Category Archives: The Weekly News

5 Stand-Out Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

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By StatePoint

Need a Mother’s Day gift that truly shines? Take these fun and practical ideas into consideration.

 

  1. A clean house. Let Mom take a load off now and again. Hire a cleaning service once a month for a year, or if you’re on a budget, do it yourself. From laundry to dishes — an IOU ticket to take care of the chores she would usually handle will give Mom an opportunity to take more time for herself to read a book or go out with friends.

 

  1. A classic accessory. If you’re looking for something classic, give Mom an accessory that combines function and fashion, such as the Vintage Collection timepieces from Casio. Offered in a range of styles that complement fashion palates from simple and classic to retro glam, each timepiece comes equipped with an LED-lit display face, a countdown timer and a 1/10th second stopwatch. They also feature a daily alarm, hourly time signal and an auto-calendar, making them a necessity for anyone looking for fashion flare that keeps her organized, on-time and up-to-date with appointments.

 

  1. Some rest and relaxation. Send Mom for a spa day, where she can select the treatments and services she wants best. Or, help her to create a spa-like environment at home, with face masks, a foot spa and bath bombs for the tub.

 

  1. A hobby. Has Mom always wanted to learn to play piano? Consider gifting portable technology to help her achieve this dream. One modestly priced option is Casio’s CT-X700 portable keyboard, which features a rich sound with a powerful AiX Sound Service. Designed for casual players and beginners, it has a Lesson System that displays the proper fingering and notation, helping you learn its library of 100 built-in songs, as well as a six-track recorder.

 

  1. Time together. Spend some quality time with Mom. Take a cooking class or comedy workshop together, or look for sip and paint options, where you learn painting skills while enjoying a glass of wine or beer. Local cafes and bars often host such events; however, you may want to check out the community center or community college for class options, too.

 

City of Diamond Bar’s Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration

Staff Reports

 

It will be all things environmental at the City of Diamond Bar’s annual Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration, which will be held Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District located at 21865 Copley Drive in Diamond Bar.

There will be plenty to see and do at this outdoor event, including:

Free Smart Gardening and Composting Workshop – 9:30 to 11 a.m. – Pre-registration is required

Learn how to spruce up your lawn or garden with plants and flowers that are water-thrifty but big on curb appeal and how to turn kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost at this workshop.

Workshop attendees have a chance to purchase a compost bin at a reduced price of $40 (conventional bin) or $65 (worm bin with half-pound of worms). Only cash or check payment is accepted.

Paper Shredding – Bring up to five grocery bags or two banker boxes of household financial documents, personal medical records and other sensitive documents for on-site destruction and proper disposal. Make sure bags or boxes contain only documents and no batteries, binders, plastics or metals; folded, enveloped, stapled or paper-clipped papers are OK.

E-Waste and Textile Recycling – Have obsolete or broken electronics or clothing, shoes or linen that are too worn or damaged to donate? Bring them to the event to have them recycled.

Garden Mulch – Come ready with gloves, a shovel, and containers to collect and take home up to 80 gallons of mulch for your home garden.

Children’s Fun Area – Free earth-themed arts and crafts, and the chance to learn about, observe and touch more than 10 species of ocean animals inside the Long Beach Aquarium on Wheels that will be part of the kid-friendly offerings at this event.

Green Exhibits – Attendees will have the opportunity to check out displays of electric and plug-in hybrid-electronic vehicles, and visit various information booths to pick up giveaways and information about special programs to save money while conserving energy, water and preventing pollution.

For more information, call 909.839.7015 or visit http://www.diamondbarca.gov/earthday

How a Community Came Together To Save Him!

