April 2009 Archives

The theme for the State of the City address on Wednesday was "Back to basics" -- to focus on the small things in life that many people take for granted.

Mayor John Pomierski's inspiration for the theme came from an Allstate auto insurance commercial, which was played for attendees at the event at City Hall.

"Back to basics -- that is our mantra for the next year," Pomierski said.

During his speech, Pomierski spoke about efforts being made to reduce the impact of cuts to the city budget. He cited the economic downturn as a motivator for getting budget issues settled and not having them impact the quality of life of residents.

In the next two years, about $4 million in cuts will be made to the city budget, Pomierski said.

"Although the economy has slipped into a recession, Upland as a corporation and as our hometown continues to chug along in positive territory," he said. "We employ a basic business model -- that being, we run the city as if we owned it."

Some of the city's accomplishments in the past couple of years were on display in the Civic Center parking lot.

A $1 million, 100-foot ladder truck acquired last year by the city was parked outside City Hall. The ladder was fully extended and an American flag tied to it blew in the wind.

During his speech, Pomierski mentioned several of the city's recent accomplishments and highlights.

They included:

-- Taking responsibility of Foothill Boulevard and Euclid Avenue from Caltrans.

-- Completing the rehabilitation of the gazebo in downtown and attracting new businesses to the area.

-- Requesting funds for a groundwater-recharge project and children's library.

-- About $1.5 million in sales-tax revenues was generated this year by the Colonies
Crossroads project and its new businesses are expected to open in the shopping center.

-- College Park, a 40-acre residential and retail community at Monte Vista Avenue and Arrow Highway, will be completed in 2010, Pomierski said.

-- The 19,000-square-foot Upland Animal Services Shelter and Fire Station #4 at the Colonies Crossroads shopping center are also scheduled to be completed in the next few months.

-- The city is also working on its first revision to the city General Plan in nearly 30 years.

-- The 57-acre regional sports park at Baseline Road and the 210 Freeway will include a 42-acre specific plan, which includes a mix of residential and retail uses.

"Staff has obtained clean fill materials at no charge to the city," Pomierski said.
"This effort alone will save nearly $3 million in general fund costs."

Pomierski also discussed a salary freeze that was placed on city employees for at least one year.

"It is my hope that you, our residents and business owners, will accept this significant gesture of goodwill by our employees as their appreciation and commitment to you," Pomierski said.

A town hall meeting was suppose to follow Pomierski's speech, however, no questions were asked.

The audience then retreated to the Carnegie Library where food and beverages were served.

Larry Sharp was diagnosed with Colon and Bile Duct cancer over two years ago.

Today, he is cancer free.

Sharp, president and CEO of San Bernardino-based Arrowhead Credit Union, will be sharing his survivor story with Relay For Life participants Saturday in Magnolia Park.

"You should be positive about the treatment and what you're doing because you can beat cancer."

Relay For Life of Upland will be a culmination of celebrating, remembering and fighting back, with 300-400 expected participants and about 17 informational booths.

This is Sharp's first time speaking at a Relay For Life and he hopes to help reinforce the successes of those who have beat the disease, he said.

"Cancer patients spend a lot of hours in chemotherapy and it's always interesting to see and talk to numerous people who are there and talk to them about their cancer and how they're doing and building those relationships with them," Sharp said. "Then I'm always amazed at in the community the number of people who had cancer of one sort or another and have been cured."

The relay begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and concludes 9 a.m. Sunday.

"I'm really interested in the relay and how the event is structured and the way it really brings focus to those folks that weren't as fortunate and really we don't want to lose the opportunity to remember them," Sharp said. "The Luminaria ceremony certainly does that and I'm looking at trying to support those folks that are in the middle of the battle."

Luminaria bags will be available to purchase for $10. Candles are placed inside the bags and then set around the track before the Luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m.

The candles will be lit to light the track, where participants will walk during all hours of the event.

"It's an opportunity for people to remember loved ones lost and also to honor people that are fighting cancer right now," said Richard Phillips, communications and event director for the relay.

Phillips' is helping out with the event for the first time after participating in a Relay For Life in Fullerton.

"After I attended that event I was really enthusiastic about doing something philanthropic and helping out," said Phillips, who will be participating in the event as well.

"Our committee has been really great about getting together, communicating through e-mail and phone. It's a lot of communication but it's been really great experience and I think we should have a really great turn out."

Participants will walk around the clock and can stop at any of the informational booths set up around the track to learn about different types of cancer.

The Upland High School cheer squad, a marshal arts demonstration and musical performances throughout the event.

Pizza will be delivered at Midnight.

Registration cost is $10 and participants can register at the event or online at www.relayforlife.org/uplandca.

Eight women in the Pacific Lifeline program will be pampered on Mother's Day, May 9, compliments of La Bella Salon & Day Spa and Virtue 31 Nail Boutique in Upland.

Each woman will receive a chair massage, hand and food treatment, relaxing shampoo, head massage, haircut and style.

Pacific Lifeline is not an emergency shelter; it is a transitional home for women who were self-supporting and now find themselves in a crisis situation.

The purpose of its program is to eliminate the threat of chronic homelessness for women and their children. Residents are encouraged to look at their stay as an opportunity to create a better future for themselves and their families.

Unlike traditional shelters, Pacific Lifeline provides a holistic solution to the growing problem of chronic poverty and homelessness through a variety of practical and emotional support services which empower women and give them the skills they need to support themselves and their children. 

Pacific Lifeline is making a difference in southern California by reducing the number of families needing welfare and shelter assistance.

For more information on the event call La Bella Salon (909) 982-8821.  For information regarding donations to Pacific Lifeline call (909) 931-2624.

There will be an Upland Unified School District board meeting at 7 p.m. at Citrus Elementary School.

The district's telephone number is (909) 985-1864.

View the agenda here.

Citrus Elementary School is located at 925 W. 7th Street in Upland.


View Citrus Elementary School in a larger map

The shelves at Foothill Family Shelter are almost empty in their food pantry and they need your help.

They are in need of canned food and boxed dinners.

Any low-income individual is eligible to access this resource.

Last month alone they had 317 families and individuals come in for food.  

Food can be brought in from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The office is closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. Foothill Family Shelter is located at 1501 W. Ninth Street, Suite D. For more information call (909) 920-5568.

Supermarket gift cards can be donated and checks are to be made out to FFS Food Pantry.

Food can also be dropped off at the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce Office, 7945 Vineyard Ave. Suite D-5. 

Mayor John Pomierski will discuss the city's future at 6 p.m. tomorrow during the 2009 Upland State of the city address at Upland City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Ave.

Residents will have a chance to ask Pomierski questions regarding Upland programs and services during a town hall meeting following the address.

A reception will be held for the public to join city officials for food and beverages in the Carnegie Library, 123 E D. Street.

Rehabilitation of the city's first fire station appears to be moving forward.

The station, located next door to the Carnegie Library building, was built in 1915 and will be restored to its original condition.

Memorabilia such as antique fire equipment and photographs will be housed inside the building.

The project is expected to be completed in January, said Upland City Manager Robb Quincey.

"This is all about doing what we've done elsewhere in the city and that is maintaining the unique historic relevance of buildings in this town," Quincy said. "It's a big commitment, but we think it's well worth it to remember some of the things that were important to the incorporation of the city."

The city has also managed to track down the original fire engine ordered for the station in the early 1900s.

"I thought, my God I can't believe that, what is the chance of that happening?" Quincey said. "So we negotiated a really great deal and now we're renovating that. We'll have that probably present inside the facility, so it's not only the facility, but a lot of the apparatuses used during that period."

During the rehabilitation process workers discovered the original brick that makes up the exterior walls.

"That brick would be really hard to match, it's almost 100 years old," said Mayor John Pomierski. "When you get lucky like that and pop the outside off and what's underneath is in real good shape, it's pretty gratifying and exciting."

Photos taken of the Upland Lemon Festival by staff photographer Jennifer Cappuccio Maher can be viewed at The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Web site here.

The Upland Chamber of Commerce will have its first Friday of the month meeting at 7 a.m. May 1.

The meeting is sponsored by Upland Town Square and will be at the Doubletree Hotel, 555 W. Foothill Blvd. in Claremont.

Guests need to RSVP by Tuesday April 28.

The meeting will give guests a chance to network and make business connections.

Jan and Neal Larsen-Palmer of Communication Excellence Institute will be the guest speakers.

Driving through downtown Upland Monday morning it was hard to tell that over 100,000 people had been in the area all weekend, said David Jackson, executive director of Main Street Upland - the organization in charge of events in downtown.

"It was phenomenal," Jackson said. "Record breaking, literally."

Store owners also reported recording breaking individual day sales, he said.

The 12^th Annual Lemon Festival in downtown Upland stretched from A Street, the southern end of downtown, up to the Upland Fire Station on 2^nd Avenue.

A children's fair kept the kids busy, with pony and elephant rides and a petting zoo. Small children could be seen speedily climbing up a rock climbing wall also in the children's fair.

Carnival rides and games were set up along 1st Avenue.

The U.S. Marshals reenacted scenes from the old West and Native American drums could be heard from nearby Tee Pees.

Kimberly Caldwell and Justin Guarini from the television show "American Idol" drew in about 3,000 people to the main stage, Jackson said.

Johnny Come Lately, Doo-Wah Riders and Hotel California, an Eagles cover band, performed.

Mustang Magic from Magnolia Elementary Schools, teams from Dance Dynamics as well as Moultrie Academy of Music, Voice and Dance performed.

"We really heard nothing but good things from the attendees," Jackson said. "We just about doubled in size this year and everybody loved it."

The record for the world's largest lemonade now belongs to a group of kids from Upland and surrounding areas. 

About 13,000 lemons were squeezed during the 12th Annual Lemon Festival in downtown Upland over the weekend by the tiny hands of kids who wanted their name on the world record.

"The kids had a blast," said David Jackson, executive director of Main Street Upland - the organization in charge of downtown events. "We don't have a final count of the number of volunteers, but there were approximately 500 kids."

The giant lemonade was 1,100 gallons.

The group is now waiting for the record to be certified through Guinness World Records.

A literacy trivia bee & silent auction will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Carnegie Cultural Center, 123 D Street in Upland, to support the Upland Public Library's literacy program

To find out how you can participate as a volunteer, a sponsor, a donor of goods or services, team player, or team supporter in the 8th annual fundraiser, call the Literacy office at (909) 931-4212.

The lemonade began flowing yesterday afternoon during the city's 12th Annual Lemon Festival in downtown Upland.

More than 250 vendors set up shop selling food, crafts, clothing, household items and everything in between.

An impressive lineup of bands, dance performances and contests will be taking the stage, either the "Community" or "Main" stages, until the festival concludes Sunday evening.

On Friday performers from Body Ritual and Troupe Melange entertained attendees, who may have also stopped to check out Eagles coverband, Hotel California.

Stores located in downtown are remaining open during festival hours to take advantage of the larger than typical crowd visiting the historic area.

"This is one of the best times for the retail in downtown this weekend," said David Jackson, executive director

of Main Street Upland - the organization in charge of events in downtown. "It's usually the annual record as far as sales go."

Younger attendees were filling the Children's fair area, where they can participate in elephant and pony rides as well as a petting zoo.

Attendees 21 years and older can quench their thirst in any of the three beer gardens.

The Lemon Festival concludes Sunday and is free to the public.

Downtown Upland is located at the cross streets of 9th Street and Second Avenue

The 2009 Upland State of the City address should give residents an optimistic outlook of the city's future.

Mayor John Pomierski will be addressing the city's accomplishments and goals at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Upland City Hall.

"We're hanging tough," Pomierski said. "It's not like the days of old where it was all doom and gloom for Upland and everybody else was thriving, we're actually hanging tough and moving forward."

Part of the Mayor's address will likely touch on unpleasant news such as budget shortfalls and taxes, Pomierski said.

"Good news is we're not going to be laying anybody off," he said.

Pomierski said he will also discuss "the benefits of our frugal ways over the last six or seven years...we have been putting money away for a rainy day."

Pomierski will share information with residents about new development entering the city in the near future.

Construction of the first phase of a housing development just south of the city's Sports Park on Baseline Road is expected to begin in the near future.

Residents can also expect the appearance of Best Buy, Nordstrom Rack and BevMo! in the Colonies Crossroads Shopping Center, which Pomierski will address.

A town hall forum will follow the address. Residents will have an opportunity to ask the Mayor any questions regarding city programs as services.

Upland City Manager Robb Quincey will also be available to answer questions, Pomierski said.

Following the town hall meeting, residents can join city officials in the Carnegie for food and beverages.

The state of the city is sponsored by Burrtec Waste Industries. Food and beverages will be provided by Spaggi's Restaurant and J.D. Allison's in Upland.

The Upland Unified School District has rescinded 48 of the 76 lay off notices sent to teachers in March.

