Diamond Bar: Local Man Sentenced For Laundering Scheme

STAFF REPORTS

Diamond Bar – A Diamond Bar man was sentenced today to 24 months confinement for participating in an elaborate scheme known as a Black Market Peso Exchange, which is an underground money-transfer system that enables international drug trafficking organizations to launder narcotics proceeds.

Jia “Gary” Hui Zhou, 44, was ordered to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by six months in a residential re-entry facility. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. In May 2013, Zhou’s wife, Dan “Daisy” Xin Li, 44, was ordered to serve a total of 14 months in custody and she is currently serving her sentence of six months home confinement.

The couple were owners of the Industry-based Woody Toys, Inc., a Los Angeles-area toy wholesale.
As part of their agreements with federal prosecutors, the couple forfeited to the federal government $2 million in proceeds that were derived from their money laundering scheme, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release. Zhou and Li pleaded guilty in September 2012 to conspiring to structure currency transactions with a U.S. financial institution to avoid the filing of a Currency Transaction Report.

The scheme used “structured” cash deposits in the United States to launder illicit proceeds generated by drug trafficking organizations based in Mexico and Colombia, according to the report. Structured deposits are cash deposits of $10,000 or less that are designed to avoid laws requiring all cash transactions over $10,000 to be reported to federal authorities. From 2005 through 2011, approximately $3 million in structured, out-of-state cash was deposited into Woody Toys’ bank accounts, according to court documents. During that same time, Woody Toys took in approximately $3 million in cash without filing the required federal documents, according to the news release.

As part of the Black Market Peso Exchange scheme alleged in this case, foreign toy retailers with Colombian and Mexican pesos would contact currency brokers to buy discounted U.S. dollars, which they used to purchase merchandise from Woody Toys. The dollars being “sold” were allegedly proceeds from illegal drug sales that had been deposited in the toy company’s accounts or delivered to the business, the news release stated. The Colombian or Mexican pesos the currency broker received from the foreign toy retailer were remitted to the drug trafficking organizations. In a sentencing memo to the court, prosecutors described Woody Toys as “the last ‘spoke in the wheel,’ that cleaned illicit proceeds and enabled drug trafficking organizations to convert their dirty dollars into clean pesos.”

The case involving Woody Toys is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the multi-agency Southern California Drug Task Force, which is spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Previously in this case, Woody Toys, Inc. was sentenced to five years of probation in November after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy charges involving drug proceeds. The sentence prohibited the company from receiving payments of more than $2,000 in cash and the business was not allowed to received cash from anyone who was not a customer. The company had to report the identity and contact information of all its customers, and had to comply with unannounced examinations of its books and records.

The probe targeting Woody Toys began in November 2010 after evidence was uncovered in a similar investigation targeting another Los Angeles-area toy wholesaler called Angel Toys, whose owners also went to prison. Several former employees of Angel Toys supposedly went to work for Woody Toys.
Investigators say schemes of this kind benefit criminal organizations by giving them a means to launder illicit proceeds using international trade. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the system also gives foreign retailers access to discounted U.S. currency, which enables the foreign retailers to avoid steep exchange rates and other fees. Finally, for the U.S.-based company, the scheme is a way to substantially increase sales volume and cash flow.

Walnut: Red Light Cameras Stay For Three Months

BY ARIEL CARMONA, JR.

Walnut – Faced with the impending expiration of a contract with a company that maintains and operates the red light camera at the intersection at Temple, Grand and Amar, and with a growing trend of other cities taking down their cameras, the City Council voted to extend the City’s contract for another three months to further study the implications of retaining or dismantling the camera.

“I know making a decision about whether to terminate or to continue should be based on safety, whether its cost effective and what is the best for the community,” said Mayor Antonio (Tony) Cartagena as the Council voted 4-0 (Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Tragarz abstained) to extend the contract with RedFlex, set to expire on Feb. 27, 2014.

According to a report made public by the city staff, the City’s photo enforcement program was approved in 2006 and extended for five years in February 2009. The contract does not have a rollover provision, which means if the contract expires, RedFlex would remove the equipment, and the program would terminate.
The annual cost to operate the program is $141,116, with $140,016 going to RedFlex and $1,100 provided for training a Law Enforcement Technician (LET). The LET position is charged to a grant and does not come from the City’s general fund sources, according to a report by Senior Management Analyst, Rosalea Layman.

“It is difficult to determine the exact amount of revenue generated by the program because the City receives a lump sum from the county that includes all traffic violations, fines and fees received,” wrote Layman in the report. She said the City estimates it receives approximately $130,000 with $63,700 of the revenue restricted for public safety purposes.

City staff warned that if the program is eliminated, the City would realize a loss of associated revenue, in addition to a potential increase cost for additional patrol deployment of more than $260,000 per year. Walnut issued 5,053 citations to alleged violators in 2013.

Captain Jeff Scroggin said that he was concerned if the cameras were removed, that there would be an increase of people pushing across that intersection to try to get into Mt. San Antonio College. “The ability to police that area with the normal deployment would be difficult because of all the other calls we are responding to and the patrols we’re doing.”

The council also heard testimonies from residents and the public, some who favored the red light program and others who expressed concerns over possible 6th Amendment violations to pedestrian safety and the safety of Mt. SAC students crossing to reach the bus stop on the south side of the intersection. Others suggested the City install a countdown on the intersection instead of hand symbol.

