Happily Divorced And After

Robin Williams

“Our hearts go out to one of the great comedians of the era”.-Ryan Beagan, Pacific Grove Hospital 

RIVERSIDE, CA- Yesterday, Robin Williams passed away of an apparent suicide. As we remember the many amazing ways in which he enriched media and culture with his comedy and acting, we should also take a look at what drove Robin’s actions to his untimely death.

Robin identified as an alcoholic early in life, all the way back to his days in his hometown. As he gained celebrity status, he also came to battle with cocaine addiction. His drug and alcohol abuse ran rampant until the death of John Belushi – also from drug addiction – in 1982, after which Robin said he remained sober for 20 years. In 2006, Robin entered rehab for drinking, and sought treatment again as recently as June of this year. Questions that come to mind to all of us:

Why did this happen, especially to someone who seems to have had everything? Alcoholism and drug addiction, as well as mood issues such as depression have genetic, physical, and environmental triggers. There is no one single cause. A core precept of alcohol recovery is that alcoholism is a disease; you are always in recovery, never cured.

Did no one see the kind of place Robin was in? He did go into treatment multiple times. This highlights the importance not only of communicating regularly and deeply with our loved ones, but being able to identify signs and symptoms that indicate the need for care. Related to this, it is critical to have a full continuum of care: from 24 / 7 help in inpatient or residential treatment environments for crises and acute situations and aftercare programs that offer ongoing support and maintain recovery.

How did the addiction and depression issues interrelate? There is concept in mental health treatment of “co-occurring disorders”. A person can have depression or anxiety issues from a young age, or develop them later in life as a result of a traumatic event. Some men and women then turn to drug abuse as a coping mechanism. That is why modern treatment focuses on addressing all elements of a person’s mental health, to get at the root of the original issues. Treating only the addiction without the mental health component leads to higher rates of relapse. Robin himself, in a 2009 interview, said he had previously failed to confront the core issues at the root of his addictions, contributing to his own return to rehab.

All mental health and addiction treatment programs offer free, confidential screenings that you should take advantage of if you feel even the slightest need, and will help you find the most appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. Inpatient programs also offer immediate services for those battling with suicidal ideations.

Our hearts go out to Robin’s family. This is a reminder to all of us to remember to communicate with our loved ones regularly, and seek professional care and support when it may be needed.

About Pacific Grove Hospital

Pacific Grove Hospital is a leading treatment center in Riverside, CA, specializing in mental health and addiction treatment for adults and seniors. Our main focus is to provide the highest quality care for all individuals that walk through our door. At Pacific Grove we provide multiple levels of care to meet our patients’ needs including psychiatric inpatient, chemical dependency inpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP) and specialty groups for alumni and family. Our goal is to create happier, healthier lives for all those in need.

Contestants and runners up gather to congratulate Jasmine Alexander, Miss Black USA 2014.
PHOTO CREDIT: Nicole L. Cvetnic/The Root

Miss Black Colorado Jasmine Alexander is named Miss Black USA

Miss Black USA Jasmine Alexander
PHOTO CREDIT: Rob Roberts/Afro American Newspaper

The Miss Black USA Pageant and Scholarship Foundation recently announced Miss Black Colorado Jasmine Alexander as the new Miss Black USA 2014. On Sunday night at the University of the District of Columbia Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C., a distinguished panel of judges chose Alexander for top honors out of 25 contestants from across the nation. Alexander is a 26-year-old Air Force Intelligence Officer stationed at Peterson Air Force Base.

In 2013, Alexander was deployed to Afghanistan on a special mission to provide pertinent information to the troops to secure their safety. Immediately after being crowned, Alexander said, “As a member of the Armed Forces and now as Miss Black USA, I can’t think of a better way to serve my country.”

The newly crowned beauty queen will use her reign to promote the Heart Truth campaign to raise awareness of heart disease. “One in every four women die of heart disease and we really need to push fitness, healthy living, and a healthy lifestyle so that will be one of the first endeavors I undertake as Miss Black USA,” explains Alexander.

