SB American News Week Ending 9/22

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AMERICAN

“A Man In Debt is So Far A Slave” -R.W. Emerson

NEWSPAPER A Community Newspaper Serving San Bernardino, Riverside & Los Angeles Counties

September 16, 2021 Thursday Edition

Volume 52 No. 22 Mailing: P.O. Box 837, Victorville, CA 92393

Office: (909) 889-7677

Email: Mary @Sb-American.com

Website: www.SB-American.com

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)

Hiding in Plain Sight, a 30-Year-Old Hijacking Mystery Solved on 9/11 By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

A terror mastermind named Osama bin Laden, who lived a cloak and dagger life more than 6,700 miles away in Afghanistan. (Photo: Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir interviewing Osama bin Laden, circa March 1997 – May 1998. Behind them on the wall is an AKS-74U carbine. / http:// www.canadafreepress.com/ — Wikimedia Commons) A breezy and seasonally satisfying Tuesday, September 11, 2001, began with the promise that beat reporters crave – the knowledge that my story would appear on the front page. Riding high from the previous night attending Michael Jackson’s 30th-anniversary concerts at Madison Square Garden, my editor implored that I go straight to a school in Mount Vernon, NY. She knew how to spoil a great evening watching the greatest pop music entertainer ever reunite with his brothers for a spectacular night at the World’s Most Famous Arena. In Mount Vernon, my editor told me that I’d find the compelling story of Patrick Dolan Critton, a 54-year-old teacher who for 30 years hid as a fugitive in plain sight. Critton belonged to a Black liberation group that, in 1971, allegedly robbed a bank and engaged in a shootout with cops. The group then hijacked an airplane to escape arrest. But there he was, teaching high school in New York as if he had never been on the FBI’s Most Wanted List and oblivious to the desperate desires the NYPD maintained for his capture. Yes, this had A-1, above the fold,

written all over it with my byline. Early that mor ning, I gathered the pertinent details and headed back to my bureau located in nearby New Rochelle. Indeed, I possessed all the goods, and if we were a tabloid, I’d have “The Wood.” Entering the office shortly after 9 a.m. I discovered that my colleagues were standing around the bureau’s wall-mou nted television. T he f i rst ter ror istcontrolled airplane had just struck the Twin Towers. “Wow, what an accident,” a c ol le a g u e r e m a r ke d . Mome nt s lat e r, a f t e r the second airplane struck the towers, one colleague shirked, “That’s no accident!” It certainly was not. I had been to the World Trade Center, been in those towers many times, and right before our eyes, they were reduced to rubble. Shocking and completely unnerving, my colleagues and I realized that thousands of lives probably were vanquished. They were. More than 3,000 eventually died. The ter ror ists weren’t

f i n ishe d. Fa r f rom it. Another airplane would rock the western side of the Pentagon in D.C., and still, one more crashed in southwestern Pennsylvania. We began to wonder how many more airplanes the terrorists had hijacked. Suddenly, my hijacking story fell off the radar – ticketed for the middle of the newspaper. Someone had declared war on America, and for the first time since Pearl Harbor, an enemy attacked the United States on U.S. soil. Phones in the office rang wildly. Reporters who had loved ones in lower Manhattan ignored the incoming calls, choosing, of course, to check in on their loved ones. Jermaine Jackson, the king of pop’s brother, called me. “How do we get out of New York? Can you help us get out of the city,” Jackson asked? The Jackson family had arrived in New York as part of Michael’s shows to celebrate his anniversary in show business. At that time, we were longtime acquaintances and collaborators. “This is scary. People are panicking,” exclaimed Jackson, who, along with several family

members, stayed at the W Hotel in downtown Manhattan not far from the terrorist attacks. Ultimately, the Jacksons rented two RVs and escaped from New York by taking the 3,000-mile drive back to Los Angeles. Still, for me, the irony cou ld n’t be over st ated. I sat there. In hand was my notebook containing facts about a man named Critton who hijacked an airplane 30 years prior. A mer ican Justice had finally caught up with him. His story was as big as any, but now a footnote. A terror mastermind named Osama bin Laden, who lived a cloak and dagger life more than 6,700 miles away in Afghanistan and escaping U.S. forces by living from cave to cave and underground bunker to underground bunker, stole Critton’s frontpage. Bin Laden stole my front page. But, more importantly, his wicked and cowardly act cost thousands of precious lives and caused countless heartbreak. Twenty years later, I’m confident that many would have preferred if my story remained the biggest headline of September 11, 2001.

Jobs, Mental Health, Gun Violence: Cal Leaders Discuss Helping Black Men and Boys Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media The California Assembly's Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color held a meeting last month that brought legislators face-to-face with community organizers to discuss investing in African American and other youth of color in a "post-pandemic California." Introducing the various panelists, Committee Chair Assemblymember Reggie Jones-

Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), who is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, spoke about the bipartisan nature of the committee's goals. He said people from different backgrounds and political perspectives reach agreement when talking about the plight of youth of color because their conversations are based on hard numbers. In California, per capita, Black

Jobs, Mental Health, Gun Violence: Cal Leaders Discuss Helping Black Men and Boys...continued above children with disabilities. “One of the things that brings both sides of the aisle together is data. What we would like to see is either internal audits or accountability measures to show that your numbers are not only successful but you’re keeping data over a period of time showing your success rate,” Jones-Sawyer said. C om m it t e e v ic e - ch a i r Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), a Republican, agreed with this assertion. “I am looking forward to the instruction that we’re going to get today," Lackey said. "This is a part of our population that deserves the attention and a much stronger effort than has been displayed in the past.” The first topic discussed during this meeting was gun violence, as panelists towed the line

between cracking down on gun violence and preventing the overpolicing of communities of color. "How can we do this without returning to a punitive approach that grows the prisons, the jails and the criminalization of our community without achieving the public safety we so desire," asked the Rev. Michael McBride who is known in the Bay Area as “Pastor Mike.” McBride is a social justice advocate and the National Director for Urban Strategies/LIVE FREE Campaign with the Faith in Action Network. T he meet i ng was a n opportunity for participants representing community-based organizations to share ideas with legislators with the hope of influencing their decision-making. continued on page 3

Detectives conducting investigation into in-custody death State County News On Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at approximately 12:00 p.m., deputies assigned to West Valley Detention Center were escorting a facility nurse to check on inmates. During this time, they found inmate Brian Alberts deceased in his cell. Deputies, on-site medical staff and responding paramedics attempted life-saving efforts, however they were unsuccessful. Alberts was pronounced deceased. Investigators from the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division responded to the facility and assumed the investigation. Alberts had been in Sheriff’s custody since August 30, 2021. Alberts was housed alone in his cell at the time of his death. The Riverside County Coroner will conduct the autopsy to

determine the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Gerania Navarro, Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 387-3589. Callers can remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or wetip.com. Refer: Detective Gerania Navarro or Sergeant Justin Giles Station: Specialized Investigations Division Phone No. (909) 387-3589 Case No. DR#602100174 H#2021-110 SHANNON D. DICUS, SheriffCoroner San Bernardino County SheriffCoroner Department

MISSION STATEMENT Clifton Harris /Editor in Chief Investigative Reporter sbamericannews@gmail.com Mary Martin-Harris / Editor Legal /Display Advertising (909) 889-7677 Clifton B. Harris / Audio Engineering Editor Digital Online Banner Advertising (909) 889-7677 The San Bernardino American News was established May 6, 1969. A legally adjudicated newspaper of general circulation on September 30, 1971, case number 15313 by the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News subscription rate is $59.00 per year. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News is committed to serving its readers by presenting news unbiased and objective, trusting in the mature judgment of the readers and, in so doing, strive to achieve a united community.

men and boys are incarcerated more than any other group; are unhoused more than any other group; are affected by gun violence

more than any other group; and in public schools, Black children’s standardized test scores fall only continued in next 2 columns

News releases appearing in the San Bernardino AMERICAN News do not necessarily express the policy nor the opinion of the publishers. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News reserves the right to edit or rewrite all news releases.

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Page 2

COMMUNITY/EDUCATION/ADVERTISING

California's deserts face threats, but we have a new chance to protect Even during the recall election, California continues to see big wins in gun safety them Geary HundGuest columnist

Geary Hund, Executive Director of The Mojave Desert Land Trust Courtesy A bill to establish a California Desert Conservation Program won final approval in the state Legislature this week and is now headed to the governor’s desk for his signature. AB 1183 would provide badly needed, dedicated conservation funding to the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Possessing vast and dramatic landscapes, spectacular geology, dark night skies and a diverse array of plants and animals — many of which exist nowhere else on earth — our California deserts are a national treasure. Emblematic species such as the desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, and western Joshua tree are known throughout the world. The California deserts are also a vast carbon sink, helping to address the effects of climate change. California’s deserts have become an increasingly popular tourist destination. Visitation has

skyrocketed in recent years. It’s understandable. They are places of wonder and discovery where one can find respite from the frenetic pace of modern life, and they are within a short distance of nearly half the state’s population. Our deserts have also become an increasingly popular destination for out-of-state and foreign visitors. But, although they were long thought to be immutable, our deserts face many threats. They include climate change and its effects, including increased fire risk due to higher average annual temperatures and longer droughts; infestations of non-native plants, which make deserts more flammable, crowd out native wildflowers, and reduce forage for wildlife; increased development, which reduces and fragments habitat; unmanaged offhighway vehicle use; and more recently, illegal marijuana grows. California can no longer afford to ignore these threats. Geary Hund, executive director of the Mojave Desert Land Trust Given the increased public interest in and use of our deserts, there is also a need for greater public access, visitor information, education, and inclusion in outdoor opportunities. Despite the tremendous need for desert conservation, to date, little state conservation funding has been directed to our deserts. AB 1183 would remedy this, providing a mechanism to dedicate funding

specifically to desert conservation. Local government, tribes, and nonprofit organizations could apply for grants, enabling them to acquire, protect, and restore desert lands, and to provide for public access. AB 1183 would also contribute to the state’s goal of conserving 30% of its land by 2030; there are many affordable opportunities to acquire and conserve natural areas in the desert. We urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign AB 1183 into law. The passage of this legislation would give this wild, unique and very important part of our

state’s natural and cultural heritage the much-deserved support it needs, benefitting this and future generations. Your stories live here. Fuel your hometown passion and plug into the stories that define it. Create Account Geary Hund is the executive director of the Mojave Desert Land Trust. He has worked as a conservation professional for more than 40 years, including stints with both the state and federal governments and at another nonprofit.

