Author Archives: ABC Public Relations

Chino Hills Crime Meeting

By Anthony Saude

Chino Hills – New California state legislature has changed and now crimes such as first degree burglary and battery with serious bodily injury will no longer be prosecuted as violent felonies. Police officials are saying that crime is exploding all over the state because criminals now know that they won’t be put in jail for those types of crimes. How does a criminal respond to these kinds of changes, they commit more violent crimes of course.

There will be a town hall type meeting held in the Chino Hills Community Center located at 14250 Peyton Drive on March 14 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. It is encouraged for all citizens to come out to discuss how we can take back the community from the criminals. The new legislature tells you what the law can’t do but the Chino Hills Police Department will be in giving advice on what we can do with some crime prevention techniques and education. They will be talking about burglaries and package theft in Chino Hills and some preventative measures home owners can take to prepare themselves in a responsible manner. They will also discuss how to go about reporting a crime with WeTip.

Another topic of Conversation that the police will discuss at the meeting is the cannabis industry and the new laws. Specifically they will be talking about the cultivation of Marijuana as it relates to the legalization of it recreationally.

 

 

 

Former Local student arrested for threats of school shooting

Former Ayala High School student is arrested for criminal threats after claiming he was going to shoot up the school

Date/Time Occurred: Monday, February 26, 2018 / 12:38 a.m. Crime or Incident: PC 422- Criminal Threats Location: Ayala High School, City of Chino Hills

Suspect(s): Nicholas Ceballos, 19-year-old resident of Chino

SUMMARY:

On Monday, February 26, 2018, at approximately 2:59 p.m., Chino Hills deputies were dispatched to Ruben S. Ayala High School regarding a former student who made threats to “shoot up the school.” Fortunately, Ayala High School was closed when authorities received notice of the alleged plot, affording investigators the opportunity to work swiftly to resolve the matter before it posed an active threat to students or staff. After further investigation, Nicholas Ceballos was identified as the former student who made the threats.

Chino Hills Detective Wendy Beaton and Deputy Eileen Smith, obtained a search and arrest warrant for Nicholas Ceballos and his residence. On Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at approximately 12:38 a.m., Nicholas Ceballos was located, taken into custody, and booked into the West Valley Detention Center for PC 422-Criminal Threats. Investigators have concluded that there are no additional threats related to this investigation.

Any additional information references this incident, contact the Chino Hills Police Station’s Detective Bureau at (909) 364-2000. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call We-Tip at 800 78-CRIME.

Chino Hills Police/Sheriff’s Station

Deputy Smith or Detective Beaton

14077 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills

(909)364-2000 CASE # 2218000691

The Recent School Shooting

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

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

By Nancy Stoops

The horrific shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14,2018 is something that will be so very difficult for so many to recover from.  I remember being in court seeing my brother’s picture after he was murdered by a bullet to the head.  I know it took a very long time to get that horrible image out of my head.  As I listened to the story I thought about the massive number of people that were affected by one very angry and unstable young man.  I thought about how all of the parents felt especially if they lost a child.  I thought about how many of the students will suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  I thought about how hard it will be for those students to go back to that school, a place that was always seen as safe until that day.  I also thought about the shooter and what his life is prison will look like.

They say the shooter had been expelled for behavioral issues.  Many people saw his posts on social media but I guess nobody really understood how angry or how sick he really was.  This breaks my heart for everybody concerned.  I think about how differently things might have turned out if this young man would have gotten the mental health services he needed.  As I read about him I hear he was bullied and that both of his parents that adopted him passed away.  I hear he had an unusual fascination with guns. If you look at the profile for most of the shooters involved in these horrific shootings most had been bullied.

I guess what I’m saying is don’t wait until it is too late if you see signs that somebody needs mental health services.  I also want to send my prayers and my love to everybody that was involved in this horrific incident.  My heart goes out to all of you and I hope with time you all will begin to heal!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Nancy is now accepting new clients.  She also works as a motivational speaker.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups for teens and can handle many court mandated needs.  For more information about any of these services contact Nancy 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.

 

Planning Ahead

By Mark Hopper

My wife and I will be celebrating our 47th anniversary soon.  That is a lot of anniversaries to celebrate and it is a lot of Valentine’s Days to remember, too.

You would think that we would have learned to plan ahead by now.  But that is not the case.  Sometimes things just come together at the last minute.  Valentine’s Day was a good example.

My wife and a girl friend began to make a plan for Valentine’s several weeks ahead.  But, as our wives looked on line at various restaurant possibilities they were surprised that most were already booked and did not have any openings available for Valentine’s Day dinner.  Bummer.

