Colton Courier 8 10 17

W e e k l y COLTON COURIER Features, Lifestyle & News You Can Use!

Vol 145, NO. 34

THIS WEEK Gloria’s Corner A3

Traffic Advisory

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he process to fill the vacant District 2 seat on the Colton City Council is underway, according to city officials.

Residents interested in applying for the position are required to fill out an application, provide a resume with references, and complete a 200-word essay explaining their aspirations to serve by August 14.

The City Council will then review the applications and select the person they find most qualified for the position through an interview process. An official appointment will be made during a special council meeting on August 21.

“This will give [the City Council] an opportunity to look at what the process will be, how the questions will be set, and look at what [applicants] are bringing forward,” said City Clerk Carolina Padilla.

Councilmembers discussed the matter during their meeting on August 1--opting to designate someone over a special election Council cont. on next page

Red lan ds Back2 Scho ol Jam re adie s s tu de nts for n ew y ear

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PHOTO/CITY OF COLTON Colton City Clerk Carolina Padilla said residents looking to fill the District 2 vacancy on the City Council will have to go through an application process that will require a resume, letters of reference, and an essay explaining qualifications for the position. The deadline to apply is August 14. Mayor Richard DeLaRosa is also pictured.

Pepper Avenue bridge to be completed by next week

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By Anthony Victoria

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INSIDE ONE SECTION, 12 PAGES

Gloria’s Corner Words To think About Legal Notices Opinion Classifieds

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HOW TO REACH US Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Fax: (909) 384-0406 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: sales@iecn.com

August 10, 2017

Colton City Council aiming to fill I-10/Pepper vacant seat through appointment Avenue

By Anthony Victoria

Medin a, T ill man ru nn ing for SB school board

IECN

.com

PHOTO/ANTHONY VICTORIA The Pepper Avenue Interchange project is scheduled to be completed by early next week, County transportation officials said on Aug. 7.

he Pepper Avenue Interchange project at Interstate 10 in Colton is scheduled to be completed by early next week, announced the San Bernardino County Transportation Agency on Monday.

Transportation officials will join county and city leaders on August 15 at 10 a.m for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

The bridge’s completion marks the latest achievement by the SBCTA to improve county transportation. It is the fifth project to be upgraded along the I-10 since 2011. Improvements include wider on and off ramps, drainage Bridge cont. on next page

San Bernardino he County Transportation Authority, formerly known as San Bernardino Associated Governments, in partnership with the City of Colton, County of San Bernardino and Caltrans, is working to complete the construction of a new Interstate 10 Pepper Avenue Interchange that will feature a five-lane bridge and improved ramps. Once completed, the wider bridge will provide better traffic circulation for area residents, businesses and visitors to and from the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

Construction began in April 2016, and the new bridge is scheduled to open in mid-August.

Additional work will continue through fall 2017 to complete the project.

Fri., Aug. 11, 2017 11 pm – 7 am Westbound I-10 off- ramp and on-ramp �Full closures of westbound I10 Pepper Avenue off-ramp and on-ramp.

As an alternate route, westbound I-10 motorists can use the Rancho Avenue off-ramp, travel north at the end of the ramp, west on Valley Boulevard to connect with northbound Pepper Avenue.

To access the westbound I-10 onramp, motorists will be directed west on Valley Boulevard, south on Riverside Avenue. Please see detour map below.

Fri., Aug. 11, 2017 11 pm – 7 am Eastbound I-10 off- ramp and on-ramp Full closures of eastbound I-10 Pepper Avenue off-ramp and onramp.

As an alternate route, eastbound I-10 motorists can use the Riverside Avenue off-ramp, travel north at the end of the ramp, east on Valley Boulevard to connect with northbound Pepper Avenue. To access the westbound I-10 on-ramp, motorists will be directed east on Valley Boulevard, south on Rancho Avenue.

Page A2 • August 10, 2017 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers • Colton Courier

Fallen firefighter Brent Witham honored by local agencies

PHOTO/ANTHONY VICTORIA

Incoming traffic from the newly improved Pepper Avenue interchange on the I-10 freeway.

