December 2011 Archives

Guidelines for recycling your Christmas tree

By Liset Marquez on December 29, 2011 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Christmas has come and gone, and the city will collect trees for recycling from Monday through Jan. 13.

City officials have some guidelines for curbside service:

Remove all tinsel, ornaments, stands and garland.
locked trees are not recyclable and will be collected separately.
Do not place tree in a trash bag.
Place the trees next to the containers on your regular collection day.

You may also cut the tree in 18- or 24-inch pieces and place it in your green waste container.

For those who live in an apartment, contact your manager regarding collection.

For more information, call customer service at 909-395-2050.

Unity breakfast set for Jan. 16

By Liset Marquez on December 29, 2011 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The 11th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast Tribute will be held Jan. 16, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Ontario Airport DoubleTree Hotel.

Doors will open at 8 a.m.

Performances will be presented by Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Ontario and Inland Conservatory of Performing Arts Community Choir. The guest speaker will be John Longville, a San Bernardino Community College District trustee and former Rialto councilman.

In the Assembly, Longville led the establishment of the Juneteenth National Freedom Day Observance

Tickets are $25, but go to $30 after Jan. 8.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.juneteenthamerica.us, call 909-621-9707 or e-mail jai@juneteenthamerica.us.

Pelzer coming to Chaffey High

By Liset Marquez on December 28, 2011 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dave Pelzer's book "A Child Called 'It'" is among the most checked-out books at Ontario Library, which sparked the idea from library officials to bring New York Times bestselling author to the city.

Pelzer, whose book details the severe abuse he endured during childhood, will speak in Ontario on Jan. 25, at Gardiner Spring Auditorium at Chaffey High. The 6:30 p.m. event is free and open to the public.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 909-395-2252.

Film shows how Ontario looked in the 1940s

By Liset Marquez on December 28, 2011 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ever wonder what Ontario looked like in the 1940s? Well, you don't have to wonder anymore thanks to technology that has made a video of Ontario from 1947 now available to the masses.

In the spring of 1947, someone recorded various locations throughout the city (including this paper's former offices when it was the Daily Report) such as the Sunkist plant and other mainstay fixtures like Chaffey High School and Bethel Congregational Church. The following week, residents were invited to watch the movie at the Park Theater, which was on Euclid Avenue north of Holt Boulevard to watch the movie.

The film called, "Life in Ontario: You and Your Friends" was previously only on a 16-mm film. With the help of California Preservation Program's California Light and Sound Project, the film was converted into digital format.

You can now view the video by visiting bit.ly/vc3F8o.

If you recognize yourself or anyone in the video, contact the staff at Model Colony History Room staff. They can be reached at 909-395-2206.

White House exhibit now at Ontario museum

By Liset Marquez on December 28, 2011 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"The Working White House: 200 Years of Tradition and Memories," on display at Museum of History and Art, Ontario, is an exhibit which shows a behind-the- scenes portrait of the country's most famous household.

Organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service is on display until Feb. 26.

Included in the exhibit are audio interviews from a variety of White House staff members, such as calligrapher, chief usher, chief butler and seamstress.

Besides audio features and images, guests can see White House artifacts such as a plastic chocolate mold from the 1990s designed to make candies embossed with the presidential seal.

There are special holiday hours for the museum. The next date it will be open is Wednesday.

Gallery hours are from noon to 4 p.m.

Museum of History and Art, Ontario is at 225 S. Euclid Ave.

ONTARIO: The year ahead, 2012

By Liset Marquez on December 27, 2011 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continued battles between Ontario and Los Angeles foreseen for the next year

Regaining control of L.A./Ontario International Airport will continue to be the No. 1 goal for city officials.

While officials remained elusive of their future plans, they were confident something would happen early in the new year.

"We will redouble our efforts with heightened urgency as we roll out a comprehensive program to achieve our objective," said councilman Alan Wapner, who is the city's liaison on the issue.

For several years, Ontario officials have lobbied for local control, claiming they would be able to convert the medium-hub facility into a competitive regional airport. Los Angeles World Airports operates ONT and Los Angeles International Airport.

ONT has lost a third of its ridership since 2007, when travel at ONT peaked at 7.2 million passengers. Only 3.7 million passengers had flown through the facility through October this year.

"It will become actively clear within the first quarter of the year what our intentions are, and at whatever costs it takes to take local control of the airport," said Councilman Jim Bowman, who sits on the city's subcommittee regarding ONT.

