Local

By Carl Dameron

Being accepted by just one major university is a life-changing event for many high school students.  Monique Vobecky is in a very different position.

Monique Vobecky a 17-year-old senior at Glendora High School, recently received her 18th acceptance letter, this one from another Ivy League University.  Many of the universities offered her full scholarships.

“This completed 18-for-18 high profile universities that accepted her as a freshman for the 2021 school year,” said her mother, Bianca Vobecky.

Monique is an excellent student with a 4.67 grade-point average, as well as an athlete and philanthropist.

“This is unreal!” said Monique, who is 17.  “I cannot believe all the letters said, ‘accepted.’”

Monique plans to make the most of this fantastic opportunity.

“I want the world to see that Black Girls are capable of amazing things.  We must be recognized and accepted for who we are and the talents, skills and passion we bring to the world…no matter how different we are… doctor, scientist, artist, musicians, or even a young poet like Amanda Gorman!”

How did Monique become such a sought-after student?

“She earned it,” said her father, Pete Vobecky.

Monique fell in love with sports and started playing soccer at an early age.  She’s been a captain on the Glendora High soccer team where she excelled as the 2017-18 “Defensive player of the year,” and she was selected MVP of the Soccer team for the 2019-2020 school year.

In 2018, Monique, then 14, created the Little Sunshine Foundation.  Her start-up was selected by the Glendora Chamber of Commerce as the ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ in 2019.

The Little Sunshine Foundation’s mission is to provide underserved youths with the necessary resources to improve their quality of life through tutoring, increased access to sporting gear, civic engagement and leadership.

Monique said she started the foundation because she believes “that every child deserves a little sunshine!”

Her parents said Monique gets to decide which university she’ll attend since she is the one who put in all the work.  Although Obama did go to Harvard, one noted.

“We don’t know all the reasons why all the universities accepted her.  What we know is that my daughter, a Black teenager from Glendora, California, put in the work to excel academically and take time to shine light in the lives of so many others,” said her mother, Bianca.

Her father, Pete, said, “Maybe it is time for Monique to be given an opportunity to have the light shine brightly on her for a while.”

Monique said she wants to major in medicine and become a doctor “to heal people and help them lead longer, happier lives.”

Pressed to name the lucky university she’s chosen, Monique said she doesn’t know yet.  She said she’ll let friends, family and the universities know when she decides.

The universities accepting Monique include:

1. Harvard University
2. Stanford University
3. UC Berkeley
4. UCLA
5. Cornell
6. Yale University
7. Princeton University
8. Cornell University
9. Duke University
10. Johns Hopkins University
11. University of Southern California
12. Northwestern University
13. Brown University
14. UC San Diego
15. UC Santa Barbara
16. UC Irvine
17. Cal Poly SLO
18. Cal State Long Beach

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Dameron Communications has been retained by the RDCIO partnership of Renaissance Downtowns USA and ICO Real Estate Group to serve as the public relations firm for the development and reuse of The City of San Bernardino’s 48.2-acre Carousel District site in the heart of downtown San Bernardino. 

The development is expected to serve as a catalyst for Downtown San Bernardino by building upon the pre-existing foot traffic brought in by the Regal Cinema and California Theatre.  

“We are very excited to work on this epic project.  This bold development will launch San Bernardino into a prosperous 21st century,” said Carl Dameron, principal of the 30-year-old San Bernardino agency, Dameron Communications. 

“The plan includes housing for all and business opportunities for all,” said Don Monti, Renaissance Downtowns President and CEO.  

On March 3, 2021, the San Bernardino City Council selected RDICO to redevelop the Carousel Mall. The RCICO plan is the best way to launch San Bernardino’s short term, mid-term and long-term growth, said Dameron.

For more information on RDICO and San Bernardino’s new Downtown Development, go to www.SanBernardinoDowntown.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed interim Public Defender Thomas Sone to serve as the county’s new Public Defender.

