November 2010 Archives
The Salvation Army Corps Community Center will host their community Thanksgiving meal on the holiday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Naomi Tamez, envoy-in- charge, said they are in need of turkeys and side dishes.
The Salvation Army Corps Community Center in Ontario serves Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Montclair and Chino.
"We only have one turkey so far and are in need of 35 turkeys for our meal," she said. "We are also in need of all the trimmings to go with the meal."
Christmas trees are usually set up in the lobby of the Salvation Army offices as well as at the Montclair Plaza and Ontario Mills mall. The public can pick an angel off the tree, which has a child's request for a Christmas toy.
The corps already has their Angel Trees set up at the Ontario Mills mall.
In addition to that, Tamez said, "we have already begun our Red Kettle Campaign and want to thank the community for their support and efforts in their giving for the 2010 season."
"Also to remind the community that the money that we receive from our Red Kettle is what supports what we do for our community all year long. Our goal is to serve between 5,000 to 6,000 children this year for Christmas."
Monetary donations, food donations, toy donations, any donations would support their efforts for the holiday season of 2010, Tamez said.
Visit the Salvation Army Corps Community Center, 1412 S. Euclid Ave., or call 909-986-6748 ext. 204 or dial 0.
Ontario Host Lions Club will host a breakfast fundraiser at Applebees on Milliken Avenue this Saturday.
It is $10 per person for a buffet breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Applebees will donate $5 per person for the corps to use toward their holiday food basket distribution held on Dec. 18.
"We will distribute approximately 180 food baskets with everything for a holiday meal, to those in need this season in the Ontario-Montclair area," said Andrea Busby, president of the club.
There will also a blood drive in the parking lot in conjunction with the event.
The holiday season is upon us which can only mean one thing: family photo time.
Ontario Mills mall has something different for you: Snowglobe Live.
Families step inside a 15-foot tall inflatable snow globe, complete with holiday décor and a giant artificial snow play area.
Families will be able to pose for holiday photos and customize their own winter wonderland backdrop and holiday theme.
Kids of all ages are invited to visit with Santa Claus.
The photos will be taken at the food court area of the mall until Dec. 24.
Sessions are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. There will be 45-minute breaks at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Photo sessions on Sundays will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The price range varies, from free visits with Santa to professional photo packages starting at $15.99.
Several months ago, fire damaged a hair and barber salon at the shopping center of Grove and Walnut avenues. Well, this weekend, "Solutions" will reopen.
The community is invited to join the celebration on Saturday. There will be music, food and a free CD with haircut or hair service to the first 1,000 customers.
Saturday's event is from 2 to 6 p.m. at 2506 S. Grove Ave. in Ontario.
For more information, call 909-773-0780.
Congratulations to Ken Sampson, an Army chaplain who will retire from active duty Friday.
Sampson grew up in Ontario and attended the Ontario Christian school system from 1954-66.
His parents, Glenn and Rosetta Sampson, still live in the house he was raised, in the 800 block of E. I Street.
During Little League years, Sampson recalls playing for General Electric in the National League. Additionally, he played one year of American Legion ball with coach Jay Littleton.
Sampson went on to graduate from Westmont College in Santa Barbara in 1970.
The work environment of his dad (in aviation and Pomona's Electro Optical Systems), Little League and American Legion play, combined with the education at Ontario Christian and Upland Bible, served as tremendous incentives for his Army chaplain work of the past 27 years, Sampson said.
"Thank you and the Ontario community for grace, mentorship and instilling such a patriotic appreciation for our nation," Sampson said.
He is an ordained pastor in the Reformed Church of America.
He deployed to Afghanistan July to September 2002 and May 2003 through April 2004.
He currently serves as the command chaplain for Army Materiel Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.
Prior to joining the Army chaplaincy, he was coach, Bible teacher and chaplain at Southern Normal School in Brewton, Ala. While at Southern Normal, he met his wife, Kathryn Stewart Boyce Sampson. The Sampsons have two children, Michael, 29, and Jennifer, 26.
I got a postcard from the city today announcing their state of the city.
They are asking me to save March 16, 2011 for their State of the City address.
"Thinking Ahead," is on the front of the card, which they are. I mean, I don't even know what I want to do for my New Year's celebration but I guess I know what I'll be doing March 16.
The postcard is pretty simple, it gives the time frame: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the date and website which is www.ontariosoc2011.com.
After nine months of planning, West End Animal Shelter officials are selling a 2011 pet calendar that features recently adopted dogs and cats or those awaiting adoption.
"The calendars and our other fundraisers - they all help us raise awareness," said Dale Namminga, a member of shelter's board of directors.
The nonprofit, no-kill center houses 200 dogs and cats at its shelter in the 1000 block of East Mission Boulevard.
Proceeds from the calendar will go toward the Save-A- Pet Rescue Fund and a future shelter and hospital.
"The calendars and our other fundraisers - they all help us raise awareness," said Dale Namminga, a member of shelter's board of directors.
