By James Ramos, San Bernardino County Supervisor, Third District

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- “Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our Nation,” John F. Kennedy, 1961.

The Cradle to Career approach that the County of San Bernardino developed with other community leaders is a collective impact methodology that begins with a strong developmental foundation for our young children and follows them through their educational years to give them the best opportunity for a college education while giving them the skills for a career beyond their degree.

I have been a strong supporter of the Cradle to Career initiative since its inception and am proud to announce that because of the strong partnerships we have and the community’s involvement, the Countywide Vision Cradle to Career program has even greater opportunities for our students.  

Generation Go! is San Bernardino County’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) youth program.  The Workforce Development Board is partnering with the K-12 and the community college system to provide work-based learning for students in career pathways.  Students will co-enroll in a community college work experience class while completing an internship after they take a non-credit work readiness class that teaches the soft skills they need. 

This allows students to graduate high school with some work experience and college credit, and in some cases, with industry recognized credentials.  It is my pleasure to announce that 14 students from Cajon High School and 12 students from San Andreas and Sierra High School completed internships at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and were placed with positions with private employers.

Another 280 students from the San Bernardino and Colton school districts completed the work readiness class over the past few months.  These students will be placed in internships that will be completed during the spring semester. 

As John F. Kennedy believed, education is the key to a stronger future for our communities, our businesses and our nation. 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— FONTANA, CA —- Ephesians New Testament Church cordially invites you to join them for their Annual Community Awards Luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn Fontana located at10543 Sierra Avenue in Fontana on Saturday, September 8 at 11:00 am.

This is the semi-annual luncheon where we honor individuals that have made significant contributions to the overall quality of life of the Fontana community. The luncheon seeks to exhibit and say thank you to those that serve us as ideal citizens and role models for our youth. We hope that their continued work will inspire others to serve this community. This year the committee has chosen (6) individuals.

Supervisor Josie Gonzales, for her work here in Fontana as “The Original Fontana Girl’ she has done so much to help seniors, veterans and to make the vision of a wholesome place to live for families. She serves the County of San Bernardino but Fontana is her home she loves children and has been supportive and personally encouraging to them as a role model.

Mr. Michael Tahan, before he became a councilman he supported every nonprofit group in our community with his businesses as well as his personal time and donations.  Mr. Tahan, as a resident speaks to many moral issues and to the fairness in our society.  He is a wonderful father and has found a way as an elected official to balance his family time and serve his community.

Mr. Danny Marquez, is the board chairman for Veterans Partnering with Communities Organizations.  Mr.  Marquez saw a need in this community to help veterans socially and informationally connect the many vets we have here in Fontana.  He was able to secure a place where vets could come and get help with their benefits and meet others. His passion has brought light to the many vets that live here in Fontana and their needs.

ABS Collision Center, Mr.  Idilio Sanchez is the president of ABS Collision Center one of the prominent businesses in our community he is a community supporter and operates with integrity. He has helped many organizations in this community and currently serves in the Rotary and Chamber of Commerce helping other business to connect and succeed.

Ms. Jasmin Hall, is a Fontana resident that became interwoven into the fiber of our community by simply saying I’ll serve she was a candidate for city council appointment.   She has been appointed to the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and has served on that board for (5) years. Dir. Hall has extensive experience in community leadership by serving as the Fontana Planning Commission Secretary and serving as Chairwoman for the Fontana Parks and Recreation Commissioner.  Her willingness to help be it volunteer or public service is a role model in that  she has mirrored the JFK quote “Ask Not What your Country Can Do For You Ask What You Can Do for Your Country” 

Westside Baptist Church, Samuel Dawkins, Sr. Pastor.  Westside Baptist Church has been in the community for over 20 years.  They are community centered and serve us in many capacities, from a food and clothing giveaway program, to a feeding program.  Pastor Dawkins is entrenched in the community as well as his wife who now serves as president of the Exchange Club.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, striking approximately 165,000 men each year with about 30,000 dying of the disease, making it second only to lung cancer as the deadliest cancer in men.

Caught early, prostate cancer can be treated, usually successfully, but remember, in early stages, prostate cancer has no symptoms, so don’t wait for “something bad” to happen to Get It Checked.

For almost 30 years, doctors have had a powerful weapon in their arsenal for detecting prostate cancer. In addition to the DRE (a physical exam allowing the doctor to feel the prostate), patients can have a simple blood test called a PSA (which stands for prostate specific antigen) that will detect a majority of prostate problems early. Since the PSA has been used, prostate cancer deaths have declined and the number of successfully treated prostate cancer cases has risen.

