Tag Archives: eastvale

Update: Many Protest In Eastvale

 

Photo by: Emily Aguilar Protesters hold signs and chant as the walk down Limonite in Eastvale.

Photo by: Emily Aguilar
Protesters hold signs and chant as the walk down Limonite in Eastvale.

By Emily Aguilar

Eastvale – In the mid afternoon on July 9, Hamner and Limonite had to be closed for a brief period due to a peaceful protest in Eastvale. Multiple Police Officers were found on the Limonite perimeters and just above them, a CHP helicopter was flying over the city. This was due to protesters who showed up on Limonite and Hamner to protest against police brutality and mistreatment against people of color.

Even before the protest began, many Eastvale residents were fearful about the event, due to the hype on social media.

However, the protest was defined as a peaceful protest, with Eastvale City Manager Michele Nissen confirming that no arrests were made, no use of force was utilized, no complaints were lodged with the Sheriff’s Department about officer conduct, no one was injured, no property was damaged and not even a rock or bottle was thrown by rally participants.

One counter protester even came out to the event, a former Vietnam veteran who wore a Blue Lives Matter shirt. The veteran told Eastvale News he chose to stand in solidarity with police officers. He expressed his gratitude for policemen who sacrifice their lives in order to keep the country safe, and prevent the country from “bringing on a revolution.”

But a revolution was not the goal for this protest, as event organizer, Dimario “Little John”, said the event was conducted to show unity. In response to those who state Black Lives Matter protestors are anti-police and disruptive, Dimario stated that he wants people to believe that the BLM protestors are “united” and “come together to fight against these constant recurrences.” He also defended BLM’s recent image by asserting that certain protesters, such as “the Dallas shooter,” are people who “come in with their own agendas,” and should not represent the entire movement.

Over fifty protestors– teenagers, parents, children, and grandparents of all races — arrived on the Limonite and Hamner corners at 1 pm. In response to the chanting protesters, drivers honked in solidarity and in disagreement. The protesters responded to negativity by wishing them a good day.

Photo by: Emily Aguilar

Photo by: Emily Aguilar

After an hour had passed, the protesters marched toward 7-11. On the way to 7-11, protesters chanted the following: “What are we? One! What do we want? Equality”, “no justice, no peace, no racist police”, and “Black lives matter!” All the while, police cars followed the protesters, ordering them to stay off the street and remain together. The protestors complied.

However, while on the way back from 7-11, some protesters broke away from the rest of the group and blocked the Hamner and 68th Street intersection. The blockade lasted a few moments, and most of the drivers cheered and honked in support. Because of the positive feedback from the 68th Street blockade, the protesters decided to block the Limonite and Hamner intersection. But that decision did not have the same positive response.

When some of the protesters went into the intersection and blocked traffic, quite a few drivers were angry and began to honk, some shouted profanity at them, and a few racist remarks were heard. But the protesters who strayed away chose to sat in the intersection or they chose to stand still, refusing to move at all.

Parents, adults, and teenagers begged the protesters to get off the street and listen to the police’s demands.

The stand-off continued for nearly 20 minutes. A line of policeman stood before the protesters, waiting for the protestors to move off the street. Drivers, still impatient, honked and yelled at the protestors, slowly driving around them. Sidewalk protesters continued to plead for them to get off the street. However, the street protesters only raised their arms and chanted “hands up, don’t shoot,” alluding to the Ferguson shooting in 2014, as a way of demonstrating that they did not want the policeman to attack.

After a total of 30 minutes, the protesters returned to the sidewalk as instructed. Captain Horton recently stated at the Eastvale City Council meeting that the street was shut down for a period of time after the encounter because the Sheriff’s Department felt it was acceptable. However, it was reopened for oncoming traffic and the rally was still considered a successful event.

The protesters came together one last time after the rally to reflect on the day’s events. Dimario expressed his plans to organize another protest in the near future, adding that he will make sure it is more organized.

Dimario also expressed that the purpose of the day’s events was to create unity. “We are all brothers and sisters,” he said. He added that he wanted the police to realize that “we’re not going to allow [police brutality] to happen out here…We’re here as a union; together as one.”

Before dispersing, the protesters held a group prayer before leaving, praying for the well being of all people of color and for the Eastvale policemen themselves.

This article was edited by editorial staff.

Litigation Threat Changes Eastvale Elections

By Raymond Mendoza

Eastvale– Changes are in store for Eastvale for the upcoming November elections, as the Eastvale City Council recently voted to change its “at-large” system of city council elections to “by district” – meaning that council members must be elected from certain geographic areas within the city.

While the vote was 3-0 in favor of the change during the latest council meeting on April 27 (Councilmember Adam Rush was absent) the council members noted their decision was only made to appease litigation threats made by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

According to Attorney Betsy Martin, the City of Eastvale received a letter from the group in April stating that they would sue the city if Eastvale did not switch to “by district” elections in time for the November 2016 election. The group claimed that the City of Eastvale’s current election system is violating the California Voting Rights Act of 2002.