Teachers who will be able to return to work in the Fall were notified last week.

The 48 teachers hold various positions at the elementary school, junior high and high school level, said Sherri Black, assistant superintendent of Human Resources for the Upland Unified School District.

Three factors led to the ability to rescind 48 notices.

The district was able to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the teachers association on class size and there will be an increase of two students per classroom in grades 4-12, Black said.

The district will also be staffing classes in grades K-3 at a 24 to one ratio.

"Then the other piece is the retirements. I was able to use the retirements we had gotten from our early retirement plan and some of those I"m not going to have to back fill," Black said. "If an art teacher retires and I'm not eliminating an art position I can back fill with a teacher that was laid off."

Upland Unified participated in a lay off hearing Monday with an administrative law judge to determine if the district is laying off the correct people.

Results of the hearing will not be known until May, Black said.

For the first time in Lemon Festival history an attempt will be made to make the world's largest lemonade.

500 boys and girls are needed to squeeze 14,000 lemons into a large cup, whose names will be listed in the Guinness World Record Book.

This will happen during the 12th Annual Lemon Festival from noon to 7 p.m. tomorrow, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

To sign up visit the Main Street Upland office located at 136 E. 9th Street in downtown Upland or call (909) 949-4499 for more information.

Get the sign up sheet here.

Here's the schedule of Lemon Festival events. The festival runs Friday April 24 from noon until 9 p.m., Saturday April 25 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday April 26 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS       
     
Friday, April 24

1:00pm     Mommy and Me
       
2:30pm     DJ
       
5:00pm     Smokin Gun
       
6:00pm     Idol Semi FInal
       
7:45pm     Reno Jones
       
8:30pm     Hotel California
       
Saturday, April 25

10:00am DJ
       
11:15am Remember Then
       
12:30pm Johnny Come Lately
       
2:15pm     COLD SHOT
       
4:00pm     Sound Check Kimberly Caldwell & Justin Guarini
       
5:00pm     Backstreet
       
6:00pm     City of Upland, Biggest Loser
       
6:15pm     Lemon Idol
       
8:00pm     Kimberly Caldwell and Justin Guarini
       
Sunday, April 26

11:00am Fiasco (Formerly Understated)
       
12:15pm Ziv
       
1:30pm     The Cords
       
2:45pm     Body Rituals
       
4:00pm     Mainstream Band
       
5:15pm     The Outlaws of Physics
       
6:30pm     Doo Wah Riders
       
8:00pm     Better Chemistry

The 12th Annual Lemon Festival begins at noon tomorrow.

Here's the schedule for the community stage performances as listed on the Lemon Festival Web site: http://www.lemonfestival.org/.

COMMUNITY STAGE      
      
Friday April 24

3:00pm     TBA
       
4:00pm     Red Dragon Karate
       
5:00pm     Body Ritual
       
6:00pm     Body Ritual
       
7:00pm     Troupe Melange' (belly dance)
       
8:00pm     TBA (Band)
       
Saturday April 25

10:00am     Mustang Magic
       
10:10am     Pop Warner Cheerleaders
       
10:15am     Upland Elementary Jazz Band (needs 15 chairs)
       
11:00am     TBA
       
Noon     Moultrie Academy of Music, Voice and Dance
       
1:00pm     Moultrie Academy of Music, Voice and Dance
       
2:00pm     Moultrie Academy of Music, Voice and Dance
       
3:00pm     Dance Dynamics
       
4:00pm     Dance Dynamics
       
5:00pm     Troupe Melange'
       
6:00pm     Irish Dimensions
       
7:00pm     English Country Dancing
       
8:00pm     Club Harv (Band)
       
9:00pm     Club Harv
       
Sunday April 26

11:00am     TBA
       
Noon     Moultrie Academy of Music, Voice and Dance
       
1:00pm     Moultrie Academy of Music, Voice and Dance
       
2:00pm     Moultrie Academy of Music, Voice and Dance
       
3:00pm     Red Dragon Karate
       
4:00pm     Ice Breakers (Kids Band)
       
5:30pm     TBA (Band) 

The Upland Chamber of Commerce will have an economic development forum at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow at the chamber office.

This open forum meets monthly with city and school representatives to discuss issues that affect the vitality of the Upland business community. This forum's purpose is to create and support a positive business climate.

The chamber office is located at 215 N. Second Ave. in downtown Upland.

For more information call the chamber at (909) 204-4465.

The Upland Chamber of Commerce is having a business expo in conjunction with the Lemon Festival in downtown Upland.

Lemon Festival hours:

Friday April 24: noon to 9 p.m.
Saturday April 25: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday April 26: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Cost to participate in the business expo is $260 to $550, however attendance and participation in the festival is free to the public.

For more information on the expo call the Upland Chamber of Commerce at (909) 204-4465.

The chamber is located at 215 N. Second Ave. Suite D in downtown Upland.

To view the full schedule of Lemon Festival events visit: http://lemonfestival.org/

This year's Upland Lemon Festival is going to be bigger than ever.

Attendees will have plenty to enjoy such as live bands, two "American Idol" contestants, carnival rides, 250 vendors and community performances.

"There is something for everyone," Lemon Festival chairman Mark Hill said. "If they can't find something to do at the Lemon Festival, it probably doesn't exist."

Hill expects more than 100,000 people to attend the 12th annual festival in \downtown Upland.

"It was time to step up because we were to capacity last year," Hill said. "We can get a little more spread out, but not too much - just about to the maximum capacity the downtown area can hold."

Hotel California, an Eagles cover band; Justin Guarini and Kimberly Caldwell of "American Idol" fame; and Doo-Wah Riders will perform on the main stage.

The Lemon Festival Idol finals -- a local "American Idol" contest -- will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on the main stage.

Local acts will perform on the community stage all three days.

Parking, admission and the entertainment are free.

"You're going to see a lot more families and people looking for things that don't cost a lot of money, it doesn't cost you to participate," Hill said. "There's a lot of free things and, with this economy, you'll see a lot of people taking advantage of that."

For the first time, festival attendees will have a chance to be part of an attempt to make the world's largest lemonade from more than 13,000 lemons.

Festival officials are still looking for 300 young people to sign up and help hand squeeze the lemons.

"All the kids will get their names on the record," said David Jackson, executive director of Main Street Upland -- the organization that operates downtown Upland. "That's kind of the cool part and we want to share that will Upland kids and the local community as well."

The festival begins at noon Friday and concludes Sunday.

Downtown Upland is at the cross streets of 9th Street and Second Avenue.

Information: http://www.lemonfestival.org/

Toastmasters Route 66 Club meets the first and third Friday of each month at 7 p.m. at the International House of Pancakes.

The club is a place where people can overcome fear of public speaking and gain self-confidence.

International House of Pancakes is located at 80 N. Euclid Ave. in Upland.

The club welcomes visitors.

For more information call (909) 949-0814.

UPLAND - Just because many Upland High School students can't yet afford to buy a car, doesn't mean they can't start thinking about it.

With hybrid cars from Metro Honda, Citrus Motors, Mountain View Chevrolet and Tesla Motors on display in the school's quadrangle on Tuesday, it was hard for students not to stop and check them out.

Migue Dominguez, 16, went a step further by signing a petition encouraging auto dealers to pay more attention to electric vehicles.

"If people are active with their voice, then the consumers can be heard," said Migue, as he was admiring a red Tesla roadster parked in the quad.

The roadster was brought to the campus as part of a display by Plug In America. The nonprofit advocates the use of plug-in cars, trucks and sports-utility vehicles.

"We're in constant contact with auto dealers to get them inspired to get electric cars out on the road now," said Linda Nicholes, co-founder of Plug In America. "We need to see electric vehicles in the showrooms so people can buy them."

The hybrid car display was part of a four-day Earth Week event at Upland High. The week is intended to get students interested in energy conservation and environmentally friendly technologies.

The week is meant to inspire awareness and appreciation for the earth's environment.

Read more here.

Dave Ficke, science teacher at Upland High School gives some tips on how to save energy:

• Move your refrigerator away from the stove, dishwasher, or heat vents. Make sure the door seals are airtight.
• Wait until your dishwasher is full before you run it but don't overload it.
• Match the water level and temperature settings on your washer to the size of your load.
• Don't fill the machine for just a few items.
• Clean your dryer lint filter before you put in a new load.
• Make sure your water heater is set to 120 degrees. Some thermostats are preset to 140 degrees, which can cost you more money.
• Replace your incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent bulbs - they use so little wattage which translates to saving money and they last for 10,000 hours.
• Bring your own recycled bags to the grocery store and do not use the plastic bags.
• Water your lawn in the evening or early morning and do not let water go into the streets.
• Lower your thermostat 2 degrees in the winter and raise it 2 degrees in the summer translates to saving on your electrical bill.
• Start a compost pile in your back yard and recycle your organic waste like egg shells.

The Governor's Council On Physical Fitness & Sports will present a $1,000 check to Upland Junior High School at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

The school won one of the council's Front Runner Recognition Awards.

Upland Junior High School is one of three Desert Sierra schools and one of 29 schools across the state that have been selected for leading the way in engaging students in physical activity as part of the 2009 Governor's Challenge Competition.

The Governor's Challenge Competition is a statewide fitness contest among k-12 schools that promotes increased physical activity and better health among California's youth.

With a soaring obesity epidemic and nearly three quarters of California youth unfit, Governor Schwarzenegger joined some of California's greatest sports legends in launching the Council in 2005.  The goal of the Council is to get Californians of all ages more active, setting the stage for California to become the nation's "Fitness State."

The Governor's Council Front Runner Recognition Awards, as well as the Governor's Challenge Regional Awards are being made possible by the support of CVS/pharmacy, a leading sponsor of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

The recognition ceremony and check presentation will be from 1 to 1:30 p.m. at Upland Junior High School located at 444 E. 11^th Street in Upland.

Upland Mayor John Pomierski will present the 2009 Upland state of the city address at 6 p.m. April 29 in the Upland City Council Chambers.

The address will be followed by a town hall meeting where residents can discuss any issues or ask any questions of the Mayor and city council regarding city programs and services.

There will not be a city council meeting Monday April 27 due to the scheduled town hall meeting.

A Mayor's reception will follow the event at the Carnegie Library, located at 123 E. D Street.

The reception will be catered by Chef Henry Gonzalez from Spaggi's Restaurant in Upland.

Both the address and reception are open to the public at no cost.

Burrtec Waste Industries, Spaggi's Restaurant and J.D. Allison's lent their financial support to the event at no cost to the city.

The Upland Chamber of Commerce is holding their annual membership luncheon April 23 at the Claremont Double Tree hotel.

The luncheon will be sponsored by Steven's Hope For Children, an Upland-based non-profit that helps sick children and their families.

Check in is 11 a.m. and the luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Cost is $25 per person with reservations by April 20 and $35 at the door.

The Claremont Double Tree is located at 555 W. Foothill Blvd. in Claremont.

For more information call the chamber at (909) 204-4465.

Tuesday April 21

Junior Varsity softball will play Alta Loma High School at 3:15 p.m. in Green Belt park. Green Belt is located at 1500 W. 15th Street in Upland.

Wednesday April 22

Frosh boys baseball will play Los Osos High School at 3:15 p.m.

Varsity boys baseball will play Los Osos High School at 3:15 p.m. in Memorial Park. Memorial Park is located at 1100 E. Foothill Blvd. in Upland.

Thursday April 23

Junior Varsity boys tennis will play Rancho Cucamonga High School at 3:15 p.m.

Varsity boys tennis will play Rancho Cucamonga High School at 3:15 p.m.

Varsity golf will play Rancho Cucamonga High School at 3:15 p.m. at the Upland Hills Country Club. The country club is located at 1231 E 16th St. in Upland.

Frosh/Soph softball will play Etiwanda High School at 3:15 p.m. in Green Belt Park.

Varsity softball will play Etiwanda High School at 3:15 p.m. in Green Belt Park.

Junior Varsity swim will compete against Rancho Cucamonga High School at 3:15 p.m.

Varsity swim will compete against Rancho Cucamonga High School at 3:15 p.m.

Friday April 24

Junior Varsity boys baseball will play Los Osos High School at 3:15 p.m. in Memorial Park.

CLAREMONT - To say Karen Winter has dedicated her life to Christian education would be an understatement.

With more than 35 years in education, a history of building Christian schools from the ground up and a lifetime of being involved with the church, Winter has become a leader in the world of Christian schools.

Winter is the superintendent of Western Christian Schools in Covina and Claremont, where she has been working for the school to acquire certain assets of Upland Christian Schools - an effort that she thinks may have been misunderstood by many parents.

"We don't always understand God's timing or why we go through challenges or different situations, and I haven't understood some of the challenges we've gone through or why some people misunderstood our intent," Winter said.

"I know my motives are pure, and our intent was very loving to the school or any of the parents or students."

