Category Archives: SGV-IE Community News

Make Your Backyard Extreme

Extreme Backyard Designs is located at 2330 S. Vineyard Ave. They can be reached at 909.930.6111 or online at http://www.extremebackyarddesigns.com.

By Michael Armijo

Companies come and go, so longevity is the key when you’re modifying your home, both inside and out. Extreme Backyard Designs is a testimony of longevity as their family run business has been designing outdoor entertainment centers with name brand components for over 20 years.

“A key component to staying in business this long is to treat people the way we would want ourselves to be treated,” said James Deeley, founder of the family business. With so many years in business, you not only get quality products, you also gets years of experience in getting things done correctly, creatively.

Extreme Backyard Designs can provide custom Barbeque islands, outdoor fireplaces, fire pit tables, spas, patio furniture, and many other items all wholesale to the public.

“We are college and trade school educated and enjoy the interaction and satisfaction of transforming backyards into a family’s personal oasis,” Deeley said. “Since we buy at such a large volume, we always have monthly specials available on our website.”

The Extreme Backyard Designs staff is the most knowledgeable and friendly people in the area, they are centrally located on the corner of the 60 Freeway and Vineyard, right across from the newest Kaiser building.

“We believe what makes a business thrive is to provide the best quality components, a superior level of customer service at an affordable price,” Deeley said.

Serving all of Southern California, Extreme Backyard Designs is located at 2330 S. Vineyard Ave in our neighboring city of Ontario. They can be reached at 909.930.6111, or you can view their website at www.extremebackyarddesigns.com

Walnut Valley Tapped For New National Award

By Kelli Gile

WALNUT—Walnut Valley Unified School District will be honored with a new national recognition as a Schools to Watch District on June 30.

 

The award celebrates Walnut Valley’s dedication to providing an exemplary educational experience for students.

 

In the past two years, all three middle schools – Chaparral, South Pointe, and Suzanne – earned the prestigious Schools to Watch designation for demonstrating academic excellence, responsiveness to the needs of young adolescents, and social equity.

 

These model schools have been recognized at the state and national level and have become examples for middle schools across the country.

 

Walnut Valley is among only eight school districts in California and 17 in the nation that have earned this distinction.

 

“This is truly a compliment and a reflection of the commitment, dedication, and pride that all of our teachers, classified employees, support staff, administrators, board members, and personnel commissioners have placed in our 15 schools and our wonderful school district,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor.

 

The Schools to Watch District award will be presented by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform in Washington D.C.

 

Sexual Hazing at Chino High School

Photo: anapr
Students at Don Lugo High School in Chino were accused of sexually hazing other students in a classroom that was not being supervised by a teacher.

By Anthony Saude

Chino – Students at Don Lugo High School in Chino were accused of sexually hazing other students in a classroom that was not being supervised by a teacher.

A student caught some of the incident on video. The video shows two football players holding another player down on the ground while simulating sexual acts.

In the video everybody is clothed, but Irene Hernandez Blair says there have been other reports that the alleged assaults were even more graphic.

Some of these reports state that was actual flesh to flesh contact. Blair is not only a parent of one of the alleged hazing victims; she is also a Chino Valley Unified School District Board member. Blair spoke about these reported incidents at a recent board meeting on June 14.

“These are the facts: Egregious acts took place while the kids were unsupervised,” she said in a recording of the meeting.

She said she was notified by the school superintendent and other board members last November about several videos showing football players performing lewd acts on other players, including placing genitals on students.

“I wanted parents to be advised that their sons were being interviewed and the reason as to why,” she said.

The school board decided not to inform the parents what their children were being questioned in reference to the incidents. Technically the school board doesn’t have a legal obligation to notify parents that any students were even being interviewed, much less about what.

Chino police have been contacted and the incidents are currently under investigation.

Blair said the school district conducted their own investigation and human resources recommended terminating head football coach, Gred Gano, for leaving the class of students without any adult supervision.

But school board members voted in favor of the coach without any disciplinary action whatsoever.

Blair recused herself from the vote because her son is an alleged victim.

It was reported that four students were expelled and a 14-year-old boy has been cited by Chino police.

Two of those students were eventually reinstated and one was allowed back on the football team.

