May 2009 Archives

   Family Awareness Resources will host the 2009 Inland Empire Home-Based Business Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 30 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario.  According to a news release, the free event will feature hundreds of small businesses and work-at-home opportunities.  Space is still available for vendors and sponsors.  More information: (951) 229-8275.

   The California Housing Finance Agency has announced the expansion of a program to help first-time home buyers purchase foreclosed homes.  The program, which previously included a small portion of San Bernardino County, now includes all of it as well as Riverside County, according to a news release.

   Under the Community Stabilization Home Loan Program, first-time home buyers are eligible for a low fixed-rate loan and 100 percent loan-to-value to purchase foreclosed homes.   According to the release, several financial institutions have partnered in the program and offer sales prices on certain properties dramatically reduced from the current value.

   The homes must fall at or under the housing agency's sales price limits.  Families must meet income requirements.

   More information: www.calhfa.ca.gov/homeownership/programs/

   The Chino Chamber of Commerce has canceled the golf tournament it had planned for May 4. According to a statement from the chamber, the cancellation is due to low golfer registration.  "The uncertain economy combined with the large number of new golf tournaments has created too much competition for golfers," the statement said.

   Three Inland Empire residents have become independent consultants with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct-sales company: 

   Laurie Novak of Alta Loma, lrnvk@yahoo.com

   Debra Willenbring of Riverside, debra_willenbring@yahoo.com

   Sandi Prigge of San Dimas, carlsbadgirl2@verizon.net

   More information: www.tastefullysimple.com

   The California New Car Dealers Association announced that registrations of new cars and light trucks declined 43 percent in the first quarter of 2009 versus the same period a year earlier.  California new vehicle registrations totaled 231,726 units in the first quarter of the year, well below the nearly 600,000 total recorded in the third quarter of 2005.  If the trend continues, the state is in danger of might selling fewer than 1 million units might be sold in the state this year -- something that has not happened since 1975.

   The Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce will host its 13th annual "Spring Swing" golf tournament at noon May 12 at the Sierra Lakes Golf Course, 16600 Clubhouse Drive, Fontana.  Cost: $150 for individual golfers; $580 per foursome.

   Information: Stacey Sullens, (909) 987-1012, or e-mail stacey@ranchochamber.org

   Germania Governmental Affairs Corp. and San Bernardino County's Economic Development Agency will be hosting a conference "aimed at coordinating and focusing the needs of the public and private sectors along the Interstate 10 corridor through the Inland Empire," according to a news release.  The event will be June 4 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.  Sponsors are still being sought.

   Information: (951) 321-3332 or www.i10corridor.com

   Inland Valley Chapter 140 of the National Association of Women In Construction will hold its annual Construction Industry Showcase at 6 p.m. May 14 at Pomona Valley Mining Co., 1777 W. Gillette Road, Pomona.  According to a news release, the event will honor scholarship recipients from area colleges who are majoring in construction-related programs, high school students who participated in the association's National Education Foundation Cad/Design Drafting Competition and grade-school pupils who participated in the Block Kids Contest.

   Cost: $45 if prepaid; $50 at the door.  Reservations are required by May 11.  Information: Deloris Whelchel, (909) 987-5575 or (909) 982-7911.

   San Bernardino-based Stater Bros. Markets has been rated as the best place to shop for groceries among full-service supermarket chains in Southern California in the May issue of a leading national consumer magazine, according to a company news release.  Stater Bros. was ranked No. 11 in the nation.  According to the release, the ratings were based on responses from more than 32,000 readers about their experiences at 59 of America's leading supermarket chains, supercenters and warehouse clubs. Each chain was rated for prices, service, cleanliness and perishables.

   IDS USA, a branch of Hong Kong-based distribution services provider IDS Group, has leased the 645,000-square-foot AMB Galleano Distribution Center in Mira Loma, according to a news release.  AMB Property Corp. signed IDS to a five-year term, set to commence in June.  Steve Sperber, John Isaacs, Walt Chenoweth and Frank Geraci with CB Richard Ellis represented IDS.  Tim O'Rourke and Mike Fowler of Jones Lang LaSalle, along with Mike McCrary of Colliers International, handled the deal for AMB.

   Diverse Careers Inc. will hold a career fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 222 N. Vineyard Ave., Ontario.  According to the news release, job seekers and employers are encouraged to participate.  The event is free for job seekers.  Employers interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the event are asked to contact Marcel Abandonato at (951) 479-1350.

   Information: Online at www.diversecareers.com

   Pacific Citadel has purchased the two-acre parcel at 12147 Industrial Blvd. in Victorville from a private seller for $2.95 million, according to costar.com. The buyer is in the process of building a full-service car wash and will be doing business as Victorville Speedwash. AJ Rassamni of Coldwell Banker Premier represented the seller. Stanley Baumann of Power Business Solution represented the buyer.

   Corona-based Vineyard National Bancorp has announced that trading on the company's common stock has been suspended as of April 27, and the company has been delisted from the. According to a news release, Vineyard received a letter on April 16 notifying it that the failure to pay its annual listing fee "constituted a failure to satisfy the filing requirement for continued listing."  The letter indicated that the stock will not be immediately eligible to trade on the OTC Bulletin Board or in the "Pink Sheets."

   Also, according to the release, the company received a letter on April 17 from NYSE Amex LLC, advising it that trading in the company's preferred stock was suspended as of April 22 and automatically defaulted to the Pink Sheets under the new ticker, VNBC.PK.

   Grilled peanut butter sandwiches and a biweekly farmers market earned Scotty's Convenience Store and Grill at UC Riverside the 2009 Best in the Business award for excellence in marketing and merchandising from the National Association of College and University Food Services, according to a news release.  The university will receive a commemorative plaque honoring Scotty's achievement and complimentary registration to the 2009 NACUFS Neighborhood Market Retail Workshop preconference event in July.

   Blastrac NA recently announced that that Aramsco has been selected distributor for its Diamatic brand and will be serving the territory of Southern California and adjoining states from Aramsco's Ontario location. Aramsco also has hired Karl Lloyd, who founded the Blastrac line. According to the news release, "Aramsco will handle a complete range of products and stock, from shot blasters, grinders and polishers, to consumables and dust collectors."

   Ingen Technologies Inc., a medical-device manufacturer based in Yucaipa, has seen orders from existing partners and new home oxygen providers increase by more than 200 percent in the past 30 days, according to a recent news release.  The company received a second bulk purchase order from Qosina Corporation on April 3, and a third order for triple the quantity of Oxyviews on April 16, according to Ingen Technologies. In addition, the release states that there have been an increase in Oxyview sales over the past 30 days from new providers and online patient purchasing, including Summit Home Medical and CHAMPS Medical.

   According to a report released by the California Building Industry Association, 3,317 permits were pulled throughout California during the month of March, down 31 percent when compared to the same month a year ago but up 39 percent from February.  In March, single-family permits totaled 1,790, down 43 percent when compared to March 2008 but up 37 percent from February.  Multifamily permits totaled 1,572, down 10 percent from the same month a year ago but up 41 percent from February.

   Financial Executives International Inland Empire Chapter recently presented three area university students with academic awards to help them pursue their careers in accounting and finance, according to a news release.  The presentations were made to Mollie Amkraut, a junior at Claremont McKenna College, Shixian (Susan) Wang, a junior at California Baptist University, and Angeline Kornelus, a junior at Cal Poly Pomona.  They received the awards on Wednesday at the chapter's sixth annual Academic Awards Banquet on April 22 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario.

   The chapter itself was recognized at the banquet as being the No. 1 small chapter in the nation for 2009.  Dwight Strole, president of the chapter, will receive an award on behalf of the chapter this week at the organization's national convention in Dallas.

   Information: ie.financialexecutives.org

   Hillwood has leased 141,650 square feet in the Westgate Building One in its AllianceCalifornia development in San Bernardino to Interline Brands Inc., a distributor and direct marketer of maintenance, repair and operations products.  According to a news release, Interline Brands will distribute its products to Southern California and other regions from the new facility.  The facility also will have a counter for local customers.  The building is at 310 S. Tippecanoe St.

   Interline Brands was represented by John McDaniel of Mohr Partners in Dallas, Texas.  Hillwood was represented by Peter B. McWilliams, Ruben Goodsell and Michael McCrary of Colliers International in Ontario.

   Inland Valley Chapter No. 140 of the <MC>National Association of Women In Construction will hold its annual Construction Industry Showcase on May 14 at Pomona Valley Mining Co., 1777 W. Gillette Road, Pomona.  According to a news release, the 6 p.m. event will honor scholarship recipients from local colleges who are majoring in construction-related programs, local high school students who participated in the association's National Education Foundation Cad/Design Drafting Competition and grade-school pupils who participated in the Block Kids Contest.  Cost: $45 if prepaid; $50 at the door.  Reservations are required by May 11.

   Information: Deloris Whelchel, (909) 987-5575 or (909) 982-7911.

   Lenders Who Care, a nonprofit organization of mortgage-lending professionals, will hold a seminar on first-time homeownership and understanding the new $8,000 federal tax benefit. The class will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 6 at the Upland Library, 460 N. Euclid Ave. The event is free and there will be no sales.

   Information: (877) 811-1592 or www.lenderswhocare.org

   Fontana's Community Assistance Program will offer a seminar on "Understanding Your Credit Report and Score" from 7 to 9 p.m. May 28 at the Cypress Center, 8380 Cypress Ave.  According to a news release, the seminar aims to educate consumers on how to develop good financial habits.  It will be given by Springborad Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management.  Information: (909) 463-0103, ext. 198; or www.fontanacap.org

   Linda-Marie Sundstrom, an assistant professor in the department of health sciences education, and part of the College of Allied Health Professions at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar for 2009 - 10.  WesternU now has three such honorees with connections to the university.  Earlier this month, Beatrice Saviola, associate professor of microbiology, and Judge Maureen Duffy-Lewis, a member of the WesternU board of trustees member since 2004, were named Fulbright honorees.  Sundstrom will travel to the Ukraine in February to teach and conduct research.

   The Women's Council of Realtors is forming a new chapter in the Inland Empire. The chapter will cover Redlands, Highland, Yucaipa, Rialto, Fontana, San Bernardino, Colton, Grand Terrace, Loma Linda, Calimesa, Cherry Valley, Beaumont and Banning.

   The organization is a "networking and business resource tool geared toward women in real estate and real-estate related fields," according to the Web site.  The group will meet once a month for a lunch featuring an industry-related speaker. The first meeting was held on April 24.

   Information: www.war.org

   The University of Phoenix and Goodwill San Bernardino are hosting a free Career and Education Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the Goodwill's administrative campus, 8120 Palm Lane.  Job-seekers are encouraged to dress professionally as on-site interviews will be available.  Goodwill is offering a free resume-writing workshop.

   Information: Monique Anderson at (310) 903-1462 or Chris Orantes at (909) 890-1415, ext. 202.

   The San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County announced this week that it received $15.8 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  According to a news release, a bout $7 million will be used for youth work readiness programs and about $8 million to provide services to adults and laid-off workers.

   The funds are being distributed to workforce investment boards throughout the nation, and each area's allocation is calculated based on its unemployment numbers or need.

   Information: www.sbcounty.gov/WIB