The 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
Category Archives: News By City
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.
Steer Clear of the 91!
Photo Courtesy of Google Images
Staff Reports
A full closure of eastbound and westbound 91 between the 71 and I-15 will occur from Friday, Feb. 19, 2016 at 9 pm to Monday, Feb. 22, 2016 at 4 am. This 12-mile stretch of freeway sees over 280,000 cars per day, and that number is expected to jump to 425,000 by the year 2030, according to Joel Zlotnik of the Orange County Transportation Authority.
The 91 freeway is a valuable transportation corridor for thousands of motorists, and also serves hundreds of thousands of commercial and freight trucks as they travel inland from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, according to Anaheim City Councilman Harry Sidhu.
The full weekend closure of the 91 will allow crews to perform three major construction activities: 1) Demolish the west side of the Maple Street Bridge over the 91; 2) Install support beams for the new westbound Maple Street flyover ramp bridge; and 3) Pave the new eastbound 91 alignment near I-15.
“By fully closing the roadway, we will be able to consolidate these significant construction efforts into one weekend, rather than multiple weekends or extending this over a month of weeknights,” said RCTC Executive Director Anne Mayer. “Consolidating the work activities within one weekend will reduce the number of closure hours by more than 50 percent. The project’s design-build method allows for flexibility in planning work, such as this weekend closure,” she said. Another benefit, Mayer noted, is that the full closure will help ensure the safety of the 91 Project crews and the traveling public by eliminating cars and construction equipment on the road at the same time.
More work will be occurring in the Maple Street area during the coming months, including reconstructing the Maple Street bridge and building the flyover connector ramp bridge. Crews will require nightly full closures of eastbound 91 for about a week after the weekend closure. During these closures, motorists will be directed to the eastbound 91 Maple Street off-ramp, and then east on Frontage Road to re-enter the 91 at the Maple/Paseo Grande on-ramp. Once the flyover ramp bridge is completed this summer, another full closure of the 91 may be conducted to remove the temporary support beams that will be placed the weekend of February 19-22.
Because of the impact that a full closure will have on this heavily traveled roadway, motorists are urged to “steer clear” of the area during this closure. To minimize major travel delays and impacts during the closure, RCTC strongly recommends that motorists plan ahead, avoid travel in the area or stay home. Motorists traveling on the 91, the 71 or I-15 near the project area during the closure period can expect travel delays of three to four hours. If travel cannot be avoided, motorists can use the 57, 60 and I-10 as alternate routes.
The Green River Road interchange will remain open to motorists, and during the weekend closure, emergency vehicles will be able to travel on the 91, as needed, to respond to police, fire and medical situations. “Corona residents can rest assured that police, fire, CHP and ambulance personnel will be fully briefed about the weekend closure and are ready to respond,” Mayer said.
In case of rainstorms or inclement weather, the closure will be postponed to the next weekend, weather permitting. For more information, please call the helpline at 877-770-9191, or visit http://www.sr91project@rctc.org.
Corona: Police K-9 Retires
Courtesy of the Corona Police Dept.
After four and a half years of dedicated service to the citizens of Corona, Corona Police Department’s K9 Spike retires.
Spike is an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois, who was not only trained for patrol duties but was also cross- trained to detect the odor of narcotics. During Spike’s tenure, he found and apprehended several suspects, and he also had several narcotic finds which included the seizure of heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana. When not fighting crime, he participated in over 100 public demonstrations at schools, hospitals, and community groups.
Spike’s handler, Corporal Chad Fountain, is a 15-year veteran who was recently promoted in July of 2015. Corporal Fountain was able to purchase Spike from the city and bring him home for retirement, where he will live out the remainder of his life with the Fountain family.
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling…”
Tim Eaton
By Pastor Tim Eaton
We pass an old picture in the hallway. We see friends begin a new love. A romantic movie touches our hearts.
Whatever it is, we sometimes wonder where the love in our own life has gone. It seems like most everything around us is designed to drain the last drop of romance or love out of our lives. Long hours of work (or worries about a lack of work), busing the kids all over town, trying to keep the house clean, paying the bills – all of this leaves us exhausted and frustrated…anything but in the mood for love.
We misunderstand love as an emotion, but think about it. Where do those emotions come from? Actions create those emotions. That’s why we call it a “romantic gesture”, something has been done that shows us love. Love is action.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers,” (1 John 3:16).
What we might miss is that if we don’t feel very loving, doing something loving can recreate love in us just as much as it makes someone else feel loved.
If you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling this Valentine’s season, then lay down all the things in your life that have put an end to your love and do something for the one you love. If you need help, drop the kids off at our Kid’s Night Out, held on Fri., Feb. 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Harada Elementary – and give the gift of time to the one you love.
Pastor Tim Eaton is from Edgewater Lutheran Church. Services are on Sundays at 10am at Harada Elementary,12884 Oakdale Street, Eastvale, CA 92880. For more information, please visit http://www.EdgewaterEastvale.org.
Battle of the Badges Blood Drive
Staff Reports
POMONA– On Sunday, February 21, a Battle of the Badges Blood Drive will take place at the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s East County Training Center, located at 3325 Temple Avenue in Pomona. The event will take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and it will be held in Classroom One. The annual campaign is in partnership with the American Red Cross, helping to ensure local blood bank reserves are available to meet the needs of trauma victims and hospital patients. The event is free of charge and the Red Cross will provide a commemorative t-shirt for those who choose to donate blood.
“Here in Southern California, more than 160 local hospitals depend on the Red Cross for blood donations to assist trauma victims and hospital patients,” says Fire Chief Daryl Osby. “Yet less than 3 percent of the population donates blood, leading to continual shortages of all blood types.
Everyone is invited to stop by and help support the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org.
Regulations on Hoverboards
Staff Reports
EASTVALE– The City of Eastvale wants to remind residents about the new laws that went in to effect January 1 that regulate Electrically Motorized Boards, also known as “hoverboards.”
Assembly Bill 604, authored with bipartisan sponsorship, passed in October 2015. Hoverboards are now defined as “a wheeled device with a floorboard less than 60” x 18” which travels no more than 20 mph on a level surface.”
Several restrictions targeting rider safety were included in the bill. Riders must be at least 16 years old and must wear a bicycle-type helmet while using the device. The rider or board must emit a white light to the front, red reflector to the rear, and a white or amber reflector to the sides if operated after dark, which are the same restrictions given to bicycles.
The board cannot be operated on any street with a speed limit of more than 35 mph, and the rider must not be under the influence of alcohol or any drug.
Failure to adhere to the above mentioned laws can and will result in a citation, and/or a fine.
It’s Tax Season
Pastor Mark Hopper
By Pastor Mark Hopper
There is bad news and good news about income taxes this year. The bad news is that it’s tax season again. The good news is that income taxes are not due until April 18th!
I know there is a lot of tax preparation software available these days. And there are many tax professionals that can help people with filing their income tax returns. Since I usually do my own taxes, I spend hours reading the instructions and filling out my tax return. It used to take weeks to get additional forms. Now, I can find them online and print my own copies.
All year long, I collect and keep receipts in a large manila envelope. In January, it takes a lot of time to sort and organize these into different piles. I have heard that it takes the average tax payer from five to ten hours to prepare their income taxes. I’m sure it takes me a lot longer!
Eventually, my taxes get done and in the mail before the deadline. I always say a short prayer when I put my tax return in the mail. I hope that I got them right!
If I were a politician, I would simplify the whole income tax system. More people would probably file their own taxes if the process was simplified. I wonder if the complexity motivates people to not file at all or requires many people to hire tax professionals?
There is a passage in the Bible that says, “Give to everyone what you owe him; if you owe taxes, pay taxes, if you owe revenue, then pay revenue, if you owe respect, give respect and if you owe honor, then give honor” (Romans 13:7) When Jesus was asked if people should pay taxes He answered, “Whose picture is on the Roman coin?” The answer was Caesar. Therefore, He said, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:14-17).
I don’t think anyone enjoys paying taxes, but it is part of life. If we live in this country, we should expect to support this country with our taxes. We may not always like the way our local, state or national governments spend our money, but we should pay our taxes and then show our approval or disapproval at the ballot box in November.
Don’t forget – good news – the tax deadline this year is April 18th!
Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd. Sunday Services are at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit efreedb.org.
Diamond Bar City Council Recap
By Natalie Kim
DIAMOND BAR– Mayor Lyons began the January 19 Diamond Bar City Council meeting by announcing the winners of the “Through My Lens” Photo Contest of 2015. In the youth division People category, Hamzah Daud won first place, and Clarissa Hui won Honorable Mention. In the Pets category, Huanxi Liu won first place, and Hannah Trinh won Honorable Mention. In the Places category, Nathaniel Liu won first place, and Nicole Trinh won Honorable Mention. In the Nature category, Evelyn Dai won first place, and Ashley Chen won Honorable Mention. In the Digitally Altered category, Rachel Ahn won first place, and Huanxi Liu won Honorable Mention. In the adult division People category, Allan Le won first place, and Rae Lasko won Honorable Mention. In the Places Category, Bruce Davis won first place, and Teresa Wang won Honorable Mention. In the Nature category, Han Mook Kim won first place, and Bruce Davis won Honorable Mention. In the Pets category, Tony J. Wu won first place, and Jeff Braun won Honorable Mention. In the Digitally Altered category, Tony J. Wu won first place, and Tommy Zeller won Honorable Mention. The grand prize was awarded to Tony J. Wu for his piece “Sunset Over Beautiful Diamond Bar,” submitted for the Digitally Altered category, for scoring the highest overall marks.
During the public comments, some residents expressed concern over the housing development that is beginning construction on Larkstone Drive. A representative from the Diamond Bar Public Library announced upcoming events, including an Adult 101 Etiquette Workshop on January 23 from 2 to 3 p.m.; an acting and improvisation workshop for kids on January 27 from 4 to 5 p.m.; and a workshop to help you get organized that will take place on January 30 from 2 to 3 p.m. A representative from the Diamond Bar Women’s Club announced the club’s third annual Roarin’ Twenties Casino Night Charity Fundraiser on February 6 from 6:30-11:00 p.m. The Diamond Bar Community Foundation also announced a 1K Fun Run/5K Run/Walk on March 20, which will help raise awareness for the Fields for Kids Program and raise funds for a Diamond Bar sports field. The Foundation is looking for both sponsors and participants, and more information can be found at www.thedbcf.org.
The schedule of future events includes: a Los Angeles County Park Needs Assessment Public Meeting on January 21 at 7 p.m. at the Diamond Bar Center on 1600 Grand Ave; a celebration for Alex Morgan on January 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Pantera Park on 738 Pantera Dr; a Planning Commission meeting on January 26 at 7 p.m. at 21810 Copley Dr; and the next City Council meeting on February 2 at 6:30 p.m. at 21865 Copley Dr.
The Council then approved all items on the consent calendar, including City Council minutes from Dec 15; ratification of check register totaling $2,939,893.61; the Treasurer’s Statement for the month of November 2015; an agreement between the City and the Discovery Cube, Orange County for the Eco Challenge Education Program; a professional services agreement with Josue Espino to provide planning consulting services; a General Plan status report for 2015; and an ordinance amending Diamond Bar Municipal Code related to water efficient landscaping.
A first reading was approved for an ordinance amending the City Code relating to penalties and civil remedies for offenses pertaining to animal regulations, and the Council then adopted a resolution adjusting existing animal license fees.
The Council then adjourned until February 2, at 6:30 p.m. at 21865 Copley Dr.
Walnut City Council Recap
By Natalie Kim
WALNUT– Walnut kicked off the new year with a City Council meeting on January 13, which started off with a presentation on Smart Trash Bins. The Smart Trash Bins are larger bins which include informational graphics relating to what materials should or should not be recycled. A previous experiment with the bins showed recycling increased by 19% when used, and plans to implement the bins in schools and other public places was discussed.
Following the public comments, the Council approved all items on the agenda, including minutes from the December 9 City Council meeting; minutes from the January 5-6 City Council Special meetings; a resolution selecting projects for the 42nd Program Year of the Community Development Block Grant Program; an ordinance imposing an express ban on marijuana cultivation, processing, delivery, and dispensaries; a resolution allowing claims and demands in the amount of $2,177,238.04; a resolution allowing the Successor Agency claims and demands in the amount of $125,000; and a contract to MIG Inc. to prepare the General Plan Update and West Valley Blvd Specific Plan.
After councilmember reports and comments, the Council adjourned. The next meeting will be held January 27 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 21201 La Puente Rd.
Lonzo Ball Named Mc Donald’s All American
Lonzo Ball receives his Mc Donald’s All American Jersey
Photo credit: Mc Donald’s All American Game
Staff Reports
Chino Hills– The McDonald’s All American Games unveiled the official rosters for the 39th annual boys game and 15th annual girls game during the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Show on January 17. The final rosters include the top talent from 14 states. Chino Hills’ own Lonzo Ball made the cut, and will be representing the West team in the game.
Lonzo, a 6’6” senior from Chino Hills, has already committed to UCLA, as have his two younger brothers, junior LiAngelo and freshman LaMelo.
“I want to thank my family and teammates because through the journey we all travel together,” Ball said during the McDonald’s All American Game Hometown Heroes tour presented by American Family Insurance. “Hopefully it doesn’t stop here.”
Lonzo says that the pressure of being a good example doesn’t affect him too much, as he has been out front his whole life as the eldest of the trio. “I just go out and lead by example, and hopefully they follow.”
The nation’s premier high school basketball All Star event will take place for the sixth consecutive year March 30 at Chicago’s United Center. The boys’ game starts at 8 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.
“The future of basketball will again be on full display in Chicago on March 30,” said Douglas Freeland, director of the McDonald’s All American Games. “The McDonald’s All American Game is the one game all high school age and younger, hoops players aspire to reach.”
Since 1978, more than 1,200 players have competed in the McDonald’s All American Games.
They form an elite group of some of the top names in basketball history, including Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Candace Parker, Maya Moore and Elena Delle Donne. Alumni include current college standouts Ben Simmons of LSU, Melo Trimble of Maryland, and UConn’s Breanna Stewart.
Net proceeds from the Games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Since its inception, the McDonald’s All American Games have raised more than $11 million for the Charity.
How I Almost Became the Chino Hills Powerball Winner
Zeb Welborn
By Zeb Welborn
Growing up in Chino Hills since 1981, I’ve seen the city grow from a cow pasture to a robust suburban town. I’ve personally witnessed a tremendous amount of growth in both Chino and Chino Hills in my lifetime. As the Chairman of the Board for the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce I can see that that success and prosperity will continue.
One of the coolest things that happened as a result of the Powerball win is how it showcased the way our city came together to support something that put our city in the spotlight for at least a few days.
As a child, I’d try to convince my parents to let me ride my bike to the 7-Eleven so I could get some snacks or a Slurpee. I grew up within a bike ride’s distance of the place that sold a winning ticket for the largest-ever lottery prize. And that’s pretty cool.
The first time I played the lottery was last Saturday, where I bought one ticket for what was then the largest lottery purse in history at $900 million. On Wednesday, I bought my second for the $1.5 billion jackpot.
In addition, the President of our Sunday Bowling League, Doug, organized a lottery pool and purchased tickets on behalf of our bowling league.
I didn’t watch the lottery live, but I got messages from family and friends not long after telling me to check my tickets. They had heard the news that a winner was sold in Chino Hills.
Instead of a 1 in 275,000,000 chance my odds improved drastically to 1 in Chino Hills.
I carefully checked my ticket. I didn’t match a single number. Unfortunately, I bought it at the Circle K gas station across the street from that 7-Eleven.
Then I remembered I still had a chance with Doug.
My family (who also bought into the bowling pool) and I waited by the phone hoping Doug would call to tell us the good news, or the more likely scenario, the bad news. But we didn’t hear from Doug, and so wild speculation began.
As time wore on, it became more and more likely in our minds that we would be declared the winners for various reasons:
- The winning 7-Eleven is on the way from the bowling alley to Doug’s house
- The winning 7-Eleven is the closest place to Doug’s home to buy lottery tickets
- We hadn’t heard from Doug
- If Doug did have the winning ticket, we’d assume he’d make sure to consult legal counsel on how to proceed with distributing the winnings to our bowling league
- Neither Doug nor any of his family had posted anything on social media.
- Everyone in Chino Hills got texts from family and relatives outside of Chino Hills asking if we’d won, so many of us took to social media to let people know we were losers.
- What would you do if you won the lottery? Probably disappear from social media.
- As more and more of our Chino Hills family and friends went on to social media to let others know they were losers, the odds went from 1 in Chino Hills to what felt more like 1 in 10 that we were the $1.5 billion lottery winners.
On Sunday, we headed to bowling as we do every Sunday night, only this time we were on the lookout for big news vans and television crews, there to catch our excitement as Doug announced that we were indeed the Powerball winners.
As we entered the bowling alley, Doug, a plumber, was outside making a phone call where he was talking about water heaters and other things a plumber would discuss; clearly a ruse.
Finally, Doug ended his phone call and came inside just before bowling began. I asked him one simple question:
“So Doug, are we millionaires?”
He reached into his pocket and threw down lottery tickets paper-clipped together and said, “You have no idea how hard this week has been. We didn’t win.”
As it turns out, Doug did buy our tickets at the 7-Eleven in Chino Hills as we had suspected, but not the winning ticket. As of now, we didn’t win the Powerball . . . Honestly, we’re still hoping Doug is holding out on us waiting for a more opportune time to tell us that we’re all millionaires!
Walnut Valley Trustees Honor Students, Community Members
Photo courtesy of WVUSD
Quail Summit Elementary 2nd grader Jonathan Chen was recognized with the Super Star Student Award. Jonathan is shown with Principal Jeanette Koh and Board President Helen Hall.
By Kelli Gile
WALNUT—During the January 20 regular meeting, the Walnut Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees paid tribute to star students and valued volunteers who are making a difference in schools.
CJ Morris Elementary 4th grader Alejandra Urrieta won the 2015 “Holidays around the World” greeting card contest. The talented young artist was recognized with a certificate and framed copy of her entry by Board President Helen Hall. She also received a family gift pack to Chick fil-A restaurant courtesy of owners Bob and Michelle Sun.
“Alejandra is a wonderful young lady. She always has a smile on her face, is kind to others, works hard, and is a really good artist!” said Principal Shehzad Bhojani.
Collegewood Elementary 2nd grader Coben Swanson received the Super Star Student Award. Coben has been fighting cancer since November. “He really exemplifies bravery and has inspired our entire Collegewood community,” said Principal Joan Perez.
The school, now known as “Team Coben”, created a video get-well message where students, staff, and parents shared special sentiments, words of encouragement, and even a dance from his classmates.
“Coben is my hero,” sang teacher Elvonne Vance during the presentation. Coben also loves “Star Wars” and actor Mark Hamel recently visited him in the hospital. “He is battling leukemia like a Jedi,” Perez added.
Parent volunteers Denis and Terry Tamashiro were honored as Collegewood Elementary Partners in Education. “Collegewood’s Partners in Education wrap their arms around our school community to help us serve our students and prepare them for what’s next in life. Mr. and Mrs. Tamashiro have served for over 10 years and together have provided a level of service leadership that is truly commendable,” said Perez.
The active Community Club members have helped chair numerous events, including staff appreciation luncheons, carnivals, after-school snack sales, and the Night of Giving. For the past several years, they have designed and taken photos for the school yearbook.
Quail Summit Elementary 2nd grader Jonathan Chen was recognized with the Super Star Student Award. An avid chess player and member of the US Chess Federation, for the past two years Jonathan competed in the National K-12 Championship held in Orlando, Florida. Both years he took 1st place in his grade level division and returned to school with a huge trophy and a heartfelt message for his principal.
“He said, “Look, I what won for Quail Summit!” Principal Jeanette Koh shared.
Koh said she was impressed with his love and passion for the game, which he wants to share with schoolmates. Soon Jonathan, with the help of his parents, will be starting a chess team.
“Now when he goes on these competitions, he will have a Quail Summit team!” Koh added.
Longtime volunteers Jack and Wanda Tanaka were lauded as Partners in Education for Quail Summit. “They exemplify serving from their heart,” Principal Koh shared. “They’ve given so much to our staff – we think we are their favorite school!” Koh said as teachers cheered in the audience.
Each year, the Tanakas supervise the set up of a haunted mansion for the school carnival with 30-50 middle and high school Leo Club volunteers. “They come for the entire week! On the night of the carnival stay after 10 p.m., until the last piece of trash is picked up!”
Last year, Jack didn’t hesitate to step in as a last-minute speaker for the fifth grade promotion ceremony. “We are so honored and privileged to have this relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka,” said Koh. “Giving without the expectation of something in return is the true definition of kindness. Jack and Wanda’s kindness and giving to the community is priceless,” said Board President Helen Hall.
Ron Hockwalt Academies senior Theotis “TJ” Davis received the school’s Super Star Student Award. “TJ is a model student,” said teacher Frank De Anda. “This young man is a beacon of hope for all students on our campus and I’m really proud to be his teacher.”
De Anda’s leadership students launched a HOPE program at the beginning of the school year. HOPE stands for heart, optimism, personal responsibility, and excellence.
“Every month we host an assembly that talks about HOPE and brings it personally to our students,” said grade level coordinator Sue McCracken.
“For this last one, TJ put together a HOPE rap for our students – it was awesome!”
“TJ has embraced the concept of choice. He chooses to be a good student and most importantly he chooses to focus all his efforts on the present and keeps working to achieve his goals. He chooses to be hopeful in the face of setbacks and adversity. He chooses success!” said his alternative high school advisor.
The Sanlo Homestay Foundation was honored as the Ron Hockwalt Academies Partner in Education. The award was presented to chairman Ernie Quejado and co-chair Bella Cristobal.
The Foundation recently made generous $1,000 donation to the school’s HOPE program and an additional donation to the Walnut Valley Unified School District.
“We can’t say how much we appreciate you and how much it’s done for the kids,” said De Anda.
Photo courtesy of WVUSD
Board President Helen Hall awards Ron Hockwalt Academies senior TJ Davis the school’s Super Star Student Award on January 20.03
Chino Hills Man Arrested for Meth
Deputies locate several pounds of methamphetamine in Chino Hills
Staff Reports
CHINO HILLS– On January 19, 2016, at about 6:00 p.m., Chino Hills deputies, with the assistance of the San Bernardino County Sheriff Narcotics/Gang Division, executed a search warrant in the 3300 block of Organdy Lane. David Selle, 45, was suspected of being involved in the sales of methamphetamine. During the warrant service, deputies located several pounds of suspected methamphetamine, and evidence of possible credit card fraud. Selle was arrested and booked into the West Valley Detention Center.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or any criminal activity is urged to call Chino Hills Police Department or if you wish to remain anonymous you can call WeTip at 800 78-CRIME.
Tehachapi Project Construction Update
Photo courtesy: Edison
Staff Reports
CHINO HILLS– The Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project will deliver electricity from new wind farms in the Tehachapi area to SCE customers and the California transmission grid. Consisting of new and upgraded electric transmission lines and substations between eastern Kern County and San Bernardino County, it plays a vital role in meeting California’s renewable energy goal of 33 percent by the year 2020.
Construction Activities from January 25th – 31st
During the period January 25 to 31, 2016 construction activities as part of Southern California Edison’s (SCE’s) Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP) will include the following:
- Surveying, dust control, vegetation, net inspection, soil and material exportation throughout the project route
- Tower construction east of the East Transition Station at Pipeline Avenue and SR71
- Mainline trenching which includes trenching and increased truck traffic along adjacent streets at the following locations: west of Pipeline Avenue (south of Yellowstone Circle), and south of Garden Court (east of Lobelia Drive and west of Cork Drive)
- Vault excavation/installation work south of Eucalyptus Avenue (east and west of Canon Lane, and east of Western Hills Country Club), and west of Pipeline Avenue (south of Yellowstone Circle)
- Horizontal directional drilling south of Prairieview Circle (west of Lost Trail Drive) and south of Garden Court (west of Cork Drive). Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a method of installing underground utilities when trenching work is impractical to perform. The 500 kV underground project in Chino Hills will require two HDD sites along the route.
- Grading work south of Eucalyptus Avenue (east and west of Canon Lane), and south of Eucalyptus Avenue and North of Turquoise Circle North (west of Coral Ridge Park)
- Concrete restoration at Canon Lane
- Transition station construction at the Eastern Transition Station (Pipeline Avenue north of Chino Hills Pkwy.) and Western Transition Station (southwest of the western end of Eucalyptus Avenue).
- Wire stringing activities west of the Western Transition Station in Chino Hills to Tonner Canyon in unincorporated Los Angeles County, and east of Pipeline Avenue and continuing across SR71 in Chino to just west of Central Avenue. *A small helicopter will be used to position equipment and personnel. There will be periods when the helicopter will hover in the project area to perform these activities.
- Cable pulling activities west of Avenida Cabrillo and just east of Calle Madrid
Construction hours are: Chino Hills locations: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday – Friday; and 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturday. Chino locations: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday – Saturday
Deputies Reassigned to Unincorporated Areas
Courtesy of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s request for one detective and six deputies to be reassigned to the Chino Hills Station to improve law enforcement services for the Mission Corridor. The area includes an estimated four square miles of unincorporated area adjacent to the cities of Montclair, Ontario, Chino, and Chino Hills. The reassignment began on Saturday, January 23, 2016.
This reorganization will give the community a higher law enforcement presence. “The deputies dedicated to the Mission Corridor will be able to respond to our citizens faster and will be able to increase pro-active patrol for our community,” Sheriff John McMahon said.
Prior to the shift in personnel, deputies from the Fontana Station were responsible for providing law enforcement services for the Mission Corridor. The once 40-minute drive from the Fontana Station will drop to a six-minute drive from the Chino Hills Station. The area will now have dedicated deputies who will be responsible for responding to calls for service and conducting investigations. Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman stated, “This change will allow the public to be served quicker and more efficiently. It is proof the County is putting public safety first.”
Active Shooter Training on High Alert
By Monique Valadez
CHINO – Residents and businesses alike are focusing on safety like never before following the tragic shooting last month at a San Bernardino county facility.
Last week, the city of Rancho Cucamonga, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the League of California Cities hosted a countywide active shooter training workshop, where nearly 200 law enforcement members, city officials, and businesspeople received training about how to handle such a crisis. Also discussed was how well prepared we are as a community.
Chino PD was one of the agencies represented at the countywide training, and they say it’s critical to join forces and train collaboratively with other organizations.
“One of Chino PD’s main focuses when it comes to dealing with homeland security is education,” Chino Police Officer Ted Olgden said about the training last Wednesday. “It is equally as important to educate our personnel on active shooter situations and dealing with terrorism as it is the public.”
Chino officials said they plan to continue the training until all officers and personnel have completed the instruction. Preparing for any incident is a long-term endeavor.
“By consistently evaluating and updating our training content and methods, we can ensure that we are providing the public and personnel with relevant and useful information,” Olgden said.
For law enforcement, the recent heightened alert is just part of the job. Officers regularly train to prepare for worst case scenarios. The task at hand is to also educate the public for these situations.
“The other component of preparedness is again, education; providing the public with the knowledge and resources to respond and recover from an active shooter incident. Part of our training involves working with the school district and fire department to conduct drills/scenario based training, which is essential to ensure a unified response,” he added.
Olgden said that Chino PD has already initiated a Homeland Security workgroup to evaluate the department’s efforts related to terrorism activity, including focusing on education, prevention, detection and response. He advises the public to be vigilant and aware of any potential threat or suspicious activity and report it to law enforcement personnel immediately.
“If you see something, say something!”
Quiet Down
By Pastor Norris
“But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness to pray.” Luke 5:16
Did you know there are cultures in the world that don’t have a word for “minute” or “hour”? They simply have no need or desire to measure time in such short increments. Nor do they attempt to maximize every second of every day. Filling their lives to the brink would be unthinkable.
Sound too third-worldish to you? Isn’t it easy to see how such words are not necessary in places where people grow their own food and rarely venture beyond their own village?
I’m not suggesting that we all move into the woods and live off the land. But I am encouraging you to consider the benefits of pulling the throttle back just a notch and embracing a more contemplative lifestyle. When you allow yourself time for creative solitude, you can see God at work and begin to rediscover life in all its richness. When you give yourself the necessary time and space to seek clarity, gain perspective and ponder decisions, you find more to savor, enjoy and appreciate.
As I reflect on these two different approaches to life–the rushed and the restful–I force myself to ask, How did Jesus live? Was He frantic or steady? Was He checking the sundial every few minutes, wishing He could cut some time off His commute to the next city? Or was He able to stop and tend to the needs around Him?
Jesus had more pressure on Him than any of us can fathom. His own disciples were always peppering Him with questions. The Pharisees wanted Him dead. The crowds wanted Him king. Many pressed against Him, wanting to be healed.
Yet He got alone to pray. To think. To be strengthened. He sought His Father and enjoyed Him in the quiet moments of life.
Live it
What is one thing you could change in order to carve out more time to rest? Talk about how you use Sunday, the day of rest, as a couple.
Pray
Ask the Lord to start you on a new quest towards a quieter heart in 2016. Let Him show you what could be eliminated to open up time with Him.
The Crossings meets Sundays, 10 a.m., at River Heights Intermediate, 7227 Scholar Way, in Eastvale. For more information, call (951) 847-6836, or visit http://www.atthecrossings.com.
Who Do You See In The Mirror?
By Sarah Sanchez
I am a nobody
I will never think
I am worth something,
I have no talents
I can’t believe that
I have a purpose,
In this life
I am ugly
I will never say
I am beautiful,
I am alone
I will never feel that
I belong,
God made a mistake
I will never believe
I am good enough to live,
The way I feel about myself:
I need to change
(Read each line from bottom to top to read the truth)
Don Lugo Alumni Honored
Courtesy of CVUSD
CHINO– Don Lugo High honored two of their most famous alumni Friday morning, January 15, during a rally on the Chino campus.
Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Leah O’Brien-Amico (Class of 1992) and former professional baseball player Chad Cordero (Class of 2000) accepted their framed sports jerseys during the rally. The jerseys will hang in the school’s front lobby at 13400 Pipeline Avenue.
O’Brien-Amico won Olympic Gold Medals in softball in 1996, 2000, and 2004. She is a two-time World Champion softball player (1998 and 2002) and a three-time National Champion (1993, 1994, and 1997) while at the University of Arizona. She was named one of the California Interscholastic Federation Top 100 Athletes for 100 Years in 2013.
Cordero was a first-round draft pick for the Montreal Expos and had his Major League Baseball debut in August 2003. He had 128 career saves and was named a 2005 National League All Star team member. He was named the National League Pitcher of the Month in June 2005, and led the league in saves that year. Following graduation from Don Lugo, he was a three-year starter for Cal State Fullerton, where he was named a two-time All American team member, and a three-time player for the Big West All-Conference Team.
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