School Will Be 100% Online This Fall

In a special meeting Tuesday night the Monrovia School Board voted unanimously to start the school year 100 percent online. https://youtu.be/1xdtMuh_BJI?t=7195

Why Board Member Gililland is upside down I don't know. ;-)

Board President Rob Hammond added in a Facebook post: "We all wanted to be able to welcome your children in August. We worked tirelessly to create a system that would sustain the increased traffic and interaction. While current conditions prevent us from implementing that plan on August 19, we will have it ready for the day conditions do allow it. We start school in this manner with every intention of having our students return as soon as safely possible."

Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 402, 1 More Death

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m. July 13:

Monrovia: 402 (up 9 since 8 p.m. July 12), 30 deaths (up 1).

Unincorporated Monrovia: 50 (up 3).

Glen Park (assisted living, 110 N Mountain), 3 cases, no deaths.

Trader Joe's market: 5 cases, no deaths.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 370, Up 23 in Two Days

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m. July 12:

Monrovia: 393 (up 23 since 8 p.m. July 10), 29 deaths (unchanged).

Unincorporated Monrovia: 47 (up 1).

Glen Park (assisted living, 110 N Mountain), 3 cases, no deaths.

Trader Joe's market: 5 cases, no deaths.

- Brad Haugaard

Stoney - A Wallflower No Longer

Four-year-old Stoney was a little bit of a wallflower when she came into the shelter as a stray, and also had painful bladder stones. But with surgery and healing, and now lots of treats and play time, she’s really warmed up to our staff and shown her puppy-like demeanor. She has lots of fun romping in the yard during Small Dog Play Group with all her other little dog friends, so she would probably do well with other dogs in the home. She loves play so much, she’s always the one trying to get the other dogs to join her fun and games! Stoney had some trust to build and some healing to do when we first met her, but now she’s ready for her forever home!

The adoption fee for dogs is $140. All dog 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 at pasadenahumane.org and fill out an online adoption application. Adoptions are by appointment only.

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

- Brad Haugaard

Old Town Advisory Board to Meet Regarding Outdoor Dining

The Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board will meet Tuesday, July 14, at 9:30 a.m., to further discuss outdoor dining in Old Town. Send comments to tcherry@ci.monrovia.ca.us before 8:30 a.m. on July 14. Comments may be summarized in the interest of time, however the full text will be provided to all members of the board prior to the meeting.

To watch the meeting and/or provide public comment from your computer or smartphone, call (626) 698-8630 or email rsandoval@ci.monrovia.ca.us before 8:30 a.m. on July 14 to get an ID and password. To comment, click the Participants "raised hand" icon at the appropriate time indicated during the meeting, and you will be selected from the meeting queue. Please limit comments to three minutes.

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Discuss School in the Fall, Bill to Require Ethnic Studies Class

The Monrovia Board of Education will hold a special meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. (agenda: https://is.gd/z2YcW5) to discuss:

~ What school is going to look like in the fall. Board President Rob Hammond writes on Facebook that the board wants to give both parents and the district as much time as possible to adapt to whatever plan is adopted.

~ Discuss supporting Assembly Bill 331 (https://is.gd/xKYuhZ), which would require students take a class in ethnic studies as a graduation requirement.

Watch at www.foothillsmedia.org/MUSD. Send public comments to publiccomments@monroviaschools.net

- Brad Haugaard

School Board Member Brian Wong is "Less Comfortable" Opening Schools

Monrovia School Board member Brian Wong writes on Facebook that while "the initial Task force and surveys may have indicated a hybrid model of returning back to school with the option of full time distance learning, things are very fluid. New cases in LA County are continuing to increase, not decrease.

"The health and safety of our students, staff and their families are our primary concern. It is possible that the first semester will again be 100% distance learning and we are preparing for that as well. The LA County Dept of Health and the CA Dept of Education are the driving forces on what the first day of school is going to look like. 

