C O L T O N C O U R I E R WWe e eekkllyy
I n l a n d E m p i r e C o m m
By Manny SandovalIn a heartwarming gesture of commun i t y s u p p o r t , t h e S a n B e r n a r d i n o Loma Linda Crossroads Rotary, in collaboration with city officials, gifted over 40 students at the iconic Woodrow Wilson Elementary School with backpacks filled with essential school supplies on Friday, September 15th
The event, held in the school's cafeteria, was marked by the presence of Colton's Mayor Frank Navarro, who expressed his admiration for the students “It’s a great day We have something of value for you, as you offer so much every day that you’re in class," Navarro said He emphasized the
importance of the day, "You’re the important ones "
The students' excitement was palpable Upon hearing that the mayor was in their midst, they eagerly looked around, with some exclaiming, “The mayor is here! Which one is the mayor?”
Principal Dr Cynthia Coello echoed the sentiment of the day, saying, “It's a very exciting day We have some important visitors We have the superintendent here today, we have the mayor of Colton here, and we have some wonderful people helping to give you all an amazing backpack today ”
Dr Manzoor Massey, Former Governor for Rotary International, D5330, inspired the students with a story of the Muso tree, drawing parallels between the tree's growth and the students' personal development He e m p h a s i z e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f l a y i n g strong foundations, respecting elders, and listening In a rousing moment, Dr Massey had the students shout in unison, “I have no limits, I accept no limits ”
C o l t o n J o i n t U n i f i e d S c h o o l D i s t r i c t S u p e r i n t e n d e n t D r F r a n k M i r a n d a expressed his gratitude to Mayor Navarro and the Rotary for their initiative "I'm excited to be here I want to thank our
Backpacks cont next pg
C o l t o n ' s C a l i f o r n i a U n i v e r s i t y o f S c i e n c e a n d M e d i c i n e t o H o s t M a s s i v e H e a l t h F a i r o n S e p t e m b e r 2 2 , F r e e t o t h e C o m m u n i t y
By Manny Sandovalfair will take place in the outdoor courtyard of the CUSM campus at 1501 Violet St in Colton Residents can drop by without any prior registration, making it convenient to access a plethora of health services
The event will feature approximately 35 health-centric and community organizat i o n s , i n c l u d i n g r e n o w n e d e n t i t i e s l i k e Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and IEHP
, the
Attendees can benefit from cholesterol checks, blood pressure measurements, diabetes information, women's health education, behavioral health resources, pharmacy c o n s u l t a t i o n s , f i t n e s s c l u b i n f o r m a t i o n , meal prep guidance, and more
For further details about the health fair, contact Cynthia Baker at bakerc@cusm org or phone 909-966-4384
CJUSD
amazing Mayor Frank Navarro for putting this together," he said
Woodrow Wilson Elementary, a staple in the South Colton community since 1938, has always been a beacon of education and community spirit The event further solidified the bond
between the school and the community, with students expressing their gratitude to the Rotary, the mayor, and the CJUSD staff
As the city of Colton continues to grow and evolve, its commitment to education and community remains unwavering, ensuring that every student has the tools they need to succeed
CIELO Fund Celebrates One Year : Over $1 Million R aised, $280K Granted to 25 Latino-led Organizations, and $125K Awarded in Scholar ships
By Manny SandovalThe Inland Empire Community Foundation
(IECF) marked a significant milestone on Saturday as it celebrated its first anniversary of the CIELO Fund Hosted by Cal State San Bernardino, the event kicked off Latino Heritage Month with a bang, announcing that the fund has raised over $1 million in its inaugural year to uplift and invest in the Inland Empire's Latino community
IECF President and CEO Michelle Decker expressed her gratitude, stating, "Thank you for being here to celebrate the success of the Cielo fund It's a testament to our board, partners, and community and a reminder of our great potential when we come together for our diverse community It's about changing lives and giving opportunities to people in our region This impact is not just being felt here in the IE, but also in Congress "
Senator Alex Padilla lauded the organization's efforts, saying, "I couldn't be prouder of your work to uplift Latinos in the area Our democracy works much better when a diverse number of people participate We must continue to support Latino-led businesses in the Inland Empire Because of you, 25 Latino-led organizations have garnered $280k in just two years "
Jesse Melgar, CIELO Fund Founding Chair and IECF Board Member reflected on the fund's rapid growth "It's hard to believe this was just launched one year ago We are cultivating Latino opportunity I'm proud of our collective impact through grantmaking, scholarships, and
narrative changes With your help, we were able to invest $280k in 25 IE Latino-led nonprofits in the region "
The event also highlighted the launch of a segment with KVCR called "IE Latino Voices," hosted by Yvette Walker The segment allows inaugural grantees to share the history of their organizations and amplify their stories
Angel Rodriguez, Associate Vice Chancellor of Government Relations and Strategic Communications for the San Bernardino Community College District, acknowledged the scholarship recipients "I want to acknowledge our scholarship recipients Join me on stage," he said, bringing each recipient to the stage The emotional moment saw recipients and their parents tear up, receiving a standing ovation from the audience
The event underscored the importance of representation and investment in the Latino community Latinos makeup 52% of the region but only hold 13% of seats on leadership boards By 2060, Latinos are projected to be 74% of the population
