Local

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Last week, Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton, California’s only Black D.A., joined the state’s Attorney General Rob Bonta and Acting Richmond Police Chief Louie Tirona to announce that they have identified the man who killed 28-year-old Meekiah Wadley in 1999.
During an emotional news conference a representative of the three agencies said Jerry Lee Henderson murdered the Contra Costa Community College student inside her Richmond home.

Tirona, said Henderson died 11 days after the killing. He was identified through DNA left at the scene.

“I know it’s been a long 22 years since this heinous crime was committed, and justice doesn’t always come swiftly,” said Becton. “Today’s announcement is a major testament to the determination of our law enforcement partners, forensic scientists, and investigators who continued to work on this case for over 20 years and who never gave up the search for the truth.”

Investigators solved the murder using California’s familial DNA search program.

Becton, who is on the ballot for the June 7 primary election, joins former Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley and Sacramento County District Attorney Ann Marie Schubert as California D.A.s who have used this technique.

Becton, 70, was in the fourth year of a 22-year run as a Contra Costa Superior Court judge at the time of Wadley’s death.

On Sept. 17, 2017, the county’s Board of Supervisors appointed her Contra Costa’s 25th district attorney, the first African American female to hold the position. In June 2018, the graduate of San Francisco State University and Golden Gate University School of Law was elected to a full term.

Becton said her priority is keeping the streets of Contra Costa County safe from dangerous and violent criminals. She says she is committed to safeguarding communities from crimes that threaten health, well-being, and livelihood, and protecting seniors from financial abuse. She is also committed to providing positive outcomes for youth.

The legal eagle from Oakland wants to serve Contra Costa’s 1.1 million residents for four more years. To “effect change” and ensure a “fair” judicial system, she told California Black Media (CBM).

“What I’ve come to realize, though what seems like a short time some days, we’ve gotten a lot done. But the truth is that there’s so much more work to do,” Becton told CBM.
‘This truly is, in terms of building sustainable change that is going to last, is a blueprint. It’s just not something that is going to happen in a short haul. I am running for reelection to continue the important work that we have started.”

Becton removed juvenile justice fees that severely affected low-income families of color, created the Reimagine Youth Justice Task Force to discover alternative solutions to juvenile justice, and established “Clean Slate Day” to allow former offenders opportunities to clear their criminal records.

In addition, Becton set up the first Human Trafficking Unit to fight the exploits of the sex trade, addressed racial disparities, advanced youth justice by establishing the county’s first diversion program, and held law enforcement and public officials accountable.

In April 2021, Becton announced felony voluntary manslaughter and felony assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and unreasonable force charges against Danville police officer and deputy Andrew Hall in the shooting of Laudemer Arboleda in 2018.

Becton said the cop killed Arboleda, who was reportedly driving six miles per hour, “without lawful excuse of justification.” Becton nailed a conviction in that case.

In October 2021, Hall, who is White, was convicted by a jury of assault with a firearm and sentenced to six years in prison on March 4.

Six weeks before Hall was charged for killing Arboleda, shooting him 10 times, he fatally shot a Black unhoused and mentally ill man. The killing of Tyrell Wilson by Hall is still under investigation.

“Deputy Hall’s actions were not only a crime, but they tarnished the badge, and they harmed the reputation of all the good, hard-working police officers that work for our community,” Becton said in a statement.

Months after a jury convicted a former Minnesota police officer of killing George Floyd. It was the first time a Contra Costa cop was charged and convicted in a police-involved shooting.

Becton gets flak for easing the court’s burden by not prosecuting every low-level, non-violent crime, including offenders arrested with small amounts of drugs that come across her desk in an effort to reduce the “footprint” of mass incarceration.

“It’s quite interesting now that I have a historic conviction of an officer in Contra Costa County. But I would say, all and all, that we have mutual respect. I have 25 law enforcement agencies in 19 cities that I work with,” Becton told CBM. “It’s a loud opposition from the Sheriff who may not like the fact that one of his got convicted. But I am not deterred by that. It won’t stop me from being collaborative with these agencies when it is important to bring their voices to the table.”

As District Attorney Becton leads a prosecutorial office of approximately 200 lawyers, investigators, and staff.

Becton was raised in East Oakland by her self-employed beautician mother and her airplane mechanic father. Her journey to be an attorney, judge, and elected official was inspired by a civil rights movement she was able to personally witness in the late 1950s and 1960s.

