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SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is hosting a public hearing for its draft Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Three-Year Integrated Plan, which includes fiscal years 2023/24 through 2025/26.

The public hearing will be held during the regularly scheduled Behavioral Health Commission Meeting on Thursday, April 6, from noon to 2 p.m. The meeting will also be held in person with 1st District Commissioner, Pastor Mark Graham, at 12920 Topsham Bay, Apple Valley. To view the Webex meeting info and all in-person locations, visit www.westsidestorynewspaper.com.

For more information, please call (800) 722-9866.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Easter arrives on Sunday, and the First District is hopping with several fun family activities this weekend! Here’s a guide to a few:

• The Town of Apple Valley’s annual Bunny Run takes place from 7-10 a.m. Saturday at the James Woody Community Center. All registered runners receive a custom medal and race bib. The first 50 registered will receive a free shirt. For more information, please call (760) 240-7880.
• The Town of Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the 58th Annual Easter Egg Hunt/ Eggstravaganza from 9:30 a.m. until noon Saturday at the James Woody Community Center. For more information, please call (760) 240-7880.
• The City of Victorville’s annual Spring Festival and Egg Hunt takes place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Hook Park. The event will include an egg hunt for children ages 3-9 (bring your own baskets), local food and craft vendors, display booths and an inflatable KidsZone.  Admission, parking, and the KidsZone are free. For more information, please call (760) 245-5551.
• The Silver Lakes Association will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt for Helendale residents from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Photos with the Easter Bunny begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by a life-size Candy Land game at 9 a.m., and egg hunts at 11 a.m. For more information, call (760) 245-1606.
• Phelan’s Easter Egg Hunt will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Serrano High School football field. Bring your Easter baskets to enjoy a variety of children’s games. The hunt begins at 10 a.m. for children ages 2-10. There will also be Easter gift basket raffles at the hunt. For more information, please call (760) 868-3291.
• Hesperia’s Easter Egg Hunt will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Hesperia Community Park. Guests can enjoy free bounce houses, pictures with the Easter Bunny, craft and vendor booths, and food trucks. Please bring your own basket. For more information, visit  com.
• High Desert Second Chance will host its annual Walk Through Easter event from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. Enjoy free family fun, a classic car contest, vendor giveaways and more. Partner agencies include Victor Valley Rescue Mission, Rock’n Our Disabilities, Rockabilly Mafia Dolls, Feeding America Riverside/SB, C.H.A.N, Victorville Friendly Smile, and Dream Lounge Apple Valley. For more information, please call 442-267-4444.
• The community of Wrightwood will celebrate Easter with a free Egg Hunt on Saturday at Hollis M. Stewart Children’s Park. This event is open to four age groups and begins at 10 a.m. The park is located at 6059 Pine Street in Wrightwood. For more information, please call (760) 249-3205.
• Trona residents can celebrate Easter with two fun family events this Saturday. The Trona Elks Lodge will host a children’s Easter Party and Egg Hunt from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., followed by an Easter Egg Hunt and Movie on the Rocks hosted by Searles Valley Off-Road, TIS General Store and SBC Wireless from 3-7 p.m. at Great Falls. For more information on the Elks event, please call (760) 372-5849. For more information about the Movie on the Rocks event, please call (760) 372-5420.
• Calico Ghost Town will host its annual Easter “Eggtravaganza” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The event will include egg hunts, photos with the Easter bunny, gunfighter shows, games, activities, and live entertainment from Twinkle Time, the High-D Boys and BillyBunnies. Admission is $15 for adults (12 and older), $10 for youth (ages 3-11), and children under 3 years old are free. For more information, please call 760-254-1123.

BLOOMINGTON, CA— Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. helped kick off the beginning of the baseball season by participating in the Opening Day Ceremonies for the Bloomington Little League at Kessler Park. All Little League teams were present, and they were able to join in on the games and giveaways. The highlight of the opening was seeing two 1981 World Series Dodger Champions. Kenny Landreaux caught the final out of the 1981 World Series, and Jerry Reuss helped the Dodgers win. The Department of San Bernardino County Library, First 5 San Bernardino, and the Bloomington Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) supported the event.

“It was an honor to have the opportunity to join Bloomington Little Leagues Opening Day Ceremony. The event was well attended, with a lot of community support and Dodgers baseball legends Kenny Landreaux and Jerry Reuss. The Bloomington Little League members had a blast seeing, taking pictures, and getting autographed baseballs and cards from Kenny Landreaux and Jerry Reuss. As a former coach of 12 years, I love baseball because it teaches life lessons, such as teamwork, working hard, working together, and never quitting.”

YUCAIPA, CA— When Dr. Stephanie Houston first stepped onto the Crafton Hills College (CHC) campus in January 1993, she had no idea where her education there would take her.

Today, Houston, assistant superintendent of Innovation and Engagement for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS), is making a splash in education by supporting student success in various impactful roles. Her dedication to making a difference in the field has led her to add one more accomplishment to her already growing resume as CHC Foundation’s 2023 Outstanding Alumna.

“I was surprised. Honored for sure. And a little bit looking behind me like, ‘Are you sure it’s me?’” Houston said. “I’m honored to be affiliated with Crafton in this way because I know the school makes such a difference in the lives of so many, and to be mentioned in the context of the school is just an honor.”

Houston will be recognized by CHC officials, faculty, staff and donors at the CHC Foundation’s Night Out Gala, its annual fundraiser, held this year on April 6. The event is the nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser to support student success by backing several student and campus-led initiatives, covering unexpected class expenses to awarding scholarships.

Michelle Riggs, CHC’s director of institutional advancement, called Houston a “great example” of what the Yucaipa-based community college means to the area and its diverse student, faculty and staff population.

“Entering Crafton as an adult and mother of four small children, she successfully completed her studies and went on to earn her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate,” Riggs continued. “We are so fortunate to have Houston as an advocate, a leader and a supporter of Crafton and are proud to recognize her as the 2023 Outstanding Alumna.”

Houston has built her career in education over the last three decades. Before her current role at SBCSS, Houston served as the superintendent of the Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program and is a former adjunct professor at the University of Redlands. In addition to her busy schedule, Houston served on the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board Youth Council from 1999 to 2014. She was president of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)’s Career Technical Education Council from 2011 to 2014.

She has been part of several other educational-based organizations and groups within the Inland Empire community, including the San Bernardino Community College District Board (SBCCD), where she serves as the current chair and trustee.

The SBCCD Board oversees CHC and its sister school, San Bernardino Valley College. Houston and her fellow board members were elected by their respective districts. Houston serves as the Area Six representative and said she is “honored that the public put their trust in me” and that her main motivation for serving is to “ensure the legacy and rich history of both campuses remain strong.”

“My motivation is the impact on the community, the students… and ensuring their experience [at a community college] is as positive as mine was, and the outcome is based on their ability to make their own choices and have their personal freedom that comes with being educated,” Houston said.

For students looking to start their path to higher education, Houston gives the following advice: just start.

“Time passes whether you’re in school or just working and taking care of the kids or just figuring out how to pay the bills or not,” she continued. “The hardest part is just showing up and getting through the registration process. But once you get to class and you step on campus and see [its] environment, you’ll say, ‘Wow, this is built for me.’”

Since its inception, the CHC Foundation’s mission has been to support its campus population through scholarships, grants and other contributions that extend student-based educational opportunities. Year-round fundraising efforts like the annual gala and philanthropic donations from community members, organizations and CHC partners help make this possible.

This year’s Night Out Gala will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the CHC quad. Tickets are $100 per person. Table reservations are available.

To purchase tickets or to learn more, go to craftonhills.edu/visitors-and-alumni/giving-to-chc/gala-2023 or contact Riggs by email at mriggs@craftonhills.edu or by phone at 909-389-3391.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The life and legacy of the late labor leader and activist César E. Chávez was celebrated when the Chicano Latino Caucus of San Bernardino County and the Latino Education & Advocacy Days at Cal State San Bernardino recently presented the 12th annual César E. Chávez Memorial Breakfast at the university’s Santos Manuel Student Union South.

The breakfast on April 1 marked the first time since 2019 that the breakfast took place. Traditionally scheduled to commemorate Chávez’s birthday (March 31) and held as part of LEAD Week – a week-long series of events including the LEAD Summit that focused on Latino educational issues – it was canceled in 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the LEAD Summit has been rescheduled to take place in the fall.

Taking place the day after the state holiday honoring the life and work of Chávez [ufw.org], the breakfast was emceed by Eloise Gómez Reyes [a50.asmdc.org], a member of the California Assembly majority leader who represents southwest San Bernardino County.

Ron Estrada, CEO of Washington, D.C.,-based Farmworker Justice [farmworkerjustice.org], was the keynote speaker. Estrada, a longtime voice in support of underserved people and communities of color in the U.S., has invested decades in issues related to racial and social justice. Prior to joining Farmworker Justice in March 2022 [farmworkerjustice.org], he was the head of government relations at Univision Communications, and also led the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Empowerment initiatives.

