Category Archives: The Weekly News

Walnut Valley USD To Begin Enrolling for 2017-18 School Year

By WVUSD

WALNUT-The Walnut Valley Unified School District will soon begin registration for the 2017-2018 school year for children transitional kindergarten and kindergarten through fifth grade.

Registration dates are:

January 17-20, 2017—for those children with siblings already attending school in our district;

January 23, 2017 & on—for those elementary children new to the district, at any grade level.

You may register for transitional kindergarten if your child turns 5 years old September 2nd – December 2nd.  Students must be 5 years of age on or before September 1, to enroll in kindergarten for the 2017-2018 school year.

At the time of registration, parents will be asked to present a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate or passport, proof of the child’s immunizations, and for kindergarten and first grade proof of an oral health examination.  For residency verification, parents will also need to provide either final escrow papers, mortgage statement or lease/rental agreement, along with a current utility bill (gas, water or electric bill) and a driver’s license (or California I.D.) with current home address.  Enrollment is on-going, and your residence address determines the elementary school where you should enroll your child.

The Walnut Valley Unified School District offers a quality day care program at all elementary sites, for both before and after school hours.  You may contact the Child Care office at 909-444-3460 for additional information and fees.

 

My Favorite Float

By Mark Hopper jesus-float

My wife and I always enjoy the Rose Parade.  We have actually attended the parade a few times but most years we watch it on TV.

It is amazing to see the floats close up.  Their size and the colors are amazing.  But, there are some advantages to watching them on TV.  You usually get to see the floats from a variety of angles and perspectives.   And the TV commentators provide the history and the story behind each float.

Each year several judges present different awards for outstanding floats.    There are a variety of categories and I’m sure it is a special honor to be recognized by the distinguished panel.

As we watched the Rose Parade at home this year,  one particular float caught my attention.  The title of the float was “Celebrate Jesus”.  It was a colorful float with an image of Jesus standing at the door of a church.

The float was decorated by volunteers who are called “Petal Pushers”.  This is an organization that sends volunteers from all over the country to help decorate a number of parade floats.

I actually met some of these energetic people near LAX as they were getting ready to leave and return home to Iowa.  They represent a broad age group from teens to senior adults.

The “Celebrate Jesus” float was sponsored by the “Lutheran Hour Ministries”.  It was the only religious float in the parade this year.  The Lutherans have sponsored a float in the Rose Parade since 1951 –  over sixty years!

The float commemorated the 500th anniversary when Martin Luther posted his “95 Theses” on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany.  This was the beginning of what became known as the Protestant Reformation.

There were three large bells on the float.  They were beautifully decorated with bright colored flowers.  On each bell was one of these phrases: “Faith Alone”, “Grace Alone”, and “Scripture Alone”.

These three statements summarize what Martin Luther believed and what he began to teach 500 years ago.  They remain the bedrock of the Christian faith today.

I am thankful that the Lutherans continue to sponsor a float in the Rose Parade each year.  I’m glad that the organizers of the Rose Parade include religious floats and that they never have the parade on Sunday.

And, I am thankful for the hundreds of “Petal Pusher” volunteers that help decorate many of the Rose Parade floats.

I don’t know if the Lutherans received an award for their float this year, but it was my favorite float!

 

Next Steps: Measure G

By CVUSD

Now that the results of Chino Valley Unified School District’s Measure G have been certified, activity has begun to kick off the $750 million bond program. The most common question is when will the community see something built or go up or change as a result of Measure G’s passage.

“That should become clearer over the next few weeks as a series of meetings and Board of Education study sessions begin,” said Superintendent Wayne M. Joseph. “Make no mistake about it, we are excited to embark upon this process and as anxious as the rest of the community to see a Measure G project begin.”

The Board of Education will meet in special session on Thursday, January 12, 2017, to approve the formation of the Citizens Oversight Committee. The meeting will take place in the Board room and is open to the public.

Once the Board has established the formation of the Citizens Oversight Committee, the application process will begin. Beginning January 13, 2017, interested residents can complete an application for consideration of appointment to the Oversight Committee. The Oversight Committee is governed by state law and members are to be appointed within 60 days after the election results were adopted by the Board, or no later than the first Board meeting in February (February 2, 2017).

