Category Archives: The Weekly News

To DE or Not to DE…TOX That Is

By Craig “Duece” Doussett MPH, RDN

Much of the information and misinformation surrounding the concept of detox diets and supplements could only be murkier and more perplexing if it was written by William Shakespeare in unrhymed iambic pentameter. This may be due, in part, to the knowledge gaps that exist in the literature regarding how detoxification processes work in concert to keep us from acute toxicity. The science (often described as the meat of the matter a.k.a., the “steak”) certainly doesn’t exist in large enough quantities to justify the hype (or “sizzle”, to extend the metaphor). It may also be due to the lack of one dedicated detoxification “system”, like the muscular or cardiovascular system, further allowing speculation and “marketing” (a.k.a. effectively-targeted speculation) a megaphone for popular science. Popular science being any and all efforts to appease an impatient population with imprecise and “sciency” sounding jargon. Or it may be that the aversion one feels towards a word (CrossFit, Vegan, Paleo, Yoga, Microbrew, or Mandscaping) creates an antipathy that blinds one from exploring beyond first sight or sound. In any case, the desire to detox, to effectively assist the body’s efforts to gain or remain healthy is not a futile or fruitless endeavor. It is however an effort that must be governed with safety, prudence, and a boost in health literacy. To this end, the following questions must be asked:

Can we assist or speed up detoxification through supplementation and elimination diets? Here it is imperative to note that the toxins being targeted are from outside (exogenous) sources. Chemicals found in foods (fertilizers, pesticides), cleaning products (dyes, softeners, and preservatives), and household wares (chemicals used to treat carpets, leather, and composite materials).

Can we approach a “detoxified” state and is this state desirable above normal (read: healthy) levels? The goal of a well-thought-out detox may be more about what we remove (toxic burden) than what we include.

Is “detox” a much maligned buzzword employed to avoid the use of trite words such as ‘resolution’, ‘goal’, ‘diet’ or ‘dedication’? Would we be better off using these words and making small and lasting changes to our diet (spoiler alert: Yes! This is the best way to achieve lasting health).

Now that our health literacy has been boosted, what supplements are worth our time? Aloe-Vera, Senna, Red Clover, Milk Thistle (unless allergic to ragweed), and insoluble fibers in powder form can be used judiciously. While these are the least harsh and safest “detoxifiers” on the scene, always seek the advice of your doctor and inform them of any and all supplementation.

Detoxification efforts receive the majority of their benefits from the following:

Increase fluid intake (kidneys, bladder, skin, and fat cells)

Increase fruit and vegetable intake i.e., increased levels of antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber (digestion and colon health)

Secondary emphasis on grass-fed and organic meats and reducing consumption of processed carbohydrates

Tertiary emphasis on reducing food sensitivities, allergies, and trigger foods that feed the stomach but starve the brain.

Detoxification diets are fads in the classical sense i.e., the science has not caught up with the marketing machine which includes word-of-mouth and inspiring testimonials. Yet it is vital to remember that many common place approaches to life started out as a fad e.g., high fat diets have now been shown to improve the symptoms of epilepsy in children and insulin sensitivity in Type II diabetics, and high-complex carbohydrate diets are standard for some liver disorders. The goal is to engage in a behavior that is healthy, safe, sustainable, and above all eliminates deficiencies in lieu of creating them.

 

Chino Council Topples Estates Project

By Anthony Saude

Chino – The tension during the December 19 City Council meeting was so thick you could cut it with a knife, the holiday season did nothing to dissipate the feeling.

A proposed development of 43 single-story, ranch style homes on the corner of Francis and Yorba avenues was on the agenda and it had already been denied by the Chino Planning Commission by a 3-2 vote on December 4. The developer of the Francis Estates, Borstein Enterprises was there to appeal the decision, requesting the zoning be changed from 2 units per acre to 3.6 units per acre. Eriik Pfahler, senior vice president of Borstein Enterprises was reported as saying, “we aren’t going to build on 20,000 square foot lots, It just doesn’t make financial sense”.

The proposed development is located in an unincorporated part of San Bernardino County that falls into the Chino sphere of influence. The city would annex the parcel of land in to the city so it could be connected to the city’s sewer system.

The developer went to the council hoping that they would reverse the previous decision by the planning commission only to be rejected again. The council vote was a tie, Mayor Ulloa and councilman Gary George voted against the project. Councilman Paul Rodriquez and mayor pro tem Tom Haughey voted for the project. Councilman Earl Elrod was absent from the meeting so without a majority vote to overturn the previous decision the decision to deny the project stood.

