May 2011 Archives

Best wishes on this Memorial Day. Before you get to barbecuing, mark your calendars for a veterans event this Saturday.

VFW Post 8680 will host a fundraiser on June 4 to raise money for the planned Freedom Courtyard project. The event -- with entertainment, classic cars and a chili cook-off -- will take place at the VFW from noon to 11 p.m.

Local veterans and community members have been raising money for the Freedom Courtyard since November. When complete, the courtyard at Central Park will honor all branches of the armed forces and provide a space for residents to reflect on the service of veterans and current military personnel.

So far, organizers have raised about $31,000 for the courtyard. To help reach the $100,000 goal, the folks over at the VFW are throwing a big party. It's free to attend the event, which will offer plenty of activities seeking donations.

There will be a chili cook-off with a panel of local politicians as judges. To enter, a donation of $10 is requested. Cooks can arrive at 10 a.m. to prep; cooking starts at noon and ends at 3 p.m. Supervisor Janice Rutherford, Mayor Dennis Michael and council members Sam Spagnolo, Diane Williams and Bill Alexander will pick the top three finishers. To register or for more information about the cook-off, call Cora or Jack Peterson at 909-987-7276.

To register for the car and motorcycle show, call Richard Favela at 909-957-1418. A $10 donation is requested to enter. 

The local VFW is on 8751 Industrial Lane. 

Information: 909-957-1418 

Music fans should head to Guitar Center next Thursday to cheer on local guitarists for the King of the Blues contest. The annual competition aims to seek the next great undiscovered blues guitarist through a series of local and regional competitions. The winner picked on Thursday will have the opportunity to compete at the district, semi-finals and finals level.

The King of the Blues will win $25,000 in cash, a studio session with producer Pete Anderson and a host of other prizes. Last year, a Hacienda Heights guitar player took home the crown.

Guitar Center is on 12479 Foothill Blvd. in the Wal-Mart center. The contest begins 6 p.m.    

Six hours were not enough for the hearing on 99 Ranch. The hearing will continue on June 1 at 9 a.m. in Diamond Bar. 

Can a Chinese restaurant co-exist with a residential neighborhood?

It's not certain if the Hearing Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District will determine that today but it has certainly received quite an earful.

Today is the abatement hearing at AQMD's Diamond Bar headquarters about the complaints of odor coming out of 99 Ranch market. Residents east of the grocer say the smell is so strong, they can no longer spend time in their backyards or open their windows.

In November, 99 Ranch opened and took over the space of Albertsons. The store, which specializes in Asian groceries, has a hot deli area selling dim sum, barbecue pork, roast duck and other Chinese food items. There's a seating area where customers can eat the food, too.

The Hearing Board, a five-member committee appointed by the AQMD Governing Board and operates independently from AQMD, took testimony from both sides of the debate this morning.

Jill Wirtz, a London Avenue resident who said she can not use her backyard pool anymore because of the smell, characterized her feelings as "disgust and frustration."

"I'm asking for your help today," Wirtz said to the board. "I'm asking you to get our lives back."

Supporters and employees of the market testified, too.

Jennifer Luu, who lives five miles from the market and a frequent customer, wonders if the complaints stem from a lack of understanding of Asian culture.

"There's a human tendency to attack what has been identified as alien -- It doesn't smell like my food, it stinks. It doesn't smell good to me, it must be bad," Luu said. "I'm not understanding why the intolerance for 99 Ranch."

On May 14, the market temporarily suspended it's barbecue and fish fry service. It also stopped stir-frying foods, which means no more fried rice or chow mein at the deli. Neighbors say the smells have lessened but are still present.

To date, AQMD has received approximately 230 complaints since the first complaint was received in March. The air quality agency has issued to the market multiple notices of violations of public nuisance.

Care to weigh in? Are there any residents out there who can describe the smell? Any 99 Ranch shoppers out there?
   

This weekend is the unofficial start of summer, which means al fresco dining, concerts in the park and root beer floats.

Victoria Gardens will usher in the season with free movies at Chaffey Town Square. May 31 is "Shrek," June 7 is "The Karate Kid," and June 14 is "Despicable Me." All movies begin at dusk. 

Also at the town square on June 17 and 18 from 1 to 7 p.m. is LA Jazz at the Gardens. The free concert series will feature eight acts each day including Dorian Holley, lead vocalist for Jay Leno's Tonight Show.    

