Corona, CA: Project may energize Dos Lagos center

An upscale retail center in southern Corona, hit hard by the recession and housing-market collapse, appears to be regaining some momentum with a live-work project under way.

The beleaguered shopping center off Highway 15 that opened in 2006 with high-end shops went into foreclosure in December 2009 after a developer defaulted on a $125 million mortgage. A new management team came in to revive the former The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos, now The Shops at Dos Lagos, and is considering new ways to attract families and business.

The live-work project is expected to start construction next year, according to Corona Community Development Director Joanne Coletta.

The owner of the shopping center, Dallas-based Cypress Equities, has been attempting to diversify shops by offering everyday services such as dry cleaning. The firm also wants to enhance the center's two lakes, amphitheater and bamboo bridge by adding outdoor seating and shaded areas.

Owners plan to make Dos Lagos more visible with freeway signs alerting passing drivers. A playground might be built.

Most shops, a movie theater and a nearby golf course are open but have had trouble attracting customers because the center is in a residential area surrounded by condominiums, senior housing, townhouses and single-family homes.

"Unfortunately, it's sitting in a hole, so you don't really see it unless you're looking for it," Corona Councilman Eugene Montanez said. "It's hard, because some people think when they've reached the Crossings, that they're at Dos Lagos."

Developers had planned on business from residential developments, a second golf course and a retreat that were never built.

But a new neighbor could offer much more for the center, which sits near 64 acres of undeveloped property that had been planned for development, Coletta said.

The majority of it, 52 acres, is owned by Bank of America and could put it up for sale in the next month, she said.

The city is open to approving projects that would support the local shops and residents, Coletta said.

CLOSE TO SHOPPING

It is reviewing architectural plans for a 93-unit live-work space by U.S. Dos Lagos Development Company. Originally, the company had planned a senior housing project with the $15 million live-work project but has downsized.

The bottom floors of the project are expected to be designed as workspaces with upper levels as living quarters in the condominium-like buildings, Montanez said.

Other developments at Dos Lagos are stalled as the owner of a nearby office building keeps plans for two additional buildings on hold, Coletta said.

A vacant lot across the street planned for an industrial park also is on hold until the commercial market improves.

Montanez said he hopes that by the end of the year all of the vacant parcels will have new plans and be moving forward.

"I think the developers who are out there, and the investors who are out there, see that there's a positive momentum in the economy," Montanez said.

Corona, CA: Ex-Con Convicted of Killing 20-Year-Old Repo Man in Ambush

An ex-con who gunned down a 20-year-old man for stepping onto his property during an attempted car repossession more than two decades ago was convicted today of first-degree murder and other charges.

Anthony Varela Corrales, 51, could be sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the Feb. 3, 1989, slaying of Robert Hensley.

A Corona jury deliberated less than three hours before convicting Corrales of the murder count as well as a sentence-enhancing gun allegation.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Eric Helgesen set a June 24 sentencing date for Corrales, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

The defendant was first charged in the case two months after Hensley's death. The murder count was dropped because eyewitnesses refused to cooperate, according to the District Attorney's Office, and Corrales and his then-co- defendant, Christopher Powers, were convicted of weapons charges and served a few years in state prison.

In the latest trial, Deputy District Attorney Laura Ozols told jurors that the defendant confessed to a neighbor, Rita Ramirez, that he had shot Hensley, but threatened to kill her if she revealed his secret.

A friend of the defendant, Archie Yates, told Riverside police investigators that Corrales had also confided to him that he had shot Hensley, according to the prosecutor.

Hensley's close friend, Ron Faria, testified Monday that he and the victim had gone out the night of the shooting scouting for "20 or 30" vehicles whose owners had defaulted on their auto loans.

The repo men went to the Corrales home at 10293 Selkirk Ave., near Tyler Street, because Faria suspected a white Mitsubishi truck being sought by his then-employer, Southern California Auto Recovery, was parked there.

According to testimony, the pickup belonged to Corrales' neighbor.

Faria testified that he could not take the vehicle because it was wedged between two cars parked in the defendant's yard. He said Hensley acted as a lookout as he verified the truck's vehicle identification number. The friends were walking away, about two houses down the block, when Corrales opened fire.

"Everything was dark. I was completely surprised," Faria said. "We saw no one. We were walking down the sidewalk, and I heard a male voice yell out, 'I got you, (expletive)!' And there was a gunshot. It was loud."

Hensley was shot in the back and head with a 12-gauge pump shotgun. He died at a hospital moments later.

Corrales' attorney, Ruby Ramirez, argued that Powers was the triggerman.

When Powers was arrested the day after Hensley's murder, he had gunshot residue on his hands -- a telltale sign of holding or being in close proximity to a firearm that was discharged, Ramirez said.

Powers has since died.