Mayor Ulloa was reported as saying that to vote to overturn the decision for such a tiny area just doesn’t make sense to her.

 

Off-Duty Officer Shoots At Burglary Suspects

Photo courtesy: Google Images

By Anthony Saude

Eastvale – An off-duty city of Pomona police officer, an Eastvale resident, opened fire at one of three men who broke into his home Saturday afternoon, Dec. 23. All three alleged suspects managed to escape unharmed after the shooting. The incident happened on the 6400 block of Caxton Street, south of Limonite Avenue and east of Hamner Avenue, in Eastvale.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies from the Eastvale Police Station responded to the home invasion at about 1:37 p.m. The deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a burglary and a shooting that had taken place at the off-duty officer’s home, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Ben Ramirez explained after the incident.

When deputies arrived at the location, they spoke with the off-duty officer and he advised them that he and another person were inside the home when they heard several subjects moving around inside the house.

It was reported that Ramirez said, “The off-duty officer armed himself and confronted two suspects in an upstairs room.” Reports show that the officer confronted the suspects at gunpoint, and fired several times at one of the suspects.  It is believed that all 3 of the suspects were able to flee the home unharmed.

Additional deputies and investigators were brought in from the Jurupa Valley Station and secured the scene and canvassed the surrounding neighborhoods in search of the three alleged burglars.

The three suspects were described to investigating deputies by other residents as three black men between the ages of 18-28 years, with thin to medium build. The three men reportedly were seen driving away from the area in a gray Hyundai.

Due to the extenuating circumstances, investigators from the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. Investigators found signs of forced entry into the residence during their investigation. The shooting investigation is still an active and ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Martinez at the Jurupa Valley Station at (951) 955-2600, or Investigator Bishop at the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number EV173570054 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s crime tips online form.

 

Chino Partners with Waste Management

City of Chino

City of Chino

Chino – The City of Chino in partnership with Waste Management is proud to announce new commercial waste programs and service enhancements.

Effective as of January 1, 2018, Chino commercial customers will be billed by Waste Management directly, offering on point of contact for both customer service and billing. As part of the transition, residents will receive two bills for waste and recycling services in the month of January, which will cover trash service for December 2017. Customers will also receive a bill from Waste Management in Jamuary which will cover service for January 2018. This is the only time commercial customers will receive two bills in one month for trash services.

Moving forward, commercial customers will receive a monthly trash bill from Waste Management. If you have any questions regarding the transition, please feel free to contact the City’s Utility Billing Department at (909)334-3264. After the January billing transition, commercial trash service information will no longer appear on your City utility bill. Additionally, the City will no longer have access to your commercial billing statements and you will need to contact Waste Management directly at (800)423-9986, for bill inquiries and changes to your commercial service.

Pictures are examples of what your City of City of Chino bill will look like and what your NEW Waste Management bill will look like.

Housing’s Happy New Year!

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

The Real Estate market has seen a continuing upward price increase in the last twelve months, closing out 2017 with a gain of approximately 6% across the US.  The prices have been increasing similarly here in Diamond Bar for the same period. The major concerns for the housing market over the last couple of months was the expected impacts of the Tax Reform and Jobs Act that was just passed last week by Congress and signed into law by President Trump.

There were fears that the mortgage interest deduction was going to be cut in half, from a level of  $1million dollar loan down to $500,000.  The reconciliation was arrived at a $750,000.00 level, which benefited the housing market in most states except for California, New Jersey, and New York. This change will negatively impact those markets more so than it will the major portion of the country.

Locally, the expected decrease in the mortgage interest deduction will have an impact, but not as much, and not as soon, as it would have if the cap had been reduced to the $500,000 level. Median Home Sales Prices are expected to increase here in Diamond Bar as well, but not as much as the 6% expected nationally. On the lower end of the price range, we will probably see a larger increase in the prices, as the mortgage interest deduction is still a great benefit for the buyers of homes at prices below the $750,000. That allows for ½ of the market to benefit from this tax incentive.

2018 should see a continuing increase in prices, primarily because the interest rates remain low, the inventory of homes for sale is extremely tight, and employment continues to increase. These are all the economic factors that influence market prices, and into the near future, they all indicate solid strength.

Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year Everyone!

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.

