Category Archives: SGV-IE Community News

Inland Empire: Man Sentenced to 135 Years

Photo courtesy of San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office Edward Thomas Booking Photo

Photo courtesy of San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office
Edward Thomas Booking Photo

Staff Reports

SAN BERNARDINO- After jury deliberations that lasted less than an hour, a Michigan man was found guilty last month on nine counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Edward Thomas, 53, was sentenced for his crimes at the West Valley Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga on January 19.

Thomas received 135-years-to-life in state prison for the sexual assaults of his biological daughter that took place over a ten-year period between 1995 and 2005.  Each count carried a 15-year-to-life sentence.

The charges stem from multiple incidents dating back to when the victim, Jane Doe, was approximately 5 years old and living in Fontana. The abuse went on until she was approximately 15 years old, but Jane Doe never told anyone, including her mother, Lucy.

“Due to fears that there could potentially be more victims, Jane Doe was finally able to disclose the terrible abuse she endured for over ten years,” said Deputy District Attorney Morrissa Cardoza, who prosecuted the case.

In 2013, Jane Doe disclosed the abuse to her mother.  Her mother then wrote the defendant a letter confronting him about the allegations.  Thomas responded by apologizing for everything and begging for forgiveness.  The mother, Lucy, then contacted the Fontana Police.

According to DDA Cardoza, the defendant was living in Michigan when the case came to light, so detectives from the Fontana Police Department flew out to interview him, and again, the defendant confessed.   He was arrested in March.

“However, he was unwilling to plead guilty because he was charged with aggravated sexual assaults, and he always maintained that none of the molestation was forcible,” DDA Cardoza said.

The victim, Jane Doe, is now 25 years old and is serving as an active member of the United States Army.

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.

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.

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

Straight Talk With Danice

Danice Akiyoshi

Danice Akiyoshi

Feeling less than perfect

By Danice Akiyoshi, N.D.

 

Dear Dr. Akiyoshi:

My best friend is perfect in every way, but for some reason she is always criticizing herself and her appearance.  Now I’m starting to feel self-conscious every time I’m around her.  She is much prettier than I am, so if she magnifies her own flaws, I wonder what she must think of me.  I’m starting to avoid her unless I’m looking my best.  What should I do?

-Farzi

Hi, Farzi:

Your friend might be suffering from insecurity or low self-esteem.  Just because she judges herself harshly does not mean that she has the same magnifying glass on you.  Don’t avoid your friend.  Share your feelings instead, and help her see her true value.

-Danice Akiyoshi, N.D.

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.

Luxury for Less!

Kitchen & Flooring Center, Inc. is located at 20875 Golden Springs Drive in Diamond Bar. They can be reached at (909) 594-5020, or visit www.kitchennflooring.com.

Kitchen & Flooring Center, Inc. is located at 20875 Golden Springs Drive in Diamond Bar. They can be reached at (909) 594-5020, or visit http://www.kitchennflooring.com.

By K.P. Sander

Kitchen & Flooring Center, Inc. does it all.  In fact, their motto is, “We Turn Houses into Homes.”

More than just a house, your home is a very special place. With that in mind, the Kitchen & Flooring Center is committed to providing you with the materials and installation you need to make your home the best it can be. They work with you to come up with a plan that fits your budget and your vision.

From full kitchen and bathroom remodeling to any type of flooring, Kitchen & Flooring Center does it all.  And it’s not just limited to full remodeling; they also install all types of countertops, and provide plumbing, electrical, and lighting services, as well as windows, doors and painting.  Right now you can get a free in-home consultation to help you discover the home of your dreams.

Kitchen & Flooring Center began when a young tile setter named, Sami, starting setting tile and flooring back in 1991.  After working for other companies for several years, Sami decided it was time to set out on his own.  In 1995, he started his own construction company.

Today, that company has evolved into a highly specialized company that focuses on kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and the customers’ needs.  By offering quality products and services, Kitchen & Flooring Center is able to provide a finished product that not only meets, but exceeds, their customers’ visions.