The murder was largely forgotten until the victim's mother, Rosemary Utesch, began making calls to the D.A.'s office, pleading for the case to looked at one more time. She told City News Service last August that her requests were dismissed for years, but that in 2009, Ozols listened to her story and promised to re-examine the two-decade-old case.

Last July 14 -- just as Corrales was due to be released from prison on an unrelated conviction -- the D.A.'s office filed charges against him.

Corona, CA: BJ Penn Discusses Retirement, Possible Shoulder Surgery

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn spoke to Ron Kruck on Inside MMA this week, and the interview covered some interesting topics. Kruck was in Corona, CA to cover the opening of the new UFC Gym as a part of his Inside America's Gyms segments, and BJ gives his opinions on the facility and discusses his own upcoming branch in Honolulu. He also talks about his role as a pioneer in the UFC, and fellow legend Randy Couture's retirement. This leads Kruck to ask BJ about the subject of his own retirement (transcribed by Zach Arnold of FightOpinion):

RK: "When you look at Randy Couture, BJ… do you, is that something that, when you finally decide to hang it up, that you would like to go out the way that he did? Because a lot of times, in any sport, athletes really don’t get to pick, OK, I’m ready to go out and go out on their own terms. Do you think he retired the right way and in a way that you would like to finally retire one day?"

BJ: "You know what? A lot of other fighters out there, they probably would have went and picked a fight that they would have known that they would have won and leave on a high note. But, that’s Randy, that’s the only way he would have gone out, like that and I probably would kind of think for myself the same. If Randy would have won, he would be fighting for the title. He wouldn’t have left, you know… We lost so many times over the years, you know, we all know that’s not the first time Randy got knocked but that’s probably what it’s going to, probably going to take a knockout or a bad beating to make someone like Randy or someone like me or a couple other fighters that I know in the UFC say, OK, you know, I can take it, I’ll walk away now.’

RK: "Personally, how long would you like to keep fighting?"

BJ: "You know when I was in my 20s I said I’ll fight until 40 and this and that… and I don’t know, everything’s just a blessing now. As long as I keep winning fighting and fans want to see me fight (and) I’m not hurt, I’ll fight as long as I can. I’d love to fight until 40, I don’t know if it’s a reality but I’d love to."

The next topic was his UFC 127 draw with Jon Fitch, and how disappointing it was to him. He was going to go through with the rematch (at UFC 132) despite an injured shoulder, since he knew Fitch had a bum shoulder as well. He wanted to see how he'd feel three months out of the fight but Fitch pulled out right before that, so he figured it was time to address the injury:

RK: "You don’t need any surgery or anything like that?"

BJ: "You know, I got to take another MRI with the contrast and everything but every time it starts feeling better then I don’t want to take that thing because I don’t want to have surgery, you know, but I better go out and I got to just, for my own peace of mind, I gotta go do that MRI contrast, I’ve been putting it off too long and the only reason why I’m putting it off is because I want to fight, I don’t want to have surgery. I just want to wake up one day and be like, oh, that thing’s great, right on, Dana, let’s go. You know?"

He also talks about what he wants to do in the UFC before he retires:

RK: "You’ve been in the Octagon with the sport’s best, the top of the top. You don’t have to call any one out or anything like that, but is there a fight that interests you before you retire? Maybe, you know, a rematch with someone or somebody new, maybe an up-and-comer?"

BJ: "You know what? People might think it’s a long shot from this point out, but I really would like to be the world champ again at 170 pounds, you know, and I try to hold out as long as I can and when I get knocked off, because everyone’s going to get knocked off, I’d love to go back to 155 and win one more time. If I could do that, I can go to sleep at night. It would be much easier, you know, I don’t know any specific names or whoever the champion is at that time, you know. … I really want to be world champ again. You know, I was watching Soul Surfer movie the other day, the girl (Bethany Hamilton) who lost her arm… and if she can go out and keep surfing professionally, I can go get another world title."

There doesn't appear to be a time frame for BJ's return to the cage due to the questions regarding his shoulder, but it seems plausible that he will rematch Jon Fitch whenever both of them are back to 100%. Until then, BJ will work on preparations for the UFC Gym he's helping to create that will open next January in Honolulu.

You can watch the full interview video after the jump.

Corona, CA: Matt Cain Set to Battle Ricky Nolasco in Series Opener

Corona, CA native Ricky Nolasco has been having himself a nice season for the Florida Marlins so far, sporting a 3-0 record with a 3.32 ERA for the fins. But when he comes home to the left coast he really turns it on, especially on the shores of McCovey Cove. Nolasco has a 2-0 record at AT&T including a complete game and a 0.59 ERA, while giving up six total hits in his two outings with a 18/2 K/BB ratio. That is impressive.