The purpose of the Oversight Committee is to review and report to the public on the bond expenditures, advise the public as to the District’s compliance with Prop. 39, and ensure that no bond funds are spent on teacher salaries or District operating expenses. Additionally, the Committee receives and reviews annual financial audits.

The Oversight Committee consists of a minimum of seven members including representatives from the following: business organization, taxpayer group, senior group, parent of a student in the District, and parent involved in parent-teacher organization.

Applications will be available from January 13 to January 25, 2017, on the District website: www.chino.k12.ca.us or in the Superintendent’s Office between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

On January 19, 2017, Robert Barna, Managing Director of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, will provide a presentation on the bond sale process at the Board of Education meeting. Stifel, investment advisors, also partnered with the District throughout Measure M, the previous bond program. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the District Board room and is open to the public.

One week later, the Board of Education will hold a budget study session to begin to plan and prioritize projects.

“The goal of the study session is to begin the prioritization process and build a timeline for projects,” said Greg Stachura, Assistant Superintendent of Facilities, Planning and Operations.

The study session will begin at 5:30 p.m. on January 26, 2017, in the District Board room and is open to the public.

On February 2, 2017, at the Board of Education meeting, the Board is expected to appoint the members of the Citizens Oversight Committee. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the District Board Room and is open to the public.

In addition to Board action, the Facilities, Planning and Operations Division is preparing budgets and working with other state agencies to ensure the District can obtain matching funds for eligible projects.

In the first 180 days, the Facilities Division will also oversee the hiring of consultants such as architects, CEQA experts, bond program manager & construction manager. Additionally, it will review other professional services contracts and construction contracts for various delivery methods.

Opportunities for the community to be involved in the process are available through meeting attendance or watching replays of meetings and study sessions on You Tube and/or applying for a position on the Oversight Committee. There will be opportunities for continued community involvement once projects enter the planning stages. Students, parents, community members and school personnel will be invited to learn about those opportunities as school project planning begins.

“The District engaged the community for one and a half years to learn about their priorities and expectations for our schools,” Mr. Joseph said. “The valuable contributions from our meetings helped shape the project list that will be before the Board for prioritization later this month.”

Mr. Joseph added, “We hope that community members – students, parents, staff, neighbors, business and civic leaders who care about the future of the Chino Valley, its schools and the success of its students – will join us on this journey.”

KEY DATES

Board of Education Meetings:

January 12 at 5:00 p.m. – Special Meeting of the Board of Education
• Creation of Citizens Oversight Committee

January 19 at 7:00 p.m. – Meeting of the Board of Education
• Bond presentation by Robert Barna

January 26 at 5:30 p.m. – Board of Education Study Session On Measure G
• Study session on bonds from election to sale

February 2 at 7:00 p.m. – Board of Education Meeting
• Appointment of Citizens Oversight Committee members

 

Chino Hills – Fatal Traffic Collision

By City of Chino Hills

On Saturday, January 7, 2017, at about 2:07, Contreras was driving west on Chino Hills Parkway with two passengers inside his 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe. Once through the intersection of Ramona Avenue, the Tahoe crossed the double yellow line and continued west onto a raised concrete center median. The Tahoe continued west on the median for about 230 feet with no physical evidence of breaking. The front of the Tahoe collided into a traffic signal pole at the intersection of SR 71 northbound on-ramp. The impact resulted in the death of the front passenger, and non-life threatening injuries to the rear passenger and Contreras who were transported to local hospitals.

Anyone who may have witnessed or has additional information regarding this collision is urged to contact the Chino Hills Police Department at (909) 364-2000. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or the website at www.wetip.com

History 101

Hitler descends into his bunker

By History.com  

A new view of a photograph that appeared, heavily cropped, in LIFE, picturing Hitler's bunker, partially burned by retreating German troops and stripped of valuables by invading Russians.

A new view of a photograph that appeared, heavily cropped, in LIFE, picturing Hitler’s bunker, partially burned by retreating German troops and stripped of valuables by invading Russians.

On this day, Adolf Hitler takes to his underground bunker, where he remains for 105 days until he commits suicide. Hitler retired to his bunker after deciding to remain in Berlin for the last great siege of the war. Fifty-five feet under the chancellery (Hitler’s headquarters as chancellor), the shelter contained 18 small rooms and was fully self-sufficient, with its own water and electrical supply. He left only rarely (once to decorate a squadron of Hitler Youth) and spent most of his time micromanaging what was left of German defenses and entertaining Nazi colleagues like Hermann Goering, Heinrich Himmler, and Joachim von Ribbentrop. Constantly at his side during this time were his companion, Eva Braun, and his Alsatian, Blondi.

