The film “Witchez” is shooting in Downtown Riverside. Actresses Heaven Gray, India Camille Glover, and Sarah Cantero at the Mission Galleria discuss the benefits of being a witch in Riverside, California.
RIVERSIDE, Calif.—A new dark comedy is filming in downtown Riverside. The feature film “Witchez” is the brainchild of Director, Writer, and Producer Sarah Cantero, along with her co-producers Ilana Regalado and Heaven Gray. Their lead Director of Photography is 24-year-old Giacomo Centty.
According to Cantero, this production defies Hollywood’s male-driven norms by placing women in creative roles, including producer, director, and actor. Their work aspires to bring more women into the behind-the-scenes part of filmmaking while jumpstarting the film industry in Riverside.
The filmmakers spearheading this effort created “Witchez.” collaboratively using community involvement, local resources, and a true sense of creative partnership.
“Witchez’s” goal is to tap into the lucrative genre of iconic witch movies, like “The Craft,” which grossed $55.6 million worldwide, and “The Witch,” which earned more than $40 million.
The producers believe that “Witchez” has the same potential to become a significant success, elevating those who helped bring it to life.
Witchez actresses, left to right: Heaven Gray, Sarah Cantero, and India Camille Glover on the streets of Riverside, California.
“We enthusiastically invite those who celebrate the arts and creativity to join in the fun and become part of this groundbreaking project,” said Producer Sarah Cantero.
“We are filmmakers dedicated to making movies that tell stories to entertain people, foster collaboration, and deliver a unique vision of horror and its similarities to daily life,” said Ilana Regalado.
True to its co-op nature, the filmmakers are crowd-sourcing the $55,000 to make the film through GoFundMe. “All contributions—whether time, energy or financial—are rewarded with a percentage of the film’s final profit. This isn’t just about creating a movie; it’s about building something long-lasting for the community,” said Cantero.
While 2023 was seen as the year of women in the film industry with the success of “Barbie,” “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” and “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” a recent USC Annenberg study shows no significant gains for women in 2023. Women represent only 6% of Hollywood directors, which these producers are determined to change.
The survey shows that in 2023, out of 116 directors, 12.1% were women, an increase from 2007, when the percentage was 2.7%. Yet, there’s little to celebrate, given that in 2022, 9% of top box office directors were women.
“We see this as a community film with a powerful outcome—the inclusion of women in filmmaking while creating an asset that belongs to the people who contribute to its creation,” said Cantero. “This is an opportunity for everyone involved to create art, build a new film community, and profit from their participation.”
Donations are being accepted via the GoFundMe link to support the film’s mission and join Riverside’s growing art movement.
“Funds raised will cover essential production costs such as props, costumes, and location fees. Most importantly, contributions will help foster a new era of artistic collaboration and progressive history in Riverside,” said Cantero.
The Witchez Film Co-op is a collaborative group of Riverside area filmmakers dedicated to making films that tell stories to unite people, foster collaboration, and deliver an accessible vision of life and its complexities to the public.
“I was surprised by the great turnout we had last year, and I am hopeful we can repeat that this November,” said Lemann.
“The Salvation Army serves as one of the most trusted and effective service providers for the hungry, the homeless, the hopeless, the addicted, and the needy. Their doors are always open,” said Wilfrid “Bill” Lemann
REDLANDS, CALIF.— Local hero and attorney Wilfrid “Bill” Lemann, partner at Fullerton, Lemann, Schaefer & Dominick, LLP, is the Red Kettle Kickoff master of ceremonies for 2024. The annual start of the bell-ringing season for The Salvation Army is Tuesday, November 12th, at 5:30 pm, at the Bear Springs Hotel Events Center, 27923 Highland Ave., Highland, CA 92346.
“I was so happy to see the great attendance we had last year, and I am hopeful we can have even more people attend this year,” said Lemann. Tickets are available here.
“The animatronics innovator and hometown hero Garner Holt will deliver the keynote address at the kickoff event. He is an outstanding speaker and has his finger on creative innovation in Southern California,” said Lemann.
Bill Lemann has been the master of ceremonies for the Red Kettle Kickoff for most of the last 26 years.
“His humor, relationships with community leaders and elected officials, and lifelong dedication to the San Bernardino community are legendary,” said the Red Kettle Kickoff Chair Brian Cronin. “It is an honor for Bill to be our Master of Ceremonies and help The Salvation Army serve those in need.”
Photo Caption: Majors Isaias & Wife Adelma Braga, Commanders of The Salvation Army of San Bernardino County, welcome donors to last year’s Red Kettle Kickoff.
