Results tagged “Chino” from Chino Valley Now
The Chino Valley Unified School District Science Fair will be held Feb. 23 to the 25 at Liberty Elementary School, 2730 S. Bon View Ave., Ontario.
School site competitions will have been held to determine which projects will advance to the district event. This year, eighteen schools are expected to send representatives from grades 4-12 to compete.
Volunteers are needed to judge the projects, no science background or experience is needed. Judges will interview the children about their projects using predetermined criteria.
For more information or to sign up to judge student projects, contact John Lynde at (909) 628-1201, ext 1590.
The city of Chino will consider on Tuesday an agreement with Upland for the purchase and sale of water.
Drought conditions are highlighting the need for emergency water supply plans in the event of a shortage.
Water would be available for purchase by Chino from Upland only when Upland has available supplies of water, according to terms described in an agreement between the two cities at a current rate of about $771 per acre-foot.
The construction of piping between the water systems of Upland and Chino via the Water Facilities Authority, would be accomplished by Chino Water Utility personnel.
The city's water supply is presently comprised of surface water imported by the Metropolitan Water District//Inland Empire Utility Agency and processed by the WFA, local groundwater produced by city owned facilities, local groundwater producted by the Chino Desalter Authority and recycled water supplied by the IEUA.
As part of its ongoing water supply planning, the city is considering additional connections that may be used in special circumstances.
Chino Valley Independent Fire District firefighters early Wednesday morning responded to a hay fire at the Vander Eyk Dairy Farm, 17450 Hellman Ave., Chino.
Firefighters arrived on scene at about 3:50 a.m. to find a barn, 900 tons of hay and three commercial farm vehicles fully involved.
The original call came in as a structure fire in Riverside County. Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department responded on scene with four engines. When the area was identified to be within the Chino Valley district, four district engines, one truck, one water tender and one battalion chief responded.
The dollar loss of the U-shaped barn is $150,000 and the content loss, including the three vehicles, is $600,000. Chino Valley Fire District firefighters were able to save another barn valued at $50,000.
Firefighters also extinguished a small spot of fire in another hay barn on the south. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The fire department on Thursday continued to monitor the hay fire, which by then had 70 percent burned.
Superintendent Edmond Heatley said dealing with the school district's deficit projection as "something I would not wish on my worst enemy."
The Chino Valley Unified School District superintendent on Tuesday addressed concerns about a looming $50 million three-year budget crisis at an after-school meeting at Magnolia Junior High School.
Fifty parents and staff pressed Heatley for information about possible cuts.
"I guess the biggest fear I have right now is losing some really qualified teachers that my children have," parent Susan Fekete said.
Cost-saving measures that were discussed at the meeting include laying off teachers and employees as well as holding high school graduations at the Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario.
"Let me say holistically, everything is on the table, and there's a possibility there will be less people in the Chino Valley family tomorrow then there are today," Heatley said.
"So yes, layoffs are possible, but we're doing everything in our power to minimize this."
Another possibility to save costs involves installing artificial turf in the district's high school stadiums at stadiums at Chino, Chino Hills and Ayala high schools to reduce maintenance costs.
Considering the current economic crisis, Fekete said it wasn't the time to spend money on turf.
The turf project may cost about $1 million per school with funds coming from Measure M, a bond issue whose money can only by used for school improvement work, and developer fees for the turf proposed at Chino Hills High School.
The turf would save on maintenance costs and "as more schools throughout the area move to it, we need to stay competitive," district spokeswoman Julie Gobin said.
Still, Fekete said, "I feel that there are upgrades needed on the school sites; tech upgrades need to be accomplished first."
Parents opposed to the project -- which is expected to be considered by the Board of Education in April -- cited concerns about increased heat from turf, maintenance costs, burn injuries and a fear that graduations would not be held at schools in order to avoid turf damage.
