September 2010 Archives
Our local Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court 1387 will be holding a yard sale on Saturday, October 2 from 8-1 at Our Lady of Lourdes parking lot at the corner of Central and Orchard. The yard sale will benefit local charities. If you have any questions, please call 909-944-0231.
Court #1387 was established 65 years ago in Ontario and has member throughout the area. The court meets the third Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at U.S Bank, 333 N. Euclid Ave. Ontario.
Parishioners and friends of a Catholic priest accused of molesting two teen brothers have created a group to help prove his innocence.
Prayer vigils and marches are just two of the ways the Coalition to Exonerate Father Alex is showing its support for the Rev. Alex Castillo of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, who is facing accusations of sexual misconduct.
He was removed from active duty in late June and is not allowed to interact with parishioners.
"We want us to be the voice for him and to show support," said Ted Campos, a longtime friend. "Let the community know how much he is loved and how he has impacted the community here."
The Diocese of San Bernardino was contacted June 24 by the boys' parents and told of the alleged abuse. Castillo maintains his innocence. He has not been charged with a crime.
Continue reading Support offered for accused Ontario priest.
Every year, the City Council sets aside more than half a million dollars from its general fund toward Ontario-Montclair School District programs.
Yet, Councilman Alan Wapner said, officials with the OMSD have yet to acknowledge it.
"I don't think they know how much funding we're providing, and we don't get the credit," he said.
To that end, Councilwoman Debra Dorst-Porada, a former school board member, has requested that city staff compile a report detailing exactly how much is given to the school district.
Dorst-Porada hopes it will lead to a better understanding between the two parties and spark action from the school district -- especially since no one knows what financial trouble next year could bring.
Continue reading Ontario Councilman suggests school district pay for crossing guards.
Disney's "Camp Rock, the Musical" was only supposed to have a two-week run at Chaffey High School.
But that changed when Disney executives attended one of the final performances.
Now, they want an encore.
Impressed with the quality of the first-ever pilot stage production, Disney waived any licensing costs associated with the musical, opening the door for a December revival in Ontario.
The return of the musical is good news to the show's producer, Dave Masterson, who was on the verge of losing thousands of dollars because Disney had not allowed him to advertise the summer production.
"We knew, with school not in session, our target audience of 3,500 students, we wouldn't be able to get to," Masterson said. "We had to rely on ticket sales to cover the costs. Not having our target audience was disastrous."
The musical is a hybrid of the first "Camp Rock" movie and the second movie, "Camp Rock 2," which premiered on the Disney Channel this month.
The same musical was put on at a handful of other locations in the United States, but Disney requested permission to use Chaffey High's stage version for promotion on the Disney Channel.
On Aug. 6, crew members from "Disney 365," a television segment that airs between shows on the Disney Channel, were filming the Ontario production.
Masterson said he was told that 150 half-minute segments from that production are airing on Disney Channel this month.
That was also the same night Disney executives were in town to watch the show.
Continue reading Ontario's production of Camp Rock to return in December.
The Ontario Woman's Club is presenting Buncorama from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Masonic Center, 1025 N. Vine.
Profits raised at the event will help finance the club's philanthropic projects.
Cost is $10. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call 909-982-3460 or 909-9894-6645.
WellCheck, a recognized healthcare provider, will debut new pop-up flu defense clinics at the Ontario Mills starting this weekend.
The clinics feature licensed nurses administering the flu shot at the mall.
Educators will answer questions related to the flu.
The clinics will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and from 11 to 6 p.m. Sundays at the mall's food court.
Cost of the shots is $28.
Cash, credit and debit cards as well as Simon Mall gift cards are accepted.
Government-issued Medicare is also accepted with no out-of-pocket costs.
For customer convenience, check out www.wellcheck.com to reserve and pay for your flu shot in advance.
Walk-ins are also welcome.
VFW Post 11546 and West End Animal Shelter in Ontario are teaming up to host the Vets and Pets Charity Car Show fundraiser.
The free event on Oct. 30 aims to raise awareness of each organization's outreach, services and programs offered to the community.
The car show will be from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Flo's Airport Cafe at Chino Airport at Merrill and Euclid avenues.
Flo's will donate 15 percent back to the charities for each check that includes a car show sticker.
Car owners and groups from throughout the region are expected to participate.
Cesar Lerma and his 1940 Mercury, which recently appeared in a BlackBerry TV commercial, will make a guest appearance.
