Riverside Independent_12/11/2025

READERS’ CHOICE 2025 IS HERE

Board appoints new fire chief, approves funding for power substation in Thousand Palms

By City News Service

The Board of SupervisorsonTuesday appointedanew Riverside County fire chief and bid farewell to the man who has served in the top spot for the last five years.

Supervisors also approved a funding agreement for a new power substation slated for construction in Thousand Palms, benefiting several communities served by the Imperial Irrigation District.

The board voted unanimously in support of the appointment of Robert Fish, a Cal Fire firefighter for almost 35 years, to head the Riverside County Fire Department. He assumes the position previously held by Chief Bill Weiser, who is slated to officially retire on Dec. 31.

"Chief Weiser exemplifies the best in Riverside County," Supervisor Jose Medina remarked during Fish's swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday morning in the County Administrative Center. "He's leaving the county fire department in very good hands. I look forward to working with you, Chief Fish."

Fish recently served as deputy chief for East County Operations, managing a territory extending from Beaumont to Blythe, supervising Cal Fire operations in 10 of the 19 municipalities that contract with the county for emergency services. The county has contracted with Cal Fire for fire protection services since the 1940s.

Fish was tentatively

selected by Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler earlier this year to lead the county fire department, after which he was vetted by a committee composed of two county supervisors, as well as officials from the Executive Office, who affirmed the choice.

"I'm very proud of you to serve Riverside County,"

Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez said. "You grew up in Riverside County, and that's really important. You even graduated from Valley View High School in Moreno Valley, which is really exciting. When Chief Weiser was unavailable, you would step in and do a professional job. You'll be a great fire chief for Riverside County."

Supervisor Karen Spiegel admitted she'd miss Weiser,

who had "done so much for the county."

"But we've got to focus on the future," she said. "You have big shoes to fill, Chief Fish, but you're starting with a clean slate. I look forward to seeing where you're going to take us."

Fish thanked the board for its decision and vowed that he would do "everything I can to lead as effectively as Chief Weiser has."

Weiser, a firefighter since 1981, replaced Shawn Newman as fire chief in August 2020. During the chief's watch, several fire stations have been constructed and renovated. However, the county fire department's budget has

also swollen in that time, though by working with the Executive Office, cost overruns have been held in check.

Weiser told the board he intends to remain in California in retirement.

Thousand Palms substation

Riverside County supervisors Tuesday approved a funding agreement for a new power substation slated for construction in Thousand Palms, benefiting several communities served by the Imperial Irrigation District.

"When there are blackouts in the summer, there's no air conditioning. It's hot," board Chairman Manuel Perez said ahead of the 5-0 vote in favor of the Cook Street Substation Project. "It makes things tough. Advancing a new substation in the Thousand Palms area is important."

The board voted to support the project with a promised $5.6 million investment via the newly established Coachella Valley Power Fund. The county committed an initial $250,000 Tuesday, drawn from the Unincorporated Communities Initiative account, which was established five years ago specifically to provide money for projects intended to uplift underserved or economically challenged areas.

Further appropriations will be added to the power fund as the project matures. Its total cost was estimated

Ex-deputy convicted of multiple charges for stalking, harassing former lover

By City News Service

An ex-Riverside County sheriff's deputy who abused his authority and perpetrated felony and misdemeanor crimes while off-duty was awaiting sentencing Saturday following his conviction for stalking and more than a half-dozen other charges.

An Indio jury deliberated two days before finding 34-year-old Alexander Ravy Vanny of Hemet guilty on Friday of the stalking count, as well as possession of child pornography, unauthorized use of protected electronic data, maliciously destroying a wireless device, witness intimidation, illicit eavesdropping, using a concealed camera to invade privacy, illegal use of a tracking device, interference with a traffic control device and possession of a firearm in violation of a protective order, with a sentenceenhancing allegation of perpetrating a felony while on bail.

The panel, which deliberated until well after 4 p.m. Friday, hung 10-2 in favor of convicting Vanny of kidnapping, but with the deadlock, Superior Court Judge James Hawkins declared a mistrial on that charge. It was unclear whether prosecutors intended to retry the defendant on that count.

Hawkins scheduled a status conference for Feb. 6, when the District Attorney's Office will announce whether to proceed with a retrial, or settle for sentenc-

ing Vanny on the convictions, which may happen the same day at the Larson Justice Center.

The defendant remains held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.

Deputy District Attorney Jess Walsh told jurors in his closing argument Tuesday that Vanny was unquestionably guilty across the board, engaging in criminal conduct during his final year as a sheriff's deputy, before being fired.

At the outset of the trial, Walsh recounted the offenses involving the two principal victims, a former sheriff's Explorer scout identified only as "Leslie," and the defendant's one-time fiancee, a mother of two identified only as "Madeline."

In the latter case, Vanny became obsessive, unable to cope with their split in the summer of 2024.

After she went out on a date, the then-lawman secretly followed her and the man, whose identity wasn't disclosed, waiting until they were inside her Menifee residence, then setting up an audio device outside the bedroom window to record the sounds of her and the other man engaging in sex. After waiting a few moments, Vanny forced his way into the apartment and challenged the man to a fight, according to the prosecution.

According to court papers, when Madeline

Corona man who saved son from drowning, only to drown himself, identified

Riverside County Fire Chief Robert Fish. | Photo courtesy of Cal Fire

Corona man who saved son from drowning, only to drown himself, identified

Aman who saved his 7-year-old son from drowningatLake Perris after their kayak capsized but ended up drowning himself was identified Monday as a 55-year-old Corona man.

Hadi Ahmadi died a short time after he was pulled from the water Saturday afternoon by rangers at the Lake Perris State Recreation Area.

Ahmadi and his son, neither of whom were wearing life jackets, were kayaking shortly after 4 p.m. in the vicinity of Moreno Beach when their vessel flipped over, dumping them both into the water, according to California State Parks.

attention along the shore, and a patrol boat was immediately dispatched from the docks, authorities said.

Rescuers found Ahmadi "unconscious and partially submerged," with his son clinging to him "to keep himself above water," according to California State Parks.

"Investigators noted the father heroically kept his son afloat throughout the ordeal, supporting him until rescue personnel arrived," the agency stated.

5:40 p.m. Saturday.

The victim kept his son from sinking "but was unable to save himself," the agency said.

The boy's cries drew

Both were safely placed in the boat, where CPR was performed on Ahmadi, a process that continued on the beach until an ambulance arrived more than a half-hour later. He was transported to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where he was pronounced dead at

The child, whose name wasn't disclosed, underwent an emergency room examination and was reportedly uninjured, released to the custody of family members.

"State Parks urges all visitors to wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-

approved life jacket at all times while recreating near or on the water," the agency said. "California law requires children 12 and under to wear a life jacket on a moving recreational vessel of any length."

The Riverside County Coroner's Office is handling the investigation.

Volunteers sought to help kids by serving as court-appointed advocates

Ayear-end call went out Monday for Riverside County residents and others to consider signing on as volunteers to assist foster youth in need of representation to ensure their needs are met.

The nonprofit Voices for Children said that 42 minors currently under the custodial care of the county Department of Public Social Services and its constituent agencies don't have courtappointed special advocates — CASAs — to help them.

That number is growing, Voices for Children President Jessica Munoz said.

"If you are looking for a way to make an immediate impact and give back to your community right now, I cannot think of a better way to do so than by becoming a CASA volunteer," Munoz said. "Our incredible volunteers have made a major difference for local children

right here in our community, just by showing up as they are, listening to them and being a consistent adult presence in their lives."

In the previous fiscal year, Voices of Children's CASAs served 730 juveniles of various ages in Riverside County, according to the nonprofit.

There's a constant need for volunteers.

"Becoming a CASA volunteer was one of the best decisions I have ever made," Mariana Robles of Riverside said. "You don't have to have any previous experience with the legal system, or even working with children. I find it so easy to spend at least 10 hours per month meeting with my case child, getting to know them, taking them on fun activities, attending meetings on their behalf and filling out court reports that help judges make the best

choices for their future."

DPSS recognizes the work of CASAs via its "Partners" web portal, which can be found at rivcodpss. org/partners.

"CASAs are vital sources of support for children ... who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment," Voices for Children said. "Many feel very much alone, until they meet their CASA.

A CASA often becomes the

most consistent adult in a child's life, providing stability in a complicated system." Volunteers often assist with representing their appointed child's position in welfare and other reports to the courts.

General information about CASAs is available at californiacasa.org.

Details on where to find a training seminar is at speakupnow.org/volunteer/volunteer-information-session.

Lake Perris. | Photo courtesy of Lake Perris State Recreation Area/ Facebook

| Photo courtesy of the California CASA Association/Facebook

Ultimate Gift Guide for Dads Who “Don’t Want Anything”

Every year, Dad insists he “doesn’t need a thing,” yet somehow your holiday gift list still has his name on it. The key to shopping for the impossible-to-shop-for dad? Choose items that make everyday life a little more enjoyable, personalized, or fun.

Start with something practical but elevated, like a sleek leather wallet with RFID protection, a high-quality belt, or a durable thermos for morning coffee. If he loves to grill, swap standard tools for a premium BBQ set or a digital meat thermometer that guarantees the perfect steak every time.

For the dad who appreciates experiences more than objects, consider a gift card

to his favorite local restaurant, a whiskey or coffee tasting experience, or tickets to a game, show, or classic car exhibition. Personalized options also score high — think custom photo books, engraved keychains, or a framed map of his hometown or favorite travel spot.

Tech-savvy dads will appreciate a wireless charging dock, noise-canceling headphones, or a smart key finder to keep track of those ever-missing keys. For an outdoorsy dad, consider a high-quality pocket knife, thermal socks, or a compact camping hammock. When in doubt, pair a simple gift with a handwritten note. Sometimes it’s not about finding what he wants — it’s about showing you were thinking of him.

Great gifts don’t have to come with a big price tag. Stocking stuffers are the perfect way to add a little extra fun (and flair) to the holidays without stretching your budget. Under $25, there are countless small-yetthoughtful items that feel big in impact.

For the on-the-go friend or family member, consider items like mini hand creams, lip balms, travel-size candles, compact mirrors, or fun socks in festive prints. Tech lovers will appreciate phone grips, screen-cleaning kits,

Stocking Stuffers Under $25

cord organizers, or mini power banks that can slip neatly into a bag or glove compartment.

Food-based gifts are always a hit. Think gourmet chocolates, flavored popcorn, artisan hot sauces, gourmet coffee packets, or locally made honey and jam. These edible treats add a personal touch while supporting small businesses if shopped locally.

Beauty lovers will swoon over jade rollers, face masks, mini perfumes, clear lip glosses, nail polish, or hair accessories.

For kids and teens, small games, keychains, fidget toys, stickers, or personalized name bracelets work perfectly. You can also add fun, useful items like quirky mugs, reusable tumblers, puzzle cubes, novelty pens, or holidaythemed ornaments.

The best part? Mixing practical, sweet, and silly items together creates a stocking that feels thoughtfully curated — proving that it’s the little things that can make the holidays extra memorable.

Photos courtesy of Canva

Photos courtesy of Canva

Best Gifts for Teens in 2025

Teenagers know what they like, and in 2025, it’s all about creativity, personalization, and experiences they can share online. The best gifts for teens this holiday season tap into self-expression, technology, and social connection.

Must-have tech remains at the top of their list. Wireless earbuds, portable speakers with LED lights, phone tripods for TikTok and Instagram, and phone cases that double as wallets are all popular picks. Mini instant cameras and photo printers let them capture and display memories in real time — an analog twist in a digital world.

Fashion and beauty continue to be huge. Oversized hoodies, trendy sneakers, graphic tees, mini

Where to See Santa in SoCal

Please confirm dates, times, and locations with each venue before attending, as details may change.

Buena Park Mall – Santa Visit

8308 On The Mall, Buena Park, CA 90620

Take the kids to Buena Park Mall where Santa will be greeting families in the center court. Walk-ins are welcome, and a small $5 deposit (credited toward your photo package) gets you in. Photo packages start at about $34.99, and you can pick up keepsakes like snow globes or ornaments while you’re there. Santa will be there on select dates through December 24. Reserve your spot: Eventbrite

Santa’s House – The Grove

The Grove, Los Angeles, CA

At The Grove, Santa’s Workshop is open Nov. 18–Dec. 24, 2025. Step into a festive cottage, tell Santa your Christmas wishes, and snap a photo in a beautifully themed holiday setting. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins may be available based on capacity. Reservations and Additional Information: thegrovela. com

Santa’s

Cottage

– The Americana at Brand

The Americana at Brand, Glendale, CA

Santa will be in a charming winter cottage setup at The Americana at Brand through Christmas Eve (Dec. 24, 2025). It’s a softly lit, cozy backdrop perfect for family photos and sharing holiday wishes.

Reservations and Additional Information: americanaatbrand.com

Santa’s Cottage – The Promenade at Westlake

The Promenade at Westlake, Westlake Village, CA

From Nov. 22–Dec. 24, 2025, the Promenade at Westlake has Santa in a cottage setting between Farfalla Trattoria and World Market, with a warm village feel.

Reservations and Additional Information: shoppromenade.com

Santa Photos – Ovation Hollywood

Ovation Hollywood, Hollywood, CA

From Nov. 28–Dec. 24, 2025, Ovation Hollywood offers free photos with Santa. Visit his photo booth on Level 3 — they’ll email you a digital copy, or you can buy a $5 print on-site.

For times and additional information: ovationhollywood.com

Santa

Claus at Glendale Galleria

Glendale Galleria, Glendale, CA

Santa returns to Macy’s Court at the Glendale Galleria from Nov. 21–Dec. 24, 2025. You can book a photo session ahead of time, and they often run “Pet Nights” (check the schedule) where well-behaved pets can visit Santa too.

For times and additional information: glendalegalleria. com

Santa’s Winter Wonderland – Santa Monica Place

Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA

Santa parks his sleigh under the 50-foot Christmas tree in Santa Monica Place’s Center Plaza through Dec. 24.The visit is free, but photo packages range around $39.99–$49.99, and they encourage reservations. Reservations and Additional Information: santamonicaplace.com

Santa’s North Pole Adventure – Westfield Century City

Westfield Century City, Los Angeles, CA

For a more immersive experience, check out Santa’s North Pole Adventure — a multi-room holiday village where you’ll meet Santa in his bungalow, find Mrs. Claus at her bakery, explore a scavenger hunt, and more. Open most days through Christmas Eve.

backpacks, and statement jewelry are always appreciated. Beauty essentials like lip oils, skincare starters, UV nail kits, and curling irons also top teen wish lists.

Creative teens will love art kits, digital drawing tablets, journaling sets, or DIY candle and jewelrymaking kits. For gamers, pre-paid cards for PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo, LED light strips, or a high-quality gaming headset are guaranteed hits. And don’t forget experiences. Concert tickets, creative workshops, escape rooms, or amusement park passes make for unforgettable memories. Gifting something that reflects their personality makes it even more meaningful.

Tickets and Additional Information: westfield.com

One Colorado — Photos with Santa

One Colorado / Courtyard between Sushi Roku & Sage, Pasadena, CA 91103

One Colorado runs a festive Santa set in the courtyard (weekends through Dec. 24); book a time to get polished family portraits or do a quick digital snapshot. Photo Pricing and Hours: onecolorado.com

Plaza West Covina — Santa & Pet Nights

Plaza West Covina, 112 Plaza Drive, West Covina, CA 91790

Plaza West Covina hosts a big seasonal Santa setup with reservation options, pet-photo nights, sensoryfriendly hours and a tree-lighting celebration — good for families and pets.

Reservations and Additional Information: amusemattebooksanta

Photo courtesy of Canva

Photo courtesy of Canva

Draw for 2026 World Cup puts US Team in SoFi opener vs. Paraguay

The United States will open its 2026 World Cup soccer campaign at SoFi Stadium, where the team will face Paraguay after drawing a group that also includes Australia and the winner of a playoff featuring Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.

The matchups were set Friday as soccer's biggest tournament moved a step closer following a star-studded draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump took center stage at the big event, joining world leaders as well as retired sports greats Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal and Wayne Gretzky, along with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

Trump was also awarded the newly created FIFA Peace Prize during the ceremony, which was also attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, among others.

Matches for the expanded 2026 World Cup will be staged across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, including Inglewood -where SoFi Stadium will host several group-stage games.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass welcomed the draw results, saying the city is ready to serve as a global stage for the event.

"With the 2026 FIFA

By City News Service

World Cup draw finalized, Los Angeles is thrilled to welcome our international visitors. ... Los Angeles is proud to open its doors to the world and celebrate the unifying power of sport," Bass said in a statement.

All games from the quarterfinals on will be in the U.S., which is using 11 NFL stadiums.

The U.S. will open Group D play against Paraguay on June 12, 2026 at SoFi Stadium. The United States' other group games will be played in Seattle against Australia on June 19 and back at SoFi Stadium on June 25 against the UEFA playoff winner.

The U.S. has had recent success against both Paraguay and Australia, beating each 2-1 in friendlies earlier this year.

Mexico will kick off the tournament a day earlier in Mexico City against South Africa -- a rematch of the

opening game from the 2010 World Cup.

As a co-host, the U.S. was seeded in Pot 1, allowing the team to avoid top powers such as Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, as well as fellow hosts Canada and Mexico.

A record 64 nations took part in the draw, which will ultimately set the 48-team field for next summer's tournament. Under the expanded format, the top two teams in each group -along with eight of the 12 third-place finishers -- will advance to the 32-team knockout stage.

An estimated $594 million in economic activity is expected to flow into L.A. County during the tournament, according to a report from Micronomics Economic Research and Consulting released in June.

| Photo by Erik Drost via Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Los Angeles

Pasadena

Pasadena Playhouse’s Jingle & Mingle holiday celebration Saturday

Pasadena Playhouse’s Jingle & Mingle holiday community celebration on Saturday will transform every corner of the theater into a joyful experience. The artistic centerpiece of the day will be two ticketed performances given on the Playhouse Mainstage (a 1 p.m. matinee and a 5 p.m. evening performance) featuring the Pasadena community— blending music, storytelling, and guest appearances as well as performances from the Playhouse’s education programs. Attendees can purchase $15 tickets for either of the concerts and/or RSVP for the free campus-wide open house from 2 to 5 p.m., which will feature tours, holiday crafts, family photo ops, and more. Jingle & Mingle will culminate in a grandfinale tree-lighting and snow moment in the courtyard following the 5 p.m. performance. Tickets and RSVP information for all Jingle & Mingle activities are available at pasadenaplayhouse.org/event/ jingle-mingle.

Long Beach

Long Beach ‘Nutcracker’ celebrates 43rd anniversary

The Long Beach Ballet continues its annual holiday tradition, for the 43rd year this December, of present-

ing "The Nutcracker" at the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center for six performances. This production boasts a full symphony orchestra, conducted by Dr. Roger Hickman, a flying sleigh, a real live horse, onstage pyrotechnics, and a cast of over 250. Performances take place Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m., Saturday, December 20 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec .21 at 2 p.m., at the Terrace Theater, Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center Main Box Office, and online through the Long Beach Ballet website, www.LongBeachNutcracker.com. Ticket prices start at $38, with a special VIP package also available. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

Arcadia

Visit Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association’s Holiday Fair on Saturday

Celebrate the magic of the season at Downtown Arcadia’s Holiday Fair on First Avenue, between Huntington Drive and California Street, this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy entertainment, free kids’ activities, carnival games, music, giveaways, visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus story time, shopping, and food from a

REGIONALS

variety of food trucks and local restaurants. Additionally, Foothill Unity Center will be collecting new, unwrapped toys and The Pasadena Humane Society will be collecting food and toys for pets during the event. The Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association is giving away REI bikes, a complimentary night stay at the new Hilton Arcadia, and a four-pack of tickets to Enchant at Santa Anita Park, and a $150 gift certificate to 19 Seventy Ovalo Hilton.The big giveaway will be held at 3 p.m. at the DJ stage on Bonita Avenue. You must be present to win at the event. Enter to win at https:// lp.constantcontactpages. com/sl/W1SBjmw.

Orange County

Drilling in Newport Beach tackles methane leak at 1920s oil well

Crews in Newport Beach are attempting to fix an abandoned 1920s-era oil well that leaked methane and oil into a home on the Balboa Peninsula at 3606 Marcus Ave. "The state of CA & city of Newport Beach are beginning emergency remediation of an abandoned 1920s oil well near Marcus Ave & 36th St.," the Newport Beach Police Department announced Saturday on X. "A specialized drill rig has arrived, with nighttime and 24/7 operations for the next 10 days."

finalist for

Anaheim’s

next chief of police

Manuel Cid has been named finalist to be the next police chief of the Anaheim Police Department. With City Council consideration of an employment agreement and completion of preemployment requirements, Cid could start Dec. 29. Cid currently serves as chief of police of the Glendale Police Department, a position he’s held since January 2023. Pending final employment screening and any council approval of an employment agreement, Cid would oversee 600 employees including more than 400 sworn police officers, detectives, investigators, pilots, mounted unit officers and horses, K-9 officers, SWAT personnel and command staff. His finalist selection follows the announced retirement of Chief Rick Armendariz, who has led the department since 2023 and announced his plans to step down in July. Armendariz continues to manage the department as interim chief during a transitional recruitment and hiring of his successor.

Riverside County

Rachelle Román appointed new director of the Riverside County Office on Aging

The County of Riverside Board of Supervisors appointed Rachelle Román as the new director of the Office on Aging (OOA). With 23 years in public service, Román brings experience in

strategic planning, administrative leadership, and cross-sector collaboration across aging and public health services. The Office on Aging carries a countywide mandate to develop a home and community based system of services that supports dignity, wellbeing and independence for older adults and individuals with disabilities. With more than 550,000 residents over age 60, 280,000 households that include a senior, and a rapidly growing population of older adults from diverse backgrounds, Riverside County faces increasing demand for accessible, consumer-focused support.

For more information on the Riverside County Office on Aging and its programs, please visit rcaging.org.

City of Riverside

Riverside to host grand opening of Arlington Pickleball Complex Saturday

The City of Riverside Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCSD) will celebrate the grand opening of the Arlington Pickleball Complex at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Attendees are encouraged to stay after the ribbon-cutting for organized pickleball play facilitated by PRCSD and a guided tour of the Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center located onsite. This event is free and open to the public, with light refreshments and communityengagement opportunitiesprovided.

For more information, visit RivReg.org or contact the City of Riverside Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department at 951-826-2000 or Parks@RiversideCA.gov.

San Bernardino County

Borrow a state parks day-use pass with your San Bernardino County Library card

Free day-use access to California State Parks is available through San Bernardino County Library branches. Through a continued partnership with the California State Library

and California State Parks, cardholders can borrow a California State Library Parks Pass from participating County Library branches. The California State Library Parks Pass program allows residents to check out a pass just as they would a book— granting entry to over 200 participating state parks for one vehicle and its occupants. Cardholders can borrow a pass from their local branch at no cost. For more information about the San Bernardino County Library system, visit library.sbcounty. gov or call 909-387-2220.

San Bernardino County Children and Family Services to host coat giveaway Saturday

San Bernardino County Children and Family Services will host its Holiday Coat Giveaway on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Victor Valley College, building 44, located at 18422 Bear Valley Road in Victorville. Free winter coats will be provided to the first 300 youth who attend, with a variety of sizes available. This is a free public event open to everyone in the community. Arrive early to secure your spot. The event will also include photos with Santa, hot chocolate, live music and family-friendly activities.

Ontario

Ontario’s 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph’s Dash set for Saturday

The Annual 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph’s Dash Fun Run returns on Saturday. This year’s theme, Color Craze, marks the city’s first-ever color run. Participants will be showered with bursts of bright color at various points along the course. All proceeds from the race will be donated to the Ontario Montclair Promise Scholars and the city’s Empowerment Scholarship. The Packet Pick Up Palooza Extravaganza is on Thursday at Ontario Town Square from 3 to 7 p.m. Guests will enjoy photo opportunities with special guests, crafts, and more fun surprises. For more information, visit Ontario5KRun. com or call (909) 395-2020.

Anaheim

Manuel Cid named

Monrovia

Nov. 26

At 9:13 a.m., a victim in the 800 block of West Colorado reported her vehicle stolen. This investigation is continuing.

At 9:20 a.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 500 block of West Huntington. Officers arrived and made contact with the parties involved. One of the parties involved complained of pain and was transported to a hospital for treatment, the other party refused treatment.

At 12:53 p.m., a caller in the 300 block of South Myrtle reported an intoxicated subject who was harassing citizens. Officers arrived and made contact with the subject who was determined to be too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

At 3:44 p.m., an employee from a business in the 200 block of Taylor reported that a subject in the business was threatening staff. Officers arrived and located the subject a short distance away. A traffic stop was conducted and the subject was contacted. The subject began to resist officers; a short struggle ensued. He was arrested and taken into custody.

At 6 p.m., a family disturbance was reported in the 600 block of West Foothill. Officers arrived and made contact with the parties involved and determined one of the subjects was a danger to others. She was transported to a medical facility for a mental evaluation.

At 9:09 p.m., while patrolling the area of Foothill and Primrose officers saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was contacted. The driver

displayed symptoms of narcotics intoxication. A DUI investigation confirmed the driver was under the influence. He was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

Nov. 27

At 12:38 a.m., a disturbance was reported in the 100 block of West Palm. Officers arrived and located an intoxicated male subject causing a disturbance. Officers’ made contact with him. A computer search revealed he had multiple warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

At 1:26 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of South Magnolia regarding a suspicious male subject in the area. Officers arrived and discovered the subject forced entry into a building. The subject was located and contacted. During the contact a computer search revealed he had a warrant for his arrest. He was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.

At 11:40 a.m., a caller in the 700 block of Ridgeside reported a female subject was sitting in her parked car and drinking alcohol. Officers arrived and made contact with her. It was determined she was too intoxicated to care for herself. She was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

At 3:06 p.m., officers were dispatched to a store in the 400 block of West Foothill regarding an intoxicated subject who was attempting to drive. Officers arrived and located the subject driving away. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was contacted. A DUI investigation confirmed the driver was intoxicated. He was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

At 8:13 p.m., officers patrolling the area of Duarte and California saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was contacted. The driver displayed symptoms of intoxication. A DUI investigation determined he was under the influence. He was arrested and transported to the MPD jail to be held for a sobering period.

At 8:32 p.m., an officer patrolling the area of Mountain and Huntington saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was contacted. The subject was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm. He was arrested and taken into custody.

At 8:35 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of Royal Oaks reported that her adult son was intoxicated and causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and made contact with the son. A computer search revealed the son was wanted for a domestic violence incident. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Nov. 28

At 12:54 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of North Primrose reported that he saw someone breaking into his vehicle. Officers responded and located the subject nearby. A traffic stop was attempted, but the driver fled, a brief purist ensued. The vehicle became disabled and the driver was contacted. A firearm was located inside the vehicle. He was arrested and taken into custody.

At 9 a.m., a victim in the 100 block of North Primrose reported his unlocked vehicle was broken into and property was taken. This investigation is continuing.

At 11:04 a.m., a caller in a business in the 300 block of West Huntington reported a breaker from the business electrical panel was stolen.

This investigation is continuing.

At 11:30 a.m., a resident in the 1500 block of South Mayflower reported a package theft. This investigation is continuing.

At 11:57 a.m., a traffic collision was reported in the area of Myrtle and Duarte. Officers arrived and made contact with the parties involved. One of the parties complained of pain and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

At 12:06 p.m., a victim in the 200 block of South Myrtle reported a theft at an ATM machine, where the suspects distracted the victim. The suspects convinced the victim to use both ATMs claiming one was inoperative. The suspects made an unauthorized withdrawal. This investigation is continuing.

At 12:10 p.m., a resident near Primrose and Oaks reported his vehicle stolen. Officers found it unoccupied nearby. This investigation is continuing.

At 6:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to a medical assist on Royal Oaks for a report of a male subject having difficulty breathing. Upon arrival, officers learned that the man had chased his sister-in-law around the residence while holding a knife in each hand and had nearly struck her when he threw one of the knives at her. Once he was determined to not be having a medical condition he was arrested and taken into custody.

At 7:21 p.m., officers patrolling the 400 block of West Foothill saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was contacted. A computer search revealed he had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Business of the Week

By Staff Rubina Chadha, Inner Design™ founder

Rubina Chadha is a Clio Award–winning designer, mindfulness educator, and the founder of Inner Design™ — a mindfulness-based education and coaching platform that helps professionals and creatives reset stress and realign through breathwork, creativity, and conscious awareness.

Named Top CEO and Creative Leader in Personal Development by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP), Rubina has become a recognized voice in mindful leadership and creative empowerment. Her story and methods have been featured across national media, including: Women In Power TV (Inside Success Network), Harder Than Life Podcast with Kelly Siegel, Prosperity Podcast with Mark Sephton, Broadcast Your Authority, Fishing Without Bait, How Yoga Changed My Life, and My SGV Podcast.

Her upcoming Women In Power episode, “Inner Design: Rubina Chadha’s Blueprint: From Burnout to Breathwork,” captures her journey and the rebirth of a life lived in harmony, not hustle.

As a Huntington Library & Museum Advisory Panel member and APA National Ai Art Award 2025 recipient, Rubina continues to merge art, mindfulness, and design thinking into programs like The Creative Reset™ and Heart-Breath Meditation™, empowering others to lead with calm clarity and creative alignment. www.theinnerdesign.com

Instagram: @theofficialrubina

Rubina Chadha. | Courtesy photo

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Paramount launched a hostile bid Monday for Warner Bros. Discovery worth an estimated $74.4 billion, which it will take directly to shareholders in a challenge to Netflix, which reached a $82.7 billion takeover deal with the company last week.

Describing the Netflix offer as inferior, Paramount CEO David Ellison announced an offer of $30 per share in cash, which sets the stage for a battle of corporate titans with the sort of Hollywood intrigue usually seen in scripts.

"WBD shareholders deserve an opportunity to consider our superior allcash offer for their shares in the entire company," Ellison said in a statement. "Our public offer, which is on the same terms we provided to the Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors in private, provides superior value, and a more certain and quicker path to completion. We believe the WBD Board of Directors is pursuing an inferior proposal which exposes shareholders to a mix of cash and stock, an uncertain future trading value of the Global Networks linear cable business and

Paramount launches hostile takeover of Warner Bros.

a challenging regulatory approval process. We are taking our offer directly to shareholders to give them the opportunity to act in their own best interests and maximize the value of their shares."

Paramount officials also suggested the company's proposal would have an easier path to regulatory approval, saying it "enhances competition and is pro-consumer." The company insisted that its offer runs counter to Netflix's "anticompetitive" proposal, "which would entrench its monopoly with a 43% share" of global streaming service subscribers, leading to higher prices for subscribers and lower pay for content creators.

Netflix and Warner Bros. announced their proposed $72 billion takeover agreement on Friday, a deal that would include Warner's film and television studios and the HBO and HBO Max brands.

Netflix has more than 300 million subscribers worldwide. With HBO Max folded in, that number would jump past 420 million, giving the company a subscriber base unmatched by any other

By City News Service

premium streaming service.

"Our mission has always been to entertain the world," Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, said in a statement.

"By combining Warner Bros. incredible library of shows and movies from timeless classics like `Casablanca' and `Citizen Kane' to modern favorites like `Harry Potter' and `Friends' with our culture-defining titles like `Stranger Things,' `KPop Demon Hunters' and `Squid Game,' we'll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling."

When completed, the deal will make Netflix a Hollywood juggernaut bigger than The Walt Disney Co.

Netflix is offering about $27.75 per Warner Bros. Discovery share in a cashand-stock deal and will take on more than $10 billion in company debt, putting the transaction's value at $82.7 billion.

The Netflix proposal was met with criticism from some key Hollywood unions, including the Directors Guild of America and

and reduction in

President Donald Trump also cast a shadow over the Netflix proposal on Sunday, telling reporters the deal "could be a problem" given the size of the resulting company.

He said a Netflix takeover would create a firm with a "big market share."

"There's no question

about it, it could be a problem," Trump said, adding that he will "be involved in that decision" about granting regulatory approval to the deal.

Trump praised the work of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, but the president also has a close relationship with Ellison. The Paramount takeover is also being backed by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Sarandos, speaking at a

Reports: Jimmy Kimmel's contract at ABC extended to 2027

By City News Service

Late night talk show

Jimmy Kimmel will remain on the air at ABC for another year, with the network extending his contract into 2027, according to multiple reports Monday. Bloomberg News, citing four people familiar with the arrangement, first reported the extension, saying Kimmel privately informed his staff this week. Kimmel's contract had been set to end in May 2026.

According to various reports, the extension agreement was actually reached over the summer, but the announcement was postponed originally in deference to CBS latenight host Stephen Colbert -- whose show has been canceled and will end its run in 2026 -- and then due to Kimmel's brief suspension in September over comments he made regarding the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel has hosted

"Jimmy Kimmel Live" since 2003, with the show filmed at the El Capitan entertainment complex on Hollywood Boulevard.

The Walt Disney Co., the parent company of ABC, suspended Kimmel's show in September after on-air remarks he made about the killing of Kirk, 31, who was fatally shot while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kimmel returned to the air a week later.

conference in New York on Monday, said Paramount's hostile bid "was entirely expected."

"We have a deal done, and we are ... happy with the deal," Sarandos said. He said the deal would be a boon for shareholders and consumers, calling it a "great way to create and protect jobs in the entertainment industry. We're super confident we're going to get it across the line."

Writers Guild of America, which expressed dismay about possible loss of jobs

wages.

Warner Bros. Studios. | Photo by Loren Javier via Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

| Photo by Tamara Evans via Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

How Google organized opposition to a California privacy proposal

By Khari Johnson and Yue Stella Yu for CalMatters via Stacker

Rhode Island resident NavahHopkins received a plea in April for her help to defeat legislation thousands of miles away in California.

The ask came from Google, maker of the world’s most used web browser, Chrome. The tech giant sent a message to an email list that Hopkins and other small business owners were subscribed to. Google’s request: To sign a petition opposing Assembly Bill 566, which would require browsers to provide users with a way to automatically tell websites not to share their personal information with third parties. The measure is sponsored by the California Privacy Protection Agency, which enforces state regulations on such sharing.

In its email to Hopkins, Google claimed that the legislation would “hurt your ability to use online ads to reach customers.”

“It was intentionally misleading people that by this bill passing, they were going to lose out on all of these tools within Google (to advertise),” she told CalMatters.

The outreach was particularly noteworthy because Google had not itself taken a public position on the bill. The tech giant was so quiet about its opposition that Assemblyman Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, the author of AB 566, did not know about Google’s email push until a CalMatters reporter asked. Lowenthal also said his office did not receive small business owners’ signatures or outreach.

Google’s name wasn’t on the petition either; instead, the document was officially from the “Connected Commerce Council,” which the tech giant backs financially.

The largely behind-thescenes campaign offers a glimpse into how the tech giant is working to preserve its grip on the online advertising market and how it

attempts, without being seen, to shape policies in a state with one of the nation’s strictest privacy protection laws.

Recruiting small businesses to represent the policy interests of a tech giant isn’t new. Last year, Google successfully blocked a similar bill — ultimately vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom — by adopting the same tactic, reaching out to small businesses via email lists, according to a message obtained by CalMatters.

There’s no telling how effective Google’s lobbying on the measure has been this year, or how many people it successfully mobilized. Experts warn that the strategy could backfire if the people it reaches out to, like the small business owners, aren’t buying what the company is selling.

But before the browser bill reached its final floor vote in October, Lowenthal, at an Assembly floor session as seen below, amended it to delay the effective date until 2027 and to add liability protections for browser companies like Google.

When asked who advocated for that language, Lowenthal said he’d taken input from “colleagues and stakeholders” to shape up the “strongest possible bill.”

“With any bill that’s been vetoed before, it takes some give-and-take to get it across the finish line,” he said.

The bill cleared the Legislature and headed to the governor’s desk Oct. 8 after this story was originally published about a month earlier.

Google did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Google ranked among the most active lobbyists in California last year, spending more to influence the opinions of elected officials than it had in the previous 20 years combined. The lobbying was aimed at battling AI regulation, local news funding requirements and a prior version of the

browser bill.

This year, it has disclosed pouring nearly $700,000 into lobbying state leaders on bills including AB 566. Google has also increased lobbying spending in many other statehouses, according to the Open Markets Institute. With inaction in Congress, states have led the way in tech regulation in recent years.

But it’s hard to trace Google’s full influence when the company does not publicly share its position on bills like AB 566, instead paying groups like the California Chamber of Commerce and Connected Commerce Council to influence legislators on its behalf.

Google registered to lobby 17 bills this year that sought to do things like place warning labels on social media or protect people from algorithms that make health care decisions, but the company only publicly stated its position on one bill that sought to require online age verification, according to state filings and Digital Democracy.

Google’s lobbying tactics, while not illegal, demonstrate the sway money has over policies, said Sean McMorris, the transparency, ethics and accountability program manager at California Common Cause.

“This type of activity … exemplifies the skewed playing field that we have to play on,” he said. “It’s important to report on and to point out these strategies and loopholes that money can afford you the privilege to engage in, and the public has every right to scrutinize whether that is just or not.”

If Google really believes this bill shouldn’t become a law, its lobbyists should show up to testify at a public hearing, not behave in shadowy ways that undercut democracy, said Brandon Forester, an organizer for MediaJustice, a nonprofit that has been critical of the influence of Big Tech companies and internet service providers.

“None of us wants to enter a surveillance marketplace every time that we go on the

internet,” he said. “Part of the reason they need to do the shadow lobbying is because the things that they want to do to achieve their infinite growth model is not good for the public.”

AB 566 is not the only threat Google faces to its grip on how people surf the web. A judge ruled last month that the company may no longer enter into exclusive distribution deals for Chrome or Google search. And Chrome faces new competition from a number of AI-powered browsers entering the market, reportedly to soon include one from ChatGPT maker OpenAI. Onerous mandate or consumer convenience?

Under a 2018 state law, California businesses must provide customers with a way to forbid the sharing or sale of their personal information to businesses. AB 566 seeks to streamline that process.

Browsers such as DuckDuckGo, Brave and Firefox already have privacy features that, once enabled, automatically send an opt-out signal to each website the user goes to.

The California Chamber of Commerce opposes AB 566, arguing it represents an onerous mandate. The measure lacks clarity, regulates browsers that aren’t “consumer-facing” and is

hard to implement, the trade association argued in a letter to lawmakers.

“Browsers and devices already compete to offer clear, effective privacy controls,” Ronak Dalami, a lobbyist for the chamber, told lawmakers in July.

A similar bill the Legislature passed last year would have required both web browsers and mobile operating systems to offer ways to automatically prohibit the sharing of a user’s personal information, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill because no major mobile operating system includes such an option.

“To ensure the ongoing usability of mobile devices, it’s best if design questions are first addressed by developers, rather than by regulators,” Newsom said in a veto message.

Bianca Blomquist, California director of nonprofit Small Business Majority, which represents 85,000 small businesses nationwide, was among the business owners who received an email last year from Google, on a mailing list of businesses that participated in the company’s training program Grow with Google. The letter argued that

See Google Page 11

allowing people to easily stop companies from sharing their personal information would make it more expensive for small businesses to sell their products.

But Blomquist was skeptical. And while Newsom’s veto message spoke of design risks, she said that most people she talks to “are more concerned about their data being shared than they are too many buttons flashing on a screen.”

To Blomquist, the email is clear evidence that Google was “leveraging” the data it collected from partners for advocacy.

“What we find is that small business owners … and partner organizations oftentimes sign on to support or oppose legislation without having an understanding of what it does.”

Connected Commerce Council

The petition Google circulated this year was authored by Connected Commerce Council, or 3C, a lobbying group that in 2022 claimed to represent 15,000 small businesses but lists Google and Amazon as funders and partners. In 2022, Google and Amazon mobilized their users to fight anti-trust bills in Congress by encouraging

Google headquarters in Silicon Valley. | Photo courtesy of Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Stacker

Google

them to sign a model online petition the council drafted. That year, the nonprofit published and later removed a membership directory of 5,000 small businesses, many of which told Politico they were not members of the organization.

This spring, the group sent a letter to California state lawmakers, arguing that the requirements proposed in AB 566 would cause small businesses to lose out on customer data and make their websites more expensive to operate.

“Implementing a sweeping experiment that would jeopardize small businesses’ success, limit Californians’ access to relevant products and services, and potentially disrupt access to free web content, is not a sensible way forward,” wrote Rob Retzlaff, executive director of the group.

In a virtual press conference last month, the organization put forward two California online business owners who oppose the legislation. The owners argued that the browser feature mandated in the bill could inadvertently drive away customers, would block them from sending targeted ads to users who opt out of having their personal information shared, and would make it impossible for customers who opted out to opt back in.

“If they opt out of one thing — maybe they just didn’t want ... my weekly emails about moms connecting, but they want to have discounts — how are we going to segment

that?” said Michelle Mak, owner of baby product store Mewl Baby.

