Bronco Riding

CITY OF INDUSTRY – The exciting Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, the only nationally touring Black Rodeo, brings two days of enjoyment for the whole family for days on Saturday and Sunday July 20 and 21 at the Industry Hills Expo Center, and featuring Urban Cowboys and Cowgirls performing feats of bravery and expertise.  It is by far “The Greatest Show on Dirt!”  These competitors will also be joined by horse riding celebrity cowboys like actors Glyn Turman, Bill Pickins, Jr., and Delroy Lindo. In fact you never know who is going to show up to celebrate the historical cultural legacy of Black Americans shaping America’s Western heritage at the Bill Pickett Rodeo!

Events will include Bare Back Ridin’, Tie Down Ropin’, Ladies Steer Undecoratin’, Barrel Racin’, Bull Ridin’, Muttin Bustin’ (for kids), and of course Bull Doggin’ the rodeo stunt invented by none other than the  Legendary Black Cowboy from Texas Bill Pickett!

“Bull Dogging” is when horse-mounted rider chases a steer, drops from the horse to the steer, then wrestles the steer to the ground by grabbing and twisting its horns. Pickett also used his teeth, as a dog would do.  His exploits also made Mr. Pickettl one of America’ s first stunt men.  He provided the vision for all those cowboy movies where the hero jumps from his horse to stop wild horses or a runaway stage coach.

Born in 1870, Pickett was also a ranch cowboy and he and his brothers also operated Pickett Bros. Bronco Busters and Rough Riders Association in Texas.  Pickett became very famous for his work on the rodeo circuit where he was often billed as the “Dusky Demon.” In 1905 the Miller Brothers who operated the famous 101 Ranch Wild West Show, hired Pickett for their show and moved him and his entire family to Oklahoma. Pickett performed across the U.S. as well as in Madison Square Garden in New York and across the seas in England, and appeared in at least one cowboy movie.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma inducted Pickett into its Hall of Fame in 1971, and the museum (www.nationalcowboymuseum.org)  hosts a regular Bill Pickett Program every Saturday where children learn all about the feats and exploits of this pioneering Black rodeo cowboy.  In 1987, a large bronze statue depicting Pickett bulldogging was unveiled at the Fort Worth Cowtown Coliseum and a . The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum in Fort Worth, Texas (www.cowboysofcolor.org ) features displays and programs on prominent figures in American history, including African American, Native American and European trailblazers from the Old West and the Buffalo Soldiers and inducted Pickett into its Hall of Fame in 2003.  The Texas Historical Commission and the Woodson-dickey History Club erected a monument plaque to Pickett in 1991.  Mr. Pickett is also depicted on a U.S. Postage stamp (so is his brother Ben due to a photo mix-up.) Pickett died in 1932 and is buried on White Eagle Monument Hill in Oklahoma.

The Saturday show starts at 7 p.m. and the Sunday show starts at 3 p.m.  Tickets: Children $17 Adv/$20 at gate; Adults $20 Adv/$24 at gate; Arena $30 Adv/$35 at gate.  Tickets for the Bill Pickett Rodeo are available at Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, Black Voice News in Riverside-San Bernardino; in Carson, CA at  Venni Mac’s M&M Soul and at the Postal Annex on E. University Dr.; in Inglewood at  Inglewood Tickets on S. Market Street,  at Ms. B’s M&M Soul Food on W. Manchester Blvd at Zahra’s Books N. Things on N. La Brea Ave., and also at A Cultural Affair Boutique also on N. La Brea Ave.; in Long Beach at Shades of Afrika on E. 4th St.; in Los Angeles at Zambezi Bazzar on Degnan Blvd. in Leimert Park and at Simply Wholesome on W. Slauson Ave..

Proceeds also benefit the Bill Pickett Memorial Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships to Black high school and college students involved or interested in pursuing careers in Rodeo or animal Science. The Industry Hills Expo Center is located at 16200 Temple Ave. in the City of Industry, CA 91744. For Information and Group Sales call 310-674-6700, or the Hotline at 310-599-5555, and visit online at www.billpickettrodeo.com, 866-LVRODEO. (L.E. Pezant, WSSN 7-11-13)

Michelle Myers-Heard and Pastor Artis Glass, Jr.

