Category Archives: The Weekly News

Get Outta Your Bubble In 2015

By Jennifer Jester-Madrigal

jennifer-Jester-MadrigalHey, you! You over there with the phone in your hand, getting ready to take your hundredth selfie with your kids playing at the park…it’s time to put the phone down and really look around.

You see that old man over there walking his dog, bent over from years of arthritis but still smiling? He’s looking around, hoping that someone takes the time to stop and say hello to him and maybe engage in a little conversation. Bet you didn’t know that he served in two wars, or that he married the love of his life when he was 22, and is the father to six children and 13 grandchildren. Or did you know that his beloved wife, Rose, died last year and that he has been lost every since.

How could you know? You were too busy trying to get that next selfie, busily rearranging your kids’ hair and clothing, and sucking in your gut so that the picture looked as good as it possibly could. I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with selfies (if you know me, you know that I enjoy annoying people by forcing them to selfie with me), but there is something wrong, when as a culture we no longer see what is around us.

We are the “Gotta Have It All NOW!” generation and not only do we have to have it now, we want the best of it, and we think we deserve the best. We seek out the best and the most current technology and then take photos of ourselves enjoying it as a way of showing the social media world that we matter.

Our worth is, in essence, tied to our value on social media. Do you ‘Like’ me? Facebook and Instagram have become the “highlight reels” of our lives and others compare their lives to our “best of” moments.

What they don’t see are the tear stained pillows, the loud fights, the struggling addicts, or the sense of loss that so many people hide. Often, we hide ourselves behind the filtered lens of the camera, choosing how we can filter our lives to hide our flaws. Is it a Sepia day, a Valencia day, or maybe even a Sierra filter kind of day?

Perhaps in 2015, we will put the phone away for a day, stop capturing every moment, and instead take the time to walk our chubby little toddler over to the old man sitting by himself and say hello.

I challenged myself to this a few weeks ago and walked over to an older man walking his dog by himself. I was walking with my clapping, flapping, autistic, deaf son, Nicholas, desperately trying to tire him out so he’d sleep through the night. Walter was trying to do the same with his spunky puppy. So we walked together, his arthritic gait matched Nicholas’ developmentally delayed gait. He held on to his puppy’s leash to keep her safe just as I held on to Nicholas to keep him safe. We walked and we talked and he told me stories and we shared our sadness over losing those we loved so much.

Walter may be about 50 years older than me, but we have a lot in common and I never would have known that if I didn’t get out of my bubble. For Christmas, I brought him cookies and Oreo balls, and he proposed to me in return. I had to let him down gently, as he’s much too handsome and wild for me, but I gained a great friend.

I got out of my bubble, put my phone down and walked a little walk with a new buddy, and I’m all the better for it.

 

Diamond Bar: Quail Summit Student Wins National Chess Tournament

By Kelli Gile

Quail-Chess-Winner

Quail Summit student Jonathan Chen beat first grade challengers from different states and won the title at the National K-12 Championship in Orlando.

Diamond Bar – A 6-year old from Quail Summit Elementary has garnered the title of national champion. Jonathan Chen, a first grade student, represented his school during the National K-12 Championship held in Orlando, Florida. Chen won the first-grade division with a perfect 7-0 score. The contest was held December 12-14.

Players with the same scores were paired against each other during seven rounds of competition. Each grueling round could last more than three hours.

“I am very happy and very proud of the biggest trophy and national champion title for my school!” Chen exclaimed.

Chen hopes to start a chess club so that next year he can bring a team trophy back to the school.

The youngster from Diamond Bar has been playing chess for about two years. His father introduced the game to him at age 4. He’s had a coach since he was in kindergarten and earned the youngest champion award in the 2013 American Open.

Last June, Chen won the 3rd Place trophy in the International Youth Championship, under 14-year old division, held in Las Vegas.

A classmate asked Chen how he won all the games.

“I think it’s because I have more patience and more focus,” Chen replied.

 

Energy Regulations Drill Californians’ Wallets

By Marc Miles and Wayne Winegarden
California – If forecasts predicting another brutally cold winter are correct, Americans’ furnaces will soon be working overtime. Last year’s frigid temperatures significantly increased heating bills across the country. For instance, the cost to heat a home with propane has increased by more than 50 percent.

The weather is a given every year, but spiking energy costs are not. Energy regulations that discourage economic efficiency — especially here in California — drive up energy prices, drain Americans’ wallets, and cost the country thousands of jobs. Reforming these energy regulations can save consumers money and spur economic growth.

California has some of the most inefficient energy regulations in the country, according to our new study, The 50 State Index of Energy Regulation. California fared particularly poorly due to its restrictions on consumer freedom to choose an energy provider and the ability of electricity producers to adjust to changing conditions. Instead of effectively allocating energy resources, California has implemented regulations that create costly roadblocks.

California would do well to emulate states, such as Texas, that let consumers choose between different energy providers. Residents and businesses can compare different electricity suppliers’ prices and services, and choose the one that best meets their needs.

