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LOS ANGELES, CA—-  2,390 participants came together at the LA Zoo November 2 to walk for friends, family and loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Amongst the crowd were caregivers, those living with Alzheimer’s, civic leaders, celebrities and members of the community who want to play a part in fighting a disease that affects 5.8 million Americans.  Friday the Association announced the event has surpassed its fundraising goal of $750,000.

Funds raised at the event provide free, local care, support and advocacy, as well as research initiatives. Monies raised also fund the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900), which offers services in 200 languages.

During the walk’s opening ceremony FOXLA Good Day LA Host Rita Garcia and FOXLA Anchor Bob DeCastro brought the crowd to tears as they shared their personal journeys with Alzheimer’s disease.

“My grandma passed away after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012. I can’t tell you how difficult of a journey it was to watch the disease  progress so fast and so deliberate in such a strong and independent woman,” Garcia said. “It was heartbreaking to constantly remind her of who she was, who we were, how much she had taught all her granddaughters and how we would continue with her legacy of traditions, customs and, my favorite, her special dishes.  I walk in honor of by dear grandma.”

Nikki DeLoach, actress and Alzheimer’s Association Celebrity Champion, shared her personal commitment to the cause in honor of her dad, who is living with Pick’s disease, a rare form of dementia.

“The road with dementia is a long, winding, emotional battle,” said DeLoach. “But today, we were reminded that by coming together at Walk to End Alzheimer’s we are paving the way to finding a cure for this devastating disease, and supporting one another on this journey.”

This year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s Los Angeles welcomed a new partnership with Tandem Careplanning, a public benefit corporation that helps clients and caregivers obtain and manage in-home care relationships.

“As a company that strives to be a partner throughout the caregiving journey, Tandem Careplanning is proud to support the Alzheimer’s Association and work together to ensure continued improvement in care and research for a disease that affects many of our clients,” said Joshua Greer, CEO and co-founder of Tandem Careplanning.

DeCastro summarized the energy that brought everyone together to raise awareness and funds for those fighting this disease now and in the future.

“From the people living with Alzheimer’s to their caregivers, it takes an incredible amount of compassion and courage to cope with this devastating disease.  With the same love, strength and faith we will someday find a cure,” he said.

Of the Americans living with Alzheimer’s in the United States,  more than  670,000 in California. Additionally, more than 16 million family members and friends provide care and support to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Every 65 seconds someone in the U.S. develops the disease.

The final walk of the 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s California Southland 14-city series will take place November 9 in Palm Desert. For more information, visit alz.org/walk.

By Holly Ober

“It shouldn’t be about country club California. This should be a California everyone can live in,” said Christopher Thornberg, director of the UC Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting and Development, neatly summarizing the theme of the center’s 2019 annual conference. 

“The House That Wasn’t Built. Housing Scarcity: The Inland Empire’s Natural Barrier to Economic Growth” was held Nov. 6 at the Riverside Convention Center. It coincided with the release of a new economic forecast for the U.S., California, and Inland Empire economies.

Thornberg said that contrary to the bleak vision of inland California embedded in some statewide economic development agendas, the Inland Empire, which consists of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, has a robust economy and the 14th largest labor force in the nation. Over the past five years the Inland Empire joined the Bay Area in fastest job growth in the state. The region’s unemployment rate of 4% is the lowest it has ever been, equaling that of Los Angeles, and it has the same income per level of educational attainment as Los Angeles and Orange counties. 

However, while coastal areas boast large, highly paid professional and technical sectors, healthcare, government, and logistics dominate the Inland Empire’s economy. These jobs often require less education and fewer skills, and generally pay less than jobs in technology, finance, and educated professions that lead the coast. 

Rather than regard this as an impediment to developing the kind of economy found in coastal California, Thornberg suggested the Inland Empire’s labor force and housing supply have been necessary supports to California’s growth all along and comparison to coastal areas is both methodologically unsound and unfair. 

“Comparing local economies to San Jose is like comparing your health to an Olympic athlete,” Thornberg said. “The only place that looks like San Jose is San Jose.”

