| The EDITORIAL |
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Events of note on the Calendar (04/18/07)
Artist of the Year
Date: Tuesday through April 20
Time: Reception 1-4:30 p.m. March 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tues-Sat
Phone: 951-735-3226
‘Corona Art Association, "Artist of the Year" exhibit features Frances Hollinger Fraser's 30-year compilation
of oil and pastel paintings, Art House Gallery, 510 W. Foothill Parkway, Corona.’
Arts and Crafts Ride
Date: Saturday, April 21, 2007
Time: 12:00pm-3:00pm PDT
URL: http://groups.myspace.com/DerIrregularBicycleSociety
Earth Day 2007 at Dos Lagos
Date: April 22, 2007
Time: 11 a.m. - 3p.m.
Phone: (951) 808-0100
New Orleans Katrina Czar to Address Global Warming
Blakely, a San Bernardino native, will discuss how cities can adapt to changes in the global climate.
Time: Registration for the symposium begins at 1:30 p.m. The program starts at 1:45 p.m. in the
Krikorian Theatre at Dos Lagos, 2710 Lakeshore Drive.
Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill
• Plans to open 2 weeks prior to Father’s Day between May 29th and June 4th.
Tap’s Fish House
• Plans to open between in July 2007
Bored? Try this board (04/11/07)
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In reference to Riverside Homeless Shelter “Inside Riversides Homeless Shelter is a lesson one can only
learn by experience. Sometimes we have different rules for different people. Sometimes there is tolerance,
sometimes not. It all depends on who’s' running the show that day. I must say for the record that violence
has zero tolerance, which makes this place reasonably safe for all. However there are threats of having
ones possessions thrown out for one reason or another. If homeless these possessions are virtually all you
have and a threat of them being discarded for any reason is not right. There are many problems within the
shelter but I believe those problems can be solved if the crew of POL were to actually have a meeting of
minds instead of how the hierarchy is arranged now. Either way the message from this author is the same
KEEP RIVERSIDES HOMELESS SHELTER OPEN...YEAR ROUND!!!!! [Read More]
In reference to Kokopelli’s restaurant at The Crossings at Corona “We had a meal a Kokopelli the other
day and were terribly disappointed. Aside from waiting an eternity for the food (excusable for a new
restaurant) the quality of the meal that finally arrived was quite poor. One important disclaimer here--we
took them at their word and went pretty healthy for our choices. We chose, for instance, to have whole
wheat tortillas instead of regular flour. My complaint is rooted more in the overall blandness of the food. My
Cuban buddy always says, "it's all about the beans Brother!" We chose pinto beans and found them to be
nearly flavorless. Bad beans--bad burrito…[Read More]”
In reference to Tuesday’s storm “I am not sure if this is related but the winds swooped in and picked up
our patio umbrella out of its HUGE base and gently relocated across our yard. Then, as fast as the storm
came in...it moved on out…[Read More]”
In reference to Fix the 15 to the 91 “Does anyone have information about the 15 north to the 91 west
interchange? This location is a drivers NIGHTMARE…[Read More]”
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Video thrilled the Internet Star (04/04/07)
In the ever-expanding universe that is Mycitycorona.com, we have added video to our plethora of
interactive entertainment. Each Wednesday, much in the same fashion as we disseminate our ‘Editorials’,
we will also update our video selection.
In our debut of the ‘Mycitycorona.com YouTube Video of the Week’, we selected one of the more discussed
and celebrated video’s making its rounds on YouTube. It’s called ‘Free Hugs’, it chronicles a 20-something
year old man holding a sign stating “Free Hugs” (walking through what appears to be a mall and/or
shopping center). As it turns out, the Lead Singer of the band featured on the video befriended the ‘Free
Hugs’ man. Videoing him over a span of a year or so, there began their kinship. After some time, the ‘Free
Hugs’ man’s Grandmother was very sick. As a gesture, the Lead Singer created the video montage as a
‘get well card’ video with the music and placed it on YouTube for the man (and presumably, his
Grandmother). Well, 13 million hits later the story/legacy make for quite a story.
Here’s what I want from you…yes, some homework! I can post all of the videos I want but how much fun is
that (I must admit, it is a little fun). I would like to see your videos: vacations, sports, local areas of
interest, blight that needs fixing…I am open to all videos (now, if I post it or not that remains to be seen)!
And, think about it this way you have a chance to reach 1000’s of locals and become a star for the week.
I promise I will try (that is the operative) to keep the video’s ‘family friendly’ but you know the state of the
world these days; someone’s bound to find something to complain about. If that arises, I will do a review
of the complaint and posture as appropriate.
Happy Easter and happy video-ing on Mycitycorona.com!
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Light Notes (03/28/07)
New Parks: Corona has two new parks coming to the City in the coming months, Jameson Park and
Stagecoach Park. You may have seen activity off Foothill Blvd. between Fullerton and Rimpau or Stage
Coach Road near River Road. The parks take the place of some of the older lots gone undeveloped and
provide needed access to the areas rising children population. Stagecoach Park is a 5-acre passive
neighborhood park. The City Council appropriated $2.2 million for design and construction of the park. It is
anticipated construction will start in early winter 2007 and completed in late early summer 2008. Jameson
Park is a 13-acre passive community park. The City received bids for $2.18 million. The construction will be
completed in early summer and there will a 4 month maintenance period after which the park will be open
in fall 2007.
Summer Concert Series: It turns out The Crossings at Corona has a ‘Summer Concert Series’; did you
know? The concerts feature a myriad of different Artists performing FREE concerts every Tuesday through
May 29th in the Grotto area of The Crossings at Corona.
The concerts are as follows:
April 3rd 80 Sense, April 10 JD Priest, April 17th Mark Houston, April 24th Risky Note, May 1st
Michael Chain, May 8th JD Hall, May 15th Mark Houston, May 22nd Brian Stodart and May
29th Super Freaks.
Easter/Easter Egg Activities 2007: Break out the candy, dye your eggs and dust off your bonnet! What,
Easter already…yes, it is true! For anyone wanting to make plans but have not a clue Mycitycorona.com has
assembled a list of area events. If you are aware of any local events we would love to hear about them
HERE!
• Henry’s Farmers Market invites junior shoppers to scour the aisles of their favorite natural
foods store during its annual Easter Egg Hunt.
• The Clark Team Easter event Sunday April 1st at Mountain Gate park. Will have the Easter
bunny for pictures, a bounce house/slide, arts and crafts and of course an Easter egg hunt
(2500 eggs scattered on the grass areas). For details please call the Clark Team at 800-
CLARK-TEAM.
• Sycamore Creek in the Park will be hosting an event on Easter April 8th.
• South Hills Church will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 7th. For details
please call the South Hills Church at (951) 734-4141.
• Children's Fair at McVicker Park (29355 Grand Ave) from 9 am - 1 pm on the 7th.
• Lake Elsinore Outlet Center will have an event on April 6th, including making an Easter
Basket and hunting eggs.
• Montclair Plaza Easter Bunny photos, today through April 7, 5060 Montclair Plaza Lane,
Montclair, 909-626-2501.