What should we do?  Where could we go to celebrate Valentine’s with our wives?  Finally, our wives found a nice restaurant with dinning available on Friday, two days after Valentine’s Day.  The husbands were willing to be flexible so we set our sights on February 16th for a late Valentine’s dinner.

However, I realized that my wife and I still needed something to do and some place to go on Valentine’s Day.  We talked about just grilling some steaks at home, but the weather was questionable.  Then I got the idea that maybe we should find a nice place for a late lunch and stay home for the evening.

When I called one of our favorite fancy restaurants to see if they had any openings for lunch on Valentine’s Day, the hostess said that she had just received a cancelation for a party of two for that night!  Would we be interested in that?  “Sure – that would be great!”  Suddenly we had a reservation for a very nice restaurant for Valentine’s Day!  How did that happen?

My wife was pleasantly surprised that we were not staying home or simply going out to lunch, but we were actually going to one of our favorite restaurants on Valentine’s Day!  Suddenly I looked like a genius instead of a goat!  The evening turned out great and we had a special Valentine’s dinner with a few dozen other lucky couples!

While we were at the restaurant, we saw some friends from our church.  We spoke to them briefly and asked them how long ago they had made their reservations for Valentine’s dinner.  Their answer was January 2nd!  Now that is good planning!  When they asked when we made our reservations, I reluctantly told them it was about eight hours ago.

There must be a lesson here.  Planning ahead isn’t always what it is cracked up to be.  Sometimes it just takes one more phone call to find the open door to a very nice restaurant on Valentine’s Day.  Hope your Valentine’s dinner was as nice as the one we enjoyed!

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

 

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 2.24.18

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: Weekly02.24.2018

Inland Christian Home: Quality Environment For Seniors

 Staff Reports

Ontario- Inland Christian Home, was founded by a number of local churches and began providing services in 1978. The primary mission of the community is a reflection of the heritage of its founders: to provide quality affordable individualized care to seniors in a Christian environment, it’s a place you can feel right at home. The community’s non-profit status promotes this mission as there are no owners who profit from its operation and all the revenues received are reinvested into the operations of the facility.

 

As the baby boomer generation continues to age, it is important to know they have options. The aging process is not always an easy one and, at times requires the assistance of others. Inland Christian Home offers a community that assists in many ways. Its primary mission is to provide quality, affordable, individualized care to seniors in a Christian environment, making it a place you can feel right at home.

 

Inland Christian Home, being licensed as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) through the Department of Social Services, provides many different levels of care which include Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Adult day care, Skilled Nursing and Rehab and Custodial Home care Services. The availability of different levels of care and service arrangements on the same grounds, offers seniors very unique advantages. Our philosophy is to encourage our residents to live as independently as possible at the lowest level of care. Our residents’ individual needs and desires are always considered in the arrangement of these services. We want Inland to be their home, not the facility in which they live, where all are treated as individuals and they participate and are given choices in how they live.

 

The availability of different levels of care and service arrangements on the same grounds offers residents some very unique advantages. Residents can continue to reside at the community even though their abilities may change. Resident and their families have the comfort in knowing that their needs will be met. Inland Christian Home is a close-knit community that promotes the maintaining of social relationship residents have with other residents, friends, and family.

 

Inland Christian Home also provides services to those who prefer to stay in their own homes. Custodial Home Care services make it possible by providing assistance with housekeeping, cooking, shopping, meal preparation, bathing, and dressing through educated caregivers.

 

Inland Christian Home is here to promote aging in place, and gives seniors the ability to live at the lowest level of care even though their abilities change and their families have the comfort in knowing their needs will be met; making it a place you can feel right at home.

 

Be A Miracle

By Rohmon Merchant

If we are all being honest; extremely honest, it is easy to say that at some point, everyone needs a miracle. I know that I have (unspoken) and boy I pray so hard for one. Literally blood, sweat and tears praying, ugly crying, snot nose, can’t keep my breath, falling on my face, neighbors so worried they call the police type praying. In those times I feel God should take my urgency into consideration. I feel at that moment there is no more pressing matter than the one that I am bringing to the table. Not to down play it at any or level, but I am in dire straits at those moments. These are the times I feel like I can’t take anymore, that I am falling apart so completely that if He doesn’t show up, then I am completely finished. Have you ever been there? Have you ever found yourself at the mercy seat of God, uncharacteristically begging? After all that, we don’t want to seem like our faith is completely shattered so we try our best to look and think upon things that are pure and holy so that our faith doesn’t look totally annihilated. While at the same time staying hopeful and looking out for where our miracle is coming from. I have to even check my thoughts so as to not work myself to anger, and yes even to fits of rage because I felt as though God didn’t show in my time. I want to encourage you, but I also want to challenge you with this thought. If anyone reading this can honestly say they are at a place with the Lord where you feel; “I have walked with you for some time now, I know that you will never leave me nor forsake me”, “I am the righteousness of Christ!,”  “I have never seen the righteous forsaken or a seed begging for bread”, we know that God is, and will provide all things that we have asked for. (Some answer/resources we have prayed came in the form of seed but that is a different subject). There is no need for the high emotional level trying to manipulate the hand of God. What if we changed our perception of this? What if instead of looking for a miracle, we were looking to be a miracle.

