History 101

Photo courtesy: Google

Sit-down strike begins in Flint

History.com

At 8 p.m. on December 30, 1936, in one of the first sit-down strikes in the United States, autoworkers occupy the General Motors Fisher Body Plant Number One in Flint, Michigan. The autoworkers were striking to win recognition of the United Auto Workers (UAW) as the only bargaining agent for GM’s workers; they also wanted to make the company stop sending work to non-union plants and to establish a fair minimum wage scale, a grievance system and a set of procedures that would help protect assembly-line workers from injury. In all, the strike lasted 44 days.

The Flint sit-down strike was not spontaneous; UAW leaders, inspired by similar strikes across Europe, had been planning it for months. The strike actually began at smaller plants: Fisher Body in Atlanta on November 16, GM in Kansas City on December 16 and a Fisher stamping plant in Cleveland on December 28. The Flint plant was the biggest coup, however: it contained one of just two sets of body dies that GM used to stamp out almost every one of its 1937 cars. By seizing control of the Flint plant, autoworkers could shut down the company almost entirely.

So, on the evening of December 30, the Flint Plant’s night shift simply stopped working. They locked themselves in and sat down. “She’s ours!” one worker shouted.

GM argued that the strikers were trespassing and got a court order demanding their evacuation; still, the union men stayed put. GM turned off the heat in the buildings, but the strikers wrapped themselves in coats and blankets and hunkered down. On January 11, police tried to cut off the strikers’ food supply; in the resulting riot, known as the “Battle of the Running Bulls,” 16 workers and 11 policemen were injured and the UAW took over the adjacent Fisher Two plant. On February 1, the UAW won control of the enormous Chevrolet No. 4 engine factory. GM’s output went from a robust 50,000 cars in December to just 125 in February.

Despite GM’s enormous political clout, Michigan Governor Frank Murphy refused to use force to break the strike. Though the sit-ins were illegal, he believed, he also believed that authorizing the National Guard to break the strike would be an enormous mistake. “If I send those soldiers right in on the men,” he said, “there’d be no telling how many would be killed.” As a result, he declared, “The state authorities will not take sides. They are here only to protect the public peace.”

Meanwhile, President Roosevelt urged GM to recognize the union so that the plants could reopen. In mid-February, the automaker signed an agreement with the UAW. Among other things, the workers were given a 5 percent raise and permission to speak in the lunchroom.

The Names of the Christmas Elves

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Didyouknow.org

In the pagan times of Scandinavia, people believed that house gnomes guarded their homes against evil. Although these gnomes mostly were benevolent, they quickly could turn nasty when not properly treated, so it is told. Throughout the centuries, they were either loved or loathed. Some people even believed them to be trolls and cannibals. The perception of gnomes largely depended on whether a person was naughty, or nice.

When Christmas became popular again as a festive season in the middle-1800s, Scandinavian writers such as Thile, Toplius, Rydberg sketched the gnomes’ true role in modern life: fairies that are somewhat mischievous, but the true friends and helpers of Father Christmas (Santa Claus). They are the Christmas elves. Artists such as Hansen and Nystrm completed the picture of elves for us.

Living in Lapland

At one stage it was thought that the elves live in (Santa’s) village in North Pole. However, in 1925 it was discovered that there are no reindeer in the North Pole but there are lots in Lapland, Finland. Nobody has actually seen their village because the passage to it is a secret that is known only to Father Christmas and the elves. We know that it is somewhere on the Korvatunturi mountain in the Savukoski county of Lapland, Finland, which is on the Finnish-Russian border.

On January 6 the elves light up their torches and come down from their secret village in the mountain to play in a secret field to celebrate the last day of Christmas.

The names of the elves

The elves are the children of Gryla and Leppaludi, their father and mother. Some people say that there are 13 elves, some say 9, some 6. They are very clever and help Father Christmas to design the toys that children and grownups order by post, email or textingl. We know at least 6 of the duties they have, including looking after the reindeer. Here it is with their Westernised names:

Bushy Evergreen is the inventor of the magic toymaking machine.

Shinny Upatree is Father Christmas’s (Santa’s) oldest friend and cofounder of the secret village in Lapland.

