Parking Enforcement Resumes in Monrovia

Beginning on Friday, Aug. 6, the Monrovia Police Department will resume parking enforcement for Timed Parking. Please pay attention to all posted signs when choosing your next parking spot, especially noting the time allocated for parking.

 The City has ample free parking, including on-street parking, ten designated public parking lots, and two public parking garages in Old Town. View a full list of parking locations in Old Town Monrovia here: https://is.gd/H6a2ie

If you have any questions, contact the Parking Enforcement Office at 256-8083.

Source: Monrovia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard

Fifth Neighborhood Treasure Unveiling August 7 - Airman Leroy Criss

Neighborhood Treasure unveiling and block party celebration for Tuskegee Airman, Leroy "Buster" Criss at the corner of Maple and Ivy Saturday, August 7, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Criss is the fifth Neighborhood Treasure honoree. There will be an art unveiling and a block party celebration to follow. The event is free and open to the public. For questions email map@ci.monrovia.ca.us or call 932-5525. https://is.gd/F9PNby

- Brad Haugaard

Free Back-To-School Backpacks

The Eta Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will give away backpacks to local school children at Assemblymember Chris Holden's 41st Assembly District Office at 600 N. Rosemead Blvd. in Pasadena on Saturday, July 31, from 9 - 11 a.m. RSVP here: https://is.gd/OWdX5z

- Brad Haugaard

Energetic Penelope Loves Her Doggy Pool

Penelope is an energetic dog who loves being outside and splashing around in her doggy pool! This beautiful dog is one year old and would do best in active home that can provide her with lots of fun and enrichment. Penelope is specifically looking for a home where she can be cared for in the safety of an enclosed yard with ample food, water, shelter, and love. If you can provide Penelope with a safe outdoor home and all the attention and care she needs, she may be the ideal dog for you!

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

Monrovia School Superintendent Reports On His First Two Weeks

My first two weeks serving as your superintendent have been fantastic! I have truly enjoyed visiting each of our schools, meeting students, teachers and staff, community members, and attending community events.

Our summer programs have gone extremely well, and it has been great seeing our students have fun while learning. Thanks to our teachers, staff, and partners at the Boys and Girls Club, for working hard to make these programs possible. As we move closer to the official start of the school year on Wednesday, August 18, I want to share some information about some important topics that we are working to address.

 

AB 104: Retention, Grade Changes, and Exemptions
Assembly Bill 104, now law, creates a range of options to accommodate K-12 students who struggled during the 2020-21 academic year when distance learning disrupted classroom routines. These include allowing students to retake their grade level under certain circumstances and the ability for high school students to change letter grades to “pass” or “no pass.” High school juniors and seniors in 2020-2021 not on track for graduation, may also be exempt from certain graduation requirements or have the option to complete coursework through credit recovery, a fifth year of high school, or other means.

 

Independent Study
Governor Newsom recently signed legislation requiring districts to offer independent study as an educational option for parents who prefer this kind of learning model or who are uncomfortable with sending their students back to school due to concerns about COVID-19. Mountain Park School continues to serve MUSD students and families who are interested in an independent study program.

 

Updated COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines for Schools
The California Department of Public Health recently released its latest guidelines for COVID-19 prevention in schools. Some key takeaways from the new guidelines are: 1) masks do not need to be worn outside, 2) students must wear masks when indoors, 3) adults must wear masks indoors with students regardless of vaccination status, and 4) previous physical distancing requirements have been removed. Throughout the pandemic, MUSD has always followed public health guidelines and will continue to do so.

 

Chromebooks for Students
We are also finalizing plans to ensure that every student in grades TK-12 has a Chromebook for the start of the school year that can be used both at school and at home. Integrating Chromebooks into our classrooms presents an opportunity for us to continue to personalize and accelerate learning. Providing access to Chromebooks also allows for learning to continue beyond classroom walls.

 

At the July 28 meeting of the Board of Education at 7:00 pm, additional information about all these topics will be shared. For information about how to watch the meeting, please click here.

 

Wishing you all a safe and great summer,

 

 

Ryan D. Smith, Ed.D.

Superintendent - Monrovia Unified School District

A Moment in Monrovia History: Real Estate Office in 1887

Monroe & Pile Real Estate Office January 1, 1887. See full details here. From the Myron Hotchkiss collection.

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

Police Report on Fatal Crash on Magnolia

Monrovia Police press release on fatal crash at the north end of Magnolia Ave.:

"On Sunday, July 18, at 6:51 a.m., a male adult motorist was traveling alone, north in the 400 – 500 blocks of N. Magnolia. According to witnesses the driver was traveling approximately 100 MPH. The posted speed limit is 25 MPH. The vehicle struck a curb, then overturned and caught fire. The driver did not survive the collision. No other persons were injured from this collision. The Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) from Arcadia PD responded to assist with the investigation. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Investigators also responded. The investigation will determine if other associated factors were present other than speed."

