City of Rialto | rialtonow

Own It Rialto Shows Up At Morgan Elementary In A Big Way

01 Sep 2016 Leave a comment

Photo of former Eisenhower High Grad Lewis pumping up Morgan Students Photo Credit Emily Rickard Photo

What do you get when you take educators full of passion add a little alumni from Eisenhower High School and top it off with local celebrities like Wet Paint Larry? You get Own It Rialto and over 500 empowered young people.

Own It Rialto led by Eisenhower teacher Chad Rickard and his wife Emily have one goal in mind change Rialto for the better. Chad & Emily have taken on the task of taking the energy and passion former Eisenhower High students have once they graduate from High School and have turned that energy loose on Rialto in awesome ways. With the help of the popular Street Artist Wet Paint Larry and the Rialto Police Department Own It Rialto has targeted to areas that they want to launch their efforts. Local events, Morgan Elementary Students and a better understanding of how their local leaders represent them.

As a kick off to working with Morgan Students the group made wrist bands that had the name of their group “Own It Rialto” and the year that class will graduate. Group leader Chad Rickard said “we want these kids to know we expect them to graduate so if nobody else in their lives expect it someone will”.

Own It Rialto came out with Wet Paint Larry and a Tug of War contest between Morgan Elementary students and Own It Rialto member Louis Redd. The game was crafted to teach the students if they worked together and helped each other out that they could do anything. The students were victorious in the game with a little help from Rialto Police Officer Rice from the Community Policing Program. Next Morgan Elementary students were shown what Own It Rialto is and how it is possible to overcome a bad situation and do amazing things. Main speaker Esli Brito spoke to the kids about issues that they all deal with. Esli spoke about coming to this country at a young age and overcoming cultural and language barriers. Esli is just one of the many group members that want local kids to know that they can do anything. From local celebrities like Wet Paint Larry, Rialto alum Niyi Obileye that are acting in films, Police officers like Rialto Officer Rice and even Julie Vega who is going after her passion of being a chef.

Chad Rickard had a message for Rialto that he posted on Facebook:

“Our next steps will be to start volunteering in after-school programs and develop programs to help them in areas such as reading, athletics, and entrepreneuership. If you are someone or know someone who would like to get involved, please contact me. This was a beautiful experience today; thank you to all those who made it possible.Larry Jones Emily Rickard Esli Brito Julie Vega Niyi Obileye Louis Redd David Phillips Jessica Banks Ana I. Gonzalez Thank you to Principal Vara and Morgan Elementary. Thank you Scott Sparks for letting me hang out with little students instead of my own for a morning!”

Photo Credit Emily Rickard Photography

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Relay For Life Comes To Rialto This Saturday

27 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Ca, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Colton, david phillips, davidsMarketing, Ed palmer, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Inland Empire, Josef (Joe) Britt, Lynn Hirtz, Paul Chabot, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Parks, Rialto Police Department, RUSD, San Bernardino, Shawn O'Connell, youth

Relay is this weekend!!

We are very excited to have everyone join us. A huge thank you to Rialto PD who have been promoting our Touch A Truck event taking place in the Rialto Middle School parking lot from 10-2.

Join us for this kid’s friendly car show from 10am to 2pm in the parking lot at Rialto Middle School. Kids love the vehicles they see around them but they are always told not to touch, not to even get too close. This event allows them to go right up and really check them out.

Confirmed so far are:

Sherriffs Department Vehicle
Wet Paint Larry (Car & Van)—he is a local artist that is very popular and his cars are painted by himself),
Fire Department
Rialto Police Department will have 3 cool vehicles to check out
Old Skool Bus
Pick a Part Truck

We are still looking for more participants so if you know anyone interested in bringing their truck or something just as cool, please have them contact Shelly Gates at abeecsoup@gmail.com or (909) 200-8293.

They will also have some very awesome raffle prizes at the Relay booth so bring lots of cash and go check out the cool stuff they have!!

Participate in these themed laps:

10am Patriotic Lap

11am Road to Recovery (make your own box card out of cardboard and race against others around the track)

12pm Hawaiian Lap

1pm Flow Power (60’s) Lap

2pm Fairy Tale Time Lap

3pm Paper Mache (make your own superhero outfit from ducktape/newspaper/magazines)

4pm Wild West Lap (5 card poker hand)

5pm 80’s Theme Lap

6pm Silly Hat / Crazy Socks Lap (with scrabble)

Or how about Karaoke?

