June 2009 Archives

A resident who lives near Kenyon and Milliken e-mailed me about a recent coyote sighting. The frightening thing was that the coyote had an animal, either a cat or a dog, in its mouth.

This month, my boss, Joe Blackstock, was interviewed by Animal Planet for a series on wild animals in urban/suburban areas. Blackstock, an Upland resident, lost his cat to a hungry coyote last year.

It seems that residents, whether they're walking on the PE trail or going for a Starbucks run, are coming across coyotes more often. Animal Services Director Joe Pulcinella said the drought may be to blame. Coyotes are having a harder time finding food in their natural habitat so they head south for more opportunities.

Pulcinella said it's never a good idea for pets to be outdoors without supervision, especially small dogs and cats. And if you think a fence will help, think again.

"Coyotes are very nimble and clever and I would be hesitant to say that they cannot scale any
fence if the reward on the other side is sufficiently tempting," Pulcinella said.

The RC Pets Web site has more tips on living near coyote territory.

  

Starting next Wednesday, the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center will start a World Music Summer Concert series. It's free and family friendly. All concerts will be at the courtyard outside of the Lewis Family Playhouse from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Afro-Brazilian group Batuqueiros will perform on July 8.

West African Highlife Band will perform July 15.

Drummers from Taikoproject will perform July 22.

Information: (909) 477-2752

Starting next week, workers will begin moving dirt to prepare for the construction of the Hellman fire station. From 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, trucks will move dirt from the north end of Amethyst to the basin on the south side of Hillside and Hellman. Expect to see reduced speed limit signs during these hours.

Information: (909) 477-2770, www.rcfire.org

Last week, a couple of July 4 celebrations organized by some of the city's seniors was mentioned in this space. Here's one by a younger organizer.

Borrowing from the energy of April's Tea Party, Laura Sanches, 24, will hold a July 4 rally on Foothill and Haven from noon to 2 p.m. Sanches is using her blog RC Patriots to spread the message. She said she wants to keep the message positive.

"Please bring American flags, historical American flags, signs promoting the constitution and our founding fathers," she wrote.

                                                                         Thomas Cordova/Staff Photographer

The charming Pomona Baking Co. in downtown P-town is run by Chaffey College assistant professor Daniel Swift. This joint is everything that chain-hating gourmands look for in a bakery -- fresh ingredients, innovative recipes and acceptance of special requests.

If you're used to buying baked goods at Costco, Pomona Baking Co. -- $4 a loaf of bread, 75 cents a cookie, $1.75 a sticky bun -- might seem pricey. But Swift is confident that bread is a "recession-proof business."

"As long as people understand the quality factor," Swift said. "I've never had anyone say they won't pay $4 for a loaf. It's handmade and it's made with love."

If Pomona's too far for a dessert run, you can try baking yourself. Swift's coffee cake recipe follows. 

Next Saturday's fireworks show will be the 10th July 4 celebration at The Epicenter. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., entertainment starts at 6 and the fireworks start at 9 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $8; $10 at the door.

Tickets can be purchased online, at the Cultural Center box office or by calling (909) 477-2752.

A number of local seniors will have their own celebrations. Folks at the Valencia Commons retirement community on 6729 Hermosa Ave., will put on a barbecue/open house. It'll be on July 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's open to the public. Call (909) 481-5440 for more info.

Over at the Alta Laguna mobile home park on Baseline and Hermosa, the seniors are doing a 30-minute parade with Harriet Gemmell, 100, as the grand marshal. The centenarian will arrive in a golf cart in style. That parade begins at 11 a.m.

You've got another July 4 celebration? Post them here.

The currently unemployed Councilman Rex Gutierrez is pondering his next move. He wants to start a private tutoring business called Rex Foundation For Learning. Don't confuse it with the Rex Foundation, which is a charitable organization in honor of the Grateful Dead. It was named after Rex Jackson, a Grateful Dead roadie. 

Rex Foundation For Learning, however, is named after Rex Gutierrez. The councilman wants to tutor students in English and teach them how to write essays and resumes. Gutierrez said he might even teach students about running for office. But he won't teach math.

It seems he has given it some thought. Gutierrez said he'll do the tutoring in clients' homes or in his own home. He wants to charge around $60.

Councilman Rex Gutierrez was found in contempt of court today and fined $100 for divulging information on a grand jury probe into the 1,200-acres project, according to courts reporter Will Bigham.

