Relay For Life walks through Hacienda Heights

Cancer survivors take the first lap at the Relay For Life at Steinmetz Park in Hacienda Heights.

The Hacienda Heights Relay For Life this weekend was a big success at Steinmetz Park.

Survivors at the event take the first lap around the track cheered on by the other participants who line the track, celebrating their victory over cancer.

A Luminaria Ceremony Saturday night honored people we have lost to cancer.

The Fight Back Ceremony at 9 a.m. Sunday symbolizes the emotional commitment we each make to the fight against cancer.

Mormon Helping Hands help food bank in Hacienda Heights

As part of the Mormon Helping Hands day of service, local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints collected nonperishable foodstuffs and toiletries to help local homeless shelters and food banks in the San Gabriel Valley.
For the past month, local members of the church have been gathering items from neighbors, families, friends and associates. In addition, youth groups have held scavenger hunts and other activities to collect items and raise funds for the project.
The items will be collected at seven local churches throughout the eastern San Gabriel Valley on April 27, then delivered to the Orangewood Church in West Covina for sorting and delivery to the designated charities.
Recipients included: God Provides Native American Food Bank in El Monte, Mercy House in Pomona/Ontario and East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights.
“While church members have always been involved in community service, this is the one day a year that all Southern California congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints representing more than 40,000 members concentrate their efforts on the same date,” said Dr. Bob Ulrich, chairman of the local event.

Boy Scouts hold pancake breakfast in Hacienda Heights

Boy Scout Troop 710 of Hacienda Heights will hold a pancake breakfast on Sunday, May 5, from 8 a.m. to noon at St. Matthews United Methodist Church at 15653 Newton Street  in Hacienda Heights.

The breakfast features pancakes, sausage, eggs, fresh fruit, juice, milk and coffee. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Tthe pancake breakfast helps strengthen the scouts’ organizational skills and work ethic. It also raises money for the scouts so they can participate in outings and community projects. Community support is very much appreciated.

For more information please call 562-556-5182 or email troop710fundraiser@gmail.com.

Walut celebrates long awaited Quiet Zone along railroad

Walnut Mayor Mary Su helps workman unveil Quiet Zone sign along railroad tracks on Valley Boulevard. (Photo by Steve Scauzillo)

The City of Walnut celebrated a Quiet Zone designation on the corner of Brea Canyon Road and Old Ranch Road this morning. The public was invited to join the celebration to commemorate the long awaited train horn Quiet Zone along Valley Boulevard.

A quiet zone is a section of rail line that contains one or more consecutive railroad crossings where train horns are not routinely sounded. The train horns can be silenced only when other safety measures, such as railroad crossing enhancements, compensate for the absence of the horns.

West End Spring Job Fair set for Wednesday

Employers looking to fill roughly 800 job openings are scheduled to appear Wednesday when the West End Spring Job Fair takes place at L.A./Ontario International Airport.

The job fair’s sponsors include the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board and a collection of West End cities and chambers of commerce. Previous iterations of the job fair have taken place at the airport’s old terminals since 2009 and have attracted thousands of visitors.

Wednesday’s job fair will be the first time the event, which has previously taken place in the late summer or early fall, is expanded to take place during the spring as well.

“We had such a great response when we were doing one a year, so why not do it twice a year,” asked Miguel McQueen, deputy director of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department.

Five arrested for bank burglaries in Diamond Bar and Rowland Heights

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials on Wednesday identified the five men who were arrested in connection with a series of bank burglaries in Diamond Bar and Rowland Heights.

The five were arrested and booked Friday at the sheriff’s Walnut Station on $500,000 bail each after a yearlong investigation by the sheriff’s major crimes bureau. The men allegedly accessed the roofs of four banks in Rowland Heights and Diamond Bar, using power tools and construction materials to reach the cement vaults and remain undetected, Sheriff Lee Baca said. Detectives are looking for similar burglaries that could be linked to the suspects.

About $6 million in cash, safe deposit boxes and jewelry were reported stolen from three of the banks. The suspects used handheld radios to communicate and wore matching ski masks, workman’s uniforms, gloves and shoes to prevent detectives from distinguishing them, Baca said.

The men were under surveillance early Friday when they attempted to burglarize the Citibank branch at 1188 S. Diamond Bar Blvd. in Diamond Bar, officials said.

For more, read Melissa Masatani’s story BURGLARS.

Walnut ready to visit Huntington Library and Gardens on April 28

The city of Walnut will sponsor a trip to the Huntington Library and Gardens on Sunday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Enjoy the afternoon wandering 120 acres of breathtaking gardens, including the newly renovated Japanese Garden with beautiful lush green canyons, whispering bamboo, bonsai and a Kara Sansui rock garden.

While at the library, check out its annual plant sale, where garden lovers come to find all the newest plants, the most sought-after collectibles and the popular favorites.

The cost of the trip is $20. Lunch and plant purchases are on your own.
All community excursions depart from Parking Lot A (Park N’ Ride Lot) at 20983 La Puente Road, in Walnut.

Hacienda Heights teams wants to go to nationals

The Hacienda Heights Thunderbolts cheer team has a lot to cheer about. This amazing group of girls started a few years ago with only five team members.

Since then, the squad has grown to 15 members 10 to 15 years of age. They combine stunts and movement with fun music under coach Ryn Harrison.

The Thunderbolts want to go to the national competition in Virginia Beach on July 27. There they hope to win the top spot.

The squad will hold a fundraiser on Thursday, April 11, at the Pizza Co. at 15239 Gale Ave. They will also hold a car wash on Saturday, April 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kentucky Fried Chicken on South Hacienda Boulevard.

The Thunderbolts are selling raffle tickets for $5 each to win a iPad mini. Supporters can buy tickets during practice at Steinmetz Park from 7:15 to 8 p.m. Mondays. All donations will help this team go to nationals.

Kids read to dogs at Diamond Bar Library

Children can practice their reading skills with reading therapy dogs at the Diamond Bar Library from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 6.

Young readers ages 5 and up may bring their own books or get a library book. Each may read one book to Jake, Donut, Morgan or our newest friend Daisy.

The library is at 21800 Copley Drive. For more information, call 909-861-4978.

U.S. Rep Ed Royce welcomes guests to Rowland Heights office

U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Rowland Heights, center, receives certificate from Dickie Simmons, field rep for L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe. Looking on from left are Diamond Bar City Councilwoman Carol Herrera, Ed Ebenkamp with Rowland Heights Community Council, Simmons, Walnut Mayor Mary Su and Councilman Tony Cartagena. (Staff photo by Watchara Phomicinda)

The East San Gabriel Valley welcomed its newest U.S. representative to the first congressional office in the valley last week. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Rowland Heights, greeted city officials and residents during a grand opening of his new office in Rowland Heights.

“It’s fantastic to offer services to six new cities in my district,” said Royce, who represents the newly drawn 39th Congressional District. He added Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, Diamond Bar, Walnut, Chino Hills and La Habra Heights.

The smiling congressman was warmly greeted by city officials and local residents in his new office in the Diamond Plaza. The second floor office overlooks the busy Pomona Freeway.

“If you have any problems in any way with the federal government, we’re here to help you with those challenges,” Royce told the group.

The 11-term congressman had spent the day reaching out to the community. Earlier, he had talked to the Rotary Club, before speaking to a civics class at Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story ROYCE.