When consumers are empowered, power companies must compete to attract and retain customers. That helps reduce prices. In Texas, rates declined by more than a third after retail choice policies were introduced.

Texas actively promotes retail choice by offering consumers information about the different energy options available. Texans can also take advantage of an online comparison tool that allows for convenient, one-stop shopping. It’s no surprise that over 80 percent of Lone Star State residents and businesses exercise their freedom to choose the best deal.

Despite the proven success of retail choice, only 17 states have embraced such policies. California isn’t one of them. If lawmakers introduced retail choice, residential consumers would have more money in their pocketbooks, and businesses would benefit from lower operating costs. Such savings would benefit the California economy.

Regulations on electricity production are also boosting energy bills unnecessarily. One common type of regulation – the “renewable portfolio standard” – requires electric companies to generate a set percentage of their power from renewables such as solar and wind.

But renewable energy isn’t cheap. The federal Energy Information Administration estimates that renewable sources like solar thermal and offshore wind can be 300 percent more expensive than electricity generated from natural gas. Power companies pass these expenses directly on to consumers in the form of higher electric bills.

California would be wise to ditch its renewable portfolio standard.

Wyoming declined to institute such a standard, and its residents have reaped the benefits. Electricity costs just 7.91 cents per kilowatt hour in Wyoming; the third cheapest rate in the nation.

Compare that to California. Its renewable portfolio standard requires energy providers to generate 33 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020. It’s no surprise, then, that the price of California’s electricity per kilowatt hour is 119 percent higher than Wyoming’s.

High electricity prices raise costs for businesses and consumers alike, and have adverse economic consequences. A University of Kentucky study demonstrates that even a ten percent increase in electricity prices can cost a state billions of dollars in lost economic activity.

Based on our Index, the average rate of economic growth in the states with the most economically efficient energy regulations was eight percentage points higher than in the states with the least economically efficient energy regulations.

Energy regulations also smother job creation. Despite the recession, the average employment growth in the most economically efficient states increased by 2.6 percent between 2007 and 2012, compared to an average contraction in employment of 2.2 percent in the least efficient states.

There’s no need for these job losses to continue. Doing away with inefficient energy regulations can jumpstart job growth and lower consumers’ energy bills.

And by the way, good luck staying warm this winter.

 

Marc Miles, Ph.D., is president of Global Economic Solutions. Wayne Winegarden, Ph.D., is senior fellow at the Pacific Research Institute and a Partner in the consulting firm, Capitol Economic Advisors.

 

 

Walnut Valley Celebrates HARTT Center Opening

By Kelli Gile

Hockwalt Adult Resource-and-Transition-Training-Center

The HARTT Center in Walnut hosted an opening celebration on December 15. (Photo Courtesy: Kelli Gile)

Walnut – Walnut Valley Unified School District celebrated the opening of the Hockwalt Adult Resource & Transition Training (HARTT) Center on December 10.            “We are thrilled to open our doors to the community,” said educational specialist, Cheryl Faren.

The HARTT Center serves 18 to 22-year old students with disabilities who are receiving a Certificate of Completion from high school and have significant needs for support as they transition to adulthood.

The Center teaches important transition skills based each student’s abilities with the goal of successfully transitioning to adult living. Skills are developed using community-based instruction in addition to classroom instruction.

About 25 young adults are enrolled at the Center, with an additional 20 attending classes through Mt. San Antonio College.

“Thank you to our community and district for supporting this program,” said Judi Koorndyk, Coordinator of Special Education.

Over 100 guests had a chance to tour the educational center and enjoy holiday entertainment provided by Diamond Bar and Walnut High musicians. Neighborhood partner, Sysco Foods, donated and prepared a buffet dinner for the special event.

“We have students that have to overcome immense obstacles to be able to be happy and productive in society. These students have always been in the heart of our district,” said Jose Annicchiarico, Principal at Ron Hockwalt Academies.

Over 20 local business partners are helping every student develop job and vocational skills. The Center features classrooms, a technology center, and career training. Faren teaches cooking skills in the industrial-size kitchen.   Students are also learning to do the laundry. They like to “hang out” in the comfy recreation room and watch movies after returning from morning work at local businesses. Or they can play air hockey and foosball in the loft area. An outdoor garden, recently donated by Home Depot, is blooming with vegetables and herbs.

“Whatever we plant here, we use in the kitchen. The project is all student-driven,” Faren added.

“We’ll be making salads next week!” she added after noticing a bounty of lettuce.

Until last year, students were transitioned to county programs after high school. Changes in the state’s Special Education Local Plan (SELPA) allowed Walnut Valley to bring its students back home.

“We’re finally able to provide services to our own students!” Koorndyk said about the long-awaited program.

The HARTT Center in located at the Ron Hockwalt Academies alternative education campus in Walnut. Classrooms and facilities have been renovated and decorated for the new program.

“You walk into the living room area and kitchen and can feel the heart and passion that was put into it. This is a wonderful place for our students to come and learn and employees to come and work. This is an amazing facility!” Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor said.