Brandie Altuna and Kaitlyn Valenzuela  

Chino – “He’s safe!” whispered Principal Dr. Cabrera, as she walked out of the Chino Valley Unified School District office. After that board meeting, everyone was relieved. However, earlier that afternoon, anxiety and frustration flooded the room. Daniel Pahutan About 200+ people showed up to support Coach Gano. It was surreal to see how many people cared for their beloved coach. The community was brought together on this night. Determined to have their voices heard, there were 200+ Don Lugo students, parents, community members, and coaches piled into the boardroom at the school district with handmade posters. One by one, football players and parents trepidatiously stepped up to the mic to explain how Coach wasn’t just their coach, but a father figure. It was a heart-wrenching sight. The toughest football players “allowed themselves to be vulnerable and honest to rightfully save a man’s job.” Coach Gano is not just a coach but he is also a teacher — a job that he lives off of financially. Devastation arose when news circulated that Coach Gano would possibly not be returning to Don Lugo after confidential allegations were made. A school board meeting was scheduled to be held that would address the potential fate of his job. Parents and students took to social media with the hashtag “SaveGano” and were determined to keep Gano’s position. “We were going to lose a member of the Conquistador family,” comments Principal Dr. Cabrera. She had an idea that a number of supporters were going to show up but she did not know that many people would attend. Coach Gano later saw pictures of several students who went and commented, “there were kids from my P.E. class who don’t even play for me, they’re my students!” Gano’s true passion is taking care of kids. It has become his duty and that is exactly what coaching means to him. Coach Gano has provided for so many of his athletes and makes sure that they have all the necessary needs in order to live and breathe. He’s not just a coach to these young men. He is a father figure to all who need the father figure that all young men deserve. As testimonies are heard, the rest of the Don Lugo community can only sit and wait for the final word. When Gano got the news that he was going to keep his job as a teacher at Don Lugo, he was quite emotional over the phone according to Dr. Cabrera. “He immediately sat down and took a deep breath when he got the news,” says Athletic Director Coach Donoho. Both Coach Gano and Coach Donoho were located at the first round of the Girls’ Basketball CIF game on that same night. Everyone quickly drove over to the school to congratulate Coach Gano in person. Coach Donoho recounts, “People started randomly showing up, giving him hugs, and congratulating him.” There was no doubt that the entire Conquistador family was excited, relieved, and happy to know that their coach and teacher was going to stay. The impact that Coach Gano has on both Don Lugo and the community, is beyond incredible. He has led the football team to win the Milkcan two years in a row and make it to CIF. He has brought the entire Conquistador family together; he is the epitome of what a Conquistador leader means to all and he will continue to be appreciated by his family and friends but most importantly, his Don Lugo family.

Diamond Bar Homes Sales Update

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez 

 

Homes Sales Down! True Home prices up! Median Sales Price is down! The trends have changed. The lower number of sales usually indicates a lower sales volume, and so do home prices. The fact that the number of homes sales in Diamond Bar decreased for a third consecutive quarter is not an indication of a lowering of demand for homes in this community. It is more of a reflection of lower inventory, less homeowners putting their homes on the market, and resulting in fewer choices for those looking to buy a home. The 4th Quarter 2017 report for Diamond Bar home sales noted that there were 98 closed transactions (as reported by the California Regional Multiple Service). The median sales price (Median Sales Price is the point in which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less) in the 4th quarter was $745,000 for a single family residential (SFR) property. The 1st Quarter 2018 saw a drop of $10,000 in that figure from $745,000.00 down to $735,000.00. This represented a DROP of 1.3% quarter over quarter, or 5.2% annualized.  This represents a normalization of the median sales price of Single Family Homes (detached) in Diamond Bar, which have been sky rocketing.  The number of transactions, however, was down from 90 in the 4th quarter (October to December 2017), to 78 in the 1st Quarter 2018.  This represented a drop of 13.3% from the previous quarter.    

The seasonal housing market cycles are not as pronounced in Southern California, and more specifically, in Diamond Bar, as they are in other parts of the U.S.  It is, however, not very unusual for the market to slow down at this time of the year because it covers a period which includes major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year’s Holiday. The Diamond Bar home sales show an even greater drop in number from the 1st Quarter 2017.  The Los Angeles county recordings show that the Diamond Bar closings fell from 98 down to 78 year over year comparing the 1st Quarter 2018 to the same period 2017. That is a drop of 20.4% from one year to the next.  That is a huge drop in this industry. Real Estate professionals have been impacted in a fashion similar to a person having their annual income reduced by 20%.  Not good for those counting on that income to make ends meet.  We will report on the Townhome and Condominium market in next week’s edition.  

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. 

Rocky Bettar Named Adult Ed Administrator of the Year

Staff Reports 

ROWLAND HEIGHTS –– Rowland Unified Superintendent Dr. Julie Mitchell announced that Rocky Bettar, Director of Adult Education/Career Preparation, has been named as the statewide Adult Education Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Bettar is considered an industry expert in the adult education field by his peers. He has been a leader in adult education since 1995 when he was named Director of Rowland Adult & Community Education. He is an advocate for Adult Education at the local and state level, serving in many roles in ACSA, such as Region XV Adult Ed Chair and as State ACSA Adult Ed Council President. Bettar will be honored at the 2018 ACSA Leadership Summit November 8-10 in San Diego. 

“To be recognized by State ACSA as Adult Ed administrator of the year is very humbling,” said Bettar. “This recognition does not occur without the support of our board and district administration as they see the value of Adult Education in RUSD. But most importantly, the teachers and staff at RACE are the ones that allows our school to be what it is in our district community and I am just the beneficiary of this award. This award is truly our schools and the district’s. Without them, it would not have happened.” 

