Category Archives: The Weekly News

Depression and the Holidays

By Nancy Stoops  

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

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

Did you know that suicide rates are among the highest during the holidays?  This may sound very strange to some of you, but it is true.  Believe it or not this isn’t a wonderful time of year for everybody.  I remember, as a little girl thinking how anybody could be sad this time of year.  Now that I’m grown up and work as a therapist, I understand this concept much better.

The holidays seem to make us vulnerable and open our eyes to things that are painful for us.  This time of year, we seem to become very sentimental and want to be close to our family and friends.  This is a great idea in theory, but what if you have alienated them or maybe they have passed away.  This could make your holiday feel like a very lonely time.  It makes it worse when you see other families and friends gather together.

Are you feeling without purpose this holiday season?   This may be the cause of your depression this time of year.  There are so very many places you could go and donate some time.  There are many people that are sick or just plain less fortunate than we are.  You could really make a difference for an individual, a family, or an animal and fight off the depression as well.

Whatever may be causing your depression during this holiday season, decide to do something about it. Don’t sit around and feel sorry for yourself this year, life is just too short.  Call an old friend, make up with a family member, help the less fortunate, or whatever else it takes to get through this holiday.  My point is, this year learn to help yourself, and you will give you, the greatest gift you have ever received!

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 stoopsshecter@earthlinknet.  You may purchase Nancy’s latest books Live, Heal and Grow and Midnight the therapy Dog at Amazon.com.

Thai Beef Skewers (aka Satay)

With Peanut Dipping Sauce, Broccoli, and Jasmine Rice  recipe-steak-satay-with-1-web

By Hello Fresh

Cooking Time: 30 min.

Servings: 2

Nutrition: 657 cal, Fat: 23 g, Sat. Fat: 5 g, Protein: 48 g, Carbs: 62 g, Sugar: 12 g, Sodium: 654 mg, Fiber: 5 g

Ingredients:

  • Garlic- 2 Cloves
  • Lime- 1
  • Scallions- 2
  • Jasmine Rice- ½ Cup
  • Broccoli Florets- 8 oz.
  • Sirloin Tips- 12 oz.
  • Soy Sauce- 4 tsp.
  • Peanut Butter- 2 TBSP
  • Skewers- 4

Preparation:

  1. Preheat oven and cook rice. Wash and dry all produce. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mince garlic. Zest and halve lime. Thinly slice scallions, keeping greens and whites separate. Bring 1 cup salted water to a boil in a small pot. Once boiling, add rice. Cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Keep covered.
  2. Roast broccoli. Toss broccoli on a baking sheet with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast until golden brown and slightly crispy, 15-20 minutes.
  3. steak Combine sirloin tips, 1 TBSP soy sauce, 2 tsp sugar, half the garlic, ½ tsp lime zest, and a large drizzle of olive oil in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Make peanut sauce. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a medium pan over low heat. Add scallion whites and remaining garlic, and toss until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Stir peanut butter, 1 tsp soy sauce, and 2 tsp sugar into pan. Slowly stir in ¼ cup water until incorporated. Remove pan from heat, and stir in a squeeze of lime. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Broil skewers. Preheat broiler to high (or increase oven to 500 degrees). Rinse skewers under water, then thread steak onto them. Place on baking sheet and broil, flipping over halfway through, until slightly charred and cooked to desired doneness, 5-10 minutes.
  6. Serve satay on a bed of rice alongside broccoli. Garnish with scallion greens, and serve with peanut sauce for dipping.

Drug Lab Leads to Explosion

By City of Chino

CHINO, CA – On Sunday November 27, 2016 at approximately 1:55 p.m. Chino Police Officers and Chino Valley Firefighters responded to a report of a residential fire in the 4900 block of G Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered that an explosion had occurred in the back of the residence.  The fire was extinguished prior to the officers’ arrival.

Located at the residence was 20-year-old Chino resident, Adrian Corona who was suffering from severe burn injuries to his face and upper body.

The investigation revealed the source of the explosion as a Butane Honey Oil (BHO) extraction laboratory used to manufacture marijuana hash oil. Investigators from the Chino Police Department and the Chino Valley Fire District quarantined the area and processed the scene once investigators determined it was safe to enter.

