February 2009 Archives

POMONA - Firefighters from across the region are expected to gather at Pilgrim Congregational Church Thursday afternoon to honor retired Pomona Fire Department Chief John M. Fowlkes.

Fowlkes, 76, died Feb. 12 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center after a short battle with lung cancer, his son Mitch Fowlkes said.

The Pomona Fire Department no longer exists. In 1994 the city began the transition that brought the Los Angeles County Fire Department to Pomona.

L.A. County Fire members are expected to take part in the service along with those from various fire agencies, the younger Fowlkes said.

Mitch Fowlkes said he spent a great deal of time with his father and was frequently in touch.

"I'm going to miss calling in several times a day," his son said. "We had that open communication."

The two shared many interests, including their careers in the fire service, he said.

Fowlkes was born in Upland to Edgar and Florence Fowlkes and attended Chaffey High School.

He served in the U.S. Air Force four years before going on to work for General Telephone.

In December 1956 he joined the Pomona Fire Department, according to a 1987 story in the Pomona Progress-Bulletin.

He worked his way up the ranks and in 1973 became chief, a post he held until his retirement in 1987, the story said.

While under Fowlkes' leadership the Pomona Fire Department developed into one prepared to serve the needs of the growing industrial city, the story said.

Those needs were met with the addition of rescue and firefighting equipment and specialists in areas such as hazardous material operations.

From the moment he became chief Fowlkes had a goal for the department, his son said.

"His goal when he made fire chief was to make (the department) a Class 1" agency, the younger Fowlkes said.

The rating, which is difficult to get, is issued by the Insurance Service Office and has an impact on the cost of property insurance, Los Angeles County Fire officials said. To earn the designation cities must meet certain standards in various areas including water infrastructure and fire department training and staffing.

Fowlkes achieved his goal and had the opportunity to place decals with the designation on the city's fire engines, his son said.

Away from the fire service Fowlkes enjoyed fishing, hunting and working on the landscaping of his home.

Spending time with his family was important to him and after retiring he took joy in attending sporting competitions his grand children participated in, his son said.

When his daughter Jennifer Fabian died about 8 years ago Fowlkes and his wife made a decision to move in with their son-in-law and help him raise two grand-children, Mitch Fowlkes said.

Fowlkes enjoyed watching his grand children achieve their goals. About six months ago he saw his grandson Kyle Fowlkes graduate from the Rio Hondo Fire Academy, Mitch Fowlkes said.

For the occasion Fowlkes dressed in his Pomona Fire Department uniform as did his son Mitch and his wife Gena, both firefighters in different cities.

Mitch Fowlkes said as a boy he spent a great deal of time with his father and members of the Pomona Fire Department who welcomed him at the fire station as well as along fishing and hunting trips they made.

Those activities were things that created a bond with his father.

"We were best friends. We did everything together," he said.

Fowlkes was preceded in death by his daughter Jennifer Fabian of Upland.

He is survived by his wife Janet Fowlkes of LaVerne, his children Melanie Grenell of Upland and Mitch Fowlkes of West Covina; seven grandchildren and one great grand-daughter; and brothers Kenneth and Robert Fowlkes, both of Upland.

Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 600 N. Garey Ave. Pomona.

Interment will be private.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Cancer411.org or to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center's Robert and Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center Endowment Fund, 1910 Royalty Drive, Pomona, CA. 91767.

Todd Memorial Chapel in Pomona is in charge of arrangements.

DIAMOND BAR - State and local elected officials came together today for the dedication of a bridge carrying railroad traffic over Brea Canyon Road.

The bridge will help ease congestion and improve safety in the area, according to a statement from the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority.

The Brea Canyon Road Grade Separation will carry Union Pacific and Metrolink train traffic over Brea Canyon between the Washington Street in Diamond Bar and Spanish Lane in City of Industry.

Every 24 hours an average of 36 freight trains and 14 passenger trains travel through the area which resulted in the backing up of traffic in the area prior to the construction of the bridge.

The Authority funded the $65.5 million construction project which is next to the Industry Metrolink station, one of the busiest commuter rail stations in Southern California, the statement said.

As part of the ceremony a plaque was unveiled dedicating the bridge project, along with the widening of adjacent Currior Road, in memory of the late Philip Marcellin, a former City of Industry councilman and a board member of the Authority.

Marcellin was appointed in 2005 to the Industry City Council and died in September 2007.

Construction on the separation began in June 2006 and opened to traffic on October 31, 2008, the statement said.

POMONA - Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation announced this week the Casa Colina Hospital will now offer outpatient physical therapy treatment on Saturdays.

