WSSN Stories

Bernice Celeste

What up my I.E. peeps and everybody! Singing Sensation Bernice Celeste is What It Do with the LUE this week. When it comes to raw talent, this young lady has it hands down. I was mesmerized the first time I heard Bernice sing and play. You can’t help but to fall in love with her angelic voice. So here’s more on my girl. Enjoy!

Bernice Celeste is a 21 year old singer/songwriter born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. At the age of 10 her family relocated to the States where they lived in New Mexico, Texas, and South Carolina. Along the way her passion for singing grew immensely that the time came when she asked her parents to relocate back to Los Angeles in order to pursue her dream. As an independent artist, Bernice is progressing to be the next big solo artist in the industry. The songs she writes about are either life experiences or events witnessed throughout her life. Bernice first started singing at age 7; throughout her school years she was involved in choir. She began playing the guitar at age 14 which she self-taught and at a later time she took guitar lessons. By taking lessons, it helped her to write her own lyrics.

Her unique sound is that of a mixture of Pop/Acoustic. Growing up her music influences were given by her parents and grandparents who listen to music like R&B, Oldies, Motown, Beatles, Classic Rock and 80’s Pop. During her middle and high school years she was influenced by Alternative Rock, Folk and what was popular on the top 40’s. For the last 6 years she has been performing throughout the Los Angeles, Orange and Inland Empire counties. She has also performed in venues like The Cinespace, The Roxy, The House of Blues, Aqua Lounge and The Pomona Fox Theater Lounge. She had the pleasure of singing the National Anthem for the Inland Empire 66ers Minor League baseball that is in her hometown.

Bernice has performed at community events and foundations from The Britticares for the CHLA foundation, to one’s that deal with cancer awareness, battered woman, and underprivileged young girls, to feeding the homeless in her own community. Bernice has featured as a special guest on several internet radio stations including, The 3 Guys Rant, David Alcarez Talent show, CGD Live Radio, The Heart Of, and Monivision Live. She recently was contacted and is having her new single, “Falling Fast” in rotation at the Coyote Radio which is one of the biggest internet radios in Southern California and country!

You can catch her performing live for the kids Tuesday, December 22 at Ribs located at 2360 Sterling Avenue in San Bernardino at 2 p.m. for LUE Productions and Drac Entertainments special event, “THE GIFT of GIVING”. Keep an eye out for this up and coming artist you won’t regret it!! Until next week – SAN BERNARDINO STRONG & L’z!

Penny Li

By Penny Li, ??

My condolences go out to the victims’ family of the December 2, 2015 horrific incident.  I am from China and I have come to San Bernardino for two weeks for the purposes of requesting for the City of San Bernardino to Re-instate the Sister City program for China.  This trip was planned much before the horrific incident.

The December 2 act of cowardice could not deter our motivation to build a bridge between our two cultures.  We propose for the city to reinstate the Sister City Program for China, allow international exchange participants to volunteer for the city of San Bernardino to help share the language and culture, and for San Bernardino to support the newly created International Business Expo, which has been initiated by Keith McCarter of McCarter University for the purposes of encouraging cooperation between our Chinese company participants and your local businesses.

I and a few of my colleagues will be speaking at the December 21 city council meeting to request for the city to place these items on the agenda.  These plans were submitted to the city far before December 2 and we believe that now, more than ever, is a good time for the city to consider making positive international connections to create positive international programs to enhance the future prospect of success for the companies and citizenry here within.

We wish to invite all members of the public to come listen to our short presentation and feel free to offer your support of our plans and project.  Lastly, unlike many other proposed programs, this program will not cost the city one red cent, but it has the potential of bringing elevated profits to the city directly, indirectly and to its businesses.  We will appreciate your support and again, we wish to offer our condolences to the victims of December 2.

Ratibu

Obituary Written By Carl Dameron

Ratibu Shadidi (William Henry Jacocks) joined his ancestors on Thursday evening, December 10 at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana.  Ratibu is survived by his wife, Wilmer Amina Carter of nearly 35 years.  They were joined as one in 1984 and reaffirmed their marriage in 1994.

Jacocks is remembered for his vision and passion, which will continue through his wife Amina, his children, Anye Imani; Malaika Jacocks Dameron (Kamau); Jamala Shaw (Rubani) and eight grandchildren:  Tariki (Shani), Daima (Shiane), Amina 2 (Darian), Shaila, Akiba (Tayah), Halisi (Darius) Nia, and Miadi (Braelynn).  His brother, James; sisters: Jean, Catherine, Odessa and many other loving relatives.

Ratibu was the co-owner of Elegant Floors and Creative Businesses Services with Amina. Ratibu was also an entrepreneur, author, lobbyist and political consultant. He is a published author of “Incidents, Struggles, and Devine Intervention: Memoirs of Ratibu Jacocks.”