Bettar is proud to have grown the Rowland Adult & Community Education (RACE) program, collaborating with the adult learners since many are parents of the TK-12 students in the district. “As we look to the future, the landscape for adult education has changed and now that we are part of a consortium and have dedicated funding, hence the flex years which damaged Adult Ed in the state is a thing of the past, we are ramping up program and services,” said Bettar. “We currently offer classes at 16 different locations in our district boundaries. We are expanding our Distance Learning opportunities for our ESL students, expanding this to five elementary sites during the morning, we have created what is essentially individual learning plans for our adult diploma and GED students, which we call ACES, Adult Compact for Educational Success and continue to explore and try different things that will resonate with the adult learner.” 

Under Bettar’s leadership, the school has been awarded the California Golden Bell for its’ Community Based English Tutoring program, and has attained a 6-year WASC Accreditation in every WASC that the school has done since 1995. Bettar has also been instrumental in Career Vocational Education in Rowland Unified, founding the unique Career Pathways Program where every high school student in Rowland Unified is exposed to two or more Career Technical Education (CTE) courses in a student’s area or career interest to graduate. Pathways are in 8 of 15 industry sector areas and students can also choose to earn a Certification of Completion in a career pathway that further develops professional and personal skills including participation in an internship. 

 

Anxiety and Our Youth

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

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

By Nancy Stoops 

I have been a psychotherapist for eighteen years and have worked with people of all ages with various issues.  I’m constantly amazed when I have a child or teen brought to me for anxiety issues. We seem to have created a generation that feels very inadequate and struggles with growing up and being successful.  The issues this generation worries about are things my generation didn’t have to deal with. 

 

Our colleges are impacted and hard to get into.  Now kindergarteners have homework and are expected to read and know many more things.  Video games and television are replacing playing outdoors in the fresh air and getting much needed exercise.  This outdoor playing is such a great way to reduce or eliminate stress.  Social media unfortunately has made this generation very lazy and childhood obesity and diabetes are on the rise. 

 

As parents and community leaders we have a social responsibility to help this generation find a healthy balance in their lives in every area.  We need to support and encourage our youth.  We need to provide the necessary tools to help them strive to become their best.  We need to have faith in our youth as some many of them are diamonds in the rough.  We need to give them guidance and tools to help them shine and reach their full potential. 

 

We need to teach the teens that problems can we worked through and that drinking and drugs are not a solution.  We need to teach them how to meditate not medicate to quiet their busy minds.  We need to teach them how to relax by finding balance, getting organized, prioritizing and effectively managing their time and communicating what’s working and not working in their lives.  Please don’t assume they are all pot smoking video game playing lazy worthless human beings.  They are just scared and need some help finding their way! 

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.   

HEALTHY LIVING: Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Growing Problem for Those Growing Old

By StatePoint 

 

Misuse and abuse of drugs and alcohol among the elderly is one of the fastest growing health problems in the U.S., according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), yet it can often be mistaken for normal aging behavior. 

 

The statistics are alarming: according to The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., 2.5 million older adults have an alcohol or drug problem; while a SAMHSA report shows that the use of illicit drugs, combining drugs with alcohol, and the nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, results in an average of nearly 300 emergency room visits nationwide each day for those aged 65 and older. 

 

Despite these disturbing trends, substance abuse among the elderly often goes unrecognized and untreated. According to “The Tough Talk: Aging Parents and Substance Abuse,” a new survey commissioned by WellCare Health Plans, Inc., adult children of elderly parents know very little about the drugs and alcohol their parents consume, and three-quarters say it’s possible that they may not even know if their parent had a substance abuse problem, likely mistaking the signs — such as slurred speech, dozing off and confusion — for normal behaviors of aging. 

 

“While family members may not feel equipped to identify an abuse problem, they are often the ones who can best spot changes in behaviors that could indicate one exists,” said Kevin Middleton, Psy.D., vice president, behavioral health, WellCare. “Given the serious consequences that overuse or abuse of drugs and alcohol can have on seniors, it’s important to look for those signs and also ask questions that will help determine if and what kind of help is needed.” 

 

Dr. Middleton advises those with aging loves ones to be aware of the following. 

 

  • Life Changes Can Trigger Abuse: Retirement, the death of a spouse or dear friend, the loss of a pet and other significant life events, are times when the elderly are most likely to begin misusing or abusing drugs and alcohol.

 

  • Signs of a Potential Problem: Many older people will hide their problem out of shame, and while substance abuse can mimic symptoms of other diseases, always consider the possibility of abuse if there are any major changes in behaviors, such as loss of interest in hobbies, activities or socializing, as well as changes in appetite and sleeping habits. Other signs to be aware of are noticeable memory loss, slurred speech and confusion.

 

  • Asking Questions is the First Step: At times when loved ones appear sober and alert, start asking questions about their use of drugs and alcohol and if they think they have a problem. Speak frankly about your concerns and the risks of substance abuse, but also be sympathetic to the difficulties with which they’re dealing.

