POMONA -- Pomona Unified School District plans to decide early next month how to use about $4.9 million in federal Education Jobs Bill funds the district expects to receive.

Superintendent Richard Martinez said last week the district is waiting for the arrival of the funds, which can be used for certain purposes including hiring back teachers who lost their jobs at the end of last school year due to budget cuts. 

The Harrison Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization and the Willie White Park Focus Group have partnered to hold the 5th annual Community Fundraiser Yard Sale Saturday (Sept 25) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in the parking lot of Harrison Elementary School, 425 E. Harrison Ave. 

POMONA - Tucked away in the basement of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center is a 1,500-square-foot gym that helps people who have recently suffered heart-related problems as well as those for whom years have passed since a life-changing health scare.

The Stead Cardiac and Wellness Gym has treadmills and exercise machines as well as highly-trained personnel available for patients in the center's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and members of the Stead Cardiac Health and Wellness Program.

"I've gone here for 15 years," Claremont resident Betty Springer said. "All the people here are so nice. We would really miss them if they weren't here."

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program requires a physician's order, is covered by insurance and is part of therapy that some doctors have patients undergo following a heart attack, stroke or other cardiac problems, said Debbie Keasler, director of cardiac services at the Stead Heart and Vascular Center.

Health-care professionals closely monitor patients in the program as they exercise and work with them to achieve their medical goals. The patients also work with registered dieticians, exercise physiologists and other experts, she said.

The Stead Cardiac Health and Wellness Program includes people who have completed their rehabilitation, but have chosen to continue to have access to the gym by becoming members.

People taking part in the program can direct themselves and could easily join a health club to keep up their regimens. However, they prefer the environment provided by the hospital's gym, said Joseph Baumgaertner, director of the center's Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department.

"They're around people who are licensed. Even if it's just the consultation side, they have someone who can answer their questions," Baumgaertner said.

Baumgaertner will oversee the two programs as part of a re-organization.

"The key is they're keeping active and not falling back into bad (health) habits," Keasler said.

The program's participants can have questions answered by physical therapists and exercise physiologists. They also have access to physical therapy facilities at the hospital's satellite facilities in Claremont and Chino Hills, Baumgaertner said.

For a few days in September, the gym was closed due to a reorganization.

The revamped health and wellness program, which is open to the public, has had its yearly fee increased from $480 to $675. The adjustment was needed since one had not been made in several years, Baumgaertner said.

The fee was set following a financial analysis that included calculating estimated memberships under a revamped program and its costs, hospital spokeswoman Kathy Roche said.

The hours for the gym have also been reduced to 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - peak hours for participants.

The schedule change has provided greater opportunities for personnel to work with patients on their doctor's orders, Baumgaertner said.

With the new schedule, personnel will have blocks of time to work with patients recovering from recent cardiac issues. This includes newcomers who need to complete paperwork as they enter the rehabilitation program, Keasler said.

The change was needed "in order to try and mitigate a $500,000 annual loss in revenue" from the gym, Roche said.

Although Springer will have to wake up a little earlier and pay higher fees, she said it is worth it.

Not only is she surrounded by top medical personnel, "the emergency room is up stairs if I should need it," said Springer, who first learned of the gym about 15 years ago after suffering from a heart problem.

Springer said she could go to a gym without affiliation to the hospital, but such places don't have the type of health-care professionals who are available at the hospital's gym.

Claremont resident Reginald Yates said he has been visiting the hospital's gym for 15 years after he had a stroke. Other gyms can be impersonal and so vast "you can get lost in them," said Yates, a retired Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.

Under the reorganized program, he said he plans to split his workout schedule between the hospital's gym and the Claremont facility.

"The staff is great and the people I work out with are great," Yates said.

POMONA - A suggestion to create a city police commission will be the subject of a subcommittee established last week by the Charter Review Commission.

The job had been assigned to the body's Ethics Subcommittee last month, but subcommittee member John Clifford said Wednesday evening the group determined the matter merits being addressed by a panel focusing on the single topic.

"The subcommittee did recognize the police issue is very large and complex," Clifford told the commission members.

The subcommittee found the matter is one that is important to community members and found the purpose of a police commission should be to ensure accountability to residents of the city; bring residents and the Pomona Police Department together; address resident grievances involving the Police Department; and gather input leading to improved collaboration between police and residents so Pomonans are served better.

The idea of including the establishment of a police commission within a revised City Charter was brought to the Charter Review Commission last month.

John Thompson, a past president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People of Pomona Valley and a resident of Montclair, said Thursday his suggestion is based on several factors.

Among them is the need to have a body that can work both with members of the public who have complaints involving the Police Department and with police internal affairs.

Thompson said during his tenure as NAACP president he reviewed cases that involved questionable police actions.

Other cities have had high-profile cases such as the Irvin Landrum Jr. shooting in Claremont or the Tyisha Miller case in Riverside, two 1999 cases that involved police officers using deadly force.

Although Pomona has not had cases as egregious as those, Thompson said the city would benefit from establishing a citizens police review commission.

Often complaints involving police lead to lawsuits that end up costing taxpayers, he said.

"Some of these things could be mediated in a review board," Thompson said.

With such a body, members of the public could find "some kind of satisfaction," he said.

The city would also probably avert some lawsuits and address the behavior of problem officers, he said.

"I think for the most part Pomona has a great police department," he said.

However, "the contemporary thing to do is to have citizen input" when a complaint surfaces, Thompson said. "The real point is to have community input where now there is none."

Police Chief Dave Keetle said Thursday he heard the topic had come up before the Charter Review Commission but did not have sufficient information on the matter to comment.

At the meeting, commission member Arturo Jimenez said a police commission would have a role to play in building a relationship between the Police Department and residents.

"The purpose of this commission would be to build unity" and more, Jimenez said.

"Not only unity but trust ... to solve crimes," he said.

Commissioner Luis Rosales said he polled people in his neighborhood and found they agreed a police commission would be beneficial.

Residents in his central Pomona neighborhood "don't really trust police," he said.

Some commission members questioned whether they should seek to create such a body by including it in the City Charter. Others, such as Commissioner Eunice Russell, said a different approach - such a using an auditing firm - could achieve similar results.

But Commissioner Celia Gomez said the commission is committed to researching the matter, and if it chose to could include a provision calling for the creation of a police commission in the update of the City Charter.

However, the final decision on whether to create such a body would be left to the electorate.

Commissioners emphasized that as the panel works on this topic it will provide opportunities for residents to present their views on the matter.

Antiques, opera and displays of historic memorabilia will all be part of a fundraiser scheduled for Sunday to benefit the Historical Society of Pomona Valley.

The Historical Society's "Antique Road Show" will take place from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Pomona Ebell Museum of History, 585 E. Holt Ave.

Admission to the event is $10 per person. The admission price entitles the guest to have one item the appraised by expert Zoe TeBeau, said Mickey Gallivan, historical society president.

Depending on the turnout, additional items could be appraised for an additional fee.

TeBeau will help people determine if an item has value or if the value is more of a sentimental nature.