“This program keeps with Dr. Hockwalt’s vision that no student would be left behind and that all students would be taken care of regardless of their age or their level. We can take care of all students,” Board President Cindy Ruiz added.

I’m very appreciative of the whole program. The heart that the teachers have for these kids – it’s not something that they have to do, it’s something they want to do,” praised parent Jim Reya. His daughter, Cynthia, transitioned to the HARTT Center after being part of a county program.

“The name of this center is inspired by former superintendent Dr. Ron Hockwalt. He used to tell us that the true measurement of our success is the struggling students.   And this Center is really the embodiment of that philosophy,” Annicchiarico stated.

Koorndyk works at the state level and has written a three year, $450,000 contract with the Department of Rehabilitation.

“It’s going to help us find jobs for students that are here at the HARTT Center and at Diamond Bar and Walnut high schools,” Annicchiarico said.

“This school district really takes its vision seriously, to take care of the children. This is a wonderful gift for the children,” Reya added.

 

 

LA County: No NFL In LA For 2015

By Glenn Freeman

 

football-image           Los Angeles County – It is official – Los Angeles will be without an NFL team for the 20th straight season next year.

NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, says the league will not support relocation of a team in Los Angeles for the 2015 season. Goodell’s statement was directed at three teams in particular – the Rams, Raiders, and Chargers – that have expiring lease terms/clauses, and who have each been mentioned as possible teams looking at the nation’s second-largest television market.

All three teams have natural connections to Los Angeles, with both the Rams and Raiders once situated in Los Angeles and both leaving following the 1995 NFL season for St. Louis and Oakland, respectively. Fan base remnants still remain, particularly for the Raiders. And the Chargers originated in Los Angeles as a charter AFL team in 1960 (before moving to San Diego after one season). The Chargers also now draw a significant amount of fans and sponsors from Greater Los Angeles, portions of which are less than 60 miles north of San Diego.

Goodell’s statement does not keep teams from filing an application to relocate for 2015 (and San Diego has since said they will not file at this time). Yet it’s highly unlikely any team that files for 2015 will garner enough support needed to relocate given the Commissioner’s directive. Instead, Goodell indicated that 2016 may be a more favorable time for relocation. ESPN.com reports that NFL insiders say Goodell is setting up the scenario in order that at least one team will be in place in Los Angeles for the 2016 season.

For the Chargers, Goodell’s statement could be both good and bad news. For now, it gives the team and San Diego another year to work out a new stadium deal. It also gives them an option to consider Los Angeles (and to also use it as leverage). However, if the Chargers remain in San Diego and Los Angeles ends up with two other teams, the Chargers say that would hurt them financially.

Mark Fabiani, special counsel to Chargers President, Dean Spanos, indicated that the Chargers will keep a watchful eye on Los Angeles.

“If we have two teams in that market, we dry up our 30 percent of the revenue that now comes from that market,” said Fabiani. “It’s such a huge market. It’s 19 million people if you count L.A., Orange County and the Inland Empire. And, if you have owners that want to go to that market, if you have a market that’s big enough that you can basically privately finance your stadium, somebody’s going to do it, and sooner rather than later,” Fabiani told a local radio station.

Oakland Raiders owner, Mark Davis, was approached recently by San Antonio for relocation. According to ESPN.com, Davis was “impressed” with the city’s pitch. However, most insiders say it’s unlikely that San Antonio will get a team before Los Angeles and that Davis won’t easily turn down the much-larger Los Angeles market.  Neither will Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones, they say, easily welcome a third team to Texas.

In St. Louis, officials are working to keep the Rams. USA Today recently reported that Missouri Governor, Jay Nixon, has tapped former Anheuser-Busch President, David Peacock, and attorney Robert Blitz, to advise him on options to “ensure that St. Louis remains an NFL City for years to come.”

Speculation of a move by the Rams ramped up last year after owner Stan Kroenke purchased a 60-acre parcel in Inglewood adjacent to Hollywood Park – one of three possible sites mentioned for a new football stadium.

Yet, most insiders say the Inglewood site is likely too small, leaving the current front-runners as the downtown Los Angeles site proposed by AEG, and the Ed Roski-backed site in the City of Industry. Neither site, however, has yet been confirmed, nor could a stadium be built in time for the 2016 season, necessitating a temporary stadium added to the already complicated relocation scenario.

Thus, the waiting game for Los Angeles NFL fans is likely to continue for at least another year.

 

Walnut: Mt. SAC Trustees Elect New Officers

By Mike Taylor

Walnut – At the annual organizational meeting on Dec. 10, the Mt. San Antonio College Board of Trustees elected Dr. David K. Hall as President, Judy Chen-Haggerty as Vice President, and Rosanne Bader as Clerk. They will serve one-year terms, effective immediately.

