Dinner at Chili’s

SaladHad dinner at Chili’s tonight, in the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center. Got the Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad for $18.29, a cup of Chicken Enchilada Soup or $7.79 (I ate it so it’s not in the picture), and a beer for$7.09. Interestingly, the one thing they don’t serve is… chili. Anyway, it was very good.

- Brad Haugaard

San Gabriel Valley Choral Company Holding Auditions Sept. 1 and 15

The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company (SGVCC) will hold auditions for its 2026/27 concert season on Sept. 1 and 15. Rehearsals will be held Tuesday evenings from 7–9 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, at Foothill and California, starting Oct. 6. The season includes concerts in December 2026, March 2027, and June 2027. To sign up for an audition here.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Burglars cut power, take guns; Vandal smashes tree lights; Couple scammed in currency scheme; Man tried to meet juvenile girl; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 5 – 12, 2026. 549 calls for service, 108 investigations, 5 mental evaluations, 4 traffic collisions, 31 arrests. - Brad Haugaard]

AUGUST 5

Bike Theft

At 10:22 a.m., a victim in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported his bicycle was stolen from a bike rack. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft

At 12:34 p.m., a caller in the 100 block of W. Pomona reported tools were stolen from a secured room. This investigation is continuing.

Violation of Court Order

At 1:14 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of E. Colorado reported a former student was in violation of a court order. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery

At 2:09 p.m., an employee from a business in the 3300 block of S. Peck reported a stolen vehicle was at their location. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested

At 2:48 p.m., a witness in the 200 block of S. Myrtle reported a female inhaling nitrous oxide. Officers arrived and made contact with the female. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Overdose

At 4:06 p.m., a passerby in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle reported a male subject was down and unresponsive. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject who appeared to have overdosed. The officers administered Narcan and revived the subject. He was transported to a hospital for further treatment.

Trespass – Suspect Arrested

At 5:56 p.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Royal Oaks reported a neighbor who had been advised to stay away was knocking on her door. Officers arrived and made contact with the resident who requested a citizen's arrest. The neighbor was arrested, cited and released at the scene.

Petty Theft

At 7:40 p.m., a caller in the 1600 block of S. Magnolia reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle and stole property. This investigation is continuing.

AUGUST 6

Vandalism

At 8:23 p.m., an officer patrolling the 1900 block of Walker saw graffiti on a wall. This investigation is continuing.

AUGUST 7

Battery

At 12:14 p.m., a victim in the 200 block of E. Duarte reported being assaulted by an unknown subject. The suspect was gone prior to officers' arrival. This investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary

At 1:41 p.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Briarcliff reported a residential burglary. Officers arrived and discovered that the electricity had been shut off, surveillance cameras had been damaged and firearms were stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Tampering / Public Intoxication – Suspects Arrested

At 3:55 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of E. Duarte reported that an unknown subject was breaking into his vehicle. Officers arrived and located two suspects inside the resident's vehicle. An investigation revealed both suspects were intoxicated. They were arrested and taken into custody.

Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested

At 7:43 p.m., officers patrolling the 300 block of S. Myrtle saw several juvenile subjects inhaling nitrous oxide. Officers made contact with the group. An investigation revealed one juvenile and an adult were in possession of nitrous oxide with the intent to inhale. The adult was arrested and taken into custody.

Trespass / Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested

At 9:40 p.m., while patrolling the 700 block of W. Chestnut officers saw two suspicious subjects. The officers made contact with the subjects and determined they were trespassing. One subject was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. They were both arrested and taken into custody.

AUGUST 8

Vandalism – Suspect Arrested

At 12:39 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Myrtle and Lime regarding a subject damaging decorative lights on trees. Officers arrived, located the subject and made contact with him. He was arrested and taken into custody for the crime.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested

At 1:21 a.m., a caller in the 800 block of S. Myrtle reported an intoxicated subject was knocking on doors. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject who was determined to be too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

Shoplifting

At 3:04 p.m., an employee from a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington reported that a subject stole merchandise and fled without paying. This investigation is continuing.

Theft – Suspects Arrested

At 3:34 p.m., a shoplifting in progress was reported at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and located the suspects as they were leaving the store. They were arrested and taken into custody.

AUGUST 9

Arranging to Meet with a Minor – Suspect Arrested

At 12:06 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 300 block of W. Olive regarding an adult male subject attempting to meet a juvenile female. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. This investigation is continuing.