Gutierrez was quoted in a Daily Bulletin article published April 17 about the grand jury's investigation into the project. The councilman had signed a declaration vowing not to discuss his testimony with anyone.
 

If you've met Traffic Engineer Jon Gillespie, you'd know that he's a courteous, mild mannered man with a ruddy face and a generous smile. The word traffic, whether to describe freeway bottlenecks or movement of illegal drugs, conjures up dangerous and unpleasant images. Somehow Gillespie belies his title.

And who doesn't want a guy named Gillespie solving their traffic woes?

On Tuesday, the City Council asked Gillespie to return with a report on traffic calming devices. Sounds nice doesn't it? It turns out, said Gillespie, traffic calming devices aren't so calming after all.

A traffic calming device is another word for speed hump, which is another word for speed bump. If a traffic calming device was installed in front of your house, you'd certainly need another device to calm you down. Imagine a truck full of lawn mowers going past your bedroom window, Gillespie said.

You can also try speed pillows. Sounds nice, no? Speed pillows -- available in goose down and memory foam -- are a series of smaller bumps that slow down cars but have no affect on emergency vehicles.

There are also rumble strips, which are raised markers, and pavers, which give the cobble stone effect. All this traffic vocabulary that Gillespie taught me has left me, well, dizzy.

The main reason the City Council voted against closing a portion of Red Hill Country Club Drive is a lack of neighborhood consensus. But council members also believe that the Foothill Boulevard widening project on the west side of town will help reduce cut-through traffic on Red Hill.

First phase of the project -- relocating cable lines -- will start in August. Then the metal bridge will be removed and replaced. The city will also put in sidewalks, a median and entryway arches. The street itself could grow from four to six lanes. Curt Billings, associate engineer, said all this could be done by August 2010.

Since the city is building a median for Foothill, one way to reduce traffic further on Red HIll would be to restrict left turns from Foothill to Red Hill Country Club Drive. The council did not decide on this option yesterday but it's still open.

The City Council said no to installing gates and closing a portion of Red Hill Country Club Drive as a solution to solve cut-through traffic. The unanimous vote was followed by applause.

"I believe that we need to have some kind of consensus, some kind of unity to move forward," said Councilman Rex Gutierrez. "And it's obvious we don't have this consensus. It doesn't seem the gate is warranted."

According to an April survey conducted by the city, 60 percent of residents who completed the survey opposed the street closure.

Resident Bill Hanlon, who lambasted the City Council last week for starting meetings late, e-mailed me this morning his spreadsheet detailing the starting time of meetings in the past year.

"When I said to start on time, I had done my homework," Hanlon wrote.

Sure enough, his homework showed that only two meetings between April 2008 to April 2009 were started at or before 7 p.m.

I wonder if Hanlon, a loyal Rex Gutierrez supporter, knew that his favorite councilman was 15 minutes late to Monday's special meeting.

But Gutierrez isn't the only tardy one. I arrived at tonight's meeting at Victoria Gardens 15 minutes late also. Traffic kept me from attending the meeting on traffic in a timely manner. When I got to Celebration Hall, I walked into the middle of Hanlon's comments to the City Council! Sorry, Bill.      

Sometimes, or all the time, Councilman Rex Gutierrez says things he doesn't mean or says things he shouldn't say. You can't help but shake your head, laugh or look at the floor. Perhaps all of the above.

Yesterday, at a team-building session, Gutierrez tried to explain to the council why he needed his supporters at a recent meeting. He said he was expecting to be sued and was a little "paranoid."

"Don, you might have had this happen before, you've been to jail, but some of you haven't," Gutierrez said.

At which time, City Attorney Jim Markman said, "Everyone who's been to jail, raise your hand."

Everyone (the council, city manager, assistant city managers, etc.) laughed and it was all good fun, albeit an uncomfortable fun.

A little background: Mayor Don Kurth was arrested for drug-related reasons when he was a teenager. Gutierrez was arrested May 27 for timecard-related reasons. 

But Kurth isn't the one Gutierrez should belittle, especially since the mayor started the special meeting sounding like a Rex fan. He claimed that council members' comments about Gutierrez to the newspaper inflamed the situation. Kurth even repeated a statement that has been on the lips of many Gutierrez backers: Innocent until proven guilty.

But Sam Spagnolo and Diane Williams weren't going to apologize. Both thought they had the right to speak about how Gutierrez's troubles affect the city.

