July 2009 Archives

A community garden meeting will be held next Thursday in the Filippi Room at Lions West Community Center. Anyone interested in planning the garden, slated for the Edison corridor near Foothill and Day Creek, is encouraged to attend. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. The Lions Center is on Base Line near Lion Street.  

After popular demand, the city's trail guide, now with tips and guidelines, is available to download. You'll probably learn some new things: A red ribbon on a horse's tail indicates the horse may kick if approached too closely from behind. And you'll probably read things that you assumed everybody already knew: Step off the trail if your horse has to relieve itself.

front panel.pdf
back panel.pdf

Long before Deputy Fire Chief Mike Bell was fighting fires, he was scanning the news wires and re-writing press releases. Bell was a cub reporter,  the other noble profession.

He didn't go far in journalism and instead headed for a career in the fire service. In September, Bell will be promoted to fire chief, leading a department of 125 employees.

Bell's father, Bill Bell was a career journalist and although retired, he still writes occasionally for the Whittier Daily News, a Daily Bulletin sister paper. Mike Bell wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, a chip off the old block kinda thing.

He took a journalism class in college and his first assignment was to write an obituary. (Are there any reporters out there whose first story was not an obit?) Bell, an aspiring sports reporter at the time, picked a sports figure to write about. Bell's professor told him sports is not journalism and gave him an F.

Sports is of course, journalism. Sports writers win Pulitzers. It was too bad that Bell followed his professor's advice. But his story is now inspiring.  

Maybe I can still be a fire fighter and work my way up to become Rancho's first female fire chief. When I retire, I'll run for City Council. It'll come full circle. There's hope for me yet.

 

In other Diane Williams-related news ...

The longest serving councilwoman member, whose term is up next fall, has eyes on another term.

Williams told me she had one more term left in her last December. But recently, I heard from two sources who said they heard Williams wasn't seeking re-election. I figured the two statements make it a half truth so I asked Williams again.

"Don't know where you're hearing the rumors but I am planning on running for re-election next year," Williams wrote in an e-mail. "I figure I've got at least one more term worth of things I'd like to see finished."  

Councilwoman Diane Williams, a biking enthusiast, recently bragged about the Bicycling & Trail Guide that the city puts out with trail guidelines and bicycle safety tips. You can pick one up at any city facility (City Hall, Central Park, etc.). The guide includes a very useful map of the city showing the Pacific Electric Trail and different types of bicycle paths. You can download it here: 
BikeMap.pdf
 

In case you missed it, here's a flier for the Rex Foundation For Learning, which was passed out to various homes over the weekend. You may remember that RFFL was mentioned in this space a month ago.

RFFL is Councilman Rex Gutierrez's latest venture. Gutierrez, who no longer works for the county, is hoping to be a personal tutor.

The Animal Care and Adoption Center is heading to Upland for a miniature golf tournament Aug. 15 to raise funds for the department. The Putt For Paws event is from 2:30 to 6 p.m. at Boomers on 1500 W. 7th St., Upland. Check in is at 2:30 p.m.; shot gun start is at 3 p.m.

There will be cash prizes for hole-in-one as well as raffle prizes and a kids drawing. All-you-can-eat pizza, salad bar and soda will be at the Be Bop Cafe.Tickets for four are $75; individual tickets are $20.

Pre-register now by calling Suzanne at (909) 481-1822 or send an e-mail to Linda.

Many are curious whether the allegations against Councilman Rex Gutierrez are true. The former intergovernmental relations officer of the Assessor's Office is accused of attending city events and conducting city business on county time.

Apparently Gutierrez's former boss, Bill Postmus, was wondering the same thing. According to court documents in support of criminal charges filed against Postmus this week, Postmus and former Assistant Assessor Harlow Cameron hired an investigator to find out if Gutierrez was conducting City Council business during work hours.

Cameron, who now lives in Washington state, told me he was merely the go-between. His role was to contact the private investigator on Postmus' behalf.

Postmus would not comment on why he hired an investigator to find out information about his own employee. Instead, he pleaded patience in an e-mailed statement.

