January 2010 Archives

City Council members will conduct a public hearing Monday night involving ongoing concerns with an East Second Street business.

Council members will have the opportunity to suspend or revoke a modified conditional use permit issued to Angelo's Pizzeria, 135 E. Second St. Another option is to give the establishment's owner more time to meet requirements set by the city.

The business has drawn the city's attention since December 2007 after it was granted permission to serve alcoholic beverages and became the source of fights and other problems.

In October, after months of discussion between representatives for the city and the business, an agreement was reached that involved owner Jason Abboud making a series of modifications to his establishment. City leaders said they would review the matter again in December.

At the December review city staff reported that Abboud had not complied with a number of requirements and still has not done so, according to a city staff report.

The requirements involve taking out building permits, completing an entertainment permit application, submitting a security plan to the city and other matters.

Council members will have the option of giving Abboud more time to comply with the requirements, to modify his conditional use permit or suspend it, according to a city staff report.

The closed portion of the meeting will begin at 5 p.m. followed by the open portion at Pomona City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center has reduced the cost of mammogram screening, it announced this week.

Breast imaging is available for a cash price of $100, a drop of $150, the hospital said in a statement.

For the $100 fee a patient can have one of three types of breast imaging: a screening mammogram, a diagnostic mammogram or ultra sound service.

For no additional charge a radiologist will interpret the results of the tests.

Patients must have a doctor's order to take part in this program, said Tami Barto, spokeswoman for the hospital's Robert and Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center.

The results of the screening will be sent to the patient's physician.

The ongoing service is available to women without health insurance or those who have coverage but are unable to afford high co-payments.

"Last year between 25 and 30 percent of our patients did not have health insurance, whereas a couple years ago it was only 8 percent," said Jan Eggleton, supervisor of the hospital's Breast Health Center in the statement.

The hospital's Robert and Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center registered a considerable decrease in the number of patients scheduling annual breast exams in 2009, the statement said.

Postponing or foregoing an annual breast exam because the patient lacks insurance is risky behavior, the statement said.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009 a quarter million new female breast cancer cases were detected, the statement said.

In addition, 95 percent of new female breast cancer cases and 97 percent of deaths occur in women ages 40 and older.

"Screening and diagnostic mammography is the gold standard for finding breast cancers early when they are treatable," Eggleton said.

"That is why we have this program for people who have lost their health insurance. We want to make it affordable.

Because there is is no sure-fire way to prevent breast cancer, regular mammograms are crucial to detecting the disease, treating and saving lives, the statement said.

To schedule a mammogram, call 909-469-9395 and ask for the $100 cash price.

The service will be offered at The Robert and Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center, 1910 Royalty Drive, Pomona; at Pomona Valley Health Center at Chino Hills, 2140 Grand Ave., Chino Hills; and Pomona Valley Health Center at Claremont, 1601 Monte Vista Ave., Claremont.

For more information, call the Breast Health Center at 909-469-9472.

A pianist and composer who has performed with some of the most successful names in rock, pop and jazz will be at Cal Poly Pomona for a lecture and a performance Feb. 4.

Michael Garson has performed with the Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Gwen Stefani and Stan Getz in addition to touring with David Bowie,

Garson will offer a lecture from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the university's Music Recital Hall.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

At 8 p.m. the same day, the Michael Garson Trio will perform at the Music Recital Hall.

The group features legendary jazz drummer Joe La Barbera and bass player Edwin Livingston.

General admission concert tickets are $25. Tickets for students are $12.

Tickets can can be purchased online at http://csupomona.tix.com or at the Music Publicity Office in Building 24, Room 142.

Tickets will also be sold an hour before showtime at the Music Recital Hall box office.

Cal Poly is at 3801 W. Temple Ave.

Western University of Health Sciences announced this week it will host the sixth International Congress of Behavioral Optometry in April.

Those participating in the international event will meet from April 8 to 11 on the university's campus in downtown Pomona and at the Double-Tree Hotel in Ontario.

Serving as co-sponsors of the event with the university will be the Optometric Extension Program,Foundation, referred to as the OEP, and the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association-International, also known as NORA, according to a university statement.

The congress takes place every four years and rotates through Europe, Australia and the United States, the statement said.

The conference is being held in the Inland Valley because of the university's newly opened College of Optometry, Robert A. Williams, executive director of the OEP Foundation and administrator of NORA, said in the statement.

"The College of Optometry adopted a mission that's virtually identical to ICBO and NORA," he said. "We thought it would be an excellent partnership between NORA, ICBO and Western U."

The College of Optometry's mission statement discusses the need for services related to neuro-optometric rehabilitation along with specialized programs for those living with learning disabilities, brain injuries, developmental disabilities, and other types of visual impairment, said Elizabeth Hoppe, co-founding dean of the college in the statement.

"Our goal is to serve the public by graduating doctors of optometry who can fulfill this increasing public demand," she said.

"Western U is well-suited to pursue this mission because of the unique interprofessional opportunities embedded within the curriculum. Caring for individuals from vulnerable populations, such as those with traumatic brain injury or autism, is always best done with a team approach to health care. Our graduates will have experienced interprofessional communications and team-based care throughout their entire educational process," she said.

The conference is expected to attract optometrists, therapists and other professionals who work in rehabilitation.

POMONA - Mission Boulevard motorists will be able to use a detour to travel across the 71 Freeway during construction of a bridge at the intersection.

Plans had originally called for closing Mission during construction, but area merchants said it would jeopardize their businesses in a difficult economic period.

City staff worked with property owners on the north side of Mission to create the temporary detour road.

