EL CHICANo Weekly
Vol 63, NO. 04
October 30, 2025
Jennifer Lopez to Waive YMCA Joining Fees Nov. 1 for San Bernardino Families at Día de los Muertos Event By Manny Sandoval
F
ollowing a successful Trunk or Treat event that drew dozens of families in costume last weekend, the San Bernardino Family YMCA is gearing up for its next major community gathering: a Día de los Muertos celebration Saturday, Nov. 1 at 11 AM.
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Held at 808 E. 21st St., the celebration invites families to honor loved ones who have passed by bringing photos to display on ofrendas. The free event will include cultural activities, facility tours, and exclusive membership opportunities — including a oneday-only waiver on joining fees.
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“We want the Y to be a place where families feel welcome, connected, and empowered,” said Executive Director Jennifer Lopez. “This isn’t just a gym. It’s a safe space where community comes first.”
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Executive Director Jennifer Lopez (left) with two Trunk or Treet-ers, Ash and Pikachu from Pokemon, on Saturday, Oct. 25th.
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Lopez, a San Bernardino native and former participant in the YMCA’s original CAPS after-school program, now
leads the organization she grew up in. Appointed executive director in June 2025, Lopez has prioritized accessibility and community engagement. During the Día de los Muertos event, Lopez will personally lead tours of the newly renovated facility, including its indoor pool, weight room, spin studio, basketball gym, and upgraded locker rooms. Families who attend will have the chance to sign up for memberships on the spot — without the standard joining fee. Lopez emphasized that affordability remains a key focus. Students currently enrolled in the San Bernardino City Unified School District's Expanded Learning (EXL) after-school program are eligible for a free YMCA youth membership. Additionally, entire families of those students can join for just $15 per month. “It’s all about access,” Lopez said. “We want to remove the barriers so families can focus on their health and growth — YMCA, cont. on next pg.
Buenos Dias Café Debuts Latin Flavors in Colton Following Prolonged Permit Challenges
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Inland California’s Statewide Empire Community Special Election is Newspapers November 4th, 2025 Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: sales@iecn.com
PHOTO DAPHNE MARQUEZ Two customers sit down in the dining area to enjoy morning coffee with their breakfast.
By Daphne Marquez
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ew local business, Buenos Dias Cafe invited the community to celebrate its grand opening along with a celebratory ribbon cutting presented by Colton‘s Chamber of Commerce and City Council. The cafe, which was originally supposed to open its doors in November 2024, had to
PHOTO DAPHNE MARQUEZ Co-owner of Buenos Dias Cafe, Xochilt Retamoza, puts together a drink alongside two of the baristas.
delay its opening until August 29, 2025 due to permit and resource struggles for Co-owners of the cafe, Susana Perez and Xochilt Retamoza. Perez said, “It was really hard to open up because of permits. There was a previous business, and because it was closed down, they wouldn’t let us open up. The sinks, the walls, or just the edges had to be like a specific material, whether it was epoxy or tile. It was really hard to open up in this
city and with the county and everything.” Despite the challenges Buenos Dias Cafe has faced concerning permits, they have proven to have booming success within the community. One of the customers, Victoria Ruiz said, “Actually, I’ve been waiting for months for it to open. So it finally did, and we’ve been coming like three times a week since it opened. Their horchata latte and Business, Cont. on next pg.