Paso Robles wine trip added to library’s wine soiree auction in Diamond Bar

The 21st Annual Wine Soiree auction chair announced that a Wine Vacation in Paso Robles will be offered in its live auction on April 27 for the Diamond Bar Library fundraiser.

The vacation package includes a 2-night stay at the exclusive Cass Winery Guest House and use of their limousine while tasting wines all day in Paso Robles Wine Country.

Call 909-861-2002 or visit the Diamond Bar Library, or visit  www.dblibraryfriends.org for tickets.

Inland Valley Humane Society rescues 11 dogs in Diamond Bar

The Inland Valley Humane Society and SPCA reports that 11 dogs being kept in inhumane conditions were rescued on Wednesday from a Diamond Bar residence. All of the animals are currently being cared for at the society’s shelter in Pomona, where they are being evaluated and treated by veterinarians.

The society’s investigators responded to a tip that dogs were being housed in deplorable conditions at a home located on Summit Ridge in Diamond Bar.

With help from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, Animal Services Supervisor Beth Les led the team of humane officers and oversaw the search and seizure. They responded with several rescue units and found the animals living in filth and suffering from a lack of basic care.

The society said officers also found four dead animals that had been stored in a freezer at the residence. The home was reportedly covered with feces and trash.

Eight of the eleven dogs are currently available for adoption. The society intends to pursue charges against the individuals involved.

Anyone interested in adoption should contact the adoption department at 909-623-9777, ext. 611 or 612. To make a tax–deductible donation to the rescue fund, visit www.ivhsdonate.org.

Gas prices near $5 a gallon in Diamond Bar

Southland gas prices have risen dramatically in recent days as Easter weekend approaches, and one industry expert figures they’ll remain above $4 a gallon until September. At the Mobil station on the corner of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Golden Springs Drive in Diamond Bar, a gallon of regular unleaded was selling for $4.79 on Tuesday.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Los Angeles County hit $4.30 Tuesday, up 17 cents from a week ago and up 26 cents from a month ago, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

The Inland Empire saw a similar gain. Monday’s average price was $4.24 a gallon, up 16 cents for the week and up 24 cents from a month ago. California’s average price for regular was $4.18 a gallon Tuesday, topped only by Hawaii’s average price of $4.31 a gallon.

“I think it will level off now, but prices won’t fall below $4 a gallon until September,” said Bob van der Valk, senior editor for the Bakken Oil Business Journal. “It’s because of the lack of supply … there’s just no backup supply.”

Jeffrey Spring, a spokesman for the Automobile Club of Southern California, linked the price hikes to several factors.

“Most of our refineries should be through with the turnaround maintenance that’s involved when they convert from winter-grade to summer-grade gas,” he said. “But two refineries — the Chevron refinery in El Segundo and the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance — will still be down for a couple more weeks.”

Read more in Kevin Smith’s story GAS

Friends of library plan wine soiree on April 27 in Diamond Bar

Residents enjoy last year's wine soiree to benefit Diamond Bar Library (Photo courtesy of Friends of Library)

Residents enjoy last year’s wine soiree to benefit Diamond Bar Library (Photo courtesy of Friends of Library)

The Diamond Bar Friends of the Library will hold their 21st annual Wine Soiree and Benefit Auction on April 27 in the Diamond Bar Center from 4-7 p.m.

This annual event more than 350 guests, who get to enjoy a pleasant afternoon tasting a wide variety of wines, including many that have won gold, silver, and bronze medals in The Los Angeles Wine Competition.

They will also be sampling well over a dozen restaurants. They may bid on great auction items and enjoy  some music. All from the hilltop views of the Diamond Bar Center.

This year promises to be bigger and better than ever. Soiree will help celebrate the city’s 25th anniversary. Together they have accomplished a lot over the years, including the opening in 2012 of Diamond Bar’s new library!

The grand event welcomes everyone 21 years or older. Advance tickets are only $50, $60 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the Diamond Bar Library, the Friends’ Basically BOOKS book stores, U.S. Bank or California Bank & Trust in Diamond Bar, or by calling (909) 861-2002.

 

Hacienda Heights Improvement Association meets Monday

The Hacienda Heights Improvement Association will meet 7 p.m. Monday in the Board Room of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District at 15959 E. Gale Ave.

California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station in Industry, Supervisor Don Knabe’s Field Office, representatives from our Congressmen and State officials will give reports.

Residents of Hacienda Heights and surrounding areas are welcome to attend.  For more information please call (626) 536-3407

Caltrans announces closures on Route 60 this week

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close portions of SR-60 from the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) to the Orange Freeway (SR-57) separation, as part of a pavement rehabilitation project.  Closures are as follows and subject to change.

Monday, April 14, through Friday, April 18

Eastbound SR-60

  • ·         10 p.m. to 5 a.m. – Up to three lanes between I-605 & Azusa Avenue
  • ·         11 p.m. to 5 a.m. – High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane CLOSEDbetween I-605 & Azusa Avenue

Westbound SR-60

  • ·         11 p.m. to 5 a.m. – Up to three lanes between southbound SR-57 & Azusa Avenue
  • ·         10 p.m. to 4 a.m. – HOV lane CLOSED between southbound SR-57 & Azusa Avenue

Friday, April 18, through Sunday, April 20

Eastbound SR-60

  • ·         10 p.m. to 8 a.m.   – Up to three lanes between I-605 & Azusa Avenue
  • ·         7 p.m. to 9 a.m.     – Seventh Avenue on-ramp CLOSED
  • ·         12 a.m. to 8 a.m.   – HOV lane CLOSED between Seventh Avenue & Hacienda Boulevard
  • ·         11 p.m. to 11 a.m. – Connector from north- and southbound I-605 to eastbound SR-60 CLOSED