Photo Caption: Majors Isaias & Wife Adelma Braga, Commanders of The Salvation Army of San Bernardino County, welcome donors to last year’s Red Kettle Kickoff.
Are you hungry, homeless, or hopeless? Do you need help paying your monthly bills? Do you have a drug or alcohol addiction? The Salvation Army helps people in need with all these problems and more.
Different programs have different funding sources, and one of the most important funding sources is the annual Red Kettle Kickoff campaign, which happens every Christmas season.
“In front of your favorite stores, the Salvation Army bell ringers gather donations that help provide food and shelter for homeless or displaced families, daily food baskets for those in need, hot meals, clothing, and furniture, as well as assistance with rent or mortgage payments and transportation, when funds allow,” explained Lemann.
During the Christmas season, The Salvation Army distributes holiday food baskets to approximately 500 local families and offers toys to children whose parents are unable to afford them.
The Salvation Army of San Bernardino organizes a Christmas Dinner that traditionally serves a tasty meal to around 200 individuals. Contributions from those who give to the Red Kettles make this possible.
“The Salvation Army ranks among the most reliable and impactful organizations assisting the homeless, hungry, hopeless, addicted, and those in need. Their doors are always welcoming,” Lemann stated.
You can donate online at https://sanbernardino.salvationarmy.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY. Please specify that you would like your donation to go to the San Bernardino Corps in California.
Donors are encouraged to bring turkeys, hams, canned goods, cash, checks, or gift cards to the Salvation Army’s Corps Office located at 838 Alta Street, Redlands, CA 92373.
Since 1888, The Salvation Army has supported those in need in San Bernardino. It assists without discrimination, serving cities such as Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Mentone, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, and Yucaipa, along with mountain communities like Big Bear, Blue Jay, Crestline, and Lake Arrowhead.
For more information, call (909) 792-6868.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army is an evangelical branch of the Universal Christian Church that offers holistic programs for individuals without discrimination. It serves the cities of Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Mentone, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, and Yucaipa, as well as Big Bear, Blue Jay, Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, and other mountain communities.
The Salvation Army is one of the world’s largest charitable and service organizations. It has been serving San Bernardino since 1888, supporting those in need.
The “Toward a Shared Vision Awards” ceremony will occur on Thursday, October 26th, at the Riverside Convention Center. Hosted by Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), a local nonprofit, the awards recognize contributions to educational attainment and economic success in the Inland Empire.
Dr. Sorrel Stielstra, Director of Research for GIA, addresses participants in a breakout room.https://flic.kr/p/2nVatVPPhoto byGIA
RIVERSIDE, CA — Seven individuals and five groups will be recognized for their work in driving Inland Empire’sducational and economic success.
The Toward a Shared Vision Awards ceremony is set for Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Riverside Convention Center.
“The Toward a Shared Vision Awards recognizes individuals and groups making significant contributions to educational attainment and economic success in the Inland Empire region while embodying core values of equity, transformation, collaboration, innovation, and centering students,” said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, Interim CEO of Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), the local nonprofit hosting the awards celebration.
“We received twenty-five nominations for individuals and groups throughout the region, all of which are well-deserving candidates,” said Sakrekoff. “GIA brought together a diverse panel of representatives from local education and community-based organizations who deliberated and selected 12 individuals and groups to be recognized across six categories.”
The awardees are:
Children Deserve Success Program, San Bernardino County Superintendent of SchoolsPhoto by Gby GIA. Tomas MoralesPhoto by GIby GIA Student-Centered Excellence:
• Group: Children Deserve Success Program, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
• Individual: Dr. Tomás D. Morales, President, California State University, San Bernardino
Ontario-Montclair Promise ScholarsPhoto byGIA
Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, California’s 58th Assembly DistrictPhoto by GIAby GIAxcellence in Regional Transformation:
• Group: Ontario-Montclair Promise Scholars
• Individual: Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, California’s 58th Assembly District
College FuturesPhoto byGIAby GIAHenry ShannonPhoto by GIA
Fby GIAity-Focused Excellence:
• Group: College Futures Foundation
• Individual: Dr. Henry D. Shannon, Superintendent/President, Chaffey College
Kim McNultyPhoto by GIA
Maby GIAHope Happen FoundationPhoto by GIA
Foby GIAellence in Regional Collaboration:
• Group: Making Hope Happen Foundation
• Individual: Kim McNulty, Vice President of Regional Strategy, OneFuture Coachella Valley
California State University San BernardinoPhoto by GIA
Ivaby GIAPhoto by GIA
For by GIAlence in Innovation:
• Group: Office of Pre-College Programs, California State University, San Bernardino
• Individual: Dr. Ivan Peña, Dean of Student Services and Counseling, Crafton Hills College
• Individual: Dr. Judy D. White, President/Founder, MOSAIC, Retired 12th Superintendent of Schools for Riverside County
The awards ceremony is scheduled for October 26 at 2 p.m. as a culminating program of the two-day Toward a Shared Vision regional summit. Tickets for the full two-day summit can be purchased for $129. A day-two-only ticket, including the recognition ceremony, can be purchased for $65. Ticket sales will contribute to GIA’s student scholarship fund. Learn more about the awards and register to attend on GIA’s website: https://inlandempiregia.org/tasv-2023-awards/.
