Celebrate New Year's Eve at The Castaway

 

Celebrate New Years’ Eve in the elegant surroundings of the Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center.

 

Sous Chef  Chris Renno and Executive Chef Francisco Roman prepare a tantalizing glaze in the Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center kitchen. They and the other chefs will create more delectable cuisine for a New Years’ Eve party open to all.


(San Bernardino, Calif) “For those in the mood for a big party, don’t miss the Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center New Year’s Eve Celebration.  Ring in 2010 and enjoy a fabulous and elegant dinner buffet, dancing to a live band, and toasting friends and family with champagne while overlooking the twinkling lights of the valley below.” said General Manager Robert Solgan.

This celebration begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31. The price is just $150 per couple or $170 per couple for VIP seating.

Solgan says partygoers should be prepared for an elegant evening with a delicious menu featuring an array of delectable foods from traditional favorites to the delights created by the Castaway’s Executive Chef Francisco Roman and his culinary team.

The menu includes a prime rib carving station, Shrimp Scampi and Shrimp Diablo pasta stations, tenderloin medallions with sauce Béarnaise, fresh baked seafood medley in a lemon beurre blanc, grilled chicken with an artichoke-mushroom white wine cream sauce; and tantalizing desserts all prepared just for the occasion.

For more information or to make a holiday reservation, please call (909) 881-1502, or visit www.CastawayRestaurant.com.

About the Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center
The Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center has an endless selection of fine cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Francisco Roman from prime rib and filet mignon to salmon, scallops and fine seafood creations to delectable desserts. It’s the perfect place for enchanting moments for everyone from couples, families and friends, to large business gatherings and weddings.

Ideally situated in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, with spectacular scenic views the Castaway Restaurant is distinctively heralded as a popular tradition for its ambiance, mouth-watering menus, superb service, and breathtaking views overlooking the valley. Guests enjoy comfortable seating, oversized booths, complimentary valet parking, and a full-service bar.

Claremont And Other Cities Have More Ways To Help Disabled Residents

 

Claremont Council Member Larry Schroeder, Claremont Mayor Corey Calaycay, Dr. Lee Nattress, executive director of Services Center for Independent Living and Assembly Member Anthony Adams cut the ribbon in front of Services Center for Independent Living’s new location, 107 Spring St. in Claremont. Photo by Chris Sloan

“I’m armed,” says Angela Nwokike, who is legally blind but works as the systems change advocate for Services Center for Independent Living. She demonstrates to Claremont Mayor Corey Calaycay and Claremont City Council Member Larry Schroeder one of the tools she’s armed with, software that converts text to voice.  Photo by Chris Sloan

(CLAREMONT, Calif.) Getting to work and back for Angela Nwokike of Fontana requires travel by four buses and two trains. She can’t drive because she’s legally blind.

Every day, Nwokike must read email, mail and other text to do her job at the Services Center for Independent Living in Claremont. Since she’s blind she relies on a program called JAWS For Windows® (software that translates text to voice, called JAWS because it provides Job Access With Speech) to read them for her.

She also speaks to government officials in her job, and this requires traveling to various city halls and board rooms, often at night.  There she must navigate floor plans between the seats and the speakers’ podium and, as required of everyone, fill out a “request to speak” card.

For that, a personal attendant comes in handy.

As the systems change advocate for Services Center for Independent Living in Claremont Nwokike is familiar with the extra help she needs to have an independent life and a career, despite being robbed of her eyesight nine years ago through glaucoma.

For many others who are blind or suffer from another type of disability, knowing how to live an independent life is more of a challenge. Services Center for Independent Living’s mission is to help residents of the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys meet those challenges head-on.

After 30 years in business, this Claremont non-profit agency became better able to meet the needs of the people it serves by moving to a larger location at 107 Spring St. It hosted a Grand Reopening to show the community, including local elected officials Assembly Member Anthony Adams and members of the Claremont City Council, how the center helps disabled people live full, independent lives.

“We are honored to see how they provide these services to our residents that need them,” said Claremont Mayor Corey Calaycay. “We’re excited for the many more things they will now be able to do for them.”

Besides Claremont, Services Center for Independent Living also helps residents of Arcadia, Azusa, Bradbury, Baldwin Park, Covina, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, Industry, La Puente, La Verne, Monrovia, Pomona, Rowland Heights, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, Walnut and West Covina.

As a blind person, Nwokike continues to have a successful career. She’s armed with the right tools and an understanding of how to work with government agencies to educate them about what she needs.

As the systems change advocate at Services Center for Independent Living, Nwokike teaches others how to work with those same government agencies to bring about the changes they need. She also educates clients on ways they may not know of to use the resources they already have.

Different disabilities bring about different needs. For instance, as a blind person, Nwokike has had some scary moments when a bus was late and she waited by herself at a bus stop, not knowing if she was truly alone or in the presence of people who could harm her.

“I am armed,” she said. “I keep my cell phone close at hand, with my finger on the speed dial for 911.”

If a person is mobility impaired instead of blind, they would not have Nwokike’s difficulty in seeing what’s around her. But frequently, what they see are situations they cannot navigate.

In Claremont, not far from Services Center for Independent Living, there are sidewalk curbs that don’t have the proper cutouts for wheelchair access, Nwokike said. She’s going to ask the Claremont City Council to fix that soon, but at the Grand Opening, she already had sympathetic ears from the mayor and two city council members

Another disabled employee of this center, Corinne Garcia, serves as the assistive technology manager, helping them find the tools they need, such as Angela’s JAWS software.

“A person with severe muscle spasms might not be able to eat with regular plates and silverware,” Garcia said. “However, there are plates with lips and silverware with wide handles that can be twisted to different angles that will give spastic people the control they need to feed themselves.’

Children who don’t have fine muscle coordination might not be able to lift traditional crayons with their fingers, but Services Center for Independent Living has paperless crayons shaped like stars, leaves and pieces of fruit. All a child needs to do with these crayons is push them against the paper.

“We believe in helping people to live independently,” said Garcia. “If all you do is feed someone they aren’t independent. But given the right tools, they can be!”

There are other staff members who help the disabled people, which Services Center for Independent Living calls “consumers,” find their way around the building. Some of them meet one on one with the clientele, helping them to come up with a plan for their own independence.

Overseeing all of Services Center for Independent Living is Dr. Lee Nattress, executive director. Dr. Nattress has more than 60 years experience working in health care, beginning with the development and fitting of artificial limbs.

His past experience includes coordinating extension programs at the then newly-established University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine in the 1950s, executive director for the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics in Chicago, and a consulting business that helped many universities around the country strengthen their medical programs.

He “retired” from a position as the director of the Office of Education and Research in the Department of Family Medicine at Loma Linda University in 1997, but has since then managed or directed several community-based organizations that help disabled people. He’s been the executive director of Services Center for Independent Living since 2007, and since then has strived to make government leaders and business people aware of the services this center provides.

In Claremont, at least three city council members and one assembly member are impressed with what Dr. Nattress and the rest of the Services Center for Independent Living are doing to make life better for the disabled.

“Our city feels responsible for meeting the needs of all of our residents,” said Council Member Peter Yao. “It is important for us as council members to be able to know as much as we can about our city’s organizations that can help. Now that we have seen what Services Center for Independent Living can do, we will promote its programs.”

Services Center for Independent Living is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, established in 1980 to meet the needs of east San Gabriel Valley and Pomona Valley disabled residents. Services include training in independent living skills, advocacy, helping to acquire tools to assist with mobility and other basic needs and providing information and referrals.

For more information, call (909) 621-6722.  Disabled users of videophones or teletype phones may call (909) 445-0726.

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Share The Joy of Christmas With A Child

 Volunteers are again manning a Christmas “Sharing Tree” at Inland Center Mall. Purchasing a gift for one of the children “tagged” on this tree is one of several ways to help The Salvation Army bring joy to needy children this holiday season.
 
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Local Salvation Army Corps and several businesses have joined forces to make this holiday season one the needy children of the Inland Empire will never forget.

In San Bernardino, this program is known as “Sharing Trees.” However, many other corps of The Salvation Army refer to the program as “Angel Giving Trees.”

In San Bernardino County, these programs revolve around actual Christmas trees. These trees were set up in local malls the day after Thanksgiving.

Attached to branches of the tree are cards with names of children whose families simply cannot afford to buy gifts, as much as they would love to. Shoppers who want to take part by helping disadvantaged children simply pluck a tag off the Giving Tree, read the child’s name and wish list, then head for the appropriate store for a little sharing of their own.

“Why not start a tradition with your family and select a gift for a needy child together,” Capt. Ball said.

San Bernardino Corps put its Sharing Tree in the Inland Center Mall (500 Inland Center Drive, San Bernardino) in front of the old Gottschalks location.

The Ontario Corps put trees in Ontario Mills Mall (1 Mills Circle, Ontario) in front of JC Penney’s and Montclair Plaza (5060 E. Montclair Plaza Lane, Montclair) inside the Macy’s store. The Redlands Corps put a tree at Wal-Mart (2050 W. Redlands Blvd., Redlands).

However, not all corps have actual trees. The Riverside Corps asks shoppers to call (951) 784-4490, ext. 114 to obtain the name of and requests of more than 2,000 children on its “Angel” list.

Shoppers helping the Riverside children should take their gifts to a warehouse the Riverside Corps has established at 3695 First Street, Riverside.

For the first time this year, JC Penney’s shoppers can also shop online for any Salvation Army Corps’ needy children. The website jcp.com/angel allows online shoppers to select children in their local area, order a gift for them from Penney’s online catalog, and let Penney’s handle shipping it to the appropriate Salvation Army Corps.

The Salvation Army also is looking for other businesses in both San Bernardino and Riverside counties, who would like to have a tree at their place of business for employees and/or customers.

“This is a great way for business owners and managers to help the community this Christmas,” Capt. Ball said.

“Soccer balls, dolls and clothes are just a few items on each child’s wish list,” Capt. Ball said. “Shoppers who participate in the program are encouraged to shop for more than what is needed on the list.”

Salvation Army volunteers make sure the presents are earmarked for the specific child.

To help, make a donation, or for more information please call The Salvation Army at (888) 725-2769.

About the Salvations Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Donate a Pillow and Blanket to new Salvation Army Shelter with Target

The  Salvation Army’s emergency family shelter, Hospitality House, is seeking sheets like these, in white, along with mattress pads, pillows and cases, and blankets. It asks the public to visit a Target store gift registry and ask for List ID: 012018800000074 or use Target’s online gift registry to donate the linens. The  Salvation Army needs 100 of each type of bed linen to prepare for its move to a new location on January 15th, where the shelter’s guests will sleep on beds instead of mats.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)  The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps has registered at Target to help provide pillows, blankets and other bedding for its new shelter, a building under remodel on Tenth Street.

This will allow anyone the opportunity to shop for a housewarming gift for the Salvation Army, which hopes to move into the new shelter in early January. It needs new bedding because at its current location, shelter residents sleep on mats but in the new location they will sleep on beds.

“We will be treating them with much more dignity than the current conditions allow,” said Capt. Stephen Ball, executive director of the San Bernardino Corps. “But we’re going to need a lot of help. A family just getting started in a new house may need linens for three or four beds, but we’re going to need 100 of almost everything. We need the help of the community to provide even those most basic bedding needs.”

The Target Foundation allows non-profit organizations such as The Salvation Army to create registries so that community members can help donate specific needs. These registries can be printed at Target, in the same way one would print a wedding or baby gift registry, so shoppers can help The Salvation Army while at Target Christmas shopping and ask for List ID: 012018800000074.

Anyone not going to a Target store anytime soon can visit http://www.target.com/lists/2731VI55YOJEH “Salvation Army Hospitality House Homeless Shelter” to find out the needs of the local Salvation Army Corps.  Not all items are available on line.

 About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Community Program Lifting Spirits Up One Family At A Time

The lines of people needing help from The Salvation Army grow longer every year. This year, the San Bernardino Corps will help more than 600 local families. For some of them, it seeks businesses and other groups willing to provide extra help to one family through its “Adopt-A-Family” program.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calf.) The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps seeks volunteers for its Adopt-A-Family program this holiday season. This program provides a way to lift the spirits of needy families by giving them a Christmas they will never forget.  

Each year hundreds of Inland Empire families come to the Salvation Army for help in hopes to be considered as a family “in need”.  In 2009, there are more than 600 families in the San Bernardino area that could potentially benefit from this program.

“The breadwinner may have lost a job; the family may have been forced out of their homes due to foreclosure, someone may have been seriously, and expensively ill; or perhaps the family has faced a debilitating death of one of the parents. No matter the problem that causes the disruption or the ceasing of Christmas plans, the Adopt-A-Family program is here to help,” said Capt. Stephen Ball.

Once a businesses or group chooses to “adopt” a family, The Salvation Army will pair them with a household in special need of blessing. Once the other family or business receives a match they will provide the adopted family with gifts and necessary items making their holiday bright. 

Groups and businesses that adopt often invest thousands or more in a family. Families accepted into the program in the past have received gifts from new clothes for the whole family to much needed home repairs, appliances or tools.

The success of the program comes from the many generous people who pitch in to assist, not overwhelm each needy family. “It’s a matter of “whatever it takes” to aid their selected family to get past the stress of the holidays”.

“Adopting’ a family is to see the specific needs of a particular family and doing what you can to help meet them,” said Capt. Ball. “There are many creative ways to help meet a family’s needs.”


To adopt a family in San Bernardino, Colton, Rialto, Grand Terrace, Bloomington or Highland, call (909) 888-1336.

To adopt a family in Redlands and other East San Bernardino Valley communities call (909) 792-6868.

To adopt a family in San Bernardino County’s High Desert, call (760) 245-2545.

To adopt a family in Ontario and other West San Bernardino Valley communities, call Envoy Abel Tamez at (909) 509-2503 or Envoy Naomi Tamez at (909) 509-2741.

To adopt a family in the Desert Hot Springs/Coachella Valley areas, contact the Cathedral City Corps at (760) 324-2275.

To adopt a family in Hemet, San Jacinto, Idyllwild and surrounding areas contact the Hemet Corps at (951) 925-7176.

To adopt a family in Moreno Valley, Perris and surrounding areas, call the Moreno Valley Corps at (951) 653-9131.

To adopt a family in Murrieta, Temecula, Canyon Lake, Menifee and surrounding areas, call the Murrieta Corps at (951) 677-1324.

To adopt a family in Riverside, Corona, Norco and surrounding areas, call the Riverside Corps at (951) 784-4490.

About the Salvations Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Salvation Army Seeks Help For Neediest Families

The Salvation Army needs to fill more boxes with canned goods, which will be used in the holiday gift baskets it’s creating for more than 600 needy families. In the second week of December, it has collected only about half of the food it will need to distribute before Christmas.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The Salvation Army Corps of San Bernardino wants to help hundreds of the area’s neediest families have a blessed Christmas season.

“We will be helping more than 600 families this year with food and toys for Christmas,” said Capt. Stephen Ball, director of the San Bernardino Corps. “Right now, we only have enough canned food for half of them.”

While many families are struggling this year, the 600-plus families The Salvation Army has chosen to help this year have exceptionally great needs.

“Some families struggle year-round,” he said. “Others find themselves in unusual need due to a recent job loss or difficult family situation. One family we’re helping was recently living in their car with one child who is autistic and another who has cancer.”

Donations of additional canned food are the greatest need, but donated Stater Brothers gift certificates would also be welcomed, Capt. Ball said.

Each family will receive a Christmas gift basket filled with canned goods and a gift certificate to Stater Brothers, which is selling them to The Salvation Army at a slight discount. These families will also benefit from The Salvation Army’s annual “Christmas Giving Tree,” as the children will receive the toys donated through that program.

In addition, The Salvation Army seeks organizations and businesses that can help some of these families by taking part in its “Adopt-A-Family” program. Participants in this program would be matched with the families with the greatest needs, and would receive additional food and clothing from their benefactors.

The San Bernardino Corps benefits residents of San Bernardino, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Rialto and Bloomington.

About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Training the Next Generation of Great Chefs

 

Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center General Manager Robert Solgan, Sous Chef Chris Renno, Executive Chef Francisco Roman and Sous Chef Keith Gomez enjoy one of the chefs’ culinary masterpieces in the elegant atmosphere of the restaurant’s dining room.

 

Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center Executive Chef Francisco Roman, center with sous chefs Chris Renno and Keith Gomez, add fine dining to the spectacular mountaintop view diners experience at the restaurant.

Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center Executive Chef Francisco Roman plates a fine meal as Sous Chef Keith Gomez watches.
 

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – A famous chef once said, “One can become a cook but one can only be born a chef.” Many believe this to be true, and chefs do require intense training to become great. But who is training the next generation of great chefs?

The Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center in San Bernardino is training two of these up-and-coming chefs, under the expert guidance of Executive Chef Francisco Roman.

Chef Roman is known for his imaginative quest in pairing fresh food, seasoning, and cultural influences. He has been head chef at Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center for four years, and has 17 years experience as a chef since his intense training at Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley.  The premier culinary training institute in the country and one of the tops in the world.

Chef Roman has a lifelong enthusiasm for cooking. He began cooking as the oldest of nine brothers and sisters.

“My culinary career started as a passion for cooking great food, which my family loved,” said Chef Roman. “With my training, and that of my team, we have learned how to bring together unique flavors to create unforgettable sensory experiences. At Castaway, our culinary team is committed to providing our dining guests with delightful experiences, using the freshest ingredients and food prepared daily.”

Chef Roman heads up a team of some of the finest and most creative young chefs in southern California. He has searched the best culinary schools to find the next generation of passionate tastemakers to share his kitchen, master skills and expertise.

The selected culinary assistants are Sous Chef Chris Renno, a recent graduate of the renowned International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire, and Sous Chef Keith Gomez, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena.

“It’s been fantastic working under Chef Roman,” said Sous Chef Renno. “He is so experienced and a superb chef. I’ve been fortunate to bring what I’ve learned from the institute and meld it with his extraordinary culinary skills to help create amazing food. Thanks to his guidance, I feel like I’m well on my way to being a great chef.”

Through hands-on instruction and training, Executive Chef Roman works closely with his emerging top chefs, infusing his refined techniques with modern innovation and global culinary perspectives.  

“You must acquire the skills and knowledge needed to be competitive in the industry,” said Sous Chef Gomez. “Chef Roman is a master of the culinary arts and classic cooking. He has taught me new ways to navigate the kitchen, and to take what I learned in culinary school and apply it in unexpectedly delicious ways. Working with him has taken the foundation of my culinary training to a much higher level while guiding my passion for cooking into a satisfying career.”

Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center General Manager Robert Solgan said, “We are proud of our culinary team, and the results of its fine cuisine are evident in our guest satisfaction and return visits. Chef Roman is the one of the best chefs in the country and also happens to be one of the best trainers for our next generation of great chefs.”

“We invite you to the Castaway Restaurant for a holiday meal that will be an extra-special dining experience” Solgan continued. “Our chefs will present an incredible array of delicious food served in a festive setting. There is no other place like Castaway to celebrate the holidays with loved ones.

“Holiday selections include appetizers, fresh fruits and salads, traditional and unique main courses featuring prime rib, salmon and other choice meats and seafood, and tasty desserts – all at incredibly affordable prices. We invite everyone to join us for the true essence of the season.”

Join the Castaway Restaurant for its holiday buffet luncheons from now through Dec. 30, Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  “It’s the affordable way to make merry with friends for lunch and exchange gifts, or gather up your company employees for a holiday celebration at lunchtime.” Solgan said.  Prices are $14.95 for adults, and $5.95 for children ages 3-10 years.

Don’t have the budget for big holiday party? The Castaway Restaurant hosts a “Shared Christmas Party” at 7 p.m. on Dec. 22 at $24.95 per person.

“Join your friends, or meet new ones at our shared holiday celebration,” said Solgan.  “Reserve a table for two or more and enjoy a festive holiday party with out the expense in a beautifully decorated private room with a spectacular view of the twinkling lights of the valley below. It’s the ideal solution for a holiday party that includes dancing to the sounds of a live DJ,” said Solgan.

Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center has a few dates still available for private holiday parties for offices, organizations and other groups.

“Guests may also bring there families for dinner any night, Christmas Day Dinner, or a New Year’s Day Dinner, making it possible for intimate celebrations without the hassle of cooking them yourself,” said Solgan.

“For those in the mood for a big party, don’t miss the Castaway’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. Ring in 2010 and enjoy a delicious and elegant dinner buffet, dancing to a live band, and toasting friends and family with endless champagne while overlooking the twinkling lights of the valley below.”

This celebration begins 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31.  The prices are $150 per couples for a group table or $170 per couple for a private table,” said Solgan.

For more information or to make a holiday reservation, please call (909) 881-1502, or visit www.CastawayRestaurant.com.

About the Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center
The Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center has an endless selection of fine cuisine from prime rib and filet mignon to salmon, scallops and fine seafood creations to delectable desserts. It’s the perfect place for enchanting moments for everyone from couples, families and friends, to large business gatherings and weddings.

Ideally situated in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, with spectacular scenic views the Castaway Restaurant is distinctively heralded as a popular tradition for its ambiance, mouth-watering menus, superb service, and breathtaking views overlooking the valley. Guests enjoy comfortable seating, oversized booths, complimentary valet parking, and a full-service bar.

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Salvation Army Shares Meat And Dessert After Abundant Donations

The Inland Empire Job Corps donated 300  pies to The Salvation Army's Thanksgiving feast this year. Donating them to Hospitality House Shelter Director Roosevelt Carroll (left) and to Director Capt. Stephen Ball (right) were Job Corps students Michael Covington, Shawn Green and Julian Chavez and Culinary Instructor Michael Gerud.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The San Bernardino Salvation Army Corps received so much donated food on Thanksgiving Day and shortly thereafter, it had enough left over to share with other charities.

The recent donations were primarily meats and desserts, which had to be shared with others to prevent them from spoiling.

“We are thankful for this generous support,” said Capt Stephen Ball, director of the San Bernardino Corps.

On and in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, the San Bernardino Corps received so much food, it and several other local charities will be able to keep feeding hungry families for a few weeks.

The Hospitality House emergency family shelter served some of this food to the 175 or more people it serves daily, and will be able to continue doing so for a few more days. It shared the rest with the Salvation Army’s Path for Prosperity and Adult Rehabilitation Center’s mens’ programs, Veronica’s House shelter for pregnant women and Mary’s Table, which is another community organization feeding people on a daily basis.

 “This holiday season we have been blessed by everyone throughout our community,” said Roosevelt Carroll, director of the Hospitality House emergency family shelter. “After the holidays, we will really need help.”

The San Bernardino Corps received 300 pies from Inland Empire Job Corps before Thanksgiving. It also received 33 hams from three different donors and close to 200 turkeys this year.”

Carroll noted that 100 of the turkeys were from Costco, which also provided 60 cheesecakes and 60 pecan pies. Those desserts were added to the 100 cherry, 100 apple and 100 pumpkin pies Job Corps had already provided, as well as 80 more pumpkin pies from Arrowhead United Way.

Arrowhead United Way donated 40 turkeys, Jim Campbell donated 25, State Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod donated 15 and Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales donated 10.

About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Help a Neighbor - Volunteer to Ring A Silver Bell

Shaila, Shiane, Carl and Malaika Dameron ringing the bell for The Salvation Army.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) –The Salvation Army has started its Christmas tradition of ringing silver bells by shiny red kettles, so that passersby have a trustworthy opportunity to help those less fortunate.

“The Red Kettle fund raiser is our biggest fund raiser of the year,” said Capt. Nancy Ball, co-director of The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps. “We use the funds received to support our programs year-round to provide food, shelter and youth programs to our community.

The Salvation Army will continue ringing bells, Monday through Saturday until Christmas Eve. It seeks volunteer bell-ringers so that it can staff even more locations, more of the time.

For the past several years, Salvation Army of San Bernardino board member, and Dameron Communications founder and creative director, Carl Dameron volunteered with his wife Malaika and two daughters, Shaila and Shiane. The entire Salvation Army of San Bernardino board also volunteered their time to ring silver bells and ask the community for help.

“We receive great satisfaction knowing we had made a difference in our community,” Carl Dameron said. “We also enjoyed spending the time together as a family and teaching our children about the responsibility we have to care for those in our community who are less fortunate.”

Capt. Ball encourages families, groups of friends, community organizations, churches and Sunday school classes to sign up as a “Bell Ringer for A Day.”  The Salvation Army especially seeks groups large enough to work in shifts throughout am eight-hour day, but also welcomes individuals, families and other small groups who could donate a few hours of their time.

“Groups will be especially effective if they bring guitars and/or other musical instruments and sing Christmas carols,” she said. “The Salvation Army has long appreciated the role music plays in putting people into the holiday spirit.”

Each Thanksgiving, Christmas and in some cases Easter, Inland Empire Salvation Army Corps combine to serve more than 1,000 people holiday meals. But, some of these local corps, including San Bernardino serve almost as many meals on a daily basis to those who are homeless and hungry.  Some corps also maintain a food pantry for those who most need help with the cost of groceries.

Feeding the hungry is just one of the ways money donated to The Salvation Army helps. Salvation Army Corps offers lodging for homeless or evicted families; clothing and furniture for burnout victims, those evicted and the homeless; prescriptions; and assistance with rent/mortgage, utilities and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in disasters such as fires.

In San Bernardino, The Hospitality House provides temporary emergency shelter and support in rebuilding the lives of thousands of homeless families. This shelter will be moving to a new, larger location in 2010.

To volunteer as a bellringer in San Bernardino, Colton, Rialto, Grand Terrace, Bloomington or Highland, call (909) 888-1336.

To volunteer as a bellringer in Redlands and other East San Bernardino Valley communities call (909) 792-6868.

To volunteer as a bellringer in San Bernardino County’s High Desert, call (760) 245-5745 and ask for Margot Barhas.

To volunteer as a bellringer in Ontario and other West San Bernardino Valley communities, call Envoy Abel Tamez at (909) 509-2503 or Envoy Naomi Tamez at (909) 509-2741.

To volunteer as a bellringer in the Desert Hot Springs/Coachella Valley areas, contact the Cathedral City Corps at (760) 324-2275.

To volunteer as a bellringer in Hemet, San Jacinto, Idyllwild and surrounding areas contact the Hemet Corps at (951) 925-7176.

To volunteer as a bellringer in Moreno Valley, Perris and surrounding areas, call the Moreno Valley Corps at (951) 653-9131.

To volunteer as a bellringer in Murrieta, Temecula, Canyon Lake, Menifee and surrounding areas, call the Murrieta Corps at (951) 677-1324.

To volunteer as a bellringer in Riverside, Corona, Norco and surrounding areas, call the Riverside Corps at (951) 784-4490.

In addition, one may donate to The Salvation Army online, through the website www.salvationarmyusa.org. Donors may specify to which branch of The Salvation Army the money should be sent.

How the Bell Ringer campaign began:
Capt. Joseph McFee, serving with the San Francisco Salvation Army Corps back in 1891, wanted to serve Christmas dinner to the poor in his neighborhood. But he didn’t have money to do so.

Mc Fee remembered as a sailor in Liverpool, England, seeing people on the docks throw money into a large kettle called “Simpson’s Pot” to help the poor. He decided this might work in California, too.

He set up a kettle at the Oakland Ferry Landing, which operated a ferry that was, in those days, the only way across San Francisco Bay. He put a sign on the kettle saying, “Keep the Pot Boiling” and raised enough money to serve the Christmas dinner.

His idea spread quickly, and by 1897 Salvation Army Corps nationwide were collecting money in kettles to serve the needy in their communities. Among The Salvation Army Corps collecting money this way before the turn of the 20th Century was The Salvation Army of San Bernardino, which formed in 1887.

About The Salvation Army
Emergency services include: food, lodging for homeless or evicted families; clothing and furniture for burnout victims, evicted and the homeless; prescriptions, assistance with rent/mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in disasters such as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865, supporting those in need without discrimination.  Donations can always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org, or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

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MHM & Associates Secures $5.2 Million In Grants for Non-Profits

A Riverside grant-writing company, MHM & Associates, has helped nonprofit organizations in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles County secure a total of $5.2 million in grants in the past year. The grants help Spanish-speaking families in the San Bernardino area improve their lives through literacy and career training, middle school students in Pomona and other cities to improve academically, and small businesses in the Pasadena area to start or expand.

(RIVERSIDE Calif.) For nonprofit organizations, there are millions of dollars available in grants from government and corporate sources. They just need to know how to find them.

A Riverside company, M.H.M. & Associates, has helped hundreds of organizations better their communities through grants. Just this year, they secured $5.2 million in grants.

Over its 15 years in business, M.H.M & Associates has a 67 percent success rate in obtaining the grants it applies for, compared with an 11 percent success rate for all grant applications nationwide, and a 13 percent success rate for grant applications originating in California.

“It is our passion to help organizations that are doing all these wonderful and marvelous things to make their communities a better place to live,” said President Luvina Beckley of M.H.M. & Associates. “What they lack most of the time is funds.”

Many of the organizations’ leaders are not familiar with how to pursue grants, Beckley explained. M.H.M. & Associates helps in two ways – by putting on free workshops to review the process of applying for and securing grants, and secondly, by writing quality grant applications for their clients.

Grants are one of three ways non-profit organizations can raise money, Beckley said. The others are through donations and fund-raising.

“A fundraiser may raise enough money to sustain an organization for several months,” Beckley said. “Grants can sustain an organization for several years.”

Recently, M.H.M. & Associates tracked down $3.2 million for a single organization. That money enabled the organization to create after-school and Saturday programs for middle school students, emphasizing healthy and drug-free lifestyle.

The grants M.H.M. & Associates secured will help fund this program through 2013. They are:
•    $3.1 million from the California Department of Education
•    $592,440 for three years from the U.S. Department of Education.

Other recent grants M.H.M. & Associates has helped organizations secure are:

•    $338,711 for Colton Church of the Nazarene, from the California Department of Education to develop a program that provides effective and culturally appropriate instruction to infants through 5-year-old children.

•    $20,000 from Verizon for Libreria del Pueblo to provide language and computer skills training to limited- and non-English speaking Hispanic adults.

These skills help them to receive further training at San Bernardino Valley College, vocational schools and other educational institutions said Father Patricio Guillen, director of Libreria del Pueblo.  They also help Hispanic, limited English-speaking parents help their children with homework.

“We want to help these families move up in society,” Father Guillen said.

•    $707,500 to the Upland-based California Community Development Coalition from the California Department of Education, to help it start Marshall All Star Academy, a program to help students at Marshall Middle School in Pomona Unified School District with math, English and study skills. The program also teaches parents how to work with the school district to help their children succeed, and how to help their children prepare for college.

•    $79,356 to Pasadena Development Corporation from the U.S. Treasury Department, to help it continue its 32-year history of providing loans to small businesses in San Gabriel Valley.

“This grant helps us develop small businesses,” said Keith Rogers, Executive Director of the Pasadena Development Corporation. “It will help us offer better programs and services, and receive more support in the future for our non-profit organization.”

For more information, go online to www.MHMandAssociates.com or call (951) 682-4646.


About M.H.M. & Associates:
M.H.M. & Associates Enterprise, Inc. has served Southern California nonprofits since 1994. The company’s seven primary areas of focus are: agriculture, arts and culture, criminal justice, economic and rural development, health/ and human services, environmental and education.  M.H.M & Associates has generated nearly $30 million in grant funds for its clients.

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Culinary Students Bring Smiles To Hospital's Kids

Jeanne Durbin, a.k.a. Mrs. Claus, puts a completed gingerbread house into the Gingerbread Village that will be on display all of December at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

Jessica Jones, a Culinary Arts student at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire, helps Jessica Smith, 12, who receives outpatient chemotherapy at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, in putting the finishing touches on a gingerbread house on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Jessica Smith’s house is one of 100 created by children at the hospital, now on display in the lobby.

 Bradley Mandapat, a Culinary Arts student at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire helps Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Patient Nicholas Iraheta, 6, decorate a gingerbread house at the hospital, one of 100 created by patients like him and other children who came to the hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Jim Durbin, who as Santa Claus delights patients and other young hospital visitors alike, prepares to place a newly-completed gingerbread house in the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Gingerbread Village.

 (SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Culinary Arts students from The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire lent their artistic flair on Tuesday, Dec. 1 to help seriously ill children at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital create beautiful and unique gingerbread homes.

 “The children are just delighted,” said Eloise Habekost, president of Big Hearts for Little Hearts, a service organization for the children’s hospital and the organizer of this annual event. “They are thrilled to have this distraction from their usual hospital routines.”

In addition, The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire donated 50 of the gingerbread houses created by the children. Big Hearts for Little Hearts, donated another 50, and its member Dottie Rice donated candy to use for decoration.

“She spends the entire year collecting this candy,” said Habekost.

Jessica Smith, 12, spent two months not long ago at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital battling cancer. She still must return frequently for chemotherapy, and at the end of her Dec. 1 treatment, a hospital worker suggested she join other children in the hospital lobby to decorate one of the gingerbread houses.

For two hours, Jessica and her mother Teresa Aripez worked on an elaborate gingerbread house together. Then, to Aripez’s relief, six students from The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire arrived ready to help and encourage Jessica and the other sick children.

“When they got here, my energy and patience were running low,” Aripez noted. “They came in with new ideas and a lot of patience. Jessica loved it.”

Jessica Smith immediately bonded with Culinary Arts student Jessica Jones because of their shared first name. Jessica Jones recalled that the only other time she had ever decorated a gingerbread house was when she was 12, the same age as her new friend is now.

For almost another hour, the two Jessicas continued working on the gingerbread house, which now features several candy trees and two well-decorated gingerbread people.

Meanwhile, fellow Culinary Arts student Bradley Mandapat entertained both Jessicas with jokes, until more children arrived needing his expertise on their gingerbread houses.

Habekost noted that many children are involved in creating these homes. They include patients, children like Jessica who come for outpatient services, and in some cases, children simply visiting the hospital.

“Some of them are in isolation because they have swine flu,” she said. “They work on the gingerbread houses in their rooms, wearing gloves to prevent contamination. Other children come here to receive kidney dialysis, and work on these during their treatment to pass the time.”

The finished houses are on public display in the hospital lobby where they’ll be shown through the middle of January.

Habekost says that people come from all over the Inland Empire just to see what the young patients have come up with.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degree programs in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion & Retail Management, Culinary Management and Media Arts & Animation. It offers associate’s degree programs in Graphic Design, Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Fashion Design.

Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Courses begin January 12 and classes are offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students.

For more information or a tour of The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire call (909) 915-2100 or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire .

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu ), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

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San Gabriel Valley and Pomona Valley Disabled Residents Gain Resources for Independent Living

Services Center for Independent Living serves many disabled adults in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys. By moving to a larger location, it will be able to offer them more resources.

Dr. Lee Nattress, executive director of Services Center for Independent Living

(CLAREMONT, Calif.) Disabled residents of the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys, including veterans, senior citizens and children, have greater resources to help them live independently, as the Services Center for Independent Living moves to new offices in Claremont.

Services Center for Independent Living invites the public to its grand opening at its new offices Friday, Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  It is moving to a new, larger suite in the Spring Street Center in Claremont, 107 Spring St.

“Our new location has a community room that will allow us to hold group trainings, meetings, and discussions,” said Dr. Lee Nattress, executive director of the Services Center for Independent Living. “In addition, our staff will have private offices where they can meet with our consumers.”

To attend the grand opening, call Lorraine Mercado at (909) 621-6722.  Disabled users of videophones or teletype phones may call (909) 445-0726.

Services Center for Independent Living consumers also have access to four computer terminals at this new location, instead of a single terminal at the old location. Additionally, the new location has a large laboratory where the organization provides hands-on demonstrations of various tools for living the organization assists the disabled to acquire.

Services Center for Independent Living provides free resources to people with disabilities. Primarily, it provides them with a “safety net,” to make sure they are connected to the programs and services that can help them live productive and independent lives.

“We focus on the needs of the disabled,” Dr. Nattress said. “We, together with each disabled person we serve, determine goals for independence, whatever that means to each individual, and develop a plan to achieve them. We also help families, significant others, and the community to assist the disabled in achieving their goals.”

Services Center for Independent Living offers workshops on a wide variety of disability-related topics for consumers, schools, businesses, and other community organizations.  Topics range from life skills to sensitivity issues; accessible housing to accessible transportation; Social Security eligibility to health care.  

In addition, Services Center for Independent Living maintains a registry of in-home attendant care providers, a list of affordable and handicap-accessible housing, and referrals to other agencies that can help with disabled people’s various needs.

It also assists consumers to obtain wheelchairs, prosthetics, specially programmed computers, and items that make it easier to perform basic tasks like eating and bathing.

Services Center for Independent Living also can help disabled people obtain free cell phones for use in emergencies, It works with another agency that accepts donations of used cell phones, refurbishes them and redistributes them to give to the disabled.

Since the phones do not have service contracts, they can only be used to call 911 for help during an emergency, and 211, which provides referrals to non-emergency public services.

“Calls made to 911 by persons with disabilities achieve the same results as those made to 911 by others.” said Dr. Nattress. “The ability to quickly summon help during an emergency can make the difference between independent living and reliance on others.“

The disabilities Services Center for Independent Living consumers live with are wide-ranging, including deaf, blind, brain injured, amputees, learning disabled, diabetic, obese, paraplegic, auto immune compromised, and recovering from mental illness.

Services Center for Independent Living is a non-profit organization, primarily serving the cities of Arcadia, Azusa, Bradbury, Baldwin Park, Claremont, Covina, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, Industry, La Puente, La Verne, Monrovia, Pomona, Rowland Heights, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, Walnut and West Covina. It is one of 29 resource centers for the disabled in California, including six others in Los Angeles County.

More than half of Service Center for Independent Living’s staff and board of directors are adults with significant disabilities. The 12-member board of directors includes four disabled

young adults (ages 18-35), two of whom are college students and two who are established in careers.

On the nine-member staff, two are deaf, two are recovering from mental illness, one is blind, one is learning disabled and two, while not disabled, are senior citizens. One of the seniors is Dr. Nattress, who has more than 60 years experience in health care management, in both non-profit and educational settings at the national, state and local levels.

Many of the disabled staff members are specially trained to provide peer support. They also carry out Services Center for Independent Living’s advocacy programs, which currently include advocating against cutbacks to the state In Home Support Services program that is crucial to many disabled people’s ability to live independently.

Also, disabled youth who are transitioning from school to employment can work at internships with the Services Center for Independent Living, where they learn skills transferable to other jobs, and where the disabled adults who work there can mentor them.

Services Center for Independent Living is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, established in 1980 to meet the needs of San Gabriel Valley and Pomona Valley disabled residents. Services include training in independent living skills, advocacy, helping to acquire tools to assist with mobility and other basic needs and providing information and referrals.

For more information, call (909) 621-6722.  Disabled users of videophones or teletype phones may call (909) 445-0726.

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Flu expected in three waves

You don’t want to sit in a doctor’s office while you are sick! Avoid seasonal flu by getting your flu shot. Children six months to 18 years old, and adults who either work in health care, infant care or essential community services such as police and fire protection can also receive a vaccine for H1N1 (a.k.a. “swine flu). Carl Dameron Photo

(SAN BERNARDINO, CA) Flu season is attacking with a double punch this year.

There is flu. And there is H1N1, also known as “swine flu.”

Together, they’re making lots of people sick enough to warrant medical attention. A few are sick enough to need hospitalization, and because of the H1N1 flu, deaths have been reported in the Inland Empire this year.

Flu outbreaks come in three waves, said Dr. Albert Arteaga, President of LaSalle Medical Associates. Fall and winter waves are usually more severe than spring, because virus strains (including H1N1) can become more aggressive.

But there’s a way to put a stop to it, says Dr. Arteaga. If everyone received a flu shot, he points out, there would be no flu.

“Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated,” Dr. Arteaga said. “But even if half of the population is immunized, there will be significant protection. That half of the population may prevent their neighbors from getting the flu as well. And if 75 percent of the population is immunized, we can stop the flu dead in its tracks.”

Dr. Arteaga urges parents to have their children (and themselves, if they’re eligible) vaccinated against the H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses.

“Children are especially at risk, because they have more opportunities to be exposed to the virus,” he said.

Even though adults may be at somewhat less risk, almost everyone would benefit from a seasonal flu vaccine, Dr. Arteaga said. Those who imply flu vaccines are unnecessary and harmful, he said, are irresponsibly making light of the subject.

“The benefit of flu vaccines has been proven over and over.”

“The danger posed by the flu is real,” he continued. “Most strains of influenza, including H1N1 can cause body aches, coughs, sore throats, fevers above 100 degrees, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea. We have sometimes seen more serious consequences, even death with H1N1, but other types of flu can be equally dangerous.”

Seasonal flu vaccines became available mid-October in somewhat limited quantity, with few limitations on who can receive these. On the other hand, the newly developed H1N1 vaccine is currently in very limited quantity, because vaccine manufacturers have not yet been able to grow a large enough culture to provide immunizations to all

Therefore, county public health departments have each made their own recommendations as to who can receive the vaccine.

In San Bernardino County, healthy children 2 through 18 years of age can receive the H1N1 vaccine. Also eligible are those ages 2 through 49 who have a baby 6 months or younger in their household and no medical conditions.

An injectible form of the vaccine is available for health care and essential service providers such as police and firefighters who are ages 49 and younger and healthy. 

The seasonal flu vaccine is available in two forms. The most common is the flu shot, an injected vaccine. A nasal spray, similar to that now offered for H1N1, is available as an alternative for most people ages 49 and younger.

To limit the spread of flu, Dr. Arteaga urges anyone with symptoms to stay home from school and work until they are well, and limit contact with others. They also should contact a health care provider, especially if worried about the symptoms.

Everyone should cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, he said. Also, healthy people should to the extent possible, avoid contact with those who have flu symptoms.

“Every time we wash our hands, and take precautions when we cough, there is less flu to go around,” Dr. Arteaga said.

For more information about all types of flu, contact the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov. or by calling 1-800-236-4636, or the California Department of Public Health at www.cdph.ca.gov or 1-888-865-0564.

The San Bernardino County Public Health Department also can provide information on its toll-free number, 1-800-782-4264, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

According to founder Dr. Arteaga, the primary mission of LaSalle’s clinics is “to offer high quality medical care to the whole family with courtesy and respect.”
The LaSalle medical clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino, and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia
For additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407 or go on line to www.lasallemedical.com.

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Inland Empire Needy Families Come Together To Give Thanks

 For many years, The Salvation Army has included pies baked by students from Inland Empire Job Corps on its Thanksgiving menu. Other volunteers work on Thanksgiving Day to serve a meal of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, vegetables and, of course, pie.

The Salvation Army of San Bernardino will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to hundreds on Thursday, Nov. 26. Hospitality House Shelter Director Roosevelt Carroll received 15 donated turkeys from State Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod. San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales also donated turkeys.

The Inland Empire Job Corps donated 300  pies to The Salvation Army's Thanksgiving feast this year. Donating them to Hospitality House Shelter Director Roosevelt Carroll (left) and to Director Capt. Stephen Ball (right) were Job Corps students Michael Covington, Shawn Green and Julian Chavez and Culinary Instructor Michael Gerud.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) This holiday season the San Bernardino and Riverside Salvation Army Corps both plan Thanksgiving dinners to help the needy families of the Inland Empire.

The San Bernardino Corps will serve dinner from 11 am to 2 pm on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, at its Corps headquarters building, 746 W. Fifth St.

“We’re serving a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetables and pie,” said Capt. Nancy Ball, co-director of the San Bernardino Corps.

San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales has donated 10 of the turkeys, although it could use more, as the crowd can typically go through 20 turkeys and 20 sliced hams. The Inland Empire Job Corps is donating 300 pies created by its culinary students – 100 pumpkin, 100 apple and 100 cherry.

The Riverside Thanksgiving dinner takes place Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Most of the food for this event will come through donations the Riverside Corps acquires via KOLA radio station’s “Fill the Van” event, which took place Friday, Nov. 20.

The annual Thanksgiving meals bring in hundreds of families and individuals who do not have the means to provide themselves a Thanksgiving dinner. People come from all parts of the Inland Empire for the celebrations. The San Bernardino event alone has served close to 900 people in one year.

At both Corps, the hungry families are joined by hundreds of volunteers for the day who help prepare the food and serve meals to the families. An estimated 125 volunteers helped the San Bernardino Corps in 2008.

“Thanksgiving should be a special day for everyone not just for those who can afford it,” says Capt. Ball.

To receive information about the dates and times for the dinners at other corps besides San Bernardino and Riverside, or to volunteer, give them a call at 1800-SAL-ARMY or 1-800-725-2769.

About the Salvations Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Art Institute Grads to Display Portfolios

Tracy O' Bannon, a March 2009 graduate of The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire, displays her Interior Design portfolio at a previous Graduate Portfolio Review Show.
             
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Students set to graduate from The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire will showcase the best of their work when the school hosts its Graduate Portfolio Show on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Riverside Art Museum.

“We have our graduate portfolio shows at the Riverside Art Museum because the works that will be on display are on par with other professional shows. We focus on Graphic Design, Animation, Web Design, Interior Design and Culinary Arts.  The hors d’oeuvres created by our Culinary Arts graduates taste as great as they look,” said Cindy Jones, director of Career Services for The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire.

“We also celebrate this important milestone with our students and honor them as they begin their journey into professional lives.”

Employers looking for talented, newly graduated professionals in the fields of Interior Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Culinary Arts and Media Arts & Animation are invited to attend this reception from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside. They’re asked to RSVP with Brenda Medina at (909) 915-2192.

From 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the party continues its focus on the graduates, but the guests joining them during this portion of the event will be their own friends and family. This portion is also open to the public.

The International Culinary School will serve hors d’ouvres and beverages, some of which are being created by the new graduates of the Culinary Arts program.

The Graduate Portfolio Show is now a quarterly tradition for The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. It began holding this event in December 2008, and has had a growing number of students complete their degrees since then.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degree programs in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion & Retail Management, and Media Arts & Animation. It offers an Associate degree program in Graphic Design, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Fashion Design.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers an Associate degree program in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree program in Culinary Management. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start a new term at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Courses begin Jan. 11, 2010 and classes are offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students.

For more information, or to arrange a tour, call The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire at (909) 915-2100 or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of the Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu/), a system of over 40 education locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, and culinary arts professionals.

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200 Years of Faith in San Bernardino

Rabbi Hillel Cohn, chairman of San Bernardino’s Bicentennial Celebration Committee, tells a crowd gathered for San Bernardino’s 199th birthday this year about the Bicentennial Celebration Committee’s plans for festivities lasting from January through July 2010. One of events planned is for Rabbi Cohn to give a lecture on 200 years of interfaith cooperation in San Bernardino,  from the Jewish, Christian and Islamic perspectives. Photo by Yeekong Yang

(SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.) California State University, San Bernardino’s 23rd Annual Morrow-McCombs Memorial Lecture will focus on the City of San Bernardino's Bicentennial.

Rabbi Hillel Cohn, chairman of the city’s Bicentennial Committee, and a religious leader in San Bernardino for the past 47 years, will deliver the lecture "Can't We All Get Along? Reflections on 200 years of Religious Life in San Bernardino" at 7:30 p.m. March 17 at the university.

Ray McCombs, a former mayor of Rialto and a life-long student of religion, established the lecture series in 1988 to further relations between Christians and Jews. Lillian Morrow was deeply impressed with McComb's commitment to better relationships between Christians and Jews and also created an endownment to support the series.

After Sept. 11, 2001 the Morrow-McCombs Lecture Series was expanded to include Islam. Over the years some of the most prominent religious thinkers in the country have delivered the lecture including Martin Marty, Rosemary Reuther, Ellis Rivkin and David Saperstein.

The 2010 lecture will focus on successes, failures and challenges in interfaith cooperation in San Bernardino. Dr. Albert Karnig, president of CSUSB, will serve as the moderator.

Rabbi Cohn has served twice as president of the San Bernardino Clergy Association, was one of the founders of Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) and for the past 20 years has been a member of the Priest-Rabbi Dialogue, a project of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. For many years he was a regular participant on "Religion On the Line", a radio talk show on KABC radio in Los Angeles.

For more information on this lecture, call Rabbi Cohn at (909) 888-3666.

Rabbi Cohn is the chairman of the Bicentennial Celebration Committee, and Erin Brinker is the chair of its Public Relations & Marketing and Independence Day Extravaganza committees. Other Bicentennial Celebration Committee members are Art Guerrero (chair of Neighborhood Beautification committee) Jim Smith (chair of the Community Engagement committee), Cheryl Brown (chair of the Youth Council, Intergovernmental and Arts committees), Beverly Bird (chair of the Legend of the Arrowhead committee), Steven Shaw (chair of the History committee), David Smith (chair of the Finance committee), Jane Sneddon (chair of the Parade committee) and Martha Pinkney (chair of the Gala committee.)

These members were appointed by the mayor and members of the San Bernardino Common Council. Additional community volunteers who have taken on leadership of other committees are: Trudy Freidel (Festival of Faiths), Dr. William Coleman (Leadership Cabinet), Peggi Hazlett (Mayor’s Run), Dr. Charles “Skip” Herbert (Coloring Books for Schools) and The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire (Design).

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The Salvation Army JC Penny's and FedEx Ground Join Forces For Angel Giving Tree Online

Volunteers from The Salvation Army will appear the day after Thanksgiving at Inland Empire Mall to man a “Giving Tree” there until shortly before Christmas. But, from now until Dec. 14, anyone who prefers to shop online can donate a JC Penny’s gift to the Giving Tree (also known as the Angel Giving Tree) by going to www.jcp.com/angel.


(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The Salvation Army, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and FedEx Ground are joining forces this Christmas season to give joy to even more people in need through a grand-scale online Angel Giving Tree program.

Now until December 14, for the first time, customers can adopt and shop online for Angels at www.jcp.com/angel, providing tens of thousands of children and seniors facing hardship in communities across the country with Christmas gifts.

“It is a great privilege to partner with companies that are helping in their communities,” says Captain Nancy Ball, Director of the San Bernardino Salvation Army, Corps.

“We are excited about this new online Angel Giving Tree program with JCPenney that will allow The Salvation Army to build upon a great Christmas tradition by reaching a new online audience,” said Major George Hood, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. 

“With the winter months around the corner, we appreciate this opportunity to inspire the American public to make a better Christmas for the millions of children and seniors living in poverty. One small gift can bring joy to a Salvation Army Angel this Christmas,” said Hood.

The process for adopting an Angel is very simple.  You visit jcp.com/angel to be guided through a short online Angel selection process.  After choosing an Angel online, you will receive an email with all of the necessary details to help your Angel.  Instructions will include the list of needs and wants of the Angel as well as information regarding where to ship or deliver your gifts to local Salvation Army destinations.

“In a year when so many need help, the new online Angel Giving Tree program will extend our reach and make it easier for our customers and Associates to give back this holiday season,” said Mike Boylson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for JCPenney.

“By leveraging the strength of jcp.com, we are helping to modernize an American tradition - the Angel Tree program – and creating an innovative way to help families in need in our communities across the nation. Launching this program with The Salvation Army allows us to elevate our support for a cause that is extremely important to our customers and Associates, underscoring our focus on the ‘Joy of Giving’ this holiday season.”

The new online Angel Giving Tree program builds on the legacy of The Salvation
Army’s Angel Tree program that has been in operation for more than 40 years.

Created in collaboration with JCPenney partners Razorfish, Akamai Technologies, Sapient and Tata, the online Angel Giving Tree program allows customers to adopt an Angel at jcp.com/angel and conveniently shop for them online at jcp.com, in JCPenney stores or at any location they choose.

In collaboration with FedEx Ground, Angel Giving Tree gifts purchased through jcp.com can be shipped free of charge to any one of the 1,200 Salvation Army collection centers nationwide - putting the entire selection, shopping and delivery process at the customer’s fingertips.

Supporting the online Angel Giving Tree program will be a multimedia marketing campaign including in-store, print, online and e-mail advertising as well as social media initiatives through Facebook Connect.   JCPenney Facebook fans will be able to access the Angel Giving Tree website directly as well as post and share their Angel adoption with their friends.

The online Angel Giving Tree program builds on JCPenney’s legacy of operating in an ethical and socially responsible manner. In 2007, the Company launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative - C.A.R.E.S. - stemming from the vision that JCPenney cares for its Community, Associates, Responsible Sourcing, Environment and Sustainable Products. The Company’s commitment to social responsibility reflects its philosophy that "Every Day Matters" - for its customers, associates, communities, investors and suppliers. Additional information on JCPenney's CSR initiatives can be found at http://www.jcpenney.net/about/social_resp/default.aspx.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.


About JCPenney

JCPenney is one of America's leading retailers, operating 1,109 department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as one of the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet, jcp.com, and the nation's largest general merchandise catalog business. Through these integrated channels, JCPenney offers a wide array of national, private and exclusive brands, which reflect the Company's commitment to providing customers with style and quality at a smart price. Traded as "JCP" on the New York Stock Exchange, the Company posted revenue of $18.5 billion in 2008 and is executing its strategic plan to be the growth leader in the retail industry. Key to this strategy is JCPenney's "Every Day Matters" brand positioning, intended to generate deeper, more emotionally driven relationships with customers by fully engaging the Company's approximately 150,000 Associates to offer encouragement, provide ideas and inspire customers every time they shop with JCPenney.

About FedEx Ground

FedEx Ground provides 100-percent coverage to every business address in the United States, with small-package delivery in one to five business days in the continental U.S. and in three to seven business days to Alaska and Hawaii.

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Black Barbershops Reach Out For Men's Health

Edward Brantley, owner of Uncle Ron’s Barbershop in Redlands is the Black Barbershop Team Captain for the San Bernardino Area. He coordinated the program at Da Spot in San Bernardino.






 Phyllis Clark, CEO of the Healthy Heritage Movement, Inc. is the coordinator for the Southern Inland Region for the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program. She is standing with John Jefferson, owner of Cold Cutz Barbershop in Riverside.

 (RIVERSIDE, Calif.)  Black men throughout southern California learned how to maintain good health while making a trip to their local barbershop on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The men and their barbershops, including 10 in the Inland Empire, took part in the Black Barbershop Los Angeles Area Health Outreach Program, a nationwide effort to help Black men take control of their health.

Working directly in participating barbershops, a team of nurses, physicians and volunteers provide health information, diabetes and hypertension screenings and referrals to no or low-cost primary care providers.

 “I am thrilled with the results of this event,” said Phyllis Clark, founder and president of the Healthy Heritage Movement, which helped the 10 Inland Empire barbershops participate in this event. My goal was to screen 100 Black men in the Inland Empire, and I believe I more than reached my goal.”

Clark made a quick survey of two of the participating barbershops, Cold Cutz in Riverside and DaSpot in San Bernardino, and found almost 50 men had taken part at those two shops alone.

The other eight shops were in the West San Bernardino Valley and High Desert areas of San Bernardino County.

Clark added she hopes more barbershops will participate in what is expected to become an annual event.

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RAY FULLER AND OLETA ADAMS IN CONCERT AT THE CASTAWAY

Catch Guitarist Ray Fuller's in a 'Rare Intimate Live Jazz /Gospel Concert' featuring an 'unplugged' appearance by Oleta Adams this Sunday at 7pm at the Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center.

Oleta Adams joins Guitarist Ray Fuller's The Weeper's Friends CARES 2010 Arts & Advocacy Outreach Project in a 'Rare Intimate Live Jazz /Gospel Concert  this Sunday at 7 pm at the Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center.

(San Bernardino, CA)  Guitarist Ray Fuller The Weeper's Friends CARES 2010 Arts & Advocacy Outreach Project presents Ray 'The Weeper' Fuller in a 'Rare Intimate Live Jazz /Gospel Concert' featuring an 'unplugged' appearance by Oleta Adams this Sunday at the Castaway Restaurant and Banquet Center.

The concert is Sunday, Nov. 15 at 7:00 p.m. at The Castaway, San Bernardino, 670 Kendall Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92407.

Concert tickets are $60 for premium reserved seats and $50 general concert seating.  Receive priority seating with pre-show dinner at the Castaway Restaurant.  

For tickets call  (909) 697-9565 for dinner reservations call (909) 881-1502.

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GETTING YOUR CUSTOMERS BACK

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) “In tough economic times too many companies stop advertising their business, or they cut their marketing budget because its easier than cutting people,” says Carl M. Dameron, founder and Creative Director of Dameron Communications, (www.DameronCommunications.com) a Southern California public relations and advertising agency.

“The problem is when you stop asking for business you stop getting business. When sales fall because new customers aren’t coming in the door companies have to cut more expenses. They often reduce the marketing budget and then spiral into business failure. That puts more people out of work than if they had just found a new way to ask for more business.”

“We must never lose sight of the fact we are all products, and keep selling ourselves and our companies’ products,” says Dameron, adding, “However, a great campaign does not stop there. It takes hard work, knowledge and creativity to bridge the gap between the vision of success and actual profit.”

A new free brochure from Dameron Communications, Effective Advertising & Public Relations, outlines a step-by-step program to effectively reach a company’s target market, create a positive image of the business and entice their target market to use their products and services.

According to Dameron the solution to increasing business in a changing economy is to change your advertising strategy. “When people had lots of money from constant home refinancing, they bought lots of things they wanted but didn’t need,” he notes. “Now the re-fi money is gone. People also feel poorer because their home values are declining and their mortgage payments are up. Many consumers are recovering from the hangover of big spending. Buyers are redefining their purchases based on what they need, not just want.

Dameron says the solution is to change your approach. “Car dealers understand this. They increase advertising in slow times. They are often the first to notice a change in buyer attitudes and adjust their message to consumers.

“One strategy is to lower prices and offer zero down and low interest rates to increase traffic and sales. There are also other ways. Why? Because there are always buyers, if properly motivated to buy. As the Creative Director of Dameron Communications, my job is find the new way to motivate customers to buy,” he says.

Dameron offers more solutions to energize or create and implement an Effective Advertising & Public Relations strategy.

The program consists of four major components:

Research. The first step in an effective advertising campaign is research. A company must know how much they should invest in their marketing campaign, who the target market is, what media those consumers use and what they want!

Ad Development. The creativity of an ad campaign is spurred during ad development. Generally, the information obtained through research will be used to generate a campaign theme that will grab the target market’s attention and increase traffic.

Media Planning and Placement. Selective media placement ensures the target market knows about the company’s products and services. It is imperative that follow-up research is done to fine tune the media, to maximize budget effectiveness and capture the largest audience.

While a successful campaign fulfills all four components, a combination of effective planning and consistency is also required to be effective.

Additionally, Dameron’s guide gives information on developing effective Public Relations, Government Relations and Community Relations strategies.

Dameron goes one step further. “If your business needs help sorting out your media options or creating a new message, we will provide you a free one-hour consultation on your advertising, public relations, crisis communications, government relations and/or community relations issues,” says Dameron.

For a free copy of Effective Advertising & Public Relations e-mail your request to Info@DameronCommunications.com or call Carl Dameron at (909) 888-0321.

Since 1989 Dameron Communications has creatively met the needs of its clients locally, regionally and nationally. They are an award-winning communications agency that creates integrated marketing solutions to increase sales and profits, win elections, inform the public or gain acceptance of potentially controversial issues. They use advertising, public relations, government relations and community relations to advance their clients’ objectives. The web site is www.DameronCommunications.com.

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ART INSTITUTE NAMES NEW DEAN OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Jonathan DeAscentis as its new Dean of Academic Affairs at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)  The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire has appointed Jonathan DeAscentis as its new Dean of Academic Affairs.

“We welcome Jon to our campus,” said President Emam El-Hout. “His experience in the creative fields of interactive media, communications and liberal studies will be an asset to our own highly creative students. With the success he’s had in bringing growth to two other schools within The Art Institutes system, we believe our campus, which has rapidly increased the number of students served in its first four years, will grow by even greater numbers under his innovative leadership.”

DeAscentis began his career with The Art Institutes more than nine years ago. He spent nearly seven years with The Art Institute of California – Orange County, where he served as Registrar, faculty member, and academic department director for Interactive Media Design and Liberal Studies. Among his many accomplishments at the Orange County campus, DeAscentis was instrumental in bringing online registration to The Art Institutes schools, as well as growing the Interactive Media Design department.

After completing his Master of Fine Arts degree, he transferred to The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles to move into an administrative role, where he helped develop the Registrar’s office and Academic Advising team before moving into the role of Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

As Associate Dean, DeAscentis was responsible for managing the Registrar’s office and the library. In addition to taking on the role of Director of Institutional Effectiveness, DeAscentis helped create a successful registration campaign.

DeAscentis has a Bachelor’s degree in English, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership in addition to his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degree programs in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion & Retail Management, and Media Arts & Animation. It offers Associate’s degree programs in Graphic Design, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Fashion Design. 

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers an Associate’s degree program in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree program in Culinary Management. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start before the new year at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Courses begin January 12 and classes are offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students.

For more information or a tour of The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire call (909) 915-2100 or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

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HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GET GRAPHICALLY CREATIVE FOR POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION 2010 AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA - INLAND EMPIRE

Photo Caption: Alurra Hughes, a senior at Redlands High School, won the 2008 “Life is Better with Art in it” Poster Design Competition held at the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. 

Hughes won a $3,000 scholarship in the competition.

[SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.] – For high school seniors interested in pursuing a creative arts education, The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire announces The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition, a program which awards up to a full-tuition scholarship to study at a participating Art Institutes school. 

In partnership with the not-for-profit organization Americans for the Arts, The Art Institutes annual Poster Design Competition is an opportunity for talented young artists at the high school level to study graphic design and earn a degree in the creative arts.

The competition is open to high school seniors in the U.S., Canada (excluding Quebec), and Puerto Rico.  Contestants will be asked to create original poster artwork that expresses the slogan, “Life is Better With Art In It.”

Deadline for entries into the competition is February 5, 2010. Full entry requirements can be downloaded at www.artinstitutes.edu/poster.

According to Emam El-Hout, President of The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire, “For those whose outlet involves artistic creativity, it is The Art Institutes’ pleasure to be able to sponsor the Poster Design Competition for talented high school seniors. The competition allows them to demonstrate their creative perspectives and presents them the opportunity to have an education in a field that they are passionate about.” 

Now in its seventh year, the competition is a way to encourage and reward exceptional young artistic talent and nurture it in a formal, academic setting he adds.

Robert Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts, said “Each year since Americans for the Arts has been working with The Art Institutes, we have been amazed at the skill level of high school students who enter the competition.  The students’ ability to channel their creativity and love of the visual arts reflects the importance that art plays in the lives of everyone.”

To learn more about The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/poster or contact [insert contact name, number, email address and website] at The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire. 

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion & Retail Management, and Media Arts & Animation. It offers an Associate degree in Graphic Design, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design.

The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers an Associate degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Management. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start before the New Year at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Courses begin January 12 and classes are offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students.

For more information or a tour of The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire call (909) 915-2100 or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, and 49 years of service, Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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BLACK BUSINESS EXPO COMES TO MORENO VALLEY

Black Business Expo producer Jerry L. Green with University of California at Riverside Gary Kuzas.

(MORENO VALLEY, Calif.) Consumers can learn more about an array of goods and services offered by a wide range of local businesses and at least one national corporation at the Southern California Black Business Expo on Saturday, Nov. 7.

“All of the exhibitors will showcase the goods and services they have available here in the Inland Empire,” said Black Business Expo producer Jerry L. Green. “They will also provide information for people who want to join their franchise opportunities, multi-level marketing associations and other ways of creating new business.”

The Expo takes place Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Moreno Valley Holiday Inn Express, 24630 Sunnymead Blvd, between Indian Street and Perris Boulevard.

Booths in the Black Business Expo include Ameriprise Financial Services, Prepaid Legal Services, Temptations Parties, Just Corps, Costco, Kimi Rochelle Public Relations, Ardyss and Print 4 Success, Inc. 

Print 4 Success, Inc will have Black Inventors calendars and playing cards for sale at the Expo, Green said, and Ardyss may sell its body shapers, however the rest of the companies taking part will mostly be presenting information about their companies.

“Both Ardyss and Temptations Parties primarily sell through home parties,” Green noted. “Temptations Parties’ goods are on the risqué side, and can spice up your relationship.”

Costco will have information about membership, which is required to visit its retail showrooms. Costco has these showrooms in Moreno Valley and other Inland Empire locations, and throughout the world.

The other companies taking part offer various services, such as financial, legal, business consultations and public relations. They will provide information about these at the Expo.

As of a few days before the Expo, booths were still available. Whatever goods or services a business sells, the Black Business Expo is an opportunity to build up a customer base.

“I will hold these four times each year,” Green said. “By participating, businesses will have a new way to continuously market that isn’t available at a traditional business expo held only once a year.”

Green encourages people who are looking for new job to attend, so they can learn if starting a business is for them.

“In these tough economic times, many people need to either go back to school to get a skill set or start their own business,” he said. “ At the Black Business Expo they will learn about business opportunities and see if running their own business is something they would like to do.”

Future Black Business Expos are already scheduled for March 20, 2010; June 26, 2010; Sept. 11, 2010: Dec. 11, 2010 and March 19, 2011.

Admission is $10. To purchase tickets, or find out more about being a vendor, visit www.scblackbusinessexpo.com or call Green at (951) 313-1919.

Sponsors are the Black Business Resource and Networking Directory, PQ Enterprises, TheUltimateProfessional.com Sales Training, Westside Story Newspaper, The Black Voice News, Inland Empire Community Calendar and Cultural Events, Urban Lyfestyles, the Holiday Inn Express, the Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce, and Dameron Communications.

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BLACK BARBERSHOPS REACHING OUT FOR MEN’S HEALTH

Phyllis Clark, who as the founder of Healthy Heritage Wellness Movement, is working with owners of Inland Empire Black barbershops to provide this outreach effort. “The program will use these barbershops as platforms to disseminate health education information and give screenings to Black men, who exhibit poorer health outcomes than any other racial group in America.”

(RIVERSIDE, Calif.) The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program (BBHOP) will launch its Los Angeles Initiative in more than 100 barbershops across southern California on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, a nationwide initiative, highlights the need for African American men to adopt healthier lifestyles, and promotes awareness and early detection of diabetes, hypertension and prostate cancer. It was founded by and Charles Drew University Associate Professor Dr. Bill J. Releford, DPM.

“The program grew out of recognizing the barbershop as a centralized gathering place for Black men, and that barbers can link other men to health resources,” said Phyllis Clark, who as the founder of Healthy Heritage Wellness Movement, is working with owners of Inland Empire Black barbershops to provide this outreach effort. “The program will use these barbershops as platforms to disseminate health education information and give screenings to Black men, who exhibit poorer health outcomes than any other racial group in America.”

Working directly in participating barbershops, a team of nurses, physicians and volunteers provide health information, diabetes and hypertension screenings and referrals to no or low-cost primary care providers. The southern California outreach efforts beginning Saturday will also include Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program’s new initiative, “PEP Talk,” the Prostate Education Project, designed to help African American men discuss the subject of prostate cancer.

To learn more about the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, visit http://www.blackbarbershop.org

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STEVE POIZNER TALKS TO RIVERSIDE BUSINESS LEADERS

 

RIVERSIDE, CA – California Insurance Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner is scheduled to address the business community on November 16, 2009, 11:30 am at the Riverside Convention Center, confirmed the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce. Poizner is the second candidate to keynote the Chamber-hosted California Gubernatorial Candidate Series, kicked-off by former e-Bay President Meg Whitman.

“Our local businesses want to hear what the next governor will do to tackle the issues facing our region and state,” commented Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Cindy Roth. “That is why the Chamber is inviting all of the candidates so that they can talk directly to our employers and business leaders about their plans for solutions.”

According to his campaign website, Poizner was a co-founder of the California Charter Schools Association. From 2001-02, he served in the White House as the director of Critical Infrastructure Protection in the National Security Council. In 2006, he was elected as a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations – nominated by former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz.

The event is sponsored by: the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce: Gresham Savage Attorneys at law, the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and The Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce.

Individual tickets to attend the event are $40 for members of the Riverside Chamber, and $50 for non-members. Program includes lunch. Reserve seats by October 26, 2009 to Governmental Affairs Manager, Angel Rodriguez at (951) 683-7100.

# # #

The Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce is committed to building a stronger local economy by actively promoting and supporting our community; by fostering the growth and strength of our member organizations, and by engaging federal, state and local officials on behalf of business interests.

LITERACY PROGRAM TO RECEIVE $50,000 VERIZON FOUNDATION GRANT AT LAKE ELSINORE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

  

Roxanne Petteway, President of The Coalition to Improve Education (www.literacyandvirtues.org), will be presented with a $50,000 grant from The Verizon Foundation on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at the Lake Elsinore City Council meeting. 

(LAKE ELSINORE, Calif.) Roxanne Petteway, President of The Coalition to Improve Education (www.literacyandvirtues.org), will be presented with a $50,000 grant from The Verizon Foundation on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at the Lake Elsinore City Council meeting. The presentation is scheduled shortly after the start of the meeting at 7:00 p.m. at The Lake Elsinore Cultural Center, 183 N. Main St., Lake Elsinore, CA 

"The Verizon Foundation is proud to partner with the Coalition to Improve Education.  The size of the grant itself represents our view of this organization's positive impact on the community and the extent to which it emulates the ideals the Foundation holds dear," said Doug McAllister, Verizon's Director of Government and External Affairs.

“Equipping students with the fundamental skills needed to read, comprehend and critically think in our Leadership & Literacy After-School Program has been our strongest achievement because it changes their lives” Petteway said.  “The Verizon Foundation’s commitment to provide the tools necessary to improve and enhance our communities during this time of economic uncertainty is praiseworthy.  We are honored that Verizon is our Inland Empire Partner and we will continue to use their generous contribution to serve the children in the Lake Elsinore Valley.”

For more information or student registration call (951) 696-0853 or email: literacyandvirtues@verizon.net.

About the Coalition to Improve Education:  Since 2003 the Coalition to Improve Education has helped students in the counties of Riverside and San Bernardino increase their achievement scores by teaching them how to be better readers.  Through an intensive remediation program, the organization provides instruction in English Language Arts, character development, economic literacy, math and history.

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JOB CORPS BEGINS SEASON OF GIVING TO SALVATION ARMY

Inland Empire Job Corps culinary students – Deserie Yescas, Patrick Wolfe and Chef Michael Geurds, culinary instructor at Inland Empire Job Corps deliver their $300 for taking second place in the Route 66 Cook-of to Roosevelt Carroll, director of the San Bernardino Corps’ Hospitality House emergency family shelter (red jacket). 

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Just in time for the 2009 holiday season, the San Bernardino Corps of The Salvation Army has received a $300 donation from the Inland Empire Job Corps.

A team of Inland Empire Job Corps culinary students – Deserie Yescas, Patrick Wolfe and Shawn Good – won the $300 for taking second place in the Route 66 Cook-off, sponsored by the San Bernardino Convention & Visitors’ Bureau as part of its 20^th annual Route 66 Festival last month.

Winners in the Cook-off were required to donate the prize to their favorite charity. For students at Inland Empire Job Corps, that’s an easy choice. They have been providing community service to The Salvation Army for almost a decade.

“The Salvation Army is the greatest cause,” said Chef Michael Geurds, culinary instructor at Inland Empire Job Corps. “They’re helping the most people.”

Quite often, Inland Empire Job Corps students are among those providing that help. These students have been volunteering at The Salvation Army for at least eight years said Roosevelt Carroll, director of the San Bernardino Corps’ Hospitality House emergency family shelter.

Culinary students bake hundreds of pies for the annual Thanksgiving Dinner, which has brought as many as 800 people to The Salvation Army.

Last year, they donated a collection of gingerbread homes they had created from scratch as a class project. Besides being eye-catching, they made a good desert for the shelter residents.

Job Corps students are making plans to continue these traditions, first by donating 300 pies to this year’s Thanksgiving dinner (100 each of apple, cherry and pumpkin). In December, they plan to deliver more gingerbread homes to the shelter.

Inland Empire Job Corps’ service goes beyond donations, Carroll said.

They frequently help with the preparation and serving of meals, and the maintenance of the grounds of The Salvation Army’s buildings. They retiled a bathroom at the old Hospitality House emergency family shelter (which was relocated to its headquarters building in 2007) and at the headquarters building, have painted several rooms.

“They are a joy to work with,” Carroll said.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Support American Lung Association at Ontario Reign Hockey Games

(Ontario, Calif.) Inland Empire residents can enjoy a professional sporting event while at the same time helping the American Lung Association in California.

The Inland Empire chapter has partnered with the Ontario Reign to raise money.  The Ontario Reign will donate a portion of the proceeds to the chapter for tickets ordered for either the Friday, Oct. 30 home opener or the Saturday, Oct. 31 “Go Green Night” through a special promotion.

“Ontario Reign games are great fun for the whole family, and for that reason, many of us at the American Lung Association in California have been supporting them since their first season last year,” said Terry Roberts, director of the Inland Empire chapter. “Now they’re helping us. By working together, we can have fun and help the Inland Empire to breathe better.”

To receive tickets that are part of the fundraiser, call Gregory R. Mejia at (909) 941-7838. The tickets Mejia is making available will be the regular admission price of $12, but anyone who orders through him will not have to pay a $3 per ticket surcharge that is levied on tickets bought at Citizens’ Business Bank Arena, the home of the Ontario Reign.

The American Lung Association was established in 1904 and was instrumental in its first 52 years in nearly eradicating tuberculosis. In 1956, it expanded its mission to fight all forms of lung disease. In its last five decades, it has also strived to reduce tobacco use and air pollution, both of which are serious threats to lung health.

What is low-income housing?

An example of low income housing in the city of San Bernardino.


(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)  "There are many myths about low in come and affordable housing. Many people think they know what it means but they really don't," said Emil Marzullo, interim executive director of the San Bernardino Economic Development Agency.

The truth is the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) says that a family of four with a total annual household income between $33,000 to $53,000, which is 50 percent to 80 percent of the Inland Empire area’s median income, is considered low-income.

“That defines a lot of people in the Inland Empire," Marzullo said.

Here are more definitions.

What is the average income of the residents of the City of San Bernardino?
The average annual income of residents in the City of San Bernardino is $28,741.   However, this not the income calculation used to determine housing income for federal or state funding or rental purposes. The income used is the Metropolitan Service Area or MSA data. San Bernardino’s area is defined as the Riverside-Ontario-San Bernardino Metropolitan Service Area, where the annual median income for a family of four is $64,500. 

So, when the City of San Bernardino talks about low income, it is using the federally defined annual median income for a family of four of $64,500.

What are Annual Income and Median Income and how do they work?
Annual income is the total household income for everyone working for one year. The income calculation used to determine housing income for federal or state funding or rental purposes is the Metropolitan Service Area or MSA, created by The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for comparison of income and other reasons.

The Riverside-Ontario-San Bernardino Metropolitan Service Area consists of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Because of higher income, cost of living (including the cost of housing) is higher in some parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. 

Cities with a higher cost of living include: Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Redlands, Upland, Montclair, Chino, Chino Hills, Corona, Menifee and Temecula.

What is low-income housing?
Monthly rent or housing payments of up to $1,334 for a family of four qualifies as low-income housing in the Riverside-Ontario-San Bernardino Metropolitan Service Area.

What does affordable housing mean?
Affordable Housing" is defined as housing for low to moderate-income households.
Moderate-income households are defined, as households having annual incomes between 80 percent and 120 percent of the Metropolitan Service Area’s median income. For our area that is an annual income of $53,000 to $79,920 for a family of four.

Who are low-income households?
A family of four with a total annual household income from $33,000 to $53,000 is considered low-income.
 
People with low income include: about 30,000 local university and college students, butchers, bakers, executive secretaries, truck drivers, teachers, cashiers, administrative assistants, restaurant servers, hosts, dishwashers, psychiatric aides, house cleaners, telemarketers, file clerks, gaming dealers, bartenders and 347 job categories of skilled, semi-skilled and professional workers. 

"Low income people are our friends and neighbors," said Marzullo.

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EDA Set to demolish up to 184 apartments

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)  "The 19th and Sunrise area has a history of police and code enforcement involvement and is a blighting influence on the surrounding community," said Emil Marzullo, interim executive director of the San Bernardino Economic Development Agency.

A major problem with the area is that it has changed owners over the years. When it was built there was one owner of the 61 multifamily fourplexes.  The owner had the resources to maintain the properties in good condition, rent to good people and evict those who were not," said Marzullo.

“About 20 years ago that company sold the multiplexes and now we have many different owners with many different standards for renting,” he added. “Some have no regard for their properties and have allowed them to decline into unlivable conditions. A number of the properties are rented to people who cannot rent anywhere else.  Some are forced to pay first class rents of $1,200 or more a month for very poor quality housing.”

The redevelopment agency and the San Bernardino City Council have agreed the time is right to immediately stabilize the area of the city adversely affected by this poorly maintained and operated residential housing complex.

The agency’s plan is to use a non-profit housing developer to purchase and rehabilitate 100 units of apartments for rent.  The agency is purchasing the remaining 46 four-plex buildings, with up to 184 apartments set for demolition.

The vacant land will be used to build new single family housing and senior housing in the next few years as the housing market improves.

There are currently 244 low-income apartment units within 61 fourplexes and 10 vacant lots at the 19th and Sunrise project area.

When complete the 19th Street and Sunrise area will have:
•    100 units of rental apartments for families of four that make up to $53,300 a year.
•    40 – 55 single family homes for sale to families of four who make up to $77,400 a year.
•    65 units of senior apartments for rent to households that make up to $42,650 a year for a family of two. 

The end result will deliver 205 to 215 units of housing – 144 fewer apartments and 31 to 41 fewer housing units than when the agency started.

Agency staff has determined the best method for acquiring, rehabilitating and operating apartments for rent would be through a non-profit company that could perform all of these functions on the agency’s behalf. The agency selected Mary Erickson Community Housing through a competitive application process.

Mary Erickson Community Housing is a non-profit agency specializing in housing, with greater capacity than the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency for rehabilitating and professionally managing apartments for low to moderate-income families.

Mary Erickson Community Housing was founded in 1991. Its namesake was a retired schoolteacher who was devoted to the principals of community participation and well being. The company established its first affordable housing complex in San Clemente and has since grown to include multiple properties serving hundreds of diverse, hard working, low income families in Southern California including: Moreno Valley, Corona, Loma Linda, Riverside and now San Bernardino.
Preventing future multiple owners
To make sure the rental apartments can never be sold to multiple owners and create unsafe and unregulated conditions again, as the properties are purchased the deeds will be changed to make them each one parcel.
• 15 separate apartment complexes on the north side of 19th Street will become one complete parcel.
• 10 fourplexes on the south side of Sunrise Lane will become one complete parcel.

Current and Future Residents
Current residents will be asked to apply to live in the newly renovated apartments. Mary Erickson Community Housing will have active on site management, new rental agreements and new rules designed to keep the neighborhood safe and attractive.

Mary Erickson Community Housing also provides life skills education to help all residents gain skills to better manage their families and finances.

Phase 1
Currently, Mary Erickson Community Housing is purchasing the vacant, foreclosed and boarded up properties in the19th and Sunrise area.

Mary Erickson Community Housing has already acquired three properties and expects to begin construction in the coming weeks to rehabilitate those apartments. Phase 1 is complete when the 15 separate apartment complexes on the north side of 19th street and the 10 fourplexes on the south side of Sunrise Lane are acquired and rehabilitated. 

For its investment with Mary Erickson Community Housing for the apartments, the agency will receive half (50 percent) of any “surplus cash flow” after all operating expenses and debt service payments have been made on each property acquired, rehabilitated and placed into service by Mary Erickson Community Housing.

Phase 2
Concurrently, the agency is also purchasing properties in the area bounded by 19th Street to the north, Sunrise Lane to the south, Guthrie to the east and Argyle to the west. These properties will be acquired and demolished. The initial cost to the agency is $1.6 million.

Phase 3
When cleared and available the agency will prepare 12 parcels of the land for senior housing and issue a request for proposal to build 65 units of senior apartments. The project will be funded from future agency and developer funds.

Phase 4
In the future as housing demand returns the agency will issue a request for proposals to build 40 – 55 single family homes. The project will be funded from future agency and developer funds. The number of homes depends on the lot size for the homes.

For more information on this project call the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency at (909) 963-5020 and ask for Sam Hughes.

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AAHI Celebrates Seven Years of Progress

AAHI Committee members Patricia Green, president of BASIA; unknown community member; Jose Marquez, formerly with the California Endowment; Linda Hart, community member

AAHI Committee members from 2004 left to right: Dr. Robert Fick, representative for the Elks; Kim Carter, president Time for Change; Joyce Fairman, and Carl Dameron, president Dameron Communications with Diane Woods in the back row.

Diane Woods, AAHI president, at AAHI San Bernardino presentation in 2005.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The African American Health Institute of San Bernardino County (AAHI-SBC) will celebrate its last seven years of progress in efforts to reduce health and healthcare disparities in Black communities of the Inland Empire.

The celebration of “Our Past, Present & Future,” takes place in the Henderson Auditorium of San Bernardino Community Hospital, 1800 Western Ave., from 5:30 to 7:30pm., Thursday, October 22. For details call (909) 880-2600 or visit www.AAHI-SBC.org . All are welcomed to attend.

Black churches have had outreach health ministries in the Inland Empire for more than 50 years. Dr. Temetry Lindsey founded the Inland Behavioral Health more than 30 years ago, Dr. V.Diane Woods pointed out. And Gwen Knotts founded Knotts Family Agency shortly after that.

The local branch of the California Black Health Network, in conjunction with the Black newspapers, radio talk shows, and civic organizations, as well as the Inland Empire Black Nurses Association and ethnic physicians of the J W Vines Medical Society have always worked on health issues in the Inland Empire.

More African Americans die from the leading causes of death such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS and other preventable conditions than any other group. Even African American babies die two to three times more often than other babies.

“Simply put African American males die at an average age of 56, and African American females die at an average age of 62,” said Dr. Woods.

Community leaders who were concerned about this disparity organized the African American Health Initiative in 1998, working with the San Bernardino County Medical Society. In 2003, the Medical Society hired Dr. Woods to head a major countywide planning project for the African American Health Initiative (AAHI).

In 2004, the organization held public forums, conducted surveys, town hall meetings, and one-on-one interviews throughout San Bernardino County; gathering data from more than 1,000 local Black residents investigating why people of African ancestry continue to die much earlier than other ethnic groups; and, to identify what will work to reverse this trend.

 “Much has been accomplished since we started the health planning project in 2003,” said Dr. Woods, founding president and CEO of AAHI-SBC. “We are celebrating successful positive milestones in Black community collaboration.”