On April 29, Hitler married Eva in their bunker hideaway. Eva Braun met Hitler while working as an assistant to Hitler’s official photographer. Braun spent her time with Hitler out of public view, entertaining herself by skiing and swimming. She had no discernible influence on Hitler’s political career but provided a certain domesticity to the life of the dictator. Loyal to the end, she refused to leave the bunker even as the Russians closed in.

Only hours after they were united in marriage, both Hitler and Eva committed suicide. Warned by officers that the Russians were only about a day from overtaking the chancellery and urged to escape to Berchtesgarden, a small town in the Bavarian Alps where Hitler owned a home, the dictator instead chose to take his life. Both he and his wife swallowed cyanide capsules (which had been tested for their efficacy on his “beloved” dog and her pups). For good measure, he shot himself with his pistol.

 

Chino Hills Man Attempted Murder of U.S. Diplomat in Mexico

BY USAO

Chino Hills – Zia Zafar, 31, of Chino Hills, California, made his initial appearance on January 10, after being charged with the attempted murder of a diplomat stationed at the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara, Mexico.

According to the criminal complaint, on January 6, Zafar disguised himself and followed a Vice Consul of the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara through a parking garage to his vehicle. After the Vice Consul got into his car and drove towards the garage exit, Zafar allegedly shot him once in the chest and fled. The Vice Consul was taken to a local hospital, where he currently remains. Zafar was subsequently detained by Mexican authorities.

Zafar was deported from Mexico on January 9, arriving in the United States. He was immediately arrested and charged with attempted murder of an internationally protected person. Zafar faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Department of Justice gratefully acknowledges the government of Mexico, to include the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, Procuraduria General de la Republica, Fiscalia del Estado de Jalisco and Instituto Nacional de Migracion for their extraordinary efforts, support and professionalism in responding to this incident.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Leslie R. Caldwell, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; and Bill A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), made the announcement after Zafar’s initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John F. Anderson. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Sloan, and Trial Attorney Jamie Perry of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.

The FBI and DSS are investigating the case in close cooperation with Mexican authorities and with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, DEA and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

 

Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Don’t have time for intensive skin care? You can still pamper yourself by acing the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips.

  1. Protect yourself from the sun

One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.

For the most complete sun protection:

  • Use sunscreen.Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or perspiring.
  • Seek shade.Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
  • Wear protective clothing.Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.
  1. Don’t smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.

Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.

If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

  1. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:

  • Limit bath time.Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
  • Avoid strong soaps.Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
  • Shave carefully.To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
  • Pat dry.After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
  • Moisturize dry skin.If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.
  1. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn’t clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin.

  1. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect.

 

Our Life

If Not Today Than When? 

By Michael Armijo

I’ve learned many things about life from people who have passed away. For example:  I had a friend who always did something each weekend. He was always somewhere. During football season my Sunday excitement was to call him and ask: “where are you?”  He’d always respond with an event or a sports bar that I’ve never heard of or someplace that I would admire. I had another friend who would always reach for the stars and push himself to the limit. He would continue to pursue bigger dreams and expect himself to step up and reach for things other people didn’t have the ability to do. He passed away living in the city he loved and with the family that cherished. I had another friend who was fairly fearful of change. I used to encourage him constantly to reach for things that he felt he didn’t deserve but to first feel as though he deserved those things. He reached for some things but he was too fearful to reach for others. But his priority was to love his family and take care of them and be a good father. So the things I felt he deserved were different than what he felt he wanted out of life. He passed away with a loving family around him.

Now what hurts more, although his death is many years in the past, is the death of my father. He was deprived but still made a living. he pursued what he thought was the responsible thing and his philosophies were mild and simple. He reached for security and safety. Unfortunately, he could only talk about the things he wanted. He spoke of doing things he desired to do, always falling short of his goals Out of fear. He passed before his time and he passed willingly, as he felt he was done here on earth.

