Tag Archives: City of Diamond Bar

Diamond Bar Host Restaurant Week

Staff Reports

Diamond Bar – The city of Diamond will be hosting their inaugural Restaurant Week event. Diamond Bar Restaurant Week (DBRW) is an event that aims to advertise and commend the many dining options within the city. It is co-sponsored by the city and the Regional Chamber of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley. DBRW starts Saturday, October 8 until Friday, October 14 and will include the following restaurants:

  • Blue Sky Café
  • Chili’s Grill & Bar
  • Dilliwalla Indian Kitchen
  • Encore Teppan
  • GUACS
  • Holiday Inn Grill & Bar
  • Jasmine Mediterranean & Persian Cuisine
  • G’s Pizzeria & Pasta
  • Paper Pot Shabu
  • Peacock Gardens Cuisine of India & Banquet Hall
  • The Attic
  • Whole Enchilada
  • You and Me Café

The participating restaurants listed above will be offering special deals that will range from appetizers to full course meals. The city has also created a website – www.DBRestaurantWeek.com – to draw in large crowds for the city’s week long dining function. The website itself consists of images, audio and video of the restaurants participating in the event.

Any other restaurants within the city limits wishing to participate in the event are urged to contact the Chamber at 626.810.8476 or Diamond Bar’s Administration Department at 909.839.7015 ordbrestaurantweek@diamondbarca.gov.

Walnut Valley Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists for 2017

BY WVUSD

Walnut – Thirty-two Walnut Valley USD high school seniors are among 16,000 students nationwide named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

The following students have been recognized for demonstrating exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies:

 Diamond Bar High: Jason Ahn, Shannen Rikki Barrameda, Vinay Bhupathiraju, Benjamin Chen, Connie Chen, Justin Chuang, Brandon Hung, Peyrin Kao, Su Min Kim, Vickie Kuo, Aaron Lee, Adeline Lee, Monica Lin, James Lo, Leslie Sim, Sabrina Tseng, and Joanna Zhang.

Walnut High: Farhan Baig, Brittany Chiu, Stephanie Djajadi, Hannah Hu, Nellie Kwang, Rachel Lee, Savanna Lee, Joyce Lin, Vivian Lo, Tiffany Loo, Cynthia Lu, Ayesha Ng, Jo Ann Sun, Shiaw-Hern Wu, and Brian Zeng.

These students represent less than 1 percent of the U.S. high school seniors and are the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Last fall, about 1.6 million juniors across the country entered the prestigious contest by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT college-readiness exam.

The semifinalists are now eligible to advance to the finalist level in February and compete for $33 million in scholarships offered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, private companies, colleges, and foundations.

 

It just takes One!

By WVUSD 

Quail Summit third grade students and staff with author Kathryn Otoshi. It just takes One!

Quail Summit third grade students and staff with author Kathryn Otoshi.
It just takes One!

DIAMOND BAR, CA —  Children’s author and illustrator Kathryn Otoshi brought her message of tolerance, acceptance, and kindness to Quail Summit and Castle Rock elementary students last week.

She read from her number books “One” and “Zero” that focus on standing up for each other and making sure everyone counts.

“These stories touch my heart!” commented Castle Rock 5th grader Nicolas Matias after a September 9 assembly.

The simply drawn pictures books feature symbolic characters with layered messages that teach children they can be part of the solution.

In “One,” when the quiet Blue dot is picked on by the hothead Red dot, the other colors don’t know what to do, until number One comes along and shows all the colors how to stand up, stand together, and count.

“Sometimes it just takes one to make a difference!” the author said.  Otoshi shared that she penned “Zero” to pay tribute to a new classmate from another country that was bullied during the fourth grade.  “I didn’t say anything because I was afraid,” she admitted.

Now, Otoshi circles the country to empower the next generation to become “upstanders” and not bystanders.  “Inside you lives courage and kindness. Don’t be afraid to tell someone in charge,” she urged.

A 15-foot mural was unveiled after assemblies at Quail Summit Elementary on September 8.  The painting features handprints of all 650 students and staff members inspired by Otoshi’s book “Beautiful Hands,” which was co-written with friend Bret Baumgarten who was battling pancreatic cancer.

For three days, artist and former parent, Margot Bloom carefully brushed red, green, yellow, or blue paint on every hand before positioning as leaves on the giant tree.

“The children all understood the connection of what we were creating,” said principal Jeanette Koh, who invited the author to add her handprint to the one-of-a-kind painting.

“It is our hope that the mural will be a ‘living piece of art’ that will inspire students, staff, and parents at Quail Summit to reach out and make a difference in the lives of others,” added elementary learning specialist Leann Legind.

Otoshi told students that Baumgarten would ask his young children “What will you do with your beautiful hands today?”  “If we do something meaningful for somebody we can touch their heart,” she said.  “Make a commitment to doing something kind for someone else. Spirits soar when we put our hands together!”

