1 at the Monrovia Tennis Club to celebrate its Youth of Year candidates, the 2022 Youth of the Year, and to honor Dr. Charlyn Quiec. $100 per person. https://tny.im/Cx78K

- Brad Haugaard

Zero Waste Prizes; Coyote Safety Workshop

Countertop Composter

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports: 

~ To kick start its zero waste initiative Monrovia will hold a contest with prizes. To enter take a photo of yourself or your family taking part in an activity that promotes zero waste, such as recycling, composting, ditching plastic for something reusable, etc. Then post on Instagram by May 4 with the hashtag #CleanMonrovia. You'll be entered into a raffle. Winners will be notified by May 5.

~ Pasadena Humane Society will hold a Coyote Safety Workshop at its Pasadena facility. An expert wildlife manager will share information about the urban coyote and demonstrate humane hazing techniques. Kids and families welcome. Sunday, May 1, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. https://tny.im/TC77A

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 18 New Cases, One New Death

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 04/20/2022. Changes since 04/13/2022.

City of Monrovia: 8,296 cases (up 18), 103 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 872 cases (up 5), 4 deaths (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

City Council to Discuss 'Goal Setting'

The Monrovia City Council will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Monday at the Elan Conference Room at the Doubletree Hotel to discuss "Goal Setting." It will also have a closed session to evaluate the performance of the city manager and city attorney. https://tny.im/VSpEI

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Woman Catches Woman Trying to Rob Her; Shoplifting Suspects Arrested; Poking Tires; Man Assaults Store Employee With Knife; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 14 – 20. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 359 service events, resulting in 61 investigations.

Court Order Violation – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 6:30 a.m., a caller in the 200 block of E. Lime reported her son had just violated a domestic restraining order. Officers arrived and determined the son was in violation. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Weapons Offense – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 9:43 a.m., a caller reported finding a handgun inside a vehicle in the 1400 block of S. Monterey. The owner of the vehicle was located. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft
April 14 at 1:20 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 1200 block of Encino. The victim reported her phone was stolen from her unlocked vehicle during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation
April 14 at 4:28 p.m., a family fight was reported in the 200 block of E. Chestnut. Officers arrived and contacted a male subject suffering from mental issues who had injured a family member. Officers determined the suspect needed to be further evaluated by a mental health professional. He was transported to a facility for treatment.

Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence Drugs – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 5:58 p.m., a caller reported a traffic collision at the intersection of Foothill and Mayflower. Officers responded and checked on the well-being of the occupants. While talking with one of the drivers, the officer noticed he displayed signs intoxication. A computer check revealed the driver also had a no bail warrant. The driver refused all field sobriety tests and a warrant was obtained for a blood draw. The driver was arrested per the authority of the warrant and on suspicion of DUI.

Residential Burglary – Suspect Arrested
April 14 at 9:41 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Royals Oaks regarding a male subject at the caller’s front porch refusing to leave and saying that he lived there. The residents hid in a room until officers arrived. Officers contacted the subject and advised him that was not his home and he was not allowed back at the location. The subject returned a second time, broke a window and kicked in the front door. The subject was standing at the front door threshold when one of the residents ran to the door. Officers arrived and located the subject. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
April 15 at 7:25 a.m., a resident in the 700 block of Valley View called to report that his vehicle was vandalized. An officer arrived and noticed one of the victim's vehicle tires was slashed. The officer canvassed the area and located approximately 20 other vehicles that had their tires slashed. Suspect was arrested on April 19.

Robbery – Suspect Arrested
April 15 at 8:41 a.m., an employee from a business in the 700 block of W. Huntington called to report a fight in progress. Officers arrived and contacted the two involved female adults. After an investigation it was learned that the suspect approached the victim as she was exiting her vehicle. The suspect starting petting the victim's dog and making small talk. As the two females were standing next to the vehicle, the suspect grabbed the victim's vehicle keys and phone from her hand and starting hitting her. The victim fought back and was able to mount the suspect until the police arrived. The suspect was in possession of the victim's keys when the officer arrived. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 15 at 11:59 p.m., while on patrol an officer located a disabled vehicle in the area of Huntington and Ivy with lights off. The officer stopped and approached the vehicle and saw two flat tires. While speaking with the driver, the officer noticed the driver displayed symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, so the officer began a DUI investigation. The driver is was arrested and transported to a local hospital for a blood test.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 16 at 12:09 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit a vehicle code violation in the 200 block of E. Cherry. The officer tried to stop the driver. The driver continued to his home and parked in his driveway. He refused to open the window and speak with officers. The driver had to be removed from his vehicle and had to be placed onto the ground to be detained. The driver refused to complete any field sobriety tests, but later agreed to complete a breath test. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Violence
April 16 at 10:26 a.m., a caller near Peck and Clark reported her ex-boyfriend punched her in the face. Monrovia Paramedics treated the victim at the scene. The alleged suspect had left the area prior to officers arriving. This investigation is continuing.

