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Aviation Electronics Mate 2nd Class Vinh Nguyen, from Orange County, Calif., right, and Aviation Electronics Mate 3rd Class Andrew Cancino, from San Bernardino, Calif., use a multimeter on an MH-60R Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Scorpions” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49, on the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115). Rafael Peralta is conducting routine operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Isaacs/Released)

On Saturday, August 3, the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation will be hosting its annual backpack giveaway

RIVERSIDE, CA—- (JULY 23, 2019) —- Summer is coming to an end! But before school officially starts, the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation will be assisting parents with school supplies by handing out FREE backpacks at its 18^th Annual Backpack giveaway. The giveaway will be held at Castle Park located at 3500 Polk Street in Riverside from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Backpacks are given on a first come, first serve basis to K-12 aged students, so early arrival is highly suggested! This year foundation is partnering with City of Riverside, Riverside Unified School District, Cold Cutz Barbershop, Raceway Ford, Assemblymember Jose Medina, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Castle Park, Riverside Police Department and Riverside Fire Department.

For more information or to be a sponsor or vendor, please email bhcriverside@hotmail.com.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—-The public is invited to meet District Police officers and personnel during National Night Out at Davidson Elementary School on Tuesday, August 6, 5 to 8 p.m.

National Night Out is held each year by law enforcement organizations across the country so the public can interact with police officers in a friendly and positive way. The campaign was started in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, according to the association’s website.

“National Night Out is a great event for our District Police officers and the community. Most of the time, officers only get to interact with the public when something is wrong, like reporting a crime. This gives us all a chance to connect on a different level. The community can get to know us as people, not just cops, and officers are reminded that what we do helps the good, upstanding citizens in our community,” said Sgt. John Guttierez, an event organizer. “We hope to see many families and children come out to meet our dedicated officers and have fun.”

National Night Out is a free event held on the Davidson Elementary School playground, 2844 Davidson Avenue in San Bernardino. There will be food, beverages, and activities for children. For more information, please call (909) 388-6030 or follow District Police on social media @SBCUSDPOLICE.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Aaron Moore has joined Omnitrans as Director of the Special Transportations Services department. He succeeds current Director, Douglas Stanley, who will retire in August after a 30-year career at the transit agency.

For the past seven years, Moore served as the Mobility Manager and Consolidated Transportation Service Agency Director at Victor Valley Transit Authority in Hesperia, California.

“We are fortunate to have Aaron on board.  He brings tremendous experience in developing and managing successful special transportation programs in the region,” said Omnitrans CEO/General Manager P. Scott Graham.

At Omnitrans, Moore will lead a department of 14 employees. Special Transportation Services (STS) oversees contracts to deliver Access and OmniGo services and manages special programs for seniors and persons with disabilities such as travel training, volunteer driver reimbursement program, taxi/LYFT subsidy program, and paratransit eligibility certification. STS also develops partnerships with local governments, social services agencies, and private non-profits to provide funding assistance for programs that transport seniors and individuals with disabilities in the Omnitrans service area .

“My favorite part of the work I do in public transit is helping people and seeing the positive effects of the programs which I help to create and operate are having on improving the quality of life for people,” said Moore. “Though many served by our programs are from the vulnerable demographics, public transit has the potential to be a benefit to everyone in the community and also to the environment.”

Prior to working the public transportation industry, Moore held teaching positions at area high schools and churches. He earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, San Bernardino and a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.  Moore also completed numerous transit certificate programs including a Transit and Paratransit Management Certificate from the University of the Pacific and a Managing Community Mobility Certificate from the National Transit Institute.

Beloved restaurant fires up the grill with refreshed look and feel

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Black Angus Steakhouse, the original American Steakhouse, announced today it will officially re-open the doors of its San Bernardino location on Monday, July 15^th. A mainstay in the area since 1979, the restaurant will reveal a renovation that is the second for the chain this year, giving the coveted 55-year-old steakhouse a 21^st century refresh.

“There aren’t a lot of restaurant chains with over five decades of history, but Black Angus wears it well,” said Chris Ames, CEO Black Angus Steakhouse. “As our customers evolve, we must evolve with them – paying homage to our roots but in a more modern way. Our newly renovated space will continue to offer a dining place that is at the border between casual dining and fine dining, a lively and approachable restaurant with booths that are home to family dinners, date nights, celebrations and more.”

Traditionally known for tall booths, a cozy bar, and western vibe, the Black Angus remodel will keep the original sensibility, but with larger windows, a lighter palette and more open floor plan. A spacious private dining room, a destination-worthy bar, and the comfortable lounge are new features that bring more cause to dine in for longtime restaurant-goers and new ones alike.

The Black Angus Steakhouse menu its guests know and love will return, including USDA choice, 21 day aged steaks, chops and prime rib. Guests can expect to see a revamped beverage program where flavors are highlighted in classic drinks, new brewery partnerships, trending flavors and robust wines.

The San Bernardino location will be open for both lunch and dinner and is located at 290 E. Hospitality Lane. To learn more about Black Angus Steakhouse, visit www.BlackAngus.com or follow Black Angus on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @BASteakhouse.

