A Moment in Monrovia History: 1912 Monrovia Day Parade

Monrovia Days Parade 1912. See full details here. From the From the Rehrman family collection.

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

Public Works Director Sean Sullivan Accepts Job in Big Bear

Monrovia Public Works Director Sean Sullivan will resign from his position after accepting the role of Public Services Director for the City of Big Bear Lake.

“This was a decision that was not made lightly. Simply put, I love Monrovia and will always remember the team and the community,” said Sullivan. “Throughout the past five years, I have worked alongside amazing people and I could not be more proud of the work and contributions of everyone on the Monrovia team. This is truly a bittersweet moment, but I am excited at the opportunity to begin the next chapter of my family’s adventure.”

As the Public Works Director, Sullivan led the largest public works project in the City’s history. Known as Monrovia Renewal, this multi-year infrastructure improvement initiative was designed to prioritize repairs and restore the City’s aging infrastructure that was plagued by a backlog of deferred maintenance. This $55.2 million project aim to upgrade and repair water and sewer pipelines, water facilities, streets, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. After the Bobcat Fire, Sullivan coordinated post-fire mitigation efforts, including k-rail installation and debris removal after a major rainstorm. 

“It has been an honor working with Sean,” said Dylan Feik, Monrovia City Manager. “His passion to serve the Monrovia community inspired many, including myself. His family has deep ties in the Big Bear Lake community and the opportunity to continue his career there has special meaning for him. I, along with the entire team at the City of Monrovia, wish nothing but the best for Sean and his family.”

Sullivan joined the City in 2015 and held titles of Public Works Director and Public Works Manager. His last day with the City will be April 1, 2021. The City will be conducting a recruitment for the next Public Works Director in the coming weeks.

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Consider: Recruiting Company for New Superintendent; Popular Singing Course; Naming Wellness Center after Susan Hirsch

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/fb8r9X) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...

~ Hiring Leadership Associates, of Santa Barbara, a company that specializes in executive recruiting for educational organizations, to help the district find a new superintendent to replace retiring Katherine Thorossian. If approved, the district would pay the company $25,000. https://is.gd/13OwCI

~ Creating a new high school course called Popular Singing. https://is.gd/Aq1LfQ

~ Renaming the Wellness Center at Monrovia High School after former administrator Susan Hirsch.

- Brad Haugaard

Latest Edition of 'School News' Is Online

The March/April edition of School News, with reports from each Monrovia school, is now out. You can read it (PDF) here: https://is.gd/SVNxRO

- Brad Haugaard

Police to Monitor Suspicious Bags of Meat; City Looking for Public Works Director

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

~ "Over the past several months, residents on Norumbega Drive repeatedly found bags of chicken, which some believe to be poisonous. At this time, the Monrovia Police Department will continue to look into these reports. Those who have seen any suspicious activities related to bags of food left on properties are encouraged to contact  Sgt. Donchig at 256-8020 or Officer Vanderburg at 256-8036."

~ The City of Monrovia is looking for a  Director of Public Works who is "a mentor and a team builder who prioritizes people and enhances the needs of the team." Pay, by the way, is $158,862 to $212,890. https://is.gd/JHD70C

- Brad Haugaard

Chevron Station Next to Freeway Wants to Add Car Wash

The Chevron Gas Station at 1515 S. Myrtle - on the west side of Myrtle just south of the freeway - wants to add a car wash. The Monrovia Planning Commission will consider that at its next meeting: https://is.gd/cEW8zx

- Brad Haugaard

Weekly Coronavirus Count: Down, Down, Down - Only 16 New Cases

Coronavirus cases from LA Department of Public Health as of 8 p.m., 03/03/2021. Changes since 02/24/2021.

City of Monrovia: 3,082 cases (up 16), 68 deaths (unchanged)
Unincorporated Monrovia: 361 cases (up 4), 1 death (unchanged)

New cases

This week	16
Last week	33
Previous week	42
Previous week	82
Previous week	114
Previous week	120
Previous week	201

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Cafe X20

Dinner at Cafe X20, on the north side of Foothill a bit east of Alta Vista. Got the Chicken Schawerma Wrap with a side of baba ghanouj (smooshed up egg plant) for $12 and a beer for $3 (half off today because it’s Thursday)  Very good!

