Happily Divorced And After

By Johnni Matthews

The Los Angeles Sparks came home to Staples Center from a three game road trip on Thursday, July 2 to play three homes games in a 96 hour period.  Coming home to their own beds and their faithful fans, the Sparks were ready to put a spark in July!

The Sparks took care of business against the San Antonio Stars on Thursday night 86-81, then played a back to back Friday night against the Tulsa Shock when the Sparks’ fans witnessed Kristi Toliver score 43 points to break a franchise record set by Lisa Leslie’s 41 points.  The Sparks won 98-95!

Sunday, July 5 the defending WNBA Champions, Phoenix Mercury came to town for the first time this season.  The game was well played requiring an extra five minutes to decide the winner with the Mercury sliding by the Sparks 94-91 in overtime.

The LA Sparks have eight more games in the month of July to continue to make it a hot July!  The Sparks hit the road again for another three game road trip before returning home to Staples Center on July 16 against the Atlanta Dream coached by former LA Sparks Coach and Lakers great, Michael “Coop” Cooper.  Game will be an early 12:30 p.m. (PST) tip off.

Our Beloved 777 Community Warehouse – a Nonprofit Public Benefit Organization located in San Bernardino, California – needs your help! Every Tuesday, from 10 am to 2 pm (and by appointment on all other days) the Food and Clothing Ministry of 777 Community Warehouse is open to the homeless population and anyone in the community who is in need of clothing and food. According to an exclusive study done by Graduate students from the University of Redlands, 777 is in a prime location in regards to the homeless population and the far distance of sparsely located food banks in San Bernardino (2015). Unfortunately, the Warehouse has recently fallen on hard times and is in immediate need of donations.

During the dates of July, 17^th – July 20^th 777 Community Warehouse will be hosting a marathon of fundraisers, entitled “Save 777”. There will be various live entertainers volunteering their time to entertain those that would like to contribute a donation. These entertainers include local acts, such as Marwan Freeman (from the Frienz Band), CATERPILLAR FLIGHT, and the Young Ladies in Training (from the C.H.O.R.D.S. children’s music program) just to name a few.

In addition to the live entertainment, there will so be a Flea Market with various donated items for sale. These items range from beautiful one of a kind consignment items (such as, antique chinaware and mink coats) to African essential oils and African Shea butter. If you are limited to donating items of value, we will gladly accept those donations as well.

777 Community Warehouse as an experience

To date, Mr. Walker has transformed the warehouse into the community resource and event center that he envisioned, presenting the community with a beautifully furnished, art decorated environment for population of San Bernardino to enjoy. 777 Community Warehouse is designed to accommodate conferences, meetings, business/social mixers, performing arts presentations, visual arts presentations, religious services, educational seminars, musical concerts, wedding receptions, quinceaneras , and other events that support the needs of the community in a spirit of excellence.

Again we ask for your help so that our team at 777 Community Warehouse can continue helping the San Bernardino community by contributing to the expansion of community peace, cultural awareness, artistic expression, educational enlightenment, and consciousness building for personal/collective growth.

For other inquires please contact 777 Community Warehouse, located at 777 South Allen Street, San Bernardino CA 92408. Phone: 909-890-0999. 

By Manny Otiko / California Black Media

In 1998, San Pedro resident Alaina Howard was diagnosed with Takayasu’s arteritis, a disease that narrows and obstructs the arteries. Her doctors gave her two years to live. Faced with the difficulty of accepting her diagnosis, Howard also had to deal with frequent fainting spells, caused by the limited flow of blood to her brain.

Seventeen years later, Howard has beaten the odds and is still alive, but she had to go on disability.

Unable to work, Howard —  a Pennsylvania resident at the time — was forced to apply for public aid. During that process, she learned her status also qualified her for health insurance through Medicaid. In 2007, she moved from Pennsylvania to California and enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s health insurance program for low-income individuals or families.

Howard says Medi-Cal has been invaluable for maintaining her health, even though she faced a few challenges along the way —  like the long lines at her county human services agency. She says the wait was well worth it, though, when she is faced with huge medical bills from frequent hospital visits. Not being on the hook with collection agencies for bills she cannot afford for services she needs to control her chronic illness, is the best part of the coverage, says Howard. And even though she still has to pay some out-of-pocket medical expenses for her two children, she can’t imagine what her life would be like without her Medi-Cal coverage.