Wunorse Openslae designed Father Christmas’s sleigh and maintains it for top performance. (It is believed that the reindeer reach speeds faster than Christmas tree lights.) He also cares for the reindeer.

Pepper Minstix is the guardian of the secret of the location of Father Christmas’s village.

Sugarplum Mary is Head of the Sweet Treats, and assistant to Father Christmas’s wife, Mrs Claus, also known as Mary Christmas.

Alabaster Snowball is very important. He is the Administrator of the Naughty & Nice list.

 

Easy-Peasy Ravioli Gratin

with Spinach, Thyme, and Parmesan Breadcrumbs

By Hello Fresh

Just when we thought pasta night couldn’t get any better, our chefs doubled down on the spinach. This nutritious green can be found in the ravioli AND fresh in the gratin. But this dish is more than just a veggie-lover’s delight: there’s also a thick and creamy sauce and toasted breadcrumb topping that keeps things comfy, cozy, and utterly delicious.

Preparation Time

30 minutes

Cooking difficulty

Level 1

Ingredients

½  Onion

¼ oz Thyme

Vegetable Stock Concentrate

9 ounce Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

¼ cup Panko

¼ cup Parmesan Cheese

4 tablespoon Sour Cream

5 ounce Spinach

1 tbs Butter

1 tsp Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

Nutrition Values

Calories 530

Fat 26 g

Saturated Fat 15 g

Carbohydrate 48 g

Sugar 4 g

Dietary Fiber 3 g

Protein 24 g

Cholesterol 95 mg

Sodium 860 mg

Utensils

  • Large Pan
  • Small Bowl

Wash and dry all produce. Preheat broiler to high or oven to 500 degrees. Halve, peel, and thinly slice half the onion (use the other half as you like). Strip thyme leaves from stems; discard stems.

Melt 1 TBSP butter in a large pan over medium heat (use an ovenproof pan if you have one). Add thyme and onion. Cook until softened, 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in stock concentrate and 1½ cups water and bring to a simmer.

Once stock mixture is simmering, add ravioli to pan. Cover and cook 4 minutes. Uncover and increase heat to high. Continue cooking, spooning stock over ravioli, until ravioli are tender and stock has reduced, 5-6 minutes. Shake pan occasionally to keep ravioli from sticking.

Combine panko, Parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Remove pan from heat. Carefully stir sour cream and spinach into pan until thoroughly combined and spinach is wilted. Season with salt and pepper. (TIP: Add a splash of water if sauce seems very thick.) If your pan is not ovenproof, transfer mixture to a baking dish at this point.

Sprinkle ravioli in pan (or dish) with crust mixture. Place under broiler and broil until golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Divide between plates

Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Pain That Cannot Be Ignored

By StatePoint

Fifty-three-year-old Bernie McKay never would have guessed that the pain he thought was a simple muscle cramp was actually a serious medical condition that could have stopped him in his tracks forever.

Bernie, who leads an active lifestyle and works in a hospital, experienced severe cramping in the back of his left thigh one morning while walking into work. The pain became so severe that he rushed himself to the emergency department, knowing that something wasn’t right. After a series of consultations and tests, he was diagnosed as having deep vein thrombosis, or DVT.

DVT affects approximately 900,000 people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and while a clot can form anywhere, it usually occurs in the legs or pelvis. Sometimes part of the blood clot can break off and travel to your lungs, which can cause a pulmonary embolism, a serious and potentially deadly condition.

Doctors typically diagnose DVT through tests such as an ultrasound or blood tests. First line of treatment can consist of medications and compression stockings, but these options don’t actually remove or dissolve the clot. Many DVT blood clots can be absorbed by the body over time with the help of blood thinners; however, as long as the clot is present, it can cause permanent damage to the valves in the vein, leading to chronic pain and swelling called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS).

Another treatment option that physicians may consider for their patients is a medical procedure called a mechanical thrombectomy. This procedure can help quickly restore blood flow by removing the clot altogether, thus reducing the amount and duration of medications a patient needs to take, and may help prevent future complications.

“Recent medical advances are allowing more and more patients to have blood clots removed using minimally invasive procedures,” said Dr. Kush Desai, Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “Some patients, like Bernie, may be candidates for a mechanical thrombectomy, which uses a special catheter designed to help break up and physically remove all or portions of the clot.”