Super Soy Chicken Tenders

with Jasmine Rice and Green Beans

 

By Hello Fresh

 

Cooking Time: 35 mins

Servings: 4

Nutrition: 720 Calories

Ingredients:

 

  • Ginger- 1 thumb
  • Garlic- 4 cloves
  • Scallions- 2
  • Lime- 1
  • Jasmine Rice- 1 1/2 cups
  • Green Beans- 12 oz
  • Sesame Seeds- 1 tbsp
  • Chicken Tenders- 24 oz
  • Soy Sauce- 6 tbsp
  • Colavita White Wine Vinegar- 2 tbsp
  • Cornstarch- 1 tsp

 

 

1  PREHEAT AND PREP.    Wash and dry all produce. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bring 2½ cups water and a large pinch of salt to a boil in a medium pot. Peel ginger and mince until you have 2 TBSP. Mince garlic. Trim, then thinly slice scallions, keeping greens and whites separate. Halve lime; cut one half into wedges.

 

2  COOK RICE.     Once water is boiling, add rice to pot. Cover, lower heat, and reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook until tender, 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and keep covered.

 

3 ROAST GREEN BEANS.        Toss green beans with a large drizzle of oil on a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in oven until crisp, 10-12 minutes. After they’ve finished roasting, toss green beans with 2 tsp sesame oil, half the sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime (we sent more oil than needed).

 

4  COOK CHICKEN      Heat a large drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Add to pan and cook until browned but not cooked through, 2-4 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside. TIP: Don’t overcrowd the pan with chicken—you may want to work in batches.

 

5  MAKE SAUCE.   Heat a large drizzle of oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Whisk together soy sauce, ¼ cup sugar, 2 TBSP Colavita white wine vinegar (we sent more), and cornstarch in a small bowl. Put scallion whites, garlic, and ginger in pan and cook, tossing, until softened, 1-2 minutes. Stir in soy sauce mixture and bring to a simmer. Let thicken slightly, about 2 minutes.

 

6  FINISH AND SERVE.     Return chicken to pan, toss to coat, and cook until no longer pink in center, 2-3 minutes. Add a squeeze of lime to rice, then fluff with a fork. Divide rice, green beans, and chicken between plates. Drizzle with any remaining sauce. Sprinkle with scallion greens and remaining sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges.

How the Average Citizen Can Help Bring About Friendlier Politics

By StatePoint

At a divisive moment in our nation’s history, you may be wondering how average citizens can help bring about friendlier politics.

Experts suggest that it starts with finding common ground among those whose opinions differ from you. Ira Shapiro, a former ambassador who has held senior positions in the U.S. Senate, recently authored “Broken: Can the Senate Save Itself and the Country?” in order to explore the state of U.S. politics and its future.

Of the U.S. Senate, his area of expertise, he says, “America is deeply divided. But the men and women of the Senate should not mirror — or worse, inflame — the nation’s divisions. Their job is to overcome them, finding common ground to take collective action in the national interest.”

Citizens can apply this principle in a number of ways:

• Get involved. Attend city council meetings and town hall meetings. Join the PTA. But don’t just show up — make your voice heard. Make friends on all sides of the issue. Be a coalition builder. Discover where your beliefs overlap with others before debating about the issues on which you disagree.

• Get in touch. From petitions to postcards to calls and texts, there are numerous ways to get in touch with your elected officials at every level of government. Encourage your representatives to work constructively with their colleagues in an effort to de-polarize politics and ultimately be more effective at their jobs.

• Speak out. Organize or attend a rally. Raise money for a political cause that mattes to you. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Take advantage of the channels available to you.

“The best remedy of all, on both the national and local levels, is to support candidates who are problem solvers and consensus builders, not partisan warriors. Look for the candidates who put the country, or the community, first — above party allegiance or personal aggrandizement,” stresses Shapiro, who also serves as a trade law and global policy consultant. More thoughts from Shapiro are available on his consultancy’s website at http://www.shapiroglobal.com.

