January 2012 Archives
The City of Ontario has embarked on a corridor plan for Holt Boulevard. The plan will focus on incorporating "Complete Streets" strategies to create a safe and inviting transportation network that will serve the needs of everyone who travels the corridor, including bicyclists, drivers, transit users, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities along the Holt Boulevard corridor.
In order to respond to the community's needs and concerns regarding Holt Boulevard, the City will be conducting the first of three open house workshops aimed at providing information for review and soliciting input from the community.
So come and participate. Your input is valuable to the process.
For information please contact Rudy Zeledon, Senior Planner, at the Ontario Planning Department at (909) 395-2036
In order to respond to the community's needs and concerns regarding Holt Boulevard, the City will be conducting the first of three open house workshops aimed at providing information for review and soliciting input from the community.
So come and participate. Your input is valuable to the process.
For information please contact Rudy Zeledon, Senior Planner, at the Ontario Planning Department at (909) 395-2036
Open House
When: Thursday February 9
Where: Ontario Senior Center, 225 East "B" Street, Ontario, CA 91764
Time: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
When: Thursday February 9
Where: Ontario Senior Center, 225 East "B" Street, Ontario, CA 91764
Time: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Performances by current and former members of the Grace Yokley Middle School band will highlight the 4th annual Feast Festival dinner and silent auction on Feb. 3.
The vent starts at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m.
The GYS Band is part of the Mountain View School District.
The money earned through this event will directly impact students through the purchase of instruments, music, sound equipment, and financial assistance to those who otherwise could not participate in band.
Tickets are on sale now for $15 or at the door for $20
Grace Yokley Middle School is at 2947 S. Turner Ave.
Information: 909-947-6774
The Ontario High School drama program will present "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," on Feb. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the OHS Auditorium.
Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, the play takes an adolescent urge to take a baseball bat to the culturally revered. Featuring all 37 of Shakespeare's plays (and meant to be performed in 97 minutes) this fast-paced, witty, and physically demanding play is full of laughter for Shakespeare lovers and haters alike.
Tickets are $8 for general admission and $7 for students (with ID) and senior adults (60+).
On the night of the performances, the box office opens at 5:30 p.m. To reserve seats or for more information: OHS box office at 909-460-5837, ext. 2310.
Ontario High is at 901 W. Francis St.
The guest speaker at today's meeting of the Ontario Rotary Club will be Dr. Carl W. Schafer who recently completed 54 years as an educator, mostly in music.
Schafer spent 38 years with the Ontario-Montclair School District as a music teacher, music coordinator and elementary principal.
After his retirement in 1995, he went on to teach music at Cal State San Bernardino and Fullerton and most recently was visiting professor in the School of Music at California Baptist University.
He is doing consulting work for the San Bernardino County Schools, supervising student teachers for Cal State Fullerton, board president of the Claremont Community School of Music and member of the Policy Council for the California Alliance for Arts Education.
His topic at the noon meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel is "Understanding Chemical Dependency."
He has also been teaching part time at Mt. SAC in the Alcohol and Drug Studies program and a frequent speaker at AA meetings. Carl shares that with the coming of this Jan. 1, he celebrated 30 years of sobriety.
He received his B.A. in music from UC Santa Barbara, his M.A. in music education from Cal State Los Angeles and his Ed.D in education administration from UCLA.
Sons of the American Legion Squadron 112 will host its second anniversary celebration on Saturday, at Ontario American Legion Post 112, W. Emporia, Ontario.
"Over the past two years, our squadron has grown to almost 75 members," said S.A.L. Commander Tod Curry. "We have been involved in numerous events here at the post and in the community, supporting veterans, servicemen, and our parent organization, The American Legion.
"We invite members of the community to stop by and join our celebration."
The event this Saturday will not only celebrate the Squadron's second anniversary, but will also recognize volunteers who have been instrumental to the growth of S.A.L. Squadron 112, and American Legion Post 112.
The event will include dinner, award presentations, and entertainment.
Dinner, including spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread is $6 at the door, $5 prepaid, and will be served from 5-7 p.m.
