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FONTANA, CA- Close to 3,200 students from Fontana Unified School District’s five comprehensive high schools, two continuation schools and adult school capped their high school careers with graduation ceremonies last week at the Citizens Bank Arena. Among the Class of 2016 graduates, two are headed to Stanford University and several others bound for UCs, CSUs and universities across the nation.

Summit High School and Birch and Citrus continuations schools held their ceremonies on May 23. Fontana and Kaiser high schools held their ceremonies May 24. A.B. Miller and Jurupa Hills high schools held their ceremonies May 25. The Fontana Adult School held its event on May 27.

Fontana Unified Board President Lorena Corona congratulated members of the Class of 2016 for their academic and personal achievements and encouraged students to pursue post-secondary dreams.

 “Words cannot express how proud I am of everything these students have accomplished and that they have demonstrated their ability to reach a high level of academic success,” Corona said. “I wish all of them the best of luck in whatever endeavors they choose to pursue after high school.”

Carlos Ciudad-Real is one of two Kaiser High School valedictorians headed to Stanford University, where he will major in environmental systems engineering. Joining him at the prestigious university will be Jaime Hurtado-Lopez, who will study bioengineering/environmental engineering.

Hurtado-Lopez, a Gates Millennium Scholar and QuestBridge scholarship winner, has advice for the next generation of students: “Don’t lose track of what is important. Enjoy your time here, but stay focused.”

Fontana Unified’s graduates will attend state and national universities, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, Cal Poly Pomona as well as many other campuses in the University of California and California State University systems.

“The fact that we have students moving onto some of the most prestigious universities in the country shows that our schools are engaging students in way that prepares them for college and careers,” Fontana Unified Superintendent Dr. Leslie Boozer said. “Fontana Unified strives to empower all students to be successful. The caliber of universities and colleges they attend demonstrates our ability to live up to that mission.”

For more information on this year’s valedictorians and salutatorians, visit www.fusd.net/announcements2/2015-16/vals_and_sals.stm.

Cate Kortzeborn

By Cate Kortzeborn

Have you recently enrolled in Medicare, or will you in the near future?

If so, let me be the first to say, welcome! What should your first step be as a new Medicare beneficiary? I recommend taking advantage of the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive-care benefit.

During the first 12 months that you have Medicare Part B, you can get a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit with your doctor. This visit includes a review of your medical and social history related to your health. Your doctor will also offer education and counseling about preventive-care services, including certain disease screenings, shots, and referrals for other care, if needed.

When you make your appointment, let your doctor’s office know that you’d like to schedule your “Welcome to Medicare” visit. You pay nothing for this if your doctor or other qualified health care provider accepts Medicare payment rates.

If your doctor or other health care provider performs additional tests or services during the visit that aren’t covered under this preventive benefit, you may have to pay coinsurance, and the Part B deductible may apply.

Here’s what your doctor will do during your “Welcome to Medicare” visit:

• Record and evaluate your medical and family history, current health conditions, and prescriptions.
• Check your blood pressure, vision, weight, and height to get a baseline for your care.
• Make sure you’re up-to-date with preventive services such as cancer screenings and shots.
• Order further tests, depending on your general health and medical history.

Following the visit, your doctor will give you a plan or checklist with free screenings and preventive services that you need.

You should do a little preparation before you sit down with your doctor. Pull together your medical records, including immunization records. Even if your current physician does the visit, gather as much medical information as you can to make sure nothing is overlooked.

Try to learn as much as you can about your family’s health history before your appointment. The information will help you and your doctor understand what screenings you should get and what to watch for in the future.

And bring a list of any prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements that you currently take, how often you take them, and why.

If you’ve had Medicare Part B for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly “Wellness” visit to develop or update a personalized plan to prevent disease or disability based on your current health and risk factors.

Medicare covers this visit once every 12 months.

Your doctor or other provider will ask you to fill out a questionnaire, called a “Health Risk Assessment,” as part of this visit. Answering these questions can help you and your provider develop a personalized prevention plan to help you stay healthy and get the most out of your visit. The questions are based on years of medical research and advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When you make your appointment, let your doctor’s office know that you’d like to schedule your yearly “Wellness” visit.

Note: Your first “Wellness” visit can’t take place within 12 months of your enrollment in Part B or your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. However, you don’t need to have had a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit to qualify for a “Wellness” visit.

As with the “Welcome” visit, you pay nothing for the yearly “Wellness” visit if your doctor or other qualified health care provider accepts Medicare payment rates.

If your doctor or other health care provider performs additional tests or services during the same visit that aren’t covered under this preventive benefit, you may have to pay coinsurance, and the Part B deductible may apply.

Cate Kortzeborn is Medicare’s acting regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The “Chicken Man” joined “The Lighthouse For The Blind” in vouching for “Captain Mike’s” Fishing Association. A Congressional candidate explained why and a major Juneteenth event was announced during Sunday’s Empire Talks Back” (ETB) radio show.