Alexander’s Miss Black USA prize package included a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to Africa. She holds a B.A. in Mass Communications and a Master’s degree in Human Services and Executive Leadership from Liberty University. Alexander is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

The 2014 Miss Black USA pageant was sponsored by Arik International Airways, K. Khristian Michael, and the NYS Collection. Please contact Carita Parks at carita@parks-pr.com or 571-403-1596 for interview requests.

Top 5 Results:

Winner: Miss Black Colorado, Jasmin Alexander

1st Runner up: Miss Black Tennessee Gabrielle Lewis

2nd Runner up: Miss Black California, Jasmine Johnson

3rd Runner up: Miss Black Ohio, Terra Strong

4th Runner up: Miss Black Washington, Alexandra Morton

Founder’s Award: Miss Black Kentucky, LaPrecious Brewer

Community Service Award: Miss Black Maryland, DeJanee Fennell

Miss Congeniality: Miss Black Alabama, Jessica Alexander

Miss Talented Teen 2014: Miss Black California, Kylee Johnson

The Miss Black USA Pageant and Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide educational opportunities to outstanding young women of color. The Miss Black USA Pageant was founded by Karen Arrington in 1986. To date, the pageant has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships.

Michael Brown

On Saturday, August 9, 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager was killed by a police officer in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, MO. Eyewitnesses to the shooting reported that Brown was killed while attempting to surrender, but police say that the teen assaulted the officer before the shooting.

Immediately following the shooting, riots and looting broke out within the community where several businesses were destroyed, including a QuikTrip convenience store that was burned down due to the frustration in the community involving the killing.

There are several articles circulating the internet and other various news sites that all depict something slightly different of what happened. Some are on Brown’s side, other’s are on the police’s side, and the vast majority are stuck in the middle. However, there are a few facts that we know for sure about Michael Brown and the shooting.

What we know about Michael Brown:

• He was an 18-year-old student
• He grated from Normandy High School in St. Louis in the spring of 2014. He was scheduled to start classes at Vatterott College, a Missouri trade college, on Monday, August 11.
• On the day of his death, Brown as visiting his grandmother, Desuirea Harris, who lives in Ferguson, a working-class suburb of St. Louis.

What we know about the shooting:

• Brown was shot multiple times and killed by a Ferguson police officer in the early afternoon of Saturday, August 9, outside of an apartment complex.
• Brown was unarmed. All shell castings found at the scene were from the police officer’s gun.
• At least one shot was fired from the police car. Brown was killed while he was standing about 35 feet away from the car.
• The name of the police officer has not been released. St. Louis County police chief Jon Belmar told reporters on Sunday morning that the officer had been in the Ferguson police department for six years, and that Belmar was not aware of any problems the officer had during that time.

Source: Vox News

Other interesting and debatable articles:

• The Guardian
• The New York Times  
• International Business Times

The Division of Environmental Health Service’s Mosquito and Vector Control Program (MVCP) has reported multiple positive indicators for West Nile Virus (WNV) throughout San Bernardino County. WNV is a virus transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. MVCP has sentinel chicken flocks placed in various locations throughout San Bernardino County to detect WNV. If any sentinel chickens test positive for WNV, it means that the mosquito population in these areas are infected, increasing the possible risk of the public being infected. Chickens are not harmed by the virus. Two chickens from a sentinel flock in San Bernardino were reported to have tested positive for WNV.

Dead birds are another sign that WNV is present in an area. MVCP has reported one dead bird in each of the following cities: Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino and Upland.

In addition, a group of mosquitos collected for testing in Upland was reported to have tested positive for the virus. MVCP is taking steps to eliminate mosquito breeding hazards.

Those infected with West Nile fever may experience flu-like symptoms that can include fever, body aches, skin rash, and fatigue. In some individuals, West Nile fever can develop into a more serious form of the disease. If you have been bitten by mosquitoes and are experiencing these symptoms, contact your medical care provider.