 

  • Seek Help: If you do suspect a substance abuse problem, contact his or her health care provider and discuss the best approach to getting appropriate treatment.

 

For more tips and information on managing substance abuse for aging parents, visit WellCare’s blog at tinyurl.com/ycu6e7g2. 

 

Identifying substance abuse can be challenging, particularly when it comes to the elderly. However, addressing the issue quickly is critical. If you’ve detected signs of a problem, start by asking the right questions. 

New Best Buy policy; CD’s will no longer be sold in stores

Joel Chavez 

Best Buy announces that as of July 1st they will no longer be selling CD’s in stores. Best Buy has already informed its music suppliers that they will not have any CD’s in stock in the stores. The new era of streaming music from phones has removed CD’s from their place. 

Best Buy announces to consumers the end of the CD era. Best Buy announced on February 1 that as of July 1 they will no longer be selling CDs in stores. A new era of streaming music from Smartphones has pushed CD’s aside. 

Ed Christman from Billboard was quoted as saying, “Best Buy has already informed its music suppliers that their services will no longer be required by July of this year. The decision to drop CDs follows an 18.5 percent decline in music CD sales in 2017.  

The rise of streaming music services such as Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora, as well as the availability of digitally downloadable tracks and albums, are rendering the CD extinct. Many companies that manufacture CD players like Sony, Panasonic, and Yamaha, are starting to produce significantly less CD players due to low revenue. According to Best Buy vinyl will continue to be sold, but that’s only guaranteed for the next two years due to a commitment made to vendors. 

With the rise of streaming media services, eventually they will even releasing be releasing their own physical copies of new music, movies, and TV shows. Don Lugo student Orlando Robles’18 says, “When I was a little boy I used to love hearing music from my dad’s CD player but now that technology has advanced I like to listen to my own music through Spotify with my phone.” Best Buy’s products of CD’s, DVD’s, and Blu-ray DVD’s won’t disappear altogether for their consumers, but will only be available for purchase online for consumers. 

Target is trying a different tactic; instead of getting rid of CDs completely, it wants music and movies to be sold on a consignment basis. Target would only pay for an individual CD or DVD once it is scanned and sold to a customer. It seems likely Target’s plan will be rejected and ultimately that could push it to follow Best Buy and stop selling music CDs altogether, and possibly even DVDs. 

New Principals Appointed in Walnut Valley

By Kelli Gile 

Walnut— The Walnut Valley USD Board of Trustees recently appointed two familiar faces as new school leaders.  

Whitney Prenger has been named principal at Vejar Elementary and Amy Smith is principal at Suzanne Middle School.  

Both longtime WVUSD administrators have served as interim principals for several months. 

Prenger brings 12 years of educational experience in her new role as principal.  

Prior to joining the staff at Vejar Elementary for the 2017-2018 school year, she served as instructional dean at Diamond Bar High School for two years.   

She was also lead teacher for the Pathways Communication Academy and pep advisor at Diamond Bar High. 

Prenger taught summer school at South Pointe Middle School for two years and began her career in education at the elementary level, teaching at Westhoff, C.J. Morris, and Castle Rock. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Long Beach and master’s degree from Whittier College. 

“Becoming a Vaquero this year has been such a joy!” Prenger said. 

“Vejar is a special school that values the spirit of students, staff, teachers, parents, and the community. I am excited to be a part of this school and look forward to many years together. Vejar values, every student, every day!” 

Prenger succeeds Jennifer De Anda who accepted a position as Coordinator of State and Federal Programs in Riverside Unified School District. 

Smith brings over 16 years of educational experience to her new role as principal at Suzanne Middle School. 

She served as the school’s assistant principal since August 2014 before being named interim principal in November. 

Before that, she was a teacher at Vejar Elementary and Quail Summit Elementary for eight years. 

She was also an elementary teacher at Vineyard STEM in the Ontario-Montclair Unified School District and Barfield Elementary and Simons Middle School in the Pomona Unified School District. 

Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, master’s degree from University of La Verne, and doctoral degree from University of La Verne. 

“I am so honored to be Principal at Suzanne Middle School!” said Smith. 

“I have loved my time as Assistant Principal and look forward to continuing to serve our students, staff, and parents. We have a wonderful school, rich in tradition and community. I am so proud to be a Challenger!” 

Smith succeeds Les Ojeda who accepted a position of Assistant Director of EL Services in San Bernardino Unified School District.

City Council Reviews City’s Long-Term Financial Outlook

Staff Reports 

Norco – At a public Study Session on April 4, 2018, the Norco City Council received a presentation from staff regarding the long-term financial outlook of the City’s General Fund and various Capital Project Funds used for the construction, replacement and maintenance of City streets, trails, buildings, parks and parking lots. The video recording of the Study Session can be viewed here (https://bit.ly/2v13n2l). 

