May 2011 Archives
Scrubby Puppy Pet Wash & Salon will join Serenity On The Green Salon will host Stylists for Spay, a Spring get-together supporting Upland-based animal rescue charity Helping Out Pets Everyday.
The event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 5 at the Upland Hills Plaza East at 1125 E. 16th St.
Stylists from Serenity on the Green salon are donating their time and skills to raise funds for HOPE's free spay and neuter program.
Haircuts for humans will be $30, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the program for dogs and cats.
Chef Tim Hanson of Chef Tim's with Spices will be cooking some of his most popular menu items.
Stephanie Chavez from Meridian Small Animal Massage will offer short massage sessions.
Doctor Ken Tudor will introduce his Pet Weight Management program.
For more information or to book a hair appointment call Tony Jardine or Valerie Mora at 909-608-1800 or email scrubbypuppy@gmail.com
HOPE offers free spay and neuter services to Upland residents. They are performed by Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service (VACS) mobile van through Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona.
The Animal Shelter received a $10,000 grant to help vaccinate adoptable dogs against the canine influenza virus.
The grant was part of a Petfinder.com Foundation program to build community immunity against this respiratory infection.
The virus is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily from dog to dog.
The grant seeks to protect all at-risk dogs in the community.
It also provides great assurance to adopting families that their new pets will be healther and much less likely to be sick or get more serious and sometimes fatal infections.
The grant further links Petfinder.com member shelters and rescue grant recipients with local veterinarians to protect all adoptable dogs in their care.
The Foundation partnered with global animal health company Intervet/ScheringPlough Animal Health to fund the grant.
The Shelter is at 1275 San Bernardino Road.
UPLAND - Animal rescue charity Helping Out Pets Everyday has publicly condemned the Upland Animal Shelter's method of euthanizing cats.
The organization's president, Margaret Coffman, has reached out to the city regarding the shelter's routine procedure of euthanizing cats through an intraperitoneal (IP) injection, which is done through the stomach.
"There's no way they can justify it as far as I'm concerned. The only reason to justify it is it's an assembly line," Coffman said. "It's quicker and it's faster for them to euthanize, and Upland should be above that."
The shelter has been euthanizing cats at the shelter through intraperitoneal injection of Fatal Plus, a common drug used in the practice.
In the IP method, the drug is injected into the cat through its abdominal cavity. Death can take up to 30 minutes.
HOPE, which finds homes for homeless dogs and cats, believes the use of IP injections as a routine method of euthanasia is cruel and not supported by the drug's manufacturer.
Instead, they believe the shelter should be using the intravenous (IV) injection method of euthanasia, which involves injecting cats through a vein. Death only takes up to five minutes.
"The whole point of euthanasia is a quick, painless death, and I don't think being in the throes of death for 15 to 30 minutes while they pass is quick and painless," Coffman said.
Animal Services Supervisor Jon Knowlton said shelter staff is trained to follow the guidelines in the American Humane Association's Operational Guide for Euthanasia by Injection for animal care and control agencies.
The 2010 version of the manual lists IV injections on dogs, puppies, very calm cats and pregnant cats, as well as IP injections on cats and kittens as two of the best euthanasia practices.
The shelter routinely uses the IV method for euthanizing dogs.
For cats, however, the IV method requires the shelter staff member to restrain the cat and find a vein, which is difficult, Knowlton said.
"We don't want those last minutes of the cat's life to be stressful," Knowlton said. "We want it to be calm and relaxing and for them to go down as easy as possible. That's why we use IP method."
The cats are unconscious within three to five minutes of the injection, Knowlton said.
"They go down easy and then it does take 10 minutes, sometimes 15 (minutes) for them to pass away, but they're unconscious for most of that time," he said.
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18170628
LifeStream will be holding two blood drives within the city this week.
The drives will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1092 N. Mountain Ave. and from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Integrity of Excellence, 800 W. Arrow Hwy.
In conjunction with K-FROG's 12th annual "Leap For Life" Blood Drive, all donors will receive a special edition "Leap For Life" T-shirt.
Donors will receive an "Everyone's A Kid" discount coupon for $10 off regular adult admission to Knott's Soak City water parks in Buena Park, Palm Springs and San Diego with their first donation since March 21 and a voucher for a free single-day adult admission ticket to Knott's Soak City Palm Springs with their second and subsequent competed donations between March 21 and Sept. 30.
They will also receive Gift of Life Donor Loyalty Points that may be redeemed in the online store at www.LStream.org.
Healthy individuals at least 15-years-old may donate blood.
Those 15-and-16-years-old must provide LifeStream with a written parental consent.
Parent consent forms are available at any donor center, community blood drive or on the LifeStream Website.
All prospective donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 110 pounds and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis.
For more information call 1-800-TRY GIVING.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday for the city's 25th annual Fireworks Spectacular at 5:30 p.m. July 4 at the Upland High school football stadium at 565 W. 11th St.
Tickets are $8. Children under 2-years-old can enter for free.
Tickets can be purchased at the following locations:
Ford of Upland at 545 W. Foothill Blvd.
New York Pizza at 1013 W. Foothill Blvd.
Upland Recreation at 651 W. 15th St.
Upland Public Library at 450 N. Euclid Ave.
Thief will be performing at 6 p.m.
The firework show will be at 9 p.m.
The city expects tickets to be in higher demand than in previous years because more people are staying closer to home and other cities have canceled their events, according to a city news release.