Norco, CA: Scott Starr Pulls the Trigger for the Trojans

Never let it be said that a bit of bad news dissuades Lane Kiffin, Ed Orgeron or the Trojans when it comes time to get down to business.

Despite the unwelcome news that the NCAA denied USC's appeal related to the Reggie Bush sanctions—thus keeping the Trojans 10 scholarships short for the next three years—Kiffin and company just keep rolling on.

The latest evidence of this is the verbal commitment of Norco, Calif. linebacker, Scott Starr, as reported by Scout.com.

In Starr, the Trojans get a 4-star linebacker (as rated by Scout.com) whose athleticism and determination have made him one of the most coveted 'backers on the west coast.

Possessing an excellent frame (6'3") and good size (225 lbs.), Starr has the physical tools to get the job done.

But what really excites Trojan coaches is his athletic ability.

Fast (4.55 sec. 40-yard dash) and explosive, Starr is relentless in his pursuit of the ball.

And for young Scott, this is a dream come true.

According to an article by Scout's Brandon Huffman, Starr was quoted as saying he had wanted to be a Trojan since the fifth grade.

Now he will get that chance.

For USC, this signing once again shows that despite the tribulations that the NCAA is heaping on their program, the Trojans will persevere.

Undaunted, USC just keeps plowing ahead and for those who are recruiting against the Trojans, it must be maddening.

Starr, who held offers from over a dozen programs is just the latest example of how the name brand of "USC" will keep the Trojans relevant despite unfair rulings and bad mouthing by other programs.

Congrats to Kiffin, Orgeron and company for the signing of Scott Starr and for keeping the fires of USC recruiting stoked.

Corona, CA: Pro Q&A - Ryan “Biz” Jordan

Holding it down in sunny Corona, California, Ryan “Biz” Jordan is next up to tackle your hard hitting questions. It’s fair game to ask Biz anything you can think of, from the origins of his nickname, to his recent sponsor change from Volume to Verde, his amazing section in Demolition’s new video Last Chance (and how long it took him to film his ender), or maybe you can get some tips on how to icepick grind super far, inquire about what it’s like to have some of the best dirt spots, concrete parks, and schools near your house, or maybe ask why he’s afraid to eat a burrito…

Remember, we appreciate at least a first name and last initial—crude nicknames and/or “anonymous” don’t cut it. Or you can just e-mail your question keith.mulligan@transworld.net.

All questions will be sent to Biz and the best of the question/answer combos will be printed in the August 2011 issue of Ride.

Corona, CA: Great Picture of Dos Lagos!

Corona, CA: Great Picture of Dos Lagos!

Corona, CA: City employee concessions continue

Corona is expected to extend labor contracts with some employee groups this week withholding salary or cost of living increases and extending some concessions.

The memorandums of understanding are expected to be approved Wednesday at a City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Corona City Hall, council chambers, 400 S. Vicentia Ave., Corona.

The total savings to the city is expected to be about $2 million, a city report said.

The agreement would extend labor contracts for supervisors to June 2014 and for general employees until June 2015, the report said.

Corona Finance officials said the last time employees received a negotiated base pay increase was in July of 2007 at 3 percent for general employees, 4 percent for Corona supervisors and 4 percent for management and confidential employees.

This year, supervisors and general employees agreed to continue forgoing a $1,500 allowance to their flexible spending accounts.

Supervisors are doing without a $1,900 match to tax-deferred retirement plans while general employees are not receiving a $500 match to their plans, a city report said.

Overall, employee groups have taken wage and benefit concessions that will save the city $9 million through 2013-14.

The city has eliminated about 200 positions since the fall of 2008, City Manager Brad Robbins has said. Norco currently has 700 to 720 employees.

The city also has cut more than $20 million from the budget since 2008.

Finance Director Debra Foster has said she plans to present a balanced budget for 2011-12 but faces an $8,484,917 shortfall for 2012-13.

She also expects the city to see increases in revenues from sales and property taxes in the next couple of fiscal years.

Corona, CA: Team Husqvarna Has A World Class Weekend!

Graffunder Sweeps LoggerXcross, Salminen & Meo Top World Enduro Rounds - News Release

What a weekend for Team Husqvarna's global racing effort! Stateside, Zip-Ty Racing's Cory Graffunder went 1-1 at the LoggerXcross as Husqvarna-Team CH Racing totally dominated the Enduro World Championship round in Sicily with Juha Salminen and Matti Seistola swapping E1 wins and Antoine Meo topping the podium in the E2 class. The wins in Sicily also put Husqvarna solidly on top of the EWC points standings for the top two classes.

"It feels really, really good to get my first win," said Seistola after Sunday's victory. "Winning here in Italy makes it even better since it is the Husqvarna team's home race!" Husky riders led the E1 class (250cc 4-strokes) on both days with Salminen finishing 1st and 3rd and fellow Finn Seistola finishing 2nd and 1st. These results at Francavilla di Sicily give Salminen an 18 point lead over second place as Seistola vaulted into 3rd in the season standings.

