April 2011 Archives

The Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park presents its Annual Earth Day Celebration Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event is hosted by the city of Chino, the Santa Ana Watershed Association, and the Inland Empire Utilities Agency.

The event features environemtnal exhibits, hands-on earth friendly activities, free family fun, H20 Musical Group, performances by local schools, giveaways, a blood drive, and more. 

Information: www.ieua.org.

Residents and members of the business community are encouraged to sign up for email notifications, a new feature now available on the City of Chino's website.

Website visitors can log on at www.cityofchino.org and sign up to receive emails when a press release has been issued; when a new Mayor's Message has been posted; when City Council agendas or minutes have been added; when there is an emergency alert or road closure; when a request for quote, bid, or proposal has been issued; or when there is a job opening at the city.

The Chino City Council on Tuesday voted to appropriate about $1.1 million of Redevelopment Agency Capital Projects Fund toward the final design development of a downtown Cultural Arts Center across from city hall. In January, the Redevelopment Agency awarded an agreement for the design of the Cultural Arts Center to WLC Architects of Rancho Cucamonga in the amount of $990,000, and up to $90,000 for contingiencies 

Plans call for a $13 million, 350-seat performing arts theater, art and exhibit gallery, as well as multipurpose space for meetings, classes and community activities. The project is anticipated to be finished by late 2012, officials said. The facility is projeccted to serve as a venue for theatrical productions, concerts, recitals, art exhibits and public events.

The first annual Spring Fling Easter egg hunt will be held at Chino Hills Plaza on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature an Easter egg hunt at 1 p.m., in addition to music, games, jumpers, face painting, BBQ, popcorn, snow cones, and more. Children will get a chance to meet the Easter Bunny.

Chino Hills Plaza is located at Pipeline and Eucalyptus Avenues in Chino.

The Jason Tennies Memorial Foundation will hold its first annual Chino Valley Walk for Mental Health on Saturday, May 14, to raise awareness and

funding for research into mental disorders, and to help erase the stigma associated with mental illness. The non-timed walk will be held at Ayala Park at 14225 Central Ave., Chino, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On- site registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. Online registration is available at www.jasontennies.org for a tax-deductible donation of $10 for the walk only, or $20 for the walk, commemorative T-shirt and bracelet.

The event will include entertainment, food vendors, outreach support, speakers, and appearances by state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod and Assemblyman Curt Hagman.

Some of the organizations at the walk will include the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD), Mental Health America (MHA), the National Alliance on

Mental Illness (NAMI), the Autism Society of America, The Alzheimer's Society, the San Bernardino Department of Mental Health Services, Behavioral Health, and the San

Bernardino Department of Veterans Affairs. All funds raised by the walk will go to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD).

For more information on the foundation and to pre-register for the walk, visit www.jasontennies.org. Donations may also be sent to P.O. Box 357, Chino Hills, CA

91709. All donations are payable to The Jason Tennies Memorial Foundation.

In addition, restaurant fundraisers for the foundation will be held at the following locations:

• Roscoe's Famous Deli: Tues., April 26, 5 p.m.- 9 p.m., 14700 Pipeline Ave., Chino Hills

• BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse: Tues., May 17, 4585 Chino Hills Pkwy, Chino Hills

• Johnny Rockets at The Shoppes at Chino Hills: May 5-6, 3 p.m. - 9 p.m.

The Foundation was formed in 2010 in memory of 20-year-old Jason Tennies, son of David and Linda Tennies of Chino Hills. Jason had no history of mental illness. He was struck by a car on Sept. 25, after suffering from a sudden and severe schizophrenic break. The Tennies' started the foundation to dispel the shame that is associated with mental illness, raise money for research and treatment, and create awareness of resources and programs to support those with mental disorders. 

The annual Chino Hills Household Hazardous Waste Roundup will be held on Saturday, April 23rd at the site of the former Chino Hills City Yard, 14575 Pipeline Avenue. 

Items such as unwanted motor oil, used oil filters, antifreeze, auto and household batteries, paint products, household cleaners, pesticides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, fluorescent light tubes, and medication will be collected from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Participants must provide identification to confirm they live in San Bernardino County. The waste must be properly labeled or in its original container. The containers must not be leaking and may not exceed five gallons. The amount of waste per visit cannot exceed 15 gallons or 125 pounds. 

City hall and the city yard will be closed in recognition of Memorial Day on Monday, May 30th. The McCoy Equestrian & Recreation Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trash pick-up will be delayed one day during the following week

California's 4th District Court of Appeal has granted City's request to move forward its appeal of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, according to the City Manager Mike Fleager. Court's decision will push the hearing to next six months, rather than eighteen months as anticipated earlier. 

When completed by 2015, the $2.1 billion Tehachapi project will bring wind-generated electricity from Kern County to the Los Angeles Basin - part of a state mandate to use more sustainable energy.

