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YUCAIPA, CA—- Hands-on career training for paramedics at Crafton Hills College (CHC) has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic according to Amanda Ward, director of the paramedic training program at CHC.

“We graduated 62 students from March of 2020 to now, which is a typical number of graduates from before the pandemic hit,” Ward said. “Of those students, only two are not working locally.”

CHC has earned high marks for the way the college connects newly trained graduates to relevant jobs. The program is a “Strong Workforce Star” according to California’s Community Colleges system.

The Inland region is fortunate that hands-on training continued at CHC because the pandemic made the need for skilled clinicians much greater.

Ward said it is the pandemic itself, as well as high 911 call volume, that has increased the need for paramedics and not a shortage of high-quality training programs.

“We are hearing that local ambulance companies and fire departments are looking to hire additional paramedics,” Ward said. “Crafton has heard the need and is answering.”

CHC, which is part of the San Bernardino Community College District, operates two cohorts of paramedic students annually now and will begin a third cohort in the Summer of 2022.

“This is a direct response to the paramedic shortage and our community partners’ vacancies,” Ward said.

She said new applicants are always welcome and financial aid is available for community college students. More information about the paramedic program is available online at www.craftonhills.edu/paramedic.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Title VI American Indian Education program is proud to have been able to bring back Family Culture Nights for the 2021–2022 school year.

Family Culture Nights are geared towards Native American students and their families, but all SBCUSD students and families are invited to attend and learn about Native American culture with hands-on activities.

“Family Culture Nights started as a way to help our Native students connect with their cultural heritage and find pride in their traditions,” said Cindra Weber, an education assistant IV/Native American Culture and descendant of Lakota nation. “And it’s also an opportunity for everyone in the school community to learn about and appreciate the rich cultural traditions of the Native people of not only this area but from across the country.”

Family Culture Nights feature free events and hands-on activities on most Thursday nights from 6–8 p.m. at the SBCUSD Professional Development Center (PDC). Upcoming Family Culture Nights are January 13, 20, and 27; February 3, 10, 17, and 24; March 3, 10, and 17; April 7, 14, 21, and 28; and May 5 and 12, 2022.

Call the Indian Education office at (909) 473-2076 for more information.

Please join League of Women Voters Riverside for a conversation with California’s Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber on Saturday, December 11 at 11 a. m. Secretary Weber was appointed California Secretary of State by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2021. She is California’s first Black Secretary of State.

Weber was born to sharecroppers in Hope, Arkansas during the segregationist Jim Crow era. Although her family moved to Southern California when she was three years old, her family’s experience in the Jim Crow South has driven her activism and legislative work. Her most notable legislative achievements have focused on education, election polices, and criminal justice reform.

Secretary Weber will share her plans to improve California’s election processes, ensure election access for all citizens, and enhance voters’ knowledge of their crucial role in creating a better democracy.

Please send your questions to lwvriverside@att.net and we will be sure to include them in the discussion.

Please register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gmQ0479bTPyXwrj95uXiXw and feel free to pass the invitation along to any interested parties. As you know, whatever the issue may be, it’s all about the power of the vote! Contact Joan Donahue at donahue.joan@att.net or 951.479-2090 with any questions.

By Martin Estacio, Victorville Valley Press

Ammie Hunter, an Adelanto Elementary School District Board of Trustees member who founded a local nonprofit aimed at helping low-income women, died Tuesday.

The district did not disclose a cause of death in a statement but said it was sudden and unexpected. She was 58.

“Ammie was a caring and thoughtful community leader who spent her time and energy for the betterment of our school district and the community,” said AESD Superintendent Kennon Mitchell.

A district spokesperson said Hunter’s family was not ready to provide a statement.

Hunter, who formerly used the last name Hines, was elected to the board in 2018. She served the residents of Region 2 in the southeastern part of Adelanto, which covers Gus Franklin Jr. STEM Academy, Melva Davis Academy of Excellence, and West Creek Elementary.

“She was a loving parent and student advocate. We will miss her caring nature and insight as well as her friendship,” said Board President Christine Turner. “On behalf of the entire school board, I extend our deepest condolences to Mrs. Hunter’s family, loved ones, and the entire High Desert community.”

Her election win roughly three years ago garnered some controversy after a group of district teachers sent a letter to the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters who expressed concerns about past legal troubles.

Records show Hunter had a welfare fraud conviction from Los Angeles County in 1999 and a string of traffic infractions in this county between 2006 and 2018, the Daily Press reported.

Hunter described the conviction as a “total misunderstanding” and questioned at the time why the Adelanto District Teachers Association’s political action committee hadn’t sent the letter until three weeks after the election.

“I’m not ashamed or embarrassed about talking about my past,” Hunter said. “If anybody had a question, I would have welcomed those discussions.”

In December that year, an anticipated protest by teachers at her swearing-in did not culminate. She was sworn in with two other members to standing applause.

Hunter moved to the High Desert in 2004 while working for the Auto Club of Southern California, according to her biography on Voter’s Edge California.

She founded the nonprofit, Another Level for Women, in 2010, which the organization says is “dedicated to providing financial, emotional, and educational support services for women in our community, particularly extremely low-income women with children.”

