October 2008 Archives

What: San Bernardino County Democrats' Election Night Extravaganza

When: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Where: San Bernardino Hilton Hotel, Inland Empire Ballroom

Tickets: $20 advance purchase $25 at the door
$10 for volunteers working 10 hours in GOTV

Tickets available at the San Bernardino Democratic Party Headquarters
136 Carousel Mall, San Bernardino 92401
909-889-9255

San Bernardino County is rolling out a new exercise and nutrition program for seniors that uses the Nintendo Wii to improve physical fitness.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Biane, whose district stretches from Upland to Fontana, will make an appearance Tuesday at George M. Gibson Senior Center in Upland as seniors put their hand-eye coordination skills to the test.

On Wednesday, Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, who represents the High Desert, kicked off the program at the Victorville Senior Center.

The Wii requires players to move their bodies to play games such as golf, tennis, bowling and boxing.

The county purchased 36 Wii systems using a state disease prevention grant and has been installing the games at senior centers throughout the county. The 36 systems along with 10 televisions, video games and controllers cost approximately $31,000.

"Playing Wii is a great way for seniors to stretch their muscles," Biane said in a statement. "It also helps them exercise their minds, and it gives them another reason to come out and visit their friends at the senior center."

The Department of Public Health (DPH) will also be introducing the "We Can" program at the Gibsion senior center. The six-week nutrition and exercise program aims to encourage seniors to eat healthy and exercise regularly.

In Fontana, the Dino Papavero Senior Center, Josephine Knopf Senior Center and the George White Senior Center will receive Wiis as will the Leisure Shores Senior Center in Crestline.
Senior centers in Phelan, Adelanto, Hesperia, Lucerne Valley, Barstow, Hinkley, Newberry Springs, Big River and Trona will also receive Wiis.

What: Trick-or-treating and a costume contest

Where: Main Street, Calico Ghost Town, Yermo

When: 5-9 p.m., tonight

Breakdown of Events:

            5:00 p.m.          Coloring Contest.- Trick or Treat bags
            5 30 p.m.          Costume Contest
            7:00 p.m.          A showing of the film, "The Corpse Bride"

Admission: $10 per carload. 

Information: www.calicotown.com/

What: The San Bernardino County Museum's Reading Discoveries program, which is free

When: 7:30p.m., Wednesday, November 13

Book for discussion: "Arctic Dreams" by Barry Lopez - a sweeping tale of the northern climes, and the reality of extremes. Lopez views the Far North through its wildlife, climate and how humans respond-both as exploiters and for their very survival.

Information: Jolene Redvale at (909) 307-2669 ext. 252 or e-mail jredvale@sbcm.sbcounty.gov.

Assistant Assessor Harlow Cameron announced today he will be retiring at the end of November.

Cameron, a veteran county employee of more than 30 years, delayed his retirement to take the helm of the Assessor's Office in recent months following the arrest of former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman and the medical leave of elected Assessor Bill Postmus, who, according to media reports, suffers from a meth addiction.

In what is considered an unprecedented act for a department head, Postmus was absent this morning from the Board of Supervisors meeting honoring Cameron.

The San Bernardino County Democratic Party has endorsed the following Candidates:
Adelanto:

School District, Mike Olson

Barstow:

Mayor, Joe D. Gomez
City Council, Carmen Hernandez
Fire Protection District., Eddie U. Garcia
Community College, Robert Conaway

Bear Valley Unified School District, David Foltz

Chaffey Joint Unified High School District, Andrea Woore

Chino Unified School District, Silver Aguilar

Colton:           

City Council District 3, Jeremy Baca
City Council District 5, Deidre Bennett

Etiwanda School District, Guillermo Canjura

Fontana:

City Council, Angel Santiago
Fontana Unified School District, Jesse Sandoval

Needles Unified School District Area 2, Michael Breaux

Ontario Montclair School District, Samuel Crowe

Rialto:

Mayor, Grace Vargas
Rialto Unified School District, Walter Scott Hawkins
Rialto Unified School District, Corey Jackson
City Clerk, Barbara A. McGee

San Bernardino County Board of Education, Area C - Edward Velasquez

San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees, John Futch

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water Dist., Mark Alvarez

San Bernardino Unified School District, Barbara Flores  

Victor Valley HS District, Barbara Dew

UPDATE: The final voter registration numbers were released today by the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters.

