Local

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

If it were not for the news headlines, you probably would not know California is under a state of emergency due to continuing drought conditions affecting more than 95% of state residents. Last summer was the hottest recorded in Western states. And in a 128-year stretch, 2022 has so far been the driest in Golden State history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Then, in March, evidence of worsening drought conditions in the state showed up in rainfall that didn’t. Low levels of rain during the month, prompted concerned authorities at the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) to cut delivery from the State Water Project, a storage facility, down to 5 % of the supplies that had been requested.

Reacting to those and other developments indicating a need to begin preserving water, last week, Gov. Newsom asked local water authorities to “move to Level 2 of their Water Shortage Contingency Plans.”

Newsom did not recommend specific actions, leaving regional and municipal authorities open to take “locally-appropriate actions.”

“Today, I am calling on local water agencies to implement more aggressive water conservation measures, including having the Water Board evaluate a ban on watering ornamental grass on commercial properties, which will drive water use savings at this critical time,” said Newsom who has invested more than $1 billion in state efforts aimed at tackling the drought.

Last month, Newsom invested $22.5 million in immediate funds to address the state’s drought emergency. That amount included $8.25 million for outreach efforts educating Californians on water conservation.

Dale Hunter is executive director of the California African American Water Education Foundation (CAAWEF). He says he applauds the governor’s decision to invest in outreach, but he also emphasized how important education will be for this campaign because of the seriousness of this ongoing drought.

CAAWEF is a statewide nonprofit that raises awareness about water issues concerning African Americans and educates the Black community about them.

“We must embrace conservation. It will become a way of life for us,” says Hunter. “We have to give people practical tips to drive this stuff home – so that people know they are a part of it. For example, the next time you wash that T-shirt, you have to make sure you have some other stuff in the washer to save water.”

Hunter said a lot of people hear about water conservation in the media, but they do not know what it involves.

Hunter says funding for outreach would support efforts by organizations like his that educate consumers.

The governor’s executive order last week called on the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to consider asking commercial consumers to ban irrigation of “non-functional” grass on their properties. However, Newsom’s proposed ban would not affect residential customers or recreational spaces and parks.

DWR estimates the plan could save water equal to “several hundred thousand acre-feet.” One acre-foot is the estimated amount of water three households need to last them for one year.

In California, 85% of public water systems source their supply from groundwater, which, under normal circumstances, accounts for 41% of water delivered to homes, businesses and public facilities. But during droughts like the current one, as much as 58 % of those water authorities may rely on groundwater.

Hunter says he understands why Newsom didn’t push any mandates or laws but opted instead to make recommendations to local authorities.

“Water is always a local issue,” he explained. “Always.”

Hunter says increasing awareness about water and getting people to become stakeholders in conservation will not happen overnight.

“It takes a while to percolate down to the average person,” says Hunter. “It might hit us when folks in one Zip Code can only water their yards on certain days. Water is the lifeblood of our state. We have to make sure we get it right.”

 

 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The 32nd Annual San Bernardino County History Day competition featured more than 110 projects from nearly 180 participating students this year. The winners were honored during a virtual awards ceremony held on March 10.

 

“I applaud all the students involved in this year’s San Bernardino County History Day,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “They exemplify our best and brightest, and they’ve worked diligently to research local, national and worldwide events in preparation for this competition.”

 

History Day is an interdisciplinary program that encourages students to increase their knowledge of history through classroom activities within the content and process of social studies and language arts curriculum. This year’s theme was “Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences.” 

 

History Day provides students an opportunity to compete in a variety of categories within three divisions:

·  Elementary (grades four through five) 

·  Junior (grades six through eight) 

·  Senior (grades nine through 12) 

 

The elementary division competes in the poster and podcast categories.

 

Both junior and senior divisions compete in exhibit, podcast, documentary, performance, website and research paper categories. Submissions are judged by historians, educators and other professionals in related fields.

 

Participating school districts include: 

·      Adelanto Elementary

·      Barstow Unified

·      Central School District

·      Chaffey Joint Union High

·      Cucamonga 

·      Hesperia Unified

·      San Bernardino City Unified

·      Snowline Joint Unified

·      Upland Unified

·      Victor Valley Union High

 

Individual and group qualifiers will advance to the upcoming California History Day competition in May. 

