Getting the Most From Your Doctor

Dr. Edna Arteaga-Hernandez

(LOMA LINDA, Calif.) “We want you to be assertive when it comes to your health issues. I want to know about you like you want to know about me. We need to be partners.”

Dr. Edna Arteaga-Hernandez, president and CEO of the Inland Empire’s Arther Medical Corporation, gave this message during a workshop of the Inland Empire Disability Resources EXPO held Thursday Oct. 23rd at the Loma Linda University Medical Center Drayson Center.

Doctors need to know each patient’s health issues, Dr. Arteaga-Hernandez explained. This includes not just what medical conditions, but also issues such as whom they live with, whether they are employed and what medications they’re already taking.

A primary care doctor is important, she said.

“You should have one doctor who knows you best,” she said. “That doctor will coordinate your health care. Your primary care doctor will be your advocate, kind of like a lawyer.”

Primary care doctors or their staff should handle obtaining referrals to specialists when needed. They also should be making sure that any special medical needs a patient has are being accommodated. For instance, if a patient has diabetes and needs a certain type of blood sugar monitor, the doctor should be fighting to make sure the patients’ insurance approves this.

The intake form patients fill out when they first see a new doctor is important, she said. It allows patients to confidentially describe their past medical history, so the doctor doesn’t have to waste time asking the same questions.

Also helpful are medical records from a prior doctor and keeping a medical diary.

A medical diary is a small notebook in which patients start by listing surgeries and other serious medical issues they’ve had in the past. Later, they can add to the diary when they receive immunizations or face other health issues.

Patients should also keep a diary of what medications they take, Dr. Arteaga-Hernandez said. This is especially true if patients are experiencing unpleasant side effects like nausea or drowsiness.

“Medications help you, but there are very few that don’t have side effects,” she said. “What we want to do is minimize these.”

Since there are so many medications available, good communication between doctor and patient about these side effects will almost always help them find drugs that best overcome the effects and make the patient feel better.

“You have to tell your doctor, ‘I can’t take this. It keeps me up all night.’” Dr. Arteaga-Hernandez said. “Eventually, we will find wonders. Your medications should help you to live a long life, but also a good one.”

Dr. Arteaga-Hernandez’s presentation was one of many exhibits and workshops designed especially for those suffering from various disabilities. Other topics addressed include housing, transportation, advocacy, employment and technology to assist with daily living and education.

Over four consecutive years she has received the coveted Polaris Award of Excellence in Public Relations Community Service for her radio talk show, “Cita con su Medici.” Additionally, Arteaga-Hernandez has aided students in various medical departments at Loma Linda’s School of Medicine and at Western University of Health Sciences.

For more information about Dr. Arteaga-Hernandez and other community doctors, call LaSalle Medical Associates at (909) 890-0407.

Dr. Arteaga-Hernandez is a member of the LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. Independent Physicians Association. (IPA.)


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All Children Need A Parent's Love - Even Teenagers

Rialto City Council Member Deborah Robertson and her mother Julia Calhoun, far right, with (from left) Deborah’s sister Bonnie Cotton, Bonnie’s grandson Lonell Williams and Bonnie’s daughter, Tahara “Nicky” Cotton. Bonnie, Lonell and Nicky are the widow, grandson and daughter of Robertson’s former foster son.


(RIALTO, Calif.) Deborah Robertson was only 23 years old when a boy we’ll call David became her foster son.

David (whose real name she’d rather not use) was a 16-year-old friend of Robertson’s sister. For a variety of reasons, he could no longer live with his parents and had become a ward of the San Diego County Department of Children’s Services.

He faced placement in a foster home and, with that, an uncertain future. That was, until Robertson stepped in.

“He needed a foster parent in his own neighborhood so he could graduate from the same high school he was attending then,” Robertson said. “I already knew him through my sister, and they let me become his foster parent.”

Robertson served as David’s legal “mother” until he turned 18. She provided him acceptance, mentoring and, even though she wasn’t much older than him, the adult presence that is critical in a teen’s life.

David stayed in her home for about 18 months, until shortly after graduating from high school. Later, he became part of her family in a different way, because he married her sister.

The kinship continued until David died of kidney failure at age 40.

Robertson’s relationship with David gives her a deep appreciation for the needs of today’s teenage children in the foster care system.

