Local

Ada Mae Garth was born on January 30,1934 the 4th Child of 15, to the late Charlie Lewis Wilson and the late Carrie Sturdivant Wilson in Dadeville, Alabama. Ada lived in the Dadeville and Birmingham, Alabama location until her marriage to the late Jervis Leon Garth, Sr. in 1952, in which the military afforded them to travel and live in many states abroad until they moved to San Bernardino, CA.  

Ada was a resident of San Bernardino, CA location for over 55 years. She was known for her kindness, generosity, and infectious Smile. Her home was a revolving door of Love. She treated everyone’s child that entered her home as though they were her own.  The love of the Lord shined thru her. 

Ada departed this side of life on February 19, 2021. She leaves behind to cherish her precious memories, 5 daughters and 2 Sons: Kathleen Washington, Rialto, CA; Ernestine Archie; Jervis Garth Jr, Birmingham Alabama; Louise (Glenn) McMillon, Stockton, CA; Edward (Althea) Abdullah, Atlanta, GA; Caroline Garth, San Bernardino, CA, Helen Garth, Stockton, CA.; (Bernadette, Abdullah, Seattle, Washington), 4 surviving siblings; Charles Wilson of Montgomery, Alabama; Geraldine Wilson, Lagrange, Georgia; Donald (Alma) Wilson, Birmingham, Ala; Connie (Harold) Brown, Pinson, Ala; a host of 1, 2, 3 and 4 generation grandkids, nieces and nephews. She will truly be missed and not forgotten.

Viewing and Service at The Community Memorial Chapel 738 E Highland Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92404.  Viewing April 20, 2021 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Service April 21, 2021 11:00 am. Interment immediately following at Montecito Memorial Park.

San Bernardino County Museum will reopen to the public on Thursday, March 18, featuring the exhibit, “Here Comes the Sun: Solar Science and Spirituality.” The exhibit features dramatic, large scale footage from NASA’s Solar Dynamic Observatory. Temporarily modified hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m.Tuesday-Sunday.

The museum is also seeking artists and musicians to participate in their virtual exhibit, “Inside the Lines: Voices of the Civil Rights Movement.” Residents are invited to post their art or music online using the hashtag #SBCMCallAndResponse or #VVMCallAndResponse for an opportunity to be highlighted on the museum’s social media platforms. Submissions can also be received via email at museum@sbcounty.gov.

Below you will find the City of San Bernardino employment opportunities list for the week of March 15, 2021.  If you are interested in advancing your career or if you know someone that may be interested in joining the City of San Bernardino, we invite you to take a closer look at our employment opportunities. For more information please visit the City’s website at www.sbcity.org/jobs or call 909-384-5104. For a complete list of job requirements and to apply visit www.sbcity.org/jobs or call 909-384-5104.

MORENO VALLEY, CA—– In the blink of an eye, it has been a year since Shango Moreno Valley first opened its doors to cannabis lovers throughout the Inland Empire. Not even a pandemic stopped the multi-state cannabis company from growing a large and loyal customer base. To celebrate the dispensary’s success, Shango will be hosting a two-day birthday party on Saturday, March 20, and Sunday, March 21.

“Over our first year, we were able to build hundreds of quality friendships with our customers and now we’re going to reward them for their loyalty,” says Shango Controller Julie Dubocq. “It’s time to party.”

Highlights include food trucks, giveaways and specials on flower, vapes and edibles galore to light up the weekend of fun.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Good Times Ice Cream truck will be on hand from noon to 3 p.m., followed by the TK Burgers Truck for the dinner rush between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Prize raffles for the day include products from Puffco, Huni Badger and more. Patrons get a free raffle ticket with every purchase.

Over both days, 29 items will feature discount prices or be offered for $1 with purchase of two of the same item.

Shango is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is located at 11875 Pigeon Pass Road, STE C-1, in Moreno Valley, CA 92557. Call 1-866-4SHANGO for more information.

By Manny Otiko and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Fourteen California Black Democratic elected officials serving at the federal, state, county and city government levels joined hands in a virtual show of support for Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday during a news briefing on Zoom. In one-minute statements, each one explained why she or he is standing behind Newsom as a Republican Party-led effort to recall California’s 40th governor gains ground across the state.

The two main organizations spearheading the recall effort, RescueCalifornia.org and RecallGavin2020.com, announced last week that they had collected the signatures of more than 2 million Californians for the petition they expect will soon trigger a recall election.

