Category Archives: Eastvale Front Page

Breaking News Stories from Eastvale and surrounding communities.

Volkswagen To Open Training Center In Eastvale

Photo Courtesy: Google

Photo Courtesy: Google

Staff Reports  

Eastvale– On June 15, Volkswagen confirmed that it will invest an estimated $4.5 million to open a new training center in Eastvale as well as its new $6.8 million Pacific Northwest Parts Distribution Center in Rocklin, CA. This will fulfill their commitment to the U.S. market and strategy to invest more than $7 billion in North America through 2019.

The President of and CEO of Volkswagen, Hinrich J. Woebcken says, “The new parts distribution center and upcoming training center in California is a testament to Volkswagen Group of America’s continued investment and commitment to the U.S. market, our customers, and dealers. Woebcken also stated, “The company remains focused on these types of strategic investments that will enable long-term growth in the United States.”

Volkswagen’s estimated $4.5 million to be invested in Eastvale will be to create a state-of-the-art training facility at the Goodman Commerce Center. It will house Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche for the purposes of technical, collision repair, and sales training. This is the first facility to house all three brands, which is expected to open in the first quarter of 2017.

Other facilities in the United States for Volkswagen includes: Electronic Research Laboratory in Silicon Valley, a regional sales operations office in Woodland Hills, and the Test Center California in Oxnard. Volkswagen is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. They also operate a manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The company’s headquarters are in Herndon, Va. Founded in 1955, and has approximately 6,000 employees currently in the United States, they also sell its vehicles through a network of approximately 1,000 according to Volkswagen.

 

Quarterly Town Hall Meeting

By Valerie Gutierrez

Eastvale– Eastvale’s second Quarterly Town Hall meeting of 2016 was held on Tuesday, May 10, at Rosa Parks Elementary. The meeting was conducted to update the community on the latest news from various departments and organizations during the last couple of months.

Mayor Ike Bootsma updated residents on the upcoming events taking place in the City of Eastvale.
Bootsma said the city has launched their E-Citizen App in partnership with Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD). This free App allows residents to report non-emergency issues such as graffiti, pot-holes, sewer leaks, landscape and water waste.

Mayor Bootsma continues to urge residents to stay informed of all the latest Eastvale news, agendas, events, and more by signing up for e-notification at http://www.Eastvale.ca.gov.

Bootsma announced that several new businesses have recently opened. At the Eastvale Gateway Center, Pacific Fish Grill restaurant, Juice It Up!, and Panera Bread have opened. Prestige Preschool has opened at the Marketplace at the Enclave and Tea Plus has opened at Corona Valley Marketplace.

After Bootsma’s announcements, City Manager Michele Nissen announced Vanessa Lopez as the newest Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Eastvale.

Officer Lopez has over 10 years of experience in the field working for the City of Gardena and Carson. Lopez’ duties include implementing programs such as rental inspection program, housing development and CDBG Funding. Lopez started working for the City of Eastvale on April 18.

Also mentioned was how the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has been staying busy these past couple of months. Captain Jason Horton, said that mail theft have significantly decreased the last several months after a key arrest on an individual that was connected to several mail thefts throughout the region, including Eastvale. Captain Horton also gave a warm recognition to the long time serving volunteers for the community of Eastvale who are eyes and ears for the deputy’s.

These community volunteers, “have collectively served thousands of volunteer hours [patrolling the community] you live in,” said Horton.

Traffic issues within the city are of concerning matter for residents living in Eastvale. Horton stated, “know that the police department is doing everything they can to help compact traffic issues and [educate residents].” The police department is working alongside all the schools and principals of the city to get updates on how they can help improve traffic flow.

Next, Dawn Hook presented herself as the new Eastvale Community Foundation director and discussed the following events.

The annual “Picnic in the Park” will be one of the biggest events hosted by JCSD on June 24 to 26 at Harada Park. Picnic in the Park is a three-day celebration that welcomes a summer season of non-stop fun in Eastvale. The event will have lots of fun activities for the kids, such as: picnic games, contests, inflatables, carnival rides, bike valet, food, merchandise, and community group information booths. But, adults will also get a kick out of this event because this year, Picnic in the Park will be hosting another beer garden.

On June 24, the event will kick off at 5 p.m. followed with a concert performance by Joshua Tree Band at 7 p.m. But it doesn’t stop there because on June 25, the community is welcome to come from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. They can also gather for a Fireworks show that will illuminate the sky at 9 p.m. To end the festivities, on June 26, a salsa making contest will take place from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Next, JCSD addressed residents about a recent decision made by the JCSD Board to raise the residency requirement of group one league from 65 to 95 percent residency. Park manager, Rafael Gonzalez, explained that the south-west corner of Citrus Street and Hamner Avenue stands for Eastvale Community Park that will begin construction this summer. The updates to the park will consist of a softball complex, more fields, and additional turf field for soccer and football, so it can be a multi-use park. For more information about upcoming events and updates on construction plans, visit (www.parks.jcsd.us).

Lastly, Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD) reported that the STEM School program will open this fall. The program will be focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The two pathways that the program decided to take were the Health/Medical and Engineering path. The program will be looking for AP students but will be accessible for everyone else who desire to attend a four year college. STEM, AVID, and Puente are only one of the various programs that Roosevelt High School will be offering. A power point presentation was given to demonstrate how STEM will end up looking like. For more information and updates visit (www.cnusd.k12.ca.us/estem).

Amazon Facility Coming To Eastvale

Staff Reports

Eastvale– Amazon announced on May 25 that they will continue their expansion into the Eastvale and Tracy area by launching new fulfillment centers in both Eastvale and Tracy. In which, will be creating more than 1,500 new full-time jobs.

Vice President of Amazon’s North America Operations, Akash Chauhan, stated “We are excited to continue our rapid growth in California in order to serve customers with superfast shipping speeds and vast selection.”

