Category Archives: SGV-IE Community News

Chino Hills First Dog Park Opens

Photo Courtesy: City of Chino Hills Council Member Peter Rogers poses with his dog Chloe and Sparky, the fire dog, makes quick friends with Chloe.

Photo Courtesy: City of Chino Hills
Council Member Peter Rogers poses with his dog Chloe and Sparky, the fire dog, makes quick friends with Chloe.

By Monique Valadez

 

Chino Hills – The newest addition to Chino Hills’ is for the dogs. After more than a decade of discussion and planning, Vila Borba Park – the city’s first ever off-leash dog park – is now open to the public.

A fanfare of nearly 200 people and their furry four-legged friends gathered at the grand opening ceremony Dec. 18.

City officials and community members snipped the official red ribbon but it was Sparky the Fire Dog and McGruff the Crime-Fighting Dog that made the “leash cutting” ceremonies complete for all dogs in attendance.

The 5.6-acre park is located south of Pine Avenue west of Butterfield Ranch Road at 17001 Amadora Drive. It offers a fenced in space for both big and little dogs to roam freely. The park comes equipped with convenient dog waste stations and dog-appropriate water fountains. There is also a Tot Lot play area for children, picnic areas, exercise stations, and walking paths. The park will be open from 7 a.m. until dusk each day.

City officials say it’s free and open to all dog owners, though there are a few rules. Dogs must be at least four months old and non-aggressive, and owners are asked to keep a leash with them at the park – though dogs can be unleashed within the fence.
City officials say the park has been more than a decade-long project. The concept of a dog park in this city was first addressed in March 2000 by the Parks and Recreation Commission, through a community engagement process, according to the city’s staff report.

Developer’s Standard Pacific presented plans for its new 200-home project to the city council and offered to incorporate a dog park. Standard Pacific built the dog park at no cost to the City as part of their requirement to provide park space.

Residents of the city also rallied behind the cause by starting the nonprofit Dog Park for Chino Hills. The group’s next fundraising efforts are to install commemorative bricks in a section of the park.

Photo Courtesy: City of Chino Hills City officials, local legislators and community members join in the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Tot Lot children playground at Vila Borba Park.

Photo Courtesy: City of Chino Hills
City officials, local legislators and community members join in the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Tot Lot children playground at Vila Borba Park.

Start New Year, New You at Clark’s

Staff Reports

CHINO – When it comes to health and nutrition, one size does not fit all. Just ask your neighborhood’s health and nutrition market, Clark’s Nutrition and Natural Foods Market who strive to make lives better one customer at a time.
Clark’s equates success not with size but with integrity, responsibility and service.

“The cornerstone of Clark’s market position is to provide reliable scientific information for the consumer’s benefit in making educated and informed decisions resulting in vibrant health,” Clark’s website states.

Spanning three generations, Clark’s Nutrition and Natural Foods Markets was founded in 1972 in Riverside by the Clark family patriarch, Jim Clark, whose vision of healthy living grew into what is today a 60 billion-dollar industry.

Today’s, Jim’s grandchildren have taken over the reins of Clark’s Nutrition and Natural Foods Markets. Grandson Jeff Clark is president, his brother Bruce Clark is vice president of retail development, and their sister Tracy Clark is the director of finance.
Their newest location in Chino, 12835 Mountain Avenue (at corner of Mountain Avenue and Riverside Drive), boasts a large selection of organic, gluten free, grass-fed beef, vitamins and raw foods. They also carry an extensive collection of health and beauty production including, celebrity Suzanne Somers’ skin care and cosmetic line, “SUZANNE Organics.”

Clark’s puts an emphasis on connecting with the community through various in-store and local events.

With locations in Loma Linda, Riverside, Rancho Mirage, and now Chino, Clark’s Nutrition lives up to their motto, “Live Better …We Can Help!”They provide regular free lectures on various health related topics and make-up tutorials with professional make-up artists.

Customers will appreciate their knowledgeable and helpful staff. Clark’s employees undergo a comprehensive in-house training curriculum, and continuing their education “which is now accredited”.