Bowman said the subcommittee is expected to meet with the city manager the first couple of weeks in January to discuss a number of aggressive strategy plans.

In the new year, ONT will serve 2.7 million fewer annual passengers than it did in 2007. Flight schedules for the first half of 2012 will be further reduced by

Continue reading ONTARIO: The year ahead, 2012.

Happy Holidays, from the council

By Liset Marquez on December 22, 2011 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since this is the last meeting of the year, the council shared a few wishes with the residents.

Mayor Paul Leon wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and said he loves this time of year.

For Leon, it's not about receiving the gifts, "it's about me seeing the gifts people are receiving. The look on their face, that's what excites me."

Councilwoman Sheila Mautz: "I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas,"

Councilman Jim Bowman: "I wish everyone a safe, happy and prosperous New Year."

While we're talking about the council, you should know that City Hall will be closed all next week. The Jan. 3 council meeting has been canceled; the next meeting is Jan. 17.

Ontario Convention Center collects blankets

By Liset Marquez on December 22, 2011 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Blankets of Love, a program launched by a staff member at the Ontario Convention Center, collected more than 500 blankets.

It was a record year, Councilwoman Debra Dorst-Porada announced at Tuesday night's meeting.

Victoria VanDamme, the director of food and beverage at the Ontario Convention Center, spearheaded the program. She received the help of several staff and community members. The group collected 503 blankets this year, she said.

"I would like to personally thank each one who made a decision to get involved in collecting and donating to Blankets of Love," VanDamme said in an email to convention center staff. "Please know that this holiday season 503 people are warmer and blessed because of each of you."

A nice gesture from religious leader, deputy fire chief

By Liset Marquez on December 22, 2011 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The council meeting typically starts with an invocation from a religious leader in the community. At the beginning of this meeting, Pastor Mike Urciuoli with Calvary Chapel Ontario brought in a 4-year-old boy whose father is serving overseas.

Urciuoli said he wanted to bring the boy in to remind everyone of the sacrifices some families have to give in order for others, like the council, the ability to hold meetings.

What most people didn't see was that as Urciuoli and the boy left, Clark stopped them at the back of the room.

Clark pulled a sticker badge out of his jacket. He handed it to the young boy and whispered something to him.

After the meeting, I spoke to Clark about that discussion. Turns out it is a very personal issue for Clark, who spent eight years in the military and whose son is attending U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Clark said he wanted to make the moment memorable for the young boy.

A friendly visit to the City Council

By Liset Marquez on December 22, 2011 3:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's been a while since Daryl Vollrath has come to speak at the council meeting, and Mayor Paul Leon let him know that Tuesday night, introducing him as "Daryl 'long time, no see' Vollrath."

Leon questioned Vollrath's motive for speaking (he has known to complain about some city actions in the past) but quickly backed off when he realized his intentions.

Vollrath was there to say his goodbye to Carrier.

"Thank you for all your years of service," he told the retiring fire chief.

Retiring employees recognized by city

By Liset Marquez on December 22, 2011 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ontario city officials said goodbye to two longtime staff members at Tuesday night's council meeting: Fire Chief Dave Carrier and Mohamed El-Amamy, the utilities general manager.

"Both held in the highest regard in their profession, and they've always thought community and city first," City Manager Chris Hughes said.

Hughes, the previous fire chief, said he worked with Carrier for 24 years. Carrier spent 36 years in fire service, 31 of them in Ontario.

Carrier joined the department in 1980. He was promoted to engineer in 1984, captain in 1988, battalion chief in 1993 and deputy fire chief in 2008.

Last year, Carrier was appointed to lead the city's 136 firefighters and $36 million operating budget.

"You served our city faithfully, and it's so appreciated," Councilwoman Sheila Mautz told Carrier.

Continue reading Retiring employees recognized by city.

Ontario receives $1 million grant to encourage healthy living, eating habits to residents

By Liset Marquez on December 20, 2011 8:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Officials announced Tuesday night the city had received a $1 million healthy living grant from Kaiser Permanente Hospital.

The grant will be used to educate the community on food choices, healthy activities, weight management, cooking classes and more.

"The idea of healthy city was birthed and constructed here in the city of Ontario," said Mayor Paul Leon.

Kaiser Permanente Hospital partners with communities to promote their Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) initiative to address the growing obesity epidemic.

