What it do with Lue

Re-Written By Naomi K. Bonman

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The blending of musical genres is what makes music unique. Nicholas Haklitch (CSUSB Alumni ’12) and singer Ron Blakely (University of Redlands Alumni ’13 have joined forces in bringing a combination of classical, soul to the masses. The duo came together 3 months ago, and since then they have been productive for the past six weeks in playing at over 28 shows and recording, producing and publishing their first EP entitled ‘Tired’, which ranked in the 86 spot on iTunes Top 100. They sold over 200 copies within the first week of the EP’s release and were able to gain a dedicated fan base.

In addition to increasing their audience, the two college alumni musicians have been approached by several band managers and independent record labels, and have received a countless number of emails from other musicians and fans stating how the EP has “changed”, “inspired”, “helped”, and “influenced” them.

‘Tired’ takes two genres of music, classical and soul, to create a heartache album that takes listeners through the journey of Blakeley’s personal failed romantic relationship in a way that is able to connect the listener in an intimate and relatable approach. Ron encourages fans to reminisce on their lost times and loves.

The primary objective of BHJMusic is to write and publish good, humble, honest and compassionate music that can enhance the listener’s life. With every single sale that the duo makes, they have agreed to donate one-third of their earnings to local non-profits, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters in the Inland Empire.

“Music is the tool that will allow us to achieve our ultimate dream, giving everyone we encounter a financial break so that they can breathe a little easier, sleep a little easier, and feel like there are two people in this world that care”, Blakely states.

For more information, please visit www.bhjmusic.com. For those that would like to see the duo perform they play every Monday at the Fox Theatre in Riverside, and every Tuesday they play two shows, one at Augie’s Coffee and the second at Back to the Grind in Riverside.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- SBCCD Trustee Joseph R. Williams (D-Rialto) issued the following statement on Middle College High School:

“I was honored to join board members of the San Bernardino City Unified School District and my fellow Trustees of the San Bernardino College District at the Middle College High School Graduation held at San Bernardino Valley College. I believe it is extremely important to call out and highlight young people who are engaged in positive activities. I’d like to thank the administrators of the Middle College High School for provide such a great opportunity for young people to move from adolescence to adulthood. Middle College is a great program that I’d like to see as many students take advantage of as possible.”

Middle College is designed for high school students seeking to get a head start on college. The SBVC Middle College High School Program offers high school students who are not currently meeting their full potential with an opportunity to achieve their academic and career goals through a program providing high school classes combined with college classes in a challenging, supportive, and motivating college setting.

“Congratulations to all of the families and students of the class of 2014. I’d like to specifically send a shout out to class Salutatorian Stephanie Lizette Mora Garcia, Valedictorian Karla Beralia Gutierrez-Alfaro and Valedictorian Flor Azul Lorenzo.  Keep striving, serving, learning and pushing for you are our future and you are making things look bright.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The SUMMER SWIMFEST: OPERATION SPLASH KICKOFF event is scheduled for Friday, June 6 from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Jerry Lewis Family Swim Center in Perris Hill Park, 831 E. Highland Avenue in San Bernardino. The event will host two free swim sessions (children 7 years of age or younger each must be accompanied by an adult) from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at a first come, first serve basis with games, activities, and a resource fair in partnership with First 5 San Bernardino and Safe Kids Inland Empire. The Nutrition Education Obesity Prevention Program in San Bernardino County will provide healthy hydration tips for the summer as part of the Rethink Your Drink campaign. Swim apparel is required for pool admittance. Water safety is a key message to the event. To register as a vendor, contact LuCretia Dowdy at (909) 386-7706 for more information.

“Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under 5 in California,” said Karen Scott, Executive Director of First 5 San Bernardino.

“Children will be attracted to recreational water activities or collections of water when we aren’t looking. We want families to actively supervise their children, install barriers around pools or collections of water, and encourage them to take classes in swimming and CPR to be prepared.”