Should Coach Gano have been held accountable?

The school district released the following statement:

“At Chino Valley Unified School District, the safety of our students is our highest priority. At this point, we cannot comment on pending litigation.”

 

Two Drivers Dead in 91 Freeway Accident

By Anthony Saude

CORONA — An accident on the 91 freeway in Corona claimed the lives of two drivers. One of the drivers, a male, was running away from the accident when he was struck and killed by oncoming traffic.

Initially a two-car crash was reported just before 10 p.m. on the westbound Riverside Freeway. According to the California Highway Patrol the accident took place just east of Lincoln Avenue.

Witnesses told the CHP the driver of a black Dodge sedan appeared to be under the influence before he crashed into a white sedan. After his vehicle hit the white sedan the driver exited the vehicle and started running down the freeway in the westbound lanes to get away from the accident. After only a short distance the driver, who has not been identified, was hit by several cars and died at the scene.

A source close to the victim driving the black sedan stated that “to the best of his knowledge the driver didn’t drink at all”.

The transition from the northbound Corona (15) Freeway carpool lane to the westbound Riverside Freeway Fast Track was shut down for several hours due to the wreckage and investigation.

 

Artificial Turf Installation At Grand Avenue – Park Lighting Affected

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – Tennis court lighting and walkway lighting at Grand Avenue Park will be off from Monday, June 18 to Monday, July 9 during electrical work that is required for the installation of artificial turf. Lighting on the basketball courts and hockey rink is not affected. Trails adjacent to the park will be gated at dusk due to the reduced lighting.

The $2.4 million project will mean less down time for maintenance, and more playing time on the fields. The turf is provided and installed by FieldTurf USA, Inc. It comes with a 10-year warranty. According to City staff, the product has a patented drainage and layered sub-system with an enhanced volume of infill which has been proven to reduce the potential for injuries.

The turf’s new and improved blades of grass have earned the industry’s highest quality certification rating issued by the nationally accredited testing
firm, LaboSports. “Players will appreciate the new “Cool Play” infill, which is the top layer of infill that holds the blades of grass in place,” said Jonathan Marshall, Community Services Director. “It reduces surface temperatures by over 30 degrees.”
Work is progressing quickly with the goal to be ready for soccer season.

 

Advanced Improvements Provides Comfort For Your Home

Advanced Improvements can be reached at (888) 698-8859.

Advanced Improvements can be reached at (888) 698-8859.

Staff Reports

 

SoCal – Advanced Improvements is an expert in solar power, roofing, air conditioning and heating, water heating and water filtration. For over 20 years, they have been providing eco-friendly, energy saving home and office comfort solutions for Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and Los Angeles counties.

Advanced Improvements’ mission is to build top quality home and office improvement projects on time, with exemplary customer service, and within your budget.  Right now, Advanced Improvements is offering specials and discounts on a variety of their products.

Solar:  Whether you’re looking to go completely off the power grid, or just reduce your carbon footprint, Advanced Improvements can help by providing you with solar solutions.  They offer both solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar thermal (solar water heating) technologies.  The average solar system pays for itself in as little as four years.  When you fit your home for solar, you can receive up to 30% in tax credits, and Advanced Improvements has 2.99% financing options available for solar upgrades (OAC).

Roofing: Experience and dedication to providing professional service allows Advanced Improvements to provide the most efficient and affordable roofing on the market. Whether you need a new roof or just want to upgrade your old one, they will give you an honest estimate on the most advanced and energy efficient materials on the market.

Heating and Air:  Advanced Improvements has trained professionals that provide expert analysis, top quality equipment, and skilled installation or repair of your heating and air conditioning equipment.  They can give your home a heating or cooling system that is not only reliable, but efficient.  They also offer heat pumps, gas furnaces, package units, air handlers, and cooling coils. Ask about their $79 special for a spring tune-up on your current system.

Water Heating:  Advanced Improvements carries a full line of different models and types of water heaters.  They offer everything from traditional tanks to tankless water heaters.  Advanced Improvements specializes in tankless water heaters, claiming the title of the largest tankless water heater installation company in the nation.  They have installed over 10,000 tankless water heaters over the last ten years.  Take advantage of their $500 discount coupon on a Noritz Tankless Water Heater.