Only half of the people who develop DVT experience any symptoms, such as swelling, pain or tenderness in a leg with skin that’s warm and red or discolored. However, there are risk factors that you should be aware of as they can increase your chances of developing DVT:

• Treatment for cancer;

• Prolonged lack of movement such as long distance travel or long periods of bed rest;

• A personal or family history of blood clots;

• Older age;

• Pregnancy.

Understanding the risk factors and being aware of various treatment options can help reduce your chance of developing a dangerous blood clot and the serious health complications that may be associated with it.

“With such a short recovery time, the procedure allowed me to spend time with my family and friends — without having to take medications for the rest of my life,” said Bernie. “I’m more active than I was before, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

There are risks associated with all medical procedures. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with mechanical thrombectomy. For more information visit ClearingtheClot.com or the Clearing the Clot Facebook community, patient resources developed by Boston Scientific. For more information, visit bostonscientific.com.

Take control of your health to help decrease your chances of developing DVT by understanding the risks and treatment options available.

Automation And Robotics Course Launches At Suzanne

Photo courtesy: WVUSD

By Kelli Gile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I like working with the tools!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Chino Hills PD Arrest Two For Vehicle Theft Last Week

Deputies arrest Jose Padillo of Pomona and Rosendo Ponce of Strathmore for vehicle theft.

Date/Time Occurred: Tuesday, December 19, 2017/5:58 am

Crime or Incident: Vehicle Theft, Possession of Burglary Tools, Possession of Controlled Substance

Location: 17900 Block of Lariat Drive, City of Chino Hills

Suspect(s): Jose Padilla, 24-year-old resident of Pomona

Rosendo Ponce, 30-year-old resident of Strathmore

SUMMARY

On the morning of Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at 5:58 am, deputies from the Chino Hills Police Department were dispatched to the 17900 block of Lariat Drive for reports of suspects attempting to steal a vehicle. Two suspects were seen running from the vehicle which was left in the middle of the street and getting into a second vehicle and fled the scene. The suspect vehicle was located at the intersection of Ramona Avenue, and Edison Avenue and deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver drove away from police, turned evasively into a lumber yard, and abandoned the vehicle. After a search of the area, Jose Padilla and Rosendo Ponce were located and found to be in possession of burglary tools and illegal narcotics. Padilla and Ponce were arrested and booked into West Valley Detention Center for vehicle theft, possession of burglary tools, and possession of controlled substances.

Refer: Deputy B. Cervantes

Station: Chino Hills Police Department

Phone: (909) 364-2000

Report: 221704435

Q

Chino Hills Armed Robbery Leads to Chase and Arrest

Two Arrested after Armed Robbery and a Pursuit
Date/Time Occurred: December 29, 2017, at 2:00 a.m. Crime or Incident: Armed Robbery 

Location: 4000 Block of Chino Hills Parkway, Chino Hills 

Victim(s): Confidential 

Suspect: William Vandegrift, 23-year-old, resident of Compton 

Ricky Vaughn, 25-year-old, resident of Compton 
Summary:

On December 29, 2017, at 2:00 a.m., a male suspect entered a gas station, in the 4000 Block of Chino Hills Parkway. While inside the business, the suspect pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded the money in the cash register. The victim turned over the money and the suspect exited the business. The suspect fled the location in a white Kia Optima. 
Shortly after the robbery took place, law enforcement officers located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle failed to yield and the pursuit began. The pursuit concluded in the city of Compton. Two suspects exited the vehicle and ran on foot away from the officers. The suspects were taken into custody without incident and identified as William Vandegrift and Ricky Vaughn. The investigation revealed the suspects may have been involved in multiple robberies within Los Angeles County and Orange County. 
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Deputy G. Livingston at the Chino Hills Sheriff’s Station at (909) 364-2000.If you wish to remain anonymous you may contact WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME. 
Refer to: Deputy Linvingston 

Station: Chino Hills Station 

Phone #: (909) 364-2000 

CASE #: 221704544 

Vandalism at Pacos Tacos

By Anthony Saude

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

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

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

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

New Charter School Accepted

By Anthony Saude

 

