Category Archives: Eastvale

Eastvale Quarterly Town Hall Meeting

By Valerie Gutierrez

EASTVALE– Eastvale’s first Quarterly Town Hall meeting of 2016 was held on Tuesday, February 9, 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 issues the city is facing in 2016.

The Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)is continuing to offer free classes paid for by the city through a Homeland Security grant. An E-Notification App has been launched and will help in reporting non-emergency issues such as graffiti, pot-holes, sewer leaks, landscape and water waste.

Bootsma was proud to announce that Eastvale Gateway (South) has already opened Juice It Up! and Panera Bread. What has Eastvale residents really excited is the announcement of the Pacific Fish Grill restaurant coming to Eastvale Gateway.  It should open in early March.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has been staying busy these past couple of months. Assistant Chief of Police for the city of Eastvale, Lt. Scott Forbes, said that residents have been reporting ongoing mail theft and vehicle burglary problems. Many vehicle burglaries have occurred in the shopping centers surrounding businesses on Limonite and Hamner Avenues.

Regarding mail theft, Lt. Forbes stated that mail theft in Eastvale is not something unique to the city; it is happening in the entire region. The Eastvale Police Department is working with the postmaster in San Bernardino to deal with individual thefts and trends that are occurring. The department has identified and arrested one individual involved with mail theft.

Since the school year started, traffic has been a huge concern for residents, especially those who frequent Limonite, Hamner, Archibald and Sumner Avenues, Citrus Street and many of the school routes and main intersections. There have been seven collisions since the school year started that involved students who were riding their bicycles to school. Of those students, the majority were found to be at fault for not following the rules of the road and not wearing their helmets.

Lt. Forbes articulated that they’re trying to find ways to get the kids to pay attention to how they ride. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is partnering with the City of Eastvale and the Department of Public Health to educate the community on safe routes to school. Educational events will include bike rodeos and helmet and bike giveaways.  Police Explorers will be used as facilitators and teachers.

The new City of Eastvale Code Enforcement Officer, Avis Hatcher was introduced by City Manager Michele Nissen. Officer Hatcher is certified with the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers and has over 20 years of experience in the field working for large cities such as Beverly Hills. Officer Hatcher’s duties include implementing programs such as rental inspection programs, housing development and CDBG Funding.

Between September 1 and December 31, Code Enforcement conducted 553 inspections, removed 2,100 illegal signs and 147 shopping carts. Within the past several days, the team has notified residents that “Christmas Display Lights” need to come down.

The Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) informed residents about fun activities/events that are coming up. Movies in the park will be hosted once a month at Orchard Park. Spring registration for community classes will open on March 21, there will be an annual blood drive on March 28, and there will be a community campout at Harada Park, on April 8-9, which will include breakfast, lunch and dinner. “Picnic in the Park” will be one of the biggest events hosted by the JCSD, and will occur June 24 -26 at Harada Park. For additional information on upcoming events, visit www.parks.jcsd.us.

The Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD) reported that Clara Barton Elementary School is going to begin a traditional school schedule.  The traditional academic calendar will replace the current year-round system effective July 1, 2016. CNUSD Board Member, Bill Newberry, discussed the STEM Magnet School that will place two additional buildings on the Eleanor Roosevelt campus. Newberry mentioned that the plans are completed and the opening is scheduled for the 2018-2019 school year. The first building will be placed facing Citrus Street and the second will be built on the softball field. The STEM school will focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Animal Control Officer Mark Visyak gave an update on animal control in the area in 2015. Between January 1 and December 31, 2015, animal control made a total of 3,631 calls within the city.  Calls were made in response to 61 aggressive dogs, 99 animal welfare cases and 53 animal bites.  A total of 246 dead animals were picked up and 85 citations were issued throughout the year.

March Is The Real Month For Love

Mark Lee NewBy Pastor Mark Lee

Last month, an estimated $13 billion was spent celebrating Valentine’s Day.  Approximately 200 million roses, 180 million cards, and 58 million pounds of chocolate were purchased in the name of love.  Despite all of the money that consumers shelled out, many people admitted that they were less than enthusiastic about February 14.  In fact, nearly 40 percent of the population did not observe the holiday at all.

