December 2011 Archives

The city has agreed to become a WaterSense partner.

WaterSense is a voluntary partnership program established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2006 "to protect the future of our nation's water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water efficient products and programs," according to a city staff report.

Much like Energy Star branding, WaterSense labels are placed on water efficient products and programs that meet designated EPA efficiency and performance criteria.

By becoming a partner, the city agrees to:

• promote the value of water efficiency and WaterSense labeled products and programs

• encourage eligible constituents to participate in WaterSense

• provide a brief annual update about water promotional activities, adhere to label, promotional label, partner logo and program logo guidelines

• feature WaterSense on the website and related promotional materials

• abide by the general terms and disclaimers outlined on the partnership agreement

WaterSense labels can be found on various household items including bathroom sink faucets and accessories, showerheads, toilets and urinals..

According to a city staff report, products bearing the WaterSense label:

- perform as well or better than their less efficient counterparts

- are 20 percent more water efficient than average products in that category

- realize water savings on a national level

- provide measurable water savings results

- achieve water efficiency through several technology options

- are effectively differentiated by the WaterSense label

• obtain independent, third-party certification

The Foothill Family Shelter is a beneficiary of GoodSearch.com

Online shoppers who sign up with the search engine will help raise funds for the Upland-based non-profit through their online searches.

Goodshop.com works with more than 2,500 stores, including Target, Apple and PetSmart. Every time a shopper purchases something, a percentage will be donated to the shelter.

GoodShop also offers more than 100,000 of coupons and free shipping offers.

GoodSearch is a Yahoo powered search engine.  

LifeStream will hold a blood and bone marrow drive from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market at 829 W. Foothill Blvd. in Upland.

The drive is part of LifeStream's participation in the nationwide Stop and Give initiative.

Donors receive a commemorative long-sleeved t-shirt as well as Gift of Life Donor Loyalty Points that may be redeemed in the online store at www.LStream.org.

College students may enter to win $2,500 toward a second semester tuition. Donors can also register for Be The Match bone marrow screening at all donor locations free of charge or go to bethematch.org and use the promo code 92408.

Healthy individuals at least 15 years of age may donate blood. Donors 15 and 16 years old must provide written parental consent. Parent consent forms are available at any donor center, community blood drive or at www.LStream.org

All prospective donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 110 pounds and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis.

Donors receive a free mini-physical as part of the donation process.

For more information call 1-800-TRY-GIVING.

The 37^th annual Cable Airshow will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 7-8 at Cable Airport, 1749 W. 13^th St. in Upland.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for kids ages 5-12 and free for children under 5 years old.

Parking is free.

Just in Time Skydivers and the Freedom Parachute Team will jump out of airplanes more than a mile high with freefall speeds of 120 miles per hour.

Steve Stavrakakis will be the announcer for the aerobatic pilots: Rob Harrison "The Tumbling Bear" in his new yellow Zlin 50, Dr. Frank Donnelly "Dr. D." Old Time Aerobatics in his Taylorcraft, Doug Jardine in his Sbach 342 "Thunderbolt," Clay Lacy in his bright orange Pilatus PC6 Porter and 17-year-old Sammy Mason in his open cockpit Stearman.

Kids of all ages will be able to meet the performers after their shows and get free autograph cards, bookmarks, removable tattoos and photos.

There will be displays and demonstrations with antique aircraft, homebuilt aircraft, warbirds, RC planes, military vehicles and more.

Airplane and helicopter rides will be available.

The Southern California Historic Cars will be on display at noon, followed by static displays.

Both days of the air show will begin with a pancake breakfast and plenty of food from various food booths.

Vendors of flying memorabilia will also be there.

The event is organized and presented by the Cable Airport Foundation, Pomona Valley Pilots Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 448.

Proceeds from the show will go to non-profit aviation scholarships.

For more information on the show visit www.cableairport.com or "Cable Airshow" on Facebook.

Three Upland Fire Fighters stationed at Cable Airport on Wednesday had an unusual call for service.

Fire Fighters Paul Kramer, Ryan Gardy and Captain Bill Rozinka were called to an Upland home to free a dog from a wrought iron fence.