KARAOKE Contest

$5 entrance fee

1^st Place – $100

2^nd Place – $50

3^rd Place – $25

First Round 12:00 to 2:00

Top 5 will move on to final round at 5:00

Renaissance Specific Plan Community Meeting

18 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

Rialto Planning Dept is holding a community meeting today Thursday August 18th

If you can’t make the meeting watch it LIVE on our Facebook Page

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Youth Use Marches To Start Conversations

12 Jul 2016 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in #CA31st, 100 Black Men, Area Command, Ca, City of Rialto, Inland Empire, Nieghborhood Watch, Protest, Public Safety, Rafael Trujillo, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, rialto unified school district, youth

On July 12th at 5pm a group that has been organizing marches against the death of black youth and police will bring their efforts to Rialto. The group will meet at the Jack in a Box on the corner of Easton and Riverside Ave and march down Riverside Ave to Foothill and back.

The groups organizers came out to this mornings coffee with the chief at Corkys Resturant. They came to enter into a healthy conversation that brings everyone to the table. The groups main leader and spokesman Issac Moultrie said in the coffee with the chief meeting “that our police officers are not just ok they are good people here to help us”.

The group met with Police Chief Deanda, Captain Andy Karol and other officers today (july 12th) in preparation to today’s March and the ongoing conversation.

Rialto Fireworks and Hometown Carnival

06 Jul 2016 2 Comments

Over a thousand people came out to celebrate the 4th of July holiday at Jerry Eaves park in the city of Rialto. The Hometown Carnival featured live music, food vendors, carnival games and lots of open space to play in and set up your family’s spot to watch the 40 minute professional firework show that the city of Rialto advertised.

Our staff arrived at the park about 5:30 pm and there was already a good number of people at the park and having fun. Talking to Janet Story a Rialto resident she was really excited with the event and the turnout.

The food opportunities included:

A new Gourmet Food Food truck named Delux that is Rialto based!!!!!!!!!
Kona Ice truck.
Roasted Corn, Chilli Cheese Fries and Roasted Peanuts.

The food Lines were long most of the event. There were games for the kids and some were free and some came at a cost. The cool part was that the pony rides were free but that led to long lines all night long. If there was one constant it was that the lines were constantly long.

There were also Watermellon and Hot Dog eating contests for young and old and true to years past they were MC’d by Mayor Pro Tem Baca Jr. As Joe Baca Jr asked the kids where they were from it was very interesting to see that this event had not only pulled people from Rialto but from sourounding cities as well. We asked Stacey who said she was from South Fontana why she chose to come to Rialto’s event verses going to the one in Fontana and she said “that with her family in town she couldn’t afford the cost of tickets for each person, Rialto made it possible for her whole family to join the event together”. Travis from San Bernardino said “my city gets more dangerous every day, I cant afford to celebrate the 4th of July in my hometown we needed a safe place to celebrate and now Rialto is that place”. Travis was right the Rialto event was as safe as any mass event could be. There were plenty of police present at the event from sworn officers on foot, bicycle and in patrol cars then there were Volunteer Police officers as well as uniformed explorers out making sure everyone had a safe time.

This is one of the many events our city sponsors that our volunteers are part of. We are always looking for new, qualified and enthusiastic volunteers who would like to join the Rialto Police Department

Councilman O’Connell was a topic of conversation as well because these events were part of his time on the council. He worked hard to bring the community events like this to the citizens and many staff members were happy to work on the holiday even though it meant that they would be loosing time with their friends and loved ones because “Councilman O’Connell would want us to do our best”!!!!!!!!! Many of the staff that we spoke to said that they were touched by his community mindset at the recent Grand Opening of the Bud Bender Park.

There were only two elected officials that decided to celebrate with the community they asked to serve.

Joe Baca Jr. was there once again to MC the eating contests which is always a highlight because he knows how to get the crowd going:

The other elected official that was in attendance with the great community of Rialto was the honorable councilman Ed Palmer with his family:

This event was a great event and the central location really brought the north and south ends of the city together. Even though this was a great event it wasn’t without it’s mishaps:

The City Expected a smaller crowd – it was clear from the begining that the city misjudged the popularity of this years event.
Parking – even though Jerry Eaves park has a large parking lot one of the biggest in the city there was far from enough room to accomidate the thousands of people that attended the event. No overflow parking was thought of and people took it upon themselves to make their own parking spot in dirt feilds or even as far away as Baseline or Easton.
Communication – there was zero communication on the cost of games or food at the event which led to a lot of confusion.

All in all the event was a great way for everyone young and old, rich and poor and blue collar and white collar to come together and celebrate our nation and the community we all live in.

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Home Strong USA Helps Rialto Military Vet Family

01 Jul 2016 1 Comment

On June 29th at 10:30 in the morning a group of local leaders and media joined together to see the second family that Home Strong USA has helped in the last year. This year Home Strong USA came back to Rialto to help the Ortiz family with safety and energy upgrades as well as water saving landscape and a special play area for the two young Ortiz children.

The last year Home Strong USA helped Maribel Chacon with upgrades and drought tolerant landscape. ABC Eyewitness News covered the story you can see it here:

This work isn’t done by just one organization. Teaming up with Home Strong USA on this project were Home Depot, State Farm Insurance and Rialto Councilman Ed Palmer and City Treasurer Ed Carrillo.

HomeStrong USA was formed in 1999 and is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Our original purpose and mission centered on providing relief to poor and distressed persons through the sponsorship, acquisition, development, and operation of low-income housing. Organizational goals focus on achieving the mission primarily through the delivery of an extensive pre and post-purchase education/counseling program, the acquisition or development of affordable housing projects, and the sharing of best practices and resources with high quality, high performing nonprofit counseling organizations.

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Rialto Fire Department Rolls Out Plans For Illegal Fireworks Enforcement

29 Jun 2016 1 Comment

So as promised by former Councilman Shawn O’Connell and current Councilman Ed Palmer along with Rialto Police & Fire the enforcement of illegal fireworks has continued to improve in an effort to make 4th of July Safe & Fun for everyone.

Above is a photo from the Rialto Fire Facebook page with these words:

“Attention Rialto residents! Yard signs available. Come and get a sign for your yard to help support our “Illegal Firework- Free Zone”. Signs are available at Rialto Fire Station 201 (131 S Willow Ave)
As a reminder: Fireworks that are not purchased from a licensed firework stand are illegal. Property owners will be issued a citation in the amount of $1000 if illegal fireworks are discharged on your property.”

Well last night we found out via Rialto Fire Chief Matt Fratus that this year along with improved dispatching of fire units using Rialto Police Dispatch the Fire Department is now adding a drone to identify where illegal fireworks are being used.

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Pedestrian Accident on Foothill

24 Jun 2016 Leave a comment

At about 4:35 on Thursday June 23rd a man ridding a mountain bike appeared to be hit by a late model black two door car. The driver did stop and was assisted by a parking officer on scene. Very quickly a SCAT unit arrived on scene to assist the victim.

As more info comes in we will update this post.

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Councilman Shawn O’Connell Funeral Set

11 Jun 2016 Leave a comment

As many of you may know the City of Rialto lost one of the biggest advocates for the community on Sunday. Normally we would be all over stories like this but because of our relationship with Councilman O’Connell we were in mourning and took a slight step back to digest what had happened. The last time I saw Councilman O’Connell he had just left Taste of Rialto and was on his way to talk to some old friends. He told me see you Saturday but sadly that would be the last time I would see our beloved brother, friend and councilman.

Councilman O’Connell invited me and my wife to sit at his table for the Friends of the Rialto Library Dinner Mystery fundraiser One Bullet One Silver Spoon. Councilman O’Connell never made that event and those of us at his table grew concerned as the evening went on. As his friends we all made attempts to locate our friend and still we were unable to locate him it was late in the night so we decided to contact the police in the AM and continue our search. As you can see from the message from the city the next day we heard what nobody wanted to believe:

Council Member Shawn O’Connell was found deceased in his vehicle Sunday morning at 11:34 am. He was found in the parking lot of a restaurant in the City of Loma Linda. He was found by Rialto Police Officers who were on their way to Loma Linda University Hospital to check on his whereabouts. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and Coroner responded to the location and are conducting a death investigation.

John M. Blodgett with the San Bernardino Sun wrote the best article outside of the Radio Show Let’s Talk Community audio tribute to the late councilman. Mr. Blodgett said he didn’t know Councilman O’Connell but his colleagues did and would write a follow up story. Well John you did better than the follow up article and we would like to thank you.

Councilman O’Connell was a beacon of light and had the communities respect from the moment he hit the ground in Rialto. Shawn O’Connell wanted to work in Law Enforcement but had a hard time getting his foot in the door. He didn’t allow this to stop him he put himself through the Police Academy while working part-time as a Loss Prevention officer for a local National Retail chain. He used to remark on the skills he learned getting people to cough up stolen goods and admit to what they had done would prove beneficial to him as he worked as an officer for Rialto Police Department. Shawn O’Connell gave of his time, money and reputation to further many, many causes in the local region. Each time he made a donation or helped a cause he only had one stipulation that his name be left out of it, he NEVER wanted to have his name attached to his ability to help he just wanted to be able to help.

Councilman O’Connell is the only elected official to lay out a platform of what he would do as a city councilman and complete everything within his 1st term. Councilman O’Connell was comfortable walking away from the job of being an elected official after one term because he believed that the framers of this country never envisioned that elected persons should make a career out of elected service. He only recently promised that he would serve one more term to make sure that:

The money that is being collected via Measure U (higher fees on South Rialto tank farms) would be spent wisely.
That council kept its promise to reduce the Utility Users Tax once the money was available as promised to voters.
That someone else would step up and run for his seat when his 2nd term was up in 2020.

Shawn O’Connell also looked at himself as being lucky. He felt lucky because he had a few great friends and PD brothers that helped him through his injury and change in lifestyle. He was able to do everything he did after his accident because others took the time to be there when he needed it most. So since Shawn O’Connell considered himself lucky to have such strong support from family and friends he used his experience to help other people struggling with life’s medical mishaps. What is funny is he just didn’t help the person going through the tough spot he also helped their family members. He would call family members that had a loved one going through a rough patch in life and check in on them, Shawn was always the first person to visit a friend or community member in the hospital or when they got home and he always came bearing In & Out! Yes story after story other than Shawn’s dedication to visiting and helping he also knew a good burger or shake could help take your mind off of the pain your under now.

We ran a poll to see who the people of Rialto thought was the most influential person in Rialto for 2015 Shawn came in a close 2nd to a equally great man and police chief Tony Farrar. We had almost 30 people that the community was considering as the most influential person in Rialto in 2015 and Shawn still rose to the top. Shawn was flattered but never wanted such a recognition he would have preferred to have remained behind the scenes.

We want to know your stories. How did Shawn’s life effect you? What did Shawn show you that made an impact in your life? Tell us in the comments below.

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23rd Annual Run Whatcha Brung Car Show & Cruise Night

10 Jun 2016 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Ca, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Colton, Ferguson Park, Flores Park, Flores Park Neighborhood Watch, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Inland Empire, Josef (Joe) Britt, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, rialto unified school district, Run Watcha Brung, San Bernardino, Shawn O'Connell, youth

This weekend is going to be like every other weekend this summer in the Inland Empire full of fun.

The fun were showing off in this post is the 23rd Annual Run Whatcha Brung Car Show & Cruise Night. This car show is the annual kick off to the summer car shows here in Southern California as well as one of the only shows that opens up registration to anyone who wants to show off their ride. Normally cars are limited to sports cars or classic cars but the Rialto Rotary club wanted something that was cool, unique and allowed everyone to enjoy the weekend the way they wanted to.

Years past the Friday night before the car show were held at the Rialto Airport where the cars would park cruise and take part in contests like burn out and open header. The Friday night event got everyone ready for an awesome day in Downtown Rialto for the Show & Shine on Saturday.

Well insurance costs and the cities decision to close the Airport killed off the Friday Night event. In an effort to bring back the fun of Friday Night activities and to showcase Route 66 that cuts right through the heart of town city Administrator Mike Story and the Rotary Club came up with the idea of a Cruise Night on Route 66. A lot of work and resources go into shutting down Foothill Blvd but the task has proved to be well worth the effort with attendance growing each and every year.

Victor who comes from Pomona every year says that “this is what movies show Route 66 used to look like when our parents used to cruise the local streets on weekend nights”

What else is awesome is local businesses like Coffee Nutz/Cone Creamery, Brothers Pizza, KFC and Baskin Robins capitalize on the boom in people walking up and down the street in Rialto on a warm summer night and bring out speakers and fun for all ages. One of the businesses that has looked to create a safe yet fun place for local teens Coffee Nutz brought out an import night last year working with Inland Empire Youth 4 today. This year the owner of the coffe/ice cream shop is teaming up with local hip hop icon and graffiti artist Wet Paint Larry who is popular for his Sloppy Parlor apparel and positive modeling of how to be Rialto Proud for youth in the region.

Another great addition to this years cruise is Lighting McQueen will be making an appearance at Ned’s Hardware at 312 West Foothill