Bridge from front enhancements, added lanes, ramp meters and traffic signals, and street repavement.

Construction began in March 2016 and was done in three stages, according to SBCTA Legislative and Public Affairs Chief Tim Watkins. An array of the work to improve the bridge was done overnight and in phases in order to reduce heavy traffic congestion during the day he said.

Funding for the $10.6 million project came from local, state, and federal funds, according to press release from the SBCTA. Councilman Frank Navarro, who sits on the San Bernardino Council of Governments, said the bridge’s improvements will help accommodate traffic on both Pep-

per Avenue and Valley Boulevard and pedestrian traffic.

“This will provide a better gateway to west Colton,” Navarro said.

“This was a very much needed improvement for our area.”

Some commuters are glad improvements were finally made to the bridge and are anticipating changes to other area transportation overpasses and viaducts.

“It’s my exit,” said Colton resident Larry Infante. “I can’t wait to see it completed along with other new stuff in the area.”

Others like Marven Norman are skeptical whether improvements to the bridge will alleviate traffic congestion. He argues heavy truck traffic will do what it’s done to other roads and bridges in the area-damage them.

Chevron station on West End breaks ground

PHOTOS/GEORGE HULL

Fallen National Forest Service Firefighter Brent Witham, 29, of Mentone was honored with a funeral procession on August 7, 2017. He was killed fighting the Lolo Peak blaze in the Montana mountains on August 2. Withamʼs body was flown back to San Bernardino on Monday; he was buried at the Montecito Mortuary and Cemetery in Colton. A public memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the National Orange Show, Orange Pavilion. For those unable to attend the memorial in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed and can be viewed a few minutes before 10 a.m. Pacific Time by accessing: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cal-fire-tv.

Council from front due to concerns with costs. According to Padilla’s staff report, a special election would cost the city up to $20,000 and wouldn’t be held until Spring of 2018.

Only two councilmembers-David Toro and Isaac Suchil--opposed appointing the new District 2 representative.

“I think the voters have a choice to pick who they want in their district,” Suchil said. “How can

you put a cost on a voter’s rights to choose his representative?”

Two people have expressed their interest in applying for the position. Utilities Commissioner Mike Razo said his aim is to contribute to improving Colton.

“There is much work to be done and I think I can bring some good leadership to the table,” Razo expressed.

Jimmy Villegas, who sits on the city’s Measure D oversight committee, believes Colton needs a

renaissance in order to keep up with burgeoning cities like Fontana and Rialto.

“This is a place that needs growth, and previous leaders have not done enough to help bring that,” Villegas said. “I think I could bring a different perspective--a fresh perspective.”

For more information about the application process, contact the City Clerk’s office at (909) 3705001.

PHOTO/DAVID TORO

Councilman David Toro (center) shared his sentiments this week regarding ongoing improvements in his district. “Colton continues with progress to improve our city and community as the Chevron station on the corner of Valley and Pepper is demolished to make way for a brand new Chevron with a carwash, convenience store, restaurant pads,” he wrote on Facebook. “It's been almost 7 years in the making, but the West End is on the move.” The new Chevron station is scheduled to open early next year.

Inland Empire Community Newspapers • August 10, 2017 • Page A3

Gloria’s Corner

Gloria Macias Harrison

Exhibits, Theatre & Seminars, Workshops: Tuesday, 15 & Saturdays, August 12, and 19 - the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival presents Children’s Music Festival Workshops on Tuesdays and Saturdays during the Bowl season for children ages 4 - 12. All workshops are free and an adult must accompany children. The workshops are from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Saturdays at the Redlands Community Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave., and from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. Tuesdays at the Mission Gables Bowl House, 168 S. Eureka. Children will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from professional artists, many of who perform at the Bowl.

No reservations or registration needed, it's on a first-come, firstserved basis.

Now to August 19 - the Redlands Theatre Festival presents live the-

practices, iconography and ancestral mythologies influence the expression of contemporary Native artists' modernity, technology and social priorities."

