(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—-The public is invited to meet District Police officers and personnel during National Night Out at Davidson ElementarySchool on Tuesday, August 6, 5 to 8 p.m.
National Night Out is held each year by law enforcement organizations across the country so the public can interact with police officers in a friendly and positive way. The campaign was started in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, according to the association’s website.
“National Night Out is a great event for our District Police officers and the community. Most of the time, officers only get to interact with the public when something is wrong, like reporting a crime. This gives us all a chance to connect on a different level. The community can get to know us as people, not just cops, and officers are reminded that what we do helps the good, upstanding citizens in our community,” said Sgt. John Guttierez, an event organizer. “We hope to see many families and children come out to meet our dedicated officers and have fun.”
National Night Out is a free event held on the Davidson Elementary School playground, 2844 Davidson Avenue in San Bernardino. There will be food, beverages, and activities for children. For more information, please call (909) 388-6030 or follow District Police on social media @SBCUSDPOLICE.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Aaron Moore has joined Omnitrans as Director of the Special Transportations Services department. He succeeds current Director, Douglas Stanley, who will retire in August after a 30-year career at the transit agency.
For the past seven years, Moore served as the Mobility Manager and Consolidated Transportation Service Agency Director at Victor Valley Transit Authority in Hesperia, California.
“We are fortunate to have Aaron on board. He brings tremendous experience in developing and managing successful special transportation programs in the region,” said Omnitrans CEO/General Manager P. Scott Graham.
At Omnitrans, Moore will lead a department of 14 employees. Special Transportation Services (STS) oversees contracts to deliver Access and OmniGo services and manages special programs for seniors and persons with disabilities such as travel training, volunteer driver reimbursement program, taxi/LYFT subsidy program, and paratransit eligibility certification. STS also develops partnerships with local governments, social services agencies, and private non-profits to provide funding assistance for programs that transport seniors and individuals with disabilities in the Omnitrans service area .
“My favorite part of the work I do in public transit is helping people and seeing the positive effects of the programs which I help to create and operate are having on improving the quality of life for people,” said Moore. “Though many served by our programs are from the vulnerable demographics, public transit has the potential to be a benefit to everyone in the community and also to the environment.”
Prior
to working the public transportation industry, Moore held teaching positions at
area high schools and churches. He earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, San Bernardino and a master’s
degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Moore also completed numerous transit
certificate programs including a Transit and Paratransit Management Certificate
from the University of the Pacific and a Managing Community Mobility Certificate
from the National Transit Institute.
Beloved restaurant fires up the grill with refreshed look and feel
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Black Angus Steakhouse, the original American Steakhouse, announced today it will officially re-open the doors of its San Bernardino location on Monday, July 15th. A mainstay in the area since 1979, the restaurant will reveal a renovation that is the second for the chain this year, giving the coveted 55-year-old steakhouse a 21st century refresh.
“There aren’t a lot of restaurant chains with over five decades of history, but Black Angus wears it well,” said Chris Ames, CEO Black Angus Steakhouse. “As our customers evolve, we must evolve with them – paying homage to our roots but in a more modern way. Our newly renovated space will continue to offer a dining place that is at the border between casual dining and fine dining, a lively and approachable restaurant with booths that are home to family dinners, date nights, celebrations and more.”
Traditionally known for tall booths, a cozy bar, and western vibe, the Black Angus remodel will keep the original sensibility, but with larger windows, a lighter palette and more open floor plan. A spacious private dining room, a destination-worthy bar, and the comfortable lounge are new features that bring more cause to dine in for longtime restaurant-goers and new ones alike.
The Black Angus Steakhouse menu its guests know and love will return, including USDA choice, 21 day aged steaks, chops and prime rib. Guests can expect to see a revamped beverage program where flavors are highlighted in classic drinks, new brewery partnerships, trending flavors and robust wines.
The San Bernardino location will be open for both lunch and dinner and is located at 290 E. Hospitality Lane. To learn more about Black Angus Steakhouse, visit www.BlackAngus.com or follow Black Angus on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @BASteakhouse.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- Embrace it, and stop trying to get on board with everybody else. You can’t do what everybody else do! You can’t go where everybody else is gingo! God is trying to lead you; He has a plan for your life. Loosen your grip, and surrender to your own ways. God has His hand on you for a specific purpose. What an amazing privilege to have God’s hand write your name in ‘the Book of Life’ belonging to Jesus [Revelation 13:8]. Stop trying to get on board with everybody else, and embrace the fact that God has you on a different path; for you have been set apart for God’s purposes. “Come out from among them and be ye separate,” says the Lord. [2 Corinthians 6:17]. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” [Jeremiah 29:11].
