Local

The 7th Annual Chillin’ N Grillin’ UNITY in commUNITY barbecue competition will be Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fontana Park Sports Pavilion located at 15556 Summit Avenue.

The event is sponsored by the Concerned Citizens for the Development of North Fontana, Fontana Police Officers Association, and the City of Fontana. This years’ theme is “We will never forget” in recognition of 9/11.

Local official police tow company Armada Tow will provide transportation for the mobile 9-11 Memorial Beam, which was recovered from the Twin Towers and donated to the people of San Bernardino County. Expertly grilled ribs and chicken will be served for a suggested $10 donation. Entertainment will be provided by the Summit High Band, The Tim’s Family Praise Dancers, Route 66 Hip Hop dancers, Route 66 Jazz dancers, Ballet Folklorico, and Heart and Soul group dancers.

There will be information booths, a car show, and displays of police, fire and other emergency response equipment including the Fontana PD helicopter. In the Kid’s Zones, young people will make greeting cards for children who are in hospital with long term illnesses.

The voice of the Agua Caliente Clipper basketball team and local sports talk show host, Coach “B” Brian Arrington, will once again serve as the emcee. Come out an enjoy the fun.

By Lue Dowdy | LUE Productions

Calling all lovers of theater and burlesque. LUE Productions’ all ebony burlesque dinner theater shows is coming back to San Bernardino on Sunday, October 30th, and Sunday, December 11th. There will be two amazing shows with two different storylines. Both shows will be fun, exciting, breath taking, and mind-blowing. Lue Productions Ebony Burlesque shows feature a collective of beautiful African American woman expressing themselves through song, dance, comedy and acting.

Make it a date night with your partner or you friends. There will be plenty to do as the evening will consist of vendors, art-walk, and special performances by aerialist, Lanice Jackson from L.A., the crooner Maurice Howard, and poet Johnny Frost.

Cast and crew members include Comedian Mac Rome, Comedian Here is Larry Joe, Kymedienne Jackson, Lue Dowdy, Deeveatva Bourne, Porsche Dillard, Deandre Jackson, Nycce Blingsly, Joy Martin, Lakyshia Reddick, Sherrelle Johnson, Tiffany Picou, Shaman Newell, Krystal Yvonne, Debra Mcglothurn, Erwin Cheri, Ronecia Miller, Yankeka Laster, Dorian Mack, Donte Mack, Kimberly Woods, Robin Mckinnon, Imani Travis and many more.

Our mission: providing platforms for African American woman in artistry to display their gifts and talents, while incorporating live entertainment within the City of San Bernardino for community members to enjoy.

Our vision: to continually showcasing the importance of black theater and why its presence is needed within the performing arts community and throughout the word.

Both productions are fundraisers to help raise proceeds for our nonprofit (LUE Productions community umbrella services) annual community stocking stuffer event for children during the holiday within the City of San Bernardino. Our goal is to giveaway 500 or more stockings filled with goodies.

LUE Productions is a entertainment company based out of the inland empire with over 20 years’ experience in coordinating events, promotions, along with management throughout Southern California and beyond for aspiring artists. We pride ourselves in supporting the performing arts.

Our goal is to provide platforms for the talented while bringing forth quality shows and events for the entire community and our clients to enjoy.

For more information we can be reached at 909.567.1000 or 909.495.0848 email lue.info@yahoo.com lueproductions.org

Where: ASU Fox Theater, 373 W. Court Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401

Ticket info:

Dinner & show – $60.00 each

Show only – $40.00 each

$80 VIP tickets (includes 1 dinner ticket, additional seating in front of stage, souvenir booklet, and event poster

Vendors wanted:

Food – $75

Merch only – 50.00

Information only – $40

MONTCLAIR, CA—- Christian Gonzalez, a senior at Montclair High School, had never seen anything like it – not just the racks and rows of designer clothes and shoes, but the display of generosity toward students in foster care or whose families were struggling to make ends meet.