The Mayor of Eastvale, Ike Bootsma, says “There are a lot of things that make a city great and a strong corporate partner is one of them.” Bootsma also states, “We have seen Amazon’s growth and impact in neighboring cities and the company’s announcement is great news for our community. We are very excited about the local employment opportunities the Amazon facility will create and we welcome Amazon to the City of Eastvale.”

Amazon will be employing hundreds of full-time associates at the Eastvale location, which include positions to pick, pack, and ship smaller customer items such as books, electronics and toys. As a full-time employee, Amazon will offer competitive hourly wages, comprehensive benefit packages including healthcare, 401(k), and company stock awards starting on day one. They offer maternity and parental leave benefits and access to innovative programs like Career Choice, which will pre-pay up to 95 percent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.

For information on how to work at the Eastvale Amazon Center, you may visit: http://search.amazondelivers.jobs/job/eastvale/.

The Amazon Fulfillment Center will be located in the Goodman Commerce Center. For additional information about the Goodman Commerce Center, click here.

Socially Speaking

Staff Reports

Social media is a great tool to keep updated on what’s happening in our city. Every month, we provide a list of what was trending on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/EastvaleCommunityNews) the month before.

Trending posts for April include: an update on the proposed Walmart project (see full story at anapr.com); three arrested for robbery, mail thefts, and vandalism; Corona Police Department’s K9 “Claud” received a bullet and stab protective vest; and two arrested for stealing mail in Corona.

Our most popular post on our Facebook page was a message from Mayor Ike Bootsma about a member of his family. He wrote a heartfelt message to the community regarding his granddaughter who had recently been arrested. He explained how his family was affected by the situation but ultimately, his granddaughter had made her own choices. Many residents commented to show their appreciation of his post and said that they related to his situation with their own children.

Don’t miss out on these types of posts in the future. Follow us on our Facebook page   (Facebook.com/EastvaleCommunityNews) in order to stay updated on what’s happening in the community.

Every day, we post a variety of articles, meetings, city news releases, yard sales, and events. You can view the local yard sales on Thursdays and you can even post your own yard sale notice in the comments. Then on Fridays, you will be able to access our community calendar to see what events are happening over the weekend. We also post the online version of the Eastvale Community Newspaper for you to download, save, or print out.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at @EastvaleNews, and subscribe to our website at anapr.com for daily emails regarding our community!

Mail Thefts In Eastvale

By Araceli Sanchez  

Hand with open mailbox

Hand with open mailbox

Eastvale– Eastvale residents have expressed their concern regarding the mail thefts that have been occurring in City of Eastvale.

Recently, thefts have been reported off Spring and Nicole Court, on the side of Riverboat and King River, and up and down Tisdale. Many believe that the thefts have increased in the last month because of expected tax returns. However, these thefts have been going on for a long time and they are not unique to Eastvale. Mail thefts have been reported in Corona, Norco, Chino and other surrounding areas.

But local Police and the US Postal Service are adamant about stopping these thefts from occurring.

“The United States Postal Inspection Service will continue to bring violators to justice to secure the integrity of the U.S. Mail,” said Postal Inspector in Charge, Robert Wemyss in a statement. “Protecting the ability to use the mail in a safe and secure manner is at the core of the Postal Inspection Service’s mission,” he added.

“Mail theft and other property crimes are a rising problem and trend in this region,” said Corona Police Department Chief of Police Michael Abel. “We take these matters seriously and truly appreciate the joint cooperation in this prosecution. It’s important that we hold suspects such as these accountable for their actions.”

Local Police has already arrested five individuals for mail theft this month (see the Crime Recap article on page 11). The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has also issued a news release with the following tips on how to protect your mail from thieves:

  • Use the letter slots inside your post office for your mail or personally hand it to a letter carrier.
  • Don’t leave your mail in your mailbox overnight. Pick it up promptly after delivery. If you’re expecting checks, credit cards or other negotiable items, ask a friend or neighbor you trust to retrieve your mail.
  • If you don’t receive a check or other valuable mail you’re expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately, without delay.
  • If you change your address, immediately notify your Post Office and anyone with whom you do business through the U.S. mail.
  • Don’t send cash in the mail.
  • Tell your Post Office when you’ll be out of town, so they can hold your mail until you return.
  • Report all suspected mail thefts to the Sheriff’s Department and a Postal Inspector.
  • Consider starting a neighborhood watch program. Exchanging work and vacation schedules with trusted neighbors and friends, you can watch each other’s mailboxes (and homes).
  • Consult with your local Postmaster for the most up-to-date regulations on mailboxes, including the availability of locked centralized or curbside mailboxes.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department also reminds residents that if you witness a mail theft in progress, immediately contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at 951-776-1099 and report the incident. Afterwards, contact the Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455.

In addition, if you are a victim of mail theft and your mailbox has been vandalized, the City of Eastvale is not one of the numbers you should call.

“The cluster mail boxes are not City property, nor do we pay for the repairs or maintenance,” said Daniella Badaeu, Eastvale Public Information Officer. “They are the responsibility of the individual homeowner(s) and the HOAs.”

If you do not have a Home Owner’s Association (HOA), you can also call the PMG Mailbox at (951) 288-3129 to repair or replace a mailbox. Some residents have even suggested to pitch in for a heavy duty mail box so it would be less likely for thieves to break into with pry bars or cutting tools.

Another resident suggested to ask PMG Mailbox to seal the outgoing mail slot to prevent thieves from stealing outgoing mail.

However, many residents are wondering why the U.S. Postal Service doesn’t pay to replace the new mailbox. NBC News reported that the U.S. Postal Service says covering replacement costs is financially unfeasible because they are not tax-dollar supported. The Postal Service said they support themselves with what they sell, just like any other business.

