Dinner at Copper Still Grill

Dinner at Copper Still Grill, on the east side of Myrtle just south of Colorado. Got Grandma‘s Meatloaf for $15, substituting the mashed potatoes with sautéed vegetables, and a beer for $4.95. Lots of food. Had to take half of it home. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia High and Clifton Awarded Grants for Music Programs

Monrovia High School and Clifton Middle School have been awarded grants by the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, facilitated by the schools' Band Boosters. MHS received $10,000 to enhance coaching and educational opportunities for its music ensembles, while Clifton got $5,000 for new uniforms. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Rayne - An Affectionate Bundle of Energy and Love

Rayne is a delightful two-year-old Pit Bull mix with a heart as big as her affectionate nature. Rayne is a bundle of energy and love, ready to shower her forever family with endless kisses and tail wags.

Rayne is more than just a pretty face; she's a smart cookie too! Her eagerness to learn and please makes her a joy to train, whether it's mastering basic commands or picking up new tricks.

With a bit of patience and positive reinforcement, Rayne will quickly become your four-legged star pupil, eager to show off her skills at every opportunity.

Rayne is a soft-hearted sweetheart who thrives on love and attention. She adores snuggling up on the couch for movie nights or joining you on outdoor adventures, soaking up every moment spent with her beloved humans. Rayne may want to be the only dog in the household, but her big personality will make it seem like she’s ten dogs!

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30, and can be scheduled online. 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

School Board Member Wants State to Allow District Voters Option to Choose At-Large Elections

Monrovia School Board Member Maritza Travanti just posted on X (formerly Twitter) that: “I’m asking our CA legislators to take another look at CVRA [California Voting Rights Act] & consider an amendment to allow for  communities to vote whether they want at-large or district voting. The bill should not be one size fits all.”

To comply with California state law, the Monrovia School District is planning to have district elections for school board members, with each district selecting one member for the Board of Education. This would begin with the next election in November.

- Brad Haugaard 

A Moment in Monrovia History: Construction of Dam Above Monrovia

The dam above Monrovia's Canyon Park under construction around 1928. 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

Tabletop Game Night for Adults, Friday at Library

Tabletop Game Night for adults at Monrovia Public Library this Friday, May 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Play new and social games, meet new people, and have fun. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Create a Nature Journal at Library Park

Create a nature journal in Library Park, tomorrow, May 7, 6-7 p.m. Supplies provided while the last, but bring your own materials for a personal touch. This is an outdoor event, so bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket for comfortable seating on the grass. Register here. For more information email jmushisky@ci.monrovia.ca.us or call 256-8264. 

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Consider How to Divide District for School Board Elections

At a Monday, May 6, meeting (agenda here) the Monrovia School Board will hold a public hearing about how to geographically divide up the school district into sections, each of which will vote for one board member. Details. It will also will adopt a resolution indicating its criteria for dividing up the district. More details.

Then, at its Wednesday, May 8, meeting (agenda here), it will declare May 7 as National Day of the Teacher, and May 6-10, as National Teacher Appreciation Week. Details.  Also, May 8, as National School Nurse Day, and May 19 - 25, as Classified School Employee Week. 

- Brad Haugaard

Council to Consider Norumbega House, Homelessness, Etc.

At its next meeting (agenda here) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider approving a plan to add a 3,758 square foot, two-story, single-family residence with an attached 1,348 square foot four-car garage on a a 1.295-acre lot 545 Norumbega Drive. Details. 

~ Hold a study session to discuss the county's Pathway Home “Interim Housing” Project, which is designed to help transition from  homelessness to permanent housing, and  discuss program goals for historic preservation. Details.

~ Proclaim May as Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 

- Brad Haugaard

Firefighters Pancake Breakfast May 11

Monrovia Fire and Rescue will host its annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, May 13, from 7 to 11 a.m. at Fire Station 101 (141 E. Lemon Avenue). The event features pancakes, a Jr. Firefighter challenge, raffles, displays, and live demonstrations. Tickets are $5 at the event, with proceeds benefiting local charities. For questions, call (626) 256-8181.

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Offers Mental Health Assistance

Monrovians can now access Care Solace for free assistance in finding local mental health and substance treatment services, without using 911. This 24/7 service, funded by the city, offers a concierge to help navigate care options, handle insurance, and book appointments. Support for more than 200 languages.

Here's how it works:

• Call (888) 515-7881 or visit the Care Solace website
• Complete a brief screening
• Get matched and book an appointment

- Brad Haugaard 

Brush Clearance Inspections Start July 14

Monrovia's Fire and Rescue team will begin conducting brush clearance inspections on July 15. The city has partnered with Athens Services to provide roll-off bins to make clearing out brush easier. You can start making arrangements for brush disposal as early as May 1. Click here for more information.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Traffic Violation Leads to Arrest for Domestic Violence; Car Repo Person Battered; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 25 – May 1. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 510 service events, resulting in 79 investigations.

Vandalism
April 25 at 1:19 a.m., employees from a business in the 300 block of W. Foothill reported that an unknown subject threw a rock through the window. The subject was gone prior to officers’ arrival. This investigation is continuing. 

Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
April 26 at 12:58 a.m., an officer patrolling the area of Myrtle and Pomona saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. A traffic stop was conducted and the officer made contact with the driver. A computer search revealed the driver was unlicensed and the passenger was wanted by the Arcadia Police Department. The passenger arrested and taken into custody. 

Trespass – Suspect Arrested
April 26 at 10:37 a.m., a caller in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a subject who was refusing to leave. Officers arrived and the subject left. Officers were called back and the subject was arrested and taken into custody. 

