Clifton Middle School's Heidi Reed Finalist in Winter Guard International


Clifton Middle School's Heidi Reed has made it to the finals of the Winter Guard International 2021 virtual season. Winter Guard International is an organization that produces regional championship events for color guard, percussion ensembles, and small marching bands.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Cafe on Lemon


Lunch today at Cafe on Lemon, on the south side of Lemon (well, yeah) about a half block east of Myrtle. Got the Grilled Chicken Pesto sandwich for $11.95 and an iced tea for $2.95. I was going to be good and only eat half, but, well, it was so good I ate it all. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Video of Monrovia Fire Department's New Ladder Truck

A video introducing Monrovia Fire Department's new ladder truck, which should make firefighting at some of the city's new tall buildings easier.

- Brad Haugaard

60s Concert in Cloverleaf Canyon May 1

On May 1 there will be an outdoors 60s concert at 5 p.m. at 521 Cloverleaf Drive, in Cloverleaf Canyon (north on Alta Vista, left on Cloverleaf).  "Come and sing along to all your favorite 60s tunes, pack a picnic, bring a lawn chair and wear your love beads and flowers in your hair.  We will have a shuttle for those that cannot park nearby.  Just look for the old hippie in a van and hitch a ride. There is no parking allowed directly in front of the residence on the street so you must park up the street or below Lotone and heed the parking restrictions.  This is an outdoor event however social distancing/masks will be requested."

- Brad Haugaard

Squirt and Her Mom Looking For Forever Home


Squirt is ten years old and was surrendered to the shelter with her twelve-year old mom, Eve. Squirt and her mom are bonded and hoping to find a forever home together! Although Squirt is a little more reserved than her mom, in her foster home she’s actually started meowing for attention. While Eve head butts when she wants to be pet, Squirt will lay with her paw on your arm or your face if you’re not paying enough attention to her. Squirt is definitely coming out of her shell in foster care, and can’t wait for a forever home for her and her mom!

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 a virtual adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every day at 5:00 p.m. for the following day.

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: Ward's Photo Shop

Ward's Photo Shops. William Ward was the unofficial city photographer in the 1920s-1940s.. See full details here. From the William Ward collection. Identifying information from Kim Ward Anderson.

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 Secondary Schools to Reopen Monday, April 19

Letter from Superintendent Katherine Thorossian regarding the reopening of Monrovia's secondary schools.

The Reopening of Secondary Schools begins Monday, April 19 and we are so excited for the return of our secondary students for in-person instruction. Monrovia Unified is working hard to ensure a welcoming environment for our students, as their return to school will feel vastly different to years past.

Throughout the week, our secondary schools have provided communications to families regarding cohort assignments and have been conducting campus tours for sixth- and ninth-grade students, as well as students who are new to Monrovia Unified.

To prepare our students and families for their return, our school sites have also hosted seminar classes, with instructional videos and virtual assemblies.

Students will be asked to submit a daily health screening prior to arriving on campus and their temperature will be checked before entering campus. Within campuses, directional signs and floor markers have been placed to ensure social distancing and proper movement through hallways.

Arrival and dismissal procedures vary by school and those plans have been communicated to families. Should you have any questions, please contact your individual school site.

As we move forward with the reopening of our secondary schools, the health and safety of our entire school community remains our priority. We are hopeful that as Los Angeles County continues moving toward the minimal risk yellow tier, Monrovia Unified can begin exploring options for end-of-the-year, in-person student activities, and commencement ceremonies.

Though we do not have information on these events yet, we will share plans as soon as they become available.

Please continue to practice health and safety protocols, and we will see some of you on Monday for the Reopening of Secondary Schools!

Sincerely,

Dr. Katherine Thorossian

Superintendent

City Seeks Residents Thoughts on Environmental Justice

Monrovia is looking for feedback on what concerns residents regarding the new environmental justice element for its general plan.

Here's an online survey:  https://is.gd/cmS0rk

And a Zoom workshop on Environmental Justice on April 29, at 6 p.m. https://is.gd/xUrnIK

- Brad Haugaard

Small Businesses Can Sign Up to Get Free Personal Protective Equipment on April 27

Monrovia businesses (and other county businesses) with fewer than 100 employees can get a free 30-day supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees on April 27, from 11-4 at Santa Anita Park.

But businesses have to sign up in advance. Do that here: ppeunite.org/sign-up

PPE Unite is a joint public/private effort to give small businesses and organizations access to needed personal protective gear to keep their staff and employees safe. The program gives access to PPE, promotes PPE use, and provides additional resources for businesses.

- Brad Haugaard

City to Post 'No Parking - Residents Only' Signs Near Clamshell Trail

Ridgeside near Clamshell trail.

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that the city will add nine more signs in the Ridgeside/Oakglade area to persuade people not to park near the entry point of Lower Clamshell Trail. The signs will say, "No Parking - Residents Only."

If you want to know why people are being forbidden to park in a location that appears perfect for people to park without disturbing the neighbors, it is because it was a condition the city had to meet to get an easement to allow the trail to be opened. See here for details: https://is.gd/T5hUX2

- Brad Haugaard

John Watson and Hal Leavens Win Community Champions Award

Monrovians John Watson and Hal Leavens have won the Community Champions Award from the California Parks and Recreation Society.

 For 18 years, John and Hal have spent one Saturday a month going door to door to welcome new residents to Monrovia. They have visited well over 10,000 families, spending about 30 minutes with the new families reviewing a packet of information highlighting the programs, events, services, and clubs in town.

- Brad Haugaard

City Council to Consider Electric Vehicle Charging Stations for Old Town

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/LQjQRt) the Monrovia City Council will consider installing 12 electric vehicle charging stations around town for both city and public use. The equipment and installation will cost up to $112,600, paid for by the AQMD Motor Vehicle Subvention Fund.

The equipment will be installed at the City Corporate Yard, 600 S. Mountain; City Hall, 415 S. Ivy; City Police Department, 140 E. Lime; and City Parking Lot #4, 100 block of E. Lemon. https://is.gd/0rZmL2

- Brad Haugaard

MODA Apartments Sells for $100 Million

The MODA apartment complex next to the Monrovia train station has been sold for $100 million. https://is.gd/BtBjtR

- Brad Haugaard

Trader Joe's Recalls Tortilla Chips for Undeclared Milk

Monrovia-based Trader Joe's is recalling its Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips (SKU# 58073) that product with Sell By date codes of 08/09/21,  08/10/21, and 08/11/21 as the chips may contain undeclared milk. https://is.gd/e8yPH6

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian to Head Cal State LA Project to Overhaul STEM Education

 Gustavo Menezes, the grant's lead principal investigator, teaching students in a civil engineering class at Cal State LA. (Photo by J. Emilio Flores/Cal State LA)

Monrovia resident Gustavo Menezes, professor of civil engineering at Cal State LA, will coordinate a $2 million  project designed to transform STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.

The college has been awarded a $2 million grant by the National Science Foundationto improve undergraduate education in STEM through a new model of teaching and learning.

The four-year grant will enable the university's College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology to create Eco-STEM, a healthy education "ecosystem" designed to facilitate learning for all students regardless of their backgrounds.

The new model aims to shift the mental model of faculty, develop the capacity of department chairs and program coordinators, and reform the teaching evaluation system to promote a culture of reflection and self-improvement.

Source: Cal State LA press release

- Brad Haugaard

Experimental. try to get to work on mobile devices