Anxiety and Our Youth

stoops-and-midnight-bw-ORIGBy Nancy Stoops

I have been a psychotherapist for sixteen years and have worked with people of all ages with various issues.  I’m constantly amazed when I have a child or teen brought to me for anxiety issues. We seem to have created a generation that feels very inadequate and struggles with growing up and being successful.  The issues this generation worries about are things my generation didn’t have to deal with.

Our colleges are impacted and hard to get into.  Now kindergarteners have homework and are expected to read and know many more things.  Video games and television are replacing playing outdoors in the fresh air and getting much needed exercise.  This outdoor playing is such a great way to reduce or eliminate stress.  Social media unfortunately has made this generation very lazy and childhood obesity and diabetes are on the rise.

As parents and community leaders we have a social responsibility to help this generation find a healthy balance in their lives in every area.  We need to support and encourage our youth.  We need to provide the necessary tools to help them strive to become their best.  We need to have faith in our youth as so many of them are diamonds in the rough.  We need to give them guidance and tools to help them shine and reach their full potential.

We need to teach the teens that problems can we worked through and that drinking and drugs are not a solution.  We need to teach them how to meditate not medicate to quiet their busy minds.  We need to teach them how to relax by finding balance, getting organized, prioritizing and effectively managing their time and communicating what’s working and not working in their lives.  Please don’t assume they are all pot smoking video game playing lazy worthless human beings.  They are just scared and need some help finding their way!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a private practice in Diamond Bar and is currently accepting new clients; she is also a motivational speaker who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups on how to manage anger.    For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909) 229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy at nancyjstoops@verizon.net. 

South Pointe History Day Team Lauded

WVUSDsp-national-history-day-web

Diamond Bar- Last spring, a foursome of South Pointe Middle School students earned state and national attention with their National History Day project titled “NASA’s Early Manned Missions” exhibit.  The team of 8th grade boys even earned a trip to compete in Washington D.C. as California champions.

Recently, another South Pointe top team that competed during the L.A. County and California History Day events received accolades for their outstanding work.

 Lauren Chen, Fiona Huang, Lindsay Kashiwabara, and Morgan Joe were honored for their documentary on the “Harlem Renaissance: A Revolution of Music and Literature.”

While conducting research, the girls had a unique opportunity to interview the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County president, Bobby McDonald.

He was so impressed with their professionalism and curiosity about the Harlem Renaissance that he requested to see their final product.

Upon viewing the documentary, he was thoroughly impressed by both the quality of the video and the depth of their research.

“He was moved by the fact that students chose to honor Black History and thought it was appropriate to pay tribute to them at the annual banquet,” explained social studies teacher Kevin Duh.

The group of girls, who are now 9th graders, spoke to the crowd of 500 guests during the celebration held at the Disney Hotel on August 20.

Each team member received prestigious county and the state awards.

Additionally, the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County presented a generous $500 scholarship to each student.

 “I am incredibly proud of how each member of the group invested their time and energy to a historical event that is rarely discussed in the classroom. Lauren, Fiona, Lindsay, and Morgan went above and beyond in their project to highlight and honor African American’s contributions to art in pop culture of today. Their work ethic and dedication to excellence is rare to see at this age,” Duh said.

NEW General Plan Advisory Committee

City of Diamond Bar

Diamond Bar- Diamond Bar City Council is currently accepting applications from individuals interested in being considered for appointment to the newly-created Diamond Bar General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC).

The Diamond Bar GPAC is a volunteer ad hoc advisory committee whose purpose is to make recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council on a variety of uses related to the update of the city’s General Plan. Member tasks include reviewing research and analysis, identifying issues, visions and key policies, and providing advice and input into the Plan.

Council’s goal for the Diamond Bar GPAC is that its members be diverse in age, gender, background, experience and interests, but that they share the common, community-wide, long-term vision and perspective to city growth and development over the next 20 to 25 years.

The ideal applicants should be able to serve on the committee for the duration of the General Plan Update process- approximately three years- and participate in nine meetings. They must be at least 16 years of age, and either live, operate a business, or have a proven record of community service in Diamond Bar.

Every city and county in California is required to develop and periodically update a General Plan, and use it to guide decision-making on a variety of matters, including land development, capital improvements, and resource conservation. While General Plans do not have a definity shelf life, a 20 to 25 year cycyle is the accepted norm. Diamond Bar’s original General Plan was adopted in 1995.

The prospective GPAC member application, along with additional information about the Diamond Bar General Update, is available on the City website at www.diamondbarca.gov/generalplan. Applications may also be picked up at City Hall (21810 Copley Drive) and Diamond Bar Center (1600 Grand Avenue), or requested by mail by calling the Diamond Bar City Clerk’s Office at (909) 839-7010. Completed applications are due back to the Diamond Bar City Clerk’s Office no later than Thursday, September 15.

