Local

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA-  Four local Rotary Clubs came together Tuesday, May 8 to honor educators with the Character Education Award, and Pacific High School teacher CJ Eastwood took home the trophy.

“There is a literal trophy,” Rotary President and SBCUSD director Chris Tickell said. “It’s a very large, perpetual trophy that the winner’s school gets to display until next year’s Character Education Awards luncheon.”

Local Rotary clubs established the Character Education Award in 1991 to honor educators whose teaching best exemplifies the virtues of character education in the classroom. The Rotary Club of San Bernardino awards the top finalist a $2,000 honorarium and recognition on the perpetual trophy.

Pacific High Principal Dr. Natalie Raymundo said Character Education winner CJ Eastwood “creates a safe and supportive learning community that encourages students to be involved in the community. Overall, (CJ’s) biggest contribution to character education is helping students understand the impact of their words, actions, and inactions on the school and broader community.”

The Character Education finalists were Benjamin Cervantes, Del Vallejo Middle School; Cara Nelson, Curtis Middle School; and Rebecca Robles, Muscoy Elementary School. Finalists each receive a plaque and a $250 honorarium.

The following San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) educators were also nominated for a 2018 Character Education Award:Catherine Cowles, Kendall Elementary School; Eunice Gutierrez, Gomez Elementary School; and Paul Prado, Holcomb Elementary School.

The Character Education Award luncheon is sponsored by San Bernardino Rotary Club, San Bernardino Rotary Club Crossroads-Loma Linda, San Bernardino Rotary Club North, and San Bernardino Rotary Club Sunset.

By Jerome Horton, California Black Media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- If Senate Bill 822 (Weiner) passes in its current form, your internet rates will increase. 

States around the country are rushing to restore the net neutrality rules developed under President Obama and rolled back by the Trump Administration.  However, as they say, “the devil is in the details.”   

Senator Weiner’s legislation, SB 822, would attempt to restore internet connection safeguards for Californians that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reversed, but would do so at your expense by shifting the cost from wealthy internet providers to consumers.  This is particularly concerning because it hurts those who can least afford an increase in their internet bills, expands the current wealth inequity, and impedes access to technology.  

The original goal of “net neutrality” was that internet service providers and governments would treat all data on the internet equally and not discriminate or charge differently based on the user, services, website, application, or device – in other words, it would provide an open internet.

However, one of the bill’s provisions would ban popular free data offers, like streaming movies and music that do not count against data plans. These free data plans, also known as zero-rated plans, are discounts used by millions of consumers to stream popular online content like video or music.  Data shows that this act disproportionately hurts poor to middle-income earners who have a significantly higher reliance their smartphone as their only form of internet access. 

These consumers will get hit with higher monthly costs when they exceed their data caps, or they’ll have to throttle their own internet use. The problem is that consumers rely on their internet access to get jobs and healthcare information and whether consumers pay an extra $10, $15, or $20 per month, it’s not affordable for many low-income people. This amounts to a regressive tax, which wasn’t in the Obama net neutrality rules.

So, who does benefit?  If you scratch the surface of the net neutrality issue, you’ll see that it’s also a business-to-business issue. The bill appears to be written to favor very large “edge providers” – massive internet companies who generate so much traffic that infrastructure needs to be built around them, thus giving them a free ride (at our expense) when it comes to funding their equally massive infrastructure needs. That will shift all the costs onto ordinary consumers.

Although budding entrepreneurs and small businesses with limited financial resources would still be allowed to build an online presence for little to no additional cost, all public entities would be required to comply with procurement restrictions that would delay the deployment of critical new services. Yet with the right amendments, and political will, we can protect the little guys and the consumer. 

Net-neutrality is necessary, but not at the expense of poor to middle-income earners, as this goes beyond the Obama net neutrality policy and hurts California consumers in the process. Remember one of the greatest tricks the devil ever played was convincing the people he does not exist.  Believe in the devil or not, we need to amend this bill and protect consumers and small businesses before the cost of living goes to hell.  Individually our voice has meaning; collectively it has power. Consider calling your legislator today to get their perspective – because “silence grants consent.”