Cars from the 1920s to the 1980s -- including a 1940 Mercury, 1954 Studebaker, 1955 Chevrolet and 1957 Oval Back Window VW Bug -- will be at the show.
The community event will feature a Top 10 car awards as well as a doggie dress-up contest.
Free hand-knit doggie sweaters will be given on first-come basis. There will also be drawings, vendors and food.
Guests are encouraged to bring their dog, as long as it is behaved, is up-to-date on vaccinations and is on a leash at all times.
Classic and European car same-day registration and set-up is $15 and begins at 10 a.m.
For more information, send an e-mail to dr_rockett@ yahoo.com.
In light of the situation with the city of Bell, Councilman Jim Bowman has asked that the Ontario council members' wages be posted on the city's website.
Bowman, who made the request at Tuesday night's council meeting, said he felt the situation in Bell has cast a bad spell on service agencies in California.
"I would propose, in light of what is going on in Bell -- it's appalling, it's something none of us would condone -- to post our salaries online for public viewing," Bowman said.
His fellow council members agreed.
The City Council is on a fixed salary.
The mayor's current pay is $4,291.50 a month, and each council member is paid $1,406.25 per month.
But as members of the Housing Board and Redevelopment Agency, the council members are paid a stipend per meeting, which can not exceed four times a month. They get $30 per Redevelopment Agency meeting and $50 per Housing Board meeting.
The council members receive full coverage on vision and dental. They also have up to $820 a month for medical.
The scandal-plagued city of Bell mismanaged more than $50 million in bond money, levied illegal taxes and paid exorbitant salaries to its leaders, according to a state audit released Wednesday.
Continue reading Ontario councilman seeks full wage disclosure.
A car show to benefit the Ontario Elks Major Projects will be held on Oct 10.
It will be at 8:00 am until 3:00 pm. in the Elks parking lot on 1150 w 4th st. Ontario, Ca.
There will be Raffles, 50/50 drawing, Vendors, food and music. Any questions please give
Betty Schwartz a call at 909-984-6204.
Registrations forms can be picked up at the Elks Office
on 4th st. Ontario, Ca.
Our Major Project helps children with disabilites by furnishing transportation, teachers, physcial
theraphy and other help when needed.
We will have Pre 1975 Vehicles, Antique and Classic cars Motorcycles and Model T,s just
to name a few.
A priest accused by two brothers of sexual abuse did not violate church orders when he sent a letter asking the City Council to reject Arizona's immigration law, officials with the Diocese of San Bernardino said Wednesday.
The Rev. Alex Castillo of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church has been removed from active duty since late June and is not allowed to interact with parishioners.
But a letter dated July 26 written by Castillo, which started a local squabble over Arizona's immigration law, raised questions about a possible violation of the church's orders.
"The letter was written prior to us receiving the allegations and it wasn't sent until July," said John Andrews, spokesman for the diocese.
Andrews said the diocese will not investigate the matter of the letter any further.
Castillo is still pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe but has been "told not to be active in the ministry," Andrews said.
Continue reading Immigration letter by Ontario priest sparks questions.
Two women provided a glimpse Wednesday into how two multimillion-dollar medical projects could help rejuvenate the area.
Ontario Vineyard Medical Center and the expansion of Kaiser Permanente in Fontana were the focus of the monthly luncheon of the Inland Empire chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women in Ontario.
Leading the discussion were Theresa Ashby, Kaiser Permanente's transition director, and Chontelle Coerper, assistant transition director. The two women have been tasked with implementing the transition and start-up activities for the two hospitals.
"We're excited about what we are doing because we understand it is important to the community to build this hospital," Ashby said.
Continue reading Kaiser officials provide glimpse of new hospitals.
Three traffic signal projects are on hold after complaints from a bidder prompted the City Council to reject all of the bids for the work.
The decision came after the bid forms for three of the bidders were found to have been completed incorrectly, City Engineer Louis Abi-younes said.
"It doesn't happen often," Abi-younes said about rejecting the bids. "But this is federal money, and we want to make sure we meet and follow all the rules and regulations."
In June, the city started receiving bids for the construction of three traffic signals. The work will be funded by the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Safety Improvement Program, Abi-younes said.
A month later, five bids had been received.
Christopher Morales of San Dimas, who was the second-lowest bidder, wrote to Ontario officials that the low bidder, Bell Gardens-based CT & F, did not follow all of the federal guidelines.