Donations from the community are helping to fund this year's event.
For more information on how to donate or to promote a business during the event call the Upland Recreation and Community Services Division at 909-931-4281.
The City Council honored residents serving in the military during their council meeting on May 23.
The families of the military servicemen and women were given blue star banners to hang in their windows.
Residents honored were:
Corporal Erik Druva, Marines
Sergeant Lanai Ferro, Army
Sergeant Frank Jokai, Army
Private Second Class Kurtis Pla, Army
Private First Class Joshua Rodriguez, Army
Staff Sergeant Evan Rowe, Air Force
Specialist Elizabeth Tommer, Army
Machinist Mate Kent Yannayon, Navy
Rodriguez' family received a banner with two stars because his brother is also serving in the military. He was recognized in Nov. 2007.
The Council also honored Charles Woodworth for his service in the Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1965-69.
San Antonio Community Hospital will be hosting a community health lecture, "Myths About Skin Cancer and the Sun," from 6 to 8 p.m. June 14 in the Aita Auditorium at 999 San Bernardino Road.
Board certified dermatologists Sandra Lee and Jeffrey Rebish will teach attendees the latest myths and truths about the potentially deadly disease as well as the latest treatment options.
Skin evaluations will be held following the lecture.
To reserve a seat call 909-920-6139.
Pre-registration is strongly recommended.
UPLAND - After review by two committees and scrutiny by the mayor, the city's process for selecting Planning Commission members remains virtually intact.
A subcommittee of Councilmen Brendan Brandt and Gino Filippi recommended a slight modification to the city's selection process, which was approved during Monday night's council meeting.
The current process of selecting planning commissioners includes an interview panel made up of the mayor or designee, mayor pro tem or designee, and the Planning Commission chairman.
Brandt and Filippi recommended the city include a senior member of the planning staff to the interview panel, but did not make any more changes to the selection process.
Staff members will be able to ask the interviewee about upcoming projects in the city including the downtown specific plan, Brandt said.
"Although the council is aware of those and has attended the workshops on those, the Planning Department has a more in-depth analysis of those issues that I think is going to be helpful during the selection process," Brandt said.
Mayor Ray Musser said he was disappointed in the results, but decided to vote in favor of the change.
"So we're back to where we were," Musser said.
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18139881
Beading Attitudes is offering a women's awareness workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 4 in downtown Upland.
In the Beaded Goddess Workshop participants will use fabric and beads to create a personal symbolic figure representing a precious plea or desire held in their hearts.
For more information call 909-542-8405 or email beadingattitudes@gmail.com
Jon Haider, of Upland, won first place in the Undergraduate Engineering and Computer Science category at the 25th annual California State University Student Research Competition in Fresno.
Haider, a civil engineering student at Cal State Fullerton, won for his study, "Effectiveness of Friction Dampers of Dissipation of Seismic Energy."
The focus of his research was on the damage done by earthquakes and how to prevent or lessen the damage.
Haider has been testing a devise to dissipate the energy that is released during seismic activity.
He will graduate this month and pursue a master's degree at UCLA in the fall.
UPLAND - The City Council Monday night took the first step in changing a statute in its Municipal Code that prevented it from terminating the city manager for five months.
The council held a first reading of an amendment to the code that would eliminate the statute that prohibits them from terminating the city manager within 180 days of an election if a new council member is elected or appointed.
Councilman Gino Filippi was elected on Nov. 2.
The council terminated former City Manager Robb Quincey on May 4 for breaching his employment contract and not following specific council direction after waiting out the 180-day period.
Quincey had been on paid leave of absence since Jan. 4.
The decision made Monday will give the council authority to terminate the city manger at its own discretion.
"If we found out he was not doing things the way they should have been done, we could have made a decision to terminate and then honor his contract and also honor the code," said Mayor Ray Musser. "I feel comfortable with it. Six months was too long."
The council will consider a second reading and adoption of the ordinance during the June 13 council meeting.
The statute was increased from a 90-day period to 180 days in 2008.
The intention of the statue is to maintain stability for newly elected or appointed council members, said City Attorney William Curley.
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18130653
Foothill Family Shelter will hold a free e-waste event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 4 at their office, 1501 W. Ninth St. Ste. D in Upland.
Donations of used and non-working electronics will help the Shelter raise money for at-risk families in the community.
Electronic items accepted include:
cell phones
television sets
laptops
printers
fax machines
cameras
copiers
LCDs
vacuums
Plasma televisions
scanners
VCRs
DVDs
Items not to be accepted include: large household appliances, batteries, florescent light bulbs, glass, wood and tires.
For more information call 909-920-0453.
San Antonio Community Hospital will sponsor a blood drive from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 2 in the Aita Auditorium at 999 San Bernardino Road.
Radio personality Cindy Davis from KOLA radio will be broadcasting live during the event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be prizes and giveaways for donors.
he Upland High School Girls Frosh softball team won the title of Baseline League Champions.
They were undefeated.
Upland scored 177 runs, while the opposition scored 53 runs.
Pitcher Tiffany Valenciano pitched all 15 games. She had 78 strike outs for the season, averaging 5.2 strike outs per game.
"One Arm" Alyssa Hernandez played first base and Desiree Piceno scored three home runs in one game against Los Osos High School.
Louie Munoz was the coach. Richard Shackelford was the assistant coach.
Upland-based animal rescue charity, Helping Out Pets Everyday, is seeking volunteers to help foster dogs and cats rescued by the organization.
