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SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Omnitrans is pleased to announce that Jerome Rogers has been named Director of Safety and Security.

Rogers will immediately began work on the agency response team handling the COVID-19 health crisis and will lead implementation of Omnitrans’ Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan as well as its ongoing efforts to maintain the agency’s award-winning safety and security programs.

“Omnitrans has no higher priority than the safety of its customers and employees, so this director position is crucial,” said Interim CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “Jerome’s expertise and leadership will keep our agency at the forefront of industry safety initiatives.”

“My vision for Omnitrans is to become the safest agency in the state of California, through innovation, training and ongoing commitment to our customers,” said Rogers.

Rogers has 15 years of experience in the safety field, including seven years in transit. Most recently, he served as Regional Safety Director with the Transdev mobility company. Rogers is an American Society of Safety Professionals Board Member, is an OSHA Authorized Certified Instructor, and is a Certified Safety Professional and Associate Safety Professional certified.

Rogers is a graduate of DeVry University, and will earn his master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety from Columbia Southern University in 2021.

Waives late fees, delays registration requirements and extends permits and IDs

Sacramento – The California Department of Motor Vehicles today announced it is waiving late fees and penalties for vehicle registration, extending expiring identification cards, temporary operating permits and motor carrier permits.

With authority granted under today’s executive order signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the DMV is:

• Waiving late fees and penalties for vehicle registration renewals due between March 16 and May 31, 2020, and paid within 60 days of the original expiration date. The requirement to have current license plate stickers is also waived for vehicles with registration expiring between March 4 and June 30, 2020.
• Extending identification cards expiring on or after March 4, 2020, to be valid through June 22, 2020 (60 days from today).
• Temporarily suspending for 60 days the requirement to submit a transfer of ownership within 10 days for vehicle transfers occurring on or after March 4, 2020, and the requirement to register a vehicle acquired or previously based outside of California within 20 days once registration becomes due.
• Allowing temporary operating permits that expire on or after March 4, 2020, to be valid another 60 days from today.
• Lengthening motor carrier permits expiring in March, April and May 2020 to June 30, 2020. A motor carrier permit is required for numerous transportation and commercial activities in California, including transporting property for compensation, hauling with a commercial vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds, and transporting hazardous materials.

“These measures can help lighten the burden many Californians are experiencing during this difficult time,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said.

The DMV continues to encourage customers to renew their vehicle registration and complete vehicle transfers online or by using the DMV Virtual Field Office. Customers can also get replacement registration cards and license plate stickers online or at the hundreds of DMV kiosks across the state. Replacement cards and stickers at the DMV kiosks cost $22 and print on the spot.

The DMV continues to provide essential services via mail, online, kiosks, call centers, available business partners and virtually to process critical transactions, including eligible driver license and vehicle registration renewals, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers can use the Services Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.

The relief measures are the latest DMV actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

• Temporarily closing field offices. Following deep cleaning, expansion of virtual services and development of new protocols, the DMV soon will offer in-person services in each region. Information on office openings will be announced by DMV in the near future.
• Extending all driver licenses that expire between March 1 and May 31, 2020. Drivers 70 years and older are receiving a 120-day temporary paper extension in the mail, and drivers 69 and younger can request a free temporary paper extension online.
• Keeping expiring commercial driver licenses, endorsements and certificates valid through June 30, 2020.
• Temporarily waiving required in-person renewals for eligible driver license and identification cardholders with expirations in March, April, and May 2020. Individuals who meet the criteria are able to renew online or by mail.
• Launching the DMV Virtual Field Office to create new digital options for transactions that previously required an in-person office visit.
• Canceling all behind-the-wheel drive tests to honor social distancing guidelines. 
• Suspending extended office hours and Saturday service.

Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) recently voted for the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, an interim coronavirus relief package to provide additional funding to support small businesses through the economic downturn. The legislation also provides new funding for hospitals and medical practitioners, including for personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as funding to expand COVID-19 testing capacity across the country.

