August 2010 Archives

Even though the weather forecast calls for cooler temperatures, the Pomona Public Library will remain on its modified schedule today (Saturday).

That means the library will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.

Plans call for returning to the regular schedule Monday, said Mark Gluba, assistant to the city manager.

However, should temperatures spike, the library's schedule could be modified once again on short notice, he said.

Library hours were modified earlier this week after 100-plus degree temperatures and the lack of air conditioning made it difficult for people to use the library even with the help of fans and swamp coolers.

The library's air conditioning system broke down at the end of June, and to repair it a new compressor had to be built for the system.

Gluba said the new compressor has arrived, and the air conditioning could be operational by the middle of next week.

The library's regular service hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturdays noon to 5 p.m. The library is closed Thursdays and Sundays.

Any changes in the library's schedule will be posted on its website at http://www.youseemore.com/pomona/.

Pomona Heritage is inviting residents to attend its Bowl-a-Rama fundraiser Sunday (Aug. 29) at the Bowlium Bowling Lanes, 4666 Holt Blvd. in Montclair.

The event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Tax-deductible tickets are $25 each.

The $25 tickets entitle four guests to two hours of bowling in one lane. Shoe rental is included with the ticket.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the replacement of signs at the entrances of the city's historic districts.

Pomona Heritage collected donations for the purchase of the signs, which were installed by the city in 2005.

Some of the signs have deteriorated, and the preservation organization would like to replace them, according to information from Pomona Heritage.

Tickets can be purchased using PayPal through the Pomona Heritage's website at www.pomonaheritage.org or by contacting Jan Reed at vp@pomonaheritage.org or by 909-629-4343.

The First Christian Church Child Development Center is celebrating 40 years of service, and to mark that milestone it will have an open house Wednesday(Sept. 1).

The event will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the center, 1751 N. Park Ave.

Various children's activities will be offered.

The center has openings for children from infants to first graders.

Part-time and full-time programs are available.

For information call 909-629-3636.

As part of Pomona Day at the L.A. County Fair, members of Fairplex Friends are organizing a picnic dinner scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 10.

The Friends, a group that supports the fair and Fairplex, will organize the dinner which will follow the various Pomona Day activities which include a parade and the Community Hero presentations.

Tickets to the dinner, which will take place on Fairplex's Picnic Hill, are $20 each.

Tickets must be purchased ahead of time. To purchase tickets send a check payable to Fairplex Friends and mail it along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to Fairplex Friends, 168 W. Willow St., Suite 122, Pomona, 91768-1828.

Those with questions can leave a detailed message at 909-510-5606.

Ticket reservations must be made by Friday (Sept. 3).

"The dinner is just a way to promote Pomona and the fair," said Beth Brooks, chairwoman of the group. "It's also a good way to end Pomona Day."

The Friends include more than 380 Pomona residents, business people and others interested in supporting Fairplex and the L.A. County Fair.

Among the activities organized by Fairplex Friends are visits to Fairplex centered around the various resources there such as the Garden Railroad, the Millard Sheets Gallery and the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

Pomona resident and poetry writer Ron Hardin is scheduled to have a signing of his book, "His Heart's Collection" from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 4 at Borders bookstore in Montclair Plaza, 5055 S. Montclair Plaza Lane.

The book consists of a collection of Christian poems, according to the website, www.hisheartscollection.com.

The poems are based on Scripture and meant to address the daily challenges that believers and non-believers face, the website said.

Hardin, a minister, is also the author of "Choosing Faith With Love."

The San Bernardino County Emergency Food and Shelter Program local board has applications available for non-profit organizations seeking funds for homeless shelters and food programs in San Bernardino County.

The deadline to submit applications is 4 p.m. Oct. 14.

An orientation meeting for interested agencies will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday (Sept 2) at the Community Action Partnership office, 696 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino.

The orientation meeting is mandatory for agencies that currently are not currently receiving funding.

The local board encourages new agencies to apply for the funding.

Applications can be obtained through Wytske Visser, executive director of Pomona-based Inland Valley Hope Partners.

Visser can be contacted via e-mail at wytskev@hope-partners.com.

Information also is available by e-mailing info@hope-partners.com or by calling Inland Valley Hope Partners at 909-622-3806, ext. 229.

A 26-year-old Diamond Bar resident was sworn in as the student member of the Mt. San Antonio College board of trustees for the 2010-11 academic year, the college announced this week.

Patrick Martinez was sworn in during Wednesday's board meeting.

Although the student trustee position is an advisory post, it is meant to bring the perspective of students to the board, according to a college statement.

The student trustee's vote "helps the board know how the student trustee stands on issues and strengthens the student role in the college's shared governance process," the statement said.

Martinez is majoring in international business and public policy and has a 3.7 grade-point average.

In 2004, at the age of 19, Martinez ran for the state's 60th Assembly District.

Last year, he was president of the Mt. SAC Associated Students. He is a member of Mt. SAC's Honor Program and its Forensics Team.

After he completes his studies at Mt. SAC, Martinez plans to transfer to USC to major in public policy, the statement said.

The dean of Western University of Health Sciences' College of Podiatric Medicine was the keynote speaker during this week's American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine Annual Clinical Conference.

Dean Lawrence Harkless delivered the address Thursday at the conference which took place in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., the university announced Friday.

Harkless talked about "Innovation and Integration: The Future of Podiatric Medical Education."

He will also make several other presentations at the conference which concludes Sunday (Aug. 29).

Harkless keynote speech concentrated on the educational changes necessary to prepare students for the 21st century practice of medicine.

Traditionally, a professor lectured and students took notes and memorized information for tests, Harkless said in a university statement.

At the College of Podiatric Medicine the emphasis is on student-centered learning which means professors must ask themselves key questions such what they want their students to known; how the students should learn those lessons; how to know if students learned the lesson and how to make sure will if they didn't; and how to provide enrichment to students who seek and need it.

Instead of emphasizing memorization, students take on cases and must solve the problem, he said.

"This is application-based learning," Harkless said. "When I talk about innovation and integration, that's the model we're implementing at Western U."

The theme of the conference is "Tomorrow's Concepts for Today's Practice."

Participating in the prestigious conference provides an opportunity to incorporate this method of learning into the entire education system of colleges of podiatric medicine, Harkless said.

"Our profession tends to be surgically oriented," he said. The American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine "is the medical arm of our profession. This brings us back to focusing on the basics, which is being an excellent podiatric physician," he said.

"We're not just a foot and ankle surgeon, we're physicians. Our ability to diagnose and integrate interprofessionally is as important as surgery as we work toward improving the quality of health care in the 21st century."

POMONA - Rudy Alvarado walked among the lush green plants he and his family tend to in a lot on the southwest corner of Center and Gibbs streets and names some of the things growing there.

The list sounds as rich as the produce section of a well-stocked grocery store.

"I have watermelon, I have radishes, I have jalapeño chile. Here I have (zucchini) squash...I have corn, I have sunflowers and carrots," Alvarado said in Spanish recently.

"Over here I have string beans, and right here, I have peanuts," Alvarado said as he crouched down next to the plant and carefully held the young green pods in his hand.

Rudy Alvarado along with his wife Magali Alvarado and their two children, Ricardo, 8, and Gisel, 7, are among the urban gardeners who are growing food to put on their dinner table, trading gardening knowledge and building relationships at the Pomona Community Garden.

The idea for the garden came from pastors at First Presbyterian Church of Pomona who thought the vacant lot could have a better use as a community garden, said Drew Rushlow, the garden's manager.

The concept was presented to a church committee which supported the idea.

From there, church representatives worked with Pomona's Redevelopment Agency which owns the lot.

The two worked out a licensing agreement that allows the church to use the land at no cost although they must pay for utilities, said Redevelopment Director Raymond Fong.

Along the way, Rushlow, with a bankground in farming, became the head of the garden project.

With an emphasis on growing crops without the use of chemicals and pesticide, people are learning they don't need a huge amount of gardening knowledge to get started.

The garden does several things, Rushlow said.

"It's growing food, people and community," Rushlow said.

People are learning to build relationships with different neighborhood residents and learning from each other, Rushlow said.

Along the way the gardeners are transforming a vacant lot into something special.

"Pomona had a rich heritage and background in citrus," Rushlow said. "We've lost that because of urban development. Let's just take some of that heritage back.

"Let people see beauty can be restored in Pomona."

Resident Richard Wulfing, with two plots in the garden growing beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and squash, became familiar with the garden while on his way to the nearby YMCA of Pomona Valley.

"It's something worth while and a lot of fun," he said.

Wulfing is a retired Los Angeles County parks superintendent at a number of large parks including Bonelli Regional Park.

He's shared his knowledge of water-saving irrigation systems with Rushlow and helped install one in the garden.

For now people are growing enough food to use at home but in time it may be possible to collectively produce enough to sell at a farmers market or to trade with a food cooperative, Rushlow said.