Having your own individual mailbox is also not an option because the Postal Service recently “phased out individual mail delivery in new housing communities as part of ongoing budget cuts,” according to NBC. “Doorstep delivery costs the USPS about $353 per address each year, while delivery to [cluster mailboxes] costs about $160 per address.”

Eastvale Relay for Life: Hope Takes Fight

By Valerie Gutierrez

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez Relay For Life cancer survivors take on their first lap.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez Relay For Life cancer survivors take on their first lap.

EASTVALE- “You have cancer,” are those three words you never think you’ll ever hear, nor hope you will.

Mercy Campos, Christi Camacho, and Michelle Huff are only a few of the thousands of cancer survivors inspiring others to battle against the disease.

On April 30, local families, friends, business, and residents gathered at River Heights Intermediate where the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event kicked off at 9 a.m.

The opening ceremony began by the Presentation of Colors, then the National Anthem sung by Ashley Willowsby. Following was the welcome speech by Shawn Abramowitz and survivor speaker Mercy Campos.  Then, Mayor Ike Bootsma and Lieutenant Scott Forbes said a few words.

The celebration continued with fun festivities throughout the day such as an egg toss, frozen t-shirt contest, and a luminaria ceremony, among others. The event ended at 9 p.m. with a closing ceremony of Spirit of Relay.

However, the highlight of the Relay for Life was when cancer survivors were asked to walk their lap. With excitement, friends, families, and Eastvale community members cheered on those affected by the disease.

Christi Camacho is only one of the many participants that attended the event alongside her biggest supporters: her family.

It’s not only nice to have the support from your loved ones but “it’s [also] nice to have the support from the community,” said Christi Camacho, an Eastvale resident.

Photo By: Valerie GutierrezTogether Eastvale Relay For Life cancer survivors painting the community purple.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez
Together Eastvale Relay For Life cancer survivors painting the community purple.

Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives the community the opportunity to celebrate the lives of people who have battle cancer.

Although there weren’t a lot of supporters at this year’s Eastvale Relay For Life, “It’s [still a great event] and I wish more people came out,” said Riverside resident, Michelle Huff.

According to cancer.org, each year, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-need funds and awareness to save lives from cancer.

Relay For Life is the largest and most impactful fundraising event to end cancer. With the support of all the participants, teams, and donations by the community, Eastvale Relay for Life raised approximately $14,089.57 by 10 teams that participated in the event.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez Mayor Ike Bootsma at the 2016 Eastvale Relay For Life, supporting families who were affected by cancer.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez
Mayor Ike Bootsma at the 2016 Eastvale Relay For Life, supporting families who were affected by cancer.

The top two teams that raised the most donations were “Team Pirates 4 A Cause” that raised about $10,175.00 and “Team Maria” that raised $2,540.00.

Relay For Life is an event where the community comes together to fight back against the disease however, Huff said that many still don’t “understand what we’re trying to do.”

Join Eastvale in next year’s event, as they continue to show support by painting the community purple in order to fight against cancer.

 

Litigation Threat Changes Eastvale Elections

By Raymond Mendoza

Eastvale– Changes are in store for Eastvale for the upcoming November elections, as the Eastvale City Council recently voted to change its “at-large” system of city council elections to “by district” – meaning that council members must be elected from certain geographic areas within the city.

While the vote was 3-0 in favor of the change during the latest council meeting on April 27 (Councilmember Adam Rush was absent) the council members noted their decision was only made to appease litigation threats made by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

According to Attorney Betsy Martin, the City of Eastvale received a letter from the group in April stating that they would sue the city if Eastvale did not switch to “by district” elections in time for the November 2016 election. The group claimed that the City of Eastvale’s current election system is violating the California Voting Rights Act of 2002.

According to a statement issued by the city, Eastvale is not the only city being threatened with litigation. Inland Empire cities such as Rancho Cucamonga, Wildomar, Hesperia, Chino and Upland all received the same demands regarding by-district elections.

“We recommend that you do (change to “by district” elections),” said Martin. “No city has ever successful defended a voting rights challenge.”

Martin went on to discuss how the California Voting Rights Act of 2002 is intended to ensure that “protected groups” – such as minority races – have their voting rights protected. Martin mentioned that the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund was alerted due to the efforts of an unknown Eastvale community member.

“Rather than spend a lot of money on fighting something that will certainly be a losing proposition, we suggest you go forward and draw your own districts as rapidly as possible,” said Martin.

During the June 2010 Eastvale incorporation election, 54 percent of the voters were in favor of “at-large” elections – which allowed anyone who lives within the city to run for city council. “By district” only received 27 percent of the votes.

Council Member Clint Lorimore voiced his distaste for the election changes, stating that breaking the city into districts would accomplish very little since there is no major racial divide from one area of Eastvale to the next.

“I want to express my frustration with this process,” Lorimore said. “I believe that we in Eastvale are a homogenous community. We’re not broken into specific areas where one ethnicity lives. It is not going to be helpful, in my opinion, for our city to do this.”

To push these changes ahead at an accelerated rate, city officials hired the National Demographics Corporation to study the city’s population and prepare draft plans for the proposed districts that also meet legal requirements. The draft of proposed districts will be available to the public this month on the city’s website and residents are also encouraged to voice their opinions concerning the new districts during its upcoming public hearings on May 11, May 25, and June 8.17

Eastvale Appoints New Councilmember

Photo courtesy: City of Eastvale Richard “Dickie” Simmons was sworn in at the Eastvale City Council meeting on May 11.

Photo courtesy: City of Eastvale
Richard “Dickie” Simmons was sworn in at the Eastvale City Council meeting on May 11.

By Michael Armijo

Eastvale – Richard “Dickie” Simmons was appointed as the newest Eastvale City Council member on May 11.

After Council members interviewed 10 candidates in order to fill Councilman William “Bill” Link’s vacant seat, Simmons was appointed with a 4-0 vote and was sworn in immediately.