Council Member Bob Pacheco questioned the efficacy of the camera, quoting the report which showed that accidents increased from 12 to 19 at the intersection between 2005 and 2013, when they were last reported. “I don’t understand, if the traffic light is to prevent injuries, and the cameras are basically to try to deter that from happening, I don’t see a reason why there was an increase,” said Pacheco. “We are always very concerned with the status of the economy and the impact on our revenue, this is a source of revenue for the City, but it should not be just a means for deciding of what we do with it, whether we make or don’t make money is not a question in my mind, it’s a question of is it providing the benefit that we’re supposed to be getting,” he added.

Jay Beeber, Executive Director of Safer Streets L.A., addressed the Council and disputed the City staff’s assertion that the intersection was less safe because there is more traffic flow. That‘s actually contrary to what you would expect with increased traffic flow. “In the five years before the program was started, there was one red light running collision. Since implementation, there have been five, a 400 percent increase. There were 24 rear-end collisions prior, 43 in the five years after, an 80 percent increase”, said Beeber.

In other actions, the Council heard a presentation on fraud and cybercrime prevention from Lt. Mark Stevens from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, and also approved the adoption of 2014-2015 Community Development Block Grant Program funds for housing rehabilitation and senior citizen activities.
The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 21201 La Puente Road.

Eastvale: Heat Your Water With Less Energy

STAFF REPORTS

Do you want to replace your old water heater with something more efficient and eco-friendly? Well, Advanced Improvements’ tankless water heaters are reliable and energy saving which means a lower utility bill for you. With these water heaters, you’ll also never run out of hot water again!
To top it off, Advanced Improvements specializes in tankless water heaters, so a pro will be installing your heater. They are the largest, tankless water heater installation company in the nation. They have installed over 10,000 tankless water heaters over a period of 10 years!
Take advantage of their current tankless special, which is $500 off Rheem tankless water heaters. They are also offering up to $200 in gas rebates.
Contact Advanced Improvements at 888-698-8859 for a free quote or for more information. You can also visit their website at http://www.AdvancedIMP.com.
Make sure to check out their ad on page 12 regarding solar panels that produce 20% more power and are three times less expensive than leasing. If you book a solar panel now, you can also get a FREE Heating and Air Conditioning Unit as a bonus.

What “Feels Good” About Eastvale?

BY JENNIFER MADRIGAL

Eastvale – For the “web savy” individual, immediacy can sometimes seem like a bad thing. The majority of the news comes with a negative spin. So we’ve decided to reach out to our residents and find out more about the great things that happen within our city limits.
This community is amazing and full of great people who work diligently to keep this city one of the best and safest places to live. So, the responses we’ve received share some positive stories that we are sharing them with our readership. We hope that you will feel as inspired and uplifted by these stories as we have been.
From an Anonymous Resident: This year has been an exceptionally difficult year for me. My four children and I were forced out of our home by my husband of 18 years. I have struggled to find a job, a place to live and provide food and essentials with little or no income at all. Even my belongings have been denied and withheld from me. Though we have much to be thankful for, this Christmas was looking pretty meager. On Monday, December 23, a knock came to our door during dinner. Some volunteers were making Christmas deliveries with gifts for the kids from the Eastvale Fire Department. We were in shock. It was a blessing to my family and a beneficial lesson to teach my children about how lives can be changed through giving to our community. We truly have a great city!
Courtesy of Eastvale Lost and Found Pets Facebook Page: One resident was in a horrific crash on the 15 freeway and her Akita jumped out of the window of the car. The car was obliterated and it is a miracle that they both survived. Her dog’s picture was posted on several Facebook pages and the community really banded together to help reunite the owner with her fur-baby! Here is her post of thanks: I would just like to let everyone know that I have finally found my dog after my horrible accident on 12/26/13! Thanks to one man who was kind enough to stop for him on the freeway, pick him up and keep him safe until he was able to contact me. I would like to thank everyone who reposted my message about my lost dog because without the reposts this man would have never found me. Thank you to all who took the time to help me find my love, Kuma!
From Resident Mary Timassy-Nelson: Our neighbor decided to throw a “Christmas Bonfire”. She left flyers at homes of people she didn’t know, but live in our tract (Centex, near Moon Flower and Schleisman). She asked a few of us to bring a desert or an appetizer. She and her husband provided pizza, drinks, and a bonfire. I know a lot of my neighbors, but I met a few new ones who have moved in over the last few months…and I met someone for the first time that has been here as long as I have! It was so much fun watching kids play in the street at 10:00 at night. What is really great is that another neighbor has been setting up a Neighborhood Watch. We have a deputy coming in January for a meeting. Now, I was able to pass the word along to more people! Yea for Eastvale!
If you have any positive stories about Eastvale that you would like us to print and/or share, please email them to jenniferanapr@hotmail.com.