“We grew up in Compton, and we didn’t have this. It’s really nice,” Gonzalez said as he and his mother eagerly sorted through the thousands of jackets, shirts, pants, shoes and accessories donated by movie studios and advertising agencies.

Montclair High was the first high school selected by The Wrapped Project, a new Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization started by Nichole Lumpkin, a wardrobe stylist, and Lizz Roberts. Lumpkin, whose sister teaches at Montclair, got the idea to start The Wrapped Project while wrapping up a commercial during the pandemic.

“So many of these items go back to the advertising agencies or the studio after a shoot. They become inventory. We saw this as another way for Hollywood productions to give directly back to the community,” she said.

At Montclair, the school sponsored 100 students and two guests each to participate in the clothing giveaway on a recent Saturday. The students were selected based on need, and each could select four clothing items and two accessories.

Donated items were practically new, or gently used, and included custom-made items on up through high-end designer brands such as Prada.

“It’s such a wonderful community event, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to help provide this to students who need it most,” said Joshua Cho, Principal at Montclair High School.

Said Dr. Mathew Holton, Superintendent of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District: “We appreciate the partnership with The Wrapped Project and its founders’ commitment to giving back to the community. This kind of collaboration and generosity can help transform lives and provide hope for those students and families who see nothing but obstacles.”

To learn more about The Wrapped Project, visit thewrappedproject.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Recently, 23 high school graduates from various regions throughout San Bernardino County were honored at the Dorothy Inghram Learning Center for completing the Community Health Worker Jumpstart Summer Training Program.

“I applaud these young adults who chose to continue their education in the summer weeks and fuel their passion for helping others in the community,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “Through collaboration with our dedicated partners, this program connected aspiring healthcare workers with the professional skills and competencies needed for their future careers.”

The Community Health Worker Training Program is one of three jumpstart programs San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) Alliance for Education and San Bernardino County Regional Occupational Program (ROP) have piloted this summer with recent high school graduates.

“Overall, being in this training program opened up my mindset of a world of possibilities I can do. I have the power not only to help my community but other communities as well,” said student Liyah Belvins. “It sparked more of an initiative to change, and to just help people.”

The four-week intensive training program provides students with industry-specific skills, certifications and employer networking to prepare them for the healthcare industry.

El Sol Neighborhood Center provided training to students with several industry and community partners facilitating and supporting the free classes, which took place from June 20 to July 15.

Healthcare partners had the chance to engage in lunchtime collaboration, provide real-world work experience and interview students. The program connected talented students with access to regional employers who are looking to build their future workforce.

Selected students submitted applications to participate in the program, and after completing the training they received a $500 stipend and certificate of completion.

SBCSS Alliance for Education and San Bernardino County ROP piloted two other jumpstart training programs this summer for drone operation and advanced manufacturing.

From June 20 to July 15, eight students participated in the Industry 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Certification and Training program at the Technical Employment Training, Inc. building in San Bernardino.

All eight students received a Robotics Operator Certification from Yaskawa and a Vision Sensors Certification from Cognex. Three of the students received the Gene HAAS Foundation Scholarship, which provided them full tuition to a 630-hour Introduction to Manufacturing Course.

Throughout the months of June, July and August, 14 students graduated the Drone Pilot Certification and Training program.

This jumpstart program was created in partnership with the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center at San Bernardino International Airport.

Students completed three levels of courses, from obtaining their drone pilot license to flight line training. Ten of the 14 students passed their FAA Part 107 exams and are now certified drone pilots.

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. #transforminglives.

Students participate in the Industry 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Certification and Training program at the Technical Employment Training, Inc. building in San Bernardino.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— First 5 San Bernardino is looking to add to its 2022-2023 AmeriCorps team! Team members will work with children ages 2 to 5 in San Bernardino County to increase social-emotional, literacy and mathematic skills to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.

