Local

Photo credit by the Riverside Police Department

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. – On Tuesday, August 10, 2016, Riverside Police Officers teamed up with undefeated, former two-time WBO World Boxing Champion, Mikey Garcia (35-0, 29 KOs), to hand out one hundred backpacks and various school supplies to kids in the Casa Blanca neighborhood. The event was part of the annual Riverside Police Department Backpack Giveaway program, held today at the Ysmael Villegas Community Center in Villegas Park. Garcia said, “This was a wonderful opportunity to come out and support these kids. As a parent, it feels good knowing that all of these children will be prepared with the adequate supplies for their first week of school. I’m a big advocate for education, so I gave some advice for the kids to take with them into this new school year. It was an honor to be a part of this program, and to partner with the Riverside Police Department.” The twenty-eight year-old Garcia trains nearby at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside.

Having the right tools and support is crucial for students to have a successful education. “It was great to have Mikey Garcia out here with us giving back to the community,” said Sgt. Barney of the Community Services Bureau. “The backpack giveaway is a joint sponsored activity by the Riverside Police Foundation and the Riverside Police Officers Association, and was designed to inspire children and let them know that their community supports their academic efforts. Both foundations were able to raise over $5,000 in school supplies for kids in the City of Riverside.”

For any inquiries, contact Lorin Chvotkin of Team Mikey Garcia by email at Lbchoyas@yahoo.com or by phone at (240) 498 1478.

For more information about the backpack giveaway program, contact Supervisor John Pedroza, with the Community Services Bureau of the Riverside Police Department by email at Jpedroza@riversideca.gov or by phone at (951) 826-5232.

Follow Garcia on Facebook

Follow Garcia on Instagram: @teammikeygarcia

Follow Garcia on Twitter: @MikeyGarcia

Hashtags: #TeamMikeyGarcia #RGBA #BackToSchool

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- As you may have heard, JCPenney is returning to San Bernardino by opening a new store at Inland Center this fall.  The store will bring over 200 new jobs to the San Bernardino area, and JCPenney is having two special hiring events, which you’re invited to cover:

• The first event will be held at Inland Center Mall at 500 Inland Center Drive, August 18-20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• The second event will be held at the San Bernardino Employment Development Department location at 658 East Brier Drive, August 25-26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Recruiters will seek department supervisors, replenishment and support associates, visual associates, sales associates (commission and non-commission), Sephora inside JCPenney beauty consultants and The Salon by InStyle stylists.  Interested candidates may also visit jcpcareers.com to view and apply for positions.

Due to the drought, it’s important to make every drop count. Saving a few gallons every day helps restore our water supply. Here are a few water-saving tips for around the home:

• Washing only full loads of laundry and dishes saves up to 50 gallons per week
• Fixing household leaks promptly saves up to 20 gallons per day
• Taking a five-minute shower saves up to 8 gallons each time
• Turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth saves up to 2.5 gallons per minute
• Buying water-saving devices like high-efficiency toilets, shower heads, clothes and dish washers saves many gallons per day!

Tips for residents and businesses on how to reduce water use inside and outdoors  are available at Metropolitan’s conservation website bewaterwise.com®, which also has information about how to apply for several different money-saving/water-saving rebates.

By Naomi K. Bonman

They say that if you want to see change that you must be the change. Meet Los Angeles, California native by the way of Midland, Texas, Rashaud Jones. Mr. Jones is being that change that he wants to see in his community. He is making a change through his music by being a voice for the voiceless. Under his stage name, HustleIsMandatory (H.I.M.), he broke into the music scene as an independent artist in October 2015 with the release of his first solo project entitled, “Dana Made H.I.M. Do It,” which was a concept piece based on conversations between H.I.M.’s late aunt Dana Augusta Wright and H.I.M over the last few years before her untimely death. He felt more than compelled to do it in honor of his aunt.

Now fast forward just one year later, and Mr. Jones is making an impact in his music once again with his current single #PROTECTUS which is off of his upcoming project #NOMOREHASHTAGS, which is inspired by the recent events that have occurred where innocent lives have been taken.

“In this moment we have to use our gifts and voices to stand up and say #PROTECTUS because if WE don’ history will continue to repeat itself. Therefore, we as people have to come together as one and showcase that not only “Black Lives Matters” but “All Lives Matter”.

Sophisticated Relations recently caught up with the prolific, uprising emcee where he chatted on his upcoming project, inspirations, and why we should all be using our platforms in order to create the change that we wish to see in the world.

