SAN BERNARDINO, CA- A classic love story is brought up-to-date in one of the most stunning theatrical shows of all time in “Miss Saigon,” on stage for two performances only Saturday, June 28 at the California Theatre of the Performing Arts. Set during the turmoil of the Vietnam War, the story centers on an American soldier and a Vietnamese girl who fall in love, only to be separated by the fall of Saigon and tragic losses and the sacrifices made in a world gone mad.

Worldwide Theatricals is presenting the musical at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets range from $38.50 and $75, and are available at www.ticketmaster.com, www.californiatheatre.net, or through the box office at (909) 885-5152.

“Miss Saigon” premiered in London in September 1989 and ran for more than 4,000 performances over a 10 year period. It opened on Broadway in 1991 and has been staged throughout the world. The London revival of the show opened this year.

The California Theatre of the Performing Arts is located at 562 W. Fourth Street in San Bernardino.

Guests at LLUSM’s 100th anniversary bash were treated to live entertainment throughout the evening including stilt walkers

LOMA LINDA, CA- Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM) recently concluded its five-year Centennial Celebration (2009-2014), marking 100 years since the founding of the school to the 100^th anniversary of the first graduating class. A community celebration was held on June 1 outside LLU Centennial Complex.

The early 1900’s themed anniversary bash was a free event open to the entire community and featured thematic music and entertainment as well as food trucks and a fireworks show to end the night. An estimated 700 people attended throughout the evening.

Loma Linda University School of Medicine opened its doors in 1909 as the College of Medical Evangelists and graduated its first class of six students on June 11, 1914. It was the smallest class to ever graduate from the school with just two women and four men. This year, on May 25, LLUSM graduated its largest class ever with 171 medical students. Over 10,500 students have graduated over the last 100 years.

LLUSM continues to have a growing impact in the Inland Empire and beyond. This year, 51 percent of LLUSM students matched to primary care positions, and half of the practicing medical doctors in San Bernardino County either trained at or currently teach at Loma Linda University or both.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

For many of you, this might be one of the hardest truths to accept…..there is absolutely no hope of going and changing the past. “What’s done is done!” Your future is suffering because you can’t seem to forgive yourself for what you’ve already done. As sorry as we are for the things that we have done, we cannot go back in time and undo them. And what good is it anyway to sit and beat yourself up over the things that you’ve done? If you are really sorry, then pick yourself up and do something different with your life. Stop worrying about things that you cannot change, and do what you can to change the things that are still within your power to do something about, because “What’s done is Done!”

In Luke 9:62 we find a story that vividly illustrates the danger of looking back. God has just pronounced judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah and they are about to be destroyed. In the meantime, God sends a message to Lot and his family. “Flee for your life; do not look back, or stop anywhere in the valley; flee to the hills, lest you be consumed.” Lot and his wife, and their two daughters left behind their home as fire and brimstone rain down on Sodom and Gomorrah. Then the unexpected happened. Lot’s wife looked back with a degree of longing to return to what she had left, and she became a pillar of salt.  Her life was literally on the line, and rather than being fully engaged in surviving, she placed a higher priority on life’s lesser matters than on the greater one of preserving her life through God’s gift of protection. She looked back, revealing her heart still to be in Sodom, a type of the world. You cannot serve God and mammon. Her action indicated regret for having left. Jesus says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” We must not let the past determine our future.

Today, let us resolve that the past will be the power from which we move forward, because the past is just that –“Past.” Paul is an example of a healthy view of the past. He owned his past as blasphemer, persecutor, and aggressor. He knew and accepted his past; he accepted responsibility and did not blame others for his actions. But, because Paul knew that he was forgiven, and because he confidently trusted God’s forgiveness, he did not retain the guilt of what he had done. He retained the memory, but it was his power, his strength, his motivation, his hope, and his ever present evidence and reminder of God’s grace.

It serves no purpose to deny, ignore, or hide the past. The past is to be accepted and owned.  But with that acceptance comes responsibility for the present, the ability to make choices, to grow, and to change.“….Forget those things which are behind, and reach forth unto those things which are before, and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!” {Phil 3:13-14}…. “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I’m free at last!”

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has announced a $20 million settlement with former players over college-themed basketball and football video games produced by Electronic Arts.

The NCAA said Monday that the agreement will provide money to plaintiffs headed by former Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller. The case was scheduled for trial in March 2015.