Also speaking at the breakfast was Flor Martinez [kqed.org], founder and president of The Celebration Nation Foundation [celebration-nation.org], a San Jose-based nonprofit organization focused on helping the indigenous and Latino community. A former farmworker with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals [kqed.org] (DACA) status, Martinez is also now an entrepreneur and social media influencer.

In addition, the event featured the installation of Chicano Latino Caucus of San Bernardino County’s new officers, a video by artist Juan Solis, a performance by Ballet Folklorico de Gary Ferrer and presentation of the Muñoz Legacy and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Former California Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation in 2002 making Chávez’s birthday a state holiday to promote service to the communities of California in honor of the late labor leader’s life and work.

RIALTO, CA—- The City of Rialto receives $2 million in federal funding to support its Lake Rialto habitat project. Congressman Pete Aguilar secured the funds for the program. The Congressman said, “Ensuring our residents can enjoy safe and clean open spaces for outdoor recreation is necessary to create a healthier, more sustainable community.

“This funding I helped secure will help construct Lake Rialto, 10 acres of lake, wetlands and trails, that will protect vulnerable species and play a vital role in the environmental success for the Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan.” _This brings total funding for the $8 million project to more than $5 million, thanks to additional funding sources.

The environmentally beneficial project includes the creation of wetlands and wildlife habitats on city-owned property adjacent to the City of Rialto Water Treatment Plant, which will provide recycled water for the lake itself, which then flows into the environmentally critical Rialto Channel.

Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson said, “The project design is now 90% complete and we hope to break ground this coming fall.”

The endangered Santa Ana sucker and Arroyo chub swim from the Santa Ana River up the Rialto Channel during cooler weather, but during hotter days, the water can be too warm for the fish. Because of the depth of the lake, much needed cooler water can be taken from the bottom of the lake and discharged into the Rialto Channel, providing potentially significant environmental benefits to critical species. The City of Rialto has worked diligently with potential partnering agencies to explore and maximize all of the environmental benefits of this project.

The lake will also provide a welcome habitat for seasonal wildfowl who migrate to and from Mexico on the Pacific Flyway, providing abundant birdwatching opportunities for the community.

Mayor Robertson said, “Rialto residents can look forward to enjoying the lake’s open spaces, walking trails and environmental education programs. Special programs for children will enable them to get a taste of the great outdoors right in their own city.

We’re so very pleased and honored that Congressman Aguilar has supported this leading-edge project to create an infrastructure that will serve as an environmentally sensitive and attractive recreational facility and wildlife habitat.

Support for this model of an urban water stewardship project is something all of our elected policymakers should be advocating. This needs to be at the forefront of their priorities.”

The City of Rialto has grown a lot in recent years with its ongoing development projects. Now, Lake Rialto adds to an impressive list of commercial and residential projects, a different kind of addition to the City’s assets that demonstrates that it “walks the talk” _when it comes to planning environmentally sensitive development.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The National League of Cities (NLC) awarded the City of San Bernardino its 2023 City Cultural Diversity Award at the League’s National Conference held in Washington D.C. from March 26-28. The award recognized the San Bernardino Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department’s inaugural Festival: Where Our Cultures Connect event. The award was accepted by Mayor Helen Tran and Council Member Kimberly Calvin, who were attending the NLC conference.

The NLC City Cultural Diversity award recognizes cities that developed innovative programs demonstrating cultural diversity and promoting inclusive resident involvement.

“Festival was an amazing event,” said Mayor Helen Tran. “The performances, the food, the art, and the crowds all highlighted our diverse and inclusive community. I was so proud to accept the award along with Council Member Calvin on behalf of San Bernardino.

Festival: Where Our Cultures Connect, was an all-day event held on October 8, 2022, at Seccombe Lake Park. It featured musical and dance performances on multiple stages, an artist’s village, an interactive kids’ village, a car show, karate demonstrations, cultural exhibits, roving performers, community booths, food vendors and a petting zoo. Each zone highlighted the many diverse communities, artists, and performers that reside in San Bernardino. Attendance for the inaugural Festival was estimated to be between 7,000 and 10,000.

“To receive such a highly competitive national award for San Bernardino’s first Festival speaks volumes to the vision and hard work of the entire Parks staff and countless volunteers,” said Parks and Recreation Director Lydie Gutfeld. “I could not be prouder.”

At the sold-out awards ceremony, National League of Cities officials stated that there were 51 submissions from across the country for the award. Judging was conducted by a panel of NLC officials from Auburn, Virginia; Cerritos, California; Kenmore, Washington; Dumfries, Virginia; San Antonio, Texas; and Tempe, Arizona.

