December 2008 Archives

Wishing readers a new and improved year. I hope your freeways are clear, your drink bubbly and your friends and family in a merry mood. Happy New Year!

Somehow, I don't think Hyatt is going to finish building their fancy hotel on Haven Avenue this winter. Or maybe this is it -- a no-frills Hyatt for people who want to slum it a la Tent City.

The hotel chain has a five-year entitlement on this piece of property on Haven and Sixth, according to Mike Nelson of the redevelopment agency.

Haven Avenue was set to become a major office corridor in the city and although several projects have been completed, many offices and open fields remain empty. On the northwest corner of Haven and Arrow is another empty patch with a sign that reads, "Ground breaking 3rd quarter of 2008."

Children's musical "A Year with Frog & Toad," based on the books by Arnold Lobel, will be staged at the Lewis Family Playhouse from Jan. 31 to Feb. 14. The show, which is appropriate for children 5 and older, will be performed Saturdays at 1 and 4 p.m. and on Feb. 8 at 1 p.m.

Tickets are $16.50; $14.50 for seniors and $13.50 for children 12 and younger. The city also runs special weekday matinees for school groups.

Information: (909) 477-2752, (877) 858-8422 

If you don't have New Year's plans, consider sun bathing.

Things are warming back up this week with highs close to or at 70. Clear, sunny skies will greet Rose Parade participants on Thursday.

There's a chance of rain next week but even that is slim, said Brandt Maxwell, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

Maybe I can squeeze in one more visit to Pinkberry this season.

A reader of this blog posted this question last night: "Why did the city name the new library at Victoria Gardens the Paul Biane Library?"

The county supervisor, who served on the City Council for eight years before heading to the county, steered about $1 million to the Victoria Gardens library. Some might say the library wouldn't be what it is today without Biane. Others might say he was just doing his job.

My former colleague Jason Newell wrote about this practice of naming schools, libraries and other facilities after politicians not yet dead -- and in this case, not yet out of office.

I enjoyed the quote from Pomona College professor Susan McWilliams, who explained why many municipalities are waiting for politicians to retire before naming public projects after them.

"It's the same reason you would stop your 16-year-old daughter from tattooing her boyfriend's name on her stomach," McWilliams said. "Time shifts your perspective."
  

An article about the retirement of Library Director Deborah Clark, right, whose last day on the job is today, appeared in today's paper. Clark was hired 15 years ago to transform a county-run facility into the current system.

Clark really, really loves books, which is probably why she was so good at her job. She stays up until 1 a.m. reading and is bright and cheery the next day at 8 a.m. getting the community excited about reading.

"I'm one of those people ... if I'm standing in line, I'm reading a book," she said.

Councilwoman Diane Williams, pictured here, is another ardent book lover. When Mayor Don Kurth asked Williams to say a few words about Clark at the last City Council meeting, he introduced her as the "library lady."

Before Williams got on the council, she used to be on the other side of the dais touting library events and programs. She put out a library newsletter on her memory typewriter and made copies on her own dime.

"By doing all that, you come to be known as a library lady," Williams said. "It was not always said in a positive vein but now I take it with pride."

Starting next week, assistant library director Robert Karatsu will head the city's library department. Please don't call him library lady.

 

 

Dear Santa:

At least 9,744 journalists have lost their jobs since September, according to UNITY, a journalist association that has been tracking newsroom layoffs. For Christmas, instead of things I sorta want -- an SLR camera, my student loans paid off and a Lakers victory tonight -- please give me some kind of sign that the newspaper industry will survive this perfect storm.

Recently I read with dismay that the American Society of Newspaper Editors will consider removing the word "paper" from its name. I also read with horror what happened at the Cleveland Plain Dealer -- two dozens journalists were called in on a Saturday and told they were laid off right before Christmas.

This year, no news organization has been unscathed. My cubicle at the Daily Bulletin once shared dividers with five other cubicles where reporters gathered sources and ideas. Today, three of those cubicles gather dust.

With wet eyes, I have watched so many talented journalists leave the industry. The smart ones with good social skills head to PR. The unlucky ones leave reluctantly with a resume stocked with news experience but nowhere to go. The few who remain feel both fortunate and battered.