The settlement will award $20 million to certain Division I men’s basketball and Bowl Subdivision football players. Details were still be finalized.

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Vetrice Jews and Demitrius Musgrove

Written by Noelle Lilley

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Temple Missionary Baptist Church presented a wonderful program entitled, “Juneteenth Program: Body and Soul Health and Wellness Gospel Jam” on Sunday, June 8. This event began at 5 p.m. with the invocation led by Senior Pastor Dr. Raymond W. Turner and ended at 7:30 p.m. The program was filled with spiritually led components that promoted physical activity and fitness. This included community health leaders Reverend Bronica Martindale and Adrienne Waters-Riley promoting the Body and Soul Health DVD, praise dancing from New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, song selections, presentations of Certificates of Recognition, and more! The evening concluded with fellowship and a “taste test” from Demitrius Musgrove better known as, Chef D’Lavon. A blessing to all who attended; this event showed ways to be healthy not only in spirit, but in body as well.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

“I didn’t do it!”  “It’s not my fault!”… This is what you say when you blame other people for your problems. It’s a way of explaining why life hasn’t worked out the way you would like. You’ve been treated unfairly; you’ve ended up on the short end of the stick; you’ve been dealt a lousy hand of cards. You’re a victim. And that’s how you get through life—by blaming other people for the bad things that happen to you. If you lose your job, it’s because the boss was unreasonable; he didn’t understand you; he had it in for you; he hated you from the moment you walked into the office – “It’s not your fault!” Couldn’t be! Impossible! Unthinkable!

Sounds familiar?

These days it seem as if everyone has been exposed to the “Blame someone else Syndrome.” It’s your parents, brother, sister, pastor, deacons, preachers, church members, school teachers, classmates, boss, bus driver, friend, children, casino, and the co-workers fault that you have been contaminated with the “Blame someone else Syndrome.”

We are always “Passing the Buck.” In the beginning, Adam blamed Eve – and not only did he blame Eve, but he blamed God for giving her to him!  And he was not the only one playing the blame game. Eve blamed the serpent {Genesis 3: 1-14}. Neither accepted responsibility, both pointed the fault-finger away from them and somewhere else and entered into the victim-vortex where the swirl of “It’s not my fault,” kept them and will keep us locked out of truly living God’s unique call on our lives.

The truth is that whether it is physical, financial, or spiritual, whatever the issue, the response of some people will always be, “It’s not my fault!”  We live during a time when people are unwilling to take personal responsibility for their own lives, for their own welfare, for their own health, or for their own spiritual growth.  There is always a tendency to look for someone else to blame. But the fact is that when we stand before God and the judgment seat of Christ, we will answer for our own failures and the choices we have made.  “No Excuses will be Accepted!”

And what’s really sad, is that many in the church today have the “It’s not my fault,” mentality. They either make excuses or blame someone else for their own sins or shortcomings. It is time to take an honest look at ourselves by the standard of God’s Word, look at our sins for what they are, confess them, and ask God to forgive us. Then and only then, can we truly be fruitful in the Lord’s Kingdom.

So stop making excuses. Quit shifting the blame to others. Accept your circumstances and position, and instead of making excuses for your actions, change your behavior. We serve a great God.  Our limitations are God’s opportunities to show Himself mighty in our lives. Don’t play the blame game; own it by name and avoid the shame.

Vernell Taylor
Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager
Union Bank, N.A.

By Vernell Taylor

Spring is here and many of us are busy cleaning out closets and dusting the cobwebs that may have accumulated during the winter. While you are taking on spring cleaning projects, consider taking a fresh look at your finances.

Following are a few tips to help with your financial spring cleaning:

Revisit your budget

Review your household budget and look for areas where you might be spending more than you should, or budgeting more than you might need, and then adjust your budget accordingly. Use this time to revisit your short- and long-term goals for expenses, such as college, purchasing a home, or retirement, and make sure you are setting aside enough in savings. Look for ways to pay down debt and contribute more to savings and investments on a regular basis.

Automate
Talk to your banker about technology and services that your bank may offer to help simplify your finances. Take advantage of direct deposit, online banking, and automatic payments for recurring bills, and set up regular automatic transfers to savings, investment and retirement accounts.

