Happily Divorced And After

Rudy Maldonado

By Rudy Maldonado, Vice President and Branch Manager (MUFG Union Bank, N.A.)

Every year, it seems stores start playing holiday music and decorating earlier than the year before.  By mid-summer, most national monthly magazines have already completed their special holiday issues, and many financial advisors agree that this a good time to start saving for the holidays.  Whether you are setting a gift budget, making travel plans or scheduling a holiday party, you’re more likely to have a realistic view of your finances and stay within your budget when you aren’t under the pressure of a tight deadline.  In addition to preventing a post-holiday spending hangover, getting an early start on your financial holiday planning may also allow you more time to enjoy the season. Here are some suggestions to consider:

Make a list and check it twice

Develop a list of the people you usually buy gifts for during the holidays.  Next, make a list of items you normally buy this time of year, such as greeting cards, contributions to charitable organizations, holiday meals and traditions, travel and entertainment.  Take inventory of what you already have – wrapping paper, decorations, stored gifts, etc.  Consider selling surplus items online or at a yard sale for extra cash to add to your holiday budget or savings.

Develop a budget and save

Once you’ve taken inventory, determine the maximum you can spend on each item to help determine your budget and the amount you will need to save over the next few months.  It might be helpful to look through last year’s receipts or billing statements to get an idea of how much you spent.  Developing a spending plan before you begin shopping may also help you avoid impulse buying.

To help boost your holiday savings, establish automatic transfers or have part of your paycheck deposited into a targeted savings account.  You might also consider additional seasonal work to bring in more cash, or cut back on your everyday spending.  If you’re still coming up short, early preparation will allow you time to manage the expectations of your family and friends accordingly.

Shop early and take advantage of sales

We all know that seasoned gift giver who completes his/her holiday shopping by September.  Start comparison shopping now for gifts, and keep an eye out for coupons and online deals.  Look into high-demand items that might be more expensive and difficult to obtain during the holidays, and make those purchases when you have the available cash.  It may also be prudent to take advantage of end-of-summer sales, Thanksgiving or Black Friday specials and other opportunities to save.

Keep track of purchases

Keep your holiday gift list handy by considering a smartphone application such as Santa’s Bag-Christmas Gift List (available through the AppleApp Store^SM) that helps manage gift recipients, shopping and budget lists.  Designate a secure spot in your home or garage where you can store gifts and other items, and if you also get a jump on wrapping, be sure to label each gift for easy identification.

Get crafty

Giving handmade gifts can help save on your holiday budget, and starting now will give you plenty of time to get crafty.  For example, if you have a green thumb, planting an inexpensive bulb in the fall will often provide you with a beautiful blooming plant to give in time for the holidays.  For other DIY ideas, there are numerous resources online.

Book travel early

Fares often increase closer to the holidays, so try to book airline and hotel reservations in advance for potential savings.  You will generally get a lower rate if you purchase at least 21 days in advance, so do some research now.  Check with your employer or organizations you may belong to, such as AAA and AARP, to explore travel discounts, or visit online travel sites that might also help you save.

The foregoing article is intended to provide general information about preparing financially for the holidays and is not considered financial or tax advice.  Please consult your financial or tax advisor.

About MUFG Union Bank, N.A

Rudy Maldonado is a vice president and branch manager of MUFG Union Bank, N.A.’s, Coronado Branch.  MUFG Union Bank, N.A., is a full-service bank with offices across the United States.  We provide a wide spectrum of corporate, commercial, retail banking and wealth management solutions to meet the needs of customers.  The bank also offers an extensive portfolio of value-added solutions for customers, including investment banking, personal trust, capital markets, global treasury management, transaction banking and other services.  With assets of $106.7 billion (USD), as of March 31, 2014, the bank has strong capital reserves, credit ratings and capital ratios relative to peer banks.  MUFG Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (NYSE: MTU), one of the world’s largest financial organizations with total assets of approximately ¥258 trillion (JPY) or $2.5 trillion (USD)¹, as of March 31, 2014.  MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation, the financial holding company and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. have corporate headquarters in New York City.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Saturday, July 12 the Devore Animal Shelter received 100 dog beds from Animal Rescue Aid, a non-profit that focuses on helping animals at other non-profits, The beds were delivered and assembled by volunteers of Animal Rescue.

The City of San Bernardino Animal Control is dedicated to providing a wide range of services for people and animals in the cities of San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Colton and Fontana. Services include pet adoption and licensing, spaying and neutering, vaccinations and informing the community about responsible pet ownership.

RIALTO, CA- Rain Mobile Boutique presents, “Ribbon Cutting”, a grand roll-out celebration, Saturday, July 19. A pink carpet affair; come sip, shop, and celebrate at Raquel’s Jazz Lounge located at 134 S. Riverside Drive in Rialto from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., look forward to a lovely evening. (By Noelle Lilley)

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Don’t fall for Satan lies! Satan says, bow to me, turn to the ways of the world, submit to temptation, and I’ll give you whatever you want in this life. The devil is a bold faced LIAR. You bow down to the devil, and no matter what he promised you, even if he could give it to you, it’s a loose, loose situation. He is in the business of deceit and deception, and don’t give a care about you. It is your soul he is after and if he can get you to buy into his lies, your soul he will have and you both will end up in Hell!