Officials in the city were invited by Kaiser Permanente earlier this year to participate in a competitive process for the grant, Leon said.

Ontario releases new figure on ONT's economic impact

By Liset Marquez on December 16, 2011 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Airport firm Oliver Wyman has updated its economic analysis of the decline in air service at ONT from 2007 through 2011. The report now reveals the economic hit to the Inland Empire regional economy as $495 million and the loss of 9,250 jobs.

Woman's Club sets Christmas luncheon

By Liset Marquez on December 15, 2011 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Ontario Woman's Club will hold its catered Christmas luncheon on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Masonic Center, 1025 N. Vine. Guests will be entertained by bell ringer Leon Wagner. To reserve seats, call Norma Ressel 909-982-3460 or Bobbie Parent 909-986-2700.

Bingo raises money for food bank in Ontario

By Liset Marquez on December 15, 2011 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Robbin Spears of Ontario holds up her winning bingo card at the Ontario

Elks Lodge on Wednesday, June 17, 2010. A new state law allows organizations

like the Elks to host a game and link it to others in the state.

Last year, a local company changed how nonprofits play bingo in California. Bingo Innovations, an Ontario-based private management company, launched a satellite version
of the game called remote-caller bingo. The program now allows nonprofits, such as the Ontario American Legion, to host a bingo game and link up to other halls electronically.

Bingo Innovations worked to get the state to change the law and allow players in a
specific bingo game to simultaneously tune in to televisions or monitors to watch a live broadcast of someone in an out-of-town studio calling out bingo numbers.Shelley Green, an employee for Bingo Innovations, recently reached out to me to inform me that several of
the local nonprofits who use their company decided to donate a portion
of their proceeds, totaling more than $1,100, to the Salvation Army Ontario Corps Community Center's food bank.

"This is the reason the new law was written, so local nonprofits can generate the revenue needed to contribute to the many charities they support in their local communities," Green said.

The donations were delivered last month at the Salvation Army's food bank, 1412 S. Euclid
Ave. in Ontario, to Gary Thompson, a representative at the food bank."We all hope this will help the Salvation Army in their efforts to assist the community during the upcoming holiday season," Green said.

Ontario Salvation Army thanks public for support

By Liset Marquez on December 15, 2011 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Naomi Tamez, who is the envoy-in-charge of the Salvation Army Ontario Corps Community Center which serves 10 cities in the Inland Empire, wanted to thank the public for its
support this past holiday season.If you'll recall, donations to the city's Salvation Army have been down by more than 50 percent in the past year, which forced officials to tap into its reserves to help an estimated shortfall of $50,000.

Tamez said she wanted to thank the community for support of the Oktoberfest dinner.

"We first of all want to thank the community for coming forward and supporting The Salvation
Army for Thanksgiving," she said. "It was awesome how our community comes together helping those in need."

But Tamez wants to remind the public that the giving season is not over.Their current fundraising campaign is for the Christmas season with the Angel Tree program.Christmas trees are set up in the lobby of the Salvation Army offices as well as at the Montclair Plaza. The public can pick an angel off the tree, which has a child's request for a Christmas
toy.Aside from Montclair Plaza, angels can be found at a tree at the Easylife Furniture, 4195 Inland Empire Blvd., in Ontario.

"There are still about 500 angels that need to be adopted. If you are interested, you may go to one of these two locations and adopt a child for the holidays," she said. "It will be very rewarding to know that you made a Christmas wish come true for a child that is in need."The tree at Montclair Plaza will be up until Sunday.

Ontario CupCakery celebrates two years in business

By Liset Marquez on December 15, 2011 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Tuesday, My Delight CupCakery hosted its second birthday party by giving away 200 cupcakes to customers. Aside from the treats, there was also gourmet food trucks:

Grill 'em All and Fort Truck, the Grilled Cheese Truck and the cupcakery's own truck. Since opening, mother and daughter co-owners

Melinda and Naomi Moreno have given away more than 100,000 cupcakes to hospitals, first responders, schools, churches and charity events in the local community. Because this event was

meant for the community, I have used the content-sharing website Storify.com, to pull together local reaction from the public about the cupcakery. You can view it at http://sfy.co/Rfb.Who knows, you might be one of the people featured in my story.

My Delight CupCakery is at 1520 N. Mountain Ave., B-108.

Photos by Jennifer Maher/ Staff Photographer

Ontario State of the City announced in March

By Liset Marquez on December 7, 2011 5:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Officials have announced that the annual State of the City will be held at the Ontario Convention Center on March 21.

"Creating Opportunity, Building Value," will be the focus of the annual event as well as provide updates on on city budgets including LA/Ontario International Airport.

In 2011, the event attracted close to 1,000 business, government and community leaders for a discussion about the city and a panel discussion from local senior-level business executives.

Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics, LLC and an expert in the study of regional economies, will lead a business discussion on the local and regional economy.

For more information, contact Kelela Wakefield, kwakefield@ci.ontario.ca.us or 909.395.2297.

Holiday in Pink to be held at Ontario Improv

By Liset Marquez on December 7, 2011 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fontana-based Proud & Pretty in Pink will host its first charity fundraiser, Holiday in Pink this weekend in Ontario.

Taking place at the Ontario Improv, the event will be held on Saturday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Aiming to create awareness and raise funds for V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls, Holiday in Pink will also serve as an opportunity to inform the community about organization.

The event's program includes a performance by comedian Romarick Anderson, a short film, chances to win great raffle items, and more.

Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased on the company's website at www.proudandprettyinpink.com, or can also be purchased at the door for $30.

For more information, please contact Chelsie Mogan at 909-434-5850.

Bestselling author to speak in Ontario

By Liset Marquez on December 7, 2011 4:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Marty Binney, Ontario resident and president of the Ontario Library board, spoke at Tuesday night's council meeting to let the council and the public know that New York Times bestselling author, Dave Pelzer would be coming to the city.

Pelzer, who is the author of "A Child Called 'It'," which details the severe abused he endured during childhood, will speak in Ontario on Jan. 25, at Gardiner Spring Auditorium. The 6:30 p.m. event is free and open to the public, Binney said.

"The book is a story about optimism, courage and personal courage. It is among the most checked out books at the library," he told the council.

Binney asked the council to help him get the word out about the event.

"I hope you all will attend," he said. "It promises to be a good one."

Mayor Paul Leon said he heard Pelzer speak at the Ontario Convention Center about eight years ago. Leon said he was moved by his speech.

"I'm thrilled that he's coming to town and thank you for bringing it to our attention," Leon said.

Mayor Leon voices support for "Phantom of the Opera"

By Liset Marquez on December 7, 2011 7:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is no secret that Mayor Paul Leon is a fanatic of the arts. At the last council meeting, in support of Chaffey High School Theater department's latest production, "Phantom of the Opera," he brought a portion of the show to the council meeting.

At Tuesday night's council meeting, Leon reminded the public that their last chance to catch the well-known musical was fast approaching.

"There's only a few show left," he said. "This world class entertainment is at our high school. I saw it and it was off the charts, I don't know how to explain it."

Final performances at Gardiner Spring Auditorium will be Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Regular tickets are sold at the door for $13, first-come, first-seated. Which Leon said, is significantly less compared to shows such as "Wicked," which is currently showing at Pantages Theaters.

"I recommend you go see it. It will really impress you," he said.

Chaffey High School Theater Director Dave Masterson, who is spending $62,000 on the show, said the public will not be treated to a typical high school production.

"Even though this is a high school production emulating the professionals, it's at a much higher level," he said of the 61 student actors and 45 technicians in the show.

To ensure the Ontario show is as close to the London production as possible, Masterson has spent $21,000 on a computerized chandelier that travels six feet per second. At one point during the show, the chandelier will fly across the audience, he said.

To add to the authenticity of the show, Masterson has asked several professional actors who were part of the Los Angeles production of "Phantom of the Opera" to assist with the rehearsals.

Tickets may be reserved and guaranteed by purchasing at www.chsthespians.com. Children under 6 will not be admitted.

Chaffey High School is at 1245 N. Euclid Ave.

For more information, call 909-988-5560 ext. 2314.

Report shows approval of Ontario Convention Center management

By Liset Marquez on December 6, 2011 8:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After publicly scrutinizing Philadelphia-based SMG management company as operator of the Convention Center, the council announced on Tuesday night that a report by an independent consultant seems to indicate the opposite.

More than a year ago, members of the council criticized SMG over the management of the city's 225,000-square-foot facility.

In December 2009, deferred a contract extension for SMG and assigned Councilmen Jim Bowman and Alan Wapner to form a subcommittee to explore other options.

Since their decision, the council announced in April 2010 that they would retain SMG for another two years.

On Tuesday night, Wapner and Bowman presented the findings of the subcommittee.

"After reviewing the consultant's report, SMG has done a great job in running our facility in the economic downturn," Wapner said.

They directed the city manager to negotiate a contract with Bob Brown, the director of the convention center.

The number of rooms booked as a direct result of convention shows was never in the contract, which is something Wapner said he would like the city manager to negotiate in the new contract.

Ontario City Council adjourns in memory of retired deputy fire chief

By Liset Marquez on December 6, 2011 7:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It was a bit of an emotional meeting Tuesday night as the City Council adjourned their meeting in memory of retired deputy fire chief Steve Holtrust who was a member of the department for 32 years.

Holtrust died earlier this month while in Honduras. Cause of death was not immediately released.

Holtrust joined the department in 1975 when he was 18 years old, becoming one of the youngest recruits in the department's history. He retired in 2007, said Fire Chief Dave Carrier.

"Steve was a big man with a big heart. He served his lord and fellow man with a big passion," said councilman Jim Bowman, who also worked with Holtrust when they were both with the fire department.

Mayor Paul Leon said he was shocked by the news.

"It's just a tragedy and hard to take this news," he said.

Plans for a memorial have not been made.

LA Council asks for ONT report on cold storage

By Liset Marquez on December 6, 2011 7:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Art Marroquin, Staff Writer

Created: 12/06/2011 03:19:45 PM PST

A Los Angeles City Council committee on Tuesday asked for a report to determine whether LAX's sister airport in Ontario would be able to house a massive refrigeration unit to store flowers and produce imported from other countries.

The council directed airport staff to develop a report that would include efforts of boosting any other kind of commercial cargo facilities at the struggling facility.

Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl said he wanted airport officials to study the matter further because he wants to "work with Ontario to make it a more robust location."

The city of Los Angeles operates ONT, which has lost about one-third of its passenger traffic over the past four years.

The approval comes after Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry recently asked city staffers to compile a report to determine whether a major refrigeration unit should be built at ONT.

In her letter to the committee, Perry said establishing these facilities as well as other commercial cargo facilities at Ontario would help the airport handle more international shipments "and to relieve congestion and the burden of cargo shipments coming through Los Angeles International Airport."

The move could also help establish ONT as a gateway hub for incoming industrial and commercial shipments, Perry's letter stated.

"This action has the potential to make more effective use of our facility at Ontario and potentially reduce the cost of products passing through by making it more efficient and less costly to deliver international products including flowers and other items," Perry stated in the letter to the comittee.

Officials said it also has the potential to create new jobs, revitalize ONT and boost the local economy.

Perry has said the Ontario airport has plenty of room to grow compared to LAX, which has limited space to continue expanding its cold storage capabilities.

For now, Miami handles most of the cold storage products distributed to the rest of the country, but Los Angeles has recently attempted to snag some of the market with help from local freight companies, said Mark Adams, government affairs manager for Los Angeles World Airports, the city agency that operates LAX, Ontario and Van Nuys airports.

The perishable items usually arrive at LAX in wide-body freighters and inside the belly of large passenger planes, but those types of aircraft do not currently fly into LA/Ontario International Airport, Adams told the council committee.

"The capacity we have at this time is at LAX," Adams said. "Having more capacity would be a good thing."

Coffee for Connoissuers

By Liset Marquez on December 6, 2011 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Starbucks baristas will present a coffee tasting at the Ovitt Family Community Library on Wednesday, from 7 p.m. - 8:30pm. Sample brews while learning all about how coffee is produced from the bean to the cup. Ethical farming practices will also be discussed. Expand your palate by tasting coffee from different regions of the world and experimenting with pastry pairings. The library is located at 215 East C Street in Ontario, California. This program is free for ages 16 and up. For more information, call 909-395-2252.

Page One sells alcohol, but it's not much of a profit center

By Liset Marquez on December 6, 2011 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

General Manager and CEO Bob Brown, of the Ontario Convention Center, which oversees the cafe, talks about business at Page One Cafe Monday, November 21, 2011, at the Ontario Library in Ontario. (Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Staff Photographer)

ONTARIO - It might not sound much like a successful business plan, but the sale of alcohol at Page One Cafe was never supposed to make money.

And it hasn't.

In the four months since beer and wine have been sold at the cafe - which is attached to the city library - it has only brought in $817.

That figure is dwarfed by the $14,000 the cafe averages in monthly food sales.