To keep up with H.I.M. visit his website www.hustleismandatory.com or follow him on Instagram @hustleismandatory.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW BELOW:

https://soundcloud.com/naomi-mznay-bonman/rashaud-interview-aka-him-with-sophisticated-relations

Did you know that up to 70% of your annual water use occurs outdoors? Replacing your lawn with water-wise plants can save as much as 44 gallons per square foot each year. Here are a few tips on how to maintain a beautiful and less thirsty garden:

• Use less thirsty plants: African daisies, California poppies, celosia, creeping zinnia, cosmos, dwarf morning glories, gaillardia, marigolds, nicotiana, portulaca, and many more beautiful plants require much less water than grass.
• Cut back on fertilizer: It causes the plants to become more thirsty.
• Know your sprinklers: Use water-efficient sprinklers that focus on precise coverage and eliminate run off.
• Water for short intervals: Watering for short periods allows plants time to absorb water without causing run off.

Additional indoor and outdoor water-saving tips are available at Metropolitan’s conservation website bewaterwise.com®. The site also has information about education programs and rebates for water-saving devices.

By Lue Dowdy

LUE Productions Model Workshop POOLSIDE is WHAT IT DO!!! We’re looking to put together a one day Model Workshop at the beginning of October. In order to pull it off we must have at least 10 or more ladies in the workshop. You will experience a day of sisterhood through modeling. Our staff will provide top notch experienced individuals as instructors. The fee to participate is $100. Please do not let the cost scare you. We will work with you. The monies will go towards the instructors and amenities listed below worth $250 or more.

Upon completion of the workshop each participant will receive a certificate of completion and headshots. The workshop will consist of “The fundamentals of being a model,” which include: 1. What to expect 2. Tips on Walking 3. Hair & Make Up Tips 4. Fashion Tips 5. Tips on Posing 6. Tips on promoting yourself as a model 7. Information on go sees and 8. How to start your portfolio. Other amenities included in the fee are FREE lunch, FREE champagne, and FREE head shots. Please contact us at (909) 567-1000 or email Lue.info@yahoo.com for more details.

By Naomi Riggins

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Mr. Jase Patterson, the new principal of Newman Leadership Academy is focused on creating high-quality education by bridging the gap through building stronger ties to the community with collective partnerships, not only with parents, but also with local businesses to support student achievement by first starting at the child’s home.

Patterson, 38, a native of Washington D.C., was an assistant principal at Assata High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for five and half years before transferring to Progressive Achievement Center in Compton, CA where he served as assistant principal for 2 and half years before coming to Newman Leadership Academy. His passion and commitment to children in the urban demographic had led him to the city of San Bernardino.  He recognizes parents are looking for positive male role models to change the perception that role models are only exclusive to the athletic figures. He is showing that role models need to and do include Teachers and Educators who harness educational attributes to make a difference in the world.

In a tough economy and competitive job market, Patterson says “parents find themselves raising children and looking to enter the job market,” or have had past employment problems or limited education. For those parents he plans to implement regular job fairs and educational and literacy programs, which includes computer literacy programs and home computers for the students of Newman, as well as community health fairs with blood pressure and health screenings.

Patterson engages students with the opening of a student store which children will earn incentives called “Scholar Dollars.”  Newman has future plans of expanding the library through donations, and incorporated the assistance of community businesses to help in funding for field trips. His openness has already impressed Newman Academy parents due to the fact that he has first and foremost put the children first. He is going to be a wonderful asset to Newman Leadership Academy Team.

Newman Leadership Academy is looking for additional donations in order to be able to continue to build onto the school’s library and resources.  To find out more about Newman Leadership Academy please visit 1314 E. Date Street in San Bernardino (92404) or visit www.newmanleadership.org.

SAN BERNARDINO CA- Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino), in partnership with Wells Fargo, sponsored the 47^th Assembly District Youth Academy’s trip to Sacramento on Monday, August 8. The Youth Academy, comprised of local high school students, are working together to finalize a bill proposal for next year’s legislative session.

“The goal of the trip was to get a better understanding of how a bill becomes a law,” said Assemblymember Brown. “I want to thank Wells Fargo for generously sponsoring our field trip to the State Capitol. The experience was both fun and educational for our students.”

During the visit, the Youth Academy members participated in legislative and professional development workshops, as well as attended a committee hearing and Assembly floor session. 

“Every minute of the trip, from meeting Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon to participating in a very compelling question and answer session with Assemblymember Brown’s Chief of Staff, was informative and captivating,” said Maria Mendoza, a recent graduate of Kaiser High School in Fontana. “Witnessing our state Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown in action and finalizing our bill proposal has been unparalleled. I am very thankful to have received the opportunity to be a part of Assemblywoman Brown’s Youth Academy; it has inspired me to become a more politically cognizant citizen.”

            “The trip to Sacramento was a great experience for me,” said Michael Egiebor of Carter High School in Rialto. “I have never been to Sacramento before, so everything I saw was new to me. My favorite part of the trip was working on our legislative proposal with Assemblymember Brown’s Legislative Director, Shannon McKinley.  It showed me that young people can make a difference in their society. All in all, it was a great trip and it inspired me to consider working in the political field.”

