Author Archives: ABC Public Relations

Mt. SAC Opens New $13.6-Million Student Success Center

Photo courtesy of Mt. SAC

Photo courtesy of Mt. SAC
Mt. SAC’s new Student Success Center

By Mike Taylor, Mt. Sac


WALNUT– Mt. San Antonio College will hold a ribbon cutting and an open house for its new $13.6-million Student Success Center, building 9E, on Wednesday, March 9, at 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. 

“The Student Success Center configures in a central location many of the programs and support services that help our students succeed and reach their goals in college,” said Mt. SAC Student Services Vice President Audrey Yamagata-Noji. 

Located right next to the college’s Student Services Center, the new facility affords 22,800 square feet for classrooms, study labs, offices, and a computer lab. It houses the Bridge Program, the TRiO Programs, ACES, Veterans Resource Center, Upward Bound, the Accessible Technology Center for Disabled Student Programs and Services, and a Student Health Center satellite office. 

College officials will make brief presentations at the ribbon cutting, and tours of the new facility will be available. 

The center was funded by Mt. SAC’s Measure RR, the college’s $353-million facilities bond that was passed by voters in 2008.

San Bernardino County Jail Prisoners Sue Over Jail Conditions

Staff Reports

SAN BERNARDINO- Two prisoners in the San Bernardino County jails filed a federal class action lawsuit today, claiming that conditions in the jails are unconstitutional. George Topete and Zachary Shovey claim that the jails are depriving them of basic medical and mental health care, and protection from harm.  They also allege that the jails are denying them reasonable accommodations for their disabilities. The prisoners are seeking an order from the court requiring county officials to improve jail conditions in order to comply with constitutional standards.

The suit alleges that prisoners do not have timely access to physicians and mental health clinicians, that they are victims of excessive force and violence from other inmates, and that they do not receive reasonable accommodations for their disabilities.

George Topete, 50, who has been convicted of attempted murder and robbery, alleges that he has difficulty walking and using stairs due to a physical disability.  Topete is alleging that the jail system has refused him access to a cane, which he needs to walk.   Topete is also alleging that the jail gave him a wheelchair, but he is not able to use it because he is not located in a wheelchair-friendly cell block.   As a result, he has fallen and is at risk of falling when trying to access the visiting area, his cell, and the toilet.

Zachary Shovey, a pretrial detainee at the West Valley Detention Center, has no violent criminal record. He does have an extensive psychiatric history that includes multiple suicide attempts, psychiatric medications, and a nine-month stay in a state psychiatric hospital. Shovey is alleging that the jail failed to provide him mental health treatment and psychiatric medications for one year after his arrest despite symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and insomnia.  He is also alleging that the jail has failed to provide him with timely medical treatment for his seizure disorder.

“These people are entirely dependent on the jail for their health care and well-being – they have no other options,” said Kelly Knapp, Staff Attorney at the Prison Law Office.

The lawsuits stem from a lengthy investigation undertaken by the Prison Law Office into conditions in the jails.

“Sheriff John McMahon has been transparent about the conditions in the jails and has cooperated fully with the investigation,” said Donald Specter, Executive Director of the Prison Law Office. “We expect this cooperation to continue during the litigation and hope that the case can be resolved as quickly as possible,” said Specter.

The county denies that conditions in the jails are unlawful and believes that health care provided to inmates is of high quality, that inmates with disabilities are accommodated and that prisoners are housed in a safe and secure environment.

Even so, Sheriff McMahon noted that, “Since realignment, counties, including San Bernardino, have faced significant challenges in housing more inmates for longer periods of time than they have historically.”

The county has devoted significant resources over the last several years to ensuring that conditions in the jails meet all relevant constitutional, statutory and regulatory standards. As part of that ongoing effort, the county has been working cooperatively with the Prison Law Office for more than a year in an effort to address the claims that have been made in the lawsuit.

“We have appreciated the willingness of the Prison Law Office to work constructively with the county on these issues, look forward to continued cooperative discussions, and are optimistic that the case can be resolved amicably” said Sheriff McMahon.

Norco: Special Ed Art Exhibit Draws a Crowd

Courtesy of CNUSD

Courtesy of CNUSD

Courtesy of CNUSD

NORCO– The CNUSD Special Education Community Advisory Committee hosted their 11th annual art show at the District Office. This year’s theme was “My Imagination” and students created a variety of projects, including paintings, drawings, mixed media, sculpture, and transfer art.