• Spring Eggstravaganza form 8 am - 12 pm at Cal Oaks on Saturday April 7th.
• Easter Bunny photos Saturday through April 7, Galleria at Tyler, 1299 Galleria at Tyler St.,
Riverside, 951-351-3112.
• A Free Easter Egg Hunt For children age 2 to 12 is set for 9 a.m. March 31 at Sunnymead
Park, 12655 Perris Blvd., Moreno Valley. A special egg hunt will be available for the physically
challenged. Bring a basket. In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled to April 7.
Information: 951-413-3280.
• Easter egg hunt, safety fair set The Friends of Nuevo Community Council is sponsoring a
safety fair and Easter egg hunt March 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 32233 Contour Road,
Nuevo. Representatives from Riverside County will answer questions on safety issues. There
will also be food and games, including an Easter bonnet contest, egg toss and egg in spoon
races. The Easter bunny will be available for pictures. Baskets for the egg hunt are $1.
Information: Sharon Banks, 951-928-9666.
• Easter Musical "More than Just a Man" Easter musical is set for 4 p.m. Sunday at CrossWord
Christian Church, 14950 Riverside Drive near March Air Reserve Base. Information: 951-697-
8803.
• Spring Egg hunts in various parks beginning at 10 am on the 7th., including Ronald Regan
Sports Park, Paloma Del Sol Park, Temeku Hills Park, and Harveston Community Park.
Ronald Regan Sports Park will include a Special Needs area.
• Promenade in Temecula Easter Bunny photos, Saturday through April 7, 40820 Winchester
Road, Temecula, 951-296-0975.
Temescal Canyon Road and Miguel’s growing BIG (03/21/07)
And no, it’s not the beans and rice!
Sometime ago, July 2006 to be specific, I shared that Miguel’s was planning a major
expansion of it operations along Temescal Canyon Road. Included in their plans were a
state-of-the-art kitchen/corporate office building and Miguel’s Jr. We also were the first to
report that Miguel’s Restaurant signed a lease at The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos.
You could imagine my interest and others surrounding these plans since Temescal Canyon
Road is vastly becoming a thoroughfare for housing, retail and future development. The
location itself is centered in an affluent enclave of South Corona bordering the Dos Lagos
Development, The Retreat, Sycamore Creek and the upcoming Toscana Marketplace.
Miguel’s Corporate Office/Kitchen
Miguel’s Corporate Office/Kitchen (Plot Map) * Notice the new Miguel’s Jr. marked ‘Future’
Miguel’s Corporate Office/Kitchen (Aerial Map)
Miguel’s Restaurant at The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos
All this writing is making me hungry, I think I am going to run down and grab a Carne Asada
Potato Burrito, bottled water and call it a day!
* Have information worth sharing? Tell us HERE!
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Art for Thought (03/14/07)
The Corona Art Association is honoring their 2006-2007 Artist of the Year Exhibit, featuring Frances
Hollinger Fraser's 30 year compilation of her oil and pastel paintings. The show opens March 27th thru April
20th, 2007, at the ART HOUSE GALLERY in Corona Heritage Park, 510 W. Foothill Parkway (one block W. of
Main St.) There will be a reception for the artist on Sat. March 31st, 1pm-4:30pm, at the ART HOUSE
GALLERY, where the public may attend. Refreshments will be served, no admission. The gallery is open
Tues-Sat, 10am-2pm. Phone: Gallery, 951-735-3226 or Jill, 951-898-9554.
Frances grew up in a family that enjoyed music, poetry and painting. Art music and literature continue to
serve as her inspiration as she learns something new every day. She has studied with outstanding
instructors including Betty Edwards of California State University-Long Beach; Shinjiro Nakamura, Tokyo,
Japan; and William Yelland of Orange, Ca.
Frances holds a lifetime membership in the Art Students League of New York and she has developed her
skills through portrait work starting in New York Central Park and at the Metropolitan Museum in New York
City. She has also done portraits in Knott's Berry Farm, Disneyland, Movie Wax Museum, and Calico Ghost
Town. She has demonstrated pastel portraits in over 120 cities and also for Sennellier Pastels. She assisted
in the beginning of the Norco Western Art Show in Norco. Frances has traveled widely across the country
during her career and has continued to be a distinguished member of the Southern California art
community for decades.
In addition to her work on display at the CAA exhibit, she also has paintings on exhibit at Best of Show
Framers in Norco, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the Bank of America in Norco.
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Valentine’s Surprise (03/07/07)
I would like to share a personal story about this past Valentine’s Day.
I had planned to surprise my Wife, by taking her to lunch and a movie on Saturday February 10th before
Valentine’s Day. You see we had not been out together in over a year; it was to be nothing extravagant but
a needed break from our toddler. I wanted to give her a care-free day without the worries of staying at
home with him and give ourselves sometime to re-introduce ourselves. Life has a funny way of throwing
curve balls when everything has been planned!
My Son was sick on the Tuesday prior, I was sick on Thursday and my Wife was sick all night Thursday into
Friday; it seems my plans were foiled and Murphy’s Law would have prevailed. I had stayed home to care
for my Wife and Son (as it would it happen he got sick again Friday morning).
Saturday morning came and the notion of going to Villa Amalfi for Italian and Krikorian Theater for a
movie, hot buttered popcorn seemed unrealistic; no way would she be up to it! But, as things would work
out I shared my plans in small detail, she opted to try it (sparring herself the Italian Food). We went to see
the Will Smith movie The Pursuit of Happiness; no one warned me that this movie was based around a
Father and his Son. Well, since we have not been away from our Son long since he was born…it may have
not been the best movie selection! Our eyes welled, and we missed him even more!
In the end, everything worked out great…we had a nice meal at Panera Bread and opted to celebrate later
when we felt up to it.
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Dos Lagos...
Pictures found on the web (02/28/07)
Sometimes there are pictures you come across on the web that you selfishly have to share!
These are some pictures with a 'professional' touch.
Enjoy...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/typicalpcuser/sets/72157594560601237/show/
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Dos Lagos...Here comes Phase II (02/21/07)
There is big news coming for The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos and the residents of Corona , CA .
There are the restaurants, the shops, the housing and the business center being built on Temescal Canyon
Boulevard . Visitors to The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos have been slow to come based on the lack of
eateries, restaurants and big anchor stores; on the weekends more than the weekdays. Krikorian, the
movie theater has been opened and the restaurant structures are being put up quickly. And now, we are
further preparing for a Phase II of The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos.
I have learned some interesting facts throughout the process of the opening of The Promenade Shops at
Dos Lagos and much of the surrounding area. The latest information relates to the opening of some
restaurants and big Phase II store news.
- Trader Joe’s has been substantially expanding their initial site (that is exciting for everyone who
loves Trader Joe’s and plans to shop there).
- Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill plans to open 2 weeks prior to Father’s Day on June 4th.
- Tap’s Fish House plans to open between the weeks of mid-May to June 1st (high prices but pretty
good food in an upscale environment).
- ‘The Counter’, a self-described “…21st century’s bold answer to the classic burger joint. Ushering in a
fresh era of industrial decor, today’s music, cold beer, unique wines, cocktails, and burger options
that are only limited by your imagination” is scheduled to open directly across from the Krikorian
Theater (Love the burger, this is the place!)
