Category: Inland Empire

Old Riverside Foundation President Dave Stolte will be doling out a double dose of the wonderful Weber House on Sunday, December 8. First, at 1 PM, the Riverside Historical Society meeting will take place in the Brockton Avenue basement of the Riverside Medical Clinic. Dave will be going over some of what he submitted in the RHS Journal story on the ORF headquarters, The Peter J. Weber House. He promises to go off script and share some of the other things going on at the House and share updates on his research for his upcoming book on Peter Weber. “The Weber House, a local landmark, is compelling to me on multiple levels. First, for its artistry, it is in an uncommon Medieval Spanish style and is highly decorated. It was designed by architect Peter J. Weber, who worked as lead designer for G. Stanley Wilson on hundreds of buildings over a thirty-seven-year period, including the Mission Inn’s final expansions. Secondly, the Weber House was built on a shoestring budget during the Great Depression, and Weber relied on salvaged materials to make it happen. Third, it

On the eve of a showdown over the potential closure of trouble-plagued Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, Los Angeles County’s chief probation officer has told county leaders he plans to retire by Dec. 31, but sources familiar with the matter say his exit has not been finalized. Probation Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa is scheduled to meet with the Board of Supervisors at its Tuesday, Dec. 10, meeting to determine whether he will remain with the county. The board’s agenda lists two closed-door matters related to Viera Rosa: a performance evaluation and an item considering his possible replacement. Both the Probation Department and the county’s Chief Executive Office declined to comment on Viera Rosa’s resignation letter. His decision to step down comes less than one week before the potential closure of the largest juvenile hall under Viera Rosa’s supervision and amid uncertainty about what will happen with the 300 youth in custody at that facility if it can not come back into compliance with state regulations by a Dec. 12 deadline. Supervisors react Two county supervisors differed on the future of Viera Rosa’s employment. In a statement

With more families in need than ever before, the 5th Annual Never Stop Grinding Impact (NSG) Toy Giveaway is facing a critical shortfall of 1,100 toys, leaving hundreds of children at risk of going without gifts this holiday season. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 290 West Rialto Ave., has 3,500 kids registered but only 2,400 toys collected so far. This year’s demand is unprecedented, with Eventbrite registration filling up even before Dec. 1. Although toys are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, registration does not guarantee a gift, making the shortage even more alarming. “Our worst fear is turning a child away,” said Darious Harris, CEO of NSG Impact. “We need toy and monetary donations urgently to meet the need. These kids are counting on us, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure no one is left out.” Harris, who founded NSG Impact, attributes the success of the giveaway to strong partnerships with sponsors like IEHP, Kaiser Permanente, and Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., as well as community groups such as Path 2 Potential and Take

Bank of America announced that GRID Alternatives Inland Empire (GRID IE) and Neighborhood Housing Services Inland Empire (NHSIE) have been selected as its 2024 Neighborhood Builders. The bank’s signature Neighborhood Builders® program continues to be one of the nation’s most significant philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development while providing unique multiyear flexible grant funding annually to high-impact nonprofits in nearly 100 communities nationwide. Both nonprofits are each awarded a $200,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership training for each organization’s executive director and an emerging leader, and access to a national network of nonprofit peers. Since the program’s inception in 2004, 33 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders in the Inland Empire, with the bank investing more than $6.6 million in philanthropic capital into these local nonprofits. “Our region’s nonprofits provide meaningful and lasting solutions to local challenges that advance economic mobility. Through our Neighborhood Builders program, we invest significant philanthropic capital and thought leadership resources into two high-impact local organizations annually. This year, we’re excited to include GRID IE and NHSIE as Neighborhood Builders,” said Bansree Parikh, president of Bank of America Inland Empire. “Countless

Nothing melts away stress like petting a dog. Or a pig or baby goat. Show Caption 1 of 14 Expand Chaffey College students can attest to that after a Thursday, Dec. 5, event on the Rancho Cucamonga campus aimed at alleviating their frazzled nerves ahead of finals week. Related Articles Education | RCC QB Brady Jones proves that patience pays off The Pet Your Stress Away event brought animals to campus to mingle with stressed-out students studying for next week’s rigorous exam schedule. The animals, who worked their magic outside the Berz Excellence Building, also appeared at Chaffey’s Chino and Fontana campuses earlier this week.