Traffic Collision
April 16 at 1:17 p.m., a caller reported she was just involved in a traffic collision in the area of Myrtle and Foothill. Officers arrived and checked on the well-being of the occupants. No one was injured. The driver at fault was issued a citation.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 16 at 11:46 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of California and Lime regarding a speeding vehicle. When officers arrived they noticed the vehicle described was parked. A subject was seen near the vehicle, but not seen exiting or driving it, and the subject denied driving it. The subject displayed symptoms of being under the influence. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 5:57 p.m., a family disturbance was reported in the 400 block of W. Palm. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject causing the disturbance. Officers asked the subject to cooperate and leave the property. The subject refused to leave and was placed on a citizen’s arrest. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Commercial Burglary
April 17 at 6:41 p.m., a commercial burglary was reported in the 2600 block of S. California regarding. The suspect(s) broke into three storage units sometime between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
April 17 at 10:53 p.m., officers responded to an apartment complex in the 1800 block of S. Peck regarding a subject loitering around the property. Officers arrived and detained the subject, who claimed to be dumpster diving. A computer check revealed several warrants out of our department. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
April 18 at 11:48 a.m., an employee of a retail store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called to report they had an individual in custody for shoplifting. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Violation of Court Order
April 18 at 12:31 p.m., a court order violation was reported in the 1700 block of Pilgrim. The reporting party had evidence of the restrained person sending her emails. The investigating officer determined the restrained person had violated a court order. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft / Fraud
April 18 at 3:03 p.m., a caller in the 900 block of Royal Oaks reported an electronic device and credit cards were stolen from him over a week ago. The reporting party also claimed one of the stolen credit cards was fraudulently used at a local hotel. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested
April 18 at 4:29 p.m., an employee of a retail store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called to report they had an individual in custody for shoplifting. An officer responded to the location to investigate. The subject was arrested.

Felony Vandalism
April 19 at 6:22 a.m., several victims in the 600 block of East Lime, 700 block Wildrose and the 200 block of South Heliotrope called to report their vehicles had been vandalized overnight. An officer was dispatched to investigate and determined a suspect had poked holes in several tires causing damage to a total of ten different vehicles. Suspect was arrested on April 19.

Vandalism
April 18 at 1:38 p.m., a caller from the 800 block of East Palm called to report three vehicles had their tires vandalized. An officer was dispatched to investigate and determined a suspect had poked holes into several tires causing damage to three different vehicles. Suspect was arrested on April 19.

Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
April 19 at 1:48 p.m., a vandalism was reported in the 100 of East Lime. The caller reported a subject was poking holes into several different tires to multiple vehicles. Officer responded to the area and located the subject. The investigating officer determined the subject vandalized the vehicles. Further investigation revealed the subject was responsible for vandalizing vehicles earlier in the week. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Attempted Theft / Vehicle Pursuit
April 20 at 5:14 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Myrtle and Camino Real where he observed two vehicle a lane. The occupants of the vehicles were attempting to take catalytic converters from parked vehicles. Both vehicles fled south and the officer gave chase. The pursuit was quickly discontinued the pursuit due to unsafe conditions. This investigation is continuing.

Theft
April 20 at 7:40 a.m., a victim in the 500 block of Date Court called to report a large box containing patio furniture was taken from their patio area. This occurred sometime in the evening to early morning hours. The surveillance footage has to be reviewed. Investigation continuing.

Attempted Assault with Deadly Weapon
April 20 at 12:22 p.m., an employee from a retail store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male subject took power tools and walked out of the location. The employee followed the subject to his vehicle and retrieved the items. As the employee was walking away, the subject approached him and pulled out a knife. The subject attempted to stab to stab the employee. The suspect got back into his vehicle and fled the scene. This investigation is continuing.

Dinner at La Noria

Dinner at La Noria, the food stand at the northwest corner of Foothill and May. I got the tostada, called a “Flaying Saucer,” with carnitas for $7.99 and a medium soda for $1.90. The meat doesn’t show here but there was plenty. Very good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Man Arrested in Tire Puncturing Spree

Monrovian Sterling Williamson, 22, has been arrested on suspicion of puncturing the tires of about 25 vehicles over three days along Lime and Lemon in Monrovia. https://tny.im/uYTAq

- Brad Haugaard

Possum Wants a Forever Home to Really Feel Comfortable


Eight-year-old Possum is a sweet cat who enjoys being petted and brushed. She especially loves getting scratches behind her ears. Possum is a beautiful kitty who has been slowly coming out of her shell, and we can’t wait to see her blossom even more in a loving forever home!

