Diamond Bar updating General Housing Plan

Diamond Bar is updating its General Plan Housing Element for the 2013-2021 planning period. The Draft Housing Element will be presented before the City’s Planning Commission meeting as a public hearing item during its regular meeting on Nov. 26, starting at 7 pm at Diamond Bar City Hall – Windmill Community Room at 21810 Copley Drive.

Interested persons are encouraged to attend the meeting and participate in the discussion. The Housing Element addresses Diamond Bar’s current and projected housing needs for residents of all income levels and persons with special needs, such as seniors and individuals with disabilities, and describes how the City’s plans to accommodate the needs of all community members.

Hard copies of the draft Housing Element are available for review at Diamond Bar City Hall from Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and at the Diamond Bar Library from Monday through Friday noon to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm).

A downloadable PDF version of the Housing Element is also available for review via the City website www.diamondbarca.gov/housingelement .

For questions and/or information regarding the Housing Element Update, please contact Senior Planner Grace Lee at 909-839-7032. Information about the State Housing Element Law is available on the California Department of Housing and Community Development website at http://www.hcd.ca.gov/hpd/hrc/plan/he/.

Changing of the guard at Rowland Unified School District

Voters in the Rowland Unified School District tossed out two of three incumbents Tuesday night in what’s being called a changing of the guard at the district, according to Trib reporter Steve Scauzillo.
Twelve-year board member Gilbert Garcia came in a distant fifth out of seven candidates, and Robert Hidalgo did not seek re-election to the board.
Instead, Angelena Pride and Lynne Ebenkamp, two new faces, were elected to the school board Tuesday night. With 100 percent of the votes counted, Pride was the top vote-getter with 2,050 votes and Ebenkamp was next with 1,888. The third seat was captured by incumbent Cary Chen, who edged out challenger Anne Ma by 83 votes.
Early returns seemed to suggest the voters were looking for a change.
Incumbent Gilbert Garcia, running for a fourth term, never challenged the three top vote-getters. From absentee ballot tallies to precinct votes, Pride and Ebenkamp led throughout the night.
“A lot of people said they wanted to have at least two new board members,” said One Chu, a founder of the Rowland Parents and Educators Association.
Meanwhile, Hidalgo, assistant principal at Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, was winning his seat on the Mt. San Antonio College school board with nearly two-thirds of the precincts counted.
Pride and Ebenkamp seemed to have benefitted from an endorsement and people power from the Association of Rowland Educators. “Our two candidates articulated the best vision for the district. And the voters saw the same thing we did,” said John Petersen, ARE president.
Phillip Estrada, 45, a former deputy sheriff; and Wild Chang, 45, a parent and attorney, were in sixth and seventh place, respectively.

Hacienda Heights Baptist Church on the front lines with Union Rescue Mission

Hacienda Heights Baptist Church will hold another “on the front line event” on  Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2100 S. Stimson Ave.
A Union Rescue Mission donation truck will be on hand for all donations large and small. Maryann King, retired hostess of “Romper Room” will greet donors and autograph pictures.
Union Rescue Mission is the way home for many who find themselves on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. The mission is on the “front line” providing a wide range of services, including a place to bath, sleep and eat. It also provides job training and counseling services.