A Moment in Monrovia History: Looking South on Myrtle

Postcard looking south on Myrtle from Lemon. 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 Schools Graduation and Promotion Schedule

Monrovia Schools graduation and promotion schedule:

• Monrovia Community Adult School - May 27; 9 a.m.
• Santa Fe CSMS - June 8; 8:30 a.m. & 10 a.m.
• Clifton MS - June 8; 8 a.m. & 9:30 a.m.
• COHS - June 8; 5:00 p.m.
• Bradoaks ESA - June 9; 8:30 a.m.
• CELC - June 9; 3 p.m., 3:30  p.m. & 4 p.m.
• Mayflower - June 9; 9:30 a.m.
• Monroe ES - June 9; 8:30 a.m.
• Plymouth - June 9; 8:30 a.m.
• Wild Rose - June 9; 9 a.m.
• MHS - June 9; 5 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Anti-Burglar Tips for Summer Months

Arcadia Police Department has some summer tips to discourage burglars:

As we all know, warmer weather is just around the corner. During warmer weather its not uncommon for many of us to leave windows and doors open. This is also a good time for criminals looking for easy targets.

 
The Arcadia Police Department wants to share some crime prevention tips to help our community stay safe and avoid being the victim of a burglary.

Remember the basics first: LOCK your doors, CLOSE your windows, and SET your alarm.

Here are some other tips to help keep your home safe:

• Close and lock your windows and doors! Thieves look for an easy target.
• Install surveillance cameras (to the front, side, and rear of your house, if possible)
• Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed so that windows and doors are visible.
• Maintain your home and make it looked lived in. Arrange for care if you leave on vacation.
• Don't leave newspapers, mail, and door hanger materials in place. Arrange for a trusted friend or neighbor to collect these items for you.
• Know your neighbors! Be familiar with cars, faces and who belongs in your neighborhood.
• Leave different lights on when you’re away. Use timers when gone overnight.
• Leave a radio or television on inside when you’re away.
• Use window stops/pins to prevent windows and sliding doors from being opened.
• Get an ALARM. Even simple alarms that are not connected to a central system are a deterrent.

The suspects in recent residential burglaries have accessed homes by shattering rear sliding glass doors or windows. We encourage our residents to have lighting, and if possible, surveillance cameras in these areas.

There are companies who make a security film you can apply to a window or sliding glass door, that will keep the shattered glass intact, detouring or preventing a criminal from gaining access.

These are just a few tips to help prevent crime. One of the biggest things we rely on is YOU. It’s important to report suspicious activity. If you see something or someone suspicious, report it as soon as possible. The quicker you call us, the quicker we can respond.

- Brad Haugaard

Former School Board Member Bryan Wong Now Leading Local Habitat for Humanity

Former Monrovia Board of Education member, Bryan Wong, has a new position. He explains ...

After 17 years on the Monrovia School Board, I’m excited to transition to San Gabriel Valley Habitat as the new Executive Director. As we all know, our MUSD families have had a challenging year. Similarly, many families across the San Gabriel Valley have faced overcrowded, unaffordable and unsafe living conditions—which the pandemic has only made worse. The dream of home ownership is now even more out of reach with median sales prices skyrocketing over 28% to $707,000 in the last year.

In my short time here at SGV Habitat, I have met home buyers who are able to overcome these challenges thanks to our affordable home ownership program. Just a few days ago, I was speaking to E’Tiffany, a hardworking mom of four, who always wanted to become a homeowner. She did not have that opportunity until she discovered SGV Habitat. Now, she is a few weeks away from purchasing her very own Habitat home in Monterey Park. Finally, what was once the impossible dream will become a reality for E’Tiffany and her children.

Through our three-year Expanding the American Dream campaign, we will help 100 families, just like E’Tiffany’s, build or repair their very own home .  We will accomplish this through the generosity of donors, volunteers, and organizations along with support from a variety of federal, state, and local agencies. 