Leap of Faith Community Baptist Church, Inc. is a small congregation that has rejoiced in the money it has saved on its electric bill.  Established in 1997, the Inglewood, Calif., church has saved about $3,500 in less than two years by simply changing 91 of its lights to compact fluorescent ones as part of Southern California Edison’s (SCE) energy-efficiency program.

The arrival of summer and high temperatures brings higher electric bills, and Pastor Glass believes it is important that organizations, businesses and individuals take advantage of money-and-energy-saving programs.

Pastor Glass learned about SCE’s Energy Efficient Express Solutions program from a church member. Brother Rutherford is a contractor who mentioned that the church lighting was very dim and that a simple solution would be programs offered by SCE to increase lighting and generate savings.

“Signing up for the program was easy,” said Pastor Glass. “The program was free and it is paying for itself.”

The pastor of the congregation of 50 admitted that he did not know much about other programs offered by SCE, but that he was interested in learning more.

Michele Myers-Heard is an SCE account executive who focuses on helping faith-based organizations use energy wisely.  In addition to switching the lights, Myers-Heard also discussed other energy solutions with Pastor Glass, such as the Summer Discount Plan.

“Get the information and make a decision on whether or not a program would work for you or your business,” said Pastor Glass. “The program we have at Leap of Faith is working for us and that is something that I can stand behind.”

But the savings aren’t limited to places of worship, according to Myers-Heard.

“Whether you are a business or a resident, we want to help our customers save money on their bills by helping them partner with us,” she said. “We want to help our customers be a part of the solution by making sure we have enough safe and affordable energy for all of us.”

For more information on ways to conserve energy and save money, go to SCE.com/save.

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Retirement_Planning

LOS ANGELES , CA— This presentation on retirement planning will be held on Thursday, July 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m..  Topics and discussions will cover what steps business owners should take both pre and post-retirement.  It combines investment strategies with non-registered strategies and products. Includes strategies on how to plan for the future; Fundamentals of Asset Allocation, shifting from Asset Accumulation to Asset Distribution, and financial concepts every business owner needs to consider for retirement.  The presentation will be held at New York Life Insurance Company, a co-sponsor of the event, located at 6300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. FREE for GLAAAC members FREE: $10 for Non Members. Expedite registration by pre-paying online at http://glaaaccnylseminar.eventbrite.com/.  RSVP by emailing to info@glaaacc.org by Tuesday, July 16, 2013. . Information: 323-292-1297| www.glaaacc.org. [GLAAC is located at 5100 W. Goldleaf Circle, Suite 203, Los Angeles, CA 90056]

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The Center for Employment Training (CET) will host an Open House on Tuesday, July 16 to inform our community about CET’s vocational courses and training programs to offer individuals in order to help them get back into the job market and obtain employment. CET programs are open to all.  CET is located at 1430 Cooley Court, San Bernardino, CA 92408. Information: 909-478-3818, www.cetweb.org.

MURRIETTA, CA— In a global-knowledge based economy, the success of each citizen and the productivity of our nation depend on reinforcing and expanding our role as a world leader in discovery and innovation. That role is determined by how we educate each student, in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics [STEM].  InSoCal Connect (www.insocalconnect.org) will present the topic “Why STEM Education Matters” as part of its Thought Leadership Series, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Pamela S. Clute, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Educational and Community Engagement, the Executive Director for the ALPHA Center at the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Clute established the ALPHA Center in 1998 and her work at the Center allows her to champion her passion: motivating young people toward success in STEM careers. She is also working to create an intellectual climate that promotes and improves education opportunities for ALL students and a well trained workforce.

The event is Free and lunch will is provided. The event, presented by will be held at the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, 41870 Mcalby Courtt, Murrieta, CA 92562. Reserve your seat: RSVP ccaldwell@insocalconnect.org.

