December 2009 Archives

Horray for "Faheem," (Dolores or Mary perhaps?) for being my 1,000th commenter.

It's a dubious milestone, I know. Much like George Clooney's character in "Up in the Air" wanting to reach 10 million air miles.

My days are so dull without activity on the blog and each commenter takes me momentarily away from the insanity of daily deadlines. So if you were among the commenters out there who left a complimentary, hateful, silly or thoughtful comment in the last 16 months, I thank you.

I post nearly every comment. Profanity is a no-no and signing on as a council member to mouth off another council member is also a no-no. Signing on as a Seinfeld character, however, is perfectly fine. 

Today's blog entry comes from reader Dave McNichols, a Rancho resident who appears to hate social media more than I. This is his poem? song? letter to the editor?

Twitter Twitter Facebook

By Dave "Beaker" McNichols

(Sing to the tune "I'm a little teapot")

Twitter Twitter Facebook

Look at me now

Know what I am doing

Then you'll say WOW

Twitter Twitter Facebook

What is my status

I might be in the bathroom

Or I might be climbing Everest

Twitter Twitter Facebook

It's important for you to know

What will we do when

Oprah quits her show

Twitter Twitter Facebook

I'm receiving a text, stop singing

Must be something important

Hold on...It's difficult to Twitter, Facebook, text and drive in a foreign city while updating my GPS.

The Chaffey Community Art Association Museum will start the year with an exhibit by Milford Zornes, the renowned watercolorist who died last year. Sixty-seven paintings representing 80 years of Zornes' career will be on display from Jan. 3 to Feb. 14.

A reception is scheduled Jan. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. The cost is $20 and includes a catalogue of the exhibit. The museum, inside the Filippi Winery, is located 12467 Base Line Road.

                                                       Information: (909) 463-3733 

It's not clear to me how reporters, bloggers and critics list their top 10 this and that of the decade. It's impossible for me to name the last 10 movies I've seen or the last 10 cds I've bought, let alone 10 of the best.

That's why I got nervous when my editor asked me to identify the top three stories in Rancho Cucamonga of 2009. I'm horrible about these lists for two reasons. One, I'm not very organized. I don't have a file of 2009 Rancho stories to comb through to make my decision. I forgot what my second reason was.

In today's story, you'll see I picked the Haven Avenue bridge as a top story because it was a major construction project that affected many people's commutes in 2009. It also had a negative impact on many local businesses. I also found out the bridge weighs 3.5 million pounds, making it the heaviest story of the year.



Furniture maker Sam Maloof died in May and even though I never met him, I sat in one of his chairs and wished I did. Although many in the city may not recognize the Maloof name, I still think he was the city's most famous resident.






The trials and tribulations of Councilman Rex Gutierrez made the list, if not for the stunning arrest that occured May 27, then for the colorful quotes that came out of the scandal.

Details of Gutierrez's role in the Assessor's Office came out when former Enron prosecutor John Hueston released his report. Gutierrez had this to say: "Mr. Hueston was paid to paint the worst possible light on the Assessor's Office. He's a paid assassin, and he would not be doing his job if he was not printing the most salacious comments he could gather from hourly workers."

After reading the report, Councilman Sam Spagnolo had this to say: "This bucket (Gutierrez) stepped into has splashed on us. Rex always said (Bill) Postmus was his mentor. I hope he will follow his mentor's footsteps and resign."

But Gutierrez was far from resigning. "For (Williams and Spagnolo) to do this is the most sickening, disgusting, un-Christian act anyone can take," Gutierrez said about his colleagues' calls for him to step down. "They have tried me and hanged me in public. I'm totally beside myself." 

Gutierrez found solace, however, when his supporters showed up to a City Council meeting and gave him a standing ovation.

"I just want to thank those of you who have stood by me," he said. "You are the real Christians."


Am I missing something? Was there anything that happened in 2009 that should on this list?

 

Happy Monday. I hope your eggnog hangover is long cured. Did you get what you wanted for Christmas?

Christmas was spent at the Daily Bulletin this year. I was part of a tiny crew of journalists putting out the Saturday paper, the Boxing Day edition.

I spent a couple of hours at the VFW asking people what they wanted for Christmas and whether they got it.

"$1 million," said Floyd Mittelstede. "I didn't even get $1."

"I didn't want anything, 'cause I didn't want to give anything," said Carol McCammon, 73. "What could you want at 73?"

"I just want to know if my son is up there," said June Seidel, pointing to the ceiling. Seidel lost her son to cancer in April. "I think he's up there."

