Monrovia Living

17/07/2024

The July Issue of Monrovia Living Magazine is out!
Read how Monrovia is Monrovia now.
This will be a several part series on the redevelopment, show by this old document and people who helped make this happen!

30/05/2024

The June issue of Monrovia Living magazine is out!!
The cover story is about the Monrovia Garden Club

07/05/2024

May issue of Monrovia Living Magazine is out!
Great Graduates with unique stories from Monrovia Community Adult School!

13/09/2023

We are deeply honored to be the recipient of a major Flower Power level Sponsorship from Samuelson & Fetter, a major developer in Monrovia. Thank you for your commitment to our service projects in Monrovia!

Samuelson and Fetter have over 60 years of history in the field of real estate development and construction.

Among their work is the recently renovated historic Monrovia Santa Fe Depot.

http://samuelsonandfetter.com/

16/11/2022

10/08/2022

A great group of Monrovia Rotarians kicking off one of our summer concerts.

03/08/2022

07/07/2022

We welcome our new Rotary Club President, Tom Adams for our Centennial year! Be on the lookout for all the fun activities we have planned!

http://monroviarotaryclub.com/2022/06/meet-2022-2023-club-president-tom-adams/

07/06/2022

Check out our June 2022 cover story at our new Monrovia Living website! http://www.monrovia-living.com/

18/03/2022

Photo of the week!

An Upset Little Patient After A Visit To The Dentist, 1920s

04/03/2022

Photo of the week!

When You Find Out You're Pregnant!!!

01/12/2021

Happy holidays, everyone! Here's our December cover story about Santa's Monrovia Tour!

Santa’s Monrovia Tour: Bringing Holiday Cheer
By Nan Kuhlman
In the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” poet Clement Clarke Moore talks about Santa’s “miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.” It’s obvious that Moore has never been to Monrovia, California, in December. Since the late 1990s, Santa has chosen a full-size firetruck to cruise through all the streets of Monrovia rather than the cramped quarters of a tiny sleigh powered by deer. The tour of Santa’s “sleigh” takes four hours each night for five evenings to traverse the entire city of Monrovia in December. During ordinary times, holiday revelers could ride through the city streets with Santa, and we’re hopeful those times will return. But thanks to the coordination of four city departments, the Police, Fire, Community Services, and Public Works Departments, Santa has been able to spread holiday cheer throughout Monrovia despite the constraints of COVID-19.
The folks working hard to keep up the holiday tradition include Firefighter Angel Arroyo and the on-duty fire crews during Santa’s evening tours, the Community Services Director Tina Cherry and the Community Policing Bureau, and the Field Services Division and Utilities Division in the Public Works departments. According to Fire Chief Brad Dover, the easiest part of participating in the holiday activity is working and collaborating with city staff, and for Deputy Public Works Director Alex Tachiki, having the chance “to provide joy and holiday cheer to the community” is the best part. Police Captain Rob Wilken says that working together as a team and “the smiles of the people” make the effort worthwhile.
That doesn’t mean that running Santa’s Sleigh through Monrovia each December is not without its challenges. Dover says, “The most challenging part is unforeseen, logistical [issues], such as weather, route closures, mechanical failures, and participant safety.” Although the route is the same each year, navigating a full-size fire truck through all the city streets isn’t easy. “The safety and maneuverability of the ‘sleigh’ can be challenging,” Tachiki says.
Though the pandemic threw a wrench into everyone’s holiday plans, keeping the Santa’s Sleigh tour through Monrovia in 2020 and now in 2021 seems to be a priority to those in charge of coordinating it. Tachiki says, “Bringing holiday cheer and joy to the community was important during a time that was especially challenging for everyone.” Working to build community rapport is always a goal, and according to Wilken, “Engaging with the community is important.” Dover concurs, saying, “The community loves the Santa tour, so it felt really important to continue with something that brings so much joy.”
Due to the contagious, airborne nature of COVID-19, modifications had to be made to the Santa’s Sleigh operation to keep everyone safe. While in years past, Monrovians could have a chance to ride with Santa during the tour, the pandemic restrictions made the four-hour nightly tour more solitary with just a driver towing the sleigh and Santa on top of the fire engine. This year’s operation looks to be similar at the press time of this magazine. Dover says, “To keep everyone safe, all applicable Health Officer Orders will be evaluated and followed at the time of the Santa tour.”
Like any other holiday tradition that has lasted a number of years, the Santa’s Sleigh tour has had its share of funny stories. One of the best involves St. Nicholas and a “wardrobe malfunction.” The role of Santa is passed around to volunteers within the City staff, Wilken says. One year, the Santa suit didn’t fit Santa very well, severely limiting his range of motion. Santa had to have help climbing the ladder to get on top of the fire truck. “Two of us were helping push him up when the entire seam of his pants split,” Dover says. “That was a less than ‘jolly’ experience, especially where we were positioned.”
Santa’s Sleigh tour is a fixture around Monrovia each December, and it’s a holiday tradition that even a global pandemic can’t stop. Thanks to the ingenuity of the Monrovia Police, Fire, Community Services, and Public Works Departments, Monrovians enjoy the spread of holiday cheer in the form of a wildly lit and decorated fire truck with Santa atop waving us on. If we listen carefully we might even hear him saying, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

01/11/2021

Happy November, everybody! Our November cover story is about teen Brendan Terry and his efforts to help migrant children at the Pomona Fairplex Emergency Intake site. Check it out!

Brendan Terry: Fighting for Those Who Cannot
By Nan Kuhlman
Most people are willing to help others out if they can, but sometimes it’s difficult to know how. This is where people like sixteen-year-old Brendan Terry, a sophomore at La Salle High School and Boy Scout, step in to help the rest of us out. Brendan found out that unaccompanied migrant children were being held at the Pomona Fairplex Emergency Intake Site, and there was a need for personal care supplies while they were being connected with sponsors and reunited with family members already in the US. Brendan was able to secure almost $3,000 worth of daily necessities, including shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, tampons, sweaters, hoodies, shirts, and socks. These items were used for reunification kits that the Fairplex staff put together to send with the children as they were reunited with their loved ones or sponsors. Brendan Terry found that organizing a donation drive required motivation, willing participants, and a little perseverance.
A family friend contacted Brendan’s family about donations she was securing for the Long Beach Convention Center which was also housing unaccompanied migrant children. Brendan says, “My mom and I got online to see if there was any place closer to us that might need help, and we were so surprised to find out that the Pomona Fairplex was housing thousands of unaccompanied minors. It was right in our backyard, and we had no idea.” As Brendan worked on this project, he was surprised that most people did not realize that migrant children were being housed nearby.
Brendan decided to get involved because he knew that those kids needed help and he could be the one to give it. “I had already been aware that children were being held in centers along the border for a while, and I was pretty frustrated that they seemed to have no voice and were being held for a really long time at the border,” Brendan says. “I couldn’t imagine being in their shoes, held alone in a foreign country and not knowing what was going on. Then, when I heard that some of them were only a short drive away at the Pomona Fairplex Emergency Intake Site and that they could use supplies I could easily get, I felt the urge to jump to action. In the wise words of Princess Leia Organa, ‘I feel because I can fight, I have to for those who cannot.’”
Brendan initially started his donation project with his Boy Scout troop to gain leadership skills and meet some rank requirements, but he wanted to reach more people, so he asked his parents to share it on their social media pages. After that, Brendan approached some family members and family friends who were happy to pitch in. Finally, Brendan proposed the project to the church his family had attended since the pandemic started. Brendan says, “It was there, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Monrovia, where I received the most support for my project. Everybody there was very supportive, and I got many generous donations. I appreciated their support even more because none of the members had ever even met me in person, I had only been a face on their computer screens in church services on Zoom for a year and a half!”
The responses to the project have been mostly positive, according to Brendan. At first, support was just a trickle, and then grew steadily, but it was when Brendan asked the church for help that he received a tidal wave of support. “People were very eager to assist, and I got half of my total donations within a day of announcing my project at St. Luke’s. One parishioner told me that many people, himself included, were well aware of the children’s plight and wanted to help out for a long time but they just didn't have a clear avenue open to them. But when my project came up, they knew that this was how they would be able to contribute to the cause,” Brendan says.