According to a statement issued by the city, Eastvale is not the only city being threatened with litigation. Inland Empire cities such as Rancho Cucamonga, Wildomar, Hesperia, Chino and Upland all received the same demands regarding by-district elections.

“We recommend that you do (change to “by district” elections),” said Martin. “No city has ever successful defended a voting rights challenge.”

Martin went on to discuss how the California Voting Rights Act of 2002 is intended to ensure that “protected groups” – such as minority races – have their voting rights protected. Martin mentioned that the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund was alerted due to the efforts of an unknown Eastvale community member.

“Rather than spend a lot of money on fighting something that will certainly be a losing proposition, we suggest you go forward and draw your own districts as rapidly as possible,” said Martin.

During the June 2010 Eastvale incorporation election, 54 percent of the voters were in favor of “at-large” elections – which allowed anyone who lives within the city to run for city council. “By district” only received 27 percent of the votes.

Council Member Clint Lorimore voiced his distaste for the election changes, stating that breaking the city into districts would accomplish very little since there is no major racial divide from one area of Eastvale to the next.

“I want to express my frustration with this process,” Lorimore said. “I believe that we in Eastvale are a homogenous community. We’re not broken into specific areas where one ethnicity lives. It is not going to be helpful, in my opinion, for our city to do this.”

To push these changes ahead at an accelerated rate, city officials hired the National Demographics Corporation to study the city’s population and prepare draft plans for the proposed districts that also meet legal requirements. The draft of proposed districts will be available to the public this month on the city’s website and residents are also encouraged to voice their opinions concerning the new districts during its upcoming public hearings on May 11, May 25, and June 8.17

Girls Soccer Team Named Champions

Photo courtesy: Empire Soccer Club Congratulations to Empire Soccer Club’s SC G00 team who were named SCNPL Champions.

Photo courtesy: Empire Soccer Club
Congratulations to Empire Soccer Club’s SC G00 team who were named SCNPL Champions.

Staff Reports

Eastvale –Empire Soccer Club’s SC G00 team were announced as the Southern California National Premier League (SCNPL) Champions last month and will heading to the SCNPL finals.

The team went undefeated during their soccer season and won the GU15 league by 1 point. They had an overall record of five wins, zero losses, and two ties.

They were never scored on during their season because goalkeeper, Shelby Jimenez, had a clean sheet in every game, according to Empire Soccer Club.

They also have a hidden talent on their team, Alexis Gomez, who played for FC Man United G00 last season and won last year’s GU14 SCNPL. Gomez’ team last year represented Southern California in Indianapolis at the 2015 NPL Finals, according to Empire Soccer Club’s Facebook page.

As the winners of SCNPL, Empire’s SC G00 team is invited to the US Club Soccer National Premier League (NPL) Finals that is scheduled for July 14-18, in Aurora, CO. If you would like to help send the team to Colorado, you can visit their GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/2vhn6d52.

To view the other SCNPL competitors, visit http://www.nationalpremierleague.com/.

 

Eastvale Appoints New Councilmember

Photo courtesy: City of Eastvale Richard “Dickie” Simmons was sworn in at the Eastvale City Council meeting on May 11.

Photo courtesy: City of Eastvale
Richard “Dickie” Simmons was sworn in at the Eastvale City Council meeting on May 11.

By Michael Armijo

Eastvale – Richard “Dickie” Simmons was appointed as the newest Eastvale City Council member on May 11.

After Council members interviewed 10 candidates in order to fill Councilman William “Bill” Link’s vacant seat, Simmons was appointed with a 4-0 vote and was sworn in immediately.

Simmons, 67, is a community activist and volunteer that served as a field deputy for the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors for 17 years. Simmons also served in the U.S. Marine Corps and with the Los Angeles Police Department. However, Dickie is well known for his presence in the Inland Empire. He moved to Eastvale in 2002 and was so active in the Eastvale community that he was known as “Mr. Eastvale”.

With the resignation of Link in March, the Eastvale City Council opened up the “appointee process” last month. Link resigned because he moved out of the city, according to City Hall.

“The appointee will serve until this November 8th election,” said Mayor Ike Bootsma. “Then voters can choose a new city council member to serve the final two years of Bill’s (Link) term.”

This is the third time in 5½ years that the council appointed someone to replace a council member who resigned.

The council decided not to hold a special election because it would cost taxpayers over $60,000 to do so, according to City Hall. The earliest an election could take place would be August, so it makes sense to wait until the general election in November.

All appointees were required to be registered voters living in Eastvale. Each candidate gave a two-minute statement and was asked predetermined questions.

For more information, please sign onto www.eastvaleca.gov.

This article was updated by Eastvale News staff.