Shapiro believes that the Senate is in trouble, but it can be saved. Likewise, everyone, including average citizens, can be a champion for a climate of healthier politics, whether it’s around the dinner table, on a social media thread or at a city council meeting.

Tips for Tackling Age-Related Skin Issues

By StatePoint

Aging is a fact of life, and your skin is no exception. However, experts say that there is a lot you can do to help your skin at all stages of life.

“By spotting signs that your skin is maturing, you can take steps to intervene early, helping skin stay as healthy and youthful looking as possible,” says Dr. Roger Ceilley M.D., a nationally and internationally recognized dermatologist with over 30 years of experience.

To tackle age-related skin issues, Dr. Ceilley recommends the following tips.

• Around age 40, begin examining your skin for changes. You’ll get a better understanding of your skin’s specific needs so you can address them accordingly. Be careful not to focus only on the face, as you may wind up playing catch-up with the rest of your skin late in the maturing process.

• According to Dr. Ceilley, the levels of collagen, elastin and fatty tissue important for making skin appear plump and youthful begin to diminish as you age, causing thinner-looking skin. Help counteract this process with a moisturizing cream or lotion that contains skin-nurturing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, retinol, glycolic acid and niacinamide. These can be found in products such as DerMend Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula from the new DerMend Mature Skin Solutions line. In addition to those ingredients, the lightweight cream also features five critical ceramides to help make skin more resilient and fresher looking.

• A well-balanced diet promotes healthy, younger-looking skin. Make sure you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats each day.

• Thin, fragile skin can bruise more easily. Medications such as blood thinners may leave skin especially vulnerable to bruising. To help, keep a product on-hand like DerMend Moisturizing Bruise Formula which contains a blend of ceramides, alpha hydroxy acid, arnica oil and retinol.

• Dr. Ceilley also advises using gentle, unscented products when bathing or showering. Scented soaps, cleansers and alcohol-based products can leave aging skin feeling irritated and dry. Be sure to wash gently and avoid scrubbing or over-exfoliating as this can further irritate the skin.

• Itchy skin is not only a nuisance, but it can keep you from being comfortable and prevent a good night’s sleep, which can be detrimental to one’s health at any age. Though doctors are not certain why, itchiness is a very common problem in maturing skin. To temporarily relieve discomfort, use a steroid-free, anti-itch product containing pramoxine hydrochloride 1%, which can rapidly interfere with the itch/scratch cycle, helping to calm skin and allowing you to have a better night’s sleep.

• No matter what age you are, protect your skin from the sun and use sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher. Sun exposure throughout your lifetime can cause a myriad of skin problems as you get older including skin cancer, deep wrinkles, thinning skin, dark spots and broken capillary veins.

“Your skincare should be specific to your needs,” says Dr. Ceilley. “Watch for signs of aging and then adopt a routine that addresses every inch of your skin.”

For more information, please visit http://www.Dermend.com or http://www.FerndaleHealthCare.com.

By incorporating these tips along with specially-designed mature skincare products into your daily beauty routine, you can help tackle age-related skin conditions and help maintain healthy-looking skin for life.

What Can I Do?

By Anthony Saude

What can I do is a very common question for myself and others. I have found that there are seasons in our lives when we are always asking it. There is always an answer or answers to this question whenever I ask it. Sometimes the answers make a lot of sense until I say them out loud. Most of the answers, if I stop and think, are very self serving. What can I do to get more money? What can I do to stop being sad? What can I do make that person like me? What can I make them understand my feelings? What type of life will I have? What can I do to get what I want is usually the theme. When I really think about what my motivations are when I have a decision in my life I realize that MY feelings are 95% of what I am considering when seeking an answer.

A situation or circumstance can drastically change how we look at our lives. This change can be for the better or it can send us careening down a never ending dark hallway. We will inevitably always come right back to the same old question, “what can I do?”

Our attitude can make a vast difference in how it will affect our life and the lives of those around us. Very often we are not in control of circumstances in our lives but we can control our response. If in that moment we understand that truth and ask, “What can I do?” Does it mean there is nothing we can do if we can’t control the situation? No, it means, we don’t have to worry. We can control our behavior by not taking our feelings of frustration out on those around us. We can show grace. Give comfort to our loved ones that need it. We can forgive and forget. We can stop thinking with our emotions and start thinking with our brains. We can run to towards somebody instead of running away?

Sometimes “it is what it is” is just simply the truth and we can’t do anything to fix the situation or circumstance. That is an ugly truth that myself and many have and will struggle with throughout our lives.  So, the next time we ask ourselves “what can I do”, maybe the correct question  to ask is “what can I do for you?”

 

12-year-old arrested after creating video depicting shooting a local school staff member

A 12-year-old boy is arrested after creating a video with lyrics depicting shooting a Chino Valley School District staff member

Dear Michael armijo,

Date/Time Occurred: February 22, 2017 / 3:30 PM

Crime or Incident: Criminal Threats

Location: Oak Ridge Elementary School, Chino Hills

Suspect: 12-year-old male

SUMMARY

On February 22, 2018, a concerned citizen came to the Chino Hills Police station to report a threat to a school. The citizen, who wished to remain anonymous, had discovered a video made by a juvenile in which violent acts at a school were described. Deputies viewed the video in which the juvenile was reciting a rap song. The rap song included lyrics depicting fighting with other students, and concluded with lyrics about shooting a specific school staff member of the Chino Valley Unified School District. Deputies immediately initiated an investigation and identified the juvenile. School officials were made aware of the circumstances and deputies contacted the juvenile and his family at their home. There was a locked safe containing firearms at the location.

The juv enile was arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall. At this time, the Chino Hills Police Department has determined there are no additional threats.

Contact: Deputy M. Thompson or Detective Q. Holiday

Case #: 221800652

Anyone with information regarding threats to our schools is urged to contact Deputy M. Thompson or Detective Q. Holiday at the Chino Hills Police/Sheriff’s Station at (909) 364-2000. If you wish to remain anonymous you may contact WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME.

THE CITY OF NORCO T-BALL REGISTRATION!

Michelle Anglin
Recreation Superintendent
(951) 270-5632
manglin@ci.norco.ca.us
Tee Ball Registration at Norco City Hall – Parks and Recreation Department
or Register Online at http://www.norco.ca.us/depts/parks/sports/default.asp
NORCO, CA: The City of Norco Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services is now accepting registrations for the upcoming Spring T-Ball Season. Stop by City Hall, 2870 Clark Avenue, Norco CA 92860, Monday-Thursday, between 10am-3pm to register your 3 to 6 year old!
Tee ball is a great experience for youngsters to gain skills and meet new friends, all while developing athletic skills! Come join us for an exciting season! There will be no skills assessments; each player will be assigned to a team with a volunteer coach. Age verification is required at the time of registration.
Choose from either Co-Ed Instructional (born 2011 or 2012) or Co-Ed Pee Wee (born 2013 or 2014). Program fees are $85 residents / $90 non-residents. Fee includes a team jersey, hat and an award. Registration deadline is March 15, 2018. Season starts Saturday, April 7, 2018. Practices and games are played at Parmenter Park in Norco.
Fun-loving coaches are also needed! Come join the City of Norco’s Volunteer Program and donate your knowledge and your love of the game! Assist youngsters in their development of game skills, social skills and team building skills!
For additional information, please call (951) 270-5632 or email Ervin Mendez at emendez@ci.norco.ca.us

Detectives recover over $200,000 in stolen property and arrest Mark Ellis

Date/Time Occurred: February 4, 2018
Crime or Incident: Vehicle, Residential and Commercial Burglaries
Location: Chino Hills, Chino, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Tracy, Walnut, Los Angeles, Fontana, Ontario and Las Vegas, Nevada
Suspect: Mark Ellis, 36-year-old resident of Chino

SUMMARY:
On Sunday, February 4, 2018, Chino Hills deputies conducted a traffic stop for Vehicle Code violations on a vehicle driven by 36-year-old Mark Ellis from Chino. Through investigation, deputies found stolen property inside the car. During a follow up investigation, Detectives executed a search warrant for six storage units in the city of Montclair. Over $200,000 worth of property was recovered from the storage facility.

As Detectives sorted through the recovered property, they determined Ellis had conducted vehicle, residential, and commercial burglaries since at least 2006 in Chino Hills, Chino, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Tracy, W alnut, Los Angeles, Fontana, Ontario, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Based on evidence and information developed, Detectives believe Ellis is a serial burglar who kept and stored the majority of the property he stole over the years.

Detectives have worked tirelessly on returning stolen property to the proper victims. To date, they have been able to return over $63,000 worth of property to the following victims: Millenia MMA, Next Level Gym, The Pilates Circle, Y.I.C. Tae Kwon Do School, Montessori School, Self-Made Gym, Don Lugo High School, City of Chino Hills, Chino High School, and Ayala High School. We have confirmed over 50 vehicle burglaries with 40 victims identified. Several firearms have been recovered as well as electronic devices, cellular phones, tablets, tools, gym equipment, etc.

