News: brad.haugaard@gmail.com   •  Restaurants   •  Library Catalog   •  Library Activities  •  History   •  Facebook / X/Twitter / RSS

'Footnotes,' Monrovia's Sidewalk Poetry Project

A nice article on Monrovia's sidewalk poetry project, cleverly dubbed "Footnotes." https://goo.gl/jQi2sn

- Brad Haugaard

National Night Out: Meet the Monrovia Police

National Night Out will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Library Park. Meet several of Monrovia’s police officers, detectives, bike patrol, community policing, SWAT officers, Special Enforcement Team officers, volunteers, Police Explorers and have some BBQ’d all-American hot dogs.

Source: Monrovia Police Department

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Counterfeit Bills; Wife Whacks Husband; Shoplifting; And So Forth

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for July 12–18. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 423 service events, During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 423 service events, resulting in 72 investigations.

Traffic Collisions
July 12, between 7:45 a.m. and 1:22 p.m., three non-injury traffic collisions occurred at the intersections of Duarte/Mayflower, Monterey/Huntington, and Fifth/Huntington. The drivers who were found to be at fault were issued a citation for their driving violations.

Vehicle Burglary
July 12 at 8:05 a.m., a female subject called police to report her vehicle had been burglarized. She had parked her vehicle and purchased coffee from a store in the 600 block of W. Huntington. She returned to find the vehicle window had been shattered to gain entry and the vehicle was burglarized. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
July 12 at 8:36 p.m., officers found a vehicle that had been reported stolen parked in a parking lot in the 100 block of W. Foothill. They monitored the vehicle and saw a male subject enter the vehicle to drive away. They stopped the subject, and after investigation, arrested him for theft of the vehicle.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 12 at 11:40 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 700 block of E. Olive when he saw a male subject he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest, so he was stopped and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision / DUI – Suspect Arrested
July 13 at 1:15 a.m., a caller reported a motorist collided into a parked vehicle in the 500 block of S. Alta Vista. Officers responded and contacted the driver, who was intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI.

Commercial Burglary
July 13 at 3:42 a.m., officers responded to an alarm at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington and discovered someone had shattered the front window and taken a safe. Officers searched the area for the suspects, but were unable to locate them. This investigation is continuing.

Possession of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
July 13 at 1:43 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 500 block of E. Walnut when he saw a parked vehicle that had expired registration. A computer check revealed the plates on the vehicle were not on the right car. While having the vehicle towed, the owner approached the officer and was behaving erratically. She was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, so she was arrested and taken into custody.

Possession of Narcotics / Resisting an Officer – Suspect Arrested
July 13 at 2:43 p.m., a sergeant was patrolling the 700 block of E. Olive when he saw a suspicious occupied vehicle. He contacted the occupant, who was not the registered owner. The subject could not provide vehicle paperwork, had no identification, and initially lied about his name. When the sergeant informed the occupant he was being detained, he made a movement as though he was going to start the ignition. Officers detained the subject and he was arrested for resisting officers. Prior to transport he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and a syringe.

Passing Counterfeit Money
July 13 at 3:39 p.m., the manager of a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported a customer had purchased merchandise using a counterfeit bill. Officers responded to investigate. During the investigation it was discovered that additional customers had recently passed similar counterfeit bills. The U.S. Secret Service was notified. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 13 at 5:03 p.m., security for a store in the 700 block of E. Huntington called to report a male subject was being detained inside the store for shoplifting. Officers responded and after investigating the incident, took custody of the subject. A computer check revealed the subject also had a warrant for his arrest.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrest
July 14 at 11:47 a.m., an officer was called to the police lobby regarding a family disturbance that had occurred earlier at the family’s home in the 500 block of E. Olive. The officer discovered the wife had hit her husband multiple times, causing visible injuries. She was arrested and taken into custody. The victim was provided information regarding domestic violence victim’s assistance.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
July 14 at 6:44 p.m., two vehicles collided into one another at the intersection of Huntington and Fifth. One of the drivers fled the scene, failing to stop and exchange information. This investigation is continuing. No injuries were reported.