Featured artists (and tribal affiliations) include: Christi Belcourt (Metis), Gerald Clarke, Jr. (Cahuilla), Craig George (Navajo Dine), Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa/Choctaw), Monty Little (Dine), Cannupa Hanska Luger (Arikara/Hidatsa/Mandan/Lakota), Kent Monkman (Cree), Cara Romero (Chemehuevi), Diego Romero (Cochiti Pueblo), and Preston Singletary (Tlingit). Admission is free. For information and gallery hours call: 909.980.0412 or visit: malooffoundation.org.

atre under the stars at Prospect Park.

The 45th season features five plays: The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Three Cuckolds, Quilters, and Bullshot Crummond.

Performances start at 8:15 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to pack a picnic to enjoy on the theatre lawn before performances, as well as blankets and lawn chairs. On selected nights there will be catered food, as well as free beer and wine tasting from 7:00 p.m. Street parking available at 1170 Cajon Street with free tram rides from Cajon to Beginning August 19 - profesthe theatre. For tickets and general sional artist Alfonso Martinez information visit: www.RTFsea- Mendez will hold ongoing Saturday Morning Drawing Classes at the son.com or call 909.792.0562 Garcia Center for the Arts, 536 West August 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26 - 11th Street, San Bernardino from the Redlands Footlighters present 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. No experience Mom’s Gift at 1810 Barton Road, necessary. This class prepares stuRedlands at 8:00 p.m. This a com- dents for a painting. There is no set edy with a heart about a Mom who fee, but donations will be accepted. has passed but must accomplish a Students are to provide materials on task to earn her angel wings. This the instructor’s list. For information production is full of family secrets call: 909.888.6400 and surprising twists producing many laughs. Afternoon matinees Save the Date: will also be presented at 2 p.m. on August 13, 20 & 27. For ticket in- Friday, August 11 - the Redlands formation call 909.793.2909 or Bowl Summer Music Festival visit: tickets@RedlandsFoot- presents Opera Under the Stars at the Bowl, 25 Grant Street at 8:00 lighters.org p.m. The San Bernardino SymNow - January 7, 2018 - the Sam phony Orchestra with acclaimed and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for soloists will perform selections Arts and Crafts presents New Na- from Aida, MacBeth, La Traviata, tive: Toward New Mythologies at Toscanini, The Barber of Seville, the Jacobs Education Gallery Cen- Carmen, La Boheme and others. ter featuring more than 50 works by Featured soloists are Jennifer Lindeleven indigenous artists. Accord- say, Erin Wood, Patrick Blackwell, ing to curator and artist Tony Candace Bogan, and Christian Abeyta (Navajo), "We are exploring Quillici. There is no admission ways that traditional forms and charge and seating is first-come,

2nd annual San Bernardino CERT fundraiser Magicians from the famous Hollywood Magic Castle, came to San Bernardino’s Lutheran Church of Our Savior on Saturday, Aug. 5 to entertain guests at the Second Annual San Bernardino CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Magic Show

fundraiser.

Magicians Peter Winch and “Chazz the Magician” performed many traditional magic tricks and entertaining illusions. Winch invited 10-year-old Faith LoweMejia to the stage to assist in a rope cutting performance. Faith is

a 5th grader at Belvedere Elementary School in San Bernardino.

Among the guests was San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis, who praised the efforts of the city’s CERT group in promoting its membership and providing so much support to the organization.

first-served. For information about this performance and the season call: 909.793.7316 or visit: redlandsbowl.org Saturday, August 12 - the Rialto Police Department and Summer Bridge to Success present Financial Literacy 101 presented by Thrivent Financial at Werner Elementary School, 1050 W. Rialto Ave. at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, August 12 - the San Bernardino Public Library is hosting Local Author Day at the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library, 555 W. 6th Street from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m. Thirty authors representing many genres will be available to discuss their work, sell and sign books. Two workshops are scheduled: Larry Burns will present a workshop called “Bringing Your Book to Life” at 2:00 pm., and Theresa Elders will present a workshop called “31 Great Places to Publish Personal Essays” at 3:00 p.m. Among the featured authors are Ernie Garcia and Judith Valles.

