January 2011 Archives

Candelas, the fine dining establishment featuring Mexican-inspired cuisine, got the green light from the Planning Commission on Wednesday to include a DJ in its bar area.

Alberto Mestre, the chief executive officer of the restaurant, which has a location in fancy Coronado, told the commission he wants to provide a "lounge atmosphere." He said the DJ will play down-tempo music, tunes that won't lead to dancing.

The commission was fine with this. Victoria Gardens is meant for businesses that provide entertainment, said commission Chairman Lou Muñoz.

"This is not by a long shot the most intense use of entertainment in that area," Muñoz told Mestre. "This is an area where we would want this kind of use. Good luck to you."

Lamar Advertising, the billboard company that owns the old gas station property on Archibald Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, wants to demolish the back building. During the heavy rains over Christmas, the building once used as a service station caved in.

Last night, the Planning Commission said a landmark alteration permit must be submitted and approved before any demolition or debris removal can take place.

"I think it sends the message we do not want this building to be demolished," said Commissioner Frances Howdyshell.

Two years ago, the city gave this 110-year old garage, historic landmark status. Demolishing the building with such a designation now could be a misdemeanor, said Steven Flower, an attorney for the Planning Commission.

Ed Dietl, who started the Historical Preservation Association because he wanted to save this gas station, reminded the commission that the front building is just as old and just as capable of falling apart.

"Please consider the little bit of history left in this city," he said.

Dietl showed photos of the ruined building with old gas pumps inside. He said they were there shortly after the storm but the pumps have since been removed.

Planning Director James Troyer said he has asked Lamar permission to do an inventory and remove any artifacts inside the building. Lamar has refused.

The folks raising funds for Freedom Courtyard will hold a Canteen Dinner Dance on February 11, the Friday before Valentine's Day. The 6 to 10:30 p.m. event will raise money for the Central Park project to honor veterans and members of the armed forces.

Tickets are $50 and includes dinner and live entertainment. A no host wine and beer bar will be available. You can buy tickets online or at Central Park. The dance will take place at Rancho Cucamonga Hall.

Freedom Courtyard, pictured above, is a planned project situated between the senior and community centers. Fund-raising efforts kicked off this year with a number of restaurant donations. Organizers hope to raise $100,000 for courtyard construction.

Planning Department staff members will give the commission an update on the Cucamonga Service Station on Archibald and Foothill at tonight's meeting. A building behind the old gas station recently fell after heavy rains during the holidays.

The Planning Commission will also discuss a request from Candelas to modify their permits and allow a DJ to create a "lounge atmosphere." Finally, the commission will discuss parking requirements for multi-family housing complexes.

I never knew you because you were set so far back ...

Today's business page features an article about J.C. Penney closing its furniture outlet on Haven Avenue. The retailer will close July 1.

Did you see the article last week from Jim Steinberg about the American Lung Association grading?

We got a D, woo hoo!

I'm guessing we would have failed without the new policies spearheaded by former Mayor Don Kurth. During his tenure, the City Council passed several ordinances prohibiting smoking in outdoor areas such as parks, City Hall, ATM lines and bus stops. The city is also planning an incentive program for restaurants and apartments that chose to enforce anti-smoking policies beyond state mandate.

Loma Linda, which prohibits smoking on streets and sidewalks, was the only city in San Bernardino County that got a B. Los Angeles got a C and our neighbors Fontana, Upland and Ontario all got F's.

Are you satisfied with county government?

San Bernardino County supervisors are leading a series of town hall-styled meetings this month to hear what you have to say on that question. According to a letter written to county residents by supervisors Gary Ovitt and Brad Mitzelfelt, "None of us can really know for sure how to serve and what to do if we don't know where our county wants to go."

Supervisor Janice Rutherford, who represents this city, will lead a workshop at Central Park to hear Second District residents' ideas on how their tax dollars should be used. The event is 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Can't attend? Take the online survey.