Brendan learned a few lessons about organizing a donation drive. When asked for advice for other teens interested in helping others, Brendan says, “I would advise them to reach out to the people who need help and see if they would be interested in working with you. If they say yes, get together with your friends and family, use your social media and start bringing in donations. You can even incentivize people to help by offering service hours or other benefits. I would also tell them to remember that no matter how big or small the total amount you raise is, it will always help someone or something out there, and that makes it worth it.”
According to Brendan, organizing a donation drive is much simpler than one would think. “All you need is motivation and some willing participants. I also learned that if things are not going smoothly, don't be hasty to give up,” Brendan says. “My donation drive took longer than I expected to really get off the ground so I had to keep trying new approaches and audiences. I fine-tuned my messaging, and what turned out to be really important was learning how to set up an Amazon registry site to make it easier for people to send in donations. Now I know how important it is to make it as simple as possible for other people to help and to continue to try different areas where you might have more success.”
Family support was also critical to the project’s success. His mother, Veronica Hahni, says, “I was thrilled that he was so interested in taking action on this. Teenagers tend to have a lot of opinions, and I appreciated watching him put his words into action and then stick with it when things got off to a slow start.” She knew his experiences at Barnhart School, Boy Scouts, and La Salle High School contributed to his desire to help. “Being in service to others has been at the core of all of those programs, so while it was not a surprise to see Brendan get involved in this, I was delighted that he was motivated to make it happen,” Veronica says.
While the family did have to make some sacrifices, Brendan’s involvement in organizing a donation drive was somewhat expected. Veronica says, “Well, I completely (and happily) lost my living room for several weeks when Amazon boxes consumed every inch and pretty much took over our lives.” Veronica had witnessed that his previous Scouting experience helped Brendan know the next steps. “His years of assisting countless older Scouts as they implemented their Eagle projects have shown him firsthand what works and what doesn’t when organizing and mobilizing a service project. In addition to the goal of helping so many children in need, this effort ended up preparing him exceptionally well for the Eagle Project he will be undertaking next year,” Veronica says.
Brendan reports that most of the children at the Fairplex will be reunited with family members by the time of this magazine’s publication, so the donation drive has served its purpose. However, Brendan is already thinking about the next project. “I am very interested in doing a project for Rhino 911, an organization dedicated to stemming the poaching of rhinos in Africa,” he says.
Brendan’s involvement in the donation drive reinforced his opinion about the immigration topic. “I know that the immigration issue is very complex and is very divisive among some people, but I did not see any reason to ignore a plea for help,” Brendan says. “There were kids who needed assistance, and I knew that it was the right thing to do to help them.” The best part about the project for Brendan was knowing that kids who have nothing or next to nothing would have supplies to help them move forward with their lives. The donations he collected were not fun or extravagant, just the most basic necessities. Brendan says, “It made me feel good knowing that we could help kids keep up their sense of dignity and confidence by at least having these necessities with them as they continued their journeys.”

