Walnut/West Covina: Suspect Shot After Walnut Robbery

STAFF REPORTS

LA SheriffWalnut/West Covina – A suspect was fatally shot in West Covina after a car chase and a home invasion robbery occurred in Walnut.

On Friday, Feb. 13 at around 4:57 p.m., a male called the Walnut Sheriff’s Station and stated that a man was in his home with a gun demanding money from his mother, according to the LA County Sheriff’s Department. The caller also stated that a black car was parked in front of his residence, which was located near Lemon Avenue and Amar Road.

When Sheriff’s deputies arrived to the Walnut residence, a black vehicle was reported to be driving towards them at a high rate of speed. A pursuit was initiated and police followed the suspect to the parking lot off Nogales Street and La Puente Road in unincorporated West Covina.

The male suspect then ran from the vehicle and into a Bestway Market, where he ran through the back door and into the neighborhood behind the market. The suspect ran through several backyards in the neighborhood in an attempt to evade Sheriff’s deputies, according the Sheriff’s Department.

At around 5:20 p.m., the suspect was located in the 19100 block of Elberland Street, in unincorporated West Covina. A deputy-involved shooting occurred and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. However, no weapon has been found at or near the scene, according to sheriff officials.

The suspect was later identified as Javier Mendez, 35.

A female adult passenger of the suspect’s vehicle was taken into custody and a young child who was in the vehicle was taken into protective custody.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

EASTVALE: Details Released On Police Chase Through Eastvale Feb. 13

BY: JENNIFER MADRIGAL

eastvalePD-2inchEastvale – After a police chase involving 4 different law enforcement agencies that raced through the streets of Eastvale at 3 am on Feb 13, officials released information on the details of the early hour event.

A Seal Beach Police unit that was investigating the suspects, spotted a 2006 Black Range Rover suspected of being involved in the burglary at Tacos Del Rio on Feb. 6, entering Eastvale. The same vehicle was suspected of being a part of a burglary in Chino Hills around 2 am the morning of Feb. 13. The Riverside Sheriff’s Department was contacted and advised of the suspect vehicle whereabouts throughout the early morning, officials said.

According to a police report, when the suspect vehicle exited the 15 freeway south at Limonite in Eastvale, a “vehicle enforcement stop” was attempted by Riverside County Sheriffs, but the suspects vehicle failed to yield. A pursuit through the City of Eastvale then began at speeds of 60 mph with the suspects committing numerous vehicle code violations.

Near Cobble Creek and Gold Creek in Eastvale, the passenger jumped from the vehicle and ran west bound while the vehicle continued its path through residential streets. When the driver turned onto Morning Mist, he jumped from the vehicle and left it running. The Range Rover then continued moving forward and crashed into the parked car on Potter Creek, the report stated.

The driver of the Range Rover fled the scene on foot and a pursuit ensued. Riverside Sheriff Dept.K-9’s promptly responded to the scene and a search for the suspects began. Since, RSO’s helicopter was not available, an Orange County Sheriff’s helicopter responded to assist in the search.

According to the report, Officers continued to canvas the area attempting to locate the suspects, and many residents reported having their doors banged on and their backyards searched.  Eventually, Orange County Sheriff’s helicopter spotted the driver hiding in a construction site. Officers were able to identify and arrest the suspect. The driver suffered head trauma and was treated on scene and transported to a local hospital.

A large metal safe and other items suspected to have been used in burglaries as well as loose cash and change were located inside the Range Rover.

As of February 19, the other suspect, the passenger, had not been located. His description has not yet been released.

The investigation is on-going and we will keep the community updated as it is released.
(Photo courtesy of city of Eastvale)

EASTVALE: Feb. 12 City Council Recap

BY: TIANA GOEGEBUER

The February 12 meeting was attended by Council Members Bill Link, Jeff DeGrandpre, and Ric Welch, along with Mayor Pro-Tem Adam Rush and Mayor Ike Bootsma.  The invocation was led by Pastor Rob Norris from the Crossings Church.  There was a presentation of Wear Red Day by the American Heart Association, as well as a presentation by Taylor York for the Clean Cities Coalition, and a presentation regarding the Hamner Avenue Waterline Project.  Joseph C. Blum, the Project Manager with the Chino Desalter Authority, also gave a presentation regarding the Chino Desalter Expansion Project.