“We are very fortunate to have someone with Tom’s credentials, experience, and dedication on our team,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.

Sone has served as interim Public Defender since December and previously served as Assistant Public Defender. He joined the Public Defender’s Office in 2001 after briefly working for a private law firm in Los Angeles. Sone began with the County as a Deputy Public Defender I and worked his way up to the position of Lead Deputy Public Defender V before being named Chief Deputy Public Defender in 2013 and Assistant Public Defender in 2018.

Along the way, Sone litigated serious and complex felony cases, trained and mentored newer attorneys, assigned cases, participated in community programs, and collaborated with various agencies to develop programs that better deliver services to our community.

“The Public Defender’s Office and this county hold a very special place in my heart,” Sone said. “For the past 20 years within the department, I’ve grown not just professionally but also as a person. Both the leadership of this department as well as this county have shaped who I’ve become. I am humbled and honored by the appointment.”

Sone is the county’s first Asian American and Pacific Islander Public Defender. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego, School of Law and holds two Bachelor’s degrees from Washington State University. He is also a graduate of the San Bernardino County Management and Leadership Academy.

The Public Defender provides legal representation to criminal or civil commitment defendants who cannot afford to hire an attorney. The office represents adults and juveniles charged with misdemeanor or felony crimes, and persons facing involuntary civil commitment for mental disorders or commitment under the Sexually Violent Predator statute.

In addition to attorneys, the San Bernardino County Public Defender employs investigators to fully investigate cases handled by the department. The Department also has a staff of social workers and support staff to provide the best representation for clients.

Using a holistic approach, the Public Defender seeks to increase client opportunities for achieving self-sufficiency. In addition to providing legal defense, the office also seeks to arrange client access to social service programs and assistance with receiving alcohol and drug rehabilitation services and counseling for mental health issues.

The San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD) Positive Youth Development department is organizing another Operation Student Recovery (OSR) on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 9 a.m. to noon, the third operation of the 2020–2021 school year.

OSR takes a proactive approach to reversing attendance issues, with administrators personally visiting the homes of truant students to invite them back to school and offer assistance in overcoming whatever barriers are preventing good attendance.

Past events have helped students, and their families, address the problems that prevented good school attendance. During the February 23 OSR 1000 event, more than 165 volunteers wearing personal protective equipment assisted 102 homeless students, 14 foster youth, 234 English learners, and 360 African-American students. A total of 40 students received immediate technical assistance. Other students received medical and mental health referrals, and some families received food assistance.

For more information about the April 27 OSR event or past OSR efforts, contact Positive Youth Development at (909) 880-6812.

Kit Enters Digital Age with Online Version of Resource-Packed California Parent Guide

SACRAMENTO, CA—- In 2001, First 5 California debuted its informative and resource-packed Kit for New Parents to millions of families and caregivers throughout the state. However, many parents of young children, especially families from under-resourced neighborhoods, are not aware of this free and valuable tool.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of children under the age of 5 who face barriers of literacy, poverty    or disability experience difficulty accessing valuable information and resources that are essential during this time,” said First 5 California Executive Director Camille Maben. “The Kit for New Parents fills that gap by delivering essential parenting resources right to their doors.”

The Kit contains everything from practical advice and parenting tips to child development and finding childcare information. It also includes information about health and safety best practices during the current global pandemic. The Kit’s contents include:

• California Parent Guide
• What to Do When Your Child Gets Sick book
• Numbers Touch and Feel children’s board book
• California Poison Control brochure and magnet
• Colorful, reusable First 5 California “Talk. Read. Sing.” tote bag

First 5 California developed the Kit as an innovative evidence-based approach to reach new families with information about parenting practices and community resources. Over the years, it has evolved with technology and the needs of parents and is continuously updated to include information relevant to today’s families and childcare providers. For example, the California Parent Guide is now available online at parentguide.first5california.com for parents to access with their smartphones and mobile devices.

Parents and organizations can receive the physical Kit by visiting First 5 California’s ordering page at https://apps.ccfc.ca.gov/First5ParentingKits or by contacting their local First 5 county commission.

To date, First 5 California has distributed more than 5 million Kits for New Parents, including approximately 145,000 in 2020. To learn more about First 5 California, visit ccfc.ca.gov.

The garden will support healthy eating, active living

ONTARIO, CA— On Saturday, April 17, the Carmel Connections Foundation (CCF) and the City of Ontario hosted a ribbon cutting for the grand opening of the Seeds of Joy Community Garden. The benefits and positive impacts that come from gardening inspired the name “Seeds of Joy” – meaningful to describe the garden itself, as well as those who will be tending to everything, and everyone, that will grow here.

Phase 1 is complete, and it is because of the efforts of all of the community. A special thank you to Hap Kellogg and Kellogg Gardening Products for helping the foundation to tend their garden by donating Kellogg Organic Products to Seeds of Joy.

Caramel Connections Foundation would like to thank all of our volunteers, sponsors, and community partners that have made great strides to bring the Seeds of Joy Community Garden to this point. Partners include San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chair Curt Hagman, West Side News, United Way of the Inland Empire, American Beverage Association, First 5 San Bernardino and the Inland Empire Health Plan. Additional supporters include UC Cooperative Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP), Master Gardener Program (MFP), and Master Food Preserver Program (MFP).

CCF was established in 2016 to empower families in the Inland Empire to access healthier food and lifestyle choices. Through educational and enrichment programs for children and adults, CCF offers low-income families opportunities to grow, cook and eat healthy food and participate in fitness activities that address the high rates of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure that are prevalent in the community.

The Seeds of Joy Community Garden is located at 1240 W. 4^th Street in Ontario, California.

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EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes and the County of San Bernardino announce that the California Transportation Commission has voted to approve funding for the Muscoy Area Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Improvements Project. This funding will come from the state’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 5 and will provide the project with a $1.88 million grant. The grant will be matched with funding from the County of San Bernardino.

The approval of the funding for the project represents the culmination of several years’ worth of collaborative efforts to improve the area. The project was first conceived at the “DREAM BIG IE” Youth Empowerment Summit hosted by Majority Leader Reyes in 2017. At the summit, parents and students from Muscoy advocated for improved sidewalks and safer route infrastructure around the two elementary schools: Vermont Elementary and Muscoy Elementary.

A community partnership was formed at the summit to ensure that Muscoy’s children and their families could safely walk to and from school. This promise led to the formation of the student-led group known as SOAR IE, which created a diverse coalition known as the Sidewalks for Muscoy Coalition. This coalition consisted of community members working together to improve the sidewalks, crosswalks, and other infrastructure around the schools.

“The idea for this project came from high school students who used to walk to school in Muscoy. I honor their work, and I am so proud that they have worked with us to make it a reality. Our community deserves safer routes to school,” said Majority Leader Eloise Reyes.

“When walking the streets of my community, I’m afraid of what can happen, I’ve seen how kids struggle to walk on our streets, risking getting hurt because of a lack of sidewalks,” said former Vermont student Angela Loera.

“The County is proud to receive this grant and we are eager to get to work on these projects,” said San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “People deserve to feel safe when they walk through their neighborhoods. We are thankful to be part of a collaborative effort.”

The Sidewalks for Muscoy Coalition served as the initial wave of improvements for the Muscoy community. The coalition rallied their community as they built sample crosswalks, bus shelters, and curb extensions using funding from Southern California’s Association of Government’s (SCAG) Go Human Campaign.

This initial collaborative effort led by SOAR IE would in turn become the Muscoy Safe Area Routes To School Pedestrian Improvements Project, which sought out and received a commitment from the County Public Works to make streets safer for residents to walk and bike. By 2019 the coalition was hosting events such as the first “Walk to School Day” for National Clean Air Day to promote safe routes.