Look for ways to cut expenses

If you carry a balance on your credit cards, call your credit card company and ask for a lower interest rate, or seek alternatives elsewhere. If you notice that mortgage rates have dropped two or more points than what you are paying, consider refinancing your home mortgage at a lower interest rate. Compare home and auto insurance plans and contact your insurance agent and ask if you can reduce your rate. Contact your utility company to inquire about possible ways to save on your bill.  Consider adjusting your withholding so you get as much money as possible in your paycheck versus a large refund when you file taxes.

Review important financial documents and policies

Pull copies of your will and/or living trust, and other important documents and review them to make sure they are up to date. Obtain a copy of your credit report and correct any errors. To get a free credit report from each of the three major credit-reporting bureaus, go to annualcreditreport.com. Review insurance policies to make sure you have adequate coverage and a designated beneficiary of your choosing.

Consolidate accounts

If you have multiple 401k accounts, consider rolling them into a single IRA account to allow for streamlined control of your investments and to help reduce the paperwork of multiple accounts. Reduce your monthly bills by consolidating debts or loans into as few accounts as possible, and simplify even more by bundling services such as cable, internet and phone.

Control the clutter

Set up a simple filing system, and use it consistently.  Assign folders, binders, or other receptacles to gather pending bills, statements, receipts and important financial documents, and store them in a safe place. Shred unnecessary paper, such as old sales receipts that have no tax purpose, or utility bills that can be accessed online. Consider creating digital files by scanning documents and filing them on your computer, but be sure to have that information backed up on a CD, flash drive or back up service. Inquire about paperless billing options to reduce the amount of paper waste and clutter.

Update your calendar 
Set up a calendar to remind you when bills are due, policies are up for renewal, tax deadlines and other important financial dates to avoid late fees and penalties. Don’t forget to include reminders for things like year-end charitable contributions, and regular meetings with your banker or investment advisor to review your holdings and take into consideration any changing goals or circumstances.

The foregoing article is intended to provide general information about financial spring cleaning and is not considered financial or tax advice. Please consult your financial or tax advisor.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA– The Assistance League of San Bernardino thanked their out-going executive board and welcomed the incoming 2014-2015 executive board Monday night at the Assistance League chapter house in San Bernardino.

Yearly the chapter installs their new board at their annual meeting. This year their incoming President Deborah Karalun wanted to bring a bit of the islands to their final meeting of the year.

“Being the last meeting of the 2013-2014 year and my first as the 2014-2015 President I wanted to celebrate the hard work of all the members that make this organization great. We all are working for the same cause of making our community better place,” shared Karalun.

The Assistance League is a non-profit organization that serves children in need in our community. Since 1948 they have been helping students with dental needs in the Dr. Earl R. Crane Children’s Dental Center that began a dental hygiene program in 1970 and has been providing clothing since 1983 with Operation School Bell.

Members of Assistance League are required to volunteer a minimum of fifty hours a year, including time at meetings, dental screenings, shopping with students for Operation School Bell and the annual fundraiser Headdress Ball.

Member’s that were installed for the new year’s executive board are: Deborah Karalun, President; Teresa Craig, President Nominee, Marsha Scott Vice President Membership; Carol Dixon-Cahill, Vice President Fundraising; Mindy Erickson, Recording Secretary; Jennifer Hobbs, Corresponding Secretary; Amy Johnson, Treasurer; Sherry Lopez, Assistant Treasurer; Elsa Carlton, Education Chair; Ruth Sandlin, Liaison to Les Confreres; Mary Masasso and Cathy Bechtel, Dental Center co-chairs; Margaret Ortiz and Linda Gordon, Operation School Bell; Bobbi Simenton, Orientation Chair.

“Assistance League has become a passion of mine since I became a member and I am honored to be leading our chapter and working with these phenomenal women to support our philanthropies. I hope my passion is contagious. We welcome anyone interested in joining this incredible sisterhood,” said Karalun.

Assistance League of San Bernardino meets on the second Monday of the month at the League House located at 580 West 6th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410 at 6:00 p.m. Their next meeting will be held September 8, 2014 guests are welcome.

For more information about Assistance League and their philanthropies visit their website at http://sanbernardino.assistanceleague.org or email them at sanbernardinoassistanceleague@gmail.com

The SBCCD Board members welcome the new student trustees at their installation on June 12. Shown left to right, front row, are Crafton Hills College student trustee Alexis Panaguiton; Trustee Nickolas W. Zoumbos; Board Vice President Kathleen (Katy) Henry; Board President Donna Ferracone; San Bernardino Valley College Student Trustee Tiffany Joy Guzman; Trustee Gloria Macias Harrison; Back row: Trustee Dr. Donald Singer; Trustee John Longville and SBCCD Chancellor Bruce Baron.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – – The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) Board of Trustees installed newly elected Student Trustees Alexis Panaguiton from Crafton Hills College and Tiffany Joy Guzman from San Bernardino Valley College. Board President Donna Ferracone swore in the two students at their regularly scheduled meeting on June 12.

