Originally in Ontario, then it moved to Rancho Cucamonga, then it branched out all over the place.
http://www.chaffey.edu/
No matter what happens with Propositions 98 and 99 on June 3, it appears that Pomona's proposal to use eminent domain for the Foothill & Towne project will die on June 2.
See M-M-M-My Pomona.
http://diversitown.blogspot.com/2008/05/no-eminent-domain.html
Speaking of David Allen, he revealed yesterday that Norma Torres hasn't been able to buy EVERYONE off:
In a blow to the campaign of Norma Torres for a state Assembly seat, the powerful Mix Bowl Cafe in Pomona has unveiled its endorsement of rival Maurice Ayala, allowing him to post one of his signs out in front of the restaurant.
The Goddess of Pomona was apparently unable to reach Ayala. Goddess, David Allen knows where to find him.
View Larger Map
But if Norma Torres buys - I mean wins - this election, will the Mix Bowl Cafe run into red tape?
Incidentally, the people at Mix Bowl Cafe are apparently better at serving food than designing a website. The page name that shows up at the top of my browser is "MIXBOWEL CAFE POMONA." Yuck...
Yes, I know that I already included this blog in the Empoprise-IE Rooster series. But I'm re-featuring it for three reasons:
This is more of an administrative note than anything else, but I did want to let everybody know that this blog, the Empoprise-IE blog, is now available in podcast format, courtesy Odiogo.
For those who aren't familiar with the service, Odiogo is a text-to-speech engine that takes existing text (such as blog posts), sends it through a speech synthesizer, and then posts mp3s for your listening pleasure.
The mp3 files for the Empoprise-IE blog can be found at http://podcasts.odiogo.com/empopriseie/podcasts-html.php. You can subscribe to the podcasts via iTunes and other services (you can subscribe via the http://podcasts.odiogo.com/empopriseie/podcasts-xml.php URL), download mp3s for individual posts, or simply listen to an individual post online.
I'm not sure if this really has a practical use yet, but the service is available for those who want to truthfully say, "I don't read Empoprise-IE."
The latest name for the speedway in Fontana.
http://www.californiaspeedway.com/
Only operational from 1970 to 1980 (i.e. before I arrived here), the speedway is still remembered.
http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/CA/Ontario.html
This is - was - the one by the Borders, south of Montclair Plaza.
It's apparently been closed for some time.
An historic inn in Riverside, California.
http://www.missioninn.com/
Claremont Insider linked to a Thursday Business Press article on the downturn in the grocery industry.
Or at least slumping for some sectors.
As I've said before, those who are defending the Albertsons, Ralphs, Vons, and Staters of the world against the evil WalMart are failing to note that the ARVS have in their time displaced smaller grocery stores. After all, you can't have a supermarket unless you wipe out the markets.
History may be repeating itself, if the Business Press' guess regarding Wolfe's Market is accurate.
Business has been down about 20% at Wolfe's Market in Claremont during the past two months, but owner Tom Wolfe is unsure why.
Certainly the slumping economy - particularly the high price of fuel - is having an impact on sales, but the 90-year-old grocery store and delicatessen at 160 W. Foothill Blvd. also faces new competition from Trader Joe's and Sprouts Farmers Market, both of which opened within blocks of Wolfe's Market since last summer.
A Yelp review provided more information:
This is definitely a five-star place, but it is COSTLY. As in my wallet hurts when I go.
There are three possible solutions to this problem:
But how many of us IE'ers have forgotten the fact that this is one of the few areas of the world where your average run-of-the-mill bar can be framed by such beautiful trees? You're not gonna find THIS in New York City...
P.S. The window to Goodfellas displays an email from ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) that states that a passport is NOT acceptable identification to purchase alcohol, because identification must include a description of a person. Hmm...
A website about the Inland Empire, written by the people who live here.
http://www.insidetheie.com/
I was scouting around for some information on the old Kaiser Steel plant, and I ran across this happy little piece from The Kaiserworks:
By 1993, Washington’s loosening of trade restrictions allowed the Kaiser Steel Works to be sold at bargain basement prices to the brutal Chinese communist government. A team of 200 communist technicians disassembled the plant, part by part, and shipped it to their homeland. Now, Kaiser’s monument to American industry makes steel for tanks, ships and automobiles in China.