Traditional Chinese Cuisine On The Menu At Mandarin Taste

Staff Reports  

Mandarin Taste Restuarant

Mandarin Taste is located at 23391 E. Golden Springs Drive, in Diamond Bar. For reservations, call (909) 861-1819. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Diamond Bar – If you are looking for a wonderful meal, look no farther than Diamond Bar’s most authentic Chinese restaurant, Mandarin Taste. For over 32 years, Mandarin Taste has brought quality service and traditional Chinese cuisine to the Diamond Bar community.

The restaurant has thrived because of the many mouth-watering dishes it serves and the family-friendly atmosphere that keeps people coming back for more. Skip slaving over the stove all day, or cooking after a long day at the office. Mandarin Taste hopes to make every day less stressful and more enjoyable for you while you feast and share memories with your loved ones.

They have added freshly made items to their menu; snow crab legs, California rolls, and Sushi rolls. From Peking duck and Hunan lamb to customer-favorites pork fried rice, wonton soup and orange-flavored chicken, guests will definitely feel lucky getting their grub on at Mandarin Taste. There’s an abundance of tasty food options to satisfy every palate.

The restaurant’s owners and staff want everyone who comes to their establishment to relax and enjoy themselves over the delectable food.

“We’re like a family restaurant,” said restaurant manager Chi Young, when describing the feeling that customers get when visiting the long-lasting eatery.

“People are always smiling [here],” said Young.

The restaurant holds a very popular champagne brunch on Sundays.  The champagne is all-you-can-drink and freshly made California rolls and Ginger lobster that is made by a Japanese master chef, have been added to the menu.  All-you-can-eat buffets are available as well.

Mandarin Taste also serves traditional and specialty cocktails. Join them during Happy Hour, held Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. If customers can’t come in to enjoy the pleasant ambience, they have the option to order food for carryout. Share the love and give your family and friends Mandarin Taste gift certificates, available year round!

For more information, please call (909) 861-1819, or just stop by their location at 23391 E. Golden Springs Drive, Diamond Bar.

 

Families Rally for District of Choice

Walnut Valley Unified School District

By Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources

WALNUT, CA- Nearly a thousand students, parents, and school officials joined voices on August 27, in protest of a surprising unilateral decision which jeopardizes the future of the District of Choice (DOC) program.

A rally held at Maple Hill Park in Diamond Bar was organized by Walnut Valley Unified School District (WVUSD) parents with the purpose of sending a clear message to legislators.

Wearing yellow shirts, the crowd of rally-goers chanted “Walnut Valley is our choice – let our students have a voice!”

Additionally, families and officials from other DOC districts, including Oak Park, Glendora, and West Covina attended the event.

“We’re all united for one cause,” said DOC parent Sam Castorena. “This is a California issue affecting nearly 10,000 students in 47 districts, and we all have the same question – why?”

“We were blindsided.”

District of Choice allows California parents to transfer their children to a participating school district without a transfer agreement. The school choice program has been in existence for 22 years.

A bill to extend the program was killed in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on August 12, just three days before the new school year began.

“It’s really a shame that this is a situation of personal politics rather than facts and policy,” said WVUSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor.

“And the kids are definitely the losers.”

In the past two weeks, angered parents contacted legislators in support of DOC with thousands of phone calls, emails, and letters.  To date, a “Let Parents Have a Choice in Their Children’s Education” petition on Change.org has collected over 4,500 signatures.

“We all have one thing in common – the choice. We’re all fighting for our kids,” Castorena said.

Without an extension, DOC students will be sent back to their home district at the end of this school year.

“We are parents who care and want the right to choose,” urged DOC parent Teruni Evans.

About 3,600 WVUSD students secure enrollment through the District of Choice.

DOC students are immersed in every classroom and program on all 15 campuses. They are part of the fabric of the Walnut Valley family.

If Walnut Valley loses DOC, it would cost $29 million in funding, which equates to more than 300 employees potentially losing their jobs, closing a quarter of our schools, and cutting programs, Dr. Taylor said.

Over a year ago, legislators asked for an unbiased non-partisan study on DOC to create a better way of guiding the program.

“It was recommended that we extend the DOC program because it’s good for all kids. We have two decades of success stories demonstrating how this program has benefitted all kids,” Dr. Taylor added.

During the rally, several Walnut Valley students helped lead the charge in support of DOC.

“If DOC ends, that means cuts to many of the programs that have made these schools so great. That is unacceptable!” said Diamond Bar High School junior Nick Lucero. “It may mean the cut of the performing arts program that has transformed me into the person that I am today.”

“My parents had enough of me being mistreated at my previous district and decided to give me the gift of DOC,” added freshman Diego Santos. “Since coming to WVUSD, life as a student has been awesome. We should never be forced away from our schools, dreams, goals, and friends.”