"We're taking Mission and shifting it north" temporarily putting it on properties along the north side of the street, said Robert Quintero, project manager with Transtech, the firm providing project management services to Pomona.

The shift will put the Mission-71 intersection 66 feet north from its current location, Quintero said Thursday.

The traffic signal will be moved to the new spot with vehicle turn movements continuing as they are now, he said.

Plans called for paving the detour road in the last week of January and opening it up to traffic by the second week of February, but rainy weather has resulted in some schedule changes, Quintero said.

As of Thursday, the plan was to pave the road in early February followed by work such as adding concrete barriers, he said.

Barring more rainy weather, the detour road is expected to be ready for use by the third week of February, Quintero said.

When the Mission detour road opens, limits will be set on the access to Westmont Avenue.

Opportunities to enter the Westmont neighborhood, which is west of the 71, will be limited, and vehicles will not be able to exit the area using that street, Quintero said.

The closure will be in effect for about 10 months, Quintero said.

Motorists will be able to enter and leave the neighborhood without restrictions by using Phillips Drive, which is west of Westmont Avenue.

During a recent meeting at Westmont Park Community Center, people living and working in the area were updated on the project. Some residents said using Phillips Drive would require additional time to get in and out of the neighborhood.

Other residents expressed concerns about the limits set in the use of the Ninth Street-71 intersection.

As part of the construction project, motorists traveling on Ninth cannot make left turns at that intersection and neither can drivers going south on the 71.

The changes at that intersection are permanent, Quintero said.

Drivers continue to make illegal left turns at the Ninth Street-71 intersection even though signs have been posted, residents such as Sandra Ybarra said.

In the past, Pomona police patrolled the area and cited motorists who violated the new rules, but the officers' presence has been reduced and additional enforcement is required, Ybarra said.

Police Sgt. Mike Olivieri said officers began enforcing the new rules in November in the area and issued citations.

However, enforcement eased up as more people complied with the rules and the issuing of citations dropped, Olivieri said.

Police said they continue to monitor the area.

Quintero said no additional changes to the intersection are planned.

Once the construction project is completed, the city will evaluate the intersection and its possible Ninth Street could be permanently closed.

For now, "we made the decision to keep (Ninth) open until we get the project completed," Quintero said.

Once the project is completed, the Mission-71 intersection will have a diamond-shaped interchange.

The $40million project includes construction of on- and off-ramps as well as the bridge that will take Mission Boulevard traffic over the 71.

Additional work in coming weeks will involve construction of walls along the south side of Mission Boulevard, west of the 71. The walls will help build the ramps leading up to the bridge, Quintero said.

The bridge will take about 10 months to build.

Work on the project is expected to continue into next year, said Marla Doyle, deputy public works director and city engineer.

POMONA - Efforts are under way to take a vacant lot in the 1000 block of South White Avenue and turn part of it into a new two-acre neighborhood park.

Plans call for using half of the four-acre property for a park and the other half for a housing development with no more then 20 single family homes, said Raymond Fong the city's redevelopment director.

The city has a need for park land and the city would have liked to turn the entire property into a park, he said.

"The (City Council) would love to do that but we couldn't come up with the financing," Fong said.

Because the property was purchased several years ago using $1.5 million from the city redevelopment agency's low-moderate housing fund there are limits as to how the land can be used.

If the city was to use the entire property as park space it would have to repay the redevelopment agency the $1.5 million, he said.

To accomplish the goal of bringing a park to the neighborhood the city is working with a developer.

The redevelopment agency has an exclusive negotiation agreement with the Yorba Linda-based Mayans Development firm which is interested in constructing housing on part of the property, Fong said.

Plans call for selling the land to the developer for about $3 million, according to a city staff report.

The developer would then sell half of the property back to the city for use as a park, Fong said.

The redevelopment agency also plans on securing 45-year covenants for five to six of the units ensuring they serve as moderate income housing, he said.

It is estimated that the three bedroom, single family detached homes could sell in the current market for about $310,000 to $320,000, Fong said.

The houses with the covenants would probably sell for about $220,000 to $230,000, he said.

Through this strategy the redevelopment agency would also be able to provide some financial assistance - about $30,000 to $40,000 annually - for the park's maintenance, Fong said

To carry out the development of the park, which would take up land along 11th Street, west of White, the city is preparing to submit an application to the state seeking a grant for about $3.5 million.

If the city is successful the grant would be funded through Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006.

The city's Community Services Department has carried out several meetings in an effort to collect resident opinions and suggestions on what amenities the park should have, said Ilona Arends, community services manager.

The opinions of children and teens have been collected through schools near the future park, she said.

Young people have offered suggestions and have asked for athletic facilities such as basketball courts, soccer fields and a skate park, she said.

Adults have also had chances to provide their opinions and will have another opportunity at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 20)  at the Ralph Welch Park Community Center, 1251 W. llth St.

Plans call for submitting the grant application before the March 1 due date. If the city is unable to secure the grant this year it will make another attempt next year, Fong said.

But Councilman Freddie Rodriguez, who represents the area where the land is located, would like the park developed sooner rather than later.

A number of apartment complexes are located on Waters Avenue, a block west of White, that have many families with children living there, he said.

Children in the neighborhood should have a place to play.

"There's a great need," Rodriguez said. The children "are running around on the streets."

Many things can be done in terms of park amenities, he said.

Soccer fields, which are always in demand in the city, is one of the things he'd like to see at the future park "but lets see what else we can do," Rodriguez said.

POMONA - For months a group of community leaders have been collecting data, speaking with the unemployed, representatives of government and educational institutions as they seek to create a long-term strategy to connect people with jobs.