David Hall

Dr. David Hall
(Photo Courtesy: http://www.mtsac.edu)

Dr. Hall is currently the longest-serving member of the Mt. SAC Board of Trustees.  He was appointed to the Board in October 1995 after serving two terms as President of the Mt. SAC Foundation.  Hall was later elected to four-year board terms in 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, and most recently ran unopposed in 2013.  He is Chairman of the Industry Manufacturers Council (IMC) Human Resources Committee, Vice President of the Regional Chamber of Commerce – San Gabriel Valley, Board Member of the San Gabriel Valley Civic Alliance, Board Member of the San Gabriel Valley YMCA, and Vice Chairman of the Oversight Board of the Successor Agency for both the Covina Redevelopment Agency and the San Dimas Redevelopment Agency. Professionally, Dr. Hall is Senior Vice President of Hitchcock Automotive Resources, which owns and operates auto dealerships throughout Southern California.

Judy Chen-Haggerty

Judy Chen-Haggerty (Photo Courtesy: http://www.mtsac.edu)

Chen-Haggerty was elected to the Board in 2001, 2005, 2009, and ran unopposed in 2013. She is the first Asian-American to serve on the board. She is a practicing attorney, law professor at Rio Hondo College, and the Law Area Chair for the University of Phoenix.  At the state level, Chen-Haggerty has served on the California Community College Trustee Officers Nominating Committee. She also represented Mt. SAC in the California Leadership Alliance for Student Success statewide project funded by the James Irvine Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. She currently is the co-chair of the Advisory Committee on Education Services of the Community College League of California, the Charles Kennedy Equity Awards Committee, and serves on the Evaluation Team of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. During her 30 years of community service, Chen-Haggerty has been a founding director of the FORUS foundation (Rowland Unified School District), founding president of the Rowland Chinese Association, executive board member for the Mt. SAC Foundation, Advisory Committee member of Mt. SAC Regional Health Occupations, Vice President of the Rowland Heights Community Coordinating Council, member of the Walnut Valley Rotary Club, and a 10-year board member of Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital.

 

Rosanne-Bader

Rosanne Bader (Photo Courtesy: http://www.mtsac.edu)

Bader was elected to the Mt. SAC Board of Trustees in 2003 and reelected in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, Trustee Bader was elected to the California Community College Trustees Board, which makes recommendations about education policy issues pending before the state Board of Governors and the California Legislature. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and serves as a member of the hospital’s Foundation Board. She also presides over the Pomona Rotary Board. Bader spent 32 years in public education, both as a teacher and administrator. Before retiring from the Pomona Unified School District in 2001, she was principal at Diamond Point Elementary School in Diamond Bar and formerly served as principal of Allison Elementary School in Pomona.

The other Mt. SAC trustees are outgoing president, Fred Chyr, trustee Dr. Manuel Baca, trustee Laura Santos, trustee Robert Hidalgo, and student trustee Paola Mendoza.

 

 

 

Chang Appointed Vice-Chair Of Assembly Rules

Staff Reports

 

Sacramento – Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar, 55th Assembly District) has been appointed to Vice-Chair of the influential Assembly Rules Committee.  The appointment was part of a number of key committee appointments made by the Speaker of the Assembly.

“I am so honored to have the privilege to serve in a leading capacity on such an important committee,” said Chang.  “What an amazing opportunity to work for Californians and my constituents.”

As Vice-Chair of the Assembly Rules Committee, Chang will play a leading role in the governing body of the Assembly, including jurisdiction over legislation and personnel.  Assembly Rules influences the fate of every bill introduced in the Legislature given its important role of referring legislation to respective policy committees of the house.

“Ling Ling is a strong leader for streamlining government so it can better serve Californians,” said Assembly Republican Leader, Kristin Olsen. “She will be a powerful voice for commonsense leadership in her new role as Vice-Chair of the Assembly’s most powerful committee.”

Chang, the first Taiwanese-American Republican woman to be elected to the State Assembly, was first elected to the Diamond Bar City Council in November 2009 and served as the Mayor from 2011-2012. Before her election to the City Council, she held a variety of positions in local government, including service as President of the Walnut Valley Water District, and as a member of the Diamond Bar Parks & Recreation Commission. Chang brings business sector experience as well, developing software products for the health information management industry.

“I am so excited to get California back on track,” said Chang.  We can have the best schools and more jobs if we all work together. Serving on the Assembly Rules Committee is a great opportunity to get that done.”

In addition to Rules, Assemblywoman Chang has been appointed as a member of the following committees: Appropriations, Business & Professions, and Privacy & Consumer Protection.

The 55th Assembly District contains parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. It includes the cities of Diamond Bar, Walnut, Brea, La Habra, Placentia, Yorba Linda, and Chino Hills.

 

 

Pomona: Pride Run Honoring Fallen Officer Shaun Diamond

Staff Reports

 

shaun-diamond-pomona            Pomona – On Friday morning, Dec. 19, recruits from the law enforcement academy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, along with Pomona Police Officers, participated in a Law Enforcement Pride Run to honor Pomona Police Officer Shaun Diamond, who passed away in the line of duty on October 29.

The Pride Run is a traditional event that occurs at the conclusion of a law enforcement recruit officer’s training at the Sheriff or Police academy.  It typically marks the final physical fitness exercise for the class.