So I’ve learned that there are no limits in life. I’ve learned that if you want something you will get it only if you really want it. I’ve learned that the only limits there are in life are the limits we place upon ourselves. And I’ve learned that the only things we will ever get are the things we try to reach for today, and not to wait for tomorrow. Because tomorrow just may never come. Tomorrow didn’t come for my father and for my friends.

So today, as I travel 50 miles away from my home for the first of many one-hour singing  lessons, I am proud. Because these are lessons that I put off all my life out of fear that I may not be able to sing. I postponed because I constantly try to convince myself that “I don’t have enough time.” But today I am fearless. I choose to no longer wait for life to come to me but instead for me to go to life. I pride myself for no longer suffering from the losses I’ve incurred, but instead I choose to learn from them.

Today I choose to chase my dreams, today I choose not to wait, and today I choose to be fearless. Because today I ask a simple yet serious question: “If not today then when?

 

Fundraising Opportunity for Nonprofits

By City of Diamond Bar

DIAMOND BAR–The City of Diamond Bar’s popular Winter Snow Fest event will again provide local nonprofits a fun way to raise awareness of, and cash for, their causes.

Nonprofits have until Monday, December 12 to apply to work the event as a food vendor, game booth operator or craft area monitor. In exchange for their participation, nonprofits that staff the entertainment areas will receive a portion of proceeds from the wristband and game/craft cards sales; food vendors keep all their profits.

Winter Snow Fest event takes place on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Pantera Park. For additional details and a copy of the application, visit www.DiamondBarCa.gov/wsf or call 909.839.7067.

Bank Robbery at Chino Bank

City of Chino PD chino-citizens-business-bank

On December 30, 2016 at 4:00 p.m., Chino Police Officers responded to a panic alarm at the Citizens’ Business Bank located at 12808 Central Avenue.  Responding officers confirmed an armed robbery had taken place and were able to obtain a description of the suspect and his vehicle from bank employees and patrons.

Chino Officers located the suspect vehicle on the eastbound 60 freeway and conducted a high risk traffic stop.  The suspect was taken into custody without incident. Evidence from the robbery was recovered from the vehicle.

The eastbound 60 freeway was closed for approximately twenty minutes during the traffic stop.

The robbery investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.

 

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 1.7.17

2017-jan-7-weeklyThe 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: 2017-jan-7-weekly

Did You Know?

Tips to Save and Spend Wisely in 2017 

By StatePoint

Did you get carried away with the holiday spirit this past season? On the heels of hefty spending, the New Year is the best time to take stock of personal finance habits and make beneficial changes for the year ahead.

Here are some useful tips and tricks to spend and save wisely in 2017. 

Think Long-Term

Don’t neglect the future. It’s never too early to save for retirement. In fact, the sooner you start, the better off you will be. Invest through a company-sponsored plan if possible. If not, look into IRAs that can help you grow your wealth exponentially.

Create Categorized Funds

Consider the 52-week savings challenge. In the first week, save $1, followed by $2 the second week, all the way through week 52, when you put aside $52. Sticking to this plan results in $1,378 saved at the end of the year, as well as any interest you’ve earned.

Creating a savings account for a specific purpose is a perennially sound savings strategy. Look for banks that are fee friendly, such as Ally Bank Member FDIC, ally.com, which allows you to open an Online Savings or Money Market account with no minimum and no monthly maintenance fee. You can deposit money easily through e-check deposit, direct deposit and you’ll earn interest compounded daily on your savings. In addition, putting this money in a separate account allows you to track your spending against the account balance.

Use Shopping Apps

It is incredibly easy to save money with a little online research. With a few minutes effort, you’ll find discount codes, loyalty programs or cashback websites that track your purchases and reward you for the extra step of navigating through their shopping portal instead of going straight to the big name retailers’ websites.

Reap Rewards

While no personal finance expert would advocate running up credit card bills one can’t afford, savvy consumers know how to take advantage of credit card reward programs for hotel points, airline miles or just straight cash in their pockets.

“Use credit cards that reward you for the things you buy the most,” says Diane Morais, chief executive officer and president of Ally Bank, the direct banking subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc.

There are often offers for opening a new credit card with a minimum spend, such as the Ally CashBack Credit Card, which provides a $100 bonus when you make $500 in eligible purchases during the first three billing cycles, and offers two percent cash back at gas stations and grocery stores, and one percent cash back on all other purchases — as well as 10 percent bonus on rewards that are deposited into an eligible Ally Bank account.

