San Dimas Community Post | Issue 5 | 11/23/2021

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November 2021

San Dimas residents, businesses can expect changes as Waste Management begins their new organic waste program starting January 2022

City council adopts district map after contentious public hearing San Dimas City Council voted 3-2 to select a map that divides the city into four districts for the next election in June 2022

BY ERIC NAKANO Staff Writer

New year, new waste program

BY AMANDA LEE Staff Writer

Main: Waste

Management truck collects green waste in Old Town San Dimas.

Starting January 2022, residents and businesses will place all food waste, in addition to yard trimmings, into the green waste bins for collection.

Your organic waste will have new life in the new year, thanks to state regulations that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

Under Waste Management’s new organics recycling program, San Dimas residents and businesses will be required to place all food waste into the green waste bin along with yard trimmings.

This change is a result of Senate Bill 1383, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants regulations, which passed in 2016 in a state-wide effort to combat climate change. The goal of SB 1383 is to reduce methane emissions from landfills by repurposing organic materials into compost, mulch or other alternatives, explained Lauren Marshall, senior administrative analyst

Left: A new

infographic illustrates the different types of food and organic waste that will now be placed in the green waste bins, starting January 2022. The graphic also shows what materials are appropriate for the recycling and trash carts. (Cont on pg. 3) Main photo by Phil Ebiner, Staff Photographer. Left graphic courtesy of Waste Management.

SEE WASTE • PAGE 3

Former parks and recreation director sues San Dimas

BY ERIC NAKANO Staff Writer

Hector Kistemann, the former director of Parks and Recreation, has filed a lawsuit against the city of San Dimas. In the complaint, Kistemann claims he was forced to resign from his position, was subjected to severe emotional distress and had private conversations secretly tape-recorded without his permission.

Kistemann, who joined city staff in 2018, seeks unspecified damages including attorney’s fees. Kistemann claims he has suffered emotional distress, invasion of privacy and losses to his retirement pension plan.

Ronald Vera, who represents Kistemann, filed

the lawsuit on Sept. 3 and an amended complaint on Oct. 7 with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2022, at Pomona Courthouse South.

According to the suit, Kistemann took the Parks and Recreation job after leaving a comparable job in Santa Monica because he lived nearby and viewed the position as a stepping stone to his career goal of becoming a city manager.

Between Aug. 13, 2018, and Oct. 14, 2020, Kistemann claims he received positive reviews and a raise based on his performance. On Oct. 14, 2020, Kistemann was put on paid administrative leave and escorted out of City Hall. The lawsuit also alleges Brad McKinney, who served

as the interim city manager at the time, declined to provide an explanation or documentation, even though Kistemann requested it.

The lawsuit states that during his leave, Kistemann’s wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

While seeking treatment, Kistemann claims the city informed him that his medical insurance had been terminated, then later apologized and said it was a mistake.

Kistemann claims this caused him and his family severe emotional distress, which was compounded when the city demanded on Feb. 9 that Kistemann attend a meeting at City Hall on Feb. 10. Kistemann refused because he was SEE PARKS & REC • PAGE 5

The final selection of a district map for the June 2022 election was far from unanimous — dividing San Dimas in more ways than one.

At a special city council meeting on Monday, Nov. 15, San Dimas City Council voted 3-2 to select a map from 38 maps submitted by the public and National Demographics Corporation, a consulting firm that the city council hired to assist with the districting effort. City Councilmembers Ryan Vienna and Eric Weber along with Mayor Emmett Badar voted in favor of selecting the final map while Councilmembers Denis Bertone and John Ebiner voted against it.

The map divides San Dimas into four city council districts before the next election, scheduled for June 7, 2022.

Currently, voters elect all members of the city council at-large, meaning residents cast votes for all councilmembers regardless of where they live in the city.

Voters will now be able to select only one councilmember from their own district but will continue to elect the mayor at-large every two years.

The vote came after a contentious public hearing in which several residents who came to watch the proceedings accused the city council of ignoring their input. Their comments came after the council narrowed the number of maps for consideration to maps that the residents believed divided communities of interest such as Old Town and would make it more difficult for women and minorities to be elected.

Since the city’s incorporation in 1960, only one woman and no people of color have served on the city council. Minorities comprise 51% of the city’s population, and women comprise 54% of the city’s population.

At the center of residents’ dispute with the council was the council’s decision to exclude a map submitted by Jose Calderon, a resident of Via Verde, from the final set of maps the council considered. The map was created with assistance from the Latino/Latina Roundtable, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and the NAACP. Calderon and others believed their map best balanced the changing demographics of San Dimas and should be adopted.

SEE DISTRICTS • PAGE 3

Inside: Plan for Gold Line Parking

As the Foothill Gold Line Extension continues toward completion in San Dimas, eyes turn to cities that have adapted to their stations opening nearly six years ago.

PAGE 5

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San Dimas Community Post

PAGE 2

NOVEMBER 2021

Chakmak’s vacant board seat filled

BY MELANIE HENSON Staff Writer

Jim Elliot joined the Bonita Unified School District Governing Board for their Oct. 6 meeting after being unanimously selected to replace Board Member Krista Chakmak at a special session on Sept. 15.

During the September meeting, Elliot told board members he is an “overall superfan of this district and all that it stands for.” He said his top priorities as a board member would be the district’s proactive response to COVID-19, long-term fiscal health and reorganization into school board districts.

Elliot, a San Dimas resident, previously served on the BUSD school board from 2003-2017. He resigned mid-term in 2017, citing heavy work commitments and the intention to run for San Dimas City Council. Elliot said he ended up withdrawing his campaign for city council due to conflicts with his work schedule.

Elliot told the board he intends

Elliot

to see his current post through this time around, which will last until the next regular election in November 2022.

“I’m all in and 100% committed,” Elliot said.

Seven candidates applied to fill the open position, which Chakmak vacated in August, and interviewed for 20 minutes apiece during the special meeting.

After roughly 40 minutes of deliberation, board members agreed that the choice would come down to Elliot or Crystal Jones-Bacon.

Board President Chuck Coyne and Board Member Greg Palatto initially nominated Jones-Bacon, and Board Members Derek Bahmanou and Glenn Creiman favored Elliot for the position.

Jones-Bacon is the parent of one sophomore and one graduate of San Dimas High School. Heavily involved in the school district, she has been part of the Boosters Club and the Parent Teacher Student Association, previously as the SDHS PTSA secretary and now as the district-wide advocacy chair.

The final vote came down to a number of considerations.

It was important that “a majority of the board have an investment with their kids in the district,” Palatto said during deliberations. “One thing we’re lacking, and that’s hard to replace, is a mother’s perspective on the board.”

The process of and time spent on onboarding a new member was another consideration. “Learning how to be a board member takes time,” said Bahmanou. “I see Jim as the safest bet by far.”

Coyne said that he did not foresee any issue with teaching a new board member the ropes. “It’s not an insurmountable hurdle to bring a new board member up to speed,” he said.

Coyne added that the emphasis should not be on appointing someone based exclusively on prior experience.

Crieman argued that experience in the district counts. “It’s very important to me how much time you have been in the district and what you have done,” he said. “The more you’re around the culture of a district, the easier it is to govern that district. You know who the players are, who to talk to to get stuff done and what we’ve done that hasn’t worked.”

Elliot was immediately sworn in after the Sept. 15 vote.

What to do when you see a bobcat Learn how to identify a bobcat and what to do if you see one

Many people are in the midst of planning vacations, booking flights to visit family, and shopping for hard-to-find gifts, eager to fill up their calendars with events and activities, hoping to regain some pre-2020 holiday cheer.

Holiday festivities are also in the works for our local seniors.

During the holiday season, senior care services like Visiting Angels, an in-home care provider that serves cities between La Verne and Monrovia, sends caregivers to assist with shopping, cooking meals, wrapping gifts, decorating,

San Dimas Chamber Holiday Mixer Date: Wednesday, Dec. 8, 6-8 p.m.

Location: Marilyn Sparks Agency, 433 S. Cataract Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773 Info: Join us for an evening of entertainment, refreshments, bingo and cheer at the San Dimas Chamber Holiday Mixer. General Admission is $15 with a canned food donation and $20 without.

Canned food donations will be donated to local pantries.

Job Fair & Career Expo 2022 Date: Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, 3:30-5 p.m.

Location: Life Pacific University, 1100 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas, CA 91773 Info: The San Dimas Chamber of Commerce and Life Pacific University will be hosting the 4th annual Job and Career Expo. This is a FREE in-person event, open to the community.

COMMUNITY EVENTS San Dimas Writers Group Date: Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m.

Location: San Dimas Senior Center, 201 E. Bonita Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773 Info: Interested in writing? Join the San Dimas Writers Group, where members share stories, poems, essays, and jokes and receive feedback in a collaborative group setting. There is no cost to join, and everyone is welcome.

FOR THE RECORD In the article “All the residents’ men” and accompanying graphic, we incorrectly stated the city council passed a resolution of intent to switch to district elections on Sept. 8, 2020. The vote took place and resolution was passed on Aug. 25, 2020.

Photo courtesy of Bill Klem

Bill Klem, a 20-year resident of San Dimas, captures a rare encounter with a bobcat during his evening walk off San Dimas Avenue. Bobcats can be recognized by their short, bobbed tails and pointed ears.

How can you tell it is a bobcat?

“The easiest defining feature is gonna be the tail of the bobcat,” Bosell said. “A bobcat is named for its bobbed tail. It has a tail that is only like six inches long. Whereas a mountain lion, which is our other wild cat, has a very long tail.”

A bobcat is smaller than a mountain lion but larger than a normal house cat.

While a bobcat’s face can very closely resemble that of your family’s feline, a bobcat’s “ears are kind of tufted or pointed at the top,” Bosell said.

When and where are you most

likely to see a bobcat?

Bobcats live in the “urban fringe,” which is the area where the forest and mountains meet, Bosell explained. They are most active during dawn and dusk, as they can see six times better during these hours of the day. Their breeding season is in the springtime, when bobcats will be more likely to move about to find a mate.

What should you do if you encounter a bobcat?

Bosell said, “Bobcats are not aggressive towards humans. They’re very shy and elusive.”

Bosell recommends treating a bob-

cat like any other wild animal: 1. Pick up any small children or pets. This will make you appear larger to the bobcat.

2. Give the bobcat space and back away slowly. Do not crouch or turn your back.

3. Let the bobcat know you are there by talking to it or making noise.

At this point, the bobcat will likely move away.

4. If the bobcat approaches you, stomp the ground, clap your hands or yell loudly.

Negative human interactions with bobcats are “extremely rare,” according to Bosell.

Senior care facilities celebrate holidays Staff Writer

For more information or to contact the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce, call 909592-3818, email info@sandimaschamber. com or visit sandimaschamber.com.

Date: Saturday, Dec. 4, 4-9 p.m.

Location: Downtown San Dimas Info: Hosted by the city of San Dimas Parks and Recreation Department, the 11th Annual Holiday Extravaganza will feature a holiday parade, crafts, tree-lighting, performances, Santa and more! For more information, call Parks and Recreation at 909-394-6230, email parksrecreation@ sandimas.gov or visit sandimasca.gov/ special-events.

Staff Writer

BY AMANDA LEE

San Dimas Chamber of Commerce

11th Annual Holiday Extravaganza

BY ISABEL EBINER Bill Klem, a 20-year resident of San Dimas, emailed San Dimas Community Post about his recent encounter with a bobcat (edited for clarity): My wife and I have lived in San Dimas for 20 years. I’ve heard rumors of bobcats in the area but thought this was mostly wishful thinking. But no more — visual confirmation was attained.

My evening walk took me to a local residential association off San Dimas Avenue south of Via Verde. I saw what I thought was a cat, but as I walked by I noticed it had unique markings. It was just sitting there in someone’s yard. Then I paused; then I stared. As I maneuvered for a better look, this feline moved unlike any house cat I’d ever seen, eerily making me feel as if I were the prey. With that as my motivation I took a photo from 15 feet away.

To learn more about bobcats and what to do if you encounter one of these wild cats, we reached out to Kim Bosell, the natural areas administrator for Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation.

Bobcats are “important members of the community,” Bosell said. They control the rodent population by preying on rats, squirrels and rabbits.

And if you are wondering about potential diseases they might carry, Bosell said they carry the same diseases as a house cat.

UPCOMING EVENTS

arranging transportation to family members’ homes and senior center events, as well as other tasks, said Managing Director Chelsea Pettey.

In the past, Visiting Angels has hosted an employee appreciation event, where they invite their clients, all of their employees and their families to celebrate the holidays with a live band, food and holiday activities. But last year, COVID required them to get a little creative. Instead, they hosted a “Grinchmas” drive-thru holiday celebration with In-N-Out burgers, a snow machine and a blowup Grinch.

The Terraces at Via Verde, a memory care facility that opened in September, began their holiday planning several months in advance. Residents, most of whom are between the ages of 80 to 85, have the opportunity to celebrate the holidays with their families during holiday luncheons and activities, said Marketing Director Ambrosia Reyes.

Some senior services don’t have plans finalized yet due to the changing health directives throughout the community. Be sure to check with your service provider or community director to find out

more about specific plans.

To volunteer or get involved, contact Chelsea Pettey with Visiting Angels at cpettey@visitingangels. com or Desiree Parker with the Terraces at Via Verde at activities@ terracesviaverde.com.

If you or someone you know is a senior citizen with a small wish we could help with during the holidays (for example, a new blanket, shoes, or even a phone call), let us know by contacting Julie at inbox@ sandimascommunitypost.com.

Disclaimer: The Terraces at Via Verde advertises with San Dimas Community Post.

San Dimas Community Post

NOVEMBER 2021 WASTE

FROM PAGE 1

for the city, during a San Dimas City Council meeting on Sept. 14.

According to an email from CalRecycle, California sent about 39 million tons of waste to landfills in 2018, with 56% of that being organic waste, so reducing organic waste could lead to long-term moderation of methane gas.

“Methane gas is 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide … and reducing short-lived pollutants, such as methane, can significantly reduce the impact of climate change in the near future,” Hank Brady, a representative for CalRecycle, said in a 2019 public meeting.

Marshall emphasized that the city’s duties include providing organics collection to all residents and businesses, establishing a program for businesses to donate rather than trash food and offering education and outreach programs throughout the city. The city will also need to buy back some of the organic compost or mulch, secure access to recycling and edible food programs for the underserved, as well as monitor compliance and conduct enforcement.

Residents will be expected to dispose of fruit and vegetable peels, meat scraps, egg shells and even food-soiled paper inside their green waste bins along with their yard waste.

Terry Muse, a Waste Management representative, confirmed there will be an increase in costs due to transporting green waste to a specialized anaerobic digestion facility in Tulare, California, that allows meat to be included in the composting process. The city and Waste Management have not yet announced a finalized contract establishing the costs for the new service, but they are expected to reach an agreement

by January 2022. San Dimas residents already saw a 5.67% rate increase for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

PAGE 3

To store waste and reduce odors, Waste Management Communications Specialist Mary Hartley suggested using a small container or pail in the kitchen to collect food scraps throughout the week before adding them to your bin. Hartley also added that keeping food scraps in the fridge or freezer before emptying the contents directly into the organics cart on collection day could also help reduce odors. While plastic should not be disposed of in the green waste or recycle bin, foodsoiled paper and paper bags can be used to collect and dispose of organic waste.

Commercial customers will also be impacted. Businesses such as restaurants, hospitals and hotels will now need to have trash, recycling and organic waste containers available along with signage educating customers on how to use these new systems. This will be at the expense of the businesses themselves — something Marshall pointed out to the city council.

While the city will be required to audit customers to ensure they are complying with the new organic waste disposal regulations, Marshall said, “The city and any partners will be sure to abide by laws respecting privacy and the authority limitations outlined in the legislation.”

Questions about SB 1383 and upcoming regulations may be directed to the city by visiting sandimasca. gov/trash-and-recycling or contacting Lauren Marshall at lmarshall@ sandimasca.gov. You can also reach Waste Management representative Donald Taylor-Stewart at dtaylo34@ wm.com. Commercial customers can get more information at business.wm.com/san-dimas. Residential customers can get more information at home.wm.com/san-dimas.

Disclaimer: Isabel Ebiner, managing editor for the San Dimas Community Post and daughter-in-law of San Dimas City Councilmember John Ebiner, edited this story for AP Style.

Grahpic couretsy of Waste Management

DISTRICTS FROM PAGE 1

“We are dismayed that the work of the Latina and the Latino Roundtable, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and the NAACP that went into putting forth our map was put aside by the council with no explanation,” Calderon said during the public comment period.

Other residents disagreed that maps were to blame for the city’s lack of representation.

“Women and residents with Hispanic surnames are serving on the city Planning Commission and other city commissions,” said Margie Green, a long-time San Dimas resident and member of the Planning Commission, in an interview after the meeting. “I ran for city council and came in third — right behind (Councilmember) Bertone and (Councilmember) Vienna. Women can win in this city, and a map will not change that.”

Another area of contention was dividing residents of Via Verde and Puddingstone into two separate districts, as the final district map does. Councilmember Ebiner noted during council deliberations that residents he spoke to in Via Verde and Puddingstone indicated they thought they should be in the same district by a 2-to-1 margin.

Other Via Verde residents echoed this.

“I agree with other Via Verde residents that Puddingstone and Via Verde have common interests, such as park and trail parking and traffic impacting nearby residential neighborhoods, and should be kept together in one district,” said Via Verde resident Betty-Jean Lamb at the council meeting. The map that the council selected includes a northern district that covers the city’s foothill

Graphic by Phil Ebiner

San Dimas City Council selected a map that divides the city into four city council districts in time for the next election in June 2022.

The map was one of 38 maps submitted by the public and National Demographics Corporation for the city’s consideration.

communities before ending roughly at Allen Avenue west of San Dimas Avenue and Juanita Avenue east of San Dimas Avenue; a western district north of Covina Boulevard and west of San Dimas Avenue; a south-

eastern district that encompasses the communities around the hospital east of Valley Center Avenue along with Puddingstone and parts of Old Town around Albertsons; and a southwestern district that includes

Via Verde and communities south of Badillo Street and west of Valley Center Avenue around Rancho Park.

The city council also decided the northern foothill district and the southeastern Puddingstone district

would hold elections in 2022. The western district and the southwestern district, which includes Via Verde, will elect their councilmembers in 2024. The map and election sequence are part of Ordinance 1292, which the council intends to adopt at their meeting on Nov. 23.

The last change to city elections occurred in 1979 when San Dimas residents passed a measure to elect the mayor directly instead of leaving the mayor’s selection up to the city council.

The city council unanimously voted to move to districts and enter into a settlement agreement with attorney Kevin Shenkman at a council meeting on Aug. 25, 2020. Shenkman threatened to sue the city on behalf of an unnamed San Dimas resident and the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, a nonpartisan Latino voter registration group, alleging that the city’s at-large elections of city councilmembers violate the California Voting Rights Act. Shenkman has sued several cities in California over the same issue, including Santa Monica, Rancho Cucamonga, West Covina and Palmdale. All of the cities he has sued have lost in court, with the exception of Santa Monica, whose case remains unresolved.

San Dimas agreed to pay $30,000 to Shenkman and transition to district elections by June 7, 2022, to avoid going to court. In order for the transition to happen, the city must submit the final district map to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk no later than Dec. 9.

Disclaimer: Isabel Ebiner, managing editor for the San Dimas Community Post and daughter-in-law of San Dimas City Councilmember John Ebiner, edited this story for AP Style.

San Dimas Community Post

PAGE 4

NOVEMBER 2021 Main: During an Aug. 12 meeting, the San Dimas Planning Commission recommended the city council approve 15 mostly non-residential sites near the downtown area be rezoned for housing. The council approved the commission’s recommendation in a 3-2 vote on Sept. 14.

Below: The 1,248 planned units of housing in San Dimas are broken up into four categories based on income.: 31% or 384 units are to be very low income; 18% or 220 units are to be low income; 16% or 206 units are to be moderate income; and 35% or 438 units are to be for above moderate income.

Graphics by Phil Ebiner

City approves new housing plan San Dimas must zone for 1,248 new housing units, nearly half must be affordable housing

BY NATALIE YEMENIDJIAN Staff Writer

San Dimas’ City Council and Planning Commission have been working together to fulfill this year’s state requirements to zone for — not build — 1,248 housing units, 604 of which must be for low and very low income housing.

The city council and planning meetings, where residents were invited to provide public comment, were contentious. During an Aug. 12 Planning Commission meeting, Via Verde residents banded together to demand that the Via Verde Shopping Center, which includes Vons, not be rezoned for housing in the future.

The Planning Commission recommended 15 mostly non-residential sites, excluding the Via Verde location, be rezoned for housing. Almost all 15 sites are located near the downtown area.

The council approved the commission’s recommendation in a 3-2 vote on Sept. 14, with City Councilmembers Denis Bertone and John Ebiner opposed. A draft of the city’s housing plans was submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development on Sept.

30. The city is currently waiting to receive feedback from the state before the plans are finalized.

“We didn't want to replace the shopping center we depend on because there's no other shopping in the area, and any new people who move in wouldn't have that either,” said Via Verde resident Kathryn Baldwin.

When Baldwin and her neighbors heard about the plan to possibly rezone the shopping center for housing, they spread the word.

“We were all concerned it would affect all of us as we all use the neighborhood stores.”

The last time San Dimas was required to update its housing plan, called the housing element, the city had to plan for 463 housing units.

The new planning requirement is nearly three times that, which prompted the city to appeal the requirement to the Southern California Association of Governments, the government body that determines the number of the units.

The appeal was denied.

“We were denied, like about 99%

Source: City of San Dimas Housing Element Overview

of the cities that appealed it,” said Henry Noh, director of Community Development for San Dimas.

The appeal submitted by the city stated that San Dimas is already built out and that new housing developments would “create an imbalance between jobs and housing in our community.”

After the housing element is adopted and approved by the city council, it goes to the California Department of Housing and Community Development for approval and adoption. Then the city has three years to change the zoning of approved sites.

For instance, if the western portion of the Albertsons shopping center’s zone changes, as is proposed on the list of potential new housing sites, it does not mean construction starts right away. It means the property will be rezoned as residential.

The Albertsons would not be demolished for housing unless the current or future owner wants to redevelop the property for that purpose.

“The sites that are selected are not set in stone,” Noh said.

That is, even after the housing element is approved, the city has the ability to remove or add sites, as long as 1,248 new housing units are accounted for in rezoning.

What is the housing element?

Every eight years, San Dimas updates its housing element, which is a required part of every California city’s general plan, in order to plan for future housing needs.

A general plan is a document that outlines the long-term vision of a city

that includes land use, open space, conservation, housing, circulation, noise and safety.

The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) forecasts housing needs for the state.

The department sends the number of housing units needed to a specific region — in San Dimas’ case, the Southern California Association of Governments — then the housing units are divided among the cities and jurisdictions within its boundaries.

According to San Dimas City Manager Chris Constantin, more housing legislation has been passed in the last three years than in the previous 24 years combined. That includes more punitive measures for cities and jurisdictions that decide not to comply.

“HCD has the discretion of turning the housing element over to the attorney general for prosecution,” Constantin said at a joint city council and Planning Commission study session on July 12. “They have done that in the case of Huntington Beach and other jurisdictions.”

This is the sixth housing element cycle in San Dimas.

How are sites chosen?

Guided by Housing and Community Development staff and a housing element consultant, San Dimas city staff performed an in-depth evaluation of possible sites to be rezoned for housing.

The city prioritized vacant sites, according to the Aug. 12 presentation by the planning department.

Other sites were considered and prioritized because of proximity to mass transit, ability to revitalize the downtown corridor, aging structures that could be rehabilitated and existing infrastructure.

What is considered affordable housing?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers housing affordable when no more than 30% of the occupant's gross income is being used for housing costs, including utilities. In the context of the housing element, affordable housing is housing that would be available below market value for households of three or more people that make less than $81,100.

In San Dimas, 37% of households earn low incomes and may benefit from affordable housing, Constantin said.

The Southern California Association of Governments makes affordability recommendations that fall into four categories for households of three or more: very low income households make under $50,700; low income households make less than $81,100; moderate income households make less than $83,500; above moderate income households make more than $83,500.

The 1,248 planned units of housing are broken up like this: 31% or 384 units for very low income; 18% or 220 units for low income; 16% or 206 units for moderate income; and 35% or 438 units for above moderate income.

What about the public’s input?

Many San Dimas residents voiced their concerns over what additional affordable housing will do to the makeup of the city at the first joint study session between the city council and Planning Commission.

At the July 12 meeting, Vartouhy Yousoufian said she has been living in San Dimas for 21 years and this community is beautiful and clean.

She said she is proud to have raised her kids in San Dimas.

“We have put a lot of tax dollars into this community,” Yousoufian said in the public comment portion of the meeting. “I feel like we need to stand up and not let this happen.”

On the other hand, residents like Antoinette Reins said that people think low income means making $20,000 to $30,000, but that is not the case.

The Air Force veteran and mother of four has experienced homelessness. She said there are a lot of misconceptions about what affordable housing will do to the region.

“I think people don't realize that we are sometimes a paycheck away from being on the street,” said Reins, who also spoke at the July study session. “Yes, we should have more affordable housing. Los Angeles County and Orange County are some of the most expensive counties.”

Reins said in a phone interview that she has seen a lot of wrong information on community sites like Nextdoor and hopes that people can exercise compassion.

“This is for more affordable housing, not for homeless housing.”

The city currently has affordable housing units. The townhouse complex Grove Station, located at San Dimas Avenue and Commercial Street, has about 16 affordable units while Avalon, located at Bonita Avenue and San Dimas Canyon Road, has about 20 affordable units, according to Noh. “From the city's perspective, we will do our best to keep the high standards of any development,” Noh said.

“If people think it will be a huge Section 8 housing, that's something we wouldn't allow as a city. There's certain development requirements they would need to meet, state criteria like open space amenities and that there's high quality architecture and such.”

Public input makes an impact in the process for site selection. There have already been surveys sent out to residents, subcommittee meetings and now more formalized study sessions where the public is encouraged to voice their concerns.

Next steps “I’m trying to make the best of a very difficult situation we’re in,” Noh said.

With the Gold Line coming in, Noh said there is pressure from the state to build housing near the transit hub.

“If we don’t plan for the properties around the station, we’ve seen in other cities that the state has been taking away local control,” Noh said. “So if we don’t do anything, we could be at the mercy of the state.”

Noh said the California Department of Housing and Community Development has 60 days to review the city’s draft housing element and report their findings back to San Dimas. The city will make revisions as needed. The final housing element will be subject to public hearings with the Planning Commission and city council, before final approval by the city council and submission to the state.

Disclaimer: Isabel Ebiner, managing editor for the San Dimas Community Post and daughter-in-law of San Dimas City Councilmember John Ebiner, edited this story for AP Style.

San Dimas Community Post

PAGE 5 PARKS & REC FROM PAGE 1

scheduled to accompany his wife to a medical appointment, prompting him to resign rather than face insubordination charges, the lawsuit explains.

The complaint also states Kistemann believes he was removed from his position due to his insistence that proper and legal business practices be adhered to by all employees in his department. In response, he alleges unnamed city employees

conspired to undermine his responsibilities and created an intolerable environment leading to his resignation.

Additionally, Kistemann alleges he learned in February that some employees had secretly taped and recorded his conversations with fellow employees, family and/or personal associates without his knowledge or permission. His complaint states the city knew about such recordings and may have encouraged or participated in it.

The lawsuit is the latest of sev-

eral personnel issues in San Dimas involving city management. Former City Manager Ken Duran was placed on administrative leave on May 5, 2020, before his resignation on May 22, 2020. Meanwhile, Parks and Recreation Manager Timothy Pagano was placed on paid administrative leave on Oct. 19, 2020 until his voluntary resignation on Aug. 31, 2021, according to documents requested by San Dimas Community Post and released by the city.

In September, Kistemann’s attorney Ronald Vera wrote in an email

reply to SDCP, “It may be better if we wait (to comment) until the new complaint is filed.” SDCP reached out again and did not hear back from Kistemann or Vera in time for publication.

City Manager Chris Constantin wrote in an email reply to SDCP, “Cities do not tend to provide interviews on matters of ongoing personnel or litigation matters, as such, we will not be able to meet with you or discuss this matter.”

In a separate email reply to SDCP, City Attorney Jeff Malawy wrote,

NOVEMBER 2021 “ This lawsuit is covered by the City’s insurance carrier, and therefore the carrier has assigned its own attorney to handle the case for the City.

That attorney is Jeff Thompson of Declues, Burkett, & Thompson.”

SDCP also reached out for comment but did not hear back from Thompson or Assistant City Manager Brad McKinney.

Disclaimer: Isabel Ebiner, managing editor for the San Dimas Community Post and daughter-in-law of San Dimas City Councilmember John Ebiner, edited this story for AP Style.

San Dimas should plan for Gold Line parking

BY AMANDA LEE Staff Writer

When it comes to parking structures, bigger is better. Or at least, that is what some seasoned officials might say to San Dimas as the city prepares for a new Gold Line station.

San Dimas could learn a lot about the impact and challenges of having a station from cities that have gone before.

Back in 2016, Azusa was one of five cities in the San Gabriel Valley to celebrate the long-awaited grand opening of the 11-mile Foothill Gold Line Extension. City officials were excited about the prospects for new development in and around Azusa’s new transit district.

But it did not take long before Azusa’s two Gold Line stations encountered a significant blip. Within the first month of opening, both of the parking garages were filling up to capacity. Soon, overflow commuters began parking in nearby neighborhoods, creating an even bigger issue for city residents and commercial properties located close to the stations.

Azusa Mayor Robert Gonzalez reflected on the parking issues the city faced, saying, “In hindsight, if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone for a larger parking structure.”

As construction of the Gold Line – also known as the L Line – continues on four new stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona, there has been no shortage of concerns raised by local residents.

From parking to quality of life and public safety, a new light rail station in San Dimas will have a big impact on the community.

To better understand what the impact could be, we took a closer look at how cities between the Sierra Madre Station in Pasadena and the APU/Citrus College Station in Azusa have handled changes that the new stations brought to their cities. What we learned was that new stations can be a boon for local business development, but they can also cause headaches when it comes to issues such as parking.

A boon for development Officials managing the Foothill Gold Line Extension development project say there is a clear economic impact on many of the cities that have welcomed new Gold Line stations since construction began in 2003.

According to a 2016 study commissioned by the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, more than 12,500 housing units and 3.6 million square feet of commercial space were built within a half-mile radius of where the 18 Gold Line stations have been established or planned since 2003. That has resulted, the study authors write, in $6.7 billion in private investments and $50 million in annual tax revenues to Los Angeles County.

Much of that development hap-

Photo by Danielle De Luna — Staff Photographer

The Azusa Downtown Station is one of six Gold Line stations that opened in an 11-mile extension in 2016. Shortly after the station opened, the designated parking structure frequently filled to capacity, pushing overflow commuters to park in nearby neighborhoods.

Photo by Danielle De Luna — Staff Photographer

Ticket machines at the Azusa Downtown Gold Line Station.

pened well before any construction began in San Dimas, and it is unclear if some of the more far-reaching Gold Line cities will see an economic boom similar to bigger cities, like Pasadena, that are closer to Los Angeles.

The extension of the Gold Line from Glendora to Pomona is currently scheduled to open in 2025.

Stations running from Arcadia to Azusa opened in 2016, and many of these cities have since seen some positive results.

City officials who witnessed the opening of Gold Line stations since 2016 say they have some reason to be hopeful.

Victoria Rocha, assistant to the city manager and public information officer for the city of Duarte, explained how the Gold Line has

benefited locals. In an email to San Dimas Community Post, she wrote that the station “has improved access to regional transit and the ability of our residents to commute.”

Anticipating growth brought in by the station, officials revised a development plan for the 19-acre Duarte Station Area, which currently includes plans to build housing with nearly 700 residential units, a parking structure and mixed-use commercial offices.

