April 7, 2023 County Update – Welcome to San Bernardino County

The County Update publishes once a week on Fridays and also as needed to share important news and resources.

Quick Read: Click on a headline below to go straight to the story.

Spanish Version

In Today’s Update:

• Featured Video: County hosts Local Assistance Center in Wrightwood

• Mountain Small Business Grant applications now available online

• Report potholes using SeeClickFix app

• Public Works announces downtown San Bernardino improvement project

• Free VITA tax services for eligible county residents

• Join the conversation, discuss ideas to improve our community’s health

• Behavioral Health seeking proposals for prevention and early intervention services for African American/Black children

• NASA-inspired children’s space now open at Chino Hills Library

• Join Regional Parks and the Easter bunny for an Easter egg hunt this Sunday

• Pet of the Week: Dream

• Jobs of the Week

Featured Video: County hosts Local Assistance Center in Wrightwood

Representatives from more than a dozen County departments participated in a Local Assistance Center in Wrightwood where residents were connected to various programs aimed to help them recover from severe winter weather across the region. Non-perishable food items and household supplies were also distributed at a C-POD (commodity point of distribution).

Mountain Small Business Grant Program applications now available online

Applications are now available for the Mountain Small Business Grants Snow Response Program. Eligible small businesses and non-profit organizations located in unincorporated areas of the County can now apply. Learn more about the program and apply online here.

Report potholes using SeeClickFix app

Roads across the county are showing signs of damage with new cracks and potholes caused by recent rain and snow.

Public Works is aware of many potholes that have developed during weeks of wet weather. Because repair materials do not bond well, if at all, when it’s cold and wet, crews will begin making repairs after the weather heats up and the roads dry out.

See it, click it and we’ll fix it. Residents are encouraged to use the SeeClickFix app to report road damage to our Public Works department.

This free app allows users to communicate non-emergency concerns, like potholes, in their neighborhoods. Users can share pictures, videos, and descriptions of road issues with our Public Works Department to help crews locate problem areas.

You can download the app at Google Play or the Apple App Store. Get more information on the Public Works department website.

Until repairs can be made, motorists are encouraged to drive with caution, watch the road ahead and keep in mind a shallow-looking puddle can actually be a deep puddle.

Public Works announces downtown San Bernardino improvement project

San Bernardino County Public Works is excited to announce the Little Third Street and Little Tippecanoe Avenue improvement project which is located in downtown San Bernardino. The project provides over half a mile long of improvements and is funded through a federal earmark and Measure I.

The project will provide for pavement reconstruction, street widening, installation of new asphalt concrete, sidewalk construction, streetlight installation, and updating or installing new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramps. Decorative fencing will also be installed between the sidewalk and the City Creek Channel to enhance the aesthetics and safety of the community.

The project will enhance our community as well as ensure the safety of local students walking to and from school.

The project is currently in the environmental phase and construction is set to begin in Spring 2024.

Click here to view the visit from Congressman Pete Aguilar and Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for Little Third Street and Little Tippecanoe Community Project Funding Presentation.

Free VITA tax services for eligible county residents

*The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Mobile Unit (above) assist qualifying taxpayers file their income tax return at various San Bernardino County Departments and Community Resource Centers.*

The federal and state income tax filing deadline is quickly approaching with less than a month to go. The Transitional Assistance Department’s (TAD) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) staff has been busy helping low-to-moderate income taxpayers throughout San Bernardino County meet the April 18 filing deadline.

If you worked in 2022 and your combined household earned income was less than $60,000, there is still time for you to schedule an appointment and file your return for free. You may be eligible to receive the: California Earned Income Tax Credit, for a refund of up to $3,417 or Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, for a refund up to $6,935.

Federal and California state returns are prepared and e-filed by IRS-certified tax preparers. Day and evening appointments are available Monday through Friday, as well as Saturday appointments. For more information and to schedule an appointment at a location near you, please visit wp.sbcounty.gov/tad/resources/ or call (909) 421-4091 or (909) 421-4093.

Join the conversation, discuss ideas to improve our community’s health

Community Vital Signs is inviting the community to discuss the results of a recent health survey during a Virtual Shareback Meeting via Zoom on April 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

More than 6,000 residents responded to the 2022 Community Health Survey to share what they felt were the top issues that affect their health and that of their community.