What remains is home to the California Speedway and industrial ruins. The film Pearl Harbor was refused permission to film at the site because the current operator of the remaining plant, California Steel, is partially owned by Kawasaki Steel, a Japanese company.
This is known as not being politically correct, and reminds me of an elementary school paper that I saw. It was written in the 1980s, back when East Germany was still a separate country. The paper declared that the East Germans "eat Communist foods." Not quite sure what that meant.
Back to the page above, which is part of the webiste for Kaiser Defense, a San Diego-based defense company.
Kaiser Defense LLC specializes in design and manufacture of precision firearm parts and the sale of related accessories. We are an 07 federal firearm licensee /SOT/ CAGE defense contractor offering complete manufacturing services from prototypes, short runs to mass production. Individual and depot level repair and modification is available to military and government agencies.
Your mission requirement is our mission, we are here to serve you! All Kaiser Defense manufactured products are proudly made in the USA.
OK, let's go back up north:
The community [of Fontana] faced a transition in 1942 when Fontana was selected as the site for a steel mill. The City was incorporated June 25, 1952 with a population of 13,695 and became Southern California's leading producer of steel and related products. The steel industry dominated the City's economy since the mill was built. However, in the late 1970's, Kaiser Steel began to cut down on production and manpower and the steel mill closed in 1984. The plate steel and rolling mill plant was acquired by California Steel Company, which continues to produce steel products.
I know I've strayed a little south of the Inland Empire.
Just south of Perris, this is the place for lovers of "mature" trains to go.
http://www.oerm.org/
If you're not joining the Kiwanis in Ontario for their pancake breakfast on June 7, perhaps you'll want to head to Yucaipa:
On Saturday, June 7, families can make history at the Yucaipa Adobe during Adobe Day. Families can experience how people lived and played in California in the 1800s through a variety of hands-on activities. Visitors of all ages will be able to beat a rug, clean clothes with a tub and washboard, cross-stitch a bookmark, make an adobe brick to take home, make and taste butter, play old-time games, dip a candle, and create a whirly gig or corn husk doll to play with.
The activities are scheduled between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. More here.
A few months ago, I went to a car wash fundraiser at Foothill Ford in La Verne.
It turned out that Foothill Ford needed a fundraiser itself. According to the Daily Bulletin, Foothill Ford is closing on May 31.
Foothill Ford has become the latest victim of a slumping automotive market.
After nearly four decades in the city, the dealership will shut down May 31.
"It's very disappointing," said Peter Miller, co-owner of Seidner-Miller Automotive, which owns Foothill Ford and a neighboring Hyundai dealership. "But 99 percent of this is the economy."
The killer? Foothill Ford is not in an auto mall. While I disagree with Peter Miller's claim that Foothill Ford is on a "rural" street (even in La Verne, I wouldn't characterize Route 66 as "rural"), the fact remains that you have to drive three minutes from a freeway exit to get to Foothill Ford, which is 2 1/2 minutes longer than most people want to drive.
When I started my Empoprises blogs, I also started some auxiliary services that were tied to the blogs. When I started these services, I decided that I would use them as two-way forms of communication - a way to push my highly enlightening stuff out to the non-adoring public, and a way to gather information from others.
When I started the Empoprise-IE FriendFeed Room yesterday, I didn't realize that I'd get the latter type of information so quickly.
But then, FriendFeed user Russellreno shared a link to a Flickr set entitled "ARG - Denim Demons vs Inland Empire Derby Divas. Here's the caption for the set:
Mama Gore brought her Derby Divas to Atlanta to battle her daughter Demi Gore and the Denim Demons.
So, who are the Inland Empire Derby Divas? Their site is here. The site even tells you - well, provided you're female - how to become a Diva. Note: if you build your skills to the appropriate level and become a Diva, you have to use caution in choosing your roller derby name.
