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Monrovia: What should the City focus on?

You might have an idea about which businesses we should bringing to the City of Monrovia. Or you might want to share your vision on things like how the City can be more sustainable. Whatever you value, the City is asking the community what it values and what the City should focus on in the next five years.

Join in on the discussion at 7 p.m. tonight at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm Avenue. We look forward to seeing you there.

Tailored Interiors Opens in Old Town

Old Town Monrovia has a new business. Tailored Interiors, located at 512 S. Myrtle Avenue, opened its doors to the public on Oct. 26. The home decor store specializes in custom -- affordable -- tailored furniture.

(From left to right) Council members Becky Shevlin and Tom
Adams welcome Tailored Interiors into Old Town on Oct. 25.

Tailored Interiors cuts its ribbon in preparation for it's official

opening on Oct. 26

Want to know more about Old Town Monrovia? You can also check out its Facebook Page.

Monrovia Development Blog Goes Live

Want to get the scoop on the latest in Monrovia development's? The City's Community Development Department launched the "Development Spotlight Blog," which highlights new projects going through the building, planning and construction phases.

Current spotlights are: the new Jack in the Box at Magnolia and Huntington, and 212-216 W. Olive Avenue. Click here to access the blog.

Staar Studded: Monrovia Company Helps Grammy Award-Winner Singer See Clearly

"As a member of the Grammy Award-winning group the Black Eyed Peas, apl.de.ap has rocked a million faces, but he hasn’t seen them all," according to a news story reported by Good Morning America on July 26.

But with the technology of Staar Surgical - whose headquarters is located in Monrovia - singer apl.de.ap  can now see the facial detail of his fans and bandmates while he's performing. That's a stark difference to his vision prior to the implants, he told Good Morning America. Click here to read the story, or watch the video below.

Unlike corrective eye surgeries such as Lasik, Staar Surgical uses "Intraocular Lense" technology. This involves making a micro-incision on the eye and implanted a lens, unlike Lasik, which burns material from the eye and cannot be reversed.

Monrovia Dentalcare Celebrates Ribbon Cutting

 Monrovia Dentalcare, which opened back in April, celebrated its ribbon cutting ceremony with the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

The dentist office, located at 831 E. Huntington Drive, boasts massaging dental chairs, big screen televisions, and a state of the art facility.

To learn more about Monrovia Dentalcare, visit their website at www.monroviadentalcare.com, or click here to go to their Facebook.

Family Festival to Celebrate 20th Anniversary on Friday

This Friday marks the 20^th Anniversary of the Friday night Family Festival along Myrtle Avenue in Old Town Monrovia. 


The event began as a humble farmer’s market. 


Today, it has grown to be the largest of its kind in California, and features artisan craft vendors and commercial booths, along with children’s rides, food booths and live entertainment. The farm portion of the event became a certified farmer’s market.

To mark this occasion, a special ceremony will take place at 6 pm in the entertainment area with representatives from the City to acknowledge the very successful weekly event, according to Family Festival organizers. Special ‘farmer’ related photo opportunities will be available. Live music will feature the popular rockabilly/swing band The 8-Balls.

Special drawings will be held during the night for gift baskets of produce and products from Festival vendors. Registration is free at the Family Festival Information Booth located on the sidewalk near the northeast corner of Olive at Myrtle. The bloodmobile from Huntington Memorial Hospital will be parked on Olive Ave. at Myrtle seeking donors, and will be thanking donors with coupons good from discount in farmer’s market and children’s bounce rides. 

Other “special” activities will be presented throughout the evening. As always, admission and parking is free.

Santa Anita YMCA Wants Interns

Calling all social media savvy students: the Santa Anita Family YMCA needs your help. They need 5 to 7 student interns to assist with Facebook, Twitter, and blog posts. The position is unpaid, but offers invaluable work experience and is a solid resume building gig. The deadline to apply is September 1.

Click here to read more.

