Author Archives: ABC Public Relations

Rents Skyrocketing?

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

I have reported on home values rising fast in Diamond Bar. Today, wetake a look at how fast rents are increasing as well.

Home values typically follow the pattern of economic recessions, with prices increasing as the economy improves, and peaking at about the same time or slightly after the economy has reached its zenith.  Rents, however, appear to be immune to the rise and fall or cyclical nature of home prices or home values.  The predictable thing about home rental values is that over the years, they have consistently trended upward.

As an example, where home values took a dive of almost 30-40% during the Great Recession, rents maintained a level or flat trendline.  Since the end of the Great Recession in 2009, property values across the United States have come roaring back to their current heights.  The median sales price of a Diamond Bar single family residence (SFR) in the First quarter of 2018 reached a level of $735,000.  That represented an increase of 56% from the median sales price of $470,000.00 in the first quarter of 2010.

The Diamond Bar median rental rate for a Single FamilyResidence (detached) in the first quarter of 2018 stood at $2,860.00. This represented an increase of 30% from the median rental rate of $2,200.00   where it was in the middle of the aftermath of the Great Recession.  This represents an increase of $660.00 per month, which is not an insignificant number, but it is not the “stratospheric” increase seen in the  single family resale market values.  The rate of increase of rentals (30%) in the same period has been almost half of what the rate of the median price increase of homes values (56%) from 2010 to 2018.

Next week we will look at the Diamond Bar Townhome and Condominium rental market, and the comparison of rental for that type of property to the single family residential (detached).

This article was written by Nef Cortez who is a licensed Real Estate Broker, Ca BRE # 00560181, licensed since 1976. He can be reached for more information via e-mail at nefcortez@gmail.com, or website www.nefcortez.com. Please feel free to email any questions regarding real estate.

 

Free Dessert For MOMS!

Staff Reports

Diamond Bar – Treat Mom to a wonderful Mother’s Day this Sunday May 13 at The Whole Enchilada and let her get a FREE DESSERT!  Moms deserve to have the day off and relax, and enjoy a delicious meal of their Mexican favorites – like sizzling Fajitas, Carnitas, or Chili Colorado! The Whole Enchilada is a delicious and festive place to treat mom on her special day.

Having a Mother’s Day Fiesta at home? Don’t spend time away from mom cooking, let them do all the work by having The Whole Enchilada cater your celebration! If the party is somewhere else then bring a platter to the party! Delectable handmade tamales – available year round – as well as street tacos and taquitos with all the fixings can be the hit of your celebration.

“All our food is made fresh daily,” says Lil Palmer of The Whole Enchilada. From delicious tamales to seafood enchiladas. Fresh guacamole and housemade salsa. Home made fresh delicious Mexican food!

From specialties and favorites of the house to healthy, lighter options, The Whole Enchilada offers fresh, authentic Mexican recipes their resident chef brought from their homeland. They guarantee you will enjoy your dining experience.

The celebration doesn’t stop with just one visit.  The Whole Enchilada has gift cards available for purchase in person or online.  It’s the perfect gift for Moms and grads!  And be sure to ask about the Combo Punch Card, and Enchilada Bucks.

The restaurant has been in business for over 30 years, offering a variety of tasty Mexican dishes and outstanding service.  The Whole Enchilada wants to become your local favorite, and they look forward to helping you celebrate the special moments in your life.

Don’t deny your taste buds this Mother’s Day, visit the Whole Enchilada soon!

The Whole Enchilada is located at 1114 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., (at the north east corner of Grand Avenue in Diamond Bar, in the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market center). You can reach them at (909) 861-5340, and visit their website at www.wholeenchilada.com.(For more info see their ad on the back page of this paper or online at www.OurWeeklyNews.com)

There Are Many Things

By Anthony Saude

There are many things in this country and the world that will make you scratch you head and wonder, “what the heck is wrong with people.”

There are many things that start working on our mind the minute we wake up every morning.

There are many things that could continue to work on your mind all day and all night until you go to sleep, if you can sleep that is.

There are many things that can and can make us sad, mad, bitter, and anxious and a host of other thoughts or feelings that can confirm how ugly we feel about life or ourselves.

There are many things in this beautiful country and world that will make you scratch your head and wonder, “how are these people so positive and happy all the time” (what the heck is wrong with people)

There are many things, to be thankful for that can start working on our minds the minute we wake up every morning. (waking up at all)

There are many things that could continue to work on our minds all day and all night until we go to sleep. (how beautiful our country and world are, God made another day etc…)

There are many things that can make us happy, loving, compassionate and encouraging to others today and the days ahead.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS to chose from both positive and negative in this beautiful thing we call life. What day will you chose to for yourself to have today?

How to Care for Your Eyes as You Age

StatePoint

As we age, our bodies don’t perform as well as they once did, and vision is no exception. However, early detection and treatment of eye problems and diseases through an eye exam is the best way to protect your eyes and overall health.