Since 2015, Growing Inland Achievement has been actively supporting educational attainment and economic success in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. To learn more about their mission and initiatives, please visit InlandEmpireGIA.org.
Redlands, Calif. Dr. Daniel Benveniste is a renowned psychologist and author of major books on the classic works of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, will deliver the 36th Annual Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Memorial Lecture on Thursday, February 9th at 7:30 pm at Congregation Emanu El in Redlands.
The topic of the illustrated lecture is The Evolution of the Spiritual Impulse.” It will certainly be of interest to people of all faiths as well as students of psychology,” said Rabbi Hillel Cohen.
Dr. Benveniste grew up in San Bernardino and currently lives in the Pacific Northwest where he teaches and is a clinical psychologist. He is the author of two major works in the field of psychology – The Interwoven Lives of Sigmund, Anna, and W. Ernest Freud: Three Generations of Psychoanalysis and the most recently published –Libido, Culture, and Consciousness – Revisiting Freud’s Totem and Taboo.
“In the lecture, he will share some of the most significant insights of Freud and Jung. Benveniste has been acclaimed for weaving together the fields of archeology, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, psychoanalytic theory, sociology, and religion to get a full picture of human development,” said Rabbi Cohen.
The annual Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Lecture was established in 1985 at the time of Feldheym’s death by members of Congregation Emanu El as well as many friends in the wider community.
Rabbi Feldheym served as rabbi of Congregation Emanu El from 1937 to 1971 and as Rabbi Emeritus of the historic congregation from 1971 until his death in 1985. In addition to being a leader of religious life in the Inland Empire and a highly respected community leader, he was a devoted student of Freudian and Jungian psychology and in his retirement taught at the Jung institute in Switzerland.
Congregation Emanu El is located at 1495 Ford Street in Redlands. The lecture is open to the public and there is no charge for attendance. For more information call (909) 307-0400.
Retired Rialto Unified School District Board President Joanne Gilbert Endorses Kelly Erving for Rialto City Council
“The most important reason why I am endorsing Kelly Erving for the Rialto City Council is that we need people who are planning for the future, not living in the past,” says Ms. Gilbert.
RIALTO, CALIF. “Kelly Erving is young, energetic, educated, knows our city well and she has what it takes to motivate Rialto’s young people to help move our city into the future,” says Ms. Gilbert.
Gilbert served as a secondary school teacher in New York, Virginia and California’s Long Beach and Moreno Valley Unified school districts before coming to Rialto. In 2001she joined the district’s Board of Directors and later served three terms as Board President, retiring in 2013.
“Rialto has grown so much in the past few years and we need leaders who are up-to-date with today’s trends in technology and engagement, people who know how to use what’s available to make sure that all the voices in our diverse community are heard before the Council makes decisions that affect everyone who lives and works here,” says Gilbert.
Erving’s stated priorities are affordable housing, sustainable economic development and reaching out to the entire community for input and feedback during the planning process. Erving says, “We need to respect our people and let them know that their input is welcome.
” I am dedicated to the City of Rialto and all of its residents; I chose to reside in Rialto due to its limitless potential and the diversity of its residents,” said Dr. Kelly Erving
“We’ve seen some communities welcome giant warehouses that employ poorly paid employees who then need to rely on social services to get by,” says Erving. “That’s not going to happen in Rialto. We will grow the right way, attracting the kinds of businesses that provide the goods and services Rialto’s people need and want, while paying a living wage that ensures people who work here can live here.”
For more information on Kelly Erving’s candidacy, visit her website at Kelly4RialtoCC.com.
As a former scout I am honored to serve scouting and to receive the prestigious The Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award.” Photo by Robert A. Whitehead/CSUSB
“I am honored to be one of the recipients of the Boy Scouts of America Whitney M. Young Jr. Award,” said Waudieur “Woodie” Rucker- Hughes.