“I fear that the future students of Walnut Valley will not receive the same amazing opportunities that I have today,” said Walnut High School sophomore Ethan Lee. “Students have the right to seek an education that offers a variety of choices. Today we stand together and hope that this bill will be passed. Sign the petition, call legislators, do what you can!”

A school choice bill, AB 1432, was written by Senator Bob Huff to reauthorize the program that is scheduled to sunset at the end of this school year.

It was approved unanimously in three Senate committees and the Assembly Education Committee, and by a 38-1 vote on the Senate floor, but then was stalemated by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

“We never saw that coming,” said Huff who is a longtime champion of the DOC program.

“The amended bill, AB 1771, will be a slow death for DOC because current students will only be able to finish the school they’re at, but not be able to matriculate to middle or high school. It also means other members of the family wouldn’t be able to come in,” Huff said.

Huff and Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang are now working with DOC superintendents to craft a new bill for the next legislative session.

“We’re working day and night in Sacramento to build a bipartisan coalition to make sure they have a bill vehicle to extend the program as long as possible,” Chang said.

“We’re doing everything we can to save DOC.”

In Walnut Valley, the end of DOC would impact every child, family, staff member, and teacher in the district, according to parent Lily Eibert.

“Walnut Valley is the centerpiece of our community – and someone is messing with our award-winning nationally-ranked schools. I think this particular Assemblywoman underestimated the power of our community and the extent that we will go to make sure that we have a voice and a choice in our kids’ education!”

Where Are You From?

mark-hopper-color-2x2By Pastor Mark Hopper

A few months ago, my wife’s sister and her husband invited us to go with them on a cruise to southern Alaska.  Although our 45th wedding anniversary was in June, we delayed our celebration until our cruise in August.

We enjoyed our Alaska adventure and saw many wonderful sights.  The Inland Passage is lined with beautiful forests that come right down to the water’s edge.  We saw whales, dolphins and Bald Eagles.  We also saw a glacier that flowed out of the mountains right down to the sea.  It was a remarkable sight!

In addition to all of the sightseeing and shopping, we also met passengers from all over the world.  Most of the people we met were from the United States but there were also a few from Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Every time we got on an elevator or stood in a line, I would ask people “Where are you from”?  Most people were quick to reply.  I was surprised at how many were from Florida.  I thought they already had a lot of cruise ships in Florida but people reminded me that they don’t have glaciers and icebergs there!

We also met a lot of passengers who were from California, including one couple who lived just down the road in Yorba Linda.

The biggest surprise was when we met a woman and her family who used to attend our church in Diamond Bar!  I didn’t recognize her at first but when she told us her name I knew exactly who she was.

What are the odds of meeting someone you know in an elevator on a cruise ship that was sailing to Alaska? What is the likelihood of meeting someone who knows you on a ship filled with 2,500 passengers?

We certainly enjoyed our cruise to Alaska and we enjoyed seeing so many amazing things.  But, we also enjoyed meeting so many interesting people from all over the world!

Let me encourage you to take time to greet people you meet on your next trip or vacation.  You may be surprised at who you meet.  They will be glad you did.

 

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

Pokémon No Go for Sex Offenders

Staff Reports  No-Pokemon-Go

Walnut – Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang of Diamond Bar announced earlier this month that she plans to push legislation to prohibit sex offenders from using the game Pokémon Go in California. To prohibit a sex offender from being able to lure minors into their location because of how easy it can be to use geo-location games to abuse children.

A press release by contact person Chris Wangsaporn has him stating, “I am Pokémon Go’s biggest fan- that’s no secret, but as someone who uses the game you can see how easy it is for criminals and predators to attract people to certain locations and many of those players are minors.”

Also stated in his release, “Pokémon players have fallen victim to criminals in a number of ways in the one month the game has been released in the US. For example, armed robbers have been known to bait victims using the game’s features that allow players to lure others hoping to ‘catch’ more Pokémon characters. Meanwhile law enforcement has expressed concerns that sexual predators could use the game in a similar way. Reporters in California have found that the game can bring players within feet of the residences of sex offenders.”

Chang also stated, “Before new games are released and they grow even more popular, it’s critical we establish protections for kids.”

The proposal will be to prohibit sex offenders from using interactive video games like Pokémon Go in an effort to prey on children. The deadline to send the bill to the governor for consideration is August 31.

 

 

City Council Meeting

By Natalie Kim

Diamond Bar – The August 16 Diamond Bar City Council meeting began with a special presentation to several girls softball teams. The Council presented Certificates of Recognition to girls softball teams in the age brackets of eight and under, twelve and under, and fourteen and under for participating in the Junior Olympic State Championship and for the twelve and under, and fourteen and under teams for earning a spot at the Junior Olympic National Championship. The Council also presented a Certificate Plaque to Jimmy John’s, located at 22438 Golden Springs Dr. as the new Business of the Month for August 2016.