Azusa Mayor Robert Gonzalez said that the Gold Line has led to positive growth around the city’s two new stations. An important example is The Orchard Azusa development, which is expected to be completed early next year. The project aims to add 163 residential units and roughly 23,000 square feet of

retail and restaurant space as well as a four-screen movie theater.

Parking problems One of the struggles cities have faced is limited parking.

For Azusa, Gonzalez, who was a city council member at the time, said they were not expecting the parking spots in the two designated garages to fill up so quickly. In response, the city created a permit parking program to keep commuter cars off the street. The permit system took a lot of work to get right, but once the permit system rolled out the city “saw the impact almost overnight,” Gonzalez said.

In addition, LA Metro began charging for parking in all of their station lots starting June 2019 to further prevent parking issues encountered by Metro and the cities.

Prices have varied from $3 for daily parking to $59 for monthly parking, while monthly carpool parking is $25.

Gonzalez recommended the current extension cities between Glendora and Pomona increase their parking options to prevent the overflow issue Azusa and other cities faced after their stations opened.

In San Dimas, the parking plans are not final because officials are still figuring out where the parking spots will be located. After the Construction Authority scrapped the 400-plus-space parking garage off of Arrow Highway for a 275-space flat lot, San Dimas City Manager Chris Constantin presented a proposal to use a city-owned Park & Ride off of Railway Street for Gold Line parking instead. That proposal drew ire from local residents who said they were concerned about how the increase in traffic would affect pedestrian safety and quality of life in their community.

San Dimas officials have proposed this new plan, in part, because the Construction Authority’s parking plan would force the city to relocate a municipal lot that is cur-

rently being used by the city’s Public Works Department. At a town hall meeting over the summer, Constantin estimated the relocation could cost more than $23 million and said taxpayers would be affected by the extra costs.

During an Oct. 26 Gold Line meeting, Foothill Gold Line Project Manager Chris Burner said an environmental impact report to study the new parking proposal is underway. A draft of the report is expected to be released in March 2022, after which there will be a 45-day public comment period. The final report is estimated to be completed as early as June 2022, and a decision about the final parking plan for San Dimas will follow.

Residents who use the Gold Line echo the concern that parking infrastructure is a critical part of station development.

Christine Lin, a resident of Temple City, which is close to two Gold Line stations, uses the train to commute to work in downtown Los Angeles and take trips to Little Tokyo and Chinatown. She said that even with the permit parking option it is still tough to find spots at the Arcadia Station. If you want to pay the daily rate to park there, she said, it is unlikely you will be able to find a space. As a result, Lin has opted to use the Sierra Madre station in Pasadena despite it being farther away.

In time, San Dimas residents will be able to experience for themselves the benefits and challenges of having their own Gold Line station.

To learn more about the plans for the San Dimas Gold Line Station, contact San Dimas Public Works Director Shari Garwick at sgarwick@ sandimasca.gov or Foothill Gold Line Chief Communications Officer Lisa Levy Buch at llevybuch@foothillgoldline.org.

Disclaimer: Isabel Ebiner, managing editor for the San Dimas Community Post and daughter-in-law of San Dimas City Councilmember John Ebiner, edited this story for AP Style.

San Dimas Community Post

NOVEMBER 2021

PAGE 7 Main: Marine Corps veteran Dustney Pacheco addresses a crowd of over 300 people in attendance at the H.E.R.O.E.S. Monument Dedication in Freedom Park on Veterans Day. A San Dimas native, Pacheco is now an active member of the H.E.R.O.E.S. organization.

Below: H.E.R.O.E.S. Co-founder and President Gary Enderle at the monument in Freedom Park after it was vandalized in June. According to Enderle, the monument belongs to everyone who donated and bought a paver in honor of a veteran they know.

Main photo by Phil Ebiner.

Bottom photo by Rommel Alcantara — Staff Photographers

A MONUMENTAL RETURN People gather in honor of Veterans Day at Freedom Park H.E.R.O.E.S. monument

“I love this monument because I can come here and know that the city of San Dimas expresses their love to me in how you helped build this monument. I appreciate every single person in this community because I know you know it’s an important place.

BY MELANIE HENSON Staff Writer

More than 300 people attended the 8th Anniversary of the Helping Establish a Remembrance of Every Serviceperson (H.E.R.O.E.S.) Monument Dedication on Nov. 11 at Freedom Park in San Dimas. The event honored service members with a roll call of names and musical tributes from vocal soloists and bagpipers from Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Covina. Families of fallen service members were also honored.

“We will never forget your bravery and your generosity in ensuring our freedoms,” said San Dimas resident and H.E.R.O.E.S. board member Eloise Logan.

During the event, Logan, the mother of fallen hero Jim Logan, was called to the podium as a surprise honor.

“I love this monument because I can come here and know that the city of San Dimas expresses their love to me in how you helped build this monument. I appreciate every single person in this community because I know you know it’s an important place.”

Thirty-three new names now appear on the wall of the San Dimas H.E.R.O.E.S. monument, and four pavers, or engraved memorial stones, were added to the area surrounding the monument.

“This beautiful monument has become a beacon of light for our honored veterans,” Logan said.

San Dimas resident Norm Gwinn comes from a military family. “I feel this event is a great salute to veterans,” said Gwinn, who served in the Air Force in Germany during the time of the Korean War as a non-commissioned officer.

— Eloise Logan, mother of Jim Logan, fallen hero

Gwinn’s family purchased a paver to add to the monument. “It’s a nice gesture,” he said. “Everybody is always very thankful that you serve. I hear that a lot.”

Local resident Linus Durkan attended the event in memory of his three brothers, Joe, Brian and Jimmy, each of whom lived in San Dimas at one time or another. “They were all Marines,” Durkan said. “They have pavers on the monument.”

Veterans say they are happy current service members are also honored by the monument. “It’s not a memorial,” said San Dimas resident and H.E.R.O.E.S. co-founder Gary Enderle who served during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam.“It’s for any local service person as a place of honor

for them.”

Terri Bearden, a San Dimas resident, served in the Navy Hospital Corps from 1967 to 1970 with the rank of hospital corpsman second class. Bearden said she has seen respect for military personnel grow in recent years. “Things were bumpy when I first left the service,” she said.

“Today, I think the community treats veterans beautifully.”

She pointed to two factors: greater community outreach, plus veterans opening up about their experiences.

“Things didn’t just change on their own,” she said. “It isn’t just up to citizens to show vets they care. It is also on us (service members) to stand up, to get out in the community and say, ‘Here we are. Here is who we are.’”

Veterans and civilians alike said they appreciate the community effort that went into building the monument. In fact, the monument was entirely funded by donations.

“We had builders put the monument up, but it belongs to everyone who donated and who buys a paver today in honor of a vet they know,” Enderle said. “People can say, ‘That’s mine, because I helped it come to be.’”

The monument was vandalized in June when an unknown assailant wrote explicit messages on the monument in permanent marker and left trash strewn about the area.

Claremont resident 2nd Lt. Elijah Song came to Freedom Park for his commissioning ceremony in June.

“It’s traditional to have your commissioning ceremony at a memorial or monument,” Song said. “It’s a way to honor those who served before.”

When Song discovered the materials left from the vandalism, he and his family helped clean up then proceeded with his ceremony.

New cameras were installed at the H.E.R.O.E.S. monument in September, and San Dimas police regularly drive by the monument, Enderle said.

The vandalism of the monument was not a setback, according to Bearden. Instead, like the heroes it honors, the monument is a symbol of service to others and of community coming together.

In other words: it is a thank you.

“I hear ‘thank you for your service’ all the time,” Bearden said. “When I hear that, I know that I would do it all again.”

For more information about the San Dimas H.E.R.O.E.S. organization or to purchase a paver, visit sandimasheroes.org.

PAGE 8

San Dimas Community Post

City approves budget to plant new trees

BY MELANIE HENSON & AMANDA LEE Staff Writers

As a designated national Tree City, San Dimas is known for its cozy atmosphere. A large part of that is due to its appealing greenery.

“We love our trees, and we love the environment that we have because of them,” said San Dimas resident Alta Skinner.

But that iconic tree-lined look may be in jeopardy.

In an Aug. 24 San Dimas City Council meeting, councilmembers unanimously approved a total tree-planting budget of just $20,000. This amount was a dramatic drop from $110,000 allocated for each of the previous two years.