SBCCD Board of Trustees President Donna Ferracone said, “Serving on the Board of Trustees provides both students with the opportunity to learn first-hand about balancing the needs of their various constituency groups against the constraints of the state budget. They also will have a wonderful opportunity for training in teamwork, leadership, planning and communication.”

SBCCD Chancellor Bruce Baron said, “Previous student trustees have identified specific issues that their electorates were interested in, have researched those issues, and proffered policies and procedures that the Board has taken very seriously. We look forward to working with both Student Trustees and to providing them with a rewarding learning experience.”

Crafton Hills College Student Trustee Alexis Panaguiton first started her academic career at Crafton Hills College, there pursuing a degree in respiratory therapy. Not only is Alexis the first in her family to attend college, but she had the desire to seek more by joining the Student Senate as the Social Events Officer. As the Social Events Officer, Alexis was the lead on combating the implementation of AB955 at Crafton Hills College which was successful. As Student Trustee, she plans to be the voice of her fellow students by working with administrators, classified staff, and the student senate to help establish a positive learning environment.

After completing her degree and the respiratory program at Crafton Hills College, she plans on obtaining a position at Loma Linda University Health Care for her ultimate dream.

San Bernardino Valley College Student Trustee Tiffany Joy Guzman grew up in Redlands, Calif., where she played Varsity Girls Golf and took health and nutrition classes at Redlands High School. A Liberal Arts student at San Bernardino Valley College, Tiffany is involved with the Associated Student Government and was elected Campus Events Director for the 2013-14 academic year.  In addition, she was an assistant moderator for the 31st District congressional forum on campus, which provided more than one hundred students the opportunity of meeting the candidates. The time spent being Campus Events Director led her to pursue a political journey within San Bernardino Community College District, where she campaigned for her new role as a Student Trustee. Tiffany said, “I would love to plant the seed of motivation in student’s lives and help them reach their goals.” Ms. Guzman is actively involved as the secretary of the newly established chapter of the SCTA (Student California Teachers Association) club on the SBVC campus.

In addition to installing the new student trustees, the Board recognized the outgoing student trustees, Yazmeen Flores from Crafton Hills College and Rosalinda Sosa Sanchez from San Bernardino Valley College for their year of service which completed this month.

About the San Bernardino Community College District

The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) is one of 72 community college districts within the California Community College system, the largest educational system in the world, which encompasses 112 community colleges. The SBCCD has an 87 year history of providing its community and students with quality and affordable vocational certificates, associate’s degrees, and preparation for transfer to a four year college or university through San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) and Crafton Hills College (CHC). In addition, the Economic Development and Corporate Training Division (PDC) and KVCR TV-FM provide professional development and cultural and educational information to the community at large.

For additional information on the SBCCD, please contact Alisa Sparkia Moore, Esq., San Bernardino Community College District Communications and Public Relations at 909.382.4012, 805.717.0347 cell, or by email at asmoore@sbccd.edu.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – For the 14^th consecutive year, Cal State San Bernardino will again operate on a four-day, 40-hour workweek throughout the summer, beginning Monday, June 16.

As has become tradition at CSUSB following June commencement ceremonies, the campus will operate on the 4/40 schedule through Sept. 5. Operating hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Some offices will remain open on Fridays during the summer, and University Police remain on duty every day.

The university will return to its traditional five-day work schedule on Monday, Sept. 8.

The condensed workweek has helped the university reduce its energy consumption, while allowing the public more time to access university services during the expanded hours.

The university also has encouraged energy conservation measures such as turning off lights in unused rooms, reducing lighting in hallways and turning off computers and other electronic equipment that are not in use.

During the week of June 30, the campus will revert to an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule and will be closed on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. The campus also will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of Labor Day.

The university’s summer session classes begin Wednesday, June 18. The regular 10-week summer session runs from June 18 through Aug 28, while accelerated six-week sessions are scheduled for June 18-July 24 and July 28-Sept. 3.

The fall quarter will begin on Thursday, Sept. 25.

For more information, contact Cal State San Bernardino’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.