January 2010 Archives

There are a number of opportunities to donate blood next month. The blood drives are hosted by LifeStream.

San Joaquin Valley College on 10641 Church St.
8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4

Sacred Heart Catholic Church on 12704 Foothill Blvd.
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7

Mountainview Faith Community Church on 7986 Haven Ave.
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 21

Church of Jesus Christ of LDS on 6829 Etiwanda Ave.
3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25

Unlike comedians, politicians don't have to be good at telling jokes. But that doesn't stop them from trying.

Minutes before Mayor Don Kurth gave his State of the City address yesterday, Russ Warner, a perennial candidate for Congress told me his chiropractor is Councilman Dennis Michael's wife, Regina Holt-Michael. Warner was recently in her office where he had his leg worked on.

"I said to Dennis, 'Your wife was pulling my leg the other day,' " Warner said.

I hope the councilman laughed because I didn't.

Later, Kurth took a stab with a Pacific Electric Trail joke.

"The Pacific Electric Trail project goes hand in hand -- or should I say foot in foot, pedal to pedal, or hoof to hoof? -- with another long awaited public infrastructure project: the improvement of Foothill Boulevard between Grove and Vineyard avenues," Kurth said.

Nope. "Hand in hand" is good.

If you did not catch Mayor Don Kurth's State of the City address today (or if you didn't want to foot $35 for the luncheon), you can read his speech here. The event was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce; board chairwoman Renee Futter introduced the mayor.




Will Lester/Staff Photographer


Thank you Renee, and let me also thank the chamber board, staff and the wonderful people of Etiwanda Gardens for hosting us here today.

Before I begin, I would like to recognize and thank my colleagues for working closely with me this year. They are Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Michael, Council members Rex Gutierrez, Sam Spagnolo and Diane Williams.

Finally, if you have ever been to an event with me before, you know I cannot get up and speak without acknowledging my wonderful wife Dee for all her love and support. Thank you.

My council colleagues, fellow community leaders, business people working here in Rancho Cucamonga and, most importantly, to my fellow residents of our great city, welcome, and thank you so much for being here today to join me at this, my fourth State of the City address. I am honored by your presence.

Last year I stood before you and outlined many of our accomplishments and told you about some exciting projects for 2009. I did this in the context of a slowing national economy and a state with serious budget challenges. Today, while we've seen glimmers of hope we sill face unprecedented challenges. Some economists have forecasted 2010 to be the worst year of the recession. Many banks are still struggling with their share of bad loans, and according to RealtyTrac, foreclosure filings were reported to be more than 2.8 million properties in 2009 across the country. These are no ordinary times in the city of Rancho Cucamonga, or any place for that matter.

There are two opportunities for high school students and parents to learn about financial aid tomorrow night.

The Lions Club is hosting a free scholarship night at Lions Center West on 9161 Base Line Road from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. High school seniors and their parents can learn about scholarships offered by local service and community groups.

Alta Loma High students and their parents can get their questions about Cal grants and FAFSAs answered at a 6:30 p.m. workshop in the school's auditorium.   

Mayor Don Kurth will give his State of the City speech at Etiwanda Gardens today at 11:30 a.m., a sort of opening act for this evening's State of the Union by President Barack Obama. Applause, references to the floundering economy and a sprinkling of optimism are all expected. Stay tuned.

Here is the conceptual plan for a 3.5-acre park slated for Madrone Avenue if the city receives a state park grant. The initial design incorporates the best and most popular ideas of nearby residents.

According to park designer Bob Mueting, the top five features the community requested based on surveys were: playground, picnic areas, restrooms, basketball court and barbecue areas. Mueting managed to squeeze in some other features, too: spray play, trail, exercise and skating areas.

It was a tough task. Each resident who participated in workshops and meetings concerning the possible park had their own ideas of a perfect play space. One student wanted a roller coaster. Another student wanted three playgrounds. One resident drafted a plan that Mueting called "the man plan," which featured three barbecue areas and a baseball diamond.

Read more about the park proposal here.