“The first round of funding Congress passed didn’t reach enough small businesses, including many in the Inland Empire that wound up empty-handed while corporations received millions,” Rep. Torres said. “The bill we passed today will get vital support to the mom-and-pop shops who desperately need it, helping more businesses make payroll, ensuring more employees can feed their families, and making emergency relief just as accessible to unbanked and rural areas as it is to downtown shops.”

The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act also requires a report from the Secretary of Health and Human Services on COVID-19 testing, including disaggregated data on race, ethnicity, age, sex, geographic region, and other relevant factors. The provision follows an effort Rep. Torres jointly led to highlight our nation’s lack of testing data as the Trump Administration sought to roll back its COVID-19 response based on testing.

“Until we have the testing capacity to know who has this disease, we cannot combat it,” Rep. Torres continued. “And until that day, I fear that it will be minority communities and low-income communities like the ones I represent that will be hardest hit. Getting a test to anyone who needs it and developing a deeper understanding of the communities impacted by COVID-19 must be a top priority.”

Provisions in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act include:

For Small Businesses
$310 billion in additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, with $30 billion reserved for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions and $30 billion for medium-sized banks and credit unions.   Additionally, $50 billion for SBA disaster lending, translating into more than $350 billion in loans, and $10 billion in SBA disaster grants. The bill also provides strong protections to ensure farmers have access to this vital assistance.

For Hospitals and Health Care Workers

$75 billion to provide resources to the frontlines, including Personal Protective Equipment. Negotiations also led to key improvements to be made in CARES Act 2.0, including significantly lowering the interest rate on advance payments, lengthening the repayment schedule and distributing payments from general revenues not the Hospital Insurance Fund.

For Testing

$25 billion for COVID-19 testing, which is the key to reopening the economy and resuming our lives. The Administration has agreed to a national strategic testing policy that will focus on increasing domestic testing capacity including testing supplies.

• Using Zoom to celebrate this milestone while still practicing social distancing, nearly 100 high school students from the Los Angeles East Area and South L.A. will reveal their college choice.
• The Neighborhood Academic Initiative’s extension into the East Area has led to higher education for 41 graduating seniors, joining 53 from South LA. 
• Almost half of the students will head to USC on full scholarships.

WHAT: A celebratory online event honoring the first graduating class from Lincoln and Wilson high schools that has completed the Neighborhood Academic Initiative’s college preparation program. Nearly 40 will attend USC on full tuition scholarships while others will attend universities like Stanford, UCLA, and the University of California, Berkeley. The culmination of a seven-year effort, the East Area students have doubled the size of NAI’s cohort.

WHEN: Friday, May 1 at 3 p.m. Members of the media may register here to view and interview students afterward.

WHO: 95 students and their families from Wilson and Lincoln high schools, along with their peers and families from Foshay Learning Center.

A growing opportunity for higher education

The Neighborhood Academic Initiative’s presence in East Area schools represents a major advance for college access.  NAI now serves 1,000 students across five schools; Foshay Learning Center, Wilson and Lincoln high schools, and Nightingale and El Sereno middle schools. Foshay has long been home to NAI and is one of the top feeder schools to USC.

This year, the graduating seniors number 53 from Foshay Learning Center and 41 from Wilson and Lincoln high schools.

NAI has graduated more than a thousand students, and nearly all have gone on to college. More than a third ended up at USC.

NAI is a partnership between USC and the Los Angeles Unified School District.

YUCAIPA, CA—-The COVID-19 global pandemic is causing a strain on every part of the healthcare system, calling for “all hands-on deck.” Crafton Hills College student paramedics feel the tension as well, as they navigate a strenuous paramedic program while also working the front lines in the field.

One paramedic student, Gabriel Zavala, says that the most important thing he is learning in paramedic school amid a global pandemic is adaptability. “EMS is a constantly changing field,” he said. “During times of worldwide adversity, maintaining composure is the only way to persevere, and composure is essential while working in the field.