Saturday (Jan. 16) afternoon leaders of the Pomona/Inland Valleys Cluster of OneLA-IAF, a grass-roots group that works to address issues of concern to families, met at First Christian Church and began preparing for the next step leading to their goal.

In the coming weeks group leaders will attempt to meet with representatives of large to mid-sized companies, all potential employers, in order to initiate conversations about their companies.

The purpose of the visits is to gain a greater understanding of the labor market and the possibility of working with employers to put people in the region back to work, leaders said.

A separate plan will be developed to make similar contact with the many smaller businesses in the region, leaders said.

Across the region people have concerns tied to employment, said Rev. Robert Linthicum, who serves as parish associate at La Verne Heights Presbyterian Church, as a leader in OneLA and as chairman of the group's workforce development team.

"The anxiety is not just related to the recession...it's not just related to low income families," he said during the meeting. "All of us, whether we've lost jobs or not, live in fear businesses just may not make it."

To address those concerns, the group which includes churches, schools, labor organizations and others, is planning to develop a strategy based on an understanding of who the region's employers are, their growth potential along with the educational and technical training they look for in potential employees.

A four-pronged approach is needed that will require the involvement of businesses, educational institutions, government and churches, Linthicum said.

Business people, depending on their growth projections, may have job openings in the future, he said.

Educational institutions, given the opportunity, can provide academic instruction and training that produces students who can meet the needs of fields that will experience growth.

Government officials may be able to provide assistance that help businesses grow and hire new employees.

Church leaders can assist because through their work they often know people who are unemployed as well as the skills they posses.

Among those participating in the OneLA strategy meeting was Dorothy Albert, a Pomona resident and a member of First Presbyterian Church of Pomona.

Many people have been affected by layoffs and downsizing including middle aged people, Albert said.

She has encountered a number of people who are older, have significant experience in their field and plenty of energy, she said.

Their problem is they are having trouble finding jobs because they are considered too old or because employers would prefer to hire younger, less experienced people who will accept lower wages, she said.

People in that age group need assistance so they can continue using their talents and play a part in the economy, Albert said.

Mario Guzman of Pomona was another participant in the job summit.

The member of St. Madeleine Catholic Church lost his job in June at a Chino envelop manufacturing company where he did die-cutting work, operated a fork-lift and worked in the shipping and receiving department.

After 12 years with the company he was told the company was closing and moving to City of Industry.

"It impacted me a lot," he said in Spanish.

The father of four children went from being angry to scared to hopeless.

He's feeling more hopeful now after seeing what OneLA is doing.

Guzman is receiving unemployment benefits but he's developed a plan for himself.

"I continue looking for work," he said. "But what I have in mind is to study."

He plans to earn his GED before selecting a field of study that will lead to new employment opportunities, he said.

Across the region numerous businesses exist with ties to health care, leaders found.

In Pomona alone some of those organizations could have a greater impact if there was more communication among them, said Rev. Mike Fronk, pastor at First Christian Church and a OneLA leader.

"I see a lot of entities not working with each other," he said after the gathering.

In some instances some small connections exists "but it isn't a larger strategy," Fronk said.

Saturday's gathering could result in bringing different elements together that in the end could bring greater job opportunities to the area, he said.

A Pomona resident has been elected chairwoman of the Executive
Community Advisory Committee of L.A. Care Health Plan, the organization
announced this week.

Alejandra Martinez will serve as the 2010 chairwoman, L.A. Care said in a
statement.
L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation's largest public health plan, has eleven
Regional Community Advisory Committees across Los Angeles County to collect
the opinions of plan and community members involving matters related to
access to quality care, the statement said.

The chairpersons of each committee and two at-large members serve on the
Executive Community Advisory Committee, which functions as an advisory
committee to the board of governors of L.A. Care.

Martinez is a consumer member and is chairwoman of the Regional Community
Advisory Committee that represents most of eastern Los Angeles County, the
statement said.

In addition to her committee service, Martinez is a health promoter who was
trained by L.A. Care's Health Promoters/Promotores Program.

"I am very committed to working with my fellow Executive Community Advisory
Committee members, community advocates and providers to ensure we continue
advocating for our communities and health plan members with special needs,"
Martinez said in the statement.

POMONA - In art, inspiration can come from different sources.

The artists participating in "In Front of the Real Thing" were inspired by
the work of other artists.

What they were inspired to create goes on display today at The
dACenter for the Arts, 252 S. Main St., Pomona.

An opening reception will take place at the center from 6 to 10 p.m.

In Front of the Real Thing" features the works of 15 local artists who had
a chance visit the recently remodeled collection study room of the Pomona
College Museum of Art in Claremont.

The museum is trying to create greater ties with the community and let
people know it's a resource they can enjoy, said Steve Comba, assistant
director of the museum. This project was one way of reaching out to the
community and local artists.

The completion of the study room provided an opportunity to carry out the
project, he said.

"I knew it would be an interesting test case," Comba said. "It ended up
being a really interesting process."

The artists visited the museum and were
given access to one or more of the works in its highly regarded collection
including the Samuel H. Kress collection and a series of etchings by Spanish
artist Francisco de Goya.

The local artists took notes, drew sketches or took photographs and then
headed to work and the result has produced art in various media.

Kate Thornton, a Pomona resident, was inspired by two works. One is a 14th
century "Madonna and child" icon from the Samuel H. Kress Collection.

The icon was created with the use of deep blues and reds and gold colors.

The second piece Thornton used for inspiration is an untitled lithograph
created by Sam Francis in 1971 that was a gift to the museum from the C.E.
Merrill Trust.