Google did not report paying the commerce council any money to lobby on its behalf to the California secretary of state. But Google reported paying the California Chamber of Commerce, the face of its opposition, almost $100,000 to lobby this year. It also reported paying TechNet, which also registered its opposition, $2,500.

Connected Commerce Council spokesperson Jennifer Hodgkins declined to answer a list of questions from CalMatters, instead providing a statement pointing to the organization’s letters to the Legislature, press releases and statements from small business owners featured in its press conference.

“Small business owners are deeply concerned about the impact AB 566 will have on their ability to advertise online, find new customers and grow,” Hodgkins said.

John Myers, a spokesperson for the California Chamber of Commerce, declined to answer a CalMatters question about the payments it received from Google.

But McMorris of Common Cause said Google’s payments to the chamber for lobbying should be “closely scrutinized.”

“If it’s not for (AB 566), then what was it for?” he said. “That’s where the law gets murky, and you have these wink and nod rela-

of recruiting small businesses to represent its interests, and Google and Meta threatened or prevented people in Australia, Canada and California from seeing the news to oppose a demand that the companies pay to link to news websites. An earlier, prominent instance of tech companies using their platforms to influence legislation came around the Stop Online Piracy Act and the PROTECT IP Act when major companies, including Google, organized to shut down their websites for a day in September 2012 to oppose those laws.

tionships where both sides know how to play the game without explicitly saying, ‘This is how we are going to play the game.’”

Mobilizing users a unique tactic

It tracks that Google turned to small business owners to protect the company’s business model, said Jeremy Mack, director of the Phoenix Project, a group that tries to draw attention to San Francisco Bay Area front organizations secretly funded by tech billionaires.

Mack said the practice is reminiscent of how Uber and Lyft mobilized people who use ride-hailing apps to support Proposition 22 and keep gig workers from being defined as employees instead of contractors, and tactics embraced by apartment landlords and realtor groups.

“It’s not surprising that Google would do this, but it’s definitely good to be able to flag this for people and put it on their radar,” he said.

Unlike other industries seeking to influence policy, tech companies can mobilize users through their online platforms, said Austin Ahlman, a researcher who tracks Google lobbying efforts in state capitals for the Open Markets Institute. It’s part of a long pattern of tech companies using small businesses that rely on their platforms to preempt regulation.

Meta also has a history

it mostly works,” he said.

Mack thinks mobilizing users has been devastatingly effective, but companies probably do it sparingly because if they do it too often people will be more aware of how much control large tech companies have over people’s information.

“I’d call it anti-democratic, but I wouldn’t call it desperate, because, frankly,

Powerful companies typically combine traditional lobbying and strategies used by civil society organizations when regulatory pressures threaten their core business model, according to a 2023 research paper about corporate lobbying campaigns. Those tactics were historically associated with the fossil fuel, pharmaceutical and tobacco industries, but tech companies have innovated on and rejuvenated the lobbying form. They can do so more effectively because they can tap into user data and their platforms give them unmediated communication with customers.

But it only works if users are motivated to speak out, such as when video game players fought efforts to regulate in-game violence, or when for-profit college students opposed a push by the Obama administration to keep them from receiving federal student aid.

“It’s important to know that these kinds of grassroots lobbying strategies, or user mobilization strategies, are a double-edged sword. It’s not a given that they’re always going to work in your favor,” he said. “If you do this in a scattershot way, you really increase the risk it’s going to backfire on you.”

This story was produced by CalMatters and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. The article was copy edited from its original version. Republished with CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

Companies typically recruit users to advance their policy initiatives when they sense a threat to their business and no longer believe conventional lobbying will be sufficient, said UCLA sociology professor Edward Walker, who studies how companies mobilize customers to speak out about legislation.

Assemblyman Joshua Lowenthal, D-Long Beach. | Photo courtesy of Fred Greaves/CalMatters/Stacker

Arcadia, Monrovia chambers celebrate the holidays

By Staff

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Major Change to Oak & Ivy (AKA Elara) Housing Project Prompts Public Response

By Chinese Association of Arcadia

The following is the opinion of the Chinese Association of Arcadia and does not necessarily reflect the stance of this publication.

Thedevelopment formerly known as Elara, located at 4217 E. Live Oak Avenue, has been renamed Oak & Ivy Apartments and has undergone a significant and fundamental change in purpose. What was once proposed as a mixed project—split between low-income housing and permanent supportive housing—has now become a 100% supportive housing development exclusively serving low-income individuals who have experienced homelessness. All units will be government-subsidized, and the project is restricted for a minimum of 50 years.

The Oak & Ivy project is planned as a six-story, 95-unit high-density residential building. Unit breakdown includes 41 studio apartments under 500 square feet, 47 one-bedroom units, and seven two-bedroom units. Despite the size and density of the project, only 23 on-site parking spaces are currently proposed, with estimated rents projected at $800 to $1,000 per month.

The project’s rebranding marks the second name change, but more significantly, it reflects a total transformation in resident profile and long-term use. This shift has prompted widespread concern in the surrounding neighborhoods, particularly due to proximity to family homes, parks, and schools.

It has now been confirmed that representatives from the office of Kathryn Barger, along with staff from the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, will be in personal attendance at a community meeting on December 18 to hear public feedback.

This meeting is widely regarded as a critical public input checkpoint before the County moves forward with approximately $8 million in public funding for the project. Community participation and on-site feedback will play a key role in determining whether the project advances in its current form.

Arcadia City Council Member and former Mayor Dr. Michael Cao noted that although the project site lies technically outside Arcadia’s city limits, it is located just one block from the border. As a result, future public safety responses—police, fire, and emergency medical services—are expected to fall primarily on Arcadia’s first responders. This, he emphasized, could result in long-term operational strain and financial burden for Arcadia taxpayers, despite the City having no direct land-use authority over the site.

Other City Council members have expressed similar concerns, particularly regarding the sudden change in resident population, the limited parking, and the lack of local oversight tied to the County-driven approval process.

In response, the leadership of Arcadia Safety Guardians (ASG) has issued a communitywide call to action, urging residents to remain highly vigilant, attend the December 18 meeting in person, and help inform neighbors, families, and community groups. According to ASG, the meeting presents a rare opportunity for direct public engagement with County decision-makers and will shape community conditions for decades to come.

Project and organizational information can be found at:

Developer website: www.oakandivyapartments.com

Arcadia Safety Guardians: www.arcadiasafetyguardians.com

Community Meeting Information

Date: Thursday, December 18

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Please arrive before 5:30 to ensure seating)

Location: Arcadia Community Regional Park – Community Room, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave, Arcadia, CA

Chinese and Spanish interpretation will be provided on-site.

For more information contact (626) 318-5299.

The chambers of commerce in Arcadia and Monrovia rang in the holiday season with a festive mixer Tuesday evening at the Courtyard by Marriott on Huntington Drive.

Photos courtesy of Ethan Tran

'One Battle,' 'White Lotus' top Golden Globe nominees

By City News Service

The Hollywood awards season kicked off Monday with the announcement of nominees for the 83nd annual Golden Globes — with the comic thriller "One Battle After Another" leading the way with nine nods among movie categories and "The White Lotus" topping the TV side with six.

"One Battle" — with its all-star cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn and Chase Infiniti — was among the six nominees for best motion picture/musical or comedy, and will face a battle of another kind against "Blue Moon," "Bugonia," "Marty Supreme," "No Other Choice," and "Nouvelle Vague."

Besides its best-picture nominations, "One Battle" garnered nods for Paul Thomas Anderson for both director and screenplay — and for DiCaprio as best actor and Infiniti as best actress, as well as for del Toro for best supporting actor in any film.

The haul of nods for "One Battle" made it the third-most nominated film in Globes history, trailing 1975's "Nashville," which scored 11, and last year's "Emilia Pérez," which had 10.

Meanwhile, nominees for best motion picture/ drama went to "Frankenstein," "Hamnet," "It Was Just An Accident," "The Secret Agent," "Sentimental Value" and "Sinners."

Overall in the movie categories, the family drama "Sentimental Value" followed "One Battle" with eight nominations, with "Sinners" next at seven, "Hamnet" at six, and "Frankenstein" and "Wicked: For Good" tying at five apiece.

"Sentimental Value" captured individual nominations for Renate Reinsve (actress), Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (supporting actress), Stellan Skarsgard (supporting actor) and Joachim Trier (director).

On the TV side, follow-

ing the perennial awards magnet "The White Lotus," came "Adolescence" with five nominations and awardsseason regulars "Only Murders in the Building" and "Severance" with four each.

"The Bear," another staple of recent award seasons, was among six TV series with three nominations, while its star, Jeremy Allen White, garnered nods in both TV and movie categories — for best actor in a television series/musical or comedy, and for best actor in a motion picture drama for his big-screen star turn role in "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere."

Amanda Seyfried and Jacob Elordi were also double nominees Monday. Seyfried took nods for both best actress in a limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television for "Long Bright River," and for best actress in a motion picture/musical or comedy for "The Testament of Ann Lee." Elordi was nominated for both best supporting actor in a motion picture for "Frankenstein" and for best actor in a limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television for "The Narrow Road to the Deep North."

"The White Lotus" was again among the nominees for best television series/drama, joining "The Diplomat," "The Pitt," "Pluribus," "Severance" and "Slow Horses."

Joining "Only Murders" in the best TV series/ musical or comedy category were "Abbott Elementary," "The Bear," "Hacks," "Nobody Wants This" and "The Studio."

For best television limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television, contenders will be "Adolescence," "All Her Fault," "The Beast In Me," "Black Mirror," "Dying for Sex" and "The Girlfriend."

In the corporate compe-

tition, Neon led all motionpicture distributors with 21 nominations, followed by Warner Bros. Pictures with 16 and newly minted Hollywood Goliath Netflix with 13. But Netflix, continuing its winning streak, was the leader in TV/podcast nominations, grabbing 22, followed by HBO Max with 15 and Apple TV with 12.

In all, nominees were announced in 28 categories Monday during a predawn livestream from the Beverly Hilton hotel hosted by actor/comedian Marlon Wayans and actress/philanthropist Skye P. Marshall.

In the major individual categories, nominations in movies went to:

-- for best actor/drama: Joel Edgerton ("Train Dreams"); Oscar Isaac ("Frankenstein"); Dwayne Johnson ("The Smashing Machine"); Michael B. Jordan ("Sinners"); Wagner Moura ("The Secret Agent") and White ("Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere");

-- for best actress/drama: Jessie Buckley ("Hamnet"); Jennifer Lawrence ("Die My Love"); Renate Reinsve ("Sentimental Value"); Julia Roberts ("After the Hunt"); Tessa Thompson ("Hedda") and Eva Victor (`Sorry, Baby);

-- for best actor in a motion picture musical or comedy: Timothée Chalamet ("Marty Supreme"); George Clooney ("Jay Kelly"); DiCaprio ("One Battle After Another"); Ethan Hawke ("Blue Moon"); Lee ByungHun ("No Other Choice") and Jesse Plemons ("Bugonia");

-- for best actress in a motion picture musical or comedy: Rose Byrne ("If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"); Cynthia Erivo ("Wicked: For Good"); Kate Hudson ("Song Sung Blue"); Infiniti ("One Battle After Another"); Seyfried ("The Testament of Ann Lee") and Emma Stone ("Bugonia"); and.

-- for best director, any motion picture: Anderson ("One Battle After Another"); Ryan Coogler ("Sinners");

Guillermo Del Toro ("Frankenstein"); Jafar Panahi ("It Was Just an Accident"); Trier ("Sentimental Value") and Chloé Zhao ("Hamnet").

In the major individual categories among TV categories, nominations went to:

-- for best actor/ drama series: Sterling K. Brown ("Paradise"); Diego Luna ("Andor"); Gary Oldman ("Slow Horses"); Mark Ruffalo ("Task"); Adam Scott ("Severance") and Noah Wyle ("The Pitt");

-- for best actress/ drama series: Kathy Bates ("Matlock"); Britt Lower ("Severance"); Helen Mirren ("Mobland"); Bella Ramsey ("The Last of Us"); Keri Russell ("The Diplomat") and Rhea Seehorn ("Pluribus"); -- for best actor/ musical or comedy series: Adam Brody ("Nobody Wants This"); Steve Martin ("Only Murders in the Building"); Glen Powell ("Chad Powers"); Seth Rogen ("The Studio"); Martin Short ("Only Murders in the Building") and White ("The Bear");

-- for best actress/ musical or comedy series:

Kristen Bell ("Nobody Wants This"); Ayo Edebiri ("The Bear"); Selena Gomez ("Only Murders In the Building"); Natasha Lyonne ("Poker Face"); Jenna Ortega ("Wednesday") and reigning winner Jean Smart ("Hacks");

-- for best actor/ limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for TV: Elordi ("The Narrow Road to the Deep North"); Paul Giamatti ("Black Mirror"); Stephen Graham ("Adolescence"); Charlie Hunnam ("Monster: The Ed Gein Story"); Jude Law ("Black Rabbit") and Matthew Rhys ("The Beast in Me"); and -- for best actress/ limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for TV: Claire Danes ("The Beast in Me"); Rashida Jones ("Black Mirror"); Seyfried ("Long Bright River"); Sarah Snook ("All Her Fault"); Michelle Williams ("Dying for Sex") and Robin Wright ("The Girlfriend").

This year also featured the debut of the "best podcast" category. Those inaugural nods went to "Armchair Expert With Dax

Shepard" (Wondery); "Call Her Daddy" (SiriusXM); "Good Hang With Amy Poehler" (Spotify); "The Mel Robbins Podcast" (SiriusXM); "Smartless" (SiriusXM) and "Up First" (NPR).

Each category featured six nominees except for cinematic and box office achievement, which had eight.

The Globes had earlier announced that Mirren will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award, while Sarah Jessica Parker will receive the Carol Burnett Award, honoring a person "who has made outstanding contributions to television on or off screen." Both of those prizes will be given out on Jan. 8 during a "Golden Eve" primetime special on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

The Globes' main event — known as Hollywood's biggest party — will take place on Jan. 11 at the Beverly Hilton, hosted again by comedian/actress Nikki Glaser.

A complete list of the nominees is online at goldenglobes.com.

| Image courtesy of the Golden Globes

Temple City Notices

NOTICE OF ELECTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Municipal Election will be held in the City of Temple City on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, for the following Officers and Measure:

For (2) Members of the City Council (Full term of four years)

enacting a 3/4¢ transactions and use (sales) tax providing approximately $2,500,000 annually until ended by voters, with all funds used locally, requiring independent audits and spending disclosures, be adopted?

Hearing Date: Monday, January 12, 2026 Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location Of Hearing: Council Chambers located on the second floor of San Gabriel City Hall (425 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776) The meeting can be viewed live at: https://www.youtube. com/CityofSanGabriel

Project Address: Citywide

Project Description: The City of San Gabriel is proposing a Zone Text Amendment (ZTA26-001) to amend Chapter 153 (Zoning Code) of the San Gabriel Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units in compliance with State Law.

Questions: For additional information or to review the application, please contact Marlon Cervantes, Associate Planner at (626) 3082806 ext. 4631 or mcervantes@sgch.org

Environmental Review: The proposed amendments were reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, the amendment to a Zoning Ordinance is not considered a project as defined in Section 15378 and can be seen with certainty that it will not have a significant effect on the environment.

Per Government Code Section 65009, if you challenge the nature of the proposed actions in court, you may be limited to only raising those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Division at or prior to the public hearing.

SAN GABRIEL PLANNING COMMISSION

By Samantha Tewasart, Assistant Community Development Director

quest for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner PAUL HORN, ESQ. - SBN 243227

PAUL HORN LAW GROUP, PC 11404 SOUTH STREET

CERRITOS CA 90703

Telephone (800) 380-7076

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EL MONTE EXAMINER

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Jacelyn Ann Spencer Case No. 25STPB13318

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Jacelyn Ann Spencer

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Kathleen L. SpencerCanepa in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Kathleen L. SpencerCanepa be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

sonal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/15/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 44 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

If no one or only one person is nominated for an elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by § 10229, Elections Code of the State of California.

Published on December 11,2025

If no one or only one person is nominated for an elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by § 10229, Elections Code of the State of California.

SAN GABRIEL SUN

The vote in person locations will be open on Saturday/February 28, Sunday/March 1, and Monday/March 2 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00

The vote in person locations will be open on Saturday/February 28, Sunday/March 1, and Monday/March 2 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday/March 3, 2026 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Peggy Kuo

City Clerk/Elections

Dated: December 11, 2025

NOTICE OF NOMINEES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following persons have been nominated for the offices designated to be filled at the General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Temple City on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

that the following persons have been nominated for the offices designated to be filled at the General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Temple City on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 For Member of the City Council Vote for no more than (2) two Kumar Swaminathan Tom Chavez Vincent Yu

For Member of the City Council Vote for no more than (2) two Kumar Swaminathan Tom Chavez Vincent Yu Richard Lee

Measure to be Voted On:

Measure to be Voted On:

Temple City Public Safety, Roads, City Services

Measure: To maintain Temple City’s general services, such as 9-1-1 emergency/ fire/ paramedic/ police response, maintain streets and repair potholes, addressing property crimes/ thefts, maintaining parks, address homelessness, keeping public spaces safe/ clean, and for general government use, shall the measure, enacting a 3/4¢ transactions and use (sales) tax providing approximately $2,500,000 annually until ended by voters, with all funds used locally, requiring independent audits and spending disclosures, be adopted?

Elections Official

Dated: December 11, 2025 TEMPLE CITY TRIBUNE

San Gabriel City Notices

Public Notice: City Of San Gabriel Notice of Public Hearing Before the Planning Commission

You are invited to participate in a public hearing before the City’s Planning Commission. Members of the public may submit public comments by U.S. Mail addressed to Community Development Department, Attn: Public Hearing Comment, 425 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776, which must be received by the hearing date, or electronically using the online public comment form at http://sangabrielcity.com/PlanningComment, by 5:00 p.m. of the hearing date to be considered by the Planning Commission. The meeting will be broadcast on the City of San Gabriel’s YouTube channel at the link shown below:

Probates Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: LUPE MICHELLE JASOURIAS

CASE NO. 25STPB13326

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of LUPE MICHELLE JASO-URIAS.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ERIC J. URIAS in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ERIC J. URIAS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/15/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 44 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

TUSTIN CA 92780

Telephone (714) 730-7084 BSC 227760 12/4, 12/8, 12/11/25 CNS-3991056# EL MONTE EXAMINER

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: DELIA RODRIGUEZ AKA DELIA MESTAS RODRIGUEZ CASE NO. 25STPB13206

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of DELIA RODRIGUEZ AKA DELIA MESTAS RODRIGUEZ.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by WILLIAM RODRIGUEZ in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that WILLIAM RODRIGUEZ be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/06/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 44 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Re-

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on January 2, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Dept. 2D. located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner: Charron O’Neill, O’Neill & Woolpert 1014 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, Ca 93401 805-543-7695

December 4, 8, 11, 2025

MONROVIA WEEKLY

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MERRILL BRIAN NASH AKA BRIAN NASH CASE NO. 25STPB13363

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of MERRILL BRIAN NASH AKA BRIAN NASH.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by SUSAN E. NASH in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that SUSAN E. NASH be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent's WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the per-

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner LISA C. ALEXANDER, ESQ. - SBN 122975 JAKLE, ALEXANDER & PATTON, LLP 2001 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 420 SANTA MONICA CA 90403 Telephone (310) 395-6555

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NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: ESTEBAN RIOS CRUZ CASE NO. 25STPB13145

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of ESTEBAN RIOS CRUZ.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by MARIA GUADALUPE GALLEGOS in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that MARIA GUADALUPE GALLEGOS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/31/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 2D located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Peggy Kuo

Peggy Kuo

Billy Reed's, one of Palm Springs' most beloved restaurants for a half-century, is up for sale as the owner plans to retire.

According to the listing, the turnkey operation includes 63 employees, including four managers, long-term staff and fully documented recipes.

"There are many interested buyers, the listing has had really good action and the phone has been busy," Steve Lyle, CEO of Coldwell Banker Commercial Lyle & Associates, told City News Service.

Lyle said he has been a customer of Billy Reed's for 49 of its 50 years in business

Popular Palm Springs restaurant Billy Reed's for sale

and is happy to be helping them with the sale.

The restaurant at 1800 N. Palm Canyon Drive is listed for $7.5 million.

"We're hoping whoever buys the restaurant keeps everything the same," a restaurant employee told CNS. Many of the restaurant's customers were sharing the same hopes in the comments section of the restaurant's most recent Facebook posts.