HOPE rescues at-risk dogs and cats from shelters in San Bernardino and Kern Counties.
They will occasionally rescue pets from owners who can no longer care for them.
HOPE does not have a facility, so they rely on volunteers to temporarily care for the rescues while they seek qualified homes, said HOPE President Margaret Coffman.
"Boarding our rescues is very expensive for us, so we're reaching out to animal lovers that may be willing to take in a dog or cat in need," Coffman said. "There's so many out there that we can help, but without assistance, these dogs and cats are doomed to die."
To foster or get more information email Coffman at MacC219@aol.com or call HOPE at 800-811-4285 and leave a message.
The Mt. Baldy Community Association will have a ground breaking ceremony for the Mt. Baldy Museum-Dorothy Wisely History Center at noon on June 4.
The museum at 6778 Mt. Baldy Road is a project of the Mt. Baldy Community Association, a non-profit organization established to promote culture, history and public education in Mt. Baldy as well as to make the unique history of the small mountain town available to the region.
Association president, Marta Escanuelas and board members Dave and Maci Siriani, Daven Gray, Cathy Granger, Tanja Adam and Joey Martin will be in attendance for the ground breaking.
Board and sub-committee members Charlene Delgado, Missy Poore and Nancy Strickland have been organizing and cataloging items for display in the museum.
This is the organization's next step in the conversion of an unused Ranger's House at the U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center Compound in the center of Mt. Baldy Village.
When completed, the museum will house a variety of exhibits and displays conveying San Antonio Canyon's history form the mining days to the present.
Also to be included will be displays about the pioneers, the native Tongva Indian tribe, the development of hydroelectric power, Mt. Baldy as a getaway frequented by Hollywood movie stars in the 1920's and 1930's, the development of the ski area after World War II as well as the devastating fires and floods.
The museum will be named in part to honor the late Dorothy Wisely, who was the canyon's unofficial historian. Her family donated extensive archives to the community for preservations and exhibit to the public.
Students at Carden Arbor View School will participate in the All Things Kids Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 11 at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center at 12505 Cultural Center Dr., in Rancho Cucamonga.
Carden Arbor View will be providing information about the school, offering opportunities for attendees to sign up for school tours as well as previewing their upcoming "Roaring Summer" program.
They will also review the benefits of an independent education.
Students will perform for visitors who attend.
Families can participate in a scavenger hunt where a secret clue will be found at each exhibitor's booth for a chance to win a vacation for four to Orlando, Florida.
A winner and eight semi-finalists will be chosen during a "Draw Your Dad" contest. They will be published in the Daily Bulletin, The San Bernardino Sun and Redlands Daily Facts newspapers on Father's Day, which is June 19.
The expo is sponsored by Foothills Magazine.
For more information on the school's exhibit, the "Roaring Summer" program or the school, call Terri DiMarco, the school's director of development, at 909-982-9919 or email her at tdimarco@cardenarborview.org
The San Antonio Heights-Mt. Baldy Citizens on Patrol will hold their 16th annual George Lee Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. May 28 at San Antonio Park in Upland.
Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, oranges, coffee, milk, and juice will be served.
Cost is $4 for adults, $2 for children 6-12-years-old. Children under 6-years-old are free.
Among those cooking pancakes are San Bernardino County Board of Supervisor Janice Rutherford, Upland Mayor Ray Musser, San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops, San Bernardino County Captain Mike Mascetti and California Highway Patrol officer Filamon Verdi.
For more information call 909-985-7552.
A Texas Hold'em fundraiser and social event will be held at 5 p.m. June 25 at the Gibson Senior Center to support Upland's Adopt a Soldier Military Banner program.
The military banner program is responsible for the banners of Upland soldiers that line Mountain and Campus Avenues.
The event is open to all adults who are at least 21-years-old.
Cost for just food is $30.
Buy-in is $100, with 10,000 chips issued.
Add-ons and re-buys will be available.
There will be a grand prize as well as other prizes, including a raffle and silent auction.
There will be a buffet with beer, wine and soft drinks.
Cards in the Air begins at 6 p.m.
Play will end at 11 p.m.
Sponsorships are available from $500 to $3,000.
Checks can be made payable to:
Upland Community Foundation
P.O. Box 794
Upland, CA 91785
For more information call 909-985-5429 or 909-559-1073.
Jim and Anne Curry will be performing the music of John Denver on May 28 to benefit The Cooper Museum.
The show is from 7 to 10 p.m. in the museum courtyard at 217 E. A St. in downtown Upland.
Tickets are $20 per person and includes two drinks.
UPLAND - Five more residents have picked up nomination papers for this summer's special election to fill a City Council seat, bumping the number of potential candidates to 10.
The election will fill a council seat that was vacated Feb. 28 when Ray Musser was appointed mayor.
The filing period started May 9 and will conclude June 6.
Residents need to send in their ballots for the all-mail election by Aug. 30.
Sam Fittante, former owner of an Upland-based lawn maintenance company, filed his paperwork with the city clerk on Monday. He is the lone candidate to complete the process.
Residents who picked up paperwork since May 10:
Mark Creighton, member of the City Council Advisory Committee.
Dan Morgan, Upland's city treasurer.
Debra Stone, funeral arranger at Stone Funeral Home in downtown Upland.
Robert Velto, consultant and self-employed manufacturing representative.
Scott Yoffe, owner of Claremont-based Entertainment Express and former Upland police officer.