In order to be eligible for licensure as a paramedic in the state of California, students must complete the 39 units of the certificate program, pass National Registry written and skills examinations, and meet all other licensure requirements established by the state. Crafton Hills Paramedic Program offers two cycles per year, and is broken down into three sections – didactive, clinic and field.

Zavala says that the program’s instructors are helping students to stay on track to graduate on time. “Our program leaders are admirable, knowledgeable and helpful during this pandemic,” he said.

Students like Zavala are gaining increased amounts of field experience, serving their communities alongside first responders.

Working as an EMT, serving the community, and helping others in need is something I will not take for granted,” Zavala said. “I am incredibly honored for the career that I have and what this program continues to teach me.”

Paramedic school has been the most challenging and rewarding time of my life,” he continued. “I am blessed to be in a program with many other great students who I know will be some of the best paramedics once the program is complete.”

For more information about Crafton Hills’ paramedic program, contact faculty/field coordinator Amanda Ward at AWard@craftonhills.edu. For more information about Crafton Hills College, visit CraftonHillsCollege.edu

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) held a “Feeding Our Community” drive-thru food distribution on April 22, 2020 at San Bernardino Valley College. This community distribution event was supported by San Bernardino Valley College and Edison International. Over 2,100 families received food boxes containing essential food items that included protein, fruits, vegetables, grains, and pasta. This is one of many events geared towards the agency’s goal of meeting the increased demand for food assistance from individuals and families who have been directly impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We are the largest provider of emergency food in San Bernardino County. Amid this pandemic, we have ramped up our Food Bank operations quickly because that is where we have seen the highest increase in demand for services. COVID-19 has affected every person throughout San Bernardino County, and traditionally stable households that have not previously experienced food insecurity are seeking help for the first time,” said Patricia Nickols-Butler, CAPSBC President and CEO. “Overall, we have seen an increase in over 10,000 additional households needing food assistance; most of them are individuals and families who have never needed our services before.”

CAPSBC has received a generous $100,000 donation from Edison International to help support the Food Bank’s efforts to continue providing vital food resources to those who have been impacted by the health crisis. “We’re so grateful for the strong relationship we have established with Edison International and for their generous contribution to our agency. Because of their generosity we can quickly and efficiently expand our services to include food delivery to vulnerable populations, mobile drive-thru events, and the inclusion of new distribution partners to stem any disruptions and respond to the surging food insecurity,” said Nickols-Butler.

“The large scale food distribution event we conducted was a tremendous success due to the generosity and outpouring of support we have received from organizations and volunteers who want to join us at the forefront and help us make a difference in the communities we serve,” said Patricia Nickols-Butler. “We’re indebted to San Bernardino Valley College and our volunteer force for their selfless acts of kindness. We thank you; our communities thank you!” concluded Nickols-Butler.

Please call 909-723-1500 or e-mail info@capsbc.org or visit our website www.capsbc.org for more information.

YUCAIPA, CA—-Amid campus closures and stay-at-home orders caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Crafton Hills Fire Academy has continued to meet and train students who will join the front lines with other first responders fighting fires and saving lives. Against all odds, 29 cadets will complete their Fire Academy training in mid-May.

Despite these overwhelming circumstances and challenges to instruction, Crafton Hills College is the only college Fire Academy in California that continued their 16-week training program while also adhering to and maintaining the strictest of social-distancing guidelines. All 29 students have earned their firefighter 1 certificates.

“It is truly exceptional how our college president, Dr. Kevin Horan, our Trustees, our administration, and our faculty have stepped up to keep our program going,” said Michael Alder, Chief, Crafton Hills College Fire Academy. “In the face of many uncertainties, everyone was adamant that we should keep going, meet the needs of our firefighting workforce and complete training for these students in advance of the 2020 fire season.”

Crafton Hills faculty adjusted for COVID-19 safety requirements by limiting groups of students, adjusting instructional methods, and increasing cleaning of equipment and surfaces between each training exercise. Students were split into three groups for instruction. Each group met in their own classroom and maintained 6 feet social distancing while instructors used live stream and Zoom technology to share classroom information with students before going out into the field. Adler also added, “the cadets and instructors perform temperature checks twice a day and will continue to do so throughout the remainder of the academy.”

“We also had a friend of one student who heard that we needed masks,” Adler said. “She volunteered and made masks for all students, faculty and staff in our program so that we could continue to meet safely and protect everyone as requested under COVID-19 guidelines.”

Because firefighting is a physically demanding profession, strength and physical stamina are required. Maintaining these rigorous training requirements for the program were also challenging during the pandemic.

“Our students must meet certain physical requirements before they are accepted to the Academy,” Chief Adler said. “This program has a kinesiology and physical training component that requires our students to meet each morning for a series of conditioning workouts to prepare them for the day-to-day tasks of a professional firefighter.”

Fire Academy instructors were able to continue this regimen with our students by monitoring them through the Strava activity tracker app. “Our instructors even took the physical activity component of our training into consideration and hosted Zoom or Facetime workouts, Strava activity check-in’s, etc. to make sure that students were staying in shape despite our stay-at-home order.”

Applicants for municipal firefighting jobs generally must pass a written exam; physical test of strength, physical stamina, and agility; and a medical examination that includes drug screening and a psychological test; a lie detector test and an oral interview. Those who receive the highest scores in all phases of testing have the best chances for employment. The completion of community college courses and a degree in fire technology, and the completion of a community college Fire Academy Program may significantly improve an applicant’s chances for appointment.

“Not only are the physical requirements of these cadets demanding, but their coursework is also very challenging,” Alder added. “All students must pass a series of competency exams in three main categories- firefighter skills, hazardous materials, and wildland. These exams alone are stressful, but adding the pandemic component drives the stress level even higher.”

The fire service has been experiencing higher than normal employee turnover due to the Baby-Boomers that are exiting the workforce for retirement. This has left a large workforce void that needs to be filled. The Crafton Hills College Fire Academy and Fire Technology Program are fully prepared and committed to continuing to meet that demand and professionally educate and train these future firefighters.

“I shared with our cadets that they would be in a unique position upon completion of the program,” said Alder. “The job outlook is very favorable, and they will not be competing with other applicants as they normally would at this time of year. I shared this statistic with the students, and I believe it was a pivotal moment that motivated them to keep going, work hard and complete the program in the face of these circumstances.”

In California between 2014 and 2024 it is expected that approximately 1,200 new Firefighters will be hired annually, with 100 of those each year in the San Bernardino and Riverside area. Employment of Fire Fighters is expected to increase slightly faster than the average for all occupations. Labor Market Source: State of California Employment Development Dept.

“These students have persevered and earned their firefighter 1 certificates despite even more intense circumstances than most of our cadets,” said Alder. “It truly is extraordinary how our administration, faculty, staff and students have worked together to be successful during these challenging times. I am so proud of how everyone pulled together. These cadets will graduate with honor and they have exhibited the can-do, persevering attitude and character that all amazing firefighters show.”

For more information about Crafton Hills’ Fire Academy, contact Michael Alder, Chief, malder@craftonhills.edu or 909-389-3408. For more information about Crafton Hills College, visit CraftonHillsCollege.edu.

While City Manager’s Office of the City of San Bernardino has announced that public counters including libraries will remain closed until further notice – the San Bernardino Public Library offers its patrons a wide range of electronic resources that can be utilized remotely.

Patrons who have library cards can utilize various free online resources and information available at our library’s website www.sbpl.org .

            Among the various resources:

            Overdrive – eBooks and eAudiobooks;

            ReferenceUSA – Business and phone directories;

            Brainfuse – Live Homework Help offering assistance for elementary, middle school and adult learners in various subjects via chat almost every day of the year;

            New York Times – Up to 5 full-text articles a month can be viewed;

            Britannica School and Escolar offering information in elementary, middle school and high school modules;

            Footsteps2Brilliance offering information to promote early literacy;

            R & B Digital Magazines & Audiobooks featuring electronic editions of popular magazines;

            America’s News featuring full-text of newspaper articles including the San Bernardino Sun since 2001. 

