Sawpit Dam Keepers House

Playing around with processing.  This is a recently taken photo made to look like an old photo.
You can see the curving top of the dam itself on the left side of the photo.

Guide Dog Puppy In Training

This is Myagi, coming in for his closeup.  Curious and all puppy.

Myagi wearing his "Puppy In Training" vest.  Guide dogs can be sponsored to help with the costs of raising and training the dogs in training.  The name of Myagi's sponsor is stitched at the bottom of his vest above.

Guide Dogs Of America

The 3 beautiful dogs above are associated with the Guide Dogs of America program in Sylmar, Ca.
They are, from L to R: Tibet, Miyagi and Riker. 
They were the visitors and subject of a recent Monrovia Canyon Park volunteer meeting.

It takes a special dog to make it through the 24 hour a day, 7 day a week training.  If they are good enough, at about 2 years old, they are given free of charge to a blind or visually challenged man or woman to provide help, assistance and independence.

Equally amazing are the trainers, like Mary Deets above, who are with their dogs constantly.  Taking them everywhere, socializing them for about a year and a half until the day they have to hand the dog over for additional training.  They say goodbye with the very real possiblility that they will never see their constant companion again.  I don't think I could do that.

Some dogs that don't make it as guide dogs or that are no longer guide dogs go on to other "careers" such as search and rescue or pet therapy.  Tibet above works at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia.

Miyagi, center above, is the puppy in training.  A couple more photo's of him tomorrow.

Heroic.

Guide Dogs of America website.

Ducommun Aerostructures

Ducommun Aerostructures website here.

2008 Monrovia Canyon Park Haunted Hike

Dates and info have now been announced for this years Haunted Hike in Monrovia Canyon Park.
The dates are: Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights - October 23rd, 24th and 25th.
Tickets are available to Monrovia residents on September 24th and to the general public on October 1st.
The flyer can be found on the city website here.

The city also has a Haunt phone line at 626-256-8246.

Last year when I posted about the Haunted Hike there was a lot of interest and a big boost in traffic to my website.  This year I decided that the Haunted Hike needed its own (unofficial) website. The new site will have all the information that's available, updates, photo's, FAQ's, suggestions and more!  We'll also be there to answer any questions you may have, so ask, ask, ask.

The new website devoted specifically to the Haunted Hike is:

http://www.mcphauntedhike.com/

Bookmark it and visit often.

Sawpit Dam Facing East

Taking advantage of being able to use the dam parking lot on Biodiversity Fair day, I took this photo of the Sawpit Dam facing east from near the dam keepers house.

2008 Biodiversity Fair - Raccoons

Three of the more popular critters at the Biodiversity Fair.

I apologize for posting a photo from the Biodiversity Fair yesterday without actually explaining what a Biodiversity Fair is all about. I had the photo ready but I didn't have all the info I wanted yet.

So, to make up for yesterday, here's the info direct from the Fair. I almost tried to explain it in my own words last night but I was very tired and it probably wouldn't have been very coherent.

"Come and learn about your local environment and the outdoors through LIVE hands-on native plant and wildlife exhibits, games, activities and volunteer opportunities on how YOU can get involved in conserving wilderness and open space. Several local nonprofit organizations, agencies, and environmental education or conservation based groups will be coming together to present on the biodiversity of the regional environment."

Thanks to the following 17 exhibitors that took part in the Fair:

Audobon Society
Bewaterwise
Angeles National Forest
The Bug Man
CA Native Plant Society
CA Turtle And Tortoise
City Of Claremont
Critter Caravan
DPW Waste Management
Eaton Canyon
Herpetological Society
Opossum Society
REI
San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy
Sierra Club
Theodore Payne
Wildlife Way Station

2008 Biodiversity Fair Goats

Yesterday was the 3rd annual Monrovia Canyon Park Biodiversity Fair.  These two goats are just a couple of the many animals visiting for the afternoon.