Alvarado and his family became one of the 10 farmers and individuals working plots in the garden after church members extended an invitation to neighbors to participate.

Margaret Connors, a community liaison with the church, said she and those she was working with thought they would get a greater response, "but this is a good start."

Alvarado said his children are learning about cultivating food and the family is saving about $100 a month in grocery bills.

"And it all tastes better than the fruits and vegetables at the store," he said.

That's the result of having a pesticide-free garden, but there's something else, Alvarado said.

His family was close-knit before they began working as a family in the garden.

"I think this makes the relationship with the family stronger," Alvarado said.

POMONA -- A group of more than 30 elementary and middle school-aged boys and girls recently made their way around Fairplex's Urban Garden.

The youths, part of the Pomona Hope summer program, sampled passion fruit and peppermint plants and handled lemon balm and fennel, all of which grows in an area less than an acre in size found within the Fairview Farms section of Fairplex.

Produce from the Urban Garden is used in preparing meals at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel's McKinley's Grille and at hotel events, said Dwight Richards, vice president of operations for the Los Angeles County Fair Association.

Having such a garden isn't a completely new idea.

"The past several years we had a garden during (the L.A. County) Fair," Richards said.

Establishing a year-round garden was an idea that came from the growing interest in eating healthy with the help of freshest products, he said.

But that's not the only motivation behind the Urban Garden.

"We're an agrarian based company," Richards said. "So if anything, what we're doing is going back to our roots."

The Urban Garden serves as a model that shows visitors the kinds of crops they can grow within small pieces of land.

It was that kind of learning experience the young visitors and some of their parents were exposed to during their visit to the Urban Garden.

They walked past different types of squash, 20 different kinds of heirloom tomatoes, an assortment of herbs, in addition to lettuce, carrots, egg plant and other veggies.

During their walk the group stopped at a plant called stevia where Don DeLano, Fairplex horticulturist, invited his guests to pull a leaf from a freshly cut branch of the plant and taste it.

At first the youth hesitated to chew on the unfamiliar leaves. Then the flavor came through and they all began to giggle and chatter.

"It's a natural sweetener without calories," DeLano said. "You can buy a small plant and grow it in your yard."

All along the way DeLano gave the youth information on the various fruits, vegetables and herbs and how Chef David Teig uses them.

"These are Roma-type tomatoes," DeLano said. "They're thick and meaty for sauces."

After walking through the Urban Garden the children sat down for a meal that included freshly grilled vegetables, salads and peach crisp.

"It's delicious!" said Luis Bustamonte, 11, a student at Lincoln Elementary School in Pomona.

"It's true," chimed in Dominick Villela, 8, a student at Cortez Mathematics and Science Magnet School.

Luis said he was impressed with the entire garden.

"Everything was real life grown," Luis said. "At the grocery store it looks not so grown by hand," he said.

Dominick said he saw familiar fruits and vegetables in the garden but also learned about vegetable such as black carrots.

"I didn't think there was such a thing," Dominick said.

Some of the children have worked in the Pomona Community Garden, organized through First Presbyterian Church of Pomona, said Emily Peine, director of Pomona Hope Community Center, which is located on the church grounds.

A conversation between the church garden's manager, Drew Rushlow, and Jim Henwood, Fairplex's president and chief executive officer, lead to the visit, Peine said.

Through such a visit the children in the program may see what a community garden can be, she said.

"They could see what the full picture could be," Peine said.

DeLano said the Urban Garden is still developing.

"It's kind of an experiment in progress," he said.

The Urban Garden doesn't use pesticides instead relaying on natural means to control pests, DeLano said.

Crops are evaluated in order to plan ahead and determine what to grow more of and what to scale back on, he said.

Enough produce is generated by the Urban Garden that Fairplex has been able to trade products with other restaurants and cooperatives, DeLano said.

Teig said he has been able to go through long stretches without having to purchase produce, relying only on what the Urban Garden produces.

"Some crops go in and some crops go out. Sometimes I'll go three weeks without buying a single green," Teig said.

What Fairplex has been able to do is not common.

"Very few restaurants or hotels can do this," he said. "A lot of chefs would love to have a garden like this."

However, space limitations often prevent chefs from establishing gardens near their restaurants where they could grow and easily access produce, Teig said.

Having the Urban Garden and being able to grow his own produce gives Teig an opportunity to be creative in the kitchen, he said.

As a parent Teig said he's already seen what a garden can do for children.

Parents sometimes struggle to get their children to eat new things but that changes when children see fruits and vegetables grow.

"When I pull (a vegetable) out of the ground and they see where it comes from it is so much easier to get kids to try things," Teig said.

The Urban Garden is available for private gatherings and can be booked by calling the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel at 909-868-5915.

Groups interested in visiting and touring the Urban Garden can arrange a visit by calling Mark Drury at 909-868-5916.

POMONA - After months of negotiations and delays, construction of the Mission Boulevard and 71 Freeway interchange is under way.

Building the $44 million project that when completed will carry Mission traffic over the 71 Freeway has had its challenges, city public works administrators said this week.

After some delays, a temporary detour road running along the north side of Mission opened in early July which has permitted construction crews to step up their work.

"We consider opening up the detour road a watershed moment," said Pomona Public Works Director Daryl Grigsby.

"To say we are delighted is an understatement," he said.

Among the challenges have been working out agreements with four property owners that permitted the city go onto their property and and build the detour road.

In July of last year plans called for temporarily closing Mission where it meets the 71 Freeway as a way of reducing construction time by about a year and saving $3 million to $4 million.

Area businesses people and some residents objected to the idea.

Businesses owners said that in the current weak economic environment a full closure of the street would put many of them out of business, especially those running smaller operations.

It was after discussion with business owners and some residents that the decision was made to pursue construction of a detour.

Plans called for starting construction in March but there were problems with poles and other equipment that required re-ordering the materials, Grigsby said.

The poles and equipment were needed to move the traffic lights, Grigsby said.

Another problem encountered involved adjusting the timing of the traffic light <NO1>and took time to adjusting <NO>to keep traffic flowing in the area, he said.

The initial days following the opening of the detour road and the problems with the traffic light's timing were difficult, said Joe Kim, general manager of HD Supply Repair & Remodeling, which is just east of the 71 Freeway.

Those initial days of construction were more difficult than he expected but once the issues were addressed construction has been as expected, Kim said.

At this point neighborhood concerns "are a bit more about safety" and are centered on Ninth Street and the need to cross the 71, he said.

Kinley said plans call for meeting with residents next month when the matter will be discussed and their opinions sought.

As part of the construction project, motorists traveling on Ninth cannot make left turns onto the 71. Those driving on the 71 are barred from making left turns onto Ninth.

Whether Ninth Street is closed permanently is a decision that has not been made, Kinley said.

The city's original construction time line, predicted work could be completed by this September but now the project won't be completed until October or November of next year, said Kinley.

Workers are now finishing retaining walls which are more than half complete.

Work relocating utilities is nearly complete.

Soon to begin will be the installation of long poles, or piles, as supports for the future bridge.

Grading is under way to build up the ramps that will lead up to the bridge, Kinley said.

Once completed, the bridge carrying Mission traffic over the 71 will be about 35 to 40 feet above the freeway, Kinley said.

"One of the things people are going to be surprised over is the scale" of the project, Grigsby said.

He said the city easily could have given up on the project but city leaders deserve credit for persisting and committing to a project that will have significant benefits to residents and businesses of the area and beyond the immediate neighborhood.

An economic study of the impact the improvements will have on the area has not been done recently, but will be done as part of the update of the city's general plan, said Raymond Fong, director of the city's redevelopment agency.

"We're still a year away from the the Mission-71 being completed and in an economy that is not indicating a boom" is close by, he said.

After the general plan is updated, the city can go forward with an economic strategy for the city. As part of that strategy, special attention will be given to the prominent city corridors including areas such as Mission and the 71 area, he said.

The Mission-71 project is a significant undertaking for the city, Kinley said.

"It's the single largest construction project taken on by the city of Pomona," he said, adding such projects are generally carried out by Caltrans or other large agencies.

Grigsby said the project is almost a local economic stimulus project on its own, employing numerous people and requiring the purchase of large amounts of materials and supplies.

In comparison the city's capital improvement projects can total about $20 million in a good year, Kinley said.

Street paving work being paid with federal stimulus dollars totals $10 million, Grigsby said.

POMONA - About 9 months ago, Heidie Lopez of Pomona learned she was having her third child.

Then she heard from her sisters in Chicago.

"Every two or three days one called and said she was also having a baby," Lopez said.

And with each call, the four sisters' surprise grew at what they were experiencing.

Things became more surprising when each of the four sisters gave birth to a baby within a four-day span that began Aug. 6 and concluded when Lopez delivered Jonathan Lopez on Monday evening at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

"It made us laugh," Lopez said in Spanish. "We couldn't have planned it this way. It's just one of those little gifts from God."