Kitchen & Flooring Center has kitchen remodels starting at just $4,995, and they are currently offering a free sink and faucet with any complete kitchen or bath remodel.

Celebrate the New Year and turn your home from ordinary to extraordinary.  Call Kitchen & Flooring Center today, and turn your house into a home that you can enjoy for years to come.  Their goal is to provide you the absolute BEST service in the industry. They guarantee it!

Visit the showroom at Kitchen & Flooring Center, located at 20875 Golden Springs Drive, in the city of Diamond Bar.  They can be reached at (909) 594-5020, or visit http://www.kitchennflooring.com.  See their ad in this week’s issue of the Weekly News. 02

History 101

Photo courtesy of the University of Tennessee

Photo courtesy of the University of Tennessee

Staff Reports

Shots were fired in the United States House of Representatives’ chambers in Washington D.C. on January 30, 1835.  President Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, survived the first assassination attempt against the life of a U.S. president.

Jackson, nicknamed “Old Hickory” for his determination and drive, was one of the leading generals of the War of 1812.  Although the Treaty of Ghent had called a formal end to the war in December of 1814, neither General Jackson nor British forces had heard the news.  The British launched an attack against New Orleans on January 8, 1815.  General Andrew Jackson and his troops delivered a crushing defeat to the British and Jackson became a war hero.

After serving as a United States Senator, Jackson was elected to the presidency in November of 1828, winning in a landslide against John Quincy Adams.  According to biography.com, Jackson had become the first frontier president and the first chief executive who resided outside of either Massachusetts or Virginia

During a funeral service honoring the late Representative Warren R. Davis of South Carolina, a man identified as Richard Lawrence discharged two separate pistols in the direction of President Jackson. Both weapons misfired, and the infuriated Jackson charged the shooter and hammered him with his cane while bystanders subdued the attempted assassin. During the subsequent criminal investigation, the suspect was found to be insane and was sent to a mental prison.

Three decades later, on April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln would become the first president to be assassinated.

Midnight the Therapy Dog

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

By Nancy Stoops, M.A.M.F.T.

Midnight’s amazing story is now available at Amazon.com.  My new book Midnight the Therapy Dog will make you laugh and cry and delight your soul.  The book is a beautifully illustrated story about how Midnight loses his family and himself for a while.  My friend April Cruz, a brilliant artist, did the illustrations for this book.  Midnight never gave up and one day he was rescued by me.  At the age of two years old, Midnight tested with me and we became a registered pet therapy team.  Midnight is now seven years old and has literally made thousands of people feel better.

Besides working in my practice, Midnight also goes to St. Jude’s Hospital and the Crosson Cancer Center in Fullerton.  He even has his own I.D. badge with his picture.  Midnight also helps me at both of my support groups.  His story will inspire you to help animals in need and to never give up.  This book would make a great present for anybody.  Please go to Amazon and look at this beautiful book.

This book talks about being a broken spirit and with love and care growing into a being that now helps others.  I am so very proud of Midnight and honored to be able to work with him.  This book is truly my tribute to him and to all the other wonderful animals that get rescued and to the wonderful people that rescue them.  If you are looking for a pet, rescue animals make the best pets.  Midnight is an example of what a rescue animal can become with the proper training and lots of love and care.  So go online, or go to the humane society and rescue a pet and I bet they will rescue you as well.

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a private practice in Diamond Bar and is currently accepting new clients; she is also a motivational speaker who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, including a group on loss for seniors, and groups on how to manage anger.    For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909)229-0727.  You may email her at nancyjstoops@verizon.net .

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 1.30.16

2016-Jan30-Weekly-COVERThe Weekly News covers community news for Chino, Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, Walnut, Rowland Heights and surrounding areas of San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. Click this link to access the complete issue in PDF format:2016-Jan30-Weekly WEB

Tehachapi Project Construction Update

SCE Power Lines 1 by TRTP EDISON

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.”

 

What Color Is Your Car?

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

I have heard people say that you can learn a lot about a person by the color of their car.

People with flashy red or bright yellow cars are probably seeking the attention of others.  This may be true.  I read somewhere that people who get the most traffic tickets are people who drive red cars and trucks.

