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Guests at LLUSM’s 100th anniversary bash were treated to live entertainment throughout the evening including stilt walkers

LOMA LINDA, CA- Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM) recently concluded its five-year Centennial Celebration (2009-2014), marking 100 years since the founding of the school to the 100^th anniversary of the first graduating class. A community celebration was held on June 1 outside LLU Centennial Complex.

The early 1900’s themed anniversary bash was a free event open to the entire community and featured thematic music and entertainment as well as food trucks and a fireworks show to end the night. An estimated 700 people attended throughout the evening.

Loma Linda University School of Medicine opened its doors in 1909 as the College of Medical Evangelists and graduated its first class of six students on June 11, 1914. It was the smallest class to ever graduate from the school with just two women and four men. This year, on May 25, LLUSM graduated its largest class ever with 171 medical students. Over 10,500 students have graduated over the last 100 years.

LLUSM continues to have a growing impact in the Inland Empire and beyond. This year, 51 percent of LLUSM students matched to primary care positions, and half of the practicing medical doctors in San Bernardino County either trained at or currently teach at Loma Linda University or both.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA– The Assistance League of San Bernardino thanked their out-going executive board and welcomed the incoming 2014-2015 executive board Monday night at the Assistance League chapter house in San Bernardino.

Yearly the chapter installs their new board at their annual meeting. This year their incoming President Deborah Karalun wanted to bring a bit of the islands to their final meeting of the year.

“Being the last meeting of the 2013-2014 year and my first as the 2014-2015 President I wanted to celebrate the hard work of all the members that make this organization great. We all are working for the same cause of making our community better place,” shared Karalun.

The Assistance League is a non-profit organization that serves children in need in our community. Since 1948 they have been helping students with dental needs in the Dr. Earl R. Crane Children’s Dental Center that began a dental hygiene program in 1970 and has been providing clothing since 1983 with Operation School Bell.

Members of Assistance League are required to volunteer a minimum of fifty hours a year, including time at meetings, dental screenings, shopping with students for Operation School Bell and the annual fundraiser Headdress Ball.

Member’s that were installed for the new year’s executive board are: Deborah Karalun, President; Teresa Craig, President Nominee, Marsha Scott Vice President Membership; Carol Dixon-Cahill, Vice President Fundraising; Mindy Erickson, Recording Secretary; Jennifer Hobbs, Corresponding Secretary; Amy Johnson, Treasurer; Sherry Lopez, Assistant Treasurer; Elsa Carlton, Education Chair; Ruth Sandlin, Liaison to Les Confreres; Mary Masasso and Cathy Bechtel, Dental Center co-chairs; Margaret Ortiz and Linda Gordon, Operation School Bell; Bobbi Simenton, Orientation Chair.

“Assistance League has become a passion of mine since I became a member and I am honored to be leading our chapter and working with these phenomenal women to support our philanthropies. I hope my passion is contagious. We welcome anyone interested in joining this incredible sisterhood,” said Karalun.

Assistance League of San Bernardino meets on the second Monday of the month at the League House located at 580 West 6th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410 at 6:00 p.m. Their next meeting will be held September 8, 2014 guests are welcome.

For more information about Assistance League and their philanthropies visit their website at http://sanbernardino.assistanceleague.org or email them at sanbernardinoassistanceleague@gmail.com

The SBCCD Board members welcome the new student trustees at their installation on June 12. Shown left to right, front row, are Crafton Hills College student trustee Alexis Panaguiton; Trustee Nickolas W. Zoumbos; Board Vice President Kathleen (Katy) Henry; Board President Donna Ferracone; San Bernardino Valley College Student Trustee Tiffany Joy Guzman; Trustee Gloria Macias Harrison; Back row: Trustee Dr. Donald Singer; Trustee John Longville and SBCCD Chancellor Bruce Baron.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – – The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) Board of Trustees installed newly elected Student Trustees Alexis Panaguiton from Crafton Hills College and Tiffany Joy Guzman from San Bernardino Valley College. Board President Donna Ferracone swore in the two students at their regularly scheduled meeting on June 12.