In Chicago, the Lopez sisters - Lilian Sepulveda, 27, Saby Pazos, 29, and Leslie Pazos, 24 - all delivered their babies at the same suburban Chicago hospital.

The same obstetrician, Dr. Jean Alexandre, delivered the three Chicago cousins.

Alexandre called the births "very unusual but wonderful at the same time."

Lopez said she was expecting to have her baby on Aug. 18, but began having contractions and went to the hospital. Soon thereafter, she gave birth by cesarian section. Her two older children - Miguel Lopez, 12, and Dayanne Lopez - were also born by cesarian section.

Lopez said she and her family found themselves in somewhat of a similar situation when Dayanne was born, Lopez said.

At the time, she and two of her sisters became pregnant about the same time, but they delivered their children several weeks apart, she said.

Lopez said she would like to see her sisters especially in time for the infants' first birthday, but it would be too expensive for her and husband Gil Lopez to travel with their children.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center has had numerous twins, a good share of triplets and at least three sets of quadruplets, but it's hard to say if they have ever had a new mother in a situation similar to Lopez's, said hospital spokeswoman Kathy Roche.

Members of American Legion Pomona Post 30 will have a barbecue fund raiser Sunday (Aug. 15) to benefit various breast cancer organizations.

The family-friendly event will include contests, opportunity prizes, games, and plenty of oldies music.

The menu will include items for as little as $1 and full meals for $5.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, chili cheese fries and more will be available.

The barbecue kicks off at 3 p.m. and concludes at 7 p.m. at the post, 239 E. Holt Ave.

For information call 909-620-0943.

Astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, a former Pomona and San Gabriel Valley resident, will be making preparations this weekend before going on her third space walk Monday to make repairs to the International Space Station, according to the NASA web site.

Caldwell is among the crew members living on the Space Station.

She and fellow flight engineer Doug Wheelock carried out a space walk on Aug. 7 and a second one Wednesday (Aug. 11) to make repairs to a failed ammonia pump module that provides cooling for space station.

On Monday the two astronauts will continue the installation and activation of a spare ammonia pump module on the space station, NASA said.

That space walk is planned for Monday shortly before 4 a.m. Pacific Time.

NASA personnel are considering scheduling a fourth space walk for cleanup activities in the location where the repairs are being made.

Caldwell's family had been living in Pomona when she was born Aug. 14, 1969 at Arcadia Methodist Hospital.

The Caldwell family moved to El Monte around 1972 and 1980 moved to Glendora where the future astronaut attended Cullen Elementary and Robert H. Goddard Junior High.

The Caldwells lived in Oklahoma for more than a year before returning to Southern California and settling in Beaumont. She graduated from Beaumont High School in 1987.

Fairplex's director of marketing and communications Michelle DeMott will address members of the Willie White Park Focus Group during its monthly meeting scheduled for (Aug. 19) Thursday.

The two-hour meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Willie White Park Community Center, 3065 Battram St.

Each year a representative of Fairplex attends a focus group meeting and speaks special events and other items related to the L.A, County Fair, according to a statement from the group.

Those in attendance will have the opportunity to ask questions.

The Willie White Park Focus Group meetings are open to the public.

For information, call Melba Robison at (909) 596-4273 or M. Joyce Bakersmith at (909) 392-8666.

The Friends of the Pomona Fox will screen the film "Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory" Aug. 22 at the Fox Theater in Pomona.

Special guest at the screening will be Mel Stuart, the film's director and the author of "Pure Imagination: The Making of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory."

Stuart will be available to answer questions about the film and sign copies of his book.

The classic family film released in 1971 stars Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson and Peter Ostrum in the role of Charlie.

It was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of best music, scoring adaptation and original song score, according to the Internet Movie Database. Gene Wilder was nominated for a Golden Globe in the best motion picture actor in a musical or comedy.

Doors to the Fox, on the southwest corner of Garey Avenue and Third Street, will open at 1 p.m. with the film starting at 2.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for children ages 12 and under.

Tickets can be purchased on-line and a $1 convenience fee per ticket will be included.

Additional film and ticket information is available at www.pomonafox.org.

Popcorn, soft drinks and candy will be sold at the Fox concessions stand.

Hot foods and alcoholic beverages will be sold before, during and after the film at the Drink, adjacent to the Fox.

Tickets are on sale for the Fist of Gold Youth Center "Fight to the Finish" boxing show.

The fund-raising event begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Finish Line Sports Grill on the grounds of Fairplex. A portion of the proceeds goes to supporting the Youth Center's programs.

More than 15 bouts will be on the night's fight card featuring young athletes from the Fist of Gold program competing with youth representing boxing organizations from across Southern California, said Jorge Castaneda, executive director and coach.

Tickets are $10 pres-sale and $15 at the door.

Tickets can be purchased at the Fist of Gold Youth Center, 2350 S. Garey Ave. or at the Finish Line Sports Grill, 2201 S. White Ave., which can be accessed from Gate 12 off White Avenue.

Assemblywoman Norma Torres is looking for residents of her district who are 100 years of age or older as part of a recognition program she is launching within the 61st Assembly District that includes Chino, Montclair, Ontario and Pomona.

Through the Century Circle program, Torres, D-Ontario, is attempting to shine a light on the growing number of district residents who are 100 or older, along with their families and their care-givers, according to a statement from Torres' office.

Department of Finance 2010 population figures say California has about 5,900 over the age of 100, the statement said.

"While serving as council member and mayor, and now as a member of the state Assembly, it has been my privilege and honor to attend special celebrations marking the birthdays of many of our seniors. Century Circle is a new, personalized program that highlights the rich history of each individual and officially recognizes the growing numbers of centenarians living and thriving in our local communities," Torres said in the statement.

Torres is a member of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care.

Those who know of district residents who will be celebrating their 100th birthday or a birthday beyond 100 are encouraged to contact Torres' office and provide the name of the centenarian, their month of birth, and the name and contact information for someone Torres' staff can call in relation to the centenarian.

That information should be mailed to Torres' office, 822 N. Euclid Ave., Suite A, Ontario, CA 91762 or e-mailed to assemblymember.torres@assembly.ca.gov or call 909-984-7741.

Additional information on the Century Circle program and a birthday greeting form are available at www.assembly.ca.gov/torres.

The Pomona Community Health Center was among a group of 47 non-profit organizations recognized for their work by Wells Fargo Bank and award $1,000 grants.

The awards were presented earlier this summer during the company's annual Community Support Breakfast at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel.

The Pomona Community Health Center is a free clinic located in the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services building at Park Avenue and Seventh Street.

The health center provides full-service primary care to the uninsured, the working poor, the elderly, the homeless and others who meet certain income requirements. Dr. Jamie Garcia is both a physician and the clinic's executive director.

"Wells Fargo awarded 47 local non-profits with $1,000 in unsolicited contributions as part of the company's ongoing commitment to support the communities it serves," according to a statement from the bank.

Among the organizations who received grants were Citrus College Foundation; Fairplex Educational Foundation; Foothill Family Service; Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House; Pantera Elementary School; Pomona High School; Rancho Cucamonga - Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Foundation; Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce; and Walnut High School

POMONA - Pomona children and teens wearing bike helmets and following bicycle and pedestrian safety laws may find themselves being pulled over by Pomona Police Department traffic officers.

Once stopped officers will hand young cyclists two passes for free admission to either the Ganesha Park or Washington Park pools.

The program follows a successful Bicycle Rodeo organized by the city's Traffic Services Unit in July, said Sgt. Eddie Vazquez of the Police Department's Youth Services Unit.

"We're trying to better educate the public in bike safety and pedestrian safety," he said.

Bike and pedestrian accidents are preventable yet when they occur they can result in serious or fatal injuries, Vazquez said.

A total of 700 swim passes will be issued along with educational materials as a way of thanking young people for following bike and pedestrian regulations, being good members of the community as well as to remind them to continue following regulations when they head back to school in September.

The passes, which are good until Sept. 5, will be handed out this week and next week. Depending on the success of the programs it may be extended through the end of the month, Vazquez said.

The program is sponsored by the Pomona Police Department and the Community Engagement Group, which consists of residents, business people, members of law enforcement, clergy and others. The group organizes activities designed to keep young people away from negative behavior.

Police Department has used drug asset forfeiture funds earmarked for youth programs that provide alternatives to gangs to pay for the passes, Vazquez said.

Pools are open from 1 p.m to 5 p.m. and closed Mondays. The last day pools will be open is Sept. 5.

Night swimming is offered from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Ganesha Park Pool.

Ganesha Park Pool is at 1575 N. White Ave. The Washington Park Pool is at 865 E. Grand Ave.

(Published Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010)

POMONA - Former B.H. Hadley Machine Shop employees and their family members have a chance today (Aug. 11, 2010) to visit their old work site, now the lobby of the Comfort Inn, 1421 S. Garey Ave.

A grand opening and ribbon cutting for the hotel will begin at 5 p.m.

The portion of the hotel lobby is the former Jules Hugues Winery, which dates to about 1900, according to information compiled by historian Joey Fuentez Jr.