For past three years, Chino Hills' residents have complained that the larger, new high-voltage power lines and towers, slated to cut through a five-mile stretch of city's neighborhoods will impact safety, health, city views and property values. 

In early 2009, the city filed a complaint in San Bernardino County Superior Court against SCE, claiming that the project would "overburden the easement over City property."

Last April, Judge Keith D. Davis ruled that the California Public Utilities Commission has exclusive jurisdiction regarding the route used by Edison and has rejected the city's lawsuit. In June, the city appealed judge's ruling.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson recently announced Ayala High School as among 97 exemplary California public middle and high schools that were selected as 2011 California Distinguished Schools. 

"These schools are being recognized for attaining high levels of performance and sustained growth, and for making significant progress in closing the academic achievement gap," Torlakson said. "Becoming a Distinguished School is a direct reflection of the dedication, hard work, and vision of each school's education community. They have succeeded despite a bleak economic environment and have endeavored to maintain their momentum and focus."]

The California School Recognition Program is now in its 25th year and honors the state's most exemplary and inspiring public schools with the California Distinguished School Award. The 97 schools identified today join more than 5,300 public schools that have been designated or redesignated a Distinguished School since the program began in 1986.

Although participation is voluntary, the award is highly sought after by schools in all areas of the state. Elementary and secondary schools are recognized during alternate years.

Chino Hills Plaza is located at Pipeline and Eucalyptus Avenues in Chino.

Information: 909-606-0640, or to sign up for bone marrow registry, visit www.bethematchfoundation.org.

The Chino Valley Fire District launched its first ever trading card featuring Firefighter/Paramedic Russell Tao and his search and rescue dog, Andy. The card will be

distributed to the public during community events, fire station tours and any other time Fire District personnel interact with the communities we proudly serve.

 

The trading card highlights the training and experience Firefighter/Paramedic Tao and Andy have gained since first being certified as a Search Dog Team for FEMA in December 2003. The card also highlights partner agencies, notable facts about Firefighter/Paramedic Tao and Andy, as well as key safety messages on planning and practicing a family escape plan and the importance of checking smoke detectors monthly.

 

Firefighter/Paramedic Tao is a member of Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5. Task Force 5 is a 70-member team consisting of personnel from Chino Valley Fire District, Orange County Fire Authority, Anaheim Fire, Orange City Fire, Santa Ana Fire and Montebello Fire. The task force is one of 28 National and one of eight California US&R Task Forces that responds as a FEMA or California OES resource during national or regional emergencies such as earthquakes, terrorist attacks, hurricanes or any other natural or manmade disaster that requires highly skilled search and rescue personnel.

 

Firefighter/Paramedic Tao has been a search dog handler since June 2000 and first certified as a Search Dog Team for FEMA in December 2003. He has been deployed three times since he became FEMA Certified. He has served on deployments in Louisiana and Texas in 2008 in response to Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike. In January 2010, Andy was one of 12 canines in the United States on standby for deployment to assist victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

 

Officers of the Chino Police Department arrested four suspects last Friday afternoon, after a search yielded an indoor marijuana cultivation operation inside an apartment located in the 12800 block of Yorba Avenue. 

Officers were called to the scene to investigate a report of a fight.  Once inside the apartment, Officers recognized evidence related to the cultivation and sales of marijuana and a search warrant was obtained.  The subsequent search revealed that a bedroom had been converted to grow marijuana and over 300 plants in various stages of growth were seized, as well as over four ounces of concentrated cannabis, and several pieces of hydroponic equipment to include high intensity lights; fans; blowers; and ducting. 

Charles Alexander, 24, Matthew Amesquita, 18, Camren Alexander, 19, and Jacob Arispe, 24, all of Chino, were arrested and booked at the West Valley Detention Center for possession of concentrated cannabis, cultivation of marijuana, and possession of marijuana for sales. 

 

The May 14 Chino Valley Walk for Mental Health, sponsored by the Jason Tennies Memorial Foundation, will raise funds and awareness for research on schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder and autism. 

Locals can participate in a planning session for the event at 1 p.m. April 16 at Ayala Park, 5575 Edison Ave. 

The Chino Valley Walk for Mental Health will raise funds and awareness for research on schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder and autism. 

The San Bernardino County Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Mental Health Services are participating and supporting the event, which will feature "musical entertainment, celebrities, mental health support, food and fun." 

The Jason Tennies Memorial Foundation online donation page is up and working at www.jasontennies.org. You may donate on line or mail donations to the foundation at 1440 Rancho Hills, Chino 91709. Those who donate $20 or more should include T-shirt size. The shirt will be given the day of the walk. 

Information: sneekers3@verizon.net or visit www.jasontennies.org 

Fundraising performances of "Check, Please!" a one-act comedy by Jonathan Rand, will be held at 7 p.m. April 15 and 16 at Chino Community Theatre. 

