May 2009 Archives

The topic of the 10 a.m. show on KCAA radio (AM1050) tomorrow will be on Councilman Rex Gutierrez and the scandal at the Assessor's Office. This blogger will be interviewed.

                                                                                    Courtesy photo by Simon White

Wine expert Gino Filippi is touring the wineries of Australia this week and shared with me this pic. I keep thinking if I stare at them long enough I could be teleported over there. Alas, I'm still in Ontario.

Gino is in the Yarra Valley near Melbourne, where the viticulture history goes back 150 years. He said the cool climes give forth beautiful Pinot Noir, Viognier, Shiraz and Semillion.

Happy tasting. Next time, bring a copy of the Daily Bulletin for the photo.

Former Mayor Bill Alexander's phone has been ringing a lot recently.

Scandal surrounding Councilman Rex Gutierrez has got people wondering if Alexander will come out of the woodwork.

The answer is an unequivocal yes.

But Alexander has said he'll run before and changed his mind. So we'll see if he follows through. Things in local politics are changing so quickly these days, 2010 sounds like a world away.

In 2010, Mayor Don Kurth's seat could be open if he heads to Sacramento. Councilwoman Diane Williams and Gutierrez are both up for re-election. Williams has indicated she'll run again and Gutierrez ... who knows?

Any thoughts of an Alexander comeback?

There's no information on the front page of today's paper informing readers that the photo of Councilman Rex Gutierrez is actually his booking photo at West Valley Detention Center. Without that piece of information, you would assume it's any other photo of politicians we use for the paper.

Gutierrez looks happy and spiffy, dressed in a tie and a city shirt. You can see just the top of the city grape logo. It seems Gutierrez has channeled Tom DeLay, another grinning politician.

It certainly makes you wonder, however, if Gutierrez was arrested at home, why was he wearing a shirt and tie? 

"It's a disturbing situation. I hope the charges are not true."


"I'm saddened for Rex and his family."


"Wednesday's (City Council) meeting was something Rex orchestrated that turned into a circus but this, this is more involved. This is criminal. Allegations are more air-tight than in a civil case."


"The business of innocent until proven guilty ... well, they don't arrest people usually unless they have proof. ... It's just a mess."


"We are going all the way through trial. There's zero chance of a plea bargain."


"I truly believe none of this would have occurred if former Assessor Bill Postmus and the management team he put in place would have lived up to their promise to taxpayers to improve efficiency and responsiveness in the Assessor's Office."

Councilman Rex Gutierrez was arrested at his home on two felony charges stemming from an investigation into operations at the San Bernardino County Assessor's office.

Gutierrez, 49, was booked into West Valley Detention Center on one count of misappropriation of public funds and one count of grand theft, according to a statement from the District Attorney's Office. His booking photo from this morning is pictured.

Susan Mickey, spokeswoman from the D.A.'s office, would not give any details of the alleged theft, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.

Bail for Gutierrez was set at $45,000. If convicted of the charges, he could face up to four years in state prison, according to prosecutors.

The arrest is a result of a major investigation by the District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Unit into alleged misconduct by former Assessor Bill Postmus and his executive staff. Gutierrez served as Postmus' intergovernmental relations officer for 18 months.

                             













Thomas Cordova/



Foothill and Day Creek has grown into quite the protest corner.

On tax day, hundreds gathered at the intersection near Victoria Gardens to protest taxes and big government. Last night, gay rights activists gathered there following the state supreme court's decision to uphold Proposition 8.

Thanks to the recent closing of Circuit City, which paved the way for plenty of parking, the intersection is a popular one for protesters. These big crowds have stirred the entrepreneurial spirit in some including Johnny Carino's. Last night, the Italian restaurant printed fliers for a captive audience. "Come to Carinos after your protest ... all appetizers half price," read the flier.

It's another sign that the city's center is on the east side.

This particular intersection also has great medians, little islands for protesters to congregate. Two arrived on a median with anti-gay signs; one reading "Homo sex is a sin."

At any other protests, there would have been boos and sneers. But the gay rights activists put on the charm offensive, blowing kisses and shouting, "We love you, too." The two counter-protesters weren't amused.