Re-elected in 2014, Member Jerome E. Horton is the Third District Member of the California State Board of Equalization, representing more than 9.5 million residents in Los Angeles, a portion of San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. He was first elected to the Board of Equalization in 2010. Member Horton also serves as the Board of Equalization’s Property Tax Committee Chair. He is the first to serve on the Board of Equalization with more than 21 years of experience at the BOE. Horton previously served as an Assembly Member of the California State Assembly from 2000-2006.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is a publicly elected tax board that serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA-This 4^thof July, come out and support Young Visionaries at their firework stand by purchasing or volunteering starting Sunday, July 1 to Wednesday, July 4.

 The stand will be located at 306 W Baseline Street in San Bernardino in the parking lot of 7-11 (on the corner of Baseline and Arrowhead).

To volunteer please call (909) 723-1695 or email info@yvyla-ie.org.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Saturday, June 23 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at La Placita Park located at 685 N Mt Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino, the Pastors of San Bernardino are having a community block party.

The San Bernardino Pastors United (SBPU) is inviting the entire community to La Placita Park community block party.  There will be a life-saving message delivered by Dr. Michael Owens of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.  The message is simple, “We are here for you; come unto us if you are heavy laden.”

 The Pastors are working together in unity and solidarity to bring the Gospel message into the streets, trying to save lives. They are taking a united stance against crime in our streets and violence in our schools and community. Come expecting a Holy Ghost party with powerful gospel music, prayer and testimonies about the power of God.

The mayor, city council, law enforcement and other agencies will be in attendance. Bring the children for a special program which will include face painting, gifts and much more!

There will be free food, free groceries, free shoes, free games, popcorn, a TV and prizes to be raffled off. SBPU is expecting the attendance to be in the thousands. Preregister or volunteer at (909) 353-7977 or visit www.sbpastorsunited.org.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)-LOMA LINDA, CA-– In true first responder fashion, local firefighters came out to lend a helping hand at the annual Tip-A-Firefighter at The Old Spaghetti Factory on Wednesday, May 30.

Firefighters from Loma Linda, Redlands and Colton Fire Departments came out to serve lunch and dinner to guests at the Redlands restaurant. All tips collected by the men and women in uniform were donated to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH). 

The event raised more than $4,500, which will go toward Vision 2020 – The Campaign for a Whole Tomorrow, and the construction of the new Children’s Hospital tower.

The Old Spaghetti Factory in Redlands has successfully hosted the annual event for the last seven years, raising nearly $40,000 for LLUCH.

Scott Perryman, MBA, senior vice president/administrator, for the hospital had the pleasure of dining at the restaurant with his family and was served by local first responders.

“These men and women already do so much for our community,” Perryman said, “and to see them come out and do this for our kids reinforces their reputation of heroism. I am truly thankful for their service.”

By Dr. Margaret Hill

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- When you think of reading with a child, maybe your son, daughter or grandchild, it’s a happy thing. Perhaps it’s the bedtime story, maybe it’s a favorite book they want to read again and again. But maybe you didn’t know how much more it is than just a fun moment to share together. This is the cognitive foundation for future success. It is especially crucial for children in disadvantaged homes where experiences in elementary school years can impact whether they earn a high school diploma and continue to college.

Research shows there continues to be a literacy and academic achievement gap between children in poverty and their more affluent peers. However, when children in low-income homes have resources for reading, and reading is a priority in the home, they do better academically.

The nationwide problem of differences in learning levels for economically disadvantaged children has been referred to as the “30 million-word gap.” By the age of 3, children born into low-income families hear roughly 30 million fewer words than their more affluent peers. Researchers, psychologists, educators and early childhood development specialists have found that to equalize differences in children’s development, a greater effort must be made to increase children’s cognitive experiences. Reading together is a perfect way to do it. 