Emergency personnel closed G Street for several hours while investigators processed the scene.

Corona was transported to an area hospital with severe burn injuries. Investigators are seeking charges against Corona for his involvement in drug manufacturing.

The investigation is ongoing; anyone with information should contact Lieutenant Mensen with the Investigations Bureau at (909) 334-3093 or kmensen@chinopd.org.

History 101

Aircraft squadron lost in the Bermuda Triangle  aircraft

By History.com

At 2:10 p.m., five U.S. Navy Avenger torpedo-bombers comprising Flight 19 take off from the Ft. Lauderdale Naval Air Station in Florida on a routine three-hour training mission. Flight 19 was scheduled to take them due east for 120 miles, north for 73 miles, and then back over a final 120-mile leg that would return them to the naval base. They never returned.

Two hours after the flight began, the leader of the squadron, who had been flying in the area for more than six months, reported that his compass and back-up compass had failed and that his position was unknown. The other planes experienced similar instrument malfunctions. Radio facilities on land were contacted to find the location of the lost squadron, but none were successful. After two more hours of confused messages from the fliers, a distorted radio transmission from the squadron leader was heard at 6:20 p.m., apparently calling for his men to prepare to ditch their aircraft simultaneously because of lack of fuel.

By this time, several land radar stations finally determined that Flight 19 was somewhere north of the Bahamas and east of the Florida coast, and at 7:27 p.m. a search and rescue Mariner aircraft took off with a 13-man crew. Three minutes later, the Mariner aircraft radioed to its home base that its mission was underway. The Mariner was never heard from again. Later, there was a report from a tanker cruising off the coast of Florida of a visible explosion seen at 7:50 p.m.

The disappearance of the 14 men of Flight 19 and the 13 men of the Mariner led to one of the largest air and seas searches to that date, and hundreds of ships and aircraft combed thousands of square miles of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and remote locations within the interior of Florida. No trace of the bodies or aircraft was ever found.

Although naval officials maintained that the remains of the six aircraft and 27 men were not found because stormy weather destroyed the evidence, the story of the “Lost Squadron” helped cement the legend of the Bermuda Triangle, an area of the Atlantic Ocean where ships and aircraft are said to disappear without a trace. The Bermuda Triangle is said to stretch from the southern U.S. coast across to Bermuda and down to the Atlantic coast of Cuba and Santo Domingo.

WVUSD choral students make honor choir

whs-honor-choir-web

Walnut High Honor Choir members Adrienne Caparaz, Nellie Kwang, Eugene Lo, Matthew Huang, Jocelyn Chow, and Raji Rajkumar gather before the second 12-hour day of rehearsals. Photo courtesy: WVUSD

Walnut – Congratulations to ten talented Walnut Valley Unified School District choral students named to the 2016 Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA).

The teens participated in two days of intense rehearsals culminating in a concert held Saturday, November 19 at the University of Redlands.

Walnut high School Honor Choir students are Adrienne Caparaz, Nellie Kwang, Eugene Lo, Matthew Huang, Jocelyn Chow, and Raji Rajkumar.

Diamond Bar High School Honor Choir students are Kaitlyn Lee, Karoline Chuang, Rebecca Chuang, and Jodie Liu.

For more pictures and videos of the event, please follow the Walnut High School choir on Instagram at walnut_choir.

 

Christmas Toy Drive!

flyer-final-v3

 

Jaime Morales of Living Dreams Tattoo Shop presents a Christmas Toy Drive! See ad below to find out how you can participate and possibly win a tattoo session valued at $500.

Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Events

By City of Chino  santaclaus2

Chino – Chino Mayor Yates will “flip the switch,” one final time at the annual tree lighting ceremony on the City Hall lawn on Tuesday, December 6, 2016.

Prior to the tree lighting ceremony, a reception will be held at 5:45 p.m. in the City Hall Lobby for outgoing Mayor Dennis Yates.  The community is invited to attend and extend their well wishes as the Mayor embarks on retirement.