The Pride Run began at 7 a.m. at the Pomona Police Department on Mission Blvd, and traveled past the Pomona City Hall, Public Library, through downtown Pomona, and returned to the Police Department.

Diamond – a 16-year veteran in law enforcement and a member of Pomona’s SWAT Team – was assisting in the service of an allegedly gang-related search warrant in San Gabriel in the early morning hours of Oct. 28 when he was shot from behind (from inside the house).  He was transported to the hospital in critical condition.  He succumbed to his injuries the following day.

Officers participating in the Pride Run did so with a heavy heart and a great sense pride, not only in their own accomplishments, but in remembrance and honor for their friend and colleague, Officer Diamond.

 

Did You Know?

By K.P. Sander

Did-You-KnowHappy New Year! Did you know that the very first time the New Year was celebrated on January 1st, was in Rome in 153 B.C. The month of January did not even exist until around 700 B.C., when the second king of Rome, Numa Pontilius, added the months of January and February to the annual calendar.

Around the world, different countries celebrate New Year’s Eve in their own particular manner, with social gatherings, eating, drinking alcoholic beverages, some sort of fireworks display…and the “countdown”. In some U.S. cities, you can still hear firecrackers popping and the banging of pots and pans – a celebration of the 50s and 60s – in nostalgic fashion.

Perhaps the most popular celebration comes from New York City; it is watched via television the world over. The very first New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square was in 1903. According to Wikipedia, Adolph Ochs, the owner of the New York Times, decided to celebrate the opening of his new headquarters, located at One Times Square, with a fireworks show displayed from the roof of the building.   Nearly 200,000 people attended the event.

Wanting to improve upon the spectacle each year, Ochs had one of his electricians design an electrically lit time ball to draw more attention. The ball was made of wood and iron and weighed 700 pounds. Approximately 5 feet in diameter, the ball was lit with one hundred incandescent bulbs and hoisted on the building’s flagpole by a team of six men. As the ball dropped, it completed an electrical circuit to a large sign indicating the New Year. That first “ball drop” occurred on Dec. 31, 1907 – welcoming in 1908 – and it has been a tradition ever since.

The New Year is a brand new beginning, a fresh start; a time for resolutions – often overstatements of intent – to change behaviors and start anew. What did you resolve to change on New Year’s Eve? Some say the very best resolution – and the one most frequently found successful – is the resolve to implement no more New Year’s Resolutions. Whatever your traditions, here’s hoping that your New Year is full of blessings and joy.

 

 

Diamond Bar: Chaparral Students “Keep It Moving”

By Kelli Gile

 

JPL-Keep-it-Moving-winners

6th Grade students Karissa Wong and Joshua Chou won the Most Creative Design award at the JPL Keep It Moving contest on December 5. The students presented a school certificate to Principal Ron Thibodeaux. (photo courtesy: Kelli Gile)

Diamond Bar – Congratulations to Chaparral Middle School 6th Grade students, Karissa Wong and Joshua Chou, who won top awards in the recent “Keep It Moving” Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) Design Competition.

The team brought home a 4th Place award at the regional contest on November 22 and advanced to the Finals held on December 5 at the Pasadena Center.

The Chaparral students competed among 20 teams at the Finals. Most were at the high school level, but that didn’t stop these determined middle school students.

Wong and Chou won 3rd Place and the Most Creative Design awards.

The objective of the Keep It Moving challenge was to invent a device to move a billiard ball between five to eight meters using three modes of transportation:  gravity; any sort of spring; and a free choice of energy, such as a motor.

The students designed an upside-down rubber band catapult to push the ball up to the top of a 20-foot long rain gutter ramp. The ball had to be kept moving (spinning didn’t count) the entire time during the contest.

The billiard ball rolled down the ramp by gravity until it was blocked by a servomotor arm, which moved back and forth to keep the ball moving very slowly for timing accuracy.  At a specific time, a computer commanded the arm to open up to allow the ball to continue to roll down and hit two triggering switches to turn on loud buzzers.

The entry also needed to initiate an audible sound by the ball, as close to 20 seconds as possible.  The Chaparral students clocked an impressive 20.218 or 0.218 seconds over the 20-second mark!

What was the best part of the experience?

“We liked the meetings and practices at Chick-fil-A best!” the pair exclaimed.

 

 

 

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 01.03.15

The Weekly News covers community news for Diamond Bar, Walnut, Chino Hills, Rowland Heights and surrounding areas of San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. Click this link  The Weekly News 01.03.15 to access the complete Weekly News January 3rd issue in pdf format.

You Think We Don’t Notice

By Sarah Sanchez

 

I’m a small group leader for our church’s high school ministry, and the most common prayer request is for my students’ parents. The students I have are very aware of their parents’ problems (whether the parents know it or not), because the requests range from “my parents are fighting,” or “my parents are struggling with money,” to “my parents might be getting a divorce soon”.