Westbound SR-60

  • ·         12 a.m. to 4 a.m.   – Up to three lanes between southbound SR-57 & Azusa Avenue
  • ·         10 p.m. to 11 a.m. – Fairway Drive and Old Brea Canyon Road on-ramps CLOSED
  • ·         12 a.m. to 8 a.m.   – HOV lane CLOSED between southbound SR-57 & Nogales Street
  • ·         11 p.m. to 10 a.m. – Connector from north- and southbound SR-57 to westbound SR-60 CLOSED
  • ·          Friday 11:59 p.m. to Saturday 5 a.m.  –FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE between southbound SR-57 & Azusa Avenue

Detours will be posted. New pavement will improve mobility and enhance safety for motorists.  Flatiron West Inc. is the contractor on this $121.5 million project which is expected to complete fall 2014.

Caltrans advises motorists to “Slow For The Cone Zone.”

 

Diamond Bar, Walnut, Rowland, Wilson Highs rank well

Local high schools did well in the Washington Post’s new list of the nation’s most academically challenging schools. The Post used what it calls a Challenge Index to rank high schools across the country.

Only 9 percent of the nation’s 22,000 public high schools managed to make the list.

“On our list, the top 220 schools are in the top 1 percent nationally, the top 440 in the top 2 percent, and so on,” explained Staff Writer Jay Mathews on the Post’s web site. Diamond Bar High School ranked the best locally, coming in 317 out of the 2,000 schools listed. Sixty percent of its students passed at least one college-level test during their high school career.
Read more in my story in the Tribune. http://m.sgvtribune.com/sgvtribune/article/OOiaoM1r

Incumbents Pacheco, Su win hard-fought Walnut City Council race

Incumbents Robert Pacheco and Mary Su swept to victory Tuesday night in one of the most contested and expensive races in city history.

Pacheco, 79, the elder statesman who served on the City Council and then in the state Assembly only to return to the city last year, and Su, 55, the eight-year incumbent and a leader in the Asian community, won by a wide margin.

In a victory speech at Pacheco/Su headquarters Tuesday night, the former assemblyman denounced the big spenders and an attempt to influence the Walnut election from Sacramento.

“We want to make this city grow and make it free of bad influences,” he began. “They tried to take us down and they failed big time! Walnut is ours! It is the people’s city.”

A relieved Su said: “I’m really thankful for the Walnut residents who still believe in me.”

The pair easily defeated challenger Betty Tang, 46, the president of the Chinese American Parents Association.

With all votes counted and two seats up for grabs, Pacheco was the lead vote-getter with 2,114 votes, Su had 2,095 votes and Tang trailed with 1,659. Write-in candidate Dino Jimmy Pollalis had 139 votes.

The Walnut City Council race could be one of the most expensive in San Gabriel Valley history, with three of the four candidates spending $275,000, campaign records show.

A boatload of campaign dollars from across Southern California fueled a flurry of negative campaigning in the form of attack mailers and nasty emails.

Read more in Steve Scauzillo’s story ELECTION.

Assembly Republican leader apologizes for her involvement in Walnut City Council race

By Staff Writer Steve Scauzillo

The leader of the Republican Party in the state Assembly said her $5,000 contribution to a political action committee opposed to City Council candidate Mary Su was a mistake, according to Assemblyman Curt Hagman.

Assemblywoman Connie Conway, R-Visalia, who is running for state Senate, apologized to Su on Saturday after this news organization revealed Conway was one of only two contributors to the Long Beach-based Taxpayers For Quality Education, Su said.

Conway told Su and fellow Republicans in Sacramento that she thought the money would be used to fight SCA 5, a constitutional amendment that would reinstate affirmative action in public universities, according to Su and Hagman, R-Chino Hills.

“I know Connie. I talked to her and asked her straight up. She thought it was for another purpose,” Hagman said Monday during an exclusive interview. “She thought it was to oppose SCA 5.”

SCA 5 is a measure authored by West Covina Democrat state Sen. Ed Hernandez that would return affirmative action to school admission decisions. While the bill initially sailed through the state Senate, it faced opposition from more conservative Asian-American groups who feared its return would displace Chinese-American students.

Conway did not return several calls and messages Monday left on her cellphone.

Read more in SORRY

Los Altos Elementary plants Seeds of Change in Hacienda Heights

You’ve heard of home makeovers. Los Altos Elementary needs a garden makeover.

To raise the money it needs, the Hacienda Heights school asks everyone to vote for them to get a Seeds of Change grant at www.seedsofchangegrant.com.

The organic seed company based in Rancho Dominguez donates 1 percent of its net sales toward sustainable organic farming initiatives worldwide.

This year, it is awarding $190,000 to community and school gardens. Two groups will get $20,000 grants, while 15 others will get $10,000 each.

“One of our teachers is a gardener, and she heard about the program that promotes sustainable gardening,” explained Principal Rosalie Sinapi.

Los Altos built its school garden almost seven years ago. Over the years, it has had its ups and downs as garden volunteers come and go.

But a couple of years ago, the garden literally went to seed. Soon, it was choked with untended plants growing wild.

“It looked like a jungle, so my son and I got out our weed whacker to cut down the waist-high brush,” Sinapi said.

And volunteers from Sam’s Club helped rip out the tangled roots. But the damage was done. Staff and students are finding it a tough row to hoe as they try to restore their garden.

“We paid $2,000 last year to put in a new water line, but it’s taking a lot of time and money to fix our garden,” the administrator said.

That’s why the Hacienda Heights school hopes it can win one of the Seeds of Change grants. In its grant application, instructors noted they would like to use a new garden to teach kids and families about healthy eating.

Read more in GARDEN.