Category Archives: Weekly News Top Stories

3 Juveniles Arrested In Chino Hills

By Anthony Saude

It was Sunday morning, January 14, 2018, when at approximately 12:38 a.m., Chino Hills deputies were dispatched to investigate a suspicious person call from a citizen in the 13000 block of Monteverde Drive. When the deputies arrived, three male juveniles spotted the deputies and quickly fled from them. Deputies immediately set up a perimeter and initiated a search of the surrounding area and residences. Additional deputies and an airship from the Sheriff’s Department Aviation Division were dispatched to help conduct a thorough and complete search of the surrounding area. During the search two of the male juveniles were found hiding in the vegetation between two houses. A third male juvenile was found hiding in a nearby unreported stolen vehicle. All three juveniles were from Pasadena; they were arrested and taken into custody.

Further investigation led to evidence located at the scene that revealed the juveniles had committed a residential burglary and a vehicle theft in Pasadena that was unreported at the time of their arrest in Chino Hills. They drove the stolen vehicle to Chino Hills to in an apparent to commit another residential burglary.

If anybody has any additional information in relation to either of these incidents, you are urged to contact the Chino Hills Police Station at (909) 364-2000. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at 800 78-CRIME.

 

We Grind Coffee Not Life at “It’s A Grind”

By Anthony Saude

 

Diamond Bar – I love coffee, all kinds of coffee; honestly I haven’t gone a day without coffee in decades. One might say I am a coffee connoisseur. I am not a drive thru type of person I love to go inside and smell the heavenly aroma, look at the pastries, maybe even read a book and relax; I just love the atmosphere of coffee shops. In today’s America with a coffee shop on almost every corner you can imagine how happy and fulfilling a day can be for me.

During my extensive research I discovered that different coffee shops might have a pastry I like better or better merchandise for sale and still others might have a favorite coffee drink of mine. One day, while out running some errands I saw a coffee shop I had never been in before, it’s called “It’s a Grind.” I have been a regular customer there ever since.

“It’s a Grind” has everything that I love there and I know you will love it too. The coffee is for sure the best feature about it. It is by far the most exceptional coffee I have tasted compared to any of the other places I’ve been. Remember, that is a lot of places. In addition to that the atmosphere isn’t a cyber lounge for college students.

The décor is made for comfort and relaxation with big comfy chairs and couches. Nancy Lien, the owner of the It’s A Grind in Diamond Bar said, “Our philosophy is that a coffee shop should be a place to relax during your busy day even if it is for a short time.”  “Life is too short we want to provide a place where you can slow down, drink your coffee and enjoy what you have in your life.”

The pastries are top notch and if you have the time they also have delicious freshly made breakfast or lunch sandwiches for your enjoyment. They really have so many non coffee shop features, like they offer catering with free delivery in the City of Diamond Bar. “We have monthly events, this month we will be bringing you a live Rock and Roll night on January 26th at 7:30 p.m.,” said Lien

For a limited time they are offering a 10% discount on your total purchase when you bring the ad that is located in this issue. If you want the advice of a coffee professional do not just pass this “It’s a Grind” location up, you will be missing out. You can find them at:

1223 S. Diamond Bar Blvd, Diamond Bar CA 91765.

Give them a call for catering or event information at (909)860-5120

Look them up on Facebook: ItsAGrindDiamondBar

Instagram: @itsagrind_db

Or log on to the website:www.itsagrind.com

Sheriff Golf Tournament Honors Former DB Mayor Jack Tanaka

By Michael Armijo

Walnut, Diamond Bar – The Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club will host a golf tournament in honor of former Diamond Bar Mayor Jack Tanaka on April 2, 2018. Tanaka passed away in August of last year after a battle with cancer. He spent 10 years as a city council member and mayor.

“Jack was always the first to contribute to our annual golf tournaments, always stopping by the booster club booth at the city birthday party, and a fervent support of the volunteers who serve at the Sheriff’s station,” said Booster Club President Gil Rivera.

Tanaka stated that the city council, staff and residents have made his 10 years of service memorable and a great learning experience. His last day in office was be Dec. 1, 2016.