Word of the acquisition leaked in September when it became known that the Anaheim District Church of the Nazarene approached Western Christian administrators about the sale.

Since then, many harsh words have been said about Winter and Western Christian Schools, which Winter says has caused equal pain for parents at Western Christian Schools.

"I think that I always have to be reminded that if I feel called to do whatever I'm called to do then I have to be unshakable," Winter said.

"Every single day, I have to stay focused as to what God has called me to do, and that's what I remind our staff about, too."

Shelley Marston transferred her children to Western Christian Schools this year from Upland Christian Schools.

"The unknown is always the scariest, and I think that's what a lot of people are dealing with, but what I have not understood is why Western has been made out to be the villain," Marston said.

"I think people who decide to stay will be very pleased. I think they will be very pleased with what they will get from Western. I think Western families tend to welcome you with completely open arms."

While Marston has concerns over Western Christian and Upland Christian Schools coming together, she said lack of clarity has never been an issue.

"She has answered any questions and had welcomed me anytime I had any further questions," Marston said about Winter. "She's been very helpful with my concerns about the two schools merging."

Winter became superintendent of Western Christian Schools in 2007.

"They had been on a national search. They had an interim superintendent, and they had been looking for about a year for a superintendent, purposefully looking for someone that was visionary, that would grow the school and had experience with building programs, vision and developing curriculum," Winter said.

"That's my strength, and that's what I've done at my last few schools, and so they called me and asked me if I would please come down and visit the school."

Winter said she was hesitant to move from her Northern California home in Vacaville where she had been superintendent of Vacaville Christian Schools for 17 years.

However, she fell in love with Southern California.

"I stepped foot on the campus, and I thought it was so beautiful and it was so peaceful and then the board shared the vision of what they had, and we prayed about it," Winter said. "We really prayed about it in our hearts, and it just meshed and was amazing. We fell in love. I love it down here."

Winter moved to Rancho Cucamonga with her husband of 36 years, Jack. They share two sons, Jonathan, 25, and Josh, 29.

Dalel Snider, parent of two sons at Western Christian High School, is a member of the schools' athletic booster club and has worked closely with Winter.

"Everything she has promised, she has delivered," Snider said. "We did not have a football field, and she promised we would have one and we did."

Snider said she views Winter as someone she can walk hand in hand with.

"It's really amazing what this woman has done. She really has transformed not just the buildings, but families and life," Snider said. "I have seen it in my kids. The way they get involved in all these things and how they've been helping the community as well. What she does is a mirror reflection of what all the kids are going to do."

When Winter graduated from Biola University, she had plans to be a public school teacher. But after the minister of her church, New Life Assembly in Corning, approached her about starting a school, her plans changed.

"I remember at first when the Lord said that's what he thought I should do, I started arguing saying I don't know if that's what I wanted to do," she said.

"It's hard for me to imagine now 36 years later that I could be passionate about doing anything else because I love it so much, and I'm so passionate about Christian education. I believe in it so much, and that's what I dedicated my whole life to doing ... and I love it."

Winter is the founder of Sonshine Christian Schools, Chico Christian Preschool and Vacaville Christian Schools' west campus for preschool through high school.

She has taught classes from preschool to college level, served as a mentoring teacher and trainer.

"I just love to speak and teach and train and be around teachers," Winter said. "I think when you're a teacher, you just love to teach and you love to be around other people who are excited about learning. You don't want to just be an administrator, you want to teach. That's what I started off doing, and I still love to teach and train."

Winter has also been a seminar leader for more than 30 years.

"People say I was effective in time management and asked me to speak on time management, and after that people started asking me to speak on other subject areas, and after a while churches and other schools started asking me to speak," Winter said.

"I'd get asked to speak at conferences, seminars and retreats, and your name gets out there and pretty soon people just say, `Speak on what you want to speak on, we just want you to speak."'

As a superintendent, Winter is involved in every aspect of Christian education.

"The superintendent has to wear all hats. You're the curriculum leader, you're the spiritual leader, you have to know the budgets, if you're growing a school you have to understand buildings and facilities, so there are a lot of hats that you're trying to juggle," Winter said.

One of the biggest challenges Winter says she is facing is the recession's impact on private education.

"Right now one of the biggest challenges obviously is the economy and yet wanting to provide the very best Christian education and wanting to make it affordable for people and wanting to make it affordable to people at all levels," Winter said.

"It's challenging because in Christian education and in private schools everyone makes less money, but we're raising the bar and we're expecting more, so that is a big challenge as well, but it's a challenge we consider a privilege."

Parents of students enrolled at Western Christian Schools were recently surveyed so administrations could find out why they chose Western.

The two top priorities were spirituality and academics.

"They put them in the survey as equal," Winter said. "So they listed them as exactly the same and right up underneath that was nurturing and safe environment. Those were the top four issues that were important and why they chose to put them in our school. They feel that's worth it."

The eight graders at Western Christian are four years above the national average, Winter said.

"It's worth the money to them because they're kids are so much further ahead," she said. "Post high school means they're past high school level in eighth grade."

Ninety to 95 percent of Western Christian Schools graduates get into the colleges of their choice, Winter said.

The parents "want them to be ready. It's very competitive," she said. "It's so much harder to get into college and so many kids now take AP (advanced placement) and they're not getting into the college of their choice, so they want every single opportunity to do that."

Winter has been married to her husband Jack for 36 years. They share two sons, Joshua, 29 and Jonathan, 25.

"We're very sports minded," Winter said. "We kayak as a family and my husband mountain bikes, so we mountain bike. We like to do a lot of sports together."

Winter said she also likes to snow ski and water ski, but most of all she loves to cook and entertain.

"I like to just entertain and have my family around and have company over and just have people around," she said. "I love to just have our faculty over and just entertain and be with other people."

Pastor Diego Mesa now sits on the board of directors for Upland Christian Academy.

Mesa started the Abundant Living Church in Rancho Cucamonga. He has since welcomed the new parent -formed school onto campus.

Q: How long have you been with Abundant Living?

A: Actually this Sunday was 15 years old as a church.

Q: How did you get involved with Abundant Living?

A: I was an assistant pastor of a church in Pomona and I was there for nine years. Then in 1994 we started our church.

Q: Why did you decide to build the church grounds in Rancho Cucamonga?

A: We were at our former property which is off of Utica and Haven and we were there about 12 years and then in 2000 we bought the property, but we recognized shortly that we would be outgrowing the property very quickly because we had so many multiple services, so the building wouldn't accommodate us anymore. Shortly after that we began to just look and canvas the area and then we bought the land somewhere. In 2002 we bought this property and then we began to build two years ago. Just out of growth and out of necessity we moved over here.

Q: What is it that brings so many people to Abundant Living?

A: Beyond the obvious, which is nothing more than Jesus - that's the obvious answer, but I want to be fair to your question because there are a lot of churches that say that too. Ultimately that is our foundation. That's our priority. That's our vision. That's our purpose, but I think there are other things, other factors if I can be humble enough to try and describe those because no on could probably be as accurate as only God would know. We preach a very relative message where people live and can connect with so that's really being fed or ministered to or getting good information every week to live out.

I think it's an environment that we create. The fact that whatever age you are, whatever culture you are, whatever background you are, here's a safe environment that really accepts you and loves you. I think it had to do with the various programs and activities we offer that is more than a Sunday morning message that can help people live their lives out Monday through Saturday wherever they are in life.

Whether they are being financially challenged or it's a blended family issue or they've got some job related problems, there's usually a program and activity here they can try and help them through those things and I just believe that church should be very fun and I think think it should be very exciting and I think it should be very purposeful.

Q: Why did you decide to allow Upland Christian Academy to come in?

A: Outside of ultimately saying I'm filling the lead of the Lord, filling the voice of God as much as i can hear the voice of God say that I should do this, that this was his will.

Ultimately that's what it was. You felt the impression, you felt the strong thoughts, you felt the feeling on the inside that this was God speaking to you. I look at it as us doing something for Upland as much as Upland doing something for us. As much as God giving us an opportunity to be what we are as a church, to really fulfill the vision of this church to finally now stand up and back up all the preaching we do on Sunday. If it say we're really here to help people we're really here to make a different. We're really here to find a need and take the lead.

Read more Friday in the Upland/Claremont city news.

Roger Nichols graduated from Upland High School in 1962 with his sights set on becoming a nuclear engineer.

But in 1969 he realized he belonged in the music business.

Nichols became a recording engineer and has won seven Grammy Awards for his work with the band Steely Dan and the musician John Denver.

"I enjoyed living out there and going to school at Upland," Nichols said.

Nichol's high school physics teacher ended up taking a class with him while he was a student at Oregan State University.

"The coolest thing about this teacher in Upland was he just made it really a lot of fun," Nichols said. "When we studied acceleration we would go out into the parking lot and have drag races. I went from there to being an operator at the nuclear power plant. Knowing about physics has helped me build things and eventually helped me in the music business, so it was good."

As a freshman at Upland, Nichols started experimenting with recorders because he didn't like the sound of stereos.

"I hated the clicks and pops," he said. "I hated that part. It got in the way of the music. I thought if I recorded my own stuff then I'd have copies without all the clicks and pops."

Nichols built a tape recorder and began recording with friends, including musician Frank Zappa.

"My mother knew his dad and before Frank Zappa was famous he would come over to my house and we would record guitars, just to see what it sounded like," Nichols said.

Nichols met the members of Steely Dan in 1970 and began recording their demos. Six of his seven Grammy Awards were for his Steely Dan recordings.

"It was like a little family," Nichols said. "We all decided on things together."

His seventh Grammy was for his work with John Denver, who became one of his closest friends.

"John came to be at the end of 1979 because he heard a lot of my recordings and liked the way they sounded. He said he wanted to make his records sound better and wanted to know if I was interested and I said yeah, maybe," Nichols said. "I kind of liked his songs, but I was never a big John Denver fan, but after I met him I was a big fan of them person. He was just the greatest guy."

Nichols began recording with Denver in 1980 and recorded all of his work until his death in October 1997.

Nichols' wife sang with Denver's band for nine years and toured while pregnant with their second daughter.

"They toured with her singing the background vocals right up to two weeks until Ashlee was born. She's a film editor now. In her resume it says she was on the John Denver tour 1985 in Utero, Nichols said. "She's a musician. She has perfect pitch and I think that's directly from spending three months before she was born on John Denver tours."

Denver was an avid flyer and owned many planes.

Nichols helped him pick out Denver's Long EZ - the last plane he flew.

"He had an apartment in Carmel and wanted to be able to fly from Aspen to Carmel," Nichols said. "So I helped him pick out a plane called the Long EZ. It's a kit plane and it's by Rutan."

Nichols and Denver started looking for used Long EZ planes.

"So we found one and then John and I went and looked at it," Nichols said. "Because he has a bunch of planes he had a full time mechanic, so he listened to his mechanic when he looked at the plane and said 'yeah it's fine.' So then he bought the plane and had it taken to the paint shop to have it painted so it looked like his other planes."

Nichols and his wife were in Miami working on one of Denver's songs and planned to meet Denver in Monte Ray.

"Sunday morning I was driving to the airport and on the radio it said someone stole John's plane and crashed it," Nichols said. "I called John's brother and he said 'no it was John.'"

Nichols has worked with other musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Rickie Lee Jones.

Nichols' niece and nephew paid tribute to their Grammy winning uncle on Sunday during an Alta Loma Music student showcase at the Upland Women's Club. Unfortunately Nichols was unable to attend.

Today until April 25 is Earth Week at Upland High School.

Lunchtime activities will take place every day during first and second lunch between 10:53 a.m. and 12:40 p.m.

Here's the tentative schedule:

Monday April 20: Water & Energy Conservation

California Department of Water Resources, the City of Upland, Southern California Edison on energy conservation and Home Depot will be on campus.

Tuesday April 21: Hybrid Cars

Phoenix Motor Cars from Ontario, Plug in America, Citrus Motors, Mountain View Chevrolet, Metro Honda, Crown Lexus and Crown Toyota will be on campus.

Wednesday April 22: Solar Day

RCC Solar, SoCal Solar Store will be on campus. Other features will include Auto Technology classes - Solar cart and possibly Cal Poly Pomona.

Thursday April 23: Wildlife Day

Sierra Club and Audubon Society will be on campus.

San Bernardino Department of Foresty and Cal Fire may pay a visit.

The Upland Woman's Club will hold the April Tea 1 p.m. on Tuesday April 28 at the club house, 590 N. Second Ave., Upland.

Join in for an afternoon of fun and entertainment.

All ladies are welcome.

You do not have to be an Upland resident to attend.

There are no cost or reservations required .

For more information call (909) 938-3839.

The generosity of a group of Upland High School students is going global.

The Global Aid Club held a fundraiser Saturday evening to raise money to purchase livestock from the Heifer International to be given to impoverished families across the world.

"The purpose of the project is to give families the ability to feed themselves, start their own business, and bring them from poverty to the bottom of the middle class," said Tristan Raniga, 17 year-old senior and co-president of the club.

Members of the Upland High choral department sang, members of the band Johnny Come Lately performed. Student art was on display and a silent auction was held.

Donation buckets were set up to raise money to buy a cow, a water buffalo, a sheep, a goat and a chicken, said Kati Bornholdt, 18, co-president and the event's organizer.

"In Africa, families inflicted with HIV require nourishment as their medications do not work on an empty stomach," Bornholdt said. "By giving a family a cow and teaching them how to produce dairy products and take care of the animal, Heifer not only provides them with the needed source of food, but an additional source of income as they now can sell the dairy from their cow to their neighbors and in the local village to boost their standard of living and pay for their health care costs."

When Bornholdt and Raniga became co-presidents in 2007, they made it a goal of the theirs to get involved with Heifer International.

"Instead of just sending a check to a village or a refugee camps, Global Aid decided to know exactly what they were purchasing," Bornholdt said. "A few years ago, some friends and I were joking around about wanting to purchase a water buffalo and when I found that through Heifer International this was a possibility I put it into our Global Aid itinerary."

The club was finally able to reach their goal of getting involved with Heifer during Saturday's event.

"We believe that giving families across the world the chance to create their own well being is a start to the ultimate global goal of ending hunger," Raniga said.

In all the club has been able to raise and donate over $20,000 in the club's young four-year life span, Raniga said.

In the past the club has donated money towards Pakistani earthquake relief, the Southeast Asian tsunami disaster, and the ongoing genocide in Darfur.

"Over the years Global Aid has done many different projects," Bornholdt said. "For the past two years we've focused on purchasing concrete, useful objects to send to places with economic and political hindrances."

Bornholdt, joined the club three years ago.

"I was raised in a family of very avid travelers, and because of this I have visited developing countries with agrarian based economies and impoverished families," Bornholdt said. "I was excited that a group of students at my suburban high school wanted to help out and learn more about international causes."

The club also has a recycling program, where students collect bottles and cans from Upland High every Friday.

Raniga, discussed the program idea with Principal Guy Roubian before purchasing baskets and trash bags to put in the teacher's rooms throughout campus.

The bottles and cans are then recycled at a local recycling plant to generate money for the club to support its programs and functions.

"After a few months the program became a hit," Raniga said. "Students would donate recyclables from home and became more aware of the club and our goal. The importance of the recycling program is the fact that it kills two birds with one stone in that it is an environmentally friendly project raising awareness while donating all of the proceeds to a charitable cause."

Two of the city's priority projects are getting support in Congress.

Upland City Manager Robb Quincey, Assistant City Manager Rod Foster, Mayor John Pomierski and Mayor Pro Tem Brendan Brandt traveled to Washington D.C. On March 30 to request funds for a list of projects going on within the city.

The city requested $4.5 million to add two lanes to Arrow Rte.

$13 million was authorized under the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 to be used toward the Upland storm water collection and groundwater basin recharge project. The city is requesting appropriations of $5 million for year 2010, $5 million for 2011 and $3 million for 2012.

"We know what we're doing and for us to see the security of $13 million was not a light lift. It was a lot of work and now we're trying to get appropriations to spend that money," Quincey said. "It's a process. It's not something that gets done in one year or overnight. It takes a lot of years, a lot of relationship building and a lot of details in being able to present to them exactly what it is we're trying to accomplish."

Other projects on the list are water facility protection, intelligent transportation systems, San Antonio Park, regional recreation complex, Downtown Upland revitalization, Route 66 revitalization, and a children's library.

Funding was also requested for public safety projects such as a fire training tower, a public safety mobile command vehicle and a ballistic armored response vehicle.

The officials met with Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-California and Senator Barbara Boxer, D-California and their staff.

"Congressman Dreier and Senator Feinstein, they recognize local priorities they understand, they came from local jurisdictions," Quincey said. "They are also quick to point out competing interests, everyone is looking for help from the Federal government, we're no different. They try to evaluate our projects versus other projects and they're very candid with us about the process and what we need to do."

Dreier said he has introduced requests for the funding, but the outcome is unknown.

"I know there is a lot of controversy around what critics call earmarks. I call them congressional initiatives and I have introduced a request for funding for those and the main reason is if you look at the fact that the people whom I represent have a tax liability," Dreier said. "They are paying Federal taxes and I think that we should be able to address those priorities."

The transportation of goods from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to other parts of the country is an important local and National issue for Dreier, he said.

"Because this is still, even with the economic downturn, a very important growth area for not only California but for the country and they know we are working on and supporting the requests that they've made."

Members of the Upland Rotary Club will join fellow Rotarians around the world on Saturday April 25 as they work on community service projects in their respective communities as part of Rotarians at Work Day.

This year Upland Rotarians will meet to work on a landscaping project at the Upland's YMCA.

Rotarians at Work Day happens the last Saturday in April each year. Started in 2006 as a joint effort between two Rotary Districts - one in the United States and one in Mexico - Rotarians at Work Day continues to grow. Each year Rotary Clubs around the world identify hands-on projects that all members participate in to help their local communities.

Exemplifying the Rotary motto "Service Above Self," the Upland Rotary Club will join 2,500 Rotarians from 62 clubs in Rotary District 5300 to perform a wide variety of hands-on community service activities in their respective neighborhoods.

"We are proud to work together to aid and improve our communities and the lives of our neighbors," said Deborah Stone, President of the Rotary Club of Upland in a news release.

For more information about the work project or general information about the Upland Rotary Club contact Debra Stone at (909) 982-1369.

Alta Loma Music will have a student showcase at the Upland Women's Club on Sunday to pay tribute to seven-time Grammy award winner Roger Nichols.

Nichols, who happens to be an Upland High School alumnus of the class of 1962, won six of his Grammys for his engineering work with Steely Dan.

He also won a Grammy for his work with musician John Denver, with whom Nichols was good friends.

Unfortunately, Nichols is unable to attend the event.

"I thought if we did this tribute to him because his great niece and nephew takes lessons with us, (it would) show our students what can be achieved if you stick to it," said David Dykstra, music teacher at Alta Loma Music.

Eleven-year-old Jaydon Hickman, Nichols' great nephew, will be performing "Do It Again" by Steely Dan in a band with other Alta Loma Music students.

"I think it's really cool that he records and he actually recorded that song," Jaydon said. "I enjoyed it and it's not hard. It's just a little difficult I guess."

When Nichols was in Los Angeles working on a project with drummer Jim Keltner, whose played with the Traveling Wilburys and Steely Dan, Jaydon was able to spend some time with them in the studio.

A picture of Jaydon and Keltner is hung in the music store, Nichols said.

"I thought it was great that he wanted to play the drums so when I was in Los Angeles I would go over and watch him practice at the store and get involved a little," Nichols said.

"Then they started doing those events that they do every year showcasing the kids, I think it's great."

Cari Hickman, Nichols' 8-year-old great niece, will perform John Denver's "Sunshine On My Shoulder" in a band of music students as well.

Nichols has "met a lot of people who do the guitar playing and the drum playing and it's really cool," Cari said.

Nichols has visited previous showcases, he said.

"Even a lot of the big music stores don't do stuff like that," Nichols said. "It's nice to have a local music store that goes that extra mile to showcase the kids and stuff it's a lot of work to do something like that."

Nichols has also worked with such musicians as Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross.

"The thing about Steely Dan, at least for me as a music teacher, is the musicians that Nichols has worked with over the years, specifically with that group," Dykstra said.

"If you look at the history of the recording industry and the people that play on those albums, Steely Dan has had a really revolutionary cast of musicians. Really the highest level of players. In the industry they're the gods of music."

The showcase is at 12:30 p.m. at the Upland Women's Club located at 590 N. Second Avenue.

"It's like they're doing this show in front of an audiences and everything, it just jazzes them up," Nichols said. "It helps their ego to hear the people clapping."

Nine Inland Valley high school students were among 27 students from San Bernardino, Riverside, Mono and Inyo counties whose science and engineering projects qualified for the state science fair.

The qualifying occurred at the 27th annual Inland Science and Engineer Fair last week at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino.

The qualifying projects will advance to the California State Science Fair in Los Angeles on May 18-19.

Heading the local list were two Upland High School seniors, Brenton Keller and Joseph Behjat, who were Sweepstakes Award winners in the Senior Division for their project, "Sound Effects.

Other Inland Valley students whose projects qualified for the state competition were Eugene Laksana of Townsend Junior High School in Chino Hills and Bryon Scott of Almeria Middle School in Fontana, while Andrew Chen, Natalie Chen, Randall Lin, Sanjana Marpadga and Trenton Ramos all qualified from Upland High.

More than 750 projects were entered in the competitions in three divisions: elementary (fourth and fifth grades), junior (sixth through eighth grades) and senior (high school grades).
The regional fair was sponsored by the superintendent of schools of the four counties.

city.desk@inlandnewspapers.com

Mimis Cafe in Upland held their grand reopening yesterday.

Over 100 people waited in hopes of being one of 75 people to recieve a gift card of $25 to $100.

KOLA FM provided entertainment for the guests.

Mayor John Pomierski attended to participate in the ribbon cutting.

The newly updated location will now feature contemporary decor and a full service bar with specialty drinks including "Fresh squeezed margaritas."

The new design is currently being rolled out in Mimis Cafe's new and updated locations nationwide, according to a news release.

The Upland Mimis Cafe is located at 370 N. Mountain Ave. The restaurant hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information on Mimis Cafe, visit the new Web site at http://www.mimiscafe.com/.

If you're one of the 3,000 people on the Grove Theatre's e-mail list expect to start seeing a different e-mail address.

AOL has pulled the curtain on the Theatre's account.

The reason?

The company believed the Theatre owner, Sherry Kinison, to be involved in a pyramid scheme.

"I have the  most squeaky clean e-mail and I can't get rid of stupid e-mails I'm sent all the time," Kinison said.

What triggered AOL's suspicions was allegedly complaints made by someone on the Grove's e-mail list.

Kinison said she had just sent out news of Alan Palmer's Fabulous Divas of Broadway performance this weekend when she could no longer sign into the account.

"I called someone in India, that's where the people who answer the phone are is in India and I asked Why is my AOL not working? I've been an eight-year customer."

That's when AOL told her of their suspicions.

"Finally someone from their headquarters called me because they knew I wasn't someone who was going to go away until I got answers," Kinison said.

Kinison threatened to get a lawyer if AOL would not allow her to enter her account to retrieve e-mails and contacts.

They agreed to allow her in for two days.

"I'm sure I'm not the first that this has happened to and the phone is ringing all day," she said.

At the end of every Grove Theatre e-mail, it says "You received this email because you previously asked me to send you information or requested information or purchased tickets from the Grove Theatre. If you no longer wish to receive emails from me, please respond to this email and write unsubscribe in the subject line of your reply. Please be patient. We will remove your name as quickly as possible. Thank you for your support of the Grove Theatre."

"Whoever called and said 'I'm getting these e-mails and I don't want them' and got AOL upset - they're still going to get my e-mails because AOL won't tell you who complained," Kinison said. "The end result is they're going to have to e-mail us or call us."

Kinison is setting up a new account through Constant Contact, Inc. - a company that helps small businesses, associations and non-profits connect with their customers, clients and members.

"You pay a monthly fee and they take care of all your e-mails," Kinison said. "It's a lot of work to send out all these e-mails. This company will do it and keep your e-mail cleaned up."

To contact the Grove Theatre until the new account is set up, e-mail Grovetheatre@inbox.com. or call (909) 920-4343.

"It's so nice to see the responses, I can't even tell you," Kinison said. "It's overwhelming how many e-mails we've gotten and phone calls. It lets you know people do appreciate you and whoever the bad egg is I feel sorry for them."

A meeting on an update of the Housing Element will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 22 in the City Hall Council Chambers.

The Housing Element is one of the mandatory elements of the General Plan, and is required by State law, to be updated every five years.

The Housing Element is intended to adequately plan for the existing and projected housing needs of the community.

Share your thoughts and ideas about the housing needs and opportunities within the city of Upland.

City Hall is located at 460 N. Euclid Avenue in Upland.

More information on the Housing Element can be viewed here.

Congratulations to the following winners who competed in the county science fair held in San Bernardino on Tuesday: 
 

David Romero-3^rd place

Elisabeth Wroth-3^rd place with a community veterinary sciences award

Julianna Chavez-2^nd place

Diana Evans and Chris Logan -2^nd place

Ryan Roppel -2^nd place

Danielle Sandhu-2^nd place

Michael Sindicich-2^nd place

Andrew Chen and Trenton Ramos -1^st place

Natalie Chen-1^st place

Randall Lin -1^st place

Sanjana Marpadga -1^st place and a UCR Department of plant Biology award 
 

Also, the winners of the sweepstakes for the entire fair were Brenton Keller and Bobby Behjat. All of the first place winners will be advancing to the state competition held at USC in the following months.