His owner took him out for a walk when he darted through the next door neighbor's garage and into his backyard where he got caught in the fence, Rozinka said in an email.

The fire fighters spread the fence apart and lifted the dog up and out to freedom.

He was uninjured.

Sign ups for the Upland Biggest Loser Challenge begin on Jan. 2 and run through Jan. 26.

The 10-week challenge officially starts on Feb. 2.

Cost is $50 per team of two people ages 18 and up.

The challenge is inspired by the television show "The Biggest Loser," where teams compete to lose weight and get in shape.

This year, the city partnered with Fitness 19 of Upland to offer gym memberships to every participate for the duration of the program.

Prizes will be awarded to team winners as well as individual male and female winners.

The winners will be announced at the annual Upland Lemon Festival in April.

For more information call 909-981-4280.

Fans of the 1960's British rock band, the Beatles, may want to head to The Grove Theatre on New Year's Eve.

The newly formed tribute band, 4 Lads from Liverpool, will be performing at 9 p.m. at the Theatre, 276 E. Ninth St. in downtown Upland.

The Los Angeles-based tribute band premiered in San Francisco in October.

It is made up of seasoned tribute Beatles performers, many of whom have been playing as one of the Fab Four for many years, according to a Grove news release.

The band will perform songs from each of the Beatles' major musical periods, which are accompanied with a costume change.

The show will open with a set of songs from the early Hamburg days with the Beatles dressed in their black leather jackets and pants.

John, performed by Peter George, will sing lead on the opening song "Rock and Roll Music," wearing a toilet seat around his head.

The show also includes clips from the old 1960s shows and commercials.

Doors open at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $50 and include light hors d'oeuvres and midnight champagne. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.

Senior and group discounts are available.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 909-920-4343, by visiting the box office or on the website at www.grovetheatre.com

Box office hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Members of the Upland Rotary Club on Thursday will make an appearance live on KTLA Channel 5 to show off the Rotary Rose Parade Float.

Gene Hernandez, John Brainerd and Charles Barr will be interviewed by Gayle Anderson at the Rosemont Pavilion in Pasadena, across the street from the Rose Bowl.

Here is the full schedule:

6:30am Gayle arrives Rose Mont Pavilion

6:45am Cameraman arrives to set up equipment and audio checks

7:10am LIVE segment; 2-minutes with guests and viewer information

7:50am LIVE tease; 10-seconds

8:10am LIVE segment; 3-minutes with guests and viewer information

9:15am LIVE tease; 10-seconds

9:20am LIVE segment; 3-minutes with guests and viewer information

9:30am-9:45am Recorded segment for 1pm broadcast 2-minutes with
guests and viewer information

The City Council approved the Upland Fire Department's expenditure plan for the 2011-12 State COPS Grant Fund to purchase new equipment.

The department was allocated $140,821 and will be using it to purchase a stationary license plate reader as well as training, "which will allow our officers to go through scenarios - shoot, don't shoot, use your taser, don't use your taser - type things in hopes to better train the officers and offset the city's liability in civil cases," said Upland Police Chief Jeff Mendenhall during the council meeting on Dec. 12.

The stationary reader will be placed in a commercial complex where robberies often occur, Mendenhall said.

The city's first Community Emergency Response Team was recognized during the Dec. 12 City Council meeting.

"The whole idea behind this is with 12 fire fighters on duty in 24 hours people can imagine how innodated we're going to be with the big one hits," said Upland Fire Captain Karl Hegle. "It's going to be rough and these are the folks that are going to be there. They are the ones that are going to come to the door and tell you you need to get out of this house because it's dangerous."

The free program gives volunteers basic training in fire fighting, search and rescue, triage, hazard mitigation as well as consequences of terrorism attacks.

The members have competed their 20 hours of training.

"They bring professional skills along with them, they bring basic medical skills along with them and what we teach is we teach to first protect yourself, then your family, then your home and then your neighbor's home and branch out that way," Hegle said.

There are 60 people are the waiting list to become CERT members, Hegle said.

As their first task, the crew was placed on stand by during the high winds earlier this month.

Some members were called out to a neighborhood where the wind knocked down power lines.

"We were able to mobilize at least three CERT members to show up and help us deny entry," Hegle said. "We had people who wanted to get close to the wires. We were able to actually block the people from coming in and that allowed us to do the job without tying up any more apparatuses. We knew this event could have gotten a lot worse."

Volunteers are still needed.

To sign up or for more information email Hegle at khegle@ci.upland.ca.us 

The George M. Gibson Senior Center will be celebrating the holiday season with their annual Breakfast of the Holiday Spirit at 9 a.m. Dec. 22 at 250 N. 3^rd Ave. in downtown Upland.

Of course, Santa Claus will be attending.

Seating is limited and tickets are required for entry.

Tickets are $3 per person.

The breakfast is for seniors 55 years and older.

The annual San Antonio Heights Holiday Sing-Along will be held at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, on the front lawn of Fire Station 12 at Euclid Avenue and 24^th Street.

The sing-along will kick off  with "Jingle Bells" and close with "Silent Night" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." In between, there will be about two dozen other holiday favorites.

The event is free, and song sheets and refreshments are provided.

Those who want to bring a guitar, portable keyboard, bells or other sounds of the season are permitted to do so. Singers are encouraged to dress very warmly and bring a chair if needed.

For more information call 909-920-9530.

Deli V Bakery & Cafe in downtown Upland was named the Small Business of the Month by San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt's office.

Every month Ovitt's office accepts the nominations of small businesses that are successfully working to improve the local economy and are making a difference in the community.

Deli V Bakery at 134 N. 2^nd Ave. #H, was honored last week

The bakery is owned by Visa and Tong Lam.

"Visa Lam has demonstrated the values of entrepreneurship and determination through her opening this successful small business," Ovitt said in a news release from his office. "The Inland Empire and in particular Upland are honored to have a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef offering an international festival of culinary dishes."

The bakery has been involved with and provided services for numerous community activities including the Scheu Family YMCA of Upland annual Incredible Edibles fundraising event, providing gift cards to charitable causes and mentoring youth in the community.

Nominated businesses need to be located within the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, Ontario and the portion of Upland south of Foothill Blvd.

Nominations must include the name of the business, name of the owner, address and reason why they are being nominated.

They can be nominated by emailing supervisorovitt@sbcounty.gov or call 909-465-1895.

The city has started the "Sunshine Connection" to brighten the lives of local seniors.

Through the program, George M. Gibson Senior Center staff and volunteers will make phone calls to seniors who would like to hear a friendly voice a few times a month. Seniors can also receive birthday cards and other special occasion cards.

Seniors ages 60 and older who are frail, homebound due to illness, disability or isolation are eligible to receive home delivered meals Monday through Friday for a suggested donation of $2.50.

Upland residents who cannot get to the library due to illness, age, infirmity or disability can be part of the library's "From Our Library to You" program. They will deliver library materials to homebound residents.

For more information on the program or to register call 909-981-4501 or visit the center at 250 N. 3^rd Ave. in downtown Upland.

Kids Galore at 172 D. St. would like to be a place for residents to drop off their unneeded gently used children's and baby items this holiday season.

The store sells gently used baby and children's items.

They accept donations as well as buy and trade items.

They can be reached at 909-946-6220.

Helping Out Pets Everyday has announced their 2012 dates for free spay and neuter services for Upland dogs and cats.

Pre-scheduled appointments are required for the service, which is free to Upland residents.

Proof of residency is required.

The program is fully funded by HOPE, an Upland-based animal rescue charity, to help reduce the number of unwanted litters which result in more dogs and cats being relinquished in the city's animal shelter.

Appointments can be made by emailing HOPE President Margaret Coffman at macc219@aol.com.

The dates:

Tuesday Jan. 3

Thursday Jan. 26

Tuesday Feb. 7

Thursday Feb. 16

Tuesday March 6

Thursday March 15

Tuesday March 27

Tuesday April 3

Thursday April 12

Thursday April 26

Teresa Tims, president of TDR Mortgage in Upland, is offering families and friends of members of the armed forces a special gift this holiday season.