The nonprofit, no-kill center houses 200 dogs and cats at its shelter in the 1000 block of East Mission Boulevard.
Proceeds from the calendar will go toward the Save-A- Pet Rescue Fund and a future shelter and hospital.
Continue reading Ontario animal shelter creates pet calender.
City officials may be forced to scrap their three-year-old approval of a Walmart Supercenter and review the project again.
If the tentative opinion by the state 4th District Court of Appeal in Riverside holds, city officials will have to set aside approval of the superstore and study the possibility of urban decay due to business competition.
Walmart and city officials have been entangled in a legal battle with residents in the Ontario Mountain Village Association since the City Council approved the Walmart project in 2007.
The appeals court's tentative ruling largely upholds the association's arguments.
"We won on key issues: urban decay and losing the grocery store. Both are big issues," said Cory Briggs, an attorney for the group of homeowners opposed to the project at Fifth Street and Mountain Avenue.
"This proves what we've said all along. Walmart doesn't create new jobs and does more to displace employers."
Continue reading Court releases tentative opinion in Ontario, Wal-mart suit.
Nissan North America plans to launch its first all-electric vehicle by the end of the year, and a facility in Ontario will be responsible for showing technicians how the electric newcomer works.
In the weeks before the Nissan Leaf hits public roads in December, the automaker's technicians will gather in a new Ontario training center to learn about the vehicle's all-new, sophisticated systems, said Paul Mathias, technical training manager.
"The West Coast is the primary launching point of the new Leaf in December," he said. "Technicians will receive in-depth training of the overall features of the vehicle and how to service the lithium battery."
Continue reading Ontario training center to prepare technicians for Nissan's Leaf.
The holiday season is upon us which can only mean one thing, family photo time.
Well, Ontario Mills Mall has something different for you: Snowglobe Live.
Families step inside a 15-foot tall inflatable snow globe, complete with holiday décor and a giant artificial snow play area.
Families will be able to pose for holiday photos and customize their own winter wonderland backdrop and holiday theme.
Kids of all ages are invited to visit with Santa Claus.
The photos will be taken at the food court area of the mall.
Photos begin tomorrow, Nov. 13 until Dec. 24.
Sessions are Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. (45 minute breaks at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.)
And on Sundays at 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. (30 minute break at 2:15 p.m.)
Price range varies, from FREE visits with Santa to professional photo packages starting at $15.99.
David Bradshaw, a 16-year old student at Ontario High (9-12 - Ontario) was one of sixty members of the Student Advisory Board of Education (SABE), which met from November 6-10 in Sacramento. SABE is a statewide conference to provide student input on issues of concern to the education system directly to the State Board of Education.
This program, a product of the California Association of Student Councils (CASC), has been in existence for 48 years and is the only opportunity for middle and high school students from all across the state to speak directly with the State Board of Education on issues affecting all aspects of their educations.
Topics this year were: Creative approaches for learning and improving the way curriculum is taught, recognizing outstanding students, student rights and responsibilities, college preparedness and career awareness, and effectiveness of teachers.
On the first of the five days of this conference, members of the Student Advisory Board brainstormed these topics, broke off into focus groups, then spent the rest of the four days working on their proposals. They discussed relevant root problems, created applicable solutions, and refined a formal proposal with a specific call to action for the State Board of Education.
More information on SABE, the full proposals, and CASC can be found online atwww.casc.net/sabe.
It was not uncommon for Otto Kroutil to come to work only to find the roof of City Hall was leaking. Or, as soon as the problem would get fixed, the building's power system would begin to falter.
spring the public will get a building equipped with modern amenities, Kroutil said.
The outdated infrastructure had taken its toll on the building, said Kroutil, the city's director of development.
"We recognized the need to stop doing band-aid fixes of the building," he said. "After 30 years, it was time to fix it right and to try to be as efficient with the dollar."
And for nearly a year now, construction crews have been gutting out the 30-year-old building, preparing for $20 million of floor-to-ceiling renovations.
Today, the concrete shell is all that remains of City Hall but by
Otto Kroutil, Ontario's director of development, walks through the lobby at Ontario City Hall last month. "We recognized the need to stop doing Band-Aid fixes of the building," he said of the $20 million renovation. (Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Staff Photographer)
"Once you opened the building up, you realize there isn't anything inside to save," Kroutil said.
The outdated building also posed challenges for the city in keeping down the electricity bill. The old standards meant there was a lot of heat loss in the building. Also, the windows in the building did not have the proper material to retain or block heat, he said.
"City Hall was designed to last 20 years, and it's now 30 years old. I think it was necessary for us to update City Hall," said Councilwoman Sheila Mautz.
Mautz said it would be too expensive to try to purchase a new building, and the location of the current building was fine.
Continue reading Ontario City Hall to get new look.
Need a unique Christmas gift? Come to Christmas on Euclid Saturday, Dec. 4. The Kiwanis Club of Ontario is sponsoring this annual event. "We want to create an enjoyable experience for all. Please come and browse the craft booths, sample many food options, and listen to great local entertainment," requests Julie Dorey, president of the Ontario Kiwanis. The Kiwanis will use their proceeds to benefit local youth programs .