Water Filtration: Advanced Improvements offers water filtration systems that protect against hardness elements, iron, rust, sediment, and a variety of other substances that may be present in your water.  Their systems are high flow and low maintenance machines that are designed for optimum performance.  Ask about their $500 discount coupon for Anti-Scale and Carbon Water Filtration systems.

Go Green:  You can GO GREEN with Advanced Improvements, as they provide eco-friendly, energy saving, green products for your home and business.  They can help you go completely independent with solar power, replace your heating and cooling system with a new high-efficiency unit, or lower your energy usage by installing a tankless water heater.

Advanced Improvements stands behind their products and services and is committed to excellence.

 

  • Make your home or business comfortable today with Advanced Improvements (Contractor State License Board #947761). Their office is located at 1352 E. Valencia Dr, Fullerton, CA 92831, and they can be reached at (888) 698-8859.  Visit their website at AdvancedIMP.com, and see their ad in the Weekly News

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 06/30/18

The 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: 2018-23-6.WeeklyNews

Creamiest Mushroom Ravioli

with Zucchini and Heirloom Tomatoes

 

By Hello Fresh

 

Cooking Time: 30 mins

Servings: 4

Nutrition: 510 Calories

Ingredients:

 

  • Zucchini- 2
  • Shallot- 2
  • Heirloom Grape Tomatoes- 8 oz
  • Parsley- 1/2 oz
  • Chili Flakes- 2 tsp
  • Mushroom Ravioli- 18 oz
  • Sour Cream- 8 tbsp
  • Parmesan Cheese- 1/2 cup
  • Veggie Stock Concentrate- 2

 

 

1  PREP    Wash and dry all produce. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Quarter zucchini lengthwise, then cut crosswise into ¼-inch-thick triangles. Halve and peel shallot, then thinly slice. Halve tomatoes lengthwise. Pick a few parsley leaves from stems for garnish, then finely chop the rest of the bunch.

 

2  COOK VEGGIES.     Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.  Add zucchini and cook, tossing, until browned, 5-7 minutes. Add shallot, a pinch of chili flakes (to taste), and a drizzle of olive oil. Cook, tossing, until shallot is softened, 2-3 minutes.

 

3 BOIL RAVIOLI     Once water is boiling, add ravioli to pot. Cook until tender and floating to the top, about 4 minutes. Carefully scoop out and reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water, then drain.

 

4  MAKE SAUCE    Once shallot is softened, stir tomatoes into pan, then reduce heat to low. Stir in sour cream, half the Parmesan, stock concentrate, and ¼ cup pasta cooking water. Season with salt, pepper, chopped parsley, and more chili flakes (to taste).

 

5  TOSS RAVIOLI       Add ravioli to pan, increase heat to medium, and gently toss to coat ravioli in sauce. Cook until sauce thickens slightly, 1-2 minutes. TIP: Add more pasta cooking water, if needed, to give sauce a loose consistency.

 

6  PLATE AND SERVE.    Divide ravioli mixture between plates, then garnish with remaining Parmesan and reserved parsley leaves and serve.

Advanced Improvements Provides Comfort For Your Home

Advanced Improvements can be reached at (888) 698-8859.

Advanced Improvements can be reached at (888) 698-8859.

Staff Reports

 

SoCal – Advanced Improvements is an expert in solar power, roofing, air conditioning and heating, water heating and water filtration. For over 20 years, they have been providing eco-friendly, energy saving home and office comfort solutions for Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and Los Angeles counties.

Advanced Improvements’ mission is to build top quality home and office improvement projects on time, with exemplary customer service, and within your budget.  Right now, Advanced Improvements is offering specials and discounts on a variety of their products.

Solar:  Whether you’re looking to go completely off the power grid, or just reduce your carbon footprint, Advanced Improvements can help by providing you with solar solutions.  They offer both solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar thermal (solar water heating) technologies.  The average solar system pays for itself in as little as four years.  When you fit your home for solar, you can receive up to 30% in tax credits, and Advanced Improvements has 2.99% financing options available for solar upgrades (OAC).

