Rialto Council Member Deborah Robertson encourages other residents of the city to receive a free card entitling them to discounts at most of the city’s pharmacies.
(RIALTO, Calif.) Rialto residents are discovering a way to save an average of 20 cents on the dollar for prescription drugs purchased at CVS and other local pharmacies.
Anyone who lives in Rialto can simply pick up a Prescription Discount Card at any of Rialto’s participating pharmacies. The cards can also be printed from www.rialtoca.gov .
The resulting savings vary depending on pharmacy and prescription, but can be significant.
“I personally have used the Prescription Discount Card for a prescription to help someone in my family,” said Rialto City Council Member Deborah Robertson. “The savings on that particular prescription were almost half.”
“Many of our clients need all the help they can get when purchasing prescriptions,” said Alton Quan, pharmacist at the 550 S. Riverside Ave. Wal-Greens. “The Pharmacy Discount Program offers them that help.”
Only one card is needed per family, which can use the card an unlimited number of times. There are no age or income requirements, and no enrollment or membership fees.
Robertson noted that sometimes, prescriptions help people prevent onset of a serious health problem. This card is part of a program the city has called “Healthy Rialto,” which is committed to giving city residents the tools they need to stay healthy.
“Prevention is so important to having a healthy city,” Robertson said. “We want to prevent illness from happening, and we want everyone to have affordable medications so they can get or stay healthy.”
Rialto offers this card through a program of the National League of Cities, which the league created with help from CVS Pharmacy. It is for families and individuals who do not have insurance providing prescription drug coverage.
Participating Rialto pharmacies include:
CVS Pharmacy, 211 W. Baseline Road, (909) 874-8002
Walgreen’s, 1280 W. Foothill (909) 879-0305, 118 E. Baseline Road, (909) 562-0267 or 550 S. Riverside Ave., (909) 874-6700.
Wal-Mart Pharmacy, 1610 S. Riverside Ave., (909) 875-2131
Rialto Vista Pharmacy, 436 S. Riverside Ave. (909) 875-7620
Rite-Aid Pharmacy, 585 S. Riverside (909) 820-7474 or 2020 N. Riverside Ave. (909) 873-2835
ABC Pharmacy, 826 E. Foothill Blvd. (909) 546-1000
Foothill Pharmacy, 1850 N. Riverside Ste. 170, (909) 874-2385
North Rialto Drug, 531 E. Foothill Blvd. (909) 875-2131
Additionally, the cards are available at the city’s Human Resources Office, 290 W. Rialto Ave.; its Utility Billing Office, 150 S. Palm Ave. and its Senior Center, 1411 S. Riverside Ave.
Residents may also call Rialto’s Human Resources Department at (909) 820-2540 and ask for Betty for more information, or call 1-888-620-1749.
Although the City of Rialto is located in the middle of one of the nation’s fastest growing regions, it has retained a small town atmosphere and similar quality of life. Rialto is an ethnically diverse and progressive community, which boasts several unique community assets including its own police and fire departments, a city-owned racquet and fitness center, performing arts theater, a community center and senior center. Rialto is near mountains, beaches, deserts and other recreational areas.
Rialto’s housing mix and home costs are some of the most affordable in the southern California region. First-time homebuyers find Rialto more affordable than almost any other comparable community in the region. Executives and those seeking high-end homes also find they can purchase much more home for their money in Rialto. This lower cost of living in Rialto also translates into more discretionary income for residents, thus benefiting retailers and service providers.
For more information about Rialto, go to www.ci.rialto.ca.us or call (909) 820-2525.
Crossroads Rotary will present Christmas in October on Oct. 31 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the San Bernardino Corps of the Salvation Army. They will give away 1,000 pairs of free shoes, toys and a meal. File photo courtesy of Dameron Communications.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) San Bernardino’s Crossroads Rotary has teamed with the local Salvation Army and Loma Linda Medical Center to bring some Christmas spirit and plenty of goodies to Inland Empire’s disadvantaged youth and their families.
“The Jubilee Committee and Family Services,” notes Rotary event chairman and Jubilee Chief Executive Officer Kirk Dunbar, “as a recent part of Rotary, has come up with 1,000 pairs of free shoes for our expected huge turnout. This will be our second year doing this, but our first partnering with the San Bernardino Salvation Army. We certainly hope this project will become an annual team effort.”
