Category Archives: The Weekly News

Halloween Auto Accident

Photo courtesy: Eastvale Resident

By Anthony Saude

Eastvale – Riverside County Fire Department responded to a call at Halloween night about an automobile accident on the corner of Schleisman and Cedar Creek in the city of Eastvale.

Captain Schmidt from the original Eastvale Fire Station 27 on Hamner said “the call came in at approximately 9:30 pm and we were out there until after midnight”.

“Truck 17 from Glen Avon, Fire Engines from Station 31 and 27, all the same Fire Department, were dispatched to the scene said the Captain”. “Three people were trapped in the vehicles and had to be extricated using the “Jaws of Life” said Captain Schmidt. Capt. Schmidt said “the victims suffered minor injuries and were transported via ambulance to a local hospital to treat their injuries”. “The intersection was partially closed off to traffic while the firefighters continued working” the Captain added.

An Eastvale Resident posted: “Unfortunate accident on Halloween night. Fire department is continuing to free the last passenger. Corner of Schleisman and Cedar Creek. Many accidents have happened in this corner, city of Eastvale needs to put a stop light/sign on this intersection” Another resident had this to say, “I have to tell you this city amazes me more and more every day. My husband and I heard the accident and ran out of the house quickly. There were already people running over to assist help. Calls to 911 were being made. What didn’t stop was the flood of neighbors that kept heading over to help in whatever way they could. There were dozens of neighbors that ran and jumped in to help. I even said to my husband who are all these people that keep coming. He just said “they are our neighborhood”. Thank goodness we have good and caring people surrounding us.

A Different Perspective

By Mark Hopper

 

Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Niagara Falls near Buffalo, New York.  We had never been there before and it was something we had talked about doing for a long time. The Niagara Falls were amazing!

We actually visited the Falls three different times on our trip. On our first visit, we drove over the bridge to the Canadian side. The sky was overcast and gray. The heavy mist churned up by the power of the falls obscured most of our view. We did walk down several tunnels that provided a limited view from behind the falls.

In addition, we took the Horn Blower boat that goes upriver to the base of the Falls. They issue every passenger a plastic poncho because of the spray; mist and wind that is generated by the powerful falling water.  We did get wet – very wet.  But it was fun to see the water falls from a different perspective.

We also took time to have lunch at a nice restaurant overlooking the falls.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch that also provided a different perspective on the size and power of Niagara Falls.  The volume of water and the height and shape of the Falls are hard to describe.

Later that day, we went back to see the Niagara Falls again after dark. They illuminate the towering waterfalls with powerful lights at night.  The colors change every few minutes.  The lights actually penetrate the mist and provide a clearer perspective of the expanse of the falls. Niagara Falls are in the shape of a horseshoe – almost 180 degrees from the American side to the Canadian side.

We were glad that we ventured out after dark to visit the park and the walking area along the American side of the Falls. The evening was cool but not uncomfortable and it was nice to see the Falls at night.

We planned to leave early the next morning.  But, when we woke up, we were surprised to see that the gray sky was gone and the sun was shining brightly!  We agreed that we should drive back to the Canadian side and get a better look at the magnificent waterfalls.  We were not disappointed.  The view was much better.  The mist and spray was more limited and we could clearly see the full expanse of these mighty waterfalls.

Did I mention that our return visit also allowed my wife to return and exchange a souvenir T-shirt that she had purchased the previous day?  We were glad we went back and saw the water falls again.

I suppose visiting something like the Niagara Falls is like visiting an art museum.  The more you look, the more you notice.  Just like an artistic master piece, these powerful waterfalls are difficult to describe and fully appreciate. Viewing them from different perspectives allows you to appreciate their beauty and majesty more and more.

Sometimes we need to look at things from a different perspective.  One look is not enough.  Sometimes we need to take a second or third look to get a clearer understanding of a person or a problem.  Let me encourage you to take another look.  We were glad we did and you 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 11.4.17

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: Weekly11.4.2017

History 101

courtesy: Google Images

By History.com

 

NOVEMBER 04, 2008 : BARACK OBAMA ELECTED AS AMERICA’S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT

 

On this day in 2008, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois defeats Senator John McCain of Arizona to become the 44th U.S. president, and the first African American elected to the White House. The 47-year-old Democrat garnered 365 electoral votes and nearly 53 percent of the popular vote, while his 72-year-old Republican challenger captured 173 electoral votes and more than 45 percent of the popular vote. Obama’s vice-presidential running mate was Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, while McCain’s running mate was Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, the first female Republican ever nominated for the vice presidency.

