SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Tuesday, December 5, the San Bernardino Valley College campus will once again transform into a holiday wonderland from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the college’s second annual “WinterFest.”

This campus-wide celebration of the coming of the holiday season is estimated to have attracted over 2,000 students, staff, and community members to campus last year. Visitors were especially drawn to the holiday light show, the free musical performances and theater productions, and the delicious treats offered by food trucks and the college’s culinary arts and food services programs.

The evening will be filled with fun events for all ages, including holiday film screenings, live music, theater performances, Santa pictures, and story time for children among the many activities. For those looking to pick up the perfect gift, a holiday sale with a wide range of items will run throughout WinterFest. College staff will also be on hand to provide information about enrollment and the many degree and certificate programs available at San Bernardino Valley College.

This exciting event is free to attend and open to the community. Valley College is located at 701 S. Mount Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino.

RECAP Written by John Coleman, Community Photographer

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) and Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy provided 1,000 Turkeys and Food Boxes to needy families in San Bernardino County.  Approximately 2,000 people attended the Turkey Giveaway and Resource Fair which was held at CAPSBC on Saturday, November 18.

“The CAPSBC Food Bank has been serving San Bernardino County since 1984.  Every year we provide thousands of holiday food baskets, in addition to our regular food operations serving 40,000 households per month.  $19 million in food went out in 2016 and that number will be even higher this year.  San Bernardino County suffers some of the highest levels of poverty in the nation, and this food is greatly needed,” stated Patricia L. Nickols-Butler, CEO of CAPSBC.

Fifty-seven (57) community organizations, county agencies and nonprofits were on hand at the event Resource Fair providing information, goods and services to assist low-income families.  In addition, approximately 100 volunteers provided vitally important assistance.  All in all, hundreds of people who care about struggling San Bernardino County families, came together to make the holidays a little brighter for their neighbors in need.

The CAPSBC Food Bank continues its mission for the upcoming Christmas holidays providing thousands of additional holiday baskets for those needing food assistance.  If you are interested in supporting the CAPSBC Food Bank in its efforts to fight hunger and malnutrition in San Bernardino County, you may make a check payable to CAPSBC and mail to 696 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408, or a secure donation can be made on our website at:  www.capsbc.org/donate   If you would like to volunteer, please e-mail:  msalcido@capsbc.org or fill out a volunteer form at www.capsbc.org/volunteer.

By Lue Dowdy

LadyMV and RoyalRose Winter FASHION SHOW is WHAT IT DO. This Sunday, November 26, Lady MV is celebrating fun,  figured women during the month of November.

I’m calling all my fashionista’s who are looking for something fun to do after Turkey day. Yolanda Magnum and ‘NeNe’, CEO and Founder of LadyMV and RoyalRose Clothing, along with her entire team are ready to serve it up on the runway.

Beautiful models of all shapes and sizes from all over will be showcasing collections by talented fashion designers.

Lady MV Winter Fashion Show will consist of cocktails, networking, and special guest appearances from Love And Hip Hollywood stars Masika and Moniece and live performances.

Make sure you get your ticket for this EPIC EVENT. Please visit their facebook for more details. Until next week L’s!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-      Christmas Carol: Ebenezer Scrooge… Jacob Marley… Bob Cratchit… Tiny Tim… The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. These are characters we have come to love and welcome into our homes and hearts.  Celebrate the holiday season at the San Bernardino Public Library as Broadway and film actor Duffy Hudson, (without the aid of props or costumes while playing all 46 characters), brings this magical tale to life.  

The San Bernardino Public Library will host this performance of “A Christmas Carol” on Saturday, December 9 at 3 p.m..  It will be held in the Bing Wong Auditorium at the Feldheym Central Library at 555 W. 6th Street in San Bernardino. 

Duffy Hudson is an actor, director, writer, teacher and filmmaker. He has performed in hundreds of plays and has directed over 300 theatrical pieces, including workshop productions with Brooke Shields, The Three Sisters with Jessica Lange, Don Johnson and Tatum O’Neal, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf with Marlo Thomas. Since turning his attention to film and television, he has performed in numerous commercials, including the award winning, Men in Black series for Penn Station. Feature film credits include among others, Tattered Angel, Canvas the Night, Skin Complex, and The Greater Good. 

Duffy tours the US with his one man shows of Edgar Allan Poe, Albert Einstein, George Burns, Houdini, Audie Murphy, Dr. Seuss, and A Christmas Carol.

This FREE 75-minute show is ideal for the entire family.  Contact Linda Yeh at (909) 381.8238 or visit www.sbpl.org for more information. You can also follow the library on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/sbcitylib or Twitter at  twitter.com/SBCityLibrary.

For more information about Duffy Hudson visit www.duffyhudson.com.