Whether they consider it an unnecessary hassle or simply an excuse for consumerism, the detractors are unanimous in their belief that Valentine’s Day has little to do with real love. Even the holiday’s fans would be hard-pressed to deny that it is romance, and not love, that serves as their motivator when booking reservations and buying gifts.  Romance may be all about warm and fuzzy feelings, but love is much more complicated.  It is unconditional, sacrificial, and not based solely on emotions.  Whereas romance is a noun, love is a verb.

So, why write about love in March?  Isn’t Valentine’s Day over?  Aren’t all of the heart-shaped candies on clearance? Sure!  But, this year we will be celebrating Easter on Sunday, March 27.  And, while Valentine’s Day has chocolate and roses, Easter has the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  What greater example of love is there than this?

In Romans 5:8, the apostle Paul wrote “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  The truth is that it doesn’t matter whether your social calendar was booked solid last month, or if you were a member of the broken hearts club.  Who needs a valentine when you have a Savior?

VantagePoint Church meets at Roosevelt High School on Sunday’s at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The Living Hope

Tim Eaton

Tim Eaton

By Pastor Tim Eaton

Perhaps the most important day for Christians the world over, Resurrection Sunday – or Easter – has such profound meaning because it all happened just as Jesus Christ said that it would, and it also showed that He had victory over death. It gave hope to believers as no other event would ever do.
More than 500 witnesses verified that they saw Him after He was placed in the grave and the stone was rolled in place. When the women who loved Jesus went to visit the grave, an angel of the Lord, sitting upon that same stone – now opened – told the women not to be afraid.
In Matthew 28, that angel tells them, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Can you imagine this scene, especially having recently witnessed the crucifixion? Your heart is broken, you’ve come to mourn – and yet you are about to be filled with a miraculous glory in the one true Living Hope. He is risen!
Thanks be to God for our Living Hope. 1 Peter 1:3-4 tell us, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”
Come find out more about our Living Hope by joining us this Easter Season at Edgewater. We will hold a very poignant Good Friday service at 7 p.m. on March 25; and three services on Easter Sunday – beginning with a Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m.; and additional services at 8:00 and 10 a.m. There is something special to share with your family and friends…all happening at Harada Elementary.

Edgewater Lutheran Church meets Sundays at 10 a.m., worshipping at Harada Elementary, 12884 Oakdale Street, Eastvale, CA, 92880; http://www.EdgewaterLutheran.org.

Eastvale Bicycle Master Plan

By Emily Aguilar

EASTVALE– Eastvale, much like other cities, is experiencing a “quality of life issue.” The issue at hand is that citizens are not taking advantage of the opportunity to increase their fitness by riding bicycles instead of relying on their automobiles as their primary source of transportation.

According to Active Living Research, 50% of all car trips taken are to destinations that are three miles or less away from home,  while 65% of all car trips are taken to reach a destination that is under a mile away. It has become evident that cities, including Eastvale, need to develop an alternative transportation plan.

“We lack a bicycle master plan,” argues Manager of Public Works Department, George Alvarez. While bike lanes already exist in the city, studies show that cyclists are hesitant to use them.  One reason is that bicyclists fear they will be involved in a vehicle-cyclist accident; four such accidents occurred last year in Eastvale. This fear then compels bicyclists toward driving their car everywhere they go, instead of riding their bikes. In dealing with this issue, Alvarez has proposed a bicycle master plan to benefit the Eastvale community.

Since most of the city’s streets are two feet wider than the average street, the plan is to increase the width of the cycling lanes, which will give a more pronounced emphasis on the distance between the bike lane and the driving lane in order to assuage the cyclists’ fears of being in an accident. The lanes will be centered in areas near schools or near streets with a posted speed limit of 25 MPH.

In the past two years, the proposal to implement the bicycle master plan has been successful. In 2014, Southern California Association of Governments gave the project an $80,000 grant, and Alvarez has received positive feedback from two community workshop meetings.  On February 24, Alvarez and KTUA consultant John Holloway, who created the blueprint for the plan, attended a city council meeting where they introduced their idea before the council. They presented the plan’s advantages in hopes of being in good standing to receive more federal grant money to fund the project. The presentation clearly illustrated the bike master plan’s benefits, and Eastvale citizens Sydney Quage and Julia Rust, both of whom are avid bikers, expressed their concerns with biking in traffic. Having listened to the presentation, the council decided to approve the construction of the project.