Even though you may feel as if you have been put on a shelf and
forgotten, you have been set apart for the call of God on your life. Embrace
it! For many are called, but few are chosen. [Matthew 22:14] You are chosen by God; you are pitied by God; and the effect
of that pity—that mercy—is that God takes you to be his own possession. You
exist for this reason: “that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who
has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”This is the
full-time destiny of a royal priest – to make the glories of the king know.
Knowing our identity is in Christ is one thing, but understanding how that
practically changes the way we live is another.
I cannot urge you enough to learn the verses about your identity
in Christ. You are called to be different. While every believer has been set
apart for good works [Ephesians 2:10], there are some people who have been set
apart to do unique and even extraordinary things in their walk with God and
service to God. He has set you apart for a reason.
You know, Israel desperately tried to fit in with the nations
around them. They wanted to be like everyone else. But God refused to allow
this. He set Israel apart to be a holy nation. God set Israel apart to
intentionally distinguish them from everyone else. God did not do this to
punish the Israelites or deprive them. He specifically chose them for good.
Being set apart not only was a privilege but also carried with it amazing
blessings, far more than they could ever imagine.
What
is awesome in all of this is that this declaration is made, not by us, but by
God. He has consecrated us and set us apart for a higher purpose. Renewing our
mind to this truth is of the utmost importance. We must know and
understand who we are in Christ and who He is in us so that we can walk in
the purpose to which we have been called and set apart.
You
have been set apart for God’s purposes. Embrace it!
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- A 2005 San Bernardino High School graduate and San Bernardino, California native provides key support as part of combat operations aboard future USS St. Louis, stationed at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Orton serves as a fire controlman responsible for operating and maintaining complex radar and weapons systems.
Orton credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in San Bernardino.
“Growing up in my hometown gave me the drive and motivation to pursue my Navy career,” said Orton.
LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused- platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat asymmetric “anti-access” threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft.
The ship’s technological benefits allow for swapping mission packages quickly, meaning sailors can support multiple missions, such as surface warfare, mine warfare, or anti-submarine warfare. Designed to defeat threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft, littoral combat ships are a bold departure from traditional Navy shipbuilding programs. The LCS sustainment strategy was developed to take into account the unique design and manning of LCS and its associated mission modules.
According to Navy officials, the path to becoming an LCS sailor is a long one. Following an 18-month training pipeline, sailors have to qualify on a simulator that is nearly identical to the ship. This intense and realistic training pipeline allows sailors to execute their roles and responsibilities immediately upon stepping onboard.
Orton is now a part of a long-standing tradition of serving in the Navy our nation needs.
“My friend, Brian, was in the Navy,” said Orton. “He was always talking about how serving the good outweighed the bad, and I didn’t have direction so it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Orton is part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“My proudest accomplishment was making first class,” said Orton. “It gives you the chance to retire from the service.”
Orton is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon capital assets, Orton and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
Serving in the Navy, Orton is learning about being a more respectable leader, sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.
“Serving in the Navy means job security,” said Orton. “It’s an exciting and unpredictable career.”
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Friday, July 19, Off the Chain Alliance held its first event entitled, “Accepting Wearing You”. The organization collaborated with Unitee to make the event an even bigger success. The event was held at the American Legion Post 14 in San Bernardino.
“The purpose of the event is to take back the power of your trauma and make it beautiful with art,” Porscha N. Dillard, founder of Off the Chain Alliance, stated. “No longer will you have to suffer with body shame.”
Those that assisted in making the event a success included: Jimmy Fowler, Eric Williams, Vickie Davis, Devin Thompkins, Tasha Nicole, Gloria Amaya, as well as other community leaders.
Check out event highlights below. Photos by Devin Thompkins.
National Science Foundation award will help promote and retain newly hired historically underrepresented minority faculty in STEM fields
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— POMONA, CA—- Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $310,588 grant to Cal Poly Pomona to promote, recruit, and retain underrepresented minority Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) faculty to address the achievement gap between minority and non-minority undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty members often serve as role models and academic leaders for students to learn from, work with, and emulate.
