Local

Photo Recap: Masons of San Bernardino Lodge Give Out Christmas Dinners

 Write up and photos by John Coleman, Community Photographer

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Annually, on December 24 (Christmas Eve), from noon to 2 p.m., the men of St. Andrews Masonic Lodge #16 provide free hot turkey dinners to the local communities and people in need.

Prior to the event, the Masons make a list of sick or otherwise “shut-in” local people to whom to deliver hot meals and grocery baskets to.

St. Andrews Masonic Lodge is located at 1038 West 8th Street in San Bernardino.

Local bikers join forces for patients at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOMA LINDA, CA— Approximately 200 motorcyclists and enthusiasts alike came out to support Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital at the 26th annual Quaid Harley-Davidson Toy Run on Sunday, December 16. The event was held to benefit the kids at Children’s Hospital, providing funding, toys and holiday cheer.

Participants in the ride and attendees donated thousands of new toys, enough to fill a small trailer. All proceeds — including registration fees — were given to Children’s Hospital. Many patients and their families attended the event and were greeted by the enthusiastic bikers.

Dealer owner Glenn Quaid spoke on how some of the best people he knew were found on the backs of bikes.

“We take care of our children,” Quaid said. “We take care of our community.”

Loma Linda Fire Department also attended with a classic fire truck for photo ops, before leading riders through the streets of Loma Linda toward Children’s Hospital.

Photo Caption: Children at the event were able to choose from a trailer filled with new, unwrapped toys. 

Ontario Reign visits Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital

ENN NETWORK)—LOMA LINDA, CA—- — Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital patients had a special visit from the Inland Empire ice hockey team Ontario Reign on Wednesday, December 19.

Approximately 10 team members and their mascot Kingston congregated in a hospital playroom where they signed and handed out jerseys, played games and took photos with patients. Several of the players and Kingston stopped by patient rooms to make sure everyone had the opportunity to meet the team and get an official jersey.  

Several of the players and Kingston stopped by patient rooms to make sure everyone had the opportunity to meet the team and get an official jersey.  

Ephesians Church Hosts Annual Year-End Revival

Evangelist, Dr. Andrew C. Turner

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—-RIALTO, CA— Ephesians New Testament Church will host their Annual Year-End Winter Revival from Thursday, December 27 to Friday, December 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Special guest will be Evangelist, Dr. Andrew C. Turner, of Acts 2 Ministry, Gardena, California.

The revival will be held at Friendship Baptist Church located at 2180 W. Baseline Road in Rialto. For additional information, you may contact the church office at (909) 823-2310, Bishop Emory B. James, Sr. Pastor.

San Bernardino City Unified School District Police Brings Holiday Cheer

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- When people think of the holidays, they often think of the red and green lights of Christmas; the blue and white colors of Hanukkah; the green, red, and black of Kwanzaa; or the yellow-gold light of a burning yule log or candles.

This holiday season, many in the community felt the holiday spirit when they saw red and blue—the lights on the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Police cars that delivered holiday food baskets, toys and more to families in need.

District Police officers launched Stuff-A-Bus earlier this month. So far, they have collected more than 1,500 unwrapped toys and books for underprivileged children, and the bus is expected to make a few more stops before the toy drive is complete. The goal is to make sure that as many children as possible have a gift to unwrap on Christmas morning. And, since the District Police officers are almost as competitive as they are generous, they decided it would be fun to see which SBCUSD school or department could stuff the most toys in the bus.

“Our team thought that if we could just stuff a bus with toys, we can have a significant impact on underprivileged kids in our community during this holiday season,” Sergeant John Guttierez said. “The joy from the participating students and staff from PacificSan GorgonioSan BernardinoCajon, and Indian Springs High Schools coupled with the District’s Maintenance & Operations (team) and Thinkwise Credit Union was unbelievable to see.”

As of December 17, San Gorgonio High School was in the lead, collecting more than 1,000 toys. Although, the real winners are the children.

Stuff-A-Bus is just one of many programs that District Police has launched this school year in order to reach out to and support the local community. Although each program has its own specific purpose, the overall theme has been about connecting with the adults and children in the SBCUSD community and showing them that District Police officers exist to keep children safe and help families succeed, not just to hold them accountable.

The community outreach began in August with National Night Out at Davidson Elementary School. Students, parents, and local residents were all invited to enjoy some free hamburgers cooked by officers while they learned about local resources that can help families stay safe and stable.