Violation of Court Order / Resisting an Officer / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 15 at 2:59 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 800 block of W. Olive when he saw a suspicious male loitering on the street. He stopped the subject and discovered there was a warrant for his arrest, as well as a court order restraining him from being where he was. The subject was arrested, and during the booking process, he physically resisted officers.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
July 16 at 6:54 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of Genoa walked outside his home to go to work and discovered a motorist had collided into his vehicle sometime during the night. His vehicle had been parked on the street. Whoever collided into his vehicle did not leave any contact information and did not call the police to report the collision. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
July 16 at 9:01 a.m., a landscaper was doing work at a business in the 400 block of Huntington when a male subject approached his work truck and took some of his tools, then fled the area in a vehicle. Officers searched for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
July 16 at 11:39 a.m., a caller reported she parked her vehicle on the street in the 600 block of N. Canyon, then went for a hike. When she returned to her car, she discovered someone had shattered one of the windows and took her purse and cellphone. This investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
July 16 at 12:29 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of E. Duarte walked outside her home to go to work and discovered someone had rummaged through her vehicle, which she had left unlocked. She told officers her briefcase and jewelry were taken. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 16 at 3:58 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 400 block of W. Duarte when he saw a male subject he recognized from previous contacts. A computer check revealed the subject had several warrants for his arrest; he was arrested and taken into custody.

Trespassing / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 16 at 10:17 p.m., security for a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported a male subject had strewn his belongings across a business walkway for customers and was refusing to leave. Officers arrived and the subject continued to refuse to pick up his belongings and leave. A computer check revealed the subject had a warrant for his arrest, so he was taken into custody.

Shoplifting
July 17 at 1:14 p.m., employees of a store in the 400 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject had just left their store after concealing merchandise in his backpack and failing to pay for the items. Officers arrived and searched for the suspect. The suspect was located and arrested. The property was returned to the store.

Possession of Narcotics – Suspect Arrested
July 17 at 1:32 p.m., employees of a bank in the 200 block of S. Myrtle reported a suspicious male subject loitering in his car in their parking lot. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who was found to be in possession of a hypodermic needle filled with methamphetamine, along with other narcotics paraphernalia. The subject was arrested and his vehicle was towed.

Shoplifting – Suspects Arrested
July 17 at 5:59 p.m., security for a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported one male and two female subjects had just fled the store without paying for merchandise. Officers responded and located the subjects. After investigating, all three subjects were arrested and the property was returned to the store.

Violation of a Restraining Order / Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
July 18 at 9:01 a.m., an elderly female resident living in the 100 block of N. Fifth reported she had served her daughter with a restraining order earlier in the morning, using the service of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who forced her daughter out of the house. After the deputies left, her daughter returned and began hitting the mother. Officers responded and after an investigation, arrested the restrained person.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 18 at 7:25 p.m., a caller reported seeing an intoxicated male subject enter a parked vehicle in the 100 block of W. Foothill and drive away. Officers responded to the area, located and stopped the vehicle. After contacting the driver, field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Shoplifting / Vehicle Pursuit
July 18 at 8:36 p.m., security for a store in the 500 W. Huntington reported a male subject had fled their store after concealing merchandise in his clothing. He entered a vehicle and began driving out of the parking lot. Officers arrived and located the vehicle leaving the lot. They attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled onto the 210 Freeway. After a short pursuit and identifying the owner of the vehicle through DMV records, officers stopped pursuing the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Block Party Treasure Art Reveal: August 18


The City of Monrovia Neighborhood Services Division invites you to attend the Monrovia Area
Partnership’s (MAP) Block Party and Neighborhood Treasure Art Reveal. We will be featuring our
Neighborhood Treasure, Ms. Kate Wright, who was divinely inspired to devote her life to care for
the sick and the poor. Through donations of supplies and labor she built small cottages on her East
Cypress property, where she tended for patients suffering from tuberculosis who had no family or
resources to assist them. Kate received no financial compensation for any of her services and
served selflessly for over 30 years. She died in 1938 and is buried in Live Oak Cemetery.

Her devotion and selfless actions are being honored and recognized on August 18th, 2018 with a
unique piece of artwork that will be installed within the 500 Block of East Cypress Avenue. There
will also be a block party that will include free activities, free games, raffles, and free food for all of
our guests.

TO RSVP:

Go to the Eventbrite website and type in the search bar for “MAP Block Party and Neighborhood
Treasure Unveiling” or you can visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MonroviaAreaPartnership

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Tree Watering Systems; Monrovia Ahead in Paying Down Retirement Debt; LimeBike Glitches; Family Campouts

In his weekly report, City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ If you are concerned about how the drought will affect your trees, city staff "has developed a deep tree watering flyer that outlines both the supplies needed and the process involved with creating your own deep watering system. (I can't find a legible online copy but I'm sure you can get one at City Hall. If you know of a legible copy online let me know and I'll post it.)