I am proud to be part of an organization that helps families and individuals across San Gabriel Valley build and buy or repair their own safe and affordable home. Together we will build stronger neighborhoods and communities. I enjoyed working with all of you as a school board member and invite you to join me in the mission of building homes, community, and hope. To get involved, please visit sgvhabitat.org.

Sincerely,

Bryan Wong

Monrovia Library Now Open; Sidewalk Poetry Contest

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

~  The Monrovia Public Library is now open. Hours are Monday to Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursday to Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Masks required. More hours will be announced by June 1, and residents may still use curbside services, virtual programs and public Wi-Fi, which now includes Library Park.

~ If you'd like to have your poetry stamped into a Monrovia sidewalk, the Art in Public Places' annual Sidewalk Poetry Contest, open to all Monrovia residents, is now accepting applications, which are due by June 4. Poems must be original compositions, family-friendly and under 250 characters including spaces and punctuation. For questions contact Kerri Zessau at 932-5564 or at kzessau@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Selects Finalists to be New President

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, has selected three candidates as finalists for Citrus College's next superintendent/president. You can learn more about each candidate during public Zoom forums scheduled for Tuesday, May 25. Candidates are:

Santanu Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.

Santanu Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D., has been a transformational leader at Cypress, Colombia and Modesto colleges. Currently serving as the president of Modesto Junior College, Dr. Bandyopadhyay has been working within the Yosemite Community College District since 2018. His prior position with the district was serving as president of Colombia College. Dr. Bandyopadhyay also served as the executive vice president responsible for instructional programs and student services at Cypress College from 2013 to 2018. In addition, he served as director of institutional research at Zane State College (Zanesville, Ohio) and as budget and policy analyst at Ohio University. A first-generation immigrant, Dr. Bandyopadhyay had a successful career in teaching and market research in India before moving to the United States. He holds a master's degree in business administration and Ph.D. from Ohio University.

Brian K. Sanders, Ed.D.

Brian K. Sanders, Ed.D., has served as the vice president of instruction and accreditation liaison officer for Colombia College since 2016. Under his leadership, the college has streamlined educational pathways and improved outcomes through numerous initiatives, including student equity and achievement and guided pathways. Prior to this role, Dr. Sanders served as the college's vice president of college and administrative services. In addition, he spent seven years as the dean of science, mathematics and engineering at Modesto Junior College. Dr. Sanders has also served as treasurer for the California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officers. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematical sciences from University of California, Santa Barbara; a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Oregon; and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, Davis.

Greg Schulz, Ed.D.

Greg Schulz, Ed.D., has provided leadership in the California community colleges system for more than 21 years. In addition to serving in a variety of administrative roles at community colleges throughout Southern California, his professional experience includes six years as president of Fullerton College. In this role, Dr. Schulz helped effectively plan, organize, coordinate and direct the educational programs and activities of the college in accordance with the district plan and board policies. Known for being an enthusiastic and student-centered president, Dr. Schulz holds an associate degree in business administration from Fullerton College; a bachelor's degree in business administration/accounting from California State University, Fullerton; a master's degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach; and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of Southern California.

Public Forum 1, Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay, Tuesday, May 25, 1-2 p.m.
https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/93861455230?pwd=ckU1VDBRTUs1cU1TUGl2b2JhSlcrUT09
Meeting ID: 938 6145 5230
Password: 321586

Public Forum 2, Dr. Brian Sanders, Tuesday, May 25, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/93861455230?pwd=ckU1VDBRTUs1cU1TUGl2b2JhSlcrUT09
Meeting ID: 938 6145 5230
Password: 321586

Public Forum 3, Dr. Greg Schulz, Tuesday, May 25, 4-5 p.m.
https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/93861455230?pwd=ckU1VDBRTUs1cU1TUGl2b2JhSlcrUT09
Meeting ID: 938 6145 5230
Password: 321586

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Monrovia Coronavirus Count: Seven New Cases; No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 05/19/2021. Changes since 05/12/2021.