The presentation included a 10-year projection of revenues and expenditures for the City’s General Fund. The General Fund is the City’s primary operating fund and is the source of monies used to pay for public safety services, including police and fire, as well as park operations and maintenance, building maintenance, planning, building safety inspections, animal control, senior programs, general City administration and other expenditures of the City with no dedicated revenue source. In addition to the financial forecast for the General Fund, staff provided a 20-year infrastructure funding needs projection for streets, trails, buildings, parks and parking lots. A copy of the presentation can be viewed on the City’s website here (https://bit.ly/2HckXFI). 

While the City’s General Fund “rainy day” reserve amount currently stands at over $10 million, the financial forecast estimates that this amount will be depleted by fiscal year 2021-2022 if appropriate actions are not taken to eliminate the projected “structural operating budget deficit” in the General Fund. The anticipated deficit is due to expenditures, especially public safety costs, growing at a faster rate than the rate of growth for tax and other revenue receipts. The presentation outlined various previous actions taken by the City Council to reduce expenditures and enhance existing revenues. These previous expenditure reduction actions included contracting fire and emergency medical services, increasing pension and medical cost contributions by employees, and eliminating the motorcycle traffic enforcement program. The presentation also highlighted previous actions to improve revenue receipts through aggressive economic development. These efforts have resulted in the development of new retail establishments, Silver Lakes, hotels and other projects. 

While these efforts will continue in the future, Mayor Hoffman remarked that these measures will not be sufficient to generate the revenues needed to maintain current service levels and fund the replacement of City infrastructure. The 20-year forecast for infrastructure estimates that the City will need over $5 million in new revenues annually to protect investments in infrastructure and maintain the equestrian lifestyle that is cherished by Norco residents. Subsequently, in the coming weeks, the documents necessary to place a revenue measure on the November 2018 ballot for voters’ consideration will be presented to the City Council for action. Additional information will be posted on the City’s website as it becomes available. 

Inland Christian Home: Quality Environment For Seniors

Photo Caption: Inland Christian Home offers a community that assists seniors in many ways. They are located at 1950 S. Mountain Ave. in Ontario. For more info call 909-983-0084 or visit http://www.ichome.org.

Staff Reports

Ontario- Inland Christian Home, was founded by a number of local churches and began providing services in 1978. The primary mission of the community is a reflection of the heritage of its founders: to provide quality affordable individualized careto seniors in a Christian environment, it’s a place you can feel right at home. The community’s non-profit status promotes this mission as there are no owners who profit from its operation and all the revenues received are reinvested into the operations of the facility. As the baby boomer generation continues to age, it is important to know they have options. The aging process is not always an easy one and, at times requires the assistance of others. Inland Christian Home offers a community that assists in many ways. Its primary mission is to provide quality, affordable, individualized care to seniors in a Christian environment, making it a place you can feel right at home. Inland Christian Home, being licensed as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) through the Department of Social Services, provides many different levels of care which include Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Adult day care, Skilled Nursing and Rehab and Custodial Home care Services. The availability of diffe rent levels of care and service arrangements on the same grounds, offers seniors very unique advantages. Our philosophy is to encourage our residents to live as independently as possible at the lowest level of care. Our residents’ individual needs and desires are always considered in the arrangement of these services. We want Inland to be their home, not the facility in which they live, where all are treated as individuals and they participate and are given choices in how they live. The availability of different levels of care and service arrangements on the same grounds offers residents some very unique advantages. Residents can continue to reside at the community even though their abilities may change. Resident and their families have the comfort in knowing that their needs will be met. Inland Christian Home is a close-knit community that promotes the maintaining of social relationship residents have with other residents, friends, and family. Inland Christian Home also provides services to those who prefer to stay in their own homes. Custodial Home Care services make it possible by providing assistance with housekeeping, cooking, shopping, meal preparation, bathing, and dressing through educated caregivers. Inland Christian Home is here to promote aging in place, and gives seniors the ability to live at the lowest level of care even though their abilities change and their families have the comfort in knowing their needs will be met; making it a place you can feel right at home.

Wanna Get Away? AAA Travel Has Your Ticket

By Anthony Saude

I had always wanted to be an AAA member, if for nothing else, so I didn’t have to go to the DMV and stand in line for hours on end just to register my car. When I walked into the office I was delighted to see that they offered so many other services that I could take advantage of. It just so happened that my family was planning a vacation. I decided to stay around and spend a little more time learning about all of the services my membership would allow me. Everybody knows about or has heard about AAA Automobile Club DMV services and roadside assistance if your car breaks down on the side of the road and those are great things to have. You might even know that they have maps and discounts for all your travel needs but did you know that they have a full service travel agency as well? “AAA travel is a full service Travel Agency which offers personalized service to members and non-members for all of their travel needs,” says Diamond Bar branch manager, Beth Planavsky. Whether you want to embark on a weekend staycation, a cross-country road trip, or an excursion to the other side of the globe, “Our travel agents are very experienced and knowledgeable about all travel destinations,” said Beth. Where ever your plans take you, a personal travel agent will be assigned to you to make sure you get a customized once in a lifetime vacation experience. From taking your passport photo, to planning your itinerary step by step, to making sure that you take advantage of the full spectrum of discounts that are available to you along the way, AAA travel has your back. Members can also access a variety of travel resources including vacation guides and free maps for your domestic travel needs. Beth said, “Providing legendary service to our members is our number one goal here at the Diamond Bar Branch.” With all the AAA discounts that you get, the personalized service and Beth with her 30 years of experience in the industry a visit to the Diamond Bar Branch makes sense. When you are there you might as well check out all of the other services that AAA has to offer as well, like we said they are a “one stop shop.”Visit the Travel Agency at the Automobile Club of Southern California Diamond Bar office located in the Country Hills Towne Center. 2843 S. Diamond Bar Blvd, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 on the corner of Diamond Bar Blvd and Fountain Springs 909-444-029 serving Diamond Bar, Walnut, Chino Hills, Rowland Heights and Pomona.

FREE Sustainable Gardening Workshop

By Anthony Saude

Diamond Bar – The City of Diamond Bar is hosting a FREE Sustainable Gardening Workshop on Saturday, April 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:0a.m. The free Basic Composting Workshop will provide instructions on composting, worm composting, and water-wise gardening including a selection of drought tolerant plant.

California is either just starting a drought, in the middle of a drought or the last drought just ended but one way or another we are always in a drought. This can become a real problem and has even led to laws being changed and penalties being handed out. If we want to be a responsible California resident then we should always be learning new ways to conserve water and use our natural resources.

The City wants to invite residents to participate and learn about the plant combinations that require less water and add more color to your garden. Compost bins will be available for purchase at a discounted price of $45 for this event. Worm compost bins will also be available for the discounted price of $65. The FREE composting workshop will take place at the AQMD – West parking lot located at 21865 Copley Drive.

The workshop is OPEN to ALL Los Angeles County residents; however space is limited so pre registration is suggested. To register send an email to greendb@diamondbarca.gov, be sure to include your name and phone number or call the City’s Environmental Services Division at 909-839-7015.

Former Surgeon General to Speak at Mt. SAC Health Conference

Staff Reports

 

WALNUT–– Dr. Richard Carmona, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States, will be the keynote speaker at Mt. San Antonio College’s 12th Annual Health Professions Conference on Friday, May 4, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at various locations on campus. Sponsored by the Mt. SAC Caduceus Club, the Health Professions Conference is open to the public and geared toward students interested in careers in the health and medical fields.

Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002, Carmona served as Surgeon General until his term expired in 2006. As Surgeon General, he released a landmark report on the health effects of secondhand smoke. Throughout his life, he has served in various positions in the medical field, including as a paramedic, registered nurse, and physician. He has served as chairman of the Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System, CEO for the Pima County health care system, and was a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona. He worked as a deputy sheriff for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and served as medical director of the county’s police and fire departments. In 2012, he ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona.

More than 800 participants are expected at the 12th Annual Health Professions, which will feature will feature workshops, interactive demonstrations, focus groups, an education fair, and displays. Representatives from major medical research centers such as UC Irvine, UCLA, and USC will be on hand, and a wide range of health professions will be covered, including surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, neurology, pediatric medicine, occupational therapy, and veterinary medicine.

The Mt. SAC Caduceus Club is a student club that promotes careers in the health and medical fields.

Tickets for the conference are $37 until April 16 and advanced registration is encouraged.

 

For more information and to register, visit http://www.mtsacpremed.org.

 

Leftover Easter Eggs

By Mark Hopper

I have shared in previous articles how much my wife loves decorating our home during the various seasons of the year.  We have boxes and plastic storage tubs full of decorations for spring and fall, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I think we also have some patriotic decorations for the 4th of July.

Easter season has been a lot of fun this year.  One of the things that our young grandchildren like to do is hunt for Easter Eggs around our house.  I enjoy hiding the plastic eggs and love to watch them enjoy finding them.

We have also learned that hiding the eggs is just as much fun as finding the eggs. The four year old likes to hide the plastic eggs inside drawers and kitchen cabinets. The younger 15 month old likes to hide them in more conspicuous places like on a living room chair or on top of the coffee table.

The four year old likes to give hints about the location of the hidden eggs. She uses words like “you are getting warmer” and “you are getting colder” to help guide her younger sister and me to the hidden locations.

On the other hand, the younger one likes to actually show her older sister when she has hidden the eggs. She will walk right to the spot and pick up the egg and give it to her older sister.