~ Because CalPERS made 8.6% across all of its investments in its 2017-18 fiscal year, Monrovia is about $5.7 million ahead. Why? Because the city sold bonds worth about $100 million and sent the money to Calpers to pay off its unfunded retirement debt, and, Chi writes, "The money we sent earned 8.6% interest for roughly one-half the year.  When you couple those earnings with the reduction in interest payments that we would have had to make for our unfunded liability, the bottom line during the first fiscal-year of our CPR Plan decision has been this: We are [about] $5.7 million ahead of where we would have been had we not engaged our CPR Plan."

~ Because of turnover for the LimeBike operations team, it is taking longer to readjust the bikes. The company is hiring someone to take over readjusting the bikes in Monrovia.

~ More Family Hike & Campout events in Canyon Park are planned. BBQ dinner, s'mores, a hike, story-time, and more. Campouts are: July 21-22, Aug. 11-12, Aug. 25-26, Sept. 15-16, and Sept. 29-30.  Registration opens  three weeks before the event. For questions, call Canyon Park Naturalists at 256-8155.

- Brad Haugaard

Cost of Lyft Rides May Go Up for Individual Riders

The new GoMonrovia transportation program is such a success that it may run out of money, and some prices for Lyft rides may go up.

According to a city official who was at a study session Tuesday, the City Council learned that so many people are using the Lyft system that the program may burn through its grant money.

So, one possibility that was discussed was to keep the price for a Lyft ride at 50 cents for groups of Lyft riders, but raise it to $3 per ride for individual riders.

- Brad Haugaard

Pit Bull Kisses Available


Lila (A461846) is a 2-year-old sweet, friendly pit bull. She is waiting at the Pasadena Humane Society for her new best friend. Our volunteers say she approaches them right away, licks their hands, takes treats gently and doesn't leave their sides. She likes the attention and is a very calm, happy dog, that doesn't stop wagging her tail. Anyone want dog kisses? Visit Lila today.   

The adoption fee for dogs is $130. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before going to their new home.

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 at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

- Brad Haugaard

City Council to Consider Opposing Proposal Making Criminal Sentencing Lighter; Providing Free Meals for Seniors

At its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17 (agenda: https://goo.gl/KWrzbe), the Monrovia City Council will consider...

~ Adopting a resolution (https://goo.gl/UQPRFS) opposing the Fair Sentencing and Public Safety Act.

The act would amend state law to:
• Reduce the number of felonies that are considered violent and serious,
• Limit eligibility for a third strike sentence,
• Require that any state savings resulting from its provisions be spent on education, prison inmate rehabilitation, and youth crime prevention,
• Remove the crimes of burglary and robbery that do not result in significant bodily harm from the list of violent felonies,
• Remove robberies and burglaries in which a firearm or other dangerous weapon is not actually used from being classified as a violent felony, and
• Allow any prison inmate serving an indeterminate life sentence for a third strike according to the three-strikes law to request a resentencing for their third-strike crime under the changes made to felony classifications.      
~  An agreement (https://goo.gl/xKPktZ) with Serenity Care Health to provide meals for a new senior nutrition program lasting until June 30, 2019. Serenity proposes charging  $21,840 for 80 meals a week for a year, or $5.25 per meal. Comment: I hope the council understands that if the city gives stuff away for free, it will likely attract more people (people love bargains), so the number of people it ends up feeding - and the cost - may be far more than planned.

- Brad Haugaard

City Council Will Review: Homelessness Plan, Library Park Proposals, GoMonrovia

At a study session at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, the Monrovia City Council will:

- Discuss the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Homeless Response Plan.

-  Review proposed Library Park enhancements.

- Hear an update of the GoMonrovia transportation program, and review possible program changes.

https://goo.gl/LbE1Q2

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High School 125 Years Old

At a special City Council/School Board meeting this Monday (July 16) at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers, the Council and School Board will recognize the 125th Anniversary of Monrovia High School and discuss the "ACTV Monrovia Initiative," which is the plan to add bike lanes to Ivy and Primrose and make them one-way streets. https://goo.gl/X9SXCB

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Sushi Kyni

Dinner at Sushi Kuni, on the east side of Myrtle just north of Olive. Got the Ahi Albacore Salad for $13.50 and a small beer for $4.50.  Excellent tuna. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: $25k Gift Card Scam; Sleeping in Dumpster; Trespassing Arrests; Embezzlements; Shoplifting; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Highlighted Activity for July 3–11. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 448 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
July 3 at 7:17 a.m., a resident of an apartment complex in the 800 block of W. Duarte reported a male subject sleeping in the common laundry room. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, who was found to be in possession of a pipe that had been used to smoke methamphetamine. He was arrested.