Information: 909-984-3811, or e-mail sal112@live.com.
We already know what Ontario officials have told LAWA but here's the memo that went out today to Ontario employees regarding the situation. Note the date the city launched their efforts, Nov. 17 2009 which means the ongoing battle with LAWA is entering its third year.
In the memo, Ontario city manager Chris Hughes tells employees: "It is our intent to send a clear message to the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles World Airports that ONT is our greatest local asset and we can restore the success of our primary economic engine under local control."
Ontario continues to roll out their new media campaign, which now includes a YouTube channel, to sway Los Angeles voters in their quest to regain control of ONT. There is only one video on there now.
Here's a link to the page:
Here is the entire letter sent to LAWA's Gina Marie Lindsey
Let the battle begin.
Officials on both sides of the LA/Ontario International Airport dispute this week have lashed out at each other for information they say is misleading and a misrepresentation of the issue.
Late Wednesday night, Ontario officials angrily responded to Los Angeles World Airport's strong criticism of their most recent attempt to take back control of the struggling facility.
"Not only did you misrepresent Ontario's proposal," said Ontario city manager Chris Hughes, to LAWA's comments, but "you prematurely commented on terms of an airport transfer prior to allowing policy makers sufficient opportunity to explore negotiation terms and consider all options."
Until now, Ontario had engaged in private talks with officials of Los Angeles and LAWA, which operates ONT and Los Angeles International Airport, in an effort to regain control of ONT.
Things changed earlier this week when Ontario launched a media campaign to sway Los Angeles voters in their quest to regain control of ONT. Included in their efforts was poll results that the city says shows a majority of voters support transfer of ONT to Ontario from Los Angeles.
Results of the poll prompted LAWA Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey to fire back at Ontario, saying the agency does not intend to abandon its fiduciary responsibilities of ONT.
Lindsey said she rejected Ontario's $50 million deal to buy back the airport; referring to the offer's amount as a foreclosure price.
She also referred to Ontario's poll as "misleading and an attempt to deflect the truth."
Hughes, released a letter addressed to Lindsey outlining "numerous factual errors" she made in her statement earlier.
Ontario officials had refrained from disclosing their their offer because they were still in negotiations with LAWA.
Hughes said Ontario is not proposing to "buy" ONT but rather a transfer is seeking the transfer of the airport from one public agency to another for the benefit of all of Southern California, including Los Angeles, consistent with all similar airport transactions throughout the U.S., he said.
The three-page document questions Lindsey's comments on the survey. Hughes points out to Lindsey that as recently as September, LAWA used the same firm, Santa Monica-based Fairbanks, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) for its own report.
"In your own report, you referenced FM3's President John Fairbanks's well-earned reputation as the region's premier polling firm," Hughes said in the letter to Lindsey.
Hughes goes on to tell Lindsey that the results of the poll demonstrates that voters in Los Angeles are in support of local control.
For the past couple of years, Ontario officials have lobbied for local control, claiming they would be able to convert the medium-hub facility into a competitive regional airport.
In that time frame, passenger traffic has declined at ONT while LAX has gotten busier. Flight schedules for the first half of 2012 will be reduced by about 8 percent compared with the same period in 2011.
Visit the Dailybulletin.com for more details
Ontario City Council adjourned their meeting in memory of two local officials last night.
Councilman Jim Bowman requested that the council recognize former state Sen. Ruben Ayala. Bowman said the late senator spent his whole life representing this area very well.
"He voted for what was good for the people and never his party line," he said.
Mayor Paul Leon asked that the council also remember Gene Rivera who passed away on Jan. 16.
Most recently, he was involved in helping restore employment for BMW employees during their contract negotiations. Rivera also helped countless numbers of youth during his time in Ontario, said Johnny Thompson, senior supervisor with Ontario Recreation and Community Services.
"His accomplishments with both private industries and in the community was unmatched," he said.
Thompson said he remembers Rivera best for helping troubled teens and adults in Ontario community services department.
He was a man that demonstrated great character and was truly big on helping kids, even paying their fees for baseball and other activities, he said.
"Gene never gave up on people," Thompson said. "He will be missed."