"Not only will she tell you what (the item) is worth, but she'll provide some education," Gallivan said.

This is the first time the Historical Society has organized such an event, but it is expected to be both useful and enjoyable, Gallivan said.

Guests are allowed to bring in any item they wish -- with certain limits.

"It needs to be easily mobile. If you can carry it and bring it in without help, it's OK," she said.

Guests will also be able to view displays of several private and Historical Society collections.

Among the collections on display will be Pomona tiles, doll houses and quilts.

Members of the Friends of the Fox will have a collection of photos related to the Fox on display.

Also on display will be a collection of Pomona Fire Department memorabilia assembled by retired fire Capt. William Beck.

Beck, who died in late August, was a former president of the Historical Society.

The display will include fire helmets and uniforms, along with firefighting equipment and photos of the department's mascots, Gallivan said.

As part of the evening's activities, the Pomona-based Repertory Opera Company will give short performances at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. from various operas -- including the three they will be performing in the 2010-11 season, Gallivan said.

Tickets to the Repertory Opera Company's performances will also be sold at the event.

Funds raised will go to the ongoing maintenance of the various historic sites under the Historical Society's care such as the Ebell, the Adobe de Palomares, the Phillips Mansion and others.

Each year the Historical Society conducts tours for hundreds of children attending schools around the region in addition to organizing activities for children at various community-based events.

A proposed fee schedule for sport field lighting will go before the City Council Monday night.

Council members will hold a public hearing on the matter before voting on a proposed resolution calling for setting lighting fees at $15 an hour.

The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. for the closed portion of the meeting followed by the open portion at 6:45 at City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.

In July, a proposal went before the City Council that involved setting a fee of $18 per hour to use the city sports field with lights.

Representatives of various youth programs objected to the proposal, saying such expenses presented a difficult burden especially on short notice.

Council members sent the matter back to city staff members who presented it to members of the Youth Sports Council where participants, including representatives of the various youth athletic programs in the city, said a workable fee would be $10 or $12 per hour, according to a city staff report.

The matter was later presented to the city's Parks and Recreation Commission earlier this month which recommended fees be set at $5 an hour and have the fee schedule reviewed in a year, the staff report said.

Under that fee, the city would still have to cover more than $66,000 a year in field lighting costs that would have to come from the general fund, the staff report said.

City administrators estimate the city spends about $100,000 a year to light sports fields.

The Inland Valley Hope Partners Thanksgiving Committee will hold the "Show and Shine" benefit car show Saturday.

Show activities will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m at Dickey's Barbecue Pit, 9670 Haven Ave., Suite 105 in Rancho Cucamonga.

The Pomona-based organization is attempting to raise money to provide 750 Thanksgiving dinners to families in the region.

"Show and Shine" will include pre-1975 cars and trucks, antiques, street rods, muscle cars, classic and special interest vehicles.

Music, opportunity prizes and drawings will be part of the event.

For more information please call 909-622-3806.

The Repertory Opera Company has set the dates for its 2010-11 season at First Christian Church of Pomona.

All performances will be at 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Repertory Opera Company will offer audiences three works beginning with Mozart's "The Magic Flute" which will be performed on Oct. 2, 9 and 16.

The company will take a break during the holiday season but will return with performances of "Romeo and Juliet" on Feb. 5, 12 and 19.

To conclude the season the company will present Puccini's "La Boheme" on May 7, 14 and 21.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased on online by going to www.repertoryoperacompany.org.

This year's Pomona Christmas Parade will bring the holidays and soccer together.

The Chivas USA soccer team will serve as grand marshals for the annual parade which will return to Pomona's downtown.

"Christmas with a Kick," as the parade will be themed, will begin at at 10 a.m. Dec. 11, according to a statement from the Downtown Pomona Owners Association.

The Association sponsored the event for the first time last year following a one-year absence and will do so again this year.

The parade, which travels down Second Street and Park Avenue, will include the participation of high school bands, service clubs, youth groups and dignitaries.

Parade entry forms are available through the Association's website, www.metropomona.com and can be submitted by e-mailing them to metropomona@hotmail.com or by faxing them to 909-469-1120.

For additional information call 909-469-1121.

Trinity United Methodist Church will offer a four hand piano concert at 3 p.m. Sept. 26.

Donations will be accepted.

The concert will feature Geraldine Keeling and Deborah Erftenbeck who together will play numbers for four hands.

The afternoon's program includes Overture to "Carmen" by Georges Bizet; "Blue Danube" Waltz by Johann Straus; "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" by Franz Liszt.

A reception will follow the program.

Trinity United Methodist Church is at 676 N. Gibbs St.

Members of the Pomona Rotary Club are selling tickets for a drawing in which the prize is a 1967 Corvette.

The reconditioned car is available for viewing at a club booth at the L.A. County Fair.

Tickets for the drawing are $20 each and can be purchased from Club members or the Club's booth during the Fair. The booth is on Palm Street, west of Building 6.

This is the sixth year the Pomona Rotary Club conducts such a drawing, according to a statement from the club.

Money raised through the drawing will go to paying for charitable projects, the statement said.

In addition to benefitting the Pomona Rotary Club, the drawing also provides away for other non-profits to raise money for their work.

Participating non-profit organizations that sign up to sell Corvette drawing tickets receive $5 for each ticket they sell, the statement said.

The Pomona Rotary Club will conduct the drawing and announce the winner on the last day of the Fair.

Sleek and green is one way to describe Foothill Transit's Ecoliner electric bus.

The transit agency last week put the first of three such buses into service on Line 291, which serves Pomona and La Verne.

The 30-foot vehicle, which Colorado- based manufacturer Proterra calls the EcoRide BE-35, is "the first fast-charging electric, heavy-duty transit bus," said Joshua Goldman, Proterra's director of business development.

Foothill Transit purchased the buses with $6.5 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The buses cost $1.2 million each.

The stimulus money will also be used to build a charging station at Pomona TransCenter, 100 W. Commercial St. The station, which is expected to be completed in late October, will be able to recharge two buses at once.

Part of what makes the bus unusual is its recharging speed. The bus runs for 30 miles on a charge but can be recharged within 10 minutes.

"The critical number is 10 minutes or less," Goldman said. "That's a typical driver lay-over."

Electric buses have been around for some time, but previous models would run for about 30 miles on a charge and have to be taken out of service overnight to be recharged.

The bus is more streamlined than most buses, but aside from the huge green stripes to the rear of its exterior and the words "Ecoliner" and "zero emissions" it looks much like a regular bus.

Once inside, there are signs that the bus is different.

Unlike fossil-fueled buses, the Ecoliner has a rear window. The rear window is possible because the engine is smaller than those on conventional buses and only takes up a small portion of the back end of the bus, said Doran Barnes, Foothill Transit's executive director.

More noticeable is the silence that comes when the bus stops. Instead of hearing a loud engine, there is only a humming sound.

Pomona resident Richard Nadeau was among the first to ride the new bus on Wednesday, the first day the bus carried paying passengers.