City of Monrovia: 3,178 cases (up 7), 78 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 375 cases (unchanged), no deaths

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Thief Apparently Swaps One Stolen Vehicle for Another; Burglary Suspects Caught; Laser Pointed at Aircraft; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 13-19. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 340 service events, resulting in 64 investigations.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
May 13 at 5:42 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of Peppertree Lane called to report an unknown vehicle blocking their driveway. Officers arrived and saw the vehicle windows were rolled down and the stereo was playing. There were no occupants inside the vehicle. An investigation revealed the vehicle had been stolen out of Hacienda Heights. It was recovered and then removed from the stolen vehicle system.

Grand Theft Auto
May 13 at 9:03 a.m., an officer was conducting a follow-up investigation to the stolen vehicle report taken that morning and found personal identifying information belonging to a resident in the 100 block of Peppertree Lane inside the stolen vehicle. During the investigation, it was discovered that that resident's vehicle was also taken without his permission. A grand theft auto report was completed and that vehicle was entered into the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Theft
May 13 at 2:36 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of Hillcrest called to report multiple thefts of gardening equipment. The suspect was seen committing the thefts and fleeing the scene in a white Hyundai Elantra. The suspects fled the scene prior to the police being contacted. All evidence was recovered at the scene and this investigation is continuing.

Non-Injury Traffic Collision/Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 13 at 4:57 p.m., a caller reported a single vehicle traffic collision in the 100 block of S. Ivy. Officers responded and located the driver of the vehicle. She displayed symptoms of intoxication, so a DUI investigation was conducted. It was determined that the driver was too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle and she was arrested. She was taken into custody and held for a sobering period.

Medical Assist
May 14 at 2:00 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of Montana called to report his nephew was unresponsive. A family member was performing CPR while the caller was on the phone with dispatch. Officers arrived and immediately took over CPR. The officers noticed the subject was experiencing signs and symptoms relating to an opiate overdose. An officer administered a single dose of Narcan. Paramedics arrived on scene and took over care. The subject was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Residential Burglary – Suspects Arrested
May 14 at 2:23 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of Naples called to report three subjects running through several backyards in the neighborhood, wearing backpacks. Officers arrived, located the subjects, and detained them pending further investigation. It was discovered that all three subjects were linked to a residential burglary at a home in the 1700 block of Encino. Each subject was in possession of stolen property from the residential burglary. The property was returned to its rightful owner. Additional stolen items were recovered by officers, but the owners have yet to be identified. The suspects were arrested for burglary.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 15 at 1:06 p.m., a caller reported a traffic collision that occurred in the area of Monterey and Huntington. Officers arrived and checked on the well-being of the occupants. One driver complained of pain. The cause of the accident was a motorist reversing into another vehicle at a slow speed. The driver at fault was issued a citation.

Mail Theft – Suspect Arrested
May 15 at 3:02 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Colorado called to report a mail theft incident that just occurred. The homeowner followed the suspect until officers arrived. Officers detained the suspect and recovered the victim's mail. The victim placed the suspect under private person's arrest and he was arrested by the officers. The suspect was issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Commercial Burglary
May 15 at 11:08 p.m., officers responded to a commercial complex in the 2600 block of S. Myrtle regarding a male suspect cutting the lock on one of the storage units. A security guard was working in the complex, when he came upon the suspect attempting to break into the unit. The suspect fled in a white Chevrolet pickup before officers arrived. This investigation is continuing.