(San Bernardino Calif.) The Boy Scouts of America California Inland Empire will honor Waudieur “Woodie” Rucker-Hughes, Child Welfare and Attendance Manager, Riverside Unified School District and Carl M. Dameron, Creative Director, Dameron Communications. They are the 2016 Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award Honorees.
The gala is Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at Shandin Hills Golf Club located at 3380 Little Mountain Drive in San Bernardino. A table of 8, a full page ad in the program, and camp sponsorship for 3 youth is $1,000. Individual tickets are $75.
The Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award is to recognize outstanding service by an individual for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds-this in fulfillment of Dr. Young’s dream of justice and equality for all.
The proceeds from The Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award Dinner will support the Assistance to Others Fund of the California Inland Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America, designed to help provide financial outreach for those youth and families in need of Scout registration fees, camperships, Scouting handbooks, uniform needs and training scholarships.
Whitney Moore Young, Jr. was an Americancivil rights leader, born July 31, 1921 and died March 11, 1971.
On March 11, 1971, Whitney Young died of a heart attack after swimming with friends in Lagos, Nigeria. President Nixon sent a plane to Nigeria to collect Young’s body and traveled to Kentucky to deliver the eulogy at Young’s funeral.
“Whitney understood power, he understood politics, and most of all he understood people. They said Martin was in the streets, Roy and Thurgood were in the courts, and Whitney was in the boardroom. One could not have been successful without the other.” – Vernon Jordan, CEO National Urban League
“I am honored to be one of the recipients of the Boy Scouts of America Whitney M. Young Jr. Award. Mr. Young was a true Civil Rights advocate, a shrewd and politically aware advisor to President Lyndon Johnson, the president who history notes had some of the greatest Civil Rights legislation and programs created and passed during his tenure, said Rucker-Hughes.
She added, “Mr. Young was also the recipient of a Presidential Medal of Freedom and in his capacity as a leader of the Urban League, he was a co-sponsor of the historic March on Washington which I had the privilege of participating in. I thank everyone who thought enough of me to nominate me for this Award.”
Rucker-Hughes is currently the Child Welfare and Attendance Manager for the Riverside Unified School District’s Pupil Services Department. As the State mandated District Homeless and Foster Liaison she and her staff work to serve the needs of students in order to prevent educational barriers.
In addition to her busy career, Rucker-Hughes is also the current President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Riverside Branch; a member of Chief of Police, Sergio Diaz’s “Citizen’s Advisory Board”; and Amos Temple CME Church’s Chancel Choir. She has served on the Trustee Board of Amos Temple CME Church.
Rucker-Hughes has meritoriously served the Riverside community at large as a humanitarian and pillar. She most recently was appointed to the California-Hawaii State NAACP Executive Committee, where she serves as its South East Area Director. Woodie also serves as the NAACP Region 1 Secretary, an elected position that she has held since 2010.
Her most recent honors have included being appointed to the Citizen’s Advisory Board for the State of California Highway Patrol, where she advises the HWP Commissioner on matters affecting the Highway Patrol. In February of 2015 Woodie was presented the 61st Assembly District’s Women of Distinction Award by Assemblyman Jose Medina. She was honored in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the community.
Dameron is the founder and creative director at Dameron Communications advertising and public relations agency serving California since 1989. He has placed stories with the most prestigious and popular media in the nation including the New York Times, Washington Post and NBC news.
“I am pleased to serve my community and help where ever I can,” said Dameron. “As a former scout I am honored to serve scouting and to receive the prestigious The Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award.”
Since 1989 Dameron has worked for some of the area’s biggest names: California Portland Cement Company, Sprint, The Salvation Army, Capstone Turbine, The South Coast Air Quality Management District, The Art Institute of California, Argosy University, The California Department of Education, Dukes-Dukes and Associates, Meta Housing, the cities of Colton, San Bernardino and Rialto, and San Bernardino and Riverside counties, helping them with what he calls “Advertising and public relations that works.”
Committed to the Inland Empire Dameron contributes his marketing skills to help non-profits elevate awareness of their service and increase donations.
A few of the companies Dameron has worked with include: The Boys Scouts, The Salvation Army, Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce, California State University San Bernardino, Argosy University, The San Bernardino Black Cultural Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, San Bernardino Bicentennial Committee and Time for Change.
Dameron has received awards and recognition from: The American Advertising Federation, The League of Women’s Voters, the San Bernardino Black Cultural Foundation, Entrepreneur of the year finalist, The Victorville African American Chamber of Commerce, Who’s Who in advertising and public relations
Many Cultures-One Mission – the mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
The California Inland Empire Council has been serving youth of the Riverside and San Bernardino Counties for over 92 years. The current council was formed in 1973 through the merger of the Arrowhead Area, Grayback and Riverside Councils. In 2006, a portion of the Old Baldy Council merged into the California Inland Empire Council.
