Monrovia Now: News and Comment about Monrovia, California

Back to School Backpack and School Supplies Giveaway

Darden Law & Leadership Academy and Simply Divine Beauty Supply are sponsoring a Back-to-School Backpack and Supplies Give Away for K-12 students only. Students must register to receive a backpack. Details: https://tny.im/2kDDI

- Brad Haugaard

City Looking for New City Treasurer

With the death of City Treasurer Steve Baker, the office of City Treasurer has become vacant and the City Council will appoint a new one. If you are interested, here's the details: https://tny.im/DuOU

- Brad Haugaard

Meet Monrovia Police at National Night Out Aug. 2

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police and community partnerships. Music, food, and raffles with a chance to get to know members of the Monrovia Police Department.

- Brad Haugaard

Former Mayor Tom Adams Becomes President of Rotary Club

Former Monrovia Mayor Tom Adams has stepped down from being mayor and has stepped up to being president of Rotary Club of Monrovia. https://tny.im/RiIak

- Brad Haugaard

Breakfast at Café de Olla

Breakfast at Café de Olla. Got the Omelette Supreme for $14.75. Bacon, avocado, and jack cheese. Also a Café de Olla (spicy Mexican style coffee) for $4.75. Good

- Brad Haugaard

Mookie: Former Stray Ready for a Loving Family

One-year-old Mookie is a former stray who’s ready to live a happy life with a loving family! Mookie is an active dog who enjoys enrichment activities, chew toys, and games of fetch. With a little bit of time to get to know new people, Mookie is affectionate and playful! This sweet and fun dog would love to go home with you!

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 an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

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

- Brad Haugaard

School District Considering Asking Voters to Approve a $75 Million Bond

The Monrovia School Board is apparently interested in asking Monrovia voters to approve a 30-year bond for $75 million that would cost property owners $30 per $100,000 of accessed value. The full repayment cost for the bond would be $141 million.

The board will hold a special but open meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m. in the superintendent's office, to receive a general report on issuing bonds with suggestions for "Next Steps Towards a Potential November 2022 General Obligation Bond Measure."

The report does not indicate what the district wants to use the money for.

Details: https://tny.im/7z5de

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Teacher Maria Lomelin Semifinalist for LA County Teachers of the Year

MUSD Teacher of the Year Maria Lomelin (center in picture) has been selected as a semifinalist for the LA County Teachers of the Year.

Ms. Lomelin, a third grade teacher at Wildrose, will join 27 other semifinalists in a virtual interview with a Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) judging panel.

The competition is the largest in the state and is part of the oldest and most prestigious honors contest in the U.S. for public school teachers.

The TOY program features an annual luncheon each September for all participants and is designed to provide much-deserved recognition for teachers.

Those selected by LACOE as County Teachers of the Year—educators who have shown exemplary dedication, effective classroom practices, positive accomplishments and professional commitment—serve as standard-bearers for the teaching profession and their 72,000 classroom colleagues countywide.

For more information on the competition, please visit the LACOE website.

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Espinosa Club Baseball Team

Espinosa Club Baseball Team, Monrovia. Representatives of several Monrovia Latino families shown here. (Standing, L-R): Jesse Bracamonte, Mike Miranda, Ralph Guardado, Jim Espinosa (team founder), Eugenio Muñoz, Ralph Hernandez, Alex Davalos. (Front row, L-R): Martin Cabrera, Joe Ramos, Joe Acuña, Jimmy Espinosa Jr. (team founder’s son), Gavino Luera, Claro Olivas, Ralph Muñoz. Also shown: The Johnny Luna Band. This is the only known photo showing both Jesse Bracamonte and Claro Olivas - grandfathers of Henry Olivas, Jr.. From the Monrovia Latino Heritage Society 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