Category: Inland Empire

A Sunday, March 19 performance by dance students at The Ebell Club Los Angeles will celebrate and pay tribute to a pioneer in the ballet world. Raven Wilkinson was the first African American woman to dance full-time for a major classical ballet company, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, in New York. She danced with the company for six years, becoming a principal dancer in a typically all-white profession, and later went to Europe to join the Dutch National Ballet as a soloist. Wilkinson, who died in 2018 at age 83, will be remembered at Sunday night’s talk and performance at The Ebell, a non-profit that hosts cultural events celebrating and supporting women. The program will be led by dance instructors and students from L.A. County High School for the Arts and the Colburn School. Raven Wilkinson performed as a soloist in the Frederic Chopin ballet “Les Sylphides.” For several years, she danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in New York and faced discrimination while touring with the company because of her race. Wilkinson, who died in 2018, will be posthumously honored at

After multiple delays, a new rave clothing store in Claremont will have its grand opening for customers this weekend. The Rave Box, located at 141 Harvard Ave., will open its doors after an appeal of its business license was denied by the city on Monday, March 13. News of the failed appeal was welcomed by shop owners Janelle Huerta, 33, and Steve Morales, 28, who have been stuck in limbo since arriving in town in January. “We are both excited to finally be approved,” Huerta said by text Thursday afternoon. “We have had such a great response from the city residents as well.” Multiple posts on The Rave Box’s Instagram show customers are eager to stop by the store. Strangers who got word of the appeal have also shown their support. The store is scheduled to open at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 18. Five nearby business owners in the Village filed the appeal March 1 citing concerns that the clothing store was an adult business and did not fit with the character of the shopping district. Owners from the Bunny Gunner Gallery, Claremont Village Eatery

Employees with Flying Food Group, which provides in-flight meals at Los Angeles International Airport, have voted to authorize a strike as they lobby for higher wages amid rising inflation. With 99% in favor, the 346 catering workers represented by Unite Here Local 11 voted Wednesday, March 15 to authorize a walkout. They allege one employee has endured sexual harassment on the job and also claim the company locked some of the emergency exits at their Inglewood plant last month as workers were preparing to stage a protest for higher wages. “When multiple doors were bolted shut on the day of our picket, it felt like the company was treating us like animals and was trying to interfere with our union rights,” said Gary Duplessis, 62, a cook at the facility and a complainant to Cal/OSHA. Flying Food said Los Angeles County fire officials did a full inspection of the building and found no safety violations. Most Flying Food workers are people of color, with some earning a base wage of $18.04 an hour. At that rate, someone would have to work 17 hours a day

The Moreno Valley Master Chorale and the Lyric Symphony Orchestra, directed by Viorel Gheorghe, will present “Music Classics for the Easter Season” 4 p.m. Sunday, March 19, at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 11650 Perris Blvd., Moreno Valley. The concert will feature several works by Joseph Haydn, including his “Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo,” and parts of Felix Mendelssohn’s oratorio “Elijah,” including “Lift Thine Eyes” for three-part women’s voices, according to a news release. The chorale will also perform “Panis Angelicus,” “L’ Ange Gardien” and “God is my Salvation” by César Franck. Featured soloists will be lyric coloratura soprano Camelia Voin and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Steele. They will sing two duets, and Voin will also sing “Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (“On Wings of Song”) by Felix Mendelssohn. The concert will also feature orchestra members Todor Pelev, violin; Rick Olson, oboe;  Ana Maria Maldonado, cello; and Jonathan Keplinger, piano and organ. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and free for students with school ID. Tickets are available at the door, for cash only. Tickets may also be ordered by phone. For information, call

Think Temecula-area tourism, and wine country, Pechanga Resort Casino and Old Town come to mind. Weddings? Unless it’s a couple locals getting hitched, who would bother? Crystal and Joshua Huckabee did bother, as their shared last name indicates. Both 31, they’ve known each other since high school and now live in Ontario. Yet they opted to get married at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula Valley Wine Country because they got engaged locally and visit the area at least twice a month. Crystal, an anthropology professor, and Joshua, a chef, are wine and food people, adding to the Temecula appeal. Crystal and Joshua Huckabee are seen on their wedding day, Sept. 15, 2022, at Wilson Creek Winery near Temecula. (Courtesy of Crystal Huckabee) Crystal and Joshua Huckabee are seen on their wedding day, Sept. 15, 2022, at Wilson Creek Winery near Temecula. (Courtesy of Crystal Huckabee) Crystal and Joshua Huckabee are seen on their wedding day, Sept. 15, 2022, at Wilson Creek Winery near Temecula. (Courtesy of Crystal Huckabee) Show Caption of Expand They got married Sept. 15, 2022, having to sweat that the area was

Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Luque, a native of Hemet, serves the U.S. Navy with Commander, Surface Division 11, operating out of San Diego. Luque joined the Navy six years ago. “I joined the Navy to gain some independence,” Luque said in a news release. “I was looking for a career that would offer travel. “We need a strong Navy because the ocean takes up a majority of the world,” he said. “Our presence around the world helps make everyone safer back home.” U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Luque (Courtesy of U.S. Navy) One of Luque’s accomplishments in the Navy is his recent completion of a crew served weapon instructor school. “We teach people how to maintain weapons, such as machine guns. I help them get qualified on the weapons they need to do their job,” he said in the news release. “I have a little brother, Michael Chapman, who’s in the Army right now,” Luque said. “I’d like to tell him, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing. I know it’s hard sometimes, but in the end it’s worth it.’ “ Have your own

The Redlands Historical Museum Association will present a program about historical items that are being donated for the Museum of Redlands 2 p.m. March 26 at the Contemporary Club, 173 S. Eureka St., Redlands. Presenting the history of some of the many donated items will be A.K. Smiley Public Library staff members Don McCue, Nathan Gonzales, Maria Carrillo Colato and Katie Montemayor. All have been working to accept and find storage for the many items coming in for the museum. The museum will be housed in the former Redlands Daily Facts building on Brookside Avenue, which is undergoing renovation. Before the museum’s building is ready, the A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Heritage Room has been the major collecting point as items for the museum have been accessioned and cataloged. The March 26 program, “From Storage to Museum Display,” will showcase items being accepted for the museum, from some that are 100 years old to items from recent history, including COVID-19 pandemic items and signage from recent city ballot measures. “This presentation will give the public some ideas on what we all need to be saving to

Yes, it’s true. You can finally get into the massive and fabled billion-dollar Grand Egyptian Museum — if you’re lucky enough to score soft opening tickets. Keep reading, and I’ll tell you how to try. It’s been 20 years since construction began on the Grand Egyptian Museum, planned to be a massive compendium of the best ancient artifacts in Egypt. And history lovers have held their collective breath ever since. And held it. And held it, as one delay after another slowed the project, including the 2011 Arab Spring and, most recently, the pandemic. But, finally, after many abandoned opening dates, it looks like the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is finally nearing completion. This 70-foot-high granite statue of Ramses II welcomes visitors to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which is undergoing a soft opening at this writing in March 2023. (Photo by Marla Jo Fisher/SCNG) Grand Staircase at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Cairo, before the official opening. Taken in February 2023. (Photo by Marla Jo Fisher/SCNG). One of the restaurants open at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt during the soft opening

Gregory Elder, a Redlands resident, is professor emeritus of history and humanities at Moreno Valley College and a Roman Catholic priest. (Courtesy Photo) As it fell out one day, I was walking down the hallway of my college when I crossed paths with one of colleagues. Greeting me, she asked “What are you lecturing on today, Dr. Elder?” I had to reply to the grim truth. “Caligula” I said. She promptly rolled her eyes and replied, “Well, he was the life of the party.” What could I say to this? He certainly was a colorful character. Gaius Caligula was the young Roman emperor whose name has been forever besmirched by accusations of cruelty, sadism, murder and otherwise unsavory behavior. Most of these charges were leveled against him by irritated senators who had no reason to love the dictatorial rule of the caesars. Modern television and Hollywood had made a lot of his short life, but not always accurately. What is less well known is the fact that he knew and interacted with a series of people who either appear in the Bible or were active

Western Municipal Water District board member Gracie Torres said the community encouraged her to run for the 1st District seat on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. (Courtesy of Western Municipal Water District) An Inland water board member is the latest candidate to enter the race for an upcoming open seat on Riverside County’s Board of Supervisors. Gracie Torres announced Wednesday, March 15, that she’ll run for the 1st District seat in 2024. The seat, which represents Riverside, Perris and part of Jurupa Valley along with March Air Reserve Base, Good Hope, Highgrove, Mead Valley and Meadowbrook, is being vacated by Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, who doesn’t plan to seek re-election next year. Torres said in a news release that, after being re-elected to the Western Municipal Water District’s Division 2 seat in November, “voters clearly indicated they want bold action and a representative willing to work.” “My community encouraged me to take this next step to be their voice and stand for county employees, address homelessness, keep our communities and families safe, invest vigorously in our infrastructure, support small businesses, and create good paying jobs,”