- Phase II: Crate & Barrel has signed a preliminary lease to come to The Promenade Shops at Dos
Lagos (Love the store and plan to shop it)!
- Phase II: REI Sports has signed a preliminary lease to come to The Promenade Shops at Dos
Lagos. For anyone with additional information on The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos, e-mail us
HERE (we would enjoy hearing from you)!
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Paint THIS twit! (02/14/07)
I want to share an experience that occurred recently that is indicative of today’s society and in part Corona,
CA.
There have been strides and pull-backs to the (re)development of older parts of Corona, CA. Sixth Street
is a glowing example of what could be, Main Street is a wonderful example of what could be accomplished
and Temescal Canyon is a pivotal example about what will be! I am sure many of you in your haste to get
somewhere drive on these streets; perhaps you are not even aware what street it is but you are traveling
down it! I drive Sixth Street almost daily for one reason or another; post office, Fat Daddy’s BBQ, whatever!
I am fully aware and overly critical at times about the older areas of Corona, CA. not keeping up with the
fervor-paced new development occurring around our city. For anyone who has been to Atlantic City you can
really see the dichotomy between the rich and poor areas; which happen to be directly across the street
from each other (an extreme example but meaningful nonetheless).
There is a building on the corner of Sixth Street and Smith Street that has been an eyesore ever since I
have seen it. Its tenants have included an Answering Service, Floral and Scooter/Moped shop. I always
thought it would be a great location for a coffee shop where locals could gather for a ‘good’ cup of coffee,
chat and where local artists could collaborate; that was the idealistic side of me speaking. Hell, I like coffee
especially one that competes with Starbuck’s at a lower price…anyway, I digress! The building has recently
been in a state of turnover with the floral shop posting signs saying “We were moving”. My eyebrows rose
quickly, “Could this be the start of the great Sixth Street revitalization we have all been quenching for?”
The shops went vacant and minor construction began taking place; pavement improvements, improved
handicap access, tinting of the windows and even an exterior paint job! I was excited for the building and
the general area surrounding Sixth Street, a new beginning!
The paint is drying and the signage quickly goes into place, ‘T-Mobile’! T-Mobile, the cell phone company…”
OK, that’s progress”, I think! Not 24-36 hours after that building was painted (white, with a gray high-top
trim) does there appear something that absolutely makes my blood boil (Tagging or Graffiti). “What small
minded twit would have spray-painted this building?” I exclaim. My first thought was the General Contractor’
s face, I can imagine the kind of language he used…I think we may have shared some common words! I
just completely do not comprehend the act of defacing property for kicks, especially when you reside in the
general area. Are these kids with too much time on their hands; is this a gang marking their territory (the
Verizon or Cingular gang claiming their territory over that of T-Mobile)?
Here are my suggestions for fighting graffiti: “amend existing property-crime city ordinances to require
mandatory community service as part of the sentence in graffiti cases. How about tying the amount of
community service to the cost of damage? The more costly the damage, the more community service that
must be performed, up to some maximum number of hours or period of months. Send a strong message
of non-tolerance. In addition to the potential for fines and jail time, graffiti offenders should be forced to
remove other graffiti, pick up trash, scrub down public restrooms, paint, plant flowers, and whatever the
city's needs in those areas.”
What do YOU think? By the way, Happy Valentines Day!
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The Press Win-No-Prise! (02/07/07)
I want to pose a question: Are you happy with the Press Enterprise?
I receive the Press Enterprise, that’s when I receive it. The articles are typically delivered for what I will
describe as a ‘small-town reader’ in mind and between what happened on the freeway or the local court
update you might find something interesting to bite onto! Sometimes the obituaries contain more of my
attention than the very local section we ‘rely’ on to deliver us smart, in-depth and useful news. Here’s is
where I say I don’t (entirely) blame the Writer’s of the stories; but they should share some blame if I am
yawning or skipping over their work.
Note to the Press Enterprise: The Inland Empire is an increasingly melding pot of extremely savvy ex-
Orange County readers who have come to rely on a high level of intellectual fertilization! Without those
fertile offerings, they will move on to other news source, periodical.
Recently the Press Enterprise has introduced ‘Blog Spot’ (their catchy, edgy or somewhat dry catch-all name
for their entry into the blogosphere) to discuss everything from the commuting, religion, entertainment,
local music to the environment (see attached picture and please tell me if the shoe fits the foot).
Unfortunately, when a corporation runs a process they sometimes cut corners in order to be apart of the
latest, greatest fad; in my opinion better care could have been given to not just jumping on the bandwagon
but taking their time and do it right!
Which leads me to my final rant, the Press Enterprise website; I would have loved to have been a fly on the
wall for this project! Ok, I am open for my own criticism here since I run a website but really the execution
and testing in my opinion is substandard. It is a mind-field of loosely thought through navigation and
where did the continuity get left behind? Besides accessing pages that start mid-way down the page is there
constant and over-indulgent advertising; pop-ups and pop-unders, banners and other content that at the
end of the experience leaves me exhausted.
Sigh, Grumble, sigh!
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Anthropologie, Part II (01/31/07)
What you do not expect is what you get and what you get is pure Anthropologie in their latest installment
at The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos. Yes, we made one of those ‘quickie’ trips to The Promenade Shops
at Dos Lagos to check out Anthropologie and about 3 hours (and many less dollars) later we were ready to
leave. You see, my Wife has a problem and she needs to seek help; shopping that is! And now with an
Anthropologie near it’s as if the store is talking to her; “Come visit me…”, “Bring your wallet…”, “your
Husband won’t mind” (I listen but only hear the Mailman delivering my American Express bill…OUCH!).
At first blush, the outside façade is concealing of all of its inside secrets (secret buys, that is). The outside
is a window-frosters delight, with ivy dripping off the roof…very Urban and very indicative of Anthropologie!
The doorway is immediately flanked above the customers head by a massive door-guard that should the
earth move in the wrong way I would not want to be under; but that’s just me. Enter the store and your jaw
drops…ours did! Anthropologie has encapsulated the Inland Empire experience, particularly our little
Corona/Norco region with a solarium dedication to the Orange Groves. The solarium features a centered
orange tree inter-mixed with (real) growing moss ground cover in about a 6 x 15 glass box. As if the store
took consideration of this one tree and built around it.
so•lar•i•um (noun): A room, gallery, or glassed-in porch exposed to the sun.
The store is not cheap…be prepared to go in with that notion. But, if you are willing to forego those Latte’s
or order a water instead of cola for a month you will be ok (and think of the calories I have just saved your
body; your welcome). Interlined with the regular gamut of clothing, bath items and whatnots are items like
a $2,800 antique tub, $2,200 antique desk and things that are special only to the ‘experience’ of an
Anthropologie store.
My Wife heard snippets from customers walking around saying “They carry weird things…” or “they are really
expensive…”; and you know what, both are somewhat true but compared to what? I am gathering that a lot
of people are not going to understand the Anthropologie experience. But, having said that I would enjoy
seeing the store packed with curious eyes and open wallets.