Gordon Ramsay Visits Old Town Monrovia Restaurant

Sam's Mediterranean Kabob Room and its Middle Eastern cuisine at 608 S. Myrtle Avenue have been a staple in Old Town Monrovia for years. But it was in need of some TLC - at least in the mind of Gordon Ramsay.

Earlier this month, the celebrity chef who hosts "Kitchen Nightmares" turned his attention to Sam's staff, menu and decor. Following his visit, long are the pink curtains and tablecloths and in their place are new tables, lighting and art on the walls, among other noticeable changes.

Restaurant staff says the episode is expected to air in November.

Here's what owner Sam Najjar and his wife Ahlam told the Pasadena Star-News about their pending stardom:

Old Town Salon Gets New Look

One Monrovia salon is getting a little touch up. Fashion Cuts, located at 198-200 S. Myrtle Avenue, is currently under renovation as store owner Aurora Baez is working to remove a 1950s era metal false facade to expose two distinctive, arched 14 feet by 4 foot tall glass windows.

The windows themselves are constructed of individual panes of a special glass – very thick and with a unique ridged pattern.  The closest match that could be found to repair the missing and broken panes came from a glass dealer in Chicago.

The work of stripping off old paint and repairing the mullions and glass panes is started earlier this week.
Baez, a Monrovia resident, has operated her salon business at that location for the past 20 years. According to a press release, the facade renovation is being undertaken in conjunction with a name chance of the salon to Xylem Salon & Spa.


"Aveda is an all-natural product line, so the name Xylem was chosen because it is the part of a plant that delivers water and nutrients from the soil to a plant’s leaves, and because the salon has embraced an eco-friendly business approach," the press release states.

Photo Courtesy of Xylem Salon

Fashion Cuts prior to construction.

Photo Courtesy of Xylem Salon

The new "Xylem Salon" under renovation.

Pocket Guide to Old Town Summer Activities

Concert Series. Pub Crawl. Produce Exchange. 


These are just among a handful of activities scheduled over the next few months to occur in Old Town Monrovia. Here's what in store:

                                               

                                               

To get more information, visit www.OldTownMonroviaCA.com

'Friends Cafe' Celebrated Grand Opening

A long standing Old Town coffee shop has recently received a jolt of energy from its new owner. Friends Cafe -- which replaces the former Monrovia Coffee House -- celebrated its grand opening over the weekend with discounted coffee drinks. 

Since re-opening in May following cosmetic improvements to the interior of the building, new customers have poured in to enjoy what Friends Cafe is describing as the "new atmosphere." New furniture, paint and art work are among the improvements. 

Friends Cafe also served as the host to KNX-1070 last month when the radio station profiled Monrovia and other San Gabriel Valley cities. 

The coffee house is located at 425 S. Myrtle Avenue and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Click here for the website.

Yogurtland Welcomed by Monrovia Chamber

Yogurtland, which has been open for nearly two months at 104 S. Myrtle Avenue, had an official ribbon cutting ceremony sponsored by the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. And what better day to be at a yogurt store than on a 75 degree day...

Photo by Dan Bell

Yogurtland was welcomed by the Monrovia Chamber of

Commerce on Tuesday.

Photo by Dan Bell

Council members Becky Shevlin, middle, and Tom Adams,

right, welcome Yogurtland to Old Town Monrovia on 

Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Merengue!

Merengue Bakery and Cafe at 111 E. Colorado Boulevard in Old Town Monrovia is celebrating its fourth birthday today. Swing by before closing today at 8 p.m. for a free slice of Cuban cake. Congratulations Merengue!

Monrovia Job Fair on Tuesday

Join the City of Monrovia and Best Jobs Magazine at a Job Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19 at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm Avenue. Employers include Ducommun Aerostructures, California Highway Patrol, the Department of Justice, State Farm Insurance, and Mt. Sierra College.