In addition to providing health care for people with chronic illnesses like Howard, Medi-Cal offers a variety of preventive health care programs, according to Adam Weintraub, a spokesman for the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS.)

The state’s government-funded health coverage program, which has historically focused on services to children and families, has now expanded to include single men and women without children and disabilities who qualify based on their annual income. To be eligible, an individual would have to earn less than $16,105 every year or $32,913 for a family of four.

“Medi-Cal provides Californians with access to affordable, high-quality health care, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use disorder treatment services, and long-term care,” Weintraub said. “Among the programs administered by DHCS are: California Children’s Services; Child Health and Disability Prevention program; the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program; the Newborn Hearing Screening Program; the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment Program (PACT); Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE); Every Woman Counts; and Coordinated Care Management. DHCS also administers programs for underserved Californians, including farm workers and American Indian communities.”

California is also working to expand the number of people with access to health care through Covered California, a marketplace where individuals whose incomes exceed the threshold to qualify for Medi-Cal can access private health insurance, potentially with financial assistance. Covered California is part of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act commonly called “Obamacare”                                 and is a partner with the California Department of Health Care Services, together providing affordable, quality health coverage options to Californians.

On the Covered California website, Weintraub says, individuals can find out if they qualify for low-cost, private health insurance or Medi-Cal.

“New enrollment for 2015 coverage is strong and has brought in consumers our marketing and outreach targeted,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee. “It is clear Latinos, African Americans and young adults not only heard, but acted on increased advertising and person-to-person outreach.”

People who are interested in applying for Medi-Cal can sign up year-round online or by mail. They can also enroll in person at their local human services agency. For more information about Medi-Cal enrollment, go to www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/pages/applyformedi-cal.aspx or call your local county human services agency. You can also visit Covered California’s website at www.coveredca.com or call 1-800-300-1506.

SAN BERNARDINO – – San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) celebrated the success of the 42 graduates of Class #197 of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy on June 18 at the Abundant Living Family Church  in Rancho Cucamonga. The event was hosted by SBVC and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Public Safety Regional Training Center. Board of Trustees member Donna Ferracone represented the San Bernardino Community College District.

Surrounded by friends, family members, law enforcement and future employers, the ceremony included a keynote address from California Assemblyman Tom Lackey (36^th Dist.), presentation of awards and certificates, and a recitation of the code of ethics, led by Chief of Police Mark Garcia, Redlands Police Department.

Sergeant Mike Huntsman presented the special awards to Francisco Ancona, Top Academic Honors; Stephanie Garcia, Tactical Staff Award; Ian Gosswiller, Top Shooter; James Hendrickson, Physical Fitness Award; Dylan Gosswiller, Top Overall Award. Class President was Jesus Diaz.

The Academy course is 920 hours of instruction, extending over a 23-week period and features instructors from a variety of law enforcement agencies. All training is certified by the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Class #197 Graduates (hometowns withheld for confidentiality reasons)

Francesco Ancona

Blaine Bailey

Kenneth Bubier

Zachary Carlos

Daniel Cherpin

Thomas Cho

Kevin Connors

Kyle DeLuca

Jesus Diaz

Cory Drost

Alexandra Duarte

Amanda Eirich

Itai Estrada

Joshua Forsberg

Stephanie Garcia

Brad Gomez

Dylan Gosswiller

Ian Gosswiller

Dalton Hendrickson

James Hendrickson

Derek Hoffman

Jesse Horn

Christopher Jones

Travis Kleveno

Lauren Laidlaw

Marina Landeros

Ryan Layos

Michael Lucifora

Matthew McKibban

Kristina Neff-Fergot

Chris Petruse

Loraine Pinedo

Kevin Pope

Edward Salgado

Stacey Spurlock

Blake Stebbing

Jeremiah Van Brimmer

Craig Vanden Bossche

Ariel Whitney

Christian Zaragoza

William Ziemer

Edward Zimmerman

For more information on the program, please contact the San Bernardino Valley College Police Academy Office: (909) 384-4431, North Hall, Room 139, or visit ValleyCollege.edu.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

