By K.P. Sander Diamond Bar – How does the environment affect the learner? There are studies upon studies available that show the effects of light, temperature, noise and visual settings. Comfortable surroundings and beautiful environments can stimulate learning. The world’s most amazing high school campuses seem to have the common thread of providing stunning, motivational learning spaces toward higher learning. BestEducationDegrees.com, dedicated to helping you find the best school possible to further your education, has included Diamond Ranch High School among the world’s most amazing campuses. Serving students from Diamond Bar and Phillips Ranch, Diamond Ranch High School is operated by the Pomona Unified School District. The California Department of Education named it a California Distinguished School in 2003 and 2007 and the school has won many other awards, including named as one of America’s Best High Schools. It is said to be one of the most academically challenging schools in the United States. Diamond Ranch was designed by architect Thom Mayne, in an expressionist modern design working with the environment’s steep hillside. The beautiful architecture and location have earned it credit in movies such as Live Free or Die Hard, Serenity, and The Cell, and several television commercials. The school was also featured in the book Morphosis/Diamond Ranch High School. The World’s Most Amazing High Schools features visually inspiring campuses including several in Los Angeles, more throughout the United States, and on to England, Scotland, France, Portugal, Denmark and around the world. California is very proud to have eight schools listed in the top 30. For more information visit pusc.org/diamondranch or besteducationdegrees.com

Left to Right: Capt. Jeffrey Scroggin, Deputy Aaron Scheller and Lieutenant Anthony Tachias

By K.P. Sander Diamond Bar – The City of Diamond Bar contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for all law enforcement services, and currently has more than 20 full-time personnel assigned to serve the city. In addition, the Diamond Bar Volunteer Patrol has 25 individuals dedicated to helping assist the department by observing and reporting crimes and suspicious activity. The Sheriff’s team is involved in drug and crime awareness programs, as well as their regular responsibilities. Lieutenant Anthony Tachias, Team Sergeant Marc Saunders, and Deputy Aaron Scheller are the core of the Diamond Bar team under the direction of Captain Jeffrey Scroggin. A recent retirement and department reorganization welcomed Captain Scroggin, Lieutenant Tachias and Deputy Scheller to their new positions. Jeffrey Scroggin, who has a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati, recently became captain for the Diamond Bar/Walnut station. He has been with the Sheriff’s Department for 28 years. He started his career back in 1984, working his way to sergeant at the Industry Station in 2000. Five years later he was promoted to Service Area Lieutenant for the City of Bellflower at the Lakewood Station, and then Lieutenant for the Norwalk Station in 2008. In 2012, Captain Scroggin was the Undersheriff’s Executive Aide for the Executive Offices of the Sheriff. Anthony Tachias, a U.S. Navy veteran, was appointed this past May to Service Area Lieutenant, and will oversee the Diamond Bar Law Enforcement Team and the Diamond Bar/Walnut Station. He also began his career with the Sheriff’s Department in 1984, working in various capacities. Lieutenant Tachias was promoted to the position of sergeant in 1996, and lieutenant in 2003. His most recent position was as Detective Bureau Lieutenant at the Lakewood Station. Deputy Aaron Scheller recently was assigned to the Community Relations/Crime Prevention position focusing on special projects for the community, including Neighborhood and Business Watch Programs, and the promotion of Disaster Preparedness. He completed the Sheriff’s Academy in 2000, and began his career at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles. Deputy Scheller has been working at the Diamond Bar/Walnut Station as a Patrol Specialist since 2006. . For more information regarding the Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Department, contact the Diamond Bar/Walnut station at 21695 E. Valley Boulevard, Walnut, CA, 91789; (909) 595-2264 or (626) 913-1715, or visit http://www.Walnut.DiamondBar.lasd.org.

L-R: Brandon Randall, Andrew Graciano, and Jeremy Beck,. Photo courtesy: Jennifer Madrigal.

