December 2011 Archives

MainStreet Theatre Company continues its time travel theme in January with a production of "Sleeping Beauty: The Time Traveler," at the Lewis Family Playhouse. The play, geared for children 5 and older, is a tale about a modern day fifth grader obsessed with the Nintendo game Zelda and travels back in time to befriend Princess Aurora. The unlikely friends end up traveling to the 21st Century to the "land of computers."

"So many kids know fairy tales mostly from the classic animated Disney movies but we love doing fairy tales with a bit of an unexpected twist," says MainStreet producer Murry Hepner in a release. "This show has a feisty heroine, really fun music and is perfect for our younger audiences."

"Sleeping Beauty" runs Jan. 28 to Feb. 12 (no performances on Jan. 29.) There is a 1 and 4 p.m. show on Saturday and a 1 p.m. show on Sunday. Tickets are $16; $14 for seniors and youth. Thanks to a donation by the Rancho Cucamonga Community and Arts Foundation, tickets for the shows on opening day are $9.50.

Information: 909-477-2752   

Broadway at the Gardens, the city's semi-professional musical theater company, will host auditions on Jan. 10 for "A Chorus Line." The dance auditions start 7 p.m. at the Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Dr.

The original Broadway production of "A Chorus Line," with 12 Tony awards and a Pulitzer Prize, is the fifth longest-running Broadway show in history. Rancho Cucamonga's version will be staged at the Lewis Family Playhouse in March. Ron Kellum will direct with Hector Guerrero as assistant director and choreographer and David Lamoureux as musical director.

All roles are up for grabs for "A Chorus Line," which features jazz, ballet and some tap dancing. Those wishing to audition should come prepared to dance and ladies should bring character heels. Call-backs are scheduled Jan. 11.

There is payment for those cast. Payment is based on the role and amount of experience.

The first meeting of the year for Rancho Cucamonga Woman's Club will be on Jan. 11 at the Alta Laguna Mobile Home Park clubhouse, 10210 Base Line Road. Cucamonga Valley Water District board member Kathy Tiegs, who was named Woman of the Year by Assemblyman Mike Morrell, will be guest speaker. Lunch is $8. To RSVP, call Diane at 909-941-7822.

The woman's club meets on the second Wednesday from September through May.

Is your living room covered with needles? If so, it might be time to get rid of that Christmas tree.

Burrtec Waste will collect them on collection day through Jan. 10. Leave the tree on the curb and don't forget to remove all ornaments and lights.

Information: 909-987-3717

Happy holidays AND Merry Christmas!

How's that for covering my bases?

Wishing merry readers a wonderful holiday. May Santa bring you all that you deserve.

The topic of the Hellman Avenue eucalyptus trees resurfaced at last night's meeting.

Last week, the city cut down five blue gum eucalyptus trees, despite the trees having historic status. A group of residents who pushed for the historic status and at last two planning commissioners were upset that the tree removal took place without advanced notice.

Public Works and Services Director Bill Wittkopf told the City Council that an annual survey was recently conducted on all of the city's eucalyptus trees. Seven trees were discovered with severe health problems. Sulfur fungus were found on some trees, indicating decay.

According to Wittkopf, two city arborists and another independent arborist deemed the trees a public safety hazard. On a hazard rating scale from one to 12, with nine or higher indicating a hazard, six trees were rated 10 and one tree was rated 9.

Two of those trees are due to be removed after Jan. 1, Wittkopf said.

Councilman Chuck Buquet reminded the audience that the city did not only get a second opinion, it got a third opinion.

"While this is regrettable, it does get my attention when it's a 10," Buquet said, referring to the hazard scale.

Others on the City Council did not comment.

Luana Hernandez, a Hellman Avenue resident who first brought the issue up to the Planning Commission, said she thought it was a conflict of interest that the arborist who deemed the trees unhealthy was also the company hired to cut down the trees.

"When they tell me this tree is deemed unhealthy, I have a hard time understanding that," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said an arborist hired by a homeowner had deemed the trees healthy.

The last City Council meeting of the year began beautifully. Opera singer Rod Gilfry serenaded the audience with a couple of songs. It got everybody in a cherry mood including Mayor Dennis Michael, who tried to sing a portion of his proclamation to Gilfry. That didn't go as beautifully.

In "How Are Things in Cucamonga?" Gilfry sings about earthquakes and coyotes. Later, he told the Council that the family has lost eight cats to coyotoes' hunger pangs. Yikes.

Tonight is the last City Council meeting of the year.

Opera singer Rod Gilfry, along with wife Tina, will accept a proclamation from the city. He will likely sing.

Also on the agenda is the approval of the environmental impact report for the Wilson Avenue expansion and an update of the wind damages from Dec. 1.

The next City Council meeting is Jan. 18. The Jan. 4 meeting is canceled due to insufficient time for staff members to prepare the agenda. City Hall is closed starting Thursday. It'll re-open Jan. 3.

Follow me on Twitter to see updates from the meeting.   Follow @RanchoNow

Linder's Furniture, which made headlines when it held a grand opening early last year with the sales of 3D televisions, is closing. All of its 11 Southern California locations are closing, including the Rancho Cucamonga superstore on 11750 Fourth St. Liquidation sales are currently underway. The store could close January or February.