So, for all your health and nutritional needs, look no further than Clark’s in Chino or any of their other I.E. locals. Clark’s is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Stop by for yourselves and experience Clark’s great customer service, knowledgeable staff, and affordable pricing. Whatever your health goals, Clark’s can help! Visit www.clarksnutrition.com.

2016 The Magic Year

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

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

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

 

Once again, Happy New Year to all of you wonderful beings! Yes, it’s a new beginning for all of us.   It’s a chance to start fresh and finally become who you are meant to be. The New Year brings unlimited possibilities and new energy that helps us believe that the sky is the limit.  The New Year gives us hope and many new chances.  I say take these chances and make this year the best one ever!

Start this process by setting some small, very obtainable daily goals.  Once you’re in the groove and have met the daily goals, then it’s time to set a realistic goal for the year.  You may or may not ever meet your year-end goal, but it’s all about the steps or the process that we take in our attempts that cause us to change.  That’s what I want you all to focus on this year.  So what if you never get there all the way? You’re certainly moving in the right direction. Be proud of what you are able to do this year and don’t beat yourself up for what you couldn’t do.

I hope you will be good to yourselves in 2016 and finally work toward who you are meant to be.  I want you to remember that it’s all here for you and all you have to do is believe in yourself and go and get what you deserve.  I dedicate this to all of you in hopes that this will be a magical year. My wish for all of you is that you will get out there and find the greatness that exists in you and in our wonderful world.  It all starts by believing in yourself.   I believe in all of you and want you to be the very best you can be!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and is currently accepting new clients.  She also works as a motivational speaker, who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups for teens and can handle many court mandated needs.  For more information about any of these services contact Nancy at (909) 229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net. You may purchase Nancy’s books Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog at Amazon.com.

 

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 1.09.15

2016-Jan9-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-Jan9-Weekly-WEB

January 2016 SGV News

SGV News covers Diamond Bar, Walnut, La Puente, Rowland Heights and surrounding areas of the San Gabriel Valley; portions of the western Inland Empire; and northern Orange County. Click this link to access the complete issue in PDF format: 2016-01-SGVNews-WEB

Chino Valley Ready for El Niño

Staff Reports

Chino Valley – As the first of many El Niño storms arrive in the southland, officials are helping residents to be aware of how to be prepared for the storms and their aftermath. Chino Valley residents have been hearing about the El Niño weather system since last year’s summer months, and now Chino Valley Fire District officials are saying that they have started a public awareness campaign to inform residents about El Niño. They have created an El Niño information page on their website and they have begun sending messages through social media.
“We want residents to take a proactive approach,” Chino Valley Fire District’s Public Information Officer Massiel Ladron De Guevara said.
El Niño storms in California caused economic losses of $2.04 billion in 1982-83 and $804 million in 1997-98, according to a recent report by the National University System Institute for Policy Research.
Chino Valley Fire, Police and Public Works are working together with county officials– along with local, regional and state partners – to make sure all safety issues throughout the county are being addressed, according to city officials.
Flash flooding and flows of mud and debris are a concern in the Chino Valley. Severe flooding on Euclid Avenue near Prado Regional Park; Pine Avenue by El Prado Golf Course; on Kimball at Rincon Meadows, and Schaefer Avenue between 4th Street and Central Avenue is expected.
Public safety officials are urging commuters to be cautious around potential flooding areas and to follow this simple advice by the National Weather Service: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard, according to the NWS. People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream.
“A lot of people don’t know that an average car can float in as little as 12 inches of water and most cars can be swept away in 18-24 inches of moving water,” Ladron De Guevara said. “If you come across a water-covered road, do not attempt to cross it on foot or in a vehicle. Remember, ‘Turn Around Don’t Drown!”
Flood control channels and culvert crossings are being cleared in anticipation of heavy rains, and advance teams are advising homeless encampments to relocate, according to county officials.
Chino and Chino Hills residents can get up to 25 sandbags and sand at no cost.
Here is a listing of sandbag distribution locations:
Chino
Fire Station No. 67 (SANDBAGS & SAND AVAILABLE)
5980 Riverside Drive Chino, CA 91710; (909) 902-5267
For residential use only, not industrial. No limits on quantity. (Self-service: Residents must bring their own shovels).
Fire Station No. 63 (SANDBAGS & SAND AVAILABLE) 7550 Kimball Avenue Chino, CA (909) 606-2415
Chino Valley Independent Fire District Administration (SANDBAGS & SAND AVAILABLE) 14011 City Center Dr. Chino Hills, CA 91709; (909) 902-5260
Chino Hills
Fire Station No. 61 (SAND & SANDBAGS AVAILABLE) Residents only – Must have proof of residency. 5078 Schaefer Avenue Chino, CA 91710; (909) 902-5261
Fire Station No. 62 (SAND/SANDBAGS AVAILABLE – Bring own shovel) 5551 Butterfield Ranch Road Chino Hills, CA 91709; (909) 597-9062
Fire Station No. 64 (SAND/SANDBAGS AVAILABLE – Bring own shovel) 16231 Canon Lane Chino Hills, CA 91709; (909) 597-9064