Information: 909-387-4671

The City Council gave final approval last night to new hours for the city's only dog park -- Etiwanda Creek Park. The dawn to dusk hours will be extended to the following:

Chamber of Commerce chairman Brian Weide introduced Mayor Dennis Michael today at the State of the City address. Here is the mayor's speech:

Thank you Brian, let me also extend a heart felt appreciation to the chamber board and staff for hosting this luncheon. Your dedication to our city and its economic well-being is vital to our success.

I also want to take this time to acknowledge my colleagues; they are Mayor Pro Tem Sam Spagnolo, Council Members William Alexander, Chuck Buquet, and Diane Williams. Together, we form a very experienced City council with diverse backgrounds that I believe makes us a strong leadership team. We are honored to serve you the business community and residents of Rancho Cucamonga.

And finally, but certainly not the least, my family ...

As you heard from my introduction I served 19 years as the fire chief for Rancho Cucamonga. During that time, and throughout my 28-year career of public service, I was privileged to serve this great City. For the past six years I've had the privilege of serving this community as a Council Member and now I have the distinct honor of continuing my service to the community as your Mayor. I expect the future will be both exciting and challenging and along with my council colleagues I look forward to tackling the issues and creating positive solutions that will improve the community's future. I am very honored and blessed to serve Rancho Cucamonga.

Here are some numbers from today's State of the City speech by Mayor Dennis Michael:

19 -- number of years Michael served as fire chief
56 -- the city's ranking on CQ Press list of 400 safest cities with over 75,000 population in the nation
3 -- percentage drop in city's crime rate from 2008 to 2009
3,000 -- number of people who attended the October job fair co-hosted by the city
9.2 -- percent of city residents unemployed
44,000 -- square footage of 99 Ranch Market, which opened last year
1 -- number of electric vehicles (Nissan Leaf) the city will purchase this year
10 -- number of new bike lockers recently installed at the Metrolink Station
1.22 million -- number of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs checked out at the two libraries last year
200,000 -- number of library cards issued
260,000 -- number of people who visited the senior center last year
3.9 million -- grant money received to build a new park in southwest Cucamonga

The State of the City, Mayor Dennis Michael's first, will be at the Etiwanda Gardens today at 11:30 a.m. Read the complete speech in this space later today and the highlights in tomorrow's paper.

Later at the regular City Council meeting, the first of the year, the council members are expected to vote on a 192-unit condominium project proposed by Lewis Apartment Communities. The planned development is located on 11 acres and bounded by Church Street, Spruce Avenue, Town Center Drive and Elm Avenue.

The Cucamonga Service Station, built in 1914, was a bustling business during Route 66's heyday. The front building is still standing but the back building, once used as a garage, fell victim to inclement weather.



                                                   Photo illustration courtesy of Ed Dietl


Some readers have called to share their thoughts about the article published Sunday on the abandoned service garage that caved in during the post-Christmas rains. They were mostly history buffs who want the city to buy the property.

It seems the old service station on Archibald and Foothill is in purgatory. Lamar Advertising wants to demolish it. History buffs want to save it. (There's still two walls standing.) And the city wants to buy it.

Do you think the city should buy the property? What should be done with it?

The Sam and Alfreda Maloof compound is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The grand property atop Carnelian Street is one of this city's gems. On June 4, the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts, which owns and oversees the property, will host a gala in celebration of the national distinction.

Maloof, who died in 2009, poured his life and talents into this home. The internationally renowned woodworker built the compound over the course of 60 years. In 2001, to make way for the 210 Freeway, the freeway-adjacent home was moved north to its current location on 5131 Carnelian St.

Dr. Anthea Hartig, director of the Western Region of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, called the relocation "one of the most successful historic transportation-related preservation projects in the nation, and by far the most collaborative and meaningful."

Tours of the historic home are offered on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the year. Visit the website for more information.

Information: 909-980-0412

The American Cancer Society will host a Relay For Life kickoff event at the Old Spaghetti Factory at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Soft drinks and bread sticks will be served.