"I think it's great. I don't like pollution," said Nadeau, who regularly uses public transportation.

If the technology is available to have an electric bus, "Imagine what you can do with all the cars," he said.

Renee Gregory of Pomona was another early rider.

"It's really nice," Gregory said. "It's very quiet, not loud. It's a pleasure to ride."

Rialto resident Shronda Hill was the first Foothill Transit coach operator to get behind the wheel of the new bus.

The bus has some creature comforts, such as a cushy driver's seat that kept Hill from being jarred while traveling over rough streets. Mirrors are positioned in such a way that drivers don't have to twist their bodies to use them, she said.

Plus, there is a smaller steering wheel that feels more like the one in a passenger vehicle, Hill said.

Bus controls are also fairly simple.

"There are not so many gidgets and gadgets," Hill said. "It's a little more simpler for a driver to operate."

That's going to be useful.

"I'm a behind-the-wheel trainer," she said. "This is a very easy vehicle for me to instruct in."

Hill said she took the bus on a practice run Tuesday on Line 291 when she noticed she was being followed and someone was taking pictures. When Hill reached a stop in La Verne, the person following her boarded the bus and explained that he was a retired public transit agency employee from Northern California and had numerous questions about the bus. The retiree added that he couldn't wait to let people back home know about the Ecoliner, Hill said.

Fellow drivers also have questions for Hill.

"The biggest question is `When are you going to train us?"'

Her response?

"Hopefully soon," she said.

Line 291 was chosen for the use of the new bus "because it's one of the toughest service lines," said George Karbowsky, director of operations and maintenance for Foothill Transit.

The heavily used line has stops near schools, a Department of Motor Vehicle office and several shopping areas. Buses on the line, which has a high wheelchair ridership, make stops at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

About 700,000 passengers use the 17-mile line each year.

The two other buses to be added on the line are expected to go into service sometime within the next two weeks, Foothill Transit spokeswoman Felicia Friesema said.

The bus - the majority of which is made of fiberglass - is expected to have a lifespan of 18 years. Most conventional buses last about 12 years.

"It's simpler, and the body lasts longer," Goldman said. "There's no metal in the body so there is no rust."

The buses longer life and lower maintenance needs are expected to make them more economical to operate, Barnes said.

Word of Foothill Transits buses is spreading, as Karbowsky and Goldman have been receiving numerous requests for information on the vehicle.

Goldman recently received an e-mail from Chongqing, a city in China that has a bus system about the size of the one in New York City. A representative for the Chinese bus system was seeking information on the Econliner because he wanted to share it with his local city council, Goldman said.

The residents of the 400 block of West Columbia Avenue are an ethnically diverse, close-knit group who make a point to look out for one another.

Someone who everyone makes a point of looking out for is Audrey Heesen, and this week they gave here a surprise belated birthday party to mark her 90th birthday and recognize her as the resident who has lived there the longest.

Heesen has lived in her West Columbia Avenue home for 62 years.

Her ties to the neighborhood run deep. George Streit, Heesen's father, was a general contractor who cleared the orange grove that once occupied the area and built the houses that make up the neighborhood, Heesen said.

Heesen and her husband, a World War II veteran, were the second family to move into the new neighborhood.

"It was all young vets and their young wives," Heesen recalled.

Shortly after, the couples began having children adding to the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

The street Heesen lives on has a number of mature trees.

"I moved in when they were just twigs," she said.

Heesen is a beloved member of the neighborhood as well as the person West Columbia residents go to when they have a question about something on their street, said Kim Johnson, Heesen's neighbor and the street's Neighborhood Watch captain.

Heesen said with the passing of time some of her original neighbors moved away or died.

"As I got older everybody thought I should move to a condo or an apartment or Hillcrest," she said, referring to the retirement community in La Verne.

But Heesen, who is very active and takes part in a water aerobics class and hosts a weekly Bible study group in her home, isn't planning on leaving her home any time soon.

"I'll move when I break a hip," she said.

As part of the party residents organized for Heesen they invited Mayor Elliott Rothman who presented her with a certificate, along with members of the Pomona Police Department's crime prevention unit and Mickey Gallivan, president of the Historical Society of Pomona Valley.

Gallivan presented her with a throw depicting prominent historic buildings within the city.

Pomona First Baptist Church is launching a program designed to address human trafficking.

The first meeting of the group will take place at 12:30 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 12) in Building H, Room 104 of Pomona First Baptist Church, 586 N. Main St.

In the past the church had a ministry that worked to address prostitution in the city, said Lisa Toney, pastor of spiritual formation at Pomona First Baptist.

But in the course of their work church members learned about the problem of human trafficking.

"It's not just something that happens overseas," Toney said.

Human trafficking often involves woman who are deceived or forcibly taken from their countries to other nations where they are forced to work in any one of various occupations ranging from housekeepers to prostitutes for little or no money, she said.

Often the women's captors hold the victims immigration documents to prevent them from trying to escape or threaten to kill family members if they attempt to flee, Toney said.

Toney said efforts are under way to make Pomona a traffic-free community and part of that involves inviting residents from across the city concerned about the problem to work together.

Through the new group the participants will learn about what human trafficking entails, the signs that someone may be held against her will and how to address the problem, Toney said.

"This is one of those things that bridges beyond religious affiliation and political affiliation," Toney said.

If one comes across a victim being held against her will as part of a human trafficking scheme they can pass the information on to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at 888-373-7888.

For information on Pomona First Baptist's efforts to address human trafficking call 909-629-5277, ext. 3019.

The payroll department of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center has been selected as the first recipient of the San Gabriel Valley Payroll Excellence Award, the hospital announced this week.

The winner was selected by a panel of judges from the American Payroll Association San Gabriel Valley Chapter.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center's four-member payroll team was nominated by Ray Inge, the hospital's vice president of human resources.

The team consists of Stacy Wiley, Pam Nunez, Cindy Fortugno and Ashley Batcheller.

In his nomination letter Inge noted the department's efforts to ensure a smooth transition as the hospital went to a paperless payroll system last month.

Hospital employees now access pay information from their home or work computers and other means.

The team has also suggested and implemented other changes to make payroll and time keeping more efficient.

A student in Western University of Health Science's veterinary program was interviewed this week for the National Public Radio show "Radiolab."

Hannah Goorsky, a second-year student in the College of Veterinary Medicine, was interviewed in relation to an act of heroism that earned her the Carnegie Medal, according to a university statement.

The medal is presented "to civilians who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others," the statement said.

Goorsky was recognized for an incident that occurred in 2003 on what was her second day as a volunteer at the Sacramento Zoo.

Goorsky went into action when she saw a zookeeper being attacked by a tiger at the zoo. When Goorsky saw the tiger had bitten the zookeeper's leg and head, she used a shovel to hit the animal on the head, the statement said.

After striking the tiger the creature moved away allowing rescuers to reach the zookeeper who was then hospitalized, the statement said.

The date the interview will air has not been determined.

The Repertory Opera Company has set the dates for its 2010-2011 season during which they will perform at First Christian Church of Pomona.