"Bidders have to show a good faith effort to meet the goals of federal underutilized business enterprise," Abi-younes said. "We contacted FHA and we talked about it and determined (CT & F's bid) wasn't done right."
Federal Highway Administration staffers also determined that the second- and third-lowest bidders had also incorrectly filled out the forms, Abi-younes said.
The best solution was to reject all the bids, he said.
The city reopened the bidding process last week.
A contract should be awarded in a month, Abi-younes said.
In 2007, the city received money from the Federal Highway Administration for the installation of new traffic signals at the intersections of Vineyard Avenue and Francis Street as well as Grove Avenue at Princeton Street.
The city got additional funding in 2008 for the upgrade of an existing traffic signal at Grove Avenue and Sixth Street.
So-called pirate limo and taxi drivers had better avoid L.A./Ontario International Airport if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a bill recently approved by the Legislature.
Assembly Bill 1885, by Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, increases penalties for drivers who attempt to illegally solicit passengers at ONT as well as San Francisco International Airport.
The bill increases the punishment from an infraction to a misdemeanor. The drivers could spend up to six months in jail, receive a $1,000 fine or both.
Pirate drivers "put the traveling public in harm's way and being taken advantage of in one way or another," Hill said.
The bill was written specifically for SFO, but ONT was included because the two airports share similar, unusual circumstances.
Ontario International is in San Bernardino County, but is run by the city of Los Angeles. SFO is in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County and operated by the city of San Francisco.
"We had jurisdictional problems because the SFO police is the entity enforcing the laws at San Mateo County," Hill said. "It created a unique situation and did not allow police to do more than just cite these rogue drivers."
Ontario International, which doesn't have too much of an issue with the rogue drivers, will be able to increase its enforcement abilities, Hill said.
Schwarzenegger has until Sept. 30 to sign the bill. If he does, it would go into effect Jan. 1.
"I'm hoping it (passes)," Hill said. "We've made the case, it's certainly a problem at SFO and it's a public safety issue."
RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- Advocates urged the West End Gangs and Drug Task Force on Monday to take a broader, comprehensive approach to combat increased youth substance abuse and gang violence in San Bernardino County.
"We need to take the next step. We need to get to the root of the causes, how the economic causes are a factor and look at youth development as solutions," said Diana Fox, executive director for Upland-based Reach Out.
The strategic planning session Monday comes when gang membership in the county has soared 47 percent in the past three years.
Continue reading Gangs and drugs task force set goals for the next year .
The West End Gangs and Drugs Task Force will host a strategic-planning session to reevaluate the needs of the community and develop policy strategies to address substance abuse and gang violence in the West End of San Bernardino County.
The task force, which typically meets in Ontario, will<NO1><NO> meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at Central Park in Rancho Cucamonga.
Last year's strategic planning session identified several goals, which included hosting an Alcohol Policy Conference, passing several social host ordinances and establishing a drug court in the West End.
The task force has prompted the need for additional community input and to identify relevant community- and policy-driven goals.
For more information, call 909-982-8641.
The Ontario Police Department is offering a program for parents of "more difficult children" starting Oct. 6.
The Loving Solutions program aims to help parents who have learned and practiced good communication with their children, but still have not seen a positive behavioral change.
The children have to be from 5 to 10 years old.
Sessions will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Nov. 17 at the Police Department, 2500 S. Archibald Ave.
The program is $20 per family, which covers materials.
Child care is not available.
For more information, call 909-395-2094.
An Inland Empire job fair will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Hilton Ontario Airport Hotel.
Career experts will review resumes for free.
The hotel is at 700 N. Haven Ave.
Lowe's in Ontario aims to make residents more aware of fire prevention and home safety at a Sept. 25 community event called "Safety Saturday."
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the store at 2390 S. Grove Ave. will partner with other businesses and organizations in the community to provide free safety materials and take-home activities.
Customers can also participate in Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic, which will feature a fire truck kit for kids to build.
For more information, call 909-969-9053.
Ontario Mills mall on Saturday will host a free, interactive, back-to-school fashion experience that will offer teenagers the opportunity to learn what's hot in the world of fashion, hair and make-up from professionals.
Experts will provide the teens with personal skin care and make-up consultations, hair-styling sessions and other fashion advice to maximize each teen's individual look and style. Teens will also receive a variety of free product samplings, while supplies last.
