Little Sunshine Foundation Youth Ambassadors at a community outreach event on July 27, 2019. From left to right: Emma Hernandez, Marissa Lepe, Monique Vobecky, Emma Garcia, Kylee Vergo, Ema Perez.
The Little Sunshine Foundation’s Annual Casino Night Fundraiser is at the Glendora Woman’s Club on June 22, 2024, at 5 p.m.
GLENDORA, CALIF. — The Little Sunshine Foundation is a nonprofit run entirely by volunteers. The Foundation provides low-income youth with the resources they need to improve their quality of life through literacy and sports programs. They also train young adults to reinvest in their community. The Foundation believes that every child deserves a little sunshine in their life.
The Sunshine Royale Casino Night fundraiser takes place on June 22, 2024, at 5 p.m. at the Glendora Woman’s Club in Glendora.
“We need your help preparing today’s youth to be the leaders of tomorrow and create a positive spirit of community service,” said Bianca Vobecky, Director of the Foundation.
Last year, the Foundation provided 500 backpacks filled with school supplies, sports equipment, new or gently used books and reading tools to improve reading proficiency, and $3,000 in Advanced Placement (AP) grants for select high schools to help parents pay the $98 AP test fee.
Bianca explained that if a student wants to take five AP class qualifying tests, it will cost them nearly $500. In some cases, parents may have to choose between buying food for their family or paying for AP test fees. The grants help to reduce the financial burden and allow more students the opportunity to pursue higher education.
Fourteen-year-old Monique Vobecky started the Little Sunshine Foundation in 2018. She has a lifelong passion for academics and sports and created the Foundation because she believes “that every child deserves a little sunshine in their life.”
Monique is now a junior at Harvard University majoring in pre-med and plans to become a neurosurgeon. Thanks to Zoom and FaceTime Monique is still actively involved in the Foundation. “You don’t have to be rich or old to make a difference,” said Bianca, Monique’s mom and the Foundation’s director.
Youth Ambassadors and Celebrities at Little Sunshine Foundation’s “An Afternoon of Jazz” fundraiser, Sept. 22, 1019. Front row from left to right: Emma Garcia, Emma Perez, Evelyn Luang, Emma Hernandez. Back row from left to right: Jay Vobecky, Giovanni Perez, Jennifer Long, Emile Lam, three-time Gold Medalist Leah O’Brien Amico, Monique Vobecky, Actor James Pickens Jr., Amanda Zurla, Gabrielle Braganza, Emily Millward, Kylee Vergo.
The Little Sunshine Foundation received the “Nonprofit of the Year” award in 2019 from the Glendora Chamber of Commerce. They continue to set an example for how local charities can improve their communities. Every year the Foundation’s programs provide financial assistance to approximately 2,000 students in Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire.
The fundraiser features casino-style excitement with favorites like blackjack, roulette, poker, craps, Texas Hold ’em, and live entertainment, a buffet dinner, and a dessert bar. For those that don’t play casino games, there’ll be Bingo where every number called is a chance to win a prize and support the Little Sunshine Foundation.
“This event is not just about the games; it’s a testament to the power of community and the impact we can make when we come together,” said Bianca.
“The Foundation is getting a lot of requests from schools and organizations that need our help. We do our due diligence and support the students who need our help. The Sunshine Royale event gives us the funds to continue our literacy, sports, and ambassador programs and take on these additional requests for support,” she continued.
Tickets are $100 per person and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Visit https://sunshineroyale.org to purchase tickets, make a tax-deductible donation, or learn more about sponsorship.
Youth Ambassadors, celebrities, and board members at Little Sunshine Foundation’s “An Afternoon of Jazz” fundraiser, Sept. 22, 1019. Front row from left to right: Emily Lam, Evelyn Luang, Emma Hernandez, Gabrielle Braganza, Emily Millward, Jennifer Long, Emma Perez, Amanda Zurla. Back row from left to right: Saxophonist Mark Allen Felton, Kylee Vergo, Yaned Busch, Marie Emile, Annette Palazuelos, three-time Gold Medalist Leah O’Brien Amico, Monique Vobecky, Christine Keith, Dominque Pere, Bianca Vobecky, Jerry Jefferson, Narisa Hernandez.
