Cheryl Brown

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) was unanimously selected as the 2015 Legislator of the Year by the Alzheimer’s Association for authoring AB 1744, The California Family Caregiver Act of 2014. The Alzheimer’s Association will present Assemblymember Brown her award on Wednesday, April 29^th, 2015 on their annual legislative advocacy day in Sacramento.

“I am honored to be named the Alzheimer’s Association Legislator of the Year for 2015,” Assemblymember Brown said. “As the Chair of the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee, I look forward to working with the Alzheimer’s Association to ensure that as California’s population ages, the state provides the necessary resources for research while providing the best possible care for seniors living with Alzheimer’s.”

The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. To learn about how you can help in the fight against Alzheimer’s visit www.alz.org.

RIVERSIDE, CA- The Riverside Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. will hold their first annual “Shop with a KAPPA” event. At the event, designated disadvantaged youth in the community are given $100 and taken Christmas shopping at their local Wal-Mart store.

The launch event and Christmas Celebration is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, at the Wal-Mart Super Center, located at 2663 Canyon Springs Parkway in Riverside (92507).

“Last year as a committee we were able to raise $3,700 for the youth in Las Vegas,” said Rod O’Neal, founder of the “Shop with a Kappa” program, a Guide Right outreach of the Kappa’s Las Vegas Alumni Chapter. “It was such a success that we decided to conduct the event(s) this year with our Riverside Alumni Chapter affiliate,” O’Neal said.

The “Shop with a Kappa” program can be found at www.shopwithakappa.com  and serves as a great tool to reach directly into communities identified by the individual Chapters and touch those in need. Under the Guide Right program, Kappas throughout the Western Province (Anchorage, Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Riverside) will hold their “Shop with A KAPPA” events throughout the month of December with the youth from the communities in which they serve. It is anticipated that $10,000 in donations will be raised to sponsor 100 children throughout cities in the fraternity’s Western Province.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – A veteran police officer recognized for creating a safe environment for students to learn, grow, and succeed has been sworn in as the new chief of the San Bernardino City Unified School District Police Department. Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden officially swore in Joseph Paulino on Tuesday, December 9 during an afternoon ceremony attended by law enforcement leaders from across Southern California. Paulino, who first joined the District as a patrolman in 1997 and worked his way up through the ranks, has held the interim chief position since July 2010.

Paulino’s strong ties in the San Bernardino community, his problem-solving skills, and his passion for making a positive difference in the lives of students made him an ideal candidate, Marsden said.

“Chief Paulino has a strong vision for making hope happen for our students and our community,” Marsden said. “With Chief Paulino in this key leadership position, our District, our schools, and our students will be safer.”

As police chief, Paulino oversees a department of 26 sworn police officers, 55 campus security officers, and more than 10 support staff. The department is responsible for ensuring the safety of the District’s 53,000 students, as well as protecting District property.

Among Paulino’s focus will be expanding opportunities for students to have positive interactions with police officers through efforts like the Junior Police Explorers Program, currently in place at King Middle School and Rodriguez PREP Academy.

“Young people are the future of this community,” Paulino said. “It is our duty to ensure that they stay on the right course to a successful and productive future.”

Under Paulino’s leadership, the District formed a Safe Schools Task Force in 2012 to improve school safety. He is a 2007 graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, an elite, four-month training program for the nation’s top law enforcement leaders. While at the FBI Academy, Paulino had an opportunity to study the complex issue of school violence.

Shown with San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos are the members of the Board of Trustees of the San Bernardino Community College District: (front row) Donna Ferracone; Dr. Donald Singer; Gloria Macías Harrison and Nickolas Zoumbos; (back row) Board President John Longville; Chancellor Bruce Baron; Dr. Kathleen Henry, Board Vice President; and Joseph Williams, Board Clerk.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-At their regularly scheduled meeting on December 11, the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) re-installed Board Members Donna Ferracone and Dr. Donald L. Singer and installed new Board Member Joseph Williams. San Bernardino County Supervisor and former SBCCD Board President James Ramos administered the oath of office. The Board of Trustees members elected trustee John Longville to serve as Board President, and Trustee Dr. Kathleen (Katy) Henry as Vice President and Trustee Joseph Williams as Clerk. The Trustees will serve in those offices for two years.