 

2022 San Bernardino County History Day Champions:

 

Elementary Division

Poster, Individuals

·       Alanis Acuna – Cucamonga Elementary School, Cucamonga School District

·       Ariana Nares – Victoria Magathan Elementary School, Adelanto Elementary School District

·       Oliver Nieto – Victoria Magathan Elementary School, Adelanto Elementary School District

 

Poster, Groups

·       Juliet Araujo, Jay’Len Dews – Cucamonga Elementary School, Cucamonga School District

·       Lizette Acosta, Mariah Bautista, Alissa Garcia, Tajhe Thomas – Victoria Magathan Elementary School, Adelanto Elementary School District

·      Madrid Carcano, Ailani Garcia Mendoza – Cucamonga Elementary School, Cucamonga School District

 

Junior Division 

Documentary, Individuals

·       Jennifer Camacho Duenas – Cucamonga Middle School, Central School District

 

Exhibit, Individuals

·       Emma Aldrete – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

·       Sebastian Gutierrez – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Logan Loya – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

 

Historical Paper, Individuals

·       Anamarie Garay – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

·       Heather Kohler – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

·       Leah Todd – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

 

Performance, Individuals

·       Alina Hazen – Pinon Mesa Middle School, Snowline Joint Unified School District

 

Podcast, Individuals

·       Genesis Caro – Pinon Mesa Middle School, Snowline Joint Unified School District

·       Riley Hunter – Pinon Mesa Middle School, Snowline Joint Unified School District

·       Zayda Mercado – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

 

Website, Individuals

·       Matthew Martin – Pinon Mesa Middle School, Snowline Joint Unified School District

·       Lucas Schultz – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

 

Documentary, Groups

·       Subhan Ahmad, Babur Barakzai, Kaden Batcheller, Hajed Bhri, Nebiy Habtie – Cucamonga Middle School, Central School District

·       Andrea Mejia Flores, Norah Gallegos, Allison Jimenez-Galvan – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Kiara Mann, Violet Valdez – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Exhibit, Groups

·       Izabella Cachora, Jamyah Lindsay – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Aubrey Chavez, Kendra Cloyd – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Vincent Felix, Miguel Lucero, Amari Newton, Angel Silva – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Podcast, Groups

·       Benjamin Lopez-Lobos, Matthew Rosales – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

 

Website, Groups

·       Violet Figueroa, Madelyn Sweda – Cucamonga Middle School, Central School District

·       Jaiden Hunter, Chloe Millet – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Senior Division

Historical Paper, Individuals

·       Jairus Ah Ching – Barstow High School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Annalise Delgado – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

·       Justin Jaramillo – Barstow High School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Documentary, Individuals

·       Jaden Dominguez – Etiwanda High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

·       Maximus Hernandez – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

·      David Zavala – Barstow High School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Exhibit, Individuals

·       Sandra Martinez Rivera – Oak Hills High School, Hesperia Unified School District

·       Danielle Mitchell – Oak Hills High School, Hesperia unified School District

·       William Ortega – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

 

Performance, Individuals

·       Elizabeth “Snow” Cameron – Upland High School Upland Unified School District

 

Podcast, Individuals

·       Julia Ann “Ell” Escano – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Miko Duterte – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Luke Tan – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

 

Website, Individuals

·       Angela Liu – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Adrianna Rios – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

·       Tania Torres-Gomez – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

 

Documentary, Group

·       Alison Goetz, Julia Mendoza, Alexandra Ruel – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Kayla Logan, Emily McConnell – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Martin Shiekh, Oliver Shiekh – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

 

Exhibit, Group

·       Christina Godinez, Christian Gonzalez, Steven Guevara – Oak Hills High School, Hesperia Unified School District

·       Denise Hernandez, Marbella Santiago – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

·       Sarah Thomas, Emily Wright, Jessica Zapata – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

 

Podcast, Group

·       Jazmin Gonzalez, Christopher Hartman – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

 

Website, Group

·       Chloe Butarbutar, Monique Robles – Upland High School, Upland High School District

·       Harrison Cameron, Thomas Chang – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Lila Hernandez, Marco Hernandez, Aliitasi Josephine Lealofi, Leslei Minguela Navarro, Hailey Stradling – Barstow High School, Barstow Unified High School

 

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.#transforminglives.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY— The First District office was pleased to award three $500 scholarships to deserving High Desert seniors during this week’s State of Education event at the Victorville Conference Center.

Hosted by the Greater High Desert Chamber of Commerce, the event celebrated the many accomplishments of their county schools over the past year.

Constituent Services Director Samuel Shoup was pleased to honor the following seniors with $500 scholarships on behalf of our San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors First District Office. The funds will go toward the schools of their choice.

• Samantha Allen of Oak Hills High School is graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Favorite quote: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” – Forrest Gump
• Daniel Orellana of Apple Valley High School is also graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Favorite quote: “Reach for the stars so if you fall, you land on a cloud.” – Kanye West
• Emilia Yuja Matute of University Preparatory, is graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Favorite quote: “An action is worth more than a thousand words.” – Emilia Yuja Matute

A total of 27 scholarships were presented during the ceremony. Additional recipients included Ryleigh Ades, Navaho Augsburger, Tayler Avila, Ashely Awad, Sage Ginorio, Christopher Grantham, Isabella Jackson, Caitlynn Kelly, Jacob Kleinsmith, Anna Komonita, Regan Lafever, Matthew Miura, Stephanie Montealegre, Elshaddai Netsereab, Enrique Ordinal, Amara Pszoniak, Max Quijada, Bibianna Rodrigues, Gabriel Soto, Alexis Suttle, Stephenie Udeze, Brianna Vazquez, Veronica Vazquez, and Sara Wahl.

REDLANDS, CA—- Jalani Bakari and Janice Rooths were in the studio discussing Will and Chris at the Oscars with Empire Talks Back (ETB) host Wallace Allen on the April 3 edition of the radio broadcast.

Jalani and Janice are both Community Activists, Equity Advocates, and National Influencers who reside and work in the Riverside area.

ETB is broadcast each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. on KCAA 1050 AM radio. The program streams live video via http://www.kcaaradio.com.  The Empire Talks Back archive is available on all podcast sites as well as YouTube. Just ask for Empire Talks Back. If you would like to be a guest on ETB, call WssNews at (909) 384-8131.

MORENO VALLEY, CA— Learn how to create a soil amendment that’s waste free and great for gardens! On Saturday, April 2, the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources will host a free backyard composting and vermicomposting class at our headquarters in Moreno Valley (14310 Frederick Street).

Learn how to recycle organic resources, such as yard trimmings, as well as fruit and vegetable waste into a dark, crumbly, sweet-smelling soil conditioner called compost. If you don’t have yard trimmings, or lack suitable space to compost, vermicomposting is a fantastic alternative that can be done in an empty plastic bin, bucket, or kitty litter container.

Composting is nature’s way of recycling. It’s a great way to turn waste into a garden. In composting, organic material is mixed together in a pile or bin, where literally millions of tiny microbes digest the material and turn it into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Vermicomposting puts worms to work, as red wigglers will break down organic waste, such as apple cores and melon rinds, and turn them into a nutrient-rich byproduct called worm castings. The free class covers both composting and vermicomposting, with composting starting at 9:00 am and vermicomposting starting at 10:00 am.

If attendees would like to put the principles taught in the class into practice, compost and vermicomposting bins are available for purchase at the end of the class. These bins are only available for purchase by Riverside County residents and have a limit of three per household.  Credit card or cash payment only, no personal checks are accepted.

The class is free and will end by 11 a.m. The class will be held outdoors in our resource garden, so dress to accommodate current weather conditions.  Attendees will need to observe social distancing during the class.  These programs are offered to educate residents about the ease and advantages of organic material recycling and how composting preserves valuable space in county landfills.

For more information, call (951) 486-3200  or visit  www.rcwaste.org/classes

SACRAMENTO, CA— According to a 2019 PPIC report, only 13% of community college freshmen earn their associate degree within two years. While these rates partly reflect the diversity of student goals, only about 48 percent of students aiming to receive an associate degree or certificate do so within six years.

In response to these findings, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton) introduced AB 2738: The Community Colleges Completion Act. This bill requires California Community Colleges (CCC) to reduce time to degree completion by increasing data transparency, publishing course schedules, and providing the classes necessary for students to complete their associate degrees or certificates within two years.

“Our community colleges play a key role in connecting California students, especially first-generation college students and those from low-income backgrounds to well-paying careers and four-year universities,” shared Majority Leader Reyes. “But two-year completion rates remain low, especially for our Latino and Black students. AB 2738 supports students’ goals of earning their degrees and certificates within two years by requiring colleges to take concrete steps to make this timeline possible.”

