Staff at the Mercy House recently celebrated Mother's Day by pampering the women and children served in their Transitional Living shelter as well as at its Walk-in center.

In an effort to provide help to these families in need, Mercy House held a Mother's Day drive from April 21 through May 5.

Water's Edge Christian Fellowship, The Rancho Cucamonga Kiwanis Club and The Baldy View Soroptimists donated basic necessities like toothbrushes and paste, shampoo, lotion, hair brushes and soap as well as those crucial baby items like diapers, wipes, formula and food. The Soroptimists donated professional attire for the woman.

On May 12, members of Mercy House staff held a pampering event at their Assisi House Transitional Living Shelter.

Three stylists from Trendsetters Salon in Rancho Cucamonga offered haircuts and styles, simple manicures and hair care products. More than 15 of the residents participated in the event.

"I am blown away by how kind and giving people are when they're aware of the situation. The people that live here are trying hard to change their lives, and the smallest kindness shown to them is appreciated and means so much," said Gale Manor the Program Manager at Mercy House's Assisi House.

For more information or to volunteer with Mercy House, visit www.mercyhouse.net.

After a year of learning, Ontario-Montclair School District parents were honored by the District Board of Trustees and administration for their achievements and successes.

More than 100 parents attended an awards ceremony and pot luck on May 11 at the Linda Vista Parent Educational Campus. 

Parents were recognized for their year-long commitment to attending classes in mathematics, English, computers, and socio-emotional adaptability. With these classes, the district is opening new doors for parents and bringing parent involvement in their children's education to a higher level of commitment.

Although the center will be closed during the summer months, the district is working on other partnering opportunities to bring a higher diversity of workshops and classes for this coming 2012-2013 academic year.

Registrations will begin on August 1st.

--Courtesy of OMSD

Memorial Day events on Monday will feature the annual Memorial Day Service at Bellevue Cemetery, beginning at 10 a.m, which will include patriotic music, uplifting messages, a flyover by the Ontario Police Department, and a gun salute, bringing our community a day of remembrance, honor, and respect for our veterans.

This will be followed by a cookout at American Legion Post 112, featuring hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and Gott's signature beans, from noon to 2 p.m., with televised sports on three screens throughout the day. Suggested donation for lunch is $6.

The post will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come join in the camaraderie and share your memories of loved ones who served in the armed forces.

San Bernardino County area families are invited to attend a series of free Alzheimer's Care training workshops that will be offered on Wednesdays now through June 13. Each session will begin at 10 a.m. at Kaiser Ontario Medical Center, 2295 S. Vineyard Ave. in Medical Office Building A-1A.

To reserve a spot, call 909-609-3737.

Coffee lovers rejoice, you can not only enjoy a cup of joe but remember military servicemen and women this Memorial Day.

For every bag of All Out Attack blend purchased, Klatch Coffee will donate a bag to support overseas pilots and crewmen.

Klatch Coffee is at 951 N. Haven Ave., Ontario. For more information, call 909-945-3500.

Joyce Okazaki of the Manzanar Committee which organizes the yearly pilgrimages to the Manzanar National Historic Site near Lone Pine will speak at the Ovitt Family Community Library on May 31 at 6 p.m.

Okazaki will recount her experience of the Japanese American incarceration experience during World War II. She was sent to Manzanar as a child with her family, along with 120,000 others who had their civil liberties taken away because of their ethnicity.

Joyce will describe attitudes in the 1940s, daily life in the camps, and the effect camp life had on families. The library is at 215 E. C St. This event is free and open to all ages.

For information, call 909-395-2221.

Christian Youth Athletic Association will be taking sign-ups for the upcoming volleyball season.

Girls in kindergarten through eighth grade are eligible to participate. Practices will begin in September and the games will be played September through November.

All games are played on Saturdays at Ontario Christian High School. Sign-ups will be held this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Ontario High School, 901 W. Francis St., Ontario.

The registration fee is $85. For more details, call 909-331-0775, email<QA0>

kathyhack@cyaa.org or visit www.cyaa.org.

Cub Scout Pack 306 is having a car wash Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

It is being held at First United Methodist Church at 918 N. Euclid Ave. in Ontario.

The cost is $5 exterior only.

The RSVP Institute of Etiquette is now offering ongoing, coed youth courses in basic and advanced manners at the historic Graber Olive House, beginning Sunday.

The three, 2-hour classes are $85 per student and with a family discount, siblings pay only half price $42.50.

The fee covers all instruction, foods and handouts. Classes are from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

On June 24, RSVP will hold a bonus class for anyone who has had to miss a day of class. All are welcome to attend, if they have missed or not.

The classes focus on several key skills as well as table manners. Also discussed in the sessions will be tricks to developing good eye contact, great posture and grooming habits.

Graber Olive House is at 315 E. Fourth St., Ontario.

To enroll a student in RSVP Institute, call 909-923-5650.

I had the honor (albeit also nerve wracking) of speaking to the Ontario Kiwanis Noon Club last Friday about my short career in journalism and the paper.

I had been asked by Kiwanis member Rita Nelsen weeks ago to speak to the group and, if you know Rita, there's no way you can tell her no. I agreed, despite my fear of public speaking and secretly hoped that she would forget.

When I arrived at the YMCA in downtown last Friday I realized this was my first time meeting several members of the organization. Within minutes the group, including some familiar faces -- Ontario councilwomen Sheila Mautz and Debra Dorst-Porada -- made me feel right at home.

While I was at the meeting I was reminded that planning is already under way for the 55th annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast on June 2 on Euclid Avenue at "C" Street 6:30 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $4 pre-sale and $5 at event.

Good luck to the Ontario 12-and-under Fastpitch Allstars, who will be playing their first tournament in Norco tomorrow. Thanks to Rob Branson, who refers himself as the "first aid coach" for the team, for sharing the news.

The team members are Alyssa Mercado, Alyssa Porraz, Cynthia Arzate, Victoria Ramos, Toni Gonzalez, Cynthia Barba, Melanie Barba, Valerie Coronado, Marty Lara, Evanie Espinosa and Lorena Laiga.

It may sound like an odd combination for an event -- animals and gourmet food trucks -- but organizers are hoping pet-lovers will flock to the Ontario Convention Center on Saturday to check out its pet expo.

The Fido, Friends & Food Truck Festival, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will feature everything from lobster to Hawaiian and Cuban cuisine.

If that isn't enticing, it's the first free food truck event hosted in the Inland Empire.

The expo brings together pet-friendly entertainment, products and services, and pet adoptions. Celebrity pet expert Harrison Forbes will be on hand throughout the day.

Entertainment will be planned throughout the day, including performances by the Splash Dogs, police-dog demonstrations, llamas, Reading Education Assistance Dogs for children, and more.

Admission and parking are free but a $5 donation is suggested. All net proceeds will benefit area animal shelters. The event is sponsored by John Elway's Crown Toyota and the Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Way.

Visit www.iepetshow.com for details or call 909-937-3000.

Ontario's Bumstead Bicycles has been named one of the recipients of the 2012 Small Business of the Year awarded by state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod. The 12 local businesses will be honored at an awards luncheon in Ontario on Friday.