Rivera's memorial service will be held on Tuesday, 10 a.m. at Drapery Monterey, 811 N. Mountain Ave. There will be a gathering immediately following the services at Dorothy Quesada Center, 1010 S. Bon View Ave.
Memorial donations can be made to the Memorial Acct Fbo Gene Rivera at Arrowhead Credit Union account #0075925342. You can visit www.cuswirl.com to find a credit union part of the Arrowhead network for donations.
The Ontario/Chaffey Community Show Band, directed by Jack Mercer, will present a concert titled "Let the Stars Shine" on Monday, at 7:30 p.m. The free event will be held at Gardiner Spring Auditorium, 1245 N. Euclid Ave. This month's performance will feature musical stars of the future competing for the Lou Dokken Scholarship.
Joining the Ontario/Chaffey Show Band will be brass soloists from local schools competing for Lew Dokken Scholarship money sponsored by the Ontario Noon Kiwanis Club. Also performing in honor of Lew Dokken will be some of his former band mates in the Brass Quintet from the Pomona Concert Band.
The public is invited to come early to have a cup of free Starbucks coffee. DVDs will be available for a small donation.
Tim Mead, vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Angels will be the guest speaker at Ontario Rotary Club's lunch meeting today.
Mead begins his 32nd season with the Angels' organization. But did you know he was a local guy? Mead graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a bachelor of science degree in communications.
The meeting is at the Ontario DoubleTree Hotel, 222 N. Vineyard Ave. Cost is $20.
For information call 951-206-5731.
Any of you watch the ABC show Celebrity Wife Swap?
It brings two famous households together and makes the wives swap families. Tuesday night's episode featured Ontario resident, Tina Yothers, best known for her role as Jennifer Keaton on the show "Family Ties."
Yothers swapped lives with actress Niecy Nash. I'm not sure Ontario officials, whose motto is "We Think Business," would approve of ABC's description of the city in their teaser. It states Yothers "country lifestyle is swapped for life in a stylish San Fernando Valley."
Here's a link to the episode abc.tv/wsG0vN.
On Jan. 28, Colony High School Regiment Band and Color Guard will team up with All Green Electronics Recycling to host an E-waste recycling collection from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3850 E. Riverside Drive in Ontario.
The event is free and open to the public and anyone who is interested in disposing their e-waste in a safe and secure environment.
For more information, call 714-633-4201 or visit allgreenrecycling.com.
Renovations are now underway at Ontario Mills Mall food court. The food court renovation will feature a more contemporary design, comfortable furnishings, improved lighting, flooring and more. The 11 dining options, including new restaurants such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Stone Oven Gourmet Sandwiches and Salads, Charley's Grilled Subs, Chicken Connection and Sarku Japan.
Existing food court restaurants Kelly's Cajun Grill, Sbarro The Italian Eatery, Panda Express and Burger King will be renovated. Set to open in the spring, Dairy Queen/Orange Julius will be located in Neighborhood 4.
FROM LAWA:
LAWA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GINA MARIE LINDSEY RESPONDS
TO CITY OF ONTARIO POLL RESULTS
In 1967 the City of Los Angeles, at the request of the City of Ontario, began managing
and developing Ontario Airport, which at the time was serving less than a million
passengers. Today LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) is a medium-hub, full-service
airport with commercial jet service to major U.S. cities and through service to many
international destinations.
Over the past 45 years, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has made significant
investments to modernize ONT. Over $560 million in airport capital improvements have
been made utilizing funds from a combination of LAX and ONT airport revenues, Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) grants and bond proceeds secured by LAWA.
At the time these investments and improvements were being made at ONT, LAX was
deteriorating and not enough money was being re-invested for capital improvements.
Now that LAWA has done the work, has invested significant time and money, the City of
Ontario wants the City of Los Angeles to GIVE the airport back to them for $50 million,
a price that doesn't come close to either the value of the airport today (and let's be
clear, this is a "down" market) or the value of the significant investment the City of L.A.
has dedicated to ONT. The operating costs of ONT do not come at taxpayer expense.