Suspicious Circumstance
May 16 at 12:23 a.m., a Pasadena Police Department helicopter reported subjects in the 400 block of W. Walnut pointing a laser at their aircraft. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect who had activated the laser. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
May 16 at 6:30 a.m., an employee from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called to report a burglary. He arrived to work and saw a window to the business was shattered. Officers arrived and searched the interior of the building, but no one was located inside. The office had been ransacked, so it was unknown what was taken until an inventory can be conducted. This investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
May 16 at 1:53 p.m., an employee from a business in the 400 block of S. Myrtle called to report a vehicle that had just struck an E-Z Up tent and continued north on Myrtle. Officers responded and located the suspect vehicle in a parking lot near Foothill and May. The vehicle was unoccupied. Video footage showed the suspect exit the suspect vehicle and walk away from the scene. The vehicle was stored for being involved in a hit and run traffic collision. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
May 16 at 7:21 p.m., an officer on patrol near the intersection of Mountain and Royal Oaks saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. A traffic stop was initiated and an investigation revealed one of the passengers was on parole. Further investigation revealed the driver was in possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested and issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Threatening Phone Calls
May 17 at 12:05 a.m., officers responded to a fast food restaurant in the 100 block of W. Huntington regarding three threatening phone calls. Employees reported receiving the phone calls from an Orange County area code. Officers extra patrolled the area throughout the night. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
May 17 at 2:21 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 1100 block of Royal Oaks regarding a domestic disturbance. One of the children in the home called 911 after her father struck her mother in the face. An investigation revealed that the female did not sustain any injuries, but her boyfriend was determined to be the primary aggressor. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Residential Burglary
May 17 at 6:58 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Duarte reported that there was a burglary occurring at a neighboring residence. A male subject was seen smashing an apartment window to gain entry. The suspect entered and then quickly fled out the front door, running through the apartment complex. Officers arrived, but the suspect had already fled the location. The only reported loss from the burglarized apartment was a bottle of alcohol. This investigation is continuing.

Obstructing and Delaying Officers – Suspect Arrested
May 17 at 7:38 p.m., an officer patrolling the intersection of Foothill and Grand saw a vehicle stopped in the middle of a traffic lane. The officer contacted the driver, who refused to speak to the officer or present any identification. After numerous failed attempts to get the driver to cooperate, she was placed under arrest and taken into custody. The vehicle was removed from the street.

Commercial Burglary
May 18 at 8:58 a.m., the manager of a restaurant in the 900 block of W. Huntington arrived to work and discovered someone had forced entry into the building sometime during the night by breaking a glass window. The suspect, a male with a hood over his head, entered the building and went to the cash register to check for money, then went to the safe in a back office, where he attempted to force the safe open, but did not succeed. He took items belonging to the restaurant and fled the area. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
May 18 at 9:37 a.m., a guest of a hotel in the 1100 block of E. Huntington had a male and female friend stay the night with him. In the morning, while he was in the bathroom, the suspects took his jewelry, then fled the area. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Wanted
May 18 at 2:42 p.m., a resident in the 1100 block of S. Fifth reported her live-in boyfriend battered her a few days earlier and was in possession of a firearm. She called to report the abuse because he made criminal threats against her adult children. An investigation revealed the suspect is a convicted felon. A wanted person warrant was issued for his arrest. The firearm in the home was taken as evidence.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
May 18 at 4:40 p.m., a caller reported a male subject stumbling in the 100 block of E. Foothill. Officers arrived and located the subject, who was found to be too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested for being drunk in public and held for a sobering period.

Vehicle Burglary / Fraud
May 19 at 7:28 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a business parking lot in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The victim was returning to her vehicle from a business and saw that one of the rear passenger windows had been smashed. Her purse had been stolen from inside the vehicle and several of her credit cards had already been used to purchase items at stores in West Covina. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
May 19 at 3:59 p.m., an officer patrolling the 300 block of W. Walnut saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. A traffic stop was conducted and an investigation revealed the driver was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The driver was arrested and issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
May 19 at 4:48 p.m., officers responded to a hardware store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a theft that had just occurred. Loss prevention personnel had stopped a suspect outside the store after he selected several tools and exited without making any attempt to pay for the merchandise. An investigation was conducted and the suspect was arrested and issued a citation to appear in court on the charges

Lunch at Baja Mar

Lunch at Baja Mar, in the little shopping center at the corner of Foothill and May. Got the lunch special with a fish taco and carnitas taco and a soda, all for $8.49. Very good and great price. (Lots more chips - I’m just showing a few.)

