Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 9, 2011

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Mountain Views News Saturday, April 9, 2011

 Mary Barrow of Duarte was 
honored for outstanding 
contributions to her community 
by Congresswoman Judy Chu 
in a ceremony at the Grace T. 
Black Auditorium in El Monte 
on April 3. Barrow was one of 13 
women in the Congresswoman’s 
32nd Congressional District to 
be recognized at the 2nd annual 
Women of Distinction Awards. 

Utilizing her professional 
expertise as a publicist and 
principal of Barrow/Hoffman 
Public Relations, Barrow sought 
out opportunities to improve and 
promote her hometown of Duarte 
and community organizations, 
including The Friends of the 
Duarte Library. She spearheaded 
the annual Duarte Festival of 
Authors, a major cultural event 
that promotes reading and 
literature. She was also a founding 
director of Duarte Public Access 
Television (DCTV) and currently 
serves as board vice president. 
She hosts a DCTV program that 
highlights the accomplishments 
and interests of Duarte citizens. 
She was one of the original organizers of Duarte’s annual Salute to Route 66 Parade 
and continues to support the event as a volunteer publicist and celebrity/grand marshal 
coordinator. 

 

“Her work has helped to uplift the entire community as well as improve the lives of her clients. 
Mary has not only become a model citizen but also a Duarte legend,” said Congresswoman 
Chu. 

It was a bittersweet moment for Barrow, whose husband, Ray Somerlott, passed away earlier 
in the week. She chose to attend the ceremony to honor the memory of her husband, who 
worked side-by-side with her for the past 27 years and provided her with support and 
encouragement in all her civic endeavors. 

It is the second year that Congresswoman Chu has honored distinguished area women. 
Other 2011 honorees include Maricela Cueva of Azusa, Beverly Gonzalez of Baldwin 
Park, Wendy Carrillo of City Terrace, Darby Mangen of Covina, Liliana Garcia of East Los 
Angeles, Lillian Rey of El Monte, Ruth Gonzales of South El Monte, Elsa Torres of El Sereno, 
Lisa Bailey of Irwindale, America Tang of Monterey Park, Lynn C. Chen of Rosemead, and 
Audrey Lynberg of West Covina. 

DUARTE’S MARY BARROW HONORED AT 
32nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMEN OF 
DISTINCTION AWARDS 

POLICE CHIEF ROGER JOHNSON TO RETIRE

 After more than 30 years of faithful service 
to Monrovia, Police Chief Roger Johnson will 
retire on May 1. Chief Johnson has built an 
impressive legacy and has faced many challenges 
during his career with the Monrovia 
Police Department. In addition to being a 
consummate law enforcement professional, 
he is also an insightful leader and resourceful 
business manager. These last several years 
have been some of the most challenging that 
Monrovia has ever faced. I am glad Chief 
Johnson has been a part of this team; truly, 
Monrovia has been the better for it. Congratulations, 
and thank you, Roger.

 Upon Chief Johnson's retirement, Captain 
Jim Hunt will become Interim Police Chief 
while we proceed with a recruitment process. 
Captain Hunt, too, is an excellent law 
enforcement professional, and I have every 
confidence that he will be able to manage the 
affairs of the Department during the upcoming 
selection process.


SAN GABRIEL VALLEY’S LARGEST CINCO DE 
MAYO CELEBRATION HIGHTLIGHTS THE RICH 
CULTURE OF MEXICO

-A Colorful Celebration of Music, Culture, and Art -

 

 Monrovia’s Cinco De Mayo Cultural Art and Music Festival will take place on Sunday, 
May 1, 2011 at Colorado and Myrtle Ave in charming Old Town Monrovia from 2PM to 
8PM. The all-day celebration will transform the city streets into a festive block party with 
educational and cultural exhibits, musical performances from Grammy-award winning 
entertainers. In addition to an array of dance performances from popular Folklorico and 
Oaxacan dance troupes. The event is free and all ages are welcome. 

Over 5,000 people are expected to attend this inaugural free, family-friendly block party 
making it San Gabriel Valley’s largest Cinco de Mayo celebration and the first event in 
Monrovia’s 125 year’s of existence to pay tribute to Latino heritage. Monrovia will join over 
100 US cities celebrating the rich culture, heritage, and history of Mexico. 

The event is a community led effort comprised of over a dozen person committee and led 
by Committee president Rudy Castrellon to pay tribute to the history and contributions 
that the Latino community has made to the City of Monrovia. 

 “I invite everyone to Monrovia to be part of history,” says Castrellon President of Monrovia 
Cinco De Mayo Committee and local business owner. 