The adoption fee for cats is $100. All cat 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. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

- Brad Haugaard

Arbor Day Event - Tree Give-Away, Ask an Arborist, Junior Forester Program


Grow Monrovia Arbor Day event, April 23 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Maryknoll Sisters property at Norumbega and Greystone.

  • Shade tree give-away for Monrovians - limited quantity. Details and sign up at growmonrovia.org
  • Ask An Arborist - Ask an arborist with over 30 years of experience your tree questions
  • Children's Junior Forester Program- Sign up at growmonrovia.org

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Almera Romney at Huntington Elementary

Almera Romney and Mimi Martin at Huntington Elementary's 5th grade. Almera Romney was teacher and then principal at the segregated Huntington Elementary from 1946-1963. Standing next to Almera with a butterfly on her dress is Mimi Luvenia Martin (Mency, 1936-2011) who would be the first African American on the Monrovia school board in 1972. From the Susie Ling 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

Mullen to Produce Electric Vehicle Battery Packs in Monrovia

Mullen Five electric vehicle.

Mullen Automotive is retrofitting its Monrovia facility to produce electric vehicle battery packs for its vehicle lineup, including its ONE EV Cargo Van, FIVE EV Crossover, and DragonFLY EV Sportscar programs. Mullen is an electric car company based in Brea, California. It trades  on the NASDAQ under the symbol MULN. https://tny.im/8kM4P

- Brad Haugaard

How to Fill City Treasurer Office, Study Mountain/Lemon Intersection, Hiring to Renovate Lucinda Garcia Park, Etc.

At its next meeting the Monrovia City Council will ...

~  Consider how to fill the position of City Treasurer, held by Steve Baker until his recent death. https://tny.im/zMxkm

~ Hold a study session to determine "Options for Intersection Improvements at Mountain and Lemon Avenues." https://tny.im/CrNNx

~ Consider hiring KASA Construction for $1,188,803 (and  $118,880 extra just in case there are any extras) to renovate Lucinda Garcia Park. Work includes two new playgrounds (with lighting, fencing, and picnic tables), five exercise stations, two demonstration gardens with signage, improved walkway with enhanced lighting and distance markers, signs about Lucinda Garcia and the history of the Red Car (which used to go through the park), and a bike rack with a fixit station and new bottle fill drinking stations. https://tny.im/0G9tr

~ Consider giving the Police Department permission to use equipment the state considers "military equipment." The state requires this. https://tny.im/sDmPV

~ Consider proclaiming May as Dandy-Walker Syndrome Awareness Month (https://tny.im/pX5TQ), April 22 as Earth Day (https://tny.im/D1drs) and April 29 as Arbor Day (https://tny.im/3bY7V).

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Firefighter Gathers Supplies for Ukraine; Council Resumes In-Person Meetings; Mosquito Protection; Be Notified of City Job Openings

Monrovia firefighter gathers supplies for Ukraine.

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports: 

~ Monrovia Firefighter Igor Nisis, from Ukraine, worked with firefighters from Monrovia, Long Beach and LA County to collect items for Ukraine's first responders. Items include equipment and tools for first responders, first aid supplies, and personal hygiene items. Last week, he collected enough items to fill five trucks with first aid kits and baby supplies, totaling 18 pallets. Now he's working on another shipment.

~ On Tuesday, April 19, the City Council will resume in-person meetings. Meetings will still be broadcast on KGEM and streamed on YouTube. Comments may be submitted by email (and will be distributed to council members but will not be read aloud) or using the audio feature - no video - on Zoom.

~ The Monrovia City Council proclaimed the week of April 18 as California Mosquito Awareness Week. Warm weather allows mosquitoes to breed, bite and spread fatal diseases such as West Nile virus. Tips: Toss stagnant water at least once a week and use one of the four CDC recommended bug repellents - DEET; IR3535, also called Merck 3535; Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (or PMD); Picaridin/KBR 3023. Details: https://tny.im/Nevmc

~ If you'd like to be notified whenever there is a new job opening in Monrovia in one or more categories, go here:  https://tny.im/amim

- Brad Haugaard

New Artist Display at Community Center Starting April 24

MAFA, in partnership with the City of Monrovia, will present a new installation featuring art of four of its members for display and sale. Artists are John F. Martin, Mark Howard, Mike Dukes, and Austin Lubetkin. A percentage of art sales proceeds will benefit MAFA's art education programs. The event will feature a student art display and competition with cash prizes for students from Clifton Middle School and Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School. Free but reservations are suggested — email christine@monroviafinearts.org.