Obama, who was born in 1961 in Hawaii to a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya, graduated from Harvard Law School and was a law professor at the University of Chicago before launching his political career in 1996, when he was elected to the Illinois State Senate. He was re-elected to that post in 1998 and 2000. In March 2004, he shot to national prominence by winning the U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Illinois, and that July he gained further exposure when he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, which included his eloquent call for unity among “red” (Republican) and “blue” (Democratic) states. That November, Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in a landslide.

On February 10, 2007, in Springfield, Illinois, Obama officially announced his candidacy for president. A victory in the Iowa caucuses in January 2008 made him a viable challenger to the early frontrunner, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, whom he outlasted in a grueling primary campaign to claim the Democratic nomination in early June 2008.

During the general-election campaign, as in the primaries, Obama’s team worked to build a following at the grassroots level and used what his supporters viewed as the candidate’s natural charisma, unique life story and inspiring message of hope and change to draw large crowds to his public appearances, both in the United States and on a campaign trip abroad. His team also worked to bring new voters–many of them young or black, both demographics they believed favored Obama–to become involved in the election. Additionally, the campaign was notable for its unprecedented use of the Internet for organizing constituents and fundraising. According to The Washington Post: “3 million donors made a total of 6.5 million donations online adding up to more than $500 million. Of those 6.5 million donations, 6 million were in increments of $100 or less.”

In terms of campaign issues, Obama pledged to get the United States out of the war in Iraq and expand health care, among other promises. A crushing national financial crisis in the months leading up to the election shifted the country’s focus to the economy, and Obama and McCain each attempted to show he had the best plan for economic improvement.

On November 4, more than 69.4 million Americans cast their vote for Obama, while some 59.9 million voters chose McCain. (Obama was the first sitting U.S. senator to win the White House since John Kennedy in 1960.) Obama captured some traditional Republican strongholds (Virginia, Indiana) and key battleground states (Florida, Ohio) that had been won by Republicans in recent elections. Late that night, the president-elect appeared before a huge crowd of supporters in Chicago’s Grant Park and delivered a speech in he which acknowledged the historic nature of his victory (which came 143 years after the end of the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery): “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer… It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America.”

Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009. On November 6, 2012, he defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney to win a second term in the White House.

Chaparral And Suzanne Schools Honor Students/Parents

By Anthony Saude

 

WALNUT — The Walnut Valley USD Board of Trustees recognized both parent volunteers and outstanding students from Chaparral and Suzanne Middle Schools. During a board meeting held on October 18th eighth grade twins Kaitlyn and Kayla Loera, who attend Chaparral were honored with Super Star Student Awards.

Chaparral’s core belief is to educate the whole child through Academics, Athletics, Activities and Arts and these well rounded students exemplify the honor. Kaitlyn and Kayla are both 4.0 Honor Roll students and involved in on campus clubs, ASB, FBLA and Breakout EDU. They don’t stop there, they also play basketball, run cross country and golf; volunteer after school to tutor fellow students in math, technology aides and play in the Sinfonia orchestra.

Cindy Huang was also honored on this night with the Partner in Education Award for her extensive volunteer work coordinating events that benefit the school. She is the president of Chaparral’s Chinese American Parent Organization (CAPA) and has served as the vice president of the organization in the past. CAPA members work very hard all year to boost membership and have funded many projects for the teachers. They are responsible for the gold cords the school uses for its promotion ceremony and have contributed thousands of dollars to the school band and choir.

Suzanne 8th grader Chole Young received a Super Star Student Award as well on this night of recognition for the students and community members that support the schools. Chole embodies the school’s leadership class motto: Create Spirit and Serve Our Campus. One of the first school activities of the year was lead by Chole and she led her team flawlessly, her ability to work side by side with other team members until the task was finished was inspiring. She presented each team member a hand written note after the task was complete.

David Morales, a parent was honored with the Partner in Education Award for his work as a Community Club member and a supporter at Suzanne Middle School. Others have been inspired to motivate members to assist staff and students through his countless hours of service. Many of those hours are spent volunteering in the library, helping students at registration, and during the tests given at lunch and after school for the Accelerated Reader program. He is there at the WVUSD Coordinating Council and Technology Committee representing his school in exemplary fashion.

There was special recognition for the Wolf Corp Robotics Team on this special night. The team took the 2017 1st place Overall Core Values Award at the Razorback Invitational Robotics Competition at the University of Arkansas. There were 68 of the top rated teams from around the world present, including but not limited to Japan, Brazil, Israel, Slovenia, Canada, Korea, Chili and the USA just to name a few. The Wolf Corp. has been a regular at the podium having taken 1st place in Robot Performance at the Los Angeles Region Championship Tournament, Moonbot Phase One winner, Google Lunar X Prize, 1st Place Most Engaged Team from Lego Education. The team has also been awarded the So Cal First Lego League Cup Champion at Legoland on 3 separate occasions.