For years, the building processed grapes produced by Hugues and other growers into wines.

During the early 1930s and mid-1940s, the building had agricultural warehousing and athletic uses.

In 1946, B.H. "Bud" Hadley bought the building and several acres of surrounding property.

Hadley opened the B.H. Hadley Machine Shop, which went on to make components used in the defense and aerospace industries, Fuentez said.

From the mid-1960s until about 2000, the building had different business uses.

The property was eventually sold.

For more information on today's event, send an e-mail to Fuentez at jfuentezjr@ yahoo.com or call 909-731-6753.

(Published Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010)

POMONA - Cuts in services, layoffs, employee concessions and outsourcing have all helped give Pomona a balanced budget this year.

But even with all those cuts the city still faces an uncertain financial future.

Councilwoman Cristina Carrizosa said recently if that without an increase in revenue "it's possible we will have to make more cuts."

The city has made so many staff reductions that "we're at the point where I don't know who is left," she said.

Last week council members decided not to place a measure on the Nov. 2 ballot asking voters whether the Pomona Police Department should continue to provide law enforcement services in the city or if Pomona should contract for such services with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Council also directed city staff to cease further research on contracting with the Sheriff's Department.

The contract was being considered as a way to reduce city expenses since law enforcement takes up one of the largest portions of the city's budget.

After last week's council decision on the matter Carrizosa asked if the city would be able to fund its own department.

City Manager Linda Lowry said it was concessions negotiated with the city's various employee groups that played a part in controlling costs for this budget year.

City representatives and employee groups will have to begin labor negotiations earlier than usual to determine what will happen next year, Lowry said.

Council members said recently labor negotiations will be just one part of addressing the city's uncertain financial future.

Councilwoman Paula Lantz said the city must do several things including taking a good look at outsourcing services beginning with residential trash collection.

The city explored outsourcing the service three or four year ago "but at that time it didn't save us much money," she said.

It's possible having an outside company handle residential trash collection for the city may result in a savings but probably not enough to merit doing away with employee furloughs, said Councilman Steve Atchley.

Still, this is something worth exploring, he said.

Another area that must be given attention is the careful review of the city's contract with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Lantz said.

Council members are expected to take up that topic following their summer break.

Taxes aren't necessarily an option in part because the council has little interest in seeking additional taxes.

"It really was not the will of the council," Lantz said, adding council members feel this is not the time to ask residents for tax increases.

Councilman Tim Saunders agrees.

"Everybody is in trouble and it hurts, it really does hurt," he said.

At this time raising taxes would do more harm than good because it would deter businesses from coming to the city when what the city needs is more businesses, Saunders said.

The city must work to attract business that will generate tax revenue for the city but to do that Pomona must also be more "business friendly," Saunders said.

That means being more efficient in the way it handles permits for a project, he said.

In addition, the city must take steps leading to the creation of a system where businesses can learn what requirements they will have to meet to open a business in one place "instead of going through four of five different departments," Saunders said.

But until the economy improves and businesses start coming into the city, "we have to really learn to spend less," he said. "We have to tighten our belt right now and when taxes come in we keep them tightened."

People have suggest asking voters for a public safety tax measure, Lantz said.

There was talk about a public safety measure.

"Anything like that takes a two-thirds (majority) vote and that's a very high threshold," Lantz said.

However, without a poll it's difficult to say if a public safety tax is something a few vocal residents support or if a large number of city residents feel the same way.

Some city residents say if a reasonable tax proposal was crafted it could gain support.

Pomona resident Derek Engdahl said that after having informal conversations with Pomona Police Department leadership and other members of the department he thinks it is possible to come up with a tax proposal.

The proposal would have to have the input of members of the Police Department since they are familiar with the needs of the department but it must also be well thought out and should be reasonable, said Engdahl, who is also a leader of One LA, a grass roots group that focuses on matters of importance to families such as education, jobs, and public safety.

People realize the importance of public safety and its connection to different matters, Engdahl said.

"Public safety issues are really some of the key issues that underlie everything," he said. "If things aren't fundamentally safe then all things are undermined."

City official said Proposition 22 is something that may provide some help if it's approved by voters across the state.

Proposition 22 calls for banning the state from borrowing or taking money from local government, transit and transportations funds.

Lantz said if the measure is approved redevelopment dollars cities need would also be protected.

Those redevelopment dollars are important to carrying out development projects, she said.

At this point when the state takes redevelopment funds "it means we don't have money to subsidize developers," she said.

In recent years the city has lost millions of dollars in redevelopment money to the state, Lantz said.

If those dollars had stayed in the city "that's a lot of money we would save and that goes into business development," said Mayor Elliott Rothman.

Redevelopment dollars help cities attract businesses in different ways such as by providing financial assistance to acquire a piece of land needed to carry out a project, Lantz said.

Some developers of retail projects are interested in the building in the city but the city has limited funds to help bring them into Pomona, she said.

Rothman said there are still other steps the city can take.

"There's a lot of streamlining left to do throughout the city," Rothman said.

(Published Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010)

School district representatives on Friday (Aug. 6) hand-delivered documents to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk that will lead to placement on the Nov. 2 ballot of a parcel tax measure.

The Pomona Unified School District board voted 3-2 Thursday night (Aug. 5) to place the measure on the ballot.

Board members Jason Rothman and Andrew Wong cast opposition votes.

"I've always felt like the issue is not the amount of money but how how we spend it ... We as a board need to be smarter on how we spend money," Wong said.

Instead of seeking additional funds from Pomona Unified property owners, the district must reallocate resources, find new revenue sources and develop public-private partnerships rather than "increasing the tax burden on our residents," Wong said.

Board member Roberta Perlman said she gave considerable thought to the vote.

"I appreciate it is a very, very tough time," Perlman said.

However, if the parcel tax is approved, the money raised will go to students.

"It's not the same as (Measure PS) bond money that can only be used for facilities. This can be used for children," Perlman said. "For the good of our community I do support it."

In order for the measure to be approved, it needs a two-thirds majority of votes.

If approved, the tax would generate about $4 million a year for four years, according to text of the measure.

The money raised would fund academic programs, minimize class size increases, continue teacher professional training, update computers and technology, provide funding for programs in the visual and performing arts as well as other students programs. In addition, it would pay for teachers and staff who provide these services.

During Thursday's meeting, wording was added to the ballot language that stated money from the tax will not be used for consultants with the exception of those who provide direct support to student programs.

Should the measure pass, district property owners would pay $96 per parcel annually, according to text of the ballot measure.

Multi-family properties with two to four units would pay $192 a year and those with five or more units would pay $480.

A parcel tax is levied on any property in the district assessed by the Los Angeles County tax collector.

The measure also contains a provision that allows senior citizens who are 65 years old or older to request an exemption for the tax.

Superintendent Richard Martinez said earlier this year he was among a group of educators and school district leaders who traveled to Sacramento seeking the support for education following several years deep cuts to their budgets.

What Martinez heard from legislators was disheartening.

"They said, `You may have to go back and figure it out locally,"' Martinez said.

"It's a bad time to tax people. But the community has an opportunity to make a decision."

The decision could help save valuable programs that are jeopardized during financially difficult times, Martinez said.

The tax is meant as a temporary solution.

Once the economy turns around it's going to take about 18 months before the school district begins to feel the effects of an economic recovery, he said.

(Published Friday, Aug 6, 2010)

Alexandria Franklin walked out of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center's Family Health Center recently with a smile on her face, three adhesive bandages on the back of each arm and waving a foam rubber dragon in the air.

The dragon was a treat, courtesy of the hospital's volunteer program, after the 4-year-old received six immunization shots.

"To get her into pre-school she has to have her shots," said Alexandria's mother, Elizabeth Harrigan of Upland.

Where Alexandria will enroll hasn't been determined, Harrigan said.

"I wanted to take care of the shots first," Harrigan said.

Alexandria was among the dozens of children whose parents brought them to the hospital's annual Kids Health Fair Saturday (July 31).

This year the fair was moved up on the calendar in an effort to assist families whose children will attend school shortly - some starting as early as next week.

Families from throughout the region attended the free event where children went through a series of screenings that included vision, hearing, dental and height and weight checks. Parents were also given referral information should more detailed exams be required.

Free immunizations were also provided.

Irene Espana of West Covina brought her daughters Nevanee, 2, and Natalia, 4, to the fair.

Nevanee received three shots and Natalia received four.

Nevanee was in her mother's arms when pharmacy students from Western University of Health Sciences administered the vaccines. Natalia, who had already received her own shots and wasn't happy to have them, broke out into tears once again after watching her sister get her vaccinations.

The girls' mom said the fair offered multiple services for her daughters in one place and at time she was between insurance plans.

With the help of the fair, she was able to keep her daughters' vaccinations up to date, Espana said.

"I was able to do it without skipping a beat," she said.

Pomona resident Cynthia Irigoyen brought her four children ages 12, 9 and 5-year-old twins to the fair.