- Brad Haugaard 

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 40 More Cases, One More Death

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 04/13/2022. Changes since 04/06/2022.

City of Monrovia: 8,278 cases (up 40), 102 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 867 cases (up 5), 4 deaths (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Man Surrenders After Knocking Over Church Elder With Car; Man Holds Up Woman in Car With Gun; Man Lying on Train Tracks; Woman Steals $2,300 Purse; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 7 – 13. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 335 service events, resulting in 69 investigations.

Vehicle Burglary
April 7 at 3:58 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of N. Primrose called to report that two suspects were burglarizing his truck and taking work tools. The suspects fled north on Primrose in a Maroon truck with a camper shell. Officers responded to the area, but the vehicle was gone. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
April 7 at 10:36 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington regarding a shoplifting. The suspect had already left the area. This investigation is continuing.

Theft
April 7 at 12:31 p.m., a victim called from a gym in the 700 block of E. Huntington and advised that her unattended purse had been stolen while she attended a workout class. This investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation
April 7 at 1:01 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of W. Huntington regarding a male subject who was making suicidal statements. Officers determined the subject needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. He was transported to a local facility for treatment.

Vandalism
April 7 at 2:34 p.m., an employee at a hotel in the 700 block of W. Huntington reported that one of his vehicle’s tires had been slashed while he was at work. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
April 7 at 5:00 p.m., a family disturbance was reported in the 1000 block of E. Royal Oaks officers responded to a family disturbance between a husband and wife. An investigation determined that the argument was between a husband and wife. The wife slapped and punched her husband during an argument. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Death Report
April 7 at 6:39 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of S. Magnolia regarding a death report. Upon arrival they discovered the subject had passed away from natural causes. The coroner’s office was notified and agreed to release the deceased to a mortuary.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 8 at 2:30 a.m., while patrolling the intersection of Montana and Myrtle and officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. While speaking with the driver the officer noticed the driver appeared to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. A DUI investigation revealed the driver was under the influence. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail and held for a sobering period.

Grand Theft Auto
April 8 at 2:32 a.m., a vehicle theft was reported in the 700 block of E. Lemon. The vehicle was determined to have been stolen sometime during the night. It was entered into the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
April 8 at 11:50 a.m., a victim reported that a check she had dropped off in the 200 block of S. Ivy had been stolen and cashed elsewhere. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
April 8 at 3:50 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 200 block of W. Pomona when he saw an unoccupied vehicle parked in a “No Parking” zone. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Apple Valley. The vehicle was recovered. This investigation is continuing.

Assault
April 8 at 10:32 p.m., an assault was reported at a gas station in the 900 block of W. Foothill. Upon arrival, officers discovered a patron arrived at the service station for gas. She wanted to pump fuel, but there was a subject sitting by the pump drinking a beer, so she asked the employee if he could pump her gas. The employee approached the subject and asked him to leave. The subject stood up and began swearing at the employee and threw a glass bottle at the employee striking him on the face. The suspect then fled on foot. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
April 8 at 11:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Myrtle and Colorado regarding a male subject standing on the corner in his under clothes. Officers contacted the subject and determined he was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 9 at 12:54 a.m., an officer patrolling the intersection of Ivy and Foothill observed a vehicle fail to stop at a red traffic light. While trying to stop the vehicle the driver swerved on the road and struck a curb. A DUI investigation was conducted and it was determined the driver was under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 9 at 1:02 a.m., while patrolling the intersection of Myrtle and Colorado an officer observed a vehicle fail to stop at a flashing red signal. When the officer tried to stop the vehicle, the driver suddenly pulled over to the curb and tried to exit the vehicle. The officer made contact with the driver and noticed he displayed symptoms of being under the influence. The driver was arrested for and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
April 9 at 1:20 a.m., a suspect who was wanted for questioning on a recent assault came to the Monrovia Police Department lobby wanting to speak with an officer. He admitted to knocking over his church elder with a vehicle after an argument. He was then arrested and taken into custody.

Armed Robbery – Suspect Arrested
April 9 at 3:22 a.m., a victim reported she had returned home in the 600 block of W. Colorado after a night at a local casino. She had a large amount of cash in two purses and advised that another vehicle side swiped her. A suspect then exited his vehicle and confronted the victim with a firearm. He took the two purses and left the area. Officers arrived in the area and located the suspect. He was positively identified by the victim and a firearm was recovered. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 9 at 12:59 p.m., a caller reported a solo motorcycle collision in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle. An investigation revealed that the motorcyclist pulled into a gas station, lost control and collided into a brick wall. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. This investigation is continuing.