"Homo sex is a sin?" said one gay rights activist. "Not if you're doing it right."   

The California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8 this morning but is allowing more than 18,000 marriages between gay and lesbian couples to remain valid. Gay rights activists have planned a rally tonight on the corner of Foothill and Day Creek from 7 to 10 p.m.

A statement by Councilwoman Diane Williams, who serves on the board of the Maloof Foundation:

Rancho Cucamonga lost its National Treasure last night with the passing of Sam Maloof.  Sam put Alta Loma on the map long before there ever was a Rancho Cucamonga.  As he became recognized for his beautiful furniture, people traveled from all over the world to be taught by him. 

I first observed him at work when he would demonstrate woodworking at the LA County Fair (I believe in the '70's).  I yearned for a piece of his furniture but it was way beyond my means.  After we moved to (then) Alta Loma Paul and I got to know Sam just from running into him around town.  He was always an interesting person to converse with as he had traveled in his Peace Corps work and had worked with many artists. 

In the early '80's Sam knew I did transcription professionally and he asked if I would transcribe the interview tapes for a book that was being written about him and his furniture.  Sam, Jonathon Fairbanks and their wives drove across the U.S. to Washington, D.C. and they talked about Sam's life and work the whole way.  Those tapes (an overflowing shoebox) were the basis for the book which I believe is still in print; I don't know how many printings there have been.  I felt so fortunate to have heard his life's memories from his own lips and I grew to respect this man of so many talents. 

His devotion to his wife, Alfreda, was a remarkable thing to observe.  He cherished her and she was, indeed, a beautiful person through and through.  An artist in her own right she was the spirit that propelled him to continually create, whether it was in the constant evolution of their home (which is now the museum) or the furniture he created for his customers.  

 

That bright green building on Foothill and Day Creek is looking to open June or July.

In preparation for Fresh & Easy's grand opening, the grocer is offering $1,000 to a local non-profit as part of its good neighbor initiative.

Send a 150-word or less statement explaining why a certain group should get this donation. The statement can be submitted between May 25 to June 19. Store employees will decide which organization will get the award on opening day.

Joanne Henkle, a resident near Chaffey College frustrated with the parking situation near her home, accused Mayor Don Kurth at Wednesday's meeting of being inaccessible.

Here's your chance, Joanne.

Kurth will be at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at Victoria Gardens from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Rex Gutierrez finally got some love last night after a week of scandal. It was the first meeting since the release of the Hueston report, an investigation that few of his supporters saw as credible.




Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/
Staff Photographer

 

Hugs, kisses, even a standing ovation.

Was yesterday's meeting all orchestrated by Councilman Rex Gutierrez?

"Orchestrated? No," he said. "My wife took it upon herself to let people know that we were in distress. We said we would be at the council meeting and we would appreciate their support. Nobody was asked to speak."

Ok, so not orchestrated. Then were the positive comments indicative of residents' views?

"They were not," said Councilman Sam Spagnolo. "There's the people who's opposed and there's people who will support (Gutierrez.) Then there's the silent majority who's looking from a distance and wondering, 'What the hell is going on?'

"How do you justify sitting at home for six months? How do these supporters defend that?"

Many years ago, I received "It's a Wonderful Life" on VHS as a Christmas gift. I watched about half of it and got bored. I know, I know. It's a wonderful movie. Jimmy Stewart is great. How can you be so cold? La-dee-da.

Everyone seems to have a soft spot for that movie -- including Councilman Rex Gutierrez, who ended last night's meeting with these words:

I also want to thank the people who came out tonight. I've worked hard in this city ... and for many, many years ... and I like being in the streets solving problems. And I will say with no disregard, no malice intended for our staff ... in bureaucracy , in any government, there are people who fall through the cracks. And they're not getting the attention they sought. I like following up and finding those who've fallen through the cracks and assisting them.

It was so funny to see this crowd tonight because it reminded me of this movie I saw with Jimmy Stewart called "It's a Wonderful Life."

It was funny as I was out there in the aisles, the people who said, "You've helped me with this and you've helped me with that. And thank you for doing this. And remember me, you did this for us."