According to the nonprofit’s “About” section, Hunter’s struggles as an unemployed mother seeking out community resources inspired her to start the organization.

Hunter also served on the boards of several other nonprofits, including the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County and the High Desert Food Collaborative.

The collaborative is a partnership of food providers that started in 2016 and is currently composed of 91 agencies, said Dawn Quigg, Hunter’s colleague on the collaborative’s council.

Quigg said her friend and “treasured partner” was there from the beginning.

“We valued her wisdom and passion for caring for others and will miss her deeply,” she said.

Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or MEstacio@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio.

Hometown hero and undefeated professional boxer Darious “D-Active” Harris was inducted into the Rialto Hall of Fame November 20th. He was honored by the Mayor, Members of Congress and City of Rialto for his success in boxing and humanitarian efforts in Rialto and beyond.

In November, just one day before his 31st Birthday, Harris hosted a successful turkey drive through his nonprofit organization Never Stop Grinding Impact.

“I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish at our turkey drive; we gave away over 300 turkey, 900 boxes of food, and over 100 COVID-19 vaccines were administered to those in Rialto and our surrounding communities. Remember, when we all work together the community is impacted positively,” said Harris.

Harris’s hope is that he inspires other athletes to get involved in the efforts to support their communities as well. His organization will be hosting a toy giveaway at Carter High School in Rialto December 22nd from 12-5pm.

For more information, follow Never Stop Grinding Impact on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.neverstopgrindingimpact.com

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) Foundation will receive more than $200,000 in new grants that will be used to support first-year students, provide scholarships and cover the cost of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exams.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians awarded a $100,000 grant for Valley-Bound Commitment, a program that aims to reduce economic barriers that may deter academic success. Since 2008, this program has covered enrollment fees and textbooks costs for hundreds of low-income students from local high schools during their first year at SBVC.

“San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a transformative partner for San Bernardino Valley College and Valley-Bound Commitment students, providing almost $2 million to support the program over the past 13 years,” SBVC Foundation Director Mike Layne said.

Edison International has granted the SBVC Foundation two awards: $50,000 for the Clean Energy Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (EV) Technician program and $25,000 for STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) scholarships. Students in the EV Tech program learn the skills necessary to enter the electric vehicle and clean energy field, where technicians who know the latest technology are in demand.

This is Edison’s 11th year working with SBVC to provide scholarships to students pursuing careers in STEM fields like computer science, bioengineering and mechanical engineering.

“For students who begin their studies at SBVC with an economic disadvantage, these grants help to improve training and create scholarship opportunities that represent a lifeline to higher-wage jobs and career advancement opportunities,” Layne said.

An additional $25,000 grant from SoCalGas will make more scholarships possible. This award will provide 20 $1,000 scholarships for economically disadvantaged students enrolled in alternative fuels classes or taking alternative fuels certification exams, and $5,000 to promote these courses and sponsor the SBVC 95th Anniversary Gala.

A $15,000 Careers in Aviation Project grant from Wells Fargo will help aeronautics students soar. SBVC’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Certificate is designed to prepare students to qualify for the Airframe and Powerplant Certificate, which is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and allows recipients to perform 100 hours and annual inspections on aircraft. The Wells Fargo grant will cover the cost of the Airframe and Powerplant Certificate for low-income students.

To learn more about the SBVC Foundation and how you can help, visit sbvcfoundation.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA — This holiday season, Sista’s Making a Difference of San Bernardino brings back its beloved annual toy drive to ensure that every family in the area has a Merry Christmas. The organization is collecting toys from now until the event on Saturday, December 18, 2021, from 1 p.m. to 4pm, at Norton Recreation Center, 1554 Art Townsend Drive, San Bernardino.

Sista’s Making a Difference (SMD) began the toy drive in San Bernardino in 2018. It has grown each year as a collaborative community effort. Last year, 3,000 toys were distributed at the giveaway event at Carter High School in Rialto, along with turkeys donated by Feeding America IE.

This year, SMD aims to gift at least 5,000 toys. There will also be information to connect families with essential resources.

Repeat partners and sponsors of the toy drive include nonprofit organizations The Dino Can and Survive; businesses Cellphone Repair & Accessories (Rialto), Hilton Grand Vacations, and Major League Barbers; and the San Bernardino County Public Defender. Children’s Network and Toys for Tots have been annual donors.

“This event is about more than just giving a toy to a child in need,” said Ronnie Miller of Sista’s Making a Difference. “Its main purpose is to keep the holiday spirit alive by spreading love throughout our community.”

Families can find out how to register children for the toy drive by following SMD on Facebook @sistasmd2020 and Instagram @sistasmd. Walk-ups are also welcome.

Businesses, organizations, and individuals interested in sponsoring, donating to, or hosting a drop box for the toy drive can contact smdtoydrive@gmail.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- A special exhibit about the creation of the upcoming December 2nd “Curtain of Courage” Memorial opens at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2 at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands.