Ratibu was also a community activist, Sunday School Teacher for more than 30 years; Chair, Inland Area Kwanzaa Group; Treasurer, Westside Action Group; Distinguished Toastmaster; Life Member – National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; Longtime Travelers Aid Volunteer, Ontario Airport; Member – Black History Parade Committee; Member – Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee; Black Student Union Advisor  at Bloomington High School; attended the 1995 Million Man March; Tumanini Teacher at San Bernardino Valley College and coordinated Saturday Morning Speakers – a youth speaking club.

Ratibu is predeceased by his Parents, James Alfred and Annie Mae Jacocks. The services are at new Hope Missionary Baptist Church at 10 a.m. on Thursday December 17.  New Hope is located at 1575 west 17th Street in San Bernardino.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to the Wilmer Amina Carter Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 332, Rialto CA 92377.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Don’t get it twisted!  Don’t fool yourself and don’t be fooled. Unless your house is built by wisdom and established by understanding, your house is not a home. [Proverbs 24:3] And just so that we are on the same page, I want you to know that I’m not talking about your physical house, I’m talking about your spiritual house. You see in [Matthew 7:24–27] Jesus tells a parable that compares and contrasts two builders: one wise and one foolish. One man built his house on the sand while the other built his house on the Rock. In this context, building on the sand speaks of people who hear the Gospel, but instead of believing the Gospel and coming to faith in Jesus, they believe they can build their lives on the shifting sands of human philosophy, wisdom, opinion, and religious achievement. They are driven by outward, religious appearances and faith in themselves, rather than faith in Jesus. People who build their house on the sand hear the Gospel and believe its general message, but they choose to follow God on their own terms. To them, His Word is open to interpretation. If He commands them to do something they will obey if they choose to. If they don’t like it they won’t do it. People who build their house on the sand they build the house of their lives on self-will, self-fulfillment, self-sufficiency, self-satisfaction, and self-righteousness. Theirs is a works based religion that has the appearance of being right but that lacks the power to save the soul. As [2 Timothy 3:5] says, “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof…” People who build their house on the sand believe they can pray a prayer, sign a card, join a church, and all will be well. People who build their house on the sand can turn it on and off like flipping a switch. They can be in today and out tomorrow.

But then while one man built his house on the sand, the other dug deep. He dug until he reached the bedrock and built his house on the Rock. The Rock does not move. It is unchanging and stable. Building on the Rock speaks of people who hear the Gospel and believe it to the point that they build their lives on it. People who build their house on the Rock understand that Jesus alone has the power to save their souls. People who build their house on the Rock hear God’s Word and they conforms their lives to it. People who build their house on the Rock, they hear the truth about Jesus and they believe it. They embrace it. They yield to it. The message changes their lives. What God tells them to do in His Word, they do. What God warns them not to do, they avoid. They pay any price, walk any path, and do anything the Lord tells them to do. They love Him, honor Him, and obey Him. I’m talking about people who build their house on the Rock.

I want you to know that the parable tells us that the rain came, the flood followed, and the wind of destruction blew. This image is not just about some storm in life. This is the image of judgment. In the end both houses were subjected to a terrible storm of judgment. One house stood, the other was totally destroyed. The house that was built on the sand could not face the withering judgment of God, and it collapsed. Jesus said, “And great was the fall of it.” This means that the house was utterly destroyed. There was nothing left to show for the life lived within it. Everything was destroyed and swept away as if it had never existed. But as far as the house that was built on the Rock. It experienced the same storm. The rain, the flood and the wind “beat upon” the house. This house was battered, but it stood against the storm that was thrown against it. This house was shaken, but it did not fall. It stood on a firm foundation, and it weathered the storm. I want you to know that there is a storm coming; a day of judgment; a day when every person will face God.  I ask you, how is your foundation? If you haven’t built your house on the Rock, today is today. What is your life; but a vapor that appears for a while, and then disappear. Establish your firm foundation today!

Terence Larae McGee

Terence Larae McGee went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at the age of 50.   Terence was born to Betty Jean Johnson and Harrell McGee on January 11, 1965 in San Bernardino, California.  Terence graduated from Cajon High School in 1983 and was a third generation member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in San Bernardino where he served on many ministries over the years, which included Evangelism, Men’s Choir and Layman.  Terence had a strong, bold faith in the Lord and he shared the goodness of Jesus Christ with those who crossed his path.  Terence believed his life’s purpose was to be the love and protection of family and he spent countless years serving up spiritual encouragement weekly to those who are sick and in long-term care centers.