* * *

Working on Christmas is not so bad. The Daily Bulletin got takeout from TGI Friday, a lovely and unexpected gesture. I ordered a pasta dish before realizing that they didn't have everything on the online menu. So I ordered the tilapia, which they didn't have anymore. So I ordered the mahi mahi, which they had just run out of. Finally I settled on the salmon. Bingo! You know it's a fine Christmas if you get something from your top five. I enjoyed my Christmas dinner with two editors huddled over Styrofoam containers. One ate his steak with a plastic fork and knife.

Journalists and TGI Friday employees weren't the only people working on Dec. 25. We join a group of police officers, fire fighters, gas station attendants, nurses, doctors and many others who treat the day as any other. I wish I knew them all. We could've had a pot luck.

Warm Christmas wishes go to Harvey Lesser and his family. Here's to better days ahead.

Lesser's eviction from his Boulder, Colorado home was recently documented by Getty photographer John Moore. See the complete slideshow here.

On Sunday, Lesser came to California to live with his sister, Sue Mandell, in Mira Loma. To find out how you can help, click here for contact information.

                                                                                                                                             

Even Santa couldn't bring what the developers wanted for Christmas this year -- money to finish up these condos.

Another year has passed with no movement on Tuscany Villas, the abandoned condo project on Vineyard and Foothill.

Nearby residents, mainly on Red Hill, fought vigorously against three residential projects on Foothill Boulevard from Vineyard to Grove from 2004 to 2007. All three were approved by the City Council but none have been complete. The Cameo Homes and strawberry patch projects never got off the ground. Tuscany Villas meanwhile has idled in purgatory for nearly two years.

Many residents didn't want the condos to come in but they don't want to see unfinished ones attracting vagrants either. "It seems like the city should do something about it because they approved it," said Red Hill resident Corbet Macy.

But all the city can do is make sure the weeds are cut and hope the market will eventually turn around. Maybe next Christmas?

The Planning Commission meeting is canceled tonight. Having one so close to Christmas would just be mean. The commission got off easy this year. The second meeting of November was canceled because it fell on the day before Thanksgiving. Come back Jan. 13. There should be a meeting then.

Here are some Cucamonga themed pieces of entertainment to wile away time.

Rancho resident Christian Wilkerson shared his Myspace link recently, which features his song "Cucamonga Blues." Wilkerson laments the bucolic days of the city's past. "No more vineyards on Vineyard to see ... This ain't the Cucamonga Jack Benny knew."


Last year, Web production company 60Frames Entertainment made Carpet Brothers, a Web skit featuring David Spade and set in Rancho Cucamonga. The reference comes quick in the video.








 

View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

If you saw someone buy 120 pounds of ham and roast meet this week, you probably bumped into Francella Favela.

Favela and her husband are providing free meals on Christmas Day to veterans, seniors and the homeless at the VFW. When asked why they're doing it, Favela said, "God has been good to us this year."

The meals will be served 2 to 5 p.m. on 8751 Industrial Lane.

Infromation: (909) 980-5220, (909) 957-1417

"I read your story about Thoroughbred," Barbara Fuller told me over the phone. "Bah-humbug."

Fuller lives on the east side of Sapphire, which is on the other side of the Christmas lights but close enough so there's trash up and down her neighborhood. Fuller and many of her neighbors just want those who sell food to visitors on Thoroughbred to use their profits and clean up the neighborhood.

"This really bugs me," Fuller said. "It's like this every year but this year, it's really bad."

People are thoroughly divided on Thoroughbred.

One visitor left this comment on the Daily Bulletin Web site:  "My 3 year old granddaughter would gently hug the tiny snowmen and lighted mechanical reindeer and tell them she loved them, then she would say, "They make me so happy!"

A slightly less happy neighbor, however, had this to say, "They take all of our parking, trample our lawns and I don't remember having a voice or vote in all of this madness. It seems to me that this tradition has grown too large for comfort."

Some have vowed to complain to the City Council on the matter. But by the time the next meeting rolls around, Jan. 6, the lights will already be dark. 

John Valenzuela/
Staff Photographer



I wouldn't blame you if you decided to skip Thoroughbred this year because of the congestion. Those who went over the weekend said it was the busiest ever. Homebodies can take a look at photographer John Valenzuela's photo gallery instead of venturing out.

The sheriff's department increased its presence this year and also installed a temporary stop sign at Thoroughbred and Sapphire, pictured. Last year, a fight broke out at the intersection due to road rage.

Most people drive or walk to see the Christmas lights but on Thursday, one boy took his Segway and another group hired a Hummer limo. If you walk, a good parking spot will be tough this week. I wouldn't recommend wearing high heels, which is what many young women on dates wear. If you drive, parking can be hard to find. Be prepared to be stuck in traffic for a long time getting there and for a long time once on Thoroughbred. Give yourself a good two to three hours.

For more on the famed Alta Loma neighborhood, read the article in Sunday's paper.

Here's a photo of Gator, the black lab, who served as an arson investigator for nine years. The photo was taken in August.

Gator died November 25. According to owner Susan De Antonio, a memorial service is tentatively scheduled on Jan. 9 at Station 174.















Will Lester/Staff Photographer

I have never written an obituary for a dog before but I'll give it a shot. This lab is deserving of one:

Gator, the arson dog who served the city for nine years and was featured most recently in an August Daily Bulletin article, has died. Gator, short for "Investigator," was a Labrador Retriever with a keen nose for arson evidence.

According to Gator's owner, retired fire investigator Susan De Antonio, Gator investigated 100 fires in the Inland Empire and even helped convict an arsonist to seven years in state prison.

Many people in the community know Gator at fire station open houses and other community events. This week, the City Council ended the meeting with a moment of silence in honor of the celebrated canine.

Councilman Dennis Michael, a former fire chief, praised Gator for never complaining.

"He always showed up on time and is the only employee of the city who worked for food," Michael said.

Gator is survived by De Antonio, his girlfriend Mee-Too, fellow arson dog Denali, and his grandpa Klingler. 
 

Chaffey College is offering a free Robotics Camp to middle school, high school and Chaffey students. The program will be on four straight Saturdays -- Feb. 20, 27, March 6, 13 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis. For an application, call (909) 652-6499 or send an e-mail to stem.staff@chaffey.edu.

Congratulations to Connie Perlick, who will be the first to get married at the RC Family Resource Center.

Perlick heads Touch Ministries, a group that offers clothing and food to the homeless at the Arrow Route center. At noon tomorrow, she will be tying the knot with her sweetheart Leonard Dixon in front of many of the region's most needy. The homeless will arrive thinking they'll be recipients of a warm meal but they'll also be witnesses to a wedding.

"They don't even know it," Perlick said. "I'm just going to show up in a wedding dress."

Perlick said it just makes sense to combine her love for Dixon with her love for ministry.

"I always thought if I get married, I want to do it with the community," she said.

The City Hall and fire stations are accepting toys for the Spark of Love drive, which collects new and unwrapped toys for needy children. If you're in the Baseline and Archibald neighborhood, you can drop toys off at the Alta Loma Medical Group & Urgent Care Center, Mayor Don Kurth's medical office. The center, on 9695 Base Line Road, will accept the toys from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 23.  

Free 2010 calendars can be picked up at both of the city's libraries.

The calendar lists a number of events and activities for the next year including storytime registration and details of the Big Read. Book suggestions are also listed every month for adults, teens and children.

Check out the month of April for a pic of Edward James Olmos.

                                                                                                                              Will Lester/Staff Photographer

Despite what lingering construction signs still say, Haven Avenue is fully opened! At 6:40 p.m. tonight, I was able to take the street right up to City Hall.

The arch bridge, decorated with two grape clusters, is painted the color of underbaked pumpkin pie. I took an informal poll this afternoon of ways to describe the color. Orange, dark orange, terra cotta, navajo orange and brick orange were all suggested. Turns out, there's an undisputable name to the color -- burnt Tuscany.

Take Haven when you get a chance. Tell me what you think of the new bridge.  

West Elm, the home furnishing store near Urban Outfitters at Victoria Gardens, will close on Jan. 18. The retailer is currently offering 15 percent discounts and will slash prices further as the weeks go by. The departure will leave just two other locations in Southern California -- Santa Monica and San Diego.

Pam Easter, who is leaving her post as the assistant city manager, will be honored for her service at the start of tonight's City Council meeting, the last of the year.

The city will also decide on an appeal of a Planning Commission decision to subdivide a piece of property on Etiwanda Avenue near Foothill. Two neighbors, Frank An and Bryan Mashian, are at odds over easement issues.

Alternates for two-member subcommittees and ad hoc committees will be selected at the close of the meeting.

The public is invited to attend an open house hosted by three local lawmakers on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. See flier here.

Supervisor Paul Biane will collect items for military care packages. Books, CDs, DVDs and other gifts are welcomed. Sen. Bob Dutton will gather canned and non-perishable foods for the Gap Food Bank. Assemblyman Bill Emmerson will collect new and unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program.