Resisting – Suspect Arrested

At 7:37 a.m., while patrolling the 900 block of W. Huntington an officer conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist for a vehicle code violation. An investigation revealed the bicyclist provided the officer with a false name. The bicyclist was arrested and taken into custody.

AUGUST 10

Commercial Burglary

At 2:45 a.m., MPD was alerted to an alarm activation at a closed business in the 300 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and saw a rear door forced open and the office had been ransacked. No items were taken. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

At 7:22 a.m., an officer patrolling the 500 block of W. El Norte saw a vehicle with a broken window. The owner of the vehicle was contacted and informed of the broken window. The owner confirmed that property was stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Hate Crime – Suspect Arrested

At 4:46 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 300 block of S. Myrtle regarding a male subject who was calling a juvenile a derogatory name. He ran towards the juvenile, grabbed his shirt, ripped the shirt and pulled him towards the ground. The juvenile was able to get up and run away. Officers arrived and made contact with the male subject. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Fraud

At 7:39 p.m., a resident walked into the MPD lobby to report that she and her husband were victims of a scam. The couple believed that an unknown subject they were communicating with through an app was going to convert their U.S. currency into a foreign currency. The funds were frozen by the foreign country due to fraudulent activity. This investigation is continuing.

Runaway Juvenile

At 9:48 p.m., officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 200 block of W. Pomona regarding a runaway juvenile. The juvenile got into an argument with his mother and left the home. He was located the following morning. This investigation is continuing.

Missing Person

At 12:05 a.m., a caller in Los Angeles reported a female subject missing. The subject was entered into the missing persons system. This investigation is continuing.

AUGUST 11

Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested

At 3:49 a.m., an officer patrolling the 400 block of W. Duarte saw a suspicious vehicle. A traffic stop was conducted and the occupants were contacted. An investigation revealed one of the occupants was in possession of a controlled substance. The subject was arrested, cited, and released at the scene.

Fraud

At 3:37 p.m., a caller in the 100 block of N. Ivy reported a check she mailed was intercepted by an unknown subject and cashed. This investigation is continuing.

Theft

At 4:16 p.m., an employee from a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington reported two male subjects entered the business, stole merchandise, and fled in a vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested

At 7:36 p.m., a caller reported a female subject inhaling from a NAS tank in the 300 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and located the female subject inside a vehicle with the NAS tank. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Shoplifting

At 8:09 p.m., a loss prevention officer for a store in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a theft in progress. Officers arrived and located the suspect outside. He was arrested and taken into custody.

AUGUST 12

Identity Theft

At 11:38 a.m., a victim in the 400 block of E. Lemon reported that an unknown subject was opening accounts in her name. This investigation is continuing.

Theft – Suspect Arrested

At 12:00 p.m., an employee from a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington reported a theft. Officers arrived and located the suspect a short distance away. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested

At 2:52 p.m., a witness in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle reported a male subject was hitting a female subject. Officers arrived and located the parties involved. The female subject had visible injuries to her face and head. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Forgery

At 4:47 p.m., a caller in the 100 block of Melrose reported three checks that he placed in the mail were intercepted by an unknown subject and cashed. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence / Vandalism – Suspect Arrested

At 5:37 p.m., a victim in the 800 block of W. Duarte reported her boyfriend had been drinking, broke her window and broke items in the home. Officers arrived and located him a short distance away. An investigation revealed he battered the victim. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft

At 6:18 p.m., a caller in the 200 block of W. Huntington reported the catalytic converter to his vehicle stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested

At 6:17 p.m., a domestic dispute was reported in the 100 block of Grand. Officers arrived and made contact with the parties involved. An investigation revealed a boyfriend and girlfriend were involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical when the girlfriend hit the boyfriend. She was arrested and taken into custody.

Kids Can Turn Nature Into Art at Canyon Park, Aug. 22

Children can explore nature and turn their discoveries into art at Kids Craft in the Canyon on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Canyon Park Nature Center. No registration is required; participation is first come, first served, and snacks will be provided. Details here.

- Brad Haugaard

Pop-up Makerspace for Teens at the Library, Aug. 26


Teens in grades 7–12 can create zines, friendship bracelets, pins and buttons, explore Sphero Mini Bots, or try a 3D art pen on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 3:30–5 p.m. at the Library. Details

- Brad Haugaard

Teen Game Hangout at the Library, Aug. 21


Teens in grades 7–12 can drop in for snacks and games, including Mario Kart, Smash Ultimate, Beyblades and board games, on Friday, Aug. 21, 3–4:30 p.m. at the Library. Details

- Brad Haugaard

Adventurous Marco is a treat-loving Lab mix ready for his next big adventure

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Meet Marco! This 1-year-old Labrador/Retriever mix at Pasadena Humane is a playful pup who's always ready for an adventure or a good sniff around the neighborhood. Marco loves exploring, enjoys his treats, and knows his sit and down training cues. Once he settles in, he's wonderfully affectionate and will happily curl up beside you for pets.