“Wells Fargo is pleased to support the 47th Assembly District Youth Academy whose mission is to help enrich the lives of underserved students. At Wells Fargo, we believe it is vital to the health and success of our communities that young people are able to learn from pioneering role models such as Assemblymember Brown,” said President Evelin Martinez, Wells Fargo Inland Empire Area. “We’re pleased to hear that the visit was more than just an educational field trip, but an enriching experience that has motivated our students to become remarkable leaders of the future.”

The 2016 Youth Academy program will conclude November 2016. Applications for the 2017 Youth Academy will become available December 1, 2016.  For more information, contact Ashley Jones at (909) 381-3238.

Kevin Jeffries

With Riverside County being the 10^th largest county in the nation and the 4^th largest in the State of California, and projections saying we may one day be the second largest county in the state, you can’t help but wonder what the future will look like for our growing county.   When I was first elected to the Board in November 2012, one of my questions for our county’s future was – what do we want to be when we grow up?  Are we going to become one mass of concrete and houses?  While we hear a lot about the logistics industry’s impact on the Inland Empire, will our largest export continue to be people, with workers heading out every morning at the crack of dawn to work in LA, Orange and San Diego counties? Or are we going to control and shape our own destiny and bring our people home?

I remember a time when builders built a variety of new buildings for professional offices, small neighborhood commercial centers, and light industrial facilities for small businesses and manufacturers to start and grow.  Today it’s either large residential developments or large warehouses.  Where did the little guy go? Hasn’t it always been the small mom & pop businesses that have all the plaques on the wall, because they could never say no to a little league or soccer league sponsorship request?  That wall of plaques usually doesn’t exist at a corporate chain store.  

My point is – as we grow and question how to add more roof tops and of course more cars on our congested streets, we have to simultaneously figure out where our future high school and college graduates are going to live and work. While we have some beautiful, hillside, gated communities being built, where are the starter homes for young families or professionals? A couple of warehouses along major transportation corridors doesn’t cause me to lose much sleep – but we owe it to our kids and grandkids to attract high tech, professional, and yes, good paying retail and blue collar jobs to our county.  Putting all our eggs into one basket and becoming the mega-center of warehouses for Southern California is not my idea of a long term promising future.  Let’s think outside the box (pun intended).

You may have seen some news stories about the county budget, and the contentious discussion surrounding it.  I ended up voting no on our new county budget and its deficit spending of $1.17 million per week. On a 4-1 vote the Board lifted the previous restrictions that had been imposed a month earlier on travel, new hiring and the purchase of large items (cars, etc.). It also increased spending for a non-public safety agency (or two) and then left unanswered how we are going to deal with a $34 million shortfall in the Sheriff’s Department and at least a $6 million short fall for the District Attorney.  I had hopes that all spending was going to be on the table for re-evaluation and funding prioritization, but that was not the case.  Something tells me we will be re-visiting our decisions by the end of the year.

Respectfully,

Kevin Jeffries

FONTANA, CA- An eager group of students cheered alongside Fontana Unified officials on Aug. 4 as a ceremonial ribbon was cut to celebrate the first day of the new Dolores Huerta International Academy, a $30 million campus that provides dual-language and pre-International magnet programs for 350 learners.

The academy, named for civil rights activist and labor leader Dolores Huerta, will serve students in kindergarten through third grade in 2016-17, and add fourth grade in 2017-18 and fifth grade in 2018-19.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the highly anticipated opening featured school and District officials, community members, parents, and students dressed in blue and white school colors.

“This school is truly a dream come true,” Principal Maribel Lopez-Tyus said. “It is the result of what we can accomplish as a community when we come together and demand the best for our children. This is an exciting time for Fontana.”

High demand for enrollment led Fontana Unified officials to select students through a random drawing that included 600 applicants.

The academy’s vision was a collaborative effort, with a council of 15 to 20 parents helping to develop the school’s beliefs, logo and vision, which is “Academic excellence and global compassion through innovative and multilingual education.” The academy’s international flair will be on display in the school’s foyer later this year when flags from multiple countries will hang to acknowledge the diverse heritage of the students.

The academy’s dual-language classrooms include a mix of native English and Spanish speakers so students can learn from each another.

Dual-language students receive 90 percent of their instruction in Spanish and 10 percent in English in kindergarten and first grade. As they progress through the grades, the percentage of English instruction grows until lessons balance equally between English and Spanish in fifth grade.

The Pre-International program will provide K-5 students with a challenging course of study to prepare them for enrollment in high school IB programs, which feature college-level coursework. Fontana Unified offers an IB program at Jurupa Hills High School.

“The international program here at the academy will put our students on an advanced track to achieving their academic goals,” FUSD Co-Interim Superintendent Randal Bassett said. “The bright and talented students of this school are our true dignitaries. They will be building our future.”