Mark Ellis was arrested and booked at West Valley Detention Center and is currently being held without bail.

We are currently seeking additional victims. If you believe you were a victim of Mark Ellis, or would like to claim your property, please contact Detective J. Jackson at Chino Hills Police at (909)364-2000.
For full details, view this message on the web.

WVUSD Welcomes New Faces

By Kelli Gile

Board approves Emmalyn Coles as director of nutrition services and Ryan Gaviola as director of technology

Walnut—The Walnut Valley Unified School District is proud to announce two new members to the administrative team.

The Board of Trustees approved Emmalyn Coles as the new director of nutrition services.

Coles brings over a decade of experience in the food industry, human resources management, staff development, training, and team building.

“Coming to Walnut Valley has been a game changer,” she said.

“It’s improved my quality of life being closer to my children and participating in their activities. The challenges of coming to a new organization have provided opportunities for personal and professional growth. The support from colleagues, staff, and administration has been astounding. I’m honored and humbled to be part of the Walnut Valley family.”

Most recently, Coles served as director of food services in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District for the past six years.

Prior to that, she was food services assistant director of food services and operations supervisor in HLPUSD.

Additionally, she was a general manager for Eurest Dining Services, food services director at Huntington Culinary, area supervisor for David & Margaret Home, McKinley Children’s Center, and Leroy Haynes’ Center.

Coles holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles and master’s degree in business administration from University of Phoenix. She graduated with honors from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.

Her family resides in Walnut and children, Aya and Isa Al-Juraishi, attend Walnut High School.

Ryan Gaviola was appointed as director of technology during the January 17 Board Meeting.

Gaviola brings 18 years of IT experience to his new post, 13 of those years in a K-12 environment.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve this community and feel blessed as a member of the Walnut Valley team,” he said.

Gaviola was director of technology at San Gabriel Unified School District and Lowell Joint School District for the past decade where he was instrumental in the development of new technological initiatives.

Prior to that, he served in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer information systems from DeVry University.

Gaviola resides in Walnut with his wife Chelo, a WVUSD graduate, and daughter Camille, who attends Vejar Elementary.

 

Box Truck Hydrogen Tank Fire

By Anthony Saude

Diamond Bar – It was Sunday afternoon on February 11 at about 1:23 pm when San Dimas Sheriff’s Station received a report that a vehicle was on fire at a gas station near the intersection at Golden Springs Drive and Brea Canyon Road.

Upon their arrival at the scene, the responding deputies immediately noticed the hazardous material placard on the burning Box Truck however they could not locate the driver. The deputies eventually located the driver of the engulfed truck, who told them that he had gotten scared and ran from the burning truck because he was aware that the material he was transporting was highly flammable. Once the Deputies confirmed that the driver was not at fault for the fire and that no crime had been committed, the investigation was handed over to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The truck was transporting tanks filled with hydrogen gas when it caught fire. The remaining tanks that had not been affected by the fire, had to be manually released by Air Products (Proprietor) with the Los Angeles County Fire Department standing by for safety purposes. Although the process took quite some time to complete, it was the safest, non-toxic way to handle the situation.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department assisted Los Angeles County Fire Department with evacuations of the nearby businesses and residences. LASD enlisted the help of a total of nine other LA County Fire Stations (Altadena, Crescenta Valley, Diamond Bar, San Dimas, East Los Angeles, Norwalk, Temple, Pico Rivera and Walnut). The Emergency Operations Bureau were also brought out to help with road closures and some precautionary evacuations. The “Precautionary Evacuations” had NOT been lifted as of 8:45 PM on Sunday.

Evacuation Areas:
-Area West of Valley Vista Drive/East of Lemon Avenue
-Areas South of the 60 Freeway/North of the 57 Freeway
When evacuations become necessary there are some items residents can get ready.

Prepare yourself with a “go bag” that contains:

Your identification

Your Medications

Any important documents you might have or need (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.)

Any emergency supplies you need

a change of clothes and toiletries

You never know how long you will be away from home if evacuated.
Check with you local Sherriff or Fire Department for evacuation shelters in your area. This evacuation event had the following shelters available for use.
Emergency Shelter:
*Diamond Bar High school (Overnight Accommodations)
21400 Pathfinder Road Diamond Bar CA 91765
*Calvary Chapel Golden Springs Church
22324 Golden Springs Drive Diamond Bar CA 91765
Deputies will remained in the area to provide security and escorts if necessary.
– Assist with notifications and evacuations if they become necessary;
– Protect residences, businesses and property;
– Provide posts at road closures;
– And assist the community as needed.