The fashion event will be from 1 to 7 p.m. at the food court in the mall.
Also at the mall, Radio Disney on Oct. 3 will host the Disney Channel's popular "3 Minute Game Show." From 1 to 3 p.m., players, composed of boys and girls up to 16 years old and their parents, will test their Disney Channel knowledge.
Players will be randomly selected from interested shoppers.
The Radio Disney road crew will also be on hand to provide music, games and prizes, including $50 Disney Gift Cards.
The Mellowdears will hold a concert, "Welcome to our World," at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Ontario Fire Church of the Nazarene, 1311 W. Fifth St.
The free one-hour concert is open to the public.
The Mellowdears' participants are at least 50 years old.
For more information, call 909-988-9983 or 909-563-0161.
In cooperation with Baldy View Regional Occupation Program, Ontario High School and the Career Institute, a free entry-level auto mechanics course is being offered to young adults who live in San Bernardino County and qualify for the program.
Students who have an interest in auto mechanics will be trained by ROP instructor George Root. He has more than 30 years of experience in the auto mechanics field.
Training is offered in suspension and steering, electrical/electronic systems, brakes as well as engine performance. Learning areas also include engine tune-up, tires, auto cooling and operation of special electronic testing equipment.
Students are each assigned a career mentor who will work with them individually on setting educational and career goals, job placement and life skills.
Students graduate with an ROP certificate in entry-level mechanics and will be equipped to find entry-level jobs in the auto mechanic field.
The Career Institute supplies students enrolled in the course with work boots, textbooks, curriculum materials and a starter tool kit. The Career Institute is a career, education and life planning company for young adults that has its Inland Valley location based out of Rancho Cucamonga at 10722 Arrow Route, suite 808.
Applicants for the program can apply at www.cinow.org. Space is limited.
Instruction days are from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at Ontario High School. 901 W. Francis St.
For more information, call 909-481-0270 or send an e-mail to janacareerinstitute@hotmail.com.
Continue reading Free entry-level auto mechanics class offered.
Two brothers have accused a priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church of sexual misconduct.
The Diocese of San Bernardino was contacted June 24 by the boys' parents and informed of the alleged abuse.
Father Alex Castillo maintains his innocence and has not been charged with a crime, said John Andrews, spokesman for the diocesan.
"The Diocese of San Bernardino has received information regarding credible allegations of sexual misconduct with minors involving Father Alex Castillo , a priest of our diocese," Andrews said.
Continue reading Brothers say Ontario priest abused them.
The city of Ontario is expected today to issue a proposal outlining how it intends to take control of LA/Ontario International Airport from the city of Los Angeles, officials said.
Details of how operations and maintenance of Ontario airport would be transferred were not immediately disclosed.
The Los Angeles City Council's Budget and Finance Committee on Monday delayed a discussion on the matter because officials were still waiting for a report from the city of Ontario.
Los Angeles World Airports has operated Ontario airport since 1967, but Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith in May ordered a study to determine whether the facility should be handed back to the city of Ontario.
Ontario city officials had originally asked Los Angeles officials to consider selling back the airport. That offer was rejected last month by LAWA and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, prompting Ontario city officials to simply ask to regain management of the airport.
- Art Marroquin
Continue reading Ontario Fire Department to hold open house.
The Inland Empire will get the chance to hear some of Elton John's new music when he comes to Citizens Business Bank Arena on Nov. 5 as part of his Union Tour.
John and Leon Russell, who are touring together, are also collaborating on a new album, titled "The Union." The album will be released Oct. 19.
Tickets go on sale Sept. 17 at 10 a.m.
Tickets are available online at ticketmaster.com, at all Ticketmaster Outlets or by phone 800-745-3000.
The City Council has decided to not get involved in the fiery debate over Arizona Senate Bill 1070.
Council members at their Tuesday meeting decided against taking a stance on the illegal immigration enforcement law after representatives from a grassroots group requested that the council pass a resolution supporting it.
We the People, California's Crusade made the request after Our Lady of Guadalupe Church officials urged the council in August to publicly oppose the law.
The law calls on Arizona's law enforcement officers to check the residency status of anyone suspected of being illegally in the United States. It is being challenged in court by the federal government.
"Certainly this is a very emotional issue and a very important issue," Councilman Alan Wapner said. "Formally, as an agenda item, it is not the support of the council to lean one way or another."