They can stop by the office at 180 D. St. from 2 to 7 p.m. on Friday to receive a free video and family portrait to send to their loved ones serving in the military.

Professional Photographer Kerstie Kooiman will donate her time to take the photos.

For more information call 909-920-3500.

Students at Carden Arbor View School recently helped out an alumni.

Jessica Bhatia, who graduated from the school in 2008, founded the Heart2Heart Charity Foundation two years ago.

Students gathered donations for the charity, which raises money and awareness to help pay for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for low income patients in India.

"I started this foundation because there is a growing need to support those with heart disease in India. My grandfather passed away in a small village in India, and may have survived if he would have had the right care," Bhatia said in a news release from the school. "Due to insufficient support for those with heart diseases and prohibitive costs in India for preventive care, I decided to start this foundation to help others. My goal is to reduce the number of deaths from heart disease in India annually."

Throughout the year, students at the school participate in community service programs to help others.

For more information about Heart2Heart Charity Foundation visit www.wix.com/jessicabhatia/heart2heartcharityfoundation.

The Scheu Family YMCA of Upland is helping to brighten the lives of local children this holiday season.

They are working with Healthy Start and the Upland Partnership for Youth Development to try and provide gifts for children in need.

The deadline to drop the gifts off is 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

People interested in donating can stop by the Y at 1150 Foothill Blvd. and pick a child.

Gifts are not to exceed $20 and must be wrapped.

They must also be labeld with the name of the child along with the family identification number.

Gift ideas will be provided along with the name and age of each child.

Family gifts are to be groupd together in a large bag with the family number marked on an attached label.

For more information call the Y at 909-946-6120.

Rancho Cucamonga Women's Connection is having a "Show Stopper Christmas" buffet luncheon from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 13 at Upland Hills Country Club, 1231 E. 16^th St.

Internationally acclaimed Gaither Singer, Lillie Knauls, will lead the guests in a Christmas Carol Sing-a-long.

Knauls, of Rancho Cucamonga, will be the featured speaker. She will share her ideas for the perfect gift for Christmas.

Attendees are asked to bring an unwrapped toy, valued at $10, to enter a prize drawing.

Gifts will be given to a local family shelter.

Cost for the program and luncheon, including dessert, is $16.

Reservations can be made by contacting Cecilia at 909-987-7069.

Rancho Cucamonga Women's Connection is sponsored by Stonecroft Ministries and has been consistently meeting monthly for 30 years.

The Upland Public Library recently received a donation from Crown Toyota in Ontario.

The dealership donated $2,500 to the library for their adult literacy program as part of a donation match program from Toyota.

The car company will match the donations made by local dealerships.

As a result the library's program will receive a total of $5,000.

Shelley Gagnet presented Recreation Services Director Roberta Knighten with the check during the Nov. 28 council meeting.

"We found out that unfortunately that program has suffered along with many other entities with the state budget cuts," said Gagnet, who has volunteered at the library. "It was just really a simple process for us to decide to donate to the adult literacy program knowing it's going to allow people in our community who do not have ability to read and write at this point and give them the opportunity to better themselves and better our community."

Crown Toyota also donated $2,500 to three other charities in the community.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will host the 2011 Inland Empire Out of the Darkness Community Walk to Prevent Suicide at 9 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Park, 1200 E. Foothill Blvd. in Upland.

More than 500 people are expected to participate in the event, which will raise funds for the foundation's local and national efforts dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education, advocacy and reaching out to people with mental illness and those impacted by suicide loss.

The event will include survivor speakers, a community memory tree to honor local lives lost to suicide, a Stomp Out Suicide demonstration to prompt conversation about mental health issues and 3.1-mile walk around the park to raise awareness.

The money raised from the event will help establish new programs in the Inland Empire to educate the community about mental illness, identify at-risk individusals and provide support to those impacted by suicide loss.

There is no fee to register or participate, but participants who fundraise are eligible for prizes.

Participants can register at the event from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Survivor activities are from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The opening ceremony, survivor speaker and Dove release will be at 10 a.m.

The walk begins at 10:30 a.m.

The closing ceremony and awards are at 11:30 a.m.