All the residents that were affected by the Box Truck Hydrogen Tank Fin in Diamond Bar were able to return to their homes by 3:45 a.m. by 3:30 am on Monday, February 12.

In order to provide for the safety of homeowners and first responders, residents are always encouraged to comply with the evacuation orders.

The LASD wants all the residents and business partners that were affected by the evacuations for their patience. The cooperation enabled the LASD to work efficiently with partnering agencies to provide the community with a safe environment throughout the event. They also thanked all the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department personnel for assisting with the evacuations and road closures.

Local Freeway Closure

he Walnut / Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Station wants to advise it’s residents and businesses in the area, of a construction alert notice regarding the series of 55-hour weekend lane and ramp closures on the Pomona Freeway (SR-60) between Fairway Drive and Brea Canyon Road as part of the Lemon Avenue Interchange Project currently under construction by the Alameda Corridor-East Project (ACE).

To construct the merge areas for the new on- and off-ramps, two lanes will be closed on alternating sides of the freeway between Fairway Drive and Brea Canyon Road, with alternating closures of the on- and off-ramps at both exits. These remaining closures will also take place over the next three weekends to avoid inconveniencing weekday rush hour commuters. The second of four 55-hour weekend closures will take place this weekend, February 23rd through the 26th . Each closure period is expected to begin at 10 p.m. on Friday and last continuously until 5 a.m. on Monday, when all lanes will reopen for the morning commute.

For full details, view this message on the web.

Sell Your Casa With Gil Rivera

By Sarah Sanchez

 

Southern California – What does 4% opposed to 6% really mean? If you’re selling your home, you’ll pay a 6% commission to the realtors. But with Gil Rivera from SellYourCasa.com you’ll only pay 4% for the SAME AMOUNT OF WORK! So if your home sells for $500,000, at 6% you’ll fork over $30,000 for commission. With Gil Rivera you’ll only pay $20,000 for both realtors to split. That’s a savings of $10,000!!

Rivera’s Sellers love the fact that he offers a discounted commission, but with full service.  Rivera’s offer of 4% Total Commission for Sellers includes 2.5% to the Buyer’s Agent and 1.5% to Rivera’s office.  Most Realtors negotiate a 6% commission because they have to split the fees with their brokerage. But, as Rivera is the Broker, he passes on the savings to the Seller. This will save Sellers thousands of dollars in commission fees.  His team offers full service for that discounted rate including high quality flyers, professional photos, open houses (as allowable by Seller), and extended advertising coverage on the Internet and social media.

Now, more about what you’re getting from Gil Rivera at SellYourCasa.com: It’s important to know all aspects of your business.  For Gil Rivera from SellYourCasa.com, he absolutely knows every aspect of buying and selling a home.  He is a reliable, experienced, and an affordable Realtor, Broker, and Certified Appraiser.

Rivera sells houses, condos, and two to four unit investment properties in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Orange counties. He just recently sold another home in Eastvale last month. He also does real estate appraisals for banks, estates, trusts, divorces, attorneys, refinances, home purchases, and probate/inheritance for tax purposes. In addition, Rivera has assistants that work with him who are fluent in Spanish and Chinese, helping to reach people of different dialects all over Southern California.

Rivera’s philosophy is to “treat my clients the way I want to be treated.” In fact, Rivera said that he became a Realtor because he did not like the way his Realtor treated him when he was buying his home. Rivera shows respect for his clients at all times. He listens to what they say, so that he can better serve them.

Rivera also does not push his Buyers into a sale. Rivera said, “I always tell Buyers: ‘You will know right away when we walk into the house that’s meant for you’.  Whether it takes a week or months, my Buyers will always be satisfied with their purchase and never pressured into it.”

Rivera’s current promotion is, “We will SELL your house in four weeks at highest value! We only request a listing period of four weeks, while most other Realtors ask for a six month listing.” Rivera says that “Buyers need to know that they do not need to pay their Realtor any fees for representing them on a purchase. The Buyer’s agent is paid by the Seller, not the Buyer.

Check out Rivera’s website at http://www.SellYourCasa.com to see how many different cities Rivera has sold in and for additional information about his company. You can also call the toll free number at (877) 888-SOLD (7653), or cell phone number (909) 967-4525. He also currently has large freeway billboard signs throughout the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire.Call today for a free market evaluation.

26-Year-Old Man’s Body Identified

By Anthony Saude

Corona – The young man’s body that was unceremoniously discarded in the middle of a Corona street last week has been identified by family members. Michael Williams, who had recently turned 26, was an aspiring chef according to his grief-stricken relatives.

The family gathered for a vigil at the scene to mourn and remember their slain precious Michael. A little later on that Monday the Corona police confirmed that Williams was the person they had found.