During the Public Comment/Citizen Participation portion of the meeting, Girl Scout Troop 152 spoke of how students and adults often ignore crosswalk laws, and requested that the Council pose a new crossing guard study on a day that there are no minimum days and traffic is normal to see what could be improved upon.  The Council voted unanimously to revisit the problem and possibly place more volunteer crossing guards in school areas to help with safety issues.  Also, the respective Pastors of Life Church, Vantage Point Church, and Crossings Church all petitioned to have the sign laws being imposed on churches altered, since signs are vital to the growth of churches and therefore benefit the community.

Public Safety Commission Member Kris Kiltz, speaks to the City Council about the importance of Public Safety.

Public Safety Commission Member Kris Kiltz, speaks to the City Council about the importance of Public Safety.

There were no Public Hearing or Old Business items.  The New Business items section was as follows:

8.1: Recommendation from Eastvale Community Foundation for New Board Member Appointment: 5-0 to appoint Scott Row to the CFO position.

8.2: CitySourced App in Partnership with Jurupa Community Services District: 5-0 passed a motion to discuss the financing in 6 months.

8.3: Determine Planning Process for the Chandler Area of the City: 5-0 passed a motion requesting further examination of economic development plans.

8.4: Public Safety Commission 2013 Year in Review, and Duties and Responsibilities of the Commission: 5-0 motioned to improve the structure of the Commission, and meet with representatives again at a later meeting.

The City Manager did not give a report and the meeting adjourned at 9:15 with closing comments from the Council.

Ontario: Elderly Scam

ONTARIO POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT

Ontario Police Department

Ontario Police Department (Photo Courtesy: socalcops.org)

Ontario – The Ontario Police Department is warning its residents, in particular its elderly residents, about a scam that has surfaced recently.  A total of six arrests have been made during this investigation, along with the recovery of thousands of dollars provided by at least four elderly victims, who reside in two different states.

Detectives have investigated several cases in which elderly victims were contacted via telephone by a suspect pretending to be the victim’s grandson. The caller (suspect) has personal information about the victim to include the victim’s location of residence, birth date and full identifying information about the grandchild they are impersonating.

In an incident that occurred on Jan. 30, the suspect, claiming to be the victim’s grandchild, telephoned the victim to say he had been arrested and was being held in a California jail. The suspect franticly pleads with the victim to send a large amount of money (in cash) to a residence in Ontario, California.

The victim (a 92-year-old Amarillo, Texas resident) spoke with a second subject who claimed to be, but is actually impersonating, a law enforcement officer.  That suspect directs the victim to deliver a large amount of money to a specific location in the City of Ontario, California. The victim, sensing something was wrong with the request, alerted local law enforcement and sent an empty package to the requested drop point in Ontario.

Ontario Police Detectives were made aware of the pending money pick up and during their investigation contacted a male and female who were discovered waiting where the money was to be delivered. The suspects were arrested after being found in possession of the package sent from Amarillo, Texas.

During further investigation, Detectives discovered three other victims who were scammed in a similar manner. One elderly victim sent a number of packages totaling $210,000 in cash from her Nebraska home to several destinations in the Inland Empire area (California). Unfortunately, only a small portion of that money was intercepted, causing that victim to suffer a substantial loss.

Two other elderly victims (for a total of four victims), who also reside in Texas and Nebraska, were scammed in a similar manner as well. These victims sent nearly $15,000 in cash to various locations in the Inland Empire area (California). Luckily, this money was intercepted and returned to the victims.

The two subjects arrested in Ontario have been identified as Desiree Marie Delgado, 19, of Fontana, and James Michael Colangelo, 19, of Fontana.

During further investigation, searches were conducted in the cities of Bloomington, Fontana and Rialto. This follow-up resulted in four additional arrests, along with the recovery of further evidence linking all six arrestees to the scam.

The additional arrestees are identified as Jose Fernando Garcia, 45, of Bloomington, Juan Martinez Lopez, 41, of Rialto, Walter Alexander Ayala, 29, of Fontana, and Mikaela Marie Bosch, 19, of Fontana.

All arrestees were booked into the West Valley Detention Center (Rancho Cucamonga) for various charges to include grand theft, identity theft, theft from an elder, elder abuse and conspiracy. Colangelo and Bosch were additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

Ontario Police warn residents to be cautious of anyone who calls and asks for money in such an unusual manner. Regardless of who the caller claims to be, it is best to contact someone of authority to independently confirm the caller’s identity. Police also recommend contacting a family member of the alleged caller (grandchild) in an attempt to confirm the grandchild’s location.