01/10/2021

Our October cover story, especially for our animal lovers!
Holly: Lessons from Loving a Disabled Dog
For many families, having a pet helped them cope during the most isolating period of the pandemic. Pets distract us from worry. After all, they need to be fed, taken out to potty, exercised at least a little, and in response, they offer us the gaze of unconditional love. For some families, pets teach them more than how to put worries aside for a little while. Monrovians Richard and Debbie Nemecek, along with their son Adam, have learned that loving a pet with a disability provides the chance to help people rethink stereotypes and extend kindness and compassion.
The Nemeceks had just lost their 15-year-old dog, a lab mix, and decided that they would not get another dog. But Adam saw a sponsored link on Facebook for the Samadhi Legacy, a pit bull rescue organization, and on the link was a pit bull named Holly. Debbie says, “We still weren’t sure; we had never had a pit bull [but had heard] about their unfortunate reputation. The organization was great, educating us about the pit bull breed, and they had already done both medical and social assessments of Holly. She was staying at a foster parent’s house. When we went to see her, the first thing she did was nibble my nose. It was all over after that.” Holly became part of the Nemecek family.
Several weeks after the pandemic shutdown in 2020, Holly woke up one morning in severe pain, unable to move her back legs. The Nemeceks’ veterinarian, Dr. Gueniat, examined Holly and recommended taking her to the VCA Animal Hospital in West LA, where Holly was admitted for several days. The diagnosis was autoimmune myelitis: Holly’s body was turning on itself, destroying the nerves in her lower spine, due to an allergic reaction. Debbie says, “Although dogs are often stoic about an illness, Holly’s whole body was tense, and she was panting heavily when this first happened. The vet put her on drugs to suppress her immune system, which was effective but caused other problems, like frequent bladder and ear infections. She was anxious, depressed, and afraid to move at all. She would get a little better and then have a setback; about two months after she first got sick, she developed paralysis of the left side of her face (like a stroke), which made it difficult for her to eat. There were many times that we cried because we felt we couldn’t do much to help her.”
The vet was unsure what had caused Holly’s allergic reaction. She had many food and skin allergies which might have made her more susceptible, and she also had received several vaccines a few weeks before the onset of her illness. The Nemeceks struggled to figure out the most humane way to handle Holly’s illness. For several months, it was “touch and go,” and they often thought that euthanizing Holly might be for the best. But then she started to improve, and the Nemeceks decided that if Holly continued to get better, they would do their best to help her.
The Nemeceks contacted a rehab facility for animals in West LA called Two Hands, Four Paws and worked with the physical therapist to try out several used wheelchairs. According to Debbie, Holly’s current chair has worked out well for her: “She was weak when she first started using the chair and could only walk short distances; that has improved greatly. But almost right away when she was put in her first wheelchair, she realized that this was freedom for her.”
Holly has become a local inspiration as she uses her dog wheelchair to enjoy daily walks. Debbie says, “Every day during her walks, we tell her story to people who ask. At first, they feel sorry for her. But she is such a sweet, gentle dog, they quickly grow to love her and look for her daily. Holly loves both the young and old; she has helped children who were afraid of dogs before they met her to understand how to approach and pet an animal. Elderly people pet her, tell their stories, and often have treats to give her (which she loves!).” The Nemeceks believe Holly is helping people rethink the stereotype of an aggressive Pit Bull, as Holly’s gentleness suggests that any aggressive behavior might be connected to the way the dogs are raised rather than a genetic disposition.
Holly still experiences ongoing issues with bladder infections due to antibiotic resistance that developed after taking antibiotics so frequently. She is now able to use her cart to urinate when on her walks, almost like a normal dog. To boost her recovery, the Nemeceks make chicken bone broth to encourage her to drink more liquids, give her supplements, and take her to an acupuncturist, Dr. Bob Banever, OMD. Debbie says, “Our son Adam has become Holly’s physical therapist and works with her three times a week, which has been incredibly helpful to increase her back leg strength and her confidence in being able to walk on all four legs. Her back legs have improved from complete paralysis to some movement, but she is weak and has trouble controlling her back legs when trying to walk. She wears special boots on her back legs to prevent her feet from knuckling when on a walk. The best part is that she no longer has any pain and has actually started to play with her toys like she used to do.”
The Nemeceks never imagined they’d be working with a disabled dog, but Holly has enriched their lives. Debbie says, “We’ve learned that we can take care of a disabled animal and give her a good quality of life. We also feel lucky to have found a community that has been so supportive of us and Holly. Monrovia has been a blessing to us as it makes the burden of caring for Holly a lighter one.”