NEF CORTEZ,
Broker CalBRE # 00560181
Certified REO Broker
Certified Distress Property Expert

ReMax Realty 100

1411 S. Diamond Bar Blvd.,

Diamond Bar, CA 91765

No More Failed New Year Resolutions

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

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

By Nancy Stoops

It’s that time of year where we all start setting some new resolutions for 2017. As we do this, we also wonder why we didn’t meet our 2016 resolutions.  Usually the reason we don’t accomplish resolutions or goals in general is because we make them unrealistic.  We also don’t give ourselves credit for accomplishing part of the goal. For example let’s say you wanted to lose thirty pounds this year and you lost fifteen pounds. I say that you were successful because you did part of what you set out to do. I say if we move in the right direction of our goals them we are successful. I also believe that if we are able to incorporate this mindset then we will eventually meet the entire goal. On the other hand if you feel you have failed chances are you‘ll probably put the fifteen pounds back on that you originally lost and then really beat yourself up.

Be smarter this year and set more realistic goals. Also remember that all good things take time. More importantly meeting a goal is usually about changing a habit. It can take awhile some times to successfully change a habit. Think of your goals as more of lifestyle changes.  If your goal is to lose weight or to get in better shape think about how long you have had your bad habits and that you are trying to make permanent changes in your lifestyle. Don’t be so hard on yourself this year and learn to be happy with the baby steps that you accomplish toward the big goal that you have in mind. Also learn to reward yourself as you accomplish each baby step.  Make this New Year the year you stop self sabotaging and finally meet those life changing goals. I believe in all you and know that you can be and have what you deserve if you just follow my plan. Happy New Year!!!!!!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T. Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups for teens. For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909)229-0727. You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net. You may purchase Nancy’s books Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog at Amazon.com.

 

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 12.30.17

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: Weekly12.30.2017

Pork Wonton Money Bags

Plus Grapefruit Mimosas with Ginger Syrup

 

By Hello Fresh

 

Cooking Time: 60 mins

Servings: 20 People

Nutrition: 200 Calories

 

Ingredients- WONTON:

  • Scallions- 4
  • Ginger- 4
  • Ground Pork- 20 oz
  • Panko Breadcrumbs- 1/2 cup
  • Sriracha- 6 tsp
  • Soy Sauce- 2 tbsp
  • Sesame Oil- 2 tbsp
  • Wonton Wrapppers- 2 packs
  • Lime- 2
  • Apricot Jam- 4 oz

 

Ingredients- COCKTAIL:

Servings: 10 People

 

  • Grapefruit- 4

 

APPETIZER

1  PREP AND MAKE FILLING.     Wash and dry all produce. Trim, then mince scallions. Peel 1 thumb ginger, then grate until you have 1 TBSP (save remainder for cocktail). Place pork, panko, scallions, grated ginger, 1 tsp sriracha (we sent more), soy sauce, sesame oil, and ½ tsp kosher salt in a medium bowl. Season with pepper. Mix to combine. Lightly moisten a few paper towels. Fill a small bowl with water.

 

2  ASSEMBLE WONTONS.     Place 6 wonton wrappers on a dry surface. Place 1 tsp filling in center of each. Wet your fingers with water in bowl, then dab edges of wrappers to moisten. Fold in corners of wrappers around filling, then press together to seal. Set aside on a baking sheet and cover with moist paper towels. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling (you may have some wrappers left over).

 

3 FRY WONTONS.        Heat a 2-inch layer of oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, carefully add wontons to oil and fry until golden brown and crisp, 3-4 minutes. (TIP: The oil should bubble when you add the wontons. If it doesn’t, heat it up more.) Remove wontons from oil with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper-towel-lined tray.

 

4  MAKE SAUCE AND SERVE.       Halve lime. Stir together jam, remaining sriracha (to taste), 2 TBSP water, and a squeeze or two of lime in another small bowl. (TIP: Make sure to break up any larger lumps of jam.) Arrange wontons on a serving tray and serve with sauce for dipping.

APPETIZER

APPETIZER

COCKTAIL

1  MAKE SYRUP.     Thinly slice remaining 1 thumb ginger, then place in a small pot along with ½ cup water and ½ cup sugar. Give it a stir, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once sugar dissolves, remove from heat and set aside to cool, then strain, removing ginger slices. TIP: Save the ginger slices—ginger is a natural remedy for an upset stomach (and may come in handy tomorrow).

 

2  JUICE FRUIT AND SERVE.     Halve grapefruits, then cut a thin round from one half. Cut round into 6 wedges and make a small slit at pointed end of each. Squeeze juice from remaining grapefruit halves into a measuring cup. Fill 4 or 5 champagne flutes with ¼ cup juice and 2 TBSP syrup each. Top with sparkling wine and garnish rims with grapefruit wedges.

I Want To Be In Love

By Anthony Saude

Feeling mesmerized, thinking about someone without trying.  Can’t get her off of my mind, her eyes, her touch, the way her smile lights up a room.  She makes my heart expand, it grows and wants to  be filled with the feelings that that everybody tells me about love. It always seems just out of reach; just on the other side of lonely is where I am told it is. It should belong to me, to all of us, shouldn’t it?