Seeker_Nanotechnology

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The no-cost Nanotechnology Technician’s Training begins on Monday July 8 and ends August 22, 2013, and the classes have space for more trainees.  The training is now open to both Unemployed persons as well as under-employed workers as long as they have either work experience or a science related degree.  The classes have always been available to currently employed or self-employed persons.

The training includes classroom lectures as well as on-the job-training in the fundamentals of nano-materials, nano-energy and nano-medicine. The training will be held at the Center for the Advancement of Nanotechnology (NanoCenter), Applied Technology Training Center, 114 S. Del Rosa Drive in San Bernardino; plus some of the hands-on and on-the-job training will be conducted at the University of California, Riverside and at industry partners’ locations. For specific minimum qualifications, a registration packet, or further information: www.attctraining.org, 909-382-4001 or 909-382-4076 .

SACRAMENTO – In response to forecasts for excessive heat through Monday throughout much of California, state emergency and public health officials are urging Californians to drink plenty of water, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and take other actions that will reduce their risk of death or heat-related illness.

This warming trend has prompted the issue of Excessive Heat Warnings by the National Weather Service (NWS) through Monday for parts of Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and Special Weather Statements for most of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley and foothills, as well as the east Bay Area.

“Prolonged exposure to excessive temperatures can be extremely dangerous, if not deadly, particularly for infants, small children seniors and those with health problems,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health.  “Last year was the hottest year on record in the United States.  Heat waves in California are projected to occur earlier in the season, be more intense and last longer.”

He noted that at on average heat-related emergencies cause 56 deaths in Californians each year and prompt 3,800 people to seek treatment at hospital emergency rooms for heat-related symptoms, with approximately 500 cases per year requiring hospitalization.   At least 136 Californians died due to illnesses prompted by the 13-day heat wave that struck the state in July 2006.

“Cal EMA and its partner agencies have been preparing for excessive heat in many areas of the state this summer and fall by reviewing internal procedures, updating cooling center data bases, identifying state fairgrounds and facilities that serve as cooling centers and taking other actions to help cities and counties throughout the state ensure the safety of their residents, but it’s important that every Californian who is able do the simple, but important things that can make the difference between life and death,” said California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA Secretary Mark Ghilarducci.

Key actions residents and visitors of California can take to reduce their risk of heat-related death and injury include:

• Monitoring local media for the latest weather forecasts and information from local officials
• Learning the signs of heat-related illness
• Staying out of the sun
• Drink plenty of liquids and reducing physical activity
• Using air conditioning and fans or getting to a location that is air conditioned such as the mall, the theater or a designated cooling center
• Using cool compresses, misting and baths to lower body temperatures
• Wearing lightweight, loose fitting clothing.
• Taking shelter and breaks periodically, as well as staying hydrated, if you must work outside.

The recommendations from state emergency and health officials come as state agencies implement the “Heat Alert” phase of the state’s Contingency Plan for Excessive Heat Emergencies. 

Actions taken by Cal EMA and other state agencies as part of the implementation of “Heat Alert” phase activities include:

• Coordination calls among Cal EMA, key state agencies and the potentially affected operational areas and regions with weather and power updates.
• Coordination by Cal EMA with the California Independent System Operator and the California Utilities Emergency Association for power updates.
• Dissemination of information related to the warming trend to key partners
• Coordination by Cal EMA of information requirements and needs with the Access and Functional Needs Community, the Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Aging and Department of Rehabilitation
• Dissemination of safety tips and resource information to the public via the Heat Portal of the Cal EMA website
• Coordination with state and regional public information officers by Cal EMA and outreach by Cal EMA to media partners
• Coordination by CDPH regarding the excessive heat event with local public health and other officials.

Additional information on preparing for heat-related emergencies is available at:

• http://www.calema.ca.gov/PlanningandPreparedness/Pages/Heat.aspx

• http://www.bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/beinformed/naturaldisasters/extremeheat/Pages/ExtremeHeat.aspx,
• http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/HeatIllnessInfo.html

By Mickey MacIntyre and Sean Crowley

Imagine your 90-year-old mother has Alzheimer’s disease and is near death. But before she became mentally incompetent, she gave you power of attorney to sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order so medical personnel would honor her wishes to die peacefully, without aggressive medical interventions in her final days.