The abstract piece also uses reds and blues.

Thornton's final product, "A Second Look" is an abstract work that seems to
have the feel of both the icon and the contemporary piece.

Thornton said when she saw the icon and the Sam Francis "they looked alike
to me."

Participating in such a project allowed Thornton to access great works of
art but also did something for her development as an artist.

"It took me out of my previous comfort zone but to a much better place," she
said. "It was a big turning point for me as an artist."

Rev. Bill Moore, a priest and Pomona artist, was inspired to create "Raiding
One's Past."

He was inspired by a jacket that's part of the museum's important collection
of Native American artifacts.

The late 19th century Lakota Sioux jacket is made of leather and decorated
with bead work.

"I was drawn to an icon in the collection but as I was leaving the museum,
my eye caught this jacket," Moore said.

Aside for the bead work, the worn leather garment is decorated with
images of horses.

That prompted Moore to go through the belongings of his recently deceased
mother.

Among her belonging Moore found beads which his mother enjoyed collecting
and a small toy horse made of felt.

His mother's belongings were incorporated into his painting.

"Raiding One's Past" is inspired by the unknown, he said.

"It's more about what I don't know about (my mother) than what I know,"
Moore said. "The jacket was worn with great pride by a Native American and
we'll never know what it meant to him."

The jacket, the beads and the toy horse "are the remnants of lives we'll
never really know," he said.

Terry Taylor Castillo, the dA gallery director, said a project such as this one
allowed some artists to break out of their comfort zones and for others it
"gives them an excuse to do something different."

Comba said the success of the project has him and others brain storming.

"Now we're trying to figure out how to do this again," Comba said.

In the future, depending on the gallery, it may be possible to exhibit the
new art works along side the museum's pieces that inspired the new
creations, he said.

This project, Comba said, may serve to inspire younger generations to visit
an art museum to discover old and new artists and along the way gain an
appreciation for art.

After a more than two-week break for the holidays, the City Council
will meet Monday night for its first meeting of the new year.

Among the business on its agenda, the council will conduct a public hearing
involving a final supplemental environmental impact report for a proposed
transfer station on East First Street.

A proposal calls for building a 4.5-acre facility on a piece of city-owned
property at 1730 E. First St.

The council is also expected to vote on a proposed resolution certifying the
environmental document and voting on conditional use permit modifications.

In 2007 the City Council approved a conditional use permit for the
construction of a waste transfer station on the property but a group, the
Coalition for Environmental Justice in Pomona, sought court action,
according to a city staff report.

A Superior Court judge required the city to complete a supplemental
environmental study focusing on alternatives to the project, air pollution,
freeway traffic impacts and groundwater, the staff report said.

Also on Monday, City Council members are expected to vote on the creation of
a recovery zone under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

City staff is recommending council approve creation of such a zone, which
would allow the city to seek bonds to address problems such as unemployment,
foreclosures and other critical issues, a city staff report said.

Some of the financing could also be used for projects such as the
construction of new police station, a new fire station and a parking
structure for downtown.

Those seeking to access information or do city business with the
help of the Pomona Web site have been unable to do so this week.

As of Friday it was not known when the Web site will be available, said Mark
Gluba, assistant to the city manager.

Upon return from the holiday break city personnel learned Monday of the
problems with the Web site, Gluba said.

City representatives found the company that hosts the Web site, VPI Visual
Perspectives Internet Inc., had a change in personnel that has affected
service to the city, Gluba said.

The problem was supposed to have been addressed earlier in the week but has
yet to be resolved, he said.

When the Web site will be running again is not known, Gluba said.

City information technology personnel are working with the company and
exploring options to address the problem, he said.

The city may also seek a new company to provide the service since the current provider is
moving away from providing services to cities, Gluba said.

Monday night's City Council agenda, as well as agendas for other city
panels, are posted and available for viewing outside
the City Council Chambers at Pomona City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.

Spring training is still weeks away but baseball players can begin preparing now to prevent batting injuries.

Every Thursday afternoon Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation and former
Los Angeles Dodgers star Tommy Davis will host a batting clinic.

Davis was the National League batting champion in 1962 and 1963.

The clinic will be offered from 3:30 to 5 p.m. every Thursday at Casa Colina
Sports Medicine Center.

"We are excited to have a baseball legend like Tommy Davis provide his time
and expertise to helping not only fans, but future baseball and softball
stars," said Felice Loverso, president and chief executive officer of Casa
Colina in a statement.

"Our goal is to help our served communities reach their full potential by
providing them the tools to prevent injuries and sharpen their skills," he said.

Through the weekly sessions Davis along with Casa Colina's
certified athletic trainers and licensed physical therapists will work with
participants so they can learn to play and train without injuring
themselves.

Batting clinic sessions will give attention to such topics as building a
solid foundation for competitive play; finding the right grip; adding speed
and power to the swing; establishing a better batting stance and balance;
uncovering muscle imbalance and weaknesses; and setting limits to avoid
overtraining and injuries.

The clinic is open to children 8 and older and adults. Coaches, regardless
of the level of players they work with, are also welcome.

For additional information on Casa Colina's Batting Clinic or to schedule
one or more personal sessions with Davis and Casa Colina athletic trainers
and therapists, call 909-596-7733, ext. 5569.

Pomona administrators have organized a meeting for Jan. 20 to collect
residents' opinions on a two-acre park the city hopes to create on 11th Street,
west of White Avenue.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Ralph Welch Park Community
Center, 1251 W. 11th St.