The event drew parents, students and teachers and packed the room as they supported the students and their work. Each piece of art was given a number and attendees were asked to vote for their favorites in each age bracket (Preschool, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, High School, Transition). All participating students received a certificate for their work.

Students enjoyed a dinner courtesy of Chick-Fil-A Norco, Crusty’s Pizza, and Vito’s Pizza.  They were entertained by a magician and had the opportunity to take pictures with Disney’s Rapunzel and Belle.

A mixed media collage by William Karim, a fifth-grader at Prado View took top honors and was named “Best in Show”.

CVUSD District Science Fair Winners Named

Courtesy of CVUSD

Courtesy of CVUSD

Courtesy of CVUSD

CHINO– Thirty Chino Valley Unified School District students will advance to the RIMS Science and Engineering Fair in early April, after receiving trophies at the District’s Science Fair on Feb. 24.
More than 170 projects were submitted by almost 200 students for the opportunity to represent CVUSD at the regional science fair in April, which includes students from Riverside, Inyo, Mono, and San Bernardino counties.
All of the students who made it to the District-level competition received some level of recognition: White Ribbon Medals, Red Ribbon Medals, Blue Ribbon Medals, and trophies.  Teachers and community members served as judges.
The RIMS Science and Engineering Fair will be held April 5 to 7 at the Bourns Technology Center in Riverside.

History 101

Photo courtesy: Google Images Alexander Graham Bell makes telephone call

Photo courtesy: Google Images
Alexander Graham Bell makes telephone call

Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone

Courtesy of History.com

On March 7, 1876, 29-year-old Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for his revolutionary new invention–the telephone.

The Scottish-born Bell worked in London with his father, Melville Bell, who developed Visible Speech, a written system used to teach speaking to the deaf. In the 1870s, the Bells moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where the younger Bell found work as a teacher at the Pemberton Avenue School for the Deaf. He later married one of his students, Mabel Hubbard.

While in Boston, Bell became very interested in the possibility of transmitting speech over wires. Samuel F.B. Morse’s invention of the telegraph in 1843 had made nearly instantaneous communication possible between two distant points. The drawback of the telegraph, however, was that it still required hand-delivery of messages between telegraph stations and recipients, and only one message could be transmitted at a time. Bell wanted to improve on this by creating a “harmonic telegraph,” a device that combined aspects of the telegraph and record player to allow individuals to speak to each other from a distance.

With the help of Thomas A. Watson, a Boston machine shop employee, Bell developed a prototype. In this first telephone, sound waves caused an electric current to vary in intensity and frequency, causing a thin, soft iron plate–called the diaphragm–to vibrate. These vibrations were transferred magnetically to another wire connected to a diaphragm in another, distant instrument. When that diaphragm vibrated, the original sound would be replicated in the ear of the receiving instrument. Three days after filing the patent, the telephone carried its first intelligible message–the famous “Mr. Watson, come here, I need you”–from Bell to his assistant.

Bell’s patent filing beat a similar claim by Elisha Gray by only two hours. Not wanting to be shut out of the communications market, Western Union Telegraph Company employed Gray and fellow inventor Thomas A. Edison to develop their own telephone technology. Bell sued, and the case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld Bell’s patent rights. In the years to come, the Bell Company withstood repeated legal challenges to emerge as the massive American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) and form the foundation of the modern telecommunications industry.

 

Straight Talk with Danice

Danice Akiyoshi

Danice Akiyoshi

“My brother’s perfect life”

By Danice Akiyoshi, N.D.

 

Dear Danice,

My brother brags about everything.  His wonderful job, his smart kids, his beautiful wife, his new BMW, his boat, his latest vacation, and anything else that is impressive in his life.  I’m over it.  So he’s done well in his life, it’s obvious.  Why does he have to shove it in my face by talking about it all the time?

Yvonne

 

Dear Yvonne,

Let’s take a moment to change your perspective.  If your brother announced his brain tumor, his bankruptcy, his addiction, his house fire, the failures of his kids, his mean wife – or whatever- you’d be all ears, and maybe even sympathetic enough to offer help.  Just take a look at how our society operates these days.  When we are doing well, people say things like, “It must be nice. Why doesn’t that ever happen to me?  Wish it were me.  How did you get so lucky?  He didn’t deserve that!”

Why do people so often offer support to their ailing loved ones, but criticize or shun them when they are doing well?  It makes no sense to me.  I want everyone to do well!