During the City Manager reports and recommendations, the City Manager discussed updating the General Plan. The City’s current General Plan is now far outdated and mostly fulfilled, and must be updated to reflect the current Diamond Bar and the future that the current residents wish for the City. The City will also begin creating a General Plan Commission to ensure that Diamond Bar residents will be able to voice their hopes and plans for the future of the City.

Following the public comments, the schedule of future events was read, the schedule included the next Planning Commission meeting on Aug 23; the next Parks and Recreation meeting on Aug 25; and Labor Day holiday on Sep 5, during which City offices will be closed.

The Council approved all items on the consent calendar, including:

  • The minutes from the City Council meeting of Aug 2; Planning Commission minutes from June 28; and Parks and Recreation minutes from June 23.
  • Ratification of a check registers totaling $1,368,995.02.
  • Adjourning the Aug 16 City Council meeting to Sep 20.
  • A resolution approving plans and specifications and establishing a project payment account, as well as awarding the construction contract for the Washington Street cul-de-sac at Lincoln Avenue to CT&T Concrete Paving, Inc. in the amount of $101,450 and authorize a contingency amount of $8,550 for contract change orders to be approved by the City Manager.
  • Approval of a consulting services agreement with Kimley Horn to develop a procurement and implementation plan for an adaptive traffic control system in the amount of $209,081, plus a contingency amount of $30,000 for project change orders to be approved by the City Manager.
  • A resolution authorizing and approving the sale of $600,000 of Proposition A fund to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
  • Appropriation of $85,286.54 from the Quimby Fund Reserves to the fiscal year 2016-17 Capital Improvement Program budget, as well as a resolution approving plans and specifications and establishing a payment account, accepting a letter of withdrawal from Principal Contracting, Inc. and awarding the construction contract for the Stardust and Peterson Park Improvement Project to ACE CD Inc. in the amount of $435,667.88.

Two items were brought to the Council for their consideration. The first was the first reading of Ordinance 0X (2016), which would revise the City’s purchasing system, amending the Diamond Bar Municipal Code and Rescinding Ordinance No. 07 (2014) in its entirety. The second was an approval of a betterment agreement with the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority and the City of Industry for Lemon Avenue interchange improvements to be done in conjunction with the Fairway Drive Grade Separation Project. Both items were approved by the Council.

Following individual reports and comments, the Council adjourned to Sep 20 at 6:30 p.m. at 21865 Copley Drive.

3 arrested during Blue cut Fire evacuations

Staff Reports  

Photo courtesy: SBSD

Photo courtesy: SBSD

Diamond Bar- During the Blue cut Fire on August 18, a Diamond Bar resident was one of three suspects who attempted to steal on the 8600 block of Swarthout Canyon of the San Bernardino area during the time of mandatory evacuations.

The SBSD deputies responded to suspicious activity at a home that was located within the evacuation areas. Once deputies arrived, they made contact with the suspects who had brought a flat bed truck and were attempting to leave.

The three suspects were identified as 29 year-old Riverside resident Trevor Sanchez, 27 year-old Diamond Bar resident Natasha Rovinsky, and 27 year-old  Jurupa resident Daniel Mervine. They had informed the deputy that they were picking up property for a friend that resided on that property.

According to SBSD, “Deputies made contact with the property owner who advised that he did not give anyone permission to take his property.”

The three suspects were then taken into custody without further incident and will be booked for Looting and Grand Theft Auto.

If anyone has additional information related to the suspects who were involved, you are urged to contact Sheriff’s Central Station at (909) 387-3545. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the WeTip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may also leave information on the WeTip Hotline at www.wetip.com

 

A Penny For Your Thoughts

Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

In my last article, I shared my story of finding a penny at a local Hardware store.

It was a “Wheat Penny”.  It was dated 1914.  It was over 100 years old!

I smile when I think about where that penny has been over the past 100 years.  I wonder who has held it in their hand.  I wonder how many purchases it has made?  I wonder in what stores and in what states that penny has been?

No one can know for sure the answers to these questions, but here are some of my thoughts.  I’m sure you can add more.

That penny probably went as a shiny new coin from the US Mint to a large bank on the east coast.  I think there were three US Mints in the early 1900’s in San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia.  I think this coin was made in Philly.

The First World War started in 1914 although our nation was not drawn into the war until 1917.  In those days, a few pennies could purchase a gallon of gas.  Maybe the penny ended up in the cash register of a local gas station?

That penny survived through the “Roaring Twenties”.  It may have traveled to Chicago during the days of prohibition.  It probably changed hands many times to pay for many things.

In the 1930’s, that penny was probably kept in a small tin box as people struggled to survive during the Great Depression.  A penny was probably worth a lot more than we can imagine today.