Terence is survived by his daughters Colibri McGee and Satyn Bailey; his grandson, Titan Bailey; his Father John Funderburk; his brother Courtney McGee and wife Cheryl McGee and their children Tyne McGee, Patrick St. Louis, Courtney McGee Jr., and Kestin McGee; his sister Regina Winston and husband Delbert Winston and their daughter Faith Winston; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church at 1575 W. 17^th Street in San Bernardino on Friday, December 11, 2015 at 10 a.m.  Repast will also be held at New Hope Church immediately following interment.  Harrison-Ross Mortuary will be assisting the family.

For more information, please contact New Hope Missionary Baptist Church at (909) 887-2526.

By Keith McCarte

I have traveled around the world to at least 27 different countries.  I have actually lived in 4 different countries for extended periods of time.  I must say, that since before December 2, 2015, San Bernardino has had the highest per capita number of people who loved and cared for their community than any other place I have been.   A close second is Basel, Switzerland where most people speak at least four languages.  In Basil, they learn and study the language of culture.  Whereas here in San Bernardino we live, eat and breathe culture on a daily basis.

With this cultural aspect comes several groups of people who feel very strongly about how to better their community.  We have battled issues such as homelessness, education, employment and economic bolstering during a sagging global economy.  Even though each sect of the community has varying opinions as to how to better our community, each group is intensely motivated to make our community better as a whole and they do so by having a common respect for parallel or opposing opinions.

This is the reason I rank the citizens of San Bernardino number one when it comes to love and care for their community.

Now we have been saddled with a calamity of the first order-the horrific shooting incident of December 2, 2015.  San Bernardino has not been weakened.  On the contrary, we have become stronger and will continue to become even stronger.

We continue to love and care for our community but now we do so with one voice.  Now our voice resonates beyond city boundaries.  It now resonates nationally and internationally.  The whole world is watching and we have stepped up to the plate to become leaders as a city and as a community.  We have shown the world a good example of having love and respect for each other, love and respect for the victims and love and respect for our country.  Have you noticed that our leaders and the citizens within has focused on expressing love and condolences, opposed to the alternative?  We are no longer, Black, White, Latino, African American, Mexican or Asian.  We are San Bernadinians.  We are no longer conservative or liberal, we are San Bernardinians first and foremost.

Out of respect for the victims who have lost their lives, were injured or traumatized we must hold dear to our core values and continue to speak these values to the world as one voice.  We will speak as San Bernardinians.  We must become even closer to our neighbors and friends.  This closeness is not for the purpose of spying on their lives but for the purposes of showing our love and support to each other in times of need.  Let us continue to set good examples in our everyday lives.  Remember…we are San Bernardinians and we speak as one voice.

Yawnie

Yawnie, Yawnie, Yawnie is What It Do with the LUE this week. When I think of the word multitask, the artist Yawnie comes to mind. I met this talented lady a year ago at an event and had to book her immediately for one of my own. The energy that she gives during her sets is absolutely refreshing. When Yawnie steps to the MIC the crowd defiantly goes hype.

Kenya Jasnae Garrett, known as Ywanie, knew at a young age she wanted her name in lights. Born in Lynwood, California but now an Inland Empire resident, Yawnie is making a name for herself in the music game. Releasing her first album back in 2012 under the label MEDICI/Interscope Records, Yawnie was inspired by artists such as Keyshia Cole, Eminem, and Trina. By studying them, she was able to develop her own unique sound. She has been performing all over Southern California with big names in the industry. I truly admire her drive and ambition to make it to the top.

Being a rapper isn’t the only thing on Yawnie’s list. Her skills range from hosting, to photography, to acting, writing, DJing, and event coordination. Yep, she does it all! So please do me a favor and check this talent artist out. Catch her live on Thursday, December 10 in Santa Ana at Jaspers Bar and Grill. Prepare yourself for the thrill. You can locate her music on Facebook, Reverbnation, and Soundcloud under “Yawni Mami”. Her songs “Respect My Gangsta”, “Made A Star”, and “It’s a Celebration”, go hard!

Please follow LUE Productions on Twitter and Facebook for more reviews. Until next week peeps, stay STRONG & L’z!

Newman Leadership Academy

By Naomi Riggins

SAN BERNARDINIO, CA- It was only a short six-mile bus ride Thursday morning of December 3 from their school to downtown San Bernardino, but for about 60 third, fourth, fifth and sixth-graders from Newman Leadership Academy in San Bernardino were excited to be going on a field trip to the California Theatre of Performing Arts to see the Inland Dance Theatres, Inc.’s 40th Anniversary of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” Ballet.

The Inland Dance Theatre has presented the Tchaikovsky’s Ballet to estimated 225,000 children from throughout the Inland Empire. Newman Leadership Academy’s Principle, Mrs. Payne stated, “It was an awe of discovery for many of the students. It was like watching the lights come on and opening their minds to a whole new adventure and opportunity in San Bernardino”. For those that want to see “The Nutcracker”, visit www.californiatheatre.net for times and ticket prices.

After spending the first half of the day at the ballet, the students were loaded onto the bus and headed to Norman Fedhelym Library for lunch and a tour of the facility. The library provided each of the 60 students with library card application. Just in time for the school’s Winter Break Reading Challenge (hoping each student will read at least 30 books during Christmas Break).

In the cash-strapped San Bernardino County Unified School District, the time-honored tradition of class field trips have been dramatically cut back.  Newman Leadership Academy is looking for additional funding and donations in order to be able to continue to leave the confines of their classrooms and continue to build onto the school’s library and resources.  To find out more about Newman Leadership Academy, please visit the website www.newmanleadership.org.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Words, Words, Words…  I’m so sick of words, Jesus says.  Don’t tell me you love me…Show me! Talk is cheap! A mere profession is not good enough. Put up or shut up! And let me remind you that “On the day of judgment you will give account for every careless word you speak.” “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” [Matthew 12:36-37]. But if you love me like you say you do, obey my Word; keep my commandments; feed my sheep.” You see action speaks louder than words. Love on the Cross; remember that….I could not have spoken any louder… “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13]. It is a fact that loving God is equated with obeying His Word. The two are inseparable. Search your heart and honestly answer the question. Do you love Jesus? Because, to love Jesus, means to put Him first. To love Jesus means to obey Him. To love Jesus means to love one another. To love Jesus means to love God. This would exclude putting anything above Him. Loving God is more than just lip service; it is giving over your ALL: all of your mind; all of your heart; all of your soul; all of your strength.

Yeah, many claim to love God; Many say they love God; Many say they love their neighbor; Many, though, do not really understand what it means to love God with our total being—and to really love our neighbor. You see if you truly loved Christ you could not live in direct opposition of a command that He has given you for your life.  The Scripture says in [Matthew 22:37-40], “Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God” this is not a request or an option; it is a command, an imperative. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Listen, if this is God’s will, our heart must be filled with it. Then, we can say we love God with all our heart. God has given us everything – His whole heart, His life and His mind. However, we still do not fully understand His love, nor do we put it into action. I want you to know that today Jesus is saying remember from where you have fallen; return to your first deeds and life to which you were called in Christ.  Go back to that moment when you first met Jesus. Remember the love you felt, the stirring in your heart, the adoration you had for the Savior? Do you remember how grateful you were for the forgiveness of sins? Do you remember how at that moment nothing else mattered, only Jesus? Today, God wants you and me to go back and remember that moment in time. And having that in our memory He wants us to return. He wants us to come back to Him; to come back to our first love, to the place and time in our lives to where He was everything to us.

I tell you every Christian should be aware of the danger of leaving his first love for the Lord. Long ago, the church in Ephesus was busy doing many things for God, yet Jesus said, “I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4). The Lord commanded them, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelation 2:5). Your love for God should be foremost in your heart, exceeding the bond of any other relationship. If your love for God has grown cold, take steps to renew your relationship with Him. Return to your first love. He waits for you with open arms. Consider some verses about pleasing God and being pleased by Him, the two preceding concepts that help define loving God (Gen 39:9; Job 22:21; Ps 37:4; 44:8; 97:10; 104:34; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Matt 5:48; 6:24; Rom 12:1-2; I Cur 10:31).

What it Do with the LUE this week is THANK YOU! I want to say thank you to all the wonderful folks that did their part to make our 3rd annual Feeding the Homeless Project, “PASSING OUT HOT MEALS”, a total success. This year we were able to feed over 400 homeless men and women in downtown San Bernardino. LUE Productions was happy to partner with Big AZ FUK, DRAC Entertainment, K.I.O., RIBS, and the Westside Story Newspaper.

We put the call out for donations of food items and socks, drivers, servers, and packers; the community answered. Individuals formed teams and made it happen. I want to thank the staff at the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library for allowing us to mobilize there and Ribs for allowing us to set up the shop. I loved the fact that we had several community organizations, small businesses, entertainment entities, and artists involved such as singing sensation, Bernice Celetes, Rapper Yawnie, Gospel Rapper Dunamis L1019, Rap Group Gwaap Fam, Rapper Dada Doe, United Nations of Consciousness (U.N.C, Black Collar Entertainment, Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, Rigorous Grind Graphics, Unlimited Tax Service, and many more.

I have to give a major shot out to two amazing ladies Rochelle McCoy and Elizabeth Pinder-McSwain. Next year we will do our best to feed MORE.  We will always out on for our community; it takes ALL of US L’zzz!  Please follow LUE Productions on Facebook, twitter, and Instagram

And before I let ya’ll go, I want to give a major shout out to our hometown boys GWAAP FAM. They are on 99.1 KGGI’S First Listen. Please do me a favor and SHARE the link below. We need for you to help us flood the web site. Once you’re on the website switch to desktop to leave a comment. Support NOW not later. Thank you!