Ontario Police Detectives are concerned there may be other victims of this scam. Anyone who has been contacted in a similar manner or feels they have been victimized by this scam is asked to c

Eastvale Police Department Conducts Safety Oriented Saturation Patrol

Courtesy City of Eastvale
CITY OF EASTVALE – On Wednesday, February 19th the Eastvale Police Department conducted yet another special saturation patrol in the City of Eastvale focused on driver safety.

The officers provided additional education, awareness and enforcement in the area of Limonite Avenue and Hamner Avenue. Visitors to the Eastvale Gateway Shopping Center may have seen four patrol units gathered together conducting a field briefing prior to this special operation.

The safety saturation patrol resulted in 17 citations issued for various moving violations including: driving without a seat belt, driving while using a hand-held wireless telephone devises (Vehicle Code Sections 23123 and 27315) or illegal turning movements.

The goal of the special enforcement measures is to provide an increased education, awareness and traffic enforcement which have proven to be very successful in the city.

For your safety, citizens are encouraged to always obey the posted speed limits, wear your seat belt(s), refrain from using a hand-held wireless telephone devise while driving and follow the traffic signal movements.

Inland Empire: School Custodian Arrested

SCHOOL CUSTODIANMatt Frazer CDL photo Mattt Frazer booking photo ARRESTED FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING SMALL CHILD AND PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY – POSSIBLE VICTIMS SOUGHT 

Inland Empire – A  custodian with the Morongo Unified School District, who was arrested last month for repeatedly sexually abusing a child over a period of several years and sharing visual depictions of the activity online was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this month, announced Bill Lewis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and André Birotte, the United States Attorney for the Central District of California.

Matthew Frazer, 42, of Yucca Valley, was arrested at his place of employment on January 31, 2014 and charged in a federal criminal complaint that has been sealed by the court.  On Wednesday, February 12, 2014, a federal grand jury in Riverside returned an indictment charging Frazer with production of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2251(a).   The indictment alleges the defendant knowingly enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing pornography.

Frazer was arraigned on February 19 and entered a plea of not guilty.  A trial date has been set for April 18, 2014.

Evidence obtained during this investigation suggests that Frazer may have victimized additional minors not yet identified.  Anyone who believes they may have information about this investigation or knowledge of possible victims is urged to contact the FBI.   For this reason, a photograph of Frazer is being released publicly.

Prior to his arrest in January, Frazer was employed as a custodian with the Morongo Unified School District.

This case was initiated in 2013, after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) provided to the FBI a series of pornographic images depicting a 4-6 year old female toddler being abused by a white male.   For several months, investigators attempted to identify the male depicted in the images and identified Frazier as the suspect earlier this year.

If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Frazer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years, and a statutory maximum sentence of thirty years in prison.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI.  The following agencies provided assistance during the investigation:  Riverside Police Department; the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department; the San Bernardino Police Department; the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department; and the San Bernardino County Probation Department.  This investigation is continuing.

Frazer will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Riverside, part of the Central District of California.

Photos courtesy FBI, blue background is drivers license photo, grey background is the booking photo.

INLAND EMPIRE: Staring Into The Darkness…..

By Michael Armijo

  It was a strange day. I knew it when I woke at 3 a.m. I felt the pressure begin that early. And for the first time in my life the pressure was overwhelming. I stared into the mirror while the cold sweat dripped into the empty sink below. I gazed onward, veering at the tremendous bags under my eyes, and then I tried to rub the pain from my chest. The erratic beating of my heart confused and alarmed me, but I refused to let it be a warning.

As my day continued, the pressure seemed to build. The lectures, the threats, the bills, the worries, the irrational people with their idiotic responses. It just wouldn’t stop.

My emotions went from stress, to panic, to anger, to numbness.  Suddenly, everything that was important to me became irrelevant. All that I knew that was important was now a distant thought. A forgotten feeling. It was a weird sensation that made me fearless, something that showed me a path I had never seen. A road that was once fearful of travel was now a road that seemed appealing. This was now a time that I felt that nothing mattered. Nothing, no one, no thing. It was simply a time when I felt that there were no consequences. There was nothing to stop me from acting out any bizarre emotion, any outburst of feeling. I was at the end of my rope. It was as if I were gazing into a black hole. Although nothing was there, you couldn’t see a thing, something unforeseen was attracting my spirit. Something was pulling at my soul. I just couldn’t stop staring into the darkness.

It brought back the memory of my son’s friend who took his life one dark day years ago. After he pulled the trigger in front of his peers, and as he lay motionless on the campus pavement, the biggest question was unanswerable: “Why didn’t he say anything?” Others said, “Had I only known, I would’ve helped.”