SBCCD Chancellor Bruce Baron said, “The public elected experienced leaders who bring to the Board a commitment and understanding of the mission of our District that will enhance the District’s ability to serve our two colleges, KVCR, the Economic Development and Corporate Training Division and our community in general. Our Board will continue serve the students and community with dedication.”

The newly elected officers of the Board of Trustees are:

President John Longville was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2008, at which time he retired from his adjunct faculty position at San Bernardino Valley College.

He also is a member of the Board of Directors of the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District (2007-present), and has previously served as a member of the California State Assembly (1998-2004), Mayor of Rialto (1987-1998), and member of the Rialto City Council (1978-1984 & 1986-1987). During his municipal government years, John was particularly active in regional government agencies, serving as President of both San Bernardino Associated Governments (1982-1983) and the Southern California Association of Governments (1992-1993) and as a founding board member of the Southern California Regional Rail Association (Metrolink).

He has been active in a wide array of local civic and charitable organizations since he first moved to San Bernardino County in 1972 to work as press secretary for the late Congressman George Brown.

Vice President Dr. Kathleen (Katy) Henry is a university instructor and a dissertation mentor for doctoral learners. Dr. Henry first started her educational pursuits at the community college level. As a result, she is a strong advocate for meeting student needs and overcoming barriers to their success at this pivotal time in a student’s educational life. She is highly supportive of programs that help veterans, students with special needs, as well as eLearning programs. She earned her B.S. at Southern Illinois University in Workforce Education and Development and recognizes the importance of vocational education programs. She earned her M.A. in Organizational Development and her Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems from the Fielding Institute.

Dr. Henry’s community involvement includes: Member Steering Committee for the Women’s Leadership Council of Arrowhead United Way, Chairperson for the Scholarship Committee of the Highland Woman’s Club, member/past Chair of Youth Services and K-Kids at Kiwanis Club of Highland, and she serves as an Ambassador for the Highland Chamber of Commerce.

Clerk Joseph Williams was appointed to fill a Board of Trustees vacancy in 2013 and elected to the Board in November, 2014.

He is the Founder and CEO of the Youth Action Project (YAP) and has served youth and adults of the Inland Empire for the past fourteen years. YAP integrates youth popular culture in its program to engage positive dialogue, decision-making, and actions that will improve educational and workforce outcomes.

Prior to founding YAP, Joseph was employed with the County of San Bernardino for nine years, working for the Department of Behavioral Health, the Workforce Development Department and the Sheriff’s Department.

He currently serves as a member of the California Workforce Investment Board and the California Committee to Employ People with Disabilities, and as the Vice-Chair of the Legislative Committee on the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board.

Joseph served as the SBCCD Student Trustee when he was a college student, continuing on to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration the University of Redlands.

The Board also approved its schedule of meetings for 2015. The meeting dates are posted on the SBCCD website, sbccd.org, and the public is invited to attend open meetings and study sessions.

BOB Could Help, But BOB Can’t Breathe!

Publishers Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

The issue of police conduct regarding interaction with Black men is being negotiated across the nation with a variety of scenarios that are offering some degree of change.  If something would occur that actually stopped police violence against Black men, there would still be problems left to deal with. One of the problems is Black-on-Black violence, the other is jobs; however, if we solve the jobs problem, we may also slow the Black-on-Black violence problem.

Supporting Black Owned Businesses (BOB) can be a big help in the jobs department.  Increasing business directed to BOB will allow, and in many cases, require BOB to hire additional help.  There are business owners in your community, even your church that should be getting your support! Find out who they are and give them your business. Your money is important and could be used to express your community concerns as well as consumer desires.

Where you spend your money is possibly a more important vote than the one for president! It can have much more effect on the quality of life that your community experiences.  There are over 10,000 Black elected officials, which include City council members, school boards, County Supervisors, State legislators, Congress Members, Senators, and the President of the United States. Despite our political successes, Black men are unemployed at the highest rates in America.  You could force BOB to put many of our unemployed to work by simply giving BOB your business.