ETB guests pictured above are (L to R): “The Chicken Man” Albert Okura, Founder of Juan Pollo Chicken; Emily and her grandmother Sandra Wood, the Executive Director I.E. Lighthouse For The Blind;“Captain Mike” of the California Fishing Association and Trudy Coleman, Chairperson of the Pomona valley Juneteenth Festival. Congressional candidate, Kaisar Ahmed is not in the photo but is on the show.

ETB is broadcast each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. on KCAA 1050-AM Radio. You can hear and see Sunday’s show via the following link www.ustream.tv/search?q=empire+talks+back.

The San Bernardino County Library invites you to strengthen your superpowers and participate in our Summer Reading Program: Heroes Assemble!

Throughout the summer, we will be hosting amazing programs and activities as well as giving away fantastic rewards at all 32 of our branch libraries. Participating is easy: fly in to your local San Bernardino County Library to sign-up and become part of this read for rewards program to earn exciting weekly incentives. Reading for rewards is just the beginning. The Library will be hosting various super hero-themed programs including storytime, crafts, discovery time as well as awesome performers who provide exciting, entertaining and educational shows the whole family can enjoy. The Summer Reading Program is open to all ages so come on in and sign up the entire family. The best part – this program is absolutely free!

The fun doesn’t stop there. The County Library will offer special drawings for children and teens who meet the County Library Reading Challenge. The children’s challenge is to read at least 45 books or the equivalent in pages and minutes to receive a ticket. For teens, the challenge is to read at least eight books or the equivalent to get a ticket. New this year: each kid and teen who reached the challenge will receive a ticket for a chance to win a Kindle Fire 7” tablet at their branch library. Also, for every 25 items checked out this summer, receive a ticket for our countywide drawing to win one of the grand prizes which include Samsung Galaxy Tablets, a WiiU gaming system, a super hero-themed bike, and a kids Spider-Man Dune Buggy.

Check out the San Bernardino County Library website for details on the kick-off events and program information. Come sign up for the program and be a part of our Summer of Reading Challenge to increase summer reading participation among youth by 15 percent throughout the county.

The San Bernardino County Library System is a dynamic network of 32 branch libraries that serves a diverse population over a vast geographic area. The County library system strives to provide equal access to information, technology, programs, and services for all people who call San Bernardino County home.

The library plays a key role in the achievement of the Countywide Vision, by contributing to educational, cultural, and historical development of our County community.

For more information on the San Bernardino County Library system, please visit www.sbclib.org/ or call (909) 387-2220.

Metrolink and Riverside County Transportation Commission officials recently announced service along the 91/Perris Valley Line (91/PVL) will begin Monday, June 6. The 91/PVL is the first extension of Metrolink service since the Antelope Valley Line was built in 1994.

 “We are very excited the residents of the Perris Valley will soon be able to board Metrolink stations in their community and reach areas through Southern California,” said Metrolink Board Vice-Chair Daryl Busch, who is also the mayor of the City of Perris and a member of the Riverside County Transportation Commission. “Metrolink and RCTC staff has worked incredibly hard to make this concept a reality.”

The extension of the 91 Line will serve four additional Riverside County stations: Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR, Moreno Valley/March Field, Perris-Downtown and Perris-South.

Weekday 91/PVL trains 701, 703 and 705 will all originate at the Perris-South Station with service beginning at 4:37 a.m. In the evening, trains 702, 704 and 706 will all return to Perris with the last train reaching its final destination at 7:50 p.m. There will also be three round trips each weekday between Perris and the Riverside-Downtown Station. There will be no weekend service to or from the four new stations.

The 24-mile 91/PVL extension enhanced 15 at-grade crossings in Riverside County.  The variety of safety measures includes: flashing warning devices, gates, raised center medians, striping and pavement markings. The project also added pedestrian crosswalks at two railroad crossings and permanently closed two others.

To increase awareness of the dangers of crossing railroad tracks, a continuing public outreach program, “See Tracks? Think Train,” was launched in 2014 to select Riverside County schools, neighborhoods and community groups. Also, an extensive outreach campaign with the University of California, Riverside is ongoing.

For more information about Metrolink and the new service, please visit www.metrolinktrains.com/pvl.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The non-profit organization, Youth Action Project (YAP), has received a $5,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to help support YAP programs to provide work-based learning opportunities for local college students.

Some of the programs YAP provides include academic support, mentoring and positive youth development activities for high school students in the San Bernardino City Unified School District. YAP, which is based in San Bernardino, also provides work experience and professional development for more than 50 volunteers each year, most of them local college students.

“Bank of America is a valued community partner, as they have continuously supported the youth of our community,” said Joseph Williams, YAP Chief Executive Officer.

“Supporting Youth Action Project is an important part of strengthening our community by providing important resources critical for the next generation to succeed and thrive,” said Al Arguello, Inland Empire market president, Bank of America.

