A View from the Heights

A huge boulder that will become part of an art installation at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art begins its 11-day journey tonight from a quarry in Riverside County.
The 340-ton, 22-feet-tall stone's slow ride across Southern California will block several lanes of traffic in Diamond Bar, Rowland and Hacienda Heights.

The megalith will become part of Michael Heizer's work "Levitated Mass" after it is cantilevered onto a 456-foot-long concrete slot on the grounds of the museum at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. It is expected to reach the museum in the early morning hours of March 10, museum officials said.

Before it becomes art, museum officials expect the massive boulder to attract plenty of spectators during the daytime, as it sits parked along the 105-mile route. The rock, being transported by a specially designed wide-load trailer, will park in Diamond Bar at Chino Avenue, just east of Chino Hills Parkway around 4 a.m. Friday and stay there the entire day, according to museum and city officials.

After a stop in Diamond Bar, the rock's journey resumes in a westerly direction on Pathfinder Road into Rowland Heights around 11 p.m. Friday. A weekend stopover is planned at Buttonwood Lane and Pathfinder in Rowland Heights for the third and fourth day of the journey, on Saturday and Sunday, according to Carroll. It will not travel on Saturday night.

From there, the rock's route continues along Colima Road in Hacienda Heights to La Mirada Boulevard.

Read more in Steve Scauzillo's story ROCK.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:19 AM | Permalink

The American Red Cross will offer a community disaster preparedness program on Saturday, March 3, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Rowland Heights Library.

They will teach skills needed by families and communities in an emergency. This free program is open to adults, seniors, teens and families.

The library is at 1850 Nogales St., Rowland Heights. For information, call 626-912-5348.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 9:31 AM | Permalink

Diamond Bar residents toured their new city hall on Tuesday afternoon during an open house that celebrated the first time the city has had its own building in its 22-year history.

Diamond Bar's new City Hall officially opened for business last month. The city bought the building at 21810 Copley Drive in September 2010 with the dual goal of addressing space needs for city operations and creating a new home for the nearly 40-year-old library branch.

See our photo gallery at CITY.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:45 AM | Permalink

Diamond Bar residents are invited to take a tour of Diamond Bar's brand new city hall, today from 4 to 6 p.m. It officially opened for business last month.

The opening marked the first time in its 22-year history that the city is operating from its own building.

Employees formally worked out of a South Coast Air Quality Management District complex that the city shared with the agency.

Diamond Bar purchased its new building at 21810 Copley Drive in September 2010 with the dual goal of addressing space needs for city operations and creating a new home for the nearly 40-year-old library branch.

The building's first floor and future library site will not be open for tours Tuesday because it is still under construction. Completion is planned for this summer.

With 27,000 square feet of space, the second floor houses all city government service functions, a team of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department personnel and an Emergency Operations Center. It also features a large public service counter and several meeting rooms.

City Hall's open house will take place from 4 to 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Diamond Bar's public information office at 909-839-7055.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 12:10 PM | Permalink

Cities and businesses in the East San Gabriel Valley are lining up with the city of Ontario in its effort to wrest control of Ontario International Airport away from the city of Los Angeles.

In the last few weeks, Diamond Bar and Walnut city councils have all passed strongly worded resolutions in support of Ontario gaining possession of the regional airport often used by San Gabriel Valley residents and businesses.

Read more in AIRPORT.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:35 AM | Permalink

Shelyn Elementary in Rowland Heights is raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through Pennies for Patients this month.

Last year, they raised $2500 and Mrs. Ruud dyed her hair green. This year she challenged the students to raise $5,000 and she'll shave her head. If the students reach $3000 Principal Sarah Opatkiewicz promised to show the love and get a big hot pink streak through her hair.

"We are currently at $1,211 after only one week! I'm worried!" the principal said in an email.

To help raise more money, the school is holding a "Show the Love" event today at lunch, when students can buy a yard of duct tape for $1 and stick the principal to the wall.

"Our character traits this month are empathy and kindness, so we're hoping this will help build our students' spirits of giving back," she explained.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 9:52 AM | Permalink

A Walnut man wanted for shooting his brother was caught by West Covina police late Wednesday night.

West Covina police Lt. Marty Sevilla said Sean Kent was arrested at 11:15 p.m. after he was stopped in the 300 block of Prospero Drive in Covina.

A West Covina officer recognized Kent's pickup truck. He got closer and noticed there was an attempt to alter the "A" in the license plate to look like a "4", according to Sevilla.

Sevilla said the officer fired a bean bag round at Kent when he refused orders and kept reaching toward his waistband and inside the car.

He said Kent complied after being hit by the bean bag and was taken into custody. He will be turned over to deputies.

Kent is accused of shooting his 43-year-old brother in the leg during an argument Tuesday afternoon in the 19800 block of Vista Hermosa Drive in Walnut. He left the scene before deputies showed up.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 10:33 AM | Permalink

The Kiwanis Club of Hacienda Heights and the surrounding community have a big heart. They gave 125 children an early Valentine's Day gift - a new pair of shoes, socks and a goodie bag with a book to take home on Feb. 10.

The elementary children came from schools across the Rowland Unified School District. The students from La Puente, West Covina and Rowland Heights were pre-selected based on need.

The Heart and Sole event took place at the district's Family Resource Center in La Puente.

"It has been very gratifying and so much fun picking out the shoes for this event," said Dave Malkin, Kiwanis Club member and organizer of the event.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 3:36 PM | Permalink

The Good Time Travel Club at Steinmetz Senior Center in Hacienda Heights will visit the Reagan Presidential Library on Thursday, Feb. 23.

