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Old Town Report ( 8/18/16 Issue)
Monrovia Weekly Aug 26, 2016
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By Pam Fitzpatrick
At least once a week I drop by the planning counter at city hall to check up on what staff knows about goings-on and potential goings-on in Old Town. I write down what I hear and then I think, “If I could only write about what’s going on behind the scenes.” I will write a novel one day, but not today …
So, for now, I’ll be satisfied to tell only secrets that want to be told and I’ll start today with my friend and fellow small business operator Mario Ferrante from Joe Ferrante Music Studio on East Colorado. Many of you know Mario either as a music student or possibly as the lead vocalist in one of our holiday caroling groups. A long-time paraplegic confined to a wheelchair due to polio paralysis as an infant, Mario is not only a singer, writer, and composer, but he has also invented the art of “Crushed Impressionism” by using the wheels of his wheelchair to literally “paint” on canvas. For more information on one of Old Town’s best kept secrets, check out www.SummerJoyBooks.com and be amazed!
If you are a regular at Monrovia’s Street Fair, you know that Dr. Adam Kendall is also a street fair regular. Every Friday night he brings his 600-pound piano, his violin, and over two dozen chairs down to the 700 block of South Myrtle and treats the crowd to a free classical concert.
I always wondered why an accomplished doctor would spend his time giving others such pleasure – for free! To hear Dr. Kendall’s story, go to Tim Buendia’s (KGEM) interview from last April where he explains how a personal tragedy in 2011 changed his life and set him on a course to helping others through music – it’s heartwarming!
While we’re talking about street fair, the region’s “#1 fair,” the one and only Monrovia Street Fair (which by my count is over 23 years old) is about to head into slightly new territory. This Friday, Aug. 19, will be the first show presented by the new contractors, Raw Inspiration.
“Raw,” as we call them, is a non-profit organization whose tag line is, “Come on down to the farmers’ market and shake the hand that feeds you.” Well, so far they have me hooked. If you check out their website you will see that although they operate 20-plus markets in various Southland cities, our Monrovia market will be decidedly different and they are abundantly aware of that fact.
For one thing, we are a Friday night market, which is way different than your standard Saturday or Sunday morning market – and our market, because it is on a Friday night, is basically an entertainment venue with a farmers’ market, not the other way around. And I do believe “Raw” when they acknowledge that our fair has a long (and very interesting … ) history, some of which we want to forget and lots we treasure.
So, here’s to a vibrant farmers’ market with more and better quality booths, higher quality vendors (but still with some of our favorites), more kid’s fun, and more community participation. Good luck, Raw Inspirations – we’re depending on you!
I’ll end with a few announcements: first, Will from the Community Center, I messed up last week – your senior exercise classes are Mondays at 1 p.m. (not Wednesdays) and Fridays at 9 a.m. Then, remember that the Monrovia Traditional Music Gathering (Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.) has been moved up to Library Park so that we can remain friends with our neighbors who don’t care for our style of music. In conclusion, Street Rods Forever is having their car show on Myrtle on Sept. 10 and they are sharing Library Park with The Monrovia Chamber who is presenting “Zip Code Day” (91016, get it?).
The fun (and the secrets) are never-ending in Old Town Monrovia!
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