The Swim Center will also be offering “learn-to-swim” lessons for youth ages three to 17 years old. These lessons will begin June 2, but registration is encouraged now at the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCSD) Main Office located at 201 North E Street, Suite 301, 3rd Floor (corner of 2nd & E). Open recreational swim is also provided at the Hernandez, Mill, and Nunez Pools beginning June 2, with open swim afternoon sessions Mondays through Saturdays. Low-income residents are encouraged to attend free learn-to-swim classes and apply for free family swim passes at the Hernandez and Mill Pools. Scholarship applications (made possible through the Kaiser Permanente Southern California grant donation) are available at these locations or through the PRCSD Main Office.

“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.” –Maya Angelou

Written by Naomi K. Bonman

Maya Angelou

The world lost another great icon, a legendary voice in literature. According to ABC News, renowned poet, author and civil activist Maya Angelou was called to red on the morning of Wednesday, May 28 in North Carolina. Despite being very frail and having heart problems, Angelou was going strong, finishing a new book.

Miss Angelou came to fame after publishing her first book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in 1969. The book, which reflected her life, was a success and was nominated for a National Book Award, and from there the rest is history. In acknowledgment of her phenomenal works, she will be honored at the 2014 MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon.

Her legacy will continue to live on for generations to come.

April 4, 1928- May 28, 2014

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrIG9vqZhpY]

ONTARIO, CA- After more than 4 years, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) will be returning to Ontario, CA. The PBR and AEG are proud to be teaming up when the PBR Blue DEF Velocity Tour bucks into the Citizen Business Bank Arena on Saturday, November 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 6, at 10 a.m.and start as low as $15. Tickets will be available at the Citizens Business Bank Arena box office, www.AXS.com and by telephone at 1-888-929-7849.

Photo caption: Team members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Bernardino pose for a photo after successfully completing the five-week Operation HOPE Banking on Our Future financial dignity program. They are joined by (Far Left) Boys & Girls Clubs of San Bernardino Program Director Alma Flores and (Far Right) Union Bank Branch Manager and volunteer instructor Michael Milian.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- As part of its ongoing commitment to responsible banking and to help increase youth financial education, Union Bank partnered with Operation HOPE (HOPE) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Bernardino (BGCSB) to educate high school students about the basics of personal finance using HOPE’s Banking on Our Future curriculum.  Union Bank volunteers Rosella Bernal, Michael Milian and Jason Nesbihal began teaching HOPE’s award-winning youth financial dignity program to members of the BGCSB on April 11.  The five-week course culminated with a recognition ceremony to celebrate the students’ completion of the program May 9. The Banking on Our Future curriculum offers five modules:  Course in Dignity (covers the importance of responsible budgeting and money management), Basics of Budgeting, Get Smart About Banking (Checking and Savings Accounts), Fundamentals of Credit, and Introduction to Savings and Investing.   Each week, students participating in the program learned practical lessons by using hands-on calculations and real-world examples. During the ceremony, students, teachers and parents were also treated to a special demonstration of the bank’s newest financial education tool – the Yuby app.

ONTARIO, CA- In an effort to promote education in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering Arts, and Math, join Victorville Motors and Shear Realty and buy a student a ticket to see Mindless Behavior and Friends at the Citizens Bank Arena, and also EXCITE their appetites for STEAM. Tickets are on sale now at Citizens Business Bank Arena for $49, $39, and $29. Proceeds will go towards providing FREE Millionaire Mind Kids Summer Camps and meals for Victor Valley’ Youth. Purchase tickets under one of the schools’ PROMO CODES which can be found on the Millionaire Mind Kids Smart Center Facebook page.