The MolinaCares Accord to Partner with Falck, County of Los Angeles and Supervisor Hilda Solis to Host FREE COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in Pomona Community /Education News

POMONA, CA -- The MolinaCares Accord, in collaboration with Falck Ambulance; the County of Los Angeles; and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis will host Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in Pomona, CA on Monday, September 13th, 2021; Monday, September 27th, 2021; and Monday, October 11th, 2021. Who: o o o o

MolinaCares Accord Falck A mbulance County of Los Angeles Los Angeles County

Supe r v isor

H ild a

Sol is

What: F R E E COVID-19 vaccine clinic Where: Molina Healthcare, 887 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA When: Mond ay, September 13, 2021, 2:00 – 6:00 PM PST Mond ay, September 27, 2021, 2:00 – 6:00 PM PST Mond ay, O ct ob e r 11, continued on page 6

Press releases and legals Submission Deadline MONDAYS by 5pm Visit our website: sb-american.com

Community/ Education News As gun violence continues to devast ate Califor n ia communities, lawmakers at all levels of government continue to prioritize gun violence prevention. Though California has strong gun safety laws, there is more work that must be done to protect Californians from gun violence. In the last few weeks, officials at the local and state level took up that challenge, passing several major gun safety actions. On the state level, the state legislature passed four major gun safety bills through the second chamber. These bills (listed below) will now await the governor’s signature to go into law. And locally, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Act ion volu nteer s have supported ordinances moving forward in San Francisco and Los Angeles to regulate ghost guns in the cities. Ghost guns are untraceable, do-it-yourself firearms available without a background check, and the fastestgrowing gun safety problem our nation has seen in years. At the same time, Moms Demand Action volunteers have continued to show their support for gun sense champion, Governor Gavin Newsom. So far, volunteers have spent over 240 hours calling more than 12,600 people to remind them to vote in tomorrow’s election. In a blog from gun violence survivor, Cindy Montoya, she writes [emphasis added]: “Unfortunately, so many people have stories of gun violence like my own….But we have seen progress. Now, survivors have a Governor who not only supports and listens to them, but also consistently takes action to end gun violence. Without the tireless work of Governor Newsom and

his team, California would not have one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the country. But, the work isn’t done yet. We need Governor Newsom in office to prevent gun violence in our state—that’s why I’m voting NO on the recall election. We will not find a stronger gun safety advocate than Governor Newsom. Every time our Governor shows up for gun safety, he lets survivors know that he sees us. Every time he signs a gun safety bill, our state becomes one step closer to ending gun violence— so no family has to go through what my family went through.” Legislation to on Governor Newsom’s desk: AB 490, legislation to expand the current chokehold ban, passed the Assembly f loor and now moves to the Senate. AB 1057, legislation to include ghost guns in the process of extreme risk laws. The bill passed the assembly f loor and now moves to the Senate. SB 2, legislation to increase a c c ou nt a bi l it y for law enforcement officers through creation of a decertification process when misconduct has occurred, passed the Senate floor and now moves to the Assembly. SB 715, ensuring increased police a c c o u n t a b i l i t y. Statistics about gun violence in California are available here https://everystat.org/#California, and Everytown’s Gun Law Navigator – which shows how California’s gun laws compare to those of other states – is available here https://maps.everytown.org/ navigator/. If you are interested in speaking with a California Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action volunteer, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

The MolinaCares Accord to Partner Community Groups to Host FREE COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics Throughout Inland Empire Community /Education News

SAN BERNARDINO, CA -- The MolinaCares Accord, in collaboration with community groups will host Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics throughout the Inland Empire in September and October. These events are part of MolinaCares’ efforts to address inequities in health outcomes throughout California These free vaccine clinics encourage residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help stop the pandemic and get California back to normal. Getting a vaccine will not only protect those receiving the vaccine, but also those they love. The vaccine is safe, effective, and very important.

FREE COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC Who: MolinaCares Accord Where: Molina Healthcare, 550 E. Hospitality Lane, Suite 100, San Bernardino, CA When: S a t u r d a y, September 18, 2021, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM PST (1st and 2nd Dose, Pfizer) S a t u r d a y , October 9, 2021, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM PST (2nd Dose, Pfizer) POMONA, CA - FR EE COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC

Who: MolinaCares Accord / Falck Ambulance / County of Los Angeles / L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis Where: Molina Healthcare, 887 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA When: Mond ay, September 13, 2021, 2:00 – 6:00 PM PST Mond ay, September 27, 2021, 2:00 – 6:00 PM PST M o n d a y, O c t o b e r 11, 2021, 2:00 – 6:00 PM PST ( Va c c i n e s Available: Pfizer – Ages 12+; Johnson & Johnson – Ages 18+)

SAN BERNARDINO, CA -

The MolinaCares Accord to Host FREE COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in San Bernardino Through October Community /Education News

SAN BERNARDINO, CA -The MolinaCares Accord, will host Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in San Bernardino, CA on Saturday, September 18th, 2021; and Saturday, October 9th, 2021. Who: Accord

MolinaCares

What: F R E E COVID-19 vaccine clinic

Where: Molina Healthcare, 550 E. Hospitality Lane, Suite 100, San Bernardino, CA When: S a t u r d a y, September 18, 2021, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM PST (1st and 2nd Dose, Pfizer) S a t u r d a y , October 9, 2021, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM PST (2nd Dose, Pfizer) Why: This event is part of

MolinaCares’ efforts to address inequities in health outcomes throughout California These free vaccine clinics encourage residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help stop the pandemic and get California back to normal. Getting a vaccine will not only protect those receiving the vaccine, but also those they love. The vaccine is safe, effective, and very important.

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Page 3

STATE/GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS

OP-ED: American Business Leaders Step Up to Fight Inequities in the South By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

The issues facing these communities throughout the South are not new nor will they be fixed overnight. Fortunately, SCI is taking a long-term approach that is focused on getting to the root of structural racism in the United States and creating a more just and equitable country for every American. Even as the pandemic has laid bare societal inequities that have been eroding the foundation of our democracy, political leaders in Washington and in state capitols are mired in a level of rancor and partisanship not seen since the ideological struggles over the Vietnam War. This toxic atmosphere has left them incapable of addressing pressing, yet ingrained issues like the racial wealth gap, the digital divide, and vast inequalities in everything from health care to home ownership. With COVID-19 still an omnipresent concern and the country’s recovery still very much in jeopardy, individuals, families, and communities – particularly communities of color throughout the South – are struggling to deal with issues that have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. From impediments to wealth creation opportunities and a dearth of education and workforce development to a lack of access to reliable broadband, substandard housing, and inadequate pol it ical re pre se nt at ion , communities of color have suffered an outsized toll during the ongoing public health crisis. Yet political leaders can’t even agree on basic facts that would allow the nation to implement a coherent national strategy for combatting a pandemic that appears to be

entering a new wave amid the rise of the highly contagious Delta variant that is currently ravaging parts of the South. Against that disillusioning backdrop, there is at least some reason for hope. Moving to fill the vacuum created by the inaction of our political class, a group of business leaders in the technology and investment sectors have embarked on a far-reaching – and perhaps unprecedented – campaign to address the social inequities and systemic racism that has historically plagued our country’s southern communities. Known as the Southern Communities Initiative (SCI), the campaign was founded by financial technology company PayPal, the investment firm Vista Equity Partners (Vista), and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). SCI was formed to work with local elected officials and advocacy groups to tackle the ubiquitous problems of structural racism and inequalities facing communities of color in six communities throughout the South. SCI notes that these areas – Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Houston, Memphis, and New Orleans – were chosen in part because they are home to around 50 percent of the country’s Black population and are where some of the greatest disparities exist.

Center for Rural Affairs applauds inclusion of rural small businesses in reconciliation bill Business News LYONS, NEBRASKA – Rural small businesses and other entities with loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could receive six months of loan forgiveness under legislation being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. On Monday, the House Agriculture Committee included provisions of the Rural Equal Aid (REA) Act in its proposed Build Back Better Act plan. The REA Act, a bipartisan measure introduced by Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa, provides long overdue relief to entities with loans through the USDA Rural Development program. As part of the plan, the USDA will receive $400 million to provide support to businesses with loans through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) and the Intermediary Relending Program, as well as loans made to public and nonprofit organizations for community facilities, and to businesses, cooperatives, and nonprofits expanding in rural areas. These entities would be eligible for principle, interest, and fee payment forgiveness for up to six months.