Simmons, 67, is a community activist and volunteer that served as a field deputy for the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors for 17 years. Simmons also served in the U.S. Marine Corps and with the Los Angeles Police Department. However, Dickie is well known for his presence in the Inland Empire. He moved to Eastvale in 2002 and was so active in the Eastvale community that he was known as “Mr. Eastvale”.

With the resignation of Link in March, the Eastvale City Council opened up the “appointee process” last month. Link resigned because he moved out of the city, according to City Hall.

“The appointee will serve until this November 8th election,” said Mayor Ike Bootsma. “Then voters can choose a new city council member to serve the final two years of Bill’s (Link) term.”

This is the third time in 5½ years that the council appointed someone to replace a council member who resigned.

The council decided not to hold a special election because it would cost taxpayers over $60,000 to do so, according to City Hall. The earliest an election could take place would be August, so it makes sense to wait until the general election in November.

All appointees were required to be registered voters living in Eastvale. Each candidate gave a two-minute statement and was asked predetermined questions.

For more information, please sign onto www.eastvaleca.gov.

This article was updated by Eastvale News staff.

Socially Speaking

By Sarah Sanchez

Is it April already? If you were too busy in March to keep up on social media, we’ve provided a list of what was trending on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/EastvaleCommunityNews) last month.

Trending posts included: An armed robbery suspect was arrested; the CNUSD Spelling Bee Champion Aisha Randhawa is now going to the Scripps National Spelling Bee; Eleanor Roosevelt High School Cheer Team won the National Championship at the All Star Cheer Jamz Nationals; and a reminder of an Eastvale anti-scavenging ordinance.

However, the most popular post on social media was a video that a resident shared with us on our Facebook page. The video was a security camera that caught three suspicious men pulling up to the residents’ home in a BMW 6 series and Honda Odyssey Van, rang the doorbell, claimed to be the police, and allegedly tried to kick the door down. The resident asked for the community’s help in finding the three individuals and many community members shared the video to spread the word.

Stay up to date on what’s happening in the community by liking our Facebook page (Facebook.com/EastvaleCommunityNews). We post a variety of articles, meetings, city news releases, yard sales, and events on a daily basis. Every Thursday, we post notices of local yard sales for the weekend and allow you to post your own yard sale notice in the comments. On Fridays, we post the weekend events and link it to our local monthly calendar. We also post the online version of the full Eastvale Community Newspaper for you to download, save, or print out.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at @EastvaleNews, and subscribe to our website at anapr.com for daily emails regarding our community. Use #ILoveEastvaleNews to tell us why YOU love Eastvale News.

Keep on Trending, Eastvale!

Norco College Turns 25!

Photo courtesy: Norco College

Photo courtesy: Norco College
Norco College students form the number “25” to help celebrate Norco’s Silver Anniversary

Staff Reports

NORCO– Norco College celebrated its 25th Silver Anniversary last month with a group photo, a time-capsule opening and a western-style jamboree.

Norco College, a branch of Riverside City College, first opened in 1991. Riverside Community College leaders first began to dream about a branch campus in the area in the early 1970s. On June 4, 1985, that dream was realized when more than 141 acres of U.S. government-owned land—the site of what would become Norco College—were acquired by RCCD for one dollar to build a satellite campus.

The campus was expected to open in 1989, but funding and construction delays pushed the date to 1991. On March 13 of that year, two classrooms in the Student Services and Little Theatre buildings were ready for students, and about 15 short-term classes in economics, philosophy, public speaking, and a handful of other traditional academic disciplines were held on campus that spring semester. (Approximately 100 other classes that began in January were taught in Norco area high schools and a church, as they had been for years.) The formal opening of the full campus (with two more classrooms: Science and Technology and Humanities) took place in the fall of 1991— coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Riverside City College.

The celebration, which included music, a snow cone truck, a birthday cake and real horses, brought in to represent the Norco Mustangs, was just part of the fun for students.  A large group of students had their photo taken on the quad as they stood in the shape of the number “25”.

Norco College freshman Jennifer Lyn, who was part of the photo, said that she “loves Norco College and its small feel.  All of the teachers and staff truly want to help students succeed.”

A time capsule left by the 1991-1992 Norco student body was opened on March 10.  Math Professor Bob Prior, who was also the Student Activities Coordinator in the early years of RCC’s Norco Campus, led the unveiling with special guest Pedro Argumendo, retired Grounds staff, who helped bury the time capsule in the 1990’s.  Included in the capsule were Norco College flags, a university-edition Bible, a student I.D., a photo CD and a convocation booklet, among other items.

On March 12, Norco College continued its 25-Year Anniversary celebration with a western-style jamboree that included individuals from the cities of Norco and Corona, RCCD Board of Trustee members, and current and past employees of the college.

Eastvale Relay For Life Event

City of Eastvale

EASTVALE-On April 30, 2016, hundreds of Eastvale residents will join together at the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Eastvale to help save more lives from cancer. The event will take place from 9 am to 9 pm on Saturday, April 30 at River Heights Intermediate, located at 7227 Scholar Way in Eastvale.

“The Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all,” said Annalynn Neve-Wiltjer, American Cancer Society staff partner for the Eastvale event.  “Relay For Life events are community gatherings where teams and individuals camp out at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Teams participate in fundraising in the months leading up to the event.”

The Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest fundraising event to fight every cancer in every community, with four million participants in 6,000 events worldwide in 2015.

Dollars raised help the American Cancer Society save lives by funding groundbreaking cancer research, supporting education and risk reduction efforts, and providing free information and critical services for people with cancer who need them.  Many cancer patients throughout Orange County have used the Society’s free patient services, including Road to Recovery, Look Good Feel Better, Lodging, the cancer.org website, and the 24-hour Cancer Information Service at (800) 227-2345.  Through the Society’s groundbreaking research program, 46 ACS-funded scientists have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

Nearly 30 Relay For Life events will take place in the Inland Empire in 2016, including Eastvale, Corona, Jurupa Valley, Riverside, La Sierra, Menifee, Murrieta, Perris, Moreno Valley, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Temecula,  UC Riverside, San Jacinto, Yucaipa, Mira Loma, Upland, San Gorgonio Pass, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Chino, Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Big Bear, Colton, Cal State San Bernardino, Highland, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, University of Redlands, and more.