“Creating diverse and inclusive programs within our communities is a key element to making our residents feel included and supported,” said NLC President and Mayor of Tacoma, WA, Victoria Woodards.

Council Member Kimberly Calvin noted, “After receiving the award, leaders from other cities from across our region, state, and nation took notice. People came up to me saying, San Bernardino is back. And we are.”

San Bernardino’s award was for cities with a population between 200,000 and 500,000 residents.

Bailey surprises two aspiring teen filmmakers, including Madison Henderson of L.A., with an invitation to be the star’s personal guests at Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” live-action movie world premiere.

Grammy-nominated singer Halle Bailey, who will play the lead role of Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” left two aspiring teen filmmakers speechless when she surprised them Friday during Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort with a personal invitation to join her on the red carpet at the movie’s world premiere in Hollywood.

Dylan Jones of Atlanta and Madison Henderson of Los Angeles were in the middle of a movie production training session Friday morning during Disney Dreamers Academy when Bailey, the program’s celebrity ambassador, made a surprise appearance and delivered the personal invitation to come to Hollywood. For the students it was a truly magical dream come true moment.

The movie’s world premiere takes place just before the film officially hits theaters nationwide on May 26.

Bailey is one of several celebrities taking part in the program that runs through Sunday. Music producer Questlove, R&B singing sensation H.E.R., and other TV and movie stars are serving as mentors and speakers.

This is the 16th year of Disney Dreamers Academy, a four-day, transformational, mentoring program designed to broaden career awareness and create opportunities for 100 Black high school students and teens from underrepresented communities across America each year.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) is one of just two hospitals in San Bernardino County that makes minimally invasive cancer surgery available and accessible to its patient population.

Amir A. Rahnemai Azar, M.D. has been the head of the hepatopancreatobiliary and oncology surgery at ARMC’s Cancer Care Center for more than two years. He comes to ARMC with extensive experience in surgery. After earning his Doctor of Medicine degree in Iran, he completed his general surgery residency at New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx Hospital, his multi-organ transplant residency at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, and his complex surgical oncology fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Health University Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to being board-certified in all three disciplines, he received advanced training in minimally invasive liver, pancreas, and gastrointestinal oncology surgery at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea.­­­

“After all this training and experience, I always had a dream of giving back to the community,” stated Dr. Azar. “When I visited Arrowhead, I felt that our population in the Inland Empire is in urgent need of having an advanced cancer surgery program.”

This advanced cancer surgery program was spearheaded by Dr. Azar in collaboration with ARMC’s Hospital Director, William Gilbert, and the Department of Surgery Chairman, Dev GnanaDev, M.D. San Bernardino County is the nation’s largest county by area, and the team at ARMC found it vital to give its large, diverse patient population immediate access to the highest standard of cancer care and surgery, which includes the Whipple procedure.

Also referred to as pancreaticoduodenectomy, the Whipple procedure is an advanced surgery that targets the most complex area in the abdominal cavity and removes multiple organs that may be impacted by abdominal cancer—including the pancreas, duodenum, stomach, and lymph nodes in the area.

While patients with abdominal cancer have the option of chemotherapy, ischemic therapy, or radiation therapy, surgical resection such as the Whipple procedure is the only curative option. However, due to the surgery’s complexity, it is not offered in many major cancer surgery centers. The procedure requires multidisciplinary teams—that include oncology, gastroenterology service, and radiation oncology—to bring together highly specialized knowledge to prepare the patient for surgery and provide optimal outcomes. As a result, many patients struggle to find cancer surgery centers that can perform the surgery.

Dr. Azar and the other members of ARMC’s Cancer Care Center have a vital message for the members of their community. “We would really like to let our population know that if they have disease, if they have cancer in this area, it’s not the end,” said Dr. Azar. “There is hope, and at Arrowhead, we are able to perform this surgery to the highest standard.”

Dr. Azar stated, “Here at Arrowhead, in view of our population, it is important in our efforts to resolve the disparity in care in such a diverse area.”

ARMC is committed to combating the financial barriers that can prevent patients from seeking treatment. ARMC accepts both Medicare and Medi-Cal coverage and has numerous financial assistance programs in place to help their patients receive the care they need.

Dr. Azar concludes, “The future belongs to minimally invasive surgery. And here at Arrowhead, we are on the front line of providing minimally invasive surgery for liver and pancreas cancers.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra is extremely proud to present pianist Nadia Shpachenko in concert with principal members of the orchestra on April 15 at 7:30 p.m. the Sturges Center for the Fine Arts. This performance is part of the Symphony’s Chamber Series curated – and at this event also performed in – by Music Director and Conductor Anthony Parnther.