Remembering that story was when I realized I knew what happens on a lonely and impassionate day.  It isn’t that when a person feels the bitter grueling emotion of desperation that no one is there to reach for them or that no one was listening. It’s at that point a distraught person will just never reach. It’s when a person gets to a point in their life that nothing matters. They just can’t reach out for anyone anymore. They’re done, and it’s just simply a time to move on.

The numbness the world has invoked on you makes you feel distant and hopeless. You can’t smile, you can’t cry. If you tried to scream, your mouth would open and nothing could come out. Your energy level is so low that the vocals from your throat just can’t conceive. You feel as though your entire life, as you know it, never mattered, never existed. You are now, subconsciously, preparing yourself for the next world.

It’s at that one instant when you feel that this life is no longer your own. You can only close your eyes and imagine how people feel when they decide to do something drastic, like pick up a heavy, handheld weapon, while feeling the cold circular steel press against their skull. They slowly close their tear-filled eyes while thinking of all those who loved them, and then they lightly squeeze.

Suddenly, all that you’ve accomplished within your life has been erased. The person you “are now” becomes the person “you were.” Everything that is “yours now” becomes everything you “left behind.” It goes from “he is” to “he was.” It’s at this time that you find out who really loved you, and you find out whose lives you’ve really impacted. People will cry uncontrollably, and others will be angry. Your loved ones will think about your actions, uncontrollably, for the rest of their own lives.

Unfortunately, you cannot erase what you’ve done. You can’t come back; you can’t erase the pain you’ve caused when you pulled that trigger. And the sad part is, for that one moment of desperation you experienced, so many lives were changed forever.

The next world? There are no guarantees that you won’t suffer for what you’ve done. So your passionate gamble could now be eternal. You could, quite possibly, pay eternally for what you did spontaneously and emotionally.

It’s at this time you realize that these consequences aren’t an option nor are they a question. They are simply a result of an emotion. These thoughts and these actions haunt those who can’t see the light. Those who can’t see the truth. They can’t see these things because their vision is clouded, their sight is constricted, because …. they’re constantly staring into the darkness…..

Premier Body Sculpt

Premier Body Sculpt can be reached at 1-(855) 8-SCULPT

Premier Body Sculpt can be reached at 1-(855) 8-SCULPT

Liposuction Without The Suction

By Michael Armijo

Claremon – Body Sculpting is best described as an alternate way to lose body fat in specific areas that are hard to reach, including under arms, love handles, inner thighs, or even the breast area on a man. The procedure seems to be relatively new, but it’s actually an old technique that is revised.

So upon visiting the Premier Body Sculpt Center in Upland, I was a bit skeptical about their “amazing new technology coming to work.” The combination of Ultrasonic Cavitation and Radio Frequency (RF) was said to show amazing results without the inconvenience, pain and down-time of surgery. But the skeptics are over.

This non-invasive liposuction technology works by using sonic energy and vibration to destroy and collapse fat cells, thereby facilitating the body’s natural process to metabolize and move fat out through the lymphatic system. Unlike liposuction, and for a fraction of the cost, results can be seen immediately with no bruising, swelling, or scars.

The best way to describe it would be: imagine getting a huge bag and placing small water balloons inside. Then imagine tapping the bag until the water balloons break. This same concept is applied to Body Sculpting. It liquefies the fat and then the body processes the fat through the urine. Sounds different, but the body processes the fat this way, and the results are immediate, with further results through the week.

When I experienced Body Sculpting myself, all I had to do was lie down and sit up while the three step process was administered. The ultrasound radio frequency was a bit different, as sound waves emit through your body. That’s what ultrasound is, an emission of sound waves. But this is at a higher rate, and this is how fat is broken down. And when it emits, I can actually hear sound coming out of my ears. It took a moment to get used to, but eventually it didn’t faze me a bit.

When it comes to my health, I am on it. I need to know all the facts, the downsides, and the repercussions. I am a diabetic, so I am always some type of risk. But what gave me confidence was the technician is an RN, BSN, and Aesthetic Specialist. Linell Wagers administers the sound wave procedure, but also works the emergency room at a local hospital (I called to check too).

I could not find anything negative about the procedure, just opinion. But I did see results right away and the before and after pictures were alarming. I did three sessions and I am pleased with the results so far. The procedure is a bit pricey, but we agreed if we were to educate the community, a special price has to be offered. So the $249 procedure is only $49 for our readers. Yes, $49.