The visit to the fair, which she made on the recommendation of her neighbor, had been worthwhile, she said.

"I found out (the twins) need glasses and that there are some small cavities," that need attention, Irigoyen said in Spanish.

The health fair is carried out with the help of numerous volunteers that include hospital employees and members of its volunteer programs, nurses with the Pomona Unified School District, students and faculty from Western University of Health Sciences, health care professionals and members of various service clubs.

Stephanie Gleiberman and Thao Pham were among the Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy students who volunteered to administer vaccines to children.

Gleiberman, a third-year student who splits her time between Pomona and Santa Barbara, administered vaccines to Alexandria Franklin.

With the help of Alexandria's grandmother, Christine Harrigan of Pomona, the child remained calm and never shed a tear during the vaccination process.

Gleiberman said Alexandria was the child she had administered the most shots to the day of the fair.

The most shots Pham, a second-year student from Garden Grove, had administered to one child the same day had been four.

This was the first time the two women were assisting at the fair.

"It's nice to participate in the community and help out a little bit," Gleiberman said.

The fair also afforded them the opportunity to let people know something about pharmacists.

"A lot of people think pharmacists don't give immunizations. We do," Gleiberman said.

Among the more tenured volunteers at the event was Judy Sanders, who was among the members of Soroptimists of Pomona/Claremont.

Sanders, a resident of Chino Hills and a retired teacher for the Pomona Unified School District, has been volunteering at the fair for about eight years.

At this year's fair she was among volunteers collecting paperwork and was also working with other volunteers polling parents to find out how they learned of the fair.

Events such as this one provide a much-needed service, Sanders said.

"The health care needs in our community are tremendous. Families have a tremendous need and very few places were they can get those needs met," Sanders said.

With the help of the hospital and the fair some of those needs are addressed, she said.

"It's a fabulous project to help families out," Sanders said.

Families plan for the event, some attending annually and in some instances arriving early to be among the first in line, she said.

"When they come back year after year you know their needs are being met," Sanders said.

(Published Friday, Aug. 6, 2010)

Oscar Hernandez had heard about the annual Pomona Youth Campout but it wasn't until this year that he was old enough to attend.

When he arrived at Fairplex for the overnight event that began (July 30) last Friday he found out what family members who had attended before him were talking about.

He had a chance to dance on a stage to the music of a DJ, eat snow cones, play games and participate in numerous other activities including watching several movies on a huge screen while snuggled inside a sleeping bag.

"Dude, it was so fun! And the best part is you get to stay up late for 'G-Force,'" said Oscar, a student at Golden Springs Elementary in Diamond Bar, referring to the Disney film about a group of specially trained guinea pigs.

The fifth annual Youth Campout held at Fairplex's Park Square from 5 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. (July 31) Saturday drew 285 Pomona children ages 9 to 12 for an evening and morning of non-stop activity under the supervision of Pomona police officers and community volunteers.

Attendance for the free event is the highest of the five campouts held by the city.

Sgt. Eddie Vazquez, an organizer of the event, attribute the success of this year's campout to the efforts of the last four years and those involved in them.

Children and parents have heard the positive comments from past campers and their families, he said.

The economy is also a factor.

With limited programing for young people available, youth are looking for fun things to do and parents are keeping an eye out for cost-effective programs their children can take part in, Vazquez said.

"Word gets out (the campout) has cool raffle prizes and activities," he said.

The event is organized by members of the Police Department and the Community Engagement Group, which includes residents, members of law enforcement, business people, clergy and others all working to offer Pomona youth fun but safe activities that will keep them away from negative behavior.

About 75 volunteers including off-duty officers, police Explorers, Community Services Department members, service clubs, non-profits and businesses contributed time or services, Vazquez said.

"No one entity in and of itself can do this," Vazquez said adding the event has become a significant community event.

Raising money for campout expenses and prizes in a weak economy was challenging but to some groups and individual "this is their Super Bowl of community events" and they worked hard to provide assistance, Vazquez said.

Among those is Maggie Marquez, a member of the Community Engagement Group who organized a car show in Pomona's downtown. The fundraiser generated enough money to purchase 20 bikes and helmets that were given away at the campout.

Marquez, who grew up in Pomona, said she was able to take part in activities others organized when she was child and now she wants to make sure today's children have some of those same opportunities.

Pomona resident and Community Engagement Group member Carrie Baker said the campout is a worthwhile effort.

She was among the volunteers who spent the night watching over the campers.

"It takes energy but it take more energy if these programs didn't exist," she said.

Through such activities it's possible to have a positive effect on children, she said.

Chief Dave Keetle who attended the event Friday evening said it was good to see the campers enjoying themselves and interacting with other Pomona youths.

The event offers children an opportunity to spend time with police officers under positive circumstances, Keetle said.

In this environment children learn police officers are interested in them as are the rest of the volunteers.

"This is a way for them to get to know us as caring people," Keetle said. "We hope that positive contact will help them make good decisions in the future."

The message everyone is trying to convey to campers is "their future is important to us," Keetle said.

During the event campers watched a demonstration by members of the Police Department's K-9 unit, took part in a tug-of-war with police officers, visited the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and learn a few new dance step from members of Hip-Hop Jam, a Chino-based dance group.

After the campers cleaned up the camp site Saturday morning came the drawings for Dodger tickets, family bowling parties and other give-aways.

Sema-J Neat, 11, a student at Cortez Mathematics and Science Magnet School, attended last year's camp out and returned this year with his two brothers all ready for another fun event.

"I kept asking our mom to sign us up for it this year," he said.

Esteban Mendoza, 12, a student at Cortez was a returning camper who isn't just drawn to the prizes.

"It's amazing!...Everything is outside. I can see different people," he said.

(Published Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010)

Ganesha Park will be bustling with activity today (Sat. Aug 7) as part of the Pomona Music Fest.

Activities begin with the Kiwanis Classic Car Show which kicks off at 10 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m.

At 2 p.m. the Pomona Music Fest begins at the G. Stanton Selby Bandshell behind the Ganesha Park Community Center, 1575 N. White Ave.

The free show, organized by members of the city's Cultural Arts Commission, will feature three bands representing diverse musical styles, said Ernesto Campos, Cultural Arts commissioner and chairman of commission's Music Fest sub-committee.

The show begins with a performance of the Sugar Mountain Mama Serenade, a collective folk band.

Next on the program will be the Dwight Trible Jazz Band.

Headlining the event will be The Heat, a group that performs classic rock, Rhythm & Blues and Latin music.

The Pomona Music Fest provides residents a strong mix of music while they enjoy a picnic at the park in a relaxing, family environment, Campos said.

The show was put on with the help of donations and the assistance of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

(Published Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010)

Council members are expected to schedule a study session before the end of October to review and discuss a consultant's review of the city's contract for services with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

In April the City Council authorized City Manager Linda Lowry to enter an agreement with Matrix Consulting Group to evaluated the current costs or services associated the city's fire services contract.

The evaluation is expected to help identify areas where the city may be able to achieve a contract savings through negotiations with the county Fire Department.

City Council members will be on summer break and will not hold a meeting until Sept. 20.

The study session is expected to be scheduled before the end of October.

(Published Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010)

City leaders recently accepted a $1.5 million grant that will allow it to acquire property and design a passive park on the southwest corner of Orange Grove and Park avenues.

During this week's (Aug. 2) meeting council members also suggested that when the time to name the park comes that the city's Parks and Recreation Commission consider naming the facility after former Pomona councilwoman, state senator and assemblywoman Nell Soto.

The grant from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy will allow the city to purchase the property from the Redevelopment Agency, according to a city staff report.

Somewhere between $900,000 and $1 million will be used to purchase the land and the remainder will be used to relocate power poles, to carry out neighborhood meetings where residents can provide their ideas for the park and to hire a landscape architect who will produce designs for the park, the staff report said.

The grant requires that the facility be a low-impact park that resembles a nature sanctuary or a botanical garden featuring native plants, the staff report said.

(Published Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010)

People wishing to set up an inflatable structure and other attractions at city parks will be able to do so but only after paying a $25 fee.

Council members voted 6-0 this week (Aug. 2) in favor of requiring the fee.

Mayor Elliott Rothman did not participate in the vote since he was not present the last time the matter was discussed.

Under a new city ordinance a permit will be required to set up structures such as bounce houses and inflatable slides as well as temporary attractions such as petting zoos and pony rides.

The new regulations ban setting up dunk tanks unless they are part of a city-sponsored event, according to a city staff report.

City staff members proposed establishing a permit after some inflatable structures were set up at parks and damaged park landscaping in addition to creating problems for the neighbors living near the parks, the staff report said.

The permit fee was established based on the time it will take city staff members to process a permit and the time it take to inspect structures once set up, the report said.

(Published Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010)

The Pomona Pop Warner Football and cheer program is seeking donations to support its youth sports program.