"It's affecting me, it's affecting the council," Williams said. "Rancho Cucamonga has always been a straight forward, honorable city. We're the laughing stock of the valley right now."

After three hours of "team-building," I wouldn't say the City Council was a better or worse off team. But there was some laughter, potshots and everyone got something off their chest. It's a start. 

To the gentleman who called me last Saturday at 5:30 a.m., to ask why I didn't write one word about how I urged readers to vote for job-killing Democrats in 2006 and 2008: I'm sorry I wasn't around the newsroom to take your call. I take accusations of liberal bias seriously, especially when they are cited at such an early hour.

You didn't leave your name or number so there's no way for me to return your call. If you are the one who said,

"You guys should take a little responsibility for the bad economy, because you urged your readers to vote for job-killing Democrats that have been killing jobs in California for the last 34 years. Yoo hoo! Only apologize for your education you received, it was one of the nation's worst. Duh,"

please be advised that I'm usually at this number, (909) 483-9376, during business hours Monday through Friday. Thanks for calling, have a nice day.

P.S. I got my education in New York. Yes, I am an East Coast media elite. Only I didn't make it on the East Coast.

Starting today, there will be free lunch served at Northtown Community Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All children ages 2 to 18 and developmentally disabled adults are welcomed. The meals are provided by the Cucamonga School District through the USDA National School Lunch program. You don't have to sign up and you don't have to attend any of the district's schools. You just have to show up and eat lunch at the center.

Northtown Community Center is at 10071 Feron Blvd. Call (909) 941-7465 for more information.
 

Assemblyman Bill Emmerson spoke about the budget mess at the YMCA luncheon this afternoon. His brief statement was followed by two people who want his job: Mayor Kurth and Fontana Councilwoman Acquanetta Warren.

This was a fundraiser for the YMCA youth and government program. But if it were a try-out for Emmerson's job, Kurth and Warren came out tied.

Kurth gave a lukewarm speech about how he entered politics, poked fun of Chinese "democracy" and gloated about the Victoria Gardens success. Former Sen. Jim Brulte called it a "Rancho infomercial." One point for showing up at 11:45 a.m., right on time.

Warren showed up nearly an hour later, about five minutes after she was scheduled to go on stage. I've heard about this phenomenon of "Acquanetta time" before but I thought people were exaggerating. However, she gets one point for a nice story about being in high school and getting on the plane for the first time (PSA Airlines) to go to Sacramento. She got to be legislator for the day.

Mike Morrell, also running for Assembly, gets an honorable mention for working the room.

The Red Hill traffic meeting is next Tuesday but don't go to Valle Vista School, where all the past meetings on the issue have been. The 5:30 p.m. meeting will be at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center.

That's right. The Red Hill traffic meeting will take place at a location as far from Red Hill as possible. Go any farther and you're in Foncho.

Unlike the past 10 or 12 meetings, when you had a bunch of residents telling the traffic engineer how horrible cut-through traffic is, this meeting will feature a bunch of residents telling the traffic engineer and the City Council how horrible cut-through traffic is.  

Several readers have inquired about the Chaffey Summer Science Academy, a program I mentioned in this space last week. I forgot to mention one very crucial thing about the community college program -- it's free!

The week-long program for high school juniors, seniors and Chaffey students is funded by a Title V STEM grant, which aims to increase the number of Hispanic students entering careers in science, technology, engineering and math -- or STEM. The academy, from August 3 to 7, will give students experience in crime scene investigations, robotics and microbiology. Everything's free including lunch.

Information: (909) 652-6499

Los Osos High School is hosting a blood drive on campus next Thursday. The drive, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will take place at the school gym on 6001 Milliken Ave.

If helping out to save a life isn't incentive enough, donors will also get a coupon for a free pint of Baskin-Robbins ice cream.

Did you know?

In 2008, the city gave out 3,700 tickets, bringing in $125,000 in revenue.

Getting a parking ticket in this city will set you back $30. The price has stayed the same since incorporation (1977). Cheaper than a rib-eye at Flemings, it's the best bargain in town!

The residents weren't the only ones with strong words tonight. The mayor and council members had some pretty strong words, too, and it was directed to the Chaffey College board.

Some residents who live west of Chaffey College -- on San Felipe Court and San Andreas Drive -- are upset that students park in front of their homes, leaving no room for themselves and blocking their mailboxes.

It turns out, according to Traffic Engineer Jon Gillespie, the college recently built an office building in a spot where there was a parking lot. That means there are not only less parking spaces but a greater need for them.

Mayor Don Kurth wrote a letter to the community college board asking them to meet with the city on this issue. The board hasn't responded.

"It's shameful that Chaffey has not stepped up to the plate," Kurth said.

The council urged the irate residents to attend a Chaffey board meeting and complain to them.

Ironically, their board meeting takes place in the administration building, the same part of the campus that lacks parking spaces.

"If you go," Kurth said, "please don't park on San Felipe."

  

If you saw me sneak into the City Council meeting tonight 20 minutes late, please don't tell Bill Hanlon. I'm broke and I can't pay any potential fines. Last-minute issues tied me up in the newsroom and I couldn't get to the council chambers on time. It wasn't because I hate the pledge of allegiance or that I wanted to skip the awards and presentations. I vow to do better next time. 

Resident and war veteran Bill Hanlon didn't play nice with the City Council tonight when he vowed to "take back our government."

He accused the council of starting the meetings late 90 percent of the time and suggested council members be fined $1,000 for every minute they're late.

"Start your meeting on time," Hanlon said. "Don't have us wait. That is not a good thing."

Hanlon also slammed the council for not showing up at the Flag Day rally on Milliken and 7th on Sunday.

Councilman Sam Spagnolo, who attended a different Flag Day event, wasn't going to ignore those criticisms and asked Mayor Don Kurth if he could comment.

"Point of order, it's not allowed," Hanlon shouted from the audience.

City Attorney Jim Markman explained that Kurth can let Spagnolo speak because the mayor runs the meeting and since Hanlon brought up the issue, Spagnolo can respond. And he did.

"To question my loyalty to the country ... I take offense to it. I served in the military for six years. I am a veteran. You understand that?" Spagnolo fired back.

  

A commenter of this blog recently recommended Up in Smoke, a barbecue restaurant located near East and Baseline in an area that I affectionately refer to as Foncho. That prompted another reader to inquire where exactly are Foncho's borders.

The great thing about the "city" of Foncho is that it has no borders. If you're driving on Foothill or Base Line near the 15 Freeway and you wonder whether you're in Rancho or Fontana, then you're in Foncho. If you're slightly west or south of Foncho and you're not sure -- just to be safe -- you should say you're in Foncho Lomawanda.

I would imagine most people -- with the exception of beat reporters and cops -- don't care where city boundaries fall. Reporters tend to freak out over city boundaries. Here's an example of a typical phone conversation.

Rancho reporter: Hello?
Caller: Hi, I have a story idea. I live in Fontan...
Reporter: Wait! Let me transfer you to the Fontana reporter.

We really freak out when there's a traffic accident right on the border, say smack in the middle of the Base Line and East intersection. Who do we call?! Rancho cops? Fontana cops? Sheriff's? And if Foncho residents want to lobby for improved traffic signals, do they call the Rancho traffic engineer or Fontana's? Aghhh!

That is why, when the economy improves, I will ask the higher ups to hire a Foncho reporter. The first story can be a review of the restaurant Up in Smoke.
 

Tonight's meeting will start off with an announcement of the Lewis Family Playhouse lineup for the 2009/10 season. Highlights include ... wait for it ... The Pointer Sisters and Air Supply.

The City Council is expected to give the traffic engineer direction in regards to bringing permit parking in the residential neighborhoods near Chaffey College. Many residents on San Felipe Court and San Andreas Drive say too many students park their cars on their streets leaving them little room to park.

The meeting, as always, starts at 7 p.m.

The former Chamber of Commerce president has formed the Inland Valley Business Alliance, a new, regional group advocating businesses of the Inland Valley.

Norm MacKenzie, president and CEO of the business alliance, said in a statement that the new group will be a forum for businesses, government and academia.

"The region needs more aggressive daily legislative advocacy in order to preserve our businesses and the sales tax dollars they produce that fund our county and cities," MacKenzie said in a statement.

The alliance will host network luncheons at $15 on the second and fourth Mondays at Antonino's at 11:30 a.m. The restaurant is located on the northeast corner of Foothill and Vineyard, next door to the chamber office.

MacKenzie parted ways with the chamber in December, after 10 years of leading it. MacKenzie, who wanted the chamber to become regional and more politically involved, said he and the chamber had different visions for the future of the organization.