I have also heard that people who desire less attention drive cars that blend in, like gray, silver or tan.  We have a gray car and a silver car.  So that must tell you something about my personality!

As I looked around our neighborhood, I noticed that one neighbor had only white vehicles parked in their driveway.  Every car and truck in their family was white.  Maybe this reflects the unity in their family?  However, I think I did notice a darker color recently.  Maybe more diversity is emerging at their house.

It is also surprising how many dark colored cars there are in our neighborhood.  One member of our family has a black Honda Accord.  Another neighbor has a black pickup truck.  Maybe the darker colors look more expensive and luxurious.

A few years ago, a hot topic in the news was the question, “What kind of car would Jesus drive?” This generated a lot of discussion and controversy.  My answer was that Jesus would probably drive a large passenger van so He could help bring people to church!

Maybe we can start a new discussion by asking, “What color car would Jesus drive?”  I’ll let you ponder this deep question.  I don’t know for sure, but I do know that the two passenger vans at our church are dark green.

There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart,” (I Samuel 16:7).  Maybe we should not give as much attention to the color of the cars our neighbors are driving.  Maybe we should focus on what is “under the hood”.

Let’s do the same with the people we meet each day.  Don’t focus on their hairstyle or the clothes they wear.  We should focus on their heart and realize that each person we meet is precious and valuable in God’s sight.

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

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!”

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month

 What to Know about Cancer Screening

 

Courtesy of StatePoint.net

More than 12,000 women are diagnosed annually with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die each year from the disease. However, innovations in diagnostics and prevention could help reduce that number, while also giving women a better understanding of their health.

  • The basics: Woman 21-65 years old should have a Pap smear every three years according to new health guidelines, along with a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test in some cases — not annually as most women were taught. The Pap smear detects changes in cervical cells caused by persistent HPV infections, and the HPV test improves detection. After an abnormal result, doctors may perform a colposcopy exam by applying a solution to the cervix and watching for areas that turn white (acetowhitening), which can indicate abnormal cells. Certain women may need more frequent screening or treatment to remove pre-cancerous areas.
  • Computer-aided detection: Historically colposcopy has been a very subjective exam, and accurately identifying biopsy sites is a challenging task. DySIS colposcopy, a clinically-proven, FDA-cleared device, adds Dynamic Spectral Imaging to objectively quantify acetowhitening, and displays the results in a color-coded map.

“Its ability to help me to select biopsy sites has resulted in me finding an increased number of significant pathologies,” says Dr. John Patterson of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare of DySISmap.

  • Reduced anxiety: Receiving news from your doctor that your Pap smear result is abnormal is frightening for any woman. However, the new computer-enhanced imaging offers more clarity for both the clinician and the patient.

“It was really good to be able to see the screen and feel a little more in control and understand what was happening,” says Heather Holyoak, a medical student who had three colposcopy procedures and a biopsy over the past three years. “For me, it wasn’t remotely painful or uncomfortable, and it could be something that puts your mind at ease.”

  • Prevention: Two FDA-approved vaccines are highly effective in preventing infections of high-risk HPV types that cause the majority of cervical cancers. The HPV vaccine is recommended to be given to pre-teen girls and boys at 11-12 years old before they are sexually active, but can be given up to age 26 for women and 21 for men.

For more information on screening, diagnosis and prevention, visit cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer and http://www.DySISMedical.com.

Cervical cancer is completely preventable and the best prevention is being regularly tested to detect abnormalities early. With these new tools, cervical cancer can be eradicated in our lifetime.

Too Busy

By Sarah Sanchez

 

I’ve experienced a lot of deaths of friends and family members in the last few years, but the hardest death I’ve had to deal with was when my grandma passed away recently. I was very close with my grandma and saw her every week for the last few years. She was admitted to the hospital right before she passed. It seemed as though she had signs of dementia, and she would scream, yell, and not recognize me when I visited her. It was hard to see her that way.

We were told that she was getting better and that she should be okay, but a few days later she passed away. After her passing, my aunt told me that on the second-to-last day of my grandma’s life, my grandma kept calling out my name. Not only did she remember me, but she was asking where I was. I wasn’t at the hospital on the day she was asking for me because I was “too busy” to visit her that day. Now that she’s gone, there is nothing that could’ve been more important than to be with her that day. There is nothing that could’ve been more important than to say “I’m here grandma.”

How many times have we used the words “too busy” when someone asked us to do something? Maybe you were too busy to hang out with your kids. Maybe you were too busy to listen to your spouse’s story. Maybe you were too busy to visit your parents. Or maybe you were too busy to just spend time with your family, phone free.

My grandma’s passing changed my perspective about being “too busy”. When my family decided to hold a last minute brunch to celebrate my grandpa’s 80th birthday and my other grandma’s 70th birthday, there were plenty of excuses to keep me from going. For example, I had to go to work, I had errands to do that day, I didn’t have a gift, I was an hour away, and I still needed to get gas. It seemed like I was just “too busy”. But still, I decided that I needed to be there. So I rearranged my schedule, picked up a card, got gas, drove the hour to Long Beach in the middle of the day, and spent time with my family. Lo and behold, it ended up being the best decision I made all day.

There are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week, but we can’t make time for our families? Work will always be there, errands can wait a day, but our loved ones will not be alive forever. So next time you have an opportunity to be with your family, rearrange your schedule, do everything you can to be there, and then cherish that time you have with them… because we should never say we are “too busy” for our families.

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.

Happy Birthday?

By Michael Armijo

I woke at 3 a.m. today and found myself staring at the ceiling. I knew it was my birthday, but I felt like something was missing. Something just didn’t feel right. I felt a sort of numbness creep into my soul.
Maybe it was the fact that two people, who I spoke to on a daily basis, were gone. No, not mad at me gone; life always changes and we can always get over petty angry thoughts and insignificant differences. These guys are gone. Forever.
If that wasn’t enough, I lost my mom last year too. So this was my first year of not receiving her dollar store cologne, or her used stuffed animal. Another year of not receiving some odd gift; she always felt she had to give me something, even if she had nothing to give.
So a certain sadness lingered around my soul. A missing piece. An absence in a spiritual way. Something just didn’t seem right.
I don’t know if I felt “Why am I still here” or “Why did THEY have to go?” Or “What’s to celebrate?” Whatever it was, it kept me from sleeping through the entire night. It kept me awake with wonder and wandering thoughts.
When I got to work, I found my desk streamed with balloons and a Happy Birthday banner. I found the wall in my office bannered and ballooned as well. Then the “Happy Birthday” wishes started coming in on my social media thread. When they reached over 100, I realized something. My numbness subsided. Someone jokingly said “You are spoiled” and another “Wow, you have it great.” And I thought it through: Why must many of us focus on what we don’t have and what we feel we lack? Why can’t we focus on the things that keep us going? What is it that makes us keep going?
It was then I realized what a loving family I have. How incredible the life I have built really is. How the many failures I’ve encountered have turned into many successes because I have such support in my life. I refuse to give up. I have purpose.
When I examine the landscape of my life, I no longer look at the weeds and the patches of dryness or crabgrass. I seek out the many rolling hills of greenery and the beautiful leaves that fill the glorious trees I have watched grow from the seeds that I’ve been planting for so many years. And when those leaves fall, I can only be grateful that I have enough strength and discipline to sweep them up before they turn into swamps of foul smelling piles. I am thankful that I have so much love and support, and that I have developed “purpose” within my life. So instead of looking at what I DON’T have, my will leads me to look at what I DO have. And as sunny blue skies lead to a fulfilled heart, and as the swaying palm trees bring serenity to my soul, I am so very thankful for my God-given ability to help others. And I am grateful for being able to have an extremely loving and happy birthday today.

Maple Hill Student Advances to Regional Spelling Bee

By Kelli Gile
DIAMOND BAR -After an exciting competition, fourth grader Eliana Rodarte was crowned the winner of the Maple Hill Elementary Scripps Spelling Bee on January 14. The nine-year-old won the school title by correctly spelling “smorgasbord” during a tie-breaking round.