We look forward to seeing you there! For questions, call Jennifer McLain at (626)303-6601, or send an email to at jmclain@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Site of the Week: Huntington Food Court

High traffic counts. Easy access from the I-210 Freeway. Empty pad in a busy shopping center. These are just a few of the selling points on the Huntington Food Court site, anchored by an Albertson's, Michael's and 24-Hour Fitness and located near Huntington and Shamrock. Asking price is $6 million. For more information, contact Andy Hsu at (562) 402-9566. Or check it out here.

The Dollmakers' Kattywompus Celebrates 21st Birthday

One long-standing Monrovia business is celebrating its 21st birthday this month. The Dollmakers' Kattywompus, founded by Pam Fitzpatrick, will be having promotions throughout the entire month of June. This week, there will be free gift giveaways, and each Friday night for the rest of June the Kattywompus String Band will be giving out free birthday gifts.

Photo from www.monrovia.patch.com

When the Dollmakers' Kattywompus first opened in Monrovia in 1991, it was a small doll shop with just 600 sq. ft of retail space.

Twenty-one years later, this family-owned business occupies a nearly 2,500 square foot space in Old Town Monrovia, and has become a thriving toy, gift and music store that has designed products for companies such as Mattel, Disney Store and Discovery Kids.

The shop in Old Town Monrovia has been design central for such items as the Batman doll for the Michael Keaton movie premier, Three Stooges dolls, Hello Kitty product, science-related product for the Discovery Kids license, and the popular Fancy Nancy dolls and accessories.

The Dollmakers' Kattywompus is at 412 S. Myrtle Avenue. Click here to access their website.

House of Windsor: High Quality and Excellent Service

At House of Windsor, it's all about service. From the coffee they offer you when you first step into their doors to the delicate wrap job of even the smallest purchase, owner Daphne Maddison values service - because she knows her customers do, too.

Owner Daphne Maddison, far right, started House of

Windsor in Monrovia in 1996.

"I  have to find a way to give excellence," said Maddison, adding that other examples of exemplary service include providing layaway, custom orders and worldwide shipping.

House of Windsor has been operating since 1996 in Monrovia, and is located at 526 S. Myrtle Avenue. The store is most easily recognized from the outside by the flags waving in front of its windows, but inside is a large selection of Brighton merchandise, as well as Pandora, Evergreen Flags, Mary Frances handbags, scarves, jewelry, home decor and a Thomas Kinkade art gallery.

Maddison started her career in the decorating business, where she worked for nearly 15 years. But her childhood dream was to open a small business. After careful site selection and the crafting of a solid business plan, Maddison landed in Old Town Monrovia.

To learn more about House of Windsor, visit them on Facebook, stop by, or call at 626-303-5002. Hours are Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monrovia's Athletic Prowess

Monrovia is a sports lovers paradise.

The Angeles National Forest offers wonderful trails for hiking, biking and running - and it is right in Monrovia's backyard. But Monrovia also has a variety of sports groups, running clubs and boot camps - some of which have award-winning athletes as members. For example, in the past month alone, the following local training facilities and their athletes have dominated at Southern California competitions:

Team CrossFit Academy's Trail Racing Team, in red, had a 

dominant presence at Fountain to the Falls in Monrovia and 

the Mt. Wilson Trail Race in Sierra Madre.

Donna Walters from Team CrossFit Academy earned 5th Place in the Open and advanced to the Reebok Crossfit Games. Team CrossFit Academy is located at 130 E. Walnut Avenue.

Out of Team CrossFit Academy is also the Arrogant Bastards Trail Racing Team, which dominated during the Fountain to the Falls Race on May 19 and also placed during the Mt. Wilson Trail Race last week in Sierra Madre. The team is led by Eric LeClair.

Down the street from Team CrossFit is Old Town Fight Club, whose MMA fighter Walter Morales beat Michael Venturella on May 20 at the Nokia Theater. OTFC is located at 111 W. Maple Ave., and specailizes in Muay Thai, Stickfighting, Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts.

Photo from Old Town Fight Club

Walt Morales of Old Town Fight Club was victorious in his

fight on May 20, 2012.