Dr. Jeffrey W Lowe Funeral Arrangements

Dr. JeffreyW. Lowe funeral arraignments:
WAKE: Wed. Jan. 15, at 7 pm
FUNERAL: Thurs. Jan. 16, 10 am
St. Paul’s Church 14085 Peyton Dr, Chino Hills, CA
BURIAL IMMEDIATELY AFTER: Forest Lawn-Covina, 21300 E Via Verde St, Covina, CA

Riverside: Governor To Meet With Local Leaders

By Staff Reports

With the release of a 2014-2015 budget proposal last week, Gov. Jerry Brown will be holding private meetings with local water, agriculture, law enforcement, education, and community leaders throughout California, including a visit in Riverside on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

governor jerry brown

Gov. Jerry Brown (Google)

The proposed budget, which according to the Governor’s ca.gov website, “proposes to pay off more than $11 billion in debt and builds a lasting rainy day fund while continuing to invest in public schools and expand health care coverage for millions,” is likely the main topic of discussion.

The meetings are closed to the press and will be held in Fresno, Bakersfield, and Riverside.

The Riverside Meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at the Riverside County Office of Education, 4th floor Superintendent’s Conference Room, 3939 13th Street, Riverside.

At the conclusion of this meeting, Governor Brown will be available to the media for questions.

Eastvale Municipal Code: Did You Know?

Staff Reports

According to Municipal Code Section Sec. 120.05.080. – Neighborhood preservation standards states the following: (2)(a-c) No vehicle shall be parked upon a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours within a radius of 500 yards and shall be subject to citation and/or removal by the city as provided for in state law; No person shall construct, repair, grease, lubricate or dismantle any vehicle, or any part thereof, upon a public street, sidewalk or right-of-way, except for temporary emergency purposes; No vehicle, such as a car, truck or motorized bike, shall be parked in any landscaped area.

In addition, Section 120.05.080. (e) states that No commercial vehicles, or any part thereof, shall be parked upon a public street, sidewalk, right-of-way, private yard or private driveway, except when it is actively used for loading or unloading purposes. No overnight parking of commercial vehicles is permitted.

 

Eastvale: City Council Recap

By Jennifer Madrigal

Eastvale – The Eastvale City Council held one meeting in the month of December. At the Dec. 11, 2013 meeting, Council Members Ric Welch, Jeff DeGrandpre and Adam Rush were all present, with Mayor Ike Bootsma running the meeting.

Taylor York, on behalf of Western Council of Governments, presented the City of Eastvale with an appreciation acrylic from the Clean Cities Coalition for recently becoming a part of their organization.

During the Public Comment Section of the meeting, Girl Scout Troop 714 announced that they are trying to earn their bronze award by volunteering/sponsoring an event at Riverwalk Park with the 100 Mile Club. They hope to promote exercise and the appreciation of nature and family. They invited the City to join them for the event (which happened on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013).  Mike Armijo from ABC Public Relations let the Council and community know that the paper was delivered, and reminded everyone of upcoming Chamber events and to Shop Eastvale. Dickie Simmons gave everyone a reminder of the next Town Hall Meeting which will be January 28, 2014.

The following items from the Consent Calendar were all approved:  5.1 – November 13 regular meeting minutes; 5.2 – Ordinance to Adopt the 2014 California Fire Code; 5.3 – Acceptance of Subdivision Improvements for Tract Number 31496, KB Homes-Project 13-0132; 5.4 – Approval of Parcel Map No. 32313 (Fleming Living Trust), southeast quadrant of Hamner Avenue and Riverside Drive; 5.5 – Storm Drain Cooperative Agreement with Riverside County Flood Control District and Lennar Homes, Tract 36382, Citrus Street; 5.6  – Storm Drain Cooperative Agreement with Riverside County Flood Control District and DR Horton, Tract 34014, Schleisman Road; 5.7 – Update on City’s Strategic Plan; 5.8 –  Designating a Staff-Level Point of Contact for the Update of the Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy; 5.9 Statement of Revenue and Expense (unaudited), October 2013;  5.10 – Comprehensive Annual Financial Statement for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013; 5.11 – Warrant Register; and 5.12 – Warrant Register for Council Related Items.

The Public Hearings section of the meeting began with a discussion on item 6.1 – Amending the Zoning Code to Allow the Placement of Temporary Signs in the Public Right of Way, Subject to Limits on Time, Place and Manner.  Currently, the City has allowed signs on the weekend, but would like to propose changing those regulations to 4 p.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Sunday, with signs permitted on roadway medians subject to standards for size and height for safety and visibility. City Manager Jacobs stated that there has been a long and unclear enforcement of the regulations and that clarity and enforcement is needed going forward. Council members discussed various options and concerns.  Currently, Code Enforcement is acting as trash control and spending a lot of time picking up signs after the weekend. Contact information will be required on any signs allowing the City the ability to fine those that do not remove signs. Failure to post contact information on signs would result in their immediate removal. The exact regulations are going to be clarified, but the Ordinance passed 3-1.

There were not any Old Business Items.

In the New Business category, Item 8.1 – Approval of City’s Injury/Illness Prevention Program was passed; 8.2 – Resolution of the City Council of the City of Eastvale, California Approving a Schedule of Parking Fines and Penalties was also passed 4-0. Three vehicle violations will be added to penalties for street sweeping, parking on a red curb and failure to display license plates, and will now be written on administrative tickets which will hopefully allow a cleaner, faster process; 8.3 – Approval of Project Applications for Fiscal Year 14/15 Community Development Block Grant Funding passed 4-0, with three projects being proposed; 8.4 and 8.5 – Joint Community Facilities Agreements between Jurupa Community Services District and the City of Eastvale (Community Facilities District No. 37 and No. 47), and Joint Communities Facilities District Implementing Agreements, passed 3-0-1, with Welch recusing himself on both votes; Item 8.6 concerning City employees’ attendance at the International Conference of Shopping Centers (ICSC) was taken off the agenda to be discussed at a later time.  Since there doesn’t seem to be much land available in Eastvale, Welch wanted more consideration before Council votes on whether to send employees or not.