For half the cost to do a load of laundry, we provide a product that has everything from the big (calling out crooked politicians) to the small (daily dose of Doonesbury). I even cover you. When you came to Victoria Gardens to have your picture taken and when you gave toys to needy children at the West Valley Detention Center, I was there to give you positive coverage.

Maybe this Christmas, you can give our embattled industry some positive coverage, too.

Warm regards,

Wendy

"Raised in Craftivity," an exhibit celebrating those who get their knitting needle on, will be on display at the Chaffey College Wignall Museum from Jan. 26 to March 7.

The works of embroidery, ceramics, beadwork, knitting and woodworking, challenge the stereotypes of craft media as domestic or feminine. An artist's reception with guest curator Maria Elena Buszek is scheduled for Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.

The museum is closed starting today for Christmas break. It will reopen on Jan. 5.

Information: (909) 652-6492

Councilman Rex Gutierrez will start his new job with the county as an economic development specialist on Jan. 5.

The councilman was let go as the intergovernmental relations officer in Bill Postmus' office following a grand jury report released in June accusing the assessor of misconduct. Postmus is now part of a criminal investigation by the district attorney and faces pressure by county supervisors to resign.

Gutierrez was supposed to leave his post in the assessor's office in September but managed to stay on until his new job starts at the Economic Development Agency. He will work on business retention and help steer county resources to struggling businesses.

The allegations surrounding Postmus range from political misconduct to methamphetamine use. Last week, the County Board of Supervisors decided to hire a prosecutor to investigate these allegations further.

Gutierrez, who considers Postmus a mentor and speaks to him on a daily basis, said the supervisors' move to oust the assessor "isn't worth the trouble or the money."

"I guess I'm partial," Gutierrez said. "I feel bad for our assessor. It's been a very turbulent time for him. I say let bygones be bygones."    

We encourage public input in the blogosphere/newspaper industry. That means, us reporters have to take the good with the bad.

A reader (if you can call her that) came to our newsroom the other day wondering if there was a person she could talk to about why the Daily Bulletin sucked so bad. I hated to break it to her but if there was such a person, that position would have been laid off by now.

"There's no local news in your paper except shootings," she said. "I can read the whole paper in three minutes -- five on a good day."

The comments didn't make me feel good but I try not to take these things personally unless it gets, well, personal.

Just one month after I started working for the Daily Bulletin, I received the most angry, albeit, colorful message ever. I had just reported on a City Council spat between then Mayor Bill Alexander and Councilman Rex Gutierrez. One reader (if you can call her that) was pretty upset the tiff was in the newspaper.

"Rex Gutierrez is scum," she uttered into my voicemail box. "And you're beneath him."

Do I ever get positive comments, you ask. Occasionally, yes.

I once wrote about the Hill couple, who own a silk screening business and was recently recognized by the White House. After the article was published, the Hills sent a thank you note.

"Your writing style magnified our story -- this is one of your TRUE gifts!," they wrote. "You carry the torch of freedom and we thank God for that! Thank you for being the true spirit of America!"

Who knew I was this complex? Both scum's underbelly and the nation's true spirit all in one persona. 

By Mayor Don Kurth

In March, the Rancho Cucamonga City Council took the bold step of tightening the city's tobacco control ordinances beyond that required by state law in California. As part of our Healthy RC Program, our goal is to create a healthier environment for our families and, especially, for our children. Earlier this month, we considered further expanding our current tobacco control ordinances.

Some city councils seem to believe that their residents' health is beyond their purview -- that public health issues should be left to the state or federal government. Certainly, a healthy environment really should be the job of our state legislators. But with tobacco control, our state government has dropped the ball and failed to provide the level of protection that Californians deserve, desire, and demand. As a result, at least in Rancho Cucamonga, our council has made the decision to take these matters into our own hands to protect our families and our children.

                                                                     Thomas Cordova/Staff Photographer

The City Council said faux grass is a-ok, amending the development code so that synthetic turf can be permitted in the city. Fake grass is looking pretty real these days and the Cucamonga Valley Water District, pictured above, was one of the first to install it.

Fearing shoddy DIY projects, the city added several design guidelines to ensure synthetic turf still looks like grass.