Cancer survivors, family members, friends, community groups, and worksites who would like to take action this year can participate by making a team or donating to the Relay For Life of Eastvale.  Visit relayforlife.org or RelayForLife.org/EastvaleCA  to learn more about the event, or contact Annalynn Neve-Wiltjer at (951) 300-1217 or via email at Annalynn.NeveWiltjer@cancer.org.

Eastvale ZIP Code in the works

Staff Reports

EASTVALE– Congressman Ken Calvert announced recently that he has moved forward with legislation that will require the Postal Service to establish a unique ZIP code for the city of Eastvale.  The bill is H.R. 4634 and that is its sole and only focus.  Legislative staff has had preliminary conversations with the committee of jurisdiction and they have been receptive to the legislation.

Eastvale residents have been sharing ZIP codes with residents from Corona and Mira Loma for several years.  Eastvale requested a ZIP code change in April 2011 that was denied, U.S. Postal Service spokesman Richard Maher said.  Calvert’s office has contacted the U.S. Postal Service several times on behalf of Eastvale but has been told that financial considerations play into establishing a new ZIP code.

“The fiscal challenges at the Postal Service seem to dissuade them from taking any action to address Eastvale’s ZIP code issue,” Jason Gagnon, Congressman Calvert’s communication director says.

“I continue to hear from Eastvale residents and business owners who are frustrated by the fact that the city does not have its own, unique ZIP code,” Calvert said in a statement. “It shouldn’t take an act of Congress for an incorporated city of Eastvale’s size to get its own ZIP code – but if it does, then I’m happy to lead that charge.”

“As it stands now, people think we’re part of Corona or Mira Loma,” Eastvale Mayor Ike Bootsma said. “There are even people who live in Eastvale who think we’re part of Corona or Mira Loma. “Having our own ZIP code gives an identity to the city.”

Congressman Calvert is attempting to schedule a meeting with the Postal Service District Manager for this region.  On the agenda for that meeting will be the issue of the outdated route study for the Eastvale area as well as the ZIP code issue to explore any solution that may avoid the need for legislation.

Eastvale Strong: 2016 State Of The City

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez The City of Eastvale City Council, Planning Commission, and staff at the 2016 State of the City.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez
The City of Eastvale City Council, Planning Commission, and staff at the 2016 State of the City.

By Valerie Gutierrez

Eastvale– The City of Eastvale held their 5th Annual State of the City Address on Tues., Apr. 5, at 7 p.m., at the Eastvale Community Center. The meeting was sponsored by the San Antonio Regional Hospital.

After welcoming residents, Former Executive Director of Eastvale Community Foundation, Sharyn Link and Pastor Edward Moreno of New Day Christian Church led the Invocation. Following the opening was the Presentation of Colors by Boy Scout Troop 2012, the Pledge of Allegiance, and National Anthem, sung by talented Eleanor Roosevelt High School jazz students.

After Mayor’s Bootsma introduction, the City got right into what has been going on in the City of Eastvale.

Mayor Ike Bootsma led the meeting, which began with a video presentation from each of the Council members: Mayor Bootsma, Joe Tessari, Clint Lorimore and Adam Rush.

Afterwards, Eastvale Planning Director, Eric Norris, took the stage to speak on the major and minor projects that Eastvale is working on. Major projects include the Civic Center, Bicycle Master Plan, and Leal Master Plan. The Leal Master Plan consists of 160 acres in the heart of Eastvale that will include a regional mall, other retail, housing, offices, and a hotel.

“We’re really excited for this [Leal Master Plan] project,” said Norris.

Norris also provided updates on the future of the Chandler Area Community Vision Plan, stating that they have been working with the Chandler Area to identify community issues and define a long-term vision for the area.

Chandler Area is one of the oldest parts of Eastvale and “much is dedicated to preserve that,” Norris said.

City Engineer, George Alvarez, updated residents on the development of fire station No. 31, which began construction in Jan. 2016. This will be Eastvale’s second fire station.

“Work is well underway and is expected to be completed in November 2016,” said Alvarez.

Next, they talked about the Bicycle Master Plan that was adopted in Feb. 2016 and a new improved interchange at Limonite and the 15 freeway. The interstate is the gateway to Jurupa Valley and to the City of Eastvale, which will improve by featuring new decorative lights, landscaping, traditional fencing on the bridge, and wider entrances to the freeway.

“If funds come into place we can be under construction by 2018,” Alvarez said.

Captain Jason Horton then gave a quick update on the status of the Eastvale Police Department. He stated that Eastvale Police Department is an independent entity; a full-service, 24/7 station.

Horton provided 2015 crime statistics, which included the 25,556 calls for service. He also explained that there is always a patrol in the City, a dedicated traffic team, community service officers, Special Enforcement Team personnel and the City’s newest motorcycle officer.

With tears, former Executive Director of Eastvale Community Foundation, Sharyn Link also announced her retirement and stated that Eastvale Community Foundation has been home and family to her.  Dawn Hook was announced as Eastvale’s new Foundation Director and said she is excited to serve the City of Eastvale.

After a successful meeting, attendees were invited to enjoy free coffee, punch, and desserts, as well as a meet and greet with Mayor Ike Bootsma, City Council Members, City of Eastvale Departments, Business Partners, and event sponsors.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez Mayor Ike Boostma leading the 5th Annual State Of The City.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez
Mayor Ike Boostma leading the 5th Annual State Of The City.

