The Circle Vision Quest

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Introduced Her First Bill to Assist Small Businesses

12 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Andy Carrizales, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Ca, Centurion Security Patrol, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Colton, davidsMarketing, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Edward J. Carrillo, Farrell’s Resturant, Fontana, Frank Montes, Grand Terrace, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, IE Gourmet Food Trucks, In & Out, Inland Empire, Josef (Joe) Britt, Keith Kahn, Rialto, Rialto, Sabrina Ruiz, San Bernardino, The Circle Vision Quest

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Introduced Her First Bill to Assist Small Businesses

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) introduced her first bill of the legislative session yesterday, AB 285, which will expand the definition of a microenterprise. This bill is necessary to enhance the technical services available to small businesses in California.

Microenterprises are business that are started for less than $35,000 and lack access to traditional loans and capital. California has three million microenterprises that employ over four million people. AB 285 will provide microenterprises with increased resources to help them grow.

“I’m pleased to introduce my first bill, AB 285, a bill to support small business growth and job creation in our state. AB 285 will improve the quality of life for residents in the 47th District by promoting small business growth, which will translate to job creation within some of our district’s highest unemployment areas,” said Assemblymember Brown, “Small businesses are so important because they provide a majority of jobs and it is vital for our economy that we continue to push policies that assist in their growth. Passing this legislation will be my top priority.”

Under current law, a microenterprise is classified as a business with four or fewer employees including the business owner. AB 285 will allow for a firm to employ five employees including the business owner. Additionally, this bill will allow local workforce investment boards to provide entrepreneurial training programs and specialized assistance to microenterprises.

The bill was introduced yesterday and has been moved to the Assembly Rules Committee for assignment to the appropriate policy committee.

Election Perspectives Rialto Unified School Board

02 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Ca, City of Rialto, Dr. Harold L. Cebrun, Edgar Montes, Inland Empire, rialto unified school district, Shawn O'Connell, The Circle Vision Quest, Uncategorized, youth Tags: children with special needs, kids with special needs, knowledgeable readers, politics, school board members

Most voter guides begin with the BIG TIME regional elections then work down to the local stuff, if you haven’t noticed were a little different.

Also be advised “NONE OF THESE ENDORSEMENTS HAVE COME AT ANY FINACIAL GAIN TO THIS BLOG OR ANYONE DIRECTLY CONECTED TO THIS BLOG”

We put out feelers to people running in local elections to obtain the information they feel you should know about them but we have nothing more to gain that passing along our advice and opinion to people on this monster election. We get our reward from having knowledgeable readers that are energized and ready to cast their ballots.

We are taking a diffrent stance on this election. To often our School Board Members think that they dont have to answer to the community. That ends now right here, every canidate was given the oportunity to answer a series of questions and here is what we got:

Mirna Ruiz

I have a resident of Rialto for the last 14 years. I grew up and was raised in Hollywood.

The driving force that made me run for School Board for RUSD are my children.

I have two kids with special needs. I have experienced limitations that have been given to

my children and other children with special needs. I have experienced how children with special needs

are ignored, isolated and discriminated . I have also seen it in regular education classes.

I have experienced how teachers want to help children and are limited to do so in fear of retaliation.

I have experienced how due to wasteful spending students are not given the proper education they deserve.

We have to make sure that all staff have the proper training, that way teachers do not get burned out and overwhelmed

with not knowing how to teach and help students.

I again know for a fact some teachers have asked for help and have been denied the help or training.
I have never run for office before. I was told that I am new to politics and I agree, however

I am not new to the issues parents in special ed. go through. Not new to problems the community has,

Not new to being affected with the financial problems we are having.

I do believe that sports programs and the arts are very important also. As I mentioned before if we

stop all the wasteful spending sports programs can happen.

Also by improving communication between the city and school district some programs can happen.

I know that parents, students and community members want changes to be made, they have the power

to make those changes by voting on November 6,2012.

I can be reached at mruizddh@aol.com I have been having issues with my campaign email.

Thank you for your time

Sincerely,

Mirna Ruiz

Joe Ayala

#1 Born in Upland Ca.

Lived in Rialto about 10 years

Married 39 years

3 daughters and 10 grand kids

#2 Helping people at all levels

My wife and I are both retired teachers and we wanted to continue to help

out.

#3 I’m running for my second term as RUSD Trustee

#4 HS teacher 34 years

#5 Teach to the level of the child and not the test

#6 Very important ! They keep our kids from dropping out and helps them to find

their passions.

# 7 Finding “balance” and “timing” in one’s life can also pay off with big

benefits later on in life. Finding ways to nurture a

child when they are not ready can be as good if not better than pushing a

child to go to college who is not ready!

#8 What’s missing with many of our ROP classes is an infusion of how to use

what they learned to become entrepreneurs.

#9 We need to empower our parents first. Secondly, they need to learn the

parameters of what can and can’t be done.

This is all comes together after building trust first. Perhaps this needs

to be our the first priority!