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Dishing the dirt on Dos Lagos (01/24/07)
From time to time I come across great information that can not merely sit with me and I have to share with
all of you…so here goes the dirt on The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos!
Anthropologie: For those who do not read the message board, Anthropologie at The Promenade Shops at
Dos Lagos will be opening Friday January 26th. For those of you who have never been into an
Anthropologie it is a mix of Shabby Chic meets flea market meets Estate Sale boutique. It happens to be
my Wife’s favorite store (don’t let me under-value the word favorite…it’s borderline fanatical). When you
are approaching Z-Gallerie and meet up with Anthropologie don’t be shy or intimidated…walk in and
discover the store (you might thank me)! On a side-note…could Phase II of The Promenade Shops at Dos
Lagos bring us an Urban Outfitters (Hmmmm!!!).
Wood Ranch BBQ: A little birdie (ok, a big birdie) told me that the Grand Opening date for the restaurant is
June 4th, 2007. Obviously, these kinds of announcements always go along with the preface that delays
may occur. But, in talking to my feathered friend I was reassured that will not be an option. Why, Father’s
Day is June 17th (nearly two weeks after the proposed Grand Opening) and that is their busiest day of the
year! Go figure…Meat, Ribs, Chicken and Fish mixed with a Hip-Hip-Hooray for being a Dad (makes sense
to me)! The restaurant stands to be a great fixture on the Lakes with its patio water-facing and the wall
between the dining room and the patio being nearly all glass! Renderings of the Wood Ranch BBQ may be
found HERE (under ‘Restaurants’).
Here’s some more dirt (really): The ground breaking for the Lakeshore Plaza at Dos Lagos will be occurring
next month. The 3 class-A office buildings with create needed infrastructure and jobs in the region; the
white-collar positions many of the regions workers commute to Orange County to perform. We have
assembled some new renderings that give more perspective on how it will look once it is completed; click
HERE (under ‘Office’)
Polls: If polls are any indication of the perception (they are) of the overall experience at Dos Lagos this
Christmas…then people are all over the place with their feelings! They want to wait on Phase II, think it’s
‘OK’ but they are waiting for the restaurants (aren’t we all) and think The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos
was poorly planned. I have had discussions with Employees, Managers and some Owners/Insiders and they
all communicate one thing with a slamming punctuation: “Where are the restaurants?”.
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Message Board (01/17/07)
The message is a-buzz, here is a sampling of what people are saying:
“This is a great way to earn extra money & make new friends. I am a advanced unit leader & top selling
Avon representative, selling for over 17 years. With Avon I have been able to be a stay at home mom. I
have earned many trips and can help you do the same…” [Read More]
(Regarding Rosine’s) “I can't believe more people haven't written about this place. Having moved from the
Burbank/Studio City area, I miss all the ethnic food choices available. I just about jumped up and down
with excitement when I saw a Mediterranean restaurant coming to town. I was definitely not dissapointed!
Their food is great…” [Read More]
(Regarding killing of Dominic Redd) “Dominics killing was sad and tragic, but suing the school district and
condominium complex is wrong and contradicts his fathers earlier comments...” [Read More]
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MY-MY SPACE (01/10, 2007)
The internet is a vast and sometimes daunting place! Where else can you purchase snowballs for $200
(Ebay), or upload a video showing off that one of a kind ‘Nose harmonica’ or even instant message
someone across the world! It’s great…heck, I am talking to you right now and I have the ability to say
nothing more than blah, blah, blah (that’s what you hear anyway when you read my pieces). I bring this up
because ‘You’ were voted the person of the year for 2006 by Time Magazine. Why are you so important,
and why does Time Magazine care? Because in the paradigm that is Mass Marketing we have been given
the keys to a generational vehicle and not only did we suit up, buckle ourselves in and roar down the
highway but we took out a couple pedestrians in the process! What am I talking about…MYSPACE!
MYSPACE developed from the likely notion that you as a consumer (or more typically your Son and/or
Daughter) wanted a virtual place to hang out and share things with friends. Think of it as the hideaway tree
house where you go to talk about a crush or a problem or the latest Pop sensation (except MYSPACE is all
virtual). There are now many replications of the MYSPACE concept but in the early days where else could
you go to decorate your space, play music, show videos, connect with friends and join groups! It seems
everyone from Celebrities, to Politicians, to business Owners to geeks like myself have MYSPACE
accounts…147,083,258 people can’t be wrong!
Mycitycorona.com has a MYSPACE account and has maintained one for sometime. I would invite anyone
reading this who has a MYSPACE account to add themselves to my friend requests and I assure you that I
will check out your site! I am featuring a band name Mew from Denmark (who knows, you may like the
song).
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Art for Thought (01/03/07)
The Corona Art Association will host their monthly open meeting at 7 p m on Jan. 9, 2007. The meeting will
be held in the new Art House Gallery at Corona Heritage Park, 510 W. Foothill Blvd. (one block W. of Main
St.) Following a brief business meeting, Pasadena artist Ms Chris Cozen from Golden Paint Company will
give an informative demonstration covering the application of acrylic paints. All those attending will receive
free product samples and a literature packet, including hand-painted color charts. Light refreshments will be
served.
Info: call Pres. Ira Yawnick, 951-206-0222 or Jill Jones, 951-898-9554.
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Light Notes (12/27/06)
Camille’s Café: For anyone who does not keep up with the Mycitycorona.com Message Board, I reported
that Camille’s Café will be closing sometime after the New Year. While I was surprised, others were less
surprised by the owner’s decision “After much debate and sleepless nights, we have decided to close
Camille's at the end of the year.” At one time not long ago, they were slated to be apart of The
Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos.
Corona Orchard II: The Corona Orchard II Shopping Center at the corner of Ontario and California is open
(sort of)! Rubio’s Taco’s, Juice it Up, FedEx Kinko’s and Long’s Drug Store are some offerings. Rubio’s (our
favorite San Felipe fried-fish place) was visited over the weekend and yes, it was great! In fact, they have a
nice patio area off Ontario that will serve well during the summer when you are chugging Pacifico and fried-
fish. Long’s Drug Store is done well and has that new-drug store smell!
Rimpau and Jameson Park: Rimpau Park is now open at the corner of Ontario and Rimpau. From my
limited view driving by I can tell you it looks very nice and cleans up what used to be a dirt lot. For those
who do not remember and/or are new members of our city the park was built from a co-opt development
arrangement where a Funeral Home/Crematorium will be built adjacent (Thomas Funeral Home foot the
bill). Up the hill a bit, Jameson Park just off Foothill Blvd near Fullerton Avenue is being prepared where a
dirt lot has sit since my arrival in 1999. Jameson Park has been an idea floating around for years and it’s
exciting the city is now in a position to deliver on its promise.
Christmas Wrap-Up: There is never a shortage of grumpy people, pushy shoppers and short-of-patience
employees. Not to forget the shooting and separate kidnapping off the 15 freeway; what is our little region
coming to? The Christmas message Christmas Eve at church turns into a rant about George W. Bush, where
did that come? We shopped leading up until the 25th of December and were struck about a couple of
things. Corona, Norco, Eastvale residents can’t get enough of Target (including my Wife, she should know
all of the Cashier’s names by now). Corona, Norco, Eastvale residents love their Christmas lights and lawn
decorations. Starbuck’s Coffee taste better in December…it’s true!