Dunbar estimates more than a thousand people will attend the October event, appropriately titled “Christmas in October.” He adds, “There will be all those shoes for kids ages 5-19, of course, but we’ll also have clothes along with toys and a huge free meal.”
The Christmas in October Festival will actually be the 31st of the month, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Salvation Army’s 5th Street facility.
There will be even more. “We’ll have doctors and chiropractors available, too,” Dunbar says. “Loma Linda is sending the medical staff who will provide free checkups as well as referrals to needed specialists.”
According to Dunbar, “San Bernardino County is one of the hardest hit areas in California with a disproportionate rate of unemployment, and thousands of youth are having severe economic hardship.”
“We will all help to ease that hardship going into the Christmas season,” Dunbar adds. “Some of our friends and neighbors are having a particularly tough time, through no fault of their own, and we want to do everything we can to give them a well-deserved hand.”
The Salvation Army Corps’ office is at 746 W. Fifth Street in San Bernardino. Call (909) 888-1336 for more information, or for help. About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires. For help, call (909) 888-1336.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
San Bernardino Council Member Rikke Van Johnson, second from left, welcomes Taylion Virtual Academy Principal Anthony Davis, left, and founders Shannon Smith and Tim Smith to San Bernardino. Taylion is open to serve in San Bernardino with home school and independent study programs modeled after highly successful schools in Phoenix. Photo by Chris Sloan
A large crowd helped San Bernardino City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson and Taylion Virtual Academy Principal Anthony Davis cut the ribbon to Taylion Virtual Academy, which is now serving San Bernardino and other parts of southern California with home school and independent study programs as a charter school of the San Bernardino City Unified School District. Photo by Chris Sloan
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Taylion Virtual Academy held its grand opening recently, to promote awareness of this new education option for southern California families.
Taylion Virtual Academy was previously known as Carden Virtual Academy.
“In our planning, we decided it was important to focus on our core values,” said Shannon Smith, co-founder of the school with her husband Tim. “”These are Trust, Acceptance, Youth, Leadership, Optimism, Integrity and Nurturing.”
“I would like to welcome Taylion Virtual Academy to the City of San Bernardino, and to California,” said San Bernardino City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson at the Friday, Sept. 24 grand opening. “This is its founders’ first school in California.”
Founders Tim and Shannon Smith have other successful charter schools in the Phoenix, Ariz. Area. The Arizona schools have an 85 to 100 percent graduation rate, and score in the 80th percentile and above on standardized tests for their state.
Taylion Virtual Academy, a charter school approved as Carden Virtual Academy by the San Bernardino City Unified School District, provides most of its education through online and home schooling programs. Its core operations, and an independent study program where students meet face to face with teachers twice weekly, operate at 1184 W. Second Street, San Bernardino.
This address is a suite of offices in a new commercial building near the historic San Bernardino Depot. A few retail businesses occupy other suites in the building, and city leaders hope Taylion Virtual Academy’s presence will bring even more business to the area in west San Bernardino.
“I am glad to see a school in this business center because choices in education are the key to having an educated work force in our city,” Johnson said. “An educated work force is the key to developing new business in this city, which will allow us to better serve the residents of San Bernardino.”
Judi Penman, representing both the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce as its executive director, and the San Bernardino City Unified School District as one of the governing board members who voted in favor of Carden Virtual Academy’s charter petition, also welcomed the new school to San Bernardino.
“We are always looking for alternatives to support the education of children in San Bernardino,” she said. “I am especially pleased to see a school in a highly visible business center, as we can hope it will bring even more business to this center.”
Taylion Virtual Academy will provide education options for all families with children in kindergarten through high school, residing in San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Kern or Inyo counties. These options include home schooling and independent study.
Taylion Virtual Academy offers independent study for grades 9-12 and home schooling assistance for grades kindergarten through 12th grade. It is an option for families who wish to be directly involved in their children’s education, for teens who seek an accelerated schedule to begin college early, and for teens needing to catch up on credits to graduate with their classmates.
For more information, or a campus tour, call Taylion Virtual Academy at (909) 256-0449, or 1-800 438-2273 or go to taylion.com
The San Bernardino Branch of the NAACP will hold their Freedom Fund Dinner on October 28, 2010, 6:00 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel in San Bernardino. The guest speaker will be Kenny Morris, the great- great grandson of Booker T. Washington and the great-great-great grandson of Frederick Douglass.