In 2020, the San Bernardino County Public Works Department submitted the Muscoy Area Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Improvement Project for funding consideration for 2021 under the state’s Active Transportation Program. The funding will allow the project to upgrade existing crosswalks to more visible ladder-style crosswalks; install pedestrian flashing beacons, signage, red curbs, and sidewalks.

“When I went to the Youth Empowerment Summit, the Assemblymember asked for legislative ideas. We suggested protection for our siblings who attend elementary school in Muscoy. Assemblymember Reyes believed in our idea, and now we are excited to see the idea become a reality,” said SOAR IE member Guadalupe Tellez.

After unsuccessfully applying for a similar project in Cycle 4 of the Active Transportation Project, the Department of Public Works improved the application this year by adding more safety improvements and agreeing to a collaboration with the Department of Public Health and local CBO Mental Health Systems to provide educational and encouragement programming.

The Safe Routes Partnership assisted the applicants with the application process, which is well known for its difficulty. The Active Transportation Program is heavily oversubscribed, with fewer than 11% of applications funded in most cycles.  “Let Muscoy’s victory serve as a reminder of the urgent need to prioritize funding in environmental justice communities and rural communities of color across the Inland Empire and the state,” said Demi Espinoza from the Safe Routes Partnership. Jonathan Matz, also from the Safe Routes Partnership, added: “We’re incredibly proud of the agencies, NGOs, and most importantly community members who worked so hard to make this application stand out among the hundreds that were submitted. It’s a testimony to the need for safe walking infrastructure in Muscoy, and the community’s unity behind achieving it.”

Ultimately, the Muscoy Area Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Improvements Project represents what can be achieved through collaboration.

“If we want to improve the quality of life in a particular community, we cannot pretend to know what’s best.  The only way to do it is to bring the community together and ask “What do you need? How can we help?” And only then can we work together toward a goal of making life easier and better for the community. In this case, it was the students and then the parents who voiced the dream for Muscoy. And they helped make it come true.” .said Majority Leader Eloise Reyes.

“Margaret Mead once said, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ This quote defines Muscoy, a community of leaders that refuses to give up, engaged in collaborative dialogue to create a vision of a better future that includes safer conditions for youth en route to school. A job well done,” said Mirza Martinez, Mental Health System prevention specialist.

Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes represents Assembly District 47, which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.

• Covered California, the Department of Health Care Services and CalPERS are joining together to require their health insurance companies to address significant drops in preventive care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated racial and ethnic health disparities across the state.
• Together these three purchasers represent about 40 percent of California’s overall population.
• Covered California added performance goals for health plans, requiring them to return to pre-pandemic levels of childhood vaccinations and colorectal cancer screenings by the end of 2021.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and CalPERS are taking the lead in addressing gaps in preventive care created by COVID-19 and will pay specific attention to racial and ethnic disparities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Covered California, DHCS — which operates the state’s Medi-Cal program — and CalPERS announced complementary efforts to ensure that everyone covered by the programs gets vaccines to prevent COVID-19 as they become available while addressing preventive care gaps caused by patients not getting needed services.

“As we focus on the immediate health and economic impacts of COVID-19, we must be proactive to address downstream effects the pandemic can have on the health of Californians and our communities,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “Taking action now, on childhood immunizations and colorectal cancer screenings, is an investment in future good health, and these policies are intended to help avoid a surge of bad health outcomes in the future.”

Covered California will require its 11 health insurance companies to reach pre-pandemic levels of childhood immunizations and colorectal cancer screenings by the end of 2021 and to exceed those numbers by the end of 2022.

Dr. Alice Hm Chen, Covered California’s chief medical officer, said the motivation to act was data showing that COVID-19 has led to a sharp drop-off in primary and preventive care. At the same time, the pandemic has had a strikingly disproportionate impact on people of color. 

“Coverage is a means to getting better care and ideally better outcomes,” Dr. Chen said. “We wanted not only our health plans, but all health plans and providers in the state, to address the impact of COVID-19 on preventive care. Our hope is that by working collectively, we can make up critical ground that was lost over the past year.”