I am told that it is a feeling that lifts you up when you are down, makes you happy when you are sad and can even save your life. That perfect feeling that has eluded me for so many years it came and went so quickly that I barely even felt anything at all. Where does it go? When will it return?

One day it dawned on me that it would never stay for long, it is just a feeling and feelings are fleeting after all, right? Wrong. Love is not a feeling it is an action that I am responsible for showing. It is not something that I am owed by anyone or that I even deserve. Love is something that I can give every day of my life without expecting anything in return. That is a feeling that nobody can take away from me no matter the circumstance.

Love is shown in the way we treat somebody else not in the way somebody treats us. Love when given honestly and freely will always come back to us but if it doesn’t does that mean that we shouldn’t love? Are we called to be loved or  to love that is the question that so many seem to answer incorrectly. If everybody just showed love with actions all the time then nobody would be feeling unloved. How much would that change the world?

Thank you to my wife and children showing me the difference between a feeling and an action. Love is a gift to be given and if in turn you receive it, then you are doing something right.

 

History 101

Photo courtesy: Google

Sit-down strike begins in Flint

History.com

At 8 p.m. on December 30, 1936, in one of the first sit-down strikes in the United States, autoworkers occupy the General Motors Fisher Body Plant Number One in Flint, Michigan. The autoworkers were striking to win recognition of the United Auto Workers (UAW) as the only bargaining agent for GM’s workers; they also wanted to make the company stop sending work to non-union plants and to establish a fair minimum wage scale, a grievance system and a set of procedures that would help protect assembly-line workers from injury. In all, the strike lasted 44 days.

The Flint sit-down strike was not spontaneous; UAW leaders, inspired by similar strikes across Europe, had been planning it for months. The strike actually began at smaller plants: Fisher Body in Atlanta on November 16, GM in Kansas City on December 16 and a Fisher stamping plant in Cleveland on December 28. The Flint plant was the biggest coup, however: it contained one of just two sets of body dies that GM used to stamp out almost every one of its 1937 cars. By seizing control of the Flint plant, autoworkers could shut down the company almost entirely.

So, on the evening of December 30, the Flint Plant’s night shift simply stopped working. They locked themselves in and sat down. “She’s ours!” one worker shouted.

GM argued that the strikers were trespassing and got a court order demanding their evacuation; still, the union men stayed put. GM turned off the heat in the buildings, but the strikers wrapped themselves in coats and blankets and hunkered down. On January 11, police tried to cut off the strikers’ food supply; in the resulting riot, known as the “Battle of the Running Bulls,” 16 workers and 11 policemen were injured and the UAW took over the adjacent Fisher Two plant. On February 1, the UAW won control of the enormous Chevrolet No. 4 engine factory. GM’s output went from a robust 50,000 cars in December to just 125 in February.

Despite GM’s enormous political clout, Michigan Governor Frank Murphy refused to use force to break the strike. Though the sit-ins were illegal, he believed, he also believed that authorizing the National Guard to break the strike would be an enormous mistake. “If I send those soldiers right in on the men,” he said, “there’d be no telling how many would be killed.” As a result, he declared, “The state authorities will not take sides. They are here only to protect the public peace.”

Meanwhile, President Roosevelt urged GM to recognize the union so that the plants could reopen. In mid-February, the automaker signed an agreement with the UAW. Among other things, the workers were given a 5 percent raise and permission to speak in the lunchroom.

The Names of the Christmas Elves

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Didyouknow.org

In the pagan times of Scandinavia, people believed that house gnomes guarded their homes against evil. Although these gnomes mostly were benevolent, they quickly could turn nasty when not properly treated, so it is told. Throughout the centuries, they were either loved or loathed. Some people even believed them to be trolls and cannibals. The perception of gnomes largely depended on whether a person was naughty, or nice.

When Christmas became popular again as a festive season in the middle-1800s, Scandinavian writers such as Thile, Toplius, Rydberg sketched the gnomes’ true role in modern life: fairies that are somewhat mischievous, but the true friends and helpers of Father Christmas (Santa Claus). They are the Christmas elves. Artists such as Hansen and Nystrm completed the picture of elves for us.

Living in Lapland

At one stage it was thought that the elves live in (Santa’s) village in North Pole. However, in 1925 it was discovered that there are no reindeer in the North Pole but there are lots in Lapland, Finland. Nobody has actually seen their village because the passage to it is a secret that is known only to Father Christmas and the elves. We know that it is somewhere on the Korvatunturi mountain in the Savukoski county of Lapland, Finland, which is on the Finnish-Russian border.