The department launched Coffee with a Cop back in October at Paakuma’ K-8 School as an opportunity for officers to meet with parents in a safe and open space where they can share a cup of coffee, courtesy of Starbucks, and conversation. District Police held six more Coffee with a Cop events in just under two months, meeting with 400 community members.

“We hope it’s a chance for people to learn more about what police officers, and especially District Police officers, do and also to understand that we’re people, just like they are, and we want our community to flourish,” Guttierez said.

Last month, officers used their black and white police cars not to transport criminals, but to deliver Thanksgiving meals, complete with frozen turkeys, directly to the homes of 52 needy families.

According to officers, it was among the highlights of their day. Corporal Jonathan Falcon personally delivered Thanksgiving dinner to a family of four in an older apartment complex plagued with crime, and although he was originally met with suspicion, by the time his good deed was done, the residents were grateful.

In the past six months, other initiatives have included the Pink Patch Project and No Shave November, both of which bring awareness to and raise funds for breast cancer support and research, and Shop with a Cop, which involved 15 District Police officers shopping with needy students for clothes and toys. Officers, along with students in the Police Explorersprogram, also supported the SBCUSD Craft Faire, which raises money for scholarships.

District Police Chief Joseph Paulino and Assistant Chief Stephen Donahue have supported the efforts of their officers to reach out to the community, and they have been equally pleased that the community has responded with so much support. In addition to Thinkwise Credit Union and Starbucks, Durham Bus Company, NBC4 News, the District Police Cadets, and the entire SBCUSD multimedia team in Communications/Community Relations have stepped up to offer their assistance.

That has sparked District Police to do even more. In January 2019, officers will be participating in the Battle of the Badge Blood Drive and launching the Chief’s Read Across the District campaign, which involves law enforcement officers from multiple agencies coming together to read books to students. “District Police is an agency that is on the move,” Guttierez said. “We’re taking community engagement to a new level and using it as a catalyst for hope.”

Santa Made a Visit to Troth Elementary

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- MIRA LOMA, CA—- Santa came to town early this year to make a magical stop at Troth Elementary School in Mira Loma.  Santa and his elves from the Christmas in the Classroom and HRBC Insurance delivered toys on Tuesday, December 18, to the nearly 900 students who attend the underprivileged elementary school.

During this magical visit, the elves served cookies and milk to all the students while they listened to an inspiring message about pursuing their dreams and the meaning of Christmas from their Principal, Ilsa A. Crocker, Maria Vasquez, Founder of Christmas in the Classroom and Henry Romero, CEO of HRBC Insurance. Followed by a countdown for students to open their gifts together.  The multi-purpose room where the festivities were held was filled with a huge buzz of excitement, lots of giggles and countless smiles.

“HRBC Insurance looks forward to supporting the Christmas in the Classroom agency and Troth Elementary School every year. Giving back is a big part of our culture, and we love to see the big eyes and cheerful smiles of the students when they receive their gifts,” stated Mr. Romero, of HRBC Insurance.

Troth Elementary School was adopted by the Christmas in the Classroom organization and its sponsor HRBC Insurance nearly a decade ago because it’s identified as a Title 1 school, which means that students are at-risk of academic failure and living at or near poverty.   Sadly, for some students, the gifts they receive from the Christmas in the Classroom Foundation will be the only presents they receive this Christmas.

Christmas in the Classroom was founded in 2004 by Maria Vazquez when her daughter, an elementary school teacher, told her the heartbreaking news that the majority in her class did not celebrate Christmas because their families could not afford to. Maria was emotionally compelled to bring the joy of Christmas to these under privileged school children by providing them gifts.

For more information or to become a sponsor for the Christmas in the Classroom please visit them on the web at www.christmasintheclassroom.com or call 909-374-4307.

Metrolink Board Names Stephanie Wiggins as Chief Executive Officer

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- LOS ANGELES, CA— The Board of Directors of Metrolink today named Stephanie Wiggins Metrolink’s Chief Executive Officer. Wiggins is currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). 

“Stephanie has held high-level positions at three of the five-member agencies that comprise Metrolink. She is well known as a leader who finds solutions from a regional perspective. Stephanie is the right person to lead Metrolink now and going forward,” said Metrolink Board Chair Andrew Kotyuk. “Stephanie’s extensive experience in transportation and infrastructure development will be essential as Metrolink brings its service to more people in the coming years.” 