* Synthetic turf must have "lifelike individual blades of grass that emulate real grass in look and color."

* It should have a proper drainage system.

* It must simulate the appearance of a well-maintained lawn.

* Plastic or nylon carpeting won't do.

* It must be accompanied by other natural plant materials (i.e. real trees and shrubs).

Sounds pretty thorough, huh? Not to Councilman Rex Gutierrez, who asked, "The ordinance specifies it needs to be green correct?"

"Yes," said Planning Director James Troyer.

"It can't be purple or blue, pink or yellow?" Gutierrez asked. "Just making sure."   

Radio station 93.5 The Flo will be at Victoria Gardens Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. handing out gifts every 15 minutes.

Sounding about seven times cooler than the Tiffany concert, Vox Lumiere's "Hunchback of Notre Dame" will be shown alongside singers, dancers and a light show at the Lewis Family Playhouse. The enhanced silent film will be shown and performed on Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32; $30 for seniors and $26 for youth. You can purchase them online or by calling (909) 477-2752.

I propose the city select one day a year when council members conduct the meeting in their pajamas.

Last week, the Lewis Family Playhouse screened "Polar Express" and encouraged families to arrive in their PJs. Councilman Rex Gutierrez showed a slideshow of the event at tonight's meeting.

"Do your pajamas have the feet on them, Rex?" asked Mayor Don Kurth.

"No, but they have the bunny tail in the back," Gutierrez said.

"Thanks for the visuals," Kurth said.

The City Council bid a tearful farewell to Library Director Deborah Clark, who is retiring on Dec. 26. Clark became director 15 years ago when the city took control of the library from the county.

"It was a dream job," Clark said.

Robert Karatsu, current assistant library director, will be the new director. Michelle Perera, current library services manager, will be the new assistant library director. 

If we talked about the 2008 presidential race back in 2006, then we can certainly talk about the local 2010 races now. There has been buzz around Mayor Don Kurth and Councilman Rex Gutierrez possibly running for the Assembly. If that's the case, it could leave a seat or two up for grabs. But what about Councilwoman Diane Williams, who has been on the council since 1990 and whose term is up in 2010?

"I have one more term in me," Williams said. "I plan to run again. I have more energy than some of my colleagues."

The 4 p.m. special meeting at the Tri-Communities Room today will focus on Central Park and what the economic downturn means to the Family Aquatics Center plans. Although the City Council considers the future phase of the park to be a top priority, there just isn't enough money to operate the aquatics center.

"We have to be realistic," said Councilwoman Diane Williams. "We could probably build a center, but do we have money to operate it? My thinking is, we need to rethink our time line."

At the 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Library Director Deborah Clark, who recently announced her retirement, will be recognized. The council will also review the appointments to various subcommittees and make changes. This is the last City Council meeting of the year.  

Rockapella, a five-man a capella group, will hold a holiday concert on Dec. 21 at the Lewis Family Playhouse.

Tickets to "A Rockapella Holiday" are $37; $35 for seniors and $30 for youth. Shows are 4 and 7 p.m.

Purchase tickets online or by calling (909) 477-2752. 

You know how people set up a signature at the bottom of every e-mail? Mine, for example, has my name, phone number, this blog's url and my title -- reporter. Other people have their mailing address, fax number or an inspirational quote.

This week, I received an email from Mayor Don Kurth with a signature that's 70 words long. So roughly, the length of this blog entry so far.

Kurth, who owns an urgent care medical center in the city and is a doctor specializing in addiction medicine, was recently named the president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. That new title made the list of titles longer and reads like this:

Donald J. Kurth, MD, MBA, MPA, FASAM
President Elect, American Society of Addiction Medicine
Associate Professor, Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychiatry,
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Past President, California Society of Addiction Medicine
Fellow, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
Developing Leadership in Reducing Substance Abuse 2003-06
Delegate Alternate, House of Delegates, American Medical Association
CSAM Representative, Council on Legislation, California Medical Association
Mayor, City of Rancho Cucamonga, California

That sprawling center on Foothill and Haven has an ad in our paper with a cute girl whispering to Santa, "It's my new! favorite."

The ad lists all the stores including Mervyn's, which is on its last round of liquidation sales so don't pick that as your new favorite.