If passed, this would be the first time these rural small businesses receive support. Previously, only businesses with loans through the Small Business Administration were eligible for loan forgiveness under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. That put rural businesses at a significant disadvantage, according to Johnathan Hladik, policy director for the Center for Rural Affairs. Hladik said including the REA Act in the Build Back Better Act plan is crucial not only for the business and community entities involved, but also rural America. “While some rural businesses have rebounded, many more are struggling to recover. Expanding support to these businesses will provide parity for the rural communities that have been hit hardest by the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic,” he said. “These entrepreneurs are the leaders that keep Main Street vibrant, making it possible to grow local economies with local dollars. Right now, they need our support.” After being introduced in both the House and Senate last year, continued in next 2 columns

SCI is aiming to drive long-term change, as outlined by PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, Vista CEO Robert F. Smith and BCG CEO Rich Lesser. In Atlanta, for example, SCI is working to bridge the wealth gap that exists among the region’s African American residents. While there is a strong Black business community in the city, and high levels of Black educational achievement thanks to the regional presence of several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and the voice of the Black Press, there is still an extremely low level of Black entrepreneurship and business ownership with only six percent of employer firms being Black-owned. To remedy this disparity, SCI is working with the Southern Economic Advancement Project to create entrepreneurship hubs and accelerator programs to increase the number of minority-owned businesses. The corporations behind SCI are also using their networks to help other companies work with minorityowned supply companies. In Alabama, SCI is seeking to bridge the massive digital divide in an urban area where 450,000 households are without connection to the internet. In order to tackle the crisis, SCI is leveraging relationships with local schools and libraries to distribute laptops and service vouchers. Another tact SCI is taking is to partner with the owners of multi-unit buildings in lowincome neighborhoods to install free public Wi-Fi for residents. The lack of access to capital is another reason Black communities throughout the South have been traditionally underbanked. In Memphis, where 47 percent of Black households are underbanked, SCI is partnering with Grameen America to cover the $2 million per year per branch start-up cost to build brick-and-mortar

banks in minority communities. This alone will provide 20,000 women access to more than $250 million per year in financing. Beyond these initiatives, SCI is partnering with groups like the Greater Houston Partnership and the Urban League of Louisiana to provide in-kind support to improve job outcomes for minority college students, expand access to home financing through partnerships with community development financial institutions, and harness the power of technology to expand health care access in underserved urban and rural neighborhoods. The issues facing these communities throughout the South are not new nor will they be fixed overnight. Fortunately, SCI is taking a long-term approach that is focused on getting to the root of structural racism in the United States and creating a more just and equitable country for every American. A once-in-a-century pandemic and a social justice movement not seen since the 1960s were not enough to break the malaise and rancorous partisanship in Washington. Fortunately, corporate leaders are stepping up and partnering with local advocates and non-profit groups to fix the problem of systemic injustice in the U.S. We, therefore, salute and welcome the transformative commitments of the Southern Communities Initiative (SCI). There is no time to delay, because as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so accurately said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and Executive Producer and host of The Chavis Chronicles on PBS TV stations throughout the United States. He can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org.

Center for Rural Affairs applauds inclusion of rural small businesses in reconciliation bill...continued Axne brought forward the REA Act again earlier this year, with support from Reps. Troy Balderson (OH-12), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DEAL), and Jared Golden (ME-02). Hladik applauds Axne for championing this important legislation and encourages

the full House to approve it as part of the overall bill. “We urge the remaining members of the House to follow their lead,” Hladik said. “Now is the time to treat rural businesses equally by including them in the Build Back Better Act.”

WVWD Board Adopts Hazard Mitigation Plan Plan Makes Water District Eligible for Federal, State Disaster Assistance & Grants State/Government/Business News RIALTO, CA — After months of review and approvals from federal and state agencies, the West Valley Water District (WVWD) Board of Directors adopted the WVWD 2021 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) to ensure that the agency remains well prepared for potential disasters and is eligible for federal and state disaster mitigation assistance and grants. “This plan is one of many strong actions that we’re taking to limit major crisis situations,” said WVWD Board President Channing Hawkins. “The adoption of this plan will provide access to critical federal dollars and resources that will make us more resilient to catastrophic disasters

which can cripple our local economy and cause loss of life. I’d like to commend our WVWD employees for working as a team to complete this complicated, comprehensive p l a n .” WVWD employees at every level including management, operations and administrative offices, collaborated across departments to develop the HMP in accordance with strict Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines. The plan was submitted to California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA, which completed reviews and determined that continued in next 2 columns

WVWD Board Adopts Hazard Mitigation Plan...continued the plan is eligible for approval pending formal board adoption. Cal OES completed its review in June and FEMA completed its review in late August. The 5-year plan, which was last updated in 2010, reflects changes in local development and infrastructure, evolving hazard priorities and progress on previously identified hazard mitigation projects. The adoption of the HMP is a prerequisite for receiving pre-disaster grant funds, disaster response reimbursements and mitigation project reimbursements linked to damages resulting from federal and state disaster declarations. The WVWD plan outlines measures to mitigate the consequences of emergencies and disasters that cause loss of life or leave people injured or displaced. Recognizing that such

disasters have the potential to cause significant damage to local businesses, public infrastructure and the environment or cost tremendous amounts of time and dollars, the plan focuses on the two highest profile hazards that are a major risk for the region: droughts and earthquakes. “Assessing local changes, reviewing the stat us of mitigation measures, developing a comprehensive plan for hazard mitigation and incorporating state and federal input was the product of months of concerted work,” said WVWD General Manager Shamindra “Rickey” Manbahal. “This plan is the proud product of our combined efforts, and I’m honored to have worked with such a skilled and dedicated team for their tireless work on this critical project.”

Jobs, Mental Health, Gun Violence: Cal Leaders Discuss Helping Black Men and Boys...continued from page 1 As of 2019, California had the 7th lowest firearm mortality rate in the country. But with the state's large population of almost 40 million people – the largest in the country -- that still equated to 2,945 deaths that year. “As everyone knows, there are probably too many guns in too many people’s hands who should never probably ever have guns,” Jones-Sawyer said. Jones-Sawyer addressed the racial element of victims of gun violence in America. “Many of those individuals were Latino and African American so it behooves us that post-pandemic, we need to figure out what we’re doing, what we need to do if we want to protect our boys and men of color," Jones-Sawyer said. He also offered up par t of a solution. “This year we need to infuse the California Violence Intervention and Prevention grant program (CalVIP) with a large sum, we did put in money for a large sum to fund the work that we so desperately need to get not only guns off the street but out of the hands of people who should not have them.” T he second topic on t he age nd a wa s p ostpandemic mental health care. Le Ondra Clark Harvey, chief executive officer of the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies, spoke on the intersectional nature of mental health issues in communities of color. “Historically, Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) communities’ mental health and substance abuse disorder services have been impacted by several factors including access to treatment, cultural beliefs and stigma,” she said. Largely, Clark Harvey said mental health treatment for BIPOC people has not been preventative. “When BIPOC individuals do seek help, it tends to be at a time of crisis; at an emergency room, a psychiatric hospital or due to some type of interaction with law enforcement," Harvey said. She also spoke about the increase in opioid use, suicide and calls to crisis hotlines for boys and men of color. Two of the programs in California mentioned during the meeting that are making headway on mental health problems facing Black men and boys are COVID-19 Black, an organization dedicated to

lessening the effects the pandemic has had on the Black community, and Strong Family Home Visiting Program, a Los Angeles Countybased program that provides inhome family support services. Wraparound service approaches to care were also discussed as a way to shift "focus away from a traditional service-driven, problem-based approach to care and instead follows a strengthsbased, needs-driven approach," according to the California Department of Social Services. The last topic of discussion was on career pathways and building generational wealth for communities of color. Tara Lynn Gray, director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, highlighted that most of the disparities in communities of color can be traced to economics. "Some of the challenges facing boys and men of color stem from economic challenges in their communities and lack of investment for years prior to this administration," Gray said. "The pandemic induced economic hardships that we’ve experienced have exacerbated those issues with many businesses closing their doors and roughly 40% of Black and Latinx businesses closed," Gray continued. Gray claimed that it is not all doom and gloom, however, as she mentioned what the state has done to assuage these disparities. "The good news about the challenges we have seen is that our leadership, both in the administration and in the legislature, have created access to programs, resources and financial assistance for small businesses to help with economic recovery and make an impact on some of the challenges facing boys and men of color," Gray said. Gray also spoke about investing in business opportunities for the formerly incarcerated. Through the California Reinvestment Grant Program CalCRG, for example, the state has been directly funding community-based organizations across California to expand job and re-entry programs for Black and other men of color who were impacted by the “War on Drugs.” Services include criminal record expungement for some marijuanarelated crimes; job training and placement help; mental health treatment; addiction services; housing placement and more.

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Page 4

LIFESTYLE/SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT/RELIGION

Five Key Reminders As California Schools Reopen By, Dr. Naomi Bardach, Safe Schools for All team lead

California school districts are close to fully reopening for the 2021-22 school year. Seventeen of the 20 largest districts have reopened with the other three on schedule to reopen soon. By implementing the right precautions, such as wearing masks indoors, parents can feel confident about their children being back in school for full, in-person learning. With the help of scientists and medical professionals, we have gathered a lot more information about the coronavirus since it first hit America more than a year ago and those learnings are being applied to the new school year. It is imperative that we work together to support learning and growth for all students by fully reopening schools, which play a vital role in our communities.