Residents can protect themselves from WNV by following these tips:

• Drain or Dump – Remove all standing water around your property where mosquitos can lay eggs such as birdbaths, green swimming pools, ponds, old tires, buckets, flower pots, clogged gutters, or even puddles from leaky sprinklers.
• Dawn and Dusk – Avoid spending time outside when mosquitos are most active.
• Dress – Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeved shirts that are loose fitting and light colored.
• DEET – Apply insect repellent containing DEET according to manufacturer’s directions.
• Doors – Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes to prevent mosquitos from entering your home.

If you see a dead bird, submit an online dead bird report on the California West Nile Virus Website at http://www.westnile.ca.gov or call the Dead Bird Hotline at 1-877-968-2473.

To learn more about West Nile Virus, visit http://www.cdc.gov/westnile. For more information or to report a green pool or mosquito breeding source, contact the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health Division of Environmental Health Services at (800) 442-2283 or visit our website athttp://www.sbcounty.gov/dph/dehs.

VICTORVILLE, CA- Companies needing to hire staff should register to take part in the August 13th High Desert Regional Job Fair in Victorville.The County of San Bernardino Workforce Investment Board is hosting the job fair which offers businesses the chance to meet, interview, and hire highly-qualified and experienced workers to fill full-time and part-time positions.

Last year, the event attracted more than 1,000 job seekers, ages 18 to 65. More than 380 job vacancies were offered in business sectors including warehousing, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, education, construction and hospitality.

The job fair, billed as “Local jobs for local residents” will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn on Mariposa Road in Victorville; early registration starts at 9 a.m. Employers must book by August 11 to secure a free booth by calling MaryAnn Acuna at (909) 383-9932.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-Terry Boykins of Street Positive visited Empire Talks Back radio on Sunday, August 3. Justified was also a guest on the station. If you missed the discussion, you can catch a recap by clicking on to kcaaradio.celestrion.net/kcaa-podcasts/empire. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega Chapter was honored to present Ernest Carter II a scholarship to help him with his educational needs on May 25, 2014. Ernest is a graduate of Etiwanda High School and will be attending Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University this fall.  We are proud of his accomplishments and encourage him to continue on the educational path of his choosing.  We pray for his success in the future.

Dr. Deborah Winn (Front, Center) with summer volunteers.
Photo Credit: Naomi K. Bonman

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – On Friday, August 1, Willing Winn Associates and Mission  (WWAM) Inc., hosted a special luncheon for its volunteers that assisted with the Summer Food Program which was held at Juanita Jones Blakely Elementary School. The next community event that WWAM will be presenting is the grand opening of its I.S.A.H. (It Starts At Home) program on Thursday, September 18. For more information on how you can become involved with the event, please email Dr. Deborah Winn at wwaminc92@yahoo.com.

Is AA Consumerism a tool for improving AA quality of life?

Should African-Americans use their communal spending power (one trillion dollars plus annually, Nielson Co.) to influence how corporations and small local businesses treat them? Jobs and contracts for services could be a goal of negotiating consumer support for one company instead of another. My focus is on providing support for businesses that you like because of how they treat your community, as well as realizing the power of “selective spending”, when done by a group.

It is common knowledge that the more units that one purchases, the greater the potential discount. Think about “fleet sales” in the auto business or insurance for a group that represents the million, plus people in your national religious and social organizations. Think about the development power of a one thousand people (we have churches larger than that) whom each pledge to spend $50 a month with a small business. Choosing the business each month could be based on shared economic and social values. I would be concerned about hiring practices and general support/giving back to the community.  Local small businesses would be elated to receive that business support.

So two thoughts, first consider the national power that could be generated by focusing/negotiating one trillion dollars for increased delivery of products and services as well as jobs and contracts, and second, create small spending focus groups designed to empower small businesses that help train and employ our children as well as support community activities. Let’s talk about it. Email me at walleniv@yahoo.com.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

I Can’t Take It Anymore!  Have you ever heard anybody say that? Have you ever said that yourself? “I’ve had enough! I can’t do this anymore.” Every day is a grind.  Every day is another battle.  Every day brings more struggles. Every day brings more stress. And just when you think all the problems are gone, then a new one pops up out of nowhere.  Talk about battles!  Talk about struggles!  Just when you feel good about yourself and your spiritual life, then Satan attacks and it seems like you can’t win for loosing.  It seems as though, “If it ain’t One Thing, It’s another!”

Well, back in the disco music time, a songwriter wrote, “Enough is enough!” Donna Summer had decided that she couldn’t go on no more. She had been in a relationship that she finally saw was going nowhere. She saw that it was time for her to move on and do better. She saw that it was time to stop putting up with all the heartache and pain; all the sorrow and wrongdoing; all the misdirection and misinformation; it was time to put her foot down and let it be known that she had had enough. “No More! Enough is enough!”

My friend, just like Donna Summer, there should come a time in our lives that we should see the Devil for who he really is. We should see that his only purpose is to steal, kill, destroy, and to convince us to go against God’s will. Even Jesus was tired of the Devil messing with Him, and He decided to put a stop to all of Satan madness and He told him, “No More… Enough is enough… Get thee behind Me Satan!”  Aren’t you tired of being tired? Aren’t you tired of the Devil messing with you?  Aren’t you tired of him stealing your joy, peace, and happiness? Aren’t you tired of him taking things from you? If so, then tell the devil, “No More! Enough is enough!” Let him know that you’re not going to take it anymore! Tell him to get out, there’s nothing left to talk about!  GET OUT and don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you!  Look him square in the eyes and simple shout, “NO MORE!  ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” and proceed to put him out! To Hell with the Devil!

You know the Bible is full of men and women who display the full range of emotions that we ourselves experience, who struggle with the big questions of life. Elijah was a person just like us who reached a point where he sat down in total, abject despair and said, “No More… Enough is enough! It’s the last straw… I can’t take any more!” If you have had enough.  If you are tired and worn out from the things you have had to deal with in the last few months or year. Then let the Devil know that the buck stops here, today! Stand your ground. Don’t give up. Hit him with everything you’ve got and he will always flee from you. Remember, Satan doesn’t have any power over you; the only thing he has is ability, and that is the ability to deceive. There are a lot of people that consider Satan to be an all-powerful being, when, in fact, he’s not! He lost whatever power he had as an anointed cherub of God when he was cast out of Heaven and fell to Earth (Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12-14) He is not equal to God in any way, and he never was! We have to realize that all he is is a disenfranchised spirit that is seeking those that he might deceive. 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Note that he isn’t a roaring lion, he just acts like one! It’s important for us to realize that God is the one that has the real dynamic power, not Satan.

Listen, only you can prevent the Devil from making his permanent abode in your heart. Our struggle is against forces of evil. And yes, it is a struggle! You’ve got to put forth effort. You’ve got to try hard. Revelation 2:25 tells us to hold fast till Jesus come. That requires effort: to hold fast. You’ve got to do that. Make no mistake about it, the Devil will extract all the good he can from you and when he finally does leave, he’ll leave you in as bad a shape as he possibly can. You’ve got to ditch him by evicting him. You have the right of emanate domain over the devil. Use it!

Jesus served papers on the Devil, and He drove the him away with the sharp two edged sword called Scripture. Jesus used the pages of Scripture to add authority to this eviction. {Matthew 4:10, 11 says, Then the Devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him}.  You can ditch the Devil the same way. Pack your mind with Scripture. The pages of the Bible are powerful. {Hebrews 4:12, For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword.}  So crowd him out with the Bible. Give the Devil a cold shoulder and invite Jesus in. The Devil can shoot all the arrows he wants at you but when you are inside God’s armor you are fully protected. Do it now, before the Devil attacks. Drive him out- Cut him out- Pray him out- Force him out- Crowd him out- Squeeze him out- Block him out. You can do that. We are not going to let the Devil run us from where we need to be! We have to make up our mind that we will be stead fast and unmovable always abiding in His Word!

Ditch him today and every day. “No More… Enough is enough!”