Local

With above average temperatures expected, the County of San Bernardino Health Officer Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare has issued a heat advisory for residents. High temperature above 100^°F forecasted for the inland valleys, mountains and desert regions are expected to continue into early next week. Residents are urged to take precautions that will help prevent heat-related illness.

High or unusually hot temperatures can affect your health. Most vulnerable are the elderly, those who work or exercise outdoors, infants and children, the homeless or poor, and people with chronic medical conditions.

Take the necessary precautions to prevent serious health effects such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke by following the tips below.

Stay cool

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings.
• Find an air-conditioned Cooling Center open to the public by dialing the United Way’s toll-free resource telephone line at 2-1-1, or online at www.coolingsb.org
• Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.
• Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when it is the hottest part of the day, and avoid direct sunlight.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths to lower your body temperature.
• Check on at-risk friends, family and neighbors at least twice a day.

Stay hydrated

• Drink more than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working
• Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
• Make sure your family, friends and neighbors are drinking enough water.

For more information on the extreme heat visit the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health website athttp://www.sbcounty.gov/dph/publichealth/ph_divisions/preparedness_response/natural_disasters.asp

Or visit the California Department of Public Health website at:http://www.bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/BeInformed/NaturalDisasters/ExtremeHeat/Pages/ExtremeHeat.aspx

LOS ANGELES, CA- On Saturday, September 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at South West College, Dr. Niama Malachi will be presenting a discussion on her latest book “A Hip Hop State of Mind.” The discussion is a launching pad for the release of the book, which is a catalyst for social change. The release will entail a round table panel discussion that includes Kevyn Jerome Nelson, Managing Editor of Blende Magazine; Dr. Donald E. Grant Jr., Executive Director of Mindful Training Solutions, LLC; Darrel Andrews, Director of Music Partnerships and Acquisitions at OmniaMedia, Inc.; and several others.

“A Hip Hop State of Mind” is a creatively crafted manuscript that details Dr. Malachi’s astonishing journey through Hip Hop. It gives readers an in depth look at the honest nature of the Hip Hop culture, while illuminating ways that Hip Hop can be used as a catalyst for positive social change.

Southwest College is located at 1600 W. Imperial Highway in Los Angeles (West Athens area).

Vanessa Williams and Blair Underwood will join Cicely Tyson in the critically acclaimed, Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Horton Foote’s American masterpiece “The Trip to Bountiful,” which will be presented in the exclusive Center Theatre Group engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre, September 17 through November 2, 2014. The opening is set for September 26.

Tyson and Williams appeared together in the 2013 Broadway production of “The Trip to Bountiful,” while Tyson, Williams and Underwood all starred in the Lifetime TV version that aired in March.

Directed by Michael Wilson, “The Trip to Bountiful” tells the story of Mother Watts, played by Tyson. She is an elderly woman forced to live with her overprotective son, played by Underwood, and domineering daughter-in-law (Williams). Mother Watts’ dream is to return for one last time to her small hometown of Bountiful, Texas. Her journey becomes a heartbreaking but ultimately life-affirming and inspiring tale that examines the fragility of memory and celebrates the enduring power of hope, faith and family.

Tyson, who received an Academy Award nomination for “Sounder” and two Emmy Awards for “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,” returned to Broadway in 2013 for the first time in over 30 years to star in “The Trip to Bountiful.” She received every major theatrical award including the Tony Award for Best Actress, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for her tour-de-force performance as Carrie Watts. Vanessa Williams, one of the most multi-faceted performers in entertainment today, has achieved critical acclaim as an actress on stage, in film and on television, and she has sold millions of albums worldwide. In addition to “The Trip to Bountiful,” in which her performance Vanessa Williams and Blair Underwood Set for “The Trip to Bountiful” at Ahmanson as the bossy daughter-in-law was called “wickedly funny” by Entertainment Weekly, Williams’ other stage credits include Broadway’s “After Midnight,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Into the Woods” (for which she received a Tony Award nomination) and “Sondheim on Sondheim,” as well as “St. Louis Woman” for City Center’s Encores! As a recording artist, she has garnered 11 Grammy nominations, and she is also known for her three-time Emmy-nominated performance as Wilhelmina Slater in “Ugly Betty” and for her performance as Renee Perry in “Desperate Housewives.”