I wonder where the penny was during World War Two?  During the war, pennies were not made of copper because the copper was needed to make bombs and bullets.

I suspect that in the 1960’s that old penny may have ended up in an old cigar box of a young newspaper delivery boy in Arizona.

Or, maybe that middle aged penny stayed in circulation during the second half of the twentieth century.  It may have found its way to In N Out Burger, a local movie theater or a snack bar at the beach.  That penny probably helped purchase groceries and prescriptions at the local market.

I wonder how that coin got to California?   Did it get lost between the cushions of a couch or under the floor mat of a car?

With the use of debit cards and credit cards, that penny was probably used less and less. Who needs coins when you can buy things with a plastic card?

I wonder how that 1914 penny ended up at a local hardware store in Diamond Bar, California?  Did someone use it by accident or was a family member cashing in the coin collection of a relative that died?

It is fun to dream and imagine where a coin has been over the past 100 years.  We will never know the answer.

Let me encourage you to take a look in your purse or pocket.  See what coins have found their way into your life.  They may have a lot of stories to tell!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

 

 

 

Sheriff’s Club Raises Funds

By Sarah Sanchez

Diamond Bar/Walnut – The Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Booster Club recently held their Annual Golf Tournament to honor over 100 Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff Department’s volunteers who give their time to improve the service and security to the cities of Walnut and Diamond Bar, and the unincorporated communities of Rowland Heights, Covina Hills and West Covina.

“Thousands of hours are donated annually by our department’s volunteers, explorers, reserves and disaster communication specialists,” said Captain Jeff Scroggin in a previous interview. The golf tournament was held to provide the needed uniforms and equipment to these volunteers.

Sheriff Booster Club President, Gil Rivera, previously stated that the golf tournament had a great community participation. There were a total of 127 golfers, which is the largest number of participants that they have ever had, according to Rivera. There were also 26 volunteers in attendance from the volunteer division of the Sheriff’s Department.

This is the only fundraiser the Sheriff’s Booster Club does annually so it’s really important to the club. Every year, the golf tournament makes a little more money than the previous year, according to Captain Scroggin. But he says that the Sheriff’s Booster Club does a really good job managing the money they receive.

“This is a very good club, a very specific club, and they raise funds for a charitable cause,” said Scroggin. The Sheriff Booster Club is a valid 5013(c) non-profit and all the board members are volunteers.

“The club has done a very good job under Gil’s presidency,” said Scroggin. “Gil and Andy [Lujan] have done a great job keeping us on track with all of our records.” The club also has an outside accounting firm that manages all their financials.

Scroggin added, “The club provides funds to give back to the folks who volunteer all these hours to the community.”

“Volunteers contribute about 20,000 hours a year,” Mark Saldeke said. This number doesn’t include explorers or reserve deputies. Some volunteers will spend up to 240 hours a month volunteering, according to Scroggin.

These volunteers are extremely important to the Sheriff’s Department. “Volunteers do provide a higher level of service every day,” said Scroggin. Volunteers will even go above and beyond by checking in with victims months after an incident happens.

Also, if a Deputy Sheriff has a high call volume, volunteers will be able to fill in where they are needed. For example, volunteers will do vacation home checks, which is where deputies will check on homes for break-ins when residents are on vacation. These are considered high priority to the volunteers.

The vacation home checks have been 100% successful after a recent survey revealed that 0 crimes were reported at those homes that were on vacation, according to Scroggin.

Dozens of volunteers and explorers will also help at local events when Deputies can’t be there. Volunteers attending events will benefit the Sheriff’s Department financially because they won’t need to pay multiple Deputies to be there. Scroggin said that they couldn’t have staffed a recent event without their volunteers. “We couldn’t do the job without them,” he added.

You can also see volunteers at the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Department front desk. They will usually be the ones greeting those in the lobby. Make sure to say hi to their oldest volunteer, who is 90 years old.

“There are jobs for everyone,” said Scroggin. Volunteers can consist of anyone from an intern to a patrol officer driving in a white car. In addition, working as a volunteer has many benefits. Three volunteer interns recently became Deputies.

Signing up to be a volunteer is easy. You can obtain an application at the Walnut-Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Department and turn it in to Deputy Saldeke. The only requirements are that you have to be at least 18, obtain a background check, and be briefly interviewed.

“This is an opportunity for the community to be a part of our team,” said Scroggin. “Volunteers are a big part of who we are and our department.”

If a resident under 18 wants to volunteer, they can sign up for the Explorer Program, which caters to ages 14-21.

“My niece participated in the Explorer Program,” said Sheriff Booster Club member Michael Armijo. “It really benefited her; it taught her about the consequences when teenagers don’t have guidance in their lives. It also gave her the guidance and structure she needed, and it gave her an interest in law enforcement.”

Armijo also talked about his friend’s son who joined the program. “It provided structure for him, especially since his father was away in the National Guard, serving our country in a foreign land.”