The housing supply, however, has not kept pace with the population, which over the past 25 years has grown three times faster than that of the coast. Apartment vacancies, for example, are at less than 4%. The region is not building enough housing, and neither are Los Angeles and Orange counties. This situation will increase regional competition for housing that is already pushing out the Inland Empire’s workforce as housing grows scarcer and rents rise. While some worry the rich are leaving California in droves, far more people at the other end of the spectrum are abandoning the state for places like Nevada and Arizona, where housing is available and affordable. 

The Center for Economic Forecasting’s analysis indicates a crisis of housing supply, not affordability. California has the second lowest vacancy rate in the nation and the highest percentage of adults living with parents. Thornberg said California needs to be issuing 200,000-250,000 building permits per year to sustain a 2% job growth rate but is only doing 130,000.

“Lower-skilled workers moved inland because coastal areas put the kibosh on housing 20 years ago,” Thornberg said. “It’s like we’re saying, ‘We already kicked you out of the coastal areas; now we want to kick you out of the inland, too.’”

The center’s analysis finds the housing problem is a land use issue that needs to be solved at the local level. Thornberg said a poorly thought-out tax model exacerbates the housing crisis. Most city revenue comes from business taxes, which encourages local governments to invest in business development, not housing. If cities have to build housing, they want it to be high-end and often enact restrictive laws to prevent high-density alternatives that attract lower-income occupants, like apartment complexes. 

“Baby Boomers are often the primary opponents of housing because they’ve got theirs already,” said speaker Steve PonTell, chief executive officer and president of National Community Renaissance, or National CORE, a nonprofit affordable housing developer with a focus on community revitalization. He said high-density housing does reduce home value, but self-interest shouldn’t influence a city’s housing decisions.

PonTell said the Inland Empire’s key to continued economic development is to build more housing, but the region has overzoned and overbuilt for business and underzoned and underbuilt for housing. 

“Housing should be considered a necessary infrastructure,” he said. “Cities can make this happen. Inland Empire cities should lead when it comes to how cities solve these problems. We need to be more aggressive about how we come together to do that.”

Paavo Monkkonen, an associate professor of urban planning and public policy at UCLA, said in his presentation that cities could add more housing by building to zoning capacity. One example would be to build up, not out — think high-rise apartments in urban centers instead of single-family homes in sprawling subdivisions. He also said building more housing in high-rent areas will spur economic development. 

“The decisions that need to be made to continue amazing growth in the Inland Empire are local,” said Thornberg. “We need to start having these land use conversations and making decisions.”

In addition, the Center for Economic Forecasting also released its new economic forecast with current outlooks for the U.S., California, and Inland Empire economies. A copy of the forecast and conference book can be downloaded in its entirety here.

Select key findings:

• Of all the industrial and business development in the Inland Empire, rapid expansion occurring at the Ontario International Airport is a standout. Year-over-year growth in passenger traffic at the airport has jumped 9.6% compared to 0.3% growth at Los Angeles International Airport and a 3.4% drop at John Wayne Airport in Orange County.
• Due to the multiple ways employment is measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the California Employment Development Department, and due to a lag in some of the data, the new forecast finds current monthly figures may be underestimating the Inland Empire’s true jobs growth trends. There is a good chance growth levels will be revised upward when the annual benchmarking occurs in March 2020. 
• Despite the trade war that has been underway since March 2018 with some of California’s most vital trading partners, the Inland Empire’s logistics sector has continued to grow at a robust pace, with 3% job expansion from August 2018 to August 2019. 
• As of the second quarter of 2019, average rent in the Inland Empire reached $1,390/month, a 3.8% year-over-year increase. Notably, rents are most expensive in submarkets closest to L.A. County where vacancy rates are also the lowest, indicating higher demand, likely from commuters who drive to the coast for work.
• Sales of existing single-family homes in the Inland Empire were down 6.4% in the first half of 2019 while they fell 7.2% statewide. The pullback can partially be traced to last year’s sharp rise in interest rates and limits on mortgage deductibility that resulted from the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The good news is 2018’s surge in interest rates has largely been erased, and today’s lower rates should stimulate the market.
• Yield curve, schmield curve: The strong correlation in this data to the onset of a recession is traditionally driven by the Federal Reserve raising short-term interest rates to cool an overheating economy. The inverted yield curve is like the skid marks left behind after trying to avoid going over a cliff. But in this case, the U.S. is not facing a cliff. The national economy is stable and the expansion will continue.