At 6 p.m. the annual Tree Lighting ceremony will begin.  Kicking off the tree lighting is Chino Community Chorus, a crowd favorite, who will be singing holiday classics.  Santa, will also make a special guest appearance and will be available for pictures.   Light holiday refreshments will be served.   The tree lighting ceremony marks the beginning of the holiday season in Chino.

In December, Santa’s Sleigh begins making its way through the city. Santa’s Sleigh is a program of the Chino Police Officer’s Association and gives youth the opportunity to experience the magic of Christmas.  This program gives families the opportunity to take pictures with Santa, interact with police officers, and visit with Santa’s Sleigh riders. This is truly a memorable experience for Chino youth. The sleigh will travel through neighborhoods during the month of December. Dates, neighborhoods and times of the Santa Sleigh Program are yet to be published.

On December 10, the beloved Chino Youth Christmas Parade and Fair will take place. The Parade will step off from Yorba Avenue and Riverside Drive at 9 a.m. and continue east on Riverside Drive before heading south on Central Avenue, ending near City Hall.  The parade features classic cars, horse drawn carriages, school bands and local youth organizations.

The Fair, free to the public, is located at the Civic Center and will start at the conclusion of the Parade.  This fair features craft and food vendors, carnival rides and entertainment. At noon, the Mayor will announce the Christmas parade float winners.

Event Dates:

12/6       5:45 p.m.             Farewell Reception for Mayor Dennis Yates

12-6       6:00 p.m.             Tree Lighting Ceremony

12/12     9:00 a.m.              Christmas Youth Parade and Holiday Fair

A Pink Donut

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Mark Hopper

Recently our granddaughter had a sleep over at our house.  We were glad she could come.

This cute three year old arrived at our house confidently pulling her small carry-on size suitcase.  She was excited to come to Grammy’s and Pop Pop’s house.

She enjoyed playing with some toys, some dolls and the small wooden train that we have.

Bath time went smoothly and we read several bed time stories.

Grammy noticed that our granddaughter’s pajamas had donuts printed on them.  The design included different sizes  and different colors.

The donuts became a topic of conversation as she got ready for bed.  Grammy asked if our granddaughter would like to have a donut as part of her breakfast in the morning.

That sounded like a good idea.  “What color donut would you like”, Grammy asked?  “Pink”, she replied.

I think our granddaughter had sweet dreams that night!  I bet there were pink donuts in her dreams.

Who do you think was going out to find a pink donut early in the morning?  Clearly that was my assignment.  Don’t come home without it!

Thankfully, we have a nice donut shop near our home.  The owner and I are on a first name basis.  I have many bought boxes of donuts from him for many early morning meetings at our church.

I was pleased to discover that he had several different types of pink donuts!  Some had sprinkles and others had pink frosting only.  Some were decorated for Halloween.

I took a chance and went for the pink with white sprinkles.  It was a winner!

Since we didn’t want our granddaughter to eat alone, I got a donut for my wife and me too.  My wife got chocolate covered and I got an old fashioned glazed.

I’m sure that we were violating all of the dietary guidelines published by the US government by serving our granddaughter a donut for breakfast.  I’m sure that her parents would prefer we provided a more balanced breakfast, too.

But, I’m also sure that this is a breakfast that two grandparents will remember for a long time!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org

 

Trustees Celebrate Walnut Valley Stars

By WVUSD  

Walnut Elementary 5th grader Breanna Bongcaras received the Super Star Student Award on November 16. Shown with Board President Helen Hall. Photo courtesy: WVUSD

Walnut Elementary 5th grader Breanna Bongcaras received the Super Star Student Award on November 16. Shown with Board President Helen Hall.
Photo courtesy: WVUSD

In keeping with tradition, the Walnut Valley USD Board of Trustees paid tribute to outstanding students and community partners during the November 16 meeting.

Walnut Elementary fifth grader Breanna Bongcaras was honored with the Super Star Student Award.  Principal Robert Chang shared tributes from past and present teachers during the recognition.

“It was a pleasure having Breanna in the first cohort for the Dual Language Immersion Mandarin Program. She always had a bright smile that would light up the room,” said kindergarten teacher Carol Chang.

“She is a polite, hard-working, cheerful, and resilient girl. Her optimism and cheerful disposition are truly inspirational,” added 2nd grade teacher Amy Wu.