Rodarte will now represent her school in March during the Scripps Inland Valley Regional Spelling Bee semifinals at Mt. San Antonio College. The regional winner wins a trip to “Bee Week” – the National Spelling Bee Championship in Washington D.C. in May.

“My cheeks are shaking from smiling,” shared the beaming winner after receiving the grand champion trophy.

Rodarte said she had been taking every opportunity to study her words for the past five weeks to prepare for the competition. “At night right after my homework, at the park, at school, or at recess – any time I have a chance,” she said. Her strategy: “For the tricky words, I make up tricks to remember the definition.”

In December, each first through fifth grade class at Maple Hill hosted a spelling bee using official Scripps words. The class winners then received grade-level study guides with 500 grade 1-8 level words to prepare for the finals. The contest was held in the multipurpose room and streamed live into classes.

The top winners from each grade level received medals and then vied for the grand prize in a nail-biting championship round.

Finalists included Jon Wong – 1st grade, Jeremiah Ng – 2nd grade, Bonnie Nien – 3rd grade, Eliana Rodarte – 4thgrade, and Allison Yuh – 5th grade

The savvy spellers breezed through tough words, including “hieroglyphic” and “impervious” from the 8th grade list.

“We had to do a tie breaker or we would have gone all night,” said elementary learning specialist Kelly Morris. “We are so proud of all of our spellers. You guys are warriors!” she added.

Crashes Claim Walnut High Alumni

Staff Reports

WALNUT– Two former Walnut High School students have passed away this month, and one former student is in critical condition.

The first accident occurred around 2:40 p.m. on Jan. 6, in the 20300 block of East Walnut Drive, when Raymon Christopher Beltran, 22, driving a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse, collided with a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene.  Speed was cited as a factor in the crash.

The second accident occurred on Jan. 14 at the intersection of South Grand Avenue and East Cortez Street, in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County near West Covina.  Kristine Salinas, 20, of Walnut, was eastbound on Cortez Street when her 2014 Honda Civic was struck by a 2012 Hyundai that was being driven south on Grand Avenue by 23-year-old Peter Covert of West Covina, according to the CHP. Salinas was pronounced dead at the scene. Jazzlyn Sandoval, 20, was identified as the passenger of this vehicle and is suffering from a broken pelvic bone and a collapsed lung. Covert suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.  Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be factors in the collision, according to authorities.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with Salinas’ family during this time. Visit https://www.gofundme.com/qcjksdbg if you would like to make a donation

Life After Lugo

Photo courtesy: CVUSD Brianna Smith Gunn (right), a 2008 Don Lugo High graduate, talks to Don Lugo seniors about her experience in the Army.

Photo courtesy: CVUSD
Brianna Smith Gunn (right), a 2008 Don Lugo High graduate, talks to Don Lugo seniors about her experience in the Army.

Courtesy of Chino Valley Unified

CHINO– Looking like she was addressing her police officers in a shift briefing, Chino Police Chief Karen Comstock told Don Lugo students that success is theirs if they just have the right mindset. Chief Comstock was among more than a dozen Don Lugo High graduates who spoke to seniors, juniors and sophomores on January 7 about going to college during the annual “Life After Lugo.”

Don Lugo counselors founded the event seven years ago “because they felt that giving students as much information about college as possible would ensure greater success,” said teacher Sophie Yu. She took over coordination of the event three years ago, when original coordinator Kathie Spaun transferred to Chino Hills High. This year, Ms. Yu increased the number of sessions a senior could take from two to three. “All presenters are Lugo grads and my goal is to have more career pathways,” Ms. Yu said.

“Commit yourself to a process of learning,” Chief Comstock said as she walked back and forth among students in the Don Lugo multipurpose room. “Even if you don’t want to go into college after high school, get into a learning environment…Success is all in your futures, if you want it,” she said “…You are from Chino; you’re from Don Lugo. We believe in you.”