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18084265
The Grove Theatre will be hosting "Music for the Cure," a variety show to benefit American Cancer Society and Upland Relay For Life.
The show will be at 7:29 p.m. Saturday at the Theatre, 276 E. Ninth St. in downtown Upland.
There will be several performers including: Anne Johnston-Brown, Angeline Carr, Jack Hermann, Sherri Jones, Autumn Powers, Vil Towers and Grove owner, Sherry Kinison.
Irish Dimensions and Midnight Moods will perform.
John Paul Jackson will give a special piano performance.
Cost is a $15 donation.
The Grove's Relay For Life team will be participating in the 24-hour event on June 11 and 12 at Magnolia Park, 651 W. 15th St.
UPLAND - A parent of an Upland High School senior has taken issue with the amount of tickets his family will be granted to attend the June 9 graduation ceremony.
Jawad Hajawad said he plans to stand outside Upland High every morning to protest the limit of five tickets for each graduate. He will be holding a sign that expresses his dismay.
Hajawad is flying in family from out of state and even out of the country to attend his daughter's graduation, but the five-ticket limit will prevent everyone from attending.
"This should be a good family event, not something to tell my daughter `tough,"' Hajawad said.
"This should be something my kids should look back on and say `I had all my family there."'
The school, at 565 W. 11th St., recently increased the number of guest tickets from four to five. Tickets will be distributed May 27.
Only guests with tickets will be permitted to enter Upland High's football stadium to view the ceremony.
The change from four to five tickets was based on a recommendation from the Fire Department, according to the Upland High School website.
"In the past, we had a problem with people rushing in and standing around, which created what we considered to be a safety issue, so we decided to increase the number of tickets," Principal Ben Rich said.
Between 830 and 850 students are expected to graduate. The stadium can hold about 4,000 people.
The Upland Woman's Club hosted a Reciprocity Tea on April 26 with several Woman's Clubs in the area.
President Sarabel Yahne honored several women who had over 25 years of service in the Upland Woman's Club. They were: Emma Arcieri. Carolyn Barone, Irene Brinzinski-Lovelady, Elsie Daffer, Winifed Kissick, Ruby Leavitt, Tinker Potter, Sarabel Yahne, and Rose Helmick who was also given an Honorary Membership. Mary O'Neil and Madeleine Lesondak received the Women of Distinction Award.
The Upland Woman's Club will host their monthly Tea at 1 p.m. May 24 at their clubhouse, 590 North Second Avenue.
Installation of the Executive Board for 2011-12 will take place.
Upland High School's art and performing arts departments will host "Face of the Arts," from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the school, 565 W. 11th St.
There will be live music and food.
The event will be in Randleman Court, which is next to the Redding Way parking lot.
The 12th annual Pet Adoption Faire is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Upland Animal Shelter, 1275 San Bernardino Road.
The Faire is hosted by Upland-based animal rescue charity Helping Out Pets Everyday.
There will be food, entertainment and pet-related vendors.
Dozens of dogs and cats will be up for adoption.
Veterinary students at Western University of Health Sciences will give educational seminars on keeping cats indoors at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., vaccines at 10:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. and the importance of spaying and neutering pets at 10:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Avid will be microchipping Upland residents' pets for free. Cost is $20 for non-Upland residents.
Low cost vaccinations will be available.
Disc Dogs in Southern California will perform.
The Rock 'N Rovers and Surf City Flyball teams will compete.
Animal communicator, Lydia Hiby will be reading pets for $40 at select times. There are still times available between 1:45 and 3 p.m. To sign up for a 15 minute session with Hiby email HOPE President Margaret Coffman at MacC219@aol.com
Students, family and friends at Salon Success Academies teamed up to participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event on April 30 at Quakes Stadium in Rancho Cucamonga.
The team raised $2,000 at the event and $4,000 total.
The school began participating in the event last year when Heather Harris, and Upland resident and cosmetology student at Salon Success Academies in Upland, approached the vice president about her own involvement in the relay.
Harris' cousin, Jeff Millet, was diagnosed cancer three and a half years ago.
He was told he had two years to live, but is still going strong and working as a volunteer for the Cancer Action Network, the American Cancer Society's legislative and lobbying group.
Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's number one fundraising event across the country. Teams of participants set up campsites and walk around the field for 24 hours. Someone from each team is walking the field at all times.
The Salon Success Academies team was able to raise money by offering manicures and massages.
Upland firefighter Dustin Griffin climbs a 100-foot ladder truck. A group calling itself Concerned Government Workers for Change say the ladder truck does not have proper firefighting capabilities, a charge the city denies. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)
A group calling itself Concerned Government Workers for Change has been sending emails and posting on websites its concerns about public safety due to some of the tactics used by the Upland Fire Department.
The person who has been sending the e-mails would not comment on the record.
In response to the emails, Interim City Manager Stephen Dunn put together a position paper with input from various city officials, attempting to answer some of the group's concerns.
"The council needs to know how the staff feels on those issues, whether we think it's a concern or not," Dunn said.
UPLAND - When the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors agreed in 2006 to pay Colonies Partners LP $102 million to settle a dispute over a flood-control basin in Upland, supervisors also proposed a deal with the city.
According to the settlement offered, the county and its Flood Control District would drop all claims against the city related to the basin, in exchange for $2 million.
But the city rejected the offer.
The county "felt strongly that Upland, Caltrans and SanBAG needed to admit some responsibility, and none of us felt we did," said then-Councilman Tom Thomas.