With summer just around the corner, we believe this is a great time to think about how much learning can be lost over the summer when kids are out of school. This is known as the “Summer Slide” – the time when knowledge gained in school is lost because of the decreased academic engagement over the summer break. Two months of learning loss results in major summer brain drain. For example, summer learning loss accounts for two-thirds of ninth grade achievement gaps in reading. Disadvantaged children often fall behind their peers who continue to steadily build their skills over the summer months. Because we care about all children in our communities and their future well-being, we are compelled to take action to promote literacy resources.

Here are three tips for parents: 

1. Set a goal to have your kids read six (6) age appropriate books over the summer. 
2. Let children select appropriate reading materials for themselves. 
3. Read out-loud together and gently correct mistakes.

We hope parents will consider bringing their children to our free book giveaway at Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. The event is called Summer Book Fest 2018 and Resource Fair. We were generously granted books by the Molina Foundation as part of their Launch Into Reading initiative, and we are happy that we can give away thousands of these brand new books for children of all ages. New books are often not financially feasible for parents to provide and we are here to help. And parents, we are having a resource fair at the Book Fest event with over 20 agencies on-site to provide information, goods and services to help families.

Thank you parents, grandparents, care-givers, and other adults who encourage children to read. Your efforts make a difference in the lives of youth in our communities.

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- It’s coming back! LUE Productions 2nd Annual ‘Show it Off’ Youth Competition scheduled for October. We’re looking for talented youth to audition for FREE on Saturday, June 30 in San Bernardino at the Feldhym Library from 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Our goal is to provide platforms for aspiring artists and quality shows for the community to enjoy.

If you know of a talented youth that can sing, dance, rap, recite poetry or spoken word, play in a band or any sort of unique gifts please send them our way. In order to participate you must reside in the Inland Empire and you must be 19 years if age or under.

Our team is looking to award the 1st place winner $500, the 2nd place winner with $100 and 3rd place winner will with $50 in cash along with trophies. All music or performances must be clean. If selected more details about the show will be given.

Get on the priority audition list by texting your name and contact number to (909) 567-1000 or emailing Lue.info@yahoo.com. Let’s keep positive events such as this going for our youth. Until next week L’s!

Los Angeles joins Chicago and Atlanta to host fitness-focused scholarship fundraiser

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- LOS ANGELES, CA- With successful 5K run fundraisers in place in Chicago and Atlanta, the Divine Nine 5K Race Series is pleased to announce its West Coast expansion with the addition of Los Angeles as the next location.

Launched in 2015 by fitness enthusiast Neecy Roney, the Divine Nine 5K Race set an early goal of bringing the community together for fitness, fellowship and fun.  The first event took place in Chicago in 2015 with 500 participants.  In 2016, the race expanded to Atlanta, where the inaugural race attracted nearly 600 participants.  Both events are organized in collaboration with the local National Pan-Hellenic Councils (NPHC) and raise funds for the Council’s scholarship and community programs.

Recognizing the Divine Nine 5K’s positive impact on the community, organizers made plans to strategically expand to other locations.  From a list of other major cities, Los Angeles was selected based on its location, strong NPHC council and the community’s interest in fitness and track record of supporting unique fundraising activities.

“We’re pleased to join the Divine Nine 5K family,” said Jacqueline Sparrow, President, Los Angeles NPHC.  “The event will provide a unique opportunity for NPHC- Los Angeles to bring the community together in the name of fitness and scholarship.” 

“Our expansion to Los Angeles confirms that the Divine Nine 5K Race Series is truly a national event.  With locations in the Midwest, South and now Southern California, we’re excited about the opportunity to grow the race series,” added Rooney.

At present, the NPHC-Los Angeles is reviewing possible locations for its inaugural Divine Nine 5K – Los Angeles.  The event is tentatively planned for October 2018.  Additional details will be announced later this month. 