To better serve the needs of working families the hospital will offer outpatient physical therapy on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. in addition to its regular weekday services offered from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to a statement from the Centers.

Services are offered at the Casa Colina Tamkin Outpatient Center at 255 E. Bonita Ave.

For additional information on the outpatient therapy services or to schedule an appointment call the Casa Colina Tamkin Outpatient Center at (909) 596-7733, ext. 3500.

POMONA - Parents who have children starting school in the fall may want to visit a kindergarten class next week to see what the atmospher is like in the Pomona Unified School District.

Parents and guardians of incoming kindergartners can visit a kindergarten classroom from Feb. 23 to 27, according to a statement from the district.

No appointments are needed but parents and guardians much check in at the school office of the campus they visit. They will then be escorted to a classroom where they can quietly observe the activities taking place.

The visits are for adults only.

Also, parents and guardians can now begin registering their children for kindergarten and no longer need to wait until May, the statement said.

Kindergarten registration is available at all of the district's elementary school campuses.

 POMONA - The life and contributions of Candelario "Cande" Mendoza will be recognized during the annual meeting of the Historical society of Pomona Valley Saturday evening.

The annual meeting and installation of the organization will take place at the Pomona Ebell Museum of History, 585 E. Holt Ave., Pomona.

The event begins at 6 p.m. with a reception, silent auction and a chance to view museum displays, many of which will be tied to various aspects of Mendoza's life, said Mickey Gallivan, president of the organization.

Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the evening's program, "Candelario Mendoza: A Gentleman for all Seasons" starts at 7:30 p.m.

Mendoza was a long time member of the organization.

"He was very supportive and always very active," Gallivan said.

Mendoza died June 24 at the age of 89 following a long battle with lung cancer. He was a long time member of the Pomona Unified School District.

He was a man of many interests - an educators, a radio personality, a newspaper publisher and a civil rights activist. He served in World War II as part of Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army.

During his life Mendoza over came barriers and was a ground breaker having been the first Mexican-American teacher Pomona Unified hired and was also its first Mexican-American principal.

Mendoza had great affection for the city he called home for most of his life.

"He loved Pomona and the history of Pomona," Gallivan said.

The displays assembled for this occasion offer a glimpse into the many interests of Mendoza through photographs, clothing, music and videos, said Gayle King, a board member of the Historical Society and coordinator of the exhibit.

Through the displays " 'we're trying to hit every aspect of his life," King said.

In exploring Mendoza's life one also gains insight into the history of Pomona, she said.

During the process of putting together the display with Gallivan, King said the two remembered Mendoza.

"We were both near tears. It's sad, we miss him," she said.

Last year, Mendoza made a point of attending the organization's annual meeting even though his health had begun to fail, King said.

King said she and her husband, a historian, often think how they wish they'd had a chance to spend more time with Mendoza.

Tickets to the event are still available. Cost is $25 for adults and $20 for children 10 and under.

Reservations can be made by calling (909) 623-2198 or (909) 261-9655.

POMONA - Two of the city's department heads have lost their posts as part of efforts to downsize city operations and control costs.

Henry Pepper, who served as Pomona's utility services director, and Steve Rudometkin, the city's community services director, were released as part of streamlining operations, Mark Gluba, assistant to the city manager said today.

Tim D'Zmura, who serves as the city's director of public works, city engineer and building official, will take on the responsibility of overseeing utility services, Gluba said.

Library Director Greg Shapton will take on the responsibilities of community services director.

POMONA - With state legislators approving a budget proposal this early this morning, Pomona governmental agencies have begun reviewing budget material checking for any possibly impacts to local finances.

A preliminary review of the budget proposal by city finance officials showed it would have no impact to the city, said Assistant to the City Manager Mark Gluba.

The city has been waiting for $1 million from the state, reimbursement for funds the city spent on the construction of the Veterans Park Soccer Complex, Gluba said.

The facility, which had its grand opening in June, cost $6 million with half coming from the city.

The reimbursed funds, which are Proposition A funds, would go into the city's capital improvements budget to pay for projects such as street improvements and other work, Gluba said.

POMONA - Teachers, students, parents and others will gather in front of Madison Elementary School this afternoon to call attention to the Pomona Unified School District's distribution of 643 preliminary notices of layoff.

The action is expected to begin at 3 p.m.

A number of faculty members at the school received preliminary layoff notices following a unanimous Feb. 10 vote by the district's board of education authorizing the distribution of the notices.