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A sampling of the Message Board (12/06/06)
* “We checked out "Three Square Bistro" in the "Stacks" shopping center off Hidden Valley this morning.
The restaurant has been open a few weeks and currently is offering lunch and dinner. In a few weeks they
will open at 7:00 am for breakfast as well.
I have to tell you that I really liked this place. Granted, I haven't tried very much on the menu but I was
very pleased with our meal today. My wife had a beef stir-fry and I had their chicken fried steak with garlic
mashed…[Read More]”
* “Ontario Weather Service Special Weather Statement
Monday, December 4, 2006 10:30 PM
Special Weather Statement
Some light to moderate but not damaging Santa Ana winds could happen Thursday Morning…[Read More]”
* “The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos will be hosting a Certified Farmer's Market every Wednesday
evening from 5 - 9pm. Come out with the whole family for farm fresh produce, lively music, entertainment
for the kids, great food…[Read More]”
* “So my first post is a bit mercenary. Have to start somewhere.
I'm an Inland Empire Attorney (7 years plus experience) who left the practice for a few years and is now
coming back. Looking to network with anyone, Attorney or Non-Attorney, and maybe discover a new
practice…[Read More]”
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Dos Crossings (11/29/06)
Always the purveyor of good information that (of course) I feel is helpful, let me share some more tidbits
about The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos and The Crossings at Corona.
The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos: With all of their boutique shops they have added to their assortment
with a Wednesday evening ‘Open Air’ Farmer’s Market. With fresh vegetables, fruits, cooked specialty
foods, flowers, entertainment for the kids and so much more. The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos Farmer’
s Market runs from 5-9 Wednesday evenings and is located in the southwest parking lot. I have always
believed Corona was missing that community spot where locals would gather every week; now Corona has
such a place! For more information, click HERE or take the time to visit our Dos Lagos directory webpage.
Speaking of directories, do I have a directory to share with you! The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos
directory does a really nice job of segmenting the stores and make it easy for you to shop! From Banana
Republic to Express to Victoria Secret to future sites like Trader Joe’s, Miguel’s Restaurant and Taps Fish
House you are bound to find your favorite! For more information, click HERE or take the time to visit our
Dos Lagos directory webpage.
Cascades, the Active adults of 55 or older condominium community, currently sits like a blank canvas
adjacent to The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos. The site will offer a walking path, whirl-pool spa, multi-
purpose room and gym (sounds nicer than my home). For a first look at Cascades condominium
community, click HERE or take the time to visit our Coming Soon webpage. Additionally, Dos Lagos Lake
shore Plaza, the (17-acre 2-building 4-story) office building solution sits to the side of Cascades
condominium community and The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos. For a first look at Dos Lagos Lake
shore Plaza, take the time to visit our Coming Soon webpage.
The Crossings at Corona: This past Saturday evening we had the pleasure to sit and listen to the All-
American Boys Choir when The Crossings at Corona Christmas Tree lighting took place. It was nippy (go
figure after I made mention how hot it’s been; Murphy’s Law), busy with anticipation and cordial. After all,
this is my Sons first Christmas and the Rock Star of all Rock Star’s (Santa, who else) was going to be there.
He was enamored with the glitter of lights, the belting of song and appearance of ‘the strange bearded
man’. For anyone who did not have the opportunity to get down to The Crossings at Corona Saturday
evening, I snapped some pictures to share. To see the pictures, take the time to visit our Mycitycorona.
com Pictures webpage.
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Pass the suntan lotion, it’s Thanksgiving! (11/22/06)
Did I miss the memo that said this holiday called for shorts, suntan lotion and sunglasses?
Let me generalize for a second: Thanksgiving is supposed to be spent layered up (at the very least lightly)
in the throws of a food-diabetic-coma clamoring about how ‘brisk’ it is outside and how you really miss
those long summer days. Well my friends, those long summer days never left us! Don’t get me wrong, it
will have exactly zero affect on my appetite!
As you are sitting down to your traditional Thanksgiving meal, remember to say a prayer (for cooler
weather) and remember stretchable waist pants are not embarrassing (they are a savior)!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your Family!
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Light Notes (11/15/06)
Passive paradise: Anyone with a history of Corona knows Paradise Nursery. Off the 15 Freeway, the place
where you go to buy your roses. The place where you get lost perusing through the jungle of shrubs, trees,
ground cover and whatnot. I was and still am a tad anguished to see they are closing as a result of ‘land
sold’. Does no one appreciate the simplicity and grandeur of a nursery? And I am not talking about a
Home Depot or a Lowe’s nursery; I would not insult you that way! Only at a nursery can you find those
‘native’ plants that only the ‘native’ workers would understand and be able to explain. Try asking a Home
Depot or Lowe’s employee about a nursery questions and they can barely guide you to the restroom!
COMMENT
Here are some names to remember: Town and Country, Seven Oaks and now Paradise Nursery. These are
all nurseries that have been displaced, will be displaced and/or will eventually close!
Lexus Lanes: Do you realize that the 91 Express Lanes and the 241 Freeway are nicknamed the ‘Lexus
Lanes’? That quip stuck with me this week as the media was discussing future toll lanes. Somehow, in the
fog of traveling between Orange County and the Inland Empire, the Inland Empire tolls lanes have been
given this distinction. A toll lane for the hoity-toity types with Lexus’s (this is the part where I unroll my
window and ask for Grey Poupon)! The name should be ‘Lethargic Lanes’, ‘Lacking Speed Lanes’ or ‘Late
for Dinner Lanes’. COMMENT
Holiday’s, really? Having recently had a baby, I am also shocked at how fast time flies. I came to the
realization that next week is Thanksgiving; yes, I was shocked. Where did my time go, who stole it and
how do I get it back? I am not ready for Thanksgiving and I am not ready for Christmas immediately
following. Is there something sturdy and bolted down that I can hold on to make it slow down? (Sigh!)
COMMENT
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Light Notes: Post Election 11/08/06
Voting (for shorter lines): Last night we ventured out to vote driving to the ‘usual’ place we normally vote.
Seems we should have read the print on the back of our sample ballot as they had switched the location
where we were supposed to vote; our mistake. All these years voting at the same place and now they
switch it. Normally, this is a fairly easy process (in, out and on to the next location). But with a 9 month old,
the dynamics of a quick and simple jaunt is not to be had. We made our way to the ‘New’ location since we
wanted to fulfill our civic duty. We were met by a gentleman coming out warning us it was going to be 45
minute wait. Nothing like a 45 minute wait when you have a 9 month old (he exudes patience). We found
the voting process this year a little more congested than previous years; the 91 freeway if you will. We were
given an option to fill out a paper ballot (yes, I said paper…it still exists), which we completed and
submitted into the bin. So, from me to you I am gratified I do not have to listen to an ad, see an ad or
think about one for the next 30 days until the 2008 Presidential Race kicks off.