Completion rates vary by racial and ethnic groups and are particularly low for students of color. For example, while 78% of Latino students enroll with the goal of attaining a two-year degree or transferring to a four-year institution, two-thirds take six or more years to transfer.

Many students struggle to complete within two years, sometimes because of how difficult it is to plan their course schedules. While degree requirements are specified in course catalogs, students must often choose between hundreds of courses offered at inconsistent times and intervals. This makes it especially difficult for students with obligations outside of school, such as work or family, to plan for and complete their degrees.

“Because there is very little momentum through the community college pipeline, most California Community College students, especially those who are Latino, are being denied an opportunity for upward social mobility,” said Jose Fierro, President/Superintendent at Cerritos College and CALCCTA  President. “AB 2738 is a data-driven, innovative effort to close equity gaps by increasing degree and transfer rates for students of color across the State of California, and is an essential step towards equitable economic vitality.”

“The urgency to help students get ahead educationally and economically has never been greater,” said Dr. Scott W. Thayer, Interim President of San Bernardino Valley College. “With direct student support, guided academic and career pathways, state investment in community colleges, and AB 2738, we will ensure more community college students get to the finish line of their college and career goals.”

AB 2738 requires California Community Colleges to take action to reduce time to completion for students. This bill will increase transparency of data surrounding completion rates and ensure colleges develop plans to make two-year completion an achievable goal for all students.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Time for Change Foundation’s (TFCF) 20^th Anniversary Awards Gala, “Once Upon a Time” will honor outstanding individuals and organizations that go above and beyond for our community and continue to make a difference in the lives of others.

Susan Burton, Founder of A New Way of Life Reentry Project, will be honored with the Harriet Tubman Legacy Award for her outstanding dedication as an innovative model, creating both a welcoming and healing space for women to rejoin their communities after incarceration while developing leaders to work toward liberation. As a formerly incarcerated Black woman, Ms. Burton is a front-runner in the movement to reform the criminal legal system, founding committee member of the Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM), and outspoken voice to end mass incarceration.

After the 2017-18 tour in sixty-four prisons and jails, twenty-six states and three countries for her memoir, Becoming Ms. Burton, she launched the SAFE (Sisterhood Alliance for Freedom and Equality) Housing Network to replicate A New Way of Life’s effective and humane reentry model. Since 2018, Ms. Burton has mentored and supported eighteen organizations in thirteen states (Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington) and two countries (Uganda and Kenya) that opened their own safe homes.

Other Award Honorees include:

Patty Favela with the Ramos Family Spirit of Compassion Award, Vickie Lobo of Knock Knock Angels with the Nancy Varner Angel Award, and Carmen Perez-Jordan of The Gathering for Justice, and Jay Jordan of Time Done with the Dynamic Duo Award.

Time for Change Foundation’s 20^th Anniversary Awards Gala will be held virtually on April 28^th, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. To support the work of Time for Change Foundation, you can become a sponsor, purchase an ad in the event program book, or purchase a Gala ticket.

To purchase tickets for the event or to become a sponsor and increase your business’ visibility in the community, please visit their website at www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org, or contact Vanessa Perez at (909) 886-2994 or by email at vperez@timeforchangefoundation.org.

ARMC will host an interactive event to support women’s heart health

COLTON, CA— Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) will be holding an upcoming “Go Red” interactive event to promote women’s heart health. Each year, ARMC hosts this event at its hospital in support of American Heart Month and the American Heart Association (AHA), who created the “Go Red” initiative.

The “Go Red” event invites participants to wear red and participate in a fashion show. The event will also provide educational and interactive sessions on heart disease and strokes and their signs and symptoms. Participants will learn AHA’s “Life’s Simple Seven” steps to live a long and healthy life—getting active, eating better, losing weight, quitting smoking, controlling cholesterol, managing blood pressure, and reducing blood sugar.

The event will take place on March 31, 2022, from 12–1:30 p.m., in the Oak Conference Room, and will be open to the public as well as ARMC employees. ARMC staff from a range of departments will participate in this event, including physicians and nurses who will provide information and demonstrations.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. The American Heart Association launched its “Go Red” campaign in 2004 to increase awareness of the dangers of heart disease and advocate for women’s heart health.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Council approved the third phase of a four phase, 53-street plan to repave and resurface streets and repair sidewalks throughout San Bernardino. The most recent contract, approved on March 16, was awarded to the Matich Corporation in the amount of $6.4 million. It will encompass segments of fourteen streets in the city. Work on this phase, which will also include ADA accessible ramps, drainage, sidewalk installation, signage, and curb/gutter improvements, will begin in early May and should be completed by October 2022.

Funding for this project will come from Measure S funds as well as budgetary savings from other projects within the City’s 2021/2022 Capital Improvement Plan.

“This is another example of San Bernardino continuing to upgrade our city’s infrastructure,” said City Manager Robert D. Field. “There is a lot more work to do, but our residents are already noticing a difference.”

Streets that will be improved in this phase are:

• Temple Street – from J Street to Perris Street (Ward 1)
• Acacia Street – from 10th Street to Baseline Street (Ward 2)
• Prospect Avenue – from Congress Street to Flood Control (Ward 3)
• Ralston Avenue – from Mt. View to Waterman Avenue (Ward 4)
• Dover Drive – from Mountain Drive to I Street (Ward 5)
• Meridian Avenue – from Foothill Blvd. to 7th Street (Ward 6)
• Parkside Avenue – from 30th Street to Parkdale Avenue (Ward 7)
• Congress Street – from Mt. Vernon to K Street (Ward 3)
• Virginia Street – from E Street to F Street and G Street to H Street (Ward 2)
• Niles Street – from San Gabriel Street to Crestview Street (Ward 2)
• Trenton Street – from Crestview Avenue to Valencia Avenue (Ward 2)
• Cedar Street – from Highland Avenue to 29th Street (Ward 2)
• Arden Street – from Highland Avenue to Pacific Street (Wards 2,7)
• Country Club Lane – from Waterman Avenue to Fremontia Drive (Ward 7)

In December 2021, a contract was awarded to Onyx Paving Company for work on seven streets across town. In February 2022, the City Council awarded a contract for nine streets to All-American Asphalt. Work on those phases is currently underway. Bidding for the final phase, which will encompass twenty-three additional street segments, will be held in May.

The streets identified for rehabilitation work were prioritized through a March 2020 pavement management analysis completed by the Public Works Department, which used scientific methods to rate the condition of all public streets in San Bernardino and to prioritize their rehabilitation.

In 2021, the City of San Bernardino Public Works Department improved and rehabilitated over 3.8 million square feet of roadway, 37,000 square feet of curb, gutter, and sidewalk, and 119 ADA accessible ramps throughout the city.

By Lou Yeboah

Today, all the antagonists are in place. The Antichrist is about to arise, and the infighting among the prophesied 10 Super Nations is about to begin. Pay attention and listen carefully! God issued one of His most startling prophecies in all of Scripture. He foretold, in [Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39], that in the end times, RIGHT BEFORE the return of Jesus, the greatest political leader in history of Mankind will emerge from Europe. After taking over that area by diplomatic cunning and deceit, he will launch a military campaign that will result in his acquiring “authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation” [Revelation 13:7]. His empire will be the most extensive in all of history, encompassing the entire world, and his rule will be the most demonic the world has ever experienced.

The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones. Pay attention and listen carefully!

Russia is diplomatically moving into the Middle East, coalescing Israel’s implacable enemies. Once the regional war erupts in which Israel will annihilate the “House of Esau”, the Syrians, the Jordanians, and the Egyptians, the Antichrist will arise just as the Bible foretells. He will begin his rise to power as a dynamic, charismatic, insightful, visionary leader who will astound the world with the cleverness of his solutions to world problems. He will appear to be the savior of the world. But as he consolidates his power, his true nature will be revealed. He will emerge as a Satan possessed and empowered person who hates God and is determined to annihilate both Christianity and Judaism.

To anyone who is aware and watching and knows the Bible, it is evident that the world is moving toward the mark of the beast at an incredible rate. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.” [Revelation 13:16-18].

I tell you, “End times prophecy is rapidly being fulfilled.” [Revelation 3:10] and all who are not firmly established upon God’s Word and the righteousness of Jesus Christ will be deceived and overcome. For Satan “works with all power and signs and lying wonders with all deceivableness of unrighteousness” [2 Thessalonians 2:9-10] to gain control of mankind, and his deceptions will increase right up to the very end. Please surrender your life to Christ because we are in the last hour, the day of the Lord is at hand, and it is time to get ready. “The warning is going out to the world!” Time is so short. The headlines which you read each day, regarding the Middle East, are simply God’s prophetic Word being fulfilled. No one knows the hour!