Local

IE Invaders

INLAND EMPIRE, CA- Many have thought the American Basketball Association (ABA) was long gone after the merger with the National Basketball Association (NBA) back in 1976 and that was true up until 1999 when they re-emerged and took the basketball world by storm once again. With nearly 90 teams to date the ABA has rebuilt a strong brand and they have continued to grow at a rapid pace. Outgoing President of The Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce and now owner, Ms. Christy Lancaster didn’t know much about the ABA but thought it would be a great business venture and create many opportunities for the Inland Empire so she said “Why Not?”

Ms. Lancaster was quoted saying “This has been the best experience for me. Being able to see the eyes of so many children light up when they see a Professional Ball Player show up at their school is priceless.” The team has been extremely active in the community with outreach to local schools and grand openings since the establishment of the team including National Walk to School day which they participated in with Castle View Elementary along with Mayor Rusty Bailey and a grand re-opening of Canyon Crest Athletic Club which happens to be a Championship sponsor to the team this 2013-2014 season. Their first game is scheduled for November 9 at 7 p.m. Games will be played at Riverside City College (Wheelock Gym). They have dedicated the first game to stopping violence in our community and the Invader Girlz have been working on a special dedication in memory of Treyvon Martin and many other lost to this senseless cause . If you have lost a loved one due to violence under 18 please email clancaster@abaieinvaders.com so they can add their name to their program so they can recognize them as well.  Names and Ages must be received by November 5 by 5 p.m. Please visit our www.abaieinvaders.com for more information.

KING OF THE CAGE

HIGHLAND, CA- Here’s a ghoulish treat for your Halloween enjoyment, an evening of colorfully, tatted, caged warriors engaged in hand-to-hand, foot-to-body, and all manor of something-to-something combat. Those who love a good fight, will have to be at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino on Thursday, October 31 to see what gets bumped in the night as the men of King of the Cage make a special Halloween visit that promises to be filled with all sorts of tricks and treats. Tickets range from $40 to $75, and are on sale now through www.sanmanuel.com.

AAAM

RIVERSIDE, CA- The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) is in final negotiations with the Riverside Convention and Visitors Bureau to host the 38th AAAM conference in downtown Riverside in August 2016. The conference will be held for three days, attracting more than 1,000 curators, historians, librarians, museum professionals and cultural leaders from 200 museums, libraries and institutes from around the globe. The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) is a non-profit organization established to support African and African American focused museums nationally and internationally, as well as the professionals who protect, preserve and interpret African American art, history and culture. Riverside is the host city and the Dora Nelson African American Art and History Museum in Perris, is the host museum in collaboration with Riverside African American Historical Society, The Black Voice Foundation and the Riverside Convention and Visitors Bureau.  To take advantage of hosting world’s foremost authorities in the preservation and promotion of African-American Culture to downtown Riverside, the Riverside African-American Festival Committee is planning to host a week long African-American Cultural Celebration to coincide with the conference.  Previous AAAM conferences were held in major eastern cities including Charlotte, North Carolina; Washington D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; Tallahassee, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Birmingham, Alabama; St. Louis, Missouri and the farthest west, Denver, Colorado. The Riverside AAAM Conference 2016 is charged with raising the funds to host the conference.  The initial fundraising goal is $15,000, with a third of the funds already committed.  The committee is looking for business and community organizations, along with local leaders for sponsorships and advertising at the conference. For more information on sponsorships, advertising and promotions contact Carl M. Dameron at 909-534-9500.

KIWANIS SB3

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Up, up and away went the laughter, fun and words of appreciation. On September 21, Cal-Nev-Ha/Division 36 Lt. Governor Diane deBourguignon proudly pinned the newly appointed “Super Hero’s of Service” officer’s of ICK Club of San Bernardino. The club’s immediate past president, Wilbur Wilson, thanked former  promoted officers and the new officers put on their super hero mask, dawned their super sabers and accepted their mission. Special guests who were in attendance included former Lt. Governor Elect Don Orosco, former First Lady Carolyn, Banning Mayor Debbie Franklin (also a member of Banning/Division 6 Kiwanis), and Lt. Governor Elect Reyes “Rocket” Rios (IC Kiwanis Club Member). Over 40 family, friends, community partners and members attended the affair. For those who would like to join Inland Center Kiwanis (ICK), they meet every Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. at Denny’s, 702 E. Highland Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92404. For more information, visit ickiwanis.webs.com or email pamickiwanis@yahoo.com.