Additional El Niño resources are available at http://www.chinovalleyfire.org and on the county website, http://www.sbcounty.gov/main/elnino.asp.

Keep On Knocking

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

by Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently I was working on a home improvement project when I ran out of material.  I had put down some new floor tile and was trying to complete the grout, but I didn’t have enough grout to finish.  Bummer!
I knew that there was a Home Depot nearby and thought they were open until 10:00 PM.  So I jumped into the car and hurried over, thinking I had plenty of time to spare.  However, when I arrived at the store, I noticed that the parking lot was pretty empty and there were not many people around.  As I walked up to the front door, I discovered that the store closed at 9:00 PM, not 10:00 PM.  The ten o’clock closing time was correct in the summer, but in the winter they had an earlier closing time.  Now what should I do?  It was only a few minutes after nine when I arrived and I could still see a number of employees inside the store.  They were cleaning up and closing up for the day.
I knocked on the glass door and one employee saw me holding my empty container.  The employee was kind enough to come to the door and listen to my distressing situation. To my surprise, he opened the door and asked me what color of grout I needed. He explained that he could not let me inside the store, but he offered to go look for what I needed. I handed him the empty container and off he went. A few minutes later, the helpful employee returned with two other employees following him. Maybe this was a security measure to make sure I wasn’t planning to rob the store.
He found a new container of grout matching the color and texture of the empty container I had given him.  When I pulled out my wallet to pay for the material, he said that he could not accept any money and that the price had been reduced. He gave it to me for free!  The small bucket of grout cost less than $10, but I never expected a huge home improvement store to give me something for free- I was amazed, and I was very thankful to have enough material to finish my late night project.  I was especially thankful for an employee who was kind enough to help me in my time of need.
There is a verse in the Bible where Jesus taught His followers about prayer.  In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Keep on asking and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened.”  I’m sure that I said a little prayer that night when I knocked on the door at Home Depot, hoping that someone would hear and help.  How much more does God love to respond to our daily needs when we come to Him in prayer asking for His help?  All we need to do is bring our needs and requests to Him.  He always hears and He is ready to help!
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 http://www.efreedb.org

Chino P.D. Combating Package Theft with GPS Bait Packages

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Courtesy of Chino Police Department

CHINO – Chino P.D. is utilizing GPS tracking technology in an effort to combat the growing concern of package theft from residences this holiday season.

Several bait packages equipped with GPS trackers have been placed at residential locations throughout Chino this week as an enforcement tool and proactive prevention measure. The device will notify police personnel when packages have been stolen and allow officers to locate suspects with a high degree of accuracy.

“We want these thieves to know we are stepping up our enforcement efforts to protect our citizens,” states Special Enforcement Team Sergeant Marotta. “We hope that through the use of tools such as this, we can both prevent these thefts and apprehend those who victimize our community members.”

If you have any information related to incidents of package theft or have been a victim of package theft in Chino and would like to report it, please contact Chino PD at 909.628.1234.