UPLAND - A local community garden project is getting a bad rap from neighbors.

The garden project, initiated by San Antonio Heights resident and avid gardener Mary Petit in February, has caused quite an uproar among residents near the proposed garden location at 24th Street and Mountain Avenue.

Petit's community garden is intended to be used by local gardeners and families to grow vegetables, herbs and edible flowers to be donated to families in need.

"In my wildest dreams I never expected this type of reaction," Petit said. "I certainly expected questions and concerns and would have addressed them all or at least attempted to address them all."

The residents spoke at Monday evening's City Council meeting, citing concerns about possible increases in wildlife, people, traffic and noise from construction on the property.

The smell of recently dumped manure on the land was mentioned by every resident who spoke.

In response, the council agreed to send city officials to the site at 7 a.m. Tuesday to prevent the project from moving forward.

"They put in a big water main and have been doing grading without a grading permit," Mayor John Pomierski said. "You can't do something like that when you have all kinds of people on your property with traffic in and out without a conditional use permit. None of that was applied for."

Petit had been meeting with city officials concerning permit approval for the community garden.

Read more here.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause for death among American teenagers, according to the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration.

To change this statistic the city is sponsoring Drive For Life, a driving safety program aimed at local youth.

"We're not teaching them to be defensive drivers, we're teaching them to be offensive drivers so they can look ahead and know what to expect," said Janis Line of the city's Recreation and Community Services Division.

Through videos, presentations and interactive lecture, Officer Moe Duran of the Upland Police Department will show the drivers and their parents the realities of being irresponsible behind the wheel.

Drunk driving, speeding, street racing, seatbelt laws, traffic court and driving laws will make up the core material.

"It just gives the student a whole new perspective on what to expect," Line said. "How to deal and the consequences of not dealing."

Parents are encouraged to attend the program with their teens.

"A lot of the kids we have are not driving yet and so they haven't had the experience behind the wheel, but when you look at some of the parents coming out of this they're like 'wow everybody should be taking this. It should be mandatory for all kids to take,'" Line said.

The program is 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Recreation Center at 651 W. 15th Street. For more information call (909) 931-4281.

More information here.



View Magnolia Recreation Center in a larger map

During last night's Upland Unified School District board meeting, the board approved a resolution to make changes to the list of classified positions to be reduced or eliminated due to lack of work or funds.


Positions to be considered for work hour reduction:

Reduction in hours per day for one duplication operation from eight hours per day for 11 months a year to four hours per day for 11 months per year.

Reduction in hours per day for one elementary health technician from 6.5 hours per day for 10 months a year to four hours per day for 11 months per year.

Reduction in hours per day for three elementary instructional aides, categorial from three hours per day for 10 nine months per year to 2.5 hours per day for 10 nine months per year.

Reduction in hours per day for one elementary instructional aide, categorical from 3 hours per day for 10  nine months per year to 2 hours per day for 10 nine months per year.

Positions to be considered for elimination:

One campus operations foreman

One custodian (vacant)

One grounds worker I

One warehouse supervisor manager

One campus grounds attendant, five hours per day for 12 months

One proctor at Upland High School (vacant)

One instructional media center technician, four hours per day

One volunteer aide coordinator, 3.75 hours per day

One instructional aide, EL, three hours per day for 10 nine months

Three instructional aide, EL, 12 hours per week for 10 nine months

Two elementary instructional aides, categorical, 12 hours per week for 10 nine months

48 of the 76 certificated lay off notices issued within the Upland Unified School District in March will be rescinded.

The district was able to save the jobs due to the board's approval of the district's participation in a supplemental early retirement program, a memorandum of understand negotiated with the Upland Teachers Association to increase class size by two students in grades 4-12 and modification of the participation in the state's Comprehensive School Reform program by increasing average class size to 24:1 in grades k-3.

Steve Cary, assistant superintendent of business services at Upland Unified School District, is retiring.

During last night's board meeting the school board voted to accept the employment and contract of Deo Persaud as the district's new assistant superintendent of business services, effective July 1.

Hiring Persaud was a culmination of an interview and selection process that included stakeholder panel interview, cabinet/board interview and extensive reference checks.

"It was a horse race. We had two really strong candidates," said Superintendent Gary Rutherford during the board meeting. "I'm glad to know the district attracts people of that caliber."

Persaud is currently the Associate Superintendent of the Operational and Business Services Division of the Fresno Unified School District, a position he has held since 2006. 

Prior to that time, he served as Executive Director of Purchasing and Technology Services in
Dallas Independent School District for seven years.  Other experiences include administration of a federal grant for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and twenty years of active service in the US Air Force and Air Force Reserves.

To celebrate Earth Day on April 22, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market will be giving out free reusable bags to customers who spend $10 or more.

This giveaway is part of an effort to encourage customers to reuse bags and lessen their impact on the environment.

To encourage the use of reusable bags, Fresh & Easy offers a variety of options including a canvas bag for $.99, a wine carrier canvas bag, which holds up to seven bottle for $1.99, a $.20 reusable plastic bag that will be replaced for free if it is ever torn or damaged and an organic canvas bag for $2.99.

There are two Fresh & Easy locations in Upland.

829 W. Foothill Blvd.
Upland, CA 91786
(909) 608-1027



176 S. Mountain Avenue
Upland, CA 91786
(909) 981-9400

View Fresh & Easy in a larger map
View Fresh & Easy in a larger map

There is an Upland Unified School District board meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the district community room. \

The district is located at 390 N. Euclid Ave. in Upland.

Tonight's agenda can be obtained here.

Mimis Cafe in Upland is celebrating it's official reopening by giving out more than $3,000 worth of gift cards at 9 a.m. April 16.

Gift cards, worth $25 to $100, will be given to the first 75 people in line who are 18 years and older.

The Upland Chamber of Commerce will be present for a ribbon cutting. KOLA FM will provide entertainment.

Mayor John Pomierski will be in attendance as well.

The newly updated location will now feature contemporary decor and a full service bar with specialty drinks including "Fresh squeezed margaritas."

The new design is currently being rolled out in Mimis Cafe's new and updated locations nationwide, according to a news release.

The Upland Mimis Cafe is located at 370 N. Mountain Ave. The restaurant hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information on Mimis Cafe, visit the new Web site at http://www.mimiscafe.com/.

 

The Chronic Cantina sports bar and restaurant lost their case to Mayor John Pomierski and the Upland City Council during last night's council meeting.

The council approved the resolution to revoke the restaurant's conditional use permit due to public safety concern, effective immediately.

The city Planning Commission originally approved the resolution during the commission meeting on March 25.

"It's unfortunate, I know they did a really nice job on the inside and I know they've got an investment over there and I applaud them for that, but at some point you have to look at what it does cost the city to supplement their security that obviously lacks," Pomierski said Tuesday.

"The fact that the Planning Commission took a seven to zero vote and took a stance, that is enough to speak volumes."

There have been more than 70 police service calls since the Chronic Cantina opened in January 2008, with more than 25 people being arrested, according to the commission report.

The activities include two attempted murders, two carjackings, three felonious assaults, 14 other types of assaults, one discharging a firearm, four auto thefts, four vehicle burglaries, five thefts, three driving under the influence, five public intoxications and 33 disturbances.

Four incidents have required response from an outside police agency.

A meeting was held in December between the owners of Chronic Cantina and city officials to discuss the crime issues, litter, posting of unpermitted advertising posters, weeds, as well as missing landscape, lack of parking lot striping and an unpermitted temporary sign, according to the commission report.

Since the planning commission's decision, the parking lot was striped, litter, trash and a storage container were removed and extra security was hired.

However, there have still been issues requiring police presence, weeds and an unpermitted temporary sign has not been removed.

During a presentation from the Upland Police Department, it was reported that two incidents relating to two rival motorcycle gangs being present at the restaurant have taken place since the planning commission meeting.

Robin L Haulman, the attorney representing the owners of Chronic Cantina, requested a 90 day continence to allow the owners to work with the city to determine and solve any security issues.

Haulman also said the city was treating the Chronic Cantina differently than other similar businesses within the city by sending police cars to patrol the restaurant's parking lot when no calls were made requesting police service.

Haulman said the city "did not give the owners adequate review of what problems needed to be cured nor adequate time to cure the problems."

Mayor John Pomierski and the Upland City Council last night made many proclamations during the city council meeting.

They proclaimed April 12-18 as National Library Week, which was accepted by Principal Librarian Celeste Fong.

The month of April 2009 was proclaimed as Child Abuse Prevention Month, which was accepted by Lynda Van Hoof, member of the Child Abuse Prevention Planning Committee.

May 9, 2009 was proclaimed as the Letter Carrier's Food Drive Day.

May 15 and 16 was proclaimed as World Hunger relief days, which was accepted by Scott Dexter of the Mennonite Central Committee Festival and Sale to take place at the Pacific Christian Center in Upland those two days.

The three winners of an Arbor Day Contest were recognized during last night's city council meeting.

Mayor John Pomierski and the Upland City Council awarded Christina Dang of Baldy View, Skyler DeLosReyes of Foothill Knolls and Alyson Sifling of Sycamore Elementary schools.

The three students had their winning artwork on display at the front of the City Council Chambers. 

The California Redwood is the California State tree.

Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care.

National Arbor Day is April 24.

Harland Horak was born on April 21, 1909.

Horak is the former owner of Upland Lumber and Milling Company, where Upland Christian High School is currently located.

He has been a member of the Methodist church since January 1, 1923. He belonged to the Exchange Club when it was one of the service clubs in Upland.

Horak also was in charge of the sweet corn at the Lion's Club annual fundraising Fish Fry in the park.

He and his wife, Ethel, raised three children: Larry Horak of Upland, Barbara Stewart of Smithfield, Utah and Dan Horak, deceased. He has nine grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.

Horak currently resides at Heritage Court Assisted Living, where a birthday celebration will be thrown on April 19.

Heritage Court is located at 274 Garnet Way in Upland.

Curtis and Jean Byer, 79 of Upland, have lent a hand, and much of their time, to preparing the Southern California Festival and Sale.

Proceeds from the festival go toward world hunger and relief.

This is the twelfth year for the event and will take place May 15 and 16 at the Pacific Christian Center at the corner of Arrow Highway and San Antonio Avenue in Upland.

A BBQ beef dinner and "make your own omelet" breakfast event will kick off each day of festivities.

Handmade afghans, quilts, comforters and wall hangings will be auctioned off Saturday. There will also be food booths, antiques and collectibles, farmers market, country kitchen and a classic car display.

The Byers are members of the Mennonite Central Committee, which spearheads the festival and sales across the country.

The Mennonite Central Committee was founded in 1920 to be the relief, development and peace committee of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. Since May 1997 the Southern California Festival and Sale has contributed $614,826 to the Mennonite Central Committee.

Q: What is your name age and residency?

A: Curtis and Jean Byer, 79 of Upland.

Q: When did you first get involved with the Mennonite Central Committee and the auction?

A: 13 years.

Q: What roles do you play?

A: Jean: For the last few years we helped with the silent auction. We buy everything at garage sales to be sold at the sale. We pick up a lot of things for the auction at garage sales.

Curtis: We're auction coordinators. We bring all the items in the gym there, get the auction set up and label everything to describe it.

Q: What kind of influence have you seen come out of your work?

A: Curtis: A bunch of things I suppose. The biggest thing is giving to the MCC, who is involved with helping with relief, economic development, water development, agriculture development in over 50 countries since 1920. We're also proud to represent the city of Upland. Every year the city declares a proclamation as world hunger day.

Q: What part about your work do you find the most rewarding?

A: Jean: The most rewarding for me is when we go to the garage sales to buy products that are worn and my husband fixes them up to sell for more money. It's rewarding to see what we can do with people's used items.

Curtis: It's rewarding to see a group of people get together and work together collectively toward a project like this.

Read more in Friday's edition of Upland/Claremont city news.

Monday April 13

Junior Varsity boys tennis will play at 3:15 p.m. against Arcadia High School.

Tuesday April 14

Junior Varsity boys tennis will play at 3:15 p.m. against Los Osos High School.

Varsity boys tennis will play at 3:15 p.m. against Los Osos High School.

Varsity golf will play at 3:15 p.m. against Los Osos High School at the Upland Hills Golf Course. Upland Hills Golf Course is located at 1231 E 16th St in Upland.

Frosh/Soph softball will play at 3:15 p.m. against Claremont High School in Green Belt Park. Green Belt Park is located at 1500 West 15th Street in Upland.

Varsity softball will play at 3:15 p.m. against Claremont High School in Green Belt Park.

Wednesday April 15

Junior Varsity boys baseball will play at 3:15 p.m. against Claremont High School in Memorial Park. Memorial Park is located at 1100 E. Foothill Blvd. in Upland.