“Teenagers need a stable environment that they feel comfortable in,” Robertson said. “David had people around him who loved him and made him feel like part of a family. It is important to give a young person a sense of belonging, and that’s what foster parents can provide, even if they don’t know the child before he or she comes to their home.”

Ritchie Howard, who has foster parented a number of teenagers placed in his home by Knotts Family and Parenting Institute, and who also works with troubled teens as a member of the Rialto Youth Accountability Board, agrees that teens in the foster system need good, loving homes as much as younger children.

“Love is what conquers all,” Howard said. “If they’re given love, they are going to benefit.”

That’s why they are currently foster parenting a teenager as well as a younger child and have previously done so for numerous other teens as foster parents through Knotts Family and Parenting Institute.

In the Inland Empire, Knotts Family and Parenting Institute works with both San Bernardino and Riverside departments of children’s services to find homes for all ages of children, from babies to teenagers. It has the greatest need for foster parents who will take in teenagers.

“The counties try to place the teens in the same area so that they will not have to change schools. That is our goal as well,” said Alfreda Bantum, Foster Family Agency coordinator. If they are unable to find a home nearby, they simply place the client in whatever home has an opening, working with all foster family agencies like ours until they find a placement.”

Since 1992 the Knotts Family and Parenting Institute has provided foster family services for the children, parents and foster parents of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

For more information, or to become a foster parent, call the Knotts Family and Parenting Institute at (909) 880-0600.

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All Children Need A Parent's Love - Even Teenagers

Rialto City Council Member Deborah Robertson and her mother Julia Calhoun, far right, with (from left) Deborah’s sister Bonnie Cotton, Bonnie’s grandson Lonell Williams and Bonnie’s daughter, Tahara “Nicky” Cotton. Bonnie, Lonell and Nicky are the widow, grandson and daughter of Robertson’s former foster son.


(RIALTO, Calif.) Deborah Robertson was only 23 years old when a boy we’ll call David became her foster son.

David (whose real name she’d rather not use) was a 16-year-old friend of Robertson’s sister. For a variety of reasons, he could no longer live with his parents and had become a ward of the San Diego County Department of Children’s Services.

He faced placement in a foster home and, with that, an uncertain future. That was, until Robertson stepped in.

“He needed a foster parent in his own neighborhood so he could graduate from the same high school he was attending then,” Robertson said. “I already knew him through my sister, and they let me become his foster parent.”

Robertson served as David’s legal “mother” until he turned 18. She provided him acceptance, mentoring and, even though she wasn’t much older than him, the adult presence that is critical in a teen’s life.

David stayed in her home for about 18 months, until shortly after graduating from high school. Later, he became part of her family in a different way, because he married her sister.

The kinship continued until David died of kidney failure at age 40.

Robertson’s relationship with David gives her a deep appreciation for the needs of today’s teenage children in the foster care system.

“Teenagers need a stable environment that they feel comfortable in,” Robertson said. “David had people around him who loved him and made him feel like part of a family. It is important to give a young person a sense of belonging, and that’s what foster parents can provide, even if they don’t know the child before he or she comes to their home.”

Ritchie Howard, who has foster parented a number of teenagers placed in his home by Knotts Family and Parenting Institute, and who also works with troubled teens as a member of the Rialto Youth Accountability Board, agrees that teens in the foster system need good, loving homes as much as younger children.

“Love is what conquers all,” Howard said. “If they’re given love, they are going to benefit.”

That’s why they are currently foster parenting a teenager as well as a younger child and have previously done so for numerous other teens as foster parents through Knotts Family and Parenting Institute.

In the Inland Empire, Knotts Family and Parenting Institute works with both San Bernardino and Riverside departments of children’s services to find homes for all ages of children, from babies to teenagers. It has the greatest need for foster parents who will take in teenagers.

“The counties try to place the teens in the same area so that they will not have to change schools. That is our goal as well,” said Alfreda Bantum, Foster Family Agency coordinator. If they are unable to find a home nearby, they simply place the client in whatever home has an opening, working with all foster family agencies like ours until they find a placement.”

Since 1992 the Knotts Family and Parenting Institute has provided foster family services for the children, parents and foster parents of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

For more information, or to become a foster parent, call the Knotts Family and Parenting Institute at (909) 880-0600.

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Help A Neighbor, Volunteer To Ring A Silver Bell

Shaila, Shiane, Carl and Malaika Dameron rang a bell for the Salvation Army in 2007. The Damerons will again volunteer this year.