At the meeting residents will have an opportunity to offer suggestions on
amenities the new park should have, according to information from the city.

The city is seeking a state grant totaling about $3.5 million for the
purchase of the land and its development into a park.

The grant the state grant the city is seeking would be funded through Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water
Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of
2006.

Primm Tabernacle A.M.E. Church will celebrate its 113th anniversary
with a series of programs and the visit of a member of the Obama
administration.

The activities will take place Jan. 23 and 24.

Activities begin with a workshop offered by Peter Groff, director of the
Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U. S. Department
of Education.

The free workshop centers on the work of the organization Groff leads,
opportunities for collaboration and information, and other resources
provided by the Department of Education, according to a statement from the
church.

The 90-minute workshop begins at 9 a.m. Jan. 23 at Pomona First Baptist
Church, 586 N. Main St.

Seats for the workshop are limited. Those interested in attending should
RSVP by e-mailing pame.inca@verizon or by calling 909-627-0818.

The anniversary celebration takes a musical turn Jan. 23 with a free concert of the dlw Community Chorale
under the direction of Don Lee White.

The group consists of musicians who are members of church groups from the
Los Angeles area. The chorale has performed at music festivals, conventions
and churches across the country, the church statement said.

Also performing will be the Primm Tabernacle Sanctuary Choir and some
surprise guests.

The Anniversary Concert will begin at 4 p.m. in the worship center of Pomona
First Baptist Church.

Primm's church anniversary worship service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Jan. 24
at the church, 1938 S. Towne Ave.

The theme for the service will be "Turn it over to God" and will include a talk by Groff.

Prior to serving in the Obama administration, Groff was executive director
and founder of the University of Colorado's Center for New Politics and
Policy, formerly known as the Center for African American Policy, the
statement said.

He was on the faculty of the University of Denver's Institute for Public
Policy.

Groff served in the Colorado state Senate, where he was the first African
American to hold the post of president. In addition, Groff served in
Colorado's Assembly.

His work as an elected official includes legislation addressing civil
rights, education and health care concerns.

Information about the church or its anniversary services: 909-627-0818.

Inland Valley Hope Partners is reminding residents of the region
Super Bowl Sunday can be about more than football.

The organization, which provides emergency food and shelter to those in
need, is encouraging young people to take part in the Souper Bowl of Caring.

Youth groups can help raise money to support food pantries such as the ones
run by Inland Valley Hope Partners through the Souper Bowl of Caring, the
organization said in a statement this week.

Youth groups can set up a soup pot at the exits of their houses of worship
on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7, and ask for contributions of $1.

The proceeds are then donated to local organizations, soup kitchens or food
pantries, such as Inland Valley Hope Partners, which provides food to the
hungry.

Inland Valley Hope Partners runs food pantries in Pomona, Ontario, San Dimas
and Claremont.

A part of the project includes the Service Blitz.

The blitz takes place the Saturday before the game and involves youth groups
volunteering at the local food pantry, soup kitchen or other food security
center that will benefit from their donation.

The service day will also allow participants to see how the contribution will help those in need.

Last year more than $10 million was raised for pantries across the country,
the organization said.

For information on the Souper Bowl of Caring and other ways youth groups can
assist, e-mail Amy Modglin at amym@hope-partners.com or call her at
909-622-3806, ext. 242.

POMONA - Every so often, security officers with four-legged partners can be spotted walking through Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

The security teams - consisting of a dog and a handler - have patrolled the medical center since 1990, said Louis Hernandez, the hospital's director of security.

Canines are an efficient method of maintaining the safety at hospitals, according to people familiar with hospital security. In addition, these specially trained dogs are good for public relations, experts said.

"They are a very positive tool also because they are very friendly," Hernandez said.

Patients, staff and visitors often want to pet the dogs, and they can do so, if they ask the handler for permission.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center security officer Jose Martinez walks his dog Bear through the hospital's emergency room last month. Bear has had regular police training and is trained in explosives detection. Hospital dogs also get to interact with patients and visitors. (Will Lester / Staff Photographer)he said.

Pomona Valley Hospital has three Belgian Malinois and handler teams, Hernandez said, adding he's hoping to replace a fourth dog that was recently retired.

Dogs used as part of hospital security teams have a different temperament from those used by law enforcement agencies, said Joe Cruz, public safety director for Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, which also has dogs on patrol.

"The temperament of the dog has to be lower," said Cruz, who added Long Beach Memorial has three teams and uses German shepherds and Rottweilers.

A dog working in law enforcement has a higher energy level compared to a canine working in a hospital setting. The hospital dog must be a bit more restrained because it will be around people more, many of whom are dealing with illnesses, and children, Cruz said.

However, training for a canine and handler working in a hospital is not too much different from law enforcement training, Hernandez said.

Teams from Pomona Valley Hospital undergo the same monthly training and annual certification processes as law enforcement teams, Hernandez said.

"Experts certify the dogs are working to the highest level possible," he said.

The presence of a canine can be useful in defusing a situation during which tempers flare or tension is beginning to escalate.

In urban settings, canines are becoming increasingly useful, said William Nesbitt of SMSI Inc.

SMSI is a consulting firm that has experience doing legal work involving security litigation and provides security consulting services to health care organizations.

As major trauma centers find themselves closing their doors, emergency medical personnel have fewer emergency rooms to take victims of street violence for treatment.

Emergency personnel years ago could transport rival gang members to different hospitals, which is not easy to do anymore, Nesbitt said.

Injured rival gang members could potentially end up in the same emergency room, he said.

"If the entourage that comes with them can start to become a problem, (the canine) becomes a deterrent to violent or irrational behavior," Nesbitt said.