One girl in particular asked us to pray for her relationship with her dad.  She said she wanted to build a relationship with him, but his actions made it seem like he had no interest in doing so. She went on to say that every time she and her brothers hung out with him, she would notice her dad daze off as they talked, glance over at his phone, or start talking about what’s going on in his own life, with no interest in them. In addition, she said that the previous weekend when he was supposed to take them out, he came up with an excuse to get out of it. Then she said, “He thinks we don’t notice”.

This particular statement stuck with me, basically, because it’s true. Parents often live by the “do as I say, not as I do” principle. Yet children look up to their parents as role models, mimicking their actions, no matter what age they are. Whether we are children or adults with our own children, we’ll always look to what we’re familiar with: what our parents used to do. However, the main problem children are facing is that parents aren’t LIVING the way children should mimic.

So the question is, what are you parents going to do about it?

Speaking on behalf of your children, we understand you’re not perfect. We don’t expect you to be. But what we’re looking for are the values and morals you LIVE by, and the way you treat yourself and others. It’s the basics; because in our eyes, you’ll always be our heroes. We’ll always admire you and look up to you no matter what.  But please do us a favor, and have your actions speak louder than your words.

My student’s dad told her and her brothers that he wanted to build a relationship with them, but his actions said otherwise. Those little things can change a child’s whole perspective. Those eye rolls, dazes when we talk, whispering in the next room, mocking the in-laws, loud yelling and disrespecting during fights, cursing another driver, drinking after a fight or a long day; these are all actions you’re teaching us to mimic.

And you think we don’t notice…but we always do.

 

SCE To Ontario:  No TRTP Undergrounding

By K.P. Sander

 

tehachapi-renewable-transmission-project

Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (Photo Courtesy: City of Ontario)

Ontario – The Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP) has been under construction since September of 2013.  The Project’s objective is to deliver electricity from new wind farms in the Tehachapi area to Southern California Edison (SCE) customers in an effort to meet the State’s renewable energy goal of 33 percent by the year 2020.

There have been some ups and downs for SCE along the construction way.  The City of Chino Hills was granted a tower undergrounding proposal by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in July of 2013.  The decision for this approval stated that the burden imposed on the City by the overhead power lines was unfair and contrary to community values.  Chino Hills was granted the removal of a 3.5 mile tower section, and an underground cabling replacement.  This approval cost TRTP an additional $224 million, on top of the over $2 billion budget that will ultimately be passed on to ratepayers.

In a déjà vu-like attempt, the City of Ontario has stated that their situation is as bad, if not worse, than Chino Hills’.  When TRTP erected Ontario’s towers in April, the impact suddenly became very apparent.

Ontario reportedly asked for a stay of construction to sort things out, and the CPUC allowed legal proceedings to be reopened in October.

According to the City of Ontario, they filed an amended petition with the CPUC on Nov. 21 in order to modify the 500kV lines from tower construction to undergrounding – specifically Segment 8 of the Project.

With TRTP employing multiple public proceedings prior to construction, SCE is reportedly questioning why the City of Ontario did not come forward at that time, rather than after the fact. If the community is somewhat shocked as to the appearance of the towers and the proximity to new housing developments, more due diligence should have been completed up front. In essence, SCE’s answer to Ontario is, “No.”

Most recently, in a document submitted to the CPUC on Dec. 5, SCE attorney Angela Whatley stated, “A party that has not engaged in the proceedings should not be able to derail this crucial project at such a late stage in development.”

In October and November, legal staff at the City of Ontario consulted with the City of Chino Hills, and on Dec. 9, the Ontario City Council approved the hiring of an Environmental Engineer to review and analyze California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Mitigation Measures Compliance by SCE.  Council also approved the hiring of a Utilities Consultant to review and analyze easements for compliance and any title issues.

SCE filed requests on Dec. 5 that CPUC deny the City’s petition to underground, and to deny the construction stay.  On Dec. 15, Ontario filed documents to the contrary.

As it stands now, the CPUC will consider the documents filed by all parties in accordance with this case.  TRTP states that the CPUC is expected to rule on the requests within the next few months, with further hearings, as well as an absolute decision, a possibility.

TRTP is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

 

Chino: Ten Arrests At DUI Checkpoint

Staff Reports

 

DUI Checkpoint

(Photo Courtesy: Google Images)

Chino – A DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint this past weekend resulted in ten arrests in the City of Chino. The checkpoint took place from 8 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 21, to 3 a.m. on Sun., Dec. 21, in the 4200 block of Edison Avenue.

Over 1,100 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, resulting in five subjects being arrested for DUI, and five subjects arrested for outstanding warrants, according to a City of Chino news release. In addition, 17 citations were issued for various offenses – including 12 citations for unlicensed/suspended drivers – and six vehicles were towed.

According to the City of Chino, the purpose of this checkpoint is to educate the public, arrest impaired drivers who are operating vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, cite unlicensed drivers, and to reduce the number of victims killed or injured in alcohol-related collisions.

Chino Police Chief, Karen Comstock, stated in the news release, “It is imperative that individuals be responsible when consuming alcohol or taking medication that may cause them to drive impaired. Always have a designed driver and know the phone numbers to local companies who can help you get to your destination safely without putting the community at risk.”

The Chino Police Department encourages the community to call 911 to report suspected drunk drivers.

This checkpoint was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information regarding traffic enforcement and driver education programs, contact the Traffic Services unit at (909) 334-3073.

Walnut: WV Board Honors Partners in Education

By Kelli Gile

 

Partners-in-education-wvusd

Collegewood Elementary parents Lily Eibert and Christina Kondo received the Partner in Education Award (shown with their children, Principal Joan Perez, and Board President Cindy Ruiz. (Photo Courtesy: Kelli Gile)

Walnut – The Walnut Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees recognized star students and community partners during the Dec. 10 meeting.

Castle Rock Elementary 2nd Grade student, Wesley Li, was honored as a Super Star Student.

“One of the things that we instill at Castle Rock is the characteristic of perseverance. Even though this generation of students has the world at their fingertips, we really strive is to make sure our kids work hard and do not give up. Wesley demonstrates that quality – he perseveres every single day,” said

Parent volunteers Sam and Nancy Castorena received the Partners in Education Award for Castle Rock.

“They are a very active part of our community and one of the things that they bring is their networking ability.  They know everybody!” Dr. Byrne said. The extraordinary couple attends every single event to happily help the school succeed. They are excited about education and to be a part of Walnut Valley.

Collegewood Elementary 5th Grader, Natalie Basurto, received the Super Star Student Award.

“Natalie is one of those kids that each and every day walks through the gate with a huge smile on her face,” explained Principal Joan Perez.

Collegewood Elementary parents Lily Eibert and Christina Kondo received the Partner in Education Award.

“They are our dynamic duo! These two ladies are truly outstanding individuals and together have donated over 14 years to the school,” Perez stated. They are currently Community Club Co-Presidents.

“Christina knows how to do so many things so well. You can always count on her for support. She is a cheerleader for our school!” reported 1st Grade teacher, Betsy Hale.

“Lily has been a magnificent liaison in our school community and she offers help with new families that are getting acclimated to Collegewood’s culture,” shared 2nd Grade teacher, Diane Zell.  “They are both giving and kind,” added teacher Sherry Truong.

Chaparral Middle School 8th Grader, Danny Mansour, was honored with the Super Star Student Award.  The standout student is a peer tutor, member of the coding club, robotics club, student technology aide, leadership, and the pre-engineering group that built bridges out of toothpicks. This week, Mansour led a team of student coders during the Hour of Code event.

“Beyond all that, Danny is a person of great character and everyone he comes in contact with feels better at the end of the conversation. He is Mr. Positive,” said Principal Ron Thibodeaux.

Chaparral Middle School parent, Anne Elefante, was lauded with the Partner in Education Award.

“Anne is one of the great parents that help us out in so many ways,” Thibodeaux stated.

Elefante is the Community Club Treasurer, a community liaison, and she is an incredibly intelligent woman that keeps immaculate books.  Ann is also a fantastic artist who logged in about 20,000 hours making hundreds of ribbon leis for a school fundraiser.

 

The Weekly News Complete Edition 12.27.14

the-weekly-news-12.27.14The Weekly News covers community news for Diamond Bar, Walnut, Chino Hills, Rowland Heights and surrounding areas of San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. Click this link  The Weekly News 12.27.14 to access the complete Weekly News December 27th issue in pdf format.

Walnut: Councilwoman Mary Su Honors Seniors

By Fabiola Huerta

Bob Pacheco-mary-su-tony-cartagena

Council members Bob Pacheco, Mary Su and Tony Cartagena gather to honor seniors at the holiday luncheon on Dec. 16. (Photo Courtesy: Fabiola Huerta)

Walnut – On Tues., Dec. 16, Walnut Councilmember, Mary Su, honored Walnut seniors with a holiday luncheon at the Walnut Senior Center.

The festive event brought together the older and younger generations of the City.  The program included musical performances featuring over 60 kindergarten and preschool children singing Christmas carols and telling holiday stories. The program also included a magician performing for the seniors.

The event was attended by representatives from Congressman Ed Royce’s office and Supervisor Gloria Molina’s office.  Also in attendance were Walnut Council members, LA County Firefighters, LA County Sheriff’s personnel, and Walnut City Manager, Robert M. Wishner, and executive staff.

For more information about the City of Walnut, please visit the website at www.ci.walnut.ca.us, and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

 

Walnut: WVUSD Annual Reorganization

By Kelli Gile

WVUSD-Board-President-Cindy-Ruiz

Outgoing Board President Cindy Ruiz was honored for her outstanding service during the December 11 re-organization meeting (shown with newly elected Board President, Larry Redinger). (Photo Courtesy: Kelli Gile)

Walnut – The Walnut Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees elected Larry Redinger as President, Helen Hall as Vice President, and Dr. Tony Torng as Clerk during the annual reorganization meeting on December 10.

The new officers will serve one-year terms through December 2015.

Trustee Cindy Ruiz was honored with an engraved gavel plaque for her service as the 2014 Board President.