For Item 8.7 – Options for Filing the Council Vacancy for the Unexpired Term, the Council decided to hold an open application period ending Dec. 26, 2013, with interviews occurring in January so that the position can be filled before the Jan. 30, 2014 deadline. DeGrandpre was adamant that this “position be open to everyone and that the process should be transparent.” Welch stressed the “need to make an ordinance to ensure this does not happen again and nail it down.”

For Item 8.8 – City Council Re-Organization, calling for a new Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem to be selected by the City Council, Ike Bootsma was asked if he would like to be the Mayor again, in which he adamantly replied he would.  Both Bootsma and Rush will retain their current positions as Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem of the City of Eastvale. The meeting ended with council members wishing each other well and a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and thanking everyone for all their help and participation this year. The next regular meeting of the Eastvale City Council will be held Jan. 8, 2014, 6:30 p.m., at Rosa Parks Elementary School.

 

Vida Health Clinic: A Comprehensive Alternative Medical Facility

Vida Health Clinic in Montclair

“Vida Health Clinic is located at 5404 N. Moreno St., Montclair, CA, 91763” (Photo Courtesy of Vida Health Clinic)

Staff Reports

Vida Health Clinics, located in both Montclair and La Habra, takes a modern approach to clinic care that redefines value and exceptional service combined with innovative therapies. From HCG Weight Loss to Hormone Replacement to IV Therapy, they pride themselves on being a comprehensive alternative medical facility.

Serving La Habra, Fullerton, Yorba Linda, Chino, and surrounding cities, Vida Health Clinic is an urgent care clinic where patients can be seen in 15 minutes or less, regardless of being insured.  Minor medical conditions can be addressed immediately without the compromise of waiting up to two weeks for an appointment or up to 12 hours waiting in an emergency room.  Physical exams, tuberculosis (TB) skin testing, screening chest x-rays, blood tests and other medical examinations are standard routine.

Their facilities also offer help with weight loss, offering several different programs designed for your individual needs. One of these programs is the popular HCG Weight Loss Diet.  At Vida Health Clinic, they only use the highest levels of HCG weight loss administration possible. Many people only know HCG weight loss as one of the newest and most effective countermeasures against unwanted body fat, pounds and unsightly inches for women and men. HCG weight loss combines a nutritious, low calorie (500) diet with daily doses of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin to get the best results possible.  Daily injections of HCG make your hypothalamus mobilize fat stored in your body – this is commonly known as the “stubborn fat”.  Paradoxically, your low calorie diet will be concurrent to continued release of body fat by your hypothalamus.  This means you are receiving the equivalent of thousands of calories a day and efficiently losing pounds and burning fat.  Even better, studies have shown that the HCG weight loss program targets “adipose” fat tissue rather than lean muscle. Simply put, this means that weight loss is directly from burning fat, resulting in a noticeable loss of weight combined with a reduction in body fat percentage.

In conjunction with Vida’s innovative and holistic approach to medical therapies, our HCG weight loss program involves attention and prescription by a medical doctor.

Stop by and visit them at either of their locations:  In La Habra at 202 W. La Habra Blvd., La Habra, 90631; or at their Montclair location, at 5404 N. Moreno St., Montclair, 91763. Check them out online at http://www.vidahealthclinic.com, or call them at (909) 949-4400.

City Of Chino Hills Sets Dog Park Workshop

City of Chino Hills

Dog Park Workshop Set to Gather Community Input – January 15th

The Chino Hills Parks and Recreation Commission is seeking input from the community as they review opportunities to potentially create a dog park in the City.  A Dog Park Workshop has been scheduled on Wednesday, January 15th from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 14000 City Center Drive.  Staff will make a presentation and provide background and information on earlier efforts to develop a dog park.  Attendees will break into small groups to brainstorm and share their opinions on a variety of topics related to a dog park at an existing park site, including what features are necessary.  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.

City of Chino Hills Announces Job Opening

Planning Manager $94,000 Year

As a key member of the Community Development team, the Planning Manager is responsible to oversee the Development Services Division.  Please read the recruitment brochure at the right for additional information.

TO APPLY:  A completed City employment application with an original signature must be submitted to the Human Resources Office.  Faxed and emailed applications will not be accepted.  Resumes are encouraged but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application.  Applications may be downloaded to the right or may be obtained at the City of Chino Hills, 14000 City Center Drive, Chino Hills, CA  91709.  Phone:  (909) 364-2630. http://www.chinohills.org/jobs.aspx?jobID=111

Qualifications

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is: five years of increasingly responsible experience in the planning field including two years of supervisory and administrative experience and the equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in urban planning or a related field.