Injury Traffic Collision
July 3 at 12:37 p.m., callers reported two vehicles had collided at the intersection of California and Huntington. Officers arrived to investigate and found that one of the drivers complained of pain. The injured driver was taken to a nearby hospital.

Battery – Suspect Arrested
July 3 at 9:56 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of E. Lime called to report her friend’s boyfriend was intoxicated on the front porch and was refusing to leave. Officers arrived and contacted the male subject, who was found to be intoxicated and was not cooperating with officers. Upon further investigation, officers discovered the male subject had battered the caller’s son. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
July 4 at 6:51 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of Los Angeles reported a male subject was on her property and was refusing to leave. Officers responded and contacted the subject. He had been advised by the resident and officers the day prior that if he returned he would be arrested for trespassing; he was arrested and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
July 5 at 2:30 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 2600 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a motorist swerving in and out of their lane. The officer stopped the vehicle, and upon contacting the driver, found him to be heavily intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
July 6 at 1:18 a.m., a caller reported seeing a female subject stumbling in the middle of the street in front of cars in the 600 block of S. Myrtle. She had dropped her purse in the street, but continued walking. Officers arrived and located the subject. She was found to be too intoxicated to care for her own safety, so she was arrested for public intoxication and held for a sobering period.

Violation of Restraining Order – Suspect Arrested
July 6 at 10:59 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 900 block of S. Alta Vista when he saw a male subject following a female subject, both of whom he recognized. He also knew the male subject had an active restraining order to stay away from the female. He stopped the male subject and took him into custody.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 6:27 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of E. Olive reported a male subject was in their front yard even though they had been warned to stay off the property. Officers arrived and contacted the subject, then arrested him for trespassing.

Embezzlement – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 12:38 p.m., security for a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported they were detaining an employee for stealing money from the store. Officers arrived, and after an investigation, arrested the employee.

Fraud
July 7 at 1:39 p.m., an elderly male resident in the 700 block of Norumbega reported he was scammed by an unknown person over the telephone to purchase $25,000 in gift cards, and then he provided the suspect with the gift card numbers. This investigation is continuing.

Fraud / Identity Theft – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 6:40 p.m., a car dealership in the 800 block of E. Central reported a female subject was attempting to purchase a new vehicle using fraudulent information. Officers arrived and contacted the female. She identified herself using two different names and presented a fraudulent California driver’s license. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 7:08 p.m., an employee of a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a female subject was being detained by store security for shoplifting merchandise without paying. Officers arrived, and after an investigation, they arrested the subject. The merchandise was returned to the store.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
July 7 at 8:22 p.m., a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington reported a male subject in their parking lot who was attempting to sell a vehicle to their customers. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. A computer check revealed the subject was on parole and the vehicle he was selling had been reported stolen. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
July 8 at 12:42 p.m., security at a store in the 1600 block of S. Mountain reported they were detaining a male subject after he attempted to return store merchandise he had just removed from a shelf. When the store refused to give him money, he walked out of the store with the stolen merchandise. Officers arrived and arrested the subject.

Vandalism
July 8 at 7:00 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of Almond walked outside her home and discovered someone had slashed two of her vehicle tires. Officers arrived to investigate. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting
July 8 at 9:16 p.m., an employee of a store in the 100 block of W. Foothill reported a female subject walked out of their store without paying for merchandise. Store employees attempted to detain the subject, but she began screaming at them. Officers searched for the subject, but were not able to locate her. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
July 8 at 11:19 p.m., a caller reported he saw a male subject in the 600 block of W. Chestnut spray painting gang graffiti on a wall. The subject entered a small dark colored vehicle and fled the area. Officers searched for the subject, but were unable to locate him. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
July 9 at 6:48 a.m., an employee of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain arrived to work and discovered the building’s front window had been shattered. Officers arrived to investigate. No entry was made into the building. This investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
July 9 at 10:00 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 200 block of E. Huntington when he saw newly painted gang graffiti on the wall of a business. He also found additional graffiti in other nearby locations. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
July 9 at 10:25 a.m., a caller reported two vehicles had just collided in the 1100 block of S. Mayflower. Officers arrived to investigate the cause of the collision. One of the drivers complained of pain, so they were transported to a nearby hospital. The driver who was found to be at fault was issued a citation for the traffic violation.