Millionaire Mind Kids is accepting applications for summer Camps. To receive your application, please email millionairemindkids@verizon.net. Deadline to complete and return applications is May 31. The Camp will be held from June 16-27 for ages 13 to 18; July 7-July 11 for ages 9 to 12; July 14-July 18 for ages 13 to 18; and July 21-July 25.  Open House for sponsors, businesses, educators, families and students (the public) will be held on June 16 from 9:00 a.m.—11 a.m.  Contact MMK for group student tickets at (760) 240-4044.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Willing Winn Association and Mission (WWAM) Inc., will be providing free lunch to the youth of San Bernardino starting Tuesday, May 27 to Thursday, July 31. Lunch will be provided Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Juanita Blakely Jones Elementary School, 700 N. “F” Street in San Bernardino (92410). There will be activities after lunch. For more information, please contact Dr. Deborah Winn at (909) 890-8674 or (909) 386-2020.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- BLU Educational Foundation is pleased to announce the kick-off of its Hustle & Flow Academy, an innovative hands-on approach to preparing young people for college and career success.  Considered the ultimate college and career readiness experience for young people, the Academy will be held June 9 – 13 and June 16 on the campus of San Bernardino Valley College.  The Hustle & Flow Academy is open to all young adults 16 to 23-years-old.  Tuition is $150 and includes lunch.

The Academy will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily beginning June 9.  Registration may be completed online.  Attendees will use their talents, skills and dreams to create a personalized action plan for their future.  Students will be guided by college advisors and business professionals through intense, results producing activities and workshops that will include resume building, public speaking, creating a personal statement, and interviewing and soft skills training for the workplace.  Attendees will also have an opportunity to compete for internships and win a $500 scholarship.  For more information, visit www.blueedfoundation.org or call (909) 820-2827.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Consider the text God’s warning to anyone who’s “Playing Church!’ I ought to just finish right there with that one statement, for the text says it all. You can fool man, but you can’t fool God! Man is easy to fool because man’s assessment and evaluation of people is based on what man sees “outwardly,” but there is an “unseen eye” that sees all we do and an “unseen ear” that hears all we say. That unseen eye and that unseen ear belong to God, and God sees stuff and knows stuff about you that nobody else knows.

Tares are going to be found among the wheat. Goats will be found among the sheep, but the day will come when the Lord distinguishes between the wheat and tares, the goats and the sheep. In that day there will be no more hiding and masquerading as Christians. The question you must ask yourself is, “What will that day expose about me?” Are you playing Church?

People of God we need to “Stop Playing Church” and “Be the Church.” So many today put on their Sunday best, go to Sunday morning meetings, but have nothing; they are void inside of Christ. They are “Playing Church,” but “Aren’t the Church.” They look like good Church folks; they carry a Bible; they wear a cross, and sometimes they have on a robe, but they are not the real deal. It’s time that we realize that this is not a game, we must take Christ seriously. “Stop Playing Church!” Stop pretending to be living in obedience to God. Stop pretending to truly love God. “Stop Playing Church” the way little children play “house” or “doctor.” Stop Playing with God!

We have to wake up from our slumber and be about our Father’s business. {Galatians 6:7} “Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked) by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.” “For whatever a man sows, that shall he reap.” {1 Peter 4:17-18} For the time has arrived for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news, The Gospel of God?

I believe that Jesus is calling “His Church” to stand up, share the truth, and be a catalyst of change.  God made us for greatness, not pettiness.  God gave us the best and greatest gift of all, His son Jesus.  It’s time to “Stop Playing Church and Be the Church.”  It’s time to get serious about this thing because time is winding up. I don’t know when He’s coming, but this one thing I am sure of, it’s just a matter of time. “Stop Playing Church and Be the Church.”

Warnings are an act of grace. The clearer the warning, the more abounding in the grace of God. God acts graciously when he gives warnings, for by such warnings there is given the opportunity to repent and seek the grace of forgiveness and eternal life in the infinite loving act of God in giving His Only Son to be the propitiation for our sins. We need to take this to heart. If we do not listen and turn from our evil ways, and so suffer awful judgment, then it is not the grace and love of God that is lacking, but the fault of our unrepentant hearts which refuse to heed the revelation of God, and spurn His love. Let us believe God. Let us not deny the truth, but warn people to flee from the wrath to come. Let us make sure that we ourselves have repented and hidden ourselves in Christ alone, so availing ourselves of the one and only escape from God’s wrath, faith in Christ.