Marco is a fun-loving, energetic guy looking for someone who can appreciate his zest for life and help him channel it into plenty of enrichment, exercise, and positive experiences. With his happy spirit and big personality, Marco is ready to find a person who will be by his side for all of life's adventures!

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

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.

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: The Tsuneishi Family's Roadside Stand on Route 66

The large Tsuneishi family (after whom Monrovia's new Tsuneishi Park is named) at their roadside fruit stand along Huntington Drive, or Route 66. The eleven children pictured went on to remarkable lives - several served in World War II or the Korean War, two became pastors, one a bacteriologist, one a school teacher, and two ran the family's Tsuneishi Insurance business in Torrance, which continues today. From the Susie Ling collection. 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

Planning Commission to consider expansion of lower-income housing requirements

At its next meeting (agenda here) the Monrovia  Planning Commission will consider expanding its lower-income housing requirement to be citywide rather than just in high-density areas, such as Station Square, Huntington Drive, and South Myrtle. All new residential developments of five or more units would be required to provide affordable housing or use an approved alternative, unless exempt. The commission will consider recommending that the City Council approve the measure. Details

- Brad Haugaard

Free countertop compost bins available to Monrovia residents

Monrovia has a limited number of free countertop compost bins available to residents. The bins are designed for collecting kitchen food scraps for transfer to the organic (green) cart. Residents can request a bin here.

- Brad Haugaard

Free emergency preparedness training for families, Aug. 22 and 29

Monrovia Fire & Rescue is offering free emergency preparedness training for families on Aug. 22 and 29. The program features four-hour sessions in English (8 a.m. to noon) and Spanish (1 to 5 p.m.) covering hazard identification, evacuation planning, fire extinguisher use, disaster kits, and first aid. Open to all ages. English registration here; Spanish here

- Brad Haugaard

Coming Up in Monrovia

Summer Concerts in the Park, Sundays May 31–Aug. 9

SPOT teen program at Library Park, June 5–Aug. 7

Pasadena Humane Waives Adoption Fees for Dogs and Cats July 31–Aug. 9

Movies and Concerts in the Park: Aug. 1, 2, 8, and 9

Free Backpack Giveaway for Monrovia elementary students Aug. 7

Back to School giveaway Aug. 8

Spiderman Craft Party at the Library, Aug. 8

Bumptown - old school music - at Library Park, Sunday, August 9

Yarn and Fabric Hangout at the Library, Aug. 11

Storytime at the Library, Aug. 12

Jazz and R&B Festival at Station Square Park, Aug. 15

Sensory-Friendly Morning for Neurodivergent Children at the Library, Aug. 22

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to receive Measure MM facilities update; Approve agreement with Campus Safety Group; Consider Rio Hondo College dual enrollment partnership; Etc.

At its next meeting the Monrovia Board of Education (agenda) will ...

~ Receive an update on Measure MM bond projects. Crews are installing bells, clocks, PA systems and lighting at Bradoaks. As of June 30, Measure MM's Fund 21 has spent about $2.05 million of the $22.36 million raised, leaving roughly $20.31 million on hand. Details.

~ Approve a one-year, $5,000 agreement with Campus Safety Group, a nonprofit, for training and support of the district's Comprehensive School Safety Plans. Details.

~ Consider a three-year partnership with Rio Hondo Community College District, starting Aug. 13 that would let MUSD students take Rio Hondo courses under a pre-apprenticeship carpentry pathway; Students would pay no tuition or material fees. Details.

~ Consider a $16,000 memorandum of understanding with the Parent Institute for Quality Education for its Signature Family Engagement in Education program to bolster family engagement at Clifton Middle School and Monrovia High School. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at the new Viola’s Bistro

Lunch at Viola's Bistro, on the east side of Ivy just south of Lemon. Got the Bistro Omelette for $16 and a Mixed Berry Lemonade for $4. Very tasty. And elgant! I was underdressed in a T-shirt. The restaurant opens for dinner starting tomorrow, Friday, August 7, from 4-10 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

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