In addition to the opportunity to begin working in early childhood education and development, First 5 AmeriCorps members will positively impact the San Bernardino County community for years to come. They provide 1:1 support to economically disadvantaged children, assisting with developing learning skills to set them up for lifelong success.

Program Benefits:

• Living allowance
• Education award
• Student loan deferment
• Paid childcare
• Health benefits

To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do

For more information, contact Traci Homan at (909) 386-7706.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Better known as the “ATC Disaster Master,” Jai Prasad, CPA is a Supervising Accountant III for San Bernardino County’s Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (ATC) with more than 20 years of experience managing disasters.

When it comes to disaster management, Prasad handles disaster incident cost tracking and disaster recovery budget estimates. The most recent disasters for which Prasad sought cost recovery were the 2019 Trona earthquakes and the countywide COVID-19 emergency response. Prasad created a system called the “Disaster Public Assistance Overview” for County departments to help them understand claiming eligibility, types of assistance, and criteria for more timely reimbursement of disaster costs. In addition, Prasad is the liaison between County departments and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CALOES) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

During his County career, Prasad and ATC Disaster Team have recovered more than $55 million in disaster response and recovery costs on behalf of San Bernardino County taxpayers.
Prasad attended college at California State University, San Bernardino where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He participated in the Beta Alpha Psi Program where he was encouraged by then-ATC Larry Walker to apply for the Summer Student Internship Program that ATC hosts annually. Prasad was accepted as an ATC intern and through hard work, dedication, and continued education he was promoted to his current position.

Born in the Fiji Islands, Prasad migrated to the United States through the diversity lottery. He lives in San Bernardino County. Jai is married to Kaveeta Prasad, and they have a daughter, Jaya Prasad, who attends Cajon High School. The ATC-Controller Division is very lucky to have Prasad as a mentor and a leader.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Families—complete with fathers, mothers, grandparents, and lots of daughters—attended the first American Girl Doll Tea Party in three years at Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry Elementary School in San Bernardino. The Girl Scouts was there, and they signed up enough girls to start a new troop.

“Another great success of the American Girl Tea Party included the Girls Scouts of San Gorgonio obtaining enough interest to start a new Girl Scout Troop in the Mt. Vernon area,” says Knea Hawley, Vice President of Development for Girls Scouts of San Gorgonio.

“Girl Scouts is a great way to help girls learn new skills and make friends, but the pandemic has made it difficult for some troops to meet,” says Hawley.  “I am thrilled to see the outpouring of support for girls and scouting.  We’re grateful to have Girl Scout alumna Ivana Wright, who led a troop before the pandemic, and will lead this new one.

“I am really excited to work with a new group of girls and help them gain life skills, develop their interest in community and champion girls who will make the world a better place,” said Ivana Wright, Girl Scout of the Year 2017.

Foundation President Arlington Rodgers, Jr. says, “The mission of the San Bernardino City Library Foundation is to make sure that our public libraries continue to be places where everyone in the community can gather, learn, grow, and interact. The joining of local girls with The Girl Scouts at a Foundation-sponsored event, is a fine example of how the Library Foundation helps our community do just that.”

The doll collection and the multi-generational American Girl Doll Tea Party are both made possible thanks to the generous support of the people and organizations of San Bernardino including the San Bernardino City Library Foundation.

“The San Bernardino City Library allows children to check out an American Girl Doll kit.  It includes ethnically diverse dolls, a carrying case, accessories, a book about the doll and a journal. Children checking out the dolls are encouraged to write about their playing with the dolls in a journal,” said Angela Encinas, Children’s Librarian.

For more information on how to join the new San Bernardino Troop or to start a new Girl Scout troop contact Concetta Miller cmiller@gssgc.org.