A New Identity

Pastor Robert Jewett

Pastor Robert Jewett

By Pastor Robert Jewett

While some of us have tried our best to maintain our reputations, others have just flat out blown theirs.  Regardless if our reputation is solidly intact or if it has become like a stained garment that everyone has noticed, the gospel changes everything.  You see, no matter how hard you try to “be good”, your sin still separates you from God.  No matter how “bad” you have been, your sin is not beyond the forgiveness of God.

God’s revealed Word to us clearly informs us that there are none who are righteous because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:10-12, 23).  God does not measure what we perceive as our “bad” and our “good” and determine whether or not we merit forgiveness and eternity with him.  No matter how much “good” we think we have done, we have all broken God’s law and therefore deserve God’s righteous judgment.

Friend, the only one who is good is God.   He alone is merciful and loving and draws man unto himself to receive his grace and forgiveness of sins.  He calls us to repent from our sins and to place our hope and trust in Jesus Christ.  When we do this, we get a new identity.  No longer do we represent ourselves…we now represent Jesus. God’s word says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17).

If you have repented of your sins and placed your trust in Jesus, live out your faith for the glory of God.  If you have yet to repent and trust in Jesus, I encourage you do so now and start your new identity in Christ today.

Lakeshore City Church meets Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at Circle City Center (formerly Fender Museum), 365 N. Main St. in Corona. For more information, visit lakeshorecitychurch.com.

Marching Orders

rob-norris-BW-2x2By Pastor Rob Norris

 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers . . . the powers . . . the world forces of this darkness.
Ephesians 6:12

Whether you realize it or not, you are engaged in a spiritual battle every day. You live in a culture that is increasingly hostile to your faith. The devil and those who promote his self-indulgent agenda are relentless in their assault on your mind and affections. You can’t afford to drop your guard for a minute.

Here are some suggestions for surviving—and thriving—in the battle:

  1. Don’t engage the enemy alone. Ephesians 6:10 says, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Whatever temptations you’re facing right now, it is His strength alone—not yours—that can see you through. Keep on surrendering daily to the Master.
  2. Employ every piece of your spiritual armor. As Ephesians 6:13 says, to resist the schemes of the devil, you must “take up the full armor of God.” Not just the belt of truth, but also the shoes of His gospel, the breastplate of His righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of His salvation and the sword of His Spirit—the Word of God (see verses 14-17). Don’t head off into battle without them.
  3. Go on the offensive. It’s not enough just to play defense. Though people without Christ may seem fulfilled and self-satisfied, the truth is that they need to know God’s forgiveness.
  4. Quit wasting time. You and I are fighting for the soul of future generations. So turn off the television. Put down the sports page. Unplug from the internet. The consequences of your life are too eternal to waste on forgettable moments.

Never forget that your marriage is taking place on a spiritual battlefield, not on a romantic balcony. Help one another maintain your “war footing.” If you do, you won’t be a casualty.

Live It: Identify two or three areas where the constant pull of the world has been wearing down your spiritual sharpness lately. Talk about what you need to do.

Pray:  Pray for strength when you’re weak, attentiveness when you’re tired and new discoveries of what it means to put your trust in God.

The Crossings meets Sundays at 10 a.m. at River Heights Intermediate School, 7227 Scholar Way, in Eastvale.    For more information, visithttp://www.atthecrossings.com

Eastvale Launches New Public Records Portal

Courtesy of the City of Eastvale

EASTVALE– The City of Eastvale is excited to announce the opening of a new public records repository using Laserfiche, which will make city documents available to the public online.

Michele Nissen, Eastvale City Manager stated, “The new Laserfiche portal will provide additional accountability, transparency and access by allowing citizens to search through thousands of city documents using simple search terms and key words. Staff has worked hard to create the site for public access to the Laserfiche Repository.”

By using the new portal, citizens will be able to follow a link from the city website to a collection of public records and various public documents including City Council and Commission agendas, minutes, and more. Searching through the files will be as easy as surfing the Internet. While we hope the portal will be easy for all users, we have provided detailed instructions and tips for searching through the documents, on the Laserfiche page on the city’s website.

“We are excited to provide another tool to assist our citizens to be more engaged and informed with local government operations. We look forward to working with our citizens to assist them in taking full advantage of this new resource,” said Nissen.

To access the Laserfiche portal, visit the Laserfiche subpage of the City Clerk’s Office on the City of Eastvale website, http://www.eastvaleca.gov or visit http://www.bitly.com/EastvaleCALaserfiche.