"I have the sense that the money can be used in a better way," parent Sally Santoya said about the turf plan. "I think we're rushed into something they haven't really looked into."
Santoya said the Ontario arena graduation plan could pose problems for families.
"I have a senior and I'm concerned how to get the kids up there," she said. "Some parents at our school don't all have cars ... It might be a hardship to get up there."
A parent asked if the turf was the reason why graduations would be held at the Ontario arena. Heatley said it was not, but added "because we have this opportunity, the turf will have the opportunity to go in."
"It's also cheaper to rent the facility," Heatley said. "A lot of things come with the facility, with the audio-visual equipment, the staff, the location, the parking, easier ingress and exit. So there's other reasons to do it, but it's not being done because of turf."
Gobin said the venue will help with seating capacity for graduation guests.
Graduation on June 10 for Chino Hills High will be at 3 p.m. while Chino High's ceremony will be at 7 p.m.
On June 11, Ayala High graduates at 4 p.m. and Don Lugo High School will be at 8 p.m.
Chino resident and Coca-Cola employee Eva Zermeno is currently in Boise, Idaho, volunteering at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, which runs though Feb. 14.
Eva was one of twenty employees of The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partner Coca-Cola Enterprises, selected to serve as volunteers at the World Winter Games. She was chosen through a national contest that drew more than 300 applications asking each to write a short essay how they "Live Positively" and participate in community volunteer work.
As part of the volunteering experience, Eva will help to organize sport activities, provide refreshment to athletes, greet athletes and help to serve dinner to the athletes.
An attorney for the family of a Rubidoux man shot to death by a Chino police officer on Sunday night said the shooting was intentional.
Mark Algorri, a Pasadena attorney speaking on behalf of the family of Daniel Balandran, anticipates filing a wrongful death claim with the city after his firm's investigation is complete.
Balandran was a bystander when he was shot and killed by the police officer who apparently thought he was involved in a robbery at the Papa John's shop at 12615 Central Ave.
"I have been in discussion with the attorney representing the city of Chino and I expect, in this case, that we will expect reasonable cooperation from the city of Chino," Algorri said.
He said it was too early to respond to questions regarding a settlement with the city.
On Friday, Balandran's family, still grieving over the loss, stood silently with Algorri at a news conference.
"To them, it will always remain a completely senseless shooting and death and it is something, needless to say, they will never get over," Algorri said.
As Algorri spoke about the shooting death, an emotional Ariceli Millan, Balandran's fiancee, held their four-month-old infant Manuel Balandran in her arms while Balandran's 5-year-old daughter listened.
"This was not a young man caught in a crossfire," Algorri said. "Daniel was shot intentionally, it turns out, by the Chino Police Department, quite a distance from where the actual robbery was taking place and what we know, and our investigation has just begun, is that he was shot in a face-to-face confrontation.
"He was not given a warning, not told to put his hands up, and not told to lie on the ground. And that is really what we have at this point in time."
On Sunday night, Balandran went to Chino to visit a local skate park with a friend and later ordered from a McDonald's drive-through.
Balandran and his friend parked their vehicle to eat, but left after hearing commotion from the robbery, Algorri said.
Balandran was shot just south of the pizza shop, Algorri said.
Chino Valley spokeswoman Michelle Van Der Linden confirmed that the city's attorney has been in discussions with Algorri's office, but she could not comment on the accuracy of his descriptions of the incident.
A Chino police officer wounded in the shootout is in stable condition at a hospital, Van Der Linden said.
On Friday, the robbery suspects -- Edward Cisneros, 28, of La Mirada, and Joel Anthony Jaquez, 28, of Hacienda Heights -- remained hospitalized at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.
Six police officers who responded to a fatal armed robbery at Papa John's Pizza on Sunday night were placed on administrative leave, city officials said Wednesday.
The action follows department policy for officers involved in shootings or serious accidents.