For information call: 909.381.8238 or visit: www.sbpl.org Sunday, August 13 - the City of Yucaipa presents the final concert in the Sunday at the Park Concerts at Yucaipa Community Park, 34900 Oak Glen Road at 6:30 p.m.

This concert features Escape the Journey Tribute /Journey Tribute.

Food vendors and children activities are available. Concert goers are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs and to dress with the theme of the concert. For information call: 909.790.7460.

Tuesday, August 15 - the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival presents Pete Jacobs Wartime Radio Revue with a Tribute to the Andrew Sisters at the Bowl, 25 Grant Street at 8:00 p.m. This performance intersperses the hits of the Thirties and Forties along with late-breaking news-stories from the war years, as well as original songs and some 1940-style radio commercials. It's a step back into a World War II U.S.O. Show. It features three female vocalists in a tribute to the Andrew Sisters plus a classic swing sound for dancing.

There will be a Community Sing starting at 7:15. There is no admission charge and seating is firstcome, first-served. For information call: 909. 793.7316 or visit: redlandsbowl.org Friday, August 18 - 31st Congressional District representative Pete Aguilar will hold a Veterans

WRITE-UP AND PHOTOS COURTESY RICARDO TOMBOC Above from left: Magician Peter Winch of Riverside, San Bernardino City Mayor Carey Davis, and 10-yearold Faith Lowe-Mejia who was invited to assist Winch in his rope cutting trick.

Below from left: CERT members Patricia Kilmer, Paula Parham, Larraine Hartik, and Susan Stevens.

Resource Fair at the Frank Gonzales Community Center, 670 Colton Avenue, in Colton from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This event features information and resources on health care, housing, employment and assistance with VA claims. Admission is free, no RSVP is required and lunch will be provided. For information call: 909.890.4445.

Friday, August 18 - the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival presents State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara: Cinderella at the Bowl, 25 Grant Street at 8:00 p.m. This original production in two acts is a light-hearted rendition of the classic story. It is an entertaining and visually stunning production bringing together the beautiful Cinderella, her evil stepsisters, the handsome prince and the guests at the ball. It features opulent sets and digital animation augmentation for the delight of audiences of all ages. There is no admission charge and seating is first-come, first-served. For information call: 909.793.7316 or visit redlandsbowl.org Saturday, August 19 - the Inland Empire Grape Festival will take place at the Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park, Ontario from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. This event features vendors, food trucks, grape stomping, live music and wine and beer gardens. For information visit: www.GrapeHarvestFest.com Saturday, August 19 - the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley is hosting Fiesta Village Discount Day from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Fiesta Village Family Fun Park, 1405 E. Washington St., in Colton. Proceeds to benefit the Humane Society.

Favorite Quote: “Warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who can not provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity.”

- Sitting Bull To submit an event or information for Gloria's Corner please email gloharrison@me.com.

Deadline is Friday at noon each week.

Also visit: www.iecn.com for online news.

Page A4 • August 10, 2017 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers

OPINION&LETTERS A letter to @POTUS

olence.

You threatening us is really a David-versus-Goliath moment.

Why would you attack us when we are down?

I think it’s because deep down you don’t care about our issues.

Your sympathy with our plight during the shootings was nothing more than a malicious attempt to push your agenda--to receive air time or retweets to boost your public persona.

Anthony Victoria Dear Mr, President, So, I was reading the other day that you were threatening our city. You said you were going to withhold federal money from us. You said, through the U.S. Attorney General, that since San Bernardino had declared itself a sanctuary city, we soon were no longer to be on the receiving end of much-needed crimefighting funds.

But, as with the case on so many other things, you again, are wrong, Sir. San Bernardino has never declared itself a socalled sanctuary city.