"Billy Reed's is such an iconic restaurant in Palm Springs with so many generations enjoying the atmosphere and the cozy meals. The desserts are delicious as well! I recall

Statewide hospital groups have honored Arrowhead Regional Medical Center with the 2025 Quality Leader Award for Population Health, officials said Monday.

The California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems and the California Health Care Safety Net Institute recognized ARMC’s "innovative, measurable and equity-driven efforts" to limit the spread of communicable diseases through a robust partnership with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, according to a county announcement.

“This award reflects what’s possible when hospital and public health teams work side by side,” ARMC Chief Executive Officer Andrew Goldfrach said in a statement. “Embedding communicable disease navigators into our workflows has transformed how quickly we can identify, treat and prevent the spread of infection. This achievement belongs to the physicians, nurses, investigators and support teams from ARMC and Public Health

By City News Service

many family dinners there, and those are memories I will always cherish. I hope whoever purchases this place will keep it as is, with many more memories to share," one Facebook user commented.

The restaurant is described in the listing as a major opportunity for investors with major valueadd opportunities such as extended hours, activation of an entertainment room, upgrading bar offerings, bakery retail, potential for franchising, hosting weddings and events and converting entertainment room to a speakeasy.

According to the listing,

Arrowhead Med Center receives award for contagious disease program

whose collaboration and dedication drove this work forward.”

The award recognizes ARMC’s collaborative program that embeds Public Health communicable disease experts directly into the emergency department and inpatient units. Officials said the model has bolstered early detection of diseases, sped up treatment accessibility and significantly reduced county transmission rates for syphilis, HIV, chlamydia and other pathogens.

County Health Officer Dr. Sharon Wang, who previously served as an infectious disease physician at ARMC before transitioning to Public Health, recognized the need for a more coordinated approach and played a key role in identifying gaps between hospital-based and community-based disease response, according to the county. In a collaboration with the medical center's Infection Control and Emergency departments and Public Health’s Communicable Disease Section, Wang helped spearhead the devel-

By Sta

opment of the onsite navigation model that now serves as a guideline for swift testing, treatment and follow-up.

“Having worked both inside ARMC and within Public Health, I’ve seen firsthand how much patients benefit when our systems move in unison,” Wang said in a statement. “By embedding communicable disease navigators directly into the emergency department, we’re able to diagnose earlier, treat sooner and ensure patients don’t fall through the cracks.”

The initiative came in response to increasing communicable disease trends between 2020 and 2022, including a 36% increase in syphilis, a 3% increase in congenital syphilis and a 5% increase in HIV and chlamydia, officials said. Dr. Carol Lee, ARMC emergency medicine physician, noted that early testing and universal screening offered in the emergency department enabled patients, regardless of their reason for the visit, to receive immediate testing

and treatment.

Public Health communicable disease investigators, typically stationed off-site, were based at the medical center to make timely observations of patients, provide guidance during business hours and help ensure people smoothly connect with health care.

Officials said the integrated model has yielded measurable improvements, including the documented drop in county disease rates. Removing barriers to testing and treatment

in turn reduces delays, prevents further spread and strengthens long-term health outcomes, according to the county.

“We are grateful to partner with ARMC on this life-saving work,”

Public Health Director Josh Dugas said in a statement.

“Embedding our communicable disease staff onsite strengthens our ability to protect residents, reduce transmission and close critical gaps in care. This collaboration shows how unified systems can drive

real improvements in the health of our communities.” Quality Leader Awards have recognized public health care systems for more than 20 years. The awards honor innovative, equitable approaches to improving care and strengthening the state's medical safety net.

Officials said ARMC’s award highlights the county’s leadership in population health and its commitment to confronting emerging public health threats with data-driven solutions and strong partnerships.

the restaurant's annual sales exceed $7 million. Lyle said

based on his experience and the opportunity Billy Reed's represents, he expected the restaurant to sell quickly.

Holiday decorations adorn the interior of Billy Reed's. | Photo courtesy of Billy Reed's/Facebook

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. | Photo courtesy of Rytyho usa/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Volunteers to place wreaths at Riverside National Cemetery in annual tribute

By City News Service

Civil Air Patrol cadets, joined by current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, volunteers from nonprofit organizations and families throughout Riverside County, will fan out across Riverside National Cemetery on Saturday to place Christmas wreaths at graves in an annual salute to the fallen.

The cemetery walk will coincide with nearly 5,700 similar deployments nationwide in recognition of "National Wreaths Across America Day," in which the Civil Air Patrol, also known as the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, takes a leading role. This year's theme is "Keep Moving Forward."

"National Wreaths Across America Day is an event held every December in which millions of volunteers unite to place sponsored veterans' wreaths at the final resting

place of millions of service members in thousands of participating locations across the U.S. and abroad," according to the nonprofit Wreaths Across America.

"These wreaths are delivered through the generosity of hundreds of volunteer truck drivers and their companies and are sponsored by individuals and businesses."

CAP Squadron 45, based at March Air Reserve Base and composed of cadets ages 12 to 19 years old, has spearheaded the Wreaths Across America campaign for Riverside National Cemetery for more than a decade.

WAA began, informally, in 1992, when the owners of the Harrington, Mainebased Worcester Wreath Co. wanted to do something positive with their surplus holiday wreaths, offering them to Arlington National Cemetery for graveside placements.

The gesture turned into a tradition, eventually expanding to multiple states, where members of American Legion and

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Veterans of Foreign Wars posts became involved, placing wreaths.

In 2006, the ceremonies were formalized and

scheduled for specific days in December, according to wreathsacrossamerica.org.

"Our mission to `Remember, Honor and Teach' is carried out throughout the year," the organization said. "Wreaths Across America's mission touches the lives of thousands of school, scout, civic and religious groups across the country."

CAP officials said that some of the wreaths are sponsored, often by relatives of individuals laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery, and those garlands are taken to specific plots. Otherwise, volunteers try to canvass different segments of the cemetery, where wreaths are placed in orderly arrangements.

Reaching the nearly 250,000 graves at the cemetery has never been possible, so volunteers focus

on certain spaces.

Flag walks at the cemetery in honor of Memorial Day and Veterans Day involve CAP cadets, Boy Scouts, police Explorers and other groups, who generally are able to erect miniature American flags at every grave.

Unlike the wreaths, which are heavier, more expensive and have to be carefully preserved for one-time use, the flags are compact, cost less than a dollar apiece and can be reused.

Squadron 45 and other nonprofit entities seek donations year-round to support the WAA cause.

Before the deployment begins Saturday, there will be a formal ceremony at the cemetery Amphitheater highlighting the meaning of the occasion.

More information is available at ca007.cap.gov.

Wreaths adorn graves in 2024 at Riverside National Cemetery. | Photo courtesy of Empathy is the Remedy Foundation/Facebook

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Glendale City Notices

Notice of Adoption of Ordinance

On November 18, 2025, the City Council of the City of Glendale adopted Ordinance No. 6044, entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE 2026 GLENDALE BUILDING AND SAFETY CODE, VOLUME IX (GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS), TO REQUIRE ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES FOR AIR CONDITIONER ALTERATIONS, REPLACEMENTS AND INSTALLATIONS IN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS”. A copy of said Ordinance is on file and available for public inspection in the office of the City Clerk.

In substance, this ordinance adds local amendments to the 2026 California Building Code and Energy Code that will require that when a new or replacement air conditioning system (excluding repairs) is installed, property owners must either install a heat pump for heating and cooling; or, retain a gas furnace but implement additional energy-efficiency upgrades. Publish December 11, 2025 GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

2024-25 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT

The City of Glendale announces the availability of its draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CAPER describes the City’s progress in carrying out Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Solutions Grant, and HOME program activities under the City’s Consolidated Plan during the period July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Glendale residents are invited to review and comment on the CAPER. Copies of the CAPER and information regarding its contents may be obtained by contacting the Community Services & Parks Department/CDBG Section at (818) 548-2000 or on the City’s web site at www. glendaleca.gov/cdbg . The comment period expires on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

Written or verbal comments may be submitted to: City of Glendale

Community Services & Parks Department/CDBG Section 201 East Colorado Street Glendale, CA 91205 (818) 548-3715 or mkavarian@glendaleca.gov

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, auxiliary hearing aids, sign language translation, and Braille transcripts are available upon request.

818-548-2000

Para más información en español, llame al (818) 548-2000

Published December 11, 2025

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

RONDA C. CHAMPAGNE

CASE NO. 25STPB13111

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of RONDA C. CHAMPAGNE.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by BRIAN J. COLSELL in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that BRIAN J. COLSELL be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act.

(This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 12/19/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 5 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

SHANNON N. WIEZOREK - SBN 233601

WIEZOREK & GEYE, APC 3450 E. SPRING ST #212 LONG BEACH CA 90806

Telephone (562) 396-5529

12/4, 12/8, 12/11/25 CNS-3991380# ONTARIO NEWS PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

CLARICE JACKSON

CASE NO. 25STPB13329

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of CLARICE JACKSON.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ERIN JACKSON in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

JENNIFER N. SAWDAY, ESQ.SBN 228320 TREDWAY, LUMSDAINE, AND DOYLE, LLP 3900 KILROY AIRPORT WAY, SUITE 240 LONG BEACH CA 90806 Telephone (562) 923-0871 BSC 227720 11/27, 12/4, 12/11/25 CNS-3990034# BELMONT BEACON

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: OLGA T. GIL

CASE NO. PROVA2500923

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of OLGA T. GIL.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by PEARL JUSTINE CHAPARRO LOPE in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that PEARL JUSTINE CHAPARRO LOPE be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 02/11/26 at 9:00AM in Dept. F2 located at 17780 ARROW BLVD., FONTANA, CA 92335

Telephone (760) 291-4651

BSC 227764 12/4, 12/8, 12/11/25 CNS-3991404# WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF AMENDED PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

PATRICIA ANNE NATION CASE NO. 23STPB06805

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of PATRICIA ANNE NATION.