Sunday's incident between police and two suspects resulted in the death of bystander Daniel Balandran, a 24-year-old Rubidoux man, who was shot by an officer responding to the incident.
City administrative policy stated the leave should continue unless Police Chief Stan Stewart orders otherwise.
"The purpose of an administrative leave is to help the member adjust and handle any personal or emotional needs resulting from traumatic events such as an officer-involved shooting or a serious injury traffic collision," according to a city statement.
Stewart addressed the incident at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.
"Very tragically, during this exchange of gunfire, a person believed to be a third suspect was shot by one of our officers," Stewart said. "This never would have occurred if not for the actions of suspects (Edward) Cisneros and (Joel) Jaquez."
He added, "In my nearly 30 years of service with the Chino Police Department, this is, without question, one of the most significant and challenging calls to duty that I have ever seen. These officers and our citizens were clearly put in harm's way. Their job is extremely tough, and they strive to provide the best possible services to this community."
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating both the robbery and whether there was any wrongdoing in Balandran's death, said Chino spokeswoman Michelle Van Der Linden.
A report will be made available to the District Attorney's Office to consider whether to file any criminal charges. It was unclear when the sheriff's report would be completed, Van Der Linden said.
Three people, including a Chino police officer, were injured in the robbery. The officer, who was among those placed on administrative leave, is expected to survive, while Cisneros, of La Mirada, and Jaquez, of Hacienda Heights, were being treated for serious wounds at a hospital.
The investigation into the death of a bystander during a Sunday night shootout between police and suspected armed robbers continues, while a Rubidoux woman grieves over the loss of the father of her children.
Ariceli Millan, who was contacted Tuesday at the home of shooting victim Daniel Balandran, said she spent Monday in Balandran's room where she said wall posters had celebrated her boyfriend's love of skating and car racing.
"This can't be happening; this is a nightmare," Millan said she remembered thinking when police came with Balandran's best friend Carlos at 3 a.m. Monday morning to inform her that her boyfriend had been shot dead in the parking lot near Papa John's where police had responded to a robbery report.
Millan said Balandran's friend hugged her when they met Monday morning at the home.
"Automatically, I knew, 'Oh my God'," said Millan, who had been with Balandran since 2002 after they met through a Yahoo social networking service over the Internet.
Millan said Balandran and his friend had gone to Chino on Sunday night to visit a local skatepark. She described Balandran as a long-time avid inline-skater and drift-car racing enthusiast. She said Balandran had recently entered in racing competitions had been excited about that.
"Daniel is the type of person who loved adventures, he loved going to skate parks," Millan said of the father of her children, a five-uear old and a four-month-old. "He knows everything. This guy knows how to play piano. He's an open minded person."
Millan said Balandran and his friend had ordered at the drive-through at McDonalds, and had parked to eat before the shooting started.
Two neighbors who live close to the crime scene, say they remember seeing Balandran's handcuffed body on the ground, exposed over Sunday night and Monday morning, near the south side of Papa John's on Central Avenue.
Millan said on Tuesday funeral plans for Balandran are still being discussed.
Other family members and friends at or near Balandran's home in Rubidoux, said they had no comment for reporters but did say the family was discussing the matter with an attorney.
Three others, including a police officer, were injured during the incident.
Chino spokeswoman Michelle Van Der Linden said the police officer who was injured in the shootout is still recovering in a hospital in stable condition.
Robbery suspects Edward Cisneros, 28, of La Mirada, and Joel Anthony Jaquez, 28, of Hacienda Heights, remained hospitalized with critical injuries Tuesday.Jaquez's grandfather Celedonio Trujillo, who lives near La Puente, said on Tuesday the family doesn't know where his grandson is or if he's still alive.
"We don't know anything."
Trujillo said Jaquez is on parole for a charge related to car theft. He added the fmily has hired an attorney.
"I understand the seriousness of this for all the families," Trujillo said. "I don't want sympathy. I just want to know what's going on."
