May 2009 Archives
The After-School Program and the Reeder Heritage Foundation will present the exhibit, "Coming to Montclair Story Night."
The event begins at 6 p.m. June 4 in the City Council chambers, 5111 Benito St., Montclair.
A presentation about the Reeder family will be made by scholar Dr. Matthew Garcia, who grew up in the area.
After the presentation, After-School Program students will share their family histories through a display of photography and narrative writings.
For the past 12 weeks, the students learned about their heritage through a program called "Discovering Montclair's History & Future."
The program is a partnership between the city and the Reeder Heritage Foundation.
The city of Montclair will be holding its annual Family Fun Festival "Share & Care in Montclair."
The event will feature activities for all ages from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6 at Alma Hofman Park, or Shark Park, 5201 Benito St., Montclair.
For children there will be a performance by the Frisbee catching Disc Dogs, pony rides, and carnival rides and games.
Unlimited wristbands, good all day on 15 carnival rides and games, can be purchased for $5 each.
A variety of food vendors, including Tommy's Burgers and hot dogs cooked by the Montclair Fire Fighter's Association, will be available for purchase.
The event will also include a BMX demonstration, a DJ, performances by community performing groups and a live band, and commercial and non-profit vendors.
The event will also feature a skateboard competition for amateur skateboarders ages 7-18 years old from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Skaters will compete in five different categories: 7-18 year old girls, 7-9 year old boys, 10-12 year old boys, 13-15 year old boys and 16-18 year old boys.
There is a $5 entry fee and all safety gear is required.
Each category is limited to the first 20 skaters who register and all applications and release forms must be submitted by June 4.
Information on the skateboard contest: (909) 625-9467.
Event information: (909) 625-9479 or www.cityofmontclair.org
Here are a couple of cool things that happened this week in Montclair from the City Manager's report:
School Resource Officer David Vest recently spoke at Monte Vista Elementary School's Pride Assembly to motivate the students for the statewide STAR exams.
Vest spoke about "everyday heroes" and how individual test results impact them, their school, and their community.
The results of the Standardized Testing and Reporting or STAR exams will not be available until August 2009.
Vest received a huge "Thank You" card from the Monte Vista Elementary School faculty in appreciation of his motivating words to the students.
For the past 12 weeks, fourth grade students in the city's After-School Program participated in a dance instruction program.
El Camino, Monte Vista, and Montera Elementary schools learned ballet and hip-hop styles of dance through a program funded by the California Arts Council and the city.
The goal of the program is to introduce students and their parents to the artistic discipline of dance, and to cultivate their appreciation of the arts. The program culminated with student dance performances for parents, the After-School Program participants, and fellow students.
You can read the whole report for 5-21-09 by just CLICKING HERE!
The Montclair Community Action Committee will be sponsoring their annual Memorial Day program to honor all veterans.
The free ceremony begins at 6 p.m. May 25 at Memorial Garden, which is adjacent to City Hall, 5111 Benito St., Montclair.
The ceremony will feature the dedication of six new plaques on the Veterans' Memorial Wall, which pays tribute to deceased Montclair veterans whose families have purchased plaques on the wall.
In addition, the ceremony will also include patriotic music provided by the Montclair High School band and choir, guest speakers and refreshments.
The Montclair Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Montclair police officers and employees appreciation and recognition luncheon.
The luncheon will award recipients of Officer of the Year and Annual Achievement.
This year's event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 21 at the police station, 4870 Arrow Highway, Montclair.
Cost: $45 members, $50 non-members.
Seating is limited - reservations are required by May 19. No walk-ins.
Information: (909) 624-4569 or www.montclairchamber.com
The Reeder Heritage Foundation will host their first fundraiser for the preservation of Reeder Citrus Ranch.
The event will include wine, food and music beginning at 5:30 p.m. May 23 at 4405 W. Holt Blvd., Montclair.
When Hazel Reeder died in 2004, she left the century-old property to the George C. and Hazel H. Reeder Heritage Foundation, which was established in 2003 to preserve the property and eventually open it to the public for educational purposes.
The Reeder homestead originally was 10 acres, stretching from what is now Holt Boulevard south to the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way. The property included 50 navel orange trees and a couple of avocado trees.
What remains is a little more than 2 acres and 39 orange trees. The home and barn still stand.
The fundraiser is in partnership with the Soroptimist International of Montclair/Inland Valley.
Cost: $25 or 10 for $200.
Information: (909) 717-8221.
The Montclair Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Montclair police officers and employees appreciation and recognition luncheon.
Seating is limited - reservations are required by May 19. No walk-ins.
The luncheon will award recipients of Officer of the Year and Annual Achievement.
This year's event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 21 at the police station, 4870 Arrow Highway, Montclair.
Cost: $45 members, $50 non-members.
Seating is limited - reservations are required by May 19. No walk-ins.
Information: (909) 624-4569 or
Best Buy in Montclair will host a Mother's Day celebration.