Proposed Walmart Project: Update And Clarification

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Photo courtesy: Google Images

City of Eastvale

EASTVALE– City officials are announcing that a citywide mailer sent in late 2015 by the Walmart retailer was premature and inaccurate.  The mailer gave the impression that a proposed Walmart store had been approved and circumvented the planning process.
The printed mailer entitled, “Introducing a Walmart Supercenter for Eastvale,” was sent to Eastvale homes in December 2015, according to city officials who received comments from concerned residents about the mailer. The mailer, which highlighted features of the proposed store, left many residents with the impression that the Supercenter had been approved due to wording such as “The store will be …” and “… will create.”
City Manager Michele Nissen, emphasized that the city is processing an application for a store like the one in the mailer, however; it has not yet been reviewed by the city’s Planning Commission and City Council as required by law.
“Walmart has not yet obtained the required approvals,” said Nissen.  “They are still in the planning phases and can’t build anything on the site without the necessary approvals.”
“We have been working with Walmart to get them through our very rigorous review process since the filing of their application in 2014,” continued Nissen.  “We were surprised to see the language of their mailer, which seems to portray the project as already approved. We can certainly understand the confusion and we felt it important to clarify the approval process.”
According to the City’s Planning Director, the project will likely be scheduled for public hearings later this year, after the release of a comprehensive environmental analysis of the project in a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
“The Draft EIR, which covers a very wide range of topics, will be available for the public to review for 45 days,” said Eric Norris Planning Director. “The City has retained an independent firm to prepare the document, which we hope to have completed and ready for public review in the spring of 2016.”
“Comments received from the public and other agencies will be responded to after the EIR’s public review is complete” said Norris. Those responses will then, in turn, be provided for review and comment.  Public hearings will be scheduled, most likely in late 2016.
The proposed Walmart would be located on approximately 20 acres of land at the southeast corner of Limonite and Archibald avenues. Walmart has owned the 20-acre parcel for approximately six years.  The proposed project includes a 192,000-square-foot Walmart location, as well as several smaller buildings that would house other businesses and a gas station. The project requires approval of an amendment to the City’s General Plan and Zoning Map, as well as approval of the applicant’s development plans. All of these will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and ultimately voted on by the City Council. Both the Commission and Council will hold public hearings on the project.
The City encourages citizens to stay abreast and informed of this and other projects and City events by signing up for E-Notification on the City’s website:www.EastvaleCA.gov.

Crime Recap

Staff Reports

Eastvale – Our local Sheriff’s Department have done a great job catching suspects that have committed crimes in the surrounding area. Below is a recap of the suspects that were recently arrested.

On Sunday, March 13, at 10:51 p.m., an assault with a deadly weapon occurred at a business in the 9600 block of Mission Boulevard, Jurupa Valley. An adult male victim who sustained a non-life threatening injury, was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

After investigators conducted an extensive investigation, they identified the suspect as Arturo Hernandez Camarena (age 42 of Grand Terrace).  On April 8, 2016, Camarena was arrested for attempted homicide.  This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Investigator Ted Gonzales at the Jurupa Valley Station at 951-955-2600.

On Monday, April 4, Eastvale Police reported that three suspects were arrested for multiple robberies, thefts, and vandalism since November 2015. The crimes were related to theft of packages, theft from unlocked vehicles, and vandalism within a relatively small area within the city of Eastvale.

After an extensive investigation was conducted over a period of several months, the Eastvale Police Department arrested Ryan Filkins (age 18 of Eastvale) for felony warrants and bringing a controlled substance into a jail; Robert Filkins (age 18 of Eastvale) for felony warrants; and Aaron Allen (age 23 of Eastvale) for felony warrants.  Charges against all three suspects are being sought related to the thefts, reports of vandalism, and a strong-arm robbery. Anyone with additional information regarding these incidents are encouraged to call Deputy Ramirez at (951) 955-2649.

On April 5, at 2 p.m., a Riverside man was arrested for exposing himself while walking east on Mountain Avenue and walking south on Hamner Avenue, in the city of Norco. Patrick Cumpton (age 22 of Riverside) was arrested for indecent exposure and four outstanding arrest warrants. Cumpton was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center.

Citizens are encouraged to call 911 when they believe a crime is being committed.

IE News: Robbery, Thefts, and Vandalism

Photo courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Photo courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
Ryan Filkins

Photo courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Photo courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
Aaron Allen

Photo courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Photo courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
Robert Filkins

Staff Reports

Eastvale – Three suspects have been arrested for crimes related to the thefts, vandalism, and a strong-arm robbery.

There have been a number of crimes reported related to theft of packages, theft from unlocked vehicles, and vandalism within a relatively small area within the city of Eastvale. These crimes have occurred since November 2015.

The Eastvale Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) worked closely with the Jurupa Valley Station’s crime analyst, patrol deputies, and the Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) parks deputy to narrow down dates, times and locations of the crimes.  SET deputies identified several persons of interest and conducted extensive follow-up investigation over a period of several months.

As a result of the investigation, three suspects were identified and arrested.  Ryan Filkins, 18 of Eastvale, was arrested for felony warrants and bringing a controlled substance into a jail.  Robert Filkins, 18 of Eastvale, was arrested and booked for felony warrants.  Aaron Allen, 23 of Eastvale, was arrested for felony warrants.  Charges against all three suspects are being sought related to the thefts, reports of vandalism, and a strong-arm robbery.

Anyone with additional information regarding these incident is encouraged to call Deputy Ramirez at (951) 955-2649.