It brought a lot of joy to me, that's the joy I get for serving this wonderful city. I remember the movie said, "A man who has friends is really the richest man in town." I feel like I've earned that friendship from these people and no one, no one can take that away.

I say we continue our team building, continue to get along. We've spent years having these team building sessions at I don't know what cost. Looks like it's not quite there yet. They talk about the Rancho way. Well, I don't call kicking a man while he's down, I don't call that the Rancho way. I just ask for your patience while I work out my issues in a civil dispute with my former employer, that's all it is. And we'll get through it but it  does not affect my work as a councilman. So i just want to thank you for your patience and understanding. And that's it.

Most of the speakers during the public comment portion of the meeting have been allies of Councilman Rex Gutierrez.

"Rex is one councilman who's out there doing his job," said resident Jerie Lee. "I think it would behoove this council to stop making rash statements until the facts are in. You need to remember, everyone including council people, are presumed innocent until proven guilty."

The meeting is currently on a five-minute break, although it has been more like 15 minutes. Prior to the break, Gutierrez gave his supporters a brief message before the recess.

"I want to thank all of you for coming," Gutierrez said. "We will fight and we will win."

Mayor Don Kurth added a few lines to his introduction of the public comment portion of the meeting tonight.

Despite the articles that have appeared in the newspaper this past week or so, I'm going to ask everyone to remember, the primary focus at this City Council meeting is to deal with city business, not personal issues of any city council member. Also please remember that personal attacks are not considered appropriate behavior at our meetings here in Rancho Cucamonga.

 

A round of applause greeted Councilman Rex Gutierrez as he walked out to the dais. (There were several boos when Councilwoman Diane Williams appeared.) It seems Gutierrez's supporters are out in full force.

Not since the 2006 election has the City Council chambers (maximum capacity 269) been this packed. The council members have yet made their appearance but all the seats are already taken. About 30 to 40 people are standing near the doorway. 

The rumblings out of City Hall today is all about tonight's City Council meeting.

"Going to the meeting tonight? Are you going to make it for the public comment portion?" one city official asked me.

"Did you bring a pillow and a blanket?" asked another.

Everyone is getting ready for a lengthy meeting. The mayor is adding an extra sentence or two to his already long preamble. Kurth, anticipating some nasty comments, will ask the audience to refrain from personal attacks.

Rumor has it, Councilman Rex Gutierrez has sent out a mass e-mail encouraging his supporters to attend the meeting and stand by him. It should be an eventful night. Two hours and counting ...

The City Council is expected to conduct second reading of amendments to the Victoria Gardens master plan tonight. The approval would allow developers to increase the building height limit and transfer the approved residential units from the northern residential area to the mall.

Council members will also consider approving a contract with Consolidated Fire Agencies of the East Valley for emergency communications and fire/EMS dispatch services.

City Council business, however, could be overshadowed by public comments about Councilman Rex Gutierrez. Tonight's 7 p.m. meeting is the first since the release of a county report that links Gutierrez with misconduct at the Assessor's Office. Gutierrez said he plans on attending the meeting and using his allotted time to defend the accusations.

What a week Councilman Rex Gutierrez has had.

Yesterday afternoon, Gutierrez was served a contempt-of-court order for speaking to my colleague Joe Nelson about a grand jury investigation.  Gutierrez, Mayor Don Kurth and City Manager Jack Lam were named in a story published April 17 about an investigation into the 1,200 acres project and whether Rancho developer Jeff Burum might get preferential treatment. The court apparently believes Gutierrez has talked too much. He is scheduled to appear in court June 12.

Ontario Reign Coach Karl Taylor will host a Q & A tomorrow night at Dickey's, according to Ontario Now. Kids eat free and all food is 15 percent off starting 6 p.m.

The second of two workshops on proposed smoking policies will be 6 p.m. next Wednesday at the Central Park community center. The public is encouraged to attend in order to learn about the next phase of the smoking ban and provide input.

Currently, smoking is not allowed at city facilities such as the outdoor areas of City Hall, Cultural Center and parks. The City Council is thinking of expanding that ban to other places such as Victoria Gardens and outdoor dining areas. Feedback from the public will help city staff members draft an ordinance that will be presented to the City Council later this summer.