The theme for the evening is “Education is the Bridge to Success”. Honorees will include those from the local education community. The dinner sponsorships have already been secured from Southern California Gas and others are being solicited.
In making the selection of the theme, dinner chair Pat Small said the reason she chose it was because, “the workplace is different, for jobs in the future you need an education and because of that urgency students are at risk; we must shine a light on the good things going on in our community and keep the focus on the importance of education.”
There will be a silent auction and information on educational institutions in our community. There is an opportunity to place ads in the program, sponsor a table or become a gold, silver or bronze sponsor. Tickets are $75. Call 909.888-5040 for more information and to reserve your table.
A master plan adopted by the City of Rialto shows the new amenities coming to Fergusson Park over the next 12 months.
Hank and Olga Vasquez walk their dogs along a walking path in Fergusson Park in Rialto. Visible to the right of the Vasquezes is a portion of the 10 acres that will be transformed into other recreational amenities over the coming year. Photo by Chris Sloan
(RIALTO, Calif.) A $6 million upgrade, including two new football fields, begins at Alec Fergusson Park on Oct. 11. The city of Rialto intends to complete this upgrade in October 2011. Fergusson Park is at 2395 W. Sunrise, near West Casa Grande Avenue and North Alder Street. “We will be more than doubling the usable area of Fergusson Park,” said Recreation and Community Services Director Larry Thornburg. Eight acres of this 18-acre park were previously developed. This project develops the remaining 10 acres.” Besides the football fields, new amenities for Fergusson Park include a skateboard area, playground, picnic areas, additional parking lot, an additional basketball court, and a snack bar/restroom building.
Rialto contractor Robert Clapper Construction submitted the successful bid for this project. “We at R.C. Construction are very excited at the opportunity to provide construction services for our ‘home town’ here in the City of Rialto,” said Company President Robert Clapper. “Our corporate headquarters are located less then a mile from the park so that gives us a great chance to pay special attention to the project. We hope residents will enjoy this park for years to come.” Funds for this park are from a $6.3 million community improvement bond the Rialto Redevelopment Agency obtained in 2008. Fergusson Park is one of nine city parks in Rialto. Besides the new amenities the developed eight acres of the park include an existing basketball court, a quarter-mile walking track, a picnic area, two tennis courts, horseshoe pits, a tot playground, and a softball field. The new restroom building will add to one serving the eight acres already developed. The other Rialto City Parks are:
Andreson Park features a playground, walking track, three large picnic shelters and a basketball court.
Andreson Park, 726 S. Lilac: Features here include a quarter-mile walking track, a basketball court, playground equipment for small children and three large picnic shelters.
Bud Bender Park features Little League and Pony League baseball fields, a T-Ball field and picnic areas. Photo by Chris Sloan
Youth baseball lovers of all ages will enjoy the amenities at Bud Bender Park in Rialto. Photo by Chris Sloan
Bud Bender Park, 300 N. Lilac Ave., which has Little League and Pony League baseball fields, and a T-Ball field. It also has a picnic area.
Birdsall Park in Rialto features Little League and T-ball fields, picnic areas and a children’s playground. Photo by Chris Sloan
Baseball and basketball are available at Birdsall Park in Rialto. Photo by Chris Sloan
Roger Birdsall Park, 2611 N. Linden Ave., has two Little League ball fields and one for T-Ball. It also offers a picnic area and a children’s playground.
A children’s playground and a picnic shelter are among the amenities of Jerry Eaves Park in Rialto. Photo by Chris Sloan
Jerry Eaves park in Rialto is also a great place to play soccer. Photo by Chris Sloan
Jerry Eaves Park, 1485 N. Ayala Ave., has 15 soccer fields, three large picnic shelters and several smaller picnic areas, and a children’s playground.
Flores Park includes a children’s playground, picnic area and walking track. Photo by Chris Sloan
Flores Park, 1020 W. Etiwanda Ave., has a picnic area, children’s playground and a quarter-mile walking track.
Frisbie Park includes three Little League and two girls’ softball fields, as well as picnic areas, playground equipment and basketball courts.
Frisbie Park, 19901 N. Acacia Ave., has three Little League fields and three girl’s softball fields, picnic areas, playground equipment and basketball courts.