Information courtesy of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Eastvale Relay For Life Event

City of Eastvale

EASTVALE-On April 30, 2016, hundreds of Eastvale residents will join together at the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Eastvale to help save more lives from cancer. The event will take place from 9 am to 9 pm on Saturday, April 30 at River Heights Intermediate, located at 7227 Scholar Way in Eastvale.

“The Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all,” said Annalynn Neve-Wiltjer, American Cancer Society staff partner for the Eastvale event.  “Relay For Life events are community gatherings where teams and individuals camp out at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Teams participate in fundraising in the months leading up to the event.”

The Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest fundraising event to fight every cancer in every community, with four million participants in 6,000 events worldwide in 2015.

Dollars raised help the American Cancer Society save lives by funding groundbreaking cancer research, supporting education and risk reduction efforts, and providing free information and critical services for people with cancer who need them.  Many cancer patients throughout Orange County have used the Society’s free patient services, including Road to Recovery, Look Good Feel Better, Lodging, the cancer.org website, and the 24-hour Cancer Information Service at (800) 227-2345.  Through the Society’s groundbreaking research program, 46 ACS-funded scientists have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

Nearly 30 Relay For Life events will take place in the Inland Empire in 2016, including Eastvale, Corona, Jurupa Valley, Riverside, La Sierra, Menifee, Murrieta, Perris, Moreno Valley, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Temecula,  UC Riverside, San Jacinto, Yucaipa, Mira Loma, Upland, San Gorgonio Pass, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Chino, Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Big Bear, Colton, Cal State San Bernardino, Highland, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, University of Redlands, and more.

Cancer survivors, family members, friends, community groups, and worksites who would like to take action this year can participate by making a team or donating to the Relay For Life of Eastvale.  Visit relayforlife.org or RelayForLife.org/EastvaleCA  to learn more about the event, or contact Annalynn Neve-Wiltjer at (951) 300-1217 or via email at Annalynn.NeveWiltjer@cancer.org.

Eastvale ZIP Code in the works

Staff Reports

EASTVALE– Congressman Ken Calvert announced recently that he has moved forward with legislation that will require the Postal Service to establish a unique ZIP code for the city of Eastvale.  The bill is H.R. 4634 and that is its sole and only focus.  Legislative staff has had preliminary conversations with the committee of jurisdiction and they have been receptive to the legislation.

Eastvale residents have been sharing ZIP codes with residents from Corona and Mira Loma for several years.  Eastvale requested a ZIP code change in April 2011 that was denied, U.S. Postal Service spokesman Richard Maher said.  Calvert’s office has contacted the U.S. Postal Service several times on behalf of Eastvale but has been told that financial considerations play into establishing a new ZIP code.

“The fiscal challenges at the Postal Service seem to dissuade them from taking any action to address Eastvale’s ZIP code issue,” Jason Gagnon, Congressman Calvert’s communication director says.

“I continue to hear from Eastvale residents and business owners who are frustrated by the fact that the city does not have its own, unique ZIP code,” Calvert said in a statement. “It shouldn’t take an act of Congress for an incorporated city of Eastvale’s size to get its own ZIP code – but if it does, then I’m happy to lead that charge.”

“As it stands now, people think we’re part of Corona or Mira Loma,” Eastvale Mayor Ike Bootsma said. “There are even people who live in Eastvale who think we’re part of Corona or Mira Loma. “Having our own ZIP code gives an identity to the city.”

Congressman Calvert is attempting to schedule a meeting with the Postal Service District Manager for this region.  On the agenda for that meeting will be the issue of the outdated route study for the Eastvale area as well as the ZIP code issue to explore any solution that may avoid the need for legislation.

Bellegrave Avenue Closure

City of Eastvale

Eastvale – Oltmans Construction Company will be performing street improvements for Goodman Commerce Center. Please be advised that traffic delays are to be expected.

Location: Bellegrave Avenue between Homecoming and the I-15 Freeway
Duration: April 15 2016 – April 23 2016 (9 Working Days)
Working Hours: 7 AM – 7 PM

Traffic Impacts & Advisories during Construction: 

  • Bellegrave Avenue over-crossing at I-15 Freeway will be closed in both directions.
  • Local access to residences will be maintained at all times.

Please obey all posted construction signs (including the 25 MPH speed limit), use alternate routes as advised, drive safely and do not enter the construction work zone.

For additional information, contact the City of Eastvale Public Works Department at 951.703.4470. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.

Note: Construction schedules are subject to change for various reasons including but not limited to: weather conditions, unforeseen emergencies and other acts of nature.

Eastvale Strong: 2016 State Of The City

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez The City of Eastvale City Council, Planning Commission, and staff at the 2016 State of the City.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez
The City of Eastvale City Council, Planning Commission, and staff at the 2016 State of the City.

By Valerie Gutierrez

Eastvale– The City of Eastvale held their 5th Annual State of the City Address on Tues., Apr. 5, at 7 p.m., at the Eastvale Community Center. The meeting was sponsored by the San Antonio Regional Hospital.