Grand Theft Auto
July 9 at 2:54 p.m., the owner of a camper trailer went to their rental parking storage lot in the 3100 block of S. Peck and discovered their trailer was gone. Officers arrived to investigate. The owner last saw his camper parked in the lot one month prior. This investigation is continuing.

Attempt Burglary
July 9 at 3:16 p.m., the owner of a business in the 200 block of E. Foothill arrived to work and discovered pry marks on the building’s back door. Officers arrived to investigate. It appeared someone attempted to burglarize the business sometime over the weekend. This investigation is continuing.

Embezzlement
July 9 at 4:35 p.m., the owner of a business in the 500 block of S. Myrtle reported to officers that he had discovered one of his employees had been taking money from the store’s cash register over a period of time. This investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
July 9 at 5:30 p.m., a caller reported two vehicles had collided in the 400 block of E. Foothill. Officers arrived to investigate. The party at fault had collided due to a medical condition, and the other driver complained of pain from the collision. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
July 9 at 11:08 p.m., an employee of a business in the 100 block of W. Huntington reported a male subject was sleeping inside their trash dumpster. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. A computer check revealed he had several warrants for his arrest, so he was taken into custody. He was also provided homeless services information.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon
July 10 at 1:31 a.m., a nearby hospital called to report a male subject had just checked himself into their hospital after reportedly being assaulted by another male with a bat in the 500 block of W. Duarte. Officers responded to the hospital to speak with the victim. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
June 10 at 7:12 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of Highland walked outside her home and discovered someone had rummaged through her vehicle sometime during the night. Officers responded to investigate. The resident had left her vehicle unlocked when she parked it and her daughter’s backpack and laptop computer were stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Embezzlement
June 10 at 1:58 p.m., a business in the 200 block of E. Huntington discovered an employee had been taken money without permission from company funds. Officers responded to question employees and staff. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
June 10 at 6:14 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of S. Mountain walked outside his home and discovered someone had stolen several antique decorations from his front yard. Officers responded to investigate. This investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
July 11 at 7:48 a.m., the owner of a business in the 400 block of W. Maple arrived to work and discovered someone has shattered a window to gain entry to the business. Officers responded to investigate and found money had been taken from the business. This investigation is continuing.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
July 11 at 8:48 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of Los Angeles reported a male subject in his front yard who had previously been warned to stay off the property by officers and the resident. Officers responded and arrested the subject for trespassing.

Fellowship Monrovia Highlighted in Article About Multiethnic Churches

An article about multiethnic churches at the Azusa Pacific University website focuses on Monrovia's Fellowship Monrovia church: https://goo.gl/mS6dTD

- Brad Haugaard

Article About GoMonrovia

Highlights from an excellent article about Monrovia's GoMonrovia transportation program in BisNow (https://goo.gl/DZh64a):

~ Since it started in mid-March, Lyft has provided more than 53,000 rides in Monrovia. (The old Dial-A-Ride - still around for the handicapped - was used only 36,000 times during all of last year.)

~ A Lyft driver says that most of her trips are residents going to and from work or coming home from shopping. Also, she gets more than double the number of rides in Monrovia as in Downtown LA.

~ Monrovia's program is the first of its kind nationwide, but could be a model for programs in other cities.

- Brad Haugaard

Living With Bears Seminar; 296-Unit Residential Buildings (and Tattooing) Approved; Teen Scene; Renewal Celebration

In his weekly report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ There will be a "Coexisting With Wildlife" seminar on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m., in the Library Community Room. Chi says that, "since the start of May 2018, we have had 100 calls for service about bear sightings alone." And somebody has been feeding the bears raw meat. Don't do it, he says.

~ On July 3, the City Council approved the 296-unit Richman Residential multi-family housing development to be located just south of Station Square. It will include: a drop-off point for the train station, a walking path connecting to the drop-off point, a 2,130 square foot publicly-accessible open space area (I think that means "park") fronting on Magnolia.

~ The Council also approved regulations that would allow for tattoo services on a limited basis in Old Town Monrovia.