The future looks promising for the bike master plan project, and so does Eastvale’s potential in fitness and alternative transportation.

Eastvale: “Circle City” Electrical Transmission Line Project

 By Valerie Gutierrez

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eastvale: Car Crashes into Home

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, February 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 Place 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.

Stroke Awareness

Staff Reports

According to the CDC, every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke.  In 2008 alone, more than 133,000 Americans died from a stroke, which equates to one person every four minutes-making it the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.  Strokes can affect people of all ages and backgrounds.

Strokes are sometimes called brain attacks.  Strokes happen when a blockage stops the flow of blood to the brain or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorraghic.  Ischemic strokes are caused by blood clots and hemorraghic strokes are caused by bleeds.  The American Heart Association says that ischemic strokes account for 87 percent of all strokes and are usually caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure.

You can lower your risk for stroke, regardless of your background.  Family history, age, sex and ethnicity all play a role in an individual’s stroke risk, but there are still things you can do to help keep yourself healthy.  One of the best preventative measures is to not smoke cigarettes.  Cigarette smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke can thicken the blood and make it more likely to clot, according to the CDC.  Thicker blood flow can lead to increased plaque buildup in your arteries and can damage the blood vessels leading to the brain.
Controlling your blood pressure is also extremely important.  High blood pressure, also called hypertension, increases your risk of stroke and heart attack by weakening and thinning blood vessels, making them more prone to rupture.  More than half of the world’s stroke deaths are caused by elevated blood pressure levels.

Some other proactive measures that you can take to help lower your stroke risk include exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet low in sodium, maintaining a healthy weight and preventing or controlling diabetes.

Stroke.org says there are several treatment options for stroke, depending on the cause of your stroke.  If you are having an ischemic stroke or a stroke that is caused by a blood clot, your doctor may recommend drug treatment that will help dissolve the clot and improve blood flow to your brain.  Another way your doctor may treat your stroke is to use a small mechanical device that removes or breaks-up the clot.  A surgeon will insert the device into the blocked artery using a thin tube. Once inside, the tool traps the clot, and either breaks it up or the surgeon pulls it out of the brain, reopening the blocked blood vessel in the process.

A hemorrhagic stroke (sometimes called a bleed) occurs if an artery in your brain leaks blood or ruptures (breaks open). The first steps in treating a hemorrhagic stroke are to find the cause of bleeding in the brain and then control it. Some of the options for treatments include surgical clips or coils inserted in aneurisms (weaknesses in the blood vessel wall), controlling high blood pressure, and surgery to remove the bleeding vessel and blood that has spilled into the brain.

Medical advances have greatly improved survival rates and recovery from stroke during the last decade. Your chances of survival and recovery outcomes are even better if the stroke is identified and treated immediately.

If you think you are having a stroke, every minute counts. The sooner a patient receives medical treatment, the lower the risk for death or disability. If you or someone you know exhibits the following signs or symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately:

  • Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
  • Confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding.
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
  • Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination.
  • Severe headache with no known cause.
  • Remember, getting immediate medical attention for stroke is crucial to preventing disability and death.

Socially Speaking

By Sarah Sanchez

Time seems to be flying by now that we’re in the month of February. If you missed out on what happened in our community last month, here is a list of what was trending on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/EastvaleCommunityNews) during the month of January.

These trending posts included the following: an Eastvale/Norco Wind Warning, a Big Security Exercise at the Norco Navy Base, DUI Saturation Patrol Results showing a driver under the influence was arrested, the announcement of The Ranch at Eastvale Specific Plan, and the announcement of the new Mayor Pro Tem Joseph Tessari, along with Mayor Ike Bootsma continuing for another term.

The most popular article we posted on social media was about the coyote attacks that had occurred throughout Eastvale. The article talked about what you can do to prevent coyotes from harming your animals and children. If you missed it, read it online at anapr.com.

However, our most “liked” post on social media was about an Eastvale resident who wanted to show gratitude towards an 83-year-old woman named Reba. The resident told us that Reba picks up dog poop that was left behind at the Dairlyand Park. Many residents showed their love for Reba in comments, and many residents reminded Eastvale dog owners to pick up after their dogs.

Our Facebook page (Facebook.com/EastvaleCommunityNews) includes a variety of articles, meetings, city news releases, yard sales, and events posted 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 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!