Total registered voters: 826,081

Registered Democrats: 329,319

Registered Republicans: 319,364

This Sunday, addmission to the San Bernardino County Museum is free. 

 From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., First 5 San Bernardino will be in the museum courtyard hosting "All Aboard the Reading Railroad Literacy Fair." Perfect for children aged 5 and under and their families, this event will offer activities and information from School Readiness programs from across the county. They will offer free pre-school and kindergarten backpacks, free school supplies and free healthy snacks. 

From noon to 2 p.m., members of the Inland Empire Handweavers will demonstrate weaving techniques. All activities are free.

Special exhibits at the museum include "All That Glitters: a century of razzle-dazzle,"  "Sticks and Stones: vernacular architecture in San Bernardino County," and "A Piece of My Heart: samplers from the collections." The Exploration Station will be open 1-4 p.m.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org. 

Visitor Services' telephone number is 909-307-2669 ext. 229 or (TDD) 909-792-1462.

According to numbers posted on the Registrar of Voters Web site this morning, registered Democratics now exceed registered Republicans in San Bernardino County.

The county has long been a Republican stronghold, but political experts credit enthusiasm for the upcoming election for the recent increase.

The Democrats' registration efforts seemed to be stymied just weeks ago when a voter fraud scandal implicating a Republican political campaign company unravelled in the county. The head of Young Political Majors was arrested and charged with two felonies slightly more than a week ago.

San Bernardino County 5th District Supervisor Josie Gonzales will once again give mini-grants to local after school programs, allowing them to purchase needed supplies for activities they offer our youth.

This is the third year Supervisor Gonzales has allocated $10,000, to help non-profit after school programs operating in the 5th District.

The "After School Program Mini-Grant Awards" will be given to qualifying programs on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants may request up to $2,500 to purchase items such as books, pencils, computers, educational software and games, physical activity equipment, and more. 
        "These non-profits play a critical role in our youth's development," said Supervisor Gonzales. "They offer safe, positive alternatives where our young people can get help with their homework, strengthen their academic testing skills, and participate in fun, healthy, socially interactive activities."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
There is no deadline to apply; however funding is limited to the $10,000 allocation. Programs must be active non-profit organizations to be considered for a mini-grant. Applications are available on Supervisor Gonzales' website at www.sbcounty.gov/gonzales.

 
For more information on the After School Program Mini-Grant Awards call (909) 387-4565.

Besides the presidential election, some key local races will be determined Nov. 4. Fontana, Rialto and San Bernardino are expected to have some spirited city council races.

There are also a number of area school board races.

Longtime Congressman Jerry Lewis, a Republican from Redlands, is vying for re-election against San Bernardino resident, Tim Prince, a Democrat.

Similarly, Rep. Joe Baca, a Democrat from Rialto is campaigning for re-election against Fontana Councilman John Roberts, a Republican.

As for the state Legislature, Assemblyman Paul Cook, a Republican from Yucaipa, is running against Carl Wood, a former public utilities commissioner.

From David Wert, San Bernardino County spokesman:

"There is no action the county can take to make Bill come to work as the Assessor. As an elected official he reports to the public."

President Bush has signed into law a stopgap spending bill that includes $500 million in emergency spending to cover unexpected U.S. Forest Service firefighting costs, $250 million in forest fuels management and fire prevention funding and $25 million to help retain Forest Service firefighters in areas like Southern California, according to a news release from Rep. Jerry Lewis.
 
"The Forest Service literally ran out of money fighting the seemingly never-ending wildfires in Northern California, and we were facing devastating cuts to maintenance, services and even fire prevention in some areas," said Lewis, the senior Republican on the House Appropriations Committee. "Congress and the President have responded with this emergency funding increase to ensure that we do not create an even worse fire threat in the future."
 
The Forest Service funding was approved by the House and Senate as part of a stopgap spending measure to keep the federal government running through March 6, 2009. That bill became necessary because Congress has been unable to pass any of the annual spending bills for Fiscal Year 2009. The bill, which also includes $22.6 billion in disaster relief for areas ravaged by hurricanes and fires, was signed by President Bush late Tuesday night.
 