More than 1,200 acres of vacant surplus flood control land in north Rancho Cucamonga has been converted into what could eventually be well over $110 million in revenue for future flood control projects. The Board of Supervisors, acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Flood Control District, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, agreed to sell approximately 1,252 acres of land it had declared surplus in 2009 to Rancho Etiwanda LLC for up to $93 million plus interest and potentially as much as $20 million in profit-sharing revenue. The board approved an innovative and complex purchase agreement for the valuable acreage, much of which is expected to be developed into much-needed housing, guaranteeing a maximum amount of return for the Flood Control District. The land includes a 159-acre open space easement that will remain on the property. Historically, the district used the property to manage stormwater runoff from the San Gabriel Mountains flowing south into both the Day Creek and Deer Creek streams. Improvements made by the district over the past four decades, including the Day Creek and Deer Creek Debris Dam, spreading grounds

The San Bernardino City Council will take a closer look at the roles of the city attorney, city manager and city clerk. The council voted 6-1 in closed session, with Councilmember Fred Shorett dissenting, to task Tustin-based consultants Jacob Green & Associates with evaluating City Attorney Sonia Carvalho, Acting City Manager Rochelle Clayton and City Clerk Genoveva Rocha, Mayor Helen Tran announced Wednesday, Dec. 4. The evaluation will take place during a special meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 11. Prior to going into closed session at the meeting Wednesday, Tran and Shorett had clashed over her announcement that she was bringing in Jacob Green & Associates to advise the council about Carvalho’s job performance. “Do you have the authority to hire outside council?” Shorett asked. “You’ve gone against a supermajority of five council members who voted (at a previous meeting) not to discuss this in public.” “I’m not the only one requesting this,” Tran replied, saying that Jacob Green & Associates were already under contract with the city. Sign up for The Localist, our daily email newsletter with handpicked stories relevant to where you

The Claremont Chorale will present “Christmas Classique,” a concert of music for the Christmas season, 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Claremont Presbyterian Church, 1111 N. Mountain Ave. The program will open with the Baroque “Magnificat” by Francesco Durante, formerly attributed to Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, for choir, soloists and chamber orchestra. The centerpiece of the program is “Christmas Classique,” a suite compiled by Joseph Martin in which traditional Christmas texts are set to melodies from familiar hymns and carols as well as works by Pachelbel, Handel, Mozart, Bach and Chopin. Also on the program are three settings of “Gloria,” by Vivaldi, Mozart and Schubert. The concert will feature solos by the chorale’s collaborative pianist, Matthew Swartz, and the finale will be an audience sing-along of carols, according to a news release. Alan Wellman is artistic director of the Claremont Chorale. Tickets are $15-$25, available at the door and at claremontchorale.org. Founded in 1968, the Claremont Chorale is made up of singers from the greater Claremont area, in residence at the Claremont Community School of Music. The chorale’s 2024-25 season will continue March 22 with Mozart’s

After my column Nov. 1 about the death of the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh, the founding member who co-wrote and sang the band’s song “Pride of Cucamonga,” general practitioner Richard Armour in Upland got in touch to share how the Dead live on, or don’t. Inspired by my column, the doctor, 67, asked his young staff, ages 25 to 40, if they’d ever heard of the Grateful Dead. “I get a room of blank stares and heads shaking ‘no,’” Armour reports. Then he asked if they’d heard of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor Cherry Garcia and, says the doc, “They all enthusiastically nod ‘yes’!” He clued them in that the name Cherry Garcia is a pun on Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia. They had no idea. Were they grateful? It’s hard to say. Waynes’ world This Richard Armour, by the way, is no relation to the bestselling humorist of the same name, a Claremont writer and poet who died in 1989. But the doctor is amusing too. A few years back, curious about the staying power of another past entertainment figure, he surveyed

A lot of Californians are still steeped in the sixties. You know them: they still use words like “radical,” they have a nice peace sign on their car or clothing, and they believe in peace, love, and understanding. Parts of that philosophical point of view are still present in a small community right here in Riverside. If you stand in the middle of Bonaminio Park and look towards Mount Rubidoux, you will see a gated apartment complex sitting up the hill a bit. The buildings are unassuming, off-white stucco structures, most of them with two stories and four apartment units each. The property is called Braemar Cooperative Apartments, with ninety units and 8+ acres. The apartments come in several sizes, from studios to roomy two-bedroom units. There is a clubhouse, a swimming pool, and lots of water-wise gardens as the co-op moves to reduce water usage by eliminating grassy areas. Braemar was one of three original co-op communities that came about in the 1960s: one in Palm Springs, one in Riverside, and one in Redlands. The Riverside community is the only one still operating within