- Brad Haugaard

Pickup Truck Hits Wall and Burns

According to early information, A pick up truck traveling at a high rate of speed up Magnolia Avenue about 7 a.m. today ran directly into a wall at the north end of the street and exploded, sending a cloud of smoke into the air and drawing police and firefighters from Monrovia and Arcadia to the scene.

- Brad Haugaard 

View The Moon Tonight With Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers

Monrovia's Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be letting people peek through their telescopes at about 8 p.m. today in Library Park, at the corner of Lime and Myrtle. The group reports that, "We will mainly have the Moon tonight. Venus sets shortly after sunset, and Saturn rises about 9 p.m. (although it will take some time to clear the buildings)."

- Brad Haugaard

More Study on Starbucks/Chick-fil-A Project; Dog Park And Other Issues

At its next meeting (https://is.gd/WTT8t9) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Likely put off until later the main item on the agenda, granting a conditional use permit to construct a Starbucks and Chick-fil-A at the current Claim Jumper site. City staff is recommending waiting until the August 3 meeting "to allow the applicant and staff to submit additional information for City Council review" and because "the applicant is also exploring options to address concerns raised at the public hearing." That main concern seems to be the fate of an old sycamore (I think it was) tree on the site. An independent arborist will report on this. https://is.gd/zdDvU6

~ Review directives (https://is.gd/wTzrW3) the council has given staff:

• Do outreach and planning related to a dog park.
• Request a meeting with District Attorney Gascon to discuss his Special Directives. 
• Place rotating mayor issue on June 2022 ballot.
• Have staff "discourage" the use of non-native palm trees on development projects.
• Find out what happens if the main San Gabriel Valley aquifer drops further.
• Council to resume in-person meetings on September 7.
• Consider a plaque in council chambers to honor Pam Fitzpatrick. 

- Brad Haugaard

Artist Alley Gallery Reopens With July 25 Artist Reception at Community Center

The public is invited to a free Artist Reception on Sunday, July 25, from 2 to 5 p.m. featuring works by four MAFA artists installed on the walls of the Monrovia Community Center:

Jarrett Camp - Pointilism and stipple art

Roy Chang - Photography

Sharon Romero - Mosaic

Keith Slover - Watercolor and ink illustration

Students from Clifton Middle School's Arts Academy have also been invited to display their art.

Rivanis Baking Company will provide a delicious spread of treats and hors d'oeuvres and Wine of the Month Club has donated the adult beverages.

Reception guests will enjoy the sounds of live music from Lobo Reese, a Monrovia-based musical ensemble playing rock, surf, jazz and bossa nova gems.

From July 25 until Oct. 23, the artwork will be on display and for sale on the walls during the Center's opening hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 119 W. Palm Ave.

Coming this fall: Join us for the next Artist Reception on Oct. 24 featuring these MAFA artists' work, displayed until Jan. 30, 2022:

Melissa Ahaus - Oil and acrylic painting

Jeni Bate - Mixed media painting

Traci Loving - Mixed media art

John Parker - Graphite and ink art

Source: Press release from Monrovia Association of Fine Arts

- Brad Haugaard

Where Did Orphan Bear Cub Go?

On the Nextdoor social media website, Monrovian Kim Collins reports that an apparently orphaned bear cub is wandering around the Lincoln/Madison/5th Avenue area. 

She adds that the California Department of Fish & Wildlife has confirmed that there is room for the cub at its rehab center, but where has the critter gotten to?

Collins says that if you see the cub send a text regarding its exact location and time to Rebecca Barboza, Biologist at Fish & Game: (562) 754-9741, letting her know it's an update regarding orphaned cub in North Monrovia.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia To Help Pay For Bikes, Bike Parts; Also, Weekly Bike Rider Raffles

Using the bicycle route tracking map.

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

The city has launched a new GoMonrovia website, here: https://gomonrovia.com/

... and a new program - as part of GoMonrovia - to encourage bicycle use. It is called Biking for Bucks and provides reimbursements to those who live or work in Monrovia "for purchases related to bicycle transportation and accessories." There will also be weekly raffles to encourage people to ride their bikes and share their activity on a bicycling map, shown above.

- Brad Haugaard

Teen Scene Program Is Back

- Brad Haugaard

Have Coffee With a Cop

(That's the Starbucks at the corner of Huntington and Magnolia.)

- Brad Haugaard