“We are proud to see Breanna succeed. Even in tribulations, her upbeat and positive nature make her a breath of fresh air in the classroom,” said her 4th and 5thgrade teachers.

Powerhouse parent Cynthia Hua Pinpin received the Partner in Education Award.

Cyndi began as a classroom volunteer five years ago and quickly became an active Community Club member. She is a problem-solver who happily tackles any task with a smile.

“Now, Cyndi oversees the largest fundraiser at our school and doesn’t bat any eyelash at the number of items and prizes needed. She is also a spreadsheet queen!”

“Cyndi does so much for our students and staff members that we would be lost without her,” Chang said. “Her dedication and selflessness do not go unnoticed.”

Chaparral Middle School selected 8th grader Ryan Real as the recipient of the Super Star Student Award.

“At Chaparral, we celebrate the well-rounded student – and Ryan is a stellar student,” said Principal Ron Thibodeaux.

The honor-roll student holds a 4.0 GPA and is the current ASB present, as well as founding member and president of the Future Business Leaders of America Club.

Ryan is involved in several clubs around campus, volunteers in the library, and plays cello in the advanced 8th grade Sinfonia orchestra. This spring, he’ll be appearing as LeFou in the musical “Beauty and the Beast.” Additionally, Ryan is a member of the league championship cross country team and competes internationally with the USA Taekwondo team.

Chaparral grandfather and resident artist Cornelis Greive was lauded with the Partner in Education Award.

Thibodeaux recalled how the painter’s daughter, Sarah Ramirez, volunteered her father’s talents last summer.

“I quickly made a phone call to take the family up on the generous offer.”

Since then, Cor has probably spent 1,000 hours painting each Tuesday and Thursday around the campus.

The amiable octogenarian has beautifully detailed about 20 paintings, including Ann Frank, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Parthenon, George Washington, and the Chaparral Cougar.

He also lent his talents to Maple Hill Elementary when granddaughter Grace attended the school.

“Cor’s added a lot of color to classrooms and hallways and brightened up our beautiful campus,” Thibodeaux added. “And he’s promised that we’ll have him for three whole years!”

Trustees honored outgoing Personnel Commissioner Gayle Pacheco for 18 years of dedicated service to the District.

“Your work on the Personnel Commission will never be forgotten,” said Board President Helen Hall.

“We cannot thank you enough for your time and commitment to this job.”

Our Life

The LA Transplant

By Julia Rohrabaugh

I moved to Los Angeles just over a month ago from a small town in Northern California. I’m what the Angelenos call a ‘transplant,’ someone who has recently moved to LA. My Nor Cal roots are in the central foothills, a very different environment to So Cal. We have rolling hills and one-lane roads, where here there are 8-lane freeways and desert land. Traffic here is a topic of daily conversation, so much that they call their freeways by name—The 10, The 405, The 101—and this is just the surface level of contrasts. In the beginning, my life felt surreal, like this big move was temporary arrangement, or a dream. I didn’t feel home yet, and as impatient as I am for security, this frustrated me.

Moving to a new place where I hadn’t established myself was an unknown feeling. I could be whoever I wanted, really. There are so many different people in LA, and so many different cultures, so you can be different without stress, or an explanation. It was freeing. After the initial excitement of the city faded, thinking about this also makes me sad. Feeling freedom when surrounded by people who I don’t know, those don’t know me? I did not come to LA as an escape from previous experiences, but it was then I became aware of how unhappy I must have been up north. I realized the amount of pressure I felt to do and act in ways that conflicted with who I felt I was or what I wanted to do with my life, my career, and my time. The fear of imperfection and judgment was debilitating. As a result, I avoid intimate relationships in fear that letting someone get to know me will reveal my flaws.

Going back up north for the Thanksgiving holiday made me feel the permanency of my move to LA. While I was home, I realized how the city had affected my mental health. With only five weeks in LA and I felt calmer talking to family members, sure of my decisions, and confident in my future. I wasn’t scared to talk about my ideas, job prospects, or what I’ve been doing with my friends. Without fear in my mind, I had the capacity to think and converse better. I was more secure of myself than I can remember. Driving south on The 5 finally felt like going home.