Living with the virus has become our reality and we are learning to adapt. There will continue to be challenges this school year but with a multilayered strategy in place — testing, vaccinations, masking, improved ventilation — we are confident this is the best path to safely returning to in-person learning. As we dig into the school year, there are several things that parents should keep top of mind that will directly impact their children’s safety and well-being. Here are five key areas that I recommend paying close attention to. Vaccinations remain key to COVID-19 prevention in kids. Medical research has shown that children are less likely to catch the coronavirus than older students and adults. Most children contract the virus from a close relative in their home, not from other students or school personnel. Vaccines substantially reduce the need for quarantines, especially in middle and high schools. Remember all teachers and staff in K-12 public and private schools are required to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

School-associated cases are evidence that schools are screening out COVID-19. Schools are creating safe spaces t h roug h layered approaches including testing and contract tracing which supports identifying cases, in addition to sending ongoing notifications to keep parents updated. Vaccinations for anyone 12 years of age and older and masks for all students supports schools in being safe spaces for students. Schools reopening pr omot e s me nt a l a nd social- emotional health.

been a long and hard challenge for many of our students. The absence of school structure has led to social isolation and anxiety which severely impacts student’s social and emotional development. Research supports the reopening of schools to promote the mental, social-emotional and academic well-being of students. We must do all we can to mitigate the substantial effects of students remaining out of in-person learning. We want them back doing the things they love – socializing, spending time with their friends and playing sports. The Delta variant remains a concern. The presence of the Delta variant has created a need to increase testing capacity in many schools, although children are not the principal drivers of virus transmission. Vaccination is the best way to protect against the Delta variant. Unvaccinated children may safely return to school, but that makes other protective measures such as masking more important for them. For more information and ongoing updates, parents can visit https://schools.covid19. ca.gov/pages/pa rent-page.

The last year and half has

Love Your Neighbor: Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 By Bishop Kelvin Simmons I’ll be honest. As co-pastor at Immanuel Praise Fellowship in Rancho Cucamonga, I had decided I wasn’t going to encourage my parishioners to get the COVID-19 vaccine until I was sure the vaccine was safe. And I was not alone among my peers in the Southern California faith community. Dr. Andrea King, pastor at 16th St. Seventh Day Adventist Church in San Bernardino and a fellow member of Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches, felt the same way. We know all too well that Black people have been mistreated by doctors, scientists and others for generations. So, it’s no surprise that many of our brothers and sisters believe the stories circulating on social media making false claims about the vaccine. However, the truth is that we have a life-saving vaccine that protects us against a virus that has hospitalized and killed far too many of us. While hospitals are struggling to keep up with the number of unvaccinated people with severe COVID-19 illness, the FDA granted full approval last month of Pfizer’s vaccine for those ages 16 and up. It’s worth noting that emergencyuse authorization also remains in place for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots, as well as Pfizer’s for 12- to 15-year-olds. Dr. King and I believe in being informed, so despite our reservations, we prayed about it and then we got educated. We connected with a group of Black and brown health care providers from nearby Loma Linda University School of Medicine. We fired question after question at them and talked about our suspicions and fears. We delved into how the vaccines were

The requirement to get vaccinated or weekly COVID-19 testing applies to the state's 320,000 public school teachers and more than 250,000 support staff — from cafeteria employees to campus custodians — and at least 80,000 private school employees, according to the California Department of Education and labor unions. It will also pertain to school volunteers. These individuals will set the tone on our campuses and ensuring their safety allows for more focus on the students.

developed, how they work in our bodies, and the possible risks and benefits of getting vaccinated. We recognized that these people, who look like us, are the real experts. We trusted them to tell us the truth. When I learned that people with immune system disorders can be fatally impacted by the virus, I thought of my only child, who has lupus. I asked myself, “How can I be out engaging with people and getting exposed to the virus unintentionally and then endanger my daughter?” For me, it was a real ‘Come to Jesus’ moment. Soon, we were hosting town hall meetings and vaccination clinics for our congregations and su r rou nding I nland Empire communities. We have educated hundreds of people through our town hall meetings, webinars, and a Black church summit on COVID-19 with Loma Linda University and county health experts. We have vaccinated thousands at more than 20 pop-up clinics. When people ask me if I took the vaccine, I tell them, “Yes.” If they ask me how I feel, I say “good.” We cannot argue with the numbers. As an African American, we can’t argue that we are 12 percent of the U.S. population but 34 percent of those who have died of COVID-19, according to CDC data Think about it for yourself and the people around you. Of course, there are those among us who still don’t trust the vaccine and still don’t want to take it. I pray about it. I tell them that I can’t make them get vaccinated, but I also try to help them understand that we must do better, especially when we have deathly ill children in hospital ICUs with the highly contagious continued in next 2 columns

Love Your Neighbor: Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19... continued Delta variant of the virus. I urge my congregation and anyone who follows Biblical teachings to love their neighbor as they love themselves. The virus itself is what it is. What is keeping COVID-19 around is the hardness of the heart of humanity. If everybody looked out for everybody else, and got vaccinated, we would be talking about something different.

The virus can only do what we allow it to do. It’s not about the virus now, it’s about humanity. Bishop Kelvin Simmons is co-pastor of Immanuel Praise Fellowship in Rancho Cucamonga, president of the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches, and a member of Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE).

“A Warning Left Unheeded Will Have Eternal Consequences Beyond Human Comprehension! By: Lou Yeboah

Lou Yeboah It is shocking how often we ignore crucial warnings, until it is too late. Yet, we all understand what warning mean in our daily lives, and we know what the risks are for ignoring them, but what about the warnings that exist for our spiritual lives? What is the result of continually ignoring God's warnings?" [Amos 4:6-12; Isaiah 5:24 paraphrased] says that God's love will be turned to anger, His blessings will turn to judgment, murder and death of the people will increase, enemy nations will threaten to attack— suddenly and overwhelmingly— and all trusted defenses will fail. It happened before and it will happen again, because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Listen, throughout Bible history, God has repeatedly provided man with more than “ample warning” of His impending judgments. His purpose for warning man is to motivate him to repent and come

back to Him. Let us not be like the people in Noah’s day. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment, how will you escape if you neglect so great a salvation? How will you escape inevitable judgment if you ignore the warning? If you refuse this invitation, this incomprehensible gift of grace? You will not. What catastrophe! Eternal consequences beyond human comprehension! God’s final appeal, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” [Revelation 22:17]. But lest you put it off, the Bible goes on in the next to the last verse to warn, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly” [Revelation 22:20]. Then I saw the seven angels who stood before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the continued in next 2 columns

“A Warning Left Unheeded Will Have Eternal Consequences Beyond Human Comprehension!...continued saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and

many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” [Revelation 8]. For all of God's remedial efforts had failed. The people had turned against Him more and more. With great reluctance He releases them to their own destructions. [2 Chronicles 36:15-17] Even though God had compassion on them and wanted to save them from this, they were not willing. “Woe, Woe, Woe!” In one day, in one hour, her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the LORD God who judges her.” [Revelation 18:8].

Witness For Justice#1064

Blame and Responsibility Rachel Hackenberg The LORD said to Moses, “Let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them.” (Exodus 32:10, NRSV) I wonder, sometimes, why God does not. Consume us, that is. Burn against us. Unleash holy rage. Surely we are no less stiffnecked than the ancient Israelites who melted their finest jewelry in order to cast in gold an image of a calf for worship. I might even suggest that we are more stiffnecked than our forebears in the wilderness: Start wars that will devastate generations? Bring it on, we repeatedly say. Hold our nose at accountability for past injustices? Don’t mind if we do. Excuse hatred and bias in the name of God? Always convenient. Genuinely I wonder: Why doesn’t God take us out? (Spoiler alert: the answer isn’t “Jesus.” And full confession: if it was in my power to do so, I’d be sorely tempted to press “restart” on humanity.) There is an ongoing debate between Moses and God, Moses and the people, God and the people about who is responsible when the community misbehaves … and who is to blame. In Exodus 32, the blame is squarely on Aaron and the people for creating a golden calf. As punishment, they are made to drink gold-infused water from the deconstructed calf, and then further subject to massacre and plague. A classic feel-good Bible moment. But blame is easy. The harder question: Who is responsible for holding a community accountable for errant and injuring behavior? Who is responsible for correction, healing, redemption? Who responds to redress an injustice? Who will clean up the mess of war? Who will account for history’s wounds and measure out the necessary repairs? Who will show up for God’s

work of healing from hatred, of confession from bias, of reconciliation from fear? Moses and God draw straws over the question. “They’re your people,” God says to Moses. “No, they’re your people,” Moses says to God. Too often those who have already experienced injury—those whose privileges and comforts have already been sacrificed— are tasked with the responsibility of healing and justice, while those who made the mess (and those who consider themselves unaffected by it) provide analysis and critique. “The Afghans can take care of themselves.” “The Palestinians need to stop resisting land acquisition.” “The Civil War should be remembered with pride.” Moses loses his debate with God over who is responsible for the people, so he must do the work of cleaning up the mess. There are people sick from drinking the gold-infused water. There are grieving families from the aforementioned massacre. There are lingering spiritual wounds and doubts from the horrors of slavery in Egypt. Moses puts in the hard work of repairing the people’s relationship to God, to themselves, to one another. Why doesn’t God take us out? Perhaps because it’s not God’s responsibility to do so. In the flip of divine coin and the drawing of holy straws, humanity “lost” and God made us responsible for one another—commanding us to take on the necessary labor of healing, reconciliation, and justice. It’s God’s responsibility to love us. It’s our responsibility to do the hard work of holding one another accountable in light of that love. The Rev. Rachel Hackenberg is the Managing Editor for The Pilgrim Press and Faith-Forming Publications for the United Church of Christ.

Thursday, September 16, 2021

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LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008618 Date Filed: 08/19/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/19/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): ARIANA’S RUNWAY SHAPEWEAR County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business:14400 BEAR VALLEY RD. STE. 313 VICTORVILLE, CA 92301 Mailing Address: 11255 CACTUS RD. ADELANTO, CA 92301 Number of Employees: 0 Name of Individual Registrant: ARIANA G. ROJO Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 11255 CACTUS RD. ADELANTO, CA 92301 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Jul 01, 2021 Ariana G. Rojo, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 9, 16, 23, 30, 2021. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008785 Date Filed: 08/24/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/24/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): THE DEAL CHICK County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 5141 SALISBURY WAY ONTARIO, CA 91762 Name of Individual Registrant: NATALIE N. HORNE Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 5141 SALISBURY WAY ONTARIO, CA 91762 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Jul 01, 2021 Natalie N. Horne, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9, 16, 23 , 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008786 Date Filed: 08/24/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/24/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): STORAMERICA VICTORVILLE LOCUST #2 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 12185 LOCUST AVENUE VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 Mailing Address: 2042 BUSINESS CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 100 IRVINE, CA 92612 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: COLTON HOLDINGS LLC State of Inc./Org./ Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: 200505610049 Residence Street Address: 2042 BUSINESS CENTER DRIVE SUITE 100 IRVINE, CA 92612 This business is/was conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Oct 31, 2016 John Minar, Manager, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9, 16, 23, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008459 Date Filed: 08/13/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/13/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): ROMERO LANDSCAPING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 523 SAN JACINTO ST. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92408 Mailing Address: 11455 PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD, SUITE A DOWNEY, CA 90241-0000 Name of Individual Registrant: JOSE J. ROMERO CHAVEZ Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 523 SAN JACINTO ST. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92408 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Jose J. Chavez Romero, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9, 16, 23, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008953 Date Filed: 08/27/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/27/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): 1. DANCE AMO LA VITA INC. 2. ARTHUR MURRAY 3. ARTHUR MURRAY DANCE STUDIO 4. AM 5. A M MONTCLAIR County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 8660 CENTRAL AVE. SUITE A MONTCLAIR, CA 91763 Mailing Address: 31801 GARLINGTON ST. MENIFEE, CA 92584 Number of Employees: 4 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: DANCE AMO LA VITA INC. State of Inc./Org./ Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.:C4650620 Residence Street Address: 31801 GARLINGTON ST. MENIFEE, CA 92584 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Jan 10, 2021 Octavio Morales, CEO, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9, 16, 23, 2021. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008710 Date Filed: 08/20/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/20/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): COCOMAC County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 9850 19TH STREET #108 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91737 Name of Individual Registrant: COREY MCELROY Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 9850 19TH STREET #108 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91737 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Corey McElroy, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9, 16, 23, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008962 Date Filed: 08/30/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/30/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): NTE CONSULTING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 16636 NISQUALLI ROAD VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 Name of Individual Registrant: NATASHA T. LOWERY-EDWARDS Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 16636 NISQUALLI ROAD VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Jun 15, 2021 Natasha T. Lowery-Edwards, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 9, 16, 23, 30, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008764 Date Filed: 08/23/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/23/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): BOSCO INTERPRETING SERVICES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 5604 BERTINI WAY FONTANA, CA 92336 Name of Individual Registrant: BOSCO A. BOKSH Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 5604 BERTINI WAY FONTANA, CA 92336 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Aug 11, 2021 Bosco A. Boksh, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9, 16, 23 , 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008130 Date Filed: 08/06/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/06/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.):1. WALDEN WOODS 2. CRESTLINE HANDYMAN County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 23352 SEELEY WAY CRESTLINE, CA 92325 Mailing Address: PO BOX 3039 CRESTLINE, CA 92325 Number of Employees: 0 Name of Individual Registrant: THOMAS L. WALDEN Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 22352 SEELEY WAY CRESTLINE, CA 92325 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Thomas L. Walden, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper August 26, September 2, 9, 16, 2021.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVMB 2100142 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: YURELI LOPEZ & ISMAEL MEDINA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. JUNIOR OBED MEDINA LOPEZ Proposed name: to: ISMAEL OBED MEDINA LOPEZ THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 10/22/21 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept.:M4 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO Joshua Tree Courthouse 6527 White Feather Rd. Joshua Tree, CA 92252 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: Sep 03, 2021 John W. Burdick Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 16, 23, 30, October 7, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210009044 Date Filed: 09/01/2021 Filing Expires On: 09/01/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): SAPPHIRE WAX STUDIO County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 5041 N. VARSITY AVE. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 Name of Individual Registrant: LORI A. PAEZ Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 5041 N. VARSITY AVE. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Lori A. Paez, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 9, 16, 23, 30, 2021.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVSB 2123615 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: RACHEL ANN LIE filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a RACHEL ANN LIE Proposed name: to: RACHEL ANN KWAN THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 10/14/2021 Time 9:00 a.m. Dept.:S17 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO San Bernardino Justice Center 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: Sep 07, 2021 Lynn M. Poncin Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 16, 23, 30,October 7, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008049 Date Filed: 08/04/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/04/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): LJ & A LOGISTICS LLC County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 12229 CHACOMA WAY VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: LJ & A LOGISTICS LLC State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: 202120910067 Residence Street Address: 12229 CHACOMA WAY VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 This business is/was conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Jun 08, 2021 Jennifer S. Diaz, Owner/Manager, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper August 26, September 2, 9, 16, 2021. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20210008941 Date Filed: 08/27/2021 Filing Expires On: 08/27/2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): 1. STYLES OF GALORE 2. YOU’RE CREATED TO INSPIRE MINISTRIES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 14779 SENECA RD., #290 VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Name of Individual Registrant: NAKENDRA L. HARRIS Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 14779 SENECA RD., #290 VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Nakendra L. Harris, CEO, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 9, 16, 23, 30, 2021.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVSB 2117741 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. MARTIN S. GARCIA Proposed name: to: MARTIN SANDOVAL GARCIA THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 10/01/21 Time 9:00 a.m. Dept.: S16 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 247 West 3rd Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 San Bernardino Superior Court Civil Division A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: August 20, 2021 Lynn M. Poncin Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9, 16, 23, 2021.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVSB 2120116 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: KIMBERLY ZUNIGA and IVAN SANDOVAL filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. DAL-EYZA SANDOVAL Proposed name: to: DALEYZA LYVETTE ZUNIGA THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 10/12/21 Time 9:00 a.m. Dept.: S17 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO San Bernardino Justice Center 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: August 10, 2021 Lynn M. Poncin Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9,16, 23, 2021.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVBA 2100285 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: MATAUTU HURRELL-BROWN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. TUITAITAGA MATAUTU SINIVA HURRELL LAUFALETAUA Proposed name: to: TUTAITAGA MATAUTU HURRELL THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: Oct 04, 2021 Time 1:30 p.m. Dept.: B2 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 235 East Mountain View Street Barstow, CA 92311 Barstow Branch A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: 8/16/2021 Carne Halgnmson Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper September 16, 23, 30, October 7, 2021.

RE-NOTICE OF HEARING FIFTH DISTRICT COURT NYE COUNTY, NEVADA In the Matter of the Estate of VERONICA MUNOZ Deceased, Case No. PR21-0149A Dept. No. 2 RE-NOTICE OF HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT Petitioner, Ginger L. Stumne, Nye County Public Administrator, by and through her attorney, Sean M. Tanko, Esq., has filed in this Court this ReNotice of Hearing for a Petition to Set Aside the Estate of Veronica Munoz Without Administration and for Confirmation of Attorney Fees and Costs and a hearing has been set for the 4th day of October 2021, at 8:30 A.M. in Department No. 2, which is located at Nye County Courthouse, 1520 E. Basin Ave. #105 Pahrump, NV 89060. Further details concerning this Notice can be obtained by contacting the Petitioner’s attorney, whose name, address and telephone number is listed below. DATED this 30th day of August 2021. SEAN M. TANKO, ESQ. Nevada Bar No. 8904 8530 Del Webb Boulevard Las Vegas, NV 89134 (702) 463-8700 Email: sean@seantankolaw.com Attorney for Ginger L. Stumne, Nye County Public Administrator Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9, 16, 2021.