By: Jennifer Madrigal Eastvale – The ERHS Cross Country Team and Track Team sent athletes to Illinois at the end of June to compete in Nationals. Brandon Randall, a Junior, ran the 800M with a winning time of 1:58:36 and the 1500M with a winning time of 4:04:63. He is now the National Champion. Andrew Graciano, Junior, also competed in the 1500M and the 3000M. Jeremy Beck, also a Junior, ran the 1500M and the 3000M and came in 4th in the Nation. The ERHS Cross Country team is currently ranked 6th in the County and 61st in the State.

Photo courtesy: Kelli Gile
Fourth graders Miriam Abdelnaby, Denise Abbasi, Julio Abcantara, Jeremy Tsu and Alex Castillo with their teacher Cynthia Riggio at Cyrus J. Morris Elementary School.

By Kelli Gile Walnut – Over 14,650 students began classes as the 2013-2014 school year began in the Walnut Valley Unified School District on Monday, August 19. They came in carrying backpacks filled with pencils, erasers, notebooks and other tools to support their learning. The first day of also marked the re-opening of the completely remodeled Cyrus J. Morris Elementary School. Before construction began, the entire school (students, staff, books, supplies and furniture) temporarily relocated to the former Ron Hockwalt Academies on Lemon Avenue in Walnut during the 2012-2013 school year. Staff and students were thrilled to be back home in the new state-of-the art campus to begin the new school year. Brand new modernized classrooms feature state-of-the art equipment, facilities, utilities and lighting, along with wonderful storage cabinets and teacher stations. The beautiful newly modernized multipurpose room was formally an outdoor atrium. “I love it!” said 5th grader Sarah Mitchell about the re-modeled school. “This new classroom is the best,” exclaimed classmate Damien Rama. “One of the things I’m really excited about is that we have new beautiful storage. And the ceiling mounted projectors allow us to teach close to the board without blocking the information on the screen,” said fourth grade teacher Tara Noelte. Teacher Lisa Peterson has a grouping of neon-colored chairs that students use during reading centers in her third grade classroom. Peterson said she loves the process of helping guide her students to become inquirers at the prestigious IB School. “They even sit with their iPads and create movies in these cozy chairs,” said Principal Donna Hunter. An official Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Cyrus J. Morris Elementary was held on Thursday, August 22. Diamond Bar High School students entered doors for their math classes in a brand new two-story math building. The 20-classroom modular also includes a grade level coordinator office, teacher workroom and restrooms. “Our 600 Building features the latest technology including wireless connectivity, digital projection, document cameras and surround sound,” said Instructor Dean David Hong. Buildings around the Brahma campus are numbered clockwise beginning with the 100 Administration Building. Construction and modernization projects of school facilities, made possible through voter support of Bond Measures S & Y, are laying out the framework for 21st century learning. A Monsters University-themed pep rally was presented on the first day of school by the United Student Body (USB) and was held in the DBHS gym. Chaparral Middle School’s new 14-classroom science building features the “best classes I’ve ever seen,” said Principal Ron Thibodeaux. Staff will now be able to easily incorporate labs and design challenges into day-to-day instruction. The new building also facilitates higher level thinking in accordance with the hands-on learning objectives that are prevalent in Design-Based Learning (DBL) and Science classrooms, and are in accordance with STEM philosophies. A ribbon cutting ceremony is being planned for the school’s Family Science/DBL Night in October.

Staff Reports Walnut – The Employment Development Department (EDD) reported that unemployment in Diamond Bar and Walnut has decreased from June to July. Diamond Bar is down from 7.9 to 7.7 percent. Walnut is down from 5.9 to 5.3 percent, giving it one of the lowest unemployment rates in L.A. County. In an EDD Press Release on Friday, August 16, 2013, the state’s unemployment rate was listed at 8.5 percent, a 1.1 percent decrease since January. The unemployment rate for Los Angeles County was shown at 10.8 percent. Since last year at this time, non-farm-related jobs have increased by 61,800 in the county, which is encouraging. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows California ranking 45 out of 51 in the U.S, at 8.7 percent for July. North Dakota ranks first, with 3.0 percent. Rates are estimates based upon an equal percentage of the labor force, and these estimates provide key indicators of local economic conditions. According to the EDD, unemployment rates are based upon place of residence – where people actually live, regardless of where they work. Individuals working more than one job are only counted once. The California economy is continuing to improve, a change we slowly started seeing back in 2010. Increases in the stock market and home prices, as well as growth motivated by technology, foreign trade and tourism have brought about improvements.

Photo Courtesy L.E.A.F.F.
L.E.A.F.F. members Rigo Arrellano, Stan Sniff and Rob Medrano

By: Jennifer Madrigal Eastvale – The City of Eastvale is home to the only organization of Law Enforcement and Firefighters in the entire nation. Law enforcement AND Fire Fighters (L.E.A.F.F.) is a group founded in April of 2010 by local Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters who wanted to ensure that Eastvale remained a great place to live. According to L.E.A.F.F. President, Rigo Arrellano, “We run our organization like a union with a President, a VP and a Board to ensure that everything runs smoothly.” In 2010, the estimated number of Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters living in Eastvale was 1500 and in 2013 that number of L.E.A.F.F. members has grown to around 2500. With the large number of Police Officers and Fire Fighters who call Eastvale home, the group started small and grew to include representatives from virtually every department in four counties and includes: Deputy Sheriffs, Police Officers, Corrections Officers, Parole Agents, Highway Patrol Officers, INS Agents, FBI Agents, Paramedics, as well as all assignments in the various Fire Departments. The Mission Statement of L.E.A.F.F. is a simple one: To maintain a high quality of life within this community, with the goal of Eastvale achieving the status of #1 safest city. L.E.A.F.F. achieves this by supporting proactive law enforcement, fire safety and code enforcement. They support the community as a whole, especially as it relates to the safety of its citizens. In fact, you will find L.E.A.F.F. members all over the community: starting Neighborhood Watch Programs, calling in suspicious activity, helping raise funds for fallen firefighters or families in need, etc. L.E.A.F.F. tries to help the community out whenever possible and as a non-profit group they have been able to raise funds through donations and fundraisers that have helped local schools, athletic programs and scholarships for individuals interested in law enforcement or fire fighting. Its members also try and help out by backing up the City Council, Mayor and State encouraging a “pro-active” approach to community. “While members do not engage in doing the actual police work or investigations, their training helps them to keep an eye out for the community and their neighbors,” Arrellano states. Many L.E.A.F.F. members are subject matter experts and lend their expertise to helping the City with everything from traffic to reporting incidents, helping out with scene security and effectively reporting suspicious activity directly to local law enforcement. New L.E.A.F.F. President, Rigo Arrellano, wants to let the community know that L.E.A.F.F is here to help out the community and to make Eastvale an even better place to live. “We believe in being present and active members of the community. I like to get out there and shake hands, pound the pavement and make sure people know who we are and why we are here.” Arrellano also brought up the City of Simi Valley. While it was voted one of safest cities to live in California, partly due to the fact that it is home to a large number of Fire Fighters and Law Enforcement, imagine how great it would have been if those Fire Fighters and Police Officers would have formed a group together. When State, City and local agencies all unite toward a common goal and have a common mission in mind, the possibilities are endless. To find out more about L.E.A.F.F., visit their website at http://www.eleaff.org or email them at info@eleaff.com