Award-winning actor, director and producer Blair Underwood, who will appear as Othello at The Old Globe in San Diego this summer, is equally at home in the worlds of theatre, film and television. He made his Broadway debut as Stanley in “A Streetcar Named Desire” for which he received a 2012 Drama League Distinguished Performance Award nomination. His many film and TV credits include “Just Cause,” “Deep Impact,” “Something New,” “The Event,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Sex and the City,” “In Treatment” (Golden Globe nomination) and “L.A. Law” (Golden Globe nomination), among many others. He is a Grammy Award-winner for the audiobook of “An Inconvenient Truth.” He made his feature directorial debut with “Bridge to Nowhere.”

“The Trip to Bountiful” was lauded as one of the most distinguished productions on Broadway in 2013. Terry Teachout of the The Wall Street Journal said, “I’ve never been more deeply moved by a theatrical production of any kind. ‘The Trip to Bountiful’ is without flaw!” While Ben Brantley of The New York Times said, “Book the next bus to Bountiful! Cicely Tyson is remarkable.” David Cote from Time Out NY called the show “Soul-stirring and flawless. ‘The Trip to Bountiful’ seems as fresh and vibrant as the day Horton Foote finished it.”

“The Trip to Bountiful” is the first production in the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre’s 2014-2015 season. Tickets for the season are currently available by subscription only. For information and to charge season tickets by phone, call the Exclusive Season Ticket Hotline at (213) 972-4444.
To purchase subscriptions online, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org/Ahmanson. For information regarding audio description and Project D.A.T.E. (sign language interpreted, open caption and audio description performances) call TDD (213) 680-4017 or voice (213) 972-4444.

What it do I.E. and neighboring cities! Happy to be back again this week to let you know WHAT IT DO! Well, it’s about our young folks. Our community is saturated with talented youth and teens looking for events to showcase their skills. I’ve witnessed children on more than one occasion at several neighborhood events singing, dancing, and rapping. Come on let’s be honest, how many of you have given Lil’ Jon Jon or Sara a dollar or two to perform at the family function because they have amazing talent? I know I’m guilty of it.

Please help us spread the word about our FREE YOUTH auditions. Let’s get them off the streets and on the STAGE! The “Youth Holiday Talent Showcase” is sponsored by LUE Productions, Westside Story Newspaper, Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Cities, Family First Entertainment, Pretty Pockets, Cold Cutz Barber Shop, and Blaim Society. The event will be held on Saturday, December 13th.

We are calling all Gospel acts, singers, singing groups, poets, dancers, rappers, comedians, and more, as well as youth hosts and models. Registration is free to sign up, and if you are selected you must sale tickets. All participants must be 19 and under. Auditions will be held on Sunday, September 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

You may send us an audition tape if unable to make the auditions. Please send it to Lue.info@yahoo.com. Please make sure that your footage is no longer than 3 minutes. All final contestants will be contacted by Monday, September 29.

2014 Miss Inland Empire Rita Garabet, 21, of Redlands (right) and Miss Inland Empire Outstanding Teen Sophia Torres, 14, of Apple Valley, visit with Aubrey Olivas, 2, of Rancho Cucamonga, during the title holders’ stop at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

LOMA LINDA, CA  – Representatives from Miss Inland Empire spent time on Wednesday (Sept. 10) catching up with the young patients at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

2014 Miss Inland Empire Rita Garabet, 21, of Redlands, and 2014 Miss Inland Empire Outstanding Teen Sophia Torres, 14, of Apple Valley, spent time playing and interacting with the children at the hospital. They also toured some of the units at the hospital, including the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit and the Stem Cell Transplant Unit.