The new amount increases the original budget of $10,000 for the current fiscal year but still leaves a big gap in plans to continue growth of San Dimas’ urban forest, Parks and Recreation employees said.

City Manager Chris Constantin said San Dimas has been in the thick of “a massive budget deficit,” and the tree budget was just one avenue for funding cuts.

The Parks and Recreation’s Community Forest Management budget funds the purchase, planting and maintenance of new trees for six months, through a contract with West Coast Arborists, Inc. The money does not include long-term maintenance. After six months, it is up to the city to maintain the trees, and the city budget has not always taken into account the longer-term costs of maintaining newly planted trees.

“It is not enough that you plant a tree,” Constantin said. “You have to have the funds to maintain it.”

Constantin said he fully supports the expansion of a city canopy, so long as upkeep will be accounted for.

“It’s expensive to maintain trees in public spaces,” said Andrew Trotter, vice president of West Coast Arborists.

“They require proper care, somebody to make sure they get water when they’re young until they get established,” Trotter said of the costs associated with new plantings.

As trees mature, “they’re also starting to increase in potential liability,” he said.

“You see it unfortunately when trees fall and hurt somebody.”

Constantin said the Parks and Recreation department is working on a strategic plan that will take all of these factors into account.

City Councilmember John Ebiner, who is the council liaison to the Parks and Recreation Commission, said he plans to bring tree maintenance into the budget picture in the near future.

Planning for plantings

As the city prepares for tree selection and planting, long-term planning is crucial.

“The street tree palette has not been (completely) determined yet,” San Dimas Landscape Manager Steve Farmer wrote in an email to San Dimas Community Post.

Fifty-three trees were removed by Foothill Gold Line from Bonita and Cataract Avenues and Arrow Highway to make room for construction of the light rail. While 26 trees of the 53 lost to Gold Line construction will be replaced at the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority’s expense, the Construction Authority will also reimburse the city for an additional 27 trees at fair market value.

Additionally, San Dimas’ Parks and Recreation Department will use grant funds on a proposed 50 new trees in Horsethief Canyon Park and other locations where diseased or dangerous trees had to be removed in the past year.

So far, “the 50 trees from the (Upper San Gabriel River Watershed Urban Greening Project) grant will be Afghan pines,” to be planted along Paseo Alondra and Horsethief Canyon Park. Mean-

Photo by Rommel Alcantara — Staff Photographer

Over 8,000 trees make up San Dimas' urban forest, a community asset managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. In August, the city council approved a total tree-planting budget of $20,000, a dramatic drop from $110,000 for each of the previous two years.

while, the Gold Line replacement trees will be a combination of coast live oak, sycamore and crepe myrtle, Farmer wrote.

Char Miller, the director of environmental analysis at Pomona College in Claremont, had several recommendations for municipal trees. He suggested avoiding non-native trees as native trees can end up being more cost effective and last longer. He also advised against “wholesale plantings,” where all the street trees in an area are planted at the same time. Planting trees of various ages together builds “resilience in that urban forest because it’s not going to die at the same moment,” Miller said.

Why an urban canopy matters

If there is anything San Dimas is known for, it’s trees, according to residents.

San Dimas was designated under Tree City USA status by the National Arbor Day Foundation in 2006, which was a source of pride and accomplishment for the Parks and Recreation Department as well as those who live in San Dimas.

While trees are visually appealing, the roots go deeper than that. According to experts, trees offer a variety of benefits.

Beatriz Nobua-Behrmann, an urban forestry and natural resources advisor at the University of California Cooperative Extension in Irvine, shared a laundry list of reasons trees are good for communities, from providing oxygen to cleaning air pollution and preventing flooding.

In urban areas, concrete and pavement retain heat while trees are “basically living air conditioning. Having the trees and having the shade makes everything cooler,” said Nobua-Behrmann, who has a doctorate in biology. “If you have an area that has a big and healthy urban forest, you have to spend less energy in firing the A/C and getting your house cool.”

Nobua-Behrmann also explained the health benefits trees provide. “In places where you have more urban canopies, you have less incidents of heart disease and lung disease, asthma and other things that affect human health.” She also said studies have shown proximity to trees can help reduce stress.

Citizens speak out in favor of new trees Many residents view trees as a positive addition to the city’s landscape for environmental and aesthetic reasons.

“I’m a firm believer we have to have trees. Not just because I like to look at

them,” San Dimas resident Alta Skinner said.

Several comments on an Aug. 26 post to the San Dimas Buzz Facebook group cited improved air quality as more than enough reason to keep planting new trees and maintaining or replacing diseased ones. Others noted that trees beautify the city and increase property values in the community.

“I love the trees,” local resident Sandra Gonzales-Escareno wrote on the San Dimas Buzz Facebook post. “It makes the down town look like the welcoming All American town.”

Some residents see the newly bare landscape, due to tree removal for Gold Line construction and in other parts of the city, as a significant loss.

“It’s just sad because you see the beauty of the trees. They enhance everything in our community,” said Cyndia Williams, a San Dimas business owner who has lived in the city for more than 20 years.

“Unfortunately we have no control. The city didn’t want to take them down, they didn’t want to get rid of them. It’s forced upon you, and it’s kind of hard to swallow.”

Skinner said she would like the replacement trees to be similar to the trees that were removed.

“I think it’s important that when they replace those trees they don’t put little seedlings there. They took out very mature trees that provided a lot to our environment. I want to see them put back adult trees,” she said.

The future looks green, and growing, for San Dimas

While there are tangible benefits of having trees, Councilmember Ebiner said people just really love trees.

“It all comes down to a quality of life,” he said. “It’s about what makes a city a pleasant and attractive place to live in, have a business in and to visit.”

San Dimas is currently a Silver Tree City per the National Arbor Day Foundation’s parameters. The city expects to become a Gold City in 2026 and Platinum City 2031.

That shows “the city is committed to keeping its trees beautiful and keeping the urban forest growing,” Ebiner said.

“My goal is a tree canopy on every city street and every residential street. I will continue to aim for that dream for San Dimas.”

Disclaimer: Isabel Ebiner, managing editor for the San Dimas Community Post and daughter-in-law of San Dimas City Councilmember John Ebiner, helped with editing this story.

NOVEMBER 2021

Native gardens benefit you and the environment

BY KAREN BRIDGEWATER Staff Writer

Do water bills make your head spin? Do you wish more butterflies, bees and hummingbirds visited your backyard?

Would you like a landscape that is easier to maintain, especially in the summer heat? If your answer to any of those questions is yes, then it is time to grow native!

If the idea of growing native plants makes you cringe, as you imagine a summer garden filled with dried-up plants, get ready for some good news. California is a biodiversity hotspot and home to more than 6,000 native plants. Native plants grow together in communities that need similar climate, soil type, sun and moisture.

The California Botanic Garden, formerly known as the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, in Claremont offers guests an opportunity to observe native plants in their various communities and to see how they look at different times of the year.

Springtime bursts into color with a host of wildflowers that bathe our local hillsides. As summer heats up, buckwheat, golden yarrow and desert willow fill with blossoms and attract pollinators. California fuchsia, goldenrod and aster provide color throughout the fall. And when winter rolls in, the bright red berries of the toyon tree are a vivid contrast to the California buckwheat’s white blooms.

With careful planning, California native plants can brighten your garden throughout the year. In addition to flowers and blossoms, colorful leaves, bark and berries add visual interest during the various seasons. Some natives, such as the California lilac, coyote mint and matilija poppy, also treat the senses to an array of pleasant fragrances.

Lucinda McDade, PhD, executive director of California Botanic Garden, shares her knowledge and expertise for people interested in growing native plants.

What are the benefits of growing native plants?

Water savings Water savings often persuade people to consider growing native plants. “Once your native plants are established, they essentially won't need to be watered,” except for those that naturally grow in moist areas, McDade said.

Moving from a traditional landscape of lawn and non-native plants to a well-designed, native garden can cut your water bill by as much as 85%. Not only is this a good economic move, but it is also a sensible response to California’s growing drought conditions.

Compatibility with native soil Plants that are native to our area are very well adapted.

“They almost never need fertilizers or pesticides in order to grow well,” McDade said. Nor do they require soil amendments.