Pomona Pop Warner was re-established last year after a more than 30-year absence and was able to attract 100 young people to its football and cheerleading program, according to a statement from the organization's President Candace Barry.

This year the non-profit organization expects 175 young people to sign up for its program, the statement said.

Positive youth programs are a way of keeping young people away from negative activities. Currently fewer positive youth activity programs are available due to the weak economy.

The organization welcomes contributions for the purchase of uniforms and equipment from businesses, community groups and individuals, the statement said.

The program will accept checks made out to Pomona Pop Warner and mailed to 101 W. Mission Blvd., Box 110-293, Pomona 91766.

(Published Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010)

The L.A. County Fair and the American Red Cross have partnered to organize two blood drives in the coming weeks.

The drives will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 20 and Sept. 14 at the Sheraton Suites Fairplex, 601 W. McKinley.

Free parking will be available at the Sheraton hotel.

Those who donate blood will receive a ticket for free admission to the fair. The ticket is good for any weekday during the fair, according to a statement from the fair.

Donors will also receive a coupon for a free treat at Cold Stone Creamery and two complimentary tickets to the Laugh Factory courtesy of the Red Cross, the statement said.

Blood donation appointments can be made by going to the promotions page of the fair website at www.lacountyfair.com or through the Red Cross donor site at www.givelife.org and then entering sponsor code fairmckinley.

Guidelines on giving blood are available at the Red Cross website at www.redcross.org.

The L.A. County Fair begins Sept. 4 and concludes Oct. 3. The fair is closed Mondays and Tuesdays after Labor Day.

For additional fair information go to www.lacountyfair.com

(Published  Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010)

Inland Valley Hope Partners announced recently the Kaiser Hospital Foundation has awarded the organization a $10,000 grant for a the study and pilot project designed to get food to the needy.

As part of the year-long "Urban Gleaning Network Study and Pilot Project" Hope Partners will research existing "gleaning" practices and establish a pilot program, according to a statement from Inland Valley Hope Partners.

Through the pilot project, volunteers will collect fresh fruits and vegetables from local gardens which will the then be distributed to low-income clients of Hope Partners through it four food pantries located in Ontario, Pomona, Claremont and San Dimas, the statement said.

The program is meant to get needy families who lack sufficient funding to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables healthy food products that "serve as a foundation to a healthier lifestyle," according to the statement.

"Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping eliminate disparities," said Greg Christian, Executive Director, of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals/Health Plan for Fontana and Ontario in the statement. "We are pleased to be able to provide this grant to Inland Valley Hope Partners in support of their good work in San Bernardino County."

Those interested in donating their home grown fruit or vegetables to the program can contact Inland Valley Hope Partners at (909) 622-3806 for further information

(Published Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010)

Board of Education members tonight (Aug. 5)will decide whether to place a parcel tax measure on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Pomona Unified School District administrators have proposed placing the tax before voters in the district, which includes Pomona and parts of Diamond Bar.

The tax - if approved - would generate about $4 million a year for four years, according to the district.

The money raised through the tax would fund academic programs, counseling, library and health services, athletics as well as visual and performing arts programs. Funds also would be used to pay faculty members who provide the programs and services.

Passage of the measure would require a two-thirds majority.

If voters approve the measure, property owners would pay $98 per parcel annually, according to the district.

Multi-family properties with two to four units would pay $196 a year, and those with five or more units would pay $490 a year.

A parcel tax is levied on any property assessed by the Los Angeles County tax collector.

Associated Pomona Teachers, the teachers union, in July asked the school board to add wording to the ballot that states money raised through the tax would not be used to pay administrators or consultants.

Members of One LA, a grass-roots group focusing on matters that affect families, such as education, jobs and public safety, are closely watching what action the board takes.

The group wants to make sure that, should voters approve a parcel tax, "the money would be directed toward the classroom," said Derek Engdahl, a leader with One LA.

"The district has had a tradition of funding administrators and consultants."

If the board decides to place the tax on the ballot, One LA will review the measure and determine whether to support it or not, Engdahl said.

The school board will meet in open session at 7:30 p.m. in the board room of the district's Education Center, 800 S. Garey Ave. Board members will hold a public hearing prior to voting on the matter.

Council members voted unanimously Monday night  (Aug. 2) to follow the recommendation of city administrators and not place a measure on the Nov. 2 ballot asking voters whether they wanted to contract for law enforcement services with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Council members also directed city staff to cease further research on contracting with the Sheriff's Department.

The vote came after a number of residents spoke in favor of maintaining the Police Department.

But before the council began to hear residents' comments, Councilwoman Paula Lantz made the motion

Pomona resident Ruth Gerlach, left, claps as the audience cheers after the City Council passed a motion to have the Police Department continue to provide law-enforcement services on Monday. Council members voted not to place a measure on the Nov. 2 ballot asking voters whether they wanted to contract with the Sheriff's Department. (Jennifer Cappuccio-Maher/Staff Photographer)

Supporting Lantz's motion was Councilman Tim Saunders.

"Without question or a doubt I want to keep our Police Department," Saunders said, prompting Mayor Elliott Rothman to ask if he was supporting Lantz's motion.

"It certainly was a second," Saunders said.

After taking comments from more than a dozen speakers, council members voted in support of Lantz's motion. That prompted another burst of cheers from the audience.

Following the decision, Pomona Police Officers' Association President Rob Baker said it's now time to rebuild relationships with council members.

"We already have such a fantastic relationship with the community. We absolutely have to work together to survive," Baker said.

During the meeting, the consultant who participated in the review of the Sheriff's Department estimate for law enforcement services addressed the council.

Joseph De Ladurantey, senior vice president of the consulting firm Willdan Homeland Solutions, said it was difficult to compare the Police Department and the Sheriff's Department.

"You have a large economy of scale," he said, referring to the Sheriff's Department.

In making a decision the council had to consider several matters, including local control, De Ladurantey said.

A municipal police department tends to have much stronger ties with the community it serves and the level of accountability is greater because a police chief reports to the city manager, he said.

"In the Sheriff's Department a captain provides information to the city manager but answers to the sheriff," he said.

The city could opt to contract with the county but should a future council wish to revert back to a municipal police department, doing so would cost a considerable amount, De Ladurantey said.

Among those who addressed the council Monday was Deborah Clifford, who said that in more than two decades as a resident of the city this issue has done something to the population.

Residents from across the city have come together to oppose converting to the Sheriff's Department, Clifford said.

"You have a constituency that's not going to forget this issue," she said. "It's time to declare this issue dead on arrival."

Stacey Cue, labor relations representative with the San Bernardino Public Employees Association, spoke on behalf of the city's general services employees, which the union represents.

Switching to the Sheriff's Department would mean significant reductions in civilian personnel that provide services

Councilwoman Paula Lantz makes a motion to cease exploration of contracting with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and not put it on the ballot. (Jennifer Cappuccio-Maher/Staff Photographer)

The city would be giving up a great deal and "contracting may cost more money," she said.

What the city must do is prepare for the future, Cue said.

"It's time to look forward and rebuild Pomona," she said.

Councilwoman Cristina Carrizosa expressed concerns about costs.

"Are we going to be financially able to sustain the department and personnel," particularly if the economy does not improve, Carrizosa asked.

City Manager Linda Lowry said concessions negotiated with the Pomona Police Officers' Association, along with other employee groups were part of year-long agreements.

In preparing for the next budget, labor negotiations must begin early this fall, she said.

Significant reductions have been made to all departments, Lowry said.

"Every single department that reports to the city manager has taken a cut," she said.

The question is whether those cuts can remain in place for the long term, Lowry said.

Police Chief Dave Keetle said after the council vote that with this issue now resolved he could begin taking steps to hire nine new officers with the use of a $3.14 million federal grant. He can also focus more of his time on policing matters.

From the time Keetle became interim police chief in late 2008 until now "it's been totally about the budget," he said.

The council's decision will have a positive effect on the Police Department, Keetle said, adding "this is going to help morale tremendously."

(Published Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010)  

POMONA - Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center's Family Health Center was bustling with activity Saturday (July 31) as a stream of young patients accompanied by their parents went from one exam room to another undergoing various health screenings.

The height-and-weight checks, along with vision and dental screenings and immunization administration, all were provided free to children ages 2 months to 18 years as part of the hospital's annual Kids Health Fair.

Numerous families attended Saturday's fair, an event that offered parents such as Elizabeth Harrigan of Upland a way to get her daughter Alexandria Franklin, 4, ready for school.

"To get her into preschool she has to have her shots," Harrigan said.

Before starting the school enrollment process "I wanted to take care of the shots first," Alexandria said.

Alexandria required a total of six shots, and she calmly sat through them all without crying.

The event is organized by the hospital with the involvement of numerous volunteers representing various service clubs, teachers and nurses from the Pomona Unified School District and area health care professionals, along with students and faculty from Western University of Health Sciences.

Among the volunteers was Judy Sanders of Chino Hills.

The retired Pomona Unified School District teacher is a member of the Soroptimist of Pomona/Claremont.