Job Details

Category

Management

Status

Open

Salary

$94,265 – $114,580 annually

Published

January 10, 2014 10:00 AM

Closing

February 21, 2014 4:30 PM

One Impossible Possibility

Pastor Rob Norris

Pastor Rob Norris (image courtesy of Google Images)

 

By Pastor Rob Norris

Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Colossians 3:13

Are there things that someone has done to you that you think you could never forgive?

You are not alone. Ron Luce, president of Teen Mania Ministries, shares a story that many can identify with.

Ron came to faith in Christ as a teenager after enduring an abusive home life. Not long after his conversion, God began to convict him of his need to forgive his mom for the evil things she had done and said to him as a boy. Things like hitting him in the face, crushing a cigarette butt out on his back, telling him when he was 13 years old, “Why don’t you do me a favor and kill yourself?”

Initially, Ron reacted with typical human disbelief. How could he forgive his mom? She didn’t deserve it. But in time, God broke through, and Ron decided he needed to forgive his mother.

So Ron started carrying around Scriptures on little cards–verses about forgiveness he could meditate on and memorize. He began desperately praying that God would give him the ability to give up his right to punish her. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen overnight. But one day as a senior in high school, he remembers praying, “Lord, You need to reach my mom and touch her, because I love her.”

He couldn’t believe what he’d just said. “I love her?” He had never spoken those three words before in his entire life! “But I do love her. I do love my mom, and You’re the One who put it there, Lord. You must have done it.”

We can forgive, because He forgave us. He shows us a better way. A way of freedom from bitterness and punishment. Christ does it through us, and He can do it through you.

Live It:

What impossible injustices–things you’ve grown weary of dealing with on your own–do you need to hand over to Christ? Make a list and ask Him to lead you to full forgiveness.

Pray

Pray for whatever He must do in you to free you to forgive. Meeting at River Heights Intermediate School. Sundays @10:00 7227 Scholar Way, Eastvale, CA 92880 951-847-6836 http://www.atthecrossings.com.  Trusting and Believing with you!

Pastor Rob

Pastor Rob Norris

Pastor Rob Norris (image courtesy of Google Images)

Eastvale: An Interview With Mayor Ike Bootsman

By Jennifer Madrigal

Eastvale Mayor Ike Bootsma

Eastvale Mayor Ike Bootsma (image courtesy of Google Images)

Q:  What do you feel is the City’s Biggest Challenge for 2014?

A:  “Our biggest challenge is economic development and bringing new businesses into our city.  We need customers, but we also need businesses and it’s kind of a Catch 22. We have to convince businesses to come into our city because we already do have the customer base needed to support them. Things like “Shop Eastvale” have helped since so much of our city income comes from the sales tax. I also hope that we can get some more industrial business parks and office spaces here in Eastvale so more residents can live, work and shop in Eastvale.”

Q:  What is your number one goal for the City this year?

A:  “Definitely increasing the money we get from sales tax via promoting Shop Eastvale, bringing businesses here, getting more residents in our city and others outside of our city to shop here.”

Q:  What feels great about Eastvale to you?

A:  “The parks.  We have so many great parks and facilities around us and I love how many people are involved in the parks and sports. Kids are participating in sports and using the trails and the equipment and it’s nice that so many local sport programs have the facilities right here available to them. I am so excited for the new Eastvale Community Park to open up and for the community to enjoy those soccer fields and the jogging trails, etc.  Hopefully we will be able to get more regional tournaments here which will help us economically as well.”

Q:  How long have you been here in Eastvale? What’s your history with the City?

A.      “I was born and raised five miles from here in Chino, on a dairy that was one of the first dairies in the Chino Valley area founded in 1938. I moved to the Eastvale area in 1974 and started the Bootsma Calf Ranch with my brother. At one point we had about 8,500 head of cattle. My wife, Squeaker, and I have called Eastvale home ever since.  We have enjoyed watching the city grow and expand.

Eastvale: Crime Recap

Staff Reports

Eastvale– The following crime incidents have been reported by the Riverside County Sheriff Department and by residents on our Eastvale News Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Eastvale CommunityNews). Our Facebook page is used to inform the community about crimes happening in the City, so we can work together to report suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Department in order to keep crime low. Here is a recap of the local crime last month.

On Dec. 13, 2013, shortly before 7:30 a.m., a home in the 14000 block of Vernal Springs Court in the City of Eastvale erupted into flames. Five engines, including a hook-and-ladder, as well as other fire personnel and numerous Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the blaze. Employees of Southern California Edison were also on scene. Later, Sheriff’s investigators obtained a search warrant and seized 645 marijuana plants. Upon further discovery, they confirmed that electricity was being bypassed illegally around the meter, which may have been the cause of the fire. This case is still under investigation.

On Dec. 16, 2013, Eastvale Police Officers investigated a series of thefts at the 7100 block of Cornflower Ct., in Eastvale. The investigation revealed that several unknown suspects approached several residences on Cornflower Ct. and opened several unlocked vehicles parked in the driveway of the residences. The unknown suspects stole car audio speakers, amplifiers, an Apple iPod and a miscellaneous amount of currency from the vehicles. The suspects fled the location on foot and subsequently entered an unknown make, color and model sport utility vehicle. A suspect named Cody Ridley, 18, was arrested on Dec. 17, 2013. The case has been forwarded to the district attorney for further action. For more information about this crime, read the story on page 1.