The $1 million raised by the CIELO Fund in its first year has already made a significant impact It has granted $280k to 25 Latino-led organizations, awarded $125k in scholarships to 83 Latino students, launched new narrative partnerships, and initiated new research to better support Latino families in the region Saturday's event was a testament to the power of community, collaboration, and the importance of investing in the future of the Inland Empire's Latino population
Colton City Council Recognizes Native American Day with Pr oclamation
(Dr G) Dr Luis S González, community writer
In a meeting held on September 5, the Colton City Council issued a proclamation recognizing Native American Day, presented to Mr Jack Lugo, a representative of Assembly Member James Ramos, and a member of the Morongo tribe
The proclamation underscores Colton's commitment to acknowledging and celebrating the rich history, culture, and contributions of California Native Americans It also serves as an opportunity to educate residents about the indigenous cultures that have significantly influenced the city, region, and state
Various tribal groups have left an indelible mark on the area, enriching the collective culture with indigenous traditions that continue to be celebrated and upheld The City of Colton, in particular, has benefited from the significant
contributions of California Native American communities in art, language, medicine, and environmental stewardship
Historical records highlight the Guachama, Serrano, Cahuilla, and Gabrielino tribes as some of the most influential Native American communities in Colton's history
Mr Lugo, attending on behalf of Assembly Member Ramos a Native American and member of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians expressed gratitude for the recognition "This proclamation is very much appreciated," Lugo stated during the meeting "It's important to know that the City of Colton recognizes the contributions of Native Americans to the community "
The city takes pride in its diverse community and is honored to recognize Native American Day officially This recognition not only celebrates the role of Native American communities in shaping the cultural landscape of Colton but also fosters appreciation throughout the surrounding region
San Ber nardino Community and Leader s Unite f or Student Success in the City and Beyond f or 2023/2024 School Year
By Manny SandovalLate August saw an inspiring display of community spirit as local organizations came together with a unified mission 501c3 organization 'Knock it Off and Forgive' joined forces with the San Bernardino Police Department, UPS, and the Women's Leadership Development Business Resource Group at The Johnson Hall Community Center
Their shared goal was evident: to ensure that every student in the San Bernardino City Unified School District and beyond is equipped with the tools and necessities they need for a successful 2023-2024 school year
The day was filled with joy as approximately four dozen students from San Bernardino and neighboring Rialto eagerly made their way through each supply station They collected backpacks with supplies and books, their faces lighting up with each new discovery The community center was excited, offering free snow cones and train rides, while volunteers from across the Inland Empire worked diligently to ensure every child left with a smile Councilmember Kimberly Calvin was present and didn't miss the chance to commend Malibu McKinnon, the founder of 'Knock it Off and Forgive ' "Thank you for continuing to do all of this because
some folks won't go into certain communities, but 'Knock it Off and Forgive' goes into all communities," praised Calvin She added that McKinnon is "a tremendous asset to San Bernardino "
Highlighting the collaborative nature of the initiative, San Bernardino Police Department Lieutenant John Echevarria said, "We're happy to be here continuing to help bridge the gap between the community, education, and law enforcement "
With gratitude evident in her voice, McKinnon said, "I just want to thank everyone for being a big part of this event, especially Assemblymember James Ramos and Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes They're always partnering with us, and I'm just thankful to be able to put this event together "
Brandy Beal of UPS and the Women's Leadership Development Business Resource Group underscored the purpose of the gathering "We're here today to bridge gaps between the police department, our local community, and small and large businesses to bring much-needed school supplies to the children in San Bernardino, ensuring a solid start to the 2023-2024 school year "
Such endeavors emphasize the boundless possibilities when a community rallies together, prioritizing the bright futures of its youngest members
Trailblazing Social Lites, Inc . Char ter Member Edna Noble Mar ks 90 Year s with Grandeur and Gratitude
By Manny SandovalThe Jassan Banquet Hall in San Bernardino was a scene of jubilation and reverence on Sunday, September 17, 2023, as over a hundred attendees, including current and former members of Social Lites, Inc , gathered to honor Ms Edna Noble on her 90th birthday
Ms Noble, a stalwart of the San Bernardino community, was among the pioneering charter members of Social Lites, Inc , founded in 1956
The organization was established with a noble mission: to support young African-American high school students pursuing higher education through the Beautillion Program
The 1960s saw Ms Noble at the helm of Social Lites, Inc as its president Under her visionary leadership, the organization announced its first $1,000 scholarship to California State University, San Bernardino, during the annual Ebony Fashion Show scholarship fundraiser
This groundbreaking initiative set a precedent
for future scholarships and showcased Ms Noble's unwavering commitment to education and community upliftment