New isn't exactly the word I would use to describe Terra Vista. The pre-Victoria Gardens strip mall is so 1990s. Some of my favorites -- Panera, Rubio's -- have grown old on me and the Cinemas, with its six screens, is just an afterthought. But I have a feeling the Terra Vista center, just like the Sunrize Center on Carnelian and Base Line, will have a longer shelf life than most would assume. It's not all shiny like VG but it's convenient for City Hall folks and those living on the west side of town. Besides, buying from DVDPlanet gives you good karma.  

Authors of the Stud Muffins cookbook will be on KTLA morning news tomorrow from 6 to 9 a.m., doing a baking segment with the anchors. Rancho resident Judi Guizado and Lake Arrowhead resident Tammy Aldag crafted a book loaded with dessert recipes and illustrated by pics of hunky male models -- a PG13 amalgam of "Joy of Cooking" and "Joy of Sex," if you will. The KTLA segment will, of course, star the studly muffins, too.

Can a restaurant leave before it arrives?

Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo decided not to come to the city after all, according to Mike Nelson of the Redevelopment Agency. The restaurant chain was slated to go in the southeast corner of Foothill and Rochester but changed its mind. Maybe it was upset when the plaza changed its name from Footchester to the more bland, yet appropriate, Victoria Commons.

                                                                                 Will Lester/Staff Photographer

The city and the Chamber of Commerce held a Grape Harvest Festival last month with a pumpkin race on center stage. It was a fun and successful family event but it made me wonder -- will the grape festival ever be without grapes? This year, the chamber nixed the amateur winemaking contest to the chagrin of some home winemakers. And now that the chamber has let go of its leader, what will the event be like in the future?

Nobody knows for sure. But wouldn't it be nice if we held a throw-back festival? Back in the 1960s, more than 10,000 people would attend the three-day festival at the Regina Winery. Here is a Progress-Bulletin article I found from Sept. 1, 1966.

Grape-Stomping Champion To Be Named at Festival

ETIWANDA -- Sixteen contestants will vie for the Cucamonga "grape stomping" championship Sunday at 2 p.m.

The annual Cucamonga Wine and Grape Festival celebrating start of the wine grape harvest will be held under sponsorship of the Cucamonga Growers and Vintners Association at the Regina Winery in Etiwanda over Labor Day Weekend.

The winery will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday and will remain open for tours, tasting and entertainment until 6 p.m. each day of the festival. On Saturday, the association will sponsor a barrel race in which contestants will roll wine barrels to compete for cash prizes, with the winner receiving a $100 prize.

The program for Sunday will feature the grape stomping contest. Entrants, restricted to women over 18 years old, will compete for $600 in prizes for crushing the most juice. Special contestants will be two queen candidates from the Los Angeles County Fair. All other contestants will be chosen from the audience Sunday afternoon.

On Monday, the feature of the afternoon's entertainment will be a "champagne derby." In this event contestants will be required to carry two filled champagne glasses and a bottle on a tray over a 220-foot course. First contestant to cross the finish line without spilling any of the champagne will walk off with a $100 prize.

Strolling troubadours will entertain all three days during the festival. The Swinging Stars square dancers will entertain Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m.

Admission is free and the public is invited to help celebrate beginning of the harvest of nearly 20,000 acres of wine grapes in the Cucamonga district.

Regina Winery is on Base Line Road west of Etiwanda Avenue in Etiwanda.

Doesn't that sound fun? What gal over 18 years old would not enter a grape stomping contest for a chance to win $600 in prizes?

I asked the 2007 winner, my colleague Canan Tasci, what she won.

"Bragging rights! Hello?!"

Wal-Mart on 12549 Foothill Blvd. is collecting toys, DVDs and other gifts through Dec. 21 to support Yellow Ribbon America. The items will be donated to local active duty military personnel and their families.  

About three months after the Planning Commission issued a stern warning to El Loco Cantina against operating the business as a bar, commissioners said last night they were pleased with recent changes but reminded the restaurant owners to remain on track. 