Varsity Track will play at 3:15 p.m. against Etiwanda High School.

Junior Varsity Track will play at 3:15 p.m. against Etiwanda High School.

Thursday April 16

Varsity boys tennis will play at 3:15 p.m. against Alta Loma High School.

Varsity Golf will play at 3:15 p.m. against Alta Loma High School at the Upland Hills Golf Course.

Junior Varsity softball will play at 3:15 p.m. Los Osos High School in Green Belt Park.

Friday April 17

Frosh boys baseball will play at 3:15 p.m. against Claremont High School.

Varsity boys baseball will play at 3:15 p.m. against Claremont High School in Memorial Park.

There will be an Upland City Council meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Upland City Hall.

The City Hall is located at 460 N. Euclid Avenue.

Tonight's agenda can be found here.

The Upland High School Percussion Ensemble will be leaving Wednesday for the Winter Guard International Championship Finals in Dayton, Ohio.

This is the first time the high school will participate in the championships, which will take place April 17 and 18.

"This is the top of the entire high school circuit," said Kyle Bland, a 17 year-old tenor drum player. "It's really great to have a chance to be there."

As a senior, Bland has put in a lot of effort during his time with the band.

"Each week we put in about 20 hours of practice after school and on weekends not to mention we have a competition just about every week to every other week on Saturdays and Sundays," he said.

Being part of the high school band limits the students abilities to do many other activities, but Bland isn't complaining.

"It's pretty good. We can't really do any other activities during this time because it takes up such a large portion of time after school and then in school we fit in with people because we have our classes and being in the drumline it's kind of like you're in band but you're cooler because you play drums, so you fit in better with people," Bland joked.

"This is the most fun I've had in high school. This has been my life. It's who I am as a high schooler. I wouldn't have it any other way it's so fun and enjoyable."

Adam Gatica, 16, shares similar feelings about the band life experience as Bland.

"I love music since I was a little kid. I played drum sets since I was 6 or 7 years old," Gatica said. "I came here after junior high and I said 'this is for me, this is what I want to do."

With the championship in Ohio looming on top of regular day to day activities, Gatica said time management is important.

"I get home around 9:30 and I do homework," he said. "You have to have your time schedule planned out and know you're having to finish you're homework."

Aaron Roth, 16 finishes the tenor drum section of the percussion ensemble.

He too, is looking forward to the championship even with all of the work needed to perfect their routine.

"We don't have any other plans but this," Roth said. 

The tenor drums, like the other portions of the percussion ensemble, require teamwork and performing in sync with the other musicians. 

The appeal of joining the band had much to do with the marching and the sounds, Roth said.

"It's a very challenging activity physically and mentally so you're engaging all parts of yourself in this activity that's what makes it better and you're on the field at all times," Bland said.

"You're putting in your time and effort to make it look good," Gatica added.

April 20 - 25 is Earth Week at Upland High School.

Lunchtime activities will take place every day during first and second lunch between 10:53 a.m. and 12:40 p.m.

Here's the tentative schedule:

Monday April 20: Water & Energy Conservation

California Department of Water Resources, the City of Upland, Southern California Edison on energy conservation and Home Depot will be on campus.

Tuesday April 21: Hybrid Cars

Phoenix Motor Cars from Ontario, Plug in America, Citrus Motors, Mountain View Chevrolet, Metro Honda, Crown Lexus and Crown Toyota will be on campus.

Wednesday April 22: Solar Day

RCC Solar, SoCal Solar Store will be on campus. Other features will include Auto Technology classes - Solar cart and possibly Cal Poly Pomona.

Thursday April 23: Wildlife Day

Sierra Club and Audubon Society will be on campus.

San Bernardino Department of Foresty and Cal Fire may pay a visit.

The six year-old Rottweiler recovering from critical pneumonia has found a home.

The pup was staying with a foster family who recently decided to adopt her, according to a member of the Animal Wellness Rescue in Pomona.

A raffle is being held at 3 p.m. May 3 at the Petco in San Dimas to help pay the cost of the six year-old Rottweiler's veterinary bill.

The Rottweiler was rescued from the pound in Pomona where she was suffering from critical pneumonia.
 
A raffle is being held at 3 p.m. May 3 at the Petco in San Dimas to help pay the cost of a six year-old Rottweiler's veterinary bill.

The Rottweiler was rescued from the pound in Pomona where she was suffering from critical pneumonia.
 
The veterinarian "Didn't know if she would make it," said Lee, a member of the Animal Wellness Rescue who rescued the pup from the pound. "I was going over there every day to sit with her and keep her warm at the hospital. She didn't want to eat, so I took her some chicken, I took chicken broth and beef broth and that turned her around."

A 14K opal ring worth approximately $400 will be raffled off as the main prize. Other prizes include a gift basket from Petco, a gift certificate from Stator Bros., an art deco sculpture of a Grey hound and an item from Home Depot for the men participating in the raffle.

Tickets are available at Welcome Wagg'n Home of Upland Feed Since 1896 located at 164 N. Second Ave. in Downtown Upland. Tickets are also available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays at the Petco at 822 W. Arrow Hwy in San Dimas.

Tickets are $1 each and 15 tickets or an arm's length of tickets for $10.

For more information or tickets call (909) 983-6206.

Donations for the non-profit or raffle can be mailed to P.O. Box 1644 Upland, Ca. 91785-1644.

The Animal Wellness Rescue is a Pomona based non-profit organization that is dedicated to rescuing pets and placing them with foster families until they are adopted.

Map of the Petco location in San Dimas:


View Petco 822 W. Arrow Hwy San Dimas, CA in a larger map Map of Welcome Wagg'n Home of Upland Feed Since 1896 location:
View Welcome Wagg'n Home of Upland Feed Since 1896 in a larger map

A 14K opal ring worth approximately $400 will be raffled off as the main prize. Other prizes include a gift basket from Petco, a gift certificate from Stator Bros., an art deco sculpture of a Grey hound and an item from Home Depot for the men participating in the raffle.

Tickets are available at Welcome Wagg'n Home of Upland Feed Since 1896 located at 164 N. Second Ave. in Downtown Upland. Tickets are also available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays at the Petco at 822 W. Arrow Hwy in San Dimas.

Tickets are $1 each and 15 tickets or an arm's length of tickets for $10.

For more information or tickets call (909) 983-6206.

Donations for the non-profit or raffle can be mailed to P.O. Box 1644 Upland, Ca. 91785-1644.

The Animal Wellness Rescue is a Pomona based non-profit organization that is dedicated to rescuing pets and placing them with foster families until they are adopted.

Map of the Petco location in San Dimas:


View Petco 822 W. Arrow Hwy San Dimas, CA in a larger map Map of Welcome Wagg'n Home of Upland Feed Since 1896 location:
View Welcome Wagg'n Home of Upland Feed Since 1896 in a larger map

Upland Mayor John Pomierski will present the 2009 Upland state of the city address at 6 p.m. April 29 in the Upland City Council Chambers.

The address will be followed by a town hall meeting where residents can discuss any issues or ask any questions of the Mayor and city council regarding city programs and services.

A Mayor's reception will follow the event at the Carnegie Library, located at 123 E. D Street.

The reception will be catered by Chef Henry Gonzalez from Spaggi's Restaurant in Upland.

Both the address and reception are open to the public at no cost.

Burrtec Waste Industries, Spaggi's Restaurant and J.D. Allison's lent their financial support to the event at no cost to the city.

The Upland High School percussion ensemble will perform in the Winter Guard International championship finals for the first time in the school's history.

The Winter Guard International is considered the sport of the arts and leads winter guard and indoor percussion activities. The championships will be April 17 and 18 in Dayton, Ohio.

"It's a big deal because we'll compete with groups across the nation with rich histories of competing at these championships," said Kevin Shah, band instructional aide at Upland High.

"Just the caliber of the groups and the caliber of the instruction that goes on is really really high."

The band, made up of the front ensemble and marching percussion, will be performing in Percussion Scholastic World Division category which is considered to be the most technical.

"We're going to be competing with the cream of the crop of high schools across the country as far as demand level," Shah said.

"We're basically saying we're good enough to compete with the best of them. It takes a certain kind of maturity of the ensemble and the kids to make sure that happens."

Twenty-six band members will leave Wednesday for Dayton, which most of them will visit for the first time.

"We've been performing here in small gyms and it's cool, but it's another experience to go and put your product out in front of thousands of people in an arena," Shah said.

Read more here.

A public hearing will be held during Monday's city council meeting on the revocation of Chronic Cantina's conditional use permit.

The resolution was passed by the Upland Planning Commission during a commission meeting March 25.

Revoking the permit will remove the sports bar's right to operate.

More than 70 police service calls have been made to Chronic Cantina, located at 220 N. Central Ave. in Upland, resulting in 25 arrests, according to a commission report.

Read the full story here.

The city council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers inside of Upland City Hall located at 460 N. Euclid Ave.

The total of Upland Unified School District employees participating in the early retirement incentive program was presented to the school board Thursday morning during a special meeting.

The program will now proceed so decisions can be made as to which employees can be moved into different positions and how many pink slips may be rescinded.

29 teachers, 28 classified employees and 1 certificated management employee applied for the program through the Public Agency Retirement Services.

This does not mean 29 pink slips issued to teachers will be rescinded, but the 78 teachers and counselors who received slips will not all be let go.

"This is a good thing," said Sherri Black, assistant superintendent for Human Resources at the Upland Unified School District. "It's going to save the district money as well as bring teachers back to work and that was the intent of the whole program."

Black said she has already begun determining which employees can be moved around to different positions, which positions will or will not be replaced.

"In classified it's not as easy to do because they're all over different classifications," Black said. "More than likely what will happen is any major positions we will have to post and offer those jobs to our own employees first. Hopefully we will have some moved from people in lower positions into some of those retirement positions."

More details will be shared with the school board during the meeting Tuesday April 14.

The L.A. County Fair is looking for a few good heroes.

Nominations for the fair's annual Community Hero celebration can now be submitted with a deadline of May 30.

The winners will be honored at their respective community celebrations at this year's fair, which begins on Sept. 5.

Last year's Upland community hero was 72 year-old John Hendon, a long-time Upland and Ontario resident who was very active in youth sports and construction work.

Community Heroes this year will be in the categories of young adult, adult and seniors.
A nomination form can be printed from the fair Web site, www.lacountyfair.com, under the category of community days.

The forms should be mailed to Community and Government Relations Department, Fairplex, P.O. Box 2250, Pomona 91769-2250. It also can be faxed to (909) 865-3602.

Information: e-mail, hatcher@fairplex.com or (909) 865-4648.

The Colonies Partners have donated $5,000 to help support the Senior Little League Regional Tournament to be held August 3 to 11 at Upland Memorial Park, according to an Upland Little League news release.

The Colonies Partners are investors and developers of the Colonies housing community and Colonies Crossroads Shopping center in North Upland.

The tournament, which will feature up to 12 state champions, is the final event before the Senior Little League World Series in Bangor, Maine, and is the highest level Little League baseball tournament ever held in Upland.

The tournament will include teams from the Western United States. Players ages 14-16 from Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, Oregon, Southern California, Utah, Washington and Wyoming will have achieved their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete for a berth at the Senior Little League World Series.

The donation from the Colonies will go completely toward assisting teams with travel, dining and hotel expenses.

Contributions can be sent to Little League Baseball, CA District 23, P.O. Box 92, Upland, CA, 91785.

The Upland High School Global Aid Club will hold a fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday April 18 in the Upland High School library.

The event will display student exhibitions of artwork and choral musical stylings.

There will be a silent auction and refreshments.

The money raised will be used to purchase livestock from Heifer International,

For more information on Heifer International visit http://www.heifer.org/.

Over the last four years the club has raised over $15,000.

The Upland High School Percussion Ensemble is going to participate in the Winter Guard International championship finals April 17 and 18 for the first time.

The Ensemble, made up of marching percussion (battery) and front ensemble (pit).

There are three categories in the competition. From highest technicality to lowest is World Class, Open Class and A Class. Upland High School will be competing under World Class.