For more information on the San Bernardino City Library Foundation go to SBCLF.com

Regular Run September 10 to October 16

CLAREMONT, CA— Ophelia’s Jump Productions closes their 2022 Season with Inda Craig-Galvan’s, Black Superhero Magic Mama. The production will be performed at the OJP Theater, located at 2009 Porterfield Way, Suite I, in Upland, from September 10 through October 16, 2022.

About Black Superhero Magic Mama:
All the books Sabrina reads to her son, Tramarion, start off with a tragedy but then the young protagonists are made whole. Little does she know that Tramarion’s life is heading in the opposite direction. When Tramarion is gunned down in a parking lot by a cop who thinks the trophy in the 14-year old’s hand is a gun, Sabrina sinks into inconsolable grief. She balks at the expectation that she presents her grief for the public as a rallying call. When Sabrina does not make a public appearance the talking heads question her motives. “The mothers always go to the rally. Isn’t it, like, some kind of protocol?”

Facing crushing tragedy, Sabrina retreats into a fantasy comic book world created by her gifted son, Tramarion, and his friend Flat Joe. In that universe she is The Maasai Angel in search of an ultimate combat with a faceless entity to “get back what’s mine.” Ala Wizard of Oz, Sabrina confronts comic book style villainous avatars of people from her real life– the police, the media, Tramarion’s coach. This inventive play takes the audience inside the mind of one mother as she battles to overcome her sense of loss and find a way forward. The play is a wild ride mixing elements of graphic novels and gaming that coalesce into an imaginative, surprisingly funny, and deeply touching adventure.

Inda Craig-Galvan wrote Black Super Hero Magic Mama in response to the killing of Tamir Rice, a 12 year old boy who was playing with a replica gun when he was shot and killed by a white police officer. Since the play’s initial writing, black young men and boys have continued to be killed by police at a disproportionate rate. Black Super Hero Magic Mama continues to be powerfully moving, provocative, and painfully relevant.

The play contains strong language, stylized gun violence re-enactment, and exaggerated comic book style fight scenes, but will appeal to audiences of all ages in its treatment of family and our ideas about heroes. Parental discretion is advised.

Inda Craig-Galvan is the recipient of the Kesselring Prize, Jeffry Melnick New Playwright Award, Blue Ink Playwriting Prize, Jane Chambers Student Award for Feminist Playwriting, and Stage Raw’s Best Playwright Award.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino native DeShawn Radden, who was a hit on season 41 of “Survivor”, a popular CBS TV show. The show pushes contestants to a breaking point and forces them to use social and emotional survival skills. DeShawn, 27 years old, is a native of San Bernardino, California. He will receive his White Coat from The Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in Miami, Florida on Friday August 26, 2022. The White coat ceremony is known as the Right of Passage. This ceremony is performed in many medical fields when students transition from pre-clinical to clinical rotations.

Dwaine Radden Sr., father of DeShawn said, “I am so proud of him for always staying the course and for embodying the 3D code of “Discipline, Determination, Dedication equals winner always”! His mom will be truly missed today”. Radden said.  “She has the best seat in the house and will be there spiritually”. Mrs. Radden passed away on May 1, 2022. The Inland Empire salutes this hometown young man as he starts on the last component of his medical journey.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—– The San Bernardino City Council has awarded a construction contract to extend State Street from 16th Street to Baseline Street, a project that has been envisioned to improve mobility for over 20 years. The contract, awarded on August 17th to Riverside Construction Company of Riverside, CA in the amount of $7,436,165, will construct a new four lane divided roadway that includes medians, sidewalks, and storm drains.

The project is located just south of the 210 Freeway and parallels the Lytle Creek Basin. The new street will improve connectivity to the freeway, decrease cut through traffic in neighborhoods, and provide better access for residents to Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Shirrells Park.

“The West Side residents of San Bernardino have been waiting for this for a long time,” said Councilmember Kimberly Calvin, who represents the area. “Our patience is being rewarded with a great new street that will serve as a major arterial for the entire area and position Ward 6 for more economic development opportunities.