RIVERSIDE, CA- The Mt. Rubidoux SDA Church presents:  The World Needs You: A Christmas Musical Recognizing the Greatest Gift to Man.  This event will be taking place at the Mt. Rubidoux SDA Church located at 5320 Victoria Avenue in Riverside on December 9 at 7 p.m.

Christ came during a time of hopelessness, spiritual darkness, division and political unrest. A time not unlike the struggles we experience today: wars and famine, distrust of our civil leaders, hate, division, earthquakes, fires, and hurricanes, sweep across our nation like never before! It is more evident that the same Christ who was gifted to the world when it needed Him most, is the same Christ we need now!  Come join us for this spectacular musical dramatization as we recognize God’s greatest gift to man.

For every ticket that is bought, the church will provide one to someone who is not a member of the congregation.  They want to encourage attendance from individuals who live in the Riverside and San Bernardino counties.  This is a push to introduce Christ to people who are seeking truth and peace during these troubled times.  Community members can expect VIP treatment, free food following the concert, and information about our church if they are led to join our family.

The event will feature; Genesis Kelly, LaDon Daniels, Kevin Carrington, Bijan Slack, Octavia Pace, and the Mt. Rubidoux SDA Choir.  All proceeds go to disadvantaged persons from group homes, men and women shelters, transitional housing and surrounding neighborhoods.

To purchase your tickets, please visit www.Worldneedsyou2.eventbrite.com.  For more information, please visit www.mtrubidouxsda.org.

This is an event that you do not want your family to miss!

REDLANDS, CA- The Redlands Fire Department has deployed eight new laryngoscopes with fiber optic cameras, allowing them to deliver state of the art, cutting edge service to the Redlands community. 

Laryngoscopes are on every frontline fire company and can be used on all adult respiratory arrest responses. This pioneering technology gives medics direct visualization of the patient’s vocal cords and records the intubation process so that it may be attached to the Electronic Patient Record.

What makes this state-of-the-art equipment so beneficial to the Redlands community is that it enables easier and faster intubation of the airway in a patient who isn’t breathing. The camera allows the paramedic to see the exact placement of the tube. The combination of visualization and recording provides a tremendous advantage to the paramedics and, ultimately, the patient. The recording is then transmitted straight to the hospital so the treating doctor can see exactly how the tube was placed facilitating better patient care. Video records can be reviewed for training and ongoing quality improvement purposes. 

The Redlands Fire Department experiences approximately 50 calls each year in which this device will allow for better patient outcomes.

Ta Lease Morrow

ONTARIO, CA- On Saturday, November 18, the co-publisher of the Inland Valley News, Ta Lease Morrow, 31, was installed as the CEO/Publisher. The installation announcement was made during the 20^th Annual Celebration of Excellence Awards held at the Double Tree Hotel in Ontario.

In passing the baton to his daughter, outgoing Publisher Tommy Morrow has paved the way for Ta Lese and her team to innovate and broaden the scope of communications for the brand.

Let’s continue to promote and encourage the next generation of leaders. Kudos Ta Lease.

By Rebecca Shapiro, Huffington Post

Another star was born Sunday night when Diana Ross turned her American Music Awards performance into a family affair.

The icon accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award surrounded by her family, and she even invited her grandchildren on stage to dance as she sang, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” during a stellar performance.

It didn’t take long for audience members at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and those sitting at home, to notice Ross’ grandson dancing his heart out.

Ross’ grandson also hugged the singer when she accepted her award, saying into the microphone, “I’m so proud of you!” He later closed out the awards show by taking another moment to tell his grandmother that he was proud of her, and to let the crowd know that he loved them too.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- As millions of travelers flood the roads this Thanksgiving, the San Bernardino Police Department is partnering with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and law enforcement across the state to share an important lifesaving reminder: Buckle Up–Every Trip. Every Time. San Bernardino Police Department will be conducting driver safety operations throughout the Thanksgiving holiday season.

During the 2015 Thanksgiving weekend, 301 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes nationwide, and 53 percent were not wearing seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  California accounted for 42 of those fatalities.  Nighttime proved even more deadly, with 57 percent of Thanksgiving weekend crashes occurring at night nationally.  Much like drunk driving, these deaths represent needless tragedies for families across America.  Many of these deaths could have been completely prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

Year after year, families are devastated when news arrives that a loved one is killed on their way to Thanksgiving festivities. These stories are just unacceptable when over 50 percent of the deaths involve an unrestrained occupant.  Especially when it’s known that seat belt use is one of the simplest ways to stay safe while riding in a vehicle.

NHTSA estimates that proper seat belt use reduces the risk of fatal and serious injuries. In 2015, approximately 13,941 people survived crashes because they were buckled up.  If everyone had worn their seat belts that year, an additional 2,804 lives could have been saved.  NHTSA’s research also reveals that males are more likely to be unbuckled than females in a fatal crash, and that younger drivers are also at greater risk of being unbuckled.