The council has served hundreds of thousands of youth over the years. Its Scouts and leaders have provided innumerable hours of service to communities and individuals.
Council territory includes all of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and stretches from Fort Irwin and Death Valley to Temecula and Indio; Ontario and Barstow to the Arizona and Nevada borders. The area we serve covers some of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation, National Parks and Forests, rural farmland, military bases, and open desert.
For more information on call Tracy Youden at (909) 793-2463 extension 123.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc Celebrates 30 years of medical service. Left to right: Anna Canton, Human Resource Manager, Kristina Hlebo, Finance Assistant, Carl Meier, executive vice president, Dr. Albert Arteaga CEO, Alexandra Acosta, Director of Finance and Lizette Noriega, Human Resource Assistant, Kristina Hlebo, Finance Assistant, Alexandra Acosta, Director of Finance and Lizette Noriega, Human Resource Assistant.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) In June of 1984, a young doctor and his wife, a nurse, opened a family medical practice called LaSalle Medical Associates in Fontana. Their goal: provide affordable health care, with dignity and respect, to all in the Inland Empire at http://knockyourhealth.com/wbv/.
Three decades later, Dr. Albert and Maria Arteaga have gone far beyond making their goal a reality. They are now recognized as one of the leading health care providers in the Inland Empire, if not all of California.
“We have had some markers of success,” Dr. Arteaga says. “We went from two employees – my wife and I – to a fully staffed clinic. We opened more clinics. Then we started our own IPA (independent practice association) to keep up with new demands to make health care more and more efficient. We are making people healthier.”
“It has always been our goal to treat as many patients as we could while giving them the best health care possible,” he said.
Some, who have recognized LaSalle Medical Associates as a leader in health care along with www.motorcyclepundit.com , by giving them awards for their endeavors, include:
The federal Center for Disease Control, which recognized Dr. Arteaga as California’s first Childhood Immunization Champion. This award recognized his efforts in educating the parents of LaSalle’s pediatric patients, and the greater Inland Empire community, of the importance of childhood immunizations
The California Medical Association, which recognized Dr. Arteaga with its Ethnic Physician’s Leadership Award, recognizing his contributions to improving health care in the Latino community
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Resolution Award for outstanding community efforts
The San Bernardino County Medical Society’s Merlin Hendrickson, M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Dr. Arteaga was recognized for his efforts to provide health services to Inland Empire children.
Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), as Riverside and San Bernardino counties’ best health care provider, and for being one of the top enrollers in all of California in the state’s former Healthy Families program
The African American Health Initiative as a model provider in a two-year study of Black health care in San Bernardino County.
Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine, which recognized LaSalle Medical Associates as one of the top 15 Latino-owned businesses in the Inland Empire
“As pediatricians, we strive for 100 percent immunizations of pediatric patients and, while that’s probably a utopian objective, our goal is to get as close as to that 100 percent as we can,’’ says Dr. Albert Arteaga, president and founder of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. . “This CDC recognition is the fruit of two to three years of intense labor on part of me and staff.”
Despite all this success, it hasn’t always been an easy path for the Arteagas.
“Life doesn’t always play out as you expect,” Dr. Arteaga said. “That is certainly true in my life as a health care provider. Good intentions require good management. Providing good management has been every bit as challenging as my years in medical school were more than three decades ago!”
One of the biggest changes in health care took place just this year. In 2014, Covered California part of the federal Affordable Health Care Act – which Dr. Arteaga has long been a champion of – came into being.
“Although Covered California does not yet mean everyone has insurance, it does mean that many patients who couldn’t afford health care before now can do so,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Health care is no longer an out-of-reach luxury for those who couldn’t afford insurance, but is a basic right for everyone
Dr. Arteaga has always thought that health care is a basic right, and has operated LaSalle Medical Associates as if that were the case.
Dr. Arteaga targeted his marketing to Latinos and low-income people who were underserved. Providing high quality medical services to underserved populations were crucial to the success of LaSalle Medical Associates. LaSalle Medical Associates later expanded from Fontana to San Bernardino and Hesperia. These communities have many low-income people in need of quality affordable medical services.
He also is Latino, so he easily related to his Latino patients in ways they appreciated. They told friends and family about La Salle Medical Associates, which caused his popularity in the Inland Empire’s Latino culture to swell.
Dr. Arteaga has always believed that his key to business success was finding a way to get paid for their services, instead of telling patients they had to figure that out on their own before seeing him. For most of LaSalle’s history, that business model meant LaSalle employees educated patients about their health care insurance options.