Maestro Parnther, who has previously collaborated on several projects with Ms. Shpachenko, explained, “I was deeply honored when acclaimed, Grammy®-winning pianist Nadia Shpachenko asked me to conduct the premiere performance and lead the recording sessions for Invasion composed by Pulitzer-prize winner Lewis Spratlan. Spratlan wrote this jarring work for a chamber ensemble of piano, percussion, saxophone, horn, trombone, and mandolin in response to Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Working alongside Nadia and Lewis to bring Invasion to life was a life-affirming and moving experience.”

Lewis Spratlan passed away on February 9th of this year, just over a month ago, at age 82, shortly after recording a dedication video to the San Bernardino Symphony in anticipation of our performance of the work. Shared Maestro Parnther, “Nadia, the SBSO, and I will dedicate our performance of Invasion to this revered and dedicated composer.”

In addition to Mr. Spratlan’s work, Ms. Shpachenko will perform a variety of music from Beethoven, to Joplin, and including a new work by Los Angeles-based composer Dana Kaufman.

Meet Ms. Shpachenko

Grammy® Award-winning Ukrainian-American pianist Nadia Shpachenko enjoys bringing into the world things that are outside the box—powerful pieces that often possess unusual sonic qualities or instrumentation. Described as a “gifted and versatile pianist” (San Francisco Chronicle), “one of today’s foremost promoters of contemporary music” (Textura Magazine), and “a great friend and champion of new music” (Fanfare Magazine), she was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Described as “The outstanding contemporary-music disc of the year” (Fanfare Magazine), her new Reference Recordings album “Invasion: Music and Art for Ukraine” was released on September 23, 2022, with 100% of proceeds being donated to Ukraine humanitarian aid charities.

Ms. Shpachenko has performed recitals at Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall, Disney Hall, on the Piano Spheres and Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella and Chamber Music Series, and with numerous orchestras in Europe and the Americas. She premiered more than 100 works by Armando Bayolo, Elliott Carter, Christopher Cerrone, Paul Chihara, George Crumb, Ian Dicke, Daniel Felsenfeld, Tom Flaherty, Annie Gosfield, Yuri Ishchenko, Vera Ivanova, Dana Kaufman, Leon Kirchner, Amy Beth Kirsten, Hannah Lash, James Matheson, Missy Mazzoli, Harold Meltzer, David Sanford, Isaac Schankler, Alexander Shchetynsky, Adam Schoenberg, Lewis Spratlan, Evan Ware, Gernot Wolfgang, Iannis Xenakis, Peter Yates, Pamela Z, Jack Van Zandt, and many others.

Described as “superb… evocative… pure magic” (I Care If You Listen), her 2019 Reference Recordings CD “The Poetry of Places” features premieres of solo and collaborative works (performed with LA Phil pianist Joanne Pearce Martin and LAPQ percussionists Nick Terry and Cory Hills) inspired by diverse buildings. “The Poetry of Places” album won the 62nd Best Classical Compendium GRAMMY® Award. “Sure to remain a mainstay of the contemporary discography for posterity” (New Classic LA), Her 2018 Reference Recordings CD “Quotations and Homages” features premieres of solo and collaborative works for 6 pianists (performed with Ray-Kallay Duo, HOCKET and Genevieve Feiwen Lee) inspired by a variety of earlier composers and pieces. Her Reference Recordings CD “Woman at the New Piano: American Music of 2013” was nominated for 58th GRAMMY Awards® in three categories. She is also featured on José Serebrier’s 2021 Reference Recordings album “Last Tango Before Sunrise,” Wouter Kellerman’s 2021 South African Music Award winning album “We’ve Known All Times,” Isaac Schankler’s 2019 Aerocade Music album “Because Patterns,” Gernot Wolfgang’s 2019 Albany Records album “Vienna and the West,” and Genevieve Vincent’s 2018 Mano Walker EP “Petit Rêve.”

Ticket Availability and Performance Location

Single tickets for this and all SBSO concerts are available online at www.sanbernardinosymphony.org or by calling the box office at (909) 381-5388. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Single tickets prices range from $20 – $100 with students and active military always just $15. Money-saving season tickets are also currently available.

The Sturges Center for the Fine Arts is located at 780 N E St, San Bernardino. Free, lighted parking is available at the venue. Doors open for this concert at 6 p.m. Tickets are also sold at the venue on concert night; however, their availability cannot be guaranteed.