About the Little Sunshine Foundation
The Little Sunshine Foundation is a non-profit California corporation run entirely by volunteers. The organization’s mission is to provide underprivileged youth in the community the necessary resources to improve their quality of life through literacy and sports programs while also providing an avenue to train young adults on how to give back to their community. Monique Vobecky started the foundation in 2018 when she was just 14 years old because she believes “that every child deserves a little sunshine.”
The Foundation has three main programs: Literacy, Sports, and Youth Empowerment
Barbara Bell, Kathleen Dameron, and Maria are women who face a range of health concerns throughout their lives.
“Women can lower their risk of poor health by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise regimen.” — Albert Arteaga, M.D.
REDLANDS, CALIF. — In the past few decades, medical research primarily involved studies with male participants, as stated by the Cleveland Clinic. This Women’s History Month, it is important to focus on women’s health and take a closer look at their specific health issues.
Women are at a higher risk for heart disease and breast cancer, which are among their top health concerns.
Dr. Albert Arteaga, President of LaSalle Medical Associates, says, “Women can lower their risk of poor health by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise regimen.” He endorses the National Institutes of Health‘s (NIH) recommendations for women to follow. They include:
Set short-term goals to achieve and maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine.
Try to be physically active for at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Choose foods that are low in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
Pick whole grains and lean sources of protein and dairy products.
Practice all four types of exercise: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility.
Women face a range of health concerns throughout their lives. Some of these include premenstrual syndrome (PMS), birth control, and menopause. Different age groups come with different health problems. However, lifestyle choices play a vital role in mitigating these risks and enabling women to lead the lives they desire.
As the Mayo Clinic puts it: “Irrespective of your age, healthy lifestyle choices can significantly lower your health risks and help you live the life you want.”
In 1993, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began to require the inclusion of women and racial and ethnic minorities in the clinical research studies it funds. Before that time, clinical trials often excluded those populations.
Since 2016, NIH policy now states that “Sex is a biological variable that must be considered in the design of clinical trials, right from the start.”
As research has continued, two lifestyle factors have emerged as important to women’s health: diet and exercise. The NIH’s National Institute on Aging says that taking a consistent approach to healthy diet and exercise choices can do much to ensure a healthier tomorrow.
“Women who follow these recommendations will enjoy better health in both the short and long term,” says Dr. Arteaga.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest independent and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics, delivering high-quality patient care to over 350,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino and Tulare counties.
BRIEF: 310 words
Women Deserve the Best Healthcare
“Women can lower their risk of poor health by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise regimen.” — Albert Arteaga, M.D.
REDLANDS, CALIF. — In the past few decades, medical research primarily involved studies with male participants, as stated by the Cleveland Clinic. This Women’s History Month, it is important to focus on women’s health and take a closer look at their specific health issues.
Women are at a higher risk for heart disease and breast cancer, which are among their top health concerns.
Dr. Albert Arteaga, President of LaSalle Medical Associates, says, “Women can lower their risk of poor health by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise regimen.” He endorses the National Institutes of Health‘s (NIH) recommendations for women to follow. They include:
Set short-term goals to achieve and maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine.
Try to be physically active for at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Choose foods that are low in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
Pick whole grains and lean sources of protein and dairy products.
Practice all four types of exercise: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility.
Women face a range of health concerns throughout their lives. Some of these include premenstrual syndrome (PMS), birth control, and menopause. Different age groups come with different health problems. However, lifestyle choices play a vital role in mitigating these risks and enabling women to lead the lives they desire.
As the Mayo Clinic puts it: “Irrespective of your age, healthy lifestyle choices can significantly lower your health risks and help you live the life you want.” The NIH’s National Institute on Aging says that taking a consistent approach to healthy diet and exercise choices can do much to ensure a healthier tomorrow.
“Women who follow the NIH recommendations will enjoy better health in both the short and long term,” says Dr. Arteaga.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest independent and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics, delivering high-quality patient care to over 350,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino and Tulare counties.
Carrots and applesauce make a sweet treat that’s good for your eyes.
“Carrots are a good source of Vitamin A, which is known to improve eye health.” — Albert Arteaga, M.D.
REDLANDS, CALIF. — During April, we celebrate International Carrot Day. The old saying about carrots being good for your vision is true. Carrots have nutrients that help eye health in several ways. Chief among them is Vitamin A.
“Carrots are a good source of Vitamin A, which is known to improve eye health,” says Dr. Albert Arteaga, President of LaSalle Medical Associates, one of the largest privately owned and operated healthcare organizations in the Inland Empire.
The 2023 Digital Health Award-winning Internet site, All About Vision, says that the Vitamin A in carrots provides several benefits, including:
Impeding the progression of Stargardt’s disease (early onset central vision loss)
On the other hand, vitamin A deficiency can cause:
Dry eyes
Night blindness
Vision loss
“Parents who have children who don’t like the taste of raw or cooked carrots by themselves may be able to get their kids to eat them by combining carrots with other foods that are rich in Vitamin A and add sweet-tooth-pleasing flavors, such as mangoes, cantaloupes, sweet red peppers, and sweet potatoes,” said Dr. Arteaga.
Carrots also contain beta-carotene, which is what gives red, orange, and yellow vegetables their color. Once eaten, your body converts it into retinol, another name for vitamin A. Healthline points out that research shows that beta-carotene is also good for your skin and may even improve cognitive health, although more research is needed about that.
Dr. Arteaga adds one caution: If you eat too many beta-carotene-rich foods, your skin may start to turn yellow. “All things in moderation,” he says.
“It is recommended that both children and adults undergo an annual check-up. At LaSalle, the checkup includes a comprehensive blood workup that can identify any vitamin deficiencies. This enables doctors to provide tailored suggestions regarding medicine, diet, and exercise that are specific to the needs of each patient,” explained Dr. Arteaga.
For an appointment at one of the six Inland Empire LaSalle clinics, please visit LaSalleMedicalAssociates.com or call 1-855-349-6019.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest independent and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics, delivering high-quality patient care to over 350,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino and Tulare counties.
“The Beautillion Knightsprogram guides young men to ensure that our youth are college-bound and equipped to succeed in life and to realize their full potential as young men, career professionals, entrepreneurs, and productive outstanding citizens,” said Social Lites spokesperson Marlene Davis.
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. — The Social Lites, Inc. will award scholarships to deserving Black high school senior young men at its Beautillion Knights event on March 30 at Cal State San Bernardino. The Inland Empire nonprofit has provided scholarships for 54 years to young men attending college or technical school.
The 2024 Beautillion Knights are Ali Dphrepaulezz of Etiwanda High School; Daniel Rivera of Cajon High School; Destyn Maurice of Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy in Moreno Valley; Frank Cox III of Summit High School; Solomon Moore of Citrus Valley High School, Syncere Brackett of Centennial High School in Eastvale, Darvion McGee, The PAL Charter Academy in San Bernardino.
“College-bound 11th and 12th-grade students who are enrolled in the Beautillion Knights program participate in a five-month extracurricular program. During that time, they gain practical knowledge and experience that grounds them with lifelong foundations that benefit their academic and career success,” said Social Lites spokesperson Marlene Davis.
Subjects include leadership development, life skills, and health education. Mentor-tutors work with young men to develop their talents and skills, exposing them to real-world experiences that give them insights into how to solve problems and prepare themselves for success as career professionals, entrepreneurs, and productive citizens.
“The program guides young men to ensure that our youth are college-bound and equipped to succeed in life and to realize their full potential as young men, career professionals, entrepreneurs, and productive outstanding citizens,” said Davis.
“The Social Lites organize weekly training sessions for their Knights and Court, which feature guest speakers who provide education on various important topics such as public speaking, dressing for success, resume writing, college applications, and business skills. The program also encourages Knights to participate in extracurricular academic activities, attend cultural events, engage in community service projects, and refine their social skills,” said Davis.
“We have given out approximately $4.5 million in scholarships to more than 500 college-bound local young men. We have seen young men transformed into responsible adults through our program over the years. We encourage you to meet with us at our weekly meetings held every Sunday in downtown San Bernardino,” said Davis.
“We encourage you to join us on March 30th for our 57th Annual Beautillion at Cal State University San Bernardino’s Student Union North. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., with scholarship award presentations to our Knights starting at 7:00.”
Please contact Marlene Davis for more information at (909) 709-5502.
When youngsters get enough sleep, they are less impulsive, stressed, depressed, anxious, and aggressive, and can keep their cognitive functions working to their full capacity, like these award-winning young scholars. Shaila and Shiane Dameron are happy healthy LaSalle patients.
“Children and teens, especially, need adequate sleep for proper growth and development.” — Dr. Albert Arteaga
REDLANDS, Calif. — Sleep is crucial for maintaining good health and well-being throughout your life, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “The quality of your waking hours largely depends on what happens while you’re asleep.”
“For proper growth and development, children and teens require 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night. Therefore, parents are encouraged to do their best to ensure that their children get enough rest,” said pediatrician Dr. Albert Arteaga, Chair of LaSalle Medical Associates, one of the Inland Empire’s largest private healthcare organizations.
Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019, California now requires all high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and an 8 a.m. or later start for middle schools this school year.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies show that pre-teens who slept less than nine hours per day had differences in brain structure and more problems with mood and thinking than those who got adequate sleep. Improving sleep leads to better mental health and behavior from pre-adolescence on.
NIH researchers “found that children in the insufficient sleep group at the start of the study had more mental health and behavioral challenges than those who got sufficient sleep. These included impulsivity, stress, depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior, and thinking problems.
“The children with insufficient sleep also had impaired cognitive functions such as decision-making, conflict-solving, working memory, and learning. Differences between the groups persisted at the two-year follow-up.”
After awakening, the body releases hormones that increase alertness. With developing pre-teens and teens, hormones act while sleeping in pulses that signal the body to release testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. Those essential developmental hormonal pulses get bigger with the onset of puberty.
Adults as well as youngsters are subject to many of the same problems in the absence of adequate sleep. These problems include hunger control, responsiveness to insulin, a decline in physical activity, and what is known as metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that increase one’s risk “…of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
The Mayo Clinic and Dr. Arteaga suggest six ways to improve one’s sleep. First, stick to a regular schedule, going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. “For adults, seven hours is the minimum and eight is recommended,” said Dr. Arteaga.
Second, avoid eating large meals close to bedtime. Avoid midnight snacks and late-night alcohol. Nicotine is another no-no.
Third, the bedroom should be comfortably cool, dark, and quiet. “It is difficult to fall asleep after being exposed to blue-light-emitting sources like computers, smartphones, and other devices,” said Dr. Arteaga.
Fourth, “Napping during the daytime needs to be limited, as too many or too long naps will interfere with nighttime sleep,” said Dr. Arteaga.
Fifth, don’t be a couch potato. “It is recommended to engage in some form of physical activity every day. However, it is not advisable to exercise right before bedtime as it can be counterproductive,” said Dr. Arteaga.
And finally, learn to cope with stress and anxiety. “Rehashing daytime troubles is guaranteed to keep you from the restful sleep you need to cope with them the next day. You can use a notebook or planner to list things you need to pay attention to the next day and that lets your mind disengage from them at bedtime,” said Dr. Arteaga.
He added, “If you or your children are having sleep problems anyway, it’s a good idea to call your doctor and ask for a referral to a sleep specialist. They can suggest additional practitioners or prescribe medications to help.”
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest independent and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics, delivering high-quality patient care to over 350,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino and Tulare counties.
“Dia” S. Poole will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at its Spring Commencement
San Bernardino, Calif. California State University, San Bernardino announced that Respondia “Dia” S. Poole will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at its Spring Commencement, scheduled for May 18.
Poole has spent her career in public service, serving in all three branches of California’s government and with the County of San Bernardino. She has combined that work with volunteer service on the CSUSB Alumni Association Board and on the CSU Alumni Council, where she has twice led as president and chaired the council’s government relations committee. She was named Cal State San Bernardino’s Alumni Advocate of the Year in 2008.
Poole credits her CSUSB bachelor’s degree, earned as a nontraditional student, for opening opportunities for meaningful state-level public service. Her acceptance into the prestigious California Capital Fellows program in Sacramento launched her career in California state government. She was a highly regarded senior policy consultant to two of the State Assembly’s presiding leaders. She received a gubernatorial appointment to deputy director of public affairs for the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the largest state civil rights agency in the nation.
Poole’s state service culminated as a senior legislative advocate for the Judicial Council’s Office of Governmental Affairs. Her efforts were particularly significant for the Inland Empire, where the Superior Courts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties are the most under-resourced in the state.
Poole’s volunteer service is equally impressive. She is known throughout the CSU system as a well-respected alumna whose unwavering volunteer leadership for more than 20 years has helped to strengthen the CSU degree, increase state and federal investments in students and academic programs, promote alumni engagement, and improve graduation rates.
Her record of extraordinary volunteer leadership for the betterment of her alma mater and its students is extensive. Underrepresented students often lack accomplished professional role models, which makes her involvement as an Alumna Professor for a Day, a panelist for the President’s Scholars Leadership Symposium, and her workshops across disciplines to encourage students to apply for the competitive California Capital Fellows program, especially impactful.
Dia also serves on the CSUSB Master of Public Administration advisory board, where she encourages public sector employees to enter the program. She also champions curricular developments that advance university, local government, and community-based partnerships.
As a member of the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation Board’s Advocacy Committee, Poole joins the campus delegation annually in Sacramento and often in Washington, D.C. Her philanthropic support to the university is demonstrated by her legacy, or estate, gift to the university.
“My life was forever changed by CSUSB and the opportunities it opened up to me,” said Poole. “It is why I have continued to volunteer here on this campus and with the CSU at large. It is such a tremendous honor to receive this recognition. I know that a CSU degree can transform the lives of all Californians who enroll. And if you are a nontraditional student? Don’t let that stop you. CSUSB administrators, faculty, staff, and students value the professional and life experience you bring with you.”
“Conferring an honorary doctorate upon Dia, a double graduate of our university, in recognition of her profound impact and dedicated service to the people of California and the betterment of her alma mater would be a great honor for CSUSB,” said university President Tomás D. Morales.
Poole is a two-time CSUSB graduate, with a B.A. in business administration and information management (1990) and an M.A. in communications studies (2023).
Photo caption: Black Rose Award winners. Left to right first row; Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren, Sam’s Club Assistant Manager Michael Beauregard, California State University San Bernardino President Tomás Morales, San Bernardino City Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Marcus Funchess, American Career College Director of Education Tina Darling, City of Moreno Valley Park Commissioner James C. Baker II, Black Rose Awards Entertainment Chairperson Rev. Bronica Martindale, Black Culture Foundation Past President Ezekiel Adeleke, and Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo Partner Jack B. Clarke Jr. Back Row: Black Culture Foundation President Carl Dameron, GPL-Grandparents Love Founder Aristotle McDaniel, and Black Rose Awards Founder and Black Culture Foundation Secretary Jim King.
“It’s time for young and old, novice and experienced to join us to honor our legacy of excellence and to build our leaders for the future,” said President Carl M Dameron, imploring people to become members at sbbcfoundation.org/membership.