In the E2 class, French champ Antoine Meo demonstrated that Husky's new TE310 is a force to be reckoned with as he raced against the 450cc bikes in this class. If not for a couple mistakes on the first day, Meo could have easily gone 1-1, as it was he finished 2nd on Saturday, just 10 seconds behind the leader. On Sunday, the former E1 champ Meo won by a comfortable 36-second margin over Ivan Cervantes. This win puts Meo 19 points ahead of Cervantes in the E2 championship points. Special mention goes to Simone Albergoni who scored two 6th place finishes on his TE310, which moved him up to fifth place in the overall standings.

Closer to home, Canadian export Cory Graffunder also rode a TE310 to a pair of wins at the LoggerXcross in Orofino, Idaho. After winning this extreme endurocross event last year, Cory was looking forward to defending his title at the aptly named LoggerXcross. "It is very exciting, and very fun to ride," claims Graffunder. "We rode over a log ramp into an actual logging truck as part of the race course. There were lots of logs, rocks, a water hole and plank bridges... good stuff!"

Making his 1-1 sweep of the open class even more impressive is the fact that Cory rode his TE310 practice bike rather than his TE449 race bike. "It is very stock, but the motor is amazing! The stock bike is better than my race bike was last year... the power increase helps a lot at a race like the LoggerXcross." Graffunder used that extra power to grab the holeshot in the first race and then battle his way from third to first in the second race. "Good competition and close battles throughout made for great racing," says Graffunder.

"Every OEM likes to claim they offer 'world class' performance," says Husqvarna's National Marketing Manager Corey Eastman. "However Husqvarna likes to say that the results speak for themselves!" Eastman notes that Husqvarna is still offering world class 2.99% APR financing for 2011 machines and .99% for 2010 and earlier models, not to mention terms up to 60 months.

Corona, CA: Reenact Attack on Osama bin Laden ... with Paint!!!

You are not a Navy SEAL. You are not going to kill Osama bin Laden. You are not even going to see a photo of his dead body. But how 'bout the next best thing -- you can hunt down fake terrorists in a paintball course designed to look like Osama's compound in Pakistan!

SC Village Paintball in Corona, CA dropped $250,000 to create a brand new paintball course called "Bin Laden's Compound."

According to the owner, the course (which opens June 4) will feature 18-foot high walls to hide behind, Middle Eastern music, wrecked cars, a downed helicopter, sound effects of bombs going off, and referees and opponents dressed like members of the Taliban.

Finally ... we can have closure.

Corona, CA: UFC Gym Grand Opening in Corona, Calif - Coverage and Interviews Pt. 1

First Impressions

A cool, sunny day welcomed the grand opening of the new UFC Gym in Corona, Calif.

While the event wasn't actually set to begin until 10 a.m., many fans and spectators lined up as early as 8 a.m. to stand in line for autographs. And if that's not surprising enough, autograph sessions weren't expected to even begin until noon.

Vendors and nutrition companies lined one side of the parking lot by a modest stage where the ribbon-cutting was set to take place.

Though definitely a far cry from the size and number of booths at the famous UFC Expos, the vendors and businesses there were more than enough. And, as always, there were more than enough of those annoying handouts to go around.

The gym itself was actually smaller than I imagined it would be, but that's likely more my faulty expectations than a reflection on the gym itself. In fact, it's roughly 45,000 square feet; not small by any standards.

Also, this is the third UFC Gym, and the largest of the three. There was more than enough space for several rows of ellipticals, treadmills and other heart-pounding, sweat-inducing machines for members to use.

The staff and a few members gave a quick circuit demonstration with five stations, showing how even a 25-30 second rotation can give an intense workout. By the end of the two-and-a-half minute demonstration, all members were sweaty and visibly worn out.

That's the kind of intensity that is foreign and fascinating to many outside of the sport, and can now take part in it through the gym.

You know you're in an MMA gym when you find equipment and machines that look like they've been taken straight out of someone's backyard sitting in front of you, and yet, it strangely doesn't look out of place. Seriously, where else would you find a tire sitting in the middle of the floor?

On top of that, there was a Jacob's Ladder right next to some treadmills and a rope workout machine that simulates the climbing rope they made you climb back in gym class in the '80s.

You see these types of workout machines in specialized workout videos and late-night infomercials, but I've never seen them up close. They'd definitely provide a cool, innovative workout.

And if that's not a big enough giveaway to the kind of gym you are in, sitting dead-center in the gym is, of course, an Octagon.

However, the biggest difference that separates the UFC Gym from an ordinary gym is its family and community focus.

Several kids who were taking classes at the UFC Gym walked into the cage in the afternoon, giving spectators a demonstration of the moves they had been learning.