Following introductions and the chief’s keynote speech, other Don Lugo High alumni spoke to small groups of students on a variety of college-related topics in different classrooms. Among the subjects discussed were campus life, military experience, engineering, networking, picking the right school, commuting versus dorms, studying abroad, personal finance, the AVID college preparation program, the Dream Act, and time management.

Brianna Smith Gunn, a 2008 Don Lugo graduate, said she managed a hotel for a while before going to college, and then joined the Army 4 ½ years ago. Although she is only 5-foot-3, she worked in corrections for the military at Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp in Cuba, where war criminals and other high profile prisoners are detained. She said at least three of the approximately 30 students in the class she was addressing would go into the military, based on statistics kept on military service. She told the students that many soldiers have lost their lives to ensure the freedoms of Americans.

Don Lugo graduate Albert Perez, who said he was the first in his family to attend college, talked about how three-dimensional printing is used in the bio-medical engineering field he is studying. He passed around two of the items he has made with a 3-D printer: a Batman symbol, and the words “#1 Mom” with a heart symbol behind it. He also talked about the fun he had exploring a new city while attending college.

Graduate Elizabeth Cho said her parents are immigrants who didn’t go to college, so they had a hard time helping her when issues came up about her college experience. She told the Don Lugo students there are resources and people on college campuses that can help new students adjust. She also talked about overcoming the “imposter syndrome” in which students don’t feel like they belong at their college or that they are not “good enough” to be at the school. She said it was a culture shock for her to be attending prestigious Wellesley College in Massachusetts because of the more affluent students who attend that school, the long distance from her home in California, and the colder weather there. “You grow a lot,” she said of attending a college away from home. She concluded her comments by showing a video of students who have experienced culture shock in college. Among those shown were students who were the first in their families to attend college.

Other Don Lugo graduates who spoke included Megan Johnston, Janette Armenta, Joseph Green, Nick Flores, Jacqueline Dana Valera, Samantha Ochoa, Kendell Langrell, Randall Brakob, and Frankie Torres. A luncheon was held following the event, with muffins, cookies, and water provided by Ms. Yu’s brother-in-law.

Straight Talk With Danice

Danice Akiyoshi

Danice Akiyoshi

Trust Issues- A letter from Leona
By Danice Akiyoshi, N.D.

 

Dear Dr. Akiyoshi,

When my mother passed away she left my oldest brother in charge of her trust.  Her trust clearly states that her assets will be distributed equally among her four children.  My oldest brother is an accomplished businessman and thinks he has the right to tell the rest of us how our inheritance should be invested.  He wants to take the bulk of the money and reinvest it in real estate, making the four of us business partners. Of course he wants to manage our assets.  I am not interested in this plan.  I would like to have my portion and make my own choices.  I like a simple life and my brother puts that down saying I will live poorly in my old age if I don’t listen to him.  I don’t know why he feels this way.  I have lived decently my entire life on my income.  He is being a bully.    Please help me deal with this situation.  I do not want to be at odds with my family members.

-Leona

 

Dear Leona,

I am not an attorney, nor am I wise in this area of estate law, but I can help you deal with a family member who is trying to bully and manipulate you.  If he intimidates you then it would be best to put your thoughts in writing, because bullies have a way of discounting the comments of the people they perceive as their weak opponents.  Explain to your brother that you appreciate the fact that he is attempting to look after your future well being, but you are simply not interested in real estate investing.  Explain that you are looking forward to a simple life and are in no danger of ever being a burden to him or anyone else.  Ask that your portion of the estate be given to you without pause.  Once you’ve communicated clearly and also given him a back up copy of what you said in writing, he should start to see that you have no intention of being controlled by him financially or any other way.  If he doesn’t comply with your mother’s wishes then tell him you plan to hire an attorney.  Good luck in resolving this matter quickly.

-Danice Akiyoshi ND

Danice Akiyoshi is a Naturopathic Doctor and the head of Candid Coaching Service. She offers personal coaching services relating to all types of issues and concerns. This is a letter she received from an anonymous reader. To send a question to Danice, email her at straighttalk@candidcoachingservices.com. You can also visit her website at http://www.candidcoachingservices.com.