Sanders has participated in the Kids Health Fair for the past eight years.

"The health care needs in our community are tremendous. Families have a tremendous need, and there are very few places where they can get those needs met," Sanders said.

With the help of the hospital and the health fair, some of those needs are addressed, she said.

(Published Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010)

POMONA - Anthony Valencia headed home Saturday morning  (July 31) with four tickets to a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game and passes for an evening of bowling.

The tickets were fine, but to Anthony that wasn't the highlight of the fifth annual Youth Campout at Fairplex.

"We watched movies and played games," he said, adding he also "slept under the stars."

Anthony, 9, was among the 285 Pomona children, ages 9 to 12, who took part in the camp out.

This year's event drew the highest number of campers in the five years it has taken place.

The overnight event began at 5 p.m. Friday and wrapped up by 10 a.m. Saturday

During those hours Fairplex's Park Square became a camp ground were children took part in numerous activities including sack races, a tug-of-war with members of the Pomona Police Department, visiting the nearby Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and drawings for prizes.

This was the first year Anthony attended the event, but it was the second year his 11-year-old cousin Marleen Hernandez took part in the camp out.

Marleen said she, her cousins, siblings and a neighbor were looking forward to the event.

"We were counting down the days 'cause last year it was so much fun," she said.

Marleen said sleeping outdoors is part of the fun of the event, but so are the multiple activities and the chance to shop in the camp store where campers use play money to buy treats and snacks.

The free event is organized and supervised by the Pomona Police Department's youth services unit along with members of the Community Engagement Group. Members of the Community Engagement Group include residents, business people, members of law enforcement, clergy and others who organize safe activities for youth.

(Published Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010)

POMONA - City administrators are recommending the City Council refrain from placing an initiative on the Nov. 2 ballot asking voters whether the city should consider contracting with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for law enforcement services.

An estimate for law enforcement services, referred to as a Phase I analysis, submitted by the Sheriff's Department does not contain sufficient information to make a decision as to whether the city should keep the Pomona Police Department or dismantle it and contract with the county, according to a city staff report.

Based on the information in the analysis there is no way of comparing what the Police Department currently provides compared with what the Sheriff's Department would offer, City Manager Linda Lowry said.

"We don't know if the hours of service are less, equal to, or more than what we're getting out of the Police Department," Lowry said. "We don't know what the hours of service are, and we can't get that right now."

On Monday (Aug. 2), the matter will go before the City Council. The open portion of the meeting begins at 6:45 p.m. at City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.

Administrators on Monday will also ask the council if they should stop exploring the possibility of contracting for law enforcement services or if they should continue and seek a Phase II analysis from the Sheriff's Department.

A Phase II analysis would be a more in-depth study that is expected to provide detailed information on topics such as start-up costs, the value of Police Department assets such as its fleet, building and equipment, and determine what personnel would be absorbed by the Sheriff's Department.

Such an analysis would cost about $25,000.

Part of the difficulty in comparing the two departments is that each has a different system of calculating the service it provides.

The Sheriff's Department calculates service in terms of a "deputy sheriff service unit."

Under that system, a deputy, his replacements when he is off duty, as well as costs of maintaining his patrol car, fuel, clerical staff and all other personnel and resources, are built into the service unit.

Pomona police base their calculations on the number of people required to carry out a job.

The Sheriff's Department estimate was reviewed by a consultant from the firm of Willdan Homeland Solutions, which determined the city could save about $3 million under the county, according to the staff report.

However, the estimate does not include start-up costs or potential reductions in revenue currently coming into the city, according to the staff report.

The consultant pointed out the estimate does not provide information on the effect of ongoing expenses such as medical costs of retired personnel, lease obligations and other factors that would not be eliminated if the city contracted with the county, according to the staff report.

The city must look at those costs and determine if they are truly fixed or if they can be reduced or eliminated, Lowry said.

Another factor that has to be analyzed is how long it would take to achieve a savings or eliminate costs if any of these costs are found to be controllable, she said.

A Phase II analysis would require the involvement of a management-level member of the Pomona Police Department, according to the staff report.

As a result of recent cutbacks, the department doesn't have a lieutenant or higher ranking officer available to be involved in the analysis, according to the staff report.

It would cost at least $70,000 to fund for six months a lieutenant's position that would be assigned to work on the analysis, the staff report said.

The consultant's report said that although the Phase II analysis is said to take about six months, a more realistic time frame is nine to 12 months.

In the past two years, the city has cut staff, downsized programs and outsourced some services as part of its cost-cutting efforts.

For 2010-2011, the Police Department's budget was cut from about $43million to about $37 million, according to the staff report.

Since the Police Department has made millions worth of cuts since last year it would be appropriate to step back and see how the department performs, Lowry said.

Mayor Elliott Rothman said he will be listening to council members' discussion on Monday night.

"There should be some debate. ... I imagine a lot of people will show up," he said.

In reviewing the Phase I report, Rothman said he found "there's a lot of generalities and not a lot of substance."

Councilman Steve Atchley said it's hard to say what the council will decide about putting a measure on the ballot, but he thinks it isn't ready to forget about the matter.

"On the idea of gathering further information I would say the council would look favorably on that," Atchley said.

At the July 19 council meeting, Atchley proposed leaving the matter for the next council to address.

A Phase II analysis will take time and not be ready by the November election, he said.

A decision on a ballot measure would be best addressed after the necessary research is completed and the services of the Pomona Police and the Sheriff's departments can be reviewed.

"If it turns out to be a bad idea we don't" move with a ballot measure, Atchley said.

But if the research shows there are benefits, the matter is taken to the voters.

Pomona resident Derek Engdahl, a leader with the grass-roots organization One LA, said the city staff report and the accompanying consultant's report are reasons to be hopeful.

"It confirms what our analysis showed. It says there's actually a lot of unknowns and could potentially be more expensive" to contract with the Sheriff's Department, Engdahl said.

Keeping the Police Department is "to our advantage both financially and for the job we're trying to do on the ground - to better the city," Engdahl said.

Lowry said the council could put the matter on a future ballot as part of a consolidated election or call a special election and not necessarily have to wait for a regularly scheduled city election.

(Published Monday, August 2, 2010)

POMONA - After two years of cuts and a recent round of layoffs, Police Chief Dave Keetle will be able to save some officers' jobs through a series of retirements.

He's also in a position to hire nine police officers, but he hasn't done so - not "if the sheriff's issue is still pending," Keetle said.

While the Pomona City Council considers whether to continue with its Police Department or contract for services with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, a $3.14 million federal grant goes unused.

It would be unfair to hire new officers and then have to let them go if the city ended up contracting with the county for law enforcement services, Keetle said.

The city in July 2009 was awarded the grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

The grant covers the wages and benefits of nine officers, Keetle said.

When the city applied for the grant in April 2009 the department had 186 sworn personnel and was requesting funding for 14 officers, Keetle said.

Having a stable number of sworn positions was critical because the grant calls for maintaining a set number of positions.

With the most recent round of cuts and retirements the number of approved sworn positions has stabilized at 154 sworn employees, Keetle said.

The hiring of the nine officers has to be put off until the council makes its decision. It will take up the matter tonight (Aug. 2).

Councilman Steve Atchley said although the grant has not been the topic of any recent council discussion, he is interested in it.

If the grant will help the city, it might be worth putting off the concept of contracting for law enforcement services for a while.

"If the grant looks good and it means putting off the sheriff's (decision) for three or four years I have no problem," Atchley said.

Mayor Elliott Rothman said council members tonight will decide if they wish to place a measure before voters to determine if the city should contract with the county for law enforcement services.

They could also decide to drop the matter or continue researching it.

If the council no longer wishes to pursue the matter, the city must move quickly on hiring the nine officers, Rothman said.

"That's a lot of money, and those are nine officers we desperately need," he said.

Although the grant doesn't have a use-by date, the department must submit quarterly reports to the federal government informing officials how it's being used, Keetle said.

Whether such a grant could be used by another law enforcement agency providing services to the same community is something that would have to be determined on a case-by-case basis, said Gilbert Moore, spokesman for the Department of Justice.

A number of variables are considered in awarding such grants, including a law enforcement agency's level of community-oriented policing services and crime rates, Moore said.

Under this grant, a community's fiscal health was also a factor taken into account in making grant funding decisions, he said.

If a change involving the agency providing law enforcement services comes up, the reasons for the change would be reviewed, Moore said.

As for how the city would pay the fourth year of nine officers' salaries and benefits, Keetle said by that time the economy may have rebounded and costs would be paid out of the general fund.

"If we get to the fourth year, and we're still in economic distress we can ask for a waiver," he said.

The grant allows the city to stagger hiring so the city wouldn't have to come up with the additional money for the fourth year of service of the nine officers at once, Keetle said.

The grant has the intent of helping cities carry out community-oriented policing and would allow Pomona to expand such existing programs, he said.