There are self-defense classes for men, women and children. And the gym has a section devoted for kids called, well, "Kid's Gym."

This focus on families and communities goes all the way to the top. As it says on the UFC Gym's Senior Vice President Adam Sedlack's Twitter page, the gym is "A new place in the fitness industry. Not your Parent's Gym; It's your Gym!"

In a brief conversation with Adam, I was amazed about how passionate he was not only about the business aspect of the gym, but its significance to the community and ability to affect peoples' opinions of the sport.

Through their UFC viewing parties (free, of course, for members) during some of the recent fights, people unfamiliar with the sport have gotten to see it for the very first time.

And because of the classes and opportunities provided by the gym for these newcomers to take part in some of the intense workouts and training like that of UFC fighters, many have become instant fans.

BJ's Announcement

One of the awaited events of the day was BJ Penn's mysterious announcement that would be given during the first media interview in the morning.

And his announcement was consistent with the theme of the UFC's increasing involvement within local communities through their UFC Gyms.

BJ Penn announced that construction will begin on a UFC Gym in his native Hawaii, and will be branded with his name.

UFC Gym: BJ Penn should be completed by Jan. 1, 2012, with facilities comparable to that of the one in Corona. It will be replacing the famed "Pipeline Cafe" in Honolulu, which closed its doors in early February of this year.

This is a project that has been two years in the making, and will be the first UFC Gym branded with a fighter's name.

"I'm trying to be humble and sit here and take it all in, but I'm very, very excited by this whole thing."

BJ also mentioned that efforts will be discussed to reach out to at-risk youth through the gym and its programs.

Fighter interviews from Phil Davis, Donald Cerrone, Leonard Garcia, and more from BJ Penn will be covered in Pt. 2. This will include additional photos and videos.

Look for it tomorrow!

Corona, CA: Parolee Arrested After Standoff With Corona SWAT Team

Police officers used a “flashbang” grenade to flush out a parolee who barricaded himself inside a Corona home to elude arrest for an alleged felony violation.

Juan Ricardo Jaramillo, 34, surrendered to officers with the Corona-Norco Regional Gang Task Force after a standoff Thursday afternoon in the 700 block of East Grand Bouelvard.

Jaramillo is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

Task force officers tried to serve Jaramillo with an arrest warrant about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Corona police Sgt. Frank Barron said, but he abruptly slammed and locked his front door.

Neighboring homes were evacuated as officers set up a perimeter. Barron said officers repeatedly tried to reach Jaramillo by phone and over a loud speaker, but he didn’t respond.

A SWAT unit eventually used an armored vehicle to deploy a “diversionary device to the exterior of the residence, and Jaramillo came walking out the front door,” Barron said.

The basis for the warrant wasn’t immediately clear.

Corona, CA: Rolling out with Corona pride

Borrowing a page from New York firefighters, the Corona Fire Department has set out to write a new chapter to its history that started in 1898.

Corona's Jim Steiner, Chris Yoshioka, Ryan Grooman and Mike Waters visited FDNY stations seven years ago. They saw the symbols New York firefighters use to build station unity and honor the history and unique characteristics of each group.

"Many of the rigs and stations had personalized names," said Steiner. "We thought we could bring the idea back to Corona to instill some station pride. All of the crews were challenged with coming up with their fire house name based on their history."

The challenge has been met. Corona's firefighters have parlayed humor, artistry, imagination, geography and history to create names and symbolic artwork for each of the department's seven stations.

Station 4 in Northwest Corona has adopted a pirate theme with the name, "Treasure Island" and a symbol that incorporates a skull and crossbones because the station is the base for the department's hazardous materials unit. The firefighters carry a bobble head pirate and a parrot doll on their fire truck.

Station 5, located on Canyon Crest in the Sierra del Oro area of west Corona, is called the "Prado Dragons" because the area overlooks the Prado Dam on the Santa Ana River. Steam rising from the river illuminated by the morning sun creates the illusion of fire, frequently causing motorists on Highway 91 to phone reports of fire that turn out to be false.

"They (Corona firefighters) would call it chasing the Prado dragon," said firefighter Mike Leckliter, who sketched a drawing of a dragon breathing fire that serves as the Station 5 symbol.

Corona Fire Chief David Waltemeyer said the icons have been very effective in solidifying station morale. "They breed a lot of unit pride and esprit de corps," the chief said.

The title of Station 1, "House of Blues," signifies what might be the toughest duty for firefighters in Corona. The firefighters at Station 1 have more calls in the middle of the night than any other station, said Capt. Fred Parr, who has worked at the post for 15 of his 26 years in the Corona fire service. He has no plans to move.

The station's district has more senior citizens than any other, which means its firefighters go to death calls in addition to traffic accidents and fires.