To help keep your eyes healthy for years to come, consider the following tips.

  • Eat an eye-healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables, especially carrots and dark leafy greens, provide a hefty punch of key vitamins and a key vision protecting-substance called lutein. Find some new recipes to make filling up on these nutritious choices both delicious and fun.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Did you know that by eating healthy portions, exercising regularly and doing your best to maintain a healthy weight, you can reduce your risk of cataracts? Conditions such as obesity and diabetes can lead to vision problems like cataracts.
  • Protect eyes from blue light. Most people today spend a lot of time in front of digital screens, such as smartphones, computers and televisions. These devices emit high-energy blue light, which causes digital eye strain that can lead to headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes and even neck pain. Ask your eye doctor about the best options to help reduce eye strain.
  • Get an eye exam. A yearly eye exam is one of the easiest and most important ways to reduce your odds of vision loss and protect your eyes. And it can also help you monitor and protect your overall health. Whether or not you wear glasses, be sure to schedule this crucial appointment. A routine eye exam can help detect signs of serious health conditions, like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure glaucoma and macular degeneration. Because more obvious symptoms of some health conditions don’t always appear until damage has already occurred, routine eye exams are a good way of keeping tabs on what’s happening in your body.
  • Make sure you have vision coverage. Do you have vision coverage through Medicare? Review your plan. Many people don’t realize that Traditional Medicare doesn’t cover routine eye exams, glasses or contact lenses. Check out such affordable options as VSP Individual Vision Plans, which offer comprehensive coverage with low out-of-pocket costs, savings on frames and lens enhancements such as progressives, and the ability to see the doctor you know and trust. Plans begin as low as $13 per month. For more information or to enroll, visit GetVSPDirect.com or call 877-988-4746.

With a few key daily and annual habits, you can make eye health the priority it needs to be as you age.

 

Volunteer Recognition and Pinning Ceremony

By Anthony Saude
Diamond Bar – On April 26, the Sheriff’s Department held their annual Volunteer Recognition award and Pinning Ceremony at the STARS Center in Whittier. STARS is the primary training site for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Deputy Explorer program and is a learning for life certified law enforcement explorer academy.

This event recognizes Civilian Volunteers who have donated in excess of 5,000 hours of their time. The Helen Reardon award is presented annually in recognition of the Volunteer of the Year. All those who were nominated for the Helen Reardon Volunteer of the Year Award were recognized and honored.

The Walnut Station Booster Club President Gil Rivera was presented with the Helen Reardon Award this year. “Gil was nominated due to his countless hours of working to keep the Booster Club financially secure and successful,” said Sgt. Saldecke. “I was surprised and honored to win the award,” said Gil. “It represents the hundreds of hours that are put in by all of the board members to ensure that we have the funds needed to support the efforts of the volunteers at the station.”

Gil, along with the Booster Club Board of Directors, work tirelessly to ensure funding for our Disaster Communications Service, Explorer, Reserve Deputy, and all the Volunteer Programs training and equipment needs.

 

 

 

How New Technology is Helping Students and Teachers

By StatePoint

 

New and emerging technologies are supporting today’s students and teachers in unprecedented ways. Here are a few ways this is happening in schools in local communities across the country.

 

  • Communication Apps. New apps such as ClassDojo, are making it easier for teachers to actively communicate with students and parents. Teachers can send encouraging messages to students via the app and message with parents. What’s more, students can create digital portfolios to share at home with their families. With flexibility to access the app on tablets, phones, computers and smartboards, its versatility helps foster a learning community.

 

  • Collaborative Math Resources. The textbook is no longer the sole resource math students can rely on to succeed. New software is making mathematics more accessible, interactive and personalized. For example, ClassPad.net, a one-stop shop for educators and students, helps students investigate mathematics more deeply and enhance their understanding of related concepts. Designed to be equally usable by keyboard/mouse and touchscreen-based platforms, this all-in-one web-based mathematics resource is geared for K-12 mathematics and beyond. Allowing for simultaneous work with calculations, graphing, geometry and data analysis/statistics, this tech helps teachers demonstrate things they can’t show in other ways, something 65 percent of educators said was important in a study conducted by PBS Learning Media.

 

  • World “Travel.” While nothing will replace the excitement of a field trip, leaving school grounds can be time consuming and cost prohibitive. Luckily, no permission slip is required to travel the world from the comfort of the classroom. Today’s classrooms are using Google Earth to virtually visit the sites of a distant city or observe the topography of a mountain range. They can also access the collections and exhibitions of museums and libraries around the world online. And augmented reality is creating new opportunities to “visit” interesting locations and engage with their surroundings.

