COLTON COURIER Weekly
May 15, 2025
Vol 153, NO. 22
CSUSB Students Remove 500 Pounds of Trash from Santa Ana River, Urge IE Residents to Rethink Pollution Huerta noted. “Most of the trash appeared to come from people hanging out there. It’s nice to see people admiring the beauty of nature—and disheartening to see they don’t respect it.” Huerta said the most common items they found were snack wrappers and beverage containers, pointing to a deeper issue of public behavior and disregard. “This tells me a lot of people leave their trash where they gather. It shows a lack of awareness about the long-term impact.”
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Beyond the physical cleanup, the students turned to education and outreach to broaden the project’s impact. They used social media to share their efforts and surveyed community members about their perceptions of water pollution.
UC Riverside Addresses Teacher Shortage in San Bernardino Pg. 5
Teamsters Hispanic Caucus Secures Signatures to Rename Seccombe Lake Park Pg. 8
PHOTO FRANCISCO HUERTA CSUSB Eco Social Workers and IE Waterkeeper members holding a debrief after collecting 500 pounds of trash from inside the Santa Ana River at Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park.
By Manny Sandoval
W
hat began as a class project at Cal State San Bernardino has evolved into a meaningful environmental initiative after a group of social work students removed nearly 500 pounds of trash from the Santa Ana River in less than two hours. The effort took place in February at Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park as part of a Social Welfare Policy course taught by Professor Andrew Godoy. Student Francisco Huerta, a junior majoring in social work, helped launch the Eco Social Workers group through the assignment, which challenged students to create real-world community impact.
“We decided to focus on the environment and the Santa Ana River—it runs through Riverside and it’s really dirty,” said Huerta. “It was jarring because it was a nice park, but once we hiked down to the river, it was eye-opening to see how much trash was left behind.” The cleanup was conducted in partnership with IE Waterkeeper, a Riverside-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting local waterways. Over the course of 90 minutes, Huerta and three classmates collected glass shards, broken beer bottles, sharp-edged plastic containers, and even two shopping carts submerged in the riverbed. “We didn’t see any unhoused people while cleaning, but there was a camp nearby,”
“We found that many people are worried about the quality of water available to them, but they don’t always realize how pollution directly affects them,” said Huerta. “Before this project, I would scroll past cleanups on social media. After participating, I saw firsthand how badly this work is needed—and how rewarding it can be.” Huerta emphasized that the Santa Ana River is critical to the region’s environmental health, flowing through Riverside, Jurupa Valley and beyond; and into the Pacific Ocean. A bacteria outbreak in Jurupa Valley previously led to public closures near the river, highlighting the consequences of unchecked pollution. “This project brings to light how the enviEco Social Workers, cont. next pg.
Colton City Council Recognizes 12th Annual Museum Day By Dr. G (Dr Luis S González), community writer
A
t the May 6 council meeting, the Colton City Council recognized the 12th Annual Colton Area Museum Day by proclamation. The event, observed since 2014 on the first Saturday in May, honors the city’s rich historical legacy. The proclamation was presented to five members of the Colton Area Museum Association (CAMA) Board of Directors by Councilmember Dr. G, a CAMA life member.
More Than 300 Walk in Rain for Mental Health at San Bernardino’s First-Ever NAMI Walk, Raising $20K Pg. 8
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Board members in attendance were Oscar Tostado, Mary Helen Betancourt, Ruth Ann Martinez, Lori Sanchez and Angela Wilkenson. Since 1991, the Colton Area Museum has served as a community anchor for maintaining and preserving the city’s history and cultural traditions. From architecture to sports stars, trains to public safety, and milestones of Colton High School, the museum has created a legacy of historical exhibits that capture the curiosity of residents and visitors alike. Board member Chuck Vasquez, who was unable to attend the ceremony, said in a written statement: “The Colton Area
PHOTO DR. G Ruth Ann Martinez, Lori Sanchez, Oscar Tostado, President; Dr. G, Council Member and CAMA Life Member; Angela Wilkenson and Mary Helen Betancourt.
Museum is a cultural treasure that we must preserve for Colton’s current and future residents and visitors.” In February 2024, the museum celebrated its grand reopening, receiving positive responses from both residents and visitors. Though the museum’s traditions remain intact, its visual presentation and displays
have been modernized following pandemic-related closures. With support from a state-sponsored grant, the museum was renovated over a four-year period, including new interior and exterior paint, updated displays, reader boards, a video booth, raised platform, new flooring, digital Museum, cont. next pg.