CBM MOURNS THE LOST OF PUBLISHER LES KIMBER– CALIFORNIA ADVOCATE

Les Kimber

Les Kimber

Fresno – Local icon, legend, and long-time publisher of the California Advocate Lesly Howard Kimber passed away this weekend on January 10th. Affectionately known as “Les” to many, he was surrounded by family and close friends when he passed. Kimber was 80 years old.

Kimber was also known for being the first African-American elected to city council from West Fresno. He was also the co-founder of the California Advocate, Fresno’s only African-American media outlet, and the founder of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday celebration in Fresno. Details of his celebration service will be released in the coming days.
The family of Les Kimber wishes to thank the community for their continued support and prayers, and asks for privacy during this time of grief.

Ask DMV (January 2015 Edition)

Q:   I just paid my registration online, but forgot to change my address.  Can I go back online to make the correction so I can receive my registration tags at my new address?

A:    Unfortunately, it is too late.  When you pay for your registration tags online, our system immediately updates your information and your tags are mailed to you in approximately three days.   Changing your address takes our system a little longer to update.  If you do not receive your new registration tags within 30 days, please apply for duplicate registration tags.

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Q:  I heard that select DMV offices will be open on Saturday beginning in January 2015. Which offices will be open and which types of transactions will be handled?

A:   Beginning January 3, 2015, the DMV began offering Saturday hours at 60 select offices statewide from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. where customer representatives will process ONLY driver license transactions for individuals who have scheduled an appointment.

The DMV has also opened four temporary driver license processing centers in Granada Hills, San Jose, Stanton, and Lompoc where individuals with or without an appointment can receive assistance with driver license transactions only.

For a list of offices open Saturday: http://dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/fo/fotocds

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Q:  When will the Legacy license plate be issued?

A:  There is a lot of excitement building for our new Legacy license plate and you will soon be seeing them on vehicles driving down our roads and highways.  It’s estimated that production will begin within nine to 12 months.

Legislation introduced the California Legacy License Plate program which offers vehicle owners the opportunity to purchase replicas of California license plates similar to those issued in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.   View them at www.dmv.ca.gov.

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Q:  What happens if applicants, under AB60, cannot provide the primary identification documents necessary to verify their identity and residency to obtain an original driver license?

A:   AB 60 applicants may provide additional documentation to verify their identity and residency through the Secondary Review process. An appointment will be scheduled to meet with our specially trained staff in order to review the additional documentation which must be original or certified. The interview may last as long as one hour.

The following documentation may be considered during this appointment: school documents, marriage license or divorce decree, expired foreign passports, foreign driver license, income tax return, and other DMV approved documents. For a full list of DMV approved documents visit ab60.dmv.ca.gov .

If an applicant cannot provide the necessary documentation to verify identity and residency, the AB60 driver license application will not be completed.  Individuals can appeal the decision through the DMV Driver Safety Appeal process.

Statement on White House Plan to Make Two Years of College as Universal as High School

By The Institute for College Access & Success

“The White House plan announced today elevates the universal need for some post-secondary education in today’s economy and the need to make college affordability a national priority.  The White House plan differs significantly from Tennessee’s and other “free community college” plans and addresses many, but not all, of those plans’ limitations.

“In particular, low-income students could benefit from the White House proposal because it is not a “last-dollar” scholarship like the Tennessee Promise, which only helps students who don’t already get enough aid to cover tuition. This is a critically important distinction because, given the relatively low income of community college students and the relatively low tuition charges at community colleges, last-dollar scholarships rarely benefit community college students with the greatest need and rather benefit those with the least need.  Instead, the White House plan provides greatly needed additional federal funding to states that make key reforms, including not charging tuition or fees at community colleges. The proposal is aimed squarely at stopping state divestment from public colleges, which is crucial to making college more affordable.

“Still, making community college tuition free for all students regardless of their income neither  focuses resources on the students who need aid the most, nor addresses the bulk of the costs of attending community college since tuition charges comprise only one-fifth of the cost of attendance. Consider California community colleges, which have the lowest tuition in the nation plus waivers for low-income students; application rates for federal aid are notoriously low, part-time enrollment rates are sky high, and too many students still can’t afford to stay in school and graduate.

“This Administration has rightly made college affordability a top priority, from increasing need-based Pell Grants to making student loan payments more manageable, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and Congress to increase college access and success for students who need help the most.”

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Legendary Andre Crouch..Rest in Peace…

080612-music-topic-andrae-crouchVia Highland Desert Inland Valley News
Andraé Crouch, a gospel musician who bridged the worlds of church and mainstream music for more than 50 years, died Thursday afternoon. The 72-year-old singer, songwriter and choir director had been hospitalized since Saturday at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in the Los Angeles area after suffering a heart attack.