On January 6 the elves light up their torches and come down from their secret village in the mountain to play in a secret field to celebrate the last day of Christmas.

The names of the elves

The elves are the children of Gryla and Leppaludi, their father and mother. Some people say that there are 13 elves, some say 9, some 6. They are very clever and help Father Christmas to design the toys that children and grownups order by post, email or textingl. We know at least 6 of the duties they have, including looking after the reindeer. Here it is with their Westernised names:

Bushy Evergreen is the inventor of the magic toymaking machine.

Shinny Upatree is Father Christmas’s (Santa’s) oldest friend and cofounder of the secret village in Lapland.

Wunorse Openslae designed Father Christmas’s sleigh and maintains it for top performance. (It is believed that the reindeer reach speeds faster than Christmas tree lights.) He also cares for the reindeer.

Pepper Minstix is the guardian of the secret of the location of Father Christmas’s village.

Sugarplum Mary is Head of the Sweet Treats, and assistant to Father Christmas’s wife, Mrs Claus, also known as Mary Christmas.

Alabaster Snowball is very important. He is the Administrator of the Naughty & Nice list.

 

Easy-Peasy Ravioli Gratin

with Spinach, Thyme, and Parmesan Breadcrumbs

By Hello Fresh

Just when we thought pasta night couldn’t get any better, our chefs doubled down on the spinach. This nutritious green can be found in the ravioli AND fresh in the gratin. But this dish is more than just a veggie-lover’s delight: there’s also a thick and creamy sauce and toasted breadcrumb topping that keeps things comfy, cozy, and utterly delicious.

Preparation Time

30 minutes

Cooking difficulty

Level 1

Ingredients

½  Onion

¼ oz Thyme

Vegetable Stock Concentrate

9 ounce Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

¼ cup Panko

¼ cup Parmesan Cheese

4 tablespoon Sour Cream

5 ounce Spinach

1 tbs Butter

1 tsp Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

Nutrition Values

Calories 530

Fat 26 g

Saturated Fat 15 g

Carbohydrate 48 g

Sugar 4 g

Dietary Fiber 3 g

Protein 24 g

Cholesterol 95 mg

Sodium 860 mg

Utensils

  • Large Pan
  • Small Bowl

Wash and dry all produce. Preheat broiler to high or oven to 500 degrees. Halve, peel, and thinly slice half the onion (use the other half as you like). Strip thyme leaves from stems; discard stems.

Melt 1 TBSP butter in a large pan over medium heat (use an ovenproof pan if you have one). Add thyme and onion. Cook until softened, 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in stock concentrate and 1½ cups water and bring to a simmer.

Once stock mixture is simmering, add ravioli to pan. Cover and cook 4 minutes. Uncover and increase heat to high. Continue cooking, spooning stock over ravioli, until ravioli are tender and stock has reduced, 5-6 minutes. Shake pan occasionally to keep ravioli from sticking.

Combine panko, Parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Remove pan from heat. Carefully stir sour cream and spinach into pan until thoroughly combined and spinach is wilted. Season with salt and pepper. (TIP: Add a splash of water if sauce seems very thick.) If your pan is not ovenproof, transfer mixture to a baking dish at this point.

Sprinkle ravioli in pan (or dish) with crust mixture. Place under broiler and broil until golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Divide between plates

Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Pain That Cannot Be Ignored

By StatePoint

Fifty-three-year-old Bernie McKay never would have guessed that the pain he thought was a simple muscle cramp was actually a serious medical condition that could have stopped him in his tracks forever.

Bernie, who leads an active lifestyle and works in a hospital, experienced severe cramping in the back of his left thigh one morning while walking into work. The pain became so severe that he rushed himself to the emergency department, knowing that something wasn’t right. After a series of consultations and tests, he was diagnosed as having deep vein thrombosis, or DVT.

DVT affects approximately 900,000 people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and while a clot can form anywhere, it usually occurs in the legs or pelvis. Sometimes part of the blood clot can break off and travel to your lungs, which can cause a pulmonary embolism, a serious and potentially deadly condition.

Doctors typically diagnose DVT through tests such as an ultrasound or blood tests. First line of treatment can consist of medications and compression stockings, but these options don’t actually remove or dissolve the clot. Many DVT blood clots can be absorbed by the body over time with the help of blood thinners; however, as long as the clot is present, it can cause permanent damage to the valves in the vein, leading to chronic pain and swelling called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS).

Another treatment option that physicians may consider for their patients is a medical procedure called a mechanical thrombectomy. This procedure can help quickly restore blood flow by removing the clot altogether, thus reducing the amount and duration of medications a patient needs to take, and may help prevent future complications.