During September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Men’s Health Network is urging men to talk to their healthcare providers about prostate cancer.  They also encourage women to get involved and urge their husbands, fathers, brothers, and other loved ones to talk to their healthcare provider about prostate screening, including the PSA and DRE tests. 

Let others know about the risks of prostate cancer and the potential benefits of screening.  Posters, fact sheets, and a social media tool kit, for use at your place of worship, where your work, and for your fraternity or sorority, can all be downloaded for free at the www.ProstateCancerAwarenessMonth.com web site.

A federally staffed panel of experts, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), makes recommendations about screenings that healthcare providers look to for guidance.  At its meeting in May of this year, the Task Force recommended that men age 55-69 should speak to their healthcare provider about using the PSA test to screen for prostate cancer.  But Men’s Health Network, many other patient advocate organizations, and many healthcare providers don’t think that goes far enough.

Men’s Heath Network urges the following men to talk to their healthcare provider about routine prostate cancer screening:

• All men over age 50, and at age 40 for African Americans
• Men with a family history of prostate cancer
• Veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and
• Men exposed to pesticides and certain other chemicals.

If you are on Medicare, prostate cancer screening is a part of your Welcome to Medicare physical, the free comprehensive physical exam you receive in your first year of eligibility. But you may have to ask for the “Welcome” physical since many healthcare providers don’t seem to know about it. And, Medicare continues to cover prostate cancer screening in following years.

For younger men, over 30 states require that insurance companies offering health insurance in their state provide coverage for prostate cancer tests.  Insurance companies may offer prostate cancer screening in the remaining states, but are not required to do so.

And, know your numbers! When you receive your PSA test results, ask the healthcare provider what your PSA number is, write it down, and compare it against future tests.  If the number goes up in future tests, talk to your healthcare provider.

The bottom line?  Having an annual prostate exam, including a PSA test, just might save your life. No matter what age you are, that annual PSA test creates a benchmark to judge future tests against.

And ladies, if the men in your life don’t want to make an appointment, do it for them – and drive them to the healthcare provider’s office if you have to.

No insurance and limited funds?  Watch for free screenings in your area.  Many healthcare providers, hospitals, clinics, and health fairs offer free prostate screenings in September and at other times during the year.

Take any opportunity you can to Get It Checked (www.GetItChecked.com).

Resources:

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month:  www.ProstateCancerAwarenessMonth.com

Prostate Health Guide:  www.ProstateHealthGuide.com

Get It Checked (screening guidelines for men and for women): www.GetItChecked.com

Men’s Health Network:  www.MensHealthNetwork.org

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- ANGELUS OAKS, CA— This summer — and every summer since 2013, students from Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy dedicated several days of their summer break volunteering at Camp Conrad Chinnock.

A comprehensive educational program located in Angelus Oaks, California, Camp Conrad Chinnock provides training to kids ages 7 to 12 with Type 1 diabetes and their families by teaching them how to manage their medication, eat properly and integrate physical activity into their lifestyle.

Kaitlyn Phumirat, a third-year student at the School of Pharmacy, was one of 22 students volunteering at Camp Chinnock this summer. She said her experience was eye-opening.

“It was impressive to watch these kids work their pump devices, change their pump site injections, test their blood glucose, and calculate how much insulin they need to cover their carbohydrates intake really well at such a young age,” said Phumirat, who would have to wake up with kids in the middle of the night to check their glucose and tend to any specific needs the kids may have.

Diabetic children aren’t typically able to experience summer camp because diabetes has to be so closely monitored. “Diabetes management is tough,” Phumirat said. “While at camp I realized how much diabetes affects one’s sleep cycle, physical activity, and so much of one’s everyday life.”

Campers sleep in cabins, make new friends, learn archery, fish, swim, hike, and take turns cleaning the mess hall after meals.

The camp was started in 1957 by Robert Chinnock, MD, a Loma Linda University Health pediatrician. His son, Richard Chinnock, MD and grandson Timothy Chinnock, MD, both pediatricians, continue to support and participate in the camp today.

The camp is a safe haven to kids with diabetes, says Nancy Kawahara, PharmD, associate dean for professional affairs and community engagement at Loma Linda School of Pharmacy.

In 2008, Kawahara’s son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes — he was 11. That year, his endocrinologist encouraged him to attend the camp, which he did every summer through high school. 

