February 2012 Archives

Veteran Congressman David Dreier, (as in David Dreier Hall in Central Park), announced on the floor of the House of Representatives today that he will not seek re-election. The following is his speech:

"Mr. Speaker, I have chosen to leave Congress at the end of this term.  I take the unusual step of announcing this from the floor of Congress for two reasons.  First, this is where my fellow Californians sent me to represent them.  Second, I am a proud institutionalist, and I believe that this institution is as great as it has ever been.

Happy birthday, Los Osos High School. You're officially a tween.

The city's newest high school is 10 years old and is celebrating with an open house on March 7. Students, parents and all graduates are welcome back to reminisce and re-connect with people. Faculty, from retired teachers to those who have moved away, are invited, too. (Because you know, 10 years ago, Facebook didn't exist.)

A food fair and entertainment will take place 6 to 7 p.m. with a formal program from 7 to 8 p.m. The school's first principal Joe Kolmel will talk about the past while the current and outgoing principal Chris Hollister will talk about the present. (He's outgoing because he's not shy and also because he has a new job with the district.)

It's a two-day celebration. The next day, March 8, students will celebrate the school's birthday with music and games during lunch hour.

Are there any Rick Santorum fans out there?

Supporters of the GOP presidential candidate will host a Super Tuesday viewing party at Gandolfo's New York Deli, 9090 Milliken Ave, where Santorum fans can watch the results come in from 5 to 9 p.m. Supporters can also learn about volunteer opportunities on the Santorum campaign.

For more information call Vera Eyzendooren, the Rick Santorum San Bernardino County coordinator, at 909-946-4277.

Information: www.WePickRick.net

 

It's tax season. Don't forget the deadline to file this year is April 17.

On Saturdays at the Northtown Community Center, low-income residents and seniors can get free tax assistance. Students from Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona will prepare basic federal and state tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

Taxpayers with less than $60,000 gross income per return are considered "low income."

The community center is on 10071 Feron Blvd. Tax services are offered 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays through April 14. Similar tax clinics are taking place in Pomona and Fontana.

Information: www.sbvita.org   

A dinner, dance and auction event to benefit the Justin Crabbe Fund will take place at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario from 7 to 11:30 p.m. March 17.

Marine Cpl. Justin Crabbe, a Los Osos High School graduate, lost both of his legs in Afghanistan last August. While recovering from his injuries in Bethesda, Md., President Barack Obama paid Crabbe a visit and gave him a Purple Heart medal.

Money raised at the benefit dinner will go toward the Justin Crabbe Fund. An auction will include Reign season tickets, merchandise from NFL, NBA and MLB teams and others. Cost is $35 per person. Call Ann Keener at 909-224-1694 to RSVP by March 1.

  

A big thank you to the Cucamonga District Host Lions Club for planting 127 trees along the Pacific Electric Trail. The tree planting -- which included 127 indigenous sycamore and oak trees -- was sponsored by the city through a grant from the California Forestry Service. Lions clubs around the country hope to plant a collective 1 million trees this year.

Gratitude goes to all the volunteers: Lions Sergio Gonzalez, Barbara Abramovitz, Jamie Jimenez, Jerry McJunkin, Steve Lacey, Dave Geyer, Barbara Barclay, Norm MacKenzie, Pat Mason, Shannon Moreno, Cynthia Gutierrez, Kevin Geyer, Kurt Geyer, Trina Jimenez and Steve Glascock.

Here at the Daily Bulletin, we take city borders very seriously. Unless there's sickness, the Upland reporter covers Upland and the Ontario reporter covers Ontario.

Today I was invited to a luncheon hosted by the Upland Chamber of Commerce at a Rancho Cucamonga restaurant. It turns out, the Sycamore Inn and Magic Lamp, two Rancho Cucamonga restaurants close to the Upland border, are favorites of the Upland chamber. Surely there are Upland restaurants that the Upland chamber could promote. But I guess the Upland Chamber of Commerce is a bit of a misnomer. Its members spread across the Inland Valley making it more like a regional chamber.