Margaret Todd Park is the place for skateboarders in Rialto, but they will have another place to skate when the expansion of Fergusson Park is complete in October 2011. Photo by Chris Sloan
Margaret Todd Park includes a skate park for skateboarders and roller skaters, picnic areas and open space. Photo by Chris Sloan
Margaret Todd Park, 201 N. Willow St., has a skate park for skateboarding and roller-skating, picnic areas and open space.
Rialto City Park is the place for football, but an expansion of Fergusson Park will give the city’s youth football players more places to play. Photo by Chris Sloan
Rialto City Park includes baseball fields, a football field, picnic areas and playground equipment.
Rialto City Park, 130 E. San Bernardino Ave., has one football field, one Pony League field and one Little League field. It also has picnic areas, playground equipment and an outdoor stage. Although the City of Rialto is located in the middle of one of the nation’s fastest growing regions, it has retained a small town atmosphere and similar quality of life. Rialto is an ethnically diverse and progressive community, which boasts several unique community assets including its own police and fire departments, a city-owned racquet and fitness center, performing arts theater, a community center and senior center. Rialto is near mountains, beaches, deserts and other recreational areas. Rialto’s housing mix and home costs are some of the most affordable in the southern California region. First-time homebuyers find Rialto more affordable than almost any other comparable community in the region. Executives and those seeking high-end homes also find they can purchase much more home for their money in Rialto. This lower cost of living in Rialto also translates into more discretionary income for residents, thus benefiting retailers and service providers. For more information about Rialto, go to www.ci.rialto.ca.us or call (909) 820-2525.
Wilmer Amina Carter is the keynote speaker for a fundraising luncheon The Salvation Army will hold Thursday, October 7 at its headquarters, 746 W. Fifth St.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Representing the state’s 62nd Assembly District, Wilmer Amina Carter will take time from her busy Sacramento schedule October 7 to address attendees of “Dreams Happen,” the annual fund-raising event of the Salvation Army Corps of San Bernardino.
“I am pleased to partner with the Salvation Army Corps, San Bernardino,” says Assembly Member Carter from her Sacramento office. “It continues providing services that take families off the street and provides food and shelter. Those remarkable efforts have continued in San Bernardino for 123 years – since 1887!” This was merely a dozen years after the international organization was founded in London.
Says Salvation Army Capt. Stephen Ball, “This is one of the top ways for us to raise money each year.” The Army relies almost entirely on public donations to support its vast and important community service, which is why it is requesting donations of $1,000 or more from attendees.
Each day the Army helps more than 200 needy people, providing food, clothing, showers and laundry among numerous other services. Additionally, the Corps Headquarters at 746 W. Fifth Street serves as the operations center in times of serious community emergencies.
As if that weren’t helpful enough, San Bernardino’s Salvation Army Corps provides a shelter for up to 75 homeless people each day in their 925 W. Tenth Street building.
And for more than a century the Red Kettle Drive from mid November through December 24th has become as familiar as Santa himself during the holidays. Every dollar the colorful bellringers collect during the popular drive stays within the local communities. Volunteers as bellringers are always welcome by calling (909) 888-1336.
Assemblymember Wilmer Amina Carter, the honored speaker at the fundraising luncheon, is particularly impressed by the Army’s importance to children. “As a former 16-year school board member, I am especially supportive of the Salvation Army’s outreach to children,” she explains. “Not only do they provide nutritious, hot meals – preventing many health consequences from hunger and poverty – but they minister to the minds and souls of our youth.
“As a legislator,” Carter adds, “my focus is on providing affordable health care, access to education and training in job skills. I direct my efforts to initiatives that promote healthy, livable communities. I work with nonprofits and community organizations because these are the people on the front lines – like the Salvation Army – already successfully delivering services to our community.”
The fundraiser, “Dreams Happen,” begins with a reception at 11:30 Thursday, October 7th at Army headquarters, 746 W. Fifth Street in San Bernardino. A catered lunch will be served at noon. Those planning to attend should R.S.V.P. to Capt. Nancy Ball by calling (909) 888-1336 or by e-mailing nancy.ball@usw.salvationarmy.org. About the Salvation Army Corps, San Bernardino
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food, lodging for homeless or displaced families, assistance with rent, mortgage or transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, the Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865, and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made on line at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling (800) SAL-ARMY.