 

Eastvale City Council Recap

By Emily Aguilar

 

EASTVALE– This month’s council meeting began with an experiment. At Mayor Ike Bootsma’s request, the meeting held on Wednesday the 9th began at 7:00 pm rather than 6:30 pm. Bootsma was eager to test two factors as a result of this experiment: one, he wanted to see if the time change would better accommodate the gap between council meetings and budget workshops; and two, he wanted to see how the community would respond to the time change.

Before tending to the schedule change, the meeting began with a closed session, where in which the council discussed the performance evaluation of City Manager Michele Nissen and two conferences with legal counsel regarding an existing litigation and an anticipated litigation.  After the two-hour closed session, a majority of audience members had left. A sense of awkwardness filled the air as the council overlooked the mostly empty seats.

The first item on the agenda was a Public Safety Commission update. Recently, individuals have been racing around Citrus and Scholar during school hours, which has stirred concern in the community. At the Public Safety meeting, citizens addressed not only the speeding, but also vandalism that has been occurring in neighborhoods. One resident pitched the idea of setting up cameras to find the perpetrators. Other concerns, specifically at the high school, are crosswalks and the heavy traffic on the streets. Community residents are looking forward to working with the city and the school in order to help the students be safe.

Next on the agenda was an update on the civic center/library project. Since August 2015, a library subcommittee has sought to build a new library and a city hall. The main discussion on this topic was determining where these new buildings will be located. There are now five possible locations being considered for the new civic center, all of which span from 9 to 16 acres. Before any action is taken, staff requested that the council bring back their contract agreement with the Riverside Economic Development Agency (EDA) to help in choosing, funding, and ultimately purchasing a plot of land to develop the civic center. The EDA has had a positive history with Eastvale developments; for example, they helped choose and purchase the land for the developing Fire Station 31. The council motioned to set up a contract discussion for the next council meeting.

The council quickly approved a construction update on Fire Station 31. Horizons, the current construction team for this project, has been paving, making concrete footings for walls, and establishing building pads. Within the next 6 weeks, city staff will grant the Fire Station Street Improvements bid package to help with further construction. Ultimately, Horizons intends to complete their phase of the 300-task schedule by December 5th. Council received and filed this information.

The council then addressed the outcome to their time change trial. The time change had a negative impact because the closed session, which typically lasts about thirty minutes, ended up lasting two hours. Because the audience was left alone for such a long time, most of them grew impatient and left by the time the council had returned. The council decided to have closed session meetings at the end of the regular 6:30 meetings.

Moving on to Council Communications, Council Member Rush discussed the possibility of distributing newsletters to the city residents in order to pass on information about local events. Mayor Pro Tem Tessari also proposed the idea to see if the city could re-implement creating an infrastructure financing district. If feasible, staff will look into it. The meeting was adjourned to 3 o’clock on Friday.

Two weeks later, on March 23, the meeting began with a series of good-byes and a distribution of recognition awards. Bill Link celebrated his retirement from the council that evening. While receiving a recognition award, Link shared a few affectionate jokes and words with the councilmen, who were “really appreciative of all [his] hard work” over the past two years. Also leaving her position with Eastvale was Code Enforcement Officer Allynn Evans, who would be moving to Texas. Bootsma, a former Texan himself, gave Evans his blessings. The last series of awards were given to two Riverside Police Department officers, Officer Jackson and Officer Merrell, for having effectively responded to an attempted theft and assault case, which ultimately saved the lives of a local couple.

The Community Foundation Update was about preparation for April 5th’s State of the City event. Afterwards, the Public Safety update once again addressed the racing problem off Citrus and Scholar. Residents are concerned for their children’s safety, and the Community Foundation is doing their best to assuage the citizens’ concerns.

The Student Liaison update was delivered by Ayo Banjo, who stated that ERHS was holding an open house event that evening. Also occurring at Roosevelt was the 4th annual Relay for Life Event, expected to be held on April 30th. In other school news, Eastvale Elementary was set to celebrate its 10-year anniversary soon.

During the Public Comments, Linda Cerone took the podium to make two announcements. Her first announcement was an invitation to National Prayer Day, which will be held on May 5th at the Eastvale Community Center. Cerone also encouraged the audience to partake in the Relay for Life event, which is a cancer fundraising event.

Before concluding the meeting, City Manager Michele Nissen briefly announced that ERHS would be holding their Every 15 Minute event on April 5th. She also stated that on Thursday March 24th, the city would begin work with the grant writer they had recently hired. Following Nissen’s topics was an announcement regarding a problem with the CDA Waterline Project. That afternoon it was discovered that a steel plate is interfering with the base waterline. It will most likely stunt progress on the project for the time being. Moving onto the Committee Reports, Lorimore asked council and staff that they prepare to “move forward” in finding someone to fill in Link’s now empty seat. The councilmen agreed to focus on this idea in the next meeting. There was an announcement that there will be a SCAG meeting for District 4 at the Riverside County Administration Center. Bootsma once again invited the audience to visit Roosevelt on April 5th for their Every 15 Minute event, and the meeting was adjourned.

Tyler Slavin to Host Football Camp with JCSD!

Photo courtesy: JCSD

Photo courtesy: JCSD

Staff Reports

EASTVALE– Tyler Slavin will be offering a one day football camp where you can work on your football skills under the watchful eye of an NFL player.

Tyler is a 2010 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, where he played football, played basketball, and ran track.  The 1st-Team D2 All-American wide receiver has been the recipient of several awards, including the National Best Wide Receiver award, the Daktronic Award, the NCAA Offensive Player of the Year Award, and the D2 Statistical Leader Award.

Tyler has played for the St. Louis Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.  He says that it has always been a passion of his to give back to kids, and he can think of no better way to do that than to give to the young people of his hometown of Eastvale.

“I want to show the community that it is possible to accomplish your dreams, and that I was once the underdog.  No one expected me to get this far, but through it all, I persevered and made it- I know the next person can and will too.”