A woman was killed early Monday in a two car traffic collision near Central and Eucalyptus Avenues.
The initial investigation conducted by the Chino Police Department revealed that Ma De Luurdes Medina-Lopez, 46, of Corona was traveling northbound at approximately 5:50 am in a green Honda Accord when she attempted to make a left turn heading westbound on Eucalyptus Avenue. Joseph Orozco, 27, of Chino was driving a white Ford F-150 southbound on Central Avenue and struck the Honda broadside in the intersection.
Medina-Lopez sustained life threatening injuries and was transported via air ambulance to Arrowhead Hospital and at about 7:30 a.m. this morning, she died as a result of her injuries.
One man was killed and three others - including a police officer - were wounded Sunday night when a barrage of gunfire erupted after an attempted pizza store robbery.
Daniel Baledran, 21, of Rubidoux was shot to death by a Chino police officer near the Papa John's Pizza located on Central Avenue in Chino.
Baledran, who is considered an "innocent victim" was in the immediate area of the restaurant when shots were fired, police said.
Police officers originally thought he was part of the robbery when he was shot at, Chino Public Information Officer Michelle Van Der Linden said. But investigators determined Baledran was not a part of any criminal activity.
Witnesses said they heard hundreds of gunshots during the crossfire and more than 100 yellow evidence markers, identifying bullet casing droppings, were scattered across the parking lot Monday morning.
A Chino police officer, whose name was not released, and two suspected robbers were shot about 10:15 p.m. near the Papa Johns Pizza at 12615 Central Ave. They were taken to local hospitals.
"This is a tragic event that is still under investigation, our deepest sympathy goes out to the Baledran family during this difficult time," said Chino Police Chief Stan Stewart in a released statement.
The officer is in stable condition but the two armed suspects are in critical condition.
On Monday evening, Van Der Linden said Edward Cisneros of La Mirada and Joel Anthony Jaquez of Hacienda Heights, both about 28 years old, were awaiting surgery.
The two attempted to rob the Papa John's Pizza restaurant and opened fire on police officers as they ran from the scene, Van Der Linden said. Officers returned fire and wounded both suspects.
"There's a lot of information still under investigation," Van Der Linden said, including Baledran's location before he was shot, the types of weapons used by the robbers, how many shots were fired and how many police officers were present.
Javier Lopez, 28, who lives just blocks from the pizza restaurant said he was home with his girlfriend when the the shooting battle began.
He said they heard initial gun shots, a quick break, then gunfire was returned.
"I thought someone was happy about the Steelers winning," he said. "But the exchange made me think, 'This is something bad here.'"
Van Der Linden said the shootout was "definitely not typical," for the residential area lined with businesses, banks, restaurants and coffee shops.
Linda Fair, a veterinary clinic assistant who works across the street from Papa John's, was working at the time of the shooting. Fair said she heard the loud, rapid gunfire of what seemed like hundreds of bullets for about 10 minutes.
Fearful, Fair said she stayed inside and saw and heard nothing else during the shooting.
Fair's description was not far off.
Broken glass, bullet casings, and blood on the sidewalk were a dramatic sight Monday morning for onlookers along Central, with police tape sectioning off three prominent business properties on the heavily traveled street south of Walnut Avenue.
Around 8:30 a.m. Monday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's coroner removed the dead body near the south side of Papa Johns.
Bullet holes and shattered glass exposed the interior of nearby Daniel's Home Center merchandise to the open air as well. In front of the furniture store, two piles of dark clothing and a pair of white shoes were placed near what appeared to be several pools of blood.
The pizza restaurant, the home store and a McDonald's restaurant were closed Monday for investigation. The northbound lanes of Central were also closed from Riverside Avenue to Jefferson Avenue.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department will handle the investigation, which is ongoing, officials said.
"This is standard procedure for the Sheriff's Department to handle the investigation in an officer-involved shooting," said Jodi Miller, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
This is the second fatal officer involved shooting for the Chino police department in a little more than a year.