(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) –Shiny red kettles attended by men, women and children ringing silver bells are a familiar sight during the holiday season, but to most effectively serve its community The Salvation Army needs more volunteer bell ringers.

“We invite people to help the disadvantaged in our community by volunteering as bell ringers,” said Capt. Stephen Ball, commander of The Salvation Army of San Bernardino. “We’re asking individuals, families and groups to spend a day at one of our more than 25 locations in the San Bernardino area.”

In 2007, Salvation Army of San Bernardino board member, and Dameron Communications founder and creative director, Carl Dameron volunteered with his wife Malaika and their 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.”

The Salvation Army will begin ringing its bells this year Friday, Nov. 21, and continue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday until Christmas Eve.

Capt. Ball encourages families, groups of friends, community organizations, churches and Sunday School classes to sign up as “Bell Ringers for A Day.” The Salvation Army especially seeks groups large enough to work in shifts throughout an eight-hour day, but also welcomes individuals, families and 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," he 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, the Inland Empire Salvation Army Corps combine to serve more than 1,000 people holiday meals. But, these local corps 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 also help with lodging for homeless or evicted families; clothing and furniture for burnout victims, evicted and the homeless; prescriptions, 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 thousands of homeless families temporary emergency shelter and support in rebuilding their lives.

In 2009, The Salvation Army of San Bernardino plans to expand its services to the homeless by relocating its shelter and renovating that building, and by adding transitional apartments where homeless families can live for up to 24 months while receiving the same support resources those at the shelter have.

Providing these additional services is a huge reason why The Salvation Army wants to maximize its holiday kettle donations, which bring in far more money than any other time of year.

“The Hospitality House needs help to survive,” Capt. Ball said. “Next year, we are going to need an additional $75,000 to keep the doors open, feed more people and make the expansion a reality.”

To volunteer as a bell ringer in San Bernardino, Colton, Rialto, Grand Terrace or Highland, call (909) 888-1336. The San Bernardino office is setting up a volunteer schedule to which Capt. Ball and his staff are eager to assist local residents in adding their names

To volunteer as a bell ringer in Redlands and other East San Bernardino Valley communities call (909) 792-6868. Volunteer Services Coordinator Mike Delgado will provide an application and, on approval by Capt. Jonathan Apaun, assign volunteers to bell-ringing duties.

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

To volunteer as a bell ringer 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 learn more about volunteering as a bell ringer in Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Norco and other West Riverside County communities call the Riverside Corps Office at (951) 784-4490.

To learn more about volunteering as a bell ringer in Hemet, Beaumont, San Jacinto, Perris, Murietta, Menifee, Temecula and other central and southern Riverside County communities, call the Hemet Corps Office at (951) 925-7176.

To learn more about volunteering as a bell ringer in Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Indio, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Banning and other desert communities, call the Palm Desert Corps Office at (760) 340-4901.

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 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.

Police Steal Photo For Hit Piece

Photo by Robert Yager, copyright 2003

(LOS ANGELES) The website of professional photographer Robert Yager contains 30 disturbing images of anonymous gang members in Los Angeles.

One of those copyrighted images on www.robertyager.com is a snarling, gun-wielding Latino gang-banger, which Yager shot on a street in Los Angeles. It gained recent notoriety when it appeared in a flier the Rialto police and fire unions put out in support of the re-election of current Mayor Grace Vargas.

“You will be seeing a lot more of us if Deborah Robertson is elected Mayor” warns the flier in type over the gang member’s photo. Union officials acknowledge they’re sending this message out because of past votes Robertson took, which they believe aren’t in the union members’ best interests.

Yager didn’t know his photo was circulating in Rialto until he saw a television report on Oct. 28. He then contacted Robertson by email.

“I am wondering how and why they came to use my photo,” Yager said in his email. I did not give the Fire Department or Police Department permission to use this photo. It is a copyrighted image.”

Robertson also wonders what the union leaders were thinking.

“It seems our police and fire unions used Robert Yager’s photographs without permission, a clear copyright infringement,” she said. Some people would call that theft. It seems they took what they wanted and ignored what might happen.”

Public safety is one of Robertson’s goals, and will continue to be if she’s elected Mayor.

“If I’m Mayor, people will have sense that safety is a priority with the city,” she said. “But it’s not the only priority.”
She also will give a high priority to economic development, which she says is essential for strengthening a tax base to provide essential city services.