“My commitment is to keep our community safe but also make this a fair system for everyone. That’s my priority,” Becton said. “I’ve made it a point that not only our traditional justice partners are at the table but people in the community are at the table as well. They (all) help us in problem-solving.”

RIVERSIDE, CA—- Renee Hill, a 28-year educator at Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) has taught at all levels and been an exemplary leader for the region. In less than one year of taking the job, her tenacity, vision, and commitment to public education have helped navigate RUSD through some serious crises and challenges.

It’s no wonder why Assembly Member Jose Medina (D-Riverside) has announced Superintendent Renee Hill as the 2022 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 61.

Superintendent Renee Hill is the first person of color to lead Riverside schools where she has implemented the promise of high-quality education for all students. Through C.A.R.E. (Care, Academic achievement, reducing service gaps, and Excellence every time), students are the priority to make sure they are developing their full potential through excellence from staff and community.

“Ms. Renee Hill is an exemplary leader and advocate for RUSD students, and I would like to celebrate and thank her,” said Assembly Member Jose Medina.

Renee Hill, a 28-year educator at Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) has taught at all levels and been an exemplary leader for the region. In less than one year of taking the job, her tenacity, vision and commitment to public education have helped navigate RUSD through some serious crises and challenges.

It’s no wonder why Assembly Member Jose Medina (D-Riverside) has announced Superintendent Renee Hill as the 2022 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 61.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Each region of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) annually recognizes the outstanding performance and achievement of individual school administrators and classified managers in several categories.

This year, three San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) administrators were honored by ACSA Region 12 for their exceptional leadership in managing school programs, commitment to professional growth, commitment to educational quality and student achievement, and creativity in addressing issues facing public education.

The Region 12 Student Services Administrator of the Year for 2022 is Dr. Marlene Bicondova, the Director of Positive Youth Development for SBCUSD. Dr. Bicondova has a proven track record of creating positive outcomes for youth. As a principal, she transformed Curtis Middle School from one of the lowest-performing middle schools in the county into a high-performing school by implementing a proactive approach to student success that focused on daily assessments that informed teacher instruction. For the past four years, Dr. Bicondova has worked at the District level to reduce chronic absenteeism and suspension rates. Her signature accomplishment has been the creation of the SBCUSD Bullying Intervention System, which uses restorative practices and Undercover Anti-Bullying Teams as the key components, which work to change school culture to stop bullying before it starts and stop bullying when it does happen.

Pacific High School Principal Dr. Natalie Raymundo is the ACSA Region 12 Secondary Principal of the Year. Raymundo has been a principal since 2009 when she took the helm of Richardson PREP HI Middle School. She believes that education can change lives and even entire communities, especially when educators demonstrate respect for students, families, and stakeholders. Her leadership has helped create a safe and welcoming environment for students and instilled in them a desire to become leaders in the community, as evidenced by Pacific High winning the Civics Leadership Award in 2017, 2019, and 2020. She also implemented the fourth-period advisory program, which provides students with social-emotional learning activities, grade checks, goal setting sessions, and other academic and social development every Monday.

Shana Smith, Assistant Director of the Employee Development Department for SBCUSD, is Region 12’s Personnel Director of the Year. Smith began her SBCUSD career in 1995 teaching first grade. She began supporting teachers as a program specialist and new teacher mentor in 2000. After 17 years leading the Teacher Induction Program, she earned her place as the assistant director of Employee Development. In that position, she can combine her love of teaching with her love of mentoring the next generation of educators as she helps develop programs and instruct new teachers so they can be successful SBCUSD educators.

ACSA, which is one of the largest organizations for school leaders in the nation, is dedicated to developing and supporting educational leaders who meet the diverse needs of California students. ACSA Region 12 specifically serves educational administrators working in San Bernardino County.

MONTCLAIR, CA— One day shy of her 18th birthday, Gabriela Jimenez-Ramirez received a gift she will never forget – a new car courtesy of three local auto dealers.

Gabriela was among 68 Montclair High School seniors who qualified for a drawing to win the 2022 Nissan Altima SR. Qualifications were based on a variety of factors related to attendance and academics. Her name was drawn from a raffle drum during the school’s Senior Awards Night on Thursday, April 21.

“I came for an award from school, and I came out with a brand new car,” an exuberant Gabriela said as she and her parents stood in disbelief next to the dark blue sedan. “I was crossing my fingers during the drawing – and so was my Mom.”