And here's a video from the IEDD vs. Atlanta match - is it a match, or an event, or a game, or what?
And yes, Mama Gore is a mama. Again from the Atlanta whateveryoucallit, written earlier this month:
[T]his Saturday, in what will be a first in modern roller derby history, a mother and daughter will face each other on the track when Demi Gore and the Denim Demons of the Atlanta Rollergirls league take on Mama Gore and the Inland Empire Derby Divas from California.
Instead of sitting down for a Mother's Day brunch, these two are more likely to be nursing pulled muscles and other assorted aches and pains.
"My Mother's Day present from her is I will be bruised and battered, and I will bruise and batter her back," said Mama Gore, known outside of roller derby as Sheryl Smith. "When we're on the track we're competitors, and it's going to be rough."
While Mom had been interested in roller derby for years, it was the daughter who took up the skates first.
After seeing her daughter compete in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association National Tournament in Tucson two years ago, mom decided she wanted in on the action.
"I went and watched all these women skate and play and have fun," Sheryl Smith said. "They were all athletes and crazy and edgy, and I thought, 'This looks like way too much fun for me to not do it.' "
Just a few weeks later, she saw a flier for a recruitment meeting and joined the upstart league....And with her 50th birthday just a week after this weekend's bout, she's the oldest member of her league and one of the oldest active players today.
That's one woman that I'd better not mess with. Especially since I can't skate worth a lick.
Yes, I know that McDonalds started here, but they didn't stay here - Bakers did.
http://www.bakersdrivethru.com/
Empoprise-IE Gets a Room? Yes.
Earlier today, FriendFeed publicly announced its "rooms" capability, which allows you to create public or private rooms that are dedicated to a specific topic. More information here.
As you may know, this blog already has its own Disqus discussion area, but I figured that I'd try to create a dedicated FriendFeed room, just to see what would happen.
And, by the way, if you see a similar post on my Empoprise-NTN blog...yes, I created a room for that blog also.
Followup.
Last night someone knocked at my door, and my daughter went to answer it. Turns out that the person at the door was Howard Snider, former mayor of Ontario.
When he introduced himself, I replied, "I remember your bagels!" (I think the name of the company was Better Baked Bagels.)
But he wasn't there in a political or culinary capacity. He was promoting a charity event that the Ontario Kiwanis was sponsoring.
From Ontario's March 18, 2008 City Council minutes:
Rob Branson announced the Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast and Car Show on Euclid Avenue on June 7th. He said this year's event will be dedicated in memoriam to Loyal Nixon and he hopes everyone will come out as the money is donated to charities.
We will be unable to attend, but we bought a couple of tickets for my father in law and my nephew.
I've never interacted with the Ontario Kiwanis, but I've known three people who were in various Upland Kiwanis units in the 1980s.
I've never been to the National Orange Show, but it starts on May 22nd this year.
http://www.nationalorangeshow.com/
If you delve into the history of Ontario, California, you'll run across the history of the mule car.
I've talked about the mule car before, but I've run across another source of information on it - the Historical Marker Database. Here's the inscription that it records:
From August 14 1888, to September 24th, 1895, the Ontario & San Antonio Heights R.R. Company’s gravity mule car transported citizens up-and-down Euclid Avenue from a Holt Boulevard to 24th Street. The cars were designed by John H. Tayes. After the termination of service, the original cars disappeared.
In 1956, William Richardson headed a group of citizens to have a replica of the original Mule Car constructed for the city's 75th anniversary in 1957. With donated funds "a couple of prop guys from the MGM Studios in Hollywood" recreated it, working from old photos. After the 1957 Mule celebration, the Mule Car was stored in the City Yards, abandoned and forgotten.
In memory of their son Donald, who worked for the City of Ontario, Kip and Elinore Carlson and their friends restored the Mule Car and constructed this facility. On April 28, 1974, this Mule Car was dedicated "to the whole community."
In memory of Donald "Beany" Carlson, 1950 to 1972.
The official website of Ontario, California.
http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/
In a Daily Bulletin article, David Allen noted that Robert F. Kennedy visited Pomona and Ontario on May 20, 1968. He actually visited several cities that day, starting his day at the Ambassador Hotel.