So no matter what sweet deal the devil offers you, rebuke him in the name of Jesus…Yell at him like you yell at your kids, (just keeping it real) Get away from me! Get out of here! But know at the same time that even after you done all the yelling, the devil will keep coming. He’ll keep trying. That’s what the devil does. He thinks that maybe, just for a moment, you’ll forget who you are; forgot you belong to Jesus, and fall into his trap. He’ll put you on the slippery slope with little temptations, he’ll play on your pride and your ego, and eventually, when all else fails, just like with Jesus, he’ll offer you the world. But he’s a LIAR, and he won’t follow through and you will have sold you soul for nothing. Jesus remembered who He was and in each of His temptations He quoted from Scripture, and it STOPPED the devil cold. He knew that there was nothing of value the devil could give Him. It was all a trap that led to nowhere.

Anytime the devil hurls something at you, rebuke him in Jesus name. And let me remind you, the devil’s not your friend, he’s not your confidant, he’s your enemy!  Don’t play ball with the devil!  Seek to understand him. If you know what your enemy is like, and what he is apt to do, you can develop a battle plan to defeat him. We as Christians are at war with Satan, but we will never be victorious until we understand the enemy and learn to depend upon our Savior. If we are going to overcome we must adopt a spiritual warfare worldview and put on the whole armor of God, so that we will have the tools necessary to defeat our enemy.

You should understand this fact –. The devil wants to take you out- Period! He wants to murder your purity, he wants to kill your happiness, he wants to destroy your spiritual life, and he wants nothing more than your death. If you are a Christian, your death takes your influence out of this world. If you are not a Christian, your death delivers you into the Devil’s hands. He will tell any lie, and make up any accusation, in order to kill you. Make no mistake about it!

You better hear me now! Once you have heard the truth, you had better respond to it. When you’ve heard God’s message of love spoken to you, respond to it. When you’ve heard the Holy Spirit moving you to change something in your life or to do something for Him, respond to it. Do what He says. Because when you hear the Spirit speaking to you and you ignore it, the Bible tells us that you’re worse off than if you’d never been shown the light. You have no excuse anymore because you know the truth. You know what it takes to get to Heaven. You know what God wants you to do. The mercy of God will extend to great lengths, but God is a gentleman and He won’t keep on pushing you when you keep on ignoring Him. Listen for the voice of God and obey Him when He speaks.

You have been confronted with the truth. And it’s up to you to decide what you’re going to do with it. Are you going to respond to it? Or are you going to ignore it? It’s totally up to you. It’s your choice. But I plead with you to respond to it. Because when you stand before God on that final day and you say, “But I didn’t do anything,” His response will be, “I know, that’s just it; you didn’t do anything…Away from me, you evildoers!”

LOS ANGELES, CA- Help make a difference on Saturday, July 19 at the Peace Walk and Peace Talk, sponsored by the Trayvon Martin Foundation. This event will be hosted by Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton with celebrity guests like Nipsey Hustle, Big Boy of Power 106, and more. Be a part of the change in your community as you support this event at Historic Crenshaw High School located at 5010 11th Avenue in Los Angeles. For more information call (305) 600-8810. (By Noelle Lilley).

Leela James

LOS ANGELES, CA-Goldenvoice is bringing you to the beautiful music of Leela James. Saturday, July 19, be serenaded at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Doors open at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. is show time. For tickets go online to www.axs.com. (By Noelle Lilley)

B.McCargo

SAN BERNARDINO – B. McCargo, Frankie Taylor & New Movement and Leon Hawley hit the stage with an exciting evening of gospel music, poetry and comedy! The L.H. Experience features an explosion of the best of Inland Empire’s emerging gospel talent, hosted by comedian Sista Merry. This FREE gospel concert will take place Friday, August 8th at The Ship,  2237 Sepulveda Avenue in San Bernardino. Starting at 7 p.m., the concert also features award winning spoken word artist, Andrew Tyree from Los Angeles, and attendees will hear exclusive new music from headliner Leon Hawley’s debut gospel album.

Singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer Leon Hawley, started singing and playing gospel keys at the tender age of 10 years old. Leon describes his own music as fun and youthful, while also signifying deep meaning.

“I never choose a song that I can’t relate to in some way, shape, or form. My music will always reflect who I am.”

A member of Greater Victory Church of God and Christ in San Bernardino, Leon hopes that his music will provide a new means for a relationship with faith, hope and love.

Important for Leon to perform his new music in the company of great friends and good vibes, he recruited a dynamic lineup of artists to create an unforgettable performance experience for his fans. The L.H. Experience welcomes special guests: praise & worship guru B.McCargo, gospel group Frankie Taylor & New Movement, poet Andrew Tyree,  Asa & The Band and host Sista Merry.

To book Leon Hawley for events, please send inquiries to bookleonhawley@gmail.com.  For information regarding the concert, please contact Shauna Jones at (909) 547-5572, or visit online at www.Facebook.com/LHExperience.

Summer is here, complete with bored children who don’t know what to do now that school is out. If you are looking for free ways to entertain your children or grandchildren, check out these three recommendations from the San Bernardino City Unified School District. Each activity is free and a great way to keep your mind active during the summer.

#1 – Library: Books and More

In addition to books and e-books, the San Bernardino Public Library offers free computer classes, free Internet access, and Brainfuse. Brainfuse is a free tutoring program available in English and Spanish for students of all ages, including adults. Subjects include English, math, science, and SAT and GED test preparation. Monday through Thursday and Saturday, (909) 381-8201 http://www.sbcity.org/cityhall/library/default.asp

The Highland Branch Library offers Storytime for younger children, featuring songs, rhymes, and puppets. It also offers variety shows and musical performances on select days. Monday through Saturday, (909) 425-4700 http://www.sbclib.org/LibraryLocations/HighlandSamJRacadioLibrary.aspx

#2 – Ancient Egyptian Treasures and Contemporary Art

The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art on the campus of California State University, San Bernardino has one of the largest collections of Egyptian antiquities west of the Mississippi River. The museum also features a variety of temporary, contemporary art exhibits. General admission is free. Free tours are available with advance request. Parking at CSUSB is $5 per day. Monday through Thursday and Saturday, (909) 537-7373 http://raffma.csusb.edu/index.html

#3 – Local History and Art

The Unofficial McDonald’s Museum is located at 1398 N. E Street in San Bernardino, the site of the original McDonald’s restaurant. The museum has the largest collection of pre-Ray Kroc McDonald’s memorabilia. The outside of the building has two murals painted by local and visiting artists. The murals feature important events and people in the history of San Bernardino. Admission is free. Guided tours are available on the weekends. Daily, (909) 885-6324 http://juanpollo.com/route-66-attractions/mcdonalds-museum/

ATLANTA, GA— Spelman College today announced that it has exceeded its comprehensive fundraising campaign goal, generating $157.8 million. This is the largest amount raised in the history of the institution. The campaign attracted support for scholarships, academic initiatives, and campus renewal. A record-breaking 12,000, representing 71% of alumnae, made a gift to the campaign.

“When we launched the campaign, we were focused on strengthening the institution’s healthy foundation through increased scholarship support for students, strategic investment in our faculty and academic programs, and capital improvements on our campus. It is very gratifying to have met all of these objectives while exceeding our campaign goal,” says President Beverly Daniel Tatum.

Over the course of the 10-year campaign, scholarship support for Spelman students has tripled, and opportunities for faculty research and development have expanded significantly. The Gordon-Zeto Center for International Education was created with a gift of $17 million, increasing opportunities for student and faculty travel, and providing financial aid for international students. Other highlights include the creation of a signature social justice fellows program, and funding to build a state-of-the-art wellness facility. “From campus expansion and significantly increased housing capacity to dramatic growth in annual alumnae support and a campus-wide focus on wellness, Dr. Tatum has provided exemplary leadership,” says Rosalind Brewer, Chair of the Spelman College Board of Trustees.

With the campaign now at an end, President Tatum has announced her intention to retire on June 30, 2015. “As the campaign closes and I prepare to enter a new decade in my life, it presents a natural time for transition. It is a great time to pass the baton to a new leader, and I am ready to return to my writing,” explains Dr. Tatum, a well-known author, who will turn age 60 this year.

Board Chair Brewer acknowledges this bittersweet moment.

“Dr. Tatum has been a true visionary. She and the entire campus community have demonstrated tremendous leadership and stewardship of the institution over the last 12 years. The entire board truly appreciates the significant strides made under this administration. Now it is time not to rest on our laurels, but to build on these accomplishments. As we look ahead, we take pride in the history of strong leadership that has distinguished Spelman College, and we intend to continue that tradition moving forward. It’s an exciting time.”

SAN BERNARDINO – Districts, charter and private schools, as well as professional organizations from San Bernardino County, are encouraged to submit applications for the annual California Teachers of the Year program for 2015, which is organized through the California Department of Education. The deadline for applications is August 8, 2014.

The program highlights educational innovation, student learning and the rewards of teaching for the more than 17,000 teachers who work in the county’s 33 school districts with more than 411,000 students.Program information, including the application form and instructions, can be downloaded at www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/ct/.

Completed application materials should include one original, printed on single-sided paper, as well as an additional 25 copies that are printed double-sided. Applications should be sent to Nancy Johnson, staff development specialist in Human Resources for San Bernardino County Superintendent at Schools, at 760 E. Brier Dr. in San Bernardino, 92408. For more information, call (909) 386-9570.