Another uncooperative case

I love these half stories.

According to the Daily Bulletin, a man was at the corner of D and Sultana on Monday at 11:09 pm when he was approached by two other men. The three men got into an argument, and the first man was shot in the left bicep.

A friend took the victim, whose wounds were not serious, to San Antonio Community Hospital in Upland.

So will the two men be tracked down? Not likely.

The victim, who was not cooperative with police, gave few details about his attackers.

Tent City evictee

Previously I've talked about the challenges that the city of Ontario faces when trying to provide for homeless people in Tent City. Presently, we are also providing for homeless people in other cities. But no more.

The Daily Bulletin ran a story that featured Cathy Miller, a former Rancho Cucamonga resident whose family faced medical, job, and financial problems which caused them to lose their home and their SUV.

It's uncertain what programs other cities have for the homeless, but if Rancho Cucamonga has one, Cathy Miller isn't aware of it. She plans to return to Rancho Cucamonga - possibly to an underpass.

There's a national debate regarding whose fault all of this is, but even Miller notes that people who lost their homes may have themselves to blame for their situation.

They got easy loans and then went out and bought a Humvee. A lot of these young couples don't think. They're going to lose their homes. I think you're going to see a lot more homeless.

And it should be noted that Miller lost her SUV because of an unpaid ticket. However, she did not cause her husband's medical condition that caused him to lose his job.

It's a tough situation.

P.S. I think I finally figured out where all the Hitler tactics conversation came from. It turns out that the new Tent City will be fenced, and no one will be allowed in between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. Whether one regards this as a "concentration camp" depends upon one's point of view about the situation.

Isn't it a little too early to declare success?

Louis Brewster wrote about the Citizens Business Bank Arena, which isn't scheduled to open in Ontario until October. But it's already a success, according to Mayor Paul Leon:

"This is money we've saved," Ontario Mayor Paul Leon said Monday at the unveiling of the Ontario Reign logo. "We are not spending taxpayers' money as it's being built."

The Ontario Reign is a minor league hockey team, and they issued their own press statement about the event:

ONTARIO TAKE COVER, THE REIGN IS COMING
Logo Unveiling Ceremony Conjures Up Excitement Over Impending Season
03/17/2008 2:54 PM

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign Professional Hockey Team of the ECHL and affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, formally unveiled their official logo today at a press conference at the Hilton Ontario Airport Hotel. The historical event marks the official debut of Ontario, California’s first-ever professional sports team.

Today’s ceremony served as an induction of the Reign into the history books of Ontario and included over one hundred and sixty representatives from local cities and organizations throughout the Inland Empire. Speakers included Reign president Barry Kemp and Executive Vice President of Business Development Justin Kemp, Los Angeles Kings President of Business Operations Luc Robitaille, Ontario Mayor Paul Leon and Senator Bob Dutton.

The ceremony unveiled the Reign’s first advertising campaign as well as the team’s primary and secondary logos which will be used for all future branding and marketing initiatives.

Designed by Keith Flynn of Flynnagain Productions out of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, the logo incorporates the Reign’s colors of navy, orange and silver into the design which will be used to brand the team’s image in the Inland Empire.

The logo depicts a sleek, but menacing dragon grasping a hockey stick, set atop an iron shield. The body of the image, the dragon, is colored navy with highlights of orange outlining the wings and head. ‘Ontario Reign’ sits across the middle of the logo in white lettering accented in silver and orange, while the shield in the background is colored silver and rimmed in navy.

The Reign believes that the logo will command a presence in the Inland Empire that promotes a sense of strength, honor and pride of being a part of an outstanding community and encourages an on and off-ice attitude of dedication, determination and action.

“This logo represents everything the Ontario Reign stands for”, said Justin Kemp, Executive Vice President of Business Development for the Ontario Reign. “The fierce image signifies strength, intimidation and power carrying on the Los Angeles Kings’ royal tradition.”

The name ‘Reign’ came from a team naming contest that was held from November through December, 2007 with over 600 entries submitted. The winning entry was submitted by Mike Brewster of Fontana, Calif.

The Reign will begin play of the 2008-2009 season in October at the state-of-the-art Citizens Business Bank Arena with the schedule to be released to the public in the near future.

Can’t wait to check out all the excitement of Ontario Reign Hockey? Season ticket deposits are now being taken for only $25 per seat! For more information contact the Ontario Reign office at (909) 941-PUCK (7825) or log on to www.ontarioreign.com.

The history books of Ontario? Promotion of on and off ice attitudes? I know that you have to talk your product up, but southern California is not really noted for its support of ice hockey. It may be a little premature to declare an Ontario Reign of ice hockey. (And anyway, I'm the emperor around here.)

And as for the Citizens Business Bank Arena, while it's wonderful that I haven't had to pay anything for it yet, we still have to see if people will come to the new arena.

Set for a Fall 2008 opening, Citizens Business Bank Arena will be a state-of-the-art facility that will play host basketball, ice hockey and a variety of other sporting competitions, concerts, family shows, special events, and community activities as well as private events. The venue will be the biggest and most modern arena within the Inland Empire.