Roofing: Experience and dedication to providing professional service allows Advanced Improvements to provide the most efficient and affordable roofing on the market. Whether you need a new roof or just want to upgrade your old one, they will give you an honest estimate on the most advanced and energy efficient materials on the market.

Heating and Air:  Advanced Improvements has trained professionals that provide expert analysis, top quality equipment, and skilled installation or repair of your heating and air conditioning equipment.  They can give your home a heating or cooling system that is not only reliable, but efficient.  They also offer heat pumps, gas furnaces, package units, air handlers, and cooling coils. Ask about their $79 special for a spring tune-up on your current system.

Water Heating:  Advanced Improvements carries a full line of different models and types of water heaters.  They offer everything from traditional tanks to tankless water heaters.  Advanced Improvements specializes in tankless water heaters, claiming the title of the largest tankless water heater installation company in the nation.  They have installed over 10,000 tankless water heaters over the last ten years.  Take advantage of their $500 discount coupon on a Noritz Tankless Water Heater.

Water Filtration: Advanced Improvements offers water filtration systems that protect against hardness elements, iron, rust, sediment, and a variety of other substances that may be present in your water.  Their systems are high flow and low maintenance machines that are designed for optimum performance.  Ask about their $500 discount coupon for Anti-Scale and Carbon Water Filtration systems.

Go Green:  You can GO GREEN with Advanced Improvements, as they provide eco-friendly, energy saving, green products for your home and business.  They can help you go completely independent with solar power, replace your heating and cooling system with a new high-efficiency unit, or lower your energy usage by installing a tankless water heater.

Advanced Improvements stands behind their products and services and is committed to excellence.

 

  • Make your home or business comfortable today with Advanced Improvements (Contractor State License Board #947761). Their office is located at 1352 E. Valencia Dr, Fullerton, CA 92831, and they can be reached at (888) 698-8859.  Visit their website at AdvancedIMP.com. 

Tips to Stay Safe in Summer Weather

By StatePoint

Getting outdoors this summer? Keep in mind that weather patterns can be extreme at this time of year, introducing new safety hazards. Get weather-ready in the following ways.

Prepare for the Heat

When planning a day outdoors, most people pack items such as sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. However, summer heat can be dangerous if you’re not prepared, so consider the following: make sure your vehicle’s air conditioning is in good working order well before a trip, have a rain umbrella on hand to shield you from the sun, as well as frozen water bottles and instant cold packs that can help cool you down quickly. Lastly, make sure you have plenty of water on hand when traveling with pets, and be sure to keep them out of unattended cars where temperatures can quickly reach fatal levels.

Know What’s Coming

Before heading to the pool or packing that picnic lunch, check the weather report to make smart decisions about where the day will carry you. For 24/7 access to accurate weather information, you can keep the world’s largest, fastest-growing and most trusted provider of weather forecasts and warnings at your fingertips with the AccuWeather app for your mobile device.

Available on iOS and Android, the app can help users prepare for intense heat, lightning, beach hazards and flooding prior to summer travel, events and activities. It also provides access to educational resources on the health impacts of different weather events, including safety tips and resources, personalized weather preparedness plans, detailed checklists and more.

Helpful year-round, the app can be particularly informative in summer, with its wealth of tips and resources on topics like avoiding rip tides, staying safe in extreme heat and preparing for tropical storms. To access these resources and download the app, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready.

Don’t Be Bugged

Take precautions against bug bites, particularly mosquitoes, which can be carriers of the Zika virus. Experts are warning that those located in or traveling to the southern United States should take precautions to guard against the disease, especially if you are already or planning on getting pregnant.

Be sure your backyard is drained of standing water. Use citronella candles to ward off bugs. Apply insect repellent on hikes and other times you’re in buggy areas, and if possible, avoid skin exposure during dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

If you’re looking to travel this summer, check out AccuWeather’s first-of-its-kind Mosquito Zika Risk Index in advance, which gives users an easy way to view the likelihood of mosquito infestations that could lead to greater risk of contracting the Zika virus within the contiguous U.S. This new interactive Index, available now on AccuWeather.com, as well as the AccuWeather app on iOS and Android, showcases a week-by-week risk index for the next seven weeks that can help you make more informed decisions to stay out of harm’s way.

 

With a little preparation, you can make the most of the summer and your travel plans by dodging common weather risks and hazards.