If you don’t want to open a new account, check your current credit cards for promotions or cash back offers, which can add up quickly on everyday purchases.

With a little homework, savvy consumers can make 2017 the year they spend strategically and save more.

Recent Recalls

Staff Reports

  1. Mikesell’s Potato Chip Company– its 2.25 oz. Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
  2. Crossbows- The crossbow can fire unexpectedly when the safety is engaged, posing an injury hazard to the user or bystander.
  1. King Meat Services, Inc., a Vernon, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 50,991 pounds of beef products due to misbranding.
  1. Piccadilly Fine Foods, a Santa Clara, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 144 pounds of beef products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.
  1. Kraft Heinz Company, a Fullerton, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 959 pounds of ready-to-eat "Lunchables Ham and American Cracker Stackers" packaged lunch products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.
  1. Kiwi Care Package Company, a South Tahoe, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 90 pounds of Wattie’s canned spaghetti with sausage that was not presented at the U.S. point of entry for inspection and was received from a New Zealand establishment that was not eligible to export product to the U.S.
  1. Joyrider three-wheeled scooters- The front wheels of the scooter can detach when riding, posing a fall hazard.
  2. KingQuad 750 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)- The ATV’s battery can fail and cause the engine to stop running while in use, posing a crash hazard.

recalls-atv

 

scooters1-recalls

Former Scout Camp Counselor Arrested

By SBSD

In October of 2015, the victim and his parents reported to the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station that Sean Lee, an adult male, sexually assaulted the victim, a 16 year old minor. The case was immediately transferred to the Specialized Investigations Division – Crimes Against Children Detail (CACD).

Detectives determined Sean Lee worked as a camp counselor at a Boy Scout Camp in Cedar Glen, in San Bernardino County, during the summer months of 2015. The victim attended the same camp during June of 2015 when he was allegedly assaulted by Lee at the camp. Detectives conducted a lengthy investigation and numerous interviews of persons who attended or worked at the camp during that time frame. Following that investigation, an arrest warrant for Sean Lee was obtained on December 30th, 2016, for the charges of PC 288a(b)(1), oral copulation of a minor, and PC 286(f), sodomy of an unconscious victim. Lee surrendered to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Chino Hills Station on January 1, 2017, and was subsequently booked at the West Valley Detention Center.

Lee’s bail was set for $100,000. At approximately 2108 hours, Lee was released from WVDC after posting bail. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is releasing Lee’s booking photograph in the event other camp staff or attendees witnessed Lee engaged in unlawful behavior.

A Tax in California Has Actually Been Lowered?

By City of Eastvale

A Project of Taxpayer Advocate Diane L. Harkey

Did you resolve to pay lower taxes in 2017? Effective Jan. 1, 2017, the sales and use tax rate dropped in California one-quarter of 1 percent, from 7.50 percent to 7.25 percent. The lower tax rate is good news for consumers and the result of the partial expiration of Proposition 30, a 2012 initiative that sought higher income and sales taxes.

Shoppers in some cities may pay more than 7.25 percent because of local sales taxes higher than the state rate. To find your rate, visit this page.

You can look up sales and use tax rates by city here.

If you bought something before Jan. 1 and need to return it, the store must provide you with a refund for the old tax rate. And if you bought something before Jan. 1 that wasn’t delivered until after the New Year, the old tax rate remains applicable. Retailers should adjust their operations to charge the current 7.25 percent sales tax starting January 1, 2017,  unless a higher sales tax is present in their area.

A retailer who continues to charge and collect the higher statewide sales and use tax after January 1, 2017, must either refund the excess tax collected to their customer or pay the excess tax to the Board of Equalization (BOE). If the excess tax collected has been paid to the BOE, the retailer may request a refund on behalf of their customer by completing form BOE-101, Claim for Refund or Credit.

For merchandise delivered after January 1, 2017, the applicable sales and use tax rate is the rate that is in effect at the time the sale occurs. Generally, the sale occurs when the merchandise is delivered to the customer, unless the sales contract specifically states that title to the merchandise passes to the customer prior to delivery.

With returned merchandise, the customer should be refunded the amount of tax at the rate that was charged and collected from the customer at the time of the original sale.

If you have other ideas on how we can lower taxes or make business easier in California, please email me directly at diane.harkey@boe.ca.gov. As your taxpayer advocate it is my number one priority to serve you and make California a golden state!

 

Rapid Maple Balsamic Chicken

RAPID MAPLE BALSAMIC CHICKEN

with Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli

By Hello Fresh 

Cooking Time: 20 min.

Servings: 2

Nutrition: 567 cal, Fat: 22 g, Sat. Fat: 10 g, Protein: 46 g, Carbs: 48 g, Sugar: 15 g, Sodium: 268 mg, Fiber: 8 g

Ingredients:

  • Broccoli Florets- 8 oz.
  • Sweet Potatoes- 2
  • Chicken Breasts- 12 oz.
  • Balsamic Vinegar- 2 TBSP
  • Maple Syrup- 2 tsp
  • Sweet and Smoky Spice Blend- 1 tsp

Preparation:

  1. Preheat oven and roast broccoli. Wash and dry all produce. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place broccoli florets on a baking sheet. Toss with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast until crispy and lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
  2. Microwave sweet potatoes. Meanwhile, prick sweet potatoes all over with a fork. Put on a plate and microwave on high until very tender, about 10 minutes.
  3. Sear chicken While broccoli and sweet potatoes cook, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over mediumhigh heat. Season chicken all over with salt and pepper. Add to pan and cook until browned and no longer pink in center, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside.
  4. Make glaze. Add balsamic vinegar to pan and simmer until thickened but not completely evaporated, 1-2 minutes. Add 3 tsp maple syrup (we sent more) and simmer until very thick and sticky, about 1 minute. Add ½ TBSP butter and stir until melted. Return chicken to pan and toss to coat.
  5. Split sweet potatoes. Split sweet potatoes down the middle and season with salt and pepper. Top each half with ½ TBSP butter and sprinkle with a pinch of sweet and smoky spice blend (to taste). Lightly mash with a fork to incorporate.
  6. Serve. Arrange sweet potatoes on plates with chicken and broccoli. Drizzle over any remaining glaze.

2017 The Magic Year

By Nancy Stoops

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

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

Happy New Year to all of you wonderful beings. Yes it’s a new beginning for us all.   It’s a chance to start fresh and finally become who you are meant to be. The New Year brings unlimited possibilities and new energy that helps us believe, the sky is the limit.  The New Year gives us hope and many new chances.  I say take these chances and make this year, the best one ever!

Start this process by setting some small very obtainable daily goals.  Once you’re in the groove and have met the daily goals, now it’s time to set a realistic goal for the year.  You may or may not ever meet the year end goal but it’s all about the steps or the process that we take in our attempt that cause us to change.  That’s what I want you all to focus this year.  So what if you never get there all the way, you’re certainly moving in the right direction. Be proud of what you are able to do in 2016 and don’t beat yourself up for what you couldn’t do.

I hope you will be good to yourselves this year and finally work toward who you are meant to be.  I want you to remember it’s all here for you and all you have to do is believe in yourself and go and get what you deserve.  So I dedicate this to all of you in hopes that this will be a magical year. I wish for all of you that you will get out there and find all the greatness that exists in you and our very wonderful world.  It all starts by believing in you and I believe in all of you and want you to be the very best you can be.  Make 2017 a magical year, the best year of your life!!!!!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Nancy is now accepting new clients.  She also works as a motivational speaker.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups for teens and can handle many court mandated needs.  For more information about any of these services contact Nancy 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.

 

Identity Theft Ring Bust in Chino

By City of Chino PD

CHINO– On December 29, 2016, Chino Police Officers responded to a motel located on the 12000 block of Central Avenue for a report of suspicious subjects, possibly renting a room using a fictitious name.

Officers confirmed the name and credit card used was fictitious and proceeded to attempt to make contact with the subjects.  The subjects were no longer in the room.  Through a swift investigation using witness interviews, the officers were able to locate the two suspects at a motel in Pomona, Ca.  The two suspects had multiple outstanding warrants for their arrest.

Subsequently, search warrants were served to both motels in Chino and Pomona. Officers located over 40 counterfeit driver’s licenses and over 100 counterfeit credit cards along with several computers and printers used to print counterfeit driver’s licenses and credit cards.