Crouch, sometimes called “the father of modern gospel music,” led the choirs that sang on such hits as Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror and Madonna’s Like a Prayer. As a songwriter, he wrote several gospel favorites, most notably The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, My Tribute (To God Be the Glory) and Soon and Very Soon, a song sung at Jackson’s public memorial service.

A San Francisco native who grew up in the Church of God in Christ, Crouch wrote his first gospel tune at age 14. By 1960, he had formed the Church of God in Christ Singers, a group that featured Billy Preston on keyboards.

He started another group, Andraé Crouch & the Disciples, in 1965, eventually signing to a contemporary Christian label, Light Records. Crouch brought a contemporary pop and R&B melodic sensibility to gospel, making him uniquely suited to appeal to both black and white audiences during the early days of the countercultural “Jesus movement” and also bringing him attention beyond the church.

Elvis Presley recorded Crouch’s I’ve Got Confidence for his 1972 gospel album He Touched Me, and Paul Simon recorded his Jesus Is the Answer on 1974’s Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin’. Crouch also became the go-to vocal arranger for Los Angeles recording sessions that needed a gospel sound, working not only with Jackson and Madonna but also Elton John, Quincy Jones, The Commodores, Diana Ross and Ringo Starr.

Crouch’s gospel albums often featured guests from the R&B and jazz worlds, including Stevie Wonder, El DeBarge, Wilton Felder and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey. Chaka Khan, Sheila E. and vocal group Take 6 appeared on his most recent album, 2011’s The Journey.

His recordings brought him seven Grammys, and Crouch also received an Academy Award nomination for his arranging work on the 1985 film The Color Purple.

Throughout his life, Crouch struggled with dyslexia, sometimes memorizing words by the shapes of their combination of letters. He often drew simple pictures to help him comprehend words and write songs.

Crouch’s sister, Sandra Crouch, served as his spokeswoman, and the siblings were pastors at the New Christ Memorial Church in San Fernando, Calif., carrying on a work begun by their parents.

Crouch survived multiple bouts with cancer and also suffered from diabetes. In early December, Crouch was hospitalized with pneumonia and congestive heart failure, forcing the cancelation of his Let the Church Say Amen Celebration tour, which had been scheduled to begin Dec. 6 in Philadelphia. He was re-admitted to the hospital Saturday with what his sister characterized in a statement as “serious health complications.”

Rose Bowl Hall of Fame 2015

Photos by Earl Heath

L to R New Rose Bowl inductees Dick Vermiel UCLA, Knute Rockne lll (Notre Dame) Kijana Carter (Penn State)as  M-Cee Harvey Hyde looks on.

L to R New Rose Bowl inductees Dick Vermiel UCLA, Knute Rockne lll (Notre Dame) Kijana Carter (Penn State)as
M-Cee Harvey Hyde looks on.

Larry Mellon (L)  and Ki-jana Carter new Hall of Famer share a moment

Larry Mellon (L) and Ki-jana Carter new Hall of Famer share a moment

The 126th Tournament of Roses –Was Truly “Inspiring”

Love Boat cast in front of Princess Cruises Float  (L to R)  Fred Grandy (Chief Purser Gopher),Lauren Tewes (Cruise Director Julie),Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing),Ted Lange (Bartender Isaac) Jill Whelan (Captain's daughter Vicki), Bernie Kopell (Doc),

Love Boat cast in front of Princess Cruises Float (L to R)
Fred Grandy (Chief Purser Gopher),Lauren Tewes (Cruise Director Julie),Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing),Ted Lange (Bartender Isaac)
Jill Whelan (Captain’s daughter Vicki), Bernie Kopell (Doc),

By Earl Heath
Rose Bowl Queen Madison Triplett with U of  Oregon President Scott Coltrane and wife

Rose Bowl Queen Madison Triplett with U of Oregon President Scott Coltrane and wife

Its been an annual event for well over a century and the 2015 Tournament of Roses didn’t disappoint. The theme “Inspiring Stories was named in honor of  one of America’s war hero’s of WWII Louis Zamperini. Seven years ago Rose Bowl 2015 President Richard Chenin read the book “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand. The story of USC Graduate and Olympian in the 1936 games became an air bombardier.

Zamperini spent two years as a POW in Japan after his plane went down in the Pacific Ocean. He and a crew-mate survived for 47 days in shark infested waters before being captured by the Japanese. After a family discussion, the theme “Inspiring Stories” was born.
“We thought the story was so inspirational,” said Cheinn.  “It was a family idea”.