Allen noted the following about Pomona:
As the Progress-Bulletin described the scene: "A crowd of 3,500 greeted the presidential hopeful in a frenzied appearance on the Pomona Mall."
Illuminating one source of Kennedy's appeal, a poignant photo caption read: "Senator Robert F. Kennedy gazes briefly at a Pomona man Monday who shouted, arm outstretched, `I knew your brother! We talked once!"'
I wonder if Bobbymania was comparable to Obamamania. I was too young in 1968 to know.
Enter Howard Snider, former mayor and former bagel-man:
At about 1:30 p.m., after the luncheon, Kennedy's motorcade headed back up Garey to the 10 and east to Ontario. His guest for the ride: Ontario Mayor Howard Snider.
"The driver and Kennedy were in the front seat and I was in the back with his dog," Snider, now 79, told me with a chuckle last week.
Because it was an open car, and he had a dog to contend with, Snider couldn't really have a conversation with the candidate. But it was a memorable ride.
And you can't say that we in Ontario don't have a sense of humor.
One jokester waved a sign reading "Mrs. Kennedy for Secretary of Labor," referring to her and her husband's 10 children.
I was going to supplement this post with other Internet accounts of Kennedy's visit here, but I couldn't find any. Sounds like David Allen has the exclusive on this story.
I almost titled this post "George Washington slept here," but thought better of it.
When someone gets famous, and even when someone gets infamous, everybody wants to claim an association with the famous person.
As far as the Coyote Ugly website is concerned, Sarah Le Clear is from Los Angeles. But I've already posted information that talks about her association with Upland, and with Rancho Cucamonga, and with Whittier.
So, how about the East Bay? The article was written back in April, before it was officially revealed that Le Clear had won.
Walnut Creek native Sarah Le Clear, 26, is the latest East Bay product to make her mark in reality TV. She'll be one of the three featured finalists in Friday's finale of "The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search"....
Le Clear...was a cheerleader and a member of the choir at Northgate High School and spent one season as a Warrior Girl....
Le Clear can't reveal whether she won the competition, which was taped in January, but they'll be throwing a big finale party for her anyway Friday night at Ed's Mudville Grill in Clayton, where she once worked.
When the Ontario Daily Report and the Pomona Progress Bulletin merged, the new paper created the name "Inland Valley" to communicate the "San Bernawho?" message.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/
I've been employed by various technical firms, most of which were outside of the Inland Empire. Of the two that were in the Inland Empire, one has relocated to South Carolina, and the other may no longer be in business.
But there is some tech out here, as Rob Elkins reminds us. He linked to an ESRI recruiting page.
Top 10 Reasons to Work at ESRI
Contributions
Your ideas can become a successful solution.
Whether you are designing the next software version, suggesting ways to improve a business process, or helping customers implement their GIS, your work is important. You will be encouraged to use your knowledge and creativity to develop new ideas and contribute in a meaningful way.
Innovation
Advance the future of GIS technology.
Help build the tools that are advancing GIS technology. GIS has grown tremendously in the past three decades—both in functionality and the many ways it is used—and you can have an impact on its future. You will always have opportunities to learn and do something new.
Customers
Help our customers make a difference.
From aiding in disaster recovery efforts to tracking elephant migration to creating more efficient public transit, ESRI users are changing their communities and the world. Our customers are the most important part of our business, and we are committed to helping them succeed as they utilize ESRI technology.
“Listening to our users for corporate strategy and product direction became our foundation and is still in place today. This principle has enabled us to develop GIS technology that’s truly driven by our customers.” Jack Dangermond, president, ESRI.
Technology
Shaping the world around us.
Our innovative software makes a difference in our society and contributes to everyday life. It is used by millions around the world and in every industry. Our software development is focused on emerging technologies such as service-oriented architecture, .NET, and 3D visualization. We are committed to continually improving our products and developing new technology. Every year, ESRI reinvests 20 percent of its profits into research and development to continue building the best GIS software available.
Geography Matters
Help others realize the importance of geography.
Geography matters—it connects our many cultures and societies and influences our way of life. A GIS leverages geographic insight. It’s a unique medium that enables organizations to more effectively carry out their missions, improve the bottom line, and make a positive impact on society and the world. Work with ESRI customers as they make vital contributions toward the better management of our planet and its resources.
People
Be passionate about your work.
Whether building the next ESRI product, helping a customer solve a problem, or writing for one of our publications, we are committed to doing the best work possible. Working individually or as a team, be passionate about what you do. Have a career where you are supported for going the extra mile, whether it’s helping a colleague or a customer.
Success
Feel secure working for a financially stable company.
Founded in 1969 as a small consulting firm, ESRI has grown into the world leader in the nearly $2 billion GIS industry. With annual revenues of more than $660 million, we are privately held and debt free. We carefully manage our projects and expenses to ensure we will continue as a financially strong, reliable company.
Work Environment
Collaborative, creative, and empowering.
Teamwork is not just a cliché at ESRI. You will have opportunities to engage with others throughout the company, allowing you to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and leverage their skills to accomplish a task. You will thrive in a creative, challenging work environment that promotes autonomy and leadership. At ESRI, you will work with some of the brightest minds in the software industry.
Growth
Develop your potential.
ESRI encourages employees to continually grow through lifelong learning. You will have opportunities to participate in job-related training classes designed to improve your technical, sales, interpersonal, and management skills. These might be workshops and seminars, on-site classes, or our own Virtual Campus courses. An expansive resource library maintains hundreds of GIS books and publications. You can also learn new skills by taking on projects outside of your regular responsibilities.
Benefits
Outstanding benefits now and for your future.
ESRI cares about its employees’ well-being. You will have an outstanding benefits package including employer-paid medical and dental insurance for employees and eligible family members and vision and life insurance for employees, with an option to purchase additional coverage for eligible family members. ESRI provides profit sharing and 401(k) programs and offers occasional financial planning seminars. Tuition reimbursement is available, and two scholarships to the University of Redlands are awarded each year.
The personal blog of Rob Elkins, ESRI employee.
http://myesri.blogspot.com/
(More later.)
Many people out here have written, or heard about, Frank Zappa's Inland Empire roots, including his infamous bust at Studio Z in Rancho Cucamonga.
globalia.net has documented several 1960s-era articles and other artifacts that relate to Zappa. The following addresses are referenced in the articles:
You'll recall that yesterday afternoon I sent a picture post to this blog, then resent it because the picture didn't show up.
It turns out that the picture was probably there all along. Apparently there is an issue with the display of the picture in my mobile phone's web browser. When I display the post on my laptop, the picture displays with no problem.
So why don't I have a similar problem with my other blog? Because my other blog is using a different template.
So now I've filled the Internets with my dim picture of Long's Christian Bookstore. Hope you like 'em.
Centrist Republican candidate Matt Munson's blog.
http://inlandutopia.com/
Well, I can't SHOW this to you - picture posts aren't working at this blog for some reason [UPDATE REGARDING PICTURE DISPLAY.] - but I can TELL you.
Have you heard of the Upland YMCA? It had its own building - I believe Max Williams was the architect, or was somehow involved.
Guess what? The Upland Y is moving into the old Wayne Gretzky Roller Hockey place.
Wonder what will happen to the old place?
Let's try again.
[UPDATE REGARDING PICTURE DISPLAY.]
On Base Line, southwest of Carnelian.
[UPDATE REGARDING PICTURE DISPLAY.]
A peek behind the goings-on in Claremont, California.
http://claremontca.blogspot.com/
An odd coincidence.
Earlier I was reading something (I think it was in Real Clear Politics) that alleged that leaders in closed societies, such as Myana- ... Myanm- ... Burma, have no incentive to be responsive to the people.
Well, according to the Claremont Insider, gerrymandered districts have unresponsiveness issues of their own.
http://claremontca.blogspot.com/2008/05/following-61st-assembly-district-race.html
In this case, the "generals" are Nell Soto, Norma Torres, and Xavier Alvarez, who fail to serve the people in one way or another.
For example, you'll recall that when Goddess of Pomona requested statements from 61st Assembly District candidates, Norma Torres wasn't the first to respond. Ken White, who isn't insulated by assured money connections, is actually going out and campaigning.
Food for thought...
Jenilee in Highland, California posted a new business logo in her Flickr account, then included a link in the text that was attached to the logo.
Jenilee's new business, Dotted Obsessions, is here. Check it out (includes samples).
http://www.dottedobsessions.blogspot.com/
Her promotional tactics provide a good...um...template for other new businesses to follow.
Proof that the journalists vs. bloggers divide is an artificial one, this Inland Valley Daily Bulletin columnist also maintains a complementary blog.
http://www.insidesocal.com/davidallen/
Although I already have personal FriendFeed and Twitter accounts, I have also set up FriendFeed and Twitter accounts for Empoprises, not to push information out, but to take information in. One of the first gems that I've discovered is the existence of the Inland Empire .NET User's Group. (See one of James Johnson's tweets on the topic.)
I am not a programmer (well, I was writing some things in HyperTalk about 20 years ago), and a good chunk of my marketing work revolves around Oracle, but it does appear that the Inland Empire .NET User's Group is a pretty active group. Here are some things that are currently featured on their page:
Next User Group Meeting!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Riverside Medical Clinic from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.
Reza Madani - Business Intelligence with SQL Server 2008
Reza Madani is a principal architect with HarborObjects, a Microsoft partner in Newport Beach, CA. He has over 20 years of experience designing and developing enterprise software solutions and is the current president of Orange County .NET User Group. For the past few years, Reza has been focusing on SQL Server business intelligence solutions and Windows Presentation Foundation based user interfaces.
And although the time to get involved in this has apparently passed, it looks interesting:
Free beginner ASP.NET classes!
The Inland Empire .NET User's Group is sponsoring FREE beginner ASP.NET classes! IEDOTNET Study Group Director, Volkan Uzun, has made arrangements with Cal State San Bernardino to host this 12 week course. The first class will be on Saturday, March 22, 2008 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm in Jack Brown Hall, Floor 3. Download the course syllabus and course information.
While this course is free, the University does charge $5.00 per day for parking. But, where can you get hands-on ASP.NET training by an industry expert for $60?
And, looking for an outside perspective on the group, I found this post (at an MSDN blog, naturally) from Keith Smith, who presented to the IEDOTNETUG in April 2006:
The meeting, which was held at ITT Technical Institute in San Bernardino, was started promptly at 6:30PM by James [Johnson], President of IEDOTNETUG. My presentation went from 6:45-9:30PM.
I was supposed to present for 2 hours but there were so many good questions and I took time to answer each one. Additionally, there was a 15-minute break midway through. There were about 25 members in attendance which made for lively discussion on Master Pages, Site Navigation and the "Atlas" UpdatePanel control and the "Atlas" Client Script Library.
Similar to the Orlando .NET User Group, the IEDOTNETUG membership was most keen on learning how to begin using "Atlas" as quickly as possible in their existing Web sites which I thought was pretty cool.
More information on the IDDOTNETUG (don't you love acronyms?) at http://www.iedotnetug.org/UG/.
Even David Allen couldn't figure out her true identity, but this goddess has been blogging about her city for some time.
http://www.goddessofpomona.com/
This blog will have a new feature, beginning tomorrow, May 15.
I wanted to find a way for this blog to do three things:
Previously I wrote about Coyote Ugly's Sarah Le Clear, as well as some problems from the animal type of coyotes in Redlands.
Turns out that Chino Hills also has coyote problems.
Officials have reported an increase in encounters and sightings of coyotes in parks and neighborhoods as they seek food and water in neighborhoods and parks with drought-like conditions affecting their normal wild habitat.
In addition to missing cats, a toddler (Madison Schuler) was attacked on May 2.
And it's not even summer yet.
