Local

A couple of weeks ago, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres traveled to several communities in and around the Inland Empire to ensure the needs of local residents are reflected in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) budget. As Chair of the CHC Budget Task Force, Torres has been instrumental in crafting a budget that offers an alternative to the harmful cuts in the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget. On her tour, Torres highlighted advancements made in veterans’ care, the need for greater investment in infrastructure and public safety upgrades, and a permanent solution for the nation’s Dreamers—priorities that align with the CHC’s mission to advance the Hispanic community and improve the lives of all citizens.

U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres views a project underway at the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System.

In Redlands, Torres visited the new Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) within the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System. The ACC features equipment and technology that make healthcare more accessible and affordable for the area’s veterans. In addition to preventative care, the ACC also provides veterans with mental health care and resources to combat the opioid crisis.

“It’s our responsibility to make sure that our veterans have access to quality and timely healthcare when they return home,” Torres said. “It’s great to see the strides the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System has made in providing the innovative and cutting-edge care and services California veterans deserve.”

In Ontario, Torres met with representatives from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to discuss funding upgrades and relieving congestion along the 71 Freeway. She also held a public safety funding roundtable with fire and police chiefs in Chino to address concerns regarding the Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants program. The need to strengthen the capability of California’s 911 system to receive text messages and respond to cyberattacks was also discussed.

“Upgrades to our infrastructure should go hand in hand with meeting our public safety needs. Unfortunately, the President’s infrastructure proposal makes it harder for my district and our state to fund these much-needed upgrades,” Torres said. “It was important to hear firsthand from local transportation officials and emergency responders about the challenges they face. We need commonsense policies that move us in the right direction towards modernizing our infrastructure and 911 systems.”

At Cal Poly Pomona, Torres convened a meeting with more than 30 Dreamers representing area colleges, school administrators, and supporters to talk about the need for a permanent solution for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“I am inspired by the bravery and perseverance of our Inland Empire Dreamers. The Trump Administration has unfairly thrown the futures of these bright young people into a state of uncertainty,” Torres said. “I will keep fighting for a permanent legislative solution that protects our Dreamers from deportation and extends benefits to all Dreamers.”

U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres speaks with fire and police chiefs in Chino.

By John Coleman, Community Photographer

Over 90 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Inland Empire members and guests listened intently as professor and author, Terrence Roberts, MSW, PhD, honored guest and keynote speaker at the Inland Empire Unit of the National Association of Social Workers held it’s Annual Social Work Month  Awards and Recognition Celebration on Monday, March 5 at Kaiser Palm Court in Fontana.

Dr Roberts, recipient of the U S Congressional Medal, bestowed in 1999 by then President Bill Clinton is honored as a member of the renowned “Little Rock Nine”  one of nine 15 year-old Black junior high school students who, in 1957,  volunteered to attend the rigidly segregated all and only white Little Rock Central High School.

Sounds simple, but in 1957 then President Dwight D. Eisenhower took control of the Arkansas National Guard to prevent its use by the Governor and sent in a unit of the U S Army to protect the safety of the Little Rock Nine for the full 1957-58 school year.

Governor Faubus closed all public schools statewide for the following year in his attempt to prevent desegregation.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- March 9, 2018 marks a milestone in PAL Center history as Coach Domonique White and Coach Alex Avila lead the Bulls Boys Basketball team their first ever league Championship in PAL’s 34 year existence.

Under the leadership of Coach White, PAL introduced its Student Scholar Athletics program in the 2015 – 2016 school year. The success of the program developed discipline and academic accountability among PAL student athletes in sports offered: Softball, Volleyball, Basketball and Soccer.

As the underdog in the Inland Empire Alternative Schools League (IEASL) which provides competitive athletics for Inland Empire students at Charter and Continuation schools PAL Basketball program has fought for three seasons straight to earn the bragging rights of Champions. This year they absolutely earned the right as they finished the regular season in the fifth seat with no expectation of making it to the final dance.

The Bulls successfully fought through two rounds of playoffs to face Sierra High School of San Bernardino in the Championship game. An intense game resulted in PAL Charter Academy’s victory. Additionally, these scholar athletes maintained a cumulative 3.7 GPA throughout the season with no participant performing below a 2.7 GPA. The 2018 Bulls Basketball team has certainly made HISTORY as student SCHOLAR athletes!

PAL Charter Academy is a free public charter school which services students 6^th to 12^th grade. Applications are now being accepted for the 2018 -2019 school year. Please contact the main office located at 2450 Blake Street in San Bernardino or by phone at (909) 887-7002 for more information.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Dr. Brian Haynes, Vice President of Student Affairs at California State University San Bernardino spent the afternoon on Sunday, March 11, at the San Bernardino Boys and Girls Club dialoguing with the Social Lites, Inc. Beautillion Knights and participants of the Beautillion program on the value of education, his personal journey in going to college and how higher education opened doors of opportunities for him. 

Haynes encouraged students to pay attention to deadlines in submitting applications for admission to desired colleges and/or universities, filing for financial aid, living on campus at a minimum for the first year of college and getting involved with the University/College of choice clubs and organizations. Haynes is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. which focuses on education, community service and brotherhood.

The 51st Beautillion program will commence on March 24, 2018 at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino. For more information, please telephone chairperson, Mrs. Donna Little-James at 909-528-9793 or co-chairperson, Mrs. Bridgette Shaw at (909) 648-6165 or publicity chairperson, Mrs. Twillea Evans-Carthen at tevanscarthen@yahoo.com.

