Ontario Now

ONT officials testing emergency response with disaster simulation

Liset Marquez — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:35:06 +0000

Don’t be alarmed if you see some police activity at LA/Ontario International Airport. There is full-scale, simulated aircraft disaster drill currently underway designed to test ONT’s Emergency Response Plan.

Los Angeles World Airprots is required to test the effectiveness of the management plan once every three years.

The simulation is being held in Terminal 1 with more 200 participants from more than 20 organizations. The drill will be over by noon.

This two-hour drill included participation from: LA/ONT Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Airport Operations, Airport Police, Airport Maintenance, Public and Community Relations and Emergency Management; Ontario Fire Department; Federal Aviation Administration; National Transportation Safety Board; Transportation Security Administration; American Red Cross, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs & Border Protection; and the Ontario City Emergency Management Department.

Ontario Convention Center to host Mother’s Day brunch

Liset Marquez — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:34:24 +0000

Forget the long lines on Mother’s Day, the Ontario Convention Center has designed the ballroom to provide an intimate setting filled with the sounds of live Latin Jazz for your entertainment this Sunday.

Guests can enjoy a champagne brunch featuring a Prime Rib carving station, fresh seafood and delicious made-to-order omelets and waffles.

$35 per person and $15 for children under 11.

For reservations, call 937-3063.

Ontario to hold Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday

Liset Marquez — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:26:48 +0000

Several entities in the city will be participating in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday.

On this day, residents can dispose of any expired and unwanted medicines between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

Kaiser Permanente Ontario Medical Center, 2295 S. Vineyard Avenue, Ontario Collection site will be located in the southwest parking lot off Vineyard Ave., in front of building.
Ontario Police Department lobby, 2500 S. Archibald Avenue
Ontario Senior Center, 225 E. B Street

Collection sites Fontana and Ontario

The Wizard of Oz production coming to Chaffey High School

Liset Marquez — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:23:37 +0000

There’s still time to get your tickets for the production of The Wizard of Oz being put on by Chaffey High School’s theatre department. See poster for all the deatils:

I’m baack

Liset Marquez — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:17:20 +0000

Hello everyone. My apologies for being a little slow with postings the last two weeks, I was helping cover Coachella for our publications.

Let me know if there’s anything you think I’ve missed out on. Thanks

OMSD holds first Poetry Day

Liset Marquez — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:08:24 +0000

Ontario-Montclair School District held its first Poetry Day on March 30, at Linda Vista. Students were able to showcase their creative work on the stage, led by former OMSD student Brian Oliva as Master of Ceremonies.

Oliva currently teaches poetry at Azusa Pacific University, also brought his Poetry Team that supported the students and shared their poetry with district families.

More than 100 families attended to celebrate the students. There were also more than 1,000 student poems entered which were posted in the multi-purpose room at Linda Vista.

Molina Healthcare provided student prize bags for the poetry contest winners that included a $10 gift card to Barnes and Nobles. Barnes and Nobles also donated books for each of the 51 winners. Administrators Sam Sager and Misha Plummer helped organized the project

Ontario launches Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign

Liset Marquez — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:56:31 +0000

Press release from Ontario Police Department:

As part of April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign, Ontario police will be actively ticketing those texting or operating hand-held cell phones during the month of April. Drivers who break the law and place themselves and others in danger will be cited with no warnings.

The current minimum ticket cost is $159, with subsequent tickets costing at least $279. Last April, over 57,000 tickets were written statewide for texting and hand-held cell use. There were nearly 450,000 convictions in 2012. Whether it’s a ticket or a crash, as the campaign theme states, “It’s Not Worth It!” Distracted driving is a serious traffic safety concern that puts everyone on the road at risk.

In recent years, hundreds have been killed and thousands seriously injured in California as a result of collisions that involved at least one driver who was distracted. Nationally, an estimated 3,331 died in 2011.

As a result, law enforcement across the state, including the Ontario Police Department are increasingly cracking down on cell phone use and texting. This April will see over 225 local agencies plus the CHP conducting zero tolerance enforcements

Ontario Convention Center hires new director of Sales and Marketing

Liset Marquez — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:53:28 +0000

The good news seems to just keep on coming out of the Ontario Convention Center since the arrival of Michael Krouse.

Krouse, who has been at the helm of the facility since September has already ushered in a series of changes. The latest is the arrival of the new director of Sales and Marketing for the convention center — Sean Keliiholokai.

The new director previously worked at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, where he directed a 10-person sales team that was responsible for bringing in $8.8 million annually in hotel and meeting room sales, according to the Convention Center.

Keliiholokai also served as a senior consultant with Deloitte & Touche, where he played key roles in several marketing campaigns at a regional and national level where he helped generate of $10 million in new business.

Keliiholokai holds a Master of Hospitality Administration (MHA) degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a B.S. in Business Administration from Biola University.

In case you missed my write up about Krouse and his plans to bring activity to the region, here it is.

Foreclosure Prevention Workshops in Ontario

Liset Marquez — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:15:13 +0000

There may be some relief in sight for Inland Empire homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage. Bank of America and Wells Fargo are holding several workshops in the cities of Ontario and San Bernardino to give homeowners the opportunity to meet with HUD-approved housing counselor or with their lender.

Information about these workshops and other resources for homeowners may be found on the San Bernardino County EDA website at: www.SaveYourHomeSBCounty.org.

Bank of America will hold be holding workshops today through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ontario Convention Center, 200 East Convention Center Way

From Thursday through Saturday, between, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bank of America will be holding a workshop at NID Housing Counseling Agency, 2050 N. Mount Vernon Avenue, San Bernardino CA, 92411

These workshops are for Bank of America customers only.

To pre-register and to find out what documents to bring to the workshop, go to www.BankofAmerica.com/HomeownerEvent or call 855-201-7426

On April 10, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage will be holding a workshop for homeowners at the Ontario Convention Center, Hall B, 200 East Convention Center Way.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. This event is for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage customers only. To register or for more information, call 800-405-8067 or go to: www.wfhmevents.com/leadingthewayhome/

Ontario Mills Mall to be open on Easter

Liset Marquez — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:15:57 +0000

For the first time ever,Ontario Mills will be open on Easter Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Easter Sunday shoppers will have access to exclusive offers from more than 200 popular retailers.

The mall has gone through a series of improvements in the Fashion District of the Ontario Mills mall in recent years.

In August, Nordstrom Rack unveiled its newly renovated 39,000-square-foot store and in May, officials greeted the arrival of Last Call by Neiman Marcus, which bills itself as an affordable option for designer fashions. Earlier this year, the mall became the first Inland Empire outlet location for Michael Kors.

For more information, call 909-484-8300.

Ontario Mills Mall, 1 Mills Circle