Cosmetics retailer Mary Kay will host a makeover fundraiser for a local woman diagnosed with leukemia.

Brittany Fischer-Hall, 30, of Chino Hills, is currently in her eighth round of chemotherapy as she fights a rare form of leukemia. She is expected to be in treatment for another year and a half.

On June 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. makeup artists and hair stylists will lead a fundraiser to help with Fischer-Hall's medical bills. Participants will get a free facial, make-up session and new hairstyle. Proceeds from products purchased that day will go toward the cause. Appointments are at the top of every hour.

The event takes place at the Jamboree Condo Clubhouse at 10950 Church St.

Information: 909-276-7144

  

A community blood drive will take place at Victoria Gardens next Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Radio station K-FROG will do a show there through 9 a.m. Donors will receive a free T-shirt and a coupon for a free pizza at the Pizza Factory. 

The Windsong Southland Chorale will perform "Music of the Heart," it's final concert of the season, at Northkirk Presbyterian Church on June 5. Music set against the sonnets of William Shakespeare, Chopin's Ballade No. 1 and others will be performed. Advanced tickets are $15; $20 at the door. Family and youth discounts are also available.

The church is on 9101 19^th St.

Information: 909-263-8488

The Cucamonga Christian Fellowship will distribute food to any Rancho Cucamonga or Ontario resident in need on Thursday. The distribution is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 9592 Seventh Ave.

Information: 909-945-5333 

From 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Richie's Real American Diner will donate 20 percent of proceeds to Package of Prevention, a nonprofit focused on cancer prevention. Money raised will to toward scholarships for high school seniors whose parents have or had cancer.

Print out the flier below and give it to your server when ordering. The restaurant is on 8039 Monet Ave.

Is the library geeky or what?

Next Saturday Tuesday, they are devoting two hours to gadgets. Next Thursday Saturday, they'll host Star Wars Day. Come dressed as your favorite character (or dress your child up in their favorite character) for an afternoon of Darth Vader storytime, R2-D2 demo and video games. You can also make your own light saber and take part in the Jar Jar Binks dunk tank.

The event is 1 to 4 p.m. at the Biane Library.

Did we hit bottom? Are we on the way to recovery?

Every year, City Manager Jack Lam lays out the budget for the City Council before they formally approve it at a later meeting. The meeting is typically held during a crucial Lakers game late in the playoffs season and Lam is often pressured into being more concise than usual. This year however, the Lakers exited before the meeting was scheduled.

The meeting is open to the public. It starts 5 p.m. Thursday in City Hall's Tri-Communities room. 

Pet all you want. They don't bite.

The city has replaced bunnies and goats with iPhones and Kindles. They're calling it a Technology Petting Zoo. From 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the city's Library Services Department will host an interactive workshop for technophobes who want to learn about smart phones, e-readers and other gadgets that seem to be constantly changing. The event takes place at the Cultural Center Celebration Hall.

Information: 909-477-2720

Tomorrow is Local History Night at the Biane Library. The city will unveil it's new website Portal to the Past, which features historic photos, maps and oral history projects. The event is free and starts at 7 p.m.

At the City Council meeting, Planning Director James Troyer dropped this bomb on us: There's going to be a wine tasting tent, a piece of information that wasn't shared in the press release. Wine seems just the thing to wash down the speeches by elected officials, one feature that was highlighted in the press release.

There will also be games, crafts, classic cars and live music.   

The City Council decided not to make any changes to its naming rights policy. They will reserve the right to name public facilities after elected officials but also reserve the right to take that name off should the politician get involved in what Councilwoman Diane Williams called "skulduggery."

Robert Hufnagel was the only person who brought this up during public comment. Hufnagel didn't think former Supervisor Paul Biane did anything special by steering $1 million of taxpayers' money to the library.

"I may be mistaken but I was under the impression that that was his job," Hufnagel said. "He didn't do anything extraordinary ... it wasn't even his money."

Councilman Bill Alexander agreed with Hufnagel. But he was the only one on the council who did.

Speaking in vague terms, Councilman Chuck Buquet wanted to refrain from reacting to Biane's recent arrest.
 
"While this is under unfortunate circumstances, this is still early on. There are things that needs to be cleared up," Buquet said. "I think it's important we don't just go and do some sort of arbitrary, capricious, knee-jerk reaction to something."

While Buquet warned against any knee-jerk reaction, Councilwoman Diane Williams was thinking of her foot. Not having the ability to raise money and name buildings after officials, Williams said, would be akin to "shooting myself in the foot."

Councilman Sam Spagnolo agreed. "When money is so tight, I wouldn't want to tie the hands of this city." Mayor Dennis Michael didn't like his hands tied either. "We'd end up cutting our nose to spite our face," Michael said.

Alexander, the lone wolf, had no anatomical idioms to offer.

So for now, it's still called the Biane Library. Or is it?

In a flier promoting tomorrow's Local History Night, the venue was described as "Rancho Cucamonga Library, Victoria Gardens."

  

The City Council will review its policy on naming public facilities at its regular 7 p.m. meeting tonight.

The item was placed on the agenda following the arrest of former Councilman and Supervisor Paul Biane, who has the Victoria Gardens library named after him. When the city was seeking donations for the Cultural Center, the City Council passed a policy that would give naming rights to donors who give at the $1 million level.

In a span of two years, Biane directed a total of $1 million in San Bernardino County funds to the library. On Aug. 16, 2006, the City Council -- which consisted of Bill Alexander, Diane Williams, Rex Gutierrez, Sam Spagnolo and Dennis Michael -- unanimously approved a consent calendar item that would name the new facility after Biane.

Today, the City Council will discuss whether to make changes to the current naming rights policy. The council is also expected to give final approval to a shopping cart ordinance that would cite business owners if they do not remove shopping carts from the public right-of-way after repeated warnings. It will also discuss farmers' markets and make alterations to the development code to guide future uses of such markets.

This is for all you Gleeks.

Brad Ellis, the taciturn piano guy from Glee, will be at the Lewis Family Playhouse on May 21 for a benefit show to celebrate the MainStreet Theatre Company's first five years. The evening of stories and songs will include appetizers, silent auction and raffle prizes. Show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. Proceeds go toward the Theatre for Young Audiences Company.

Information: 909-477-2752 

Why are we voting to increase our landscape maintenance fees? How much will it go up if it passes? How and when do I vote?

If you live in the Victoria Planned Community and still have questions about the upcoming Landscape Maintenance District 2 vote, this is your last chance to attend a community meeting to learn all about it. The meeting is next Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Fire Station 173, 12270 Firehouse Court.

You can also e-mail questions or comments to lmd@cityofrc.us.

Information: (909) 477-2585 

Get your red wig out.

Rancho Cucamonga Community Theatre will hold auditions for "Annie" on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at the Lewis Family Playhouse. Auditions for youth ages 10 to 17 is on Saturday at 10 a.m. and Monday at 6:30 p.m. Girls auditioning for one of the six main orphan roles should come prepared to sing 32 bars of a Broadway show tune and bring accompanying sheet music. Children auditioning for minor roles will be taught a song to sing at the playhouse. There are roles for boys and girls who will perform in scenes other than the orphanage.

On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. there will be auditions for adults. Actors should also come prepared with 32 bars of Broadway show tune. Every one should bring a 70-word biography, a photo and a resume. There is a $125 fee for minors who are cast in the musical. 

The Broadway musical will mark the community theater's 10th year. In 2001, the theater staged "Annie" as its first production.

"Annie" will be staged July 16, 17, 23 and 24.

Information: 909-477-2752

There will be a blood and bone marrow drive next Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The drive is 3 to 8:30 p.m.

Donors will get a discounted ticket to Knott's Soak City water parks and a free voucher to Knott's Soak City Palm Springs with subsequent donations through Sept. 30.

You can also register for bone marrow screening free of charge. Alternatively, you can log on to bethematch.org and use the promo code 92408 to get a kit.

Donors have to be at least 15 years of age; those 15 and 16 years old need parental consent.

Information: 1-800-TRY GIVING  

A retrospective of sculptor Albert Stewart is on display at the Chaffey Community Art Association museum through July 3. An opening reception for the exhibit Albert Stewart: From Pad to Pedestal -- The Journey of a Legacy Artist will take place Sunday from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Stewart, who died in 1965, was appointed by Millard Sheets to lead the sculpture program at Scripps College, where Stewart taught for 25 years. Pad to Pedestal will feature more than 75 drawings, sculptures and other art pieces spanning Stewart's career.

The museum is located inside the Filippi Winery at 12467 Base Line Road. The hours are noon to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday.

Information: 909-463-3733     

The Alta Loma School District will hold Festival of the Arts on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Student art displays, food, performances and hands-on activities will take place at Vineyard Junior High on 6440 Mayberry Ave. 

A group of experts will host an Edible and Sustainable Landscaping workshop on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Frontier Project. It's free and participants can choose one of two sessions: How to create an edible garden or how to select and maintain drought-tolerant plants.

The workshop is at 10435 Ashford St.

Send an e-mail to RSVP.

Fleming's, the steak house at Victoria Gardens, will highlight some local brew with their offerings at a May 20 dinner. It costs $59 and starts 6:30 p.m. The four-course meal will highlight beer from the Redlands-based Hangar 24.

Here's the menu: The first course is Thai chicken flatbread and lobster corn dogs with mustard sauce paired with Hangar 24 orange wheat and alt-bier. Then comes shrimp and mango lettuce cups served with Hangar 24 Helles. The third course is confit chicken wing and Maytag blue cheese mirepoix with Hangar 24 Double IPA. The meal wraps up with Hangar 24 chocolate porter float with bacon truffles.

For reservations, call 909-463-0416


  

The Victoria Gardens Macy's will help a Claremont senior transportation program raise money on May 14. If you're planning to shop there that day, consider donating $10 to the Community Senior Service's new volunteer driver program. By donating, you'll get a $10 off coupon off any purchase of $25 or more or 10 to 20 percent off entire purchase. You'll also get an opportunity to win a $500 Macy's gift card.

Community Senior Services gets all the proceeds from the donations, which will go toward providing rides to seniors and people with disabilities.

Information: 909-621-9900   

Operation New Hope -- a Rancho Cucamonga-based alternative school that provides education, job training and life skills for high school students -- will host a dinner fundraiser on May 27. The 6:30 p.m. event takes place at Imagine That banquet hall on 1318 W. Ninth St., Upland. It's $60 per person and $500 for a table.

Information: 909-527-3894 or e-mail ONHteam@onhcares.com 

Perfection Fitness, the studio gym on 9125 Archibald Ave. Suite D, will offer a number of classes this Saturday for a donation of $10. Proceeds will go toward the American Cancer Society.


  

Some of the Lewis Family Playhouse offerings make me wonder if the Cultural Center is stuck in a time warp. Some past performances include Sheena Easton, Air Supply and more recently the 80s band Loverboy.

Certainly, the new season, unveiled tonight, feels that way too. The sixth season kicks off with Three Dog Night, which brings music from the 1969 to 1974 era. Dionne Warwick will be in town and so will a tribute band singing Abba and Bee Gees.

But there are also a scattering of other noteworthy shows that make me wonder if this new season is the best so far. Ladysmith Black Mambazo comes Feb. 24, comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade is April 20 and Martin Short arrives June 2. They're not big, huge names but acts I'd definitely go see if my wallet allows. 

Tickets are available for subscribers only at this time. They will be available to the general public on May 21.

Information: 909-477-2752

The Local History Cultural Arts Night was one of my favorite city events last year. Hosted by the library and Planning Department, it gathered some of the city's more prominent "old timers" who told tales of Rancho Cucamonga from a simpler era.

But if you're learning about the event for the first time through the city's press release this week, expect to be underwhelmed. On top of a list of highlights for the event is "Speeches by local city of Rancho Cucamonga officials." Note to event organizer: Consider offering strong coffee or Red Bull at the event.

At events like these, speeches are usually the introduction. The event is 7 to 9 p.m. on May 20. I'm guessing if you arrive by 7:15 p.m., you're good.

The rest of the evening will include live music, arts and crafts, vintage car display and a wine talk given by a local vintner. The new local history website "Portal to the Past" will also be unveiled. It's free and it all takes place at the Biane Library.

Information: 909-477-2720

Barnes and Noble, at 11090 Foothill Blvd., will host a book fair fundraiser Friday evening for the Associated Artists of the Inland Empire. Proceeds from sales made between 4 to 10 p.m. will benefit the artist group. The event coincides with the start of the spring art exhibit by the Associated Artists. The show will be on display through June 3.   

That rousing band music you'll hear while shopping at Victoria Gardens Friday night is the Los Osos High School band. The 90-piece ensemble will perform 6 to 7:15 p.m. Friday at the Cultural Center courtyard. Stop by and give them a round of applause if you're shopping in the area.