"This station is not for everybody," said Parr. "It takes a unique individual to work here. We get less sleep than any other fire house in the city."

Sleep is a treasured commodity at Station 2, whose Harrison Avenue location puts it close to the North Main Street Metrolink Station and the railroad tracks. The station proudly displays its logo, "Night Train" and "2nd to None" above and below and image of a train by the front door and in the television room of the station.

The station's windows had to be changed to reduce the noise form the rumbling of the trains and their whistles during the night.

Capt. Jeremy Verderber said Station 2 is unique because of its central location, which means the engine responds to calls throughout the city, on the freeways and to assist Norco.

"The '2nd to None' is all about pride," said Verderber. "If there's a big incident in the city, we're there."

Station 3 located on Smith Avenue in west Corona is called "The Big House" because it was the first station to house both an engine and a ladder crew with eight firefighters living and working in closer proximity to each other than at the other stations.

"This station will make you or break you," said firefighter Andy Torres. "You can't hide from anybody."

Stations 6 and 7 are Corona's newest and had no local history to draw upon for their symbols. Station 6, which opened in South Corona on the edge of the Cleveland National Forest in 2000, has a symbol that includes a firefighter with flames reflecting off his mask. The name is "South Side."

Firefighter/paramedic Dan Yonan said, "We're still establishing ourselves. We have many more years to make a name for ourselves."

Yonan said the image of the fire reflected in the firefighter's mask illustrates the dangers men in his profession face.

Station 7 in the rapidly growing Temescal Canyon opened in 2002.

The symbol is a shamrock background, a horseshoe, a 7, and the number 343, memorializing the number of New York firefighters who died on 9/11.

"It hasn't built its history yet," said firefighter Jared Potts who designed the logo for Station 7.

Corona, CA: The Official Fantasy Game of American Motocross Set for 2011 Season

MX Sports Pro Racing and Alli Introduce the "Official Fantasy Game" of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship

Hosted in Conjunction with Fantasy Action Sports League

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of American Motocross, MX Sports Pro Racing and Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, are pleased to present the "Official Fantasy Game" of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, hosted exclusively by the Fantasy Action Sports League (FASL). For the first time ever, fans will have the chance to win $5,000 in cash and prizes.

With the season-opening round of the 2011 season just a week-and-a-half away, the brand new fantasy game will allow fans to manage their own team of riders just like a real motocross team manager. Players are given a $120 million salary cap, with which they will select up to eight riders to fill the roster. Riders are given rankings and corresponding salary values that will fluctuate throughout the season based on their performances. Users can cut, drop or trade riders as often as they'd like throughout the summer, but they must always stay within the allotted $120 million budget.

"Fantasy Action Sports League is honored to partner with Alli Sports & MX Sports Pro Racing to become the 'Official Fantasy Game' of the Lucas Oil Motocross Championship," said FASL Director of Sales and Marketing Damon George. "They truly have created the most exciting series in the world of professional motocross and have set themselves apart from the others. We are excited to have this opportunity and look forward to the upcoming 2011 season."

Founded in 2009, the FASL is the largest online action sports fantasy game aggregator and the only site giving away over $75,000 in cash and prizes to hundreds of fantasy gamers in 2011. The company's name says it all with professional games in surf, skate, snow and wake. FASL introduced an unbranded league for motocross last season, subsequently receiving a strong response, boasting 5,000 entries with little to no promotion. With the support of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the 2011 Fantasy Motocross League will surely generate a much greater following through a wider range of exposure via several industry partnerships.

"The Fantasy Action Sports League allows the sport of motocross to reach an entirely new demographic," said Mark Carter, GM of Strategic Partnerships for Alli Sports. "The fusion of action sports fanatics and fantasy gaming enthusiasts presents a unique growth opportunity for the sport, and provides a new and exciting way for fans to interact with the series and its athletes online."

For 2011, FASL is offering both free and pay-to-play leagues. However, in order to be eligible for a chance at the $5,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, one must register and select to either pay-per-race or pay a one-time fee for the entire season.

The 2011 Fantasy Motocross League will be hosted at the official series website at AlliSports.com. Interested players can log onto http://www.allisports.com/motocross/fantasy-motocross for details on how to register and win.

Tickets for the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship are on sale now at www.allisports.com. Special discounts and incentives are available for advance ticket purchasers.

Riverside, CA: Pair Charged with Credit Card Theft

Two California residents were observed by Cinnaminson police leaving a local bank.

An observation of suspicious behavior by Cinnaminson police led to two California residents' arrest Saturday for possession of 180 counterfeit credit cards and more than $13,000 in cash.

Crystal L. Baneulos, 23, of Bloomington, CA, was in the driver's seat of a white 2011 Chevrolet Impala parked on Columbia Avenue near Highland Avenue next to Beneficial Bank Saturday. Cinnaminson Police Officer Don Rock then observed a male, identified as Angel Angulo, 21, of Riverside, CA, walking from the area of the bank.