"All I humbly ask is that the citizens of San Bernardino County have an open mind and reserve judgment until all the facts are presented in an impartial forum and in a fair manner," Postmus wrote.

More details to come in tomorrow's paper.

A City Council regular recently asked the elected officials: Who on earth is Jeff Burum and how much has he given you in campaign contributions?

Burum, of course, is the well-known develolper based in this city, who's behind the Colonies project in Upland. In 2006, the Colonies Partners won a much scrutinized $102 million settlement with San Bernardino County over flood-control improvements on the property. Burum and other Colonies investors, including Tony Mize, a Community Foundation Board member, are regular contributors to Rancho officials, county supervisors and others.

The Safety Employees Benefit Association and the SEBA political action committee are also noteworthy contributors to local campaigns. The SEBA political action committee is just one of many committees that Burum contributes to, which in turn, contribute to various political campaigns.

Since 2003, Mayor (and Councilman) Don Kurth has received at least $49,150 from the Colonies and their investors and $61,547 from SEBA in monetary and in-kind contributions.

Since 2008, Councilman Sam Spagnolo has received at least $10,200 in monetary and in-kind contributions from the Colonies and their investors and $7,500 from SEBA.

Since 2004, Councilman Dennis Michael has received at least $20,700 in monetary and in-kind donations from the Colonies and their investors and $23,500 from SEBA.

Since 2002, Councilman Rex Gutierrez has received at least $41,510 in monetary and in-kind contributions from the Colonies and their investors and $37,500 from SEBA.

Since 2000, Councilwoman Diane Williams has received at least $16,600 from the Colonies and their investors and $26,750 from SEBA.

Point of Grace Christian Fellowship will hold its second annual Back to School Jam, an opportunity for children to receive a backpack full of school supplies, on Aug. 1. Last year, organizers handed out more than 100 bags on a first come, first serve basis. This year, more than 200 will be available. The event is funded by donations from the congregation and local businesses. Backpacks will be handed out from 1 to 4 p.m. on 9774 Hawthorne Drive.

Information: (909) 944-9909

Rancho resident Troy Guard, 14, shows off his spray paint art at the Victoria Gardens Art Fair last week.
The new pedestrian fair on South Mainstreet features more than 40 vendors every Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. through October.
 
Thomas R. Cordova/
Staff Photographer

The featured story in the newly designed City News today featured Mainstreet Marketplace at Victoria Gardens, the pedestrian fair on South Mainstreet that started this month.

I took an after dinner stroll there on Wednesday, my second time visiting, and was surprised to see businesses that I didn't see the first time. If you enjoy walking through all the exhibit halls at the county fair, you might like the mall's latest addition.

I briefly contemplated buying five bars of handmade soap and a flower pot in the shape of a turtle but I talked myself out of it. But I watched many others buying all sorts of goods they don't need, perhaps an early sign that the mall is inching its way out of the recession.

For the last half hour or so, fire personnel have been singing the praises of Dave Berry on the scanner. The battalion chief's last day with the city's fire department is today. Berry has been with the department since 1978. Congratulations, Dave!

FYI:  This battalion chief Berry is not the Dave Barry who regularly writes to the letter to the editor or the syndicated columnist from Miami.

(not sure if his colleagues will shake it.)

You might have bumped into a City Council official or two during your lunch break recently. Has everybody forgiven Rex? No hard feelings perhaps?

After some prompting from the mayor, Councilman Rex Gutierrez decided to schedule some one-on-one time with each of his colleagues to smooth out the wrinkles ... let bygones be bygones.

Gutierrez had breakfast with Councilman Dennis Michael and just recently dined with Councilman Sam Spagnolo, perhaps Gutierrez's harshest critic.

"We're generally getting along," Gutierrez said.

The City Council doesn't know what to make of the county's litigation against Gutierrez and the criminal charges against him. Councilwoman Diane Williams has said it would have been nice if Gutierrez gave his colleagues a heads up before all this scandal snowballed. Something like, "Hey guys, you're going to read all these scandalous allegations about me, I just wanted you to know. Sorry if it's distracting." Williams and others never got that disclaimer.

Gutierrez said his legal troubles can drag on for another year or two, a lengthy time for the City Council to remain tense.