RIVERSIDE, CA— The planet Mercury will pass in front of the sun on Monday, November 11, and telescopes at the University of California, Riverside, will be ready to observe the latter part of the transit.

Reporters and the public are invited to the free event from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with free parking in Lot 26. No RSVP needed. (The transit will commence at 4:35 a.m., Pacific Time, and end at 10:04 a.m., Pacific Time.)

The telescopes will be positioned in the softball field on campus, in the UCR Baseball Complex.

After November 11, the next Mercury transit will be in 2032.

YUCAIPA, CA— Austin Olive hopes to make the Paralympic swimming team in 2024.

The 18-year-old Yucaipa resident is working hard to improve his time in the water and build his muscles. But along the way, Olive will have to qualify for a chance to make the team during events like the recent California Classic at Crafton Hills College.

Held October 26 and 27 in CHC’s Aquatics Center, the Classic – hosted by US Paralympic Swimming – put a spotlight on para-athletes looking to showcase their abilities as they compete against their peers in several events.

The meet was open to swimmers from all over the United States with any physical, visual or intellectual impairment. Several will move on to the Paralympics next year in Tokyo, while others like Olive are focused on future Games.

Olive – or Auggie as he’s known – found swimming after he found it difficult to keep up with his peers on the baseball field. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, swimming opened several doors for Yucaipa High School alumnus, particularly when it came to addressing his competitive spirit, said a family member at the event.

“Swimming makes me feel weightless,” said the current CHC student. “When I’m in the water, I don’t feel anything weighing me down both emotionally and physically. My stress and anxiety go down when I’m in the pool.”

Several athletes at the Classic have similar stories, some of which are known while others are still being discovered. Event organizers invited the community to the event with the intent of introducing competitors to local residents.

Several took US Paralympic Swimming up on its offer.

“One of the greatest things about this day in age is the Games are becoming more and more visible,” said Erin Popovich, associate director of the organization. “And when we can involve communities who do not get to see the Paralympics in person or on TV, once they see something like this, they understand it.”

The next stop for Augie and the other 44 Classic athletes is the National Championships in Dallas, Texas, in December. Popovich said the championships will lead to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo next summer. And then the fun starts all over again in anticipation of the 2024 Games in Paris, France, she added with a chuckle.

Twenty-twenty-four sounds like it is a lifetime away, but Augie has no plans on slowing down just yet.

“It’s pretty cool how fast I can swim even though I’m getting older and my muscles are growing,” said Olive. “Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they should be counted out. Do not ever give up.”

You can follow the progress leading to the Paralympics online atwww.paralympic.org/paralympic-games.

RIVERSIDE, CA—- A new television series for FX billed as “The Old Man,” starring Jeff Bridges, filmed in Idyllwild on Oct. 30.

The show is based on the Thomas Perry novel about a former CIA agent who has been living off-the-grid, until an assassin enters the picture.

“The Old Man” marks the first starring role on TV for the Academy Award winning actor Bridges.

The Film Commission was able to meet the needs of the film production in downtown Idyllwild, while taking into account the impact to the local businesses.

“The Film Commission attracts productions to our unincorporated communities, such as Idyllwild, where they create a strong, positive economic impact to local businesses,” explained Riverside County Film Commissioner Bettina Breckenfeld. “It leaves us with interesting movie stars and productions to tout for future projects.”

The Film Commission works with county partners to coordinate traffic and pedestrian flow around the production to ensure safety and minimize delays.

“The Old Man” wrapped up filming in downtown Idyllwild on the eve of the community’s annual Halloween Parade and Carnival on Oct. 31.

“Come on up to Idyllwild for a good ol’ fashion, down-home Halloween,” said event organizer Chris Singer. “We’ll even have a costume contest for humans and dogs.”

Idyllwild’s Halloween Parade kicks-off at 4:15 p.m. on Oct. 31 at the top of North Circle Drive, followed by a carnival at 7 p.m.

There will be trick-or-treating at local businesses, a dunk tank, face painting and cake walk. With a $5 wristband, carnival goers can also enjoy other games and jump houses.