The event will be on Euclid Avenue in Ontario between Holt Ave and G Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Ontario Rotary is sponsoring a classic car show in conjunction to the craft fair. Please bring an unwrapped toy for the Spark of Love Toy Drive. Other community agencies are invited to set up informational booths.
For further information and applications for booths, contact Elvia at 909-261-3230 or e-mail
christmasoneuclid@yahoo.com.
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Ontario City Library will support the United Nations World Food Program during November.
Residents can participate in the global fight against hunger by playing a simple online game. Answer questions correctly to earn free rice for hungry people and free library DVD rental coupons for yourself.
Knowing what a word means can help feed those in need around the world.
Visit www.freerice.com to sample the game subjects: vocabulary, art, chemistry, English, geography. Those who wish to participate are required to register. Visit the Ovitt Family Community Library at 215 E. C St., or the Colony High Branch Library at 3850 E. Riverside Drive to register in person.
For additional information and gaming details, please call 909-395-2252.
The program is free and open to the public.
Grace Bauer, author of Los Angeles Classic Desserts, will be at the Ovitt Family Community Library at 2 p.m., Nov. 13 for a book sale and signing.
A graduate of the California Culinary Academy's Le Cordon Bleu program, Bauer will give a powerpoint presentation about her book and will answer questions about her experience behind the stove. The book features a collection of 50 recipes from some of the most famous restaurants in Los Angeles.
The presentation is free and open to the public, 16 years and older.
The Ovitt Family Community Library is at 215 E. C St.
For information, call Adult Educational Services at 909-395-2252.
Remember the giant, radioactive dinosaur that caused havoc while rampaging through the city of Tokyo? He's back! Godzilla will visit the Ovitt Family Community Library on Saturday.
Library staff will show the three Japanese movies, all will have English subtitles.
Films will be shown at 10:30 a.m., 1 and 3:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the library at 215 E. C St.
Program is free.
For more information, call Adult Education Services at 909-395-2252.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Lodge 2085 is inviting the public to come have a taco and visit a veteran on Friday nights.
For more information, 909-986-9066.
The taco social is from 5 to 7 p.m. The VFW is at 1341 E. D St., Ontario.
The Museum of History and Art, Ontario is inviting the public to its second Docent Recruitment Coffee at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The museum is accepting applications now through December.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Marci Callejo at 909-395-2515.
The next citywide yard sale is this weekend, beginning on Friday. This will be the last citywide yard sale for the year.
The next yard sale weekend will be next year, Feb. 4-6.
The city recently adopted a garage sale ordinance giving residents the opportunity to hold more sales each year on fixed dates, and eliminating the need for garage sale permits and fees. The rules for signs and rules for merchandise sold will remain unchanged.
News from San Bernardino County Parks
The Veteran's Day holiday is a good time to bring out the fishing poles to San
Bernardino County Regional Parks' lakes in Ontario, San Bernardino, Chino, Yucaipa and Victorville and go casting for trout.
The first stocking begins November 10th and stockings will continue every Thursday, weather
permitting, through March 31, 2011. If a national holiday falls on a Thursday, the stocking will take place the Wednesday before the holiday. Anglers will have the ability to cast for Sierra Bow and large trout will be supplied to the lakes each month.
The trout derby season will run through March 12, 2011. Visit www.sbcounty.gov/parks for a complete list of locations and dates for each of the derbies. Fishermen will try catching the largest trout in the fastest time to compete for the $500 cash top prize. Other prizes and cash will be awarded for up to 50 top catches at each of the derbies. Derby sponsors include the Inland Empire '66'ers, Bass Pro Shops, Charter Communications,
The Sports Authority, Palm Springs Aerial Tram, Fishing Legend and more.
Vehicle entry into the park is $7 during the week and $10 on weekends and holidays.
Fishing is $7. A State fishing license is required and may be purchased at the park.
In addition to the trout derbies, Regional Parks will also be offering a series of six Junior
Fishing Workshops to children ages 5-11. Experienced fishermen will teach young children fishing fundamentals at each of the workshops including: how to use the pole, best baits, and how to string a line. Following the instruction, the children will get an opportunity to try their newly learned skills with a session of open fishing.
The first Junior Fishing Workshop will be held at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, 18000
Yates Road, Victorville, on December 11th. For a complete list of workshops and dates visit:
www.sbcounty.gov/parks . Registration for the Junior Fishing Workshops is $5 per child and a $10 vehicle entry charge at the park. All equipment is provided for each child. There is a 100 person limit for each workshop. Contact (909) 387-2461 to register or for additional information.
A junior trout derby for those children participating in the workshops will be held at
Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park, 800 N. Archibald Avenue, Ontario, on Saturday, April 2,
2011sponsored by Friends of Regional Parks (FORParks). Like the adult derby, children will fish for
prize awards.
