San Bernardino Press MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015 - MARCH 1, 2015
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Job Training Center Loses Funding Amidst High Unemployment by estefania zavala For approximately thirty years, the San Bernardino Employment and Training Agency (SBETA) has been helping the city’s residents find jobs in the public and private industries. Last October, this agency’s funding was cut as a sanction after the city failed to submit a 2012-2013 fiscal report, according to Dennis Petrie, the deputy director of the Workforce Service Branch in the state’s Employment Development Department. “We regret having to take such action but are forced to do so after repeated warnings,” wrote Petrie in an October letter to Mayor Carey Davis. The fiscal report in question had been due in March of 2014. The City’s Workforce Investment Board (WIB), which is made up of representatives from local educational institutes, labor organizations, community based organizations, private sector businesses, and government, oversees the
Job seeking
- Photo by COD Newsroom, courtesy Flickr
SBETA in a partnership with Mayor Davis. According to San Bernardino Councilman Jim Mulvihill, the mayor’s approach has been handsoff. “SBETA is treated almost as though it’s not part of the city,” Mulvihill said, asserting that the city needed to promote new jobs. The SBETA Executive Di-
rector Ernest Dowdy has said that he meets with Mayor Davis twice a month and that the missing fiscal report that resulted in a loss in funding, would be completed by April of 2015. This would reinstate the $3.5 million budget that SBETA is reliant on the state to provide. Please see page 2
County Executive Keith Lee Announces Retirement San Bernardino County Deputy Executive Officer and Regional Parks Director Keith Lee, a longtime leader in County government and the community, is retiring after 29 years of service to the public. "I appreciate the years of service I've been able to have in San Bernardino County,"
Mr. Lee said as he was being honored during today's Board of Supervisors meeting. County Librarian Leonard Hernandez has been appointed to succeed Mr. Lee. In addition to the County's 10 regional parks and recreational facilities, Mr. Lee oversees the County Museum Sys-
tem, the County's six airports, the County Library System, Registrar of Voters, and the Agriculture/Weights & Measures Department. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Executive Officer, Mr. served as Director for the Please see page 2
VOLUME 2, NO. 8
Golf Tournament Apr 19 to benefit Big Bear Alpine Zoo On Sunday, Apr. 19, the Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo will host its second annual fundraising golf tournament at the renowned Indian Wells Golf Resort that is both breathtaking in beauty and a challenge for all skills. The Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo are very excited to have this opportunity to provide an outstanding day of golf for our supporters. -Registration – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. -Putting Contest – 11 a.m. -Lunch – 12 p.m. -Tee-Off – 12:30 p.m. -Awards Banquet – 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The funds raised at the tournament will be used to build an amazing “Raccoon Saloon” for the raccoons that live at the zoo. Our raccoons are very much in need of a larger exhibit that will provide stimulation and enrichment. Cost is $150.00 per player or $600 per foursome and openings are still available. If you are not a golfer, but would still like to contribute, we have several tee sponsorships available for $500. The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a place for rescue, rehabilitation and release. It offers in-
Please see page 3
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San Bernardino Employment and Training Agency
- Courtesy photo
Continued from page 1
“We don’t even want to think about it [if the funding doesn’t come],” said Dowdy to the San Bernardino Sun. Despite the cuts in funding, SBETA has continued to provide the usual services such as resume workshops, career information and leadership lunches. On-site recruitments interviewed 894 people and led to 129 hires in 2014, according to the fourth-quarter report provided by the agency. SBETA uses local partnerships to provide resources for the citizens of San Bernardino, such as utility assistance, domestic violence aid and housing. SBETA also offers bilingual workshops for how to navigate Covered California enrollment. Working with organizations such as Jubilee Pantry and the Salvation Army, SBETA offers as-
sistance in almost all aspects of lives for the citizens who may need it. “This [agency], quite frankly, is the difference between someone staying mired in poverty and someone having a way out of it,” said Mike Gallo, a member of the California State Workforce Investment Board and member and past chairman of the economic development committee of the San Bernardino County. “It takes a person who’s been traumatized and doesn’t know what to do, and shows them what to do, whether it’s resume training or training for the jobs that are actually hiring.” “With the economy how it is, we need all the help we can get,” said Marilyn Blakely, a Rialto resident who was utilizing SBETA to find a new job after
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being laid off from Amazon, a job she had also found with the help of SBETA. “The agency makes a big difference.” According to Gallo, the job training provided by SBETA makes a critical difference in the region. San Bernardino currently has an unemployment rate of 9.5 percent, according to the San Bernardino Sun. Information from the San Bernardino Sun and the SBETA website was used in this article.
- Photo courtesy SBETA
Apple Blossom Festival Apr. 18 At Los Rios Rancho, every Apple Blossom time we gather together to celebrate the coming of Spring as local ranches prepare their orchards for the Autumn crop. We will be hosting various lawn games, a swing dance, and much more on Saturday April 18th-Sunday April 19th all day long at Los Rios Rancho, 39611 S. Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, CA 92399. Call (909) 797-1005 or visit www.losriosrancho.com for more information. Applications for the Apple Blossom Queen contest are available online at www.oakglen.net.
Keith Lee Retires Continued from page 1
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Jobs and Employment Services Department, where he was responsible for providing job training for economically disadvantaged adults and youth, welfare recipients, laid-off and older workers. Mr. Lee began his service with the county as a field representative to the Board of Supervisors, serving as liaison to the local community, assisting in the drafting of legislation and ordinances, tracking and coordinating constituents' concerns. Mr. Lee holds an MBA and bachelor's degrees in business administration and sociology. In addition to his duties with the County, Mr. Lee has been active in the community, serving as past president of the Downtown YMCA and on
Keith Lee
– Courtesy photo
the boards of directors of the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation, The Unforgettables Foundation, The Volunteer Center, and the Youth Action Project.
