February 2014

www.sandimasnews.com

Each year, the Rotary Club of San Dimas provides mini-grants to teachers working in San Dimas schools. This year, four teachers received a total of $2000 from the Rotary Club.

Monica Redfox, a teacher at San Dimas High School, will be using her mini-grant to purchase seminar tables for her classroom. The goal of redesigning her class-room with these tables is to create a more collaborative learning en-vironment for her students. Her hope is to create more interaction by having students look each oth-er in the eye rather than the back of someone’s head.

Lisa Hartman, a Teacher at Chaparral High School, will be using her mini-grant to take her students on a field trip to the Home Boy Bakery. Fifty percent of Lisa’s students are designated as group home and/or probation-ary youth students. Her hope is

(l-r) Rotary Club President Alice Shiozawa, teachers Monica Redfox, Lisa Hartman, Renee Garcia, and Kristy Vena

San Dimas Rotary Awards Mini-Grants to Local Teachers

a visit to the Home Boy Bakery, a non-profit organization that works with many “at risk” young men and women will have a true impact on her students.

Renee Garcia, a teacher at Allen Avenue Elementary, will be taking her 4th grade class to Knott’s Berry Farm to participate in the Adventure’s in Education Energy in Motion program. This program allows students to have hands on experience and gain a better understanding of Sir Isaac Newton’s three laws of motion.

Kristy Vena, a teacher at Holy Name of Mary, will be using her mini-grant to purchase Vernier digital lab equipment. The STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) allows students to think critically and problem solve as opposed to just learning concepts. The digital lab equipment will enhance this pro-gram.

A Thank You to the Community

Joe Fransen and his fam-ily would like to thank the San

Joe Fransen

Dimas Community for their out-pouring of support! Joe suffered some health issues in December that have dictated closing his store after 20 years of serving the San Dimas Community. All of the well wishes from his San Dimas family have been passed along to Joe and he is hopeful that he will see his beloved San Dimas soon! Please continue to keep Joe in your thoughts and prayers as his health improves! If you would like to send notes and cards the mail will be forwarded from his work address: Awards by Cham-pion, 402 W. Arrow Hwy., #9, San Dimas, CA 91773. Thank you.

San Dimas — Registration for the 15th annual San Dimas Stage Race (SDSR), scheduled for March 28th, 29th, and 30th, 2014, is now open at BikeReg.com (https://www.bik-ereg.com/Net/san-dimas-stage-race). World class professional, talented am-ateur, and Junior cyclists from around the world are signing up to compete in this highly regarded race which is hosted by the SC Velo Cycling Club and presented by MRI Performance. Three exciting stages of racing are scheduled as well as Kids Races on the last day. 900+ professional and ama-teur cyclists are expected to compete for cash prizes and medals.

Stage 1 consists of individual time trials on a 4.25 mile course that winds its way up Glendora Mountain Road. This stage, sponsored by Chaffey Auto Body (http://chaffeycollision.com ), is an individual all out effort by the riders to get the best time up the steepest parts of Glendora Mountain Road. With the size of the field, it will be a long day of racing, with the first rider starting at 8:00 a.m. and the last one going out in the late afternoon, the exact time being dependent on the number of riders.

Stage 2 will be a Road Race around Bonelli Park sponsored by San Dimas Community Hospital (http://www.sandimashospital.com). The course is a rolling and twisting approximately 7 mile circuit which includes short climbs. The riders will make from 5 to 12 loops around the course depend-

ing upon category. The first group starts at 7:50 a.m. and the last (Pro men) at 1:15 p.m. The best spots for viewing the race will be at the Start/Finish area and anywhere along Via Verde inside Bonelli Park.

Stage 3 is a Criterium around the streets of Old Town San Dimas sponsored by Incycle bike stores (http://incycle.com) and Cannondale bikes (http://cannonale.com). The racers will ride quick loops around a tight, 1.2 mile circuit with 6 sharp corners, for times varying from 25 to 90 minutes depending upon their category. The first group will start at 7:30 a.m. and the last group will

start at 3:00 p.m. For spectators, this will be an up-close and fast race, with lots of good viewing spots around the tree lined course.

The Kids Races will be a fun event held on Sunday, March 30th, at 12:30 p.m. in downtown San Di-mas. Sponsored by Chaffey Auto Body, the races are free to all chil-dren, so get your kids’ bikes out and ready to ride. Please note that hel-mets are mandatory. Registration for the Kids Races will be held on-site in San Dimas on Sunday morning.

All of these events offer great opportunities for participation by cyclists of all levels, as well as won-derful viewing for cycling fans. There are no fees for spectators, just pick a spot along the race route and be prepared to see some exciting racing. For the photographically inclined, the photo-ops will be unparalleled, with lots of up-close action, so bring your cameras.

Please visit http://sdsr.info for more information about the race, registration, and lodging. Informa-tion about SC Velo can be found at http://scvelo.com Information about MRI Performance can be found at http://mri-performance.com Regis-tration is currently open at BikeReg.com and spots are still available.

J.J.Haedo winning 2013’s Pro Men’s Crit

2014 San Dimas Stage Race Registration Opens

Antonovich Honors World-Renowned Opera Singer Angel Blue

Los Angeles County — Super-visor Michael D. Antonovich, one of the co-founders of the Los An-geles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), recognized An-gel Blue, world-renowned opera singer and LACHSA graduate at the recent Board of Supervisors meeting.

As a student at LACHSA, An-gel commuted two hours each way to school where she studied opera, gospel singing, theatrical acting, and classical piano. After gradu-ation, she earned a Bachelor’s De-gree in Music at the University of Redlands and a Master’s Degree at the UCLA Opera Program.

Her work with L.A. Opera’s “Young Artist Program” led her to Europe where she performed at the English National Opera and a recital at Wigmore Hall. Angel debuted with the San Francisco Opera Company as “Clara” in Porgy and Bess in 2008.

She won the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion’s “Emerging Young En-tertainers” Award, and has been honored by the Metropolitan Op-era.

Continued page 2

Supervisor Antonovich and opera singer Angel Blue

Page 2 San Dimas Community News February 2014

She has been the featured so-loist in productions around the world. In 2011, she toured with Placido Domingo in Oman, Bei-jing, and Zagreb, Croatia. In 2012, Angel performed in Austria and reprised the role of “Clara” in Porgy and Bess with the Berlin Philharmonic.

Last month, she performed with the Santa Barbara Sym-phony and has upcoming dates in Europe, Mexico and here in the United States.

Supervisor Antonovich and the late Caroline Ahmanson were co-founders of the Los Angeles Coun-ty High School for the Arts which is located on the campus of Califor-nia State University Los Angeles. A school of choice, students come from all over Los Angeles County to achieve their academic and cre-ative goals. The students are in the 90th percentile academically and 99% attend college.

Antonovich Honors World-Renowned Opera Singer Angel Blue

America’s Christian Credit Union Donates $10,000 To Children’s Miracle Network Concluding Holiday Giveback Initiative

Glendora, CA, January 9, 2014—America’s Christian Cred-it Union (ACCU) donated $10,000 to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN) as a result of a year-long fundraising effort by staff. The contributions will go to-ward supporting sick and injured children at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA). This marks the last event in a series of chari-table giving by the credit union during their Holiday GiveBack Initiative.

In an effort to support the local community, America’s Christian Credit Union and its members do-nated food to Shepherd’s Pantry through Glendora Community Coordinating Council’s Holiday Basket Program helping to feed over 250 families.

ACCU’s staff also participated in a 2 month long program to give back to their own communities through service in either their churches or local organizations. In total ACCU’s staff donated 260 hours of their time by teach-ing, coaching, providing financial services, and helping where they were needed most. More than 10 of our employees participated in City of Hope’s Walk for Hope in support of finding a cure for

cancer.“We would not be living out

our mission ‘To Reach, Serve, and Teach’ if we did not exemplify it in our own communities,” said Men-dell L. Thompson, President and CEO of America’s Christian Cred-it Union. “I am overjoyed that we were able to give back in these specific ways during this season of giving. The success of the Holi-day GiveBack Initiative would not have been possible without the gracious and wonder-working

God we serve.”

About America’s Christian Credit Union

America’s Christian CU pro-vides a broad range of financial so-lutions to individuals and minis-tries that empower them to reach their stewardship goals while ex-panding God’s Kingdom. Founded in 1958 and currently managing nearly $500 million in assets, ACCU serves the financial needs of its individual, family, ministry and business members. Funds entrusted to the credit union are reinvested in Kingdom purposes, supporting the Church world-wide. For additional information, visit www.AmericasChristianCU.com.

Mendell L. Thompson, President/CEO of America’s Christian Credit Union presenting check to Sara Hackett, Children’s Miracle Network

representative, with ACCU staff Liza Lemkuil

Continued from page 1

City of San Dimas Adult Excursion to Monterey, CA

San Dimas — Escape to beau-tiful Monterey for a 3 day/2 night excursion May 7— May 9, 2014. The City of San Dimas is currently taking registration for the exciting “Monterey Escapade”. Highlights of this trip include, historic Can-nery the Monterey Bay Aquarium, scenic tour of the Carmel Coast and on the return trip, a delicious lunch at the famous Apple Farm restaurant in San Luis Obispo. The cost for this full itinerary is $350.00 for double occupancy or $525.00 for single occupancy. This fee in-cludes transportation on a luxury liner coach, driver gratuity, travel pack, luggage fee, two night stay at hotel with tax, two breakfasts, one lunch, sightseeing, and Aquarium admission. For more information call, (909)394-6290.

February 2014 San Dimas Community News Page 3

Marketing Tips

New Ideas and Solving ProblemsBy Shorty Feldbush

Some loyal readers of this col-umn will remember that for the last two months I’ve been trying

to provide a “platform” for local citizens who would like to pres-ent a bright idea that would make

life better for their fellow human beings. It could be an idea that would solve a vexing problem or increase the usability or reliability of some product that others would find beneficial. It might represent a new “invention” (not necessarily reduced to proven demonstration) or it could be simply voicing a need for something that would cure an irritant in your life. We all have these little nuggets of valuable thoughts and we just fail to push them to fruition. I’m here to help you push.

One San Dimas resident, Ar-nold Ramirez, has an idea that would benefit we senior golfers. For a long time many older folks with bad backs have used devices to pick up things off the ground or floor. Golfers have long used a sucker cup on the end of a put-ter shaft to pick their ball out of the hole and avoid that long, achy bend to reach it at the end of play on every green. Now Arnold sug-gests that someone should devel-op a “system” that would entail a small magnet secured to the end of your club (at least the driver) grip and a metal coating or ring around a portion of your wooden or plastic tee. Then after “teeing off” (a technical term in golf mean-ing you have swung at the ball while placed on a tee, not yelling loudly as a result of anger) when your tee flies off to the side, you can retrieve it without bending over. A simple solution that no one has ever introduced to a sport that is growing rapidly and is still enjoyed (with a degree of schizo-

phrenia) at an advanced age and even by the handicapped. It’s a great idea and one that could in-crease the enjoyment of playing golf for a lot of older folks.

A member of our regular breakfast group at Roady’s Res-taurant, Larry Crum, agreed with me that we had never seen a vehicle that had any lights in the rear except those for driving (light red), brake (bright red) and backup (white). When you are in “stop and go” traffic on the free-way it would be nice to know if the vehicle in front of you is coasting, accelerating or stopping. The for-mer condition could be indicated with a yellow light and accelerat-ing with a green light. There is no need for an aerospace research department to spend a year on this development; the technology is all there and we only need to have a manufacturer do it. Think of the “rear enders” that could be avoided if you had some advance warning that your safe space with the car in front of you was closing fast. You know, the gap you keep too short because you don’t want someone to cut you off and dive in front of you. Then you look up and see a bumper in your windshield. There have been miniature traffic signal boxes that sit on the shelf above the back seat and seemed to emulate this type of warning, but they must have been legis-lated out of use. Lets now make it part of the original design of the vehicle.

I know that almost everyone who reads this article will have one or more ideas like this. Ideas that would be of value to others. This is your chance to let us all know about it. Just email your thoughts to afshortyf@yahoo.com and we’ll see what might result from some of these wonderful sug-gestions for improving life. It’s a whole lot better than all the other things we have to read about or listen to in our daily activities. Just do it!