On Dec. 20, 2013, a local resident residing on Elmgrove in Eastvale was cited with an $1,800 citation for failing to turn down their music after officers gave two warnings. The residents were hosting a “Twerk for Santa” party that had been advertised all over various social media outlets. According to an officer at the scene, the party seemed to be attended by over 100 young high school students and quickly got out of control. The Eastvale Police were called out after local neighbors reported hearing gun shots that sounded like “fireworks”. Officers canvassed the neighborhood with K9’s and found at least three small caliber bullet shells near a parked vehicle. A resident on the scene reported seeing car loads of teenage boys fleeing the scene, slowing down and switching passengers in the vehicles. The Eastvale Police Department responded quickly and gathered evidence, questioned neighbors and party goers. One officer told our reporter on the scene that there did not appear to be any injuries as there had not been any blood found on the scene. The party was closed down and cleared out before 1 a.m.

On Dec. 21, 2013 from 7 p.m. – 3 a.m. on Limonite Avenue, west of Hamner Avenue, a DUI/Driver’s license safety checkpoint was held with Deputy Kelly Howell as the reporting officer. The Eastvale Police Department completed this checkpoint in order to screen for DUI drivers as well as unlicensed and suspended drivers. Over 1,400 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, with the following results:

•       0 DUI arrests

•       12 Field sobriety tests for DUI of alcohol

•       0 Field sobriety tests for DUI of drugs

•       18 Citations were issued for unlicensed drivers

•       6 Citations were issued for suspended driver’s license

•       2 Citations for vehicle code violations

•       5 Vehicles towed

During the checkpoint hours, patrol officers were in the vicinity contacting the public for vehicle code violations. Out of those contacts, no DUI arrests were made, and 26 citations were issued. These numbers are included in the overall operation results listed above.

The checkpoint was conducted with the assistance of the Jurupa Valley Station’s K9 Team, Special Enforcement Team, and volunteers. In addition, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Crime Analyst Unit was on scene to assist the Eastvale Police Department in processing the larger than normal volume of citations, towing records, arrest/incident reports and computer checks of various law enforcement databases.  Also, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Cal-ID staff was on scene assisting the Eastvale Police Department to verify the identity of those subjects arrested by utilizing their mobile identification processing system.

On Dec.26, 2013, a resident informed us via Facebook that their community cluster mailboxes were stolen in the Orchard neighborhood with cross streets Limonite & Sumner. The entire unit was removed and only the base was left. This case is currently being investigated and residents were informed by USPS that it is their responsibility to replace the unit.

Brow & Beauty Salon: Experienced Care

Brow and Beauty Salon in Norco

Brow & Beauty Salon is located at 1160 Hamner Ave, Suite G, in Norco,

By Sarah Armijo

Norco – With 18 years of combined experience, the team at Brow & Beauty Salon is more than qualified to take care of any beauty need you might have. Brow & Beauty is owned and inspired by a team of people with clinical backgrounds. This team has a total of 11 salons all over California and one of them is right down the street!

Brow & Beauty is an upscale and refined salon that offers services for all your beauty needs. They provide various hair removal services for men and women, including threading, waxing and laser for your brows, face, and body.

For full face and skin care, Brow & Beauty also uses 100% Natural Herbal products. Make sure to try to their specialty treatment, the “Diamond Facial”.

For hair health, growth, and thickness, Brow & Beauty offers eyebrow oil and scalp oil that is specially formulated for their salon. They also provide Scalp Massage Therapy to improve circulation and promote hair health.

Additionally, Brow & Beauty offers other beauty services such as, Henna Designs for body art or makeup, Bridal Henna, Bridal makeup and any type of special event makeup.

Customer satisfaction and quality service is Brow & Beauty Salon’s topmost priority. “Professional and friendly, we strive to please our customers to a point of perfection,” said Dr. Nate Mehta, Customer Relations Manager.

Brow & Beauty also has a wide array of employees, including Threading Technicians, Hair Removal Technicians, Estheticians, Makeup Artists, and Henna Artists.

Threading Technicians specialize in threading hair removal, which has been practiced in India for over 6,000 years, according to Dr. Mehta.  In threading, a thin thread is doubled, then twisted, and swiped over areas of unwanted hair, plucking the hair at the follicle level.  It feels rather like tweezing, except that in tweezing, one hair at a time is pulled, whereas threading removes short lines of hair.  Threading also provides more control in shaping than waxing and is gentler on the skin.  Just as with waxing, the face and other parts of the body can also be threaded.   Therefore, a good Threading Technician is more accurate and proficient at waxing because of his/her eye for precision and symmetry.

As a Grand Opening Special, Brow & Beauty Salon has discounts and special prices on ALL their services through the end of January. They are also taking competitor’s coupons.

Loyal customers of Brow & Beauty can also be rewarded by receiving a special “Returning Customer Appreciation Discount”.  If you visit Brow & Beauty at least once a month, you will receive a punch card that you can use to receive this special discount.

Brow & Beauty Salon is located in the New Winco and Target Plaza at the corner of Hamner Ave. and Hidden Valley Pkwy. Their address is 1160 Hamner Ave., Suite G, in Norco and you can reach them at (951) 255-9055. Make sure to check out their ad on page 10 for exclusive coupons!

 

Eastvale: Here We Grow Again – January 2014

By K.P. Sander

Eastvale – Like the beautiful bow on a Christmas package, all of the ongoing construction projects are getting their finishing touches to help make 2014 in Eastvale merry and bright. There are also a lot of new gifts in development to make the future dazzling as well.

From the proposed Arco Gas Station and retail development in the northeast corner of the city at Riverside Drive and Hamner Avenue to the nearly completed Homecoming at the Preserve at the southwest corner on the Chino border, Eastvale continues to thrive.

Traffic delays are still a reality as construction of the 224 “Copper Sky” condominium units continues near the schools at Schleisman Road and Scholar Way. Roadway improvements around the project will ultimately provide improved traffic flow throughout the schools and into the new housing, as well as enhanced pedestrian safety, all said and done.

The development of more housing is also underway on Citrus Avenue, just south of the High School at Scholar Way, where the Granja Vista Del Rio ranch used to be. Still central in this development is the historic Desi Arnaz house, which will be preserved by Jurupa Community Services District. The beautiful architecture of Arnaz’ Spanish ranch-style home provides inspiration for the development. “The Palms” will consist of 197 detached single family homes, as well as an additional 39 acres of open space south of the project that will include trails (part of the current east to west system) and a pond.

The forthcoming “Trails at Eastvale” housing project is in the plan check phase for construction at the corner of Archibald Avenue and 65th Street. Recently the home for some of Eastvale’s last bovine residents, the project will include 224 single family homes with eight floor plans (on the smaller ALUC-zone lots) and will surround a new neighborhood park and adjoining trail system with exercise stations.

Yet another housing project that has broken ground is “Cleveland Square” on the north side of Limonite Avenue at Scholar Way. 350 two-story condominium units with active-park, pool and outdoor spaces will urbanize the vacant fields as development starts moving toward the Gateway shopping center. It certainly sounds like a population boom is on the horizon.

With more people comes the need for more parks, and Phase I of the new Eastvale Community Park located at the southeast corner of Citrus and Hamner avenues is ready to open, hopefully this month. The initial 45 acres includes Lighted Sports Fields, Picnic Areas, Concession Stands, Restroom Facilities and Parking. The park will also extend the Eastvale Trail, which will connect from the park to the Santa Ana River Trail (which all told, will be over 110 miles from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Pacific Ocean upon completion).

Live Eastvale, Shop Eastvale! As we continue to flourish the opportunities to shop and dine increase and encourage us to keep our dollars in the city we call home. Starting in the Cloverdale Marketplace, located at the southwest corner of Limonite and Hamner and anchored by Ralph’s grocery store, several new businesses come to life. New dining options include the delicious Waba Grill and soon to open Ponino’s Pizzarena. The Learning Experience (Academy of Early Education) opened in the fall of 2013, and the Soccer Wearhouse is putting the finishing touches on with a grand opening scheduled for January 11, 2014. With all the new sports fields imminent, this should be a popular store.

One of the largest shopping centers, Eastvale Gateway, located at the northeast corner at Hamner and Limonite, has a wide variety of options to encourage residents to stay local. With multiple anchors, such as Home Depot, Target, Von’s and the Regal Cinemas, Gateway truly has something for everyone. The popular Ulta Beauty and Massage Envy businesses opened a few months ago along with a plethora of dining options make variety the spice of Eastvale. From On the Border to Buffalo Wild Wings; and from your old favorites, Farmer Boys and Pick Up Stix (and new favorite, Jersey Mikes), to the recently opened Habit Burger Grill and Dickie’s BBQ Pit, the only difficulty is narrowing your choices down to just one. The center has the perfect Date Night options close to home.

In Eastvale Gateway South, located at the southeast corner of Hamner and Limonite, alongside the 24-Hour Fitness mega-gym that opened earlier in 2013, the much anticipated San Antonio Medical Plaza will bring medical services directly to Eastvale in the fall of 2014. The center also includes Corky’s Kitchen, Wing Stop, Walgreens, Chevron and other quick-service options.

With Jack in the Box finally joining the lonely CVS several months ago, the lot on the southwest corner of Archibald and Schleisman is finally coming to life. With the framework bones of Auto Zone and its companions, Mes Amies Hair and Nails, and dentistry with Nihar Tanna, DDS, now quite obvious, Starbucks is also visible with Fantastic Sam’s and other tenants in the works. The early 2014 completion of that corner of Eastvale will be a welcome neighbor to all the housing completed earlier in 2013.

A major construction project in the area is the Homecoming at the Preserve, in Chino, and our neighbor at the border of Eastvale on Schleisman-Pine. Now open for leasing, the apartment homes, built by award-winning Lewis Apartment Communities, have provided resort-style amenities to bring you the very best in contemporary living – a good thing for those seeking apartment living near Eastvale, as there are no options currently within the city limits. With a 16,000 square foot clubhouse at its core, the offerings include a fitness center, theater, gaming rooms, nail salon, coffee bar, massage center, valet dry cleaning, and business center. The luxury continues with a rooftop lounge overlooking the terrace with two pools and spas, outdoor lounges with a fireplace, and beautiful gardens and greenbelts. The apartments themselves offer innovative floor plans from one to four bedrooms, most with attached garages. For more information on this Master Planned Community, call (866) 407-2448.

Heroes At Home: Eastvale’s Fire Dept.

Eastvale Fire Engine

The Transformer-like engine undergoes daily maintenance. (Photo By Kimberley Sander)

By K.P. Sander

Eastvale – Firefighters are our heroes. They put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public as a way of life. You merely have to reflect back on the events of 9-11 to fully understand the courageous impact that those in public service can have in dire emergencies. Every life is precious no matter the circumstances, and seconds count when emergency services are needed.

The City of Eastvale is fortunate to have Cal Fire Station 27 within city limits to take care of the 55,000 residents in its 13 or so square miles. From municipal and wild land fire protection to medical emergencies, rescues and hazardous materials concerns, the station responds to approximately 1,400 incidents each year. Their competence in facilitating the safety of the public is done with pride, integrity and kindness.

The beautiful state-of-the-art Fire Station, which opened on Hamner Avenue on September 21, 2011, houses approximately 13 firefighter and/or paramedic personnel. With nearly 11,000 square feet of space that includes a luxury kitchen, cozy TV room with comfortable recliners, sleeping dormitory, fitness room – as well as a large apparatus bay and working areas – the building is an interesting dichotomy of home and the militaresque routines that direct their business days.

With one engine and one squad rolling from the Eastvale station, there are five personnel on duty at any given time, including one captain, one engineer, and three firefighter/paramedics, all teaming together to ensure a response time of ten minutes or less. Working 72 hour shifts, the firefighters of Eastvale keep a spotless home and equipment in pristine condition. From electronic tablets to help streamline on-scene reporting to a sophisticated exhaust system at the station to keep diesel fuel exposure to a minimum, Station 27 reveals amenities that take care of our firefighters as well.

Eastvale Firefighter Eric Stephens

Firefighter/Paramedic, Eric Stephens, of Cal Fire Station 27 (Photo by Kimberly Sanders)

Along with keeping the public safe, our local Fire Department also supports our community through Toys for Tots at Christmas time, as well as weekly station tours for organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, church groups, and visits for children with disabilities.

Definitely a step up from the temporary fire station previously located at Cedar Creek Park, Cal Fire Station 27 and the brave firefighters that take care of us are a source of pride for the community of Eastvale. Through efficient and effective emergency services, these men and women who serve us are definitely our Heroes At Home.

Eastvale: Community And Technology Unite

By Jennifer Madrigal

Eastvale – With the availability and affordability of technology to homeowners, many have taken advantage of it and wired their homes for security. These cameras have helped to capture images of alleged thieves and burglaries in action. These images can then be enlarged and posted on social media sites so that the community can help identify the culprits. While this can lead to false accusations and a sense of paranoia, the positive aspect of being able to quickly identify and locate a suspect has seemed to outweigh the negatives. In December, a rash of burglaries occurred within the City of Eastvale and this technology, along with our active social media community came together to help identify these suspects.

Technology came to the aide of several Eastvale residents on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013 when many woke up to find that their vehicles had been burglarized. Some became aware of the burglary when they realized cell phones, chargers, wallets or various other items were missing and some found their car windows smashed. Security cameras installed on several homes captured the faces of the alleged thieves in action and soon the images were posted all over Facebook. Our newspaper shared the information with the community immediately via our Facebook page (facebook.com/EastvaleCommunityNews) and the videos and images quickly spread to over 16,000 people within hours.

One of the residents hit by this rash of burglaries was Mark Ramirez, whose limousine was tampered with sometime around 2 a.m. His video surveillance system was able to capture a picture of the alleged thieves driving by in their vehicle. Ramirez contacted Eastvale Police, and said, “They came and took some good fingerprints that they left on my windows when they tried to pry it open.” Ramirez hopes that these fingerprints will help in identifying the suspects and that all charges will stick. He also shared the images and description of the vehicle with the police.

On that late Sunday morning, Police started to put together that several break-ins and trespassing of vehicles had occurred. As many as 10-15 vehicles had been part of this crime, according to residents. Soon residents began to identify and provide more information. The pictures of the suspects were a huge help to Police in capturing the individuals. Another resident, who was able to capture the alleged thieves in the act via video, said that “It became obvious that more than one of my neighbors had had their cars broken into. I have video surveillance on my house that tapes the front yard and driveway, so we decided to take a look at it. What we saw was a young male opening my truck and going through it. Luckily, I didn’t have anything of value in it and he didn’t appear to take anything. We did however get some footage of him pretty close up, and were able to upload the pictures to Facebook as well as the video.” These series of thefts occurred on the 7100 block of Cornflower Ct. and according to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the suspects stole car audio speakers, amplifiers, an Apple iPod and a miscellaneous amount of currency from the vehicles. The suspects fled the location on foot and subsequently entered an unknown make, color and model sport utility vehicle.

This video and close-up picture was one of the main pieces of evidence that led to the identification of at least one of the suspects. The news release also stated that the investigation revealed several unknown suspects, including suspect Cody Ridley, 18, of Eastvale. Ridley was located and arrested on Dec. 17, 2013. The case has been forwarded to the Riverside County District Attorney’s office for prosecution and officers are continuing the investigation to obtain the identity of the remaining suspects in the crime. If you have any further information regarding this case, please contact the Eastvale Police Department by calling (951) 955-2600.