Less pollution Native plants do not need added fertilizers or pesticides and thereby eliminate chemical runoff into storm drains that end up in the ocean.

Preservation of biodiversity Native wildlife prefers native plants to non-native plants, so growing them in your garden will attract the native insects and wildlife that depend on them. McDade said one of the best ways to bring pollinators into your yard is to “plant native plants that are pollinated by hummingbirds and butterflies or are the larval food for butterflies.”

For vegetable gardeners, planting natives that bloom at varying times will draw bees to your crops throughout the growing season.

Sense of place Growing native plants connects us to the unique biological web of our region and strengthens our sense of belonging. As we learn about the vital relationship between native plants and wildlife, the importance of preserving the biodiversity of our surrounding ecosystem becomes clear. We can do this, one garden at a time, by growing native plants that provide food and shelter to our local wildlife.

What is wrong with growing non-native plants?

Most non-native plants are water-hungry and dependent on lots of supplemental irrigation, especially during the summer. They do not share the same relationship with wildlife and pollinators that native plants do and are less effective at attracting them to our gardens. Many, such as ice plant, are invasive. Some, like fountain grass and eucalyptus, are highly flammable.

Do you have to go full native?

McDade says she is not an “absolutist” and prefers a more pragmatic approach.

“You can't just replace your non-natives with natives and treat them the same way.”

For instance, there are situations where people want to grow native plants but want to keep some grass for their children or pets. Since most natives, such as California lilacs, will not survive the frequent, supplemental watering needed to keep a lawn alive, the trick is to find native plants that can.

Visit the online version of this article at sandimascommunitypost.com for an extensive resource list and specific steps on how to grow a native garden.

San Dimas Community Post

NOVEMBER 2021

Too busy for holiday baking?

Check out these spots in San Dimas

PAGE 9

"The Good Stuff" with Julie S.

BY CINDY ARORA

BY JULIE SALAZAR

For some, the day after Halloween begins the greatest season of all — baking season.

Cookie cutters are taken out of the cupboard, butter and cinnamon are stocked in bulk and those old beloved family recipes are dusted off as home bakers put together their holiday dessert menus.

But for those who are short on time or who simply don’t know their way around a spice rack — fear not! San Dimas has a number of local businesses happy to put on an apron and bake those cookies, pies and cakes for your holiday festivities.

We put together a list of local businesses that have created holiday menus to help during the whirlwind of potlucks, office parties, cookie exchanges and family brunches.

Get your orders in early and support these San Dimas businesses.

During this time of year, there are many ways to contribute to and participate in programs that provide food, clothing and other services to those in need. For those who can volunteer or donate, these are opportunities to create a better quality of life for all.

Staff Writer

Palermo Café & Bakery

This charming Via Verde bakery and café has everything you need to get through the holiday season. From traditional pumpkin and pecan pies for Thanksgiving to custom-designed sugar cookies, Black Forest cakes, tiramisu and Christmas cannolis, Palermo is a one-stop shop for all things holiday. For those looking to leave the cooking to someone else this year, Palermo also offers a savory menu including full Thanksgiving meals for two to 20 people, prime rib dinners and Italian family-style dinners. Palermo Café & Bakery, 1124 Via Verde Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773, palermocafeandbakery.com

Butter Cafe & Bakery

This quintessential neighborhood bakery is the perfect place to pick up a baker’s dozen of everything from cinnamon rolls to coffee cake, muffins, brownies and oversized cookies. The pastry case is filled with eye-catching desserts that will make you the star of the company holiday potluck or the favorite at the cookie exchange. Order ahead to beat the long lines that make this one of San Dimas’ favorite breakfast spots. Butter Cafe & Bakery, 671 E. Bonita Ave., Suite F, San Dimas, CA 91773, buttercafebakery.com

Staff Writer

Wildflower Honey Coffee

This indie traveling coffee company serves up cold brew and Shark Attack lemonades (grenadine and gummy sharks) at the San Dimas Farmers Market in the summertime. But this holiday season, Wildflower Honey Coffee turns cold coffees into cozy hot ones with its line of holiday cocoa bombs.

Wildflower offers a traditional chocolate bomb made with a chocolate shell and filled with cocoa and marshmallows; a salted caramel bomb that brings chocolate, caramel and marshmallows into one; and The Mean One, a grinchy, green-shelled cocoa bomb filled with marshmallows and red candy hearts, which could make your heart grow three sizes after one sip. Wildflower Honey Coffee, wildflowerhoneycoffee.com

Donut Club

The holiday hero of every office is the one who arrives with the pink box of doughnuts. This doughnut store is found in a shopping center along Arrow Highway and has a local following of folks who have discovered their delicious maple bacon tiger tails and chocolate cake doughnuts.

Stop by here for a baker’s dozen of holiday happiness and splurge on their frosted doughnuts with the red and green holiday sprinkles — your coworkers will thank you. Donut Club is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Donut Club, 861 W. Arrow Hwy., San Dimas, CA 91773, yelp.com/ biz/donut-club-san-dimas

Twisted Sage Found along Foothill Boulevard, this local favorite has been wowing locals with their biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos and oversized burgers. If you want to impress your family with a breakfast dessert they won’t forget this holiday season, try this spot’s “twist” on the classic bread pudding made with croissants and caramel and topped with crunchy bits of candied maple bacon. This homage to comfort food will become a holiday favorite. Twisted Sage, 433 E. Foothill Blvd., San Dimas, CA 91773, twistedsagecafe.com

San Dimas Senior Citizen/ Community Center 201 E. Bonita Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773 • Open to anyone 55 and older.

• Provides a variety of programs, services and activities for older adults in the community.

• Hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and Fridays 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

• Call 909-394-6290 or visit http://sandimasca.gov/seniorservices for more information.

The San Dimas Senior Citizen/ Community Center is a hub in the community for services for local seniors. Community members can access a number of different services through referrals to different organizations, such as YWCA, Meals on Wheels and transportation programs.

Here is a list of some services offered: YWCA case management • Available by appointment only to assist with applying for supportive services.

• Appointments are available on the third Friday of each month.

• Call 909-394-6290 to schedule an appointment.

YWCA lunch program • For seniors 60 and over, their spouses and disabled adults who qualify.

• The service is currently at capacity — interested residents can sign up for the waitlist and arrive at noon for any available lunches.

• During COVID-19, lunches are available for pickup on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Meal delivery service is also available in specific cases.

• Contact the YWCA San Gabriel Valley at 626-214-9465 to sign up for the waitlist.

• YWCA senior support services 24-hour message line: 626-214-9465.

Howard Hawkins attorney service • Free 15-minute consultation with an attorney to help explain options and rights regarding legal matters.

• Available by appointment only.

• Appointments are available on the third Friday of each month.

• Call 909-394-6290 to schedule an appointment.

Meals on Wheels • Hot lunch delivery to any eligible homebound resident in the San Dimas or La Verne area.

• Regular and diabetic meals available.

• Service is provided Monday through Friday between 12-1 p.m.

• Call 909-596-1828 for more inforation.

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program • Provides free, objective information and counseling for people on Medicare.

• Counselors help callers understand their rights and health care options.

• Call 800-434-0222 for assistance Dial-a-Cab • Provides transportation to all ages within San Dimas.

• Available 24 hours daily.

• One-way fares for the general public are $4 within San Dimas and $6 to certain medical facilities outside of the city.

• One-way fares for seniors ages 60 and older and disabled adults are $2.50.

• Curbside pickup is usually within 45 minutes of the request.

• If using a wheelchair, inform the operator at the time you make reservations.

• Call 909-622-4435 to schedule transportation.

Get About • Provides transportation to seniors and disabled adults living in San Dimas, La Verne, Claremont and Pomona.

• Travel may be anywhere within the four cities, plus Montclair Plaza and Montclair Medical Center.

• Available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Fares are $1 each way or $2 for extended boundary to parts of Glendora and Covina.

• Registration required 12-24 hours prior to making reservation.

• To register, call 909-596-7664.

Reservations required one to seven days in advance. To make a reservation, call 909-596-5964.

If you or someone you know is a senior citizen with a small wish we could help with during the holidays (for example, a new blanket, shoes or even a phone call), let us know by contacting Julie at inbox@sandimascommunitypost.com.