Shorty Feldbush

Foster Youth Internship Program Approved Los Angeles County — To

improve the transition of foster youth to economic self-sufficien-cy, a motion by Supervisors Mi-chael D. Antonovich and Gloria Molina was approved to estab-lish an internship program in all county departments.

The Career Development In-ternship Program provides 12 to 24 months of structured, on-the-job training and permanent

employment for those young women and men who complete the program.

“Internships are a vital tool in the development of career opportunities for young people -- especially transition-age youth who require the training and guidance necessary to grow and succeed in the job market, and in life,” said Supervisor Anto-novich.

County Seal Will Be Corrected To Include Cross Atop The San Gabriel Mission

Los Angeles County — A mo-tion by Supervisors Michael D. Antonovich and Don Knabe to fix the inaccurate architectural depiction of the San Gabriel Mis-sion currently on the Los Angeles County seal was approved on a 3-2 vote with Supervisors Antonovich, Knabe and Ridley-Thomas voting in favor and Yaroslavsky and Mo-lina opposed.

“To accurately reflect the role of the San Gabriel Mission in the historical and cultural develop-ment of Los Angeles County, this action corrects the current render-ing of the mission on the county seal which is artistically and ar-chitecturally inaccurate.” said Su-pervisor Antonovich. “The history of Los Angeles County began with the founding of the San Gabriel Mission by Father Junipero Serra in September, 1771. Also known as the ‘Pride of the California Mis-sions,’ its doors opened directly to the El Camino Real which connect-ed all of California’s great missions, pueblos and presidios.”

“For hundreds of years, the mis-sion has been the historic center for culture and art in our region and has had a vital influence on the expansion and development of Los Angeles County. It was the site of the area’s first hospital and the birthplace of the last Spanish gov-ernor of Alta California, Pio Pico.”

“Learning about the missions is a part of the California 4th grade curriculum where students are asked to build model missions and complete reports on a particular mission. In addition, two other California counties, Ventura and San Benito, have missions with crosses on their seals, as does the city of San Luis Obispo.”

“At the time that the seal was re-designed in 2004, the cross had been missing from the top of the Mission since 1989, when it was taken down to retrofit the structure after damage from the Whittier Narrows earth-quake. The cross was subsequently returned to the top of the mission in 2009.”

“We appreciate the input and par-ticipation from the community whose strong support for the mission, its sig-nificance to our county and the need to ensure the architectural accuracy of the county seal, resulted in this action.”

Page 4 San Dimas Community News February 2014

News from the Bonita Unified School DistrictSuperintendent’s Message

Dr. Gary Rapkin

Parent Teacher Association Accolades

One of the key components of the success of Bonita Unified School District teachers and stu-dents is the important work per-formed by volunteer members of the Parent Teacher Associa-tion. At each school site, parents and grandparents contribute to the education of our students by working in the classroom, assist-ing teachers with the preparation of materials, planning school wide assemblies, and organizing suc-cessful fundraisers that contribute to the costs associated with field trips, classroom enhancements, and campus beautification. Here is a message from the Bonita PTA Council President Michelle Rid-dell outlining just a slice of the great work being done on behalf of the students and teachers in our District:

“Since the opening of the school year in August 2013, each school’s Parent Teacher Association has been hard at work providing en-riching programs and raising funds to support our schools and staff. Countless volunteer hours have been donated by hard work-ing-leaders and dedicated mem-bers.

“One of the larger Bonita PTA Council events, the Fall Art Expo, opens at 7:00 p.m., February 6, at

the San Dimas High School gym. In answer to the theme of “A Few of My Favorite Things…,” students submitted over three hundred en-tries across six different visual and language arts categories. The pub-lic is invited to view the inspiring and beautiful student work and enjoy some ice cream as they do.

“The PTA is currently review-ing scholarship applications from high school seniors. The San Di-mas High School PTA is plan-ning a car show in February to raise funds for their scholarship program. Please visit the school’s website for information about the event.

“The PTA’s middle school units have just started the 8th grade par-ty planning process. Scholarship awards have gone out to several students at Ramona to help with the expense of the annual trip to Washington D.C. The elementary school units have begun planning for their spring programs. Roynon Elementary is hosting a silent auc-tion and casino night on March 1 at the Hillcrest Homes Meeting House.

“From the thousands of dol-lars raised at each school site, the PTA has provided school grants to benefit all of our campuses. The most notable gifting has been for technology, including comput-ers in the classroom and librar-ies, tablets, laptops and general improvements in our classroom audio-visual systems. Additional programs and activities include funding of the school library, field trips, science camps, playground, and athletic equipment.”

The Bonita Unified School Dis-trict is very proud of and grateful for the dedication and coopera-tion that exists within the Bonita Council PTA. Each of our stu-dents and teachers benefit from their hard work.

Gary Rapkin, PhDSuperintendent

Once a quarter, Chaparral High School in San Dimas holds a Renaissance Rally to celebrate academic achievements, as well as positive behavior and positive attendance records. Students can achieve at four levels of distinc-tion: Bulldog, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Over half of the student population was recognized at the Gold and Platinum levels at the semester break in December.

“We see the light come on,” Dean of Students Joe Hanson said about the value of the pro-gram. “For many students, this is their first taste of success, and once they realize what they can do, they reach for more. They take ownership of their academic needs and keep track of their credits.”

The Renaissance Rally pro-gram is based on Jostens Renais-sance, which is a nationwide pro-gram that works to boost GPAs, increase attendance, improve school pride, and grow graduation rates.

In addition to recognition at the Rallies, each level of achieve-ment includes a few perks. Some are minor, like the privilege of cut-ting ahead in the lunch line. Oth-ers are more significant: the San Dimas Rotary treats the students who earn the highest number of academic credits to lunch. Con-versation is intentionally focused on each student’s plans for the future. Rotary members then work to link the students with lo-cal business owners who can help them achieve their goals.

Rallies also include student performances and special rec-ognition for students who earn the highest Accelerated Reader points, pass a benchmark test, or pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE).

Eagle Scout Candidate Danny Dubrowa Installs a Paved Walkway for Teachers

San Dimas High School Senior Danny Dubrowa designed his Eagle Scout project to benefit his teachers. The school’s moderniza-tion and expansion projects left the pathway from the new staff parking lot to classroom build-ings unpaved. Thanks to Danny and the team he assembled, they now have a smooth, even walk-way.

Danny sought project recom-mendations from Principal Mi-chael Kelly and drew up the plans on large graph paper. Dressed in his Class A Boy Scout uniform, Danny visited local vendors like Home Town Rentals, O.F. Wolfin-barger, Inc., Home Depot, and Lowe’s asking for donations. Each business answered with unusual-ly generous donations. A team of about 50 people, including many of the boys and parents from BSA Troop 411 from La Verne, agreed to work two 12-hour days to com-plete the project.

What was so compelling about this Eagle Scout Project? It was

Danny’s motivation. Before a boy can begin his Eagle Scout project, he must get approval from an ad-visor in the troop. Danny’s advi-sor asked him why he wanted to create a paved pathway at high school. “I love the teachers at San Dimas High School, and I want them to have something to re-member me by.”

“This walkway was installed by boy scouts and parents and it looks professional,” Danny’s mother Mary Dubrowa said. “It cost the District zero dollars, and it’s permanent—that was impor-tant to Danny and I am incredibly proud of him.”

Danny’s father Paul Dubrowa said that Danny’s was one of the more extensive Eagle Scout proj-ects completed by Troop 411. “To start a big project is one thing, but to finish something of this size is really an accomplishment,” he said. “I’m proud of my son.”

Danny’s rank in the Boy Scouts is Life Scout, which is just one dis-tinction away from Eagle Scout.

San Dimas High School senior and Eagle Scout candidate Danny Debrowa and Assistant Principal Rita Kear enjoy the grand opening

of the new paved faculty walkway. Danny and his team installed mortar-less pavers to replace dirt and gravel that teachers traversed

between the staff parking lot and the buildings they work in.

Smarter Balanced Assessments Require Technology Infused Classrooms

The Smarter Balanced As-sessment Consortium’s (SBAC) assessments, scheduled for state-wide implementation in 2015, will be administered online instead of on paper. In response, the Dis-trict is infusing more technology into the classroom to ensure that students interact with the assess-ments as easily as anything else they do online.

Using special funding from the state, the District’s Educational Services and Computer Informa-tion Services (CIS) departments collaborated to develop a Dis-trict wide plan that enables each school to purchase 80 devices that meet the Smarter Balanced As-sessment specifications for digital testing. Computer labs are being updated, and some classrooms are now using iPads and Windows

tablets. Because the SBAC assess-

ments are adaptive, they provide feedback to teachers regarding how students are performing on specific Common Core State Standards. According to www.smarterbalanced.org, the com-puter program adjusts the diffi-culty of questions throughout the assessment based on student re-sponses. “For example, a student who answers a question correctly will receive a more challenging item, while an incorrect answer generates an easier question. By adapting to the student as the as-sessment is taking place, these as-sessments present an individually tailored set of questions to each student and can quickly identify which skills students have mas-tered…providing more accurate

Ekstrand Elementary SchoolEkstrand is Nominated for California Distinguished School Recognition

Ekstrand Elementary School was recently nominated for the California Distinguished School program. After submitting an ap-plication in December, Ekstrand is among 405 schools to be nomi-nated for the honor.

As stated on the California Department of Education web-site, “The California School Rec-ognition Program honors some of the state’s most exemplary and inspiring public schools. Schools selected for Distinguished School Awards are strong, well-rounded community schools.”

Qualifying schools must show academic growth for all students from the prior to the current year, as well as closing of the gap

between the higher achieving and lower achieving students. Ekstrand’s overall API has im-proved in the last five years from 817 to 877.

Two signature practices, Re-sponse to Intervention and Estab-lishing a Culture of High Expec-tations for Student Reading are critical components of Ekstrand’s overall instructional program. These programs reinforce and support what students receive in their core instructional time dur-ing the day. Students who par-ticipate in these programs have shown tremendous and continu-ous growth in the areas of reading and math, as well as improve-ment in test taking skills.

scores for all students across the full range of the achievement con-tinuum.”

Teachers are beginning to use the Smarter Balanced Practice Test to help students prepare for the standardized tests. Parents, students, and teachers can review the practice test at this website: https://sbacpt.tds.airast.org/stu-dent/.

The District’s internal bench-mark tests are being converted to online assessments to mirror the format of the SBAC assessments. The Algebra I course was the first to use online assessments for benchmarks in middle and high school. Additionally, the Renais-sance Place STAR Reading and Math test provides another way for students to practice with on-line assessments.

Chaparral High School Renaissance Rallies—A Celebration of Sucess

February 2014 San Dimas Community News Page 5

News from the Bonita Unified School District

Students Spell Their Way to the Top

SCHOOLS IN THE SPOTLIGHTOak Mesa Elementary School

Book Buddies Buddy Up for Reading

Oak Mesa Elementary students meet for their weekly opportunity to buddy-up and read within the school’s Book Buddy Project. In the

picture above: Kayla Corthell (2nd grade) and Taylor Workman (4th grade). In the picture below: Jenna Smith (4th grade), Emma Plumley

(2nd grade), and Aly Workman (4th grade).

Students Leave Their Mark With Painted Tiles

Oak Mesa Elementary students show off one collection of tiles mounted on the school’s front walls. Each student at Oak Mesa paints

a tile to leave his/her mark on the school.

Shull Elementary SchoolShull Students Support a “Kure for Karah”

Karah Casas is a brave Shull Elementary

Student who is fighting leukemia. Classmates

Christian Salazar, Timothy Murphy, and Jacob Schwach (back row, left to right) and Gabriel Salazar and Dylan Bradley (front

row, left to right) have shaved their heads to show support for Karah through her

treatments.

Bonita High School

Bonita High School’s Automotive Technology Team Goes Racing!

The Advanced Automotive Technology class from Bonita High School poses here with teacher Priscilla Englert on the car they upgraded for

a low-speed Autocross event in November.