The Lord God Almighty

Pastor Robert Jewett

Pastor Robert Jewett

By Pastor Robert Jewett

I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. Psalm 77:12–14

When was the last time that you sat still and said nothing while communing with God?  Perhaps you have tried to do so and your mind just runs wild with all the things that need to be done.  God tells us to be still and know that he is God (Psalm 46:10).  It is vitally important that we remember who God is…the Lord God Almighty.

As the Lord God Almighty, he is the one who made the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) As the Lord God Almighty, he is our Maker and the one whom we are to worship and bow down. (Psalm 95:6) As the Lord God Almighty, he is the Alpha and Omega, who is and who was and who is to come. (Revelation 1:8)  As the Lord God Almighty, he has promised to never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)  When we stand in awe of his holiness and greatness, our prayers are filled with thanksgiving and much of our prayers are focused on loving him and loving others. “…Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory…” (Revelation 19:6–7).

Friend, I encourage you today to stop and ponder God’s work and to meditate on his mighty deeds.  The Lord God Almighty is forever faithful so trust and rest in him!

Word of Truth Community Church meets Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at 850 East Parkridge Ave., #110, in Corona. For more information, visit WordOfTruthCC.com.

City of Eastvale Public Safety Commission Meeting

By Nicole Leiva

 

The Eastvale Public Safety Commission Meeting, held on Jan. 26, started with the appointments of a Chair and Vice-Chair to serve through December 2016, Chris Hook and Anwar Khan were appointed.

The meeting proceeded with the Eastvale Police Department giving an overview of their work reaching out to the homeless during the harsh rains, helping to get many people sheltered. The Police Department representative gave a quarterly report on traffic and reported that the Motor Officer program has been successful in reducing traffic accidents. It was also reported that during the holiday season, they gave out 83 citations and arrested six in the Gateway Shopping Center. During the holidays, many people have packages delivered to their homes and this led to burglaries.  On Dec. 8, a police officer patrolling Schleisman Road saw a vehicle with numerous packages.  The officer stopped the driver and discovered the packages were stolen.

Police Lieutenant Scott Forbes gave a presentation on the Electronic Citation Proposal that would make it more efficient to issue a citation. This would allow officers more time to be in the field. The violator will receive court notification a few days after violation and this enforcement will lead to fewer collisions.

The Riverside County Fire Department then presented some statistics regarding the past year.  In 2015, RCFD had an average response time of six minutes for Priority 1 calls, which was a minute shorter than 2014. The Department also had an average of 220 calls per month and 70 false alarms for the 2015 year. Currently, the average response time is under five minutes, but it is anticipated to increase with El Niño. A second fire station is being built in Eastvale and firemen are preparing for El Niño by gathering sandbags and using new smaller, and more equipped emergency trucks. Lastly, the fire and police departments are joining forces to be more efficient in serving the community. The firemen will be participating in training in how to use body armor to enter homes/buildings to rescue victims.

During the City Staff Report, staff presented their findings on how to improve the Mass Communication Emergency Alert System. Considering the warnings about the upcoming El Niño, staff is proposing to enhance the city’s ability to alert its residents of public safety emergencies through text messages and alerts on the City’s webpage. They presented the Commission with a potential company to contract with, Black Board Connect, which can provide services that enhance mass communication. In addition, it would allow them to send non-emergency messages and important community information. This system would be more effective for most residents in Eastvale, which currently has 16,000 households and 30,000 phone numbers. The Commission voted to bring this to the City Council meeting.

The next Public Safety Commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Day to Day Operations at City Hall

Eastvale City Manager Michele Nissen

Eastvale City Manager Michele Nissen

By Michele Nissen, City Manager

If you have ever been to City Hall, you will see that it is bustling with activity. It is my goal to provide everyone who comes in contact with City Hall the best possible customer service.   One of the many reasons Eastvale became a city was to provide better, more efficient services to the community and to have input on land use decisions.

Over the next several months, I would like to introduce you to each department in the City and describe their key roles and responsibilities.  The City’s organizational structure includes:

  • City Council: elected by the residents to set policy for the City;
  • City Attorney: appointed by the City Council to provide legal counsel to City Hall operations;
  • City Manager: appointed by the City Council and responsible for implementing the policy of the City Council and running the day to day operations of the City;
  • Office of the City Manager: responsible for communications, public relations, education/outreach, management analyst functions, economic development, personnel/staffing, human resources, and emergency management;
  • Office of the City Clerk: provides support to City Council, responsible for agendas, minutes, public records requests and records management;
  • Code Enforcement: enforces all private property maintenance issues relative to the Municipal Code to ensure that the City is well-maintained and in compliance with the City’s Municipal Code;
  • Planning/Community Development: responsible for implementation of the General Plan, processing of land use applications and ensuring development is compatible and consistent with the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code;
  • Finance Department: responsible for managing and reporting all financial transactions of the City;
  • Public Works: responsible for maintenance of all infrastructure in the public right of way, City’s capital improvement program, and building permitting/safety;
  • Eastvale Police Department (contract with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department): responsible for public safety;
  • Fire Department (contract with CALFIRE): responsible for fire suppression, emergency medical response and fire protection.

The City has a current population of 60,633 (source: CA Department of Finance).  As you can see from the list above, it is City staff who provide these services and they are critical to the success of the organization.  The City has been extremely prudent and conservative in how it provides the services listed above.  The City currently has eight (8) full-time employees and three (3) part-time employees.  The rest of the staffing needs at City Hall are fulfilled by contract employees through private consulting firms.  Hiring these consulting firms during this time in the City’s history allows us the flexibility to staff the peaks and the valleys according to the workload at City Hall.

There is no staff member within the City organization who does not wear many hats.  When the staff is small, each employee must perform multiple duties in order to get the job done.  I am extremely proud of the staff that we have assembled at City Hall to serve this community.  I am confident that they will continue to provide outstanding service in 2016.

Should you have any questions or comments, City Hall can be reached at (951) 361-0900. City Hall office hours are Monday-Thursday from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm; and we are closed every Friday.  City Hall encourages all residents and visitors to register for e-notification on the City’s website: www.EastvaleCA.gov.   This is a free email notification service that allows subscribers to receive emails from City Hall regarding the latest news, announcements, events, meeting agendas, job posting, RFPs and more.  Subscribers simply register their email address and choose which type of updates they would like to receive from City Hall.  Get connected in 2016 with the City of Eastvale on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Former ERHS Students Sign with NFL

Photo Courtesy of CNUSD ERHS Alumni celebrate their NFL signing (L-R: Superintendent Michael Lin, Austin Hill, Tyler Slavin, Josh Mitchell, and ERHS Principal Jeremy Goins.)

Photo Courtesy of CNUSD
ERHS Alumni celebrate their NFL signing (L-R: Superintendent Michael Lin, Austin Hill, Tyler Slavin, Josh Mitchell, and ERHS Principal Jeremy Goins.)

Courtesy of CNUSD

EASTVALE– Gleaming smiles and new NFL hats were proudly worn by three former Eleanor Roosevelt High School students from the class of 2010, all of whom have signed with teams in the NFL. Austin Hill signed with the Seattle Seahawks, Josh Mitchell with the Indianapolis Colts and Tyler Slavin with the St. Louis Rams.  This marks a significant moment for Roosevelt High School, its football program and the entire CNUSD community. Josh, Austin and Tyler are Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s first athletes to play in the NFL.

During the students’ football career at ERHS, all three players made First Team All-League.  Austin Hill was awarded Riverside County Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player.

The three Roosevelt Alumni were the first graduating class to attend Roosevelt all four years. “When Austin, Josh and Tyler joined the football team, Roosevelt HS football stadium was still under construction, causing them to practice at Harada Park and go to Auburndale Intermediate for weightlifting”, recalls Coach Stacy.

“I am honored to have coached them and it is an honor that they have turned out to be such great young men,” said former ERHS Football coach, Coach Stacy.

Congressional Art Contest

Courtesy of the City of Eastvale

EASTVALE– Congressman Ken Calvert is inviting high school students throughout the 42nd Congressional District to participate in the 34th Annual Congressional Art Competition.

“I am always amazed and inspired by the artistic skills of our students,” said Rep. Calvert. “The Congressional Art Competition is a fantastic way to showcase the talents of young Americans from around the country.”

This year marks the thirty-fourth anniversary of the Congressional Art Competition, An Artistic Discovery. Each year, Members of Congress hold contests within their districts to choose winning pieces of art by high school students. The winning student from each district is invited to Washington, DC for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and will have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Only high school students residing in the 42nd Congressional District may enter. All artwork must be original and two-dimensional, and can be no larger than 28” high x 28” wide x 4” deep when framed.  Acceptable categories include: Paintings, Drawings, Collage, Prints, Mixed Media, Computer generated art, and Photography.  The deadline for submission is Thursday, March 27, 2016.

For more information, please contact Jackie Lansing at (951) 277-0042.

12 Suspects with Outstanding DUI Warrants Caught

Courtesy of the Eastvale P.D.

EASTVALE– Some think if they just don’t show up for a court hearing, the police won’t have the manpower to come find them. If your violation is a DUI, don’t count on it. Eastvale Police Department Officers, with dozens of outstanding arrest warrants, fanned out into neighborhoods in search of high-risk DUI offenders on Jan. 23.  Officers served warrants and arrested 12 offenders who either failed to show up for a court date or violated the terms of their probation in an outstanding DUI case.

“The best bet for anyone with a missed DUI court date is to go to court on their own now,” said Sergeant Bill Davis “If you don’t, that warrant isn’t going away. We’re going to come find you and take you to jail.”

Those caught often face additional jail time for failing to appear in court, or for violating probation. When family, friends, and co-workers find out, violators can also face personal embarrassment as they are lead away in handcuffs.  Sitting in jail and missing work is another problem offenders can face.

Special DUI Warrant Service Operations, along with regularly scheduled ‘High Visibility’ DUI enforcement, has a deterrent effect on those who disregard driving safety and abuse alcohol and drugs. Eastvale P.D. places a high priority on lowering deaths and injuries by removing impaired drivers and heightening awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Californians Meet Water Goals

Courtesy of CA Water Board

SACRAMENTO– Californians have reduced water use by 25.5 percent since June, and are continuing to meet Governor Brown’s 25 percent mandate, despite a decline in the statewide water-savings rate during the last three months of 2015.

In December, the statewide conservation rate was 18.3 percent, down from 20.4 percent in November, compared to the same months in 2013.  A drop in the water conservation rate was expected during the cooler fall and winter months, when Californians use less water and there is less opportunity to save on outdoor water use compared with the hot summer months.   Statewide water use declined from 76 gallons per person per day in November, to 67 gallons in December, the second lowest per-person rate since water use reporting began in June 2014.

Nonetheless, Californians are urged to keep up their efforts to conserve through the winter months.  This includes complying with urban water supplier directives to switch to once-a-week watering schedules, and not using outdoor irrigation during and within 48 hours following a rain event.

“While the recent rains and growing snowpack are wonderful to behold, we won’t know until spring what effect it will have on the bottom line for California’s unprecedented drought,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board.  “Until we can tally that ledger, we have to keep conserving water every way we can.  Every drop saved today is one that we may be very glad we have tomorrow.”

In November 2015, the Governor issued an Executive Order directing the State Water Board to extend and revise the drought emergency water conservation regulations based on conditions through January.

The Road to Humility

Mark Lee NewBy Pastor Mark Lee

As our country prepares to elect the next President of the United States, the men and women vying for the position face off in a series of televised debates.  These verbal battles are where campaigns are bolstered, promises are made, and plans are outlined.  During these events, the candidates’ speaking abilities, political knowledge, and personalities will be on display.  One thing that most likely will not be on display, however, is their humility.  In fact, some people believe a humble politician is a creature as mythical as a unicorn.

Humility isn’t only rare in politics.  Several social commenters have noted that we are stuck in the era of “me, me, me.”  One has to look no further than social media to see that self-promotion is now the norm.  Haven’t we all taken a selfie at some point?  With so much time being spent focusing on ourselves, is humility even possible?

Author C.S. Lewis once wrote “Humility is not thinking less of yourself.  It is thinking of yourself less.”  Common thought is that humble people are weak or lack confidence.  In reality, a humble individual realizes that their talent is a gift, their success was achieved with help, and their strength is tempered with gentleness.  A humble man gives credit where credit is due, acknowledges that he has limitations, and admits when he makes mistakes.

Luke 4:11 says “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  True humility is a journey that we can choose, or be forced, to take.  And, the funny thing about this journey is that as soon as we feel we are reaching our destination, we have moved further from the finish line.

VantagePoint Church meets at Roosevelt High School on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

 

Eastvale Bans Medical Marijuana Cultivation and Dispensaries

By Valerie Gutierrez

Eastvale – Marijuana cultivation, dispensaries and delivery will be prohibited in the City of Eastvale under a new ordinance.

After hearing from patients and marijuana advocates, the Eastvale City Council voted 5-0 on Jan. 20 to approve the first ordinance banning cultivation, dispensaries, distribution and delivery of the drug within the city.

The banning of marijuana comes after Gov. Jerry Brown signed the state’s Medical Marijuana Regulation Safety Act into law last year.  The act was adopted to regulate the medical marijuana industry, which offered cities the power to ban drug-related activities.

“Until the federal law is more explicit on how they will deal with the state, it’s better for us to be on the right side of the federal law,” said Planning Commissioner Daryl Charlson.

Discussions emerged immediately upon banning delivery to medical marijuana patients, who will soon have to travel outside of the city to receive their marijuana prescription.

“One issue I do have with the ordinance of not allowing deliveries within the city is the prevention of marijuana delivery to a patient that might need this, it’s more of a hinderance to that person and the relief that they need” said Mark Burke, a Eastvale resident.

Like many other cities, Eastvale was rushing to take action on the issue of medical marijuana cultivation before March 1, which marks the deadline to accept an ordinance concerning the matter; otherwise the cities would have to operate under the state guidelines.

Despite the dispute, the commission was in agreement that they will not accept dispensaries or cultivation of marijuana in the city, said Commissioner Charlson.

Did You Know?

Holiday Decoration Ticketing Begins

Courtesy of the City of Eastvale

 

EASTVALE– According to Eastvale’s Municipal Code, temporary exterior display and holiday displays may not stay up more than 45 consecutive days.

Eastvale will begin ticketing houses with visible holiday decorations this Monday, February 8, 2016.

If you have any questions, call City Hall at (951) 361-2888.

Eastvale Community News Complete Edition February 2016

2016-02-EastvaleNews-COVERThe Eastvale Community News covers local news for Eastvale, Norco, Corona, and Chino. Click the following link to access the complete issue in pdf format: 2016-02-EastvaleNews-WEB

Eastvale City Council Recap

By Emily Aguilar

Eastvale – While the rest of the world celebrated the arrival of 2016, Eastvale city council members welcomed the new year by addressing exciting legal matters; such as the city amendment regarding marijuana dispensaries, and the selection of the PFM Asset Management LLC as the city’s investment advisor.

The January 13th meeting began with a closed session where the council members dealt with an existing proceeding entitled City of Eastvale v. County of Riverside. After discussing behind closed doors, the council announced that they would not take action on the unnamed case.

The first announcement of the evening was the introduction of the city’s New Fire Paramedic Squad Truck. Justin Schneider, who spoke on behalf of his squad, accompanied the council outside to show them the truck that was purchased. The truck comes with features including open space for the firemen to change into their attire and tools such as the Jaws of Life.

Also introduced this evening were the new Code Enforcement Officer, Avis Hatcher, and Senior Management Analyst, Tamara Irwin. Both women were selected because of their impressive employment history, education, and willingness to work with the city; they are expected to begin work soon.

All items on the consent calendar were motioned. The first request regarding business items for the council was to approve the selection of PFM Assessment LLC Management as the city’s investment advisor. At the moment, Eastvale currently invests funds with the State of California Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) and in Certificates of Deposits (CD’s). However, the city is seeking to improve the annual rate of return fees; thus, the city’s Finance Committee has sought business with PFM Assessment. The fiscal impact of the decision would include 10 basis points for the initial $25 million in assets managed, as well as 8 basis points for the next $25 million. Under this investment advisor, the city is expected to earn 1.12% yearly return fees. The city motioned the approval of this recommendation. Moving on from this item, the council then listened to an update status on the Flood Control Project. During a rainstorm in early January, the Public Works Staff noticed that the intersection between Citrus and Country Fair Drive, and the northeast corner of Hamner Avenue and Limonite Avenue both amassed heavy flooding. Due to the lack of drainage on these streets, the flooding was high enough to spill to other streets and reach over the sidewalks. The city is looking to install water drainages to not only get rid of the excess water, but to conserve it for later use as well. The city hopes to talk to JCSD and develop the water conservation plan soon.

Before concluding the first meeting, the council took a moment to share their committee reports. Council Member Adam Rush reflected on his trip to Washington, where he discussed the construction project on the 15 Freeway. There was also a Southern California Association of Governments meeting held on January 7th, where attendees discussed the possible growth of job employment in local counties. Mayor Ike Bootsma discussed the Fallen Soldiers event he attended, where in which the city council members were complimented for their contribution to respecting the legacy of the soldiers lost in the line of duty.

Two weeks later, on January 27, the second council meeting for January began with Sharon Link’s Community Foundation Update. Link first addressed the issue regarding damaged banners; a failure that is attributed to the company the Foundation hired to handle the banners. While the Foundation is hopeful that the replacement banners will arrive soon, they are also seeking to work with a different company. On a lighter note, the Sponsor Campaign is set to begin soon, a celebration for which fliers will soon be handed out. Also, Link overviewed some events for the upcoming year, including the State of the City event on April 5th.

Following the Community Foundation Update, the council took the opportunity to award Richelle Barrios, Alexia Hernandez, and Yvette Hernandez for volunteering their time to the Spark of Love Toy Drive.

Julia Sung, the Eleanor Roosevelt High School ASB member responsible for the Student Liaison Report, announced that RHIS had held their first Science Fair Exposition, where in which students showcased their science projects. Weeks ago, thirteen Eastvale Elementary students were recognized for academic achievements by the district, a testament to the good education that Eastvale schools deliver. In her final report, Sung announced that ERHS was visited by a business named LCAT, who hope to assist the school in the development of “real life” and “college readiness” programs.

All items were motioned on the consent calendar.

It should be noted that Adam Rush had not arrived when the meeting began, and because the heart of the meeting would be discussing the medical marijuana dispensaries and ordinances (which were initially going to be discussed after the consent calendar items were motioned), the council took a moment to reorganize the agenda items in hopes that Rush would arrive. Thus, the council sat in and listened to item 9.1 under the City Council Business Items: the comprehensive annual financial report for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. The only recommendation for this item was that the council receive and file this information.

The council took a ten minute break hoping that Rush would arrive. He did not, and so the meeting proceeded without him.

In November of 1996, the passage of Proposition 215 legalized marijuana use for patrons who need the drug for health concerns.  Throughout the years, other bills have been introduced to protect these legitimate patrons from legal punishment. Whether or not marijuana use (be it for medical purposes or leisure enjoyment) is questionable on a legal scale, Governor Brown has signed three bills into law, jointly called the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, or MMRSA, which allows California cities and businesses to prohibit the use of medical marijuana as long as the businesses have licenses to prohibit such actions. Brown’s law was taken into effect this year, and cities must conceive an ordinance by March 1st that claims whether or not they would allow the cultivation and use of medical marijuana.

Eastvale has already prohibited the use of marijuana dispensaries, but in the face of the MMRSA bills, the council was asked to motion two ordinances entitled Ordinance 16-03 and Ordinance 16-04, of which the council ultimately chose to motion. The first ordinance was motioned as an urgency ordinance, meaning that 16-03 would be taken into effect immediately; on the contrary, 16-04 was motioned as a non-urgency ordinance. The council chose to motion these two ordinances and prohibit access to medical marijuana under the pretenses that they want to “avoid the risks of criminal activity, degradation of the natural environment, malodorous smells and indoor electrical fire hazards that may result from such activities.”

After this discussion, the council listened to the Staff Reports. It was stated that Eastvale’s police department has organized a Homeless Outreach Team, which seeks help for homeless individuals in the city. As of now, they have reported that while the city has handled problems with panhandlers and other individuals, they debunked the rumor that homeless people were living near river bottoms or other out-of-zone areas.

Before concluding, the council members gave their communications report. Tessari gave an overview regarding the creation of the new STEM academy, stating that the groundbreaking event is set to happen in 2017, with Phase 1 of the construction being completed in 2018. The school will to be built near the Roosevelt campus. Mayor Bootsma shared the fact that the Riverside Transit System has increased the amount of riders over the past year, while other transit systems, such as those in the Los Angeles area, have decreased. Mayor Bootsma also mentioned that the city council members came together to discuss the traffic issue caused by entering and exiting Silver Lakes Park, and are  hoping that the issue can be resolved through further communication and appropriate planning.