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Drunk in Public; High and Hallucinating With an Axe; She Bites Him; Drunk Demands Money From Diners; He Batters Her; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for February 25 – March 3. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 312 service events, resulting in 73 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto
February 25 at 4:57 p.m., the owner of a business in the 400 block of W. Maple reported his company vehicle was just discovered missing from their lot. No one had permission to take the vehicle. Officers searched the area for the vehicle, but could not locate it. It was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Non-injury Traffic Collision
February 25 at 5:19 p.m., several callers reported a traffic collision in the 500 block of E. Foothill. A motorist crashed into a parked vehicle and ended up on its side. Officers and paramedics responded to check if the driver was injured. The driver reported no injuries and a traffic collision investigation was conducted.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
February 25 at 9:22 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation near the intersection of Evergreen and Myrtle. During the traffic stop, a computer check revealed the driver had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The driver was arrested for the warrant and taken into custody.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
February 25 at 11:02 p.m., an officer observed a subject having a difficult time walking in the 800 block of W. Huntington. He contacted the subject and determined he was too intoxicated to care for himself. The subject was arrested for public intoxication and held for a sobering period.

Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
February 27 at 12:03 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of Mayflower and Duarte, where a citizen was trying to detain a possible driver who had collided into two parked vehicles. Officers arrived and detained the driver, who was found to be under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence.

Theft From a Vehicle
February 27 at 1:15 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of W. Crescent reported several items had been stolen from his unlocked vehicle sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
February 28 at 12:54 a.m., an employee from a business in the 400 block of S. Myrtle reported a drunk male subject was attempting to enter after closing hours. Officers arrived and determined the subject was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Theft From a Vehicle / Fraud
February 28 at 2:03 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 800 block of W. Hillcrest regarding a theft of items from a vehicle overnight. The victim also reported that his stolen credit cards had already been used in other cities in the area. This investigation is continuing.

Overdose / Mental Evaluation
February 28 at 10:54 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of Wildrose called to report her son was possibly on drugs and was yelling in front of the residence. Officers arrived and saw the subject was armed with an axe. The subject appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was hallucinating. Officers were able to talk him into putting the weapon down. Paramedics responded and the subject was transported to a hospital for a mental evaluation.

Grand Theft Auto
March 1 at 6:42 a.m., a resident in the 700 block of S. Fifth walked outside his home and discovered his vehicle had been stolen sometime during the night. Officers searched the area for the vehicle, but did not locate it. The vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
March 1 at 10:15 p.m., a victim in the 100 block of W. Duarte called to report that two suspects broke into his vehicle and took a duffel bag. The suspects were last seen running north toward the Gold Line. Officers arrived and found an additional victim that had her purse stolen. The officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspects. This investigation is continuing.

Robbery – Suspect Arrested
March 1 at 10:17 p.m., a robbery was reported outside a restaurant near the intersection of Myrtle and Olive. The two victims were eating at the restaurant when they were approached by the male suspect, who appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The suspect started threatening the victims by raising his fist and demanded money from them. The victims ran from the suspect and he chased after them. They made it to their vehicle and locked the doors as the suspect was punching the door window. The suspect was last seen by the victims walking north on Myrtle. Officers responded and located the suspect still in the area. The suspect was positively identified by the victims and was found to be heavily intoxicated. He was arrested for robbery and was taken into custody.

Domestic Violence / Vandalism
March 2 at 12:48 a.m., officers responded to the 300 block of S. California regarding a domestic dispute. Upon arrival, they spoke to a male subject. He said he was bitten and scratched by his girlfriend. She had left the area before officers arrived. The victim had visible bite marks on his arm and his vehicle had been vandalized. Officers were unable to locate the girlfriend. A domestic violence wanted persons warrant was issued for the girlfriend.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
March 2 at 5:59 a.m., a motorist was driving home when he witnessed a suspect smash a window at a closed restaurant in the 900 block of W. Huntington, and he called the police. Officers responded and found the suspect in the lobby of the restaurant. The suspect was arrested for burglary and taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto / Stolen Vehicle Recovered
March 2 at 10:29 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 700 block of W. Duarte. Officers arrived and made aware that someone may have seen the vehicle near Mayflower and Jeffries. They searched the area and located the vehicle in the 1700 block of S. Mayflower in Arcadia. The vehicle was then removed from the stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
March 2 at 2:38 p.m., a grand theft was reported in the 500 block of W. Colorado. The victim reported the catalytic converter was stolen from her Honda CRV while it was parked in front of her residence. This investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
March 2 at 11:57 p.m., officers responded to the 600 block of E. Olive regarding a domestic dispute. The female subject reported she was battered by her boyfriend, who ran out of the house as she was calling the police. Officers arrived and located the boyfriend in the rear alley. The victim told officers her boyfriend started throwing items inside the house and took her phone to prevent her from calling the police. The argument escalated and the boyfriend grabbed her by the face, causing injury. The suspect was arrested for domestic violence and was taken into custody. While searching the suspect in the jail, officers discovered a controlled substance in his shoe, which was added to his charges.