Many of you say that BOB has problems. That may be true, but so does the bank that you so faithfully put your money in.  It probably needed to be bailed out during the past five or six years.  Many of BOB’s problems will be solved when you extend your financial support and commit to providing a business stimulus that supports your community. Your support of BOB may provide the job that actually prevents you from having to bail out one of your friends or family members from jail or financial need.

As we continue the struggle for fair treatment from the world remember that the world is paying attention to how we treat each other. Your enthusiastic

. Pictured (L to R) are:
Ted N.C. Wilson, PhD, president, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; Nancy Young, president and CEO, SACHS; Pat Morris, MD, former mayor, City of San Bernardino; Dale Marsden, superintendent, San Bernardino City School District; Tommy Ramos, education committee member, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; Ken Ramirez, tribal secretary, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, president, Loma Linda University Health; Pete Aguilar, congressman-elect, California 31st District; R. Carey Davis, mayor, City of San Bernardino; Lowell Cooper, MDiv, MPH, vice president, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and chair, Board of Trustees, Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center

LOMA LINDA, CA- Groundbreaking ceremonies were held today for Loma Linda University Health – San Bernardino, the new health care and educational initiative in downtown San Bernardino. The ceremonies were held at 250 South G Street, where the center will be built across the street from San Manuel Stadium.

Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, president of Loma Linda University Health, said that the project will help support the San Bernardino economy and promote health and wholeness in the community for years to come.

“Studies of the infrastructure of San Bernardino have found that there are two large unmet needs in this community,” Hart said.  “The first is a lack of skilled workers. The second is a lack of quality health care. Our new project will shore up both of those sectors of the economy by providing career education and health care for area residents as well as creating employment opportunities.”

The project involves three distinct, yet related components. The first is an educational center to be known as San Manuel Gateway College. Funded in part by a generous gift of $10 million from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, it will provide a variety of 6- to 12-month certificate training programs to prepare graduates for a number of rewarding career options in the healthcare field.

The second is an expanded and relocated multi-specialty medical clinic to be operated by Social Action Community Health System (SACHS), currently located at 1455 E. Third Street in San Bernardino. The third is a vegetarian restaurant designed to showcase the longevity-enhancing benefits of a plant-based diet.

Bradley P. Gilbert, MD, CEO of Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), noted that the expanded SACHS clinic will become a critical component of the IEHP delivery system with the increased primary care and specialty services it will provide to IEHP members.  Gilbert said, “Given the large growth in our membership, which will reach one million members soon, we need high quality, accessible services such as will be delivered at the expanded SACHS clinic.”

SACHS, which was started by Loma Linda University Health students in the 1960s, has grown to become the largest provider of health services in San Bernardino. The new location will not only offer considerably more space than the old one affords, but will also offer expanded healthcare options for downtown residents.  With a full complement of primary behavioral health, clinical, dental, health education, laboratory, pharmacy, urgent care, and women’s health services, the clinic will feature world-class health care provided by Loma Linda University Health faculty, students, and residents.  SACHS is a teaching health center, funded by the federal Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to educate medical residents.

“SACHS is the second-largest teaching health center in the nation,” noted Nancy Young, MHES, president and CEO of SACHS.  “Research shows that physicians trained in a community health center are three times as likely to stay working in community health throughout their careers.”

Hart said Loma Linda University Health – San Bernardino is designed as a LEED-certified architectural showpiece intended to beautify the downtown area with trees and gardens that promote healing and a sense of community.  The LEED acronym stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and indicates that the center will be environmentally responsible and will use resources wisely in accordance with the highest industry standards for green buildings.

The new center represents a unique partnership of local organizations eager to create a revolutionary educational opportunity in the region.  The City of San Bernardino, the County of San Bernardino, the San Bernardino Community College District, the San Bernardino City Unified School District, several non-profit organizations, and SACHS are partnering with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and Loma Linda University Health in this comprehensive project.

San Bernardino Mayor R. Carey Davis, MBA, said the new center will symbolize the city’s economic development to local residents as well as the surrounding communities and visitors who will view the new architectural display from the 215 Freeway.

“This represents a great opportunity to revitalize our downtown area,” Davis remarked.  “It will also begin to change the image of San Bernardino as a result of the building that is going on. It will show that economic activity is returning.  We see the collaboration and partnership as one that is very important to the rebirth of our downtown.”