Ontario airport is self-supporting and LAWA intends to hold onto this important City of
Los Angeles asset.
As aviation industry data supports, LAWA has not mismanaged the airport as has been
implied by the City of Ontario. The airport is built to a capacity that is far above what the
current economy of the Inland Empire can support. Combined with airline response to
the economic recession, including cut backs in the number of flights and available seats
along with airline consolidation and wholesale withdrawal from medium-hub airports, you
have a situation that will not improve in the near future.
The poll released today by the City of Ontario is misleading and an attempt to deflect the
truth. It is ridiculous for any governmental body to presume that an airport developed
and modernized at the expense of another city, is entitled to a "transfer" of that asset.
Ontario has enjoyed decades of benefit from LAWA's time and investment in ONT, and
now with a slump in the economy, expects to wrest the asset back for a sum far below
its real worth.
LAWA has refrained from criticizing the City of Ontario because we continued to hope
our consistent invitations (three to be specific) for them to participate in marketing ONT
would be accepted. It is now clear they have only one objective: to take the asset the
City of L.A. built, at a foreclosure price.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Board of Airport Commissioners recognize this move
for what it is and will not abandon their fiduciary responsibilities. As we have been
doing for over 40 years, LAWA expects to continue to focus its work on building ONT to
its potential, rather than be distracted by repeated attempts to engage in a process to
sell an airport that is not for sale.
Ontario officials have launched a public relations effort to sway Los Angeles voters in their quest to regain control of LA/Ontario International Airport.
Included in their efforts, is a poll that the city says shows a majority of voters support transfer of ONT to Ontario from Los Angeles.
Ontario officials also have disclosed that they are behind a social media campaign -- SetOntarioFree.com -- launched a couple of months ago and includes a Facebook page and Twitter account.
The social media campaign is a way to educate the public on their efforts to regain control of ONT, city officials said. It has already amassed 800 fans on Facebook and more than 300 followers on Twitter.
Officials said they hope to use the campaign as an information tool on why local control would be in the best interest for regional air travel.
The campaign will not be limited to the social media sites, as officials said they expect to use traditional news media outlets, as well as call voters, to get their message across.
The poll and media campaign present a new front in the city's battle to take back ONT.
Until now, officials have engaged in private talks with Los Angeles City Hall officials and Los Angeles World Airports, which operates ONT and Los Angeles International Airport on behalf of the city of Los Angeles.
The survey found most Los Angeles residents do not know who owns and operates ONT.
When the the caller was informed about the airport's history and its transfer to Los Angeles World Airports -- which owns and operates ONT as well as LAX -- 68 percent indicated they would be in favor of transferring ownership and operations back to Ontario.
"The voters of Los Angeles get it," Ontario Councilmen Jim Bowman and Alan Wapner said in a joint statement.
"We welcome their support in our efforts to regain control of Ontario Airport. Under local control, ONT will make a greater contribution to meeting the demand for air travel in Southern California. That, in turn, will reduce automotive traffic congestion and pollution associated with unnecessary reliance on LAX."
Ontario commissioned Santa Monica-based Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates in September to conduct the poll.
The firm randomly selected 901 Los Angeles registered voters and asked them questions about ONT's history and current status.
Continue reading Ontario officials launch P.R. campaign for ONT.
News release from Chino Basin Water Conservation District:
Chino Basin Water Conservation District (CBWCD) welcomed their new board member Margaret Hamilton who was appointed on January 9, 2012. Ms. Hamilton has been an Ontario resident for over forty years. She is a retired school teacher having taught at Ontario Christian School and for the Chino Valley Unified School District. Her experience with elementary school children will be an asset to CBWCD and their efforts to educate youth on the importance of water conservation. Ms. Hamilton stated, "I feel that education in water conservation is of the upmost importance, especially here in Southern California." She added, "With my years of experience as a teacher with children and administrators, I hope to help and influence future generations."
Ms. Hamilton has been active in the community serving as a Neighborhood Watch captain, collecting funds for the American Heart Association, and serving on the board for the Ontario Christian Schools. Ms. Hamilton is also active with her church by serving on several committees.