If your brother is a crashing bore, only interested in discussing his own good fortune, then tell him you are bored with constant conversations about him.  If you are jealous, then do something about feeling better about your own life.  Sharing success stories sounds better to me than sharing tragic stories.  All people hope for approval.

Danice Akiyoshi, N.D.

Danice Akiyoshi is a Naturopathic Doctor and the head of Candid Coaching Service. She offers personal coaching services relating to all types of issues and concerns. This is a letter she received from an anonymous reader. To send a question to Danice, email her at straighttalk@candidcoachingservices.com. You can also visit her website at http://www.candidcoachingservices.com.

San Bernardino Co. Sheriff Helps Out Homeless Vet

Photo courtesy: SBCS Jack gets a new start through the HOPE program.

Photo courtesy: SBCS
Jack gets a new start through the HOPE program.

Staff Reports

San Bernardino – Jack was lying on a piece of cardboard in Perris Hill Park when San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputy Collins and Jones approached him one afternoon.

Once a decorated Vietnam veteran and business owner, Jack had hit rock bottom and given up on life after his wife’s death in 2010. He had been living on the streets for over a month. He turned to drinking heavily and ended up on the streets. He did not want to bother or worry his two adult children and decided to live in the park. Jack told deputies that he did not know how to get off the streets, but was willing to do whatever was necessary to get into housing.

After contacting Veteran Affairs, deputies discovered that Jack had earned five Medals of Valor during his service in Vietnam.

His day was about to change for the better. On Feb. 23, Jack was given a fresh start on life and offered assistance by the Sheriff’s HOPE (Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement) team.

Jack was very eager to get out of the park and agreed. He had an honorable discharge and a copy of his Together with Veteran Affairs (VA) and Knowledge & Education For Your Success, Inc. (KEYS), deputies helped Jack put a roof over his head.

Jack was extremely happy and appreciative of the assistance provided to him by HOPE, and repeatedly thanked and shook the team’s hands, with tears in his eyes, deputies said.

“It was truly a pleasure to help a national hero get back on his feet and restore some dignity to his life,” Jones said. “The HOPE team is pushing to end veteran homelessness in San Bernardino County.”

This is just one of the many success stories of the SB County Sheriff’s HOPE program.

HOPE was developed in 2014 to balance proactive outreach with enforcement of the law, while connecting members of the homeless population with resources that may help them transition from homelessness. The deputies even appear less threatening sporting polo shirts and khaki pants.

According to the HOPE webpage, the ultimate goal is to reduce the rate of recidivism and reduce the current costs associated to homeless related crime.

How can you help? Deputies encourage the public to give donations to organizations that assist homeless persons, not panhandlers. Statistics show that most panhandlers are not homeless, and most homeless do not panhandle.

Photo courtesy: SBCS

Photo courtesy: SBCS

 

Avery Centre Helps Clear the Storm in Your Life

Staff Reports

CHINO HILLS – How do people deal with difficult events that change their lives? The death of a loved one, loss of a job, serious illness, natural disasters, witnessing a death, and domestic abuse are all examples of challenging and traumatic life experiences. Many people react to such circumstances with a flood of strong emotions and a sense of uncertainty.  A traumatic event may cause mental, emotional, psychological, and physical harm.

At the Avery Centre, our therapists are versed in many types of trauma-related therapeutic approaches. We recognize that everyone has to cope with losing someone or something they love; and for some, this can become a traumatic event, especially if it follows a lifetime of stressful events. We approach our clients with compassion and understanding.

The Avery Centre provides therapy to clients and families that are suffering from grief, loss, trauma, and PTSD.  We offer a comfortable and safe environment, complete with beautiful views of Chino Hills.  We believe that our clients are the experts in their own lives; our therapists are here to inform, empower, and act as partners in the healing process.

Our therapists and interns are specifically trained in the area of trauma and follow a flexible, evidence-based curriculum.  This allows for a greater collaboration and appreciation between client and therapist and improves patient outcome. We have 3 therapists and interns who work at the Avery Centre, with combined experience of nearly 30 years.

All therapists and interns at the Avery Centre have a minimum of a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology, with a few holding two Masters degrees in a related field. All licensed therapists and registered interns are registered with the state of California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Avery Centre Founder Lyndee Venosta, M.A., M.S., says she had the idea for opening the Avery Centre after the death of her father.  His death was sudden and traumatic.  “Even though I had studied psychology in school, I had a difficult time processing the traumatic event,” Venosta said.  “I felt as if there needed to be a therapy center just for trauma and loss, where therapists knew how to approach the sensitive material.  After many years of planning, the Avery Centre came to fruition.”