 

  • Advanced Lesson Presentations. Remember the overhead projector in your classroom? Today’s teachers have more versatile options that can even be controlled from a smartphone or tablet. For example, Casio’s award-winning LampFree XJ-UT351WN Ultra Short Throw projector features two HDMI ports, a dust-resistant design and the ability to generate large images over very short projection distances, such as in classrooms. Even in very small classrooms, it can project an 80-inch from just 1.5 feet away. Schools looking to go green, save money or both will benefit from its hybrid Laser and LED light source, which eliminates the need for expensive and hazardous mercury lamps while delivering a 20,000-hour estimated operating life.

 

  • 3-D Printers. Classrooms fortunate enough to have 3-D printers are able to give students endless hands-on opportunities to be creative, and teachers can use the printers to create needed classroom materials — from anatomical and architectural models to maps and musical instruments.

 

As classrooms adopt cutting edge technologies, students are being given exciting new methods of absorbing lessons in their school subjects.

 

 

Collegewood 2nd graders celebrate Earth Day

 Kelli Gile

WALNUT —Second graders at Collegewood Elementary paid tribute to Mother Earth with a day of “outdoor school” on April 22.

About 100 students rotated through stations while learning about recycling, repurposing, and more.

“Our kids need to practice Earth Day every day so that their future will be clean and bright!” said teacher Betsy Hale.

The youngsters planted herb and flower seeds in empty milk cartons and crafted simple bird feeders from pipe cleaners and cereal rounds to hang on trees and bushes on campus.

“They love watering the plants and watching them grow!” shared teacher Elvonne Vance.

Teacher Stephanie Johnson offered a lesson on water cycles using sandwich bags and food coloring that she found on Pinterest.

“I had them draw a water line at the bottom of the Ziploc and a sun at the top to begin the science experiment,” she explained.

Each student filled the bottom of the baggie with water and then carefully squeezed in a couple drops of blue dye before taping to a window.

The food coloring would enable them see the water evaporate in the warm sunlight, condense back into liquid, and fall back down in the form of precipitation after a few days.

The youngsters also created Earth Day posters using paper bags with handles, old crayons, paper scraps, and art pastels.

“Take care of the Earth, we only have one!” wrote Paloma Pasquil.

“We should take care of our Earth every day,” added Danika Pe.

The activities covered all curricular areas including math, science, reading, writing, and art.

The children enjoyed games of golf and croquet on the grass while listening to ecology-themed songs

“It was good old-fashioned play – no electronics!” said Hale who even received a couple thank you notes afterward.

“Events like this are remembered!” she exclaimed.

 

Motorcycle Awareness Month in May

Staff Reports

Pomona – In order to reduce motorcycle crashes and save lives, Pomona Police Department and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) are teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this May for the annual Motorcycle Safety Awareness campaign to help save lives on our roadways. The awareness campaign aims to educate vehicle drivers and motorcyclists on how each motorist can be more aware of the other, creating safer roads and saving lives in the process.
Pomona Police Department will join law enforcement throughout the state to step up enforcement along with awareness efforts to lower motorcycle deaths and injuries during the May campaign.  Officers will have a special emphasis this month on enforcing all traffic violations by both drivers and motorcyclists, deploying Saturation Patrols throughout the month of May.
According to NHTSA, motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2015, while motorcycles make up just 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States. In 2016, 5,286 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes – a 6 percent increase from the 4,976 killed in 2015. More than 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
Recent data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles shows there are more than 900,000 registered motorcycles in the state and more than 1.4 million licensed riders.  In 2016, 560 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes in California– an 11 percent increase from the 494 killed in 2015. More than 14,400 motorcyclists were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
Pomona Police Department has these general tips to drivers on how to prevent a fatal crash with a motorcycle:

Though a motorcycle is a small vehicle, motorist can do their part by sharing the road.

Always us a turn signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.

If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful: motorcycle signals are often non-canceling and could have been forgotten. Always ensure that the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.

Stay alert, check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic.

Always allow more following distance, follow at a safe distance when behind a motorcycle. This gives them more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

Never drive distracted or impaired.

Motorcyclists can increase their safety by following these steps:

Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear.

Ride safely when lane sharing and always proceed at safe speeds.

Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed.

Use turn signals at every lane change or turn.

Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase visibility.

Ride safely when lane sharing and always proceed at safe speeds.

Never ride distracted or impaired.

The Office of Traffic Safety encourages all riders, new and experienced, to enroll in the California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP).  The CMSP was developed in July 1987 and has training sites throughout the state.  The CMSP trains approximately 60,000 motorcyclists per year and has trained more than 1.1 million motorcycle riders.  For more information, or to find a training site near you, visit californiamotorcyclist.com.
The Motorcycle Safety Saturation Patrols are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety.

Remember: Riders and Drivers Can Work Together to Save Lives.

USATF Pulls Olympic Trials From Mt. SAC

Staff Reports

Walnut – Mt. San Antonio College was recently informed by USA Track and Field (USATF), that it will no longer host the 2020 USA Olympic Team Track and Field Trials. This decision means that USATF would reopen bidding for a new event venue.