Luke Zampeerini speaks at Kick-off Luncheon

Luke Zampeerini speaks at Kick-off Luncheon

Zamperini passed away last July two months after being named Grand Marshal. He was represented by his family during the parade. “The Love Boat” cast reunited to celebrate Princess Cruises 50th anniversary by appearing on a float at the Rose Bowl Parade. The Love Boat cast, including Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Fred Grandy (Chief Purser Gopher), Ted Lange (Bartender Isaac), Bernie Kopell (Doc), Lauren Tewes (Cruise Director Julie) and Jill Whelan (Captain’s daughter Vicki), recently named Regal Princess, having served as the ship’s godparents before the cruise ship’s maiden Caribbean season and their appearance in the New Year’s Day parade. Ted Lange is still as sharp as ever. The show ran for ten years and has a place in everyone’s heart. “It was about romance every week ,“ said Lange. That’s the one thing that’s in a lot of people lives tuned in because the show gave them a feeling .”
“Since the theme of this year’s Rose Parade was ‘Inspiring Stories,’ we thought it was the perfect opportunity to launch our 50th anniversary year celebrations,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “For the last five decades our guests have been sailing with us to amazing places and they’ve returned with inspiring memories that have lasted a lifetime, and we want to celebrate this throughout our golden anniversary year.”
The Princess Cruises float measured 60 feet long and 24 feet high with more than 24,000 flowers and natural materials. Flowers included roses, orchids and carnations, dendrobs, tulips, cymbidiums, delphiniums and gerbera daisies.
The Donate to Life Parade float represents thousands around the world. In their passing deceased donors open up a whole new world of health, sight  and mobility to people in need.  John Brockington won the National Championship in the 1968 Rose Bowl while playing for Ohio State. He went on to play for the Green Bay Packers.  He moved to San Diego and befriended long time Packer fan Diane Scott. He suffered kidney failure in 2000. In 2001 she donated her kidney to John they later married. In the Parade John rode the Float  and Dianne was one of  30 donors to walk along side the Donate to Life float .
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl Game and a variety of associated events. The Tournament’s 935 volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization within the community and serve on one of 31 committees that ensure the success of the parade and game. Collectively, they contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year. The 126th Rose Parade was presented by Honda.
Lisa Brighton of Washington DC. put finishing touches on Donate to Life Float

Lisa Brighton of Washington DC. put finishing touches on Donate to Life Float

Rose Bowl champions Oregon Ducks  (L-R) Tony Washington, Keanon Lowe, Erick Dargan,  Head Coach  Mark Helfrich  Jake Fisher, Derrick Malone

Rose Bowl champions Oregon Ducks
(L-R) Tony Washington, Keanon Lowe, Erick Dargan, Head Coach Mark Helfrich Jake Fisher, Derrick Malone

 

4th Annual Educators Prayer Breakfast

PDK_Prayer_Breakfast_2014

The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Rho Chapter, held its 4th Annual Educators Prayer Breakfast in December 2014.  This year’s honorees are Gloria Macias-Harrison, San Bernardino Community College board member and Dr. Gloria Fisher, newly appointed president.  Mr Ted Alejandre, newly elected County Superintendent, was the keynote speaker.

This sorority of educators was chartered in 1982 and is proud of its many contributions to the community.  Not only do we recognize contributors to education, but also provide scholarships to graduating seniors, partner with San Bernardino Valley College and host an annual Teach-A-Rama, and sponsor a Black History Bee for all students in grades 3-8 each year.

For additional information, please visit our web site at: www.pdkdeltarho.org and/or e-mail us at jep431@yahoo.com.

25th “Clinic With A Heart” Event to Provide Limited Free Dental Care

12_CWAH_Faculty-oversight-web-117Loma Linda University School of Dentistry’s 25th “Clinic With A Heart” event will provide individuals with free limited dental care on Sunday, January 11. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. and concludes when all patient care times are filled. A limited number of patients will be seen on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Procedures provided may include a cleaning, a filling, or an extraction.  No crowns, root canals, or dentures will be performed. Children under 18 will not be treated without an accompanying parent or legal guardian, who must remain with the child the entire time that care is provided. For directions or more information, please call (909) 558-4697.

“Nothing From Nothing Leaves… Nothing!”