How Big is the Market?

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

 

The Diamond Bar residential real estate “Market”  is of interest to residents of Diamond Bar who are considering selling their home now or in the near future.  It is also of interest to anyone in the world who has an interest in buying a property in Diamond Bar. This “Market” consists of Single Family detached homes (SFRs), condominiums (condos), or townhomes (twnhms) that are currently listed for sale and are either in the Active or Available status. They can also be those properties in which there has been an accepted offer Active under Contract or Pending, and the buyers are performing their “due diligence” inspections.

Currently, there are a total of 230 properties that are “on the Market” in Diamond Bar. The property type mix is 168 SFRs, and 62 condos and townhomes. The combined valuation of these 230 properties is $236,535,453.00. That is a pretty BIG number.

The number of properties that have gone under contract and sold in Diamond Bar over the last twelve months is 579, or close to 50 closings per month. The mix of these closed transactions is 256 SFRs, and 323 condos and townhomes. The total valuation of the closed transactions over the last twelve months is over $300 million, with the  SFRs comprising the bulk of the transactions in terms of value ($268,229,652.00).

Each real estate transaction provides two commission earning opportunities for agents, because in more than 90% of the transactions, different agents represent the seller and the buyer.  The residential “market” is also quite BIG for real estate agents dedicating themselves to the industry.

This article was written by Nef Cortez who is a licensed Real Estate Broker, Ca BRE # 00560181, licensed since 1976. He can be reached for more information via e-mail at nefcortez@gmail.com, or website www.nefcortez.com. Please feel free to email any questions regarding real estate.

 

Your Child’s Best and Most Productive Summer

B

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

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

y Nancy Stoops

I am a very big believer in rest and relaxation and feel summer is a great time to do that.  I take a lot of time off in the summer to do exactly that but I must feel my summer is also productive as well.  I force myself to move at a much slower pace and I do play a lot more but I try to remember the concept of balance as well.  Summer also allows for some unique activities.

Please allow me to explain what I mean here.  I see summer as a time to work on special talents and projects.  Having a project can be very grounding and give you something to be working toward, which I believe is a very important concept.  This doesn’t in anyway, take away from very well deserved break.

The other really great piece about all of this is your child won’t loose all of their skills over the summer and returning to school will be easier.  Common sense tells us, if we don’t use something for three months our skills can become rusty.  By allowing our children to do absolutely nothing over the summer we are not doing them a favor, we are doing them a grave injustice.  Encourage your children to read a book, write a story about something fun, walk the dog to keep their muscles strong, help you add and subtract how many miles you’ll be traveling this vacation, understand why when you throw the ball up, it always comes back down, and just keep learning the whole summer through. Teaching them the way to find that balance that will enhance their relaxation, make them feel good about their productivity and allow them to have more fun than they ever have!!!!!

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, 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 e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net.  You may purchase Nancy’s books Midnight the Therapy Dog and Live Heal and Grow at Amazon.com.

 

4 Top Tips to Battle Summer Colds

By StatePoint

Warm, sunny weather doesn’t mean the risk for catching a cold disappears. Unfortunately, colds can happen at any time of year and can really ruin much anticipated summer plans.

To stay healthy and help beat the common cold this summer season, consider these tips from Dr. Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe, a New York City-based physician and health and wellness expert:

• Maintain good sleep hygiene. Are these long summer evenings tempting you to burn the candle at both ends? Don’t give in! Maintaining good sleep habits can ultimately help keep your immune system in check. Adults should sleep at least seven to nine hours every night to achieve improved health outcomes. If you uphold a good sleep routine, it will enable you to sleep well throughout the night and obtain the recommended amount needed for stronger immunity. Remember that sleep deprivation weakens your immune system and increases the likelihood of picking up infections.

• Keep moving. It’s essential to integrate some form of exercise into your daily life. Beyond benefits like improved cardiovascular health and weight maintenance, those adhering to regular exercise regimens tend to be healthier overall and may potentially experience fewer colds yearly. Indeed, routine physical activity helps to boost your immune system. Luckily, the summer is the perfect time to keep moving, but remember to stay hydrated in the heat.