Among the other athletic groups in town include:

- Stan's Bikes, which has a community of active cyclists that ride around Southern California. Learn more.
- Snail's Pace, which has a running club each Wednesday. Learn more.
- Kate Yoga, a boutique Yoga studio located in Old Town Monrovia. Learn more.
- Cross FitMonrovia, at 143 W. Maple Avenue. Learn more.
- MMA School Ring of Fire, at 119 W. Palm Avenue. Learn more.

And there are traditional athletic clubs such as 24 Hour Fitness and Foothill Gym, among many others.

So what are you waiting for? Swimsuit season is here!

Making People Smile: Monrovia Dentalcare Now Open

Lan Dao, far left, likes to make people smile. And now that she and her UCLA School of Dentistry colleague Jane Refela, right, have a dental practice, she can fulfill that dream everyday.

Dr. Dao and Dr. Refela opened Monrovia Dentalcare just last month at 831 E. Huntington Drive Suite 201, at the corner of Mountain Avenue. Monrovia Dentalcare specializes in general, cosmetic and implant services. 

Their office is a new, state-of-the-art facility complete with plasma televisions, a refreshment station in the waiting room, and, best of all, massage chairs for patients who are getting work done. The hope was to provide patients with as comforting an environment as possible.

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Dentalcare

This is the front lobby of the new Monrovia Dentalcare.

According to their Facebook page, Dr. Dao was born in Vietnam but grew up in Southern California. She graduated with Cum Laude Honors from the University of California at Irvine where she earned dual degrees in Biology and in Psychology. 

Later, Dr. Dao earned her Doctorate from the prestigious UCLA School of Dentistry, where she was the recipient of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Award, Excellence in Esthetic Dentistry Award, the Section of Advanced Prosthodontics Award, and the Section of Endodontics Award. 

                                   Photo courtesy of Monrovia Dentalcare

This is no normal chair - it gives you a massage while you 

are getting that check up, implant or other not-so-pleasant 

dental work done.

Dr. Refela is a native of Los Angeles, California. She graduated Magna Cum Laude Honors from UCLA, where she earned her BS degree in Biochemistry. She continued her studies and entered UCLA School of Dentistry with Deans Honor Scholarship, and later earned her doctorate. She was the recipient of the prestigious Academy of Operative Dentistry Award. 

To make an appointment, contact Monrovia Dentalcare at (626) 359-8300, or visit the website at www.monroviadentalcare.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and by appointment on Saturdays. They are currently offering new patient specials. Click here to learn more.

Urbane Beauty Care Hiring

Urbane Beauty Care at 108 S. Myrtle, located in Old Town Monrovia next to Yogurtland, Coffee Bean and Noor's Indian Bistro, is hiring for positions at the front desk as of May 27.

For more information, contact the salon at (626) 471-9030, or stop by their location for an application.

Verizon Store Hiring

Huntington Crossing's Verizon Store, located next to Daphne's at 917 W. Huntington Drive, has a sign posted that it is hiring. For more information, visit the store or call (626) 358-8700.

In other hiring news, the City is just putting its final touches on a Job Fair that will be held on June 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kay Dalton Room in the Community Center in Monrovia. It is open to all - but please bring an updated resume and dress to impress. For more information, call Jennifer McLain at (626)303-6601.

UPS Store Moves to New Old Town Location

The UPS Store has moved to its new temporary location in Old Town Monrovia following a brief stint at a neighboring location in the ground floor site in the Paragon Luxury Apartments. The UPS Store, which opened last month, is located at 710 S. Myrtle Avenue. Prior to that, it was located in the Foothill Park Plaza.

The UPS Store moved to a new location last month following a brief stay 

at a neighboring location. Before that, it was located in the Foothill Park 

Plaza.

Meanwhile, brokers are still looking to fill two remaining vacancies in the retail sites at the Paragon Luxury Apartments. Click here for more information.