San Bernardino PD’s goal for the ‘Buckle Up—Every Trip. Every Time.’ seat belt awareness campaign is to save lives.  This campaign reminds Thanksgiving travelers, and all drivers, about the importance of buckling up–every trip, every time.  Thanksgiving should be a happy time, not a tragic one.

Additionally, OTS statewide data reveals that of the 42 killed during the Thanksgiving weekend, 18 were alcohol involved deaths. While alcohol remains the worst offender for DUI crashes, The San Bernardino Police Department supports the new effort from OTS that aims to drive awareness that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.”  Prescription medications and marijuana can also be impairing by themselves, or in combination with alcohol, and can result in a DUI arrest. 

Never drink and drive and whether you’re a passenger or the driver, riding long distances or short, buckle your seat belt.  Doing so ensures everyone arrives safely to their Thanksgiving destinations.  Remember: Buckle Up–Every Trip. Every Time.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- As a child growing up in San Bernardino, Dr. Milton Clark’s weekly Saturday visits to the central library on Arrowhead to read started him on a path of academic achievement that culminated in his earning a Ph.D. and a distinguished academic career as a faculty member for more than 30 years before retiring as the Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Studies at Cal State San Bernardino.

He has also returned his fondness for public libraries and their value in communities such as San Bernardino by serving on the San Bernardino Public Library Board of Trustees since 2005 and as its president since 2007. That time period marked a decade of the city’s economic challenges since the national economic crash of 2008 that culminated in San Bernardino filing for bankruptcy in 2012.

The economic challenges SBPL faced in that timespan resulted in several budget cuts which threatened the closure of the Howard Rowe, Dorothy Inghram and Paul Villaseñor Branch Libraries in 2009, 2012 and 2014.

Dr. Clark’s leadership and advocacy working with the other trustees has been instrumental in keeping those libraries open, according to San Bernardino Public Library Director Ed Erjavek. The members of the SBPL Board of Trustees are city residents who volunteer their time without compensation to administratively govern the library with the funding amount allocated by the Mayor and City Council.

His leadership and advocacy were honored earlier this month as he was named the Best California Library Trustee for outstanding service to a specific library system by the California Public Library Advocates (CPLA) during an awards dinner at the California Library Association’s annual conference in Riverside. CPLA seeks to strengthen California libraries through advocacy and education.

“Dr. Clark is most deserving of this honor since I doubt there’s a Library Board President in the country who has done as much in advocating for their library system in the last decade, “ said Erjavek, who nominated him for the award. “His leadership and passion for library service in San Bernardino have been instrumental in helping to preserve library service in this community. I tell people he is the finest Library Board President in America. He was the right man to lead the Library Board of Trustees during this last challenging decade in San Bernardino.”

“I’m not sure what motivates the other Board members, but my passion for this institution is deep rooted.  I grew up in San Bernardino, and as a young child, I used to walk to the library on Saturday morning and lose myself among the stacks of books.  Those visits to the library gave me a glimpse into a broader world than the one to which I was confined living in the de facto segregated city of San Bernardino,” Clark said, when reminiscing about his childhood in his acceptance speech. Among the dinner attendees were California State Librarian Greg Lucas, family and friends of Dr. Clark, and Board Vice President Carolyn Tillman and Secretary Val Lichtman. Dr. Tom Rennard is also a member of the Board.

“In part, because of the library, I went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in English at California State College, San Bernardino,” he continued.  “I subsequently went on to earn a Master’s degree and then a Ph. D at UC Riverside.  Because San Bernardino had a Public Library, the world of opportunity was opened up to me. It is my duty, my responsibility, and my honor to make that same amazing resource available to the citizens of my city, young and old.”

SBPL had an annual budget of almost $3 million and 31 full-time staff position in 2008 before the national economic crash but the budget had been reduced to a little over $1.7 million in 2014 when the library was facing a proposed cut of $1 million, which would have not only closed the branch libraries but even operations at the Feldheym Central Library might not have been possible with a budget cut of that size.

Thanks to the leadership and advocacy of Dr. Clark and the other library board members and an alternative budget proposal from Erjavek – the library was allocated almost $1.4 million of annual funding for FY 14-15 by the Mayor and Common Council which resulted in full-time staff being reduced to 10 and zero city dollars for books and library materials but at least the weekly 37 public service hours at Feldheym and the 20 weekly hours at each of the three branches were retained.

Erjavek wrote in his nomination: “He has volunteered his time waiting to speak (often for more hours sitting on hard plastic chairs than he would care to recall) to the city’s mayor and city council at many a budget meeting during the last 10 years to give a voice for the voiceless for the importance of library service in this community.  Dr. Clark is keenly sensitive to continuing library service to the underserved and underprivileged who are many in this city and those who may not have the means to go to another library if their neighborhood branch closed.”