For more information visit www.outofthedarkness.org

The Upland High School's National Honor Society will host "Art-B-Cause" from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the school, 565 W. 11^th St.

The event, led by Alexa Nicole Fajardo, will raise money for breast cancer research.

There will be a raffle of artwork from high school students, performers and a dance floor.

Proceeds from the event will be sent to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Inland Empire affiliate.

Admission is $2 and raffle tickets are $1.

The Cooper Regional History Museum and Grace Lutheran Church in Upland will be hosting a classical music concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Chaffey Communities Cultural Center, 525 W. 18^th St. in Upland.

Concert pianist Gayle Blankenburg and tenor Charles W. Kamm will perform.

Cost is $20 per adult and $15 per student.

Children under age 12 enter for free.

Tickets can be purchased at the Cooper Museum, 217 E. A St. in Upland, or at the door the day of the event.

Overflow parking will be available at Grace Lutheran Church.

Upland-based animal rescue charity Helping Out Pets Everyday is in need of foster homes for their rescued dogs and cats.

The all volunteer organization places homeless dogs and cats in temporary foster homes until their forever home is found.

HOPE pays for all medical expenses, but foster owners will need to provide the indoor home, food and litter.

They are also asked to take the foster pet to HOPE's Saturday adoption days at PetSmart, 1935 N. Campus Ave. in Upland.

Fostering dogs and cats gets them out of crowded shelters where they are at risk of being euthanized, according to HOPE.

People who cannot foster but would still like to help out can make monthly contributions to help pay for boarding costs.

The charity will be a beneficiary of PetSmart's photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18.

Pet owners will receive a photo of their pet with Santa in a holiday frame for $9.95.

Half of the proceeds go to HOPE.

For more information on HOPE or fostering call 1-800-811-4285 or visit www.helpingoutpetseveryday.com

The 2012 annual plan for the Housing Authority of the City of Upland is available on the Housing Authority website, www.uplandhousing.com, for public review and comment.

Proposed revisions to the Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 Program Administrative Plan, which establishes the policies that govern the program and the Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy, which establishes the polices that govern the Public Housing program, can also be found on the website.

Both documents support the annual plan.

Public comments regarding the annual plan and the proposed revisions on the supporting documents are encouraged by the Housing Authority.

Comments must be received by noon on Jan. 5 and can be submitted to:

Housing Authority of the City of Upland

Attn: Agency Plan Public Comments

1200 N. Campus Ave.

Upland, Ca 91786

The Uplanders Club is inviting the public to "celebrate the season" by attending their December general meeting and luncheon at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 14 at the Sycamore Inn Restaurant, 8318 Foothill Blvd. In Rancho Cucamonga.

The meeting will feature entertainment and a silent auction.

Reservations must be prepaid and made by Dec. 9.

To make reservations call Mary Burns at 909-985-9977 or Colette Sheridan at 909-985-1586.

Several Upland High and Hillside High School students took home awards in this year's Reflections Program.

The program, which has run for more than 40 years, offers students in grades K-12 an opportunity to create works of art including dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography and visual arts.

The entries are created to reflect a specific theme. This year's theme was "Diversity Means..."

Next year's theme will be "The Magic of the Moment."

The winners:

Literature

Ryan Rue-Las, first place

Alexa Nicole Fajardo, second place

Kelsang Donyo, third place

Photography

Casi Martinez, first place

Cosette Lias, second place

Visual Arts

Tseng Ti Shiuan, first place

Tiba Alwahib, second place

Hillside High School student, Ernie Perez, won a $100 Visa gift card during a free give-away raffle

All Reflections entries will be displayed in the Upland High School library, 565 W. 11^th St., through the end of the school day on Dec. 14.

The entries will then be displayed at Hillside High School, 1558 W. 9^th St., from Jan. 9-26.

Finally, they will head to the Chaffey Federal Credit Union, 410 N Lemon St., from Jan. 27 through Feb. 15.

The students with winning entries received gifts from local businesses including My Delight Cup Cakery in Ontario, Chaffey Federal Credit Union, Starbucks in Upland and Game Workshop in Ontario.