Storytime with Park Naturalists, May 9


Storytime with Park Naturalists at Station Square Park. Stories and activities for children to age 5 with accompanying adults. Sat, May 9, 10 to 10:45 a.m. Also, music, movement, and nature topics led by city park naturalists. For questions call the Library at 256-8274. Details

- Brad Haugaard

Yarn and Fabric Hangout May 12 at Library


Yarn and Fabric Hangout at the Library Story Room, May 12, 6 to 7 p.m. Teens and adults may bring embroidery, knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, mending, or other portable crafts to work on while socializing. Sewing machines available for small projects, with instruction provided. Bring your own supplies; limited materials available. Details

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia teams in top 10 in regional Stock Market Game


Five Monrovia school teams ranked in the top 10 (including first and second places!) out of 900 competing teams for the region in The Stock Market Game, a simulation of investing and of the global capital markets.

- Brad Haugaard

Special Ed teacher Rebecca Alarcon named Teacher of the Year

Special education teacher Rebecca “Becki” Alarcon has been named Monrovia School District's Teacher of the Year. She has been with the district for 17 years. “I strive to always have an open door and a listening ear,” Alarcon said. Her motto is, “Progress, not perfection.” Details.

- Brad Haugaard

'Get Your Kicks' Route 66 Centennial Celebration at Recreation Park, May 3

"Get Your Kicks," a free Route 66 Centennial Celebration, will be at Recreation Park on May 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event features vintage cars, live music, food vendors, Route 66 merchandise, face painting, and a passport stamping station. The museum's Route 66 exhibit will also be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Walk with a Doc free monthly walks at Recreation Park; next walk May 2

Walk with a Doc is a new free monthly walking program at Recreation Park, pairing community members with local healthcare providers for a one-hour walk and health discussion. Walks are open to all ages and start at the Boys and Girls Club entrance, 620 S. Shamrock Ave. The next walk is May 2 at 9 a.m.; the topic is "Lifestyle Medicine." Details

- Brad Haugaard

Free parent support group at First Lutheran Church begins May 6

First Lutheran Church (1323 South Magnolia Ave.) is launching a free monthly Parent Support Group for parents and grandparents of children to age five. The group meets the first Wednesday of each month starting May 6 at 7 p.m. Childcare is provided by First Lutheran's preschool staff.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Historical Museum opens Route 66 exhibit, 'A Road Through Time'

The Monrovia Historical Museum has opened its newest exhibit, "Route 66: A Road Through Time," timed to coincide with the Route 66 Centennial celebration. The exhibit is open during regular museum hours, Sundays and Thursdays, 1-4 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Current Local Job Opportunities - May

Here are links to the latest job opportunities for Monrovia:

Monrovia School District 

City of Monrovia 

Private 

Also, drop by America's Job Center of California at the Monrovia Community Adult School at 920 S. Mountain Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday or Wednesday, or from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday.

And some more links for nearby:

USC Arcadia Hospital

Citrus College

CalState LA

LA County

And even more general:

Indeed

LinkedIn Jobs

CalJOBS (state employment)


- Brad Haugaard

Coming Up in Monrovia

Trivia night for adults at the Library, May 1

Children's crafts at the Library, May 2

Veterans movie night at the Library, May 2

Ceramics Sale May 2 at Santa Fe

Classic Car Show at Recreation Park, May 3

Rare photo of McDonald Brother's first food stand - a giant orange - on display May 3; Also, a re-creation of that food stand

Femineer program to host showcase at high school May 4

Blood drive at Monrovia Public Library, May 5

Adult craft night at the Library - Stashbusting, May 5

Veterans Thank You Dinner at Library, May 6

Monrovia Reads annual fundraiser, May 7 at 6 p.m.

National Day of Prayer at Library Park, May 7

Trip planned to see Sound of Music May 8

Unity Center needs volunteers for big May 9 food drive

Monrovia Fire & Rescue pancake breakfast, May 9

Coming up for Monrovia Days, May 14-17

VFW Post 2070 BBQ & Car Show, June 13

- Brad Haugaard

Budget report: City finances stable; Council study sessions on safety/bicycle plan, and budget

At its next meeting (agenda here) the Monrovia City Council will ...

~ Receive a budget report saying that the city "continues to maintain a stable financial position," but "uncertainty persists in the broader economic environment." The report estimates total revenues at about $148.85 million and expenditures at $145.83 million, with a projected general fund surplus of roughly $611,000, largely tied to one-time PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, aka "forever chemicals") settlement funds. Also, there are cost savings because the council decided the proposed Library project was too costly and reduced its budget from $6 to about $2 million. Details

~ Consider proclaiming May as  Older Americans Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

~  Also, at a special 5 p.m. meeting May 5 the City Council will hold a study session on the proposed Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and Bicycle Master Plan Update. Details

~ And then at 5:45 the Council will hold another study session to discuss 2026-27 Budget and review capital improvement program and fees and charges. Details

- Brad Haugaard

School board to consider software to track problem behaviors

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

~ Spending $3,000 on a web-based SWIS (School-Wide Information System) license to track student behavior and "reveal patterns in problem behaviors, identify where and when incidents occur most frequently, and highlight students who may need additional support." Details

~ Proclaiming May 17-23 as Classified School Employee Week, May as Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Pie Life Pizza


Dinner at the new Pie Life Pizza, on the east side of Myrtle just north of Lime. Got an 18-inch Meaty Pizza (to share) for $34 and an iced tea for $3.17. There is also a two-slice combo, including a drink, for $11.50. Very tasty.