Don’t wait; sign up to be a volunteer or explorer today! “The more people who we have to volunteer, the more transparent the department is,” said Scroggin. “Volunteers give us ability to provide extra eyes and ears in the community.”

One Hundred Years Old

By Pastor Mark Hopper

Recently I was at the local hardware store picking up some metal brackets for a project we were doing at our church.

A group of men were constructing a new back drop for the stage in our Worship Center and they needed more brackets to finish the job.

Since I am not the handiest guy in the group and since they had plenty of help, they sent me to the hardware store.

As I was waiting to pay for my materials, I noticed a small box by the cash register that had some pennies in it.  The sign on the small box said something like, “Need a penny & leave a penny”.

I have seen these in other stores.  Customers are allowed to take a penny or two to complete their purchase and avoid getting a pocket full of change.

And, people who end up with a couple of pennies after their purchase are encouraged to leave the pennies for another customer who might need some.

I noticed that one of the pennies looked a little different than the others.  Sure enough, it was a “Wheat Penny”.

I am not an avid coin collector, but I know that the US Penny has changed over the years.  The penny has an image of Lincoln on one side, but the back side has changed over the years.

In the early 1900’s, the penny had Lincoln on the front and two grains of “Wheat” on the back.  In the 1950’s, the US Mint changed the back of the penny to the image of the Lincoln Memorial.

In the early 2000’s, the Mint changed the penny again with the image of Lincoln still on the front, but an image of a “Shield” with the words “one cent” on the back.

I asked the attendant if I could swap a penny for the one in the box.  Yes, she was glad to let me do that.  She was curious why I wanted the penny.  I briefly explained my interest in “Wheat Pennies”.

When I got home later that day, I looked for the date on the penny.  To my surprise, it read 1914!  That penny was over 100 years old!  Amazing!

I don’t think the penny has any significant collector value.  Millions of them were made in 1914.  But, it is remarkable that something over 100 years old is still circulating around in our pockets, purses, banks and stores.

I wonder where this penny has been and who it has belonged to over the past century.  It probably has many stories to tell!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.

Aliso Canyon Leak Discussed At DB Council Meeting

By Natalie Kim

Diamond Bar – The August 2 Diamond Bar Council meeting began with a presentation by Bob Cruz with Southern California Gas Company. Cruz discussed the Aliso Canyon leak, and the subsequent plugging. Unfortunately, in order to stop the leak, the gas reservoir in Aliso Canyon is currently offline, and Southern California Gas Company is unable to store gas in their largest natural gas reservoir. Cruz called for awareness in the community and asked, while the reservoir is offline, for residents to conserve energy by lowering use of not only electricity but also appliances that use natural gas, such as central heating and gas stoves.

Following the public comments, the Council read the schedule of future events, which included the final Concerts in the Park and Movies Under the Stars, featuring Cold Duck and The Good Dinosaur respectively; the next Planning Commission meeting on Aug 9; the next Traffic and Transportation meeting on Aug 11; and the next City Council meeting on Aug 16.

The Council then approved all items on the consent calendar, including the City Council minutes of the July 19 study session and regular meeting; the Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting of June 9; ratification of a check register totaling $1,497,926.11; a contract with the Regional Chamber of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley for fiscal year 2016-17 in an amount not to exceed $12,000; and lastly an amendment to the contract with BrightView Landscape Services, Inc. to extend the term of the contract through June 30, 2017 to provide landscape maintenance services at nine City parks, the grounds of the Diamond Bar Center, the football field/slope at Lorbeer Middle School, and the Mesa Trail/Trail Head at Sycamore Canyon Park.  The total contract amount is $408,116 including $25,000 for as needed work in fiscal year 2016-17.

The Council concluded with individual reports and comments and adjourned to Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at 21865 Copley Dr.

Luxury For Less!

By K.P. Sander  

Kitchen & Flooring Center, Inc. is located at 20875 Golden Springs Drive, in the city of Diamond Bar. They can be reached at (909) 594-5020, or visit www.kitchennflooring.com.

Kitchen & Flooring Center, Inc. is located at 20875 Golden Springs Drive, in the city of Diamond Bar. They can be reached at (909) 594-5020, or visit http://www.kitchennflooring.com.

Kitchen & Flooring Center, Inc. does it all.  In fact, their motto is, “We Turn Houses into Homes.”

More than just a house, your home is a very special place. With that in mind, the Kitchen & Flooring Center is committed to providing you with the materials and installation you need to make your home the best it can be. They work with you to come up with a plan that fits your budget and your vision.

From full kitchen and bathroom remodeling to any type of flooring, Kitchen & Flooring Center does it all.  And it’s not just limited to full remodeling; they also install all types of countertops, and provide plumbing, electrical, and lighting services, as well as windows, doors and painting.  Right now you can get a free in-home consultation to help you discover the home of your dreams.