A Better Place

By Sarah Sanchez

 

I went on a mission trip to Haiti with a team last year, and lately we’ve been talking about going back. The team and I always talk about how much we miss Haiti, but I think it’s strange that we’re talking about how much we miss a Third World country, where people live in poverty and barely have enough food to eat. The other day, I really thought about what it was that I missed about Haiti and the first thing that popped into my head was the people.

The Haitian people who lived in the villages were always so friendly to us. They would wave at us as we walked by, have us hold their children, or ask us to pray with them. They were welcoming everywhere we went. They treated us as if we were family, even though we were strangers who didn’t even speak their language.

The Haitian children were a whole new level of friendly. Whenever we had an opportunity to play with the children, my arm would end up being tired from holding so many of them and my legs would be tired from running around with them the entire day. At one point, I had a little over ten children surrounding me, each fighting to hold my hand, trying to play with my hair, trying on my sunglasses, asking me questions in Creole or doing anything to get my attention. The funny part was that as soon as I turned around to look at them, they would give me the biggest smile. The love they showed us was truly remarkable.

It wasn’t until we were back in a United States airport that I realized how different Haiti was. The moment I realized we weren’t in Haiti anymore was the moment I turned to say “Bonswa” (meaning hello in Creole) to someone, and I didn’t see a smiling face like I was used to in Haiti.

It’s amazing to think that I miss a country where we didn’t have any electricity, where we didn’t have clean water, where we barely had enough food, and where  I’ve sweated more than I’ve sweated my entire life. But still, I have the urge to go back just so I can see those friendly faces and feel that special love all around me.

The question I found myself asking is, why do I have to go back to Haiti to feel this way? Why can’t I have that same feeling when I’m in my own hometown? Why can’t we be friendly to one another here? So I ask you to please help me spread love around the community. Say hi to one another, smile at each other, open doors, help with grocery bags, or carry out a simple act of kindness to show a stranger this love. As the years progress, I find the world becoming less civil. But who says we can’t change it? Let’s work together to make this world we live in a better place.

 

Inland Empire: 32 Honored for Saving Lives

Deputies honored for their life-saving actions pictured with Sheriff McMahon.

Photo courtesy: SBCSD
Deputies honored for their life-saving actions pictured with Sheriff McMahon.

Staff Reports

San Bernardino County –The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department on Friday, Dec. 18, recognized 32 personnel and citizens whose actions contributed to saving many lives.

Sheriff John McMahon presented the individuals with the awards and praised their heroic deeds at the event.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the professional character displayed by all 32 individuals awarded,” McMahon said. “Without hesitation, citizens and employees from various agencies stepped in and gave so many people their life back.”

Among the stories of the heroic acts, here are a few shining examples:
Deputy Will Fifita was honored for saving his father’s life while off-duty. On Thursday, Oct. 1, Fifita was off-duty at LAX Airport waiting to pick up family members. Suddenly, Will’s father, Eddie Fifita, fell to the ground and stopped breathing, possibly in cardiac arrest. Will quickly began assessing his father’s needs and was assisted by Customs Agents Phillip Gaff and Kevin Mahoney. The three officers began CPR and after several minutes, Will located a pulse and his father began breathing. Eddie Fifita was transported to a nearby hospital.
Highland resident Micheal Ruth helped save an injured driver on June 19.  At about 11 p.m., a traffic collision occurred on Boulder near Pacific. Ruth witnessed a car crash into a tree and become fully engulfed in flames. Ruth ran to the vehicle, saw the injured driver in the backseat, reached into the burning vehicle and pulled the driver to safety. After rescuing the driver, Ruth stayed with the driver until he was transported to a local hospital.
Deputy Daniel Smith was honored for saving his partner Deputy David Franquez’s life earlier this year.

In January of 2015, Deputies Daniel Smith and David Franquez were assigned as partners for the day on routine patrol in Rancho Cucamonga. They stopped for a quick bite to eat before their first assignment. Smith was researching the subjects they were going to contact when he looked at Franquez and realized he was choking. Franquez’s face turned red and he was no longer breathing. Smith got Franquez out of the patrol car and immediately began the Heimlich maneuver. The one hard compression dislodged the food from his airway and he began breathing on his own.