Why the need to cause such a commotion on a matter that may not even pertain to us? It has done nothing but instill fear among a community that is already constantly watching its back because of high crime.

As with many other mid-level municipalities in the U.S., we are a proud people. Surely, you’ve heard of our troubles: we suffer from violence; we were victimized by the Dec. 2 terrorist attack; we are just beginning to emerge from the throes of bankruptcy.

You use the terrorist attack to justify your distasteful immigration ban on Muslims, yet you don’t have the slightest clue about the struggles San Bernardino’s residents confront.

Police officers last year had to investigate 62 homicides--a 41percent increase from 2015 according to the Los Angeles Times. And while these law enforcement officials struggle to find resolutions to the senseless brutality, families and communities continue to be destroyed by the cycles of poverty and vi-

Meanwhile, there are much more pressing issues out there affecting our country. Perhaps, by the time this prints, we will have been duped into another Korean Conflict. There’s this Russia thing, where dual-government collusion possibly took place. Was the election bought?

Not sure, but you seem more interested in proving why you were the best candidate to be elected president.

By threatening to neglect San Bernardino’s woes with crime and poverty, you are going against the very same framework that you claimed to uphold.

Ending “American Carnage” is a facade; what we’re seeing instead is the fostering of a polarized and prejudicial America you’re helping create. You once told the media that we were “dropping the ball” by underreporting the incident. Well Mr. Trump, by ignoring Middle America, you’re failing to be the person you claim to be--Commander-InChief.

Here’s some advice: Get back to leading our country. (And not that you ever were.) You have been gifted with majorities in Congress and the Supreme Court, but what have you accomplished? You spent months on attempting to take away healthcare from millions of Americans. You vacation and golf more than any ‘working’ person we have ever seen.

Isn’t there anyone you care about besides yourself?

You say you want to Make America Great Again, but picking on a financially-strapped city isn’t the way to do that. I wish you would get to the work of strengthening our great city-and nation.

Sincerely, Anthony Victoria

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With San Bernardino, Trump Holds Innocent Lives Hostage

By Lou Chen

Once again, the Eye of Trump has swung round to face my hometown, San Bernardino.

We had previously been consumed by its sulfurous orange glow following the tragic events of December 2, 2015, when we became mere trophies in our president’s ever-expanding cabinet of terrorist curiosities, shelved next to the 9/11 attacks and the grievously underreported “Bowling Green Massacre.” Our city’s name was used as cheap cud for Trump to chew on whenever he needed to bolster his Islamophobic rhetoric, and was most recently regurgitated to justify his disastrous travel ban.

As lifelong residents of a city that has struggled to control the narrative surrounding its economic travails, many of us were disappointed that our president would focus on appropriating San Bernardino to fulfill his perversely xenophobic fantasies, instead of enacting impactful legislation aimed at uplifting and protecting cities like ours. But in an even more troubling turn of events, last Thursday Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent a letter to San Bernardino and three other cities in which he threatened to cut off federal crime prevention aid unless they helped jail suspected illegal immigrants.

Just for a moment, set aside the fact that the City of San Bernardino Police Department does not operate a single jail facility, meaning that we would be unable to comply with Session’s directive even if we wanted to.

Set aside the fact that San Bernardino does not even consider itself to be a sanctuary city.

Set aside the fact that San Bernardino is home to a large immigrant community that lives under fear of being unjustly excised by this administration, and that this threat does nothing to

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Mailing Address: P.O. Box 110, Colton, CA 92324 • Office Location: 1809 Commercenter West, San Bernardino, CA Letters are printed in the order they are 92408 received and are subject to editing for clarity.

Deadline is Tuesdays at noon. Readers may also submit their perspectives online at iecn1@mac.com • For advertising inquiries email sales@iecn.com Gloria Macías Harrison Bill Harrison Co-Publisher General Manager Diana Harrison Martinez Managing Editor Diana Harrison Martinez Community News Editor Yazmin Alvarez Community News Editor Anthony Victoria Advertising/Classified Sales Bruce Martinez

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Published weekly on Thursday.

