Monrovia is again a finalist for All-America City Award

Monrovia has again been named a finalist for the All-America City Award. It won the award in 2024 and reached finalist status in 2023. According to it's website, the All-America City Award "recognizes communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues." This year Monrovia's application highlights programs including the police Community Activist Policing Bureau, SGV CARE, partnership with the Community Adult School, and the city's Biking for Bucks program.

- Brad Haugaard

Two bear cubs may be returned to wild by October; contributions welcome

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that the bear cubs of the euthanized “Blondie” are in good health, are being rehabilitated and may be released back into the Angeles National Forest, perhaps as soon as October. The two cubs, 2–3 months old, are receiving intensive care at San Diego Humane Society. It costs about $400 per week to prepare the cubs for the wild. Click here if you would like to donate to cover those costs. Also, the city will soon have merchandise for sale with all proceeds going to support the two bears.

"Over the course of the next several months," Feik writes, "we want to promote this campaign to help the bear cubs, further educate our community about living with wildlife, and advocate for policy change that leads to better outcomes for both humans and wildlife."

- Brad Haugaard

Sweet Mozza is an adventurous husky who loves long walks, yard time, and a good chew

Three-year-old Mozza at is a sweet, adventurous gal! This energetic pup at Pasadena Humane loves long walks and playing in the yard, but also enjoys settling down for a tasty chew. In her foster home, she gets along with another dog and has been very gentle with kids.

Mozza also loves to participate in playgroup at the shelter and is a regular at foster sleepovers and mobile events, where her fun-loving personality really shines. She is also on the lookout for a special adopter who can help manage her health, as she does experience occasional seizures.

If you’re interested in an incredible and beautiful dog with a heart of gold, come meet Mozza today!

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: Filming at Monrovia Airport

The 1939 Twentieth Century Fox movie, 20,000 Men a Year, was filmed at the Monrovia Airport. Here are Randolph Scott, Margaret Lindsay, and George Earnest? Here is the IMDB description of the movie. From the Gary Boen 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

Kiyoshi Kuromiya Neighborhood Treasure event

- Brad Haugaard

Bye Bye Birdie play at Clifton Middle School, April 9, 10, 11

Tickets for sale here.

- Brad Haugaard

Happy Easter, Monrovia!

The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

(Matthew 28:5-6)

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Easter services here.

- Brad Haugaard

Singers invited to audition for choral group April 14, 21

San Gabriel Valley Choral Company invites singers to audition for its 2025-2026 season. Auditions, on April 14 and 21,  include vocal exercises, sight-learning, and a brief a cappella song. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, with the next concert on June 20. Membership fee $225; scholarships available. Sign up for an audition here.

- Brad Haugaard

Learn to draw manga characters at the Library, April 25

Character design workshop for anime and manga fans at the Library on Apr. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. Adults and teens 16+ will learn tips for drawing favorite characters or creating originals. Registration required, here.

- Brad Haugaard

Storytime with park naturalists, April 11

Storytime outdoors with park naturalists at Tsuneishi Park, behind Chick-fil-A, on April 11 from 10 to 10:45 a.m., for children to age 5 and their caregivers. Stories, music, movement, and nature facts led by park naturalists and library staff. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Outline of proposed changes to city roads for bike lanes

Here is an overview (which I should have done long ago) of the proposed changes to Monrovia's road system under the proposed bicycle safety plan. The most dramatic changes would be to add physically separated bikeways along the full length of Foothill and along Huntington, from Arcadia to Duarte, and on Myrtle from Walnut to the south city border.

The city is proposing four classes of bikeways:

• Class 1 (green) - A completely physically separated path for use by bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Class 2 (purple) - A painted bike lane.
• Class 3 (gold) - Markings indicating cars and bikes share the same space.
• Red is a Class 2/3 combination.
• Class 4 (blue) - Separated bike lanes using physical barriers between cars and bikes.

Classes 1 and 4 offer the most dramatic changes, so I'm outlining them here.

Class 1
Central Avenue between Magnolia Ave and Shamrock Ave
Evergreen Ave between Magnolia Ave and Shamrock Ave
Primrose Ave between Palm Ave and Central Ave
Magnolia Ave between Central Ave and Duarte Rd
Primrose Ave between Palm Ave and Central Ave
Trail between Canyon Blvd and Lemon Ave
Valley Circle between Benrud St and California Ave

Class 4

Foothill Blvd between Fifth Ave and Mountain Ave
Huntington Dr between Fifth Ave and Mountain Ave
Peck Rd between Live Oak Ave and south city limit
Mayflower Ave between Colorado Blvd and Duarte Rd
Myrtle Ave between Walnut Ave and Central Ave
Myrtle Ave between Evergreen Ave and south city limit

See the report here for more information. For details on the proposed bike paths scroll to pages 124 and following.

- Brad Haugaard

City fundraiser for bear cubs to be announced next week

City Manager Dylan Feik reports that next week the city will soon be announcing a fundraising campaign to support the orphaned Monrovia bear cubs during their care at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center. The cubs were orphaned recently when their mother was euthanized after scratching a woman walking her dog and after the Department of Fish and Wildlife determined it was the same bear who scratched a man on his porch about a year ago.

- Brad Haugaard

Public comment period extended for city safety and bicycle plans

The city's Draft Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and Draft Bicycle Master Plan Update are available for public review. Comments or questions may be emailed to ssousa@monroviaca.gov by April 10.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Chamber of Commerce seeks new logo design; deadline April 30

The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce thinks it's time for a new logo, so it is seeking submissions for a new design, which must include the full name "Monrovia Chamber of Commerce" and use a dark green and gold color palette. Submission deadline is April 30. To be added to the designer list, contact Korrine Ramirez at kr@monroviacc.com or 358-1159.

- Brad Haugaard

Upper Water offering free Water Smart Home Kits

Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District's Home Kit Program is available to all residents within the Upper Water service area. The free kits include faucet aerators, showerheads, and sprinkler nozzles - all installable without a contractor. Request a kit here.

- Brad Haugaard