Commercial Burglary
March 3 at 1:31 a.m., officers responded to an alarm activation at a business in the 500 block of S. Myrtle. Officers saw the front glass door and interior jewelry cases had been smashed. No suspects were found in the area. Officers reviewed the video and saw that three suspects wearing hoodies used crowbars to gain entry and smash the jewelry display cases. They took an unknown amount of jewelry and fled the area. This investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 3 at 8:23 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation at the intersection of Huntington and Monterey. A computer check revealed the driver also had a warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested for the warrant.

Grand Theft
March 3 at 5:35 p.m., a grand theft incident that occurred on March 2 was reported at a business in the 700 block of E. Huntington. Three suspect entered the business and stole a large amount of merchandise from the location. This investigation is continuing.

Upcoming City-Sponsored Spring Activities in Monrovia

Photo by Denisse Leon on Unsplash

Hippity Hoppity Spring Photo-Op, March 27, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance at Library Park.  Plus, photo opportunities, and arts and crafts throughout Old Town.

Spring Fitness Challenge Family Adventure. A six-week fitness challenge running from March 27 to May 1. Challenges:  Backyard Yoga, Cardio Focus, Push Up Challenge, Sit Ups Challenge, Jumping Jacks Challenge, Family Hike. Registration is required and limited. Free for Monrovia families; $15 for non-Monrovia families.

Spring Stop & Hop Drive Thru EGG-stravaganza April 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drive through Recreation Park and receive a greeting from the Easter Bunny and festive items for an at-home egg hunt. Registration limited and required. Free for Monrovia families; $15 for non-Monrovia families. Registration closes on Friday, April, 2 or when filled.

Arbor Day Celebration. Monrovia will celebrate Arbor Day for an entire week with daily videos highlighting the importance of the trees found in Monrovia. Monrovia residents can register for an Arbor Day activity pack containing tree planting kit, arts and crafts supplies, Arbor Day button, reading materials on Arbor Day, and more. It will be delivered to homes the week of Arbor Day. Registration is required and limited. This program free and is open to Monrovia residents only.

Details and registration:  https://is.gd/U3vX9S

- Brad Haugaard

Max, Retired Bomb-Sniffer Dog, Looking for Happy Home

Eleven-year-old Max has had an interesting life so far – he actually used to be a bomb-sniffing dog! But he’s retired now, and just looking for a happy home to call his own. Max is great with people of all ages, good with other dogs, and potty-trained. All he needs now is a comfy couch and a loving person to curl up with!

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. 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 and schedule a virtual adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for the following week.

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: Monrovia High Football Team - 1914

Monrovia High School Football Team 1914. See full details here. From the Rehrman family collection.

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

Windy Tonight and Sunday

Possible northeast winds 15 to 25 mph - with gusts up to 40 mph - from 10 p.m. tonight to noon Sunday, according to the National Weather Service (https://is.gd/QRpGbn). Loose objects may be blown around and driving may be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

- Brad Haugaard

Police to Hold Meeting on Animal Incidents In City; Monrovia Today Digital Only; Police Cadet Wanted

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

~  Monrovia Police Department will host a Zoom meeting with the Pasadena Humane Society on March 3, at 3 p.m. "to discuss animal control issues and incidents within our city." [There was a report of a dog being poisoned on Norumbega and reports of suspicious meat products being left out where animals might find them.] Attend the meeting using this link (https://is.gd/wGBqma) Meeting ID is 948-3893 6177 and Passcode is 069669.

~  The Spring 2021 edition of Monrovia Today will be digital only - no paper copy. See it here: https://is.gd/NUnp3H

~  Monrovia is seeking to hire a police cadet. Details: https://is.gd/yZkIHG

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Email Address Changing

The Monrovia Police Department’s Official email domain has changed to @monroviapd.org. The old email domain, @monrovia.laclen.org, is being phased out.

- Brad Haugaard