The Garden Grove-based furniture retailer opened February 2010, taking over a 50,000-square-foot store once occupied by Wickes Furniture. Wickes was among the furniture companies that filed for bankruptcy following the crash of the housing market.

According to Linder's website, $20 million worth of furniture will be liquidated across its stores. A message on the website reads, "On behalf of Linders and Legacy Furniture, we would like to take this opportunity to inform you that due to unfortunate economic circumstances we are forced to close all of our 11 locations and go out of business forever!"

Ra Pour's prix fixe menu, mentioned in this space last week, has changed. The Christmas Eve dinner is $49, not $39. The New Year's Eve dinner remains $49. There are three seatings for the New Year's Eve menu -- 5 to 7 p.m., 7 to 9 p.m. and after 9:30 p.m. The dinner after 9:30 p.m. will be $74, which includes champagne toast.

Information: 909-899-7999

Coffee Klatch, 8916 Foothill Blvd. Suite C, will have a blood drive on Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donors will receive a $15 gift card for Klatch Coffee. The drive is sponsored by Blood for Missions.

If you have things to take care of at City Hall, you only have a few days left before the holidays. Because city staff members are on furlough, City Hall will be closed Dec. 22 through Jan. 2.

The animal shelter will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1.
The libraries will be closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 2.
Community centers and the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center will be closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 1.

To see what kinds of online services are available, visit www.cityofrc.us/onlineservices. 

Staff photographer Jennifer Cappuccio-Maher captured some wintry moments in Rancho Cucamonga today. The hail storm this afternoon turned the northern parts of this city into a winter wonderland. 

See more photos here.

The Johnston House, on the southwest corner of Etiwanda Avenue and Victoria Street, will be relocated within its subdivision to make way for 16 single-family homes. The Planning Commission approved the project at its meeting last night.

Located near the historic Pearson House, the project location was once the site of the Frost General Store. The store was destroyed by fire in 1966. Due to the historic nature of the project site, an archaeologist will monitor the development to see if any cultural resources will be unearthed.

The construction of the one- and two-story homes is expected to begin in spring.

The Planning Commission has approved extended hours for Buffalo Wings and Rings, the restaurant on Day Creek Boulevard and Base Line Road. The new hours will be 10 to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.

"I've been to the location several times both during the day and evenings," said Commissioner Francisco Oaxaca. "It's a family oriented business. It's very well run. I don't think it'll be an issue at all with the extension of hours."

The commission also approved the installation of nine standing and eight table-top arcade games for the wings restaurant.

Several residents and Planning Commission members expressed dismay last night because the city had cut down a small group of eucalyptus trees on Hellman Avenue despite the historic landmark status given to the windgroves earlier this year.

Luana Hernandez, who lives on Hellman and took the photos at right, said she woke to the sound of chainsaws Wednesday morning. She was later notified by the city's Public Works Services director that the trees were diseased.

"As far as I'm concerned, and I'm not an arborist, but these are healthy looking trees," Hernandez said.

Commission members, serving as the Historic Preservation Commission, gave historic landmark status to 61 eucalyptus trees on Hellman between 19th Street and Base Line Road in August. The City Council later approved the designation, giving the trees an added layer of protection against street improvements and development.

However, the designation does not protect trees that are diseased and pose a public safety hazard.

But Commissioner Rich Fletcher said after viewing photos of the cut trees, he was skeptical they were diseased. Fletcher said city staff members "should have the courtesy" to inform the commission and residents about the tree removal.

"I'm embarrassed it happened shortly after we designated these trees. Whatever the procedure was, it was wrong," said Fletcher. "I would like to hear some excuses as to why it happened."

The city's newest restaurant, Ra Pour, serves up dishes created by executive chef Greg Stillman, formerly of Los Angeles' famed Patina. For Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, the Victoria Gardens restaurant will offer Stillman's prix fixe menus for $39 and $49 respectively.

Christmas Eve menu
Peppermint eggnog shooter
Gougeres
Choice of: Apple and parsnip soup, Hiramasa crudo
Choice of: Honey-roasted ham, roasted beef prime rib
Loup de mer
Choice of: Warm persimmon cake, chocolate ganache, sticky toffee pudding

New Year's Eve menu
Beet spheres with lemon ice
Choice of: Chestnut agnolotti, Bigeye tuna
Choice of: Bacon-crusted Loch Duart salmon, Roasted hand-carved New York strip steak
Choice of: Satsuma mandarin sorbet, chocolate fondant

Information: 909-899-7999

 

Assemblyman Mike Morrell will host an open house tomorrow from 5 to 8 p.m. at his office, 10604 Trademark Parkway Suite 308. Bring an unwrapped toy for the toy drive benefiting the Children's Fund of San Bernardino.

Information: 909-466-9096

The city has called a special meeting at 3 p.m. tomorrow to proclaim a state of emergency due to the wind damage of two weeks ago. On Friday, Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed a state of emergency for Los Angeles County and Rancho Cucamonga. The city has to adopt a resolution within seven days of the governor's declaration.

According to Mayor Dennis Michael, the city has suffered $2.5 million to $3 million worth of wind damage due to fallen trees, damaged sidewalks and other property damages.  

The city's fields are closed for the day due to the rain. Call the weather hotline for more information: 909-477-2760 ext. 2766. Stay dry and safe out there.

Here's another business participating in the Toys for Tots drive. Universal Surveillance Systems, 11172 Elm Ave, has a toy drop-off site for the Marine Corps Reserves program. New and unwrapped toys will be collected 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday from now until Dec. 19.

A couple of community groups are selling See's candy as a fundraiser.

The Assistance League of the Foothill Communities, 8593 Archibald Ave., will sell the candy through Christmas Eve. The nonprofit is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day but on Christmas Eve, they will close 3 p.m. Information: 909-484-1215

Over at the JCPenney furniture outlet, on Haven and Arrow, the Rancho Cucamonga Kiwanis Club will sell See's candy from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday through Christmas Eve. Information: 909-660-0951

 

I started tweeting on Wednesday. I guess that was my "soft opening."

If you're one of those readers who think, "I like that reporter Wendy Leung, but I can only take her in small doses," @RanchoNow on Twitter is for you.

So if you can't be bothered to read 20 inches of text in news print or the two, three paragraphs I post on this blog, by all means, follow me on Twitter. I will be posting my observations as a Daily Bulletin reporter in just 140 characters or less.

Conversely, if you're one of those readers who think, "I like that reporter Wendy Leung and I just can't get enough of her," you can follow me on Twitter, too.

See you in the Twittersphere. 


Follow @RanchoNow

Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour and Restaurant, 10742 Foothill Blvd., will open 11 a.m. today. The opening date was originally reported as Tuesday but it was pushed back.

The restaurant, which takes the place of Macaroni Grill, seats 250 people. Seating is first come, first serve but the restaurant will take reservations for large groups for dates starting Dec. 26.

Farrell's hosted several sneak preview nights to train its servers. On Thursday, the restaurant hosted veterans and active military personnel to mark the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks. 

Cyclists and equestrians are seen on the Foothill Boulevard bridge yesterday as officials conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony nearby. Construction for the new bridge is now complete but the artwork will take a few more months. The photo below shows a rendering of the artwork, which depicts vintage cars traversing Route 66.

The artwork may be finished in February, according to Associate Engineer Curt Billings, but it all depends on the fate of Redevelopment Agency funding.

The City Council was joined by Supervisor Janice Rutherford and Sen. Bob Dutton at the ceremony marking the completion of the bridge and Pacific Electric Trail. But the person who stole the show was Donna Jimenez, a representative from Rep. David Dreier's office. Jimenez was more excited about taking a picture with the politicians than she was about the bridge. She said in her 14-year career, she has never had her photo taken with local politicos.

Jimenez was so excited, in fact, she was at a lost for words. When addressing Dutton, she described him as "lovely," an adjective that even surprised the senator, who was wide eyed and taken aback upon hearing the word.

After the pictures were taken, Jimenez gave all the politicians, including Dutton, a hug. See, the bridge has that affect on people. It can get you across town and make you feel giddy about life's most banal offerings.

Charter school Operation New Hope will host a toy drive to benefit the less fortunate children in the community. Drop off any new and unwrapped toy appropriate for youth 18 years or younger to the Rancho Cucamonga Family Resource Center, 9791 Arrow Route, from 2 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 13.

Toys can also be dropped off at the Operation New Hope campus before 9 a.m. Dec. 16 at 8520 Archibald Ave. Building 20 Suite A.  

The Senior Advisory Committee will serve pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, coffee and orange juice at Applebee's, 10709 Foothill Blvd., on Saturday to raise money for the senior transportation program. Breakfast is served 8 to 10 a.m. and costs $10. Tickets can be purchased at Central Park or at the door.

Supervisor Janice Rutherford and Sen. Bob Dutton will host a holiday open house at their offices tomorrow from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served and the Department of Veterans Affairs will collect gift cards to be donated to U.S. troops and their families.

Rutherford's office is on 8575 Haven Ave., Suite 110. Dutton's office is on 8577 Haven Ave., Suite 210.

Not sure if you've noticed yet but the post office on Arrow Route has new hours. On weekdays, it's opening an hour later and closing a half hour earlier.

Hours Monday through Friday is now 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours on Saturday is unchanged, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The automated kiosk, which sells stamps and weighs packages, is available 24 hours a day. To find nearby grocery stores or other retail outlets that offer postal services, visit www.uspseverywhere.com.

  

It'll not only be windy at Victoria Gardens tonight, it'll be snowy.

Fake snow and Christmas carolers can be found Fridays and Saturdays at 7 and 8 p.m. through Dec. 23. Snow fall takes place at Chaffey Town Square.

Due to the windy weather, Chaffey College will close today at 5 p.m. Classes that begin 3:30 p.m. or later have been canceled. The closure affects the Rancho Cucamonga, Chino and Fontana campuses.

For updated information, call 909-652-6000.