Drug Possession – Suspect Arrested
April 26 at 7:31 p.m., while patrolling the area of Primrose and Linwood an officer saw a bicyclist in violation of a vehicle code. The bicyclist was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
April 26 at 7:54 p.m., in the area of Huntington and Magnolia, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a vehicle code violation. Further investigation revealed the driver had an outstanding felony warrant out of Monrovia for Domestic Violence. The subject was arrested and booked before bonding out. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
April 28 at 1:12 a.m., an officer patrolling the area of Ivy and Chestnut saw a motorist commit a traffic violation and conducted a traffic stop. The officer made contact with the driver who displayed symptoms of being under the influence. A DUI investigation confirmed that the driver was under the influence. He was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period. 

Residential Burglary
April 28 at 1:25 p.m., a resident in the 1300 block of S. Fifth reported a burglary that had occurred two weeks prior. This investigation is continuing. 

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
April 28 at 6:54 p.m., a caller in the area of Mountain and Central reported a non-injury traffic collision between two vehicles. Officers arrived and cited the party who was found to be at fault. 

Petty Theft / Credit Card Fraud
April 28 at 7:06 p.m., a customer of a store in the 600 block of W. Huntington discovered someone stole her wallet while she was inside the store and the suspect had made several fraudulent transactions. This investigation is continuing. 

Grand Theft Auto
April 29 at 2:10 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of E. Greystone reported his vehicle stolen. Officers searched the area for the vehicle, but could not locate it. This investigation is continuing. 

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
April 29 at 8:57 a.m., officers were patrolling the 200 block of E. Evergreen and located two subjects inside an abandoned residence. One of the subjects was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested, cited, and released in at the scene. 

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
April 29 at 11:31 a.m., while patrolling the area of Duarte and Shamrock an officer saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The driver was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested, cited, and released at the scene. 

Vehicle Burglary
April 29 at 3:43 p.m., a resident in the 1300 block of Orange called to report that his vehicle had been ransacked overnight and tools were taken. This investigation is continuing. 

Injury Traffic Collision
April 29 at 8:42 p.m., an officer patrolling the area of Duarte and Magnolia saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation and cause a traffic collision. One of the parties complained of pain, but refused medical treatment. 

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
April 30, at 2:03 p.m., while patrolling the area of Myrtle and Pomona an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a violation. The driver admitted to being in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Vehicle Burglary
April 30 at 3:03 p.m., a resident in the 1700 block of S. Mayflower walked into the MPD lobby to report his wallet and credit cards stolen out of his vehicle. The credit cards were used at several locations before they were canceled. This investigation is continuing. 

Battery
May 1 at 10:12 a.m., a battery was reported in the 900 block of Norumbega. Officers arrived and determined that the victim was attempting to repossess the suspect’s vehicle and the suspect battered the victim. This investigation is continuing. 

Vandalism
May 1 at 10:38 a.m., an employee of a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill called to report that one of their windows had been broken overnight. This investigation is continuing. 

Trespassing / Warrant Arrest – Suspect Arrested
May 1 at 3:06 p.m., a restaurant in the 800 block of W. Huntington called to report a subject was trespassing. Officers, made contact with the subject, and confirmed that he was in violation of a trespass authorization form. A computer search revealed the subject had two warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody. 

Vehicle Fire
May 1 at 8:50 p.m., a vehicle fire was reported in the 900 block of E. Huntington. Officers and MFD arrived to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. This investigation is continuing. 

Got Ice Cream at Moo Moo Mia

Stopped by Moo Moo Mia, an ice cream shop on the west side of Myrtle just across from the theater. Got a Peanut Butter Oreo scoop for $5.25 in a waffle bowl for an extra $1.15. Yummy!

- Brad Haugaard

Children's Star Wars-Themed Art At Library Saturday, May 4

Craft-tastic Star Wars-themed art event at the Library on May 4, from noon to 2 p.m. For children aged 6-11. No registration required. Children can make and take home a craft celebrating "May the Fourth." For more information email atolmasoff@ci.monrovia.ca.us or call 256-8274.

- Brad Haugaard

Current Local Job Opportunities - May

Here are links to the latest job opportunities for Monrovia:

Monrovia School District 

City of Monrovia 

Private 

There is also a group called Monrovia Works. Search for it on Facebook and ask to join it.

- Brad Haugaard

Prayer at Fellowship Church on National Day of Prayer

Monrovia’s Fellowship Church will be open for corporate prayer from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Thursday, May 2, for the National Day of Prayer. The church, at 401 E. Huntington, will be praying for the world, our country, community, and the church. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Goofy Rhino Just Wants to Be Your Friend

Gentle and affectionate Rhino just wants to be your best friend! This handsome and goofy boy is just over a year old and very entertaining. He seems to have a wide-eyed wonderment of the world- every day brings something new and exciting!

Rhino is surprisingly mellow for a dog his age- he walks well on leash and just leans into you for as many pets as you can give him. He also responds very well to training and understands when it’s time to calm down.  

Rhino was recently out with the mobile outreach team and he had a great day out- meeting tons of new people, soaking up attention from kids and getting belly rubs. He’s also been on a couple field trips with the Pasadena Humane volunteers. He’s an avid hiker and is up for any adventure.

Come meet your new BFF, Rhino, today!

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.  

Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30, and can be scheduled online. 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 

Veterans Thank You Dinner Wednesday, May 1

Registration here. 

- Brad Haugaard

Family Feud Night at the Library Friday, May 3

Family Feud Night at the Library on Friday, May 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Open to teens and adults aged 13 and up. Register here. For more information email cescobedo@ci.monrovia.ca.us or call 256-8265.

- Brad Haugaard