Claremont Insider links to the following announcements from the city of Claremont:
The City of Claremont hosts an annual community yard sale from 9 am to noon at Cahuilla Park (corner of Indian Hill and Scripps Ave). Residents (as well as the greater community) are encouraged to do their spring cleaning in order to take advantage of this great opportunity. This program helps to further our efforts in meeting our diversion goals set by the State of California and AB 939. For a fee of $15 per space, participants will be given a parking space in the Cahuilla Park lot to display their items for sale. The City of Claremont will provide diverse and comprehensive advertising for this event to ensure maximum attendance. Historically, this event has drawn between 3000-4000 attendees.
Call 399-5490 for more information.
Goddess of Pomona requested candidate statements from the three Democratic candidates in California's 61st Assembly District. The first (and, as far as I know, the only) candidate to respond was Ken White.
Ken White's entire statement is at the Goddess of Pomona blog. Here's how it begins:
"Hello,
I would like to introduce myself to the bloggers here at the Goddess of Pomona’s website. My name is Ken White, Democratic candidate for the 61st Assembly District.
As I understand it, a “b”-“log” is a reference to an electronic logbook or diary. This kind of activity requires, I think, a dedication to honesty in part because the purpose of the activity is an attempt to learn something important. Honesty, as George Washington said, is “always the best policy.” In that spirit, I have been invited to make a statement here in order to help the community learn about one of their candidates for the 61st Assembly District in the Democratic primary election on June 3, 2008. I appreciate this opportunity to introduce myself to you all, and I hope the following information is of some use to you. If not, then I invite you to pursue further inquiries with me directly through the campaign’s website at www.votekenwhite.com.
The best way to get to know me is to appreciate the importance of education in my life. My educational background reflects my commitment to honesty and learning, because education itself is a search for truth.
After additional discussion of his educational background, White discusses his legal background, his vow to "read bills before voting on them" (you'd think that's a given, but sadly it isn't), then states his policy priorities:
When it comes to policy priorities, I believe that Chino, Montclair, Ontario, and Pomona need better schools and more peace officers working neighborhood patrols.
After discussing specifics on schools and police, as well as other concerns, White closes as follows:
I am promising to be “the most representative Representative” in Sacramento. To do that, I need the help of ordinary, reasonable, and prudent people. So, please, tell your friends about this campaign; get informed and get involved. Let the voters know that they have a choice to put a fresh, frank voice in Sacramento—someone who will not be struck by the “star” power of the Governor, but rather someone who is capable and committed to providing for everyone by fighting for ideas that serve everyone. In this campaign, I am proud to say that I have not been bought by lobbyists—my campaign has been funded by individuals, so I do not owe any special interests any special favors. Whether waste or abuse comes from the left or the right of the ideological spectrum, if elected I will use the office of the Assembly to fight for common sense solutions that we can all believe in and support. Please vote for Ken White for Assembly this June 3rd. This is your government, so demand that it start working for you—not as a matter of charity, but as a right!
Read the entire statement here.
At this point I don't plan to solicit candidate statements of my own before the June primary - this blog is just starting, and readership hasn't really ramped up yet - but perhaps that's something that I could do for a future election.
I am not a movie person, so I never saw the movie "Coyote Ugly." The closest that I have ever been to the phenomenon was the Coyote Ugly bar in the New York, New York casino.
But I ran across some Coyote Ugly news recently when I (belatedly) learned that Sarah Le Clear, after competing in a reality show on Country Music Television (CMT), has officially become the sixth member of the Coyote Ugly Saloon singing group The Traveling Coyotes.
CMT offers a brief biography of Sarah Le Clear (also available as a PDF):
A vivacious blonde, Sarah has been a professional dancer for eight years and has been training in dance for 21 years. She loves to perform and says entertaining is what she wants to do with her life. She is mature and driven and has a knack of having the crowd eating out of her hands when she is on the bar. She describes herself as honest, funny, spiritual and accepting, but she can also procrastinate and be too hard on herself. After recently calling off her two-year engagement, Sarah has a renewed determination to win the competition and eventually open a dance studio.
And Le Clear is using an interesting marketing strategy. Even though her MySpace page has the bold title "Sarah From Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search," the page itself is private. (The group page is public.)