Chino Hills Boys’ Basketball Wins Major Tournament

Staff Reports

CHINO HILLS – Chino Hills High boys’ basketball team received an early Christmas gift last Wednesday when they won the City of Palms Classic Tournament in Florida.

The Chino Hills Huskies won the prominent tournament with a 66-60 overtime victory against Patrick School of Elizabeth, N.J.

“It’s the best tournament in the nation,” said Chino Hills coach Steve Baik. “I think we have a chance to be named No. 1 in the nation now, so to have this opportunity, for a little public school out in California, it’s like a dream come true. We want to keep it rolling.”

The Huskies knocked off some of the nation’s best boys basketball teams to reach the top including Thomas Jefferson High of New York, Monteverde Academy of Florida, and High Point Christian of North Carolina.

With the victory, Chino Hills became the fifth California school to win the tournament and the first since Santa Ana Mater Dei in 2008.

The UCLA-bound senior Lonzo Ball was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and scored 20 points in the final. His brothers, LiAngelo and LaMelo, Onyeka Oknongwu and Elizjah Scott also made impressive plays to take the All-Star Team to victory.

The Huskies are also seeking to be named the best boys’ basketball team in the country when ranking results are released this week by a USA Today High School Sports Poll.

The Huskies winning streak will continue at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic Tournament through Dec. 29 in Rancho Mirage.

Diamond Bar Completes Beautification Projects

Photo by Jennifer Heyen New City Monument Greets Commuters along Grand Avenue

Photo by Jennifer Heyen
New City Monument Greets Commuters along Grand Avenue

By Carol Heyen

DIAMOND BAR– The City of Diamond Bar has recently completed two major beautification improvement projects.

The Grand Avenue Beautification Project, which began in May 2015, included several aesthetically-pleasing upgrades along Grand Avenue at the intersections of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Longview Drive.  Both of which are considered primary gateways into the city, according to city officials.
Workers installed 16 new traffic signals, created 12,000 square feet of new sidewalks, and laid 3,000 square feet of pavers.
A new gateway monument was installed at the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Longview Drive. Design details of windmills and timber rails from the city’s agriculture past are incorporated in the new monument.

Other improvements included the planting of 67 new drought-resistant trees along with other water-friendly plants. Bus benches will be added by Foothill Transit later this year.
Money for the Grand Avenue Beautification Project was made possible from a federal grant obtained through the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act.

Carlton Peterson Park’s parking lot also underwent some much-needed rehabilitation. The rehabilitation included repaving and adding 34 new parking spots. Ronald Reagan Park will also undergo parking lot rehabilitation.

 

How to stay true to your New Year’s resolutions

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Courtesy of mid-day.com

BE KIND TO YOURSELF- Set realistic goals. Understand your capabilities and don’t set goals that are unreachable. Consult your physician before starting any diet program.  Take a few days off. Breathe and eat healthy to rejuvenate your body and soul. Take at least two weeks off each year; connect with nature, read a book, or do anything that calms your mind and nerves. During your time off, make sure to take time for doctors’ appointments and other preventative health care.
FITNESS: Make separate weekend and weekday goals, since you are likely to be busy with house or office work during the week. Work out for a minimum of five hours per week, in increments that work best for you. Change your fitness routine on the weekends by trying out new sports, or by engaging in any activity that sounds fun to you. Avoid a few foods that are fattening rather than banning one type of food entirely.
FINANCES: Plan wisely. Financial planning does not begin with a new year; it needs to be a lifelong commitment. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Do not depend on free advice; you may have to pay for professional help but it will set you in the right direction.  Make sure you have adequate health and life insurance for each earning member of the family.
RELATIONSHIPS: Hit a positive high. Work hard on yourself and your belief system. Do away with negative thought processes and challenge yourself. Work on the art of communication, with yourself and others. Do not be defensive. Be positive about yourself and your goals. This will help bring emotional stability and affect the way you behave with everyone.
WORK: Right the wrongs. Go back in time and examine your work patterns at earlier workplaces. Determine the things that went wrong, and fix them in the future.  Don’t be negative and judgmental about your colleagues, as this will end up affecting you as well. If you have to be a leader, be confident, not a tyrant. For a good environment and results at the workplace, happy colleagues are important.