The cost is $32 for members and $42 nonmembers. A buffet lunch will be served under the wing of Air Force One at 11:30 a.m.

The bus will leave at 9:30 a.m. and return at 6 p.m.

The center is at 1545 S. Stimson Ave. For information, call 626-934-7041.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:33 AM | Permalink

In a few months, dog owners in this town won't have to go to Fullerton or San Dimas to let their dogs roam free.

The city of Diamond Bar is planning a 1.35-acre dog park of its own in a corner of Pantera Park, an existing 23-acre sports park east of Diamond Bar Boulevard and west of Chino Hills Parkway.

The off-leash dog park is in the final planning stages and will come before the City Council on March 20 for final approval, according to the city's community services director Bob Rose.

Read more in Steve Scauzillo's story DOG.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 10:49 AM | Permalink

Californians who are struggling to stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure are about to get a leg up. State Attorney General Kamala D. Harris on Thursday announced a settlement with banks over abusive foreclosure practices. The agreement could funnel as much as $18 billion to hard-hit homeowners.

California secured the money as part of a larger $25 billion multistate settlement to penalize robo-signing and other bank servicing and foreclosure misconduct. California pulled away from an earlier proposal that would have netted the state only $4 billion.

Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Ally Financial will reduce loans for nearly 1 million households across the country. Checks for $2,000 will be sent to about 750,000 Americans who were improperly foreclosed upon.

Read more in Kevin Smith's story BANKS.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 9:59 AM | Permalink

Roll the dice and gamble on love at the Walnut Senior Center Valentine's Day dinner dance on Friday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Luck will be your lady as you enjoy an evening of live entertainment, a buffet dinner, games and prizes.

Elvis Presley will even drop by. So, there's no need to book a room at the "Heartbreak Hotel" because this Vegas-style dance will have you "All Shook Up."

The cost is $12 per person, $10 for members of the senior club.

The center is at at 21215 La Puente Road in Walnut. For more information, call 909-598-6200.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:11 AM | Permalink

The new reading program at Diamond Bar Library is all bark and no bite. Actually, there isn't a lot of barking either.

But Barks and Books has enthralled the young readers who line up on Saturdays to read their favorite books to some new canine buddies.

"We offered it on Monday nights in the fall, but moved it to Saturdays this year to make it easier for families," explained Julie McCasland.

Read more in Rich Irwin's story BARKS.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:08 AM | Permalink

In part of the effort to clear up logjams along Valley Boulevard, Industry has plans to embark on a $4.1 million, 2.3-mile endeavour to widen Valley Boulevard between Azusa and Lemon avenues.

The project's primary goal is to add a third lane to eastbound Valley Boulevard. It also includes adding bus stops, right-turn pockets, improved stop lights, storm drain outlets and even installing a small boulder-lined drainage stream.

For years, Valley was a four-lane street. The city recently restriped westbound to increase the number of traffic lanes from two to three.

"That really cleared up traffic there quite a bit," said John Ballas, Industry's engineer.
But there's not enough room on the south side of the street to make three lanes, he said. About 50,000 cars daily use the stretch of road.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:40 AM | Permalink

Roll the dice and gamble on love at the Walnut Senior Center Valentine's Day dinner dance on Friday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. Luck will be your lady as you enjoy an evening of live entertainment, a buffet dinner, games and prizes.

Elvis Presley will even drop by. So, there's no need to book a room at the "Heartbreak Hotel" because this Vegas-style dance will have you "All Shook Up."

The cost is $12 per person, $10 for members of the senior club.
The center is at at 21215 La Puente Road in Walnut. For more information, call 909-598-6200.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 1:45 PM | Permalink

Hacienda La Puente Unified school board member Jay Chen came to Wilson High School on Thursday and announced his run for Congress in the redrawn 39th District before about 50 enthusiastic supporters.

The 33-year-old native of Hacienda Heights and owner of a real estate investment firm, billed himself as a moderate Democrat whose outside-the-beltway status would breathe new life into a polarized, do-nothing Congress.

"The incumbents in Washington, D.C. - they simply don't get it. They are fighting amongst each other to prevent progress. They are too busy protecting their own jobs to create jobs for the rest of us," he said from the stage of the band room at his alma mater.

Chen was referring to his opponent, conservative Republican incumbent Ed Royce, who has spent two decades in Congress and has amassed a $3 million war chest for re-election, according to campaign reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Read more in Steve Scauzillo's story CHEN.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 10:39 AM | Permalink

Walnut True Value Hardware is closing its doors after 14 years in the city of Walnut. Owner, Stuart Tielens said that the current economic conditions prevailing in the country, and here in California in particular, are factors.

He also said that there are other factors specific to his business, such as the recently opened Home Depot in nearby West Covina that make it harder to survive. He also expressed some other issues that also contribute to closing the business.

Tielens said that he has great appreciation for his customers over the years, and has enjoyed the help and services he has been able to offer. He said that his participation in the Chamber of Commerce, the Walnut Economic Development Commission he was appointed to, the Walnut city employees and charity organizations he has been
able to contributed to, have made things very memorable.

He has no regrets and only holds fond memories for the business. Asked what he is going to do with a fully stocked hardware store, he said starting Saturday Feb. 4, he was going to have a giant liquidate sale. Almost everything with a few exceptions like
Propane cylinder exchanges and window screening, will be 30% off.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 1:46 PM | Permalink