The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos: Sometimes when we are so focused on the big picture we overlook the
small wonders right before our eyes. The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos, were designed to be a
spectacular shopping venue the likes the area has never seen. In all of the attention to the building
façade, landscape and homes I noticed something very small and noticeably curious! Gold Fish in the
Lakes (or Carp as it was explained to me). Now, “fish in lakes”, what is he talking about? The original plan
was for the Lakes to have Fountains in the center for spectators to admire. But, as Murphy’s Law would
have it the gold fish suddenly appeared preventing the use of the fountains. It seems some of the early
Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos Guards took it upon themselves to purchase the fish and place them in
the Lakes. So, what’s the problem…just run the fountains, right? The way it was explained to me is that the
fountains can not be used due to its restriction of oxygen (that helps keep the growth of algae and other
plant growth to a very minimum). Quite a quandary! So, the fish are getting a reprieve and being allowed
to stay. Ducks, fish and shoppers all co-existing!
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Polls, Holes and Moles (11/01/06)
Polls: October’s polls on Mycitycorona.com were anything but close, with interesting results worth sharing!
74% of the voters believe there is an illegal immigration issue, with 18% saying there is no problem and
only 5% were not sure. On the November 7th campaign front, 74% will be voting in Riverside County while
11% believe ALL Politicians are corrupt (that says a little something about our governing body). And should
you believe the early polls, Stan Skipworth will win in a landslide while incumbents Karen Speigel/Eugene
Montanez and newcomer Phil BREITENBUCHER all received 7%. As a note, I received 3 votes and I just want
to thank those to took the time to vote for me; I am honored!
Holes: It’s that time of year…when the city sets out to fills all of the (expletive) potholes that grace us on
the way through the city to get home! Dare we blame the harsh weather conditions…no; I blame the
weather, in part. The real crux of the problem is all of the drivers cutting through the city to ‘save some
time’! They save time and we reel the problems of torn up roads, clogged freeway entrances and increased
noise/pollution. Here’s my solution and it will eventually pay for itself: Toll stations on all of the freeway
entrances! Corona, Norco, Eastvale, and Temescal Valley residents will receive a ‘credit’ against their
charges. While drivers cutting through the city will be dinged and the city will reap the benefits! Yes, I know
the upfront charges are staggering but the long-term benefits could make up for it.
Moles: Anyone catch the wiretapping story in the Press Enterprise? It had all of the makings of a normal
day in Washington, D.C. or a good Nixon transcript. A candidate running for a 2nd term on the City Council
and her powerful Husband who oversees the Chamber of Commerce mixed in with accusations and
investigations. Who knows the truth; I will leave that up to Joe Public. Read it HERE!
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Light Notes (10/25/06)
Changes: For anyone with a keen sense of observation, you may have noticed that we have made some
changes to Mycitycorona.com. If you take a moment to look straight up to the top of the page we have
placed a new banner that better reflects the website. Additionally, we have added the ‘Mycity’ URL tag to
Norco, Eastvale, Mira Loma and Chino Hills among others. Eastvale, Mira Loma, Norco and Chino
Hills…welcome! We feel this new focus will enable our staff to deliver improved content and larger benefits
to the ‘community’ as a whole.
Pictures: Mycitycorona.com has recently added a pictures webpage that is INTERACTIVE! You can giveth and
you taketh (add pictures or just view them)! Personally, I know how many people visit Mycitycorona.com but
I would love to see what you, your pets or your city look like. It is simple and quick…if a dummy like me
can do it so can you! If you feel you can not add the pictures yourself, please e-mail me and I will do it for
you! See, that was easy!
Halloween: The Staff, Sponsors and Affiliates of Mycitycorona.com want to wish you a fun and safe
Halloween 2006 (since the next editorial will not post until Wednesday November 1st). And, remember to
brush! If you are doing something fun or want to recommend something, do it HERE!
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Halloween 2006 (10/18/06)
With Halloween coming up, I wanted to send out a plea: Mycitycorona.com wants your Halloween pictures to
share! From the cute to the scary to the absurd…we don’t care and we would love to share them with the
community! You see, each Halloween my Wife and I dress up as (FILL IN THE BLANK) and hand out candy.
You can say it’s a reclaiming of our childhood innocence and it is fun to see the reactions on both the kids
and their parent’s faces! We take pictures and it is always fun to look back!
On top of that, we decorate the house with the scarecrows, tombstones and spider webs that ultimately gets
a “That’s cool” from the neighborhood kids. The night of is spent setting up the fog machine, scary music
and strobe machines to give the house its due spooky-justice!
This is where I slow down…with a 9-month old, the attention (and time) has shifted from the hours of
preparation to just barely getting things up and hoping for time to ‘do the rest’! This year, we have not
decided yet on the traditional dressing up or taking our Son around to experience it for himself; maybe we
will do both?
Again, Mycitycorona.com wants your Halloween pictures to share! From the cute to the scary to the
absurd…we don’t care and we would love to share them with the community!
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The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos; a shopper’s perspective (10/11/06)
By Guest Writer**
A sales clerk at Coach asked how I liked the new shopping center. At that moment, a billion words came to
mind. Okay, it was less than a billion. Nevertheless, I wasn’t sure how to respond. Do I give the obligatory
excited response not to shatter his happiness, or do I tell him what I really think. I said it was nice as I
looked away.
The truth is I was very excited. I, like most people, probably saw an article in The Press Enterprise or the
various press releases listing the retailers and restaurants to occupy phase one of the Promenade Shops.
My excitement quickly turned to mixed-emotion once I arrived opening day.
Salsa Mar opening in a month, RA Sushi opening soon, Maui Wowi, Urban Thai to name a few sounded
exciting and new. Where was I going to have lunch? Not one restaurant was open for business. What a
missed opportunity for the restaurants. Instead, one end of the center parking lot was blocked off for
‘meals on wheels’ at concert prices. The restaurant owners at The Crossings at Corona should have hired
people to walk the center with sandwich boards or passing out flyers promoting their restaurants and
pushing the dollars their direction.
A highly anticipated shop people wanted to visit was Trader Joe’s. In its place were giant walls saying
“Coming Soon”. This is a great alternative or supplement to your regular grocer. People might compare
them to Henry’s, but there really is no comparison. Both can play in the same yard and not get hurt. It will
be quite exciting once Trader Joe’s opens. *One awesome product they carry is in their frozen food aisle. It
is the microwavable brown rice. 3 minutes and it’s done! That’s certainly faster than steaming it for 45 – 50
minutes. And it is delicious!
Francesca’s Collections is a cute little boutique that’s worth mentioning. It holds in it’s tiny space sparkly
jewelry, neat little odds and ends for your purse, knick knacks for your home, small gifts to buy for your
friends and much more. You should check it out.
Finally, Corona is making its mark on the upscale/boutique shopping experience. People were caught up in
the excitement of a new shopping center with ‘O.C. and L.A.’ businesses that have ignored Riverside
County for so long. The current crown jewel of the Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos, in my opinion, is Z
Gallerie. This store is one of the few full sized, well merchandised stores at the center, and will do very well.
I also have high hopes due to the presence of another store that will be “coming soon”: Anthropologie.