“Recent medical advances are allowing more and more patients to have blood clots removed using minimally invasive procedures,” said Dr. Kush Desai, Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “Some patients, like Bernie, may be candidates for a mechanical thrombectomy, which uses a special catheter designed to help break up and physically remove all or portions of the clot.”

Only half of the people who develop DVT experience any symptoms, such as swelling, pain or tenderness in a leg with skin that’s warm and red or discolored. However, there are risk factors that you should be aware of as they can increase your chances of developing DVT:

• Treatment for cancer;

• Prolonged lack of movement such as long distance travel or long periods of bed rest;

• A personal or family history of blood clots;

• Older age;

• Pregnancy.

Understanding the risk factors and being aware of various treatment options can help reduce your chance of developing a dangerous blood clot and the serious health complications that may be associated with it.

“With such a short recovery time, the procedure allowed me to spend time with my family and friends — without having to take medications for the rest of my life,” said Bernie. “I’m more active than I was before, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

There are risks associated with all medical procedures. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with mechanical thrombectomy. For more information visit ClearingtheClot.com or the Clearing the Clot Facebook community, patient resources developed by Boston Scientific. For more information, visit bostonscientific.com.

Take control of your health to help decrease your chances of developing DVT by understanding the risks and treatment options available.

Automation And Robotics Course Launches At Suzanne

Photo courtesy: WVUSD

By Kelli Gile

WALNUT—A new class at Suzanne Middle School is teaching students how the world around them works while learning important skills such as team work, problem-solving, and a don’t-give-up attitude.

Seventh graders have the opportunity to take Robotics and Automation, as part of the District’s STEAM initiative.

The new course is one of several Project Lead The Way (PLTW) classes offered to students from elementary through high school.

Students learn about 11 mechanisms, the assemblies that control motion, and how they are used. Mechanisms include chain drive, bevel gear, lead screw, rack and pinion, etc.

“They are used in every single project,” said teacher Vicky Silcock.

“Students learn what they’re used for, how they work, and how they rotate.”

The group put their new skills to the test in a survival challenge last week.

Students had to imagine they were the last survivors on Earth with no running water, electricity, and barely any food.

Using VEX robotics parts, they built windmills complete with a wood-cutting saw, water pump, and grain grinder to ensure their survival.

The project has a real-world application so they can see when and how it is used.

“Project Lead the Way is cool!” said Kingsley Tang, age 12.

Students navigate their way through gear and drive ratios, reciprocating motion for water pumps, installing tiny input cranks to turn axles on chain drives, output gears that allow windmill blades to rotate clockwise, and more.

“I look forward to this class every day,” said Mehki Lin while installing a water pump feature.

“I like working with the tools!”

This is not a class where the teacher gives the answer.

Silcock provides guidance, but students must work to solve the challenges on their own.

“There’s a lot of trial and error during the engineering design process,” the technology teacher said.

Students collaborate and problem solve, and then document their findings in notebooks.

There are no textbooks and instruction is computer-based in the PLTW class.

“We can see a finished product (on the website), but we have to figure out how to get there,” said classmate Robert McCormick.

Ian Ceballos utilized a mechanism, gear, and chain drive while working on a pull toy challenge.

“I think this class is preparing us for the future,” he said.

“We use our imagination. It’s a little challenging, but we figure out things on our own.”

The class recently created a prototype for a foot orthosis for a child with cerebral palsy during an instant design challenge.

“It was challenging, but we knew it would help other people,” McCormick said.

 

 

Vandalism at Pacos Tacos

By Anthony Saude

Paco’s Tacos had the glass front door broken in at approximately midnight on Saturday December 16 according to Juan the manager. “Whoever broke the glass did it just to vandalize the place, nothing was stolen or broken” said Juan. “We have an alarm so we we knew we had a break in when it was happening on Saturday night.” We were open for business and the glass was replaced in time to be open Sunday morning” Juan said.

Paco’s Tacos is a little taco shop with a large menu located on 1131 S Brea Canyon Rd in Walnut. It can prove difficult to find authentic Mexican food in the city but stop by Paco’s if you are looking for good food at an old school price. The service is friendly and fast, the food is very good and the menu selection has something for everyone.

It isn’t the first time that somebody has vandalized the Paco’s without stealing anything, “they just like to break the window and then they don’t take anything” said Juan. “We did file a police report just like we always do” said Juan.

If you have any information in reference to this please contact Juan or the Walnut/Diamond Bar sheriff’s station.