I personally like the results and I am going back to do more. I do recommend Body Sculpting and I also recommend you check out their website, watch the video, and make the best decision for yourself. If you have any further questions or would like to know more about my experience, feel free to ask me at coronavalleymike@gmail.com.

Premier Body Sculpt is located at Premier Body Sculpt is located 250 W First #116 in Claremont. You can reach them at 1-(855) 8-SCULPT or visit their website at www.premierbodysculpt.com.

Walnut Valley: WVUSD To Host Parent And Community Meetings

BY KELLI GILE

Walnut – Walnut Valley Unified School District will host three parent meetings in late February to discuss the new Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessment.  Kindergarten through 12th Grade families and community members are invited to attend.

“We want to really get the word out to our parents and community about the shifts taking place and how we’re preparing our students, and answer any questions they may have,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor.

The District-wide meetings will be held at Walnut and Diamond Bar High Schools and the District Office. The same presentation will be offered at each meeting.

•       Tuesday, Feb. 25:  Walnut High School Performing Arts Center – Presentations in Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, and English.

•       Wednesday, Feb.  26:  Diamond Bar High School Theater – Presentation in English.

•       Thursday, Feb.  27:  WVUSD District Office Board Room – Presentation in English.

In addition, all WVUSD schools will continue to provide information on these new standards and assessments.  Schools across the nation have been transitioning to new standards in language arts and math.  The Common Core standards focus on teaching students not only foundational skills, but how to think critically to be better prepared to succeed in college and the workplace.

To better align with 21st Century skills, nearly all future state testing, beginning this spring, will be computer based.  These new tests are called the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBAC).  The pilot SBACs will be administered this spring in Walnut Valley Schools.  All public schools in California will have the opportunity to pilot the computer-based assessments before the official SBAC assessments begin in 2014-2015.

For further information, please visit the website at http://www.wvusd.k12.ca.us.

Walnut/Diamond Bar: Patch.com Suffers Massive Layoffs

BY GLENN FREEMAN

(photo courtesy: Patch.com)

(photo courtesy: Patch.com)

Walnut/Diamond Bar – Just two weeks after an abrupt announcement in mid-January that AOL was partnering with Hale Global to run its troubled Patch.com network of hyper-local community news sites, the joint venture laid off hundreds of staff members.  With media reports saying upwards of 80 to 90 percent of the staff was let go, the move has severely impacted each of the 900 local sites.

According to news reports, staff members were notified of their termination via a conference call, wherein Patch’s Chief Operating Officer, Leigh Zarelli Lewis, relayed information on the restructuring.

“Patch is being restructured in connection with the creation of the joint venture with Hale Global,” Lewis said, according to an excerpt of the call printed on Jim Romenesko’s media blog. “Hale Global has decided which Patch employees will receive an offer of employment to move forward in accordance with their vision for Patch and which will not. Unfortunately, your role has been eliminated and you will no longer have a role at Patch and today will be your last day of employment with the company…Thank you, again, and best of luck.”

Locally, there are Patch sites for the communities of Diamond Bar-Walnut, Baldwin Park, Monrovia, Glendora, Claremont-La Verne, and Redlands-Loma Linda.  A Jan. 30 posting on the Diamond Bar-Walnut site by Editor, Melanie Johnson, says the local staff was among those let go.

“Hi, Diamond Bar-Walnut Patchers!  I am posting to let you know that Patch was recently purchased by a company who has decided to do some restructuring. As a result, the local editor positions have been eliminated, including mine,” Johnson posted.

The website is still being updated, but not as frequently and the content appears to be more broad and regional in nature. Former staffers say the sites are being updated from afar, with a small staff now covering all Patch sites within California (which had the most sites within the Patch network, by far).  What the future holds is still unclear, but more user-generated content has been mentioned by some.

In the Jan. 15 press release announcing the partnership, AOL and Hale Global said they are “Committed to re-launching Patch as an efficient platform that allows citizens and businesses to create and share locally-themed news and content – not just with those in their own communities, but to the wider world.”

Patch began in 2007 with the help of AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, who eventually encouraged AOL to buy the collection of hyper-local news sites in 2009.  Armstrong expressed confidence in Hale Global’s ability to turn the sites around, despite Patch’s financial problems.

“Hale Global has a strong track record of operational excellence and platform experience, and we are looking forward to working closely with them on Patch,” Armstrong said in the press release.  AOL plans to maintain a minority stake in Patch.