“Cindy has done an amazing job this past year. Thank you for your dedication to the District and especially for keeping things moving in a positive direction,” Redinger said.

 

 

Home Alone

By Michael Armijo

 

The holiday season brings many positive memories, but it can also remind me of the painful ones, too. The season is filled with family and friends, but when they are gone the pain of their absence has a tendency to sink in.

Friends have reminded me that you cannot live in the past, but I remind them, “The absence of those close to us who have passed away isn’t in the past, it’s in the present.”  Since they were always around to share their love, their absence leaves our hearts aching for their presence on a daily basis.

There are mile markers:  the first summer they weren’t here to share with us; the first Halloween they weren’t here to dress up in a costume I could make fun of; the first time I didn’t receive the usual Thanksgiving invite; and the first Christmas I didn’t have to go in search of the perfect gift.

Now, on this New Years Eve, I will struggle without the “I love you, man” drunken phone call exactly at 12:01 am.

Every year for the last 17, I was privileged enough to have someone in my life who shared those things with me:  their life, love, passion, experiences, hope, and feelings.

I know today is a new day, and I believe that I am not alone. But when those who share their life with you and give you the feeling that they will love you regardless of your many faults, failures, and shortcomings leave this earth, you cannot help but feel their absence. A piece of you that had confidence and support is now gone.  An entity of your life’s confusing and rollercoaster-like existence is gone.

It feels like your dysfunctional life is like a puzzle, with some critical pieces missing.  So you try to find those pieces through other relationships, through new loves and old friends; through random acts of kindness and honesty.

But sometimes it feels like those pieces – which you’ve worked so hard to replace – have somehow deteriorated; vanished; dissolved in your hands.  You’ve tried to stop it, but it became physically impossible. You’ve tried to “will it” differently; “wish it” to reverse. You’ve tried to close your eyes and wake up from a bad nightmare. But each day that bad dream again becomes a harsh reality.

So I call each day, with or without friends, a day at home. Those that were loved and lost had earned a place in my heart; a room in my self-fabricated, non-dysfunctional home.  But now that they’re gone, I feel a bit lonely, and a bit to myself.  And I just can’t stop that feeling that I was left completely by surprise, and left to feel Home Alone.

 

Diamond Bar Council Recap 12.16.14

By Raymond Mendoza

 

Diamond Bar – Diamond Bar’s City Council met for the last time in 2014 and members also had a chance to bid former councilmember Ling Ling Chang farewell, as she leaves the City to take a seat in the California State Assembly.

After an invocation by Pastor Mark Hopper, the City Council members thanked Chang for her service to the City, wished her luck in her new position and presented her with the Diamond Bar City plaque to recognize her departure.

“You served the City faithfully, you participated in a lot of regional organizations on behalf of the City of Diamond Bar, and you made us proud,” Councilmember Carol Herrera said. “As you move on to other bigger and better things, we hope you will remember us.”

After the presentation to Chang, the schedule of future events was listed including the free shuttle service to and from the Diamond Bar Shopping Centers from now until Jan. 1, the cancellation of the Dec. 23 Planning Commission Meeting and Dec. 25 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, the holiday closures for the City offices on Dec. 24 and 25, the holiday tree curbside collection program from Dec. 26 through Jan. 8, the late night transit pass sale on Dec. 30, the New Year’s holiday City office closure, the Jan. 6 City Council meeting, the Jan. 8 Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting, the Jan. 13 Planning Commission meeting and the Winter Show Fest on Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pantera Park.

The Council then moved on to approve its entire consent calendar including the minutes for the Dec. 2 City Council and Oct. 28 Planning Commission meetings, the ratification of check register in the amount of $539,573.75 dated Nov. 27 through Dec. 10, the approved reduction of 98.28 percent of the Surety Bond to complete grading and erosion control improvements and full exoneration of a surety bond to complete in a tract private storm drain improvement, to accept work performed by Green Building Corporation for construction of the Grand View Trail and the Grand View Trail Link, and approving cooperative agreement for Bridge Preventative maintenance work on Chino Hills Parkway.

The first item on the Council’s public hearing listing was an ordinance relating to parking of motor vehicles in City parks, with a City report claiming that some people are using park parking to leave their vehicles for extended amounts of time.

After hearing the problems arising from local parks, the City approved the first reading of the ordinance, restricting the usage of park parking lots to residents who are using the park.

The second and final public hearing was the approval of the Community Development Block Grant Program allocation, including $23,875 in the fiscal year 2015-16 and $87,020 from the unallocated balance of funds for the total amount of $290,895.

The final item of the meeting was for Mayor Steve Tye to ratify the appointments of specific representatives to the San Gabriel Council of Governments, including the California Contract City’s Association, Foothill Transit Board, Corners Transportation Policy Group, Greater Los Angeles Vector Control, Joint Powers Insurance Authority, LA County Sanitation District and others.

The Council approved the appointments and officially adjourned at 8:12 p.m. with its next meeting scheduled to take place on Jan. 5 in the Windmill Room of City Hall at 7 p.m.