The exhibit will display models of the “Curtain of Courage” Memorial, currently under construction at the County’s Government Center. In addition, the exhibit will feature the project’s renderings and video, and introduce Walter Hood, a world-renowned landscape architect and artist who worked on its creation with the families of the 14 victims of the Dec. 2, 2015, terrorist attack and members of the December 2nd Memorial Committee. The special exhibit runs through Dec. 19.

Thursday is the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino. Fourteen people were killed and 22 were physically injured during a training meeting for employees of San Bernardino County’s Environmental Health Services division. A private event will be held for the families and survivors.

The December 2nd Memorial Committee formed in 2016 and held several meetings to establish an overall vision for the memorial based on shared values. The committee determined the memorial should recognize the broad diversity and lives of the victims as well as those who stepped up to preserve and protect life. The memorial would also provide enduring recognition of the County employees who witnessed the attack, many of whom were physically injured and all of whom were emotionally impacted. The committee expressed that the memorial would be a place for quiet reflection and would result in a space to appropriately and eternally reflect the many important and unique people, stories, and lessons of December 2nd.

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman shared, “The Curtain of Courage Memorial will be a place of reflection where the community can unite in spirit with the families of those lost and injured in this unimaginable tragedy. We will never forget their stories and are honored to have Mr. Hood work on this project which will serve as an enduring reminder about the courage and impact each individual had in this county.”

Hood, a landscape architect, is the creative director and founder of Hood Design Studio in Oakland. He is also a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and lectures on professional and theoretical projects nationally and internationally. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Landscape Design (2009), the Academy of Arts and Letters Architecture Award (2017), a Knight Public Spaces Fellowship (2019), a MacArthur Fellowship (2019, commonly referred to as the “Genius Grant”), and the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize (2019).

In 2021, Hood was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Architectural League presented to Hood the highest honor given to an individual for their exceptional achievements in architecture, urbanism, art, design, and the environment, where Architectural League President Paul Lewis declared that Hood is “one of the most influential designers of public space of our time…”

Hood’s notable large-scale projects across the country include the grounds for the M. H. de Young Museum, in San Francisco, with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron (2005), Rendezvous Park, Jackson, Wyoming (2011); Oakland Waterfront Master Plan, in Oakland (2011); Viaduct Rail Park, Philadelphia (2016); “Witness Walls,” Nashville, Tenn. (2017); Rosa Parks Neighborhood Master Plan, Detroit, Mich. (2018); the garden redesign for the Oakland Museum of California (2021); Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park, Jacksonville, Fla. (in progress), and the International African American Museum in Charleston, S.C. (in progress).

Hood’s book “Black Landscapes Matter” will be available in the County Museum store during the exhibit.

The “Curtain of Courage” Memorial is under construction on the east side of the San Bernardino County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave. in San Bernardino and is expected to be unveiled in the spring.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child aged 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcounty.gov/museum. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

By Carrie Stanton

The holidays are here, and families are excited to get together and celebrate for the first time in over a year. Amid the pandemic, we’ve missed far too many Sunday and holiday dinners that have been a tradition for many families for generations. For our community, family dinner is about creating memories. For those families who will be traveling this holiday season, I encourage you to consider adding a REAL ID upgrade to your checklist when making your travel plans.

The California DMV suggests changing your driver’s license or identification card to a REAL ID as federal laws will soon make it necessary to have either a passport, REAL ID, or other federally accepted forms of ID to board local flights and enter federal buildings.

While getting a REAL ID isn’t required, it does make it easier to continue using your driver’s license to board a local flight or visit loved ones on military bases. To help make this change, the California DMV is offering free upgrades to people who renewed their license or ID card between March 2020 and July 2021 from now until Dec. 31, 2021.

Protecting the health, safety and security of our communities is what’s important and the REAL ID provides an extra layer of protection when traveling. Applying is easy and can be started safely online at CaliforniaREALID.org. Complete your application, upload the required forms, and plan your DMV office visit to finish. Don’t forget your documents and confirmation code– they will be needed for your visit.

Whether you are applying for a first-time California driver’s license or identification card or are up for renewal, a REAL ID may be the best option, especially if you plan to travel soon. Get back to creating those memories with your family. With shorter wait periods and an easy application process, now is the perfect time to start your REAL ID application so you’re ready to go when the time is right.

As we continue to recover from the pandemic, many things in our lives are changing. In our community, many have started businesses, changed their lifestyles for the better and found new passions in life. Whatever is helping you get through these rough times is also playing a part in figuring out our new normal. Make the REAL ID part of that new normal.

By Lue Dowdy

It’s a Love Jones type of vibe every last Wednesday of the month in Temecula at Shooter Sports Bar and Grill!

Tap in for “SO YOU SAY”, a night of Poetry and R&B music in your ear. Lue Productions showcases amazing artists from all over. If you would like to perform, please contact Lue Productions immediately for your spot.  Doors open at 8:00 pm, open mic starts at 8:15 pm ending at 9:15 pm, and main acts begin at 9:30 pm. There’s no performance fee and there’s no entry fee. We vibe out till 1:00 am with DJ TAI and your host LUE Dowdy. Grown and sexy only!

Remember Shooters Sport Bar and Grill every last Wednesday of the month. For Booking information, text 909.567.1000 or email Lue.info@yahoo.com.