Fruit and vegetable side dishes were the main course Wednesday, March 15, for Romoland student chefs. They gathered at Chase Middle School in Menifee to join a national contest that promotes healthy eating and urges youths to get into the kitchen. Their mission was to make tasty and creative fruit or vegetable side dishes. Mesa View Elementary School’s Leona Mathis kisses her fingers after making her Italian Swords dish during the Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge at Chase Middle School in Menifee on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Romoland elementary students compete Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in a contest to create fruit or vegetable side dishes at Chase Middle School in Menifee. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Luisa Hernandez, left, and Janeth Delarosa help Boulder Ridge Elementary School’s Evangelyn Castillo into her chef’s coat Wednesday, March 15, 2023, during the Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge at Chase Middle School in Menifee. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Boulder Ridge Elementary School’s Evangelyn Castillo makes Eva’s Evolution Salad on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, during the Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge at Chase Middle

On a rainy Wednesday in San Gabriel, Asian seniors are openly sharing their stories about dealing with harassment and discrimination. The dialogue — which took place two years after deadly shootings at spas in Atlanta that targeted Asian communities — is open and non-judgmental. “Someone yelled at me on the street to ‘Go back to China!’,” shared Koreatown resident Esther Cheng, 76. “I didn’t engage — we are taught to be humble, to stand down, even when it’s not your fault. We have to be safe — especially if the police don’t come right away.” About one-third of Asian Americans fear physical and verbal violence against them, research shows. Amid the rise in nationwide anti-Asian hate crimes, racially-motivated threats and discrimination, organizations are training Asian communities — especially seniors — in the Los Angeles area what to do if they witness or become a victim of harassment. With a screen behind her showing why people don’t act, Florence Lin, community relations manager for the Asian Youth Center, teaches a bystander intervention training in Mandarin for the AAPI community on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at the

Two former Cal State San Bernardino administrators have sued the college president and the dean of the Palm Desert campus, alleging they were fired for speaking out about pay disparities and discrimination against female employees. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, March 14, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Clare Weber, the former vice provost at Cal State San Bernardino, and Anissa Rogers, the former associate dean of its Palm Desert campus, allege a pattern and practice of discrimination and sexual harassment against female employees in violation the state’s Equal Pay Act. The lawsuit names as defendants CSUSB President Tomas Morales, Palm Desert campus Dean Jake Zhu and the Board of Trustees of the California State University system, which comprises 23 campuses statewide and is the largest four-year public university system in the United States, employing nearly 56,000 faculty and staff. Courtney Abrams, the attorney representing Weber and Rogers, said Wednesday that she and her clients tried to resolve the matter with top CSU officials and their counsel before suing, but says they were not interested. “Perhaps not surprisingly, given the number of lawsuits against CSU alleging

Temecula Valley schools will pay a consultant $15,000 to make presentations to teachers on critical race theory, though many voiced opposition to the idea during a crowded Tuesday night, March 14, meeting. Approved on a 3-2 vote by the school board’s new conservative Christian majority, the move was proposed by Temecula Valley Unified School District board member Danny Gonzalez. Joseph Komrosky, Gonzalez and Jen Wiersma voted to hire Arend; Allison Barclay and Steven Schwartz voted no. Christopher Arend, a former school board member in Paso Robles, will teach six, two-hour, sessions for two days covering the history of critical race theory and will discuss the Temecula school board’s December resolution banning the academic framework. Temecula schools’ ban was based on a 2021 resolution passed in the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District. The sessions will occur during the day, meaning that many teachers will have to leave their classrooms and be replaced by substitutes or other teachers. Edgar Diaz, president of the Temecula Valley Educators Association, said the average rate of $140 per day for substitutes taking over for each teacher attending the seminars could

An Inland lawmaker once again wants to get between new large warehouses and homes. Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes, D-San Bernardino, plans to reintroduce a bill that would create a 1,000-foot buffer zone between new warehouses of 100,000 square feet or more and homes, schools, day care centers and other so-called “sensitive uses.” Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes, D-San Bernardino, is reintroducing legislation to require a 1,000-foot buffer between new large warehouses and “sensitive” uses such as homes, schools and hospitals. (Courtesy of Eloise Gómez Reyes) Similar legislation authored by Reyes fell short in the California legislature last year in the face of opposition from business groups. But the need for buffer zones to protect residents hasn’t waned, Reyes said in a telephone interview Monday, March 13. “It’s clear that the proliferation of warehouses in our community is causing harm to the community,” said Reyes, a 2024 Inland state Senate candidate. “I think we always hope that the proper planning will be done so that our communities aren’t impacted … that decisions will be made so that no warehouse is going to be

The Upland Unified School District board unanimously passed a resolution denouncing racism and discrimination at its meeting Tuesday evening, March 14. Superintendent Carmen Day said the resolution reaffirms the district’s commitment to equitable education and reemphasizes its stance against racism and discrimination. The Board of Education approved the resolution without further comment. The board’s action comes about six weeks after a student at Pepper Tree Elementary School reported receiving cards with racist images and messages from fellow students. On Feb. 2, a Black sixth-grader at Pepper Tree received two homemade cards reading “my favorite monkey” and “my favorite cotton picker.” The cards were reported Feb. 5 to school administrators, who launched an investigation. A Los Angeles-based law firm representing the family of the student who received the cards has filed a claim with the school district. In the Feb. 27 claim, the family says there have been a series of racist incidents at Pepper Tree Elementary over a period of seven years. Upland Unified parents who spoke at the meeting Tuesday evening said they want the board to continue shining a light on the issue. “As