For more information about the Inland Valley Business Alliance, call (909) 477-6623 or e-mail info@ivbusiness.org.    

The city balanced its budget last night after witnessing the largest decline in revenue in a long time. City Manager Jack Lam said this recession is much worse than the last.

"It's longer, more sustained and deeper," Lam said.

I thought balancing a $95 million budget in these challenging times might lead to an ulcer or some gray hairs but Lam looked healthy and actually younger. Go figure. Maybe the Rancho budget isn't so hard to handle after all.

Residents most likely won't notice the city's fiscal woes since services like libraries and the senior center aren't affected. It'll take longer to get things done at City Hall, however. Nearly 60 full- and part-time positions remain open as a cost-cutting measure.

But you'll still see capital improvement projects going on, projects that don't require on-going costs. That means although the Central Park aquatics center is on hold, all that work on Haven continues.

"Those capital projects that don't have net operating costs, those we want to do," Lam said. "The more, the better. That not only helps preserve jobs, it's an economic stimulus." 

The Etiwanda School District will be closed Fridays from June 22 to July 24. The four-day week will be implemented to reduce energy costs. The district will be opened from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of the weeks starting June 29 and July 3. On those two weeks, the district will be closed at 4 p.m. The summer child care program will continue to operate Monday through Friday.  

Dance Gallery Studio, on 9774 19^th St., are holding auditions Friday, Saturday and June 26 for competition and travel teams. Gymnasts who can do a back-hand spring are encouraged to audition. To try out for the dance team, a minimum of one year of tap and jazz class is required.

 

Call (909) 483-9888 for appointment times and more information.

  

Prospective homebuyers are encouraged to attend one of two workshops scheduled this Thursday and June 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Central Park community center. The free workshops for first-time homebuyers are hosted by Sen. Bob Dutton and Wells Fargo.

Representatives from the Assessor's Office, Franchise Tax Board and HUD will be available for questions.

Information: (909) 466-4180

Mayor Don Kurth, Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, Fontana Mayor Mark Nuaimi and former Senator Jim Brulte are some of the speakers at a legislative luncheon next Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Central Park community center.

Cost is $50 per person or $500 per table. There are sponsorship opportunities at the $1,000 and $1,500 level.

Money raised will go toward the Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana YMCA's youth and government program. Southern California Edison, Jeff and Kellie Burum and the Lewis Operating Corp. are sponsoring the event.

Information: (909) 987-0777 

Monday will bring us a new barbecue restaurant in town: Joey's. This joint already has locations in Pomona, Upland and Chino. It'll be the fifth eatery dedicated to barbecue, following Red Hill, Lucille's, Dickey's and Famous Dave's. (Am I missing any?)

Five barbecue restaurants, with three new ones in the last year ... that's impressive. It's like the new frozen yogurt.

Joey's, on Foothill Boulevard near Klusman, sits on what I believe to be a stretch with the best restaurants in the city. Victoria Gardens fans might vehemently object, but Route 66 between Vineyard and Archibald is home to some pretty awesome restaurants, especially if you're like me, constantly hungry and poor. Coffee Klatch, In & Out, Pho Ha, Taco Hut, The Deli and Felipe's are all outstanding. Maybe Joey's can soon join that list.  

I thought BEK's cartoon in a recent edition of the New Yorker perfectly illustrates my feelings as of late. The thing about social networking sites is that they exemplify the two things I most abhor -- socializing and networking. But in today's paper, you will see that not only is our columnist David Allen bragging about his Facebook debut, so is our paper.

To use a phrase from one commenter, should I now drink the social networking kool aid? 

The digital conversion starts today as you may have read in today's paper. You've probably heard it a zillion times already with messages scrolling across your television screen and everybody from PBS hosts to Oprah reminding you buy that converter box.

Yet an estimated 250,000 in the L.A. area is still not in the know. If you use rabbit ears on a tv that doesn't take in digital signals (only the recently purchased ones do), you'll have to buy a converter box. Best Buy, Wal-mart and other stores that sell electronics have them. But try to get a coupon here first.

Reviews are mixed about the digital conversion. Cable-less people like myself who've already made the switch find that some channels are stronger with digital but other channels are weaker. As a Pomona resident, I'm more or less pleased with the digital change but what about in Rancho? Are there channels you can't get with your converter box?

It's budget time.

The City Council is expected to pass a $95 million budget on Monday at a 6 p.m. special meeting at the council chambers.