Here's a list of the students leaving for the competition April 15:

Pit Section (front ensemble)
 
Heather Bland
Christen Jennings
Janine Johnson
Debi Lam
Tim Sandoval 
Alex Sotomayer
Lauren Taylor
Rebecca Vieau
Caleb Walden
Dominic York-Mitchell

Tenor Drums

Kyle Bland
Adam Gatica
Aaron Roth

Snare Drums

Marisa Gardner
Ian Harvey
Isaac Loera
Ryan Pena

Bass Drums

Jeremy Chen
Marty Connor
Alex Cruz
Laura Pedersen
Lexie Petschow

Cymbal Line

Michael Beisel
Joey Klein
Robert MacCallum
Kassle Molinar

Here's the list of schools participating in the championship for World Class

Arcadia High School of Arcadia, CA
Avon High School of Avon, IN
Ayala High School of Chino Hills, CA
Center Grove High School of Greenwood, IN
Centerville High School of Centerville, OH
Chino Hills High School of Chino Hills, CA
Choctawhatchee High School of Ft. Walton Beach, FL
Dartmouth High School of Dartmouth, MA
Forsyth Central High School of Cumming, GA
Fred J. Page High School of Frankline, TN
James Logan High School of Union City, CA
Mission Viejo High School of Mission Viejo, CA
Northglenn High School of Northglenn, CO
Petal High School of Petal, MS
Plymouth-Canton High School of Canton, MI
Upland High School of Upland, CA
Walled Lake High School of Walled Lake, MI
   

A raffle is being held at 3 p.m. May 3 at the Petco in San Dimas to help pay the cost of a six year-old Rottweiler's veterinary bill.

The Rottweiler was rescued from the pound in Pomona where she was suffering from critical pneumonia.
 
The veterinarian "Didn't know if she would make it," said Lee, a member of the Animal Wellness Rescue who rescued the pup from the pound. "I was going over there every day to sit with her and keep her warm at the hospital. She didn't want to eat, so I took her some chicken, I took chicken broth and beef broth and that turned her around."

She is currently living with a foster family until a permanent home can be found for her.

"She's doing really really well," Lee said. "She's a big teddy bear. She's a love bug and thinks she's a Chihuahua. All she wanted was attention and love and to give love and attention back and we're looking for an loving home."

A 14K opal ring worth approximately $400 will be raffled off as the main prize. Other prizes include a gift basket from Petco, a gift certificate from Stator Bros., an art deco sculpture of a Grey hound and an item from Home Depot for the men participating in the raffle.

Tickets are available at Welcome Wagg'n Home of Upland Feed Since 1896 located at 164 N. Second Ave. in Downtown Upland. Tickets are also available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays at the Petco at 822 W. Arrow Hwy in San Dimas.

Tickets are $1 each and 15 tickets or an arm's length of tickets for $10.

For more information or tickets call (909) 983-6206.

Donations for the non-profit or raffle can be mailed to P.O. Box 1644 Upland, Ca. 91785-1644.

The Animal Wellness Rescue is a Pomona based non-profit organization that is dedicated to rescuing pets and placing them with foster families until they are adopted.

Map of the Petco location in San Dimas:


View Petco 822 W. Arrow Hwy San Dimas, CA in a larger map Map of Welcome Wagg'n Home of Upland Feed Since 1896 location:
View Welcome Wagg'n Home of Upland Feed Since 1896 in a larger map

San Bernardino County is sponsoring a Free Dump Day on Saturday, April 11. 

Residents of San Bernardino County may take their excess trash/bulky items to any San Bernardino County landfill between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

For more information call Burrtec Waste at 909 822-2396 and ask for Customer Service.

The Gas Company offers qualifying limited-income customers a 20% discount on monthly gas bills, free energy saving home improvements, and one-time bill assistance of up to $100.

Households with a family member or occupant that is seriously disabled or has a life-threatening medical condition may qualify for more gas at a lower rate.

To learn more click here.

The Upland Chamber of Commerce is having a government relations forum at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Chamber office located at 215 N. Second Ave. in Downtown Upland.

This committee monitors legislative issues and seeks action from the Board of Directors on important City, State and national business related legislation or regulations that impact the ability to do business.

For more information call the Chamber at (909) 204-4465.

The Upland Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting and open house event for College  Park luxury apartment homes from 5 to 7 p.m. April 16.

College Park is an apartment community with a retail center developed by Hutton Development Company.

There will be appetizers, a 50/50 drawing and raffle prizes.

College Park is located at 2400 West Arrow Route in Upland. The major cross streets are Arrow Route and Monte Vista Avenue.

Fore more information call the Chamber at (909) 204-4465.




View College Park apartments in a larger map

A Spring egg hunt will take place in Memorial Park, Memorial Field and Rotary Field at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The hunt is sponsored by the Upland Foothill Kiwanis and the city of Upland Recreation Division.  

A special Upland Unified School District board meeting will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday in the Upland Unified School District community room.

The early retirement incentive program for district employees will be discussed.

The district is located at 390 N. Euclid Ave. in Upland.

The agenda can be found here.

The Rancho Cucamonga Women's Connection is having a luncheon from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 14 at the Upland Hills Country Club.

Former business owner, Loretta Hughes will share how she found strength and peace in times of loss.

Singer will be Kathy Childs.

It is $16 for a meal and program.

To make reservations, call Joan at (909) 949-2837 or Cecilia at (909 987-7069.

Upland Hills Country Club is located at 1231 E. 16^th St.

The San Antonio Heights Fire Department is hosting a free BBQ and Easter Egg Hunt for the community on Saturday, April 11. 

An Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 9:00am with a BBQ brunch following. 

There will be lots of food, fun and prizes for all. 

The Easter Bunny will be at the station for photos. 
 
The station, located at 2046 N. San Antonio Avenue, would appreciate any Easter candy, plastic Easter eggs, baskets, decorations or prizes that anyone in the community would like to donate to help add to the fun.  You can drop off donations at the station any time this week.

The new floor of Salon Papillon had barely been laid before Valencia Elementary School students trotted in and got their hair cuts.

A project to expand the seven-year-old salon, at 1041 E. 16th St., Suite A, was completed literally minutes before the kickoff to a monthlong event devoted to helping Valencia Elementary students, their families and teachers.

"I just thought there was no better time than right now," said Enza Calandra, owner of the salon. "Why wait? There's no reason to wait. There are teachers getting pink slips, there's people losing their jobs and it's time to talk about happy things. Keep it positive."

The event will raise funds for Valencia Elementary and people in the school's community who have been affected by recent state budget cuts.

At the end of April, 25 percent of the proceeds raised from the event will be donated to the school.

The event continues next month when fathers of Valencia Elementary students will be pampered - including haircuts, facials and makeovers. Mothers will get their turn on April 20, while the school's faculty and staff will get their makeovers on April 27.

"I think all the schools in Upland are fantastic, but I definitely think that the kids at Valencia are a group of really great kids, the teachers are amazing and the principal is like no other. Times are tough, and it's time to start helping each other out," said Calandra, who has two sons attending Valencia Elementary.

Read more here.

The Upland Public Library is holding a night out for the kids from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. April 11.

Parents can drop their kids, ages five to 11, off at the Gibson Senior Center for six hours of games, crafts, movies with popcorn and a beverage.

Parents are allowed to bring dinner for their child.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

For more information call (909) 931-4280.

The Gibson Senior Center is located at 250 N. Third Ave. in Upland.

The Upland Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon cutting for The Coffee S'wich at Noon on April 9.

Photos will be taken at 12:15 p.m.

The ribbon cutting will take place at The Coffee S'wich located at 830 E. Foothill Blvd. in Upland.

For more information call the chamber at (909) 204-4465.

Census workers beginning this week will participate in the 2010 census address canvasing operation.

Workers will be going door to door verifying more than 151 million home addresses to ensure every  housing unit will receive a 2010 census questionnaire in March 2010, according to a U.S. Census Bureau news release.

The operation is expected to end in mid-July.

Workers will be carrying hand-held computers with GPS in order to increase geographic accuracy.

"The primary goal of the census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place," said Tom Mesenbourg, acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau in the news release. "Because the census is used for reapportioning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the distribution of more than $300 billion in federal dollars every year to state and local governments, it's essential to get this first step right."

According to a San Antonio Heights resident participating in the address verification operation, Census workers can be identified by identification and confidentiality notices. They will likely be carrying a black canvas bag with "U.S. Census" printed on it.

The workers will need to collect "map spots" for every place someone lives or could live. This must be done from the front entrance of the residence or as close to the front entrance as possible, the resident said.

Tickets are now on sale for the Texas Hold'em Tournament and Dinner Auction fundraiser for the Megan's Wings Foundation.

Proceeds will go toward a leukemia research portfolio for childhood cancer.

Cost is $50 person and includes a BBQ Tri-Tip dinner, drink ticket and tournament buy-in.

There will be two additional buy-in opportunities during the first hour of the tournament for $20 each.

The first prize payout is $250. Prizes will also be available for additional final table winners.

The fundraiser will be held from 6 p.m. to Midnight May 9 at the Gibson Senior Center located at 250 N. Third Street in Downtown Upland.

For tickets e-mail ksavage@meganswings.org.

Megan's Wings Foundation is an Upland based non-profit founded by Kim and Dave Savage after they lost their 9 year-old daughter, Megan, to Leukemia on April 2, 2003. The foundation provides support for families and children who are dealing with this disease.

Tuesday April 7 games

Junior varsity softball will play Etiwanda High School at 3:15 p.m. in Green Belt Park located at 1500 W. 15th Street in Upland.

Wednesday April 8 games

Frosh boys baseball will play Etiwanda High School at 3:15 p.m. at Upland High School.

Varsity boys baseball will play Etiwanda High School at 3:15 p.m. in Memorial Park located at 1100 E. Foothill Blvd. in Upland.

Varsity track will play Alta Loma High School at 3:15 p.m. at Upland High School.

Junior Varsity track will play Alta Loma High School at 3:15 p.m. at Upland High School.

Thursday April 9 games

Junior Varsity softball will play Rancho Cucamonga High School at 3:15 p.m. in Green Belt Park.

Junior varsity swim will play Alta Loma High School at 3:15 p.m. at Upland High School.

Varsity swim will play Alta Loma High School at 3:15 p.m. at Upland High School.

Friday April 10 games

Junior varsity boys baseball will play Rancho Cucamonga at 12:30 p.m. in Memorial Park.

When driving along Mountain Avenue or around the Colonies Crossroads shopping center try not to hit an Upland Fire Fighter.

The fire fighters have been walking up and down Mountain Avenue below 8th Street since Friday afternoon taking collections from drivers to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Another group of fire fighters have been walking the streets surrounding the Colonies Crossroads shopping center.

"The Governor a couple years ago passed that for MDA and raising money, that's the only time anyone can walk in the middle of the street," said Nation Foster, a spokesman for the Upland Fire Department. "So we are able to go into traffic and every fire fighter has a boot in their hand and we have a competition to see who can fill their boot with the most."

The fire department raised $44,123, $1,192.51 per firefighter, during last year's fundraiser, which placed them in the top five highest earning departments in California.

This year, a goal of $50,000 has been set and the department will be in the streets three days as opposed to the usual two in order to collect more money from drivers.

"It's great to see the generosity from the public," Foster said. "We definitely have a positive turn out here in Upland."

Although the fire department will clear out of the streets today, donations are accepted all year.

A Spring Fling was held Saturday in the Mountain Green Shopping Center at 8th Street and Mountain Avenue to help the fire department attract more donations.

There will be face painting and a disc jockey in the center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"It's great for them. They need a platform," said Nedra Chase property manager of Mountain Green Shopping Center. "I know that they have a fill the boot up in the Colonies and they also need a location down here, so they selected us and we're very happy to assist. The more people see the more people can come in and help them out."

The massive luxury apartment complex and retail center located in the southwest corner of Upland has yet to be completed, but residents have already begun moving in.

448 apartments, ranging from one bedroom and one bathroom to three bedrooms and two bathrooms, will make up the rentable space of College Park.

Single family homes are expected to be built in the future and the retail spaces are expected to be filled soon.

"It's basically just a general market place," said Christopher Felix, President of Hutton Companies, the developer of College Park. "For sure we expect there will be a portion of students and people related to the college but it's a broad mix of people, young couples, young singles, middle aged couples, middle ages singles and older people."

The project is nearly side by side with the Claremont Colleges and is in close proximity to the Montclair Metro Link Station, the Montclair Mall and the Montclair Police Department.

"We are always looking for development opportunities and this was a unique one in that it was a former sand and gravel operation," Felix. "It literally was a hole in the ground and had been for years. We liked the location thought. It's a great location."

Each apartment building is named after a Claremont college, but despite the theme and community lifestyle, the target market was no necessarily college students.

"Really we're getting a variety of everyone," said Jennifer Bedford, area manager at College Park. "Anyone in the area - they've seen the construction coming so I think they're very excited about it. So I think we're just getting a large spectrum of prospective residents."

Although the park may provide alternative housing for students enrolled in the Claremont Colleges, Bedford said there is no concern that the complex will transform into a dormitory type setting.

"I don't think that is a big concern for us just because it's a graduate college area and in our experience we really haven't seen new college students coming in," she said. "We have a sister community not far from here and we haven't had any issues with that at all."

Lilly Walters Schermerhorn, a professional extreme face make-up artist in Claremont, will be painting faces during the Upland Fire Department and Muscular Dystrophy Association's Spring Fling tomorrow.

The Fling is in support of the annual "Fill The Boot" fundraiser.