The graduating senior plans to commute to Cal Poly Pomona next fall, and said her parents were planning on buying her a car. “You made it possible,” she said in thanking representatives of the three stores that came together to purchase the vehicle; Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge of Ontario, Empire Nissan and Ontario Hyundai – all part of the OREMOR Automotive Group.

“We’re excited about a Drive for Excellence program – to help a local high school, give back to our community and incentivize students to get through school without missing class,” said Jillian Romero Chaves, Marketing Director for OREMOR.

Josh Cho, Principal at Montclair, commended the 68 qualifying seniors for the perseverance during these past couple of years, as schools have moved back to in-classroom learning.

“The pandemic created a lot of disruptions to the learning environment, but these students all showed tremendous will and commitment, and we’re so proud of them,” Cho said.

Dr. Mathew Holton, Superintendent of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, thanked OREMOR Automotive Group and its local dealerships for supporting student success.

“We’re so grateful for their generosity and their commitment to our District and our students. The message that the Drive for Excellence program sends to our entire school community is a powerful one,” Dr. Holton said.

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

Last week, in Redlands — a San Bernardino County city about 63 miles east of Los Angeles — U.S. military vets joined Assemblymember James Ramos (D-Highland) at a rally in support of Assembly Bill (AB) 1623.

The legislation would implement a statewide tax exemption for military retirees.

Jeff Breiten, a Marine Corps veteran who lives in Redlands, says this bill would be a way to give back to service members.

“California’s military retirees appreciate the fact that Assemblyman Ramos has stepped forward to carry this bill,” said Breiten. “This legislation will not only provide a well-earned benefit to those who served our country for 20 years or more, it will also help retain and attract to California these retirees who will lend their skills during second careers in a variety of key industries and professions across the great state of California.”

Ramos, who is the only Native American in the California Assembly, introduced the bill in January along with Assemblymember Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta).

“Military retirees bring benefits to our state such as stability, job skills used in second careers, and federal funding,” said Ramos. “These men and women have served our nation in a variety of valuable capacities, and they and their families have frequently done so at great personal sacrifice. California needs to acknowledge the contributions more fully they make.”

AB 1623 would “require the Legislative Analyst and state Department of Veterans Affairs to produce an analysis of the tax exemption based on the number of retirees claiming it and to determine whether the tax relief has aided in the retirees’ financial security and increased the numbers of retirees choosing to remain in California,” according to the bill’s text.

Ramos noted that California is one of only nine states that fully taxes the pay of its 146,000 former service members who are military retirees.

Ramos says that he hopes AB 1623 will make California more appealing to vets, incentivizing them to move to the state and boost its economy.

The California Council of Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America (CALMOAA) has expressed support for the bill.

“Military retirees have a steady income and bring stability to the community,” said Fred Green, president of CALMOAA and a retired Navy lieutenant commander. “It should be noted that not all military retirees collect their retirement immediately. Reservists and National Guard members collect retirement at age 60. Regardless, we continue to support our community and our economy after our retirement from the military.”

As the bill is currently written, California Assembly would have until Jan. 2033 to implement the tax exemption.

California’s Personal Income Tax Law currently only excludes combat-related compensation.

“We contribute to job growth and boost sales tax revenues. Thirty states understand this and do not tax military retirement income,” Green continued. “Most military retirees pursue second careers where they utilize their training, technical skills, leadership, and knowledge. After my service in the Navy as an engineer, I became an elementary school teacher and adjunct college professor to give back to my community.”

San Bernardino County’s unemployment rate dropped to pre-pandemic levels in March, as payrolls increased by nearly 10,000 during the month to a record 976,000, the County’s Workforce Development Board reported Friday.

Newly released data from the California Employment Development Department showed unemployment dropping to 4.3% in March, the lowest level since February 2020 and down from 5% in February. Led by continued growth in the region’s supply chain industry and a resurgence in hospitality-related businesses, payrolls across the County are now 24,000 above where they were before the COVID-19 lockdown – one of the strongest recovery rates in California.
Meanwhile, the total number of eligible workers also reached all-time high – 1.02 million. The labor pool in San Bernardino County has now exceeded 1 million five months in a row.

“These numbers continue to underscore the strength of our labor force here in San Bernardino County as we fortify our role as one of the fastest-growing economic and population centers in the United States,” said Curt Hagman, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors.