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Published weekly on Thursday.

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diminish that fear.

This move, perhaps more than any other, illustrates just how far Trump and his cronies are willing to go to enforce their hardline agenda—even if it comes at the expense of individual lives.

Last year, San Bernardino experienced 62 homicides—our deadliest year in two decades.

Among them was 9-year-old Travon Williams, who had been buying candy at a liquor store with his father when they were both shot and killed. By all accounts, they were innocent bystanders to a gang-related shooting who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

These needless deaths, and countless others like them, are why programs like the National Public Safety Partnership, a Department of Justice initiative that aims to help hard-pressed cities combat violent crime, serve as valuable reassurances to communities like ours that the federal government has our back when it comes to stemming the tide of violence. But Trump’s recent power play proves that his purported solidarity with beleaguered communities is purely a political and conditional one.

When the Obama administration invited San Bernardino to participate in the Public Safety Partnership (known back then as the Violence Reduction Network), it seemed to be conceding that above-average homicide rates should not be the norm, that each individual life lost to mindless violence mattered. But in ripping the program away and dangling it in front of our faces, the Trump administration appears to have struck a much different tone. Innocent lives are only worth saving when socalled sanctuary cities are caving.

Like a mafia boss lurking on the doorstep of a disfavored capo’s house, Trump thinks he can get what he wants by holding innocent lives hostage. “Get your payments in on time, or maybe your family won’t be protected anymore, if you catch my

drift.” It’s a ploy that might serve him well in the future—after all, what city wants to fight crime by itself when it has a potential partner in the federal government?

But there’s a reason this is a ploy most politicians tend to avoid. This goes beyond the realm of hardscrabble, bareknuckled politics. Have a problem with cities like San Bernardino? Go the normal route. Take us to court. Hell, go ahead and rail against us on Twitter—Senators Murkowski and McCain make for good company. But Trump has decided to take things one step further by playing politics with violent crime prevention, an area in which empathy, not politics, should ever prevail.

And yet the language in Session’s letter only makes this entire endeavor more morally repugnant than it already is. “[E]ncouraging every jurisdiction in this country to cooperate with federal law enforcement…will ultimately make all of us safer—especially law enforcement on our streets,” Sessions wrote. It’s shocking that he seems to think that denying us access to federal crime-fighting resources would make anyone in San Bernardino safer, especially considering that our immigrant community is not the root cause of our gun violence problem.

And yet that is a motivation he is careful to maintain throughout, as if he’s doing us all a great favor. This casually brazen dishonesty is an insult to our city’s ongoing fight to protect its civilians, with or without government help.

The Eye of Trump has swung round to face San Bernardino— and we see it for the bloodshot, engorged, malevolent monstrosity it’s always been.

Lou Chen is a San Bernardino native and a junior at Princeton University. His work has appeared in the Huffington Post, Inland Empire Community Newspapers, San Bernardino Sun, and Daily Princetonian.

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Inland Empire Community Newspapers • August 10, 2017 • Page A5

Medina and Tillman hope to retain seats on SB school board

By Anthony Victoria

A

bigail Medina and Danny Tillman have filed to retain their positions on the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education. They will be facing off against five other candidates for three seats on November 8.

SBCUSD Board Vice President Medina filed her candidacy at the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters on July 26. Board member Danny Tillman filed on July 17, and candidate Robert Fick on July 26.

It’s unclear whether board incumbent Dr. Barbara Flores is aspiring to retain her seat; her name currently isn’t on the Registrar’s candidate list. The candidate filing deadline is Friday.

Medina, 41, first joined the Board of Education in 2013 after she defeated long standing member Judi Penman in a close race.

Before joining the board, Medina served on district committees and volunteered for a number of organizations.

The mother of five says she’s

COURTESY PHOTO

San Bernardino City Unified School District Vice President Abigail Medina (left) and Board Member Danny Tillman are both aiming to retain their seats on the Board of Education. contributed to improving the district’s increasing graduation rates, development of career pathways, restoration of after school program funding, and the expansion of restorative justice programs.