Most patients LaSalle saw over the years qualified for either Medi-Cal or Healthy Families. The latter, which like Medi-Cal was run by the state of California, offered low to moderate-income parents who didn’t qualify for Medi-Cal a subsidy for the health care of their children from birth to age 19.
Things have changed in the last two years. In 2013, California got a head start on the Affordable Care Act; they created Covered California and merged Healthy Families and Medi-Cal together.
In 2014, one of the key Covered California’s requirements is everyone must have health insurance or pay a penalty. This means, many patients applied and signed up for Covered California, Medi-Cal or other insurance first, and then choose or are assigned to LaSalle Medical Associates.
Consequently, rather than informing new patients of their insurance options, LaSalle Medical Associates employees now more likely are helping the patients understand how their health insurance system works.
Dr. Arteaga acknowledges the Covered California has brought changes some people will take a while to get accustomed to. One of these is a concept called managed care.
“The structure of the Covered California means many people, both those who had some other type of insurance and those who were uninsured, are now in managed care for the first time,” he said.
Managed care is called this because it requires a doctor, such as one of the physicians in LaSalle Medical Associates, to coordinate patients’ health care services. These primary care doctors have a general, family or pediatric practice, and will treat patients for many of their symptoms, but will refer the patients to specialists when more expertise is needed.
Managed care has been around since the 1990s, Dr. Arteaga said, but it has become more popular. It’s usually more cost-efficient to have managed care, he explained, people choose to buy managed care for its lower premiums.
Medi-Cal has used managed care for nearly two decades. Meanwhile, LaSalle Medical Associates, since the beginning, has accepted Medi-Cal when many doctors would not, and now has a reputation among those familiar with Medi-Cal for providing quality services, no matter how payment is provided.
Even though there wasn’t “managed care,” as it now known when Dr. Arteaga started his practice, even back then he was in favor of patients developing close relationships with one family doctor.
“Thirty years ago I wanted to see all the patients, and manage their health care. That has not changed, but I have learned that in order to do so, a physician must take a leadership role. Otherwise, many patients will seek or demand services that are redundant or not needed. Our goal is to make people healthier.”
Maria and Dr. Albert Arteaga. The California Medical Association awarded Abert Arteaga the “Ethnic Physician’s Leadership Award,” recognizing his contributions to medical care in the Latino community.
Dr. Arteaga sees the physician as an advocate for the patient, one who will make sure patients get the services they truly need. Sometimes, just as some patients will push for more health care than is necessary, some insurance companies will resist paying for what a doctor recommends, but that is not the intent of managed care.
“I want the patient, the doctor and the insurance company to develop a positive team, Dr. Arteaga said. “There may be opposition, but that should not stop any of us in trying to make quality health care succeed.”
Besides managed care and its great expansion through the Affordable Care Act, another large change in the health care industry over the last three decades has been more careful monitoring of expenses by insurance companies.
Now, it is better for a medical group like LaSalle Medical Associates to band with even more doctors, so they can take advantage of economies of scale, and provide health care more cost-efficiently.
This is why LaSalle Medical Associates formed an Independent Practice Association (IPA) in 1995, and has grown it to the point it now serves more than 600 medical clinics serving more than 170,000 patients each year in nine California counties.
LaSalle oversees administrative functions of all these medical clinics, although they are owned and manage their patients’ health care separately.
Another move to make health care more efficient, in many ways, is one that LaSalle Medical Associates only recently transitioned to. It now is keeping track of patients’ charts with electronic records, ridding itself of the wall full of patients’ medical records that once were a hallmark of many medical clinics.
“Electronic records make it easier to share patients’ records among a team of doctors who treat one patient, which results in better health care” Dr. Arteaga said. “It is also easier to keep patients’ records confidential this way.”
One other significant change over the last 30 years has been that most patients are more involved in their health care now than they were in 1984.
“They ask more questions now. Because of the Internet, and because people talk more about health care with their friends, patients now have more information. Not all of the information out there is correct, so this means a doctor helps the patient sort the good from the bad, and develop a treatment plan that works. This is another reason why the managed care approach is necessary.”
One thing Dr. Arteaga has learned during his three decades of medical practice is that change can be good. In fact, one thing he loves about being the CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates is that he gets to lead other health care professionals through the changes their industry faces.
“I love being collegial, and helping other doctors learn,” he said. “When they resist change, it is going to be more difficult for them. They should not expect to practice medicine as it was done 30 years ago, or even 10 years ago.”