Outside of her work with Social Lites, Inc , Ms Noble is a devoted Temple Missionary Baptist Church member Her lifetime of service and dedication did not go unnoticed
City Council Member Kimberly Calvin, representing the Sixth Ward, extended accolades on behalf of Mayor Helen Tran
Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes of the California State Assembly also recognized Ms Noble's contributions with a plaque presented by Representative Prince Ogidikpe
As the evening unfolded, the hall echoed with stories of Ms Noble's impact, a testament to her enduring legacy in San Bernardino and beyond
Community News
In partnership with six district attorneys, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a settlement with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc , and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (collectively “Kaiser”) resolving allegations that the healthcare provider unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste, medical waste, and protected health information at Kaiser facilities statewide As part of the settlement, Kaiser will be liable for a total of $49 million and be required to take significant steps to prevent future unlawful disposals
“The illegal disposal of hazardous and medical waste puts the environment, workers, and the public at risk It also violates numerous federal and state laws,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta “As a healthcare provider, Kaiser should know that it has specific legal obligations to properly dispose of medical waste and safeguard patients’ medical information I am pleased that Kaiser has been cooperative with my office and the district attorneys’ offices, and that it took immediate action to address the alleged violations ”
The settlement is the result of undercover inspections conducted by the district attorneys' offices of dumpsters from 16 different Kaiser facilities During those inspections, the district attorneys' offices reviewed the contents of unsecured dumpsters destined for disposal at publicly accessible landfills, finding hundreds of items of hazardous and medical waste (aerosols, cleansers, sanitizers, batteries, electronic wastes, syringes, medical tubing with body fluids, and pharmaceuticals) and over 10,000 paper records containing the information of over 7,700 patients The California Department of Justice subsequently joined the district attorneys and expanded the investigation of Kaiser ’s disposal practices further throughout the state In response to this joint law enforcement investigation, Kaiser immediately hired a third-party consultant and conducted over 1,100 trash audits at its facilities in an effort to improve compliance Kaiser also modified its operating procedures to improve its handling, storage, and disposal of waste
Kaiser is headquartered in Oakland, California and operates over 700 facilities statewide, making it the largest healthcare provider in California Kaiser provides healthcare to approximately 8 8 million Californians, as well as members of the public who seek emergency care from Kaiser facilities In announcing today’s settlement, Attorney General Bonta is joined by the district attorneys of
Alameda, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, and Yolo counties
“As a major corporation in Alameda County, Kaiser Permanente has a special obligation to treat its communities with the same bedside manner as its patients,” said Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price “Dumping medical waste and private information are wrong, which they have acknowledged This action will hold them accountable in such a way that we hope means it doesn’t happen again ”
“I am confident that this case shows the residents of San Bernardino County that our Office will not stand by as hospitals and other medical clinics dispose of medical waste including biohazards, hazardous waste and personal health information into our landfills, jeopardizing medical confidentiality,” said San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson “Deputy District Attorney’s Stephanie Weissman and Supervising Deputy District Attorney Doug Poston dedicated years of their time and expertise to ensure the residents of our County are protected from the mishandling of medical waste and Kaiser policies are improved to safeguard the public moving forward "
“My office takes patient privacy and the protection of the environment very seriously,” said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins “Hazardous waste, medical waste, and confidential patient information must be disposed of properly When it is not, we will not hesitate to take action Protecting patient privacy and the environment is just as important as protecting public safety ”
“This resolution further protects the health and safety of the residents of San Joaquin County and the state as a whole,” said San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas “The unlawful disposal of hazardous medical waste has no place in this county, or any county, and the mishandling of confidential patient information will not be tolerated The settlement with Kaiser places the appropriate safeguards to ensure that this never happens again ”
“As the largest healthcare provider in the state, Kaiser has an extraordinary responsibility to the public and to its own patients to ensure that hazardous waste, potentially infectious human waste materials, and highly sensitive patient health information are handled according to state laws and not sent to municipal landfills not equipped to handle those wastes,” said San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M Wagstaffe “Our Environmental Unit
continues to work with San Mateo County environmental regulators and colleagues across the state to investigate and prosecute entities that break the law and endanger the environment ”
As part of the settlement, Kaiser:
Will pay $47 250 million That amount includes $37,513,000 in civil penalties; $4,832,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs; and $4,905,000 for supplemental environmental projects, primarily environmental prosecutor training
Must pay an additional $1 75 million in civil penalties if, within 5 years of the entry of the final judgment, Kaiser has not spent $3 5 million at its California facilities to implement enhanced environmental compliance measures to ensure compliance with relevant provisions of the law that are alleged to have been violated
Must retain an independent third-party auditor approved by the Attorney General’s Office and the district attorneys who will: perform no less than 520 trash compactor audits at Kaiser ’s California facilities to help ensure that regulated wastes (including items containing protected health information) are not unlawfully disposed of; and conduct at least 40 programmatic field audits each year, for a period of five years after entry of the final judgment, to evaluate Kaiser ’s compliance with policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws related to hazardous waste, medical waste, and protected health information
Kaiser ’s unlawful disposals are alleged to violate California’s Hazardous Waste Control Law, Medical Waste Management Act, Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, Customer Records Law, and Unfair Competition Law The disposals are also alleged to violate the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as HIPAA
In 2014, the California Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Kaiser after it delayed notifying its employees about an unencrypted USB drive that was discovered at a Santa Cruz thrift store The USB drive contained over 20,000 employee records Kaiser paid $150,000 in penalties and attorneys' fees, and agreed to comply with California's data breach notification law in the future, provide notification of any future breach on a rolling basis, and implement additional training regarding the sensitive nature of employee records In addition, Kaiser has been the subject of prior enforcement actions by local prosecutors for mismanagement of regulated wastes
behind the wheel or walking
Redlands Police issued 28 citations for a variety of violations made by drivers during a bicycle and pedestrian safety operation on Friday, Sept 8
Police cited 28 drivers for violations including stop sign violations, failure to yield to a pedestrian, cell phone violations, unsafe speed, suspended license, failure to obey traffic signs and blocking a crosswalk
“Safety is a shared responsibility, with drivers holding the greatest responsibility to keep other road users safe,” Redlands Police Cpl Martin Gonzalez said “We hope this operation serves as a reminder to everyone to practice due care and to look out for one another ”
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
C h i l d P a s s e n g e r S a f e t y W e e k i s S e p t . 1 7 - 2 3
Community News
The Redlands Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies, public health departments and other community organizations to raise awareness about the importance of keeping children in the correct car seat for their age and size
During Child Passenger Safety Week, RPD wants to remind parents and caregivers to keep kids safe by securing children in the correct child safety seat
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of car seats (46%) are misused
“Children are vulnerable to injury in a
crash when they are in the wrong type of car seat for their age and size or if the car seat is installed improperly,” Redlands Police Cpl Martin Gonzalez said “Even if you think you have the right car seat and installed it correctly, it doesn’t hurt to get it checked ”
California law requires all children under 2 years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child is 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall Parents are encouraged to keep your child in rear- and forward-facing seats as long as possible Children 8 and older or who are at least 4 feet, 9 inches in height, may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be wearing a properly fitted safety belt
Community News
September is Pedestrian Safety
Month in California and the Redlands Police Department encourages everyone on our roads to care for one another and keep pedestrians safe from crashes and injuries
Based on data projections from the Governors Highway Safety Association, 7,508 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the U S in 2022, the highest number since 1981 In California, pedestrian deaths account for more than 25% of all traffic deaths
“There’s a lot happening on our roads, and everyone deserves to get to their destination safely,” Redlands Police Cpl Martin Gonzalez said “Drivers need to be aware of people who are walking Please slow down and never drive impaired We all have places to go, so let’s remember that safety is a shared responsibility ”
To promote the safety of people walking, Redlands Police will conduct traffic safety operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of pedestrians at risk These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield and running stop signs or signals
RPD offers safe driving and walking tips, including staying off the phone when
DRIVERS
• Do not speed, and slow down at intersections Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn
• Never drive impaired
PEDESTRIANS
• Be predictable Use signalized crosswalks where drivers may anticipate foot traffic
• Watch for approaching vehicles and practice due care crossing the street At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop
• Make it easier for drivers to see you at night – wear light colors, reflective material and use a flashlight
• Be careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night or on busier streets with higher speed limits
Share your thoughts about pedestrian safety by participating in the Go Safely Movement, a call-to-action traffic safety survey from the California Office of Traffic Safety Take the survey at gosafelyca org
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