Tanaka, first elected in 2005, served twice as the city’s mayor and served on the City’s Planning Commission for more than three years. He said he wanted to spend more time with family, but will still remain active in the community who he considers family.
A retired U.S. Army Sergeant and former peace officer with the California Youth Authority and State Department of Corrections, Tanaka was first elected to the Diamond Bard city council in 2005.
A constant fixture in the community, Tanaka and his wife Wanda devoted much of their time to helping out in the community especially youth. From the Miss Diamond Bar Pageant and the local Humane Society to community birthday parties and city concerts, the Tanaka’s were always there to lend a helping hand.
The Tanakas moved to Diamond Bar in 1976 and have since remained actively involved in community matters. In 2012, the couple was honored with Lions Clubs International’s Lion of the Year Award, the organization’s highest honor and usually given to only one person in the world. This is one of many reasons he has earned the honor of being recognized by the Sheriff’s annual event.

“Thousands of hours are donated annually by our department’s volunteers, explorers, reserves and disaster communication specialists,” Captain Alfred Reyes said in an earlier statement last year.  “From vacation checks and traffic control to color guard and keeping disaster communication equipment ready in case of emergency, these are a few of the many services they provide the community.”

If you would like to contribute and/or cannot attend and would like to donate, the Booster Club is looking for 150 minimum promotional product donations to help in honoring the volunteers.
The registration will be at 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and followed by a Shotgun Start of 11:15a.m. on  April 8 at the Western Hills Country Club, 1800 Carbon Canyon Rd., in Chino Hills. A luncheon will immediately follow the tournament.

Since 1987, the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club has provided thousands of dollars to the Reserve, Volunteer, Explorer, and Disaster Communication Services (DCS) programs for the Cities of Diamond Bar and Walnut, and the community of Rowland Heights, to finance needs not funded by the County, Cities, or the Sheriff’s Department.

This cannot be accomplished without participation from local businesses, as well as individual citizens. Membership in the Booster Club helps ensure that needed funding for these auxiliary programs is available to help protect our communities and provide a high degree of safety for our citizens.

Sponsorship opportunities are available as follows:
Platinum sponsor – $3,000- Includes 16 players/four teams, recognition during the awards luncheon, repeated advertising of your company in Our Weekly newspaper and during the tournament, name placement on event signage and a recognition certificate from the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club.
Gold sponsor – $2,000- Includes 8 players/two teams, recognition in Our Weekly newspaper, recognition during the awards luncheon, name placement on event signage and a recognition certificate from the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club.
Silver sponsor – $1,000-Includes one team of four players and a recognition certificate from the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club.
Other sponsorship opportunities include- Soft drink/Beer Cart Sponsors for $1,000, Hole-In-One sponsor for $500, Goodie Bag Sponsor for $500, Closest-to-the-Pin Sponsor for $400, and Tee Sign Sponsorship for $100.
Captain Reyes encourages community members to join this fun and meaningful tournament to continue to help provide the needed uniforms and equipment to the people who volunteer their time to improve the service and security to the cities of Walnut and Diamond Bar, and the unincorporated communities of Rowland Heights, Covina Hills and West Covina.

“Each year we hold an annual golf tournament to raise funds for this event among other needs the department needs that are not on the budget from the county,” said Sheriff Booster President Gil Rivera of www.SellYourCasa.com. “They give generously of their time to help in many areas including patrol and vacation home checks, in addition to thousands of hours at sobriety check points and school traiffic assistance.”

For information and reservations, contact Sgt. Mark Saldecke, volunteer coordinator, at (909) 595-2264, mcsaldec@lasd.org or Gil Rivera, booster club member at (909) 967-4525, GRiveraEmail@gmail.com.

Two Residential Burglary Suspects Arrested In Diamond Bar

Staff Reports

Diamond Bar – Two residential Burglary suspects were arrested on 01/05/2018 at approximately 01:00 am in the city of Diamond Bar.

Deputies responded to a call regarding suspicious males in the area of Golden Springs and Rancheria. After a search of the area, the responding deputy saw a male sitting in the vehicle that matched the description and detained the suspect. A search of the vehicle was conducted and revealed a large amount of stolen property along with burglary tools.

The second suspect was detained and arrested while on foot in the immediate area, his identification was later found in the vehicle near the stolen property.

Anyone who witnessed anything at that time and place is encouraged to call the station at 909.595.2264 or call the we-tip hotline at 800 78-CRIME.

Busy Hands, Hearts a Night of Giving

By Kelli Gile

WALNUT — The sounds of holiday music, delightful conversation, warm hearts, and busy hands filled Walnut Elementary School’s multipurpose room during a Family Night of Giving held December 15.

Students penned letters to show support for first responders that would later be distributed through the Operation Gratitude project.

At another table, families worked side-by-side tying knots on fleece blankets for City of Hope patients while enjoying cookies and hot chocolate.

Students also made a take-home snowman craft to remember the evening of compassion they shared with family and friends.

In total, over 100 pairs of pajamas, a truck full of toys for needy children, and blankets for local shelter animals were collected for the giving event.

“We hope that our small contribution this holiday season will provide a bit of cheer to children, animals, and first responders,” said elementary learning specialist Jill Takayama.

Two Arrested after Armed Robbery and a Pursuit

By Anthony Saude

Chino Hills – On December 29, 2017, at 2:00 a.m., a male suspect entered a gas station, in the 4000 Block of Chino Hills Parkway. While inside the business, the suspect brandished a handgun and pointed it at the clerk and demanded all the money he had in the cash register. The clerk turned over the money and the suspect immediately fled the building, jumped into a white Kia Optima and sped off. Law enforcement officers located the vehicle shortly after the robbery took place and initiated a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle failed to pull over for the officers and a pursuit ensued. The officers pursued the vehicle until it  concluded in the city of Compton. Two male suspects got out of the vehicle and fled on foot away from the vehicle with the officers in pursuit. The suspects were apprehended and taken into custody without any resistance and were booked into West Valley Detention Center, jail records say.  The suspects were identified as William Vandegrift and Ricky Vaughn. The face charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and felony parole violations.  Ongoing investigation has revealed both men may have been involved in multiple robberies within Los Angeles County and Orange County.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Deputy G. Livingston at the Chino Hills Sheriff’s Station at (909) 364-2000.If you wish to remain anonymous you may contact WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME.
Refer to: Deputy Linvingston

 

Volunteers On Patrol

By Anthony Saude

Diamond Bar – Are you the type of person that cares what happens to their neighbors and community? Do you feel that it is your civil duty to report a crime or wrongdoing in your neighborhood? The City of Diamond Bar has a program in place that you may be a good fit for.

The Volunteers on Patrol Program in the City of Diamond Bar is looking for individuals who are interested in being the “extra eyes and ears” for local law enforcement. Members of the Community Volunteer Patrol contribute thousands of yours each year to help patrol the City of Diamond Bar.

The job of a volunteer is simple, observe and report crimes and suspicious or unusual activity; conduct vacations checks; report graffiti vandalism; keep an eye on school and park activities; and check on the general welfare of elderly and shut in residents.

Members of the Volunteer become a representative of the Sheriff’s Department, as well the city and county administration so it is essential that they maintain an image of professionalism at all times. Their appearance, demeanor and professionalism must be above reproach while serving in the program.

The Volunteer Mission Statement for the LASD Civilian Volunteers is be dedicated to providing excellent service through relationships that build trust, create a safe environment, and enhance the quality of life in the community within a “Tradition of Service.

Is this program for you? To become a Diamond Bar Volunteer Patrol member all you do is contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department by calling 909-595-2264.

 

Chino Council Rejects Appeal Fee

By Anthony Saude

Chino – Changes for some user fees for Chino residents in 2018, as a matter of fact one will be cut out all together. Residents will no longer have to pay a fee to appeal decisions made by the city’s staff and planning commission. The mayor voiced concerns about residents being financially burdened during the appeal process.

The City staff recommended a fee of $280 to help recover part of the cost of the paper work. It was reported that the city manager said that the fee was 5 to 10 percent of the total cost of $3899. These type of fees are not unusual for cities to have, It was reported that Chino Hills has fees that are roughly the same as the proposed fees.  However the Chino city council unanimously agreed to do away with the fee, so the residents will pay nothing to file those appeals.

There were some changes that were made at the December 19 council meeting that remained in place the appeal fee just wasn’t one of them. Most of the changes that were kept were small, only going up or down a few dollars; some of the increases could be substantial for the people doing development projects. It was reported that a staff analysis showed and the average small residential development project will have an overall increase of 2.05 percent to $393 in associated user fees. The average medium industrial project will increase by 1.83 percent to $578. Overall the impact of the changes was a 1.16 percent increase.

Many fees associtated with water usage actually decreased. Water meter upgrades or installation will cost less in 2018 and delinquent payment fees will stay the same unless there is evidence of valve tampering. If that is the case the fee went up to $401

There were a number of fines that went up, you can expect to pay $4 more than the previous $73 if police have to come out to a loud party. Truancy and curfew fees also we up from $45 in 2017 to $47. Of course new fees are always a part of the process. People looking to obtain certificates for temporary occupancy will pay a fee based on the size of the project. They will range from $674 to $1376.

 

 

 

 

Walnut Valley USD Trustees Elect New Officers

Photo courtesy: Kelli Gile
Congratulations, Madam President! WVUSD Board President Dr. Tony Torng passes the gavel to Cindy Ruiz who was elected 2018 Board President during the December 13 meeting.