The Riverside County Film Commission assists with easy online permits, incentives and locations for films, TV shows, commercials and music videos in Riverside County. The office provides professional, expedited concierge services from start to finish. Go to www.FilmRiversideCounty.com  for more information.

Family members and advocates to hold vigil for Vickie Lee Hammonds, who died in custody at the California Institution for Women (CIW) 

CORONA, CA—- The family of Vickie Lee Hammonds and California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP) will hold a vigil and peaceful demonstration on November 9th, 3pm PST at the California Institution for Women (CIW) state prison in protest of her preventable death while incarcerated. 

Vickie Lee Hammonds’ death on June 5th was one in a long series of avoidable injuries, suicides and preventable deaths caused by a culture of negligence that persists throughout the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and at CIW in particular, despite years of public scrutiny. In the weeks leading up to her death, Vickie––diagnosed with COPD and diabetes––had repeatedly informed CIW staff that it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to breathe. Multiple witnesses report that her repeated requests for emergency care were sidelined or ignored. 

“Our sister Vickie was not just an inmate with a CDCR number, she was a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother,” said Alma Hammonds, sister of the victim, from a statement on behalf of Vickie’s family. “We all want to know why she was so neglected and allowed to die.” 

Advocates for prisoners held in CIW, which was once identified as having a suicide rate 8x the national average, report a wide range of troubling issues plaguing the facility: refusal to provide emergency medical care by custody and medical staff; incredibly long wait times to have medical needs met; botched surgeries; and extreme medical indifference to people suffering with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes. 

“The State of California, the CDCR and CIW have to take responsibility for in-custody deaths, the neglect that allows them to continue, and the callousness of their collective response when they occur,” said CCWP organizer Eva Nagao.  “We’re here to support Vickie’s family in their demand for justice, and to make sure others in the prisons know we are watching––that we’re fighting alongside them for their survival.”

TIME: 3pm PST 

DATE: Saturday, Nov 9th, 2019 

LOCATION:  In front of CIW Prison (16756 Chino Corona Rd, Corona, CA 92880) 

This Veteran’s Day, Black Angus Steakhouse is taking some time to stop and salute the brave men and women who have served in the United States armed forces.

To honor our veterans and active-duty military this year, on November 11, Black Angus will be offering an “All American Steak Plate” for only $9.99.

The All American Steak plate includes an 8 oz. Certified Angus Beef® Top Sirloin steak with mashed potatoes, fresh broccoli with garlic butter, and a non-alcoholic beverage for only $9.99. 

OFFER DETAILS:

• Valid on November 11, 2019 only for all veterans and active-duty military
• No coupon necessary
• Offer valid one per veteran or active duty military personnel
• Military Guest must display valid Military ID or other proof of service
• Spouse and other military dependents are not eligible
• Offer is valid with coupons other party members would like to use
• Offer includes non-alcoholic beverages only (coffee, milk, tea and soda)
• Offer good throughout the entire restaurant, including BullsEye Bar
• Dine-in Only not valid for takeout or delivery
• No Substitutions
• $15 Be Our Guest may not be used for this promotion

YUCAIPA, CA – Nominations for the 2020 Outstanding Alumni Award from Crafton Hills College are being accepted through November 25. This prestigious award recognizes and honors the exceptional individuals whose attendance at Crafton helped them achieve their educational and professional goals, enabling great service to their communities. Each year, the Crafton Hills College Foundation recognizes a former student who exemplifies the dynamic and positive qualities the Crafton experience strives to produce. The Crafton Hills College Foundation Gala Committee reviews nominations and makes a final selection.  Nominees are judged on their accomplishments in their chosen fields and for their community service. The selected recipient is presented with the award as an honored guest at the Annual Foundation Gala, Dinner and Auction each spring.

Nominees can self-nominate or be nominated by someone else. Nomination forms can be found online at www.craftonhills.edu/alumni. For more information, contact the CHC Foundation at 909-389-3245.

Criteria for Nomination:

• Candidate attended Crafton Hills College and completed credit courses.
• The candidate demonstrates achievement of an exceptional nature and shows professional growth within their chosen field.
• Through leadership or active volunteering, the candidate has made a positive impact on their respective community.
• If selected, the candidate agrees to be present at the Foundation Gala on April 18, 2020, to accept the award.