Now that elections officials have certified results of the Tuesday, Nov. 5, election, here’s a look at how local ballot measures fared with voters. RELATED: These are the winners of the Nov. 5 election in the Inland Valley Final statewide certification of the election by the California Secretary of State is expected by Friday, Dec. 13. San Bernardino County Measure G The Alta Loma School District asked voters to approve a $71 million school bond. Yes, 53.05% No, 46.95% Measure H The Ontario-based Mountain View School District asked voters to approve a $56 million school bond. Yes, 63.78 % No, 36.22% Measure I The Fontana Unified School District asked voters to approve a $408 million school bond. Yes, 66.42% No, 33.58% Measure K San Bernardino County asked voters to tax temporary lodging at hotels, motels and inns in the county’s unincorporated areas.  Yes, 43.44% No, 56.56% Measure L San Bernardino County asked voters to approve a charter amendment to provide “competitive compensation” for county elected officers. Yes, 61.35% No, 38.65% Measure N Upland asked voters to approve a 1-cent local sales tax until it is

The Riverside Fire Department (RFD) has been reaccredited by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, making it one of only five fire departments in California to achieve this recognition. Fire Chief Steve McKinster presented the department’s annual overview to the City Council on December 3, highlighting the reaccreditation and the department’s response to over 43,000 incidents in the past year. “This reaccreditation really shows the hard work and dedication of our team,” McKinster said. “It’s a big deal – only five other fire departments in California have managed to achieve this.” The fire department operates 14 stations across the city, responding to a wide range of emergencies. In the past year, RFD responded to more than 43,000 incidents, requiring 19,000 hours of emergency mitigation within the community. “Looking forward, the fire department will continue to be a world-class leader in providing progressive, professional, and exceptional fire, rescue, and emergency life services,” McKinster said. Captain Mark Thompson was honored as the sworn employee of the year for his leadership of the department’s Honor Guard. Thompson has been with the organization since 2002 and currently serves at

The Colton City Council unanimously approved amendments to Chapter 5.54 of the municipal code, intensifying its efforts to combat illegal cannabis cultivation on November 19th. The changes align with California’s amended Government Code Section 53069.4, which grants local jurisdictions the authority to impose immediate administrative fines for unlicensed cannabis activity. Chief of Police Anthony Vega, who spearheaded the proposed changes, highlighted the importance of these amendments. “A full review of Chapter 5.54 revealed critical areas requiring updates to strengthen enforcement against illegal cannabis operations in our city,” Vega said. “These updates ensure Colton stays in line with state law while protecting our community from the adverse impacts of unlawful cannabis cultivation.” The amendments address multiple sections of the municipal code: Definitions: The definition of a “responsible person” now encompasses property owners, tenants, lessees, and even volunteers who permit or engage in violations. Similarly, the term “violator” has been expanded to include anyone with possession or custody of the property. Section 5.54.150 (Appeals): Cannabis activity is now prohibited while an appeal is pending until a decision is made by the City Council or a hearing officer.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has approved the sale of 1,253 acres in Rancho Cucamonga, four years after the city annexed the Etiwanda Heights area for housing and land conservation. At its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 3, the board agreed to sell the land to residential homebuilder Frontier Communities. The company plans to purchase the land in phases over a five-year period, with a maximum purchase price of $93 million plus interest, according to county officials. Show Caption 1 of 5 Expand Previously, the land was managed by the San Bernardino County Flood Control District to mitigate stormwater runoff from the San Gabriel Mountains, a purpose it no longer serves. Initially set aside by the county in 2009 as surplus land, the large parcel remained in limbo until 2018, when Rancho Cucamonga included it in the Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan. In 2020, the city annexed the property, along with another 3,000-plus acres identified for conservation. The city conducted launched a citizen outreach effort to get feedback on the plan. Top concerns identified by residents involved high-density housing and commercial development in the former