SBCCD Board of Trustees President Donna Ferracone said, “Serving on the Board of Trustees provides both students with the opportunity to learn first-hand about balancing the needs of their various constituency groups against the constraints of the state budget. They also will have a wonderful opportunity for training in teamwork, leadership, planning and communication.”

SBCCD Chancellor Bruce Baron said, “Previous student trustees have identified specific issues that their electorates were interested in, have researched those issues, and proffered policies and procedures that the Board has taken very seriously. We look forward to working with both Student Trustees and to providing them with a rewarding learning experience.”

Crafton Hills College Student Trustee Alexis Panaguiton first started her academic career at Crafton Hills College, there pursuing a degree in respiratory therapy. Not only is Alexis the first in her family to attend college, but she had the desire to seek more by joining the Student Senate as the Social Events Officer. As the Social Events Officer, Alexis was the lead on combating the implementation of AB955 at Crafton Hills College which was successful. As Student Trustee, she plans to be the voice of her fellow students by working with administrators, classified staff, and the student senate to help establish a positive learning environment.

After completing her degree and the respiratory program at Crafton Hills College, she plans on obtaining a position at Loma Linda University Health Care for her ultimate dream.

San Bernardino Valley College Student Trustee Tiffany Joy Guzman grew up in Redlands, Calif., where she played Varsity Girls Golf and took health and nutrition classes at Redlands High School. A Liberal Arts student at San Bernardino Valley College, Tiffany is involved with the Associated Student Government and was elected Campus Events Director for the 2013-14 academic year.  In addition, she was an assistant moderator for the 31st District congressional forum on campus, which provided more than one hundred students the opportunity of meeting the candidates. The time spent being Campus Events Director led her to pursue a political journey within San Bernardino Community College District, where she campaigned for her new role as a Student Trustee. Tiffany said, “I would love to plant the seed of motivation in student’s lives and help them reach their goals.” Ms. Guzman is actively involved as the secretary of the newly established chapter of the SCTA (Student California Teachers Association) club on the SBVC campus.

In addition to installing the new student trustees, the Board recognized the outgoing student trustees, Yazmeen Flores from Crafton Hills College and Rosalinda Sosa Sanchez from San Bernardino Valley College for their year of service which completed this month.

About the San Bernardino Community College District

The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) is one of 72 community college districts within the California Community College system, the largest educational system in the world, which encompasses 112 community colleges. The SBCCD has an 87 year history of providing its community and students with quality and affordable vocational certificates, associate’s degrees, and preparation for transfer to a four year college or university through San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) and Crafton Hills College (CHC). In addition, the Economic Development and Corporate Training Division (PDC) and KVCR TV-FM provide professional development and cultural and educational information to the community at large.

For additional information on the SBCCD, please contact Alisa Sparkia Moore, Esq., San Bernardino Community College District Communications and Public Relations at 909.382.4012, 805.717.0347 cell, or by email at asmoore@sbccd.edu.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – For the 14^th consecutive year, Cal State San Bernardino will again operate on a four-day, 40-hour workweek throughout the summer, beginning Monday, June 16.

As has become tradition at CSUSB following June commencement ceremonies, the campus will operate on the 4/40 schedule through Sept. 5. Operating hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Some offices will remain open on Fridays during the summer, and University Police remain on duty every day.

The university will return to its traditional five-day work schedule on Monday, Sept. 8.

The condensed workweek has helped the university reduce its energy consumption, while allowing the public more time to access university services during the expanded hours.

The university also has encouraged energy conservation measures such as turning off lights in unused rooms, reducing lighting in hallways and turning off computers and other electronic equipment that are not in use.

During the week of June 30, the campus will revert to an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule and will be closed on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. The campus also will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of Labor Day.