Citizens Business Bank Arena will be the centerpiece of Piemonte at the Ontario Center, a massive mixed-use project, with large-scale office, retail, hotel, entertainment and urban living components. Built on a 37-acre footprint in the middle of the project between Haven Avenue and Milliken Avenue and Fourth Street and the I-10 Freeway...

Let me interject something here for those who aren't familiar with the area. Years ago, there was another wonderful sports facility at this same location; namely, the Ontario Motor Speedway. It's gone now. Continue:

...Citizens Business Bank Arena will include 9,500 fixed seats with additional "portable" seating risers to accommodate capacities of 11,089 for concerts, 9,736 for ice hockey and 10,832 for basketball. The 225,000 square foot venue will also feature 36 suites located on two levels and a continuous concourse hosting a variety of refreshment stands and merchandise kiosks, a VIP club and other fan amenities.

Now I've been known to drink the Kool-Aid from time to time. I hope that my mayor and city manager aren't doing the same.

Tent City for One City

The latest on Ontario's Tent City.

Yesterday, Mayor Paul Leon said that people with ties to Ontario may stay in the tent city, but others must leave by Monday (although it appears that there will be a grace period). Wristbands will be distributed to distinguish those who are "known" to be from Ontario, those who claim to be from Ontario, and those who don't claim to be from Ontario.

While there are valid concerns about the strategy, at least one of the reactions was pretty bizarre. Monroe Emmanuel Lee III (a parolee) didn't care for the wristband idea.

That's Hitler tactics. I'm a citizen of the United States. You're not going to put a wristband on me and confine me to a concentration camp.

Um, Mr. Lee, I'm sure that the city of Ontario has no interest in confining you, and would be more than happy to have you leave the camp entirely.

Los Angeles Times Reports on Tent City

In a March 6, 2008 article, the Los Angeles Times states that the city of Ontario is now ticketing and towing away vehicles from Tent City.

Only problem is, people were living in them at the time.

Deputy City Manager Al Boling pointed out that Tent City was never meant to be permanent, and also points out that the city is being overwhelemed with people from other cities.

According to the article, "any camper or motor home that wasn't able to move, was missing major parts or had registration expired longer than six months would be towed in three days unless moved."

Presumably not the hot wings

I have not been to the Wingnuts in northwest Ontario, but now I have an excuse to go.

Wingnuts restaurant is holding a fundraiser for Drashawn Vernon, a Fontana resident who lost her home recently in an arson fire.

The all-day event will take place Friday at 1520 N. Mountain Ave., Ontario.

Wingnuts will contribute at least 20 percent of its above-average proceeds from the day to The Vernon Family Assistance Fund.

Contributions can be sent directly to the fund, c/o Ann Gonzales, P. O. Box 1134, Ontario, CA 91762.

More information: (818) 524-0708.

More information on Wingnuts can be found here.

Gold Line to ONT? Meeting tonight

The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports that a meeting will be held tonight (Wednesday March 5) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Allan G. Smith Educational Services Center, 211 West 5th St. The topic? The Gold Line.

Gold Line authorities will be on hand Wednesday and Thursday nights, in Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga, respectively, to show possible route maps of the line and where stations might be built. They're asking to hear what local residents have to say about the potential routes and stations.

But don't buy your tickets yet. Plans only call for an extension to Montclair by 2017, and this would take place some time after that, if it does.

It's fitting to learn about magnets in a magnet school

There have been some articles in the local papers recently about a new magnet school for science, technology, and mathemmatics. Here's what the Ontario Montclair School District says about the new school:

Vineyard Elementary School will become the new Pre-K through eighth grade OMSD Science /Technology/Math Magnet. Students enrolled in this magnet program will participate in an enriched and integrated math, science and technology curriculum. Students will complete scientific investigations and “hands-on” activities designed to promote a deep understanding and appreciation for mathematical and scientific exploration integrated throughout literature and social studies. With the addition of third grade and seventh grade students in September 2009 and kindergarten through second and eighth grade students in September 2010, the Science/Technology/Math Magnet will become a kindergarten through eighth grade campus within three years.

Sport Clips, Grove & Philadelphia

This was my first visit to a Sport Clips, and the first visit to any sport salon in several years (when I worked in Irvine, I went to Savile Barber).

They offer three levels of haircuts. As a first-time visitor, I got the $22 haircut for $17 - this includes haircut, shampoo, hot towel, and gadget shoulder massage.

The Sport Clip people thought through the design. For example, they have vacuum cleaners hidden in the lockers along the walls, so when they need to vacuum up hair, they just plug a hose inside the locker and vacuum away.

Other than the college basketball game being a blowout, a good experience. And Courtney cleaned me up.

Sport Clips
1150 E. Philadelphia Ave.
Ste. 109
Ontario, CA 91761
+1 909 947 8170
http://www.sportclips.com/