Schermerhorn will be set up outside the former San Sai Japanese restaurant location between Party America and Trader Joe's in the  Mountain Green Shopping Center located at 8th Street and Mountain Ave.

She will paint faces from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Schermerhorn will also be at the Panda Garden Restaurant in Montclair from 5 to 9 p.m. on April 7.

To see Schermerhorn's work check out her Web site:
http://www.funfacepainting.com/

Pepper Tree elementary school is teaming up with Albertson's grocery stores to help earn money for their school. 

Albertson's community partners program gives back up to 4% of each registered preferred card holders eligible purchases to the school. The program is free to use and helps to earn funds for cash strapped local school districts. 

Log on to http://www.albertsons.com/cp/ to register your Albertson's and Sav-on drug stores preferred cards.  Once there have your card number handy- the club card number is also printed on the top of your receipts, and the linked phone number to sign up.  

If further help is needed you can phone customer service (800) 696-6419.

Albertson's will contribute over $6 million for youth and education through this fundraising program.  

"Since our schools are facing such a huge budget cut we hope to use any money we earn to supplement the funding for  the programs that are in danger of being cut," said Krista Rondomanski, member of the Pepper Tree Parent Teacher Association through e-mail. "Our school held a basket raffle in hopes of raising the needed $14,000 to pay for the art and music programs that the PTA pays for. We were only able to raise $8,000 through the baskets and are looking for other ways to help raise funds to keep these two wonderful programs for the children."

Pepper Tree elementary school is located at 1045 W. 18th Street in Upland and has a student population of over 750 students.

The former Mervyn's building in the Mountain Green Shopping Center at Mountain Avenue and 7th Street will not be vacant for long.

Those driving by the center would have noticed a large banner advertising Kohl's as the new soon-to-be tenants.

"It's going to attract a lot of customers, people are very excited to see that Kohl's is coming to this center," said Nedra Chase, property manager of Mountain Green Shopping Center. "It's a lot closer than the Kohl's around the area. We expect to see additional customers from what we've had previously."

Mervyn's was one of the shopping center's anchors for many years, but went out of business earlier in 2009.

"Mervyn's was slowly kind of going down as far as their customer base went," Chase said. "They lost a lot of customers over the years and with the increase in Kohl's up in the Colonies and the new business and the Ontario Mills. It attracted customers away from this Mervyn's here. So meryn's was losing a lot of customers toward the end of their stay here. It became pretty quiet and the economy doesn't help either, so we're just happy the Kohl's is coming in. We want to attract more customers in any way we can."

A Kohl's is currently located in the Colonies Crossroads shopping center at 19th Street and Campus Avenue. Soon Upland will have a Kohl's in the highest and lowest parts of the city.



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Reported on the News 24/7 blog:

An Upland tax preparer was fined $310,369 and placed on three years probation for filing false state income tax returns.

Jose A. Garcia, 29,  appeared in the San Bernardino County Superior Court Wednesday for the sentencing, said John Barrett with the Franchise Tax Board, and paid his fine in full.

Garcia owned and operated Mi Oficina Income Tax, a tax preparation business with several locations throughout the Inland Empire, according to an FTB news release.

On Feb. 20 Garcia pleaded guilty to four felony counts for preparing false personal state tax returns for tax years 2001 through 2004 and underreporting his income by more than $968,000, according to the news release.

The charges were filed April 2008.

- lori.consalvo@inlandnewspapers.com

Antonio Gonzalez is getting ready to graduate from Upland High School.

The 17 year-old Upland resident shares his thoughts on the budget cuts and what it's like being a high school senior.

Q: What do you find about being a student at Upland High School to be the most rewarding?

A: What I found to be extraordinary of Upland High is the broad range of knowledge I was able to receive. When I first entered Upland High I wasn't aware that I would be able to learn so much and I didn't realize how much I didn't know. Now as my senior year is coming to an end, I realize how much I have learned. As a student of Art History, I know a lot of about the art world and society's expression of values through art. Everywhere I go I can look at the world and associate it with what I learned in Art History. I was able to obtain a great education from Upland High and that in itself is the most rewarding part of being a student there.  
 

Q: Which subjects interest you the most and why?

A: I primarily enjoy math and history. History for me is just an experience to hear stories of how today's society came about and to understand mistakes that society as a whole has committed. I find math appealing and I plan to be an engineer. I find that engineering helps satisfy my hunger for the curious. I know that through engineering I can solve problems that society faces, anything from the national energy crisis to a local irrigation system hiccup. Engineering as a discipline will allow me to enjoy the exploration of my creativity and help others as the product of my work.  
 
Q: How do you think the budget cuts will be affecting your day to day life at Upland High?

A: The budget cuts will primarily affect the education and diversity in their education one will receive at Upland High school. With programs like the French and Art History in danger of being cut in the future, students who seek knowledge in these areas will be limited. With the budget cuts, this great feature of Upland High to provide a broad range of classes will be lost.  
 
Q: What subjects, teachers or programs do you hope to continue to see at Upland High even after you graduate? 

A: The most important program in Upland High I believe is the AP/Honors program. What makes this school unique is the level of education the students get. In the program, we don't just read and do homework to look good for colleges, but to become educated members of society. The teachers in the program try to encourage and develop our critical thinking skills. We are taught to be critical about everything we hear and not just accept everything with its face value. This is one of the reasons why we as students do not merely accept that the budget cuts are the primary reason so many teachers are in danger of losing their job when other districts aren't losing any.

 
Q: How have you and your friends been dealing with many of the rumors regarding budget cuts? 

A: At school, the students have been hearing that teachers/programs will be cut. We seem to be in disbelief, since it seems a lot of wasted sources are being kept and useful programs are in danger. The amount of teachers being removed seems to be a lot, but we haven't heard of any administrator being cut. We seem to belief that teachers are more important than administrators. Most teachers actually do care for their students and don't see them as a source of income. The administration and school board see the students as a source of income and try to maximize their utility. I have yet to hear one of these administrators being in danger of their job, only the closest and most dedicated, the teachers, are in danger.

Read more in tomorrow's Upland/Claremont City News.

The items sitting on the shelves and hanging on the racks in The Mennonite Central Committee Thrift Store aren't necessarily big-ticket items.

But the store has collected more than $1 million in contributions toward world hunger and disaster relief since it opened just nine years ago.

"This year it was our goal to reach $1 million and (tonight) we'll do that," said Ray Stump, member of the thrift store's Board of Directors that governs the nonprofit. "The goal was actually last year to make it but didn't quite make it."

A check for $60,000 this evening will be given to the Mennonite Central Committee resource director during an annual volunteer appreciation dinner.

The $60,000 check will push the store's contributions over the $1 million mark.

"We've given donations whenever the <NO1>kitty<NO>gets up," Stump said. "We would never give less than $50,000."

The dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Brethren in Christ Church on the corner of Arrow Highway and San Antonio Avenue.

The 3,500 square foot store can only hold so many items. Much of the merchandise is on the smaller scale.

The thrift store is at 8673 A Baseline Road in the Sunrize Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
For volunteer information, call (909) 481-8115.

Read more in tomorrow's Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspaper.

The Upland Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Gourmet Golf Tournament at the Upland Hills Country Club April 7.

Check in and contests begin at 10:30 a.m. and there will be a Noon shotgun.

Participants will be able to sample what local restaurants have to offer at every hole while supporting the Upland Chamber.

For foursome and sponsorship opportunities contact the chamber at (909) 204-4465.

The Upland Hills Country Club is located at 1231 E. 16th Street in Upland.

On Thursday, April 9th form 5 to 8 pm; La Bella salon with be hosting an event called B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Blowdryer).  You bring your styling tools and the salon will provide a relaxing shampoo and head massage; along with tips and techniques to make the most out of your hairstyle. 

10% of any ALTERNA haircare products purchased during the event will go to Foothill Family shelter.  Sign up early, limited space available.  Snacks and refreshments will be served.

La Bella Salon is located at 111 N. Benson Ave. in Upland. For more information call the salon at (909) 982-8821.

A little about Foothill Family Shelter:

Foothill Family Shelter is a nonprofit organization founded in 1984 which houses homeless families with children for a period of up to 120 days, free of rent and utility charges. They also provide one-year transitional housing as well as permanent housing.

The Foothill Family Shelter began as St. Mark's Homeless Shelter and currently serves as a transitional facility for homeless families with children from the west end of San Bernardino County and the east end of Los Angeles County. The Shelter has 14- two bedroom apartments which are fully furnished and offered free for a maximum of 120 days. They also provide 8- two bedroom apartments for transitional housing and 4- two bedroom apartments for affordable permanent housing.

The Foothill Family Shelter offices are located at 1501 W 9th St # D in Upland. Their contact number is (909) 920-5568.

Auditions to become the 2009 Lemon Festival Idol are coming up.

The first round of auditions will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Moultrie Academy of Music, Voice and Dance located at 1308 Monte Vista Ave. Suites 1-4 in Upland.

Another round will be held at 6 p.m. April 9 at the Gazebo in Downtown Upland located at the cross streets of 9th Street and 2nd Avenue.

The Semi Finals begin at 6 p.m. for adults ages 21 and up at the Downtown Gazebo. Teens ages 13 to 19 will have their semi-final round at 6 p.m. April 23 and children ages 5 through 12 will be at 6:30 p.m. April 24 at the Gazebo.

7 singers from each category will perform in the Lemon Festival Idol Finals during the annual Lemon Festival from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 25 on the main stage.

Cash prizes, a recording session, demo CD and $100 savings bond will be given to first, second and third place winners.

The event is hosted by the Moultrie Academy for Music, Voice and Dance and Main Street Upland.

For more information call (909) 949-4499.

The Chronic Cantina sports bar may have a lot to prove to city officials in order stay in business.

The Upland Planning Commission last week approved a resolution to revoke the business' conditional use permit, which will force them to close their doors.

"The Planning Commission has overstepped their regulatory authority and determined that they don't like the business and they are using their authority to try and shut the business down," said Keith Scheinberg, CEO of Chronic Cantina. "Whether they like it or not is not how city government works."

There have been over 70 police service calls since the bar opened in January 2008 resulting in over 25 people being arrested, according to the commission report.

The activities include two attempted murders, two carjackings, three felonious assaults, 14 other types of assaults, one discharging a firearm, four auto thefts, four vehicle burglaries, five thefts, three driving under the influence, five public intoxications and 33 disturbances.

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Edward Staudenmayer has been performing for New York audiences for the last 15 years, but for the next two weeks he'll be performing for his relatives.

Staudenmayer has been performing in Forbidden Broadway, an Off-Broadway satirical revue, since 1994 in New York City.

The musical will be performed at the Grove Theatre in Upland today through April 12.

"I'm proud to show what has been a huge part of my life for so long," Staudenmayer said. "It's great to have a chance to show off to my family what has been such an important part of my life."

Staudenmayer was born in Pomona and spent much of his childhood growing up in different parts of the Inland Empire.

"It will be a fun two weeks hopefully three if we sell more tickets," Staudenmayer said. "All my family's here. We probably sold most tickets to the show to my family because I have a big family."

Staudenmayer's family has deep roots in the Inland Empire. His father was a Pomona Police Sargent for 22 years, his uncle was a Pomona Fire Captain for 33 years and an Upland resident, his cousin works for the Upland Fire Department and his Aunt currently works as a city planner for Upland.

As a child he spent summers and weekends at his father's house on 16^th street in Upland.

This is Staudenmayer's first performance at the Grove Theatre.

"I used to go there as a kid" he said. "I'm excited to go back there."

Forbidden Broadway is a four person show that spoofs former and current Broadway musicals.

"I'm pleased as punch that they are going to have a top notch production of it because the three other actors are literally just closing in New York and coming in to do this version," Staudenmayer said. "The show changes all the time. Nobody has ever seen this version. Nobody in the world has seen this version."

                                                                                                                      

Forbidden Broadway Performances

Thursday, April 2 at 7:29 p.m.
Friday, April 3 at 7:29 p.m.
Saturday, April 4 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 4 at 7:29 p.m.
Sunday, April 5 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 5 at 2 p.m.
Thursday, April 9 at 7:29 p.m.
Friday, April 10 at 7:29 p.m.
Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 11 at 7:29 p.m.
Sunday, April 12 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $25 and $30 and can be purchased at the Theatre Box Office, via phone (909) 920-4343 or online at http://www.grovetheatre.com/.

Jana Alayra will perform at the Solid Ground Brethren in Christ Church in Alta Loma to benefit Upland-based non-profit Pacific Lifeline.

The event will be 6 p.m. April 19.

A free-will offering will be collected to benefit the non-profit, which provides long term shelter for women and their children. For more information on the organization visit http://www.pacific-lifeline.org/ or call (909) 931-2624.

The church is located at 9974 19th Street in Alta Loma.

The event is co-sponsored by John R. Byerly, Inc. Geotechnical Engineers.

For more information visit http://www.charitypromotions.org/.