Biane's office is on 8575 Haven Ave., Suite 110. Dutton's office is on 8577 Haven Ave., Suite 210. Emmerson's office is on 10681 Foothill Blvd., Suite 325.

Information: (909) 945-4297 

Jamba Juice will give away free flatbreads tomorrow as part of their "Feel Good" campaign. This time, the offer for the first 250 customers, fall right in the middle of lunch time. Tomo Artichoko, Smokehouse Chicken, Mediterran Yum and Four Cheesy flatbreads are available 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

It's not often that KPCC, the NPR member station from Pasadena, comes to town. Today, the station aired a piece on Thoroughbred, the neighborhood of bright lights that has made Alta Loma famous. Listen to it here.

Veterans of Foreign War, Lodge 8680, will host a Christmas breakfast on Dec. 19 from 8 to 11 a.m. Tickets are $5 at the door but for veterans and public safety officers, it's free. Proceeds will go toward children of fallen soldiers. The event is also hosted by Paul Chabot, a candidate running for the 63rd Assembly seat next year.

The VFW is on 8751 Industrial Lane. 

There's a new 7-Eleven on Fourth Street near Milliken (in the Fatburger, Green Mango plaza). It's open now but on Dec. 19, there will be raffle prizes, free samples and Laker girls to mark the official grand opening. Festivities are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting at noon.

 

Bridge construction on Haven Avenue will be complete on Wednesday. The public can attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. and park on Haven near Jersey. along Seventh Street and Haven Avenue. After the ceremony, crews will conduct final traffic and safety checks before opening the street to traffic. 

A '58 Chevy Bel Air was stolen from the home of a Rancho resident who loves to fix up show cars. The car, stolen earlier today, looks hard to hide. If you've seen it, call the police.

The Ruiz family would be grateful.

A number of businesses and agencies offer drop-off sites for toy donations. One of them is Assemblyman Bill Emmerson's office on 10681 Foothill Blvd. Suite 325. New and unwrapped toys collected will benefit needy children in the 63rd Assembly District. The program is through the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation.

Toys can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 17.

Information: (909) 466-9096

Universal Martial Arts Centers will host a women's self defense seminar Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. The cost is $20 and proceeds will go to City of Hope. Space is limited to 30 participants. The studio is on 9879 Foothill Blvd, Suite E.

Information: (909) 989-1400

Planning Commissioner Pam Stewart, who has served the city for 11 years, is retiring. She will be recognized at the start of tonight's 7 p.m. meeting. For more on Stewart, read the article in today's paper.

Staff will give an update of the library's digital storytelling project.  The city received a $10,000 grant, which was matched by the Library Foundation, to collect digital stories on local history. The project is expected to be complete in May.

The commission will also decide on whether to amend the Victoria Community Plan and allow Massage Envy to open at the Henry's center.

Seen on Vineyard Avenue today: A white van marked "Sheriff's Plumbing" alongside a large, recognizable star. Underneath the star read, "Law enforcement for your bathroom." 

The Daily Bulletin gets around.

City Manager Jack Lam started it all after bringing the paper with him to Antarctica. Then Cucamonga School District board member David Ortega took the Bulletin with him to Croatia. That picture was published in the Sunday paper.

Now Mayor Don Kurth has joined the fun, taking a picture in front of Harvard Square. Kurth was recently in Boston to give a speech on healthcare policy.

Who's next? Perhaps Councilman Rex Gutierrez can take a picture with the Daily Bulletin in Delano?  

This weekend brings four performances of "A Christmas Carol" by Rancho Cucamonga Community Theatre. The troupe brings the Charles Dickens classic to the Lewis Family Playhouse stage every other year.
Shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $16.50; $14.50 for seniors and youth.
Box office: (909) 477-2752
Photo courtesy of Christina Gorka 

You probably woke up this morning to the sound of drip, drip, drip. Lovely sounds of a rainy day or Chinese water torture?

Recently I've heard two people use the term to describe something incessant and annoying. When I had a case of chicken pox, my editor described it as Chinese water torture. On that same day, a resident said a weekend party in her Alta Loma neighborhood was so loud, trying to sleep in that racket was a form of Chinese water torture.

I can't say I've never heard the term but if I have, it's been awhile. What is Chinese water torture? How does it compare to water boarding? And if you are of Chinese descent, like I am, can you be a victim of Chinese water torture? Or is it just torture?

Starting Monday, oatmeal at Jamba Juice, will be $1 if you download this coupon. The offer is good through Friday. The bowl of steel cut oatmeal is normally $2.95. Jamba Juice at Victoria Gardens is near Starbucks.