After welcoming residents, Former Executive Director of Eastvale Community Foundation, Sharyn Link and Pastor Edward Moreno of New Day Christian Church led the Invocation. Following the opening was the Presentation of Colors by Boy Scout Troop 2012, the Pledge of Allegiance, and National Anthem, sung by talented Eleanor Roosevelt High School jazz students.

After Mayor’s Bootsma introduction, the City got right into what has been going on in the City of Eastvale.

Mayor Ike Bootsma led the meeting, which began with a video presentation from each of the Council members: Mayor Bootsma, Joe Tessari, Clint Lorimore and Adam Rush.

Afterwards, Eastvale Planning Director, Eric Norris, took the stage to speak on the major and minor projects that Eastvale is working on. Major projects include the Civic Center, Bicycle Master Plan, and Leal Master Plan. The Leal Master Plan consists of 160 acres in the heart of Eastvale that will include a regional mall, other retail, housing, offices, and a hotel.

“We’re really excited for this [Leal Master Plan] project,” said Norris.

Norris also provided updates on the future of the Chandler Area Community Vision Plan, stating that they have been working with the Chandler Area to identify community issues and define a long-term vision for the area.

Chandler Area is one of the oldest parts of Eastvale and “much is dedicated to preserve that,” Norris said.

City Engineer, George Alvarez, updated residents on the development of fire station No. 31, which began construction in Jan. 2016. This will be Eastvale’s second fire station.

“Work is well underway and is expected to be completed in November 2016,” said Alvarez.

Next, they talked about the Bicycle Master Plan that was adopted in Feb. 2016 and a new improved interchange at Limonite and the 15 freeway. The interstate is the gateway to Jurupa Valley and to the City of Eastvale, which will improve by featuring new decorative lights, landscaping, traditional fencing on the bridge, and wider entrances to the freeway.

“If funds come into place we can be under construction by 2018,” Alvarez said.

Captain Jason Horton then gave a quick update on the status of the Eastvale Police Department. He stated that Eastvale Police Department is an independent entity; a full-service, 24/7 station.

Horton provided 2015 crime statistics, which included the 25,556 calls for service. He also explained that there is always a patrol in the City, a dedicated traffic team, community service officers, Special Enforcement Team personnel and the City’s newest motorcycle officer.

With tears, former Executive Director of Eastvale Community Foundation, Sharyn Link also announced her retirement and stated that Eastvale Community Foundation has been home and family to her.  Dawn Hook was announced as Eastvale’s new Foundation Director and said she is excited to serve the City of Eastvale.

After a successful meeting, attendees were invited to enjoy free coffee, punch, and desserts, as well as a meet and greet with Mayor Ike Bootsma, City Council Members, City of Eastvale Departments, Business Partners, and event sponsors.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez Mayor Ike Boostma leading the 5th Annual State Of The City.

Photo By: Valerie Gutierrez
Mayor Ike Boostma leading the 5th Annual State Of The City.

 

Auburndale Intermediate Shines

Photo courtesy: CNUSD Auburndale Intermediate Pre-AP class

Photo courtesy: CNUSD
Auburndale Intermediate Pre-AP class

Courtesy of CNUSD

 

CORONA– As Auburndale Intermediate School began to prepare for their Trimester 2 Awards Assembly, they realized they had a problem. They had too many students that qualified for the award to host only one assembly. The school recently converted their trimester awards to a GPA-based Honor Roll system. This change, along with a more focused effort on the part of students, families and staff, has resulted in 271 students qualifying for either Principals Honor Roll or Honor Roll.

The standard for Principals Honor roll is 3.5-4.0 and for Honor Roll it is 3.49-4.0. Overall, 57% of the students in the school qualified for one of these honors, with 59% of 8th graders qualifying and 55% of 7th graders qualifying.

The key to the change, according to Principal Ben Sanchez, has been, “intentional instruction, strategic support and intervention programs, improved connections with students and families, and improved school engagement by the students due to elective programs like music, AVID, and STEM. We are thrilled to have this problem!”

 

The 8th grade Trimester 2 Honor Roll Assembly was held on March 18 and the 7th grade assembly was held on March 21.

 

 

K9 Claud Receives Vest

Photo Courtesy of Corona PD

Photo Courtesy of Corona PD

Courtesy of the Corona Police Dept.

CORONA– Corona Police Department’s K9 “Claud” has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. The vest was sponsored by Hausman Family Foundation of CA and is embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by the Hausman Family Foundation”.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) charity located in East Taunton, MA. whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs in law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 1,700 protective vests, in 49 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 1.6 million dollars. All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The donation to provide one protective vest for one law enforcement K9 is $1,050. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234, a five-year warranty and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

 

Eastvale City Council Recap

By Emily Aguilar

 

EASTVALE– This month’s council meeting began with an experiment. At Mayor Ike Bootsma’s request, the meeting held on Wednesday the 9th began at 7:00 pm rather than 6:30 pm. Bootsma was eager to test two factors as a result of this experiment: one, he wanted to see if the time change would better accommodate the gap between council meetings and budget workshops; and two, he wanted to see how the community would respond to the time change.