“Camp Conrad Chinnock was a place where everyone understood him, and he cherished the time he had there,” Kawahara said of her son’s experience.

The summer of her son’s junior year of high school, Kawahara dropped her son off at the teen camp while she, along with four students from the School of Pharmacy, spent six days at a session with younger children. Kawahara and the students participated in various recreational activities and educational sessions to help kids with insulin-dependent diabetes. One of those students was Christopher (CJ) Jacobson, PharmD, who is now on faculty at Loma Linda University.

“That experience led to a robust pharmacy program,” said Kawahara, who, along Jacobson now take around 20 pharmacy students to camp every year. “It has been a blessing to the education of pharmacy students because they gain first-hand experience with what it is really like to live with a chronic disease,” she said.

Since that initial summer at camp in 2013, Jacobson has spent every summer there volunteering his time. Of this year specifically, he said he enjoyed watching how integrated the pharmacy students were becoming in camp life.

“They worked on fostering relationships with the campers,” Jacobson said. “It was warming to see not only how the pharmacy students embraced camp, but how camp embraced the them.”

Several students from Loma Linda University School of Medicine also volunteer at the camp each year.

“This camp experience definitely pushed me beyond my comfort zone,” said Phumirat, the pharmacy student, who feared she might hurt a camper while poking them or giving them an insulin injection. “But watching these fearless kids do their own shots and glucose tests helped me.”

Phumirat said her positive camp experience has helped her to understand diabetes and has helped her in her journey to be a pharmacist with compassion.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Pastors United (SBPU) will be having another Community Block party on Saturday, September 22 at Dr. Martin Luther King Middle School located at 1250 Medical Center in San Bernardino. 

The Pastors are coming together to continue to unite the community through love, compassion and fellowship. The Churches continue to take a stand together as a united front to encourage and bless the community. These engagements help families with much needed resources, increases goodwill within the community and allows law enforcement to interact with residence in a positive environment.

There will be free food, groceries, shoes, backpacks for kids, clothes, health checks, face-painting and jumpers for kids. There will also be a life-saving message by Pastor Raymond Turner of Temple Missionary Baptist Church, powerful gospel music and good fellowship.

Please register by phone, email or at at www.sbpastorsunited.org.

Together we are strong; join with us as we bring, “Healing, Change and Progress” to the City of San Bernardino.

For more information call (909) 353-7977 or email sbpastorsunited@gmail.com.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— RIVERSIDE, CA—The Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce is the happy recipient of a 16-passenger bus recently donated by the Riverside Transit Agency.

Pepi Jackson, President of RCBCC stated, “I am elated about the fact that the bus is so roomy that I can get three-wheel chairs in it! This gift will allow us to provide even more services to our members, constituents and clients.” 

For more information about RCBCC call (951) 823-0175 or visit their website Riversidecountybcc.org.

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— Video Shoot for Rap Artist Mack Pepperboy is What it Do! This Sunday in the beautiful city of Lake Elsinore it will be a movie. The making of Mack Peppperboy’s new hit single, “Right There,” featuring R&B Singer Yung Muusik will take place.

The shoot will also star the beautiful and sexy Coffee Brown of Coffee Brown Entertainment. There will also be special appearances by Tresunda De La Cruz, Lue Productions’ BBW Queen; Riisha Shelby of Diva Outlaw; The Bourne’s; Comedian Mac Rome; L.P. model Porscha Dillard; Jonathan Fields of Ambiance Magazine; James McCoy a.k.a. OJ; Jasmine Hall; Essence Johnson; Mrs. Perris and Mrs. California.

The videographer for the shoot will be Nycee Dreams and we’ll be on set with Ilondon Fog Studios. Our management team at LUE Productions/LPM is excited and happy for our artist. It’s been a moment due to him being in hibernation working diligently on his new project titled, “It’s The Pepperboy”, which will drop at a later date.

“On this project you will be able to hear the difference and the growth in his writing skills. He’s connected with other talented and unique artists in order to bring forth a new sound,” Deeveatva Bourne, Core member of LUE Productions Management Team, stated.

Please be on the lookout for this fiery artist based right here in the Inland Empire. The video shoot will be wrapped up that evening in Riverside. You can catch his performance live at Status Night Club for Legendary Entertainment’s artist spotlight. Doors open at 9 p.m. The event will be hosted be KG. Early arrival is strongly suggested.

Until next week L’s!