Theft Attempt
April 9 at 6:23 p.m., a theft attempt was reported in a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington. Upon arrival they spoke with a store employee who indicated a male suspect entered the store and took a generator without paying. The suspect placed the generator in the back of his truck and tried to get into the truck, but the door was locked. The employee asked the suspect if he was going to pay for it and the suspect replied with a swear word. The employee reached into the truck and removed the generator. This investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation – Subject Evaluated
April 10 at 1:39 a.m., a caller advised that a subject was laying across train tracks in the 1600 block of S. Primrose and was attempting to commit suicide. Officers arrived and discovered a distraught subject who indicated he wanted to kill himself. It was determined he needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. Officers detained the subject and transported him to a facility for treatment.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery
April 10 at 12:30 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of Parkrose regarding a parking complaint. While they were on their way to the location, Monrovia PD Dispatch advised that the license plate on the vehicle matched a stolen vehicle reported earlier in the week. Officers confirmed it was the correct vehicle, removed it from the stolen vehicle system, and returned it to the registered owner.

Grand Theft Auto / Grand Theft Auto Recovery
April 10 at 1:09 p.m., a stolen vehicle was reported in the 200 block of E. Lime. The victim realized it was stolen when he was out for a walk and saw it on another street. The officer examined the vehicle and determined there was damage consistent with an auto theft. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 11 at 4:43 a.m., a caller reported seeing a bicycle near the back door and a light on inside a vacant property in the 100 block of E. Evergreen. Officers checked the property and found a male transient inside. An investigation revealed that the subject had a no bail parole hold warrant for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrant and taken into custody.

Grand Theft
April 11 at 12:58 p.m., a grand theft was reported from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington. The store's representative said over $4,700 worth of sportswear was stolen on March 28, but not reported. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
April 11 at 2:50 p.m., a grand theft was reported in a retail store in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The manager said some hours earlier two unknown female suspect stole a purse valued at over $2,300. This investigation is continuing.

Trespass – Suspect Arrested
April 11 at 11:11 p.m., an alarm company for an auto yard in the 3300 block of S. Peck called to report a suspect walking inside the business. Officers arrived and detained a suspect inside. The suspect was arrested.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
April 12 at 7:10 a.m., a non-injury traffic collision was reported in the area of Huntington and Magnolia. Both drivers exchanged information only.

Traffic Hazard
April 12 at 7:19 a.m., a large semi-truck blocking all lanes of traffic was reported in the area of Royal Oaks and Mountain. The semi-truck driver unsuccessfully attempted a turn. Several city resources were utilized, including public works, until the truck was moved. No one was injured.

Found Contraband
April 12 at 7:56 a.m., a caller reported someone had dumped several large trash bags in the area of Oakglade and Ridgeside. Officers arrived and found the bags to be filled with contraband. The contraband was collected for destruction.

Dumpster Fire
April 12 at 8:33 a.m., smoke coming from a large dumpster was reported in the 1200 block of S. Mayflower. Officers and fire personnel responded and found the trash inside the dumpster was on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished. It is unknown how the fire started. This investigation is continuing.

Criminal Investigation of Privacy
April 12 at 11:04 a.m., a customer of a clothing store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain was inside a dressing room trying on clothes, when she looked down toward the stall door and saw someone place their phone's camera under the stall and was filming her. She screamed and the suspect to run out of the store. The store surveillance captured an unknown male adult subject place his phone under the stall after the female went inside to try on clothes. Officers searched for the suspect, but he was not located. This investigation is continuing.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 12 at 9:14 p.m., an officer was patrolling the intersection of Duarte and Alamitas when he was flagged down regarding a minor traffic collision. An investigation revealed that one of the driver’s was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested for DUI and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Vehicle Burglary
April 13 at 7:12 a.m., a resident reported his vehicle was burglarized sometime during the night in the 1300 block of South Alta Vista. An officer responded to investigate and determined the steering wheel airbag was taken. This investigation continuing.

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
April 13 at 7:24 a.m., a suspicious vehicle was reported in a business parking lot in the 200 block of East Foothill. Officers were dispatched to investigate and made contact with the owner of the vehicle. The officers arrested the subject due to him having an outstanding warrant for domestic battery.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
April 13 at 8:07 a.m., a caller reported she was involved in a traffic collision with another driver at the intersection of Ivy and Chestnut. An officer responded to investigate and issued a citation to the party at fault. No one was injured.

Motorcycle Pursuit
April 13 at 12:18 p.m., while on patrol an officer observed a motorcycle commit a vehicle code violation in the 600 block of South Ivy. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the motorcycle fled and a short pursuit followed. The pursuit was terminated soon thereafter due to the subject's erratic driving. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
April 13 at 1:16 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 700 block of S. Myrtle. A resident reported his generator along with other cleaning supplies had been taken from a secured parking structure. This investigation continuing.