• Eat right. Back-to-back BBQ parties? What you eat really matters. Avoid the tempting junk food and highly processed food that can negatively impact your health. Also, never underestimate the benefits of sticking to a well-balanced nutrient- and antioxidant-rich diet in general. Your diet should include vitamin-rich cruciferous vegetables, fresh fruit, fish containing omega 3 fatty acids and other superfoods that can boost your immune system and help you recover faster in times of illness.

• Fight the cold. If you do experience a summer cold, seek out an over-the-counter solution that helps you fight through your symptoms, such as Mucinex DM, which offers the convenience of not having to retake medication every four hours. It is a bilayer tablet that has one layer that releases quickly and another layer that provides extended release that lasts for 12 hours. Stock up on it year-round to be prepared for the next time cough and chest congestion symptoms hit.

Find out more health tips on how to combat the common cold at Mucinex.com.

Don’t take summer colds lightly! A few smart strategies can help boost your wellness and allow you to enjoy a healthier season on the go.

Chino Hills Photo Contest Entries Due August 29th

City of Chino Hills

Chino Hills – Chino Hills residents are invited to enter their best photos of Chino Hills in the City of Chino Hills’ second annual Photo Contest. First through third place winners will receive gift cards ranging from $50 to $100, with the grand prize winner receiving a $250 gift card. The deadline is Wednesday, August 29th. There are three categories: Outdoors, Community Life, and Parks and Recreation. Outdoor photos include shots of open space, scenic views, wildlife, parks, scenery, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities. Community life photos include shots of people, events, activities, business, service, and everyday life. Parks and Recreation photos include shots of children and adults involved in City-sponsored recreation classes, activities, and events; as well as local youth sports or activities at parks. The contest is free and open to photographers of all skill levels. A complete list of rules and a digital entry form are available at http://www.chinohills.org/PhotoContest. Photographs must have been taken within the city limits of Chino Hills and photographers may only submit one photo per category. The Grand Prize winner will be selected from among the first place winners and will receive $250. First place winners receive $100; second place winners received $75; and, third place winners receive $50. The winning photographers will be recognized at the Fall Community Center Artist Reception and their winning photos will be displayed from October to December at the Community Center Art Show at the Chino Hills Community Center, 14250 Peyton Drive. Judges will also award Honorable Mentions and those photographs will also be displayed. Residents may email questions to photocontest@chinohills.org, or call (909) 364-2826.

History 101

June 30, 1953: First Corvette built

History.com

On this day in 1953, the first production Corvette is built at the General Motors facility in Flint, Michigan. Tony Kleiber, a worker on the assembly line, is given the privilege of driving the now-historic car off the line.

Harley J. Earl, the man behind the Corvette, got his start in his father’s business, Earl Automobile Works, designing custom auto bodies for Hollywood movie stars such as Fatty Arbuckle. In 1927, General Motors hired Earl to redesign the LaSalle, the mid-range option the company had introduced between the Buick and the Cadillac. Earl’s revamped LaSalle sold some 50,000 units by the end of 1929, before the Depression permanently slowed sales and it was discontinued in 1940. By that time, Earl had earned more attention for designing the Buick “Y Job,” recognized as the industry’s first “concept” car. Its relatively long, low body came equipped with innovations such as disappearing headlamps, electric windows and air-cooled brake drums over the wheels like those on an airplane.

After scoring another hit with the 1950 Buick LeSabre, Earl headed into the 1950s–a boom decade for car manufacturers–at the top of his game. In January 1953, he introduced his latest “dream car,” the Corvette, as part of GM’s traveling Motorama display at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The sleek Corvette, the first all-fiberglass-bodied American sports car, was an instant hit. It went into production the following June in Flint; 300 models were built that year. All 1953 Corvettes were white convertibles with red interiors and black canvas tops. Underneath its sleek exterior, however, the Corvette was outfitted with parts standard to other GM automobiles, including a “Blue Flame” six-cylinder engine, two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission and the drum brakes from Chevrolet’s regular car line.

The Corvette’s performance as a sports car was disappointing relative to its European competitors, and early sales were unimpressive. GM kept refining the design, however, and the addition of its first V-8 engine in 1955 greatly improved the car’s performance. By 1961, the Corvette had cemented its reputation as America’s favorite sports car. Today, it continues to rank among the world’s elite sports cars in acceleration time, top speed and overall muscle.