- Brad Haugaard 

Rare photo of McDonald Brother's first food stand - a giant orange - on display May 3; Also, a re-creation of that food stand


The McDonald brothers (McDonald's restaurants) got their start in Monrovia, and on May 3 the Monrovia Historical Society will unveil a rare photo of the brothers' first food stand - a giant orange. The photo, and an 8-foot-tall re-creation of the giant orange, will be on display at the Route 66 celebration in Recreation Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Shotgun drawn in business dispute; Driver high on nitrous, possible hit-and-run; Fake Edison texts demand gift cards; Shoplifter caught at store exit; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 23 – 29, 2026. 455 calls for service, 83 investigations, 2 mental evaluations, 5 traffic collisions, 5 arrests. - Brad Haugaard]

APRIL 23

Grand Theft

At 6:27 a.m., a victim in the 900 block of S. Fifth reported tools stolen from the bed of his truck. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft

At 10:15 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of W. Colorado reported the catalytic converter to his vehicle stolen. This investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting

At 12:05 p.m., an employee from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported that a shoplifter had stolen approximately $300 worth of merchandise, earlier in the day. This investigation is continuing.

Theft – Suspect Arrested

At 7:31 p.m., an employee from a store in the 700 block of E. Huntington reported a male subject was concealing merchandise. Officers arrived as the suspect was exiting the store and made contact with him. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested

At 11:20 p.m., while patrolling the area of Spanner and Myrtle an officer saw a vehicle in violation of a vehicle code. A traffic stop was conducted and when the driver was contacted officers saw open containers and a controlled substance in the vehicle. The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

APRIL 24

Weapon Offense

At 10:21 a.m., a caller at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington reported that a male subject at the business pointed a shotgun at him after an argument. Officers arrived and made contact with the parties involved. Both parties gave conflicting statements. This investigation is continuing.

Identity Theft – Suspect Arrested

At 12:07 p.m., while patrolling the area of Myrtle and Evergreen, an officer saw a vehicle in violation of a vehicle code. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was contacted. An investigation revealed the driver was in possession of checkbooks, credit cards, and identification in various victim's names. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested

At 1:34 p.m., a neighbor in the 700 block of Genoa reported a subject trespassing into a vacant home. Officers arrived and located a male subject inside the property. He was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Vandalism

At 9:19 p.m., an officer patrolling the 500 block of S. Myrtle found graffiti on a business wall. This investigation is continuing.

Battery

At 10:53 p.m., a fight involving numerous subjects was reported at a business in the 700 block of S. Myrtle. Officers arrived and found two victims suffering minor injuries. The suspects were gone prior to officers' arrival. This investigation is continuing.

APRIL 25

Vehicle Burglary

At 11:38 a.m., multiple callers in the 500 block of W. Huntington reported a vehicle burglary in progress. The suspect shattered the vehicle's window, stole property and fled in a waiting vehicle. This investigation is continuing.

Trespass – Suspect Arrested

At 7:41 p.m., a disturbance was reported at a business in the 200 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and discovered that a male subject was causing a disturbance and refusing to leave. The subject refused to leave after officers ordered him to leave the property. He was arrested and taken into custody.

APRIL 26

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested

At 8:04 p.m., a caller in the area of Ivy and Lime reported a possibly intoxicated subject. Officers arrived and located the subject who displayed signs of intoxication and it was determined he was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

APRIL 27

Fraud

At 2:05 p.m., a victim in the 2600 block of S. Myrtle reported receiving fraudulent texts from an unknown subject claiming to be Southern California Edison. The victim was asked to purchase gift cards and make payment with them. This investigation is continuing.

APRIL 28

No significant incidents to report.

APRIL 29

Drug Offense – Suspect Arrested

At 3:53 p.m., a witness in the 500 block of W. Huntington saw a vehicle drive erratically and go up over a curb. An officer arrived and located the vehicle with the driver inside. The officer located a nitrous tank inside the vehicle and the driver admitted to using it while driving. He was arrested and taken into custody. An investigation is continuing to determine if he was the suspect in a hit and run incident that day.

Vandalism

At 4:15 p.m., a victim in the 100 block of W. Lemon reported his vehicle window was shattered with two unknown male subjects next to it. The male subjects fled on foot. This investigation is continuing.

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