01/09/2021

Our September cover story!
Doing Good: The Monrovia Guild of Children’s Hospital
By Nan Kuhlman
John Wesley, the eighteenth century theologian and founder of Methodism, has been credited with saying, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, as long as ever you can.” Doing good for our community and for those in the greater Los Angeles area has been a priority for the Monrovia Guild of Children’s Hospital. Through annual fundraising efforts and smaller “do-good” projects throughout the year, the Monrovia Guild works to promote health and healing by supporting the efforts of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).
Since the Monrovia Guild began in 1948 with a group of Monrovian women, the Monrovia Guild has worked to encourage both the staff and the patients at CHLA. For example, the Monrovia Guild provides treats once a month for the day and evening nursing shifts on the 6E floor to show them they’re appreciated. The Guild has also enthusiastically supplied a “mountain” of Play-Doh this past year when CHLA requested it for the young patients.
Last year provided its share of challenges for the Monrovia Guild as it was forced to rethink the way it offered support during the pandemic. The largest fundraiser, the Fall Luncheon, became a Virtual Fall Luncheon where attendees purchased tickets to win prizes, including the grand prize of a weekend in a cabin at Big Bear. Other luncheon fundraisers became “drive-by” events, such as a Baby Shower in May and the Holiday Toy Drive in December. The Monrovia Guild members adapted their “do-good” practices to the pandemic restrictions and continued to collect toys, dolls, and other needed items for CHLA’s patients.
As pandemic restrictions ease, the Monrovia Guild has planned a return to its more typical Fall Luncheon fundraiser to be held Sunday, October 24, 2021, at the Embassy Suites in Arcadia. According to Monrovia Guild President Susan Goff, “We are delighted to be able to return to our signature feature, the beautiful and fanciful table decorations, using our theme ‘It’s a Magical Life!’. The luncheon theme is chosen each year by the members, and Goff says that “it usually has something to do with the ‘magic’ of the work done for patients and their families.” While there is no competition between the decorated tables, Goff says the beauty and creativity of the décor is what draws the guests to come.
The Fall Luncheon features a drawing for gift baskets filled with items donated by local merchants as well as members. Each basket has its own theme, such as a coffee klatch, unusual kitchen items, etc. Goff says there are usually about 25 of these baskets, and guests look forward to winning one. There is also a "wine grab" with bottles of good wine donated by members. The bottle labels are covered and numbered, but one is a Grand Prize, a more expensive wine, often with accessories and sometimes donated by a local merchant. A boutique with new and unusual items donated by members and friends of CHLA is another part of the festivities that attendees look forward to.
Perhaps the most transformative experience of the event is the speaker. Past speakers have been those whose lives have been positively impacted by CHLA. Goff says, “These are heartwarming stories, often tear-producing, and they bring a personal touch to the reason the Monrovia Guild holds the fundraiser. For those interested in attending the Fall Luncheon on Sunday, October 24, tickets are $70 and available for purchase from Guild members.
Monrovia Guild is currently supporting the Associates Chair in Endocrinology which supports the leadership, vision, and research of Dr. Jennifer Raymond, MD, MCR, Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism and under the leadership of Dr. Yuri Genyk, MD, Chief of the Division of Abdominal Transplantation, the Associates Chair in Transplant Surgery. Goff says, “We are dedicated partners whose contributions bolster CHLA, recognized as one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals and acknowledged worldwide for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent health. We are also a thoughtful, fun, and caring group of women who enjoy one another and enjoy serving the patients, parents, and staff at CHLA.”
When considering how you might do good in our community and the greater Los Angeles community, you might think of the Monrovia Guild of Children’s Hospital. For those interested in learning more about membership, contact Sally Adams at [email protected] or Susan Goff at [email protected], and be sure to follow the Monrovia Guild of CHLA on Facebook. Working to promote health and healing since 1948, the Monrovia Guild follows Wesley’s admonition by offering ways to “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, as long as ever you can.”

01/08/2021

Our August issue will jazz you up. Check out our cover story about the Houston Jazz Trio!

The Houston Jazz Trio: The Magic of Synergy
By Nan Kuhlman
The pandemic created a number of losses: loss of life, livelihood, routine, and everyday freedoms. One loss that you might overlook was the loss of live music. There’s something about the energy of a live band that Zoom or even a typical recording cannot recreate. One local jazz group, the Houston Trio founded by Monrovian Mark Houston, decided that the pandemic did not have to stop them from sharing their music and creating their unique synergy.
Houston became a Monrovian in 1978 after his father’s job transferred the family back to Southern California after a three-year stint in Rocky Flats, Colorado. “Our realtor encouraged us to check out a home in north Monrovia, which offered more house for the money and a great neighborhood. My parents, John and Zora Houston, brother John, sister Charlotte, and I became citizens of Monrovia in August of 1978,” Houston says.
A strong interest in drums at age 12 led to lessons after Houston’s parents grew tired of him banging on pots, pans, countertops, and furniture. “The instructor I was given encouraged me to develop my skills and join the concert band at the junior high school,” Houston says. Houston’s love for jazz started in high school, where he became familiar with famous jazz drummers such as Buddy Rich, Louis Belson, and Gene Krupa. “I played throughout junior high and high school…and while at Cal Poly, I joined their jazz band and took improvisational classes,” he says. At Cal Poly, he became more focused on progressive jazz drummers and artists, like Billy Cobham, Tony Williams, and Lenny White, after forming a progressive jazz quartet with musicians from his improvisational classes. According to Houston, “Drums, as well as architecture, has been a major source of creative expression for most of my life.”
While jazz is Houston’s preferred performance genre, his tastes vary widely. “I enjoy several music genres, such as Blues, Rock ‘n Roll, R & B, and Latin,” Houston says. “Traditional and progressive jazz is mostly what I enjoy playing as a drummer since most of my experience has been in this genre.” Houston also notes that the jazz audience is usually more relaxed and more appreciative of the musicianship than what is typically found in other genres.
The Houston Trio evolved out of the Gem City Jazz Cats, a local big band from Monrovia. George Wu (keyboards), Evan Hauser (trumpet and vocals), and Mark Houston (drums) met when playing together for the Gem City Jazz Cats and started thinking about forming their own group. Wu, a band and choir director for seventeen years in the Rosemead School system, has a master’s in Afro-Latin music and has performed with many local bands. Hauser studied jazz performance and history at Pasadena City College, as well as Music Business at Glendale City College, and he has fourteen years of performance experience with bands ranging from jazz to rock genres. According to Houston, “We had a special synergy when we played together, a synergy that was unique relative to the other members of the band. So about six years ago, the opportunity came about to perform at two local Monrovia restaurants, Bella Sera and The Diplomat. And a few years ago, we also started playing at Nikki C’s, a Pasadena restaurant.” The group also played private parties and special events.
And then the pandemic hit, along with the closing down of restaurants and other live music venues. Houston was frustrated about not being able to perform when his wife suggested playing for the neighborhood in their front yard. “She said, ‘Why don’t you just perform for the neighborhood?’ Well, it made sense. The pandemic had just started, and people were sheltering in place. All they had to do was come out to their front porch, lawn, or sit in the parkway in front of our house. Social distancing would not be an issue,” Houston says.
The trio put it to the test in April of 2020, and it was a big success. While it started as mostly neighbors, eventually people as far as La Canada and Los Angeles came to their front yard concerts known as “Jazz on the Green.” The concerts grew in popularity with the addition of a page (The Houston Trio) along with word-of-mouth promotion.
The Trio plays once a month, usually on the fourth Sunday of the month, from 4pm to 7pm. Once the restrictions are lifted, the group is unsure about holding regular free concerts: “It depends if we can maintain the same performance schedules with the restaurants we had prior to the pandemic,” Houston says. “If we do, then most likely we will discontinue the Jazz on the Green or just do it on occasion.”
The smooth jazz sounds attract a mostly middle-aged demographic, with perhaps 10-20 percent in their 20s-30s and another 10-20 percent over 70 years old. “The crowd seems to consist mainly of jazz enthusiasts and those who just want to relax on a Sunday afternoon to soft music,” Houston says. “People bring folding chairs, drinks, blankets for sitting on the lawn, and umbrellas for when the sunshine is intense.”
The magic happens, Houston says, when they play together live. “The best part of playing together is the feeling of synergy,” he says. “It’s when we are performing, and there is complete communication between us without words, and the sound that emits from each musician motivates and inspires the others.” The Houston Trio has been offering its magic to Monrovians over the past year, sharing the joy that live music has to offer.