Why am I writing about this in the Inland Empire blog Empoprise-IE? Because, despite what her official biographies say, she is not from "Los Angeles." The Daily Bulletin noted that Sarah Le Clear is a resident of Upland, California, right within the Inland Empire. At the same time, she is also a dance instructor to kids in Rancho Cucamonga (in the Alta Loma area). (In all fairness, it should be noted that Whittier also claims Le Clear as one of their own.)
But, while Le Clear is certainly welcome on the western end of the Inland Empire, another Daily Bulletin article noted that she may run into trouble at the eastern end:
REDLANDS - A coyote infected with mange was captured Saturday afternoon, a day after it was seen stalking a small child near San Mateo Street and Magnolia Avenue....
Bill Miller, an animal-control supervisor with the Redlands Animal Shelter, caught the female coyote by shooting it with a tranquilizer dart....
The coyote that was euthanized was the third spotted in the past 12 days.
On May 2, an 18-month-old girl was attacked in Chino Hills. On May 6, in the Cedar Glen area of Lake Arrowhead, a coyote bit a 2-year-old girl on the head in her front yard and tried to carry her away.
So those of us in the Inland Empire may not be treated to any group appearances by The Traveling Coyotes. Too dangerous for the group.
Although I doubt they are mangy.
[20 MAY - SARAH LE CLEAR AND WALNUT CREEK.]
I like the way that the Daily Bulletin staff writer(s) described the most recent Pacific Electric Trail Bike-A-Thon.
There was something different at the third annual Pacific Electric Trail Bike-A-Thon on Saturday.
Bicyclists had a trail to ride on.
Sounds like a no-brainer, but this trail is actually a work in progress, and is challenging because each portion of the trail is being developed separately on a city-by-city basis.
Here's Fontana's story, from May 2005:
The City of Fontana was the first City to complete a segment of the 21-mile Pacific Electric Trail that will eventually run through 6 cities including Claremont, Montclair, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana and Rialto.
In September 2004, Fontana celebrated the completion of the downtown segment of the trail that is about three quarters of a mile in length.
The Daily Bulletin article, and the Bike-A-Thon itself, concentrated on the Rancho Cucamonga portion of the trail. See www.pacificelectrictrail.org for more information on this segment.
The only segment with which I'm personally familiar is the Upland segment, but I'm not finding a lot of information about it, other than this 2004 engineering report.
For the Montclair portion, I found a map.
For Rialto, I found a funding request in a March 31, 2008 Press-Enterprise article:
Rialto's portion of a 21-mile recreational trail to Claremont could get the green light tonight if the City Council approves the funds needed to plan and design the westernmost segment.
The Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail is a walking and bicycling path being built on the route of a former streetcar line. The old "Red Cars" of the Pacific Electric system traveled all over Southern California, and Rialto was a stop on its 59-mile, San Bernardino-to-Los Angeles line.
Segments of the new recreational trail already have been built along the old streetcar right-of-way in Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland and Montclair.
But there's a reason for the holdup in Rialto - unlike other portions of the old railbed, Rialto has some track that is still being used:
Railroad tracks remain along the route, which is parallel to and a few blocks north of the Metrolink tracks.
In Rialto, part of the old Pacific Electric route is still used by Union Pacific freight trains, which deliver lumber from Oregon once a week to Orange County Lumber, at 436 W. Rialto Ave.
The company, which owns 14 acres near Lilac Avenue and Rialto Avenue, moved to the site in the early 1990s, said Richard Hormuth, co-owner and president of Orange County Lumber....
That portion of the trail would be part of the project's second phase, a three-quarter-mile segment between Cactus and Riverside avenues. "Options to consider include relocation of the lumber yard ... or reassigning the rail service to Burlington Northern Santa Fe (tracks), south of the lumber yard, and truck (the deliveries) on-site," the Guerra & Associates report said.
"The city has never contacted me," Hormuth said Monday.
So we'll see what happens there.
By the way, there is also a Flickr group called "Friends of the PET".
(A personal aside: this is obviously a story that I never could have covered in my old blog, mrontario. The trail doesn't go through Ontario at all.)