"It was more the principle than the money. We didn't feel we did anything wrong. I still think we haven't."
The basin, a part of the Colonies Crossroads commercial and residential project, was built to capture stormwater from north Upland to be sunk into the underground for future use. The argument has been over who is to pay for the preparation work on the basin, which was completed recently.
The county filed a lawsuit in 2004 against the city, San Bernardino Associated Governments and Caltrans, seeking partial reimbursement for a possible future settlement, which was made in 2006.
Thomas said accepting the settlement probably would have meant getting sued by Caltrans and SanBAG.
"I think regardless of how this thing played out, once the settlement was made by the county and the Colonies, part of Upland was going to be in the game and spend about the same amount of money either way," Thomas said.
Colonies co-managing partner Jeff Burum, former Supervisor Paul Biane, former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin and Mark Kirk, the county's director of intergovernmental relations, were charged last week with several felonies connected to the settlement.
Burum said in an April interview that Colonies offered to pay half of Upland's $2 million settlement.
"The Colonies offered to pay $1 million as a good-faith effort early on to solve the dispute," Burum said.
When Colonies and the county were working toward a settlement, Upland City Attorney William Curley and then- Mayor John Pomierski asked the Colonies to settle at no cost to the city, Burum said.
"The Colonies and county couldn't get a settlement with Upland paying nothing, but we were able to get it to roughly $2 million."
The city and SanBAG filed counterlawsuits against the county in 2009, alleging the settlement involved fraud and collusion.
Last week, the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office and the state Attorney General's Office handed down a 29-count indictment charging Biane, Burum, Erwin and Kirk with felonies including conspiracy to commit a crime, misappropriation with public funds, improper influence and conflict of interest.
The indictment accuses Burum of offering Biane, Erwin, Kirk - who was then Supervisor Gary Ovitt's chief of staff - and then-Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus $100,000 bribes in exchange for voting in favor of the settlement or influencing the vote.
Postmus pleaded guilty March 28 to 14 felonies - including conspiracy to commit a crime and conflict of interest - and admitted he took a bribe from Colonies Partners in exchange for his vote approving the settlement.
Upland Councilman Ken Willis said because the city was not involved in the negotiations, the county had no right to sue Upland to help pay for the settlement.
"Here's the thing: Irrespective of the number, had two elected officials not gone into a room with two developers and not witnessed and cut a deal for $102 million, at the end of the day, you cannot explain that," he said.
"If you do it in public or at least if you do it with the staff there, it's OK to negotiate the price on something like this," Willis said. "The staff does the negotiating or the private entity, not the elected officials. If you talk to them, then you have plenty of staff there because you want a witness."
SanBAG and Upland have repeatedly demanded that the county drop the lawsuit against them due to the criminal charges surrounding the settlement.
Biane said in April that he believed the Upland deal would have been a better option for the city.
"I think again, looking back, it seems this is a difficult question to answer in the sense that based on Bill Postmus' plea of guilty, that puts it in a different light," Biane said. "But based on what I knew at the time, it looked to me it was a better path, a more fair path for the city of Upland."
Biane said he believes the city played a similar role to the county's in the basin dispute.
The city demanded that its portion of the 210 Freeway be below grade, resulting in the diversion of water onto the Colonies property.
"It was my belief then and still is my belief that the county and the city of Upland played similar roles in facilitating the freeway project," he said. "My belief today, and it was then, means the responsible parties for building the freeway were supposed to be Caltrans and SanBAG."
Curley said a lot of complicated legal issues were discussed with the City Council at the time.
"I guess most simply put, we saw no facts or evidence that gave Upland any clear liability," he said.
"But out of the blue, for somebody to suggest to a public agency to give them $2 million without any bona fide evidence or reason or anything other than their request, it would be the rare public agency that would just give $2 million to anybody who asked."
UPLAND - Upland High School students have a new facility to dance, sing and play a little one-on-one.
The school's new gymnasium and performing arts building will open to students this week after 15 months of construction.
The facility cost about $4.96 million, which came out of Upland Unified School District's Measure K fund.
City officials and some of the school's athletes attended a dedication ceremony Tuesday.
"I'm really excited," Upland High Principal Ben Rich said. "Especially in these times, it's unusual for a school district for a community to rally together and support a project like this. Our kids are really excited."
The school's current gym will be used for games, such as basketball and volleyball.
The new gym, which will be used for practices, includes a dance studio and choir room.
Upland voters in 2008 passed Measure K, which provided $103 million in general obligation bonds to finance construction, modernization and maintenance of school facilities.
Upland Unified officials also expect to receive a $3.5 million grant, which will lower the overall cost.
The original estimate to build the gym was $8 million, but the economic downturn allowed the district to take advantage of lower construction costs, Superintendent Gary Rutherford said.
UPLAND - The City Council on Monday night decided to fill its vacant city manager position through a recruitment process.
A subcommittee, which includes Mayor Ray Musser and Councilman Ken Willis, will work on finding a replacement for Robb Quincey.
Quincey was fired as city manager on May 4 for breaching an employment agreement and failing to follow specific council direction.
"The council considered its local options, and, for community confidence and transparency, is going to look at a broader process," City Attorney William Curley said.
Stephen Dunn, the city's finance director, has served as interim city manger since Jan. 4 when Quincey was placed on paid leave of absence.
Councilman Brendan Brandt said the council will encourage Dunn to apply for the city manager position.