LaSalle’s clinics are located at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana phone (909) 823-4454, 16455 Main St. in Hesperia phone (760) 947-2161, and 1505 West 17th St. phone (760) 947-2161 and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. phone (909) 884-9091 in San Bernardino.
For more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407 or go on line to LaSalleMedical.com.
About LaSalle Medical Associates
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., operates four clinics employing more than 120 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino County. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and they also accept IEHP, Molina, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Care 1st, and Health Net and Medicare by Easy Choice Health Plan, Molina and Care1st Health Plans.
LaSalle’s clinics are located at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana phone (909) 823-4454, 16455 Main St. in Hesperia phone (760) 947-2161, and 1505 West 17th St. phone (760) 947-2161 and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. phone (909) 884-9091 in San Bernardino.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality patience care with more than 170,000 patient visits per year in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare Counties.
LaSalle’s IPA members in the Inland Empire include: LaSalle Medical Associates, Banning Medical Group and San Bernardino Urological Associates. Hospital affiliations include: Rancho Springs Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, St. Bernadine Medical Center, Mountains Community Hospital, Redland Community Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital, Kaiser Moreno Valley, Kaiser Fontana and Kaiser Riverside.
(Riverside, CA) It was all about cupcakes in downtown Riverside recently, when IEShineOn.com hosted the second annual Inland Empire Cupcake Fair “Cupcakes for a Cause” at the Riverside Convention Center.
“Last year, we learned some things, and this year put on an even better event,” organizer Su Pak of IEShineOn.com said. “I appreciate all the bakers, vendors, volunteers and our sponsor California Cake Decorations & Supply Co. It shows there is support for this type of event. I also want to thank the organizations I worked with, California Riverside Ballet and Community Connect.” The two organizations received a portion of the proceeds from this event.
IEShineOn.com has announced the winners of this year’s Cupcake Fair. Cupcakes were judged in amateur and professional categories, with awards for the best overall and for the most unique ingredients.
The Inland Empire Cupcake Fair had two contests whose winners were determined by event guests. “Most Popular Cupcake,” went to [desi]gn cakes & cupcakes, whose Buffalo Chicken cupcake was voted the best. “Best Decorated Booth” went to Dreamy Little Cupcakes.
Most Popular Cupcake voted by event guests – Buffalo Chicken from [desi]gn cakes & cupcakes
In the professional category, the first place Most Unique Ingredient winner was Viva Los Cupcakes, which won with their “Tamal con Mole” cupcake, which is a corn cake with mole frosting topped with a corn (tamal) shell. The Los Angeles-based cupcake baker Karina Jiminez, sells her products primarily at festivals throughout southern California.
Professional Most Unique Ingredient winners (left to right: Viva los Cupcakes, Simply Fancy Cuisine, KML Events)
Viva Los Cupcakes also took second place for Professional Best Overall for its Margarita cupcake.
Second place in the Most Unique Ingredient category was Simply Fancy Cuisine’s Hummingbird Cupcake, which is a southern-style cupcake topped with coconut and pineapple flowers. Simply Fancy Cuisine sells cupcakes and other bakery treats at the Redlands City Farmers’ Market and at the Grove Charter School Farmer’s Market, both of which take place in Redlands on Saturdays.
Buffalo Chicken & Blueberry French Toast cupcakes from [desi]gn cakes & cupcakes
Third place in the Most Unique Ingredient category was KML Event’s Lemon Lavender Cupcake. KML Events is a mother-daughter events planning and catering team in Ontario, which also sells cupcakes on special orders and at various community festivals.
The Professional first place Best Overall winner was Queen Sin’s Cupcakes Caramel Macchiato cupcake. Queen Sin’s Cupcakes are available for purchase on an almost daily basis at Everything Sweet Cake and Candy Supplies, 1235 Indiana Ct., Suite 102 in Redlands, and can also be special ordered.
Third place professional best overall was MyCuppyLittleCake’s “Carrot Cuppycake.”
Professional Best Overall Cupcake winners (left to right: Queen Sin’s Cupcakes, My Cuppy Little Cake, Viva los Cupcakes)
In the Amateur competition Cup2myCakes, is the Amateur Best Overall winner with her “Sock It To Me” cupcake. Her “Brown Sugar Kahlua” cupcakes took the prize for the Most Unique Ingredient cupcake
Second place Amateur Best Overall winner was Blukat Sugar Art, with “Double Chocolate cupcakes.” The winner described these cupcakes as made with double chocolate, dipped in chocolate ganache, frosted with chocolate whip cream frosting and topped with a chocolate covered strawberry.
The third place Amateur Best Overall was Jamie’s Cakes, which won with “Vanilla Coke” cupcakes.