Danielle Simone Photography

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- “We walk the steps our babies will never take.” That will most likely be the mantra of the participants of the 4th annual Walk to Remember-Inland Empire on Saturday, October 19 at Cal State San Bernardino. The remembrance walk commemorates the lives of families affected by the passing of a baby, through pregnancy lost, stillbirth or infancy loss of any kind. Registration to participate is $20 and check-in begins at 8 a.m. The ceremony will start at 9 a.m. The walk is sponsored by the CSUSB Institute for Child Development and Family Relations. Two Cal State San Bernardino graduates, Amanda Balderrama (B.S. nursing, 2003) and Sarah Miles (B.A. human development, 2006), founded the non-profit organization, Walk to Remember-IE, in January 2010 after experiencing their own tragedies; each lost a son. Last year, more than 600 participants remembered and honored the memories of 104 babies. The walk raised more than $11,000.  These funds were able to help with a broad range of projects.  The funds raised by the 2012 Walk to Remember also provided supplies for a local peer support group to create keepsakes for the members’ babies and to celebrate their motherhood on the International Bereaved

exercising woman

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Ladies come out and learn how to treat your heart and about other issues that affect woman of color. Heart of Color will be presenting a ‘Heart Health and Lifestyle Change’ community event on Saturday, October 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Henderson Auditorium at the Community Hospital of San Bernardino, 1805 Medical Center Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92411. Cheyenne English, of the American Heart Association and Healthy Heritage, will be the guest speaker for the event. Registration and a continental breakfast will be held at 830 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. For those who are interested in attending, please RSVP by Thursday, October 17 because seating is limited. To RSVP please call Joyce Fairman at 909-746-6153, Dolores Armstead at 909-214-6274, Jean Barron at 909-936-1718 or Alice Anderson at 909-717-9448, or visit http://www.heartsofcolor.org.

Jennifer Holmes (J Boss)

This week I am happy to highlight businesswoman Jennifer Holmes, also known as J Boss of J Boss Entertainment. It feels good to not be the only female out here in the game. Women are really stepping up their game.
Jennifer Holmes, CEO of J Boss Entertainment, and Don Colman, CEO of Flipside Entertainment, have linked up to provide a platform for artists every Tuesday night at Seville’s Night Club in the beautiful city of Riverside. Several local artists are given an opportunity to showcase their talents at “Taco Tuesday Night” held at Seville’s Night Club starting at 8 p.m..     “The goal is to bring Hollywood to the IE while providing an upscale atmosphere,” Jennifer stated.
Holmes and Colman are currently working to bring headliners such as, R&B sensation Ray J, Young Sam, Problem, Joe Moses and many more to the City. Last week Glasses Malone took the stage and gave an awesome performance along with local acts, which included, Speaker Junkiez ENT, Kolby Cordell and Young Stress. On October 8, Paul Douglas will bless the mic.
Colman and Holmes do more than provide entertainment. They also go above and beyond to give back to their community.  The dynamic duo is coordinating a blanket and jacket drive. The fundraiser will take place on October 22. Entry into Seville’s that night will be free until 11 p.m. with a donated item. For more information on how to support the mission or to perform, please contact J Boss at 760-486-3111.

Miss Cardinal group

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- This past weekend, Saturday, September 6, 22 young women competed for the honor of representing San Bernardino High School, Cardinal City and the City of San Bernardino. During the pageant, Miss Cardinal City contestants were ranked by a panel of judges in on-stage categories ranging from sportswear, evening gown and an on-stage question. Off-stage categories included grades, attendance and personal interviews.
According to pageant director and Bilingual School Outreach Worker Jamie Rios, two of the goals for Miss Cardinal City and related pageant Mr. Cardinal City are to develop students’ confidence and raise community awareness and pride in San Bernardino High and the city.
“San Bernardino High is the oldest public high school in the entire county,” she states.  “It is also part of two cities. Many people don’t realize the high school itself is a chartered city, Cardinal City.  With that kind of history and community significance, I felt we needed ambassadors, young people who could represent all these different and note-worthy aspects of San Bernardino High School.”
Sponsors that helped to make the pageant a success were Stater Bros. Markets, D’Arca Formal Wear, Angel’s Closet, Fairview Ford, The Way World Outreach, Marinello Schools of Beauty, San Bernardino Sun newspaper, San Bernardino High School Class of 1961, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hickey, Mrs. Pat Williams, First Ward Councilwoman Virginia Marquez, Mr. Jim Smith, Mr. Anyabwile Naazir, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Noble, Ms. Charlene Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Arellano, Mr. Richard Carlos, San Bernardino City Unified School District, and San Bernardino High School Associated Student Body (ASB).

Photo Caption: From Left to Right: Michael Van Schoick, The National Theatre for Children; Beverly Powell, Region Manager-Public Affairs-Southern California Edison; and Wendi West, The National Theatre for Children, take a photo after the production of ‘A Bug’s Light’ at Rio Vista Elementary School in San Bernardino.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Last week, a superhero insect toured 10 under-served elementary schools across Southern California Edison’s (SCE) service area to teach students about electrical safety through a live theatre production of ‘A Bug’s Light.’ Among those elementary schools, Rio Vista Elementary School in San Bernardino was one of the schools where students received the treat of watching the production.
The production was produced by The National Theatre for Children (NTC), a production company that engages students in learning what they and their families can do to stay safe around electricity. Approximately 5,400 students seen the production during the week of September 16 to 20, as part of National Preparedness Month.
Edison International, parent company of SCE, donated $25,000 to NTC to produce the play to educate children in schools in Southern California, which included Compton, Alhambra, Santa Ana, Moreno Valley, San Bernardino and Oxnard.
“Safety is our number one priority and we want children, as well as adults, to know how to safe around electricity,” said Janet Clayton, senior vice president, Corporate Communications for Edison International and Southern California Edison. “When we saw how well students and teachers reacted to ‘A Bug’s Light!” last year, we were excited to bring it back again to continue educating children about electrical safety in a way that makes learning fun.”
For more information about SCE, follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SCE and Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SCE. (Photo by Naomi Bonman).

Photo of Sunrise taken in Loreto, BCS Mexico

This week I am highlighting Freddie Washington, photographer extraordinaire. Some may not realize that photography is an art and hard work.  I can’t stand it when I see a photo of myself and I look a hot mess because the photographer didn’t care or fully understand that photography is more than just pointing and clicking a camera.
Currently working with Nikon Pro staff, I first met Mr. Washington at an event in the Inland Empire where he was taking photos of artists performing. I noticed how professional and serious he was about his craft, due to the sweat pouring down his face and the expensive equipment used. Once finished, I approached Mr. Washington and asked if he could do some work for our production company, LUE Productions. I was so impressed with the finished product that I knew at that moment he had to be a part of our LUE Productions team. Mr. Washington is now our full-time photographer. Some of his photos have already appeared in the Westside Story Newspaper. When I go out on location on behalf of the paper, Mr. Washington is with me.
Photography is the result of combining several technical discoveries. His ability to choose a subject and compose it effectively is amazing. He’s worked with several models, venues and organizations throughout the Inland Empire and surrounding cities. When you’re in need of a professional photographer for your next photo shoot or special event, please contact FWPhotography at 714-833-3196 or email fw4photo@yahoo.com .You can also look his work up on Facebook under FWPhotography. He provides Quality work at affordable rates. Mention this article and receive a discount. Remember photographs can say a thousand words. Until next week! (By Lue Dowdy) Photo of Sunrise taken in Loreto, BCS Mexico