Ms. Hamilton was appointed to the CBWCD board of directors to fill the position vacated by retiring board member John Reddick. She will fill the position until November of 2012, when the seat will be up for election on the 2012 ballot. For more information on CBWCD's board of directors or the District's various educational programs, visit www.cbwcd.org or call 909-626-2711.
Calling all foodies, officials at Citizens Business Bank Arena have announced they are teaming up with the Hispanic Business Alliance to hold a food festival May 5 and 6.
Aside from the traditional food truck festival, organizers are also bringing in a sanctioned BBQ competition, known as the IE Dixie Salsa BBQ Competition, as well as live music.
Tickets will go on sale Feb 1 at 10 a.m. General Admission is $10 per day, $8 in advance or a 2 day ticket will sell for $18, $16 in advance.
ickets are available at Citizens Business Bank Arena box office or ticketmaster.com (plus fees). For more information, visit facebook.com/dixiesalsa2012 or
www.hbatoday.com
The Ontario Recreation Department will hold its youth snow day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 28 at Westwind Community Center, 2455 Riverside Drive.
In addition to the white stuff, there will be games, crafts, pictures, play areas and sled runs.
Parents are advised to have kids wear clothes that will keep them warm and dry.
Play areas are only for children 9 and younger.
Cost is $8 for Ontario residents and $10 for nonresidents.
For more information, call 909-395-2020.
The Ontario Rotary Club welcomed and installed the new officers for the Montclair High School Rotary Interact Club, sponsored by the Ontario Rotary Club.
At the organization meeting on the campus, Jackie Albay-Yenney, club advisor, had more than 40 students respond to this service organization.
The officers who received Rotary Interact officer pins were: President Diego Moyano, Vice President Itzel Vasquez-Mora, Secretary Gabriela Cantu, Treasurer Kathya Rodriguez, Director Gilbert Orta-Portillo, Director Luis Garcia-Hernandez and historians Daisy Barajas and Denise Gonzalez.
The club is already working on the club's first service project, aiding flood victims in the Philippine Islands. Dorothy Pineda will be the Ontario Rotary Club liaison to Montclair High's Rotary Interact Club.
Newsboy Books, longtime Downtown Ontario bookstore, will be selling author Dave Pelzer's books when he speaks in Ontario on Jan. 25.
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 the New York Times bestselling author to the city.
Pelzer, whose book details the severe abuse he endured during childhood, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Gardiner Spring Auditorium at Chaffey High School. The event is free and open to the public.
Pelzer will be signing books purchased at the event starting at 5:30 p.m. and at 7:30 until he decides to stop.
Books can also be purchased ahead of time at Newsboy Books, 215 N. Euclid Ave.
Several of his book titles will be available for purchase.
The store is open from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.
For more information, call 909-395-2252.
The Community Flea Market is held each Saturday at Ontario High School to benefit the students of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.
The Flea Market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the campus, 901 W. Francis St.
There are vendor booths, food items and arts and crafts. The fee to sell each day is $20. Vendors may arrive as early as 7 a.m.
Information: 909-279-3962 or www.communitymarkets.org
San Bernardino County Supervisor Janice Rutherford will be the guest speaker at Commercial Real Estate Women's (CREW) luncheon on Wendesday.
Rutherford is expected to lead a discussion on "County Leadership -- Creating a Vision of the Future." The event will be from 11:30 to 1 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Ontario-Airport, 3663 East Guasti Rd.
For more information, visit www.CREW-IE.org.
There is another Inland Empire connection in the parade. California Clock Company -which has offices in Ontario- debuted its first float entry in the parade' in honor of the company's 80th anniversary. Adorning the 55 ft. long parade entry will be the company's iconic product, a 3-story tall version of their black and white Kit-Cat Clock. Named, "Timeless Fun for Everyone," the float features skateboarders zipping around the float as well as a couple dancing to tunes from a jukebox. It also features members of the public who have owned Kit-Cat clocks through the years.Here's another interesting connection to the other IE float, from the Cal Poly universities, these are the only two entries which only used California grown flowers. Many float entries use flowers that are outsourced.