City officials received opposition from some who felt it was inappropriate to sell alcohol at a site that was part of the library.

"We knew this wasn't going to turn into a bar, that was never the intention at all," said Bob Brown, general manager of the convention center. "It would not be the proper use of this site."

In July 2009, SMG - which operates the Ontario Convention Center as well as Page One Cafe - applied for a liquor license to sell beer and wine.

Shortly after the request, state alcohol licensing officials received numerous signatures protesting a request to sell liquor at the cafe.

Brown said the request was granted by the state's Alcohol Beverage Control because petitioners did not meet the criteria to stop the sale of alcohol on the premise.

"We've met all the direction given to us from ABC, and we have met conditions by Ontario Police Department and the City Council," he said.

As part of the agreement with the city, officials of the cafe were directed to keep the door that leads to the library closed from

Continue reading Page One sells alcohol, but it's not much of a profit center.

'Phantom of the Opera' debuts tonight

By Liset Marquez on December 1, 2011 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the theater world, "Phantom of the Opera" is one of the most difficult shows to produce.

That didn't stop Chaffey High School Theater Director Dave Masterson from bringing the well-known musical to Ontario.

"So many people know this show," he said.

And when it opens tonight at Gardiner Spring Auditorium, Chaffey will be the first high school in the Inland Empire to get the rights of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom," Masterson said.

Typically, Masterson said he casts age-appropriate actors for his production. But limitations from Webber meant Masterson had to select an all-student cast.

And yet Masterson said he is pleased with the performances of lead actors Gabriel Navarro and Jade White, who is making her debut.

"She's absolutely flawless. She's just devouring the role," he said. "These are probably the two best students I've had in 35 years."

But Masterson, who is spending $62,000 on the show, said the public will not be treated to a typical high school production.

"Even though this is a high school production emulating the professionals, it's at a much higher level," he said of the 61 student actors and 45 technicians in the show.

He also hired Theater Company of Upland to custom create the costumes for the show. Masterson said the theater company plans on renting the costumes throughout the nation following the Ontario show.

To add to the authenticity of the show, Masterson has asked several professional actors who were part of the Los Angeles production of "Phantom of the Opera" to assist with the rehearsals.

Other performances will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday and continue the following week on Dec. 8, 9, 10 and 11.

There will be a special reduced show for families on Monday in which all seats are $10.

Regular tickets are sold at the door for $13, first-come, first-seated.

Tickets may be reserved and guaranteed by purchasing at www.chsthespians.com. Children under 6 will not be admitted.

Chaffey High School is at 1245 N. Euclid Ave.

For more information, call 909-988-5560 ext. 2314.

Stuff-a-Bus toy drive comes to Ontario

By Liset Marquez on December 1, 2011 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Inland Empire residents for years have visited Ontario Mills for Spark of Love's Stuff-a-Bus toy drive.

This year the event will be held Friday at Mathis Brothers Furniture, 4105 E. Inland Empire Blvd. in Ontario.

Ontario firefighters will be looking for donations of new and unwrapped toys from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

They will be joined by KABC-TV weatherman Garth Kemp, who will be dressed as an elf.

Collected toys will be distributed to local families and charitable organizations.

Stuff-a-Bus helped more than 3,000 families in 2010.

The event was supported by the American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army, House of Ruth, Steven's Hope for Children and other hospitals.

Donations will also be accepted throughout December at Ontario fire stations.

Christmas on Euclid show set for Saturday

By Liset Marquez on December 1, 2011 9:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's that time of year when Euclid Avenue from B to G streets in Ontario is shut down and filled with vendors selling art, jewelry and holiday decorations.

Saturday marks the 28th annual event by Ontario Kiwanis Club, which will be held between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The city and community organizations will have displays and information for residents and visitors.

Among those that will be there is Ontario Chamber of Commerce Foundation which will be looking for the community's donations to restore its Euclid Avenue Nativity Scenes.

Also there will be members from Ontario Police Museum trying to raise money for the nonprofit Fueled By The Fallen. The organization has a series of vehicles paying tribute to fallen law enforcement officials. It also assists military and public-safety personnel and their families.

The Ontario Rotary is sponsoring the car show, which will be from D to G streets. There is no charge to come to Christmas on Euclid; but organizers are asking for toy donations for the Spark of Love Toy Drive.

or more information, call 909-261-3230 or email christmasoneuclid@yahoo.com.

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