"Every day I am becoming less comfortable opening the schools."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Today Activity Guide Available Online

Here is the online version of the Monrovia Today Summer Activity Guide. Lots of virtual stuff: https://is.gd/Lm2Wsa

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 370, No New Deaths

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m. July 10: Monrovia: 370 (up 12 since 8 p.m. July 8), 29 deaths (unchanged); Unincorporated Monrovia: 46 (up 1). Trader Joe's market: 5 cases, no deaths.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School District's Plans for Reopening

Monrovia School District surveyed parents to see what they want school to look like, and here are the results ...

And here are the preliminary plans for opening Monrovia schools in the fall:

Elementary schools

Secondary schools

Full report here: https://is.gd/wMZDxy

- Brad Haugaard

Equity Committee Needs Members; Racism Discussion; Movies In the Park

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports:

~ The City Council has approved forming an ad hoc committee  to provide workshops for Monrovians to express their opinions regarding the policies, procedures and practices of the city and to identify structural and systemic problems within City Government. If you are interested in serving on this committee, or who would like more information, contact a City Councilmember: https://is.gd/qay5th

~ On Wednesday, July 15, 6-7:30 p.m., ChangeMakers will hold a meeting and discussion on racism, bigotry, and injustice in our community. Dr. Wen Chen, of Cal Tech will discuss her experience with human rights and society in China and beyond. Details: https://is.gd/wCXjzt

~ Movies in the Park is back. Yes, physically, though you'll need reservations and plague rules apply. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, sit back with the family, relax and enjoy the evening with a movie under the stars. At Recreation Park, 620 S. Shamrock Ave. Events start at 6:30 p.m. and movies begin at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 18, 2020 - Detective Pikachu - Reservations
Saturday, July 25, 2020 - Little Rascals - Reservations
Saturday, August 1, 2020 - Frozen 2 - Reservations
Saturday, August 8, 2020 - Toy Story 4 - Reservations

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Summer Concerts ... Online

Summer concerts on the Internet. Not quite the same thing but hey! no ants or mosquitoes! :-) Click to enlarge.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Coronavirus Count: 358

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m. July 8: Monrovia: 358 (up 6 since 8 p.m. July 7), 29 deaths (unchanged); Unincorporated Monrovia: 45 (unchanged).

Trader Joe's market: 5 cases, no deaths.

- Brad Haugaard

Toasty This Weekend - Highs of 104!

High temperatures in the San Gabriel Valley this Saturday and Sunday. A heat advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday. Temperatures in the upper 90s to 104 expected each day. Warmest in the foothills. https://is.gd/SvCxH9

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Wins Awards for GoMonrovia and Monrovia Renewal Project

The City of Monrovia received two Local Government Excellence Awards from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the Community Partnership Award for the GoMonrovia program and the Strategic Leadership & Governance Award for the Monrovia Renewal project.

"Enhancing the quality of life through programs and projects is one of our highest priorities in Monrovia and GoMonrovia and Monrovia Renewal have done exactly that," said Monrovia Mayor Tom Adams. "Whether it's taking a discounted Lyft ride anywhere in the city or walking on a newly paved sidewalk, we are thrilled that our community is proud of and continues to support these award-winning programs and projects."

GoMonrovia uses ride-share programs offered by Lyft, which is the city's primary public transit provider for all non-disability-related (ADA) services. It collaborates with the city's existing dial-a-ride operator to serve passengers with ADA needs and helps transition dial-a-ride shuttles onto the Lyft platform.

Monrovia Renewal is a multi-year initiative to repair and restore the city's aging infrastructure that was plagued by a backlog of deferred maintenance. Since implementation, the city has completed approximately $41.7 million in improvements and repairs. Additionally, the city has made more than 8 million square feet of street improvements, 154,000 square feet of sidewalk replacements, 114,000 linear feet of new curbs and gutters, over 2.5 miles of new water pipelines, nearly 5 miles of sewer improvements, 197 point repairs to sewer lines and 800 new water service lines installed.

ICMA is the world's leading association of professional city and county managers and other employees who serve local governments.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard