Friday, September 4, 2009

One Woman, Two Lives

Upland, CA — Residents of Upland, its surrounding cities and the Inland Empire, will soon find out what has theatre goers abuzz in Los Angeles. It’s the powerful new smash summer hit One Woman, Two Lives starring Kellita Smith of The Bernie Mac Show, King’s Ransom, and Three Can Play that Game. The play made its world debut July 17, 2009 at The Imagined Life Theater in Los Angeles and has since taken audiences and critics by storm.

After seeing a performance of “One Woman, Two Lives” Tommy and Gloria Morrow, publishers of the Inland Valley News Inc. in association with The Grove Theatre, were so moved by the piece that they reached out to playwright and novelist, Alretha Thomas and the rest as they say is history. One Woman, Two Lives opens at The Grove Theatre, on Friday, September 11, 2009 at 8pm. In honor of that memorable day, the producers have dedicated the opening performance to the men and women who protect our nation. Additionally, a contribution will be made to 426 Civil Affairs Battalion/315 Psychological Unit and Helping Hand for Veteran’s Inc., with a special reception, attended by the Mayor of Upland, John “JP” Pomierski, to immediately follow the performance.
In One Woman Two Lives, Kellita Smith portrays Samantha Cooke, a conflicted woman torn between two worlds, is fighting to sustain and protect her family from a past that threatens to undermine her almost perfect present. Married to Jonathan, played by Keith Bossier (The Young and the Restless), a successful mega preacher, Samantha has been voted First Lady of the Year.

The accolade, however, causes the mother of three to doubt herself and her worthiness. In spite of receiving encouragement from her family and neighbors, Samantha can’t seem to shake the uneasiness that begins to envelop her. As the play takes on surprising and startling twists and turns, her doubts and worries unfortunately become warranted.

Three time NAACP Best Director Image Award recipient Denise Dowse elicits beautiful and memorable performances from this ensemble cast which also stars veteran and award winning actors Esther Scott (You Got Served, Dreamgirls, The Geena Davis Show, Billy Mayo (Desperate Housewives, The Traveler) Sammie Wayne and Sharon Munfus.

This limited run will continue throughout the month of September with performances on the 13th at 2 and 8pm, the 18th at 8pm, the 20th at 8pm, the 25th at 8pm, the 26th at 2pm and 8pm and the 27th at 2pm and 8pm at the Grove Theatre, 276 E. 9th Street, Upland, California 91786.
Tickets are $35.00 and $33 for seniors. For tickets, group sales and more information regarding “One Woman, Two Lives” please call 909-920-4343 and or go to www.grovetheatre.com or www.Onewomantwolives.com .

This is a wonderful opportunity for your organization, Fraternity or Sorority, Girls Night

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Riverside County To Save Money With Fraud, Waste & Abuse Prevention Program


The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a fraud, waste and abuse prevention program on Tuesday, Sept. 1 that will save the county money. It was developed by Riverside County Auditor-Controller Robert Byrd.

(RIVERSIDE, Calif.) At the urging of Riverside County Auditor-Controller Robert E. Byrd, the Board of Supervisors today approved a money-saving policy that will make it easier to identify and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse and save valuable county funds.

“In addition to saving money that can then be directed to better serve the needs of our citizens, fraud, waste and abuse prevention programs are also a prerequisite for receiving the federal stimulus funds,” Byrd said.

“This policy updates existing standards of ethical conduct for all county employees to specifically address the issues of fraud, waste and abuse,” Byrd explained. “Ethical conduct of those in public service is of the utmost importance.”

“Fraud, waste and abuse is illegal, wasteful or improper activity involving county assets or resources,” Byrd explained. “It includes theft, deception, willful misrepresentation and extravagant, careless or needless spending or consumption of county resources, whether intentional or not.”

The program Byrd initiated aims to control instances of fraud, waste and abuse and other actions that detract from the efficiency and effectiveness of County operations by:

• Implementing ways to report anonymously and confidentially. At any time, including evenings, weekends and holidays, county employees, citizens and vendors can report known or suspected fraud, waste or abuse by calling a hotline at (800) 461-9330 or by going to www.CountyOfRiversideSpeakOut.com



• Creating a policy on ethical conduct to specifically address fraud, waste and abuse. County employees are now required to identify, report and work to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse.

• Educating county employees about this new program.


One of the most important functions of the Auditor-Controller’s office is to audit all of Riverside County’s expenses at the end of each fiscal year. This includes compiling an annual report, which is released about six months later.

The Auditor-Controller’s office also verifies, processes and creates more than 1,000 warrants to vendors each day and processes and drafts more than 40,000 paychecks for county employees each month. It oversees the disbursement of more than $3 billion in tax money each year.

In 2002, Robert 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.

Byrd has been chair of the Riverside County Employee Campaign and the Legislative Chair for the State Association of County Auditors. Additionally, Byrd is a commissioner on the California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission, and a member of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers, the Government Finance Officer’s Association and the State Association of County Auditors.

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.

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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