#10. Quality teaching comes from caring teachers. It comes from caring

administrators. It also comes from receptive students

and supportive parents. It’s like a 3 legged stool… remove one of the

legs it simply will not hold up!

#11. A house divided will not stand. I too thought that this position was not

required but with 28,000 kids and 3000 staff it’s

a great service to have someone coordinate many of the events that help

our school district look good to others. Too

much at stake during uncertain times.

#12. Just have them call me and make sure they leave a clear message. I promise

to call them back!

-Joe Ayala (909) 234-2884

Joe Martinez

Mr. Joe Martinez claims he used my interview questions for a template for his website, he sent the following:

Sorry about the link sent from my cell. It should read www.joemartinez.org which forwards to www.joema.net. either link will get you there. I used.many of your questions as a template.

Edgar Montes is not up for re-election but he felt it important to let you know what he thinks on the issues before the community.

If your looking for direction on who would make a good choice for school board his brain would be a good one to pick.

Mr. Edgar Montes

Thank you for taking the time to have this interview conducted. I will not change anything when its posted I’ll just make adjustments for spelling and grammar. This interview is to give the Residents and Readers a better prospective of those working in public service. Feel free to remove any question you don’t want to answer.

* Tell us a little about yourself were you raised here in Rialto? What’s your story?

I was born in the summer of 1979 in Upland, CA. I have lived in Rialto since 1988. At that time I attended Maple Elementary in Fontana, my parent’s house although it was within Rialto city limits was actually within the FUSD boundaries. Much like today were Rialto Unified School District boundaries cut into parts of Fontana, Colton, San Bernardino and Lytle Creek. I attended Alder Middle School and A.B. Miller High School also in Fontana. So although I attended public school in Fontana, I was indeed raised in Rialto.

* What was the driving force behind your desire to run for School Board for RUSD?

My wife and I bought our home in Rialto in 2002. With 20 years left on our 30 year mortgage we have no plans of leaving Rialto anytime soon. I love my community. I grew up here and have seen first-hand the ups and downs and all the good and bad about our tiny 4 miles wide 8 miles long city.

Going to school in Fontana and having friends and family all through-out the Inland Empire I saw many similarities in some of our public schools. For example; the loss of public school funding over the years, and how that loss of funding and mismanagement of public tax-payer’s dollars affects kids from “socially-economically-challenged” backgrounds. The switch from Junior High Schools to Middle Schools and with that the loss of Junior High Sports teams. Arts and music programs cut or reduced. Increased focus on test scores. Decreased focus on the development of “the basics”like reading and writing, math and science. Above all as a parent and a product of our public schools, I understand the many challenges parents, students, and schools face in these tough economic times.

* Have you ever run for any elected office in the past?

No. I was elected in November of 2010. It was my first time running for elected office, but not the first time I ran for something. In High School at Fontana A.B. Miller High, I ran for A.S.B. President my senior year and won. I also ran for school site council at A.B. Miller after graduating from there and was also elected.

* What is your background in regards to education?

As far as my college education goes, I have put that on hold for now. With 11 year old twin boys, a 3 month old baby boy, a small family-owned business to run, and a democratically elected position as a Rialto school board member, I want to wait a little before going back to school. I am the kind of person that if I will not be able to commit myself 100% to something, than I won’t even bother wasting anybody’s time. I was attending San Bernardino Valley College and the University of Phoenix Ontario Campus before that at the time I ran and got elected to the school board.

It’s important for me to point out that I have been criticized by some as a college student on the public school board for not being a college graduate. Some people have even gone as far to criticize me for the community college I was attending. For example at a time when our school district was laying-off many teachers and cutting programs for students because of the loss of funding, I took a stand against the wasteful spending of $70,000 (public tax-dollars) to send 30 school district employees and two school board members to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for a supposed “one week leadership training.”My fellow school board colleague Michael Ridgway said “there is nothing like this locally. If you want a Harvard education, you go to Harvard. You don’t go to (San Bernardino) Valley College. These are world-class presenters. Education is expensive. The only thing I have found more expensive than education is ignorance.” My response to him was this “I have also met my share of “educated fools” and that I don’t undermine anyone or judge anyone by their level of education or where they went to school.”

The San Bernardino Sun Newspaper wrote an article about the issue of the Gettysburg trip and even wrote an editorial supporting my stance on the issue. What matters most to me on a school board or any elected office is “common sense.”

* With school district budgets getting slashed every year what are your ideas on still offering a quality education?

I believe that even with the loss of revenue for public schools it is still possible to give a quality education to ALL students. I am a strong supporter of grant writing, I asked for grant writers for our school district on a contingency contract, meaning they would only get paid a percentage if they got us grants. Unfortunately, at the recommendation of our superintendent the board opted to go with a grant writing company that charged $5,000 per month for six months that did not produce any grants. I also am a strong supporter of partnering with local businesses in the community. If we reach-out to the local businesses in our school district, they can help us by donating to our schools, sponsoring our students, and working with us to build bridges not burn them. I also believe the city of Rialto would be a great partner in the education of our students. There was a time when our school district and city worked together on many things and you and I both know that is no longer the case. But I remain optimistic and will continue to push for rebuilding that relationship, because what is good for our city is good for our parents and students and what is good for our parents and students is good for our communities.