The Atlanta and Chicago 5K races are planned for June 9th and June 16th, respectively.

For additional information about the Divine Nine 5K Race Series, please visit www.divinenine5k.com.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA- From twin sister valedictorians who have had nearly every class together since kindergarten to a self-driven Latina who was once afraid to speak English and now plans to become a lawyer, San Bernardino City Unified School District’s Class of 2018 has produced many stellar graduates.

There’s Jalen Stevenson, who is making history not because he’s among nine Cajon High School seniors graduating at the top of their class.  Jalen, 17, is the only African-American valedictorian at Cajon High and the District this year.

A native of San Bernardino who attended North Park Elementary and Richardson PREP HI Middle School, Jalen is the first in his family to go to college.  He is headed to UCLA to study psychology, with plans to be a psychiatrist or marriage and family therapist.  Although Jalen never set out to be valedictorian, the achievement has empowered him to be a role model for younger students.

“Humbly speaking, I do feel I am a role model for young African-American males,” said Jalen, who was accepted to nearly every college where he applied.  “I’m a testament to the potential of our city.  The students like me, who graduate from high schools in San Bernardino amid struggles and tribulations, we worked so much harder to earn our diplomas.”

Jalen hopes to return to San Bernardino often while at UCLA to motivate students to work hard for their goals.

UCLA is also where fraternal twins Claire and Caitlin Todd, 18, will go to college this fall, the first time in many years they won’t share the same class schedule.  Claire, who is older by three minutes, will study political science with hopes of holding elected office, while little sister Caitlin will major in biological science.

Since kindergarten, the Pacific High School valedictorians had all but one class together and are now looking forward to carving out their own identities.  Caitlin dreams of designing cutting-edge prosthetics that she hopes will bring movement and freedom to people like her uncle, who uses a prosthetic leg.

“I learned 3D design in ninth grade, and ever since then I’ve been completely fascinated by all the new advancements in science,” said Caitlin, who hasn’t ruled out going to medical school.  “I want to help people who have lost limbs or were born without limbs.”

Claire wants to improve her community by holding elected office at the local level before pursuing a state seat.

“I’ve always been very interested in politics,” Claire said.  “I like debating with people.”

For Middle College High School valedictorian Britney Nicolas, debating was the furthest thing from her mind.  As a child growing up in a Spanish-speaking home, Britney overcame a speech impediment after years of therapy.  No longer afraid to speak English, she will be the first in her family to attend college when she tackles business administration at UC Berkeley before heading to law school.

“Although my parents never read a book to me or helped me with my schoolwork, they’re very proud of me,” said Britney, the oldest of five children. “Without my dad, I wouldn’t know the value of an education.”

Jalen, Claire, Caitlin, and Britney are among more than 3,400 San Bernardino City Unified School District students who will receive their high school diplomas or GED certification this year.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK-ENN) -FONTANA, CA- Sean Flynn for Congress released the following statement after surging to first place in Tuesday’s primary election:

“I am humbled by the support from the voters last night. While there are still votes being counted, last night’s first place finish confirms that this is a winnable district. I want to thank my campaign team and our incredible volunteers who worked hard to make this win a reality.” said Sean Flynn.

“We have a lot of work to do in the coming months, but I am confident we can bring new leadership to this district,” Flynn  added.

Sean Flynn was the only Republican challenger to defeat an incumbent in the State of California on Tuesday night.  The victory has attracted national attention to the race. 

The 31st District includes all or portions of Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, San Bernardino, Highland, Redlands, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Colton, and Rialto.

Flynn is the best-selling author of Economics for Dummies. He is also coauthor of the world’s best-selling college economics textbook, Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies.  An avid martial arts enthusiast, Flynn is also a former U.S. National Aikido Forms Champion and coach.  Flynn is single and lives in Redlands.

For more information on the Sean Flynn for Congress campaign go to www.SeanFlynnForCongress.com

The General Election is on Tuesday, November 6.