FEBRUARY 23, 2015 - MARCH 1, 2015 | 3
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Crafton Hills Withdraws B.A. Program Crafton Hills College is withdrawing its participation in the baccalaureate degree pilot program recently authorized by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. “In light of our recent warning status with ACCJC, we are compelled to withdraw our Emergency Services & Allied Health Systems degree,” said Dr. Cheryl Marshall, president. The College was in good standing with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) when it submitted its application last fall. “I wholly support the baccalaureate degree pilot program and do not want to bring any controversy to the other institutions that were chosen,” said Marshall. “Unfortunately, because of our warning status, we are no longer eligible to participate in the pilot program.” CHC’s proposal for the Emergency Services and Allied Health Systems bachelor’s degree had wide support, including letters from UCR, CSUSB, Congressman Paul Cook, Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency, American Medical Response (AMR), and more. “This degree would fulfill a need in a high-demand field, in an area that especially needs an educated workforce,” said Marshall. “We plan to pursue it again at our soonest opportunity.” CHC’s accreditation recommendations involve issues related to the completion of student learning outcomes; an update to its Distance Education plan; that a policy be adopted to address when programs are eliminated or significantly changed so that students are not negatively impacted by such changes; that regularly scheduled performance evaluations across all employee groups be adhered to and that the College catalog publication and mission statement processes be reviewed.
Big Bear Alpine Zoo Golf Continued from page 1
jured, orphaned and imprinted wild animals a safe haven, temporarily, while they heal, or permanently, if they are unable to survive on their own. In fact, 90% of the animals that are brought in are released back into the wild; the remaining 10% are given a home for life. Information: Lorie Judd (909) 8669700 or Gale Nichols (909) 878-4200 or www.bigbear-
alpinezoo.org. The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is part of the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, County of San Bernardino, Special Districts Department.
Huckleberry - Photo Courtesy Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Long Beach Office 3780 Kilroy Airport Way Suite 360 Long Beach, CA 90806 Ph. (562) 472-0071 Fx. (562) 689-0071 Los Angeles Office 5701 South Eastern Avenue Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90040 Ph. (323) 727-1144 Fx. (323) 727-9198 www.heger-industrial.com Lic. #00814086
4 | FEBRUARY 23, 2015 - MARCH 1, 2015
Downed Hang Glider Rescued From Foothills
Hang Glider
- Photo by Michael Hall, courtesy Flickr
San Bernardino Fire Department Rescue was dispatched to 6191 Badger Canyon Rd, San Bernardino, on Feb. 5 at around 2:42 p.m. Fire Rescue crews dispatched to a report of a hang glider that crashed into the mountain side just above Cal State University San Bernardino. Reports from witnesses at the Andy Jackson Air Park advised victim was approximately three-quarters of a mile up the hillside at the 2600’ elevation level. Brush Engine 225 from the fire station located on Kendall near University was the first rescue unit on scene and determined that quick access and
rapid patient extraction on foot would not be feasible. SB County Sheriff helicopter 40-king assisted with determining the precise location of the patient which was approx. 150 yards from Marshall Peak. SBFD requested the assistance of Sheriff Air Rescue 306 to assist with victim extraction. Air Rescue 6 is staffed with Fire Medics from SB County Fire Dept. Air Rescue 6 lowered a Flight Medic down to the patient and hoisted the male victim to safety. The patient was flown directly to a local trauma center with moderate leg injuries. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined.
“Voice of King” The San Bernardino Public Library is presenting “The Voice of King” in recognition of Black History Month on Thursday, February 26, 2014 at 2:00 PM. Dr. Dennis Morgan Brown will re-enact the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., present the historical events of the time, and will be joined by a three piece band performing music of the era. Dr. Brown has presented this program all across the country and has spoken before the State Assembly, the Senate at the State Capitol, the Mayor’s mansion in Los Angeles, and at the Martin Luther King Center for Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia. This free program will be located in the Bing Wong Auditorium at the Feldheym Library at 555 West Sixth St., San Bernardino.
San Bernardino Police Homicide Investigation On Feb. 4, at about 10:32 p.m., members of the San Bernardino Police Department Patrol Division located a man down in the 100 Block of W. Ralston, while investigating shots that were heard in the area. Medical aid responded and pronounced the man deceased at the scene. Members of the San Bernardino Police Department Homicide Detail are investigating. Please contact Detective Tello or Sergeant Williams with any information (909) 384-5615.
San Bernardino Public Library Seeking Book Donations The Friends of the San Bernardino Public Library welcome donations of used books and other materials such as videos, CDs, and DVDs that are in good condition. The Library staff will evaluate materials for addition to the collection in accordance with the Library Materials Selection Policy. Gift materials that cannot be used in the collection will be given to the Friends for sale in their bookstore, which in turn benefits the Library. The Friends of the Library sell the items in their bookstore and at their book sales at the Feldheym Central Library. The proceeds from these book sales are donated back to the
Library to support programs. Receipts for tax purposes are available in the Library Administration Office or at the Information Desks. Donations may be brought to the main library at 555 W. Sixth Street in San Bernardino. If you have a large donation, there is a loading dock behind the library. Donations can also be brought to the Rowe, Inghram and Villaseñor Branches during their hours of operation. Library hours are available at www.sbpl.org Monetary contributions to the Friends or to the Foundation are always appreciated. For more information call (909) 381-8251