More information about the Loma Linda University Health – San Bernardino project can be found online via this link:  www.lluhealth.org/sanbernardino

Mrs. Jonnie Mae Catoe was born December 6,  1928 in Kershaw, South Carolina to Andrew and Fanita Mae Clinton.  She was the second of five (5) children.  She spent her early years residing in Kershaw, SC where she received her primary education and later relocated to Washington D.C. whereas she completed her secondary education.

Jonnie received Christ as her personal Savior at an early age.  She was baptized by her maternal grandfather Reverend Zedidiah Beckham and resided with him and her grandmother prior to her relocation to Washington D.C. She met Eddie Catoe Sr., the man who would serve as her life long partner and husband of forty-nine (49) years as a child in Kershaw, SC., and later reunited with him in Washington D.C.  The two entered matrimony in 1951 and began a family.  From this union they had five (5) children.

Mrs. Catoe fulfilled her dream of residing in California in 1956,  moving with her family to San Bernardino in 1960, whereas as later attended nursing school at St. Bernadine’s Hospital serving as a “ Candy Striper.” She was well known for her fashion sense.  She was well known as a talented and phenomenal seamstress and tailor.  She worked in this capacity at Harris & Franks and the old Harris Company in San Bernardino prior to embarking in her own tailoring business.  She was highly skilled known for her own designs and patterns producing and hosting numerous fashion shows. Jonnie was a very beautiful, athletic and vibrant woman.  She was member of St. Anthony’s Church, later attending Temple Missionary Baptist Church.  She was a member of the Les Juenes Ami’s Social Club and the NCO Wives Club.

Jonnie departed this life December 9, 2014.  In this life she leaves behind her loving children;  Eddie Jr., Kathleen (Randy), David (Sylvia), Donna (Brian), and stepdaughter Melissa (Ira).  6 grandchildren and 1 step-grandchild.  4 great grandchildren and 4 step-children. 1 sister Anna and a host of cousins, nephews and niece.

She was proceeded in death by her loving and devoted husband Eddie Sr., 1 brother Howard, 2 sisters Jean and Minnie Lee, 1 daughter Barbara, 2 grandsons Andrew Paul and Jordan Matthew and 1 step grandson Thomas David.

Services will be held at Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 1583 Union Street, San Bernardino, CA 92411 at 10 a.m., Thursday, December 18, 2014.  Viewing at Harrison-Ross Mortuary, 738 East Highland Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92404 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2014.  Internment at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, CA 92518 subsequent to services.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Man I must have been told that a thousand times growing up.  Talking about somebody grateful for those twins; Grace and Mercy… Boy, am I glad! God gave me another opportunity to be obedient. He said to me; “I will not tolerate this stubborn, hardhead stiff-necked spirit any longer. Repent and do right… Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Can I tell you, I got me some get right real quick! See the Bible says it is of God’s mercy that we are not consumed. It is by His goodness that we are led to repentance. It is by His intercession that we are delivered. It is by His grace that we are sustained. It is of His love that we have been drawn to Him. It is because of His everlasting arms being under us that we are kept. It is by His faith that we are saved. It is by His blood that we are cleansed. It is by His righteousness that we are clothed and it is by His indwelling Spirit that we are filled and by His power that we are kept. I tell you PRIDE is a sin to be hated, a sin to be confessed, a sin to mourn over, a sin to flee, and a sin to fight against. It defiles God. It defiles man. It divides society. It dishonors life and it destroys souls. Pride ultimately destroys all that it controls. It is such a deceitful sin. It is the road to ruin and it will escort you straight to Hell. Pride, its pervasiveness cannot be overstated. Haughtiness, arrogance, conceit, inordinate self-esteem, and vainglory are as common as the air we breathe. DO NOT, fool around with Pride… Because the Bible repeatedly warns of pride precipitating a fall. “A man’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor” (Proverbs 29:23) Yes, everything might go your way for weeks, months and even years. But make no mistake about it, the day will come when God’s hand will be upon you and you won’t be able to do as you please anymore. In that day you can cry and fight all you want, but there will be nothing you can do, because God’s Mighty Hand would have taken a hold of you.