A team of advanced Bonita High School Automotive Tech-nology students participated in an Autocross event hosted by the California Sport Car Club of America (CSCCA) at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. In 14 weeks, a small group of dedicated students prepared and tested a donated 1997 Toyota Celica GT. Each student participated in ve-hicle preparation and/or drove for testing.

Autocross is a safe, relatively low-speed motorsport where drivers must negotiate a course marked by pylons. Top speed in autocross is typically no faster than speeds you would find on

public roads. The course con-tained a series of elements such as curves, corners, and slaloms that tested the three student drivers’ skills and the car’s agility.

The project curriculum includ-ed science, technology, engineer-ing, and mathematics (STEM) theories and practical applica-tions. Students explored the world of racing, practiced necessary work ethics, improved teamwork, and followed all safety precau-tions necessary to participate in a race event. To learn more, contact Priscilla Englert, Auto-motive Technology Instructor at p.englert@bonita.k12.ca.us or call (909) 971-8220 x1134.

National Honor Society Collects More Food Than Ever!

Bonita High School’s National Honor Society hosted a food drive on the Saturday before Thanks-giving. The group collected sev-eral shopping carts worth of food during a food drive at Vons in La Verne. The California Scholastic Federation also collected donat-ed food items. Between the two groups, the students were able to collect more food than last year. Donated food was given to the La Verne Police Department who created 120 food baskets for fami-lies in need.

Charity Softball Tournament Supports Families in Need

In December, the La Verne Po-lice Department (LVPD), the La Verne Fire Department (LVFD), and Bonita High School hosted a charity softball tournament at Wheeler Park to collect monetary, food, and toy donations to give to La Verne families in need during the holiday season. Total dona-tions included $400, seven boxes filled with canned foods, and four boxes filled with unwrapped toys.

The tournament had a total of four teams: one each from the LVPD, the LVFD, Bonita High School Staff, and Bonita High School (BHS) seniors from the BHS baseball and softball teams. The BHS seniors beat the LVPD in the championship game, 14-4.

Each of Oak Mesa’s 4th and 5th grade classrooms is paired with a kindergarten or first grade class-room in order to allow students to read together on a weekly basis. Older students help the younger students by reading aloud or by listening to the younger children read. The program develops and

supports reading skills, promotes friendships, establishes the older students as role models, and in-stills a love of reading. In addition to targeted instruction in class-rooms, the Book Buddy program is contributing to the rising num-ber of students who are reading at or above grade level.

Every Oak Mesa student has an opportunity to paint a tile and have it mounted on the wall, leav-ing a personalized, pictorial mark on the school’s history. The front hallway is full of colorful tiles that attract visitors, especially families

who return to see their students’ tiles after they’ve moved on to middle school or high school. The project allows students to show-case their creative talents and beautifies the campus.

Shull Elementary students are showing great compassion for their classmate, Karah Casas, a fourth grader who is fighting leuke-mia. The school PTA, staff, and families have been supporting “Kure for Karah - Kandy Apple Sales” on Fridays and special restaurant nights. On January 25, the school teamed up with the City of Hope to have a blood drive.

In response to the family’s rising medical bills, Shull’s Student Council has also sponsored a coin drive. Each month the school rewards the class with the most donations with orange wristbands to wear in support of Karah and all those with leukemia. Any funds left over after medical bills are paid will go to the City of Hope Cancer Center.

In honor of Karah’s fight to beat leukemia, Shull students are wearing orange on the first Friday of every month, donating ponytails, and shaving their heads. Shull students all want to make sure Karah knows that her schoolmates are here to support her all the way through her treatments until she is cured.

Ramona Middle School in La Verne hosted its fourth annual Spelling Bee on January 10, 2014. All 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students were invited to partici-pate. Winner Joe Fitz received a Viking Bobble Head Trophy and will advance to the Inland Valley Regional Spelling Bee, which is sponsored by the Quest Literacy Consortium.

Ekstrand Elementary School in San Dimas hosted Bonita Unified School District’s 10th Annual Spelling Bee. The Dis-trict’s eight elementary schools each conducted a spelling bee for 4th and 5th grade students. The top seven spellers in each contest advanced to the District event on January 14, 2014. First Place winner Conrad Hugar

from Shull Elementary School advances to the L.A. County Office of Education’s ninth An-nual Spelling Bee on March 26, 2014. Davide Piedra from La Verne Heights Elementary took Second Place, and Maya Malaby from Shull Elementary won Third Place. The District’s top three spellers each received a trophy.

Page 6 San Dimas Community News February 2014

My 12-year-old son went miss-ing last night in San Dimas for around four hours. I can’t say enough about how professional, responsive, courteous, and dili-gent the deputies from the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station handled the situation. They immediately sent swarms of deputies to search my neighbor, including the near-by high school, junior high, and college. They also searched my garage and condo and several neighbors houses. The lead dep-uty at the scene was extremely professional, polite, and diligent. She walked with me around our complex and had me point out each condo where my son might have known people. She then wrote down the unit numbers and had deputies search the units She thoroughly wrote down his infor-mation and asked for pictures of him.

Eventually, there were depu-ties all over my neighborhood and searching the streets, fields, schools, parks, etc. They even blocked off my street after the led deputy told me it was going to be a “massive search.” I could hear deputies in the field radioing back to her each time they would clear a condo, school, or other area. This wasn’t only highly impressive but it was touching beyond words to see strangers working so hard to find a little boy they didn’t even know. It literally looked like the entire sheriff’s station was in my neighbor. What really blew me away was when they called in a

helicopter after midnight, which circled the area and called my son’s name out through a loud speaker for around 15 minutes.

My son just so happened to be at a friend’s house playing video games. He didn’t tell me where he was going because he was upset that I had grounded him for a bad grade. He only came outside once he heard the helicopter calling out his name. After he was found, the lead deputy interviewed he and I separately, she made sure he was okay and then she person-ally counseled me for around 20 minutes. She told me that she had kids and suggested that I get my son involved in more activi-ties, develop a better support net-work, etc. As a single father and my son’s sole parent, this meant a great deal to me. From start to finish, each deputy that assisted was professional, courteous, and diligent. The deputies were legiti-mately concerned about my son, which I could tell by their actions. They wasted no time.

I’m probably rambling but I just can’t say enough about the response from the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station and how they handled the situation…To me, their actions were far beyond what words can describe. In an age where some are skeptical of law enforcement and the LASD, these deputies proved otherwise. They are real life superheroes and should be publicly commended for their service and what they did last night.

R.R San Dimas

Letters Library HighlightsSan Dimas Library

County of Los Angeles Public Library145 N. Walnut Avenue, San Dimas, CA, 91773

Telephone (909) 599-6738Tuesday–Thursday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Friday–Saturday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PMLibrary Website http://www.colapublib.org/libs/sandimas/ The following programs are held in the San Dimas Library

Meeting Room, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED in the listing For more information, please contact the San Dimas Library at

(909) 599-6738. All Library programs are FREE!

THE KIDS’ CORNERPRESCHOOL STORYTIME!

Friday, February 7th, 14th, and 28th at 10:30 a.m. NOTE: There will be no Storytime on February 21st. On the 28th, which is the last Friday of the month, we will enjoy stories AND have playtime with educational toys. In addition to stories we sing songs, learn finger-plays, enjoy flannel board stories and more! Toddlers and preschoolers welcome!

READING OWLS BOOK CLUBSaturday, February 1st, at 11:00 a.m. Third grade-level readers

are invited to come to a book club meeting at the San Dimas Library! We will be discussing Help, I’m a Prisoner at the Library!, by Eth Clif-ford. Books are available for checkout at the Library! All at this read-ing level are welcome! Questions? Stop by the Library or give us a call at (909) 599-6738.

SAND ART VALENTINES!Saturday, February 8th at 3:00 p.m. From 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

join us for a fun afternoon with artist Charlotte Cano as we create won-derful sand art valentines! All supplies will be provided. Limit 30, first come first served.

ALL AGES ART ACTIVITIES!Black-Hearted Cards!

Saturday, February 8th at NOON. Teens! Valentine’s Day is ap-proaching, which means it’s time for the second annual Black-Hearted, Anti-Valentines Day Card-making Workshop. Most black-hearted, an-ti-valentines-ish cards will be featured on our Facebook page! Tweens, teens, kids and adults—no one will be turned away!

URBAN SURVIVAL SKILLS WORKSHOPSaturday, February 22nd at 3:30 p.m. Earthquakes, fires, flood-

ing, sharknadoes ….Living in SoCal you need to be prepared for any-thing! If you are looking for some practical advice on how to be ready, Christopher Nyerges, founder of the School of Self-Reliance and pub-lished author, will be at the Library to talk about how to survive in an urban environment by showing regional in-season wild plants, tools to make fire, and how to trap food. For more information, please contact the Library.

BOOK PARTY Book ClubThe Book Club meets the First Friday of each month 10:30 a.m.

In February the discussion was on Seabiscuit, by Laura HIllenbrand. Stimulating conversation and delicious refreshments each month! FREE! The Book Party is held at the San Dimas Senior Center, 201 E. Bonita Ave., in San Dimas. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the San Dimas Library.

THIRD THURSDAY Book ClubThursday, February 20th at 6:30 p.m. Join our Thursday eve-

ning book club! We will be visiting Canada’s Maritime Provinces with our reading for the first three months of 2014, and our February book is Fall on Your Knees, by Ann Marie MacDonald. All are welcome! Cop-ies of the book are available for check out at the San Dimas Library.

TEEN VOLUNTEERS WELCOMED!Teens, we need your help! We want to make the San Dimas Library

a cool place for teens in our community, and we need your input. Inno-vative and energetic teens, grades 6- 12, are invited to shape the future of the San Dimas Library by helping to develop programs and services, by recommending materials for purchase, and by promoting the Library to other teens. Sound interesting? Stop by the Library or give us a call at (909) 599-6738. Help make your Library a great place for teens!

JOIN FRIENDS OF SAN DIMAS LIBRARY!The San Dimas Friends of the Library offers support for library pro-

grams, activities, and purchase of materials. Meetings are usually held on the third Tuesday of every month in the Library Meeting Room at 9:30 a.m. All meetings are open to the public and we welcome you to at-tend! Friends are always in need of volunteers to help sort books for our ongoing lobby sale and special book sales.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

www.facebook.com/sandimaslibrary

BackPainFree.orgIf you twisted your back, I’ll get you back on your feet in 5 days!By Yu Chen L.Ac.

A patient visited with a swol-len wrist recently. His wrist was jammed. He couldn’t even move

his fingers. After I insert-ed only one needle in his ankle, he was able to move his wrist and fingers in-

stantly. The pain in his wrist was completely gone. He could totally move his wrist and fingers after three treatments, even though there was some bruises on his wrist. He has been my patient for years. The first time he visited me was for a sprained ligament in his knee. I put a needle in his elbow, which healed the sprained liga-ment within a week.

A patient was referred from the orthopedic doctor in my build-ing. When he first came in, he was holding up his left hand with his right hand. He had severe pain in his left hand. He claimed that some blisters had formed in his left hand two month earlier. Since then, his left hand was swollen and he had severe pain in it. He had visited a couple of different doctors and took all kinds of pain medicine including morphine. However, nothing helped. I in-serted four needles in his foot and the pain in his left hand was gone immediately. When I saw his re-action, I knew his problem could be completely cured in weeks.

The most common diseases in my clinic are sciatica and back problems. Acupuncture is the best treatment for sciatica or back pain. It makes the energy (Qi) go through the meridian in L4, L5 and S1. The flow of the Qi is the key to fix the inflammation around the disc and the spine. After 8 to 12 treatments, you will be back on your feet without any pain.

I Ching Acupuncture has been used to treat back pain, sports in-jury, headache, heel pain and a lot of difficult diseases for more than 40 years. My father, Dr. Chao Chen, developed the theory. In our clinic, more than 60% of my patients suffer from back pain. 80-90% of them experience great relief after 8-12 treatments on av-erage. The clinic results show the patient’s age and cooperation play important roles in this procedure. It is a lot easier to treat the pain caused from a trauma compared to those with a chronic condition. Even when the pain is caused from surgery, I Ching Acupunc-ture shows an outstanding heal-ing record.

Don’t worry if you have back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain or any sports injury, I can relieve it in days or weeks.

40 years Sports Injury & Back Pain SpecialistContact Yu Chen L.Ac. at:I Ching Acupuncture Center412 W Carroll Ave. #205Glendora CA 91741(626) 852-0688 or (626) 852-0988www.BackPainFree.org

Dr. Yu Chen

By Paul McClure

Just 20 miles northeast of San Dimas, Mount Baldy Village’s Buckhorn Lodge sits on the site of the former Camp Baldy that was devastated and mostly washed away in the flood of 1938. That lodge has its roots in Yosemite Na-tional Park where its originator, Foster Curry, began his hospitality career. Here is the story.

In 1928, Foster and Ruth Curry purchased Camp Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains. Foster was the son of David and Jennie Curry, the owners of Yosemite’s famous Camp Curry resort. How he went from Camp Curry at Yosemite to Camp Baldy in the San Antonio Canyon is a rather strange story.

Camp Curry at YosemiteIn 1899, Foster’s school teacher

parents, David and Jennie Curry, established Curry Village in the Yosemite Valley. At the time, there were several hotels in the Valley, but at $2 per night “Camp Curry” undercut their prices by half. Camp Curry’s motto: “Three squares a day, a clean napkin every meal, and NO tipping!” The couple started out with seven tent cabins, and quickly expanded to 25 by the end of the summer.

Ending the Day at CampCurry

To entertain guests after sun-down, Camp Curry offered evening programs that featured music, singing, and storytelling. But the

most famous attraction was the legendary Fire Fall. Every night in the summer a large fire of red fir bark was built at the edge of Gla-cier Point, 3,200 feet above Camp Curry. Two hours later, a call went out to “Let the Fire Fall!” The glow-ing coals were then pushed over the edge, and spectators were treated to a glittering cascade of falling em-bers. Though wildly popular, the Fire Fall was halted by the park service in 1968. The spectacle was considered out of keeping with the park’s mission to preserve Yosemite Valley’s natural character.

Stepped In, Kicked OutWhen David passed away in

1917, son Foster (1886-1932) be-came the heir apparent of the fa-mous resort. For several years he did an outstanding job taking his father’s place.

However, Foster’s drinking, flamboyance, and occasional tem-per got him into trouble with both his family and the National Park Service. In 1928, the Park Service used an incident with a guest to jus-tify permanently expelling Foster from Yosemite Park.

Despite his love of the Incompa-rable Valley, he promised to never set foot there again. He set off with his second wife Ruth to find other opportunities. Foster’s mother, Jen-nie Curry, continued to run the day-to-day operations of Camp Curry after Foster left.

Welcome to Camp Curry, Camp Baldy, and the Buckhorn Lodge

San Dimas Historical Society

Continued page 8

February 2014 San Dimas Community News Page 7

You can also have your used motor oil and filters collected on your trash day. Place the motor oil in a clear, secure plastic container like a gallon milk jug or a 2 liter soda bottle, and the oil filter, in a ziplock bag, at the curb on trash day. For more info on curbside oil collection call Waste Management at (800) 266-7551.

Take your oil and filter to the Certified Used Oil Recycling Center nearest you:

Help keep San Dimas Clean and

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For more information

contact(909) 394-6240

The City of San Dimas Public Works Department

www.cityofsandimas.com • www.CleanLA.com

Scher Tire100 W. Bonita Ave

(909) 964-2668

A1 Tires and Auto Service

111 W. Bonita Ave (909) 394-2288

Sanders Auto344 W. Arrow Hwy

(909) 599-1133

Recycle your used oil and filters!

It can be easily recycled. Don’t forget the used oil filter, it can be recycled, too.

Did you know that used motor oil never wears out?

The Business Of Carrying Out Estate Liquidationsby David Baiz

You’re thinking of downsiz-ing. Possibly you have a relative in need of an assisted living facil-ity. Maybe a loved one has passed away. All these scenarios pres-ent the tricky problem of elimi-

nating stuff amassed over the course of a lifetime. Donating to charity is one option, as is the doling out of cher-

ished objects to friends and family members. Another option gaining popularity in recent years is the estate liquidation.

Liquidating an estate is no longer reserved for the wealthy. Anyone can contract for an estate liquidation, and given the right circumstances, this may be a lu-crative means to rid yourself of years of accumulation. An estate liquidator provides convenience, peace of mind, and alleviates the burden associated with cleaning out personal property.

The growth of estate liquida-tion business coincides with the aging Baby Boomer generation. According to AARP, by 2015, per-sons aged 50 and older will repre-sent 45% of the U.S. population. For many boomers, liquidating helps to simplify their lifestyle, or in the case of long-term estate planning, it eliminates next-of-kin anxiety when mortality strikes. Another reason for the upsurge is the proliferation of reality tele-vision programming that focuses on the treasures that many of us

may have unknowingly squir-reled away.

I have come across rare and unique items that would have invariably found their way to a landfill had an estate liquidator not interceded. A beat-up chair that turned out to be a rare Her-man Miller design eventually sold for $2800; first season American Football League programs res-cued from the recycle bin (eventu-ally sold for $100 to $200 each); a discarded lapel pin, which was discovered to be a true rarity, ex-clusively given to workers on the Manhattan atomic bomb project (sold for $500); and a circa 1965 James Bond children’s attaché case (sold for $750). So, now you’re considering an estate liqui-dator, what do you do next? The internet is a excellent resource for finding local estate liquidators, but they can be as varied as the items you want sold. Some specialize in business liquidations; some in machinery. There are liquidators who specialize in antiques and collectibles, and some who only handle general household goods for quick sale. Be prepared to investigate a potential liquidator thoroughly before entering into any agreement.

When interviewing a liquida-tor, don’t be afraid to ask ques-tions. Find out as much as you can about the entire process - from set up, to sale, to clean-up – and get to know personally the person who may be handling your pos-sessions. Your first instinct of a liquidator’s personal character, combined with the company’s pro-

fessional history, will ultimately lead you to your final decision.

It’s important that no retainer is requested and no monies be paid upfront. An estate liquidator will work solely on commission, and that commission may vary depending upon the challenge of the job. But don’t base your deci-sion solely on the lowest commis-sion quote, but rather on repu-tation, references, professional credentials, and company longev-ity. A top-notch liquidator – even with a higher commission rate – will generally yield substantially more money for the estate than the competition.

Finally, if your objective is to liquidate items in order to pre-pare the home for rental or sale, then insist that your liquidator remove any debris and have them arrange to have remaining unsold items donated to a charity of your choice. Having your home thor-

oughly cleaned after a sale is not an unreasonable expectation, and should be a standard service of-fered by your liquidator.

With the downturn of the economy, the proliferation of liq-uidators in Los Angeles County has nearly tripled since 2012. Many are sincere in their efforts to produce a successful sale, but an inexperienced few have taken advantage of this burgeoning and unregulated profession with a careless disregard to the ethics required. Remember, you will be turning over your home keys to strangers, so be confident and se-cure in your ultimate selection.

With the convenience of hav-ing a qualified liquidator tackle your problem, you are securing for yourself the peace of mind that a professional will vigilantly look out for your personal and financial interests.

David Baiz

Glendora Genealogy Group

The Glendora Genealogy Group will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 in the Elm Room of the La Fetra Center, 333 East Foothill Blvd., Glendora. There will be a workshop led by Pat Chavarria at 6 p.m. They will have their busi-ness meeting at 7 p.m., followed by their speaker. The speaker for this month will be Eric W. Siess, Phd., CG. Eric will be present-ing “German Migration Into and Through America.”

German Peoples started immi-grating to Pennsylvania in 1683. By 1790, it was estimated that a third of the state were Deutscha-merikaners. As the Industrial Revolution enfolded, more Ger-mans came to our country and joined in the westward migration, so that today, Americans claim German ancestry more than any country. Follow them from die Mutter land to the Heartland.

Page 8 San Dimas Community News February 2014

teaching crafts, especially to chil-dren and has spent a lot of time in the special education classrooms teaching both elementary and middle school aged children vari-ous crafts. She reports that the creativity of the children can be awesome.

Come and enjoy this display of unique art. Again, February 14,15 & 21,22, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., the 2nd Story Art Gallery on the Walker House, 121 N. San Dimas Ave. For more information cal1: (909)599-5374 or go to: www.san-dimasarts.org.

Paintings, imaginative sculp-tures and “Bobbles, Bangles & Beads” will be featured art in the 2nd Story Art Gallery. This spe-cial show will be open to the public the evenings of February 14,15 &

21,22 from 5:30- 8:30 p.m. at no charge. Wine and hors d’oguvres will be served on Friday evenings.

Derrick Allen McCall began using simple materials to express

his artistic self at an early age. En-couraged by his parents he pur-sued a new art form with media such as newspaper, plaster and

paints, creating unusual sculp-tures in various shapes and sizes. Derrick continues to sculpt imagi-native creations from teeny—tiny bugs to birds of various types and gargantuan shapes in the forms of crocodiles, tigers and dinosaurs,

some standing 10 feet tall. By the age of 11, he discovered his other talent is in the medium of paint-ing on canvas. His use of oils, pas-tels, graphite and acrylics brings to the canvas a variety of subjects.

His works have been showcased in numerous exhibitions.

Created by Lea Ann DeFazio, “Bobbles, Bangles and Bracelets” is not only a business, but an ad-

venture in teaching the creation of unique jewelry. Lea Ann enjoys working with natural tones, fresh-water pearls, glass, shells, wood,

leather and assorted metals in the creation of bracelets, necklaces, chokers, anklets, earrings and rings. Actually, a realtor for over 30 years, Lea Ann has always re-quired a creative outlet, thus the start of this enterprise. She loves

CREATIVE ART SHOWCASED AT 2nd STORY ART GALLERY

Camp Baldy in the SanGabriels

Following two failed hotel ven-tures, Foster and Ruth purchased Camp Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains. With Foster’s excel-lent resort management experi-ence and Ruth’s vivacious person-ality the couple set out to make it the canyon’s premier resort. Us-ing Yosemite’s Camp Curry as in-spiration, Foster greeted visitors with the same stentorian “Wel-come” he and his father used, and sent them on their way with his famous “Farewell.”

By 1932, Curry’s Camp Baldy, as the resort was now known, boasted fine dining facilities and 84 shaded cabins along the mu-sical San Antonio Creek. There was also a heated swimming pool, a soda fountain, a beauty shop, a grocery store with drugs and sun-dries, a bowling alley, pool tables, and a post office.

During the summer there was nightly dancing under a beautiful oak tree. Campfire entertainment offered live performers, some whom returned year after year. The nightly shows were, again, based on the Yosemite Camp Cur-ry formula: vocalists, magicians, Indians, comedians, and other acts including a fan dancer.

Returning HomeThen tragedy struck. Foster

Curry contracted leukemia and, after several months of illness, died in November 1932. Ruth, with help from her three small children, continued to manage Camp Baldy.

After his death, Ruth Curry chartered an airplane to fly over the Yosemite Valley. As the plane flew above a cloud, Ruth Curry distributed Foster’s ashes into the sky. Foster had finally returned to his beloved Yosemite Valley home.

Flood of 1938Ruth returned to manage the

popular Camp Baldy. In 1934, she married silent film star Edmund Burns. By 1937, they had built the Wagon Wheel Casino, which boasted a 7,000 square-foot dance floor and 32-foot high ceiling.

Then on the first of March 1938, a devastating flood roared down San Antonio Canyon. The flood wiped out 42 of their 45 acres, and 68 of their 78 cabins.

In 1948, Edmund and Ruth retired and sold the resort to Bill Sager, who remodeled and re-named in the Buckhorn Restau-rant.

In 1997, Sager sold the restau-rant to Bill Finley and Crissie Un-ruh, widow of California Speaker of the Assembly Jesse “Big Dad-dy” Unruh.

Local historian Willis Osborne, who wrote the Guide to Mt. Baldy, concludes that even though Foster Curry and Camp Baldy are gone, “the spirit of the Curry’s still lin-gers in upper San Antonio Can-yon, the Yosemite of the South.”

The Buckhorn Restaurant in nearby Mt. Baldy Village contains a fascinating historical legacy.

Welcome to Camp Curry, Camp Baldy Continued from page 6

February 2014 San Dimas Community News Page 9

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2013 Kumon Awards in Reading & Math

Glendora Kumon Math & Reading Center students received their Math and Reading All-Star Honor Roll trophies at the 21st Anniversary Awards and Talent Pro-gram in December for maintaining Honor Roll status dur-ing the 2013 year. These students have been enrolled at the Glendora Center for more than 3 years and are working 1-2 years above their school grade level. Kumon students start at a comfortable starting point and advanced through the curriculum as they do daily homework and attend the Center twice a week for guidance and instruction. For in-formation visit www.kumon.com or call (626) 914-1120.

L-R Front: Nathan N., James A, Grace T., Arin C. Back: Joan Simons, Director, Jesslyn H., Matthew N., Madison S., Barbara Reilley, Instructor.

These students attend the following schools: Webb High, Royal Oaks Middle, La Fetra, Glen Oaks, Shull, Sell-ers, and Country Hills.

Newcomer Math Honor Roll students from Glen-dora Kumon Center attained their Honor Roll status dur-ing 2013. They are studying advanced math beyond their current school grade level. Most of the students started at a very basic level with reading and learning numbers in sequence beyond 100 before they started adding +1. Most students can read advanced math and reading levels with-in 18 months of starting Kumon study. For more informa-tion visit www.kumon.com or call (626) 914-1120.

These students attend Cullen, Kid’s Junction, Washing-ton, Sutherland, Allen Ave., St. Dorothy’s, GHS, Foothill Christian, Sellers, La Fetra, and Hope Lutheran schools.

L-R Front: Julia P., Francesca C., Debangshu P., Anika J., Julia & Emily A., Aaron S., Olivia L. Back: Colin M., Barbara Reilley, Instructor, Jolei D., Maya F., Lauren M., Andy B., Amaya C., Talia R., Joan Simons, Director.

Newcomer Reading Honor Roll students from the Glendora Kumon Math & Reading Center earned their Honor Roll status during the 2013 year, working 1 year above their school grade level. They were honored at the 21st Awards and Talent Program held at Glendora Com-munity Church in December. Kumon is an International after-school learning program that started 60 years ago in Japan and has expanded to 48 countries around the world by 2014. Over 4 million chil-dren are currently enrolled in the global program. Visit the national website www.kumon.com for information.L-R front: Matthew A., Tara G., Francesca C., Makayla C., Debangshu P., Yuki Y. Back: Barbara Reilley, Instruc-tor, Neil K., Mai Y., Johanna P., Sabrina T., Joan Simons, Director.These students attend La Fetra, GHS, Cullen, Washing-ton, Kid Junction, St. Louise, and Sutherland schools.

“Unity Through Diversity” Is The Theme Of Rotary’s 25th Annual Peace Conference The twenty-fifth Rotary Interna-

tional District 5300 Peace Conference organized by the newly-established “Garbis Peace Institute”, will take place on Saturday, March 1, 2014, 8:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m., at the Ann and Steve Morgan Auditorium in Founders Hall at the University of La Verne, 1950 Third Street, La Verne, California. The conference is entitled "Promoting Unity

Through Diversity”.Dr. Garbis Der-Yeghiayan, Past

District Governor, founded the Dis-trict’s peace conferences in 1990 and has chaired all twenty-five conferences with great vision, dedication and com-mitment. In honor of his visionary and dynamic leadership, District 5300 established a Peace Institute in 2013 proudly bearing his name.

Dr. Anne L. Matthews, Vice President of Rotary International, first woman Vice President of this unique organization; the Honorable Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, first immigrant United States Federal Judge of Armenian de-scent; and Mattias Sundholm, Com-munications Advisor to the United Nations Secretary General and Youth Envoy, will keynote the conference.

The talented Ralph “Rafvel” Dadlev will share his musical talents by pre-senting a peace concert. The keynote addresses will be followed by a panel discussion with Past District Governors and youth leaders.

District Governor Miles Petroff will welcome the audience and Past District Governor and conference founder and chair Dr. Garbis Der-Yeghiayan will of-

ficially open the conference. San Marino Rotarian Michael D. Driebe will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

For registration (admission $20.00 for adults; $5.00 for students – includes continental breakfast) visit www.DIS-TRCT 5300.ORG or contact Raghada Khoury, e-mail: Raghada@khouryent.net, cell: (760) 559-3244.

Page 10 San Dimas Community News February 2014

Be Still My Beating Valentine!Tina L. Kerrigan MS, RD

It’s February and the manu-facturers of chocolate are salivat-ing over the amazing amount of

candy that will be sold for Valentine’s Day. What’s the connection between choc-olate and Val-entine’s Day?

For that matter, why Valentine’s Day in the first place?

Valentine’s Day, as do most of the holidays we celebrate, has its roots in antiquity.

The ancient Romans honored the goddess Juno, queen of all the gods and goddesses on February 14th. On the 15th, the festival of Lupercalia began. During Luper-calia, the names of girls were writ-ten on slips of paper and placed in a jar. Boys would draw names, and for the duration of the festival they would partner.

During the third century AD, under the reign of Emperor Claudius II, Roman soldiers were forbidden to marry because the Emperor believed that married men were poor fighters. Valen-tine, a priest in Rome (pre-Saint-hood), was imprisoned for either performing marriages or helping Christians escape persecution (the stories vary). As the legend has it, just before his execution, he sent the daughter of one of his jail-ers a farewell note signed, “From your Valentine.”

As time went on, the Roman Empire became Christian, Val-entine became a saint, and the festival of Lupercalia, shortened to February 14th, was designated, in 469 AD as Saint Valentine’s Day in the Christian calendar. On this day love messages and simple gifts were exchanged.

The tradition and underlying emphasis on boys and girls get-ting together remained and was spread throughout the Roman Empire.

Our modern celebration of Valentine’s Day goes back to the middle ages in France and Eng-land. The lottery system gradual-ly disappeared and the emphasis shifted from a gift exchange to gift giving being the responsibility of the male.

Elaborate manufactured Val-entine’s Day cards became popu-lar in Victorian times. They were usually hand delivered however due to the high cost of postage. With the advent of the penny postcard in the mid1800’s, the modern custom of sending cards really took off.

OK, now that we know about Valentine’s Day, how did choco-late become the gift of choice? Well, it’s that boys and girls get-ting together thing again.

Chocolate, dare we say it, has a long reputation for stimulating the libido.

The ancient Mayans and Az-tecs believed that chocolate had mystical and aphrodisiac quali-ties. Montezuma was said to drink fifty goblets per day of the brew. Cortez and the Spanish Conquis-tadors introduced chocolate to Eu-rope along with its reputation.

The famous Casanova was also said to consume it in prodigious quantities.

My research revealed what I

believe to be the essential link in making the connection between Valentine’s Day and chocolate. Somewhere around 1870 Richard Cadbury marketed the first heart shaped red box packed with choco-late candies. It was an immediate success and, as they say, the rest is history.

Of course, now you are wonder-ing, is it true about chocolate? Like so many questions, the answer is, yes and no.

Chocolate is a very complex substance that even today we do not fully understand.

It contains Phenylethylamine and Sertonin, both of which are mood enhancers found naturally in our brains and are released, studies show, when we are happy and emotional. They raise blood pressure and heart rate and in-duce feelings of well being and eu-phoria. Eating chocolate, by intro-ducing more of these compounds, has the same affect. This is prob-ably why chocolate has earned its reputation as an aphrodisiac. Montezuma and Casanova may have had the wrong idea however. Recent research indicates that women have a greater response to Phenylethylamine and Serotonin than men do. Maybe it is better to give than to receive.

By the way, domestic animals, especially dogs, are very suscepti-ble to theobromine (another trace element in chocolate) poisoning. Don’t be tempted to give your pet a treat.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tina Kerrigan is the owner of Corner Office Healthcare Consul-tants of San Dimas.

For questions, comments, or ideas for future columns, she can be reached at fiberqueen @earth-link.net.

Tina Kerrigan

By Janice Masters

Making your own broth takes some time, but it’s relatively easy and has some real health advan-tages over using most store-bought brands. One of the biggest is that it contains no monosodium gluta-mate (MSG). A neurotoxin that

is found in processed foods of all kinds, MSG has many aliases and contains a long list of substances that can cause ad-verse re-actions in

humans (visit truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources). Granted, using store-bought stock is a quick, easy way to boost flavor in soups, sauces, stews (heck, just about anything savory), so if you don’t seem to ex-perience negative effects from their presence in food, you can probably use it safely (I would still be aware about using too much). However, if you suffer from migraines or other conditions that can be triggered by the chemicals in MSG, you should be looking carefully at the labels of every food product you buy. You’ll be amazed how many contain one or more of these substances, ev-erything from canned goods and frozen entrees to bread and ice cream. It’s one more good reason to prepare as many meals as you can from scratch so you know exactly what’s in them, and homemade broth is an excellent base for many home-cooked meals. Besides be-ing an excellent starter for soups, stews, and sauces, it’s great for steaming vegetables and cooking rice or pasta.

The two essential ingredients in a good stock are bones with a

Janice Masters

little meat on them and water. You can use poultry carcasses or pieces, ham bones or hocks, pork or beef ribs, soup bones, wild game or steak leftovers—whatever you have on hand. You can also start with uncooked meat or poultry, boiling it until cooked and then removing most of it to be used for other meals or added back later to a soup or stew. Whatever meat you choose, bones make your broth richer and more nutritious, espe-cially if you cook it long enough. A whole onion, some celery, a bay leaf, salt, and pepper make it super flavorful and ready to use in just about anything you’re cooking. I usually start mine in a large stock pot on the stove with all the ingre-dients mentioned above and then finish it in my crockpot so I don’t have to monitor it for so long. Start with the water an inch or two above your soup bones. Chop the onion

and add it to the pot along with the tops or leafy center stalks of the celery, saving the outer stalks for other purposes. Then add the bay leaf, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for two to three hours, checking about every half hour to see if you need more water. You can continue cooking it on the stove for another two to three hours or you can care-fully move it all to your crockpot to continue cooking on low for 8 to 10 hours—overnight is perfect!

An even lower maintenance alternative is to put everything in

the crockpot from the start and let it simmer for about 24 hours. I start it on High to get it boiling then turn it to Low to keep it simmering. You can remove choice pieces of meat as they fall from the bones to use lat-er. The rest continue to flavor and nourish your marvelous, MSG-free broth. When you’re satisfied that you have a rich, marrow-infused stock turn off the heat and remove the crockpot from the heating ele-ment to speed cooling. Carefully re-move the bones and larger chunks of meat and continue to cool. Once the stock reaches a safe tempera-ture, pour it through a strainer into another large pot or metal bowl and allow it to cool some more.

Mason jars are great for stor-ing your homemade stock because they come in precisely measured sizes (my favorites for this purpose are pint and quart sizes) and they are designed to withstand fairly extreme temperatures, but you can use other types of jars, plastic storage containers, or even Ziploc freezer bags if your stock is suffi-ciently cool. Pour the broth into jars or plastic containers, leaving about an inch of space at the top to allow for expansion, and screw the lids on loosely. If using a freezer bag, remove as much air as possible be-fore sealing. Next, put them into the refrigerator to allow the fat to rise to the top. You can easily strain it off at this point to either store in the frig and use for cooking fat or you can discard it. I let mine remain in the jar with the broth as a ready sup-ply of cooking fat perfectly suited for whatever dish I’m making when I thaw it. Whatever you decide to do with the fat, tighten the lids and place the jars in your freezer. It will keep for several months, so you can enjoy your healthy, delicious stock long after you’ve made it.

Make your own broth and avoid MSG

February 2014 San Dimas Community News Page 11

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Submitted by Cindy BollingerEdward Jones Financial Advisor

If you’re a football fan (and probably even if you aren’t), you are aware that we’re closing in on the Super Bowl. This year’s event is unique in that it is the first Su-per Bowl held in an outdoor, cold-weather site — New Jersey, to be specific. However, the 2014 game shares many similarities to past Super Bowls in terms of what it took for the two teams to arrive at this point. And some of these same characteristics apply to successful investors.

Here are a few of these shared traits:• A good offense — Most Super Bowl teams are adept at moving up and down the field and crossing the goal line. And good investors know how to choose those invest-ments that can provide them with the gains they need to keep moving toward their own goals, such as a comfortable retirement. That’s why, at every stage of your life, you will need to own a reasonable percent-age of growth-oriented investments, such as stocks and stock-based ve-hicles• A strong defense — Even a good offense usually isn’t enough to vault

a team into the Super Bowl, which is why most participants in the Big Game also have strong defenses. Similarly, the best investors don’t just put all their money in a single type of aggressive instrument and then forget about it — they know that a downturn affecting this particular asset class could prove extremely costly. Instead, they “de-fend” their portfolios by diversifying their holdings among a range of investments: stocks, bonds, govern-ment securities, certificates of de-posit, and so on. And you can do the same. Keep in mind, however, that although diversification can help re-duce the impact of volatility on your portfolio, it can’t guarantee a profit or always protect against loss.• Perseverance — Every team that makes it to the Super Bowl has had to overcome some type of adver-sity — injuries to key players, a dif-ficult schedule, bad weather, playoff games against good opponents, etc. Successful investors have also had to overcome hurdles, such as bear markets, bad economies, politi-cal battles and changing tax laws. Through it all, these investors stay invested, follow a long-term strat-egy and continue to look for new opportunities — and their perse-verance is often rewarded. You can

Investors Can Learn Much from Super Bowl Teams follow their example by not jumping out of the market when the going looks tough and not overreacting to scary-sounding headlines.• Good coaching — Super Bowl teams contain many fine players, but they still need coaches who can analyze situations and make the right decisions at the right times. Smart, experienced investors also benefit from “coaching — in the form of guidance from financial pro-fessionals. It’s not always easy for busy people to study the financial markets, stay current on changing investment-related laws, moni-tor their own portfolios and make changes as needed. By working with a financial professional who knows your situation, needs, goals and risk tolerance, you will find it much easier to navigate the increas-ingly complex investment world.

As we’ve seen, some of the same factors that go into producing a team capable of reaching the Super Bowl are also relevant to investors who want to reach their own goals. By incorporating these behaviors and attitudes into your own invest-ment strategy, you’ll be following a pretty good “game plan.”

This article was written by Ed-ward Jones for use by your local Ed-ward Jones Financial Advisor.

WWII Veteran Celebrated 104th Birthday at La Posada in San Dimas

U.S. Navy Engineer Louis Smeykal “Lou” was a submari-ner who went on many missions, mainly in the Tokyo harbor areas of Honshu and Kyushu. He was stationed on the U.S.S. Trepang, U.S.S. Idaho and the U.S.S. Skate.

Lou is comfortably living at La Posada in San Dimas for the last two years. “Lou is an extremely positive, disciplined (no surprise) and polite resident,” says Admin-istrator Lucy Parker, he credits his longevity to good eating hab-its and sharing love of friends and family. More than 20 people showed up to let Lou know that he is loved and he received many birthday cards and phone calls. This was a great party.

Three generations of neigh-bors and the staff at La Posada sang Happy Birthday as well as a war buddy who worked under Lou during WWII and drove from Dana Point to be next to his “pal”.

104 year old Louis Smeykal celebrates birthday with family and friends at Posada in San Dimas

San Dimas Adult Excursion to Tanaka Farms

San Dimas — The City of San Dimas is currently taking regis-tration for a springtime excursion to Tanaka Farms in Irvine. Tour a family-owned working farm and sample the harvest of the season. Following the visit to the farm, the trip will stop in Old Town Orange for a delicious lunch.

“Harvest Time” excursion will be on Wednesday, April 30, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The cost is $46.00 for San Dimas residents, $47.50 for non-residents. The fee includes transportation on a luxury liner coach, driver gratuity, travel pack, wagon tour and lunch.

For more information, call (909)394-6290.

Page 12 San Dimas Community News February 2014

SAN DIMAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CORNER

Chamber Encourages Businesses to Participate in School Career Day

San Dimas High School and Bonita High School will soon cel-ebrate their annual Career Days. High School Career Day events provide students with the oppor-tunity to enrich their awareness of the various career opportunities that exist in society today.

The San Dimas Chamber of Commerce invites businesses to participate in the program and share with our future leaders and workforce information about your careers and what it takes to be successful in today’s business en-vironment.

We look forward to your re-sponse and hope that you can as-sist us with this request. Please call the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce for more information at 909-592-3818.

Karen Gaffney, IOM of the San Dimas Chamber of CommerceGraduates from Institute for Organizational ManagementA Leadership Training Program Produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Karen Gaffney, president CEO of San Dimas Chamber of Commerce graduates from Institute of Organizational Management

WASHINGTON, D.C.— In-stitute for Organization Man-agement, the professional de-velopment program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Founda-tion, is pleased to announce that Karen Gaffney, IOM, President/CEO of the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the program and has received the recognition of IOM. Awarded to all graduates of the Institute program, the IOM Graduate Rec-ognition signifies the individual’s completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit manage-ment.

“Institute graduates are recog-nized across the country as lead-ers in their industries and organi-zations,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s vice president of In-stitute for Organization Manage-ment. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”

Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has been educating tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build

stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates. Insti-tute’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions at five different university locations throughout the country. Through a combina-tion of required courses and elec-tives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance, and membership, Institute par-ticipants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.

Institute for Organization Management is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Founda-tion. It is the premier nonprofit professional development pro-gram for association and chamber professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learn-ing and networking opportunities.

The U.S. Chamber of Com-merce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedi-cated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by ad-dressing developments that affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.

Glendora Country Club to Host San Dimas Chamber Golf Classic on April 21

We have lots of fun and sur-prises planned this year – so get in early and sign up for the San Di-mas Chamber’s Annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic. This year’s tournament will be held on Monday, April 21 at the beautiful Glendora Country Club.

This is a great way to network with fellow business people, mem-bers of the community, entertain clients, reward employees and have fun along the way. The cost is only $135 per golfer and oppor-tunities to promote and market your business through sponsor-ships are also available.

We know that with the many different tournaments offered by various organizations it may be hard to choose which one to par-ticipate in. Here’s why we hope you will choose this one. The San Dimas Chamber’s tournament is all about business and the com-munity. The stronger your local businesses are and the healthier your community is - the more the community benefits.

The Chamber, a non-profit or-ganization, coordinates this event to help pay for community devel-opment programs that serve the community and the businesses. Help promote local business by taking part in this year’s tourna-ment and join in as a sponsor and or golfer today.

Call the San Dimas Chamber at 909-592-3818 or stop by the of-fice at 246 E. Bonita. Ave. today.

State of the Bonita Unified School District Held February 20, 2014

San Dimas Toast of the Town March 20th Food, Wine and Music

Top Things the San Dimas Chamber Has Been Doing for Business

Chamber starts the year strong and plans to continue to do even more as the year progresses. Here’s a brief overview of what the Cham-ber has been doing to promote San Dimas and Business:

Hosted the Annual State of the City Address giving Chamber Mem-bers and members of the community the opportunity to meet with the Mayor of San Dimas and Supervisor Michael Antonovich.

Hosted the Annual Discover San Dimas and Chamber Open House where Chamber Members and business owners could meet and inter-act with people that can help grow business.

Hosted a free workshop on How to Write a Business Plan using the Chamber’s Tools for Business.

Continued taking orders for the California Mandatory Employer Posters, which will help businesses with one or more employees stay in compliance with California and Federal Laws.

Participated and graduated from the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Non-Profit Management, which gives the Chamber CEO the opportu-nity to ensure the San Dimas Chamber is running like a business and passing along best practices information to help our members.

Continued our outreach program to promote and educate businesses and the community about the new Southern California Gas Company’s Advanced Meter Project.

Continued to reach out to local restaurants and businesses and offer-ing them an opportunity to promote their business during at the 2014 Toast of the Town event, which is scheduled for March 20th.

Began working on the 2014 Business Focus Groups and Legislative Roundtables, which help bring businesses together and help connect business with our legislators.

Began promoting the Chamber’s Annual Golf Classic as a way to promote business and offer people the opportunity to expand their net-work of connections. This year’s tournament will be held at Glendora Country Club on April 21st.

Began work through our Helping Young Professionals Excel com-mittee (HYPE) to bring business training and education services to a new generation of workers while creating partnerships with our local colleges, high schools, and businesses. This also included promoting the High School Career Days.

In addition to all of that, the Chamber also launched their new up-dated Chamber Logo and kicked off their Discover San Dimas Cam-paign.

The San Dimas Chamber of Commerce works hard to ensure we are working to help build a better local economy, help businesses and support a strong community. We encourage everyone to check out the Chamber’s website and see all of the things we have been doing, includ-ing the new Tools for Business section. We are proud to serve our com-munity and encourage all businesses to be members of the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce. Visit www.sandimaschamber.com for more in-formation about the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce and see how we are always working to help businesses and the community grow.

Make your reservations now for the Ninth Annual Toast of the Town on March 20, 2014. This el-egant cocktail party is THE social event of the season. You’ll experi-ence the finest cuisine from local restaurants and delight in the tastes of award winning wines from the Los Angeles Interna-tional Wine and Spirits Compe-tition all the while enjoying live musical entertainment. You will have the opportunity to win priz-es, participate in a cash drawing and mingle with your friends and neighbors.

This great event will be held at the Stanley Plummer Communi-ty Building at 245 East Bonita Av-enue in San Dimas from 5:30 p.m.

to 8:30 p.m. Reservations are open to everyone over the age of 21 and early bird pricing is only $30.00 per person. For reservations and additional information, please contact the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce at 909-592-3818 or stop by the office at 246 E. Bonita Ave., San Dimas. Don’t delay – Get your tickets early.

The San Dimas Chamber hosts this outstanding communi-ty event as a way to promote local restaurants and businesses and provide networking opportunities. To find out how you can promote your restaurant or business con-tact us at 909-592-3818 or visit the San Dimas Chamber’s website at www.sandimaschamber.com.

The Rotary Clubs and the La Verne and San Dimas Chambers of Commerce invite Chamber and Community Members to the An-nual State of the School District Luncheon on Thursday, February 20th. T he Superintendent of the Bonita Unified School District, Dr. Gary Rapkin, will be giving his State of the School District Address at the Hillcrest Meeting House in La Verne. Hillcrest is located at 2705 Mountain View Dr. in La Verne. Check in for the luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m.

The cost for the luncheon is $25.00 per person.

This event will be presented jointly by the Rotary Clubs and Chambers of La Verne and San Dimas. We are very proud of our school district. Dr. Rapkin will provide information regarding both the District’s successes and challenges, as we begin 2014.

This luncheon is open to the public but reservations are re-quired. Please call Hillcrest at (909) 593-4917 ext: 0 for reserva-tions.

February 2014 San Dimas Community News Page 13

SAN DIMAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CORNER

Discover San Dimas and Chamber Open House Sparks Interest

Add the Chamber as Your Partner and see Your Business Grow

San Dimas Chamber Membership Drive and Referral Program Going On Now

San Dimas Chamber of Commerce Open House

So Cal Gas To Begin Installing Advanced Meters New System Safely Offers Benefits to Customers, Community & Environment

Southern California Gas Com-pany was on hand during the Chamber’s Discover San Dimas and Open House Mixer to show-case their new Advanced Meter Project. SoCalGas customers will soon be able to view their daily gas usage information online as SoCalGas begins installing Ad-vanced Meters in San Dimas in early 2014. The SoCalGas up-grade to its natural gas metering system involves adding a small battery-powered communica-tion device on existing residential and business customers’ meters throughout Southern California.

The new device only turns on for a fraction of a second a day—a total of less than two minutes a year—to securely and safely send natural gas usage data from a customer’s home or business to SoCalGas customer centers. So-CalGas will make the usage infor-mation available for the customer to view online the next business day.

“SoCalGas is continually in-novating and looking for ways to better serve our customers. We believe our advanced meter

system will offer benefits for our customers, community and envi-ronment,” said Patrick Petersilia, director of the advanced meter project at SoCalGas. “Advanced meters will help customers moni-tor and adjust gas usage, helping families and local businesses save energy and money. They will also help reduce some 140,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year as we take service vehicles off the road every day.”