New Doggie Day Care Opens in Monrovia

Monrovia has a reputation for being dog friendly, whether it's from the water bowls outside of the Old Town stores to the number of pet stores it has in town. But Monrovia now has another new dog-friendly  business - Wonder Dog Ranch, located at 220 Taylor Street. Wonder Dog Ranch opened on April 28.

Photo courtesy of Wonder Dog Ranch.

This dog day care and boarding facility features rubber flooring and large play areas. What's more is that the facility has a live internet camera so that patrons can, "watch the fun your dog is enjoying with attentive caretakers and fun activities," according to its Facebook page.

It joins several other dog-tailored businesses in the area, including the Dog Zone at 166 W. Foothill, Happy Paws Dog Grooming at 138 E. Colorado, and Petsmart Pethotel at 745 W. Huntington Drive.

Filming Roundup: New Normal, Crush and Honda

Filmings in the month of April and early May picked up in Monrovia, including the production of a commercial, a pilot and a movie. Here's what was filmed:

• On May 3 at Myrtle and East Olive, Honda shot a motorcycle commercial from 5:30 a.m. and wrapped up by 8:30 a.m. It involved three separate people driving/riding on two bikes.
• On April 3, high school horror flick "Crush" re-shot scenes in a residential neighborhood. "Crush" had previously filmed in Monrovia week-long shot back in October.
• Also on April 3, TV pilot "The New Normal" directed by Ryan Murphy and starring Ellen Barkin, Justin Bartha from the Hangover, and Nene Leaks from the Real Housewives of Atlanta was filmed at Myrtle and Lemon. It involved temporarily transforming 427 S. Myrtle Avenue into a sporting goods store and 423 S. Myrtle Avenue into a Chinese restaurant.

Staff photo

Filming crews work at the 400 block of S. Myrtle Avenue, where they shot

several scenes for the pilot of comedy series, "The New Normal." Here, 427

S. Myrtle was used as a sporting good store and 423 S. Myrtle turned into a

Chinese restaurant.

Six-2-Six Moves to Bigger Old Town Location

One local accessory store is getting bigger. Six-2-Six, a jewelry and accessory store formerly located at 114 S. Myrtle, moved to a location nearly double in size in the heart of Old Town last week. 

Six-2-Six officially opened on Friday in their new location at 522 S. Myrtle Avenue. The store will have a grand re-opening sale from May 4 to May 20.


Six-2-Six can be reached at (626) 359-6262, or on their Facebook Page.

Yogurtland Now Open

It's official: Yogurtland is now open for business as of 11 a.m. today. Read more.

Site of the Week: Former Blockbuster Building

Calling all retail businesses looking for excellent visibility on a well-traveled street: the former Blockbuster video building is available and looking for a tenant. The site, which has been vacant since early this year, has 6,160 square feet at 123 W. Foothill at a lease rate of $2 per square feet. It is located across from the popular Pavilions shopping center, and is at the entrance to Old Town Monrovia.

Also available is 117 W. Foothill, which is 2,100 square feet, and 127 W. Foothill, at 1,320 square feet.

For more information, see the attached flyer, or contact John Archibald at 818-334-1880 or by email at johna@cbcnca.com.

Brokers: Have a site that you want advertised? Please send an email to jmclain@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

It's Almost Frozen Yogurt Time

There's a new Fro-Yo spot in town. You know, frozen yogurt? Fro-Yo is the short version for frozen yogurt, typically said when you are in a hurry and need to satisfy that Fro-Yo craving immediately and can't waste time actually saying the entire word. But enough about the Fro-Yo lingo... 

As of 8 a.m. today, Yogurtland at 104 S. Myrtle Avenue looked ready to start serving up some of its Dragon Passion Tart, Birthday Cupcake Batter, and New York Cheesecake, among the other 20 or so flavors it has to offer. 

Its sign is posted, its hours are up, and all that we need next are the doors to open. It is expected to open sometime this week, and possibly as early as today.

This location is the chain's 170th store. Locally, there are several Yogurtlands in the San Gabriel Valley, including locations in Azusa, Glendora and West Covina. 