Robertson has served on the Rialto City Council eight years and has lived in Rialto for 20. She’s active in the East Rialto Kiwanis, the National Council of Negro Women, HIV/AIDS awareness and education program Brothers and Sisters in Action and other local organizations.

In addition to her elected seat on the Council, Robertson is also the Deputy District Director of External Affairs for the California Department of Transportation, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. She has worked for the State of California for the last 20 years, and in her current position oversees a budget of about $6 million, plus is responsible for Public, Media and Government Affairs, Public Records, Small Business and Community Outreach and Graphic Service.

Robertson is endorsed by the San Bernardino Sun, Black Voice News, Inland Valley News, the Press-Enterprise and Westside Story. She’s also endorsed by mayors, city council members, commissioners and school board members from throughout the Inland Empire, and numerous organizations and private citizens. A few of her endorsements are from Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter, Colton City Council Member Kelly Chastain, Rialto City Council Member Winifred Hanson, former Assembly member John Longville, Rialto School Board Member Dan Mays, Ontario City Council Member Alan Wapner, Fontana City Council Member Aquanetta Warren, Rialto Commissioner Midge Zupanic and the Rialto Democratic Club.


“Rialto needs Deborah Robertson as mayor. The two-term councilwoman's smarts, tenacity and commitment to taxpayers are Rialto's best defense to unstable economic factors that threaten its progress.” San Bernardino Sun editorial, Oct. 8, 2008

“Deborah Robertson is an assertive city councilwoman who espouses vision and an eagerness for the city to move forward on longstanding programs,” Riverside Press-Enterprise article, Oct. 4, 2008

“Robertson can provide energetic leadership and a pragmatic approach to city government … the better choice for mayor.” Riverside Press-Enterprise editorial, Oct. 25, 2008.

“Who is putting forth the energy and vision to turn the corner to greatness for Rialto? To me, Deborah (Robertson) will bring that energy and the knowledge of state government to turn that corner.” Editorial by Hardy Brown, publisher of Black Voice News, Oct. 9, 2009.

Economic Development and Safety Top Goals for Deborah Robertson

(RIALTO, Calif.) If elected Rialto Mayor on Tuesday, Deborah Robertson will fight for both economic development and public safety.

“I will focus on bringing more businesses, restaurants and entertainment to Rialto, so we can have a solid tax base to support our services, such as law enforcement and fire protection,” she said.

As Mayor, Robertson said she will devote her time to meeting with business leaders and developers from outside the city to convince them to establish or relocate businesses to Rialto. This will not only bring in revenue, but also make the city a more attractive place to live and do business.

“I will be out there as the number one spokesman for the city,” she said. “I’ll be working with our Economic Development Department and our Redevelopment Department. There are great opportunities for development in key areas, such as the “Renaissance” area near the Rialto Airport, and in the undeveloped areas at the northern and southern edges of the city.”

Robertson said she will also strive to improve the overall appearance of the city, through improved planning of how neighborhoods and business centers are laid out.

Public safety is also important, she said.

“If I’m Mayor, people will have sense that safety is a priority with the city,” she said. “But it’s not the only priority.”

Robertson has served on the Rialto City Council eight years and has lived in Rialto for 20. She’s active in the East Rialto Kiwanis, the National Council of Negro Women, HIV/AIDS awareness and education program Brothers and Sisters in Action and other local organizations.

In addition to her elected seat on the Council, Robertson is also the Deputy District Director of External Affairs for the California Department of Transportation, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. She has worked for the State of California for the last 20 years, and in her current position oversees a budget of about $6 million, plus is responsible for Public, Media and Government Affairs, Public Records, Small Business and Community Outreach and Graphic Service.

Robertson is endorsed by the San Bernardino Sun, Black Voice News, Inland Valley News, the Press-Enterprise and Westside Story. She’s also endorsed by mayors, city council members, commissioners and school board members from throughout the Inland Empire, and numerous organizations and private citizens. A few of her endorsements are from Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter, Colton City Council Member Kelly Chastain, Rialto City Council Member Winifred Hanson, former Assembly member John Longville, Rialto School Board Member Dan Mays, Ontario City Council Member Alan Wapner, Fontana City Council Member Aquanetta Warren, Rialto Commissioner Midge Zupanic and the Rialto Democratic Club.


“Rialto needs Deborah Robertson as mayor. The two-term councilwoman's smarts, tenacity and commitment to taxpayers are Rialto's best defense to unstable economic factors that threaten its progress.” San Bernardino Sun editorial, Oct. 8, 2008

“Deborah Robertson is an assertive city councilwoman who espouses vision and an eagerness for the city to move forward on longstanding programs,” Riverside Press-Enterprise article, Oct. 4, 2008

“Robertson can provide energetic leadership and a pragmatic approach to city government … the better choice for mayor.” Riverside Press-Enterprise editorial, Oct. 25, 2008.

“Who is putting forth the energy and vision to turn the corner to greatness for Rialto? To me, Deborah (Robertson) will bring that energy and the knowledge of state government to turn that corner.” Editorial by Hardy Brown, publisher of Black Voice News, Oct. 9, 2009.

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New Force, Fresh Face Qualified For Corona Council

(CORONA, Calif.) At a recent public gathering leading to the November 4 elections, Louis Davis, Corona City Council challenger, was asked a basic question of would-be council members: “Why are you the best qualified for the seat?”

Without missing a beat, he replied, “I’m not part of the ‘old boy’ system. I’m a new force, a fresh face. And I have the experience, plenty of it.

“For one thing, I understand our water system and our water needs. For another, I thoroughly understand the county’s transportation operation.”

The father of four is also a trained environmentalist. During his 25 years with San Diego Gas & Electric Davis was an Environmental Lab Technician then an Environmental Specialist, with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Redlands.

With years of regular attendance at Corona City Council meetings and those of the Western Riverside Council of Government (WRCOG), “I’ve developed a strong understanding of county government and its operations, particularly as they relate to the city of Corona,” Davis says. Additionally, he is a Region Manager for Local Public Affairs with Southern California Edison, a board member of the Norco Family YMCA and the Riverside Community College Foundation. Davis is also a member of the Corona Circle City Rotary and is on the Board of Trustees of the Corona Library. To these important regional posts, he adds his active role with the Corona-Norco United Way and the Corona Parents Action Group. “I don’t lack for something to do,” he chuckles.

“I’ve spent years involved in community planning and design, too,” he adds, “so I know what makes for a smooth-running city, one that is ready for every opportunity coming our way in this 21st century.”

The legal aspect of City Council membership is another valuable tool for members, with Davis having been named a Fee Arbitrator for L.A. County and the state of California.

“Am I qualified for the Corona City Council? Absolutely,” he states.

There are two open seats on the five-member council this coming November. One is an incumbent’s. Five challengers currently vie for the two positions, with Davis presently leading the way, pundits say.

Though a registered Democrat in a largely Republican community, he fails to see this as a hindrance to his council bid. “People who know me,” he says, “know I would represent all people, regardless of their political affiliation, their education level, their ethnic origins or their financial condition. Ours is a city council, and everyone in Corona should feel they have personal representation on that board.”

At 150,000 population, Corona is the third largest city in western Riverside County. “And it’s time we acted like it,” Davis adds. “Someone has to dream the big dream and see fresh projects through. That’s me.”

Big dream? Fresh projects? The six-year resident has long noted a lack of an “anchor” to the downtown. “I’m talking about a Performing Arts Center, an education facility, a convention center and even a sports complex. All of which would generate major income for the city’s General Fund. I can move such projects from dreams to realities. We just can’t keep building new homes, offices and retail space, then hope for the best.”

Louis Davis urges all registered Corona residents to head for the polls November 4, saying, “Given a chance on the City Council I can help take Corona where it ought to be, a leading and prominent Southern California community.”

About the Louis Davis campaign
On November 4, voters willing, Davis will begin initiating three major programs for Corona: “I plan to bring prominent educational institutions to the city; I’ll work hard to guide Corona to prepare for our future by bringing in high-tech businesses with high-end jobs that will survive any more economic downturns; and I’ll bring us revenues for our General Fund.”


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Start Your Ovens! Best Teen Chef 2009 Competition Set For March 14 at International Culinary School

Kevin Agra, the last winner of the Best Teen Chef of the Inland Empire, creates culinary masterpieces at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. Photo by Robert Swapp.


(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) -- High school seniors, and maybe the next generation of Emerils, Rachaels and Bobbys are getting ready to chop, dice and deglaze their way to winning The International Culinary School at The Art Institutes’ Best Teen Chef 2009 competition www.artinstitutes.edu/btc.

The premier culinary event for aspiring teen chefs, The Best Teen Chef 2009 competition is set for Saturday, May 9 at The International Culinary School of America at The Art Institute of Charlotte, NC. At stake is a full-tuition scholarship worth more than $40,000 and the prestigious title Best Teen Chef.

But to get there, students must first win a local competition on March 14. In the Inland Empire this competition takes place at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire.

“We are gratified that in the nine years we have sponsored Best Teen Chef, the quantity and quality of the students entering increases,” said Chef Michael Nenes, Assistant Vice President of Culinary Arts for The Art Institutes.

That’s certainly true at The International Culinary School of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, which is gearing up for its third year as host of a local competition. In 2008, it had six times as many competitors as the year before.

“Culinary Arts and Culinary Management are popular in the Inland Empire,” said Chef Eyad Joseph, academic director of the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. “There is a growing appreciation for good food here, and many young people see the value of turning their passion for cooking into a career.”

Hundreds of students from the U.S. and Canada enter the competition each year in hopes of snagging the grand prize and, more importantly, an opportunity to launch their education with a degree in culinary arts.

Kevin Agra, of Alta Loma, the winner of the Best Teen Chef Inland Empire 2008 competition, took advantage of the $3,000 scholarship he received as the local winner, and is now enrolled in the International Culinary School of America at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Agra is a 2008 graduate of Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga.

“I have always loved to cook,” he said. “Now, with the help of my scholarship to The International Culinary School, I will soon work as a chef in a restaurant.”

Agra added that participating in the Best Teen Chef event was in itself a learning experience, especially when he went to the national competition in Las Vegas, where he was pitted against the best teen chefs in the nation.

The Best Teen Chef event is a timed-competition. Student competitors are provided the same ingredients and recipes, and prepare their entries using identical equipment.

Student competitors are judged on organization, taste and presentation. In all, more than $250,000 in tuition scholarships will be awarded.

For more information on Best Teen Chef 2009, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/btc or call (909) 915-2100 or 1-800-353-0812.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion Design and Retail Management, and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of more than 40 educational institutions located throughout North America.

For more information or tour, call The Art Institute of California–Inland Empire at 1-800-353-0812 or (909) 915-2100, or visit www.artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

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Film Festival: Another Inland Empire First

Urban Dreams Filmworks Festival creator Erick Benson

Ontario Mayor Paul Leon

(ONTARIO, Calif.) “The Urban Dreams Filmworks Festival has been a dream of mine for two years,” explains Ontario’s producer, playwright and author Erick Benson. “There’s more than enough talent in the Inland Empire to easily embrace such a project.”

Benson, the founder of Urban Dreams Filmworks and creator of the film festival, is no newcomer to the entertainment industry. He is a playwright with four stage productions under his belt, a TV producer and an author with his fourth crime story book due soon. Additionally, he and writing partner Anthony Herron created Ben-Her Entertainment and have collaborated on numerous writing projects for film and television.

A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and, subsequently, a master’s in Creative Writing, Benson went on to join the staff of TV’s popular “Family Feud” and, later, “Love Connection.” Currently, he is the creator of “First Cousins,” a television pilot starring Sherman Hemsley, the veteran of “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.” Also under consideration by producers are four reality shows and a feature film.

“I created Urban Dreams Filmworks,” the writer/producer says, “as a cutting-edge film company to write and produce quality films with positive messages. Our goal is to expose the world to stories that can change lives and create tomorrow’s horizons today.”

And his March film festival is considered by entertainment professionals a perfect example.

The Urban Dreams Filmworks Festival will give aspiring writers, directors and producers around the country the opportunity to present their creative works of art, organizers say. “There’ll be five categories,” adds Benson. “We’ll have Short Films of 20 minutes or less; TV samples of reality, drama or comedy shows up to 10 minutes in length; Documentaries may also be 10 minutes or less; there’ll be Music Video entries of no more than seven minutes; an animation category and a new section for festivals, Spoken Word In View, of five minutes or less.”

Festival judges will include such industry leaders as ABC/ Sony/Columbia alumnus and longtime actor Anthony Herron who will also teach a screenwriting class.

Awards participants handing out the beautiful and well-earned plaques number Ontario Mayor Paul Leon and Greg Devereaux, along with a few of Benson’s industry friends: “Gus Blackman, a Warner Bros. 30-year veteran and producer of television’s ‘Judge Mathis’ show, and Ken Dickson, a Warner executive producer with an acting background in stage, TV and film productions, are a couple of powerful Warner Bros. executives,” he notes. “And we’ll have Stacey McLain-Fields. She’s been a head writer for ‘The Parkers’ sitcom, a screenwriter of a B.E.T. Movie of the Week and a story editor for a decade or more. Stacey will be an award presenter and will hold a seminar on Writing for Television.”

As Paul Leon, Ontario’s mayor, says, “The Urban Dreams Filmworks Festival is an exciting new festival which will bring the best and brightest filmmakers to Ontario, the entertainment center of the Inland Empire. The festival will add to the growing culture and quality of life that Ontario is becoming.”

Festival organizers are adhering strictly to the event’s Mission Statement, according to Benson. He says, “All of us are involved … to provide an opportunity for independent filmmakers to present their works of art in an open setting to gain industry exposure that can possibly provide marketing avenues for their projects.’”

Benson is taking his festival a step further, too. He’s bringing in Hollywood pros for seminars in scriptwriting, choosing actors, music video production and even financing, the last conducted by Terrell Hickman, a prominent financial planner for entertainers.

“On Day 1, March 28th,” Benson says, “we’ll have the classes and films running all day, plus film/television/industry vendor booths. Day 2, the 29th, will be the same, but with the evening’s concluding awards banquet gala.” All film screenings are open to the public and free.

Students fascinated by film and video haven’t been overlooked, either. In fact, Benson has created two competition categories exclusively for high school seniors as part of “The Student Writing & Video Challenge.”

“Contest #1,” Benson explains, “gives young people the chance to illustrate their writing skills by submitting a1- to 3-page synopsis for a television show or feature film. Contest #2 is where the seniors can demonstrate their creative skills by making their own video project in comedy, drama, reality, action or documentary categories.” Winning students in each contest will be honored at the awards banquet and receive special prizes from Ontario Mayor Leon.

Benson says “I discussed the idea with Ontario’s City Manager, Greg Devereaux, who convinced me the festival would be such a powerful and successful project that it ought to be in the city’s Convention Center.” And so it will, March 28 and 29 of 2009.

For further information on festival events, submission guidelines and fees, student entries, seminar offerings and more, go on line to www.urbandreamsfilmworks.com or phone (909) 268-5303.

About Urban Dreams Filmworks
The founder of Claremont, California’s Urban Dreams Filmworks Inc., Erick Benson, has said, “I created Urban Dreams Filmworks as a cutting-edge film company to write and produce quality films with positive messages. Our goal is to expose the world to stories that can change lives and create tomorrow’s horizons today.”

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Riverside City Gym: Even With Age, The Tradition Continues

Oscar Shearer, with a wall of photos and newspaper clippings in the lobby of Riverside City Gym, showing the building's history as the Riverside YMCA.

(RIVERSIDE, Calif.) – Unexpectedly located in the basement of the historic Life Arts Center, Riverside City Gym has answered the health and fitness needs of downtown Riverside since 1998.

The gym serves as a reminder of the building’s heyday, a sixty-year stretch of time from 1909 until 1969, when it housed the city’s YMCA. With its centenary rapidly approaching, the gym’s new owner and proprietor, Oscar J Shearer, has made extensive improvements and renovations, each carefully designed to enhance the experience of the gym’s members as well as remaining true to the building’s unique character.

Most notably, Shearer has updated the air conditioning system to one that can cool the weight-room floor on a 115-degree day; and also he has refurbished the locker rooms with new carpeting and tile-work; has replaced and rebuilt several walls; has painted and cleaned extensively; and has added ceramic tile floors throughout the hallways and restrooms.

On the gym floor itself, Shearer added three new Hammer Strength Machines, bringing the gym’s total number of these machines to 18. Riverside City Gym is the only gym in greater Riverside certified as an official Hammer Strength Training Center.
Hammer Strength Machines, such as this one demonstrated by Oscar Shearer, are considered the Mercedes-Benzes of weight machines. Riverside City Gym is the only gym in or near Riverside that has Hammer Strength Machines.
“Hammer Strength is the Mercedes Benz of fitness machines, and because of their ergonomic and sturdy design they are probably the industry’s most innovative strength-training equipment” Shearer said. “We pride ourselves in being one of only a few fitness centers in the Inland Empire with this selection of quality equipment.”