                                                                                 Will Lester/Staff Photographer

A DJ spinning hip-hop, house, reggae and soul will perform at the unlikely location of Aloft Hotel Thursday. DJ Rashida, who's featured on MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew," will spin at 8 p.m. Her performance is part of the weekly Diva DJ Nights. Aloft is on 10480 Fourth St, near Haven.

Have you noticed that the paper is twittering? News headlines get sent right to you in tiny url form, perfect for news junkies who is not only too impatient to get the news on their doorstep the next day, but too impatient to get to the Daily Bulletin Web site.

Twitter's growth and popularity is hard to believe. In Atlanta, a councilman twittered his way to the police because he didn't think he had enough battery in his cell phone to make a 911 call. Yikes. I'm glad I don't cover Atlanta.

H&M will open its doors at Victoria Gardens on May 28 at noon. The first 200 shoppers will get a free T-shirt and a "fashion pass," which are H&M gift cards worth up to $250. One shopper will get a sneak peak and see the store before it opens. Could be kinda cool, could be a lonely experience.

This H&M will not have men's wear as previously reported.

Also, readers have been asking about jobs at the store. H&M officials said the Victoria Gardens store has no more open positions. Keep your eye out for the Ontario Mills opening, scheduled later this summer.  

Councilman Rex Gutierrez spoke for the first time since the Hueston report was released, vowing to remain on the City Council despite calls for him to resign.

Gutierrez denied playing a role in the shenanigans of the Assessor's Office.

"I wholeheartedly refute and deny the allegations made in that report," Gutierrez said.

The denial didn't fly with Councilman Dennis Michael.

"My first reaction is, I find it difficult to believe the county would file a litigation if they didn't believe they had sufficient evidence to prosecute," Michael said.

Council members Diane Williams and Sam Spagnolo have both called on Gutierrez to resign. Williams said she is dismayed that Gutierrez does not realize his presence on the council will continue to hurt the city.

"When someone is in such a situation -- regardless of guilt or not -- it's going to create a diversion ... a distraction on our council," Williams said. "But he's acting like none of this is impacting the city."

During the interview last night, Gutierrez sounded both determined ("I believe in the end, I will survive") and crestfallen ("I want to clear my name. My name is all I have now.")

"I will have my day in court," Gutierrez said. "I implore any citizens of good will to reserve their judgment until I have my say."
 

The Filippi Winery is having its annual May Market Day tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be free wine tasting and discounts on wine and gifts. Local writers behind the cookbook Stud Muffins will also sign copies of their book. The winery is on 12467 Baseline Road. See the calendar for future events.

The Planning Commission is looking for somebody to represent the bicycling community on the Trails Advisory Committee. Applications, downloadable here, are due June 10.

The committee advises the Planning Commission on location and design of trails in proposed development projects. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and live in the city. The committee meets on an as needed basis on the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.

Information: (909) 477-2750

Expansion efforts by the European retailer has made H&M grand openings less exciting these days. Their first appearance in Southern California got shoppers camping out for hours before the doors opened. Now the Inland Valley is graced by two locations in Chino Hills and Montclair. Another is expected at Ontario Mills.

But Victoria Gardens officials and Rancho shoppers are still pretty excited about this new location. It's opening May 28 and will feature both men's and women's clothing.

The once talkative Councilman Rex Gutierrez has been silent since the Hueston report came out Tuesday. He wouldn't even pick up when his colleague Councilman Sam Spagnolo called.

But "Rex's Blog" offers some insight into the councilman as he prepared for public scrutiny.

In his last entry posted yesterday, Gutierrez described a charming Mother's Day weekend spent at an Italian restaurant and the Pacific Electric Trail.

"It really was one of the most restful, peaceful weekends of my life," Gutierrez wrote. "I love my family, my city, and my life. I am at peace. Calm before the storm? Bring it on."

Gutierrez's entry on April 19 warned readers not to believe what they read in the papers. He wrote:

During my tenure, I did all I could to be a diligent worker and abide by all regulations that were known to me. I worked all the hours I was paid for, and I never engaged in anything that would contradict my high standards of ethics and hard work. I feel it is so important to never judge anyone by what is written in the papers. All people deserve utmost consideration and goodwill, as well as due process of law.