Dogs and their owners are enjoying a new park on land that once was part of March Air Force Base. Nipsey looks through the fence of War Dog Memorial Park’s area for small dogs Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The park is near Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Charlotte catches her breathe after running around War Dog Memorial Park near Riverside on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Charlotte and Charlie play Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at War Dog Memorial Park near Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Buddy, a three-legged dog, visits War Dog Memorial Park near Riverside on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Charlotte jumps to catch a ball at War Dog Memorial Park near Riverside on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Charlie rips a tennis ball at War Dog Memorial Park near Riverside on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Ralph Boring and his dog, Charlotte, visit War Dog Memorial Park in Riverside before the rain on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. They

San Bernardino County officials are looking at how well they responded to the winter storms that stranded residents and destroyed buildings in mountain communities over the past three weeks. A worker clears snow from Highway 173 as residents of the San Bernardino Mountains dig out from record-breaking snow in recent weeks in Lake Arrowhead on Saturday, March 11, 2023. (File photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) “We clearly have people in the community who feel that the county’s response fell short,” Dawn Rowe, chairperson of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, said at the board’s Tuesday, March 14, meeting — its first regular session since the storms hit the county. “I have concerns that the county could have been more effective in some key areas,” said Rowe, who represents the 3rd District, which includes the San Bernardino Mountain communities. She told county CEO Leonard X. Hernandez to begin a “comprehensive examination of how the county responded to this crisis and how to respond to emergencies in general.” Rowe asked Hernandez to publicly report his findings within six months. Sign up for The Localist, our

Hospitality workers in Anaheim have gathered signatures for a “hospitality worker bill of rights” aimed at boosting wages and protecting them from sexual assault on the job. The mostly non-union workers say they’ve tallied 25,000 signatures, which they plan to present to the city. A total of 16,643 signatures are needed to approve the measure. If enough are deemed valid, Anaheim would have the option of adopting the bill as a city ordinance. If the city chooses not to, it would be placed before voters, allowing them to decide. Representatives with the Anaheim/Orange County Hotel & Lodging Association could not be reached for comment. Anaheim would have the option of adopting the initiative as a city ordinance. If the city chooses not to, it would be put before voters who would decide its outcome. (File photo) Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Glendale and West Hollywood have adopted similar ordinances in recent years, while Irvine became the first Orange County city to do so in 2022. The Anaheim measure would provide: Panic buttons with a security guard on call, mandatory training and security protocols to

Communtiy members and civic leaders in Pomona gathered Saturday, March 11, to celebrate the installation of a statue dedicated to abolitionist and civil rights icon Harriet Tubman. Part of the second annual Harriet Tubman Unity Walk, organized by Unity Day LA, the 1.3-mile walk began at the African American Advisory Alliance Center in downtown and ended at Lincoln Park, the permanent home of the statue. Created by African American sculptor Manuelita Brown, the bronze statue was commissioned by Pomona resident Ray Adamyk, founder and CEO of PTowne Productions. Adamyk and his wife, Michelle, donated more than $90,000 to get the statue created. A newly installed Harriet Tubman statue stands in the rain at Pomona’s Lincoln Park on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) A newly installed Harriet Tubman statue stands in the rain at Pomona’s Lincoln Park on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) A newly installed Harriet Tubman statue stands in the rain at Pomona’s Lincoln Park on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) A newly installed Harriet Tubman statue stands in

In perhaps the biggest news that will come out of Rancho Cucamonga in 2023, if not the rest of this decade, the city is now home to the Inland Empire’s first Shake Shack. I am, generally speaking, not a fan of chain restaurants. But exceptions must be made, and Shake Shack is atop my list. After hearing about the New York City-based chain by reputation, I first encountered a Shake Shack while on vacation in Washington, D.C., in 2014, gave it a try and was not disappointed. Freshly ground burgers, made to order on potato buns, with noticeably fresh lettuce and tomatoes; crinkle-cut fries; and frozen custard. Frozen custard? It’s a Midwestern thing, an homage by Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer to his St. Louis upbringing. As St. Louis was the nearest big city to my own humble origins, a rooting interest in Shake Shack came naturally to me. Since 2014 I’ve been to a dozen other Shake Shacks around the country, among them Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia and NYC, and in California, including Larkspur in Marin County, Glendale, Century City and downtown L.A. The