It’s said that during the holiday season we are more giving and less judging of people. I challenge you to ask yourself why this is only seasonal. How do you treat the people you love during this season, and how does it compare to the way you treat them all year round? Check your relationships, and communicate. Do not give up on these people, but forgive them for their mistakes. Understand, because they really are just trying to do the best they can, the same as you. Our struggles may be different, but the emotions are the same, and that is something we all have in common. No matter how far away you are, you can always talk to someone. There is no reason to wait, because what really are you waiting for? Don’t wait to become a transplant in an unknown city to figure out you haven’t been fair to the ones you love.

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 12.03.16

The Weekly News covers community news for Chino, Chino Hills,2016-dec-3-weekly-cover
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:2016-dec-3-weekly-full

Join CVFD in Spreading Holiday Cheer

BY CVFD  holiday-cheer

The Chino Valley Fire District asks the public to join our firefighters in spreading holiday cheer through the annual Spark of Love Toy Drive. Off-duty Chino Valley Fire personnel will be collecting toys at their annual toy drive event on Saturday December 3, 2016 and Sunday December 4, 2016, from 8am to 5pm in front of Wal-Mart in the City of Chino (3943 Grand Avenue). The Chino Valley Fire Professional Firefighters Union will offer free photos with Santa Claus from 10am to 4:30pm during the toy drive. All new, unwrapped toys and sports equipment collected during the toy drive will be distributed to local charities serving the Cities of Chino and Chino Hills.

CVFD will continue collecting donations at all seven fire stations and Fire Administration through December 24, 2016, in partnership with ABC 7’s Spark of Love Toy Drive.

Chino Valley Fire District locations:

  • Fire Station 61: 5078 Schaefer Avenue, Chino
  • Fire Station 62: 5551 Butterfield Ranch Road, Chino Hills
  • Fire Station 63: 7550 Kimball Avenue, Chino
  • Fire Station 64: 16231 Canon Lane, Chino Hills
  • Fire Station 65: 12220 Ramona Avenue, Chino
  • Fire Station 66: 13707 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills
  • Fire Station 67: 5980 Riverside Drive, Chino
  • Fire Administration: 14011 City Center Drive, Chino Hills

Each year, we receive many donations for young children, but are always short on items for children between the ages of 11 and 18. Suggested donations for children that fall within that age range include: earphones, gift cards, sunglasses, skateboards, scooters, basketballs, footballs, blow driers, curling irons, and flat irons.

Your continued support and donations are very much appreciated and will go a long way to help brighten the holiday season for many children throughout the Chino Valley.

 

Artist Corner

Soul King

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he -Proverb 23:7

By Racine Guajardoartist-soul-king-pic-web

Gamar Janvier also known as Soul King, started rhyming at the age of twelve when he was introduced into hip hop in 1985 by his cousin in Flatbush Brooklyn, NY. Soul King was originally born in Montreal Quebec Canada and says, “My upbringing makes me different. I am raised by Haitian parents on the west coast.” He came to America at five years old and was raised in West Los Angeles.

Soul King is prominently known in the underground Hip Hop scene as a member of the Barbershop MCs and now breaking new ground as a solo artist.  In 2000, E-Swift, member of the Alkaholiks, released their critically acclaimed vinyl EP, “The Barber Shop”.  Since then, Soul King as collaborated with Chace Infinite, DJ Khalil, Krondon, Planet Asia, and many others.

Just to name a few people who have been an influence on Soul King; are Rakim, Ice Cube, Nas, and Bob Marley.  As there are many different styles of music, as well as music within music, Soul King talks about his style, saying, “My style is thinker music. Thinker music I describe it as music that is designed to stimulate change through thought. My music is different than conscious music because I am not trying to tell you right from wrong but just awareness.” Today it seems that this generation tends to follow trends, Soul King says, “Provoking my audience to think and not follow mindless trends designed to dumb down the audience.”

We all know there is always room for improvement, so when Soul King was asked what he wanted people to know about him, he said, “I want them to know I am a learner, an emcee, someone who wants to improve my craft every day.” If Soul King could give any advice, he says, “Nothing beats hard work!”

