A note from Supervisor Lovingood: County VA shines bright

Local veterans have a strong ally in the San Bernardino County Department of Veterans Affairs. And year after year, the statistics prove that out. In 2019, the County VA served 35,895 veterans and family members. For the year, the department assisted veterans in obtaining $50 million in new or increased benefits – benefits that these veterans earned. That’s the highest amount received by any of California’s 58 counties!

Several years ago, my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors and I made it a priority to find housing for homeless veterans. In 2019, the County VA housed 145 homeless vets. Since 2015, we have housed 1,385 homeless veterans.

You might not know it, but college fees and tuition are waived for children of service members who die on active duty. This allows family members to attend college when they might not otherwise be able to afford the cost. Last year, 1,312 college fee waivers were granted with a value of $6.4 million. On every front, the County  VA is excelling. Even lobby wait times continue to decrease, with 95.4 percent of all visitors seen within one hour.

These are remarkable numbers that reveal the dedication of the County VA staff. I’d like to thank our County Veterans Affairs Director Col. Frank Guevara and his entire team for a job well done! 

How can my First District staff serve you? Just let us know.
We look forward to hearing from you!

Manufacturers invited to “Made in the High Desert” Feb. 20

High Desert manufacturers are invited to broaden awareness of their businesses at Supervisor Lovingood’s annual “Made in the High Desert” showcase event Feb. 20 at the High Desert Events Center – the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville. In partnership with Pathways To Success, “Made in the High Desert” is a chance to establish important networking contacts with other local industry organizations and meet thousands of local students who could become your future workforce. For more information, call Susan Drake at (760) 955-8100 or email Susan.Drake@bos.sbcounty.gov.  

Point-In-Time Count volunteers still needed for Jan 23 count

Volunteers are still needed for the Jan. 23 countywide count of homeless individuals. This effort aligns government and private grant funding with the areas of need to help people exit a life of homelessness on the streets. The 2020 count will use a web-based application, so a smart phone will be needed. To register to volunteer, click on www.sbcounty.gov/dbh/sbchp. 

Follow Supervisor Lovingood’s Youth Advisory Council on Facebook, Instagram

The members of First District Supervisor Robert Lovingood’s Youth Advisory Council are reaching out through social media to inform local students about job opportunities, internships, job shadowing and training programs available in the High Desert.

Visit their Facebook or Instagram page (First District Youth Advisory Council) https://www.facebook.com/FirstDistrictYAC Please like and share.  

Are you a local business offering unique opportunities for high school students? Are you a student, school or nonprofit who can help us spread the word? Please message our Facebook or Instagram pages @FirstDistrictYAC to share your news. When you follow and like the pages, you’ll always see the latest posts of interest to our First District students.

Junior Fishing Workshop at Mojave Narrows Jan. 25

San Bernardino County is offering a Junior Fishing Workshop at Mojave Narrows Regional Park in Victorville on Jan. 25. Kids 7 to 15 are invited for a day of fishing and fun. They will rotate through five stations and introduce them to the fundamentals of trout fishing. Then they will test their skills in a two-hour open fishing season. All equipment and tackle is provided. $10 per child. Register by Jan. 20. To register, call (909) 387-2461 or visit www.sbcounty.gov/parks. Also at Mojave Narrows park, a Trout Derby for Kids is planned Feb. 22. For details or to register, click on the link above.

Many museums offer free admission Jan. 25

Over 40 museums—presenting art, cultural heritage, natural history, and science—will open their doors free of charge during the 15th Annual Museums Free-for-All event Saturday, Jan. 25. From cars to Cold War artifacts to modern art, there’s something for everyone. Museums Free-for-All also serves as a reminder that free visitor days are available year-round at museums across Southern California. For a list of participating museums, visit socalmuseums.org/free-for-all/.

Second egg laid at bald eagle nest in Big Bear

The second egg of the 2020 season has been laid at a Big Bear area bald eagle nest made popular by a live webcam feed. The egg was laid at approximately 5:09 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11. “We are very excited to see bald eagles continuing to successfully reside and raise young in this part of the forest,” said Marc Stamer, district ranger for the Mountaintop Ranger District. “But that success is shared by the public who continue to adhere to an area closure around the nest.” Bald eagles are known to abandon nests, eggs and young when feeling threatened by human activities.