Paul Castaneda

Marie Rosario

Allisonne Crawford

By Jennifer Madrigal Eastvale – Local Resident Debuts at The Candlelight Pavilion Allisonne Crawford, 32, of Eastvale will be making her debut appearance at The Candlelight Pavilion in Claremont. Allisonne has been singing since she was 4 and has appeared in numerous college performances. She is an accomplished vocalist of classical, contemporary and sacred style music. She received her Bachelor of Music-Vocal Performance from Chapman University. Allisonne is extremely excited to be a part of the cast of “The Sound of Motown,” which will run at the Candlelight Pavilion from August 8, 2013 to September 8, 2013. Eastvale Semifinalists SOCAL ICON 2013 This year’s all female semifinalists include the following Eastvale residents (by age): Dylan Hoffman, 8, Eastvale Nerieida Casillas, 14, Eastvale Alexandra Hove, 13, Eastvale Martha Rosario, 15, Eastvale The Semifinals took place in Eastvale at Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s theater as two ticketed events. There were three age divisions (7-10, 11-14 and 15-18). The judges for the semifinals round included music educators and industry professionals. The Final Concert Event (featuring the top seven in each age division) will take place on Saturday, August 31, 6:00pm, at the Margaret Webb Theatre in Santa Ana. ERHS Student Receives National Leadership and Service Award Marie Rosario was chosen as the United States National Leadership and Service Award winner by the United States Achievement Academy in Kentucky, upon the nomination of her honors Chemistry teacher, Patricia Bickel. “Marie always demonstrates patience and maintains a positive attitude even in the face of frustration. Her congenial personality and commitment to serving her fellow classmates is reflected by the many organizations she has been actively involved in,” said Bickel. She shows her leadership skills by taking on the position of Secretary for the California Scholarship Federation. Marie also enjoys mentoring her younger peers in the community. She serves as a Link Crew Leader for the freshmen at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, and volunteers as a tutor at the local community elementary and intermediate schools.” Paul Castaneda Advances to CrossFit Regionals In Southern California, over 7700 men and women registered for the CrossFit Open to test their fitness. Out of 4800 men, Paul Castaneda, finished in 20th place in week five. The top 48 received an invitation to compete in the next step of competition, the Regionals, in Del Mar, California. After seven live, head-to-head events, Paul finished in a tie for 13th place. The CrossFit Games Road to the Fittest requires athletes to be skilled and proficient in several disciplines of fitness including strength, speed, power, and endurance. At 32 years old, Paul Castaneda, head coach of CrossFit Inland Empire, is teaching the young guys a thing or two. If you would like to share an accomplishment or special achievement with us, please send a short description with picture (if applicable) to jenniferanapr@hotmail.com. We will share what we can as space allows.

Photo By: Kelli Gile
Diamond Bar High science teacher Angela Jensvold has been named a 2013 National Endowment for the Humanities Teacher Scholar.

By Kelli Gile Diamond Bar – Diamond Bar High School science teacher Angela Jensvold has been selected as a 2013 National Endowment for the Humanities Teacher Scholar. Angela was chosen from a competitive pool of outstanding teachers from across the nation to attend The Power of Place: Land and Peoples in Appalachia, a three-week institute exploring the rich natural and cultural history of the Appalachian Mountains from July 8-28. “It was an incredible experience to learn from such renowned experts in the field of Appalachian environmental history. I’m anxious to use the lesson plans I’ve created. I will be able to teach environmental issues in Appalachia with more passion now that I’ve been there and experienced the region firsthand,” Jensvold said. The award winning PBS series, APPALACHIA: A History of Mountains and People, set the stage for the three-week institute at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Angela joined leading scholars in the field, as well as some of the region’s most accomplished novelists, poets and filmmakers, for three weeks of intensive research into the intersection of natural history and human history in the Appalachian mountains. Topics for the 24 NEH seminars and institutes offered for teachers this summer include African history, African-American literature, Diversity, unity in the Pueblo world, China and India, Mind, meaning, and morality, Turkish history and culture, Thomas Jefferson, John Steinbeck, Native Americans of New England, Political and constitutional theory, Gilded Age and Progressive Era, Roots of the Arab Spring, and American history through song. The approximately 528 NEH Summer Scholars who participate in these programs of study will teach almost 66,000 American students the following year.