 

EASTVALE: Hit and Run (Vehicle vs. Student)

roosevelthighBY: JENNIFER MADRIGAL

Wednesday morning, Feb. 19, around 7:45am a 17 year old female Roosevelt student, was struck by an on coming vehicle while riding her bike. The vehicle that struck the victim did not stop and fled the scene, the suspect was driving a Silver Volkswagen, according to eyewitnesses at the scene.

“The victim was riding her bike eastbound on the north side of Citrus St. when she crossed against the red light across the rear access road to the high school,” said a witness, who will remain unidentified until the investigation is complete. “When she rode into the roadway and off the sidewalk, she was struck by the suspect’s vehicle.”

Another witness followed the suspects vehicle for around 20 minutes and contacted Eastvale Police Department. Eastvale PD Deputies promptly responded to the scene and attempted to locate both the victim and the suspect vehicle. According to students at Roosevelt, an announcement was made over the PA system asking for the unidentified student to please come to the office. Once she arrived, she was checked out and her parents were notified. Luckily, the victim was not majorly injured and walked away with only a scraped knee.

As of Wednesday morning, Police were still attempting to identify the suspect vehicle. If you see a silver Volkswagon with damage to the front or side, please contact the Eastvale PD at 951.776.1099.

Our Life: Remembering To See The Beauty

our life haiti pic color

By Sarah Armijo

Last year, I went on a Missions Trip to Haiti with a team of about 12 people. This was the first time I had ever been out of the country and had ever been on a Missions Trip, so I decided to make it count by going to a 3rd World Country.

If someone mentions Haiti, some think of the earthquake that happened in 2010, some think of poverty, some think of diseases, and some think of the corrupted government. Even though all of this is true about Haiti, now that I have been there, these aspects are not the first things that come to my mind. When I think of Haiti, I think of the beautiful mountains that surround the villages. I think of the clear blue water of the Caribbean Sea that some of my teammates were fortunate enough to get baptized in. I think of the fields of delicious crops that the Haitians grew themselves in order to survive. I think of the Haitian people in the villages waving at us and saying “Bonswa” (meaning hello in Creole) as you walk through the villages. I think of the smiling children who ran after our car just to get a glimpse of an American, as if we were famous.

When I think of Haiti, I can’t help but to think of the beauty of the country, mainly because of how welcoming the people were. We were strangers to these people. They didn’t know what we were doing there or what we were even saying, but they welcomed us into their homes, they let us hold their children, they let us pray with them, they smiled at us as we walked by, and they said hi to us as if we were another Haitian in their everyday lives. Even the Haitians (both children and adults) who could speak a little bit of English would try so hard to just have a simple “Hi, how are you?” or “What’s your name?” conversation with us…those small talk conversations we all dread in the United States.

You see, Haiti IS filled with poverty. It is filled with houses that are made of tree branches and tarps. It is filled with people who barely have food, clothes, and water. It is filled with people who shower once a week in a river in the middle of the day. It is filled with people who walk miles just to get a jug of water for their families. It is filled with people who rely on the sun to know what time it is or when it’s time to go to sleep, because they don’t have electricity. And it is filled with thousands of children who don’t have parents or families.

Knowing this, the first thing that probably comes to our minds is: how sad. How sad it is to live in this kind of environment. How sad it must be to have a child run up to you and hold your hand as you are walking through the village, just because they are seeking for affection. How sad that children are running around without clothes or diapers on, because their parents can’t afford it. How sad that some of the people survive on a meal of rice once a day. How sad.

But you see, despite all this, I think the real statement is how sad we are. How sad it is that we have so much in our lives, have so much food, shelter, clothes, family, water… and we take it all for granted. We waste it. And worse, we strive for more.

The Haitians are the complete opposite. They are praising God every second of every day for the little they have. They are appreciating every second of life and every scrap of food they can provide for themselves and for their families. They even appreciate something as simple as a picture we printed out for them, because they had never even seen their own face, let alone have ever had a picture of themselves.

There are so many little things we take advantage of because we tend to forget how fortunate we really are. So my challenge to you is to start noticing the beauty in your lives, and to appreciate everything you have. Start appreciating your family, friends, food, water, electricity, clothes, jobs, and for the amazing country we live in. Because as one of my teammates brought to our attention while we were in Haiti: we didn’t earn this lifestyle. Almost all of us didn’t work hard to be here in America. We were just born into a fortunate country, while others around the world were born into poverty. There was no difference or special task we did to be here. But as our team leader said, with that great fortune is a responsibility. We have a responsibility to appreciate every little thing we have, and a responsibility to help the ones that don’t have much.