"We thank him for acting as the interim city manager and he will continue to do so during this process," Brandt said. "He's doing the entire council a great benefit and doing an excellent job in that capacity."
Musser and Willis will also consider hiring a consultant to help them in the recruitment process.
Willis said he believed it would be a good to develop a framework for what the council is looking for in a new city manager. The framework would be presented to city residents at a public meeting.
San Bernardino County's transportation planning agency and some Upland officials view the indictment announced Tuesday as another reason why the county should drop their lawsuit against them.
San Bernardino County has sued the city, San Bernardino Associated Governments and Caltrans, seeking partial reimbursement for a $102 million settlement the county made in 2006 with Rancho Cucamonga developers Colonies Partners LP.
The District Attorney's Office and the state Attorney General's Office on Monday filed a 29-count indictment against Jeffrey Burum, 48, co-managing partner of Colonies Partners, LP; former San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane, 47; former county assistant assessor Jim Erwin, 48; and Mark Kirk, 36, former chief of staff for county Supervisor Gary Ovitt.
They are facing felony charges including bribery, misappropriation of public funds, conflict of interest and other crimes surrounding the settlement.
"We've been urging the county to stay the litigation pending these criminal charges, and now that there are additional charges that involve each office that voted for this settlement, we think it's imperative that the county immediately stay the litigation," said Ken MacVey, attorney for SanBAG.
Last month SanBAG adopted a resolution demanding the county dismiss the lawsuit after former county Assessor Bill Postmus pleaded guilty to 14 felonies in the corruption case tied to the settlement. They approved a similar resolution in February 2010 after the district attorney and attorney general announced they were filing charges against Postmus and Erwin.
Upland sent a letter to the county last month demanding that it dismiss the lawsuit.
Both agencies filed a counter lawsuit in 2009 against the county alleging the settlement involved fraud and collusion.
"The first thing that crosses my mind is in view of this turn of events it is criminal that the county Board of Supervisors continues to spend $1.6 million a month in legal fees to attack Upland, SanBAG and Caltrans," said Upland Councilman Ken Willis. "This suit should either be immediately ended or at least put on the shelf until possible criminal proceedings have taken place."
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18035757
Check out staff photographer Thomas Cordova's photos of the presentation of The Lion King at Baldy View Elementary school on Thursday.
Students in the ACCESS after school program performed scenes from the production. They were also helping to raise money for a fellow students.
First grader, Avery Anderson, is fighting a brain tumor.
Check out the photo gallery Here
UPLAND - Five people pulled papers Monday for the upcoming special election to fill a vacancy on the City Council, including a couple of well-known residents.
Former Police Chief Martin Thouvenell, city watchdog Glenn Bozar, Salvatori "Sam" Fittante, Mike Nava and William Nones picked up the papers at City Hall for the all-mail ballot special election on Aug. 30.
Monday was the first day of the nomination period, which ends June 6.
The vacancy was created when Councilman Ray Musser was appointed mayor on Feb. 28, after John Pomierski resigned from the top job.
Thouvenell decided to run for the council seat after what he called a loss in confidence and trust in Upland government.
"My intent is to bring leadership and integrity back to the city," he said. "Residents certainly deserve a completely transparent and open government."
Thouvenell said he would not focus on the the city's past struggles but rather on moving the city forward.
Some of his goals are to bring "well-rounded" development and businesses to some of the city's open spaces, demand balanced city budgets and pension reform, and ensure that public safety is the city's top budget priority.
Bozar, a logistics manager for TE Connectivity in Ontario, said he is strongly considering a run for the council, but is still looking over the paperwork.
"I think my track record speaks for itself. Once I decide I want to get involved in something, I get involved in something," said Bozar, who joined the San Antonio Water Company Board of Directors in March.
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18028258
Today is the first day of the nomination period for Upland's special election and so far, two known residents have pulled papers.
Former Upland Police Chief Martin Thouvenell pulled papers and even sent out a press release announcing his run for the seat.
Glenn Bozar, member of the San Antonio Water Company Board of Directors and past city critic, also pulled papers.
The election will be vote by mail with an Aug. 30 deadline.
Voters will pick a new council member to fill the seat left vacant by Ray Musser when he was appointed Mayor on Feb. 28.
The filing period ends on June 6.
UPLAND - The City Council no longer has a permanent city manager to delegate items to, so members will discuss their options for hiring a new one at tonight's meeting.
The council will meet in closed session to discuss replacing City Manager Robb Quincey, who was let go Wednesday.
Councilman Brendan Brandt said the council has several options.
"Well, first of all, it's got to be put on the agenda, and then there needs to be a discussion as to which way the council wants - the majority wants - to go, whether to open up a search process or to have an open discussion regarding making the current interim city manager the city manager," Brandt said.
Finance Director Stephen Dunn has been filling in for Quincey since he was placed on paid leave of absence on Jan. 4.
"I will go into that discussion with full and complete open mind, and I haven't reached a conclusion either way," Brandt said. "I expect to hear input from the community as to how we should proceed with that in an open and transparent manner."
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18023634
UPLAND - The owners of the former Chronic Cantina property delivered a claim to City Hall last week, indicating their intent to sue for damages.
The owners are claiming damages and losses related to the City Council's revocation of the bar's conditional-use permit in April 2009.
The claim was sent on behalf of property owners Robert Mills and Scott Schaller by attorney Scott Richards.
Mills said their damages are close to $10 million in provable losses.
"The city has damaged our property value," Mills said. "With no permit, the building is useless. We have two properties tied in on my loan. If I lose Upland, I lose property in Chino as well. I lost all revenue coming in from rent."
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18020823
UPLAND - The city is withholding details of former City Manager Robb Quincey's termination, but Mayor Ray Musser said Thursday the right decision was made.
The City Council unanimously voted to release Quincey during a special closed session meeting on Wednesday, citing breach of employment agreement and four causes of failure to follow specific City Council direction
Council members are waiting for City Attorney William Curley to officially notify Quincey before going into the details of his termination, Musser said.
"I feel good about the decision. I feel good that we united 100 percent," Musser said. "Upland is going in a new direction."
A statute in the city's municipal code prohibited the council from terminating Quincey within 180 days of an election if a new council member was elected. Councilman Gino L. Filippi was elected on Nov. 2.
The council met for nearly two hours discussing Quincey's employment future.
"There was good, healthy discussion," Musser said. "It was not a quick vote obviously. We took two and a half hours of reading materials and looking at documents and communicating across the table different ideas. It was just a good process."
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18003462
Upland High School will host a Battle of the Jazz Bands at 7 p.m. May 19 in the Upland Highlander Auditorium, 565 W. 11th St.
The Upland High School Jazz Ensemble, under the director of Mark Capalbo, will face off with Alta Loma High School's Jazz Band, under the direction of Brian McNair.
Admission is $5. All proceeds will go to support both programs.
There will be a pre-battle show by the Upland High School Jazz Ensemble 2 at 6:15 p.m. in the quad.
Check out the latest City Manager newsletter, by Interim City Manager Stephen Dunn.
City Manager Robb Quincey was fired Wednesday by the City Council. He had been on paid leave of absence since Jan. 4.
Dunn, also the city's finance director, has been filling in for Quincey.
The newsletter is not about Quincey's termination. It reviews happenings around town over the past week.
View the newsletter here: http://www.uplandpl.lib.ca.us/pdf/WeekInReview.pdf
The Upland Animal Shelter is now on Facebook.
The shelter, at 1275 San Bernardino Road, will keep pet lovers posted on adoption events, pet of the week information and more.
Visit their page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Upland-Animal-Shelter/145166138881859?sk=wall
Sycamore Elementary School recently competed their Spring fundraiser, a Giddy Up & Go Walk-a-Thon.
The students with the help of a few sponsors raised more than $15,500 for the school.
The amount raised surpassed the students' goal. As a result they will get to tape the school's principal, Rosa Vasquez to the wall with duct tape.
The school's Parent Teacher Association President, Lise Rhodes, vowed to dye her hair pink for the day.
Rhodes has also agreed to be a human ice cream sundae.
San Antonio Community Hospital is holding a community health lecture called "Stroke Smart: What You Know Could Save Your Life," from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 10 in the Aita Auditorium, 999 San Bernardino Road in Upland.
Doctor Faisal Qazi, a Neurologist, and Dr. John Goffigan, an interventional radiologist, will discuss how to reduce the risk of stroke and how to identify common warning signs using the FAST method.
The physicians will also discuss the latest interventional treatments that can reverse the affects of a stroke if patients receive rapid treatment.
Upland City Mayor Ray Musser, left, and councilman Gino Filippi leave the dais for a special closed session meeting about City Manager Robb Quincey Wednesday at Upland City Hall. (Jennifer Cappuccio Maher Staff Photographer)
After more than an hour and a half in closed session, the City Council released Quincey from his employment with the city based on "two prongs," said City Attorney William Curley.
"One is based on breach of the employment agreement and the other are four cause circumstances of failure to follow specific council direction," Curley said.
No other details on Quincey's termination have been released except that the council's action took effect immediately.
The City Council deferred all comment to Curley.
"We'll be putting information together but right now it would be inappropriate to do it without careful thought," Curley said.
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_17993055
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_17993055
The Upland Public Library will feature a free workshop about creative leadership from 2 to 3:30 p.m. May 14 in the multipurpose room, 450 N. Euclid Ave.
The workshop will be presented by Psychological Assistant Nancy DeVore.
She will teach attendees how to increase their creative leadership potential, initiate change that has visible meaning and make use of original thinking to motivate and inspire new direction.
Registration is required.
To pre-register call 909-931-4205.
UPLAND - A former city attorney says the City Council should hire outside counsel to handle the review of the city manager's contract.
In a letter sent to the City Council and Daily Bulletin, former City Attorney Donald Maroney told the council members they need to hire a different attorney to review Robb Quincey's contract because current City Attorney William Curley signed off on the original contract and many of its amendments.
"And it was this same city attorney who was monitoring the process of conferring those contract enhancements on the city manager in most cases on the highly questionable authority of the mere signature of the mayor without a vote of the city council," Maroney wrote in the letter addressed to Mayor Ray Musser.
Maroney also says the council needs an unbiased source to review the legality of terms in Quincey's contract and the propriety of the posting and approval process for the amendments.
"It is my opinion that much of what is guaranteed to the city manager is non-binding," Maroney said in the letter.
"The council needs to hear an unbiased opinion on this matter and that means bringing in someone other than the current city attorney or a member of his firm to do that review."
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_17985113?source=rss_viewed
UPLAND - A confidential memorandum sent to city officials last month appears to give the City Council reason to terminate City Manager Robb Quincey with cause.