The 1,200 acres project that the city was expected to vote on in June has been put on hold in light of the county's law suit against Councilman Rex Gutierrez.

"Considering the fact that one of the key decision makers, Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman Rex Gutierrez, is now being sued by the county because of his involvement in fraud at the Assessor's Office, I believe the city and county are best served by suspending the process," Supervisor Paul Biane said in a statement.

The county is planning to sell 1,200 acres of land north of Los Osos High to a developer. The City Council was expected to select two out of five candidates for the project on June 1 and forward its picks to the county.

When asked if the project would go forward if Gutierrez steps down as councilman, Biane said, "It would obviously clear the way with the process."

In light of the Hueston report, which details all kinds of shenanigans in the Assessor's Office, many are calling on the resignation of Councilman Rex Gutierrez.

Among those making the calls are his own colleagues.

"I'm hoping he sees his continuance on the City Council as a hindrance to the community and the city itself," said Councilman Sam Spagnolo.

The report released on Tuesday accuses Gutierrez of being an ill qualified employee who had erratic attendance at the Assessor's Office and rarely performed assessor-related duties. Nevertheless, Gutierrez got raises worth $11,565 in six month's time.

"Whatever he was doing in the Assesor's Office, some of that flowed over (to the city)," Spagnolo said. "Your gut reaction is, if he was doing that there, what was he doing here?"

The county is now suing six people in the Assessor's Office including Gutierrez. The District Attorney's office is also conducting its own investigation.

What do you think? Should Gutierrez resign now?

Antonino's is known for many names and now, for many locations. The 11-year-old eatery moved to a different building in the same Thomas Winery plaza last week. It held its soft opening on Friday and is planning a grand opening next Tuesday.

You may know the restaurant as Chianti, the name given by owner Sartaj Singh, when he first opened the eatery. He changed the name to Antinori's because there was already a Chianti restaurant in Beverly Hills. But then Singh found out Antinori's was a restaurant in New York so he had to change the name once again -- this time to the current name Antonino's.

This year, Singh had to change his location. To pave the way for the Fresh & Easy grocer, the restaurant moved to the former Zendeja's restaurant, giving Singh an opportunity to completely remodel. Changing the name of the restaurant was inexpensive, said Singh, remodeling the restaurant and moving to a new location cost $300,000.

Singh might be the only businessman in the region to own both an Italian and Indian restaurant. (He owns Haandi on Haven.) But then again, Singh might be the only guy around who speaks English, Italian, German, Hindi, Punjabi and a little Spanish.

The Indian native studied cooking in Italy, giving him the license to not only open an Italian restaurant but to join the local Sons of Italy group.

"When I was in India, I thought, 'America? I'd never go there, it's too far," Singh said. "Sometimes, you never know. Maybe it's destiny.

"America is a land of opportunity. I think I've lived that life. You can make $1 million if you want to, it just depends on how much you sacrifice."  

Bright and early tomorrow morning, several hundred bikers will exit Victoria Gardens and head to Washington D.C. for the annual Run For The Wall.

You might have noticed an unusual number of bikers lately on and around Fourth Street. This morning, about 60 veterans and veterans' supporters rode out to Riverside National Cemetery to meet medal of honor recipients and see the monuments honoring veterans and prisoners of war.

A special shout-out to Daryl Neil from Phoenix who put me on the back of his bike for the ride to Riverside. He complimented me for being a good rider so I guess that means I'm good at sitting still. I knew I had a talent!

The participants will leave by 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. Wish them well in person or in spirit.

Councilman Rex Gutierrez is one of six former staff members of the San Bernardino County Assessor's Office who will be sued by the Board of Supervisors for defrauding taxpayers. The decisions was made at today's meeting, which was followed by the release of the Hueston report detailing the malfeasance that took place while Bill Postmus was in office.

Gutierrez served as Postmus' intergovernmental affairs officer for a year and a half.

The county is also suing Postmus, former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman, former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin, former Taxpayer Advocate Greg Eyler and political consultant Mike Richman. According to the report, Postmus hired his executive staff to further his personal political machine.