With the grant the department can hire officers instead of pulling out those working in programs such as the youth services unit, the school resource officer program, the area commander program and others to reassign them to other duties, he said.

Members of the Pomona Police Officers Association are also looking forward to having the nine officers hired, said Rob Baker, the president of association.

He added he understands Keetle's reluctance to hire new officers until the law enforcement service question is addressed.

If the city were to fail to comply with the rules for the use of the grant, it could cost the department later if it is asked to repay the grant, he said.

"He's being financially prudent," Baker said.

While that matter is being worked out, most of the Police Department's recent layoffs of sworn personnel are expected to be rescinded.

The City Council at its July 19 meeting approved an urgency ordinance approving a contract amendment between the city and the California Public Employees' Retirement System.

The agreement would allow eligible sworn personnel to receive two years of additional service credit if they retire between July 20 and Oct. 20.

So far 10 members of the department have opted to take the offer, Keetle said.

Budget cuts required the elimination of 15 officers in order to close a deficit in the 2010-2011 budget.

Keetle said that of the 15 officers, three are leaving the department to work elsewhere.

The retirements are going to allow the department to eliminate the layoffs.

The departure of the veteran officers will be difficult.

"It's always detrimental when you lose institutional knowledge," Keetle said.

The experience isn't completely lost because in working with younger officers the veterans have passed on their knowledge, Keetle said.

"That's the life cycle of police work," he aid.

Even with the retirement of 10 officers, "we still have a solid foundation of seasoned employees," Baker said.

"It's just going to push us to develop our younger people even faster," he said.

(Published Saturday, July 31, 2010)

African American students who were part of the Cal Poly Pomona classes of 1969 to 1979 are being asked to block Oct. 9 on their calendars.

That's the day the Cal Poly Black Students and Friends Class 69-97 Reunion/Celebration will take place.

The event will take place at the Cal Poly Art Gallery and the Cal Poly Theatre, both on the campus, 3801 W. Temple Ave.

Activities begin at 5 p.m. and include a reception, awards presentation and jazz concert.

Tickets to the event are $70 each. Ticket are $56 each if purchased by Aug. 8.

Information on ticket sales and reunion related activities is available at www.calpolyblackreunion.com.

In 1969 the first African-American students arrived at Cal Poly recruited by a group of Cal Poly Pomona leaders including now retired Cal Poly Pomona Vice President James Bell, said Hope Weiston-Deans, chairwoman of the event.

It was a tumultuous period in history across the country but it was also a period when young African American students at Cal Poly faced and overcame racial barriers, she said.

But in the midst of it all the students of that era bonded.

"We created a community within a community," Weiston-Deans said.

Some students ended up leaving Cal Poly but many more carried on.

"We came en mass," she said. "We were there to get an education."

Those pioneering African American graduates earned degrees earned degrees in numerous fields including business, engineering and architecture, she said.

The reunion a chance to spend time with friends, reflect on past experiences and recognize the mentors who provide guidance and support throughout their journey, Weiston-Deans said.

(Published Saturday, July 31, 2010)

Whether to place a parcel tax measure on the November ballot will be the main item on the agenda of Thursday's (Aug. 5) meeting of the Pomona Unified School District Board of Education.

The board will meet in open session at 7:30 p.m. in the board room of the district's headquarters, 800 S. Garey Ave.

Board members will hold a public hearing before voting on the matter.

The school district administrator are proposing asking school district voters for a parcel tax that would generate about $4 million annually for four years.

The money raised through the tax would be used to pay for academic programs, counseling, library and health, services as well as athletics and visual and performing arts programs and the teachers who offer them.

To pass, the measure would have to receive a two-thirds majority.

The measure would contain provisions for an oversight committee.

Members of Associated Pomona Teachers have proposed adding wording to that language that would appear on the ballot stating money raised through the tax will not go to paying administrators or consultants.

It approved, property owners would pay $98 per parcel annually for four years.

Multi-family residential properties with two to four units would pay $196 a year, according to district information.

Multi-family residential properties with five or more units would pay $490 a year.

A parcel tax is levied on any property in the district assessed by the Los Angeles County tax collector.

School board members were expected to make a decision on the matter at their July 15 meeting, but the matter was pulled off that agenda when a district lawyer determined the public hearing connected to the proposal was not properly noticed.

(Published Saturday, July 31, 2010)

Fourteen furry kittens were delivered to Western University of Health Sciences this week where a group of veterinary medicine students were waiting for them.

The students, members of the Student Chapter of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, have partnered with Los Angeles' Department of Animal Services to find foster homes for the kittens, according to a statement from the university.

Each year between May and October Los Angeles city animal shelters receive thousands of kittens younger than eight weeks.

Regulations say the kittens must be at least 8 weeks old before they can be put up for adoption, the statement said.

Instead of keeping the tiny kittens at shelters where the large number of kitties can put a strain on the system, the Department of Animal Services has a program through which the young felines are place in foster homes until they are old enough to be adopted.

Those who serve as foster families have the option of adopting two kittens, the statement said.

(Published Saturday, July 31, 2010)

Members of the Village Mandala Community Drum Circle will perform Sunday afternoons during the month of August at Palomares Adobe, 491 E. Arrow Highway, Pomona.

Parking is available at Palomares Park, 499 E. Arrow Highway.

The free performances will take place in the adobe's picnic area, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Visitors are invited to bring a picnic lunch and listen to the group.

Visitors can also take a tour of the historic adobe during those hours, said Mickey Gallivan, president of the Historical Society of Pomona Valley.

Donations for the tour are encouraged but not required.

(Published Saturday, July 31, 2010)

The Pomona Concert Band's upcoming concerts will feature guest conductors.

During the band's Aug. 5 concert, which will be themed "A Christensen Spectacular," will be led by conductor James Christensen

Christensen is a well-known conductor, composer and arranger.

In 37 years with Walt Disney Productions he produced music for Disney movies and theme parks.

The Aug. 12 concert, "A Traditional Park Concert," will feature Anthony Mazzaferro, director of bands at Fullerton College.

The concerts are all part of the band's 63rd annual Summer Concert Series offered at the G. Stanton Selby Bandshell, behind the Ganesha Park Community Center, 1575 N. White Ave.

Performances are free and open to the public.

Summer Concert Series performances begin at 8 p.m. on Thursdays and conclude Aug. 26.

(Published Saturday, July 31, 2010)

The American Legion's, Charles P. Rowe Post in Pomona is selling tickets for its annual drawing.

The drawing serves as a fundraiser for the post which on will celebrate 91 years of existence on Aug. 7.

A total of 14 prizes will be presented.

The top prize is $2,000. Additional prizes of $1,000, $500, and $100 will be awarded.

Tickets can be purchased at the post, 239 E. Holt Ave.

For information call 909-620-0943.

(Published Saturday, July 31, 2010)

Residents and business owners of the southwestern part of Pomona are invited to attend the Southwest Area Commander Meeting Aug. 10

The 90-minute meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Westmont Community Center, 1808 W. Ninth St.

The meeting provides those living or running a business a chance to meet with members of the Police Department present questions or concerns related to that part of the city.

Pomona's southwest quadrant is made up of the area west of Garey Avenue and south of Holt Avenue.

In addition, the evening's meeting will include a discussion on narcotics and crime prevention.

Questions or concern can be submitted ahead of time by e-mailing them to AreaCommander_Southwest@ci.pomona.ca.us or by calling 909-802-7495.

For additional information on area commander meetings call the Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit at 909-620-2318.

(Published Saturday, July 31, 2010)

Inland Valley Hope Partners is encouraging businesses, church groups and others to pull their resources together and help needy children get ready for school.

Families struggling financially are also finding it difficult to provide their children the supplies they will need for school.

Inland Valley Hope Partners is suggesting groups organize school supply collection drives and donate the materials to Inland Valley Hope Partners for distribution to needy families.

The organization needs donations of the following items: pens; No. 2 pencils; 3-ring binders; packages of loose-leaf paper and copy paper; boxes of colored pencils; spiral notebooks; planners; highlighters; index cards; folders with pockets; calculators; and backpacks.

For additional information contact Fran Robertson at Inland Valley Hope Partners by e-mail at franr@hope-partners.com or phone her at 909-622-3806, ext. 231.

Published Tuesday, July 27, 2010

POMONA - A few spots are still open for this weekend's fifth annual Youth Campout at Fairplex.

The free event is open to boys and girls from Pomona who are 9 to 12 years old.

Games, arts and crafts, movies, a visit from a Pomona Police Department canine team and other activities - all under the supervision of police officers and community volunteers - will be part of the event.

The Youth Campout is put on by the Police Department and Community Engagement Group, which includes residents, business people, clergy and members of law enforcement.

The event is from 5 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday.

Parents interested in signing up their children have until 5 p.m. Thursday.

Sign up at the Police Department's Crime Prevention Office on the second floor of City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave., or at the front desk of the Police Department, 490 W. Mission Blvd.

For more information, call the Police Department's Youth Services Unit at 909-802-7464.