Soul King can be found on multiple social media accounts; Facebook: Soul King Twitter: @SoulKing_SK  and Instagram: @TheSoulkingSK

He will be performing next at The Whiskey, located at 8901 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 on December 14. You may visit www.whiskyagogo.com to purchase tickets!

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 11.26.16

The Weekly News covers community news for Chino, Chino 2016-nov-26-weekly-cover-v2Hills,
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:2016-nov-26-weekly-full-v2

Our Life

Lost Love

By Michael Armijo

I stood there in the courtyard, and waited.  Her little eyes, her bright smile, her warm hugs…I was waiting for them all.  It would be just a few minutes before that bell would ring, it would be just a few minutes before my little love of life would run out smiling, wrapping her arms around me proclaiming, “Daddy, I love you.”

The bell rang and I stood there.  I watched; I waited.  I sought her out, but she didn’t show.  Hundreds of kids ran by and I made eye contact with each and every one of them.  There wasn’t a chance that she would’ve gotten by me.  My mind knew what she looked like, what she resembled, and all her characteristics.  I was like a machine, scanning the crowd, like a robot with a mission.  I was waiting for someone who made my life complete, who I had given my heart to, who I trusted with my feelings, my spirit, my life.

After most of the children passed me by, I felt a sensation of panic.  I felt a sense of fear.  I was afraid that I had lost one of the only people in life that I knew loved me, unconditionally, and now, who would be there in the end?

When I felt that panic, when I felt the fear of losing someone I really loved, I wondered why. Why did I feel so fearful?  Why was I so afraid?  Why did I feel such a sense of panic?  And then I remembered what had happened.

I remembered my mother, my father, my family.  I remembered how much they loved me, how they took care of me.  I remembered giving my 8-year old heart to those who I thought I could trust.  I remembered how one day my life changed.  I still don’t recall how, and I still can’t understand why, but for some strange reason, when I was growing up my life was filled with love and joy, and then one day it was all taken away.  All that I knew as a child, all that I trusted, was ripped from my heart, and then ripped from my soul.  And no one explained why.

After the inconsistency of that environment, I found new love from girlfriends in high school.  And then they too, like my family, left me, and took parts of my heart with them.  I remember, at 16 years of age, standing in the aisle of Sav-on, stocking shelves, while tears poured from my eyes.  I was hurt, I was devastated, and I was alone. Again, someone whom I had given my heart to had taken away a piece of my inner self.  And again, they left without a word.

It took so long for me to love again, to fully trust people, but somehow I did. I began to give my heart, or what was left of it, to others whom I felt I could trust.  I slowly began to rebuild my life, or so I thought.

The way I felt that day so many years ago when I couldn’t find my daughter, when that sleeping giant of fear woke up and looked around – I remembered the pain, and the sorrow and I remembered how much love hurt.  I guess that when I waited for her, those feelings of abandonment returned, and I was afraid of losing yet another love in my life.  I didn’t have much heart left to lose; I couldn’t stand to go through what I had experienced so many times, and so many years ago.  But I faced those demons of fear and abandonment and grew from my pain.  I simply refused to let my past interfere with my future.  I had worked too hard to let irresponsible acts of yesterday interfere with what I had built for today. That day, I found my daughter, and I faced my fears.

As each day passes, I thank God for the opportunity to feel feelings and emotions that some people will never feel.  I thank God for being able to enjoy my life with a smile and a hug.  More importantly, I thank God for allowing me to understand that someday I may lose the ones I love, but not to fear, because today is the day I will enjoy their presence, their love, and their joy.  And when they’re gone, I will still make wonderful memories, so that I can remember that God has given me a beautiful place in my soul – free from past pain, free from fear and abandonment, and free from lost love.

 

Evergreen STEAMS Ahead as Golden Bell Award Winner

By WVUSD  

PLTW in action! Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor visits with Evergreen third grade engineers designing a vehicle to rescue a trapped zoo animal. Photo courtesy: WVUSD

PLTW in action! Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor visits with Evergreen third grade engineers designing a vehicle to rescue a trapped zoo animal.
Photo courtesy: WVUSD

Walnut/Diamond Bar- Engagement and excitement are key ingredients in making Evergreen Elementary a great place to learn!