Several years before he bought the gym, Shearer entered the business as a personal trainer. He was attracted to this particular gym because – as an award-winning Over-50 Body Builder – he believed that the high-quality equipment and no-nonsense work-ethic of the gym’s regulars formed the perfect place to prepare for his competition at the national championships. Shortly afterwards, he began introducing his own clients to the gym that was coming to mean so much to him.

“Before I bought City Gym, it was – in a sense – already my gym,” Shearer said. “But it was getting old; it was becoming run-down and was getting side-lined by the competition. I really wanted to make the gym I love so much become an integral part of downtown Riverside, a place where anyone who is committed to getting in better shape or improving their health can do so comfortably, enjoyably and effectively.”

New members receive one free consultation with a trainer, which provides an orientation to the equipment and services provided by the gym, and how to best use them. The consultation would most likely also include advice on maintaining a healthy diet, or establishing a fitness routine.

New members may also purchase an “assisted training package,” for $150 in which they receive six weekly sessions with a trainer, with “homework” to do during the rest of the week. This is heavily discounted from the regular per hour price. After these six weeks members can design their own routines.

Advanced trainees can choose between several discounted training packages. For those who are comfortably established in a fitness routine, and don’t need regular guidance from a trainer, advice is still free.

Fewer than five percent of City Gym’s membership participates in competitive bodybuilding. One of them is Karl Marshall, who turned 80 on Oct. 28. Six years ago, Shearer began working with him to help him to improve what was already a long successful history in competition. In 2004 Karl competed in what is considered his best shape ever at the Master’s National Championships in Philadelphia with an unprecedented full standing ovation.

“I have trained 14 bodybuilders – 12 men and two women – over the last seven years,” Shearer said. “All of them have received first place in their events, but none of those victories were as sweet as Karl’s standing ovation. In this sport, that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Another notable gym member is Eleanora Palagi, a talented sculptress and businesswoman who created Mario’s Place, a five-star restaurant also located in downtown Riverside. Mrs. Palagi has turned the daily operation of the restaurant over to her children, and now spends three mornings a week at the gym, under Shearer’s personal guidance.

Although these notable members are in their 70s, the gym’s patrons span the generations from middle-aged to teenaged. Of course, adults of any age may join, but Riverside City Gym also welcomes teens 16 and older with written parental consent. Shearer has maintained his New Year Special membership prices during the on-going renovations. But make no mistake: This gym is a place for working hard and achieving real and measurable results.

“Riverside City Gym isn’t a place for people to flirt or socialize. Those who do will be strongly encouraged to finish their workouts and move on,” Shearer said. “But if you want results, this is the place to be. We are dedicated to helping people reach their physical goals, and with this ideal in mind, I firmly believe that City Gym’s best years are still to come.”

Shearer has also added services that weren’t previously offered. These are also available without joining the gym, but members receive discounts.

Licensed massage therapists Tom Mishler and Reiki Master Wellington Porter now provide an extensive menu of massage services within the precincts of Riverside City Gym. Among their specialties are the relaxing Swedish-American Massage, Deep Tissue Sports Massage, Hot- and Cold-Stone Work, Energy Work, and Pregnancy Massage. Hour-long sessions are available to members and non-members alike, though members receive deep discounts on a variety of massage packages. Half-hour massages are also available, but the therapists recommend their clients take the full hour.

“Massage is important as part of an overall fitness routine,” Mishler said. “When muscles are tight and knotted, it’s difficult to have effective, productive workouts and overall muscle health.”
Stair climbers are one of many cardio machines at Riverside City Gym.

Especially – and exclusively – for women, there is an unusual class called Pole Fitness available. Pole Fitness is an aerobic-oriented version of the sensual pole dancing seen in some bars and clubs. “The ladies have a blast with this,” Jennifer Hawkins said. “It’s very fun, and no-one has ever walked away not having had a great time.”

Additionally, on Thursday evenings Riverside City Gym hosts a belly-dancing class taught by Marika, a talented and innovative dancer and instructor. Ladies – and men! – of all shapes and sizes can enjoy this unusual physical and cultural activity set to Middle-Eastern influenced music.

Members have full access to the gym from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Current special pricing is $99 for a three-month membership or $336 for a one-year membership, with no initiation fee.

For more information, pricing or a tour, call (951) 788-6115 or email membership@riversidecitygym.com. Information is also available at www.riversidecitygym.com


Oscar Shearer outside Riverside City Gym.

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