 

Mt. SAC Board Appoints Provisional Trustee

ByAnthony Saude

WALNUT — The Mt. San Antonio College Board of Trustees selected Walnut resident Gary Chow to serve as a provisional trustee, replacing longtime member Dr. David Hall who passed away on April 22.

The appointment was voted on and made official following a special meeting on June 13. The candidates were given 20 minutes to answer questions about community service experience, familiarity with budgets of complex public entities and interacting with diverse populations.

Before the 5-1 vote, Board President Dr. Manuel Baca said, “On behalf of all of the trustees, we thank those who applied. Any one of them would have been an asset to the board.”

Chow will represent Area 2, which includes Covina, West Covina, north Walnut, and San Dimas. He will serve until the next regularly scheduled election for governing board members on November 6.

Chow is a CPA and serves as chair of Walnut Valley Unified School District’s bond oversight committee. He also sits on Mt. SAC’s Community Facilities Plan Advisory Committee and acts as the financial advisor for the Mt. SAC Foundation.

Seven applications of highly qualified individual that met all eligibility criteria to apply for the position were received by the college. In addition to Chow, the following six residents applied:

Michael Miller Brown (Walnut), Alan A. Carrico (West Covina), Mansfield Collins (Walnut), Ruth Luevand (San Dimas), Rosalyn Phan (Covina), Drexel L. Smith (West Covina).

The Board of Trustees is the policy-making body of the college; it consists of seven elected community members representing seven districts and one student trustee.

 

Child Rescued from Human Trafficking

City of Pomona
Pomona – On Wednesday June 13, the Pomona Police Department’s Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF) conducted a VICE operation focusing on the area known as the Holt Corridor. The operation used undercover plainclothes officers who conducted surveillance along the Holt Corridor. During the course of the operation, officers encountered and rescued a 15-year-old victim of human trafficking. The victim was interviewed and appropriate resources were activated to assist the victim.
This investigation is ongoing; the MCTF is attempting to identify the human trafficker (pimp).
The Pomona Police Department is taking a proactive approach to improving the quality of life by addressing and deterring human trafficking and prostitution activities along the Holt Ave corridor.
The Pomona Police Department takes a zero tolerance approach to human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Pomona Police Department at (909)620-2085.
If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your Smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple Store.

Eastvale Man Among First West Nile Virus Cases in 2018

Staff Reports

Eastvale – A 74-year-old Riverside woman and 50-year-old Eastvale man are the first confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus in Riverside County this year, said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, county public health officer. They are also one of the first confirmed human cases in California this year.

The illness was confirmed this week based on test results and other clinical information. Both patients required hospitalization, thankfully both are expected to recover. There are no indications the two cases are related.

The virus is transmitted to humans and animals through a mosquito bite. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Health officials emphasized that the risk of serious illness to humans is low. Most individuals who are infected with the virus will not experience any illness. Elderly individuals and those with compromised immune systems are at greatest risk for serious illness.

“While West Nile is rarely life-threatening, it can be occasionally serious,” Kaiser said. “Unlike the common cold which is easily transmitted, the West Nile virus can only be spread by mosquito bites, and there are easy steps to take to reduce your risk of getting bitten.”

Here are some ways to protect yourself:

  • Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and dusk, and wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and other protective clothing outside.
  • Apply EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET.
  • Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.
  • Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, such as old tires, buckets, flowerpots and toys that can support mosquito breeding.-
  • Empty and scrub the water sources. Some mosquitoes can even breed in the amount of water that fits in a bottle cap.

There were 33 human cases reported during 2017 in Riverside County. In 2016, there were 10 confirmed human West Nile Virus cases in the county and there has not been a death from the illness since 2015.

Anyone who becomes ill after exposure to mosquitoes should contact their health care provider.  The Disease Control office can be reached at 951.358.5107 for more information on West Nile Virus.  For more about mosquito abatement, click www.rivcoeh.org/Programs/vector. To download full press release, click here.

To prevent the West Nile Virus spreading in Eastvale, the Northwest Mosquito & Vector Control District performed adult mosquito spray treatments on Friday, June 29, 2018 to lower the mosquito population affecting recreational and residential areas along the Santa Ana River in the City of Eastvale. The spray application was conducted between the hours of 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. at the following locations:

  • Riverwalk Park and Bike Trail located next to the Santa Ana River
  • Eastvale Community Park
The District treated these areas with Aqua-Reslin (EPA Reg. 432-796), which is approved for use in mosquito control by the US EPA.  They have been working hard to use Integrated Pest Management Practices in these areas, and the majority of their efforts focus on preventing mosquito breeding and killing mosquito larvae before they become flying adults. However, due to elevated trap counts, they have decided that adult mosquito control via truck mounted ground fogger is their best means to control the current mosquito populations in these areas. Signs were posted on June 27, 2018 in the areas that will be sprayed to inform the public of these activities.

Information regarding the treatment will be posted on their website at www.northwestmvcd.org. If there are any questions or concerns please contact the District at 951-340-9792.

Lemon Avenue Interchange is Nearing Completion

Photo: City of Diamond Bar
The third and final ramp construction of the Pomona Freeway (SR-60) from Lemon Avenue is due to open sometime in June. The multimillion-dollar freeway interchange project that has been many years in the making.

Anthony Saude

Diamond Bar – The third and final ramp construction of the Pomona Freeway (SR-60) from Lemon Avenue is due to open sometime in July. This will bring the project to a close the key multimillion-dollar freeway interchange project that has been many years in the making.

The planning and design of the major three-legged Lemon Avenue Interchange project began more than 15 years ago with meetings and discussions. The groundbreaking ceremony was way back in September 2016, however the project’s history extends back more than 50 years. In March 1968, plans for the construction of an interchange at Lemon Avenue were included in a Freeway Agreement between the County of Los Angeles and the State. Those plans never came to fruition because in the end there was just a lack of funding.

The Cities of Diamond Bar and Industry in cooperation with Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration should all be applauded for the gargantuan efforts made to move the project forward. Last month the westbound on-ramp and eastbound off-ramp from Lemon Avenue to SR-60 was opened to the public. It is anticipated that the eastbound on-ramp and an auxiliary lane to SB SR-57 will open sometime in June. Part of the project plans called for the existing freeway ramps near Brea Canyon Road and Golden Springs Drive to be permanently closed.

The opening of the new interchange at Lemon Avenue and elimination of the eastbound on- and off-ramps at Brea Canyon Road and Golden Springs Drive will help address congestion and safety issues both on the freeway and on nearby surface streets. It will provide a more direct freeway access for delivery trucks heading into and leaving local industrial areas. It will also make it easier and safer for drivers traveling east on the SR-60 to merge onto the southbound SR-57.

For additional information and construction updates on this project, visit www.theaceproject.org or call 888.223.1426.

 

Sheriff Explorer Graduation

Photo:LASD
(from left to Right) The Grads included Walnut/Diamond Bar Station’s very own Chandler Duncan, Jesus Morales and Alina St. Charles. Also pictured Sgt. Saldecke and Capt. Reyes

By Anthony Saude

Diamond Bar-It is that time of year and graduation is in the air, on June 16, Explorer Academy Class 100 had it’s graduating ceremonies. The grads included Walnut/Diamond Bar Station’s very own Chandler Duncan, Jesus Morales and Alina St. Charles. The Academy is an 18 week long physically and mentally challenging course that requires dedication, motivation and discipline. To complete it the young explorers must complete 184 hours of lectures, demonstrations, presentations, defensive tactics, and leadership development.

 

The Sheriff’s Department Explorer Program is for young men and women interested in a career in law enforcement or community service. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 21 to qualify. Explorers will get assigned to work at numerous community events during the course of the year. They will perform non-hazardous duties, such as foot patrols and KidPrint. KidPrint is a program that provides parents a confidential way of recording their child’s vital identification information and a physical description card of their children, for their records. The Explorers will be invited to events throughout the year to perform Color Guard ceremonies for the Cities of Walnut, Diamond Bar, and Relay for Life events. They also will have the privilege to experience ride-a-longs with deputies in the communities we provide services to.

For additional information regarding the Explorer Program, please contact the Explorer Coordinator at 909-595-2264.