The first 50 mom's will recieve a free gift bag and the first 120 mom will receive free carnations.
The event begins at noon May 9 at Best Buy, 8960 Central Ave., Montclair.
Best Buy will also offer free gift wrap from 2-4 p.m and free picture with mom from noon to 4 p.m.
There will also be a free Mariachi Grullense from 2-4p.m., Jafra cosmetics from noon to 4 p.m., Tacos Torreon from noon to 5 p.m. and free raffle tickets to every mom.
Information: (909) 621-7156.
The Montclair Mini-School celebrated Safety Awareness Month in April.
Classes were visited by members of the Montclair Fire Department who showed the tiny tots what to do in the case of a fire.
They also taught the children about the importance of smoke detectors and how to "stop, drop, and roll." The children really enjoyed checking out the Fire Engine and the tools that are used to put out fires.
Police Officer Dave Vest also visited the students and very seriously discussed "stranger danger."
He gave lessons on what to do if approached by a stranger, and he demonstrated the lights and sirens on the Police car.
Last week the children practiced how to stop, drop, and roll; and when they completed the drill, they received a special badge. They also learned what to do in the case of an earthquake.
The Montclair Senior Citizens Club and the Montclair-Ontario Junior Women's Club will sponsor a Bunco Bash fundraiser to benefit the Montclair Medical Clinic/
The event is from 7 to 9 p.m. May 15 at the Community Center, 5111 Benito St., Montclair.
Advance-sale tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the Senior Citizens office or by calling Program Aide Martha Medina, (909) 625-9456, ext. 456.
Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door; however, tickets purchased in advance are eligible for a special door prize.
At Monday night's City Council meeting, the Montclair-Ontario Junior Women's Club presented a $1,000 check as a donation to the Montclair Medical Clinic. The check was accepted by the members of the City Council.
Just an FYI, at Monday's city council meeting Mayor Paul Eaton was absent because he had surgery in his neck last Friday.
During the city council meeting, members of the board wished him a speedy recovery and had a card to sign at the end.
The mayor is expect to return in a week.
I'll keep you posted if anything else changes.
City creates action plan to deal with swine flu
This week Montclair Hospital Medical Center held a meeting regarding action plans for dealing with possible Swine Flu patients in the city.
Representing the city were Fire Chief Troy Ament, Division Chief Layne Shiba, Administrative Officer Mike Donley, Personnel Officer Gary Charleston, and Assistant Director of Human Services Marcia Richter.
Attendees were updated with the latest information released by the County Department of Public Health.
Hospital and city staff exchanged information and concerns related to treating potentially infected citizens, as well as outreach information to calm unnecessary panic.
The meeting was beneficial for both groups and provided a good exchange of information that will assist everyone, should the illness become pandemic.
Firefighters practice saving lives
This week Montclair Firefighters instructed Fire Suppression crews on rooftop ventilation, which is the practice of making openings in the roof of a building to allow super-heated gases and toxic smoke to escape.
This vital task enables firefighters to rescue trapped victims and extinguish fires.
Due to the dangerous nature of this task, firefighters must study building construction, tools, and access for all types of buildings, including residential and commercial.
Training consisted of a classroom presentation and a manipulative exercise at the drill tower, utilizing chain saws and other tools to make ventilation holes in the three roof props used in this training.
Park gets recycled water
This week Monte Vista Water District crews completed the water meter conversion from potable to recycled water at Saratoga Park.
City crews had made the necessary alterations to the existing irrigation system last October in anticipation of this connection.
Signs to inform visitors the park is now irrigated with recycled water were placed at entrances and key locations within the park.
Saratoga is the second park site to start using recycled water for landscape irrigation purposes. Last July, the Chino Basin Water Conservation District began using recycled water to irrigate turf areas and the demonstration garden.
On April 22 the Monte Vista Water District Board of Directors declared a Stage II water supply shortage due to continuing drought conditions and restrictions in imported water deliveries to the area.
The district is seeking a 10 percent to 15 percent reduction in water demand and has indicated the following water uses are prohibited:
- Watering landscapes during daytime hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Exceptions: Hand-watering, drip irrigation, new grass or plants, system maintenance, nurseries
- Excessive runoff from landscape irrigation
- Hosing or washing paved surfaces, including sidewalks, driveways, patios, parking areas
- Failure to repair leaks within 48 hours
- Washing motor vehicles without using a hand-held bucket and hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle
- Serving water at restaurants unless requested to do so
- Using decorative water features unless water is recycled
Penalties for violations consist of two written notices; a $50 fine for the third violation; a $100 fine for the fourth violation; and a $150 fine and a flow restrictor for the fifth violation.
To comply with restrictions, all watering times on irrigation controllers for City facilities, parks, parkways, and median islands have been reduced by ten percent.
This reduction in water usage will have a slightly negative effect on the appearance of some landscaped areas, especially turf in median islands and at city facilities.