Wiggins was responsible for overseeing the Metro departments of Vendor/Contract Management, Congestion Reduction, Human Capital & Development, Management and Audit Services, and Systems Security & Law Enforcement. “I am pleased to accept the unique challenge of leading Metrolink at this important time,” Wiggins said. “Metrolink is a nationally-recognized leader in safety with the installation of Positive Train Control and I will continue the commitment to safety. As a mobility provider that reduces congestion and air pollution in the Southern California region, I look forward to having a laser focus on enhancing the customer experience for current and future riders.”

Wiggins will lead a 261 employee-strong regional commuter railroad that covers 2.8 million train miles per year and 400 million passenger miles per year.

The Agency is embarked on the Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) Program, a $10 billion plan to improve rail safety and service in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Metrolink received a total of $875 million in grants from the state and is moving to secure additional funding for this program.   

As part of Wiggins’ more than 24 years of experience, she oversaw Metro ExpressLanes, commuter rail, rideshare, rail capital programs, served as Regional Programs Director for the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), and was Administrative Analyst for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA). Metro, RCTC and SBCTA are three of the five county transportation agencies that govern Metrolink.

Wiggins is a member of the Board of the American Public Transportation Association and is the founding president of the Inland Empire Chapter of WTS. She is the recipient of many awards including the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) 2018 Women Who Move the Nation Award.

Interim co-Chief Executive Officers Don Del Rio and Ronnie Campbell will remain as General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer respectively.

Wiggins replaces Art Leahy who announced his retirement on Oct. 12 after 48 years in transportation. Wiggins earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Whittier College and a Master of Business Administration from USC.

For more information about Metrolink, please visit www.metrolinktrains.com

NAACP Riverside Branch to Swear-in New Officers on Monday, December 17

 (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—-RIVERSIDE, CA— On Monday, December 17, the NAACP Branch of Riverside will be swearing-in new officers. The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. at Bordwell Park/Stratton Center located at 2008 Martin Luther King Blvd in Riverside.

Officers getting sworn in include: Dr. Regina Patton-Stell, President; Sharron Lewis-Campbell, 1st Vice President; Natasha Ferguson, 2nd Vice President; Mary Welch, 3rd Vice President; Nina Moore-Hailiburton, secretary; Collen Hairston, assistant secretary; Charles Walker, treasurer; and Maudie Wilson, assistant treasurer.

CAPSBC Board of Directors Honored at Recognition Event

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ Expanded Learning program has been notified that it will continue to receive state and federal funding for the 2018-19 academic year.

The Expanded Learning program, which will receive a total of $304,500 between two grants, has been recognized as a statewide model for initiating training opportunities and increasing access to programs for schools and districts across the region. For the 2018-19 academic year, there were 266 after-school programs countywide, including five being implemented at the high school level in the Apple Valley and San Bernardino school districts.

“This funding makes a tremendous difference in assisting our schools and districts to provide high-quality, after-school, academic and educational opportunities for our students,” County Superintendent Ted Alejandre said.

Funding for the grant is split between support from the California Department of Education and the federal government.

No Shave November Initiative Raises Over $8,000 For Cancer Research

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—-LOMA LINDA, CA— Loma Linda University Health’s fourth annual No Shave November fundraiser partnered with the San Bernardino Police Department and finished with over $8,000 donated to Loma Linda University Cancer Center.

The two organizations collaborated for the awareness month, during which male and female participants skipped shaving in order to raise awareness about cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Kerry Heinrich, JD, CEO of Loma Linda University Medical Center, said he is thankful for this partnership that has been established on behalf of patients. 

“I am grateful for the San Bernardino Police Department and their commitment to engaging in helping make the Loma Linda University Cancer Center an institution that is focused on research for a cure, and support for patients,” Heinrich said. 

For Captain Paul Williams of the San Bernardino Police Department, and his team, their motivation for participating in this annual fundraiser lies in their faith for generational impact.

“All of us have been touched at some point in our lives, by cancer,” Williams said. “What I’m hoping for — and what these officers are hoping for — is that the money they can help raise will help their kids and their grandkids.”

To close out the fundraiser, a celebratory event was held at Loma Linda University Health – San Bernardino Campus Friday, November 30. At the event, all participants were judged and awarded for everything from best beard to best attempt. 

After the program, two local barbershops offered free straight cut shaves on site to those men who had participated in the month-long awareness. The one female participant opted out of the service.