“I am more than honored to have

received the support of more than 150 community leaders encouraging me to continue to represent the hard working families and students of San Bernardino,” Medina said in a press statement.

Desiree Sanchez, Medina’s

Campaign Manager, said Medina is committed to listening to the concerns and issues of the families of the district “Everyday you can count on seeing Abigail Medina and her large team of volunteers taking her

community outreach office to the homes of the parents and students in the district,” said Sanchez.

Tillman is the longest serving board member--having first been elected by voters in 1995. Just like Medina, Tillman said he’s also contributed to the improvement of the district. The San Bernardino County Departmental Information Systems administrator claims he brings fiscal responsibility to the board.

“When it comes to budgets, I’m probably among the most informed,” Tillman said. “My goal is to always make sure money goes into areas that helps [students and parents].”

Tillman believes Local Control Funding Formula monies should be spent strengthening and creating after school programs that keep children engaged and safe.

“I know what happens when young kids don’t have positive reinforcement,” said Tillman. “The more after school programs we have, the more likely kids have opportunities to succeed.”

Fick and Valverde were unavailable for comment.

Words to Think About: Spirit of perseverence

M

Dr. Bill Abersold

y favorite magazine is This Week. It prints news from around the world in 72 pages, 8 inches by 10 1//2 inches. It is chuck full of interesting, different news items.

Every week when it arrives, I read it from cover to cover. The editorials always give news with an objective flavor.

Every week, on page 17, there are several quotations of famous people that trigger my mind-and any reader to think. I cut them out and put them in an album. A few samples. John Muir. “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”

Dolly Parton. “The bigger and longer the hair, the closer to God.” Carl Sagan. “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”

James Baldwin. “What you say about somebody else, and body else, reveals you.” Albert Einstein. “I prefer silent vice to ostentatious virtue.”

On page 10, there is a short paragraph about Michael J. Fox entitled, “Why Fox laughs at Parkinson’s.” Fox has lived with the malady for 26 years and has found humor in it.

He said recently, “There comes a point when I literally can’t stop laughing at my own symptoms.”

Like what happens to a cup of coffee he’s carrying to his wife.

Humor he says, is a path to acceptance. “My happiness goes in direct proportion to my accept-

ance, and in proportion to my expectations.”

Have you heard about Sean McCarthy? He’s a 46 year old Park Ranger with cerebral palsy. It affects body and muscle coordination. When he was 36 years old he took up-believe it or not-boxing.

He got a trainer and worked religiously every day of the week and turned pro. Currently his record is 11-0, all by knockouts. McCarthy says, “I can be normal in the ring.

I got a left, right hook, that’ll take you down.” It’s only a short article on page 4.

On the same page, Katie Bloomquist. She’s a first grade teacher but remembers fondly riding her bike as a child. So, she was heartbroken when she realized that most of her fourth graders in South Carolina would never know the experience of riding a bike. They all lived in a lowincome area. Their families could not afford bicycles.

Miss Bloomquist (34) went on line to raise $65,000 to remedy the situation. To buy bikes and helmets for all 650 students.

She ended up raising $82,000. Recently the bikes arrived at the school for the kids.

Katie was quoted recently, “It’s all about bringing happiness. All children deserve that.”

Brady Duke is 7 years old and lives in Wausau, Wisconsin.

He heard about a local police officer being killed in the line of duty. He took his prized Nintendo Wii and favorite video games to the police station with a note thanking them for keeping him and his family safe.

In appreciation, the department invited Brady to play Wii with the officers. When he showed up, he was given a new Xbox 360 console. His Mom, Jessica said of Brady, “He just has a really big heart.”

All the above items are in This Week.

The year 1985 was a year that Tommy Hollenstein will never forget. He was 23 years old and for most of those years he had been an avid sportsman. He had

been an all-around athlete. His favorite sport was riding a bike. Unfortunately, he crashed his bike in a cycling accident. He became wheelchair bound for the rest of his life.