Brahma Mathletes named National Champs

Photo courtesy of Walnut Valley U.S.D.

Photo courtesy of Walnut Valley U.S.D.

By Kelli Gile

DIAMOND BAR – Diamond Bar High’s Math Team wrapped up its undefeated season in dramatic fashion.

After eight weeks of exciting competition against hundreds of schools across the nation, the Diamond Bar students were named the national Math Madness champions on December 11.

Math Madness is a national online event inspired by college basketball’s March Madness tournament. Teams in the contest, which is sponsored by the American Mathematics Association (AMA), play in a round-robin format and then are seeded into a draw of 64 teams.

First reports from the December 9 finals ranked the Brahmas as second place finishers against competitors from Valley Christian High School in San Jose.  Two days later, officials announced that the first place team had cheated, and named the Brahmas the winners

“We knew that the final match was going to be very, very close,” commented math teacher and advisor Jeff Brose.   Teachers Dena Lorde and Jimmy Kuo served as co-advisors and retired teacher Howard Alcosser as Coach Emeritus.

Each 30-minute weekly match contained a set of 10 questions which became more difficult as the competition progressed.  “In one of our matches this year, we earned the deciding point with just seconds remaining,” said Brose, whose team played in the Division IIE, which is the division made up of teams with more than 20 active members.  “Making it to the finals this year was a pretty big thing,” Brose said. The school’s best finish to date was making it to the quarterfinals.

“They (Valley Christian) had been performing on par with us through the tournament,” he added.

Playing other opponents in the semifinals, DBHS earned 69 points and Valley Christian earned 70 points. The team score was comprised of the top players’ scores.  In the final match, Diamond Bar earned 62 points, with about 60 students competing.  “Valley Christian shocked everyone by earning a whopping 93 points,” Brose said.

Diamond Bar’s top performer was Benjamin Chen, who was able to earn 9/10 on the final.  Ben is ranked #21 in the nation out of over 17,000 students.  Runner-ups Sabrina Tseng and William He each scored 7’s on the exam.

“When Valley Christian turned in an unbelievable six perfect 10/10 scores, AMA’s Tim Kelley determined they had cheated,” Brose said.  In the end, Diamond Bar was awarded the championship.   “This capped a truly unforgettable season,” said Brose.  The students learned some lifelong lessons, including the value of working as a team toward a goal and performing under pressure with poise and integrity, Brose said.  “And they learned some cool math too!” he quipped.

Diamond Bar High was among a select group of schools invited to join the new Math Madness competition when it began a few years ago.  Since then the contest has grown tremendously.
“Being named the champions is a major accomplishment, because a large number of the schools involved in the contest are private schools, prep schools, and specialized math and STEM academies,” Alcosser said.

 

Walnut City Council Election Set for April

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Staff Reports

WALNUT– A general municipal election will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, for three Walnut City Council member positions.  Members will serve a full four-year term, beginning April 2016 and ending April 2020.

The three City Council members whose terms are expiring are Tony Cartagena, Eric Ching, and Nancy Tragar.

Council Members are currently paid $300 per month and have a monthly health benefit allowance of $700. In addition, Council Members receive $50 per meeting for attendance at Housing Authority meetings.

The nomination period for these offices began on Monday, December 21, 2015 and close on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.  Qualified candidates must be 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a registered voter residing within the Walnut city limits.  Candidate Handbooks are available at City Hall.  Obtaining nomination papers will take approximately 30 minutes, and there is a filing fee of $25.   All candidates are requested to make an appointment to obtain or return nomination papers by calling the City Clerk’s Office at (909) 595-7543, ext. 311.

If an incumbent does not file, the nomination period will be extended to Wednesday, January 20, 2016.  If no one or only one person is nominated for an elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by the Elections Code of the State of California No. 10229.

The polls will be open on April 12, 2016 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Campaign statements will be posted on the City’s website: www.ci.walnut.ca.us.

Two Men Arrested for Vehicle Theft in Chino Hills

Photos by San Bernardino County Sheriff – Chino Hills Station Stolen vehicle and items recovered by Chino Hills Sheriff’s deputies.

Photos by San Bernardino County Sheriff – Chino Hills Station
Stolen vehicle and items recovered by Chino Hills Sheriff’s deputies.

By Sara Cipollone

Chino Hills – Two Riverside County men were arrested on Sunday, Dec. 20 by the Chino Hills Sheriff’s Station in response to a service call regarding a vehicle burglary.
On Sunday morning, the Chino Hills deputies responded to a call reporting a vehicle burglary in progress. Adam Rudolph, 23, of Riverside and John Gillespie, 26, of Menifee were arrested in relation to the report.
The reporting party provided police with a description of the suspect vehicle and the last known direction of travel, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies set up a perimeter and conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle on Rock Springs Drive, just west of Oakland Way.
Police found several stolen items inside the suspects’ vehicle which link them to an ongoing investigation involving numerous victims throughout the city of Chino Hills.
Rudolph and Gillespie were identified during a lineup and booked at West Valley Detention Center for burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and possession of stolen property.

Straight Talk With Danice

Danice Akiyoshi

Danice Akiyoshi

Restless Marriage- A letter from C.L.
By Danice Akiyoshi, N.D.

 

Dear Dr. Akiyoshi,

I find myself feeling really restless in my marriage.  My husband is a very nice man, but my requests to add more excitement into our relationship are being ignored.  He seems very uncomfortable when I bring up the subject of improving our romantic life.  I notice that he buys me more gifts and takes me to nice dinners when I complain, but that’s not what I’m after.  I want more intimacy.  He is healthy in every way and so am I.  My sister said that this is what happens after 12 years of marriage. I don’t want to believe this is true and that things will get steadily worse.  He seemed uncomfortable with the idea of getting counseling.  He said we are fine and that he’s just been tired lately.  I worry that he no longer finds me attractive even though I’ve worked very hard to stay fit and healthy.  I don’t know what to do.

-C. L

 

 

Dear C. L.

You say you have tried to communicate your needs clearly to your husband and he is not taking you seriously. Is this the way your relationship works in other areas too, or just in the intimacy department?   Give it some thought. Maybe you’ll see that there is a pattern in other areas of your relationship where you are being ignored.  If in fact you have communicated clearly that you feel dissatisfied with the degree of intimacy in your marriage, your husband should be on red alert and strive to remedy that situation promptly.  If you are both healthy then there should be no problem spicing things up a bit.  If your husband is content in allowing you to feel insignificant to him then he has some ugly trouble awaiting him in his future.  The fact that you took time out to write to me means you are not going to deal well with being ignored, nor should you.  This is the time to get some serious conversations started before you find yourselves in jeopardy, and while you still love each other.  Do not wait.  Seek assistance if you need to, but I urge you to aggressively address this issue before you end up dealing with many more serious problems.  At this stage things can be turned around pretty quickly if the love is there.

I wish you the best of luck.

-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 atstraighttalk@candidcoachingservices.com. You can also visit her website at http://www.candidcoachingservices.com.

Huff Introduces Legislation to Ban Powdered Alcohol in CA

Product Sends Wrong Message to Youth About Responsible Drinking

News Release

SACRAMENTO: Senate Minority Leader Emeritus Bob Huff (R-San Dimas) started the first week of the 2016 legislative session by introducing a new bill, SB 819, which will place a ban on the sale of powdered alcohol in California. The product, also known as Palcohol, is a freeze dried version of alcohol which comes in a small pouch and is the equivalent to a shot of alcohol. The crystallized formula becomes a cocktail once mixed with water. The product has already been banned in 27 other states.

“This substance is yet another drug that we should be concerned about and for good reason,” said Senator Huff. “Some are predicting Palcohol will become the ‘Kool-Aid of teenage binge drinking,’ and this is a concern I agree with.”

The ease of this substance presents an array of potential health problems in California as it can be snorted, added to energy drinks, slipped to unknowing recipients, or even added to beverages already containing alcohol in an attempt to create a dangerously potent concoction.