Past recipients:

• 2019 – David Avila
• 2018 – Steve Leverette
• 2017 – Troy Mondragon
• 2016 – Lea Deesing
• 2015 – Scott McNaul Hernandez
• 2014 – Michael J. Smith
• 2013 – Raquel Prieto

By Naomi K. Bonman

The last weekend of October was kicked off in an empowering and fulfilling way! It was definitely a great way to wrap up Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the 3^rd Annual Queens Brunch held Saturday, October 26 at the Ontario Gateway Hotel in Ontario, CA.

The day started at 9 a.m. with a social hour as ladies checked in. After checking in, as you entered into the doors into the ballroom, you were welcomed by pink decorations and ladies of all nationalities decked out in their ‘Sunday’s Best’ hats. You immediately knew that you were about to be blessed.

Since the inception of the brunch in 2017, the event has successful grew from 30 women in the founder, Adrienne Braxton’s backyard, to over 200 women in a hotel ballroom. The Queen’s Brunch is definitely a life changing event filled with empowerment, encouragement and support.

The event kicked off at 10 a.m. with a prayer and ice breaker. The ladies were able to get to know one another with selfies. This period of the event is the perfect way to kick the event off because it allows guests to get a little comfortable, especially for those who come to the brunch solo. They get to feel like they know some people.

Brunch was then served immediately after the ice breaker with the program starting shortly after. Each year the highlight of the event is remembering those who received their wings by calling out their names during a tribute and moment of silence.

A week prior to the brunch, the community lost a shero, Wyteria Musgrove, to breast cancer. In her honor, a special table was decorated in gold and red towards the front of the stage.

Although those who have passed are remembered at the event, the event was all filled with empowerment, encouragement and support through powerful testimonies of survivors, poetry and song selections of inspiration.

If you missed the brunch this year, mark your calendars for October 10-11, 2020. The brunch will be two-day event. Stay tuned!

SAN BERNARDINO— Charleys Kids donated to San Bernardino’s Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy (YVYLA), to help give support to their S.A.M. Program, which stands for Student Achievement Mentor Program. Charleys Kids Foundation primarily gives grants designed to support the development and enhancement of the children’s program by providing tangible resources such as school supplies, books, and food. http://www.charleyskids.org/

A donation of $3,000.00 was donated to the Young Visionaries SAM Program. Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy’s Student Achievement Mentoring (SAM) is a program designed to address and reduce suspensions through effective implementation of positive behavior support systems. SAM is a goal-oriented program designed to support the educational and professional aspirations of all students. The Program seeks to increase the completion of developmental courses, retention and graduation rates. To accomplish this, the program increases exposure to educational, professional, and civic opportunities.

The Student Achievement Mentoring Program through mentoring works to:

• Improved Self Confidence and Self Esteem
• Increase Motivation
• Broaden horizons and experience of students
• Raise Achievements and Aspirations
• Build Relationships
• Establish Employment Development Skills
• Support to Graduation

The City of San Bernardino is home to a diverse and prominently minority population: 66% Hispanic, 14% African American, 13% White, 4% Asian, and 3% other. 23% percent of the population is foreign-born. In San Bernardino, the 2016 median household income was $39,472, compared to $63,783 for the State. Unemployment has remained above both state and national levels since the 2008 financial crisis, and the 2018 unemployment rate for the City was 5%, compared to 3.9% for the county, 4.6% for the state, and 4.1% for the United States. 

Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy has large annual outreach events for the San Bernardino community. For example, February, “Hearts for Hygiene” at this event YVYLA collects 200 bags of hygiene and distribute them to the youth in our programs that need hygiene. June is Young Visionaries Annual Youth Conference, this conference average up to 300 youth in attendance.

The month of August the youth group has an annual “2000 Backpack and School Supplies” giveaway, the month of November is a Thanksgiving event giving out 1000 Thanksgiving Turkeys and boxes of food to 1000 families in need. During the month of December for Christmas YVYLA has their annual 1000 Toy giveaway to 1000 community youth. 

“We would like to Thank Charleys Kids Foundation for their generous donation and recognizing the need in our community” says Terrance Stone, CEO and Founder of Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy.