Local

Grab your kids and head down to the High Desert Drive-Thru Backpack Giveaway which will be held from 8 a.m. until noon on Thursday, July 21, at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville! This is for low-income qualifying students with proof of designated High Desert residence in Apple Valley, Lucerne Valley, Barstow, Victorville, Hesperia, Oak Hills, Silver Lakes, Oro Grande, Phelan and Pinon Hills. Registration is required. Visit westsidestorynewspaper.com for the link.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is holding its second annual Back to School Extravaganza on Thursday, July 21 at Court Street Square in San Bernardino.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features community organizations and vendors all focused on helping families prepare students to return to and succeed in school. Sponsors include San Bernardino Valley College, OmniTrans, IEHP (Inland Empire Health Plan), Dignity Health, Loma Linda University, Molina Healthcare and AmazonAir.

Families can enjoy free entertainment and participate in raffle drawings as they learn about services that can help children stay in school and overcome obstacles to academic success. SBCUSD departments will be on hand to provide information and guidance on the District’s English-learner programs, after-school programs, special education services, student wellness and support services, and more. Community vendors will be giving out free school supplies, dental supplies, and information on how to access free and low-cost health and financial resources.

Attendance is limited to the first 1,500 families to RSVP at http://bit.ly/btse2022 or by calling the Family Engagement Office at (909) 880-4057. Court Street Square is located at 349 North E Street in San Bernardino. OmniTrans bus routes, including the sbX Green Line, have stops at or near Court Street Square.

CORONA, CA—- Close to 200 sanitation workers employed by Waste Management at facilities in Chino and Corona have voted unanimously to authorize a strike against the company. This step follows multiple contract bargaining sessions with the company since the workers’ contract expired in April. Little progress has been made in addressing worker concerns, including fair treatment and constant harassment on the job. These essential sanitation workers have worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that communities throughout San Bernardino and Riverside Counties were kept clean and safe. CLICK HERE for photos.

These hard-working men and women are members of Teamsters Local 396 based in Covina, California, affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents thousands of Waste Management workers across the United States. These workers, who have made it clear that their preference is to reach a fair agreement with the company rather than strike, serve cities in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, such as Corona, Chino, Norco, Chino Hills, and Eastvale. If a contract is not ratified soon, this region’s cities could see a waste hauling disruption impacting thousands of residents and businesses.

“I’ve been a dedicated Waste Management worker for over 14 years, doing my best to keep my community clean and safe. Throughout the pandemic, this has meant putting my health and well-being at risk to do my job as an essential worker,” said Luis Barba, a driver at Waste Management Corona, California. “While Waste Management calls me and my colleagues ‘heroes,’ the company doesn’t treat us that way. They don’t even treat us as human beings or valued employees. We cannot put up with this any longer. While we are doing everything in our power to avoid a strike, Waste Management needs to be held accountable to a fair contract and bargaining in good faith.”

“As a driver for Waste Management, I have had the opportunity to serve on the frontlines of the City of Chino, and I have been proud to do so. In turn, I only ask for fair pay and a voice on the job. Still, Waste Management refuses to negotiate a fair contract with me and my fellow Teamsters,” said Alfonso Camargo, a driver with Waste Management in Chino, California. “We have voted to authorize a strike vote because Waste Management needs to do better and start supporting its essential workers.”

In 2021, Waste Management’s CEO’s total compensation totaled over $13 million. The CEO’s pay was hundreds of times the average worker’s pay. Rather than investing profits into higher wages, benefits, and safer working conditions for its essential workers, it has continued to raise the salaries of overpaid executives. Meanwhile, waste and recycling collection continues to be America’s 5th most dangerous job.

Additionally, instead of investing its profits in its workers and services to the community, the company has apparently used its expendable cash on currying favor with local cities the company aims to do or already does business with. A recent example is in the City of Eastvale, where the city received an 8 million-dollar retention bonus back from Waste Management as part of the City renewing its waste hauling franchise agreement. With transactions like these and no respect from Waste Management, you can understand why Waste Management Teamsters at the Chino and Corona facilities are frustrated that even though the company is willing to spend millions to curry favor with politicians who approve Waste Management’s contracts, it continues to drag its feet when it comes to reaching a labor agreement that treats its workers fairly and with dignity.