Our website also features an updated kid’s section with links for homework help, animals, history, fun & games, etc.

Our Virtual Reference Desk also includes employment resources, government and legal resources; health and medicine, reference resources and public domain eBooks.

Materials can be returned to book drops at the libraries. Fees will not be charged for materials due after the libraries closed to the public March 17 until the libraries re-open.

Sign up for a library card online to use Overdrive eBooks and eAudiobooks and other resources at: http://catalog.sbpl.org:8086/onlineBorrowerRegistration.html     Please allow about a day for card to activate.

City of San Bernardino residents interested in Overdrive can also sign up within Overdrive’s Libby app for an instant digital card that permits immediate access to its collection.

A library staff member is available Monday through Thursday and Saturday at 909-381-8201 to answer questions about materials being due, library cards, etc.

Please check www.sbpl.org for updates. Patrons are encouraged to follow the library on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sbcitylib and Twitter at https://twitter.com/sbcitylibrary. They can also follow the Friends of SBPL at https://www.facebook.com/SBPLfriends/ .

Governor Newsom’s stay at home executive order still in effect

Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser is extending his order requiring residents to wear face coverings when outside and to continue practicing social distancing through June 19. The county is also moving to fully align with the governor’s “stay-at-home” order until amended or rescinded.

Riverside County residents are still required to remain in their primary residence under Governor Newsom’s existing “stay at home” order unless they are engaged in an essential business or activity, such as grocery shopping or visiting the doctor. The governor’s order does not have an expiration date.

“While we work within the governor’s plan for re-opening the state, people must be mindful that COVID-19 has not been eliminated,” said Kaiser. “The new normal in Riverside County will still require social distancing, facial coverings and other precautions. Summer will only slow the virus, and we are already thinking about what will happen in the fall.”

Kaiser issued his orders as part of the county’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused more than 140 deaths and about 3,750 confirmed cases. The moves were necessary to “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of the illness, which threatened to severely impact the county’s health system. Prior orders included the closure of public and private golf courses in Riverside County, along with the prohibition of in-house and drive-up worship services.

Kaiser recently allowed golf courses to open – with various restrictions. The State of California later clarified that drive-up religious services could be permitted, although in-person services are still not allowed. 

“Residents are answering the call to stay at home as much as possible, practice physical distancing and wearing a face covering to protect everyone. I thank you all for that,” said Board Chair V. Manuel Perez, Fourth District Supervisor. “It is making a difference, and this progress is a credit to everybody doing their part and using the best tools that we have right now to overcome this pandemic. As we begin to turn the corner, it is important that we also flatten the unemployment curve and work towards economic and social recovery.”

Kaiser’s orders closing Riverside County schools and limiting short-term lodging until June 19 remain in effect.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— COVID-19 has forced an unprecedented stay-at-home order in California. As a result, our small businesses have lost revenue that has increased unemployment to rates we have not seen since the Great Depression. Because of the uncertainty in the market and the effects on small business, Assemblymember Reyes is hosting a teleconference centering the small business community.

Joining Assemblymember Eloise Reyes for this Teleconference Town Hall is special guest Congressman Pete Aguilar. During the discussion, we will hear from SBDC Regional Director, Mike Daniel; Founder/President AmPac Business Capital, Hilda Kennedy; and Lead Economic Development Specialist, Godfrey Hinds from the SBA Regional Office.

“Small Businesses are the backbone of our economy, it is important we center their voices and make sure they have the resources they need to survive this pandemic,” said Assemblymember Eloise Reyes.

When: Thursday, April 30^th from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Call: (888) 204-5984

Access Code: 3731564

RSVP: https://a47.asmdc.org/event/20200430-covid-19-small-business-update-teleconference-town-hall

Because of the volume of callers we are expecting, live questions will not be possible. Those who wish to submit questions, please do so by Tuesday, April 28 at 5 p.m. by emailing Assemblymember Reyes’ District Office at Assemblymember.Reyes@Assembly.CA.GOV