Category Archives: News By City

Collegewood Students Join Flashlight Fridays

By Kelli Gile

 WALNUT–Collegewood Elementary 2nd graders are benefitting from an innovating approach to fostering an interest in reading. Every other Friday, students grab a book, a flashlight, and a fruit snack for a special “lights out” silent reading time. Teacher Diane Zell taped black construction paper over the windows as the children settled with book boxes in cozy places around the room during the September 14 session. “They get so excited for this fun activity,” Zell shared. Before the reading began, the teacher flipped off the switch cueing youngsters they could shine the little beams on the ceiling for a five-second light show in the darkness. “It’s one way we make reading uniquely exciting,” she added. On a Flashlight Friday last year, the youngsters unanimously voted as a reward to read to favorite stuffed animals. This year, Zell plans add to the fun by having students bring in blankets and make reading forts below their desks.

Watch out for Fort Flashlight Fridays coming soon at Collegewood!

Breaking Ground

By Mark Hopper

 

Recently, my wife and I were able to attend the Ground Breaking service for Vantage Point Church in Eastvale, California.  Our effort to launch a new church in this new community actually started 15 years ago in January, 2003.

 

Several families from our church had moved to this new community in 2000-2002.  It was called Corona Valley at that time.  Developers were buying up the Dairy Farms in area from Archibald to the 15 Freeway along Lymonite Road. Hundreds of homes were being built at attractive prices.  I often said that you could buy twice the house for half the price in Eastvale.

 

In early 2003, a family from our church asked me if I would help them start a Bible study in their new neighborhood.  Their names were Greg and Carol Crawford.  They invited neighbors and we launched a Bible study in Eastvale in their new home.

 

However, we quickly sensed that we should do more than have a Bible study – we should start a new church in this rapidly growing community.  There were three things we began to pray for – a leader, a location to meet and land for a future church site.

In 2007, God provided two leaders – Mark Lee and Tom Lanning from our church staff in Diamond Bar.  They offered to enlist the people from the Bible study and recruit people from Diamond Bar to launch a new church in Eastvale.   About 40 people banded together to launch this new church.

 

Throughout the summer of 2007, these people worked hard to promote the new church.  They handed out free bottles of cold water to people driving their cars near Hamner and Lymonite.  They gave away free gas and did free car washes to meet people in the community.  In September, they launched preview services once-a-month in a local Middle School.  And, in February 2008, they launched weekly church services with 200 people coming the first Sunday.  As the church grew, they were able to move to the auditorium at Roosevelt High School.  They now have four church services at the high school with about 2,000 people attending each week.

 

The church was able to purchase ten acres of land on Archibald Road just north of the Santa Ana River in Eastvale.  Our church in Diamond Bar gave a generous gift to help with the down payment.  The land had been a dairy farm.  On Sunday, September 29, 2018, church leaders broke ground to begin construction on their new facility.  It was a historic moment with about 1500 people on the property to celebrate and dedicate this land for the future site of Vantage Point Church.

 

It will take time to construct and complete this new facility.  I am sure their will be roadblocks and unforeseen challenges ahead.  This has been a remarkable journey.  We prayed for a leader and God provided two.  We prayed for a location for them to meet in and God provided a Middle School and eventually a High School.  We prayed for land and God provided 10 acres in the middle of this beautiful new community.  We are very thankful.

 

If live near Eastvale and don’t have a church home, I hope you will visit Vantage Point.  You can find information on their services and ministries on their website.  If you live near Diamond Bar, I hope you will visit our church on a Sunday morning.  I think you will be glad you did and we will too!

 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

Efreedb.org

 

City of Walnut to Host 42nd Annual Walnut Family Festival

This year’s highlight will feature FREE attractions for children at the Festival’s Fun Zone

City of Walnut

WALNUT – The 42nd Annual Walnut Family Festival will be held on Saturday, October 13 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Suzanne Park (625 Suzanne Road, Walnut). The Family Festival Opening Procession steps off at 9:00 am from the Walnut Gymnasium and will walk up Gartel Road to Marcon Raod and then into the Festival Grounds at Suzanne Park.

There will be plenty of fun for children at the Festival’s Fun Zone, which will feature FREE attractions including: a rock climbing wall, an inflatable giant maze, a petting zoo, kiddy train ride, games, hands-on art demonstrations, face painting, and other fun inflatables.

The food court will feature booths run by local non-profit groups cooking up delicious food items, while earning money for their worthy causes. In addition, the Walnut Lions Club will be hosting a pancake breakfast from 8:00 am to 10:00 am for early risers.

There will be over 100 booths to visit featuring local businesses, community groups, arts and crafts vendors, City services, environmental information and more.

Parking

  • Walnut High School (400 N. Pierre Rd.)
  • Suzanne Middle School (525 Suzanne Rd.)
  • Walnut Senior Center (21215 La Puente Rd.)
  • LA County Library (21155 La Puente Rd.) – Open to the Public after 11:00 am
  • Walnut Gymnasium (21003 La Puente Rd.) – Open to the Public after 11:00 am
  • Walnut Parking Lot A (20983 La Puente Rd.)