"We can't just be mad at each other for that long can we?" Gutierrez asked.

Did anyone catch Judy Collins on NPR's Talk of the Nation last night? The folk singer's voice lulled me to slumber. Her interview/performance was perhaps a preview to her scheduled appearance at the Lewis Family Playhouse April 24.

Tonight's Planning Commission meeting has been canceled.

My suggestion for the five-member commission: go to Victoria Gardens, where there will be taiko drumming at 6 p.m. and a pedestrian fair until 9 p.m.

According to the David Allen Blog, two more restaurants in this city have called it quits. Greek eatery Mama's Grill on Haven near Civic Center Drive and Senor Agave, the Mexican restaurant that took over Margarita Beach.

Word is, Mama might move to a new location. Let's hope she (he?) finds a spot better than the very hidden one near the JCPenney outlet.

Tonight's informational meeting at the Cucamonga Valley Water District will offer information to residents about the rate increase set for September. The 6 p.m. meeting will take place on 10440 Ashford St. Staff members from the water district will say how much rates are going up and explain why.

The Alzheimer's Association will host Memory Walk, an event at The Epicenter to raise funds for Alzheimer research. The annual walk is scheduled Oct. 17.

Those with the disease and their families, caregivers and other community leaders are encouraged to start a team or make a donation to the cause. Since 1989, the walk has raised more than $265 million for Alzheimer care, support and research.

To start a team, call (323) 930-6228 or visit www.alzla.org/mw/ie

Several weeks ago, I shared a coffee cake recipe in this space and in the Sunday paper that was given to me by the Pomona Baking Co. It turns out, the flour measurement for the cake topping was inaccurate. Gasp! That's one serious typo, much worse than a misspelling or wrong subject-verb agreement, which I'm infamous for.

Daniel Swift, owner of the bakery pictured, apologizes also. He said he's received quite a few calls about this and had to deliver some coffee cakes as an apology.

Now if you're really dishonest, which I'm not, you would pretend like you baked the cake with the wrong measurements and call Swift asking for an apology cake. Voila! Fresh cake in 100-degree weather and you don't even have to turn on your oven.                                                       Thomas Cordova/Staff Photographer
Don't tell him I sent you.          

If you have a conscience, however, you'll just bake it yourself. Here's the corrected recipe.

The city has started a Healthy RC dining program, an effort to get local restaurants to serve good-for-you items. During the public hearing on the fate of Pepper's Mexican Restaurant last night, the owner indicated that he might participate in the Healthy RC initiative.

Last year, the Planning Commission wanted to take away Pepper's ability to serve distilled spirits because it had been operating outside of its permit. People were getting arrested for public intoxication, the bartender served to drunk patrons and the bouncer got into a nasty brawl. Not so healthy.

My what a difference a couple of months have made. My suggestion: Ditch the bouncer and serve veggie quesadillas with whole wheat tortillas. Very healthy.

The City Council, by the way, gave Pepper's a second chance and overturned the Planning Commission's decision. What do you think? A healthy decision?

Kudos to Revenge 97', a 12 and under fastpitch softball travel team out of Rancho that recently took third place out of 29 teams at the Triple Crown World Series in Park City, Utah. They had a 9-2 record.

Despite your strong desire to sit at home in front of the air conditioner, the sheriff's department wants you to spend Aug. 4 outside.

National Night Out, an evening focused on crime and drug prevention, is scheduled 5 to 9 p.m. Residents are encouraged to turn outside lights on and spend time outdoors for block parties and ice cream socials, said sheriff's Capt. Joe Cusimano.

Call (909) 477-2890 for help setting up an event.

Councilman Sam Spagnolo's legislative update tonight was gloomy.

Sacramento seems poised to balance the budget on cities' backs. Rancho Cucamonga stands to lose more than $40 million should state lawmakers decide to take from redevelopment, Prop. 1A and gas tax.

"These are obviously big numbers," said City Manager Jack Lam. "Any one of those three areas would have been stunning enough. For the state to look at taking all three ... these numbers are so staggering, we're going to look at service cuts -- tremendous service cuts."