“Teamsters at Waste Management across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties are sending a strong message that they are ready to do whatever it takes to secure a fair contract. Waste Management needs to take negotiations seriously to ensure that these essential heroes who work hard to keep our cities clean and protect our environment get a fair contract,” said Ron Herrera, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 396.

By Lue Dowdy | LUE Productions

Calling All Youth Artists in the Inland Empire and neighboring cities. Can you sing, dance, rap, play an instrument, or recite poetry? This Saturday is the last day to audition for LUE Productions $1000 Summer Youth Talent Showcase and Competition.

Do you have a talented youth or know of one? Please let them know about this amazing opportunity taking place Saturday July 30th in San Bernardino. Must be 19 and under to participate. Want to model? Well, you’re in luck we’re looking for event models to rip the runway.

1st Place Winner- $500
2nd Place Winner- $300
3rd Place Winner- $200

Audition Location:

Women’s Club of San Bernardino 503 W 31st St, San Bernardino, CA 92405

Audition Time:

2:30 PM

Contact information:
909.567.1000

Lue.info@yahoo.com

Lueproductions.org

RIALTO, CA— The City of Rialto is pleased to announce the hiring of Brian Park as its new Fire Chief, effective July 27. Park, who has served as the Division Chief of Operations and Acting Fire Chief since 2019, brings 25 years of firefighting experience, almost all of it with the Rialto Fire Department.

His appointment followed a national recruitment.

“Brian Park’s experience, leadership and local knowledge will serve us well as he and his team build on the Rialto Fire Department’s outstanding reputation. His appointment as Chief comes at an exciting time for our city, and we look forward to working together to further establish Rialto as a model for public safety,” said Mayor Deborah Robertson.

Said Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott: “Brian has distinguished himself as a leader and dedicated community servant. His decades of service to Rialto have been exemplary, and we are confident that he will continue to provide our great Fire Department with the leadership we’ve all come to expect.”

Park was a Crafton Hills College paramedic student when he initially joined the Rialto Fire Department in 1997. After a brief stint in Barona, he returned to Rialto as a full-time firefighter/paramedic in 1999 and was promoted to Fire Captain in 2007 and Battalion Chief in 2012.

Park was a Crafton Hills College paramedic student when he initially joined the Rialto Fire Department in 1997. After a brief stint in Barona, he returned to Rialto as a full-time firefighter/paramedic in 1999, and was promoted to Fire Captain in 2007 and Battalion Chief in 2012.

Park holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Administration and is pursuing a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. He is one of the few fire chiefs in California to hold both a California State Fire Marshal Executive Chief Fire Officer (ECFO) certificate and a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) credential from the Center for Public Excellence.

Park is currently President of the San Bernardino County Fire Chiefs Association, serves as the CAL OES Zone 1 Coordinator for the Operational Area and has played an instrumental role in the regional response to COVID-19 as a member of the interagency Incident Management Team (IMT).

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Chief, and am grateful to the Mayor, City Council and City Manager for their support and confidence. My approach is one of collaboration, communication and community service, and I look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure the City’s public safety mission,” Park said.

Theme: “Make Waves- what you do today can change the world around you”

The entire community is invited to Loveland Church’s vacation bible school on July 13-15th, 2022 from 6PM to 8:45PM. It’s free. It’s fun for the entire family; ages 3- 103. There will be music-games-crafts-bible study- and food offered each night. This years’ theme is “Make Waves” “What you do today can change the world around you.” At this year’s VBS, families will learn that how to change the world around them. When you put your trust in Jesus, you can make waves, because of God’s spirit living inside of you. At Loveland we are on a mission to restore God’s people.

For more information or to register go to lovelandchurch.org/vbsregistration.   Contact Karen Joy at the church office at 909-356-5683. Thank you. Pass the word.

The Board of Directors of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra has elected former San Bernardino Mayor Judith Valles as its new president. She will serve a two-year term ending June 30, 2024.

She described her vision for the organization including more accessible music and music education.

“The beautiful concert at San Bernardino Valley College on July 2 brought out hundreds of people who had never attended a performance before, and our new Youth Wind Ensemble, dedicated to the performance of new works by underrepresented artists, is an outstanding addition that will reap extraordinary rewards for young musicians. When I think of these things – and everything else we are doing – I see a future where people are drawn to San Bernardino because they know this is a place where the arts are alive.”