On Jan. 6, 2008 Jose Arturo Garcia was shot dead inside Chino Rio Ranch Market, near the corner of Riverside Drive and Oaks Avenue, after he shot two women inside the grocery store. Garcia approached his ex-girlfriend's sister and shot her in the chest. He then walked to his ex-girlfriend, shot her in the arm, and walked her through the meat department.
Chino Police officers, Sgt. Rodney Lombard, and officers Nick Marotta and Nathan Messick, where awarded the city's medal of valor after they formed a three-man team to respond inside the store. Marotta fired two shots from his rifle at Garcia, who suffered a fatal wound to the head. The two women the incident survived.
The Chino Valley Unified School District will offer supplemental summer instruction for students interested in making up core academic credits or wanting to improve academic skills. The District will begin accepting Summer School registration applications for incoming 10-12th grade students beginning Feb. 16; and, incoming 7-9th grade students beginning April 20. Elementary students' parents will receive written notice if their child is recommended for supplemental summer instruction.
Applications will be available at school sites where students are currently enrolled on the first day of registration, Feb. 16th for current 9-12th grade; and, April 20th for current 6-8th grade. Applications must be returned to the student's school site and will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis by date and time received. However, priority will be given to: 1) seniors who need course credit to graduate; 2) students who have failed a course; or, 3) students who have less than a 2.0 GPA.
If space is still available after all students currently enrolled in CVUSD schools have registered, the remaining openings shall be offered to private school students residing within district boundaries.
The Chino Valley Unified School District Science Fair will be held Feb. 23 to the 25 at Liberty Elementary School, 2730 S. Bon View Ave., Ontario.
School site competitions will have been held to determine which projects will advance to the district event. This year, eighteen schools are expected to send representatives from grades 4-12 to compete.
Volunteers are needed to judge the projects, no science background or experience is needed. Judges will interview the children about their projects using predetermined criteria.
For more information or to sign up to judge student projects, contact John Lynde at (909) 628-1201, ext 1590.
In the past week, Chino Police responded to two separate burglary investigations where a male has knocked on the door of an elderly person's home and asked to speak with them in their backyard under a false pretense.
On one occasion, the male suspect told the victim he needed to take measurements of a wall in her backyard.
On the second, the suspect asked a female if she was selling a motor home located in her backyard. On both incidents, neither victim thought the contact was suspicious and escorted the suspect to the backyards of their residences.
While preoccupied, a second suspect entered the victim's homes and burglarized the residences while the homeowner was in the backyard.
Residents should use caution when someone unknown comes to their home uninvited, police said. If they claim to represent a company, police advise residents to ask for identification and attempt to confirm their employment. If you become suspicious about the person, do not let them enter your home and contact the police department immediately.
The primary suspect in these crimes is described as a Hispanic male about 25 to 30 years old. In both of these incidents, the victims reported the suspect vehicle as a silver full size pickup truck; possibly a full size Dodge Ram.
Anyone who witnesses suspicious circumstances similar to these incidents or has any additional information about these crimes is encouraged to contact the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.
The 7th Annual Run for Russ, a 5K Run and community walk benefiting the Russ Miller Memorial Foundation, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Start and finish is at the Chino Police Department, with registration at 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., and start at 8 a.m.. An application form is now available at the Chino Web site, www.cityofchino.org.
Chino Valley public safety personnel will host the Battle of the Badges Red Cross blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday.
The agencies will compete to see who can get the most blood donations at the Carolyn Owens Community Building, 13201 Central Ave.
Chino police, Chino Hills sheriff's station and the Chino Valley Independent Fire Agency invite the public to participate.
According to the American Red Cross, blood supplies typically run low during the winter.
The Red Cross in Southern California collects more than 400,000 blood donations yearly to help local patients.