Remember Pepper's?

It's the Mexican restaurant on 19th and Archibald that got a spanking from the Planning Commission last year for operating like a bar and not like a restaurant. For one, the owners called it a bar, that's a no-no. But also, it closed its kitchen, hired a bouncer and brought in a dance floor.

Because of this, the Planning Commission wanted to revoke the restaurant's conditional use permit and prohibit the sale of liquor.

In March, the City Council gave Pepper's a second chance, saying it'll revisit the issue in July.

At tonight's meeting, the city is expected to overturn the Planning Commission's decision because so far, Pepper's has been on good behavior.

Don't tell my editor but in today's article on affordable housing, I misspelled Villaggio, the fancy project on Foothill and Center. I shortchanged the project a G.

Sorry, Workforce Homebuilders and National Community Renaissance. I confused Villaggio (affordable housing) with Bellagio (Las Vegas hotel).

Cardio Fit moved to its current location on Foothill Boulevard near Ramona Avenue recently. To celebrate its move, the gym will team up with City of Hope to host a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 30. A coupon for a pint of Baskin Robbins ice cream and other prizes will be awarded to donors.

Information: (909) 938-7842 

Much to the chagrin of neighbors, officials broke ground on San Sevaine Villas, an affordable housing complex planned on Foothill Boulevard near East Avenue. The 225-unit project met fierce opposition when the City Council approved it in 2007.

But times were different then. Perhaps with all this foreclosure mess, residents are more understanding of the need for housing at all income levels.

Not really, said Gracia, the stigma is still there.

"I wish it was true but I don't think so," he said.

Perhaps Northtown, the housing corporation developing the apartments, should consider giving San Sevaine a fancier name.

Over on Foothill and Center, another affordable housing project unwanted by neighbors is underway. The 166-unit complex is called Villaggio on Route 66.

I live next to a Jiffy Lube. I would love to live next to the Villaggio. 

Organizers of the 48 Hour Film Project are getting ready for another short film competition. Filmmaker teams will devote 48 hours starting Aug. 7 to writing, shooting and editing short films that range from four to seven minutes long. The finished product will be shown at the University Village 10 in Riverside on August 12 and 13.

Rancho resident Sarah Blevins is heading the Inland Empire's entry to the competition. Nearly 70 cities around the world are hosting the project. Blevins said this year, the winning teams will have a shot at showing their films at the Cannes Film Festival.

Entry fee for teams signing up before July 13 is $135. It goes up to $155 after July 13.

A meet-and-greet event will be held at the Coffee Depot on 3204 Mission Inn Ave. in downtown Riverside on July 15 for filmmakers interested in learning more about the project. You can also see last year's films and the Inland Empire winner "The Trade" here.

Information: (818) 469-4178 or email Sarah Blevins   

Why do malfunctioning fire hydrants make such great photographs? Think black and white shots of Brooklyn children playing on a street of brownstones.

This one of Rancho firefighter Mike Leal today is great, too.

It is unknown how the hydrant on the 11500 block of Jersey Boulevard exploded off its base. It took firefighters and Cucamonga Valley Water District employees nearly 45 minutes to tame the thing.

 

The YouTube videos mentioned in Josh Dulaney's article in today's paper focus on Fontana lawmakers but Rancho's leaders are warning the state against taking local funds, too.

Mayor Don Kurth is the moderator of the "Roadmap to Recovery" conference taking place this morning at the Ontario Doubletree. The event is hosted by the Building Industry Association and features presentations by economists and local business leaders on the plan to survive this recession.

The following is a guest column by Kurth.

Economic Stimulus Starts at Home

Mayor Don Kurth

City of Rancho Cucamonga

The quality of life, and of our families' lives, is too important to leave the economic stimulus to Washington or Sacramento. That is why in the City of Rancho Cucamonga we have put together our own economic stimulus package to help get our local economy back on track. Now is the time for other local cities to begin doing the same.

We have all watched with dismay and disappointment as Washington has created inflated programs with no appreciable improvement in our local economic situation. And the tales of Sacramento's mismanagement of our tax dollars have become legendary. We are still waiting for the other shoe to drop and I have a feeling it is going to drop on our wallets.