You need to know that God isn’t happy with how you are living. He declares that things will not be pretty until you acknowledge your guilt and seek [his] face [Hosea 5:15-16]. Our brothers, Amos, Isaiah, and Jeremiah tell us the same thing in so many words…“You think God is impressed with your worship? You think God is impressed with your prayers? You think God needs your sacrifices? You think that if you’re loud enough or earnest enough or put a little extra in the offering plate that God owes you attention? You’ve got it all twisted! God says, “Stop bringing him meaningless sacrifices! Your incense is detestable to him. New moons, Sabbaths and consecrations, he cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New moon, festivals and appointed feasts, his soul hates. They have become a burden to him.” [Isaiah 1:13-14]. “You come near to him with your mouth and honor him with your lips, but your heart is far from him. Your worship of him is made up only of rules taught by men.” [Isaiah 29:13].  Paul says, Stop it right now! Start to change by renewing your mind with God’s truth. In the Old Testament God wanted His people to serve Him with ALL their heart, soul, mind and strength (Deut. 6:5).  I tell you, you must sacrifice your selfish desires and live for God every day. You must put to death the selfish tendencies that rise up and push your agendas, your plans and desires over God’s.

God desire is that we live a righteous life which is the best life we can live.  God told Israel to: Wash themselves and make themselves clean.  To put away their evil doings. To suit it up… To get the sin out of their lives, and today He is telling us the same truth. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!  I don’t know who you are trying to please with your life, but today you are being challenged to live lives which are pleasing to God.  You must come to yourself and realize that you are God’s own and created for His purposes. You must come to yourself and forsake the foolishness in your life, the vain pursuits, that carry you farther and farther away from God.

Now I don’t know whether you know or not, but more than 60 times the New Testament tells us that something either is or is not God’s will for His people. Four of those times are in Peter’s letter written to hurting believers. In verse 2 of chapter 4, Peter says, instead of living for “evil human desires” followers of Christ should live “for the will of God.” He tells us that we have spent enough time living as pagans, but now we need to live for God. Don’t desire sin as much as you desire God. Don’t desire sin’s lie as much as you desire God’s truth. As Romans verse 1 chapter 12 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and the perfect, will of God.”

I want to encourage you to give yourself to God. Don’t let your mind get twisted to where you refuse to take godly instruction from God’s Word. I know what I’m talking about. You see when you live for the devil your mind gets warped to where you can’t think right. You begin to think God is expecting too much out of you, making too much of a demand upon your life. The Devil is a liar! Seek Him while He may be found. “Be transformed, not conformed to the world.” For God has called you to live a separate life, to be a peculiar people unto Him. Therefore, come out from amongst them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; so that God will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be His sons and daughters.

Learn from Jonah’s example. Jonah was a man who decided he wasn’t going to do what God had told him to do: He wasn’t going to go to Nineveh, where God had called him to go. So, he decided to take a ship for Tarshish rather than going to Nineveh as God said. Off he went, sailing in the wrong direction. He made life miserable, not only for himself but for everybody else that was on that ship. When you’re out of the will of God, nothing goes right. You can’t be blessed when you’re out of God’s will for your life. And you certainly won’t have a smooth running life when you’re doing your own thing, rather than obeying the Lord. While Jonah was out to sea, he thought he was running away from the Lord, but God blew up a storm while he was on that boat. The mariners didn’t know what to do. They expected the storm to break up the ship at any moment and destroy them all. Those mariners also knew that somebody on that ship wasn’t right with God. They were all praying to find out what was wrong. Jonah’s interest had disappeared, and his disobedience was causing such misery to those around him. I tell you, life can become one continuous storm when you’re out of the will of God, tossing you to and fro. The only way to stop the storm is to enter into God’s will for your life.

Consider the following scripture regarding choice. Deuteronomy 30:15 through Deuteronomy 30:20 (NKJV) “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

I want you to know that not only did God admonish the people to choose life; He also gave them a good reason for doing so, namely life. God has given us His Word, which reveals His Way. Why not learn it and graft it into your heart and live your life accordingly? May what you’ve read have a practical effect in your daily life… You needed to know!

Roxanne Williams

SAN BERNARDINO, CA– Educator, community advocate, and city Parks and Recreation Commissioner Roxanne Williams is running for the Ward Six seat on the San Bernardino City Council.  Williams will be a voice for working families. As a member of the city council, she will fight to create jobs in San Bernardino, and restore fiscally sound management to the city –including improved basic services, stopping the threats of the closure of our community centers, libraries and parks, and fixing the potholes and street lights.

“I’m running because San Bernardino can do better,” said Williams. “I’ve proven that I know how to get results.  We can be a model community for southern California.  We must fix up our neighborhoods and make them safer, bring in good jobs, and reinvest in our children — but we can do none of that unless we restore our fiscal house. We need a new vision for San Bernardino and the 6^th ward that will help our families.”

Williams has assisted in building a playground in a park on the West side, and identified unmet needs as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner.  As a bilingual Spanish speaker, she has worked with leaders in both the African-American and Latino communities to engage students and parents, helped coach small business people in three local Chambers of Commerce, and empowered neighbors from several blocks to form their own neighborhood watch programs.

Local community leaders, including Hardy Brown, II, and Sherman Garnett, San Bernardino County Trustees, and small businessman Shab El Awar have pledged their support.

“I have worked with Roxanne for the past three years and have seen her dedication to parent and student engagement for residents on the West side. Her passion to see student success shows by how hard she is always willing to work,” said Hardy Brown, II.

Williams was a Teacher of the Year in 2001, was a Top 10 Teacher in 2011, nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), and
continues to work as a Program Specialist in San Bernardino City Unified School District. As a single mother with five children, ages 13 to 24 years old, she knows howhard San Bernardino families work and what it’s like to struggle. She also knows how to succeed in tough moment.

“We have so much potential in San Bernardino, but we can’t lift our people up if we don’t fix our finances,” said Williams.  “I’ve worked on budgets and finance throughout my private and volunteer career—and I served on my church board for 14 years. I’ll be ready on day one to tackle the big problems our community faces.”

For more information, visit RoxanneCanWin.com and hear what she’s up to at Facebook.com/roxannewilliamsforcouncil.

By Johnni Matthews

The Los Angeles Sparks ended a tough three game road trip in New York on Sunday against the New York Liberty losing 79-70 in another hard fought battle with only eight players available to run on the hardwood.  With All-Star, Nneka Ogwumike back from injury, starting her second straight game another veteran All-Star teammate, Kristi Toliver made her debut this season for the Sparks leading her team in scoring with a career high 30 points on 9-15 from the field.  Oliver was 3-5 from the long range three ball and a perfect 9-9 from the charity stripe.  Jantel Lavender, the most consistent Sparks player this season had another strong game with 14 points and 6 rebounds.

It was a very competitive game for thirty five minutes of the forty minute game as the Liberty took control in the last 5:07 minutes of the game.  The game was tied at 63 a piece with 5:07 in the fourth quarter, but the Sparks had another melt down as the Liberty outscored the Sparks 16-7!  As one Sparks commentator said, “The Sparks ran out of gas; their out of town and out of luck!”

Guard, Sugar Rodgers was special for the Liberty with a team high 23 points.  Sugar got help from teammates, Tina Charles and Tanisha Wright respectively with 14 and 12 points.

The win kept the New York Liberty above .500 with a 5-4 record, while the LA Sparks head home 0-7 to get acquainted with each other and regroup to get ready for the San Antonio Stars who come to town on Thursday, July 2 to play the Sparks.  It is a 7:30 p.m. tip off from Staples Center.

REDLANDS, CA- The Riverside Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. hosted its 2015 College Signing Day event on Saturday, June 20, at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Redlands. The event acknowledged the success of the graduating high school seniors, and each was awarded the Chapter’s $1,000 individual scholarship award.

Parents, friends, relatives, mentors and other supporters applauded the recent graduates and wished them well. There were 7 high school graduates who received scholarships to 6 different colleges and universities.  Two of the graduates, Mr. Myles Jones and Mr. Dezi Williams elected to attend California State University, Pomona.  The remaining graduates will attend as follows:

Mr. Aaron Jamel Berry –Azusa Pacific University; Mr. Brycen Barron-Borden – University of California San Diego; Mr. Jaire Bowen – California State University, Los Angeles; Mr. David Lawson – Humboldt State University and Mr. Aaron Smith – New York University.

“We are so proud of our graduates for their poise and the positive ideals we see in them” said Chapter Polemarch, Demarius Carmichael.

Fifty-year member Phillip Murray served as the master of ceremonies. The program was a huge success. The young men were encouraged to come back and share their college experiences with the next Signing Day class.