Yogurtland's philosohpy is that the client rules: "Yogurtland believes control, choice and creativity should always be in the hands of our guests – and this is the heart of the Yogurtland experience," according to its website. Whether it's selecting from its nearly 20 frozen yogurts or more than 50 toppings, it is a hands on experience at Yogurtland.

In Monrovia, this is the fifth frozen yogurt store. Other stores where you can fill your Fro-Yo satisfaction are Cherry On Top in Foothill Park, Pinkberry on Myrtle, White Tara in the Baja Ranch supermarket center, and AM Donut & Yogurt at 305 W. Huntington Drive.

Sunday: Cinco de Mayo Festival in Old Town

Stop by Old Town Monrovia today until 9 p.m. to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. There is a full schedule for both the children's and main stages. Click here to learn more.

Main Stage Entertainment

11:45am ~ Procession ~ Ballet Folklorico Nueva Antequera of Oaxaca
12:00pm ~ Opening Ceremonies

 - VFW Arcadia Monrovia Post 2070 Color Guard
  - American Anthem performed by Nile Zamora
  - Mexican Anthem performed by HectorDominguez
  - Invocation Ulises Gutierrez
  - President’s Welcome Rutilio “Rudy” Castrellon
  - Committee Acknowledgement
  - Honorable Mayor Mary Ann Lutz
  - Ralph Walker Introduces our Master of Ceremonies Daniel Castro

12:30pm ~ Mariachi Sonidos De Mi Tierra
1:15 pm ~ Juan Carlos Quintero
2:15 pm ~ Potro Norteno
3:00pm ~ Ballet Folklorico de Sally Savedra
3:15 pm ~ The Delgado Brothers
4:30 pm ~ Los Dominantes
5:15pm ~ Ballet Folklorico de Sally Savedra
5:45pm ~ La Santa Cecilia
7:30 pm ~ Hector Dominguez con el mariachi Sonidos De Mi Tierra
9:00pm ~ Festival Ends

Business Showcase Tonight

Now that the rain has stopped, it's time to get out of the house and into Old Town Monrovia. While you're strolling down Myrtle Avenue this evening, be sure to stop by the Business Showcase, where more than 30 local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Monrovia will be showcasing what they have to offer.  


So while you’re getting your funnel cake and tri-tip sandwich, you can also check where to find good care and supplies for your pets, maybe schedule your next dental appointment, look for properties for sale in the City, schedule flowers to be sent to Mom for Mother’s Day next month, or even check on new car deals.


Monrovia Business Showcase: Friday, April 27, 5-9p.m., Old Town Monrovia, 700 block of Myrtle Avenue.

New Gymnastics Club to Celebrate Grand Opening

A Pasadena-based gymnastics club will soon be expanding by opening a new club in Monrovia. Club Champion Gymnastics, located at 905 S. Myrtle Avenue, will celebrate the new facility with an open house on Monrovia Day, Saturday, May 19, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 905 Myrtle Avenue. The official opening date is June.


According to its website, Club Champion Monrovia is a recreational tumbling and cheer facility, and will be "almost identical" to their Pasadena location with the "same great coaches and brand new equipment." The new gym will feature a "Mommy and Me" class with equipment specifically designed for toddlers, and pre-school and advanced level classes will include all Olympic events as well as trampoline, tumble track and an air floor.


For more information, visit the website by clicking here.

Newsmakers

Monrovia manufacturing and business-services companies have hit the headlines in recent weeks. Among our local newsmakers include:

AeroVironment, the creator of the drone used in combat, continues to collect contracts. The most recent one was a $5.5 million contract with the U.S. Marine Corps. Read more.

Staar Surgical celebrated its 300,000th implant of its Visian ICL implants, used as an alternative to LASIK. Read more.

Environmental consultants MWH America became one of the first labs in the nation to meet the strict water testing requirements called UCMR3, enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency. Read more.

Miyachi Unitek, which creates systems and equipment for laser welding and cutting, unveiled a phone app for resistance spot welding help. Read more.