While we are disappointed, we accept that the terms of the agreement give USATF the authority to withdraw from this commitment.

In June 2017, Mt. SAC was selected to host the 10-day event because of its long history of successfully holding world-class track and field events.  In the press release from USATF announcing our selection, board chair Steve Miller said, “Mt. SAC has long been one of the top meets in the country, from an athlete performance perspective as well as from an organizational perspective.”

The USATF referenced litigation from the City of Walnut and United Walnut Taxpayers as the reason for its decision. The two lawsuits that were mentioned have either been settled or ruled by a judge in the college’s favor, as was reported in Our Weekly News last week. Officials at Mt. SAC remain confident in their ability to deliver a completed stadium on time and a have a very successful event.

There will certainly be big losses at the college, including financial commitments, relationships with new and existing partners and thousands of hours of lost time. Most importantly, the entire Greater Los Angeles region will lose the economic impact of at least $37 million, which is the amount generated in 2016 by this event.

The Mt. SAC Local Organizing Committee is ready to execute the plans to host the 2020 in the event USATF reconsiders their decision. Regardless of what the future holds, Mt. SAC will be looking forward to continuing their well-established, positive relationship with USATF. Nobody knows what the future brings and if it brings the Trials back someday, they will be ready.

Mt. SAC has always prided itself on providing service to the sport by hosting world-class events. Like the Mt. SAC Relays and Cross Country Invitational that they have hosted for more than 60 years.

The college’s plans to build a stadium for their students and community, and to keep hosting top notch events remain unchanged. Mt. SAC officials are confident that they can continue to be the place where the world’s best athletes compete.

 

City of Eastvale Appoints New Assistant City Manager

By Anthony Saude

Eastvale – Bryan Jones’s appointment as Eastvale’s new Assistant City Manager became official on Monday, April 16. Bryan and his wife, Shari, have been married for ten years. They have two children and three black Labradors.

The appointment concluded a six-month nationwide recruitment process. Jones was selected from ninety qualified applicants. “We are thrilled to have Bryan serve as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Eastvale,” City Manager Michele Nissen said. “He is passionate about helping the City move in the direction of our full potential that will ultimately help us serve the community in the best way. I am confident that he will do a great job in this position.” Bryan draws his knowledge from his nearly 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He has led cutting-edge land use and transportation infrastructure projects throughout California and North America as a results-oriented certified planner and professional engineer. He has more than a decade of experience serving in local agency public sector leadership positions, leading large scale land use projects such as residential developments, office campuses, industrial parks, transit oriented development, downtown revitalization, and mixed use projects. Bryan has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Norwich University with focus on Leadership and Sustainable Financial Strategies, as well as a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from University of California Davis with a minor in communications. Bryan is a certified National Complete Streets Instructor and for the past six years, he has served at Caltrans as a voting member of the California Traffic Control Devices Committee for the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Bryan is passionate about identifying ways to help move and connect people, businesses, and communities so that they can all thrive. “I am honored and humbled to be joining such an amazing team,” said Assistant City Manager Bryan Jones. “The culture of an organization is very important to me, and you can feel the Eastvale Way the moment you walk into City Hall. The team here truly cares about working with the City of Eastvale and each other. They all care about the people and businesses of the community and are always looking for new ways of helping Eastvale move in the direction of its full potential.” “As the new Assistant City Manager, I look forward to serving the people of Eastvale and collectively, enhancing the quality of life for everyone in our great city,” said Assistant City Manager Bryan Jones.

The City of Eastvale was founded on October 1, 2010 as an independent local government agency, governed by a five-member, elected City Council. The City of Eastvale serves over 64,613 residents and encompasses 13.1 square-miles in western Riverside County. The City is strategically poised between Interstate 15 and California State Routes 91, 60, and 71, making access easy for residents, visitors and businesses alike. Eastvale is a young and dynamic community filled with economic opportunity, tremendous growth, and strong values. For more information on the City of Eastvale, please visit: http://www.EastvaleCA.gov

New On-Ramps, Off-Ramps in Diamond Bar Now Open

Photo: diamondbarca.gov

By Anthony Saude

Diamond Bar – Two of the three legs of the new Lemon Avenue interchange of the 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar opened on Tuesday, May 1 in time for the busy morning commute.

Caltrans will clear away the orange cones at 6 a.m. and officially allowed commuters to enter the westbound 60 Freeway via the brand new Lemon Avenue on-ramp. When they return home eastbound they will be exiting on the brand new newly constructed off – ramp for Lemon Avenue.

An eastbound freeway on-ramp, also at Lemon Avenue is scheduled to open sometime in June. When that is open it will complete the three-legged interchange that has been in the works for 14 years in the eastern section of Los Angeles County, at the corner of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties.

ACE the lead agency, Caltrans, Los Angeles County and the cities of Diamond Bar and City of Industry have been working together on this idea of adding the new exit/entrance to this busy section of freeway since 2004.