“Powdered alcohol is the most insidious, youth-attractive alcohol product to come along since alcohol energy drinks,” stated Richard Zaldivar, a spokesperson for California Alcohol Policy Alliance and Alcohol Justice. “The misuse danger, especially to young people, cannot be overstated.”

“Powdered alcohol is a product that is ripe for abuse, and can easily be marketed to children,” said Kat DeBurgh, MPH, Executive Director of the Health Officers Association of California. “From a public health point of view, powdered alcohol is unsafe for California’s communities. The time to act is now.”

Because this new drug can be easily sold and transferred, this is a prime product for abuse by children and teenagers. Alcohol-related harm to California youth can present itself in several ways including death, injuries, assaults, sexual violence, unsafe sex, suicide attempts, and academic problems.

“Alcohol is already abused by underage kids and drinking responsibly is a challenge for many adults,” said Senator Huff. “Adding powdered alcohol to this potent mix is akin to squirting gasoline on a wildfire. This is a problem that California does not need.”

SB 819 will now wait for its first policy hearing in coming months. Senator Huff is pleased the issue has achieved bipartisan support and is working closely with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) on a companion measure that has been introduced in the Assembly, AB 1554.

Senator Huff is the Senate Minority Leader Emeritus and represents the 29th Senate District covering portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Follow Senator Huff on Twitter at @bobhuff99.

Walnut Hills Village

Walnut Hills Village is located at 20747 Amar Road, just ½ block west of Grand Avenue, with easy access from the 60 and 57 freeways.

Walnut Hills Village is located at 20747 Amar Road, just ½ block west of Grand Avenue, with easy access from the 60 and 57 freeways.

Staff Reports

Walnut – Things can get hectic this time of year, especially after the holiday hustle and bustle.  Let Walnut Hills Village help you tackle the new year rush and fulfill some of your resolutions.

Walnut Hills Village can help you be more productive and efficient in 2016. With more than 30 stores in one location, and anchored by Stater Bros., this is one-stop shopping at its finest. There is something for everyone. And with so many independent merchants, this is the perfect opportunity to shop small by shopping local.

Drop your pet off at Sophie’s Wags to Whiskers boutique for some grooming, while you relax at Newen’s Beauty Salon or Art Nails. You can run errands at several retailers, and then grab a quick lunch at Baby Elephant Thai Cuisine. There is even time to schedule that dental or vision appointment that you’ve been putting off, get your banking done, and run into Dollar Tree for a 2016 calendar.

Asian Kitchen Express will set you up with delicious Pho-Thai party trays for your next celebration, while Royal Florist takes care of your table centerpiece. And, the UPS Store is right there to help mail your returned items from Christmas.
With so many options in one place at Walnut Village, now you can tackle those specific New Year’s resolutions like meditating or flossing regularly.

The Village is located at 20747 Amar Road, just a ½ block west of Grand Avenue in Walnut.  See the full page ad in the Weekly News for a full listing of all of the retail establishments you can find there.

 

91 Construction Message Sign Hacked

Image courtesy of Nikki Worden

Image courtesy of Nikki Worden

Staff Reports

CORONA – A hacked electronic construction sign on the northbound Interstate 15 had commuters scratching their heads at the unusual message Christmas evening.

The electronic sign, which is located between El Cerrito and Ontario Avenue in Corona, was changed from a construction alert to a political message Dec. 25.

Several commuters posted images and video of the hacked sign on social media. One of the Facebook images shows the sign was changed to read: “Inland Empire Supports Donald Trump. Merry Xmas. Vote Donald Trump.”

The political message was replaced on Dec. 26 when work crews returned to work after the Christmas holiday, according to the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).

The RCTC issued a press release regarding the vandalism of a changeable message on Monday, Dec. 28.

“Enhanced security measures will be implemented to protect the signs and the project from additional vandalism,” John Standiford, RCTC’s Deputy Executive Director said in the press release.

At this time, California Highway Patrol investigators have no solid leads as to who vandalized the sign.