To begin the process of removing Newsom from office, the governors’ opponents must collect 1.5 million signatures – or 12 % of the total number of people that voted in the last gubernatorial election. They must also submit the signatures to registrars in all 58 counties by close of business on March 17.

“This is the beginning. Let’s hope this is the last time we come together to talk about this. But mark my words, if this recall does qualify, we will crush it because we will be united. We will not fall for a trick,” said U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA-37), pointing out that Gov. Newsom has done nothing that should warrant him being removed from office.

Bass said based on the price tag of past attempts to recall California governors, most recently Gov. Gray Davis in 2002, an election to remove Newsom from office would cost taxpayers over $100 million.

A total of 9.4 million voters cast ballots in the special election that ended Davis’ governorship.

Because the state, will hold a gubernatorial election next year, Bass says, it not fiscally responsible to hold one this year.

U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) said there is “no reason to recall the governor of the state of California.”

“There will be an election in June 2022 and people will have a chance to vote. So, I urge everyone to join us in this unfair recall against Governor Newsom,” she said.

Sen. Steve Bradford (D-Gardena) said Gov. Newsom has been a “friend of the African American community.”

“This governor has stood with us on criminal justice reform. He has eliminated and paused executions because he realized the majority of people of death row are minorities – Black and Brown individuals who are over-sentenced and over-prosecuted all the time and many times are innocent,” said Bradford. “So, we stand with this governor. He has stood with us.”

So far, recall supporters say they have over 2 million signatures – well over the minimum required by the state. The Secretary of State’s office has until April 29 to verify the signatures.

Many supporters of the recall effort say their plan to oust Newsom has been motivated largely by frustration over the strict coronavirus lockdown the governor imposed on the state. Some of the leading supporters are the California Republican Party, 2018 Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and the Republican National Committee. Both Cox and Faulconer have put their names forward to replace Newsom, if he’s removed from office.

“We’ve proven we can win. And I did it twice in San Diego. San Diego’s registration mirrors that of California — 24 % Republican — it’s the same in San Diego as it was statewide,” Faulconer said in an interview with the conservative magazine National Review. “So, I know how to build coalitions and win and get results. I know how to use the power of the bully pulpit to go out and win the argument publicly and then win the vote. That’s what you have to do to be successful in California and you have to get not just Republicans but independents and a portion of Democrats as well.”

But according to Ballotpedia, Republicans have had it in for Newsom for a while. This is the sixth recall attempt against Newsom since 2019. But the previous five weren’t successful.

In addition to Bass, Lee and Bradford, the other African American California elected officials who joined the media briefing to express their support for Newsom are: State Sen. Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles); Assemblymembers Autumn Burke (D Inglewood), Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) and Mike Gipson (D-Carson); San Francisco Mayor London Breed; Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell; California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; California Board of Equalization Member Malia Cohen; Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe; Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas; and Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson.

Gov. Newsom, who has said very little publicly about the recall, spoke up in an email to supporters Monday.

“I am not going to take this recall attempt lying down,” Newsom said. “I’m going to fight because there’s too much at stake in this moment.”

The governor also took to Twitter.

“I won’t be distracted by this partisan, Republican recall — but I will fight it,’’ he tweeted. Getting Californians vaccinated, our economy safely reopened, and our kids back in school are simply too important to risk.”

Breed said Newsom had led the state through a difficult time. She said Newsom showed more leadership than former President Donald Trump. According to Breed, Trump had abandoned San

Francisco during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. She dismissed the recall effort as a “right-wing attack.”

In Washington, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) all came out in full-throated support of Newsom the same afternoon. Shortly after, Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams also voiced her support for California’s governor.

“This governor was duly elected and deserves to serve his full term,” said Cohen. “A recall is the ultimate statement of voter suppression. Citizens of California came together and voted disproportionately to support Gov. Newsom. It is our duty to fight this baseless, senseless recall.

POMONA, CA—- – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) will work with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to host Reach for the Stars, a town hall connecting local students with Pomona native and NASA astronaut, Victor J. Glover, Jr. (Commander, U.S. Navy), as well as NASA astronaut, Dr. Shannon Walker, live from the International Space Station on Thursday, March 18th at 9:35am PT.