He almost died with a broken neck. He became a quadriplegic, then and forever. He had lived a wild life. He was interested in fast things from cars to skateboards including drugs and the highlife.

Throughout his months of borderline death, he became close to his family and above all becoming a born again Christian. A former art student, he had forgotten all about it for 12 years.

Then, his passion for art was reignited in a most unique way-his service dog. Unable to ride, write, paint with a brush, he had his dog walk across a canvas with paint covered paws. Tommy then had his wheels covered with paint and rolled alongside the dog’s tracks.

This created a unique picture of dog and what he thought would be a once effort has become a genuine career. Many of these paintings have been purchased by famous people.

In retrospect he says, “I thought that art had been stolen from me.

I thought creativity was only in my hands. I didn’t realize it was hidden within me.”

Have you heard the name of Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu? Have you heard of El Sistema? Both of them stem from the Country of Venezuela and it began in 1975.

With the furor surrounding this South American Country, it is a wonder that any good could originate in it. The country is better known as a dictatorship and Angel Falls, the highest “Falls” in the world.

His history includes being an economist, a social reformer and a trained musician. Since 1975 he espoused long, loud and often, his theory that what the poor children of Venezuela needed was classical music.

The dictatorial government has grudgingly assumed an annual budget of 800,000 to 1.5 million dollars for lessons and instru-

ments.

Such training has changed the dreams of millions of students.

Hundreds have become professional musicians and scores have become music teachers and symphony conductors.

A select few have conducted concerts in the U.S. and scores of countries in other parts of the World. At age 78, Dr. Abreu continues to be the guiding light of El Sistema.

Amen. Selah. So be it.

Page A6 • August 10, 2017 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers

Back2School Jam readies Redlands students for new school year

IECN PHOTO/YAZMIN ALVAREZ

Local nonprofit Ride Yourself Fit held a childrenʼs health and bicycle safety expo at Sylvan Park Aug. 5. The group gave away a limited number of helmets to children and offered a bike safety course.

IECN PHOTO/YAZMIN ALVAREZ

Children from throughout the Redlands area received a free backpack and school supplies Aug.5 during a Back2School Jam at Sylvan Park.

By Yazmin Alvarez

V

olunteers on Saturday distributed dozens of new backpacks to youngsters and teens at Sylvan Park in Redlands as part of an annual Back2School Jam and Resource Fair.

Hosted by the Redlands Police Department, Micah House and Ride Yourself Fit to help students start the new school year prepared with the necessary supplies, fami-

lies filled the park to receive giveaways like notebooks, shoes and even bicycle helmets, all provided through donations made from local agencies, businesses and community members.

Mary Gamboa of Redlands, along with her three children, spent the morning at the park enjoying the free activities, games and food.

She said the event was a “blessing.”

“We were just going to come to the park to enjoy the day and we saw everything going on. I didn’t

even know what was happening and a volunteer told me the kids can line up for a free backpack. I almost started to cry,” she said.

“Times are tough right now and I didn’t know how I was going to get them new backpacks. They don’t have to worry about hand-medowns this year. It feels amazing.”

The annual event connects those in need with resources available in their backyard.

Participating groups and organizations this year included California Highway Patrol, Redlands Unified School District, IEHP, Redlands Community Hospital, and Common Vision Coalition.

Ride Yourself Fit’s participation was a first for the event. Typically, the nonprofit’s Children’s Health and Bicycle Safety Expo takes place at the Redlands Mall in downtown, but moved venues to reach a broader audience. The expo featured safety tips directly from the professionals and a riding course for children.

IECN PHOTO/YAZMIN ALVAREZ

Redlands Unified School District supplied children with a free pair of Sketchers BOBS at Redlands Police Departmentʼs annual Back2School Jam Aug. 5 at Sylvan Park.

Inland Empire Community Newspapers • August 10, 2017 • Page A7

BUSINESS & SERVICES FINANCES

FINANCES

HEALTH SERVICES

Page A12 • August 10, 2017 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers