February 10, 2023 County Update – Welcome to San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County’s most-eligible bachelor and bachelorette canines were dressed to the nines when they strolled the Devore Animal Shelter red-carpet on Feb. 3 to accept their roses and promote the “Adopt a Sweetheart, Find your Furever Love!” pet adoption event taking place through Valentine’s Day.

The tuxedo and evening dress-adorned doggies also displayed the Devore Shelter’s newly expanded Animal Enrichment Program, ensuring that the pets under the County’s care receive daily outdoor exercise, human interaction, and mental stimulation.

“This is a celebration of the excellent care our County staff provides to animals in need and the magic that happens when the pets at our shelters are brought into a loving home,” said Dawn Rowe, chair of the County Board of Supervisors, who attended the red-carpet adoption event.

Loving pets in need of forever families can be adopted free-of-charge from the County’s Devore and Big Bear animal shelters through Feb. 14. Pets come with a microchip, spay/neuter procedures, and most vaccines.

San Bernardino Animal Care reports that 35 pets were adopted during the event’s first weekend. Another 76 pets were adopted during a similar event last month. Both events were sponsored by Animal Care and the Animals aRe First Fund (ARFF).

“The job of caring for animals in need is growing each and every day,” said Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., whose Fifth District includes the Devore shelter. “Since 2021, we have seen a 15.5 % increase in animals entering our County shelters. That’s the primary reason we have added these wonderful Enrichment Specialists to our team.”

The County Animal Care Enrichment Specialists provide physical, cognitive, social and sensory stimulation to cats and dogs who are waiting to be adopted. This service is one of many undertaken by shelter staff to ensure the animals under the County’s care are safe, healthy, happy, and ready for their forever homes.

To view available animals at the Devore and Big Bear Animal Shelters, visit Animals aRe First Fund (ARFF).

Students receive free dental checkups, visit from Otter the Potter during National Children’s Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and First 5 San Bernardino and the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health’s Smile SBC local oral health program are teaming up to encourage parents and caregivers to make their children’s oral health a priority with their “Little Teeth, Big Responsibility” campaign.

Tooth decay is preventable but remains the most common chronic childhood disease. In fact, more than 60 percent of kindergarteners in San Bernardino County have experienced dental decay. Further, children with poor oral health miss more school and are more likely to receive lower grades than their healthier counterparts.

This campaign aims to help parents of newborns and young children understand the importance of oral health by providing low-cost resources and accessible information to families with children under age five.

“The ‘Little Teeth, Big Responsibility’ campaign is very important because oral health habits begin at an early age,” shared First 5 San Bernardino Executive Director Karen Scott.

“Visiting a dentist when your baby’s first tooth appears or at their first birthday is the best way to ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles,” Scott concluded. To kick off National Children’s Dental Health Month, First 5 San Bernardino and Smile SBC hosted a pop-up dentist event on Feb. 2 at E. Neal Roberts Elementary School in San Bernardino, which was covered by media including NBC4 LA and The Sun newspaper.

Over 60 transitional and kindergarten (TK) students received dental health assessments, complete with oral health-related giveaways and a very teeth-friendly mascot, Potter the Otter.

“We were excited to partner with the San Bernardino City Unified School District this year to further extend the campaign message,” said Bonnie Flippin, program coordinator of San Bernardino County Department of Public Health’s Smile SBC.

“We applaud the district for working with dental professionals to bring oral health assessments directly to elementary schools in their district,” Flippin stated.

Visit smile San Bernardino County to find free- and low-cost dentists near you, useful tips on how to take care of young teeth, and additional information about how to get help with enrollment or transportation.

For more information on the campaign and to access their Partner Toolkit, visit Little Teeth, Big Responsibility.

“We applaud the district for working with dental professionals to bring oral health assessments directly to elementary schools in their district,” Flippin stated.

For more information on the campaign and to access their Partner Toolkit, visit Little Teeth, Big Responsibility.

Resilient and Real Podcast focuses on mental health among African Americans

It’s African American Mental Health Awareness Week, a week designed to expand understanding of mental health issues among the African American/Black population, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and promote culturally responsive service delivery.

In recognition of the awareness week, the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) released a new Resilient and Real podcast episode about mental health in African American communities, and the challenges and stigmas that can contribute to African American mental health access.

The episode features perspectives from Dr. Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers, Community Development Specialist with Pacific Clinics and Co-chair of DBH’s African American Awareness subcommittee, as well as Daphne Hawkins, Founder and President of The LOVE Program, an organization that aids in the advancement of at-risk young women of color in high school and throughout college.

Plus, Tricina Edwards, DBH Nurse Manager, shares information about some of the barriers African Americans face that affect the decisions to seek mental health care.

Listen to the all-new episode today! Resilient and Real is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health for more information.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center earns top achievements in 2022

Through the Board of Supervisors’ leadership, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has earned many accomplishments and widespread recognition for its medical leadership and staff, which recently led to the hospital receiving a Level I Adult Trauma Center verification by the College of Surgeons.

During 2022, ARMC opened a state-of-the-art Family Health Center in Fontana, that was approved for onsite cardiovascular surgery by the California Department of Public Health, and was named by U.S. News & World Report as the Best Hospital for Maternity Care, earning two California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative Quality and Engagement Awards.

ARMC’s comprehensive stroke and cardiac programs earned numerous distinctions, including several awards from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, and the hospital’s opioid stewardship program earned a “Superior Performance” designation, the highest recognition from the California Opioid Care Honor Roll Program.

For more information on ARMC’s services and resources, visit Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

Victor Valley Museum spotlights first African American dude ranch known for filming Black Westerns in Apple Valley

Partnering with the Town of Apple Valley, Victor Valley Museum’s Associate Curator Tiffany Talavera talks about the history of Murray’s Dude Ranch and its importance as the first African American dude ranch that began in Apple Valley, and fast became recognized in the country during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

This month, the Museum is celebrating inclusivity, diversity, and culture for Black History Month and we invite you to the museum where you can learn a little bit more about the Murray Ranch history.

General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military/seniors 60+), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children 5 and under and Museum members are free. Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

Arthropolooza, the Ultimate Bug Fest exhibit creeps, crawls to Redlands Museum

If creepy crawlies don’t give you the creeps, maybe Arthropolooza: The Ultimate Bug Fest will. Join us at the San Bernardino County Museum Feb. 18-19, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate all things creepy, crawly, sticky, prickly, wiggly, yucky, and kind of cute.

The days will be filled with festivities that highlight arthropods as well as a great opportunity for families to have a good time together and develop a love of nature!

This event won the 2021 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award in the Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation category. We are thrilled to bring it back and highlight the remarkable work being done by partners in our region.

General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military/seniors 60+), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children 5 and under and Museum members are free. The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

For more information, visit Arthropolooza: The Ultimate Bugfest.

Regional Parks gears up for annual California Days event at Calico Ghost Town.

San Bernardino County Regional Parks and Apollo Silver Corp. are excited to celebrate the second annual California Days event at Calico Ghost Town over Presidents’ Day weekend on Feb. 18-19, 2023.

California Days celebrates early California history with a focus on California’s admission to the union as the nation’s 31^st state on Sept. 9, 1850.

This family-friendly event will precede National California Day, which lands on February 22 every year and will celebrate the people and culture of early California by hosting family activities, gunfight shows and educational displays on the state’s Bear Flag, Pony Express Trail, and Butterfield Overland Trail.

Serving as a natural backdrop to the Old West, Calico will travel back in time with a beard and mustache contest, arts and crafts, games and contests for all ages, pony rides, stories from the Pony Express, and a Pony Express relay for kids under 11.

Eventgoers can enjoy our fair food lineup with goodies such as pretzels, lemonade, and tater tot creations, or for very hungry appetites, the Calico Restaurant, Old Miner’s Café and Lil’s Saloon will be open.

Mining event sponsors include the Apollo Silver Corp., Cal Portland Company and Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, who will be on-hand to provide educational mining information and displays. Local food franchise Raising Canes Chicken Fingers from Barstow will also be on-hand to provide prize giveaways to eventgoers.

Calico will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prices are $10 per adult, $5 children ages 4-11, and 3 years and under are FREE.

For more details and a daily schedule of events, visit Calico California Days.

Calico Ghost Town offers full- and partial-camping at the park. Reservations may be booked directly online at San Bernardino County Regional Parks. Cabins and bunkhouses are also available. Please call 800-862-2542 to reserve.

Calico Ghost Town is located off I-15 at Ghost Town Road in Yermo, just 10 miles north of Barstow. Visit Calico Ghost Town Regional Park for detailed information on Calico and upcoming events.

Pet of the Week: Dullahan

Meet our Pet of the Week, Dullahan (#A772273). Dullahan is a big guy with a big heart and needs a furever loving home. He is estimated to be a 1-year 4-month-old, unaltered male, tan and white dog who looks like a Chinese Sharpei and Husky.

If you are interested in making Dullahan a part of your family, please call or visit the Devore Animal Shelter and ask to see ID A772273.

For information about animals available for adoption in San Bernardino County’s Big Bear and #Devore shelters, please visit San Bernardino County Animal Care to see photographs of the pets awaiting adoption or call (800) 472-5609.

To donate to assist animals at the shelter, visit Animals aRe First Fund (ARFF)

We are hiring. Join an award-winning workforce

Jobs of the Week and other hiring events

San Bernardino County has jobs that will open on Saturday, Feb. 11.

We encourage you to apply and share these job openings with those who may be interested in them. Recruitments listed are subject to final department approval.

Check Job Opportunities for the most up-to-date recruitments.

A purple box with the words Monkey Pox Information on it. there is a vial of medicine with a needle on an angle at the top.

For all monkeypox-related information, including case statistics, FAQs, guidelines, and resources, visit the County’s monkeypox webpage at wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/monkeypox. Individuals who are interested in the vaccine may complete the Monkeypox Vaccine Interest Form

A teal box with the words COVID-!9 Vaccine Information on it and a injectable needle on the left.

For all COVID-19 related information, including case statistics, FAQs, guidelines, and resources, visit the County’s COVID-19 webpage. Residents of San Bernardino County may also call the COVID-19 helpline at (909) 387-3911 for general information and resources about the virus. The phone line is NOT for medical calls and is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have questions about social services, please call 211.