Publisher’s Commentary By Wallace J. Allen 

Nike has voted! The Nike 30^th Anniversary advertising campaign features Colin Kaepernick and the phrase “Just Do It!”  The signature Nike theme phrase implies much more than accomplishing a sports goal! Colin Kaepernick’s image widens the context to include protesting injustice and inequality!

Please register so you can vote! Ask your friends, real and virtual, to verify their registration and reregister if need be!  You can register via your computer. You can register at your County Registrar of Voters/ Elections Office. You can help others register via your computer.

Once registered you can then vote your conscience. I hope that you will vote with me and with Nike as we seek justice and equal access in this great country that our forefathers/mothers have vested their lives to create!

The Wolverines will face off against cross-county rival Riverside City College in a “Bell Game,” a 70-year tradition between the two colleges.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The 2018 season opener for the San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) football team will revive a long-established tradition against cross-county rival Riverside City College (RCC). Since 1948, the highly-coveted “Victory Bell” trophy has been passed between the victors of the football games between the two schools. For the first time in seven years, SBVC and RCC will once again battle for the Bell on September 15, 2018 at 6 p.m. at the SBVC Stadium.

SBVC and RCC have competed in football since the 1920s, but it wasn’t until a special donation gave birth to the trophy game now known as the Bell Game. In 1948, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company donated the Victory Bell to the winner of the football game between the two colleges. The bell, suspended from a three-foot steel frame and weighing nearly 250 pounds, is rung in celebration by the victorious team after each face-off.

Since the rivalry’s inception, RCC’s record edges out SBVC, with 39 wins compared to SBVC’s 32. However, the teams haven’t competed since 2011, when the RCC Tigers defeated the Wolverines and took home the Bell. “I am glad each side decided to bring the game back, even for a limited time,” said SBVC Director of Athletics David Rubio. “With two cross-county rivals and both institutions having a great athletic history, there is no reason why this game should have waited as long as it did.” 

SBVC hasn’t possessed the Bell since 1996, back during a time when the college’s team was still known as the Indians. But this year, SBVC plans to take back the Bell for the first time as the Wolverines, the college’s mascot since 2001.

“Not only was it a trophy game, the game even went beyond pride,” said SBVC assistant football coach Pat Meech. “It had the potential to be lengthy return to a great matchup, it was about bragging rights, and it was great for the local communities.” 

WHAT: SBVC Football “Bell Game” Season Opener

WHERE: SBVC Stadium, 701 S. Mount Vernon Ave., San Bernardino, CA., 92410

WHEN: September 15, 2018 at 6 p.m.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— REDLANDS, CA— On Friday, August 31 in Redlands, Music Changing Lives (MCL) and Hartlis Apparel hosted a celebrity basketball game that addressed social issues amongst our youth, including prevention and intervention against drugs, gangs, teen violence and dropping out of school.

With pre-game activities including studio tours and interviews, incredible halftime performances and a super competitive game with only a 2-point win, this year’s Ball 4 A Cause celebrity game was a HUGE success.  

“What I loved most about the Ball 4 A Cause fundraiser was that we not only raised funds and awareness for our unique programs, but it also provided a forum to meet with alums that have participated in MCL’s programs from as long as 15 years ago,” Josiah Bruny, CEO and Founder of Music Changing Lives, explained.

“We also got to meet new friends who are committed to helping keep music and art alive for youth throughout the region and our nation,” Bruny continued.

Common Vision Coalition, Hartlis Apparel, T-Mobile, QTFL Clothing and AT&T who provided families with resources and opportunities through music, art, fitness and cultural experiences to prevent these issues.

The game was the perfect way to kick off Labor Day weekend and several community members took part in the festivities. They included Redlands Community Police officer, R. Williams, Pastor Green of Second Baptist of Redlands and The Redlands Community Center and Quality of Life.

“At MCL we firmly believe strong families form the foundations of strong communities,” Bruny stated. “Everyone has a role to play in making families successful, including neighborhood organizations, businesses, nonprofits, policymakers, and, of course, families themselves.”

He continued, “And together we can continue to change the lives of our families!”

Some of the celebrities and artists that joined included Meg Delacy, Lisa Monah, Baby Girl, Dorjje and all MCL’s student performers whom all graced guests with an amazing halftime show.

“Last, but definitely not least thank you to all of the players who participated.  Words cannot express our gratitude for you helping raise awareness of the social issues our youth face. It was one heck of a game, but in the end MCL out balled Hartlis Apparel 76-74!” Bruny said. 

Be sure to check out the event photos at www.Facebook.com/MusicChangingLivesIE or Instagram at @MusicChangingLives.