* How important are sports programs and the arts to you within the confines of public education?

I am a strong supporter of sports programs and arts, and I can say that because you can find me and my sons at school games, art competitions, and at school district talent shows. Many children don’t know they have a gift or special talent for something and it’s important that we help all students find what interests them, what drives them and tie that into their education. Some kids are great leaders, others make awesome drawings. I saw a student from Rialto High School free-style spoken word poetry, powerful and moving.

* The current school of thought is to prepare every student to enter college. Do you agree with the thought that every student should and can go to college?

I believe that every child should be given support, guidance, and encouragement to go to college. The sad reality is that only about 15% of high school graduates actually go. Many people know that if you constantly, repeatedly tell a child that they will “never amount to anything” most likely, not always, but most likely they won’t. And vice versa, if you constantly and repeatedly tell a child that “they can and will be successful in life and do something great”, most likely they will.

* As someone who studied education, I know that not every student is college bound, yet through our Regional Occupational Programs we can prepare those students to be successful in the work force. What value do you place on RUSD and its Regional Occupational Program?

I place a very high value on any ROP at any school district. Preparing students for the workforce is critical to any family and community as a whole. ROP is a great way to give students the resources and skills needed for many vocational careers. Aside from the ROP offered to students at the high schools like ROP Jr. Navy and ROP Jr. Marines, etc., through our Adult ROP high school graduates and adults can enroll in our Adult Education Program. Through our Adult School we offer Career Technical Courses like Word Processing/Keyboarding, and Intro to Computers. In adult ROP students can take specialized courses like Office Operations and Technology, Business Technology Lab, Pharmacy Technician, and Pharmacy Clerk. I not only want to continue these much needed programs, but would to like secure funding to expand them.

* What is the biggest factor that can help ensure quality teaching? Is certification a measure of quality?

I think certification is good, but I don’t think it’s the best way to measure quality teaching. I think quality teaching can be measured by pro-activeness, the ability to adapt to new technology and the ever changing times. Most Hispanics/Latinos/Chicanos have native-indigenous roots, and we use many metaphors when speaking. There is a saying in Spanish I would like to share with you. Here it goes “La vaca que da leche, de lejos se ve” which is difficult to translate but I will try, “the cow that gives milk, you can see from far away.” School principals, parents, and students know quality teaching when they see it.

* One of the jobs you have listed on Facebook is an education advocate, can you explain what this is.

An Education Advocate is anyone involved in advocating for student’s education in any way. I have advocated for students education since my sophomore year in high school when me and a group of students organized a student walk-out to protest awful treatment of students, unfair discipline practices, and a hostile learning environment to name a few. Regardless of what anyone says, that walk-out brought many changes to Fontana A.B. Miller High School that by my senior year our high school was award the “California Distinguished School Award.” Did I mention I was elected A.S.B. President that year? As an education advocate I have advocated for students and parents all across the Inland Empire from Big Bear to Perris, and for everything from unfair suspensions/expulsions to speaking at public board meetings. As an education advocate I also attend rallies organized by activist, school employee unions, and community organizations against the state budget cuts to education. Now I am an education advocate for parents, students, and employees as a member of the Rialto school board.

* How can our readers reach you to get more information?

I can be reached anytime 909-202-2485 or emontes@rialto.k12.ca.us

* I have had many friends in the city of Rialto remark on the state of your special education programs here in Rialto Unified School District. The biggest complaints are that this department seems to miss the mark more and more frequently. Are you aware of this issue, and if so what are some steps to fixing this?

The problems of Special Ed in our district is something I became aware of when I was running for school board in 2010. I witnessed parents and students along with Special Education advocates speak at school board meetings many times. Their complaints and their concerns regarding Special Ed were never responded to or addressed. After I got elected I took on the problems head on, I’ve been fighting for the children of Special Ed and their Parents ever since.

For the record let me first say that there are many good-hearted employees working in Special Ed. Many employees of Special Ed give 110% of themselves to the students and need full support of the RUSD leadership starting with the board of education first, and the superintendent second. Without the full support of RUSD leadership how are Special Ed staff supposed to help the students and parents. Recently a group of about 40 parents and members of the community held a protest in front of the school district office, it came out in the Sun Newspaper back in May I believe. I am only 1 vote on a board of 5. I can only keep speaking up and hope that we get some new board members that will “truly” listen to parents, staff and the community, otherwise nothing is going to change.

One of the arguments made by Dr. James Wallace former Assistant Superintendent Deputy Chief of Staff, then Assistant Superintendent of Student Services which oversaw Special Education, now Assistant Superintendent Deputy Chief of Staff again, is that RUSD spends the most amount of money compared to neighboring school districts. Whether or not that is true, the question is how much of the revenue spent by RUSD for Special Ed has actually trickled down to students and the classrooms? For example, how much money has RUSD spent on attorneys fees for fighting parents and Special Ed advocates instead of giving the students the services they deserve. I believe in accountability, where is it? We can’t blame the Special Ed teachers, Speech Therapist, Psychologist, or any one from our Special Ed department. We need to hold accountable those at the top.

Rialto woman leads team that makes blankets shawls, hats to comfort the terminally ill

16 Aug 2012 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Cancer, Coffee Nutz, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, Nieghborhood Watch, The Circle Vision Quest

Great story found in the Redlands Daily Facts:

RIALTO – For Kathy Seidenberg and her team of volunteers, colorful yarn and the clicking of crochet hooks is about love.

The comfort covers they crochet are “prayer blankets” for the terminally ill to wrap themselves with care.

And the prayers?

In every stitch.

Kathy Seidenberg, Director of Comfort Covers Ministry, displays her blankets Tuesday at her home in Rialto. (LaFonzo Carter/Staff Photographer)

“There was a 10-year-old girl with leukemia and we gave a blanket to her. She was at a barbecue and wouldn’t go outside because she had no hair and the other kids were making fun of her. That’s when we started making hats, too,” said Seidenberg, founder and director of Comfort Covers Ministry, creators of Prayer Blankets.

Volunteer Maria Vargas said she especially enjoys making the hats for the little ones.

In memory of her mother-in-law, Seidenberg founded her comfort covers ministry at Blessed John XXIII church to provide blankets, shawls and hats to the terminally ill.

“My mother-in-law, who I called `Mom,’ received a prayer blanket from a ministry at her church in New York and as her health began to decline, the blanket was her constant companion,” said Seidenberg, who started her own ministry last spring.

Kathy Seidenberg, Director of Comfort Covers Ministry, displays one of her “forest floor” blankets Tuesday at her home in Rialto. (LaFonzo Carter/Staff Photographer)

Her mom, Susan Seidenberg, passed away last December and the prayer blanket was buried with her.

The ministry has given out 14 blankets or shawls to three people at a nursing home, two kidney dialysis patients, a stroke victim and six cancer patients, including a 6-year-old boy with brain cancer.

The nonprofit, which first met in May, made 40 blankets in July, along with shawls, knit hats and Prayer Bears.

“I pray and say lots of rosaries over every blanket I make,” said volunteer Carmen Felix.

“We are making these for sick people who need them,” Felix said.

In the Rialto home Seidenberg shares with her husband, Bob, and her dogs Brandy and Oscar, there is a room devoted exclusively to all things yarn.

Blankets, shawls, hats and other gifts are stacked neatly in a bookcase lining a wall. Yarn skeins are stacked according to color on their own shelves.

For Seidenberg, it’s all about giving and helping those in need. She and her husband are funding the materials, and even discount yarns have totaled more than $500 this month, she said.

Seidenberg, herself, is terminally ill.

She suffers from Churg Strausse Syndrome, a blood vessel disorder, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fiber Myalgia – all painful conditions.

She recently completed the Forest Floor, a 5-foot by 4-foot crocheted symphony of greens, tans and browns.

On Saturday, the Forest Floor blanket will be raffled off at the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association Forest Festival.

The festival is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Barton Flats Visitors Center, on Highway 38. The volunteer group is now at 82 but more are needed, according to Seidenberg. Mostly, the ministry is hoping for donations.

Seidenberg emphasizes that the group serves anyone who is terminally ill – regardless of religion or ethnicity within our communities.

Reach Michel via email, call her at 909-386-3859.

Support a local Entrepenure looking to help our youth

02 Jul 2012 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Ca, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, davidsMarketing, Fun, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, Joe Baca Jr, The Circle Vision Quest, www.careervisionbyjamie.com, youth

Hello everyone,

I come to you today with a great cause spear-headed by abig-hearted local woman named Cynthia Frazier who runs a project called Girls Got Geek. Her program helps our young people especially girls get into the field of app development and technology.

As anyone knows with today’s economy getting a project off the ground is more difficult than ever, even when the project is in a realm that is up and coming or hot. Giving our young people solid support in these news areas where the economy is growing is money well spent.

So Mrs. Frazier is looking for support from her friends and the local community who want to help support youth looking to get into the Tech field using a popular new medium KICKSTARTER http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/199841400/girls-got-geek-hackathon

Mrs. Frazier has been all over the local area looking for support. Here are some links to her media:

Big shout out to Erin Hunt Brinker, Paul Amadeus Lane, and their cohort John for a lively discussion on girls finding their inner geek. If you’d like to be a fly on the wall, check us out. http://bit.ly/MqwGOe

Here is a link to the Rialto Record article. http://rialtorecord.com/current-edition/

If everyone on her Facebook Friends list http://www.facebook.com/cynthia.frazier would donate $2 would raise over $7 Thousand dollars. We must come together in large numbers and bring small resources together to make a big difference. I have met Mrs. Frazier and I believe she really wants to make her mark on girls and give them the ability to make a job out of tech.

Jamie Beck a Holistic Career Coach I know said that your job is 24% of your life, your head is 24% of your body. So if you are stuck in a job that you hate its like going through life hating your head, you would be miserable. We all have loves and talents the true way to have joy in your work is to work at something you love. Mrs. Frazier is doing just that for our youth and is looking for your help.

Update and comentary on prop 218 count

18 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in AFL-CIO, American Cancer Society, American Water, Bad Commerce, Budget, Ca, Cancer, Centurion Security Patrol, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Currupt, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Family, Flores Park, Grace Vargas, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, Joe Baca Jr, June Hayes, Lazy, Lewis Properties, Mike Story, Protest, RDA, Sheet Metal Workers Union, SOSRialtoWater@gmail.com, The Circle Vision Quest, Water, wwwstoprialtowaterratehikes.com

Let me preface this article with a little piece of info. When your asking someone to invest in your company or idea you give a portion or percentage over to them for a certain dollar amount.

City Council and Staff along with the RUA valued the water and waste water at 30 million dollars of which they are cashing out in total. American Water is valuing the water and waste water systems at 130 million dollars, with a 3 million dollar reduction each year we honor the contract. So when the contract is so bad we just can’t stomach their lack of service and customer service people working in call centers in India we have to pay them at their valuation. So a city with no money as it is we will be stuck with this crappy bad deal. The city has already begun to sell your services down the drain. Street sweepers that under sold a contract to get the work to come back later for more money. Graffiti removal services where the owner actually said who cares if the tags stay up another day or two if it saves the city money.

Remove these people this november and send a message that we demand to be heard and represented.

RIALTO – A big question surrounding Rialto’s controversial 30-year contract with American Water Works Co. Inc. will be answered Tuesday.That’s when officials from the City Clerk’s office will count Proposition 218 protest ballots starting at 1 p.m.

Proposition 218 requires cities to have a vote of potentially affected residents when a rate hike is proposed.

In the case of Rialto’s proposed water rate hikes, a large number of ballots came into the city within the last 30 minutes of the deadline on June 12, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott said Friday.

That prompted the City Council to defer a vote on the final procedure to institute a series of rate hikes that would mean a 114.5-percent increase in water and wastewater

A wheel line irrigation system operates in an agriculture area near the offices of Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Hinkley. (Gabriel Luis Acosta/Staff Photographer)

rates by 2016.

The rate hikes are part of a plan to outsource the management of Rialto’s water and wastewater systems to American Water.

The matter will be taken up again at a City Council meeting on June 26.

While the vote tally could end the deal, that result is unlikely, election observers say, as more than half of the Rialto property owners and renters who are ratepayers – plus one – would have filed a protest.

But there’s another issue looming that could derail the water agreement and rate hikes.

On May 12, members of the Utility Workers of America turned in petitions with more than 6,400 signatures seeking to put the council’s water rate decisions to a vote, which could be held in November or at another time selected by the council.

Only about 3,800 signatures are needed to take the council’s action to voters.

The city hired the county’s elections office to validate the signatures.

Scott said he has not heard the result, but that too would come out on the council meeting of June 26.

Not only do signatures need to be valid, but the process to collect the signatures needs to be valid, Scott said.

Joe Baca Jr., who was the lone dissenter in the rate hike vote, said most Rialto residents understand that rates need to increase to pay for water system upgrades, just not so rapidly.

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Colton man in wheelchair falls into hole

08 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in ARMC, Ca, Centurion Security Patrol, Coffee Nutz, davidsMarketing, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, http://www.guardianwatch.com/, Inland Empire, Rialto Fire, The Circle Vision Quest, www.babyelepnatbooks.com, www.careervisionbyjamie.com, wwwstoprialtowaterratehikes.com

Horrible incident but thank God he came out ok. Rialto Fire on scene assiting.

COLTON – Firefighters on Thursday rescued a man in a wheelchair who fell into a 6-foot-deep hole that was left covered with a weathered and unsecured piece of plywood, Colton fire officials said.Charles Walker, 67, of Colton was in his motorized wheelchair on a Wildrose Avenue sidewalk when he rolled across the plywood covering the hole over an open electrical vault, Colton Fire Department spokesman Tom Debellis said.

“The plywood appeared to be weathered,” Debellis said. “Mr. Walker was taken to the veterans hospital in Loma Linda just for precautionary measures.”

Walker didn’t have any obvious injuries, acting Fire Chief Tim McHargue said.

Firefighters used a hoist to lift Walker’s motorized wheelchair out of the electrical vault after they pulled him to safety.

“He was talking to us, and he was glad we were there,” McHargue said. Not including Walker’s weight, the board probably collapsed under 300 to 500 pounds from the wheelchair, McHargue said.

“We don’t have any information at this time who left the plywood covering the hole,” Debellis said.

City workers had been working on the underground vault earlier in the day, according to sources at Colton Public Utilities.

“Until this is completely investigated the city of Colton has no comment on this matter,” City Manager Rod Foster said in a phone interview Thursday evening.

Colton work crews secured the hole, Foster said.

San Bernardino and Rialto firefighters assisted in the incident.

Graffiti Removal, How important is it to you?

07 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Bad Commerce, Budget, Ca, Centurion Security Patrol, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Crime, Currupt, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Family, Flores Park, Grace Vargas, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, http://www.guardianwatch.com/, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Keith Kahn, Lazy, Mike Story, Nieghborhood Watch, Protest, Public Safety, Rialto Police Department, SWAT, The Circle Vision Quest, Tom Ammiano, www.babyelepnatbooks.com, www.careervisionbyjamie.com, wwwstoprialtowaterratehikes.com, youth

When I first moved back to Rialto I noticed how much graffiti was all over the place it was like little LA.

We rented for one year then made the decision to purchase our first home in Rialto, the graffiti was out of control.

We banded together with Lt Burkholder, Lt Crispin & Cpl Muir to get the graffiti under control. I personally held GPC the graffiti removal contractor to a hard-line of removing the graffiti ASAP. I helped GPC & the city of Rialto over obstacles such as private property right of ways and businesses that were no longer cleaning graffiti on their back walls because of retaliation against their maintenance employees. Councilman Ed Palmer and I developed a way to get property owners and leasing companies to keep their leasing signs free of graffiti.

And things were looking better……………………….. Until Now!!!!!

The city has decided to change contractors beginning last month May 2012 to save $3 a stop. Now everyone has heard the saying you get what you pay for, and we are getting just that cheaper service that has more excuses than results.

Larry De Corona the Owner of Superior Property Mainence ( http://www.4superior.com/ ) came out to the Area 1 Command Meeting stating that nothing will change but better faster services at a lower price. He tried to tell us his company can’t take care of our drainage Areas or Washes ( which is wrong ) and that they were brining in a new camera program, knowledgeable staff ect. None of his statements have shown to be true.

So I wonder why I have been calling and seeing graffiti up for days and days, poor painting, tags still showing through ect. Then I remembered something Mr. De Corona said at the meeting they are the largest graffiti removal program in LA County. Ah ha this is why who hasn’t driven around LA County and been blinded by graffiti.

Larry Decrona Owner & Managing partner in aquisition and Property Managment

Larry De Corona (pictured above) called me yesterday very upset that I am asking his company to remove the graffiti in a timely fashion. He said that they are working within the confines of the contract and that I couldn’t use his statements at the Area Command Meeting as gold. He told me that in April GPC billed the city $8K for the month of April, Superior billed the city $6K for May. This isn’t because they are so much cheaper it’s because they are slower to respond and GPC work some Saturdays in April Superior doesnt.

Mr. De Corona said something that speaks to where he is coming from a property management back ground that showed his lack of knowledge of this city or the War we wage her on Hoodlums. He said “Whats the difference if the graffiti stays up a few more days if it saves the city money”. Really did you just say that. Graffiti is a hoodlums way of saying he owns your neighborhood, street or city, and everyday it’s up there is another day to influence our teens, intimidate our communities and enrage community members.

I spoke with Tim Sullivan from public works and he told me that Superior is new and he is keeping close account of the complaints and looking at Superior’s response times and quality of work. We want to keep this from becoming a problem.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rid-Rialto-of-Graffitti/216882198324244 – We have a Facebook Page you can visit and post your problem areas with graffiti or just email them to rialtonw@aol.com and we will post for you.

Ferguson Park the Multi Million Dollar park that wont be stripped until the July Grand Opening was hit hard and it took Superior 3 days to remove this graffiti, so people’s questions on safety at our parks is still an issue and thanks to Superior the community is wondering if the new park is even worth visiting.

I have called the graffiti hotline numerous times to find MAJOR, MASSIVE tags up for days and even weeks.

The graffiti Hotline number is 909-820-2670 put this in your cell phone and call on every tag.

If you have questions, complaints or concerns please call 909-820-2602 and ask for Tim Sullivan.

Want free exposure????

01 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Budget, Ca, Centurion Security Patrol, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, davidsMarketing, Dine 909, Edgar Montes, Family, Family Sports, Farrell’s Honors Our Military, Farrell’s Resturant, Flores Park, Fun, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, http://www.guardianwatch.com/, IE Gourmet Food Trucks, In & Out, Inland Empire, Keith Kahn, Mike Story, Nieghborhood Watch, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, RUSD, SWAT, The Circle Vision Quest, Uncategorized, www.babyelepnatbooks.com, www.careervisionbyjamie.com, youth

Are you a business, community group, charitable organization, local elected official or a person seeking a local office?

Here at Rialto Now we are always looking to highlight the latest and greatest in and around Rialto. What we are offering are opportunities for you to get the word out to residents and community leaders that truly care about this City and the Inland Empire.

How does it work:

We formulate a series of questions that are directly related to your and your industry. We then email those questions to you at an email address you provide. You in turn answer those questions, then email it back to us with any pictures, contact links, phone number ect. We run grammar, spelling and check to make sure all words are clean don’t infringe on another persons rights and we post it.

What if I don’t like some of your questions:

That hasn’t happened but if you don’t like them don’t answer them. Of course the more interesting content we have and pictures we provide will make your post the most viewed.
These “SPOTLIGHTS” are designed in a way to inform the public on the given topic host, they are never intended to portray the business in a negative light.

How can I control any ads that may appear on my post:

You can make special requests to have certain adds not shown on your post. The best way is to pay to advertise on your own post we never put more than one ad per post. Ads range from $10 – $50. Ask us for the details.

Who can request to have a “SPOTLIGHT” done for them:

Anyone that their business deals with the city of Rialto, sells to people who reside in Rialto, business/organization/political figure or person running for political office/community group/ non-profit or any host group located within Rialto.

Here are a few of the “SPOTLIGHTS” we have already done:

So if your intrested in a “SPOTLIGHT” please email:

davidsmarketing@aol.com and put in the subject line “SPOTLIGHT”

Area 1 Command Meeting Review

31 May 2012 1 Comment

by rialto-now in Budget, Burglury, Ca, Centurion Security Patrol, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Crime, davidsMarketing, Family, Family Sports, Flores Park, Fun, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, http://www.guardianwatch.com/, IE Gourmet Food Trucks, In & Out, Inland Empire, Lewis Properties, Mike Story, Nieghborhood Watch, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, SWAT, The Circle Vision Quest, Uncategorized, www.babyelepnatbooks.com, www.careervisionbyjamie.com

Hello readers here is our review of the area command meeting in area 1. This is Lt Karol’s second meeting since his promotion and assignment as area 1 commander for Rialto. Lt. Karol ran this meeting alot like one of our favorite retired Lt Crispin, the meeting was very comfortable and flowed nicely.

Lt Karol Area 1 Commander opening up his 2nd meeting

Topics were well covered and residents were given and opportunity to comment and vent without being chased out of the room because they didn’t entirely agree with the presenter. Not every presenter spoke because the presenters that did speak were important to the people sitting in the audience.

I wasnt entirely sure how the chosen venue would suit this meeting when I first heard about it, but after the meeting was over the only critique is that it was hard to find out which room the meetin was in because Sunrise Church is such a large facility. Proper signage would help negate this issue. The people who attend there who were there for bible studies and other groups were very nice, hospitible and helped you find the right room.

Larry Decrona Owner & Managing partner in aquisition and Property Managment

First up was Larry from Superior Graffitti Removal – They are the new graffitti removal company and they are promising to do more for less. How many of you have ever paid less for for a service or product and been at all happy with the end result? My fear is that they will relize this city is more work than originally factored and come back to council looking for money &/or allow their service drop off due to the additional expense of serivcing our city. They promise next day service & a national reporting serivce that is free to the city. They say that if you call on graffitti and they cant remove it or refuse to because of some strange rules they will call you and inform you. Well I debunked that this week I called on three spots this week no removal and no call. Go to the community Graffitti page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rid-Rialto-of-Graffitti/216882198324244 give it a “LIKE” and join the discousion.

They say they are the largest graffitti removal company in LA County, like that was a badge of honor. LA County has a reputation of throwing bad money after good and has graffitti blanketing their communities. Where is the graffitti removal response? You can find them at http://4superior.com .

Scott Enoch with City of Rialto Parks and Rec

Scott Enoch with Parks and Rec seemed a little unprepared for the types of questiones he recived. He spoke about the cataloge that the city puts out to inform the community about services they provice and annonced the dedication cerimony at Freguson park that will take place Saturday July 14th. Whats funny is the football feilds wont be stripped until just before the dedication and grand opening of the park because they want it to look nice, yet the park is already open. In my opinion it sends the message that the city dosent care about the comunity just the press and media that wont show up for the event. The only time media covers Rialto is for bad things very rare to hear about positive things in the Sun or ABC 7 in reference to Rialto.

The questions Mr Enoch wasnt ready for was about the violence, crime, debachury and filth that currently resides in our parks. People complained about the janitorial services that Mr Enoch had never met or seen in his life. People described to cleaning staff as 2 mexican ruffians pulling up in a lifted black truck and doing very little cleaning. Bathrooms cleanliness was also a issue sticky and trashed almost all the time, waste baskets with busted out bottoms, gangs taking over our parks and much more.

If you want to know more about our parks you are directed to the parks and rec commision meeting 3rd tuesday of every month. Also if you have issues with broken or damaged park equipment call public works and or Parks and Rec.

Sergio is with Public Works and is a Traffic Engineer

Public works was next and they had a traffic engineer out to speak to the public. 2 new traffic signals were installed 1 at Valley/Cactus and the other on Rverside Ave in front of Fire Station 202. Cactus south bound is sceduled to be widened, Ayala north bound will be widened, Linden north bound to Carter and a new signal will begin the planning phases at Linden and Riverside Aves. This intersection is the source of many accidents and fatilities in the past and is well over due. Also Pepper will be extended to the 210 freeway.

Mike Story is the City Manager addressing some issues within the city

Last was Mike Story the city manager for the city of Rialto. First off read his monthly report its full of great information. Mr Story spoke about some of the issues that were being brought up. In and Out in Rialto will happen at its latest is 2013, the city is getting leaner but its finding ways to to the same with less. Mr Story is a straight shooter with a positive outlook as long as we can remain together during the lean years. Super Walmart is finally moving along, Mr Story spoke about ways his department is making Rialto more business freindly without giving away the farm. San Bernardino has done just that with the new Amazon Wharehouse, Kohls Distribution center, Regal Cinema project in downtown and many more they earn so little on tax revenues and have nothing to pay for toads damaged by truck traffic or crime that follows these developments. Mr Story is using quick building permits, defered project payments and more to help developers.

Finally Lt Karol closed the meting with some recent crime trends in the area and city:

Ding Dong Break In – Somone comes up to your door and knocks and rings the bell if none awnsers another person access your backyard smashes in your slider and ransacks your home in and out in about 2 mins. If your home awsner from inside you dont have to awnser the door but with them knowing somones home they normally move on.
Front Door Kick In – Yes its back they caught 2 males who had been victimizing homes on the south end of area 1. Key here is to report people that dont belong in your neigborhood.
Into the Garage – Do you leave a garage door opener in your car? If yes then you could be a waiting victim of this breakin.

Neighborhood Watch Group Helps Solve 7 Burglaries

27 May 2012 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Burglury, Ca, Centurion Security Patrol, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Crime, davidsMarketing, Family, Flores Park, Fontana PD, http://www.guardianwatch.com/, Inland Empire, Mayor Pat Morris, Mike Story, Nieghborhood Watch, Public Safety, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, RUSD, San Bernardino PD, San Bernardino Police, SWAT, The Circle Vision Quest, Tom Ammiano, www.babyelepnatbooks.com, www.careervisionbyjamie.com

Below is an article a community in San Rafael, CA that by using this app and a strong Neighborhood Watch they are directly effecting crime in their community.

We will be posting an interview with Gordon Jones with Guardian Watch a cell phone app that allows communities to better communicate with each other and EMS personnel on what going on in their area the website is:

http://www.guardianwatch.com/

http://www.facebook.com/GuardianWatch

Also Check out:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001441607142 – Flores Park NW

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rialto-Residents-for-Rialto-Fire-Department/145275045567795

http://www.facebook.com/groups/309058217201/ – Residents for Rialto PD

http://www.facebook.com/RialtoPD

After five months and three community meetings, the Terra Linda and Marinwood Neighborhood Watch Program is helping officers solve crime, according to one of the group’s organizers.
Since the creation of the neighborhood watch program in December 2011, the number of calls dispatchers received has increased and homeowners are feeling safer, said organizer John Buckley.
“At our first meeting, there was a sense that everyone was in crisis mode,” he said. “But now we can tell it’s working.”
Dispatchers at Tuesday’s meeting told attendees that the neighborhood watch group’s calls had a hand in helping to catch three suspected burglars in early April. Two Terra Linda High School students and one graduate were arrested on suspicion of breaking in to the school’s storage container where they stock candy and snacks for athletic events.
During their interviews, the three confessed to several other burglaries in the Terra Linda, Marinwood and Santa Venetia areas, totaling seven incidents.
“Essentially we helped solve seven crimes,” Buckley said.
In one incident, the teens broke in to Buckley’s neighbor’s house but when the homeowner returned, they stealthily fled after stashing a laptop and vodka in the yard. Once they confessed, they returned with officers to the house to locate the items.
Terra Linda and Marinwood neighbors first began their watch group in December after a wave of home burglaries in the area. At a meeting in February, retired San Rafael police officer Tom Boyd described these neighborhood’s as a “burglar’s paradise” because the properties are surrounded by open space and trusting residents are making it easy for crime with unlocked vehicles and open garage doors.
The neighborhood watch’s website has been tracking incidents in the area to keep people informed.
According to the website, a neighbor came returned to her home on Golden Hinde on Feb. 14 and found that the front door was pried open by a crowbar. Her Wii, iPad, iTouch, passports, several credit cards and other items were stolen.
The site also lists a failed burglary in Marinwood on March 9, where suspects broke into a locked garage side door. When they discovered the 91-year-old homeowner inside, they cut the power and fled. In March, a man was arrested on suspicion of two gas station armed burglaries in Terra Linda. In one case, a Union 76 Station clerk attempted to fight the suspect and was struck in the head several times with the weapon.
Although the meetings’ attendance dwindled since the first in December (the first meeting drew over 200 people when this week’s drew 35), the website has served the community well, Buckley said. Some of the content garnered as much as 6,000 visitors, 12,000 page views and now over 250 people have signed up for email updates.
“It just shows that the campaign is really working,” he said.
The next neighborhood meeting will be in the fall and will address emergency preparedness.