I hope you will take the challenge to start appreciating the wonderful country we are fortunate to live in. I hope you will take the time to tell your loved ones how much you are thankful to have them. I hope you will stop striving for more, and start giving more instead. And I hope you will always remember to see the beauty in everything.

Pomona: Black History Month Living Museum At Armstrong Elementary

BY PUSD

Pomona – Students from Neil Armstrong Elementary School will portray the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement as part of a living history museum event being held at the school on Friday, Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Students will dress, act and speak like their historical counterparts as they educate visitors about Black History Month and the Civil Rights Movement. Neil Armstrong Elementary School is located at 22750 Beaverhead Drive, Pomona CA, 91766.

Chino Hills: Dog Park Workshop Feb. 19

BY CITY OF CHINO HILLS

Chino Hills – The Chino Hills Parks and Recreation Commission will hold the second workshop in a series of meetings with the community as they review opportunities to potentially create a dog park in the City. The Dog Park Workshop will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 14000 City Center Drive.

The start of the regular Parks and Recreation meeting will be delayed until 7:45 p.m. Staff will provide a recap of the January workshop and information gathered, and will review three park sites that have met the criteria identified as being important for a dog park. The three parks identified for further study include Alterra Park, Butterfield Park, and Vellano Park. Notices with details about the Feb. 19 meeting have been sent to neighbors of the three parks to include them in the discussion. In all, over 600 letters were mailed.

The second workshop will include smaller group discussions and review of each park site with the main points being presented to the entire group. Persons who are unable to attend are invited to submit their input by sending an email to cfructuoso@chinohills.org or by phone at (909) 364-2711.

The Parks and Recreation Commission has tentatively scheduled discussion of the dog park at their March 19 meeting after gathering information at the two workshops. For additional information, please call (909) 364-2711.

Diamond Bar: Library Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

BY DIAMOND BAR LIBRARY FRIENDS

Diamond Bar Library Volunteers

: (L to R) Council Members Jack Tanaka and Nancy Lyons; Volunteers of the Year Mary and Jim Hackett; Council Members Steve Tye and Carol Herrera; Basically BOOKS Volunteer of the Year, Peggy Murphy; Business of the Year Emma and George Yu; Councilmember Ling Ling Chang and Friends’ President, Ruth Low.

Diamond Bar – The 14th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was held at Diamond Palace Restaurant on Jan. 10.  This was an opportunity for the Friends of the Diamond Bar Library to thank all of the Basically BOOKS fifty-plus volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the Diamond Bar Library.

Basically BOOKS raised over $40,000 to support the local community library in 2013.  There are two locations, one inside the Diamond Bar Library at 21800 Copley Drive, and the other at 21447 Golden Springs Drive, both in Diamond Bar.  Please stop by and thank these dedicated volunteers in person and pick up some great values.

The dinner was also the perfect time for the Friends to thank outstanding people dedicated to the Diamond Bar Library.  President Ruth Low announced the Jack and Kathleen Newe Volunteer of the Year Award as Mary and Jim Hackett.  Mary and Jim have dedicated themselves over the past nine years to making Basically BOOKS such a successful non-profit bookstore.  Kathleen Newe presented them with the plaque and praised their outstanding dedication.  Peggy Murphy, who is taking over as the manager of Basically BOOKS as Mary retires, also received the Volunteer of the Year award.

Past President Rick Rogers announced the winner of the Jack and Eileen Tillery Business of the Year Award as George and Emma Yu, of Printing Dynamics in Walnut.  Printing Dynamics has been the printer for the Friends and the Wine Soirée for over 20 years, and has been invaluable in its success.  George has always been ready to advise and produce high-quality printing for the Friends.

Chino/Diamond Bar: Chino Resident Among Six Killed in Wrong Way Crash

Car Crash Diamond Bar

These are the remnants of vehicles in Sunday’s deadly crash. (Photo Courtesy: Google Images)

STAFF REPORTS

Chino – Kristin Melissa Young, 21, of Chino, lost her life in the unfortunate events that unraveled at approximately 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9.  A heartbreaking collision left six people dead, including a family of four.  Young was a passenger in a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro being driven by her friend, who was allegedly drunk at the time, when they crashed head-on into a red 1998 Ford Explorer.  The crash also killed the driver’s sister.