All performances will be offered on Saturdays starting at 2 p.m.

The Repertory Opera Company will offer audiences three works beginning with Mozart's "The Magic Flute" which will be performed on Oct. 2, 9 and 16.

The company will take a break during the holiday season but will return with performances of "Romeo and Juliette" on Feb. 5, 12 and 19.

To conclude the season the company will present Puccini's "La Boheme" on May 7, 14 and 21.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased on online by going to www.repertoryoperacompany.org .

American Golf Corp. will offer a free seminar designed to help community groups plan successful fundraising events.

The seminar will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Mountain Meadows Golf Course, 1875 Fairplex Drive. To sign up for the seminar call 909-623-3704.

American Golf's fundraising seminar offers non-profit and other community organizations a detailed guide to organizing effective and profitable fundraising events, according to a statement from the organization.

Participants will be provided information on procedures, planning resources and case studies of successful fundraisers along with ideas for a wide range of budgets that can be used by non-profit groups, schools, religious groups and other community-based organizations.

American Golf properties across the country will hold additional seminars in their communities throughout the year, the statement said.

American Golf is a golf management company that operates more than 100 private, resort and public golf courses across the United States, the statement said.

For more information visit www.americangolf.com/fundraising.

For most people Thanksgiving is still more than two months away but for Inland Valley Hope Partners Nov. 25 is already on the radar screen.

The Pomona-based non-profit organization's Thanksgiving Committee will be organizing a series of food drives to collect food so that those in need will be able to mark the holiday.

A series of food drives will take place in the coming weeks.

The first food drive is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Albertson's on Mountain Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in Upland.

Food drives will take place on Sept. 17 and 18 at the following Stater Bros. stores:

- 1425 W. Arrow Highway, San Dimas

- 1619 N. Mountain Ave, Upland

- 6989 Schaefer Ave, Chino

- 4721 Riverside Drive in Chino

For more information contact Fran Robertson at 909-622-3806, ext. 231.

Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Ontario, and Western University of Health Sciences have partnered to offer a free Health Screening and Resource Fair on Sept. 25.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the central walkway in front of the University's Health Education Center, 701 E. Second St.

University faculty and students will provide free blood pressure, dental, foot, glucose, physical therapy and vision screenings.

Flu immunizations will be offered for a $10 cash fee.

Free rabies vaccinations will be offered for pets.

Pet owners must bring their pets on leashes or in pet carriers.

Information on a variety of health topics will be available including asthma, breast and colorectal cancers, and heartburn awareness.

Medication therapy review and information on Medicare Part D for seniors will be offered. Seniors interested in the later should bring their Medicare cards.

Information on emergency preparedness and details on resources such as 2-1-1 assistance, Kids Come First Community Clinic, Molina Clinic, Pomona Valley Community Clinic and Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, Inland Empire Health Plan, Medi-Cal and other programs will be available.

Parking will be available for free in lots surrounding the university.

For more information call 909-984-7741.

Patrick Merrill was a master printmaker who was committed to his work and art as a whole, those who know him said this week.

Merrill, a Diamond Bar resident who was well-known in the art community, died Aug. 31 following a long battle with colon cancer. He was 61.

"He was very gentle and simultaneously smart and enthusiastic," said his wife Debra Winters.

When he was diagnosed he was only expected to live a year but he lived two years.

"I would say he was tenaciously trying to hang on to life," Winters said. "He had goals and he wanted to achieve those goals. And he did."

Although he was ill Merrill worked on numerous projects including continuing his work in his Covina printmaking studio with the assistance of another master printmaker, his wife said.

He was trying to live to the end of October when his work will be displayed as part of four different exhibits.

"Patrick loved to exhibit. He was really happiest when he was in one," Winters said.

In an a story published in the Daily Bulletin in December, Merrill said his work was meant to inspire discussion of serious topics. Through his art he explored themes such as war, addiction and politics.

He recalled once watching a small group of students studying one of his pieces in a gallery and engaging in a discussion of society and vices such as greed and its harm to mankind.

"The work was creating exactly what I wanted it to do," Merrill recalled. "The art was simply a tool to get them to talk to each other."

But Merrill wasn't only focused on his work. He took great joy in being able to work with other artists and putting their art on display.

Merrill's career included serving as exhibit director for the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art and the California Parole Museum.

Until last year he served as director and curator of the W. Keith and Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery at Cal Poly Pomona where he worked for 12 years.

During 12 years with Cal Poly he brought the work of nationally and internationally known artists to annual events such as the Ink & Clay exhibition bringing the attention of the art world to the region, said his friend George Cuttress, proprietor of the Main Street Gallery in downtown Pomona.

In a statement from the university, Art Department Chairwoman Babette Mayor said Merrill was a curator and artist who "knew the value and importance of art in our society."

"As director of the W. Keith and Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery, he had a tremendous impact on the university and surrounding communities. He helped to propel annual art exhibitions like Ink & Clay and DPI into the national and international limelight," Mayor said.

"He featured local artists as well as those from around the world and highlighted topics such as war, identity and race. He was a great supporter and contributor to our department and we will work to keep his legacy alive," she said in the statement.

Merrill was a highly intelligent man who could participate in a discussion on a broad range of subjects, Cuttress said.

"He was really quite an amazing individual," Cuttress said. "I've never met a more artistic and well-rounded individual."

He looked for ways to have artists come together and become involved in the graphic arts and organized gatherings where artists had the chance to take part in thoughtful discussions about art, artistic ideas and various other topics, said friend Chris Toovey, president and co-founder of the dA Center for the Arts in downtown Pomona.

"He was really about intellectual exchange," Toovey said. "He was intellectually stimulating to us."

Such discussions are "an extremely important component in the education of the artist," Cuttress said.

Those who knew him said Merrill was a master printmaker who among the very best in his field.

In an era when printmaking relies heavily on the use of computers, Merrill's work stands out not just for its weighty themes but also because they were done by hand with methods used by generations of printmakers going back to the Renaissance period, Toovey said.

"He was thoroughly dedicated to the art," he said.

In December, an auction was held at the Downtown Center featuring pieces of national and international artists who knew Merrill. The proceeds from the auction went to help cover the costs of a book that brings together Merrill's work.

The book itself will be a work of art, Cuttress said.

Winters said the book is nearly complete but will not be out until 2011.

Although Merrill did not see the final product, before his death he met with Garland Kirkpatrick, the book's designer, and saw a mockup of the book, Winters said.

"Patrick really felt comfortable leaving it in his hands," she said.

Merrill was not commercially driven, Winters said. His work appeared in the galleries of colleges and universities and in private galleries.

His work was well-known to people in the art community but less so among those working in commercial galleries and museums.

The book of Merrill's work could change that, Winters said.

"I think this book is going to show Patrick's work to a much larger audience. People are going to say,`How did we miss this guy?"' Winters said.

Patrick Merrill is survived by his wife Debra Winters; his parents Ed and Genevieve Merrill of Washington; his sister Christine Williams of Washington; and three brothers, Danny of Washington; Doug of Idaho and Michael of Long Beach.