The Thomas Winery Plaza makeover that has been under way for about a year is part of a plan for Fresh & Easy to anchor the shopping center. At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the neighborhood grocer on Foothill and Vineyard will host a grand opening and donate $1,000 to Citrus Little League. It's the second Fresh & Easy to arrive in this city. The first one opened last September at Foothill and Day Creek.

How the floor at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario transforms from basketball friendly to hockey friendly will be shown on the first episode of this season's "Curiosity Quest." The season premiere will be on 6:30 p.m. Feb. 2 on channel 24.

Joel Greene, a Rancho Cucamonga resident, has hosted the PBS show since 2001, answering questions from curious children. Upcoming episodes will include snow making in Big Bear, cake designing in Corona and pizza making in Montclair.   

Last night was Park and Recreation night -- both on NBC and at Los Amigos Elementary where the commission held its meeting. I observed the former.

Is it me or is the real park and rec director Kevin McArdle, far right, starting to resemble actor Nick Offerman, who plays a park and rec director on the NBC show? When the show premiered last year, I didn't think there was much resemblance. But as the show progressed, McArdle seems to look more and more like the actor after every City Council meeting. Maybe it the mustache.

At an afternoon special meeting yesterday, McArdle told the City Council there were three events that were "on the fence." Budget constraints are preventing the department from hosting the July 4 fireworks extravaganza at the Epicenter, the volunteers appreciation dinner and the Founder's Day Parade. Some would have to go. The city ended up saving the parade and scrapping the other two.

Four hours later on television, Amy Poehler's character tells a group of people who teach rec classes that some classes will be cut due to budget cuts. She said she'll cut the class based on attendance and student evaluation. So make sure your students are happy, she said. One teacher replied, "But I teach a class called 'How to deal with terminal illness.' "

McArdle, who watches "Park and Rec" occasionally, said the show is often so silly that art rarely imitates life. But he pointed out an exception. In one episode, Poehler's character leads a meeting with just one resident in the audience. In real life, that one person was probably me.    

A 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. meeting at the Cultural Center puts me at the Victoria Gardens all day today. Had lunch at the food court and was surprised to see the changes.

Beard Papa, the cream puff joint, is no longer there. There's a carousel smack in the middle for the children. Nathan's the hot dog stand has left and replaced by something less healthy, believe it or not. Sweet's, a funnel cake operation, does not serve hot dogs but offers jalapeno poppers, garlic fries and popcorn chicken. For dessert, there are fried snickers, fried twinkies, fried oreos and fried cheese cake.

Francisco Oaxaca, pictured, was appointed to the planning commission yesterday in a quick, simple and transparent process that seemed to have worked for the City Council throughout the years.

When there's a vacancy on the commission, residents 18 years or older can apply. A subcommittee consisting of council members Sam Spagnolo and Diane Williams sifted through 11 applications and whittled it down to five.

The five candidates -- Sharon Baer, Michael Dowd, Tim Johnson, Ed Dietl and Oaxaca -- spent 15 minutes answering four questions yesterday. After the interviews, the council took turns speaking about their top picks. The selected commissioner must receive a majority vote from the council and the majority must include Mayor Don Kurth's vote.

For Williams, Michael and Spagnolo, Oaxaca was their first pick. Gutierrez liked Dietl and the historic perspective he would give. Dietl is the founder of the Historic Preservation Association.

There was also some discussion about Johnson, who works for Supervisor Paul Biane as a district director. Johnson played a key role in crafting the city-county agreement related to the 1,200-acres project.

Last May, the city and county solicited requests for qualification to develop 1,200 acres north of Los Osos High School. The project was eventually shelved after the Board of Supervisors filed a civil lawsuit against Gutierrez for his alleged role in the Assessor's Office scandal.

Yesterday, Williams said she was concerned about appointing Johnson because of an "appearance of a possible conflict of interest."

"I just don't think we need that," she said.

In the end, the entire council voted to appoint Oaxaca. The entire process was under two hours.

  

Francisco Oaxaca was named the newest planning commissioner yesterday, becoming yet another person in planning with an awesome name. Howdyshell, Ravenel and van der Zwaag to name a few. Oaxaca, to my understanding, is pronounced wa-ha-ka, as in the southern state in Mexico.