Severe drops in sales and property taxes have resulted in a dip in the city's general fund. The 2009/10 budget will be a 5 percent decrease from the previous year.

The Historical Preservation Association is hosting a Father's Day Quakes game at The Epicenter next Friday. The game against the Storm starts 7:30 p.m. with fireworks at the end of the night. The cost is a $7 donation to the association.

Info: (909) 985-2231 or e-mail Historical Preservation Association

Joe Filippi, president and majority owner of the city's most famous winery, has filed another lawsuit against his brother, Gino Filippi, for failing to take a drug test under board policy. The suit seeks to remove Gino from the Filippi Winery's board of directors.

A quick recap: Joe fired Gino from his vice president post in 2007 but Gino remained on the board and continues to own 45 percent of the company. Gino then sued Joe for firing him without cause. Joe counter sued, accusing Gino of taking money from the business and testing positive for cocaine years ago.

Now Joe wants Gino off the board entirely because Gino has failed to take a drug test. According to court documents, "(Gino) Filippi's failure to take corrective action with respect to any director or officer or management personnel who may test postivie for ingestion of illegal drugs may jeopardize the business of Filippi and the licenses held by Filippi for its business."

Congrats to Rancho resident Joel Greene, host of the PBS show Curiosity Quest. The KVCR show recently won two 2009 Telly awards, which honor local, regional and cable programming.

Curiosity Quest, which dedicates each episode to answering the queries of inquisitive children, is on channel 24 weeknights at 6:30 p.m. Curiosity Quest Goes Green airs Mondays at 7:30 p.m. and Fridays at 6:30 p.m.









Courtesy photo 

Speaking of Twitter ...

Mayor Don Kurth claims on a June 4 tweet that the community garden proposed by his wife will be the largest organic one west of the Mississippi.

Dee Matreyek is eying a 15-acre property on the Edison easement near Sears Grand.

Kurth has brought this up a couple of times at the City Council meeting and he keeps referring to his wife as the "community garden lady." That always makes me cringe. It's no better than him calling Councilwoman Diane Williams the "library lady."

But what else can you call a person who starts up a community garden? A community gardener?

Regardless of what you call her, Matreyek has quite the vision for the garden. She wants a farmer's market, produce exchange, educational programs for kids and community plots where residents can grow their own produce and possibly donate them to a local food bank. If the garden succeeds, it could be the coolest arrival to the city since Victoria Gardens.

Click below to see a preliminary site plan for the garden.

View image 

You might have read my colleague Liset Marquez's article on Sunday about a church that is twittering sermons. Pastor Ed Blonski told Marquez, "Twitter embraces what Christ is all about. It's about wanting to know other people and wanting to develop relationships."

Twitter seems to be embracing what politicians are all about, too. In addition to maintaining his Facebook page, Mayor Don Kurth also twitters several times a week. Or at least it seems like Kurth twitters, like the June 4th tweet "Just finished a television interview with CNN Headlline News." Other times it seems like somebody tweets for him, like the May 20 tweet "Don Kurth met with Tri County Dental Assn to gain their support for Don's State Assembly race \ Calif Medical Assn already on board" Or maybe he likes to refer to himself in the third person?

Anybody out there have twitter feeds to share?

Sunday is Flag Day and a new nonprofit group, Stars and Stripes United, will hold a rally at the parking lot of Gandolfo's (7th and Milliken). The group is partnering with the folks who organized the recent tea party for the event. There will be music, children's activities and a barbecue.

According to a Stars and Stripes United statement, the nonprofit, nonpartisan group upholds the values of limited, balanced and effective government; freedom through capitalism and a free market; community and family values; respect for God and life; and a strong national defense.

Information: (909) 457-4131 or e-mail Paul Chabot  

High school juniors, seniors and Chaffey students can sign up now for the Summer Science Academy, which will take place at the community college from August 3 to 7. Students will get hands-on experience in crime scene investigations, robotics and microbiology. The program is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and lunch is provided.

Information: (909) 652-6499 or e-mail Wanda Mitchell  

The RC Family Resource Center will host a community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 20.

To sell your goods, reserve a spot for $20 by calling the resource center at (909) 477-2781.

The resource center is on 9791 Arrow Route. 

                                                     Jennifer Maher Cappuccio/Staff Photographer

Councilman Rex Gutierrez's message at the close of last night's City Council meeting follows. It was his first public statement since his arrest on May 27.