National Science Foundation award will help promote and retain newly hired historically underrepresented minority faculty in STEM fields

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— POMONA, CA—- Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $310,588 grant to Cal Poly Pomona to promote, recruit, and retain underrepresented minority Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) faculty to address the achievement gap between minority and non-minority undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty members often serve as role models and academic leaders for students to learn from, work with, and emulate.

“The faculty at Cal Poly Pomona plays a powerful role in the lives of students pursuing degrees. They’re more than just teachers—they’re mentors who guide young leaders through challenges in and outside of the classroom,” said Torres. “This grant will help bolster diversity in STEM education, provide faculty with the support to succeed, and give students the representation they need to see that a future in these fields is a real possibility for them.”

“It is important that our faculty reflect the diversity of our students,” said Dr. Victoria Bhavsar, Director of the Faculty Center for Professional Development. “This important work will help Cal Poly Pomona retain excellent faculty, and in turn, our STEM students will be better equipped for their own futures and for addressing the big issues in California’s future.” 

Dr. Bhavsar continued, “I would like to thank Congresswoman Torres in her role on the House Appropriations Committee in supporting funding for the NSF, which makes funding for programs like these possible.”

The funding for the grant is made possible through the NSF’s Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program. The AGEP program provides trainings about culturally-informed strengths and identity, senior faculty mentoring, peer coaching and networking, and grant proposal writing trainings. Advancing the careers of minority faculty ultimately leads to improved academic mentorship for students from underrepresented groups.  

Torres is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for appropriating federal spending.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- San Bernardino Valley College is once again ranked among the best community colleges in California. SR Education Group, an educational research publisher, just released its inaugural ranking of the Best Online Community Colleges by state, and SBVC ranked #12 in California. 

SR Education Group considered retention and graduation rates, percentage of online enrollment data, and the number of online associate degrees offered.

“Community colleges offer some of the most affordable degrees in the country,” SR Education Group CEO Sung Rhee said in a statement.

“With a growing number of these degrees becoming available online, we wanted to let prospective students know about these great, accessible options near them. By providing these resources, we hope to help more people reach their educational and professional goals.” 

The ranking acknowledges SBVC’s offerings of associate degrees in various fields, including Administration of Justice, Anthropology, Liberal Arts, Philosophy, Sociology, and more. Students can also pursue a variety of online certificates, where all remote students have the opportunity to still participate in free tutoring sessions through the campus writing centers.

For more information about San Bernardino Valley College, visit valleycollege.edu. 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The SBVC Foundation recently announced distance runner Michael Ramirez as the Male Athlete of the Year, and women’s soccer player Karen Jacobs as the Female Athlete of the Year.

Ramirez was the fastest Wolverine at the State Championships, as he earned All-American honors by finishing tenth. He has committed to Chico State in the fall, and is the SBVC’s nomination to the PCAC Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Jacobs was the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference’s player of the year in 2018, leading the team on offense with team highs in goals (18) and assists (13). Jacobs has committed to continue her soccer career at Louisiana State University-Alexandria in the fall.

Congratulations to these SBVC Wolverines!

For more information about San Bernardino Valley College, visit valleycollege.edu. 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The San Bernardino Pastors United (SBPU) in association with community leaders and the faith based community, will have another Community Block party on Saturday, July 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  at San Bernardino High School, located at 1850 North E St, San Bernardino. The theme of this block party is taken from Matthew 19: 26, “with God all things are possible”.

As the City of San Bernardino continues to recover, the SBPU continues to engage the community and fill in the gape as needed. The pastors believe as spiritual leaders they must show love, and demonstrate helping thy neighbor, and being there for one another. The Churches of San Bernardino continue to stand together in solidarity and continue to teach residence how to fish. With God, and resources combined, each person pulling their weight toward recover, all things are possible.

At the event, there will be free food, free groceries, free shoes, free backpacks for kids, free clothes and free health checks, job resources. The host church is S B Community SDA Church, Dr. Jerrold Thompson, co-host 16^th St SDA Church, Dr. Andrea King, Senior Pastor will deliver a life changing message. Please register by phone, or go to our website www.sbpastorsunited.org to register. We are expecting thousands to attend the event try to register.  We are asking the community to join us, as we remain strong, providing:  “Healing, Change, and Progress” to the City of San Bernardino, for more information call 909-353-7977 or contact the S B Community SDA church at 909-883-2400 email sbpastorsunited@gmail.com. Thank you. Pass the Word!

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOMA LINDA, CA— Kids ages 9-15 will be participating in Operation Fit – a week-long camp that teaches healthy eating habits and active living. Through a series of dynamic, educational and interactive activities, campers will gain the tools they need to make better choices about food, physical activity and their lives. Each camper will also learn how to demonstrate those choices to their families and friends.

Members of the media are invited to come out on Wednesday, July 17 to interact with the kids and have a front-row seat to their education on health and fun fitness. Bring your sneakers to play and learn with the kids for a hands-on experience!

Some of the activities include:

-Nutrition labels lesson: Each child looks at various labels and determines if food is healthy

-Group fun fitness stations: Including badminton, soccer, pickleball, dance, food prep, wallyball, calisthenics, and dodgeball

The event will be held on Wednesday, July 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Loma Linda University Drayson Center, 25040 Stewart Street, Loma Linda.