Riverside, CA—The Black Culture Foundation, Inc. honored eight local heroes and awarded two scholarships at its annual Black Rose Awards Gala.
The recipients of the Dr. Juanita Scott Humanitarian of the Year Award was given to two individuals: Dr. Marcus Funchess, who serves as the assistant superintendent of human resources for the San Bernardino City Unified School District, and Jack B. Clarke Jr., a community leader and partner at the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo.
“On behalf of CSUSB’s 20,000 students and 125,000 alumni, we are honored to receive the Founders Award from the Black Culture Foundation,” stated California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) President Dr. Tomás D. Morales. “We are proud of our partnership with the Black Culture Foundation and the African American community in the Inland Empire in advocating for educational opportunities to the residents of the Inland Empire.”
Black Rose Award winners include City of Moreno Valley Park Commissioner James C. Baker II, Sam’s Club Assistant Manager Michael Beauregard, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo Partner Jack B. Clarke Jr., American Career College Director of Education and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Nursing and Health Ministry Chair Tina Darling, San Bernardino City Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Marcus Funchess, GPL-Grandparents Love Founder Aristotle McDaniel, California State University San Bernardino President Tomás Morales, and Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren.
Maya Johnson and Daniel Rivera Jr. received Dr. Margaret Hill Black Rose Young Adults Inspiration Awards including scholarships of $1,250 each.
The masters of ceremonies for the evening were Cal State University San Bernardino theatre arts professor Kathryn Ervin and former Judicial Council of California legislative advocate Dia S. Poole.
The masters of ceremonies for the evening were Dia Poole and Kathryn Ervin. Fonadation Presdent Carl M. Dameron is the man in the middel. Photo by Van Howard
Entertainment for the evening came from Unspeakable Praise youth praise dance group and the Original Mary Jane Girls leader lead singer Makeda Francisco. San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) student JhuMaani Chess sang a stirring rendition of the United States National Anthem and SBVC student Cherish Jackson moved the audience with her rendition of The Black National Anthem.
The Black Rose Awards are a complement to Black History Month. The awards are sponsored by the Black Culture Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1968, to foster a greater understanding of Black culture and heighten community awareness of the accomplishments of Black people, past and present, and to plan, coordinate, and direct an annual Black History Month parade and related cultural activities.
Foundation President Carl M. Dameron said, “The nomination committee chose outstanding Inland Empire leaders to receive Black Rose Awards this year. We are honored to recognize and publicly thank them for their longtime and ongoing service to the people of the Inland Empire.”
A list of all previous Black Rose Award winners from 1990 is on the Foundation website at sbbcfoundation.org
Entertainment for the evening came from the Original Mary Jane Girls leader lead singer Makeda Francisco. Photo by Van Howard
Event sponsors included The Southern California Gas Company, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Dameron Communications, Charles Bibbs, Southern California Edison, U.S. Representative Pete Aguilar (D-33), California State Assemblymember Eloise Reyes (D-50), The Social Lites, the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, and California State University, San Bernardino.
Certificates of achievement were presented to the Black Rose Awards winners from Representative Pete Aguilar, Representative Ken Calvert, California State Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-23), State Senator Richard Roth (D-31), State Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-32), Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-58), Assemblymember Dr. Corey A. Jackson (D-60), Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-45), Assemblymember Eloise Reyes, Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-47), County of San Bernadino Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez, County of San Bernadino Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., and the Cities of Corona, Fontana, Highland, Rialto Riverside, and San Bernardino.
The evening closed with the swearing of Carl M. Dameron as president of the Black Culture Foundation. His theme for 2024 is “Its Time.” Dameron proclaimed that “it’s time to bring back the San Bernardino Black History Parade. It’s time to bring back the Black Senior King and Queen. It’s time for an Inland Empire-wide Black events calendar, all online, in one place, free for all to share events and access.”
Dameron concluded with “It’s time for young and old, novice and experienced to join us to honor our legacy of excellence and to build our leaders for the future.” He implored people to become members at sbbcfoundation.org/membership.