The Chino Library features a story time for children every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Children's specialist Penny Korn reads several books and children participate in arts and crafts after the book readings.
"The kids just enjoy the storytime and the arts and crafts and because there are many low-income families in the area, it gives parents the opportunity to expose kids to books," she said.
Information: (909) 465-5280
The Chino City Council on Tuesday approved a zone change for 125 acres of land located at the northwest corner of Pine and Euclide Avenues from Agricultural-Transitional and Green Space to General Industrial. The action is a step in order for a developer to build an industrial park.
Peter Kavanos, the owner of a plant nursery near the property, opposes the project because of the pollution he says it will generate, and the adverse affect it would have on his business.
His attorney, Joseph Cardella, told council on Tuesday the draft environmental impact report on the project underestimates the amount of dust and truck exhaust pollution that will be generated by the project.
Project consultants said the project is compliant with regulatory requirements and the environmental impact report was created with sufficient information.
Parents expressed disappointment Tuesday after a newly elected school board member announced he was recusing himself from discussions about next fall's opening of the Preserve school.
James Na, who was elected to the board in November, accepted campaign contributions from Chino Development Corp., the school's developer.
The developer, a member of the Lewis Group of Cos., filed legal action against the Chino Valley Unified School District after board members in November voted that the school have open enrollment.
Lewis officials said the action went against a deal that indicated the school would open as a resident-only neighborhood school.
Several Preserve parents -- who attended a public-comment period to discuss the litigation prior to Tuesday's closed-session district meeting -- said they believed they had Na's support.
"So I have great sympathy with Preserve residents, but this is the announcement I have to make today," said Na, who declined further comment.
Randall Lewis, executive vice president of Lewis Operating Co., said he did not know exactly how much Na received from his company.
"It was probably a few thousand dollars," he said.
Lewis said he was surprised by the district's move to bar Na from discussions about the issue.
"It's not unusual in California that candidates get support, and we'd like to understand what the district policy is, and we'd like to make sure that the district policy is being applied fairly to all the board members, on all of the issues," Lewis said.
Mark Glaudini -- a Preserve parent in opposition to the district's decision for open enrollment -- said Na should be allowed to take part in the issue.
Glaudino in November unsuccessfully ran for a board seat.
"I'm kind of shocked at James Na not being able to take part when president (Sylvia) Orozco and (board member) Michael Calta both have children at the Briggs school and they're allowed to vote on the issue and that directly impacts their kids," Glaudini said.
"But because he accepted campaign contributions, then he can't have a vote or say on what's going on with the Preserve situation. I think that's ridiculous."
Lewis Group hopes to overturn the decision -- which transplants students in the K-8 Briggs Fundamental Elementary School about 10 miles away in the northwestern part of Chino to the Preserve community in southern Chino.
A number of Briggs parents had opposed the decision because of transportation and enrollment space issues.
Preserve parents and area residents said they were also worried about enrollment space, decreased property values as well as increased vehicule traffic that would come with the operation of an open-enrollment school.
"We have enough children that will attend the school," Preserve resident Sejal Gangula said. "As far as bringing in kids from another community, it lowers our property value because it's supposed to be a neighborhood school."
The New Hope Christian Fellowship church, 1333 Ramona Avenue, is holding it's second annual youth music event, called "The Rave," on Sunday Feb. 8.
Coordinators say a live band, DJ, jousting arena, prize wheel, shirts and cafe, are some of the attractions at this year's outreach event.
Information: (909) 702-3736, or visit: www.myspace.com/chinorave.
Chino Valley Independent Fire District Firefighters responded to a total of 21 calls for Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Among the calls was a Hazardous materials call on 5000 Shafer Avenue in Chino. Hazmat arrived to find a one gallon glass container 1/3 full of Dichloromethane.
It was found to be a toxic paint thinner. The container was clearly marked and had no signs of leakage. A private company was contacted to properly dispose of the chemical.
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