As a result of the AAHI Planning Project, a comprehensive report was developed in 2004 called Voices of the People: An Afrocentric Plan for Better Health. Nine major recommendations were proposed.

Recommendation #3 was to create a credible collaborative to focus on African American health issues. Afterwards, the African American Health Institute of San Bernardino County (AAHI-SBC) was created and incorporated as a collaborative of concerned stakeholders in January 2006 to combat these issues.

Since then, AAHI-SBC has strongly promoted change in the healthcare system through advocacy, public education, community capacity building, and research.

Since 2006, AAHI-SBC has been awarded more than a million dollars to work on health issues. Two recent awards include the California African American Initiative Statewide: HEROICs from the Department of Managed Care Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA) for $149,600; and the California Department of Mental Health Statewide Reducing Disparity Project for African Americans for $411,000.

“The African American community’s most desperate need is capacity,” Dr. Woods explained. “Capacity means having significant funds, dedicated individuals working full-time on complex, multiple problems and solutions, the ability to respond in a timely manner, and suitable facilities and infrastructure to implement appropriate interventions.

“Tremendous efforts on multiple fronts to improve the health delivery system, individual health, and in changing health policies, must be sustained,” said Dr. Woods. “In this era of national change to improve health and healthcare outcomes, seven years seems like an appointed time to celebrate good things done by our local Blacks in our communities. When we remember where we have come from, and celebrate the progress we have made with our eyes steadfast on the future it brings hope. We need a good dose of hope and encouragement every now and then, it’s good for the heart and spirit of a people.”


About the African American Health Institute of San Bernardino County
AAHI-SBC is a community-based resource focused solely on improving health among Americans of African ancestry, the poor and under-represented (URM) ethnic minorities in the Inland Empire. Visit www.AAHI-SBC.org to learn more about what self-help groups and others are doing to improve the condition of Blacks. You will also find the history of AAHI-SBC, an extensive list of partners, and activities underway. 

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Teens Graduate Ready for Life

Explore, Discover, Become was the theme of FHA-HERO during the 2008-09 school year. Every year, students who are enrolled in Consumer & Family Studies, a program offered by Home Economics Careers and Technology, have the opportunity to explore possibilities, discover what interests them and become successful in life by learning skills that will help them to excel.  If they also become involved in FHA-HERO, the career technical student organization affiliated with Home Economics Careers and Technology, they will have an immediate opportunity to put their newly-learned skills into practice. Photo by Carl Dameron

These young ladies are ready to attend a school formal. This one was put on at the California State Leadership Meeting for their organization,  FHA-HERO,which teaches leadership, communication, organization and other skills they'll need to succeed in the adult world. FHA-HERO is a co-curricular student organization for Home Economics Careers and Technology. Through one of HECT's programs, Consumer & Family Studies, thousands of California students are learning these skills in an academic environment. Many of them have an immediate opportunity to put them into practice through their involvement in FHA-HERO. Photo by Carl Dameron

(SACRAMENTO Calif.) – It has been said that life brings about the most change between the ages of 16 and 26.

Between those ages, students typically graduate from high school, move from their parents’ home to a dorm or apartment, begin a career, and often, marry and have children. That’s a lot happening in the space of a few short years and, tragically, many young adults pass through this decade of life ill-prepared.

A program taught at many California high schools makes sure they are ready. It provides these students with training in personal and family management skills such as parenting, communication and budgeting, and with career preparation skills such as writing resumes, interviewing for jobs and gaining entry-level experience in career fields related to one’s “dream job.”

The program, officially known as Consumer and Family Studies, is taught through Home Economics Careers and Technology, a part of the California Department of Education. The courses within this program are known by different names, such as “Parenting,” “Life Management” and “Economics for Living.”

“I want them to be responsible citizens,” said Tracy Taylor, department chair overseeing the Home Economics Careers and Technology courses at Rowland High School in Rowland Heights. “And I want them to be prepared to have a great home, a great family AND a great career.”

At Rowland High School, as with all of the others offering Consumer and Family Studies programs, the courses serve two purposes. One is to create young adults who are well equipped to handle life’s challenges. The other is to expose them to high-demand, well-paying careers in areas such as education, culinary arts, hospitality & tourism, fashion and interior design and consumer marketing.

At many schools, students who have any interest in taking any courses offered through their Home Economics Careers and Technology department begin with a course often titled “Life Management.” 

The introductory course will give students exposure to more advanced Home Economics Careers and Technology courses the school offers, which is important because a growing number of high schools ask their ninth- or tenth-grade students to select a “pathway,” so that elective study will be focused on a specific career path.

Students in this course typically will learn about nutrition and food preparation skills, selecting and furnishing a residence, selecting apparel, and child development. With that overview, students not only have information they can use in their personal lives, but they’re also equipped to decide if careers along those pathways interest them.

Many Home Economics Careers and Technology programs offer three pathways, one focusing on culinary arts, one focusing on fashion and a third focusing on child development. A few schools also add pathways focusing on hospitality and tourism, interior design, consumer studies, food science and other related career fields.

Many schools offer more intense project-based Consumer & Family Studies courses to juniors and seniors only. The course name and focus vary somewhat, but are designed to help students make the transition from teenager to productive, independent adult.

 At Rowland High School, the course is called “Parenting,” It is a required course in the pathway focusing on child development and education, but open to all students in grades 11 and 12.

And what does “Parenting” entail? The development, care and guidance of children is certainly part of the course, but sometimes, it’s only a small part.

These parenting topics are addressed for two weeks at the end of the first semester. Before then, students will study self-awareness, dating and relationships, marriage preparation, deciding when or if to have kids, and what to expect during pregnancy and childbirth. 

In the second semester, Rowland High’s parenting course focuses on what it’s like to raise a family in the real world. Students will have to develop that real-life scenario in another project, by “finding” jobs and places to live, and putting together budgets for their make-believe households.

“My parenting class is highly popular,” Taylor said. “My students rave over what life lessons I have taught them, some even tell me they share these with their own parents who never knew certain things.  These are life skills used in making daily choices as young adults and one day, as parents and spouses.”

At Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley, a similar course is offered. This course, after a beginning unit on self awareness, starts off by having students consider something they might, as seniors, be doing anyhow – selecting a new city to live in and what college to attend.

They will then learn about finding an apartment and a roommate to share the household expenses. Lessons in interior decoration, budgeting and cooking round out the first semester.

“Our students really like this course,” said Armida Gordon, one of two teachers at Fountain Valley High School who teaches the course. “It teaches them how to move out and live on their own.”

In the second semester, they will learn more about budgeting, goal setting, communication and career planning. A unit on relationships, which touches on marriage and family life, is part of the second-semester curriculum.

Research-based projects accompany each unit, Gordon said. At the end of the year, students have a notebook that can serve as a handy reference manual when they actually move away from their parents’ home and must make personal and household management decisions on their own.

“We have a student teacher this semester in our English department who took the course years ago,” Gordon said. “He says that course and Foods and Nutrition, were two of the most valuable courses he took in high school, because he couldn’t live without them.”

There are more than 750 schools offering the Home Economics Careers and Technology program in California, serving more than 300,000 students. Many of these also offer the co-curricular student leadership and career development program FHA-HERO. For more information, call State Consultant Janice DeBenedetti at (916) 323-5025.

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Salvation Army Graduates Honored With Sobriety Banquet

Trent Bush, who graduated from the Adult Rehabilitation Center's sobriety program several years ago, tells a group of community leaders the difference this program made in his life. Carl Dameron photo

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The San Bernardino County Adult Rehabilitation Center will host “A Celebration of Sobriety” at its men’s’ residence, 363 S. Doolittle Road, San Bernardino, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The Celebration of Sobriety is an annual event, but this is the first time it will be held in this building. The center relocated here in December 2008 from a smaller residential center on Tenth Street.

“With our new men’s residence on Doolittle Street, we can accommodate 125 men,” said Maj. John Randall, executive director of the Adult Rehabilitation Center. “They spend six months going through a sobriety program, where they learn to live with God, and without drugs and alcohol. When they graduate from the program, they have an opportunity to join the alumni association and begin to rebuild their lives in a positive, constructive manner.”

The Celebration of Sobriety will honor one man who has completed the program in the past 12 months as “Alumnus of the Year.”

It also honors all graduates who remain sober by having them participate in a “Sobriety Countdown.” This begins with all graduates standing for recognition. Those who have been sober for increasingly longer periods of time remain standing. Some graduates of this program have remained sober for more than 20 years.

The keynote speaker for the event is San Bernardino Mayor Patrick Morris. The event begins with a dinner followed by the program.

Space is limited, so reservations are necessary. Only adults should attend.

To make reservations, call (909) 889-9605 or email James.Gonzales@usw.salvationarmy.org.

The Adult Rehabilitation Center is one of two branches of The Salvation Army operating in San Bernardino. The other branch is the San Bernardino Corps. Together, they are part of a ministry that has served the needy of San Bernardino Valley for 122 years.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.


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Bright Future Coming to San Bernardino

San Bernardino's Bicentennial Celebration logo is illustrated with some of San Bernardino’s best resources over the centuries, including arrowheads, orange groves, mountains, transportation ranging from a horse-drawn wagon to an airplane and a high-speed train, landmark buildings California Theater and Vanir Tower, and people. It will be more prevalent in San Bernardino in 2010, as the city will celebrate the 200th anniversary of San Bernardino's founding from January through July.

(SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.) In 2010, San Bernardino will be in the spotlight as it turns 200 years old.

San Bernardino first became known as such on May 20, 1810 – the day tradition has it Father Francisco Dumetz made his last trip from Mission San Gabriel to the San Bernardino Valley to set up a new community. Padre Dumetz named the area "San Bernardino" after Saint Bernardine of Siena, the patron saint of the day on the Catholic calendar.

That’s certainly worthy of a great celebration. But San Bernardino’s Bicentennial Celebration Committee isn’t going to stop at just one day. It’s planning a celebration lasting from January through July.

 “San Bernardino has a significant history, going back to the naming of this valley in 1810,” said Rabbi Hillel Cohn, chairman of the San Bernardino Bicentennial Celebration Committee. “Since that time it has become a city with a richly diverse population. It is now time to celebrate that past, but also a future we believe will be filled with progress.”

The celebration actually began in May 2009, when San Bernardino celebrated its 199th birthday. On that date, Mayor Pat Morris unveiled a new Bicentennial Logo with the motto “A Rich History. A Bright Future.”

This logo is illustrated with some of San Bernardino’s best resources over the centuries, including arrowheads, orange groves, mountains, transportation ranging from a horse-drawn wagon to an airplane and a high-speed train, landmark buildings California Theater and Vanir Tower, and people.

In January, that logo will become more familiar when the city begins hanging street flags and banners promoting the Bicentennial Celebration.

“Our goal is to blanket the city with banners,” said Erin Brinker, public relations chair for the Bicentennial Celebration Committee. There will also be opportunities for local businesses to sponsor the flags and have their names proudly displayed around the city. 

Events begin the following month, starting with performances of “The Legends of the Arrowhead “ on February 17 and 18  at the California Theater. There will be both matinee and evening performances.

This play is being produced by the San Bernardino Economic Development Agency but is based on an award-winning musical created by former San Bernardino residents Bill and Heather McCluskey in 1992. Heather McCluskey is now a nationally-known recording star in Nashville, TN, but says she got her start with her tribute to San Bernardino.

Starting March 1, 2010, volunteers will plant 200 new trees in neighborhoods throughout the city. California State University, San Bernardino students and members of local service clubs have already lined up to help.

In April 2010, a neighborhood beautification contest is planned. Each of the seven city wards will select a project to receive special attention from their neighbors and other volunteers over the four weekends in April. Local restaurants will donate food to the volunteers, and at month’s end, the Bicentennial Celebration Committee will award a prize to the best project.

Meanwhile, the committee encourages other home and business owners to do their part to spruce up their own property.

May 2010 is the biggest month of celebration, with events taking place all month.

Saturday, May 1, the San Bernardino Symphony will pay tribute to the city and to the Community Hospital of San Bernardino, which will be celebrating its centennial. Prior to the concert, symphony keyboard player Michael Tacchia will give an informative and entertaining lecture.

“Don’t miss this unique chance to be part of a celebration as we pull out all the stops in a bicentennial tribute to the City of San Bernardino,” says Conductor Carlos Ponti Jr. on the San Bernardino Symphony website, www.sanbernardinosymphony.org. 

The website also notes that one of the selections the San Bernardino Symphony will perform that night is from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” Other selections are from composers Samuel Barber and Aaron Copeland.

Ticket prices range from $20 to $55, with discounts available to students and military. They can be ordered on the symphony’s website, or by calling (909) 381-5388.

Saturday, May 15, a countdown week of celebration begins with a citrus-themed gala at the National Orange Show. This dinner-dance will feature live entertainment and visual art focusing on the history of San Bernardino.

 Sunday, May 16 is a Bicentennial Mayor’s Run and a Festival of Faiths.

The Mayor’s Run is an annual event with a Bicentennial twist for 2010. This year’s 5K and 10K races start at Arrowhead Credit Union Park, home of the Inland Empire 66’ers minor league baseball team and finish at home plate.

Young people can take part in the Mayor’s Mile, which is one, two or three loops around the Arrowhead stadium. All youth who finish receive a certificate of recognition, regardless of how well they place.

The Festival of Faiths takes place at the Western Regional Little League Championship stadium. It will include an ecumenical service, open to all faiths, as well as food from all of the ethnic groups taking part. There is no charge to participate.

“It will bring the many faith communities together, particularly Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu, as well as others, in a celebration of the diversity of faith in San Bernardino over the last 200 years,” Rabbi Cohn said. “There will be recognition of all the various faiths here, as well as worship through dance.”

Thursday, May 20 is the rededication of a centennial monument erected in 1910 and the dedication of a new bicentennial monument at the very site where Father Dumetz first established his local mission. This was in what is now known as the “Urbita” area, near Inland Center Mall.

Saturday, May 22 is a Bicentennial Parade on E Street focusing on the city’s history from its start in 1810 to the future, in accordance with the entire celebration’s theme “A Rich History. A Bright Future.” This theme is divided into three parts for the parade.

Part 1 focuses on “A Rich History.” Entries within this theme include a float from San Manuel Band of Indians with members in ceremonial dress performing bird songs; a float from Aquinas High School depicting the first Mass Father Dumetz performed in San Bernardino after traveling here on May 20, 1810 and members of the Mormon Church parading in period costumes with hand carts like they used when they first came to the area in the 1850s.

Part 2 focuses on the present and will include the Westside Steppers, drill teams, mariachi groups, churches and more. Part 3 depicts participants’ hopes for the future. Entries will be from CSUSB, San Bernardino Valley College, Gallo Technology and others.

Transcending the past, present and future, 20 youth from various ethnic backgrounds within San Bernardino will carry a large United States flag, owned by the Native Sons of the Golden West. Each youth will wear a costume depicting the land of his or her ancestors.

The Bicentennial Celebration Committee also has invited every high school in San Bernardino to send its marching band.

“It will be a phenomenal parade, the likes of which San Bernardino has never seen before,” Brinker said.

June 17-19 is a youth celebration and talent show called “San Bernardino’s Got Talent.” It’s focusing on the talent of local residents, primarily those of high school and college age.

For the finale, the Bicentennial Celebration will conclude with a fireworks show and extravaganza on July 4, 2010 at Arrowhead Credit Union Park.  This evening event will include food and entertainment along with a fireworks show.

The events inside the park will be free, however there will be a $5 per vehicle charge to park at Arrowhead.

To register to be a part of any of these great days, or for more information, go to http://www.sanbernardino200.org/ or call Erin Brinker at (951) 323-9337.

Rabbi Cohn is the chairman of the Bicentennial Celebration Committee, and Erin Brinker is the chair of its Public Relations & Marketing and Independence Day Extravaganza committees. Other Bicentennial Celebration Committee members are Art Guerrero (chair of Neighborhood Beautification committee) Jim Smith (chair of the Community Engagement committee), Cheryl Brown (chair of the Youth Council, Intergovernmental and Arts committees), Beverly Bird (chair of the Legend of the Arrowhead committee), Steven Shaw (chair of the History committee), David Smith (chair of the Finance committee), Jane Sneddon (chair of the Parade committee) and Martha Pinkney (chair of the Gala committee.)

These members were appointed by the mayor and members of the San Bernardino Common Council. Additional community volunteers who have taken on leadership of other committees are: Trudy Freidel (Festival of Faiths), Dr. William Coleman (Leadership Cabinet), Peggi Hazlett (Mayor’s Run), Dr. Charles “Skip” Herbert (Coloring Books for Schools) and The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire (Design).

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The Black Business Expo on Saturday, Nov. 7

Find art, cosmetics, gifts and more, at The Black Business Expo on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Moreno Valley Holiday Inn Express. 

Mary Kay Team Leader Debra Williams, Jennifer Schultz and Felicia Harris, both “future sales directors” with Mary Kay, came to the first Black Business  Expo in Moreno Valley to sell their cosmetics and skin care products, but enjoyed some shopping too. Small business owners of all ethnicities are welcome to the second expo, planned for Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Moreno Valley Holiday Inn Express.

San Bernardino's $36.7 Million City Housing Plan

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) In recent months the nation and The City of San Bernardino have been rocked by financial and economic challenges that have severely affected the employment in our city.

The housing market has crashed.  Home prices have declined by more than half (53.18 percent) from one year ago, according to a DataQuick Survey for July 2009.  Recent trends show home sales and home prices showing a slight increase however, the housing industry was the region’s number one employer. Many companies have laid off employees and in too many cases, gone out of business.

“That has put good people with great jobs out of work,” said Emil Marzullo, the interim executive director of the San Bernardino Economic Development Agency.  He added, “Our unemployment rate has gone from a low of 4.5 percent in 2006 to a little more than 14.5 percent today.  That means 3 out of every 20 people are out of work.”

Our incomes have declined significantly. “Some of our unemployed friends and neighbors have found new jobs and some of them haven’t.” Marzullo said. “Some of our friends and neighbors are receiving unemployment insurance.  That insurance pays about half of their previous salary up to $1,935 a month in payments.”  

People who earned more than $3,891 a month can receive much less than half their previous income.  Losing half your salary or more can mean real problems meeting financial obligations. 

As we have heard many times, the root of our problem was easy to get sub-prime mortgages.  These mortgages started with low interest rates and low payments.  These low payments became larger payments in as little as six months.  Within two years these low payments became even larger payments, often too large for people to pay.

During the dramatic increase in home sales and home prices, driven by easy credit at high rates, sub-prime mortgages increased by five times (from 4.5 percent to 20 percent) according to Inside Mortgage Finance, 2007. 

According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in 2006 a little less than half (44.2 percent) of loans made in San Bernardino were sub-prime mortgages.  In some areas of San Bernardino more than half (59 percent) were sub-prime mortgages.

This has led to San Bernardino having one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) our area has the second highest foreclosure rate in California, about 3 out of every 25 homes or 11.8 percent.

RealtyTrac, an Irvine based company that tracks foreclosures nationwide, shows 4,327 foreclosed properties in San Bernardino from January 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. Foreclosures have dramatically affected every ward in San Bernardino.

Current Number of Foreclosed Homes in San Bernardino 

But the foreclosure problem isn’t over yet. HUD projects that the City of San Bernardino still has a little less than half of its current mortgages (44.2 percent) as sub-prime mortgages.  HUD rates the risk of foreclosure and abandonment on a scale of one to 10 with 10 being worst.

According to HUD the city of San Bernardino averages a 9.2 risk factor with a projected average citywide foreclosure and abandonment rate for the next 18 months of three out of every 25 homes (12 percent).

What Is The City of San Bernardino Doing To Fix Our Housing Market?“These problems have brought more problems and more opportunities.  To take advantage of the opportunities and to help stabilize the housing market The City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency has developed a very aggressive and well thought out plan to stabilize our housing market and help the entire city move forward,” said Marzullo.

On October 20, 2008, the agency’s Integrated Housing Strategy was approved by the city council acting as the Community Development Commission of the City of San Bernardino. 

“Included in the Strategy is the key goal of single-family homeownership and neighborhood revitalization, designed to enhance residential neighborhoods and promote home ownership,” said Marzullo.

He added, “We will help to meet this goal by reducing the harmful effects caused by our current foreclosure crisis.”

The City of San Bernardino’s Economic Development Agency has marshaled its resources and sought to find additional funding.  “We are using $36.7 million for this plan.  $8.4 million from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Neighborhood Stabilization Program and $28.3 million from agency funds,” said Marzullo. 

Use of funds

EDA Fiscal Year 2009 - 2010 Budget Line Items
Expenditure Detail - Capital Expenses
Development Capital Expenses Housing Budget
Program Description	Amount
Utility Rebate Program Low Income	$75,000
Old-timers	140,000
Casa Ramona/Highland Standby Loan Guarantee	360,000
49th Street Telacu property acquisition/relocation/demo	500,000
Residential revitalization opportunities	2,000,000
Single Family Beautification Grant NHS-3 yr annual	2,100,000
5th and Meridian Project	2,500,000
City Wide Housing Down Payment Assistance Program	3,490,000
Highland and Medical Center Senior Housing	4,400,000
Annual Notice of Funds Available	6,000,000
HOME - Affordable Housing Projects	6,943,186
Neighborhood Stabilization Program	8,203,588
Total budgeted for housing projects	$36,711,774

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds come from $3.92 billion authorized by Congress in 2008 as part of the stimulus programs to address abandoned and foreclosed residential properties nationwide.

“The agency has also applied for additional $9 million from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds and shall continue to explore opportunities and request funds to help fix San Bernardino’s economic and housing issues,” said Marzullo.

The Plan – An Integrated Housing Strategy
The agency has made many programs available to help San Bernardino residents:
1.    Exterior Beautification Grants providing up to $10,000 for homeowners in San Bernardino.
2.    $25,000 Single Family Rehabilitation Loans for homeowners in San Bernardino.
3.    10 percent down payment assistance to buy a home in San Bernardino.
4.    Buying, rehabilitating and selling foreclosed properties to homeowners.
5.    Purchasing and demolishing blighted and abandoned housing where crime is a problem.
6.    Receivership Program created to enhance homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods.
7.    Annual notice of funding availability for large scale projects 
8.    Building 80 units of Senior housing at the South West corner Highland & Medical Center Drive by Meta Housing, Inc., to help revitalize the area.
9.    The demolition of up to 184 apartments from the 19th and Sunrise area and the selection of Mary Erickson Community Housing to acquire, rehabilitate and manage the remaining 100 units of rental apartments.

Program Descriptions:

1.    Beautification Grants provide up to $10,000 for homes in San Bernardino.
The bad news is that 3 in every 25 homes in the city have been foreclosed. The good news is that 22 homes in every 25 are still owned and occupied. To help those city residents improve the outside appearance of their homes and revitalize the city’s neighborhoods, homeowners can receive a grant of up to $10,000 per property for exterior home improvements. 

Before Beautification Grant

Homeowners can receive an additional $5,000 if they match the grant with the same amount of their own funds. Based on the homeowner’s match, the total beautification activity could equal a maximum of $20,000 per project ($15,000 in agency funds plus $5,000 in homeowner funds).

The Neighborhood Housing Service of The Inland Empire, Inc. (NHSIE) runs this program for the agency.

After Beautification Grant


These Beautification Grants can be used for:
•    New energy efficient window and front door replacements. 
•    New driveway or repairs.
•    New garage door
•    Exterior painting
•    New drought tolerant landscaping including automatic sprinklers and planting materials for the front yard only
•    New front yard fencing with wrought iron, vinyl, wood or block fencing
•    New parkway enhancements, i.e. stamped concrete, trees and drought tolerant landscape materials.

To be eligible to receive this grant you must:
1.    Be a resident of San Bernardino. 
2.    Make less than $77,400 a year for a family of four (120 percent of the area median income adjusted for family size).
3.    Have owned and lived in your home for at least one year and made that your principal place of residence.
4.    Complete a Beautification Grant application.
5.    Attend a property maintenance class created and given by The Neighborhood Housing Service of The Inland Empire, Inc. (NHSIE)
6.    Sign a ten-year maintenance covenant (an agreement added to your title) that says you will keep your property looking attractive.
7.    Agree to live in the house for at least one additional year as your principal place of residence.
8.    Homeowners cannot receive a Beautification Grant and a Single Family Rehabilitation Loan.

“This program is designed to help make our neighborhoods look and feel better,” said Marzullo. “The program has such a big demand that our partner has placed a hold on new applications. Because of the demand, the agency is looking for additional partners to allow us to take more applications and get more money into the hands of residents faster.”

San Bernardino City homeowners who want more information on Beautification Grants or to be put on the waiting list can call The Neighborhood Housing Service of The Inland Empire, Inc. (NHSIE) at (909) 884-6891. 

2.    $25,000 Single Family Rehabilitation Loans for homeowners in San Bernardino.
Beautification Grants make the outside of the home look great, but sometimes our homes need new roofs, have termite damage or need work inside the home.

To help homeowners with these problems the agency has a Single Family Rehabilitation Loan of up to $25,000, or 25 percent of the current fair market value of the home, whichever is less. The loan has a 3 percent simple interest rate and all payments are postponed until the homeowner sells or refinances the home.

 “This loan was created to help homeowners keep their homes in good repair without increasing the financial burden that could make them lose their homes,” said Marzullo.

“This is a program that helps to stop foreclosures by fixing problems before they become too much for a homeowner to handle,” he added.

These Single Family Rehabilitation Loans can be used for:
•    A new roof
•    Exterior and interior painting, including lead removal or covering. If lead is found in your home the agency will fund the entire amount to remove the lead from your home. This keeps you and your children safe from lead poising.
•    New energy efficient windows
•    New carpet and/or flooring
•    New high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems
•    Electrical work
•    Sewer repair or sewer installation
•    Termite repairs
•    Exterior concrete such as sidewalks, driveways, curbs, gutters, handrails or ramps
•    New door or window screens or repairs
•    New bathtub, shower, toilets, or repairs
•    Foundation or structural repairs
•    Fencing

To be eligible to receive these grants you must:
i.    Live in the City of San Bernardino
ii.    Make less than $77,400 a year for a family of four (120 percent of the Area Median Income adjusted for family size.)
iii.    Have owned and lived in your home for at least one year and made that your principal place of residence.
iv.    Complete a Single Family Rehabilitation Loan application.
v.    Attend a property maintenance class created and given by The Neighborhood Housing Service of The Inland Empire, Inc. (NHSIE)
vi.    Agree to live in the house for at least 10 years as your principal place of residence.
vii.    Homeowners cannot receive a Beautification Grant and a Single Family Rehabilitation Loan.

“The program has such a big demand that our partner has placed a hold on new applications. Because of the demand, the agency is looking for additional partners to allow us to take more applications and get more money into the hands of residents faster.”

San Bernardino City homeowners who want more information on Single Family Rehabilitation Loans, or to be put on the waiting list can call The Neighborhood Housing Service of The Inland Empire, Inc. (NHSIE) at (909) 884-6891. 

3.    10 percent down payment assistance to buy a home in San Bernardino
“The best way to get rid of foreclosed homes in San Bernardino is for families to buy them and live in them,” said Marzullo.  “ It seems simple, but with home prices down to an average of $70,000 there has never been a better time for families to buy a home.”

Marzullo may be right.  Homes that sold for more than $380,000 a few years ago are priced as low as $100,000.

Lower home prices make housing more affordable.  A family making $30,000 a year can afford to buy a $140,000 home. According to Bank of America, with a $7,000 down payment and a 5.298 percent annual interest rate, on a 30-year fixed interest rate loan the payment would be $724.17.

The San Bernardino County Housing Authority says market rent for a three-bedroom apartment is $1,583 a month.  That means buying a home with a fixed mortgage so that monthly payments never increase can save a homeowner thousands of dollars a year over rent payments. 

“We also know from experience that this housing price drop won’t last forever. Home values in San Bernardino will appreciate again at a more normal 1 to 3 percent a year.  That increase in home value builds family wealth that can be used in the future for children’s college education or retirement,” said Marzullo.

The Homeowners’ Assistance Program provides first time homebuyers with up to 10 percent of the home purchase price. For a $100,000 house that amount would be $10,000; for a $200,000 house the amount is $20,000.

The interest rate on the loan is 3 percent simple interest.

To qualify you must:
1.    Purchase a home within the city limits of San Bernardino.
2.    Not have owned a home within the last three years.
3.    Make a cash investment of $1,000 towards the purchase price of the home.
4.    Earn less than $77,400 a year for a family of four (120 percent of the Area Median Income adjusted for family size.)
5.    Occupy the home as your primary residence for the forty-five year term, or if you sell the home before then, share the equity increase with the agency.
6.    Attend a 16-hour Homebuyer Education course given by Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire.
For more information on the Homeowners’ Assistance Program can call the City of San Bernardino’s Economic Development Agency at (909) 663-1044 and ask for Lisa Conner. 

4.    Buying, rehabilitating and selling foreclosed properties to owners who will live in the homes
 “The agency has created or found ways for people to buy homes in the City of San Bernardino. This program allocates $3.7 million of Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds to empower agency-approved companies to purchase and rehabilitate some of the 4,327 foreclosed properties in our city.
These companies have been retained through a Request for Production/Qualifications (“RFP”) process and are checked by agency staff and approved by the City Council.

They are community development corporations, builders, developers and contractors.

Upon rehabilitation, the homes will be made available for purchase to qualifying households whose make less than $77,400 a year for a family of four (120 percent of the Area Median Income adjusted for family size).

Expected home sales prices are from $100,000 to $250,000. Buyers can also use the agency’s Homeowners Assistance Program providing a 10 percent down payment for those who qualify. For a $100,000 home that would be $10,000 to purchase the home.

For more information or a for list of available homes please call the City of San Bernardino’s Economic Development Agency at (909) 663-1044 and ask for Shannon Johnson.

5.   Purchasing and demolishing blighted and abandoned housing where crime is a problem
“Some of the abandoned or foreclosed homes and multi-family housing in our city are in physical conditions too costly for rehabilitation,” said Marzullo. “With a budget of $920,000 from federal Neighborhood Stabilization Funds and $1.00 million from the agency’s funds,  this program will allow for the acquisition, demolition and future home building on these sites.”

Generally, these sites fall under two primary categories: those that have become a blighting influence on the immediate area and pose a serious health and safety risk, and those which offer a unique opportunity to create catalytic projects that will help to further private investment.

“When the economy recovers these vacant lots will be ready for redevelopment of new single family homes,” said Marzullo.

Meridian Project
A current example of this includes the Fifth Street and Meridian Avenue project (“Meridian Project”) that was approved by the commission on September 15, 2008.  $2.5 million is approved and budgeted for the acquisition, demolition and preparation for development.

In the first phase of the project the agency acquired nine of the 18 residential complexes along Fifth Street immediately east of Meridian Avenue. 

The remaining nine privately owned properties are currently being appraised to find their highest and best use value.  Once the appraisals are complete CPSI, our relocation firm hired to assist the agency in this project, will prepare offers for presentation to the homeowners on behalf of the agency. 

The project is a priority for the agency as a result of the blighting effects the current apartment complexes are having on the immediate area, which is generally comprised of single-family residences. 

Given the high number of bank owned properties and the overall state of housing prices, the agency has a unique opportunity to acquire these properties at drastically reduced prices in order to obtain site control for future development. 

After the properties are demolished, the agency will issue a request for proposals to the development community in an attempt to seek the best redevelopment solution on an open and competitive basis.

In June of 2009 the agency demolished four fourplexes located on West Fifth Street.  The agency is currently demolishing another five fourplexes at the site.  The families living in these fourplexes have been successfully relocated to decent, safe and sanitary replacement sites and received relocation benefits.

19th Street and Sunrise
There are currently 244 low-income apartment units in 61 fourplexes and 10 vacant lots at the 19th and Sunrise project area.

The agency is purchasing 46 properties with up to 184 apartments for demolition.  As the housing market improves the agency will build up to 65 units of senior housing and between 40 – 55 single family homes.

When the project is complete the area will have 205 to 215 units of housing – 144 fewer apartments and 31 to 41 fewer housing units than when the agency started.

A more complete description of the entire project is below.

For more information on the purchase and demolition of blighted housing please call the City of San Bernardino’s Economic Development Agency at (909) 663-1044 and ask for Carey Jenkins. 


6.    Receivership Program created to enhance homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods.
“Because of the way so many mortgages were made and sold in pieces to investors in the last few years, sometimes finding the true owner of a foreclosed property can be very difficult.  It can be more difficult to make the banks or other owners board up or repair their property when we do find them,” said Marzullo.

To take control of these properties and make sure they are repaired, maintained and resold the agency has created, tested and is ready to implement a Receivership Program. It works like this: After the city’s Code Enforcement team has documented a series of violations with a particular property and the owner refuses to obey after being given reasonable notice and opportunity, the city makes a request to the courts to have a receiver appointed to make the necessary repairs.

The Receivership Program is a great way to meet agency and city residents’ worries about these vacant and foreclosed properties.  The agency also has the added benefit of beautifying existing blighted housing stock without having to worry about how to fund the repairs.

This program is most effective in neighborhoods where there are one or two blighted properties on an otherwise nice street, the homes are priced above $150,000, and home prices are generally rising. “We have seen home prices stop their decline in recent months and we expect to see prices start to rise sometime in the future,” said Marzullo.

The agency has used the Receivership Program twice.  “We believe that as home prices rise we will have more of an opportunity to use the program to rid neighborhoods of problem homes faster. This is another tool to help us solve the problem of foreclosure and blight in the City of San Bernardino,” Marzullo said.

To make a complaint about a blighted vacant property call the City of San Bernardino’s Economic Development Agency at (909) 663-1044 and ask for Shannon Johnson. 

7.    Annual notice of funding availability for large scale projects 
One of the issues the agency has had in the past is setting specific housing goals and then finding the resources to meet those objectives.  Through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and agency funds we have been able to do just that.

The agency sent an invitation to housing companies, investors and developers and asked them to present their ideas to work with the agency on specific housing goals in San Bernardino with a determined financial contribution by the agency.
  
We called this invitation the annual notice of funding availability (NOFA). It was established to meet a number of key affordable housing objectives.

•    One, it allows for an orderly allocation of funds on a regular basis.  It also allows the agency to look at similar projects on the same merits, at the same time. 
•    Additionally, it will help meet the city’s overall housing creation goals for example, higher quality affordable housing stock and better on-site management of multifamily housing. 
•    Finally, it creates development opportunities within the city and generates interest from a greater number of potential community development corporations, developers, investors and potential partners.

Last year marked the agency’s first opportunity to provide a regular allocation of funds to address the general housing goals stated above.  With this in mind, the agency identified up to $6 million to be allocated toward two specific project types:
 
a)    New construction of senior housing between 80 and 120 units, and
b)    Acquisition and rehabilitation of existing problem multi-family rental housing of more than 40 units.

After a thorough review of the proposals received the agency ranked and selected two projects.

a)    Meta Housing, Inc. was selected to build 80 units of senior housing at the South West corner of Highland & Medical Center Drive.
b)    Mary Erickson Community Housing (MECH) was selected for the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing problematic multi-family rental housing.

To follow is information on the two projects.

a)    Meta Housing, Inc. - 80 units of senior housing at the South West corner of Highland & Medical Center Drive

This project transforms a blighted automotive site into 80 units of high quality, affordable housing for seniors, obtains a one-acre parcel of land for future sale or development opportunities, and creates a future stream of income that can be used for future developments including senior or single-family housing.  

There will be three separate floor plans. The first is a one-bedroom unit of approximately 589 square feet with a patio or balcony. The two other plans consist of 2-bedroom units of approximately 828 square feet and 971 square feet, also with patios or balconies.

An outdoor patio area with shade trees, a fountain, barbecue grills, a swimming pool and adequate areas for relaxed seating will enhance the exterior of the facility. A walking path around the perimeter of the building will allow residents the opportunity for exercise while at the same time providing them with a sense of security as the path will be within a decorative 6-foot wrought iron fence that surrounds the project. 

Meta Housing, Inc., is a Los Angeles, California based company that specializes in the development of affordable and market-rate apartment communities for families and seniors. Since 1969, the organization has been responsible for successfully developing more than 10,000 single-family and multi-family residential units throughout Southern California.

The total development cost for the project is $17.5 million. The agency’s agreed upon subsidy for the project is $4 million.   As a result of this development, the agency will retain the one-acre parcel and receive a deferred payment loan, secured by a second trust deed against the project.  

For more information on this project call Carey Jenkins at the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency at (909) 663-1044.


b)    The demolition of up to 184 apartments from the 19th and Sunrise area and the selection of Mary Erickson Community Housing to acquire, rehabilitate and manage the remaining 100 units of rental apartments.

The 19th and Sunrise area has a history of police and code enforcement involvement and is a blighting influence on the surrounding community.

A major problem with the area is that it has changed owners over the years. When it was built there was one owner of the 61 multifamily fourplexes.  The owner had the resources to maintain the properties in good condition, rent to good people and evict those who were not. 

About 20 years ago that company sold the multiplexes and now we have many different owners with many different standards for renting.  Some have no regard for their properties and have allowed them to decline into unlivable conditions.

A number of the properties are rented to people who cannot rent anywhere else.  Some are forced to pay first class rents of $1,200 or more a month for very poor quality housing.

The agency and council agreed the time is right to immediately stabilize the area of the city adversely affected by this poorly maintained and operated residential housing complex.

The agency’s plan is to use a non-profit housing developer to purchase and rehabilitate 100 units of apartments for rent.  The Agency is purchasing the remaining 46 properties with up to 184 apartments set for demolition. 

The vacant land will be used to build new single family housing and senior housing in the next few years as the housing market improves.

There are currently 244 low-income apartment units within 61 fourplexes and 10 vacant lots at the 19th and Sunrise project area.

Aerial photo of the 19^th and Sunrise Project Area

When complete the 19th Street and Sunrise area will have:
o    100 units of rental apartments for families of four that make up to $53,300 a year.
o    40 – 55 single family homes for sale to families of four who make up to $77,400 a year.
o    65 units of senior apartments for rent to households that make up to $42,650 a year for a family of two.

The end result will deliver 205 to 215 units of housing – 144 fewer apartments and 31 to 41 fewer housing units than when the agency started.

Agency staff has determined the best method for acquiring; rehabilitating and operating apartments for rent would be through a non-profit company that could perform all of these functions on the agency’s behalf. The agency selected Mary Erickson Community Housing through a competitive application process.

Mary Erickson Community Housing is a non-profit agency specializing in housing, with greater capacity than the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency for rehabilitating and professionally managing apartments for low to moderate-income families.

Mary Erickson Community Housing was founded in 1991.  Its namesake was a retired schoolteacher who was devoted to the principals of community participation and well being. The company established its first affordable housing complex in San Clemente and has since grown to include multiple properties serving hundreds of diverse, hard working, low income families in Southern California including: Moreno Valley, Corona, Loma Linda, Riverside and now San Bernardino.

Preventing future multiple owners
To make sure the rental apartments can never be sold to individual owners and create unsafe and unregulated conditions again, as the properties are purchased the deeds will be changed to make them each one parcel.
•    15 separate apartment complexes on the north side of 19th Street will become one complete parcel. (The north area in blue.)
•    10 fourplexes on the South Side of Sunrise Lane will become one complete parcel. (The south area in blue.)

Current and Future Residents
Current residents will be asked to apply to live in the newly renovated apartments. MECH will have active on site management, new rental agreements and new rules designed to keep the neighborhood safe and attractive.

Mary Erickson Community Housing also provides life skills education to help all residents gain skills to better manage their families and finances.

Phase 1
Currently, Mary Erickson Community Housing is purchasing the vacant, foreclosed and boarded up properties in the19th and Sunrise area.  (The blue areas on the map.)

MECH has already acquired three properties and expects to begin construction in the coming weeks to rehabilitate those apartments. Phase 1 is complete when the 15 separate apartment complexes on the north side of 19th street and the 10 fourplexes on the south side of Sunrise Lane are acquired and rehabilitated. The initial allocation of NSP funds for this component is $2.1 million plus $1 million in Agency funds.

For its investment with MECH for the apartments, the agency will receive half (50 percent) of any “surplus cash flow” after all operating expenses and debt service payments have been made on each property acquired, rehabilitated and placed into service by MECH.

Phase 2
Concurrently, the Agency is also purchasing properties in the area bounded by 19th Street to the north, Sunrise Lane to the south, Guthrie to the east and Argyle to the west. These are the green and gold areas on the map. These properties will be acquired and demolished.  The initial cost to the Agency is $1.6 million.

Phase 3
When cleared and available the agency will prepare 12 parcels of the land for senior housing and issue a request for proposal to build 65 units of senior apartments. The project will be funded from future agency and developer funds.

Phase 4
In the future as housing demand returns the agency will issue a request for proposals to build 40 – 55 single family homes. The project will be funded from future agency and developer funds.  The number of homes depends on the lot size for the homes.

For more information on this project call the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency at (909) 963-5020 and ask for Sam Hughes.

Summary
“The City of San Bernardino has a rich history and a bright future. We are a growing city of more than 205,000 people. We are also a diverse city with many different ethnic groups speaking several different languages,” said Marzullo.

He added, “Our diversity doesn’t stop with ethnic diversity. We are also an economically diverse city. Who lives in San Bernardino? Our friends and neighbors are people of all occupations and incomes.