The camp will take place at the Eleanor Roosevelt Stadium on Saturday, April 9, 2016 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Your camp registration will consist of a two hour training session, a camp T-shirt and an autographed photo.  There will be a full coaching staff on hand and all positions will be worked with.

Register online at www.parksreg.jcsd.us or at the Eastvale Community Center.  Registration will end on Friday, April 8, 2016.

Age Requirements:
Ages: 4-12 10a-12p
Ages: 13-18 12p-2p

Spots are limited! Register today to ensure your spot!

Eastvale Walmart: Update and Clarification

City of Eastvale

EASTVALE – City officials announced that a citywide mailer sent in late 2015 by the Walmart retailer was premature and inaccurate.  The mailer gave the impression that a proposed Walmart store had been approved and circumvented the planning process.

The printed mailer entitled, “Introducing a Walmart Supercenter for Eastvale,” was sent to Eastvale homes in December 2015, according to City officials who received comments from concerned residents about the mailer. The mailer, which highlighted features of the proposed store, left many residents with the impression that the Supercenter had been approved due to wording such as “The store will be …” and “… will create.”

City Manager Michele Nissen, emphasized that the City is processing an application for a store like the one in the mailer, however; it has not yet been reviewed by the City’s Planning Commission and City Council as required by law.

“Walmart has not yet obtained the required approvals,” said Nissen.  “They are still in the planning phases and can’t build anything on the site without the necessary approvals.”

“We have been working with Walmart to get them through our very rigorous review process since the filing of their application in 2014,” continued Nissen.  “We were surprised to see the language of their mailer, which seems to portray the project as already approved. We can certainly understand the confusion and we felt it important to clarify the approval process.”

According to the City’s Planning Director, the project will likely be scheduled for public hearings later this year, after the release of a comprehensive environmental analysis of the project in a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

“The Draft EIR, which covers a very wide range of topics, will be available for the public to review for 45 days,” said Eric Norris Planning Director. “The City has retained an independent firm to prepare the document, which we hope to have completed and ready for public review in the Spring of 2016.”

“Comments received from the public and other agencies will be responded to after the EIR’s public review is complete” said Norris. Those responses will then, in turn, be provided for review and comment.  Public hearings will be scheduled, most likely in late 2016.

The proposed Walmart would be located on approximately 20 acres of land at the southeast corner of Limonite and Archibald avenues. Walmart has owned the 20-acre parcel for approximately six years.  The proposed project includes a 192,000-square-foot Walmart location, as well as several smaller buildings that would house other businesses and a gas station. The project requires approval of an amendment to the City’s General Plan and Zoning Map, as well as approval of the applicant’s development plans. All of these will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and ultimately voted on by the City Council. Both the Commission and Council will hold public hearings on the project.

The City encourages citizens to stay abreast and informed of this and other projects and City events by signing up for E-Notification on the City’s website: www.EastvaleCA.gov.

Socially Speaking

By Sarah Sanchez

Our Facebook page (Facebook.com/EastvaleCommunityNews), is used to connect the community with news, events, meetings, city press releases, and any other information the community should know. If you missed out on what happened last month, we provide a monthly recap of what was trending on our Facebook page.

Trending posts for February included: an Eastvale resident warning the community about mail thefts occurring off Harrison and Chandler; Deputy Myers’ monthly article about what to do if you’re a victim of a crime; a fatal traffic collision that occurred in Corona; Centennial High School’s football coach being named the ALL-USA Football Coach of the Year; and a reminder about an ordinance prohibiting Marijuana cultivation, dispensaries, and delivery in the City of Eastvale.

There were two posts that were especially popular on our Facebook page. The first was about three Eleanor Roosevelt Students who signed onto NFL teams. See the full article at anapr.com. The second most popular post was about a local church, VantagePoint Church, who formed a “Cash Mob” for a family that was displaced in Eastvale. Read more about this story on page 1.

In addition to these types of posts, we provide other information on a daily basis, including articles, meetings, yard sales, and events. Every Thursday, we post the local yard sales that are happening in the surrounding areas that weekend, and we encourage you to post your yard sale notice in the comments. On Fridays, we post the weekend events and link to our local monthly calendar. We also post the online version of the full Eastvale Community Newspaper for you to download, save, or print out.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at @EastvaleNews, and subscribe to our website at anapr.com in order to stay up to date on what’s happening in the community. Use #ILoveEastvaleNews to tell us why YOU love Eastvale News.

Keep on Trending, Eastvale!

Code Enforcement Dept Helps Improve Quality Of Life

Eastvale City Manager Michele Nissen

Eastvale City Manager Michele Nissen

By Michele Nissen, City Manager

 

Code Enforcement is a critical and valuable service offered by the City of Eastvale.  The City recognizes the vital importance of preserving a high quality of life throughout the community and has adopted local codes and ordinances that govern the proper use and maintenance of private properties.

The Code Enforcement Department is responsible for performing field inspections of properties to ensure compliance with applicable zoning, safety, fire and nuisance codes, ordinances and abatement regulations.  Code Enforcement also serves as a resource to other departments, divisions, and agencies and resolves complaints while providing public education.

The Eastvale Code Enforcement team consists of two seasoned, full-time Code Enforcement Officers and one Code Enforcement Volunteer.  This small, yet highly effective team engaged in 867 code actions since January 1, 2016, ranging from administrative citations, inspections, illegal signs, discarded shopping carts, parking citations, to scavenging enforcement and more.