It was reported that Angulo looked away after observing the officer.

When Rock went to check the status of the bank employees, the report said, the car fled north on Route 130.

The car was observed shortly after by Officer Kevin Bohn, who followed it into the lot of the Shell gas station in Mainline Shopping Center.

Police said both subjects gave conflicting reports of what happened. A search warrant was obtained for the car and police found the cash and blank credit cards encoded with bank customers' information. Written on the cards were the names of issuing banks and PIN numbers.

Police also found out Baneulos and Angulo had withdrawn more than $6,700 in cash before stopping at banks in Cinnaminon, Maple Shade and Cherry Hill.

The pair were staying at the Fairfield Inn in Mt. Laurel, police said, and a warrant was obtained for the room there.

Additional evidence was obtained, police said, and the investigation is ongoing.

Both have been charged with possession of over 50 counterfeit credit cards, two counts of credit card theft and one count of attempted credit card theft.

Bail has been set at $135,000 cash and both were remanded to Burlington County Jail.

Corona, CA: UFC Gym Grand Opening Sat in Corona, CA

UFC® GYM™ IN CORONA/INLAND EMPIRE TO HOST OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING THIS SATURDAY

UFC® Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn, Urijah Faber, Donald Cerrone, Phil Davis and Leonard Garcia to Attend

Plus, Appearances by Octagon Girl® Arianny Celeste and Best of PRIDE® Host Kenda Perez

 
Continuing to impact the way people approach fitness, giving individuals the opportunity to achieve results they never thought possible, UFC® GYM™ is unveiling a third location in Corona, Calif., this Saturday, May 14, beginning at 10 a.m. PT.

UFC superstars Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn, Urijah Faber, Donald Cerrone, Phil Davis, Leonard Garcia, UFC Octagon Girl® Arianny Celeste and Best of PRIDE® host Kenda Perez will be in attendance. UFC® executives and officials from the city of Corona will kick off the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m, followed by a special announcement.

GRAND OPENING FULL SCHEDULE

Saturday, May 14th

*times subject to change

10:00AM GRAND OPENING EXPO Officially Begins

10:15-10:30AM OFFICIAL RIBBON CUTTING featuring Chuck Liddell, Reed Harris NeV Executives, Adam Sedlack and Corona City Officials

10:30-10:35AM EXPO KICK OFF featuring Reed Harris & Chuck Liddell

11:30-11:50AM Q&A – STAGE: Urijah Faber

12:00-1:45PM AUTOGRAPH SIGNING I BEGINS:

INSIDE: Chuck Liddell, Arianny Celeste

OUTSIDE: Urijah Faber & Leonard Garcia

1:00-1:20PM Q&A – STAGE: Phil Davis

1:35-2:00PM Q&A – STAGE: Donald Cerrone & Kenda Perez

2:15-4:00PM AUTOGRAPH SIGNING II BEGINS:

INSIDE: Phil Davis

OUTSIDE: Donald Cerrone & Kenda Perez

3:10- 3:30PM Q&A – STAGE: Leonard Garcia & Arianny Celeste

5:00-10:00PM Music – Food & Fun!

The day-long festivities will be action-packed and feature autograph signings and Q&A sessions with some of the biggest names in the UFC. In addition, there will be exciting activities, including class demonstrations and participation from local vendors and partners such as the U.S. Marine Corps. To top it all off, UFC Gym will hold a raffle at 8 p.m. in which attendees will have the chance to win tickets to UFC 130 in Las Vegas and other great prizes. Individuals are invited to RSVP to the Grand Opening Celebration beforehand by visiting Ufcgymcorona.eventbrite.com.

“We’re excited to open our third UFC Gym in Corona and continue to raise the bar in the fitness industry,” UFC President Dana White said. “With the success of our first two gyms in Concord and Rosemead, we have proven that the UFC Gym experience is second-to-none. Now, we’re creating the ultimate fitness destination for residents of the Inland Empire.”

“Corona is our biggest gym yet, fusing together the best of fitness and MMA in one location,” Adam Sedlack, UFC Gym Senior Vice President, said. “We look forward to highlighting the innovative features of our facility with this Grand Opening celebration where families, local businesses and the entire community can experience what UFC Gym is all about. We are not what you expect, and more than you could imagine!”

The 45,000 square-foot facility offers everything you would find in a traditional fitness club plus cutting-edge training techniques including progressive group fitness classes, Muay Thai, kickboxing, jiu jitsu, self-defense instruction, and offerings such as a 32-foot Octagon®, UFC Kids' Gym, youth training, and High-Octane Conditioning. The Corona facility features over 5,000 square-feet of space dedicated specifically to kids, bringing families together in a fun atmosphere. With a wide range of activities for youth, from MMA classes, to birthday parties, UFC Gym makes health and fitness fun for the whole family.