School district officials have said the notices, which could be rescinded, are needed as the district prepares to cut $15 million from the 2009-2010 school year budget.

Representatives of the Associated Pomona Teachers have said it was unnecessary to distribute that many notices which have created stress and anxiety among certificated personnel, which includes teachers, counselors, school nurses, psychologists and others.

POMONA - Starting Saturday, area residents earning about $40,000 a year or less will find free tax help at the Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center and the Boys & Girls Club of Pomona Valley.

Tax assistance will be available Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until April 11, according to a statement from Cal Poly Pomona.

People can access help completing tax returns and can have their returns filed electronically at no cost.

The service is available to low income families, senior citizens and non-English speaking people who are legal residents.

A team of 40 Cal Poly Pomona students has undergone extensive training and testing before offering services to tax payers as part if a service learning course.

Students were prepared by Bill Foley, an accounting professor who is both a certified public accountant and a lawyer.

Assistance in Spanish, Tagalog and Chinese is available.

People seeking the students' assistance should bring the following materials with them:
- photo identification and Social Security cards or taxpayer identification numbers for filers their spouses and dependents
- If available, this year's tax package along with W-2 Forms and 1099 Forms
- information on any other income, expenses, bank accounts or other financial documents
- a copy of the 2007 tax return is recommended

Assistance will be available on a walk-in basis from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Pomona Valley, 1420 Garey Ave.

Walk-ins will be taken from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center, 300 W. Second St. People will be seen by appointment from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Downtown Center.

POMONA - Pomona Unified School District began distribution
Wednesday of more than 600 letters advising teachers, school nurses,
pyschologists and others that they may be laid off at the end of the
current school year.

The action comes after the district's board of education voted
unanimously Tuesday evening to authorize sending out the preliminary
notices of layoff.

District leaders said the notices are needed to prepare for
additional cuts tied to the state's financial crisis and the lack of
a state budget.

POMONA - Potential faculty layoffs will be the topic of
discussion during a meeting of the Pomona Unified School District
Board of Education Tuesday.

Board members will have a chance to vote on a resolution that if
approved would allow district personnel to mail out preliminary
notices of layoff to to more than 500 employees as early this week,
said Tim McGillivray, district spokesman.

The notice, serves as a warning "that because of the situation we
find ourselves in some layoffs are going to happen" involving the
2009-2010 school year, he said.

Representatives of the Associated Pomona Teachers, which represents
teachers, counselors and other certificated personnel, question the
purpose of sending so many notices.

POMONA - Councilwoman Danielle Soto was among various business people and elected officials who this week shadowed Pomona Unified School District principals as part of the Principal for a Day program.

Soto shadowed Marshall Middle School Principal Terry Mora.

The visit afforded Soto a chance to see the various matters a principal handles on a typical day and the academic activities taking place on a campus, Soto said Thursday.

It also did something else.

"It was like a flashback and going down memory lane," said Soto, who as a girl attended Palomares Middle School.

POMONA - A total of 39 claims were filed recently on behalf of
residents and others who attended a meeting last summer where a
dispute between off-duty police officers and members of the public
broke out.

Attorney Luis Carrillo filed the claims Jan. 28 on behalf of
residents and members of the Pomona Habla/Pomona Speaks coalition who
attended the meeting.

Carrillo said Wednesday he expects to file claims on behalf of three
or four more people.

ONTARIO - Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Ontario, will have an open house at her district office Thursday. 

The two hour event begins at 5 p.m. at  the district office, 822 N. Euclid Ave., Suite A, Ontario.

Torres, a freshman assembly member who represents Pomona, Chino, Montclair and Ontario, recently received assembly committee assignments for the 2009-2010 legislative session.

Torres will serve on the aging and long term care committee to which she was also named vice chairwoman; banking and finance; government organization; human services, insurance; and rules.

Shortly after her election to her assembly post, Torres expressed interest in serving on several committees including three of the ones she was appointed to which are banking, government organization and insurance.

In a statement Torres said the appointments will allow her to work on matters that have great importance to her constituents. Torres is the immediate past mayor of Pomona.

Constituents are invited to attend the open house and speak with Torres, who is expected to be in attendance.

For information call (909) 984-7741.

POMONA - City leaders approved a policy this week to address
the handling of traffic checkpoints in the city before moving forward
to accept another grant to fund checkpoints.

The first action drew positive response from some members of Pomona
Speaks/Pomona Habla, a coalition of residents and others concerned
about the use of checkpoints in the city. However, the decision to
accept the grant upset coalition members who saw the action as a sign
the council is insensitive to the plight of some of the residents of
the city.