Ongoing Services in and around San Dimas: Shepherd’s Pantry 657 E. Arrow Hwy., Glendora, CA 91740 • Open to Los Angeles County residents.

• Provides food and clothing.

Home delivery service is available on Wednesdays only.

• Register by Tuesdays at 1 p.m.

• Call 626-852-7630 for more information.

New Song Church 945 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas, CA. 91773 • Open to all members of the community.

• Offers food pantry services. Donations accepted during food drives or by appointment.

• In need of shelf-stable items like peanut butter and jelly; canned meats like tuna, chicken and fish; pasta and pasta sauce; macaroni and cheese; rice; canned fruits and vegetables; canned beans of any kind; hot and cold cereals; and granola bars.

• Food baskets distributed on Nov. 27, Dec. 2, 11, 16 and 30 from 10-11:30 a.m.

• Call the church at 909-394-9488 for more information Holy Name of Mary Parish 724 E. Bonita Ave.,San Dimas,CA 91773 • Pantry and additional social services open to all members of the community.

• Service offered through the St. Vincent de Paul Society Monday through Friday (closed Tuesdays) from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Accepting holiday items like frozen turkeys, hams, pumpkin pie filling and canned goods for holiday dinners, as well as backpacks, bags on wheels, socks, underwear and clean, used clothing.

• Donations accepted periodically during food drives that are announced on the front lawn of Holy Name of Mary or through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

• Volunteers welcome.

• Call 909-599-1243, ext. 138 to volunteer, coordinate donation or learn more.

PAGE 10

San Dimas Community Post

NOVEMBER 2021

Seasonal shopping at the Walker House Historical Society hosts Holiday Boutique

BY SARA SMOLA Staff Writer

San Dimas resident and Historical Society member Kay Hoveland manages the San Dimas Historical Society’s annual Holiday Boutique (in addition to managing the society’s year-round gift shop).

The Holiday Boutique features holiday goods, children’s items and household wares. Hoveland says the focus is really on storied artifacts from the early 1900s to 1950s. “This year, we have a collection of old bottles found at the site of the Brasada development,” Hoveland said, referring to a new housing development being built in the northern foothills of San Dimas.

As a non-profit organization, the Historical Society relies on dues as well as proceeds from the Holiday Boutique to ensure the preservation of San Dimas history for the future. The society provides accessibility of official records and antique items, many of which are meticulously maintained and continually added to in the society’s museum and research library located on the second floor of the Walker House. Its archives are available to the general public. In addition to welcoming school tours, the society offers scholarship programs to student volunteers and walking tours on the first Saturday of the month.

“I think preservation is the most important thing,” Hoveland said. “If we don’t do it, then our children will never know.”

The Holiday Boutique is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each weekend in December starting Dec. 4 and ending Dec. 19 at the Walker House, located at 121 N. San Dimas Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773.

Photo by Rommel Alcantara — Staff Photographer

San Dimas residents and Historical Society volunteers Kay Hoveland, left, and Ann Vackrinos, right, sort through various trinkets and antiques as they prepare for the annual Holiday Boutique at the Walker House in December. Proceeds from the boutique will help the Historical Society in their mission to preserve the city's history for future generations.

San Dimas Community Post

NOVEMBER 2021

PAGE 11

Crush your resolutions this year Ever set a resolution that did not work out?

Build lasting habits to crush your resolutions

BY YAJEN TAN Fitness Columnist

We have all made a resolution at one point or another. I want to eat healthier, exercise more, sleep better, quit drinking — the list goes on. But how often do those resolutions actually work out?

The key to reaching our goals is learning how to build habits that last. I am not talking about the habits that we decide to follow for only a few weeks. I am talking about the habits that will last us a lifetime.

So whether you are trying to eat healthier, move more or just get into bed on time, here are a couple of tricks to help you build lasting habits.

Start with baby steps Whenever you start something new, building up momentum plays an important role in helping you reach your goals.

That means starting out small.

Are you trying to lose weight?

Start by cutting out one soda a day or taking a 10 minute walk during your lunch break. One small action is not likely to determine your success or failure, but it will get you started down the right path.

Cutting out one soda a day may lead to cutting out two sodas a day. Soon, you will become a little more mindful about the foods that you put into your body. Consistent baby steps over time can lead to big change.

Curate your environment If you are hungry, what do you think will be the first thing that you reach for? Usually, the easiest and most convenient thing that you have lying around.

I am not saying that you will become a healthy eater just by buying some veggie sticks and salted nuts, but you are much less likely to munch on a bag of chips when you need to drive to the store just to pick them up.

When you are looking to change your habits, examine your surroundings to find out what you need to change.

Are you trying to cut down your alcohol intake? Stop showing up for the local bar’s daily happy hour. Are you eating too much junk food? Stop buying Cheetos

San Dimas Community Post “THE ‘MOST EXCELLENT’ NAME IN LOCAL NEWS”

Issue 5 November 2021

© San Dimas Community Post LLC, 2021

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Staci Baird

Art/Design Director Evan Solano

Graphic by Phil Ebiner

“People do not decide their futures; they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.

— F.M. Alexander

every time you stop by the store.

Our environment is an extremely powerful determinant of our habits, so be mindful about what you allow into your surroundings.

Although I let myself enjoy a bag of chips when I really crave them on occasion, I make sure to set myself up for success by not leaving those snacks around the house.

Just keep going Sometimes, people are too hard on themselves when they are trying to lose weight, start a new routine or accomplish something significant. I find myself in that camp every now and then.

Chasing down our goals is rarely a smooth ride. It is full of ups and downs, and that is just part of the process! The key is to take those baby steps that you started out with and build on top of them, one habit at a time.

Picture a kid learning how to ride a bike for the first time. How would you help them? You would

start them out with training wheels so they get to experience what it feels like. Little by little, you would let them progress by taking off the training wheels, letting them ride a little faster and, eventually, moving off the parking lot and onto the road.

The same thing applies to building habits. We don’t start out by just jumping on the bike and feeling comfortable right away. We need to start small and build up, step by step, to get to what we are trying to achieve.

Remember this: if you just practice sticking to one single change each month, you can build 12 entire new habits by the end of the year. Not sure where to start?

Here are a few ideas on how to improve your health and energy during this upcoming year.

1. Wake up earlier by setting an evening alarm to go to bed.

2. Charge your phone away from your bedside to stop yourself from scrolling all night.

3. Get five minutes of exercise and sunlight outdoors when you first wake up in the morning.

4. Find a partner to exercise with for 10-15 minutes per day.

5. Do 30 repetitions of any exercise every day (push ups, squats or jumping jacks).

6. Try playing a new sport.

7. Drink a green smoothie daily to get more veggies.

8. Drink one to two cups of water when you wake up.

9. Research five healthy lunch spots near work.

10. Do not consume caffeine after noon.

11. Take a quick walk outdoors before opening up your laptop for work.

12. Set a cutoff time to stop working in the evening.

If, after reading this, you have already decided to take that first step toward a new healthy habit, then you are already one step ahead of where you were just a moment ago. Keep it up!

Yajen Tan is a personal trainer and owner of Gimme Crossfit at 561 W. Arrow Highway in San Dimas. If you have health and fitness questions or would like to suggest topics to be covered in a future column, reach out to Yajen at inbox@ sandimascommunitypost.com.

Managing Editor Isabel Ebiner

Senior Editors Kara Roa Eric Nakano

Assistant Editor/Layout Megan Bender

Staff Writers

Cindy Arora Joshua Bay Karen Bridgewater Lauren Choi Kyle Clayton Grace Dulce-Cottonham Melanie Henson Amanda Lee Maydeen Merino Joey Patton Julie Salazar Emily J. Sullivan Yajen Tan Natalie Yemenidjian Aaron Wang Flora Wong

Photographers

Rommel Alcantara Phil Ebiner

Consulting Editor Christian Shepherd

Web Designer

Charlynn Schmiedt

Special Projects Geoff Decker

The San Dimas Community Post is a free print and online publication produced by residents of San Dimas and the surrounding communities. Ads are not endorsed by the Community Post. Editorials are the opinion of at least 75 percent of the Editorial Board. All other opinion is that of the writer.

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