After the contract was finally signed in 2011 the vision began to take shape. The construction on this project has led to weekend lane closures, detours and delays for the past year and a half. The increase in truck traffic from the ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach has long clogged the 60 Freeway in the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire along the so called “truck route.” Hundreds of 18-wheeler trucks carry goods from the ports to warehouses in City of Industry as well as Ontario, Moreno Valley, San Bernardino and Riverside every day.

The eastbound off-ramp at Brea Canyon Road in Diamond Bar will be permanently closed. Motorists will no longer be able to exit the freeway there.

The eastbound on-ramp to the freeway at Brea Canyon will remain open until construction is complete on the Lemon Avenue on-ramp sometime in June.

Once the work is finished, the $22.5 million project will swap the Brea Canyon Road entrance and exit with a new Lemon Avenue entrance and exit a few miles to the west.

This project, it is said, will reduce existing traffic congestion, delays and  improve mobility and access to and from the 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar and Industry. According to ACE this will eliminate the weaving and confusion many drivers experience when approaching the busy 57 /60 Freeway interchange.

The hopes of the county and the nearby communities is that the truck traffic will be diverted away from the Diamond Bar, Brea Canyon Road area and the nearby streets going toward City of Industry. “For decades, drivers have got lost and end up driving the back streets of Diamond Bar looking for their destinations”, said Diamond Bar Councilwoman Carol Herrera in February.

Closing the Brea Canyon Road ramps and diverting cars and trucks to Lemon Avenue is just a precursor to a full-fledged reconfiguration of the larger 57/60 freeways where they join together for a two-mile stretch in Diamond Bar, known as the SR 57/60 Freeway Confluence.

The larger, $260-million project has been billed as a fix to the No. 1 freeway interchange in the state for truck accidents and delays as ranked by the American Transportation Research Institute.

Stuck on the 405

By Mark Hopper

Recently, my sister in law’s car broke down while she was driving on the 405 Freeway.  Bummer! She had spent a few days with her grandchildren in San Diego and was driving home to in Bakersfield when her Nissan began to sputter and finally died in the middle of the north bound 405 Freeway!

Thankfully no one hit her as her car slowed to a stop in the middle of afternoon traffic. A helpful stranger pushed her car to the side of the freeway and she called 911 and AAA for help.  The CHP office arrived quickly and parked his cruiser behind her car to protect her from the rush hour traffic. The tow truck arrived and asked her where she wanted to go for repairs.

While all of this is unfolding on the 405, my brother called me and asked if I could go help his wife. He knew she had broken down on the 405 Freeway but he was not sure exactly where she was. After a flurry of cell phone calls with his wife and with me, he decided to have her car towed to our house in Diamond Bar.

He asked me if I knew a good mechanic who could analyze the situation and if his wife could stay with us until her car could be repaired. Unfortunately, when I called a reliable mechanic that we often recommend, he was unable to help. He was overbooked with work and his co-worker was gone for the week.

As the tow truck slowly made its way in rush hour traffic toward Diamond Bar, I realized that it would drive past a Nissan dealer on the 60 Freeway. Maybe he should take the car there and ask them to diagnose the problem? I could meet my sister in law there and we could decide what to do.

We didn’t know how late the car dealer and service department would be open late in the afternoon, but they responded quickly and assured us that they could repair the car quickly. The diagnostics would cost about $125 plus the parts and labor. The service advisor encouraged us to go find some dinner and come back in about an hour. They would call us if there was any unexpected problems.

While we ate dinner, we prayed that the repairs would be done quickly and that it would not cost too much.  My sister in law was hoping to get back on the road and get home so she could teach school the next day.

When we returned to the car dealer, we went to the cashier’s office to pay for the repair work. But, the cashier didn’t have the paper work so she told us to go back and talk with the service advisor. He explained that the repair was actually very simple. An air intake hose had come loose and they actually found the missing part laying on the engine. They simply put the part back together with a new hose clamp!

When we asked how much this cost he said, “No charge”! At first we weren’t sure we heard him correctly – did he say “No charge”? Yes – the missing part was still there and a simple hose clamp reconnected everything and the car was running fine. “No charge”. We were stunned and very thankful for this unexpected outcome. Amazing!

My sister in law was able to get back on the freeway and continue her journey home. She arrived safe and sound later that night. My sister in law had quite an adventure. From broken down in the middle of the 405 Freeway and towed 40 miles to a very helpful car dealer and back on the road without a scratch or paying a penny – pretty amazing.