New Charter School Accepted

By Anthony Saude

 

Chino – Allegiance STEAM Academy Thrive Charter School was voted into the district by the Chino Valley school board last week. There were some mixed emotions as evidenced by the board’s narrow 3-2 vote to accept Superintendent Wayne Joseph’s recommendation to approve the charter school. Allegiance STEAM Academy was only granted 2 years initially and was given a list of conditions that will need to be met by specific deadlines, the first of which is due sometime this week. The initial approval of two years will begin on July 1, 2018 and will run through to June 30, 2020.

It was reported that before the vote that Irene Hernandez-Blair spoke and said that it could “be risky to the taxpayers of Chino Valley”.  A district report shows that the school had insufficient cash flow and reserves and there are also concerns about the amount of training the teachers have received in specialized math, science and technology programs that the charter promised to have in their petition.           The new school will be located at the former Oxford Preparatory Academy Charter School campus  on C street in Chino. Originally it was the site where El Rancho Elementary was located; Oxford was closed down by the district last year. Allegiance STEAM Academy will have a dress code and tuition will not be required to attend the school.

Parent participation gave some of the board members confidence that the school would be successful but the conditional tasks will need to be met by their deadlines or they won’t move forward. New board president Pamela Feix says she doesn’t see any difference between what the charter is offering and the other schools in the district offer.

In recent years the school board has closed down 3 public schools. Oxford Preparatory Academy Charter School was also closed just last year. Maybe Allegiance will redeem the past sins of the school board of closing those schools and it could help the community heal some of those wounds.

Did You Know

Photo Courtesy: didyouknow.com

A Gentle Breed

By DidYouKnowIt.com

The pit bull is a dog that often gets a bad reputation. Many people believe that this dog breed is aggressive and often has a killing instinct. Pit Bulls used to be kept in homes as a nanny dog. Homes in England would use them as guard dogs for their children because of their protective nature. Even though the breed is seen as one that is violent, they are quite the opposite. The pit bull is a trusting dog that is quick to learn who its master is and is very protective. They can be aggressive toward other dogs, which means that they would do best in a home as the only pet. However, with proper training, they can live in the same home as other dogs and even cats. It is when this breed is raised for fighting purposes and to be aggressive that it can be violent. Most pits won’t attack another person or another animal unless there is a threat presented. This is because of their protective nature. If you’re planning to use this kind of dog to guard the home, it might be a good idea to find a different breed because they can be too trusting of people. This means that although they will attack if threatened, they usually won’t patrol the yard or stop someone from walking by the house unless the person does something to the dog.

House and Senate Pass Tax Reform and Jobs Act

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

The House of Representatives and the United States Senate have now passed the Tax Reform and Jobs Act, and will send the legislative bill to President Donald Trump for signature. There are some major changes in the Tax Act that will directly impact the housing industry and the real estate market. Specifically, It is slated to cut the Mortgage Interest Deduction from the maximum loan amount on the primary residence at $750,000.  The current level is $1 million dollars.  The approved mortgage amount amount is up from the originally proposed $500,000 loan maximum.  The reconciled amount will help most real estate markets outside of California, New Jersey, and New York, where the prices in the larger metropolitan and most populous areas of these states will definitely suffer a loss of interest payment deductibility.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) economic policy group predicts that there will be a deflationary impact on the real estate market and home values for the upper levels of the market.  The limitation on the State and Local Property Tax deduction has been set at $10,000. This is another change that impacts high priced areas as opposed to lower or middle priced markets.

What is in the Tax Reform and Jobs Act to offset these negative impacts on the real estate markets? The primary objective is to ramp up the economy by releasing extra money into consumer’s pockets in the very first month of the year 2018 by reducing the taxes taken out of their paycheck. This should result in creating more demand by increasing the buying power of the consumer.  Higher demand increases competition, which will increase the prices in these markets.  That increased demand is expected to prop up the prices in those markets in areas that will be negatively impacted by the changes in the Tax Reform and Jobs Act.

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.

 

Food Drive Brings in 8,000 Donations

By Kelli Gile

Walnut —Walnut High Key Club members counted, sorted, and boxed more than 8,000 cans of food stored under the stadium bleachers, and now those cans are filling pantries in local homes and food banks.

Donations of canned vegetables, beans, soup, meats, and other staple foods poured in during the two-week Yes We Can compassion project. “The kids were bringing in cans every morning while I was coming in to work,” said Key Club advisor Justin Panlilio who has headed up the project for the past seven years.

“It put me in a good mood knowing so many needy families will have food during the holidays,” he said.

Donations doubled, up from 4,000 last year, during the 50th annual food drive held in partnership with Kiwanis of Walnut Valley, Panlilio reported.