Lou Coleman

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.” Tony Robbins said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got!”  It is insane to do the same thing over and over again knowing it has never worked out well before, but thinking maybe this time will be different…  Like I said, “Nothing for Nothing Leaves… Nothing!” Jesus said, “If new wine is put into old wineskins, then the new wine will burst the wineskin, and both will be lost.” Follow me I’m going somewhere with this.  The reason the old bag could not contain the new wine was that it had already held wine, and had already been stretched as far as it was going to be stretched. It had become dry and cracked and inflexible. It simply could not withstand going through that expansion and fermentation all over again! Jesus said that instead, anyone making wine would see to it that it was poured into a new, fresh wineskin… In other words, “…forget the former things… God is always doing something NEW! His works of grace are always NEW and FRESH!

You know it is so easy as a Christian to get into a rut; to always sing the same songs, always read the same Bible verses, always associate with the same people, and always do the same things – never being challenged by Christ to venture out into the unknown to experience the untold blessings God has reserved for us. We hear about the riches in glory in Christ Jesus but we never really experience them because we are afraid to take a step in a direction we’ve never been before. But to change the results you have to change the path. Different results require different action. If you are going to receive the answer God has for you, you are going to have to do what he says, when he says it and where he says to do it.  You see, in your relationship with God success follows obedience, even when what God is asking you do to seem ridiculous to you. Let me remind you that you are not smarter than God. You can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. You can’t rebel against God, go against what he is telling you, and expect success. You can’t do all the wrong things and expect good things to happen. It doesn’t happen that way. Success comes as you are willing to listen to Jesus and do what he says. This involves humility. The disciples were professional fishermen. They knew all about fishing, so they had to be humble enough to do what Jesus said rather than trusting what they had personally learned about fishing. If you are going to fish, you have to put down your net where the fish are. I told you I was going somewhere with this.

If we seek first God’s Kingdom, his rule and his values, then our current crises fall into perspective. Whenever you want to see a different result, a positive change, you have to do something different from whatever you are currently doing. God’s indwelling grace is active. It leads you and influences you. It brings change to you and within you. When I experience difficulties in my life and in the world around me and the questions I ask leave me empty handed, I find there is always one question that jolts me back to reality similar to the one Jesus ask Peter in Matthew 16:13-20: Who do you say that I am? And Peter responds: You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.” Bottom line: Jesus is God. God is at work. God has not abandoned his people. God has done what God had promised. God is with us! What we have to remember is that God has the blueprint for our whole life already… All we have to do is just fit in with His plans for our lives. There are only two choices in life. Having God to order our steps in His will, or ordering our own steps by our own will.  And we all know what Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 tells us, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death….. “Nothing for Nothing Leaves… Nothing!”

Now the Bible talks about divine direction in the Scriptures. And the declaration of Scripture is that God cares about each of us and wants to direct our lives. Our responsibility by God’s own direction is to entrust our way to Him for His direction and leading. Only the eternal God who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, has the infinite wisdom and power, love and mercy needed to direct the affairs of man’s life. We need to understand that God’s leading is always right. And when you allow the Lord to lead you and guide you there will be peace. There will be power. There will be victory. There will be joy. When you allow the Lord to order your steps, lead you and guide you, you will have something to shout about, because when the Lord order your steps, you will be blessed going in and blessed coming out. You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the field. When you allow the Lord to order yours steps, you will be the head and not the tail, you will be above and not beneath. Why would we want it any other way? I tell you, “Nothing from Nothing Leaves… Nothing!”

What It Do With the LUE: Diva’s Basement

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WHAT IT DO I.E.! Well it’s a NEW YEAR and ya girl is back! I hope you missed me. Being a female in the entertainment game; I am always about girl power. I would like to introduce an upcoming entertainment entity called “DIVA’S BASEMENT”, an internet show catering to urban Culture. DIVA’S BASEMENT was formed in 2012 by sisters Nicole Juniel, known as Nikki, and Nina Martinez, known as Nina B. The team also includes two other women,  Danielle Person known as  Queen D and Mychelen Skinner known as My My.

Divas Basement is a metaphor which means “motivated and driven women working hard to help build platforms that urban upcoming artists could use to build their careers from the bottom up.” Their main focus is to talk about issues women are thinking about, but are afraid to say, as well as showcase and interview up and coming talent throughout California. This group of beauties will be bringing you the scoop on all the happenings. I’ve seen these ladies in action, and let me tell you they WORK!!!!  I’m extremely excited for them and wish them SUCCESS.

Filming for their first show starts soon, so if you or someone you know wants to be on their show please email them at DivasBasement@gmail.com. They are looking for musicians, R&B artists, rappers, poets, dancers, models, fashion designers, hair and makeup artists, athletes, cooks, and  more. Please go like their Facebook page at The Diva’s Basement. Well I’m outta here, until next time. L’s UP!