Continue reading Ontario Council opts to stay out of SB1070.
Article published Sept. 7
Members of a local group are calling for the city's support of Arizona's much-debated anti-immigration law, setting the stage for a public fracas over an issue elected officials would rather avoid.
Tonight, Raymond Herrera, founder of Claremont-based We The People, California's Crusader, will ask the City Council to craft a resolution in support of Arizona Senate Bill 1070, considered the country's most controversial anti-illegal immigration measure in decades.
This comes about a month after parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church urged the City Council to publicly oppose the same law.
Continue reading Organization presses Ontario council to support Arizona law.
Rob tweeted this yesterday "SoCal..I will be at @Zumiez in the Ontario Mills mall tomorrow frm 6-8pm. I will have @STREETLEAGUEtix with mehttp://plixi.com/p/43880328"
The words "debt free" haven't been used to describe the Ontario Chamber of Commerce for years.
But that changed recently when the chamber announced to its members that not only was the organization out of its financial hole, but it has money to spare.
The announcement was made Wednesday morning during the State of the Chamber breakfast at the Ontario DoubleTree Hotel.
"The board took prudent measures, and the budget and cash flow was reviewed meticulously," said Cindy Carpenter, immediate past chairwoman of the chamber's board of directors. "The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is in a very strong position to grow and prosper."
But the past few years have been tumultuous for the chamber.
Continue reading Ontario Chamber of Commerce out of debt.
The Southern California Association of Governments has voiced its support for returning control of L.A./Ontario International Airport to Ontario.
The slow recovery at ONT prompted Ontario officials to begin efforts to regain control of the ailing airport.
For the past two years, passenger traffic at ONT has dropped more than 47.5 percent. The airport in 2009 served 4.88 million travelers, down from a peak of 7.2 million passengers in 2007, according to Los Angeles World Airports, which owns and operates ONT.
"This is just one step in a long process. I'm optimistic it will come out in favor of the region and we will gain control of the airport," said Councilman Alan Wapner, Ontario's liaison for LAWA.
Continue reading Agency: Return control of ONT airport to Ontario.
Radaronline.com just posted a video which shows the actor at a rodeo. You can't really tell if it is Citizens Business Bank Arena but Professional Bull Riders circuit was in Ontario last weekend.
view the video below:
The Ontario Salvation Army Corps is inviting the community to an open house on Sept. 21 at the Corps site, 1412 S. Euclid Ave.
Through this open house, the Corps will be sharing information on the services, activities and programs it offers to the community.
Among them are after-school programs for children with include homework assistance, music, dance and gardening; meals for the hungry; food and clothing distribution; providing extra-curricular activities for children and services to meet people's spiritual needs.
The Ontario Corps serves all of the West End of San Bernardino County.
During the open house you can view a Powerpoint presentation showing the Corps in action. There will also be some oral presentations. Refreshments will also be served.
The open house will be from 3 to 6 p.m.
Skateboarding veteran and host of MTV's Fantasy Factory Rob Dyrdek is bringing his latest business venture to Ontario.
Dyrdek has created "Street League" skateboarding competition which will bring Ryan Sheckler, Paul Rodriguez Jr. and P.J. Ladd to the Citizens Business Bank Arena on Sept. 11.
The Ontario stop is one of three scheduled locations on the tour. The competitions will air on ESPN2 every Wednesday at 5 p.m., from Sept. 15 to 29.
Dyrdek spent the past six years developing a structured competition format that uses "traditional" sports elements combined with a real-time scoring system suitable for athletes and viewers.
The sport's top 24 competitors will be vying for the most prize money in skateboarding history.
The one-day competition starts off with a Q & A session with Dyrdek at 1 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $45.
Tickets and information are available at www.streetleague.com.
Citizens Business Bank is at 4000 E. Ontario Center Parkway.
Rodolfo Reyes said he believed continuing his high school education was going to be impossible.
After all, who would watch over his son?
Reyes was told in May that the infant center would be shutting down at Valley View Continuation High School at 1801 E. Sixth St.
But a unique collaboration involving the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Office, Ontario-based Chaffey Joint Union High School District and child-care provider Easter Seals gave Reyes the answer to his question.
The answer allowed the infant center to reopen Aug. 10 -- the first day of school.
Continue reading Agencies collaborate to reopen child care center.
