A fall veggies gardening workshop will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Community Garden South, 1650 S. Magnolia Ave. Topics will include soil improvement, responsible watering and pest treatment. Free vegetable starts will be available while supplies last.
- Brad Haugaard
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity's "Raise the Roof" online auction is live through 7 p.m. Sept. 19, offering items such as a private Dawes concert for 10, signed guitars by Phoebe Bridgers and Jackson Browne, a signed LA Rams Puka Nacua jersey, and premier Rose Bowl Parade seats. Bidding is open now, with proceeds supporting affordable home-ownership for Eaton Fire survivors. Auction here.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia-based Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper Water) is offering two free landscaping workshops in October.
On Thursday, October 1, a virtual "Irrigation & Controller Basics: Smart Watering" workshop runs from 6–7 p.m.
On Saturday, October 17, an in-person "Fire Resilient Gardening" workshop takes place from 10–11:30 a.m. at the Upper Water office, 248 E. Foothill Blvd., Monrovia; attendees receive free water conservation items.
Register here.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Unified School District is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with Ofrenda displays (a decorated altar built to honor deceased loved ones), live Mariachi assemblies, morning Spanish music broadcasts, hallway showcase exhibits, and classroom read-alouds featuring Hispanic authors and artists.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Big dog, big heart, big personality — that's Roman! This 3-year-old King Shepherd is happiest when he's sniffing while out on an adventure, splashing in the pool, or romping around with his favorite toys. And after a day of fun? He's more than happy to rest his big head in your lap and soak up some love.
Roman can be a little guarded at first, but once you earn his trust, his sweet, silly, and affectionate side shines through. Roman's perfect adopter is who's ready for long walks, lots of cuddles, and one very lovable goofball – could that be you? Adopt Roman today at Pasadena Humane.
The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.
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
This 1907 image shows an earlier version of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Monrovia, now located at Foothill and California. This image was likely captured on a postcard. From the Steve Baker collection. See 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
Monrovia-based Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District is offering grants of up to $1,000 for K-12 classroom or school projects that help students understand water’s role in Southern California. Educators at licensed schools within the district’s service area may apply by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. Details and application here.
- Brad Haugaard
I asked Spicer to respond. He writes:
"This is all I have to say: Monrovia, by now many of you have seen the political hit piece circulating in the mail. It comes from someone running for City Council for the second time someone who has never been involved in our city’s work and apparently has no ideas for Monrovia’s future if he’s been digging up events from 50 years ago. If he wants to talk about real issues and real qualifications, I’m ready. My record is public, my service is consistent, and my commitment to Monrovia has never wavered. I’m in our neighborhoods every day, and anyone who wants to talk with me knows exactly where to find me, I’m all over town, and everybody knows my number."
There are three candidates for two open City Council seats. The candidates are incumbents Larry Spicer and Dr. Tamala Kelly, and challenger Jesus Rojas. The election will be held Nov. 3.
- Brad Haugaard
Learn the basics of composting with worms, 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 3 at Monrovia Community Garden at Colorado and Magnolia.- Brad Haugaard
An interview with Bryan Wong, former Monrovia School Board member and currently CEO of the Monrovia-based San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.
We’re proud to share that San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity has expanded its commitment from 25 homes to 40. Five homes have been completed; 20 are under construction, and many more are in preconstruction.
Our primary criteria are straightforward: families must be low- to moderate-income, the home must have been owner-occupied before the fire, and the family must be committed to returning to the community once it’s rebuilt.
For families who qualify but whom we can’t yet accommodate, the honest answer is funding. The need is greater than our current resources. Every dollar we raise helps us build another home, so we will continue building as resources allow. Our goal is to help as many fire-affected families return home as possible.
What has most delayed or increased the cost of rebuilding—permits, insurance, financing, labor, materials or something else—and what specific change would remove the greatest obstacle?
Rebuilding 6,000 homes in a fire-devastated area is extraordinarily dynamic, and we’ve seen challenges across the board from permitting and insurance to financing, labor and materials. We’ve worked with the County to cut permitting time by 80%, which is a significant improvement.
We’re also partnering with insurers and others to ensure required fire-hardening improvements translate into lower hazard premiums. We’re also developing two 0% loan programs: one for home reconstruction and another, with no interest or payments, to help families cover living expenses—such as rent, car payments, and existing loans—while they rebuild.
Looking ahead, I expect wage and material inflation as construction ramps up, and tariff uncertainty is a real wild card. But if I had to identify the greatest obstacle, it is making sure families have enough financing to bridge the gap between what insurance provides and what it actually costs to rebuild and live through the process.
That’s why access to flexible, affordable financing could make the greatest difference. And I will say this: government entities at every level are working harder on this than I’ve seen in a long time.
After serving on the Monrovia school board for many years, what connections do you see between housing instability and students’ enrollment, attendance or performance?
Housing instability has always concerned educators, but a disaster of this scale creates an entirely new dimension. Many of these are families who have never experienced housing instability before, and now their children are navigating new schools, new classmates and unfamiliar surroundings while their parents face enormous uncertainty about where they will ultimately live.
That instability can affect much more than where a child sleeps. It can disrupt enrollment and attendance, make it harder for students to maintain routines and relationships, and create additional stress that can affect their ability to focus and learn. Schools are absorbing that disruption too, dealing with reduced enrollment as families leave the area, on top of ongoing pressures around budgets, class size and facilities.
Students, parents and educators are remarkably resilient, but stability matters. The sooner we can help families rebuild their homes and reestablish a permanent place in the community, the sooner we can give children the consistency and sense of belonging they need to thrive.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's foothill neighborhoods share space with bears and coyotes, and the city says: Secure trash cans, pick up fallen fruit daily, and keep pet food indoors. If you spot a bear or coyote, stay calm, don't run, keep your distance, and make loud noises. Related: Pasadena Humane is offering a free workshop on animal-proofing your property. Details.
- Brad Haugaard
The Monrovia Garden Club will meet Monday, Sep. 28, with social time at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. at Monrovia Community Church's Fellowship Hall, at Foothill and Myrtle. Presenter Orchid Black will discuss native plants that support pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia students in grades 6-12 are invited to a Meet & Greet Ride with the Monrovia Mountain Bike Racing Team on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8:30 a.m. The ride starts near 530 Cloverleaf Drive and includes a short ride. Riders should bring their own bike; all skill levels are welcome. Parents and students are both asked to attend. Email mhsmtbteam@gmail.com for more information.
- Brad Haugaard