By the way, did I tell you the name of the service advisor who was so helpful? His name was “Jesus”. No kidding! I thought Jesus was a carpenter by trade, but I guess he is in the car repair business too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

with Avocado Crema and Cilantro

 

By Hello Fresh

 

Cooking Time: 40 mins

Servings: 4

Nutrition: 860 Calories

Ingredients:

 

  • Sweet Potatoes- 4
  • Yellow Onion- 1
  • Cilantro- 1/4 oz
  • Garlic- 4 cloves
  • Black Beans- 13.4 oz
  • Lime- 2
  • Flour Tortillas- 12
  • Honey- 1 oz
  • Cumin- 2 tsp
  • Avocado- 2
  • Sour Cream- 8 tbsp

 

 

1  ROAST SWEET POTATOES.    Wash and dry all produce. Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut sweet potatoes into ½-inch cubes. Toss on a baking sheet with 1 TBSP olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast in oven until tender and lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

 

2  PREP.    Meanwhile, halve, peel, and dice onion. Pick cilantro leaves from stems; discard stems. Mince or grate garlic. Drain and rinse half the beans from the box (use the rest as you like). Zest ½ tsp zest from lime, then cut into halves.

 

3 COOK AROMATICS AND BEANS.  Heat 1 TBSP olive oil in a large pan  over medium heat. Add onion and cook, tossing occasionally, until softened, 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add garlic and beans to pan. Cook, tossing, until fragrant and warmed through, 3-4 minutes.

 

4  WARM TORTILLAS AND TOSS FILLING. Wrap tortillas in foil and place in oven to warm, about 5 minutes. (TIP: Alternatively, wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave on high  until warm, about 30 seconds.) Toss sweet potatoes, honey, cumin, and juice from one lime half into pan with beans and cook until liquid is mostly evaporated, 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

 

5  MAKE AVOCADO CREMA.     Halve, pit, and peel avocado. Cut one half into thin slices. Roughly chop other half and place in a medium bowl along with sour cream, juice from remaining lime half, and lime zest.  Mash with a fork until mostly smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

 

6  ASSEMBLE TACOS.     Spread avocado crema onto tortillas, then top each with filling, avocado slices, and cilantro. TIP: Break out the hot sauce if you like it spicy.

Be Who You Want to Become

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

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

By Nancy Stoops

Change is something that doesn’t happen overnight.  Just for a moment I want you to think about who you long to be.  For me I always want to be happy and peaceful.  The way that I work on this is by trying to smile, laugh and appreciate every day and then I am happy.  I also try to do the things that I enjoy and always have some type of adventure planned.  This is a good recipe for happiness for me.  As far as being peaceful, I meditate daily and try not to let things irritate me too badly.  I also must always remind myself that I am only in control of myself and of my responses.  I don’t have the power to control others.  This seems to be an equally good recipe for inner peace.  Now I must keep in mind I am human and that there will be very difficult days that maybe my recipes struggle but must pat myself on my back for tying my best.

Now it’s your turn to think about who you want to be.  Get out a piece of paper and write down one characteristic that you would like to obtain.  My example to help you will be living a healthy life style.  This doesn’t mean a crash diet and working out so hard for a couple of days that you can’t move.  It means that you will eat a well- balanced meal, exercise consistently, drink lots of water, get plenty of rest, quit smoking, learn to drink alcohol in moderation, and manage your stress daily.  This plan may differ for each individual because it will need to be balanced around the demands of each individual’s lives.  My point is we eventually become what we do and how we behave!!!!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a private practice in Diamond Bar and is currently accepting new clients; she is also a motivational speaker who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups on how to manage anger.    For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909)229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net.  You may purchase Nancy’s books Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog at Amazon.com.

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 5.05.18

The 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: 2018-05-05-WeeklyNews

Looking For a Job at a Cannabis Store?

Photo Courtesy: wikimedia commons

Protect Yourself & Know Your Rights

 

Staff Reports

Questions to Ask When Seeking a Job at a Cannabis Store

The Los Angeles County Office of Cannabis Management, the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation are working together to alert job seekers to the potential risks and hazards of working in an unlicensed cannabis store.

“Those who are looking for work at a cannabis store or dispensary should know that many of these stores are unlicensed and are operating illegally under state and local law,” said Joseph Nicchitta, Cannabis Management Officer at LA County’s Office of Cannabis Management. “If you work at an illegal store, you could be physically unsafe. Our inspectors and law enforcement have observed unpermitted electrical wiring, exits that are blocked in case of a fire, and other dangerous conditions at illegal stores.”

Since recreational cannabis became legal statewide in January 2018, regulators have also begun receiving complaints from workers about unfair labor practices and possible violations, including wage theft and unsafe working conditions.

“We have begun to receive complaints from workers at illegal cannabis stores involving wage theft, sexual harassment, and unacceptable working conditions,” added Los Angeles County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs Director Brian J. Stiger. “Prospective employees should ask questions and educate themselves about the realities of the cannabis industry before they decide to sign up for a job.”

“With cannabis legalization comes market expansion and new employment opportunities. I urge job seekers to ask if the business has both the state and local licenses to operate and to check out the cannabis store’s business practices before starting a job,” said Cat Packer, the Executive Director and General Manager of LA City’s Department of Cannabis Regulation.