Promoting Monrovia

Saw this brand new BMW on Myrtle Ave.  While the driver waits for the new license plates, the car dealer didn't use the space to advertise their business.  Instead, they put one word there:  MONROVIA.
They did advertise on the license plate frame though: BMW of Monrovia.com.

Civiltec Engineering

Interesting building but such a contrast to the Neville building next to it.

Door Bells

The old fashioned kind.  These were on the back door of an antique store in downtown Monrovia.  They're not only functional, they look like something that would be sold in the store.

Green Backdrop

Morning Glory

This Morning Glory had taken over and was growing up the street light post.  I think it's a nice touch, looks better than the plain pole.

Deer Eating Avocado

My little friend here looks like she's had some rough days with the patchy fur and a piece of her ear missing.  On this day though, she's just enjoying a nice avocado.

Choices

You can't say that we don't give you options here in Monrovia.  While waiting for a bus, you can choose a bench where you can soak up the sunshine or you can choose a bench that protects you from the sun and rain.

Painted Mailbox

Escaping

Some large tree roots extending under the fencing around the new library construction area.

Bike Lane

The Candy Machine

I don't see too many of these machines anymore.  When I was a kid you could put in a nickle and get some candy.  No electricity required.  Nowadays you're more likely to see huge machines with dozens of choices usually for a buck or more.  Always near an outlet.  Progress.

Relaxing In Old Town

Early morning on the weekend.

The Comic Cellar

With the success of and news stories from the recent comic convention in San Diego, comics are as big, if not bigger, than ever. This seems like a good time to show that Monrovia has its own comic book store right in the heart of Old Town.

Link: Comic Cellar Website

Instant Replay

A couple of photo's of the band Instant Replay from the Family Concert Series at Recreation Park.

California Lottery

Do you play the lottery?  Tonight's drawing is for a chance at 9 million dollars.  Or play the multi state lottery for a chance at 56 million.  Or buy a copy of the ever shrinking LA Times in the background there for a non shrinking 50 cents.

Police Pickup Truck

According to the logo on the door this is a police truck from the City of El Monte, parked in Monrovia.  El Monte is a nearby city to the south.  A police pickup truck is not a common sight.  I'm wondering how useful this would be for police work, or is that even its purpose?

Reflection

The front of Dream Dinners in the Huntington Oaks shopping center with some of the other stores reflected in the windows.

Back To School Time

It's that time again.  Time to get everything you need to go back to school.

I wore a school uniform for awhile and didn't mind it.  What I didn't like was knowing that summer was coming to an end.

Grand Slam Batting Cages

Now that baseball season is well underway, maybe you'd like to get out and take a few swings yourself.  If that's not enough, you can get instruction, have parties, play basketball, laser tag, arcade games and more.

All inside.  See their website here.



I've never been here myself.  I was more of a street baseball player as a kid.  Grab a baseball bat, a tennis ball (which does a lot less damage than a regular baseball), get as many neighbor kids as possible, decide what the bases would be (driveways, potholes, extra glove) and play ball in the street.  That was a different time back then.  It really depends on your street too.

Kettlestones

A new mediterranean cafe coming soon to downtown Monrovia. 



The new cafe will be in the corner location that was previously occupied by Crossroads Music.

Monrovia: National Night Out

Posting this today to allow for a couple of days notice.

This Tuesday, August 5th, is the National Night Out with the Monrovia Police Department. The event will be held at Recreation Park from 6 pm to 8 pm.

More info for Monrovia here. (.pdf link)

and the main National Night Out website here.

Quonset Hut

There are a few of these Quonset Huts of various sizes around Monrovia, mainly in the more industrial sections of town.



This one comes with air conditioning and a nice blue accent stripe.

Measure M Destruction To Make Way For Construction

It's finally started. This is the first step in the renovation that will eventually bring a new science building, gymnasium, stadium and track to the high school.

Missed out on theme day this month. Too much to do in too little time, something had to give. Unfortunately I had to give up something I want to do for things that I have to do. Isn't that always the way?