The memorandum, sent by City Attorney William Curley on April 15 to the City Council and Interim City Manager Stephen Dunn, describes how Quincey appeared to violate council commands in settling a dispute with an Upland police sergeant in January 2010.
Quincey has been on paid leave of absence since Jan. 4. The City Council will discuss Quincey's employment status during a special closed session today.
For Quincey to be terminated with cause, he would need to be convicted of a crime or to fail to follow City Council direction, according to his employment contract. He has not been charged with a crime.
According to the memorandum, Quincey received a draft copy of a tort claim from the Upland Police Association's attorney, Dieter Dammeier, on behalf of Sgt. John Moore.
Moore alleged he was passed over for a promotion because he had investigated a domestic incident with Quincey and an ex-fiancee in July 2008.
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_17985865
The city will hold a water wise workshop for problem areas from 9 a.m. to noon on May 14 at the Upland City Yard, 1370 N. Benson Ave.
The workshop will focus on areas that are traditionally difficult to landscape, including the area between the sidewalk and the street, which is over watered and difficult to maintain.
Attendees can learn how to plant water wise plants.
Door prizes will be given away.
Attendees must pre-registration for the class by May 10.
The workshop is free.
For more information call 909-931-4280.
The Upland High School Speech and Debate team took first place at the League Championship Tournament on April 17 at Claremont McKenna College.
Upland had three teams finish in the top eight. The team with students Ariana Gobaud and Greg Phillips took the overall championship in the final round against the Webb Schools.
Upland High had five speakers win individual awards for their work during the tournament.
The Rancho Cucamonga Women's Connection is having a "Mayday Mayday Fashion Rescue" fashion show and buffet luncheon from 11:15 a.m. 1 p.m. May 10 at the Upland Hills Country Club, 1231 E. 16th St.
Susan Lazarian, an independent consultant for Carol Anderson By Invitation, will present the "CAbi Spring Fashion Show." Lazarian will address fashion mistakes.
Carol Guttman, a former real estate agent, will be the featured speaker. Guttman will speak on "Home Improvement 101: First Fix Yourself."
Cost is $16 for the meal, including dessert, program and door prizes.
Vegetarian meals are also available.
To make reservations call Cecelia at 909-987-7069.
The club, sponsored by Stonecroft Ministries, has been meeting continuously for 30 years.
UPLAND - Councilman Ken Willis has asked the city attorney to draft a letter to federal officials regarding enforcement against medical marijuana dispensaries.
The letter will be sent to local district attorneys as well as some congressional lawmakers, to voice the city's support for the enforcement of federal drug laws, including holding property owners accountable for leasing to dispensaries.
"Our greatest fear is that this kind of activity attracts organized crime and once they see a successful pot shop, what's to keep them from going after it?" Willis said.
The request came after Willis received a letter from Paul Chabot, founder of Rancho Cucamonga-based Inland Valley Drug Free Community Coalition, who explained the letter at the April 25 City Council meeting.
"The DEA has had a long-standing policy of holding landowners accountable for violating federal law," Chabot said.
There was some confusion over the Attorney General Office's enforcement of federal marijuana laws after a memo was issued in October 2009 announcing it would not target medical marijuana patients and their sanctioned suppliers in states where medical marijuana is legal.
"Once that memo hit the circuit is when we saw a thousand pot shops hit L.A. And San Francisco, etc.," Chabot said. "Since then there has been a lot of clarification. The Department of Justice just as of recently put out two very strong memorandums to communities."
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_17973310
UPLAND - The City Council on Wednesday could be making a half-million-dollar decision on the city manager during a special closed session.
The council has a couple of narrowly defined options for terminating City Manager Robb Quincey, according to his contract. Termination without cause could be the most costly.
Firing Quincey without cause would cost the city more than $570,000 in severance pay.
He has been on paid leave of absence since Jan. 4 and has continued to cost the city about $38,000 a month in salary and benefits.
Severance pay would include 12 months of base compensation, cafeteria benefit, vacation, life insurance, automobile allowance, deferred compensation, payroll taxes, California Public Employees' Retirement System contribution and any other benefits specifically identified in his employment agreement - which would appear to include his $3,000 monthly housing allowance.
Puppy and kitten season is here and the Upland Animal Shelter is seeking volunteers to help with the onslaught of baby pets that are born during the spring.
The shelter is looking for volunteers who are interested in raising orphaned kittens and puppies until they are old enough to be adopted.
There will be a Foster Home Orientation meeting at 6 p.m. Friday at the shelter, 1275 San Bernardino Road.
To sign up for the meeting or to begin fostering call Jon Knowlton, the city's animal services supervisor, at 909-931-4183 or email Brenda Thall at BRTRET@earthlink.net
The Upland Lemon Festival this weekend had record breaking attendance, according to the city's redevelopment director.
Although the attendence and profits have yet to be calculated, Jeff Zwack said vendors ran out of food on Friday, the first night of the festival.
We had a great crowd, the weather was fantastic," he said. "I think all in all we're very plaesed about the attendence and how well everything went and how much fun people had."
The city did a lot of advertising for the event this year, Zwack said.
They advertised with the Daily Bulletin, on the radio, direct mail pieces and banners.
"So people were very aware of it," he said.
The Lemon Idol contest and the children's grove were draws as well.
The city held a pre-sale of carnival ride tickets at a discout price.
"We sold up through Thursday, which was sold out," he said.
The Festival was held Friday through Sunday in downtown Upland.
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