You'd be right to guess that Oaxaca is Latino. Although if you didn't know, Councilman Rex Gutierrez provided a reminder yesterday. Gutierrez, a proud Trojan, said he was more than happy to throw his support behind Oaxaca, especially since Oaxaca is a graduate of the University of Successful Chicanos.

I had never heard of that USC acronym before. In college, I had always called it the University of Spoiled Children. Of course, in woodsy Santa Cruz, perhaps I was a little jealous of money and success. I went to Uncle Charlie's Summer Camp. 

 

Aahsome Salon, on 8063 Archibald at Foothill, will host "Haircuts for Haiti" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Donate whatever you would like for a haircut and 100 percent of proceeds will go toward earthquake relief. Five stylists will be there snipping away. No appointments.

Information: (909) 987-6858

Speaking of haircuts for Haiti ...

Pastor Robert Babcock of Archibald Ranch Community Church is looking to raise $1,000 for relief efforts. To encourage donations, he's shaving his head, also on Sunday. If the $1,500 mark is reached, the entire staff will shave their heads. It's kinda like the bowl cut commercials for Jack-in-the-Box but for real and for a cause. The church is also encouraging other pastors in the Inland Empire to do the same. Sounds like a challenge.

Information: (909) 947-1060

If you need sand bags, head over to the Amethyst or Banyan fire stations. Both stations have bags and sand available. Fire Chief Mike Bell encouraged residents to bring a shovel and a friend. Each bag weighs about 20 pounds.

The two fire stations are on 6627 Amethyst and 11108 Banyan.

After more than an hour of interviews, the City Council appointed a park and recreation commissioner to serve on the Planning and Historic Preservation Commission today.

Francisco Oaxaca, 51, was selected to fill the vacancy left by longtime commissioner Pam Stewart, who retired in December. Oaxaca will be sworn in on Feb. 3 and begin his four-year term Feb. 10.

Oaxaca was appointed by the City Council to serve on the Park and Recreation Commission in July 2006, filling the vacancy left by Luis Munoz when Munoz was picked to be a planning commissioner. Oaxaca is also a manager for Metrolink in the media and external communications department. Council members said Oaxaca's experience in transportation would be a huge asset for the city.

The rain is just starting to come down hard and parts of Hellman are flooded. Between Foothill and Fourth, portions of the street are closed.

The City Council directed staff members last night to explore ways to build a veterans memorial in the city. The suggestion by Councilman Dennis Michael to work with private groups including the Veterans of Foreign Wars for a public/private partnership was supported by the rest of the council. The decision was made at a special meeting meant to discuss budget issues.

There are currently three sites honoring military veterans in the city -- at the Amethyst Fire Station, Alta Loma High School and Northtown Community Center. There are plans to build a larger memorial in Central Park but lack of funding has stalled efforts to further develop the park.

Resident and war veteran Bill Hanlon has been vocal about the need for a veterans memorial built by the city. In the Opinion page of yesterday's paper, Hanlon reiterated his wish for a memorial.

The agenda is light for the City Council meeting tonight. The city is expected to give final approval to a community plan amendment that would allow Massage Envy into the Henry's shopping center on Day Creek and Base Line.

Tomorrow, facilitator Bill Mathis will lead a consensus building workshop and discuss 2010 goals with the City Council. The day-long special meeting starts 8 a.m. at the Cultural Center.

City Manager Jack Lam will present a mid-year budget review to the City Council 6 p.m. today in the Tri-Communities Room at City Hall.

Tomorrow, the city will make a decision on Planning Commissioner Pam Stewart's replacement. The City Council will pick from a field of five: Sharon Baer, Ed Dietl, Michael Dowd, Tim Johnson and Francisco Oaxaca. Council members are expected to interview the candidates at 3:30 p.m. and make a decision around 5 p.m. in the Tri-Communities Room.

... there was the Times.

Don't miss history columnist Joe Blackstock's piece in today's paper about Cucamonga Times. The local paper started publishing 100 years ago.