For more information on the latest UFC Gym, please visit UFCgym.com.

Corona, CA: Lenny Dykstra - Limo Driver Dishes on Deceitful Dykstra

Lenny Dykstra Took Advantage of Help According to Limo Driver

Lenny Dykstra had all the answers. He took started a jet charter company and magazine dedicated to financial advice for athletes.

It seems that the man nicknamed "Nails" needed some advice of his own. Dykstra has since been arrested for a Federal bankruptcy crime and embezzlement. He can add one irate limo driver to the list of people he has angered over the years.

Dykstra is a taker. He accepted gifts without the least bit of thought about repaying his debts. All of this according to his former limo driver.

That driver sat down recently with RotoExperts.com Managing Director, Scott Engel recently for an interview. Engel refers to the driver as Jerry, as he hopes to remain anonymous. The full interview can be read here.

Jerry was a huge Mets fan. By relation, that made him a huge Lenny Dykstra fan. Engel describes how the two met.

Jerry estimates it was the month of May in 2009 when he saw Dykstra standing on the corner of Third Avenue in the high 40s, hailing a cab. Jerry instantly recognized Dykstra and pulled over, offering to take him anywhere he wanted to go. Jerry and Dykstra instantly hit it off, and Dykstra then asked Jerry to run him to various places around town for approximately five days.

Dykstra would run up a $1,000 bill and proceed to pay Jerry with a $100 bill and a credit card number. The number was declined a few days later.

The number belonged to his assistant that only slightly vouched for Dykstra when Jerry confronted her about the declined card.

Jerry then picked up Dykstra up at the airport in 2009. Nails was joined by a lady friend at the time. Again, the card Dykstra used would later be declined. Lenny was passing off "associates" cards as his own. Hardly the practice of a financial adviser.

Jerry continued to drive Dykstra around hoping beyond hope that his hero would straighten out. He never did. Jerry would lose thousands as he drove Dykstra around town and fed him leftovers from his own home.

We all think that Lenny hit rock bottom recently when he was finally arrested. It seems he had been meandering in some lowly depths well before that. Jerry knows all too well now that childhood heroes are human, nothing more.

They can be just as deceitful as a stranger walking down the street. Lenny is a man that could not let the high life go. He was going to cheat and borrow to keep his image alive, and he hurt so many people in the process.

Corona, CA: Paramedics to aid beaten Giants fan

Riverside County paramedics and emergency medical technicians are joining up with The Hot Dog Shoppe in Corona to help raise money for Santa Cruz paramedic Bryan Stow, who was severely injured in an attack after a Dodgers game more than a month ago. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., May 19 at the restaurant, 510 Hidden Valley Parkway, Suite 104, Corona.

The paramedics and emergency medical technicians will be collecting donations and the restaurant will donate 25 percent of the proceeds from the day to help pay for Stow's medical expenses and for expenses of family members while they stay in Southern California to be near him. Stow, a 42-year-old father of two, was severely injured in a beating after a Dodgers game on March 31. He is still at the USC Medical Center, where he has been in a medically induced coma. Doctors are slowly attempting to bring him out of that coma.

EMS Employees in Riverside County decided to put together the fundraiser to show their support for Stow, who also is a paramedic. He worked for AMR in the Santa Cruz area. This event is on the Thursday of their national EMS week. They are dedicating this day to Stow.

"We will be asking people to help fill the boot with donations to help Bryan and his family," said Laury Mattenson, one of the organizers of the event. They also encourage the public to make donations through the website support4bryanstow.com.

Corona, CA: CHPM Summer Art Classes

Registration Deadline June 5th

 

June 23 - July 28 Classes

Figure Study: Thursdays, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

Painting: Thursdays, 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm

June 24 - August 12 Classes

Printmaking: Fridays, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

L.A. Brown Studios - 951.316.1311

510 W Foothill Pkwy

Corona, CA 92882

Email: leslie@lesliebrown.com

Web: www.leslieabrown.com

Ph: 951.316.1311

Email: kraemer.denise@gmail.com

Ph: 951.522.5374

 

Riverside, CA: Singer Etta James has been hospitalized with blood poisoning, her son said on Friday.

The 73 year-old blues legend was admitted to hospital in Riverside, California, earlier this week with a urinary tract infection and the blood infection sepsis, said her son Sametto James.

"It was a really bad infection," Sametto James said before adding, "Right now she's doing a lot better."

Etta James is a three-time Grammy winner whose songs like "The Wallflower" and "Good Rockin' Daddy" made her a key figure in the early days of rock 'n' roll. Her signature song, the 1961 ballad "At Last," proved her a master of the blues.

James, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, has struggled with obesity in the past. In 2003, she underwent gastric bypass surgery.