The surge in payrolls and labor force align with recent studies that have have shown a dramatic migration of residents from Los Angeles and Orange counties into the Inland Empire. Newly released Census data show the IE recording the fifth fastest population growth among metro areas in the U.S. during the 12 months ending July 31, 2021.

“Families and young professionals are coming to San Bernardino County in record numbers to pursue career opportunities and enjoy a quality of life they can’t get elsewhere. All of this great news for employers and the regional economy as we build on this remarkable period of growth for our County,” said Phil Cothran, Chairman of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board.

Cothran encouraged job seekers to check out the services and resources WDD offers. Information on those services – including the three America’s Job Centers of California across the county – is available at: https://wp.sbcounty.gov/workforce.

SACRAMENTO, CA— Due to the success of last year’s inaugural program, the California Restaurant Foundation (CRF) has partnered again with California’s energy companies to provide $3,000 grants to independent restaurant owners and their staff through the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund. The nonprofit, known for investing in and empowering California restaurants and their workforce, received nearly $1,500,000 for this year’s fund. SoCalGas provided the lead gift of $525,000, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) returned with contributions of $500,000 and $175,000, respectively. Rounding out the fund is a $250,000 donation from Wells Fargo, which will power support services and resources to assist Resilience Fund grant recipients in improving their business for the long-term.

“We’re thrilled to partner with CRF again and continue helping California’s restaurant community build back stronger and better than ever,” said David Barrett, Vice President and General Counsel at SoCalGas, the Resilience Fund’s lead sponsor. “It was incredibly inspiring to read the stories of resilience from last year’s recipients and help them keep their doors open. This time around, we’re addressing longer term investments that will build a strong, stable foundation for our independent restaurant owners.”

While last year’s Resilience Fund grants were intended to be used on payroll and ‘survival’ expenses – in fact, 73 percent of recipients used the grants to cover labor – this year’s Resilience Fund program is focused on investing and recovering California’s restaurant community. Grant recipients can use this year’s funds for equipment upgrades and employee retention bonuses to alleviate industry-wide staffing issues and deferred maintenance caused by two years of incurring debt, losses and rising costs. The one-year of support services will help restaurants build back and thrive.

“Of last year’s cohort, 64 percent of our grant recipients said conditions are still difficult but improving, and 90 percent said the grant was ‘very important’ to the survival of their restaurant,” said Alycia Harshfield, Executive Director of CRF. “It will take years for the industry to fully recover, which is why we are extremely grateful that SoCalGas, PG&E, SDG&E and Wells Fargo have partnered with us again to invest in our state’s eclectic and extremely resilient restaurant community.”

Resilience Fund applications will be open from April 15-30, 2022 and can be found at www.restaurantscare.org/resilience. Grants will be available to all California-based restaurant owners with less than three units and less than $3 million in revenue. Priority will be given to restaurants owned by women and people of color. Last year, the Resilience Fund awarded 318 grants to independent restaurant owners, 65 percent of which were women-owned and 83 percent color-owned.

The Resilience Fund is currently accepting additional support from corporations, foundations, and individuals who want to invest in California’s restaurant recovery. Donations of all sizes are accepted and celebrated at www.restaurantscare.org/resilience.

For more information about the California Restaurant Foundation, Restaurants Care, or the Resilience Fund, please visit www.restaurantscare.org.

About the California Restaurant Foundation (CRF):
California is home to more than 90,000 eating and drinking places that ring up more than $72 billion in sales and employ more than 1.6 million workers, making restaurants an indisputable driving force in the state’s economy. The California Restaurant Foundation is a non-profit that empowers and invests in California’s restaurant workforce. Founded in 1981, CRF supports the restaurant community through relief grants for restaurant workers facing a hardship, job and life skills training for 13,500 high school students each year, and scholarships. For more information visit www.calrestfoundation.org.

Swearing-in Ceremony held for County Superintendent of Schools and Arrowhead United Way President

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- First 5 San Bernardino is pleased to announce Ted Alejandre and Gwendolyn Dowdy-Rodgers, EdD, have been appointed as new commissioners with the organization whose sole purpose is to help young children ages prenatal to 5 years old get a quality start in life.  Two commission seats were vacated recently after the passing of longtime community leader Dr. Margaret Hill who served the organization as a commissioner for eight years, and with the January 2022 term end for Jorge Escalante after serving for over two years.

These appointments were approved by San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors on March 29, 2022.  At First 5 San Bernardino’s first in-person commission meeting in over two years, Alejandre and Dowdy-Rodgers were sworn in by the organization’s Executive Director Karen E. Scott during the April 6, 2022, monthly meeting.

Alejandre is the San Bernardino County superintendent of schools who provides advocacy, leadership and services for and on behalf of more than 406,000 K-12 students attending public schools in San Bernardino County.  A retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Alejandre is nearing the end of his second four-year term, serving as the county’s 34th superintendent after being elected to office in June 2014.

Dr. Dowdy-Rodgers currently serves as a community development specialist for Pacific Clinics (formerly known as Uplift Family Services), advocating for mental health services and resources on behalf of foster youth.  She also is the president and CEO of Arrowhead United Way, a member of San Bernardino City Unified’s board of education and is a delegate for the California School Board Association serving on the legislative committee.  Dowdy-Rodgers founded the Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation, an organization who mentors young women ages 12-21 to reach their highest aspirations.

“I am thrilled that the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has selected Ted and Gwen to serve on the Children and Families Commission – First 5 San Bernardino,” stated Scott.  “Their knowledge of the community and experience with children brings invaluable expertise to our Commission.  We look forward to collaborating as we work to improve the health and development of young children and their families,” Scott concluded.

The First 5 San Bernardino Commission is comprised of seven members and includes a San Bernardino County Supervisor (Joe Baca, Jr.), the San Bernardino County Public Health Director (Joshua Dugas), San Bernardino County’s Assistant Executive Officer for Human Services (Diana Alexander) and four at large members from the community (Elliot Weinstein, MD, and Gary Ovitt).  The commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 3:30 pm (unless otherwise noted).

Offering Early Literacy Software for Ages 2 to 8

Early Literacy Stations (ELS) are now available at each of four City of San Bernardino Public Library facilities with a wide variety of learning software to promote early literacy for youth ages primarily 2 to 8.

There are three ELS in tablet form in the Children’s Department at Feldheym Central Library (555 W. Sixth St.) and one ELS in desktop form at each of the three branch libraries: Rowe at 108 E. Marshall Blvd., Inghram at 1505 W. Highland Ave. and Villaseñor at 525 N. Mt. Vernon Ave.

The service days and hours are the same for all four locations:
• Monday & Tuesday: Noon to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday & Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday: Closed.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Information is available at 909-381-8201.

They also offer various online resources for library cardholders via their library website at www.sbpl.org including Overdrive eBooks and eAudiobooks and Brainfuse Live Homework Help with subject experts via chat from 1 to 10 p.m. daily except major holidays. Patrons who don’t already have a library card can also sign up at their website for an online library card to use the digital resources. Information about library programs and activities is also available at our website.

With their performance season now underway, the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra is currently preparing for the first of their Intimate Evening Series concerts.  On May 14th at 7:30 p.m., the Orchestra will present An Evening of Chamber Music featuring The Lyris Quartet as well as a performance by members of the Orchestra’s string section.

Noted Music Director and Conductor Anthony Parnther, “The Lyris Quartet is one of the foremost string quartets in the United States and has garnered an international reputation for their innovation and their frequent collaborations with the most highly regarded composers in the world.”

Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times agrees, describing the ensemble as “radiant… excellent… and powerfully engaged.”

Members of the quartet have won top prizes at the Tchaikovsky International Competition and at the Aspen Music Festival, and the quartet has collaborated closely with composers Krystof Penderecki, Andrew Norman, Oliver Knussen, Steven Mackey, John Adams, Bruce Broughton, Peter Knell, Kurt Rohde, Paquito D’Rivera, Wadada Leo Smith, and Gerard Schurmann. Lyris has appeared throughout North America, Europe, and Asia in a diverse range of ensembles including Grammy nominated groups Absolute Ensemble, and Southwest Chamber Music, as well as in various festivals such as Ravinia, Brahms Festival in Madrid, Music Academy of the West, Banff Centre for the Arts, Czech SommerFest, and the Oregon Festival of American Music.

This season, Lyris was invited by the LA Philharmonic to perform on their Green Umbrella series and on their tribute concert to composer Steven Stucky. They also gave the west coast premiere of David Lang’s “The Difficulty of Crossing a Field”. This year will mark their fifth season as the resident ensemble for the critically acclaimed series Jacaranda: Music at the Edge, and they have recorded for Toccata Classics, ARS, and Naxos. The Lyris Quartet is also the founding resident ensemble of the Hear Now Music Festival which focuses on the music of living Los Angeles composers. As part of this series, they have collaborated with and premiered works by Stephen Hartke, Don Davis, Arturo Cardélus, and Veronika Krausas.