“The faculty at Cal Poly Pomona plays a powerful role in the lives of students pursuing degrees. They’re more than just teachers—they’re mentors who guide young leaders through challenges in and outside of the classroom,” said Torres. “This grant will help bolster diversity in STEM education, provide faculty with the support to succeed, and give students the representation they need to see that a future in these fields is a real possibility for them.”
“It is important that our faculty reflect the diversity of our students,” said Dr. Victoria Bhavsar, Director of the Faculty Center for Professional Development. “This important work will help Cal Poly Pomona retain excellent faculty, and in turn, our STEM students will be better equipped for their own futures and for addressing the big issues in California’s future.”
Dr. Bhavsar continued, “I would like to thank Congresswoman Torres in her role on the House Appropriations Committee in supporting funding for the NSF, which makes funding for programs like these possible.”
The funding for the grant is made possible through the NSF’s Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program. The AGEP program provides trainings about culturally-informed strengths and identity, senior faculty mentoring, peer coaching and networking, and grant proposal writing trainings. Advancing the careers of minority faculty ultimately leads to improved academic mentorship for students from underrepresented groups.
Torres is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for appropriating federal spending.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- San Bernardino Valley College is once again ranked among the best community colleges in California. SR Education Group, an educational research publisher, just released its inaugural ranking of the Best Online Community Colleges by state, and SBVC ranked #12 in California.
SR Education Group considered retention and graduation rates, percentage of online enrollment data, and the number of online associate degrees offered.
“Community colleges offer some of the most affordable degrees in the country,” SR Education Group CEO Sung Rhee said in a statement.
“With a growing number of these degrees becoming available online, we wanted to let prospective students know about these great, accessible options near them. By providing these resources, we hope to help more people reach their educational and professional goals.”
The ranking acknowledges SBVC’s offerings of associate degrees in various fields, including Administration of Justice, Anthropology, Liberal Arts, Philosophy, Sociology, and more. Students can also pursue a variety of online certificates, where all remote students have the opportunity to still participate in free tutoring sessions through the campus writing centers.
For more information about San Bernardino Valley College, visit valleycollege.edu.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The SBVC Foundation recently announced distance runner Michael Ramirez as the Male Athlete of the Year, and women’s soccer player Karen Jacobs as the Female Athlete of the Year.
Ramirez was the fastest Wolverine at the State Championships, as he earned All-American honors by finishing tenth. He has committed to Chico State in the fall, and is the SBVC’s nomination to the PCAC Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Jacobs was the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference’s player of the year in 2018, leading the team on offense with team highs in goals (18) and assists (13). Jacobs has committed to continue her soccer career at Louisiana State University-Alexandria in the fall.
Congratulations to these SBVC Wolverines!
For more information about San Bernardino Valley College, visit valleycollege.edu.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— If you think the locust plague was bad, if you don’t repent, I tell you, “you ain’t seen nothing yet!” Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God; and cry out to the Lord. Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is near! A day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess; that great and dreadful day of the Lord, who can endure it? Who will remain standing when it comes?
Think of how Revelation 6:15 describes the terror of those who face
it. “Then the kings of the earth,
the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and
every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the
rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the
throne and from the wrath of the
Lamb! Or consider how 2 Thessalonians
1:7 describes how God will pay back those who trouble Christians. “This
will happen when Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his
powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the
gospel of our Lord Jesus…” I tell you, if you don’t repent, you ain’t
seen nothing yet!
Listen, although God is merciful and longsuffering, He will not remain
silent forever. Read what He said in Jeremiah 15:6, “You who have forsaken
Me,” declares the LORD, “You keep going backward so I will stretch out
My hand against you and destroy you; I am tired of relenting!”
I tell you, it takes a fool to ignore the warning and plow straight
ahead to the awaiting judgment. Make no
mistake about it, as Malachi 4:1 says, Behold! Look! This day is coming indeed!
Be on the alert for it! Be viligant! For the Bible is so very clear on this.
There will indeed be a final day of judgment. There is no doubt about it. Joel
warns that “the day of the Lord is near.” Four other prophets in four different
centuries gave the same warning (Isaiah 13:6; Ezekiel 30:3; Obadiah 15;
Zephaniah 1:7,14). In each case, the day of the Lord was imminent, and was a
day of divine visitation wherein the wrath of God would be poured upon the
ungodly.
The Only Hope…“Yet even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all
your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mournings; and rend your
hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious
and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…” Joel 2:12–14…Turn
back to God and find salvation instead of judgment. That was the message back
then. And so it is today.
“A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going
and suffer for it.” Proverbs 22:3
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