April 2011 Archives

Early registration for swimming classes begins next Saturday at the Central Park community center. For Rancho Cucamonga residents, walk-in hours are 8 to 11 a.m. and online hours are 1 to 11 p.m. Regular registration resumes May 9 for residents and May 16 for everyone else.

Swim classes for all ages will take place at Alta Loma and Etiwanda high schools.

Visit RC Park for more information on dates, times and costs.

There will also be open swim hours this summer at Alta Loma High School from 1:30 to 3:30 on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The pool is also available for party rentals on Saturdays from 1:15 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Well, it's no royal wedding but for Central Park, this is pretty fancy.

The Community and Arts Foundation and the senior center will host a Black and White Gala next Saturday to raise money for programs benefiting homebound seniors. The event includes dinner, entertainment and auctions. Prizes include a flat-screen television, a basketball cap signed by Lakers' Lamar Odom, hotel stays in Las Vegas, Reno and Napa Valley and other items.

Tickets for the 6 p.m. gala are $40 and are available at Central Park.

Information: 909-477-2780

For every home run the Quakes will hit this season, U.S. Bank will donate $50 to the Inland Empire United Way Kids Pack program. Last year, the Quakes hit 117 home runs, leading to a $5,850 contribution to the nutrition program.

The Kids Pack program works with local school districts to get food items to underprivileged children during the weekend. Each Friday, select students receive backpacks full of granola bars, apple sauce, ramen and other items. They return the empty backpacks Monday morning. United Way officials say some students who receive free or reduced fare lunches at school go hungry on the weekends.

This year, the bank is continuing its U.S. Bank Home Run for Kids program.

Kids Pack currently serves students in the Chino Valley Unified, Fontana Unified, Ontario-Montclair Elementary, Redlands Unified and Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified school districts. Later this year, the program will expand to Pomona Unified School District.
 

There will be a meeting at Central Park tomorrow night about the upcoming mail-in ballot for Landscape Maintenance District 2. Staff members will answer questions about the proposal to raise rates for landscape maintenance in the Victoria Planned Community. The proposal will be up for a vote this summer.

The meeting is 6:30 to 8:30 at the community center. Another meeting on the same topic is planned for early May.

Tomorrow, the Cucamonga Christian Fellowship will distribute food items for any Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga residents in need. The distribution takes place 4:30 to 5:30 on 9592 Seventh St.

Information: 909-945-5333

Volunteers who signed up to lend a hand during National Volunteer Week were treated to lunch at Central Park this week. From left are Susan Brown, Sarah Jane Stetina and Rachel Braley. They were knitting items for local homeless shelters and hospitals during the luncheon hosted by Supervisor Janice Rutherford.

The Inland Empire United Way, along with Rutherford's office, promoted volunteer week earlier this month with volunteer opportunities throughout the Inland Valley. More than 340 donated their time to organize games for seniors, clean up local parks and put together birthday gift bags for disadvantaged children. Volunteers also helped the United Way's Kids Pack program and garnered more than 13,000 food items for underprivileged students.

"Volunteers contribute so much to our communities every day through their selfless acts of kindness to others, and it was an honor to join the United Way in prompting volunteerism and thanking volunteers by treating them to a delicious lunch," Rutherford said.

Visit the Hands On website for additional volunteer opportunities.


 

 

This week might be a good one to shop for summer clothes. It's going to be in the 90s this week and Old Navy, 10788 Foothill Blvd., is having a sale.

Store manager Kelly Lincoln tells me they're having a buy one, get one half off sale throughout the store. The sale starts Thursday and ends Sunday.

Seniors who either missed out on their prom or want to relive that American high school tradition will have an opportunity on May 14. The James L. Brulte Senior Center will host Senior Prom from 7 to 10 p.m. with live music, dancing and finger foods. Couples can take prom pictures and participants can vote for prom king and queen. Tickets are $10 and are on sale at the senior center.

Information: 909-477-2780

Caltrans and the city is planning to modify the Base Line/15 Freeway interchange. The project, at the border of Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana, will widen Base Line from four to six lanes adding right and left turn lanes at East Avenue, widen East Avenue from two to four lanes adding right and left turn lanes at Base Line, realign and widen southbound and northbound ramps from one to two lanes, add a southbound loop on-ramp and add freeway acceleration and deceleration lanes.

On Wednesday, there will be a public meeting about the proposed project. Residents can ask questions about the project and its impact. Visit the Tri-Communities Room at City Hall anytime from 7 to 9 p.m. Residents can submit comments during the meeting or e-mail them during the public comment period through May 10.

Documents and maps on the project can be viewed at the Biane Library at Victoria Gardens.

There will be a special meeting next Wednesday at 4 p.m. The City Council will receive an update of the Animal Care and Services Department programs and discuss future goals. The meeting will be in the Alta Loma Room at Central Park.

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports month, which means you have nine more days to be a couch potato.

But starting next Sunday, it's time to get fit. The city, joining the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, is offering a number of opportunities for residents to get moving in the month of May.

At the RC Family Sports Center, 9059 San Bernardino Road, next month:

Free jazzercise classes 4:15 p.m. May 2, 9 and 16; 6:30 p.m. May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18; 5:25 p.m. May 5, 12 and 19 

Project Sister women's self defense class 6 to 7 p.m. May 2, 9 and 16

Nutrition lectures 6 to 7 p.m. May 3, 10 and 17

Free drop-in basketball, racquetball and volleyball play 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4, 11 and 18

Tai Chi class 6 to 7 p.m. May 5

Ektelon racquetball demonstration 6 to 8 p.m. May 6

Zumba class 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 6

Family Sports and Fitness Night 6 to 8 p.m. May 13 with Wii Fit, board games, basketball, volleyball and dodgeball tournaments

CPR class, 5 to 9 p.m. May 18

Other community events around town:
 

Family Fun Night from 5 to 8 p.m. May 20 at the Adult Sports Complex and Epicenter at 8408 Rochester Ave. Includes games, raffle and food. Parking is $3. The first 100 participants will receive a free Quakes ticket. The Quakes game starts at 7 p.m.

Cucamonga Challenge, a walk, run and biking fundraiser beginning 8 a.m. May 7 at Central Park

Ron Ives Bicycle Safety Rodeo from 8 a.m. to noon on May 21 at Victoria Arbors Park, 7429 Arbor Lane

Visit RC Park for a complete schedule.

Information: 909-477-2785

Hello readers,

I'll be taking a little break from blogging. Will return on Thursday.

Cheers!

The Education First Foundation for Foreign Study seeks Inland Empire families interested in hosting an international student for a six-month or one-year exchange. Students ages 14 to 18 hailing from Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, Japan, Korea or other countries are looking to be a part of an American family.

If interested, e-mail Donna LeMaster, an international exchange coordinator for the Rancho Cucamonga area.

The shopping center on 12273 Highland Ave. (the one with Ralph's, Pizza Factory, Super Cuts, etc.) will hold a blood/marrow drive tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will receive a goody bag and be entered in a drawing that includes coffee, $10 gas card, gift baskets and other prizes. Look for the bloodmobile. 

Chaffey College has a large and thriving arts community and its annual Student Invitational shows that. The exhibit, an annual event featuring a select group of artists in the school's visual arts programs, will be on display at the Wignall Museum from Saturday to May 26. The museum is free and open to the public.

The show features works by Donald Dreyer, Chris Hackworth, Rachel Hurton, Evert Munguia, Jaime Muñoz, Rachel Alexis Parks, Jessica Pavone, Nicole Rodriguez, and Cherie Savoie.

A reception will be held at the Wignall Museum on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. On April 26, a panel discussion with the artists will be held at 5 p.m. at the Chaffey Center for the Arts room 211.   

The Flipside church on 10912 Jersey Blvd. will host a parent forum on the topic of drug prevention. Paul Chabot of Drug Free RC will talk about substance abuse education. The event is 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Information: 909-466-7789 ext. 241

Television these days isn't the same without "Lost."

If you feel in need of a "Lost" fix, there will be a panel of audio engineers who worked on the hit series at Victoria Gardens on Monday. The lecture is presented by the Art Institute of California -- Inland Empire.

Film editor Chris Nelson, and sound re-recording mixers Scott Weber and Frank Morrone will talk about how they used Avid, Pro Tools and Media Composer to edit "Lost."

The event is 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Pre-registration is encouraged.

The general public can register here. Students and faculty register here.

Information: 714-264-4556

Eat at Mimi's Cafe on Monday and the restaurant will donate 15 percent of proceeds to Freedom Courtyard. The fundraiser is from noon to 9 p.m. You must download the flier below to participate.

Freedom Courtyard is planned for Central Park and will act as a reflection area for local veterans, members of the armed forces and their family.

Mimi's Cafe is located 10909 Foothill Blvd.

Information: 909-948-1130

Flier:SKMBT_60111041314420.pdf

Congratulations to Cameron Seagraves from Alta Loma High School, Pavneet Kaur and Sasan Alen Amini from Los Osos High School and Rebecca Ziegler at Riverside Christian School for being named recipients of $500 scholarships from the Cucamonga District Host Lions Club. The students were selected from a field of 36 for their community service and academic achievement.

There will be health screenings, entertainment and children's activities at the city's Wellness Fair from 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Central Park. A drawing will award a grand prize winner with a Wii Fit. The event is free.  

The Windsong Southland Chorale, a Rancho Cucamonga-based group of singers, will hold a concert on Sunday at Northkirk Presbyterian Church. The group will perform a folk mass based on the rhythms and traditions of Hispanic Americans and other religious music. The concert begins 4 p.m. on 9101 19th Street.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Youth and family prices are also available.

Information: 909-987-3380

  

If you eat at The Pizza Factory from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, the owner will donate 15 percent of proceeds to the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit with a mission to protect oceans and beaches. The fundraiser is sponsored by the Aveda Salon on Foothill and Spruce.

The Pizza Factory is on 12273 Highland Ave.

Also, the folks at the pizza joint tell me they have six new LCD televisions. You can go there 7:30 p.m. tonight to watch the Lakers end their losing streak.

  

Owner of the Red Brick Pizza on 9659 Milliken Ave. at Fourth Street will host a fundraiser tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for Bryan Stow and his family.

Stow, a paramedic and father of two, was attacked at a Dodgers game against the Giants last month. He is in a coma at USC Medical Center. 

Sunday is the start of Volunteer Week.

To see a list of volunteer opportunities, visit the HandsOn Inland Empire website. The nonprofit has a host of service projects throughout San Bernardino County and the Pomona Valley.

On April 25, Supervisor Janice Rutherford will host a luncheon to honor all the volunteers who sign up through April 16. Volunteers clocking the most hours will receive special recognition. 

It'll soon be easier for the police to cite advertising trailers that park in one spot to display its billboards.

The City Council approved an ordinance on Wednesday clamping down on these trailers following complaints from the public. Advertising trailers that park in one spot for more than 72 hours will be cited. Trailers that are cited the second time will be towed. The new regulations go into effect in about 30 days.

Under the current ordinance, advertising trailers are towed after five citations.
 

The city will lead a meeting to discuss possible rate increases in Landscape Maintenance District 2 on April 14.

City Council has called a special mail-in vote, asking residents whether fees should be raised to maintain landscaping in the Victoria Planned Community. Ballots will be mailed in June and counted in July. According to city officials, rates have been unchanged since 1993 and the district is running out of funds.

The upcoming meeting, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Victoria Groves Elementary, will inform residents about the ballots and will gather input from residents as to how much of a rate hike should be proposed. The school is on 10950 Emerson St. and the meeting will be in the multi-purpose room.

Information: 909-477-2585 

A big Earth Day celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Cucamonga Valley Water District/Frontier Project. There will be children's activities, refreshments and giveaways. KOLA radio and a magician will be there. You can also bring your unwanted, confidential documents to be shred by Cintas Document Shredding. The first 500 families will receive an insulated grocery bag.

Saturday's event, at 10435 Ashford St., will take place rain or shine.   

On April 16, the city will host a Healthy RC Earth Day celebration at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be storytimes at the Biane Library and performances by an "eco magician." If you didn't get to shred your documents at the water district, you can do so here; Burrtech Waste will do the honors. The first 200 visitors will receive a reusable shopping bag.

The Inland Valley Democratic Club will lead a "Let the People Vote" rally at the intersection of Foothill and Day Creek boulevards Friday evening.

Organizers of the event are calling for an election to extend tax hikes as a measure to balance the budget. They will protest Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, and other Republicans who have blocked such a vote.

The rally is from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Assemblyman Mike Morrell will hold a meet and greet at the James L. Brulte Senior Center on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. Morrell is the freshman lawmaker representing a district that stretches from Upland to Yucaipa. Bring any nagging questions you may have for the assemblyman.

Information: 909-477-2780

Spring crept up on us. Are you biker shorts ready?

The Cucamonga Challenge, an annual walk/run/ride along the Pacific Electric Trail, takes place bright and early May 7. Registration for the event, now in its sixth year, is open.

Online registration is $40; $30 for seniors and $10 for youth age 16 and under. Online registration closes at 5 p.m. May 6. It'll be $45 to register on day of event.

Starting at 8 a.m. participants will take part in the 5K walk/run, 10K walk/run, 5-mile bike ride or 28-mile bike ride. Everybody gets a T-shirt, swag bag and lunch provided by Omaha Jack's. There will be a raffle drawing for several bicycles.

The event is organized by the Friends of the Pacific Electric Trail. Funds raised will go toward improvements to the 7-mile segment of the trail through this city.

"Life is Sweet," a team for the upcoming Relay For Life event, will host a garden and car show on April 16. Vintage cars against a backdrop of three manicured gardens will be on display. Donations will be accepted and proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.

Shasta Court is located near the intersection of Shasta Drive and Banyan Street.

Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society's biggest fundraiser, takes place on April 30 at Quakes Stadium.

 
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