Suspect 1: Chad Jensen, 32 years old (DOB 4-16-84) residing in the Orange County area.

Suspect 2: Ashley Villarreal, 27 years old (DOB 9-25-89) residing in the Orange County area

Both suspects are charged with possession of ten or more persons’ identity with the intent to commit identity theft, and possession of an embossing machine with the intent to commit identity theft, along with other identity theft related charges.

The initial investigation has identified fifty separate identity theft victims. Investigators expect to identify more victims as the investigation continues. This identity theft operation was complex and included the use of sophisticated technology.

“Being the victim of identity theft is very frustrating and time consuming. The Chino Police Department is committed to seeking out these types of criminals, shutting down their operation, and making sure they are prosecuted.” – Lieutenant Kevin Mensen

Anyone with information or any potential victims may call Chino Police Investigations at 909.334.3093

 

Little Red Caboose

By Mark Hopper 

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

Our grandchildren have learned a lot of songs from my wife.  She has a song for just about every occasion and the grand kids love them.

One of those songs is about a little Red Caboose that is pulled along behind a train.

This Christmas the grand kids got to see this first hand.  My daughter encouraged me to get the box down from the garage that contained my old Lionel train so I could show it to the grandchildren.

I didn’t know if it would even work.  We actually found two trains in the box.  One was lighter and is made of plastic. The older one is much heavier and is made from metal.

The track was slightly corroded and  discolored when we laid it out on the floor.  I used a rag to try to clean it up a little.

The transformer control for the heavier train did not work.  The wires were brittle and old.   But the transformer for the lighter train worked and soon the little Red Caboose was being pulled behind the train!

I looked on the internet and found a model train store in Costa Mesa on Baker Street. When I brought the old heavy engine and transformer in for repair, I was delighted to learn that it could be fixed at little cost.

The store owner lubricated the engine and verified that it was in good condition.  I left the transformer at the train store and purchased a tool so I could properly clean the track at home.

A few days later, we picked up the transformer and put the train track around the Christmas Tree.  We were ready to send the locomotive down the track pulling a little Red Caboose!

The grandchildren were delighted and their grandpa was pretty proud that his childhood train was back in service.

I was given that Lionel train when I was very young.  I remember playing with that train with my father and grandfather.  Now, that same train was being enjoyed again by my grandchildren and their grateful grandfather!

I wonder if you have some treasures hidden in your garage? You may have some model airplanes or some wood working tools.  Maybe there is a stamp or coin collection?  Maybe there are some hobbies from your past that would interest others.

It may be a little late for Christmas, but let me encourage you to take the time to get those boxes down and share some memories with the younger members of your family.  They will be glad you did and you will too!

 

History 101

Columbus mistakes manatees for mermaids

By History.com

On this day in 1493, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, sailing near the Dominican Republic, sees three “mermaids”–in reality manatees–and describes them as “not half as beautiful as they are painted.” Six months earlier, Columbus (1451-1506) set off from Spain across the Atlantic Ocean with the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, hoping to find a western trade route to Asia. Instead, his voyage, the first of four he would make, led him to the Americas, or “New World.”

Mermaids, mythical half-female, half-fish creatures, have existed in seafaring cultures at least since the time of the ancient Greeks. Typically depicted as having a woman’s head and torso, a fishtail instead of legs and holding a mirror and comb, mermaids live in the ocean and, according to some legends, can take on a human shape and marry mortal men. Mermaids are closely linked to sirens, another folkloric figure, part-woman, part-bird, who live on islands and sing seductive songs to lure sailors to their deaths.

Mermaid sightings by sailors, when they weren’t made up, were most likely manatees, dugongs or Steller’s sea cows (which became extinct by the 1760s due to over-hunting). Manatees are slow-moving aquatic mammals with human-like eyes, bulbous faces and paddle-like tails. It is likely that manatees evolved from an ancestor they share with the elephant. The three species of manatee (West Indian, West African and Amazonian) and one species of dugong belong to the Sirenia order. As adults, they’re typically 10 to 12 feet long and weigh 800 to 1,200 pounds. They’re plant-eaters, have a slow metabolism and can only survive in warm water.

Manatees live an average of 50 to 60 years in the wild and have no natural predators. However, they are an endangered species. In the U.S., the majority of manatees are found in Florida, where scores of them die or are injured each year due to collisions with boats.