The school’s innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Programs are developing globally competitive citizens with character, problem solving skills, and social skills.

These programs have earned the enthusiasm of those involved and the admiration of the experts in education.

This month, the California School Boards Association (CSBA) selected Evergreen to receive the prestigious 2016 Golden Bell Award.

The Golden Bell recognizes innovative and sustainable programs that are making a demonstrated difference for students. A total of 56 public schools received the state’s leading educational honor.

“STEAM and PLTW are game changers! Our students are engaged and having fun learning,” said Principal Carolyn Wills. “We have fun down to a science. With community and staff support, our Evergreen Eagles are STEAM-ing toward their future!”

Evergreen’s Golden Bell marks the 3rd time a Walnut Valley Unified School District program has received the honor in the past decade.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor announced the award during the Board of Trustees meeting on October 19.

“We couldn’t be prouder of this well-deserved recognition for Evergreen. In all my years in education, I have never seen a school move so far, so quickly. I have witnessed a dramatic change in student engagement at Evergreen in the past four years with the advent of STEAM and PLTW,” Taylor said.

Evergreen has become a flagship school for the District’s STEAM vision, with six additional elementary schools launching the PLTW program this year.

“PLTW provides the foundation that allows students to be critical thinkers and collaborators – skills that will impact their entire life,” said Board Member Cindy Ruiz.

“We are creating global citizens of the 21st century,” added Board President Helen Hall. “I think we are very fortunate to have seven of our elementary schools implementing PLTW. It’s definitely the way of the future!”

Evergreen will receive its award at the annual CSBA Golden Bell Awards Luncheon December 3 in San Francisco.

OurWeeklyNews.com Complete Edition 11.19.16

The Weekly News covers community news for Chino, Chino Hills,2016-nov-19-weekly-cover
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:2016-nov-19-weekly-full-v2

Ask Clark’s

"ask clarks" headerI was talking with my neighbor the other day, and he was telling me that he takes B-vitamins to increase his energy level. What are B-vitamins, and can they be used to increase energy? -A question from Alex of Mentone

By Clark’s Nutrition    

B-vitamins have many different effects on the human body, with one of these being an increase in energy levels. Energy is obtained from foods that have macronutrients which are proteins, carbohydrates and fats. B-vitamins have active cell enzymes that help manufacture high energy compounds like adenosine tri-phosphate (also known as ATP) from these macronutrients.  So ultimately, B-vitamins help with energy either inadvertently or directly. The B-vitamins that work in the ATP energy building area are vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid) B6 (pyridoxine hcl) and biotin. Additionally the building of red blood cells is dependent on vitamins B12 and folic acid with additional help from B6. Red blood cells are rich in hemoglobin which carries oxygen to cells in the body and to the brain. Oxygen is essential for humans to exist; therefore red blood cell production is a very important component to maintaining a healthy life. This process gives us another possible reason why some might get energy from B-vitamins.

Food sources of B-vitamins include the following groups: vegetables (folic acid), protein foods (meat, sea foods, nuts and seeds, and legumes), soy foods (b1, b2, b3, b6, b12, and folic acid), whole grains (folate, b1, b2, and b3), fruits (folic acid), milk products (b12, b2). Although we grouped these together for saving space, consider looking at specific foods for guaranteed availability and possible percent of daily value also known as the RDA.

Each one of the B-vitamins has a deficiency symptom as well. Deficiencies in the United States are typically less common than in countries that don’t have food(s) that are fortified which is a common practice in the U.S. As an example of one of these deficiencies, a b-12/ folic acid deficiency is typically seen in certain types of anemia (Macrocytic). Current and recurring research has  also suggested individuals at the early onset stages of Alzheimer’s disease are typically low in blood levels of b12, indicating a sub-clinical effect on B-vitamin deficiency and a possible link to development to Alzheimer’s disease. For this and other reasons, many individuals choose to take a multivitamin to prevent possible deficiency or sub clinical deficiency. Currently, serum folic and vitamin b12 levels are not diagnostically reliable tests for screening presymptomatic Alzheimer disease. However, the results may statistically be significant if increases are seen in sample size populations. Additionally getting adequate amount of B-vitamins are important for nerve, energy and mental cognition. A recent study done in Geneva Switzerland by Professor Scholey with the Center for Psychopharmacology on supplemental B-vitamins and the use of multivitamins suggested improved mental, cognitive, working memory, attention and improved mood.