Before tending to the schedule change, the meeting began with a closed session, where in which the council discussed the performance evaluation of City Manager Michele Nissen and two conferences with legal counsel regarding an existing litigation and an anticipated litigation.  After the two-hour closed session, a majority of audience members had left. A sense of awkwardness filled the air as the council overlooked the mostly empty seats.

The first item on the agenda was a Public Safety Commission update. Recently, individuals have been racing around Citrus and Scholar during school hours, which has stirred concern in the community. At the Public Safety meeting, citizens addressed not only the speeding, but also vandalism that has been occurring in neighborhoods. One resident pitched the idea of setting up cameras to find the perpetrators. Other concerns, specifically at the high school, are crosswalks and the heavy traffic on the streets. Community residents are looking forward to working with the city and the school in order to help the students be safe.

Next on the agenda was an update on the civic center/library project. Since August 2015, a library subcommittee has sought to build a new library and a city hall. The main discussion on this topic was determining where these new buildings will be located. There are now five possible locations being considered for the new civic center, all of which span from 9 to 16 acres. Before any action is taken, staff requested that the council bring back their contract agreement with the Riverside Economic Development Agency (EDA) to help in choosing, funding, and ultimately purchasing a plot of land to develop the civic center. The EDA has had a positive history with Eastvale developments; for example, they helped choose and purchase the land for the developing Fire Station 31. The council motioned to set up a contract discussion for the next council meeting.

The council quickly approved a construction update on Fire Station 31. Horizons, the current construction team for this project, has been paving, making concrete footings for walls, and establishing building pads. Within the next 6 weeks, city staff will grant the Fire Station Street Improvements bid package to help with further construction. Ultimately, Horizons intends to complete their phase of the 300-task schedule by December 5th. Council received and filed this information.

The council then addressed the outcome to their time change trial. The time change had a negative impact because the closed session, which typically lasts about thirty minutes, ended up lasting two hours. Because the audience was left alone for such a long time, most of them grew impatient and left by the time the council had returned. The council decided to have closed session meetings at the end of the regular 6:30 meetings.

Moving on to Council Communications, Council Member Rush discussed the possibility of distributing newsletters to the city residents in order to pass on information about local events. Mayor Pro Tem Tessari also proposed the idea to see if the city could re-implement creating an infrastructure financing district. If feasible, staff will look into it. The meeting was adjourned to 3 o’clock on Friday.

Two weeks later, on March 23, the meeting began with a series of good-byes and a distribution of recognition awards. Bill Link celebrated his retirement from the council that evening. While receiving a recognition award, Link shared a few affectionate jokes and words with the councilmen, who were “really appreciative of all [his] hard work” over the past two years. Also leaving her position with Eastvale was Code Enforcement Officer Allynn Evans, who would be moving to Texas. Bootsma, a former Texan himself, gave Evans his blessings. The last series of awards were given to two Riverside Police Department officers, Officer Jackson and Officer Merrell, for having effectively responded to an attempted theft and assault case, which ultimately saved the lives of a local couple.

The Community Foundation Update was about preparation for April 5th’s State of the City event. Afterwards, the Public Safety update once again addressed the racing problem off Citrus and Scholar. Residents are concerned for their children’s safety, and the Community Foundation is doing their best to assuage the citizens’ concerns.

The Student Liaison update was delivered by Ayo Banjo, who stated that ERHS was holding an open house event that evening. Also occurring at Roosevelt was the 4th annual Relay for Life Event, expected to be held on April 30th. In other school news, Eastvale Elementary was set to celebrate its 10-year anniversary soon.

During the Public Comments, Linda Cerone took the podium to make two announcements. Her first announcement was an invitation to National Prayer Day, which will be held on May 5th at the Eastvale Community Center. Cerone also encouraged the audience to partake in the Relay for Life event, which is a cancer fundraising event.

Before concluding the meeting, City Manager Michele Nissen briefly announced that ERHS would be holding their Every 15 Minute event on April 5th. She also stated that on Thursday March 24th, the city would begin work with the grant writer they had recently hired. Following Nissen’s topics was an announcement regarding a problem with the CDA Waterline Project. That afternoon it was discovered that a steel plate is interfering with the base waterline. It will most likely stunt progress on the project for the time being. Moving onto the Committee Reports, Lorimore asked council and staff that they prepare to “move forward” in finding someone to fill in Link’s now empty seat. The councilmen agreed to focus on this idea in the next meeting. There was an announcement that there will be a SCAG meeting for District 4 at the Riverside County Administration Center. Bootsma once again invited the audience to visit Roosevelt on April 5th for their Every 15 Minute event, and the meeting was adjourned.

