Is your hot rod tuned and ready to rumble?
The annual Temecula Rod Run in historic Old Town returns May 3 and 4.
The Rod Run gets its official start at 5 p.m. Friday, May 3. Organizers expect at least 500 classic and under-resconstruction cars to be on display for the event, which continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The free car show will feature plenty of vendors, too, on Main Street.
For more information on the Rod Run, go to TemeculaCA.gov/RodRun.
New car wash for residents near Pomona
Speaking of cars, Quick Quack Car Wash is opening this week in Pomona.
The car wash at 1862 South Geary Ave. is holding a fundraiser from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. as part of its grand opening Monday, April 15 to benefit two families in need.
During the fundraiser, customers can preview the facility before the grand opening and get a “Ceramic Duck” wash package for a donation of any amount. Quick Quack said it’s matching donations from customers.
The franchise chain also has opened several Quick Quacks in the Inland Empire in recent years. Newer locations include Rialto, Jurupa Valley and Moreno Valley.
Grant money coming to Redlands, San Bernardino centers
The Nicholson Community Center and The Blessing Center are getting more than $1.3 million combined in federal grant money to bolster their programs in the Inland Empire.
The Nicholson Center in San Bernardino is the recipient of a $850,000 grant that is paying for renovations that include adding a food pantry, after-school programs and access to substance abuse prevention, mental health and healthcare programs.
The Blessing Center’s Hannah’s House of Hope in Redlands received a $500,000 grant. The transitional housing service helps at-risk women and children. The money will go toward helping complete 26 additional living spaces for up to 30 new mothers and nearly 70 homeless children.
“Both The Blessing Center and the Nicholson Community Center demonstrate the unwavering commitment to community service in our region,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar, who secured the local grant money. “These places provide the necessary resources for folks who need it for themselves and their families and cultivate a sense of belonging for anyone walking through their doors.”
Law firms merging in Riverside
Heiting & Irwin, a personal injury and worker’s compensation law firm in Riverside, has merged with the personal injury firm Rizio Lipinsky, forming Rizio Lipinsky Heiting PC.
Terms of the merger were not disclosed.
Together the firms say they offer 45 years of experience.
Jim Heiting, co-founder of Heiting & Irwin, said the merger would expand the combined firm’s scope in the city and beyond.
“We will now be able to serve clients on the ground in Riverside, throughout the Inland Empire, as well as in Orange County and beyond,” he said in a statement.
For more information, call 951-682-6400.
Temecula chamber honors local businesses
The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce honored a dozen businesses recently at its annual awards gala at Pechanga Resort Casino.
The organization’s Lifetime Achievement award went to Linda Wunderlich, who for 25 years has written about the city and region as owner, publisher and chief executive of The Valley Business Journal.
Here’s a rundown of the honorees:
Bronze Business of the Year: Exit Alliance Realty
Sterling Business of the Year: E.A.T Marketplace
Gold Business of the Year: Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Temecula
Platinum Business of the Year: Southwest Healthcare-Temecula Valley Hospital
Ruby Organization of the Year: WAVES Project Inc.
Emerald Organization of the Year: SAFE Family Justice Centers
Valley Young Professional of the Year: Carla Yriqui, Picasso Dental Care
Ambassador of the Year: Stacey Dunn, Chick-fil-A Temecula
Chairman’s Choice: Adam Eventov, SoCal Gas
Citizen of the Year: Paul Rangel, Sofa Spectrum Furniture & Massage Chairs
The Welty Award for Tourism Professional of the Year: Luis Gonzalez, Temecula Life
In case you missed these headlines last week
Gil Navarro, a longtime Inland Empire activist and student advocate, died at age 81, according to a Press-Enterprise story by Beau Yarbrough. His family said he died Saturday, April 6, at St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino. Best known for his advocacy work, Navarro also worked at the corporate office for Carl’s Jr. and at IBM. He owned a taxes and bookkeeping business and a mailbox business.
McDonald’s is trying something new to keep dollars flowing now that it’s paying a minimum wage floor of $20 hourly in California. It’s selling bagel sandwiches, apparently a fan-favorite breakfast item, Bloomberg reports. The sandwiches were reintroduced at McDonald’s locations in California as part of a plan to boost store traffic. The burger chain is also spending $15 million on local advertising, even though it’s rare for the company to invest in promoting its products in a single state.
Taco Bell has new drinks with real fruit in them, according to food reporter Fielding Buck. For now, the Agua Refrescas are only being served at 2222 Barranca Parkway in Irvine. There three flavors include Strawberry Passionfruit, Peach Mango and Dragonfruit Berry. Taco Bell says they’re are made with freeze-dried fruit pieces and a green tea base. The drinks cost $4 each for 16 ounces.
If you venture to Disneyland, there are three new restaurants on tap, according to our theme parks reporter Brady MacDonald. Paseo, Centrico and Tiendita will open May 2 in Downtown Disney. The Paseo (a full-fledged restaurant), Centrico (a courtyard bar) and Tiendita (a grab-and-go stand) are taking the place of Catal restaurant, Uva bar and Sprinkles cupcake bakery.
The business briefs are compiled and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items to sgowen@scng.com. High-resolution images also can be submitted. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
