New Year’s Eve on Myrtle


It’s about 52 degrees on Myrtle, not very cold,  and the New Year’s Eve party is just getting started. The band is playing at the intersection of Myrtle and Lemon. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 292 More Cases, No More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 12/29/2021. Changes since 12/22/2021.

City of Monrovia: 4,598 cases (up 292), 87 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 504 cases (up 30), 1 death (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Motorcyclist Fleeing Cops Not Clever Enough; Woman Punches Grandpa; Son Hits Father; Son Stabs Stepfather; Husband Hits Wife; Driver Wearing Brass Knuckles; and More

 [Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 23 – December 29. - Brad Haugaard]


During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 347 service events, resulting in 61 investigations.

Commercial Burglary
December 23 at 5:03 p.m., an employee in the 600 block of W. Huntington called to report that four male subjects entered the business, used a hammer to smash a display case, and took several cell phones. They left the location and entered a vehicle. The vehicle left the parking lot and went west on Huntington, out of sight. This investigation is continuing.

Felony Evading – Suspect Arrested
December 24 at 10:38 a.m., an officer observed a motorcyclist make a traffic violation in the Chestnut and Monterey area. He attempted to pull over the motorcycle, but the rider fled. A short pursuit ensued and multiple traffic violations were observed. For safety reasons the pursuit was terminated by the officer. The driver pulled into an apartment complex moments after the pursuit was terminated. A containment was establishment and eventually the motorcycle and driver were located. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto – Recovery
December 24 at 2:13 p.m., a resident from Duarte called and informed the Monrovia Police Department that her vehicle was reported stolen out of the City of Duarte on 12/14/21. While driving in the area of Cherry and California she located her vehicle parked. An officer responded and located the vehicle. The vehicle was unoccupied, removed from the system, and returned to the owner.

Elder Abuse – Suspect Arrested
December 24 at 8:18 p.m., officers responded to a family disturbance in the 400 block of W. Palm and learned a female suspect had punched her 74 year-old grandfather in the face causing profuse bleeding. After investigation, the female was arrested and taken into custody.

Battery
December 25 at 2:45 a.m., a fight between a father and his son was reported in the 100 block of S. Canyon. The father was transported to a local hospital with an injury. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
December 25 at 4:55 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a welfare check regarding a subject passed out behind the wheel of a car in front of a store in the 400 block of W. Foothill. A DUI investigation revealed the subject was driving under the influence. He was taken into custody and held for a sobering period.

Commercial Burglary
December 25 at 7:48 a.m., an employee from a business in the 900 block of W. Duarte called to report that when she arrived to work the front door was smashed and items were missing from inside. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest
December 25 at 8:10 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Fifth and Huntington when he saw a female subject who he recognized from prior contacts. The officer knew she had outstanding warrants for her arrest. The officer confirmed the warrants and detained the female subject. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Weapons Offense/Warrant Arrests
December 25 at 10:24 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Myrtle and Chestnut when he saw a traffic violation. The officer conducted a traffic stop. The driver was wearing brass knuckles and did not have a driver's license. There were two passengers in the vehicle who had outstanding warrants for their arrest. All three subjects were arrested and taken into custody.

Commercial Burglary
December 26 at 2:49 a.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill on a burglary alarm activation. When officers arrived, they discovered the front door was open. Upon further inspection the officers noticed it appeared someone entered the business, but the officers were unable to determine a loss at the time. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant Arrest
December 26 at 7:31 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Royal Oaks and Mountain when he saw a subject jaywalking. The officer detained the individual and discovered he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon
December 27 at 12:34 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of E. Evergreen regarding a stabbing. When officers arrived they discovered the son, who is homeless, arrived and tried to sleep in a vehicle parked in his parents’ front yard. The stepfather and son got into an argument when the son stabbed him, causing a laceration to the bicep and shoulder blade. The suspect fled prior to officers arriving. An area search was conducted, but the suspect managed to evade officers. The father was treated and is expected to survive his injuries. The investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
December 27 at 7:54 a.m., the manager of a business in the 900 block of S. Primrose arrived to work and discovered someone had spray painted graffiti across their building. The graffiti letters were 6 feet tall and the words extended 30 feet across the building. The same graffiti was found in the 600 block of Parker. This investigation is continuing.

Dog Bite
December 27 at 10:18 a.m., the owner of two small dogs reported a pit bull attacked his dogs in the 100 block of W. Palm. Officers responded along with an officer from the Pasadena Humane Society. The owner of the pit bull remained at the location with her dog, which was quarantined. The Pasadena Humane Society will be handling this investigation.

Shoplifting
December 27 at 2:14 p.m., security for a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a male adult had just left the store with merchandise he did not pay for. Officers responded and located the subject nearby. The property was returned to the store and the subject was arrested.

Shoplifting
December 27 at 7:08 p.m., a store in the 700 block of E. Huntington detained a subject for shoplifting. Officers responded and arrested the subject.

Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested
December 27 at 9:23 p.m., officers were dispatched to a retail store in the 700 block of E. Huntington regarding a subject who stole some items and was being followed by store loss prevention. Officers located the subject who was unable to prove his identity, he was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for identification.

Domestic Battery
December 28 at 5:30 a.m., a family disturbance was reported in the 1300 block of S. Alta Vista. Upon arrival, they met an adult female who advised her husband had battered her. The husband fled the scene as officers arrived and was not located. An Emergency Protective Order was obtained for the victim. The case will be sent to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office for filing consideration. At 9:52 am the victim reported her husband had returned to the scene of the crime. Officers responded and located the male suspect driving away. Officers had been actively searching for him. The suspect initially refused to stop for officers, but after a brief vehicle pursuit, the suspect stopped and was taken into custody. In the jail, methamphetamine was discovered in the suspect's wallet.

Hit & Run Collision
December 28 at 7:55 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Walnut discovered a motorist had collided into his car sometime during the night, then fled the scene without calling the police or leaving a note. The caller's vehicle had been legally parked on the street. This investigation is continuing.

Attempt Grand Theft Auto
December 28 at 11:00 a.m., a resident in the 600 block of W. Foothill walked outside his home and discovered someone had forced entry into his vehicle sometime during the night. Officers responded and found the vehicle's ignition system had been tampered with. The suspects fled the area after not being successful in taking the car.