They have unique, vintage/flea market, yet modern apparel and accessories aimed at the 30–40 year old
woman. They also carry home goods that you will not see at a mass retailer. They select their locations
carefully and it is for that reason I believe the Promenade Shops will end up being something Corona can
be proud of.
I look forward to what phase two holds. The Limited, H & M, Pottery Barn, Baby Style, and/or Sephora? The
possibilities are endless…
**Due to space limitations, the Author was restricted in the topics covered by the article. Please post any
additional thoughts that may have been missed on the Inland Empire Message Board.
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Light notes with a side of hash-browns (10/04/06)
Mycitycorona.com makes History: Monday, we achieved a record number of visitors to Mycitycorona.com and
we wanted to thank YOU! Not only did we receive a record number of visitors but we doubled (yes, doubled)
our average number. I can only speculate that someone whispered we were giving away $100 bills or was
sharing the recipe for Coke on the website. There are a plethora of choices on the internet and we are
gratified that you spend time here with us!
On that same note, we also shattered our numbers for September and each month proceeding; thanks
again!
By the Polls: Mycitycorona.com has been offering Polls since the early days and we have tested out many
subjects; think of Mycitycorona.com as the Ben & Jerry’s of online polls (some stick and some don’t).
In September, we learned that 31% of residents have experienced a cracked windshield on the 91 Freeway
in the last 6 months!! And 38% have experienced a cracked windshield on the 15 Freeway in the last 6
months? That’s crazy! Memorandum to the powers that be: Address the debris and large dirt trucks carrying
the debris on our freeways!
In September, we also learned that 26% of the residents think the Press Enterprise is a ‘Boring Read, with
boring Articles’ while another 26% think the Press Enterprise is just ‘OK’. I am sitting here trying to be
objective and I am struggling, let me put some more thought to it (He says with brain hurting).
And lastly, our oldest demographic according to the September poll (drum roll please): 34-44 years old.
You guys rock! And to be Politically correct, so does everyone else.
Note: One of this months polls deal with the upcoming City of Corona Council elections and who you are voting
for…early polls are interesting! I foresee the race being much closer than many people speculate.
951 Magazine Article: Catch the article on Mycitycorona.com? First, it is Bangert and not Bangart (please
make a note). And Yes, I am the voice of the Corona Everyman (and Woman). But, let’s not exclude our
friends in Eastvale, Mira Loma and Chino Hills all the way to the outskirts of Temecula/Murrieta. We serve
all types, we are diverse like that! Regarding my anonymity, it’s never been about me and will never be;
the focus should always be about the website!
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Light Notes (09/27/06)
Vacation: You may have noticed that the editorial has not changed in the last 2 weeks; depending on your
viewpoint that may have been a good thing! Nonetheless, we were shacked up in the mountains with the
squirrels, ducks and mountain locals. If you missed the editorials, than a warm thanks goes out to you! It
was hard enough checking e-mail…the Wife was prepared to divorce me if I did anything website related; let’
s just say I thwarted that issue and we remain married!
The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos: Are your credit cards ready for Le Grande Retail coming to Corona?
October 6th is the official opening of The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos, with planned events around the
grand opening. Some note-worthy stores include Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Chico’s, Coach, Trader
Joes (2007), The Children’s Place and many more! Note-worthy restaurants include Wood Ranch BBQ &
Grill, Taps Fish House/Brewery and Miguel’s. I imagine the women of the region (and probably a small
male demographic) are frothing at the mouth to get in their doors. For anyone who has not taken the time
to drive by or view The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos, it is quite an improvement to the blight that was
Temescal Canyon . The signs are being prepared, the landscape is being planted, the lights are being lit,
the pavement has been poured and the Lakes have been filled. The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos will
become the hot-bed of the Western-Inland Empire region very quickly! Get a 2nd job now so you can afford
it! For more information, visit our ‘Members Only’ lounge section on our Inland Empire Message Board!
Vote: For anyone who cares about the process and precision of democracy Tuesday November 7th you will
have your opportunity to speak your voice! All of the candidates and respective Inland Empire voting
information is located in our City Elections section on our Inland Empire Message Board! Be apart of the
solution and not the problem! Research the candidates, their voting styles, money taken from contributing
companies (like home builders, land developers, etc) and see that they have your best interests in mind!
If not, write me in and I will serve you well!
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Political Regurgitation (09/13/06)
As much as I love the fervor of political aspirations, the debates and the red/white/blue of voting I really
hate this time of year! You see, I look forward to the process, the camaraderie that it brings to our
communities and to our neighbors; there’s nothing like it (imagine an American flag waving in the air with a
soaring eagle)! But, if there’s one thing that chides me it is the yard signs, the flyer's, brochures and all of
the ‘paper products’ that litter my life! Don’t get me started on television advertising! Last night alone I
was barraged with ‘Karen Spiegel for Corona City Council’, ‘Skipworth for Corona City Council’, ‘Re-elect
Eugene Montanez Corona City Council’ and ‘Corona Firefighters Association Endorses: Karen Spiegel,
Eugene Montanez, Stan Skipworth’ at my front door. And look on the message boards and whose name
appears over and over ‘Breitenbucher’.
I read the criteria, backgrounds, accomplishments, Vision for the City, personal letters and THE
ENDORSEMENTS. While I am sure the community understands/appreciates the efforts to get their
name/beliefs out in time for the elections I would also gather they also appreciate not receiving so much
junk. Real Estate signs are bad enough but now we will contend with political signs staked in the ground,
stapled to phone polls, 5’ x 5’ signs (large enough?) and more.
Having met the candidates, Corona (like many other cities in the Inland Empire going through the election
process) is lucky to have such a fine collection of candidates. I invite anyone who’s interested in the
political process to make a point to meet the candidate’s one on one (and for goodness sakes, if they
have spent the money to get these printed and sent to you at least take the time to read them. Then
promptly deposit them in the recycling bin).
Regarding THE ENDORSEMENTS…does it really matter to you that ‘Gary Loope’ is endorsing a candidate?
Does that really sway your opinion about the political process and your vote? I would think it is the
contribution, accessibility, voting record, policy style and what have they accomplished in the last 2 years?
Or if they are posturing candidates looking to oust the existing incumbents, do they present fresh policy
and positive change to our city and our region? I see only a handful of concrete issues that must be
addressed: Traffic, Job Creation, Crime and additional schools! Everything else is important but whoever
has the freshest ideas on this will win my vote!
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They said WHAT? (09/06/06)
Some recent comments from the message board that bear repeating, as follows:
“COUNCIL CANDIDATE HONORED TO JOIN GOVERNOR IN FIGHT AGAINST PLAN TO RAISE COSTS ON
WORKING CALIFORNIANS”
“Very interesting. I hope Liston gets all their "ducks, data and facts in a row" and fight the good fight. You
could kinda see this coming that the city and developers would see Liston as not compatible with the Dos
Lagos plan. That being said, I hope Liston saw the handwriting on the wall and prepared themselves to
fight this. Eventually Liston will have to shut down, but they must be justly compensated.”
“New store coming to the Crossings at Corona: Wickes Furniture across from Petco.”