RIVERSIDE, CA- Twelve North Carolina State University (NC State) students are spending a week with GRID Alternatives Inland Empire (GRID IE). As part of GRID’s Solar Spring Break program, college students from multiple universities will travel across the country to bring clean, renewable energy to families and help them significantly reduce their electric bills. The NC State students will be installing four solar electric systems in addition to learning more about the renewable energy industry in the Inland Empire. Later in the week, on March 8, they will be celebrating with a few of the 2,700 job trainees and volunteers GRID IE has trained during GRID’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration event.

Since its inception Solar Spring Break has grown expeditiously from six teams in 2014 to 19 teams nationwide in 2018, coming from diverse universities and colleges such as University of Michigan, California State University East Bay, Duke University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This program takes an interdisciplinary approach by providing an opportunity for passionate students to combine sustainability, community development, and renewable energy technologies education.

Leslie Jones and Lou Yeboah

By Lou Yeboah

Mr. Leslie Jones. We could never thank you enough for your service, and your commitment to this country [Vietnam War]. Your noble qualities of service to family, community, country, and God have not gone unnoticed and live on through your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren I know.

Although, the country celebrate Veterans Day once a year; we at Westside Story Newspaper believe that one be given recognition, honor, at any given time. So with that being said, we honor you not only as a Veteran but as a Hero. Thank you!

Mr. Leslie Jones has been living in California for over 40 years. He was married to his beloved wife Ms. Helen Jones for over 35 years. He is a long time member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

Jesse Hamilton

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Jesse Hamilton, a student at Provisional Accelerated Learning (PAL) Charter Academy in San Bernardino, turned heads as he competed in the Rivals combine this weekend.

The combine was a two-day event hosted in Los Angeles. Athletes from all over Southern California and across the country came to compete for an opportunity at a football scholarship. The top athletes were asked to come back for a second day competition which consisted of additional tryouts, which measured their speed and versatility in a multitude of skill drills. Hamilton was among the top athletes who got the second day call back. He had the best shuttle time out of 2,000 athletes.

Jesse is an 11th grader at PAL Charter Academy and a student ambassador. He also plays basketball and has led his team to the second round of Inland Empire Athletic League (IEAL) playoffs. PAL Academy High School doesn’t have a football team as of yet; however, Dwaine Radden Sr., CEO of the school said, “We are applying to California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for small schools this year, and it looks favorable.”

Radden, is a former High school coach and is also a Minor League Hall of Fame coach of the California Raiders, a Minor league team in San Bernardino, which headed Nationally ranking for years. He is excited about bringing football to the PAL Charter Academy High school.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes hosted a Woman of the Year luncheon last weekend to honor and celebrate the 2018 Woman of the Year finalist from her district. The luncheon was held at the Don Day Neighborhood Center in Fontana.

In total, fifty-two women were nominated from the community for the 2018 Woman of the Year award which recognizes local women for accomplishments in their respective fields and for their dedication to improving the lives of others in conjunction with Women’s History Month.

Nominees came from a variety of different backgrounds ranging from educators and community advocates to county employees, students, business owners and heads of local non-profits.

“In the current political climate it is more important than ever to lift up the amazing women in our community. These women exemplify courage, dedication and determination to build a better quality of life for our community, and to face the challenges that are put in front of them,” said Assemblymember Reyes.

On Monday, March 12 Assemblymember Reyes honored one of the 24 finalists as the 2018 47th Assembly District Woman of the Year. The award was be presented to the Woman of the Year at the State Capitol.

The 2018 Woman of the Year Finalist for the 47th District included: Ana Carlos – Bloomington; Yesenia Gonzalez – Bloomington; Jessica Sutorus – Colton; Neli Gutierrez – Colton; Nina Torres – Colton; Victoria Mendoza – Colton; Lori Sanchez – Colton; Gloria Martinez – Fontana; Tamika Casey – Fontana; Mary Sandoval – Fontana; Denise Ferris – Grand Terrace; Rose Keller – Grand Terrace; Arlene Garcia – Muscoy; Suzanne Schaeffer – Muscoy; Lea Michelle Cash – Rialto; Joshlyn Earls – Rialto; Abigail Medina – San Bernardino; Cynthia Frazier – San Bernardino; Diana Z. Rodriguez – San Bernardino; Dr. Deanna Stover – San Bernardino; Dr. Jean Peacock – San Bernardino; Gigi Hanna – San Bernardino; Lieutenant Shelisa Williams – San Bernardino; and Tamara Ellison – San Bernardino.

ONTARIO, CA – U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres met with superintendents from the Fontana Unified School District, Chaffey Joint Union High School District, Ontario-Montclair School District, Pomona Unified School District, and the Chino Valley Unified School District to discuss strategies to prevent gun violence in schools. In light of the tragic high school shooting in Parkland, Florida last week, Torres and the superintendents focused on the importance of providing students with support and encouraging community involvement.

“As the nation continues to grapple with yet another tragic school shooting, we are struck by the courage and activism of the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The meetings with our local superintendents were an important opportunity to ensure that children throughout the district have the support and encouragement they need to take action in their own communities,” said Torres. “Our kids should feel empowered to make their voices heard and engage with their elected officials. This is a powerful moment to work alongside our superintendents and teachers as they proactively forge a path forward to enact change.”

Torres represents California’s 35th congressional district and is a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Last year, she introduced the Multiple Firearm Sales Reporting Modernization Act to require a federal firearms licensee to report the sale of two or more long guns, including semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15 and the AK-47, within a five-day period.