Lewis advocated for the increased funding with Congressman Norm Dicks of Washington, the chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Dicks and Congressman Todd Tiahrt of Kansas, the lead Republican on the subcommittee, agreed to the emergency funding after the Forest Service announced it was taking hundreds of millions of dollars from land acquisition, maintenance and even some fire prevention programs to cover the huge cost of firefighting this year.
 
In order to give the Forest Service a chance to prevent future fires, Lewis urged the subcommittee to approve more spending for hazardous fuels reduction in addition to ensuring that funds already allocated would not be transferred to cover firefighting costs. The bill includes $125 million for Forest Service grants to state and private forestry prevention programs, $50 million for fuel reduction on the forest lands and $75 million for rehabilitation of forests that have been burned. An additional $135 million was provided for Bureau of Land Management emergency fire needs and $100 million was allocated to the Natural Resource Conservation Service's emergency watershed program.
 
The bill also provides $25 million to help the Forest Service address an on-going manpower shortage in the lower ranks of its fire-fighting personnel. The problem has been especially acute in the San Bernardino National Forest and other Southern California forests, where more than four out of 10 basic firefighters have left to work in better-paying state and local firefighting jobs. The bill specifically designates the funds for "retention initiatives in areas at high risk of catastrophic wildfire that face recurrent staffing shortages."
 
"We have seen clear evidence that the Forest Service is losing experienced firefighters in the San Bernardino National Forest because it cannot compete with other fire agencies in terms of pay and benefits," Lewis said. "These additional funds will hopefully provide the resources needed to retain these important staff members."

Following our stories on purported voter fraud at Wal-Marts across San Bernardino County, we've received a few phone calls from angry readers saying that the reports of voter fraud are meaningless because it doesn't matter whether you're registered as a Democrat or Republican.

Well, it does matter for a number of reasons. One of the biggest, is that voter registration allows you to vote in the primaries. Voter affiliation also determines how boundaries are drawn in redistricting efforts, which ultimately decide who gets elected to the state Legislature. It's a little something called gerrymandering. And voter registration helps each party - whether it's the Democrats, Republicans or Green Party - determine where their voter base is weakest so they can focus on specific areas for get-out-the-vote campaigns.

UPDATE: Reached by telephone, Bill Postmus' spokesman said the reason for Bill Postmus' 10-week medical leave will not be disclosed at this time. Ted Lehrer added that Postmus might choose to disclose the reason for leave when he returns to work.

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A quick look at the political action committees listed on the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters Web site shows that there may be at least one local politico already preparing for the 2010 election when the elected county assessor position, currently held by Bill Postmus, will be up for grabs.

The committee listed on the registrar of voters Web site is called Aguiar for Assessor 2010.

Aguiar served in the state Legislature, on the Board of Supervisors and as mayor of Chino.

 

George Watson's column today refers to Sharon Gilbert's blog. If you'd like to check out her blog, click here: http://crittercollectibles.com/blog2/

 Last week, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Baca, a Democrat from Rialto, to designate the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day, according to a news release.

The legislation is supported by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) and 184 federally recognized tribes.

"Native Americans have enriched American culture throughout their proud history," said Rep. Baca in a statement.  "It is critical we recognize these contributions and ensure all Americans are properly educated on the heritage and achievements of Native Americans."  
 
The legislation encourages public elementary and secondary schools to enhance student understanding of Native Americans by providing classroom instruction focusing on their history, achievements, and contributions.   
 

Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill by Assemblyman Anthony Adamsm a Republican from Hesperia, last Friday that will reduce the fees imposed on individuals who collect biodiesel fuels for their own personal use as a diesel fuel alternative.
 
"By reducing fees to use biodiesel fuels, more Californians will be encouraged to explore green technologies as a means of clean, safe, alternative energy," said Adams in a news release.  "The use of biodiesel fuel can help improve air quality for all Californians and decrease our dependency on foreign oil."
 
Current law requires a $100 registration fee and a $300 enforcement fee per vehicle to transport inedible kitchen oil, which is used to make biodiesel fuel. These fees reduce the incentive for individuals to obtain a license to collect the inedible oil. 
 