“I absolutely love visiting Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital; it’s a great place where children get the best care,” Garabet said. “I’m honored to visit the children, to interact with them, and hopefully help make their day,” she said.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Friday, September 12, the San Bernardino Black Cultural Foundation is proud to be celebrating 25 years of honoring unsung heroes. The Black Rose was the brainstorm of Dr. Juanita Scott, Jim King and Jeffrey Hill.  It was evident to them and to us that many individuals, companies and organizations were doing exceptional volunteer work in the Inland Empire but were not getting recognition.  These are, indeed, our unsung heroes because these volunteers do not look for compensation or recognition.

This year’s honorees include Tim Evans, founder of the Unforgettables Foundation; Dwaine Radden, Sr., newly appointed CEO of The PAL Center and PAL Academy High School; and The California Gas Company. Other long time sponsors being recognized include  The City of San Bernardino; Edison International; Arrowhead Credit Union; San Bernardino Unified School District; Dameron Communications; Derrick Vasquez; Community Hospital of San Bernardino; San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; and Adeola Davies-Aiyeloja. The Black Rose winners are as follows:  Arthur & Fredda Davis Foundation, Angela Brantley, Keynasia Buffong, C.O.P.E., Walter Hawkins, Patricia Nelson, and Dr. Gary Thomas.

The Awards Banquet will be held at the National Orange Show Valencia Room, 689 South E Street (entrance on Arrowhead Avenue). Social hour is at 6 p.m. with dinner and program beginning at 7 p.m. The cost for this event is $60 per person or $600 for a table of ten. Contact Margaret Hill at (909) 864-3267 or (909) 991-6422 for tickets.

WHO: All county departments, community and faith based organizations, and community members interested in learning about suicide prevention. Suicide Prevention Week is September 8 through September 14 and World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10.

WHAT: September 8 through 14 marks the 40^th Annual National Suicide Prevention Week and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. The purpose of Suicide Prevention Week and World Suicide Prevention Day is to create awareness and provide information and education about the warning signs of suicide as well as reduce the stigma surrounding the topic of suicide.  The warning signs of emotional pain or suicidal thoughts aren’t always obvious.

WHY: Suicide is real, but can also be preventable.  According to the International Association for Suicide, the number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined.  Knowing what to look for and finding the words to show concern and support may be a life-saving act.

Here are some warning signs:

• Talking about wanting to die or suicide
• Increased drug or alcohol use
• Feeling hopeless, desperate, trapped
• Withdrawal
• Giving Away possessions
• Anxiety or agitation
• Putting affairs in order
• Changes in sleep
• Reckless behavior
• Sudden mood changes
• Anger
• No sense of purpose

WHEN:  National Suicide Prevention Week is the week of September 8 through 14, 2014. World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10, 2014.

WHERE: More information on the warning signs and ways to help can be found at www.suicideispreventable.org.  The national suicide prevention lifeline phone number is 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255).

CONTACT: For more information regarding Suicide Prevention please contact Erica Porteous at (909) 252-4050.

For County of San Bernardino residents in need of a Crisis Walk-in Clinic (CWIC) the following CWICs are available:

CWIC Rialto: 850 E. Foothill Blvd. Rialto, CA 92376 (909) 421-9495. Open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

CWIC High Desert: 16460 Victor Street, Victorville, CA 92395. (760) 245-8837. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

CWIC Morongo Basin: 55475 Santa Fe Trail, Yucca Valley, CA 92284 (entrance to Inca Trail). (855) 365-6558. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

For residents who are experiencing a mental health related emergency the Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) is available for assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year:

East Valley: Office (909) 421-9233 Pager- (909) 420-0560

West Valley: Pager- (909) 535-1316

High Desert: Office- (760) 956-2345 Pager- (760) 734-8093

Morongo Basin: (855) 365-6558

For all numbers listed, TTY users may dial 711.

District Attorney Investigator Karen Cragg and the young boy play games and color with crayons while waiting for the father to arrive at the DA’s Office.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Child Abduction Unit (CAU) assisted in the successful reunification of a 4-year-old boy with his father last Tuesday, after the young boy’s mother took him out of state.