I want to take this opportunity for those who might be listening to thank you -- those of you who have supported my family over the last three weeks. I think these trials are meant to help us. I went to a place with my wife on Saturday of which I consider to be holy ground and prayed to get some inspiration. And I believe there's a very strong message that came to me, no matter what happens we're going to be okay as a family.

I was made aware of God's love for all of us as individuals. That he is aware of our lives and that he is in control of our destiny and he has a shape in that and an influence in that. I just want to thank those who believed in me and believe this system that we have. Thank God that our fathers have devised a Constitution Bill of Rights that protect the individual.

And I have to say that our political positions ... they won't last long. All of us. If you try to name the governors of our state you can't go back too far, I don't think. Our congressmen, senators ... years from now they'll be forgotten, forgotten from earth. And I believe there are things more important. We have to understand, before we're gone ... and frankly all of us are clearly in the second part of our lives ... there's not a lot of time left to learn charity and to be gracious and hopeful. Charity never faileth. And though we all have faith and can move mountains with our faith but if we don't have charity we are nothing.

It says in scripture now abideth faith, hope, charity ... these three but the greatest of these is charity. So I just want to thank those of you who have stood by me. That you are people of charity. You are the real Christians and others of good will and I thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of me and my family. We will survive this and if you just give me a chance to think and you will think clearly. Look at the issues and believe there are always two sides to a story. And I think you would have given me my opportunity to have my day. So anyway, that's what I wanted to say and thank you.

The City Council meeting was much subdued tonight. Just five supporters for Councilman Rex Gutierrez spoke during public comment period. The meeting was Gutierrez's first public appearance since his arrest on May 27 for grand theft and misappropriation of public funds. Gutierrez's backers repeated their calls on the City Council to hold judgment until the councilman has gone through trial.

I felt bad for the city employee who placed dozens of chairs in the hallway and outside the chambers anticipating large crowds. An hour into the meeting, he had to put all the chairs away. 

Plans to start a community garden on Foothill west of Day Creek will be discussed at a 7 p.m. meeting tomorrow at the Lions West Community Center. Dee Matreyek is forming a team of community leaders to brainstorm ideas for the 15-acre garden. The meeting is open to the public.

One perk: There will be cookies.

The City Council will vote on the approval of tax rates in community facilities districts at tonight's meeting. It will also consider a request to allow community gardens in residential and commercial/office districts. Dee Matreyek, the city's first lady, is heading a team to lead the Rancho Cucamonga Community Garden Project.

No word yet on whether we'll get a full council tonight. Councilman Rex Gutierrez was absent from yesterday's joint water district/city council meeting. Mayor Don Kurth said Gutierrez was absent due to "personal business." Tonight will be the first meeting since Gutierrez's arrest May 27.

You might have heard about the city of Los Angeles and its limits on water usage this week. Drought is obviously not an isolated problem. These limitations are on this city's horizon, too.

The City Council and the Cucamonga Valley Water District will meet tonight and discuss an ordinance recently passed by the water board and another ordinance that the board plans to adopt later this month.

Ordinance 47 requires residents to use water hoses equipped with shutoff nozzles while washing cars, restaurants owners to serve water only on request and other water-saving measures. Ordinance 48, to be considered later this month, addresses more stringent measures if the drought becomes more serious or in an event of a natural disaster.

Tonight's 6 p.m. meeting is at the water district office on 10440 Ashford St. 

City Manager's Weekly, the internal publication at City Hall, is going monthly. That means city employees will no longer get the quirky messages from the city manager on a weekly basis.

The long serving city manager has received much praise for how he manages this city. But what many people don't know is that Jack Lam is also a fantastic writer. His weekly messages hark back to the pre-blog days when people use to write or type messages on paper.

I keep these newsletters as a reminder of how tenuous my post at the paper is. You never know when a respected city manager might trade in a high salary for a prestigious Daily Bulletin internship.

The art sale at Sam and Beverly Maloof's residence will take place this Saturday as planned.

Sam Maloof, an international figure in the art scene, died on May 21.

The art sale is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 5131 Carnelian St. Cash and checks only. 

Rubio's on 10798 Foothill will be holding a blood drive Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Donors will receive gifts from local businesses including Baskin Robbins, Panera and the host Mexican eatery.

If you have questions about your eligibility to donate, call Joyce Valdez at (310) 614-4845. If you want to sign up, call Ligia Ubeda at (909) 989-3949.