The piece is directed by Joanne Karr and features four actors going blind-date scenarios. The play is the local theater group's entry in the American Association of Community Theatres (AACT) Festival to be held June 20-26 in Rochester, N.Y. 

Ticket cost is $10, with the proceeds will go toward production and travel costs for the festival. For reservations, contact Julie Mort at 951-675-6906 or at jmort86@hotmail.com. Information: www.chinocommunitytheatre.org. 

Members of the Chino Police Department held the "Every 15 Minutes" program at Don Lugo High School on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The event included a simulated drunken driving collision involving student volunteers from the school. A 9-1-1 call kicked off the action as junior and senior students observed law enforcement; firefighters; paramedics and the coroner as they arrived at the scene. 

After the collision, the action continued for the student volunteers. Some were transported to the hospital, one student went to jail and another to the mortuary where they acted out the activities that would have taken place at each of the locations following an actual alcohol related traffic collision. A mock memorial service for the students and family members also took place. 

The program challenges high school juniors and seniors to think about personal safety, making mature decisions, and the consequences of drinking and driving. 

Chino Hills residents Heather Torigian, 36, and Ashley Demerjian, 21, will walk April 23 during Walk Now for Autism Speaks Los Angeles in support of Autism Awareness Month. 

About 20,000 people are expected to walk at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to support for autism research and awareness. 

Torigian is the mother to Logan Torigian, 13, who first began showing signs of a type of autism known as Asperger's syndrome at 4 months old. 

Demerjian is a full-time student of Pediatric Occupational Therapy at California Baptist University in Riverside and works part-time providing respite care to special needs children. 

The 2010 walk hosted 20,000 people and raised $1.3 million. 

Autism Speaks is the nation's largest autism advocacy organization, dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), autism now affects 

1 percent or 1 in every 110 American children, including 1 in 70 boys. Autism is a complex condition that affects a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. 

Information: Heather Torigian, 909-260-7880 or htorgian@adelphia.net 

Chino Hills resident Michel Kashou, 12, recently participated in a major United States Specialty Sports Association baseball tournament playing with his travel ball Team Phenom, a 12-and-under majors team based in Moreno Valley . 

Phenom was undefeated in seven tournament games played over three days to take first place out of 24 teams overall. Winning the Spring Championships Super NIT Tournament qualifies Team Phenom a place in The Elite World Series in Orlando, Fla. this summer, if the team chooses to go. 

Play to spread autism awareness message 

In honor of autism awareness month, the Life Christian Fellowship church features "A Light in the Darkness." Admission is free. 

Performance times are: 7 p.m. April 15; 1 and 6 p.m. April 16; 6 p.m. April 17. To reserve tickets call 909-287-LIFE or tickets available at the door. 

The church is at 5171 Edison Ave., Chino . 

After seeing videos of the destruction in Japan, students from Chino Hills High School held a fundraiser, competing to see which class could raise the most money to send to the Red Cross. 

Students from Megan Davis' class raised more than $2,000 in four days. 

"The students went crazy and in my eight years of teaching, I've never been so proud of my students," Davis said. "What was most incredible is they raised all of that money on their own - no big checks from mommy and daddy, just lots of piggy banks and funds for iPods, cameras, allowances, etc. 

"And although they loved competing against other classes, they all were most excited about what we raised as a whole and how they did something powerful, together, for others." 

Chino Tea Party will hold community awareness and outreach event on April 16 at Chino Community Center Auditorium, 5443 B St., in Chino . 

Speakers will include Douglas Gibbs, a columnist and Internet radio host; David Spady, a state director of Americans for Prosperity in California; and author Brent Morehouse. The free event begins at 11 a.m. For more information call 909-731-6101 or visit http://www.chinoteaparty.com. 

Hickory Creek Nature Park will host a nature-oriented family fun day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

Participants are invited to plant a tree or wildflowers, go on a nature scavenger hunt and learn more about nature, recycling, energy and conservation. 

Reused Materials Becoming Art Contest entries will be judged at 9:30 a.m. Entry forms are available at the McCoy Equestrian Center, 14280 Peyton Drive. 

Hickory Creek Nature Park is at 15445 Hickory Creek Lane. Information: 909-548-0868. 

The Chino Council on Tuesday unanimously awarded a $21.5 million construction contract to the Hesperia-based firm of RIC Construction Co. to convert a former Home Depot store on Walnut Avenue into the Chino Police Department headquarters. 

The headquarters is envisioned to consolidate all police divisions and services, currently provided at several sites, into one building. The new station will also accommodate future growth of the police department. 

Funding for the project, in the amount of $10 million, has been programmed for the current fiscal year. City staff has requested another expenditure of $13.5 million, bringing the total project budget to $23.7 million, which covers construction, contingencies and engineering services.