Green Dot, a company that provides prepaid Visa and MasterCards, acquired Bay Area-based Loopt for $43 million. Read more.

Stylists Needed at Bellisima Salon

Bellisima Salon has been a mainstay on Myrtle Avenue for nearly 15 years - though the location itself at 501 S. Myrtle once served as Woolworths.

Staff photo

Bellisima Salon is located at the former Woolworth's site.

Photo from Monrovia Historical Museum

Look closely...the Monrovia Day Parade  is passing 

Woolworth's during the route up Myrtle Avenue.

The salon, led by Maria Fajarado - a dedicated businesswoman and entrepreneur - provides a variety of services ranging from manicures to make-up to hair styling.

Staff photo

The salon is also in search of models and stylists. If you are interested in receiving a hair cut as a model or are looking for a job as a hairstylist or manicurist, call Bellisima at (626) 357-0017 or visit the salon's website.

Staff photo

Owner Maria Fajardo has run Bellisima

Salon since 1996.

Mt. Sierra Hiring

Mt. Sierra College, the local graphic arts, marketing and information technology college at Myrtle and Huntington, has the following positions open:

• Marketing Coordinator
• Adjunct Technology Instructor
• Admissions Representative
• Game Arts Instructor
• Media Arts/Design Instructor
• Online Media Arts Instructors

Check it out by clicking here.

Monrovia Adult School: Resource for teens, adults

Computer classes. Ceramics instruction. Medical school preparation.

These are just some of the programs offered at the Monrovia Community Adult School, which serves nearly 1,500 students each year.

Located at 920 S. Mountain Avenue, the Adult School offers low-cost continued education classes, career development courses and free job seeking support.

TIP: From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Monday, job seekers can stop by the school to work on computers to search current job listings, receive effective resume-writing and interviewing techniques, and get other services such as typing tutorials.

To learn more about the school's programs, visit http://www.mcasweb.com/.

Gone Fishin': Wil's Sport and Tackle Opens in Old Town

Fishing has been a passion of Wil Fitzpatrick for the past four decades, and now he's hoping to share his love and expertise for the sport at his new store, Wil's Sport and Tackle. The store, located at 310 S. Myrtle Avenue, will open tomorrow.

Photo courtesy of Wil Fitzpatrick

Employees of Wil's Sport and Tackle 

show off the merchandise.

"I love fishing. I fished all my life, and it’s an industry that I'm familiar with," Fitzpatrick said on Thursday. "A lot of what I'm carrying, you wont find at [big box sporting goods stores], and one of the advantages to coming here is that more than likely, you will find someone who fishes, and they will set you up with everything you need." 

Fitzpatrick, whose mother Pam Fitzpatrick also owns a business in Old Town Monrovia, started fishing when he was just four years old. His biggest catch was a 250-pound ray.

While his favorite fishing destination is the ocean - anywhere from San Clemente to Morro Bay - he knows the local fishing spots like the back of his hand. 

Among the San Gabriel Valley spots include the Santa Fe Dam, Puddingstone Lake in San Dimas, Chantry Flats, Azusa Canyon, Arroyo Seco in Pasadena, and there are even spots in our very own canyon in Monrovia.

Aside from fishing equipment, he also sells a variety of sporting goods including balls, archery supplies - sorry, no bow and arrows, though - and clothing.

Wil's Sport and Tackle opens tomorrow at 8 a.m., and will be welcomed by the business community with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce at noon on April 18.

For more information, visit their website.

Seniors: Avoid These Healthcare Mistakes

Monrovia Businesswoman and Gerontologist Mary Winners, founder of About Senior Solutions at 525 S. Myrtle Avenue, will be offering tips to seniors on how to avoid the eight most common healthcare mistakes on May 10 at Santa Teresita in Duarte. The program begins at 9 a.m. To make a reservation, call 626-256-3059.

Winners was recently featured on KCET in a docu-series about caring for aging loved one.