Foothill Boulevard in Rialto is torn up no more! The city has completed replacement of the pavement along the entire length of Foothill Boulevard through Rialto, which is also a portion of the historic Route 66. Photo by Chris Sloan
All American Asphalt workers put the finishing touches on the newly repaved Foothill Boulevard in Rialto, which is also a portion of the historic Route 66. Photo by Carl Dameron
(left to right) All American Asphalt crew Mike Jones, Francisco Carranza (riding on back of the asphalt paver) driver Martin Barba and Florentino Alvarez (pushing excess asphalt) worked in heat to put new asphalt pavement on Foothill Boulevard (historic Route 66) in Rialto. Photo by Chris Sloan
New taller and wider bus shelters offering even more shade have been installed on Riverside Drive in Rialto, and will soon be installed on Foothill Boulevard. In addition to the shelter itself, the bus stops on both streets have new park benches and trash containers. Photo by Chris Sloan
An Omnitrans bus parks on one of the new concrete bus pads on Foothill Boulevard in Rialto. Photo by Carl Dameron
Route 66 is looking new again, now that the City of Rialto has taken over maintenance of the two-mile stretch running through its municipal boundaries.
At the end of October, Rialto will finish a three-month project to repair pavement along the entire stretch of Route 66 within its city limits, which runs along Foothill Boulevard from Maple Avenue to Pepper Avenue. The city awarded a $3.465 million contract to All-American Asphalt of Corona, which began construction July 26.
The project also involves installing bus pads (a rectangular area of concrete, on the street for buses to stop) adding some sidewalks, curbs and gutters and repairing storm drains.
“This is one of our city’s highest priorities,” said City Engineer Ahmad Ansari. “Route 66 runs throughout our city, and we want people to see that Rialto is a nice place to live and do business.”
The City of Rialto entered into a second phase of its Foothill Paving Project on Tuesday, Sept. 28 when the City Council awarded to Ian Davidson Landscape Architecture of Riverside a $62,620 contract for design of entry monuments that will be placed near Route 66 at the east and west city limits. The design will include landscaped areas of 100 to 200 feet around each monument.
Phase Two will also include four new bus shelters along Foothill Boulevard between Sycamore and Willow avenues, improving the intersection of Riverside Drive and Foothill Boulevard and new street name signs for Foothill Boulevard throughout its course in Rialto.
Foothill Boulevard has a long history dating back to the early 20th century when it was part of the legendary U.S. Route 66 that connected Rialto and many other then-small towns between Los Angeles and Chicago.
Later, the Foothill Boulevard portion of Route 66 was officially known as California Highway 66, and maintained by the California Department of Transportation. It was known then as an “urban highway,” that is a major street serving a city’s commercial area.
In 2008, CalTrans gave Rialto’s portion of Route 66 to the city, and paid the city $1.85 million to take care of past due street maintenance. Part of this $1.85 million is being used for the paving project, while the rest will be used for future needs.
“Urban highways require a lot of maintenance, so the state is working with California cities to give them local control of these important roads,” said Ansari. “Before it turns a highway over, CalTrans evaluates the roads maintenance needs, and negotiates a payment that is agreeable to CalTrans and the city.”
This is part of $8 million Rialto plans in street improvements during the Fiscal Year 2010-2011, which is July 1, 2010 through July 1, 2011. Rialto’s general fund partially pays for these projects, along with county, state and federal funds that must be spent on street improvements.
Other projects include:
Pavement overlays on four to four and one-half miles of city streets, especially Linden Avenue north of Foothill Boulevard and two sections of Baseline Avenue, one extending from Riverside Avenue to the eastern city limits and one from Cedar Avenue to the western city limits.
Repairing cracks and installing protective slurry seal coating on about one-fifth of the city’s streets.
Designing West Coast Boulevard, a new street scheduled to be constructed in north Rialto during the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
Design phase of a widening project for Ayala Ave., also scheduled to be constructed in 2011-2012.
Widening of Cedar Avenue in several locations between Etiwanda Avenue and Foothill Avenue.
Although the City of Rialto is located in the middle of one of the nation’s fastest growing regions, it has retained a small town atmosphere and similar quality of life. Rialto is an ethnically diverse and progressive community, which boasts several unique community assets including its own police and fire departments, a city-owned racquet and fitness center, performing arts theater, a community center and senior center. Rialto is near mountains, beaches, deserts and other recreational areas.