 

14 Years Of Carpet Cleaning Experience

By Michael Armijo

 

Eastvale – Honesty and integrity are always a factor in business and are sought out continuously. But how some people get there is through longevity and experience. When you have all four of those elements you have no choice but to be successful in your field. Extreme Carpet Care clients have boasted they’ve received all four of those components. Honesty, integrity, longevity and especially experience. A great reason to get your carpets cleaned at a reasonable price. “Robert was great and did a wonderful job on the carpet in our new home,” said Daniel Radillo, who recently had his carpets cleaned in the home he bought in neighboring Jurupa. “I was budgeting for new carpet, but had to wait, but glad I did. Extreme Carpet Care saved that carpet and now I won’t need to purchase new carpet until next year, I am so thankful.” Extreme Carpet Care has a unique slogan, simple and honest: “If it comes out, we can get it out.” Their workmanship can speak for itself and their introductory special will allow you to try them out. For only $85 they’ll deep clean 3 rooms and a free hallway. That’s an entire house in many areas or high traffic rooms in larger homes. Their van mounted high powered equipment doesn’t bury the dirt but instead deep cleans and removes it with deep suction while using quality, environmentally friendly products. “You can try us at the great rate, which includes pre-spotting and deodorizer,” added Robert. “We will add carpet protection for 2 rooms ($15 a room) and get a 3rd room protected for FREE. Where else can you find $30 for added protection against stains?” Call 909.376.3766 today and have Robert and his team deep clean and protect your carpets at an affordable rate and with over 14 years of experience behind them.“If it can’t be cleaned we’ll be honest and not take your money,” he added. “We know we’ll be back to have that new carpet cleaned in the future by being honest today.”

Heaven Is In The Sun

By Michael Armijo

Faith in God is so incredibly hard to describe.  It something you have to believe in, something that can’t be physically proven, something that you just have to say to yourself “I know He exists.”  But how do you begin? Where does it all start?  How do you convince someone that there is a God, whom you cannot see, but say that you can only feel? I believe that faith in God begins when you’re a child.  I believe that behavior is implemented when your kids are very young, and if you want your child to have any sense of God, or sense of a power greater than ourselves, it begins when they are very young children.

But one element that I believe my parents never thought of is the element of creativity. The fact that some people live their lives creatively and passionately will sometimes lead to other philosophies of who God is and how he exists in our lives. Being raised a specific religion and being taught that those particular philosophies that were interpreted by the individuals that I knew, I refused to believe what those individuals taught me about God.  They told me about the God that was revengeful, angry, jealous, and expected obedience.  To this day, I am still unclear of what this religion truly represents; I believe that what I was told was what OUR church believed, and not what the TRUE church felt.  I refuse to believe God will hurt us if we don’t obey, that He will plague our lives if we don’t do what He says, and that we must go to church out of fear instead of love. Being a creative person, I believe the philosophies of God are different.  I believe that there really is a God, a being greater than ourselves, but I believe in going to church out of love, not out of fear.  I also believe that this world is not ‘controlled’ by God, just guided by him.  He has given us the philosophies that will help us become successful with the world, the logic necessary to understand human nature and accept the improprieties that will tear at the human spirit. I believe that what we experience here on earth is here for the moment, here for our one time experience I believe that we are here for today and just as we don’t remember our last life, we will never remember our lives here when we get to the next world. What we do for today is it; this is truly as good as it gets. People get concussions or amnesia because the memories here are from the flesh, from the life we live each day.  Our spirits leave our bodies and somehow become something of a larger sense just as an egg and a sperm become. Heaven isn’t a million miles away, just a place we can’t see because we are in the human sense of life and think as a human, heaven is really very close, a huge ball of energy, a place we cannot get to as humans. The sun is too hot for our human bodies and human materials to endure, so I believe, heaven is in the sun.

He feared Gods revenge instead of feeling Gods love.

Immune Boosting Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season

Photo Credit: (c) georgerudy/stock.Adobe.com

By Statepoint

 

The hectic holidays and chill in the air can take a toll on the immune system and make one more susceptible to cold weather challenges. Stay healthy and vital all season by taking the following steps.

 

Be Balanced

From eggnog and cookies to champagne toasts at midnight, you may be more likely to over indulge during the holiday season than at other times of the year. Be mindful of what you are eating and drinking at parties and on a day-to-day basis, and then balance out these extravagances with plenty of rest, regular exercise, healthy hydration and an otherwise nutrition-filled diet.

 

Get Some Support

“We are learning more each day about what weakens the immune system and how we can strengthen it for better health,” says Larry Robinson, PhD, vice president of scientific affairs at Embria Health Sciences, a manufacturer of natural, science-based ingredients that support wellness and vitality. “Good immune health requires more than just getting enough vitamin C.”

 

For some extra support this season and beyond, consider taking an immune-supporting supplement that goes further than a standard vitamin C tablet. Those that contains Embria’s ingredient EpiCor, a whole food fermentate made through a proprietary process using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a common single-celled microorganism, have been shown in scientific studies to support the body’s ability to initiate the proper immune response at the appropriate time. For example, NOW EpiCor Plus Immunity contains Zinc, Selenium, and vitamins D-3 and C, and can give you the nutrition you need to help you make it through the holidays healthfully. To learn more, visit nowfoods.com.

 

While all these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and this supplement is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, many experts believe they can help maintain your daily health

 

Relax

The holiday season is meant to be joyful. Unfortunately, it can also be stressful. From navigating a shopping mall parking lot on the busiest day of the year to dealing with the extended family, stress can compromise your immune response. Use at least some of that time you may have off from work to truly relax, scheduling some down time for yourself — whether it’s curling up with a glass of green tea and a paperback, taking a bubble bath or doing yoga.

 

For a happy holiday season, take steps to treat your body right and to prioritize health and wellness.

Payoff Home Loan Early!

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

You can save tens of thousands of dollars, possibly even hundreds of thousands, in the repayment of your home loan by using a very simple money management trick.  The typical home loan that is taken out in the purchase of a home is written or amortized over a 30 years period.  The most common reason for this is that is the way to maximize the ability to qualify for more of a home. With prices of homes so high here in Diamond Bar, and throughout Southern California, some homebuyers even opt to get a 40 year amortized loan.

A home purchased with a down payment sufficient to finance a loan of $500,000 amortized over 30 years will have a monthly mortgage payment of $2,387.08 (using a 4 % rate and excluding taxes and insurance). The same home with the $500,000 loan amortized over a 15 year period will have payments of $3,574.41. Even with a ½% lower interest rate for the shorter term, the monthly payment is $1,187.33 more than the 30 year mortgage.  Using the qualifying “Rule of Thumb” of 3 times the mortgage to determine the monthly income necessary to qualify, the Homebuyer would need an additional $3,561.99 monthly income to qualify for the home loan.

The homebuyer, instead of needing to have a total monthly income of $7,160, or $85,932 annual income, would have to have a monthly income of $10,721, or $128,652 annual income. This substantial difference in income required to qualify is the main factor why homebuyers choose the 30 year mortgage over the 15 year mortgage.

The decision to purchase the home with the lower monthly payment over a 30 year mortgage will cost the homebuyer a total of $859,320 over the fully amortized period. If the homebuyer was able to qualify for, and support the higher initial monthly payment of the 15 year mortgage, the total cost over the fully amortized period would be $643,393.8.

The simple disciplined payment of an additional $100.00 to the 30 year amortized loan will result in the loan paying off in approximately 24.5 years, saving approximately $78,000 in interest payments. This is the effect of a disciplined, consistent, managed plan that, although small in scope, has great benefits in the long term.

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.

 

Be Grateful if You Know How to Love Well

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

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

By Nancy Stoops

Believe it or not, not everybody is raised with knowing how to love well.  My patients sometimes wish they had a different kind of heart that wouldn’t cause them so much pain.  I always tell them how lucky they are to have the capacity to love with such depth and compassion.  They tell me that their hearts can cause them so much pain.  I tell them how lucky they are to have loved so fully and yes that such deep loving can cause us pain.  Pain can be caused when we love that fully and we lose people to death, divorce or anything that causes that person to leave us.  I always remind them how lucky they were to have experienced that kind of love even for one second.  I remind them not everybody gets that. The trick is to be grateful for every second you have with the people you love and create lots of memories.  Those wonderful memories will be with you even when the person or people are no longer here with you.  Please don’t close your heart off because you have been hurt because you have experienced some type of loss.  Keep your heart opened because you never know what you might find.  Don’t put up barriers and become cold and distant instead smile and feel the warmth of those memories.  Also be grateful for all that you have left.  This idea is also very important in successful grieving. Now close your eyes and find the best memory of a loved one that is gone.  Don’t you find it impossible not to smile and maybe even cry some happy tears?  In order to keep experiencing this keep you heart opened to love and to all that is wonderful about this amazing thing we call life!!!!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a private practice in Diamond Bar and is currently accepting new clients; she is also a motivational speaker who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups on how to manage anger.    For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at 909 229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net  You may purchase Nancy’s books Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog at Amazon.com.