Sponsored by Good Earth Grease Haulers out of Monrovia, Assembly Bill 1846 reduces the fee to $75 for individuals who collect the oil solely for their own personal use. The bill will help support more small scale biodiesel production and encourage individuals to obtain the required license and insurance, as well as discourage the stealing of oil.
 
This new law will take effect on January 1, 2009.

 According to Rick Sharga, senior vice president at RealtyTrac (www.realtytrac.com), if the government bought all 2.5 million mortgages in foreclosure this year, the total cost would be anywhere from $220 - $440 billion, still an enormous amount of money, but less than the proposed $700 billion bailout agreement. 
 
Some 2.5 million homes are likely to be in the "process of foreclosure" during the coming 12 to 18 months, according to a news release. If a typical home has an average sale price of about $220,000 (many homes now facing foreclosure were financed several years ago with two loans, thus first loans are often significantly less than current market values), and if the average mortgage is $176,000 (80 percent of market values) then the total value of such mortgages would be $440 billion. If the refinancing program was limited to half of the homeowners who will probably lose their homes to foreclosure, Uncle Sam would need to provide loans worth $220 billion.
 

With the meltdown crisis looming, Rep. Joe Baca, a Democrat from Rialto, urged his colleagues to include legislation from his bill the Family Foreclosure Rescue Corporation Act, into a new version of the proposed financial rescue legislation which failed to pass the House, according to a news release. 

The bill creates a new entity within the federal government, the Family Foreclosure Rescue Corporation (FFRC), that would be responsible for financing loans to people currently in foreclosure or in serious default. 

Rep. Baca voted against H.R. 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, because he felt the legislation did not do enough to help everyday Americans, in particular distressed homeowners.
 
"With San Bernardino and Riverside counties currently ranking fifth in the nation in overall rates of foreclosure, too many Inland families and children have been hurt by this crisis," said Rep. Baca.  "My bill language can reverse this trend, and keep families in homes by providing immediate assistance to those who are already suffering through foreclosures.  It is critical to include this homeowner assistance in any financial rescue legislation.  If we are going to help the people on Wall Street who caused this crisis, then we need to take care of our families."

WHAT:            Free Blood Glucose Screening
WHEN:           9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Monday, November 3, 2008
WHERE:        Main lobby, first floor, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, 400 North Pepper Avenue, Colton
WHY:              Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is offering a free blood glucose screening as part of its effort to provide quality health care to the community. Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate, affecting almost 24 million persons in the United States, of whom 6 million are unaware of it.  Symptoms of diabetes include:
·        Fatigue
·        Increased thirst
·        Increased urination
·        Hunger
·        Blurred vision
·        Decreased wound healing

Blood glucose screenings are designed to alert those who may be at risk of developing diabetes, not to diagnose the disease. Any individual whose blood sugar level is determined to be abnormal will be referred to a physician for further evaluation.
Test results will be most accurate if no breakfast is eaten prior to testing. Blood pressure and body mass index will also be tested.
You must be 18 years old to participate.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 2680 on Tuesday which will provide mountain residents financial relief from payments, penalties and interest accrued by the prior owner of the Arrowhead Manor Water Company, a privately owned water purveyor.

The bill was written by Assemblyman Anthony Adams, a Republican from Hesperia.

The loan was made under the California Safe Water Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976, through the Department of Water Resources (DWR).
 
In 1976, the Department of Water Resources made a loan to the Arrowhead Manor Water Company for approximately $900,000. Due to poor management practices of the Water Company, the loan swelled to nearly $1.9 million, including principal, interest, and late payment penalties.
 
Since 2003, when fires ravaged the San Bernardino Mountains, the County of San Bernardino has been working to help residents rebuild the communities in a responsible way. Last year San Bernardino County Supervisor Dennis Hansberger went to DWR to seek forgiveness of the loan contending that the State had no reasonable expectation of every recovering the loss and that having the County pay it back would create an unfair burden on ratepayers. 
 

It's October 1. And Bill Postmus, the elected assessor overseeing property values for all of San Bernardino County, does not plan to return to work.

The desigraced assessor had taken a 10-week medical leave of absence July 24, following reports that he was addicted to meth.

His spokesman confirmed today that Postmus is seeking the advice of his physician as to when he can return to work.

If you read Jason Pesick's story in today's Sun, and still want more. Here's a press release from the county explaining what county leaders think Congress should do:

CALIFORNIA-San Bernardino and Riverside counties on Tuesday adopted
resolutions (attached) urging federal lawmakers to give local
governments a role in resolving the nation's liquidity meltdown.

The call for local participation comes after Monday's failure by
Congress to pass a $700 billion rescue plan for Wall Street institutions
holding the bad debts of homebuyers who entered unsound mortgages. Those
mortgages spurred a runaway housing economy and led to its demise.

Securities acquired by the federal government in a rescue would be
secured by mortgages on the properties now held by foundering financial
institutions. Once the Treasury takes control of those assets, Inland
county supervisors said they want the federal government to create
contracts with regional public-private partnerships to oversee their
disposition.

Regional partnerships would raise local capital to augment the federal
investment while regional boards would manage the upkeep and sales of
properties within their region, the supervisors said.

"Local business leaders and governments know more than outside interests
about the issues and real estate economies in their own backyard," said
Roy Wilson, chairman of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. "Our
participation is crucial in ensuring the secure investment of taxpayer
dollars."

"The fate of our communities and neighborhoods should not be left to a
bureaucracy or business interests thousands of miles away that have
little if any knowledge about the local impacts of their decisions,"
said Paul Biane, Chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of
Supervisors.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties  --  which for years led the
nation in population growth - have suffered some of the most significant
negative economic consequences in the country from their unprecedented
and almost unparalleled rates of foreclosures stemming from unsound
mortgages, economist John Husing said.

"Establishing regional public-private partnerships to make sure these
properties are systematically released into the market would restore
their values while helping preserve and rehabilitate neighborhoods
suffering economically and socially as a result of the foreclosure
crisis," Husing said. "This benefit is further amplified by maintaining
and increasing the number of owner-occupied homes."

As recently as last week, cities and counties in Inland Southern
California learned they would be receiving $133.5 million of nearly $4
billion in federal funds to deal with blighted neighborhoods affected by
the high number of foreclosures.

Riverside County, which has the fourth largest foreclosure rate in the
nation, is slated to receive the third-largest allocation of almost $49
million.

Biane said if a federal plan goes forward, local interests must have a
voice in the process. Biane said there would be greater public
accountability from a regional public-private partnership.

Washington lawmakers need to recall the savings and loans crisis of the
early 1990s and remember the negative impacts on communities that
resulted from turning foreclosed properties over to distant business
interests simply looking to turn a quick buck, Biane said.

"They dumped properties for far less than their market values. Solid
neighborhoods and property values were further harmed. Communities and
taxpayers were left holding the bag," Biane said.

Civic and elected leaders also see an opportunity to boost needed stocks
of affordable housing, under the emerging plan. Some Inland county
supervisors said they would like to see language built in to a
partnership plan that would require a percentage of the mortgage assets
be set aside for low and moderate income buyers.

"The fine details need to be worked out but we have an opportunity to
lift ourselves out of a very dire situation and we need to take it and
make sure we do the most with it," said Wilson, chairman of the
Riverside County supervisors.

WHAT:            Edward G. Hirschman Regional Burn Center Annual Burn Symposium
WHEN:           7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, October 7, 2008
WHERE:        Oak Conference Room, first floor, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, 400 North Pepper Avenue, Colton
WHY:              The Annual Burn Symposium, for health care professionals, is a gathering of experts presenting topics that touch on all aspects of the care and management of burn patients -- from the moment of injury to the time of discharge.

Some of the courses: "Pre-Hospital Care of the Burn Patient," Victor Joe, MD; "Disaster Preparedness/ Triage," Scott Smith, RN; "Wound Care Techniques," Jennifer Hardy, PA; "Field Drugs and Pain Control," Andrew Love, Pharm D.; "Burn Camp/Inland Empire Burn Institute," Gary Stansberry; and "Arson Investigation," Susan De Antonio, State Fire Marshal Fire Investigation.

Nurses,  emergency  room  personnel, and  paramedics would all benefit from these course offerings. Course tuition is $20. For more information, or to register for these courses call (909) 580-1200.
 
ARMC's Burn Center is a 14-bed unit offering comprehensive burn care for children and adults of all ages. Approximately 500 patients are treated annually in the Burn Center, the only burn unit serving the four counties of San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo and Mono.