~ The new Friday Night Teen Scene program is being held on Myrtle and Colorado between Rudy's Mexican Restaurant and the Monrovian every Friday night from 5 to 10 p.m. through Aug. 10. It includes a variety of free activities and the area will be furnished with teen-inspired equipment and furniture.

~ There will be a dedication of the Monrovia Renewal Phase II Project on Thursday, July 19, at 4 p.m. in Library Park (at the corner of Palm and Primrose) to christen the completion of the Northwest Section of the project.

- Brad Haugaard

Timothy the Pit Bull - Always Smiling

Timothy (A460760) is a 3-year-old pit bull, found as a stray in Arcadia. We perfectly captured his personality in this photo. He is always smiling, greeting visitors at the door and wanting to be petted. Volunteers who have taken him to the training yard say he likes to play fetch, likes treats, and knows his “sit,” and “shake.” Come meet Timothy today at the Pasadena Humane Society.

The adoption fee for dogs is $130. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before going to their new home.

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 at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

*** The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is having a Free Cat Adoption weekend! Cats and kittens will have their adoption fees waived July 13 through July 15. View cats at pasadenahumane.org. 

- Brad Haugaard














Casual Bears


I encountered this guy this morning in Canyon Oark coming down the road as I was going up. I thought he’d go over the side when he saw me, but nope. Just kept coming. He just bear-ly (sorry) edged away. We passed about 15 feet apart. Scared me a bit. 

I’m wondering if there is a progression from timid to casual to inquisitive to aggressive. Might be good to ask a bear-ologost. 

And no, these bears weren’t here first. They’re imports from Yosemite. 

- Brad Haugaard 


Citrus College Foundation Gets Its Biggest Gift Ever

Nearly $1.3 million has been gifted to the Citrus College Foundation by the estate of John W. Cassey, Ph.D., who served as a faculty member at Citrus College from 1960 to 2002. Citrus College serves Monrovia.

The bequest, which is designated to support student success and faculty enrichment, is the largest in the organization's history.

For more than 40 years, Dr. Cassey taught western civilization, world politics and humanities courses at Citrus College. After a long and successful career, he retired in October 2002.

Dr. Cassey passed away in March 2017. When his estate was settled, the Citrus College Foundation was the primary beneficiary.

Proceeds from Dr. Cassey's gift will establish the Dr. John William Cassey Endowed Scholarship, which will provide two scholarships to history and/or political science degree majors. They will also be used to endow the Patricia Knox Scholarship Fund, which was previously established to benefit nursing students.

In addition, Dr. Cassey's gift will endow faculty development programs, assist with equipment needs, and help finance academic events for the history, political science and nursing programs.

To celebrate Dr. Cassey's contribution and honor his memory, the Citrus College Foundation installed a Faculty Enrichment Honor Wall, which will include the names of any donors who support faculty enrichment and the educational mission of Citrus College. If you would like to contribute, contact the Citrus College Foundation by phone at 914-8825 or visit www.citruscollege.edu/foundation.

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at LeRoy’s

Lunch at LeRoy’s, on the north side of Huntington a bit west of Mayflower. I’ve been pigging out lately so I got the Ground Beef Patty from the Dieters’ Special section of the menu for $9.25. That and an iced tea for $2.75  I resisted the temptation to get a Deep Fried Twinkie Sundae. Well! “Diet” at LeRoy’s certainly doesn’t mean small portions. I couldn’t finish it all. What I could finish was good, though. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Hot! Hot! Hot! - Monrovia Cooling Center Opens

An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for Los Angeles County from Friday, July 6 through Sunday, July 8. In the valley, temperatures are expected to reach 107 to 112 degrees.

We would like to remind everyone that precautions should be taken, especially by individuals who participate in outdoor activities, older adults, caretakers of infants and children, and those sensitive to the heat. This alert may be extended if weather conditions do not improve.

If you have an elderly or infirm neighbor without air conditioning, make sure that they get to a cooling center or other air conditioned space. The City of Monrovia has a designated cooling center located at:
The Monrovia Community Center - 119 West Palm Avenue

The cooling center will operate 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. on the following days:

Thursday, July 5
Friday, July 6
Saturday, July 7
Sunday, July 8
Monday, July 9

Additionally, due to these dangerous conditions and possible fire danger, there will be an extension to the closure of Canyon Park and the Hillside Wilderness Preserve (HWP). Canyon Park and HWP will remain closed and reopen on Monday, July 9.

Source: Monrovia Fire Department

- Brad Haugaard