Rialto’s housing mix and home costs are some of the most affordable in the southern California region. First-time homebuyers find Rialto more affordable than almost any other comparable community in the region. Executives and those seeking high-end homes also find they can purchase much more home for their money in Rialto. This lower cost of living in Rialto also translates into more discretionary income for residents, thus benefiting retailers and service providers.
For more information about Rialto, go to www.ci.rialto.ca.us or call (909) 820-2525.
-end-
Media: If you would like any of the photos in the slide show below please send an email to Chris@DameronCommunications.com with the photo id number and i will have it to you within 24 hours. If you require the photo sooner please call Chris Sloan at (909) 888-0017.
Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter welcomes guests to a previous American Lung Association in California Healthy Air Walk.
(Fontana, CA) – The American Lung Association in California will host its Fight for Air Walk on Saturday, October 2, at Fontana Park to raise funds and awareness in support of healthy lungs and healthy air. The Fight For Air Walk is a 2.5 mile walk that attracts participants of all ages and abilities. “Californians breathe some of the worst air in the nation,” says Terry Roberts, Area Director for the American Lung Association in California – Inland Empire. “In the 2010 State of the Air Report, the American Lung Association ranked the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside as two of the most polluted cities in the nation. Air pollution causes and aggravates lung conditions including asthma, lung cancer, emphysema, and chronic lung disease. We walk because everyone deserves to breathe clean and healthy air.” This year’s Fight for Air Walk has attracted a unique group of participants including: · Jennifer Smith of Hesperia, walking in memory of her daughter, Michelle, who lost her life to asthma. Jennifer and her family want to raise awareness about the severity of asthma, and wish to help other children who struggle to breathe everyday. · Gabriel Lloyd and his team of family and friends, the Asthma All Stars, walking for the fourth year in a row. Gabriel was diagnosed with severe asthma at the age of 2, and although his asthma is now under control, he is still affected by the unhealthy air he breathes. · Karen O’Cull lost her mother, father, and grandfather to lung cancer. She is walking to honor their memories, and to expose the deadly effects of smoking. Karen wants to raise awareness about the connection between smoking and lung cancer in the hopes of saving lives. Lung disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and is responsible for one in seven deaths nationwide. Lung cancer is the nation’s leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, killing more people than breast, colorectal prostate, and pancreatic cancers combined. Lung disease is particularly prevalent in California. Ninety percent of Californians live in areas with unhealthy air, contributing to breathing problems for the nearly five million of our state’s citizens afflicted with asthma, including nearly one million children. Online registration is open until Thursday, September 30 at www.FightForAirWalk.org. On-site registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. For more information, the public should contact Terry Roberts at (909) 884-5864 or visit www.FightForAirWalk.org <http://www.FightForAirWalk.org> Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lungusa.org/california. <http://www.lungusa.org/california.>
Stay healthy. Get a flu vaccine. Call LaSalle Medical Associates at (909) 890-0407 to schedule yours today!
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The H1N1 pandemic is over, but there is only one way to make sure flu doesn’t come back into your life – get a flu shot every year.
“The Center for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccination as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga of LaSalle Medical Associates. “This year’s seasonal flu vaccine will protect you against H1N1 and two other types of flu viruses.”
“These three viruses are circulating in many parts of the world, and without immunizations, chances are you will come down with one of them,” Dr. Arteaga said.
“The H1N1 virus was especially powerful, causing many hospitalizations and deaths” he said. “It had never been detected in humans prior to 2009, which meant no one was immune.
“Now, many people are immune, but the best way to be sure is to have the vaccination,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Even if you have developed immunity to H1N1, you still may be susceptible to one of the other viruses that are making the rounds. They can be just as deadly.”
“Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated,” Dr. Arteaga said. “But even if half of the population is immunized, there will be significant protection. That half of the population may prevent their neighbors from getting the flu as well. And if 75 percent of the population is immunized, we can stop the flu dead in its tracks.”
Dr. Arteaga urges parents to have their children (and themselves) vaccinated against the H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses.
“Children are especially at risk, because they have more opportunities to be exposed to the virus,” he said.
Even though adults may be at somewhat less risk, it is now recommended that everyone, ages 6 months and older, receive a seasonal flu vaccination, Dr. Arteaga said. Those who imply flu vaccines are unnecessary and harmful, he said, are irresponsibly making light of the subject.