In the event that you may need a therapist after a traumatic event, or if you just want to process your sense of loss, your grief or a past trauma, the Avery Centre is here for you.

At the Avery Centre, we appreciate the unique needs of each client.  If you need an intensive approach to trauma therapy, the Avery Centre can accommodate those needs by creating a specialized treatment plan.  A combination of individual and family psychotherapy, guided meditation, and group sessions may be utilized.

The Avery Centre is located in the Pine Corporate Center right off of the 71 Freeway and Pine Ave.  (After exiting the 71 freeway, make an immediate left into the Pine Corporate Center).

You can reach them at 909-597-2226.

A Scoop of Flavor

Photo by Jerry Silva Dominic Menton, Operations Manager, between rows of wine barrels at the San Antonio Winery in L.A.

Photo by Jerry Silva
Dominic Menton, Operations Manager, between rows of wine barrels at the San Antonio Winery in L.A.

By Elizabeth Childress, Food Critic

Looking for tasty Italian and American dishes, along with scrumptious dessert options, and wine tasting?  Then San Antonio Winery in Los Angeles is the place to go with your family or on a date.  As you step foot into the wine tasting area you will be greeted with smiles from their diverse staff.  A bit further and you will find yourself surrounded by unique collectables and gifts for any occasion.  A few more steps will bring you to the Maddalena Restaurant.  The friendly staff will cater to you in this trattoria-style restaurant, while your eyes land on a table which displays their signature dishes for the day, ranging from pasta and fish, meats, salads, and paninis.  After selecting Linguini w/Scampi and the Homemade Pasta Stuffed Manicotti, Robert Morrione, Special Event Coordinator, paired the dishes with Maddalena Monterey Pinot Grigio 2014.  The subtle hints of fruit made this wine the perfect match.  The Linguini w/Scampi is brightly colored with fresh vegetables and the succulent scampi is lying in a bed of perfectly cooked linguini.  The Homemade Pasta Stuffed Manicotti, made with fresh spinach, onions, and garlic, is a light dish, yet rich in flavor.  Make sure not to leave before dessert.  The cinnamon-dusted cannoli has a golden crispy shell and is filled with creamy ricotta and mascarpone, along with other decadent ingredients.  The silky Tiramisu, which has hints of espresso coffee along with the mascarpone cheese, is a slice of heaven.
Thursday through Sunday you can catch a solo artist who will fill the room with soothing music as you break bread with loved ones.
After feasting on your meal and dessert, a tour of the facility is a must! Dominic Menton, Operations Manager, took me through history of the San Antonio Winery as we strolled down the rows of beautiful oak barrels and stainless steel tanks.  After the tour, Dominic and Clifton Date, Wine Steward, who’s expert knowledge of wine, coupled with his enthusiasm for wine, made the wine tasting experience remarkably memorable.  San Antonio Winery is a must for Angelinos and those out of the area.
For any questions regarding this article contact Elizabeth Childress at elizabethchildressreq1@gmail.com.

Eastvale: “Circle City” Electrical Transmission Line Project

 By Valerie Gutierrez

EASTVALE– Many Eastvale residents gathered at Rosa Parks Elementary School on February 24 to voice their concerns about Southern California Edison’s electrical transmission line project. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is currently processing an application by SCE to construct a new electrical transmission corridor through and adjacent to residential neighborhoods in the city.

Considering that CPUC did not want to hold a public meeting to solicit comments, the City of Eastvale conducted their own meeting to inform residents. The meeting included a presentation on the project that explained SCE’s proposal to install 66K overhead lines through Eastvale as part of a project to improve service locally.

The plan is to run the lines from the Corona substation through Eastvale to Ontario, where the lines will come to an end. Fourteen to fifteen new poles for the 66vK lines will be installed along Hellman Avenue. SCE proposed undergrounding the lines in the City of Corona, but did not offer undergrounding in the City of Eastvale.

Several environmental topics were discussed during the meeting.  These included: agricultural and forestry resources, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, hazardous materials, noise, population and housing, recreation, transportation and traffic, utilities and service systems. The impacts that the “Circle City” project will have on Eastvale residents include health conditions, safety concerns and the lowering of property values.

Supporters of Chino Hills’ Hope for the Hills came out to encourage residents to get involved. Chino Hills resident Bob Goodwin explained that what really worked for Chino Hills was to analyze the impact on health, safety and property value that the lines would cause.

Eastvale is home to thousands of people.  If they do not want to see these 66vK poles go up, the community needs to take action. “Don’t wait and get involved,” said Chrisanne Goodwin, Chino Hills’ resident.

Many Eastvale residents are not happy about the power line plan, and they want the word to get out about how bad these lines are for the community.  “We need to get the word out there, that our community doesn’t want this,” said Shannon Juniper an Eastvale resident.

“Residents need to support the efforts of getting the lines underground. If residents want the lines underground they need to write these letters and get them to CPUC,” said Mayor Ike Bootsma. Public comments to be considered for the CPUC had to be sent via email by Feb. 29.

Free Counseling is Available

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

By Nancy Stoops, M.A.M.F.T.

For the past eighteen years, I have had the honor of facilitating a free counseling group every Monday evening.  Our group meets at the Walnut Teen Center and Gymnasium, located at 21003 La Puente Road, in the city of Walnut.  We meet year-round from 6-8 p.m. every Monday, unless it is a holiday.  The Teen Center’s phone number is (909) 444-0089 and my contact number is (909) 229-0727, should you have any questions.  You do not need to have an appointment to attend this group- you are free to drop by anytime.  This group satisfies many court-mandated needs.

Even though this group meets at a teen center, I invite people of all ages with all types of issues to come.  This group helps parents, students, and many other people who are struggling in their lives.  My goal is to make our community be healthier, make its population be effective in their lives, and create successful human beings.  We work on an array of issues that many people in this day and age are dealing with. There is no reason for anybody to be stuck in an unhealthy place.

If you are tired of the fight between you and your child regarding homework, or need more effective ways to communicate, this is the group for you.  Maybe depression or anxiety seems to be holding you or a loved one back- finding solutions could be life changing.  If you or somebody you know is struggling with drugs or drinking, this group is a great place to get some coping skills to get clean.  We talk about ways to deal with bullies and how damaging bullying can be for a person’s self-esteem.  Bring in an issue and I promise you will feel hopeful and have new tools to help you confront the issue head-on when you leave.  Don’t let embarrassment stop you or a loved one from getting the help you need to reclaim the wonderful life you are so deserving of.

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups for teens.  For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909) 229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjsttops@verizon.net. You may purchase Nancy’s books Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog at Amazon.com.

Walnut City Council Recap

By Natalie Kim

WALNUT -The February 24 Walnut City Council meeting began with two commendations for city staff. First, Marie Santos was recognized for her ten years of service. Santos is retiring in order to spend more time with her family. Fabiola Huerta was also recognized for her nine years of service.  She is moving away to accept an offer from another city.

Following the commendations, the Walnut Valley Robotics team presented the robot they built for last year’s robotics contest. The team requested assistance in continuing their work, such as city help with robotics contests and outreach programs, in order to increase awareness and interest of STEM fields. More information can be found on their Facebook page, Walnut Valley Robotics, and their website, www.team5857.com.

After the public comment session, the Council approved all items on the agenda, including the minutes from the February 10 City Council meeting; a resolution allowing claims and demands in the amount of $849,997.46; a resolution allowing a change in positions; the new City Attorney services contract; a contract with RKA Consulting Group to prepare the preliminary engineering and alternative analysis for the proposed Walnut Ranch Park expansion; the award of the 2015-16 Maintenance Area 5 slurry seal program bid; final acceptance of the Suzanne Park parking lot project; and the mid-year request for additional appropriation.

Following Council comments and updates, the Council adjourned with plans to meet again on March 9 at 7 p.m. at 21201 La Puente Rd.

History 101

Photo courtesy of PBS.org

Photo courtesy of PBS.org
Dred Scott

Dred Scott decision

Courtesy of History.com

On March 6, 1857, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in the Dred Scott case, affirming the right of slave owners to take their slaves into the Western territories, thereby negating the doctrine of popular sovereignty.

At the heart of the case was the most important question of the 1850s: Should slavery be allowed in the West? As part of the Compromise of 1850, residents of newly created territories could decide the issue of slavery by vote, a process known as popular sovereignty. When popular sovereignty was applied in Kansas in 1854, however, violence erupted. Americans hoped that the Supreme Court could settle the issue that had eluded a congressional solution.

Dred Scott was a slave whose owner, an army doctor, had spent time in Illinois, a free state, and Wisconsin, also a free territory at the time of Scott’s residence. The United States Supreme Court was stacked in favor of the slave states. Five of the nine justices were from the South while another, Robert Grier of Pennsylvania, was staunchly pro-slavery. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney wrote the majority decision, which was issued on March 6, 1857. The court held that Scott was not free based on his residence in either Illinois or Wisconsin because he was not considered a person under the U.S. Constitution–in the opinion of the justices, black people were not considered citizens when the Constitution was drafted in 1787. According to Taney, Dred Scott was the property of his owner, and property could not be taken from a person without due process of law.

In fact, there were free black citizens of the United States in 1787, but Taney and the other justices were attempting to halt further debate on the issue of slavery in the territories. The decision inflamed regional tensions, which burned for another four years before exploding into the Civil War.

Eastvale Armed Robbery Suspect Caught

Photo Courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept.

Photo Courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept.
Robbery suspect Reginald Ridgeway

Staff Reports

Eastvale – Between January 4, 2016, and February 4, 2016, four armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery occurred at various locations throughout the city of Eastvale.  The robberies involved a black male adult who approached pizza delivery drivers as the exited their vehicles and robbed them at knifepoint. There were no injuries as a result of these robberies.

Reginald Ridgeway, a 25-year-old Eastvale resident, was arrested without incident on Monday, February 29, in the 13000 block of Hillgrove Street in Eastvale. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of armed robbery.

This investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with additional information should contact Investigator James Merrill at the Jurupa Valley Station at 951-955-2600.

 

Three Area Teams Make CIF Finals

By Lyn Taylor

 

It’s a great year for basketball in the Inland Empire.  Chino Hills High School, Ayala High School and Diamond Ranch High School’s boys’ basketball teams have all made it into the CIF Southern Section Finals to be played this weekend, March 4-5.

Diamond Ranch High School (23-8) will play Chaminade, Friday night March 4, at Azusa Pacific University for the Division 3A Championship.    Diamond Ranch is led by former professional basketball player and multiple award-winning coach Eric Cooper.

The #1 team in the nation, Steve Baik’s Chino Hills Huskies (30-0),  have dominated this season in the Open Division, and will take on Chatsworth’s Sierra Canyon (26-3) at 6:30 p.m. for the prestigious Open Division Championship.   Chino Hills’ Ball brothers, Lonzo, Liangelo and Lamelo Ball lead the team, with Elizjah Scott and Onyeka Okongwu creating a starting five who are fun to watch and difficult to defeat.

Ayala’s Bulldogs (29-3) led by Coach John Mounce, will compete against Edison (24-7) at 8:30 p.m. the same night, also at the Honda Center, for the 2AA Championship.  The Bulldogs will have 6’5” senior star John Edgar to help them in their first championship quest.

Good luck to all of the boys!

ERHS Cheer Team Wins Nationals

Photo courtesy: Facebook ERHS Cheer Team wins National Championship

Photo courtesy: Facebook
ERHS Cheer Team wins National Championship

Eastvale – Congratulaitons to the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Cheer Team, who won the National Championship in their division at the All Star Cheer Jamz Nationals at the Orleans in Las Vegas on February 27, 2016.

 

How Is Your Garden Growing?

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

A few weeks ago, I shared that my grandchildren had helped plant seeds in a corner of our back yard.  We planted seeds for lettuce, radishes, carrots and tomatoes.  Every time the kids come to visit our house, they run to the back yard to see how the seeds are doing.  It is fun to see their excitement and enthusiasm.
At first, there was nothing but dirt.  For several weeks, we watered, waited and watched.  Then, at last, there were tiny little seedlings that emerged from the rich, dark soil.  These little sprouts were so small that you might not have noticed them.   A week later, there were many young plants that were emerging all over the garden.  I suppose it has been six to eight weeks since we planted the original seeds.  I wish we had recorded the date.
Now, when the grandchildren come to visit, they have a lot to see.  Small vegetable plants are growing taller and stronger.  The kids love to help water these little plants.  The lettuce looks promising.  I’m not as sure how the carrots and radishes are doing underground.  We can’t wait to see.  I think every child should experience the wonder of planting seeds.  It is amazing that a living plant emerges from a dead seed in a pile of dirt.  It is amazing that fruits and vegetables are the result of one little seed!
I know that many people believe that this is simply a result of millions of years of evolution.
But, I think it is actually evidence for the existence of God and the perfect balance of conditions that enable tiny seeds to grow into healthy, edible plants.  The conditions have to be perfect – water, sunlight, soil and nutrients all have to be there in the proper amounts.
In the Creation account in Genesis Chapter One we read, ” Then God said, let the earth sprout with vegetation, plants yielding seed after their own kind, and trees bearing fruit with seeds in them after their kind, and God saw that it was good”. (Genesis 1:11)
In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul says, “God did not leave Himself without evidence, but He has shown His kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” (Acts 14:17)
I’m thankful that my grandchildren are able to see these tiny seeds growing into healthy plants.  I hope that they will get to taste some of the fruits of their labor in the months ahead.  And, I hope they will realize that this remarkable process is the result of God’s amazing creation.
The next time you go to the grocery store or a local farmer’s market, take a moment to remember that a hard working farmer planted the seeds that grew into the fruit and vegetables that you see.  And, take a moment to give thanks to God who designed all of this so that we might have food on our table every day.

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visithttp://www.efreedb.org

Crime Increases in 2015, With Biggest Increase in Unincorporated Areas

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Overall Crime:

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has released preliminary crime statistics for calendar year 2015, indicating an overall increase of 7.4% in all reported FBI Part I crimes

Violent Crime increased by 6.6% in the Sheriff’s areas of Riverside County (both unincorporated areas and cities), along with 7.4% increase in overall property crime in those same areas.  The FBI typically publishes final crime data for 2015 later this year.

Although homicides were down sharply by nearly 26% for 2015, there was a 7.4% increase in the number of robberies and for aggravated assaults reported to the Sheriff.  The overall FBI violent crime numbers (homicide, rape, robbery & aggravated assaults) increased by 6.6% across all of the Sheriff’s areas.  Reported rapes increased by 2.4% over the previous calendar year.  The violent crime numbers were the highest reported since 2012.

Property crimes (burglaries, auto thefts & felony thefts) in the Sheriff’s areas of responsibility (county and cities) within Riverside County increased by 7.4%, although burglaries were sharply reduced by over 20% in 2015.

Auto thefts increased by over 20% in 2015, contrasted with the previous year and were the highest number reported since 2007.

Contract Cities Only:

Within just the Sheriff contract law enforcement cities combined, violent increased 2.4%, property crimes increased 5.7%, with FBI Part I Crimes increasing 5.5%.  The Sheriff’s contract policing services provides each of our 17 community partners with a flexible menu of services and each city is able to control its police staffing levels along with their own unique focus for their respective community.  The Sheriff’s local commanders serve as city police chiefs for each city manager and are just as responsive as any other city department head.  This responsiveness encourages considerable initiative and creativity in dealing with local crime challenges in each of those partner cities.

Unincorporated Areas Only:

Within just the unincorporated areas of Riverside County, violent crime increased 18.3% from 2014 to 2015, and Property crimes increased by 14.2%, and all FBI Part I Crime was up in the unincorporated areas by 14.6% in 2015, the highest since 2012.  In the unincorporated areas of Riverside County, the overall increase in reported Part 1 crimes was impacted the most by aggravated assault, auto theft, and larceny-theft.

Patrol staffing has been held without any increases by County direction and funding at 1.04/1000 population since June 2014, placing on hold the previous County policy under the buildup of patrol deputy staffing in the unincorporated areas up to 1.2 sworn/1000 population over the several years. In contrast, the Sheriff’s contract city partners each staff their cities in accordance with their own desires.

The Sheriff’s Department serves as the contract policing agency partner with 17 of Riverside County’s 28 cities and also serves the unincorporated areas of Riverside County for criminal investigations.  Altogether, the Sheriff is responsible for policing nearly 1.4 million residents of the County’s population of 2.3 million. Annually Sheriff’s Department dispatchers receive over 1.6 million phone calls from the public and dispatch nearly 900,000 calls for service (CFS) by Sheriff’s staff, with nearly 1/3 being in-progress calls for service. Riverside County is the 4th most populous of California’s 58 counties, and the 10th most populous county with the nation.

Some notes:

There are a number of factors that may be attributable to increases in Riverside County crime.  The rise in aggravated assaults, may well be attributed to the increase in assaults related to Domestic Violence.  Incidents related to spousal assaults were up markedly.  Overall, almost half of all reported aggravated assaults in unincorporated Riverside County involved domestic or spousal violence.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has a long history of collaboration with all responsive agencies when it comes to the application of domestic violence resources.  Our investigative bureaus across the county have designated Domestic Violence Threat Management (DVTM) trained investigators focusing on reviewing of domestic violence reports to identify training or follow-up needs, identifying subjects likely to commit repeated acts of domestic violence, participating in multi-agency collaborative countywide threat management teams, handling high-profile or threat management domestic violence incidents, and mentoring deputies to improve initial and follow-up domestic violence investigations.  All of this is focused on supporting the victim, stopping the behavior, and breaking the cycle of violence.

The Department also works closely with the Family Justice Courts, the District Attorney and their Victim Witness advocates, the SAFE team, and support organizations such as ‘Shelter from the Storm’ and the ‘Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center’ to assist with restraining orders, group sessions, safety plans, and individual victim needs such as food and gas vouchers, along with a number of other Crime Victim Assistance programs.  The Department also recently received a three year grant from the “Office of Violence against Women” to continue to improve the criminal justice response to sexual, domestic, dating, and stalking violence against women.

Auto theft is an area where Riverside County has also seen increases.  The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) notes that auto theft is on the rise all across the United States, yet there is no identifiable reason.  Washington, California, Nevada, and New Mexico are among the top five states for auto theft.  Riverside County mirrors the national trend, in that the Honda Accord and Civic, Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado trucks, and the Toyota Camry are among the vehicles most at risk for theft.

An additional area of note is the category of larceny-theft.  Within this category, thefts from vehicles and shoplifting had significant increases.  A likely reason for the increase in thefts from vehicles is related to identity thefts.  We attribute this, because wallets, purses, and mail items were frequently reported as being taken from targeted vehicles.  In the aftermath of the implementation of Prop 47 we have seen a sharp increase in shoplifting.  Shoplifting incidents, previously charged as felonious theft or commercial burglary, which could result in prison sentences, have been reduced to misdemeanors and as such the consequence of incarceration is remote.  It could be pointed out that due to Prop 47, the consequence of criminal behavior is more heavily being borne by the crime victim.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s jail leadership has been on the cutting-edge in working closely with the District Attorney’s Office, the Probation Department, and other jail systems statewide in alternative sentencing programs and in developing assessment tools and training programs to address local inmate recidivism pursuant to AB 109 Realignment in 2011.  The Sheriff and local police chiefs across Riverside County maintain close coordination and teamwork in using regional teams, task forces, community partnerships, and multi-disciplinary approaches in confronting our crime problems and the impacts of AB 109 Realignment.

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OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 3.05.16

2016-Mar5-Weekly-COVERThe Weekly News covers community news for Chino, Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, Walnut, Rowland Heights and surrounding areas of San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. Click this link to access the complete issue in PDF format:2016-Mar5-Weekly-WEB

Forgiving Yourself

Jennifer Jester-Madrigal

Jennifer Jester-Madrigal

By Jennifer Jester-Madrigal

 

There is a saying that talks about forgiveness being a gift that you give yourself. The idea is that once you forgive those who have wronged you, you take that load off your own shoulders and release that poison from yourself.

This is true in so many ways, but never is that load so heavy as when it is your own forgiveness. It’s so much easier to forgive others than it is to forgive yourself. Often we judge ourselves so much more harshly than we judge others, and we make ourselves miserable trying to live up to some insane version of how we think we should be.  The truth is, we’re not perfect and we never will be.

Stop trying to be perfect and instead focus on who you are and the progress that you have made. Try to give yourself the same grace and charity that you give to others, and take a step back.

I do this all the time – I judge myself so much more rigidly than others and expect myself to always know better, do better and be better. But, I’m human. I mess up. I say the wrong things, do the wrong things, etc.  These things don’t make me bad and they don’t define who I am.  They are just mistakes.

Last year, I made some major life changes and decided to get real with myself. I was tired of making excuses and feeling guilty about poor choices I’ve made, and instead I took action. I forgave all those who wronged me, even if they never apologized. I set myself free from the burden of trying to make everyone else happy, and instead focused on just being a better person for myself and my kids.

The struggle to forgive myself has always been within me, and setting achievable goals has been a hard step to take. But, it’s working. I know in God’s eyes I’m amazing, and that He sees me for what I really am even when I am unable to. He sees the struggles, the heartache and all the good intentions. Most importantly, He has forgiven me.  If He can, who I am to say I am greater than He and not do the same?

That’s the thing about mistakes and bad choices, they are so easy to do; but it’s also easy to convince yourself that you are somehow not worthy of forgiveness.

So finally, after years of hurting and setting unreasonable expectations for myself, I finally have made peace within. I gave myself the same grace that I give others, and I let it all go.

Forgiveness is truly the best gift that I have ever given or received, and it turns out I had the power inside me all along.