Loaded Gun At Chino Junior High

Photo courtesy: Google Images

By Marissa Mitchell

Chino – A loaded gun was found inside a student’s backpack this week at Chino Cal Aero Preserve Academy, frightening students, staff, and parents.

As soon as the gun was spotted, school officials jumped into action. The discovery left families quite worried. In fact, the families were not notified right away. This loaded gun – and how the situation was not told to families as soon as it was discovered – has family members worried.

“Everything should have been done with quicker action,” a student’s older sibling stated. “I would have wanted to know right away.”

School officials said that they waited even after discovering the loaded gun because it was important to have all the information confirmed first.

Lt. Kevin Mensen from Chino Police Department stated, “The magazine or clip was loaded with bullets or ammunition […] We believe he brought it as a threat, with no intent to use it there.”

Officers arrested the student, who then said he bought it because he was bullied. After bringing the gun to school, the student showed the 22 to another student, who sounded the alarm.  The magazine or clip was loaded with bullets or ammunition, but there was not a bullet or round in the chamber.

Many parents are more concerned with the student’s guardians for allowing this incident to occur. A parent of another student declared, “I believe it is pure negligence and needs to be looked into.”

After the discovery of the gun, the father of the guilty student was cited for not keeping his gun in a safe spot inside his home, away from children.

The student found with the gun was suspended, and he may face expulsion.

America Recycles Day Celebration

By Anthony Saude

 

Diamond Bar – The City of Diamond Bar will host its annual America Recycles Day celebration on Saturday November 4, 2017 in the parking lot of South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) from 9 am to 2 pm. So clean up your closets, your garage and the yard and bring the stuff you don’t need or want anymore while helping others in need and the environment at the same time.

Donations of Clothing, footwear and household textiles (towels, bedding, table linens and curtains) that you do not need or want anymore will be graciously accepted.

There will be environmentally safe disposal for e-waste and confidential documents. E-waste (short for electronic waste) would include your outdated or obsolete appliances or electronic devices such as Television sets, computers, keyboards, printers, cell phones, radios, and even your old hair dryers. It is harmful to the environment to just throw these types of products into our landfills. Confidential documents would include old tax forms, financial statements and medical records. With cyber crime on the rise you don’t want to just throw those documents in your trash can for anybody to retrieve for criminal use.

There will be a ton of information presented in an interactive way at environmental exhibits and displays. Fun arts and crafts booths will be there to help entertain the children all the while getting educated for the future.

Don’t forget to visit the City’s Environmental Services booth and the local waste haulers, utility companies and other organizations that are all about the environment. They will have a ton of information and giveaways so that while you learn about how to adopt a “greener” way of life, you are having a fun with the family at the same time.

Wait, there is more, you can take home some free garden mulch and a used oil recycling kit all you have to do is show up a little earlier. The kits will be handed out on a first come first served basis while supplies last. One member of each household attending the celebration will be given one free Oil recycling kit (funnel, shop towel, and reusable container) and up to two large trash bags full of mulch upon request. Tools will not be provided for you so make sure you bring your own to fill the bags with mulch and load it into your vehicle.

AQMD is located at 21865 Copley Drive. For more information, contact the City’s Environmental Services Division at 909.839.7012 or greendb@diamondbarca.gov.

 

Fall Colors

By Mark Hopper

Last year my wife and I traveled to New England to see the Fall colors.  We flew to Boston and then drove through the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire.  We were amazed to see the beauty of the fall colors. This year, we traveled to upstate New York on a similar journey.  We flew to Buffalo, New York, to see Niagara Falls and then drove across the state to visit relatives in the Albany area.  In addition, we spent two days in the Adirondack Mountains in northwestern New York State hoping to see the fall colors again. We were not disappointed.  The hillsides in upstate New York were covered with trees in bright, vibrant colors.  We intentionally drove on the smaller country roads so we could see them up close and admire the beautiful scenery.  The further north we drove, the brighter the colors became. Guide books and web sites try to predict when the fall colors will be at their peak.  On both trips, we found that the week before and the week after Columbus Day are the best.  Both the temperatures and the moisture influence the changing of the leaves.  We were fortunate that both the rain and the temperatures cooperated to paint this beautiful landscape. We don’t experience the four seasons in Southern California.  The local mountains do get some snow and the high Sierras can get a lot of it.  But we are fortunate to have a moderate climate that makes us the envy of the nation. Our weather for the New Year’s Day Rose Parade is usually clear, sunny and in the 70’s, while most of the country is buried in snow!  I suppose that is why most of us live here.  The climate is hard to beat. However, there is something to be said in favor of Fall and Winter.  When you see the color of the fall leaves blanketing the hillsides of New England and New York, you do realize why people actually enjoy “four seasons”.  The beauty is difficult to describe and impossible to capture on your smartphone or camera.  It really is amazing! There is a verse in the Bible that says, “God has created everything for us to enjoy” (I Timothy 4:3-4).  The passage is actually referring to the food that God provides for us.  But, I think the principle can apply to the beauty of the world we live in too. God did not create a dull, drab grey world.  In His infinite wisdom, He crafted a world with an endless variety of creatures and colors for us to admire and enjoy.  Let me encourage you to find some fall colors near you before they are gone.  You don’t need to travel to New England or New York.  The leaves are changing in our local mountains and all across our country.  Make time to go and see some for yourself.  You will be glad you did!

This article was written by 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

 

Health Hazards Close Five Local Restaurants/Market

By Marissa Mitchell

Walnut – The Los Angeles County of Public Health closed at least five (5) restaurants, one market included, in Walnut and its surrounding cities this past week. Cause of closure was deemed as public health hazards.

Between October 8 and October 14, the health permits for those facilities were suspended due to cockroach and fly infestations, as well as not maintaining  or having hot water, per a report from the Los Angeles County Public Health Department and the Pasadena Department of Public Health.

The restaurants and markets with suspended permits must shut their doors to all customers until the next Public Health inspection has determined that the  highlighted problems have been resolved. Closures may occur during routine and owner-initiated inspections, as well as complaint investigations and re-inspections.

The Public Health Department did not provided the number or estimated number of cockroaches or flies in the suspended facilities.

When a Los Angeles food facility is temporarily closed for a cockroach, rodent, or fly infestation, sewage problems, or for not having hot water, the facility loses seven points in addition to the four points deducted for major health violations. At the point of discovery of two major health hazards occurring concurrently, the facility loses an additional three points in its inspection store. This results in loss of passing grades (perhaps from A to B or A to C).

In contrast to the County of Los Angles Public Healthy department, the Pasadena healthy agency does not issue grades but rather one of three placards to each establishment: “Pass,” “Conditional Pass,” or “Closed.” The city does deduct points the same way the county does, but if an inspector determines a closure is warranted, the facility loses 26 points automatically.

The following facilities are those that have been suspended (temporarily shut down). Unless noted otherwise, the grades listed were received on the same day they were closed.

Rodeo Meat Market

Location: 13246 Valley Blvd, La Puente

Closure reason: cockroaches, flies

Closure Date: Oct. 10

Reopen Date: Oct. 12

Grade: C (76)

Jacquis Restaurant

Location: 778 Nogales Ave., Ste. E, Walnut

Closure Reason: no hot water

Closure date: Oct. 10

Reopen date: Oct. 11

Grade: B (84); received an A (94) during an owner-initiated inspection Oct. 16

Kalahi Bakery and Deli

Location: 804 N. Nogales Ave., Walnut

Closure Reason: cockroaches

Closure date: Oct. 10

Reopen date: Oct. 16

Grade: B (80)

Go Go Sushi

Location: 2269 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena

Closure reason: no hot water

Closure date: Oct. 11

Reopen date: Oct. 11

Score: D (65 out of 100)

 

 

Blend It Healthy

Location: 411 E. Huntington Drive, Ste. 114, Arcadia

Closure reason: cockroaches

Closure date: Oct. 12

Reopen date: facility is still closed

Grade: B (87)

 

History 101

Photo courtesy: Freepik.com

By History.com

Halloween is an annual holiday, celebrated each year on October 31, that has roots in age-old European traditions. It originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints; soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating and carving jack-o-lanterns. Around the world, as days grow shorter and nights get colder, people continue to usher in the season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.

ANCIENT ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes.

When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

Did You Know?

One quarter of all the candy sold annually in the U.S. is purchased for Halloween.

By 43 A.D., the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of “bobbing” for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

ALL SAINTS DAY

On May 13, 609 A.D., Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1.

By the 9th century the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with and supplanted the older Celtic rites. In 1000 A.D., the church would make November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It’s widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related church-sanctioned holiday.

All Souls Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. The All Saints Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.

HALLOWEEN COMES TO AMERICA

Celebration of Halloween was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there. Halloween was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies.

As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups as well as the American Indians meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included “play parties,” public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, dance and sing.

Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the nineteenth century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing the Irish Potato Famine, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally.

TRICK-OR-TREAT

Borrowing from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.

In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes.

Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.

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Pancetta Penne in a Witch’s Cauldron

Photo by: Hello Fresh

with Cream Sauce Potion and Pine Nut Vampire Teeth

 

By Hello Fresh

 

Cooking Time: 25 min.

Servings: 4

Nutrition: Calories: 730

Ingredients:

  • Garlic- 4 cloves
  • Mint- 1/4 oz.
  • Pine Nuts- 2 oz.
  • Penne Pasta- 12 oz.
  • Pancetta- 4 oz.
  • Peas- 8 oz.
  • Sour Cream- 8 tbsp.
  • Parmesan Cheese- 1/2 cup
  • Veggie Stock Concentrate

 

Preparation:

  1. Wash and dry all produce. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Mince or grate garlic. Pick mint leaves from stems; discard stems. Roughly chop leaves.
  2. TOAST PINE NUTS. Heat a large, empty pan over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and toast, tossing frequently, until lightly browned and fragrant, 2-3 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
  3. BOIL PENNE. Once water is boiling, add penne to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Carefully scoop out and reserve ⅓ cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
  4. COOK PANCETTA. Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in same pan over medium heat. Add half the pancetta (use the rest as you like) and cook, tossing, until lightly crisped, 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and peas and cook, tossing, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  5. MAKE SAUCE. Stir penne, sour cream, half the Parmesan, stock concentrate, and reserved pasta cooking water into pan. Gently toss until a thick, creamy sauce forms, 3-4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. PLATE AND SERVE. Divide penne mixture between plates. Sprinkle with mint (to taste), pine nuts, and remaining Parmesan.

Haunted House and Halloween Industry Now a $10 Billion Industry

Photo courtesy: State Point

By StatePoint

Halloween is big business. The commerce of Halloween in the U.S. should exceed $10 billion during the 2017 season, according to Hauntworld.com, the industry’s leading website. That’s a lot of candy, costumes, decorations and tickets to haunted attractions.

One of the largest growth areas in the Halloween trade is the explosion in number and quality of commercial haunted house attractions, haunted farms, corn mazes, hayrides and other spooky venues. More than $1 billion of the $10 billion spending on Halloween is attributed to ticket purchases at themed haunted sites.

“Visiting a haunted attraction is now the single most popular way to celebrate the holiday,” says Larry Kirchner, founder of Hauntworld.com, which directs consumers to find and review Halloween attractions around the globe. The site provides locations and information about all major haunts, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hayrides.

Haunted attractions strive to make guests feel like they’re experiencing a real-life horror movie, some going so far as to use computer animation, giant monsters and even virtual reality to provide scares guests enjoy. Many haunts now feature new attractions, such as zombie paintball, zombie laser tag, corn mazes, haunted hayrides and escape rooms.

This season, families have many options. Haunted houses have become more realistic, but at the same time, more family-friendly to appeal to larger crowds. So, what is the best way for your family to experience the Halloween haunt craze? Those with teenagers should seek out the scariest haunted house near them. Families with younger children should head to local farms.

Professional Halloween attractions are now often based at family farms, which typically offer traditional pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hayrides to appeal to younger guests. However, many of these farms transform into spooky attractions by night, featuring actors portraying frightening characters, creepy lighting and elaborate décor to provide fear-based fun. You can find the best haunted attraction for your family by visiting Hauntworld.com.

According to Hauntworld.com, these attractions are rated as 2017’s scariest in the U.S.

1. Netherworld – Atlanta – fearworld.com

2. The 13th Gate – Baton Rouge, La. – 13thgate.com

3. The Dent Schoolhouse – Cincinnati – frightsite.com

4. Erebus – Pontiac, Mich. – hauntedpontiac.com

5. Headless Horseman’s Hayrides and Haunted Houses – Ulster Park, N.Y. – headlesshorseman.com

6. Haunted Overload – Lee, N.H. – hauntedoverload.com

7. Nashville Nightmare – Nashville, Tenn. – nashvillenightmare.com

8. Bennett’s Curse – Baltimore – bennettscurse.com

9. The Darkness – St. Louis – scarefest.com

10. Field of Screams – Mountville, Pa. – fieldofscreams.com

11. Factory of Terror – Canton, Ohio – FOTOhio.com

12. Nightmare on 13th – Salt Lake City – nightmareon13th.com

13. USS Nightmare – Newport, Ky. – ussnightmare.com

The complete list of the “Best of” scary to not-so-scary attractions is available at: hauntworld.com.

There are many ways to give your family an age-appropriate scare this season, no matter where you live.

Goblins and Ghouls Beware

Norco Sheriff’s Office

It’s that time of year again when the ghosts, ghouls, and superheroes come out and enjoy the Halloween spirit! Our primary concern on Halloween, and any other time, is the safety of children. Across Norco, children are preparing to dress up as their favorite characters and walk neighborhoods looking to score a bag full of treats.  With that in mind, the Norco Sheriff’s Office would like to share the following safety tips to keep Halloween safe for all families in our Norco community as they begin their “trick or treat” adventure.

Kids

  • Young children should always be accompanied by an adult and older children should never trick or treat alone.
  • Visit homes that are well lit and never go inside a stranger’s house.
  • Always stay on the sidewalk and only cross at corners; never cross in the middle of the street.
  • Trick or treat in well populated areas and never cut through alleys or parks for a short cut.
  • Do not eat candy that has not been inspected by a parent/guardian.
  • Never accept food or drinks from strangers.
  • Carry a flashlight.
  • Call 9-1-1 for all suspicious or illegal activity.

Parents/Guardians

  • Do not let children eat any homemade treats or unpackaged foods.
  • Make sure all candy is tightly wrapped, look for pin holes, discoloring, and opened packaging prior to your children eating any of the items.
  • Remember Poison Control has a toll-free hotline 1-800-222-1222.
  • DRIVE SLOW!!! Be cautious in all neighborhoods for children and parents crossing streets.
  • Remember the posted speed limit is usually 25 mph in most residential areas.
  • Call 9-1-1 for all suspicious or illegal activity.

Halloween can be a safe and enjoyable evening with a little preparation, communication and diligence. Of course, we will be on patrol and available to you and your children should you need us. The Norco Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a safe and Happy Halloween and reminds all to never drink and drive.

 

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 10.28.17

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: WebWeekly10.28.2017

Easy Ways to Cut Back on Sugar

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Elena Blokhina/stock.Adobe.com29

By StatePoint

Nationwide, 30 million children and adults have diabetes, and 86 million are prediabetic, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

November is National Diabetes Month, and an excellent opportunity to take steps to decrease your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. A leading risk factor for Type 2 diabetes is being overweight. But the good news is, according to the ADA, losing just seven percent of your body weight can decrease that risk by 58 percent.

One way to manage your weight is to cut back on sugar, which can often be a sneaky source of weight gain.

Before getting started, it’s important to remember that many healthy foods naturally contain sugar, a carbohydrate your body burns for energy. Processed sugars are different, adding calories that provide no other nutritional benefit, and at excessive levels, disrupting your metabolism, and potentially posing serious health risks.

The USDA’s dietary guidelines recommend that added sugar account for less than ten percent of your daily calories — that’s a maximum of 50 grams a day for average women and 62.5 grams for men. To keep your sugar consumption in the healthy range, Courtney McCormick, Corporate Dietitian at Nutrisystem offers the following tips:

• Hold the Ketchup. You know baked goods and candy are loaded with added sugar, but so are many foods you may not think of as especially sweet. A tablespoon of ketchup, for instance, has four grams of sugar. Salsa, barbecue sauce, spaghetti sauce and even bread are hidden sources of sugar.

• Sweeten with Spices. Replace sugar from coffee, hot cereal and other foods with spices that have a naturally sweet taste, such as vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom, instead.

• Flavor Your Water. A 12-ounce can of soda has as much as 40 grams of added sugar. Skip the soda and drink water sweetened with fresh fruit and herbs, like strawberries and basil or lime and mint.

• Start with Plain. The fruit in the bottom of your yogurt can come with 25 or more grams of added sugar. Buy plain yogurt and add your own fresh or dried fruit.

• Snack on Fruit. One cup of blueberries, for example, has seven grams of natural sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth, but the fruit also comes with fiber to help you feel full and slow the breakdown of the sugars, so you don’t crave more calories soon after eating it.

• Bake with Applesauce. Eating fewer baked goods is sure to reduce your sugar intake, but when the occasion calls for you to make a cake, replace a third of the sugar in the recipe with an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce. For a delicious no-sugar added applesauce recipe, visit leaf.nutrisystem.com/recipes.

• Eat Right and Often. When you’re hungry, you crave calories and that too often leads to sugary snacking. Reduce between-meal munching by eating healthy, filling foods four to six times a day. Programs like Nutrisystem provide portion-controlled meals and snacks throughout the day, giving you the structure you need to eat right.

This National Diabetes Month, make small swaps to reduce your sugar intake and more easily manage your weight.