On Monday, Gutierrez said he expected to be named in the report and denied any wrongdoing.

"I'm very happy to say I've done nothing that merits condemnation," Gutierrez said. 

The City Council has been asked a whole lot of questions lately.

First it was the grand jury, who wanted to know about the possibility of a sweetheart deal between the county and one of the prospective developers in the 1,200 acres project. The mayor, city manager and Councilman Rex Gutierrez were asked about that.

Now four of the five on the council have been interviewed by the District Attorney's Office. The topic? Rex Gutierrez.

Last Wednesday, Mayor Don Kurth and council members Sam Spagnolo, Dennis Michael and Diane Williams were questioned for an hour individually about Gutierrez's schedule while he worked for the assessor's office. Gutierrez has admitted to attending city meetings while on the county clock. But he doesn't believe he has done anything wrong because he made up the hours on weekends.

Today, a report by attorney John Hueston about possible malfeasance at the Assessor's Office is expected to be released. Gutierrez said he's positive his name is on it.

For more on this saga, check the newspaper tomorrow and Wednesday.  

Rep. David Dreier, whose district spans from La Crescenta to Rancho Cucamonga, is one of the subjects in a new documentary by Kirby Dick, the man behind "This Film is Not Yet Rated." "Outrage," only showing at the Laemmle on Sunset for now, is about closeted gay politicians. Dreier's sexuality has been talked about for years, especially when he's up for reelection. And according to an article and review in L.A. Weekly, this movie probably won't do too much harm to Dreier since the scrutinizing eye is on Charlie Crist, the Florida governor whose name has been tossed about as a 2012 Republican presidential candidate.

Just fodder for an indie flick or do voters actually care whether politicians are closeted, out or straight?

Hillside Community Church on May 15-22 will host an exhibition, "World Vision Experience: AIDS -- Step Into Africa" on the lives of children in Africa.

The free exhibit will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with the exception of May 17 when the hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The church is at 5354 Haven Ave.

The exhibition is a multimedia, interactive exhibit that allows visitors to step into the lives of actual children affected by HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, where about 25 million people are infected with HIV.

Visitors walk through a replica of an African village and experience the effects of the pandemic as they listen to an audio presentation of one of the children affected.

Information: www.worldvisionexperience.org/hillsidechurch

Tickets for the 2009/10 season at the Lewis Family Playhouse go on sale May 16. Some of the performances include:

The Pointer Sisters on Sept. 11
Preservation Hall Jazz Band on Dec. 20
An Evening with Ben Vereen on Jan. 9
Fritz Coleman Tonight at 11! on Feb. 6
Judy Collins on April 24
Air Supply on June 5

There will also be a wide range of shows for children including "The Jungle Book," "Cinderella" and "Treasure Island." The community theater group will put on "The Crucible," "A Christmas Carol" and "Grease." Broadway at the Gardens, the new troupe that put on "Sweeney Todd" this season, will perform "Rent."

Information: (909) 477-2752
 

Oliver, my favorite singing orphan, will be staged at the Lewis Family Playhouse this summer and the roles are now up for grabs.

The Rancho Cucamonga Community Theatre will hold "Oliver!" auditions for children ages 8 to 17 at 10 a.m. Saturday. No prep work is necessary. The children will learn a song and dance number at the Cultural Center.

On May 12, performers 18 and older will audition starting 6:30 p.m. Adults must schedule an audition appointment by calling (909) 477-2775 ext. 3736.

Good luck!

Next week's Green Afternoons, an occasional workshop by the Cucamonga Valley Water District, takes place on Thursday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Speakers will talk about earth-friendly cleaning products and supplies for homes and businesses.

To RSVP, call (909) 987-2591 ext. 7465 or send an e-mail to dianaw@cvwdwater.com.

The water district is on 10440 Ashford St.

The Community Fair next Saturday at Central Park will give residents a glimpse of the city's future. There will be displays and presentations on the General Plan update with plenty of opportunities for public input. The planning department will show maps of land use alternatives that could be considered in the next decade as the city nears build-out.

Next year, the city is expected to complete its General Plan revision, a blueprint for future development in the city. This week, the City Council approved the guiding principles for the General Plan update.

The Community Fair on May 16 is 9 a.m. to noon.
  

If you commute to the Victorville/High Desert area, you might be interested in the SanBAG/Caltrans reconstruction project that will add new lanes to the 15 and 215 freeway interchange. A public meeting will take place next Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Kimbark Elementary at 18021 Kenwood Ave., Devore.

Information: (909) 884-8276 

This blog will be quiet for several days. Will be back Friday morning. The blogger will play Southern California hostess for a few days when a friend from Vancouver comes to visit. In the meantime, leave your favorite Canadian joke here and I'll be sure to pass it along.

P.S. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Newspaper readers -- God bless them! -- are a talkative, opinionated bunch. I've been reminded of this recently after our designers decided to list all of the reporters' phone numbers on A2 in addition to the usual placement at the end of each article. This has led to some interesting callers, mostly from people who see "Wendy Leung, Rancho Cucamonga" and think I'm the person to call because they have a complaint and they live in Rancho Cucamonga. I always feel like I've let them down when I tell them I just cover Rancho Cucamonga and I have no idea why their paper wasn't delivered last Sunday to their Rancho Cucamonga home.

Readers like to tell me their delivery woes in person too. And although I'm happy to listen, I'm afraid that's all I can do. I have no clout in the circulation department. I met Franz Wagenbach, a smoker of 63 years, at the senior center last week and I wanted to interview him about his views on the proposed smoking regulations. He had other plans however.

"Sometimes, when it rains you don't put it in a bag," Wagenbach said. "Then I have to put it in the microwave."

"You put your paper in the microwave?"

"Sometimes I have to put it in the oven."

For the record: If you want to tell circulation you're sick and tired of putting your paper in the oven, call (909) 987-9900. If you want to tell the Rancho Cucamonga reporter what you really think of her coverage, call (909) 483-9376.

Local Rotarians rolled up their sleeves recently on Rotarians At Work Day. About 15 volunteers helped a local family spruce up their home by fixing plumbing, doors and walls. From left is wine guy Gino Filippi, bank dude Ron Sakala and library lady Diane Williams.

The Rancho Cucamonga Rotary Club, as you probably know, is the local service club that donates to local and international charities. If you have questions about the club, e-mail Tracy Wirtes or call her at (909) 484-4270.     

Leah Carrasco is an American Sign Language instructor at Chaffey College. ASL is the second most popular language class at the community college, beating out French. Spanish, no surprise, is the most popular.

Thomas Cordova/
Staff Photograher


I wanted to write an article about American Sign Language and thought it would be a good idea to visit Leah Carrasco, a Chaffey College instructor who also teaches a class after school at Upland High. I didn't realize there would be a major roadblock until I showed up -- the entire class was conducted in ASL and since I can't understand it ... well, you can't really quote someone in ASL can you?

Carrasco said she used her voice at first but three weeks into the class, she turned her voice off. This surprised me considering my first year of high school Spanish and first quarter of university Mandarin were conducted in English.

I understood more than I thought. Reading Carrasco's lips and her expressions helped. I even learned how to count from 60 to 100 in ASL. Hopefully, that will come in handy.

To read more about the ASL class, look for the Sunday Read feature in this Sunday's paper.

The city is putting on a Wellness Fair this evening at Central Park with health informational booths, entertainment, and a kids zone. The event is from 4 to 8 p.m.

The city is marking National Historic Preservation Month starting today. (It's already May!)

At the City Council meeting next Wednesday, proclamations will be given to non-profit historical societies at the start of the 7 p.m. meeting.

On May 9, there will be a Mother's Day tea event hosted by the Etiwanda Historical Society at Etiwanda Gardens. Call the historical society at (909) 899-8432 for information.

On May 19, you can check out the display of historic photos at the Biane Library from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

On May 27, a 6 p.m. reception at the Tri-Communities Room at City Hall will precede the Historic Preservation and Planning Commission meeting. At the 7 p.m. meeting, there will be an award ceremony and certificates presented to historic property owners.

Information: (909) 477-2750