Staff Reports Diamond Bar – Three seats for the Diamond Bar City Council are open and six candidates have filled papers to run in the November election. Mayor Pro Tem Ron Everett, Council member Steve Tye and Council member Ling-Ling Chang are the three incumbents whose seats are up for election. However, they all plan to run for their seats in competition with three new candidates: Joseph Kim, Nancy Lyons and Martin Nakaishi. Below is a brief description about each candidate running: Ron Everett has been a resident of Diamond Bar for 35 years, served as Mayor in 2009 and is currently the Mayor Pro Tem. He has served on Walnut Valley’s Personnel Commission for 20 years, served on the city’s Public Safety Committee for three years and is the council liaison for the Walnut Valley Unified and Pomona Unified school districts. He says public safety and education are his top priorities if elected. Ling-ling Chang served as Mayor in 2012 and was named “Woman of the Year” in state Senator Bob Huff’s district. She said she should be re-elected because the council was able to balance every budget, built a new library, opened two new parks, and bank a $17 million reserve all without raising taxes and despite the decline in the economy, according to online reports. Chang is also running for a seat in the state Assembly 55th District. Joseph Kim is a businessman that grew up in Diamond Bar. Kim says he is running for City Council to do all that he can to continue to improve the community, including focusing on improving public safety, promoting stable economic development, harness new, cost-saving technologies that will promote long-term sustainability and growth, enhance the responsiveness of the city, and to be a responsible steward of city funds, according to online reports. Nancy Lyons is the Vice President of the Walnut Valley Unified Board of Trustees and a teacher. She has been on the school board for eight years, serves as a Parks & Recreation commissioner, been active in Diamond Bar Friends of the Library for 20 years, a volunteer in local schools for 22 years and taught Sunday school at her church. Her goals if elected include filling vacant store fronts, adding restaurants, increasing recreation facilities by working with the school district, working to develop Site D, and reducing morning traffic, according to online reports. Martin Nakaishi is a businessman and entrepreneur that has lived in Diamond Bar for 13 years and has worked as a federal government consultant and contractor for 25 years. He volunteers as a coach for a youth basketball team in Diamond Bar and serves as a member of the PTA in the Walnut Unified School District. He says that he is a dedicated citizen that is striving to give voice to and for all residents of the City of Diamond Bar. Steve Tye served as Mayor in 2007 and in 2011. He has been the chairman of the Planning Commission and the Parks & Recreation Commission, coaches soccer and Little League and teaches Sunday school at his church. He says he should be elected because he has demonstrated that he knows how to make tough decisions to keep the City’s finances in order, providing the City with a balanced budget every year in time, without raising taxes. The election will take place on Nov. 5, 2013. For more information, call 909.839.7010.

By Kimberley Sander Walnut – Make sure to slow down Walnut residents now that the City Council recently voted to decrease the speed limits for six segments in Walnut. The California Vehicle Code requires speed limits on roadways to be reviewed every five years in order to maintain radar accuracy and uphold court rulings in regard to traffic violations. It is also a matter of safety, and limits on roadways are often studied to help minimize traffic accidents and to help protect motorists and pedestrians. On July 24, the City Council recommended the approval of a Citywide Speed Survey to initiate the revision of speed limits on certain streets, and appropriate $15,000 of City funds to complete the project. The 2013 state-required survey was completed, measuring 67 areas of traffic for road characteristics, accident history, environmental factors, pedestrian activity and developments in the vicinity. As a result, Ordinance 13-05 was approved, and speed limits have been lowered on six street segments within the City of Walnut. The following street segments will receive new signs and pavement markers: • Amar Rd – Nogales St to Sunset Bluff Rd; Reduced from 50mph to 45mph • Amar Rd – Sunset Bluff Rd to Grand Ave; Reduced from 45mph to 40mph • Camino de Teodoro – Valley Blvd to Calle Baja; Reduced from 35mph to 30mph • Lemon Ave – Amar Rd to Creekside Dr; Reduced from 40mph to 35mph • Mountaineer Rd – Grand Ave to Sundowner Ln; Reduced from 35mph to 30mph • Pierre Road – Cardin Street to Vejar Road; Reduced from 35mph to 30mph The speed reductions are anticipated to help lower accident rates (Amar Rd and Lemon Ave both have a history of high accident rates); and help contribute to the safety of children around Suzanne Middle School and Walnut High School on the Pierre Road segment.