Grand Theft Auto
December 28 at 12:16 p.m., a victim in the 500 block of Diamond discovered someone had stolen his vehicle which had been parked in front of his home. He parked his car at midnight the night before, then went into his home. Officers searched the area for the vehicle, but could not locate it. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
December 28 at 8:35 p.m., a suspect stole merchandise from a retail store in the 700 block of E. Huntington. She was confronted outside by loss prevention and was cooperative. Officers arrested the suspect and released her with a citation.

Vandalism
December 29 at 3:25 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 1600 block of S. Shamrock when he saw fresh gang graffiti spray painted on a wall. The graffiti was reported for removal.

Attempt Grand Theft Auto
December 29 at 5:46 p.m., a customer of a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain walked out after shopping and saw someone inside his vehicle. When he confronted the suspect, the suspect exited the vehicle and ran to a grey Chevrolet Silverado truck, got into the passenger seat and both suspects fled the area. Officers searched the area for the suspects, but could not locate them. The ignition system to the caller's vehicle had been damaged due to the attempt theft. This investigation is continuing.

New Year's Eve Parties; Trash Fees Going Up; Christmas Tree Disposal


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

~ New Year's Eve party on Myrtle, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

~ In addition to the evening celebration, there is NOON Year's Eve at Library Park, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Dec. 31. Activities include live music, arts and crafts, inflatable obstacle course, games and a special countdown to Noon Year's Eve! All ages welcome.

~ Trash collection fees will be going up by 4.61 percent starting January 1. Athens Services, which provides trash collection for Monrovia, is permitted the annual increase in its contract. Typical home rates will increase by $1.56 a month, from $34.91 a month to $36.47. Typical commercial rates will increase by $9.06 a month, from $203.62 to $212.68 per month. 

~  To recycle your Christmas Tree, place it curbside on your regular trash collection day. Remove  ornaments, tinsel, plastic bags, nails, lights, and plastic or metal stands.

- Brad Haugaard

Badly Mangled Article About Monrovian

I noticed an old article about a Monrovian sentenced for a hit-and-run death that appeared in an online publication called California News Times. The story was taken from the Long Beach Press Telegram (which got it right) and pretty badly mangled. Here, for your shock or amusement, is the offending paragraph:

"According to police, Long Beach’s Deler Gorichue, 26, was riding a 2016 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail when the 2006 Toyota Solara medium-sized coupe attacked him. According to the coroner’s office, Gorichue was taken to the UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange and later sentenced to death."

The source: https://tny.im/z7fu4

- Brad Haugaard

No Residential Flooding Yet


Ridgeside and Oakglade. Despite the rain, at 9 a.m. today there was not a trace of mud on the streets below the Bobcat Fire burn area that have been threatened by mudflow. However, there were at least three television news trucks waiting to see what will happen. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Chalksgiving Contest Winners

Here are the winners of Monrovia Association of Fine Arts' Chalksgiving contest, a chalk-on-sidewalk art contest held in late November. Winners were selected on Dec 16.

- Brad Haugaard 

Dinner at Max’s

Dinner at Max’s, on the north side of Huntington kinda across the street from Target. Got the One Soft Taco plate with carnitas for $11.50 and a beer for $7. There was enough filling - and two tortillas - so I made two tacos. Very good!

- Brad Haugaard 

Eve - A Rescue Cat Ready for a Life of Love


One-year-old Eve is a beautiful calico who was rescued from a home with over fifty other cats. Although she’s a little shy in her new environment, Eve is slowly coming out of her shell – she just needs a patient adopter to let her go at her own pace. Eve has had a rough past, but we know her future is bright. She’s ready for a wonderful life full of love!

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


A Moment in Monrovia History: Monrovia's 1911 High School

Postcard of Monrovia's High School in 1911 in the original Ivy Avenue School Building before the second building was added to the campus. 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

Merry Christmas, Monrovia!

A painting I did several years ago.

- Brad Haugaard

More Monrovia Police Assigned to Look for Intoxicated Drivers Through New Year's Day

This holiday season, the Monrovia Police Department would like to remind the public to celebrate the holiday season responsibly by not driving under the influence.

The Monrovia Police Department is committed to keeping our community safe and encourages everyone to stay in for the night or use a designated sober driver if you have alcohol, marijuana, prescription, or over-the-counter drugs that may impair your ability to drive a vehicle.

From Dec. 15 through New Year's Day, the Monrovia Police Department will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The extra enforcement effort is part of a national campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others on the road at risk.

"When it comes to consuming drugs and/or alcohol and driving, there is a right and wrong choice," Lieutenant Kevin Oberon said. "Make the right choice by not driving impaired so everyone is able to enjoy the holidays."

Impaired driving is not just from alcohol, Do your research and understand how certain drugs may affect your driving ability.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Source: Monrovia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard

Sawpit Debris Basin Full

Sawpit Debris Basin in north Monrovia is pretty well topped off with muddy water and debris from the latest rain.

- Brad Haugaard 

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 80 More Cases, Zero More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 12/22/2021. Changes since 12/15/2021.

City of Monrovia: 4,306 cases (up 80), 87 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 474 cases (up 4), 1 death (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Noon Year's Eve Family Event

There will be live music, arts and crafts, an inflatable obstacle course, games, and more.

- Brad Haugaard

Canyon Park Damage Estimated at $10 Million


In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports that the initial estimate of damage to Canyon Park is $10 million. "At this time, staff is preparing plans to: clear out debris; remove silt, sediment and rock from the park, and; begin to repair the damaged infrastructure." The park will remain closed indefinitely.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Car Stolen With Owner Asleep in Back Seat; BMW Driver Escapes Police; Grand Theft Perfume; Drunk Drivers; And More

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 16 – December 22. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 345 service events, resulting in 68 investigations.

Carjacking / Kidnapping
December 16 at 5:14 a.m., a caller near the intersection of Peck and Camino Real advised that he was just the victim of a carjacking. The caller and his girlfriend were asleep in his vehicle and were awakened by the sound of his vehicle starting and driving north on Peck. The victim jumped into the front seat and began wrestling with the male suspect who was driving the vehicle. The vehicle ultimately crashed into the center median in the 100 block of W. Duarte. The suspect got out of the vehicle and ran east out of sight. It appears the suspect was attempting to steal the vehicle and did not know the victims were in the back asleep. This investigation is continuing.