“The benefit of flu vaccines has been proven over and over.”
Flu vaccines are available in two forms. The most common is the flu shot, an injected vaccine. A nasal spray vaccine is available as an alternative for most people ages 2 to 49.
To limit the spread of flu, Dr. Arteaga urges anyone with symptoms to stay home from school and work until they are well, and limit contact with others. They also should contact a health care provider, especially if worried about the symptoms.
Everyone should cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, he said. Also, healthy people should, to the extent possible, avoid contact with those who have flu symptoms.
“Every time we wash our hands, and take precautions when we cough, there is less flu to go around,” Dr. Arteaga said.
For more information about all types of flu, contact the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov. or by calling 1-800-236-4636, or the California Department of Public Health at www.cdph.ca.gov or 1-888-865-0564.
The San Bernardino County Public Health Department also can provide information on its toll-free number, 1-800-782-4264, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
According to founder Dr. Arteaga, the primary mission of LaSalle’s clinics is “to offer high quality medical care to the whole family with courtesy and respect.”
The LaSalle medical clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino, and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia.
For additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407.
Rialto Renaissance, scheduled to open in 2013, will convert the Rialto Municipal Airport into a multiple use business center. It’s one of the largest economic development projects the Rialto Redevelopment Agency has planned to stimulate the city’s economy.
(RIALTO, Calif.) As the nation and the Inland Empire step out of one of the worst recessions in more than 70 years, the City of Rialto is poised to take advantage of this with several large projects designed to bring jobs and revenue to the city.
“We are attracting new businesses and green industries to Rialto already,” said Robb Steel, director of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Rialto. “Once the economy recovers more fully we will be able to accomplish even more.”
Two of the major focuses of Rialto’s redevelopment plans are to attract new “ green” industries, which promote the use of new environmentally friendly technologies; and Rialto Renaissance, which is converting the city’s underused municipal airport into a mixture of commercial, industrial and residential uses.
Even in difficult economic times, Rialto has received national attention for bringing in two new companies, both representative of the types of “green” industries Rialto city leaders hope will someday be a key part of the city’s economy.
“They are models of the types of industries we’re looking for,” Steel said.
Enertech, which opened a plant in Rialto in March 2009, converts biosolids into fuel using a patented process known as SlurryCarb. This process removes more water, produces twice as much solid matter (fuel pellets) and uses 60 percent less energy than conventional ways of converting biosolids into fuel.
The company is obtaining its biosolids from the sanitation departments of Rialto and Riverside, the San Bernardino Municipal Water District, and sanitation districts serving Orange and Los Angeles counties. After converting them into fuel pellets, it is supplying clean-burning energy to fire the kilns of local cement companies.
Rentech makes synthetic fuel such as synthetic diesel and synthetic gasoline, primarily from yard waste such as pruned tree branches . It has a contract to deliver synthetic aviation fuel to the Los Angeles World Airports, including Ontario International (ONT) and Los Angeles International (LAX.)
This fuel meets California’s stringent clean air standards, and can also be used in other states.
The other major project, Renaissance Rialto, takes advantage of the airport’s proximity to two off-ramps of the 210 Freeway, and is expected to bring in businesses that can hire many of the city’s residents.
“We want to bring jobs that match all of our residents skill sets,” Steel said. “Some of our residents are highly educated, others have learned specific trades, and others might be seeking an entry-level job to help finance their further education.”
The Redevelopment Agency is now working with a developer to get through the City of Rialto’s approval process for large projects, and is also waiting for greater economic recovery. Once it can break ground, the developer will have to begin by installing infrastructure, such as roads and sewers.
Steel expects the first new businesses developed through Renaissance Rialto to open in 2013 if the economic recovery is as strong as expected by then. They will, in the first few years, operate alongside the airport, but within a few years, the city will convert the airport itself to other uses.
“It is a Herculean effort to convert a municipal airport to a multiple-use development on the scale of Renaissance Rialto,” Steel said. “But it has good prospects, whereas the property is expensive to maintain as an airport. and the City Council of Rialto believes this is a better direction.”
Rialto is a city of approximately 100,000 ethnically diverse residents, but still maintains a small-town, family-friendly atmosphere. It provides affordable opportunities for new businesses and new residents.
For more information about Rialto, go to www.ci.rialto.ca.us or call (909) 820-2525.