The university’s summer session classes begin Wednesday, June 18. The regular 10-week summer session runs from June 18 through Aug 28, while accelerated six-week sessions are scheduled for June 18-July 24 and July 28-Sept. 3.

The fall quarter will begin on Thursday, Sept. 25.

For more information, contact Cal State San Bernardino’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.

“Mental Health Friendly Communities” event kicks off a new statewide initiative in San Bernardino County, harnessing the power of the faith community to address stigma and discrimination.

WHAT: The stigma and discrimination faced by African Americans with mental health concerns will be addressed at the San Bernardino kickoff of Mental Health Friendly Communities (MHFC). The event brings together mental health consumers, providers, and faith leaders to foster the faith community’s important role as a center of support for African Americans. MHFC is being introduced in four regions across California including San Bernardino/Riverside, Sacramento, Solano and Kern counties. It provides culturally focused trainings and resources that dispel misconceptions about mental illness, provides skills for faith leaders as first responders, and speaks directly to the mental health needs of African Americans. The MHFC initiative is administered by CalMHSA, which is funded by the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63).

WHY: A statewide survey of more than 2,600 respondents reports that “72% of African-American mental health consumers and family members across California believe it is appropriate for the public mental health system to address spirituality as a part of mental health care.” Studies show that many African Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental illness but don’t seek help because of fear of judgment, isolation and discrimination. Additionally, mental illness has long been a taboo subject among African Americans and the result is that serious needs for support and treatment often fail to be recognized and addressed.

WHERE:  INGHRAM COMMUNITY CENTER, St. Paul AME Church, 2050 North Mt. Vernon St., San Bernardino, 92411

WHEN: Saturday, June 14, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Program begins at 9:00 a.m.)

WHO: The MHFC Training Team, faith leaders, mental health consumers and community leaders are available for interviews throughout the program.

About CalMHSA

The Mental Health Friendly Communities program, administered by CalMHSA, is funded by the voter approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63). The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) is an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. CalMHSA operates services and education programs on a statewide, regional and local basis. For more information, visit www.calmhsa.org.

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino) released the following statement in support of President Barack Obama’s new action to help millions of student loan borrowers better manage their debt.

“Our economy is weakened when a generation of college graduates is burdened by large amounts of student loan debt,” said Rep. Negrete McLeod.  “This is why I agree with the President’s new plan to help millions of people across the country pay off student loan debt. We must make college more accessible and affordable for the sake of our nation’s economy and its future.”

The executive actions the president took earlier this week will allow millions more borrowers to better manage their student loan debt, directing the Department of Education to expand the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) program.   PAYE enables student loan borrowers to cap their loan payments at 10 percent of their monthly income.  The new rules will open the PAYE program to borrowers who are currently ineligible because they have loans that originated before October 2007.  The administration estimates that these new rules will mean that an additional five million borrowers can cap their monthly student loan payments in relation to their income.

In addition, on Saturday, President Obama urged Congress to pass the Bank on Students Emergency Refinancing Act (H.R. 4582; S. 2292), legislation cosponsored by Rep. Negrete McLeod that would help 25 million borrowers nationwide refinance their existing federal and private student loans to lower interest rates, similar to those that are currently available to new student loan borrowers. In total, American families would save around $55 billion under the legislation, which they can then reinvest in their local economy.

“I urge House Leadership to bring the Bank on Students Emergency Refinancing Act up for a vote.  Passage of this legislation would help millions of struggling borrowers pay back their student loans at reasonable accommodations,” concluded Rep. Negrete McLeod.

Learn more about the Bank on Students Emergency Refinancing Act here.

Cajon High School is holding a blood drive to benefit LifeStream on Tuesday, June 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each blood donation can help save a life with their blood and raise funds for the Cajon Cowboy football team. Blood donors must be at least 15 years old. Those under 18 years must have permission from a parent or guardian. Cajon High School is located at 1200 W. Hill Drive in San Bernardino. For more information, call Audrey Reisenhofer, Associated Student Body director, at (909) 881-8120. For more information about LifeStream, visit https://www.lstream.org.

THE GRAND OPENING of “THE CLUB, an Interactive theatrical production, invites the community out this Father’s Day, June 15th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to watch the production. This event will be presented by DeVeaux Entertainment., Sun Lion Productions. and Generations Model Company at the Historical Landmark, Maverick’s Flat, 4225 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles (90008). It features acting, modeling, comedy, poetry, live art, singing and dancing.

The theme is set in 1978 with icons such as Ike and Tina Turner (Ikkor and Felice LeVair), Diana Ross (ALLJAHe), and several others who will be sharing their stories of overcoming adversity on their road to success. This is an interactive, comedic play where guests are encouraged to come dressed in 70’s attire as they blast to the past in this 70’s Theme Production.

The Maverick’s Flat is a  theatrical caravan of 45 cast members performing for One-Night-Only! Tickets start are $20 ($15 in advance). For more information, call or text DeVeaux at (323) 445-8277.

ONTARIO, CA- All county departments, community and faith based organizations, and community members who are interested in gaining knowledge on Suicide and Bullying as a universal topic and on a multi-cultural dimension in an effort to increase awareness are invited to come out to the Suicide and Bullying Multi-Cultural Awareness Forum being presented by the Cultural-Specific Committees of the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) in partnership with Riverside – San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc.

The forum will include keynote presentations by Dulce Peña, JD, MAOD, MA, PCC; Arnold Thomas, MSW; and Patti Cotton, MA, MAOD, PCC. Along with the keynote presentations,  ten culturally specific breakout sessions and a treatment based suicide and bullying awareness panel.

The purpose of the Suicide and Bullying Multi-Cultural Awareness Forum is to promote awareness education and further understanding of suicide and bullying on both a universal and multi-cultural level and to encourage mental wellness when dealing with these sensitive topics.

The forum will be held on Wednesday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Double Tree by Hilton – Empire Ballroom located at 222 N. Vineyard Avenue in Ontario (91764). For additional information, questions, or interpretation/translation needs please contact Imo Momoh at (909) 252-4069 or 711 for TTY users.

Cheryl Brown

SACRAMENTO, CA-. With 100 percent of all precincts reporting, Assemblymember Cheryl Brown bested her opponents with 68 percent of California’s 47th Assembly district vote. In the race for the Congressional District 31, Democrat Paul Chabot will face Republican Pete Aguillar. Seven candidates were vying for the job, including San Bernardino City Unified School District Board Member, Danny Tillman. During this primary election, voters decided on state office positions from governor to insurance commissioner, as well as a host congressional and legislative seats. Gov. Jerry Brown has won his bid to appear on the November 2014 ballot, along with several other state-level Democratic incumbents. June 3rd, statewide primary election was the first to test California’s top-two primary system. Republican Neel Kashkari will the face the governor on November 4, 2014.

Democratic incumbents Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Attorney General Kamala Harris, and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones maintained their place on the ballot and each will face Republican challengers in the general election, in November. In the race for the 3rd District seat on the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, former Assemblywoman and state Senator Sheila Kuehl will face former Santa Monica Councilman Bobby Shriver. Former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis cruised to a commanding victory over two rivals, well above the 50 percent threshold that will give her an outright win without need for a runoff campaign.

In Los Angeles County, voters were also deciding many hotly-contested countywide offices, including that of Los Angeles County Sheriff, and two open seats on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Jim McDonnell will face his nearest rival in second place, former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, this November. Seven candidates were vying for the job. Two ballot measures were before California voters as well. Both passed. Proposition 41 would put $600 million in bonds toward rental housing for low-income veterans; Proposition 42 would require local governments to continue to comply with state open government and public records laws despite no longer getting reimbursed by the state for related expenses.