It is a fun game to play inside or outside the house. It fills a lot of time and allows both girls to be creative in where they hide the plastic Easter Eggs.

However, one of the challenges of hiding and finding Easter Eggs is accounting for all of them.  After we play this game several times, we realize that some of the eggs are still missing.  I sometimes forget where I have hidden them and sometimes our granddaughters do too. Where did they go? Why haven’t we found all of them yet?

The other day, as we were going to bed, my wife and I discovered a plastic egg under our pillow. Another time, we found one behind the living room curtains. Leftover Easter Eggs keep popping up around our house days after the children had left.

Leftover Easter Eggs bring a smile to our faces and warms our hearts. When we come across a hidden egg, we are reminded of the special times we share with these two precious little girls.

I recommend that all grandparents keep a supply of plastic Easter Eggs year round. They provide a fun activity with little guests and create some memories that will last for a long time. You will be glad you did and they will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper

Efree Church of Diamond Bar

3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd

909-594-7604

Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM

Efreedb.org

 

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 4.14.18

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: WEB.Weekly04.14.2018

History 101

Photo Credit: rrojascms22.weebly.com

April 14, 1865: President Lincoln is shot

History.com

At Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C., John Wilkes Booth, an actor and Confederate sympathizer, fatally wounds President Abraham Lincoln. The attack came only five days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his massive army at Appomattox, effectively ending the American Civil War.

Booth, who remained in the North during the war despite his Confederate sympathies, initially plotted to capture President Lincoln and take him to Richmond, the Confederate capital. However, on March 20, 1865, the day of the planned kidnapping, the president failed to appear at the spot where Booth and his six fellow conspirators lay in wait. Two weeks later, Richmond fell to Union forces. In April, with Confederate armies near collapse across the South, Booth hatched a desperate plan to save the Confederacy.

Learning that Lincoln was to attend Laura Keene’s acclaimed performance in Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theater on April 14, Booth plotted the simultaneous assassination of Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William H. Seward. By murdering the president and two of his possible successors, Booth and his conspirators hoped to throw the U.S. government into paralyzing disarray.

On the evening of April 14, conspirator Lewis T. Powell burst into Secretary of State Seward’s home, seriously wounding him and three others, while George A. Atzerodt, assigned to Vice President Johnson, lost his nerve and fled. Meanwhile, just after 10 p.m., Booth entered Lincoln’s private theater box unnoticed, and shot the president with a single bullet in the back of his head. Slashing an army officer who rushed at him, Booth jumped to the stage and shouted “Sic semper tyrannis! [Thus always to tyrants]–the South is avenged!” Although Booth had broken his left leg jumping from Lincoln’s box, he succeeded in escaping Washington.

The president, mortally wounded, was carried to a cheap lodging house opposite Ford’s Theater. About 7:22 a.m. the next morning, he died–the first U.S. president to be assassinated. Booth, pursued by the army and secret service forces, was finally cornered in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia, and died from a possibly self-inflicted bullet wound as the barn was burned to the ground. Of the eight other persons eventually charged with the conspiracy, four were hanged and four were jailed.

 

WVUSD Celebrates Stellar Students And Volunteers

By Kelli Gile

WALNUT—Each month, Walnut Valley USD Board of Trustees celebrates hard-working students and dedicated community members.

During the March 14 meeting, Evergreen and Maple Hill Elementary leaders took to the podium to introduce their hand-picked honorees.

Evergreen fifth grader Luis Bartolo received the Super Star Student Award.

“Luis is always so positive and friendly to everyone he meets,” said Principal Trina Dryer recalling when a first grader visited his special education class for social lessons.

“Luis was chosen to walk the student back to his class and they could be seen holding hands, talking away as they walked and skipped down the hall. It truly showed Luis’s leadership and his caring for others!” she said.

Luis is also brave and willing to try new things even though he might afraid or anxious, Dryer said.

He recently went on a field trip to an equestrian center and was able to ride a horse successfully.

And at the recent Talent Show, Luis performed a song all by himself in front of an audience of over 650 students.  This is something that most people would not do!

“Luis, your Evergreen family is so proud of all your growth and accomplishments. We are going to miss you next year when you go to middle school!”

Mike Yamashiro and Ken Tragarz were honored with Partner in Education Awards.

During the annual Open House, the Walnut High School Astronomy Club, under the direction of teacher Mike Yamashiro, hosts a Star Party and Ken Tragarz with the Boy Scout Troop 737 cook up peach cobbler and other desserts in Dutch ovens.

“The Star Party has been a fun addition to our Open House event for the past six years,” Dryer said.

Families get to look through huge telescopes at the night sky.  There are usually lines of people waiting for their special turn to peer at the stars and planets.

The` Boy Scouts offer their delicious desserts and hot chocolate free of charge.

“They are quickly taken and eaten. I never get any!” Dryer said.

“We are very grateful to Mike, the Astronomy Club, Ken with the Boy Scout Troop for volunteering their time and hard work to make it an even more special evening!”

Maple Hill Elementary fifth grader Ethan McNeil was lauded with the Super Star Student Award.

“Ethan is a legacy who has paved his own way with his kind heart, strong mind, and great spirit,” shared Principal Kelly Morris.

He is compassionate, selfless, a talented athlete, and champion for kids that are underdogs.

“In class, he is like a Jedi – focused, disciplined, enthusiastic, and motivated,” Morris said.

“And all of his teachers will 100% agree that he has a heart of gold!”

When his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, Ethan was compelled to advocate and support others affected with cancer.

With his sister’s help, Ethan created a school fundraising campaign that raised $1,500 for the WVUSD Relay for Life.

“Gentle souls like Ethan will be the calm force that the world needs to be a better place. And how lucky are we to be the village that’s helping to raise this stellar human being!” Morris said.

Parent volunteer and “everyday superhero” Steve Samaniego was honored with the Partner in Education Award.

The dedicated volunteer has run three reading groups every Monday morning for the past four years.

“He has positively impacted the lives of approximately 100 reluctant readers. But more importantly, he has had an impact on their hearts,” Principal Morris said.

During a 2nd grade musical, Steve was in the audience watching his daughter Vera perform, and during the opening number it was obvious that one student from his morning reading group was anxiously scanning the audience in search of his parents. At first, despair washed over his face, but within one small moment his sorrow turned into elation.

“I assumed that he spotted his parents, but when I peered over the many cameras, I saw that boy was looking directly at Mr. Samaniego who was giving him a thumbs-up, smiling ear to ear, and mouthing words of praise and encouragement,” Morris described.

“Mr. Samaniego isn’t just a parent who volunteers his time, he is a parent that volunteers his heart!”

 

Sources of a Down Payment

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

 

How much money does a person have to have in order to buy one’s home? The answer to this question, of course, varies in many ways. One variable is in what city one decides to make their home. That decision, of course, will affect the price of homes that a person has to choose from. The price of a home, then, will impact greatly the amount of cash one must come up with as the Down Payment.

Another major variable will be whether a person is buying as a First Time Homeowner, a Move-Up Buyer, or a Down-Sizing Buyer. By the very definition of a “First Time Homeowner”, this buyer usually has a low level of savings. They are just getting started with their home ownership experience, and are usually in their mid to late twenties and into their mid-thirties. As I wrote before, this group of buyers is usually busy getting started with both their careers and their family. The lower income earned by those just beginning their careers coupled with the expenses of getting started in the raising of a family does not allow for the typical First Time Homebuyer to come up with a very large down payment.

One of the more commonly used loan programs for the first time homebuyer is the Federal Housing Administration 203B program.  It is a loan in which a first time homeowner can purchase a home with as little as 3 ½ % down payment. In addition to this type of loan, there are a few “grant” or “subsidy” programs which will also assist this buyer with an additional 2 % for the down payment. This facilitates the purchase of the First Time Homebuyer to finance the purchase with as little as 1 % Down Payment.

The FHA loan limit for a Single Family Residence in Los Angeles County is $636.150.00.  This means that a First Time Homebuyer can purchase a home with a little as $16,500.00.  With other grants or subsidies, this figure can end up as low as $6,500.00, making the purchase of a home very doable, as far as the Down Payment is concerned.

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

 

Fear is Funny

Fear is such a strong emotion that it can actually take over our lives, until we die if we let it. Fear is funny even to talk about because we don’t really think about how many levels there are. That is why it goes undetected in our lives.

Fear is funny; think about it, people can fear both failure and success. The same person can fear both without even being aware that is what is going on inside of their minds.

Fear is funny; we fear abandonment then we get married, have children and increase our odds of it happening.

Fear is funny; we can become addicted to substances due to fear of our reality and also fear of the pain getting healthy enough to deal with reality.

Fear is funny; we don’t tell our spouse something out of fear they will get angry or worse and then yell at them for doing the same thing.

Fear keeps us from becoming the person God intended us to be. We are born with a spirit of courage and boldness. The world will always do it’s best to replace that with fear and intimidation. We have to stand tall in the face of fear so that our sons and daughters know what standing tall looks like. Then when fear inevitably enters their mind they will know how to push through the pain and turn their fear into positive energy. I have always said fear and excitement both produce adrenaline how we use that energy is up to us.

Fear is funny; we fear facing our fears as well as we are told don’t run from your fears. Overcoming fears is never an overnight process and it takes practice, intentionality and perseverance. Of course life would be easier if we just played it safe everyday in our professional, personal and marriage relationships but what fun would that be. Do something completely terrifying every day.