So maybe what your neighbor is talking about is just feeling better. Remember that all individuals are not going to respond the same way when using supplementation.  Always check with a qualified health professional if you have any questions about your health.

Have a health related question?

Send us your question, your first and last name, and the city you live in to: askclarks@clarksnutrition.com

Due to the number of responses, we will only be able to answer published questions.

References.

  1. Whitney, Understanding Normal & Clinical Nutrition, Belomnt CA, 2012, pg 38-42.
  2. Jane Digdon, Ph.D. An Evidence –Based Approach to Vitamins and Minerals Thieme New York, NY.2003. PG. 56-65.
  3. http://www.swinburne.edu.au/news/latest-news/2016/09/swinburne-to-present-at-vitafoods-asia-conference.php
  4. Recent Findings inAlzheimer Disease and Nutrition Focusing on Epigenetics.Athanasopoulos D, Karagiannis G, Tsolaki M.Adv Nutr. 2016 Sep;7(5):917-27. doi: 10.3945/an.116.012229. Review.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27633107
  5. A Turkish 3-center study evaluation of serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels inAlzheimer disease.Ulusu NN, Yilmaz G, Erbayraktar Z, Evlice AT, Aras S, Yener G, Avci A. Turk J Med Sci. 2015;45(5):1159-66. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26738362
  6. Buccal Cytome Biomarkers and Their Association with Plasma Folate, Vitamin B12 and Homocysteine inAlzheimer’s Disease. Thomas P, Fenech M. J Nutrigenet Nutrigenomics. 2015;8(2):57-69. doi: 10.1159/000435784. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26228832

 

Walnut-Diamond Bar Station Welcomes New volunteer On Patrol Academy Graduates

By LA County Sheriff’s Department

Volunteer on Patrol Group Photo Photo courtesy: LA Sheriff’s Department

Volunteer on Patrol Group Photo
Photo courtesy: LA Sheriff’s Department

Congratulations to the recent graduates of the Volunteers on Patrol Academy. Pictured from left to right, are Sebe Garton, David Garcia, Marilyn Zarco, Loretta Perez, and Dennis Merrill.

Volunteers on Patrol (VOP’s) is a team of community-spirited citizens performing non-hazardous patrol duties including: residential vacation checks, park safety checks, conducting traffic control, issuing parking citations, and performing directed patrol assignments. The VOP’s patrol the cities of Walnut and Diamond Bar, and the unincorporated County areas of Covina Hills and Rowland Heights. For additional information regarding the Volunteer Program, please contact Sergeant Mark Saldecke at 909-859-2859 or via email at WAL/DBVolunteerEmail@lasd.org.

Straight Talk

I went to a family reunion at my cousin’s house last year and my camera was missing from the table I was sitting at- A letter from Stacy L.

Danice Akiyoshi

Danice Akiyoshi

By Danice Akiyoshi N.D.

Q: I asked my cousin to ask everyone if it got mixed in with their belongings accidently and she said she would send a group e mail.  She said no one responded and I was disappointed because I had tons of important pictures stored in that camera that I hated to lose.  Yesterday, I saw that my cousin was at Disneyland because she posted pictures on social media.   I was mad when I saw my exact camera with a pink and white polka dot case in her hand in one of the pictures.  She lied to me.  I want my pictures back so I plan to confront her and ask for my camera back.  My mom said I might be mistaken and that I shouldn’t confront her.  She said it will cause a fight between our two families and I should not bring it up.  I disagree.

 

 

A: I disagree with your mom.  Call your cousin and politely mention that you noticed a camera that looked exactly like yours in her social media photo.  Ask her if she found it after all but just forgot who it belonged to.  If she says it’s hers, I doubt there’s much you can do unless you’re willing for things to get ugly.  Only you can decide how far you want to take it at that point.  This is a tough situation.