This is the second time Valles has served in this role having previously completed the term of former president Mary Schnepp who retired mid-term in 2013. Valles served until 2015 when outgoing president, Dean McVay was elected and served until the end of the Symphony’s current fiscal year.

It was McVay who suggested that Valles be considered as president once again.

“Five years ago, Judith turned over the reins of the Symphony to me and I could not be more proud to return the Symphony back into her capable hands,” said the now Immediate Past President, adding “Judith is an incredible leader and will continue to guide our Symphony to new heights.”

Affirmed Symphony Music Director and Conductor Anthony Parnther, “Judith Valles is an icon in San Bernardino. I look forward to exploring new ways to spotlight our outstanding orchestra alongside this highly respected civic leader.”

Described as “a strong woman of outstanding character” by Symphony Executive Director Dr. Anne Viricel, Valles was born in San Bernardino and has made the city her home for her entire life. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree from the University of Redlands and her Masters of Arts from the University of California at Riverside. From 1988-1995, she was President of Golden West Community College. She also served as interim president of both Coastline College and Oxnard College.

In 1998, Dr. Valles was elected Mayor of the City of San Bernardino. As a two-term mayor, she oversaw numerous community revitalization programs including: renovating the City’s historic areas, increasing the number of neighborhood associations, expanding youth programs, and, of course, bringing about greater support for the arts. During her time as Mayor, the city’s crime rate was greatly reduced, and business, employment, and housing opportunities grew. She was also instrumental in restructuring the Economic Development Agency, which greatly reduced the City’s debt.

After leaving her position as San Bernardino’s Mayor, she served for three years as President of Los Angeles Mission College. In addition to her work with the Symphony, Valles continued to lead, serving on the City of San Bernardino Board of Water Commissioners, the Inland Empire Leadership Council, and the Ramona Academy Charter Board. She is also an author of a semi-autobiographical book, “As My Mother Would Say.”

Concluded Valles, “I am pleased to lead an organization that so effectively promotes the arts. The arts are the life blood of a community and I can think of no organization that is more successful in bringing the arts to the Inland Empire than our marvelous Symphony.”

NORTH DESERT, CA— Congratulations to Battalion Chief Kelly Anderson, who was promoted to Assistant Chief of the North Desert Division 5 following the retirement of Chief Dave Corbin.

Chief Anderson will oversee fire, rescue and emergency medical response in the many parts of the First District, including Silver Lakes/Helendale, Phelan, Wrightwood, Spring Valley Lake, Hesperia, Adelanto and other locations.

In 1994, she began her career as a Fire Explorer in Hesperia. She was hired as a Limited Term Firefighter in 1999 and promoted to full-time status in 2002 as a Firefighter/Paramedic.

Chief Anderson has served throughout the ranks, promoting to Battalion Chief in 2015 assigned to North Desert Division. Her responsibilities have included the oversight of the Ambulance Operator program as well as the Fire Corps volunteer program.

“It’s an honor to serve the North Desert. I love the High Desert and its uniqueness. I was born and raised in the City of Hesperia, went to school there and it’s where I began my journey in the fire service,” said Chief Anderson. “I look forward to working with our partnering agencies as we continue to look for ways to further enhance our fire, rescue and EMS services.”

Welcome, Chief Anderson!

And thank you, Chief Corbin, for your 33 years of service to the citizens of San Bernardino County!

IONIAN SEA (June 4, 2022) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Josiah Garcia, from Chino Hills, Calif., signals to the pilot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 for launch from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), June 4, 2022. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied and Partner interests.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The City of San Bernardino, in partnership with California Volunteers, Office of the Governor has announced that it has been awarded a $4,169,142 grant to hire nearly 70 young and early career staff members over the next two years. The City will hire individuals in the Parks and Recreation, Animal Services, Library, and Police Departments, along with additional positions in partnership with local Community Based Organizations (CBO’s).

Part of the Office of the Governor, California Volunteers oversees the #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps program, which is working to employ local youth under the age of 30 across the state to help address urgent challenges in California while participants learn key job skills, develop career pathways, and serve their communities.