Whether it is one person or a crowd, once people see the dog, a tense situation calms because they know dogs can be aggressive, Hernandez said.

However, "in all the years we've had (canines), we have never had to use them aggressively," he said.

Pomona Valley Hospital's dogs have always been trained for protection, but, about four years ago, a decision was made to also begin cross training the canines in explosives detection, Hernandez said.

If there is an incident such as a terrorist attack, the hospital, which is a major medical facility in the region, could provide treatment for those victims, Hernandez said.

Under such circumstances, the hospital could become a secondary target, he said.

In such a situation, a handler and a canine can be a significant asset because they can find even the smallest amount of explosives, Hernandez said.

Hernandez contends airport security teams should have more canines.

For example, a well-trained dog and handler team would have detected the explosives a Nigerian airplane passenger traveling from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day was carrying before he allegedly set them off.

"I'm very sold on the capabilities of dogs," Hernandez said. "Their sense of smell is unbelievable."

Canine and handler teams are also useful in maintaining that hospital grounds are kept free of burglars.

Should an alarm be set off, the canine and handler team can be called in, Cruz said.

The dog "can do the initial search," Cruz said. "My officer doesn't put himself in harm's way."

The canines also serve as a form of therapy for patients, employees and visitors, Cruz said.

Personnel in the hospital's emergency department, which is a high stress area, often look forward to the handler and canine passing through because it provides a moment to interact with the dog, he said.

Cruz said he often gets calls from nursing personnel who have patients who are dog owners and miss their pets and could use a visit from a security officer's canine partner.

Canines have been used for hospital security for at least 15 years, but the programs aren't cheap.

Specially selected and trained dogs each cost more than $10,000, Nesbitt said. However, the investment is worthwhile.

"Anecdotally, (a dog and handler) probably have a greater deterrent value than an officer with a sidearm," he said.

POMONA - Services will be held this morning for retired police Officer Phil Bozoich.

Bozoich, 56, died Dec. 27 at San Antonio Community Hospital in Upland following a short battle with cancer.

Bozoich retired in November 2008 after 30 years with the Pomona Police Department. Twice he served as president of the Pomona Police Officers' Association, the labor group that represents members of the department with the rank of sergeant and below.

"He was a guy you could always count on," said Ken Fullam, a long-time friend and Pomona officer. "He was the first guy there for you if you needed anything."

Away from work he enjoyed spending time with family, especially his young granddaughter, fishing and the challenge of a home improvement project.

Bozoich took great pride in carrying out home improvement projects, be they for himself, family or friends, said his son, Phillip Bozoich.

The projects were one of the ways father and son spent time together enjoying each other's company, the younger Bozoich said.

Christina Barron said she and her father would get together for a quiet family dinner or simply spend time at home chatting about whatever was on their minds.

It's those times she's going to miss, Barron said.

Bozoich, a resident of Rancho Cucamonga for more than 20 years, was born in Compton and grew up in La Puente, Barron said.

Joe Romero, retired Pomona police chief, met Bozoich when the latter was a plainclothes security agent for a large discount department store at what is now the Village at Indian Hill.

Bozoich expressed a strong interest in law enforcement, and Romero suggested he become a reserve officer, and before long Bozoich was a member of the reserves, providing police service without pay, Romero said.

Bozoich joined the department without going to the police academy by demonstrating his work as a reserve officer gave him the knowledge to become a member of the police force, Romero said.

"He was down to earth and he had already demonstrated he cared about the city and was genuine about his desire to serve," Romero said

Throughout his career Bozoich was someone who cared about people.

He was the first to step up and help raise funds for a family whose 5-year-old son died after being hit by a car, Fullam said.

"He raised the funds for the funeral because (the family) was so indigent and poor," he said.

Romero described Bozoich as "a genuine street cop" who tackled assignments with enthusiasm.

"He wanted to be a street cop. Sometimes people dread putting on a uniform and going out. He relished the thought of going out," Romero said.

At the most difficult times, such as the riots in Pomona that followed the first verdict in the Rodney King case or chasing down gang members, Bozoich was there to serve the city.

Bozoich served as president of the Pomona Police Officers' Association in the early 1990s and again during the last three years of his career, Fullam said.

As association president Bozoich tried to prepare new leaders and one way was by assigning projects, he said.

"Some people micro-manage but that wasn't Phil. He wanted you to learn," Fullam said.

Such opportunities let other officers know Bozoich "had faith they could complete the job," he said.

Bozoich is survived by his wife, Valerie Bozoich of Rancho Cucamonga; two children, Christina Barron and Phillip Bozoich, both of Corona; a stepdaughter, Courtney De Stefano of Rancho Cucamonga; sisters Sondra Costello of Baldwin Park, Patricia Garcia, Virginia Slexen of the San Gabriel Valley, and Andrea Torres of Glendora; brothers Steve Bozoich of La Puente and George Bozoich of Barstow; and a granddaughter, Juliana Barron of Corona.

Services will be at 11:30 this morning at Todd Memorial Chapel 570 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. Interment will be private.

POMONA -- In summer 2008, Justin Castruita had just graduated from Bonita High School and was working in a machine shop testing hydraulic parts when he heard about a course being taught at Fairplex.

The six-week, eight-hours-a day water technology course was the first class offered as part of the Fairplex Educational Foundation's Career & Technical Education Center program, also known as CTEC.

Castruita wasn't enjoying his work at the machine shop and thought he'd give the class a try.
The class led to a job with the East Pasadena Water Company and what Castruita sees as the start of a career in water utilities.