“When the father and grandparents arrived at our office, we all watched as the little boy ran to his grandma and gave her a big hug,” said Supervising Deputy District Attorney Denise Trager-Dvorak, who oversees the CAU. “When his father appeared, he ran into his Dad’s arms and told him how much he missed him and that he was sorry he hadn’t come back sooner.”

The work of the CAU focuses on protecting the custody rights of parents and legal guardians.  On a routine basis, the CAU partners with courts and law enforcement throughout the United States to recover abducted children who are carried across state lines. In cases of international child abduction, the CAU implements the terms of the Hague Convention, an international treaty signed by more than 60 countries.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s CAU staff consists of Deputy DA Kurt Rowley, DA investigators Karen Cragg and Larry Jackson, and Secretary Bert Mendez. In this case the CAU was operating under a statutory mandate to enforce the family law court’s child custody orders.

“The work they do every day is very emotionally-charged, and they continually do their best to ensure that children are safe and that the court’s child custody orders are followed,” said Trager-Dvorak. “In this situation, it was very rewarding to watch Dad, with tears in his eyes, happy to have his son back, and hugging him like he would never let go. I had to fight back tears myself.”

For more information regarding the Child Abduction Unit, please visit http://ow.ly/AS6cr

A 9/11 Memorial Ceremony and Ride is planned for Sunday, Sept. 7., to benefit Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and other worthy causes. In this photo are, front row, left to right: Carlie Mason, a patient at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital; Jake Feenstra, firefighter, Loma Linda Fire Department. Back row, left to right: Glenn Quaid, owner, Quaid Harley-Davidson; Don Benfield, battalion chief, Colton Fire Department; and Jimmy Todorovitch, of Quaid Harley-Davidson

LOMA LINDA, CA  – Firefighters from the cities of Loma Linda and Colton, and other community groups, will host a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony and Ride on Sunday, September 7, to benefit Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and other worthy causes.

A memorial program is planned for 10:30 a.m. at Loma Linda Fire Department Headquarters, 11325 Loma Linda Drive, Loma Linda, Calif. The ceremony will feature a joint Honor Guard presentation by Loma Linda and Colton firefighters, along with members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The Honor Guard presentation will include a flag-raising and bell ceremony. Members of Firefighters Local 935 Pipes and Drums will perform in remembrance of those who were lost during the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001. U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Jaime Magallanes and representatives from the cities of Loma Linda and Colton will give brief remarks.

Leading up to the ceremony, Quaid Harley-Davidson and Loma Linda H.O.G. will host a 9/11 Memorial Ride that will travel in procession through the city of Loma Linda to the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. People interested in participating in the ride may register by 8:30 a.m. at Quaid Harley-Davidson, 25160 Redlands Blvd., Loma Linda, Calif. Registration is free, and donations are encouraged to benefit Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, The Loma Linda and Colton Injured Firefighter Fund, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

For more information, call (909) 796-8399.

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod speaks with Dorothy Grant Elementary students as they contact the International Space Station using amateur radio.

MONTCLAIR, CA – This past week, Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino) visited Dorothy Grant Elementary School in the City of Fontana where seven students from Ms. Beverly Matheson’s 4th grade class made contact with astronauts aboard the International Space Station using amateur radio.

The Amateur Radio International Space Station Program (ARISS) is a joint venture by NASA and the Amateur Radio Satellite Corporation to facilitate communication between astronauts aboard International Space Station and schools around the world.  ARISS’s goal is to inspire interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

“Promoting STEM education is very important because it opens many doors of opportunities for our students interested in pursuing these fields,” said Rep. Negrete McLeod.  “I applaud Ms. Matheson, Dorothy Grant Elementary School, and the Fontana Unified School District for facilitating this event because it helps motivate our next generation of scientists, engineers, and astronauts here in the Inland Empire.”

The event was a great success.  Dorothy Grant Elementary plans on contacting the International Space Station next year.