March 17, 2023 County Update

After having cleared a path through all 516 miles of County-maintained roads in a little over a week, County Public Works crews this week widened nearly every one of those roads to two lanes and cleared paths for school buses so classes could resume. Many non-County maintained roads have also been cleared as well, making a total of 764 miles of roads serviced by the County during the emergency. County crews did this while also preparing the mountains and the rest of the county to weather an upcoming series of rainstorms

The work involved ensuring 150 high-priority culverts were clear, which wasn’t easy considering many were hidden by massive snow berms. Crews relied on GIS technology and historical photos to find many of the culverts. Public Works teams also cleared out debris basins and made sure channels and other waterways were clear.

As a result of the storms, many roads are showing signs of damage with new cracks and potholes. Public Works crews are aware of the damage and will begin making repairs after the roads dry out in the spring. Residents are encouraged to use the See Click Fix app to report road damage. The app can be download at the Google Play or Apple App stores.

Meanwhile, the Board of Supervisors made life a lot easier for those whose homes and businesses were damaged by tons of snow by voting unanimously to waive up to $5,000 in County planning and building fees for each property that gets repaired or replaced.

“This waiver is important for the recovery of our mountain communities. As our businesses and residents rebuild, we need to ensure that we eliminate as many additional burdens as possible,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Dawn Rowe, whose Third District bore the brunt of the blizzard. “I’ll keep pushing for additional resources for our mountain residents, who continue to impress me with their courage and resilience.”

Funding approved by the Board is also making it possible for the County to reimburse residents up to $500 toward the cost of removing snow from their property. A complete list of resources and links is available on the County Snow Information website.

Rainstorms are expected this weekend and again next week. Residents are urged to be prepared and make sure they are signed up for emergency notifications and also download the SB Ready app. Residents can do both on the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District website.

Both dogs were standing in deep snow and appeared to be unharmed. De La Torre contacted maintenance workers who gave him access to a second-story window, where he was able to talk to the dogs. De La Torre slowly built trust with the dogs and guided them off the roof with food through an office window. Both were deemed unharmed and were guided back down to the parking lot. Neither of the dogs had collars. 

Unfortunately, once outside the building, both dogs escaped and rescue personnel were unable to safely catch them. Over the next few days, both dogs were spotted together throughout the community and their location was reported to the owner. Due to the vigilance and efforts of fellow citizens, both dogs were eventually returned to their owner and are back home out of the elements. 

This was a great example of the community working together for a positive outcome. 

(Watch park video to see more about the park).

Kids will find more to explore with hiking, crafts, sporting and field games and board games while at the park. An entire week of combined physical play with individual learning through activities.

The camp is $35 a day, or $140 for the entire week. Parents/guardians can pick and choose which day(s) they prefer. The camp will not be providing lunch so each child will need to bring their own lunch and snacks, including appropriate clothing for the day. 

Register online or visit www.sbcountyparks.com and click on the Activities button in the top navigation.

For more information, visit parks.sbcounty.gov/events, or contact Park Recreation Coordinator Karen Stevenson at 909-387-2410 or email karen.stevenson@parks.sbcounty.gov.

Come out and enjoy a healthy day with the community, rain or shine. The ARMC 5K Walk/Run aims to encourage exercise while also promoting the services that San Bernardino County and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center offers to the community. There is still time to sign up, registration is free.

Packet pickup is scheduled on Friday, March 24 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Frank A. Gonzales Center at 670 Colton Avenue in Colton, CA 92324. Packets can also be picked up the day of the race while supplies last.

The first 700 people to pick up their bib will receive an event shirt.  Shirt sizes will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis with no guarantee that ARMC will have your size if you show up late or on race day. Stylish drawstring bags are also available.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. on race day. The ARMC 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. The start line will close, and you will not be able to start the Walk/Run if you arrive on site later than 8:15 a.m.

Parking on ARMC grounds is free and race participants may park in any designated slot which is not already clearly marked and reserved for disabled parking or on-duty hospital staff. Most parking lots are unfenced (please note, employee parking lots are fenced with badge in/out access gates). If the entrance gate to a fenced lot is locked in the open position, it is available for general parking that day. If the entrance gate is closed, it is reserved for on-duty hospital staff – please do not attempt to park in such lots.

Although walking with your dog elsewhere is a terrific idea, the ARMC 5K is not a pet-friendly event.  Your cooperation is appreciated.

More than 30 employers looking to hire participated in the event along with over 300 job seekers that braved the cold and snowy conditions on Feb. 23.

“Despite the bad weather, the High Desert community showed up to last month’s job and career resource fair. This underscores both our business community’s need for skilled workers and our residents’ desire to find local employment opportunities. This high level of interest really emphasizes the importance of developing a skilled labor force. Connecting skilled workers with good-paying jobs is critical to the future of our regional economy,” said San Bernardino County Vice Chairman, Supervisor Paul Cook.

WDB job fairs also include resources such as individualized job search, resume assistance, information on veteran services, skills certifications, on-the-job training and financial assistance for training.

William Sterling, WDB chairman, explains that connecting businesses with a pipeline of qualified employees is critical for a strong, resilient regional economy. “The Workforce Development Board is an invaluable resource for finding and helping to produce high-quality employees that not only meet the needs of different industry sectors, but also understand organizational culture and are ready to grow with the organizations that they are a part of,” Sterling said.

According to the most recent Labor Market Information report published the California Employment Development Department, San Bernardino County’s job market finished strong in 2022, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, the lowest since 2019. The Inland Empire continued to lead Southern California’s post-pandemic employment recovery with continued growth in the logistics sector, professional services, government, education, healthcare and construction.

To get connected to workforce resources or to participate in an upcoming job fair, please visit our website, call (800) 451-JOBS (5627) or follow us on social media @SBCWorkforce.

About the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board

The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) is comprised of private business representatives and public partners appointed by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.  The WDB strives to strengthen the skills of the County’s workforce through partnerships with business, education and community-based organizations. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is committed to providing county resources, which generate jobs and investment in line with the Countywide Vision.

The Workforce Development Board, through the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department, offers a variety of programs designed to help youth and adults identify career pathways and get the appropriate training and skills. Programs funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provide eligible youth, ages 16 to 24, access to a variety of career and educational services designed to help enhance job skills, develop leadership qualities, explore career options, participate in adult and peer mentoring opportunities, and take advantage of work experiences. In addition, the WDB operates San Bernardino County’s three America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC). The AJCCs provide individuals with job training, placement and the tools to strengthen their skills to achieve a higher quality of life. The AJCCs also support and provide services to the County’s businesses, including employee recruitment and business retention programs, and a free Human Resource hotline (877-282-3763) is available to answer any HR, employment and compliance related inquiries and more.

Employers and job seekers interested in WDB programs may call (800) 451-JOBS (5627), visit our website, follow us @SBCWorkforce and visit our WDB YouTube page.

WDB’s job and resource fairs are a Title-1 financially assisted program and an equal opportunity employer program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For federal funding disclosure information, visit wp.sbcounty.gov/workforce/ffd/.

To participate in this program, sign up online.  For every five books read, an achievement award will be unlocked and a voucher for a free hamburger or cheeseburger will be issued at your local County library. Participants must be between the ages of 4 and 12, and a parent or guardian will need to sign to receive the voucher. Each child may earn a total of three awards and vouchers for the duration of the program.

In support of the San Bernardino Countywide Vision2Read literacy campaign as well as San Bernardino County’s newest Opportunity Campaign, this program uses incentives to help improve childhood literacy by inspiring an excitement to read, providing achievement goals and encouraging a reading routine.

The San Bernardino County Library System is a dynamic network of 32 branch libraries that serve a diverse population over a vast geographic area. The County Library System strives to provide equal access to information, technology, programs, and services for all people who call San Bernardino County home.

The library plays a key role in the achievement of the Countywide Vision, by contributing to educational, cultural, and historical development of our County community.

For more information on the San Bernardino County Library System, please visit sbclib.org or call (909) 387-2220.