Outside Assist / Mental Evaluation
December 16 at 4:04 p.m., two social workers requested the Monrovia Police Department’s assistance regarding a mental evaluation hold in the 200 block of Jasmine.  Officers arrived and assisted the social workers. When the subject learned he was being placed on a hold, he became argumentative and refused to cooperate. Officers were able to restrain the subject and he was transported to a local hospital without further incident.

Pursuit
December 17 at 3:21 a.m., officers were patrolling the area of Hillcrest and Alta Vista when they saw a white BMW traveling east on Hillcrest passing them at a high rate of speed. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle sped onto the freeway. This investigation is continuing.

Court Order Violation / Warrant – Suspects Arrested
December 18 at 1:47 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of E. Lime called to report a suspicious motorhome parked in a nearby parking lot with several people coming and going. Officers arrived and contacted three subjects they knew from previous encounters. One had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and another was in violation of a domestic violence restraining order. The two were arrested and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
December 18 at 10:25 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 700 block of S. Magnolia. One of the vehicles struck a parked vehicle and then drove around the corner. Officers contacted the driver who displayed signs and symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. The driver refused to cooperate. A warrant was obtained for the driver’s blood. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 18 at 10:51 p.m., officers were patrolling Station Square Park when they observed a subject loitering in the park after hours. Officers contacted the subject and during the investigation discovered he had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail.

Traffic Collision / Hit and Run
December 18 at 10:55 p.m., a vehicle was traveling east on Evergreen when she entered the intersection at Myrtle on a green light. Another driver was traveling south on Myrtle and entered the intersection on a red light and collided into the vehicle. The vehicle at fault fled the scene of the accident before officers’ arrival. This investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
December 19 at 1:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Duarte and Mayflower regarding a driver slumped over the wheel. Upon arrival they contacted the driver and discovered he was displaying symptoms of being under the influence of drugs. The driver refused to submit to any testing. The driver was arrested and transported to a local hospital where a warrant was completed for a blood sample. He was then transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence
December 19 at 2:14 a.m., a driver was traveling east on Foothill when she struck a boulder in the front yard of a residence at Mountain and Foothill. The collision spun the vehicle and came to rest prior to striking the residence. Officers arrived and detected the strong odor of alcohol emitting from her breath. She was disoriented and ultimately transported to a local hospital for treatment, where a blood sample was obtained and the results will be submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys’ Office for DUI charges.

Wanted Person
December 20 at 4:37 am, multiple callers reported that a wanted male was banging on the front door of the female victim's home in the 300 block of E. Palm. He was also yelling for the female to come out of the house. Officers arrived in the area but the male had already fled. This investigation is continuing.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision
December 20 at 4:44 am, a vehicle was traveling northbound in the 700 block of Ridgeside when an oncoming vehicle blinded the driver with its high beams. The driver swerved because she thought the vehicle was going to hit her and crashed into a tree. The driver was not injured.

Commercial Burglary
December 20 at 9:10 a.m., an employee of a convenience store in the 400 block of W. Foothill discovered their private locked office had been burglarized sometime during the night, possibly when the store clerk was helping customers. An unknown amount of money was stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 20 at 2:47 p.m., a caller reported a suspicious male possibly sleeping in his car in the 100 block of N. Alta Vista. Officers arrived and located the subject. An investigation revealed the subject had a felony warrant for a weapons offense. He was arrested.

Drug Activity – Suspect Arrested
December 20 at 3:58 p.m., an employee of a gas station in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle reported a suspicious male subject in front of their store smoking unknown type of drugs from a glass pipe. Officers arrived and located the subject who was in possession of drug paraphernalia that had been used to smoke a controlled substance. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Embezzlement – Suspect Arrested
December 20 at 4:08 p.m., security for a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported that they were detaining an employee who had stolen over $3,000 over the past couple months. Officers responded and after an investigation, placed the suspect under arrest.

Mental Evaluation
December 21 at 8:48 a.m., a male adult subject entered the Monrovia Police Department lobby yelling profanities at personnel. He advised that he has a lot of guns and when asked if he had any with him, he told them that it was none of their business, as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Detectives responded to the lobby from the Detective Bureau to verify the subject was unarmed. He was found with not having any weapons on him. Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and a patrol officer evaluated him to determine if he should be placed on a 72 hour hold, however, he did not meet the criteria.

Wanted Person - Suspect Arrested
December 21 at 12:30 p.m., a mental hospital notified the Monrovia Police Department that they were releasing a subject from their custody after evaluating her for a couple weeks. The subject was wanted by MPD for felony crimes committed two weeks prior. The subject had intentionally burned her mother's house and killed the family dog. Officers responded to the mental hospital in Los Angeles and took custody of the subject.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 21 at 1:40 p.m., a caller reported two motorists collided into one another in the intersection of Foothill and Canyon, and one of the vehicles flipped onto its side. Officers and the Monrovia Fire Department Paramedics responded. The driver of the car on its side had minor injuries from the seatbelt, but did not want to go to the hospital. The driver found to be at fault was issued a citation.

Hate Crime/Battery
December 21 at 8:39 pm, multiple callers reported a fight in progress at a business in the 400 block of W. Foothill, between one of the business employee’s and an intoxicated male subject. Officers arrived and separated the parties. It was learned that the male subject entered the business and called the employee multiple racial slurs. The subject then grabbed the employee and pulled the employee's hair. The subject was arrested.

Driving Under the Influence
December 22 at 1:30 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation in the area of Colorado and Primrose. He stopped the vehicle and learned the driver had been drinking. After field sobriety tests, the Officer arrested the driver for driving under the influence. The driver was arrested and transported to the Monrovia Police Department jail for a sobering period.

Grand Theft
December 22 at 1:38 p.m., a resident in the 1700 block of Alamitas walked outside his home and discovered someone had stolen his work vehicle. Officers searched the area for the vehicle, but could not locate it. It was entered into the Department of Motor Vehicle's stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
December 22 at 6:29 p.m., a witness called to report a theft had just occurred at a store in the 700 block of E. Huntington. Two male suspects entered the store and stole approximately $10,000 worth of merchandise from the fragrance aisle. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
December 22 at 7:27 p.m., employees from a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain contacted the police regarding a suspicious male who stated he was going to "shoot up" the store. Officers responded but could not locate the male. After speaking with employees, it was learned that a crime did not occur. At approximately 2300 hours, the male subject returned to the store and stole a pair of shoes, then fled on foot. Officers detained the male not far from the business. The male was identified by employees and was arrested for shoplifting.

City Releases Photos of Canyon Park


Two (of several) photos of Canyon Park.

The City of Monrovia has published a set of photos of the devastation at Canyon Park, here.

- Brad Haugaard

Donna Baker Awards Eight Bikes to Eight Artists

Eight bicycle winners in Donna McCabe Baker's art contest.

Donna McCabe Baker sponsored a holiday coloring contest for local youngsters. She writes:

“Congratulations to the kids who won my holiday coloring contest! One of the best things I’ve done in a long time! These 8 kids submitted the winning  holiday drawings. I had originally planned on giving away five bikes to the winners, but the kids from Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills entered, too, so I ended up awarding eight! The joy in that room was amazing! Thanks to Steve at @bicyclesam503 for helping me make this happen!”

- Brad Haugaard 

Dinner at The Diplomat

Dinner at The Diplomat, on the north side of Lemon a few feet east of Myrtle. I’m usually a carnivore but decided to give the falafel ($12) a try along with a German beer ($8). The falafel - patties of bean paste deep fried - was tasty and filling. The humus and garlic paste gave it a nice tang. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Jobie is Full of Goofy, Playful Puppy Energy


Ten-month-old Jobie is a large, playful, goofy puppy! He’s very active and loves a good game of chase. Since he’s a puppy, he’s still learning, but he’s very treat-motivated and picks up new things quickly. He’s very curious and loves to greet everyone. If you have experience with bigger dogs and love that playful puppy energy, Jobie may be perfect 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 Quarterback Noah Rodriguez named Offensive Player of the Year

Monrovia High School quarterback Noah Rodriguez has been named Offensive Player of the Year by the sports writers for the Pasadena Star News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Whittier Daily News. The writers also selected Monrovia players Carlos Hernandez, Robert Bush and Jacob Calnon for their ideal All-Area Team. https://tny.im/YNEn2

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Covered Fountain at Library Park

Postcard of the fountain at the entrance to Library Park. 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

School District and Chamber of Commerce Donate Food to Unity Center

School District.

The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce and Monrovia Unified donated food - for people and critters - to the Foothill Unity Center today.


Chamber of Commerce (Photo by Kevin Sullivan.)

- Brad Haugaard

Clifton Students Put On Concert, Perform Elf and A Christmas Carol

Clifton Middle School students put together a Winter Concert in their school auditorium and the Drama Class performed Elf and a condensed version of A Christmas Carol. 

- Brad Haugaard

Scout Camp Above Canyon Park Also Damaged By Storm

Camp Trask, the Boy Scout Camp above Canyon Park, was also hard hit by the storm. Posting on the Trask Scoout Reservation Facebook page, Ranger Anthony wrote that despite the scouts’ “Be Prepared” motto, “all the preparation that was made could not have prepared us.” Supporters have offered to come help make repairs but Anthony said the road through Canyon Park is not usable and a lot of the repair work will need to wait until the first of the year.

- Brad Haugaard 

Canyon Park Damage: Rocks as Big as Minivans, Mud and Debris Everywhere

The road to the ranger station. I got this picture second hand, so I don't know the photographer.

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports that, "on Thursday afternoon, I was able to join staff for a tour of Canyon Park to observe damage from Tuesday's rain storm. It is quite incredible to see the power of water and how it impacted our beloved park. There is mud and debris everywhere. Sections of roadway are gone and culverts are filled in. The stream has cut new paths throughout the park and in some areas, 6-12 feet of earth has been eroded away. There are rocks of all sizes, some as large as minivans, scattered throughout the park. We are already preparing our work to: clear out debris; remove silt, sediment and rock from the park, and; begin to repair the damaged infrastructure. Our work will take a long time so we should all expect the park to be closed indefinitely for a period of time."

- Brad Haugaard

Winners of Holiday Home and Business Decorating Contest


Here are the winners of the Holiday Home and Business Decorating Contest:

Home Winners

  • Best Still Display: 752 Valley View Avenue
  • Best Outdoor Display: 612 W. Palm Avenue
  • Most Effective use of Lighting: 214 S. Alta Vista Avenue
  • Best Neighborhood Effort: 517 Valmont Place & Valmont Drive
  • Santa's Workshop Award: 1128 Carmelita Circle
  • Holiday Spirit Award: 826 Ocean View Avenue
  • Judge's Award: 300 Block of North Alta Vista Avenue
  • Children's Choice Award: 221 Grand Avenue
Business Contest Winners
  • Most Creative Display: Mark Houston Associates, Inc. - 517 S. Myrtle Avenue
  • Best Holiday Spirit: Monrovia Floral - 119 E. Olive Avenue
  • Judge's Award: Dream Décor - 505 S. Myrtle Avenue
  • Most Spectacular Display: Civiltec Engineering - 118 W. Lime Avenue
Map here: https://tny.im/Bq8G


- Brad Haugaard

Tik Tok Friday School Threats Not Credible, Extra Police Anyway

From Superintendent Ryan Smith:

“The Monrovia Unified School District has become aware of troubling posts that have been shared widely this week on the social media platform TikTok. The posts refer to a threat to school safety on Friday, December 17.

“The posts are part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our schools or district and are not specific to Monrovia Unified. We have heard reports from other districts that the same posts are circulating in their communities. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority.

“Additionally, the district has been in contact with the Monrovia Police Department (MPD) regarding this matter. MPD will have an increased presence around our campuses throughout the school day on Friday as an added precaution.”


- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia City Council to Consider Getting Rid of Elected Mayor Position

At its next meeting (agenda: https://tny.im/U3hN) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Consider the wording of a proposed ballot measure that would make the office of mayor a yearly rotating position among the council members. The proposed wording of the ballot measure, which would be voted on at the regular municipal election in 2022, would cause the office of mayor to revert to being a standard city council seat after the expiration of the mayor's term in 2024. https://tny.im/xgxZE

~ Receive and file the 2020-2021 Independent Financial Audit of the Low and Moderate Income Housing Asset Fund and the 2020-2021 Housing Successor Annual Report. https://tny.im/EfIhP

- Brad Haugaard


Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 15 More Cases, Zero More Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 12/15/2021. Changes since 12/8/2021.

City of Monrovia: 4,226 cases (up 15), 87 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 470 cases (up 2), 1 death (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Post Office Gets a New Postmaster


Monrovia's post office is welcoming its new Postmaster, Wayne Truong.

Truong started his postal career in April 1998 as a PTF (part-time, flexible) mail carrier in the city of Glendale. On Dec. 20, 2014 he was promoted to supervisor in the City of Burbank. He then was promoted to be postmaster of a Level 21 Post Office in Tujunga in 2019, and then given an opportunity to be the officer in charge of the Monrovia Post Office. This is an upper level position as the Monrovia Post Office is a Level 22 office. His goal is to continue moving up within the Post Office and manage a Level 24 Post Office. He says his passion and love for the job keep him going and he is always looking for ways to support his employees' growth within the Post Office.

"It's an honor and privilege to be a postmaster," he said. "I plan to create a positive work environment for all my employees and provide a reliable customer service to the Monrovia community "

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Sena

Dinner at Sena, on the west side of Myrtle just south of Lime. It was 52 degrees and we sat outside, but the heater kept us nice and warm. Got the Short Rib Tacos for $12.50 and a beer for $5. Yummy! Very good. 

- Brad Haugaard 

High Water Mark at Sawpit Dam

This picture shows the high water line at Sawpit dam caused by Tuesday’s storm. I spoke with a ranger who said a lot of their cars are trapped in Canyon Park because the mud is covering the road out. He also said that a log was washed into a fire hydrant and broke it open. A lot of work to do. However, there appears to be no damage whatsoever to the nearby residential streets that were threatened. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Marigold is a Cuddle Cat


Two-year-old Marigold is affectionate, gentle, and loves to be petted. She’ll rub against your legs and hands when she wants attention, and loves to be held. She even allows belly rubs! She’ll follow you from room to room to be near you, or cuddle up next to you while you watch a movie. Marigold would be a wonderful companion for someone who wants a little shadow in their life!

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

No Mud Problems for North Monrovia Residences, But Damage to Monrovia Canyon Park

The city reports:

"Thus far, the neighborhoods of Ridgeside Drive and Oakglade Drive have not experienced significant debris or mudflow onto the streets. Throughout the rain event, the Oakglade Debris Basin, a drainage structure, has captured the debris and mudflow. At this time, these neighborhoods remain under an Evacuation Warning."

However ...

"The City of Monrovia has issued a Proclamation of Existence of Local Emergency in response to the rainstorm on December 13 and December 14, 2021, and is activating a virtual Emergency Operation Center. There has been significant movement of mud and debris, along with rocks and boulders, in Monrovia Canyon Park. There is a substantial amount of debris and mudflow within Monrovia Canyon Park causing damage to facilities, roads, parking areas, utility systems and trails. 

"Additionally, staff has identified a broken water main in Monrovia Canyon Park caused by the debris flow. The water system in Monrovia Canyon Park, including the running water in bathrooms and drinking fountains, has been compromised. Monrovia Canyon Park has been closed to the public since Thursday, December 9, and will remain closed indefinitely. Although Monrovia Canyon Park is closed, signs for “Do Not Drink the Water” will be placed within the park until the water main can be repaired."

Details here.

- Brad Haugaard

New School Board President and New Deputy Superintendent


School District Superintendent Dr. Ryan Smith reports that:

The school board has selected Selene Lockerbie as its new president, replacing Maritza Travanti, who served as president for 2021. Also, Traci Gholar was elected as vice president, and Jennifer Anderson as clerk.

The board also welcomed new Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Greg Francois, from the Paramount Unified School District, where he has served for the last fifteen years in various leadership roles including interim assistant superintendent and director.

Superintendent Smith is also from the Paramount school district. 

- Brad Haugaard 

No Sign of Mudflows Yet

As of about 9:15 this morning there is no sign of mudflow on the streets below the Bobcat burn area in north Monrovia. Both Oakdale and Ridgeside are clear. Also, residents appear ready, with mud guard plywood barriers blocking driveways between k-rail.

- Brad Haugaard 

Evacuation Warning for Ridgeside and Oakglade Due to Possible Mudflow

Monrovia has issued an evacuation warning for residents living in the areas of Ridgeside Drive and Oakglade Drive. An Evacuation Warning means that there is potential threat to life and/or property, and those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave now.

The city is providing extra patrols and Public Works is prepared with tractors and dump trucks and the county has cleaned out a lot of the mud in the Sawpit catch dam.

Details here

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia YMCA Reopening January 15, 2022

Santa Anita Family YMCA  Associate Executive Director Rachel Diaz writes to local YMCA members that, "I’m thrilled to let you know that Santa Anita Family YMCA is officially reopening on Saturday, January 15, 2022!"

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: First Baptist Church in 1930s

Postcard of the First Baptist Church c. 1930s. 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

Monrovia Library Gets Super-Rare Book From Historical Society



The Monrovia Public Library is now the only public library in the world to own a copy of a book so rare that only five other libraries in North America – all academic libraries – have a copy.

The book, The March of Progress, was recently donated to the library by the Monrovia Historical Society after it was found tucked away among its possessions. In her organizing efforts, Historical Society board member, Jan Pack, found a box marked “Monroe School PTA,” donated by Joanne Spring, former Monroe School Principal, and a founding president and still a leading force behind Monrovia Reads. Inside were books of minutes, treasurers’ accountings and newspaper clippings. But with these was something she wasn’t expecting, a large but slender work called The March of Progress. The volume had seen better days – the cover was water-stained and the spine was torn – but its inside pages were pristine.

Joanne said she found the PTA box in the basement of Monroe School in the 1990s when the school was being renovated. She took it home to get it out of the way and for safe-keeping, but when she wanted to return it to the PTA executives, they didn't want it. She thought, "'Uh, what shall I do with it now?' I didn't feel comfortable just pitching it but I didn't want to keep it." So she gave it to the Monrovia Historical Society. Therefore, she said, she really didn't "donate" the materials because they were never hers. She said, "I just made sure it wasn't thrown away and if it was going to be thrown away I didn't want to do it."

So anyway, as Jan thumbed through the pages, she found illustrated vignettes highlighting Los Angeles history and saw that the book was published by Times Mirror in 1935. But what really jumped out was a printed notation on the back page: the volume was stamped no. 25 of 500 total copies printed.

The Historical Society Board agreed that the book should be offered to the library, and within a few days of being contacted, Rebecca Elder, the library’s supervisor of adult services, phoned to say she was interested.

Then, within a week, Rebecca reported that The March of Progress is indeed rare, found in only five academic libraries in North America, three in California, one in Arizona, and one in Alberta, Canada. But it is in no public library anywhere in the world.

So, very shortly, The March of Progress will be available among the other books in Monrovia Public Library’s Heritage Room collection.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Video of Baby Bear Wrestling Inflatable Reindeer Makes News

Baby bear wrestles with a blow-up Christmas reindeer figure in Monrovia. The video made it on to CBS Los Angeles news.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Throwing Noodles at Vehicle; Traffic Stop Turns to Child Abuse Arrest; Drunk Driving; Police Respond to Five Fights at High School; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 2 – December 8. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 370 service events, resulting in 67 investigations.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 2 at 9:51 a.m., a caller reported a male subject was loitering in the area of Chestnut and Fifth. Officers arrived and discovered the subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was cited in the field and released.

Vehicle Theft
December 2 at 10:17 a.m., a caller in the 400 block of Genoa reported the tailgate to his truck was stolen sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Throwing Object at a Vehicle – Suspect Arrested
December 2 at 10:34 a.m., a Monrovia Parking Control Officer reported a resident threw a cup of noodles at her vehicle while she was issuing a parking ticket in the 700 block of E. Olive. Officers responded and located the suspect nearby. The suspect was arrested and released with a citation.

Traffic Collision / DUI – Suspect Arrested
December 2 at 10:41 a.m., a three vehicle collision occurred at the intersection of Mayflower and Huntington due to a vehicle running a red light. It was later determined the driver was too intoxicated to drive. He was arrested for DUI and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking and a sobering period.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 2 at 11:26 a.m., two vehicles were involved in a collision at the intersection of Myrtle and Huntington when a driver's foot came off the brake pedal and rear ended the vehicle in front of him. Paramedics responded and treated the subject at the scene.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 2 at 12:02 p.m., a vehicle traveling south on Mountain ran the red light at Evergreen and collided into the side of another vehicle. One driver had complaint of pain and was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
December 2 at 2:42 p.m., a husband called to report his wife had locked him out of his house in the 1000 block of E. Huntington. The husband called a locksmith who responded and opened the door. Once inside officers made contact with the wife who had two outstanding warrants for her arrest due to prior domestic violence incidents. The wife was arrested and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.

Vehicle Burglary
December 2 at 5:15 p.m., a caller reported she went into a grocery store in the 400 block of W. Huntington and returned minutes later to find the window of her vehicle had been smashed. Her purse was missing and it was later discovered her credit card was used at a nearby department store. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
December 2 at 11:35 p.m., a caller who was in Los Angeles reported his business in the 1900 block of S. Myrtle had a subject in the rear of his business on surveillance footage he was viewing from his cell phone. It looked like the subject possibly jumped over the fence on the west side of the property. Officers arrived and located two bikes on the other side of the property. One of the bikes belonged to the victim and the other one belonged to the suspect. The stolen/recovered bike was left at the location and the other bike was booked as found property. This investigation is continuing

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
December 2 at 11:43 p.m., a caller in the 700 block of W. Olive said she could hear her mom and her mom's boyfriend arguing. It sounded like her mom might be hitting the boyfriend. Officers arrived and contacted the boyfriend to the rear of the residence. They could immediately see injuries on his face. They contacted the female and she was very uncooperative and intoxicated. After an investigation officers placed the female under arrest for domestic violence and transported her to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 3 at 3:58 a.m., officers were patrolling the area of Huntington and Monterey when they saw a subject in the area and stopped to speak with him. An investigation revealed he had a no bail warrant for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrant and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.

Grand Theft Auto
December 3 at 6:33 a.m., a resident in the 2600 block of S. Myrtle called to report his vehicle was taken sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

School Threat
December 3 at 7:16 a.m., there were several reports of a potential threat of violence to occur at Monrovia High School. Officers, Detectives, and the School Resource Officer responded to the school to investigate. A comprehensive investigation revealed the validity of the threat was not credible.

Mail Theft
December 3 at 7:40 a.m., a resident in the 800 block of Norumbega called to report several mailboxes in the area, including hers, were broken into and mail was taken. This investigation is continuing.

Fire Assist
December 3 at 11:08 a.m., a resident, who is non-verbal with severe autism, bit another resident at an assisted living facility in the 100 block of N. Mountain. The residents were separated and now calm. The aggressor has a caregiver and the Los Angeles County Psychological Evaluation Team was notified to perform an assessment.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 3 at 11:33 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of E. Foothill called to report that a subject was on her vacant property and he did not have permission to be there. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who is a local homeless individual. He had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 3 at 12:14 p.m., a caller reported a traffic collision occurred in the area of California and Lemon. Officers arrived and checked on the well-being of the occupants. Two occupants complained of pain. A report was taken and the driver at fault was issued a citation.

Vehicle Fire
December 3 at 12:23 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of E. Foothill called to report his vehicle caught fire while he was working on it. The fire was extinguished and no one was injured.

Court Order Violation / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 3 at 9:21 p.m., officers patrolling near the intersection of Mountain and Huntington saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. They conducted a traffic stop and an investigation revealed the driver had a child abuse warrant for his arrest. He also had an active court order restraining him from being near the female passenger in the vehicle. He was arrested per the authority of the warrant and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 3 at 10:06 p.m., officers were extra patrolling Station Square Park in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle when they saw a female subject loitering in the area. An investigation revealed the subject had a no bail warrant out of Glendora for grand theft. She was arrested per the authority of the warrant and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.

Vehicle Pursuit
December 4 at 12:19 a.m., officers attempted to stop a vehicle for multiple traffic violations near the intersection of Shamrock and Evergreen. The vehicle started to yield on Evergreen east of Shamrock, but abruptly fled east on Evergreen to the 210 eastbound freeway. The suspect vehicle information was relayed to the California Highway Patrol. A short time later, CHP responded to a traffic collision involving the suspect vehicle.

Mental Evaluation – Subject Evaluated
December 4 at 9:01 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of Valmont called to report a subject was standing in the middle of the street. Officers arrived and located the subject. An investigation revealed he was a danger to himself and officers determined he needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. He was transported to a local facility for treatment.

Traffic Collison / DUI – Suspect Arrested
December 4 at 6:53 p.m., officers responded to the 1900 block of Peck regarding a traffic collision. The driver attempted to leave the scene prior to officer’s arrival, but witnesses confronted the driver until officers arrived. Further investigation revealed the driver swerved and crashed into three parked vehicles. An investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia PD Jai for booking and a sobering period.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
December 4 at 10:14 p.m., officers responded to a restaurant in the 300 block of W. Foothill regarding a subject walking out on paying his bill. When they arrived, they spoke with an intoxicated male subject. The elder male arrived at the restaurant with two young girls and consumed $ 600.00 worth of food and alcohol. The male subject gave one of the females the cash to pay the bill at the register, but both girls exited the restaurant with the money and fled on foot. Restaurant employees followed the females on foot, but lost sight of them. Restaurant employees refused to prosecute the male. However, the male was too intoxicated to care for himself and was arrested for public intoxication. He was transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for a sobering period.

DUI – Suspect Arrested
December 5 at 1:22 a.m., a caller reported a vehicle had hit the center median at the intersection of Myrtle and Maple. Officers arrived and saw that the driver was unconscious behind the wheel. An investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested for DUI and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking and a sobering period.

Hit and Run Collision / Possession of a Firearm – Suspect Arrested
December 5 at 1:23 p.m., a caller reported two motorists just collided into one another in the intersection of Duarte and Mayflower, and one of the vehicles fled the scene. Officers searched the area for the suspect, and located him a few blocks away. He was stopped and after an investigation, was arrested for felony hit & run, because the driver of the other vehicle had minor injuries. He was transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking. A handgun was found in the suspect's glove box during a search of his vehicle.

Missing Person
December 5 at 10:58 p.m., a mother in the 100 block of N. Mountain reported her adult old son missing. He was last seen at 1:00 a.m., that morning when he left the home after getting into an argument with his sister. The mother does not believe he is at risk, but he does have depression. The son took his vehicle, but left his cell phone behind. He, along with his vehicle, were entered into the missing person system.

Vehicle Burglary
December 6 at 7:05 a.m., a resident in the 1100 block of S. Fifth walked outside his home and discovered someone had forced entry into his parked vehicle sometime during the night. The interior of the vehicle had been ransacked and personal property was stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Catalytic Converter Theft
December 6 at 11:36 a.m., the guest of a hotel in the 700 block of W. Huntington discovered someone had stolen the catalytic converter from her vehicle, which had been parked in the hotel parking lot overnight. This investigation is continuing.

Warrants – Suspect Arrested
December 6 at 2:13 p.m., a resident of a condominium complex in the 100 block of S. Mayflower reported a male subject in the yard of the complex. Officers responded and located the subject after a brief search. An investigation revealed he had multiple warrants for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrants and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.

Vandalism
December 6 at 10:24 p.m., the victim in the 200 block of W. Central reported that her boyfriend slashed her vehicle's tires. Officers arrived but the boyfriend was uncooperative. The female victim agreed to leave. She later returned to the location just after midnight and called again, reporting that he damaged more of her property. The boyfriend was intoxicated and refused to come outside. The female had two children with her and she too became uncooperative. DCFS was contacted and a warrant will be issued for the male suspect.

Mental Evaluation – Subject Evaluated
December 7 at 12:49 p.m., a resident in the 1600 block of Leafwood reported her neighbor was outside yelling her house was on fire. The caller could not see smoke or flames, but could smell a burning smell in the air. Officers and fire personnel responded. Almost the entire inside of the home appeared burned in various places, but the fire had already been extinguished. The resident who started the fire was transported to a nearby hospital due to smoke inhalation. It was determined the female needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional. She was transported to a local facility for treatment.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 7 at 1:26 p.m., a caller reported a motorist struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk at the intersection of Shamrock and Evergreen. Officers responded along with paramedics. The pedestrian sustained a leg injury and was transported to a nearby hospital for medical care. The driver was issued a citation.

Indecent Exposure / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
December 7 at 3:09 p.m., a caller reported seeing a homeless male adult exposing himself in the alley behind a grocery store in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Officers responded and located a subject matching the description, but the caller refused to identify him or cooperate in the investigation. An investigation revealed the suspect had multiple warrants for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrants and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 7 at 5:08 p.m., a motorist reported he just collided into a bicyclist in the 600 block of W. Huntington. Officers responded along with paramedics. The bicyclist had complaint of pain to his legs, but refused to be transported to the hospital. The party found to be at fault was issued a citation.

Grand Theft
December 7 at 7:51 p.m., a loss prevention officer at a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported that a male suspect removed a Makita jack hammer from a display and left the store. Officers checked the area but could not locate the suspect. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
December 8 at 7:24 a.m., a resident in the 1800 block of S. Peck walked outside his apartment to go to work and discovered someone had stolen his gold colored Honda Accord. Officers searched the area for the vehicle, but could not locate it. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 8 at 8:44 a.m., a caller reported a vehicle and motorcycle collided in the 1200 block of S. Mayflower. Officers responded along with paramedics. The motorcyclist was transported to a nearby hospital for serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The other party was found to be at fault and was issued a citation.

Injury Traffic Collision
December 8 at 12:25 p.m., a motorist reported he was just in a collision with another motorist in the intersection at Wildrose and Mountain. The caller reported he suffered injuries, so paramedics responded along with officers. When officers arrived, they found the driver was only complaining of pain. The party found to be at fault was issued a citation.

Wanted Felony Vehicle – Vehicle Located
December 8, at 12:53 p.m., Azusa Police Department reported they had stopped a vehicle in their city that was wanted by the Monrovia Police Department for being involved in the grand theft of wheels and tires from a Mercedes that had been parked in the parking lot of a hotel in Monrovia. Monrovia detectives responded, identified the occupants and stored the vehicle as evidence.

Fight in Progress
December 8 at 1:58 p.m., a parent reported two MHS students hitting one another in front of the school. Officers responded and located both subjects who were both no longer fighting and separated with no injuries. At the same time four additional and separate fights were reported around the school. With the help of school security, the incidents dissipated and no injuries were reported.

Missing Person
December 8 at 9:05 p.m., the night employee at a girl’s home in the 100 block of N. Ivy called to report one of the juveniles left the location and may have been picked up by someone she knew. The juvenile was on probation with an ankle monitor. She also previously had an opiate addiction. Officers checked the area, but could not find her. Probation notified dispatch that the ankle monitor had been removed in the area of Foothill and Heliotrope. Officers located the monitor in a front yard near the intersection. She was entered into the missing person system.

Boys and Girls Club Needs Volunteers


Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills is looking for people to support youth grades K-5 with tutoring, arts and crafts, sports, STEM, and more. For more information on volunteering visit www.foothillsbgc.org/volunteer, email: volunteer@foothillsbgc.org, or call (626) 594-3264.

- Brad Haugaard

Local Businesses Collecting Pet Food for Unity Center

Local businesses are collecting non-perishable food items for pets to donate to Foothill Unity Center's Food Bank and Pet Food Bank on December 17. If you'd like to contribute, these local businesses are collection points:

  • Caring Transitions 135 E Chestnut Ave Ste 2B, Monrovia
  • Wonder Dog Ranch 220 Taylor St, Monrovia
  • The Dog Zone, 150 W. Foothill Blvd., Monrovia
  • Monrovia Chamber of Commerce 620 S Myrtle Ave, Monrovia
  • Monrovia Police Dept. 140 E. Lime Ave., Monrovia
  • Sierra Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram 1305 S. Mountain Ave., Monrovia
  • Monrovia Floral 119 E Olive Ave, Monrovia
  • Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 517 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia
  • Monrovia Unified School District 325 East Huntington Dr., Monrovia
  • Mt. Lowe Brewery 150 E Saint Joseph Street Arcadia
  • Mitry Pharmacy 145 East Duarte Rd., #D Arcadia
  • Starbucks 5 W Live Oak Ave., Arcadia

Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay

- Brad Haugaard

How Should Monrovia Spend $6 Million Extra a Year? Free Electric Vehicle Charging Extended to Feb. 15; Parade Winners; Sign the Pledge


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

~ The city is still looking for ideas on how to spend the $6 million per year it is raising from the Measure K sales tax measure. You can submit a suggestion online, here, or there are two more community forums planned:  Monday, December 13, 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Julian Fisher Park; and Wednesday, December 15, 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m, Zoom Meeting ID: 862 1435 6452.

~ The city has extended free electric vehicle charging at its charging stations through February 15. Four public stations are located at 124 E Lemon. More information here, or contact Chris Castruita at (626) 256-8224 or ccastruita@ci.monrovia.ca.us. 

~ The 2021 Holiday Parade Winners are: 

  • Best Band - Monrovia High School;
  • Best Float - North Pole Support Team;
  • Judges Award - Plymouth Elementary School;
  • Best Dance Squad - Dancing for His Glory;
  • Best Holiday Spirit - Monroe Elementary School.

~ The city is asking residents to sign "Monrovia's Pledge" at the Community Center. It says: "We are honored to be residents, business members and community leaders in the Gem City of the San Gabriel Valley foothills. We are thankful for the opportunity to learn more about our neighbors and grateful for this time to embrace and rejoice our diversity. We are committed to engage in and contribute to the diverse world around us and to facilitate opportunities that result in effective and meaningful participation. We are proud Monrovians!"

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Officers' Toy Drive Tomorrow

The Monrovia Police Officers' Association and Detail Union are partnering with the Foothill Unity Center for this year's Toy Drive on December 11, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. The toy drive will be held at Detail Union at 1311 S. Shamrock Avenue. All donations are appreciated, but specifically requested are board games, puzzles, and gift cards.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Spyder Lab Ceremony Shows Off Lab's Equipment

Monrovia High students demonstrate the equipment in the relatively new Spyder Lab,  part of the Career Technical Pathway programs at the school. Students demonstrate how each piece of machinery is used. The lab has multiple 3D printers, a large cutter and printer, a fusion laser, vinyl cutter and a heat press. Although the lab opened in June, because of COVID, the grand opening was delayed until now. 

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: Another Death, 29 More Cases

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 12/8/2021. Changes since 12/1/2021.

City of Monrovia: 4,211 cases (up 29), 87 deaths (up 1)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 468 cases (up 4), 1 death (unchanged)

- Brad Haugaard

Mudflow Not Expected From Today's Rain, But Heavy Rain Expected Monday; Gravel and Bags Available

The city says that LA County Flood Control does not anticipate any debris or mudflows in the recent Bobcat Fire burn areas because of today's rain, however,  Monrovia Canyon Park is closed starting today, and will reopen when weather permits.

Rain is also expected this Monday and Tuesday, December 13-14. "According to the National Weather Service, a powerful storm system will bring periods of heavy rain into the area."

If you need gravel and gravel bags, they are available at Recreation Park (620 S Shamrock) in the parking lot off of E. Olive near the skate park. Self-serve so bring your own shovel, gloves and eye protection. Supplies limited. First come first served. Details here.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Ikonicks

Dinner at Ikonicks, on the east side of Myrtle just south of Lime. Burgers and Nicaraguan food. Got the Pechuga (chicken) en Salsa Jalapena for $16.95 and a beer for the happy hour price of $3.  It came with plantain and a toasted slice of cheese (the toast-looking thing). Different and really excellent!

- Brad Haugaard 

Can You Use Washing Machine Water To Irrigate Your Garden?

With the continuing drought and the city's considering moving from voluntary to mandatory water usage restrictions (fines for people who do not cut their water usage by at least 10 percent) could residents perhaps use what is called "gray water," from -- for example, clothes washing machines -- to water their gardens?

Well, they can, but...

Director of Community Development Craig Jimenez said "Monrovia has adopted provisions for the installation of gray water systems as part of the plumbing code, however we do not get many inquiries about these types of systems.  My guess is that since retrofitting a gray water system is more complex than changing out fixtures, and typically requires hiring a professional to install, that influences residents’ decision to pursue this option (or not)."

The city, he said, has adopted the California Plumbing Code, but, he added, "Over the upcoming year, one of our goals is to provide more building/permitting information on the city’s website. That could be one topic we add."

The basic gray water philosophy in the California Plumbing Code, Section 503.0, is that:

Gray water shall be permitted to be diverted away from a sewer or private sewage disposal system, and discharge to a subsurface irrigation or subsoil irrigation system, or disposal field. The gray water shall be permitted to discharge to a mulch basin for residential occupancies. Gray water shall not be used to irrigate root crops or food crops intended for human consumption that comes in contact with soil.

If you are interested, the relevant section of the plumbing code is here.

- Brad Haugaard