Perfection Fitness, on 9125 Archibald Ave. Suite B, is accepting new or slightly used shoes for the organization Soles for Souls. Shoes collected through Jan. 30 will be delivered to survivors of the earthquake in Haiti. The shoes can be dropped off between 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

E-mail perfectionfitnessrc@verizon.net for more information.

If you're working today, keep in mind it's a holiday for most governmental agencies including City Hall. Have a great holiday and stay dry this week.

While working in the San Bernardino County Assessor's Office, Councilman Rex Gutierrez was seldom at work and when he was, he mainly conducted business for his city, a district attorney investigator said during Gutierrez's preliminary hearing this morning in San Bernardino Superior Court.

Read more of Joe Nelson's coverage of the hearing here.

Gutierrez, right, is seen with his lawyer, James Reiss in San Bernardino Superior Court earlier this morning.


Gabriel Acosta/
Staff Photographer

"Isn't it time your life got a little racy?" asks a flier from the Rancho Cucamonga Community Lions Club.

Pretty suggestive for the Lions Club, don't you think?

This is a tag line to an event hosted by the Lions Club at Santa Anita Park. The service club will attend the races on Jan. 30; gates open at 10:30 a.m. with the first race at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $55 and includes valet parking and buffet lunch.

To RSVP, e-mail Terese Ganser or call her in the evenings at 909-980-3414.

Spotted at the former Circuit City on Day Creek and Foothill: a sign that reads "Best Buy coming soon."

There goes my secret wish of having an art house theater or an independent music store there.

It turns out, the Best Buy just a mile west is moving to the Circuit City location. The current store will close on Jan. 24. The new store will open Jan. 29.

I happened to drive by the old Circuit City because I wanted to check out West Elm, the home furnishing store originally scheduled to close tomorrow. I thought maybe I could get an ottoman for 90 percent off or something but the store was completely empty. Maybe the next time I come back it'll be an art house theater.

Saint Peter Saint Paul church is hosting a family fun night at Barnes & Noble on 11090 Foothill Blvd. today. The "fun night" actually starts during the day, 3 to 7 p.m. Storytime starts 4 p.m. If you happen to make a purchase during that time, mention the church when you check out and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Saint Peter Saint Paul school. 

The planning department is keeping a close eye on El Loco Cantina and Omaha Jacks, two bars/restaurants in the Masi Plaza. A review of the businesses' entertainment and conditional use permits was originally scheduled for tonight's meeting but it has been postponed until Feb. 10. Planning Director James Troyer said the city is "very concerned" that the businesses may be in violation of their permits.

Next week, the city is expected to interview five or six candidates for the Planning Commission. The City Council will likely make a decision to fill Pam Stewart's seat next Wednesday.  

  

Jamba Juice's occasional offer of $1 oatmeal will return every Wednesday through Feb. 3. The steel-cut oats come in flavors of fresh banana, blueberry/blackberry, cinnamon apple and berry cherry pecan. The same bowl of oats typically go for $2.95. 

In December, I wrote about a Rancho rescue group that was looking for a home for Webster and Willa. Both dogs were missing their front legs. They were also missing a loving home.

This week, Tracie Jorgensen of Mutts N' Stuff, will fly the dogs out to Shelburne Falls, Mass., where a family will be more than happy to adopt them. It turns out, the family owns Eddie's Wheels, a company that makes carts for disabled dogs.

Have fun on the East Coast, Webster and Willa!










Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/
Staff Photographer

Before Mayor Don Kurth ended the public hearing last night on whether to allow Massage Envy into the city, he asked, "Any other questions? Any other confessions?"

Kurth was referring to Councilman Rex Gutierrez, who said just minutes prior that Massage Envy is a classy operation, unlike the others that have offered him "suggestive propositions."

Cue the raising of eyebrows.

What Gutierrez meant was that when he solicited advertisement for his publication years ago, he unknowingly entered a not so reputable massage parlor. I asked him for details.

Gutierrez went into a massage parlor on the northwest corner of Foothill and Haven to ask if the owner wanted to advertise with him. The establishment looked like a nondescript medical office with a bell that the councilman could ring at the counter. According to Gutierrez's records, the owner was listed as an Asian woman so he asked for her.

The receptionist thought Gutierrez was a customer. "Oh, you want a Chinese girl?" she asked.