Restaurant owners Jose Sambolin and Felipe De La Piedra have removed the bar styled furniture and promoted more food items, steps in line with their conditional use permit. The restaurant, at 11815 Foothill Blvd., is permitted to have live entertainment with the sale of alcohol accompanied by meals.

The commission reminded El Loco that they need to keep their security guards, maintain a full kitchen and should not charge an entry fee. Staff members were directed to come back to the commission in six months with another review.  

 

 

You don't have to avoid Haven Avenue during its grade separation project, but you might as well.

The city is separating rail and vehicular traffic on Haven, putting the tracks on a bridge and having the cars go underneath. The construction has already begun and is expected to last until next December.

So if you're at the south part of Haven (say you work in a newsroom on Fourth Street) and you're traveling north (say you go to City Hall often), you should avoid Haven altogether. Even though one or two lanes are opened in both direction, the area is pretty congested.

El Loco Cantina, the Mexican restaurant/bar on 11815 Foothill Blvd., will be one of the topics at the 7 p.m. Planning Commission meeting this evening. Planning department staff members will tell the commission that owners have beefed up its food menu and assembled new furniture that makes the establishment look more like a restaurant and less like a bar.

In September, the commission, sounding a bit peeved, put El Loco on notice. Staff members had discovered that El Loco was turning into a bar with bouncers outside and a skimpy menu inside. Commissioners asked staff to come back with a 90-day review to determine whether the business is complying under its conditional use permit.  

Sen. Bob Dutton, Assemblyman Bill Emmerson and Supervisor Paul Biane all have their offices within two miles of each other. On Thursday, they will host a "progressive open house" from 5 to 8 p.m. where visitors can mingle with the lawmakers and their staff members.

Start at Emmerson's office (10681 Foothill Blvd., Suite 325), then Biane's office (8303 Haven Ave.) and finish at Dutton's office (8577 Haven Ave., Suite 210). You can also print this map.

Visitors can bring an unwrapped toy to Emmerson's or Dutton's offices for the Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program. They can also donate toys or other gifts for military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan at Biane's office. Items such as CDs, books and pre-paid phone cards will also be accepted and donated to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

The Saturday forecast puts the highs at 63 degrees in Rancho. At the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center, however, it will be slightly cooler.

White Christmases have arrived at more and more Southern California malls lately. In addition to the faux snowfall at Chaffey Town Square this weekend, there will also be a ice skating rink, snow play area, storytime, movie and the crowning of the city's first "snow queen."

The outdoor ice rink ("Looks and feels like real ice!" according to the flier.) is open 5 to 10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost, including skate rental, is $2.

The snow play area, great for snow ball fights and snow angels, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

At 5 p.m. Saturday, the Lewis Family Playhouse will host a storytime/movie. Excerpts from "Polar Express" will be read prior to the movie screening. Tickets are available at the box office on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are free and are first come, first serve.  

"You will get it," a friend said, no, told me, referring to the eventuality of me opening a Facebook account. Getting on Facebook and any other social networking sites is totally unappealing but based on past experience of being dragged kicking and screaming into the digital age, my friend might be right.

My father, of all people, was the one who told, no, forced me into getting e-mail in 1994. It was the cheapest way for him to communicate with me while I was away in college. One year, I moved to China where I didn't immediately have access to e-mail. He continued to e-mail me anyways, snail mailing the print out that always ended with a :).

Several years later, I was bombarded with ICQ requests. At first I didn't understand why I needed IM especially since I was already e-mailing but those sounds (knock knock! uh-oh!) grew on me.

I kicked hard and screamed loud while entering the cell phone fray. I finally caved in when a mean accident landed me in a hospital room for two weeks sans phone.

But social networking sites seem like a different animal. Facebook has the ability to connect you with anybody and everybody; from the boy you held hands with in the sixth grade to the college roommate you never really liked. Why would I want that? And what if my boss friends me? Or worse, what if my friends don't friend me?

It's possible that I can bypass the whole Facebook thing and dive head first into the world of micro-blogging. This week, I received my first Twitter request, from a college friend who wants to keep up with me via tiny 140-character messages. That's right, characters, not words. It's hard to dismiss Twitter because everyone, it seems, is all in a Twitter. The White House twitters, NPR reporters read tweets on the air and more locally, park and rec commissioner Francisco Oaxaca twitters for Metrolink, where he serves as a communications manager.