Five days earlier the Corona Police Department responded to a report that there was a pedestrian lying in the middle of the street. When they arrived at the 1300 block of Old Temescal Road shortly before 2 a.m. they discovered Williams’s lifeless body. A homicide investigation into the crime was opened immediately.

His mother Elyse Vaughn told reporters, “it’s a call that you never want to get.” She told them that she wished it was like a bad dream that she could wake up from but it’s not.

Family members told reporters that they believe he may have been dumped in the remote industrial area where he was found. They had no idea why he would be in the area.

“Michael was fun-loving, he was a very sweet young man,” Vaughn told reporters. “There’s so much to say about him. It’s hard to put it in words. He was the light of our lives … he was the energy that walked into every room.”

The family is very confused about who would want to hurt their sweet Michael. They can’t think of anbody that would want to hurt him. The family says he was a very kind, gentle fun loving person that had a lot of friends.

There is a Gofundme page set up to help the family pay for funeral costs that describes Williams as “a kind, funny, gentle and truly compassionate soul,” who “loved basketball, music, fashion and food.”

It is always a tragedy when people are struck down senselessly at such a young age. They will never get to watch their child get married or see their grandchildren be born or grow up. This type of crime robs so many people of so much happiness that should have been part of their lives in the future.

Corona Police Department said that the investigation is still ongoing. They are searching for surveillance video from nearby businesses that could help solve the crime.

A cause of death has not been released at this time but it is being investigated as a homicide according to the police. If anyone has any information in relative to the crime they are encouraged to call the Corona police at 951-279-3628

 

The Traceys

By Anthony Saude

Jim and Kristin Tracey of Eastvale have adopted, Kaden, a 10-year-old boy from the foster care system. They are in the process of adopting 2 others children, a girl and a boy. None of them are infants so they come with problems from the lives that they have led so far. What makes this story so beautiful is that the Tracey’s had raised 2 children of their own to adulthood before they started this process. The story began when Kristin, always looking for ways she can help the marginalized, went to a foster kid’s camp.  Royal Family Kids’ Camps, Inc. RFKC, Inc. is a network of camps, children’s clubs, and child mentoring for abused, abandoned and neglected children in the foster care, system. RFK founded in 1985 by Wayne and Diane Tesch.

Kristin fell in love with the cause, but most of all she fell in love with the children she met at one of the camps. Taking some into her home and adopting them sounded very normal to her but these were not normal times in the Tracey house. Jim was unemployed at the time and had been for an extended amount of time. They finished their parenting responsibilities they had signed up for over 18 years earlier. I loved being a parent but it is a tough job and signing up for more years after the end of the game is just a little nuts in my book.  Being a man, Jim may have been having those thoughts as well some anxiety about the financial responsibility it would create in their lives. In the beginning Jim may not have been as enthusiastic as Kristin but he has always said “it is biblical”. Jim is the cautious one and Kristin is full speed ahead with both feet, no in matter how cold the water might be. Kristen prayed for Jim to share her enthusiasm and Jim prayed for understanding and answers. Making a decision of this magnitude would be difficult for any male in a perfect situation. The Tracey’s circumstances were anything but perfect. “Every time I prayed I kept getting the same answer, trust God.” said Jim. When my son said, “if that is the answer you keep getting from God, wouldn’t it be disobedient to not follow through? Jim took it to heart stepped out in faith, put his fears behind him and hasn’t regretted one second.

82.2% of child abuse perpetrators were found to be between the ages of 18-44, of which 39.6% were recorded to be between the ages of 25-34. In the United States, more than 4 children die from child abuse and neglect on a daily basis. Over 70% of these children are below the age of 3.

Riverside County has 4,300 children in foster care, 341 of whom are in group homes.

Approximately 3.5 million reports are made to child protective services annually concerning the safety and well-being of approximately 6.4 million children.

A nationally estimated 679,000 children were found to be victims of child abuse or neglect. (1)

Of these children, 79.5 % were neglected, 18.0 % were physically abused, and 9.0 % were sexually abused.

Approximately 1,520 children died due to abuse or neglect every year.

Eighty four percent of foster children will become parents within a few years after reaching adulthood, potentially repeating the cycle of abuse.

Jim once told me “if one family in every church in America took in one foster child there wouldn’t be any left in the system”. Seems simple. Google foster care in your area and throw your hat in the ring for a child’s sake. You know who you are, you have been thinking about it for years. It is that little voice in the back of your mind that just won’t go away. Jump in with both feet and take a chance on a kid that needs your help, you won’t regret it.

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