In the end, Gutierrez did not patronize the establishment and the establishment did not advertise with him.

The City Council said yes to bringing back a stop sign to Amethyst and Hillside tonight.

"I think it'll improve the situation," said Mayor Don Kurth. "I believe by putting a stop sign there, it will make the corner a safer place than it was in the past."

Fourteen people spoke in favor of the stop sign. Supervisor Paul Biane, a resident north of the intersection, was the only speaker who did not favor a stop sign.

 

Council regular Bill Hanlon was the only one skeptical of bringing Massage Envy, a therapeutic massage business, to the Henry's shopping center on Day Creek and Base Line.

Hanlon reminded the City Council that massage parlors can be synonymous with whorehouses.

"I've been to about 30 countries and Upland," Hanlon said. "Don't let our city go the same route as Upland. I don't want our city be known for massage parlors."

But the city approved the business, and Councilman Rex Gutierrez praised Massage Envy, which has a location at Colonies Crossroads, for being "reputable" and "first class."

Gutierrez said when he used to sell ads for his publication, he visited not so reputable massage establishments.

"I've had very suggestive propositions just for selling advertisements," Gutierrez said.

According to the Massage Envy owner, 60 percent of his customers in the Upland location are Rancho Cucamonga residents.

John Lyons, another council regular, is probably one such customer.

"I say approve it," Lyons said. "I was hoping we'd get some discount coupons tonight."

The public's willingness to speak to reporters on the record really varies.

This morning, for instance, a man at the senior center offered all kinds of funny, outrageous comments. "I just want to be quoted in the newspaper," he told me.

Others are so press shy, all I see are the backs of their heads as they yell, "No comment!"

This week, I interviewed one resident over the phone and heard his wife in the background saying, "I don't want to be quoted," as if I could extract her quotes through her husband.

About once a month at a social gathering, somebody would say, "You better watch what you say. There's a reporter here." This is usually followed by nervous laughter and a really boring conversation. I wonder if people really think I would quote them talking about their weekend plans or opinions of the new Sherlock Holmes movie.

Generally, people are comfortable speaking on a non-controversial topic. One person prior to an interview this week felt comfortable enough to poke fun of the paper I work for. "So, how long have you been writing for the Daily Repeat? Ha, ha, ha," he said. The 'Daily Repeat,' as you may know, is the play on words on the Daily Report, the Bulletin's former moniker.

I much prefer newspaper jokes over people running away from me. I don't bite, even if you make fun of the Daily Bulletin.

Tonight's City Council meeting could go rather long if there are many speakers addressing the stop sign issue on Hillside and Amethyst. The council is expected to decide whether a stop sign is warranted at that intersection.

The city will also vote on whether to allow Massage Envy, a massage and spa establishment, to open in the Henry's shopping center on Day Creek and Foothill.

The city is crossing its fingers, hoping it'll win a grant to build a new park in the southwest portion of the city. Lately, officials have been asking everybody, and I mean everybody, what kind of park they want.

In November, Los Amigos students were asked to weigh in by drawing a picture of their ideal park.

Isabelle, 9, wants a set of swings and something else that's unclear. A slide? A waterfall? A polka dot refrigerator? Not sure. But check out the quotation marks to show motion. Nice touch.



Sarah, 10, probably a sporty type, wants space to play volleyball, basketball and soccer. Oh, she also wants a bik path.









Jacqueline, 9, wants monkey bars, slide and a basketball court. She's pretty brave because she doesn't look scared even though a giant butterfly is flying overhead.








If you want to find out more about plans to build a park north of Cask 'N Cleaver, you can go to a meeting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 21 at Los Amigos Elementary where city officials will unveil some preliminary designs based on community input.

Information: 909-477-2840 ext. 4040 

History buffs might be interested in "Life on the Rancho," a tour through the John Rains House led by curator of history Michele Nielsen. The tour is 1 p.m. on Jan. 22 and is free to the public.

Participants will go back in time to the 1860s and learn about the Rains family and how Cucamonga came to be home of the state's oldest commercial winery. The Rains House is on 8810 Hemlock Street.

Information: (909) 307-2669