“They are college presidents, truck drivers, teachers, cashiers, servers, rocket scientists, waiters, college professors, hosts, dishwashers, police officers, cooks, machinists, carpenters, house cleaners, brain surgeons, bartenders and corporate presidents.”

San Bernardino also has more than 30,000 college and university students attending such diverse campuses as Valley College, California State University and The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire.

Like many cities, San Bernardino area residents’ annual salaries vary from a low of zero for some college students to millions of dollars a year for company presidents and business owners.

“All of our residents need a safe, clean, quality and affordable place to live. It is the job of the Economic Development Agency and its Housing and Community Development Department of The City of San Bernardino to make sure that is possible to the best of our ability,” said Marzullo.

The agency has these programs to help solve our housing problems:
1.    $25,000 Single Family Rehabilitation Loans for homeowners in San Bernardino.
2.    10 percent down payment assistance to buy a home in San Bernardino.
3.    Buying, rehabilitating and selling foreclosed properties to owners who will live in the homes.
4.    Purchasing and demolishing blighted and abandoned housing where crime is a problem.
5.    Receivership Program created to enhance homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods.
6.    Annual notice of funding availability for large scale projects 
7.    Build 80 units of senior housing at the SW corner Highland & Medical Center Drive and revitalize an important part of our city.  Meta Housing, Inc. selected build and mange the complex.
8.    The demolition of 184 apartments from the 19th and Sunrise area and the selection of Mary Erickson Community Housing to acquire, rehabilitate and manage the remaining 100 units of rental apartments.

“These projects require experienced professionals who search out funding opportunities and match them to the needs of our city; cerate and mange programs; and review and conform to the thousands of pages of rules, regulations and laws from city, state and federal agencies. We are lucky to have some of the best housing professionals in the state working for San Bernardino’s Economic Development Agency, said Marzullo.

Rest assured the Economic Development Agency in the city of San Bernardino continues to find new ways to improve housing.  For more information on any of these programs please call the EDA office at (909) 663-1044.

-end-

HECT Prepares Students for Teaching Careers

Tina Luk, a senior at Rowland High School, reads a story to preschoolers during her Careers with Children course. Tina and thousands of other teens in California high schools who take Careers with Children and other courses in the Child Development and Education pathway, offered by Home Economics Careers and Technology, are learning skills that will help prepare them for careers as teachers, pediatricians, counselors and many other occupations that involve working with children. Photo by Chris Sloan.

Jennifer Anaya and Brittany Clark help Rilee (center), decorate a paper pumpkin during their Careers With Children course at Rowland High School. At Rowland High, teenagers enrolled in Careers with Children greatly outnumbers the enrollment at its on-campus Rainbow World preschool, so the younger children often enjoy better than one-on-one attention from their teenage "teachers." Photo by Chris Sloan

Tenth-grader Ashley Medrano of Rowland High School helps Angelito decorate a pumpkin. Behind Ashley is professional teaching assistant Yolanda Walker, the head supervisor of Rainbow World Preschool, located on the campus of Rowland High. Second-year students in Careers with Children assist with supervision of the first-year "teachers."  Because Careers with Children is a popular course at Rowland High School, the school has an instructional aide to supervise the preschool as well as a teacher to teach the course in a separate classroom. Having an aide gives both teens and preschoolers more instructional time. Photo by Chris Sloan

Joaquin, a student at Rainbow World Preschool on the campus of Rowland High School, works with Jennifer Anaya and two of her male classmates in Careers with Children. Men who can teach young children are in especially high demand, but Careers with Children and other courses in the Child Development and Education pathway will also prepare teens for careers such as secondary teacher, school principal and pediatrician. Photo by Chris Sloan

(SACRAMENTO Calif.) Education, particularly the education of children and teens, will likely always be a high-demand career, simply because each year there are millions of children to educate.

And so will other careers that involve working with children, such as pediatricians, nurses, social workers, counselors and recreation planners. Not to mention, in 10 years, most of California’s current teenagers will be parents themselves, interacting daily with children on a personal level.

Instruction offered through the Home Economics Careers and Technology (HECT) program in California schools is helping to fill that demand. Its graduates have hands-on experience teaching students from preschool through fellow high school students.

“Regardless of what field you’re considering, every student can benefit from at least one child development course,” said Janice DeBenedetti, state consultant to the HECT program. “It helps prepare them for many rewarding careers, and gives them an advantage if they become parents later in life.”

“Students learn techniques for working with children,” said Pat Hakim, who teaches Child Care Occupations at Rowland High School in Rowland Heights. “They also learn how to manage their careers, finances and education after they graduate.” The course is also known as “Careers with Children” at many schools throughout the state.

At most schools, ninth-graders who have any interest in taking any courses offered through their Home Economics Careers and Technology department begin with a course titled “Life Management.” Students interested in culinary arts, fashion or other courses their school offers in a Home Economics Careers and Technology program would also take this course.

In a “Life Management” course, students learn about many aspects of living independently, such as managing finances and credit, searching for employment, consumer studies, menu planning and dealing with conflict. Most “Life Management” courses also teach parenting skills.

From Life Management, the students can then move into one of the career pathways offered by the school’s Home Economics Careers and Technology department. A career pathway is a set of courses providing a student training in a specific career area.

Child Development and Education, as the career path focusing on education is known at most of these schools, is a lot more than playing with kids.  While high schools that offer this program usually have an on-campus preschool, experience in preparing and teaching lessons is only a portion of the training they receive.

The Child Development and Education career pathway typically starts with a course called Child Development. There’s a great deal of academic learning in this course as students will spend most of the first semester learning about pregnancy, childbirth and newborns, and all of the second semester learning about child development.

Child Development may also include other learning projects.  For instance, at Rowland High School, students spend several weeks preparing a report on the “Cost of a Baby,” after researching the costs of health care during pregnancy and childbirth, baby furniture and other supplies and clothes needed for mom and baby.

After the introductory courses, students who want to further study Child Development and Education can move into a course, usually known as Careers with Children, where they actually work with children. Students usually can take this course for two years, with increased responsibilities placed on the advanced students.

Typically, first-year students are charged with supervising the learning centers where preschoolers engage in their activities. Second-year students serve as supervisors to the first-year “teachers.”

“We observe and we help them out with whatever they need,” said Gabriela Huerta, a 12th-grader at Rowland High School in Rowland Heights. “We also give them suggestions on how to do things.”

Rowland has 158 students enrolled in its course where students work with children, and less than 20 in the preschool, so the teens are divided into two groups per period. Each group of teens spends every other day working with the younger children.

First-year students spend their alternate days learning more about child development and strategies for working with children. For instance, they will learn about the state standards governing what preschool students should learn to be well prepared for kindergarten.

This helps them to plan appropriate lessons, which is what the second-year students spend their non-teaching days doing. Lessons for preschoolers typically involve playing with toys, but the teens must select the toys and guide the younger students in using them with a specific teaching goal in mind.

“We have to make sure they know their numbers, their colors, their letters and their shapes,” said Gabriela’s second-year classmate Marlene Robles, as she watched a first-year student help a group of young children solve puzzles, handmade by the teens, that required placing certain colors and shapes in the correct spot on the puzzle mats.

Despite the budget cuts, Rowland has resources through the La Puente Valley Regional Occupations program to hire a teacher, Pat Hakim, and an instructional aide, Yolanda Walker. While Hakim provides instruction to half of the teens in her class, Walker provides the adult supervision necessary for both the other teens and the preschoolers.

 Not all schools can afford instructional aides for this course, so to allow time for high school students’ instruction, they reduce the preschool’s calendar to several days a week or less than a full school year.

Many schools, in addition to Life Management, Child Development and Careers with Children, add additional courses. One of these is “Parenting,” a course that would help any student who plans to someday become a parent, but gives special insight for those who want to make a career for working with children.

A “Child Psychology” course offered by some high schools gives high school students insight in how young children think and how to better relate to them, but also provides enough science instruction to fulfill a college preparation requirement of the University of California and California State university college systems.

That’s especially important for those seeking careers as teachers, or in other professions where they will work with children, but first must obtain a bachelor’s degree. 

Also, many high schools have worked out agreements with their local community college, allowing students who complete a second year of the “Careers with Children” course, complete with development of a portfolio, to also receive college credit.  In some cases, such as at Rowland High School, the training satisfies the community college certification program for teaching assistants.

The agreements also give students who wish to pursue careers as classroom teachers a head start on their college education. Preschool teachers usually must have an associate degree, and in some cases, a bachelor’s degree. The state of California requires most kindergarten through 12th grade teachers to complete a bachelor’s degree and one additional year of education courses, including student teaching.

College preparation is also important for the many students who take this course who are interested in children’s health care or counseling, as these professions require at least a post-secondary certificate, often a college degree, and for those interested in becoming pediatricians, post-graduate study at an accredited medical school.

 There are more than 750 schools offering the Home Economics Careers and Technology program in California, serving more than 300,000 students. Many of these also offer the co-curricular student leadership and career development program FHA-HERO. For more information, call State Consultant Janice DeBenedetti at (916) 323-5025.

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Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod tours Salvation Army Shelters

Top photo: A worker masks the trim in one of the rooms at The Salvation Army’s new Hospitality House emergency family shelter. Photo by Carl Dameron

Bottom photo: The Salvation Army’s Capt. Nancy Ball, executive director, and Brian Cronin, advisory board member show State Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod one of the rooms under remodel at The Salvation Army’s new Hospitality House emergency family shelter on Tenth Street. Photo by Carl Dameron

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod recently toured the buildings and programs of The Salvation Army, San Bernardino Corps.

The senator visited the current location of the Corps headquarters, church and Hospitality House emergency family shelter, and the shelter/training center for Path to Prosperity. She also toured the building under remodel on Tenth Street where The Salvation Army plans to move its Hospitality House next year.

“What an ambitious project,” she said of the renovation underway at the new shelter. “I marvel at The Salvation Army’s ability to provide these programs and upgrade their Hospitality House shelter, given the economic conditions of the area, our country and the world.”

Capt. Nancy Ball, executive director of the San Bernardino Corps, guided this tour. Assisting Capt. Ball were Salvation Army Advisory Board members Carl Dameron and Brian Cronin, and shelter directors Roosevelt Carroll of Hospitality House and John Fletcher of Path to Prosperity.

The tour began at the existing emergency family shelter. The Salvation Army has used this building as its headquarters and church for more than 50 of its 122 years in San Bernardino. 

Two years ago The Salvation Army had to relocate its shelter services here, when the California Department of Transportation acquired and tore down the former location to make way for the Interstate 215 widening.

At this shelter Senator Negrete McLeod saw:
•    The Corps offices and chapel
•    A large multi-purpose room that provides overnight shelter to women and children, who are the vast majority of guests in the Hospitality House. The families sleep on mats on the floor.
•    A smaller room which also serves multiple purposes, one of which is to house men. Throughout the year, this includes husbands and single fathers. In cold weather, other single men also sleep there.
•    A small kitchen where up to 250 meals are served daily, and more on major holidays.
•    A tiny room that serves as the shelter’s current tutoring center. Tutors from San Bernardino City School District help the shelter’s school-age children here with homework.

Moving on to the Path to Prosperity shelter across Sixth Street from the rear of the main Corps building, the senator learned about this program, which shelters 27 men and helps them enroll in colleges (usually San Bernardino Valley College) or find a job. She toured the community room, a classroom and two bedrooms in this shelter.

When the tour group arrived at the new shelter on Tenth Street, the senator learned how vast changes in living conditions would soon take place for the Hospitality House guests, who usually stay up to three months but can stay up to a year in some cases. She saw how the new shelter will have:

•    A reception area/community room that is almost as large as the main room on Fifth Street

•    21 bedrooms, allowing each individual family to have their own (or two adjoining rooms if they have a large family)

•    9 bathrooms with tub showers, which will afford the families m ore privacy and make it easier for parents to bathe young children

•    A kitchen three times as large as the one on Fifth Street, with separate areas for storage, preparation and serving/cleanup

•    A large dining room adjacent to the kitchen

•    An office that will allow the shelter director and staff to maintain confidential records and to keep the shelter premises safe with security cameras

•    Two rooms, together about six times the size of the current tutoring center, that will greatly expand the educational services available to the resident children. One room will be a media center where children can watch educational videos or work at study tables; the other will have a computer lab for children (and during the day, adults) and an area where tutors, parents and children can work together. The Salvation Army will rely on a $25,000 grant from Target to furnish these two rooms.

The Salvation Army also hopes, in the future, to build four to six transitional housing apartments on the new shelter property. These apartments would shelter families from three months to two years when their needs warrant additional help before living independently. The parents in these families would have resources similar to those offered to the single men in the Path to Prosperity program.

The Salvation Army needs additional funding to reach that goal, and has applied for a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant called Continuum of Care. As a state official, Senator Negrete McLeod has no more say in how federal HUD grants are allocated than does the general public, but she did offer to lend her support by endorsing The Salvation Army’s goal.

“I will help in any way I can,” she said. “San Bernardino has a definite need for this.”

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Kenn Young's Inland Empire African American Chamber Speech

African American Chamber

October, 2009

Kenneth M. Young

Riverside County Superintendent of Schools

With approximately 425,000 students, Riverside County is the 4^th largest region of public education in the largest state in the nation. This is more students than the total student enrollment in 17 states.  Our 23 local school districts spread across seventy-two hundred square miles of diverse topography, communities and demographics. The Riverside County Office of Education fulfills an important intermediate agency role, serving both the California Department of Education and local school districts.  Our major programs include Alternative Education (including juvenile hall), Special Education for the Severely Handicapped, and ROP/Career technical Training.

The county’s student population has changed significantly during the past decade. The enrollment of our Hispanic students has reached almost 56%.  Our white student population is 28%, 7-1/2% are African-American students, about 2-1/2% are Asian, and the remaining students are comprised of a handful of other nationalities. This past school year, for the first time in decades, student enrollment in our county dropped by approximately 1,600 students—largely as a result of foreclosures and unemployment.  That’s a major trend shift when we consider that during the prior year’s slowdown, Riverside County still increased by approximately 9,000 students over the 2006-2007 school year, where we grew almost 20,000.

Each year, students across California participate in what are often referred to as “high stakes testing”. These are a series of standardized tests intended to assess each student’s academic level and progress in school. The results of the tests are released by the state at different times during the year. I would like to highlight the outstanding results of Riverside County’s students on the high stakes tests for the 2008-2009 school year.

In 1999, California adopted a set of statewide content standards, followed by an aligned curriculum and assessments through the Public Schools Accountability Act. This system has become know by its measuring stick, the Academic Performance Index, or API.  The API is made up of a collection of assessments in four subject areas with an overall scoring range between 200 and 1,000.  The state’s goal is for every school in California to have an API score of at least 800. 

For the 2008-09 school year, the average API score for all students in all public schools within Riverside County was 757.  This is a 17 point increase over the prior year—the highest increase of any county in the State of California with at least 80,000 student enrollment, and a 166 point increase since the API was introduced in 1999— the 2^nd highest increase of any similar sized county in the state.

The API score for our African-American students in all public schools within Riverside County was 727, the highest score of any similar sized county in the state.  This is a 16 point increase over the prior year and a 223 point increase since the API was introduced in 1999— the highest increase of any similar sized county in the state.

The United States Department of Education’s high stakes tests are essentially comprised of using each state’s adopted reading (English Language Arts in California) and mathematics standards and assessments, and then establishing a “proficiency” measurement at the state level to determine the percentage of student proficient in these two subjects.  Additionally, every state is required to establish student proficiency goals each year, also know as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets, with the USDE’s mandate that all students in all schools be 100% proficient in both ELA and mathematics by the year 2014. 

For the 2008-09 school year, the AYP percent proficient rate in ELA for all students in all public schools within Riverside County was 52.0%. This is a 5.4% increase over the prior year—the highest increase of any similar sized county in the state, and a 24% increase since the AYP was introduced in 2002— the highest increase of any similar sized county in the state.

The AYP percent proficient rate in ELA for our African American students in all public schools within Riverside County was 46.3%. This is a 5.3% increase over the prior year and a 25.7% increase since the AYP was introduced in 2002— the highest increase of any similar sized county in the state.

For the 2008-09 school year, the AYP percent proficient rate in mathematics for all students in all public schools within Riverside County was 53.9%. This is a 4.0% increase over the prior year and a 23.1% increase since the AYP was introduced in 2002— the 3^rd highest increase of any similar sized county in the state.

The AYP percent proficient rate in mathematics for our African American students in all public schools within Riverside County was 43.9%. This is a 5.3% increase over the prior year and a 23.3% increase since the AYP was introduced in 2002— the 4^th highest increase of any similar sized county in the state.

Another area of major interest related to educational outcomes is Riverside County’s high school graduation rate.  For the 2008-09 school year, Riverside County’s high school graduation rate was 80.5%, the 8^th highest of any similar sized county in the state.  From these highlights of our county’s 2008-2009 high stakes testing results, we can clearly see that in Riverside County, we are continuing our quest to create a culture of education to ensure the success of all students.

There are essentially two ways to tackle the dropout issue, prevention and reclamation.  Everything we’ve been talking about so far today relates to preventing students from leaving school prematurely by keeping them engaged and connected to their school through an interesting, challenging, relevant education. When students do leave school early, the vast majority of them don’t come back. This past school year, the Riverside County Office of Education opened the first recovery program for dropouts on a large scale called “Come Back Kids”. The program operates on the new regional learning center located next to the Mt. San Jacinto College campus in San Jacinto. The center is a joint project with the college where RCOE operate a variety of classes for students during the day and the college operates programs on the campus in the evening. Come Back Kids involves an outreach effort to locate and invite disengaged students to come back to school in a completely different learning environment than they experienced when they were unsuccessful, and reengage with their potential. We anticipate bringing back between 50 and 100 dropouts a year through this center.

Besides San Jacinto, RCOE also operates regional learning centers in Riverside, Banning, and Perris near March Air Reserve Base. We are approved for state funding for two more centers this year; one here in Moreno Valley and one in Murrieta, and we’re hoping to announce another center in the Coachella Valley in the next few months.  It’s our plan to operate Come Back Kids programs at each of our regional centers across the county.  We believe these centers will be a significant support and resource to help student dropouts return to school and complete their high school education.

Since public education in our state is so heavily impacted by the state budget, I suspect everyone is interested in hearing something about the state budget today. I would prefer not to, but our circumstances require it, so I will.

Each year, California’s public education system continues to have more required of it in terms of increasing student achievement, with decreasing resources.  In the 2007-08 school-year, we were expected to meet these requirements with billions of dollars less than in the prior year.  2008-09 and 2009-10 ismore of the same.

As we look across Riverside County, we see a regional public education system that is making steady progress in improving student achievement.  These accomplishments are especially noteworthy when we consider that California’s instructional content standards are among the top three most rigorous in the nation as rated by the Fordham Foundation and that Riverside County is home to an extremely diverse language, ethnic, and economic student population within the most diverse state in the country. But again, our schools are being expected to do more with less funding—this time, far less.

I wish to also point out, however, that California has an inherent financial problem unlike other states.  For well over a century, California’s public education system was funded in much the same way as public education is funded in most other states—at the local level.  In 1972, California ranked 10^th nationally in per pupil funding—a fact made even worse by our state’s particularly high cost of living.  Thirty years ago that changed.  The funding model for California schools was completely revamped, shifting the responsibility from the local level to the state, which now determines over 80% of the funding that schools receive.

Both finance and education experts, for years, have been warning that California’s present education funding model will overburden the state budget’s financial capacity, inadequately fund our public school system, and transfer local control of public education to the state.  In testimony to their predictions, California has dropped to almost dead last in per pupil funding and hundreds of new bills, designed to control some aspect of public education, are introduced each year.  If passed, they ultimately end up as regulations in California’s mammoth Education Code—among the largest of any state.  Now, we have introduced a new achievement gap:  the gap between growing expectations for school performance and the resources that need to be invested to make it happen.

No one can deny that our national economy is in a recession that is growing to look more like a depression by the week, and it’s likely to last for quite some time.  But we must also understand that no other state in this country is even considering the types of cuts to their public education system that are being proposed in California. Solving this problem requires more than just saying “NO” to cuts or “NO” to taxes.  It means all of us must fully comprehend the magnitude of the education funding problem facing us today, how they started and the impact it will have on us tomorrow if we do not take corrective action to fix it now.  If we didn’t have the will power to solve the problem when the state had a strong economy, it is hard to see how we will have the willpower to do it in a recession.

Currently, we’re approximately $17.9 billion dollars a year below the national average and we’re almost $28 billion a year below our 1972, 10^th place ranking. If we keep this up we’ll soon be entering the funding range of 3^rd world countries.  We must be willing to make some difficult decisions and substantial sacrifices in order to create funding solutions dedicated specifically for public education.  That is an investment in the future.  California’s (and the nation’s) economy is only as strong as the education and skill level of those who work and live here.   We must have an acceptable plan for funding our public education system that will move California back to at least the national average over the next seven to ten years and at the very least, keep us there.  That must not be the ultimate goal. With all the academic gains we have made over the last decade, we cannot afford to let our public education system continue to fall behind the rest of the country in funding.  California must take corrective action now!

PASSION FOR FASHION COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Kristyn Rethaford of San Bernardino, with a dress and matching purse she designed for the 2008 Passion for Fashion competition, was one of two Inland Empire high school seniors to receive a $3,000 scholarship to The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire last year. Students who graduate from high school in 2010 can submit an original fashion design or marketing plan to the 2009 Passion for Fashion competition, for a chance to win a scholarship to The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire, and entry into a national-level competition for a full scholarship.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) -- The Art Institutes’ Passion for Fashion Competition 2010 provides high school students an exciting glimpse of the highly competitive fashion industry.  They offer students interested in Fashion Design or Fashion Marketing, Merchandising or Retail Management an opportunity to win a full-tuition scholarship to study fashion at one of The Art Institutes schools, including The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire.

Eligible students can enter the Fashion Design or Fashion Marketing and Merchandising and Retail Management category at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. 

Open to high school seniors across North America, The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition was created to encourage and reward young fashion design and fashion marketing, merchandising and retail management talent at the high school level. 

“Since it began five years ago, interest in the competition has taken off”, says Sherry West, Fashion Academic Director, The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. 

“We saw a record number of applicants enter last year’s competition. There are so many wonderful fashion courses in high school today, and many students see a career in this industry within their reach,” said West.

The competition consists of two categories: 1) Fashion Design and 2) Fashion Marketing and Merchandising and Retail Management.

The grand prize winner in each category earns a full-tuition scholarship to an Art Institutes school to study in a fashion program.  Each grand prize winner, in partnership with Seventeen Magazine, also receives a trip to New York City to attend a Fashion Week show, attends a “meet and greet” at Seventeen Magazine’s offices, lunches with a Seventeen Magazine Style Pro and receives a $500 shopping spree. 
 
In this year’s Passion for Fashion Competition, students will be asked to create an original “evening wear” design for the Fashion Design category or an original Fashion Marketing, Merchandising or Retail Management plan for the corresponding category.
To be eligible, students must be a senior in high school, set to graduate in 2010, complete an Entry and Release Form, have a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.0, write a short essay describing their interest in fashion and submit a finished, originally designed evening wear garment and process book, for the Fashion Design category or a create a product or plan for the Fashion Marketing and Merchandising and Retail Management category for complete details.

Please visit www.artinstitutes.edu/pr.aspx?ID=p4f10001st Call for Entries P4F Comp - Template Press Release BPC Reviewed[1].docx.

Deadline for entries into The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition is November 20, 2009.  For more information on how to enter The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition and for official rules, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/pr.aspx?ID=p4f1000 or contact Monica Jeffs at (909) 915-2100 at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degree programs in Game Art and Design, Graphic Design, Web Design and Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion and Retail Management, and Media Arts and Animation. It offers an Associate of Science degree program in Graphic Design, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Fashion Design.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers an Associate of Science degree program in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree program in Culinary Management.

Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start a new term at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Courses begin Nov. 12 and classes are offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. 

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Byrd says Riverside County Missed $1,000 a person in last Census

Partnership Specialist for the U.S. Census, Paula Almanza and Riverside County Auditor-Controller, Robert Byrd together recently explained the importance of the U.S Census 2010 count to a group in Riverside.

(RIVERSIDE, Calif.) Riverside County Auditor-Controller Robert E. Byrd explained the importance of the 2010 Census count as a key panelist for the Regional Convening on Census Outreach at the Riverside Marriott held recently.

“The state is missing out on a lot of dollars left on the table, not able to be accessed due to people not being counted,” said Byrd during the panel discussion. “We missed out on $1,000 a person (not counted) by not having an accurate count during the last Census,” said Byrd.

The census directs the allocation of billions of dollars to state and local governments and affects political representation.  California can lose an existing congressional seat if it does not get everyone counted.

Panelists were asked to identify the most trusted messengers in the community that could promote the importance of the Census to those with whom they are in contact.  Byrd said, “We are looking for assistance from visiting nurses, in-home heath service providers, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, non-profit and grassroots organizations, chambers of commerce, and members of churches.”

California has 10 of the top 50 “hard-to-count” counties in the nation.  Riverside is the 18th hardest county to count.

Eric Alborg, deputy director, Census 2010 said, “There are two characteristics that make the count difficult.  The first is units are over crowded and residents do not include the entire household. The second is the language barrier prevents people from filling out the form.”

Byrd stressed the importance of assuring people the information they provide will not harm them. “One opportunity we have is to get information into the hands of our children.  A child in a non-English speaking household can give the basic information,” said Byrd.

The census counted 33.9 million people in California ten years ago.  California is the most populated state with Texas being the next most populated at 24 million people.

 “The Department of Finance predicts a count of 38.8 million people in April of next year,” said Alborg.

The census started in 1791.  The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years.

The census will hire 1.2 million people during the outreach process.  People interested in applying can call (866) 861-2010.

One of the most important functions of the Auditor-Controller’s office is to audit all of Riverside County’s expenses. The Auditor-Controller’s office also verifies, processes and creates more than 1,000 warrants to vendors each day and processes and drafts some 40,000 paychecks for county employees each month. It oversees the disbursement of more than $3 billion in property tax money each year to schools, special districts, cities and other local taxing agencies.

In 2002, Robert E. Byrd became the county’s elected Auditor-Controller with more votes cast than in the entire history of the office. He was subsequently re-elected to a second four-year term in June of 2006.

Committed to his community, he’s a member of Riverside Rotary, board member of the Next of Kin Registry, is on the International Relations Council for the City of Riverside, and is a member of La Sierra Academy’s Board of Trustees.

For details on the Riverside County Auditor-Controller's office call (951) 955-3800. To obtain a free copy of Financial Highlights, an annual report produced by the Office of the Auditor-Controller that recaps the county’s finances in an easy-to-read format, go to www.auditorcontroller.org .

Robert E. Byrd, CGFM, who is elected by the voters of Riverside County, heads the Office of the Auditor-Controller. The Auditor-Controller staff and management teams are dedicated to providing sound financial accounting, auditing and reporting in order to serve the citizens of Riverside County. More information is available on the Web at http://www.auditorcontroller.org .

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Rialto Resident Running for San Bernardino County Education Board

Corey Jackson, a former Rialto School District and California State University governing board member, is running for the San Bernardino County Board of Education - Area D.

Corey Jackson makes announcement:

With the encouragement of people from around the county, and with the support of my family and close friends, I am announcing my candidacy for the County Board of Education-Area D, in a bid to represent the people of the Rialto and San Bernardino Unified School Districts in 2010.

Education has been very important throughout my adult life.

I am a product of county schools. I graduated from Rialto High School.  I had the honor of serving on the Rialto Unified School District School Board of Education and on the California State University Board of Trustees representing more than 500,000 students in the State of California. I currently work in the education field as a specialist to increase access to preschool education for all children.

I have the experience, passion and love for my community to fight for the resources our school districts need to improve the education of our children.

Preschool, Special Education, Job Training, and Music programs should not be left behind as we strengthen and reform our education system.

Every child should have the support and encouragement to attend college. But those who do not must be trained with marketable skills to find a good job.

When elected your issues are my priority within San Bernardino County.

I respectfully ask for the people of our county to support my candidacy.

Please join me on FaceBook to hear more about what I plan to do for the children of our county. www.facebook.com/jacksonca

Jackson is endorsed by the following:

Barbara McGee
Rialto City  Clerk

Rikke Van Johnson
San Bernardino City Council

Deborah Robertson
Rialto City Council

Joanne Gilbert
Rialto School Board

John Futch
San Bernardino
Community College District

Raymond Delgado
Rialto Science Teacher

Christine Marquez
San Bernardino Teacher

Lloyd Sheppard
Rialto Math Teacher

Roy Rogers
San Bernardino English Teacher

Ernest Rhone IV
Rialto Master Teacher

Past Cal State San Bernardino
Student Body Presidents:
Erik Fallis
Anthony Conley

Partial list

14 HOMELESS KIDS WILL BE STYLIN’ WITH HELP FROM THE SALVATION ARMY

The school-age children who live in The Salvation Army’s Hospitality House emergency family shelter will soon be as warm and stylish as these young ones, because a donation from the Hispanic Employees’ Alliance will allow all 14 of them to shop for $100 in back-to-school clothes and school supplies at Target this Saturday. File photo from Carl Dameron

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Fourteen homeless children will soon arrive at school with brand new clothes, backpacks and classroom essentials, thanks to a donation of $1,400 from the Hispanic Employee Alliance Group to The Salvation Army, San Bernardino Corps.

The 14 children are the current school-age (kindergarten through 12th grade) occupants of Hospitality House, the emergency family shelter maintained by The Salvation Army of San Bernardino for the area’s homeless families. Shelter Director Roosevelt Carroll and volunteers will take these children to the Target Store on Orange Show Road at E Street, 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10.

At Target, each child will each receive from The Salvation Army a $100 gift certificate to select new clothes, new underwear, new shoes and socks, and any other clothes they need for school. They’ll also get new backpacks, pens and pencils, markers and crayons.

“They will have all the basics,” Carroll said. “Since they are homeless, some of them never had brand new shoes or a brand new shirt. It has always been hand-me-downs from an older brother or sister.”

“Here at the Salvation Army, we appreciate all donations,” he added. “This one is especially appreciated because it is aiming straight for our kids, is much needed and is a blessing.”

About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.


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Ready for the Christmas Party?

We would like to plan your company Christmas party!  We understand that budgets are tight and hours have been cut back this year.  Therefore we will do all the planning, event booking, corresponding and budgeting to help you have a holiday celebration to remember.

We have experience in creating events of all sizes and hosting receptions for dignitaries and foreign ambassadors.  You can choose from the finest venues in the Inland Empire for your holiday celebration.

We can create a unique Christmas party for your company with a plan based  on your budget.

The holidays are a special time of the year and your employees deserve a treat.  Let us do the planning, while you take care of your business.

Please call me at (909) 888-0017 to discuss the details.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely

Brenda Erickson

Special Events Coordinator

Children Unmasked

(RIVERSIDE, Calif.) “Linking With Art – The Mask Task” features the work of more than 50 children who attend elementary and middle schools from Rialto, Riverside, San Bernardino and Fontana. It takes place Saturday, Oct. 3 at 2465 Mary St. in Riverside, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jalani Bakari, from noon to 4 p.m.

San Bernardino Valley Links, Inc., a non-profit organization providing education and other community service throughout the Inland Empire, sponsored a program in these schools in which children learned to create African-style masks.

“Most of their masks have a recognizable African theme,” said Margo Thomas, chairman of the San Bernardino Valley Links, Inc. Arts Committee, and the professional artist who taught this program in the participating schools. “Some of the younger children did their own thing, which is fine.”

Linking With Art is also a show featuring professional artists. The featured artist is “Gamboa,” other artists are “BerniE (Morton Bernard Edmonds),” Derrick Dragan, Shanna Fennell, Omar Howard, Charles Knox, Margo Thomas and Maya Thomas.

This is the seventh annual show for Linking With Art, however it is the first year the organization has included a children’s art project. Participating children attend school at Dollahan and Georgia Morris elementary schools in Rialto, Gage Middle School in Riverside, Malcolm X Academy and Richardson Prep School in San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga Middle School, and Wayne Ruble Middle School in Fontana.

Co-sponsors, with the San Bernardino Valley Links, Inc. are the Inland Empire African-American Chamber of Commerce, the San Bernardino Valley Links, Inc. and the Riverside African-American Historical Society.

Donation to the art show is $10, however the Inland Empire African-American Chamber of Commerce has 40 free tickets available by request. For more information about the free tickets, call Carl Dameron, president of the Inland Empire African-American Chamber of Commerce, at (909) 888-0017 before 12 noon Friday, Oct. 2.

For more information about the show, call Margo Thomas at (951) 684-2378.

About The Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce
The Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to promote the economic and professional development of African American-owned businesses, thus enhancing the quality of life in our community.

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Dinotopia Creator To Speak At The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire

James Gurney, creator of the award-winning, best-selling series Dinotopia and nationally recognized illustrator, will speak Thursday, Oct. 1 at 12 noon at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire.
 
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) James Gurney, author and illustrator of the book series Dinotopia, and an award-winning illustrator of fantasy and historical subjects, speaks 12 noon Thursday, Oct. 1 at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire.

The presentation is open to the public and there is no charge.

Gurney paints with realism, that is paintings that look real, but his subjects are usually unseen. He’s best known for paintings of dinosaurs, ancient cities, futuristic landscapes and creatures from science fiction.  Besides his popular Dinotopia series, he has written books about how to draw from imagination.

“He created the million-book seller Dinotopia, which was made into a TV series. He is one of the premier illustrators in the country,” said Santosh Oomen, academic director for Media Arts & Animation at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire.

Gurney was born in Glendale, Calif. but moved to the Bay Area as a child. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in archaeology, he returned to southern California for about five years, where he studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

Before moving to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York in 1984, he painted more than 500 backgrounds for the animated 1983 film Fire and Ice. He primarily worked as an illustrator for National Geographic magazine after moving to New York, but in 2005 transitioned to a full-time career as an author and freelance illustrator.
His freelance clients include the U.S. Postal Service, for which he illustrated stamps featuring dinosaurs and sickle-cell awareness, and a post card depicting pioneer settlements in the Northwest Territory in 1788.

Gurney has exhibited his work at many museums, including the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass. and a museum in Switzerland. He’s given lectures at the Smithsonian, the World Science Fiction Convention and many museums and colleges.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion & Retail Management, and Media Arts & Animation. It offers an Associate degree in Graphic Design, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design. The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers an Associate degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Management. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start the new year at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Courses begin October 5th and classes are offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students.

For more information or a tour of The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire call (909) 915-2100 or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

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Annex Angels and Other Preschool Workers Walk To Give Children Help With Breathing

All six of these brothers and sisters have coped with asthma from an early age, which gives their mother, Rosalie Salazar, plenty of experience as she now deals with many asthmatic preschool students whom she teaches at the Westside Annex Preschool in San Bernardino. Out of concern for the many children she knows with asthma, Salazar is the Westside Annex Angels’ team captain in the Healthy Air Walk, taking place Saturday, Oct. 3 at Fontana Park in Fontana.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Head Start Preschool employees know that many of their students face adversities. The program exists to give these economically disadvantaged children a head start in life.

For many of these children, one of the hardest things in their life is breathing. They have asthma, and sometimes even more severe lung disease.

“Sometimes we have to give them treatments with aerochambers and inhalers,” said Rosalie Salazar, a teacher at the Westside Annex Preschool. “They are little children, too young to understand why they have to inhale, so the aerochambers allow them to use their inhalers while breathing normally.”

It’s heart breaking to the staff of Head Start preschools to see these very young children struggle with something as simple as breathing. For that reason, staff and parents at many Head Start preschools in the Inland Empire have formed teams to walk in the American Lung Association in California’s largest fundraiser of the year, the Healthy Air Walk.

These teams will participate in the walk scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3 at Fontana Park, 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana. To learn more about this event, go to www.healthyairwalk.org or call (909) 884-5864.

Salazar serves as team captain for the group from Westside Annex Head Start, a team of eight staff and parents called Annex Angels. She’s a natural for this position, because not only has she been helping preschoolers with asthma for awhile, she is also a mother of six children, ages 7 through 20, who suffer from the disease.

“All of my children have asthma, but neither I nor their father has it,” she said. “I think it is because the air is so much dirtier than when I was growing up in Ontario.”

Her oldest child was diagnosed with asthma when he was a year old, she said. Since then, she’s become an expert, administering medication to her own children thousands of times, and learning about the various breathing apparatus asthmatics require, such as aerochambers and nebulizers (a non-portable device that combines air and liquid medication and mists it into an asthma patient’s lungs).

Salazar came to most of her knowledge about asthma independently. When she started working for Head Start, a state agency, she learned it works with the American Lung Association in California, which provides training to preschool workers in how they must manage their students’ asthma, and to help them educate these children’s families.

Last year, Salazar participated in the Healthy Air Walk, with her supervisor serving as team captain. This year, her supervisor was not able to serve as team captain again, and when it came time to pick a replacement, the rest of the staff thought Salazar best qualified.

“I said I would do it,” she said. “I want to help raise money to help children with their breathing, and to educate them and their parents about asthma. Everyone should know how important this is.”

The American Lung Association was established in 1904 and was instrumental in its first 52 years in nearly eradicating tuberculosis. In 1956, it expanded its mission to fight all forms of lung disease. In its last five decades, it has also strived to reduce tobacco use and air pollution, both of which are serious threats to lung health.

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Southern California Black Business Expo Coming to Moreno Valley

Find art, cosmetics, gifts and more, at The Black Business Expo on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Moreno Valley Holiday Inn Express. 

Mary Kay Team Leader Debra Williams, Jennifer Schultz and Felicia Harris, both “future sales directors” with Mary Kay, came to the first Black Business  Expo in Moreno Valley to sell their cosmetics and skin care products, but enjoyed some shopping too. Small business owners of all ethnicities are welcome to the second expo, planned for Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Moreno Valley Holiday Inn Express.



(MORENO VALLEY, Calif.) Consumers will have an opportunity to shop for goods and services offered by African-American business owners at the Southern California Black Business Expo on Saturday, Nov. 7.

At the same time, Black business owners will have opportunities to grow their customer base.

“Consumers can come out and support their local Black-owned businesses,” said show producer Jerry L. Green. “Business owners can come here and network. There will be opportunities for them to increase their sales.”

The Expo takes place Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Moreno Valley Holiday Inn Express, 24630 Sunnymead Blvd, between Indian Street and Perris Boulevard.

Admission is $10. To purchase tickets, or find out more about being a vendor, visit www.scblackbusinessexpo.com or call Green at (951) 313-1919.

About 25 to 30 Black-owned businesses, some of them nationally recognized companies, will take part. Previously, these business owners have come from as far as Washington D.C.

The Black Business Expo is also a great opportunity for small Black-owned Inland Empire businesses, Green said.

“I will hold these four times each year,” he said. “By participating, businesses will have a new way to continuously market that isn’t available at a traditional business expo held only once a year.”

Green encourages Blacks who are looking for new job to attend, so they can learn if starting a business is for them.

“In these tough economic times, many people need to either go back to school or start their own business,” he said. “ At the Black Business Expo they will learn about business opportunities and see if running their own business is something they would like to do.”

Future Black Business Expos are already scheduled for March 20, 2010; June 26, 2010; Sept. 11, 2010: Dec. 11, 2010 and March 19, 2011.

Sponsors are the Black Business Resource and Networking Directory, PQ Enterprises, TheUltimateProfessional.com Sales Training, Westside Story Newspaper, The Black Voice News, Inland Empire Community Calendar and Cultural Events, Urban Lyfestyles, Jobing.com, The Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce and Dameron Communications.

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Fashion and Music Coming to Redlands

A member of JoHesh and Company models fashions from the stores participating in Soul Fusion, one of two fashion shows the organization sponsored in 2008. It’s putting on its 2009 show, Pure Fresh Love, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Fox Center in Redlands.

(REDLANDS, Calif.) – JoHesh and Company will bring boutique fashions interspersed with music and drama when it presents its Pure Fresh Love fashion show at the Fox Event Center on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.

The fashions in this show are mainly from Redlands fashion boutique Bezi, Beverly Hills fashion designer Cassie Betts and JoHesh and Company member Camille Simms, who is a fashion design student at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire.

Tickets are $15 and can be ordered online at www.JoHeshandCompany.com, by emailing joheshandcompany@gmail.com or at the door of the Fox Event Center, 123 Cajon Street, Redlands, 92373 shortly before the event.

This is JoHesh and Company’s third fashion show, as it also put two on in 2008. The organization’s mission is to provide people of all ages an opportunity to showcase talent, especially talent in fashion and other creative fields.

“If people of all ages want to show off their skills, talent and abilities in the fashion industry, this gives them a place to do that, whether they want to model, or work behind the scenes,” said JoHesh member Dhani Olive. “We also work with talented people who sing or play musical instruments. They will entertain between the scenes.”

Olive is one of many members putting her talents to work behind the scenes of the Pure Fresh Love fashion show. She will graduate from The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire the day before the fashion show with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Arts, and is helping with design and promotion of the show.

 JoHesh and Company is a non-profit organization founded by Johanna Sharp and Mahesh Simms, who is the mother of Camille Simms and the aunt of Dhani Olive. She and Johanna Sharp are long-time friends from Rialto who wanted to create opportunities for the young people in their families to showcase their talents, and have since expanded the program to all who are interested.

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