Pass the Gavel!

By Kelli Gile

WALNUT–The Walnut Valley Unified School District (WVUSD) Board of Trustees elected Cindy Ruiz as president, Larry Redinger as vice president, and Helen Hall as clerk during the annual reorganization meeting on December 13.

These roles are one-year terms and effective immediately.

Trustee Dr. Tony Torng was honored with an engraved plaque for his outstanding leadership as the 2017 Board president.

“I’d like to thank Dr. Torng for his wonderful service this past year as president and welcome back Mrs. Cindy Ruiz as president. We’re looking forward to a great next year!” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor.

Photo courtesy: Kelli Gile
Outgoing Board President Dr. Tony Torng is honored during the annual reorganization meeting on December 13. Shown with trustees Larry Redinger, Cindy Ruiz, and Helen Hall.

The WVUSD Board of Trustees usually meet the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the District Education Center Board Room located at 880 S. Lemon Avenue in Walnut.  Please visit the website at www.wvusd.k12.ca.us or call the District Office at (909) 595-1261 to confirm exact dates, times, and location for meetings.

 

Man Killed After SUV Crashes Into Tree In Chino Hills

Courtesy: Google Images

By Anthony Saude

Chino Hills – A 74-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident when his Honda Pilot SUV crashed into a tree on Wednesday, December 20, in Chino Hills. The 73-year-old passenger in the vehicle escaped with only minor injuries.  The SUV crashed into the tree — which fell over and blocked both lanes of the Chino Hills Parkway, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

It reported that investigators believe that Felipe Rustia, of Chino Hills, was driving southbound on Chino Hills parkway when drove over a raised cement center divider and into a tree on the divider. The accident took place just south of Walnut Creek Drive. The Passenger Noel Rustia, 73, also of Chino Hills was a passenger in the vehicle; she was transported to a local hospital via ambulance with only minor injuries, the police report said.

The release said that, the incident was reported just before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. When deputies arrived on the scene they found the SUV had sustained serious front-end damage. The tree was also down, blocking the northbound and southbound lanes of Chino Hills Parkway.

Rustia crossed Walnut Creek Drive and for an unknown reason, drove over the cement divider and hit a large tree in the grass area, the release said.

Chino Hills Parkway between Grand Avenue and Walnut Creek Drive was closed until 6:30 am on Thursday the cause of the accident is still be determined.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call the sheriff’s Office at the Chino Hills Station at 909-364-2000.

Chino Council Topples Estates Project

By Anthony Saude

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

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

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

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

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

 

Chino Partners with Waste Management

City of Chino

City of Chino

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

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

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

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

Automation And Robotics Course Launches At Suzanne

Photo courtesy: WVUSD

By Kelli Gile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I like working with the tools!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Vandalism at Pacos Tacos

By Anthony Saude

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

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

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

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

New Charter School Accepted

By Anthony Saude

 

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

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

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

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

Food Drive Brings in 8,000 Donations

By Kelli Gile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Avoiding Apartment Rental Scams

By Walnut/DB Sheriff’s Department


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

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

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

Fatal Shooting Justified

Photo courtesy: Chino PD

By Anthony Saude

Chino – The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office in favor of a Chino police officer for a fatal shooting of a man on  July 23, 2016

Bernard Wells III, 31 of San Diego, was shot and killed when he pointed a gun at Lt. William Covington and ignored an order to stop during a foot pursuit.

The incident took place at about 9:15 p.m. in a parking lot in the 12100 parking lot of Central Avenue. Wells approached a family and said that he was “looking for some weed” according to the District Attorney’s report at the time. Witnesses told investigators that Wells kept his hands on the front of his pants and they thought that he had a gun in his possession.

Wells drove away after the family told him they didn’t have any marijuana the DA’s report said. A little later a police officer was driving by and was flagged down by the family. While the officer was speaking with the family Wells drove by. The family pointed out Well’s vehicle out to the officer.

Wells parked his car and was getting out when the officer approached him. The officer attempted to search Wells; when he refused to let the officer search him he took off running. The office went after him in pursuit and radioed it in.

Covington was wearing a body camera that clearly shows him leaving a store; he heard the officer’s radio broadcast of the pursuit. He set his ice cream on the trunk of his patrol car and ran toward the area that Wells was running towards. The body camera that Covington was wearing clearly shows that he cut Wells off, pulled in gun and yelled, “get on the ground right now!”