The detailed information and advanced meters provided will help customers better understand and manage gas use and costs, enabling them to quickly iden-tify and respond to sudden usage spikes and take steps to conserve. Later this year, customers will be able to sign-up for weekly alerts and get up-to-date information on usage and billing status via text or email messages.

Customers will also enjoy greater privacy and security, no longer having to provide physi-cal access to their property for monthly meter reading. Installa-tions will take about 15 minutes and be completed by SoCalGas

energy technicians during busi-ness hours. In most cases, cus-tomers will not need to be present and natural gas service won’t be interrupted. Natural gas bills will continue to be based on a monthly read of usage.

The advanced meter device cannot communicate with other appliances inside the home, turn on or turn off gas service and will only be active for a fraction of a second each day to read and send gas usage data. No personal in-formation will be sent and usage data will be encrypted for added security. The battery life of the device is expected to be 20 years, with SoCalGas providing any needed maintenance. SoCalGas expects the advanced meter sys-tem will enable operational and environmental savings over its life—savings that will be passed along to customers in reduced overall rates.

In all, SoCalGas is planning to upgrade approximately six mil-lion natural gas meters with the new communication device, in-stalling them throughout the So-CalGas service territory through 2017. SoCalGas is conducting a comprehensive information cam-paign, starting with notifying customers several weeks before installations begin. SoCalGas will also work closely with local community-based organizations to help customers learn about the project. Customers can also visit SoCalGas’ website, socalgas.com/advanced or call toll-free at (800) 427-2200 or (800) 342-4545 in Spanish for more information. A SoCalGas advanced meter instal-lation video is at http://www.you-tube.com/watch?v=BI04jL12qC4.

As businesses begin imple-menting their business plans for the year 2014 they should plan on adding a chamber member-ship to their plan. Being success-ful means taking advantage of all of the resources available to you that can help you grow your busi-ness. Take the telephone for an example, could you imagine not having a telephone to conduct business? That’s the same way businesses should think about the San Dimas Chamber of Com-merce.

The San Dimas Chamber of-fers benefits for businesses of all sizes and participation in events is not required. Chamber member-ship is not like a gym membership where you only see results if you

actually go to the gym and work-out. We are always working to help businesses regardless of their participation level.

The following are just some of the benefits of being a chamber member: • Membership Plaque – Mem-bers showcase their support for the Chamber and the San Dimas community.• Chamber Website – Members expand their visibility and credi-bility by being listed on the Cham-ber’s website. • Monthly Newsletter – Keeps members informed of chamber and business happenings.• Monthly Breakfasts and Mix-ers - Important business topics

are chosen from business safety tips to how to purchase business insurance. Both events are great for networking and exchanging business cards. • Ribbon Cuttings - Available for new store front businesses to pro-mote your new business.• Chamber Member List - A list of all members is available for members so they can expand their client lists.• Newspaper Coverage - Cham-ber has regular articles in the San Dimas Community News along with a good working relationship with all local papers.• Chamber Referrals - Chamber receives many calls asking, “Who to call?” and information about your business. The Chamber only

recommends chamber members. • Seminars and Workshops - Chamber hosts free workshops and relays information on upcom-ing events that can help you with your business needs. • Annual Community and Busi-ness Events – Gives members an opportunity to market their busi-nesses and organizations, net-work, sponsor and connect with others. • Chairman Sponsorship Pack-ages - Supports the chamber and is a great way to advertise your business all year long.• Display Brochures & Cards - Chamber has tables and business card space for you to display your business information for office traffic.

Businesses can take advan-tage of one of the best resources available to them by joining their local chamber. It can make a world of difference to the success of a business. The San Dimas Chamber of Commerce offers all kinds of opportunities for busi-nesses to take advantage of and become more successful. We are always striving to offer wonderful opportunities for our members to take advantage of. The Chamber is also the information center for San Dimas. For more informa-tion on making the most of your business, call the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce at (909) 592-3818 or stop by and visit us at 246 E. Bonita Ave, in San Di-mas.

Have you ever wanted to know more about your City, meet your Mayor and City Council Mem-bers, want to meet your legislative and school district representa-tives, know who the public agen-cies are that serve your city and want to know what a Chamber of Commerce really does to help businesses and the community? Well, on January 16 the San Di-mas Chamber hosted a free Dis-cover San Dimas and Chamber Open House to showcase all of that and more.

Participating organizations included the Bonita Unified School District, San Dimas Pub-lic Library, Waste Management, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Com-pany, Golden State Water Com-pany, Representatives for Senator Carol Liu, Assemblyman Chris Holden and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano’s offices, San Dimas Planning/Building, Public

Works, Parks and Recreation and the Administration Department, and the LA County Sheriff’s De-partment.

Attendees also learned about all of the benefits and services the Chamber provides to mem-bers and the community. The Chamber handed out member-ship plaques to all members that night in addition to the new 2014 stickers for those members that already had their plaque. The Chamber showcased information on the events, networking oppor-tunities, workshops and market-ing programs offered through the Chamber to promote businesses and help organizations.

And the list went on....Help-ing business is our business! Call the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce today and see what we have to offer you. For addi-tional information call us at 909-592-3818 or visit their website at www.sandimaschamber.com.

It’s the perfect time to become a member of the San Dimas Cham-ber of Commerce. Businesses, (store fronts to home-based businesses), non-profits, and individuals are wel-come to join and there is no better time to join the chamber than now.

During The San Dimas Cham-ber’s membership and referral in-centive program going on now. You will reap the benefits of being a San

Dimas Chamber Member . You will also have to the opportunity to win up to $200 , plus we are giving away great prizes too.

Current members have the op-portunity to win big by referring new members and new members, even without a referral, can get into the big prize drawings just by joining. It’s a win, win program for everyone.

The program works like this:• Join the chamber by April 18 and your name gets entered into the prize drawing.• Refer a new member by April 18 and both you and the new member get your names entered into the prize drawing.• Join the chamber and /or refer a new member by April 18 and you will receive a special gift as our

thank you.• Refer 3 or more new members, receive a special gift from the San Dimas Chamber, and if you are the big winner – we will double the $100 prize and make it $200.

Prize drawings and gift certifi-cates range in value between $5 and $100. Early bird drawings will be held during the chamber’s monthly breakfasts so the earlier you get in

the more chances you have to win.For more information call the

San Dimas Chamber of Commerce at (909) 864-4073 or visit them at 246 E. Bonita Ave. in San Dimas. All entries are subject to new mem-ber joining and payments being received before each drawing and before the final drawing on May 1, 2014.

Page 14 San Dimas Community News February 2014

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13

Barefoot Running and Other Bad Exercises You Should AvoidJordan Nichols, CSCS

In the realm of fitness market-ing gone are those that want to instill a no-nonsense, evidence-based approach to fitness train-ing, which is very simple and pragmatic. Instead, in an effort

to distinguish themselves in the mar-ket, too many studios and trainers try to have an angle that is unique to them. You

will have the “fat loss trainers”, “power lifting trainers” and the “high-intensity, high repetition fa-cilities” when what should be dis-tinguishing facilities are results and not marketing.

A fad that has come, gone and regained a lot of steam lately (with the help of a book called born to run) is the barefoot running craze. Okay, so let’s first look at the facts we know from researchers in the Netherlands that barefoot run-ning produces a 60 % deforma-tion of the heel pad compared to a 30% reduction when running with cushioned shoes. Running with shoes will even produce less deformation than walking barefoot, this is pretty important considering that the heel pad is a chronic predictor of heel pain. But what about the Kenyans who have great success running bare-foot? The average Kenyan lifes-pan is 45-50 years meaning they really don’t need to maintain the integrity of their heel pad with a shorter lifespan. In contrast, the average American recreational runner lifespan is 85 years. Lets also take into consideration the average weight of an American runner and a Kenyan runner. So who says Kenyans were born to run barefoot? In January of 2013 George Washington University did a study on a Kenyan tribe and found 78% of them landed heel first, a more realistic sample of 83% landed heel first at an 8:56 mile an hour pace which closely mirrors your typical American runner pace. This is not an all or nothing topic, Barefoot running most definitely has its place as a drill but not as a full-time running alternative for all or most runners.

Another type of exercise that has become quite popular is kettle bell training. Although kettle bell training when done correctly is very effective, there is one exer-cise that puts an extreme amount of stress on your shoulders and

lower back. This exercise consists of swinging a kettle bell between your legs and then overhead. Nine times out of ten what you will see is one thrusting his or her head forward, dropping the pelvis and hyper extending the lumbar spine (middle back) in order to put the arms behind the ears in order to make the rep count. Why is this bad? We sit way too much and most Americans shoulder blades (scapulas) are tilted towards the front of their body. If we have a shoulder blade that is tilted for-ward we are then driving the shoulder joint right into the rota-tor cuff causing shoulder impinge-ment. This is a problem with any overhead exercise especially high velocity swinging. You should try to swing the kettle bell no higher than your belly button.

Last but not least is tire flip-ping where an individual does a deep squat then proceeds to lift and flip a very heavy tire over and then repeats it numerous times. Proper lifting mechanics require you to lift with your hips and not the knees otherwise you’ll end up with knee arthritis. We are also putting a lot of flex on the spine which is not a sign of a flexible back, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Those who have flexible backs will have a greater risk of back prob-lems in the future. Trends are like stocks, they go in and out of favor. Intelligent exercise selec-tion, frequency and progression are the key to making meaningful strides in your fitness goals and not trying to constantly re-invent the wheel when all you have to do is spin it the right way.

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Jordan Nichols

Freemasonry and MusicBy Raymond E. Foster, Senior Warden, San Dimas Masonic Lodge No. 428

Freemasonry has had a huge impact on American culture. Phrases such as “on the level” and “the third degree” can be attributed to Masonic ritual and custom. One of the primary ways a people mani-fest their culture is through their music, and Masons have played a crucial role in shaping American as well as Western music.

Brother Franz Joseph Hayden is often referred to as the “father of the symphony” as well as the “father of the string quartet.” He was one of the most prolific and influential composers of the Classi-cal Period. While Hayden’s music doesn’t have Masonic themes, per se, Brother Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s music does. Mozart’s op-era the Magic Flute features two Lodge Brothers and is strongly in-fluenced by Masonic Values.

Brother W.S. Gilbert (of Gilbert and Sullivan) is famous for lyrical work in 14 comedic operas. Al-though an Englishmen, his works are produced over and over again in America. Moreover, his work can be seen as very influential in the development of the American musical. Just as the musical is a product of American culture, so is Jazz.

American Jazz would not be the same without the pillars of Broth-er William James Basie (Count Basie) and Brother William Ken-nedy Ellington (Duke Ellington). From his theme song, One O’clock Jump to April in Paris, Brother Basie’s Jazz piano is imprinted on American Culture. Similarly, Brother Ellington has certainly seeped into our conscious. If I were to say – “It don’t mean a thing” you will invariably finish with “if it ain’t got that swing.”

As American music merged with American film, Brother Asa Yoelson (Al Jolson) led the way. His work in the film The Jazz Singer was the first time that film, music, dialogue and sound effects were coordinated to produce a movie. Additionally, later singers such as Bing Crosby, David Bowie and Bob Dylan would say that they were heavily influenced by Brother Jolson’s work.

Patriotic Music is another area of American life strongly influenced by Masons. The works of Brothers John Phillip Sousa and George M. Cohen are played by high school bands and sung by school chil-dren nationwide. Although more than 100 years old, The Stars and Stripes Forever and It’s a Grand Old Flag are quintessential ex-amples of American patriotic mu-sic. Brother Israel Isidore Beilin (Irving Berlin) wrote music that exemplified American patriotism as well as basic American Values. As examples, Berlin’s God Bless America was considered the Na-tional Anthem of World War II and his White Christmas is heard over and over again as a classical American Christmas melody.

Just as American patriotic mu-sic has been influenced by Masons, so has folk, country and western music. Brothers Burl Ives, Mel Tillis, Roy Clark and Brad Paisley have provided us with reflections of

our culture through their musical work. Moreover, both of our “Sing-ing Cowboys,” Gene Autry and Roy Rogers were Masons.

Two of the arguably most fa-mous tunes in American history were written by Masons. Taps was written by Civil War era Ma-jor General Daniel Butterfield. Brother Butterfield is also a holder of Congressional Medal of Honor. The song we hear before every sporting event and at nearly ev-ery public gathering, our National Anthem, is the product of work by two Masons. Brother Francis Scott Key is well known as the author of the poem that supplied the lyrics

for our National Anthem. What is less well known is that he wrote the lyrics to match the rhythms of the song To Anacreon in Heaven. That song was composed by Broth-er John Stafford Smith, a 19th Century British musicologist.

Just as Masons have been influ-ential in our national history, they have made significant contribu-tions to our local history. You can find out more about San Dimas Masons at are our website at www.sandimasmasons.org, or our lodge which is open to the public every Thursday evening between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

February 2014 San Dimas Community News Page 15

SENIOR DIMAS SENIOR ADVENTURESBy Jay Pace

Now that we have 2013 behind us, we can get onto another year. I don’t know about you, BUT in some ways I’m glad 2013 is over and I’m looking forward to 2014.

We had our first meeting and as the new kid on the block as your president it didn’t go as smooth as I had wanted but the board helped me through the meeting as did some of you members. Gad Zoots, Delia, you made it took sooo easy.

Before I go on I just wanted to remind you that a form is going around to nominate this years Older American. Please fill out the form and give to Liz or Con-nie in the lobby or you can give the form to me and I will pass it on. The San Dimas Senior Com-missioners will vote on it and will announce that special person in May.

If you haven’t joined the San Dimas Senior Citizens Club please see Nancy. She is our new Mem-bers Chair. Don’t forget: It only costs $6.00 and entitles you to two free bus trips that we take each year. [think about where you’d like to visit in LA county] We have entertainment, information from different sources, BINGO @ .50 cents a card every last Tuesday of each month, but best of all, you will belong to the best club in Calif. Liz [Elizabeth Quinonezj collects .25 cents and marks down your name. [if you attend 20 or more meetings the Holiday Lun-cheon is half off...what a deal] Each and every business meeting there is a raffle. Members bring in gifts to raffle and the last one is an envelope with $5.00. Soooo if you have any “treasurers” that you might want to share PLEASE bring it in a bag to be raffled off.

For those of you, who are and have been members for quite some time already know what the club has to offer, this is for the future club members. Club Activi-ties include: Holiday Luncheon, Special Celebrations, Entertain-ment, Guest Speakers, Monthly Birthday Celebrations. As a se-nior member there is also Exclu-sive Club Member Travel & Dis-counts, Non-residents eligible to receive the Resident Rate for City of San Dimas Adult Excursions...] Let’s see, I think that covers it....NO not everything...WOW... DON’T FORGET THE HUGS AND FELLOWSHIP you get each Tuesday. That in itself is PRICLESS.

Visit the San Dirnas Senior Citizen/Community Center and ask the friendly staff about the Chuckwagon Lunch served every day at 11:30 [need reservation day before], Dinner Programs, Dances, Excursions, Volunteer Opportunities, Health Screening, Referral Services, Socials and Spe-cial Events and Transportation Services and sooo much more... Thursday Chuckwagon Lunch includes free BINGO. Since some of you will be new to the BINGO Thursday I will take this time to say a BIG YAHOO THANKS to Shirley and Sid for supplying priz-es and Carol for handing out BIN-GO cards and prizes. Callers Roy, Carrol, Jim & Darrell not only call regular BINGO but they also

call Four corners, Picture Frame, Broken Picture Frame, Blackout, ect, etc, etc...The above is not the whole picture of what San Dimas Senior Citizen/Community Cen-ter is all about so come and join us. It isn’t as lonely as being on that couch or chair by yourself...

I have lots of fun dropping in to see people knitting, crocheting, needle point, etc. every Tuesday and Thursday.

OK, it is now February already and Joanne has the following planned for us. February 4th Der-ek Wohliers will be here to share Physical Fitness with us, 11th we will have our Business Mtg. and raffle, 18th Fred Garcia will help us Prepare for Emergen-cies, and BINGO on the 25th and celebrate February birth-days with cake from Albertson’s. Joanne said that both Derek and Fred are very good and I for one can’t wait to listen to them.

I would be amiss not to men-tion BINGO...that is every Tues-day at 12:15. They support the club so that we can make do-nations to many organization throughout the year. A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO ALL BINGO MEMBERS... and to all the BINGO Volunteers: Alice Agopian, Brian Donegan, Gen-evieve Frenchette, Judy Glazer, Pam Johnson, Debbee Malouf, Chimako Matsukiyo, Helene Or-ban, Elizabeth Quinones, Sande Souser, Hilda Sims, Mary Jo Stauty, Don Stevenson and last but not least Carol Touchette BINGO Chairperson. Don’t forget to thank them for all the help they give at BINGO Tuesdays. We are working on getting new equip-ment with some of the money you bring in each Tuesday. From all of the Members of San Dirnas Club to all of you BINGO players... a VERY BIG THANK YOU...

I also didn’t have the following peoples volunteer names which are as follows: Coffee Makers for meetings: Delia Lee, Aurora Vega and Fred Contreras Cake Serv-ers: Linda Groth, Celia Gonzalez, Mary Jo Stauty and Clorinda Ja-nosco. Holiday Favors & Deco-rations: Loraine Gorsuch and Alice Girdley. Piano Accompa-niment: Ruth Anderson [Thanks Sue for all names of volunteers] If you’d like to be a volunteer please see me...I’d love to meet you and also...get your “special” hug.

For those of you who couldn’t attend the 2014 Lunar New Year Blessing Ceremony presented by Tzu Chi Foundation you missed a fantastic afternoon. There were about 15 Senior Citizens who went. They invited us back for the May celebration. I hope more of you can attend.

Last month Delia read a flyer about dungaree pants material. Nancy [not members chair] who comes to Senior Center is col-lecting material to be cut up and made into soles [for shoes] for peo-ple in another country. As I write this I don’t have that info but call Senior Center 909-394- 6290 for more info.

I had to get Windows 8 [for all of you computer geeks, ‘cause computer crashed] and after going back and forth with highlighting words all of a sudden I noticed no-

tations on top of the word with a bar filled with goodies so now I can use that bar and BOLD, ITAICS, UNDERLINE AND CHANGE SIZE OF FONT without going to HOME and changing things. See Roy, we learn new things every day even if we’ve been on the com-puter for years and years. [ooops sorry, inside joke] Be prepared for your name to come up in an article from time to time... You will meet sooo many people here. We’re nev-er too old to learn new things. And one thing being older! can now take my tea/coffee break and re-lax... Talk to you next month. Jay

Wellness at HillcrestUnder the enthusiastic guid-

ance of Director of Resident Life and Wellness, Ryan Harrison, The Wellness Program at Hill-crest has evolved into a communi-ty-wide phenomenon that allows residents to create a personalized wellness plan to meet their spe-cific needs and goals along every spectrum of the wellness circle; body, mind, emotions, spirit, rela-tionships, environment and pur-suits. Ryan is currently finishing his doctorate in Psychology with an emphasis in Health and Well-ness and has worked as a private practitioner and educator in the health and wellness field for 12 years.

Q & A with Hillcrest’s Director of Resident Life & WellnessWhy is health and wellness important for people to con-sider?

At Hillcrest, we want our resi-dents to know that we are doing all that we can to help them live happy, fulfilling lives. Our aim is

to create an environment where people thrive without even trying and by getting involved in doing things they want to do. Hillcrest puts its residents’ wellness at the top of its priorities, by keeping our life enrichment series tuned to wellness in body, mind, spirit, environment, emotions, relation-ships, and pursuits.

What is the benefit of fitness programs and equipment of-fered at communities like Hillcrest?

Physical fitness has a vital role to play in health and wellness. It’s difficult to feel fully well when our bodies are weak, inflexible, or in-jured, or when it’s hard to balance, walk, or freely move. On the other hand, when our bodies are in good shape it can be much easier to tune into other areas of wellness that really help round-out whole person well-being.

Most people will tell you that simply having exercise equipment available is not sufficient motiva-tion to do what it takes to stay physically fit. So, along with good quality equipment, it’s necessary to have enthusiastic, well-trained, and compassionate staff who can tailor workout routines to resident needs, instruct residents in proper form and range of motion during exercise, and create and offer new, engaging fitness programs that inspire and energize people while also meeting them where they are.

At Hillcrest, we are fortunate to have a dedicated Aquatic & Fit-ness Center staffed by experts in the health and fitness field. We have weight machines; cardio

equipment; a large, warmed pool; and instructor-led programs that encourage full-body fitness. Our programs are so good that even non-residents from the commu-nity often join.

What should residents expect from a health and wellness program?

It’s all too common for people to hear or read the words “health and wellness” and instantly think “diet and exercise” or “fitness.” While these may be the bedrock of a good wellness program, they are only part of a larger understand-ing of what whole person wellness really looks like.

I would encourage residents to expect an established wellness model that promises more than an on-site gym, a swimming pool, and a full-service dining room. Look for elements that pertain to mental and emotional well-being, to social wellness, and to spiri-tual needs. Older adults are heav-ily (but often silently) affected by their environments, so finding a community that is taking steps to create a “well environment” can be an important step in ensuring long-term comfort, health, and fit-ness.

Research indicates that the strongest predictor of life satis-faction for older adults is involve-ment in leisure activities. At Hillcrest, we call this “wellness in pursuits,” and do all that we can to help people do the things they want and love to do. Whether it’s zip-lining, fly fishing, singing, gardening, or painting porcelain, the important thing is to find a community that honors what an individual loves to do, and has both the desire and the resources in place to help make those activi-ties accessible.

Adapted from an article origi-nally published through Leadin-gAge, an association of more than 6,000 not-for-profit aging services providers nationwide.

Ryan Harrison

Orange Picking at Heritage Park

LA VERNE — The La Verne Heritage Foundation opened its gates January 4th, for the annual Orange Picking at Heritage Park. The public is encouraged to come and pick oranges from the last working orange grove in La Verne. They are the best tasting navel oranges around. We will be open to the public each Saturday from January 4 until approximately mid March from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Oranges, lemons & grapefruits are $5 a bag. The Foundation provides the tools and the bags, the custom-ers provide the manpower.

The La Verne Heritage Foun-dation is a non-profit preservation group that has had the opportu-nity to restore the Victorian Weber House, built in 1885, which will be open for tours in the morning. We have been able, with the funds it has raised, to include a barn that is over 100 years old as well as a re-stored working windmill onto the premises.

We are located at 5001 Via De Mansion, La Verne. More infor-mation about the Foundation can be found at www.laverneheritage.org.

Making Prom Dreams Come TrueWould you like to go to the Prom, but need help with a dress? We would like to make your Prom Dreams come true!

My Sister’s Closet is a commu-nity project which collects gently used, special occasion dresses, handbags, shoes and jewelry to be given away. The Azusa Uni-fied School District, Azusa Pacific University, the Azusa-Glendora Soroptimist’s, Assistance League of Covina Valley and the Canyon City Foundation are collaborat-ing to reduce the financial stress by providing these dresses at NO COST to any young lady who plans on attending her high school prom. Silvana Cavazos, program coordinator for the Azusa Unified School Districts Family Resource Center created this program to help girls participate in all the activities that make their high school experience fun without worrying about how they would pay for a dress. “I was lucky to have four sisters to share clothes with because my family, like many, was struggling to make ends meet without the extras like prom, “says Cavazos.” I realized that I, like many others I knew, had special occasion clothing that could be put to use. I began to col-lect some things so that I could give them to someone who needed them. Now, I look around and feel good about what we are doing to help in our own small way. My hope is that girls will come and not only take a dress but also, that they will feel good about the expe-rience and encourage their friends to do the same.”

This is the fifth year that Azu-sa Pacific University will host the event, which will take place on Saturday, March 1, 2014 in two sessions. The first session is from 9-11:30 and is by reservation only. The second session is from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Both sessions are held at the main campus in the LAPC room. Students from surrounding schools are invited to attend. For more information and to make reservations, contact Sil-vana Cavazos at (626) 732-8032 at the Azusa Unified School District. Follow us on Facebook.

Page 16 San Dimas Community News February 2014