AN AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by BARRY NUGENT in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that BARRY NUGENT be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE AMENDED PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/08/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 5 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ERIN JACKSON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/05/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 99 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

NATALIE E. ORTIZ, ESQ. - SBN 303869

THE ESTATE LAWYERS, APC 4350 EXECUTIVE DRIVE, SUITE 310 SAN DIEGO CA 92121

proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 02/04/26 at 1:30PM in Dept. CM08 located at 3390 HARBOR BLVD., COSTA MESA, CA 92626 NOTICE IN PROBATE CASES

The court is providing the convenience to appear for hearing by video using the court's designated video platform. This is a no cost service to the public. Go to the Court's website at The Superior Court of California - County of Orange (occourts.org) to appear remotely for Probate hearings and for remote hearing instructions. If you have difficulty connecting or are unable to connect to your remote hearing, call 657-6228452 for assistance. If you prefer to appear in-person, you can appear in the department on the day/time set for your hearing.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner LISA WEINMANN - SBN 320109 PROBATE CALIFORNIA 31413 CULBERTSON LANE TEMECULA CA 92591 Telephone (661) 244-1222 12/8, 12/11, 12/15/25 CNS-3992045# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: IGNACIA SAENZ GUERRERO CASE NO. 30-2025-01529971-PR-LA-CMC

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of IGNACIA SAENZ GUERRERO.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by FELIPE GUERRERO in the Superior Court of California, County of ORANGE.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that FELIPE GUERRERO be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the

of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

JAMES D. HORNBUCKLE - SBN 230407 GOMEZ LAW, APC 3250 WILSHIRE BLVD., STE. 1901 LOS ANGELES CA 90010

Telephone (855) 219-3333 12/11, 12/15, 12/18/25 CNS-3993042# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: STEVEN LASZLO HERENDICH AKA STEVEN L. HERENDICH CASE NO. 25STPB13732

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of STEVEN LASZLO HERENDICH AKA STEVEN L. HERENDICH.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

MARIA MALDONADO-BASHAWSBN 174252

MALDONADO BASHAW LAW, INC., APC 19200 VON KARMAN AVE., STE. 600 IRVINE CA 92612

Telephone (949) 873-3048 12/11, 12/15, 12/18/25 CNS-3992777# ANAHEIM PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MARIO MENDEZ

CASE NO. 22STPB06400

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of MARIO MENDEZ.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CARIDAD MENDEZ in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CARIDAD MENDEZ be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 02/23/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 11 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ALEXANDRA G. MATEJIC in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ALEXANDRA G. MATEJIC be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/16/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 79 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner BRITTANY DUKE - SBN

Fire chief

to be $42.62 million.

In addition to the county, the cities of Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, as well as IID and the nonprofit Berger Foundation, are parties to the funding compact.

The project will be situated in the immediate vicinity of Cook Street and Chase School Road, just north of Interstate 10 and less than a mile northwest of Acrisure Arena. The property is owned by the Berger Foundation, which will be involved in the planning stages of the substation, according to documents posted to the board's agenda.

No groundbreaking date has been set yet, and a timeline for construction wasn't published.

IID officials said the station will house one 28 mega volt-amperes transformer and one 50 mega volt-amperes transformer, with space for a third 28 MVA transformer in the future.

Substations serve as power flow regulators, distributing electrical current to homes and businesses via the grid with safeguards.

The stations don't generate electricity independently.

"Our team has been able to draft a regional solution to the infrastructure needs of the eastern Coachella Valley," IID spokesman Antonio Ortega told the board. "It took a lot of work, effort and diligence to get us to this point. Here we are

today. But this is just the start."

The county Transportation and Land Management Agency and other entities are also working toward the future establishment of a substation on Avenue 58 in La Quinta. That remains in the conceptualization phase.

The Cook Street Substation will fall under the purview of the Coachella Valley Power Agency, a joint powers authority set up in May to provide a forum for government and private interests to work in concert toward expanding and improving power grid infrastructure throughout the region.

Kate Hudson to receive icon award at Palm Springs International Film Awards

By City News Service

Actress Kate Hudson willreceivethe Icon Award at next month's Palm Springs International Film Awards for her performance in the upcoming film "Song Sung Blue," officials announced Tuesday.

Director Craig Brewer's film, which is based on a true story, follows Mike (Hugh Jackman) and Claire Sardina (Kate Hudson) as they meet, fall in love and form Lightning & Thunder, a Neil Diamond tribute band, in the late 1980s.

"Kate Hudson's turn in `Song Sung Blue' is deeply moving, bringing warmth, vulnerability and musical confidence to a role that demands both heart and grit," festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said. "From her breakthrough in 'Almost Famous' to her fearless turns in romance, comedy and drama across her career, she has grown a remarkable ability to evolve as an artist."

Hudson, daughter of actress Goldie Hawn, won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2001 for her performance in "Almost Famous." Her other film roles include "How to Lose a Guy in 10

Ex-deputy

Days," "Bride Wars" and "Deepwater Horizon."

She has also received a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in a motion picture -- musical or comedy, for "Song Sung Blue," which opens in theatres nationwide on Christmas Day.

Beyond acting, she is a singer-songwriter, producer, entrepreneur and bestselling author.

Previous recipients of the Icon Award include Glenn Close, Willem Dafoe, Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, Lady Gaga, Paul Giamatti, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep.

The film awards will take place on Jan. 3, 2026 at the Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, with the accompanying festival to run Jan. 2-12.

attempted to use her mobile phone to call 911, the defendant physically took it and damaged it.

Among the most serious allegations was Vanny's following Madeline to Chappies bar in Hemet and demanding that she "leave and come home with him," the prosecution said. When the woman rejected him, Vanny "forcibly threw her into his truck," according to court documents.

"The defendant then drove her, without her consent, to his home ... some 17 miles and 30 minutes," the prosecution stated.

Defense attorney Quintin Swanson presented a different picture, describ-

ing his client as the gallant type, rushing to "save" Madeline from drinking and driving after the two of them had a spat.

She filed a restraining order against him, but in defiance of that order, Vanny continued to carry around his personal firearm. Walsh said the deputy stuck "tracking devices" onto her car so he could monitor her travels at all times.

The defendant became sexually involved with 18-year-old Leslie, who looked upon him as a mentor, regularly exchanging texts with him, according to the prosecution.

Vanny procured video images of two teenagers

engaging in sexual activity during a visit to an Orange County theme park and kept the matter, which was part of an investigation, on his personal mobile phone, intending to show it to Leslie, Walsh said.

He said detectives documented the laundry list of offenses perpetrated by the defendant, including threats against Madeline, whom he tried to intimidate by telling her, "If you call the police, you go to jail."

"The question is not whether he's the cop of the year," Swanson told jurors. "The question is whether he's done the crimes."

He acknowledged his client "started a stupid

relationship with the cadet, who was an adult," while engaged to marry Madeline. The two were living together at the time, and the cheating led to their breakup.

Despite the separation, the attorney told the jury his client continued to pay some of his ex-fiancee's expenses, including rent for her apartment.

Vanny was first arrested on June 22, 2024, and booked into the Banning jail but posted a $1 million bond and was released. He was initially placed on paid administrative leave, but within a few months, he was fired from the department.

While on bail, Vanny was

separately charged with a slate

peace officer since he was hired by the sheriff's department in 2016.

Alexander Ravy Vanny. | Photo courtesy of the Riverside County Sheri 's Department

An electrical substation. | Photo courtesy of the Imperial Irrigation District

| Graphic courtesy of Palm Springs International Film Festival / Facebook

Man accused of sex trafficking teen charged with multiple felonies

By City News Service

Amanaccusedof sexuallyassaulting and pimping out a Temecula Valley girl for sexual services in Los Angeles County was charged Tuesday with human trafficking of a minor and other offenses.

Nestor Alexis Aguirre Chavez, 20, of Wilmington was arrested last week following an investigation by the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.

Along with the trafficking count, Chavez is charged with pimping, pandering, contacting a minor for the purpose of perpetrating a sex crime and a sentence-

enhancing allegation of inducing a minor to engage in criminal activity.

He pleaded not guilty during an arraignment before Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Dec. 17 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Chavez is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to Investigator Joseph Riddle of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, on Nov. 23, deputies were alerted that a 15-year-old girl was missing from her residence

near Temecula.

The matter was referred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, which initiated an investigation that determined the victim was in Long Beach, where Chavez had allegedly put her to work as a prostitute after sexually assaulting her, Riddle said.

The defendant and victim, whose identity was not disclosed, had apparently met via social media.

The girl was found and taken to a hospital for treatment, after which she was placed in protective custody.

A search warrant was

RivCo college students, other youths offered free rides aboard public buses

By City News Service

To close out 2025 on a generous note, Riverside Transit Agency buses will provide free rides to all college students, as well as all riders who are 18 years old or younger, until New Year's Eve.

The expanded "Youth Ride Free Program" applies to all students at UC Riverside, Cal Baptist University, La Sierra University, Mt. San Jacinto College and the Riverside Community College System.

Students only need to show their student identifications or some other form of ID that establishes their connection with a campus, according to RTA.

Additionally, all minors qualify for rides. However, they'll need to present an RTA Youth ID, or their school district ID, to get aboard, officials said.

"Whether it's a trip to entertainment destinations, across town to a friend's

house, there are plenty of places to go," RTA said. "The program covers all destinations served by RTA, including schools, parks, malls, libraries and community centers throughout Riverside County."

Daily bus fares generally start at $1.75 for boarders who aren't children.

Additional information on the program is available at www.riversidetransit. com.

served on Chavez at his residence on East Rubidoux Street, where he was taken into custody without incident Friday.

Riddle said the case highlights how "predators ... utilize social media platforms frequented by children and young adults to prey on their emotional and circumstantial vulnerabilities."

"Parents are reminded to be vigilant and monitor the social media platforms used by their children," the sergeant said.

Chavez has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

in as mayor

By City News Service

CityCouncilwoman Naomi Soto was sworn in as mayor Wednesday, beginning a one-year term in the position that rotates among council members.

Her swearing-in took place during the City Council meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way.

Soto, a health care executive, was elected to the fivemember council in November 2024 to represent District 4. Councilman David Ready of District 5 will be sworn in as mayor pro tem, also a rotating position, succeeding Soto in that spot.

Outgoing Mayor Ron deHarte delivered his final remarks as mayor during the meeting, but will continue to serve as councilman for District 3.

In addition to the swearing-in ceremony, Wednesday's council's agenda

included a resolution on a report for a proposed warehouse development on Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Trust Land; a general fund budget update; discussion of the purchase and installation of playground equipment at Desert

and

rates for Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort.

Wednesday night's proceedings were also broadcast on the city's YouTube channel and on the city's community television, channel 17.

Nestor Alexis Aguirre-Chavez. | Photo courtesy of Riverside County Sheri ’s Department

Palm Springs Councilwoman Naomi Soto sworn

| Photo courtesy of Riverside Transit Agency / Facebook

Highland Park;

golf

Palm Springs' new Mayor Naomi Soto. | Photo courtesy of the city of Palm Springs