Wells raised his right arm and pointed a gun at Covington the report said. Covington fired three shots at Wells and he went down. The Paramedics arrived on the scene and transported Wells to a nearby hospital via ambulance. He was pronounced dead later that evening.

Powering Through Plateaus

By Dave Nelson

You’ve been doing it. You’ve been doing it right. You’re eating well (even on the weekends). You’re making every one of your workouts count, and your results to this point have been fantastic. But then it happens… THE DREADED PLATEAU!

This is one of the most frustrating things that everyone trying to get healthy and fit experiences. One thing that you need to understand is that the human body is highly adaptive. Even though you’re on a “clean” diet and a good exercise regimen, eventually your body will get used to what you’re doing.

At first the results are great, but eventually they come screeching to a halt. Since our bodies are used to what we’ve been doing, we need to do something radically different to shock ourselves and get our results going in the right direction again. Here are a few tips to help break through that plateau.

TIP1: Change the diet, your body will eventually get used to the way you’re eating and results will halt. Throwing your body a curveball can happen many ways here. If you are following an IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros) type of plan, you may want to consider going into ketosis for a while. Switching your body from glucose to ketones as energy is a great strategy. If you’re in ketosis you may want to throw some carb cycling in the mix. Make it a little more extreme with intermittent fasting for a while. I cannot stress enough that any diet will work as long as it fits your lifestyle. One reason diet fails is because people choose those that do not fit their lifestyle.

TIP2: Change your workout, your body will adapt to the workout program you’ve been following. All it takes is a few simple tweaks get your body going in the right direction again. Try taking only 60-seconds rest in between your sets and see if the difficulty of your workouts increase. If 60-seconds doesn’t show promise, try 45-seconds or even 30- seconds. The point is to challenge your body in a whole new way. You can change the time of day that you work out, alter the style of training that you’re doing; try muscle hypertrophy, German volume training, strength training or training for muscle endurance. Change from doing steady state cardio to high intensity interval training or vise versa. Perhaps you start weight training in the mornings and do cardio at night. Whatever it is you decide, make sure that it fits your lifestyle so you can stick with it just like the diet.

TIP3: Try supplements. Not everyone utilizes supplements but they can impact and enhance your results. Taking a pre-workout 30- minutes prior to your workout can intensify your workouts by increasing energy to enhancr your performance. If you are already taking a pre-workout, you may want to try a different kind for a while just to switch things up. I would highly suggest taking branched chain amino acids (BCAAs). The combination of leucine, isoleucine, and valine is an excellent complex to help enhance recovery times so you can go into the next workout less sore and ready to go. You may also want to consider a protein shake if you are not hitting your target protein intake daily.

Dave Nelson  – CN, CPT has been voted top rated personal trainer in the Inland Empire two year running.

For more info check out his website: http://www.davenelsonfit.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/davenelsonfit/

 

Diamond Bar High Wins Golden Bell Award

By Kelli Gile

DIAMOND BAR–Diamond Bar High is a well-established leader in student achievement in the state and nation.

Staff members are dedicated to providing personalized educational programs, challenging students to discover their unique gifts, and supporting each student to realize their potential.

But, the quest for greatness isn’t always academic.

Last year, the campus launched a Wellness Center to provide an extra layer of counseling support and wellness education services.

And in just 15 months, the school’s pioneering efforts have been validated.

The California School Boards Association (CSBA) selected Diamond Bar High to receive the prestigious 2017 Golden Bell Award for its innovative efforts in addressing the wellness needs of the over 3,000 students on campus.

The heart of the Wellness Center is helping students learn to cope with everyday problems, according to coordinator Sandy Davis.

“The educational services and resources provided promote student responsibility, resiliency and efficacy in students’ own wellness decisions,” said Davis.

The center services approximately 30 students weekly with the motto “Empowering Student Wellness from Within.”

This year, the growing program is staffed by 23 student interns who can relate peer-to-peer on most challenging teen issues.  These wellness consultants receive an additional 30 hours of intensive training, as well as earning Mental Health First Aide certification.

The center offers stress and anxiety relief, progressive relaxation exercises, and guided meditation designed to help students reduce stress.

Weekly therapy dog visitations are among the most popular of the services offered to students and staff.

Recent outreach efforts include mini-workshops on stress management facilitated for two AP European History classes.

The Wellness Program also garnered the 2017 California Gold Ribbon and 2016 Inspired Changemaker awards by Facebook and Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to support teens’ positive and successful transition into the next phase of their lives,” Davis said.

The CSBA Golden Bell Award presentation was made during the Annual Education Conference on November 30 in San Diego.