Legal cannabis businesses CANNOT hire anyone under the legal age of 21. In addition to meeting the age requirement, LA County and LA City regulators urge job seekers to ask the following questions:

What to Ask When Seeking Cannabis Employment

Can I see your state and local license? Ask to see both the store’s state and local license and check with the state and local licensing agencies to make sure the store has the proper license. Cannabis must be purchased from a licensed retail source with dual licensure in good standing with both state and local regulators. As of today, cannabis businesses are still prohibited in the unincorporated areas of L.A. County.

When will I receive my pay stub? You should always receive a pay stub— even if you are paid in cash. The paystub must include deductions, pay rates, and hours. When you are first hired, the employer must give you an initial compensation disclosure that gives information about your pay rate. It is also against the law to ask a retail employee to work for free on a probationary period longer than two hours.

What should I do if the authorities show up? It should be a warning sign if your employer instructs you never to open the door for law enforcement, fire fighters, or other city or county inspectors. A licensed and legal business is routinely inspected by government employees.

What time does the business close? All legal cannabis stores close at 10 p.m. in California. You should not be working in a retail sales position after 10 p.m. because the law makes it illegal to sell between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs’ Wage Enforcement Program investigates violations of the County’s Minimum Wage Ordinances for those employees who work in the unincorporated areas of the County. If your employer does not pay you the mandated minimum wage, you can file a complaint online at the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs website, via phone at (800) 593-8222, or email at wagehelp@dcba.lacounty.gov. The Department can also help you understand your rights under the County’s minimum wage laws, investigate alleged violations of the law by your employer, and help you get the wages that are owed to you. These services are free of charge and the Department will not ask or report your immigration status.

 

 

Getting Girls Interested in STEAM Subjects

By StatePoint

Science, art and math are becoming increasingly important school subjects to embrace. Here are five ways to ensure your girls get interested and stay interested in these critical subjects through the years.

  1. Get involved early. Setting a foundation of math, science and the arts is essential to getting young children, especially girls, interested in continued learning. Encourage them from a young age to participate in hands-on science, arts and math activities, and those with an interest or aptitude in these subjects will continue to pursue these paths as they learn and grow.
  2. Find practical applications. Science, art and math are an integral part of everyday life. Finding the practical applications as you go about your day, demonstrates for children of all ages how important these subjects really are in life. Use the weather report as an opportunity to discuss meteorology. Bake with your daughter and work on figuring out measurements for doubling recipes. On the road? Have your daughter calculate the distance from your current location to your destination, as well as the amount of gasoline you’ll need to get there. Seeing math, science, and art in the world will help keep kids engaged.
  3. Provide intuitive tools. Intuitive learning tools can foster a better understanding of a subject and make learning easier, encouraging students to continue their studies with enthusiasm. For example, Casio’s fx-CG50 PRIZM Graphing Calculator will support students and educators of math through middle school and high school, and into college. With Natural Textbook Display and an intuitive icon-based menu, students will find the calculator easy-to-use. Plus, its brand new 3D Graph Drawing and improved catalog function allows for greater engagement and real-life application in the mathematics classroom.
  4. Encourage group and club participation. From outdoor education clubs that focus on environmental science to math competition leagues, support and encourage girls and young women to join special groups that focus on math, science and art — both in and out of school. For example, robotics clubs have been growing in communities across the nation and foster an understanding of key math and science functions.
  5. Make it fun. Get girls interested in science, math and the arts by making it fun and enjoyable. Kids won’t even realize they are learning if they are having a good time while doing so. For example, music students can try out the LK-265 keyboard from Casio, which includes a Dance Music Mode, letting musicians create and remix electronic dance music quickly and easily. Select from 50 styles of EDM, and use the lower keys to choose different variations of drum beats, bass lines, and synth parts. Its lighted keys show you how to play your favorite songs which users can download from MIDI files. Or, connect your device’s headphone output to the LK-265’s audio input, and explore an endless library of music.

By starting early and making it fun to integrate these key subjects into their daily lives, you can help girls develop a lifelong love of science, art and math, which can help them in school and, later, in the workplace.

 

Mt. SAC to Honor Twenty Students of Distinction

By Anthony Saude

WALNUT – Twenty students will be honored this year at Mt. San Antonio College’s annual “Students of Distinction” awards ceremony. The luncheon will take place on Saturday, May 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the Pacific Palms Resort, 1 Industry Hills Parkway, in the City of Industry.

These prestigious awards recognize selected students for their competitive, academic, and personal achievements as well as their outstanding service to the college. Recipients of this year’s Academic Achievement Award, which is awarded to students who have maintained a minimum 3.75 GPA, are Matthew McBride of West Covina, Kevin Schmitt of Diamond Bar, Samantha Alvarez of Chino, Myriam Hakimeh of San Dimas, Daniel Garcia of Ontario, and Edilberto Ylo of Walnut.

Recipients of the Service Achievement Award, who provided exceptional volunteer service to their college and their community and also maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA, are Corey Case of Chino, Maricela Aviles of La Puente, and Mohsin Moosa of Diamond Bar.

The Personal Achievement Award is given to those students who have overcame personal hardship while still maintaining a minimum 2.75 GPA. This year’s winners are Sandra Nunez of West Covina, Geovanna Castillo Lopez of Chino, Tera Vaughn of Rancho Cucamonga, Xingyi (Mirana) Cao of Chino Hills, Mickey Qiu of West Covina, Seya Guerrero of Rowland Heights, and Amanada Frausto of Chino.

The Competitive Achievement award is presented to those who earned a minimum 3.0 GPA and earned distinction for success as part of a competitive student group or team. The students who will receive the award this year are Amir Freeman of Pomona, Kyle Beck of Rancho Cucamonga, Angelica Cruz of Covina, and Ryon Knowles of Corona.

If you are interested in attending this year’s ceremony and luncheon, tickets cost $20 and must be purchased by May 7 through Mt. SAC’s Student Life Office. You can contact them at (909) 274-4525.

 

Asparagus Recipe

with Lime Aioli, Egg & Green Onion

 

By Clark’s Nutrition/ California Asparagus Commission

 

Cooking Time: 3 mins

Servings: 6

Nutrition: 220 Calories

Ingredients:

 

  • Lrg. Asparagus (trimmed, salt as needed)- 1.5 lbs.
  • Mayonnaise- 1/2 cup
  • Olive Oil- 2 tbs
  • Water- 2 tbs
  • Fresh Lime Juice- 1 tbs
  • Clove of Garlic (finely chopped)- 1 Large
  • Hard Cooked Eggs (roughly chopped)- 2
  • Green Onion (thinly sliced)- 3 tbs

 

This tasty salad works well as a light main dish for brunch, lunch, or as a festive spring side dish.

 

Directions:

 

Put asparagus into a large skillet of salted, boiling water. Boil until tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Drain well; spread on paper towel to cool.

Meanwhile, to make aioli, mix mayonnaise with olive oil, water, lime juice, and garlic; reserve. Over a piece of wax paper or paper towel, force egg through a sieve with the back of a wooden spoon, making sure to scrape off the egg that clings to the underside of the sieve.

Arrange asparagus on a platter, then drizzle with reserve aioli. Sprinkle with egg, then green onion. Lightly season with salt.

The Final Four

By Mark Hopper

The Final Four championship of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament was held in San Antonio, Texas a few weeks ago in the huge Alamo Dome. I actually attended the Final Four At that same location about 20 years ago.  It was a great experience that I still remember. Unfortunately, my favorite college teams were not there then and they were not there again this year.

One of my favorite memories from my Final Four experience was the plane ride back home to California. I had traveled with a couple of college basketball coaches. We flew on my favorite airline – Southwest. Twenty years ago, some of the Southwest planes had seats that faced each other. We ended up in the back of the plane facing three other gentlemen flying back to LA.

We had a fascinating conversation with the men sitting across from us. One of them had actually played basketball for USC many years earlier. His name was David Price. After college and law school, he eventually developed a business managing golf courses. He was the owner of American Golf. His company owned or managed over 200 golf courses across the country!

He was a quiet and unassuming man. I would have never guessed that the man sitting across from me in the back of a crowed airplane owned and managed golf courses. I even asked him why he didn’t have his own plane? He said that he did at one time but it wasn’t very cost effective.

We not only talked about his business success, we also talked about his personal life and faith. He shared with us how he had become a follower of Jesus through the influence of some teenagers that he met at a local gym.

He also shared a story of how he was led to invest some of his wealth in a new Christian school that was starting in Thousand Oaks. Some friends had challenged him to contribute to this project, but he saw no reason to help build a school. His children were already grown. Why should he help?

Eventually, he did contribute to the cause. Today, Oaks Christian High School is one of the athletic powerhouses in Southern California. And, although his own children were too old to attend, eventually some of his grandchildren did!

When we finally arrive back in LA, he gave me one of his business cards and invited me to play a round of golf at one of his courses. He instructed me to call his secretary and she would arrange it.

A few days later, I wrote him a thank you note and told him how much I enjoyed our conversation.  I also told him that my father in law was a golfer and was coming to LA. I shared with Mr. Price that what I would really love to do would be to play a round of golf with him and my father in law.

He wrote back and thanked me for my note and expressed how much he enjoyed our conversation on the airplane, too. However, he didn’t think my idea would work out because although he owned and managed many golf courses across the country – he didn’t play golf! Amazing!

You may not be a golfer either, but I hope you are a follower of Jesus. Young and old, wealthy and poor – everyone is welcome to follow Him!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 Am

Efreedb.org