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

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

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

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

Did You Know

Photo Courtesy: didyouknow.com

A Gentle Breed

By DidYouKnowIt.com

The pit bull is a dog that often gets a bad reputation. Many people believe that this dog breed is aggressive and often has a killing instinct. Pit Bulls used to be kept in homes as a nanny dog. Homes in England would use them as guard dogs for their children because of their protective nature. Even though the breed is seen as one that is violent, they are quite the opposite. The pit bull is a trusting dog that is quick to learn who its master is and is very protective. They can be aggressive toward other dogs, which means that they would do best in a home as the only pet. However, with proper training, they can live in the same home as other dogs and even cats. It is when this breed is raised for fighting purposes and to be aggressive that it can be violent. Most pits won’t attack another person or another animal unless there is a threat presented. This is because of their protective nature. If you’re planning to use this kind of dog to guard the home, it might be a good idea to find a different breed because they can be too trusting of people. This means that although they will attack if threatened, they usually won’t patrol the yard or stop someone from walking by the house unless the person does something to the dog.

Here We Grow Again

Staff Reports

Project: Goodman Commerce Center (formally Lewis Eastvale Commerce Center)

190 acres on Hamner Ave. north of Bellegrave Ave. and south of CantuGalleano Ranch Road Project

Description: Specific Plan to provide for a mix of warehousing, light industrial, office, and retail uses.Major Development Review for the development of two industrial buildings.

Latest News: Multi-Tenant Retail Building CR-3 Major Development Review and Conditional Use Permit

Current Status: Approved. Under construction

 

Project: Walmart – Eastvale Crossings

Project Location: Southeast corner of Limonite and Archibald Avenues (APN 144-030-039) Project Description: General Plan Amendment, Change of Zone, Major Development Review, five Conditional Use Permits, Tentative Tract Map No. 35061, and Variance for the development of a 177,000 +/-sq. ft. retail store and several outparcels on 24.78 acres. CEQA: Environmental Impact Report (certified)

Current Status: Approved. 2nd reading for Change of Zone Ordinance on May 10, 2017

 

Project: 99 Cents Only Store

Project Location: Northwest corner of Hamner Avenue and “new” Schleisman Road

Project Description: Major Development for a new 19,104-square foot retail building on 2.67 acres. CEQA: Mitigated Negative Declaration Grading permit issued on May 4, 2017.

Current Status: Approved. Construction of the building is under way. Stop Work Order issued by Building & Safety on August 24, 2017 due to no water connection or fire hydrant installations while building with combustible materials.

 

Project: Sendero Planned Residential Development by Stratham Homes

Project Location: Northwest corner of Limonite and Harrison Avenues; APN 164-010- 017 Project Description: General Plan Amendment, Change of Zone, Planned Residential Development, and Tentative Tract Map No. 36775 for the subdivision of approximately 44 acres into 323 residential lots and 14 lots for open space and water basins CEQA: Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND)

Current Status: Approved. Planning approved grading plans. Fences and walls plans approved on August 19, 2017. Landscape comments to applicant on August 21, 2017.

 

Project: The Ranch Specific Plan Amendment, Major Development Review, and Tentative Parcel Map

Project Location: Northeast and southeast corners of Hellman and future Limonite (Kimball) Avenues, west of Cucamonga Creek Channel.

Meeting with applicant on October 18, 2017 to discuss status of commercial portion of The Ranch, Planning Area 1.

Current Status: Approved. Grading and construction has started for industrial portion Applicant is still pursuing commercial and business park users. Some inquiries include self-storage and smaller multi-tenant business park suites.

 

 

Project Location: Northeast corner of Limonite and Sumner Avenues

Description: Major Development Review for the development of a new neighborhood retail centerwith multi-tenant and single tenant buildings totaling 72,779 sq. ft. on 7.64 acres, Conditional Use Permits for the operation of three drive-through facilities and a tire store, and Conditional Use Permit for the sales of alcohol in the grocery store. CEQA: Mitigated Negative Declaration

Current Status: Approved. Under construction Smart and Final opened on August 23, 2017. Miguel’s Jr. major development review continued to November 15, 2017 Planning Commission meeting (see Project PLN17-20022)

 

Project: LBA Realty Industrial Building

Project Location: North of Cantu-Galleano Ranch Road, 1,000 feet east of Hamner Avenue, and west of the I-15 freeway. (APN 160-020-033 and 156-050-025)

Project Description: Major Development Review for a 446,173-sq.ft. industrial building on approximately 24 acres and overflow parking on APN 156-050-025. CEQA: Environmental Impact Report (certified)

Current Status: Approved. Under construction.

 

Project: The Ranch Specific Plan Amendment, Major Development Review, and Tentative Parcel Map

Project Map: Current Status: Approved. Grading and construction has started for industrial portion, see

Portion Project Location: Northeast and southeast corners of Hellman and future Limonite (Kimball) Avenues, west of Cucamonga Creek Channel. Moons Site (APNs: 144-010-008-0, 144-101-013-4) and Rodriguez Site (APN: 144-010-009-1)

Project Description: Specific Plan Amendment to modify existing boundaries for The Ranch SP No. 358 for Planning Areas 1 through 6, land use designation for Planning Area 5, and revisions to allowable uses. No revisions to Planning Areas 7 through 9. Major Development Review for six (6) industrial buildings totaling 985,000 square feet on six (6) parcels, Tentative Parcel Map No. 36787 to subdivide approximately 97 gross acres into 14 legal parcels CEQA: EIR Addendum

Current Status: Approved. Grading and construction has started for industrial portion, see Project No. PLN 16- 00011. Applicant is still pursuing commercial and business park users. Some inquiries include self-storage and smaller multi-tenant business park suites.

House and Senate Pass Tax Reform and Jobs Act

Nef Cortez

By Nef Cortez

The House of Representatives and the United States Senate have now passed the Tax Reform and Jobs Act, and will send the legislative bill to President Donald Trump for signature. There are some major changes in the Tax Act that will directly impact the housing industry and the real estate market. Specifically, It is slated to cut the Mortgage Interest Deduction from the maximum loan amount on the primary residence at $750,000.  The current level is $1 million dollars.  The approved mortgage amount amount is up from the originally proposed $500,000 loan maximum.  The reconciled amount will help most real estate markets outside of California, New Jersey, and New York, where the prices in the larger metropolitan and most populous areas of these states will definitely suffer a loss of interest payment deductibility.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) economic policy group predicts that there will be a deflationary impact on the real estate market and home values for the upper levels of the market.  The limitation on the State and Local Property Tax deduction has been set at $10,000. This is another change that impacts high priced areas as opposed to lower or middle priced markets.

What is in the Tax Reform and Jobs Act to offset these negative impacts on the real estate markets? The primary objective is to ramp up the economy by releasing extra money into consumer’s pockets in the very first month of the year 2018 by reducing the taxes taken out of their paycheck. This should result in creating more demand by increasing the buying power of the consumer.  Higher demand increases competition, which will increase the prices in these markets.  That increased demand is expected to prop up the prices in those markets in areas that will be negatively impacted by the changes in the Tax Reform and Jobs Act.

This article was written by Nef Cortez, a licensed Real Estate Broker, Cal BRE # 00560181 since 1976. He can be reached via e-mail at nefcortez@gmail.com. Please feel free to email any questions regarding real estate.

 

Food Drive Brings in 8,000 Donations

By Kelli Gile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Avoiding Apartment Rental Scams

By Walnut/DB Sheriff’s Department


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

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

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

Choose, Connect, and See the Difference at Walnut Hills Optometry

Staff Reports

 

Walnut – Do you know WHO will care for your eyes? Great news! Walnut Hills Optometry is moving to a larger location, just one block away from old location. Starting on January 20 this new location will open its doors to satisfy all your optometry care needs.  For many years, Walnut Hills Optometry (WHO) has taken excellent care of the vision needs of the community, serving patients from Walnut, West Covina, Diamond Bar, and Chino Hills to patients from La Puente, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights and Whittier. Because of the quality of service provided, as well as the trusting care given by the doctor, patients travel from the Los Angeles and Inland Empire areas as well.