A memorial service is being planned for 2 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Art Department of Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton.

The service will coincide with the opening of an exhibit at Cal State Fullerton featuring Merrill's work.

Published Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010

POMONA - City leaders gave approval this week to a proposal to issue up to $9.3 million in recovery zone facility bonds for the construction of a business center at Fairplex.

Council members voted 4-1-1 in favor of the proposal with Councilwoman Paula Lantz voting in opposition and Mayor Elliott Rothman abstaining. Rothman said after the meeting he abstained because he had just returned to the city late Sunday night from a trip to Alaska and "didn't get a chance to fully review" the matter.

Councilman Freddie Rodriguez was absent.

The proposed Fairplex Business Center, which must still go through the city's planning process, would involve converting six racing horse barns into an office, warehousing and light industrial center for about $6.9 million, according to a city staff report.

An additional six horse show barns would be converted into a self-storage facility for about $1.7 million.

The barns are near the Finish Line Sports Grill near Gate 12 along White Avenue.

Fairplex officials said such a project would not interfere with its ability to hold horse racing, horse training or horse shows or horse sales.

The Recovery Zone Facility Bonds were allocated to the city by the state as part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The city is eligible to issue the tax-exempt bonds to assist in carrying out projects that result in the creation of jobs and assist in economic recovery efforts.

Community Development Director Raymond Fong told the council since the city's finances have prevented it from using the bonds so Cal Poly Pomona, the Pomona Unified School District and Fairplex were notified of their availability.

Only Fairplex expressed an interest in the bonds, Fong said.

During the meeting some of the council expressed concerns about the project and the use of the bonds.

"While I know we're not actually approving the project, I really am concerned about the nature of this development," Councilwoman Paula Lantz said.

Lantz said the bonds are meant to fund projects that will create jobs, and a self-storage facility would generate few of them.

Councilwoman Cristina Carrizosa agreed with Lantz and added that a self-storage facility didn't align with her image of Fairplex and would not result in jobs.

"Storage is going to be a building with not even one job there," she said.

Fairplex representatives said the self-storage facility is one-half of the proposed project.

Fairplex has about 1,500 horse stalls, a large number of which are not used, said Mike Seder, vice president of finance and chief financial officer of the Los Angeles County Fair Association.

Creating a self-storage facility would allow Fairplex to take some of the excess stalls and turn them into an income-producing facility, Seder said.

"These are opportunities for us," he said, but added, "I hear your concerns about the type of project."

As part of the office, light industrial and warehousing component of the project, Fairplex officials have talked with manufacturing entities interested in having training programs and possibly leasing space at the center, said Dwight Richards, vice president of operations for the Fair Association.

Such a use would fit in with the Fairplex Educational Foundation's Career & Technical Education Center program which has many classes meeting and using Fairplex facilities.

In addition, the office, light industrial and warehousing aspect of the proposed project would be able to accommodate retail opportunities, Richards said.

But Lantz said as far as she could tell the proposed project would likely not produce much in the way of taxes for the city and added the proposed project site is visible from White Avenue, a section of Fairplex that "has so much potential."

Carrizosa asked Fairplex representatives if they would consider building "something besides storage" on the site.

"We are constantly looking for retail opportunities," Seder said. "We've been out there, and it's been challenging."

Seder said he and other Fairplex representatives would do what they could to seek flexibility within the parameters set by the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee, which is overseeing the bond allocation.

After the meeting Seder said the state committee must still review Fairplex Business Center proposal.

Without Tuesday's hearing Fairplex would not be able to apply for the bonds, he said.

Should Fairplex receive the bonds, it would be responsible for repaying them. Also, Fairplex would pay the city a one-time fee of $20,000 to $40,000 for issuing the bonds, according to a city staff report.

Fairplex has submitted a preliminary application for a conditional use permit for the business center project, said Community Development Director Mark Lazzaretto.

It's estimated the earliest the proposed project would go before the Planning Commission would be November or December, he said.

Published Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

What started out as an 11-day event meant to bring people together through interfaith and cultural activities has grown into a month-long series of functions with the goal of breaking barriers and starting dialogues among people.

At a time when there is much fear of the unknown, groups exist who are interested in helping people get past the fear of what's different and look for what they have in common, said Rev. Jan Chase of Unity Church of Pomona, who coordinates "11 Days of Global Unity: A Season of Interfaith Celebration."

Interest in bringing people together has helped expand the activities from an 11-day event into activities that offer an activity almost every day in September.

"People are so willing to open up their spaces, their houses of worship and their minds," Chase said.

The actual 11 days begin Saturday - Sept. 11, the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the East Coast and which sparked many fears in people - and end on Sept. 21, the United Nations International Day of Peace.

The diverse series of activities taking place this month is also meant to help people begin building trusting relationships that will grow and strengthen as the work together to address community concerns, she said.

Through this year's "11 Days of Global Unity" activities will be offered from Covina to Montclair and La Verne to Chino.

A major event on the calendar is the 2nd annual Working Group for Middle East Peace's "Interfaith Walk for Peace and Friendship."

The walk is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Sunday at Temple Beth Israel, 3033 N. Towne Ave., Pomona. The walk will include stops at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Claremont, City of Knowledge School in Pomona and the Islamic Center of Claremont in Pomona before returning to Temple Beth Israel.

Last year the walk drew about 200 participants, said Rev. Kenneth Davis, senior pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Davis said he would like to see at least 200 attend but Davis would welcome the involvement of 300 to 400.

This is the first year the church will participate in the walk, he said.

Through the walk, people of different faiths are invited to come together and begin a dialogue and get past the differences and focus on the similarities all have, Davis said.

By starting conversations "We'll break down images and stereotypes," he said. "At a minimum ... we can get to the point were we can say we can agree to disagree and not allow (the differences) to divide us."

Among those making presentations this month is Vanessa Karam, a lecturer on Islam and a member of Muslims for Progressive Values.

Karam will speak at 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Unity Church of Pomona, 524 E. Pasadena St., Pomona.

The organization Karam represents consists of a diverse membership, even though people often think of the Muslim community "as if it was a monolithic, conservative, almost fundamentalist people" when they are not, Karam said.

Karam added the organization's members "don't claim to speak for the majority" of Muslims.

As part of her work, Karam said she tries to bring a greater understanding of Islam and of Muslim women to people.

There is a growing interest in learning and understanding Islam in the larger community, Karam said.

　

Schedule of activities

As part of the "11 Days of Global Unity: A Season of Interfaith Celebration" a series of activities is taking place across the Inland Valley and beyond. Here are this week's events. Visit www.unityofpomona.org for a complete list of events.

Today (Wednesday, Sept. 8)

7 p.m. Peace Film "Doing Time, Doing Vipassana" the power of meditation. Unity Church of Pomona, 524 E. Pasadena St., Pomona.

Thursday (Sept. 9)

noon - 1 p.m. Unity World Day of Prayer Service, Interfaith Prayers. Unity Church of Pomona, 524, E. Pasadena St.

7 p.m. Drumming with Rev. M. StarrWolf. Bring your drums or one will be provided. Unity Church of Pomona, 524 E. Pasadena St.

Friday (Sept. 10)

12:45-2:30 p.m. Islamic Service with Dr. Ahmed Soboh followed by a light lunch. Chino Valley Islamic Center, 5565 Daniels St., Chino.

5 p.m. Pomona Youth Advisory Council March for Peace with international flags at the L.A. County Fair Parade followed by the presentation of proclamation recognizing the "11 Day of Global Unity" by Mayor Elliott Rothman. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona.

7 p.m. Pagan Mabon Ritual. Monte Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 9185 Monte Vista Ave., Montclair.

Saturday (Sept. 11)

10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Chan: Meditation Retreat MiddleLand Chan Monastery, 1173 San Bernardino Ave., Pomona

Sunday (Sept. 12)

10:30 a.m. Anthony Manousos, "Coming to Unity through Harmony: Friends and the Interfaith Movement." Unity Church of Pomona, 524 E. Pasadena St., Pomona.

5 p.m. 2nd annual Working Group for Middle East Peace's "Interfaith Walk for Peace and Friendship." Walk begins at Temple Beth Israel, 3033 N. Towne Ave., Pomona. Bring a flashlight.

5:30 to 8 p.m. "Love U2" a 4-Sunday relationship workshop for youth ages 14-18 on communication, dating, boundaries by The Clinebell Institute in Claremont at La Verne Church of the Brethren, 2425 E St., La Verne

　

　

Federal and local elected officials gathered at the Foothill Transit Operations Facility Friday (Sept 3) morning for a ceremonial unveiling of one of three cutting-edge, electric buses being added to the transportation agency's fleet.

The ceremony was attended by various elected officials including Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs, Rep. David Drier, R-San Dimas and Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, who is the ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Also present was Therese W. McMillan, deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.

Foothill Transit is the first transit agency to take delivery of the first of the all-electric EcoRide BE-35 buses built by Golden, Colo.-based Proterra, according to the manufacturer's web site.

The buses are the first of their their kind.

Electric buses are nothing new but what makes these vehicles different is that they are charged in 10 minutes instead of taking hours, said Felicia Friesema, spokeswoman for Foothill Transit.

The transportation agency purchased the buses, which it calls Ecoliners, at $1.2 million each with the help of $6.5 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding, she said.

The electric buses are more expensive than buses fueled with compressed natural gas or other fossil fuels, Friesema said.

A conventional bus cost about $600,000.

However, the electric buses are expected to save money in the long run because they will be in service longer than conventional buses since they have fewer moving parts and are less expensive to fuel, Friesema said.

The new buses are expected to go into service Wednesday on line 291 which serves Pomona and La Verne.

This bus line was selected because the line is a busy one, attracting 700,000 passengers annually, Friesema said.

"We need to put (the bus) through its paces," she said.

Riders shouldn't notice anything different when they use the 30-foot vehicle except for one thing.

"It's quiet and were hoping that's the only thing they're going to notice," Friesema said.

The temperature went back to comfortable levels at the Pomona Public Library when its air conditioning system went back into operation Wednesday.

The system broke down in late June, and a new compressor had to be built to repair the problem.

The new compressor arrived late last week.

With the library's air conditioning system back in service, patrons are being invited to return to the library to read periodicals in a cool environment, check out books or use the computers, a statement from the city said.

Visitors will also find a variety of activities for children and adults alike.

Library hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays noon to 7 p.m. and Saturdays noon to 5 p.m. The library is closed Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Due to the Labor Day holiday the library will also be closed Saturday (Sept. 4) and Monday. The library will return to its regular schedule on Tuesday.

The head of the YMCA of Pomona Valley attended Wednesday evening's Pomona Unified School District board meeting to announce it would extend free four-month memberships to district faculty and staff.

The memberships will take effect Oct. 15 and will entitle the YMCA member to activities such as aerobics, yoga or swimming, said Jane Taylor, executive director of the YMCA of Pomona Valley.

One of the thing the YMCA is doing across the country is to help improve the overall healthy living of different communities, Taylor said Friday.

The organization has giving special attention to children and to combating childhood obesity, she said.

But adults need attention, too, Taylor said.

In the case of the district, cutbacks mean this will be a tough year for faculty and staff who work with children and teens. Giving them memberships to the YMCA ensures faculty and staff have a resource so they can take care of themselves and are healthy, she said.

"Those adults have a very important impact on kids lives," Taylor said.

They have to be in good health in order to be able to help their students, she said.

Plans are in the works to provide such memberships in the future to other organizations, Taylor said.

"We're starting with PUSD because they are directly impacting the well-being of kids," she said.

Pomona Unified School District Superintendent Richard Martinez announced at this week's school board meeting that in the coming weeks the district will embark on the "We Want You Back" campaign.

School district employees, including himself and other administrators along with parents and others, will make visits before school and after school to the homes of students who have not shown up to school.

The goal is to convince students they should be in school.

"We want to make sure kids feel welcomed at Pomona Unified School District," he said.

Western University of Health Sciences has reminded parents that as part of going back to school, their children should have a comprehensive vision exam.

Without appropriate vision exams students can have a vision problem that goes unaddressed and creates learning problems, according to a statement from the university.

Sometimes students have a vision problem but are misdiagnosed as having a learning disability. A vision exam will not detect learning disabilities but it will determine if a student's poor performance in school is the result of a vision problem, the statement said.

Some problems can be addressed successfully with the help of vision therapy, the statement said.

Western University's Eye Care Center, which opened in May on the first floor of the Patient Care Center, on Towne Avenue and East Second Street, offers eye care treatments and services for patients of all ages offered by experienced doctors of optometry who are also members of the university's faculty.

Parents should be aware that not all eye doctors test for learning-related vision problems. Parents should take their children to eye doctors who test such problems and who offer in-office vision therapy programs.

The College of Optometrists in Vision Development has a website, www.covd.org, that offers information on locating a developmental optometrist in various communities.

For more information on the Eye Care Center within the Patient Care Center at Western University of Health Sciences or to make an appointment go to http://www.westernupcc.com/eye.html or call 909-706-3899.

POMONA - The start of football season can be an exciting time, but it will be even more so tonight (Sept. 3)  for Pomona High School.

For the first time in its history, Pomona High will play a Friday night game at home.

For several years, Pomona High has played its home games at Nancy McCracken Stadium at Ganesha High School.

"It's a really, really big deal for our school," Pomona High Principal Roger Fasting said.

Making such a change goes beyond football, Fasting said.

"It adds to the morale and the pride kids feel," he said.

In addition to building school spirit, the move provides students with an incentive to continue improving their academic performance.

Pomona High teachers and administrators are always looking for ways to improve students' grades as well as keep them in school, Fasting said.

Sports can serve as a way to keep young people interested in receiving an education.

"We know that with extracurricular activities they are going to do better in school," Fasting said.

Pomona High administrators thought having home games on campus would be good for the school and for much of north Pomona. They approached Superintendent Richard Martinez this spring with the idea.

Martinez was open to the concept, but asked administrators to put the idea on paper and for its cost estimates. Pomona High paid about $3,000 per game for the school to play at Nancy McCracken Stadium. The cost included transportation, staff and security, Martinez said.

The school administrators showed Martinez that it could cost less to play at home.

By playing at home, the district would save about $1,500 just in transportation costs, Fasting said.

Even after renting bleachers, a savings could be achieved by playing games at Pomona High, he said.

Having Pomona High play on its own field will be a pilot project and evaluated at the end of the year, Martinez said.

"There is that option to return to the district stadium," he said.

But if the program is successful, steps will be taken to find ways of making adjustments to provide more permanent facilities at Pomona High, he said.

Administrators realize that facilities will cost far less at Pomona High compared to those at the district stadium, he said.

"They know they have a modest arrangement," Martinez said. "But students are willing to make that sacrifice."

Senior Demetrius Counts, 16, said that even though he transferred to Pomona High in June, he, like his teammates, realize how important tonight's game will be.

"The team is like, this is the first home game in the history of Pomona High," he said. "This game is going to stand out more than any other game."

Throw in that Pomona High tonight will play its crosstown rival - Garey High - and the excitement goes up a few notches, Counts said.

Team members realize they won't have the same facilities they had when they played at the district stadium, he said.

"Everybody understands it's not going to be the best looking field. It is what it is. But the school doesn't have a lot of money," he said.

Still, for the team's members, it's better to play on their own field, Counts said.

Coach Anthony Rice said even though the team members are excited, they have been working hard for the game.

"It's still business as usual," he said.

Fasting said he's confident the school will get support in this endeavor.

Playing at home will make it easier for students, families, alumni and neighbors to attend games. Attending games at the district stadium wasn't always easy, in part, because of its location.

Pomona High is in the northeastern end of the city, which is a short distance north of the 10 Freeway. Ganesha's stadium is on the western end below the freeway.

The distance is thought to play a part in the low paid attendance at Pomona High's games, which has averaged about 230 spectators per game, Fasting said.

Some fans will now be able to walk to the games, he said.

Fasting said Pomona High community members contend the home games will also be good for neighboring businesses, especially the smaller ones, many of which support the school team.

Pomona resident Sharmelle Parker is among those looking forward to tonight's game. The president of Pomona High's 12th Man Booster Club said parents in the club had a chance to see the field this week with its freshly-painted lines, newly-installed bleachers and ticket booth.

"We are so excited," said Parker, Demetrius Counts' mother.

Parker said, as a parent, she likes that her son and his teammates will cut down on their travel.

Now, everyone is "closer to home and it's our home field," she said.

Parker and other parents expect having home games on campus will be special.

"When you are able to play at home, at your house, it's a different feel," she said.

As far back as 1958, Pomona High has played at different locations, including Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Fasting said.

In the 1970s and 1980s, games were played at Mt. SAC or Cal Poly Pomona, said Mickey Gallivan, president of the Pomona Valley Historical Society.

In the past, some games were played on campus, but only on Saturday afternoon because the field didn't have lights, Fasting said. Lights were eventually installed about five or six years ago, district spokesman Tim McGillivray said.

"There is the cliche that you have home field advantage," Fasting said.

Pomona High will literally have it this season.

Published: Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010

A San Dimas resident contends the Pomona Unified School District board violated the state's open-meeting law during closed-door sessions that led to placing a parcel tax on the November ballot.

Gil Aguirre told school board members in a letter dated Aug. 16 that they violated the Brown Act when they discussed and made decisions to pursue a parcel tax in closed session on several occasions between May and August.

But Pomona Unified's attorney, Kasey Haws, said the board has not acted inappropriately.

Discussions along with "any and all action was taken in full open session," Haws said.

Aguirre is calling for the board to take formal action and publicly announce it committed errors by going behind closed doors on six occasions in relation to the parcel tax.

He is also calling for the disclosure of discussions and actions taken along with the release to the public of meeting minutes, records and agreements related to the hiring of consultants involved in polling for the parcel tax.

"They seem to be under the false impression that they can go into closed session to discuss politically sensitive or embarrassing matters, and that's just not the case," Aguirre said. "Those are the very things they should be conducting in public."

Discussion of a matter such as a parcel tax needs to take place in public in order to give residents the opportunity to provide their opinions and contribute to the public debate on such a matter, Aguirre said.

Aguirre, who describes himself as "a little bit of an open-government advocate," said he and his family own property in various places in the region, including Pomona, and that he tries to remain abreast of what is taking place in the area.

Aguirre said he was involved in a lawsuit against Glendora about two years ago over records not being made available to the public. The suit led to changes in the handling and improvement of access to public documents, he said.

In this case, Aguirre said he would prefer to have the school board take the necessary corrective actions but is prepared to take the matter to court if it fails to do so.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they do the right thing," he said.

The matters Aguirre is highlighting are valid points, said Terry Francke, general counsel for Californians Aware,

CalAware, as the nonprofit is also known, works to support and defend open government in order for California residents to hold government and other institutions accountable.

Francke said the state's open-meeting law doesn't allow government bodies such as school boards to meet behind closed doors for discussions "with an attorney or anyone else on elections."

If the school board fails to take corrective action Aguirre would have grounds for a lawsuit, he said.

Haws said a response was being e-mailed to Aguirre.

Aguirre's letter will be on the school board's agenda tonight (Sept. 1). The open portion of the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the district's offices, 800 S. Garey Ave.

"We'll go over his request point by point by point," Haws said.

A major concern in Aguirre's letter is "that somehow (board members) were strategizing or colluding how they were going to vote" on the parcel tax, he said.

Those in attendance at the Aug. 5 meeting saw "it was crystal clear the board was completely unscripted" in how votes were cast, Haws said. "Any and all action was taken in full open session."

He added the information presented in open session prior to the vote was extensive.

Action related to using the services of consultants and lawyers connected to the parcel tax measure were carried out in open session as part of the Aug. 5 meeting actions, he said.

The school board is aware of the critical nature of complying with the Brown Act, Haws said, adding he is prepared to stop board members from taking any action that would be out of line with the act.

"I understand the public relies on us to be transparent," Haws said.

As a result of Aguirre's letter, changes will be made to school board agendas.

"I think there are going to be some improvements," he said.

"The way we do certain agenda postings could be worded better," Haws said. "I think we can improve the actual description of agenda items."

Published: Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010

POMONA - Years of legal proceedings are close to an end for six families whose homes were destroyed or damaged more than five years ago after the ground underneath them gave way.

This also means that Pomona may soon have to pay several million dollars to the families after a more than five-year court battle.

The city wanted to take the case to the state Supreme Court, but the request was denied last week.

"We're really excited. We're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel," said Michael Hearn, the lawyer for the families.

In February 2005, following a period of heavy rains, the families, who lived along Meadow View Drive in the the Phillips Ranch area, noticed cracks in their homes' floors and yards.

The cracks quickly became large gaps and drops of as much as 2 feet.

The families sued the city after their houses were damaged. Some of the houses had to be demolished.

In court, lawyers for the families showed that the city failed to properly maintain an open space area near the houses, which was once the site of an ancient landslide.

Additional information was presented that showed the area was maintained in the past, but received little attention from 1998 to 2005.

Also, the area had not been checked for gophers. The number of gophers increased so much that when the 2005 rains arrived, water seeped into the ground and weakened the slope near the houses.

Two years ago, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the families. The judgment required the city to pay $5.8 million. Lawyers for the city appealed.

Following last week's ruling, the matter will return to trial court where a number of issues will be addressed, including attorney fees and other costs, Hearn said.

Pomona could find itself paying more than $7 million, he said.

The city's risk manager said the costs to the city will be determined in future, and paid with money from a funding pool, of which Pomona is a part that provides excess coverage.

The city is working with pool representatives to resolve the case, said Chris Millard, the city's risk manager.

Should the city fail to pay his clients, steps will be taken to record liens on city property, Hearn said.

He said he hoped the city is prepared to pay his clients so they can put the matter behind them.

POMONA - Pomona Habla/ Pomona Speaks Coalition members on Monday (Aug. 30) announced that a second federal lawsuit has been filed related to an August 2008 dispute that broke out at a downtown religious center between off-duty Pomona police officers and members of the public.

Attorney Luis Carrillo said he filed the lawsuit on Aug. 18 in U.S. Central District Court in Los Angeles on behalf of the Rev. Patricio Guillen and three other people who attended the meeting.

Guillen is a Catholic priest and executive director of Libreria del Pueblo in San Bernardino.

As of Monday, "the city has yet to receive official notification of the suit," said Mark Gluba, assistant to the city manager.

Because the suit involves ongoing litigation, the city could not comment on the matter, Gluba said.

About a year ago, Carrillo filed a lawsuit in federal court against the city and the Pomona Police Department on behalf of more than 50 coalition members and other people involved in the Aug. 21, 2008, incident.

Coalition members organized a community meeting at the Centro Promesa de Dios on West Third Street in Pomona's downtown to discuss the city's use of traffic checkpoints and to gather suggestions from the public on possible solutions on how to address the problem.

During the meeting, a verbal dispute ensued between off-duty police officers in the audience and members of the public.

The outburst frightened several attendees and prompted them to leave, said Angela Sambrano, a plaintiff in the first lawsuit who's also a member of the coalition.

The officers' actions were disruptive and intimidated many of those attending the meeting, Sambrano said.

The most recent complaint alleges that the plaintiffs' freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom to assemble, freedom to petition the government for redress of grievances and equal protection of the laws were violated.

The allegations are very similar to those in the complaint filed last year.

Like the older suit, this one names the city, retired Police Chief Joe Romero and several members of the Police Department.

Carrillo said filing this second case was important "because Father Guillen wants justice."

The suit also serves as a reminder to the city.

"The city thinks we're going to forget about this, and we're not," Carrillo said.

Francisco Suarez, a Pomona attorney working with Carrillo, said Guillen's lawsuit focuses attention on the fact the dispute took place at a religious center.

The suit states that the meeting began with prayers, and while some participated in the meeting, others were praying and taking part in other religious activities within the religious center.

This suit "kind of emphasizes the religious aspect of this," Suarez said.

A religious center was selected as the site of the meeting "because this is a central focal point of trust, hope and faith in the Latino culture," according to a statement from the coalition.

"I feel very strongly this is a violation of freedom of assembly," Guillen said following the announcement made outside of Pomona City Hall.

He added that "as a priest who believes in social justice," it is his obligation to speak up and stand up for his constitutional rights and those of the people who attended the meeting two years ago.

Guillen said police officers had the right to attend the meeting but not to disrupt it or intimidate those present.

Arturo Jimenez, a member of the Pomona Habla/Pomona Speaks Coalition, said a healing process involving Pomona residents and the police department needs to take place.

"I think the lawsuit calls attention for the process to begin," Jimenez said.

While the police department may have the support of a small but vocal part of the community, it needs to work with all of Pomona's residents, he said.

By building a relationship with the community, the department will be better able to work with residents and gain their help in solving crimes, Jimenez said.

Reducing crime will then make the city more appealing to businesses that will be interested in opening up tax-generating establishments, which will benefit everyone, he said.

Suarez said that although he doesn't know how much the city has spent on this legal matter, so far it has been a substantial amount.

"We know by the amount of paperwork they are filing they must be paying a pretty penny," Suarez said.

The lawsuit filed last year is currently in the discovery stage, which is the evidence-gathering period, Suarez said.

POMONA - With the help of the Chancellor of the California State University system, Western University of Health Sciences celebrated the dedication of its two newest buildings.

University leaders, faculty, staff and students, along with elected officials and business people, gathered at the university's 180,000-square-foot Health Education Center and 78,000-square-foot Patient Care Center on Wednesday (Aug. 25) for the ceremony.

The two buildings, along with a nearby parking structure, make up the $100 million expansion project the university carried out on the eastern end of the campus in downtown Pomona.

Cal State University system Chancellor Charles Reed said the state is experiencing tremendous population growth at the same time many Californians are growing older.

In order to provide adequate medical care to all "we will need more and more health care workers in years to come," Reed said.

"The role of all universities, public and private, is to meet the needs of our businesses, communities and families, and in doing so, universities need to be fully integrated in their communities," Reed said.

"Here at Western University, community service has been a cornerstone of this university's philosophy since it was first established more than 30 years ago," he said. The dedication ceremony "represents another new chapter in the expansion of Western U's efforts to meet the needs of so many Californians."

The university started out as a vision of university President Philip Pumerantz.

That vision has steadily grown in the 33 years since the university was founded into what it is today and will continue to grow to new heights, Reed said.

Councilwoman Paula Lantz, a Pomona native in whose district the university is located, said she can recall how Western University took long- vacant buildings once home to department stores, renovated them and put them back into use.

A vacant lot and underserved area are now home to the new medical facility, she said.

"So it is just a real thrill, a real sense of pride in celebrating this ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony," Lantz said.

The university's Health Education Center, an academic facility, went into use in January. The Patient Care Center, which opened in May, is a facility housing various clinics and health services.

Students in the more advanced stages of training work under the supervision of faculty and other health care professionals to tend to the medical needs of patients.

Pumerantz said the two buildings are attractive, state-of-the-art facilities but that's not what makes them stand out.

What makes them special is the commitment to caring for patients being instilled by faculty in students, he said.

Pumerantz said 36 percent of Western University's students are graduates of the California State University system.

After the ceremony, Reed said Western University has a strong relationship with Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Los Angeles.

Cal State prepares more students of color from underserved communities than anybody else in the United States, Reed said.

Together, the Cal State system and Western University are working to meet the needs of the state.

Following the ceremony, Pumerantz said Western University will continue to work in partnership with public and private colleges.

"We can't do everything alone, we have to collaborate. It makes us all stronger," he said.