Death Report
April 13 at 8:44 p.m., officers responded to a medical call in the 200 block of Jasmine regarding an unresponsive male subject. Officers arrived and began CPR until Monrovia Fire arrived and took over. The male subject was pronounced deceased and the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office was advised.

Dinner at Basin 141

Dinner at Basin 141, at the corner of Myrtle and Lime. Got the chicken mole tacos for $14 and a beer for $6. Very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Paris Baguette Bakery-Cafe Coming

Paris Baguette, a bakery cafe, is coming soon, according to this sign. It will be located directly across Myrtle from the library. It is a chain specializing in pastries and baked goods. Details:  https://www.parisbaguette.com/

- Brad Haugaard

Snuggle-Dog Marge Loves People and Other Dogs


Eight-year-old Marge is a total sweetheart! She’s friendly with people of all ages and loves to snuggle. She enjoys being the center of attention and will let you know she wants to be petted by leaning into you and giving you lots of kisses. Marge walks great on a leash and gets along with other dogs. She has a cuddly personality that would be a great fit for a warm and loving family!

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. 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. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

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: Air Mail From Monrovia

Air mail service from Monrovia: From left to right, Postmaster Frank Bole, Assistant Postmaster Eve Harvey, and Pilot Danny Moran. 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

Teen Suicide Prevention Webinars

The Monrovia school district is encouraging parents of teens to attend a free Zoom webinar and Facebook Live event (English April 20, Spanish April 21) that will provide information about suicide prevention, including warning signs, how to have a conversation with their teen, actions to take if their teen is having suicidal thoughts. Details: https://tny.im/wiljA

- Brad Haugaard

Chicken and Beer Restaurant

A Korean style restaurant called Chicken and Beer, will be opening on the east side of Myrtle just south of the theater.

- Brad Haugaard 

School District May Let County Use MHS Cafeteria as Voting Center

At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/9qFlf) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

~  An agreement with the LA County Registrar/Recorder to let the county use the Monrovia High School Cafeteria as a voting center. https://tny.im/r2k88

~  Authorizing an updated job description for the position of Director of Performing Arts. https://tny.im/9B7o1

~ Naming April 24-30, 2022 as Administrative Professionals (Secretaries) Week and Wednesday, April 27, 2022 as Administrative Professionals (Secretaries) Day. https://tny.im/eFYgW

- Brad Haugaard

Ask an Arborist, and Tree Care Tips

For Earth Day & Arbor Day on April 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Grow Monrovia will host "Ask an Arborist" at the Maryknoll Sisters property at Norumbega and Greystone. Ask an arborist about mature trees and attend a workshop on tree planting techniques. New shade trees will be given to residents for front yards and fruit trees given out for community spaces such as churches.

Speaking of trees, some tree watering tips for our current drought:

- Trees are an investment. It will cost more time, money and water to replace a mature tree lost to drought than to keep one alive.

- Poke a hole in the soil with a long screwdriver. If you can't poke a hole of at least 6 inches, it's time to water.

- Avoid pruning or fertilizing during dry seasons. Pruning stresses trees and fertilizer encourages leafy growth which requires more water.

 - Mulch around trees helps keep the moisture from evaporating and will not compete for water.

- Longer and slower soaks can allow water to penetrate deeper into the soil. Use a hose timer to avoid overwatering and run-off.

- Brad Haugaard

Canyon Park Volunteers Honored; Earth Day Celebration; Police Hiring; Free $1,000 a Month ... Maybe


In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports:

~ Canyon Park volunteers honored - Spirit Award: Ed Cunningham, Doug Elson. Volunteer of the Year: Bonny Hidas. Through wildfires, rain and wind storms, and the pandemic "they have been there every step of the way to rebuild our parks, lead virtual programs, and help find ways to keep or public informed and updated about Canyon Park recovery."

~ The Monrovia Canyon Park team will host Celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 22, at 4 p.m., at Library Park. Activities for all ages, including arts and crafts, information booths, a scavenger hunt and giveaways.

~ The city is hiring a Police Services Representative, full-time - $43,575.41 - $58,395.22 annually. Details: https://tny.im/OJDQS

~  If you could use an extra $1,000 a month, LA County is launching "Breathe," a "guaranteed income program" that will provide just that ... providing you live in the right place (not above Foothill) and your income is low. Also, it is only guaranteed if you are selected in a random drawing. Other rules, too. Apply here: https://tny.im/jankV

- Brad Haugaard

New School Plans to Locate Behind St. Luke's Church


At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/BRYP) the Monrovia Planning Commission will consider approving two mobile classroom units to be placed on an existing school campus on the east side of the St. Luke's Episcopal Church building on Wildrose Avenue. Oasis Trilingual Community School (Mandarin, Spanish and English) wants to relocate from its current campus in Temple City to the larger facility at St. Luke's. The staff report says the site has been used for educational purposes for more than 50 years and city staff recommends approval. https://tny.im/boN5O

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 29 More Cases, No More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 04/06/2022. Changes since 03/30/2022.