Then your worst nightmare unfolds: your mother goes into cardiac arrest, and is subjected to the very treatment she had been determined to avoid: aggressive, traumatic Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, and other extreme measures, including having a hole cut in her throat, being injected with paralyzing drugs, having tubes forced down her throat and into her stomach, and having air forced into her lungs.

Two days after this aggressive, traumatic resuscitation, you are in the indescribably horrifying situation of having to direct that your mother’s ventilator be removed so she can finally die and her suffering end. But she lingers on in a slow decline for another five days while you maintain a heartbreaking, bedside vigil each day and night until she finally passes away. Then to add insult to injury, the hospital hands you a bill for this unwanted medical treatment totaling thousands of dollars.

Sound preposterous? Unfortunately, it’s not. It is Sharon Hallada’s real life, front page news nightmare.  It prompted the leading national organization dedicated to ensuring that medical professionals honor patients’ end-of-life choices, Compassion & Choices, to help Sharon file a lawsuit against a hospital and a nursing home in Lakeland, Florida, for failing to honor her mother’s wishes, despite the fact that they had been clearly and legally specified in the DNR. Sharon sued on behalf of her deceased mother, Marjorie Mangiaruca, to ensure no else’s parent has to endure this kind of traumatic experience.

In fact, medical professionals override or ignore many patients’ decisions in the weeks and months before their deaths. It happens for a variety of reasons and can lead to invasive and fruitless testing, needless suffering, unrelenting pain and a prolonging of the period before death. Patients are tethered to monitors and machines despite their determination to reject treatment and desire to die at home in the embrace of loved ones.

A recent study published in Journal of the American Medical Association found that between 2000 and 2009 treatment in intensive care units in the last month of life increased from 24 percent to 29 percent. The accompanying editorial concluded, “The focus appears to be on providing curative care in the acute hospital regardless of likelihood of benefit or preferences of patients. If programs aimed at reducing unnecessary care are to be successful, patients’ goals of care must be elicited and treatment options such as palliative and hospice care offered earlier in the process than is the current norm.”

To stop this disturbing trend, policy makers can and should provide both the carrot and the stick to ensure that patients’ wishes are honored: financial incentives for honoring advance directives and financial disincentives for disregarding patients’ expressed wishes.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should deny payment to providers when there is clear evidence that patients were subjected to  treatments they didn’t want — just as current policies deny payment when patients receive unnecessary treatment.

The Justice Department is investigating hospitals and doctors’ groups for unnecessary treatment and taking legal action against the perpetrators when they find evidence of such treatment. The same diligence should be trained on unwanted medical treatment. It is always unnecessary and should never be considered acceptable.

Compassion & Choices recently recommended CMS initiate several steps to improve the quality of conversations among health care professionals, patients and families about end-of-life decisions, including:

1.      Reimbursing medical providers for participation in advanced care planning with patients and their families well in advance of illness or before facing end of life;

2.      Providing financial incentives and training to encourage medical providers to offer all the information and counseling necessary for a patient’s decision making when they secure informed consent;

3.      Ensuring that the full range of medical care and treatment decisions, including curative care, palliative care and medical assistance in dying, are freely available to patients without institutional or reimbursement barriers.

Mickey MacIntyre is the Chief Program Officer for the nation’s leading end-of-life choice advocacy group, Compassion & Choices. He recently testified before the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Transforming End-of-Life Care.

Residents are advised to stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay informed

San Bernardino: County Health Officer, Maxwell Ohikhuare, M.D. has issued an extreme heat alert for San Bernardino County, due to high temperature forecasts for the inland and desert regions. Residents are urged to take precautions that will prevent heat-related illness.

Extremely high or unusually hot temperatures can affect your health. Most vulnerable are the elderly, those who work or exercise outdoors, infants and children, the homeless or poor, and people with a chronic medical condition.