Data from California’s Department of Public Health shows that vaccination rates in the state have fallen. As of November 2020, 12 percent fewer children had received their first dose of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine compared to the year before, and 20 percent fewer adolescents received their Tdap (tetanus) shot. Dr. Chen said Covered California and its fellow public purchasers, DHCS and CalPERS, felt a sense of shared urgency to act.

“DHCS shares this focus on equity and childhood wellness, and we are finalizing a roadmap to reduce health inequities in Medi-Cal with measures to recognize health disparities among beneficiaries,” said DHCS Director Will Lightbourne. “Early in the pandemic, we identified growing gaps in well-child visits and immunizations. We are committed to closing those gaps and others, in part through our ongoing requirement that Medi-Cal managed care plans conduct performance-improvement efforts on youth preventive health care.”

“As the largest purchaser of public employee benefits in California, CalPERS is committed to providing high-quality, equitable care to our members. Our data shows that the use of preventive care, including cancer screenings and immunizations, has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Don Moulds, CalPERS chief health director. “Together, with Covered California and DHCS, we are taking action to close gaps in care created by the pandemic, and are working with our health plans to ensure our members have access to much needed chronic care and preventive care services.”

Dr. Chen said colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death and a source of significant racial and ethnic disparities. Data from the Epic Health Research Network found that at the onset of the pandemic, colorectal cancer screenings had declined by nearly two-thirds compared to the historical average. Dr. Chen said those trends need to be reversed immediately.

“As a cancer that is amenable to prevention rather than just early detection, it’s critical we get people between the ages of 50 and 75 screened, and it’s a process that can be started without an in-person visit,” Dr. Chen said. “Treatment for colorectal cancer in its earliest stage can lead to a 90 percent survival rate after five years.”

Lee said these provisions chart a path for future collaboration for a bolder shared agenda in support of quality, equity and delivery system transformation.

“Covered California is proud to be joining with both other major purchasers and the health plans. We put a spotlight on core issues of health care equity and quality that matters, and they stepped up for the communities they serve,” Lee said. 

American Rescue Plan Special-Enrollment Period

The announcement comes during Covered California’s special-enrollment period in support of the American Rescue Plan. The new and expanded financial help that is now available will allow the uninsured to sign up for coverage at dramatically lower premiums, with many being eligible for high-quality plans that cost as little as $1 per month. Californians who are insured directly through a health insurance carrier can also switch to Covered California, often with the same carrier and coverage level, and save hundreds of dollars a month.

Californians are encouraged to check their health care options, even if they have checked in recent months or years, to see how affordable coverage can be. On CoveredCA.com, consumers can easily see exactly how they can benefit from the new law. Consumers just need to enter their ZIP code, household income and the ages of people in their household to see their monthly cost and the health insurance options in their area.

Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:

• Visit www.CoveredCA.com.
• Find local insurance agents or individuals in Navigator organizations who provide free and confidential assistance over the phone or in person, in a variety of languages.
• Get a call from certified enroller. Covered California will have someone reach out to the consumer to help them for free.
• Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

About Covered California

Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies.

Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.

About the Department of Health Care Services

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is the backbone of California’s health care safety net. It provides access to affordable, integrated, high-quality health care, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use treatment services and long-term care. DHCS funds health care services for about 13 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries and is the largest health care purchaser in California. It collaborates with the federal government and other state agencies, counties, and partners to invest more than $100 billion for the care of low-income families, children, pregnant women, seniors, and persons with disabilities. For more information about DHCS, please visit www.dhcs.ca.gov.

About CalPERS

For more than eight decades, CalPERS has built retirement and health security for state, school, and public agency members who invest their life work in public service. Its pension fund serves more than 2 million members in the CalPERS retirement system and administers benefits for more than 1.5 million members and their families through its health program. It is the largest defined-benefit public pension in the U.S. CalPERS’ total fund market value currently stands at approximately $446 billion. For more information, visit www.calpers.ca.gov.