According to authorities, Olivia Carolee Culbreath, 21, of Fontana, was driving the wrong way on the westbound 60 Freeway near Diamond Bar Boulevard, speeding at approximately 100 miles per hour, when her Camaro struck the Explorer, which in turn struck another vehicle (a passenger in this vehicle sustained minor injuries).

Culbreath suffered a ruptured bladder and broken femur in the crash.  A CHP news release states that she was arrested Sunday on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury or death, and felony manslaughter.  Culbreath was hospitalized at USC Medical Center and could ultimately spend the rest of her life in jail.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has identified the deceased as Maya Louise Culbreath, 24, a Rialto resident and also the driver’s sister; Kristin Melissa Young, 21, from Chino; and the family riding in the Ford Explorer, Gregorio Mejia-Martinez, 47; his wife, Leticia Ibarra, 42; his daughter, Jessica Jasmine Mejia, 20; and Jessica’s grandmother, Ester Delgado, all from Huntington Park.

According to DMV records, Culbreath had just had restrictions lifted from her license last week from a DUI conviction in San Bernardino juvenile court back in 2010.  She is reportedly survived by her infant son, born in late January.

Walnut: Abductee Escapes Kidnapper

STAFF REPORTS

Walnut – The T.J. Maxx parking lot at Grand Avenue and Valley Boulevard beheld a frightening scene as a Walnut woman was kidnapped in a carjacking on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 6.

The Walnut resident in her late 30s was confronted by a strange man as she was getting into her car at around 2 p.m.  L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies report that the man prevented her from closing her door at gunpoint, and forced himself into her car.

The suspect made the woman drive around for over an hour, and headed into south Los Angeles.  At that point she noticed a police car, stopped her vehicle, and bravely ran toward safety.

The Los Angeles Police were able to confront the suspect without incident and seized the BB gun (which looked like a Beretta 9mm handgun) used in the kidnapping.  He was subsequently turned over to Sheriff’s deputies.

Witnesses in the T.J. Maxx parking lot reported the incident, and deputies first responded to that location.  They are still looking for additional witnesses and other possible crimes committed by the suspect, reported only as a parolee from San Gabriel Valley in his 30s.  The suspect has not given any indication to his motives for committing this crime.

Walnut: Council Corner-Conserve Water

Walnut City Council Feb12, 2014

The Walnut City Council discussed a variety of items at their recent meeting, including the possibility of adopting a program to reward citizens for providing information leading to arrests. (Photo Courtesy: Raymond Mendoza)

BY RAYMOND MENDOZA

Walnut – The Walnut City Council met for its regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12, with major concerns from the Walnut Valley Water District for water conservation in the City.

Walnut Valley Water District Manager of Administration, Jose Martinez, gave a presentation urging residents to reduce water usage after a state of water emergency was declared this month.

“We encourage all citizens to reduce water use and to save every drop that they can,” Allen Wu, director of the Walnut Valley Water District director, said.

Martinez and Wu were also joined by Walnut Valley Water District Director of Administrative Services, Sandra Olson, and Director for the Board of Directors, Scarlett Kwong, who each took turns answering questions from City Council members.  Martinez mentioned that the Walnut Valley Water District offers rebates for water efficient toilets, washing machines, and rain barrels for collecting rain water. He asked interested residents to visit the water district’s website at wvwd.com for more information.

After the presentation, City Council members approved the minutes for the Jan. 22 City Council meeting and adopted Resolution No. 14-04 for amending the housing element of the City of Walnut General Plan.

City Council members then approved all items on the consent calendar, which included: resolution for claims and demands in the amount of $783,377.47; Resolution No. 14-06 for changes in position classifications; authorization for the City Manager to enter into contract with the Planning Center Consultants to prepare environmental and technical analyses for the She Homes Mixed-Use Project on Valley Boulevard; mid-year request for additional appropriation of funds; and plans and authorization to receive formal bids for the Amar Road Street Rehabilitation Project.

City Council members then discussed the possibility of adopting a crime tip reward program to reward citizens for providing information leading to arrests.  Council Member Nancy Tragarz argued that citizens should be willing to provide information to police without the possibility of money.  The Council then agreed to look into the program further at a later meeting and would not vote on approval of the item.

The City Council then approved both items on the successor agency consent calendar, for Resolution No.14-07 for approving the administration budget for July through December 2014, and Resolution No. 14-08 for approving ROPS for July through December 2014.

After council member announcements, the Walnut City Council returned to closed session and scheduled its next regular meeting for Wednesday, Feb. 26.