Take the necessary precautions to prevent serious health effects such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Stay cool

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings.
• Find an air-conditioned Cooling Center open to the public by dialing the United Way’s toll-free resource telephone line at 2-1-1, or online at www.coolingsb.org.
• Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.
• Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when it is the hottest part of the day, and avoid direct sunlight.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths to lower your body temperature.
• Check on at-risk friends, family and neighbors at least twice a day.

Stay hydrated

• Drink more than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside
• Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
• Make sure your family, friends and neighbors are drinking enough water.

Stay informed

• Check your local news for extreme heat warnings and safety tips.
• Visit http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat to find information and tips for preventing heat sickness.
• Sign up for free weather alerts to your phone or e-mail from websites such as www.weather.com/mobile. .
• Keep your friends, family and neighbors aware of weather and heat safety information.

  Additionally, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health encourages all residents to learn the signs and first aid response for heat-related illness. Warning signs and symptoms vary but may include:

   

  
  

  Heat Exhaustion

  Symptoms

  • Heavy sweating
  • Weakness
  • Skin cold, pale, and clammy
  • Weak pulse
  • Fainting and vomiting

   

   

   

• Heat Stroke

  Symptoms

  • High body temperature (above103°F)
  • Hot, red, dry or moist skin
  • Rapid and strong pulse
  • Possible unconsciousness

Today, the U.S. Department of Education updated its College Affordability and Transparency Lists as part of the Administration’s ongoing effort to increase transparency around the cost of college. The updated lists highlight institutions with the highest tuition prices, highest net prices, and institutions whose costs are rising at the fastest rates.

“With so much information out there, it’s important that students and their families are equipped with the tools they need to make informed decisions about where to go to college,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Everyone has a role to play in keeping college affordable, and these lists help consumers compare the costs of higher education institutions.”

The lists, available at the College Affordability and Transparency Center, are required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and released by the Department to make the costs of college more transparent for students and their families.

In 2011, the Department published the first set of College Affordability and Transparency Lists. Last year, the Department updated the lists to include newer information. Similar to previous releases, three of this year’s lists focus on tuition and fees, and three others look at the institution’s average net price, which is the average price of attendance that is paid by full-time, first-time students after grants and scholarships are taken into account. Those colleges and universities where prices are rising the fastest will report why costs have gone up and how the institution will address rising prices, and the Department will summarize these reports into a document that it will post online.

Of the approximately 7,500 Title IV participating institutions of higher education, there are 1,498 institutions included on these lists, and schools are allowed to appear on more than one of the lists.

In addition to the College Affordability and Transparency Lists, the Administration has also released other tools to help families as they pursue higher education. The College Scorecard and Financial Aid Shopping Sheet are two of the Administration’s latest resources that provide consumers with easy-to-understand information about institutions and affordability. These tools are all part of the Administration’s continued efforts to hold colleges accountable for cost, value, and quality so that students choose a students choose a schools that is well-suited to meet their needs, priced affordable, and is consistent with their education and career goals.

In response to several requests from consumers last year for more comparison data, the Department provided tuition and net price information for all institutions, broken out by sector in order to allow students to compare costs at similar types of schools. The comprehensive lists are provided this year as well.

Lists
Highest tuition and fees (top 5 percent)
Highest average net price (top 5 percent)
Lowest tuition and fees (bottom 10 percent)
Lowest average net price (bottom 10 percent)
Highest percentage increases in tuition and fees (top 5 percent)
Highest percentage increases in average net price (top 5 percent)
 

Sectors
4-year public
4-year private nonprofit
4-year private for-profit
2-year public
2-year private nonprofit
2-year private for-profit
Less-than-2-year public
Less-than-2-year private nonprofit
Less than-2-year private for-profit

Institutions report data on their tuition and fees and net price annually through the Department’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Additional updated data on individual schools is available on the Department’s College Navigator site. To view the lists, visit: http://collegecost.ed.gov/catc/Default.aspx.