- Brad Haugaard 

Chill Cat Gabriel. - A Great Work-From-Home Coworker

Eight-year-old Gabriel is friendly, calm, relaxed, and looking for a human to chill with! Gabriel loves people and especially loves being scratched on the head. If you’re not paying attention to him, he might give you a polite meow to let you know he’d like some company. When he’s not spending time with you, Gabriel might watch some birds out the window. He’d be a great work-from-home coworker or movie night companion.

 

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 

Monrovia Women Named 'Women Heroes of the Pandemic'

Two Monrovia women and 26 other women in the 25th Senate District will be honored by State Senator Anthony Portantino as "Women Heroes of the Pandemic" for playing "an integral role in supporting their community during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Monrovians Jackie Tran and Krystina Livraga will be honored at a ceremony on May 26.

The press release says:

"Ms. Tran is a Communications Analyst for the City of Monrovia. In a time of crisis and a global pandemic, she conveyed reliable information to communities quickly. Whether it was updating the city website or creating daily COVID-19 updates for the public, she served the community of Monrovia by providing them critical information when they needed it."

"As the Commercial Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Monrovia, Ms. Livraga is charged with enforcing a variety of codes relating to business operations. During the pandemic, she took on the responsibility of facilitating Temporary Outdoor Business Operations permits and collaborated with multiple agencies to get the process moving quickly.  Ms. Livraga has been attentive to the needs of local businesses during a time when small business owners have been struggling to stay open."

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Ward's Photo Shop - Another Location

The Ward studios were at four different locations in Monrovia over the years when William Ward was the unofficial city photographer.. 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 Days in Full Swing

Monrovia Days all day today in Library Park. 

- Brad Haugaard 

15 More Vintage Items Added to Historical Society's Sale

One of the items that is on sale. Large rocker with original dark wood finish and velvet seat cushion.

The Monrovia Historical Society's on-line fundraising sale of vintage treasures has been going so well that the Society has added 15 more items to its sales page, and may add more soon.

The sale is to raise money to repair the ceiling of the historic Anderson House at 215 E. Lime, which began crumbling and had to be removed.

You can see the items here, monroviahistoricalsociety.org/sale, and you can purchase them using PayPal if you are an Historical Society member. If you are not a member, you can become a member here (monroviahistoricalsociety.org/membership-1), then purchase the items.

On Friday, June 11, from 1-6 p.m. members can, in-person, view and purchase items and non-members can view items and become members if they want to purchase. The next day, Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the sale will be open to the public - no need to be a member to purchase. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing.

The items for sale, while historic, either do not relate to the Society's mission, or are surplus. For questions write to monroviahistoricalsociety1896@gmail.com or text or call (626) 675-8323.

- Brad Haugaard

Hugel and Bioswale Gardening Workshop May 19, 20

Grow Monrovia will hold workshops on how to turn your garden into a water harvesting and carbon sequestering oasis by building a Hugel (May 19) and a Bioswale (May 20).

During these two workshops, you can learn to apply two regenerative landscaping techniques, ideal for the climate of Southern California.

Hugelkultur are no-dig raised beds with a difference. They hold moisture, build fertility, maximize surface volume and are great spaces for growing fruit, vegetables and herbs. The hugel bed will harvest humidity from the air and provide nutrients for native, medicinal and edible plants all year round.

A Bioswale, or rain garden, is a technique used for capturing and storing water in the soil.

All proceeds will go toward building Monrovia's Native Plant Demonstration Garden.

For more information and to register: https://is.gd/16kIti

- Brad Haugaard