There at Sycamore Inn, I bumped into Supervisor Janice Rutherford. The former Fontana councilwoman is moving to Rancho Cucamonga. The supervisor wanted to move to a bigger house with a yard for her young children. It turns out, Rutherford's new Etiwanda home is east of her current Fontana home. Funny how city boundaries work.

Christian Fellowship will distribute food to any Ranch Cucamonga and Ontario resident in need 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 11376 Fifth St.

Information: 909-945-5333

The Inland Valley Democratic Club will have an endorsement meeting for the upcoming elections for the 31st and 35th congressional districts. The group -- which serves Rancho Cucamonga, Montclair, Upland and Ontario -- will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lions Center East, 9161 Base Line Road.

Rancho Cucamonga's Fierce All Star Cheer team recently came back with big wins after competing in Palm Springs earlier this month. Competing against more than 6,000 boys and girls, the group took four national championships. The Junior Level 3 group, pictured here, beat out 53 other teams for the grand championship. Led by coaches Shelby Magelsen and Jamie Chadwick, the cheer team trained three days a week and three and a half hours a day to prepare for the competition.

The Freedom Courtyard project will be complete later this year. The city is hoping for a completion date in late August or early September.

Organizers have been fund-raising for more than a year to build a reflection area honoring veterans and active service personnel. The completed project will have a monument honoring all branches of the military, a flag retirement urn, sculpture and an area honoring fallen soldiers.

So far, organizers have raised $158,000.

"We are not done," said Diana Lee, who heads the fund-raising effort. "If you haven't been approached yet, we are coming your way."

Lee is encouraging the community to purchase bricks that can be personalized for the courtyard. The bricks are $150 and $275 depending on size.

Information: 909-477-2760, www.cityofrc.us/Freedom

Last night's City Council meeting was very emotional.

In tears, Ronnie Pallares' grandmother Lucy Pallares, criticized the city for taking down a makeshift memorial on Fourth Street without telling her.

One by one, the five members on the council apologized.

"We forget sometimes we're dealing with people, not situations," said Councilman Bill Alexander. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the tears."

Ronnie Pallares, 19, pictured right, was an Army combat engineer who died in Afghanistan. His military banner on Haven Avenue had become a memorial site where friends and family left memorabilia. Last month, the city took down the memorial citing safety concerns.

Wednesday's meeting was tense and highly-charged not just because the Pallares family was upset. Council gadflies Bill Hanlon and Jim Moffatt, supporters of the Pallares family, blasted the city.

"Isn't it ironic that Ronnie Pallares died protecting those who took down the memorial?" Hanlon said.

Hanlon accused city staff of taking down items honoring a fallen soldier while turning a "blind eye" to campaign signs during elections season.

"Shame on all of you," Hanlon said. "I hope there's a level in hell for those who dishonor our heroes."

Councilman Chuck Buquet, shot back, saying Hanlon's comments also dishonored military heroes.

"I think he should look in the mirror relative to making those comments in the future," Buquet said in reference to Hanlon.

Buquet accused certain speakers of preying on the Pallares' family for "political theater." Moffatt ran for City Council in the last two elections and is often vocal in his criticisms of city leaders. Buquet, who was appointed to the council in 2010, is up for election in November.

The councilman took another stab at the two gadflies when referencing a photo of the military banner. Buquet said he forgot which speaker brought the photo to the meeting.

"I can't remember if it was Mr. Moffatt or Mr. Hanlon," Buquet said. "They look the same in their attire when they come up here."

Moffatt and Hanlon, both military veterans, often wear jackets adorned with veterans patches.

When Buquet was finished addressing Moffatt and Hanlon, he apologized to the Pallares family and said he was not happy with the way the city handled the matter. He also said the gold star banners, those that honor the fallen soldiers, should be modified. Buquet said not many people know what the gold star signifies and suggests the word "hero" be added to the 10 gold star banners in the city.

"I'm willing to fund the cost of the 10 banners. I'm hoping that, at least, helps," Buquet told the Pallares family. "It's my offer to put my money where my mouth is."

Mayor Dennis Michael said the proposed modification to gold star banners should be addressed by a subcommittee with input from families of the fallen soldiers.

The following is the full text of Mayor Dennis Michael's State of the City address, given earlier today at Etiwanda Gardens:

First, let me also acknowledge my colleagues; they are Mayor Pro Tem Sam Spagnolo, Council Members William Alexander, Chuck Buquet, and Diane Williams. We are all honored to serve you the business community and residents of Rancho Cucamonga.

And lastly, but certainly not the least, my wife Regina.

It's an honor to be here today to report on the State of our City. It's a great opportunity for us as elected officials to inform the citizenry on the progress, successes and future of Rancho Cucamonga.

Ice cream store Handel's has opened on Haven Avenue and 210 Freeway near Corky's. It's their soft opening; a grand opening will take place in coming weeks. The store boasts 48 different flavors. On Thursdays, cones for $1. At the Upland location, the $1 special is on Wednesdays.
 

 

Friday night is Black History Month cultural arts night at the Biane Library. From 7 to 9 p.m., there will be music, children's activities and a panel discussion by Lincoln scholars. You can also view the exhibit Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War, which will be on display through Feb. 17.

Librarians will lead an accelerated reader workshop for parents at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Archibald Library. Parents can learn how to use the library catalog to find accelerated reader books for their children. The workshop is free but reservations are required.

Information: 909-477-2720 

City leaders, former fire chiefs and nearby neighbors welcomed the opening of the long-awaited Hellman Avenue Fire Station during a dedication ceremony today.

"This station took years of planning and patience," said Mayor Dennis Michael, a former fire chief. "We never lost sight of this fire station and I'm extremely proud of that."

Located on Hellman Avenue south of Hillside Road, the seventh fire station in the city is equipped to battle hillside fires in the Alta Loma neighborhood.

City leaders have been planning for this northwest fire station since the early 1970s. But with growth concentrated on the east side, the Alta Loma station got put on the back burner.

During today's ceremony, Fire Chief Mike Bell read a portion of a newspaper article from 1972 that quoted then Fire Chief Gene Billings predicting a northwest station by 1977.

"A funny thing happened on the way to this fire house," Bell said. "Rancho Cucamonga had a tremendous spurt of growth out toward the east part of the community and we were fortunate enough to build several fire stations out there."

In attendance at the ceremony was former fire chief Peter Bryan, former city manager Jack Lam and Esther Billings, wife of the former fire chief.

"He wasn't here to see it finally come to fruition," said Rick Billings, son of Gene Billings.

"He would have been pleased," said Esther Billings. "His family worked to build the city's first fire station."

Rick Billing's grandfather, Gordon Billings, also helped start the community's first volunteer fire department.

The Hellman Avenue Fire Station is staffed 24 hours a day with a three-person crew. A fire engine specially designed to fight hillside brush fires is stationed there.

In 2009, I wrote about the rivalry between two Pomona Mediterranean restaurants serving a nearly identical menu and located in the same strip mall. The "kebob war" was between Aladdin Jr. and The Mirage; both owners had unkind words for the other.

Later that year, The Mirage owner John Hassan sold his restaurant and went on to open Ali Baba down the street on Foothill Boulevard in Claremont. Ali Baba closed in December.

In 2010, I wrote about bike shop Cyclery USA opening in the same Rancho Cucamonga plaza as Competitive Edge. Allegations of back-stabbing and unethical practices were lobbed.

Surprisingly, there have been developments in both stories.

The Mirage, which has changed owners several times since Hassan left, has changed ownership once again and this time, the new owners have changed its name. But much to the chagrin of Aladdin Jr. owner Kal Halik, the new Palms Palace also serves a near identical menu of kabobs, hummus and hookah.

Meanwhile, Competitive Edge has moved shop to Foothill and Ramona, as stated in today's business page article. Owner Mark Ceccarelli said the property manager raised his rent a whopping 40 percent.

I could not get additional information on this alleged rent hike. When I called the property manager, he said, "I decline to comment and I would like to discontinue this call." (Click.)  

At 81 pages, Wednesday's City Council agenda packet was the thinnest in memory. It weighed less than an iPad.

Packets in past months have been as thick as 700+ pages.


According to the city manager's office, the city has saved 900 reams of paper, or $10,000, after buying iPads for the council and enacting other paper-saving measures.

City Attorney Jim Markman once stated the iPad changed his life.

But Councilman Bill Alexander, the Luddite on the council, said, "I hate it."

Alexander prefers his council agenda packet in paper form. He likes dealing with highlighters and sticky notes.

"I guess I'm just old-fashioned," he said. 

Alexander also hates e-mails and text messages.

"I don't get any excitement over the typed word," Alexander said.

I wonder if that applies to newspapers.

I wonder if "Rancho Cucamonga" will be uttered on television Sunday during the Super Bowl.

This year's big game has two local connections -- Patrick Chung of the New England Patriots and Terrell Thomas of the New York Giants. Both are from Rancho Cuamonga High School, as mentioned in sports editor Louis Brewster's column this week. Too bad Thomas is injured.

On Wednesday, Mayor Dennis Michael commended the talents of the local athletes.

"I for one am going for the New York Giants," Michael said.

"I'm for the Patriots," Spagnolo said.

"What's the over-under?" wondered Councilman Chuck Buquet.

Again, a council divided.

City Hall staff members recently took down the signs, flags and other adornment hung on a street pole bearing the military banner of Ronnie Pallares. The items were placed there by family and friends to memorialize Pallares, the 19-year-old Army combat engineer who died in Afghanistan in 2010. Since his death, the Haven Avenue street pole has been adorned with flowers, Christmas lights and other sentimental items. The picture at right shows the pole before the items were taken away.

Although Pallares' mother, Brenda Pallares, does not object to the city's actions, Pallares' uncle, grandmother and other relatives are hurt and upset.

On Wednesday, City Council gadfly Jim Moffatt blasted the city for removing the items, which have since been returned to the family.

"He gave his life for the country," Moffatt said. "I don't see any reason for that not to be up."

Moffatt suggested the sentimental decorations remain until the Freedom Courtyard is built. Freedom Courtyard is a planned veterans memorial at Central Park. Construction for the project is expected to begin this summer.

Public Works Services Director Bill Wittkopf said it's a matter of public safety, particularly if the items spill out into the sidewalk or are blown away by high winds. He said memorials can typically be up for no longer than 30 to 45 days.

"The city does not mean any disrespect," Wittkopf said.

Pallares' uncle, Vince Pallares, did not address the council but shouted to Wittkopf from the audience, "If your son dies, I'll give you 30 days to mourn."

Later during the meeting, Councilman Bill Alexander said he would like staff to identify a place in the city where families can go and mourn or honor military personnel until the Freedom Courtyard is built.

"We owe it to those people who served the military, particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice," Alexander said. "We can't put a time frame on how long people grieve."

"I don't disagree," said Mayor Dennis Michael and directed the city manager to locate such a site.

Construction workers this week erected the walls for the new Public Works Services Center, putting them a step closer to completing the new City Yard project.

Public Works Services Director Bill Wittkopf said work on the project, which broke ground in June, has been going well with very few rain delays.

"We're happy that the weather is cooperative," Wittkopf said. "A significant amount of the underground work is done. We're transitioning to the above-ground improvements and starting to see the structure taking form."

The $10.8 million project, located on Lion Street, will also include a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. It is expected to be complete by December.

If you get a call from a firefighter asking for money, chances are, it's a scam.

Kelley Donaldson, spokeswoman of the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District, said firefighters do not solicit donations through the phone. Lately, residents and businesses have received calls from an organization claiming it is representing local firefighters and seeking donations. If you receive such a call, contact the fire district at 909-477-2770 to verify.