IndyCar Driver to Make Pit Stop at New Monrovia Printing Business Tonight

www.simonadesilvestro.com

Sir Speedy, a graphic arts, marketing  and printing store located at 411 W. Maple, will be having its official grand opening and open house from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight starting with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce. It is open to the public.

Aside from showcasing its products, IndyCar Driver and 2010 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Simona De Dilvestro will be there signing autographs. De Silvestro, who is often referred to as “the Swiss Miss” because of her Swiss upbringing, was the first woman in series history to have earned the most wins, pole positions, and led the most laps all in a single season, according to her website.

The connection between the two is that Sir Speedy will be sponsoring her this year in the series.

Sir Speedy opened earlier this year, and joins the ranks of more than 600 Sir Speedies across 13 countries. The original Sir Speedy was opened in 1968 in Costa Mesa. The business provides a variety of services, ranging from printing to banner making, to social media marketing. Here's the website.

Employers: Sign-up Today for Monrovia Job Fair on June 19

The City of Monrovia is teaming up with Best Jobs Magazine to host a Job Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on June 19 at the Monrovia Community Center. Whether you have one position open or dozens, you can have a booth for FREE at the Job Fair. All you need to do is contact Jennifer McLain at 626-303-6601, or by email at jmclain@ci.monrovia.ca.us by May 28 to ensure that you get a space.

Best Jobs Magazine is an employment boosting organization that hosts job fairs throughout Southern California.

Looking for a Job? Monrovia Can Help...

Resume tips, interview pointers, and recommendations on how to get a job are among some of the topics at the Job Seekers All-Day Event from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 5. You can reserve a spot for this free event by signing up online at www.monroviapubliclibrary.org, or by calling (626) 256-8274.

Palmdale Assistant City Manager Named as Monrovia's New Top Administrator

The Monrovia City Council on Tuesday announced the hiring of Palmdale assistant city manager Laurie Lile to Monrovia's top administrative post as City Manager.

Laurie Lile has worked through the ranks of Palmdale over the past two decades, where she started as Principal Planner in 1988 until she climbed to her current position as assistant city manager.

Palmdale is located in northern Los Angeles County, and has a population of nearly 150,000. It has a diverse job and business base that includes the Antelope Valley Regional Mall, the Edwards Airforce Base, and aerospace manufacturers such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Here is a link that describes more of Palmdale's economy, and what Ms. Lile has been working with the past 24 years.

Ms. Lile is expected to assume the position as Monrovia City Manager April 30. Read more.

Old Town Welcomes New Church

A church long occupied by the First Church of Christ Scientist now has a new congregation. The Monrovia Word Center celebrated its official grand opening today at 140 W. Lime Avenue, located across from the Monrovia Public Library.

Business Profile: Stop By and Smell the Roses at Monrovia Floral

Spring has officially sprung, which means a season full of longer days, beautiful blossoms and colorful flowers. But for Monrovia Floral,  the colorful flowers part is nothing new to them.

Step inside this Old Town Monrovia flower shop, and you are welcomed with the smell of roses and the site of arrangements of all shapes and sizes. The current trend is small - but compact - arrangements that include flowers such as lilies, iris, gerbers, tulips and spray roses.

Monrovia Floral has been a staple in the community for nearly two decades. It was first located on Foothill Boulevard, and eventually it relocated to its current site at 119 E. Olive Avenue.

Owner Gloria Huss bought the store in 1989, and she describes the business as a "small town florist that can service modern day needs." Huss got her start in the flower business as a delivery driver, and after a lot of long hours and persistence, eventually bought Monrovia Floral.

When Huss isn't working at Monrovia Floral, she keeps herself busy with her many civic obligations, including serving as Old Town Monrovia's Filming Liaison, on the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce, and on the Monrovia, Arcadia and Duarte Town Council. It is her passion for Monrovia and community participation that led to her recipient of the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce's "Dick Lord Award," according to this article.

Monrovia Floral can be contacted at 1-800-676-2837, or at its website, www.monfloral.com.