Amateur Best Overall Cupcake winners (left to right: Cup2myCakes, Jamie’s Cakes, BluKat Sugar Art)
“A tasty time was had by all,” said Pak.
For information on the next The Inland Empire Cupcake Fair “Cupcakes for a Call” call Su Pak at (909) 257-8862 or go email hello@ieshineon.com
Decisions, decisions picking cupcakes to taste was a fun discussion at last years Inland Empire Cupcake Fair in Riverside. The 2014 IE Cupcake Fair is set for May 4th at the Riverside Convention Center.
IE Cupcake founder Su Pak with two of the three winners for Best Overall Cupcake and Most Unique Ingredient competition (left to right): Andrea Vasquez from Lavish Cupcakery, Su Pak, founder IEShineOn.com and Desiree Massei from [desi]gn cakes & cupcakes
(Riverside, CA) The Second Annual Inland Empire Cupcake Fair is set for Sunday, May 4, 2014, at the Riverside Convention Center. The fair has cupcake tastings, judging, giveaways, cake decoration demonstrations by California Cake Decorations & Supply Co., live entertainment, free massages, Kids Zone provided by Seeking Sitters Inland Empire, Craft Corner and lots of shopping!
“The Inland Empire Cupcake Fair is back for more delicious fun! We’ve learned a few things since last year’s Premiere event and we’re excited to say this year is going to be bigger and better,” said Su Pak event creator and founder of IEShineOn.com.
Last year’s bakers included not only the best bakers in the Inland Empire but also the best cupcake baker in the United States! Desiree Massei from Design Cakes & Cupcakes, a three time Cupcake Wars winner and Casey’s Cupcakes also a Cupcake Wars winner.
Pak not only shares the cupcakes she shares the wealth. “This year, proceeds from the Inland Empire Cupcake Fair will benefit Community Connect and California Riverside Ballet.”
Pak has partnered with some great community organizations. “We’re proud to be working with the Riverside Downtown Partnership, the Riverside Convention Center and Dameron Communications,” said Pak.
A delicious clover leaf cupcake from Christie Cakes in San Bernardino and it’s the Double Chocolate Vanilla Bean Buttercream Dream. She won for her Orange Cremesicle cupcake – 3rd place in Best Overall
“We are so excited to be in the fabulous, brand new Riverside Convention Center with the latest and greatest technology and comforts. We think our guests are going to love having it there. We plan to have the IE Cupcake Fair at the Riverside Convention Center for the next five years!” said Pak.
The IE Cupcake Fair is a family event with cupcake tastings, professional and amateur baking competition, live entertainment, a spa zone with free massages, a kid’s zone with professional babysitters from Seeking Sitters Inland Empire and a free photo booth hosted by Shutter Cubby.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, February 25th. Visit IEShineOn.com for packages including VIP early entry specials and group rates.
Sponsored by IEShineOn.com, a website for finding the best dining, shopping, attractions and fun events in the Inland Empire. The Inland Empire Cupcake Fair is also sponsored by Key Sponsor California Cake Decorations & Supply Co. in Redlands
The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company manufacturer and marketer of premium chocolate products brought their delicious chocolates to the IE Cupcake Fair.
“Event, booth, table space and sponsorships are available but are filling up fast,” said Pak. “The response from bakers and vendors has been excellent.”
For more information call: Su Pak (909) 257-8862 or go to IEShineOn.com/cupcakes.
Enjoy the slide show from last years Inland Empire Cupcake Fair in Riverside, CA
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<iframe width=”853″ height=”480″ src=”//www.youtube.com/embed/L2Mx-tdnFW0?rel=0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>IECC-PR-102 AnnounceFor More Information callCarl M. Dameron @ (909) 534-9500
Redlands, Calif. Dr. Daniel Benveniste is a renowned psychologist and author of major books on the classic works of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, will deliver the 36th Annual Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Memorial Lecture on Thursday, February 9th at 7:30 pm at 
![Most Popular Cupcake voted by event guests - Buffalo Chicken from [desi]gn cakes & cupcakes](http://www.dameroncommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_7910.jpg)
![Buffalo Chicken & Blueberry French Toast cupcakes from [desi]gn cakes & cupcakes](http://www.dameroncommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_7760.jpg)
![IE Cupcake founder Su Pak with two of the three winners for Best Overall Cupcake and Most Unique Ingredient competition (left to right): Andrea Vasquez - Lavish Cupcakery, Su Pak - IEShineOn.com, Desiree Massei - [desi]gn cakes & cupcakes](http://www.dameroncommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IE-Cupcake-Fair-winners.jpg)