WHO considers vision to be a precious gift, and their office takes pride in providing comprehensive eye exams.

WHO believes that quality eye care involves consistent care by a professional.  Carmela Larino, O.D., and her loyal staff, will give your eyes the personalized care and attention they deserve.

Dr. Larino is proud to serve the community she grew up in.  She attended Rowland Unified schools from elementary through high school, and then attended U.C. Irvine before receiving her doctorate degree from the Southern California College of Optometry.  In 2003, Dr. Larino was honored at her alma mater – Nogales High School – when she was inducted onto their Wall of Fame.  She is a member of the American Optometric Association, the California Optometric Association, and the Rio Hondo Optometric Society, where she stays current on the latest in eye care.  As a local resident, you might find Dr. Larino eating at your favorite restaurant, shopping in a local store, or attending a community event.

WHO offers personalized eye examinations, diabetic and eye health exams, and the management and care of a multitude of eye and vision concerns.  A wide variety of eyewear is also available, from progressive and polarized lenses to silicone high-oxygen contacts, and even designer frames. They also offer Lasik Surgery co-management. If you have used eyeglass frames scattered around the house, bring them to the WHO offices and they will donate them to those in need of frames.

WHO is conveniently located near the 10, 60 and 57 freeways, on the border of Walnut and West Covina, at 18800 East Amar Road # A5, inside the Walnut West Plaza. Their hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. , Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays  from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  You can reach them at (626) 965-3878 or (909) 594-1153.  For more information visit their website at www.walnuthillsoptometry.com.

Walnut Hills Optometry thanks you for twenty years, follow them for twenty more!

Street Sweeping In Diamond Bar

DB Street Sweeping

Just a reminder that street sweeping during December and January will be weekly. Please ensure that any of your vehicles are not on the street during the posted time and days for your street to be cleaned. Thanks for your cooperation. http://bit.ly/2zHKtdS

Address/Location
LASD – Walnut/Diamond Bar Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff
21695 Valley Blvd
Walnut, CA 91789

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 909-595-2264

Advanced Improvements Provides Comfort For Your Home

Staff Reports

 

SoCal – Advanced Improvements is an expert in air conditioning and heating, water heating, water filtration, roofing, and solar power.  For over 20 years, they have been providing eco-friendly, energy saving home and office comfort solutions for Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and Los Angeles counties.

Advanced Improvements’ mission is to build top quality home and office improvement projects on time, with exemplary customer service, and within your budget.  Right now, Advanced Improvements is offering specials and discounts on a variety of their products.

Solar:  Whether you’re looking to go completely off the power grid, or just reduce your carbon footprint, Advanced Improvements can help by providing you with solar solutions.  They offer both solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar thermal (solar water heating) technologies.  The average solar system pays for itself in as little as four years.  When you fit your home for solar, you can receive up to 30% in tax credits, and Advanced Improvements has 2.99% financing options available for solar upgrades (OAC).

Water Heating:  Advanced Improvements carries a full line of different models and types of water heaters.  They offer everything from traditional tanks and tankless, to the new hybrids and eco-friendly solar water heaters.  Advanced Improvements specializes in tankless water heaters, claiming the title of the largest tankless water heater installation company in the nation.  They have installed over 10,000 tankless water heaters over the last ten years.  Take advantage of their $500 discount coupon on a Rheem Tankless Water Heater, or $100 discount on a Rheem Tank Water Heater.

Water Filtration: Advanced Improvements offers water filtration systems that protect against hardness elements, iron, rust, sediment, and a variety of other substances that may be present in your water.  Their systems are high flow and low maintenance machines that are designed for optimum performance.  Ask about their $500 discount coupon for Anti-Scale and Carbon Water Filtration systems.

Heating and Air:  Advanced Improvements has trained professionals that provide expert analyses, top quality equipment, and skilled installation or repair of your heating and air conditioning equipment.  They can give your home a heating or cooling system that is not only reliable, but efficient.  They also offer heat pumps, gas furnaces, package units, air handlers, and cooling coils.  Their current heating special will allow you to get $1,500 off in factory rebates for qualifying systems.  Also, ask about their $75 special for a winter tune-up for your current system.