City of Monrovia: 8,238 cases (up 29), 101 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 862 cases (up 1), 4 deaths (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Vehicle Rear-Ends a Semi; Homeless Woman Has Baby in Abandoned Business; Apartment Owner Bilked of $300,000; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 31 – April 6. - Brad Haugaard]


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 391 service events, resulting in 82 investigations.

Municipal Code Violation
March 31 at 10:57 a.m., a caller at a park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle reported an adult male was yelling profanities at her and followed her to her vehicle. She was scared and drove directly to the police station. An officer investigated the incident and submitted a criminal complaint to the City Attorney’s Office.

Commercial Burglary
March 31 at 6:15 p.m., an officer went to a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington regarding the theft of a sensor. The investigation revealed that the suspect walked into the business and cut the wire to the sensor that removes security tags from items. Once the suspect removed the sensor, he walked out of the business. A week prior, a different sensor was stolen from one of the registers by a different suspect. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Tampering
March 31 at 7:56 p.m., an officer responded to the 1000 block of Royal Oaks regarding a vehicle burglary. An investigation revealed that the suspect(s) had gained entry into the vehicle and damaged the steering column. Multiple wires were exposed, but no items are believed to have been stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
March 31 at 11:06 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Duarte and Enterprise Way regarding an injury traffic collision. One of the vehicles was traveling eastbound on Duarte, when she made an unsafe turning movement, causing her to collide into the rear of a semi-truck. The front portion of her vehicle went underneath the semi-truck. As a result of the impact the driver sustained lacerations to her head. She was treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital.

Injury Traffic Collison
March 31 at 11:58 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of California and Evergreen regarding an injury traffic collision between a vehicle and a motorcyclist. The motorcyclist was ejected and complained of pain to his chest and knee. Paramedics arrived and transported him to a local hospital.

Vandalism
April 1 at 8:38 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of Shamrock and Colorado regarding a stop sign that had been vandalized with graffiti. Upon arrival, an officer saw the stop sign had been spray-painted. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 1 at 1:10 p.m., officers responded to a grand theft that had just occurred at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and detained a female suspect. Further investigation revealed she had a felony warrant for assault against a peace officer out of Illinois, with full extradition. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting
April 1 at 3:54 p.m., officers responded to a shoplifting that had just occurred at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. Officers were unable to locate the suspect, who fled on foot prior to their arrival. This investigation is continuing.

Battery – Suspect Arrested
April 1 at 7:47 p.m., an officer patrolling the 300 block of S. Myrtle saw a large group of juveniles in the park. Within the group there were three juveniles fighting. Officers detained several juvenile and arrested one of the juveniles for battery. The other juvenile involved in the flight fled the scene. The detained juvenile was issued a citation. This investigation is continuing.

Drinking in Public – Suspect Arrested
April 1 at 9:19 p.m., while investigating a separate call for service in the 100 block of W. Foothill, officers noticed a juvenile subject drinking an alcoholic beverage in public. The subject was arrested and released with a citation.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 2 at 2:48 p.m., an officer near the intersection of Ivy and Lime observed a vehicle swerving in the roadway. A traffic stop was conducted. Officers contacted the driver and during their investigation, determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department Jail for a sobering period.

Grand Theft Auto
April 2 at 12:08 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 400 block of E. Foothill regarding a vehicle stolen from the location. The vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Theft
April 2 at 12:52 p.m., two separate elderly victims reported having their wallets stolen while shopping at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. Both victims said they were carrying their purse over their shoulder, and didn’t noticed their wallet had been stolen until they went to check-out their groceries. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested
April 2 at 7:18 p.m., a caller in the 1200 block of S. Myrtle advised he could hear a sawing sound coming from a parking lot in the area. Officers arrived and located a subject in a vehicle with a catalytic converter in the floorboard and cutting tools in the rear portion of the vehicle. During the investigation, officers noticed a parked van nearby that was missing the catalytic converter. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrants – Suspect Arrested
April 3 at 12:03 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation near the intersection of Magnolia and Evergreen. A traffic stop was conducted and further investigation revealed the driver had several outstanding warrants for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrants and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for booking.

Medical Assist
April 3 at 5:12 a.m., officers responded to an abandoned business in the 100 block of W. Pomona regarding a female transient who had just delivered a baby inside the location. Officers arrived and confirmed the female subject, who was homeless was staying inside the business, delivered a baby girl. Paramedics arrived and transported the mother and child to a local hospital for further treatment.

Vehicle Burglary
April 3 at 9:02 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of W. Olive called to report that his vehicle was broken into sometime during the night. The owner's wallet was taken and his credit card was also used at a nearby restaurant. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
April 3 at 8:55 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1200 block of Sherman regarding someone breaking a window. Upon arrival officers checked the property, but the suspect was no longer there. There was damage to the front door window, the north living room window and the suspect also keyed the caller’s vehicle while it was parked in the driveway. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 4 at 1:19 a.m., a male subject was contacted in a park in the 1600 block of S. Primrose for being there after hours. Further investigation revealed that the subject had a no bail warrant for a parole violation. The subject was arrested per the authority of the warrant and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for booking.

Grand Theft
April 4 at 8:15 a.m., a victim in the 1100 block of S. Primrose called to report the catalytic converter on her vehicle had been taken sometime during the evening and early morning hours. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
April 4 at 9:56 a.m., a caller in the 1000 block of Royal Oaks said sometime over the weekend, his Honda Civic was stolen from the location. It was parked in an open parking area. The vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
April 4 at 12:19 p.m., a driver in the intersection of Huntington and Mountain called to request an officer come by to help with the exchange of information due to a traffic accident. One of the vehicles rear ended the other vehicle. An investigation revealed that one of the driver’s was unlicensed. The driver at fault was issued a citation for being unlicensed and for traveling at an unsafe speed.

Fraud
April 4 at 1:03 p.m., a victim from the 100 block of Sutter Creek reported a fraud. The victim owns apartments in a neighboring city. His business bank account was found to have numerous fraudulent charges totaling approximately $300,000. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
April 4 at 3:47 p.m., a caller stated she parked her vehicle at a parking lot in the 700 block of W. Huntington. She went into the store and when she came out saw that the vehicle’s window was smashed. It is unknown exactly what was taken. This investigation is continuing.

Death Report
April 4 at 5:13 p.m., paramedics responded to a residence in the 300 block of the S. Primrose for a medical assist. The subject was pronounced deceased, and officers responded to conduct a death investigation report. The investigation revealed that the elderly female at the location had passed away from what appeared to be natural causes. The coroner was advised and they authorized the release to the mortuary.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 5 at 6:21 a.m., officers went to a park in the 300 block of S. Myrtle to serve multiple warrants on a known male subject who was camping out for an extended period of time. He was arrested per the authority of the warrants and taken into custody.

Fraud
April 5 at 1:41 p.m., a caller in the 400 block of W. Palm reported that their father had been scammed into purchasing approximately $10,000 in store gift cards and giving the card numbers to a subject over the phone. The store’s security had flagged the suspicious activity and canceled the cards preemptively.

Vehicle Theft
April 5 at 2:12 p.m., a caller stated he arrived at a residence in the 300 block of Norumbega to do landscaping. He had equipment in his truck and while he was away from the truck someone stole multiple landscaping tools. Surveillance footage was retrieved. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Wanted
April 5 at 8:36 p.m., a female victim reported that she had been battered by her husband in the 200 block of Montana. The suspect fled in a vehicle before officers arrived. Officers check several possible addresses for the suspect, but they were unable to locate him. An emergency protective order was entered into the system. This investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation
April 6 at 8:43 a.m., a female caller in the 900 block of W. Foothill reported that she was experiencing a panic attack. Officers arrived and after speaking to the female, she told the officers she was thinking about harming herself. The female was taken to a local mental hospital for treatment.

Theft
April 6 at 3:20 p.m., an employee from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called to report that a subject had just stolen several items from the location and was last seen walking away from the location. Officers arrived and checked the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Activity
April 6 at 3:59 p.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of S. Peck to the location on a report of a possible transient setting up some type of encampment. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject. A consent search revealed he had illegal drugs in his possession. He was issued a citation for the violation and the drugs were seized. He took his belongings and moved on.

Violation of Court Order
April 6 at 4:02 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of W. Palm called to say there was a female at the location who was not supposed to be there. There was an expired restraining order on record. She no longer lives at the location and had been told to not return. The resident at the location desired prosecution. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence / Injury Traffic Collision
April 6 at 5:39 p.m., a caller stated a vehicle in the area of California and Colorado was swerving on the roadway. The vehicle then struck a parked vehicle. Officers arrived and could see visible injuries on the driver. Paramedics were requested. While waiting for them to arrive, the officer spoke to the driver and he admitted he had been drinking alcohol that day. Due to the injuries, the driver was transported to the hospital.