Listen, pride was the first sin to destroy the calm of eternity. It was pride that cast Lucifer from Heaven and it was pride that cost our first parents their place in Paradise. No sin is more offensive to God than the sin of Pride. It militates against His authority, His law, and His rule… I tell you God and pride are like oil and water— they don’t mix! Pride is dogmatic in its antagonism to God and God is absolute in His opposition to pride. God never has and never will compromise with pride…. Don’t Get It Twisted!

The saddest thing about pride though is that many people who are infected and infested with pride have no idea that they are. As a matter of fact, the proud person is often very proud of his humility…  and that is why I implore you to look again at the man in the mirror.  If we hear God’s Word when it tells us that we are sinners and do nothing about it, then we are exactly like the man who looks in the mirror. And you know what they say about the man in the mirror…. “He gets up in the morning looks into the mirror and sees that his hair is messy. He promptly walks away without combing his hair and the rest of the day he thinks he looks great. This man is either denying what he saw in the mirror, or he does not believe it.” When we look at God’s Word without letting it impact our lives then we are either pretending that we don’t know what it says, or denying that it is true. As is true with the man in the mirror, any failure to respond cannot be blamed on a lack of understanding. This man made a foolish mistake with his natural face, how much greater a mistake would it be for us to make this mistake with our souls? God’s Word, is a mirror in which we can see who we truly are in light of who God is. We must not look at this mirror and walk away. (James 1).  Check yourself before you wreck yourself because pride is foolish and it will only set you up for a fall.

Don’t let pride creep in.  Clothe yourself with humility; Do not think more of yourself than what you ought to; if you are clothed with humility God will give you grace; even the grace to overcome sin in your life.  But if you don’t, make no mistake about it, God will humble you if you don’t humble yourself. Don’t take my word for it, read it for yourself in Leviticus 26:18-21. “A Hard Head Makes a Soft Behind!”

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10

LOS ANGELES, CA- On Sunday, December 14, the Critical Resistance Los Angeles (CRLA) chapter will be hosting “Dreaming Wildly, Fighting to Win,” a special evening of art, music, and performance to celebrate its work fighting prison and jail expansion and for self-determination in the LA area. The event will feature an art auction in collaboration with the renowned online auction house Paddle8, and will take place at the newly opened Underground Museum in the West Adams /Crenshaw District of L.A. The funds from the auction will benefit CRLA’s ongoing efforts to build a grassroots movement against the prison industrial complex (PIC).

Over 70 artists are contributing to the auction, which will include pieces by highly acclaimed names such as Charles Gaines, Zoe Leonard, Vaginal Davis, Abigail DeVille, Sam Durant, and Sayre Gomez. The event will also feature a poetry reading and book signing by 2014 National Book Award finalist Fred Moten, as well as performances by Los Angeles Poverty Department members Anthony Taylor and KevinMichael Key.

Among CRLA’s projects that will benefit from this auction is an ongoing fight against a proposed women’s jail construction project in Lancaster, CA. In addition to conducting broader political education, CRLA also facilitates Leadership Education Action and Dialogue (LEAD), a participatory political education program that engages formerly imprisoned women in monthly workshops that examine various aspects of the PIC and abolition in LA.

Artwork is currently open for bidding on Paddle8’s website, and interested buyers will also be able to bid in person at the event. The evening is family-friendly and will include activities for kids, music by HOOPS DJs, and light refreshments. Doors will open for a reception at 5pm, with performances at 6pm and music at 8 p.m. The Underground Museum is located at 3508 West Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles (90018).

The debut book in the Sophie and Lelah series by author L. Monique Gonzalez titled “Sophie and Lelah Celebrate Juneteenth” tells the tale of two spunky girls whose adventures teach young readers important life lessons. Sophie and Lelah are cousins and best friends. While attending their family reunion, one of them suffers a minor injury.

This incident throws the two girls into a journey of self-discovery that teaches them the importance of family, friendship and history as they commemorate Juneteenth, a day of celebration marking the end of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865 almost three years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

“I don’t think there are enough representations in print or media of the varied people and cultures present in our society,” Gonzalez says. “It is important to understand the experiences of others because it affects the way we relate to one another and impacts the ultimate success of our interactions.”

Gonzalez hopes to educate young readers about the significance of tradition and teach positive values in an entertaining and lighthearted way.