Vantagepoint Helps Feed Needy Children

By Pastor Adam DeCorte

EASTVALE– During the month of April, VantagePoint church will be providing nutritious meals for children and families in need.

Did you know that over 795 million people in the world don’t have enough food to lead a healthy, active life? That’s 1 out of every 9 people on Earth.

We make a donation to a Kingdom-building cause every time our community checks in on Facebook. It’s a great way to tell your friends about VantagePoint Church and do some good in the process. If you need some help checking in on Facebook, just ask any of our staff members and we’ll show you how.  Every 2 Facebook check-ins at VantagePoint church will provide 1 meal to a child in need through a faith-based non-profit called feedONE.

feedONE has 146,676 children enrolled in their Children’s Feeding Initiative and provides meals to children in El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Ethiopia, South Africa, Guatemala, and Tanzania. To learn more about feedONE, check out their site at: https://feedone.com.

When you check in on Facebook, make sure to add #meals4kids to your posts. It’s a great way to remind your friends of why you’re checking in.  Remember, your Facebook check-ins not only provide meals for children, they also gently invite your friends to participate in our church community.  Thank you for getting involved!

Tyler Slavin to Host Football Camp with JCSD!

Photo courtesy: JCSD

Photo courtesy: JCSD

Staff Reports

EASTVALE– Tyler Slavin will be offering a one day football camp where you can work on your football skills under the watchful eye of an NFL player.

Tyler is a 2010 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, where he played football, played basketball, and ran track.  The 1st-Team D2 All-American wide receiver has been the recipient of several awards, including the National Best Wide Receiver award, the Daktronic Award, the NCAA Offensive Player of the Year Award, and the D2 Statistical Leader Award.

Tyler has played for the St. Louis Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.  He says that it has always been a passion of his to give back to kids, and he can think of no better way to do that than to give to the young people of his hometown of Eastvale.

“I want to show the community that it is possible to accomplish your dreams, and that I was once the underdog.  No one expected me to get this far, but through it all, I persevered and made it- I know the next person can and will too.”

The camp will take place at the Eleanor Roosevelt Stadium on Saturday, April 9, 2016 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Your camp registration will consist of a two hour training session, a camp T-shirt and an autographed photo.  There will be a full coaching staff on hand and all positions will be worked with.

Register online at www.parksreg.jcsd.us or at the Eastvale Community Center.  Registration will end on Friday, April 8, 2016.

Age Requirements:
Ages: 4-12 10a-12p
Ages: 13-18 12p-2p

Spots are limited! Register today to ensure your spot!

Eastvale Walmart: Update and Clarification

City of Eastvale

EASTVALE – City officials announced that a citywide mailer sent in late 2015 by the Walmart retailer was premature and inaccurate.  The mailer gave the impression that a proposed Walmart store had been approved and circumvented the planning process.

The printed mailer entitled, “Introducing a Walmart Supercenter for Eastvale,” was sent to Eastvale homes in December 2015, according to City officials who received comments from concerned residents about the mailer. The mailer, which highlighted features of the proposed store, left many residents with the impression that the Supercenter had been approved due to wording such as “The store will be …” and “… will create.”

City Manager Michele Nissen, emphasized that the City is processing an application for a store like the one in the mailer, however; it has not yet been reviewed by the City’s Planning Commission and City Council as required by law.

“Walmart has not yet obtained the required approvals,” said Nissen.  “They are still in the planning phases and can’t build anything on the site without the necessary approvals.”

“We have been working with Walmart to get them through our very rigorous review process since the filing of their application in 2014,” continued Nissen.  “We were surprised to see the language of their mailer, which seems to portray the project as already approved. We can certainly understand the confusion and we felt it important to clarify the approval process.”

According to the City’s Planning Director, the project will likely be scheduled for public hearings later this year, after the release of a comprehensive environmental analysis of the project in a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

“The Draft EIR, which covers a very wide range of topics, will be available for the public to review for 45 days,” said Eric Norris Planning Director. “The City has retained an independent firm to prepare the document, which we hope to have completed and ready for public review in the Spring of 2016.”

“Comments received from the public and other agencies will be responded to after the EIR’s public review is complete” said Norris. Those responses will then, in turn, be provided for review and comment.  Public hearings will be scheduled, most likely in late 2016.

The proposed Walmart would be located on approximately 20 acres of land at the southeast corner of Limonite and Archibald avenues. Walmart has owned the 20-acre parcel for approximately six years.  The proposed project includes a 192,000-square-foot Walmart location, as well as several smaller buildings that would house other businesses and a gas station. The project requires approval of an amendment to the City’s General Plan and Zoning Map, as well as approval of the applicant’s development plans. All of these will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and ultimately voted on by the City Council. Both the Commission and Council will hold public hearings on the project.

The City encourages citizens to stay abreast and informed of this and other projects and City events by signing up for E-Notification on the City’s website: www.EastvaleCA.gov.