How Monrovia Figures in the Founding of CarsDirect

If you have heard of the billion-dollar company CarsDirect, there is actually a bit of a Monrovia connection to it, although the company was never based here and probably nobody in Monrovia even knows about the connection.

This is one of a series of very brief business videos by Bill Gross of Pasadena's Idealab describing the creation of CarsDirect... with a passing mention of its Monrovia connection.

Comment: The whole series is excellent, and, full disclosure, I used to work for Idealab.

- Brad Haugaard

Summer School at Monrovia High

Monrovia High School is offering Summer School. English, biology, chemistry, world history, math, US history, economics. For details https://is.gd/rhpdxv

- Brad Haugaard

First Presbyterian Church to Begin Meeting Indoors

Monrovia's First Presbyterian Church will now gather in person and indoors. Doors open at 10 a.m. for the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. Please wear a mask and prepare to have your temperature taken. https://is.gd/aXzo3N

Monrovia High Juniors Start Clothing Company

Scott Reynolds and Luca Ammon.

Sonny Sluiter 

Four Monrovia High School juniors, Luca Ammon, Sonny Sluiter, Scott Reynolds, and Tyler Ford, have started their own clothing company, a streetwear brand called  Pier Clothing, which "seeks to represent the Southern California lifestyle while helping the environment."

It's goal is "to raise awareness for environmental conservation through our clothing. We aim to do our part in the fight against climate change." In addition to raising awareness, the company is dedicating 20 percent of its profits to environmental causes.

Luca Ammon says that Pier Clothing has sold clothing in many different states, and even to other countries, such as Sweden and Australia. In addition, the company has more than 18,100 followers and 283,600 likes" across all the company's videos on the popular social platform, TikTok. They have done photo shoots all across Southern California, from Malibu to downtown Los Angeles and including Monrovia's Grant Park.

- Brad Haugaard

Covid Shots at Community Center

- Brad Haugaard 

A Moment in Monrovia History: Monrovia Days Parade 1926

Monrovia Days Parade 1926 seen from the northeast corner of Myrtle and Orange (now Colorado). First National Bank building at 601 S Myrtle Ave. Photo by William Ward. 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.

Correction: This post originally said the photo  was taken from the southwest corner, but according to City Historian Steve Baker, it is actually looking AT the southwest corner  

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Y Opening Date 'To Be Determined'

While the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles has now published the re-opening dates and times of its LA-area facilities, the Santa Anita Y in Monrovia is one of three listed as "to be determined." https://is.gd/VNn3vH

- Brad Haugaard

Eve and Squirt Would Like a Calm and Quiet Home Together

Eve is twelve years old and was surrendered to the shelter with her ten-year-old daughter, Squirt, when their owner could no longer care for them. Eve is a beautiful, social kitty who loves being petted, and will stand up and head-butt your hand to ask for more attention! In her foster home, Eve has been displaying her cuddly tendencies, and can often be found grooming her daughter. Both kitties would love to find a calm and quiet home together, and you’ll love seeing how sweet they are with each other!

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

Happy Easter, Monrovia!

Christ the Lord is risen today, Allelujah!

Sons of men and angels say; Allelujah!

Raise your joys and triumphs high; Allelujah!

Sing ye heavens and earth reply; Allelujah!

- Brad Haugaard 

GrowMonrovia Urges Monrovians to Plant Strip Between Sidewalk and Street

Since April is a month for the environment, having both Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day  (April 30), the non-profit organization GrowMonrovia is asking residents to consider:

~ Planting the strip between the sidewalk and your street (It's owned by the city but maintained by the property owner). "When properly landscaped and cared for, they provide scenic corridors, habitat for wildlife and curb appeal. They provide space for street trees which provide shade and absorb carbon dioxide. They prevent stormwater and irrigation run-off into the streets, allowing it to percolate down to the groundwater table." Sign up at the GrowMonrovia website to be part of this project and the first 20 people who sign up receive a free starter pack.

~  Purchase a shade tree for your home or park strip. Shade trees "provide habitat for our wildlife, reduce summer temperatures, absorb rainwater and tailpipe emissions, sequester carbon, and decrease energy usage." (For sale on GrowMonrovia's website.)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Football Wins Over Sierra Vista

Monrovia fights back in the fourth quarter for a 35-28 victory over Sierra Vista. https://is.gd/cPAg1p

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council to Consider: Chewing Out Sacramento; Changing Election Date to Match Primary; Condemn Discrimination; Review Oak Tree Policy

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/x4sGEm) the Monrovia City Council will consider ...

~ A resolution berating the state legislature for overriding local cities' zoning ordinances. The proposed resolution says: "The City of Monrovia is opposed to the current practice of the legislature of the State of California of continually proposing and passing multitudes of bills that directly impact and interfere with the ability of cities to control their own destiny through use of the zoning authority that has been granted to them." https://is.gd/8KF8F4

Comment: This resolution really ought to be a joint one with the Monrovia School Board, since school districts are similarly being imposed upon. The state legislature recently passed legislation to regulate what time schools can start in the morning, as if local school boards are incapable of determining the simplest of matters without Sacramento's heavy hand.

~  Changing the General Municipal Election date to the date of the statewide primary election in even-numbered years Beginning in 2022; https://is.gd/02oDyW

~  A resolution against "hateful and violent acts against the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community." https://is.gd/Jm3oaW

~  Review its oak tree preservation ordinance. https://is.gd/wH3rt2

- Brad Haugaard

Black Angus Restaurant Closing Permanently

The Black Angus restaurant on Huntington Drive in Monrovia is closing permanently, according to an email flyer from the company. The notice says:

We are grateful to all of our guests, whether you celebrated a birthday, holiday, anniversary, or any old Tuesday with us. We are thankful to have been part of the Monrovia community; sadly, it is time to move on. We sincerely hope that even though our doors are permanently closed, your experience with us remains memorable.

 The company's restaurants in Burbank, Montclair, Ontario and Whittier remain open.

- Brad Haugaard

Parts of Canyon Park May Open This Summer - Forest Service Area Not Until Spring 2022

City Manager Dylan Feik says that "the City of Monrovia is working on opening Canyon Park - at least certain portions - as quickly as we can. It will remain closed during the rain season but we're hopeful to reopen portions for the summer (and perhaps closing again next winter)."

The video showing why Canyon Park is still closed described the trail to the waterfall, but what about the road that goes up to the Trask Boy Scout Camp into the National Forest area? I asked Feik about that. He wrote:

"Unfortunately, I have disappointing news for you about the Monrovia Canyon Truck Trail. We spoke with someone from the US Forest Service and they shared the burned areas of USFS will be closed until Spring of 2022." https://is.gd/x3ANBC

- Brad Haugaard

A Video Tour Showing Why Canyon Park Is Still Closed

If you've been wondering why Monrovia Canyon Park is still closed, this 22-minute video gives a virtual hike up to the waterfall, showing the dangers keeping the park closed and some of the life that is returning. Basically, the city is concerned about loose boulders, dead trees - or large limbs - falling. 

- Brad Haugaard