SUMMONS AMENDED SUMMONS (CITACIÓN JUDICIAL) CASE NO: BCV-21-101666 SDS Notice! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond not later than: September 28, 2021 Read information below. Notificación! Usted ha sido demandado. El juez podria emitir un fallo en contra de usted sin que usted exponga su caso a menos que usted responda a más tardar el 28th de Septiembre 2021. Leer la información que figura a continuación. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF KERN AMENDED SUMMONS Case No: BCV-21-101666 SDS YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFFS/PETITIONERS: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): GREG THOMPSON, an individual NOTICE TO DEFENDANTS/ RESPONDENTS: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): RAND COMMUNITIES WATER DISTRICT, a County Water District; ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE MATTER OF THE VALIDITY OF THE JUNE 23, 2021 ORDINANCE NO. 14 OF THE RAND COMMUNITIES WATER DISTRICT ADOPTING AN INCREASE IN THE CHARGES AND RATES FOR WATER SERVICE AND RELATED MATTERS; and DOES 1-10. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Plaintiff/ Petitioner, Greg Thompson, has filed a complaint in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure section 860, et seq for the purpose of invalidating Rand Communities Water District’s (“RCWD”) June 23, 2021 Ordinance No. 14. The complaint alleges that Ordinance No. 14 is unconstitutional because it was enacted in violation of California Constitution, article XIII D, § 6, subdivision (a). Specifically, it alleges that RCWD failed to count valid written protests that would have established a majority of protests from affected properties; failed to mail a Proposition 218 Notice to record owners of each parcel upon which the water fees were proposed for

imposition, but rather mailed it to customers; and failed to state the basis upon which the amount of the proposed fee or charge was calculated in the Proposition 218 notice. You may take a position and contest or support the legality or validity of the matter by appearing and filing a written answer to the petition and complaint not later than September 28, 2021. Your pleading must be in the form required by the California Rules of Court. Your original pleading must be filed in this Court with proper filing fees and proof that a copy thereof was served on Plaintiff/Petitioner’s attorney identified below. Unless you respond by September 28, 2021, Plaintiff/Petitioner may apply to the Court for the relief demanded in the complaint without any opposition by you. Any persons who contest the legality or validity of the matter will not be subject to punitive action, such as wage garnishment or seizure of their real or personal property. You may seek the advice of an attorney in any matter connected with the complaint or this summons. Such attorney should be consulted promptly so that your pleading may be filed or entered within the time required by this summons. Si usted desea solicitar el consejo de un abogado en esta asunto, deberia haerlo imediatamente, de esta mamera, su repuesta escrita, si hay alguna, puede ser registrada a tiempo. The name and address of the court is: ( El nombre y direccion de la corte es): Superior Court of California, County of Kern 1415 Truxtun Ave., Civil Division Bakersfield, CA 93301 The name, address and telephone number of Plaintiffs’ attorney, or plaintiff without attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Eric J. Benink, Esq. #187434 Benink & Slavens, LLP 8885 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 207 San Diego, CA 92108 Telephone: (619) 369-5252 Facsimile (619) 369-5253 Date: 8/12/2021 (Fecha) Tamarah-Harber-Pickens Clerk, by Gricelda Evans, Deputy (Secretario) (Adjunto) Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper September 2, 9, 16, 2021.

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): CIVDS2014667 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): ANDREW ARRIAGA AND DOES 1 TO 10 YO U A R E B E I N G S U E D BY PL A I NTI FF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): PACIFIC STAR INSUARANCE COMPANY NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (w w w.sucor te. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes

de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): REESE LAW GROUP, Tristan P. Espinosa, Esq., Bar#312481, 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/842-5850 (File No. 286448) DATE (Fecha): 7/8/2020 Clerk (Secretario), by Felix Garza, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served 1. as individual Defendant.. 8/26, 9/2, 9/9, 9/16/21 CNS-3502920# THE SAN BERNARDINO AME PETITION/PROBATE

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: RICHARD E. DELOACH CASE NO: PROPS 2100365

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: RICHARD E.

DELOACH

A Petition For Probate has been filed by: TATE S. DELOACH in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. The Petition For Probate requests that: TATE S. DELOACH be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 09/22/21 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept: S36P Superior Court Of California, /county Of San Bernardino 247 West Third Street, Second Floor San Bernardino, CA 92415-0212 Probate Division If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you

of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Petitioner:Tate S. DeLoach 5928 Bartram Village Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32258 (904)894--3326 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper September 9, 16, 23, 2021.

PUBLISH ALL YOUR LEGAL PUBLICATIONS WITH THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS FBN PUBLICATIONS WITH 1 BUSINESS CAN BE PUBLISHED FOR $45 IT IS EASY AND CONVENIENT! SCAN AND UPLOAD ANY LEGAL PUBLICATION ON OUR WEBSITE: sb-american.com ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED ON THE PAY FEATURE

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Page 6

LEGALS/COUNTY/NATIONAL/HEALTH NEWS

New Coronavirus Variant a ‘Concern’ for Health Officials By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Losing Federal Unemployment Benefits or COBRA Health Plan Aid in September? Covered California Can Help County/Health News This month millions of Californians are losing federal unemployment benefits made available to them because of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of others will lose federal aid that helped absorb the high costs of their COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) health coverage after getting laid off or having their hours reduced by their employers. But Covered California -- which administers the Affordable Care Act, aka “Obamacare” -- may help take some of the sting out of these lost benefits by offering consumers quality, low-cost health plans from name-brand insurers across the state. Most consumers can now qualify for comprehensive health coverage for just $1 per month. Here is a quick guide to help those losing benefits. Q. What specific federal unemployment benefits are ending and how can Covered California help? A. Four pandemic-related u nemploy ment prog rams expired earlier in September, which impacted more than 2.2 million Californians. according to the California Employment Development Department (EDD). In addition, another 500,000 Californians will no longer be receiving the weekly $300 federal supplement with their unemployment benefits. Those losing federal unemployment benefits can enroll in low-cost Covered California plans right now, where more financial help is available than ever before thanks to the American Rescue Plan. Over 1 million Covered

California enrollees have already benefitted from the increased financial help, which is dramatically lowering monthly health care costs and has enabled more than 738,000 people to date to get health coverage for as little as $1 per month. Q. How can Covered California help me, if my federal COBRA health plan subsidies expire at the end of September? A. Covered California recently announced it opened a special enrollment period for an estimated 138,000 Californians whose federal subsidies for COBRA health coverage will be ending this month and who face significantly higher monthly health care premiums in October. The subsidies were also part of the American Rescue Plan, and helped many employees and their families continue to receive their group health coverage during the pandemic by covering the full cost of their monthly premiums, Eligible Californians can qualify for financial help that can

Waiving IP rights means waving goodbye to future medical breakthroughs By Sandip Shah and Deep Patel The Biden administration recently announced that it would back a proposal by South Africa and India at the World Trade Organization to nullify American innovators' intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines. While the proposal's adoption would not increase the number of global vaccine doses available, it would dissuade investment in innovation -- effectively inhibiting the next generation of medical breakthroughs and hurting patients in the process. To understand the importance of intellectual property, look no farther than the Covid-19 vaccines developed by Moderna and PfizerBioNTech. They discovered that by taking advantage of the body's own molecular devices, mRNA can teach our cells how to make a protein similar to that of a given pathogen -- which triggers an immune response. mRNA technology could create an entire new class of medicines. Once scientists have the genetic

sequence of a targeted virus or disease, they can equip mRNA with the means to fend it off. This new approach of custommade mRNA has the potential to address a host of diseases ranging from cancer and heart disease to Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. Moderna and fellow biotech firm Merck, for instance, have seen promising results for an mRNA-based therapeutic vaccine to treat cancer. Each treatment arms mRNA with a unique code to fight the particular mutations in an individual patient's tumor cells. These experimental vaccines and therapies could soon help millions of Americans live longer, healthier lives. That is, if our innovative ecosystem maintains the incentives necessary to fund them. Pharmaceutical research and development is inherently risky. Most experimental treatments and vaccines meet dead ends, despite the billions of dollars invested. continued in next 2 columns

save them hundreds of dollars on their monthly health care costs. In addition, many of these consumers will be able to stay with their same brand-name health insurance company when they switch to Covered California. Q. How long does Covered California’s COBRA special enrollment period last? A. Covered California’s enrollment period for COBRA recipients runs through Nov. 29, 2021. Those who sign up with Covered California before the end of September will have their new coverage begin on Oct. 1. For COBRA recipients who want to keep their existing coverage for the balance of 2021, they can switch during Covered California’s open enrollment period starting in November and potentially get significant financial help starting in January 2022. Q. How do I sign up for these ultra, low-cost Covered California health plans? A. Consumers can check their eligibility now for big savings on

their monthly health care costs through Covered California by using this quick calculator. They will need to input their household income, ZIP code, household size and the age of each family member and note whether they received unemployment benefits at any time in 2021. Once completed, they will see how affordable a health plan can be in their local area and the cost of their monthly premium. Those interested in learning more about their health coverage options through Covered California and Medi-Cal can also: Visit www.CoveredCA.com. Get local help and free and confidential assistance, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller. Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free. Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506. Q. Is there other help available for those losing federal assistance in September? A. For those whose federal unemployment benefits are ending, California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) is encouraging them to apply for other programs expanded by the American Rescue Plan. They include up to $234 per person per month in food assistance via CalFresh, and rental and utility assistance from the Housing is Key program. M a ny lo si ng fe d e r a l unemployment assistance may also qualify for state unemployment benefits. EDD has an online calculator for Californians to estimate any potential benefit amount they can get, which can range from $40 to $450 a week.

Waiving IP rights means waving goodbye to future medical breakthroughs...continued I ntellect ual proper t y protect ions help assu re innovators that they have exclusive rights to their medical inventions for a period of time. Without that sense of security, innovation would come to a standstill. Investors would have to expend resources elsewhere as development ventures -- even those pursuing new applications for technology as promising as mRNA -- simply won't be financially feasible to pursue. That's precisely why it's so concerning that the Biden administration has decided to support the intellectual property waiver that South Africa and India are pushing. Administration officials likely felt pressured by the waiver's proponents, who claim that stripping protections is necessary to ramp up global vaccine access. But there's no evidence in support of that. Giving away intellectual property rights will not expand supply because the real bottleneck lies with the logistical challenges

of scaling up production. It takes time to retrofit manufacturing facilities so that they are capable of safely and effectively producing high-tech vaccines. Not to mention there is a worldwide shortage of the vaccines' essential raw materials. The WTO proposal is not a policy option to adopt and abandon when it inevitably proves ineffective in achieving its purported aim. There are realworld consequences of continuing down this path. If intellectual property is no longer protected, patients can say goodbye to future treatments and cures. Those who recognize the value of American innovation can -- and must -- push back on this disastrous proposal before it's too late. Sandip Shah, a visiting professor at Rutgers, is founder and president of Market Access Solutions, which develops strategies to optimize patient access to life-changing therapies. Deep Patel works at Market Access Solutions. This op-ed originally ran in the Orlando Sentinel.

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Nearly 219 million people globally had contracted the novel coronavirus since March 2020, when officials officially declared a pandemic. Over 4.5 million have died, including more than 657,000 in the United States, where the disease has disproportionately attacked African Americans and other communities of color. Health officials have identified the Delta variant — and the lack of those vaccinated — as the primary reason over 100,000 people in the United States are currently hospitalized — the largest number since the beginning of the year.

Delta be damned. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it is monitoring a new coronavirus variant called “Mu,” a strain that first surfaced in Colombia earlier this year. “Mu is a variant of interest,” the WHO noted in a news release. The variant contains mutations that indicate a risk of resistance to COVID-19 vaccines, health officials determined. “The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” WHO officials stated. Nearly 219 million people globally had contracted the novel coronavirus since March 2020, when officials officially declared a pandemic. Over 4.5 million have died, including more than 657,000 in the United States, where the disease has disproportionately attacked African Americans and other communities of color. Health officials have identified the Delta variant — and the number of people that remain unvaccinated — as the primary reasons that more than 100,000 people in the United States are currently hospitalized — the largest number since the beginning of the year. The Department of Health and

Human Services revealed that 30 percent of intensive care beds in hospitals around the country hold COVID-19 patients, and they point the finger largely at how the Delta variant has rapidly spread through the extensive unvaccinated population. Just under 52 percent of the U.S. population has full vaccination, while 61 percent received at least one dose. Virus rates continue to spike around the globe, and the WHO has determined that the Mu strain could make matters worse. Mu joins the list of four variants of concern named by the WHO. The list includes Alpha, Lambda, and Delta. Each is present in at least 170 countries. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t list Mu as a variant of interest or a variant of concern. Barrons reported that the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has previously listed Mu as a variant of interest. The ECDC reported that there is evidence that the mutations in the Mu variant now impact transmissibility and immunity. “WHO will closely follow the epidemiological evolution of this variant, along with studies on its impact,” the agency noted.

The MolinaCares Accord to Partner with Falck, County of Los Angeles and Supervisor Hilda Solis to Host FREE COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in Pomona... continued from page 2 2021, 2:00 – 6:00 PM PST (Vaccines Available: Pfizer – Ages 12+; Johnson & Johnson – Ages 18+) Why: These events are part of MolinaCares’ efforts to address inequities in health outcomes throughout California These free

vaccine clinics encourage residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help stop the pandemic and get California back to normal. Getting a vaccine will not only protect those receiving the vaccine, but also those they love. The vaccine is safe, effective, and very important.

California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program Hits Major Milestone, with More Than $1 Billion in Rent and Utility Assistance Paid or Approved for Payment More than 44,000 households have been assisted and more than $1 billion paid or approved for payment More than 243,000 applications have been received with more than $2.2 billion in rent and utility assistance requested County/Health News SACRAMENTO – California’s COVID-19 Rent Relief Program is reaching a significant milestone today – by the end of the day, more than $1 billion in funding

will be obligated – meaning the money has either been paid or approved for payment and awaiting disbursement – and continued on page 7

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Page 7

WORLD/LOCAL NEWS/ADVERTISING

Make dash cams compulsory: four deaths every hour rate on US roads World/Local News

A dash cam positioned on a car dash board - Editorial credit: David Cardinez / Shutterstock.com Car campaigners are calling for dash cams to be made compulsory in California, as statistics in America show an average of 105 people are killed in road traffic accidents every day. Car rental exper ts at St r e s sFr e e C a rRe nt a l.c om have launched a campaign for lawmakers to ensure all motorists have a dash cam in place in their vehicles to record incidents while they are driving. It comes as Department of Transportation figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates there were 38,680 people killed in road traffic accidents in America for the year 2020, which equates to more than four deaths every hour taking the statistic as an average throughout the year. Among the fatalities were 23,395 passenger vehicle occupants, 6,205 pedestrians and 846 pedal cyclists with distractions and negligence of traffic rules among the reasons for road accidents in the country. A spokesman for StressFreeCarRental.com said: “Up and down the country every day, there are hundreds of incidents taking place on our roads which result in minor or major injuries, or even death. “We would like to see it become mandatory for every motorist to have a dash cam fitted in their vehicle as an extra layer of protection for drivers, their passengers and all road users. “There are on average 105 people killed on roads in America every day - that is 105 lives devastated along with the lives of their loved ones. “We feel the time for action is now.” Dash cams are legal in America, but across the states there are different rules to ensure that people’s vision is not impaired through the devices while driving. Motorists are urged to consider putting the dash cam on the car dashboard so it does not obscure your view of the road. Some states have restrictions in place when it comes to mounting

a camera on your windshield and these include: Arizona, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Some states prohibit windshield obstructions altogether including: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Police are increasingly asking for dash cam footage for incidents that happen on roads in many countries globally. There are many examples in the media of dash cam footage being used in cases to tackle carjacking, road rage, road side road scams and motorists jumping red lights at traffic lights or contravening other road signs. In some countries, motorists who car share within their company for example, must inform everyone they share it with if a dash cam has been installed, as it can often record sound and video record inside the vehicle itself. It is a breach of privacy if someone in your vehicle is unaware they are being recorded in some countries. Motorists must also be aware that their own dash cam footage could be used against them if they contravene road rules. But with the St r e s sFr e e C a rRe nt a l.c om campaign ultimately calling for mandatory dash cams to improve road safety for everyone, encouraging safer driving across the board should help achieve this goal and drive down road incidents. Source: https://www.nhtsa.gov/pressreleases/2020-fatality-data-showincreased-traffic-fatalities-duringpandemic

Comcast Rise Commits $11 Million In Grants To Small Business Owners Of Color As Part Of Ongoing Effort To Advance Equitable Economic Mobility In Cities Nationwide Second round of Comcast RISE Investment Fund will award $10,000 grants to 600 additional small businesses in Houston, Miami, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C bringing the total of grants to $11 million. World/Local News NEW YORK – Sept. 14, 2021 – Comcast announced today a second round of cities to receive grants from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, providing $6 million additional dollars to hundreds of small businesses owned by people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American

owners, among others, bringing the total to $11 million in grants awarded as part of the Comcast RISE Investment Fund initiative. Beginning on October 1, and through October 14, eligible businesses in Houston, Miami,

continued in next 2 columns

Assemble!

Comcast Rise Commits $11 Million In Grants To Small Business Owners Of Color As Part Of Ongoing Effort To Advance Equitable Economic Mobility In Cities Nationwide...continued Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. can apply for a $10,000 grant at www. ComcastRISE.com. A total of 100 grants per city, or 600 grants overall, will be awarded in November 2021. The Investment Fund is an extension of Comcast RISE, the multi-year, multi-faceted initiative launched in October 2020 to support small businesses owned by people of color and provide the resources and tools they need today and in the future. Comcast RISE Recipients to Date Comcast also announced its fourth round of Comcast RISE recipients, which includes 1,100 small businesses owned by people of color, that will receive a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business, as well as access to Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs with a specialized online networking community with educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts. To date, nearly 4,700 Comcast RISE awardees have been announced and the program will have supported 13,000 small businesses by the end of 2022. “While we know that no single organization can solve historic and systemic inequities overnight, we are committed to taking tangible actions that can drive long-term impact and change,” said Teresa Ward-Maupin, Senior Vice President, Digital and Customer Experience, Comcast Business. “Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund offer the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color to help grow their businesses, create jobs, and play a vital role in supporting our communities. This new round of Comcast RISE grants will provide more entrepreneurs of color with the resources and tools they need to scale their businesses and thrive for years to come.” The Comcast RISE Investment Fund is focused on small businesses that have been in business for three or more years with 1-25 employees. Businesses must be in the following geographic locations to be eligible: Miami, FL (Miami-Dade and Broward Counties); Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties); Oakland, CA (City of Oakland); Seattle, WA (King and Pierce Counties); and Washington, D.C. (Wards 1-8). To help drive awareness about the program and provide additional support, training, and mentorship, Comcast has also awarded support to Operation Hope, Ureeka, U.S. Black Chambers, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, National Asian American Chamber of Commerce, National CAPACD, Native Women Lead, National Congress of American Indians, Walker’s Legacy, Women Impacting Public Policy, Blavity. org, and nearly 40 communitybased organizations in Houston, Miami, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. “Ureeka is proud of the commitment that Comcast is making to entrepreneurs of color, and we are humbled to be a part of this program,” said, Melissa Bradley, Co-Founder, Ureeka. “We know there are stark racial disparities in access to capital and resources for entrepreneurs of color – in fact, studies show that

business owners of color are twice as likely as all business owners to report ‘lack of access to business loans/credit’ as a reason for closure. This program helps bridge the gap between survival and failure in the midst of a pandemic which continues to further exaggerate systemic injustices. The additional coaching and com munit y connections that these businesses receive, in addition to monetary funding or services, will help these businesses gain valuable skills and opportunities that will help them move from survive to thrive.” Comcast RISE Marketing and Tech nolog y Ser vices In addition to the Investment Fund, Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” provides the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color nationwide to apply for one or more of the following support focus areas with the opportunity to receive one. Marketing Services: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including: Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. Creative Production: Turnkey :30 TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and 90-day media placement schedule. Consulting: Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research, and creative teams to gain insights on how to drive business. Technology Makeovers: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as Internet, Voice, and Cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for technology makeover services.) Monetary Grants: In round one, which was announced in April of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color in five cities: Philadelphia/Chester, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Detroit. As noted above, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide an additional $6 million in grants to 600 small businesses owned by people of color in six cities: Miami, Houston, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. All eligible applicants will receive a monthly Comcast RISE newsletter with educational content, and all small business owners can visit the Comcast RISE destination on the X1 platform featuring aggregated small business news, tips, insights, and more. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the X1 voice remote. Comcast’s Ongoing Commitment to Advancing Digital Equity Comcast RISE is part of Comcast’s ongoing efforts to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive. Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will reach an estimated 50 million people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com.

for a Digital Event

September 20-25 how to participate:

1. Register on Beanstack 2. Receive a secret activation code after each program 3. Once all three badges are activated, you will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize!

SUPER CRAFT

Tuesday, Sept 21, 5:30pm

HERO ART NIGHT

Wednesday, Sept 22, 5:30pm facebook.com/sbcountylibrary

Pick up kits at your local branch starting Saturday, Sept 18

(while supplies last!)

SUPERHERO TRAINING

Thursday, sept 23, 2pm & 4pm Call 760-244-4898 to register for training on ZOOM

Sign up through sbclib.beanstack.org or download the Beanstack app!

California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program Hits Major Milestone, with More Than $1 Billion in Rent and Utility Assistance Paid or Approved for Payment...continued from page 6 will assist over 74,000 additional households. More than $526 million of the $1 billion in rental and utility assistance has already been distributed to 44,432 lowincome California households who suffered financial hardship because of the pandemic. The milestone represents a 638 percent increase since June 28th, when Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 832, which increased the level of assistance to 100 percent for both back rent and prospective rent. More than 243,000 applications have been received, and more than $2.2 billion in rent and utility assistance is currently requested and is pending eligibility verification and fraud prevention screening. “In just six months, we have provided essential assistance to more than 44,000 households to keep families safely housed,” said Governor Newsom. “Our program has been so successful that cities like Los Angeles decided to join efforts with the state to have an even greater impact.” Bolstering tenant protections from eviction, beginning October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022, tenants earning less than 80 percent of the area median income will be protected through a pre-eviction diversion process through the courts, so long as they have submitted a completed application for rental relief through either the state or a locally administered program. “The COVID-19 pandemic brought so much pain and economic disruption, particularly to low-wage workers and lowincome renter households,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “Working with over 130 community-based partners, we are reaching families hardest hit – 85 percent being very low- or extremely low-income – and making landlords whole. Rent relief has been a game changer for Californians at greatest risk of displacement or becoming homeless.” “We have been moving with a sense of urgency to ensure that renters and landlords who need assistance can get it as quickly as possible,” said Department of Housing and Community

Development (HCD) Director Gustavo Velasquez. “Keeping families stably housed continues to be a critical public health measure, as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.” “California has made important improvements to its Emergency Rental Assistance (ER A) program and is now among the best statewide programs in the country by rate of spending and number of people assisted,” said President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition Diane Yentel. “While the program had early challenges, the state is to be commended for recognizing the need for improvements in program design and implementation, and building on lessons learned to course correct. Now, California has one of the country’s more successful ERA programs and serves as a model to other states and localities to adopt evidence-based best practices to expedite assistance to tenants and landlords.” In addition to providing 100 percent of back rent and prospective rent, AB 832 also gave California the strongest eviction protections in the nation. The extension of state-level eviction protections, which were initially established over a year ago, have provided much needed housing stability for Californians throughout the pandemic. As we continue to recover following the end of the state’s existing protections, additional protections will be in place through the end of March 2022 for households that are at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income and complete an application for assistance through either the state or locally administered programs. Additional information about today’s milestone numbers can be found on the California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program’s interactive dashboard. The dashboard allows people to see the state’s overall rent relief numbers, drill down to see the numbers for individual jurisdictions participating in the state program, and the income, ethnicity, age, race and other demographic characteristics of tenants who have applied. It is updated weekly as new payments are made to assist households.

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Page 8

COUNTY/POLITICAL NEWS/ADVERTISING

Olympian Allyson Felix to Receive NNPA National Leadership Award

SBCUSD Continues Working To Keep Schools Open For Teaching And Learning

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) remains committed to slowing the spread of COVID-19 so schools can stay open for inperson teaching and learning. “Not only do we want to provide in-person learning opportunities, in fact, we must,” said Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer Ginger Ontiveros. “The State of California does not permit schools to offer distance learning as their primary means of education this year. Therefore, our focus is on making sure students are as safe as possible in our classrooms.” SBCUSD has learned a great deal about COVID-19 over the past year, working closely with both the California Department of Public Health and the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to prepare for re-opening. “One month into school, and we have continued to learn and tighten our protocols both for safety and communication,” Ontiveros said. “All schools statewide are grappling with the challenges of operating in this unprecedented environment, and many are reaching out to learn from us. Most of what we planned has worked well, and we appreciate the partnership we have with parents and staff, whose input continues to help make us a model for best practices.” At its most recent meeting on September 7, the Board of Education received an update from District staff on the multiple layers

Because of her bold and tireless work, Allyson Felix will receive the 2021 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) National Leadership Award for excellence and innovative leadership in Black America. There’s been little question about the dominance of Allyson Felix. Five-time Olympian and 11time medalist Felix has won the most medals of any track athlete in American history. By the way, Felix also earned a gold medal in the 4×400 relay and the 4-400-meter mixed relay from the 2019 World Championship. Earlier this year, Felix’s activism was on full display. The U.S. Centers for Disease Cont rol a nd Prevent ion announced that Felix had joined the Hear Her campaign to share her story and raise awareness about urgent warning signs that could indicate life-threatening complications during and in the year after pregnancy.

Felix shared her brave story of a diagnosis of severe preeclampsia when she was 32 weeks pregnant. Test results alarmed her doctor during a routine prenatal visit, and she was immediately admitted to the hospital. Through an emergency c-section, Felix delivered a baby girl, who spent the first month of life in the neonatal intensive care unit. Her doctor’s diagnosis a nd fa s t a c t ion s m ay have saved Allyson’s life. Given her level of fitness and training, Felix said she felt prepared for the birth of her daughter and never imagined she would have a severe problem during pregnancy. While she experienced some symptoms, like swelling,

she thought they were a regular part of pregnancy. “Looking back, I wish I would have been better informed about potential warning signs and talked to the doctor about those symptoms,” Felix stated in a news release. “I really want women to have information, to know if they’re at risk, to have a plan in place, not to be intimidated in doctor’s offices, and to feel empowered to speak up when they have concerns.” Because of her bold and tireless work, Felix will receive the 2021 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) National Leadership Award for excellence and innovative leadership in Black America.

TO OUR PARENTS AND FAMILIES:

THANK

YOU! E. TOBY BOYD CTA President

Drs. James Hildreth and Ebony Hilton, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-Missouri), also will receive National Leadership Awards from the NNPA, the trade association of more than 230 African American-owned newspapers and media companies. It’s free to register for the ceremony, which takes place virtually at http:// www.virtualnnpa2021.com. Felix continues to share her story and champion the cause of others. She noted that about 700 women die in the United States each year due to complications related to pregnancy. According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from these complications than white women. Through her involvement, Felix also seeks to raise awareness of the higher burden of poor pregnancy outcomes among Black women to generate change. “We are delighted Allyson Felix has joined us to encourage women to speak up and ask those who support them to listen and act quickly if they raise concerns,” Dr. Wanda Barfield, director, CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health, noted in the news release. “Allyson’s passion and dedication to improving maternal health, particularly among Black women, makes her a strong partner for this effort.”

County/Local News of protection and notification that SBCUSD is using to combat the spread of COVID-19. Safety measures include: daily health assessments for st udent s a nd st af f mandatory face covering for all while indoors and regular handwashing regular sanitation for schools and administrative offices H E PA air f ilters in ever y classroom f r e e, c o nve n ie nt o n campus COVID-19 testing for st udent s a nd st af f a medically trained and supervised COVID-19 liaison at each school for quick evaluation and contact tracing SBCUSD also shared its notification protocol with parents, including the three types of letters parents may receive about a COVID-19 case in schools. Most families who receive a letter will just be informed about a case that was present at school with no direct exposure for their child. Students should continue to attend school as the COVID-19 case they are notified about and anyone who was identified as having been exposed as a close contact have already been quarantined. SBCUSD systems move quickly to contain infections and keep students and staff safe. In addition, to promote transparency and accountability, the District began publishing an online COVID-19 dashboard, available at www.sbcusd. c o m /c ov i d19 d a s h b o a r d .

Thank you for partnering with educators throughout this pandemic. Thank you for your dedication and for working with us to make learning a priority.

As the new school year begins, educators are committed to keeping our students and schools safe.

TOGETHER,

WE CAN MAKE EVERY SCHOOL, IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD A SPECIAL PLACE TO LEARN.

We know quality public schools make a better California for all of us.