Go Green:  You can GO GREEN with Advanced Improvements, as they provide eco-friendly, energy saving, green products for your home and business.  They can help you go completely independent with solar power, replace your heating and cooling system with a new high-efficiency unit, or lower your energy usage by installing a tankless water heater.

Advanced Improvements stands behind their products and services and is committed to excellence.  They are also committed to the community.  Owners Jason and Athena Hayes have lived in Eastvale for over seven years, and as homeowners, they love to see Eastvale flourish. Advanced Improvements has been the platinum sponsor for the Eastvale Community Foundation’s Annual Golf Tournaments, and they will continue to invest in the City and support its growth.  Make sure to ask about their $500 discount coupon for Eastvale residents only.

Make your home or business comfortable today with Advanced Improvements (Contractor State License Board #947761).  Their office is located at1352 E. Valencia Dr, Fullerton, CA 92831, and they can be reached at (888) 887-7808.  Visit their website at www.AdvancedIMP.com

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

By Michael Armijo

 

While at the ATM drive-through, a woman straddled both lanes in a two-lane isle.  I’ve been there a thousand times and not one person has ever straddled these lanes, they just pick one.  Sometimes the line moves quickly, other times you have to wait while the cars next to you move right through.  It’s a gamble, but we make a decision and we accept it.

Maybe it was the long day or maybe I just felt short-tempered, but while the woman straddled the lanes, I went around her car, and I picked the left lane.  She got out of her vehicle and told me; “I’ve been waiting, you can’t go around me.”  I explained the unwritten policy of the drive-through ATM machine.  She angrily got back into her car and waited again.  As I drove up to the machine, I felt so uncomfortable.  I knew she never should’ve sat there and straddled both lanes, but who am I to react to her misdirection?  The uncomfortable feeling made me sick inside, I knew that I never should’ve gone around her.  So I backed up, allowed her to go first, calling out to her; “I’m sorry, go ahead of me.”  She pulled up to the machine, finished her transaction, and her last words were; “Thank you for being fair.”

I believe the true essence of being a complete individual begins with the ability to communicate.  The ability to express yourself and present issues, views, and concerns in a dignified, fair, and an understandable manner.  To simply be a human being.

Simple people do not get caught up in the unfairness in life.  They do not listen with anger and respond with vengeance.  They see light and are drawn to it.  They’re clear individuals that can respond with solutions and not just complain.  They respond instead of react.  And it’s their simplicity that keeps them humble and dignified.  Simple people see or experience tragedy and work through it and not around it.  This keeps them complete and understanding.

I also believe in responsibility.  Not to just go to work, pay the mortgage, and get the kids to school, but also to enforce responsibility inside, not just on the surface.  To not just promote a good life but to actually live it from the inside outward.  In a person’s life, responsibility also includes our jobs, our actions towards society, towards our fellow man.  Not to act like a good person, but to actually think, feel, and believe in the goodness of being a good person.

When I pulled in front of the woman at the ATM machine, I knew she was misdirected, and yet I reacted to her misdirection instead of responding to it.  If it meant that much to me to not wait behind someone who couldn’t make a decision, I should’ve communicated with her.  And if it didn’t mean that much to me, then I just should’ve waited behind her and not given it another thought.  Instead, I almost ruined her entire day, and who knows what that could’ve done to her family and friends.

I believe that we, as a society, need to remember how important and how powerful we really are.  We need to understand the true meaning of sharing experiences, applying yourself, being honest, open, and sincere.  It will bring you peace when you remember that you have so much to contribute to life, let’s not waste it on bitterness, anger, frustration, or unfairness.  Instead, let’s focus on the good things.

The power we hold within ourselves is worthless when we misdirect our hearts by allowing our minds to take over.  I believe the truest form of life is not just having the power to get your way, but having the power to help others find their way.  And when we see this powerful light that shines from within, we can capture it and allow those rays of sunshine to help our heart glow with a magnificent gleam that reminds us that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Joy vs Happiness

By Rohmon Merchant

Joy isn’t like happiness which is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. No, joy remains even amidst the suffering. Joy is not happiness. Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectations of something great or wonderful. It could be described as exhilaration, delight, sheer gladness, and can result from a remarkable success. You can even find joy in a unmet expectation, or a letdown, if you determine in your heart to not let situations get the best of you and keep your positive outlook and continence, graduation but the definition of joy that the world holds is not nearly as amazing as biblical joy, but joy is also a gift.