The Black Rose Awards are a complement to Black History Month. The awards are sponsored by the Black Culture Foundation, Inc. a nonprofit founded in 1968 by a small group of people who were concerned that, “…nationwide, our school systems have not yet incorporated Black history studies into regular school curriculums. Thus, allstudents miss the opportunity to learn more about a vital part of this country’s history.”
The Black Culture Foundation’s purpose “…is to foster an interest and a greater understanding of Black culture, to heighten community awareness of the accomplishments of Black people, past and present, and to plan, coordinate and direct an annual Black History Month parade and related cultural activities…[and] bridge the gaps across cultural lines by bringing the local community together to celebrate this event in the spirit of unity and brotherhood.”
The Black Rose Awards are the Foundation’s showcase cultural event.
Nuts and seeds in moderation are good for your health.
“Adding both nuts and seeds to your diet provides a tasty way to give your body the nutrients it craves.” — Dr. Albert Arteaga
REDLANDS, Calif., Feb. 14, 2024 — Going nuts can be good for your health, providing you with plenty of healthy protein, fiber, and nutrients that your body craves. Howard LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor for Harvard Health Publishing, points out that these tasty little treats contain plenty of healthy nutrients.
LeWine notes that “peanuts and pecans contain lots of B vitamins; almonds are rich in calcium and vitamin E; walnuts have lots of folates, vitamin E, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid). And all nuts have magnesium.”
Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital, says, “In just a handful of nuts, which is about an ounce or a quarter of a cup, you get a lot of bang for the buck. They contain anywhere from 3 to 7 grams of protein per ounce, 1 to 3 grams of fiber, and 160 to 200 calories.”
“Adding both nuts and seeds to your diet provides a tasty way to give your body the nutrients it craves,” said Albert Arteaga, MD, President of LaSalle Medical Associates, one of the Inland Empire’s largest privately owned healthcare organizations.
LaSalle Medical Associates CEO Dr. Albert Arteaga, M.D.
“Many nuts are the seeds of certain fruits, and it turns out that seeds like flaxseeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, and pumpkin seeds are also very healthy.” Dr. Arteaga adds one cautionary note: “Don’t overdo it. A handful or two a day is fine, but more than that adds calories that aren’t good for your waistline.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosts extensive databases packed with nutritional information about nuts and seeds. Among the nutrients that they provide are magnesium to control blood pressure and bone health; potassium for heart and kidney health; zinc—essential for normal growth and development; iron to support the hemoglobin that carries oxygen to your lungs and other body cells; and vitamin C for the immune system, and to help protect against lead exposure.
A healthy diet such as the Mediterranean Diet recommends avoiding saturated fats and taking in unsaturated fats. The USDA Food Composition Database tells us that walnuts supply 16 grams of unsaturated fat versus only 2 grams of saturated fat. For almonds, the ratio is 12.5 to 1, cashews 10 to 2, raw peanuts 11 to 2, chia seeds 7 to 0, and sunflower seeds 12 to 1.5.
“Adding nuts and seeds to your daily diet is both delicious and healthful,” says Dr. Arteaga. “Just be sure that, like all good things, enjoy them in moderation.”
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest independent and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics, delivering high-quality patient care to over 350,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino and Tulare counties.
The Black Rose Awards are a complement to Black History Month. The awards are sponsored by the Black Culture Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1968 by a small group of people who were concerned that, “…nationwide, our school systems have not yet incorporated Black history studies into regular school curriculums. Thus, all students miss the opportunity to learn more about a vital part of this country’s history.”
The Black Culture Foundation’s purpose “…is to foster an interest and a greater understanding of Black culture, to heighten community awareness of the accomplishments of Black people, past and present, and to plan, coordinate and direct an annual Black History Month parade and related cultural activities…[and] bridge the gaps across cultural lines by bringing the local community together to celebrate this event in the spirit of unity and brotherhood.”
The Black Rose Awards are the Foundation’s showcase cultural event.
