A video slide show of the history of the Monrovia Days Parade over the past 100+ years. From the Monrovia Historical Society.
- Brad Haugaard
A video slide show of the history of the Monrovia Days Parade over the past 100+ years. From the Monrovia Historical Society.
- Brad Haugaard
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 29 – May 5. - Brad Haugaard]
- Brad Haugaard
“It is overwhelming to me in the best possible way. I am excited and ready to learn,” Heatherly said. “This is the culmination of hundreds of hours of hard work that I have put in, as well as that of my entire games team. I want to thank my father, who taught me how to be a team leader, and my teacher Mr. Carlson, who guided me through the development of my first game during my junior year.”
Heatherly honed his game designing skills through Forge Interactive, Monrovia High’s student-led indie game development team. With team members that specialize in all aspects of the game design process – from art and animation to writing and testing – Forge Interactive’s goal is to graduate students who have team-building experience and are knowledgeable about the game industry.
“Charlie’s leadership skills are a big reason that Forge Interactive has been so successful,” Monrovia High CTE teacher Anthony Carlson said. “Forge is a practical approach to tech education that focuses on teamwork, helping students develop project management skills and holding daily meetings to move their project forward. We want students to graduate with an accurate idea of what it’s like to work in the industry, with experience and skills under their belt.”
Heatherly joined Forge Interactive as a junior, where he developed his first game, Gossip Inc., putting the lessons taught by his father, a game designer and media executive, to the test.
Heatherly became a game director at Forge, bringing a team together to design Forge’s first digital game, Red Dungeon. Heatherly also co-hosts the Socratic Cinema podcast and is a member of the Mathletes Club.
Monrovia High School senior and Forge Interactive team member Matthew Thoemmes will join Heatherly as a game design major at an elite university, attending UC Santa Cruz next year.
“Being invited to the Forge has been one of my best high school experiences,” Thoemmes said. “When I came to class I knew almost nothing at all about programming. I was slowly able to learn thanks to the guidance of the team, and I was accepted into UC Santa Cruz to study game design and programming. I am extremely excited to be attending UC Santa Cruz.”
To learn more about Monrovia High School’s Digital Studies Academy, which focuses on game design, software engineering and digital, video and graphic design, visit the school’s website.
“We are thrilled to see our game design students advance to programs that will allow them to expand on the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit that has made Monrovia Unified and Forge Interactive leaders in the field of video game development,” Monrovia Board President Maritza Travanti said. “Thank you to Anthony Carlson for developing this program and best of luck to Charlie and Matthew. We can’t wait to see what the future brings them.”
Source: Monrovia School District press release
- Brad Haugaard
Home to more than 400 student veterans, Citrus College received the 2021‐2022 awards from VIQTORY, a service‐disabled and veteran‐owned small business that owns and operates the Military Friendly brand. Schools receiving these honors were evaluated from public data sources and survey responses.
Citrus has been named a Military Friendly School for 11 consecutive years. The Military Friendly Spouse School honor, the college’s second in a row, came as a result of efforts to create sustainable educational opportunities for military spouses.
One example of Citrus College’s commitment to veterans and their families is the Veterans Success Center, which connects veterans to a wide array of services, ranging from academic counseling and orientations to mental health support and vocational rehabilitation. Additional services include help navigating the various military tuition assistance programs.
For military spouses, the Veterans Success Center takes the time to work with them on their education benefits and other resources available to them. The Veterans Success Center also provides military and veteran spouses all the services provided to student veterans, including access to the VetSuccess on Campus counselor and other resources.
Source: Citrus College press release
- Brad Haugaard
The adoption fee for cats is $100. All cat 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.
Niew 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 day at 5:00 p.m. for the following day.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
Palms Hotel at 167 S. Myrtle Ave. Photo by William Ward.. See full details here. From the William Ward collection. Identifying information from Kim Ward Anderson.
Shannan Davis, who said she works at the First Presbyterian Church Preschool at the corner of Myrtle and Foothill, has reported on Facebook that the preschool will be closing, apparently at the end of this school year, according to discussion on the post.
- Brad Haugaard
~ Receive a report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Equity and Inclusion that basically says Monrovia does not have any unjust or unfair policies, practices, and procedures.
The staff report says: "The Committee's sole function was to review with the community to determine whether any policies, practices, and procedures of the City of Monrovia are unjust or unfair; create structural barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion in City governance, employment, or enforcement; or perpetuate systemic racism in City government and provide a report back to the City Council with any recommendations for change the Committee deems advisable for consideration."
The committee, formed after the killing of George Floyd, not only didn't report any such flaws, but was complimentary of city departments. It made 44 recommendations . The report is here: https://is.gd/BpgJho
~ Receive a mid-year budget update. Basically, property tax is fine. Sales tax is "better than originally expected." Hotel bed tax (TOT) has been "the most impacted," but city staff is hopeful it will improve as travel picks up. Plus, some small increases and decreases in expenditures. https://is.gd/M2igYq
~ Proclaim May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. https://is.gd/a683S9
- Brad Haugaard
In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Dylan Feik reports:
~ On May 3 Chick-fil-A and Starbucks will begin the environmental public review and comment period for their proposal to construct and operate two new drive-thru restaurants at the southwest corner of Huntington and Encino Avenue (former Claim Jumper restaurant site).
~ The reason the city requires filming permits is because of incidents like this: A resident without a permit filmed a fictitious SWAT team breaking into a house, complete with the sound of guns and the use of tear gas. Neighbors were - ahem - concerned. Even charitable and student films must obtain a permit so neighbors can be notified and concerns addressed.
~ Electric vehicle charging stations will soon be installed in Old Town and should be available by summer. The public ones will be at Public Parking Lot #4, in the 100 block of E. Lemon.
~ The ad hoc Committee on Equity & Inclusion will present its recommendations to the City Council at its Tuesday, May 4, meeting. The five-member committee was formed to determine if any city policies, practices, or procedures are unjust or unfair.
- Brad Haugaard
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 22-28. - Brad Haugaard]
- Brad Haugaard
You can now preview the items Rotary Club of Monrovia will have on auction. See the items here: https://trellis.org/monrovia-rotary There are currently 60 items to bid on and more are expected, so check back for updates. The fundraiser for the club's service projects will be held from May 1-16. Bidding starts 9 a.m. on May 1 and closes at 6 p.m. on May 16. You can also follow Rotary on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MonroviaRotary or Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/monroviarotaryclub.
- Brad Haugaard
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 day at 5:00 p.m. for the following day.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
Myrtle Avenue in the 1920s looking north at Lemon. The Candy Shop at left. Baxter Building at right. Photo by William Ward.. See full details here. From the William Ward collection. Identifying information from Kim Ward Anderson.