During my time in ministry, which coincidentally also holds some of the most devastating moments of my life I found that the only way God can get the best out of me is when I receive his joy for me and stay in that vein. I am quickly reminded through the times when God showed how real he is and how he carried me out of tough times and even had has hand on me during the incredible times. When I think of those times, and the beauty that only God can make from this life that I clearly messed up more than anyone can I feel this overwhelming peace that passes all understanding and this strong confidence that God is in total control and excitement about possibilities and unknown futures…that’s Joy. It’s contagious and it brings the scripture “the joy of the lord is my strength” to life. (Nehemiah 8:10)

So instead of looking for happiness this year I will live in the joy. Letting it grow in and through me and who knows? Let’s see what happens what God can do with someone with everlasting joy in their heart, or compromising happiness that is fleeting.

The Bridge

14189 Foothill Blvd ste 102

Fontana, Ca. 92336

Service starts at 9am

Prime Rib

By Simply Recipes

Cooking Time: 1-2 hours
Servings: 2-3 Per Rib
Ingredients:
• One Standing Rib Roast
•3-7 Ribs
•Freshly ground black pepper

1 Salt roast and let sit at room temp:  Remove the beef roast from the refrigerator 3 hours before you start to cook it. Sprinkle it with salt all over and let it sit, loosely wrapped in the butcher paper. Roasts should be brought close to room temperature before they go into the oven, to ensure more even cooking.

2 Tie roast with kitchen string: If your butcher hasn’t already done so, cut the bones away from the roast and tie them back on to the roast with kitchen string. This will make it much easier to carve the roast, while still allowing you to stand the roast on the rib bones while cooking.

3 Preheat oven, season roast: Preheat your oven to 500°F (or the highest temp your oven reaches less than 500°F). Pat the roast dry with paper towels (pre-salting should have made the roast release some moisture), and sprinkle the roast all over with salt and pepper.

4 Place the roast fat side up and rib bones down in a roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer (oven proof) into the thickest part of the roast, making sure that the thermometer isn’t touching a bone.

5 Brown roast at high temperature: Brown the roast at a 500°F temperature in the oven for 15 minutes.

6 Lower oven temp to finish roasting: Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. To figure out the total cooking time, allow about 11-12 minutes per pound for rare and 13-15 minutes per pound for medium rare.

The actual cooking time will depend on the shape of the roast, how chilled your roast still is when it goes into the oven, and your particular oven. A flatter roast will cook more quickly than a thicker one. A chilled roast will take more time than one closer to room temp.

There are so many variables involved that affect cooking time, this is why you should use a meat thermometer. A prime rib roast is too expensive to “wing it”. Error on the rare side, you can always put the roast back in the oven to cook it more if it is too rare for your taste.

Roast in oven until thermometer registers 115°F for rare or 120°-130°F for medium. (The internal temperature of the roast will continue to rise after you take the roast out of the oven.)

Check the temperature of the roast using a meat thermometer an hour before you expect the roast to be done. For example, with a 10 pound roast, you would expect 2 hours of total cooking time for rare (15 minutes at 500° and 1 3/4 hours at 325°). In this case, check after 1 hour 15 minutes of total cooking time, or 1 hour after you lowered the oven temp to 325°. (A benefit of using a remote thermometer is that you don’t have to keep checking the roast, you’ll be able to see exactly what the temperature is by looking at the thermometer outside of the oven.)

If the roast is cooking too quickly at this point, lower the oven temperature to 200°F.

7 Let the roast rest: Once the roast has reached the temperature you want, remove it from the oven and place it on a carving board. Cover it with foil and let it rest for 30 minutes before carving. The internal temperature of the roast will continue to rise while the roast is resting.

8 Cut away strings, remove bones, slice roast: Cut away the strings that were used to hold the roast to the rack of rib bones. Remove the bones (you can save them to make stock for onion soup if you want.)

Then, using a sharp carving knife, slice meat across the grain for serving, making the slices about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.