Calendar

Sustainable landscaping and edible gardening are the focus of a Garden Festival planned for the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley on Saturday, March 29, 2014. The festival, which will include presentations and resources from local organizations, is organized by the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program. The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. Festival activities are included with paid museum admission; lunch will be offered for an additional fee of $10.00.

Keynote speaker Dona Jenkins, the UCCE San Bernardino County Master Gardener Program Coordinator, will kick off the program at 9:00 a.m. speaking on the topic of How to Become a Master Gardener. Presentations on “What’s Bugging Your Plants,” “Companion Gardening,” “Edible Landscaping/Drought Tolerant Gardening,” and “Container Gardening” will follow at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. respectively. The “Container Gardening” program will be offered in both English and Spanish.

Master Gardeners are community volunteers who join with the University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) with a mission “to extend research based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of California.” Master Gardeners have given over two million hours of volunteer time since the program’s inception in California in 1980.

University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) has been helping people solve their agricultural and horticultural problems since 1913 when Extension Agents (now Farm Advisors) supervised “Victory” gardens during World War I and II. They have helped agriculturalists and home and community gardeners ever since. In addition to serving the needs of agricultural industry, UCCE also supports research and education in the areas of youth development and family and consumer sciences, using thousands of volunteers to extend the research based information and knowledge to its California clientele. This is accomplished through partnerships with growers and others in the agriculture industry, with nutrition education programs, with 4-H Youth Development programs, and with the various “Master” programs such as Master Composter, Master Naturalist, and Master Gardener programs.

The San Bernardino County Master Gardeners also plan to hold a Garden Festival at the San Bernardino County Museum’s main facility in Redlands on May 31.

The Victor Valley Museum is a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 (adult), $4 (senior or military), and $2.50 (student). Children under 5 and San Bernardino County Museum Association members are free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is 909-307-2669.

He’s been gone for a minute, but now he’s officially back in action. Acclaimed comedian, Katt Williams, made a comeback at the Los Angeles Forum this past New Years Eve. Now he is making his way to the Inland Empire and will be making people fall out of their seats in laughter on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 8 p.m. at the Citizens Bank Arena. Doors open at 7 p.m, and parking is included in ticket fees. Tickets range from $29 to $109. A group of four is $100 plus fees. This is a show you don’t want to miss! So get your tickets while you still can. Visit Citizens Bank Arena’s website to purchase your tickets today!

This is the largest West Coast 25 and over Urban Professional event that will be held from July 25 to July 27, 2014. The weekend getaway is reserved at the Renaissance Palm Springs Resort, 888 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Festivities for the weekend include celebrity performances, themed parties, private vendors, fashion shows, health and fitness speakers and of course a pool party. Packages start as low as $200 per person. For more information visit partyinpalmsprings.com or call 800-604-9931.

Walk to Help Cure: Sunday, April 27, 2014 at Guasti Regional Park, 800 N. Archibald Avenue in Ontario. 5k walk/run registration check-in will be at 8 a.m. and the walk will kick off at 10 a.m. Register now at walk.ldrf.org or contact Public Affairs at (909) 387-3700.

TGIF Fridays: Every Friday night at Spikes Bar & Grill, 16728 Bellflower Blvd. in Bellflower, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. 21 and over. Also join in for happy hour and soul food from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

INGLEWOOD, CA- On Friday, March 7 come out and enlighten your soul at the Savoy Entertainment Center located at 218 S. La Brea Avenue in Inglewood. Featured poets include Andrew Tyree, Alyesha Wise and Rudy Francisco. There will be a special performance by a musical artist that is yet to be announced, as well as a presentation by paint artist Norton Wisdom. The show starts promptly at 8: 03 p.m. Tickets are $15 and you must be 21 or older to enter the venue. For more information, please call 310-559-1670 or visit flypoet.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) invites the public to attend her District Office Open House on Friday, February 28 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.

Constituents are encouraged to attend, meet Assemblymember Brown and her staff, ask questions and share concerns.

Assemblymember Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, the southwest parts of San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

The District Office is located at 290 North “D” Street, Ste. 903, San Bernardino, 92401. Light refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP to Ashley.Jones@asm.ca.gov or call (909) 381-3238.

Save the date and get registered for the first annual 5K Lupus run/walk hosted by The Purple Rose Foundation and Team Maya Forever. The event will be held in Riverside at Poly High School, 5450 Victoria Avenue, on Saturday, May 10. The theme for the event is, “My Faith is My Cure”. Participant registration on that day will be at 7: 30 a.m. Runners will start at 8:30 a.m. and walkers will begin at 9 a.m. Please note that there will be a shorter course for those who are unable to do 5k. Early bird registration is from now until April 1 with prices starting at $25 for adults and $15 for children 16 and under. After that the price will go by $10. A family package is available for 1 adult and 2 kids at $45, and 2 adults and 2 kids at $65, price includes a official medal of participation and tee shirt. Participants are welcomed to decorate their own shirts as well. After the walk there will be a HUGE rally with music, food, vendors and more. To register and more information on LUPUS and the Purple Rose Foundation, visit mypurplerose.org.

Artists perform on a new internet TV show scheduled for March 25 on the Inland Empire Live, a well viewed show. The show will be an online concert featuring indie artists along with quick interviews. The artists will be able to be seen not only in the Inland Empire but around the world. Only 8 slots are available and it is a first come first serve basis starting at 7 p.m. A $25.00 fee is required to secure a spot. Viewers will have the opportunity to make donations to performers. For more information you can call 909-567-1000 or email lue.info@yahoo.com. (Written by Noelle Lilley)

The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Pomona Valley Alumnae Chapter, will be presenting the 1^st Annual Inland Empire High School Step Show on Friday, March 21 at the Ontario Convention Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.IEHIGHSCHOOLSTEPSHOW.com. The event will be hosted by Chris Loos with music provided by DJ Severe.