“Ever feel like you're the only mom who stays home? You are not alone! Come meet other at-home
mothers at the MOMS Club.”
“I am an IT Folk with Multiple IT Certs, 2 year College Degree, 5 Years Experience in Large Military
Enterprise, Several Awards BUT Unemployed after a fruitless 3 month Search. Any Ideas to remedy the
problem?”
“THE RAIN CHANCES... All areas will have a better chance of seeing the wet stuff today as moisture from
John continues to filter into the forecast area. Enough deep moisture exists to keep the flash flood watch
active through the day. Thunderstorms will be the main issue, so please read down on those chances.”
“My wife and I had breakfast at the City Grille in the Lowe’s shopping complex (Corona Pointe). We were
quite pleased with the restaurant and would like to share a bit about it. The restaurant is open for
breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a nice mix of California style cuisine. We ordered several dishes. I
had the morning special of country fried steak and eggs with home-fries and biscuits and gravy. Aside from
endangering my cardiovascular health the breakfast was excellent. For those that appreciate biscuits and
gravy as I do, this was a very nice example of the southern treat. My wife tried the huevos rancheros and
enjoyed their unorthodox version quite a bit. Rather than traditional tortilla, beans and eggs covered by
ranchero sauce, the cooks at City Grille prepare something more akin to a nicely seasoned frittata over
tortillas. My son had pancakes and eggs from the kid's menu which was a huge amount of food for a
toddler.”
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Summer is (almost) gone; Happy Labor Day (08/30/06)
I am sorry! Really, I am extremely sorry! Sorry that I can’t extend summer for another couple of months!
It seems that summer has come and gone and slipped through our fingers yet again. Certainly you wish
for it because the cold/wet weather is a drag. And forget the 91 freeway when it is foggy and/or raining;
people just do not know how to operate when there is any kind of precipitation in the air! This once again
leads you to thinking how nice summer will be once it arrives!
The build-up to summer in the springtime is a wonderful time in itself and probably reflects some of the
best weather in the Inland Empire. So, summer finally arrives and with it brings its blistering heat…no one
appreciates an Inland Empire heat like an Inland Empire resident! Orange County is chilly compared to our
average temperature out here; but I would not change a thing! Strike that! I would round up all of the ants,
flies and ‘Mystery’ bugs and place them aside so I could actually enjoy a peaceful moment outside! Don’t
get me wrong, I am a fairly tolerate man when it comes to bugs (in many ways they are like telemarketers
or pesky competitors). But, when you mix in a Wife who shudders at the citing of a bug that is fuel to your
already blazing fire!
If you are a barbeque-man, you triumph during this time! I am just that man; I love the barbeque time
(being outside in the smoky haze of meat and/or vegetables in the hot sun being the man barbequing)! I
have a neighbor who has a custom built-in who almost never barbeques (it is for show); that is near
sacrilegious! And, you know your barbeque is always better than the next guy (my Father-in-Law reminds
me his is the best every time we visit him).
Since the summer is coming to an end, I would like to share some observations: We are officially around
the corner of 3 months from Christmas (I am sorry for mentioning that). All of the birds that came, built
nests are gone and it may be time to clean those areas (we had a record 9 nests this summer). Yes, the
vacation was worth the money…you only live once! Labor Day is the last hurrah of summer so make it fun
and make it safe! My son is now 7 months old and he enjoyed his first summer (he swam and splashed
and squinted his eyes at the summer sun); he loves the water! The electricity bills hurt during this time of
year; I only hope you were on a level payment plan.
I want to wish everyone a Happy Labor Day and a good transition into fall!
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Light Notes (08/23/06)
Statistics: I wanted to share with you that our website traffic has increased to amazing levels in the last 6
months, far exceeding my expectations when I first started the website! We have more than tripled our
visitor statistics in the last 6 months and have grown exponentially each month since. I want to sincerely
thank everyone visiting the website, the message board and being ‘devout’ Mycitycorona.com visitors. We
work for you and really want to do our very best everyday!
Poll: Our poll for the month of August deals with what I consider I relatively sensitive subject “How do we fix
the 91 Freeway”. Well, you are speaking and the overwhelming consensus says you want the Irvine-Corona
tunnel to be created through the Cleveland National Forest. Second follows creating/improving jobs in
Riverside/San Bernardino County. Both seem to make a lot of sense to me. Personally, the latter makes
more sense with all of the dependencies we have on Orange County jobs.
Coming Soon: Many people have been instrumental in the gathering of facts and specifications for our
‘Coming Soon’ webpage. We are constantly amazed at how many projects are taking place and the growth
of our developing area. If your area is missed or has not been mentioned it is not for our disinterest in the
city. We add projects as we are informed and would enjoy learning about the projects in your area; please
let us know.
Lobsterfest 2006: I just want to make mention that the Lobsterfest 2006 event is taking place to assist the
Corona Heritage Foundation, so the cause is good and the food is GREAT! Get involved and be apart of this
great event!
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Eminent Dominance (08/16/06)
My family shops at the Crossings at Corona shopping center among many other destinations in the Inland
Empire area. We look forward to the opening of The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos this October 6th. In
our travels on 15 freeway and Cajalco Drive we always take in the Bedford Canyon groves and wonder “Will
these groves be bulldozed to make way for stretches of cookie-cutter homes?” or “Will these groves be
preserved as part of the cities heritage?” Yes, two very simplistic questions float through my cranium.
Cynically, I know the answer but I always shriek my shoulders as if I could fool a fool.
Anyway, I digress…back to the Crossings at Corona. As we are pulling out of the Crossings at Corona we
take in the flowering roses, the mass of stucco and brick until we are met at the foot of Cajalco Drive. What’
s that? A banner sign? Is the Liston Aluminum Company advertising an upcoming special or something of
that sort? Ah, no! It seems Liston Aluminum Company is not too pleased with the folks at Dos Lagos or the
City of Corona. And, in some circles you can appreciate the severity of this anger; it’s the latest and
greatest in ugly words (Eminent Domain).
Eminent Domain - The right of the government to take property from a private owner for public use
by virtue of the superior dominion of its sovereignty over all lands within its jurisdiction. NOTE: The
Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires the government to compensate the owner of
property taken by eminent domain, stating “nor shall private property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.” State constitutions contain similar provisions requiring that the property
owner receive just compensation for the property taken.
And what is the virtue of this superior dominion? Housing, of course (because the region requires more
houses). So, I chalk up my questions and scratch my head…now I have more and more questions. Was
that land (or at least a significant area…about 500 acres) earmarked for the regions newest and best
solution to the gridlock on interstate 15 and the 91 freeway (known as SR291)? Or was that moratorium
just spin (you decide).
Existing Eagle Glen Parkway Bedford Canyon view
Renditions of SR291 impacting the Crossings at Corona, the Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos and Arantine
Hills. 1 2 3
as the city decides what’s best for residents. There are specifications for parks, trails and many
specifications for housing spanning from Tuscany to Farmhouse. And, so close to Dos Lagos (what a
convenience I say while trying to picture how I get out of my tract to shop). And, the builders of Arantine
Hills are painfully aware of SR291 and the potential impact |
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