 

New Orleans' Preservation Hall Jazz Band is bringing its Creole Christmas tour on the road, making stops at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Lewis Family Playhouse. The show in Rancho is 3 p.m. Dec. 20. Limited seats are available for $28.50; $26.50 for seniors and $23.50 for youth.

Box office: (909) 477-2752


Photo courtesy
of Shannon Brinkman

Santa Claus will make an appearance at the pancake breakfast tomorrow at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at the Central Park community center. There will be crafts, games, story time and carolers. Cost is $12. 

Watching democracy in action can be exciting but the excitement quickly wears off.

At 8:13 p.m., consultants from NBS, a Temecula-based firm hired by the city, pictured, began counting ballots which would determine if higher fees are in store for landscape maintenance districts 4, 6 and 8.

It was exciting at first because more than 1,000 envelopes were being opened, sorted and scanned.

"It's the complete voting process happening right before you," said City Attorney Jim Markman.

But after the city took care of council business and still 90 minutes away from hearing the results of the election, the excitement wore off. Councilman Rex Gutierrez couldn't take it any more and left early. He had to wake up at 4 a.m. for his Delano commute.

In the back, several gadflies stayed and began a conversation over which story was sexier -- Tiger Woods or White House crashers. I felt like a school girl during the last day of school when there's no school work but yet you can't go home.

At 10:40, the ballots were counted. Higher taxes for Terra Vista. More weeds for Caryn and South Etiwanda.  

Terra Vista property owners backed a raise in landscape maintenance district fees but two other neighbors did not.

Property owners of the Caryn and South Etiwanda communities, otherwise known as landscape maintenance districts 6 and 8 will not see their rates increase following an election in which ballots were counted yesterday evening.

In the Terra Vista community, or landscape maintenance district 4, of the 3,670 ballots mailed out, 882 returned valid ballots. The rate increase passed with just 194 property owners supporting it because each ballot is weighted differently. A ballot is weighted based on how many pieces of properties an owner owns and what kind of property it is.

Of the 1,279 ballots mailed to landscape maintenance district 6, 380 property owners returned valid ballots. The rate increase was denied with 118 property owners voting for the increase. In landscape maintenance district 8, 196 ballots were mailed out and 50 property owners returned valid ballots. The rate increase was denied with just 9 property owners supporting it. 

Ron Kellum, director of the March production of "Rent" at the Lewis Family Playhouse, will lead a musical theater workshop on Saturday, Dec. 12, ahead of the open call auditions scheduled Dec. 14. The workshop is 9 to 11 a.m. and costs $35. Kellum will also offer 10-minute private coaching sessions for an additional $10. Call the Cultural Center at (909) 477-2775 for more information.

Auditions for "Rent" are 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Cultural Center. Actors interested should come with a photo and resume and be prepared to sing 16 bars of a song from the musical and 16 bars of a pop rock song.    

"Happy birthday!" said Gwyn Frost, our city's first first lady, at tonight's meeting.

Was she talking about Councilman Rex Gutierrez, who turned 50, on Sunday? Or was she talking about me and Billy Idol, who turned 33 and 54 on Monday?

Nope. She was talking about the City Council meeting. The city's first City Council meeting, held at the Alta Loma High School auditorium, was on Dec. 2, 1977. At that meeting, Gwyn's husband, Jim Frost, was named mayor.

We should have a cake. 

Life Stream, San Bernardino and Riverside counties' blood bank, will host a drive tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at City Hall. Donors will receive points that can be redeemed for items on Life Stream's online store.  

The bulk of tonight's meeting will be dedicated to the issue of landscape maintenance districts and whether fees will be increased next year.

Residents of districts 4, 6 and 8 have had the last 45 days to decide whether fees should be raised in order to keep the public right-of-way well maintained. Procrastinators who have not yet returned their ballots can do so tonight at the 7 p.m. meeting. The ballots will be counted tonight and by the end of the meeting, it will be determined whether fees will be raised.

At the start of the meeting, the City Council will thank Planning Commissioner Pam Stewart for her 11 years of service. Stewart is retiring and moving to Washington state.

Brace Yourself Boutique, a jewelry retailer based in Rancho, will host a Sip N' Shop Girls Night Out event Friday at the Courtyard Marriot on 11525 Mission Vista Dr. The event, from 6 to 10 p.m., showcases items from local women who are independent business owners and designers. There will be a live DJ, food, beauty treatments and giveaways.

Money raised will go toward Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Tickets are $12 online and $20 at the door.

Information: (909) 471-3116