Commander Glover is originally from Pomona and graduated from Ontario High School in 1994. He currently serves as pilot and second-in-command on the Crew-1 SpaceX Dragon named Resilience, which launched November 15, 2020. It is the first post-certification mission of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft – the second crewed flight for that vehicle – and a long duration mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Shannon Walker was selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 2004. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics, a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Space Physics from Rice University. Dr. Walker began her professional career at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in 1987 as a Robotics Flight Controller for the Space Shuttle Program. In 2010, she served as Flight Engineer for Expedition 24/25, a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station that lasted 163 days. Dr. Walker is currently serving as mission specialist on the on the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon.

This event currently has nearly 600 RSVPs, including 277 classrooms registered to join.

Participating school districts include Pomona Unified, Ontario-Montclair, Chaffey Joint Unified, Claremont Unified, Mountain View Unified, Fontana Unified and Rialto Unified.

Ervin became superintendent of the Bakersfield City School District (BCSD) in 2016. Mr. Ervin came to BCSD after having served as Superintendent for the Greenfield Union School District in Monterey County. He has served as a classroom teacher, school principal, and assistant superintendent at various school districts across the state. Ervin is fluent in Spanish and received both his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies and his Master of Science in Education Administration from Alliant International University and his Administrative Credential from California State University, Fullerton. He is a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

His start date and salary with SBUSD are to be determined.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Rialto resident Vanessa Mendoza, 26, wanted to study literature, write novels, and possibly even become an English professor, but that all changed after her first cultural anthropology class.

At the end of her first year at San Bernardino Valley College, Mendoza began experiencing vertigo spells and migraines. They became chronic, and for almost a year, she was unable to attend classes on campus. During this time, Mendoza says she “began to question and think about the social circumstances that made it difficult for me to obtain a proper diagnosis and treatment.”

Mendoza signed up for an online cultural anthropology course, and upon its conclusion, “felt that I had finally found a lens through which I could understand myself and my experiences related to culture and health.” When she was well enough to return to campus, she enrolled in more anthropology classes, and Professor Melissa King introduced her to other branches of study.

“Through her classes and mentorship, I came across something called medical anthropology, which further confirmed that this was the major I wished to pursue,” Mendoza said. “This branch of anthropology deals with the social, cultural, political, and historical complexities of health and illness. The way medicine and healing are practiced vary tremendously around the world; anthropologists can learn about these complexities through ethnography. In a lot of ways, I felt that I had fatefully ended up where I belonged. Anthropology is the study of what it means to be human, and as a human with a lot of questions, this major seemed like a perfect fit for me.”

Mendoza grew up in Rialto and graduated from high school in 2012. She wanted to attend UCLA, but as an undocumented and first-generation college student, it was difficult to navigate the application process and secure enough financial aid. Mendoza applied to SBVC to stay close to home and save money, and through the Dream Act, was able to receive aid.

At SBVC, she found support from all of her professors, especially King. She was “a crucial part of my academic journey,” Mendoza said, providing everything from book recommendations to career advice. Mendoza graduated from SBVC in 2018 and transferred to UC Berkeley and has found that all of the anthropology classes she took at SBVC “served as a really strong foundation for the upper-division courses that I am now taking.”

Mendoza plans on attending graduate school and is interested in the “critical study of climate change as it relates to health outcomes in vulnerable communities,” with the hopes of one day becoming a professor. She encourages anyone who is thinking about studying anthropology at SBVC to talk to the professors about transfer and graduation requirements and current students about their interests and struggles.

“The staff and students in the anthropology department have always been extremely helpful and friendly,” she said. “They will provide the guidance you need as you embark on your journey as an anthropology major.”

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Deputy David Livi is hosting a free online workshop discussing some of the careers available in the Sheriff’s Department and how to get started on the law enforcement pathway. The session, planned for 9 a.m. March 18, will offer an overview of divisions such as the coroner’s department, aviation, narcotics, and more. It is being presented in partnership with Alliance for Education’s SBConnect Series. Learn more or REGISTER by visiting, www.westsidestorynewspaper.com.

Thank you to Col. Frank Guevara and his team at San Bernardino County’s Department of Veterans Affairs for their tremendous work over the past years. In 2020, the County’s VA department assisted our veterans in receiving over $67 million in new cash benefits. This amount is more than any county in the state, and $20 million more than what San Bernardino County veterans received in 2019! For more information on how to receive benefits for your service, call (909) 382-3290, visit http://hs.sbcounty.gov/va/Pages/default.aspx or e-mail Inquiry@va.sbcounty.gov