Let’s work together to prioritize what matters to you. Registration for the community Shareback meeting is free. Your input will help in creating solutions for us in developing a community health improvement plan.

Click here to register.

Behavioral Health seeking proposals for prevention and early intervention services for African American/Black children within San Bernardino County

The San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is seeking proposals from interested and qualified organizations and agencies to provide a proposed plan for an initiative to serve African American/Black children and youth.

Funded through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Resilience Promotion in African American Children program will provide services in culturally appropriate settings, incorporating African American/Black philosophies and traditions as a platform to offer mental health education programs with the intention of promoting resiliency in African American/Black children. The program focuses on the strengths of the African American/Black community and assists the community in feeling comfortable seeking services from staff that are knowledgeable and capable of identifying needs and solutions for African American/Black families and individuals.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is Monday, April 24. Questions regarding this request for proposals can be answered by visiting https://epro.sbcounty.gov/bso/ or emailing procurement@dbh.sbcounty.gov.

NASA-inspired children’s space now open at Chino Hills Library

On Saturday, March 18 the San Bernardino County Library celebrated the reopening of the James S. Thalman Chino Hills Branch Library’s Children’s Space. The event was jam-packed with fun crafts, face painters, and a special visit from the renowned retired astronaut and Chino Valley native, Jose Hernandez.

The San Bernardino County Library excitedly revealed a NASA-inspired Children’s Space with interactive new features for aspiring astronauts of every age. Supervisor Hagman shared a few words about the monumental impact this library continues to have on its community and a representative from Senator Kelly Seyarto’s office presented the library with a special certificate, commending the special work that the library team does on a daily basis. This project has been made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of the San Bernardino County Library and the city of Chino Hills as well as the unwavering support from the Chino Valley residents.

This event was another opportunity to celebrate and support the Countywide Vision’s literacy campaign, Vision2Read as well as the newest initiative, the Opportunity campaign. During this event, families checked out over 4,000 items using their San Bernardino County Library cards!

For more programs, events, and additional information, please visit sbclib.org or contact your local branch library.

The San Bernardino County Library System is a dynamic network of 32 branch libraries that serves 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 the educational, cultural, and historical development of our County community.

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

Join Regional Parks and the Easter bunny for an Easter egg hunt this Sunday

Regional Parks will be hosting photo opportunities with the Easter bunny and a golden egg hunt at Cucamonga-Guasti, Glen Helen, Mojave Narrows, Prado and Yucaipa Regional Parks on Sunday, April 9 beginning at 9:30 a.m. There will be an opportunity to meet the Easter bunny for photos from 9:30 to 11 a.m. There is a golden egg hidden at each park and a prize will be awarded to the first to find it.

Egg hunts and photos with the Easter bunny are free with park admission. Park admission for Easter Sunday is $10 per vehicle.

Calico Ghost Town Easter celebration

Looking for an all-day family-fun experience in an 1800s setting? Head over to Calico Ghost Town for an Easter “Eggtravaganza” with our famous egg hunts, gunfighter shows, games, activities, live entertainment and a meet and greet with the Easter bunny.

Start the day at the Calico House Restaurant for a pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for $7.95 per person. Breakfast includes two large pancakes and a drink.

Calico Ghost Town is located at 36600 Ghost Town Road in Yermo. Admission prices are $15 for adults (12 and older), $10 for youth (ages 3-11), and children under 3 years old are free. Pets are welcome.

For the Easter schedule of events and more details on the event, visit parks.sbcounty.gov/calico-easter-celebration. For camping information and/or reservations, visit www.sbcountyparks.com.

Pet of the Week: Dream

This week’s Pet of the Week is Dream (#A777364). Dream is a fun-loving, playful pup who can’t wait to meet you. She is an unaltered female Shepherd mix who is estimated to be 10 months old.

Dream was found near 14^th St and Ave. E in Yucaipa and has been at the shelter since March 24. She is available for adoption today at the Devore Animal Shelter.

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

To donate to assist animals at the shelter, visit www.arffund.org.

San Bernardino County has jobs that will open on Saturday, April 8.

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 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.