The Youth Action Project, which administers an AmeriCorps program in San Bernardino, works to help San Bernardino’s youth develop the skills and habits needed to experience economic and social success. The work is done primarily through tutoring, mentoring and other positive youth development activities for local high school students.

For more information, please visit www.youthactionproject.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino (BGCSB) will host San Bernardino’s Got Talent at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, to launch a new Teen Multimedia Program. This program is a collaboration between BGCSB and CHORDS Enrichment Youth Program.

This year, the city of San Bernardino has had 26 homicides, forcing the community, law enforcement and city officials to come together to address the increase of violence and to find solutions. The BGCSB has many programs for the youth however due to the escalation of violence in the city and the risk it poses to local teens the BGCSB decided to partner with CHORDS to provide programs that are engaging and appealing specifically to teens. CHORDS at the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino will provide the youth of San Bernardino a safe place to express themselves creatively. It also serves as an outlet to cope with social and economic challenges.

The talent show will begin with an open house. The open house starts at 2 p.m. BGCSB members and the community are encouraged to tour the Club and the newly renovated Teen Center. Club renovations were made possible by donations from Wells Fargo, Genesis Glass Installations and Lowe’s Home Improvement.

RIVERSIDE, CA-The Riverside Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. joined the San Bernardino Valley Chapter of the Links, Inc. at its 38th Annual Scholarship Ball to award scholarships to high achieving African-American male students. The awards ceremony, where the Fraternity was recognized as an Emerald Donor, took place on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA.

Community and educational leaders were in attendance to acknowledge the academic accomplishments of the high school seniors, who are among the top performers in their graduating classes. Superintendents Dr. Dale Marsden of the San Bernardino City

Unified School District and Dr. Judy White of the Moreno Valley Unified School District were on hand to celebrate as the Fraternity awarded a total of $4,000 in scholarships, $1,000 each to four Inland Empire students.

“Collaboration with the Links has allowed the Riverside Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity to combine resources and ensure that students attain a sufficient amount of support for their educational goals,” says Polemarch Demarius Carmichael, head of the Riverside Alumni Chapter of the Fraternity.

During their acceptance speeches, award recipients Christian Coston, Adetola Soyemi, Ryan Laudermilk and Halbert Beaver gave special thanks to the Riverside Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and the Links, Inc. for their academic scholarships. For more information about Riverside Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. visit www.rackapsi.com.

Pictured from left to right, Elections Office staff members-Ashleigh Bachar, Roxana Castro, and Travis Weaver

SAN BERNARDINO CA- San Bernardino County voters can vote early for the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election and while they’re at it, can share their experience with their friends and family by taking a ballot selfie in the Election Office’s “Ballot Selfie” booth and sharing it through social media.

Early Voting began at the Elections Office on Monday, May 9 and will continue until Election Day. Two additional satellite early voting sites will be open beginning Tuesday, May 31.

At the Early Voting sites, voters can take a ballot selfie with their un-voted ballots and their ‘I Voted’ stickers in front of a new Ballot Selfie poster.

“We’re hoping to generate excitement about voting in San Bernardino County by allowing voters to take a Ballot Selfie and sharing it on social media sites” said Registrar of Voters, Michael J. Scarpello.

In addition to Early Voting sites, the Ballot Selfie poster will be placed at every polling place on Election Day. California law currently prohibits a voter from revealing the contents of their voted ballot or taking pictures of other voters with the intent of dissuading a person from voting. However, the law does not prohibit a ballot selfie with an un-voted ballot.

Early voting hours for the Elections Office, 777 E. Rialto Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415, are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 4 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and on Election Day, Tuesday, June 7 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information about this election, visit the Elections Office website, www.sbcountyelections.com, or call (909) 387-8300.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- In an effort to offer a comprehensive educational program that meets both the interest and needs of its students, PAL Charter Academy is becoming a trailblazer for innovation. On Monday, May 16, PAL hosted Hip Hop legend, Money B, in its first ever of this caliber music assembly. The students participating in the music education class as an elective requirement for graduation worked together to create this phenomenal opportunity. Under the leadership of their teacher and motivation founder, Mr. Robert Bryant, this class successfully blended education and innovation creating an amazing opportunity for the students and staff.

The enthusiasm surrounding this innovative program offering is preparing PAL students for the tangible exploration of music related careers, including but not limited to marketing, journalism, management, and production. PAL Center CEO Dwaine Radden said, “Our music program at the PAL Academy is just the beginning of incredible advances for these students their linked learning environments provide relevance to education through innovative life applications.”

PAL Charter Academy is a free public school available to all students 9th to 12th grade. The independent study model allows flexibility to support most barriers to High School completion. PAL offers the benefit of A-G approved courses, small class sizes, a full athletic program, and much more. They are now enrolling for summer & fall sessions. Please contact the school at (909) 887-7002 for more information.