Now if only I can start writing Daily Bulletin stories using 140 characters.

The Cucamonga Valley Water District will administer the oath of office for the four incoming board members -- Jim Curatalo, Randall Reed, Oscar Gonzalez and Hank Stoy.

Curatalo and Reed are incumbents, Gonzalez is a newcomer and Stoy is a former board member. The 6 p.m. meeting will be at the district office located 10440 Ashford St.

The Christmas tree at Victoria Gardens JCPenney holds the names of a number of needy seniors in the community who have a wish list for the holidays. The last day to purchase a gift for that senior is Dec. 10.

This is the fifth year that Home Instead Senior Care is partnering with the department store and a number of senior centers to get gifts to low-income and homebound seniors. Donations at the JCPenney store will be handed over to Home Instead, who will wrap the gifts before delivering them to senior centers across the Inland Valley.

JCPenney at the Montclair Plaza and Chino Shopping Center are also participating.

Take that, Norco.

Maegan Ridley, 20, a Rancho native, nabbed the Miss Rodeo America title over the weekend in Las Vegas. She will receive a $10,000 scholarship and appear in rodeos across the country starting January.

Ridley was judged on her horsemanship, appearance, personality, public speaking abilities and equine knowledge.

"As Miss Rodeo America I will show everyone why my heroes have always been cowboys," Ridley said in a statement. "What an honor it will be to prove the American cowboy is alive and well."

A special mailbox at Macy's (the one on Kew, not the Men's and Home one) has been set aside for letters to Santa. The department store is partnering with the Make-a-Wish Foundation on the Believe campaign so that children will, well, believe.

Drop off stamped letters addressed to the big jolly guy at North Pole. Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Every time I drive by a Juan Pollo (especially the one on Garey with its enticing window display), I remind myself to go eat there. Come lunch time, I forget.

Growing up in the 818, the 909 poultry darling was never in my radar. But next week, I'm in luck. JP is coming for the office Christmas party.

Company luncheons are indeed downsizing this year and our newsroom is no exception. JP is indeed a step down (but maybe a step up for some, who knows?) from last year's Felipe's. The Rancho chef was much loved among hungry journalists. I especially liked the red and green tortilla chips and being served by Felipe de la Piedra himself!

Somehow, I don't think Juan's going to come serve us.

You can donate an unwrapped toy at a number of locations for the Spark of Love Toy Drive including City Hall and CVS Pharmacy. But if you drop it off at the Rancho Regional Veterinary Hospital on 11981 Jack Benny Drive, Suite 101, you will get a coupon for a free dog or cat bath. The voucher, a $40 value, is good through May 1, 2009.

Information: (909) 941-0841

Lesson of the day: Don't leave anything that you value in your car, even if you're the police chief.

I got my car broken into earlier this year and got my camera stolen. It was an expensive lesson, one I retold to sheriff's Capt. Joe Cusimano. I was mostly seeking sympathy but I also wanted to put it in his mind in case he happens upon a bad guy with an expensive camera around his neck.

Don't leave anything in your car, Cusimano advised. "I don't even leave anything in my patrol car. Those guys will break in looking for weapons."

How sad is that? Even the top law enforcement officer in the city has to watch his back.

It's common for high school students to attend City Council meetings but they don't usually speak during public comment period. Two Los Osos High School students however spoke tonight, directing their opinions to Councilman Rex Gutierrez.

Gutierrez, through his publication/blog Vineyard Press, called for tough measures to combat the drug problem at Chaffey Joint Union School District high schools. (He also called Superintendent Mat Holton a "stud" but that's fodder for another blogger.)

The councilman wrote, "GET TOUGH!! Our kids' lives are at stake! This is serious! So what if a drug-sniffing dog makes some students uncomfortable. We are in the business of saving lives!!! A kid can't learn if he's high or strung out."

This did not fly with two AP Government students Ethan Krizman, 17, and Johnny Gebo, 16. Krizman accused Gutierrez's editorial of being "overly hyperbolized."

Gebo said, "The problems are everywhere, that is all true and Los Osos may have drug users but nothing to the extent that Mr. Gutierrez exaggerated. ... We can assure you that Los Osos is not a drug infested school."

Gutierrez said he had no intention of accusing Los Osos of being drug infested.

"I know we can do better," Gutierrez said. "I've talked to too many parents and students to know there's a problem. ... It's a worthy issue that we'll be debating in the future." 

 

Council members back the idea of tighter smoking regulations in the city saying outdoor dining areas and bus stops might be the next place to target an expanded smoking ban.

The council met during an afternoon workshop and directed staff members to solicit public opinion on the idea of expanding the current smoking ban. An ordinance passed in February prohibits smoking in city-owned spaces (like the Cultural Center courtyard, City Hall parking area, etc.)

Some of the areas city officials want the smoking ban to reach include hotels, apartments and restaurants with outdoor patios. Staff members will spend the next several months collecting public input before drafting an ordinance by the summer of 2009.

Mayor Don Kurth is an ardent supporter of a wide-reaching smoking ban. He said many restaurants opposed the indoor smoking ban when it was first introduced but now, the regulation is much appreciated.

"Most of them will say (the indoor smoking ban) has not hurt their business one bit," Kurth said. "It has increased business. Now states all across the nation have passed the same law."

 

Council members will discuss whether to expand the current smoking ban at a 3:30 p.m. special meeting today at the Tri-Communities Room. The mayor is pretty gung-ho about widening the ban and if his colleagues agree, the council might ask staff members to draft an ordinance that would prohibit smoking in outdoor dining areas, hotels and/or apartment buildings. The current smoking ban -- approved in February -- applies to city-owned public areas such as City Hall, Cultural Center, parks and libraries. 

Prior to the regular 7 p.m. meeting, a special meeting to swear-in the new and returning elected officials will begin at 6 p.m. Council members Dennis Michael and Sam Spagnolo, City Treasurer Jim Frost and City Clerk Jan Reynolds will take their oaths of office.

The agenda for the regular meeting is light. A public hearing on an appeal by Pepper's will be postponed to Jan. 21 based on the restaurant's request.

Ever curious about the Christmas House on 9240 Archibald Ave. but don't want to spend money on a bed and breakfast in your hometown?

The beautiful Victorian home will get all dolled up for Christmas and host an open house on Dec. 14. A tea at 2 and 4 p.m. will be served for $20 per person. Call (909) 980-6450 for reservations.

One restaurant door closes, another opens.

In this city, many are mourning the loss of Pei Wei, Las Campanas, Noble House, Macaroni Grill and The Whole Enchilada.

But a couple of new ones are cropping up. Last month, Bright Star, a Thai Vegan eatery on 9819 Foothill Blvd. opened. I've been eying their "Coming Soon" sign for a while with anticipation. I'm not vegan, I'm not even Thai, but the thought of this niche culinary offering coming to town sounded fun.

And just down the street from the newsroom is Dickey's, a BBQ chain that opened last week on 9670 Haven Ave. There's a Dickey's in Chino with more coming in Fontana and Ontario.   

Race car driver Ludvig Solberg will be the special guest at the next Rancho Cucamonga Women's Connection meeting on Dec. 9 at the Upland Hills Country Club. The group is part of Stonecroft ministry. A talk with the local Sprint car driver will be followed by a lunch buffet. The country club is at 1231 E. 6th St., Upland. Doors open at 11 a.m. and tickets are $16. For reservations, call Joan at (909) 949-2837.

Michelle Alonzo, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, sent out an e-mail today saying the chamber and its CEO, Norm MacKenzie, have parted ways.

"The Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce and it's CEO, Norm MacKenzie have decided mutually to end Mr. MacKenzie's relationship with the Chamber. Mr. MacKenzie plans to pursue other opportunities and the Chamber wishes him the very best of luck in the future," she wrote.

It certainly doesn't sound like Norm left willingly. Word is there's been a lot of conflict between him and the chamber in recent weeks.

The redevelopment agency launched its new Web site today, a loaded and attractive site that's more user friendly than the city's Web site. There's a business directory with 8,827 listings from A+ Donuts to Zaky Mediterranean Grill. There's information on hiking trails, foreclosure counseling and where to find wireless hot spots. It's worth a gander.