 The event kicks off with performances from CaliMex roots quartet Los Fabulocos, and 
popular Latin Jazz ensemble the Banda Brothers. The fiesta continues at the children’s 
stage where Folklorico and Oaxacan dance troupes will perform into the early evening. 
Throughout the celebration, attendees can enjoy works from over 75 local artists displaying 
a variety of media including: watercolor, oil painting, photography, ceramic, and glasswork. 
Visitors can also sample popular Mexican fare from a variety of Monrovia restaurants 
including Rudy’s Mexican Food Restaurant participating in the event. 

 The event continues with special performances from the wildly popular Delgado Brothers 
performing their Latin infused blues. The cultural and arts festival will culminate with a 
very special performance from the Grammy Award winning group The Mariachi Divas, a 
unique, multi-cultural, all female mariachi ensemble. 

The Monrovia Cinco De Mayo Cultural Art and Music Festival is produced by the Monrovia 
Cinco de Mayo Association in partnership with the Nuvein Foundation for Literature 
and the Arts, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate the diversity 
that is Monrovia, and to promote an understanding of all peoples and their cultures. 

 Monrovia’s Cinco De Mayo Cultural and Art Festival is a free, all-ages cultural event, open 
to the public. For more information including a schedule of the event please visit www.monrovia5demayo.
org. 

Congresswoman Judy Chu of the 32nd Congressional 
District presents a Women of Distinction Award to Mary 
Barrow of Barrow/Hoffman Public Relations, Duarte, 
for her outstanding contributions to her community. 

Author Talk Series: 

Victor Cass will read from his book Telenovela.

Victor Cass shares his view that life can be one big soap opera when culture clashes with romance 
and infidelity in Telenovela.The author and artist, who lives in Pasadena, also wrote “Love, Death and 
Other War Stories” in 2005, after serving over 18 years on the Pasadena Police force.

Victor worked as an advertising art director in New York City before returning to Pasadena to pursue 
a career in law enforcement. His writing has also appeared in Arroyo Monthly Magazine, Mexican 
War Journal, Pasadena Weekly, and the Pasadena Star-News. 

Join us for a stimulating and well-rounded discussion.

Registration is encouraged. Stop by the Adult Reference Desk, call 626-256-8274, or visit www.monroviapubliclibrary.
org and click on the calendar icon on the top right of the page. Find DATE, click on 
the event and sign up. Walk-ins welcome.

Monday May 2

Library Community Room 

6:30 until 7:30 p.m. 

Free 

Sponsored by Friends of the Monrovia Public Library 


Monrovia Police Blotter

During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 438 service events, resulting 
in 79 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:

FORMATIVE YEARS PROJECT

The Monrovia Police Department's classes for the Formative Years Project are scheduled to 
begin May 5. The Formative Years Project is a program aimed at parents and their children, 
grades 1 through 3, which introduces important life values and skills to children at an early 
age. Providing this training when children are young begins the process of building healthy 
and safe practices that can set the stage for a lifetime of success and healthy living.

POLICE BLOG

Robbery Suspect Arrested

On March 26, an officer went to a residence in the 700 block of Monterey Court in an attempt 
to locate a wanted robbery suspect, but no one answered the door. Approximately 
one hour later, the suspect came into the Police Department lobby. The officer contacted the 
female suspect, who admitted to committing two robberies in San Dimas. The suspect was 
arrested and a detective contacted the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and arrangements 
were made for a deputy to take custody of the suspect.

Driving Under the Influence / Failure to Obey a Lawful Order - Suspects Arrested

On March 27 at 1:42 a.m., officers were at a business in the 300 block of South Myrtle at the 
request of security to provide assistance while a rowdy group of subjects were being cleared 
from the premises. One of the officers was trying to stop a vehicle for speeding that was approaching 
him. The vehicle momentarily stopped as it reached the intersection of Myrtle 
and Lime, the driver rolled down his window, but then sped away traveling the wrong way 
on a one way street at a high rate of speed. An area search was conducted and the vehicle was 
located and stopped at Fifth and Chestnut. The driver was determined to be driving under 
the influence and was arrested. The three passengers were arrested for being drunk in public. 

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

On March 27 at 1:56 a.m., an officer was following a vehicle westbound in the 300 block 
of East Huntington that was intermittently lane straddling all the way to Magnolia, where 
the vehicle was stopped. The driver was determined to be driving under the influence. The 
driver was arrested. He was found to be on felony probation for burglary and had a felony, 
$250,000 warrant out for his arrest.

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

On March 27 at 3:10 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle heading north on Myrtle under the 
210 Freeway. The vehicle swerved, almost striking the curb, and then went through a red 
light at Central and Myrtle. The officer stopped the driver and through investigation, determined 
the driver to be under the influence. The driver was arrested.