"I'm trying to get experience and as much knowledge" as possible, the 18-year-old La Verne resident said.

The company he works for is small, which is good as he starts his career, and offers a variety of duties.

"I do customer service and work on water mains and water leaks," he said. "There are places where people don't do half of what I do."

Castruita is a success story Dan Harden points to when he talks about CTEC.

Harden, director of education for Fairplex, can envision more young people having similar experiences to Castruita through CTEC.

The program has been designed to give students an opportunity to develop technical and vocational skills that will allow them to take entry level jobs in well paid fields with room to move up with additional training.

Castruita is one of 15 students who took part in the inaugural water technology course and completed it successfully, Harden said.

Seven members of the class, which is part of CTEC's Environmental and Regenerative Studies career path, now work in the water industry, he said.

Castruita was one of several class members who interviewed at East Pasadena with the help of Patti Latourelle, an employee of the water company who is both a board member of the Bonita Unified School District and its representative on the San Antonio Regional Occupational Program.

Latourelle said she followed the progress of the water class and when an opening at the utility come became available suggested students be considered for the spot.

Castruita has been with the utility a little more than a year and in that time has proven to be "a wonderful employee."

Before he enrolled in the water technology class Castruita considered going into law enforcement.

Working for the water utility has afforded him many of same benefit those in law enforcement are entitled to "but it's a lot less dangerous," he said.

His job allows him to work outdoors, carry out different responsibilities and comes with good wages, Castruita said.

The utility company pays for continuing education classes in addition to paying for college courses as long as he earns a C or better, he said.

Castruita is taking advantage of the latter. He's taking courses at Citrus College as he learns more about the water industry.

His goal is to move up in the industry and some day work at a water treatment plant and maybe even move into a management position, he said.

POMONA - Matthew Doss enjoys working with clay and a potter's wheel to create ceramic pieces of art.

"This is something I truly love," the 20-year-old Covina resident said recently while taking a break from working on a vase in gallery 5 of the Millard Sheets Gallery at Fairplex.

The gallery is one of the classrooms in the Career & Technical Education Center program offered at Fairplex.

Students in the ceramics course, part of the art career path, have a chance to work with the tools their crafts require and interact with other artists, said Scott Stragier, who teaches the ceramics courses.

Stragier said his course provides an avenue for young people to develop their artistic skills, and it does something else.

"It's about changing lives and giving them experiences they wouldn't have otherwise," he said.

"When someone brings in their first (art) piece they'll remember that forever."

Doss tried ceramics in high school and found he enjoyed it. After graduating from high school he tried community college but he didn't really know where he was headed.

Then he ran into his high school ceramics teacher, Stragier, who invited him to enroll in his class at Fairplex.

Doss found himself working with his mentor in a setting far different from high school.

"Here it's actually more relaxed. It's a different environment. It's not high school....People want to be here," Doss said.

What Doss is doing is more than just creating art pieces. He would like to make a living as a potter and one day open a ceramic art studio. For now he's weighing his options and trying to determine which area two-year college would be best as he continues to develop his craft.

Stragier said Doss and other students in the class are learning "to express themselves creatively" but they are also learning about the business side of art and how "you have to produce something that someone else would like to buy."

The same day Doss was working at the potter's wheel a group of students from Pomona's Village Academy High School were at the Sheraton Suites Fairplex putting the final touches on dinner tables elegantly set for a banquet.

The students in CTEC's hotel and restaurant management course, part of the business career path, have worked in the Sheraton's kitchen, have assisted as servers at banquets and will have opportunities to work the front desk and other aspects of the hotel's operations, said instructor Carlos Hinostroza.

"They will learn how the entire hotel operates first hand by doing the work," he said.

Hinostroza's students have been in his Village Academy hospitality and culinary arts class which includes running a small coffee shop and restaurant.

The CTEC class is an extension of the Village Academy class, he said.

Ruben Chavez, 17, is among the students in the hospitality management course.

"I want to see how it is to work in hospitality," Chavez said. "I want to see how (one) works with people."
Although Chavez is planning to pursue a career as a computer engineer the skills he picks up through the course will be useful in his field of choice.

"How to communicate with people will help me in business," he said.

John Gilbert, the hotel's general manager, regularly meets with the students and on the night of the banquet he offered tips on paying attention to details on the dinner tables and how to serve dinner guests.

What he and others are doing is mentoring, Gilbert said.

"It's about mentoring them into trades and professions they can go out and make a great living," he said. "My goal is to give them skills they can take anywhere."

POMONA -- To many people Fairplex is a place to have a hot dog and ride a gigantic Ferris wheel during the L.A. County Fair.

For dozens of teens and young adults Fairplex is a school campus.

Fairplex "is the ultimate community classroom," said Mark Maine, Pomona Unified School District's director of regional occupational programs.

Young people enrolled in programs through the Career & Technical Education Center, or CTEC, take classes on the grounds of Fairplex where any of its facilities can serve as a classroom or lab, said Dan Harden, director of education for Fairplex.

"We call it a classroom without walls," he said.

Students are able to take courses where they can develop marketable vocational and technical skills in any of six career pathways: agriculture, arts, automotive, business, construction, and environmental and regenerative studies.

CTEC, a program of the Fairplex's Education Foundation, runs in partnership with the San Antonio Regional Occupational Program, which serves Pomona and Bonita unified school districts.

The program meets state standards so students earn vocational education credit for their course work, Harden said.

Fairplex's Education Foundation supports the program by raising the necessary money to operate and Fairplex provides materials and access to facilities where students can get the hands-on experiences that will prepare them for their careers, he said.