 

Students entering grades nine through 12 this fall can sign up for a summer writing camp to take place at Los Osos High School July 27 to 31. The week-long program is from 9 a.m. to noon.

Any students interested in creative writing is encouraged to sign up for the opportunity to develop skills in writing poetry, memoir, screenplay and other forms. The program, hosted by the high school and UC Riverside, is $125.

Email Stephani Elliott for more information. 

The second floor of the Biane Library (yes, there's a second floor) isn't close to being built yet but city officials will spend the next year designing prototypes for an interactive children's area. Think part children's library, part children's museum.

"Imagine something 25 square feet that's in the shape of a huge dinosaur with 250 dinosaur books and a big dinosaur pit," said assistant library director Michelle Perera. "They'll think they're playing but parents will know they're learning about a topic. Something that's highly interactive and gives kids something to do rather than something to look at."

The city just received a $45,000 grant, which will be matched by the Library Foundation, to draw up some preliminary designs for the 14,000 square feet of space on the second floor.

What do you think should go in that space? 

Seniors are encouraged to attend a workshop that will teach emergency preparedness in the event of a "big one." The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program for the West Valley will hold a workshop featuring American Red Cross instructor Sharon Christiansen at the Brulte Senior Center from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on July 27. Call (909) 482-0355 to reserve a spot.

As reported in Sunday's paper, Fire Chief Peter Bryan is retiring.

Bryan is perhaps the most affable and press-friendly person in City Hall. He might even be the most affable, press-friendly person I've ever met. Sometimes I wonder how someone so darn nice can be another person's boss.

Councilman and former Fire Chief Dennis Michael was the one who hired Bryan. Michael called Bryan the "hardest working fire personnel" he's ever known. He said he would get to work at 7 or 8 a.m. and his inbox would already be filled with Bryan's e-mails sent at 2 or 3 a.m. So Bryan is nice and doesn't need sleep. Is Bryan a superhero?

I caught up with the chief after his coffee break today to talk about the Hellman Station and found out his secret. Bryan, who works out at the gym every day, is fueled by coffee in the a.m. and Monster energy drinks in the p.m. He's human after all, a very caffeinated human.

Will his successor, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Bell be just as affable and press-friendly, I wonder. Bell's father was a journalist, an indication that Bell will either be press-friendly or will run away from the press. 

The Inland Sports Center is offering a summer fitness camp every week through August 7 for children 6 to 12 years old. A one-week session is $55 and proceeds go to local schools. The sports center -- with indoor track, batting cages and weight room -- is on 8580 Milliken Ave.

Information: (909) 476-7913     

Starting this month, the Lions Club will meet on the fourth Wednesday every month at Antonino's on Vineyard and Foothill in the Thomas Winery Plaza. Happy hour starts at 5:30 p.m.; dinner and meeting is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Information: (909) 989-2232

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Bless Me, Ultima" will soon be suggested reading for the city. Thanks to the aggressive grant writing efforts by the city's library officials, we have two books to read for the community reading initiative Big Read.

Rancho is the only city to be awarded two Big Read grants from the National Endowment for the Arts this year. They received double the money simply because they asked for it.

"No one has ever thought of applying for two, but we did," said Assistant Library Director Michelle Perera.





 

The 1,200 acres project was one of the topics of the Grand Jury report released today.

The report supports the termination of the cooperative agreement with the county on the project, recommends that a public auction be the proper procedure for the county to sell surplus flood control property and suggests the city consider asking Councilman Rex Gutierrez to recuse himself from a future vote on the 1,200 acres project.

 Jennifer Maher Cappuccio/Staff Photographer

 

Library Director Robert Karatsu will give an update on library happenings to the City Council at tonight's meeting. He'll reveal the books for this year's Big Read. There's two this year, gasp!

City Council is expected to reappoint Chuck Buquet, Harvey Cohen and Tony Mize to the Community Foundation Board and reappoint Harry Gibson to fill a vacancy left by Marian Nelson's resignation. The City Council is also expected to make two appointments for the Library Foundation.

The fun starts at 7 p.m.