Kitchen & Flooring Center began when a young tile setter named, Sami, starting setting tile and flooring back in 1991.  After working for other companies for several years, Sami decided it was time to set out on his own.  In 1995, he started his own construction company.

Today, that company has evolved into a highly specialized company that focuses on kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and the customers’ needs.  By offering quality products and services, Kitchen & Flooring Center is able to provide a finished product that not only meets, but exceeds, their customers’ visions.

Kitchen & Flooring Center has kitchen remodels starting at just $4,995, and they are currently offering a free sink and faucet with any complete kitchen or bath remodel.

Springtime is a perfect time to turn your home from ordinary to extraordinary.  Call Kitchen & Flooring Center today, and turn your house into a home that you can enjoy for years to come.  Their goal is to provide you the absolute BEST service in the industry. They guarantee it!

Visit the showroom at Kitchen & Flooring Center, located at 20875 Golden Springs Drive, in the city of Diamond Bar.  They can be reached at (909) 594-5020, or visit http://www.kitchennflooring.com.  And see their ad on page 12 of the Weekly News.

 

 

 

 

Great Goat Escape

Staff Reports

Walnut-Diamond Bar- On July 28, over 200 goats escaped and were se

Photo courtesy: Walnut Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Station: A herd of about 60-70 goats made the great escape into the Walnut/Diamond Bar area on July 28.

Photo courtesy: Walnut Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Station
: A herd of about 60-70 goats made the great escape into the Walnut/Diamond Bar area on July 28.

en on local residents’ lawns.

According to the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Station, “Apparently, over 200 goats had been brought in to clear the open field of dry overgrown brush and grass. But sometime during the night, they hatched their escape plan by pushing over a perimeter fence.”

Law enforcement’s job description includes a variety of situations, and they must be prepared to handle most of any given situation. However, Deputy Aaron Scheller most likely didn’t think he was going to have to use his “training and experience” on this day to corral the herd of goats that were in the front yard of a residence. But, he helped turned them around back to a nearby open field on Fallow Field Drive in Diamond Bar.

“It took two hours but all of the 200 goats were captured and returned to their corral.” The goats were of course eating the residents’ grass along the way back to the field too. The event even resulted in the goats getting their 15 minutes of fame on ABC7 live news.

So for future reference, if there happens to be a herd of goats in your yard, call the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Station.

Diamond Bar: Next Generation

Staff Reports

Diamond Bar– So You Think You Can Dance? A resident of City of Diamond Bar, Sheaden Gabriel, had the opportunity to participate in the show on Fox where young kids were able to showcase their dancing talents.

He premiered at the show on July 11 and was voted as the top 5 contestants. Although he was recently eliminated, he states, “So blessed and thankful for this amazing experience. I just love my So You Think You Can Dance family. Thank you for following me on this journey and though it had come to an end, I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Also having the opportunity to perform at the Teen’s Choice Awards, Sheaden says, “Had the best time last night performing with my So You Think You Can Dance squad at Teen choice Awards 2016. It was amazing!!!!!”

City of Diamond Bar residents are extremely proud of Sheaden and knows this is not the end for him, he will continue to grow and be amazing on his journey.

Family Fun At NNO

Chino/DB/Walnut – The City of Chino, Diamond Bar, and Walnut held their National Night Out events on August 2, along with many neighborhoods throughout the nation.

National Night Out is a nationwide crime and drug prevention awareness campaign designed to generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts. It strengthens neighborhood spirit and law enforcement-community partnership to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting crime.

National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Sheriff’s Department. It will involve more than 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases around the world. More than 35 million people are expected to participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime.”

On August 2, residents in neighborhoods across the nation were asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights, and spend the evening outside with neighbors and law enforcement. Many neighborhoods host a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, and flashlight walks.

The Walnut/Diamond Bar Station celebrated the National Night Out event from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Rowland Heights Community Center at Pathfinder Park (18150 Pathfinder Road, Rowland Heights). The community enjoyed food, giveaways, and live music.

The City of Walnut held their National Night Out event at Creekside Park. Residents enjoyed food trucks, a performance by Cold Duck, and The Avengers: Age of Ultron movie shown afterwards.

“Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for National Night Out,” stated the City of Walnut Facebook page. They provided a quick recap video for the community to enjoy.

However, City of Chino residents didn’t hold a big community event, but instead held multiple neighborhood barbeques, potlucks, and dessert social events throughout the community. Events that were registered received visits by the City Council Members, Deputies, Firefighters, Citizens on Patrol, and even McGruff the crime-fighting dog.

“Thank you to all of the members of our community who participated in National Night Out! The support for our Police personnel was overwhelming and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting each of the participating neighborhoods. We are so proud to partner with you in keeping Chino safe. We also want to say thank you to Target for being a national sponsor of this program,” stated the City of Chino.