That means students have access to places such as the kitchen and front desk of the Sheraton Suites Fairplex, the galleries of the Millard Sheets Gallery or the vehicles and equipment of Fairplex.

"What we offer here (schools) could not offer in the classroom," Harden said. "We are in the real-world workplace schools so often talk about."

Harden has hired top-notch instructors in their fields to teach the classes but they aren't the only ones doing the teaching.

Students have access to Fairplex professionals and journeymen tradesmen as well as leaders of local businesses with years of experience willing to share their knowledge, said Dwight Richards, Fairplex vice president of operations.

By the time students complete the courses in their chosen career paths they will have solid technical skills they can use to secure jobs after high school. Additional training at a two-year or four-year college will lead to even better opportunities, Harden said.

Students who may have struggled with academics or questioned why they needed to understand math or science often find out through their hands-on work what the practical applications of such subjects are, he said.

The idea for a program such as CTEC has been around for some time and was spearheaded by Los Angeles County Fair Association members Don Hendrick and Jil Stark, both of whom are also Education Foundation members, Richards said.

Both see the value of vocational education but noted it is something schools are rarely able to offer, he said.

"We believe we at Fairplex could fill that void," Richards said.

In the past, Fair Association President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Henwood has worked with Pomona Unified to bring students to Fairplex who had participated in a school district program, such as its hospitality course, to continue their training there, Harden said.

CTEC will allow such efforts to expand and include additional career choices, he said.

Playing a part in educating young people is not a stretch for Fairplex.

"This fits right in with our overall mission," Richards said. "Education is 50 percent of our corporate mission."

Representatives of Pomona Unified said recently the work being carried out by Fairplex and the Education Foundation is gaining strength at a critical time.

As school districts see their budgets shrink and struggle to provide new options for their students, CTEC is growing and providing much needed educational opportunities.

"The Educational Foundation has made a huge commitment," said Cindy Walkenbach, a consultant for the school district and its retired director of secondary education. "To be an educational resource ... I think they're coming back to that mission in a very big way."

The commitment to raise funds for such an educational purpose is also significant because it ensures the program will continue living, Walkenbach said.

Pomona Unified has about 40 students enrolled in CTEC courses.

More students could benefit from CTEC but transportation has been a challenge for some who find it difficult to get to Fairplex, Walkenbach said.

Another challenge is parents aren't always comfortable allowing their children to attend a class at Fairplex, she said.

To give students and parents a better understanding of what Fairplex has to offer, Pomona Unified is planning a career fair on the Fairplex property where parents and students can learn more about CTEC and the resources available to students enrolled in its courses.

"People have to see things to feel comfortable," Walkenbach said.

Bonita Unified School District has a number of students enrolled in CTEC courses and areas of concentration.

"We have students in everyone of those concentrations," said Lois Klein, assistant superintendent of educational services at Bonita Unified.

The programs have drawn the attention of both high school level students and adults alike, said Melissa Smith, senior director of student support services at Bonita Unified.

Part of the appeal is the small class sizes and the chances students have to interact closely with the instructors, Klein said.

In addition students are working in surroundings suited to the particular course of study, she said.

Students in the ceramics programs "are working in a building set up to exhibit art," Klein said, adding most high school classes don't have such resources.

"The Fairplex provides this huge campus with all these opportunities," Smith said. "It's this beautiful setting for our students."

The program has also served to help students explore potential career opportunities, Smith said.

Students have used the program to find out if a field they have an interest can be a career to pursue or if they should look elsewhere, she said.

Maine, of Pomona Unified, said CTEC offers students a great deal aside from career training.

"I think a lot of these programs give (students) confidence for the next step," Maine said.

Programs such as this one encourage students to pursue a high school diploma. Although some may have left higher education out of their plans, ROP and CTEC classes can change that, he said.

As students start to see the possibilities open to them with additional education, "it connects them to the post-secondary experience," Maine said.

He said that as the program grows there may be opportunities to launch courses in areas such as health careers as well as engineering and design, areas the district has started to focus on.

As people in the public sector and private industry hear about CTEC, they have approached Fairplex with suggestions for career programs that could be offered, Richards said.

"People are coming at us but the funding is the only challenge," he said.

One program that is being developed is conservation and wildland fire science, a course that would include training in ecology, soils, water, forests and problems such pollution and animal extinction.

The program could lead to job opportunities in government, the National Parks Service and agribusiness.

PASADENA - Months of work paid off when the Cal Poly Universities float the schools entered in Friday's 121st Tournament of Roses Parade earned the Bob Hope Humor Award.

The prize, awarded to the entry judges consider the most comical and amusing, is one of the more prestigious, said Johnathan Jianu, a third year mechanical engineering student at Cal Poly Pomona who is also on the campus Rose Float Committee.

"It's pretty much what we were gunning for," Jianu said after the parade concluded.

This year's float, "Jungle Cuts," is the 62nd consecutive entry in the Rose Parade created by students from Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The float depicted five barber monkeys styling the hair of various clients that included a giraffe with a beehive, a snake with a flat top and a zebra with a mowhawk.

With the help of engineering students technical know-how many of the animals on the float were able to move.

A group of about 180 people consisting of Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students along with volunteers, family, friends and other supporters were at their customary spot on the parade route - in front of the Norton Simon Museum on Colorado Boulevard - to cheer for their float, Jianu said.

Although students were ready for a vacation following numerous long days leading up to the parade, many were still encouraging friends and others to vote for their float as part of the Viewer's Choice Award contest.

Viewers were able to vote for their favorite float New Year's Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. via the KTLA website.

The winner will be announced shortly.