Category Archives: News By City

Walnut High And Mt. SAC Threatened With Bomb

Photo by: Louie Ortega Mt. SAC students evacuate the campus after a bomb threat.

Photo by: Louie Ortega
Mt. SAC students evacuate the campus after a bomb threat.

By Lyn Taylor

 

WALNUT–  A threatening note claiming that a bomb was going to be set off at two Walnut campuses forced the lock down and evacuation of Walnut High School and Mt. SAC college on Thursday, March 24.

A note was found by students in the boys’ bathroom at Walnut High around 10:30 a.m., according to Walnut Valley Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Matthew Witmer.  Written in red ink, the note stated that bombs would be blown up at the school and at Mt. SAC at 2:45 p.m. The writer ended the note with, “God be with you all.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was contacted and Walnut High was put on lock-down.  Mt. SAC’s officials decided to evacuate the campus because of its close proximity to Walnut High.

An emergency alert text message was sent to Mt. SAC students around 11:30 a.m., according to campus spokeswoman Jill Dolan. The text read, “Report of a threat to campus at 2:45 p.m.  Calmly leave the campus. Classes and services are closed until at least 4:30 p.m. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

Deputies and K-9 officers searched both schools with bomb-sniffing dogs before clearing the campuses, according to L.A. Sheriff Department’s Lt. John Saleeby.  Classes resumed at Mt. SAC at 4:30 p.m.

Mt. SAC is the largest community college in the nation with more than 12,000 full-time students.  Although police were directing traffic, roads were crowded and traffic was snarled as thousands tried to leave campus.  Many students complained on social media that it took over an hour to evacuate due to the traffic conditions.  Foothill Transit ordered extra busses to be dispatched to Mt. SAC to help with the evacuation.

Eastvale Community Camp Out Almost Here!

Staff Reports

EASTVALE– Start looking for your camping gear, it is almost time for Eastvale’s Community Camp Out!

Come to Harada Heritage Park on April 9 for a fun family night of camping with your Eastvale neighbors.  The camp out will start at 4 p.m. and end at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 10.

There will be family games and crafts, campfire songs, dinner, s’mores and a continental breakfast in the morning.

Registration is $15 per person.  You can register your family online at parks.jcsd.us.

Make sure to bring your tents and sleeping bags; motorhomes are not permitted.  For more information, call (951) 727- 3524.

Taking The Bus

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

 

I was traveling out of town recently, and I decided to take the bus and metro train back to the airport.  Several people had offered to help me get to the airport, but I thought I could make it on my own.

I went online and checked the bus and metro routes in my area.  The bus ran every 30 minutes and would connect me to the metro train that went to the airport. I walked with my small red suitcase to the bus stop and got there in plenty of time.  Another bus rider assured me that this was the right stop for my bus and that it came every 30 minutes.

When the bus did not come on schedule, my fellow rider was concerned.  This never happened.  The bus was very reliable.  I called the “800” number posted at the bus stop to see what was wrong and was reassured by an impersonal computer voice that my bus would be on time.

Remember, I had a plane to catch and the clock was ticking.  I called the bus line’s “800” number again and finally talked with a real person.  They informed me that there had been mechanical trouble and the next bus would arrive in half an hour.

My previous relaxed composure was gradually changing to anxiety.  Why did I take the bus?  Why didn’t I accept the offers from others to drive me to the airport?  Now I was too embarrassed to call someone for a ride.  I had already declined their offers.  Now, the clock was ticking.  This seemed like a good time to pray and ask for God’s help!

Did I mention that while I was walking to the bus stop, earlier in the morning, that an airport shuttle van had actually pulled into the neighborhood?  What are the odds that a van taking people to the airport was driving through my neighborhood while I was walking to the bus stop to get to the airport?  Was this God sending me help because He knew I was going to need it and yet I refused to recognize it?

I actually walked over to the shuttle van to ask if there was room in his van for me and how much it would cost. Yes, there was room for me, but when I heard the price I knew I could save a lot of money taking the bus and then the metro train.  Little did I know that the price (and peace of mind) of the shuttle van would be a lot less than the price and stress of possibly having to buy a new plane ticket!

While I was waiting for over an hour, the same blue airport shuttle van, with the same driver that I talked to earlier, actually drove right by my bus stop.  I am sure that the shuttle driver smiled as he recognized the stingy guy with the red suitcase.  If I had seen him coming, I would have probably waved for him to stop and rescue me.

My bus did finally arrive.  It was over an hour late.  When I tried to purchase a bus pass that would include the metro to the airport, the driver told me that the machine was broken. Not the best day to choose to ride the bus.

I did finally make it to airport and I did catch my plane, but it was close.

One thing that I learned is that there are nice people on the bus. Every person said “thank you” to the driver as they got off of the bus.  The people on the bus were grateful for the ride.  People in their cars are often grumpy, not grateful.  I also learned to be thankful for my own car and how I so often take for granted the convenience of car ownership.

I was reminded that maybe I need to be more willing to let others help me.  Why did I say “no” when people offered to take me to the airport?  Maybe I need to learn to say “yes” and “thanks” when help is available.

And, maybe I need to learn how to use Uber!

Golf With Your Local Sheriffs In Chino Hills

By Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club

CHINO HILLS – The Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club will host a golf tournament in honor of the sheriff department’s 150 volunteers next month.
The tournament will begin at 11:30 a.m. April 4 at the Western Hills Country Club, 1800 Carbon Canyon Rd., in Chino Hills. A luncheon will immediately follow the tournament.

“Thousands of hours are donated annually by our department’s volunteers, explorers, reserves and disaster communication specialists,” Captain Jeff Scroggin said.  “From vacation checks and traffic control to color guard and keeping disaster communication equipment ready in case of emergency, these are a few of the many services they provide the community.”
Prizes for the longest drive, closest to the pin and hole-in-one will be awarded during the luncheon. The cost for a single player is $100. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Platinum sponsor – $3,000- Includes 16 players/four teams, recognition during the awards luncheon, repeated advertising of your company in Our Weekly newspaper and during the tournament, name placement on event signage and a recognition certificate from the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club.
Gold sponsor – $2,000- Includes 8 players/two teams, recognition in Our Weekly newspaper, recognition during the awards luncheon, name placement on event signage and a recognition certificate from the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club.
Silver sponsor – $1,000-Includes one team of four players and a recognition certificate from the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club.
Other sponsorship opportunities include: beverage cart for $1,000, hole-in-one sponsor for $500, goodie bag sponsor for $500, closest-to-the-pin sponsor for $400, and tee sign sponsorship for $100.
Captain Scroggin encourages community members to join this fun and meaningful tournament to continue to help provide the needed uniforms and equipment to the people who volunteer their time to improve the service and security to the cities of Walnut and Diamond Bar, and the unincorporated communities of Rowland Heights, Covina Hills and West Covina.

For information and reservations, contact Sgt. Mark Saldecke, volunteer coordinator, at (909) 595-2264, mcsaldec@lasd.org or Gil Rivera, booster club member at (909) 967-4525, GRiveraEmail@gmail.com.

Traditional Chinese Cuisine On The Menu At Mandarin Taste

See their ad in this issue of the Weekly News for coupons and specials. For more information, call (909) 861-1819 or just stop by their location at 23391 E. Golden Springs Drive, in Diamond Bar.

Mandarin Taste is located at 23391 E. Golden Springs Drive, in Diamond Bar. For reservations, call (909) 861-1819. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Staff Reports

Diamond Bar – If you are looking for a wonderful meal, look no farther than Diamond Bar’s most authentic Chinese restaurant, Mandarin Taste. For over 32 years, Mandarin Taste has brought quality service and traditional Chinese cuisine to the Diamond Bar community.

The restaurant has thrived because of the many mouth-watering dishes it serves and the family-friendly atmosphere that keeps people coming back for more. Skip slaving over the stove all day, or cooking after a long day at the office. Mandarin Taste hopes to make every day less stressful and more enjoyable for you while you feast and share memories with your loved ones.

From Peking duck and Hunan lamb to customer-favorites pork fried rice, wonton soup and orange-flavored chicken, guests will definitely feel lucky getting their grub on at Mandarin Taste. There’s an abundance of tasty food options to satisfy every palate.

The restaurant’s owners and staff want everyone who comes to their establishment to relax and enjoy themselves over the delectable food.

“We’re like a family restaurant,” said restaurant manager Chi Young, when describing the feeling that customers get when visiting the long-lasting eatery.

“People are always smiling [here],” said Young.

The restaurant holds a very popular champagne brunch on Sundays.  The champagne is all-you-can-drink and freshly made California rolls, made by a Japanese master chef, have been added to the menu.  All-you-can-eat buffets are available as well.

Mandarin Taste also serves traditional and specialty cocktails. Join them during Happy Hour, held Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. If customers can’t come in to enjoy the pleasant ambience, they have the option to order food for carryout. Share the love and give your family and friends Mandarin Taste gift certificates, available year round!

For more information, please call (909) 861-1819, or just stop by their location at 23391 E. Golden Springs Drive, Diamond Bar.

Castle Rock Hosts ‘Oscar’ Ceremony For Favorite Books

Photo courtesy of WVUSD

Photo courtesy of WVUSD
Adventures in Wonderland won for Best Classic Book during Castle Rock Elementary’s B’Oscars. Shown:Students Natalie Schaffer and Jolie Escalante accept the gold award.

By Kelli Gile

 

DIAMOND BAR– Castle Rock Elementary fifth-grade students recently walked the red carpet at their very own Academy Awards, when they hosted a Hollywood-style awards show for their favorite books, authors, series, illustrators, and more during the annual Oscars for Books, coined the “B’Oscars.”

Parents lined the walkway like proud paparazzi, clapping and snapping photos as honorees entered the Diamond Bar High School theatre.  Classmates dressed up as the winning characters and bookish peeps took to the stage to accept the tiny gold statues in twelve categories.

“The B’Oscars is such a fantastic way to excite not only our 5th grade students but our entire school with the love of reading.  They can’t wait to hear who the winners are!” said Principal Dr. Resma Byrne.

Each class nominated five books in each category in preparation for the celebration of reading.

Teacher Jorge Arauz then combined all the submissions and organized the student voting.

During the March 3 event, four students wearing black suits and sunglasses focused on keeping security tight as they delivered top-secret winning names on stage.  All students in the show auditioned for their roles as presenters and book characters and wrote clever descriptions and comments to deliver on stage.

“Reading at Castle Rock means a lot to all students. It is a passport to distant lands!” said 5th grader Rachel Yang.

Costumed nominees, including the 3 Little Pigs and Dumb Bunnies, in the Best Fairytale and Picture Book categories, sat in the first rows of the audience hoping to hear their name announced.

“And now for the moment you’ve been waiting for – drum roll please!” the presenters said.  The eager readers took the cue to pound hands on their thighs in anticipation.

“What I love about the B’Oscars is how it transforms reading for every single student!” said teacher Julie McClain.  “Even if they weren’t up on stage, students were all rooting for their favorite book to win. This event encourages the whole grade level to read the books and authors that were nominated.”

Characters Pippi Longstocking, Annabeth Chase, Amy Cahill, Hermione Granger, and Ramona Quimby were nominated in the Best Female Protagonist category.  “Ramona Quimby is anxious, curious, and tends to annoy people. You’ve got to love the little pest!” said Charlene Hsu.

Students costumed as famed wizards Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Lord Voldemort, and author J.K. Rowling thanked the audience for voting them the winners in the Best Series category.  Detailed book summaries were shown during commercial breaks.

In the Male Protagonist category, the Castle Rock students voted for their favorite “good guy” characters including heroes Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Leo Valdez.

“I’d like to thank my author for inventing my exciting character!” said winning character Percy Jackson, played by Jeffrey Wang.

he thrilling quests detailed in Rick Riordan’s books sealed the award for Best Author.  “The sense of adventure really kept the stories going! When I was a teacher, I never thought all of this would be possible!” said student Nathan Tok posing as the author.

The audience screamed in delight when Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief was named Best Book.

“I want to eat some enchiladas!” announced Hagen White playing the part of Percy Jackson’s quirky vegetarian best friend, Grover Underwood. “You never know when you’ll need food!”

 

The B’Oscars is the action plan for the IB School program of inquiry “How we express ourselves” with the central idea of “Tales that have been with us since the beginning of mankind.”

Students now hope to stock the school library with their favorite titles.  “Our book drive is important because we need new books so children can have more imagination,” said 5th grader Charleen Chen.

Miss Diamond Bar 2016 Crowned

Photo Courtesy: Diamond Bar High School Miss Diamond Bar 2016 and her Court. From Left to Right: Princess Shannon Clewley, Princess Tayla Beasley, Miss Diamond Bar Ashley Chen, Princess Lauren Ritchie, and Princess Bree Ward.

Photo Courtesy: Diamond Bar High School
Miss Diamond Bar 2016 and her Court. From Left to Right: Princess Shannon Clewley, Princess Tayla Beasley, Miss Diamond Bar Ashley Chen, Princess Lauren Ritchie, and Princess Bree Ward.

Staff Reports

Diamond Bar – On Sunday, March 13, Diamond Bar High School junior Ashley Chen was crowned Miss Diamond Bar 2016 in the DBHS theater.

The 2016 Princess court includes Bree Ward, a sophomore at Mt. Sac (DBHS c/o 2014), Shannon Clewley, a senior at DBHS,  Lauren Ritchie, a senior at DBHS, and Tayla Beasley, a junior at DBHS.

Since 1964, Miss Diamond Bar and her Court of Princesses have been committed to serve as ambassadors for the City of Diamond Bar and positive role models to the youth of our community for 50 years.  These young ladies all juggle full time school schedules and/or part/full time jobs, while maintaining their rigorous pageant schedule of over 50 appearances a year.  The Miss Diamond Bar Scholarship Pageant, Inc. is a non-profit organization that depends on the support of the volunteers, local businesses and city leaders to continue this important community tradition.

For more information about the Miss Diamond Bar pageant, and for an application for the 2017 pageant, visit http://www.missdiamondbarpageant.org.

The Whole Enchilada

Eastvale News Business Feature The Whole EnchiladaStaff Reports

Diamond Bar – Spring is here! Why not take a break from the kitchen and celebrate springtime at The Whole Enchilada. With its promise of authenticity, The Whole Enchilada guarantees that its customers will enjoy the taste of their savory entrees.
The Whole Enchilada can help you make at-home dinners easy by offering tamales all year round. This traditional holiday dish is sold by the dozen and is available in pork, beef, chicken, green chili and cheese. From platters and entrée meals to taco bars, they also provide other options to serve fresh, authentic Mexican recipes their resident chef brought from their homeland.
“All our food is made fresh daily,” says Lil Palmer of The Whole Enchilada. The restaurant has been in business for over 30 years, offering a variety of Mexican dishes ranging from tacos and burritos to carne asada and fajitas.
The Whole Enchilada’s food is only one reason to celebrate at their restaurant. They also pride themselves on excellent customer service due to their family friendly servers being attentive, courteous, and knowledgeable.
If you’re planning a celebration, parties can be planned easily at a home or business with The Whole Enchilada’s catering service. Book now and you can reserve a portion of the restaurant to celebrate with good food, family, and friends.
The staff will be there to help you celebrate special moments, raise money for your team or organization, and provide a wonderful experience for your children. They love working with the community to help with fundraisers, and special events for churches, sports, schools, clubs, and more.
Birthday parties are always fun at The Whole Enchilada, as well. No matter how old you are, the staff will provide you with a total birthday experience including singing, a special picture to take home, free birthday hat and dessert, and best of all, five “Enchilada Bucks” to use the next time you visit.
Better yet, The Whole Enchilada’s “Kids Club” includes four mailings per year entitling your children to a free meal when accompanied by an adult, as well as a birthday invitation for a free meal and dessert.
The Whole Enchilada has gift cards available for purchase in person or online at http://www.wholeenchilada.com. And remember to ask your server for a Combo Punch Card on your next visit, which provides a free combo dinner when you purchase any nine of their combination dinners.
The Whole Enchilada is located at 1114 S. Diamond Bar Blvd, (at Grand Ave.), in Diamond Bar. You can reach them at (909) 861-5340, and visit their website at http://www.wholeenchilada.com.

Give Thanks

Pastor Robert Jewett

Pastor Robert Jewett

By Pastor Robert Jewett

 

“I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” Psalm 86:12

David proclaimed “I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.” (Psalm 7:17)  David endured many difficult situations that weighed heavy on his emotions.  In spite of his feelings, and his circumstances, he brought thanksgiving to the Lord. You see, whether or not David understood God’s purpose for his circumstances, he knew that God was righteous and good.  He would remind himself of God’s wonderful deeds and give him thanks with his whole heart. (Psalm 9:1)

It is God’s will for his children to give him thanks in all circumstances. (1 Thess. 5:16-18)  It does not matter if you do not understand why certain trials are in your life.  You can still thank God because he has promised to work all things together in your life to make you more like Jesus. (Romans 8:28-29)  He has also promised that he will not allow anything in your life beyond which you are able to bear and He will give you the resources to endure the trial. (1 Corinthians 10:13)  Therefore, you can thank him at all times…regardless of your circumstances.  If times are good…thank him!  If times are difficult…thank him!  Praise him in the calm and in the storm for he is good!  In doing so, you will glorify his name!

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

 

Oxford Prep Charter Denied

Photo courtesy of Oxford Preparatory Academy OPA supporters

Photo courtesy of Oxford Preparatory Academy
OPA supporters

By Carol Heyen

The Chino Valley Unified School District school board voted March 17 to deny Oxford Preparatory Academy’s 5-year charter renewal, much to the dismay of over 1,500 school staff and supporters who attended the district meeting held at Don Lugo High.

Oxford Prep, or OPA, a charter school located in Chino, presently has a charter that runs through June 30, 2017.  OPA submitted a renewal charter school petition to the CVUSD on January 25, 2016, which would be for a 5-year term running from July 1, 2017-June 30, 2022.

The renewal charter, according to the school district, was denied because it has several flaws.  In a 77-page report, CVUSD stated that OPA is “demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program set forth in the OPA-Chino charter renewal petition.” The district also said that the petition failed to address eight of the 15 elements required by state law governing charter schools.

Superintendent Wayne Joseph, who was one of the original supporters of OPA’s charter in 2010, spoke at the meeting.  Superintendent Joseph said, “… it is really with a heavy heart that I come to you tonight, board members, and ask you to approve my recommendation to deny OPA’s current charter petition. Simply put, the petition OPA submitted on Jan. 25 of this year, unlike the other two petitions that were approved, is seriously flawed.”

CVUSD states that the charter petition is “not consistent with sound educational practice.”

One of the failures of the petition, according to the district, is that the OPA budget presents an unrealistic financial and operational plan for the proposed OPA charter school.  The school board said that they “cannot carry out its statutory fiscal oversight responsibility without the ability to review and audit all of OPA’s finances” the way the charter is now written.

The district’s concerns include OPA’s lack of sufficiently projecting enrollment or estimating Independent Study students, cash flow and reserve discrepancies, and timing of revenue. It also notes that OPA has not satisfied the California law that all students be admitted who wish to attend the school.  OPA’s enrollment runs in a lottery system, but children with siblings already attending the school, or parents who are OPA staff or founding members are exempt from the lottery and get first priority.

OPA is very popular with students and parents in the Chino Valley.  Test scores at the school have consistently been in the high 900s, and it has been named a California Distinguished School.

OPA’s supporters are vowing to keep fighting.  OPA Principal Sue Roche’s husband Terry told the crowd, “For eight years, I’ve heard from Mr. Joseph, from Mr. Na how great OPA is,” referring to Superintendent Joseph and board member James Na. “For eight years, every evaluation they gave us — every evaluation they gave us — financially, academically, was the best in California!”

Oxford Prep administrator Jared McLeod said that OPA will “…move on with our legal rights to prove this district wrong and prove what is legally right, which is that this is our school, for five more years!”

 

Bounce, Jump, Run, and Pedal at Healthy Family Day in Chino

Courtesy of the City of Chino

 

CHINO, CA – The City of Chino and the Chino Valley YMCA invite the public to bounce, run, jump, and pedal their way to better health at the Annual Healthy Family Day on Saturday, April 2, 2016.  The event is held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Ruben S. Ayala Park, 5665 Edison Avenue, near the YMCA.

This free, community event is packed with activities and information to motivate and teach families how to live a healthy life.  New this year is a 7-mile bike ride at 9:30 a.m.  For those who want more of a challenge, there is also a 15-mile bike ride, departing at 7:30 a.m.  The rides are hosted by the Chino Police Department and BOBIE’S Cycling Group.  All participants must wear a helmet and can sign-up at healthychino.eventbrite.com.

The event also features:

  • Kids’ activity stations
  • Fitness demonstrations
  • Health, fitness, and nutrition information
  • Healthy Chino’s Rock-the-Bike interactive exhibit
  • Obstacle course
  • Bicycle safety tips
  • Entertainment
  • Water and environmental information
  • Food, contests, and more

For more information, contact the City of Chino at 909.334.3258; Chino Valley YMCA at 909.597.7445; or visit healthychino.com and weymca.org.

 

Armed Forces Banners

Courtesy of the City of Diamond Bar

DIAMOND BAR– The first of two annual deadlines for Diamond Bar residents to honor an immediate family member serving on active duty in the United States military through the City of Diamond Bar’s Armed Forces Banner Program is coming up.

Friday, April 8 is the first cutoff date to submit a request to have a banner personalized with a loved one’s name and military branch. Banner installations will occur in the month of May. Applications received after April 8 will be part of the second round of requests, with banners going up in November.

Complete participation requirements and a downloadable application form are available online at www.diamondbarca.gov/armedforces or by calling the City’s Community Services Department at 909.839.7060.

Walnut Looking for Historians

Staff Reports

WALNUT– The City of Walnut is now seeking candidates to serve on the Walnut Historical Preservation Ad Hoc Advisory Committee. The Committee will meet the first Wednesday of each month, as well as on an “as-needed basis” and will include appointed persons that are Walnut residents.

The primary responsibility of committee members is to provide recommendations to the City Council and/or Planning Commission relating to historical preservation in the City of Walnut. Some of the historical sites currently identified in Walnut include Suzanne Park, the Bob Quattlebaum Windmill, the Brookside Equestrian Center and the W. R. Rowland Adobe Ranch House.

Applications are due to the City Clerk’s Office by Monday, May 2, 2016. Interested individuals may obtain an application on the City website homepage or by contacting Teresa De Dios, City Clerk at 909-348-0710, or by email: tdedios@ci.walnut.ca.us.

For questions regarding the committee, please contact Justin Carlson, City Planner or Derrick Womble, Senior Management Analyst at (909) 595-7543.

Walnut City Hall is located at 21201 La Puente Road, Walnut, CA. For information about the City of Walnut, please visit our web site at www.ci.walnut.ca.us.

 

Deputies Looking for Chino Hills Robbery Suspect

Staff Reports
On Saturday, March 19, 2016, at approximately 5:35 a.m., the Circle K Store at 4200 Chino Hills Parkway in Chino Hills was robbed.  The suspect entered the store, placed a pack of gum on the counter and held out a one dollar bill. When the store clerk opened the cash drawer, the suspect reached over the counter, threatened the clerk, and removed the cash drawer. The suspect stole cash and an unknown amount of scratcher lottery tickets. After reviewing video footage, it was determined the suspect was also involved in a robbery in the city of Chino approximately 20 minutes earlier.
The suspect is described as a 25-30 year old Hispanic male adult, approximately 6’0” tall, 190 pounds, with black hair and a medium build.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Chino Hills Police Department at (909) 364-2000.  If you wish to remain anonymous you may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME.

19th Annual Taste of the Chino Valley

Enjoy the Chino Valley’s finest cuisine, wine, and spirits as local establishments dish up their very best at the impressive Chaffey College Chino Community Center.

Enjoy the Chino Valley’s finest cuisine, wine, and spirits as local establishments dish up their very best at the impressive Chaffey College Chino Community Center.

By Zeb Welborn

CHINO– It’s a food lover’s dream!  Enjoy great food from some of the area’s new restaurants as well as some long-standing favorites at the 19th Annual Taste of the Chino Valley.  We’ve put together a great team who is working hard to bring local restaurants together to give our community a taste of what Chino Valley restaurants have to offer.

The Taste of the Chino Valley will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 4, at the Chaffey College Community Center, located at 5890 College Park Ave.

Spots for the Taste of the Chino Valley are filling up fast.  We’ve already signed up Cannataro’s, The Pub, Oke Poke, Wara Bistro, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pacifica Senior Living, Los Portales, Riverside Grill and Award Winning Wines by Fairplex.  We have verbal commitments from numerous others, and we’ll be sharing those through our website and Facebook page as they come in.

We’ve also secured sponsorships from Waste Management, the City of Chino, the City of Chino Hills, Champion Newspapers, Chaffey College, Insurance & Surety Services, Oke Poke, and Welborn Media.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to put this together, we have a great team of people securing restaurants, sponsors and donations for the event.

You can sign up online at www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-chino-valley-tickets-22749102177.  Hope to see you there.  Tell your friends!

Decorating For Easter

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

 

One of my least favorite assignments is to “get the boxes down from the attic.”  I hear these words several times a year, when my wife wants to decorate our house for a new season.

 

The largest number of storage boxes contain Christmas decorations.  Most of these are stored on shelves in the garage.  There are fewer Fall decorations and these are stored in the attic space above the garage.  

 

Each of these seasonal decorations contribute to the festive atmosphere in our house for a few weeks.   My job is to get them down and put them away again.

 

Now that Spring is coming, I heard those familiar words again recently.  My wife asked me if I would “get the Easter boxes down from the attic”.  There was a sense of urgency in her voice because two of our granddaughters were coming to our house and she wanted to let them help decorate.

 

 I’m not sure who had more fun, the grandchildren or my wife.  These two young girls had a wonderful time discovering the variety of decorations in those boxes.  They couldn’t believe all the neat stuff that Grammy had collected.  They loved finding places to put the decorations all over our house.

 

I noticed the sparkle in my wife’s eye and the smile on her face as she watched the enthusiasm of her young assistants.  It was enjoyable to watch Grammy and her girls decorate our house for Easter.

 

I don’t know how the seasonal decorating goes on in your house, but I know it is important at our house.   My wife enjoyed it very much and so did her young helpers!

 

This year Easter will be on Sunday, March 27th.  Our church will be having three Easter Sunday services at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 a.m.  We will also have one service on Good Friday, March 25th, at 7:00 p.m.

 

Easter is the day when Christians around the world celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.  The Bible says that Jesus died on the Cross and rose from the dead to pay for our sins and to purchase a place for us in heaven.  I hope you will take time to celebrate Easter this year.  Get out those decorations.  Get up and go to church to celebrate that Jesus is alive!

 

If you don’t have a church home, we would be delighted to have you worship with us on Easter Sunday.   You will be glad you did and we will be too!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd. Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visithttp://www.efreedb.org

Ramona Students Going To Race Track To Learn STEM

Courtesy of CVUSD

CHINO– Ramona Junior High students will be among 500 eighth graders from 17 middle schools in San Bernardino and Riverside counties to attend the seventh annual Auto Club Speedway STEM Day on March 18 as part of the Auto Club 400 Weekend in Fontana.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are foundations of the motorsports industry.
The students will have an opportunity to do hands-on math and engineering exercises with student volunteers from local colleges and universities, as well as interact with exhibitors.
Students will be introduced to several speakers, including Sprint Cup driver Aric Almirola of Richard Petty Motorsports.
The students will also receive a pair of reserved grandstand tickets to the Auto Club 400 race that will take place March 20 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

March 2016 SGV News

March 2016 SGV NewsSGV News covers Diamond Bar, Walnut, La Puente, Rowland Heights and surrounding areas of the San Gabriel Valley; portions of the western Inland Empire; and northern Orange County. Click this link to access the complete issue in PDF format: March 2016 SGV Newspaper

Murder Suspect Found Guilty in 2013 Case

 

Photo courtesy: Chino Police Department

Photo courtesy: Chino Police Department

Courtesy of the City of Chino

CHINO– Nearly two and a-half years after the cold-blooded murder of a Check ‘n Go employee, the shooter, Jorge Cisneros, was found guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree robbery.

On November 15, 2013 at approximately 1:24 p.m., two suspects entered the Check ‘n Go located at 12083 Central Avenue and shot and killed 24-year-old Vanessa Martinez of Riverside. Within 24 hours, Chino Police Investigators and SWAT team members located and arrested two suspects in the cities of Ontario and Pomona.

Jorge Esteban Cisneros, a 43 year-old resident of Ontario, was identified as the shooter during the commission of the crime. He was found guilty Thursday, March 17, 2016 in a San Bernardino Court.

David Mendez, a 29-year-old Pomona resident was convicted in 2015 of first-degree murder and second-degree robbery. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Cisneros’ sentencing hearing is pending.

If you have information regarding this case please contact Detective Acuna at 909-334-3016 or facuna@chinopd.org.

 

Golf with Your Local Sheriffs in Chino Hills

By Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club

 

CHINO HILLS – The Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club will host a golf tournament in honor of the sheriff department’s 150 volunteers next month.
The tournament will begin at 11:30 a.m. April 4 at the Western Hills Country Club, 1800 Carbon Canyon Rd., in Chino Hills. A luncheon will immediately follow the tournament.

“Thousands of hours are donated annually by our department’s volunteers, explorers, reserves and disaster communication specialists,” Captain Jeff Scroggin said.  “From vacation checks and traffic control to color guard and keeping disaster communication equipment ready in case of emergency, these are a few of the many services they provide the community.”
Prizes for the longest drive, closest to the pin and hole-in-one will be awarded during the luncheon. The cost for a single player is $100. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Platinum sponsor – $3,000- Includes 16 players/four teams, recognition during the awards luncheon, repeated advertising of your company in Our Weekly newspaper and during the tournament, name placement on event signage and a recognition certificate from the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club.
Gold sponsor – $2,000- Includes 8 players/two teams, recognition in Our Weekly newspaper, recognition during the awards luncheon, name placement on event signage and a recognition certificate from the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club.
Silver sponsor – $1,000-Includes one team of four players and a recognition certificate from the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club.
Other sponsorship opportunities include: beverage cart for $1,000, hole-in-one sponsor for $500, goodie bag sponsor for $500, closest-to-the-pin sponsor for $400, and tee sign sponsorship for $100.
Captain Scroggin encourages community members to join this fun and meaningful tournament to continue to help provide the needed uniforms and equipment to the people who volunteer their time to improve the service and security to the cities of Walnut and Diamond Bar, and the unincorporated communities of Rowland Heights, Covina Hills and West Covina.

For information and reservations, contact Sgt. Mark Saldecke, volunteer coordinator, at (909) 595-2264, mcsaldec@lasd.org or Gil Rivera, booster club member at (909) 967-4525, GRiveraEmail@gmail.com.