Relay For Life, the annual walk to raise funds for cancer research and build community among those touched by cancer, will be at The Epicenter on April 30. Volunteers interested in planning and organizing the 24-hour event are encouraged to attend the kickoff event. 

The restaurant is on 11896 Foothill Blvd.

Information: 909-972-5640 or e-mail event chair Lamarr Daniels

When it comes to building a children's museum for the now vacant second floor of the Biane Library, Robert Karatsu, the library director, has his fingers crossed on grant money.

"I don't think Rutherford is going to funnel funds to the Biane Library anytime soon," Karatsu said.

That comment lightened the mood of an eight-hour meeting yesterday. It was the best line of the day.

Former Supervisor Paul Biane was a strong supporter of local libraries in his district and because of that, the city named the Victoria Gardens facility after him. Now that there's a district attorney probe that considers the former supervisor and councilman an "unnamed co-conspirator," I'm guessing the city is second-guessing the move to name the library after someone who's still alive, and at the time, still in office.

But Councilwoman Diane Williams had a different suggestion. The second floor could be named after the new supervisor -- the Janice Rutherford Museum. Sorta has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?   

CNN recently conducted a survey and found out 20 percent of Americans polled trusted the federal government; just 13 percent for Sacramento.

At yesterday's special City Council meeting, council members speculated on how they're viewed by the community. Three council members thought their approval rating is near 60 percent, lower than it was before the Bell scandal.

Newly-elected Councilman Bill Alexander thinks just half of residents trust the City Council. Alexander said there's more distrust with recent scandals in this and neighboring cities.

"A good example is what went on with this city with Rex," Alexander said. "Any time you have the FBI and IRS confiscating elected officials' information, there's going to be a natural drop in the trust level. And the county for the last 25 years has been scrutinized."

CNN's poll did not include Rancho Cucamonga so what do you think? What's the public's trust level in local government?

In the midst of agendas and packets of power point presentations at today's meeting, there is Assistant City Manager John Gillison, who's finger punching his new, shiny iPad.

Newly-electedappointed Councilman Chuck Buquet joked, "How come he has a toy to play with but I don't?"

More and more public agencies are considering the paperless route -- doing away with reams of paper and replacing them with sleek tablets and e-readers. This city recently purchased two iPads and Gillison is testing them out. It's possible that the five council members could eventually get their own.

If that ever happens, I'm guessing they would all need an extensive tech lesson. Mayor Dennis Michael joked that he needs someone to help him make the text of his smart phone bigger so he can read it. Councilwoman Diane Williams, whose phone went off in the middle of the meeting, said her cell phone is a few days old and she doesn't know how to set it to vibrate or even change the default ring tone.

It's likely that the council will still have hard copies to fall back on should they ever get a new toy to play with. Gillison said while the iPad is useful, it's not ideal when it comes to flipping through a document that's several hundred pages thick.   

Who are those guys outside the meeting?

A couple of sheriff's deputies, one not in uniform, are hanging outside the special meeting at Celebration Hall today. It's hardly a crowded meeting, with 11 city leaders and three people in the audience.

The presence of law enforcement points to the changes following Saturday's tragic shooting in Tucson. Today, security officials briefed members of Congress on ways to protect themselves. Here at the Victoria Gardens meeting, Bill Mathis, today's facilitator, told the council, "There's such an activity called copy cat."

Mathis, a consultant who works with cities often on consensus-building, said he's been in the same room with five other shooting incidents involving public officials.

"It's not been pleasant," Mathis said.

Being in the presence of five shootings in one lifetime is a scary prospect. It raised a few eyebrows among the council members.

"Do you have a group that follows you?" asked Councilwoman Diane Williams.

    

The City Council will be stuck at Victoria Gardens all day today (not a bad place to be) for a team-building and goal-setting session. The meeting just got underway and is expected to continue until 5 p.m. or earlier. Each year, the city's leaders get together at the start of the year to discuss how to work as a team and what goals City Hall should focus on in 2011.

Those hole-y acid-washed jeans in the back of your closet might do you good.

The Aeropostale at Victoria Gardens is collecting them as part of a Teens for Jeans program. If you donate your old pair between Monday and Feb. 13, you'll get 25 percent off a new pair. 

Anthony's, the Italian restaurant on 11368 Kenyon Way at the Albertson's shopping center, will donate $1 to every meal more than $5 purchased this month to the Freedom Courtyard. To participate, just print out the flier below.

The Freedom Courtyard is a planned monument slated for Central Park that will honor military veterans and the armed forces. Project organizers are currently raising funds to build the project.

Information: 909-483-2000

Anthonys Fundraiser.pdf

I was bummed when Taco Hut (Foothill between Archibald and Hellman) nearly burnt down in September. There are many other Mexican eateries in the Rancho Cucamonga/Ontario area and some just as tasty but Taco Hut is the only place I know where they play Madonna's "Like a Virgin" for first-time customers and the only place that serves fish tacos so big, I feel like a glutton for eating two.

Taco Hut closed after major fire and smoke damage. They're in the process of remodeling.

But in the meantime, they've opened a new location at the site of El Loco Cantina on 11815 Foothill Boulevard. Their Ontario location is on 1150 E. Philadelphia Street.

Keller Williams Realty will lead a financial recovery workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 20. The workshop will offer tips on the housing market and ways to avoid foreclosure. There will also be a panel of home retention specialists to answer your questions. The workshop is on 8250 White Oak Ave., Suite 102.

Information: 909-851-0773 or Diana Arranaga

Drug Free RC, a local drug prevention organization, will host a community networking lunch at noon on Feb. 4. The meeting is a chance to learn about drug prevention resources and what the group is doing to reduce alcohol, tobacco and drug use among young people in Rancho Cucamonga. The meeting is in the Creative Corner Room of Central Park. Lunch is provided.

Swing fans might be interested in a performance next Saturday at the Lewis Family Playhouse. Bobby Caldwell and Diane Schuur in Sing 'N Swing will celebrate the swing and jazz era for a one-night performance at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45.

Information: 909-477-2752 

I've devoted some newspaper space to the problems and complaints of the Thoroughbred lights. But a letter in today's paper by Jean Mumbleau shows the spirit of Christmas was very much alive:

We would like to thank the person or family who left a "lil' token of appreciation" for our light display around Dec. 25-27. That really was not necessary because we enjoy doing this for others. We realize that with the tough economic times, families may not be able to go out and do the things that they would normally do at this time of year and that the lights are something that they can do together with very little cost, if any. ...

With my husband and me being big animal lovers, we want you to know that your token of appreciation was donated to a charity to help with homeless animals. We thank you and the homeless animals thank you as well. May your kindness come back to you tenfold and may 2011 be a happy and prosperous New Year for you, your family, and loved ones.

-- Jean Mumbleau
Alta Loma

Don't show up to the Council Chambers tonight. The City Council is dark this week.

Instead, the City Council will meet Jan. 12 for its annual goal-setting session. The 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. meeting is at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center. The new council will work on team-building and discuss with department heads the goals for 2011.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Jan. 17 and HandsOn Inland Empire hopes you'll spend the day volunteering your time in honor of the late civil rights leader. The Rancho Cucamonga-based HandsOn is an Inland Empire United Way initiative to get the community to volunteer.

In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, which designates the King holiday as a national day of service and not just a day off work. Log on to the HandsOn website to see a list of service projects available in your neighborhood. There are community clean-up projects, senior center activities and a knitting circle to create gifts for those in need.  

The band Los Pistoleros will perform at the VFW for a dance this Friday night from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $7 at the door and proceeds will go to VFW programs, veterans and their families. VFW Post 8680 is on 8751 Industrial Lane.

Information: 909-980-5220, 909-957-1417