Local Road Closures

  • On Saturday, October 13, due to the Opening Procession, Gartel Road will be closed from La Puente Road to Marcon Road from approximately 8:30 am to 10:30 am.
  • In addition, due to the Festival, Suzanne Rd. will be closed from Macron Road. to Fuerte Dr. from approximately 3:00 pm on Friday, October 12 through 11:00 pm Saturday, October 13.

There’s plenty to see and do at this year’s Festival. For more information, please call Walnut Community Services at (909) 598-5605

 

Walnut High Teacher Goes Above And Beyond To Support Special Needs Student

Photo courtesy: Kelli Gile
Walnut High School junior Bradley Conrad gives his teacher Kirsten Thibeault a thumbs up for a special Lego birthday gift.

Teachers are long known for dipping into their own pockets to provide classroom supplies. This Walnut High educator went a step further for one of her students.

By Kelli Gile

Walnut–Walnut High School teacher, Kirsten Thibeault, usually spends time in the evenings correcting homework and creating lesson plans for her six English courses. On Tuesday night, however, she put aside the schoolwork to sort through boxes and boxes of Lego building blocks, platforms, and characters. Thibeault was motivated to comb through her son’s long outgrown collection to offer a personalized birthday gift to one of her students. “I have this amazing special-needs student named Bradley Conrad who is in my general education College Prep English class,” she said. This is his first time in his high school career the senior has been in this type of English class. “Bradley makes everyone smile, he volunteers for everything, and his optimism is contagious,” she described.

The teen had recently written an essay about how the Thomas the Tank television show along with Lego “guys” help him, and other kids with autism, learn to navigate the world. Conrad also shared with his teacher that his 17th birthday was coming up and he wanted to start a YouTube channel about the railway series. Thibeault mentioned that her son had a ton of unused toys and would he want them? “That would be the greatest birthday present ever!” he replied. After two hours of sorting, the giving educator ended up with a huge plastic box of pirates and knights and dragons and boats along with about 200 additional tiny Lego figurines.

Thibeault made true on her promise and presented the wrapped gift on September 21. She even created a huge birthday card with Lego stickers that all his classmates signed. “I was very surprised!” Conrad said after receiving the thoughtful present. “No other teacher has ever remembered my birthday,” he commented. Conrad came up with the idea to use Lego figurines to create custom characters because they are small enough to fit inside Thomas’ cab and on the wooden train track. “One of the first customs I did was Mr. Fergus Duncan, the railway controller, and his arch nemesias, Mr. Peregrine Percival,” he proudly recalled. “I have a lot of ideas for these new pieces,” he offered.

Conrad is excited because the first period class is already helping him stay on course for plans after graduation. “It’s not just English, Ms. Thibeault is giving life lessons and helping me prep for college!” he said.

 

WVUSD Trustees Appoint Matthew Torres as Assistant Superintendent

By Kelli Gile

Walnut- The Walnut Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Dr. Matthew Torres as Assistant Superintendent of Business Services during the September 19 meeting. The veteran educator brings over 20 years of experience and expertise to his new post. Torres has a strong background in the Business Services Division, serving the past 13 years in the Fruitvale School District in Kern County. Since 2011, Torres successfully led the team as Assistant Superintendent of Business Services and Chief Business Officer (CBO). He has previous administrative experience as Director of BusinessServices, Director of Specially Funded Programs and Evaluation, and Coordinator of Specially Funded Programs.

Torres offers expertise in budget development, position control, categorical program monitoring, municipal bonds, and collective bargaining. “He possesses leadership qualities, technical knowledge of the position, and proven ability to perform effectively in this administrative role,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor. Torres has also served as adjunct professor in a variety of areas in fiscal analysis at California State University, Fresno, California State University, Bakersfield, and Point Loma Nazarene University. Prior to joining the Fiscal Division, he was a fifth-grade teacher at Columbia Elementary in the Fruitvale School District for eight years.

Torres holds a bachelor of arts from Pepperdine University, master’s degree in education leadership from University of La Verne, and doctoral degree in educational leadership at University of Southern California (USC). Additionally, he completed the School Business Management Certificate Program at USC. “This is a chance of a lifetime,” Torres said during the meeting.

“The opportunity to join a District such as Walnut Valley Unified which has proven leadership, a collaborative culture, a rich history of excellence, and a deep commitment to the students, staff and community, is what every educator hopes for,” he added. He and his wife, Tina, will be relocating from Central California. “We’re excited to move to the community!” This appointment fills a vacancy in the department.

 

The City of Chino Names New Public Works Director

Staff Reports 

CHINO – After a competitive process, Amer Jakher has been selected to fill the position of Public Works Director. Mr. Jakher will serve as a key member of the City Manager’s Executive Management Team and will be responsible for the City’s capital improvement projects, traffic operations, fleet management and water distribution.

Mr. Jakher comes to the City of Chino following a 24-year career in public works. He most recently served as the Director of Public Works for the City of Beaumont also in San Bernardino County. Mr. Jakher comes with extensive experience in project and utility management, municipal engineering and public works operations.

Mr. Jakher says “I am honored to join the City of Chino and continue to help drive the city’s efforts in maintaining Chino as a vibrant and welcoming community. I look forward to working with staff and advancing the goals of the City Council in serving the community.”

City Manager Matt Ballantyne added, “Amer’s leadership and extensive public works experience impressed each of our interview panelists and Executive Management Team. I look forward to his assistance in delivering infrastructure projects and serving the needs of our community.”

Mr. Jakher is a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino where he earned a Master of Public Administration. He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University.

Mr. Jakher replaces former Director of Public Works and Assistant City Manager, Jose Alire who retires October 23 after 15 years of service with the City of Chino.

 

Local Community Kicks Off Season of Giving with Operation Christmas Child

By Samaritan’s Purse

 Chino— Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley area residents will gather to kick off the Samaritan’s Purse project’s collection season—packing more than 30,000 shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items. These gift-filled shoeboxes will contribute to the project’s goal of reaching more than 11 million children in Jesus’ Name.

The San Gabriel Valley East Area Operation Christmas Child team invites you to kick off the Operation Christmas Child collection season at their 8th annual countdown event on Saturday, September 29 at Inland Hills Church (14670 Ramona Ave., Chino 91710). The event starts at 10:00 a.m.

Information, updates and Operation Christmas Child supplies will also be provided to equip volunteers to pack shoebox gifts and encourage others to do the same. Shoebox packer Grayson Wade will be sharing about his recent distribution trip to the Philippines. Children are welcome

The Chino drop-off location will be the first stop on a journey across the globe for thousands of gifts packed by local families. Together with the church worldwide, Operation Christmas Child will deliver these gifts to children in need overseas using whatever means necessary—boats, airplanes, trains and even elephants.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (714) 432-7030 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

 

Entertainment

By Mark Hopper

 

My wife and I have eight grandchildren.  The oldest is ten and the youngest will be two in November.  It has been a wonderful experience watching them grow up.  There have been a number of milestones like taking their first steps and saying their first words.  I actually got my name from our first granddaughter.  She couldn’t quite figure out how to say grandpa so she started saying “Pop Pop”.  That has been my name ever since!

Some of our grandchildren live out of the area, so we did not get to experience some of these milestones firsthand.  However, the youngest of the eight lives nearby and we actually babysit her and her older sister once a week.  So we have been able to see some of her first steps and hear some of her first words. In the past few weeks, this little one has started saying a lot of new words and putting some of them into sentences!  She repeats words that she hears from us and her parents and from her olde sister.  We are continually amazed at the words and phrases that she comes up with.

One day we were startled to hear her count from one to ten.  One, two three….and on she went!  I don’t think she actually understands the counting part of what she was saying, but there were the words in the correct order – one to ten!

Another time I asked her to say the word “entertainment”.  I don’t remember where we were, but I just said, “Janie, can you say the word entertainment”?  She did not hesitate.  She repeated the word exactly as I said it!  I think there are three or four syllables in that big word and she got every one of them right.  I should also add that she has leaned some other words quite early – words like “no” and “mine”.  I suspect that your kids and grandkids learned these words too. It is amazing to hear the words that come out of the mouths of young children.  But, I wonder what kind of words do they hear from your mouth?  Do they hear harsh words of criticism and anger?  Or, do they hear kind words and compliments?  Do your words strengthen their confidence or do they sow seeds of insecurity?

There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Do not let any unwholesome words come out of your mouths, but only words that are helpful for encouragaging others” Ephesians 4:29).   I hope your vocabulary is filled with words of affirmation, appreciation and encouragement.   I hope that the words you say to others are not selfish and critical, but kind and thoughtful.  Let me encourage you to watch your words this week.  I hope you will add some new uplifting words of praise and thanks to your vocabulary.  You will be glad you did and others will too!

This article was written by Pastor Mark Hopper, Efree Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd, 909-594-7604, Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM, Efreedb.org

 

 

 

DB Restaurant Week Starts October 5th

Staff Reports

 

Diamond Bar – Local Diamond Bar restaurants will showcase some of their most delicious cuisine in hopes of attracting new patrons when the City holds it’s now popular third annual Diamond Bar Restaurant Week (DBRW). Now, easily one of the Cities’s most anticipated f the two weeks of the year. After 2 straight years of overwhelming response the City will continue the annual soirée. Beginning next week on October 5th and running through the 21st local restaurants will entice your taste buds into trying some of their most delightful dishes. The event attracts people from surrounding areas and gives restaurants from all over the city the chance to show off their new and most popular dishes.

Enjoy the special breakfast, lunch and dinner deals that the restaurants will be offering, the catch is that each place will be holding unique deals. So relax and enjoy “no dishes to do” or “no trash to dump for the day.” There will also be exclusive one time only deals, well at least until next year. Here’s how you can get in on this year’s deals:  There are no advance tickets or coupons to purchase.  Just walk into your favorite participating restaurant and order the “Diamond Bar Restaurant Week Special”. Or if you are the adventurous type, take advantage of the discounts and try out a new restaurant.

This is also a huge opportunity for restaurant owners to bring some new guests into your business. If you would like to participate, the signup fee is $100 that is used towards marketing and advertising efforts. This includes a dedicated website; streetlight pole banners, advertisements in local newspapers, magazines and bus shelters. Promotional materials include posters, window materials and giveaways. To sign up all you need to do is go to http://www.dbrestaurant week.com and click the “Register” button in the top right corner.  Upon signing up, restaurant names are added to the DBRW website and listed on all applicable promotional materials and advertisements.

Aimed at celebrating the diverse dining options that are available within the city limits, DBRW is co-sponsored by the City of Diamond Bar as well as the Regional Chamber of Commerce- San Gabriel Valley. The following restaurants are confirmed participants and will be offering exclusive deals during DBRW: B.R.B. “Bento Rolls Bowls”, Blue Sky Café, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Curry India Bistro, Cuisine of India, Dilliwalla Indian Kitchen, Encore Teppan, It’s a Grind Coffee House, King Bap, Mandarin Taste, Mr. G’s Pizzeria & Pasta, Old Chengdu, Paper Pot Shabu, Peacock Gardens Cuisine of India & Banquet Hall, Round Table Pizza, Snowy Village Korean Dessert Café, The Attic Restaurant and Playground and Paper Pot Shabu to name a few. If you have participated in the past make sure you don’t miss this year and bring a friend.

 

Diamond Bar Students Make Their Mark

Courtesy: Kelli Gile
Dot Day! Quail Summit Elementary third graders, shown with teacher Criss Sykes, create artwork inspired by Kandinsky’s Squares with Concentric Rings watercolor

By Kelli Gile

DIAMOND BAR – Quail Summit Elementary took a spot-on approach to promoting creativity, art, and collaboration during Dot Day held September 14.

“It’s a day where we celebrate making a mark in this word, believing in yourself, and others,” said elementary learning specialist Leann Legind.

The annual event was inspired by the book The Dot by Peter H. Reynoldsabout a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark.”

What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper inspires people around the world to discover the power and potential of creativity in all they do.

“Dot Day is about not fearing creativity, but rather embracing it,” said Principal Frances Weissenberger.

In the past few years, Dot Day has become an international celebration with over 13 million students in 178 countries participating each September.

“Students were so excited to create art on this special day!” Legind said.

The children and staff members arrived at school decked out in polka dot clothing, hats, socks and headbands, with dotted t-shirts and jeans, and even a few spotted faces.

Teachers read The Dot to their students and classrooms created canvas dot art to be featured in a unique gallery.

The Quail Summit youngsters joined an outdoor collaborative art project throughout the day by painting designs on pink, purple, blue, green, green, yellow, orange, and red circles.

Each grade level also had the opportunity to learn about famous artists such as Wassily Kandinsky who created the Squares with Concentric Rings watercolor in 1913.

Third graders in Criss Sykes class painted their own Kandinsky-inspired masterpieces.

“Dot Day inspired me because anyone can draw anything if their heart wants to,” Macie Marquez shared.

“Even simple things can be art and art doesn’t have to be perfect. It teaches us to persevere and never quit,” added classmate Ian Xia.

“We connected the dots at Quail Summit to inspire creative teaching and learning!” Legind said.

 

33 WVUSD Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

By Kelli Gile 

Walnut – Thirty-three Walnut Valley USD seniors from Diamond Bar and Walnut High Schools have been distinguished as 2019 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

Congratulations to the following teens who have been recognized for demonstrating exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies:

Diamond Bar High: Grace Ge, Samantha Hong, Wesley Ip, Christine Lee, Ryan Li, Amy Miyahara, Isaac No, Ashley Pang, Phoebe Scaccia, Andrew Seo, Alice Wang, Yuwen Wang, Keith Wong, Ted Yarmoski, Timothy Yeh, Angela Zhang, Catherine Zhang, and Christine Zhou. 

Walnut High: Angela Cao, Jeremy Chang, Ashley Chen, Flora Jin, Karen Liu, Amy Lo, Dylan Song, Jordin Wang, Justin Wang, Christopher Yang, Michelle Yee, Tiffany Yeh, Brandon Young, Alice Zhang, and Angela Zhu.

 “We are extremely proud of these 33 seniors for receiving this nationwide honor!” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor.

 “This level of success is a testament to the caliber of educational experience they are receiving at our high schools each and every day.”
More than 1.6 million students entered the Merit Program as juniors by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

High scorers were designated semifinalists, representing less than 1% of the state’s graduating class.

In total, just over 16,000 talented seniors qualified nationwide.

These students will continue to compete for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships that will be offered in the spring.

The WVUSD senior scholars will advance to the finalist level upon completion of additional requirements.

They must maintain an outstanding academic record throughout their senior year, be endorsed and recommended by their principal, submit SAT scores that confirm their earlier qualifying test, and complete an essay and scholarship application detailing their leadership and community activities.

The 2019 National Merit Scholarships will be awarded beginning in April and concluding in July.

 

Draft Environmental Impact Report Available

City Of Eastvale

Eastvale – This notice is hereby given that the City of Eastvale has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which is being distributed for public review pursuant to the California Public Resources Code and the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (CEQA Guidelines). The City is the Lead Agency for the proposed project.

Project Title: Project No. PLN18-20026 – The Merge Retail and Light Industrial Development by Orbis Real Estate Partners [SCH No. 2018061065]

Project Location: The Project is located in the City of Eastvale, and within Riverside County, California. Specifically, it is located at the northeasterly corner of Limonite Avenue and Archibald Avenue.

Project Description: The proposed Project would involve the development of a commercial/retail and light industrial center on an approximately 26.28-acre site. The proposed entitlements are as follows:

CEQA Compliance/EIR Certification. The City must certify the EIR prior to, or concurrent with, any approval of the Project.

General Plan Amendment on 10.8 acres to change the land use designation from Light Industrial (LI) to Commercial Retail (CR) to facilitate a proposed change of zone (see below).

Change of Zone on 10.8 acres from Heavy Agricultural (A-2) to General Commercial (C-1/C-P); and on 15.4 acres from Heavy Agricultural (A‐2) to Industrial Park (I‐P).

Major Development Review for the development of 71,100 square feet of commercial retail buildings and 336,501 square feet of light industrial/warehouse buildings.

Tentative Parcel Map to subdivide the 15.4 acres of land with the LI zone into eight (8) parcels, and to subdivide the 10.8 acres of land with the CR zone into between eight (8) and ten (10) parcels plus common area.

Conditional Use Permits for the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption, and for drive-throughs including restaurants, car washes, and a drugstore pick-up window.

Variance to Eastvale Municipal Code Section 120.05.040 to allow for landscape reductions/modifications consistent with Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission recommendations.

Government Code Section 65962.5: The Project site is not located on a site which is included in a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5. As part of the Project Phase I ESA, a search of selected government databases was conducted using the EDR Radius Report environmental database report system. The Project site does not appear on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) or the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5.

Environmental Topics Evaluated: The Draft EIR examines the potential impacts generated by the proposed project in relation to the following environmental topics: Land Use and Planning; Transportation/Traffic; Air Quality; Global Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Noise; Geology and Soils; Hazards and Hazardous Materials; Hydrology and Water Quality; Cultural Resources/Tribal Resources; and Public Services and Utilities.

Significant Environmental Impacts: Based on the analysis in the Draft EIR, the Project would have significant and unavoidable impacts to air quality, GHG emissions, and traffic and circulation, as identified below and described in detail in DEIR Sections 4.3, 4.4, and 4.2, respectively.

Air Quality:

NOx Regional Threshold Exceedance (Operational-Source)

Contributions to Non-Attainment Conditions

AQMP Inconsistency

 GHG Emissions:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

SCAQMD MTCO2e Threshold Exceedance

Traffic:

Existing, Opening Year, and Horizon Year Intersection and Roadway Segment Level of Service (LOS) ImpactsHorizon Year Freeway Ramp Merge/Diverge Areas LOS Impacts

Horizon Year Freeway Ramp Merge/Diverge Areas LOS Impacts

Reviewing Locations: The Draft EIR can be accessed on the City website at:  http://www.eastvaleca.gov/city-hall/planning/environmental-documents.

Copies of the Draft EIR are available for review at the following locations during regular business hours:

Eastvale City Hall, 12363 Limonite Ave., Suite 910, Eastvale, CA 91752; Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; (951) 703-4421.

Eastvale Library, 7447 Scholar Way, Eastvale, CA 92880; Monday – Wednesday 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This branch is closed Friday and Sunday; (951) 703-4421.

Riverside County Clerk, 2720 Gateway Drive, Riverside, CA 92507; Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., (951) 486-7000.

Public Comment Period: The Draft EIR and its technical studies are available for the CEQA required 45-day public review and comment period from Tuesday, September 18, 2018 through Friday, November 2, 2018.

Written comments on the Draft EIR and technical studies must be received no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, November 2, 2018.  Please submit comments to:

Eric Norris, Planning Director

Planning Department

City of Eastvale

12363 Limonite Avenue, Suite 910

Eastvale, CA 91752

Email:  enorris@eastvaleca.gov

 

Go Human to Connecting Chino Community Festival

Photo: gohumansocal.org
Connecting Chino will showcase street improvements around the Chino Community Building on B Street, Eleventh Street and Twelfth Street that will make it safer for people to bike and walk in Chino.

City of Chino

Chino – The City of Chino and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Go Human campaign invite residents and visitors to bike, walk, skate or roll to Connecting Chino, a free open streets event to be held on Saturday, September 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The goal of the event is to allow residents and visitors to preview and test out planned street improvements included in the Chino Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.

 

Connecting Chino will showcase street improvements around the Chino Community Building on B Street, Eleventh Street and Twelfth Street that will make it safer for people to bike and walk in Chino. The plan calls for a network of bicycle boulevards, or “neighborhood greenways,” which consist of street signage and pavement markings that clearly indicate that bicyclists share the road with drivers in residential areas. The bicycle and pedestrian improvements will increase connectivity for people accessing neighborhood destinations such as transit stops, local parks and schools.

 

“I am proud of the City of Chino’s commitment to make Chino a cycling and pedestrian friendly city by improving and increasing the number of safe bicycle lanes in the community. Thanks to this partnership with SCAG, the community will have the opportunity to experience what some of these improvements will look like,” said Chino Mayor Eunice Ulloa.

 

Connecting Chino will bring together family, friends and neighbors to enjoy free activities including a kids’ bike skills workshop, bicycle repair, live entertainment and dance performances, an obstacle course bounce house, a community barbeque, a health and wellness fair, giveaways and more. Attendees are encouraged to attend this free community event on foot or by bike, scooter or skateboard.

Chino Mayor Eunice Ulloa and SCAG Regional Council Member Ray Marquez will speak at a brief kickoff event on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on the main stage adjacent to the Tenth Street Park playground. California State Assembly Member Freddie Rodriguez and San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman will also be in attendance.

 

SCAG’s Go Human campaign is working with cities and counties across Southern California to develop open streets events and safety demonstration projects, such as Connecting Chino, which promote safety while encouraging people to walk and bike more.

 

“To date, Go Human has supported 22 demonstration events in cities across the Southern California region and is committed to hosting an additional five events this year,” said SCAG President Alan D. Wapner. “Making it safer to bike and walk to local destinations not only boosts local economies, but it also expands mobility options beyond driving.”

 

Connecting Chino is the product of a partnership between the City of Chino, Clean Transportation Funding – Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committeeand SCAG’s Go Human campaign. For more information, visit GoHumanSoCal.org/ConnectingChino.

Illegal Marijuana Grow Inside Vacant Home

Photo: Pomona Police Department
A very strong and clear odor of marijuana was emitting from an open window of the house. As the Officers continued the safety check, they observed what they believed were very clear signs of marijuana growing at the location.

By Anthony Saude
Pomona – On Tuesday, September 18th at 11:44am, the Pomona Police Department Patrol Division received a call about a possible fire in a residential area. Officers were dispatched to the scene and upon arrival they discovered a downed power line. The power line let to a residence at 1055 Groff St.

At that time the Officers began a search by conducting a routine safety check of the address. What they found was a house that appeared to be a vacant. A very strong and clear odor of marijuana was emitting from an open window of the house. As the Officers continued the safety check, they observed what they believed were very clear signs of marijuana growing at the location. They promptly contacted the Special Investigations Unit.

The Investigators responded and assessed the residence. A search warrant was requested, obtained and executed by the Special Investigations team. When inside the team discovered the house had been modified to accommodate a medium size indoor marijuana grow. The location was processed and more than 500 marijuana plants were recovered. The City of Pomona prohibits large commercial cannabis growing, which is defined as anything more than 6 plants at a residence.

The home was red-tagged as unsafe to occupy and the electricity was disconnected by Southern California Edison to prevent the possible fire.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Three Generatons

By Mark Hopper

My wife and I grew up in the Phoenix area. When we were young, our parents took us to Southern California for summer vacation. We didn’t know each other at the time, but our families went to a lot of the same places like San Diego, Mission Beach, Sea World and Disneyland.

After we got married and settled in Tucson, Arizona, we brought our own children to Southern California, too. It was a big deal for us to take our four kids to San Diego, Mission Bay and the San Diego Zoo. On a few special occasions, we brought them to Disneyland. One of our favorite family memories was packing their suit cases while our kids slept and then picking them up at school and driving out of town as they tried to guess where we were going. We will never forget their shouts of excitement when they discovered we were going to Disneyland.

Now, there is a third generation of Hopper kids and grandkids that have enjoyed going to Disneyland together. Recently we went with six of our grandchildren and their parents to the Magic Kingdom.  It is fun to see the excitement and wonder in their eyes and in their voices. There is no place like Disneyland!

The younger members of our family prefer rides like Dumbo, Peter Pan and the Tea Cups. Their parents like to try more adventurous rides like Indians Jones, Runaway Mine Train and Star Tours. The grandparents enjoy more mellow rides like the Monorail, Mark Twain steam boat; it’s a Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Everyone enjoyed the Pixar Parade and the Fireworks display. My wife and our daughters managed to do a little shopping and we found time for some good food and snacks, too. It was a memorable day for our family.

Our budget doesn’t allow us to go to Disneyland very often and your budget may not either. But, I do think it is priceless to make some memories with our family from time to time. They were glad we did and we were too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

By Jeremy Mercer

Our country is more divided than it’s been since the Civil War. With politics creeping into every facet of our lives, from sports to movies to even the church, America is a divided nation. I’m a problem-solver. I always seek to understand so I can find solutions. My thoughts go to an important verse in the Bible. First Corinthians 1:10 powerfully says, “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”

 

For human beings, this is often very challenging. However, the Word of God gives us this instruction because (1) it’s what God wants for us, (2) we need to hear it, and (3) by the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, IT IS POSSIBLE! God would never ask us to do something that we could not accomplish. But God DID instruct us to live this way so it IS something we can do.

 

We must allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6), to forgive each other, and to bring us into true unity, as God wants for His church to be. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Imagine if we lived that!

 

I believe the church is to be the answer, or rather, to be an example of the answer to the world. Jesus did tell us, after all, to be “salt and light.” (Matthew 5:13-16). We must each choose this. I am choosing this. Will you choose this with me?

Jeremy Mercer is the lead Pastor at Connection Church in Corona California

Location: 1441 E. 6th Street, Corona, CA 92879

Phone (951) 737-2822

Email office@connectcorona.com

Service Time: 10:30 am Sunday

The Overwhelming, Never Ending, TOUGH Love Of God

By Rohmon Merchant

“Nobody feels sorry for you!”, that is an actual statement I say to myself almost as a daily declaration. It is a way to motivate myself to live life on a grander scale, and when I feel overwhelmed and frustrated to realize, “Hey, man of faith! Yes you, the one who made a conscience decision to spend the rest of your days walking by faith and not by sight! Are you really going to sit here and feel sorry for yourself” Trust me, it’s much easier said than done, especially when you find more and more people have found a way to experience both the spoils of their selfish ambitions and sanctity of their Christians beliefs. I will venture to say when difficult times comes to those people (and it comes to everyone) their true understanding of God truly shows and it becomes a testimony or lack of. One of Jesus’ greatest traits is his compassion for people, and what we are starting to see more of, is that people seem to confuse compassion for pity. When I hear people speak to me on what they are believing God for, or how they believe God see’s their situation; it shows that there is a level of thought that God would change their situation “just cause” or “God wouldn’t let that happen to me” attitude. Could it be that God feels sorry for us? Your walk with God should be that, a walk, a continual progression through life. If we are always focused on our self, then when problems come we could look to God like a superhero that would change everything without anything from us. Not saying he needs us to help in any way, but God does want us to walk through our freedom and healing, because he doesn’t feel sorry for us but because he has compassion for us.

For example, Jesus went to a blind man from birth, took mud in his hands spit in it and rubbed it in the man’s eyes, then told him to find a certain body of water and wash his own face off. If God had pity for him there wouldn’t be an encouraging course of action that is connected to his faith. Christ didn’t make it simple for him, he can’t see, getting around his town would be tasking. How then is he to get up, find Bethesda, and wash his face, with mud and spit dripping from his eyes. Its sounds insensitive but Gods healing is always manifested more through the strong and not the ones who see themselves as the victim. That’s not just one time, we hear it after a lot of Jesus’ miracles, “Take up your bed and walk!”, “Remove those death Clothes!”, “Go home to your daughter, and do not fear!” We hear it frequently, through the scriptures and we can see that the Lord not only asks us to do tough things, but through those moments is where we find the power behind Christs love. His overwhelming, never ending, tough love of God. (see what I did there?) Instead of merely feeling sorry for us, Jesus moves us into action. He uses these moments to get our minds off of our self and our problems, and he motivates us to do something about it. I know it sounds like I’m being tough, but they are a lot of people who waste so much time staying in their woes waiting for God to finally feel sorry for them, when in reality “tough love” is what Jesus often used to set people free.

 

Norco Holds Elections Nov. 6

Staff Reports

Norco –The City of Norco encourages all residents to go out and vote, as two seats are up on the City Council this year.

The City of Norco utilizes an  at-large election system in which registered voters from the entire City choose each of the five City Council Members. On November 6, two City Council seats currently held by Kevin Bash and Greg Newton and are up for election. Five residents are vying for those seats, included with Bash and Newton the other candidates are Rob Koziel, Rod Taylor and Travis Walsh. The City Clerk is the local elections administrator and coordinates with the County of Riverside in the conduct of Municipal elections. This includes, but is not limited to, the preparation of necessary resolutions calling for General and Special Municipal Elections and declaring the result of the election, the coordination of the candidate nomination process and the receipt and processing of initiative, referendum and recall petitions. Regular elections are consolidated with statewide elections, scheduled on the first Tuesday of November of even numbered years to fill expired City Council terms. All election services are provided according the California Elections Code, according to the city of Norco’s website.

City Council members are elected at-large for a four year term. Council Members serve “staggered” terms, meaning that either 2 or 3 seats are open for election every two years. Council Members receive $550 per month stipend as compensation for their service.

Any member of the public who meets the following requirements may run for public office in the City of Norco. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and be a registered voter in the City of Norco at the time the nomination papers are issued. In order to become a candidate, the first step in the process is to file a Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 501: Candidate Intention Statement. File Form 501 with the City Clerk before receiving or spending funds. Form 501 can be filed with the City Clerk prior to the official Nomination Period. Each candidate must file an original Form 501 with the City Clerk. The only exception is if no funds are raised and the only expenditure made is from personal funds for a candidate’s statement. Candidates must file the Form 501 before receiving or spending monies or opening a bank account. Candidates who receive any monetary contributions from others, or contribute $2,000 or more in personal funds to their campaigns, must still open a campaign bank account. The form may be obtained from the City Clerk or from FPPC’s website at www.fppc.ca.gov. The City Clerk will issue your Nomination Paper and Candidate Packet during the Nomination Period. The process to issue nomination papers takes approximately 30 minutes. Please note, you must be a registered voter in the City of Norco at the time the nomination papers are issued. A filing fee of $25 is paid to the City of Norco when nomination papers are pulled.

Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10220, qualified candidates may be issued and file nomination papers during the nomination period. Candidates are nominated by no less than 20 registered voters of the City of Norco.

Voter registration forms are available at all public libraries, post offices and City Hall. To receive a registration form by mail, please call the Riverside County Registrar of Voters office at (951) 486-7200 or the City Clerk’s office at (951) 735-3900. Completed registration forms can be hand-delivered to the Registrar’s office located at 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside, CA 92507 or 2870 Clark Ave, Norco, CA 92860or dropped off in any U.S. mailbox. No postage is necessary. For additional voter registration information visit www.voteinfo.net. (most information courtesy of the City of Eastvale)

 

Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza

Photo by: Eliseo Canete
Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza is located at:
14268 Schleisman Rd Ste. 400, Eastvale CA 92880
Call (951) 737-7272 or Visit http://www.papamurphys.com for more info or to place an order.

By Anthony Saude

Eastvale-Pizza is in this country about as American as Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. I have heard and even said, jokingly, you can’t trust anybody that doesn’t like pizza.

 

Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza is a one of a kind pizza experience. Each pizza is created with only the finest fresh ingredients, delivered daily. The dough is made from scratch every day, only 100% whole milk mozzarella hand grated, organic hormone free chicken, hand cut veggies and love are used to create a pizza fit for a king to take home to your family’s castle.

 

Papa Murphy’s is the fifth largest pizza franchise in the world, Tammy Tubbs the owner and operator of the location in Eastvale has been a fan for over 20 years. She likes to joke that they are “the biggest little pizza chain that you have never heard of.” Tubbs has fond memories of Friday nights as a child spent eating Papa Murphy’s pizza and playing cards or dominos with her sisters.

 

“We have contributed over $26,000 to elementary and high schools, churches, charities and countless fundraising drives over the years,” said Tubbs. Support your local small business to ensure we can continue to support the community for years to com.

 

Tubbs was an active duty officer in the United States Air Force from 1999 to 2007 as a human resource and acquisition officer, stationed across the southwest, including Luke Air Force Base and The Space and Missile Systems Center. In 2007, when she separated from the Air Force she built a very successful defense contracting company in El Segundo.

 

While visiting Northern California with her family, she realized how much she missed her favorite Papa Murphy’s Chicken Bacon Artichoke pizza. That was when she realized the Inland Empire had nothing that came close to the freshness and quality she grew to love. It was that very night she told her husband she was quitting her job and opening Papa Murphy’s in Eastvale. Nine months later she was open and making pizzas with 22 employees all local hires from Eastvale and Chino. The rest, as they say, is history. We

 

Papa Murphy’s has traditional and gourmet pizza options. They prepare it and you take it home to cook it exactly how YOU like to enjoy your pizza. Fresh salads and desserts made from scratch every morning are also available for your dining pleasure. Great quality, great value and the number one ranked customer service in the industry are the essential core values to Papa Murphy’s and the Air Force veteran. “I wanted to bring families back to the dinner table through food people love,” said Tubbs.

 

For great deals any time visit their website http://www.papamurphys.com. An Eastvale favorite is $10 Tuesday when you can get any large pizza on the menu for $10. You can get 1 large gourmet thin crust, 1 topping pizza on select Fridays for only $5. If you place order online you can receive 25%  off your order of $20 or more with the promotional code “25THANKS” now through September 23, 2018.

 

Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’Bake Pizza is located at:

14268 Schleisman Rd Ste. 400, Eastvale CA 92880

You can call (951) 737-7272 for more info or to place an order.

Avant-Garde FFA is Making a Difference in Foster Care

By Cindy White

Corona – With thousands of children in foster care in the Inland Empire, it’s imperative that quality resource homes be established to provide a safe, loving environment for children in the foster care system, many who have been abused and neglected. Avant-Garde Foster Family Agency carefully evaluates applicants before placing children in their care, eliminating the undesirable turnover common with foster care. For sixteen years, Greg Estravit, CEO and Founder of Avant-Garde Foster Family Agency has been passionate about placing foster youth in the best possible home environments.

 

Once an approved applicant passes the background check and home study, they become part of the Avant-Garde Foster Family community. It can take some counties several months to sign off a new resource parent, so patience with the process is a must. Avant-Garde encourages those resource parents waiting for a placement to spend that time serving in any number of volunteer opportunities with the agency.

 

Estravit says, “We respect our foster parents and consider them family. We’re all on the same team.” Estravit discovered his passion for helping children after the profound experience of the birth of his own daughter.

 

Under the direction and oversight of CEO Greg Estravit and Administrator Phyllis Smith, M.S., Avant-Garde FFA is in the final stages of receiving their accreditation designation. “As mandated by the State of California, accreditation has been a difficult process. However, I see the importance of it as we’re held to a higher standard for the sake of the children.,” Smith says.

 

Avant-Garde has begun their Christmas Drive, requesting new toys, gifts, and financial donations that go directly to purchasing gifts for the kids. 100% of all donations go directly to the children. “It’s all about the kids,” says Estravit. The Christmas party for the foster families is one of the most significant events of the year.

 

Avant-Garde Foster Family Agency is a private, non-Profit 501(c)3 community service organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and youth in foster care. They currently serve Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties. The office is located at 1655 East 6th St. Suite A-4C, Corona, CA  92879.

 

For more information about becoming a resource parent, volunteer opportunities, or donation needs, call 919-735-5300 or visit their website at www.avgffa.org.