One reason was a new collaboration with Diamond Bar High’s Key Club that brought in several hundred additional donations. The schools came together to show their compassion for helping the community.

“We thought it was a good idea to get both schools involved,” Panlilio said. Walnut High’s Key Club also hosted a class competition to boost donations, offering a pizza party to the winning class.

It worked, Kellee Lyons’ English class brought in over 550 cans.

In addition, Panlilio led an a capella choir benefit concert on December 10 with free admission for a canned food donation. On Saturday, December 16, about 35 Walnut High and Kiwanis Club volunteers gathered at 7 a.m. to distribute the food. “I think it’s insane that we have 8,000 cans this year!” commented senior Nathan Lin, one of the 30 cabinet members charged with organizing volunteers for the project.

The teens worked in unison while loading 200 packed cardboard boxes as several cars and trucks arrived on campus. In total, about 90 local families will receive two boxes with about 50-pounds of canned food, a large frozen turkey, fresh vegetables, and fruit.

“This project is about helping people in our community. We couldn’t do it without the kids!” said Ray McMullen, a 53-year Kiwanis charter member.

“This is one of the best things I do. It just makes me feel good!” shared Kiwanis member Ralph Mendez.

“I grew up in a big family with six kids and we were always taught to give back.”

The 350-member Walnut High Key Club will next be decorating Rose Parade floats and hosting an InterKey dinner fundraiser to benefit a pediatric trauma program.

Before the distribution day, Key Club volunteers put in many hours organizing and packing donations at the bleacher storage area, known as the dungeon.

“I can say without a doubt that everyone has a heart to help,” Lin said. Sophomore Jasper Wang showed up on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. What was his motivation?

“When they get a knock on the door and get a box delivered, you can just see the happiness on their faces,” he said.

 

Avoiding Apartment Rental Scams

By Walnut/DB Sheriff’s Department


Diamond Bar– Rent prices in California have been skyrocketing this past year. The last thing anyone needs during these trying times is to lose money to a con artist.

The Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Department has offered the following tips when looking for apartments to avoid rental scams.

Finding an apartment can often be time consuming and emotionally frustrating. Time constraints and financial considerations can often place the apartment seeker in a vulnerable position where they can fall prey to Apartment Rental Scammers.
While Apartment Rental Scams come in a variety of schemes, they basically boil down to two types: Either the scammer has no authority to offer an existing apartment for rent or the scammer is trying to rent a fictitious apartment. In either case, the goal of the scammer is to get the victim to pay money upfront for a list of available apartments in the area or to arrange the rental of a particular apartment.
The following tips from Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information Page: Rental Listing Scams:
How Rental Scams Work
Scammers know that finding the right apartment or vacation rental can be hard work, and a seemingly good deal is hard to pass up. They’ve been known to game some vacation rental websites and bulletin boards. The take-away: when you’re looking for a rental, its caveat renter renter beware.
Hijacked Ads
Some scammers hijack a real rental or real estate listing by changing the email address or other contact information, and placing the modified ad on another site. The altered ad may even use the name of the person who posted the original ad. In other cases, scammers have hijacked the email accounts of property owners on reputable vacation rental websites.
Phantom Rentals
Other rip-off artists make up listings for places that aren’t for rent or don’t exist, and try to lure you in with the promise of low rent, or great amenities. Their goal is to get your money before you find out.
Signs of a Scam
Being savvy when you’re in search of a rental is well worth the effort. Here are some signs you may be dealing with a scam:
They tell you to wire money
This is the surest sign of a scam. There’s never a good reason to wire money to pay a security deposit, application fee, first month’s rent, or vacation rental fee. That’s true even if they send you a contract first. Wiring money is the same as sending cash once you send it, you have no way to get it back.
They want a security deposit or first month’s rent before you’ve met or signed a lease. It’s never a good idea to send money to someone you’ve never met in person for an apartment you haven’t seen. If you can’t visit an apartment or house yourself, ask someone you trust to go and confirm that it’s for rent, and that it is what was advertised. In addition to setting up a meeting, do a search on the owner and listing. If you find the same ad listed under a different name, that’s a clue it may be a scam.
They say they’re out of the country
But they have a plan to get the keys into your hands. It might involve a lawyer or an “agent” working on their behalf. Some scammers even create fake keys. Don’t send money to them overseas. If you can’t meet in person, see the apartment, or sign a lease before you pay, keep looking. What if the rental itself is overseas? Paying with a credit card or through a reputable vacation rental website with its own payment system are your safest bets.
How to Report Scams
If you find yourself the target of a rental scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency and to the FTC. Contact the website where the ad was posted, too.