The top five complaints that the Eastvale Code Enforcement Department responds to are (in order of call frequency):

  1. Trash Bins in public view
  2. Outdoor Storage
  3. Property Maintenance
  4. Boat and R.V. parking
  5. Inoperable Vehicles

As a proactive approach to potential code violations, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the Eastvale Neighbor Preservation Overlay (ENPO) which may be found on the City’s website www.EastvaleCA.gov under the City Hall tab and select Code Enforcement.   The provisions of the ENPO zone apply to all currently approved and future residential developments. The Neighborhood Preservation Standards are meant to maintain a safe, orderly, sanitary and aesthetically pleasing environment on public and private properties.  The overlay covers topics such as landscaping, trash receptacles, parking, yard maintenance, façade treatment, outdoor lighting and temporary exterior holiday displays, to name a few.

Here are a few simple suggestions to help homeowners be consistent with the overlay and avoid code enforcement violations.  Ask yourself: Is my yard maintained like the rest of the neighborhood? Are my Holiday lights still up in March?  Are my trash bins BEHIND the gate?

One of the goals of Code Enforcement is to promote a positive image of the department and the services we provide to our community by promoting a culture that is helpful, customer service oriented, approachable, knowledgeable and of the highest integrity. We are dedicated to preserving and improving the high quality of life and standards here in Eastvale!

Should you have any questions or comments, City Hall may be reached at (951) 361-0900. City Hall office hours are Monday-Thursday from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm, closed every Friday. Residents can also report code violations via the E-Citizens app. For additional information please visit http://www.bit.ly.com/ECitizen.   City Hall encourages all residents and visitors to register for e-notification on the City’s website: www.EastvaleCA.gov.

Eastvale: Car Crashes Into Home

Photo credit: by Valerie Hire A car crashed through the backyard and into a home in Eastvale on Feb. 23.

Photo credit: by Valerie Hire
A car crashed through the backyard and into a home in Eastvale on Feb. 23.

By Carol Heyen

EASTVALE– The Espinoza family of Eastvale has been forced out of their home after a car crashed through a cement wall, into the back yard of their house and into their living room.
Just after 2 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, the fire department was advised of a car that had crashed into the first floor of a home in the 13800 block of Dellbrook Street, in the Brookdale Terrace housing development. A fire official at the scene said that the crash caused the car to burst into flames, which set the house on fire.  Firefighters were able to put the fire out within 20 minutes.
A resident of the home, Hunter Espinoza, said it sounded “like a bomb.”
“I was in shock for a little bit,” said Freddy Espinoza, Hunter’s father, who alerted the rest of his family members. “I went ‘there’s a car here and I think it’s going to catch fire.’ I told the people ‘get up, get out of the house.’ ”
One occupant of the home had minor injuries, and all five residents have been displaced so that repairs can be done. The American Red Cross was called to help the family find shelter.
The two occupants of the Saturn sedan fled the scene, and the cause of the collision is still under investigation.
Anyone with information about the incident was encouraged to call the Eastvale Police Department, which is serviced by the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station, at 951-955-2600.
Hearing about the incident, VantagePoint Church in Eastvale decided to come together to help the Espinoza family. On Feb. 28, the church formed a “Cash Mob” at the Eastvale Gateway Center. The Espinoza’s was told they would be having lunch with VantagePoint Outreach Director Adam De Corte, but they didn’t know that a crowd of church members were roaming around the center waiting for “the signal,” according to church members. A silver bucket was placed in front of the Espinoza family, hundreds of church members and community members filled the bucket with money.
“When VantagePoint Church heard about this, we knew that we had to act,” Pastor Mark Lee said. “We have always aimed to live up to our mission statement, “Helping People to Become Living Proof of a Loving God. Today, we were able to live out our mission statement for the Espinoza family.”

Mail Theft Suspect Arrested

Photo courtesy of Eastvale P.D.

Photo courtesy of Eastvale P.D.
Eastvale mail theft suspect Paul Wagner

Courtesy Eastvale P.D.

 

EASTVALE-On March 1, 2016, members of the Eastvale Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) responded to the 700 Block of Villa De Luna, in the city of Corona, to conduct a follow up investigation related to ongoing mail theft in the Eastvale area.  Once there, SET located Paul Wagner, who had a felony warrant for his arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale.

During the investigation, members of the Eastvale Special Enforcement Team arrested Mr. Wagner.  A search warrant was obtained and during a search of Mr. Wagner’s residence, officers located over 100 stolen checks, 30 stolen credit cards, several washed checks, computer scanners, assorted tools used to break into mail boxes, and a U.S. Postal Service mailbox.  The mail and property recovered belonged to over 150 potential victims of theft and/or identity theft.  Victims were identified from Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Corona, Norco, Fontana and several other cities. Deputies will follow-up with potential victims to ensure all victims are notified and any criminal acts are documented and properly submitted to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.  Information on crimes committed in other jurisdictions will be forwarded to the appropriate police agency.

Based on the evidence collected, members of the Special Enforcement Team gained a better understanding about how mail theft occurs and the techniques mail thieves are using to gain access to mailboxes.  The United States Postal Inspector’s office recommends the following actions to protect your mail:

  • Use the letter slots inside your Post Office for your mail, or hand it to a letter carrier.
  • Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight. If you’re expecting checks, credit cards, or other negotiable items, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.
  • If you don’t receive a check or other valuable mail you’re expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately.
  • If you change your address, immediately notify your Post Office and anyone with whom you do business via the mail.
  • Don’t send cash in the mail.
  • Tell your Post Office when you’ll be out of town, so they can hold your mail until you return.
  • Report all suspected mail theft to a Postal Inspector.
  • Consider starting a neighborhood watch program. By exchanging work and vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, you can watch each other’s mailboxes (as well as homes).
  • Consult with your local Postmaster for the most up-to-date regulations on mailboxes, including the availability of locked centralized or curbside mailboxes.
  • If you see a mail thief at work, or if you believe your mail was stolen, call police immediately, then call Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455 (press 3).

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is committed to the safety of the citizens of Eastvale and will be vigilant in investigating all crimes of this nature. This investigation is ongoing and we are asking anyone with additional information to contact Deputy Ramirez at the Jurupa Valley Station at 951-955-2600.