For the Orchestra’s 93rd year, Maestro Parnther created the concept of an expanded subscription season inclusive of three traditional large orchestral concerts at the historic California Theatre, a summer outdoor community concert, and three performances on a smaller stage where patrons can more fully immerse themselves in a single genre of music. These immersive events will be performed at the historic San Bernardino Valley College Auditorium.

The May 14th performance was curated to provide an eclectic and engaging blend of chamber music.

“We collaborated on finding the right program for this occasion and balanced it out to include Classical icons Beethoven and Ravel but also extending into living artists like Billy Childs, James Newton (who will join us at the concert) and Imogen Heap,” explained Parnther.

The Lyris Quartet will open the concert with Billy Childs’ Unrequited. The group previously appeared alongside Childs as part of the LA Phil’s Jazz and World music series at Disney Hall and with Steve Reich at LACMA’s Bing Hall. Lyris will then proceed into Beethoven’s Cavatina from String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat, Op. 130. Following will be Ravel’s four-movement String Quartet in F Major and Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek, as arranged by Niall Ferguson. Then, under the baton of Maestro Parnther, members of the Symphony’s strings section will perform James Newton’s arrangement of Amazing Grace which was motivated by and dedicated to President Barack Obama and the lives taken in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Lyris will close the concert with Beethoven’s Allegro Molto from String Quartet No. 9 in C. Major, Op. 59, No. 3.

The addition of composer James Newton, whose work encompasses chamber, symphonic, and electronic music genres, compositions for ballet and modern dance, and numerous jazz and world music contexts, is of particular note. Newton has been the recipient of many awards, fellowships, and grants, including the Ford Foundation, Guggenheim, National Endowment of the Arts and Rockefeller Fellowships, Montreux Grande Prix Du Disque and Downbeat International Critics Jazz Album of the Year, as well as being voted the top flutist for a record-breaking 23 consecutive years in Downbeat Magazine’s International Critics Poll. Newton is also a distinguished professor emeritus at the Herb Alpert School of Music, at the University of California at Los Angeles.

The specific concert venue was selected for a number of reasons. First, the Valley College Auditorium was designed by the same architect – John Paxton Perrine – who conceived the historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts where the Symphony generally performs. Second, like the California Theatre, it is also designated a National Registry of Historic Places site; however, many in the region have not had the opportunity to experience a performance there. Third, the venue’s smaller seating capacity makes it perfect for audience members to experience the music as it was originally designed.

In line with the Orchestra’s mission to provide accessible music and music education, Maestro Parnther sees this as an opportunity fulfill the Orchestra’s decades-old commitment, adding, “Valley College is one of the cornerstones of our community and we are always excited about the opportunity to combine our resources to the benefit of our students.”

Two more such performances will follow this season, each also bringing similarly notable artists to the Inland Empire.
“I am fortunate to have some of the finest musicians in the world as close friends and colleagues,” shared Parnther. “Concerts like these allow us to continue to bring world class talent to San Bernardino to perform for our audiences and collaborate with our great orchestra.”
Observed Orchestra Board of Directors President Dean McVay, “As we anticipate a performance by this very popular quartet will sell out quickly, we encourage everyone to purchase their tickets now while you can.”

Single tickets are available online at www.sanbernardinosymphony.org or by calling the box office at (909) 381-5388. Money-saving five-concert season subscriptions are also available. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Five Season Concerts Remain
A Classical piano event featuring Robert Thies is scheduled for June 11 and a September 10 jazz concert with the Josh Nelson Jazz Quartet will both be performed at the San Bernardino Valley College Auditorium. In between, a community-wide patriotic concert is also planned July 2 outdoors at the Valley College football stadium.
The Orchestra will return to the California Theatre on October 29, 2022 for “Movies with the Maestro” featuring cinema scores including John Williams’ iconic music from E.T. and Star Wars and the Alfred Hitchcock film scores of Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, The Birds, North by Northwest). The season will end December 17, 2022 with Cirque de Noel featuring the internationally renowned Cirque de la Symphonie troupe performing to orchestral holiday classics.